THE WESLEYAN METHODIST ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE. JANUARY, 1847. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF CHRISTOPHER HOPPER, ONE OF THE EARLY METHODIST PREACHERS. THE following interesting account was published by Mr. Wesley in the fourth volume of the Arminian Magazine, 1781, and will no doubt be highly acceptable to our readers as illustrative of the zeal, labours, sufferings, and success of the first race of Methodist preachers. Mr. Hopper commenced preaching the Gospel in 1744, and entered on the work of an itinerant preacher in 1749, and died on the 5th of March 1802; being then nearly eighty years old. He frequently accompanied Mr. Wesley in his travels; and great success accompanied his labours. The stations of the Methodist preachers are not recorded in the printed "Minutes" of the Wesleyan Conference prior to the year 1765. Mr. Hopper was after that time stationed as follows: In 1790 he ceased to take a circuit as an itinerant preacher, and became a supernumerary, and resided at Bolton; but continued to labour in the word and doctrine until within one week of his death. The following is the account of his experience to which we have referred: : I was born at Low-Coalburne, in the parish of county of Durham, on the 25th of December, 1722. Ryton, in the B my father, was a farmer: my mother, whose name was Ann, was daughter to George Barkiss, farmer, in the same county. They were both of good repute, and much attached to the Church of England; but strangers to vital religion. My mother had nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom I was the youngest. When I was about five years old, I was sent to school to one Mr. Alderson, a man of piety and good understanding, who taught those under his care, not only the branches of learning he professed, but the fear of God and the first principles of religion. He catechised us twice every week, and made us attend the church every Lord's Day, and all holy days appointed for public service. After I had learned to read, write, and understand a little of the mathematics, I lost my beloved master, who made a most awful exit. He had been, as I thought, more devout one week than common. The Sabbath following he received the sacrament at Ryton church: some days after a few gentlemen, with fair words, persuaded him to play a civil game at cards; but afterwards he fell into great distress of mind, and could not properly attend his school, which was often left to the care of his eldest son and me. The spring following, after many sore conflicts, he sunk into deep despair, and then drowned himself. This melancholy event made my heart tremble, and was a means of bringing some serious thoughts into my mind about heaven, hell, death, and judgment. I began to distinguish between vice and virtue, the godly and ungodly men. These impressions remained, till I took a severe illness which continued near two years, and reduced me to a mere skeleton. Mr. Foster, who attended me, pronounced me incurable. This alarmed me, and filled my heart with slavish fear. I judged it was high time to prepare for a future state; and according to the light I had, begun the business without delay. I read my Bible with much pleasure, prayer, and attention. The more I read it, the more I loved it. Many verses, and some favourite chapters which I understood best, made such a deep impression upon me, that I soon had them by heart. The Practice of Piety, a Form of Prayers, and a Psalm-Book, were my library. I prayed and sung with fear, and some degree of joy. I had very slight notions of my depraved nature, and the sin of unbelief; but clear views of my actual transgressions. I had been addicted to swear when I was put out of humour; and to lie when I could gain anything by it, or cover or excuse a fault. I had been apt to pilfer among the children when I could do it with a good grace. I was very proud, and prone to anger; yea, of a cruel disposition. I took a diabolical pleasure in hanging dogs, worrying cats, and killing birds, and insects, mangling and cutting them to pieces. One instance of my inhumanity I perfectly remember to this day. One evening as I was returning from school, with some of my friendly associates, we found a great number of frogs collected together in a marshy place: we proclaimed war against them we armed ourselves with stones, and with all the fury of little fiends, murdered the poor, innocent, defenceless creatures. We then left the field in great triumph. But God soon requited me. That night I dreamt I fell into a deep place full of frogs, and they seized on me from head to foot, and begun to eat the flesh off my bones. I was in great terror, and found exquisite pain until I awoke, sweating, and trembling, and half dead with fear. in About this time my dear father died of a consumption: I hope he was a true penitent. He was interred at Ryton church, with great solemnity, among his ancestors. I was then left to the care of my dulgent mother and brethren. Soon after my father's death, my eldest brother married, and they divided my father's farm, and the goods and chattels he left amongst them; but I was neglected and overlooked like one that did not belong to the family: but this did not give me the least concern. My disorder still continued, with my convictions. I prayed, wept, and looked towards the Hill of Sion. I found comfort, and a good hope through grace. I waited every day for my final dissolution, and longed to be with Christ. I loved God, the Redeemer, and all mankind. I was happy. After some time it pleased God to restore me to perfect health, beyond all human expectation. After my recovery, my mind was quickly drawn after the world again. I saw transitory objects in another point of view, than I had done during the time of my illness. My love to God and religion, and my desires after another world, soon grew very cold. I quenched the Holy Spirit, who departed and left me again to the folly of my own heart. As I was the youngest child of the family, and had nothing left me, I judged it would be proper to think of some business to procure bread. And my mother and brother being willing to put me to the grammar school, and give me a good education, I accepted the offer, and concluded it was the best thing I could do: but in the interim, one Mr. Armstrong, a shopkeeper, wanted a boy, and sent for me. I embraced the opportunity, and prepared to go without delay. I thought I should escape the wearisome task of study, having nothing to do but to improve the learning I had already, to qualify me for a merchant's apprentice. My mother accompanied me to Mr. Armstrong's, and put me in possession of my new place. I went with great pleasure; and met with a kind reception. After I had been some time on trial, I was to be bound by indenture for seven years. This put my youthful mind into a new chain of reasoning. I thought I would never be bound to stand so long behind a counter; therefore, in spite of all persuasion, I left my place and returned home. After this, a project entered into my head, that I would be a musician. I told my brother. He approved of it, bought me a violin, and provided me a master. I begun with great assiduity, and concluded I had found the very thing that would make me happy. I played away all my convictions, lost my taste for spiritual things, and banished all thoughts of a future world. I now employed myself in doing some little things in the house and about the farm; and all the time I had to spare, I spent in playing, singing, dancing, fishing, fowling, and whatever came next to my hand. I was then between fifteen and sixteen years of age, and begun to think of some employ my father, was a farmer: my mother, whose name was Ann, was daughter to George Barkiss, farmer, in the same county. They were both of good repute, and much attached to the Church of England; but strangers to vital religion. My mother had nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom I was the youngest. When I was about five years old, I was sent to school to one Mr. Alderson, a man of piety and good understanding, who taught those under his care, not only the branches of learning he professed, but the fear of God and the first principles of religion. He catechised us twice every week, and made us attend the church every Lord's Day, and all holy days appointed for public service. After I had learned to read, write, and understand a little of the mathematics, I lost my beloved master, who made a most awful exit. He had been, as I thought, more devout one week than common. The Sabbath following he received the sacrament at Ryton church some days after a few gentlemen, with fair words, persuaded him to play a civil game at cards; but afterwards he fell into great distress of mind, and could not properly attend his school, which was often left to the care of his eldest son and me. The spring following, after many sore conflicts, he sunk into deep despair, and then drowned himself. This melancholy event made my heart tremble, and was a means of bringing some serious thoughts into my mind about heaven, hell, death, and judgment. I began to distinguish between vice and virtue, the godly and ungodly men. These impressions remained, till I took a severe illness which continued near two years, and reduced me to a mere skeleton. Mr. Foster, who attended me, pronounced me incurable. This alarmed me, and filled my heart with slavish fear. I judged it was high time to prepare for a future state; and according to the light I had, begun the business without delay. I read my Bible with much pleasure, prayer, and attention. The more I read it, the more I loved it. Many verses, and some favourite chapters which I understood best, made such a deep impression upon me, that I soon had them by heart. The Practice of Piety, a Form of Prayers, and a Psalm-Book, were my library. I prayed and sung with fear, and some degree of joy. I had very slight notions of my depraved nature, and the sin of unbelief; but clear views of my actual transgressions. I had been addicted to swear when I was put out of humour; and to lie when I could gain anything by it, or cover or excuse a fault. I had been apt to pilfer among the children when I could do it with a good grace. One I was very proud, and prone to anger; yea, of a cruel disposition. I took a diabolical pleasure in hanging dogs, worrying cats, and killing birds, and insects, mangling and cutting them to pieces. instance of my inhumanity I perfectly remember to this day. One evening as I was returning from school, with some of my friendly associates, we found a great number of frogs collected together in a marshy place: we proclaimed war against them we armed ourselves with stones, and with all the fury of little fiends, murdered the poor, innocent, defenceless creatures. We then left the field in great |