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concluded from the kind reception their ministry had met with, my labors with the blessing of God might be acceptable also. But a difficulty was before me, which was, how to gain an introduction to Mr. Whitefield. He was accessible but to few. I knew his connexions were very large; and this may be admitted as a reasonable apology for the caution which he used in admitting people to him. He would never be surprised into conversation. You could not knock at his door and be allowed to enter at any time." Who is it?" "What is his business?" and such like inquiries usually preceded admission, and if admission were granted, it was thus, "Tell him to come to morrow morning at six o'clock, perhaps five, immediately after preaching, if he is later I cannot see him." A person who went to consult him upon going into the ministry, might expect to be treated with severity if not well recommended, or if he had not something about him peculiarly engaging. One man saying in answer to his inquiry, that he was a taylor, was dismissed with, "Go to rag fair and buy old clothes." Another, who afterwards was of the clerical order, but sadly disgraced it, was admitted to preach in the vestry, one winter's morning at six o'clock as a probationer. When

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a good domestic came into the study, the question was "Well Betty, what was the text this morning." These that have turned the world upside down have come hither also." "That man shall come no more here; if God had called him to preach, he would have furnished him with a proper text.”—A letter well written as to stile, orthography, and decency would prepossess him much in favor of a

person. By means of a pious young acquaintance, a native of Royston, in Hertfordshire, I had been introduced to Mr. Berridge, Vicar of Everton, whose history is so well known, that nothing need be said of him. He had given me countenance, I had gained the attention and esteem of many of his congregation, and he had endeared himself much to me, by his paternal deportment, and apostolic advice, such as I have found of excellent use in every stage of my ministry. I knew from the affection with which Mr. Whitefield always mentioned his name, and the honor in which he held his services; he must have great influence with him. I therefore paid a third visit to him, purposely to acquaint him with my views and wishes, and to beg him to introduce me to Mr. Whitefield, that I might by him be placed in some situa

F

tion in America.

O how kind did this man of

God behave to me upon this occasion!

After having laid before me the many difficulties he judged I must meet with, and very seriously exhorting me to pray to God to grant me direction and submission, he complied with my request, and sent me back to London with a letter to Mr. Whitefield. He gave me a mild reception; the interview was short. It was on Wednesday I waited upon him, he said he should expect me to preach at the tabernacle on the next morning at six o'clock, and appointed the time when I should again come to him. I heard him in the evening and felt much when he informed the congregation, that a stranger recommended by Mr. Berridge, would preach on the morrow morning at six o'clock. I had little rest that night, and prayed rather then studied for the service. A larger congregation than usual assembled. The sextoness was astonished when she found I was going into the pulpit. When I made my appearance, the people were as much struck by seeing me, for many knew me, as I was by their general whisper. I endeavored to speak from Eph. iii. 4. I was so exceedingly agitated that I knew not what I said. From that morning however, the prejudice of

my religious friends, under whose censure I had lain was removed, and I found it a blessing to have Mr. Whitefield's suffrage. This was in February 1767, and I was under promise to pay Portsmouth another visit. Mr. Whitefield desired me to procure him a testimonium of myself from different places, whither I had gone, which I did, and in my absence to write him some account of the dealings of God with me in his Providence and grace. He said he should have occasion to shew it to some friends, and if any thing should turn out favorable he would let me know; accordingly I wrote him some little account, and in a week after was honored with his first letter, of which the following is an exact copy.

"London, January 29, 1767.

"DEAR MR. WINTER,

"Your letter met with proper acceptance. The first thing to be done now is to get some knowledge of the Latin-the method to be pursued we can talk of at your return to London. Mr. Green would make a suitable master-no time should be lost-one would hope that the various humiliations you have met with were intended as preparations for

future exaltations.-The greatest preferment under heaven is to be an able, painful, faithful, successful, suffering, cast out minister of the new testament. That this may be your happy lot is the hearty prayer of

66

"Dear Mr. Winter,

Your's, &c. in our common Lord,

"G. W."

This letter exceedingly animated me, and my expectations began to soar; but by reflection, I was enabled to check them. I considered that the best of men are but men ; and thought if by Mr. Whitefield's instrumentality I should be brought into a desirable situation, trials would be answerable to it. At the commencement of my connexion with my honored friend, and since, I have found it good neither to seek nor to expect great things.

The morning after I returned from Portsmouth, I waited early upon Mr. Whitefield. He received me with a mixture of kindness and severity; and for several days kept me in a state of suspense. At last he set me upon a little business, and told me he should expect me to preach two mornings in the week. He appointed me particular times when I was to call upon him; when besides sending me upon some errands, of which he always had a great

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