CHAPTER XI.

Continues in London-an epitome of a week's labour-Mrs. Wrathall's religious enjoy. ments-Samuel meets with one converted Jew, and attempts the Christian improvement of another-preaches out of doors-visits Michael Angelo Taylor, Esq.-further accounts of Mrs. Wrathall-Samuel's usefulness-his love of Yorkshire-enjoys a ride into the country-goes into Kent-tent-preaching-is reproved for loud praying-his views of death-spiritualises a thunder-storm-an AfricanMrs. Wrathall's death-Samuel visits Windsor-is rendered a blessing to the people-returns to London-is called into Yorkshire to preach a funeral sermon, IN following Samuel during his residence in the metropolis, it will furnish some variety, if special cognizance be taken of the more incidental part of his history. His life was one of incident: every motion, like scenic representation, told on the eye and the ear of the bystander, unfolding his habitudes and feelings. Though no regular journal was kept, the following may be considered as nearly in the order, with two or three exceptions, in which the occurrence and conversations took place.

JULY. Persons visiting the metropolis, like those who cross the line for the first time, are obliged to conform to certain ceremonies, if not of dipping, at least in dressing. Samuel's raiment was generally plain, both in cut and in quality; and when not employed in the smithy, extremely clean. His coat was rarely permitted to alter its fashion.* The change in London, however, was not so much in the shape, as in the quality—from plain to superfine. "My son," said he to Martha, "has ordered me a suit of new clothes; and your dear Ann, whom you love, has bought me a new hat: I never had such a hat on my head before." This was as much the result of kindness as of necessity. Improved in his appearance, and requested to supply a few places for the Rev. R. Reece, with whose Plan he was presented as his credential, during his engagements at the Conference, he traversed the city, in something more than his ordinary character, when at home at Micklefield; and Martha's lectures on humility were as necessary, occasionally, to suppress the stirrings of vanity in some of its least offensive forms, and without much of the conscious

* He was once, in the way of compliment, presented by a friend with a pair of handsome new trousers; but they were so ill adapted to his person, habits, and other costume, that, when thus adorned, it looked like the last and present century united in the same man, or as though the half of them belonged to some one else rather than himself.

ness of its presence-as they were kindly taken. His daughter, with a child's fondness, wrote home in one of his letters, in the early part of this month,—" My dear Mother, I will give you part of father's weekly work. He went to Southwark chapel on Monday morning at five o'clock; from whence a young gentleman took him home to breakfast, and kept him the whole of the day. He went to a fellowship-meeting at night, and did not reach home till ten o'clock. On Wednesday morning, he preached at the City Road at six o'clock, and did not arrive here till tea-time. After tea, he went to preach at Albion Street; and to-day he has been at Chelsea Missionary Meeting. It is not ten o'clock, and he has just arrived by coach. I assure you, my dear father is in high glee. He tells us that he has had a good time; and that, while he was speaking, the persons upon the platform almost stamped it down.* They all shook hands with him, told him they were obliged to him for his services, and paid his coach-fare. Wherever he goes, the people invite him back again. You see how your husband is beloved."

Though Mrs. W. was pleased with the respect paid to her father,and it would have been strange if a little natural feeling had not escaped, she remained the same humble Christian as before; nor was it with Samuel anything else but the mere ebullition of the moment. Personal piety seemed to include everything besides, both in himself and in others; and the progress of it was particularly watched in his daughter. "I believe," said he, in writing of her to his partner, the Lord has sent me to London to learn gratitude from the heart of your own flesh and blood. I never saw such a happy creature, or one more thankful in all my life. She has often been made a blessing to my soul since I came hither; and not only to me, but to others, who came to see her in her affliction. She enjoys perfect love that which casts out all fear, and is fit either for living or dying. I often think, if you were to see her in this happy state, it would rejoice your heart. It is above all riches to see a dear child of ours so happy. Her dear husband outstrips all the men I ever saw for affection. She wants for nothing that the world can bestow; and your dear Ann waits upon her with tenderness. They are like a three-fold cord, twisted together in love. We have nothing but peace, joy, and love." These endearments, together with the kindness of friends, and an extensive field of usefulness, led him further

* Samuel himself was in the habit of stamping, not only when others were speaking, but when he himself spoke. A singular scene took place some time prior to this, and nearer his own house. Addressing an audience at a public meeting, and being very animated, his ponderous movenients shook the whole platform. Just at the moment of applying a subject, and saying "Thus it was that the prophets went," the part on which he stood gave way, and he instantly disappeared. Fortunately no injury was sustained.

to observe to Martha-"I find a noble body of Methodists in this city, and I am very glad I am one of the members of this noble family. If I had you with me, we would end our days here."

As nearly all classes of persons attached themselves to him in the line in which he moved, so he found himself comfortable everywhere, and hence spoke of having "many homes "-not being "able to supply all" his friends with his society. Among others who clung to him was a Jew; but whether on account of his piety or singularity, is unknown. A Jew, to Samuel, was a great phenomenon in society, as he also was an extraordinary specimen of an adherent of the Christian faith. Of this singular people he knew very little, except what he had collected from the Bible. Impressions of distance, both as to time and place, with him were always connected with their history; and through his associating the holy city and the personal manifestation of Christ among them in all his reflections, he could scarcely have been more interested, if the fable of the wandering Jew had been realised in his presence, or if a Hebrew had stolen out of the sepulchre of his fathers at Jerusalem, and in his travels had reached England, than he was in looking upon the person in question. "I was planned," said he, "to preach in City Road vestry, and I got into company with a converted Jew. He is a fine young man, and is as clear in his experience as I am. I was delighted with his company. A pious lady has sent him over to London to be instructed in Divine things. His parents have turned him out of doors for becoming a Christian; but the Lord has taken him into his family. He is going to college, and he asked me to go with him." The young man must either have been extremely ignorant of human character, or disposed to amuse himself with the weaker part of Samuel's nature, in making to him such a proposal. However, Samuel told him that he had been at "Jesus Christ's College," where he had "taken up” his “ 'degree." He took breakfast and dinner with the young convert, and found a difficulty in parting with him.

The interest this case excited, led him to think more than usual or the state of the Jews: and turning his attention to them, they seemed to multiply in his sight as he passed along the streets. This gave rise to his expression, that the city appeared to be filled “with Jews, Turks, and Infidels." A genuine son of Abraham kept a jeweller and silversmith's shop opposite to his daughter's house. He often looked at Samuel while passing his door, with the characteristic keenness and expectation of a London Israelitish tradesman, hoping to benefit by the ignorance of an inexperienced countryman. But his soul possessed superior attraction to Samuel than either his shop or his window; and he was not without hope that he might be of service to him. With unusual caution and deliberation, he paced hackwards

and forwards before the old gentleman's door. The morning was pleasant, in which he rejoiced. He had not been there long before the object of his desire made his appearance. They exchanged looks, when Samuel accosted him, "Bless the Lord! here is a fine morning." "It ish, it ish fery fine," replied the Jew, immediately inquiring, as he was old, and could not go into the city to seek it, "Vat pe te besht news in te city?" "The best news that I can hear," replied Samuel, "is, that Jesus Christ is pardoning sinners and sanctifying believers." "Poh, poh," rejoined the old man, turning up his face, "tuff and nonshensh! it ish all telusion."

Samuel was as ill prepared for this, as the Jew had been for what he had advanced, and observed, with a view to produce instantaneous conviction—as he concluded the testimony of his own experience would be every way demonstrative to both Jew and Gentile,—“ If it be a delusion, it is a blessed delusion, for I am very happy in it. No, no, Sir; I know better. I have known, for the last forty years, that Jesus Christ has power upon earth to forgive sins, and also to cleanse from all unrighteousness." Alas, for Samuel, he ploughed only on the rock; the old man turned his back upon him in a rage, as though Samuel had intended to insult him-entered his shop-and shut the door in his face. Samuel looked after him with the disappointment of a fowler, who, having discharged his piece, and expecting the game to drop at a short distance, sees it on the wing, and untouched; yet expressed his gratitude in “not being numbered with unbelievers.” It is not a little amusing to find him in the chair of Lavater after this, pronouncing his opinion with the precision of a physiognomist "I can tell a Jew," said he, as I pass him on the street; for his countenance is gloomy and dark; not like that of the Christian, which is cheerful and pleasant: and who has such a right to be cheerful as the man that has Christ formed in him the hope of glory?"*

On finding that he could make but little impression upon the Jew, ne again turned to the Gentile. The "morning meetings," at five and six o'clock, which were well attended, were among the most salutary he enjoyed. On one occasion a foreigner, who had attended

* This was not his first attempt at physiognomy: nor was he peculiar in his views or the subject. He had read Isaiah, who, in speaking of certain characters, says— 66 The show of their countenance doth witness against them." And he had a notion that religion would improve the exterior as well as the interior of every human being. These views escaped in prayer once, while he was imploring the blessing of God upon a female, who acted in the capacity of cook in a family which he visited. Having heard a little of the person in question, and having inferred from the peculiar curvature and expression of the face, that she was not blessed with a redundancy of the milder qualities which grace the softer part of creation, he prayed for the subjugation of every improper temper; and as an inducement to her to seek after personal piety, he said he was sure, "if her soul were converted to God, she would look five pounds better than she did then."

out of curiosity, was deeply affected, and three persons professed to have received the blessing of purity. After the meetings, he was often taken away to visit the sick, and pray with the penitent. One of the persons who came before him he suspected to be affected with worldly sorrow; and this is the more remarkable, as he had more charity than judgment in all cases of distress: another he was called to visit a stationer-was in deep despair. With a view to attract persons who never attended a place of worship, he turned out into the street, and stood up, accompanied by a local preacher, in a large square. The householders threw open their windows to listen to him, and the people continued to crowd around him, till the congregation might be denominated large. A person, in a state of intoxication, threw a bunch of flowers at him, and was otherwise turbulent. Some of the friends were about to remove him by violence, when Samuel said, “Let him alone; he cannot hurt me, and I am sure I shall not harm him." The man was subdued by the mildness of the address. "The lion's mouth," said Samuel, " 'was stopped." While preaching, he felt great tenderness of spirit. This was soon manifested by the people; for, in the language of Creech, "The melted is the melting heart." He exhorted-he beseeched-he reproved-he wept-the people wept in concert with him—and having forgotten his pockethandkerchief, he borrowed one of a friend, to wipe away the tears which rolled down his face. The bunch of flowers was hailed by him as a slight expression of "persecution," in the honours pronounced on which he "rejoiced."

Samuel was one who could more readily recollect a kindness than an injury; and, considering himself indebted to Michael Angelo Taylor, Esq., for his licence, who then resided in London, and viewing him withal, in his own words, as an "old neighbour," he went to Whitehall to pay his respects to him. The statesman expressed himself as glad to see him, inquiring the occasion which had brought him to town. On being informed that it was the affliction of his daughter, Mr. T. signified his regret. Samuel, on the contrary, told him he felt no sorrow on her account; for she was "very happy, and ready for her passage to glory." Mr. T. ordered the butler to give him some refreshment; but the apparent kindness which prompted this was of greater value to Samuel than the most costly viands.

Samuel remarked, towards the close of the month, as Mrs. Wrathall's health still declined, "Our dear child will be safe landed on Canaan's happy shore in a short time. I never saw such a patient creature as she is. She has not much pain, and will have nothing to do but fall asleep. She began to change last week, and grows weaker and weaker." Two or three days after, he observed─"I have just been giving your dear child her breakfast. If you only saw her