ment in his church, was seldom less than two thousand; and sometimes more than double that number. The church was frequently emptied for a third congregation to partake of the Lord's Supper. On these occasions, he would break through the forms prescribed for that service, addressing the communicants with such solemnity, earnestness, and affection, that the whole assembly would appear most deeply impressed.

and

Mr. Joseph Williams of Kidderminster mentions his being present at an association of the Calvinistic Methodists, in June 1741, when there were present three clergymen and about twenty exhorters, or lay preachers: the meeting was held in a barn of Mr. Howell Harris, and Mr. Howell Davies and Mr. Daniel Rowlands were present. He also states, that 'the Lord had wonderfully owned their endeavours, and spread their influence over the greatest part of Wales; all in the space of eleven years: so that within the principality of Wales, about six or seven clergymen, forty exhorters, and one hundred religious societies, were now preaching and receiving the pure gospel of Christ. They had met with great opposition and much persecution; but all had contributed to the furtherance of the gospel. Shall I not rejoice in these triumphs of the cross of Christ? "

Mr. Davies became minister of Prengast church, Haverfordwest; and was introduced to Mr. Whitefield's Tabernacle and Tottenham Court Chapel congregations in London, to whom he made annual visits, as a supply, to the period of his death. Lady Huntingdon was an intimate friend and patron of this distinguished minister of Christ; and in her ladyship's chapels at Bath, Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, and other places, he preached the everlasting gospel, in union with Messrs. Romaine, Venn, Madan, and others, with singular success. This eminently laborious and highly honoured servant of Christ, triumphantly terminated his useful course in March 1770, about six months before his friend Mr. Whitefield.

Calvinistic Methodism had greatly increased by means of Mr. Davies and his coadjutors: but to what extent cannot be clearly ascertained. The Rev. Lewis Rees was contemporary with Mr. Davies, and a man of a similar spirit, though not in the established church: he was a faithful pastor at Llanbryn

mair, labouring for the conversion of souls to God in the surrounding country twenty-five years, and forty-one at Mynydd-bach he died in 1800, his valuable life being prolonged to the age of ninety years.

Religion in Wales, however, was most effectually promoted by the laborious ministry of the Rev. Thomas Charles of Bala. He was educated at Oxford; where he took his degree of B. A., and was ordained deacon June 14, 1778, and soon afterwards engaged to a curacy in Somersetshire, where he continued about five years, until he married, and settled at Bala. Mr. Charles officiated at Llanymowddy, near Bala: but his diligent faithfulness excited the jealousy of some of the neighbouring clergy and the enmity of some of his parishioners, and he was dismissed from his situation: nor could he obtain employment in the church, though he intimated his willingness to serve gratis. His testimonials being sent to his friend, the Rev. Mr. Newton, of London, were lost; and, during the delay, having no clerical occupation, he commenced the instruction of children and youth of the poor, in his own house: but their numbers so greatly increased, that he needed larger accommodations, and he was prevailed on to adjourn these meeetings of the young, to the chapel of the Calvinistic Methodists.

Mr. Charles, finding no opening in the established church, followed the leadings of Providence, and entered upon a more extensive field of usefulness among this denomination. That eminent clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Rowlands, having heard him preach at Llangeitho, said, "Mr. Charles is the Lord' gift to North Wales: " and such he proved, not merely to one division of that country, but to all the principality, and to the whole of Great Britain.

Two most important objects were ever kept in view by Mr. Charles-the preaching of the gospel of Christ—and the education of the rising generation. From the time of his joining the Calvinistic Methodists, he laboured incessantly. The hills and dales in North Wales, where an evangelical sermon had scarcely ever, or never been heard, resounded with the glad tidings of salvation by Jesus Christ; and the success of his ministry corresponded with his devoted labours.

Many preachers assisted him in his home missionary services: he travelled in all seasons, carefully adapting himself to the capacities of his hearers, and forming religious societies, to the number of about seventy, in North Wales. Chapels were soon erected for their accommodation; and he formed them into district associations of several churches. Once a year Mr. Charles visited and preached to the different societies, and the associations, quarterly, in the character of president. His arrangements were so made that he preached at Bala, on the last Sabbath in the month, when he administered the Lord's Supper to about five hundred communicants.

Religious societies were formed also in South Wales, about equal in number with those in the north: these also shared in the solicitude of Mr. Charles, who frequently visited them, and his services were eminently useful under the blessing of God.

Mr. Charles also annually visited the Welsh societies in Liverpool, Manchester, Gloucester, and London; regularly supplying, with great acceptance and success, for many years, in rotation with other ministers, the chapels of the late countess of Huntingdon, Spa Fields and Zion, in London.

Schools were perceived by the discriminating mind of Mr. Charles, to be essentially necessary as the means of permanently benefiting Wales. In the year 1786, therefore, he commenced establishing "Circulating Charity Schools" in North Wales, upon the plan of those instituted by the late Mrs. Bevan, whose benevolent intentions were suspended by a suit in Chancery.

Mr. Charles's schools were liberally supported by contributions from England and different parts of Wales, and with large contributions from his own purse: and to his zealous and judicious instrumentality many thousands of the poor Welsh are indebted for their ability to read the Bible, and for the possession of the Holy Scriptures in their own language. Indeed, Mr. Charles has the distinguished honour of being, by these operations, the remote originator of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Mr. Charles was also instrumental in setting up Sunday schools in all the congregations of the Calvinistic Methodists

with which he was connected in Wales, and in some parts of England. In this noble work he was for some years liberally assisted with Testaments and spelling books, by the Society established in London, "for the Support and Encouragement of Sunday Schools; and, having obtained the entire confidence of the committee of that excellent institution, he acted as their agent for North Wales. But these various schools became so numerous, that in 1803, for their more. convenient supply of books, he established a printing press at Bala. Mr. Charles was not only the chief leader, for many years, of the Calvinistic Methodists in Wales; but his various, judicious, and persevering labours were, under the blessing of God, the means of a general reformation of the country of the conversion of great numbers to the faith of Christ-and of the delightful advancement of genuine Christianity.

Mr. Charles's system of his schools at this period, may be best understood from the following passages in a letter of acknowledgment to a lady in 1797.

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About nine years ago, in travelling through different parts of the country, I found many large districts between the mountains of North Wales, sunk into total ignorance of divine things; few, in any, could read at all; and no Bibles in their houses. I anxiously began to think how it was possible to remedy so great an evil; no practicable plan occurred to me, as within my power to hope of putting in execution, but that of employing a teacher, or teachers, as my finances would allow; and sending them into these dark parts to teach all freely, that would attend to read their Bible in their native language, and to instruct them in the first principles of Christianity. By the assistance of generous friends, to whom I communicated my thoughts on the subject, it was set on foot, and succeeded far beyond my expectations; the calls for teachers became numerous; the change in the principles and morals of the people, where the schools had been, was evident; the number of teachers at last increased to twenty. I set Sunday and night schools on foot, for those whose occupations and poverty prevented their attending the day schools.

"Whatever we attempted of this nature, succeeded wonderfully; till the whole country was filled with schools of one sort or another, and all were taught at once. The blessed effects were corresponding; a general concern for eternal things took place in many large districts; many hundreds were awakened to a sense of sin, and their need of Christ, and I have every reason to believe are now faithful followers of him. The schools are still carried on, and the effects the same in a greater or less degree; the number of teachers increase or diminish as my finances will allow : all my income from a chapel which I serve, I devote wholly toward their support, being supported myself by the industry of my wife. I pay every teacher 127. per annum. They continue half a year or three quarters in one place, and are then removed into another part of the country. Three quarters of a year is found fully sufficient to teach our children to read their Bibles well in the Welsh tongue. I visit the schools myself, and catechise them publicly; I have the unspeakable satisfaction of seeing the general aspect of the country most amazingly changed; to see the wilderness blossom as the rose, and the thirsty land become springs of water; through the schools, and the preaching of the gospel, the spread of divine knowledge is become universal. Bless the Lord, O my soul! I hope, dear Madam, this little account of the origin and outlines of a plan, which you have so generously supported, will prove in some degree satisfactory. As no other plan can keep our mountainous country from sinking into its former ignorance, I am determined to go on, as the Lord enables."

CHAPTER XIX.

SCOTLAND DURING THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

Religion prospers in Scotland - Preliminary measures for the union of both kingdomsParties in parliament The Union settled Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge- New zeal in the church - Itinerant preaching and schools -Administration of the Lord's Supper- Brown's review- Effects of the union - Patronage restored-Evil consequences - Declension of religion—" Marrow " controversy-Dr. Haweis's review of religion-Dissenters - Reformed Presbyterian Synod Glassites-Secession church-Relief Synod · Methodists Baptists-Bereans- -Congregationalists - Episcopalians.

WILLIAM, dying in March 1702, left the restored Presbyterian Church of Scotland in comparative peace and prosperity.