more girls were overheard by their mistress, talking about religion; and they said, they knew, if they did not repent, they must be damned.' From all which I infer, that these Bermudas negroes are more knowing than I supposed; that their consciences are awake, and consequently prepared in a good measure, for hearing the gospel preached unto them. 66 Sunday, May 8. This also, I trust, has been a good Sabbath. In the morning I was helped to preach powerfully to a melting, and rather a larger congregation than ever, in Mr. Paul's meeting-house; and in the evening, to almost as large a congregation of black and white as last Sunday in the fields, near my hearty friend, Mr. Holiday's house. To see so many black faces was affecting. They heard very attentively, and some of them now began to weep. May God grant them a godly sorrow, that worketh repentance not to be repented of! "Friday, May 13. This afternoon preached over the corpse of Mr. Paul's eldest son, about twenty-four years of age; and by all I could hear, and judge of by conversing with him, he did indeed die in the Lord. I visited him twice last Lord's-day, and was quite satisfied with what he said, though he had not much of the sensible presence of God. I find he was a preacher upon his death-bed: for he exhorted all his companions to love Christ in sincerity; and blessed his brother and sister, and, I think, his father and mother, just before his departure. A great many people attended the funeral. preached on Luke viii. 13. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, weep not.' Many were affected in the application of my discourse, and, I trust, some will be induced, by this young man's good example, to remember their Redeemer in the days of their youth. Grant it, O Lord, for thy dear Son's sake. I Sunday, May 15. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name! This morning I preached my farewel sermon at Mr. Paul's meetinghouse-it was quite full; and as the president said, above one hundred and fifty whites, besides blacks, were round the house. Attention sat on every face; and when I came to take my leave, Oh! what a sweet unaffected weeping was there to be seen every where. I believe there were few dry eyes. The negroes, likewise without doors, I heard weep plentifully. My own heart was affected; and though I have parted with friends so often, yet I find every fresh parting almost unmans me, and very much affects my heart. Surely, a great work is begun in some souls at Bermudas. Carry it on, O Lord! and if it be thy will, send me to this dear people again. Even so, Lord Jesus. Amen! -r "After sermon, I dined with three of the council, and other gentlemen and ladies, at captain Bascom's and from thence we went to a funeral, at which Mr. Mpreached: and after that, I expounded on our Lord's transfiguration, at the house of one Mrs. Harvey, sister to dear Mr. Smith, of Charlestown. The house was exceeding full, and it was supposed above three hundred stood in the yard. The Lord enabled me to lift up my voice like a trumpet. Many wept. Mr. Mr returned from the funeral with me, and attended the lecture; as did the three counsellors, with whom I conversed freely. May God reward them, and all the dear people of the island, for those many favours conferred on me, who am the chief of sinners, and less than the least of all saints! "Sunday, May 22. Blessed be God! the little leaven thrown into the three measures of meal, begins to ferment, and work almost every day for the week past. I have conversed with souls loaded with a sense of their sins; and, as far as I can judge, really pricked to the heart. Í preached only three times, but to almost three times larger auditories than usual. Indeed the fields are white ready unto harvest. God has been pleased to bless private visits. Go where I will, upon the least notice, houses are crowded, and the poor souls that follow, are soon drenched in tears. This day I took, as it were another farewel. As the ship did not sail, I preached at Somerset in the morning to a large congregation in the fields; and expounded in the evening, at Mr. Harvey's house, round which, stood many hundreds of people. But in the morning and evening, how did the poor souls weep! Abundance of prayers and blessings were put up for my safe passage to England, and speedy return to Bermudas again. May they enter into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath! With all humility and thankfulness of heart, will I here, O Lord, set up my Ebenezer: for hitherto surely thou hast helped me! Thanks be to the Lord for sending me hither. I have been received in a manner I dared not expect; and have met with little, very little opposition, indeed. The inhabitants seem to be plain and open-hearted. They have loaded me with provisions for my sea-store; and in the several parishes, by a private voluntary contribution, have raised me upwards of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS sterling. This will pay a little of Bethesda's debt, and enable me to make such a remittance to my dear yoke-fellow, as may keep her from being embarrassed, or too much beholden in my absence. Blessed be God, for bringing me out of my embarrassments by degress! May the Lord reward all my benefactors a thousand fold! I hear that what was given, was given exceedingly hartily; and people only lamented that they could do no more."* Transmitting to Georgia the contributions he had received, and fearing a relapse if he had returned to America in the heat of summer; and also being much pressed to return to England, Mr. Whitefield took his passage in a brig, and arrived safe in twenty-eight days at Deal; and the next evening, July 6, he came to London, having been absent near four years. *Bermudas is placed by itself in almost the middle of the Atlantic ocean. It has been justly celebrated by Waller the poet, and the late bishop Berkeley, who resided there for some time. CHAPTER XIII. From his arrival in London, 1748, to his going to Ireland in the ON Mr. Whitefield's visiting a few of his friends immediately after his return, he found himself in no very agreeable situation. His congregation at the tabernacle was sadly scattered. And as to his outward circumstances, he had sold all his household furniture, to help to pay the orphan-house debt, which yet was far from being cancelled. But under all these discouragements, he was still supported. His congregation was soon recruited, and received him with the greatest joy. And at this time a very unexpected thing happened to him. The countess of Huntingdon, before his arrival, had ordered Mr. Howel Harris to bring him to her house at Chelsea, as soon as he came on shore. He went, and having preached twice, the countess wrote to him, that several of the nobility desired to hear him. In a few days the earl of Chesterfield * * Among the illustrious characters of our time, none has shone more conspicuous in the religious world than the late excellent countess of Huntingdon, whose praise is in all the churches. The eminence and usefulness of such a woman, cannot but make her memory dear to surviving friends: and her reputation having reached to thousands, who never were blessed by her acquaintance, all will be anxious to know something of a woman so famous in her day and generation I have for some time employed my time, and I hope not unprofitably for myself and the church of God, in collecting and arranging a memoir of her ladyship's faithful services, and the great success attending them. The narrative is interspersed with Biographical Sketches of several eminent persons the Rev. Messrs. Romaine, Venn, Jones, Scott, Wills, Fletcher, Penticross, &c. &c. &c. and will exhibit I hope, several characters of exalted excellence, striving together for the hope of the gospel. i am indebted for information to many of my friends. And I solicit all who loved her when living, and still revere her memory, to send me any particulars with which they are acquainted, that I may be able more explicitly to detail the eventful periods of a life so long spent in doing good. 1 and a whole circle of them attended; and having heard once, desired they might hear him again. "I therefore preached again," says he, "in the evening, and went home, never more surprised at any incident in my life. All behaved quite well, and were in some degree affected. The earl of Chesterfield thanked me, and said, 'Sir, I will not tell you what I shall tell others, how I approve of you;' or words to that purpose. At last lord Bolingbroke came to hear, sat like an archbishop, and was pleased to say, I had done great justice to the divine attributes in my discourse.' Soon afterwards her ladyship removed to town, where I preached generally twice a-week to very brilliant auditories. Blessed be God, not without effectual success on some."† 'I In September, 1748, he visited Scotland the third time, and was received with a hearty welcome. Multitudes crowded to hear him, both at Edinburgh and Glasgow. I have reason," says he," to believe some have been awakened, and many quickened and comforted. My old friends are more solidly so than ever; and a foundation, I trust, has been laid for doing much good, if ever the Lord should call me thither again. Two synods and one pres ་་ *This celebrated infidel and tory, was one day reading Calvin's institutions. A clergyman (the Rev. Mr. Church, who died curate of Battersea) of his lodship's acquaintance coming in on a visit, lord B. said to him, " you have caught me reading John Calvin; he was indeed a man of great parts, profound sense, and vast learning; he handles the doctrines of grace in a very masterly manner. "Doctrines of grace," replied the clergyman! "the doctrines of grace have set all mankind together by the ears.""I am surprised to hear you say so;" answered lord B." you who profess to believe and to preach christianity. Those doctrines are certainly the doctrines of the Bible, and if I believe the Bible I must believe them. And, let me seriously tell you, that the greatest miracle in the world is the subsistence of Christianity, and its continued preservation, as a religion, when the preaching of it is committed to the care of such unchristian wretches as you." This anecdote was told to the Rev. Augustus Montague Toplady, at Bath, July 30, 1775, by the countess of Huntingdon, who had it from lord Bolingbroke's own mouth. †M. S. and Letters 673. + Letter 700. || He means the synods of Glasgow and Perth, and the Presby |