church of thirteen persons, who had imbibed his sentiments. Of the church he became the pastor, baptising infants, and performing all the other offices of an Independent minister. This was the first division which took place in the Tabernacle Society.

In a short time Mr. Robinson changed again, and became a Baptist. All these changes took place in the course of a few years; for, in 1759, when he was only twenty-four years of age, he was invited to the pastoral charge of the Baptist church at Cambridge. On leaving Norwich, the congregation he had formed became extinct, most of the members having returned to the Tabernacle. The rapidity of the changes in shifting from one denomination to another in his youth, was unhappily followed by a versatility in maturer years, which betrayed itself in regard to subjects of unspeakably greater importance. His unbounded self-conceit, and more than sovereign contempt of others, exposed a heart already removed from under the influence of evangelical truth, and fully prepared to drink the cup of Socinianism to the dregs. The close of his ministerial course is a tale of horror. Labouring under a constant dejection and languor of mind, he removed to Birmingham, conceiving that an interview with Dr. Priestley, which he had long desired, would prove beneficial to him. He preached twice for the Doctor, who was charmed with his conversation, but much disappointed in his preaching." His discourse (he said) was unconnected and desultory, and his manner of treating the doctrine of the Trinity savoured more of burlesque than serious reasoning." The impression left on Dr. Priestley's mind by his conversation and preaching was, that "he (Mr. Robinson) was of the Unitarian faith, and had received considerable light from his theological writings." There is a thrilling horror in recording the eventthe day after he had been permitted to utter such awful sentiments, he was found dead in his bed!

The indulgence of eccentricity, and a fondness for novelty were strong features in his character. For some time, in order to follow nature, he would only eat when he was hungry, and go to bed when he was overpowered with sleep, so that day was turned into night, and night into day. How absurd and inconvenient these fancies must have been in the head of a large family, may be easily conceived. Eccentricity, it has been often said, is one of the attributes of genius; but nothing can be farther from the truth-it is the pretext of men who could lay claim to genius on no other account. True genius will prove the corrector of eccentricity. Whoever heard of the eccentricities of Grotius, of Sir Isaac Newton, of Locke, or Baxter, or of a host of others? If there was any difference between them

and other men, their genius dictated a greater propriety of conduct. That some men of genius have been eccentric is acknowledged; but men still more eccentric can be produced in unspeakably greater proportion, from whose souls one spark of genius never appeared. The eccentricity of some men of genius is to be considered as a painful proof that their genius was not complete, that there was a weak part in the soul to which it did not extend, and which was the cause of the eccentricity. If this will not satisfy, then it may be asserted, that some men to whom genius has been given, not having it under the guidance of wisdom, become odd and eccentric, and sink beneath the dignity of that rank in the intellectual and moral world in which they were entitled to stand.

Some time in the year 1757, the Rev. Martin Madan, elder brother of the Bishop of Peterborough, then occasionally at Thetford, visited Norwich, at the request of Lady Huntingdon, and preached in several of the churches. Great crowds attended his ministry, and the great Head of the Church was pleased to make bare his arm. Some persons from Lakenheath having been at Norwich during Mr. Madan's visit to that city, became acquainted with the glad tidings that there is a Saviour, and in their return home manifested an anxious wish that their friends and neighbours should hear what proved to them so great blessing. Accordingly a considerable number of persons invited Mr. Madan to Lakenheath. This invitation he eagerly embraced, and being invited by the rector, preached in the church with great acceptance and success. Mr. Wesley also preached there several times about the same period. He likewise mentioned Mr. Madan to the people, and afterwards sent them a curate by the desire of the rector. "So now (says Mr. Wesley) they have one that both preaches and loves the gospel."

CHAPTER XLVI.

Mr. Wesley takes a lease of the Tabernacle at Norwich-Dissatisfied with the Tabernacle Society-Tabernacle sold to Lady Huntingdon-Mr. Shirley, Mr. Glascott, and Mr. Bowman-Lady Huntingdon, Lady Anne Erskine, and Mr. Toplady, visit Norwich-Remarkable Sermon by Mr. Toplady-Mr. Mark Wilks-His appointment to the Tabernacle—Mr. Wesley and Mr. Fletcher visit Norwich-Yarmouth-Mr. Shirley-Letter from Lady Huntingdon Mr. Crole and Mr. Clayton sent to Norwich-Conversion of Mr. Johnson-Letters from Lady Huntingdon to the Committee of the Tabernacle. ON the termination of Mr. Wheatley's ministry at Norwich, the Tabernacle was variously supplied, but chiefly by those in con

nexion with Mr. Whitefield, till the year 1758, when Mr. Wheatley made an offer of it to Mr. Wesley.

"James Wheatley (says he) repeated his offer of the Tabernacle. But I was in no haste. I wanted to consult my friends, and consider the thing thoroughly. One glaring objection to it was, The congregation there will not hear me.' He replied, Sir, you cannot tell that unless you will make trial.'"

Mr. Wesley consented, but many declared he should not enter the pulpit, and put themselves in the way to prevent it. He did, however, preach five or six times, and overcame all opposition. On his return to Norwich in March 1759, he found the society, once consisting of many hundred members, mouldered into nothing. Out of fifteen or sixteen hundred subscribers, not one was left. He now set himself vigorously to work, and appointed those who were willing to join in the society to meet him the following evening. About twenty gave in their names. "But the greater part (says Mr. Wesley) appeared like frighted sheep. On Saturday and Sunday about forty more gave in their names. Thirty or forty more spoke to me on Monday. I think two-thirds of those I have yet seen have had a clear sense of God's pardoning love." On the following Lord's-day Mr. Wesley administered the Lord's Supper in the Tabernacle to near two hundred communicants. "So solemn

a season I never remember to have known in the city of Norwich. As a considerable part of them were Dissenters, I desired every one to use what posture he judged best. Had I required them to kneel, probably half would have sat. Now, all but one kneeled down."

Mr. Wesley continued nearly the whole of the month of March at Norwich, and divided his time in preaching at the Foundery, and the Tabernacle. He also preached occasionally at Forncet, near Norwich, where a tabernacle had been erected by Mr. Wheatley, and included in the lease to Mr. Wesley. On one occasion, when he went to the latter place he found Mr. Cudworth had preached there in the morning

"So that the people looked as direful upon me (says he) as if it had been Satan in person. However, they flocked from all parts, so that the Tabernacle would not near contain them. After preaching, I found Mr. Cudworth sitting in the pulpit behind me, whom I quietly and silently passed by. About six, I preached at the Tabernacle in Norwich, crowded with attentive hearers. Perhaps these two will be brought into order by and by. Hitherto there has been no King in Israel."

A day or two after this Mr. Wesley had an interview with Mr. Cudworth, which seems to have produced little effect on either!

"His opinions (says Mr. Wesley) are all his own, quite new; and his phrases as new as his opinions. All these opinions, yea, and phrases too, he affirms to be necessary for salvation; maintaining that all who do not receive them, worship another God; and he is as incapable as a brute beast of being convinced, even in the smallest point."

The society now consisted of upwards of four hundred members, two hundred of which Mr. Wesley thought it improbable would continue with him long. Several new regulations were introduced every member of the society was required to produce his ticket when he came in-the men and women were ordered to sit apart-and spectators were excluded from the galleries while the Lord's Supper was administering, which had been customary from the time the Tabernacle was built. This Mr. Wesley judged highly improper, and therefore ordered none to be admitted but those who desired to communicate. things produced discontent, and the preaching of Mr. Cudworth, who was frequently admitted to the pulpit during Mr. Wesley's absence, tended to widen the breach, insomuch that on Mr. Wesley revisiting Norwich a few months after, he remarked :

These

"I preached at the Tabernacle to a large, rude, noisy congregation. I took knowledge what manner of teachers they had been accustomed to, and determined to mend them or end them. I told the society in plain terms that they were the most ignorant, self-conceited, selfwilled, fickle, untractable, disorderly, disjointed society, in the three kingdoms."

On visiting Norwich in October 1763, Mr. Wesley enforced several new rules, particularly closing the Tabernacle, in order to prevent preaching in the time of church service :

"Notwithstanding the notice I had given over and over (says Mr. Wesley), abundance of people came to the Tabernacle at two in the afternoon, the usual time of preaching; and many of these lambs roared like lions. For many years I have had more trouble with this society, than with half the societies in England put together. With God's help, I will try you one year longer; and I hope you will bring forth better fruit. Let me only get the lambs in order, and I will quickly tame the bears."

In October following Mr. Wesley returned to Norwich, and inquired into the state of the society :

"I have seen (says he) no people in all England or Ireland so changeable as this. This society in 1755 consisted of eighty-three members: two years after, of one hundred and thirty-four: in 1758 it was shrunk to one hundred and ten. In March 1759 the society was increased to about seven hundred and sixty. But nearly five hundred of these had formerly been with James Wheatley, and having been scattered abroad, now ran together, they hardly knew why. Few of them were thoroughly awakened, most deeply ignorant, all

bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke, having never had any rule or order among them, but every man doing what was right in his own eyes. It was not, therefore, strange that the next year only five hundred and seven of these were left. In 1761 they were reduced to four hundred and twelve. I cannot tell how it was that in 1762 they were increased again to six hundred and thirty. But the moon soon changed, so that in 1763 they were shrunk to three hundred and ten. This large reduction was owing to the withdrawing the sacrament, to which they had been accustomed from the time the Tabernacle was built. They are now sunk to a hundred and seventy-four."

Thus ended Mr. Wesley's connexion with the Tabernacle at Norwich, and Mr. Wheatley left it to the Rev. John Hook,* who held it till it came into the hands of Lady Huntingdon, who in February 1775 advanced to Mr. John Hook the sum of £66 5s. 9d., for all his expenses and charges during his serving at the Tabernacle. In the same month Mr. Wheatley let the building to her Ladyship at an annual rent of £40. A copy of the agreement will be found below.+

Mr. Shirley, Mr. Glascott, and Mr. Bowman, were the first clergymen who preached in the Tabernacle after it came into possession of the Countess of Huntingdon.

The spring of the following year was remarkable for the arrival of Lady Huntingdon in Norwich, accompanied by Lady Anne Erskine and Mr. Toplady, whose memorable sermon from Acts xvii. 6," These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also," left a lasting impression on the minds of many. Her Ladyship's stay in Norwich was not of a long duration: the congregation was regularly organized, and the affairs of the society arranged; and, a few months after her return to Trevecca, we find her communicating the intelligence to one of her favourite students, the late Rev. John Hawkesworth :

"You will expect some particulars to gladden your heart, but I shall

He was of a respectable family, and left a son who was a musical composer and performer. He married a lady of the name of Madden, an authoress, and left two sons, the Rev. Dr. Hook, Prebendary of Winchester, and Mr. Theodore Hook, a well-known writer of the present day.

+ I hereby accept Lady Huntingdon as tenant to me for the Tabernacle, in the room of Mr. Hook, and upon the very same terms and conditions; and I hereby promise, upon a penalty of two hundred pounds, to give her Ladyship a lease of the Tabernacle upon the very same terms and conditions that I gave a lease of the same to Mr. Hook, and that the lease for the same shall be made and conveyed without delay.

"Witness,

"JAMES WHEATLEY.

Norwich, February 17, 1775."

This was Mr. Wheatley's last concern with the Tabernacle, for on the 27th

of the following May he was removed into another world.