surviving child and an orphan nephew,) had not had the small pox. He himself was "always an advocate" for inoculation, but "the prejudices of numbers of religious persons in the neighborhood, were exceedingly strong against it." If he should adopt it, he knew that his conduct "would be severely arraigned by many, and on others would have a powerful influence. On these grounds alone he hesitated." Yet, while thus circumstanced, he constantly attended the sick, as above described. "I kept (he says) an old suit of clothes in a hovel at Ravenstone, and before I went among the sick I changed all my clothes in the hovel, and I did the same again before I returned home. Yet I still thought that I hardly did my duty to my family." At length, therefore, he had the children inoculated, and procured them lodgings at Ravenstone. "They passed through the disorder very well, but during their residence at that place (he proceeds,) I met with some instances of such base ingratitude, in respect of this affair, from those whom I had most labored to serve, that, in a very ill humor, I returned home one evening, deliberately resolved to go no more among the people, but to leave them to the consequences of their perverseness. While cherishing this determination, the words of the apostle, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good, occurred to my recollection in a manner which I shall never forget. I am no friend to suggestions or impressions, in the general sense of the terms; but I cannot doubt, that this most excellent scriptural admonition, so exactly suited to the state of my mind, was brought_to_my remembrance by the Holy Spirit. (See John xiv, 26.) It at once set me right; and converted my murmurings into humble confessions, thankful praises, and fervent prayers, I persevered in my work and labor of love, and the event proved highly gratifying and creditable. I never in my life spent so much time, with such earnestness, in secret and social prayer, as during this trying season; and every prayer seemed to be answered and exceeded. I had my vexations: but I would gladly go through them all again, if I might enjoy the same proportion of consolation, and get as much good my own soul, and be an instrument of as much good to others, as at that time.

"When all had terminated prosperously respecting the malady, and calumny on that ground was silenced, a clamor of a widely different nature was raised. 'A poor curate, with a family, had spent in medicines and wine, and given

in money, what was enough to ruin him!' Some of the persons concerned as parish officers, or having influence in parish affairs, might easily, and ought certainly, to have set this right. I have no doubt that a very large sum was saved to the parish, yet the officers paid nothing which they could refuse, not even the well deserved fee to Dr. Kerr. Medi cines, wine, and money, when urgently wanted, were sup plied by me exclusively: on subsequent occasions I was generally, and sometimes liberally, aided by friends: but at this time all stood aloof. The expense, however, was far less than was commonly supposed, except that of my time; which, if calculated at its pecuniary value, might be considerable, but can never be better employed than in gratuitously endeavoring to do good: and, as soon as the objection just mentioned was raised, I received 15l. 5s. from persons at a distance, unknown to me at the time, and from whom I never before or afterwards received any thing! This more than repaid all my disbursements, and convinced me, that there is no risk in expending money, in an urgent case, and from good motives; and that a penurious prudence, springing from weak faith, is impolicy as well as sin.

"Soon after these events, a circumstance took place at Stoke, with which I was in some measure concerned, (though not then connected with the parish,) and which appears to me to suggest important cautions. A poor man, with a large family, was allowed by his baker to run into his debt to the amount of 10l.; for which he then arrested him, foolishly supposing the overseers would pay the money, rather than suffer the man to be thrown into prison. They, of course, disappointed his expectation: the debtor was sent to Aylesbury gaol; where the gaol-fever then prevailed. He took that dire disease. His wife went to see and nurse him: he died: she returned home, sickened, and died: the malady spread in the village, sparing the children, but proving fatal to the parents. The neighboring apothecaries in vain attempted to stop its progress. I also ventured into the recesses of misery and infection, and in a few instances tried my medical skill, as well as gave spiritual counsel. But I soon found that the case baffled all my efforts. I believe forty children had been bereft of one parent, and nearly twenty of both. I knew the overseer: I went to him, and remonstrated with him, on the grounds not only of mercy and humanity, but of policy; and succeeded in convincing him, that no medical expence which could be incurred was

likely to burden the parish a tenth part so much, as this fatal progress of the disease was doing. I prevailed with him therefore to send immediately for Dr. Kerr, who came and spent nearly a whole day in the service; and he laid down such rules for the management of the patients, that not one afterwards died, and the disease was speedily extirpated.

"The same fever had broken out in the gaol at Northampton, as well as at Aylesbury: but Dr. Kerr having, as a surgeon in the army, had much experience in diseases of this nature, in camps, garrisons, and military hospitals, so effectually counteracted it, that it was soon expelled, and few deaths occurred."

It may be remarked, that Dr. Kerr formed so favorable an opinion of my father's medical talent, that he frequently urged him to change his profession, and would never himself give his directions to any other person when he was present.

He proceeds: "For myself, I was much exposed to infection in this case, but I was preserved: and I never on any occasion received harm from visiting persons afflicted with infectious disorders, except in one instance, in which I had a very severe fever: but I was mercifully carried through it.

I

"In this instance, which happened, I believe, before those above related, an incident occurred, on which I never can reflect without astonishment: but I venture my credit for veracity on the exact truth of it. A poor man, most dangerously ill, of whose religious state I entertained some hopes, seemed to me in the agonies of death. I sat by his bed for a considerable time, expecting to see him expire: but at length he awoke as from sleep, and noticed me. said, 'You are extremely ill.' He replied, "Yes; but I shall not die this time.' I asked the ground of this extraordinary confidence, saying that I was persuaded he would not recover. To this he answered: 'I have just dreamed that you, with a very venerable-looking person, came to me. He asked you, what you thought of me. "What kind of tree is it? Is there any fruit?" You said, 'No: but there are blossoms.' 'Well then,' he said, 'I will spare it a little longer.' All reliance upon such a dream, I should, in other circumstances, have scouted as enthusiasm and presumption: but it so exactly met my ideas as to the man's state of mind,-which, however, I had never communicated to him;

and the event, much beyond all expectation, so answered his confidence, by his recovery; that I could not but think there was something peculiar in it.

"On his recovery, this man for a time went on very well: but afterwards he gave up all attention to religion, and became very wicked: and, when I reminded him of what has been now related, he treated the whole with indifference; not to say, with profane contempt. But I have since learned, from very good authority, that, after I left that part of the country, he was again brought under deep conviction of sin; recollected and dolefully bemoaned his conduct towards me, and with respect to his dream; and became a decidedly religious character: and, if this be true, his case certainly furnishes a most striking instance, as of the force of human depravity, so also of the long suffering and tender mercy of our God. I believe he is still living at Stoke Goldington.

his pre

"After Mr. Newton had left Olney about a year, dictions concerning his successor were amply verified: for, having embroiled himself with the parishioners, and acted in such a manner as to incur public rebuke from the Archdeacon at the visitation, the curate, at length, in a pettish letter to the Earl of Dartmouth, patron of the living, threatened to relinquish his charge. He probably did not mean to be taken at his word; but his Lordship, communicating with the vicar, his implied resignation of the curacy was admitted, and a deputation, including some of the persons who before opposed my succeeding Mr. Newton, was sent to me, earnestly requesting me to accept the vacant situation. I felt great reluctance to comply, hesitated for some time, and went to London to consult those ministers with whom I had any acquaintance. They all considered it as my duty to accede to the proposal; which I accordingly did. But, as soon as the late curate of Olney knew that I was appointed, and had in consequence resigned Ravenstone, he applied to the vicar, and was accepted as my successor there! Had I foreseen this, I should not have consented to remove to Olney: for I knew that he had still many admirers in that place, and I was at first full of sad apprehensions as to the effect of his smooth and soothing doctrines, on my Ravenstone people. But I could now do no more than pray, Lord, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!-for I considered a more sagacious opposer than the visible one, as the author of this measure.-A tempo

rary confusion and vexation, almost beyond description, ensued: but it was not long before all terminated creditably and comfortably.

"The curacy of Olney was only 30l. a year and a house, with rather better surplice fees than at Ravenstone. For that curacy I had received 40l. a year, and some assistance which I could not expect to retain; and, as before observed, I lived rent-free at Weston: so that the change which I now made was not, in the first instance, to my secular advantage. The people of Olney, however, had been accustomed to raise a subscription for Mr. Newton, without any solicitation; and the managing persons promised to do the same for me. But discontent soon arose: the leading characters did not act: others did not come forward: and I was decidedly averse to soliciting any party: so that for a year and a half I received less than my former income. I was often greatly straitened, and sometimes discouraged: but I persevered in every service at the church to which the people had been accustomed, and which was practicable, though it was much more than could be demanded. In particular, I continued the weekly lecture, though very poorly attended.

And here I would mention, that, after I decidedly embraced my present views of the gospel, and of the Christian ministry, I constantly preached two weekly lectures, one in each of my parishes, without any remuneration. My congregations were small but very select: at Ravenstone, on an average, not more than forty; afterwards at Olney, (though that town contained about two thousand five hundred inhabitants,) seldom above fifty or sixty; and at Weston, often under thirty. Yet I have reason to think that these services were peculiarly blessed to others, and they were specially comfortable to my own soul. Most of my few hearers I considered as my children; and I gave them, with much feeling and affection, many very particular instructions, cautions, and admonitions, which I could hardly have introduced into addresses to more general congregations, and for which the one, or perhaps two sermons on the Lord's day did not allow sufficient time. Were I now situate in a village or neighborhood, in which twenty or thirty people would probably attend, I certainly should preach a constant week-day lecture, even to so small a company.* In this respect, I think, many pious ministers,

In fact, my father did so at Aston during a great part of the year.