About the Author

WILLIAM MASON (1719-1791) was born at Rotherhithe, Surrey, England. Initially he continued in his father's clock making business, but in 1740, his father died and he married Miss Cox. He attended church constantly at a Wesleyan church and but being dissatisfied attended a Whitefield church. His gift of writing soon became apparent and he wrote different publications and books. In 1777, he succeeded the Rev. A. M. Toplady as the editor of The Gospel Magazine, which he conducted for several years, and in which he first published his "Notes on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress." He was long known as a Justice of the Peace, and, in 1783, was appointed an acting Magistrate. His principal work, by which he is best known, is "A Spiritual Treasury for the Children of God."