in everything wherein his Master is to be served and glorified. Self-seeking ever proceeds from lowness of mind. The more truly and spiritually noble any man is, the more public-spirited for God's honour, and the good of Church and State.-Bishop Reynolds. METHODISM IN FORMER DAYS. No. XXXIII. THE REV. BENJAMIN INGHAM.* (To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine.) AMONG the earlier associates of the Wesleys and their contemporaries of the "Godly Club," the name prefixed to this article appears with considerable prominence; and any additional item of information tending to illustrate his personal history can hardly be otherwise than acceptable to the readers of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine. Mr. Ingham was descended from highly respectable parents, and was born at Ossett, near Dewsbury. The parochial register presents no record of the time of his birth; but the following extract from the baptismal entries of the year 1712, renders it probable that it occurred in the early part of that year: —“Mense Junij.—Benjaminus filius Gulielmi Ingham bapt. Decimo-Septimo Die." A writer in the "New Evangelical Magazine " mentions June 11th as the period of his birth. He received a liberal education at the grammarschool of Batley, whence he proceeded to Queen's College, Oxford. His residence at Oxford was not more important for its literary and collegiate advantages, than for his introduction to that little band of students, whose names are so intimately associated with the ecclesiastical history of the eighteenth century. During the first two years of his residence at Oxford, he lived in the dissipation and ungodliness which then obtained on the banks of the Isis, yet was occasionally the subject of considerable mental dissatisfaction and disquietude; and in 1733 he became a member of the religious society which formed the nucleus of those more widely extended ones which still retain the name and observe the discipline of their venerable Founder. Mr. Ingham visited his paternal village in July, 1734, and immediately commenced the holding of religious meetings every evening in the house of his mother, which became the commencement of that "general awakening" in Yorkshire to which the Messrs. Wesleys, Whitefield, Nelson, &c., so distinctly and pleasingly refer. He returned to Oxford in February, 1735, and was ordained in ChristChurch, on Sunday, June 1st,t by Dr. Potter, who afterwards became Archbishop of Canterbury, and the author of a work on Church Government. He commenced his ministerial career in the true spirit of a primitive Evangelist, by preaching the same day to the prisoners in Oxford Castle, * Compiled from various authentic sources, including valuable communications from Rev. J. Sutcliffe, M.A.; Thomas Marriott, Esq.; and Mr. Joshua Robinson, of Dewsbury, whose kindness the writer gratefully acknowledges. + Mr. Charles Wesley was ordained Deacon in 1735, by Bishop Potter. Query, were Mr. Ingham and he ordained on the same day? Mr. Ingham proceeded to London the following week. Mr. Charles Wesley was admitted into Priest's orders by the Bishop of London, on the following Sabbath. and on the 4th of the same month proceeded with Mr. Gambold to London, when he was engaged as the "reader of public prayers at Christ-Church and St. Sepulchre's." The sanctified friendship of the early Methodists, a friendship which differences of opinion on minor questions of polity or doctrine could never destroy, and which their mutual toils and persecutions served to cement and strengthen, forms a marked feature in their character, and the following letter may furnish a not inappropriate illustration : "Mr. Sisson's, George-Yard, Snow-Hill, London, June 17th, 1735. "REV. SIR,-The chief intent of this is to express my respect and gratitude to you, and dear Mr. Charles, as at your departure from Oxford there might seem to be some indifference between us; but according to the old saying, Amantium iræ amoris redintegratio est, my affections have the more inflamed since that, and I have often thought of writing to inform you of it, but hitherto have delayed. I have reason to believe you have met with variety of trials at Epworth, and I have heard you evil spoken of abroad; and for these reasons I love you the more, and pray the more earnestly for you. "You have heard of the fluctuating condition of some acquaintance at Oxford. London friends have much the same esteem for you. 'You are a good man, but are too rigid,' &c. Master, in so saying, thou reproachest us also.' "But to give you some good news. Mr. Salmon is a sincere friend. Mr. Whitefield is well known to you. I contracted great intimacy with him since your departure. He is zealous in a good cause. All friends at Queen's (College) I left in a hopeful condition: their number is increased, and I verily believe will increase. Mr. Hervey fights manfully in Northamptonshire. Mr. Broughton is really a holy man. Mr. Morgan, (I suppose you have heard his case, how he is forbid all conversation with you or your friends, &c.,) I hope, will make a good Christian. Our friends at Ossett go on very well. I baptized Piggot and preached at the Castle the day I was ordained. I think there were thirty, save one, at the sacrament at St. Mary's the day before I came to London. On Friday I shall set forward for Matching. I have thoughts of visiting my friends in Yorkshire; and if you continue at Epworth, I think to come and see you. I have also a desire to see Mr. Clayton at Manchester. I have been with Mr. Gambold and Hall to see Mr. Law. We asked him some questions; but he talked only about man's fall, and the one thing necessary. He is a divine man. I like several of the religious people in London, but I must confess they are not over zealous. I have had a great many turns and changes since I saw you. I believe I must be perfected through sufferings. Notwithstanding, by the blessing of God, I hope to press on, and persevere in the constant use of all the means of grace. I intend at present to read the Scriptures in English, together with Mr. Law's books. When I shall have the happiness of seeing you or your brother, I shall acquaint you with many particulars which I cannot now mention. In the meantime, "I rest, dear Sir, "Your sincere and affectionate friend, and brother in Christ, 66 My hearty love and respects to your brother and mother, &c. "A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps;" and instead of paying his intended visit to Yorkshire, Epworth, and Manchester, &c., on Tuesday, October 14th, we find Mr. Ingham, with Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, Delamotte, &c., taking boat at Westminster, embarking on board the "Symmonds," at Gravesend, and voyaging towards the distant shores of Georgia. The occasion of that voyage may be best presented by the following extracts from a communication addressed by him to his "much honoured mother, dearly beloved brethren and sisters, and all Christian friends," and bearing the date of Savannah, May 1st, 1736 :— "About six weeks before we took shipping for Georgia, I received a letter from the Rev. John Wesley, Fellow of Lincoln-College, Oxford, the substance whereof was as follows:-'Fast and pray, and then send me word whether you dare go with me to the Indians.' Having observed his directions, about three days after the receipt of this, I answered him to this effect:-I am satisfied that God's providence has placed me in my present station; whether he would have me to go to the Indians or not, I am not as yet informed; I dare not go without being called."" A personal interview with Messrs. John and Charles Wesley, and Mr. Salmon, of Brazennose College, in which the whole question was carefully considered, though it did not elicit the consent of Mr. Ingham to accompany them on their self-denying mission, induced him to "pray more fervently and frequently, that God would be pleased to direct" him "to do His will." Mr. Ingham proceeds to add, "Besides the three gentlemen afore-mentioned, there was also one Mr. Hall, brother-in-law to Mr. Wesley, resolutely determined to go. When they had been in London about ten days, in which time I frequently conversed with them, I found my heart so moved one night by being with Mr. John Wesley, that almost without thinking it, I said, 'If neither Mr. Hall nor Mr. Salmon go with you, I will go.' At that time there seemed no probability that either of them would draw back. They were both of them ordained by the Bishop of London in order to go: Mr. Salmon, Deacon; Mr. Hall, both Deacon and Priest." The objections he presented were met by the masterly and logical reasonings of Mr. Wesley; various and formidable difficulties disappeared, or were satisfactorily disposed of. Neither Mr. Salmon nor Mr. Hall accompanied the Wesleys, and Mr. Ingham prepared to redeem his pledge. The narrative of the voyage has doubtless come under the reader's notice in the Journals of John, and the Life of Charles, Wesley; and our extracts from Ingham's shall be consequently sparing. During their detention in the vicinity of Cowes, the following characteristic resolutions were agreed to by the parties subscribed :— "In the name of God. Amen.-We whose names are here underwritten, being fully convinced that it is impossible either to promote the work of God among the Heathen, without an entire union amongst ourselves, or that such an union should subsist, unless each one will give up his single judgment to that of the majority, do agree, by the help of God,— "First,―That none of us will undertake anything of importance, without first proposing it to the other three. 66 Second, That whenever our judgment or inclinations differ, any one shall give up his single judgment or inclination to the others. “Third,—That in case of equality, after begging God's blessing, the matter shall be decided by lot. "J. W, C. W, B. I, C. D." Their detention at Cowes afforded them the opportunity of preaching both on the isle and on board the other vessels; and while waiting a favourable wind, they added to their former resolutions a fourth :-" If any one upon being reproved, or upon any other occasion, shall feel any sort or degree of anger or resentment, he shall immediately, or at the next meeting, frankly and fully confess it." At length they left Cowes about nine in the morning of Wednesday, December 10th, and addressed themselves with their wonted courage to the details of the voyage. Mr. Oglethorpe's attentions to the emigrants are favourably noticed by Mr. Ingham : "Friday, December 19th.-Mr. Wesleys and I, with Mr. Oglethorpe's approbation, undertook to visit, each of us, a part of the ship daily, to provide the sick people with water-gruel, and such other things as were necessary for them. At first we met with some difficulties, but God enabled us to persevere in their constant performance to the end of the voyage. Mr. Oglethorpe himself went several times about the ship to comfort and encourage the people; and, indeed, he has never been wanting in this respect. He is a pattern of fatherly care and tender compassion, being always ready, night and day, to give up his own ease or convenience to serve the poorest body among the people. He seldom ate above once a day, and then he usually chose salt provisions, though not so agreeable to his health, that he might give the fresh to the sick." In noticing the interview with Tomochachi, the Indian King, we are informed, in addition to the interesting conversations recorded by Mr. John Wesley, that they received the visit in their gowns and cassocks, and after spending some time in prayer; and in truly Indian style, the Queen “presented a jar of milk, and another of honey, that we might feed them, she said, with milk, for they were but children, and that we might be sweet unto them." The peculiar difficulties and perils of the Georgia Mission have been brought before the attention of the readers of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine, in former Numbers, and need not now be repeated. After remaining nearly two years, during which he enjoyed the friendship of the Wesleys, and was honoured with their confidence in the delicate and painful scenes through which they were called to pass, he left Savannah on February 27th, 1737; and proceeded, by way of Carolina and Pennsylvania, to England, with the intention of securing additional aid to strengthen the hands and extend the labours of this heroic band. The precise occasion of his failure in the accomplishment of this cannot now be ascertained with distinctness or certainty. It is not improbable that several influences of an unfriendly character contributed to this result. The autumn of that year found him at Ossett, from whence he addressed a letter to Mr. C. Wesley, which may not be wholly unacceptable : : "Ossett, near Wakefield, October 22d, 1737. "MY DEAR BROTHER,-Your letter is just come to my hands. I rejoiced over it, because it came from you. I was afraid you had been almost lost; but since I see you are desirous to make full proof of your ministry, I greatly rejoice. Blessed be the Lord, who by his grace preserves me from falling, amidst the deceitful and alluring, bewitching temptations of worldly preferment. May He still continue his loving-kindness towards you! May He thoroughly settle and establish you! May you have power to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, and, like a brave soldier, manfully to fight under Christ's banners! May your one desire of living be for Christ's sake, and the Gospel's. "I have no other thoughts, but of returning to America. When the time comes, I trust the Lord will show me. My heart's desire is, that the Indians may hear the Gospel. For this I pray both night and day. "I will transcribe the Indian words as fast as I can. I writ to Mr. William Delamotte three weeks ago. If he did not receive the letter, it miscarried. I wish you could inform me, that I might write again. "I have been just now talking to Mr. Godly, Curate of Ossett. (You know, I believe, that he is misnamed.) I was all on a tremble while I talked to him, and for a good while after. He took my reproof very uneasily. But, however, he trembled as well as me. I have lent him The Country Parson' to read; and, since he went away, I have been praying for him in an agony. I seem to be full of hope, as if God would turn his heart; and, O that He may! One of the wickedest women in all Ossett is turned since I came down; and, I believe, she will make a thorough convert. She says she is sure God sent me to turn her heart. To His holy name be all the glory. There is another poor soul too here, that is under the most severe agonies of repentance. Cease not to pray for these, and the rest of your Christian friends at Ossett, who pray constantly for you. "Last Sunday I preached such a sermon at Wakefield church, as has set almost all about us in an uproar. Some say the devil is in me; others, that I am mad. Others say no man can live up to such doctrine; and they never heard such before. Others, again, extol me to the sky. They say it was the best sermon they ever heard in all their life, and that I ought to be a Bishop. "I believe, indeed, it went to the hearts of several persons; for I was enabled to speak with great authority and power; and I preached almost the whole sermon without book. There was a vast large congregation, and tears fell from many eyes. To-morrow I preach there again. "Every day I undergo several changes within me. Now I am under sufferings, sometimes just ready to sink; then again I am filled with joy. Indeed, I receive so much pleasure in conversing with some Christians here, that I have need of sufferings to counterbalance it. Last Saturday night we were sixteen that sat up till after twelve. We have to meet again tonight, after the rest are gone; and we shall pray for you, and the rest of our Christian friends everywhere. You would think yourself happy to be but one night with us. "Give my sincere love to Mr. Hutton's family, whom I never forget. Are they all well? The Lord bless them all. Greet brother Whitefield. My heart will be with you on the seas, and everywhere. Never be discouraged. "Yours sincerely and affectionately." Solicitous to be instructed in the way of God more perfectly, he accompanied Mr. Wesley to Germany, and reached Marienbourn on Friday, July 7th, 1738. There they were introduced to Count Zinzendorf, (by whom, and Peter Böhler, Mr. Ingham was invited to visit the place "where *See Abridged Ed. of Charles Wesley's Life, pp. 59, 60. VOL. IV.-FOURTHI SERIES. 4 D |