CHAPTER XIII.

FROM HIS ACCEPTING THE LIVING OF ASTON SANDFORD; TO THE FINAL DISPOSAL OF HIS COMMENTARY.

"I SHALL NOW," my father proceeds,"draw this account to a conclusion, as most of the subsequent events of my life are nearly as well known to my family as to myself.

"It would be of little use or interest to detail my trials and difficulties at the Lock. At length, however, the time arrived, when I was satisfied in my conscience that it was my duty to recede. I always questioned whether I acted properly in coming thither, which often added to my depression amidst my other distresses: but I never thought, till this time, that I was allowed to quit my post. Indeed I had no opening, and used very often most seriously and dolefully to think, that, if compelled to leave it, I could not form the idea of any station, that I was likely to attain, for which I was at all suited, and in which I could conscientiously engage. Of a living I had no hope: the post of a curate could, in few situations, be compatible with my views and my unpopularity: a chapel would not clear expenses: and into an irregular engagement I was not disposed to

enter.

"But the affairs of the Lock seemed at last to draw to a crisis. When the Rev. Martin Madan, who had alone borne the title of chaplain, died, Mr. De Coetlogon and myself were appointed chaplains, instead of evening and morning preachers; but without any other alteration than that of the name. But various things concurred in convincing me, that I ought not to continue in this joint-chaplainship with one, whom I could not approve: and at length I avowed my determination to that purport. This produced various effects and plans: and it was for some time doubtful whether my removal, or my appointment as sole chaplain, would be the consequence. In this unsettled state of affairs, the living of Aston Sandford, became vacant by the death of the rector, Mr. Brodbelt; and, as it was in the gift of John Barber, Esq. by virtue of his marriage with Miss Gines, who had been under my care at Olney, I applied for it. I never before had asked preferment of any one, and never in my life had any offered to me: but on this occasion I stated my circumstances and views to Mrs. Barber, and received an answer

peculiarly gratifying to me. After some deliberation, I considered the business as settled: but a demur subsequently arose, under the idea, that Mrs. B.'s mother had made a will, and bequeathed Aston to some other person. No will had before been noticed, but one was now found, which was not legally authenticated, but yet clearly showed that she desired the living to be given to the Rev. Richard Johnson, who had been for many years chaplain to the colony at New South Wales, and who had just returned to England, unprovided for. On this I at once renounced all my pretensions, in his favor; though not, I own, without feelings of regret. For two months I seldom thought about it, except when distressed with some vexation. But one morning Mr. Johnson called on me, and, when I congratulated him on bis presentation to Aston, he to my surprise, replied, that, as he had some ground of claim on government for a provision, he had been advised not to accept the living, and had come to say, that he wished me to have it.

“The rest was soon settled in due order, and I was instituted at Buckden, July 22, 1801. I had been led to think, that the income was little more than £100 a year, without a house; and that it could not easily be improved. But, on taking possession, I found that my predecessor had advanced the rent to £180 free of all parish taxes; and that the tenant was willing to confirm this agreement to me. This business, therefore, was already arranged to my hands, though Mr. Brodbelt had not lived to receive any benefit from the arrangement himself.* But there was no habitable parsonage: and the circumstances were such, that I could not avoid, either building, or leave my family exposed to serious difficulties about dilapidations, when I should be removed. This left me, for sometime after institution, in hesitation whether I should retain the living or not.

"In the mean time it was determined at the Lock, that there should be only one chaplain; and, to preserve the appearance of impartiality, both chaplains were discharged, but with the allowance to become candidates for the vacant office. Such an arrangement was by no means pleasing to me; and I determined to accede to the dismission, and go to my living. But this was not what had been purposed by

When the sum expended by my father in the erection of a parson age-house at Aston is taken into the account, it will be found that the living could never be reckoned worth a clear hundred pounds a year to

bim.

those who formed, or concurred in the plan; and it would have enabled the party, which they meant to exclude, completely to triumph. I was, therefore, earnestly intreated to become a candidate, and at length consented to do so; and, no other candidate appearing, was chosen sole chaplain, March 25, 1802, though not without many efforts and stratagems to prevent it. At this period I resigned my lectureship in Bread-street.—I had now £170 a year from the chapel and the Asylum; but without a house. I had also something coming in from my living.

"I now, however, became more doubtful than before, whether I should give up my living, or determine to go and reside upon it. I knew that the bishop would not long connive at non-residence; and that it would be impracticable to hold the Lock, if I resided any considerable part of my time in the country. In the event, I came to the resolution of retiring to my living, induced by the following reasons:

"1. I thought that, if a chaplain could be found, wholly unconnected with the conflicting parties, which had so long struggled for victory at the Lock, and who inherited none of those prejudices which, I knew, must attach to me, peace and amity might succeed; and the important object of the united charities, together with the interests of true religion in the chapel, might be pursued with a far better prospect of success.

"2. My engagements at the Hospital and Asylum, and the services in the chapel, with those which arose from the applications made to me by governors, added to my other urgent employments, were by far too much for me; allowing me no time for exercise or recreation: so that I had no prospect of proceeding with the publication of an improved edition of the Family Bible, on the plan on which I had begun it, without such close application, as I found, by experience, was injurious to my health and spirits.

"My determination, however, was not made absolute at once; and I purposed to wait, till I could resign my situation into the hands of an approved successor, before I publicly avowed my intention. In the mean time, I set about build

ing a parsonage at Aston.

"My resources for this purpose were, indeed, small: but I did not suppose the expense would be so heavy as it proved; and I expected considerably more emolument from my publication, than, for reasons already assigned, it produced. I also borrowed a small sum on the living; or rather secured

a payment from it to my family, (according to the provis ions of the Act for that purpose,) in case of my decease within a given term: for I advanced the money myself, as I suppose is generally done in such cases.

"My resources were further aided, just at this time, by a very unexpected legacy, the circumstances attending which may deserve to be explained: as the whole formed a remarkable illustration of the text, He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will pay him again.

he

"Some years before, I had become acquainted, as a minister, with a female servant, of whose character I entertained a high opinion, and who was reduced by disease, justly deemed incurable, to the painful necessity of going into a London workhouse, (where the society must be peculiarly distressing to pious persons,) unless some charitable provision could, in another way, be made for her. As I was entrusted, by affluent and liberal friends, with money for such purposes, I proposed to support her for a time, till further inedical means could be tried. Her case, however, was soon given up, as beyond the reach of medicine; and it was thought she could not long survive. Her situation became known to some families in which she had lived; and with the prospect of aid from them, I received her into my house, and undertook her support. From one family, in particular, in which she was greatly respected, I received at least £10 a year on her account. This, with some other helps, enabled me to maintain her, without any improper expense to myself. Thus things proceeded, till I was preparing to leave London, by building a house on my living; when one of the family just mentioned, to whom I was known chiefly by means of this poor women, died, and left me a legacy of £200. I still received, for several years, the usual aid for her support, and at the decease of another of the family, a further sum of £40. Thus I have had the privilege, and at little expense, for at least seventeen or eighteen years, of preserving from very great distress, a poor suffering diseased person, whom, I doubt not, the Savior and Judge of the world will own at the great day of final retribution, as intimately related to himself, and the heir of his kingdom. (Matt. xxv, 34-40. Mark iii, 34, 35.) -I would further observe, that this is the person, who was described in the "Christian Observer," for July 1803, p. 416, as having expended all her savings, made in service,

upon her aged and distressed parents, in the confidence that God would raise her up friends, in case the time should come when she should not be able to maintain herself.Such instances of the faithfulness of God to those who trust his providence, while they obey his commands, seem peculiarly worthy to be had in remembrance."

As this person is still living, and under the care of the family, (though she took as she fully apprehended, her last farewell of me, when I first went to college, in the year 1795!) little more can, with propriety, be here said concerning her. I may remark, however, that such are her fervent and affectionate piety, her cheerfulness, and the consistency of her temper and conduct, and (we are sure,) the earnestness of her prayers for all about her, that though she is unable to walk up and down stairs, or to get to church except by being carried: yet her presence is esteemed a privilege, by servants, as well as by master and mistress, to those who have received her under their roof.*

"This legacy," my father proceeds, enabled me to go on with my building: but, before it was finished, the circumstance of having found, as I thought, a proper successor,induced me immediately to resign the chaplainship, of the Lock; and after a sharp struggle, (the only contested election in which I was ever engaged, and in which I only contended by writing letters to different governors,) he was chosen, Feb. 3, 1803.

"As soon as it became known that I was about to leave the Lock, a number of individuals, governors, and others, without my interposition, and without my knowing, for some time, that it was in hand, raised me a voluntary subscription of about £300.

"I thought myself, indeed, entitled, not as a donation, but as a remuneration, to something from the hospital. The whole stipend which I received, at first £80, then as joint chaplain, £100, and then, £150 as sole chaplain, was charged to the chapel account; and certainly was little enough for my services in the chapel. So that, for above seventeen years that I continued at the Lock, I had attended the patients in the wards, as chaplain to the hospital,

* Since the above paragraph was written, the excellent person referred to (named Elizabeth Moulder,) has departed this life; but, as a brief memoir of her has appeared in the "Christian Guardian," and is now pub. lished with additions, as a separate tract, I forbear adding more concern. ing her in this place.