greatly enlarged, and the Lord gave many testimonies that his endeavours to be useful in his cause were acceptable and successful. His labours in Bath at this time were owned of God, and not a few were added to the society. In a letter to his esteemed friend and correspondent, James Kershaw,* Esq., of Halifax, he says:

"I have been enabled to speak of our Jesus here, to the astonishment of the rich and noble. They have behaved with remarkable attention; and, by the numbers increasing, I trust the Lord will make himself known by this 'foolishness of preaching,' as he did of old.”

The duties of his parish having called him home, he was obliged to leave Bath before Lady Huntingdon's arrival, and much earlier than he had intended. Mr. Venn, in his letter to her Ladyship, after his return to Huddersfield, says :

"It was a real concern to me that I was under a necessity to leave Bath when I did; but my times and places of preaching on the way were so fixed, and at Easter so very much duty in preaching and surplice services, that my brother Ryland could not have gone through without me. You make me happy in telling me there is every appearance that the word of the Lord in my mouth was not in vain. All I can say is, that I teach that I do know, and testify that I have seen; that I feel the power and preciousness of the life and light of Immanuel; and, therefore, I would wish he was known by all who are ignorant of him, and very suspicious of his power and government."

It was now that the Rev. Samuel Furley removed to Bath on account of his health. This good man was early connected with the Methodists. While at Cambridge he had formed an acquaintance with Mr. Venn, then Fellow of Queen's College, and his senior by eight years. To him he recommended Law's "Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life," and Mr. Venn read it with peculiar interest and advantage, and immediately began to frame his life according to the Christian model there de

The members of a Socinian Club, in a market town near Huddersfield, sent two of their body to attend this strange preacher, to detect absurdity and furnish matter of merriment for the next meeting. They went; but were struck with the sight of the multitude assembled, the devotion of their behaviour, and their anxiety to attend the worship of God. When Mr. Venn ascended the reading: desk, he addressed his flock, as usual, with a solemnity and dignity which showed him to be deeply interested in the work in which he was engaged. The earnestness of his preaching, and his solemn appeals to the conscience, so deeply impressed one of the Socinian deputation, that he observed, as they left the church, "Surely God is in this place! there is no matter for laughter here!" He immediately called upon Mr. Venn, told him who he was, and the purpose for which he had come, and earnestly begged his forgiveness and his prayers. He requested Mr. Venn to visit him without delay, and left the Socinian congregation: and, from that time to the hour of his death, he became one of Mr. Venn's most faithful and affectionate friends. This gentleman was James Kershaw, Esq., of Halifax.

lineated. After his ordination, Mr. Furley did duty a few months in London, occasionally assisting Mr. Romaine, and soon after removed to Lakenheath, in Suffolk. He continued there but a short time, and from that place went into Yorkshire, and resided at Kippax for twelve months. Whilst there Lady Huntingdon became acquainted with Mr. Furley, through the medium of her niece, Mrs. Medhurst. He afterwards removed to Slaythwait, where he remained five years, and preached to a large congregation, to many of whom his ministry was much blessed. There he received a visit from Lady Huntingdon, when she was with Lady Margaret Ingham at Aberford. In the year 1766, being in London, he was introduced by the Countess to the excellent Mr. Thornton, of Clapham, who presented him to the living of Roche, in Cornwall.

Mr. Furley seldom left his parish; but whenever he visited Bath he always rejoiced at being invited to preach in Lady Huntingdon's chapel. He was a faithful and zealous preacher of the everlasting Gospel; rather a Boanerges than a Barnabas,* and his learning and abilities made him an excellent explainer of the holy Scriptures. During the period he was at Bath for the benefit of his health and medical advice, Lady Huntingdon often visited him. "Dear Mr. Furley, (says Mr. Venn,) writes me word he had the pleasure of seeing your Ladyship at Miss Gideon's.+ Your visits of love to that afflicted friend of mine, and child of God, I doubt not are a more reviving cordial to her soul than any medicine." Through the whole of her severe illness, Miss Gideon's cheerful resignation to the Divine will was wonderful to those who were eye and ear witnesses to the Christian fortitude and patience with which she bore the most excruciating pain. The conversation of Lady Huntingdon and Mr. Furley was peculiarly serviceable to her, and though she had to struggle with much feebleness and pain, occasionally attended his ministry at her Ladyship's chapel:

:

"Not a complaining word (says the Countess) ever escapes her lips; but she is continually repeating that sweet passage of ScriptureWhom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Dear Mr. Furley prayed with her a few days ago, and administered the Lord's Supper at her house. Truly this child of God is in the furnace of affliction. May she come forth like gold from the refiner's fire."

Lady Huntingdon's stay in Bath was very short. On the 7th

More a son of Thunder than a son of Consolation.

+ Miss Gideon was one of that plenteous harvest that was gathered to the Lord in the drawing-rooms of Lady Huntingdon in London, under the powerful preaching of her chaplains. She was a daughter of Sampson Gideon, of

of April, accompanied by Miss Orton, she went to Trevecca, where she was joined by Mr. Fletcher, who waited on her for the purpose of escorting her to Madeley, whither she went on the 26th of April:

"I have just received your letter (writes Mr. Fletcher to Mr. Ireland) upon my arrival from Wales, with dear Lady Huntingdon, who is of a truth a tried stone, built upon the corner-stone; and such as you have seen her, such, I am persuaded, you will find her to the last, a soul devoted to Jesus, living by faith, going to Christ himself by the scriptures, instead of resting on the letter of the Gospel promises, as too many professors do."

Soon after Lady Huntingdon's return from Trevecca, Mr. Whitefield arrived in Bath. It was during this visit that her Ladyship had another numerous meeting of ministers at her house.* The Rev. Richard Hart, rector of St. George's, Kingswood, Rev. James Brown, rector of Pentishead, and vicar of Kingston, Mr. Jones, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Roquet, rector of St. Werburgh's, Bristol, Mr. Howel Harris, Mr. Furley, and many others were present; all of whom expressed their stedfast de

Belvidere-house, Kent, Esq., a man well known, and sister of Sampson, first Lord Eardley. At one period she resided at Clifton, but afterwards removed to Bath, where she enjoyed the society of those to whom her heart and affections were united. She was a woman of deep piety, and much esteemed by Lady Huntingdon, and those men of God who laboured for her. In the correspondence of Mr. Whitefield are to be found some letters addressed to Miss Gideon, and she is often mentioned in the letters of Mr. Romaine, Mr. Venn, and others.

* With a view to promote that cause which she valued more than life, Lady Huntingdon was accustomed, from time to time, for a number of years, to assemble the evangelical clergy in the vincinity of Bath, at her residence, to consult upon the most advisable plans to be adopted for the more general diffusion of divine truth in different parts of the kingdom, and in the immediate neighbourhood of their respective cures. As early as the year 1755 we find her thus actively engaged. In the month of January 1756, there was another meeting at her Ladyship's. Mr. Chapman, vicar of Bradford, Mr. Hart, then curate of Warminster, Mr. Johnston, perpetual curate of Cirencester, Mr. Brown, then curate of Bradford, and afterwards vicar of Kingston, Mr. Rawlings, vicar of Padstow, Mr. Hill, rector of Tavistock, and one or two others, composed this little band. On these occasions there was frequent preaching. Numerous audiences were collected; the sermons were listened to with the deepest attention, and her Ladyship received many testimonies of their usefulness. own spirit was always much refreshed by these meetings; and her clerical friends were accustomed to hail her arrival amongst them as a season of peculiar pleasure and advantage.

Her

The Rev. William Rawlings, formerly of Exeter College, Oxford, and for forty years vicar of Padstow, was the intimate and bosom friend of Mr. Walker of Truro. His son, the present lector of Lansallos, espoused a niece of Lord de Dunstanville.

Mr. Hill was the particular friend of the Rev. George Thompson, vicar of St. Ginney's, in Cornwall, under whom he was awakened. He was a pious and exemplary minister, and possessed a good church living, which he knew how to apply to proper uses. He died about the year 1800, at an advanced age.

termination to brave every suffering and reproach for the Gospel' sake, persevere in the great cause in which they were engaged till every city had the standard of the cross erected in it, an every obscure village in the kingdom, by some means or otherd should hear the joyful sound!

A few days after this meeting, Lady Huntingdon, Lady Anne Erskine, Miss Orton, and Mr. Howel Harris, accompanied Mr. Whitefield into Gloucestershire on a preaching excursion. From thence her Ladyship proceeded through Wales to Derbyshire and Yorkshire. Thence she repaired to London, accompanied by Mr. Whitefield; but her stay was short, as she proposed to spend the winter at Bath. Not long after her arrival there she received the afflicting intelligence of the death of her esteemed friend, Mrs. Venn. For the last few months of her life she was in a very declining state of health; and when Lady Huntingdon was at Huddersfield she perceived strong symptoms of a rapid decline. Her spirits, which during her health had been remarkably lively, were now become equally low. This, with the weakness she felt, and the thought of her beloved husband's affliction if she should be taken from him, with many other fears, almost overwhelmed her.

The following particulars of Mrs. Venn's illness are extracted from a brief statement in Mr. Venn's own hand-writing. It is addressed to his dear and intimate friend, the late Sir Richard Hill, Bart., and soon after communicated to Lady Glenorchy, by her confidential friend and adviser, Miss Hill. A copy was also sent to Lady Huntingdon by Sir Richard, and was some years after published by her Ladyship's Chaplain, Mr. Wills, in his "Spiritual Register."

"On the 5th of September, when some alarming symptoms appeared, she told me, I am ready, I am willing to depart; so clear a view have I had of my Saviour !' On Tuesday the 8th, when the fever raged, she laid her hand upon the head of her dear friend, Miss Hudson, saying, 'O that I could take you up with me to everlasting rest!' On Mr. Ryland asking her whether she could not still bless God, she answered, smiling, O! now is the time for Him to bless me!' meaning her disease bore down the activity of her mind, and rendered her entirely passive to receive the comforts of his love. Two days before her departure she desired we would not pray for her re covery, but for some mitigation of her pain, and for an easy passage to the Lord. This request was fully answered: for though her pain increased, till she once said, 'I think it is greater than I can bear!' yet the very last words she uttered were-'Oh, the joy! Oh, the delight!'

"I was in much pain (continues Mr. Venn) after I knew we must part, from the fear of what she might suffer in the agonies of death. But in the midst of judgment, upon me a sinful man, my God remem

bered mercy for she appeared insensible from six in the morning till a quarter past two in the afternoon, on the 11th of September, 1767; when, only drawing in her breath twice, somewhat longer than usual, her spirit took its flight, and left me suffering under an affliction which nothing but the presence and love of Jesus, and the clear evidence of her being with Him, could make supportable."

Mrs. Venn's remains were interred by torch-light, and Mr. Burnet, afterwards vicar of Elland, preached in the church during the service. Her afflicted husband was wonderfully supported, and enabled to preach her funeral sermon the next morning, being Sunday, to a very crowded and deeply affected congregation, from "Let me die the death of the righteous; and let my last end be like his !"

Nothing could exceed the kindness of Lady Huntingdon's nieces, Mrs. Medhurst and Miss Wheeler. They invited him and his children to Kippax, hoping to relieve his mind from the load of grief which seemed to press heavy upon him.†

Nor was Lady Huntingdon less solicitous for the welfare of the friend she so highly valued. Shortly after this distressing event, her Ladyship wrote to him, inviting him to spend some time with her at Bath. Mr. Venn's answer is worthy of preservation, not only because it exhibits the sensible supports which he enjoyed at this time, but likewise because it gives an interesting detail of the effect of his ministry at Huddersfield :"Huddersfield, Oct. 15, 1767.

"The only return I can make your Ladyship for the very tender sympathy you show for me in my present trial, is prayer to Him who has already made so much use of you as an instrument, that he would do so more and more. Six places I have been most cordially invited

* It is rather singular, that though much of the above narrative is inserted in the Life of Mr. Venn, lately published by his grandson, yet the names of Sir Richard Hill (to whom it was addressed) and Lady Glenorchy (from whose life it is taken) are studiously omitted. Strange that the descendant of this apostolic man should consider it a disgrace to be associated with such characters, particularly Sir Richard, who was his most intimate friend. Unfortunately this feeling pervades the work.

+ His letters to these excellent women will be read with deep interest and profit. It is a curious fact, that although their names frequently occur in the Life and Correspondence of Mr. Venn, and many of his most valuable and interesting letters are addressed to them, yet the reader is left to conjecture who these favoured correspondents were. This is the more extraordinary, as there are frequent notices of his intimate friends and associates scattered through the work; but not the slightest allusion to their being the nieces of the Countess of Huntingdon, as if their connexion with that incomparable character detracted from their real worth or sterling goodness, and degraded them in the estimation of Mr. Venn's biographer, who, in every possible way, is most assiduous to steer clear of the odour of Methodism. The worthy Venn had a soul superior to this species of trifling. He loved all who loved his Divine Master, of whatever name or denomination.