The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. It was one of the most solemn and affecting meetings of this nature I ever remember to have attended. The Lord was remarkably present, and the whole congregation seemed to bow beneath the power of the Spirit. The unction of the Holy One rested in a very peculiar manner upon his labours here. I have heard of two persons awakened by his energetic appeals to the conscience, and trust very many spiritual children from this place will be his joy and the crown of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord."*

CHAPTER XXIX.

Death of the Hon. John Shirley and Lady Stewarta-Letters from Mr. VennMr. Ryland Booth's "Reign of Grace"-Letter from Mr. Venn-Mr. Whitefield to Mr. Shirley-Mr. Whitefield's last visit to Bath-His labours in Lady Huntingdon's Chapel-Letters from Mr. Venn-Lord and Lady Dartmouth, George the Third, and Dr. Beattie-Baron Smythe-Lady Smythe—Mr. Moses Browne-Mr. Newton-Mr. Venn's preaching tours-Worcester_ Mr. and Mrs. Stillingfleet-Shropshire—Mr. Henshaw and Mr. Hawksworth -Mr. Townsend Mr. Jesse-Letter from Mr. Venn-Lady Lowther-Mr. Venn's sermon on the death of Mr. Whitefield-Mr. Venn's liberality.

Ar the commencement of this year Lady Huntingdon was called to the painful task of parting with two very near and beloved relatives, the Hon. John Shirley, brother to Washington, Earl Ferrers, and her Ladyship's aunt, the Lady Stewarta Shirley, sister to Lady Fanny Shirley, Lady Selina Bathurst, Lady Mary Tryon, Lady Anne Furness, Lady Elizabeth Clarges, and Lady Dorothy Cotes. Lady Stewarta died at Bath, and for a series of years had been the subject of affliction. Her dismission from mortality is thus briefly noticed by the Countess of Huntingdon:

"Since I wrote last, I have been called to pass through additional trials, aud have much cause to bless the Lord for the abundant supports which I experienced when in the furnace. Poor Lady Stewarta is at length released. But, oh! much mercy has been mixed with this painful dispensation. Dear Lady Fanny feels the parting stroke, but

This faithful and useful minister of Christ was twenty-nine years vicar of Dewsbury. He departed to his eternal home on the 23rd of December, 1806; and the Gospel which he had embraced, and which he had for so many years published among dying men, was found by himself to be an effectual solace in the extremities of sickness and death.

has been enabled to manifest Christian fortitude and patience. Lady Barbara will not long survive; she is daily declining more and more. O that we may have grace given us to be faithful to the interests of her immortal soul."

Lady Huntingdon's health having rapidly improved, and business of importance requiring her presence in the metropolis, she went thither the latter part of the month of March :

"Through abounding mercy (says her Ladyship) I reached London on Wednesday last, with my health better than when I went from hence. I was rejoiced to meet my dear and honoured friend, Mr: Whitefield, once more in the flesh. He breakfasted with me the next morning, and I enjoyed a truly delightful season. Christian conversa

tion was profitable, and social prayer sweet."

Her Ladyship remained in London till the beginning of May, when she went to Tunbridge Wells, where she was busily engaged in making preparations for the opening of her college at Trevecca, which was to take place in the month of August. Whilst at Tunbridge Wells her Ladyship wrote to Mr. Venn, then in a bad state of health, inviting him to her house at Bath, hoping that rest and the use of the waters might, under Providence, be the means of his complete restoration.

"Your Ladyship's last favour (says Mr. Venn) brought with power to my mind that ample promise made to the followers of the Lamb, that they should receive an hundred fold now in this time-houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers for the poor sacrifice they can make in faithfulness to him; for certainly the parental affection dictated every syllable of your letter, and heartily am I obliged to you for it. Had I not a very afflicting call at home, I know the journey, the rest from my necessary duty, and perhaps the waters, would be of singular service to me, as I am sure your Ladyship's example and words would animate my soul; but I have a little child, who is very far gone in a consumption, after the small-pox; and though it humbles. me very much to see her suffering day by day, yet the little alleviation I can administer, and the being an eye-witness that every thing is done for her which her case requires, gives me some comfort, and I look upon it as a call."

The delicate state of Mr. Ryland's health also prevented Mr. Venn's leaving home at this time. He had been invited to Kippax by Mrs. Medhurst, and had actually ridden eight miles on his way thither, when he turned back from a consideration which then first darted into his mind, that the weight of the whole duty lying on Mr. Ryland, it might bring on a relapse of his very alarming attack:

"Immediately (says he) the uneasiness I felt, and the self-condemna

Her Ladyship died November 7, 1768, unmarried,

tion I should suffer, and the appearance it might have of unkindness in leaving him too soon alone, all crowded into my mind, and I could no way be satisfied but by being with him. I determined, therefore, God willing, to postpone my visit to you a little longer, when absence from home, on a Sabbath day, will in no degree endanger the health of one so justly dear to the parish and to myself, both for indefatigable labour and most truly Christian example."

Lady Huntingdon, at this time, had some prospect of obtaining the living of Ashby-de-la-Zouch for Mr. Ryland, of whom she entertained a very high opinion, from personal observations when in Yorkshire, as well as from the great estimation in which he was always held by Mr. Venn. After his marriage with Miss Hudson, one of Mr. Venn's most valued and faithful friends and correspondents, he continued to reside in the vicarage, as he had been accustomed to do before his marriage. By this arrangement, Mr. Venn's young family received the benefit of a most affectionate superintendance, which repaired, as far as possible, their mother's loss. The prospect of Mr. Ryland's removal gave Mr. Venn some uneasiness :

"Shall I tell your Ladyship (says he) how much you are likely to distress me and my people by removing Mr. Ryland: he has been both strength of body and zeal of mind to supply my lack of service to a very large flock. He is greatly beloved, and greatly blessed in his indefatigable labours: and to my children he behaves with the tenderest love; so that, upon the proposal of calling him to Ashby, I found my heart rise, and unwilling for the time to say- Let the will of the Lord be done.""

About this period the late Rev. Abraham Booth attracted the notice of some persons eminent in the religious world. He was pastor of a small congregation of the Particular Baptist denomination, at Sutton Ashfield, in Nottinghamshire, where he composed a work entitled, "The Reign of Grace," which contained the substance of a great number of his sermons, preached first to the church over which he presided, and at other places. The manuscript had been recommended to Mr. Venn, who, hearing a pleasing account of Mr. Booth's life and ministry, desired to peruse it, "though he entertained no raised expectatations concerning it;" but "to my great surprise (says Mr. Venn) there appeared to me in it the marks of a genius joined with the feelings of a Christian heart; a vigour of style much above what is common in our best religious writers; in his reasoning, clearness and force, and in his doctrine an apostolic purity I flatter myself also that this work will prove both so pleasing and useful to men of an evangelical taste, that some better situation may be found for Mr. Booth-a situation proper for a man

whom God hath endowed with abilities, and a taste for good learning; so that he shall be no more subject to the necessity of manual labour."

By the advice of Mr. Venn Mr. Booth's treatise was committed to the press, which, with his recommendation and the merits of the work itself, soon brought the worthy author into notice:

"I have just been the means (continues Mr. Venn) of publishing a work which, all things considered, your Ladyship will doubtless think a very extraordinary one. The author is very poor, has seven children, and was never taught more than to read or write. The title of the book is The Reign of Grace, from its Rise to its Consummation.' Some things there are in it which I am sure would exceedingly delight you; and from the rage with which they rail against me at Halifax, for causing it to be published, I trust the old serpent feels it strike at his throne.

"I have the pleasure of acquainting your Ladyship that another is just gone to heighten the triumph above from Thornhill. She was of that amiable, meek spirit, which is ever highly esteemed in the world. She was named always as an example. Five years ago she paid a visit to a bitter opposer of the Gospel in my parish, and then the Lord called her; and so precious was his name to her heart, and so jealous was she of his glory, that a few weeks before her death one of her old acquaintance mentioning that so good a liver as she had been must be happy after death, threw her into a fit. Indeed, Messrs. Burnet, Ryland, Stillingfleet, Molesworth, and myself, were all very much edified by her. The furnace of affliction into which she was cast was exceedingly hot. For seven weeks she endured such pains as made us rejoice when her Lord and Heavenly Husband said, it is enough; and then departed with a smile.

"I beg my Christian respects to Lady Anne, to Miss Orton, and all friends. I wish you good luck in the name of the Lord. May the fruit of the cross amongst you shake like Libanus. From your very greatly indebted servant for Christ's sake, "H. VENN."

As soon as Mr. Booth's work was in circulation, Lady Huntingdon procured a number of copies, which she distributed in every direction, and recommended the author to several of her dissenting friends of the Baptist denomination in London. Her Ladyship wrote to Dr. Gifford, and sent him several copies of "The Reign of Grace," requesting him to use his utmost efforts in promoting the welfare of the deserving author. Some of the members of the church in Prescot-street, Goodman's-fields, (then destitute of a pastor,) having read the book, and being much pleased with it, invited Mr. Booth to preach to them on trial. He afterwards received a unanimous call, and was ordained pastor of the church on Feb. 16th, 1769. Lady Hunting

don, being at that time in London, was present on the interesting occasion, and ever after maintained a friendly intercourse with Mr. Booth.

At the commencement of the year Lady Huntingdon appears to have been much indisposed. She had spent a portion of the winter in London, but was sufficiently recovered, soon after Mr. Booth's ordination, to proceed to Bath, where she remained some weeks for the benefit of the waters, before she proceeded on her intended excursion into Kent and Sussex. A few weeks previous to the departure of her Ladyship for Bath, Mr. John and Mr. Charles Wesley left London for Bristol, and at the request of the Countess took Bath in their way. On Thursday evening, the 7th of March, Mr. Charles Wesley read prayers, and his brother preached in the chapel to a very numerous and attentive congregation. On Mr. Wesley's departure for Ireland, Mr. Charles Wesley remained for some time to supply the chapel. Shortly after her Ladyship's arrival she was joined by Mr. Shrubsole, of Sheerness, whose labours in the Tabernacle connexion are well known. He resided with her Ladyship about three weeks, and frequently preached in the chapel with much acceptance and success. Lady Fanny Shirley, also, about the same period, removed to that city, for the benefit of her health, and continued there till her death.

Owing to his incessant labours, Mr. Whitefield was seriously indisposed at this period; but towards the end of March, so far recovered as to be able occasionally to resume his delightful occupation. "Through infinite mercy (writes Mr. Whitefield) I have been enabled to preach four days successively." During his illness he received repeated offers of assistance from several of his brethren in the ministry, but from none more cordially than from the Hon. and Rev. Walter Shirley. In a letter, dated London, April 1, 1769, Mr. Whitefield thus expresses his obligations to Mr. Shirley for his proffered assistance:

"Rev. and very dear Sir,-How much am I obliged to you for your two kind letters, and more especially for the repeated offers of your ministerial assistance. They will be most gratefully accepted, and, I humbly hope, be remarkably succeeded by Him who hath promised to be with us always, even unto the end of the world. Blessed be his name, we have been favoured with delightful passover feasts. The shout of the King of Kings is still heard in the midst of our Methodist camps and the shout of Grace! Grace! resounds from many quarters. Our Almighty Jesus knows how to build his temple in troublous times. His work prospers in the hands of the elect Countess, who is gone to Bath, much recovered from her late indisposition. Worthy Lady Fanny Shirley proposes soon to follow, in order to reside there. Some more coronets, I hear, are likely to be laid at the redeemer's