lately heard within the same walls; so that they were dispersed in various directions, some to neighbouring churches, some to Dissenting chapels. Several of them at length determined upon building a chapel, in the hope that they might be united together in one body, under a pastor of their own choice. Mr. Venn gave his sanction and assistance to this plan, and advised the people to attend the chapel after it was built. Mr. Venn also printed an affectionate pastoral letter to the people, dated the very week that the chapel was opened; and with a liberality very uncommon, most cordially recommended the Rev. William Moorhouse as their minister, in which office he continued among them above fifty years, with great acceptance and success.*

On his removal to Yelling, the same ardent desire to be useful, when a spring of health enabled, prompted him to burst out on the right hand and the left; and his own parish being but thinly inhabited (though his preaching drew a full auditory), he hesitated not to go into the neighbourhood, and preach in a variety of places, at Godmanchester, at the houses and barns of the farmers in the adjoining parishes, and elsewhere, always heard by attentive audiences, and blessed greatly to the souls of many :—

"My congregations at the church (says he) are small, when compared to those I used to preach to at Huddersfield, but they are remarkably attentive, and seem to wonder very much at my doctrine and my carnest manner. Dear Mr. Berridge has been here, and has preached for me. He has encouraged me to go into the neighbouring parishes, where he has preached occasionally; and I have had several congregations in barns and other places, and I hope good has been. done. Your Ladyship would enjoy the sight of one of these rustic assemblies, and the avidity with which they drink, as it were, every expression that falls from my lips. Souls are perishing around me in every direction, but I have not strength to go forth as I used to do. I long to see your Ladyship, and to hear once more the many precious things

Mr. Moorhouse had been a stated attendant on Mr. Venn's ministry for a number of years, walking to Huddersfield and returning, a journey of twentyfive miles. He was a warm admirer of his preaching, and Mr. Venn saw in his young hearer the presage of future eminence and usefulness. Between him, and Mr. Venn a very affectionate intercourse existed, as appears from a letter written by the latter shortly after his removal to Yelling, and when Mr. Moorhouse was newly settled at Huddersfield. This document has been rescued from oblivion in the memoirs of Mr. Moorhouse in the Evangelical Magazine for 1824, and exhibits a noble instance of Christian charity, the kindness of a father anxious for the welfare of a son in the Gospel of Christ. "God's name be praised (says Mr. Venn) that your church is in a flourishing condition. It has my daily prayers. Remember us also at the throne of grace. I shall be glad to hear from you as my successor among a people whom I shall always love, and I hope to meet one day in glory. From your affectionate fellow labourer in the Gospel." Mr. Moorhouse died July 2, 1823, aged 81.

from your lips, which invigorated my dead soul and gave me such vehement desires in times past. O pray that I may be animated with a burning desire to spread the glorious Gospel of my precious Lord and Master, and be content to spend and be spent in a cause so divine!"

Never ashamed of the brand of Methodism, or of those most liberally abused by a wicked world, but induced by the hope of being blessed to the call and conversion of sinners, this apostolic man ventured to preach in unconsecrated places, and at uncanonical hours, and the great Head of the Church bore testimony to the word of his servant. The word of the Lord no sooner began to be preached in the light and the love of it, than it immediately ran and was glorified.

Mr. Venn was of the middle stature; his countenance marked with pleasantness and sensibility, notwithstanding a redness, which might be easily mistaken for the consequence of intemperance. His voice was strong and powerful his manner of delivery engaging and impressive; and he seemed himself deeply penetrated with the truths he delivered. His action was becoming his subject; and his manner of treating every theme united singular ability with the most solid experience.

CHAPTER XXX.

Lady Betty Germaine-Lord Chancellor Thurlow-Mr. Rowland Hill-Letters from Mr. Berridge—Mr. Roquet-Mr. Wills--Anecdote of Lavington, Bishop of Exeter David Erskine-Illness of Lady Fanny Shirley-Letter from Mr. Venn-Marriage of Mr. Wills-Mr. Pentycross-Letter from Mr. Pentycross -Chapel at Wallingford Mr. Toplady-Letter from Mr. Toplady-Mr. Romaine's Essay on Psalmody-Lady Glenorchy-Mr. Holmes-Captain Scott-Mr. Fletcher-Mr. Venn's visit to Bath-Lady Henrietta Hope-Letter from Lady Glenorchy to Lady Huntingdon Argyle chapel at Bath,-Dr. Sheppard-Letter from Lady Huntingdon to Mrs. Pentycross.

In the year 1771 the eccentric Lady Betty Germaine, widow of the notorious adventurer and gambler, Šir John Germaine, who had previously married the divorced Duchess of Norfolk, arrived in Bath, and paid her respects to Lady Huntingdon. She had been of her Ladyship's parties in London to hear Mr. Whitefield; and at Lady Betty's the Countess had met Horace Walpole, Dr. Johnson, Mr. Garrick, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and

other celebrated persons of the day. The niece of Lady Betty, the witty and eccentric Lady Craven, better known as the Margravine of Anspach, did not conceal her high opinion of the Countess; and the well-known Mrs. Montague, who had been long acquainted with her Ladyship, and who seldom associated with any one whom she did not think a person of information, was also very partial to her society, and has expressed a high opinion of her exalfed worth. Lord Chancellor Thurlow, who was then at Bath, having signified a wish to be acquainted with Lady Huntingdon, Lady Betty undertook to introduce him. The Chancellor endeavoured to dazzle Lady Huntingdon with the variety and splendour of his talents; while she overwhelmed him with astonishment by the unaffected simplicity of her conversation and the depth of her theological acquirements. His Lordship was very fond of relaxing from the arduous duties of his office, but had a disagreeable habit of mixing oaths in his conversation at all times. It is said the reproofs of Lady Huntingdon were of singular service to him in this particular; so much so, as to excite the jocularity of some of his friends, who used to tell him he would soon be a convert to all her Ladyship's opinions. He was a man of a superior mind, and in many respects filled his high station with great and deserved reputation.

About this time the Rev. Rowland Hill commenced preaching at Bristol and in the neighbourhood. Many parts of Gloucestershire, Somersetshire, and Wiltshire were visited by him, and he has himself recorded in his diary many of the texts from which he preached, and the effect of his sermons. But his headquarters were at Bath, at the house of the Countess of Huntingdon, where he always had a welcome reception. He was at this time under the frowns of his family, disappointed of admission into the Church, and distressed for money. His labours in her Ladyship's chapel were attended with remarkable success. Lady Betty Germaine brought many of the nobility to hear him, and great crowds attended whenever he preached. Mr. Berridge, in his usual quaint manner, notices Mr. Hill's visit to Bath, in a letter to her Ladyship, dated May 8th, 1771:—

"I find you have got honest Rowland down to Bath: he is a pretty young spaniel, fit for land or water, and has a wonderful yelp. He forsakes father, and mother, and brethren, and gives up all for Jesus ; and I believe will prove a useful labourer, if he keeps clear of petticoat snares. The Lord has owned him much at Cambridge and in the North, and I hope will own him more abundantly in the West."

He preached several times in the neighbourhood of Bath; also at Rodborough, Painswick, and Dursley, to immense crowds.

VOL. II.-E

From Dursley he went, for the first time, after preaching on the evening of Sunday, June 16th, to Wotton-under-Edge, a place that was destined to become his favourite summer residence in after life. The people behaved with remarkable attention, and stood in great crowds under the market-place, while he addressed them from Ephes. v. 14, "Awake, thou that sleepest," &c. An old lady, of one of the most respectable families of the town, who was awakened to a sense of religion under his ministry, used frequently to describe his first visit to Wotton. She was sitting at her tea, when a relation suddenly came in, and said, "Ann, the baronet's son, who goes about preaching, is now under the market-house." Are you sure it is the baronet's son himself?" "Yes, that I am, for I saw his brother, Mr. Richard Hill, not long ago, and he is so like him, I am sure he is of the same family." Upon this she accompanied her friend, out of curiosity, to see and hear the stranger, little thinking of the alteration his preaching would be the means of producing in her own views of herself and of her Saviour. One man who stood by her seized a stone, and was going to throw it at Mr. Hill; but another who was near him laid hold of his arm, and said, in the broad dialect of Gloucestershire, "If thee dost touch him, I'll knock thy head off!" when the assailant dropped the stone, and the people soon became quiet, overawed by the solemnity of the subject and the earnestness of the preacher.

In the midst of these labours he received the following letter of encouragement from the veteran in the same cause at Everton. The letter was directed to "Rowland Hill, Esq., to be left with the Right Honourable the Countess of Huntingdon, at Bath, in Somersetshire." It was dated May 8, 1771, the same day on which he wrote to her Ladyship :

:

"Dear Rowley, My heart sends you some of its kindest love, and breathes its tenderest wishes for you. I feel my heart go out to you whilst I am writing, and can embrace you as my second self. How soft and sweet are those silken cords which the dear Redeemer twines and ties about the hearts of his children! How different from mere natural affection, and much more from vicious self-love. Surely it is a pleasant thing to love with a pure heart fervently; and something of this love I feel for you, which brings a melting tear into my eye, and refreshes my very body as I write. Grace, mercy, and peace be with you. May heavenly truth beam into your soul, and heavenly love inflame your heart! I suppose you are now arrived in the West, and are working as a labourer in your Master's vineyard. Be faithful and diligent, and look up to your Master continually for direction and assistance. Remember his gracious promise, Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.' He will supply you with wisdom,

strength, and courage; for he sends none upon a warfare at their own cost. I think your chief work for a season will be to break up fallow ground. This suits the accent of your voice at present. God will give you other tongues when they are wanted; but now he sends you out to thrash the mountains, and a glorious thrashing it is. Go forth, my dear Rowley, whenever you are invited, into the devil's territories; carry the Redeemer's standard along with you, and blow the Gospeltrumpet boldly, fearing nothing but yourself. If you meet with success, as I trust you will, expect clamour and threats from the world, and a little venom now and then from the children. These bitter herbs make good sauce for a young recruiting serjeant, whose heart would be lifted up with pride if it was not kept down by these pressires. The more success you meet with, the more opposition you will find: but Jesus sitteth above the water-floods, and remaineth a king for ever. His eye is ever upon you, and his heavenly guards surround you. Therefore fear not; go on humbly, go on boldly, trusting only in Jesus, and all opposition shall fall before you. Make the Scriptures your only study, and be much in prayer. The Apostles gave themselves to the word of God and to prayer. Do thou likewise; labour to keep your mind in a heavenly frame-it will make your work pleasant, and your preaching and your conversation savoury. Now is your time to work for Jesus; you have health and youth on your side, and no church or wife on your back. The world is all before you, and Providence your guide and guard. Go out, therefore, and work whilst the day lasteth; and may the Lord Jesus water your soul, and give ten thousand seals to your ministry! I am, with great affection, your friend, "JOHN BERRIDGE."

The beginning of June Lady Huntingdon received another letter from the vicar of Everton. The health of that good old man was declining rapidly as the warm weather advanced; and fearing he should soon be entirely laid aside, wrote to entreat her Ladyship to send her chaplain, Mr. Glascott, to supply his church, as the congregations were unusually large during the summer months, and it would grieve him to see them as sheep without a shepherd.

"Everton, June 8, 1771.

“My dear Lady,—I am coming early with another letter, because I am yet able to write, and do not know how long I shall be able. My health and strength are declining apace since the warm weather came in. My legs are almost gone, and my horse is almost useless. As vet I have been able to do whole duty on the Sabbath, but fear I shall be laid up soon. Do, my dear Lady, wrestle with me in prayer, that I may be strengthened to labour; and get the men and women of Israel to help. The same fervent prayer that opened Peter's prisondoor may open the door of my mouth. Jesus loves to bring his disciples to his feet, and his heart is so tender he cannot resist much importunity. I would fain prattle a little for him in the pulpit this summer; for we have now large congregations, and it is sad, very sad, to