quently, the efficacy of it was destroyed: but, no, though we often knew what was coming, it was as new to us as though we had never heard it before.

That beautiful apostrophe, used by the prophet Jeremiah, "Oh earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord," was very subservient to him, and never used impertinently..

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He abounded with anecdotes, which though not always recited verbatim, were very just as to the matter of them. One, for instance, I remember, tending to illustrate the efficacy of prayer, though I have not been able to meet with it in the English history-it was the case of the London apprentices before Henry the eighth, pleading his pardon of their insurrection. The monarch, moved by their sight, and their plea, Mercy! mercy!" cried, "Take them away, I cannot bear it." The application you may suppose was, that if an earthly monarch of Henry's description, could be so moved, how forcible is the sinner's plea in the ears of Jesus Christ. The case of two Scotchmen, in the convulsion of the state at the time of Charles the second, subserved his design; who unavoidably obliged to pass some of the troops, were conceiving of their danger, and meditating what method was to be adopted,

to come off safe: one proposed the wearing of a scull-cap; the other, supposing that would imply distrust of the providence of God, was determined to proceed bare-headed. The latter, being first laid hold of, and being interrogated "Are you for the covenant?" replied, " Yes;" and being farther asked "What covenant?” answered, “The covenant of grace;" by which reply, eluding further enquiry, he was let pass: the other, not answering satisfactorily, received a blow with the sabre, which, penetrating through the cap, struck him dead. In the application, Mr. Whitefield, warning against vain confidence, cried "Beware of your scull-caps." But here, likewise the description upon paper wanting the reality as exemplified by him with voice and motion, conveys but a very faint idea. However, it is a disadvantage that must be submitted to, especially as coming from my pen.

The difference of the times in which Mr. Whitefield made his public appearance, materially determined the matter of his sermons, and, in some measure, the manner of his address. He dealt far more in the explanatory and doctrinal mode of preaching on a sabbath-day morning, than, perhaps, at any other time; and sometimes made a little, but by no means improper, shew of learning. If he had read upon

astronomy in the course of the week, you would be sure to discover it. He knew how to convert the centripetal motion of the heavenly bodies to the disposition of the christian toward Christ, and the fatal attraction of the world would be very properly represented by a reference to the centrifugal. Whatever the world might think of him, he had his charms for the learned as well as for the unlearned, and as he held himself to be a debtor both to the wise and to the unwise, each received his due at such times. The peer and the peasant alike went away satisfied.

As though he had the voice of God ever sounding in his ears, the important admonition, Work while it is called to day," this was his work in London at one period of his life: after administering the Lord's supper to several hundred of communicants, at half an hour after six in the morning, reading the first and second service in the desk, which he did with the greatest propriety, and preaching full an hour, previous to the evening service at half an hour after five, and afterwards addressing a large society in public, he read prayers and preached in the afternoon. His afternoon sermon used to be more general and exhortatory. In the evening he drew his bow at a venture,

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vindicated the doctrines of grace, fenced them with articles and homilies, referred to the Martyr's seal, and exemplified the power of divine grace in their sufferings, by quotations from the venerable Fox. Sinners were then closely plied, numbers of whom from curiosity coming to hear a sentence or two, were often compelled to hear the whole sermon. many in the judgment day will rise to prove that they heard to the salvation of the soul. The society, which after sermon was incircled in the area of the tabernacle, consisted of widows, married people, young men and spinsters, placed separately; all of whom when a considerable part of the congregation was resettled, for hundreds used to stay upon the occasion, used to receive from him in the colloquial stile various exhortations, comprised in short sentences, and suitable to their various stations. The practice of christianity in all its branches was then usually inculcated, not without some pertinent anecdote of a character worthy to be held up for an example, and in whose conduct the hints recommended were exemplified. To the young men for instanceA young man in the mercantile line whose uncle described him as such a jumble of religion and business, that he was fit for neither.

A widow would be held up to view, remarkable for her confidence in God. A young woman would be exemplified, commendable for her chastity, prudence, and decorum-in a way that made it desirable for each description of characters to imitate them. Masters of households at these opportunities, parents and children, had their portion, but nothing enforced upon legal principles.

Perhaps Mr. Whitefield never preached greater sermons than at six in the morning, for at that hour he did preach winter and summer, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. At these times his congregations were of the select description, and young men received admonitions similar with what were given in the society; and were cautioned while they neglected the duty required from them under the bond of an indenture, not to anticipate the pleasures and advantages of future life. Beware of being golden, apprentices, silver journeymen, and copper masters, was one of the cautions I remember upon those occasions.

His stile was now colloquial, with little use of motion; pertinent expositions, with suitable remarks; and all comprehended within the hour. Christian experience principally made

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