no doubt thinking of a class of ministers described by Hugh Latimer as "unpreaching prelates," replied ironically, "I believe the best way to silence him would be to make a Bishop of him."

Whitefield and the Prince of Wales.

Whitefield's preaching had great influence with dignitaries, those who moved in high circles, and it extended to the royal family. The oldest son of George II. died during his father's reign, aged forty-four years. As Prince of Wales, and heir to the British throne, he had great influence. Bolingbroke and Chesterfield had tried the influence of their subtile infidelity upon him; but curiosity led the Prince to hear Mr. Whitefield preach. He was greatly pleased and profited, and made many inquiries concerning the doctrines of Whitefield, the Wesleys, and their contemporaries. He was able, therefore, to meet Bolingbroke in argument, and his lordship declared that his royal highness was fast verging toward Methodism. The death of the Prince was sudden, but not without hope.

Whitefield and Lord Chesterfield.

Philip Dormer Stanhope, known as Lord Chesterfield, has been called, on account of his superior eloquence, the "British Cicero." He was also distinguished for brilliant talents, elegant manners,

and sparkling wit. He was a statesman and a diplomatist. He was also noted for his skepticism. He will long be remembered as an accomplished, eloquent, and witty peer.

THE SERMON.

Lord Chesterfield was very intimate with Lady Huntingdon, and, as she had preaching in her parlor, he with others of the nobility attended. One morning Mr. Whitefield preached a sermon there of uncommon beauty, eloquence, and power, to which Lord Chesterfield listened with intense interest. He not only was much pleased with the sermon, but seemed very much affected under Whitefield's powerful appeals. At the conclusion of the service he conversed very freely with Mr. Whitefield, and said, "Sir, I shall not tell you what I shall tell others, how highly I approve of you." It was a great triumph for Whitefield to find the way to such a cultivated mind, such a skeptical heart. It was wonderful in him to be able to secure admiration from such a source. Mr. Whitefield and Lady Huntingdon had at the time great hopes of the conversion of Lord Chesterfield, but they were soon blasted. The impression made upon him was not lasting. His lordship's goodness was like the morning cloud and the early dew-it soon passed

away.

THE STRIKING FIGURE.

Whitefield's sermons abounded in striking figures and apt illustrations. His eloquence was at times overpowering. At one time, when Lord

Chesterfield was present, Whitefield represented the votary of sin under the figure of a blind beggar led by a little dog. The dog had broken the string. The blind cripple, with his staff between both hands, groped his way unconsciously to the brink of a precipice. As he felt along with his staff it dropped down the descent too deep to send back an echo. He thought it on the ground, and, bending forward, took one step to recover it. But his foot trod on vacancy; poised for a moment, he fell headlong. Chesterfield, who had listened with thrilling interest to Whitefield's graphic description till he thought the scene real, bounded from his seat and exclaimed, "By heavens, he's gone!"

THE TABERNACLE.

When Mr. Whitefield was raising funds to build the tabernacle in London, Lord Chesterfield sent him, through Lady Huntingdon, twenty pounds toward paying for the building, and in his letter to her said, "Mr. Whitefield's eloquence is unrivalled, his zeal inexhaustible."

HOW TO STOP A MAN PREACHING.

When Mr. Whitefield was in the height of his popularity, and thousands hung in silent wonder upon the eloquent words that fell from his lips, it was agitated in the Privy Council that some method should be used to stop his preaching. Lord Chesterfield being present, turned upon his heels and said, "Make him a Bishop, and you will silence him at once."

Whitefield, Lady Chesterfield, and King George II.

Lady Chesterfield, the wife of Lord Chesterfield, was a most estimable woman. She was an intimate friend of Lady Huntingdon, and one of Mr. Whitefield's distinguished converts. He said at one time, "Some more coronets, I hear, are likely to be laid at the Redeemer's feet. They glitter gloriously when set in and surrounded by a crown of thorns."

At the court of George II., on one occasion Lady Chesterfield appeared in a dress "with a brown ground and silver flowers," of foreign manufacture. The King, with a smiling countenance, said to her aloud, "Lady Chesterfield, I know who chose that gown for you-Mr. Whitefield. I hear you have attended on him for a year and a half." Her ladyship acknowledged she had done so, and she approved of his character and ministry. She afterward deeply regretted that she had not said more to his Majesty when such a splendid opportunity had been afforded her, the subject having been introduced by the King himself.

Bolingbroke and Whitefield.

Lord Bolingbroke was a statesman, a wit, a poet, and an author. He was illustrious in the reigns of Anne and George I. After his death a series of essays on religion and philosophy showed that he was an opposer of Christianity. He was

for a time the intimate friend of Alexander Pope, but that friendship was suddenly broken off by Bolingbroke without cause. There are some things about Bolingbroke to admire, but not much to love. He was one of the nobility who attended the preaching of Whitefield at Lady Huntingdon's. The morning Lord Chesterfield heard Whitefield at Lady Huntingdon's house, Bolingbroke listened to him in the evening. He sat there like an archbishop. He was delighted and affected under the discourse, and said to Mr. Whitefield that he had in his discourse done great justice to the divine attributes. Bolingbroke invited Whitefield to call and see him the next morning. He did so, and they had a long conversation together, his lordship showing great candor and frankness, but the impression was not lasting. We can see the impression that was made upon him under the sermon by what he said to the Countess of Huntingdon: "You may command my pen when you will. It shall be drawn in your service. For, admitting the Bible to be true, I shall have little apprehension of maintaining the doctrines of predestination and grace against all your revilers." David Hume was also present the evening Bolingbroke heard Whitefield.

Bolingbroke's Brother.

Lord St. John, the brother of Lord Bolingbroke, was one of the hearers of Whitefield's parlor preaching. He was called to die, and was greatly