Such is the love of the rich ones to those who are made instruments in the hand of God of speaking a word of comfort to their souls. O what reason have I to wonder that God makes use of such a poor instrument as I am for such wondrous purposes! But above all, what reason have we to praise him for a good hope through grace of our own interest in the blessings of grace which are treasured up in Christ our living head, who has said, Because I live ye shall live also.

I should have been very glad to have seen you in London, but seeing it is so as it is I have sent you a pound of ten-shilling tea, and a guinea to buy you a gown or what else you please. As they were given to me for preaching I freely part with them to the object of my love, and hope that you will look upon these presents as tokens of conjugal affection, for though I am absent in body yet am present with you in love and affection as the dear part of myself. Mr. and Mrs. Langford give their respects to you, and would have been glad to have seen you at London. May the Lord grant you much of his comforting presence and fill you with all joy and peace in believing. From your loving husband,

DAVID KINGHORN.

Tell Joseph I have got a fine top for him, and six of Dr. Watts's books of Cradle Hymns to give away, given by Dr. Gifford.

But we must return more particularly to the subject of our narrative. Joseph Kinghorn entered school March 6, 1775. His education seems to have consisted principally of Latin and Greek, with the usual branches of an English education, including Mathematics, with which science he became well acquainted. Shorthand formed another of his principal studies, or rather, perhaps, of his amusements, and he transcribed various systems, but finally fixed upon Gurney's brachygraphy, which he employed very extensively during his whole life. At least 2000 sketches for his sermons are extant written in his shorthand, as well as a large quantity of miscellaneous MSS. He was also in the habit of taking notes of the sermons he heard, even as early as 1776.*

August 18. My father made some beautiful remarks from Gen. xxxv, 2, where he said that we should cast away the idols of our hearts, and that we should not suffer the world to intrude when we should worship God, and we should not have an everyday's heart in a Sunday's coat.

JOSEPH KINGHORN AT HULL.

27

In December, 1779, Mr. Beatson, Baptist minister at Hull, wrote to Mr. Kinghorn to inform him that Mr. Cliffe, a clock and watch-maker in that town, was willing to take Joseph, then nearly fourteen, as an apprentice, the premium to be £10. In the following month he went on trial, and seems to have been very diligent in his business; but in March, 1780, it appears that he removed to Mr. Denton's, a watchmaker in another part of Hull. The correspondence between Joseph Kinghorn and his father during the short period of his absence contains some interesting notes, of which we, therefore, insert some extracts.

MY DEAR CHILD,

January 25th, 1780.

As I cannot have the pleasure of speaking to you as usual, I take this opportunity of expressing my sincere regard for your welfare. As I have endeavoured to give you the best advice I was capable of, I should cease to love you if I did not continue to recommend to you a life of piety, that is, repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, together with a practical observance of the duties of religion and morality which your years and circumstances in life call for at your hands. Be careful, my dear son, to read the sacred Scriptures when you have opportunity, and daily to pray to God to keep you from every evil, and humbly thank him for every mercy you receive from him. Above all things, remember to keep holy the Lord's day. He that neglects to honour the Lord in his house, or that spends the Lord's day idly, need not wonder if God suffer him to run into all manner of sin. O be careful that you do not commit little evils, for a commission of small sins (as some call them) makes way for the commission of greater. Remember the words of Solomon, Prov. i, 10, My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. Thy mother and I seldom have thee out of our mind, but we hope that thou wilt be well used by thy master and mistress, and that thou wilt be studious to please them, by a constant application to business, and a submissive behaviour. We shall expect a letter from you, if health and time permit, on Friday. D. K.

Thanks be to God, we have a help at hand, Jesus

our Mediator, ever ready to help: but though this be the case, we

are apt to get out of the right line, to err and go astray to the right hand or to the left, which saps our comforts, and throws us into the same, or a similar hole again, as before. Mr. Beatson was upon peace, last Lord's day, from John xiv, 17, but were I to give you the skeleton, (which I have,) I should be tired with writing it, therefore I omit it here, perhaps you may see it another time. Of late I have been but very dull with respect to God, and things of God, that I can't find Immanuel in Mansoul, yet though I have him not now, I hope to find him, as his arm is not shortened, nor his ear heavy, and his promise is still the same. Your parcel and letter I received safe on Saturday night last, and have acquainted Mr. Denton with respect to the time I am to come home, and he has given his consent to it, therefore on the Saturday before Easter I think of coming to Beverley, with the coach, on the outside, as I think it would not be prudent to walk it. That day you went home, illuminations were here at night, on account of Admiral Rodney's success; we shut up shop soon, and the Quaker has all the rooms, (except the three we have) and he would not light up; you may judge of the consequence of this, according to custom.

This is our last week of working by candle light; my kind love to all inquiring friends, and accept the same from your loving son, J. K. Monday, April 10th, 1780.

DEAR SON, Your letter we received, and were glad to hear from you, but were sorry you got cold in going to Hull, though it is what we thought would be the case, as it was a sharp east wind that day you went as I have not yet got the money of Simon [Gregson], I cannot bind you, seeing your master will expect the premium the day you are bound. I should be sorry to bind you if you are not likely to have your health, as it will be of no avail either to your master or yourself, especially as some circumstances are not so agreeable as I could wish. I entreat you to beg of God, that he will keep you from every evil, and fill you with the true knowledge of his holy will, that you may live to the glory and praise of his name, in whatever situation you are placed and in whatever employed. I purpose seeing you in a little time at Hull; give my respects to Mr. and Mrs. Beatson.

I rest, your loving father,

D. K.

Joseph's health became, however, so weak that it was not

thought advisable that he should be apprenticed to the watchmaking business. He accordingly returned home, and during the time he was out of employment amused himself by making a clock. Though he had only been about four months at work he had obtained so good a knowledge of the business that the clock he then made (which had been laid up for many years) was in such good condition in 1843 that with a very little adjustment it was put in order so as to go well, and has been ever since a very good guide.

Joseph Kinghorn a Clerk at the Elswick Lead Works, NewcastleLetters between Father and Son-First Birthday Prayer-A Year's Expences-Desire for the Ministry.

THE next principal event in Mr. Kinghorn's life, was his removal from home, in March, 1781, to the service of Mr. Archer Ward, formerly of Bishop Burton, who had taken the Elswick white-lead works, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. On his return to his native place, he was welcomed by many friends and relatives; "some," he says, "knew me at first sight; others thought it was me from the likeness I had to my father; in short, a great many came thronging about me, I knew nothing about."

He lived with Mr. Ward, and attended usually at Tuthill Stairs meeting-house, where a Mr. Dawson then preached. Mr. Fishwick, Mr. Ward's partner, lived also with him, and being "just cut out for an instructor," helped Joseph in his studies. The Greek Testament afforded employment for his leisure hours, and he seems to have been diligent in the perusal of it. The practice of taking notes of the sermons he heard, was continued as when he was at Bishop Burton.

The letters of this period begin to be filled with theological discussions, of which Mr. David Kinghorn was very fond. Mr. Ward was also much addicted to arguing on points of divinity, such as the nature of the pre-existence of Christ, &c. After telling his father some of Mr. Ward's arguments, Joseph adds, "When people get entangled in mazes they know nothing about, it turns out well, if bad work is not made of it; the Scriptures are the best rule, could we but properly see into them; any further we have no business with. May the