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BY JAMES EVERETT. «'Th«l not only the maxims, but tlie grounds of a pure morality, the mere rragments of irht<3i the ' lofty grave tragedians taught ia chorus or lanibie,' and that the iublimt; truths of the divine unity 'and attributes, which a Plato found most Imnl to learu and deemed it still mors difflcull to reveal ; that these should have become the almost hereditary property of chitdboud and poverty, of the hovel and the workshop ; that cvcu to the unlettered they sound as common- ptace, is a phenonitnon which must withhold all l)at winds of the most vulgar cast from uudci- valuiog the services eveuof the pulpit and the reading-Jpsk." « Coleridgt'a Hiographia lAlcarki, vol 1. p. SBS. JTfwt Cannlrfasr, from tj)c JFtft!) ISnuUn^ JStilHon. TORONTO: PUBLISHED BY MATTHEW LANG, FOR THE W^LliVAN Mi3TUOW6T CHURCH IN CANADA. * 1835. CTssoo.Hsta J. if. LAWRENCE, PRINTEK, Ciuardian Office^ dtp Toronto. TO MR. WILLIAM DAWSON, OF BABNBOW, NEAS LEEDS, A liOVBa OF GOOD MKN^ AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD WORKS, AND A SUCCESSFUL PREACHER OF THE GOSPEL OF JCSUS CHRIST, THIS MEMOIR, #:. AS A MEMORIAL OP PRIVATE FRIENDSHIP, IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, Bf THE AUTHOR. 47483 m i# Wr ADVERTISEME TO THB FIRST CANADIAN EDITION. JL he "Village Blacksmith" has had a most exten. sive circulation in England, and has been productive of much good. The pleasing and elegant style in which it is written, as well as the striking incident with which it abounds, makes it peculiarly attractive to all classes of readers. The singularity of some of the facte and anecdotes to some sober minds may appear somewhat strange, and the writer may be thought to have given occasionally a little colouring, and to have indulged too much his fine poetical imagination ; but no one who kn§w Samuel will accuse him of this : he has drawn a faithful and correct likeness, — a full length portrait, in which expression and life is given to every feature. If there be a fault, the painting is too good, — the com- position too elegant and |>olished for so rough a subject. Many of the most strikh^ anecdotes related in the Memoir I had from thesis of Samuel within eight months of his death. I have no doubt thai the publish, ing of this work in Caaada will prove a blessing to many, which is the sincere prayer of the Editor. Montreal, July lltb, 1835. W. LORD. • ( ' JESRP PREFACE. Biographers have occasionally, though perhaps uncon- sciously, glided into two opposiie extremes : tht/y have either depreciated the character of their subjects, or over-rated their excellencies. To the former extreme they have been led in various ways; and in none, among the less offensive, more than in writing far and near for character; and after socuring their object, arranging the different materials in their works, like witnesses in a court of justice, to speak for the person in question. This, to say the least, is putting the subject on his trial. It is in this way that the Life of that excellent man, the late Rev. William Bramwell, has been doomed to suffer, and permitted to be swelled to an useless extent, by t!»e pub* lication of opinions, which were never given with a view to appear in print ; and which, if even given for that purpose, would have the same weight with the public that the "Namc3 of Little Note, recorded in the Biographia Britannioa,** had with Cowper, especially in support of the character of suchn, MAN ; a man who required no such adventitious aid, but who, after all the prunings and parings of those who least admired him, and with only a tithe of his wislom, looked upon him as a weak enthusiast, would have stood a lovely tree in tho vine- yard of the Lord, refreshing many with his verdure, protectinj them with his shade, and enriching them with the weigni an* luxuriance of hir. fruit.* When an author is reduced to the necessity of going abroad in quest of character for his subject, it is but too evident that the subject has not been sufficiently * It is with pleasure that tiis writer learns, that a new Life of the lata Rev. Wilhain Bramwell is forth-coming, from the pen of J . BtamiveJI, Egquire, of Durham. ' /rtWFSf •'"■■f-^g'^^W^-i" ^^ Hvnppp^ "i|P VIII. rnrFAOF. nt Aotnt w.th himself to bo known; or, timf, in a.ldition ton Z!m ^ «' '"'»^<^"«^ ^''«ro i« oilher incupacity for the work, or doubta of tho propnofy of its cxocutio.i. In ihu present case, either iho writer hn« not humility to spare for such condescen- sion, br ho wiehcs not to d'^^rnde his subject. Ilavinir no internal misgivings, no suspicion, ho considers his hero not at on his tria , but one against whom no charge is preferred, and therefore deorao the witness-box unnecessary. Let him nor. however, bo niaunderslood ; for though he has gone in quest «f matenalt, ho has not gone in search of character. He Aa« procured materials, in order to form an opinion othia own; »*"l,f rials which roso out of a character already formrd-^a. -•^eler embodied in a "living epistle" before the public* m and read of all;" and but for which character, such Iterials would not have existed. The other extreme into which biogrophera have fallen, has had Its rise in ar^ overweening anxiety and partiality, inducing them on the one hand to rendc- the character as perfect as possible, in order to secure on the other an ample share of tho food opinion of tilio reader. Hero the writer has agfain to plead disinclination. He has taken up the character of Samuel Hick as it u?««, not as ho wished it, nor as it ouqht to be ; and has left tho man ao he/ot««rf him-t;j the rough, and unadorn- ed; somewhat resembli.ig the block of marble upon which tho first efforts of the artist have been employed, where tho human form has baen brought out of the unfinished mass, in whose core are to be foand Si\ those hidden qualities which give beauty to the surface, only waiting the masterly hand of a Phidias, for the purpose of imparting grace, and' polish, and finish. The circumstances under which the following pag«»8 com. meiiced, were carried on, and completed, are these :~Tho good man whoso life and character they profess to portray, deposited with the writer, about three years prior to the period ♦ of his dissolution, some papers, with a solemn injunction to prepare them for publication. These papers were found to PRKFACB. ix. compride biokon materinln of pomnnal history, luch at he him- fi«lf alono woe capable of ihrowing together and mich u it would fftii to'tiio ioi of bu' few, without pravioaa and pereunai acquaintance, to ho able to separate and decipher. The pledgv of preparation wao given, without the apecificatioQ of time, on oitbe*- aide, for its fulfilnnent. S^uch .yaa the hoterogeneal character of the papers, and ouch tlio complexion of many of the facts and incidents, that some of the former were totall/ useless, and some of tlio latter unfit to neet the public eye; tho whole requiring^ another language, and bare f.liusion be^og ijuRicicnt in many instances v^' g amplification had beeo indulged. Sometime previous . he decease of the subject, a degree of impatience was expressed for tho completion of the Memoir : but as nc time had been originally speo:'«r honest enough to confess his belief that It was a judgment from God— expressed his sorrow# and finished his course in a ^orkh< use. The uses and improvements which Samuel made of circumstances and occasions even the most trivial, were invariably devo- '*^"«'' and often pertinent. From ati oc.r.»rr.Ji^^ Uh.. B the present, he wolUd, in stating it, exclaim, "'fho^h Jiand join m hand, thowicked shailnot be unpunished^ *^ THE VILLAOS BLACSSVITir. iiiOii, With his usual quickness, bis eyea BpRrklttig, snd ^paming with a fine flow of graloful . feeling, he wc ils Samuel, from the peculiar construction of his own %iind, was likely to fix upon, — one who would, on com- paring the one with the other, have stood at the head of * Tbo Weeloyan MothodietB have always bc6n distinguished for their zealous attempts to roclaim the worst part of human natttre jUrst : for this purpose they have resorted to markets, foMts, and fairs ; and in looking at IhQ situation of some of their oldfrt chapels— Whitby, and other places— it will be found, that they frequently pitched their tents in the most Sodomitish parts of a town, with a view to improve the more depraved as well as tbo lower grades of society. TIIE VILLAGE BLACKSMITR. » the same class at school, in which Samuel would have been placed at the foot ; both being JU for the class, at^ well B8 of it,— -only the one having attamed to greater proficiency than the other, in a somewhat similar lino.* Samuol's attention was soon gained, and his aifection won, which, to Mr. Burdsall, was of no small import, ance ; for as he was proceeding with the serrice, a cler. gyman advanced towards him, declaring, that " he should not preach there,— not if he were the Lord Mayor him- self," threatening to «' pull him down from the biteck.** Just as he was preparing to carry his designs into exe- cution, Samuel, whoae love to the preacher was such, that he felt, as he observed, as if he " could loose the last drop of" his " blood" in his defenc-s, stepped up to the clergyman, clenched his hands, and holding them in a menacing form to his face, accosted liim in *Se abrupt and measured terms of the ring upon which he had but a few minutes before been gazing,— «* Sir, if you disturb that man of God, I will drop you as sure as ever you were born." There was too much emphasis in the ex- pression, and too much fire in the eye, to admit a doubt that he was in earnest. The reverend gentleman felt the force of it— his countenance changed— the storm which was up in Samuel had allayed the tempest in him —and he looked with no small concern for an opening m the crowd, by which h» might make his escape. Samuel, though unchanged by divine grace, had too much nobleness of soul in him, to trample upon an oppo^n nent, who was thus in a state of humiliation before him ; and therefore generously took him under his protection —made a passage for him through the audience— and conducted him to the outskirts without molestation, when he quickly disappeared. The manner in which this was done, the despatch employed, and the sudden calm after B; * sribf««?; Jl*'* ""^ •'n«K«'alion. were rarely aUent in Mr. call to the ministry, ho said. "I seem to have been iorofithintf like a partridge : I ran away with the shell on my headT ^ 10 tUE VIIiLAOE OLACKSMlTlt. the commotiodj must have produced a kind of dramatic ijffecl on the minds of religious persons, who, neverthe* less, in the midst of their surprise, gratitude, and eveft harmless mirth at the precipitate flight of their disturber, who was convc ed in an instant by a mere stripling from the lion to the timid hare, would be no more disposed to justify the clenched fist — the earth helping the woman in this Way — than they could be brought to approve of the Zeal of Peter, when, by a single stroke, he cut off the right ear of the high priest*s servant. Samuel instantly resumed the attitude of an attentive hearer, without any apparent emotions from what had just transpired. In the launching forth of his hand, he gave as little warn- iiig as the bolt of heaven ; the flash of his eye was lik« the llghtning*s glare"-a sudden burst of passion, withef. ingfor the momopt — seei — and gone. The following good effects resulted from this sermon *-a high jreipect for the preacher, and a stronger attach* ment to the Methodists, as a people ; both having a ten- dency to lead him to the use of the meansi by which the Divine Being conveys grace to the hearts of his crea- ture** He remarked, that after this period, in following Mr. Burdsall from place to place, he travelled *'- many scores of miles," and that he "never heard" him with- out being ** blessed" under his p -eaching. His feelings i^rere in unison with those wiiich dictated Ruth's address to Naomi, ** Whither thou goest, J will go— thy people «hall be my people, and thy God my God ;" and as far as circumstances would admit, and he had light to dis- cover the truth, he laboured to give vent to the over- flowings of his heart. His case was one which would lead to the conclusion, that his religion commenced in Aea»: rather than lig?itj that he continued for some time, even beyond this period, more the subject of impression than of instruction — felt, in short, what he was unable to express to other?, and for which he could not account to himself. He had been touched by the wand of Moses at Horeb, which had uniocked some of the secret springs THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. li ^ of his heart, and put them in motion, rather than been m the taliernacle with Aaron the priest, illuminated and perfected by the Urim and the Thummim. His heart was much more assailable than his head, and, as will afterwards appear, was much more at work through life and had a more commandinginfluence over his conduct! Divine light was admitted but slowly, not so much through any violent opposition to it, or any process of reasoning carried on in his mind against any of the par- iicular doctrines oi" the gospel, as through a want of ^owor to arrange and classify his thoughts— to connect^ one subject with another— to trace effects to their causes P a want of the means of information, as well as a relish for reading, had the means been at hand—a certain u, quickness Ml catching particular points, which led him lo think as some Hibernians are led to speak— and a peculiarly animated temperament, which disposed him to warm himself at the fire of the Christian altar, rather than silently gaze upon a cloudless sky— the splendid canopy of the great temple of the universe. He seemed, m fact, to carry the more fiery part of his trade into his religion, as he subsequently carried every part of his religion into his trade. Full of the best and warmest feeling /or the religion of Christ and its professors, and using the means in order to attain it, he was now in a hopeful way, not only of verging towards it, but of enter- >ng into it» genuine spirit. I '*'f.**^ef kindlings, yieidings, and advances, was at length added eonviction, though not the most poignant. Ihe clouds which overhung his mind, began to break ?rJW ^^ was effected by the ministry of the Rev. John Wesley. The chronology of this event is placed by Samuel s widow in the fifteenth year of his age ; but by himself, af\er the period of his havfng heard Mr. Burdsa : and although the memory of the former is generally more 10 be depended upon than that of the latter, yet, m this case, Samuel was probably the more correct of the two. It was in the old chapel at JUeds 12 THG VILLAOE BLACKSMITH. where he heard the founder of Methodism; and h« scarcely appears to have been sufficiently impressed' with the importance of personal salvation, during the first year of his apprenticeship, to lead him so many miles from homo to hear a sermon ; nor does ho refer to any thing that seems to amount to conviction prior to his York excursion. Still, the date is of minor importance, provided the fact be secured ; and the principal point to be attended to is— that of tracing the progressive steps by which he was led to the knowledgfi ^of himself and of God, and to the enjoyment of " pu^ *and undofiled religion." On entering the chapel, he was awed and delighted with Mr. Wesley's appearance, H who, according to his conceptions of angelic beings, seemed at first sight to bo " something more than man" —oven "an ange!" of God. This prepossession in favour of the preacher, naturally prepared tho way for a, speedy rbc«ption of the truths delivered. There was ene subject, however— and all in favour of the preacher —which Samuel was at a loss to comprehend. Mr. Wesley's prophetic soi 1 was led out in some part of the Uiscour- to connect with the revival of religion which was goi. on, more glorious times ; intimating that when his dust tould mingle with tho clods of the valley, min- isters jnore eminently successful than either himself, or others by whom he was surrounded, would bo raised to perpetuate and extend the work. Not distinguishing between ministerial talent and ministerial usefulness, Samuel thought Mr. Wesley intimated that greater preachers than himself would supply his place ; thus giving Mr. Wesley the credit of indirectly associating hi iself with tho great — though greater were to tread in his steps. Samuel, according to his own exposition of Mr. Wesley's words, could not conceive it within the range of possibility for any one to equal, much mor*} to surpass him ; for, to use his own language, " ho preached like an angel." Thn Vxt was, "Shew me thy faith without thy works, an will shew thee my fuith by my v.. THE VILLAGE DLACKSMITH. 13 wot*: '* In addition to Mr. Wesley's appearance, anw more light upon the sub- ject in one single moment, than a person of the highest deacnptive powers, through description alone, couW do m twelvA hours. This, thoug^pipt a perfect illustration, w sufficient for the present purpose : Samuel had heard * Jamos^ ii. 18. U 14 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. preacbiog repeatedly ; a description of the moral condi- tion of man, of tho new creature in Christ Je^us, of the awful and glorious realities of an invisible world, of every thing, in short, connected with Man as a subject of the moral government of God, had been given in the dis- courses which he had heard ; but through his own su- pineness— -his not asking for divine aid, or, if he asked, his asking amiss, he remained in the "darkness" of ignorance, error, and unbeiref, without "light" to guide him either in his conceptions, his decisions, or his walk. He, however, who commanded light to shine out of dark- ness, commanded it here to shine into darkness ; a pure ray was shot from the Sun of Righteousness, illuminat- ing all within. Samuel found the " house" empty of all good--^not swept of evil, nor garnished with holiness. It was light which produced a convicti/on, not so much of thQ presence pi' evil, as of the absence of good. He saw iMihe was ^'poor" and '' naked," and had till now been "blind ;" but tho negative character of his conviction did not constitute him " wretched" because of sin, or ** miseroMe" because of the enormity of that sin. The Naming sword was permitted to turn only in one direc tion ; other operations were apparently restrained, when the present had its full effect, and the subject was more fully prepared for their exercise. The i!c?y Spirit had been air* ady in operation, softening and gently impress, ing the heart— all preparatory to a fiirther wo;k of grace. There wan fira, is has been previously stated ; but it was fire witiiout flame — fire smouldering under ashes, and consequently incapable of emitting the beneficial light. It was now that the shades of night, in which he had been so long enveloped, seemed to say, as the angel said to Jacob, " Let us go, for the day jreaketh.'" »> rUK ViLLAUK BLACXSIIITH. 15 uAy II CHAPTER 11. lie IfovcB his master before the expiration of tiis apprenticcebip—is providctv ti&lly directed to a suitable BJtiiation, nnd cnninicncca busii ess fur hinwelf— Ilia marriage— his benevolence— death of his wife's mother— Is alarmed, by a dream— obtains mercy—suddenncBs of his conversion— its fruits- his zeal —answer to prayer, and effects of bis expostulation with a londhidy— sum mary of the evidence of his conversion. It has been quaintly, but significantly observed, in refer- ence to the providential lot of human beings, that " Every peg has its hole." Whatever may have been the pri- mary design of the remark, it is certainly applicable to the notions of personal comfort and probable usefulness ^ — the former eflected by the adaptation of the pin to the place and of the place to the pin, and the latter by its j>ro/ccf ion— going beyond itself, so to speak— affording an opportunity both to friends and strangers, of suspfeEd- ing upon its form whatever they may desire, whether from inclination or necessity. And the mac who permils his Maker to " choose" his " inheritance'' %r him, m\\ rarely be placed ia a situation in which it will be impos. eible for some of his fellow.creatiires to hang upon him their hopes, their weaknesses, and their wants. This will apply with equal propriety to persons in humble life, as to persons in the more elevated ranks of society. We are taught the doctrine of a wise and bountifil Pro- vidence in the fall of a " sparrow," and in the adominga of " the lilies,"~-of a Providence which is both permis. sive and active in its oporations— directing in the otUset^ and entering into the minutest circumstances of human life. General observation would almost warrant tho belie|i^hat there is a starting-point for every man, later or ejfffler in life, subject to his own choice : and in pro- portion as he proceeds along the line, or dcvifites from Id THE VILLAGE DLACKSMITIf. ^ It. Will be the amount of his fiuccoas or adversity— con necting with the situation, in the person that holdsT^ induHtry, economy, and integrity, 'fhe principa dirtK culty .8 m tho choice. HeliL.iously to determine ihie the cafi^""'"' !" '"^^ "^^^^ «^ '^' circumstances of S«v«r«r' ?!k'''"'*' ^^^'^n^^^^^y* and general usefulness. thirmemoir. ''""'' "'" '^^'^ '' '''' ^^^^^^ «f Though Samuel had acted in the capacity of a faith ^aklT \^'l Tf'' ^"^- «^'"« y^^^» ^ circumstance ^nt^fT ''^'''^ *^^ ^" ^ reparation before the exp^a tion of his apprenticeship. His master's daughter had conceived an attachment to him, which was returned hough not to the same extent, by Samuel. S „a turally led to certain domestic attentions, in wh ch "he" young woman contributed to his comforts ; and having hjJ. ^^''"^^'. *' ^«n»»^and, she occasioaaliy assisted a m li i .^^'^ ™^ter coming down stairs one n.oming, a Iiitle earlier than usual, found him seated wi«h Miss Derby on his knee. He instantly returned, and told hJs wife, whom he had left in bed f and afte; operi^ the circumPiance, said, «'I believe she is as fond of thf lad sLr h^ Ta 7r ^ ^ .*^^^^-" ^" ^g^'" descending the stairs, he chided them both, and signified his disappro! bation of all attachment. The day passed on, wirll evl dent indications that the master was brooding on the sufeject; and at length he ordered Samuel, with a good de^l of angry feeling, to leave his house and his service. 1 fie dismissal naving been given at an evening hour Samuel rq^iuested permission to remain till tho next dav' which was granted. To prevent any matrimonial coT nection from taking place between them, the father, on Samuel s removal, contrived to form an union between hersenir'^nr ^ P^-^^^" «f ^^^^^^ property, but much ner senior, offering as an inducement, a handsoi« do*- ry. Mies D. wrote to Samuel the day ^reviouSt, her marriage, requesting him to meet her at rspccieed time • THE VIX.I,AGS BlACKSSItTa* •• '•^, and place, pledging herself to hin» for ever, as the boIc object of her first afleclion. Poor Samuel wa» placed in circumstances at the tim« from which it wa3 imp ossi< ble lo escape ; and the fitfiil momcot glided away from both, witliout improvoment, to their inexpiessibJe grief. As this was a compulsory measure, the bride gave her hand without her heart; her spirits shortly afterwarda became depressed, and confirmed insanitv ensued. Sam- uel was sent for by her friends— he obeyed the summons —the sight of him increased her malady, and added to the poignancy of his own feelings— he hastily withdrew-— and she died soon after. As an affair of honour, it may be said, "in all this" Samuel "sinned not."* Aban- doned, however, as he was, by his master, the Lofd directed him by his providence. Without giving the West Yorkshire dialect, which he wrote as well as spoke, and which it would be as difficult for persons in the southern counties of England to road and to understand, without a glossary, as the "Lanca. shire Dialect," the substance of his relation, when "en- tering upon the world"— to employ a familiar phrase- is cbar, simple, and touching. " When I was one and t«venty years ot age," he states, "there was a shop at- .- ,erty, at Micklefield, and my father took it for me. i here began business for myself; and when I had paid for my tools, I was left without a penny in ray pocket, or ^ bit ol bread to eat. But I was strong, in good health, and laboured hard; and that God who sent the ravens to feed his servant, fed me. One day, while at work a man came into ray shop, who told me, that his wife had Jed the pig so fat, as to render it useless to the family, and that ho would sell me the on3 half of it very cheap. *,^ld Mrs. Derby, who survived Samuel, and wris Hvinff at HoaJaugh. m 1831 in the 90th year of her age. waa iery ^5 hi r* "J7^y«^.«*yhng him " Our Sam^ and Mr. D., on ^e^g his daughter's distress, was heard to say. « O that I had !«. s-^"! tt^Ztr'day:™"^^ '''' oocasionalvisits-toiisoWMrlTo c 2 18 I iold TUB ViLtAOS BlACKSHITIt. in thai I wished it were in my power to make the purchase — that I wae much in need—but that I was without money. He replied, he would trust me ; andl agreed to take it. I mentioned the circumstance to n neighbour, who offered to lend me five pounds, which I accepted ; and out of this I paid the man for what I had bought. I continued to labour hard, and the Lord, in his abundant goodness, supplied all my wants." From this it would seem, that he had not been anxiously look- ing in every direction for a situation, and that, on finding every providential door shut, had sat down to quarrel with the dispensations of God, or made some hazardous attempts to force an opening : nor was the situation a» first either perceived by himself, or the docvr—to proceed with the allusion— but slightly turned upon its hinges, leaving the possibiliiy or propriety of entrance still pro. blemattcal. It was thrown open by the hand that regu. lates till human affairs — circumstances invited the father to the spot— he took his survay- Samuel having been released from his connexion with his master, found the occurrence seasonable — poverty was his portion, but no capital was requisite for the purchase of stock — previous industry and economy prepared him to meet the expense of tools — his father led him up to the door which his Maker had opened— labour was instantly furnished, and the " daily bread" for which he was commanded to pray was supplied— the confidence and kindness of friends encouraged him to proceed— and there he continued, succeeded, and was afterwards useful. Providence ap. peared to meet him at every turn, and, as in a piece of wedge-work, adapted its moven ents to all the peculiari. ties of his case. After having been established in business for the space of eighteen months, without apparently elevating his mind above the drudgery of the day, he meditated a change m his domestic circumstances. "The Lord," he observes, <'saw that I wanted a help-rhect"— he know the character that " would suit mo best"— and was \ #' I tHE VltLAOe fiLACKSMITK. 19 ■0 " kind" as to furniih me with " one of his own chooS' iiig." From the form of expression employed, it thouki seem that there was an allusion to his first attachment, which he might be led to consider as not of God, from the circumstance of his having been Hwarted in his pur-> pose. His courtship, in its commencement and termi. nation, preserves the singularity which distinguished most of the leading transactions of his life. His partial- ity to singing led him to unite himself to the choir that attended Aberford Church, which union continued for the space of ton years. Here ho became acquainted with her who was destined to be his bride, and to survive him as his widow. The first time he saw her, which was during divine service, it was powerfully impressed upon his mind, that she would one day become his wife. Under such impression, and in greql simplicity, he walk- ed up to her immediately on leavmg the church, and unbosomed his feelings and thoughts on the subject. She heard his first lispings with surprise, and felt their force ; for from that period they delighted in each other's society, and were finally united in holy matrimony in SpofTord church. She was six years older than himself. On leaving the hymenial altar, and reaching the chur<:b door, a number of poor widows pressed around him o solicit alms. His heart was touched ; the tear was in his eye ; •* I began the world," said ho to himself, " with, out money, and I will again begin it straight" The thought was no sooner conceived 'nd the generous im. pulse felt, than the hand, whi nptied the pocket, scattered the last pence of which he was pc'sessed among the craving applicants. The bride being entitled to some property, and work pouring in upon him, his exhausted stores were soon recrnited ; and believing that a blessing followed the donation, he appended to a narrative of the event, in a tone of triumph, "the Lord gave me a good wife, and I have never wanted money since that day." 30 THB VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. The fine glow of devoliona! feeling occasioriallv ex. pof leoced m his youth, had for some time become ex. tinct ; and he had not, in hia present situation, been brought into contact with any decidedly religious cha. racter to revive it, excopt the mother of his wife, who was a membfer of the Wesley an Connexion. He com. plained, that at this period bis wife and himself were «J>oth strangen to saving grace"— that " the parish" codld not boast of a single Methodist—and that there was not « one' of his « own family that knew the Lord." His mother-in.law. who, it would seem, did not reside in the same parish with himself, often spoke to him on the subject o< religion, and interceded with God both for him and his partner. Example, exhortation, and prayer, were ineffectual. The appeal was to be made to the pawions ; and through these was the entrance to be made, which would effect his deliverance from the thral- dom of Satan. His mother.in.law sickened and died. Ihehappmess she experienced in her last hours, sof. tened the heart and rj-awakened the attention of Samuel to tbe concerns of his soul. This, however, but for what he denominated a *< vision," had been "as the early dew that passeth away." ' Three days after her dissolution, he dreamed that cho appeared to him arrayed in white, took him by the hand, and affectionately warned him tr '^ee from the wrath to come; stating, that if he did nut repent ho would never meet her in the paradise of ^od. At the close of the address, the visionary form vanished ; conviction, while he slumbered, seized his spirit ; he awoke in terror, and to use his own language, ''jumped out of bed"— thus turnishmg another exposition of the language of the "man in the land of Uz"— " When I say. My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint ; then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions." This sudden spring from the bed roused his wise : his groans and distress alarmed her ; and suDDosinfr him to have been suddenly seized with some complaiul THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITU. 3i that threatened his life, uhe was proceeding to awaken tho neighbours, and to cull them to her assistance', when she was arrested in her course, in the midst of the dark- ness with which she was surrounded; with a sentence wrung from tho depths of his agonized spirit, and tipered in sobs, "I want Jesus — Jesus, to pardon all my liis."' It was suificient for her to know that he was not in i||^ mediate danger from uflliction ; her fears were Iherefo^^ quickly dissipat .d, but she could ilFord him no consob tion. This he seemed to feel, and observed, ** 1 had no Paul to say to mo, * Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shah be saved ;' nor any praying wife to pray for me." It was the midnight of desolation And the only light by which the way of mercy could bo discov. erod, was from within. The flood of day which wa» poured upon his mind, was as strong as it was sudden ; and differing in degree from that vilh which he was visited under the ministry of Mr. Wesley, ho now beheld both sides of his case — not only tho absence of all good, but the presence of real evil. "My eyes," said he, "were opened— I saw all the sins I had committed through tho whole course of my life — I wn? like tho psalmist—l cried out like the gaoler." Ho d Ofcd with considerable emphasis, "I did say my pra}«:i'tf,'=' con. tinu-ag, "as I never did before;" meaning that lie had only SAID them previously to this period. H« further observed, that it might have been said of him^ as of Saul, " Behold, he prayeth." The ministerial instruction which he had at diflerent periods received, led him, in tho midst of much igno. ranee on other subjects, to adopt the proper means, ancf to look to the true source of happiness, in order to its attainment. Ho had heard of one Jesus of Nazareth, like Saul ; and though that Jesus had not before been experimentally revealed to him, yet such was the naiorc of the liglu which he received, that it enable^ him t& recognize in him from whom it proceeded, the face of a Saviour and a Friend. The Sun of Righteousness, Uk» 22 THB VllLAGE MLAC&SMITH. the orb of day, discovers himself by his own shining. It is in his light that we aoo li-rht. Samuel was in the light, in the midst of natural uiirkncss; and though he could nut not hear the prayers of a wife, he had confi. dencc in the intercession of a Saviour. " Jesus," said he, " was ray advocate ; I put in my case, and he plead- ed for me before the throne of God. I believed that the blood of Chrirt was shed for me ; and the moment I beheved, I found peaife. I could adopt the language of the poet, — •I < My God is reconciled, His pardonin^r voice 1 hear: He owns ine for his child, I can no longer fear ; With confidence I now draw nig'h. And Father, Abba, Father, cry.' " His stale, as an inhabitant pf the natural world, af- forded a fair exemplification of the change through which he passed. He reposed himself in darkness—lay in that darkness, like the dead in the toi ib — and was passing through 4iis insensible state, to the light of another dpy. Oki the same evening, as a sinner before his God, he lay down in the darkness of a deeper night than that which veils the face of nature — was the subject of a more ter. rible death than that of which s'>*)p is but the image- awoke in spiritual light— and v »«, ere the natural light broke upon his eye, enabled to exult in the dawn of a fairer morning than ever beamed upon our earth — a morning which can only be surpassed by the morring of the resurrection, when the just shall kindle into life at the sight of the Sun of Righteousness, to which this, through the vivifying rays of the same Sun, formed the happy prelude. Spiritual life succeeded spiritual light. To object to the genuineness of the work, because of its suddenness, would be to pleada " needs be" for our con. tinuance in a state of comparative darknns, danger, misery, and death, in opposition to the end proposed by the scheme of human redemption, through Jesus Christ, THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 23 which was to complete our deliveraBCC from such a state — would be to prescrfbc limits to the power, good, ness, and purity of ** the Holy One of Israel," as though he were unable to effect such a change, but by degrees, unwilling at once to soothe oui* sorrows, and approving of our continuance in a state of moral defilement- would be to doubt the veracity of the Holy Ghost, in his statements of the sudden illumination of Saul, the sud- den conviction of the multitude under the preaching of Peter, and the instantaneous pardon of the penitent thief — and would, finally, be to obstruct the course of our obedience, in compliance with all the exhortations which urge us, and all the injunctions which bind us to an im- mediate preparation for another state of being, as well as needlessly expose us, through sudden death, to the " bitter pains" of death eternal. But the doctrine of sudden conversion is becoming every day less objectionable ; and the " holy ground" on which that conversion takes place, is not barely visit- ed by the hymning seraphs of the Christian chuiich, who chaunt their songs within the sacred inclosure, but is respected and honoured by some of our first epic poets from without, through whose pen the ground has at length become poetically classical.* Thus, in "The Poet's Pilgrimage to Waterloo," the author, in his moments of vision, after tasting the tree of knowledge, sings: " In awo I heard, and trembled, and obeyed ; The bitterness was even as of death ; 1 felt a cold and piercing thrill pervade My loosened limbs, and losing sight and breath, To earth I should have fallen in my despair, Had I not clasped the cross, and been supported there. ••My heart, I thought, was bursting with the force Of that most fatal fruit ; soul-sick I felt, And tears ran down in such continuous course, As if the very eyes themselves should molt. * Se« tlie writer's Letter to Dr. Southoy, Poet Laureate, on the l^iie. of Mr. Wesley. rt -H' j^ i ^ 24 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. But then I heard my heavonty Teacher eay, DrinJc, ami this mortal atound shall pasa away. v " I stooped and drank of that divinost Well, Fresh from the Rock of Ages where it ran. It had a heavenly quality to quell My pain :— I rose a renovated man, And would not now, when that relief was known, Fo> worlds the needful sutforing have foregone." These sentiments, though highly poetical, take their root iffl fact, and owe their beauty and their excellency Jo trulh, of which they a/e (he fictitious representatives. The deep distress, the heart.sickness referred to, would, by a simple-hearted Christian, be styled deep conviction for ffin, or the pains of repentance antecedent to pardon ; hy a philosopher, a species of religious madness. The passing awa of the " mortal stound" would be contem. plated under the notion oi peace of mind, after the peni- tent had, by faith, " clasped the cross,'* or rather the Crucified. The brief space of time allotted for the whole would, at once, entitle the work to the general appellation of sudden conversion : for the poet had only to stoop — to drink — to rise, and to rise too a renovated 7nan, This bears such a i^triking analogy to the case of the sin.sick Village Blacksmith, whose personal history is passir in review — who knelt in distress before hia f great watch, ituation iTOUght joy,— a joy which could only find relief in the hearts of others,— hearts ready, as the recipients of its overflow, ifigs, to share in its fulness. But where were heart* to be found, to become the receptacles of such joy t It was not for him to say, with (he psalmist, " Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul ;" or, " I will declare thy name unto my brethren : in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee." Though congregations were not re. mote, yet there were no brethren with vfhom ho could claim religious affinity— none that feared God, with whom he was acquainted. He resolved, therefore, td proclaim the goodness of God to his " neighbours •" and like Melancthon, lo whom truth appeared at first so simple, and yet so forcible, that he instantly calculated on the conquest of others, but had soon to complain that old Adam was too strong for young Melancthon, Samuel —and the thought has haunted many besides these, both learned and illiterate— contemplated nothing short ol the sudden conversion of ev ry person in the neish. iT.K ''^^' i/k r^'^'^^K ^^ '^^'"arked. « I could make all the world believe, when day-light appeared. I went to ray neighbours for I loved my neighbour as myself. 1 wished them all to experience what I felt. The first that I went to, was a landlady. I told her what the Lord had done for me ; and that what he had done for me he «ould do for Aer-nexhorting her to pray and believe." Ihis was no new language to the ear into which it was poured, for the woman seemed to know to what source Jt was traceable "What!" she retorted, "have yo^ ^ITa ^ ^ff""' ■ y^" ^^^'^ ^ g*'^^' ndghbour, and arf^^r'^^"'"' and why change? The Methodists are a set of rogues, and you will soon be like them." Samuel, who was at least guiltless of Methodism, had too important a subject in hapd to spend his time in dis. nlZ'f^ *"l brotherhood, and therefore continued to Lrf i!|]"" t'' v"f"'''" '>" "^*^^««'^y °f P^'^^onal reli- gion, telling her if her « sins" were " not pardoned," it * 26 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITIf. would be if iiposHible for her to go " earnest and affectionate invitation. The first, truit of this description of labour-labour which has been extremely productive in a variety of instances- was a wealthy agriculturist. " Mr. Thomas Taylor." ! / ^ /. il^ *** P'®^*^^ «^ ®t»'t«n Grange, and I ii. Mr Rk" I ""* ^^*° S° ?"^ ^^^^ ^^- 0"« of these wL Mr, Rhodes.* a large farmer, wWb lived in the parish • anc^ who said if I would call upon him, he would go with me. Blessed be the Lord ! on the same night the gos" pel proved the power of God to his salvation? I remem. bpt the text ; it referred to the tares ami the wheat. The lTnT'M^'Kr.^'i ^^^. ^'"^ ^'^^^ ^'"^^'^«- There was TK^r K ^^Sabbath-breakers, a bundle of swearers, &c, ZrlL a TTT '"^ ^''"'•nt; and, before the ser. mon was finished, the preacher got Mr. Rhodes bound up m one of them. From that time the Lord added to ou? number ; we got preachii.g to our place, and soon had a class-meeting.- This it should seem, from a reference %t ^'""Jf of Conference, was either in the year Leeds circuit. Such preaching was as much calculated to Vr''Rhn!f*'\°™ J*'- ^'''^'°"' ^^^^^ April 3d. 1830. referring I „ u- "^^^ • ^® observes. «» He is still living at Micklefield tJ^^ri I ^ "P* ^? ^'" °«*^ survive Samuel lonjr. The Mb thoaiits always preached, and still preach at hi. houS^." ^" * TUK VILLAOIS BLACKSMITH. 33 In instruct the uneducated mind of Samuel, as it was to arrest the attention of the farmer. .Kcach would have been u superior preacher in his estimation to SauriOj and he would have prolited more by the Metaphors of the one than by the Sermons of the other. He could fasten upon some of the more prominent parts of a highly figurative discourse, and turn them to good per- sonal and practical account ; but would have been in danger of running wild with the remainder, flo knew much better when to cotninence, than how to proceed, or where to close. But it was not in criticism that ho was skilled ; nor was it cnto the ii'reties of Christian doctrine that ho could enter. He knew the truth much better in its ope- ration on the heart, than in its shinings on the under- standing ; and could tell much better how it felt, than in what position and connexion it stood. He seemed to possess the faculty in religion which some blind people are said to possess, in a rare degree, in reference to colours — a faculty of describing it by the touch ; for scarcely any thing advanced amounted with him to truth, unless it fell with power upon his heart. He had received the doctrine of justification as an eseperimental truth, though utterly unable, in puritanic style, to enter into a detail of its moving, meritoriousj remote, immediate^ and instrumetUal causes ; and this led to another doctriAo equally momentous — a doctrine of experience, no less than cf theory— the sanctification of the heart to God. " After he had enjoyed the blossjiig of conscious par- don," says Mr. Dawson, "he discovered that there was a higher state of grace to be attained ; that such state was purchased for him by the blood of Jesus Christ, and was to be applied to his soul by the Holy Ghost, through faith. This he sought in the way which God appoint^, and tuund the promise realized : • Every one that ask- eth receivcth ; and he that seeketh findeth 5 and to him that knocketb it shall bo opened.' He was enabled to believe for a higher enjoyment of divine lovo, and, from • ■4^J^^ :^ 94 TMU VILLAGE BLALILSMIT^I. the hour he believed, obtained a richer measure of it, through which ho wae empowered to ' Rejoice ever, more ; pray without ceasiDg ; in every thing give thanks.''' I This further change was wrought in hi^ soul in the year 1794 ; and the following are some of the circutn. stances connected with its attainment. "About thif time (1794)," he observes, "there was a greu* revival of the wo||| of God at Sturton Grange, near Micklefield.^ The meetii gs were held in Rig Lair,* Some hundreds of souls were converted to God, and many were suncti* fied. i was one of the happy number, not only con- vinced of the necessity of Christian holiness, but who, blessed be the Lord ! proved for myself, that the blood of Christ cleanseth from sin." Mr. Dawson, in advert, ing to this extraordinary work of God, in connection with Samuel's progress in religion, states that "there was an extraordinary outpouring of the Spirit upon nearly the whole of Yorkshire, and that it was most remarkably felt m the neighbourhood of Micklefield. At a solitary barn," continues he, " which stands on a farm belongmg to Mr. Wade, at Sturton, near ihe Ro- man road leading from Castleford to Aberford, a prayer meeting was held every Sunday morning and Monday evening. These meetings were especially owned of God, The glory of the Lord filled the place, and the power of God was present to wound and to heal, to kill and to make alive. Two colliers,f men who gave * Latr—& BAUN, in the west of Yorkshire. t One of these men was supported by the bounty of the late Mr. Broadhurst, of Swinton, for the sole purpose of enabling him to devrle his time to the vJKitaiion of the sick, &c. and died lately at. Manchosterj where he, had resided several years. His brother William, tite other person alluded to, married a person belonging to PolHngton, o village about three miles from Snaitb, Yorkshire, where he continued useful as an cxhorler and class-leader for a considerable length of tirnc—endod hia days in peace, about five years ago— and left a widow and two or three children. They received the appellation of the '• Praying CalUern» The one • THE VILLAGE t where he had been holding converse with God, and linked as he was in spirit to the invisible world, it was natural for him— whatever becomes of either the rationality or the Christianity of the act— to direct his thoughts thither ; and the sound had but just passed, when it occurred tp l.im, " This is the prince of the power of the air." O^ reaching home, he named the circumstance to his wife, TUB VIU.A€}K BLACKSMITH. 37 ^ho was still more struck with it, when, oir havirt^f oc. casion to go into the fields some hours afterwards, to milk the cows, she heard the same noise as described by Samuel, but saw nothing from w^ience it eouW pro- ceed.* tjy n* Instead of retiring to rest, he spent the whole of the morning in prvate prayer; and such was his distress, being, as he forcibly expressed himself, " imder :■ 38 THE Vltl^AGE BSACXSMITir. The martyrdom of gpirit which Samuel experiemtd on the death of the depravity of his nature, caii only be understood by thote who hj^e suffered on the same r^eli'; and there are not a few who have suffered more becausb of indwelling sin, than under conviction of its enormity and punisbmenit, as was evidently the case with the dub* ject of this memoir. It is not difficult to explain t\m$, exeept to the '< natural man/' to whom every ex|^eri« mental subject is mysterious. But to the purely enlight- ened it is well known, that the discipline ej^periencod in the school of repentance, in which the *^ heavy fxiden^* einner ^^lahours^^ under an oppressive bur4[§i, prior to his enterinjr into ''res/" — into that^r«^ ar^reparati}ry state of repose, consequent on his justification of die, charge from guilt — is occasionally less severe than the discipline which is afterwards excj^cised in the school df Cfafist--*into which school the penitent entere immedi- aidy on the reception of pardon, and in which, prior to his reception of what the poet styles ** that second rest,'^ be is taught to ^' learn" of him who was ** meek and Idwiy in heart," and while under his tuition, has, even in thift state, to bend the neck of his spirit to the *^yoke" which his divine teacher imposes. Human nature is net made of sufficiently tractable nnterials^^has been too long accustomed to an improper bias, to sit composed under the restraints of such i yokej or instantly to yield to its forms. The workman called " the old man/' in ^stile to all the works of '^ the new man ;" and will not supinely give up his poesesi^ions. On thNs justification of a sinner, peace^ sweet peace, falls upon the soul with the softness offtakes of snow; and to persons in an imaginative mood, it is as easy— barring the coldness of the metaphor -Hlo perceive the soul beautifully covered with it, and ehining in its external whiteness : but in the sanctification of the i^pirit, the work goes deeper than the soul's surface. A&d, to change the metaphor, it is not till after a per»)n'^ Justification, that God takes the lid from off the top of the sepulchre of the human heart, and unfolds to view ih *rtB VltLAOD iihACKSUtttt* m iiddcii 6lth--tli« belJdlder, like aft unamiaWs Wma lookmg at iMiiiself in a mirrof, being startled at liisown appearance* The pairt experienced in both gtates, thoUgli sevd'e^ differs in Its character, because produdcd by widely different eaum. AdtUal trarugfessim is ihe^ immedMlto cause ofpemmidl distress, and inttafe deprtw, Ujf that of a Mimt'i griqf^the one finding relief in an act or pardamtig mercy, and »he other in a Work oipuH. Jin*ggr4£e t or in other words, both in the death of Jeaue C^hrist, through the merU of whose blood the guifl of sin wcanteJhd, and by the virtue of whose blood the pdlutim 01 the soul IS cleansed i and the taint, if such an expression niay^ie allowed, is a« painful and odious to the enlightened, mind* as is its guilt to the awakened conscience. To the Woodman who wishes to eradicate, to have the ffround tierfectly clear, it is m mortifying to have the rmts left Irt the earth, as to see the tree stattding ; and having cleft the one, he is the more solicitous to have the other plucked Up, not only that he may not lose what he has already wrought, but that he may prevent its again shooting upward, and by lUrther growth producing still moil pernicious fruit. While the misery of a penitent is to be found m the accusations of a guilty conscience, fol. lowed up by awful forebodings of "Wrath to Come,*' the believers distress arises from a fear of fallings -an in- ward abhorrende of every thing rising in thesoul incom- patible With unsullied purity—an anicious desire after a lull eonformlty to the divine image— an exquisitely con- stituted conscience, which is as tender to the touch as the apple of the eye— the consciousness of still possessintf a heart prone to wander from the living God, and of a nature upon which temptation, without great watchful, ness, may still operate to the ruin of the soul— a keener insight into the spirituality of the sacred law— a quick, sightedness and frequent anticipations of dangerLthe Whole working the mind into a state of earnn«»n«.- -nd of agony to be " freed from the yoke of inbred sin." In ihG latter state there is no sense of guilt, nor conse- 40 TBE VtLJ/XGE SL^CCKSniTH; "f, guentiy of the divine displeasure, and thercftfre no iear of punishment; yet there is a oontinuni loathing of self — •? w«r in Ibe members"— *dyiiig to live. All this appears t^ have been known and fell by Sarauo! fliek, wltose oivIa «tirtoment leads to the conclusion, that be si/fTefCKi much more as a bolievejr than as a penitent-^thruugh the union of which two characters the man of God is sn«de perfect. , After he had risen from his favourite "flag," for whieb ^e entertained a kind of superstitious ree^pect, and wbieV was how rendered •doubly dear," he walked forth somfe time in biightness. The blessing of purity, which he had reeei'ved, was never lost throtigh actual transgression; and arthough he was twice in a state of deep distress respecting its emdence^ it was soon regained the same source, through which it was first obtained. ♦* fie expe- iienced it," says Mr. Dav son, " upwards of thirty yeai«> —-lived and died in the full possession of itse.xcelienciesi' O, vtrith what warmth, utfection, and pathos, he i^ed to spenk of his enjoying the perfect love of God in bis heart !--^bat love which easts out tormenting fear, andi stfesengly and sweetly constrains the whole soul to engage in tbe whole will of God, as revealed in his word ! This love expanded his naturally aflectionate heart, and his bowels yearned for the salvation of his friends, his neigb,^' -boufs, and the world.^" fHU ViLiAtiti «tACK8MlTM* 41 ■n\;";i Samtiera |)uWk cHar«dtfir^hl8 call t6 sfieak in pttWfe~« dwam-renrovcs tt :.»eteWinitn-a««i«is in r»rtyer-n»S*tlng!H-vfelts lJowd«n and other places- w» lenarkable out pouring of the Spirit 6f God-hJs pn#yhose judgment, gravity, and experienok away with thun«," Previously to leUving the chap^ hitnsejf, ho had a renCoUater with one of tus oWn tradC) a geouine son of Valcan, who might. have been drawn lo th^'Spot froin what he had heard of the Village Bla^k^ 9nni|h. Samuel was pressing home^ by personal appeal^ the subject of experimental religion upon an oldtnan^ Wh^on Uic person refeifed to eumc Up to him, and request" ^4 him i,Q l0t the old man alone, declaring hiin to be ex- ii}»04p4My 00 one in the town for honesty, and affirming his belief that he would go to heaven when he died* Samuel brought liim to the test of "sin forgiven ;'' stat. ing, if he knew not this, he doubted of his safety* His opponent immediately ^red« telling him, if he said so Ugain, he would *' fell" him* This was language whiok ^limtiyel would not have brooked on the day he heard Mtk Burdsall} at Yorki without tli« metal of hjs own temper b^ing heated to the same temperature with that of the pei;9pn who «tood before him ; but he was now anothet Ifl^Qi ^nd fpught with other weapons* He replied wHh Mnda«unted brow, " I have no feaf o(thai : if you lift youi 4 h^d Up, I believe y^ will not get it down again**' "^ 30 saying, be dropped upon h's knees, and began to prfty fof ^he lojan, who, apparently afraid lest the prayer should turn upoii juc2^6^; rather than mwcy, made a precipitate %ht* ' ' m After the service was dosed, he went to the house of Mr. I^ar^, a local preacher, where he was invitied tc^ spend ibe night. The good lady of the house, being !^|^ the Baptist persuasion, was less prepared than. her hus. b^nd for the feverous agitation attendant on some of the prayer^meotiugs, and, agreeably to her own views, le^i tufj^d S^tpu^l <9n the subject, declaring that he aimI hi§ assoeiates were destroying the work of God, and that tiiipy bad made the house of God a house of confusion ; Ft TifB VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. It warmly recommending deeeney and order. " Confii* sion !" he exclaimed | " I believe there was «uch coU, fusion, and great cotifuflion too, on the day of Pente. cost." But K was not for him to stand and reason the case with his hosti?as, however competent (o the task ; he therefore adopted his " short and easy method" of settling disputes, by going to prayer ; " for I thought,'* said he, " she and I should agree best upon our knees.** He there poured hrth his«petitions with great simplicity and fervour for her and 'for the family. When he arose she affectionately took him by the hand, which, to him, was the right hand of fellowship. On finding another spirit in her, he told her, that, in most revivals of rcli- gion, " three sorts of work" might be recognised— »♦ the work of God, the work of man, and the work of the devil ;" stating, that, when the two latter were de:. stroyed. the first would stand ; and that we shoull be careful not to injure the one in suppressing the other. The good lady was so completely overcome by tTie sin- eerity and simplicity of his intentions, his spirit, and his manners, that she made it her study to render his stHy as >igreeable as possible, by heaping upon him every social conifort. jEJis mode of conducting a discussion, or more properly, of terminating one, was the best ad- apted to his own case, and might be safely recom- mended in nine instances out of every ten^ whcfe th6 best side of a question is entertained with tho worst ar. guments for its support ; for certainly a question is not to be decided by the merits of the person who takds h ilp ; and the best of causes may have the feeblest advo. cates. The next day the party went to Spaldington Outside, at which place a gentleman of the nanie of Biell at prei sent resides; and such was the concourse of people collected together from neighbouring and distant parts, that iio building could be found suftciently largo to a6. ^i^modate them. The horses of those that rode were tiidia the gates and hedges,— giving the distatif appear. n JSIII i^M'I'AGE ULACKSMItH. «nce of a troop o( cavalry, nnd ttie compar^y divided ihcDiiBelvi^s into, two distinct bands, and occupied two large barns. In th« band originally iolended Tor lh% meeting a t^najmrary p'mtfoi-m waa erected for the ac- commodation of the prayer-leaders, exliorters, and more |rC8p*^ctnble portion of the female part of tbe auditory. The latter in the estimation ^f Samuel, were mere «pe^kUors of the work of God upon others. Tiie ii^flu* ei^ce, however, becoming more general, one of these, dnder deep awakenings of soul, cried aloud for mercy { and, as though determined to be avenged of her beset- 4ipg sin, her love of finery, she made a sacriiice of part of hor adoruings upon the spot, by throwing them among the poorer people below. With the exception of two or three extravagances — the absence of which had been more remarkable than their manifestation, and which are^ubject^ of /or&eoj'ance rather than approval under ail such circumstances— the meeting was attended with great ^ood. rJ 1^ From this pface >i>cy proceeded to Newport, wb«re several persons were convinced of sin, and others Atund ^eace with God ; the service contihued till midnight : Mr. James Wood .conducted the meeting, which was distinguished by great decorum. Instead of going t,o Hull the succeeding day, as previously arranged, Samuel was obliged to return home. But it was of no ina^poxt^ ance wl^re he was : on the road, in his shop, in the Held, be was ceaseless in his attempts to . be;^ej^{4hoipi^ who came in his way. v * r ? Journeying homeward, he saw a young man sowing «eed in a field, whom he accosted in his usually abrupt, y^t afiectionate nranner : " Youjaeera in oarnesti — Have you had tinie to water your seed?" " Nq," re- turned the sower ; " we never water this Idnd of seed : it is wh^at, not rye, that we ^steep, and sprinkle with lime." Samuel- Jiiad another object in view, an^, said, *' That is not what I want to be at : have you been o^ your ki^es this morning, praying to Go(3. tg givq hi? Tllb* VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 1^ hfRising fn the seed?" This instantly brought th« charge of Methodism M^inst him. •• O, you are a Me- thodist ! If you had Wm^ at our church yesterday, you wouM have |vj|ird ottr parson give them their char- acter." " Ydtt had a poor errand there,'" was the reply : " if the Methodists are wrong, you ought to pray for them to be let right." L was in this way that he was constantly scattering seed — not always shilfidly, yet often seascmaMy ; for there were many iaai, -ea of its failing into " good ground." He did not always escape with the sar. umphant feeling as tha» with which he withdrew from the sower iust noticed in his attempts at usefulness. Though his Lnoivledge ..as limited within very narrow bounds, y€;, ae far as it extended, his s6nse of propriety always led him to delight in seeing any employment attended to in a workmanlike manner. On another occasion he per. ceived a youth turning up a piece of land with the plough. His patience, which was occasionally one of his most vulnerable part^, being a little touched with the carelessness and awkwardness of the lad, he shouted out, as he paused n moment to look at him, " How dare you atteppt to plough my Lord's land in that way ?" proceeding to give him seme directions, when he was stopped short by him ; — thuf showing not only his quick- ness in comprehending Samuel's ullusion to the Divine Proprietor, but his smartness in so promptly meeting^ him in his own character,-— «« I am turning up a bowl, ing. green for the devil ;" intimating as much as though any thing done, and in any way, was good enough for the purpose to which the ground was to be devoted. This was so much relished by Samuel, that ihe-notions of agricultural propriety which were fluttering in his imagination, and to which he was about to give ntter- ance, broke up like a congregation of swallows in a^. tiimn— took instant flight, only to return with the aoi. - pearance of tite plough in the course of the ensuing spring : as also diri all the moral lessons which he ift- F r>o THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. Ife tended to found on the emplojmient in which th^e lad vfas engaged. Another field of labour opened to him after ih's period, more regular and permanent in its character, and much more accommodating to his circumstances. " About the year 1797," says Mr. Dawson, " a plan was laid down to engage tfte talents of all the prayer-leaders and ^xhorters in ihe villages of Garforlh, Barwick, Kippax, and Micklefield, together with other places in the vici- «iity ; all of whom were to be united, and to itinerate through the whole neighbourhood. Brother Hick ?ery readily agreed to have his name entered upon the plan, and having a horse at command, he could go to the most distant places, without difficulty. He attended promptly and conscientiously to his appointments, so "long as the union existed ; and it was this plan that iiroughtbioi to the notice of many persons who other- wise would not have been acquainted with him, and laid the foundation of his future and more widely extended usefulness. After this, his nar e was placed upon the regular local preachers' plan, of the Fontefract circuit, the places of whicU he supplied with pleasure to himself and profit to the people, to whom he recommended the person and salvation of Jesus Christ. When Mickle- iield was taken into the Sfelby circuit, his name was inserted in the plan of the local preachers belonging to that circuit ; but, residing on the borders of the Selby aad Pontefract circuits, his^name stood on both plans."* in reference to the last particular, Mr. Dawson pro- 'Ceeds : — " I remember calling upon him one day, when * This wm considerably subseqaeiBt to the period of 1797, when til© ^neral plan was made, which associated the prayer-leaders with the exhorters. One of Samaers conlempon ries thinks it was not till 1803, thai he was regularly admitted on the plan, though be had addressed public assemblies from the time stateu Bs above. Prior to the year 180T, the plana of the Pontefract circaat were written ; after that, they were printed. Belby be- came tho Inad of a circuit in 1812. \ THC VIU.AGE BLACKSMITH. 51 ho observed, that his time was pretty weii fiiied up, say. ing, * You see I have my nanne upon both Pontefract and Selby plans f empFiatically adding, • there is no- living with Mf vmh.^ " It was his " meat and hi» drink" like Blin " who went about doing good," to dcv the will of his Father ; and in the eseeutiun of that wiil> he alone couUi mviu » The firs'. tiin@ he ventured to take a text was in at gchooi-room, in Aberford, his native place ; and it wa» the one witUlrbtc^ he was dazzled in his dream. The room was crowded ; and it is probable that the success f this, and a few similar attempts, might have led the ay for the insertion of his name on the plan among •^ exhorters." That the attempt was prior to such in- sertion is kely from the fact.pf the perspn^ belonging to the school.room, having "^ned Mr. Kilham^s adhe- rents soon af\er the division, on the event of which there would be but little disposition to grant the loan of the place, owing to the state of party feeling, which was then at the highest point of elevation. He hadi large congregations in those days ; and, when he had no regular appointment, he very often, in company with his friend William Brandfoot, travelled from ten to fif- teen miles to a lovefeast ;— an example, by the way^ tvhich is not much to be commended, and which be- comes criminal— though far from %'^e case with Samuel — when persons give the prefereni to a lovefeast in the- country to the Sacrament of the ..ord's Supper in the town, and nearly at their own dooi. Being now fairly before the public, it Is desirable- that a distinct image of the man should be put into the possession of the reader, that he may have a more cor- rect conception of the persontuge with whom he passes along, instead of being in tike presence of a kind of in- visible agent, with whom he is permit'ed to converse m the dark, till the writer, in the usual biogra, liical mode^ and as though his pen had been previously employed on iome other person, is pleased to unveil his subject ot thi^ 1^2 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. close of his work, in the exhibition of a summary sketch of his character. The subject of this menfU)ir may be considered at this period as possessing that, which, iov the general acceptation of the tefrn, properly constitutes charactefy and that, too, perfectly dijtinct in itself. In- stead, therefore of throwing the mind of the reader backy at the close of the book, upon that which has groum out of .character, and not character from it, he must carry forward with him a distinct recollection of the, man, through which he will be the better prepared for ail that may follow, as well as judge of the likeness given —the one proceeding from the other like the tree from the root, the bough from the stem, and the fruit from the minor branches ; just as character gives rise ta circumstances, ^nd circumstances become th^ medium through which the temp«^ hair was naturally light ; his complexion fair; his fac& full, but more inclined to the oval than the round ; and his general features small, with a soft, quii^.k, blue-grey ,^ twinkling eye, partaking of the character of his mind, twinkling in thought and sending out occasional and in* expressible natural beauties, like streaks of sunshine between otherwise darkly rolling clouds. His mind was peculiarly constructed, and had all the effect, in preaching and in conversation, of an intellect broken into fragments — not shining forth as a whole, like the sun diffusing light and day, — but as the scut- tered portions shining separately, like stars in the hea-* vens ; and these too, not silently and slowly stealing THE VII.LAO& BLACKSKITH. m fiili Q!te bv finn Kiit «Mij|«1'*n1v Kronlrinf iinrtn thn a%tm In numbers, and from unexpected quarters, some of them but indistinctly visible, and others as lovely as Venus in all her glory. He appeared utterly incapabte of classifying his thoughts ;* and it is doubted by the writer, whether any mode of mental discipline which could have been adopted, even in youth, would have reduced his then comparatively chaotic mind to order ; and equally doubtful, whether any society, with such a peculiarly constructed mind, would have given ease, and giace, and polish to his manners. Yet rude, or perhaps more properly, unwieldy, as wero the latter, there was nothing to offend ; for, while persons in the • In th^ more lengthened exirar ts given from his papers, the writer has occasionally taken the liberty of transposing some of the thoughts, for the sake of preserving something like unity and order; attending at the same time, with the strictest scrupulosity, to the sente mtended to be conveyed to the reader. Samuel w«» not altogether ignorant of the character and extent of his inteU lectual powers, any raor^ than of his moral condition. Speakings of him to Dr. A. Clarke 'i>nce, the writer found that Samuel hadl visited him at his residence, Hayden Hall, near Pinner, Middlesex, in the neighbourhood of which the Dr. sent him to conduct a religious meeting, with a view to communicate, under God, a quickening influence to the people, for which, as an instrument, he was tolerably calculated. The Doctor had met with hintM Birstal, in Yorkshire, prior to this period; and related v. ith « degree of pleasantry — for it was impossible for the roost grave to relate some of his conversations without a slight contortion of the facial nerve— his first interview with him. Samuel, with his usual openness and simplicity, covered with smiles, stepped quickly up to the Doctor— shook hands with!him-<^|El after a few words, artlessly proceeded thus:— *'Fou can pi through witli preaching better than me : I cannot bear to be disturbed : I have but one idea^ you see ; and if I lose that, why, I have then no more to go to: but you. Sir, you have a mcny ideas; so that if you wore to lose one, you could pick up another by the way, and go on with it." By "one %dea» he meant the leading thought on which he intended to dwell. While the relation assists in the illustration of intellectual character, it shows also tho desolation which sometimos appeared to himself, oscaiioaed l)y a want of reading, when he turned his cyo inward. F 2 54 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. rt^mnva middle rnnks nf life were not at a sufficient ._ , from him to form a contrast, those in the higher walka of, society were instantly arrested by an undefinablo soQietfaiDg about him, which taught them, that tfuii w|iich might not comport with good taste, was, never> thele^is, that which ought to be borne, and by an im- pres^ton in his favour, which would instantly compel every high-wrought feeling, and all etiquette, to bow before the untutored blacksmith, — entering, before he was long in their presence, into the real enjoyment of his society and conversation, and delightfully embracing opportunities for again holding converse with him. To persons in the polished circles it was a relief to the mind to be with him — one of those novel scenes but oc- casionally I )t with in the landscape of life. Instead of the dull, monotonous plam, whose richest garb becomes common-place by constantly gazing upon it, in Samuel it was like broken rocks, wood and water ; a piece of moor land, with patches of rich so'l beneath the heath, with here and there a flower of surprising beauty springing up in the midst of the wilderness scene ; the whole contributing to show the effect of grace upon na-. «ttre, — and a nature, too, which, without that grace, could never have been subdued into any thing like de- filjtrum or sobriety. This might appear to some, and may not improbably be subjected to the charge, as par- taking a little too much of the pencil and colouring of the artist ; as permitting, ih the real character of ro- mance, the imagination to be let loose on a subject which o^ht to command the graver exercise of reason. The fact is — for not any thing shall be permitted to operate to the suppression of truth, and the Christiaiity of the case has nothing to fear in the way of conse- quence — the fact is, that such a man, and such a life, might — and it is penned with reverence — might, without the aid of imaginaiion, without any art or exaggeratio^T, form the grouml -work of a lit ter exhibition, — say a farccy to the awfully solemn and splendid representation THE. VILLAGE BLkCKSVLlIU. 6» _ .1 of the Christian Religion. But then, rehgion hau na« thing t« do in the construction of the man's mind'-^a mind more nearly allied to the comic than the tragic, in its operations, and whose effects, though perfectly unde- signed on the part of the actor, Jaid a more powerful hold upon the lighter than the graver feelings. Christi- anity took the man as it found him, and performed 'upon him its grand work, which is not to change the .construc- tion of the mind so much as its nature ; to effect, in other words, its illumination and renovation : nor is it requi- site, to compare temporal things with spiritual, in clean, sing a building, to change the position of either a door or a window. The gra.ce of God was observed to lay a strong hand upon an otherwise untractable nature — making light dnine into darkness as well as out of it; straightening the crookedness of fallen humanity ; plant, ing flowers where nothing but the rankest weeds would have grown ; forcing, by an irresistible power, an urn. taught, andr in sor e respects though not in thta strongest sense, an uncouth being upon society, and compelling the wisdom, the wealth, the dignity of this world to bow before that being, — one who, without the grace of i»od, would have been in danger of being despised ; and yet- the despisers, through that grace, acknowledging the power of the Supreme in a thing of nought. This is not a subject slightly to be dismissed, ^amuel Hick was untaught in the school of this woUl : art would have been lost upon him ; he waa one upon whon» education and polished society, as already hinted, could never have had their full effect; he seemed formed by nature, as well as designed by Providence, for the forge ; and not any thing short of the grace of God appears to have been capable of constructing more than a Blacksmith out of the materials of which he was com posed. It was never intended that the hand of a Phidias should work upon him. Such was the peculiar vein^ though excellent in itself, that it would never have paid fur the labour. No man, Witii greater self-approprta- 56 TBS VlhhAO£ BLACKSMITH. tion->*not even the apostle hiRiself'--could cxcluim, *• By the grace of God I am what I am ;" or with the poet, " O, to grace how great a debtor !" Not any thing, however that has been advanced oti his mental endowments and capabilities, and as applica- ble to him as a fallen being, in common with others of the siame species, is intended in the least to deny him the credit of possessing great openness of disposition, and unbounded generosity. The latter was expressed, not always gracefuUy, but honestly and warmly ; and, like the sea-anemone, which feels the first returning wave upon the rock, and throws out all its tendrils, his tender nature would give forth ail its sympathies on the slightest intimation of human woe. United to uncomr mon tenderness of heart, there was a sincerity and a simplicity which no one could resist, which linked him to every spirit he came near, and which, while his own yearnings led him to weep over distress, to seek it out in all its haunts, liad to relieve it to the leaving of him« self peunyless, evar secured to himself fellow-heipers in any projected work of benevolence. And yet, with his own bowels of compassion thus yearning over hu^* man misery — ^misery both of body and mind — his eyes • suffused with tears, and his face beaming with patri. archal benevolence, melting the hearts of those that stood before him, who mingled thoir tears with his, — it was ii^ossible — such were the out-breakings of intel- lect, such the sudden transitions of thought, i^uch his similes for illustration, such his peculiar mode of ex- presston, his half-solemn, half-comic or undesignedly ludicrous representations — it was impossible to suppress^: the smile ; and smiles would have been aCtdally flicke^ ing, like patches of light, over the same face dowil whi^h the big gushing tears were seen chasing each other in rapid succession. Before a few seconds had elapsed, all Hmiles had subsided, and the listener was left almost angry with himself for indulging in them, whea be ^ -as aware that the speaker never intended I THE VILLAGE BLACKSMPTB. St I !hom to appear in company with fears on such an ocr aw sion and <^n such a subject ; and still larger tears won id start — the auditor emplo^ od in wijiing them away ith hi? po et-handkerchief. Jn preaching/as in conversation-, he /as never at** one itay," . i reference to subject; but ever and anon there were fine strokes of wit, touches ef keen repartee in his addresses to sinners, and occasional beautiful illustration* of scripture^ turning oAen upon a single thought capable of furnishing hints for superior minds and better thinking, not only by being themselves improved in the li^oratory of the brain, but by leading to another and sM nobler train of thought, which might ultimately enrich the indi- vidual, and which — except for having thus been struck out b) Samuel, like a spark from his own anvil — would never have been elicited by long and previous itudy. la this way inferior minds often become steps by which superior intellects attain a higher character of thought. To the uninstructed and depressed, his preaching was especiallv adapted ; and by bringing a great deal of w^at was fannliar to the lower orders of society into bis ad. dresses, he was extensively useful in encouraging and raising the minds of the humble poor, who could indulge with a relish in such food as he had to give, without sa. tiety; when more costly and highly decorated dishes would have been much less savoury. Not a few of bis strokes in the pulpit were as sudden as those which were manifested in his regular calling, when sparks as pro- fusely seemed to fly all around, warming and eulightefi' ing, and bidding the profanely heedless stand out of the «fway. ■\ His langimge in the pulpit was the same as in social life — the broadestj and yet, as has been already intima- ted, most closely abbreviaied West Yorkshire dialect ; the former giving a fulness and quaintness to many of his intellectual clothings ; and the latter operating, to employ a homely simile, like a pair of scissors in the organs of Speech, clipping a piece from off each word, and. not m^ 58 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. frequelilly from the aamo word at both ends.* This to a Yorkshirtiman, and particularly one of the least educated, j»ave Samuel an advantage over many of his brethren — he always appearing to such an one like an instrument in tune : but to another than a Yorkshire ear, the inatru. ment often gave an " uncertain sound" — the sense being to be gathered, not from detached parts, but from the ' whole ; and as his speech was rather rapid, his preach- ing, to persons unacquainted with his provincialisms and pronunciation, had the effect of a broken English from the lips of a foreigner, where attention is constantly kept up, in order to come at the sense of the speaker, and where the interest continues to heighten in proportion ad we are let into the meaning of what is heard. To keep perfectly grave through one of his pulpit addresses, was extremely difficult ; yet the most grave found it impossible - to be angry, because they saw at once there was no de- sign to produce a smile on the part of the speaker, and that he seemed unconscious of its presence while there, liiesolved itself into a. peculiarity rather than a fault — an imperfection in the medium of communication^ rather than a «n, in the first instance, in the man ; and hence the line of forbearance — forgiveness being uncalled for — ran parallel with the failing or infirmity. To advocate, [p. unqualified terms of approbation, tho * The writer had it once in contemplation to give the whole of Samuel's remarks in the dialect in which he spoke. But though this would have given greater prominence to his character, it ^ght have diminished the effect which it was otherwise desirable to produce. Nor is it necessary for the purposes of accuracy, t0 give a man's pronunciation m the words he employs. Fidel i^ ii* euch a case would be as absurd as unnecessary, since it w uld require every piece of biography to vary according to its subject, from the peer to the peasant. An ingenious apology therefore might be framed for honeht Samuel, .roni either Walker's or any other pronouncing Dictionary, in which the eye and the ear are almost perpetually at variance with each other, in the diftbrence which Hubsistfl between the .^pellirsg and the pronunciation of the same word ; and also in the fluctuations in the same language among the same people, at different periods qf time. TBE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 59 establishmont of such a style of preaching, would argue as liiUe taste, judgment, skill in Christianity, and know, lodge of human nature, as it would, in another view of the subject, have heon criminal to deny sudh^ a man opportunities of usefulness, since numbers might have remained unbenefitcd to the same extent by more highly polished instruments. The Divine Being, who found a place in the Old Testament Church for the employment of one of the lierdmen of Tekoa, and in the New, for a fisherman of Galilee, and a tent'tnaker of Tarsvs,'*' has * The writer is ware that it was customary fur the higher ranks in society among the Jews, as well as the poor, to teach their children a trade ; it being a maxim among them, that " he who teaches not his son a trade, teaches him to be a thief«" fftd that one of the Jewish Rabbles was surnamcd the i$Aoiii|Msr, tnotfaor the Baker, ^c. : nor is he less aware that it consi^wd a part of the education of others of the Easterns, and was practised down to the time of Sir Paul Ricaut ; the Grand Seignior, to whom he was ambassador, having been taught to make wooden tpootu — taught not only as an amusement, but as necesMry to. support life under adverse, circumstances, on any unexpected change of fortune : and may be told from hence, that the mechan- ical arts thus conne^sting themselves, not only with rank, but With the literature of the times, ought not to be adduced as a. f precedent to sup|;)ort the modern custom of granting mechames ft iceuQe to preach the gospel. There are two classes of objectors ; and those who are not met by one example recoiv.e a check from another. Some persons contend for a systematic, classical educa. tioD, and condemn the smallest interference with the arts, as though they either lowered the dignity or contaminated the purity of the priesthood. Such are referred to the case of St. Paul, who, after his consecration to the priest's oiSce, was not ashamed to labour with his own hands. The second class of objectors include such as would tolerate a literary character, but persist in maintaining that the illiterate mechanic has no right to essume the office of a Christian teacher. These are directed to the case el, and many were the homilies which he d%l'w^ vred over the anvil and over the vice, to both rich and poor. In this be was no resoecter of persons. He looked upon every human bein^^ ^ possessed of an iro. mortal spirit— depraved by nature — redeemed by Christ — within the reach of mercy— and himself as accountable to God for the improvement or non-improvement ol' c^. pQrtunities of usefulness to them :, and hence, to repeat his own language, he " was always at tb«m," because always yearning over them in melting compassion. Ad* verting to the more early part of bis history, he observes, " At this time I feared no man, but loved all ; for I wanted all to enjoy what I felt. I remember Lord Mexborotigh calling at my shop one day, to get his horse shod. The horse was a fine animal. I had to back him into tlie smithy. I told his lordship that he was more bighty fa. VDured than our Saviour, for he had only an ass to ride on, when he was upon earth.'* The Earl suspecting that Samuel was not very well instructed in natural his. toty, replied, "In the country where our Saviour was born, the people had rarely any thing but assef to rid# Mpon ; and many of them were among the fkiesi aniroals under heaven, standing from sixteen to seventeen band^ high." This information was new ; and as grateful ap. pa'renlly for the improved condition of bis diviuo Master^ as for an* increase of knowledge, Samuel exclaimed^ " Bless the Lord ! I am glad to hear that : I thought they were like the asses in our own country.** Samuel's sira- plicity might excite a smile ; but thert» were other biblieal subjects which gave him a superiority over many of hi» more learned fellow creatures. The bible was better known by him as a revelation of God, on subjaets of a tpiritual and experunental nature, than as a AMiomdl record.* « It M atated that Dr. Doddridge, while engaged witk hw Ex- i^iOsUof, watK in the habit of consulting nn© of »h« old t»c«.K«.— -r M oharch on ihoee texts of bcripture which contain in them Um lio^Khtsaiid depths of Christian experieacd— coadoct^iyiidlt;^ t^n. 64 TUB VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. White Samuel was engaged with the horse, the Earl, Hay9 he, "sat down on the steady clog," «nd with great < condescension and familiarity, entered into conversation with him. ** I am inclined to think, my good man," said the noble visitant, " that you know something of futurity. Pray, what becomes of the soul when it leaves the body ?" As Samuel had no doubt of the divine authority of the Scriptures himself, he took it for granted — more from the strength of his own faith, than presuming upon it out of courtesy, as St. Paul might have done in the case of Agrippa, when there was no evidence to the contrary — il that the Earl was also a believer in their truth,>and pro- ceeded to state, that, in the times of old, " there wa? a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day — that this man died, and was buried — that, though the body was com- mitted to the dust, the soul was sent to hell— that both would remain till the morning of the resurrection — -and ghat, at that period, the body and the soul, which had shared in each other's wickedness, should also share in the miseries of the damned, and the smoke of their tor- ments would ascend for ever and ever : — that there was likewise a poor man, named Lazarus, which was laid at ihe rich man's gate, full of sores — that he died too — that angels carried his soul to Abraham's bosom — that the soul would remain there till the great ftrcha^gel's trumpet should sound, when rich and poor, small and, great, should stand before God — and that the soul and plimentary to the Dr.'s condescension and the venerable man's piety. The Dr., thoujfh a pioua man himself, knew that experi. mental religion was progressive in its character and operationfr, and beheld his hoary auditor as having many years the advance of him— beheld him tike nellow fruit, ready to drop off, or to be plucked for heaven. lie was aware that he himself wanted age and sunning for several passages ; and although he brought nil the experience he possessed to boar upon them, he suspected there was still something lieyond. To his own head, ho required the advantage of the old man's heart: and uniiad, knowledge and experience tell upon the understandings and aifections of others. > THB VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 05 body which shared in each other's sufferings upon earth would share in each other's joys in heaven." It never entered into Samuel's mind to enquire whether the nar. rative came in the shape of a history, or of a parable : and neithek' was it indeed necessary to his purpose as parable is the representation of truth— truth in the 9^, though not in the letter : aor had he any thing else in view— unless it were that of making the -subject speak thrcugh the "rich man" to his noble aui.itor— than to establish, in the best way he wm able, the existence d the soul, and the doctrine of future rewards and punish, ments. If the character before him had been such as to have admitted an approach to the probationary cha- racter of the « rich man," a thorough knowledge of Sam. uel s intelleciuai powers would at once have destroyed the supposition of any thing like design to institute a parallelism : and yet, there were few subjects— consid- ering his own piety and station in society, and the ex- alted rank of the interrogator— more calculated to fix attention, or that could better afford ground for reflection and inference. The Earl remarked that he was of (be same opinion with Samuel himself on the subject of a samrfaith^' "^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^""^^ ^""'^^ possessed the Having thus received a little encouragement, Samuel proceeded to shew that something more was implied in laith, than a bare assent to the doctrines of the Bible • and to guard tho Earl against any error, gave him ao account of his experience, which was as artless in its design and detail, as that 6f St. Paul's was seasonable in he presence of Agrippa. In evidence that it was takeS m good feel.ng, "he stopped," says Samuel, "till I related ,t, and gave me half.a.crown for preaching this short sermon to him." ^ Not long after this, he was planned to preach et bleman for his hearers, to one of whom, a ffiR.s|i« he was uncle. Partly out of respect to Samuel, and p«% ■ (» * 60 TUB VltLAGE BtAeKSiMlTll. to his niece, the servants united in inviting him toapcftd , the evening with them at the Hall. But, before he could comply with the request, he had a piece of casu- istry to settle with his own conscience. The Earl aud the family were in the metropolis, and he could not Conceive how he could live at the noble proprietor's expense, without his consent, and remain guiltless* This point was soon disposed of, by the servants inform- ing him, that, during the absence of the family, they were " living at board wages." " When I knew that they could keep me at their own expense," he observes, " I went with hem, and stopped all night." This wfts one of those punctilious movements in social life which would have escaped the notice of multitudes, but upon which the eye of an enlightened conscience — the guar- dian of property— instantly flashed, and through which the Christian was commanded to pause and inquire be- fore he advanced. In the course of the next piorniiig Samuel was shown through the room" j but, of all that he saw, not any thing attracted his attention or made an impression equal to a painting of Joseph and Mary, the latter of whom was placed upon an ass, with the infant Jesus. He instantly recollected his conversation with the noble owner of the mansion, and knowing little of books, very innocently, and not unnaturally for a person of his cultivation, considered this painting as the source from whence the Earl derived his knowledge. " It was one of the finest creatures," saye he, " I ever saw j and I thought ray lord had got his mformation from it. Then, instead of indulging in what was passing beforo the eye, he breaks away in a tangent, and shows where his heart is, by adding in the next sentence,—" I am informed that his lordship has family prayer morning and evening ; and 1 fully believe that if Christians ot all denominations were faithful to the grace given, hot' rich and poor would be saved. I am privileged wi,ii getting into the company of gentlemen, and I never l©t these opportunities slip! I consider it a privilege to speuk a word for my Master, whom I so dearly love. *liE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 6t spend 3re he ' casii- rl aud i!d nQt rietor'g iltless* nform • r, they ;w that serves, [lis was t which It upon B guar- k which lire be« iry, the Q infant on with httte of person saurce " I' 3r saw' ; rom it." beforo 3 where -"I am Horning itians of n, hot' ed whii aver l©t lege to love. tt will be easy to perceive, that his associaiion with persons of distinguished rank only extended to transac. tions in business, aud that not any thing more than. this is intended by himself; a circumstance which tends not a little to elevate his piety above all earthly considera- tions, as nlany in a siir.ilar situation to himself would have shrunk from the discharge of what appeared to him to be ^ Christian duty, from a dread of suffering in busi. ness by giving offence to their employers. An instance of his fidelity in this respect — and by no means a soli, tary one — was exemplified in his conduct towards Mr. Wh — t — n,"^ whose horse had lost a shoe in the hea of the chase. Having had the horse in the hands of ano- ther blacksmith only the day before, and being inter- rupted in his enjoyments, he swore at the ma i for hav- ing, as he supposed, put on the shoe so carelensly.^ Samuel turned to the Esquire, and, without further cere- mony, told him, that he paid the rent of his shop ; that while it was in his hand he would not suffer ai?y man to take the name of God in vain within its walls ; and that if he persisted in swearing he would not set the shoe on. Ho availed himself of the gentleman's anxiety to return to the field, and the gentleman knowing rhst his enjoyment depended solely on his attention to ihe pro- hibition which had just been issued, very prudently de- sisted. The compassion of Samuel was excited botli for the horse and for the nder. " The noor animai}" says he, " could scarcely stand till I set the shoe on ; and while I was shoeing him, I began « preach, and said, * It is a pity, Sir, t'lat these good uieniuaes should ,^., ever be abused.'" Mr. W., passing. o;,3r the rebuke ip^^ he had received for swearmg, ar'* ding, as he tc- lieved, the ground on which he stood as a hunter some- * The widow and family of thJB gentlemnn -gsideci at Abefford. Speaking of tUe lady, ''S\mae\," sfys !^ Dawson, "stood very high in her estimation. He ban full liberty »o inform her of any c«i8e of distress which came under his observation ; and on iofar, mation being given, ho was frequently made her aliuoiier.'' 68 THE VILLAGE BLACKIMITH. what more tenable than that on which he stood aa m swearer, replied, " The dogs were made on purpose t9 hunt the fox, and the horse to follow tfce dogs." " God,**' said Samuel, who felt that the honour cf his Ma^er wa» interested, — " God was never the author of sin. H« sent these creatures for the use of man. not to be abused by him. But the time will come. Sir, when the hound* will not run after the foxes." Mr. W., either not ap- prehending his meaning, or disposed to amuse himself with the reply, asked, " Do you really think that such a time will ever arrive ?'* " Yes, Sir," returned Samuel i ** It will come as sure as God made the world ; for he has prophesied that the lion shaU lie down with the liamb, and that all flesh shall know ihim, from the least to the greatest." The shoe having been replaced, a period was put to the conversation, when Mr. W. very pleasantly tendered him some silver, which he refused to accep'., saying, *• I only charge a poor irtan tw&pencs, and I sLzW charge you, Sir, no more." The diiference which Samuel observed between Earl Mexborough and Mr. W., — (having accepted silver from the former for a similar office, and declined receiving it from the latter) — shows the acuteness and discrimination occasionally manifested by him. " Did he," said Samuel to the bi« ographer, some years after, when relating the circum- stance in reference to Mr. W.^ " Did he think that 1 WAS g(»ng 10 give up my chance at him for half-a« crown?'* — thus renouncing every thing which, in his estimation, was calculated to deprive hin? of the privilege of freedom of remark and rebuke,--thouf h un^ whetbei or not ho winged a bird, is not for the writer to 8tAle,.bui U i» well koAwn that he killed his servant. THB VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 71 tipen front too, to condemn him for occupying any «hare •of the priest's office. But right and trutk give one man an amazing advantage over another : Guilt stands abashed in the presence of innocence ; a child, under peculiar circumstances, becomes a Hercules, and wieilds truth, though in irony, like Elijah, with all the power of ■the imaginary deity's club. Towards one of the divines Samuel experienced an unusual leaning of spirit ; for ho states, that it was *' under Mr. C , of A , that" •his " dear mother was converted to God, in A — b— d -church. The worA preached," he proceeds, " proved the power of God to her soul's salvation. She died happy in God. I do not know that she ever heard a Methodist sermon in her life."* Many of the circuits continued very extensive long * To argue from hence, that aChristian minister is at liberty t« ipur^-e whit line of conduct he pleases, because the Divine Being •may vouchsafe to honour his ministry with success, as though he thereby sanctioned the proceedings of the man, would be absurd. Trutk and the medium of its conveyance, are two distinct things —as much so as the water and the conduit through which it passes; tior are -ny of the cieaninng effects or refresliitig qualities of 4be water to be attributed to the instrumonyjf communication, as any M>ther medium of conveyance, whether of wood, lead, ot silver, would have equally served the purpose, and the effects had been produced as easily without as with the one employed. This May »be carried even a Httle further; for it would be no difficult mpiief to prove, that ministerial fruit is not an exclusive proof of a call to the ramistry. Open ♦his door, and the greatest latitude is givea to female preaching. Fruit, independent of other evi- •denco, is only a proof of the ^ower af truth, not a eoU to preaeh it. Truth belongs to God, and be will honour his own truth whoever may be the instrument employed to deliver it. Should the instrument himself be unconverted, he will receive the honour which the sc^gming receives from the builder, when It has served his purpose, in contributing its share to the comple- tion of the erection—be thrown aside as constituting no part of the goodly edifice. This is not intended to apply to the clergy- man m question, however much out of place in the field, but to •protect the simple hearted from deducing false inferences fro^ apparently legitimate, but, in point offset, otherwise f9Xm ^ft- % i^ 72 THE VILLAGE DLACKSMITn. after Samuel was admitted on the local preachers' plan, and such were his "outgoings," occasioned by the ar- dour of bis zeal, that a horse became absolutely neces- sary, in order to enable him to accomplish his " labours of love." As an exemplification of part of his toil and of his treatment, he observes, " In those days there were snot many noble, not many rich called. For my own part, I have travelleti many scores of miles, and neither ^tasted meat nor drink till I got home [in the evening.] 1 have very often had snow-balls throwu at me, and been nbused by the enemies of the cross of Christ : I have been turned out of places where I have been preaching, by the clergy and the magistrates : but, bless the Lord, 1 have lived to see better days." After noticing the cessation of persecution, he again, by a sudden transition of thought, turns to his favourite subject — the grand Millennium, whteh appears like a vision breaking upon his " gifted sight," and " more golden bright than the rich morn on Carmel," — a vision often repeated, in which there was to him, in the language of the poet, " a mingling of all glorious forms" — of " angels riding upon cloudy thrones, and saints marching all abroad like crowned conquerofs :" nor had the fair poetical Jewess, so finely portrayed by Milman, in his " Fall of Jerusalem," more delightful visions, when " nightly vi- sitalions" poured over, her mind, " like the restless waters of some pure cataract in the noontide sun," than had Samuel Hick of " the latter day glory," towards which he was constantly turning, like the sun-flower towards the orb of day, and in the splendours of which he was constantly basking and brightening. Whatever might have been thjj^ length of the jour- ney, and whatever the fare with which he was treated, the spirit of damuel remained unbroken, his gratitude unabated. He had bread to eat of which the world had no knowledge ; the religion of the soul appeared to bear up the animal frame, nf^d to render it frequently insen- sible to pain, and want, and toil. The hut afibrded him TIIE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. T0 higher entertainment than the dwellings of the wealthy. The following relation furnishes an insight into his spirit. " I rememher," says ho, " I was planned ta preach at Hoinsworth* once, and being a stranger in the town, I enquired where the Methodist preachers put up their horses. I was informed that there was not any body in the place that would take them in ; but that a poor man received them at the common side. I went to my INN, and found a place to put up my horse, which they had built on purpose for the preachers* horses. When I got into the housd, I soon Ibund that the poor people had Jesus Christ with them. They were glad lo see me, and to receive both me and my horse. These dear friends had a great many enemies, because of their taking in the preachers. The people who had supplied Ihem with milk refused to let them have any more ; and the publicans would not let them have yeast for their bread. They were also in a strait for food for the preachers' horses. The poor woman begged a few land ends of grass, got it dried, and preserved it: and she gleaned a little corn in the fields. She made us very comfortable. Some time after this, I was again planned for the same place. The Lord had opened the hearts of some of the farmers, and they opened their houses ; but I went to my old inn at the common side. The woman cried for joy to see me. She said she was sorely troqbled, because the preachers had left her house : byt I tdd her not to be troubled about it— that she would get her reward for her labour of love. I went to the same place about thirty years after this, and fonnd the same widow. She was very happy in her soul. We see that the Lord is as good as his promise, *Them that » I» 1811 and 1812, when the writer was in the habit of risit- ing the village, in which there was then a neat Wesleyan Chapel, it was in the Barnsley Circuit. At the period referred to by Samuel, it was probably connected with Leeds, Wakefield, or Pontefract. It is about six miles from Fontefract, awl fifteen from Micklefield. H f f 74 THE VILLAGE BLACKSWITlT. boRour me I will honour' — * With long life will I •atisfy' them, * and she.w' ihem * my salvation.' She was very glad to see me j and I told her that I would put her into my life for a memorial of her love to ♦he preachers and! their beasts. It was like the widow's mite." The simplicity of the man is at once seen, in telling, the aged matron that she should occupy a pFace in the memoir of his life ; and that he intended nothing more in what he termed his **^Life," than to shew forth the goodness of God to himself and others, will readily be credited : nor shall his innocent intentions, though bor- dering upon the childishness of simplicity, in reference to the poor widow, cease to be fulfilled to the very letter. •* Ruth the Moabitess" did i^ot cleave closer to " God'* and his "people,'^ than did this poor woman ,- nor did the young widow appear more interesting to Boaz among the " reapers,'* than did this gleaner in the cornfields to Samuel Hick. He however, in consoling her for the loss of the preachers, seemed to be unaware that he was furnishing a substantial reason, in his notice of some of the farmers having "opened their houses," why they should take up theit abode elsewhere ; a point upoi* which many would have fastened, and would from thenco have argued the propriety of relieving her of a burden — though deemed by her a privation— whicb she had so long and so nobly borne, and which others^ now made willing in the day of gospel power, were equally ready, and much more able to bear than herself. For, complimentary as it had been fer a poor widow, like her of Zarephath, whose "cake" and "cruse'^ never failed to supply Hhe wants of the prophets of the Lord, it would have reflected little honour on the more wealthy, to have looked on with a stupid indifference^ and to have permitted its continuance. Some of the very first expressions uttered by the new-born soul are, "What shall we do?" These are the mere nursery expressions of the babe^ in reference to the cause of . IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) A .*^% 1.0 I.I 1.25 |25 s ^ IIIIIM WUU U 1111.6 6" — Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ <^ «? 1 iV 76 TIIK VILLAlJi: ni-ACKSMITII. or like some of our elderly matrons at the distaff, twist- ing the fibres of ihe flax into a thread— dropping for a moment the conversation— next chiming in with a few notes of praise — again taking up the theme of Christ and future glory— his face meanwhile glistening through the rising emotions of his soul — his hands now gliding into quicker action — the fountains of the beating heart hT^f§k\g up— till at length, elevating his frame, and with uv: eyes brimming with tears, he seems to throw, by a single ghmce, all the tenderness of his soul into the bosom of the object ot his solicitude, which at once softens, animates, and transfixes the eye of the beholder in grateful return upon himself for the conver- sational benefits thus conferred. One of the Cases to which Samuel refers, when he states he had been " turned out of places by the cler- gy," occurred in his own neighbourhood. On the death of Lady Betty Hastings, and the termination of the Rev. W. Sellon's labours at Ledsham, the living was given to a young clergyman, in a delicate state of health, who came from London to take possession, and who, in his first sermon, made a warm attack upon en- thusiasm, and denied the influences of the Holy Ghost, stating, that there had been no such thing as inspiration in the world since the apostolic age. To this he might have been, led, from a persuasion that the people had been deluded into the belief of such things through the mistaken piety, as he supposed, of her ladyship, and the preaching of his predecessors. But while thus pro- claiming his own nakedness of soul, of every hallowed influence, the poor people, " clothed with the Spirit of holiness," were better instructed, and instead of being satisfied with this collegian, sent for the "Village Blacksmith," to build them up in the faith of Chrtst.* • The people's choice, in ihis case, must remind those who •^•Hre acquainted with the facts, of Mr. Baxter's account, in the preface to his Disputations, p. 186-7, of the election of Alexander. When Gregory conferred with the church respecting the choice TIIK VILLAOK nLAtKSMITII. 7T Sam'uel yielded to their entreaties ; but found it difficult to obtain a house to preach in, as nearly every house vas under clerical influence, and those who sent for him were afraid of incurring the clergyman's displea- sure. A good woman at length obtained the consent of : or husband to lend their house for the occasion, indif. •fereni to consequences. A congregation was soon as- aembled, and Samuel commenced with singing and prayer. During the second hymn, a noise was heard «t the door, when Samuel left his stand, and went to •enquire into the cause. He was met at the entrance iby the clergyman, accompanied by another gentleman,, 'to whom he announced himself as the preacher. •of a pastor, severhl oFthe people were tort»aving a man of rank and splendid abilities ; but recollecting that the prophet anointed David, a shepherd, to tie king over Israel, he requested them to look among the lower orders of society, and to see whether a person could not be found, possessed of piety and ministerial qualifications. This was received with indignation by several •of the inhabitants of Cornnna ; and one lofty spirited gentleman, w^iose views as little accorded with those of Gregory, as they would have done with those of the little Christian flock at Leds- •ham, in after ages, told the worthy bishop, by way of deriBion, that if he wished them to take a person from the scum of the people, they might as well select Alexander the collier from their ranks. Gregory took the hint, and sent for Alexander, wiio appeared before them, ragged in his apparel, and besmeared, like Samuel, '^itb the filth of his employment, exciting the laughter of the less sedate among the assembly. The Lishqp seon per. oeived him to be a man of both talent and piety ; and after with- •drawing with him, and instructing him how to act, returned to the assembly, and delivered a discourse on the nature of tha pastoral ofiice. It was not long before Alexander, who was a comely-lobking man, wis again presented to the brethren, washed, and attired in the canonicals of the episcopal order, and waa chosen — collier as tie had been, bishop of Comana, with only one dissenting voice! though there is no doubt, that Alexander waa by far Samuel's superior in point of intellect, yet the coal, tha smoke, and the soot, had an amazing influence on the n\qM' •elegant in both cases; and the Wesley an body was as great a hetp*^ *o Ahe latter, as Gregory was to the former. «2 7'6 T?IE VILL|(OK BLACKSMITH. Clergyman. "We want none of your preaching here, and are resolved not to have it." Samuel, " Sir, I preached the gospel here before you were born, and I will live to preach it when you Me gone." ^ . Cfer. "I tell you, I will not suffer you to preach here. This house is my property." Sam, " Why, Sir, you do not prf.ach the gospel to the people, for you deny inspiration ; and no man can preach it but bv inspiration of the Spirit of Ood."^ Cler, "I discharge you from prepching in this •house." ... 1 To this authority Samuial reluctantly submitted, as it would have been imprudent to encourage the occupants to persist it resisting their landlord : the people were therefore dismissed. The clergyman, however, inis. ^k his opponeat, if he concluded that the field was his owo; for though the preacher was driven from the house, he was not driven from his purpose. On return- ing home, he wrote a lon^, faithful letter to the rever- end gentleman ; informing him, in connexion with the admonitions sent, th^t on the following Sabbath, he should again visit Ledsh am— occupy a piece of waste land in th^ village, to which he could lay no claim, as it belonged to the Lord of the Manor— and should there, in his own cart, preach to the people ; giving him ao invitation at the same time to attend, and to correct him in any thing he might advance contrary to the Scriptures or the Book of Common Prayer. As he made no secret of either his letter or his intentions, the report of his visit to Ledsham, in defiance of the newly inducted minister, soon spread among the neighbouring villagers. The day arrived— the people flocked to the place from a circle of some miles. p»muel, after un- yoking his horse, appeared in his cart, occupying it as ft pulpit for the occasion, accompanied by four local preachers— the air rang with the song of praise— and a graeious influence attended the word. The clergyman •Tj^^^ THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 79 and his lady stood at a distance hearkening to what was said. Samuel, towards the close, told them that he loved the church, and hoped, that "as soon as the bells" gave "over tinkling" they would accompany kim, and join in its service. " We all went," he ob- served, " and I never saw a church so full in my life. The aisles, the communion-place, and bell-house, were all crammed full. What was best of all, the clerk was on our side, and gave out a hymn tune. Such glorious music I never heard in a church before. The parson, poor young man! was overfaced with us, and could not preach ; so that he had to employ another peison." As a substitute is not so easily obtaired, in an emergency of this kind, in the Establishment as among the D'ssent- era, it is probable that the person was prepared for the g|]uties of the day, independent of this circumstance, and that Samuel attributed to the congregation, that which originated ' indisposition. This is the more likely, from what Samuel adds ; — " The poor young man went off to London next morning, where he died, and vlcas brought back to be buried about six months after." This fact, taken in connexion with Samuel's declara<^ tion, "I preached the gospel here before you were bom, and will live to preach it when you are gone," falls upon the heart with peculiar solemnity.' It ought not to be omitted, that the clergyman beckoned the cfaurc*' warden to him after the service, and stated that be hp J enquired into the character of the old blacksmith — found that he was a very good man — and wished him to be informed from himself, that he might preach ia Ihe villa|;e whenever he judged proper. «• TflE VILLAOK BLACKSHITH. CHAPTER IV, Sfts qunitlAcations for soliciting pecuniary aid. ..on unsuccessful application to M clergyman. . .relieves iiis circuit from n debt of seventy pounds. ..his anxiety to obtain a chapel at Aberford...a miser, and his manner of addressing him... a chapel erected.. -contests with different avaricious characters..^ • visit to Rochdale. ..administers seasonable relief to a preacher's fanlily- .. liifl scriptural viewf^ of charity, .^supplies a poor family with coals. . .regales part of a company of soldiers on a forced march-.. an amusing domestio scene. . .visitation of the sick. . .gives up the use of tobacco from principle. . . hifl indisposition, and inattention to the advice of his medical attendant... the good eiTects of his state of mind upon others. . .raises a subscription fo** il |MX>r man... relieves a poor female... bis love to the missionary cause...- origin of luisslouary meetings among the Wesl^ans. Such was the native restlessness of SamuePs cliaracter, that, like quicksilver, the slightest impulse propelled and continued him in motion. With the exception of sleep, or the utter exhaustion of his physical powers, he scarcely knew a pause in the work of God. This promptitude to be serviceable to others, the general esteem in which he was held, together with a peculiar fitness for benevolent enterprize — the latter of which was founded on his ow generosity — his simplicity of manners, a certain straightforwardness, which knew no fear, and saw no ditikulties, rendered him a desirable person to engage in any purpose of soliciting pecuniary aid. Accordingly, he was selected by a committee formed for the occasion, and was commissioned to go through the circuit in which he resided, to collect subsctiptions, in order to relieve it from its financial embarrassments. Clothed with proper authority, and furnished with a book in which to enter the names of bia subscribers, he went forth with the freshness and 4 I THE VILLAOF: nLACKSMITH. $1 m spirit of the husbandman enter! ag for the first till tho season into the harvest.field. He saw the fieldi white, and in his view had nothing to do but put in the sickle. He fouad few obstructions; and among those few— created, by the way, by his own imprudence— he records one which may be considered more amusinir tban vexatious. * « I went to Ricall," says he ; « and as I purposed going to all the houses in the town, I thought there Would be no harm in calling upon the church clerirv- man. I did so ; and found him in his garden. I pre- !f"r "^'J^^' '^^'''^ *!! P^^ ""^ *S^>«> a«d looked at me. The look would have had a withering effect upon many of Samuel's superiors ; but the same spirit iand views which emboldened him to make the applwa* tion, supported him in the rebuff with which he met. I am surprised," said the clergyman, "that fou should make such a request; that you shotild ask me to support dissenters from the Church of England •" Skmuel instantly interposed with "No, Sir, we are not dissenters ; the Church has diseented from us. The Metnodists are good churchmen, where the gospel is preached. And as for myself, I never turned my bftck on a brief when I went to church." Though wiser heads than his own would have found it difficult to charge dissenterism upon the Church, except from fr^r^* ^l"^*^ ^'f'^fi *" ^'^ ^«"»«* o^ the application of the epithet to the Methodist body. The iSort was more equitably supported when he defended himself, by adding, to his reverence, " I think there is no mofe in you helping to support us, than there is in us helping to SL^pport you." The clergyman here very properly took shelter under the wing of the state-his only ^^und of defence-by replying, '« You are obliged ti support us; the law binds you to do it." Samuel, in jeturn, resorted to the only code of laws with which he had^any acquaintance, and which he consulted daily— the Christian ccwie— saying, "Ours is a law of love j m f imPHi KM n THE VILLAGE BLACKSNITII. and if we cannot all think alike, we must all love alike." He conckides, on retiring with hirWesleyan ** ^* "'^o '■««'-«s"''S instances of Hberfmv might be selected from differem period, of L nerMnX history, and her« concentrHied. As 8Decim«iT r other, which must henceforth „maf, cEd from t:11\r"' ,*"'■ '^""^'"8 '■''"""«'- without aftendr l„.7f.h '°«"*' """"S^""""' will tend toillustrwf one of the more important .rail, in his character He bad long looked upon Aberford, his birth-Dlac M his Redeemer had beheld Jerusalem-with the co^' passionate emotions of a soul alive to^hlCri'ual da? gers and necessities of the inhabitants &"« wLh ^^ £200^;/hrr"- /".'ho year 1804, bis wife ha* tl^J?u . ^^ "/flafion. This wa. placed by th» aide of the Iruits ot his own industry, and the nn „^ gave the appearance of wealth inliumWe life A, ht property increased, so did his anxiety for a Place or worship a Aberford ; and he at length declare/ ,h»,^f not a farthing should be iontributed by o hers rathf than the village should bo without a chanll h^ v^ufd give the £200 which he had lately received wf i).w.on. ..„d entered the .m"ltZ "fi SiJLi!'^'' *"- '^<^ H THE VILLAUU flLACKSUITR. ground from a gentleman, who, though a Methodist, ha^ not come so fur under the influence of its spirit, &a ta^ subdue the covetousness of his nature. "^ Mr. Rhodes intimated to him, that he doubted his success in the di. rection towards which he was looking, unless the old gentleman was either about to die, or some extraordi- nary changqilAd taken place in the disposition of hi» heart. Samuel was not to he diverted from his pur- pose t he could have rendil^red nugatory, by a single sentence — " The Lord has the hearts of all men in nia own keeping" — all the reasoning of the most skilful logicians—could have dissipated every doubt like mist before the sun. Away he proceeded to the late Sir Thomas Gascoigne, Bart., the Lord of tL' Manor, in order, in the first instance, to obtain permisoion to pro- cure isflone upon Hook PJoor, since, without building, materials, th^ land would not have answered his pur- pose. This was readily granted, ilo next proceeded to the gentlenian loaded with "thick clay," who was instinctively led to raise objections against the proposal* Samuel, m peltfeot keeping with the other portions of his> thinkings end reraarkS) combated every objection, not in the detail, but with one of his wholesale sweeps — "The land is the Lord's; you are only the occupier; and the Lord wants some of his own land to build his own house upon." Mr. T., who already had the " nine points" in Saw on Eis side, was not to be subdued by a single blow in the onset ; nor was Samuel to abandon him$elf to despair by the notion of possession, as he QQuld have instantly conjured up the argument of death to dispossess the occupant. Such, however, were the * Samuel had ^me odd notions and expressions relatiTO to such characters, juookiag abroad at the fine feeling of benevo- lence which had gone forth ; and not often associating with per- sons of d parsimonious disposition, he exclaimed to a friend one day* " The breed of misers is nearly run out, and UP^ one of the few that are living dure get married, so that in a little time we shall see no more of them." I THIS VILLAGE BLACKSnirn. 86 such Samuel s importunily, that the miser in the m^ actually gave way before him, and the old centlemZ r a™' wo''u.dM''""f' ''I "'"t"''' "" H»e ™fch' oTg? er, aiid would therefore let him have the oinca of ground v,.h,ch he had selected for the purpoae. "^amuet went home rejoicing; but his joy, ala«i was of 7hr« duration ; it was like the fold of a cloud which LZa deSly opening and re-cloaing. only ve I, the %«»««; w.^ additional darkness: th^e mis'^r "d („"«, again during his absence, the proprietor altered h's^e! wt no"t' W T;;y '•OPO."-^ '•'O'ted. All. howe^r ooserves, that though Mr. T. died before a rh»n.l Txecu*. rl?t T'"''t Tr "" -P'--dTwi.htTi snob lr..i *''«y »'>»''>d give fee pounds towa-da such erection, should one at any fiTure period be built cterfHj;; c'^a.^"^" ""'^ """'^ d'elivered.^; About eight years after this, there was a favonmW- opening for a chapel, which Samuel promptly Zb™^ heart might be prepared for its exercise On -Sk screTv 'm^? fh' '"^ "PP-n^g before'^he" t SS Ufk ™ """*. '««Pe«"ng his success, and asain retired without opening his mind on the subject H« prayed-he believed-and rising from htakneL Hb r/wtf "^ '"1 "•""»"*' in con"dence Xha knew that a chapel was on the eve of bein? bnil7 .„5 •■ You L- w w«^^ ^k ®""'f' »P«"«d 'h* business ; )(ou knuw, we are icioi to have a chapel at Aberforrl Eu^e^^-fe' -^ SedTT.ulR^io:t: aiscJosure, "We mun gee summut haunsom." Nevtr . .■■:/y -v- *l 86 THB VILLAGE HLACKSMITH. did music sound sweeter to the human oar, than did thi* sentence to Samuel, who was iFTstantly in tears. But there was still a degree of uncertainty remaining, in reference to the standard which each had separitdy, and privately fixed upon, as reaching the point, which, in their jyircumstances, was deemed something handsome. Samuel, therefore, solicitous to come to a conclusion, asked, "And what shall it be?" "Twenty pounds." replied Martha. This was almost too much for his fell- ings, not only on account of the generosity displayed, but because it was the very sum upon which ha himself had previously determined ; and the opportunity for no- ticing it 10 the more readily embraced, in otder to place Martha's character in a correct light. It was intended as the dwelling-place of her God — it was a charily in which immortal spirits were concerned — And was also to be erected' in the birth-place of her husband. A g entleman farmer undertook the work of soliciting sub- scriptions for its erection, and Samuel had the unspeak- able pleasure of seeing it rise in the face of the sun, vying with all around it for neatnesp and accommoda- tion. Samuel had the honour of laying the first stone, upon which he devoutly knelt, aW^most fervently pray- ed for the blessing of God upon the house which was to overibadow it : "And as he offered ihe Jirst prayer upon the Jirst stone that was laid ;" so, says Mr. Dawson, " in the ^pU of the same chapel, be preached his last ser- mon, and poured forth his last public prayer for the pros- perity of Zion." The chapel was crowded on the occa- iiion» and a collection made by him In the evening, for ti^e purpose of defraying the expense of cleaning, light- ing, &c., far exceeded any sum that had been obtained for the same object before ; the auditory thus, both by their attendance and liberality, rendered that homage which they would have paid him, had they been certain he was about to make his exit, and expected to hear him announce for his farewell address, " Ye shall see* my face no more." I rur. VIILAOL flLACK8HITR. g'J th.^ ~"1''o»« "0 "e«» complete, but much more rapid .„„?h P'^f-^'^f' was one uhicl. he obtained ovjr anothei son of tl.c earth, in one of his Yorkshire tour.. fach Jh^ ""], °""" •""=''«'™'. "'«y were known to .h.^ » • ".'.Sreal an m.iniaoy sub Jsted between them as was possible ,n the admixtu.e of fine gold and If Chri?r" ■^■- ^T""' •"'<''■*"'«<' him on the behalf or Christiun missions, but found every pert of the for tress provided with arms against any re<-uL a d Jeli' ob7et S- ""h""^ ""' P'----»obi:c.ion ■ o' e wu/ht iTtZ '"""'"' ei'er , hy help should b« sought m other quarters. On ,. dinu all " snecial like the fire of heaven— withering him with fear Im pressed apparently with a dread of the BeZ befoT« thousand, „r ■/ '".'^'^, '"'*"•>'• """gh possessed of thousands of gold and silver, and who could, in an in !lMl'rr" I'l'"' ""''y >"■« «« annihilate poperty. '.o exclaimed with hurried vehemence,-" Sao? rniivt nifflU if'hT' .'^ r "" wilt give o4r." TamJ .C stance 1" d wh„^ lllt^.' k ^^ """ ""'<"'y "' ""e circum- fn'TXett '""'^"'k''' P™-«ore them away in triumph to a missionary meeting about to be heldi^in the neighbourhood, where he exhi- bited them on the platform, with the high-wrought feel- ings of a man who had sn&tched a living child from the clutch of an eagle. To be grave in the rehearsal or hearing of such facts, is as dilHcuIt as it is to believe in the sincerity of the giver ; and were it not for the gene, ral artiessness of conduct and disposition manifested by Samuel, it woujd have been impossible to view it other- wise than as a species of dexterous acting, practised with a view to impose. But a preconcerted plan would have spoiled it ; he had not a mind to carry him for- ward in such a thing beyond the length of his own shadow beneath a meridian sun ; he was the mere crea- ture of impulse — knew no more of plot than a child. He was less successful in another case, when called upon to visit a professor of religion possessed of from six to eight thousand pounds, and yet, as a proof of the hollowness of his profossions, who would not allow him- Be\£ the common necessaries of life. Samuel, having heard he was dying, and being well acquainted with him, entered his habitation of wretchedness. The fur- niture was poor, and appeared to have served two or ihree generations in a regular ancestral line ; the room was filthy, and the air fetid ; and yet the general survey was less repulsive than the scene in one of the corners of the room, where the wretched man was lying on a still more wretchedly dirty bedstead, covered with an old horse-cloth, and scarcely an article of linen visible. Samuel was shocked at the sight, and accosted him^ *ttK VrttAtifi iiiAc.iisjH'i'tt. 86 1«'!IS; **"" "" '.'"'" "•""" • Thou l„st plenty ; why doM t1>=" *i" make nle of ine best use of it."* Turning h s dim eve and saualid face towards Samuel, and thrusting hfs^ withered am Znit. « T'^^'^S into sight, he pointed his finge? eZfc?«' ""fcfl^'^r ^^^ "'"e ; I do endeavour to smaJI nhii? h' «f '"''"T"' ""^ ''«''' '"'ere he beheld a wnicl^ was high enough to support it. " That," added Samue 'kneTb^:-!; f *' T^'^S fi'i"'f»'ly with ht. „«"„ " B ., 'L Vi^"' ^H .»"PP'i<=»ted Heaven fo; v<^> »;.^ + r ' V^ ""^ '" * ^"^"^ afterwards, " bless Cs's Zil ''* "'"• P"^ ""' '■<"'"">» ^erelike orass , there was no gettmg to the other side of then) • had b^en liolWHn ? ' ''"'''"'' "P '" ">» <=»™er, which hsH ^it """eetmg for years, and which, if everV body had their own, were happc, none of his "" ^ °°^ Ti^Zyu T f/^" '5' "'■*'"' ofM^tlia's sisters, wh, Zttow" ''^^.'"''''''•hP''''' "» """««' visit to them i^ whHe Mr' P?J^'"'f °* these occasions, in 1801 or 1802? Ts usu^ ;„ r„7' T" T'"""'^ "" "•« <=i«uit, he wen as usual to tender him his respects. Mr. P. engaged prior tothi;,^i™iL""^!?" J"k,?'P''»»' "-' >^"- eom. lime staggering, ind tTrowr,.,^ "L"''"''''";''""™ /??">■"« "> >>" o"-, wa. sitting beside him " h.J °°' "'^ ''•..'° ''» *"°">«'. "h» gone i-eome there ^^ 5 <"" ""'"y «>« go when we .re the way, was ™ld M . Ti" ° """'^ "° '"»" This o/e, by sheer wanHnd fev"ish'^thir{l''r.„?H""'"i "'■''=•■"»"""« 'hort o'f + "B/,^- . ' e . '-"''yw" OI a MISER. common with Samnli • ' u-^^'. *°'" ''"'^^ 5 *" expression and your.g. ®*'""'^' ^" '^'^ ^'^'^^^^^ to both rich and poor, 1 2 ■".'Jm 00 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. him to preach in the country the next day, which wan the Sabbath, and a person was appointed to conduct him. Samuel ascended the pulpit,4)teached in his accustomed way, but failed to secure the attention of his rustic hearers. He gave up preaching, and commenced a prayer«meeting. It was not long before a person mani> fested deep distress of soul en account of personal guilt. Samuel's companion was alarmed lest some of the irreli> gious part of the congregation should become unruly ; bul the service passed off much better than was aiitici. pated. Samuel called upon Mr. Percival the next mor- ning, to inform him of his Sabbath's excursion ; and, in allusion to this and similar visits, he told the people, after the commencement of missionary meetings, that he had ** been a missionary many years, and had preached to white heathens in Lancashire." . Mrs. P. was con- fined in child'bed, and Mr. P. himself, being without servant, was preparing breakfast for the children, eight or nine in number — such a breakfast as is commonl}^ used by the lower classes of society in Lancashire and the west of Yorkshire. Samuel cast an alternate look at this minister of God, and at his poor children : his compassion was moved — it was more than he could sup- {M>rt himself under — he retired — walked about the ground Adjoining the house — sighed, wept, prayed. He knew ihe price of provisions was high, and board-wages low : jhe saw the effects. He had but two guineas in his pocket ; he returned, divided the sum, and gave Mr. P. a guinea.* On his arrival at home he gave his wife the liistory of his journey, together with an account of the manner in which he had disposed of his money, stating, among other particulars, that he had ** lent the Lord a guinea at Rochdale." Martha remonstrated with him, supposing, as othors would have done, that he had * Mr. P. was a truly pious man. and a most excellent preach- 9U He died soon after Samuel's visit, leaving a widow and nine cmldren. He was gaoroally respected and beloved by all tha ! '""' fr«1"<"«Iy done, sayinV,- we setae "WK^'^m'' 1°" ^'""^' "' Christmas, when t^, .hi ?^^*° 5""'=' <="'"« '<> a knowledge of te,' "■""^«^'. ">" ^h* had often thought that Mr. wkh .h? P«r*u!\T*"«'' '•"t small when compared with the work which had been done. fho1ar"'Tl'l!r.''" ."^'"K" = "»'•'» ■°V>h.nk rh^'cloTi- for "S^- -;;f M 02 tHE VILtAGE BLACfeSMITll. i ; In addition to this mortgwige-Iike source, to which hd fled on special occasions, he had a secret place in hi« shop, where he was accustomed to deposit a little cash for regular use. Living by the side of the great north foad from London to Edinburgh, he was constantly re. ceiving visitr from objects of distress. On their appear. ance he went to his hoard, and relieved them as his feelings dictate^ and his funds allowed. On one occasion he even put his friend Mr. R. upon his mettle, in the race of charity. The Rev. J. P., finding that the debt upon the Pontefract Circuit pressed heavily on the spirits and pockets of the Stewards, re- solved to have it either reduced or entirely liquidated. He accordingly went to Mr. R. among the first, as a person of property, in full expectation of meeting with •encouragement and support. After looking at the case, and hesitating, some time, Mr. R. drily said, "You may put me down five shillings." The Reverend applicant's spirits seemed to drop several degrees ; and, with his horizon overcast in the outset, he began to conclude that ^ the debt was not soon to be removed. Samuel was standing by, employing his ears and his eyes, but not hie voice ; and Mr. P., turning to him,iiasked despond, ingly, " How much will you give ?" " Put me down a pound," he returned. Mr. P.'s spirits suddenly rose — Samuel stood unmoved, apparently watching the effect ; while his wealthy friend stared with astonishment, say. ing, after a short pause, and in as graceful a manner as possible, " You will have to put me down the same, I suppdse." So much for the influence of example. He was an utter stranger to the feeling of giving -* grudgingly." His was, in poetic language, a " bur. ning charity ;" like concealed fire, constantly enlarging, till it actually tears away the surface of the earth, to let loose the imprisoned flame. It only wanted an object upon which to expend itself; and, as he rarely gave with discretion, the first applicant generally fared the «BOst bovntifully. He was returning from the pit one ! THE VILLAGE IILACKSMITII. 93 ^«y with a load of coals tho door ran towards him, and askid for a piece™ coaT without fire. He stopped the horse, went into iHa ..l^'^f T'^^lT"^' '■"<• "■"'^ circumst^ac^rfoun^ the tale of the child correct, broueht the <•»« i„ .k.!^ -and poured down the Uole "If , "rioa" free of t^ Having no money upon him to pay for an add tr„^»i ^ 'r^ '»«i''g apprehensive of a lectu e at home "or ^abundance of his charity, he returned to ?he co^loit Sre fined"r '" '""' "J"" '■'" '"<'»'y timlsthe quS": tity, re.filled his cart, and returned home with his sonl b'^ow^rristeng!"" ^'""""'"^ '"« *"'""""""• ofle wit". Tf r*" '"' '''"P"'«"'=e "hat was the nature h -n wil ?K ' i ' T* * ""'"'' " *as ™re to be met by him with the first object calculated to supply it, to which uiiu suaaen gush of a fountain breaking from the aid** tif^ mnlk .1 "*'■''■ P»""'y'«'«le«llar: Bread cheese milk, butter, ™eat. and beer went, and ho hSf in th^' ^^. THE /VILLAGE ULACKSMITIf. midst of the mUBty was handed from company to company, and lastly from regiment to regiment : and on the plains of Waterloo, some of the brave fellows, v/hen nearly exhausted through excessive toil, were heard to express a wish by some who had heard the story, and knew Samuel, that they again had access to his milk and beer. Little was he aware that he would be Dome in British heart«^Qjn his native shore, and triumph in thosie hearts™ his deeds of charity, upon a field and in a struggle that decided thfe fate of Eujrope,--be recollected as the warrior's. solace in the hour of peril ! Though Samuel received occasional lectures from his good wife on account of his charities, it was not owing to a want of generous feeling in her, but lo a igreater share of prudence ; and it was a fortunate cir- cumstance for him that he had such a curb at hand ; •Otherwise he would have been often seriously involved in his circumstances, and through charity alone, might (either have enlarged the list of bankrupts in the gazette, at been led to the work-house to subsist on the charity <^ "Km ■f THE VILLAGE BLACKSHITH. 95 Others. In this, though in the character of a drawback fZ, it» .^ ' '." '? *"^ '"'"' '>«"elf and tbe children from Its calamities, by a little tiraely provision V wt^ •Tht^ tha^i he "shed 'Tn ar^ "'"'"" ' 'i*"* "«'^ to^ok ^place fn tie dolest cS"'' HeT."^ '^'' '''"'* and had attired himselHn his b^Jr „^rh f ^T^ ""'' Trrm^ht^bl'-T-^'^^'''^^^^^ asw" M ^'d'auglr'tleTl" bol'^'r TT""' ^^ acted .be part ff P^rs:tVer&.rsb"lt;?-'"rr' .her^oTl«e v/""" ,l''"Shler to give, and that of the fe. Inn^h./f *'""""*'">«' »<■ ""em being aware that n^m , ^f..""', rP°" "•«"■• """•«. unperceTved «U tween?hl ""i'^V" W^i'ion-passed her arm C SnV th"Tr ' P'»'="'e.''"''and beneath the one con "fX^^ ^scS^if 3h„ro: z there is a greater solicitude in " hittina nff ih. i^ 'V, than in securins fame bv ih» -.!,». ^? ■"*■''''*"*"• lion of the work. Sam J^fn lit ""^ '''"'"e"' «»<=>•■ bteire:t,^^s^Sior'' ^^ "-<'' -^ He was in the habit of visitins the sick • anH »c k» no respecter of persons, he aftfnded 'people '^f^^:" Porsnasion, and in every rank in life, ,„^fom t could ■■% m^) tHE VILLAGE BLACKSSIITQ. find access. Among others he visited the wife of old Wil- liam Homsworth, who died in 1320. William, and his two sons, having united themselves to the Wesleyan so- ciety, were in the habit of accompanying Samuel to dif- f^ent places, in bis religious excursions. She, being a Roman Catholic, looked upon Samuel as a heretic, lead, ing them astray from the true faith. Affliction, at Jefigth overtook her, on her route to the grave ; and what was not a little singular, she sent for Samuel to pray with her^ His prayers were effectual — her heart was smitten-~the clouds of ignorance and superstition rolled off in succes. sion from her understanding, like mists from the face of a landscape before the morning sun. On the arrival of the Priest, under whose guidance she had been for a nutnber of years, he was shewn to her apartment ; but instead of waiting for instruction, she upbraided him for not having ii^culcated upon her the necessity of the *^ new birth," stating at the same time, that she derived " more good from Sammy Hick's prayer, than from all that" she " had heard before, and that if" she recovered, she would " go among the Methodists." The daughter eusked the Priest to pray with her mother ; but supposing kei^ too iar gone in heresy for recovery, he retired, say- ing, **1 have done witli her." It is pleasing to add, that the woman died in possession of " perfect peace." Another person of the same persuasion, and nearly at the same time, resident at Mickle^ield, was visited by Samuel. The Priest and Samuel accidentally met in the sick roan's chamber at the same time ; and in order td effect either the withdrawal or expulsion of the latter, the Priest told the family that he could " not do any thing while Samuel" was present. This was a point which re- quired some deliberation ; and no one appearing forward in the business, the reverend gentleman took it upon hiro-«' self^ to order Samuel to walk out of the house. Samuet supposing he might be serviceable on the occasionj ob- served, " Two are better far than one ;" but the Priest not according with this sentiment, and the mother of the ^ I THK VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. q-j was obliged to le^ve Zl^ruT •& ^"""^"^^ ^*^*» ^^ gritude. and he C deep ; a^ M ^h r """'^ "'"• which it was expressed r, t„ jj . " ""* manner in and he internaMyTcos td 1 Ue '!"&""''' '^ *"■■"' pence malie a p^r creature haonvT u *"*• "^^ '^^■ ces have I spent oaiZ\»^T <• "^ '?"''' '^'^P""' with tobacco! I ZlZTl "^ "'?"• '" '■««*"g it live ; I will mye to thi IZ u '"?"""■ P'P« "hilst I From th«ho« he denied hilef^rf ^ '"^'^ fr"™ i*--"- ever before he w^rsS^JTnlposId*' " H r^' S"*! attendant, being either inclined to fyhe",tr"nL of h'' resolution, or sunnosinff th.t »,« u j "'^ ^""enorth of his ry "y s«ddenly"CCff''t1.e*'u,:tf";?^ T" '""^ therefore would derive ad»»n.»Lf ■ P'P*' ""• addressed him thus- " r"""«g« ^om 'ts re-adoption, pip.. Mr H™k » ■ ^"" ""'" """»" ""» "« of «h« an&„o'beVn?werabll°f^°" ''"°"'"'"' ""■ealtb, reject the advice give?" ^" ^"''^l''*''^^. should yo«' ven ; I have m^de avow3 ?■ 1 1 ' It >^ H^" '"J"''.- adv ser found him unflin^h „ • .^ K ''" "edica of death , ani ^hetcovSfronf h""',,*"^ ''"T' ""<' 98 attt^ VILLAGE 6LA(JK8Mlli/. This fearlessness, for which he was indebted both t& nature and grace, produced on one occasion a happy ef- feet. He had been at Askera Spaw with Martha, some time in 1816, and on his return home, took occasion ta stanti up in the cart, before he reached Norton, to throw his great coat over her, in order to prevent her fron» taking cold during her exposure to the open air. Just a( | that moment the horse took fright— Samuel loet his ba- lance— fell backwards out of the cart— and pitched upon: his shoulder. He sustained considerable injury, and >hen raised from the ground, was unable to stand erect. He was conveyed with some difficulty to the village ; on' reaching which, a medical gentleman was sent for, who deemed it advisable not to bleed him, though urged to it by him. " I am very ill, Sir," said Samuel, " and must be bled." The Surgeon replied, " If you are bled ai present, you will die." " Die— die, Sir," was returned.^ « What is death to me ? I am not afraid of dymg. I have nothing to do, but to make my will ; and 1 can- make it in two minutes ; there are plenty of witnesses. My money shall be disposed of, so and so," naming in a few brief sentences, the manner ; then stretching out his great arm, as he did on a subsequent occasion, he said, " Live or die, I will be bled." The gentleman hoping the best, opened the vein, and took a bason of blood from him. Not satisfied, Samuel stretched forth the other arm, and said, •' I will be bled in this also," His attendant again complied with his wish, and took from him a second bason foil. " When he did this," Samuel observed, " the pain went awafr as nice as aught" On the bandages being prop^Py adjusted, Samuel said, " Now, doctor, you have been made a blessing to my body ; I will beg, of God to bless your soul.'' So saying, he knelt in his usual hurried way, and" devoutly prayed for his benefactor. The surgeon, on rising, remarked, " I never had such a patient as you in the whole course of my practice ;" and then enquired his name and place of abode, to which Samuel distinctly replied, hitchmg m TIIE VntAOF BLAOKSHITN. ^ ^aI^ «'»?">" I come here to preach sometimoe." Thi. rl hrh""', f """ '°,"'' '"'""' "^ 'ho surgeon, the nex? ac?„JlH ?"^ ""r "'" '"'"e^. '» "-hid. Samuel readTy acceded elal.ng af.emarda to a friend, that he wa. "glad of It, for he "wanted a good inn there." Accwdingly the next frae he wa, appointed to preach In thrvi llage: iIIh "5 1° i'l° r'*"""'' <<<«"' "-«» hospitably ent!? We™''''Th« h °''' ""*!'?«'"' himself Tad fa^mily a. inJ^[, f . f '" "■""='' h« preached waa exceed. coated hirt' "" V° """^i"* "'"• '"o '■"'""y- he •«• wa «r. w '~r °",."'*' '''"""'■' how uncoinfortabl» LorS-r .h^' ""f*"' "'u''*;" » "hapol. The stone is lh» xZU'tu""^ f' "•* Lord's-and the money i» the LordT The gentleman took the hint ; and with a heart ceivrhVf? "»r°^« "P"? i'. " he had'acuten^S to pet VZ ' '.°^f"1 " «"l>seripUon to set the work irmotion t oth", TnTo' r Tr'""". '°"'=" -hscription. Tm Mefh^Hirl I ''^""l misfortune arose a Wesleyan su« of hllH-'Pf ..'"u""" '=''''?«' «"">"«' '""J 'he plea, sure of bolding forth the word of life,. It mav be kmTa ttce^fZiSdl''"^'';^'' "" "'* ge-le^l.-t^i.t'.hf ; : ^m.L K f u '°'e»"on to leave home twoTr three uTned ^?h' .V "\",' ''''^' ''"' •"" "-accountably r ^ell tn ' ""'"? ^^'l'" »"''g" »»y ••cason. till Sam. sulZ! „!T' ""J"^^' ^' ""« '«'' '» acknowledge , ot rel gioo upon thefieart, which he had neither nrevi ously known nor confessed. P Prodigal as Sani^eJ. rva^n some of bis charities ^wards persons in.^.bll^ and who we e lUte ly to make a proper us^^'^^.nvfhtx^^ «. "»ciy w ho seemed to be v !^eS£ ' .'^f/^ were seasons when ficial in li.A ,«„;„i3HP^ aiscreuonal power, bene- SLr Vam,fjlB|P°"' •"»" had "oat a horse by sickness. bamuel«^^^as " a servant of all work " in he begging Ime, wentWund^-^ieighbourhooTand moMOted to a gumea more tlm ,he value of tJw Z, • 'fe'l 100 THE VILLAGR ULACKSMITIf. 4- ^ » ii'' mal, — a sum of lets than twenty shiDingi being 8u0i« cient to purchase another equally poor to replace it. The man himself, though a professor of religion, was less entitled to Samuel's confidence than his benevo- lence : and to shew how low he stood, by the small degree of prosperity he was capable of sustaining, Sam- uel, speaking of him to a friend, said, « I did not give him the guinea ail at once ; ilgave it him as I thought he neeoed it ; for bless you, barn, you see lie could not bear prosperity," The notion of "prosperity*^ being appended to so small a sum as a guinea, is worthy of being preserved as a memento emanating irom a mind which was itself stamped by it as a still greater curi- osity. Benevolence of heart, though connected with slender personal means, is often of greater value to a neigh-^ bourhood, in siich a man as Samuel Hick, than the opu- lence of others. A female who resided about a mi!e firbm his house, was extremely poor, and hastening, through consumption, to an invisible world. When her case became known, he went to Aberford — applied to several respectable people — stated her circumstances-— and solicited a variety of things which he deemed suit- able for her relief and support. Aware of thd honour which God puts upon faith, agreeably to the declaration of our Lord to the blind men, " According to yoOr faith be it unto you," he provided himself beforehand, irt tfc« strength of his confidence, with a#a9ket ; which, toge- ther with his pocket wa^^ replenished on his return, havingf between twemy . 5I thirty shillings in one, — mutHins, bread, buttr. ,j_^ and a biioulder of mutton in the other. Careful Martha, who was never back- ward in rare cases, as has been perceived, and would have done more in such as vwpre less necessitous, had she not known that Samuel's benevolence was .nore than sufficient for both, added her half-crown to the moneys collected; ai«^ Samuel, with his basket by his side, set off to the coti^ of this daughter of afilictio%, Jl ^^^ I Tm: VILLAGE HLAf KSMITH. 101 .nd. was received like .ho angel of p,e„,y i„ unu> of inir to hi. abiliiv .n ■ .' ^^ "''eved Ihom accord. thfn himself o^iJf'f'lA'' '". ""l''"' '"o™ "«"«»« « person ansWed I « .h ""'.''" °/ """y- "" «'" ^ho devises iZral ,J^ «''"'"='«'■, »f 'he liberal mao, Vhe highest uxur! thlX ."?.""' "'"'' *°'" """ """'• bread to the hun.Tv ,„ K • " u "'•"'>' ""'' '" «'«•' »"« that were cast out ^; '.'""'«."'« Pf'^ '"'<> h'^ house »he afflicted soul • T. T ""^ "?''"'• """^ "> «»' "fy 10 receive "• '' " " '"'"' '''«»'«'<1 '« give than anftSef irhittffecl:'"^?. "" ""'^ P""™"""' «'"'» Christian mi ,.„s ° .h ^. *^^"'<|,»'' " *«« "•«' of which blends a Hh;1" ^"'% "■" ""^ '"■'«")«« scale, eternity aHevfaim-.^''^"' I "'^u'""'' "'"* ">« g'oriea of other;~a chari w^hLhT ?^ "'\<'°»'«»"P'ati"n of the «he r;iatU>ns o7hYH t •" ""^ ""*"* """"' '" »•'' destruction ofliJ^.C'j'JT'y,'''''''''' object is the pour, blights ihTT^i I I ' ''''* " pestilential va- comfortTn3/!lLl^;i%u^^^ hope and every source of nrfl^^ ■ °/* ""^ destruction i,.to ditioJ of a tree ChhS^'. ''.!""' '"''"'^ '» """=»"■ «hort, occasioned bv" pi Hi %''"'°'/-^"''""y' '» never kcow ces»„,i^^ • .f™'''.'* Lost," and which will rained of "P: Xe" IZitd^.' '"' "JT-' '" -cer. period when the late nfrt *" ^^"^ »' ""o been termed the "rfmi^ ,-t commenced what has him half a Buinea Ir ?f ^" °' ''*8«'»g-" Sa™«el gave this, conswfri^„^k ""^ *"??"" o*^ ">« '"i'sions ; and Cnd Id Ih' L n '"'"'y """"^ *■« '"«'' "•«" a"=o™- "ouid ^? h f" """'^^' °*' missionaries employed "ut u ivas not (ill the p,Mic meetings commeno. IT 9. 102 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. cd at Leeds,*" and elsewhere, that his soul, as though it had been in bondage before — for such was the change — ^bounded off, and expatiated at fail liberty. Here he had ample scope for the finest, the fullest, and the deepest philanthropic feelings of his heart ; and for * The biographer has had too deep an interest in theae meet, ings, not to recollect the influcnt^Nif their beginnings upon his own mind. It is diHlcult precisely to determine t . this distance of time, v/ith whom the first thought originated, or what was the first Sentence that led to them. Mr. Scarth, of Leeds, repeatedly remarked to Mr. Dawson, before Dr. Coke took his departure for India, "The missionary cause must be taken out of the Doctor's hand ; it niust be made a public — n common cause.** It is not im- possible, that this may have been the germ of the whole. The Dissenters had a public meeting in Leeds, a few months previous to the first public one among the Wesleyans. This having been held in the course of the summer, Messrs. Scarth and Turking- ton visited the Conference, and expressed their views on the subject to the Rev. George Marsden, stating that something should be done in a more public way for the missionary interest belonging to their own body. With their views Mr. M. perfect, ly coincided. When the embarrassed state of the missionary fund came before the Conference, there appeared to be no alter, native between reducing the preachers at home or t'iie mission, jiries abroad. There was too much zeal and liberality in the body to permit either. The subject was one of deep interest; and did not die at Conference. Mr. Morley, the Leeds superin. iendent, thought, that if the Dissenters could raise a Missionary ^Meeting, the Methodists might also ; and accordingly suggested the subject to his colleagues, Messrs. Bunting and Filter, who zealously entered into his views. Not satisfied with commenc intr this ** new thing** in Methodism on their own responsibility, they were desirous of knowing how far the proposal of a public meeting would tmmt with the countenance of ethers of their bre. thren. Bramle^mving been then but recently divided from the Leeds circuit-^a close union still subsisting between them — and being contiguous to each other, these gentlemen proceeded thither, with a view to deliberate with the Rev. W. Naylor and the biographer, who were then stationed on the Bramley circuit. No persuasion was requisite ; the propriety, necessity, and prac. ticability of the measure were manifest at once. The Leeds and the Bramley preachers thus took the first decisive and active step in the work, which has since been carried on to such an extent. A corresponding chord was soon found to vibrate with pleasure THE VILtAGE BLACKSMITH. 103 «nany miles round his own homestead, it was rare not to see bis face turn up in the crowd, like the image on a favourite medal, which is the pride and boast of the antiquary, and fixes the eye of the spectator much soon.' er than most of the others which adorn his cabinet. in the broaats of the Rev. Messrs. R. Watson and J. Buckley, of the Wakefield circuit; and they were fuUowed by Merssrs. Reece and Atraore, of the Bradford and Halifax circuits, wllio both ex. lilted in the prospect of so ample an harvest of good. Mr. BunU ing organised the first plan-Mr. Watson wrote the first address —Mr. Buckley preached the first sermon on the occasion, at Armley, a place belonging to the Bramley circuit— and the first public meehng was held in the old chapel, at Leeds,— T. Thoran. son, Esq. M. P. in the chair.* The meetings were at first beheld by some of the brethren as the dotage of enthusiasm, and as the torerunner of a marriage union with the world. But they be. came so productive, and were so inetruniental inirodueine irood to the contributors, that the most sturdy opponents were not un- trequentJy found afterwards in the chair delivering ibeir recanta. ItlOIlSa - \.t * The Editor well remembers attending this first Weslevan Methodist Ml*, sionary Meeting, and all the religious services connected with it On Sat r?^ casion a fire wgs kindled in Leeds which soon sprS^th^ extremities of ufft land, and which will continue to burn with increasing imensUy^SiLJnlS- 19 m- « 104 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. ...-,,-, CHAPTER VII. IBi patriotic feeling.... high price of provisions... differa with Mr. Pawson for prognosticating evil... .letter to the Rev. Edward Irving on prophecy llir«atened invasion of Buoiinparie — an address to the King — Samuel's loyalty — M. A. Taylor, Esq... the suppression of a religious assembly • defence of A religious revival — his interview with Mr. Taylor obtains a licence to preach... .an allusion to him in a parliamentary debate. A MAN like Satnuel Hick, whose mind was so thorough- ly imbued with divine grace, was not likely to be defec tive in what is termed nationality^ and the still more scriptural principle of loyalty. Never did a Jew, by the rivers of Babylon, reflect with greater tenderness upon Judea, " in a strange land," than he did upon his country, which he was in the habit of designating " our island" — *^our England," always considering himself as having a personal interest at stake in all its affairs ; and never did a subject in any realm pour out with greater sincerity and fervour the nrayer of—" God save the King." Puring one of Mr. Pawson's appointments to the Leeds circuit, Samuel observes, " Corn was very dear. 'The poor people went round our town with a half guinea in their hands, and could not get a strike* of 4Jorn for it. Mr. Pawson came to Sturton Grange to .preach, and while preaching, he told his congregation Ihat there would be a famine in our land, and that he * Strike^ a bu»hel. In the west of Yorkshire a strike is two fieeka, or a half .bushel ; hence the high price of grain at the pe. rjod referred to, when p.oor people could not obtaijQ a half.bwhel iot a hdlf guinea. ^. % i^r-^r'^^-2> THE VILLAGK BLACKSMITH. 105 bad seen it coming on for twenty vears." Such a pro- Wu^'hxrT '"''^ a prophot— a man whom, like all other Wesleyan mmisters, he considered an apostle of trod— and m reference to his own land, "of every land he pride could not but awaken in him strange emo. tions. Without attempting to endue Mr. Pawson with U^e gift of prophecy, it is probable that he might inti- mate to his congregation, that he had sighed over the ed b?h ""'tfr' V^'' vvicked-havini been touch. fnroK J T ' ^'''"' l^^ poignancy of his feelings, he foreboded some manifestation of the divine disfiilasure --and by way of improving the subject, in order to lead miJT^^^^ P^^y^'-' ^"^ reformation, might lay hold of passing events in such a way as to lead Samuel, who, mapprehensive of his meaning, and not taking ,n the whole of the connecting liSks of thought, to draw the inference stated. ^ ed tor^L'^ p'"^"^ ^'"'^ reflecting on what he concciv. ed to be Mr. Pawson's view of the subject; and the fol. LrsiLI"!?'" "'i'j^'" '''' '^^"^^"^^^ «f^'« fueling . his simplicity, and his piety. " I began," says he, "to fh ""Vr^'f^^r^ ""^ ^' "^y children wei small, I Zl.l ' ^'?^ '' ^""^^- ^^^^" I g«t ^o"^^ I went wmild L f '^ '"'^"''" "^ '^^ ^^'^' whether there would be a famine or no ; and while I was pleading I got as fair an answer from the Lord, that there woSld ^H ZTT' ? ""^^^ ^^ P^'^^"^^ ^"y «'"s and cleans. IL/.T' ' ''"'' '^'""^ ^^«^« was plenty of corn to supply till harvest. But this did not satisfy me : I told my wife that I could not rest till I went to inform the set off for Sturton ; and when I got there, I told that ^ear ^oman of God Mrs. Wardf my errand." He^' ff fLr/^'^P'^Pr'^'"^^'''^"^^' "«t only on account of he lateness of the hour, which appears to have been on the same evenmg after preaching-but by delicately suggesting th^ impropriety there would be in\is ' pr^ n toe THE VILLAGE IJLACKSMITH. tending to dictate to one of the first preachers in the connexion." But Samuel was not to be repulsed by either first or second, whether the claim instituted refer- red to priority of lime or superiority of talent. He had his one argument at hand — "Thus saith the Lord;" «nd proceeds, "I told her not to blame me, for it was the Lord that had sent me. With a deal to do, she let tne into the room ; and I told our brother 4*awson, that the Lord had sent me to inform him that there would be no famine in the land." Mr. Pawson, whose forebod- ings wje*re scarcely removed, replied, " Well, brother, I shall be very thankful to the Lord, to find it not so." Samuel taking a little credit for the correctness of his own judgment and impression in the case, and still firmi in his belief in the actual prediction of a famine, adds, "So we see how good men may miss their way, for there was no famine." To persons whoso feeliiigs aro not immediately interested, it is sometimes amusing to hear well-meaning men, without a prophetic soul, guessing agair ^ each other for their Maker. In the present case, fc rnuel's conduct in going to " enquire of the Lord," ma fested a spirit worthy the most simple, the purest, the best part of patriarchal times; and as they were chiefly his own fears that had to be allayed, the impression that effected their removal, was so far — all prophecy on the occasion apart — an act of mercy";^ mercy manifested in the exercise of prayer. Ht availed himself of this supposed prophetic failure of Mr. Pawson, February 28th, 1826, when he address- ed a letti . to the Rev. E. Irving, who had then reached the acme of his oratorical attractions, though not of his theological reveries, and who, as Samuel had been in^ formed, had been prognosticating national calamities, .because of national wickedness. The original, which is in the writer's possession, 's a curiosity, and would, if printed as it flowed from h ,>en, exemplify the esti- ipate given of his mind in the preceding pages. With ^he exception of a fe>v transpositions, retrenchncients '\% THE VILLAGE BLACKSHIfll. 107 teffciagej j i .'le occasional substitution of a word, Ihv following .-'.i> e considered as an allowable copy : ** Dear Brother Irving, the Prophet in London, '^ I am informed that you have prophesied that thi9 islahd is bown to come to desolation; but I think you should put a condition in your prophecy, viz., that if the people humble themselves, pray, and turn from their wickod ways, then God will hear from heaven, will par. don their sins, and will heal the land. When the pro- phet Jonah went to preach at Nineveh, the whole of tho people of the city humbled themselves, and prayed to- God ; and God heard th^ir prayer, and save^ them from destruction. If there had been ten righteous souls in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, when they were destroyed, in which there were so many thousands of men, women, and children, they would not have suffer- ed: and I fully beHeve, that if Abraham bad pleaded on, the Lord would have saved the cities for his servant'* sake ; but be gave up pleading, and then they were consumed. " But I have to inform you, Sir, that there are more thaw ten righteous men in a city ; for the little one has • become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation. We have our Moseses, and our Elijahs, and our paniels in our island, who are all pleading. We have thou, sands of children training up to fear God and honour the king : we have Bible Societies, Missionary Meet- ings, and Tract Societies. These four institutions are the Lord's ; and this island is the Lord's nursery, in which he raises up plants to plant tho Gospel in all the world, in order to be a witness unto all nations. Then the wickedness of the wicked shall come to an end— all sHall know the Lord from the least to the greatest — nations shall learn war no more — and the whole heart shall be filled with the glory of God. "*Twii^pl^ 106 TUL VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. " The Pope prophesied, in years past and gone,*^ that he should ^et back the tnhcritaucc of his fore> fathers, be set upon the British throne, and have all Vhe churches restored : but that will never come to pass ; God will never sufler the Pope to govern Ifis nursery or plantation. We shall be governed by peaceable gover- nors. We shall have pea^e and plenty. The year that is past has been a plentiful year for temporal food ; and I trust, before we see the end of this, we shall find it to have been one of the best we ever had for spiritual food ; that many will be brought to the knowledge of God ; and that we shall see the downfal of infidelity. " I have known good men miss their way in my day, by their prophecies. The prophets foretold that there should be wars and rumours of .wars in the latter days, and that nation should rise up against nation. These prophecies have been fulfilled. Nation has been up against nation. There has been such destruction as never was before. But these days were to be shortened for the elects' sake." Then follows his account of what he denominated Mr. Pawson's prophecy, appending to it the case of another person, who, he observes, "pro- phesied that our island would be covered with war and bloodshed," and, as a precautionary measure* " took his family to * merica, where he purchased a K rge es- tate. But," continues Samuel, "these were foolish* prophecies, and false prophets, and I firmly believe yours will prove to be like them. While we continue to honour God, by sending the Gospel to the poor per- ishing heathen, by keeping up our noble Bible and Tract Societies, and Sunday Schools, we shall neither h^ve pestilence nor famine, nor shall the pword be per- * Samuel met with a man, in one of his journeys, who avowed hit* belief in Ihe Roman Catholic urced, and his faith also in the Teatoration of our cathedrals and churches .to the papal state. The public mind was considerably agitated at the time with the Catholic Question, and the impression produced by both, led hiiii« probably, to introduce his holiness to Mr. Irving. Tnfi VILLAGE BLACKSJIITH. 109 mitted to go through the land. And althiggh there ie at present a great stafrnalion of trade and oommerce,- yet there is a remedy for us, on certain conditions. It is not a prophet nor an archangel, but the God that made the world, and ail that therein is, who says, If I shut up heaven that there he no rain, or if I send a pestilence, if my people that is called iy my name will humble themselves, and turn from their wick«d ways, I will pardon their sins and will heal, their land. This is the case. Persons are turning from their sins every day. Judgment is mixed with mercy. England is one of the first islands in the World. We have liberty of consci- ence; we have peaces and I hope trade and commerce will again revive, and that the suffering poor will have plenty of work, to enable them to earn bread for their families." ^ There is not the slightest intention in the writer to bring lh« " Village Blacksmith" into the arena of con. troversy, with a view to place him in polemic array against Mr. Irving ; nor need Mr. Irving be ashamed of the association, as a few of Samuel's positions are as tenable as some of those with which he has favoured the world in his more recent publications. Proceeding on the correctness of Samuel's information, »/hich w only assumed for the occasion, his suggestion relative to the propriety of annexing conditions to threatening, and the support which he professes to derive from this suggestion from the case of Nineveh, are worthy of re- spect. His application of the subject to Britain, which he illustrates by the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, showing the superiority of the one over the other Britain with her multitude of intercessors actually enga- ged at the throne of grace, her Christian philanthropy, as exhibited in her institutions, and the probable in- crease of conversions to God through the instrumen. tality of Sunday Schools— and the cities of the plain without their " ten righteous** characters— deducing from the whole the probability of our safety, show* iia Tffm VILLAGE HLACKSMITH. that 4m w«s|P ftosaession of correct scriptural notions, though they often radiated in different directions, like 80 mwiy scattered rays of light, being unable to employ them to the best advantage, and therefore not always falling with fulness on the point to be illuminated. The act too of pressing the late revolutionary wars into his service, which he considered to be no other than the *' runiours of war" mentioned in Scripture, by way of showing the difference between ancient and modern prophetic pretensions— rthe one having been fulfilled and tha other remaining unaccomplished— and his altrrnpt to rescue the prevailing commercial distress out of Mr. Irving's hands, that he might not avail himself of it in support of his predicted judgments, intimate a quickness of intellect, though unequal to that which precedes. But the letter is given chiefly with a view to show the manner in which his thoughts moved when venturing beyond the precincts of a few brief sentences ; and fr.r this purpose too, as well as that of honouring the feel. mga of his heart, his address to bis Majesty George III. loay be introduced. At the time when Buonaparte thrcdtened to invade England, there were great " searchings of hearc,"— Samuel was among the sufferers in spirit. When fear was at its height he retired into the fields, like the pro- phef to the 6um.mit of a solitary mountain, to intercede iwith his Maker ; and he there received what set his own mind at rest — an assurance that our shores would never be either printed or polluted by the foot of th^ enemy. From that period he went on his way rejoicing, and, in the strength of his confidence, his patriotic and loyal feeling, he wrote the address just alluded to, the substance of whidji is as follows: — " O King, liv« J&»r ever! Let not your heprt be troubled, nor your countenance be changed ; for that God whose church and cause you have defended, will also defend you, and deliver your from the lion and the - i^ar, and also ftom thi^ .ujji^ircumcised Philistine ; for tllK VILLAGE BLAtKSMlTrf. ^ tH /ic 8haM rievef m his foot upon English ground. And guards to defend yorur person, your p?optfrty of your nat on, God wr fai^ ihem up frooT tile duriof Christ, and I wf jl go m the forefront ; anwent to our class-leader, and told him that I could not rest till I went to Mr. T. to inform him he had broken the laws of our land." His class-leader was Mr. Rhodes, who, partly to deter Samuel, from an impres- aion o| the possibility of the case, hint ^ that Mr. T. would commit him to the House of Cor.eciion. Samuel replied, " I have the liord on my p'de, and the law on my side, and I do not fear the face of a man." His firmness gave confidence to Mr. Rhodes, who agreed to accompany him. They both set off, and arriving at Mr. T.*B before he had come down stairs in the morning, were uehered into the " servants' hall," There they remained till summoned inm the presence-chamber. Mr. T., on descending to breakfast, had been informed of their visit. On entering the room, he had, says Samuel, " a very stormy countenance." The substance of the conversation, as left on record, is as follows : Mr. T. " Well, Hick, what do you want ^" Samuel " I want, if you please, to worship God • •- ^', TUl VltLAOE BLACKSMITH. 1X5 under my own vine and fig-tree, no man daring to m%ke me afraid, or disturb me in the worship of God. And, Sir, I am come to inform you, as one of his Majesty's peace.makerBf that last night you broke the laws of the land, and that the law stands in force against you. But we, as a body of people, do not. love law. We^are de< termined, however, to have the liberty our king grants to us. The place v hich we were wtrshipping in is from the king, as it is licensed : and I believe there is a double penalty for your breaking the law.'' • Mr, T, " 1 know you very well ; you are in the habit of travelling from place to place to preach : ^nt I have the outline of a bill, which will be brought into Parliamnnt, and which will at once put a stop to all such fellows, and prevent them from going about. I will make you remain in your own parish, and go to your own church." Samuel, " Bless the Lord ! Sir, you cannot stop us. It is the work of God ; and, unless you can prevent the sun from shining, you cannot stop it. You say you will make us go to our own parish church. It is more than three miles off. It is true, we have a Chape' of Ease; but the minister comes to it only twice in i.he year : and we cannot live. Sir, with such food as this :'' that is, with so small a portion. Mr, T, " What ! have you only two sermoos preached in the year ?" Samuel, " No, Sir; and he would not come then, only he cannot get his Easter dues without coming.]* Here the servant in attendance, and Mr. Rhodes, could support it no longer, but burst into a fit of laughter, and left the room. Mr. Taylor, who appeared not to have known that the place was licensed in which he was the night before, and to have assumed the character of sternness for the purpose of drawing Sa • rauel out into conversation, called upon Mr. Rhodes :o enter the room again, asking w hy he went out ? Mr. R. apologized, and stated, that he could not refrain / 116 THE VILLAGE 'BLAtKsUltU'. 1 from laughing, and wtthdi avoid breach dfffodd* behaviour. Mr. T., accosting him, said, " You kiiow, Mr. Rhodes, the old man wants a li niae to preach. Thii I cannot grant in niy indivtdiral capacity. But he and you may »o to Bradfotd next Thursday ; ask for the clerk of the Couu, and tell him- yoir want a licenser for a dissenting minister. He will there receive it ; and if, after that, ^y one should disturb either of ypu, in- form me, and< will' defend you." This Was too much for Samuel to bear in silence ; and, without suffering Mr. R. to reply, he permitted that chord of the heaK which Ymd just been struck, to give out it^ Mlest and wildest teties, saluting Mr. T. with, " Bless the Lord ! they gite you a sore character in our country, but I think your are not so bad as they say you are." Thisy by a thousand men, would have been taken, as it might have been given, as an insult. But Mr. T., as he knew Samuel, had th^ good sense to give to it its real value, and passed it off in pleasantry. After this, proceeds Samuel, " I believe he would have granted me any favour. He sent down to the ikrmer alao^ vn whose house the meeti g was held, and told him, if he was in want of any thing from his house or gard^ens, k should be at his service. So we see, when a man's ways j)lease the Lord, he makes his enemies to be at peace with him." Samuel went too far in considering Mr. T. an enemy ^ f^r had he rea^y been such, he would have pursued a diffWfint line of conduct. Simple, however, as the whole of this occurrence was, suflicient matter arose out pfAto attract the attention of the British senate ; for Rf^wl " two sermons" per annum in a " chapel of ease,'* led, from the easy character of the labour, to an investigation of other instances of gross neglect, so et gave Mr. T. an opportunity of stating in the house the necessity there was for the ecclesiastical authorities to enquire, whether the different places belonging to the Establishment were properly supplied with religious in- TM£ VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 117 ■tructors, noticing the case of which he was informed by Samuel, arguing from thence, that it was not to be wondered that a " blacksmilh,'' in Yorkshire, should ap. ply to him for a licence to authorise him to preach as a dissenting minister. When one (9 the newspapers was handed to Samuel, in which the fact was stated; and the allusion made, he was not a little elated, and in his sim- plicity could even connect with the ciccumstance, in a way in which no one beside himself could do, the " go- vernment churches," which were soon aQerwards erecU ed; and would have as soon — for such was his know- ledge of the politics and ecclesiastical history of the day — attributed every new edifice to thaiy as to any other cause. Though some of these goodly struetures were not very well attended, he was ftir from viewing them as useless : " They will be ready," said he, « for the Millennium, when it comes ; for we shall want them then :" not that he really wished any other religious body to enjoy them ; but he was confident they were not erected in vain. He generally spoke respectfuHy of the Church of England, and indulged a pleasing hopo that she would* rise to be more holy, active, and useful, th&n she had ever been^ *'• / ua THK VILLAGE BLACKSMPFtf.* CHlAPTER Vllt. ih» power In prayer. ...dlvi'iie impressinna ...an afflicting proVideocfl'. • .%' remarkable answers to prayef — familiar ezpreflsiona in prayer to be avoid^' ed ■ • . • encounters' a blackmnilfr. • . ■ bia usefulness .... his meekness under per- «ecut1on....sIngulat method of self defence against the aspersions of a clergyman .... Musical Festivals — perfection — seasonable remarks. . . • the' doctrine of santtifi'cation niaintdiibed in opposition to a clergyman... .cht'er-' f al dispositiou'. . . . i'ndiscretionate zeat in' a meeting of the Society of Fri«ad#. ■\ *That which imported rea'^ ^levatioh 6f character to Samuel, was, his strong faith and his power with God in prayei : and here it is, that he vtas seen rising out of the h&faiHmento of the blacksmith, surrounded by the visitants, dtunned with the dm, and enveloped in the smoke of the smrthy, Hke a bemg belonging to anbthei* world, gradually unfolding hitVelf, or suddenly break, ing upon the spectators in the true spirit of an angel of Tight. A few instances have been adduced of his power in prayer on his own behalf; but he still has to be tiewed in the chitracter of a successful intercessor. He had an impression upon his mind, one day, thaf ht ofight to go to the coal-pit, for What he termed '* af toad of sleek."* But having a tolerable stock in thct ismithy, he hesitated, and' attempted to suppress 't. Tha trapi^essioti wai^ renewed, and — " ©o, go," was reitera- ted, aflf by a voice from within. " I'll pray at>t>ut it," said hd to himself. But "go" was still the language which he seemed to hear while engaged' upon his knees. He rose and toid his wife he was going for a load of * The refuse or amaller part of thi» curI, uieed in' furuacea, Ach;.- »B|! VIILACE Bl«eKSMITH. JIJ .I^'L"" ?''*>"*«« natural, opposed him, pointiDB he afaould stop at home. But his argument was in 1?;^ iT'and H "'• "'"^ "L"""'"'' y""""! "hehoZ to ,U «art, Md drivmg off to the pit, without any thing to sud port h» conduct, except the naked impression "fecified" On reachmg the spot, a person exclaimed in a st,...„f r.rivhrd^r„T'°""'« ""' P""""'' -""o) has been nearly lulled, and we want you to pray with him i" Th- poor sufferer had just been brought up frrr.he nit Jhtn fce arrived ; and the persons afound'himwer?abouUo extract a piece of wood which had fallen unon him penetrated his shoulder, and forced it. way like 2' «pear of Abner, through the opposite side of h^ bodv On perceiving ,heir intentions from their conduct S^ muelsaid. in a hurried tone, " Do not takr it o .*, f^r you do, he will die in a r,.oment."* The snt^ of „™L •as the element in which he brer bed fCd 1^ side of the poor man, wrestled with God for his sail. t.on, and obtained satisfactory evidence of an answer fo the patulous be presented at the throne of grace .'I "Thf"!:' 'T^' " f"' »>«« i' was that Yhad .0 J, to the pit." And yet, with this result, there are Jrsofs professing the Christian name, who would denouSSe Z unpression as enthusiastic, and who wouldT^.K with the calamity, insert hi^ being aUhepTtfl thai tr ' cse period, m the chapter of accUents, which oocupieV 120 THf! VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. in their estimation, 8o large a share of the business of human lift. Only preserve religion in the back.ground, or abstract it entirely from the subject, and these persons will talk both seriously and poetically, of the mind being darkened, like the sunny landscape, by a sudden cloud, auguring a coming tempest ; and of such impulses de- serving attention, as being the hints of our guardian spirits that danger is impending. All this is allowable in verse, and the poet is admired for the sentiment ; while the heathen philosopher is permitted to descant upon it in prose : but the moment the man of God asserts the fact — from whom the others have received it, either di- rectly or remotely, and afterwards marred, by lowering it — he must be sent through the world wi;h the brand of an enthusiast upon his forehead ! A circumstance not less remarkable occurred at Pon- tefract, — a place where Samuel was highly respected, find where he deeply interested himself in the erection of a new chapel. It was agreed, in order to aid the collection at the opening, that each collecjor should de- posit a sovereign in iiis box, and that the collectors should be changt ] each service. Samuel entered into the plan with his native ardour, and promoted, in various instances, its accomplishment. On recollecting the nameflBf friends who were likely to afford aid, he im- mediately proceeded to their residences, and accosted them: ** Why, the friends are bown to open a new cha. pel in Pontefract: yo» intend to be there, don't you, and to be a collector?" To this exordium he appended the plan, closing it with a personal application, — " You ap- prove of it, dont you ?" In cases of approval, accom, panied with ft doubt whether there would be an oppor- tunity to attend, he generally relieved them by observ- ing, " I will tell you what you must do ; you must give me a sovereign, and I will get some one to collect for you." Such was his success, by this mode of proce- dure, that, on the day of opening, he handed over to the treasurer nearly twenty pounds. On the morning, » THE VILLAGE ULACKSMITH. Jg, ^:Zf in'TplJ^rerV" "•! -"""^-^mcm of .he himself mucb^lvraen, , ^A^^"' •"* '"«' P'<"»"e"" thrown into a Mate nf .h > . ''* '"nsregatioB was founded alarm ri„ectil„ """°^«o''f»sionV «" nn. The young IadyTKa,^„i^'.%""^'y ''^"'«' huildmg. •he pew, and was in th!„^? V"" *"P*^ «" 'h« top rf «he bod; of the chapel wLt r^'P'f"'"* herself [„,„ tude equalled only bvL, ^"""*'' *"•• « Promptt •akini. her in Ts arm, 1 ?''"'P'>^'"^' Prevented her, by «o " ie still ° tiyW" I wTu'r/ "T "',■"" '"^o «^"« dis. Chapel'thanTnywhere J^ "'"'» ''"' '" « M"""- which to look, except the Bible, in which he wa* taught to believe and expect that for which he prayed - nothing on which he could depend but God, and Aii faith was set m God for rain. This, like some other instances which hav^ been noticed, is a beautiful ex- emplification of the simplicity of Christianity as it exist* Ml Its effects in an uncultivated mind ; the perton re- ceiving every fact of scripture history as an- undoubted truth of God, given for the encouragement, the convic tion, and the instruction of all future tiges, whether it refers to the improvement of the mass of mankind or the individual. In perfect character with the preceding remarkable- Cact, connected with the element of water, is another respecting the element of air, both of which may yet be attested by living witnesses ; and which oiJght not to- be beyond the reach of credibility, if we believe there IS a God— that he has power over the works of his own hands— and that he employs the elements, not only a» general sources of felicity, but on particular occasions unbmds them in their operations, and lets them loose upon man, either as a special blessing or as a special scourge, in order to prevent common good from being boked upon with an eye of indiflerencc. Samuel was at Knottingly, a populous village in the neighbourhood of Ferrybridge, in 1817, where he took occasion to in. form his hearers that there would be a love-feast at Mickjefield, on a certain day, when he should be gfad* to see all who were entitled to that privilege. He fur- 124 THE VILLAGE KLACKSMITH. ther observed, with his usqal frankness and generosity, that ho had two loads* of corn,f and that they should be ground for the occasion. Those comprised the whole of the corn left of the previous year's produce. When, therefore, he retarned home, and named his general invitation and intention, Martha, who had as deep an interest in it as bimselfr enquired very expressively, " And didst thou t^ll them, when all the corn was done, how we were to get through the remainder of the sea- son, till another crop should be reaped 1" " To-morroio" alas ! rarely entered into Samuel's calculations, unless connected with the church. The day fixed for the love- feast drew near — there was no flour in the house — and the wind.miils, in consequence of a long cahn, stretched out their arms in vain to catch the rising breeze. In the midst of this death.like quiet, Samuel carried his corn to the niiU nearest his own residence, and.re> quested the miller to unfurl his sails. The miller ob. jected, stating that there was " no wind." Samuel, on the other hand, continued to urge his request, saying, " I will go and pray while you spread the cloth." More wiih- *i view of gratifying the applicant than of any faith he had in Him who holds the natural winds in his fists, and' who answer^, the petitions of his creatures, the man 8tretch^d\his canvass. No sooner had he done this, than^ t^ hi8 utter astonishment, a fine breeze sprung up -^the fans whirled round — the corn was converted into meal — and Samuel returned with his burthen, rejoicing, and had every thing in readiness for the festival. A neighbour who had seen the fans in vigorous motion, took also some corn to be ground ; but the wind had dropped, and the miller remarked to him, " You must send for Sammy Hick to pray for the wind to blow again." * AZodt^ofcorn at Mieklefiold, signifies six strokes, or three bushels. i Wheat. THIS VILLAGE DLACnsSIlTII. 125 Few circumstances, perhaps, can be add«eed, more characteristic of Samuel, than a remaFk which he made in reference to the man who " went down from Jeru- salem to Jericho, and fell among thieves." After com- menting on the situation of the poor sufferer — for all was real history to Samuel — he glanced at the conduct of the Priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan. Speak* ing particularly of the priest, he endeavoured to apolo- gize for him as far as he conscientiously could, by inti- mating that he might have been " poor," in consequence of priests not having such ** big livings" then, as in the present day. Turning at length, however, upon his; piety, he quaintly and pointedly remarked, " Bad a* the Levite was, :he Priest was the worst of the two ;, for, admitting him lo have been without money, he might have said to. the wounded man, 'Come, we'll- have a bit of prayer together!'" There is a volume contained in this single sentence, on the habit of devo- tion, which Samuel constantly carried about with him ; and had it been a scene of real life, and himself one of' the actoi , he would have been seen sidling up to the' sufferer, whether on the highway or at the market cross, — afterwards devoutly kneeling, and with uplifted hands and heart pleading with the Most High for healing and strength. His prayers were not restricted to man. He saw a» great propriety in praying for the restoration of cattle that might be ajfflicted witif any particular distemper, a» in soliciting the divine blessing upon the fruits of the field, and the seasons of the year. Thus it was, on a particular occasion, that he associated his own horse with the cow of a friend, in his devotions, both of whicb were unwell ;— in every thing, in supplication and pray, er, making his requests known to the Lord. There were instances, however, of familiarity of ex- pression, which, though not criminal in him, ought to be avoided ; and also something in his manner, which was calculated to disturb the solemnities of domestic wor- m3 126 TUB VILLAGE nLACKSSIITII. ohip. He was in a friend*s house, where he was intro- duced to the conripany of a minister, the Rev. A. L., who, he had heard, was paying his addresses to a young lady, and to Mr. U., a solicitor. On Mr. U.'s name and profession being announced, hm looked ask. ance at him, as upon an object for which he might be chcwged for th3 bestowment of a passing glance, quickly turning away his head, and muttering, "Hem, a tor- neyf" He was soon absorbed in thought; and when urged to help himself to a glass of wine, he took it up, and, on applying it to his lip, as if the apparition of Mr. U. had shot quickly past him, he said, " From tornies and lawyers, good Lord, deliver us!" Mr. U., who knew to what reflections the profession was subject, avoided any observation. The case, however, was not dismissed: Sam(|el was called upon to go to prayer. After generalizing his petitions, he took up each case separately, p'aying that Mr. A. L. might be happy enc^gh to odtain " a good wife," as the marriage state was "the best." He next prayed for the conversion of Mr. U., saying, " Lord, save this tomey. What he is thou knowest, — I know not ; but when he is saved, he will not charg folk so much money for their jobs. Thou hast saved an attorney at Longpre&ton^ and he gets as good a living as any of them. Lord, save this man." After this, he proceeded to pray for the familj', mingling, us is too often the case, rebuke^ exhortation, &c. with prayer. This is not the most "excellent way:" besides, cowards very often avail themselves, under the guise of devotion, of letting off their bad feeling against their fellow Christians in this "way," by praying at them, instead of supplicating mercy for them. In Samuel, it was a weakness inseparable' from his nature. Ill.will had no place in him ; and his native courage never failed him, as the following circumstance goes to provd : A person of his own trade, who resided a few miles from Howden, entered the place where he was preach* THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITHt I2T ing, in u stats of inebriation, and made some disturb- ance. Samuel, and some of the people, expostulated "With him, but without effecting any good end. Finding that gentler means failed, he went up to him, and by his own mas#]line grasp, forced him to the door. Bat this, alas ! was a greater expenditure of peace, than a display of strength. He felt " something wrong with, in/' he observed, and could find no rest, on his return from worship. He made his case known to God, and wrestled — as though he had been the greater criminal of the two — till he recovered his peace. This being obtained, he retired ic, sleep. The subject, however, was not dismissed from his mind. When he rose in the morning, he found that he could not be perfectly com^ posed in his spirit, till he went to the man, to ask par. don ; for thoush he had settled the dispute between God and his conscience, he knew ihce was something ^e to the sinner, who niight draw unfavourable inferences from his example. The man was ashamed of his con- duct, and could not but admire the spirit of Samuel, who embraced the opportunity of seriously conversing with, and praying for him. Not only were good im- pressions made upon the mind of the aggressor, but his wife, who was under deep conviction of sin, entered, during that prayer, into the glorious liberty of the child- ren of God. When he only was concerned, and the interruption of others was out of the question, Samuel could, on tbe other hand, sustain any hardship, any insult, with ex- emplary meekness and forbearance ; and his strongest graces were often put to the test. A young lady, wha had been known to him from her childhood, and whose palfrey L?d lost a shoe, called at his shop to have it replaced. She appeared delicate. He looked compas- sionately upon her, and asked, " Dost thou know, ham, whether thou hast a soul ?" Startled with the question, she looked in return ; but before she was permitted to reply, he said, " Thou bast one, whether thou knowest 138 THE VILLAGB HLACKSMirH. 'tI it or not ; and it will livo in ha})pino«8 or wiscry (oi ever." These, and other remarks, produced seriout reflections. Her lather perceived from her manner, on her return home — her residence being not far fronn Sarauel'ii dwelling— that something was oreying up-m her spirits. She told him the cause : " what," he ex- claimed, " has that old blacksmith been at thee, to turn thy head? but I will whack (beat) him." So saying, ho took up a Ijirge stick, similar to a hodge-stake— left the house— posted off to Samuel's residence— found hiir at the anvil— and without the least intimation, fetched him a heavy blow on the side, which, said Samuel, when relating the circumstance, "nearly felled me to the ground;" adding, "and it was not a little that would have done it in those days." On receiving the blow, he turned round, and said, " What art thou about man ? what is that fori," Supposing it to be out of revenge, and that religion was the cause of it, he made a sudden wheel, and lifting up his arm, inclined the other side to his enraged assailant, saying, "Here man, hit that too." But either his courage failed him, or he was softened by the manner in which the blow was received ; beholding in Samuel a real disciple of Him who said, "Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." He then left him ; and Samuel had the happiness of witnessing the progress of religion in the daughter. Some lime after this, the person himself was taken ill, and Samuel was sent for. He was shewn into the chamber, and looking on the sick man, he asked, " \\ ; at is the matter with thee ? art thou bown to die ?" He stretched out his arm to Samuel, and said, "Will you forgive me?"' Not recollecting the circumstance for the moment, Samuel asked, "What for? I have nothing against thee, bartiy nor any man living." The case being noticed, the question was again asked, "Will you forgive me?" "Forgive thee, barn? I tell thee 1 have nothing against thee ! But if thou art about to die, we will pray a bit, and see if the Lord will for- TIIKI VILLAGU IILACKSMITH. 129 give ihee." Samuel knelt by the aide of the couch, and the dying man united with him : and from the perti. tence, fervour, and gratitude which he manifested, there- was hope in his death. The daughter continued an object of hia soh'citude ; she grew up to womanhood, became a mother, — and he afterwards exulted to see her and two of her daughters members of the Wesleyan^ Society. Four convdroiona are here to- be traced, iit* regular succession, and ai:ributable apparently to a word filly and seastmably spoken, by one of the week things of this world, hf oming mighty through God. ^' Samuel appeared, . many cases, to have the power of accommodaiing his conduct to the characters and oeea. sums which demanded his. attention, and that too in a> way which hi||niental faculties would scarcely warrant; for while he would employ muscular force in a case: where the intellect was impaired by the abuse of intoxi- cating liquors, and bear with meekness the arm of ^ sh^ upon himself, for righteousness' sake, he would at the same time defend himself against the tongue of slander, and subdue, hy Christian means, any improper feeling: he might perceive in the professors of Christiar^ity themselves. A singular instance of self-defence occur" red in the course of one of his journeysi He was re- ti"ning home by way of Aberford, in a stage coach. A clergyman, and some ladies of fashion, were bis corn.' panions. They were on their way to the grand Musi- cal Festival held in York Miti^'i^r. The clergyman ex- patiated on the delights of the occasion, the innocence'^ • An article in the Chrittian Ohaerver of 1891, p. 25iO, of which' the following is an extract, demands attention ; and the more «o, us, from the medium of publication, it shews the view which Che' evangelical part of his brethren take of the subject: "It appears to mc thwi it is not lawfbl ft>r Chriiitianff to attend a concert of Sacred Music in u Church for charitable purposes, either as respects the performances, the performers, or the placel Mu»icis, Birictlff -book from his pocket, and starting on his feet — his huge 6gure receiving elevation from' the seated and lowering position of those around' him, said', " Come, let us sing a verse or two." Nei. ther the voice nor the language belonged to the place f a number of eyes were instantly fixed upon him; and strange feelings^ were stirring, till a venerable man' arose, who knew him, and accosted him, saying, "Sam- uel, sit thee down^ and i&ait." The mandate was obey- ed, without reply or murmur; and all was suddenly ar still as before. After waiting some time in silence, during almost every minute of which Samuel expected' some one tt> rise and address the assembly, but no attempt being made, he again bounded from his seat^ under an impression that prayer might be more accept- able than praise, and said, " Let us kneel down^ friends, and pray a bit." Just as he was in the attitude of kneeling,, the same venerable man stood up, and with great solemnity again addressed him, "Samuel, sit thee down — and wait till the Spirit moves thee." Less docile than before, Samuel returned, " We Methodists think it very well, if we can have the Spirit for ask- ing ;" referring with great readiness to that passage of Scripture, " If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, Kow much moce sbaU 3«2 136 tUK VlLlAOfi: B£ACKSlUflt«^. your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him V* Though Samuel was correct in doctrine, he was here erroneous in conduct, and had forgotten his own dislike of interruptions in divine service, when worshipping God agreeably to the dictates of his con- science^ under his own ** vine,, and under his fig.tree." »> tUK VILLAGE tlLACKaititft. n^ CHAPTER IX. HI, «elf d«nial. .. symwihy for th« poor. . . . ^ratitud* fof m«rcl«,. .. .e.^hrrWna in the families he visited ••.Bolton....Ratcliffe CIo«s.... often abrupt in h^ manne™.. .hi. views of proprietorship.... a genuine Werieyan... an at- tempt to purchase him. .. .his character as the head of a family. .. fllv"s u» business... preaching excHr.ion.....visit.Rigton....providentlal supply., his public addresses.. ..deUght in his work.... E. Broolc, Esq.... Denby dale ^...prospenty of the work of God....a new chapel....Sarauel visits koch- dale.... rises superior to his exercises..... akcs a tour Into different part, of Lancashire.... great commercial distress.... liberality of P. B. Townclev E^ . . • • •n««t;ng for the relief of the poor ... . Samuel's return home. . . . visltJ different partsoftheYork.circult....revivalof religion.... persecution. As Samuel had obtained the grace which enabled him to "rejoice evermore," he seemed to create a paradise m every circle in which he moved. Whenever he waa oppressed—which was rarely the case—it waa either on account of the wants and miseries of others, or occa. sioned by an overwhelming sense of his awn mercies. Ihus, on being urged to take more food at table, he h^» been heard to say, in seasons of commercial and ajrri- cuUural distress, «0 no: I cannot take more, whilst I think of so many around me nearly starving for want of Dreao* So, also, on being entertained out of the ordinary line, m the house of a friend, his gratitude, like the thermometer, rose to the highest point. He was. at Pontefract during the bustle of an election, and wa» lodged m^ the house of Mr. M., a member of the Society of Friends, wFhose family was strongly attached to Sam- — — ,.,..,, .,^^ „,„, ^j,^ „^_j^ iare, ine ue»i 140- TMi: VILLAGE BLACKSMtTIt. rooni» and the best bed, the Inst of which was unusuaUy high. On being asked the next day, how he liked hi» lodgings, he said, " Why, barn, I have been crying half the night; I never was in such a bed before; I had to take a chair to got into it. O how I wept; for I thought my Lord never had such a bed as that," This was properly "the joy of grief." Samuel dwelt much upon his Saviour; the ^' seroant" and the *' Lord^* af- forded him some amazing contrasts, and drew forth the^ finest feelings of his soul. But he had his "songs in the night," and his mornings oarols, as well as his tears. " He was in the habit," Mr. Dawson observes, "of rising very early in the morning (about four o'clock), and of partially dressing himself, when he. bowed. his knees before his divine Father, praying, first for the church in general^ next for particular characters, and lastly for special cases. He then sung a verse of a hymn — retired to bed again — and after a short time arose, and begun the day with praise and prayer." The occasion of this systematic proceeding is known to few. Samuel had a hand-mate^ with whom he met for some time, and to whom he was< much endeared. Four o'clock in th« morning was the hour of meeting; and this was selected, not only be cause of its tranquillity. Hut because it prevented self- indulgence. His companion died, and he mourned hi«r loss like the stock-dove, whose mate had just sat by his side on the same bought and had dropped off through the baud of the fowler. The hour and the ordinance were held sacred by the survivor. He rose at the appointed time — sung — prayed — unfolded the secrets of his heart to God, as he was wont to do with his Christ- ian friend ; thus going regularly through the service, as though the dead were still alive, and by his side, hold- ing; converse with him. This is one of those mementos of Christian friendship, which rarely occurs in the same ibrm ; but white its singularity excites ili^ surprise of some^ its piety will secure the admiration oP olhors, and tflE VILLAGE nLACKS&IITir. 141 amply atone for any pecuIiBtrity in its manner. Those only, perhaps, will iridulgo the laugh, who, neverthe. less, have their anniversaries, ^c.y but support them in another way^ by toasting each other over the maddening bowl, and cheering each other with the speech tind the aong, till they become objects of pity, rather than sub. jects for imitalior . The summary account of his matins, as given by Mr. Dawson, is exemplified by a particular cuse, as record, ed by the family of P. Rothwell, Esq., of Sunning Hill, Bolton^ in whose house Samuel at one time resided for the space of nearly three weeks. "He Irequently rose," it is remarked, " in the night to pray. On one of those occasions he was heard singing a hymn, after which he pleaded with God, that he might enjoy a closer walk whh Jesus, and his prayer was soon turned into praise. He repeated several times, *0 that I could praise thee! O that I could praise thee as I would !— but I shall praise thee again, when I pass over Jordan ! Glory ! glory ! glory !' He then prayed for his familj , the family he was visiting, -the church of God, and for the world at large. He appeared to feel" much while pleading for sinners, and then was borne away in transport for redeeming mercy. Some time after he rose from his knees, his languag'e was, * Glory ! glory!' " He has been known on some of these occa. sions, to ipdulge in a sublimity of thought of which at other times he was incapable, and which—taken in connexion with the whole man—would have* fixed upon him, by soye gifted beings, had they overheard him, much more appropriately than ever was applied to Goldsmith, the epithet of " an inspired idiot," and he would have stood a fair chance of being deified among the Mahomedans. Such a beginning was an excellent preparation for the duties, the exercises, and the mercies of the day ; and it will be generally found, that its close will correSr pood with its commencement. The nmn who pertnits ^^k, J42f THE VILLAGE BLACKSMlTir. God to hear his voice in the morning, will not himself tie silent, nor y«t mourn an absent God in the evening; These "morning communings" Hecured attention to ** stated times" K)r retiremonl through the dhy, when he entered mto his closet before his Father, who sees in secret, and rewards openly ; and this is the secret of that charm which was thrown round his spirit and demeanour in social life. He came forth in the morn- ing, like the sun from his chambers in the east — refreshed and refreshing. Happy in hircaelf, he chased away melancholy from the soul, and lit up a sunshine ill the counienanceb of those with whom he conversed: "No family," said a friend, in whose house he had been resident some weeks, — *'No family couM be mist erable with whom h« lived, because he laboured' to make every person around him happy." Mrs. Bealey, of Ratcliffe Close, near Bury, in Lancashire, a lady well qualified to appreciate real worth, whether relr- gious, moral, or intellectual, and under whose hoapitablo poof Samuel was entertained nearly two months, observ. ed to IVIr. Dawson, " That he interested himself in th& welfare of the whole family, as though he had been' united to them by the tender ties of nature. He par^ ticipated in all' their pleasures, as well as mcreased' them, and was^ rendered truly useful to the iiKn and children employed in the works. He sympathized alsa with persons with whom he was acquainted, in their losses in catUb or trade, as though he had been the loser himself." It was the love and joy within, which, as is remarked elsewhere by Mr. Dawson, "gave a beam to his eye, a smile to his countenanqf, a tone to his voice, and an energy to his language, which melted and attracted every heart that came within the sphere of his influence." This attractive influence was not always sudden, but it was rarely otherwise than certain. On his first visit to the residence of a gentleman in Lancashire, to whom lill then he was personally unknown, He was directed T1IE VILLAGK BLACKSMITH. 148 to the house accidentally. He rode up to the door of that gentleman, and after having seen his horse put under the care of his servant, he entered the house, where he wos introduced into the parlour. Without either letter or person to introdi*ce him, and with n9 other passport than the conneKion of the family with the Wesieyan body, he took his seat in the domestic circle, where he sat, unconscious as innocence or ii^< fancy, of any other preroquisite for social enjoyment, than the religion of his Saviour. The habits r "* 't gentleman, and Ihe society in which he moved, pea- dered him at iirst ^incomfortable ; and he was equally at a lofis to know, \...at to do with, and what to make of, his new and unexpected guest. A short interlude as- sisted in relieving the first feeling. The sitting olence could be done to the feelings of his host, tc render such conduct supportable. But there was no time for excuse or remonstrance ; Samuel's voice was the wamfng-elock, — no sooner heard, than on his knees. The eiTect of this may be as readily conceived as ex- preeaed. Yet, notwithstanding the coy beginning on the paft of the gentleman, he was soon led to place the highest value on Samuel's piety and presence, and con. tinued to entertain both raun and horse for some time ; .and ai much regard did his homely visitor gain (wm 144 THC VILLAGE BLACKSailTII. ^.• himself and bis family, that they parted with sincero regrets Even in families where religion was not professed* his simplicity of manner, and general good charact^, giiined him unhesitating access. When the Rev. A. J^earoyd was on the Knaresborough Cireuit, he went lo preach at a neighbouring village, and, on entering the house of a friend, he found Samuel seati.^d, who h^d just arrived. " Where have you put your horse, Sa- muel ?" enquired Mr. L. *' I have left it at the other end of the village," was the reply ; adding, " will you go with me to the house ?" Mr. L., being aware that the family had no connexion with the Wesleyan body, asked, ** Why did you go there ?" "I saw plenty of hay, and good stables," returned Samuel, " and I thought it would be a good home for Jackey." The singularity of ^he visit led Mr. L. to accede to his wishes ; and, on being seated in the family circle, Sa. »iuel proceeded to interrogate his host on the state of his $oul. Considerable fluency characterized the re- plies : but Samuel, being suspicious that very little re- ligion was enjoyed, proceeded to speak more plainly, exhorting him to apply to Christ for converting grace. The word of exhortation was well received, and he was pressed to remain the night with them ; the invitation was accepted, and he acted the part of a priest in the family. " Let me" said he to the servant-maid, *' have adry hed ;" and to the servant.nian, " You must give Jackey plenty to eat : — take good care of him, for he is the Lord's horse ; the hay and the corn are the Lord's also." Abrupt as was his introdjction here, tind littfe as such freedoms are to be recommended, either in Samuel himself or as examples for others, yet the faicily were much pleased with his visit. Such Isadinga and movements, in irrational creatures, would be attributed I lo instinct; but Samuel was girded and carried ok^tt-iJ^ like Peter when ho was old, by ** another'* than htm, ' mli; and he wa^ more indebted to the Spirit and ^tov^ W'= ^"^v.3 THE Village blacksmith. MS i3ence of God for his introduction and reception, than either to his sagacity or the formalities of modern man. ners. His representation of *' the hay and the corn," as belonging to the Supreme Being/arose from a settled principle in his re«d, and included a certain exclusive- ness, not generally recogniiicd by the professors of Christianity. His owri crops were viewed in the same light; and his mind was so imbued with this notion, that all delegated or personal right, in reference to nan, aee i frequently annihilated. He was going to pre. iing one Sabbath morning, when he was met by a person who knew his regard for the sanctity of that day. There had been a great deal of rain, which proved fata! to the "line" or flax crops. The followinjr is tho purport of what passed between them on the road : — Neiglihmr, " Where are you going, Sammv ?" Samuel. " To preaching." Nelghb. " More need you got your line in, now that God is giving you fine weather." Sum. " He does not give fine weather for us to break the Sabbath." Neighb, " Why, you see others making hay while the sun shines : they will get their line in to-day, and yours, if you let it lie till lo-morrow, n,d it should be wet, will bespoiled." Sam." '^ have none to spoil, ftcrrn." r Neighh. "Is not yon, lying down (pointiag to it) yours?" "^ / Sam. (( x\0." Neighb. " What, is not yon your close ?" * Sam. "No, it is the Lord's: he bks a right to do with it what he likes; and if he have a mind to spoil it, he may : it is his own, and no one has any business to quarrel with him for it. It is the Lord's day too, 0i^l will give it to hire." * *' Close,'' A fieU. 146 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. ■T A brief dialogue, also involving the eame principle took place in the neighbourhood of Ferry Bridge, wh^ja Samuel waa journeying from thence homeward. A gentleman was passing with a little b»)y, and having his attention drawn to some sheep that were grazing^ in a field adjoining the road, he accosted Samuel : Gentleman. " Do you know, my good man, to whom those sheep belong?" ^ Sc^muel. " My Lord, Sir." Gent. " They are very fine ones ; I do not recollect ever having seen their equal." Sam. "They are a fine breed, Sir." Gent, "I though^ they might probably belong to Mr. Alderson, of Ferry Bridge." Sam. " No, Sir, they belong to my Lord ; don't you know, that tl?e earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; and that the cattle upon a thousand hills are his?" Gent. "You are right — you are right, old man." Samuel's reply would have been a mere play upon words in the mouth of many other persons ; but he was sincere ; and the gentleman's attention was suddenly and unexpectedly elevated from earth to heaven, with- cmt his being offended by the manner in which it waa done. With regard to " Jackey," who occupied such a pro- minent place in Samuel's esteem, and #ho* is only noticed as bearing upon his master's history, it may be remarked, that on ore occasion, Samuel displayed a feeling respecting the treatment of the animal, which was not at all common to him. One of the young men belonging to a family at whose house he stopped, with- held the meal from " Jackey," and otherwise failed in his attention as groom. It came to Samuel's know- ledge, and for a considerable length of time he utterly refused to go near the place again. In process of tinje he went back, but he would never take his favourite with him ; thus sliewing, that while he entertained no TTTE VILLAGE BLACKSMITn. 147 resentmont — by his own return, the only feeling re- «nainins was that of distrust in reference to his horse. Wherever Wesleyan Methodism was respected, Sam- uel was sure to be loved. He was a genuine believer in its doctrines, a living witness of its experimental truths, an example of its purest morals, a firm supporter of its discipline, and a warm friend of its ministers. Of the* latter, he ever spoke with respect and atfection ; and if his holy indignation was at any time kindled, it was when persons endeavoured to lower their charac- ter, by cold oblique hints, in the eyes of the world, and when an apparent delight was tpken in sowing discord among brethren. Satisfied wkIi 'his privileges, he avoided such as were given to change. He was accus- tomed to Gay, " I am determined to remain in the old ship. She has carried thousands across the ocean, and landed them safe in glory; and if I stay iafeer, she will ■carry me there too."* Speaking once of a person who had acted in the capacity of a local preacher, but had afterwards united hknself to another society, he re- sorted to his favourite figure of "the old ship" and enquired why he had left her, after she had borne him • Samuel was not without his inducements to leave the body. Mr. Sigston, who has taken such a prominent part in the late heaven together, — I know we shall." This figura- tive mode of expression was rendered very popular in a sermon preached by the late Rev. Joseph Benson, on Schism, about the time of Mr. Kilhum's defection from the body ; and; it wuo one of those figures which Samuel could work without much danger of beinj^ wrecked in its management. The religion which he carried into the families of others, and recommended in his public walks, was not without its infiuence ut home. Though Martha and he could not always see eye to eye, in money afiairs — and it was fortunate for him that they could not — yet he was an affectionate husband, as well as a lenderya/Aer. He moved before his family more, perhaps, in the character of a priestt to pray for them, than a prophet and a king, to instruct and govern. He was fitted for the one rather than the other ; and such was his attention to the fam- ily ALTAK, such his prevalent itiierccssion befort> it, that his incapacity for the two latter appeared to be greatly counterbalanced by the hallowed character oi the former. He bore his partner and his children con- stantly before God, in the arms of faith and prayer, and lived in full confidence that the whole would be saved. If any of his opinions, more than other, bordered upon extravagance, it was upon the certain salvation of Ihe children of praying parents. The possibility of perdi. tioOi in the case of any of them, was beyond endurance. THE VILLAGE BLAOKSMFI^. 140 Tliongh he took excursions to different places, from the period of his becoming a local preacher, yet it was not till the latter part of 1825, or the beginning of 1826, when he gave up business, that he took a mo^e exten- sive range, and considered himself as dftjng the work, and therefore entitled to the name and Hionours of a Home Missionary. He was then possessed of what he ^deemed sufficient for the support of himself and bis aged partner, during the evening of life. Being now at liberty from the trammels of business, he was invited into several circuits in Yorkshire and Lancashire, all of which he visited, preaching in the different towns and villages, and in many of which he was not only useful in the conversion of sinners, but in raising pecuniary supplies for the support of foroign missions, the erection and relief of places of worship. While gratifying the benevolent feelings of his heart, in obeying the calls of the people, he not unfrequently suffered various inconveniences, notwithstanding th© kindness of friends. An instance which occurred a short time prior to this part of hi? history, but which it would not be well to omit, betokening great absence of mind on the part of the persons on the spot, presents him under very unpleasant circumstances. He attend- ed a missionary meeting at Rigton in the Forest, a place belonging to the Otiey circuit, about three or four miles from Harrowgate. " We had a blessed meet- ing," said Samueh " I was very happy, and gave all the money I had in my pocket." After the meeting was con- •concluded, he mounted his horse to return home. And in what aspect is he to be viewed 1 Wkj^ut any one offering to pay his expenses, — not the ^Wi| p >fft far- thing in his pocket, — advanced in life, — ojpw rider, and not a very sprightly horse, — near the end of Octo- ber, when the season was breaking up, — in the night, — alone, — and about twenty miles from his own house. He became the subject of temptation. It was suggest- ed — " No money to procure a feed o.f corn for thy o 2 160 ft TUE VILLAGli BLACKSMITH. horde, or refreshment for thyself,— and friends who might receive Ihee, are gone to bed!" The struggle waa short; and the victory was obtained in his own way. Satan found no place in him far either repining or distrust. "I shaped him his answer," observed Samuel, " and said, ' Devil, I never stack fast yet.' " With hii confidence invigorated by a recollection of past mercy, his happiness returned, and he remained the only nightingale of Christianity on the road, till he reached the village of Harewood, when a gentleman who knew him took his horse by the bridle, and asked him where he had been. He gave him, in reply, an account of the meeting; from which the gentleman irlided into the subject of his temporal concerns, in order to ascertain apparently how far a report was cor- rect, which he had heard respecting some property out of which Samuel had been wronged. Samuel told him that he had " hud two thousand pounds ieft" to him, but had " been deprived of it."* " 1 am very sorry for you," was the rejoinder. Samuel replied, "Though I have been deprived of this, it has never deprived me of on hour's sleep. I never had a worse lot for it. I have not wanted for any good thing, and could always sav with Job, 'The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away : blessed be the name of the Lord.' Though he took Job's, he has not taken the whole of my property : I still have all my children." The gentleman asked, • The report heard by the one, and the languafje employed by the other, would scarcely comport wiih the subject, if app!=id to a particular evej|| which took place. Martha's brother, who had a oonsideM^MMpa of money, on interest, in Royds' Iron Works, near LeedlMfpresBed a wish to live and die with Samuel; pro- posing to Iplw the interest for his maintennnce during life, and the princi(*al at his deuth. The proposal was accepted— her brother resided with theni— tiie Company at the Iron Works failed the whole of iho property was swept away— Samuel's hopes were bhghted, yet hi generously kept him in his own house till the day of his death, and thus provonled what must otherwise inevitably haviu eiisuf '- »)is going to the workhouse. THE VILLAGK HLACKSMITU. 151 " Can you read ?" " Yes," returned Samuel, 'l^I had my spectacles out of my pocket." " There,'8leplied the geiulemua, holding a piece of paper in his hand, which was rendered visible by the glimmering light of the stars, — " There is a five pound note for you. You love God and his cause ; and I believe you wiU never want." Samuel's eyes were instantly filled with tears, and his heart with gratitude. " Here," said he, " I saw the salvation of God. I cried for joy all the way as I went down the lonesome lanes; and when I got to a public house, I asked the landlord if he could change me a five pound bill ; for I told him I could not have any thing for myself or my horse, unless he could change it. He said he could, if it were a good one. So I got off my horse, and ordered him a good feed of corn, and had some refreshment for myself. This was a fair salvation from the Lord. When I got home, I told my wife; she hrast (burst) into tears; and we praised the Lord together." This was viewed by Sam- uel somewhat in the light of a triumph over Martha, who had chided him in the morning for taking so much money from homo with him, to a missionary meeting, to which he gave his time, his labours and expenses. He therefore added, by way of making his path more open to the purse in future, " You see, we never give to the Lord, but he gives in return." His addresses in the pulpit rarely extended beyond half an hour. This afforded time to engage in the work which was his favourite employment — a prayer: meeting; and these* meetings furniehed him very often with a knowledge of the progress of the jord of life, as the benefits received under preaching were, pore fully developed in them, as well as cherished by ^e interces- sory prayers of the faithful. Having the unction of thl^ Holy One — an anointing which he received from him that abode in him— he was enabled to proceed in the work with cheerfulness, and very often carried with him a commanding authority over the feelings and conduct 152 THl^ VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. of othoM. ' He was frequently under high excitation ; so mucMso indeed, as sometimes to overpower his phys- ical energies. " O," said he to his friend Mr. D. once, after a missionary meeting m Howden, in which he had pleaded the cause of the heathen on the platform, till he was nearly exhausted — " O," said he, ♦♦ I am so happy. I sh&ll surely die some of these times !" On another occasion, when at Pontefract, he remarked to a friend, after the meeting, with extatic feeling, and in his own peculiarly expressive language, "I felt as though I should have swdted (melted) away to heaven." This is no common thought — not even to be exceeded by Pope's ♦' Dying Christian," whom he represents as languishing into life. It is only in cases like this, that we feel the force of Coleridge's remarks in the motto selected for the Memoir; and feel too a disposition to subscribe to the sentiments of a critic, in a number of Blackwood's Magazine, where he observes, " That the knowledge that shone but by fits and dimly upon the eyes of Socrates and Plato, whose eyes rolled in vain to find the light, has descended into various lands as well as our own — even into the huts where poor men lie ; and thoughts are familiar there, beneath the low and smoky roof, higher and irore sublime than ever flowed from the lips of a Grecian sage, meditating among the magnificence of his pillared temples." Though the expression, " pleading the cause of the heathen," may be a little too argumentative in its character, when applied .0 the speeches and addresses of the *' Village Blacksmith," and may excite the laugh in those who employ the Asg^, to the exclusion of the Jieart, in such work; ye| Samuel's honest and pathetic appeals very often touehed the feelings and raised the " cash ac- counts" — raised perhaps with a smile — when the dull spirits, sapless speeches, and tedious readings of those who could see a greater curse in a little incoherence and hilarity than in lukewarmness, produced only list- lessness and a yawn. THE VIILAGJS BLACKSMITH. 168 l,im l!. '""^ «??'■««''"'« sentiment was employed by Z. h? ?r"' ""!"'* ''"''« ^''y- Come. And let him CoL A . '"^ ^""'*' ^""^ '»' him that is athi". of ?fe frif .r'T'™' *'"• '«' '"•"■ '"ke the water uses of "^^ ^,^ expatiated on the value and the uses of water, as far as common observation allowed "water IeMT'''~>''Tr^ *'""" """ «'«™'"" '» '!•<» -H„H r^r® '^ *"■ '■■"''<'"' *'"' *'>''='' " was offered, ^ce «f .h.^ '•"pressing his hearers with the import. value ^h».\i'""- ,."" '»'<' """"• "' speaking of its value, that he himself was unacquainted with it— that he doubted whether any „f his hearers knew how to appreciate .t,-that ho doubted whether thwe wm a heard ^fht.f"' '""• «^n""«.-'hat, in short, he never Heard of but one who knew its real value, and "that Ta'X on." ' " Tbi- T "°"'^ 1^^' ^'-"' -'■" he thu, Z^tlA- ^ ei'maclerical manner in which to la?„ Ik 5;' l^y.y '" "■« P»'"' which he wished weiah V ' «'■ I'«"l« light afflictions and eternal an?a drof Tr.""; """"I"^ "''"'""' between a world and a drop,-iha drop solicited by a tongue of fire— and the eternal destinies of his hearers suspended on . imelvl'^rr "C"'^^'^'' 8™"="' '» prevent the u„" would tlTf^" f '" ""'■"' ^y "' '»^^ '" "«'«ii'io''. 2vlJ 7 T '"""'"'• '" 'he first orators, in the bes days of classic Greece and Rome. During some of his moments of inspiration he wnnW manifest considerable impatience, whT e 'wL hkej Iverflowln^'of f "" -"TT'^y "^ SMr,g vent to Z Meetinrihf T^' ^'P«aker at I Missionary eond r;' sZ,'r '" "" V-y- ^»"g hefore he hll concluded, Samue appeared extremely uneasy. "Sit *ll. Sammy," said the chairman in an under tone, 154 THB VILLAGE nLACKSMITIf . being tienr him, and on terms of intimacy. " He i^too .ong by the half," returned Samuel. After sitting awhile, with his handii clenched, and fixed between hiH knees, as in a vice, he again manifested symptoms of restlessness ; when again the chairman endeavoured quietly to impose sdence, and inspire a little long. auffer/ng Various roundvS were exchanged between them, one requesting the other to "be siill," and the other requesting that the speaker, who was unconscious of what was passirg in the rear, might be told to " give over." The good brother continued prosing, without the least sign of coming, in any moderate longfh of time, to a close. Samuel, at length, started ..p — who, by the way, spoke only the feelings of others, who possessed more seU-command and prudence, though less couragi^, and said, — turning to the chairman, " Sir, that brother does not love his neighbour as himself; he does not tako the scriptural rule of doing to others as he would that others should do to him, for he will let no body speak but himself." Here the business dropped between the parties ; the speaker being left to take the credit of having pleased all except Samuel, and Samuel brushing up his better feelings to engage the attention of the people during the few moments allotted to him, as the seconder of the resolution. Being coupled on another occasion with a popular speaker, Samuel turned to him, and said, "They have paired us like rabbits." Th« Rev. J. Roadhouse having heard either that he had actually declined business, or was on the eve of it, invited him, in the beginning of Oct., 1825, to pay the friends a visit at Cross Hills, a pUfSe in the Addingham circuit. A few weeks passed over, and not having heard from Samuel, the invitation began to wear away from recollection. About the middle of November, Samuel one day unexpectedly made his appearance, bounted on "Jackey." The latter was cheerfully provided for by a friend, and Samuel took up his abode with Mr. Roadhouse. He generally accompanied Mr. THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 106 R. }o the different p! ices of preachlng—cornmenced the uervice with singing and prayer—spoke from ten to twenty minutes— and then gave place to Mr. R. to conclude the service. On one of these occasions, ho broke off his address rather abruptly, and suddenly stepping back in the pulpit, said, " Brother R. will now preach to you, for two sermons are better than one." A good feeling having been excitod, Mr. R. commenced his address, by an allusion to the words of the Jewish monarch, |' What shall the man do, who cometh after the King?" Samuel, before any application could be made, exclaimed, " Do ! you will do well enough, only go on." The service terminated much better than this unexpected interlude at first promised. Two persons were deeply affected with his public address; and at another place five persons were brought to u state of penitence. The great commercial depression which distinguished the close of this year, was just beginning to be expe- rienced. Many of the poor people in Addingham and Its neighbourhood, sold part of their furniture, and whatever they could spare of other things, in order to procure food. Samuel visited them; and after having given all the money away which he had deemed sufficient for his journey, a poor boy entered the door.way of a house where he was sitting. T.ie weather was cold, and the boy was without neckker- chief. Samuel pitied him— asked for a pair of scissors —took his handkerchief from his own pocket—cut it mto halves— and tied one of them round the neck of the poor little fellow— rejoicing in the opportunity afforded of clothing the naked. He remained here nearly three weeks ; and just as he was leaving Mr. Roadhouse, to proceed to his friend^ at Grassmgton, he thanked him for his kindness towarib him, and then with tears, said, " You must let me have, some money to pay the toll bars, and get Jackey a feed of corn." Till now, Mr. R. was not awar» that be was 156 THE VILLAOF. BLACKSMITH. pennyless ; and yot, in the midst of it, ho seemed more mindful of his horsie than of himself. Xder having spent a short time at Grassington, ho visited Skipton, where he remained three weeks, and was rendered very useful in different parts of the circuit. Miss Lister of Colne, (now Mrs. Howarth of Clithero,) having heard much of his zeal, and pow?r with God in prayer, eont an invitation to him, to spend a few days at her house. Hero also he tarried nearly three weeks, taking occasional rambles into the Burnley circuit. Some of the persons who were brought to God through his labours during this visit, have reached the goal, and others are pressing towards the mark, in order to obtain the prixf.. From Colne he proceeded home, where he remained but a short time, yieldin'r to other invitations. We find him in the neighboui.iood of JIuddcrsfield" and Denby-Dale, in the latter part of January, 1826, with E. Brook, Esq., as his companion in labour. His attention to others led him to neglect himself; and the latter, finding him without a proper wintei* covering, purchased an excellent top.cont to preserve him from the cold. Btft though he was thus equipped, and could apeak of "plenty of coals" and "good fires," the **cold storms** which howled around him, and the heavy " snows** which fell, kindled the sendibiliti'^s of his nature towards Martha, whom he had lefl at hoioi;, and whom he addressed in his letters, as his " Dear bos^m fiiend." In a letter dated January 24th, from Denl^^'Dale, he ^xhort^d his daughter to do all in her ' poivtr" to ** make" her " dear mother comfortable" — to " keep ^*er well happed up by day, and by night" to " give her a little wine to nourish her" — assuring her thu. she should " be recompensed** — requsting her to write imme- diately, shoul ' any thing unloward take place — and telling her, ti.at he bore them all up, " both in public and private, at a throne of grace." He solicited a " long letter" in return, informing him how they wore " going out in his imagination — he adds, " Let me know how / 'y dear grandchild does,'' and say whether she can yet " run," holding out '* her bonny little hand." This is a stroke of pure nature. The autumn of life turns away from the gloom of its winter, and seems to be perpetually reverting to the freshness, and bloom, and loveline.^s of its spring, as though anxious to live it o'ver again in the innocertt child,^ or by feeling after it, and catching hold of some of its joys, it experienced a kind of resuscitation, and went forth with renewed vigour. While in this quarter he spoke of having " plenty of work, and good wages" — the wages of" peace, joy, and love," — of sinnere being "saved," — of "backsliders" being healed, — of God placing " the ring" on the finger, and " the shoes on the feet" of the returning " prodigal." His mind, he observed, was " kept in perfect peace ; and such was the joy he experienced, such his " prospect of glory," when he arose one morning, that h» concluded, that the Lord was either about to " fit'* him " for some trial," or to grant him instant preparation for his " glori- ous inheritance." He had been engaged in the course of the week in which he wrote, in begging for a chapel, "the ground" of which, he observed, was given to him by " Mr.jp., of Highflats," a member of the Society of Friends ; and the week after he purposed going to " Penistone," to assist in begging for another chapel in that place. In his perambulations among the sick and the poor, he entered the house of a woman with seven children, who had only had one pound of animal food for the family, for the space of about four weeks. Her tale of distress required no embellishment, to find access to the ear and heart df Samuel. As soon as he heard it, he gave her some money to procure " a meat dinner" for herself and children the following day. After *' finishing his work," as he termed it, in that p s-4 158 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. fM neighbourhood, he returned home, where he again re- mained but a short time. He set off for Rochdale in F4;)bruary or March, taking Bradford on his way, at which place he was pressed to remain from Tuesday to Thursday, preaching at Great-Horton and Low Moor, and holding prayer-meetings. On reaching Rochdale, where he had some family affairs to settle, he found ample ground for the exercise of his patience, through the nefarious conduct of a female and some others, who had appropriated to themselves the wearing apparel and other property which was left to his wifS by her sister, Mrs. L., denying at the same time such appropriation. His want of confidence in the gentlemen of the law made him decline all legal measures ; and his faith in God led him to believe that things would work round to a proper point, in the order of Divine Providence ; and, though tried at first, he soon lost all sense of wrong, in the means of grace in which he was constantly engaged, the prospect of a visit to Manchester, and the services connected with the opening of a new chapel at Roch. dale, stating the amount of the collections and subscrip. tions " to be nearly two thousand pounds," and exhort- ing Martha to make progress in piety, and to solace her« self with the thought, that, though she was deprived of her right in her sister's wardrobe here, she should here- after receive " a white garment," one that would " never grow threadbare." With what kind of grace Martha received the exhortation and encouragement is not for the writer to state , but she must have viewed it as a poor apology for indifference in his own cause, as well as an inadequate protection from the cold of winter. Muffled up in his " ne v top-coat," and forgetting his advice to his daughter to •' hap'' her " mother by night and by day," ho now, with the opportunity before him, of adding to her attire, seemed to act on the com- fortless principle of " be ye warmed," or as though she had been all spirit^ and the bare mention of a future state was sufficient to kindic a fire that would warm the TIIK VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 150 whole system. But Martha found she had a body ps well as a soul : However, she knew he meant well ; and this was only one case among many iu which she had to bear with him, and to look for " treasure in Heaven" as a substitute for a little more upon earth. Though he rose superior to the trials of this case, when immediately engaged in preaching and visiting, yet there were moments when its hardshii s returned upon him, so as to lead him to dwell upon them in con. versation witk his friends. Mrs. L., one of MarthaVi sisters, was possessed of £600 on her marriage. The interest of this, should she die first, was to be enjoyed by her husband, and then the principal was to revert to her own family on his demise. Contrary to the crigi- nal agreement, £500 of this was made over by the hus^ band to a member of his own family, and Martha was cut off with the remainder. To secure this, she was obliged to visit Rochdale, in order to sign the writings ; and, being extremely infirm, the expense, added to the diffi- culty of conveyance, rendered the journey painful and tedious. Samuel thought, on coming to the whole of this property, that he would be able to devote more of his time to the public service of his Saviour. Looking back upon the expense, trouble, and f^jsappointment, he observed to Mr. Dawson once, " I have prayed to the Lord that he would send me no more miser-money." Mr. D. very significantly observed, " I dare say your prayer will be answered, Samuel.** Having received invitations to different places, and being generally mounted on his blind but favourite horse " Jackey," whom he esteemed for his work's sake- having carried the heralds of peace for some years round the York Circuit — ^he was enabled to extend his circle. It was in the course of this journey that he lei\ as previously promised, his MS. life with the writer Rt Manchester. He extended his circuit to Bolton, Clfth^ ero, Colne, Addingaam, Grassington, Burnley, Padihim, Bacup, Rossendale, Bury, Ratcliffe Close, and many liSO THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. of the adjacent and intermediate places. The absohco of the Rev. W. M'Kitrick from the Burnley Circuit, who had been called to Leeds to attend to some family arrangements, led Samuel to remain longer in Burnley and Its neighbourhood than in some other places, beinir requested lo attend to Mr. M'K.'s appointments. The ettects of the "general panic," so called, were still ex- perienced both by the manufacturers and iheir men ; and few districts suffered more than the one from fifteen to twenty miles round the circle in which, he laboured. Ihe sick and poor were the objects of his constant so- licitude ; and many were the scenes of distress he wit- nessed, as well as the cases he relieved. Writing to a friend, he remarks, " I have seen much suffering, and rnany privations since I saw you. The sufferings of the people have been neither few nor small. I have been m the midst of them for three months; and I be- lieve my dear Lord and Master has sent me here. Wh^t with praying with the people, and what with beg- gmg for them, 4 have had full emplovment. I was so affected one night that I could not' take my rest." Though he took a fair sum of his own money into the neighbourhood with him, it was soon exhausted. The friends were kind to him in granting him supplies ; but he was always poor,— -for no sooner were his resoureej recruited than he flew to the haunts of vrelchedness, prayed with the people, conversed with them, and wept over them. One circumstance which affected him more than almost any other which came under his observa. tion was, the case of a poor child whom he saw sitting and satisfying the cravings of hunger by devonring some grains which had been brought from a brew-house. On finding the demands made upon his benevolence pressing him beyond what he was able to endure, he asked some friends whether something could not be done by way of public subscription. He was answered that the bulk of the people were poor, and that the ma. nufacturers were equally distressed with the persons THE VILLAGE ULACXSMITIf. IGl they had employed, and wore obliged to dismiss, because nf a want of trade and public confidence. He 'was in- formed, however, that there was one gentleman jn the neighbourhood, of great opulence, who was capable of imparting seasonable and adequate relief — only, the in- formants intimated, that he was a member of the Roman Catholic church, and might not be quite accessible to persons making protestant appeals. •* No matter what he is," returned Samuel, " the people are not to starve." Addressing the same friend, in the letter just referred fo, ho observes, *' I asked them to go with me, but they refused, because of his religion. I told them, that the Lord had the hearts of all mfcin in his keeping, and that he kept the hearts of the Roman Catholics also, i went to the Lord and asked him to go with me." It was toe late in the evenmg for him to present ihe case ; but he was up betimes the next morning, when, mounted on his favourite horse, he proceeded to Towneley Hall, near Burnley, the residence of Peregrine Edward Towneley, Esq. He knocked at the door, and the knock being answered by a servant not in livery, whom he thought sufficiently gentlemanly in his appoarance to be the master of the domain, he asked at cnce, •* Are you Mr. Towneley, Sir ?" Being answered in the ne^-ative, he enquired, " Can I see him. Sir?" The servant replied he could, and showed him into a room. Mr. Powneley soon appeared, and, with his usual promptitude, frank- ness, and condescension, enquired the erran I of his vi- sitor. Mr. T., though perfectly gentlerna *>' in bis manners — which the biogvapher knovvi " -^m personal interview — yet happens to be one of u^ characters who prefer their real worth to be broughoo the test of the understanding and the heart, rather thnn in the show of fashion and finery to the eye. Hi ittire, therefore, being somewhat less prepossjesfing than that of the per- son who opened the halKdoor, Samuel had reco'irse to his old question, to ascertain the tr.ct — " Are you Mr. Towneley, Sir?" This point bemg settled, he pro- 162 THE VILLAGE HLACKSMITII. ceeded with his " tale of woo"— stating what he had seen, heard, and done, finally bringing the subject home to the j^som and to the coffers of his auditor. " 1 am pome, ^ir," said he, " to relate to you the suffering state of the poor in Burnley. I have been a month in the neighbourhood ; and my employment has been to visit them. Many of them are without religion. It ^ affects my mind that I cannot help them. I have given nil the money I had ; I am now between 50 ^nd GO* miles from my own home •, and if 1 had a turnpike gate to go through, I have not a penny to pay it with. If something is not done for the poor, they will be pined to death, and it will bring a judgment upon our island." " The poor," returned Mr. Towneley, " must be re. lieved ; but how is it to be done ?" Samuel replied,— *' The best way will be to call a meetin«r of the respect- able inhabitants of the town, and to form a committee ; and then present relief will be given." Mr. T. was affected with his simplicity, and being convinced of his integrity, observed, that, if any measure could be de. vised to promote the public good, he would with great pleasure accede to it, and would set the example of a ' public subscription. He further added, that he would be glad to meet a committee of gentlemen, at the earliest period, and at eny hour of the day. Samuel proceeded, " This noble man sent the next morning, by his steward, £150 fot the sufferers." A public meeting immediately followed for the purpose of taking into conside^aicn the distress of the poor ; and if the " Village Bi joksmith" had not the credit of entirely rriginating — of which per- haps few will J)e disposed to rob him — he was, at least, the cause of Mstening it. Suffering in this case, as in many others, led to vio- • lence. But, said Samuel, " My soul was kept in perfect peace in the midst of all. Our friends would not let mo leave therp till the disturbances ceased. I prayed for the people, and warned them of their danger. I told them, that if they did not drop it, Ihcy would be cutoff: THE VILLAGE ULACK8MIT1I. 163 ^m Bind the Lord stayed the wrath of man. When the Lord works, he works like a God.* He stopped the way of the wicked." The writer attended a missionary meetrng at Clithero, in the course of the sm:ing, at which Samuel was pre- aent, and at which he spoke. Samuel preached on the occasion, early in the moiliing, and improved the case of the gaoler at Philippi, recorded- in the Acts of the Apostle, taking for his text the 31st verse. Many of the thoughts were original — some of them touching — not » few pertinent— bjt, as a whole, without connexion. Though his addr|ft3es, from a want of classification, might be brought umler the general appellation of Truth at random, still it was Truth ; and as such, God, in the aboundings of his mercy to the sinner, and in conde- scension to the instrument, honoured it with the stamp of his own signet. A person but indifferently skilled ih incentives to vanity, asked Samuel one day how it could' be accounted for, that, while some of the most polished and systematic discourses of some preachers fell point- less upon the hearts of the hearers, his homely addresses took such effect. *♦ Why," returned Samnel, "their » A poor, but fious negro-woman, being addressed by her teacher on the goodness of God, wrs asked, whether sho was not astonished at his mercy m giving his Son, and hw eondescension in giving that Son for her. She replied, she was not. Supposing she was not sufficiently impressed with the subject, and defective in the fine feeling of gratitude, he continued to expatiate on the vastness and freedom of his love* giving additional emphasis to his langiiage, and colouring to his subject, closing again with the question, " What, are you not astonished at this ?" '* No, Maa- sa," was still the reply. Turning upon her with a degree of impatience, "and why are you not astonished?" he enquired. "Why, Massa, mo no astonished, because it be just like him !" The simplicity and sublimity of this sentiment, which borders upon that of Samuel Hick, but leaving him still in the rear, botiv for originality and beauty, is rarely to be equalled by the sayings of persons in educated society, and (ills us with regret to think that the body of a mind so fit for freedom, should be in bondage to one probably many dogrucs her infljrior in intellect. /I 164 THK VILLAGE ULACKSMITIf. preaching is like a line ; they go straight forward, and only hit one : but mine goes out and in—to the right and to the left, and running this way and that way anjong a crowd,"— as thoughhe had a cracker running not in his imagination, thrown among the spectators from the hand of a per&on displa^ng fire-works—" it is sure to strike s.>me." He employed the same metaphor- real language on another occasion to the Rev. James Wood, only varying it in its application. '« I cannot," -said he, « go straight forward in preaching; but when I miss my mark in going, I often fell them in coming {back again. ' Another friend urgin« upon him the pro- pjriety of employing something ViW system in his ad- dresses, told him to divide and sub-divide them like his brethren. H,e was not aware apparently of Samuel's want of the power of classification, or of his peculiar views of preparatory composition. Listening to his ad- -viser, with his face towards the ground, as was some- times his habit, he turned his view upward, on the closing sentence, and with an expressive look, as well as ■peculiar tone, both indicative of a belief that the speaker twas not very well versed in the grand secret of useful freachiog,— « Why, bless you, barn/' said he, " I give lit them hot off the bakestone !" indirectly intimating, that the spiritual "bread" provided by many of the «y«tematizer8 was very often cold in consequence of the itime employed in preparation before it reached the ^people. He had long wished the Rev. R. Newton to 'preach at Micklefield ; and, as an inducement, proposed to give two of his own sermons for one by Mr. Newton, which he thought, with equal sincerity and simplicity, would be an equivalent, both in actual labour and pro- bable usefulness. This, in Samuel, was not the Ian- guage of pride and self-sufliciency : he " spoke as a child." It appears, that, during this tour to " the west," the "laborious work," as he expressed himself, through which he had to pass, was such as to reduce his physical THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 165 strength. But in the midst of rt he could sing, " La- bour is rest, and pain is sweet ;" and then would exults ingly exclaim, " God has been with me ; if I have lost weight in body, I have gained it in soul. He has given me strength according to my day." Horton, Wakefield, and other places were visited on his return. At one of them he took for his text, 1 John i. 7., and was rather pleased than otherwise to find that a genthnran had taken his sermon in short-hand, and still more so, ta know that he had been benefited by it, though not a little surprised to be presented by him with half-a-sovereigDf at the close of the service. While in the Pately .Bridge Circuit, which was another of the scenes of his labour, in the course of this excursion, he wrote from Mr* Bramley's, Brown Bank, and, in his letter, observes,— *' I -..n where my soul and body rest in peace— peace that the world can neither give nor take away — a peace that is constant." The body and soul resting in peace, has all the quiet about it of a saint silently waiting in the grave for the morning of the resurrectiott ; and it was this feeling that rendered the *• laborious work"^ ju3t re* ferred to — easy, like St. Paul's " light affliction." Home had still its attractions, but his zeal permitted it to become only a partial resting-place. Passing over some other fields of labour, we find him towards the close of July, as appears from his letters, exercising hia talents at Stamford-Bridge, Copmanthorpe, Acomb, and other places in the -York Circuit, and pressed to pay another visit to Bolton. One part of his business was,, to beg for a chapel ; and, " for every sovereign re- ceJved," he observed, " God gave his brethren an ^>. moiogrdpruc Sciences Corporation -\ V ^v 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 873-4503 ^9> m ■1>^ \ ;\ V ^X "^\ :/. iS> ^ 170 fttE VILLAGE BLACKSatlfJtf. the metropolis, than either in friendship or relatiottshipv On this trip, he remarks, " I had a very pleasant jour- ney, as I had the Lord with me ; and the weather being fine, made my way very comfortable. I sung hymns in the night to keep me awake." On the coach arriving at Retford, time was allowed for the passengers to take refreshment, when Samuel and the other persons on th& outside alighted, together with four gentlemen from withm. ^ftmuel having as usual beat "quick time," suddenly disappeared. One of the insidie passengers inquired pleasantly of the coachman, where the man was who " had been so merry on the top,'* and was Hicrswered, that he had " gone into the kitchen.*' A re. quest was immediately sent, inviting him into the dining, room, with which he complied. The room, the table, and the provision, at first surprised him. To the occa- sional and alternate interrogatories of each, he replied ; the substance of part of which is as follows, and for the brevity of which every coach-traveller will be able to furnish an answer, having been repeatedly saluted with the horn when his appetite has urged him to stay. Gentleman. " We have sent for you, to ask you to sit down at table with us." Samuel, " I am obliged ; but I have ordered the W&iter to draw me a pint of ale, and I have plenty of beef and bread wit'i me." Gent, " You have been such good company, we have agreed to treat you with your supper." On this he sat down, and partook of their hospitable cheer ; the four gentlemen and himself constituting the party. " How far may you be going this road ?" "To London." How far have you travelled ?" From Micklefield, near Ferrybridge." GeitL " What business calls you up to town ?" Sam. " I am going to a noble missionary meeting. Gent. " Don't you think you have a poor errand ?'' Gent, Sam. Gent. Sam, C( (C »» ,.>gaiiiW". THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. m Here an armistice was instantly proclaimed between Samuel and his supper ; and, looking expiebsively nt th6 speaker, he said — " Sir, I would not tiirn back if you were to give Itoe iive pounds for doing it." Gent. " Perhaps not. Who pays your expenses ?" Sam, " I pay my own. Sir, I hav« plenty of moneys ,and if you dispute it, 1 will let you see it." Such a confession, in some companies — as he had up- wards of JS170 upon him — would have been prized, and his ignorance of the world might have been improved 4ipon ; but he was in honourable company. On his offer «being declined, another of the gentlemen struck in<-T- " There is a great deal of money spent upon ttife 'heathen. If we are to suppose that the Lord will never- <8end them to a place of punishment for not believing in A Saviour of whom they have nev«r heard, #vould it not •he much better to let them alone V* Sam, •" The Lord has declared, that he will give his Bon the heathen for his inheritance, and th« uttermost parts of the earth fot his possession, — that the gospel of (the kingdom Miall be preached in all the worid,< — and that then will «ome the end, when all shall know him from the least to the greatest." He could not enter into the subtleties in which the .question was involved, and with which it has often been perplexed by the selfish, the unbelieving, and the design- ing ; but he cast anchor in God's des;gns, comman'is, and promises, which were the general notions he wished to express — his design to save, his promise to givje, and his command to preach to the heathen ; and there he remained riding in safety : what God commanded he considered himself bound to perform, and what be had promised, he knew'^'he was faithful to fulfil. Gent, ** Do you intend to deliver a speech on the occasidn ?" 4 Sam, ** O no : I expect there will be a number ^ gentlemen at the meeting, from all parts of the worfl;~ mm na tHB VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. and I hope to have the pleasure of hearing them make their noble speeches." ^ Oent. '* It you will promise to make a speech, we will come and hear you.'* The conversation was interrupted by the announce* inent of the horses being ready to start. Samu- 1 resumed his seat and his song, and arrived in safety the next day in London. At the public meeting he found his vay to the platform ; and to his great surprise, one of the fentlemen who had regaled him with his supper at Letford, took a seat next him, and presented him with an orange ; but he was still more aatontshed, when the gentleman's name was announced as R. P., Esq., of Bradford, Yorkshire, who was called upon to second a resolution. The first chapel he preached in Was that of South wark, and the second Hind-street. On the first occasion he took one ofliip favourite texts, James i. 27. A gentle^ man accosted him after the service, in a frank way, ** My good old Yorkshireman, though I could not under- Btand the whole of your language, part of which might have been Danish for any thing I know to the contrary; yet I have had my soul blessed under your sermon." Samuel replied, **It makes no matter, Sir, what the language is, if the soul oily gets blessed." The gen* tieman invited him to spend a day at his house, stating, ou Samuel observing that, as a stranger, he would not be able to find his way, that he would send his servant to conduct him thither. While he was yet in the vestry, taking a biscuit and a glass of wine— a treat with which be had been but rarely indulged in small country places —a lady entered, enquiring, under strong feeling, whether she could see the minister. Samuel supposing the enquiry to be for one of the preachers on the circuit, who was present, kept his seat. The preacher went up to the lady, and requested to know whether it was the person that had been preaching she wished to see* Casting a glance round the place, and seeing Samuel, THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH* 178 *ri she exclaimed, "O yes : that is the person." Samuel sprang from his seat, with his wine and biscuit in hit hand, saying, " What do you please to want with me, madam ?" " O, I wish to tell you. Sir," was theTeply, " what I felt while you were preaching. A trembling came all over me, and I could not hold a liml? still." Samuel whp had but one cause for all these things, and happened to be correct in this, instance, as well as in many others, said, " It is the work of the Spirit of God, ami we will return the Lord thanks for it." The propo- sition was accepted ; and he observed, '- Though she was dressed in fine silks, which crackled again, she knelt down on the vestry floor, and while pleading, the Lord blessed her aoul." Another case came under his observation, which was more obstinate than that of the lady, and assumed to him an air of .ovelty. He was sent to pray with a geatle^ man, whose affliction was stated to him to be a " nervous complaint." His own nerves being of a wiry make — living m a neighbourhood of health— and moving gene* rally among that class of people whose nervous system is kept continually brace?! by labour and by the breeze, he hdd to take holh his head and his heart to school on the subject. The malady assumed an awful appearance to him ^ for when he entered the room, he remarked, Ihr the person *• was sunk so low, that he lay on the sea like a dead man." As he had but one cause for the stirrings of the human spirit, so he had but one cure for moat of our maladies. Faith in Christ was his he(d. all, and was his grand specific here. He spent nearly a whole day with the gentleman, either prpying with him, or sitting by his side, singing hymns, rela:''^f his experience, and exhorting him to the exercise of laith. la hii addresses he told him, that it was only " holy medicine" that "could cure" him, and that "all the doctors in London could not cure a nervous complaintj for it was a soul compliint." On parting, the gentleman isntreated him to repeat his visit, and added, " I would a2 lU ^ fHE VltLAOE BlAtKSHifii, freely give etU t possess, to be as happy as yoo «re.*^ This case mslde a deep impression on Samuers njiad,. and iti his reflections afterwards he remarked, ** I pity any one who is trortblei with this dreadful complaint ;. but I believe many fall into it for want of faith. They reason with themselves, and with the enemy, instead of reasoning with God, who says, ' Come and let im reasow together.'" Little as honest Samue! knew of the eub- ject, he might have been further w/ong, than in supposing. that mental agony will induce physical debility. While we cease to wonder that the gentleman should look upon his stattf as enviable,, we are convinced that no one,, except ai chird in spirit, could have sat and sung hymns by the side of so much misery— of one whose spirit waff tuned only for a " dark- woven lay." The pfiocipal part of histim« was occupied in visiting, the sicky an4 in atte»ding the ordinances of God; and thus engaged, he might well say, « I was very happy all the; time 1 was in London." Business requiring his presence at borne, he remained only a month in the metropolis^ His second visit was in 1827> but the day and the month when be set off are uwJBrtaii* ; a correspondent connected with the family stating it to have been in May,, while a letter written by hinaself bears testimoiiy of his kaving been in Yorkshire in the month of July^ The memory might have possibly been depended upon m the first instance ; and th first visit having been In May,. might have been the occasion of the error. Hi» daugh^ ter Rosamond had entered the marriogo state with M-r. Wrathall, in the intervals of hi» visits. This took place in 1834 ; and it was on account of her long and severe indisposition, that he took the present journey. The following brief narrative of this excellent woman, whoi» it may be proper here to introduce, was published in the obituary of the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine, by the Rev. Ilichard Reece :* » 1838, p. 499. A curious '• Prospectua for publishing the Life of the late Samuel Hick, of Micklefield," issued from the press w tHK VILLAGK BLACK9HITk.f in *< Uta. itosalnhlond Wrathall was daughter of Mr, iSaniUel Hick, of MicfcletieW, Yorkshire ; a man gone- rally known, and highly esteemed for his usefulnew among the Methodists for nearly half a century ; and who, with his pious wife, considered it their duty bo impress upon tfie minds of their children the great fruthe c»f the gospel. Eiarly indications were given, tliat Ihe hSdrt oT Mrs. Wrathall was under the influence of divine gracd^ At the age of seven years her mind was enlight- ened to sen the evil nature and dreadful consequences of sin. Although she was humble and teachable, and very dutiful and affectionate to her parents, yet she felt the need of pfardon, and of the purification of her nati»re. The period at which she received the blessiiyg of justifi- cation through faith in the merits of Christ, is unknown ; but it must have been at an early age. During the whole of her Christian course she was an ornament to her profession, and was greatly attached io the Metho- dist connexion^ She refrained from evfl-speaking, and ttsed her inflnenee to restrain the practice of it in otUers. She put OH the ornanilent of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight cf God' of great price. Her dispo. sition was naturally generous ; and after her conversion, she was constantly Sjvising liberal things. She spared no labour nor expense to alleviate the necessities of the poor, and lead them to Christ. She was a pattern of integrity and piety. At the commencement of her long affliction, she was deeply convinced of the need of a further work of grace upon her heart ; and desired that her excellent father might be sent for, that she might enjoy the benefit of his counsel and faithful prayers.' Samuel, after a safe journey, alighted at the Saracen'* mihe summer of 1830, which promieedto "contain the expo, yience and happy death of Mrs. Rathall, of London, daughter of the deceased, who died whilst he was in London." It is p» Bumed that the late Mrs. Wrathall was intended by the iHtth^ . and that, tavough his ignorance of the subject, he adopted another name. mm 176 TME VILLAOB BLACKSMITH. Head, and proceeded to the house of hi^ son. in-law. He found Mrs. W. very much indisposed. The blessing she sought hnd been the subject of his preaching and conversation for many years, as well as tho experience of his soul ; and his child's- anxiety for it led him to dwell upon it more than usual, in public and in private, as also in his correspondence during his stay in London. " Har mind," continues Mr. Reece, " became more and more calm and stayed upon God ; she received the blessing of entire sanctitication, which she so much desired, and continued in the exercise of prayer and thankseivinff to the end of her life." ® ^ Iluring Samuel's second stay in this human ant-hill, whose swarms are always in motion, and whose streets gave him the notion, in bis own language, of a constant ''fair" belaboured under the impression, that a great work was to be done — done instantly — and that he was to sustain a share in the toil and in the glory. He sighed over the irreligious part of the community, composed, as ho stated, of " Jews, Turks, InfhJels, and Barbarians, * all of whom might " believe" in thi existence of a " God," but "lived as though there were none:" concluding, that if it were not for the " few righteous" to be found in the city, it would at once be " destroyed like Sodom." With these views, and with a heart thus affected, he embraced every opportunity of rendering himself useful, and could speak of having " plenty of work"--of being often « tired in it, but not of it"—of " preaching in cha|>els and in the open air" — of making " collections for chapels and for schools" — of " visiting the sick" attending " lovefeasts"— assisting in prayer-meetings" -^-dining and praying on board some of the vessels on the Thames — and, in the midst of all this, of having " plenty of friends," and of being "hearty and happy." One of the vessels having to perform only a short voyage, and ^ving reached her destination before heJeft town, re^raing with fruit and spice, he took care devoutly to mnmdt with his notice of her safety, the prayer.meet. m mmmm wm THIS VltLAOfi BLACKSMITH. 17T ing which he himself and some friends held " in the cabin," b^fofe her departure ; and also to exhort Mariha, who was not likely to be benefitted by any pttrt of the cargo, to make progress in piety, and both he and she would hereafter be indulged with a taste of the '• grapes^' of the kingdom, and with *• wine on the lees, well refined." It wis here that he not only attempted to moralize, but to philosophize ; stating it to be his opinion, that if the Lord had not " lent the tide throogh the city, to sweeten the air, a plague" would have been the result ; as though the tide had followed rather than preceded the foundation of its walls. But Samuel was a Christian, not a philosopher ; his head was less the recep- tacle of knowledge than his heart was of grace. While he laboured as though the immortal interests of the whole of the inhabitants of the city rested upon hiin, he cast a glance of solicitude towards home, telling Mar- tha, that it was " not out of sight, out of mind ; * and requesting to be informed how she was " io body and soiil ;" repeatedly forwarding her not only " parcels,' but what he knew she " likecT'— a " cheap letter." His letters indicate also deep anxiety for the piosperity of the work of God at Micklefield ; and, among others, an ardent desire for the salvation of a « Mr. Conlson." Nor did he forget his "old servant Jackey," whom be wished to be attended to, and preserved in his blindness from falling into the " bogs."* His desire, to be useful led him to request Martha to enlarge his " furlough ; * His pafllallty to th'w animal aroee chiefly from tho circttin- Btance of it having carried Rev. David Stoner around the York circuit, to whom be waR warmly attached, both as an eminent^ servant of God, and as having been born near his own home And yet, for this very attachment, Samuel might have stood re- buked by his own worda. Being at Aberford fair once, and v/alkinir with his friend Mr. Dawson among the crowd, be was met bv an acquaitttance. " You Ipok cant down," said Safttucl ; " what is the matter with you ?'^ " I have lost a fine hor«||" was the reply, naming its value. •• Why, blejjs you, man. you i|iad» « god of it, and worshipped it : I worshipped a fine ewe ones, aftd mmm m %n THE VILLAOr. BLACKSMITH. intimating at tho same time his readiness to return ca tre first notice of his being " \vanted at home." The only personal indisposition of which he had to complain, was a slight attack of cholera morbus, which Iii9 believed he had caught from one of the yoang men rjsident in the house, and which he therefore charac. twzed as "»mtttte." ♦ One of ihe most relieving con, ^derations to his mind under it was—and this shows his «nxiety to be useful— that it had not been permitted to *' take" him from his « work." The sudden death of a fijmale— the affliction of his dnughter— and the daily funeral processions along the streets of the city, produced a quickening influence upon his soul, anc ^' rnished him with Masonable preaching and conversational topics, grounding on the whole the necessity of a constant pre- paratioo for another state of being. His peculiarities in manner and dialect attracted attention ; and among others with whom he conversed, and ^^ho were induced to hear him preach, were some (lersons of the Baptist persuasion. While a few of these contested the doctrine of " entire sanetification" with him, others of them admitted its necessity and attaimnent. One of the latter addressed a letter to him OD the subject, which he intended to insert in his "Life." Treating on it in a letter to Martha, he observed, "I have preached ever since I came to Londou, a full, free, and present salvation : and I will fiontinue to preach it while I have life and strength. Thousands have heard me. I have told them, that if God look her away from me." ,^uch was Samuel's consolatioa under lose, and Buch his occasiohal views of improper etaoh* • A provincialism, denoting any thinfr eontagiom. He was not * ""i^ ■ '/ ^'^^^ ^^'"^' ^'6 considered a triumph over the w- J.*'*"*SiK. """^ "C***^ metf»polituns, who had consulted the ' P^P "'^^'^""y ""■ ^he term, ho having told them in the uourse ?. .?*!""°"\'^*' *'5''» was *'««"^e,"-^flxhorting thjBm \.o\ma at tan Qtmosjt distajice from it. ilMIKli •THE VltLAUE BLACKHMITH. w the kinff were to make a decree, that the man preach- ing this doctrine should huve hiB head taken off, 1 would at once go to the block, proclaiming ae I went, with a loud voice, that Holiness belongeth unto the houw of the Lo4 for ever, and would there die for it hke a mar- *^ Preaching in one of the chapels, on "Blessed are tht pure in hefrt, for they shall see God," a female wuo had heard him, profess'^d to have received the blessing, after having sought it for th.> space of seventeen years. A young man also bore the same testimony, in one of the lovefeasts. Some of these cases were entered into his home epistolary correspondence, ««^'^»n^. *^.*^® "";'• rations, « You see what a poor instrument the Lord can work with !-either by a ram's horn, or by the crowing of a cock. But he shall ^^ve the glory ; he will not give it to another; he has purchased i with his blood. Ihese intimations led Martha to look upon h.o state with a little jealousy; and on furnishing him with », portion of balhst^^a labour of love for whu^h she was ' well qualified and always ready-he replied to her, 1 am thankful for your advice ; and I hope God will keep me in the dust. I assure you, I have often o cry out, ^£ord, enlarge my heart, and fill it.' I «o™^ '"If^^'"^ I shall sink under the weight of love : and f I «h|^^^ called away in such a state, O how sweet it wifl be to fall asleep in the arms of Jesus I" While urging his hearers to seek holiness, he oroke out on one occasion, somewhat in the following strain : "If any of you had a sum of money left to you by a friend you would put in your claim and prove the w.... S'Jhrist has Ide h'is will; and his will is your aanct'fication. You may put in your f»^»"» *^^^™ blessing by simple faith. The P^°Pf ^y ,,^^*«"f , '^ every believer. Our Lord made a just will. ,% eft all his children share and share alike ; the voung^ the :le blessing as the oldest, ^^e weake^ ^^er that hangs upon him' njay have it. It is faith thUwiays ^pl mm mm l80 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. cl«i« to rt. Huh aaye, ♦ It is my property.' Faith has two ..ande. It HikeB hold of the blessing with the one .1 ;f<>"»*n"«« to hold it fast by the other. Stretch out' 1^ I °^ ^""'t^ *^/"- ^^'^^ '^« P'«P«*-ty y24«r dear Lord has purchased for you, and for a« bel vers." This IS truth in russet costume ; and yet, homely though It b«, K IS not only more dignified in its character, but the imagery is belter selected, as well as more consis. tantly •upported, than that which has been wmetimes employed by doctors and dignitaries.* What gave him peculiar pleasure, in reference .c his fivounte theme of sanctification, was, the circumstance of receiving an invitation to take tea with two of the IIT ft' v^ ^^^ **''"^^°^ ** ^^*^y ^^° had travelled the path of holiness upwards of half a century, and who had entertained the venerable Founder of Methodism. With this Christian matron he compared notes: and remarked, "She has enjoyed pure religion ever sines Mr. W«sley s day ; and the best of all is, she enjoys ii now. h 18 natural for us to talk about that which we love. Her experience is just the same as mine. I am glad when I find any ont that enjoys the blessing." • In » Sermon preached at wtiri, the celebrated Dr. South wmrkt. in speaking of the delights of a soul " darified" by J*rtM» tic man, ai the years and vigoar of thirtv. is eithnr fn«J J^ «jar ,!««*• or ra«fci» Anothe? obeervat on s/VNo m"n wonia preserve Abe iteh on I imself, only for the ileisara nf ^rmi^hing^'^^S^UMom, Serm. I. Prov. iii. 17 ^^ '^ °^ Atmukop Tiu^TsoN. in his thanksgiving Sermon before tha Kiiy end Queen. Oct. 27th. 1692. on ^Jer ?x. 2^24. speak „g of hi. Majesty's preservation in the field of battle, says"" I df not believe, that frqmtJw first use of ^r«a/^«„rtothat^dav anv niort.1 man ever h*d iU. shoulder Bo^,„i;Tj;J by f Ji^J .«,.! .-■¥ mmmm TIIK VILLAUE BLACJLttMlTH. 181 CHAPTER A . Continues in Lomtoi: -..an epitome of a weelt'ti labour-... Mm. Wtf*tiU't religious enjoyments. .. .Uamuel mceU w otm conv^ttH Jew, Rad attem^ the Ctiri8tl»n improvement of ano'her — preaches out of doors visilt Michael Angelo Taylor, Esquire.. -.further account of Mrs. Wrathali.... Samuel's usefulness .. .his love of Yorkshire- .., Enjoys a ride in the country ....goes Into Kent-. ..tent- preaching — is reproved for loud praying.... his views of death — spiriiualizes a thunder-storm — an African'... Mrs. Wrathall's death — Samuel visits Windsor. ... is rendered a bleadi^ to tlm people... .returns to London. .. .is called iJ^orkshire to |n-eacb a funeral sermon. ^^ In following Samuel during his residence in the metro;^- olis, It will furnish some variety, if special cognizmcd be taken of the more incidental part of his hiftorf* His life w/s one of incident : . every motion, like scenic representttion, told on the eye and the ear of the by- stande^unfoldlng his habitudes and feelings. Though no regnlar journal was kept, the following may be con- sidered as nearly in the order, with two or three excep- tions, in which the occurrences and conU^'iation^ took place. July. Persona visiting the metropolis, like thoae who cross the Vm'i for the first time, are obliged to conform to certain ceremonies, if not of dipping, at least in dress, ing. Samuel's raiment was generally plain, both t4 'cm and quality, and, when not employed in the smithy^ (bx- tremely clean. His coat was rarely permitted to alter R 182 TlIK VILLAGE nLACKSMITlf. its fashion,* The change in London, however, wa* not so much in the shape as in t!ic quality — from plain to superfine. " My son," said he to Martha, *' has or- dered me a suit of new clothes ; and your dear Ann, whom you love, has bought me a new hat : I never had such a hat on my head in my life before." This was as much the result of kindness'as of necessity. Improved in his appearance, and requested to supply a few places for the Rev. R. Reece, with whose plan he was pre- sented as his credential, during his engagements at the Conference, he traversed the city, in something more than his ordinary character when at home at Mickle- field ; .and Martha's lectures on humility were as neces- ssry occasionally to suppress the stirrings of vanity — vanity, however, in some of its least offensive forms, and without mu9h of the consciousness of its presence— as Ihey were kindly taken. His daughter, with a child's fondness, wrote home in one of his letters, in the early part of this month,—". My dear Mother, I will give you part of father's weeN^y work.— He went to Southwark Chapel on Monday morning, at five o'clock ; from whence n young gentleman took him home to breakfast, tmd kept him the whole of the day. He went to a ibU Fbwship meeting at night, and did not reach homf» till ten o'clock. On Wednesday mornmg he preached at City.Road at six o'clock, and did not arrive here till tea-time. After tea he went to preach at Albion Street ; and to-day he has been at Chelsea Missionary Meeting. It is now ten o'clock, and he has just arriVed by coach. I assure yo^my dear father is in high gleo. He tells us t:hat he hTO had a good time ; and that, while he was speaking, the persons upon the platform almost stamped * He was once, in the way of compliment, preeented by »^ frienid wilh a pair of handsome new trowsers. But thoy were so ill adtpted to his person, habits, and other costume, that when thua ttdprned, it looked like the last and present century uniied in the same man : or as though the half of him belonged to some one beside himself. w 111 THll VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. it clqwn.* Tlioy all shook hamls with him, told him they wore obli«ro(l to him for his services, and paid hi» coach-fare. Wherever he goes, the people invite him back again. Yon see how your hushand is beloved." Though Mrs. W. was pleased wiUttho respect paid to her father— and it would have been strange if a little natural feeling had not escaped— she remained the same humble Christian as before ; nor was it with Sa. muel any thing else but the mere ebullition of the mo- ment. Personal piety seemed to include every thing , lesides, both in himself and in others ; and the progress of it was particularly watched in his daughter. " I be- 'lieve,*' said he, in writing of her to his partner, " the Lord has sent me to London to learn gratitude from the heart of your own Uesh and blood. I never saw such a happy creature, or one more thankful, in all my life. She has often been made a blessing to my soul since I came hither ; and not only to me, but to others, who come to see her in her aflliction. She enjoys* perfect love — that which casts out all fear — and is fit either for living or dying. I often think, if you were to see her in this lappy state, it would rejoice your heart. It is .above all riches to see. a dear child of ours so happy. ilew dear h inla nd outstrips all the men I ever saw for affection. ^V wants for nothing that the world can bestow : and your dear Ann waits upon her with ten- ld, and could not go* into the city to seek it— « Vat pe te besht news in te city -?" *' The best news that I^an hear," replied Samuel, <« is, that Jesus Christ IS pardoning sinners and sanctifying be- llwc ^^'J^^'" r«i°i»«dthe old man,^urning up his face, " tuff and nonshensh ! it ish all telushion." bamuel was as ill prepared for this, as the Jew had been for what he had advanced, and observed, with a view to produce instantaneous conviction—as he con. eluded the testimony of his own. experience would be everyway demonstrative to both Jew and G^ntiU-^ * If It be a delusion, it is a ble, id delusion ; for I'sm very happy m it. No, no. Sir : I know bette* I hava r2 189 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. known, for the last forty years, that Jesus Christ has power upon earth to forgive sins, and also, to cleanse from all unrighteousness." Alas, for Samuel, he ploughed Mly on the rock : the old man turned his back upon him in a rage, as though Samuel had intended to iosult him— entered his shop-— and shut the door in his face. Samuel looked after him with the disappointment of a fowler, who, having discharged his piece, and expect- ing the game to drop at a short distance, sees it on the wing, and untouched; yet expressed his gratitude, in " not being numbered with unbelievers." It is not a little amusing to find him in the chair of Lavater after this, pronouncing his opinion with the precision of a physiognomist. " I can teli a Jew," said he, « as I pass him on the street ; for his countenance is gloomy and dark, — not like that of the Christian, which is cheer- ful and pleasant : and who has such a right to be cheerful as the man that has Christ formed in him the hope of glory f* On finding that he could make but little impression tipon the Jew, he again turned to the Gentile. Th0 *• morning meetings," at five and six o'clock, which were well attended, were among the most salutary he enjoyed. On one occasion, a foreigner, who had attended out of curiosity, was deeply afiected, and three persons pro- • Thia was not his first attempt at physiognomy ; nor was he peculiar in his views on the subject. He had read Isaiah, who, in speaking of certain characters, says, •• The shew of their countenance doth witness ogainst them;" and he had a notion that religion would improve the exterior, as well as the Meriorr nf ayery human being. These views escaped in prayer once, white he was imploring the blessing of God upon a female who ■eted in the capacity of cook in a family which he visited^ Having h«ard a little of the person in question, and having inferred from the peculiar curvsiure and expression of the face, that she was not bl«s8Ad with a redundancy of the milder qualities which grace the sofVer part of creation, he prayed for the subjugation of every improper t«unper j and as mi ihducement to her to seek after per- **onai piety, he said he was sure, " if her soul were converted to God aha woujd look fivo pounds belter than she did then." THR VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 187 fessed lO have received the blessing of purity. After the meetings he was often taken awaj to visit the sick and pray with the penitent. Orte of the personar who carne before hirn he suspected to be affected with worldly sorrow ; and this is the more remarkable, as ho had more, charity than judgment in all cases of distress : another he was called to visit, a stationer, was in deep despair. With a view to attract persons who never at-' tended a place cf worship, he turned out into the street, and stood up, accompanied by a local preacher, in a large square. The householders threw open (heir win. dows to listen to him, and the people continued lo crowd around him till the congregation might be denominated large. A person, in a state of intoxication, threw a bunch of flowers at him, and was otherwise turbulent. Some of the friends were about to remove him by vio- lence, when Samuel said, " Let him alone : he cannot hurt me, anu I am sure I shall not harm him." The man was subdued by the mildness of the address. •*' The ilion's mouth," said Samuel, " w^s stopped." While preaching he felt great tenderness of spirit. This was soon manifested by the people ; for, in the language x»f Creech, "The melted is the melting ' heart." He exhorted— he beseeched— he reproved— he wept— the people wept in concert with him— and having forgotten hrs pocket-handkerchief, he borrowed one of a friend, to wipe away the tears which rolled •down his face. The bunch of flov.rers was hailed by him a« a slight expression of "persecution," in the honours pronounced on which he " rejoiced," Samuel was one who could more readily recollect a kindness than an injury; and considering himself in- debted to MichaelAngelo Taylor, Esq., for his licence, who then resided in London, and viewing him withal, in his own words, as an " old neighbour,", he went to White Hall to pay his respects to him. Tfi6 statesman expressed himself as glad to see him, enquiring the occasion which had brought him to town. On being 1§8 THE VILLAGE CLACKSHITII. informed tha.' it was the afHictioh of his daughter, Mf. T. signified his regret. Samuel, on the contrary, told him h.e felt no sorrow on her account, for she was "very happy, and ready for her passage to glory." Mr. T. ordered the butler to give him some refresh, ment ; the apparent kindness, prompting which, was of greater value to Samuel, than the most costly viands. • Samuel remarked towards the close of the month, as Mrs. Wrathall's health still declined, " Our dear child will be safe landed on Canaan's happy shore in a short time. I never saw such a patient creature as she is. She has not much pain, and will have nothing to do but fall asleep. She began to change last week, and gruws weaker and weaker." Two or three days after, he obsep'ed, " I have just been giving your dear child her breakfast. If you only saw her in her affliction — so thankful, so ihappy, I am sure it would rejoice your heart. If she is spared a little longer, it will be for the glory of God and the good of those that come to see her. She has many friends: I can scarcely go any where but I find them. Your dear Ann is a miracle. She is not afraid of going out to hear me preach. I hope, both you and me, and all our children, and even our children's children, to the third and fourth genera- tion, will meet at God's right hand." On the 30th of the month, he added, " Your dear child is very happy ;" then proceeding to generalize, " we are all peace : Ann and I have been taking some refreshment together, and have just been at the family altar. I hope you (Jo; not forget this duty ; and be sure you do not pinch yourself for comforts. I often think of you when I sit down to a good dinner, and wish I had you, my dear, to share it with me. But if we do not sit down at one table now, we shall eat at our Father's table together hereafler. My lot is cast in a pleasant place. When I want to retire Xo read or write, I have a room to go into. I would not swap (exchange) place with the best noble- man in this city." ,.5^^^a- THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 189 August. This month presents but little variety, be- sides the regular work of preaching, praying, and visit- ing, with the exception of a quickening influence in one of the prayer-meetings, which was held after he had preached, in which a persoi^ of the Roman Catholic persuasion was awakened. Having to g^a consider- able distance to his lodgings, he depaj(p) from the place about ten o'clock at night, leaving, as he express, ed himself, "the friends pleading for the slain." . Be- fore the close of the month, his Yorkshire phrases, hid zeal, and the influence attending his homely addresses, rendered him rather conspicuous among his fellows. To this he was not altogether blind ; and remarked in the confidence of a man to his wife, " I am well known in London : the more work I do, the more I have to do; and when it will all be done, I cannot tell. I have great pleasure in it. The Lord is saving souls." Then, as before, he urged Martha not to pinch herself; "for," he added, "I am sure we have as much as will k«ep you ; and as for me, my Master, whom I love and serve, will supply all my needs out of his abundant fulness. The earth is his own property." This was not the language that rises out of satiety from present indulgence, on finding himself seated at the table of his son.in.law, but of confidence in God, who blesses the labourer with his hire, because worthy of it. He had no anxiety on his own account ; it only found a place ill his bosom for others ; and towards these it was gen- erally exercis»ed rather in reference to the present exi- gencies of any particular case, than with a view to the future destiny ef the individual concerned. His faith in the goodness, power, and veracity of God would never suffer him to bring the trials of to-morrow on those of lO'day ; or by afflictive forebodings, to go out and meet his exercises half-way: and even "the evil" of "the day," which ouglit to be deemed ^'sufficient" by all intelligent beings, was deprived of great part of its weight with Samuel, and thus rendered light and mo- 190 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. mentary, through the grace by which he was supported, anc' th<3 glorious hope of a bloased immortality. No- thing but personal piety could have enabled him to overcome parental feeling so far, as to give him the appearance of a being not only all peace, but covered with sunshine at the gate of heaven, and just on the point of entlUng, in the midst of a beloved daughter's affliction. At the close of this month, as on that of the preceding one, he had only to report increasing debility with regard to Mrs. W. " Ann and I have been get. ting up your dear afflicted child. She is very happy in 80ul, but very weak in body." He waked and watched by her with a solicitude like that of a mother rather than that of a father, and never permitted his public labours to entrench upon the attentions demanded by natural affection. Septeubbr. Though happy among the persons with whona he associated, his joys were considerably in- cre led, on any arrival from Yorkshire, whether it turn- ed up in the shape of a human face, a letter, or a mes- sage. Among several persons noticed, no one was viewed with more unmingled pleasure than W. Scarth, Esq., of Leeds, who invited him to take tea at his lodg. ings — the house of the widow of the late Rev. C. At- nuore — "Where," said Samuel, "we spent a little bit comfortable time together." Mr, S. told him that his presence and labours would be required at home : this, with an oral communication from Ratcliffe Close to pay another visit to that place, where he had been so useful among the Sunday School children, operated upon him like the promise of a week's work to a poor man, who is overjoyed with the tidmgs of a second job before the first is finished. His only wish for life arose from his desire to be useful. Next to a friend from Yorkshire was the delight he experienced in again beholding the face of Good's ere- ation, in a view of the country. His eye had been ac- customed to rove over the beauty, the wildness, and the THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 191 freshness of open rural scenery ; and though he knew hot the sentiment of the writer who said, " God made the country, but man made the town ;" yet he felt like a person who saw more of his Maker's hand in the trees and in the shrubs, than in a range of buildings — like one whose eye had not only a wider range, but whose lungs had something like fair play, and with whom res. piration seemed to be aided. Mr. Knight drove him fifteen miles into the country in a gig. He felt like a child let loose from the nursery. Absence had given additional richness to the verdure. " I was glad," sf H he, '*to see the fields look so green. The Lord .: sending us a Michaelmas summer, and a fine seed-time. He is making up for the loss of last year. Bless his dear name ! he is very kind to us. After taking the rod to us, he then shews us his salvation. He never doe». wrong : he does all in love ; and it is well done. WhtJ we know not now, we shall know hereafler." ^^ He was favoured with a still further treat, in being taken into Kent, by Mr. Cooper, who married his niece ^ and with whom he remained a fortnight. On his return he made a collection for a Sunday School; and such was the concourse of people, that he was obliged to preach out of doors. The collection amounted to about double the sum to what ^ad been on any former occa. sion. ^ Mr. Pocock*s plan of tenl^pr cachings which bad reached the metropolis, presented a novel scene to Samuel ; and in one of these he held forth the word of life. But in no meeting, of a purely religious charac ter, did he appear so much in his element, as in those he held after preaching, to which there has been such repeated reference. In one of these, in the course of this month, after he had made a collection for a chapel, which h&d undergone some repairs, he gave the people an account of a plan adopted in the York circuit, during a revival. He told them that the friends "set three 192 TUK VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. benki^** (benches),— one for penitents — another fo* backsliders — and a third for those that wanted full sal- vatic a ; and that while they sung a verse or two of a hymn, the people filled the benks. They then went to prayer, and the Lord poured out his Spirit upon them. Whether ihis systematic plan was adopted by the metro. poHtans on tho occasion, is not stated ; but it is affirmed, that ten ponsons were blessed, — some with pardon, and others with the sanctification of the Spirit. He closed the month by attending one of the Quarterly Meetings, and by preaching at St. George's Chapel. His excel- lent daughter continued to approach nearer and nearer the grand boundary line which divides time and eternity ber fairest prospects on the one side, and her infirrai- ties only on the other. j r • \i OcTOBEK^ While some of the preachers and friends were characterized by Samuel as "flames of fire." there were others who were less favourable to his mode of proceeding, and of course required more zeal. But having only one straight forward course, admonitory interpositions were generally fruitless. A female hav- ing been convinced of sin while he was preaching on Rom. viii. 13, was in deep distress in one of the praycfr meetings. He knelt down to pray for her ; and expe- riencing unusual freedom, he elevated his voice to an extraordinary height. " On^f the London preachers," » This appears to be from the Saxon hene, a long seat; as banc, in the same language, signifies a long heap of earth. It js hen^e that our bench is derived. Bankan, a bank ; Matngk, Beiim and B^nk, a bench ; Bank and Bench being one and the same word, signifying a long sitting place, as in the case of the British Judges, who sat for ages upon banks instead of benches. It is the same with the Irish Bale, which anwers to the Bale of the Welsh, and denotes a balk of land, as also does a bench. Ban- quet is supposed to be a slip of the same root. Banquegeal is to feast, and Banuez, ^anket is a feast ; the idea being taken from silting to a table, as Cinio is a feast ; and Ciniau, Cuynos^ table, ^ from sitting on banks or benches to it, as Banquette, in French, w at present a small bank in fortification. THE VILLAGE BLACK82IITU. 198 said he, "cpmc to me, and pulled me by the coat, fjf" asked him what was the matter : and he told me not to pray so loud, as another pe^sonwas in distress in the chapel, and it prodded confusion. But I took no no- tice of tiie discharge : I prayed on till the Lord' set her soul at liberty ; and she declared it in the great congre- gation." He added, '-It is better to obey God than man." He had never learned to sound a retreat : " On. ward," was his motto iu every thing that concerned the soul ; and this he was constantly urging upon others, ao well as dwelling upon himself. To a friend, he observe ed, about the same time, " I hope, my dear brother, you are still going on in the good old way, which leads to glory and to God. If we get religion to live with, we shall have religion to die with." Then, with no bad attempt at smartness, he asked, " Die, did I say ? No^ thr.t is a wrong term for a Chfistian. It is religion to< fall asleep with. When David finished his work, be slept with his fathers. The prophets also fell asleep :. and St. Paul asks, * O death, v-here i» thy sting ? Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' " It was the consciousness of preparation which he carried about with him, that de- prived death of its terrors, and kept alive the notion of sUep^-of a person just closing his eyes, and going to rest after the toils of the day. It was as natural for him to converse on religious subjects, as it was to breathe ; and almost as impossible for him to see or hear any thing, without connecting religion with it. Aftor a tremendous night of thunder, lightning, wind, and rain, on the 10th of the month, he ^ remarked, " We have been spared from the threatening hand of, a kind protector, but I am afraid we shall hear of many lives being lost on the wide ocean. The ram has washed the tiles and the streets clean. The tiles look as if they were new. My prayer is, that God would send a thunderstorm into every sinner's heart, and the lightning of his Spirit, to enlighten every sin- S 191 TBI VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. ger's conscience; and that he wciUd, by the precious lood of Christ, cleanse the hearts of ail true believers, as he has washed the tiles and the streets of this city." He had laboured and prayed much for the heathen ; and though divided from them by seas and continents, a circumstance occurred, which appeared to bring them to Iris own door, in the person of a black, who sat as his hearer in one of the chapels. His hue awakened all Samuel's sympathies for the negroes ot the West India Islands. So much was his mind absorbed m the sub. ject, that the whole congregation of whites appeared to be concentrated in this swarthy son of Ham. He told them that God was no respecter of persons,— that per- ■ons of all nations working righteousness, were accept. ed of him, — and that colour, size, and age, made no dif. . ference to him, provided they came a^ penitents to his footstool. Such were the effects produced by his point. ed and personal appeals, that the black got up in the midst of the people, and attested the goodness of God perb^nally to himself, in the forgiveness of all his sins. Samuel went home with him — he being in comfortable circumstances — and took supper with him; and was pleased to find, that " he had as clear a witness of thn Spirit as a white man.'' The last expression would seem to indicate as though he had been infected with the slaveholder's cant, that negroes are an inferior race of beings, and incapable of improvement; and u>r |he weakest and most innocent minds to receive a taint i^m the opinion, m it ; progress through European soci^, ij\i\y shews ihe ne'st^j^sity of raoot'nj^ it, by opposing to it the stubbornnesB i/ fac^^ in instances of religious and intellectual improvement. Mr. Wrathall received a letter from Grassington about this time, requesting his presence, on account of the indisposition of his uncle, to whom he was left exe. cutor, and who was in fact at the point of death. Mrs. Wrathall's increasing debility rendered the prospect of absencp the more painful. However, the certainty of THE VILLAGE lltACKSMfTR. 105 her fn ther'H society was nn agreeable compensation for the temporary loss proposed. Li writing home on tiie llth« he remarked, "Your dear daughter Rosamond is much better tiiis rr.orning than she has been for some days past. We thought a few days ago she waa about to enter her eternal rest. But the Lord does all things well. She has been made a blessing to many. She expressed her thankfulness for her food this mornings and )iave opt that verse, • We thank thee, Lord, for thifl our food.' I believe I shall have cause to bless God to all eternity for her." Her bodily imjjrcvement, alas! was but of short duration ; for she died on tho 17th of the month, a blessed witness of the power of God to save to the uttermost. Samuel continued in London after the decease of his daughter, till January, 11628, in the early pa/t of which h-^onth he paid a visft lo Windsor, partly out of respect to it as tiie seat of royalty, and partly in compliance with an invitation from some friendf* ; and was escorted thither by a person from town. A pious soldier of the name of Wm. Emmoti, a corporal in the Royal Horae Guards, was the only person with whom he had any acquaintance. He preached on the evening of his arri« val, and held a prayer meeting afterwards. So much were the people pleased and profited, that they request- ed him to remain with them a few days. Mr. Pollard, the superintendent, wrote to Miss Hick, his daughter, who waa at Mr. Wrathall's, January 7lh, stating his intention. Part of the note is, " Your father is going to stay with us at Windsor over the next sabbath. He is very happy and useful." Samuel added on the same page, " My dear child, this norning I am in my glory. The Lord poured out his Spirit at the prayer>meeting last night. Four souls obtained liberty; and many were blessed. If spared till to-morrow, I am hoton to see Dr. Clarke. He has sent word, that he wilJ give me a week's board. There is a great work to do in this place ; and you know I love the Lord viih all aiy^ li 196 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. heart. I have been at the kirTg'« stables, where my brother-in-law conversed with his Majesty, Our bro- ther Jeb is with me, who will return to-dav« God bless you all. You must take fne in when I come." He was shewn over the grounds and Castle of Wind- sor. The road leading up to the palace, the flight of steps, the rooms, the paintings, and the extensive pros- pect from the summit — presenting, he observed, " a view of twplvc coeinties" — were what appeared to have fixed attention, and left his mind, iiy Mr. B. Clarkson. Hi^ congregations were large, and the blessing of God ^tended his la- bours. H was especially delighted will. *he singing. " I nevei heard such pinging before," ho remarked : <* they have no instruments-— no fiddles — uo organs. They «ing with the spirit, and with the understanding also. I thought when I heard them, if our friends at Leeds would only use their voices to praise the Lord, it would not only be more pleasing to him, but they would be more blessed in their souls ; for singing is worshipping God" Thi« is the common sense view of the subject ; and the last sentence falls with the weight of a destructive hammer upon every instrument of music in a place of Christian worship. He spoke of peace and prosperity in the Selby circuit, and hoped that the time would soon come, when, in other places* " party zeal would be driven to its own hell," •HCi THE VILLAGE BL^CK8»ITH. 908 The port of Goole, a place in the Snaith circuit, had, in the space of six years, increased in it9 population from two hundred to nearly one thousand inhabitants. A Wesieyan Society had been established for a number of years ; and the place in which they worshipped lat- terly, was a temporary erection, raised at the expense of the Aire and Calder Canal Company, and in which a number of Sunday scholars were taught. The place being small and uncomfortable, the friends agreed to build a chapel, towards which Mr. Hamcr, who was the first to enter his name, subscribed £50. On the same day, and in the course of a few hours, upwards of J£100 was promised. One of the Snaith friends having heardi of Samuel's success in different instances, requested that he should be invited to aid them. He was accord- ingly written to ; but the letter not reaching him imme- diately, if at all, he did not pro6eed thither, till one of the circuit preachers had personally expressed to him their wish. He proceeded, therefore, from Selby to Snaith, and its adjacencies. In the earlier stage of the visit, April 13th, he observes, "I am now at Goole. I have to preach every night; and on the Sabbath-day I shall have to preach three times. You see, the Lord find» me work ; and as I love it, I have plenty of it. He gives me favour in the sight of the people. The places for preaching are too small for them : they flock like doves to their windows." He was here visited by a female, <$n old acquaintance, who once, with her bus- band, walked in the light of God's countenance, but had also, with him, retraced her steps to the world. Thro* bis preaching and'conversation, they were again roused fr->m the torpor of spirit which had seized them ; and to render their return to the church of God more secure, he entered the name of the female into his memoranw dum-book, in order that he might be able to give the superintendent of the circuit proper directions to find out such stray sheep. The woman, said he, *• sprang S04 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. from 8 good stock. Her grandmother, Ruth Naylo/, was a good mother, a good wife, and a good Christian. My creed is, that God will save to the third and fourth generation. This has been the case in my family, and in many a family : yes, and he will bless to a thousand generations." While going from place to place, several other friendships were revived. At Swinefleet he entered among the friends of Mr. Knight ; at another place he met with a ship-captain, a reiigious character, in whose vessel he had preached a sermon during hia last visit to London ; and at a third place, out of the Snaith circuit, Jne had several interviews with his friend Mr. Thomp- son, of Armin. Amidst many pleasing remembrances, however, there was one connected with the early his. tory of Martha, which was the occasion of much painful feeling. " Vesterday,'V he observes, on writing home to her, ** I preached at Garthorp, in Marsland, near the place where you lived when you were with J. H. The house you lived in is now pulled down, and a new one built. The chapel which I preached in is built over against il. The congregation was large ; and I took tea with the blacksmith. He kndw you well; but he is now going off: he has been in a dying state for the last twelve years. I assure you, I thought of your journey out of Lincolnshire ; I could scarcely ever get you out of my head ; — to think of your usage witii that ungodly man ! But he has gone to his reward. I thought of your journey, when you could not keep yourgjjioes on your feet ; but the roads are stoned, and very good now. I wish you were here, to see your old friends. I have heard you say, that the blacksmith's xfife was very good to you, when you were ill. I saw the flag that parts the counties. But I will tell you more, if i am spared to get home." In addition to this, he had been inform- €d of some misunderstanding among some of the friends at Micklefield, which had warped their better feelings towards each other. On this, he remarks, " I hope you m\ THE VILLAOfi BLACKSMITH. 709 have got peace proclaimed, and all jarring buried. 1 will say the funeral service over it, — ' Earth to earth, dust to dust, ashes to ashes.' The sooner i^ fs buried, the better. Love cannot dwell where there is preju- dice and party spirit. — Give my love to all my neigh- bours and friends ; tejl them I am happy, and in a good state of health." Armin, which was one of Samuel's favourite places, in consequence^ of Mr. Thompson granting him perfect liberty to follow the biad of his own mind, oflen became the scene of strong religious excitement, and through that excitement, of permanent benefit to those who were its subjects. Separate from domestic worship, morning and evening, Samuel had his prayer.meetings with the servants and neighbours. It was agreed one night in the course of one of his visits, between the servants and himself, that they should have a prayer-meeting e^rly the next morning. Samuel was up, as usual, by four o'clock. Or. descending from his chamber to the kitchen, he found the windows closed, and no appear- ance of wakefulness among the inmates of the house. He >turned to his chamber, and having prayed and sung alone — his morning hymn having in all probability reached the ears of the sleepers, he was soon joined by the group. But as they had not given him the meeting at the hour and place appointed, he insisted on their stopping with him in his room. This was not very^jbU relished by some of the servants, who knew that Mrs. C, on a visit from London, slept in an adjoining cham- ber. But it was of no importance to Samuel, who very likely chought that the good lady would he as profitably, engaged with them, as lying in bed, at an hour when the birds were beginning ft> wake into song, and heaven was alive to their melody. Samuel commenced the devotional exercise in good earnest ; they prayed — they sung-7-they met in band; and Mrs. C. — for sleep was in vain, where there was only a partition between the rooms— was compelled to keep watch with the party, T ■J^^.r - 206 TUK VILLAGE BLAOKSMITlTr and, to render th« noiso at all supportable, had to join h> the devotions of tho morning as she lay on her couch. The evening was generally occupied in the same way. On one occasion, when Mr. Thompson and Mr, P., one of th« preachers, went to Howden, to evening preaching, Samuel was left behind. On their return,^ they heard an unusual noise in the house ; and on open. ing the door, they found the servants and neighbours encircling him like a Hving wall of fire — every one breathing forth the spirit of devotion — Samuel's own lips touched with live coals from the altar — in all the glory of a revival. Mr. P. was for dismissing them, but Mr. Thompson, who knew both Samuel's weaknesses and his excellencies, interposed his authority, and re« quested him not to interfere, without at the same time appearing to give the meeting his own decided sanction. One man was so powerfully ailected, that several per. sons were obliged to hold him ; and an old man, eighty years of age, was confirmed in his religious experience and principles, which Samuel — not having had a pre- vious knowledge of him^ — mistook for conversion. The missionary meeting succeeded this ; and Samuel being called uf>on to move or second a resolution, took occa- mon to give a detailed account of the principal circum- stances of the meeting the night before. Having, how. ever, omitted the case of the old man, and being re- fused of it by Mr. Thompson, he suddenly turned! round upon him, and in a loud and sharp tone, with a good deal of fire in his eye, wLich shewed that a por- tion of his own spirit was infused into it, and as thoagh he thought it " well to be angry" for the Lord, repliedy "Heh, and you were none so well pleased with il either," — exciting the smile of the auditory. He sup- ported what he deemed opposition, or indifferencp, in a revival, with but an ill grace occasionally. Mr. P., who could not endure the noise in the prayer-meeting, was obliged to take up his cross in another way. He had Samuel for his bed-fellow one night; and long be> .\ •^ \ \ :v:^ N ^ ^^^^ V V THE VILLAOC BL.VCKSMITH. 207 I fore "tired nature" had recruited herself with "baliny sleep," he had to struggle between slumber and song, at an early hour in the morning, till his mate, whose instrument was always in tune, had carolled a hyma •composed of about ten verses, as he lay by his side. His eccentricities in a prayer-meeting were not always to be endured with gravity^ WhiJe at Mr. Bell's, of Temple Hurst, a man was praying very devoutly for the •conversion of his wife. Samuel knew that there were 'Other pre-requisites besides prayer ; and supposing him «to be a little defective in some of the milder qualities of the mind at home, stopped him, and turning round, as he •elevated himself, said, " Set a trap for her, man, and take care to bait it with faith and love,** — settling in- stantly dowH to hid devotions as before, adding to the person, whose voice had been interrupted fi»r the moonent, ;" There, you may go on again." Any improper feding, as manifested on the platfom, towards Mr. Thompson, was quickly swallowed up ifi the finer flow of divine love, which pervaded his whole soul, and was let out on the most insignifkent portions •of the unintelligent ereatures of God. Speaking to Mr. Thompson one day, on the suiiject of religious experi. . «nce, he said, " I had a field of wheat once ; the crows •picked it, and scarcely left a single grain ; I felt some- thing rise withifi me, that said, * I wish I had you all in A bund;*" then, looking at his fr he continued, us If afraid of being suspected of indulging a disposition for cruelty, incompatible with what 1^ deemed a high «tite of giraoe,->-<< But, mind ye^ I was not sanctified then." While in this neighbourhood, he solicited subscriptions for the proposed chapel at Goole — preached to every society in the circuit — assisted in holding four mission- ary meetings — and was frequently ehtertained by respec table families, who were not in membership with the Wesleyan body. The latter pressed him to iiepeat his visits. .^1 ^ ^ (ML ^fi A-' • :f€Jt^'^ m ^^ 208 THB VILLAOB BLACKSMITH. Samuel took a particular interest, as will hrve been perceived, in the welfare of persons of his own trade ; and an instance of usefulness may here be recorded, as given by a blacksmith in a religious assembly, when amtiol was remote from the sound of his voice. " I thank God," said he, " for what he has done for my sou!. I lived long in open rebellion against him — sinning in the face of light and knowledge — and training up my children for the devil. My father, who was pious, reproved me, but 1 regarded him not. He entered my house once, while I was playing at cards with my chil. dren, and spoke to me on its impropriety. My passion ro8e,T— I swore, — took hold of him, and turned him to the door. Samuel Hick came the next day to our place to preach ; and going round to invite the people, he came and pressed me to attend. He saw I was throng ; but to accomplish his purpose, said, < If you are fast, I will help you ;' nor would he leave me till J promised to attend preaching. Accordingly, I went ; and the Lord met me. All my sins were placed before me, and pressed me heavily. I cried aloud for mercy ; Samuel came and prayed with me ; I prayed for myself; and it was not long before the Lord blessed me with Christian liberty. He filled me with pe-'ce and joy through believing, and has preserved wb m his ways to the pre. sent time.'' He left, Snaith and its neighbourhood, about the end of April ; and after paying; one of his " angel visits" at home, visited the York, Pocklington, and Tadcaster cir- cuits ; and three of the places in which he was unusually favoured with the divine blessing were Hessay, Acomb, and Moormonkton, at the latter of which, he observed, "They sang like angels." When at Hessay, in the month of November, having been from home sometime, he found himself, as usual, nearly drained of cash by his charities, one of the last of which cc sisted in contri- biuting towards the purchase of a pig, for a poor woman, who had lost one by some accident or distemper. *' She I THK VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 209 I was sorely distressed," said he ; " for she had ied and brought it up, and could not buy another .without the help of her friends. She was a good Ciiristian^ and I gave her the most of what I had in my pcckeW' But his purse was seen replenished. His son-in-law, Mr. W., had occasion to be in the country ; and on finding that he was in the neighbourhood of York, sought him, iind found him in conversation with a friend in the street. Laying his hand on his shoulder, Samuel turned round, and was surprised to find the face of a relation peering in his own. As Mr. W. was just passing through the •city by coach to London, he could only propo a few brief questions, one of which was, " How- doea your pocket stand affected ?" to which Samuel replied, " It is very low." Mr. W. knew the generosity of his nature ; And dipping deep into his own pocket, gave him a hand- ful of siiver. Samuel considered this a providential «upply, saying, " When I was nearly done with my money, the Lord sent my*8on to York, who gave me more, I want for neither meat, money, nor clothes ; and my peace flows like a river." At this period he oflen preached once a day in the course of the week, and two or three times on the Sabbath. Ho had been employed in the course of this yeur too, in soliciting fiubscriptions for Rider Chapel, a village near Cawood, farming part of the Selby circuit. The summer, the autumn, and the beginning of 1829, were fipent in different directions ; and wherever he was fol- lowed, the people bore a lively recollection of his visits. Traces of him were inviriably found in the converaHions of the friends ; his works and his walk left as distinct an impression upon the mind, as the print of the human foot to the eye, after a person has crossed the sand of the sea shore. Samuel was in York in the latter end of Marcl" 1829 ; and the friends in Easingwold wishing him to pay them j^ visit, a farmer and his good wife, both of whom had l»een brought to God some years before through his * o 310 THE VILLAGE nLAnKsMltll. instTtimcntality, when residing in he York circuit, were deputed to give him the meeting in the city, and to con- vey hitn t'^ the place. He arrived at Easingwold on the 4th of vpril, ahd was entertained chiefly at the house of Mr. William and Miss Mary Dixon. Being well acquainted with Mrs. Roadhouse, he deposited with her two pounds, saying, that he was afraid of losing it ; adding, with a smile, " I have cheated Matty out of this." Mr. R. had been his banker in the Snaith circuit, but having dealt the separate portions out to him with parsimony, from an impression that he gave indiscrimi. nately, he thus made a change. His liberality, however, was again put under an arrest ; and when he was pre. vented from giving the whole aw^ay, he went among the more opulent and begged that he might be made their almoner. One instance of unnecessary, though not inconsiderate bounty, occurred while here. He stepped into the house of a barber, and requested lo be shaved. Enquiring of the man whether he had any other means of supporting his family, and being answered in the negative, Samuel put a shilling into his hand. This produced a grateful feeling, and the man, in Samuel's estimation, was prepared for any thing that might follow. He talked to him on the subjocf religion, and then proposed prayer. The different members of the family were speedily on their knees, and the worshipping jrroup were open for the inspection of the next customer tha; might turn in for the same operation that hud been pei. formed upon the officiating priest. A thousand persons migMP be found to part with their money in the same way, but a thousand persons of the same piety might be found, who, in the same place, and under the same cir- cumstances, could not have brought themselves to act thus, and might be justified in such conduct, without being disposed to enter a sentence of condemnation against Samuel. Of the affection and attention of the Rev. Messrs. Roadhouse and Garbutt he spoke in errateful terms ; ^'^fHf THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 311 «nd, besides preaching, attended, in connexion with them, several missionary meetings. Descanting on a part of his labours, he remarked, in Jus own peculiar way : "I preached last night (April «!) on the other side of Hambleton Hills ; and the Lorif and Mr. Road, house, and me, held a missionary meeting ;" denoting that the Divine Being was as signally present in the ftiauence of his Spirit on the hearts of the people— and without whose presence all missionary meetings are vain to the persons assembled— as though he had been rendered visible to the eye. " It is a mountainous country," continued he, " but very pleasant. The peo- came from all quarters— from hill and dale : the chapel was crowded, and we had a good time. I never saw friends more kind." Here too, as at Snaith, in the bo- som of the mountains, he realized the truth of the pro- verb of the wise man, ♦' As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Early recollections, such as extended to the days of childhood, were revived. One person, in particular, he noticed ; and his joy was full, because of his meeting her onnd was more than it was prudent to urge, offered, in order to relieve the clergyman from his importunity, to give him twenty shillings of silver. Samuel inunedi- Ately, in an altered tone, said — " Give the gentleman five shillings." Clerg, « That will not do." Sam, « Ten then, Sir." Clerg, " I will give you half-a-crown." Sam. " Not less than fiv« shillings, if you please. Sir." The full change was given, and an apology was of- fered for Samuel, for whom it was fortunate an apologist was at hand. Samuel, on the other hand, dropped upon his knees in the room to improve the occasion, and prayed devoutly and fervently for the divine blessing upon the cleigynian. Whether as a rebuke, by way of intimating that int)tructioa was necessary, or as a token •of respect — which at least was singular — the reverend gentleman sent one of his written sermons in the even- ing, accompanied with his regards, to Samuel's com- rpanion. Without placing the least dependence tip i works, he 4oiled as though heaven were alone to be won by them. " If I had ten thousand bodies and souls,"5aid he, "they sshonld all be spent in the service of God." At Cariton, Sheriff Button, and several other places, the word of ex- Jhortation was made a blessing to the people. His use. fulness and popularity nppenred to advance with his age. 2!Qi?8on« who hud heard of him were prompted by curi- osity U> attend his public addresses, and tho«3 who had t'"^^ THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 213 t)enefited by them foHowed him from pUice to place ; so that wjth the curious, the profited, and the stated hearers, the chapels were generally crowded. In addition to evening preacliing, travelling, and visiting the sick, he attended three missionary meetings in one week — moving about, in the 70lh year of his age, with the ap- parent vigour of youth, and' with the fire of a new con- vert. At one of those meetings he met with the Rev. G. Marsden, from Bolton, who pressed him to take ano- ther journey into Lancashire, which he resolved to perform in the course of the year, should he be favoured with health and opportunity.* He fulled too in the prospect of meeting with his friend, Mr. Dawson, at a missionary meeting in the month of May. That month arrived ; but the 14lh was a day to be remembered by Sakfiucl and his friends. He was on his way from Easingwold to Hemsley Black Moor, to attend a mis- sionary meeting. When about three miles from Hemsley his horse took frigia at a chaise. non which some white bags were suspended, enclosing some fighting cocks — wheeled round— and he fell ofi*. " Though no bones," says Mr. Dawson, " were either broken or dislocated, yet the shock was felt through his whole frame. He nevertheless attended the meeting ; but soon found it necessary to leave, when he was taken to the house of a friend." The scene which followed would form a subject as suitable for the pencil of Wilkie as for the pen of a divine. Bleeding being deemed necessary, a medical gentleman was sent for ; but in consequence of absence, his place was supplied by one of his pupils. On his appf arance, Samuel threw off his coat, and turned up his shirt sleeve, as if about to enter on the business « The Editor was in company with Mr. Marsden, and there for the first time hoard Samuel addiess a Missionary Meeting. He was listened to with great attention, and bis address, though exceedingly disjointed, produced great effect. When he lost his " idea" he was not in the leuRt discotnposed, but at once proceeded to relate his experience until his •' idea" returned. 1914 TSE VILLAGE IILACKSMITII. of the sratthy. Had fhe arm been composed of wood, or |)elonged to some other pcrgon, he could not have mani. fested greater self-possession, promptitude, and apparent want of feeling. Stretching i* out, — his hand meanwhile grasping the handle of a Jong brush, and pointing to the vein, " There, my lad," said he, " strike there ;" having the phleme and the quadruped present in the mird, rather than the lancet and the human being. The youth, under the impression of fear, pricked the vein, but no blood appeared, "Try again," said Samuel. The «xperiment was again fruitlessly made. He instantly turned up the sl^ve of the other arm, as if going to another jo'b, or as if he intended to give additional «treBgth to one at which he had just failed, and deter, minately pointing to the spot, said, "Try here, lad; «tfike here, and see if thou canst get any thing." This «xperiment, with the exception of a few drops, was as ineffectual ae those that preceded. The youth was overcome with fear, and withdrew. Foriunately for Samuel, the surgem himself came, about an hour after- wards, and b'^d him copioiisly, after which he was placed in a bed. While bleeding, he said, " Glory be to God, if I die, I'll get the sooner to Heaven." In the course of the same evening, while Mr. Dawson was preaching, the vfiin was cpcne<^ by some accident, when Mrs. Bentley, who was at chapel, and at whose house he lodged, was sent for, and through her kind attentions aid was procured and the arm again bandaged. Samuel thought his work was done, and said to the friends around him, in a tone of holy triumph, " I am bovm home ; glory be to God ! I am bown home." He ex- pressed a wish to see Mr. Dawson again, who had called upon him before, and who no sooner closed the service in the evening than he made all possible speed to his lodging. On entering the room, Samuel accosted him, with a full flow of spirit and of tears — " I am bown hornet ham ! Glory be to God, I am very happy ! I ifbould have bled to death, bartiy but I happened to awa» fUE VlLLACe BLACKSMITH^ 21» ^en." He next proceeded," I want my will nrade, and you must make it." Mr. I)., not deeming him so near his exit as he imagined, and adapting his language an<{ imagery to Samuel's thinkings and knowledge of word», answered, " Well, Sammy, if it is to be so, you aire a brown sheUer ; referring by that, as Samuel well knew, to the ripe fruit — bromiy and ready to drop from the tree, and which, when taken into the hand, faHs out of th«r husk. He was acquainted with Samuel's character, asnd beheld him as ripe and ready for a blesaed immortality, •' Yes," replied Sar^uel, " I am batvn to glory." The will was drawn up according to the best directions h«r was able to give ; but, as Martha was both cashier and> accomptant, be knew very little of his own affairs, and of course found it necessary afterwards to have it altered. He met with his apcident on the Thursday, and on the- Saturday was so far restored as to be able to return to EasingwoW in a gig. The friends at Eaaingwold know- ing that the beginning of the week was the period fixed for his return to Micklefield, proposed that he should preach to them on the Sunday, — accompanying the pro- posal with a hope that it would not seriously injure bin*, while employing every argument to accomplish thfcir wishes, at the risk of his health and life.* He received the proposition with his wonted cheerfulness — preached • This, to say the least, was inconsiderate, being only the day after he had been shaken a good deal by hi#removal fron* Hams, ley ; and were it not for others than the friends at Easinflrwold — to whom the following remarks are not intended to apply beyond* the point of inconsideration just noticed, further observation* would hasre been withheld. What between conscience on the part of the preachers, and thoughtlesaneaa on the part of the peopler— a willingnesg to expend the utmost of their strength in t'^e cau9» of God in the one, and anxiety for them to be useful, frunded o» the value of immortal souls, in the other, the men very oftei» become nwrtyrs in the work. The people are especiaUy culpable in urging a willing servant of God to wotk, in caaes of great debility ; and instances ha^ been knoww, when, instead of ,pf«* venting men from runnuig the most imminent danger of telapt*. 2ie THE VILLAGE fiLACKsMlTIf. on the Sabbath evening — assisted in conducting a prayer- meeting Oil the Monday evening — and proceeded to Yoik in a gig on the Tuesday morning. Reduced as he was in his bodily strength, such was the unconquerable nature of the spirit he possessed, aided by the prospects of a better world, that he appeared more like a person who bad just risen from slight indisposition, rather than as having walked a few paces back into life again front the verge of the grave. or Romething worse, those very men have been tortured in every^ possible way by reasons, why the pulpit should not be supplied;— the tormentors themselves sittinj; like philosophers all the time, AS if coolly making experiments upon human nature, to see the utmost point to which it would go, then returning with the languishing sufferer, administering their hopes, like cordials, that, •— afler they have wrung from him tht} last mite of physical strength, he will be no worse, but improved — by ^hus throwing the fever into his system, with a night's sound repose. Such con. duct, if practised in civil life, would be viewed in no other light, than as the result of mere brutal feeling. The only difference between an ungodly man overworking his servants, like a set of West Indian slaves, and persons ./ho are criminal in the case in hand — and to no other the subject can be applied, is, that tho former are driven, and the latter are dogged to it, through indis. creet zeal — incorrect notions of duty — sympathy for the multi- tude, with a kind of callous fueling towards the individual. Per. sons should be exceedingly careful not even to lay temptations i» the way of zealous, but afflicted men, to take too early the exer- cise of tho pulpit. A man of God has that within him, which will not allow him to remain inactive longer than what is neces. sary. in such Gase8,*the people should stand between the couek and the pulpit, and employ the check rathei' than the incentive. It is a hard case, when a man ;s under the necessity of killing himself to prove that he is poorly : and the worst is, that there is neither any conscience made of the matter, on the part of these overworkers, nor any tribunal at which to try them for their con- duct. They go free, though the man of God may lose his life. He is afraid of their uncandid reflections, if he do not work; though without reasonable ^nd serious reflection themselves ; and to crown the whole, as it is done under the guise, so it is laid to the cbargo of Christianity. A man may, perchance, survive it; but no thanks to the taskmasters for tile pain imparted, any more tban for the life next to miraculously preserved. TKE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 217 He complained of great internal pain at first ; And although it pleased the Lord to raise him again from his couch, and permit him to engage in his usual labour of love, he was more susceptible of cold,* while his friends perceived an evident decay both of memory and of cor- poreal strength. Having preached in his own neighbourhood a short time, he left home for Lancashire in the early part of July. His route appears to have been the following': — He remained two days at Swillington Bridge, in conse. quence of the rain, and spoke of the kindness of Mr. Gilgras. From thence he proceeded to Wakefield, where he preached, and at which place he had often experienced the kindness of S. Stocks, Esq., and other friends. Barnsley was his next place ; prior to reaching whicft he spent two days with Mr. Myers, who quaintly told him he was not to think of '■ making a road over his house." When he arrived at Barnsley, the Triends pre- vailed upon him to remain until their missionary meeting. While in that neighbourhood, he preached at Burton and Cudworth. This was no new ground of labour to him ; and at the latter place particularly, he was rendered extremely serviceable to Mr. G., who afterwards became an useful local preacher, but was in a state of mind verging towards despair, when met by Samuel. They slept in the same room, and every groan fetched up from the soul of the one, was the signal for prayer to the other : nor was it an ejaculation with Samuel, uttered in a state' of repose upon the pillow, which cost him nothing ; for he arose again and again, aid wrestled with God, like Jacob, both in the aark and at day-break. He gave himself no rest, till rest was found by him who sought it. He had here an excellent coadjutor in the general work, in William Smith,— a man of a very differently constructed mind, but in no respect his inferior fo«- siro- plicity?zeal, and disinterestedness. He remained some time alsb, at the house of John Thorneley, Esq., Dodworth Green, near Barnsley, and ■^1 216 TUB VILLAOB BLACXSltlTH. waa the minister of mercy to a number of poor families in the village of Dodworth. Here, as in other places in seasons of distress, his funds— though often replenished by Mr. T. and others, were as often drained of the last mite. Cases of distress multiplying upon him, as is usual with those who take the trouble to seek after them, and having received supplies from his own friends, he enquired, as he had done at Burnley on a former occa- Bion, whether there were not some opulent characters in the neighbourhood, who might be willing to contribute of their abundance towards the relief of the poor ? He was told of one gentleman, by his friend, William Rhodes, but received only such hopes of success as unbelief could afford. Faith, in Samuel, could perceive no obstacles ; he proceeded, therefore, to Mr. C.'s resi- dence, and found him ; and knowing less of circumloca- tion than the legal gentleman himself, entered directly upon the case. Mr. C, either to get rid of him, or being touched in a way which was as rare to himself as it was astonishing to others, took from his pocket a hand, ful of silver, and gave it,— feeling like a person, on Samuel s departure, who, in an unguarded moment, had auftered himself to be imposed upon, and wondering at his folly for having been so far overseen on the occasion. But the truth is, there was so much of God, of justice, of humanity, and of mercy, in all Samuel's applications, that they carried with them the authority of a command, • and became unaccountably irresistable to the persons to whom they were made. While he was at Dodworth Green, his respected friend, Edward Brooke, Esq., of Hoyland Swaine, sefit his s«Jr. vant and gig for him. On seeing the conveyance, the tear started into his eye, and turning to Mrs. Thorneley,* * This excellent lady, who knew how to estimate Samuel's piety and labours, has since been called to her etern#reward. rhe wnler does not proceed beyond his personal knowledge, when ho states that Mrs. T. was modest— retired— intelligent— IiOeral to Iht peer— hospitable, without parade— a perfect model THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. 319 Ae faUeringly observed, '• He will kill me." The zeal of Mr. B. was too much for SamuePs years ; and such an expression, from such a man — one who counted not his life dear to him in the cause of God, must have been wrung from him in the agonizing reflection of past suf. fering. Of this, however, Mr. B. was not aware ; and with his wonted kindness, furnished him with a new suit of clothes. After labouring here a few weeks, he pro- ceeded to Bolton, where he was on the 10th of August ; and had it not been for this Lancashire tour, he would have proceeded into Derbyshire, for which Mr. Thorne- ley had made every preparation, in orddV that he might be rendered beneficial to the men employed in working his coal mines. - Not content with preaching in the chapels, he took his «tand in the streets, and proclnimed the Saviour of sin- ners to the multitude. Taylor and Carlile had just been there, and had engaged the attention of a few of " the baser sort," who had become venders of their blasphenriy. One of these attacked Samuel, while he was addressing the pwople in the street ; and Samuel possessing greater confidence in the truth of God, than ability to defend it, imprudently committed himself, by telling the man, that if he would suffer him to proceed without interruption to lh« oiose of the service, he would go into any privata house with him, or with any number of the same persua- sion, if there were a hundred of them, and he would take them one by one and conquer them. But the man was desirous of public conquest ; and in the lowest slang of the two infidel missionaries, so famous for stooping and raking up from the very depths of the common sewers of infidelity, all the filth of which a depraved heart is capa^ of conceiving, told Samuel that the Saviour he preaohid was a thief, — that he could prove from the Bible itself he of domestio order and happinesR, without buBtle— a great sufferer, but with the invincilkle patience and foriilude of a naartyr-- crowning the whole with the most exalted Christian spirit and 4efaeaoor. A it it ■ m 320 THE VILLAOK BLAC'KfilMITIf. Stole an ans from one pernon, nnd corn out of iho field of another. Samuel immcdialoly rebuitfd the charge, by insisting, that, ns the Creator of nil things, the earth, tho corn, and the cattle upon a thousand hills, were his; that he only laid claim to his own property. This was as good a reply as the low, ignorant attack merited. The roan was prevented from making further disturbance, and Samuel was dissuaded from giving him the meeting. It was a heavy affliction, however, to his mind. He returned repeatedly to the subject, and felt all jiis sensi. bilities in operation for the honour of his Saviour. " I have heard of «ny dear Lord," said he to some of the friends, in his conversation afterwards, " being called a wine.bibber, a gluttonous man, and a friend to publicans and sinners ; but I never heard him called a thief and a robber bofore, though crucified between two." Then he would sob rtnd weep over the charge, as though he wished to sympathize with his Divine Master, while lying, t» he supposed, under this odium. While at Bolton, he received a letter from^Grassing- ton, near Skipton, stating that a niece of his was very ill —not likely to recover—and wished to see him. He no sooner vas informed of this, than he took^the coach for Skipton. The day was exceedingly wet ;' and he being on the outside, his clothes were drenched with rain. He arrived a few days before his niece died, but received his own death-stxoke by the journey ; for he caught cold, which settled upon his lungs, and from which he never fully recovered. In a letter to his partner, dated Sep- tember 10th, he remarked, " I have been very ill since I caine here. I was taken with a stoppage in my breath- mg since midnight. If I had not have got bled, I believe rWiould not have been writing to you just now ; but as soon as the doctor bled me, I found instant relief. I was very happy, and found that God was the God of my sal- vation." In speaking of his niece, he said, " We are waiting for a convoy of angels, and are expecting them •very day, to carry her soul to the regions of eternal ^r^tt-as ^ T«»iTj?vT,w THE VILLAGB BLACKSMITH. 2t\ ffory, where tlfere ii day without night, pleasure with- out pain, and where eternity shall seem as a day. She has obtained a title and a preparation for her heavenly inheritance. She has oil in her vessel, and has on the • wedding garment. The Lord has taken a vast deal of pains with her, but he has proved the conqueror. Sh« can give up all ; and when this is the case, we receive all. It takes a great deal of grace to say, ' Thy will be done.' My son-in-law, Wrathall, wishes me to stop with her tilt she finishes her course. Mr. Knight's family being ill, he is obMged to return to London.*' It was during one of his Lancashire journies, that he was on the outside of one of the stage coaches, as on the occasion of his going to Grassington, in one of the heaviest falls of rain to which he hud ever been exposed : ** And aye, barn" said b--; to a friend, as though a Lan- cashire shower had something peculiar in it — " aye, barn, when it rains there, it does rain ! i^ hills look whit« with it, as it (ftishes down the sides." His heart, as on other occasions, was in the right place. A young woman sat next him, who was much annoyed, boinc but ill prepared to resist the downward force- of the to^nt. He looked at her ; and while pitying her, he felt happy in hie soul, audibly blessing the Lord for all his mercies. Whenever his female compa*)n complained, he as quickly hitched in a pKJlis sentimem, exclaiming on one occasion—" Bless the Lord ! it is not a shower of fire and brimstone froin heaven." This sentence took effect ; it was like a tiail fastened in a sure place; she bacame thoughtful ; and he had the happineg to learn, that, in consequence of hie behaviour and conversation, she became a steady convert to Christianity. He preached twice during the Sabbath, while here, at Grassington and Hebden. Having written to his daugh- ter Ann in London, and home to Martha, but receiving no answer, he was rather anxious. " Whether," said he to the latter, " you do not think it worth your while t# write, or whether you are too busy, I cannot tell : b« V % 'mi 4 u% THE VILLAGE BLACKSAtlTH. ^# Ife am wire, if [ had sent word ihat you hlU a legacy of a hundred pounds left you, I shouhl have had a few lines before now, to know whore and when you were tc receive It. Yet he strove to excuse her because of the harvest Many a time," continued he, " I have set my face over the brown mountains towards Micklefield. I have seen yoii in mmd m the harvest field, cutting down ihe corn. Jf I had wings like a dove I would fly to you, and look at you. We have had a great deal of rain here, almost every day, except last week. When I saw the clouds burst against the mountains, I thought it would stop the ram from reaching you. If you have had as much rain as us, you have had a very wet harvest. But I hope you home^°» """^^ ^^ '' ^"' ""^"^ "® shouting ' Harvest Samuel soon added, "Ten minutes past five, our niece deparled this life. She died in the Lord : and blessed are the dea^hat. die in the Lord. May you and 1 be found ready, when the message comes '" Mr W., who appears to have remained at Grassington till the solemn event took placc,~havmg been more sudden than expected-%bserved in the «ime letter, "Father will be at home, if all is well, about Monday." On his return home, "he was only able," says Mr. liawson, ' " Glory, glory, glor^' tlien in an extacy broke ouLj-r- " I shall see him for myself, and not for another. The Lord has wrought a miracle for me. He can — I .know he can — I cannot dispute it. Christ in me 'the hope o glory. I am like the miser; the more I have^ jthe more I want." His ear, like his heart, seemed only, tuned for heavenly sounds. "Sing the hymn," said he-, , • " Who are these arrayed in white, Brighter than tlie noon-day sun, • Foremost of the sons of light; .\" .i Nearest the eternal throne?" "'"^'^ 229 TUB VILLAGE BLACESMITH. 4 I during the whole of which, he continued to wave his bind in triumph. Then again, with untiring persever. aace in the exercise of praise, •• My Jeaus to know, and feel his blood flow, •Tit life everlasting, 'tis heaven below." The hymn being finished, he said, " Blessed Jesus ? this cheers my spirits." It was said to him, " You will soon be among the dead, Samuel." " No doubt about that," he replied ; " but I am ready to be offered up — glory be to the Lamb ! Some of the friends in London told me, that I did not know how to pray ; but I know better than that— glory— glory— glory ! Mercy of mercies ! Lord, save me !" He was again asked, " What must we pay to your friends, who enquire after you ?" « Tell them, joy, that I have all packed up— that I am still in the old ship, with my anchor cast within the veil — and that my sails are up, filled with a heavenly breeze. In a short time, I shall be launched into the heavenly ocean." A mariner, and even some landsmen, might be able to dis- . cover a confusion of metaphor here ; but the Christian can look through all this, atid can perceive a soul in readiness for a state of endless felicity. A heavenly smile placed upon his Countenance, and the joy he experienced gave ^sivacity to his eye, which scarcely comported wiH tp general debility of tits system. Prayer occupied some of the short inter- viils between hymns ; and such was'the influence of mfi^ ^'P**^ every exercise, that it seemed as though ^ther tones were heard than those from mortal lips, and the room itself was "the gate of heaven." One of the persons who attended him, observed, "I have spent whole nights in reading and prayer : but the night spent by the bed.side of Samuel Hick, exceeded them all." In the afternoon of the day on which he died, some of his friends came from Sberburn to see him. Unable audibly to prny With them himself, he requested them to THE VIILAGE BLACKSMITH. 3f7 pray, and with great feebleness gave out the iirat ittde of one of his favourite hymns, -*< " ril praise my Maker while I've breath; And when my voice is lost in deatbi Praise shall employ my nobler powors.** To a neighbour, he observed with unusual solemnity, "I have as much religion as will take roe to heaven;'' then pausing a few seconds; "but I have none for Matty ;" adding, with another pause, ** and none for the children.'' This is the key which unlocks the secret of his real feelings, and shews that there was no thought fneral parade in what be had previously observed,-— ing beyond a wish that his remains might admonitli living on the subject of mortality. He found that he had nothing of which to boast — no more religion tLan was barely necessary — and wished to impress un|B||I)ose around, the importance of personal^iety. SmPof his last words were, "Peace, joy, and love." As evening drew on, his speech began to falter; yet every sentence uttered by those around appeared to be understood ; and when that hymn was sung, " Ya virgin souls arise," &o. he entered into the spirit of it; especially when tlM friends came t^ "ilRe everlasting doors •*•> Shall soon the saints receive, Above yon angel powers In glorious joy to live ; Far from a world of grief and sin, With God eternally shut in ;" — at the enunciation of the first line of which verse, he lifted his dying hand, and waved it round till it fell by his side ; still feebly raising and turning round his fore* finger, as ihe ann was stretched on the bed, betokening his triumph over the "last enemy, ' and shewing tft thoS#%ho were with him, that he was— »to use ^tjmttgi Ih .r/if- »■ 228 THE VILLAGE SLACKSMITH. . previously employed by him — going "full sail towards the harbour," and had an entrance ministered to him "abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." Just at the moment that the vital spark, which had been some time twinkling in its socket, was emitting its last ray, he opened his eyes, and feebly articulated, "I am going; get the sheets ready ;" and died. This was about eleven o'clock, on Monday night, November 9lh, 1829, in the 71st year of his age.* On the day of interment, which was the succeeding Sabbath, such was the sympathy excited in the neigh- bourhood, that the people for some miles round, uiup> vited, attended the funeral. " Some hundreds," iflp Mr. Dawson, " went to Micklefield, which is about two miles from Aberford. The funeral procession swelled as it proceeded ; and when all met at Aberford, it was computed, on a moderate calculation, that not lesA^than a thousand persons were assembled together." I^is rendered Samuel's "thousand" almost prophetic, and in the dark ages would have won for him the character of a seer. Without any pretension to such giAs, the fact itself of such an extraordinary concourse of people in a comparatively thinly populated district, affords an eminent instance of public opinion in favour of integrity, usefulness, and unassuming worth. Mr. D. adds, " Had notH^ day been rather wet, und the roi|||k|very dirty in consequence of it, it is probable many ni^e would have been there. The church was crowded, and scores could not obtain admission. The worthy vicar M'ould not permit his curate to read the service, bu<, went tlirough it himself, as a mark of the respect he bore to the deceased, and was much pleased with the excellen- * TUe age here specified, is that which was on the breastplate of the coffin- His brother, it may bo proper to notice, is of opiaiou that he was two years older than there stated. The writer not having; had an opportunity to consult the Begistor, is unAble tu decide between the dates. THE VILLAOK BlACKSMITH« 229 cy of the singing. It was truly afTecting to see the crowd press to the grave, to take their last look of the coffin that enclosed his mortal remains. They gazed awhile ; — they turned aside, and wept, exclaiming, * If ever there was a good n?an, Sammy Hick was one.'" Mr. D., might have added, t)0. the infirm and aged, who w^re unable to follow the corpse, appeared in the door.stead of their houses, wiping away the tears as the procession passed ; and that, pleased as the clergyman was with the singing, the tear was seen glistening in his eye in the course of the service. His death was improved the Sabb*ath following, by Mr. DawsoB, who took the text, which, as noticed, Samuel had selected. The chapel was incabable of containing one half of the people that assembled ; and though there had been a considerable fall of snow in the course of the forenoon, -the preacher and congregation were under the necessity of worshipping in the open air. Such was the anxious solicitude of the people to pay respect to his memory, that no less than nine additional funeral ser- mons were preached, in different parts of the Tadcaster circuit, besides others in thc^e of Selby and Pontefratit ; and some of the simple-hearted were heard to say, " I love heaven the better, because of Sammy Hick being there." 4/: CONCLUSION OF THE MEMOIR. 1. In Samuel Hick we are presented with an additional exemplification of the numerous facts which go to sup. port an prgument pursued in a small, but interesting tract, entitled, "Great Effects from Little Causes." It is there shown, that every man, woman, and child can do something — can do much ; that we cannot stiry with- out touching some string that will vibrate after our heads are laid in the dust ; that one word of pious counsel, uttered in the hearing of a child,, may produce an effect 930 THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH. upon children's children whose influence may be futt on the other sidia of the globe, and may extend to eternity ; and that it is not improbable that eternity will disclose to iiS| how the astonishing events of this age sprung at firM from the closet of some obsoure saint, like Simeon and Hannah of old, " prayiig to God alway, and waiting for the consolation of IsraelT" What has resulted from the labours of Samuel Hick, emphatically one of "the we pernatural gifl of tongues." Had the learned prelate pai4|^ proper attention to the subject, he wopld not have selected this portion of Scripture History for the estab- lishment of his non-experience theory ; for it appears — 1. That the apostles and brethren, who were all mem- bers of the Christian Church, about one hundred and twenty in number, were assembled in an upper room in Jerusalem.f 2. That the apostles and disciples were the only per- sons that saw the cloven tongues of fire, — were filed with the Holy Ghost, — and spake in difTerent lan- guages.:}: 3. That on a report of this being " noised abroad, * Acts six. 29-32. + Acts i. 12-15. t Acts ii. 1-4. 236 ANCIGNT ANU MODERN BEVIVALS. the muUitudo came togotlier."* These, it ought to be observed, had neither seen any thing that had occurred, nor even then received tue Holy Ghost.f Having only heard of the descent of the Spirit, their evidence, of course — allowing a trifle for lapse of time — was si. milar to what is furnished to every man in the present day who is confirmed in the truth by a perusal of the fact in the sacred pages. , 4. That when they heard the apostles speak in dif» H ferept tongues, they, in common with all who read ^e account with seriousness and attention, *' were amaim and marvelkd.^" 5. That instead of being effectually convinced, much more converted, they were all " in doubt ;" and some not only ,hung in a state of suspense, but " others mocking, said. These men are full of new wine."§ In this atate, amazed, marvelling, doubting, and mocking, each part sustained by difl*erent persons probably, as in a drama,. the miracle left them — unconvinced and uncon- verted. To attempt, therefore, to get rid of modern instantaneous conversions, by attributing those in the apostolic age to miracle, not only evinces a defect in biblical knowledge, a disposition to con Ine the Spirit's influence to peculiar modes and seasons, but an awful incapacity— from a want of experience — to treat^n a subject so immediately connected with personal dalva* tton and the sacred office. Turning from the miracle and its effects of amaze- ment, ^c,y we find Peter publicly addressing the - " mul- titude" convened on the occasion. jj The general topics on whicn he enlarged were the predictions of the Old Testament in reference to the Messiah ; the signs of his coming ; the blessings of his kingdom ; his charac- ter ; his miracles ; his crucifixion ; his resurrection ; hid ascension ; and the gift of the Holy Ghost.** What, • Acts ii, 5, 6. t Ver. 38. t Ver. 7-12. § Ver. 12-13. II Ver. 14. ** Ver. 14-36. ANCIENT AND MODERN REVIVALS. •487 then, are the factR of the case ? They hre these— and the appeal is made to the sacred records : 1. That the probability is in favour of Peter having addressed the multitude in his own tongue — the lan> guage spoken by the Jews at the time : thus, he ac costed them, " Ye men of Judoea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem," including both natives and 8trar''«»re, to whom, by their residence, the language was fat ...iar.* In his more private conversations, and in his addresses to select parties, befonging to different na.i , he, to- gether with his brethren, empioyed their own separate tongues. f 2. That u was through the preaching of Christ crfc- ciji^dt and not through the miraculous gift of tongueSf that the multitudes were awakened : hence, it is af- firmed, " NoWf when they heard these things" — heard that God had made that same Jesus, whom they had cm- cijiedy both Lord and Christ, " they were pricked in their heart, and said un^o Peter and to the rest of the aposdes. Men and brelhfen, what shall we do ?"$ 3. That it was liot till after the delivery of the gene- ral discourse that signs of genuine conversion succeeded, — Peter being obliged to urge the subject home to tlv» bosoms of Ms audiicr^i, with "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost ;"§ the whole, up to this moment, being deemed impenitent, unbaptized, unpardoned, and with- out the saving influence of the Spirit of God. It was only subsequent to this period that the inspired penman could observe, " Then they that gladly received his word were baptized ; and that same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."|| From the whole of this statement, it is evident, that it was not the medium — not the tongue — not any num. ber of tongues — not even the miracle imparting the gift * Acts ii. 14. t Ver. S-U. t Ver. 36, 37. § Ver. 38, ;; Ver. 41. 238 ANCIENT AND SfODETtri REVIVALS. M of those tongues, that produced the change, but the subject matter of the Christian ministry : the one — viz. the gift of tongues, as well it might, filled the mind with amazement; the other — the words of God — eflfected the conversion of the heart ; and it is still that " word" ac companied by the energy of the Holy Ghost, which the Divine Being has employed down to the present time as the grand and leading instrument in the conversion of sinners. If, agreeably tb the original commission, the gospel was to be preached to every creature, and throughout every era of time ; — if the same end was to be accomplished by it, which could only follow by tba same accompanying influence, — it is rational to sup. pose, since the same necessity exists, that it will prpve as much *' the power of God to salvation" in the pre- sent, and, in Great Brittiin, as in the first century at Jerusalem. With the same instrument, operating on similar subjects, we are not onlv authorised to expect the same grand internal change, but also minor, exter- nal, and often incidental effects, to exhibit themselves. By paying a little attention to the subject, the dififer- ence between an ancient and a modern revival will be found not so great, — and therefore not so alarming, as some persons are led to imagine. The following are a few of the points of agreement : — AN ANCIENT REVIVAL A MODERN REVIVAL. IN JERUSALEM. i. Prior to the religious commotioTi in the holy city, " the v/ord," as has already been observed, was preach- ed by the apostles. Acts ii. 14. 2. The people wore " pricked in their heart." Ver. 37. AMONCf TKE WESLEYANS. 1. The preaching of the Gospel invariably precedes a revival of the work of God amons: the Methodists. 2. Conviction of the ag- gravating nature of moral evil is experienced, and a '"m A2fCI£K'r AND MODERN BEVIVAIi^. 239 3. There was a great enquiry among the persons seriously affected ; anxiously asking, " Men and hrethren, ^'hat shall we do?" Acts 37. 4. The <"^rious enquirers ** continued Ver. 42. , in prayers 5. To prayer, they added the ** breaking of bread." Acts ii. 42, 46. , desire, according to rule, . to flee from the wrath to come, is expected in a)l who unite themselves to the Society. 3. EnquirerSj denomin- ated sincere seekers of sal- vaiiotty multiply on those occasions ; their earnestness and language varying, ac- cording to the degree of feelirig excited. 4. Though prayer-meet, ings are regularly establish- ed throughout the connex- ion, they are much more numerous under a quicken- ing influence of the Spirit of God than at other times. Then, more than at other seasons, they pray " with- out ceasing;" so much so indeed, as frequently to an- noy th»»ir prayerless neigh- bours 5. s no mention is made of mne in this case, and the private members were en- gaged in " breaking bread from house to house,^^ it is warrantable to conclude, that an allusion is made to the AyaitM tovefeasts, to which young ronverts are extremely partial, * and which constitute a part of the prudential means of grace among the Wq^ley- ans. / 240 ANCIENT AND MODERN' REVIVALS. 6. They gladly ^* receiv. ed" the " word" preached. Ver. 41. 7, A love to the sanctu- ary of the Most High fol- lowed; for they continued " daily with one accord in the temple." Acts ii. 46. 8. The religion of the temple entered their dwell, ings, in attestation of which, *• they eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart," — " praising God." Acts ii. 46, 47. 9. " They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship." Ver. 42. 10. The most expansive liensvolence was manifest. 6. Ministers are looked upon as angels of (iod— and tlieir message is" the joy of the soul ; and the man who is most useful in a revival, is most beloved. 7. Places of worship are crowded—old chapels are enlarged — and new ones are built. The language of the people is, "^How amiable are thy taberna- cles, O Lord of Hosts!" In a moment's absence, they are ready to exclaim, " My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord." S. At tables, where "grace before meat" was never heard, and in houses where a family altar was never erected, the voice of prayer is poured forth, and the voice of praise makes melody to « tnem that are without." 9# Uniting themselves in church fellowship to the body, the young converts conduct themselves agree- ably to the gospel, and to the rules and regulations imposed* upon them by a Conference of Christian ministers. 10. There is perhaps not a Christian comfnunity in ANCIENT AND MODERN REVIVALS. ed, as a fruit of the Chris- tianity possessed : they " sold their possessions and goods" — "parted them to all, as every man had need" — broke " bread from house to house" — "and had all things feomraon." Acts ii. 44, 45, 4^. • the world, which supports a more extensive system of Charity than the Wesley- ans. Such are their givings, that . they have been ad- vanced as an objection against the Preachers, as though they were too liber- ally supported ; and these have increased and de- creased with the spiritual "ife of the body. In what, then, consists the principal difference ? In Jerusalem, the converts " had favour with all the peo- ple;" in modern times, an objection is taken against revivaUf because of the occasional noise, which forms an accompaniment. There are persons that merit an apologist, and may be excused for the part they take in attempting to quell an apparent tumult, when persons professing unusual sanctity, and who have been disciplined in the midst of such assemblies, have taken offence at them. They have sometimes raised as great a clamour for order, as the clamour has actually amounted to, which they have attempted to silence. Order, decorum, confusion, &c., very often mean just as much as we are disposed to iiiake of them. Imagine a magnificent edifice, in the course of erection, rivalling, in its splendour, the noble minster at Yofk. Persons totally unacquainted with the plans and designs of the architect, on seeing a hundred men employed in different places, crossing and re-cross- ing each other's path, hewing wood, drawing water, mixing, chiseling, hammering, moulding, with a hun- dred other et ceteras, would be ready to label the whole as one immense mass of confusion. But the architect himself, confident in the harmoniips movement of his own plans, and who can connect the whole from begin- X 242 AKCIEKT AND MODSUN IIUVIVALS. ning to tend, sees that a^ry man is in Iiis proper pface, and that the building is regularly rwing — proceeding with order — going on towards comphtion. This, though not a perfect, is a sufiicient illustration of a rnAVER. HEETiNo. A hundred persons are associated together, with a hundred wants, in a hundred different states, with a hundred objects in view, and with as many dif. ferent modes of accomplishing their purposes. Ilere is . one dumb, and as a beast before *his Maker, capable only of expressing himself by a sigh, A second, more deeply wrought upon, gives utterance to his sorrow by a heavy sob, A third breaks silence with a groan. A fourth, drinking still deeper of the wormwood and gall, actually roars out for the disquietude of his soul. A fifth is wrestling with God in mighty prayer for the blessing tdf pardon, while a dozen more penitents are smiting on their breasts, and each responds to the prayer publicly offered, " God be merciful to me a sinner" — a score of voices lifted up at the same time, and striking in, like the people of old, with a hearty "Amen." Two or three persons, in the midst of this, having obtained peace with God, being very differently affected, are ready to commence a song of praise, and nothing but the word " Glory" dwells upon their lips. Though the prayer publicly presented to God is one, yet the stales of the people differ. It cannot perhaps re&ch emry case, because every case is not knovm to the person who is the mouth of the audience ; and persons will be affected in proportion as it reaches themselves — thus passing from one to another: and till every ca|li is reached, agony itself will compel the penitent to tlirow in bis sententious and ejaculatory interruptions, in order to hasten the blessing. If the people were in one state, had ciil arrived at the same stagf^ of religious knowledge, had the same strength of intellevi, and the same views, Ihey might then be brought to keep tolerable time with each other, like a mmbcr of clocks or wat<.*hes. Until • tnis is the case, the character of a meeting;, composed ANCIENT AND 3I0DERN REVIVALS. 248 of persona taking the kingdom of heaven by holy vio< lence, will vary : and to a perHon entering into a place at the period just described, the whole might appear a scene of confusion^ and he might, by way of hushing it into stillness, bawl out more lustily than any of them, for order and for a constable* But such a person should recollect, that man's confusion is very often God's order. The Divine Being, who aces not ns man — man, who is unable to look beyond the veil of humanity— beholds the same Spirit at work, though various in his opera* tion^—iho same grand work going on, though in differ* ent persons — the work of prayer, praise, conviction, re- . pentance, pardon, holiness, love, joy, peacet all proceeding in regular order, not confusedly mixed up in one human jsoul, at the same moment of time, but distinct, in different persons, A few varied gestures or movements to the eye of the beholder, or a (ew jarring sounds to the ear of the liearer, may confound the individual himself who thus looks and listens, but cannot change the distinct charac- ter of the work. A thousand congregations met at the same moment, under the immediate eye of God. engaged in prayer and praise, though in different places, are not more distinct, or less to be charged with disordbr,4ithan the separate characters in a prayer-meeting, each of whom has his distinct work of grace upon his heart, and his distinct sentiments, ''uttered or unexpressed," on his tongue. There is nothing irrational in different men, in different states, being differently effected, and uaanabstin^ those internal effects b^ external signs. Confusion in the mass to man, is order to God in the individual. They have only to be separated to appear so to their fellows. A partition of burnt clay, three inches thick, will settle the difference even with map, between confusion and order; on each side of a half dozen of which partitions, separate groups may be dif- ferently engaged, one in sighing, another in groaning, a third in singing, a fourth in murmuring accents, like the noise of many waters, following the minister in the V 9. *244 ANCIENT AND MODERN REVIVALS. Litany, or in any part of the Church Service. Let men only be saved systematically, with the charm of brick and mortar between them, and the work at once be- comes genuine ! But the moment the groaners blend with the aighers, the work loses its character, as though the ear of the Saviour could not distinguish sounds, the eye of the Saviour could not discover the shades of dif. ference in the work, or the different workings of the heart! A worthy gentleman who wished to systema. tize matters, and have every thing done decently and in order, feeling, as a member of the Establishment, for the honour of religion, discovered his concern for, and insight into divine things, in rather a singular manner. There was a revival of religion among the Wesleyans in Manchester, in the summer of 1816, and the grand place of cesort for the devout was Oldham.street chapel. As there was an occasional mingling of voices in the chapel, and these had risen «o high as to bring the assemblies under the imputation of " noisy meetings," the gentleman referred to, knowing that Dr. Law, then Bishop of Chester, was about to visit Manchester, took the alarm, and went to an influential member of society, to s^e whether the work, or, in other words, the meet- ings, could not be suspended awhile, till the dignitary had lefl the town, that the credit of the town might not be injured in his estimation. The manufacture of the town will at once account for the gentleman's notions ; going on the supposition that the work of God miejit be managed like the machinery in a cotton tnill, fllit in motion when we please — worked slow or fast — or laid to rest between meals ! The work might be suspended htre^ if it could be effected Jiereafter ; but this can only be shewn on popish principles, and on the principles of the Bishop himself, who hesitated not to pray for one of the royal family after her demise, and which prayer is yet in print, in the funeral sermon delivered on the occasion. Certainly, groans in the living are as jus. tifiablo as nrayers for the dead, and earnestness in reli- gion as prai&v' orthy as indifference. S^iimmi ion ■ ick H be. ■ 1 i ihA ^1 lilt) ^H Jif. ■ the H na- H for ■ inn ^^^1 1 LUU ^H ■ ins H md H H the 1 the ■ I ten H >ok B * 1 ■ try I not ■ he ■ ■ be ■ 1 )id ■ led « H ily ■ of ■ »^^ 1 he ■ • ■ J • THE SUBSTANCE • or AN ADDRESS DELIV£EGD BY THE LATE SAJIIUEL HICK, IN THK WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL, MARKET WEIGHTON, YORKSIIISE. #' t « ADVERTISEMENT. The following Address, which is in the expository form, and which ought to be designated only the substance of what was advanced, was delivered in the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Market Weighton, Sunday, May 23d, 1824, and was taken down by Mr. William B. P— , a " ready writer," from whose MS. it has been printed. Such was the effect it pro- duced upon honest Samuel himself, partly from the unexpected nature of the circumstance, and partly from the novel feeling excited by the sudden repetition of the thoughts, through the medium of another, upon his own ear, when he was converted from the preacher to the hearer, after service in the parlour of MiasP , that he burst into tears, returned thankiyo God, and hoped, that, if printed, itjvould prove a blessing* thou- sands when his bones were mouldering in the dust. The hope of appearing in print, cherished by a wish to be useful, moved like a spirit with him through the whole of his Christian pU- grimage— desirous that in death, as irt life, the warning voice might never cease to be heard. Its publication requires an apology, and knowing this, it was purposely withheld from the first edition ; and, had the biographer consulted either his taste or his judgment, it would have been withheld from the present. But, as an imperfect copy has gone forth, in harlequin habili- ments, for the laugh of the multitude, it seemed due to the body to which the deceased belonged, as well as his own cha- racter, that it should appear in the homely, yet general cos- tumeof his native isle, and not as a stranger and foreigner— scarcely to be recognized in his own neighbourhood ; for, even there, few will be found to say, in reference to the publication in question, " Thy speech bewrayeth thee." It Is painful ccxlviii. ADVERTISEMENT. when a man's friendi-merely from the manner of servinir him, should be mistekon for his ensmies ! • Though there is not any thing in the Address which a reader of the Memoir has not been prepared to expect, with the excep- tion of something like arrangement,— for which Samuel, it is sus- pected, IS partly indebted to Mr. P., and though, as a composi. tjon, It takes an extremely humble stand, if not utterly be. neath critical notice,— yet now, that it Is before the public, it becomes the duty of those who cannot but regret its publics, tion, in the iorm referred to, to make, as the friends of the de. ceased, the best use of its contents. There are two or three references to his own personal history, which are not without interest. His knowledge may be generally traced up to two sources— the sacred text and his own experience. His first appeal was made to the Bible ; and, trying its truths upon his own feelings and practice, ho immediately proceeded,— being satisfied of thefr accordance with each other,— to offer his views to his fellow-creatures, concluding that, on the testi- mony of two such witnesses, there ought to be no gainsaying. Ho resilRance, but an immediate adoption of what was ad van. ced, withbut making due allowance, or perhaps even thinking of either theraUonality or free- agency of the persons whom he was addressing. He thus often became the textuist and expositor of fais o#n experience : he saw, he felt, he believed : and his assertion was deemed sufficient to convince others. In speaking of th6 Supreme Being " soon making a job of It, he was employing the language of lys trade, and dmwing from his own resources, in reference to bis sudden conversion, and also to that of others, as in the case of the innkeeper's " wife, whose change was as rapid as his o^n. The generality of his auditors were in the humblest walks of life; and the manner in which he adverts to the triala and mercies of the poor, brings the subject home to their business and to their bosoms in a way in w ich some of our men of refined taste, and of soaring genius, would neither have discovered nor ttooped to— some hovering always somewhere beyond mid- ABVERTISEMENT, ccxHx. heaven, and olhora relishing only the beauty and elegancy of Janguage and sentiment. While some of the digrmctions, as in the case of " spirit and soul," — in which he appears to be aided a little by his short-hand friend,— are too nice for the discriminative faculties he posfieseed, there are others in which he appears to advan- tage ; as in the different uses he makes of rejoicing and thanksgiving ; referring the one to tho Christian's feelings^ and the other to the mercies through which those feelings are .excited. His observations on " quench not the Spirit," are natural, and the points touched upon, if attended to, such as are calculated to improve the heart. The simile of the ** trees," which, by tho way, has been partly employed in the Memoir, without the writer being aware at the lime that it had been U8e4, by Samuel, is one of those modes of illustra- tion calculated to produce siiniiar effects upon others ; and the use of it is no moie derogatory to the dignity of the subject, though rather homely withal, than the use of a barren fig- tree, dug about and dunged, for the instruction of the multi- tude. Perhaps not quite so much can be said in favour of his comparison of different degrees of grace with the coinage of the realm ; yet laughable though it be, it contains in it a truth which every judicious reader will at once perceive, without being disposed to push it beyond the meaning intended to be conveyed — that each succeeding blessing from G(.d rises in real value, in the same proportion as it brings us ii^ confor- mity with his own divine image : nor will the biblical student be much offended when he recollects that Samuel might be led to the association of religion with the produce of the mint, through his mind hovering, like a bird, over the servant that *• digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money ;" and over that other passage, " The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field ;" or the female, who, " having ten pieces of silver," lost one of them— swept the house— found it — and rejoiced. > '.' -.-.v .■!im,m3^S£: y SUBSTANCE ov AN ADDRESS. <■ Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks : for this is the will of God in Christ Jcuus concerning you. Quench not tlra Spirit. Despise not prophecyingfl. Prove all things : hold fast that which ia good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of p4>ace sanctify you wholly : bnd I pray God your,wh6le spirit, and soul, and body, b« preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. V. 10-S3. I HAVE to tell you, that you have only an old blacksmith in the pulpit to-night, and that jou may look .for very plain truths. When I first began to preach, I was sadly afraid, lest I should not be able to recollect my text, for I could neither read nor write. But now, blessed be the Lord, I can do both. The Lord is a wonderful teacher ; and when he undertakes any work, be cai soon make a job of it. I cannot preach a learned sor- mon ; but I can give y6u the word of God just as I ha*r© it before me. " Rejoice ev»irmore." — The text says " evermore.^* What ! rejoice in tribulation, in famine and nakedness, — when there is no money in the pocket, and no meat in the cupboard ? Was there ever a man, think you, that could do so ? O yes, my friends, i can find you a man that did. What says Habakkuk ? " AUhaugk the fig -tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit he in the vines ; the labour of the olive shall failf and the fields ^ 252 THE SUBSTA^(JE OF AN AftBHESS. shall yield no meat ; the flock shall be cvC off from the, Jold, and ihert shall he no Jierd in the stalls : yet I mil rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." Do you think I cannot find you another in the word of God ? O yes, I can. What says Job, after all his losses and sufferings ? « Naked came lout of my mo. ther's womb, and naked shall I return thUher : the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away ;" and what then ? Why, " Blessed be the name of the Lord T Who would have expected this ? Not the infidel, I am sure. He would rather have thought that Job ought to have said, " And cursed be the name of the Lord !" And Co you think, friends, that we are going to be beat by these Old Testament saints— those that lived in the dark ages ? No, no. St. Paul speaks about being "joyful m tribulatipn:' In xhe text, he says, " rejoice ever, more ;''-.-" and again I say rejoice:' You may do as you like, friends ; but, for my part, I am determined to enjoy my privilege—to " rejoice evermore,'' as here commanded. "Pray without ceasing." That is, live in the spirit of prayer ; and pray with your voice as often as you have opportunity. You may pray when you are at your work, as wel! as when you are upon your knees. Many a time have I prayed while shoeing a horse ; and I know that God has both heard and answered me. Were it not for this inward prayer, how could we" " pray without ceasing r St. Paul did not mean, that we were to leave our business, or our families, and be always upon our knees. No, no. I have rr^y business to mmd, and my family to provide for : and, glory be to God ! while we " provide things honest in the sight of all men," we may « work out" our " salvation" by praying secretly to Him. But this is not all. We should have set times for grayer, both public and private; wo should pray with our families, and also in the house of God. It would be a sad thing, if, in the day of judgment, any of our ehildren were to rise up, and sav, (( THK SUBSTAHCK ap AN AJ^REsi.. heard 263 I never heard my parents pmyi | _„^ therp curse, and swear, and 'telf lies, but not pray." Other children may say, " We have heard our parents pray, —for they said the Lord's prayer; the very first word of which was a lie in their mouths. They knew that God was not their 'Father;' they neither loved nor served him, but were. of their father the devil." O, my friends, this outside ^ i\\\s formal i jligion, will not do; we must get it into our hearts. Then our prayers will be acceptable to Ood, and useful to ourselves. " In every thing give thanks." What ! for a bad debt, or a broken leg ? for parish pay ? for a dinner of herbs? for a thatched cottage? Aye, praise God for all things He knows what is best' for us. We have more than we deserve ; and we should neither take a bite of bread, nor a drink of water, without giving thanks for them. If we were more thankful for our mercies, God would give us more ; but we are by nature so very ungrateful— either murmunng aghinst provi- dence, or expecting sa much more than common food and raiment, that we need a* positive command, before we will give thanks for what God gives to us out of his free bounty.— You must give tlianksy then *''for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Now, the wUl of God should be the law to jian ; and you hear, that it "is the will of God in Christ Jesus," that Christ, ian mcii should " rejoice evermore ; pray without ceas- ing.; and in every thing give thank&." AnothdV part of the text is, *• Quench not the Simrr." You that have the Spirit of God, see that you do not quench it. Grace is a very tender ^plant, and may easily be destroyed. You ne^d not go to bed drunk, to quench the Spirit, ft may •be quenched by neglecting prayer, by giving your minds to foolish and trifling objects, by attending* to earthly things, by refusing to do good, by not praying wi'.h your families.— -The master with whom I was an appientlce, ^vDr used family prp.yor: I have often thought of it ■Jf' 254 THE SUBSTANCK OF AK ASJDRESS. since : and it was no wjnder. that we grew up so Very wfci;ied. When I got converted, it was as natural for me to pray with my family, as it was to live. I should bo like a fish out of water without prayer. — But we way also grieve or quench tho Spirit, by refusing to do our duty,- and by speaking rashly with our mouths. I re- member quenching the Spirit of God in this way once. A man came into my shop, and asked me to do a job for him. Being afraid he would never pay, 1 felt vexed that he should ask me, and hastily told him that I would not do it. But I soon felt that I had done wrong, and would have given almost any thing to have had my words back again. Besides, I thought the refusal might lose the man a half day^s work. But I was off my guard ; the devil gained his point ; and pride hindered me from con. fessing.my sin. Well, what was to be done? Satan had gotten me down ; but I was not to lie there, and give all up. No. I said to my wife, " I have lost my evidence of the favour of God ; I will go to Mr. Bram> well, — he is a man of prayer, and will help me to obtain it again." He did so, and I found it, — glory be to God! "Despise, NOT piiophesyings." Do not turn your backs upon the word of God ; for "faith comeih by hear' ing, and hearing by the word of God.** I told you, that you have only an old blacksmith for your preacher. But you must not think; that, because of that, you have no need to repent, and turn to God. What I say, is true ; and if I speak according to the will of God, you have as much right to attend to what I say, as thou-rh' the greatest preacher in the world were in the pulpit. You may not think me a very wise preacher, but I am a very safe one for you; for if I preach at all, it. must be the Go<5pel of Jesus Christ. I know nothing else ; jmd if I were to lose my relijfion, I should not offer to preav another sermwi. — But I must get on, or I shall preHCu too long, — and long sermons do no gdod. In the first 8ge of Christianity, some were for 'Paul, some for Apol. los. and some for Cephas. Some said one thing, aod THE SUBfT^ANCE Or AN ADDRESS. 256 # some said another: but we are to ''try the spirits wlie. ther they an of God," And St. Paul says, "Prove all things." Do not be content with any religion that comes to hand, but examine it, and see if it be right — according to Scripture. Some folk boast about not changing their religion, and that — however they may live-— reckon they will not have to seek their religion at last. Alas, ibr them! They are called Christians on no better ground than Turks are called Mahomedans, — merely because their fathers and fheir grandfathers were called so. When I first became reli- gious, I thought I would join the best people and bo right, if possible. I knew what the Church was ; so that I did not need to try it. I went to a C^-thdlic chapel, as the Catholics say ihey are the oldest Cnrisiians m the world, and make great pretensions to bo the true Church. But I did not understand their Latin prayers and monk- ish ceremonies, and found I could get no good to my soul there. I then went to a Quaker Meeting ; but there was never a word spoken ; and I wanted to know how I might love and serve God. Afier that, I went to the Baptists, and the Calvinists ; but the Methodists suited me best. Still. I ar.. not slavishly ^ound to any party ; and if I could find a gairwr, a better, or a cheaper way of getting to heaven, I would willingly go thf^ way. ^" Hold fast that which k good:' Having found reli- gion, don^t be so ready to part will. it. Hold it fast. The world, the flesh, and the devil, will strive to get it from you ; but be determined soo- -i to part with your life, than make shipwreck of faith anr* i good conscience. "ABSTAIN FROif ALL APPKAl ^2 OF EVIL." Thit i8s. If unsanctified, it will be driven to a place of misery. Some men-have thought, that the terms "spirit and soul m the text, refer to the powers and disposi. tions ot the mind ; but which ever way it is, and whe- ther you divide man into three parts, or thirty parts, St. laul means to include them all in this entire sanctifica. tion. We are first to be sanctified, ana then to be ** preserved blameless unto the earning of ouy Lord Jesus vnruL The justification of a sinner is a great work, which none but God can perform ; but to sanctify that Sinner wholly, is almost more than the mind can under- stand. There are many who stagger at the doctrine of entire sanctification, and cannot think that it refers to «"y !;,f ® o^ grace upon earth. But St. Paul prays that the p ^salonians may be thus sanctified, and often speaks vf it in his other Epistles. He declares, that THE Substance of an address. 257 *'this is the will of God, even your sanctiftcatim," I had doubts about this doctrine once : but I was convinced of Ihe truth of it one day, while going through a wood. I saw two trees which had been felled. One of them had been cut away to make a ship, or a coffin, or something else : but the stump was left in the ground, and young trees were again growing out of the old one. Ah, thought I, this is like a man who is justified. The stump of his evil nature remains, and fresh evils spring up and trouble him. Well, Sirs, I came to the other free. It was laid upon the ground, but the roots were stubbed up, so that it could not grow again. I said to myself, ^his tree is like a man in a sanctified state ; the strings are cut which tied him to the world; and the earth is no longer about his roots ; " the world is cruci' Jied" to him, and he "unto the tvorld,'* I got a fair view of the doctrine of sanctiHcation that day; and it was the Lord himself, that made use of these two trees to teach me what I desired to know. I sometimes com- pare religion to the best coin of the realm. First, there is repentance : this may be compared to a seven-shilling piece ; though there is but little of it, still it is good. Then comes pardon : this is liko half a guinea. Next comes sanctification : this is like a guinea. Now, who would be content with seven shillings, or even with hiUf ^ guinea, when he might just as well have a whole guinea, by applying for it ? What a blessed world this will be, when the Christian church zealously contends for the doctrine of Christian holiness! Nearly the whole of our natural disorders are owing to our sins. If people were more religious, there would not be so mueh need of doctors ; and» when the Millenkum comes, they may get a fresh trade, — for, as there will then be no more sin in the world, so there will be no more pain or sickness. This state of Holiness is not without its trials. As you got into it by faith, you may get out of it by unbelief. You must not think that the battle is ended, or the work is done, ■3t 1 ^ 258 THE SUBSTANCE OP AN ADDn£S8>. when you have stepped into this liberty of the Gosfml. No : you are to be " Preserved BLAMBtEss." When persecution or tri- hulation arises, whether from the devil or man, do not part with your sanctification. It will abide a storm. Do not slip into a state which is more dangerous, though not so mucki exppsed ; and, if you should lose your hold, strive to get it again. It sometimes happens, in a great battle, that a particular house or barn is taken and re. taken many times in a day. I have lost this sanctifica- tion differoat times, but I always got it again. I have suffered a good deal for sanctification. The devil onco got hold of me thus : — A cunning man came into my shop one day, and asked me what good I got by going to lo^efeasts and other meetings, and whether it was not pospible to live to God without so much trouble and so much praying ? What he said set me a reasoning. I thought I could, and began to try ; but I soon lost my evidence of sanctification, and as soon felt my loss, f was like old Pilgrim, who had lost his roll, and went back to find it, There are people who believe that sin will never be deMroyed but by death ; and thus thfey make death a Rtightier conqueror than Jesus Christ. The founders of mat Church had other views, for they taught us to pray, that the " thoughts of our hearts may be cleanseijji by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit." If the thoughts are cleansed, we are sure that the words will be holy and the life good; for it is out of the heart, as the fountain, that all evils flow. The language is nothing but the bell, and the hands the index, to show what is within. If there was no clock-work in the inside, we sh(HiM never know the hour of the day. The promise of the Saviour is, that the gospel shall be preached as A witness among alt nations, and that then the end shall come. The end of what ?— the end of the world ? No, no ; the wickedness of the wicked shall come to an end, stnd the earth shall be filled with the glory of God. THE SUBSTANCE Of AN AUDRESO. 259 This doctrine I will preach to the end of my life. If the king were to make a decree, that, if any man dared to preach the doctrine of sanctification, he should have his head cut off, I would willingly go and lay my head upon the block, and would shout with my last breath, " Map themry God of peace sanctify you wholly^ through- out body, soul, and spirit, and 'preserve you blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ " O friends, get this sanctification of the heart ! pray to God for it ear- nestly ; believe that it is your privilege to enjoy it ; and claim the blessing by faith in Jesus Christ. The Papists talk ot a purgsftory after death ; but 1 have been in one in this life :— " 'Tij8 worse than death my God to love, And npt my God alone*" I never mean to be in this purgatory again. While I live in the enjoyment of this religion, I will invite others to nartake of it. Yes, I will preach this sanctification .«« While I've breath, And, when my voice is lost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers." Sin has led many a man to destruction, but I never heard that holiness ever injured any one. 1 had a man that lived with me : he was a very good workman, but JetermineJ to live in sin. He would never come in to family prayer, and it grieved me sadly that any /nan should live in ray house who was such an enemy to god- liness. He was such a spendthrift and reprobate that he had hardly any clothes to his back, and was always in debt at the alehouses and shoemaker's. Well, I thought, " this must come to an end ;" and I determined to part with him. While reasoning one day upon it, I thought again, " How many years has God had patience with thee, Sammy? Why, five-and-twenty years* !" Then I said to myself, " I must have a bit more f|k|ience with this poor fellow, and try some other means to Bring S60 THE SUBSTANCE OP AN ADDBESS. about hi^ conversion." Well, Sirs, I set a trap for him. and baited it with faith and prayer. I got him persuaded to go to a lovefeast. The people wondered to see him there. He went out of curiosity, to hear what the friends had to say, and, it may be, to make sport of them. But God found him out, and brought him into great distress of soul. This ended in his conversion. God made a bran new man of him ; and he now finds that godliness has the promise of this life. He looks a hundred pound better than he did. He soon began to pay off hw old debts, and now lives without making fresh ones. Did sin ever do a man any good like this ? No. It promises much, but it never" performs what it proi raises. The truth is, it has nothing to give ; for " the wages of sin is death," Every sinner will shrink from the paymeht of those wages which he has earned by a life of sin. It 18 religion that makes good husbands, good wives, good children, good masters, and good servants. It is the best thinff a man can have in this world, and it is what will fit him for heaven. May God save you ! I hope I shall meet you all in heaven. I feel such love to you, that I could take you all in my arms and carry you into Abi-aham's bosom. O, that every person in this congregation may turn from his evil ways, and be- come a lew creature ! May <* the very God of peace eanctify you wholly, and preserve you blameless in body, mm, and spirit !*' Amen ! HYMNS ^Selected hy the Subject of tht Memoir, to be iung at his Paneral. I HVMN I. 1. Mjr life's a shade ; my days Apace to death decline : . My Lord is life ; he']] raise IVIy duEt again, even mine. Sweet truth to me ! I shall «rise, And with these eyes my Saviour see; 2. My peaceful grave shall keep My bones to that sweet day I wake from my long sleep And leave my bed of clay. Sweet truth to me ! I shall arise, And with these eyes my Saviour see. 3. My Lord his angels shall < Their golden trumpets sovfliid ; At whose most welcome call My grave skall be unbound. Sweet truth to roe ! I shaU arise. And with these eyes my Saviour se«« 4. I said sometimes with tears, "Ah me ! I'm loath to die:** Lord, silence thou tboM fears ; My life's with thee on high. Sweet truth to me! I shall arise. And with tbeeo eyes my Saviour see; .^j^" fm^ 2fi2 HYMNS. . 5. What means my trembling heart, To be thuB shy of death ? My life and I aha'nl part, Though I resign my breath. Sweet truth to me! I shall arise, And with these eyes my Saviour see. 6. Then welcome, harmless graVe ; By thee to heaven I go. My Lord his death shall save Me from the flames below. Sweet truth to me ! I shall arise, And with these eyes my Saviour jee. HYMN II. 1. fle's gone ! the spotless soul is fled, And numbor'd with the peaceful dead, To glorious bliss removed ; Summoned to take his seat above. In mansions of celestial love, And permanent delight. 2. Here all his pains and suflerings ends. Safe In the bosom of his friend, His Saviour and his God; His warfare's past, his time is o'er, And he shall never suffer more ; From pain for ever free. CHORUS. He's landed in the arms of God, And wash'd his robes in Jesu's blood. And stands before the throne. ■"'•IP^'''' -j>^- GLOSSARY. oaentimes, pronounced of ens. <-. hnuier. • • • • • • • • hower. .. t cherch, iomeUmea cfcircA. mishoners, hetteu' eight. $ietieM» tDod. happen. I7ffit[ or parfeai, generilly purfit. Ink hmi>tpou)ring, cxceoaingly broad. sawn. ^ 8oen» u)^ttr,-W)/tor, wor. auder*d. Hesrele. sud. setten. hoe. marcy. wat. henter* hit. hus. wakken. .- » j- Metterdisaet, or MethBrdtsses. Metherdis. torned, weet. a stile, a stee. foet, 1 foeh j divided nearly into two skoel, ^ ...•-- noen, S!' agreeably-;; '''« "^li.t/ffio'^^^^^^^^^^ educated neighbours, would pray for th9 i*ora w the slumbering sinner. F I I« I S. Our, Church, Miisionaries, Eaten, Eat, Societiesi Would, Open, People, Perfect, Take, Outpouring, Sown, Soon, Where, Ordered, Israel, Should, Set, Who, Mercy, What, Enter, It, Us, Awake, ^ Methodists, Methodist, Turned, Wet, A ladder, Foot, Fool, School, Noon, Night, • • • • • • • • • t • • • • • • • • ■ • • • • •