behind you. Much rejoicing abides still with us, and dear Mr. Pentycross keeps exceedingly alive in his own soul, and comforts the many, and causes fear to rest on the multitudes."

Mrs. Pentycross was one of the first fruits of Mr. Pentycross's ministry at Wallingford. In domestic life she was truly affectionate and pious, happily blending much good humour with unaffected seriousness. Lady Huntingdon was always partial to her, and when she was in Bath, for the benefit of her health, sent her a silver tea-pot, as a small token of her affectionate remembrance. The following note accompanied the present:

"Lady Huntingdon's kindest wishes ever attend Mrs. Pentycrosswas glad to find she was so well as to be able to arrive at her lodgings last night, though she fears she will feel the great difference in having left the hospitable roof of her kind friend, Mr. Perry. A small token from Lady Huntingdon she hopes Mrs. Pentycross will accept, to put her in mind how kindly she took her every remembrance of her when absence so justly might have left her so very excusable of every attention that could be due to her. Lady Huntingdon hopes Mrs. Pentycross will not suffer by the change of lodging; and as the air may be better, hopes they may both feel the best effects from it.

66

Bath, Feb. 11, 1784."

From this period nothing remarkable occurred in the history of her Ladyship's chapel at Bath. For several successive years it continued to be supplied by Messrs. Shirley, Townsend, Glascott, Wills, Taylor, Piercy, Pentycross, Rowland, Maxfield, Jesse, Jones, and Charles; Drs. Haweis, Sheppard, and Peckwell. For this highly favoured city to be the appointed scene of their exemplary labours, was a truly happy circumstance. Their names will long continue to be had in honour; and from thence many a goodly jewel will be collected to form their crowns of rejoicing in the great day when the chief Shepherd shall appear. appear. Multitudes thronged to hear them; and it was truly delightful to behold the powerful, the resistless effects of the Gospel-words amongst those, who, before that time, had seldom or never heard it proclaimed in its purity. Many despisers were overawed and confounded-many formal professors were touched with the power of true religion-and many careless lovers of pleasure were impressed with a solemn sense of eternal things.

CHAPTER XXXI.

History of the College at Trevecca-Mr. Fletcher appointed President-Letters from Mr. Fletcher-Mr. Glazebrook the first Student-Mr. Easterbrook -Account of Mr. Glazebrook-Letters from Lady Huntingdon to Mr. Glazebrook and Dr. Kirkland-Lady Moira-Letters from Mr. Berridge— Interesting circumstances Mr. John Jones-First Anniversary of the College Letter from Lady Huntingdon.

On the character of its Ministers the prosperity of the Church will at all times greatly depend. That they should be men of talents and piety, which, in the language of the Holy Scriptures, are named gifts and graces, is devoutly to be desired. As to the measure of talents requisite, they should not fall below mediocrity-the higher they rise above it the greater benefit will accrue to the Church. Piety is still more needful: what the Scriptures express by "being born again of the Spirit, believing in Christ, repenting of sin, being sanctified wholly in spirit, in soul, and body, and living to the Lord," forms an essential part of the character of the man who aspires to the office of a Christian Minister. Education succeeds to prepare them for this peculiar service. Could a greater blessing be wished for the human race, than that it might be regarded as an universal maxim, "that no one should receive an education for the pastoral office who had not first been made a partaker of a divine nature, and known the grace of God in truth."

When by the preaching of the Apostles and Evangelists, and the Ministers whom they ordained, the Gospel was planted among the nations, all the extraordinary aids for the propagation of it ceased, and every thing was left to the operation of ordinary means, under the divine blessing, as the standing method appointed by the Head of the Church for the advancement of his kingdom in every succeeding age. There is no way of attaining knowledge of any kind, but by the method common to all; and an acquaintance with religion, as well as with science, must be acquired by the vigorous application of the mind to the study of divine truth. A blessing from God on such endeavours is to be expected, and should be implored; but he is guilty of a most dangerous error, who conceives that it will in any degree supersede the necessity of ordinary means.

These remarks are applicable to the Seminary founded by the Countess of Huntingdon for the instruction of candidates

for the Christian ministry. For the supply of her chapels, her Ladyship hitherto confined herself, with but few exceptions, to the Ministers of the Established Church, as her preachers, most of whom accepted her invitation and laboured in the places which she had opened. But her zeal enlarging with her success, and a great variety of persons throughout the kingdom begging her assistance, in London and many of the most populous cities, she purchased, built, or hired chapels for the performance of divine service. As these multiplied, through England, Ireland, and Wales, the Ministers who had before laboured for her Ladyship were unequal to the task, and some unwilling to move in a sphere so extensive, and which began to be branded as irregular, and to meet great opposition; yet many persevered in their services when summoned to the work, and were content to bear the cross.

The winter of 1767 Lady Huntingdon spent chiefly at Bath, from whence she wrote frequently to Mr. Fletcher and others relative to the College at Trevecca, and was very active in forming arrangements for the execution of her plan. She proposed to admit only such as were truly converted to God, and resolved to dedicate themselves to his service. They were at liberty to stay there three years, during which time they were to have their education gratis, with every necessary of life, and a suit of clothes once a year; afterwards, those who desired it might enter into the ministry, either in the Established Church of England or among Protestants of any other denomination.

Before her Ladyship entered on this arduous undertaking, her pious mind was desirous to know if there was anything which could be found to favour her plan in the word of God: nor was the enquiry made without receiving ample satisfaction. There were schools of the prophets under the dispensation of the Old Testament, in which young men were trained up in the study of the law of Moses, under the tuition of persons the most eminent and the most favoured of God. Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha, appear to have presided in these seminaries of learning. Many, who have a hypothesis to support, would be greatly delighted if they could produce so respectable authority in its favour. May we not consider this ancient practice as sanctioning similar institutions under the Christian economy?

But there is more than analogy to argue from in support of evangelical seminaries: there is divine authority pronounced in an express injunction. In 2 Tim. ii., 2, the apostle Paul gives him the following charge: "The things which thou hast heard of me before many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Every thing necessary

for Christian schools of education for the ministry, is to be found here. The system to be taught is the Gospel of Jesus Christthe things which Jesus Christ hath revealed to Paul. The tutor or professor, Timothy, an evangelist, who had himself studied under the apostle Paul, and learned from him, both in public and in private, all those glorious truths which "make the man of God perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work," and who had acquired experience in the work of the ministry. The students are described-they must be " faithful men," true believers in Christ, who display the efficacy of their faith by following the Lord fully; and it probably means too, that they should be men of some eminence in gifts and graces. The term of their course of study is specified; and it is to continue till they be thoroughly instructed, that "they shall be able to teach others." The foundation is laid by the God of nature, in endowing the student with good abilities and powerful talents; and by the God of grace, in renewing the soul and sanctifying these talents for the service of Christ. On this foundation a course of evangelical instruction, under an eminent and experienced servant of the Redeemer, is reared; and the result is a fitness for the work of the ministry, for which it is intimated that this education will qualify the student of sacred truth. Such is the mode which the Holy Spirit prescribes as the ordinary way of preparing persons for the ministry of the word. We say the ordinary way, for where circumstances are such that it cannot be obtained, ministers must do without it. The necessities of the Church may render it proper that men should be ministers who have not enjoyed the advantages of an academical or even a liberal education. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, the French Protestants called to the pastoral office the most zealous of their members, and are indebted to those laypreachers for the continuance of their existence.

From the high opinion which the Countess of Huntingdon had of Mr. Fletcher's piety, learning, and abilities for such an office, she invited him to undertake the superintendance of the College at Trevecca. Not that he could promise to be generally resident there, much less constantly: his duty to his own flock at Madely would by no means admit of this: but he was to attend as often as he conveniently could; to give advice, with regard to the appointment of masters and the admission and exclusion of students; to revise their studies and conduct, to assist their piety, and judge of their qualifications for the work of the ministry. As Mr. Fletcher greatly approved of the design, especially considering, first, that none were to be admitted but such as feared and loved God; and secondly, that

when they were prepared for it, they were to be at liberty to enter into the ministry, whenever providence should open a door; he readily complied with the invitation, and undertook the charge. This he did without fee or reward, from the sole motive of being useful in the most important work of training up persons for the glorious office of preaching the Gospel.

When the plan for the examination of the young men who might appear proper candidates for admission into the Collego was drawn up, and approved of by Mr. Romaine, Mr. Veni, Mr. Wesley, and others, it was forwarded by Lady Huntingdou to all those ministers with whom she had any acquaintance or connexion, requesting them to assist her in the choice of such persons as might be suitable for the Christian ministry. Mr. Fletcher being favoured with a copy of the plan, some time after sent her Ladyship the following reply, which throws considerable light on the early history of the late Mr. Glazebrook and the College at Trevecca, for which he was most probably the first candidate proposed :

Madely, 24th Nov. 1767. "My dear Lady-I have received the proposals which your Ladyship has drawn up for the examination of the young men who may appear proper candidates for the Trevecca academy, and gratefully acknowledge your kindness in allowing me to propose suitable subjects out of my parish. Our Israel is small, my Lady, and if among six hundred thousand, only two faithful men were found of old, the Joshuas and Calebs cannot be numerous among us. After having perused the articles and looked round about me, I designed to answer your Ladyship, that out of this Galilee ariseth no prophet. With this resolution I went to bed, but in my sleep was much taken up with the thought and remembrance of one of my young colliers, who told me some months ago, that for four years he had been inwardly persuaded he should be called to speak for God. I looked upon the unusual impression of my dream as a call to speak to the young man, and at waking designed to do so at the first opportunity. To my great surprise he came to Madely that very morning, and I found upon enquiry that he had been as much drawn to come, as I to speak to him. This encouraged me to speak to him of your Ladyship's design; and I was satisfied, by his conversation, that I might venture to propose him to your Ladyship for further examination. His name is James Glazebrook, collier and getter of iron-stone in Madely Wood. He is now

twenty-three-by look nineteen; he has been awakened seven years; he has been steady from the beginning of his profession, at least so far as to be kept outwardly unblamcable, but seemed to me to walk mostly in heaviness. What I told him was as oil put into a glimmering lamp, and he seems to revive upon hearing of the little outward call. Notwithstanding his strong desire to exhort, he never attempted it yet, and his not being forward to run of himself, makes me have the better

VOL. II.-G