awakening under Mr. Whitefield's sermon he related to the Rev. Andrew Fuller.

That young man was the Rev. Robert Robinson, a man of superior talents, afterward a popular and useful Baptist minister in Cambridge, England. He was the author of some useful works, one of the most popular of which was his "Plea for the Divinity of Jesus," which is said to be one of the best books ever written on the subject. He afterward unfortunately fell into the dregs of Socinianism.

Rev. Samuel Bradburn and Dr. Whitehead went to hear him preach in London, and after the sermon had an interview with him, when Dr. Whitehead said, "Mr. Robinson, will you answer me a question?" "I will if I can," he replied. "Well, then, if you had it to do now, would you publish your 'Plea for the Divinity of Jesus?"" He paused for a moment, and, looking very serious, slowly and solemnly replied, "Doctor, I would."

It is said that Robinson was afterward reclaimed, and died in the orthodox faith.

Mr. Robinson was not only a preacher and an author, but also a poet. One of his hymns is universally admired, being sung all over the Christian Church:

"Come, thou Fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing thy grace:
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Calls for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above:
Praise the mount-I'm fixed upon it;
Mount of thy redeeming love!"

Whitefield and John Cownley.

John Cownley was an early Methodist preacher in connection with John Wesley, who said Cownley was the best preacher in England. He was the intimate friend of Mr. Whitefield, with whom he frequently corresponded. He loved Mr. Whitefield for his work's sake, and revered his memory to the last. Mr. Whitefield's letters not only illustrate his character, but also his exalted esteem for Mr. Cownley.

SICKNESS AND RECOVERY.

Mr. Cownley had been very sick, but recovered. Mr. Whitefield writes to him thus, Sept. 16, 1755: "I wish you joy (after having been in sight of your heavenly port) of putting out to sea again. I hear you are upon the recovery, and therefore humbly hope, as your sickness has not been unto death, that it has been only a kind of purgation to cause you to bring forth more fruit. Then shall you sing,

"O happy rod,

That brought me nearer to my God.'"

MARRIAGE.

"Perhaps ere this reaches your hands," writes Whitefield, referring to Cownley's marriage, "you may be entered into the marriage state. May the everlasting and ever-loving Bridegroom of the Church bless both you and yours, and give you to live as becometh the heirs of the grace of life!

I hope you will never say, 'I have married a wife, and therefore can no longer come forth into the highways and hedges.' I trust you will never say, 'I pray thee have me excused.' A good wife and a good fortune call for double diligence in the work of God."

HUMILITY.

In the same letter Whitefield writes, "O this pilgrim's life! With a pilgrim's heart how sweet! I want to begin to do something for Jesus. I am a dwarf, a dwarf; and yet, amazing love! Jesus still vouchsafes to bless and own my feeble labors."

LIMITATION.

Mr. Whitefield, after having been sick, says in another letter to Cownley, "But, alas! like you when putting into harbor, I am likely to put out to sea again. O that it may be to take some prizes for my God! Blessed be his name, though I am reduced to the ungrateful necessity of preaching only once a day, yet I find the word of the Lord doth not return empty."

CONGRATULATION.

In a letter of August 14, 1756, Whitefield says, "I am glad to hear that you are restored to your throne again. In London there has been a most glorious awakening all the winter. Jesus hath

done wonders. And surely it is the wonder of wonders that such a worthless wretch as I should be employed by him. Help, O help me to praise

redeeming love! O for a hundred thousand lives to spend in the service of Christ! "

PILGRIM-NO HOME.

Mr. Whitefield in a letter to Mr. Cownley, written Sept. 1, 1766, writes thus: "Indeed, and indeed, I received no letter from you while abroad. Sickness prevents my corresponding more frequently now I am come home. Home, did I say? Where is my home? Where yours lies-in heaven. There is our citizenship."

CATHOLIC SPIRIT.

"Is it practicable," continues Whitefield, "for you to come to London to assist at the Tabernacle for a month or six weeks. My helpers as well as myself are invalids. Dear Mr. Wesley, I am persuaded, will readily consent. We are on good

terms.

"O may we find the ancient way

Our wond'ring foes to move,
And force the heathen world to say,
See how these Christians love!'"

COWNLEY, THE CLERGYMAN, AND THE QUAKER. The following characteristic anecdote of Whitefield's friend Cownley is also illustrative of the times in which they lived:

In one of Mr. Cownley's excursions into the Dales he was insulted by a mob headed by a clergyman. Warm from the village tavern, this zealous son of the Church, with the collected rabble,

advanced to the field of action. Mr. Cownley was preaching near the door of an honest Quaker when the minister insisted that he was breaking the order of the Church, and began to recite the canon against conventicles. Mr. Cownley replied, "If I am disorderly, you are not immaculate," and reminded him of the canon "for sober conversation, and against frequenting ale-houses." Confounded with the application, the parson retired for awhile; but, mustering up his courage, he again returned, and, with threats of prosecution, began to take down the names of the hearers. A Quaker, who was one of the congregation, hearing the alarming denunciations, stepped up, and with unruffled gravity clapped the parson on the back and said, "Friend John, put my name down first.” This ended the contest. Quite disconcerted, the clergyman withdrew, and left Mr. Cownley to finish his discourse in peace.

Whitefield and Rev. John Pool.

Mr. Pool was one of Wesley's itinerant preachers, and yet he had long been acquainted with, and was the intimate friend of, Mr. Whitefield. They happened to meet one day, when Mr. Whitefield accosted him thus: 66 Well, John, are you still a Wesleyan?" "Yes, sir,” replied John, and I thank God that I have the privilege of being in connection with Mr. Wesley, and one of his preachers." "John," said Mr. Whitefield, "thou art in the right place. My Brother Wesley acted wisely.