proceeding, confidently persuaded that it was the will of God, who appeared manifestly to bless his labours in the conversion of sinners. Mr. Berridge and Mr. Whitefield encouraged him in his successful ministry, and though he was refused ordination by sia bishops, on account of his alleged irregularity, no sacrifice could induce him to refrain from a practice which so clearly seemed to be crowned with the brightest tokens of the Divine approbation.

:

Mr. Hill married Miss Tudway, May 24, 1775; and by the influence of his father in law, Dr. Wills, the aged bishop of Bath and Wells, ordained him Deacon, June 6th," without any promise or condition whatever" respecting his itinerant preaching but his retired curacy of Kingston in Somersetshire, did not present a field sufficient to satisfy his ardent desire for usefulness; and he continued his practice of proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation in the chapels of Dissenters and in unconsecrated places. His friends remonstrated with him, assuring him that his conduct hindered his preferment, while it was in reality a partial secession from the church of England: but the zealous Methodist replied, "It is no secession from the church of Christ. My desire is to win souls, not livings; and if I can secure the bees, I care not who gets the hives." Mr. Hill justified his itinerant labours by saying, "The whole world is my parish: for our Lord has commanded, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.".

Mr. Hill's character, labours, and success, cannot in this place be at all adequately given; and the reader is referred to the "Life" of this extraordinary man of God, by the Rev. Mr. Sydney. The Rev. Mr. Jay, in his Funeral Sermon for that venerable minister, who died April 11, 1833, aged 89, says of his early ministry, "His condition in life, his youth, the sprightliness of his imagination, the earnestness of his address, produced an amazing attention and effect. He preached in the streets, on the quays (of Bristol), and at Kingswood, among the colliers. He spread the gospel through the neighbour counties of Wiltshire, Somersetshire, and especially Gloucestershire. In the latter county many were awakened, and truly converted to God; where, by his labours

also, several congregations, now large and flourishing, were founded. One of these was Wotton-Underedge. This drew much of his regard. He there built a Tabernacle, and attached to it a dwelling-house, which he always afterwards continued to occupy as the centre of his retreat and excursions when in the country. Going forth to the Redeemer without the camp, he had of course to bear his reproach, and he rejoiced to bear it; and misrepresentation, ridicule, and scorn, were plentifully applied by the haters of vital godli

ness.

London was an interesting scene of Mr. Hill's labours, and thousands flocked to hear him; so that his ministry was the means of a great revival of religion at Mr. Whitefield's chapel. But he preached in St. George's Fields, Southwark, to vast multitudes, in the open air, especially during the "Riots of 1780," when many were led "from politics to prayer." Providence seemed to direct to that vicinity as a proper place for a chapel, and liberal subscriptions were made for its erection. Lord George Gordon contributed 50%.! The first stone was laid June 24, 1782, and it was finished the next year, when Mr. Hill opened it: his published sermon on that occasion is entitled, "Christ Crucified, the Sum and Substance of the Scriptures; a Sermon preached by Rowland Hill, M. A., on Whitsunday, June 8, 1783, on the opening of the Surrey Chapel, St. George's, London."

Surrey Chapel and the long-continued labours of its devoted minister deserve this mention, on account of their connection with the origin and progress of most of those magnificent Christian institutions, which have been organized for evangelizing the world. It has recently been said with truth, that Surrey Chapel has "set the example and taken the lead in all the most important schemes of Christian benevolence by which the last forty-five years have been distinguished."

Whitefield's chapels continued to be attended by crowded congregations, and vital godliness manifestly increased in their societies, exercising a powerful influence on the progress of Christianity in the nation. Dr. Haweis, who was intimately acquainted with this body, writes, in the year 1800,

"The followers of Mr. Whitefield are, in the aggregate, a body nearly as numerous as the former, but not so compact and united. Their principles being Calvinistic, recommend them especially to the various denominations of Dissenters, and to those of the reformed religion in Scotland and abroad. A great number of these joined Mr. Whitefield, as well as multitudes who left the established church. These were formed into congregations in divers parts, who, though considering themselves as one body, have not the same union and interchange as the followers of Mr. Wesley. The first and principal of the churches, at Tottenham Court, observes the church ceremonies and liturgy; the others use in general free prayer. Yet these consider themselves not as distinct independent churches, but formed under a fœderal connection and some of these have no stated pastor, but are supplied by a rotation of ministers. They have an ordination among themselves; and where there is a stationary ministry, they still hold connection with each other, and come up as invited or called upon to the greater congregations, for a fixed space, according to an appointed routine. All these places of worship are supported, not like Mr. Wesley's by a general fund, but the expenses of the meeting, and salaries of ministers, are provided by the several congregations, and collected and expended in each by stewards chosen out of the principal people. The great chapels, in London, are managed by trustees, who were first appointed by Mr. Whitefield himself; and on their several demises, have most faithfully and disinterestedly devolved the trust on others; men hitherto above suspicion, and themselves the most liberal supporters of the cause entrusted to their care: and thus, so far from diminishing since Mr. Whitefield's death, the numbers who have joined them have vastly increased. These are every day growing more into bodies of real Dissenters, and losing the attachment to the church, which was at first strongly preserved. Yet they continue very different from the Independents, whom they most resemble, in a variety of particulars respecting itinerancy, church government, change of ministers, and mutual and more open communion. These congregations are very numerously and very seriously

attended. Nowhere is the life of godliness more apparently preserved. The lay preachers, however, are comparatively become few, the most having been ordained among them. selves; and the body is not governed by a general conference, nor the work supported by a common stock, but each congregation provides for its own expenses. Some chapels around London depend for their supplies of preachers to be furnished from the great bodies in the metropolis. The richer congregations are always ready to assist the poorer in building or enlarging places of worship, and in helping a recent and weaker society, till they become sufficiently numerous, and able to defray their own expenses

CHAPTER XVII.

CALVINISTIC METHODISTS OF THE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S

CONNECTION.

Lady Huntingdon founds a college in Wales-Attainments of her first studentsShe builds a chapel at Tunbridge Wells Spa Fields Chapel, London - Its firs! ministers - The parish clergyman persecutes them- — Two clergymen secede They draw up articles of faith Sion Chapel opened - Lady Huutingdon dies Her companions - Trustees - Lady Ann Erskine - New college at CheshuntState of the connection - Review of it by Dr. Haweis.

LADY HUNTINGDON, inspired with unquenchable zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of men, resolved on the establishment of a college, for the education of pious young men for the Christian ministry. Hey ladyship, therefore, retired to South Wales, and erected a chapel and college in the parish of Talgarth, Brecknockshire. The chapel was opened in 1768; and the college was soon completed, provided with able instructors, and filled with students.

Dr. Haweis remarks, "Thence she dispatched the requisite supplies for the increased congregations under her patronage; and as the calls were often urgent, her students were too frequently thrust forth into the harvest, before they had made any considerable proficiency in the languages, or

* Impartial History of the Church, vol. iii, p. 259–261.

sacred literature, in which it had been her intention they should be instructed. Few of them knew much more than their native tongue; yet being men of strong sense, and real devotedness to God, their ministry was very greatly blessed, and the accounts of their success animated her to greater exertions *."

Tunbridge Wells, a place of fashionable resort for its waters, but lamentably destitute of the means of grace, was visited by her ladyship, and a chapel erected by her there, opened in 1769. This house of God is believed to have been a great blessing, as the spiritual birth-place of many souls.

London, however, was the principal scene of her ladyship's labours; and where she established two large chapels, which had been originally built for theatres.

Spa Fields, between the city and Islington, were visited on the Lord's day by thousands of the votaries of dissipation: for whose accommodation and amusement, a large building was erected, and called THE PANTHEON: but the speculation not answering, the proprietors were glad to let it for a place of religious worship, to the Rev. Herbert Jones, and William Taylor, clergymen of the established church, under the patronage of Lady Huntingdon. This chapel, capable of seating about three thousand persons, was licensed under the Toleration Act, and opened on Saturday evening, July 5, 1777, by the Rev. John Ryland of Northampton. Messrs. Taylor and Jones officiated on the following day, the former taking for his text, Gen. xxviii, 19-"And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the city was called Luz at the first."

Mr. W. Sellon, minister of St. James's Church, Clerkenwell, in which parish Spa Fields Chapel is situated, was highly offended with these two clergymen, for opening this place of worship, and immediately instituted a suit against them in the Consistorial Court of the Bishop of London. They were accordingly summoned to appear before that court, and forbidden to preach in that chapel any longer, on pain of expulsion from the Church of England. Eighteen months

* Ibici. vol. iii, p. 250.