sure up the palpable ideas. None ever ness, by a sort of spiritual induction a vast used so boldly, nor with more success, the audience would speedily be brought into a highest styles of impersonation. His frame of mind-the transfusing of his own; "Hark! hark!" could conjure up and the white furrows on their sooty faces Gethsemane with its faltering moon, and told that Kingswood colliers were weeping, awake again the cry of horror-stricken In- or the quivering of an ostrich plume benocence; and an apostrophe to Peter on spoke its elegant wearer's deep emotion. the Holy Mount would light up another And coming to his work direct from comTabor, and drown it in glory from the munion with his Master, and in all the opening heaven. His thoughts were pos- strength of accepted prayer, there was an sessions, and his feelings were transforma- elevation in his mien which often paralysed. tions; and if he spake because he felt, his hostility, and a self-possession which only hearers understood because they saw. They made him, amid uproar and fury, the more were not only enthusiastic amateurs, like sublime. With an electric bolt he would Garrick, who ran to weep and tremble at bring the jester in his fool's-cap from his his bursts of passion, but even the colder perch on the tree, or galvanize the brick bat critics of the Walpole school were surprised from the skulking miscreant's grasp, or into momentary sympathy and reluctant sweep down in crouching submission and wonder. Lord Chesterfield was listening shame-faced silence the whole of Bartholoin Lady Huntingdon's pew when White- mew Fair; whilst a revealing flash of senfield was comparing the benighted sinner tentious doctrine or vivified Scripture, to a blind beggar on a dangerous road. would disclose to awe-struck hundreds the His little dog gets away from him when forgotten verities of another world, or the skirting the edge of a precipice, and he is unsuspected arcana of their inner man. left to explore the path with his iron-shod" "I came to break your head, but, through staff. On the very verge of the cliff this blind guide slips through his fingers, and skims away down the abyss. All unconscious, its owner stoops down to regain it, and stumbling forward-"Good God! he is gone!" shouted Chesterfield, who had been watching with breathless alarm the blind man's movements, and who jumped from the seat to save the catastrophe. But the glory of Whitefield's preaching was its heart-kindled and heart-melting gospel. But for this all his bold strokes and brilliant surprises might have been no better than the rhetorical triumphs of Kirwan and other pulpit dramatists. He was an orator, but he only sought to be, an evangelist. Like a volcano where gold and gems may be darted forth as well as common things, but where gold and molten granite flow all alike in fiery fusion, bright thoughts and splendid images might be projected from his flaming pulpit, but all were merged in the stream which bore along the gospel and himself in blended fervor. Indeed, so simple was his nature, that glory to God and goodwill to man having filled it, there was room for little more. Having no church to The "points of doctrine" were chiefly found, no family to enrich, and no memory the extent of the atonement and the perseto immortalize, he was the mere ambassa- verance of the saints; the "indissoluble dor of God; and inspired with its genial, union" was occasioned by their all-absorbpiteous spirit-so full of heaven reconciled ing love to the same Saviour, and untiring and humanity restored-he soon himself efforts to make his riches known. became a living gospel. Radiant with its quarrelled a little, but they loved a great benignity, and trembling with its tender-deal more. Few characters could be more

you, God has broken my heart," was a sort of confession with which he was familiar; and to see the deaf old gentlewoman, who used to mutter imprecations at him as he passed along the street, clambering up the pulpit stairs to catch his angelic words, was a sort of spectacle which the triumphant Gospel often witnessed in his day. And when it is known that his voice could be heard by 20,000, and that ranging all the empire, as well as America, he would often preach thrice on a working-day, and that he has received in one week as many as a thousand letters, from persons awakened by his sermons; if no estimate can be formed of the results of his ministry, some idea may be suggested of its vast extent and singular effectiveness.

The following codicil was added to Whitefield's will; "N. B.-I also leave a mourning ring to my honored and dear friends, the Rev. John and Charles Wesley, in token of my indissoluble union with them, in heart and Christian affection, notwithstanding our difference in judgmeat about some particular points of doctrine."

They

completely the converse, and in the side of one another. Ten years older than.. Church's exigencies, more happily the sup- his pupil, Wesley was a year or two later plement, of one another, than were those of of attaining the joy and freedom of GospelGeorge Whitefield and JOHN WESLEY; forgiveness. It was whilst listening to Luand had their views been identical, and ther's Preface to the Romans, where he detheir labors all along coincident, their large scribes the change which God works in the services to the gospel might have repeated heart through faith in Christ, that he felt Paul and Barnabas. Whitefield was soul, his own heart strangely warmed; and findand Wesley was system. Whitefield was ing that he trusted in Christ alone for sala summer-cloud which burst at morning or vation, "an assurance was given him that noon in fragrant exhilaration over an ample Christ had taken away his sins, and saved tract, and took the rest of the day to gather him from the law of sin and death." And again; Wesley was the polished conduit in though in his subsequent piety a subtle the midst of the garden, through which the analyst may detect a trace of that mystiliving water glided in pearly brightness and cism which was his first religion-even as to perennial music, the same vivid stream from his second religion, Moravianism, he was day to day. After a preaching paroxysm, indebted for some details of his eventual Whitefield lay panting on his couch, spent, church-order.-No candid reader will deny breathless, and death-like; after his morn- that "righteousness, peace, and joy in the ing sermon in the Foundry, Wesley would Holy Ghost," had now become the Religion mount his pony, and trot and chat and ga- of the Methodist; and for the half century ther simples, till he reached some country of his ubiquitous career, his piety retained hamlet, where he would bait his charger, and this truly evangelic type. A cool observer, talk through a little sermon with the villa- who met him towards the close, records, gers, and re-mount his pony and trot away" so fine an old man I never saw.

The

again. In his aerial poise, Whitefield's happiness of his mind beamed forth in his eagle eye drank lustre from the source of countenance. Every look showed how light, and loved to look down on men in fully he enjoyed the gay remembrance of assembled myriads; Wesley's falcon glance a life well spent ;' and wherever he went, did not sweep so far, but it searched more he diffused a portion of his own felicity. keenly and marked more minutely where it Easy and affable in his demeanor, he acpierced. A master of assemblies, White-commodated himself to every sort of comfield was no match for the isolated man ;- pany, and showed how happily the most seldom coping with the multitude, but finished courtesy may be blended with the strong in astute sagacity and personal as- most perfect piety. In his conversation, cendency, Wesley could conquer any num- we might be at a loss whether to admire ber, one by one. All force and impetus, most his fine classical taste, his extensive Whitefield was the powder-blast in the knowledge of men and things, or his overquarry, and by one explosive sermon would flowing goodness of heart. While the grave shake a district, and detach materials for and serious were charmed with his wisdom, other men's long work; deft, neat, and his sportive sallies of innocent mirth depainstaking, Wesley loved to split and trim lighted even the young and thoughtless; each fragment into uniform plinths and po- and both saw, in his uninterrupted cheerlished stones. Or, taken otherwise, White-fulness, the excellency of true Religion."* field was the bargeman or the wagoner To a degree scarcely paralleled, his piety who brought the timber of the house, and had supplanted those strong instincts-the Wesley was the architect who set it up. love of worldly distinction, the love of Whitefield had no patience for ecclesiasti- money, and the love of ease. The answer cal polity, no aptitude for pastoral details; which he gave to his brother, when refusing with a beaver-like propensity for building, to vindicate himself from a newspaper caWesley was always constructing societies, lumny, "Brother, when I devoted to God and with a king-like craft of ruling, was my ease, my time, my life, did I except my most at home when presiding over a class or reputation?" was no casual sally, but the a conference. It was their infelicity that system of his conduct. From the moment they did not always work together; it was the Fellow of Lincoln passed into the highthe happiness of the age, and the further-ways and hedges, and commenced itinerant ance of the Gospel that they lived along- preacher, he bade farewell to earthly fame.

* Born 1703. Died 1791.

Alexander Knox.

His volumi

nous Journals are little better than a turnpike log-miles, towns, and sermon-textswhilst their authoritative tone and self-centring details give the record an air of arrogance and egotism which, we doubt not, would disappear, could we view the venerable writer face to face. Assuredly, his power was in his presence. Such fascination re

And perhaps no Englishman since the days gre, and very seldom racy. | of Bernard Gilpin, has given so much away. When his income was thirty pounds a year, he lived on twenty-eight, and saved two for charity. Next year he had sixty pounds, and still living on twenty-eight, he had thirty-two to spend. A fourth year raised his income to a hundred and twenty pounds, and steadfast to his plan the poor got ninetytwo. In the year 1775, the Accountant-sided in his saintly mien, there was such General sent him a copy of the Excise Or- intuition in the twinkle of his mild but der for a return of Plate; "REV. SIR,- brilliant eye, and such a dissolving influAs the Commissioners cannot doubt but you ence in his lively, benevolent, and instruchave plate, for which you have hitherto ne- tive talk, that enemies often left him adglected to make an entry, &c. ;" to which he mirers and devotees. And should any rewrote this memorable answer :-" SIR-I gard the Wesleyan system as the mere emhave two silver tea-spoons at London, and bodiment of Mr. Wesley's mind, it is a sintwo at Bristol. This is all the plate which gular triumph of worth and firmness. NeI have at present; and I shall not buy any ver has a theological idiosyncrasy perpetuatmore while so many around me want bread. ed itself in a church so large and stable. I am, Sir, your most humble servant, JOHN But though every pin and cord of the MeWESLEY. "And though it is calculated that thodist tabernacle bears trace of the fingers, he must have given more than twenty thou- concinnate and active, which reared it, the sand pounds away, all his property, when he founder's most remarkable memorial is his died, consisted of his clothes, his books, and living monument. Wesley has not passed a carriage. Perhaps, like a ball burnished away; for, if embalmed in the Connexion, by motion, his perpetual activity helped to he is re-embodied in the members. Never keep him thus brightly clear from worldly did a leader so stamp his impress on his pelf; and when we remember its great fellowers. The Covenanters were not such pervading motive, there is something sub- fac-similes of Knox; nor were the imperial lime in this good man's industry. Ris- guards such enthusiastic copies of their liting every morning at four, travelling every tle corporal, as are the modern Methodists year upwards of 4000 miles, and preaching the perfect transmigration of their veneratnearly a thousand sermons, exhorting socie- ed Father. Exact, orderly, and active; ties, editing books, writing all sorts of let- dissident, but not dissenters; connexional, ters, and giving audience to all sorts of peo- but Catholic; carrying warmth within, and ple, the ostensible president of Methodism yet loving southerly exposures; obliging and pastor of all the Methodists, and amidst without effort, and liberal on system; sehis ceaseless toils betraying no more bustle rene, contented, and hopeful-if we except than a planet in its course, he was a noble the master-spirits, whose type is usually specimen of that fervent diligence which, their own-the most of pious Methodists are launched on its orbit by a holy and joyful impulse, has ever afterwards the peace of God to light it on its way. Nor should we forget his praiseworthy efforts to diffuse a Christianized philosophy, and propagate Whilst a college tutor, Mr. Wesley numuseful knowledge among religious people. bered amongst his pupils, along with In the progress of research most of his com- George Whitefield, JAMES HERVEY.* To pilations may have lost their value; but his kind and intelligent teacher he owed the motive was enlightened, and the effort superior scholarship, and along with a to exemplify his own idea was characteristic knowledge of Hebrew, a taste for natural of the well-informed and energetic man. In science; but at Oxford he did not learn Christian authorship he is not entitled to theology. Pure in his conduct and correct rank high. Clear as occasional expo- in his clerical deportment, his piety was sitions are, there is seldom comprehen- cold and stiff. It had been acquired among sion in his views, or grandeur in his the painted apostles and sculptured marthoughts, or inspiration in his practical ap- tyrs, the vitrified gospels and free-stone peals; and though his direct and simple style is sometimes terse, it is often mea

cast from Wesley's neat and cheerful mould. That goodness must have been attractive as well as very imitable, which has survived in a million of living effigies.

Born 1714. Died 1758.

litanies of Alma Mater, and lacked al and died, on the Christmas afternoon. quickening spirit. Talking to a plough- Taught by the poor, and then their teacher, man who attended Dr. Doddridge, he he wished his body to be covered with the asked, "What do you think is the hardest paupers' pall; and it lies beneath the comthing in religion?" Sir," " said the munion-table of his beloved sanctuary, till ploughman, "I am a poor man, and you he and his parishioners rise to meet again. are a minister; will you allow me to return Last century was the first in which pious the question?" "Well," said Mr. Her-people cared for style. The Puritans had vey, I think the hardest thing is to deny apple-trees in their orchard, and savory sinful self;" and enlarged at some length herbs in their kitchen garden, but kept no on the difficulties of self-mortification. At green house, nor parterre; and, amongst last the ploughman interposed-" But, Mr. evangelical authors, Hervey was about the Hervey, you have forgotten the most diffi- first who made his style a study, and who cult part of self-denial, the denial of sought, by planting flowers at the gate, to righteous self." Though conscious of some allure passengers into the garden. It is defect in his own religion, the young cler- not, therefore, surprising that his ornagyman looked with disdain at the old fool, ments should be more distinguished for and wondered what he meant. Soon after-profusion and brilliant hues, than for simwards, however, a little book, on "Sub- plicity and grace. Most people admire tumission to righteousness of God," put lips and peonies, and martegon-lilies, bemeaning into the ploughman's words and fore they get on to love store-cups, and Mr. Hervey wondered how he could have mosses, and ferns. We used to admire read the Bible so often and overlooked its them ourselves, and felt that summer was revelation of righteousness. When he saw not fully blown till we saw it sure and it he rejoiced with exceeding joy. It solved certain in these ample and exuberant every problem and filled every void. It lit flowers. Yes, and even now, we feel it up the Bible and kindled Christianity. It would make a warmer June could we love gave emancipation to his spirit and mo- peonies and martegons once more. Hertion to his ministry; and whilst it filled vey was a man of taste equal to his age, his own soul with happiness, it made and of a warmth and venturesomeness behim eager to transmit the benefit. But yond it. He introduced the poetical and his frame was feeble. It was all that he picturesque into religious literature, and could do to get through one sermon every became the Shenstone of theology. And Sabbath in his little church of Weston- although he did what none had dared beFavell; and the more his spirit glowed fore him, the world was ready, and the sucwithin, the more shadowy grew his tall and cess was rapid. The Meditations evangewasted form. He could not, like his old lized the natural sciences, and the Diatutor and his college friend, itinerate; and logues embowered the old divinity. The so he was constrained to write. In Indian former was philosophy in its right mind, phrase, he pressed his soul on paper. With and at the Saviour's feet; the other was a pen dipped in the rainbow, and with as- the Lutheran dogma relieved from the acapirations after a celestial vocabulary, he demic gown, and keeping healthful holiday proceeded to descant on the glories of his in shady woods and by the mountain stream. Redeemer's person, and the riches of his The tendency of his writings was to open great salvation. He published his Medita- the believer's eye in kindness and wonder tions, and then the Dialogues between The- on the works of God, and their effort was ron and Aspasio; and then he grew too to attract to the Incarnate Mystery the weak even for this fire-side work. Still heart surprised or softened by these works. the spirit burned, and the body sank. We cannot, at the distance of a century, "You have only a few minutes to live," recall the fascination which surrounded said the doctor; "spare yourself." "No, them when newly published-when no simidoctor, no; you tell me that I have but a lar attempts had forestalled their freshness, few minutes-O let me spend them in and no imitations had blown their vigor inadoring our great Redeemer." And then to bombast. But we can trace their melhe began to expatiate on the "all bliss" low influence still. We see that they have which God has given to Christ, till with the helped to make men of faith, men of feelwords" precious salvation," utterance ing, and men of piety, men of taste. Over ceased. He leaned his head against the the bald and rugged places of systematic side of the easy-chair, and shut his eyes, orthodoxy they have trained the sweetest

beauties of creation and softest graces of paid. Wondering whether this tenderpiety, and over its entire landscape have ness of conscience pervaded all his chashed an illumination as genial as it is racter, Mr. Walker sought Mr. Conon's growthful and clear. If they be not purely acquaintance, and was soon as completeclassical, they are perfectly evangelical and ly enchained by the sweetness of his singularly adapted to the whole of man. disposition, and the fascination of his Their cadence is in our popular preaching intercourse, as he was awed and astostill, and may their spirit never quit our nished by the purity and elevation of his Christianity! It is the spirit of securest conduct. It was from the good treasure of faith, and sunniest hope, and most seraphic this good man's heart, that Mr. Walker love. And though it may be dangerous for received the Gospel. Having learned it, young divines, like Samuel Parr, to copy he proclaimed it. Truro was in uproar. their descriptive melody, it were a blessed To hear of their general depravity, and to ambition to emulate their author's large and have urged on them repentance and the lightsome piety-his heart" open to the need of a new nature by one who had so whole noon of nature," and through all its lately mingled in all their gaieties, and brightness drinking the smile of a present been the soul of genteel amusement, was God. first startling, and then offensive. The In the middle of the last century evan- squire was indignant; fine ladies sulked gelical religion derived its great impulse and tossed their heads; rude men interfrom the three now named. But though rupted him in the midst of his sermon; there were none to rival Whitefield's flam- and the rector, repeatedly called to dising eloquence, or Wesley's versatile ubi- miss him, was only baffled by Mr. Walkquity, or the popularity of Hervey's gor-er's urbanity. But soon faithful preaching geous pen, there were many among their began to tell; and in Mr. Walker's case its contemporaries who, as one by one they intrinsic power was aided by his insight learned the truth, in their own department or district did their utmost to diffuse it. In Cornwall, there was Walker of Truro; in Devon, Augustus Toplady; in Shropshire, was Fletcher of Madeley; in Bedfordshire, there was Berridge of Everton; in Lincolnshire, Adams and Wintringham; in Yorkshire, were Grimshaw of Haworth, and Venn of Huddersfield; and in London was William Romaine-besides a goodly number who, with less renown, were earnest and wise enough to win many souls.

In the summer of 1746, SAMUEL WALKER came to be curate of the gay little capital of Western Cornwall. He was clever and accomplished-had learned from books the leading doctrines of Christianity, and whilst mainly anxious to be a popular preacher, and a favorite with his fashionable hearers, had a distinct desire to do them good-but did them none. The master of the grammar-school was a man of splendid scholarship, and the most famous teacher in that county, but much hated for his piety. One day Mr. Walker received from Mr. Conon a note, with a sum of money, requesting him to pay it to the custom-house. For his health he had been advised to drink some French wine, but on that smuggling coast could procure none on which duty had been

*Born 1714. Died 1761.

One

into character, and his ascendency over men. In a few years upwards of 800 parishioners had called on him to ask what they must do for their souls' salvation; and his time was mainly occupied in instructing large classes of his hearers who wished to live godly, righteous, and sober lives in this evil world. The first-fruits of his ministry was a dissolute youth who had been a soldier, and amongst this description. of people he had his greatest success. November, a body of troops arrived in his parish for winter quarters. He immediately commenced an afternoon sermon for their special benefit. He found them grossly ignorant. Of the seven best instructed six were Scotchmen, and the seventh an English dissenter. And they were reluctant to come to hear him. first, when marched to church, on arriving at the door, they turned and walked away. But when at last they came under the sound of his tender but energetic voice, the effect was instantaneous. With few exceptions tears burst from every eye, and confessions of sin from almost every mouth. In less than nine weeks no fewer than 250 had sought his private instructions: and though at first the officers were alarmed at such an outbreak of methodism among their men, so evident was the improvement which took place-so rare had punishments become, and so promptly were commands

At