"Bishop Bunyan."

Mr. Whitefield was a great admirer of John Bunyan, the immortal dreamer, the author of the "Pilgrim's Progress," and wrote a preface to his works. He said, "Some call him John Bunyan, the tinker, but I call him Bishop Bunyan." He thought him worthy to be a Bishop or an Archbishop.

Whitefield had the high honor of preaching in the pulpit of John Bunyan, in Bedford, in 1758. He had been ill for several days, but, occupying the pulpit where that unyielding champion of the Cross had stood, we wonder not that his spirits were revived, and that he received a fresh anointing for his mighty work. We are not surprised that he wrote, "O how sweet communion did Bunyan enjoy in Bedford jail! I really believe a minister will learn more by one month's confinement than by a year's study."

Whitefield and Rowland Hill.

Rowland Hill was a young man of rare talents, who was exceedingly persecuted because he was a little irregular. Mr. Whitefield was to him a friend, a counsellor, and a father. Whitefield wrote to him, saying, "I would not have you give way; no, not for a moment. The storm is too great to hold long-visiting the sick and the imprisoned, and instructing the ignorant, are the very vitals of true

and undefiled religion. If threatened, denied degree, or expelled for this, it will be the best degree you could take. A glorious preparation for, and a blessed presage of, future usefulness." At another time he writes to Hill, calling him his "Dear young honest friend," and signing himself, "Yours in an all-conquering Jesus." This advice made Hill a hero, and he was determined from that hour to defy all resistance, no matter from what quarter it might come. He was under the influence of a master-spirit of no ordinary mould. The stirring letters and example of Whitefield nerved him to surmount all the difficulties with which his path was beset. In another letter Mr. Whitefield wrote to his " Dear Professor" thus: "I wish you joy of the late high dignity conferred upon you-higher than if you were made the greatest Professor in the University of Cambridge. The honorable degrees you intend giving your promising candidates I trust will excite a holy ambition and holy emulation. Let me know who is first honored. As I have been admitted to the degree of Doctor for nearly thirty years, I assure you that I like my field preferment, my airy pluralities, very well;" and again he writes: "A preaching, prison-preaching, field-preaching esquire strikes more than all black gowns and lawn sleeves in the world. And, if I am not mistaken, the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls will let the world, and his own children too, know that he will not be prescribed to in respect to men, or garbs, or places; much less will he be confined to any order or set of men under heaven. Both tabernacle or chapel

is open to any captain or esquire sent of God; preaching should be one part of the education of a student in divinity."

Mr. Hill was greatly opposed in his course by his parents. One of his brothers having been converted, Whitefield congratulates him thus:

"Who knows but the root as well as the branches may be taken by and by? Steadiness and perseverance in the children, will be the best means under God of convincing the parents. Their present opposition I think cannot hold out very long; and if it does, to obey God rather than man, when forbidden to do what is absolute duty, I think, is a safe rule.

...

"Yours in our all-conquering Emanuel,

"G. WHITEFIELD.”

Six Bishops refused to ordain Rowland Hill, but none of these things moved him. He continued on in the even tenor of his way, and was for years Pastor of an Independent chapel in London that is now called Surrey Chapel, where he preached to listening and admiring throngs. He was eccentric, but exceedingly gifted. His successor, James Sherman, was succeeded by Newman Hall, who still preaches there. Rowland Hill regarded Whitefield as his "much honored friend;" while Whitefield took a peculiar interest in his young friend, and the advice which he gave him in the morning of life had much to do with forming his character and shaping his destiny.

Whitefield and the Comic Actor.

Edward Shuter was a celebrated comic actor, whose talents in the delineation of human character rendered him a great favorite among the theatre-going people. This well-known comedian took great delight in listening to Whitefield's unequaled pulpit oratory. Whitefield and he were acquainted with each other. At a certain period Shuter was exciting great admiration on the stage in the character of Ramble. In the height of his popularity when his honors were thick upon him, and he was receiving great applause, he went to hear Whitefield at Tottenham Court. He sat directly opposite the preacher, where he could have a full view of him, witness his gestures, and feel all the force of his eloquence. In the full glow of his appeal to sinners to come to Christ, Whitefield fixed his piercing gaze upon the comedian, and exclaimed, with a voice that thrilled every person in the house, "And thou, poor Ramble, who hast long rambled from the Saviour, come thou also; O, end thy ramblings by coming to Jesus!" The effect was almost overpowering. Shuter was greatly affected. He visited Whitefield, and complained that he had been so singled out in the congregation, saying, "I thought I should have fainted; how could you have served me so?"

Shuter went so often to hear Mr. Whitefield preach, and was so deeply affected under his word, there was great hope of his being under serious impressions that would be lasting. But, alas! his

business was unfavorable to such a glorious result, and his goodness was like the morning cloud and the early dew; it soon passed away.

THE COMEDIAN'S CONFESSION.

Shuter was not only pleased in hearing Whitefield, but was also delighted to hear at the Tabernacle one of those who had been converted under his ministry. Andrew Kinsman was said to have been almost a young Whitefield in eloquence. Crowds attended his ministry; his melodious voice, his sprightly and pathetic manner of address, attracted all classes to hear him. Shuter was so charmed with his voice and manner that he was frequently among his auditors. The Word affected him. He was often under serious impressions, but such was the lamentable immorality that then pervaded the stage they were soon obliterated.

Years after, Mr. Shuter accidentally met Mr. Kinsman at Plymouth. He embraced him with joy, and asked if that was the place of his residence. "Yes," replied he, "I have just returned from London, where I have preached often and to large auditories, and have been so indisposed that Doctor Fothergill advised my immediate return to the country for a change of air." "And I," said Shuter, "have been acting Sir John Falstaff so often that I thought I should have died; and the physicians have advised me to come into the country for the benefit of the pure air. Had you died it would have been in serving the best of masters; but had I, it would have been in the service of the