And may we not, I. Observe a few particulars of his Life and Death. III. Enquire how we may improve this awful Providence, his sudden removal from us. I. 1. We may, in the first place, observe a few particu lars of his Life and Death. He was born at Gloucester, in December, 1714, and put to a Grammar-School there, when about twelve years old. When he was seventeen, he began to be seriously religious, and served God to the best of his knowledge. About eighteen he removed to the University, and was admitted at Pembroke College in Oxford: and about a year after, he became acquainted with the Methodists, (so called,) whom from that time, he loved as his own soul. 2. By them he was convinced, that we "must be born again," or outward Religion will profit us nothing. He joined with them in fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, in visiting the sick and the prisoners, and in gathering up the very fragments of time, that no moment might be lost; and he changed the course of his studies, reading chiefly such books as entered into the Heart of Religion, and led directly to an experimental knowledge of Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3. He was soon tried as with fire. Not only his reputation was lost, and some of his dearest friends forsook him; but he was exercised with inward trials, and those of the severest kind. Many nights he lay sleepless on his bed; many days prostrate on the ground. But after he had groaned several months under "the spirit of bondage," God was pleased to remove the heavy load, by giving him "the Spirit of Adoption," enabling him, through a living faith, to lay hold on "the Son of his Love." 4. However, it was thought needful, for the recovery of his health, which was much impaired, that he should go into the country. He accordingly went to Gloucester, where God enabled him to awaken several young persons. These soon formed themselves into a little society, and were some of the first fruits of his labour. Shortly after, he began to read twice or thrice a week to some poor people in the town, and every day to read to and pray with, the prisoners in the county jail. 5. Being now about twenty-one years of age, he was solicited to enter into Holy Orders. Of this he was greatly afraid, being deeply sensible of his own insufficiency. But the Bishop himself sending for him, and telling him, "Though I had purposed to ordain none under three and twenty, yet I will ordain you whenever you come ;" and several other providential circumstances concurring, he submitted, and was ordained on Trinity-Sunday, 1736. The next Sunday he preached to a crowded auditory, in the church wherein he was baptized. The week following, he returned to Oxford, and took his Bachelor's degree: and he was now fully employed, the care of the prisoners and the poor lying chiefly on him. 6. But it was not long before he was invited to London, to serve the cure of a friend going into the country. He continued there two months, lodging in the Tower, reading prayers in the chapel twice a week, catechising and preaching once, beside daily visiting the soldiers in the barracks and the infirmary. He also read prayers every evening at Wapping-chapel, and preached at Ludgate-prison every Tuesday. While he was here, letters came from his friends in Georgia, which made him long to go and help them : but not seeing his call clear, at the appointed time he returned to his little charge at Oxford, where several youths met daily at his room, to "build up each other in their most holy faith." 7. But he was quickly called from hence again, to supply the cure of Dummer, in Hampshire. Here he read prayers twice a day, early in the morning, and in the evening, after the people came from work. He also daily catechised the children, and visited from house to house. He now divided the day into three parts, allotting eight hours for sleep and meals, eight for study and retirement, and eight for reading prayers, catechizing, and visiting the people.-Is there a more excellent way for a servant of Christ and his church? If not, Who will "go and do likewise?" 8. Yet his mind still ran on going abroad: and being now fully convinced he was called of God thereto, he set all things in order, and in January, 1737, went down to take leave of his friends in Gloucester. It was in this journey that God began to bless his ministry in an uncommon manner. Wherever he preached, amazing multitudes of hearers flocked together, in Gloucester, in Stonehouse, in Bath, and in Bristol; so that the heat of the churches was scarcely supportable : and the impressions made on the minds of many were no less extraordinary. After his return to London, while he was detained by General Oglethorpe, from week to week, and from month to month, it pleased God to bless his word still more: and he was indefatigable in his labour; generally on Sunday he preached four times, to exceedingly large auditories; beside reading prayers twice or thrice, and walking to and fro ten or twelve miles. 9. On December 28, he left London. It was on the 29th that he first preached without notes. December 30, he went on board; but it was above a month before they cleared the land. One happy effect of their very slow passage, he mentions in April following:-"Blessed be God, we now live very comfortably in the great cabin. We talk of little else but God and Christ: and scarcely a word is heard among us when together, but what has reference to our fall in the First, and our new birth in the Second Adam." It seems, likewise, to have been a peculiar Providence, that he should spend a little time at Gibraltar; where both citizens and soldiers, high and low, young and old, acknowledged the day of their visitation. 10. From Sunday, May 7, 1738, till the latter end of August following, he "made full proof of his ministry" in Georgia, particularly at Savannah: he read prayers and expounded twice a day, and visited the sick daily. On Sunday he expounded at five in the morning, at ten read prayers and preached, and at three in the afternoon and at seven in the evening expounded the church chatechism. : How much easier is it for our brethren in the ministry, either in England, Scotland, or Ireland, to find fault with such a labourer in our Lord's vineyard, than to tread in his steps? 11. It was now that he observed the deplorable condition of many children here; and that God put into his heart the first thought of founding an Orphan-house, for which he determined to raise contributions in England, if God should give him a safe return thither. In December following he returned to London: and on Sunday, January 14, 1739, he was ordained priest at Christ-church, Oxford. The next day he came to London again; and on Sunday the 21st preached twice. But though the churches were large, and crowded exceedingly, yet many hundreds stood in the church-yard, and hundreds more returned home. This put him upon the first thought of preaching in the open air. But when he mentioned it to some of his friends, they judged it to be mere madness. So he did not carry it into execution, till after he had left London. It was on Wednesday, February 21, that finding all the church doors to be shut in Bristol, (beside that, no church was able to contain one half of the congregation), at three in the afternoon he went to Kingswood, and preached abroad to near two thousand people. On Friday he preached there to four or five thousand; and on Sunday to, it was supposed, ten thousand. The number continually increased all the time he stayed at Bristol: and a flame of holy love was kindled, which will not easily be put out. The same was afterwards kindled in various parts of Wales, of Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. Indeed, wherever he went, God abundantly confirmed the word of his messenger. 12. On Sunday, April 29, he preached the first time in Moorfields, and on Kennington-Common: and the thousands of hearers were as quiet as they could have been in a church. Being again detained in England from month to month, he made little excursions into several counties, and received the contributions of willing multitudes, for an Orphan-house in Georgia. The embargo which was now methodize, transcribe, and prepare them for the public view. 18. A particular account of the last scene of his life, is thus given by a gentleman of Boston : "After being about a month with us at Boston and its vicinity, and preaching every day, he went to Old-York, preached there on Thursday, September 27; then proceeded to Portsmouth, and preached there on Friday. On Saturday-morning, he set out for Boston; but before he came to Newbury, where he had engaged to preach the next morning, he was importuned to preach by the way. The house not being large enough to contain the people, he preached in an open field. But having been infirm for several weeks, this so exhausted his strength, that when he came to Newbury, he could not get out of the ferry-boat without the help of two men. In the evening, however, he recovered his spirits, and appeared with his usual cheerfulness. He went to his chamber at nine, his fixed time, which no company could divert him from; and slept better than he had done for some weeks before. He rose at four in the morning, September 30, and went into his closet; and his companion observed he was unusually long in private. He left his closet, returned to his companion, threw himself on the bed, and lay about ten minutes. Then he fell upon his knees, and prayed most fervently to God, 'That if it were consistent with his will, he might that day finish his Master's work. He then desired his man to call Mr. Parsons, the clergyman at whose house he was; but, in a minute, before Mr. Parsons could reach him, died without a sigh or groan. On the news of his death, six gentlemen set out for Newbury, in order to bring his remains hither, but he could not be moved, so that his precious ashes must remain at Newbury. Hundreds would have gone from this town to attend his funeral, had they not expected he would have been interred here.-May this stroke be sanctified to the church of God in general, and to this province in particular!" II, 1. We are, in the Second Place, to take some view |