hand cottage. On entering that door, how different a scene did we witness from that which we should have beheld in earlier days. The room was nearly filled by two large beds, on one of which a man, just returned from labour for his noontide meal, had thrown himself down and fallen fast asleep. In the other lay a little child, apparently in the last stage of consumption. A woman was cooking potatoes on the large open hearth; and other children were in the room. The unexpected visit of a party of strangers was almost unheeded, for sorrow was in the mother's countenance; and the filth and wretchedness around made us sad at heart, when we remembered that this spot was once dedicated to the service of the Lord.

Douglas informs us, that previously to the Revolution this room was used as a place of worship by the corporation of Newcastle; and "there were affixed to the old pews hands for holding the sword and mace." There was also a wooden tablet in the wainscoting which covered the walls, bearing the date 1588.

In 1770 David Kinghorn received an invitation from the Baptist Church at Bishop Burton to preach there, with a view to the pastoral office. This cause appears to have been begun in 1764, at which time there was no gospel nearer than ten or twelve miles on one side, at Hull, (whither some went on foot;) twenty miles on the other, at Burlington;* sixty or seventy miles distant on the west. Joseph Gawkrodger, pastor of the church at Bridlington, and Richard Hopper, "a gifted brother," at Bishop Burton, preached for them in a house hired for the purpose, which became dilapidated in 1769, and they resolved to endeavour to build a more substantial one, which they were able to finish in the following year.†

Mr. Hopper, who had left them a year previously, wrote to Mr. Kinghorn, urging him to go, and enclosing an invitation signed by fourteen brethren on behalf of the whole. He accordingly visited them March, 1770, and found the number

* Burlington, or Bridlington.

This new Meeting was opened March 7th; "the day was comfortably spent."David Kinghorn to Philip Nairn, March 10th, 1770.

INVITATION TO BISHOP BURTON.

17

of members about thirty, of hearers from 150 to 200; and the cause apparently in an encouraging state.

On the first of April they invited him to remove to Bishop Burton, "to come and labour amongst us, and in due time to take ye pastoral care and charge over us;" and they add, "we do also agree for your present comfort amongst us, to raise £26 per Ann"; and provide a house for you and your family, and to make intercession for ye fund, and also bear y expense that attends your removal."

Journey to Bishop Burton-David Kinghorn's Ordination-Recreations-Visit to London in 1771-Mr. Gurney-the London Ministers— an Interview with Robert Hall, Senior-Flood in the NorthW. Hague's Ordination-Visit to London in 1772-Joseph Kinghorn enters School in 1775-goes to Hull in 1780-Correspondence— Ill Health-Return Home.

DAVID Kinghorn left Newcastle, April 26th, and arrived at Bishop Burton, May 4th. His wife and son, who were staying with Mr. Jopling at Cotherstone, left on Thursday, June 14th, and arrived at Bishop Burton, on Friday; Mrs. Kinghorn gives the following account of the journey :

After I left Newcastle, I underwent a good deal of trouble in my mind, partly, because our removal was so far from all my relations and acquaintance, and likewise the fatigue of our journey, but may I be enabled to give glory to him that hath said, "as your day is so shall your strength be." That morning I set off from my father's the promise was fixed on my mind, "my presence shall go with you," and I was enabled to believe, that as he is a faithful God, he would do as he had said: a word in season, how good it is, for our journeying was tedious, because of the child, yet it made me that I was no way fretful, but went through it with pleasure. I like the place very well, and the people, and let me not forget to tell you that my husband had never such good health since I knew him, and is much fresher coloured of his face; Joseph thrives very well, and grows till you would scarce know him, he will be nothing but a farmer, he is so busy every day with loading corn, and one thing or another, till he goes as weary to bed as a little thresher, but whenever he meets with a little offence, he is for coming back to Newcastle again. Dear friend, we are very comfortably situated as to the world; my life was far happier than when I was at Newcastle, as the Lord is pleased to bless our family with health, which is the greatest

DAVID KINGHORN'S ORDINATION.

19

blessing we can enjoy in this life: oh! may we walk worthy of this, and every other mercy we enjoy.

All things seem to have gone on as pleasantly as could have been wished at Bishop Burton. Mr. Kinghorn says—

"The blessing of peace is the most valuable of all; which, through the mercy of God, we enjoy in this place: may the God of peace continue it upon a good foundation, and cause the gospel of Christ, and love to him, to be the bond of it May this be our continued blessing until we enter into the peaceful regions of eternal bliss."

In November, the final invitation was given to Mr. Kinghorn, from the church at Bishop Burton, "to take," say they, "the pastoral care and charge over us, for to warn us of our enemies, to describe their cunning ways y' they have to entrap our souls, and to describe our armour, and shew us our refuge." The letter was signed by twelve members.

This invitation was accepted by Mr. Kinghorn, and his ordination took place, May 1st, 1771. The service was commenced by Mr. Richard Hopper, of Nottingham, who formerly preached at Bishop Burton. He read, 1 Tim. iii, 2 Tim. ii, and Heb. xiii, prayed, and gave a short introductory discourse. Then Mr. William Crabtree, of Bradford, asked some questions, 1st, of the people, 2nd, of Mr. Kinghorn, who thereupon gave his confession of faith, after which Mr. Gawkrodger, of Bridlington, offered prayer, with imposition of hands, and Mr. Crabtree preached from 1 Cor. iv, 2. The whole service lasted from a quarter-past ten till half-past two: four hours and a quarter! but still the good friends were not satisfied for at four they assembled again, when Mr. Gawkrodger preached from Eph. v, 2, after which three deacons were ordained by prayer and laying on of hands. Thus, Mr. Kinghorn was settled as the pastor of the church at Bishop Burton, and he appears to have been very comfortable there. He no longer worked at his business: of his recreations, we have a lively account in a letter to his friend, Philip Nairn :

"I don't always sit idle, for when I have exhausted my spirits with reading and study, I sometimes go into a barn, and thresh

awhile at other times I visit my people, who mostly live about two miles from Bishop Burton in different quarters, which helps to chee me, as you know I am naturally subject to lowness of spirits, except when I am admitted near the throne, which sometimes is thirty days ere I am called by the King to behold the glory of his majesty: oh, what strangers are we at Court! but, were we to be always there, we should forget we were in the body, or be puffed up with pride.”

He made several journies to collect for the church at Bishop Burton, in various parts of the kingdom. In 1771, he went, June 20th, by Bradford, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Leicester, Nottingham, and Olney, to London, where he arrived, July 16th, and remained till August 6th, spending the greater part of the time at Mr. Gurney's.* He returned through Nottingham, from which place he wrote to Mrs. Kinghorn, both in going and returning.

MY DEAR,

Nottingham, July 6th, 1771.

Your letter I received which gave me much satisfaction to find that you are so reconciled to the will of God, and in some measure comforted concerning my journey, as you say you have been since you received my first letter. O could we learn to cast ourselves more on God we should experience many a happy hour which we bereave ourselves of by endeavouring to shift his yoke from off our neck, which, though in itself gentle and easy, becomes galling and burdensome by attempting to remove it, whilst

* Mr. Joseph Gurney, the son of Mr. Thomas Gurney, the short-hand writer, and the father of Baron John Gurney, and of William Brodie Gurney, Esq., from whose very kind note on the subject, we insert the following extracts

Denmark Hill, 3rd March, 1854.

MY DEAR SIR, I have often heard my father speak of his acquaintance with the father of our late friend Mr. Kinghorn, and in my time, the latter was a visitor at my father's, and the first time I was at Norwich, which was in 1805-6, my father charged me with a message to Mr. Kinghorn, and I spent a very pleasant afternoon with him.

I am not certain whether my father resided on Holborn Hill (opposite Hatton Garden) in 1771, or in Southampton Buildings, I should think the latter; Mr. Toplady boarded with him some years there, and when he removed to Stamford Hill, in June, 1777, used to come down when his engagements permitted, and was one of the first who welcomed me when I made my appearance in this world.

Yours most truly,

W. B. GURNEY.