invited by the Rev. Mr. Wesley's ministers, and also by the societies. And the Rev. Charles Wesley announced him from the pulpit; and by him he was introduced to the pulpit in Newcastle, where he preached four times, and twice in the fields. The season being too far advanced, he did not proceed

obscure people, to any motive but the real one. He thought his tongue should never be still in guilty silence, while he could speak to the honor of that God, who had done so much for his soul. And while he saw sinners perishing for lack of knowledge, and no one breaking to them the bread of life, he was transported by love to pity them; and, this notwithstanding the selfish reluctance he felt within, to give up his name to still greater reproach, as well as his time and strength to the work of the ministry. What a reflection should this afford to that laziness of heart, to call it by no worse a name, which thinks the service of God, after naming it in prayers before him a "perfect freedom," to be a hard burden, and which courts easy duty and large fees, only for an indulgence to the flesh, and to hold up a sort of foolish and unmeaning respect in the world.

During all this intense and persevering application to what was the whole delight of his heart, God was exceedingly favorable to him; for, through the space of sixteen years, he was only once suspended from his labors by sickness, though he ventured in all weathers upon the bleak mountains, and used his body with less consideration, than a merciful man would use his beast. In this manner Mr. Grimshaw employed all his talents even to his last illness; and his labors were not in vain in the Lord. He saw an effectual change take place in many of his flock; a deep sense of evil and good, and a striking restraint from the commission of sin, brought upon the parish in general. He saw the name of Jesus exalted, and many souls happy in the knowledge of him, and walking as becomes the gospel of Christ.

Mr. Grimshaw's behavior throughout his last illness, was all of a piece with the last twenty years of his life. From the very first attack of his fever, he welcomed the approach of death. His intimate experimental knowledge of Christ, abolished all the reluctance which nature usually feels to a dissolution; and, triumphing in him, who is the resurrection and the life, he fell asleep in Jesus, April 7, 1763, in the fifty-fifth year of his age, and in the twenty-first of eminent usefulness in the church of Christ. His body was interred with what is more ennobling than all the pomp of solemn dirges, or of a royal funeral; for he was followed to the grave by a great multitude, with the most affectionate sighs, and with many tears; and who cannot still hear his much loved name without weeping for the guide of their souls, to whom each of them was dear as children to their father.

A funeral sermon was preached at St. Dunstan's in the West, London, on the 17th of April, 1763, ten days after his decease, by the Rev. William Romaine, rector of St. Ann's, Blackfriars, from Phil. i. 21. "For him to live was Christ, and to die was gain."

A funeral sermon was also preached at Haworth church, by that excellent and faithful minister of Christ, the Rev. H. Venn.

A full account of Mr. Grimshaw can be seen in the "Sketch," drawn of him by Mr. Venn; which mentions several particulars, which are too extraordinary and too valuable to be buried in silence.

The following anecdote was related in a sermon preached at Surry chapel, London, Sept. 29, 1793, by the Rev. Mr. Bull, of Newport Pagnell.

When Mr. Whitefield was once preaching in Mr. Grimshaw's church in Yorkshire, he took occasion to say in his discourse, that "He was willing to hope in the judgment of charity, that most of his hearers were good peopleconverted people and truly possessed of the grace of God." Upon which Mr. Grimshaw, who was present rose up, and with an elevated voice, said, "No, no, sir, they are not half of them converted by the grace of God. Speak to them faithfully."-" So let me be faithful to you," said Mr. Bull, not mince the matter, and say, peace, peace, where there is no peace."

to Scotland, but he returned to London, having preached thirty times in Yorkshire; in Cheshire and Lancashire ten. He was also at Sheffield and Nottingham. The congregations were mostly peaceable and attentive, only in one or two places was he rudely treated; but this he regarded not, could he only win souls to Christ.

He came to London in November, and continued till February; during which period, besides laboring in his usual way, he occasionally assisted at West-street Chapel, preaching and administering the sacrament.

February 8th, 1750. From Gloucester he writes thus: "Though I left London in a very weak condition, and the weather was bad, I came here on Friday evening, was strengthened to preach on Saturday, and likewise on Sunday evening, and twice the same day in the country, at the new house at Hampton."

And again, from Bristol, February 12. "Since I wrote last, we have been favored both in Gloucester city, and in the country, with very pleasant and delightful seasons. I have preached above twenty times within these nine days; and though frequently exposed to rain and hail, am much better than when I left London." From Bristol he went to Exeter and Plymouth. On the way he met with the Rev. Mr. Pearsal, an eminent dissenting minister at Taunton, and the Rev. Mr Darracott,*

The Rev. Risdon Darracott was the son of a dissenting minister in the Isle of Purbeck in Dorsetshire, where he was born, February 1, 1717. He received his academical education at Northampton, under the care of the pious Dr. Doddridge, and began his ministerial course in 1738, at Penzance, in Cornwall. Here he continued little more than two years, being obliged, by the loss of large quantities of blood from his stomach, to leave an affectionate people. Under this alarming affliction, he spent about half a year among his friends in Devonshire, where his own father had lately been a fervent and useful preacher, and where he died at about the age of forty. Upon the death of the Rev. Mr. Berry, an aged and excellent minister of Christ at Wellington, in 1741, Mr. Darracott had a unanimous invitation to succeed him. He found the congregation small, and the number of communicants but twenty-eight. His ministrations drew a large concourse of hearers from the neighborhood, many of whom had never before made any profession of religion, and were at first brought to Wellington out of more curiosity. His meeting house was soon insufficient to contain the hearers, and was therefore enlarged; but after that, it was usual for many to be obliged to stand without the doors. In proportion to the number of his stated hearers, the Rev. Mr. Fawcett, who preached his funeral sermon, says, "He never knew any congregation which appeared to have so many instances of abiding religious impressions;" and he adds, "I have good reason to believe, that his ministry was owned to the ef fectual conversion of many hundreds of souls." In consequence of this remarkable success, he left behind him more than two hundred communicants. He fell asleep in Jesus, March 14, 1759, aged forty-two.

The night before he died, he said, "Oh what a good God have I, in and through Jesus Christ! I would praise him, but my lips cannot. Eternity will be too short to speak his praises." The physician coming in, he said to him, "Oh what a mercy is it, to be interested in the atoning blood of Jesus! I come to the Lord as a vile sinner, trusting in the merits and precious blood of my

at Wellington; both of whom he mentions with great respect. He preached at Plymouth twelve times in six days, and each time his hearers increased, as did the zeal of his friends; while the fury of his adversaries began to abate. He proceeded thence to the Land's End, preaching at a great many places by the way.

We find him, by March 21, again at Exeter. "Invitations," says he, "are sent from several places, I want more tongues, more bodies, more souls, for the Lord Jesus. Had I ten thousand, he should have them all."

In April, he was in London, and at Portsmouth; and in May went to Ashby. He had a delightful interview with the Rev. Dr. Doddridge, Rev. James Hervey,* and others. But at Ashby, where it might have been least expected, there was a riot made before Lady Huntingdon's house, during the preaching there and in the evening, some people returning home, very narrowly escaped being murdered. The justice, upon information, ordered the offenders to be brought before him. "So that I hope," says Mr. Whitefield, "it will be overruled for great good; and that the gospel, for the future, will have free course."

Leaving Ashby, he preached at Radcliff church, Nottingham, and Sutton, with great success. "At Nottingham," says he, "several came to me, inquiring, What they should do to be saved? I preached there four times. One evening, Lord S and several gentleman were present, and behaved with great

dear Redeemer. Oh grace! grace! free grace!" His last words were, "I am going from weeping friends to congratulating angels, and rejoicing saints in glory! He is coming! Oh speed thy chariot wheels why are they so long in coming! I long to be gone.'

* Mr. Hervey thus wrote of his interview to a friend: "I have seen lately that most excellent minister of the ever blessed Jesus, Mr. Whitefield. I dined, supped, and spent the evening with him at Northampton, in company with Dr. Doddridge and two pious, ingenious clergymen of the Church of England, both of them known to the learned world by their valuable writings. And surely I never spent a more delightful evening, or saw one that seemed to make nearer approaches to the felicity of heaven. A gentleman of great worth and rank in the town invited us to his house, and gave us an elegant treat; but how mean were his provisions, how coarse his delicacies, compared with the fruit of my friend's lips; they dropped as the honey comb, and were a well of life. Surely people do not know that amiable and exemplary man, or else, I cannot but think, instead of depreciating they would applaud and love him. For my part, I never beheld so fair a copy of our Lord, such a living image of the Savior, such exalted delight in God, such enlarged benevolence to man, such a steady faith in the divine promises, and such a fervent zeal for the divine glory; and all this, without the least moroseness of humor, or extravagance of behavior; sweetened with the most engaging cheerfulness of temper, and regulated by all the sobriety of reason, and wisdom of scripture; insomuch that I cannot forbear applying the wise man's encomium of an illustrious woman to this eminent minister of the everlasting gospel: 'Many sons have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.'"

decency. Many thousands attended. Yesterday morning I breakfasted with three dissenting ministers, at Mr. Ps, who told me that Lady P desired he would press me to preach at the church. Yesterday in the afternoon I preached at Sutton, and this morning at Mansfield." He then went to Rotherham and Sheffield; and at the end of May was at Leeds. He says, "methinks I am now got into another climate, where there are many of God's people." He next went to Manchester, and so on to Edinburgh, where he arrived July 16, having preached nearly ONE HUNDRED times since he left London; and it is supposed to above ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND Souls. "It is amazing," he writes, "to see how people are prepared in places where I never was before. What shall I render to the

Lord ?"

At Edinburgh and Glasgow, in which places he spent the month of July, 1750, he was as usual, received with the most unfeigned tenderness and joy, preaching to great multitudes of serious and attentive people, which made him exert himself beyond his bodily strength. "By preaching always twice," he says, "once thrice, and once four times in a day, I am quite weakened, but I hope to recruit again. I am burning with a fever, and have a violent cold; but Christ's presence makes me smile at pain; and the fire of his love burns up all fevers whatsoever."

He left Edinburgh, April 3, and was soon much recovered by riding. At Berwick, one of the ministers sent him an offer of his pulpit, which many others around the town were also willing to do.

When returned to London, he preached often at West-street chapel. Mr. Hervey, at his request, came to town, and lodged in his house, in whose company he enjoyed much pleasure.

In the month of October, he again ranged about, as he expressed it, "to see who would believe the gospel report," preaching at Plymouth, Chatham, Gloucester, Birmingham, Evesham, Wednesbury, and Nottingham. And was more than ordinarily successful at Chatham and Canterbury.

In London, he passed the winter with incessant labor, and with great success. He was a fortnight confined in his room, by a fever and inflammation of the lungs; but in December was able to preach again.

At the latter end of January, 1751, he rode post to Ashby, much alarmed at the news of Lady Huntingdon's dangerous illness, and the afflictions with which her family was visited at that time. On the 29th he writes thus :-"Blessed be God, Lady Huntingdon is somewhat better. Entreat all our friends to pray for her. Her sister-in-law, Lady Frances Hastings, lies

dead in the house. She was a retired christian, lived silently, and died suddenly, without a groan. May my exit be like hers. Almost all the family have been sick in their turns."

March 5, he went again into Gloucestershire, and to Bristol, preaching in his way to Plymouth.

April 11, at Exeter, he wrote thus to Mr. Hervey :-" Some good I trust, is to be done this spring to many souls. This western circuit, I believe, has been blessed already. I have preached about forty times since I left London, and have been enabled several times to ride forty miles a day. I find this sensibly refreshes me. I wish you could say so too. At Plymouth, we had sweet seasons; and on Tuesday last, I met with a young clergyman who was awakened by my preaching seven years ago. He has been at Cambridge, and was ordained by the bishop of Exeter. He is followed much, and I suppose, will soon be reproached for his Master's sake. I hope you find strength to proceed in your book."

From Exeter he journeyed through Wales, and rode nearly five hundred miles, preaching twice a day; and then made his visit to Ireland, which he had intended for some time.

CHAPTER XV.

From his first visit to Ireland, to his opening a new Tabernacle at London in the year 1753.

AFTER a passage of five days, he arrived at Dublin, May 24, 1751. There he was received gladly, and lodged at the house of Mr. L- preaching also every morning and evening. "Surely," says he, "here are many converted souls; among them are two or three students, and several soldiers. At first the greatness and hurry of the place surprised me; but thanks be to the Lord of the harvest, here as well as elsewhere, the fields are white, ready unto harvest. Congregations are large, and hear as for eternity."

And again-" Athlone, June 10. For this week past I have been preaching twice almost every day in some country towns. I found through the many offenses that have lately been given, matters were brought to a low ebb. But the cry now is, 'Methodism is revived again."

* In the MS. he says, "I took a journey from near Haverford west to Ireland, where a yet greater work had been begun, and carried on to a high degree, amidst prodigious opposition; numbers converted, not only from popery, but to Jesus Christ, at Athlone, Dublin, Limerick, Cork, and various other places."