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THE* LIFE 



OP'THB 



REV. ROWLAND HILL 'A.M. 



BY THE 



REV. EDWIN SIDNEY, A. M. 

/ VI. ' 



Quitting, with daily labour, all my pleasure, 
To gain, at harvest, an eternal' treasure. 

HERBERT. 



SEW YORK: 
ROBERT CARTER, 58 CANAL ST.. 

1848,' 



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* 



b 




.TO THE 

RIGHT HON. ROWLAND, LORD HILL, 

OP ALMAREZ AND OP HAWKSTONE, 

G. C. B., G. C. H., K,T. S., K. M. T., K. S. G., D. C. L., 

COMMANDER OP HIS MAJESTY'S FORCES, 
&C. &C. &C., 

; THIS VOLUME, 

IN THE FULL ASSURANCE HOW GRATIFYING 
BUCH A DEDICATION WOULD HAVE BEEN TO THE VENERABLE 

SUBJECT OF ITS PAGES, 

WITH HIS LORDSHIP'S KIND PERMISSION 

IS INSCRIBED BY 

THE AUTHOR 



PREFACE. 



THE last evening I ever spent with Mrs. Rowland 
Hill, she expressed a; wish, that if I survived her 
venerable and beloved husband, I should write an 
authentic narrative of his remarkahle life, and. I pro- 
mised her that I would, if possible, fulfil her desire. 
Mr. Rowland Hill, acquiescing in this request, be- 
queathed me all his papers, ll 'to be used at my dis- 
cretion" I have now performed my promise, but 
with more haste, on accoun^of the anxiety of his 
friends, than was .'convenient or advantageous: with 
what discretion I must leave others to determine; 
My readers, however, will doubtless consider the 
unique character I have had to portray, and will 
recollect that Mr. Hill's truly solid excellences were 
mingled, even in public, with a vivacity and hur 
mour peculiar to himself. Had I mentioned only 
serious facts, it might have been justly remarked, 
that, excellent as the individual appeared, it was not 
Rowland Hill. Still, I trust, it will be seen in these 
pages, that his true piety, Christian benevolence, and 
deep spirituality, more than atoned for any trifling 
singularities of his nature, of sallies of wit, which 
were mostly accompanied with so much kindness/ 
th'at, like a medicine given in sweetmeats, the bitter 
was seldom tasted. 

I have made such selections from the papers of my 

r 



PREFACE. 



affectionate guardian as I thought most useful and 
interesting; and if I have erred, I can only plead 
rny inexperience as an author ; but most truly can I 
add, that it has been my aim not to give the slightest 
pain to the feelings of any human being. Mine has 
been a task of no ordinary delicacy and responsi- 
bility ; and while I have not concealed my own 
opinions, I hope they have been expressed in a spi- 
rit of Christian charity towards such as may differ 
from my views. 

Amongst the papers left for .my use, I found letters 
and manuscripts of the late Sir Richard Hill, toge- 
ther with an interesting account of his conversion 
arid early experience. I intended, at first, to have 
extracted largely from these documents in the course 
of this volume ; but it was suggested to me, that by 
so doing, I should too much interrupt the thread of 
my narrative, and that they were much more proper 
for a Life of Sir Richard Hill . Many years ago a 
manuscript, containing five sermons on "Charity, or 
Brotherly Love," by Walker, of Truro, was given 
to Mr. Rowland Hill, which he intended to have 
printed with a memoir of the author, and to have 
dedicated the volume to his Surry chapel congrega- 
tion. In the notice of Mr. Walker's Life, Mr. Row- 
land Hill observes of the sermons" these ;have been 
in my possession for a considerable time, yet on a 
re-perusal of them with a judicious friend, it struck 
me forcibly, whether in my fast "declining days I 
could leave behind me a more profitable testimony 



PREFACE. 7 

of my high respect and real regard to the congrega- 
tion I have so long served, than to print these ser- 
mons for their serious perusal and prayerful consi- 
deration." I may possibly be induced to form a small 
volume from these interesting portions of the papers 
of my departed relative. ' . - ' 

To those who have kindTy assisted me with mate- 
rials for the work, I beg to offer my sincere thanks, 
particularly to the Rev. George Clayton, the Rev. 
George Collison, the Rev. John Griffin,- Mr. Jones, 
of the Religious Tract Society, and the members of 
Stirry chapel who have sent me letters of Mr. Row- 
land Hill. I am likewise much indebted to the kind- 
ness of 0. P. Wathen, Esq., John Broadley Wilson, 
Esq., Samuel Long, Esq., (the executor both of %M^ 
Rowland Hill and his assistant, Mr. Theopm'lus 
Jones,) as well as to Mrs. James, (late Mrs. B. Neale,) 
Miss Sheppard, and to others whose -names appear 
in the course of the volume. Though differing from 
some of these friends in minor views, I trust we are 
all united in the common ties of .Christian love and 
goodwill, looking for salvation to one common Sa- 
viour, and believing in the essential operations of the 
Holy Spirit on the heart, none of which is more -pro- 
minent than that of charity, the very bond of per- 
fectness. 

Though sincerely respecting the conscientious 
scruples of others, I cannot help venturing to express 
my devoted attachment to our established church, 
and my conviction that its connexion with the state 



8 PREFACE. 

has been, and I hope will long continue to be, a 
blessing to our land; If we look at the present as- 
pect of religion amongst us, I am firmly convinced 
that our establishment need not shrink from compa- 
rison, both as respects its own internal brightness 
and the distant reflection of its light, with any other 
Christian community on earth. The ministers of 
religion should be suited to every grade of society : 
from their ranks the gentleman "should be able to 
select a profitable companion the inquirer a judi 
cious guide, and the poor man a kind and'compas 
sionate friend ; and, happily, men endued with such 
requisites for their sacred office can be at this mo- 
ment abundantly supplied, from the ranks of our 
parochial clergy. Increasing holiness to purify is 
the surest forerunner of power afforded from on high 
to protect our church, and the zeal, diligence, and piety 
of her ministers, will prove a more certain defence, 
than all the splendours of worldly grandeur, the policy 
of worldly wisdom, or the support of worldly strength. 
I have now only to request that the friends of Mr, 
Rowland Hill will confide to me such letters or other 
materials as they may think useful for any future 
edition of his life, and to add, that I shall be truly 
obliged, if I have fallen into any accidental error, 
relating either , to persons or things mentioned in 
these pages, to be informed of my mistake, that- 1 may 
correct it. x 

Acle, near Norwich, March 22nd, 1834. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. . 

V , ' " ,'"'. 

Antiquity of the Hill family . . . . . . . '. . . .17 

The Great Hill . . . . . . .-. . .... . , , 18 

The Hawkstone family, and birth of Mr. Rowland Hill . 21 

Rowland Hill in childhood ... . 23 

His conversion When a boy . .... . . . . . . 24 

Letter of Mr. Richard Hill addressed to his brothers at Eton 24 
Mr. Richard Hill's early sense of religion ... . . . . 26 

Mr. Richard Hill's distress of mind. . . . . ... 26-27 

Kindness of Mr. Fletcher .28 

Relief of Mr. Richard Hill's mind . ..... . . .28 

His anxiety for his brother Rowland . . . . . . . > 29 

Rowland's progress in religion . . . ... . . --. -Ik* 30 

Is made useful at Eton '. , '. . . . , , . . .Vl r 31 

A religious society formed by the young converts. Candour 

of Mr. RicMrdHill / . . . \ .... . . . '. 32 

Advice of Miss Hill to her brother.Rbwland before his going .. 

to Cambridge 33 

Mr. Rowland Hill at Cambridge ......... 34 

His acquaintance sought by Mr. Berridge . . . , . .34 

His frequent visits to Everton. . . 35 

Begins preaching While an undergraduate at Cambridge, 

176G .v. . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Meets with great opposition. Consults Mr. Whitefield. 

Mr. Whitefield's'firsnetter . ;. . 37 

Extracts from Mr. Rowland Hill's diary, 1767 . .. . . 38 

His perseverance in preaching . . . . 40 

Second letter of Mr. Whitefield,' who- encourages him to 

proceed . .' ..... . , . . , 40 

Mr. Rowland. Hill continues to .labour . . . . . '. '. . 42 
Is visited in college by two pious Danes. . An extract from 

. .their diary ' '. , '. ;..,,.. \ . ' 43 

Long vacation of 1767. Third letter of Mr. Whitefield 44-45 
Mr. Rowland Hill preaches' while at home ...... 45 

Fourth letter of Mr. Whitefield . 46 

Mr. Rowland Hill's depression. Extracts from his diary .47 

He visits' Lady Huntingdon . ." . . 48 

Returns to Cambridge . '. . . . '48 

Corresponds with zealous young men at Oxford . . . . 49 
Expulsion of six students from St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, 

1768 , . . ; ; . . ; .; , . .-. . . . . . , 50 

Their cause espoused by Mr. Richard Hill 52 

Mr. Rowland Hill continues his exertions . ..... 53 



r 



10 CONTENTS. 

His skill in athletic exercises ........... 54 

Takes his degree. 1769 ...... 55 

The different views of his college friends. Influence of Mr. 

Berridge . . . . ' . . . . .'.'.' .56 

Account of Mr. Berridge and his coadjutors 56 

JohnStittle 57 

CHAPTER II. 

i 

Mr. Rowland Hill refused orders by six bishops .... 59! 

Condolence of his friends . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 

Advice of Mr. Berridge ."-.. 61 

Mr. Richard Hill declines preaching . . . . . . . '.' 62 

Scruples of some of Mr. Rowland Hill's friends about sub- 
scription . . . ; 63 

Mr. Berridge and his followers. His advice to Mr. Row- 
land Hill ....;.. 63 

Mr. Rowland Hill is commended by Mr. Wesley. 1770 . 64 

His first visits to Bristol, and distress. 1771 . . . . . 65 

Extracts from his diary. First sermon at Devizes ... 66 

Letter of Mr. Berridge 67 

Mr. Rowland Hill's journal . ' . . . 68-69 

Fieldfpreaching 71 

Early five o'clock preaching ........... 73 

June 16, 1771. Comes for the first time to Wotton-under- 

edge. Anecdote 72-73 

Letter from Shipman, one of the expelled from Oxford . 74 
Letter of Mr. Hunt, of Bristol, 1772 . . . . . . . 74-75 

Anecdote 75 

Letter of Mr. Berridge ......; 76 

Mr. Rowland Hill revives Mr. Whitefieid's cause in Lon- " 

don, 1772. His wonderful success . . . ..... 77 

'Captain Joss. Butcher Hogg 78-79 

An address of Mr. Rowland Hill in 1772 80 

His views of the divine decrees . 81 

His defence of his doctrines against Mr. Wesley . ... 82 

CHAPTER III. 

Mr. Rowland Hill prepares for marriage and orders . . 83 

His first letter to Miss Tudway . 84 

Mr. Tudway 's interest in his ordination 86 

Letters to Miss Tudway 86 

Mr. Rowland Hill's journal, 1773 ........ 90-91 

Letter to Miss Tudway . . ' ... 91 

Mr. Rowland Hill in prospect of orders ....... 92 

His marriage and ordination . . . . . . . . '. . . 93 

Preaches his first sermon after ordination in St. Werburghs, 

Bristol. Account of Mr. Rouquet ......... 94 

Mr. Rowland Hill at his curacy . .' 96 

Letter from Mr. Berridge 96 

Berridge and Fletcher. Ryland. Hervey. Newton . . 97 

Mr. Rowland Hill refused priest's orders. His own remark 98 



CONTENTS. 11 

is pleased when invited to preach in a church ; but wants a 
little more liberty than the church allows . . . ... 99 

His unequalled strength and spirits . . . . . . . . .99 

Sheridan. Ambrose Serle. Dean Milner .... 100-101 

CHAPTER IV, 

Mr. Hill's first sermon in 1774, at Tottenham Court chapel. 

His journal . . . 102 

Richmond; awful event 103 

Gloucester, Wiltshire, Wales . . . 104 

Field campaigns. Anecdote of Howel Harris 105 

Popularity of Mr. Rowland Hill in Wales. Jumpers 105-106 

Remarkable conversions 106 

Trevecca. Wesleyan controversy . . ... . . 107-111 

Wotton . . . . . . . . ... . .... . . 113 

Increasing congregations in every place visited by Mr. Row- 
land Hill. Varied scenes of labour 113 

Death of Mr. Powys, 1774'. Sir Charles Middleton, after- 
wards Lord Barham ............. 114 

Love-feasts. Sailors 115 

Mr. Rowland Hill stopped by highwaymen; he frightens 

them away . . ..... ^.%^116 

His mode of giving notice of his preaching . ... . . ; yil7 

Anecdote of a gardener employed by; Mr. Rowland Hill . 118 
Mr. Rowland Hill's unwearied diligence : . . . . . . . 119 

CHAPTER V.. 

Remarkable conversions. 1775 . . . 130 

Societas Evangelica. Penitents . . . . . . . . . . 121 

Notices given to Mr. Rowland Hill in the pulpit . . . . 122 

Characteristic anecdote . . . ... 133 

Sir Harry Trelawny . . . ... . ... . . 123-124 

Mistakes of Mr. Rowland Hill . . . . . . ... .125 

Mr. Richard Hill. Mr, Hallward . . . 126 

Hon. and Rev. W. B. Cadogan. Death of Rouquet .. . 127 

Funeral sermon 128 

Sunday addresses to children . 129 

Prison scenes deep feeling of Mr. Rowland Hill . . .129 
Continuance of the Wesleyan controversy, 1777 .... 131 
Death and funeral of Toplady, 1778. Mr. "Rowland Hill's 

powerful address at the interment 132 

Letter of Mr. Matthews, giving an account of the last mo- 
ments of Toplady ......'......- 133-134 

Wesley and Mr. Richard Hill 135 

Newton. Romaine. Cowper* the poet '. "136 

Design of the erection of Surry chapel . 137 

CHAPTER VI. 

Surry chapel. 1782 .......* 139 

Sermon at laying the foundation-stone 140 



13 ,,-. CONTENTS; 

Sermon at the opening. June 8, 1783. Alarming occur- 

' 



, 141 

Original trustees of Surry chapel. Mr. Rowland Hill 
shot-at ...... . '.:--.- ...".' .... 143-143 

Death of Sir Rowland Hill. Supplies at Surry chapel .' . 143 
. Benevolent Society, 1784 . . .... .... . . . 144 

Alms houses. Dorcas Society, &c. . ... . . . . . 145 

Prayer meetings . . ... . . . . . . . . . . 146 

^Situation of Surry chapel .... . ..... . . 147 

~ Sir Richard Hill . . . . , .,..-.. . . . . . .148 

Spread of infidelity . . .' ...... -. . . . . 149 

Welsh sermons in Surry chapel . . . . . . . ... 150 

Letter of Peter Brown, a Moravian missionary in Antigua 151 
Missions ...,....."...... . . . 155 

Mi-. Venn, of Yelling. His letter, to Mr. Rowland Hill . 156 
Testimony of Mr. Yenn to the high and useful .character of 
Mr. Simeon, of Cambridge . . . .... . . ... 158 

CHAPTER VII. 

Sunday schools, 1786 , . . '. , . . , '. ...... 160 

Mr. Rowland Hill's Hymns for children corrected and in*- ' . 

propd by the poet Cowper . . His letter, on the subject .161 
Remarks on an expression in Cowper's letter '. . ... 162 
A happy death. Illness of Mr. Venn. His patience and . 

resignation expressed -in a letter. 1791 ... . . . .163 

Extraordinary conversions ........... . . 164 

Anecdote of Mr. Rowland Hill .... ...... . 165 

Modes of preaching described. Droll sayings ... 166-167 
WJ.se course .pursued, by Mr. Rowland Hill during the 
fFreneh revolution ..... . . .... . ,167-168 

Death of Mr. Berridge . . . . . .... . . . . 169 

Ireland. Strolling players. . Expostulatory- address . 169-170 
Formation of the London Missionary Society, 1795 . 171-172 
Missionary, day at .Surry chapel. Instance of generosity. 

Conversation in the evening ; . . . . . . . . 173-175 

Missionary communion ...... ....... 176 

jD.r, Steinkopff. Ireland ......... , . 176-177 

First visit of Mr.. Rowland Hill to Scotland, 1798 . 177-183 
Return to Wotton. . ....... :...... 183 

Admonition of the General Assembly. Establishments 184-185 
Effects of controversy during Mr. Rowland Hill's second 

visit to Scotland, 1799 , . . . . . . ...-. . .:. 186-487 

^CHAPTER VIII. 

Mr. Rowland Hill's mode of preaching . . . > . 189 to 201 
CHAPTER IX. 

Religious Tract Society. Moving speeches ..... 202 
Characteristic le.tter of Mr. Rowland Hill whisn asked to 
take the chair at a meeting-- , . . .... . ...';''. . 203 



CONTENTS; . 13 

Long speeches and flourishes in the pulpit. Interesting, no- 
tice handed to Mr. Rowland Hill in the pulpit . . 204-205 

Visits to the sick. .Hymn ...... . . . . .206 

Village Dialogues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 

Letters of Mr. Ambrose Serle . . . . . '. ' . . . 208-211 

Sale of curates . . -.''. .... ..' . 212 

Warning to professors. Opinion of Mr. Ambrose Serle . '213 
Surry chapel communicants . ..... . v , . . 214 

Bible. Society ...... .- . . . . . . , ,- ... 214-215;*' 

Vaccination. Dr ; . Jenner . . . ... ... ..... . 216 

Converted farmers- . , , ... . . . . ,- ; \ 216-217 

Death of Sir Richard Bill, 1808 . . . ... . v ; . . -218 

Cheltenham. A chapel erected there through' Mr. Rowland . 

; Hill's influence ..... . . . .- . . ..'. 218 

Mr. Rowland Hill's amusements 219-220 

:.;: ' , . . . CHAPTER X. 

My .own recollections of Mr. Rowland Hill 221 

Anecdotes . . 222-223 

An election anecdote ,.'-,". . . . . ... .\ . . -. 224 

Cheltenham. 'Accident to Mr. Rowland Hill ."..-. 325-226 

Visit to Cheltenham, '1812 ..' .. .. .. .. , ;. 227 

Services, of. Sir Rowland Hill. . His kindness. Called "the : 
soldier's friend." . Elected member for Shrewsbury 228-229 
Illuminations. Transparency at Surry chapel ... . ,_. 230 
Lord Hill. . Interesting breakfast. Receives his sword from 

the , city bf London . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . 231 

Illness of Mr. Rowland Hill. , His letters to Mr. "Wathen 

when recovering . .. .. .. . 232^-^36 

His first walk after he recovered. An aid-de-camp of the 

Emperor Alexander. .... . . . ;. . . . . 236-237 

: CHAPTER XI. 



Mr. Rowland Hill's opinion of the festivities at the conclu- 
sion of the war . ...'.., .' . . . . . ....".. .. 239 

Singular/a^ites of Mr. Rowland Hill. r Qualifications of 
preachers ... : . ... ... . . , . '.. . . . 240-241 

The Neale family ,!'.. ... . . . . . . ... 241 

Letters from Mr. Rowland Hill to Mrs. B. Neale. Attempt 
to assess Surry chapel to the rates ... . . . . 242-245 

Churchmen and dissenters . . 'i . . . . . . .- ; 246 

Interesting anecdpte- .... '.''.'. ., ! 247 

Oratorios at Surry chapel . . . .248 

Theophilus Jones. Advice given him -by Mr. Rowland ".''- 

.Hill. :1816. .. , -... . . ./. . . .. 248-251 

Village preaching ................ . 252 

Q-ualiiications for 'the" ministerial work. Good temper. Dry- : : 
: sermons,. &c. .. .. '..... .. ,. .. .. .. . . . . - 253-254 



14 ' . CONTENTS, 

CHAPTER XII. 

Village itinerancy 255-256 

Letter of Mr. Rowland Hill to a Sunday school teacher 257-358 
Necessity of exertions at home .......... "259 

Seamen. Waterloo bridge '. . . 260 

Missionary museum. Matthew Wife 261 

Fruits of missionary zeal . . ". 262 

Inconsistencies of professors of religion 263 

South seas .264 

Letter of Mr. Rowland Hill to Mrs. B. Neale ..... 265 

Accident to Mr. Rowland Hill . . . 266 

Letter, to Mr. Jones. Sanctified affliction. Holy patience. 

Rebukes "....... 267-268 

Mr. Hill on a missionary tour. Letters to Mr. Jones, to J. 
Broadley Wilson, Esq., and to a young minister in sick- 
ness . . . . . ... ... 269-274 

CHAPTER XIII. 

The society at Surry chapel . 275 

Letter to the author on his ordination, 1821, from Mr. Row- 
land Hill . 276-278 

Missionary journey . . . . . . 279 

Act of liberality '. . ..- ....... 280 

Eastern missionary tour. Accident to Mr. Rowland Hill. 
Letter to Mr. Jones. Recovery . . . . . . . '280-284 

-Mr. Rowland Hill's mode of travelling, and high spirits . 284 
Arduous journey. Mr. Rowland HilPslast journey to Scot- 
. land, 1824 .- . 285-290 

CHAPTER XIV. '-v 

Pastoral character, ministerial advice, and charities of Mr. 
Rowland Hill 291-301 

CHAPTER XV. 

Mr. Rowland Hill's presents for children. Sends some 'to 
Mrs. Hannah More, with an imitation of Sternhold and 
Hopkins. Her remarks . . ;...'.. ".' . . . 302 
Mrs. Rowland Hill submits to a severe operation. Her 

danger and. recovery. Socinians 303-305 

Mr. Rowland Hill at eighty-two. Spirituality of his ser- 
mons . . ". . . .'..'. . 305-306 

His likeness taken by Miss Sheppard for a benevolent pur- 
pose. His letters on the subject - 307 

Journey into Wales, 1827 312 

Affection of Mr. Rowland Hill's hearers. Lord Hill. Mr. 

, J. Broadley Wilson . . 313-314 

Cheltenham. Mr. Close 315 

Fidelity of Mr. Rowland Hill's servants 316 



CONTENTS. 15 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Prophecy. Letter on the subject from Mr. Rowland Hill 317 

1828. Bath. Mr. Jay 320 

Cheltenham. P'sandQ/s . . ..... . 321 

Religion a reality '. .-.... 321 

A visit in 1829 to Mr. Rowland Hill at Wotton ..... 322 
Mr. Rowland Hill. on his eighty-fifth birth day . . . . 323 
A church missionary meeting . . . . . . . . s . 325 

Letter of Mr. Rowland Hill 326 

Bible Society, 1830 ..-;.. 328 

Mr. Wilberforce. Lord Teignmouth v329 

CHAPTER XVII. 

An account of the last illness and death of Mrs. Rowland 

Hill , . 331 

Mr. Rowland Hill's state of mind under his bereavement 

evinced by his letters 333-335 

Character of Mrs. Rowland Hill .336 

Letter to Mr. Jones on attending the Monday evening meet- 
ings at Surry chapel . . 337 

Leamington. Difficulties aboiU using the liturgy in Mr. 
Hill's chapel. What sort of an evil is a sectarian spirit 1 338 

Forms of prayer ' . .339 

Letters of Mr. Rowland Hill 339-342 

Mr. Rowland Hill's -views as to his successor 343 

CHAPTER XVIII. , 

Bible Society, 1831 . . . . . 345 

Mr. Rowland Hill's last missionary day at Surry chapel . 346 

Gift of tongues 347-350 

Accident to Mr. Rowland Hill ,. . . 350 

Valley of humiliation . . .... ... . ., ,. . . . 351 

Mr. Rowland Hill recovers after great suffering. Letters 

of Mr. Rowland Hill ... . ^. . . . ... . . 352-355 

Mr. Rowland Hill's increasing debility. His faith' . . . 355 
Wishes to attend the Bible Society in 1832. The author's 

last visit to Mr. Rowland Hill at Wotton . . . . 356-358 

Letter to Rev. J. Langley 359 

Old Bigotry .............. 361 

Letter of Mr. Rowland Hill ......-..]',' 361 

Party spirit . . . . . , . 362 

Solemn deportment of Mr; Rowland Hill . . . . .' . 363 

1 CHAPTER XIX. 

The Christian sabbath. Mr. Rowland Hill's enjoyment of it 365 
Some of the ladies of Mr. Rowland Hill's congregation pre- ' 
sent him with an easy chair for the pulpit. His letter of 

thanks '. ., ;r " 357 

He desires to be succeeded by a clergyman . ' 368 



16 CONTENTS. 

Is of opinion that the clergy should have power to admit 

certain visitors to their pulpits . . 368 

Proposal for a droll advertisement ........... 369 

Mr. Rowland Hill's ZasHetter to the author . .' . . . . 370 

His last sermon, March 31, 1833 .'.. ...... .... 371 

Address to Sunday, school teachers. Last illness . ' . 372-376 
Death. April 11, 1833. A beautiful cast taken of him by 

Deville. The funeral 376-378 

Mr. Rowland Hill's spotless character. Anecdotes . 379-380 

Mr. Rowland Hill's appearance. Danger of imitating his 

extraordinary, course ........ . . . ..-. 381-383 . 

'Beautiful saying of Mr. ; Rowland Hill. His writings . . 383 

Juvenile works 384 

Village Dialogues . . . , 385 

Responsibility of ministers. Tablet and bust to the memory 
of Mr. Rowland Hill, designed for Surry chapel . 385-387 

CHAPTER XX. 

Retrospective view of religion during the last century . . 388 

Defective theology . 388 

Lukewarmness and error in some, exceptions in others. 

Opposition. . . . ... 389-390 

Whitefield and Wesley. Difference of their dispositions. 
Conversion ............ . . . 390-391 

Enthusiasm of Wesley. Wesley's sermon on predestina- 
tion . . , . . . . . 392-393 

Romaine. Sir Harry Trelawny. Anecdote . . . 393-394 

Edward Spencer . . . ... . . . 394 

Berridge . . 395 

Whitefield's want of system ..... ... . . . 396 

Wesley's watch nights. Love-feasts. Classes. Bands. 

Whitefield's evident sincerity 397 

Controversy. Berridge's advice to Mr. Rowland Hill . . 398 
Mr. Rowland Hill's resemblance to Whitefield, whose- cause 

he revives ............ 399 

Mr. Rowland Hill's first sermon at his curacy, called The 
Gospel Message, quoted in proof of his dottrines. Origi- 
nal sin . . . . . ...... . . ... 399-400 

Invitations to sinners. Extract trom Mr. Rowland Hill's 
sermon on the death of Rouque! . . . . ... . . . 401 

Plato's view of human nature.' Union of good men . . .'402 
Admirable resolution of John Wesley, forgotten in contro- 
versy. Perfection . .'. . . . . . . . . . : 403-405 

Mr. Fletcher . . . ". '.- . . . .- . 405 

Sunday schools. Education .....'...... 406 

Mr. Rowland Hill's regard for the church . .,'... . . 407 

Preparation for the ministry . .... . . ..... 408 

Value of Academical studies . ....... . . . 409 

Excellencies of Mr. Rowland Hill's character . . . ^410-411 
Conclusion . ". . . ; . . . ."- . . 412 



THE LIFE 



OP THE 



REV. ROWLAND HILL. 



CHAPTER I. 

ANTiaUIT Y OF THE HILL FAMILY. 

THE distinguished family of the Hills is both an- 
cient and widely extended. It is probable that their 
original seat was at Hulle, now called Court of Hill, 
an elevated and beautiful spot on the south side of a 
hill, named the Titterstone Glee, in the chapelry of 
Nash, and parish of Burford, in the county of Salop. 
Mr. Blakeway, a very eminent and accurate Shrop- 
shire antiquary, informs us, that the earliest notice^he 
has found of them is in the 30th of 'Edward I., in a 
deed granted to certain persons by the prior and monks 
of Worcester, and which is attested, among other 
witnesses, by William and Adam de la Hull ; to the 
former of whom it is also upon record that lands wer< 
granted, by William de Mortimer, canon of Hereford^ 
at a period of as early a date as December 13th, 1311. 
Grants of land, it has likewise been ascertained, were 
made to the then existing chaplain of Nash, by Wil- 
liam de la Hulle, to pray for the souls of himself, 
Alice his. late wife, and two others, in the 5th of 
Edward III. William de la Hulle had a son called 
.Hugh de Hull of Hull, who married and- removed 
into the north-eastern quarter of Shropshire, and frprn 
him was descended Sir Rowland Hill, the first protes- 
tant lord mayor of London, who died without issue. 
' 2* 



18 THE GREAT HILL. 

and bequeathed his large estates to the children of 
his sisters. From a younger son of this branch of the 
family, who was a person of consideration in the reign 
of Henry VI., descended a Rowland Hill, styled of 
Hawkstone, in 1592, who was father of Rowland 
Hill, bom in x !594, and he of another Rowland, born 
in 1623, who died and was buried at Hodnet, in No- 
vember, 1700. His eldest son of his own name died 
unmarried, and Richard his second son became the 
great founder of this branch of the family. This 
remarkable person was born March 23, 1654. He 
was educated at the grammar school in Shrewsbury, 
and entered at St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1675. 
He became a fellow of his college, and is reported to 
have entered into deacon's orders, which was no doubt 
the case, as there is good authority for- the fact that 
king William III. highly commended "his vigilance, 
capacity, and virtue," in. th exercise of his clerical 
functions. Mr. Hill was engaged by Laurence Earl 
of Rochester, on account of his distinguished talents, 
as tutor to his son Lord Hyde, arid, while in this 
situation, he was noticed by the Earl of Ranelagh, 
paymaster of the forces to king James, and continued 
in the same office by king William, on whose recom- 
mendation he was appointed deputy paymaster to 
the army sent into Flanders in 1691. In this office, 
which he held; during the whole i war, he acquitted 
himself with great reputation. He prevented, by his 
conciliatory and judicious conduct, the mutiny of the 
soldiers for want of pay, during a whole campaign, 
and was in very high credit with the Dutch. Nay, 
it has been even said that he sometimes could raise 
money upon his own credit, when that of king 
William failed; and it is certain^ that he steered 
through circumstances of the greatest embarrassment 
with admirable ability and prudence. During this 
.war, in -the intervals of his employment with the 1 
army, Mr. Hill was occasionally sent as envoy ex- 
traordinary to the princes allied with William against 



THE GREAT HILL. 19 

' ' ' 1 

the power of France, and, at the peace of Ryswick,*" 
was despatched ,in -the same capacity to the court of 
Turin, and on his return home was made a lord of 
the treasury. In this office he continued till*the 
accession of queen Anne, when Lord Godolphin ob- 
tained the Treasurer's staff, and the treasury was 
taken out of commission ; 'but he was made a lord of 
the admiralty, a station which he occupied .till the 
Earl of Pembroke, on the death of the Prince of. Den- 
mark, was appointed lord high admiral. , 

When the Duke of Savoy, who had joingd, the 
cause of France, having been both neglected and 
insulted by Louis XIV. began to repent his defection 
from the allies, Mr. Hill was chosen to take advan- 
tage of these symptoms 'of regret, and was sent out 
as minister plenipotentiary, and envoy extraordinary, 
to all the states of Italy, with the exception of that of 
the pope. At Turin he met with a most gracious 
reception, and concluded in October, 1703, by con- 
summate management and skill, ,a treaty of great 
importance, which he always regarded as the highest 
achievement of his political life, and has recorded it in 
an epitaph written by himself for his tomb at Hodnet. 
He received another nomination, of a similar kind, 
in 1710, but was obliged by the effects of a painful 
disease to decline the journey. '.- 

These various employments enabled Mr. Hill to 
amass a splendid fortune. His upright father, sur^ 
prised aUhe.r.apid increase of his wealth, said, " My 
son Dick makes money very fast ; God send that he 
gets it honestly." This apprehension was however 
groundless, for Speaker Onslow observes, "his estate 
Was very large, all acquired by himself, but without 
any reproach as to the manner of it, that I ever heard 
of." In fact, during, the .severe scrutiny that took 
place, at the commencement of the reign of. queen 
Anne, into the conduct of the public men of the last 
reign, 'and when Mr. Hill's own patron Lord Rane- 
lagh was punished by expulsion for wrong conduct 



20 -THE GREAT HILL. 

$-."'. ' ' ' 

t : in his .office, not even a whisper of calumny was 
|)r,eathed against him. He was considered a man of 
virt|i equal to his abilities," beloved by all parties, 
and rias been remarked as an instance of the real wis- 
dom and policy of strict and unbending uprightness. 
In the latter part of his life he retired to Richmond, 
where he attracted most of the eminent persons of 
his day, and was much noticed by the,royal family ; 
the more so, perhaps, because, though a tory, he was 

/a zealous defender of the Hanoverian succession. 
He was strongly urged to accept a bishopric, which 
he refused, but was elected fellow of Eton ; and it is 
said that he wished to become provost, as Sir Henry 
Wotton had been under similar circumstances, but 
he died, without attaining this object- of his desires, 
on July 11, 1727, at the 'advanced age of seventy- 
seven. He is known by the name of the Great Hill, 
" a title," says Mr. Blakeway, in his history of the 
sheriffs of Shropshire, " to which he is justly entitled, 
from the number of affluent families which he 
founded." 

r It is to this celebrated individual that the family of 
the late Rev. Rowland Hill are indebted for the ba- 
ronetcy and the mansion at Hawkstone. His next 
brother, John, born March 23d, 1655, settled at Werri, 
,in Shropshire and for his son, the late Sir Rowland 
Hill, he procured the title of baronet, and built the 
'house wliich had the honour to be' the birth place of 
the venerable individual, whose life, devdted to the 
service of God, and the interests of his fellow-crea- 
tures, we are now about to trace. 

The Rev. Rowland Hill was the sixth son of the 
last mentioned Sir Rowland Hill, baronet, of Hawk 
stone, in the chapelry of Weston, and parish of Hod- 
net, under Red Castle, in which one of his ancestors 
was confined for his adherence to the cause of Charles I. 
He is generally supposed to have been the fourth son, 
which mistake has originated from its not being 
known that two brothers;', born before him, died in 



THE HAWK-STONE '.FAMILY. 21 

" ',-"' ' "' ' ' 

infancy. He was born at Jfowkstone, on August 23d, 
1745, His mother, Lady 1 Hill, was the daughter oj, 
Sir Brian Broughton, of Broughton, baronet, an^on 
her death, Sir Rowland Hill married Mary, widow of. 
Thomas Powis, Esq., and daughter of German Pole, 
Esq. of Radbourn, in the county of Derby, by whom 
he had no issue. Sir Rowland Hill was sheriff of 
Shropshire in 1732, and was elected member of par- 
liament for the city of Lichfield, in 1734-and 1740. 
The name of Mr. Rowland Hill's eldest brother was 
Jlichard, afterwards, on the death of -his father, Sir 
Richard Hill,, baronet, and who was well known as 
the author of Pietas Oxoniensis, published' on the 
Oxford expulsion in 1768, and of many other pamph- 
lets, particularly those connected with the celebrated 
controversy Between Wesley and the Calvinists. He 
Was also returned to parliament for his native county 
at. six successive elections, and was on all occasions 
the zealous advocate of "the cause of religion and 
humanity, which he defended with an energy that no 
hostility or ridicule in the slightest degree diminished, 
though he had perpetually to encounter both. The 
next in succession was his brother John, who, at the 
death of Sir Richard Hill, became possessed of the 
family title and estates, and was the father of Lord 
Hill and his gallant brothers, who passed through the 
dangers of the Peninsular war, survived with honour 
and distinction, though not without wounds, the car- 
nage of Waterloo, and whose names will-ever be con- 
spicuousin the annals of their country's military glory. 
Sir John Hill was the father of thirteen children-* and 
while five of them escaped the daily chances and perils 
of war, his eldest son fell a victim to a cold, caught 
m superintending some improvements in the family 
estates, most sincerely regretted by every one who 
enjoyed the pleasure of his acquaintance, or knew 
his kind and excellent. disposition/ The present Sir 
Rowland Hill, baronet, arid member of parliament 
for Shropshire, is the son of this lamented gentleman, 



22 THE HAWKSTONE FAMILY. 

whose death occasioned Mr. Rowland Hill a poig- 
nancy of grief which it required all the powers of his 
habitual resignation to the divine will to calm and 
subdue. It was the distinguished lot of Sir John Hill 
to have five sons in the battle of Waterloo, and it was 
his singular happiness in his old age, to welcome them 
all, fall of fame and honours, in the mansion of his 
family ; and on one occasion it was remarked that 
there sat on the same side of his table the Rowland 
Hills of three generations the subject of these me- 
moirs, Rowland Lord Hill, and the present baronet 
of that name. The delight enjoyed by the aged father 
was rendered, if possible, even more exquisite, by the 
manner in which he was received, as the parent of such 
heroes, by his late Majesty George the Fourth', who 
welcomed him with unusual cordiality, saying with 
his own peculiar grace, " I am extremely happy to see 
the father of so many brave sons." - - 

Mr. Rowland Hill had another elder brother, Tho- 
mas, who resided at Frees, in Shropshire, and a young- 
.er one, Robert of the Hough, in Cheshire, who was 
the incumbent of preferment in the gift of his family : 
he was also a magistrate, and the father of John-Hill, 
Esq. attorneylgeneral of Chester, and twelve other 
children. His youngest brother was the Rev. Brian 
Hill, who lived at Weston, near Hawkstone, and was 
long the intimate friend of bishop Heber. Mr. Brian 
-Hill was a man of very refined understanding, and 
was both a poet and a scholar,- but of retired habits. 
He was prevented, by conscientious scruples, from 
accepting any benefice in the church, to whose doc- 
trines and liturgy he was, nevertheless, ardently at- 
tached. He was 1 the author of a religious poem, 
called Henry and Acasto, ,and of Travels through 
Sicily and Calabria. He was educated at Q,ueen's 
- College, Oxford, and was chaplain to the Earl of 
Leven and Melville. 

There were two sisters in this remarkable family : 
Miss Jane Hill, whose pious and excellent advice to 



ROWLAND HILL IN CHILDHOOD. 23 

" - ' 



-, 

*> 



her brother Rowland, when at school and at college, 
will soon be noticed in this work ] and Mrs. Tudway,, 
the lady of Clement Tudway, Esq. member o par- 
liament for Wells, in Somersetshire, and for many 
' years the father of the house of commons. Only a 
few years ago, there were living at the same time, 
five of these individuals, each of whose ages exceeded 
seventy years ; but the grave has now closed over 
them all ; and the last that survived was the vener- 
able minister of Christ, whose history engages our 
attention. 

When a boy in the midst of'his family, little Row- 
land was much noticed for the liveliness of his man- 
ner, and that redundant flow of spirits which never 
failed him in his latest years. Once, when yet a 
child, he was brought into the room to his father and 
mother, and their company, when somebody said to 
him playfully " Well Rowly, and what should you 
like to be ?" He looked archly towards his father, 
who was sitting in an arm-chair, and said, "I should 
like to be a baronet, and sit in a great chair" an an- 
swer altogether the reverse of his untiring activity in 
after life. Nothing ever escaped the observation of 
his bright .and penetrating eye ; persons and things 
were equally noticed .by him, and his original and 
playful remarks were treasured up by his family for 
many years. He used, to the latest period of his life, 
to revert with the liveliest expressions of pleasure to 
the drolleries of his childhood, and would relate, in 
his own inimitable manner, the stories his mother had 
told him of his "pranks" before he went to school. 
The actions of his earliest days were all indicative of 
a frank and open mind, and of a character perfectly 
transparent, with a disposition entirely free from any 
thing approaching to reserve or concealment; and it 
was the exceeding openness of his heart, joined to 
numerous qualities, such as are possessed by few per- 
sons in this life, that rendered him so cordially be- 
loved and confided in by all his friends. 



24 HIS CONVERSION^HEN ; 

Young Rowland, as soon as he was considered of 
sufficient age by nis family, was sent to school at 
Eton ; and it was during the days of his boyhood that 
the first beams of that spiritual light, which he for 
so many years reflected in all-its purity and bright- 
ness, were shed upon his soul. The opening flowers 
of his mind were consecrated to God; and his con- 
ceptions of the truths of religion, at this early age, 
were so luminous and distinct, that he never saw 
occasion to alter his first views in any essential par- 
ticular ; and in the midst of all the varied fancies of 
enthusiasts, which often surrounded 1 and distressed 
him, he had never, he said, with the warmest expres- 
sions of thankfulness to God, been led away from 
the 'simple notions of the doctrines of grace he had 
adopted in the morning of his days. 

His brother Richard, who was considerably older 
than; himself, and who/had long been impressed with 
the most serious views of the importance of religion, 
was made the means of his conversion. He first 
began to address him, both by reading and conver- 
sation, during the Christmas holydays of 1761, with 
the earnest and truly fraternal desire of winning him 
to Christ. The first letter, amongst the papers of 
Mr. Rowland Hill, manifesting the deep anxiety of 
his brother Richard to be made the means of com- 
municating to the other members of the family the 
light which had been enkindled in his own bosom, is 
the following, addressed to him and his brother 
Robert, at Eton. 

' London, llth Feb. 1762. > 

MY DEAR BROTHERS, --."'., 

THOUGH I direct this to Rowly, yet it is equally 
intended for one as well as the other of you, and I 
hope it will find you both pressing forward towards 
the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus that is 
set before you. 

Letters to inauire after our poor perishing bodies 



f- 



LETTER OF MR. RICHARD HILL. 25 

a^L s *VjKi 4 

are common enough, but alas ! how few are wrote 
with a "single view of promoting the salvation of pur X 
precious immortal souls, even' by those, perhaps, who 
have a.great deal of the outward form of religion, ; but v 
are ignorant of the life; and power of it/ But surely, 
whilst we have the, Bible in our hands, we can never 
be deluded to '-think ithat God can be pleased with 
the externals of religion whilst our hearts are far from 
him. No!, -the Scripture .assures us that none biit 
those who have seen their lost state by nature, and 
who are made, the children of God by faith in Jesus 
Christ, shallever inherit' the ; promises : and oh ! how- 
dreadful is the thought, to be cast out for ever and 
ever from the presence ;of God, into that lake which 
burneth with fire and brimstone, where their worm 
dieth not, and their file is not quenched ; where there , 
is i weeping, wailing, ami gnashing of teeth. Before' 
I was of your" age, my dear brothers, it pleasejliGod 
to show me the necessity of caring for my soul, but 
like too many in- that season of life, I.presumptuously 
depended on my youth, and thought I might indulge 
myself a little longer in pleasure, and that T should 
have time enough to turn to Qrpd when I grew older. 
But now I am well convinced of the folly and wick- 
edness of such, deceitful dealing with God, for if he 
had cut me off -in that state, as most justly he'might, 
I must have been undone for ever^ ,y ; Take care, there- 
fore, my 'dear brothers, that you do not trifle with - 
God in a 'matter of so much consequence, and suffer 
not yourselves to be led away by the bad Example of 
your schoolfellows; but pray earnestly jfor grace% 
keep you amidst all the snares and temptations that 
continually beset you, [and] doubt not But your prayer, 
if it be offered in sincerity, shall be heard. ' ' ' 

I haye.nothing more to add at present, than, with 
my 'sincere prayer that God iriay take yoii.both to his 
protection, and enable yoivto build up one another in 
the faith of Christ, and that he may bless this letter 
to your soul's good, aiid make us" all brethren 'in 

' " ' ; ' 



26 RICHARD HILL'S EARLY,SENSE OP RELIGION. 

'* ,''''. ';*;. .' . H'-. -' *:.',.. 

grace, as well as by nature, to conclude, my dear 
brothers, Yours most affectionately, 

RICHARD HILL. 

Mr. Richard Hill, .who was made the instrument 
of the conversion of his brother Rowland, became 
himself religious at an early age ; and, as he has left 
in his own hand writing, a very remarkable narrative 
of his first impressions and experience, the account 
of these workings of his young mind cannot .be deem- 
ed unworthy of being here alluded' to. He represents 
himself as haying felt, when only between eight and 
nine years of age, on repeating the catechism one 
(Sunday evening, such a drawing up of his; heart to 
heavenly objects, as made every thing else appear 
insipid 'and contemptible. This, however j was but a 
transient impression, which vanished as soon as he 
withdrew with the rest of his schoolfellows. He re- 
mained about two years longer at school, in Shrop- 
shire, where he felt frequent .checks of conscience, 
and was often much alarmed at the thoughts of 
(death ; after which he was removed to Westminster, 
still pursued by his early convictions which he tried 
in vain to allay " witfe Felix's opium, at a more cori- 
veriient season I will hear thee." He could.! not ex- 
tinguish the hidden fire that burned within his soul ; 
and arguing with himself, that as he was not too 
young to be conscious of his rebellion against ,Gpd, 
so his age could not be so tender, but that if he died' 
he must be shut out from his presence, he seems to 
have remained in the -most agonizing suspense be- 
tween his natural love of worldly amusements, and 
his consciousness of the necessity of a life of religion. 
After being four or five years at Westminster, he was 
confirmed, and made many resolutions of amendment 
on that occasion ; but he found no comfort, np satis- 
factory evidence of his being in a safe condition. 
Soon after this, he fell into a state of the gloomiest 
skepticism : clouds i- overshadowed x Mm in his way, 



MR, RICHARD HILL S DISTRESS OF MIND. 37 

which was nevertheless occasionally cheered by 
beams of light and comfort which broke mrough 
them. Sometimes he doubled every thing ; then he 
was fully persuaded of all the truths of Christianity ; 
there was no medium: and at length, not finding 
any permanent satisfaction, he endeavo'ured for a 
time, by following eagerly the vain pursuits and evil 
example of his schoolfellows, and laying aside all 
inquiries, to divert his thoughts into another channel. 
From Westminster he went, at about seventeen or 
eighteen years of. age, to Magdalen College, Oxford, 
where he remained four or five years, endeavouring, 
but unable, to lull his awakened conscience itrto sleep, 
and even murmuring against God, because he .would 
not permit him to sin with the same relentless satis- 
faction He thought he saw in his companions. From 
Oxford he went abroad for two years, where, to use 
his own expression, he realized the truth of the w.prds ' 
of Horace: ."". < 

Coelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currant. 

He was followed by the same convictions, perplexed 
by the same doubts; partially convinced by his former 
reasonings with himself now a penitent then in- 
volved in a vortex of gayety and pleasure, 'in which 
his conscience would suddenly smite him, and bring 
him to his knees in prayer, with the most 'solemn 
resolutions of amendment. In this state of .mind he 
returned to England in the summer ,of 1757. 

About October, in this year, he was overwhelmed 
with the most entire conviction of his danger; he 
saw the awfulne'ss of God in his wrath; he no 
longer doubted of the existence of the Eternal Being, 
but apprehended that he was .the unpardonable: vic- 
tim of his justice, and that having trifled with, the 
workings of the.Hply Spirit: he should find ho place 
ipr.repentancej- though like Esair he sought it with 
tears. This so affected him, that a change in. his 
appearance was remarked by his friends. In his 



28 RELIEF OF MR. RICHARD HILL'S MIND. 

distress he went to a clergyman 1 of his acquaintance, 
from whom he found no relief; nor could he extract 
from any source a healing balm for , his wounded 
conscience, nor discover a physician skilled, to deal 
with such a case as his: ' ". . _ 

The celebrated Mr, Fletcher, of Madeley, at that 
time tutor to two neighbouring young gentlemen, his 
relations, was the person to whom at length his 
attention was directed ; and he made his case known 
to him in a letter, without mentioning his name, re- 
questing in urgent terms an interview that very night, 
at an inn in Shrewsbury. Though he h#oV some 
" miles to walk, Mr. Fletcher came, consoled him by 
advice, engaged with him in prayer, arid left him 
in a state of comparative ease: nor was this the 
only occasion on which that remarkable man ~ was 
the means of contributing to his spiritual comfort. 
A few years after, as is well known, Mr.. Richard 
Hill thought it his duty to oppose the Arminian 
doctrines of his early religious guide: thus the sol- 
diers of Christ often contend about the weapons of 
their warfare, instead of using them in the common 
cause of the captain of their salvation. 
, In 1758, Mr. Richard Hill returned to Oxford, to 
attend the Yinerian Professor's Lectures on common 
law, not so much with a view to profit by them, as 
to have the opportunity of a retreat in his rooms in 
the college. On the occasion of a sacrament in the 
chapel, the preparation for the ordinance was so 
blessed to him as to operate to the great relief of his 
mind, which was 'now overpowered with an ecstatic 
joy in the Redeemer. Certain books 'which he read, 
the preaching of Mr. Romaine, whose ministry he 
soon after attended in London, and intercourse with 
religious people gave him great comfort : but he soon 
discovered that real religion does not consist in a. 
series of occasional impulses, and a succession of 
" frames and feelings," and relapsed in some degree 
- into his former doubts. He was s at length brought 



HIS ANXIETY FOB HIS BROTHEtt ROWLAND. 29 

into a calm>and peaceful state of . mind,, and religion 
became in him an abiding principle ; though, with 
every, other Christian> he was sensible of that conflict 
between th/flesh and spirit, which is the surest evi- 
dence of the knowledge of our own hearts, and of. the 
work of grace in the soul. He observes,- "."there .are 
but two things the Spirit shows to the elect, sin and 
Christ.?: ."..',-' ' .'-/. ;. 

Being himself thus deeply imbued with a sense ol 
the love of God in Christ, and of the value and im 
portance of religion, it was to be expected that Mr 
Richard Hill should be earnest in his desire to be thfe 
instrument of awakening, similar feelings in the minds 
of the members of his own family. It appears also, 
from some; memoranda in his own writing, that the 
servants in his father's establishment, and the vil- 
lagers around the house, were the constant objects 
of his pious solicitude and care. His eldest sister was 
happily his able and judicious assistant in this work ; 
and under their joint care and advice, the seed sown 
in young Rowland's mind sprung up and grew with 
a rapid increase. He seems to have derived much 
benefit from reading the works of Archbishop Leigh- 
ton, which his brother Richard sent to him, at Eton, 
accompanied by a letter that contained an allusion to 
his entering the ministry, and concluded with this ad- 
vice : " Be diligent in your studies. However human 
learning may prove a snare to such as "are -.vainly 
puffed -up in their fleshly minds,, yet in a gracious 
heart it is very desirable ;- and if it is your prayer and 
endeavour that whatsoever, attainments you make in 
profane literature may be subservient to the nobler end 
of rendering you instrumental to the good of souls, and 
useful; to the church .of Christ, there is no fear of your 
being hurt by those detestable maxims and principles 
with which the most admired classical authors abound ; 
but rather will they be the means of discovering to you 
the blindness and depravity of human nature, and- the 
necessity of seeking that only true wisdom that cwneth 

' 



80 ROWLAND'S' PROGRESS IN RELIGION. 

froth, above, and without which all other -wisdom will 
prove iri the end only refined folly. And now, with my 
sincere prayers that if it be the will.of God ever to call 
you to the work of the 'ministry, you may be fitted and 
prepared by his grace and Holy Spirit^ for that most 
important office, and by your steady attachment to 
our most excellent church, in a season wherein there 
is so dreadful a departure from the doctrines of her 
Homilies, Articles, and Common Grayer, may prove 
yourself a faithful labourer in the vineyard of our 
blessed Lord, I conclude myself .your most affection- 
ate brother, both by nature and grace, Richard Hill." 
This letter was written in February, 1762 ; and there 
is one dated the following month, addressed to both 
his brothers, in which Mr. Richard Hill expresses 
great regret at not being able to pay them a visit 
at Eton, but anticipates the enjoyment of much con- 
versation on religious subjects at Hawkstone in the 
following summer ; and he sends back. with it a little , 
treatise, which it seems they had conveyed to .him, 
called " Heavenly Paths." , 

It was in young Rowland's mind, however, that 
grace -took its deepest root, and whose progress in di- 
vine knowledge and experience seems to have given 
his pious and anxious brother the most unequivocal 
delight. In the midst of the carelessness and evil 
example of his schoolfellows, agitated by the waver- 
ing of his brother Robert's mind on the subjects which 
most interested himself, in the pursuit of the attain- 
ments of classical literature, and surrounded on all 
hands by sneers and ridicule, he was running, while 
yet a.boy, his race of glory with an unequalled ardour. 
To his schoolfellows and-to others he declared what 
God had done in his soul, and was made the instru- 
ment, even at that early period, of the conversion of 
some of them The first-fruits of the rich harvest of 
success he reaped in his administrations in after life. 

He ever carefully preserved a letter written to him, 
when at Cambridge, by a youth to whom .he had been 



IS MADE USEFUL AT ETON. 31 

tirade thus useful at Eton, and who pours out his soul 
with all the candid simplicity of boyish friendship.; 
and with an expression of deep religious feeling which 
would have done credit to a riper age. The decided 
course of this young Christian had involved him in 
severe trials ; but in adversity, whether in youth or 
in after days, religion is the Christian's aW, and then, 
it is that its glory appears. 

It seems, from the letter of Rowland's young friend, 
that a religious society had been formed amongst 'the 
converts in the school, but that after his departure, the 
life which he communicated to it had been less vigo- 
rous : they were now on the eve of a. revival, arid 
had drawn itp some rules and directions for their own 
guidance. The fifth of these is not only interesting 
as the production of these pious boys, but is intrinsi- 
cally excellent. "Fifthly, let us take notice of the 
manner in which our time is spent, and of the strain 
which runs through our discourse. How: often the 
former is lost in trifles how often the latter evapo- 
rates in vanity ! Let us attend to the principles from 
which our actions flow ; whether from the steady ha- 
bitual love of God, or from some rambling impulse, 
and a customary propensity to please ourselves ? How 
frequently we neglect to glorify our Creator, to edify 
our fellow-creatures, and to improve ourselves in 
knowledge and holiness ! Let us observe the frame 
of our spirits in religious duties-r-with what reliic- 
tance they are undertaken, and with what indevotipn 
they are performed, .with how many wanderings of 
, thoughts, and how much dulness of desire. How 
often in the common ^affairs of life we feel the inordi- 
nate sallies of passion, the workings of evil concupi- 
scence, or, the intrusion of foolish imaginations. Let 
us be careful to register those secret faults, which 
none but the, all-seeing eye discerns. Often review 
these .-interesting memoirs. Let us 'frequently con- 
template ourselves in this faithful mirror." After 
adverting to these rules, his young fellow-christian 



32 CANDOUR OF HIS BROTHER RICHARD. 

expresses, in the \yarmest manner, his everlasting 
obligations to his beloved Rowland for the pains he 
had taken with him, and earnestly requests aninte T 
rest in; his prayers. These Avere the first dawnirigs 
of his opening day of zealous and successful labours 
in the cause of his -Redeemer. 

Towards, the latter part :of his time at Eton, Row- 
land was surrounded by a ( number of fellow-christians, 
old and young, some of whom had cast a stumbling- 
block before him by their inconsistencies. His bro- 
ther Ricliard, in a very long-letter,; dated Sept. 30th, 
1763, addresses him on this subject ; and assures, him 
that " even they, who are really the children of God 
by faith in Christ Jesus, have their spots, and dp too 
often act greatly, below the high dignity unto which 
they are called. Beware, therefore," he continues, 
"that you be not encouraged to go beyond your 
Christian liberty in any matter, because you see other 
Christians do so ; but whilst .you copy their graces, be 
very. careful not to be led aside by their falls and in- 
firmities." Then he adds, with an excellent spirit of 
frankness and candour, <' I am in a particular manner 
bound to repeat this caution to you with regard to my- 
self, from a consciousness that my example before you 
has not been such as becometh the gospel ; but be as- 
sured that this reflection affords me constant matter of 
humiliation, and that it is the. earnest desire of my 
heart, to 'be daily more and more conformed to the 
image of Christ, and more and more, meet to be a par- 
taker of the inheritance among the saints in light." 

Favoured as Rowland was at- this time with the 
advice of such a brother, he was not less carefully 
watched by his truly pious sister Jane ; and in addi- 
tion, to the letters of Sir Richard Hill, before alluded 
to, he treasured up his deeply interesting correspond- 
ence with Miss Hill, while at school and at college, 
to the end of his life., ^ In June, 1764/, she writes to 
announce to him thathis going to Cambridge was de- 
termined on, arid that Sir Rowland appeared to have 



ADVICE . OF MISS HILL. 33. 

no objections to his entering upon the sacred office of 
a minister of God's word. She tells him, "you are 
to be placed for the first year under Dr. Brooke, to 
whom'Sir Rowland has presented poor Moses's liv- 
ing, in Norfolk,* and Mr. Frampton, who will con- 
tinue r your tutor. The Lord, I trust, will enable you 
to stand against all the fiery darts which will be shot 
at you at college. Pat bulls of Bashan will encom- 
pass you on every side, and you will need to be armed 
with the whole armour of God." This letter, after 
some very pious remarks, ends thus" I cannot con- 
clude without saying how glad we are to find, by Mr. 
Sleech's letter to my brother, that you are so diligent 
in your studies : continue to be so, my dear Rowly, 
and if possible double your diligence, that you may be 
an ornament to the ministry, which is the prayer of 
your most affectionate sister, J. Hill." In all her cor- 
respondence with him, his sister strongly urges the 
necessity of diligence in his studies ; and she tells . 
him that "human learning is a most desirable jewel 
in order to set off the lustre of those in a sanctified 
heart." . / 

In the month of October, 1764, after a previous 
visit to Hawkstone, where he met with many severe 
trials, the more felt as he had not the consolation of 
his sister's presence, on account of her being on a 
visit at Lord Dartmouth's,' he entered upon his im- 
portant ^career at Cambridge. An excellent letter 
from Miss Hill, lamenting their not having -met before 
his journey to the university, consoles him under the 
aflicting opposition, he had suffered at home, and 
exhorts him to prepare for many troubles yet to come, 
and to " cleave only the .more closely by faith to 
Jesus." 

It was the design of Sir Rowland, in sending his 

* There were six livings, all of .considerable value, at that time 
in the gift of the -Hill family, in Norfolk, ; with this restriction, 
that they could only be presented to fellows of St. John's College, 



Cambridge. 



34 MR. ROWLAND HILL AT CAMBRIDGE. 

son to Cambridge, that he should, by applying to his 
studies, obtain a fellowship at St. John's, and thus 
become qualified for presentation to one of the family 
livings in Norfolk, an intention in which young Row- 
land' acquiesced. He accordingly entered as a pen- 
sioner; but subsequent events having determined 
him to alter his views, he became a fellow-commoner, 
a class of young men, not eligible to fellowships on 
account of their supposed rank and situation. 

Before he went into residence at Cambridge, Mr. 
Rowland Hill's religious sentiments were much disap- 
proved of by his family ; but happily a nobleman of 
piety, much respected at Hawkstone H defended his 
views, and acted as a check to his opppsers. "When 
he entered the university, Mr. Rowland Hill soon 
encountered the contempt he had expected to find 
there ; and frequently has he -said, that he was, 
merely on the account of his religion, such a marked 
and hated person, that nobody in the college ever gave 
him a cordial smile, except the old shoe-black at the 
gate, who had the loye of Christ in his heart. : The 
report of his piety and zeal soon reached the ears of 
the well-known Mr. Berridge of Everton, who sought 
his acquaintance in the following note. 



SIR, 



Grandchester] Tuesday Morning, 

December 18th, 1T64. 

' . ^ 



Mr. Thomas Palmer was-; at my house last week, 
and desired me to call upon you when I went to 
Cambridge. I am now at Grandchester, a mile from 
you,, where I preached last night and this morning, 
and where. I shall abide till three in the afternoon 
willyou take a walk over ? ' The weather is frosty, 
which makes it pleasant under foot. The bearer of 
this is Mr. Matthews, who lives at Grandchester mill, 
at whose house I am. If you love Jesus Christ, you 
will riot be surprised at this freedom taken with' you 
by a stranger, who seeks your acquaintance only out 



HIS FREQUENT VISITS TO EVERTON. 35 

of his love to Christ and his people. lam, for his 
sake, your affectionate servant,' 

JOHN BERRIDGE. 

\ 

Thus to his great joy and comfort began his inter- 
course with Mr. Berridge, whose ministry he regu- 
larly attended, riding every Sunday from Cambridge 
to his church, whence he hastened back in time 
for the college chapel; and seldom : did it happen 
that any severity of weather prevented him from 
spending a portion of his Sunday at Everton. He 
passed the Christmas of his first year at college with 
his newly acquired friend and guide at Everton, and 
there met with many persons, not perhaps altogether 
the most judicious, whose views of religion were in 
unison with. Hs own. Scarcely a week elapsed with- 
out intercourse with this excellent, but eccentric old 
clergyman, arid he wrote, in raptures to his sister of 
the happy enjoyment he felt in his society and that of 
the fellow-christians he met with in mV house. She 
replied to him in these ' terms : , " we rejoice much at 
the happy Christmas you spent with Mr. B. as well 
as at the other opportunities you liave of conversing 
with the; dear children of God, whose experiences, 
discourse,-: and admonition, I trust you will find 
abundantly blessed to your soul, :and that you will 
not fail to prosper amongst the .trees of righteousness^ 
and bring forth much fruit to the honour and glory 
of that God, "who has called you out of darkness into 
his marvellous 'light, and made you to; know and ex- 
perience the felicity of his chosen but my brother 
H. and myself both think it proper to give you a cau- 
tion how you go too frequently .$&" Mr. B. r for should 
that be discovered, I need not tell you the storm it 
would raise." V '' ' , 

On whatever spot the two brothers Richard, and 
Rowland appeared, there they enkindled the flame, 
and shed the lustre of religion ; and at the same time 
their pious sister cast over her narrower sphere the 



* - 

'$& BEGINS PREACHING AT CAMBRIDGE. 

/ 

gentle influence of a life dedicated to Go ; d, to which 

was added the rare appendage of a most humble spirit. 
To no one could we better apply the Words of Jeremy 
Taylor; "like a fair taper, when she shined to .all 
the room, yet round about her own' station she;had ; 

"cast a shadow and a cloud, and she shined to every- 
body but herself." While Rowland:was at Carnbridge 
confessing Christ and despising .the shame, his excel- 
lent brother and sister were engaged .in the arduous 

\work of endeavouring to awaken in the. servants.of 
their family, and amongst therr neighbours, a sense 
of religion ; arid their efforts to promote this aMm- 

: portarit object formed frequently the subject of their 
correspondence. In a little book, preserved amoijgst 
the. papers of Ife Rowland Hill, there are frequent 
entries, in the hand' writing of his brother Richard, 
of the happy deaths of their, converts and friends. 
The following is a specimen : ".Feb. 6, 1766. This 
day, being Thursday, about a quarter past twelve at 
noon, my dear humble faithful servant Giles Archer 
sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. His! disorder was a fever 
which lasted exactly three weeks^The Lord enable 
me : to follow him as he followed Christ." ; ... 

It is time, however, to return to the sceneis in 
which Mr. Rowland Hill was personally engaged. 
His whole soul was bent on prpmoting-the growth of 
piety in himself and others, arid he was made instru- 
mentalin awakening an anxiety about ternal con- 
cerns in the minds of some.few of his fellow-students/ 
Amongst these were his friends Pentycyoss, Simpson^ 
Robinson, and others, who were irnrjued with the 
same spirit of zeal, thqugh they did riot possess his 
fire, energy, and unflinching boldness.. But -His assid-! 
iwns efforts were not confined to the "gownsmen of 
th6 university : he' visited the jail, and. the sick, . 
and commenced preaching in several places .in Cam- 
bridge, and in the adjacent pillages. This unusual 
' proceeding in an undergraduate brought dbw,ri on 
him the severest censure from his college, and insults 
' '''' 



i'f 

MEETS WITH SERIOUS OPPOSITION. 37 

from the populace of the town ; the records of which 
still remain in his Own "hand-writing, in a sort of 
irregular diary, which he heads, ' "Parts of Scripture 
expounded at different places, what time, and what 
..success." Itfegihs.with t: Tuesday, Nov. .26,.(1T66) 
at Chesterton,* on Matt. vii. 14, Enter -in at ; the strait 
g'a^,<fcc.&c.; "there was much disturbance, fcut much ' 
less than was expected some enlargement." . A nuni- 
ber of texts, with the names of places, follow this entry, 
without any Remarks .ofparticular interest^ he men- 
tions, however, in one case, a.vast concourse of people 
at the castle, and comfort to himself in preaching to 
them. At length the Opposition to the young preacher 
became very serious arid decided ; ; and he wrote to 
consult the celebrated Mr. Whitefield. The adviefe 
he gave to him will be seen in his answer. 

. London, Dec. 27, 1T66. 

About thirty-four , years ago, the master of Pern-' 
broke college, where I was educated, took me to task 
for, visiting the sick and going to the prisons Iii my 
haste 'I said, " Sir, if it displeaseth you 'I will go no .. 
more ;" my heart smote me immediately I repented 
and went again he heard of it threatened but for 
fear he should be looked, upon as a persecutor, let me 
alone the' hearts of all are in the Redeemer's hands 
- I would- not have you give way, no not for "a mo- 
ment the storm is too great to hold long visiting 
the sick and imprisoned, and instructing the ignorant, 
are the very, vitals of true and undented religion. If 
threatened, denied degree, or expelled for this, it will 
be the best Degree you can take. A glorious prepa- 
rative; forj and a blessed presage of, future usefulness. 
I have seen the dreadful consequences of giving way- 
and looking back. How many by this wretched cow- 
ardice and fear of the cross' have been turned info 
pillars, riot of useful, but.of useless salt ! Felix quern 
facient aliena pericula caution. Now is your time 
* A village near Cambridge. 

' ' 4 ' ; " - 



38 EXTRACTS FROM HIS DIARY. 

, . -J 

to prove the strength of Jesus yours. . If opposition, 
did not so much abound, your consolations would not 
so abound. Blind as hie is, Satan sees some great 
good coming on. We .never prospered so much at 
Oxford, as;when we were hissed at and reproached 
as we walked along the street, as being counted the 
dung and oft-scouring of all'things. That is a poor 
building that a little stinking breath of Satan's vas- 
sals can throw-down. Your house I trust is better 
founded Is it not built upon a rock? Is not that 
rock the blessed Jesus ? The gates of hell, therefore, 
shall not be able to prevail against it. Go on, there- 
fore, my dear man, go on; old Berridge, I believe, 
would give you the same advice ; you are honoured 
in sharing his reproach and name. God be praised 
that you are helped to bless when others blaspheme. 
(Do not drop the Bible andold books you write good 
sense nothing is wanting but to write it in a proper 
manner. Your friend Hallward is a good, example 
to copy after.) God bless and direct and support you 
he will, he will good Lady Huiitington is in 
town she will rejoice to hear that you are under, 
thebross you will not want her prayers or the poor 
prayers of, my dear young honest friend, 

Yours, &c. &c. in an aH-conquering Jesus, 
To Mr. Rowland Hill, G..-W. 

at St. John's College, Cambridge. 

This advice, though scarcely consistent with- the 
submission he had promised as an undergraduate, 
but so much in unison with his own desires, was 
quite sufficient to determine him to defy all resist- 
ance I'irom whatever quarter ; and soon after the re- 
ceipt of Mr. Whitefield's letter, is the fpllo.wing entry 
in his diary. " 1767, Jan. 1, Thursday, at Chester- 
ton, on John i. 25, 26, on the po^jer of Christ's re- 
surrection ; we had the honour of a mob, no other 
harm was done than the windows broke." "Sunday, 
Jan. 4, at the castle, on Genesis, iii. on the fall : 



EXTRACTS FROM HIS DIARY. 39 

and a little mobbing." "Thursday, Jan. 8, on Psalm 
Ixii. 1$. Comfortable time at Painter's, -oil the liie 
of faith." He preached four times this week-, which 
he notices, and then continues. " Sunday, at castle, 
Jan. 18, on 1 Cor. xv. 22, on death. I-sawthis day 
the dead corpse of Mary Giiby, when I came to visit 
her." "Wednesday, Jan! 21, at castle, on Gen. xxxii. 
26, on earnest prayer, I will not let thee go' except 
thou bless me." " Thursday, Jan. 22, at Grandches- 
ter, on Psalm xxvi. 12, on Sion's captivity. I had a 
very bad walk both there and back again. My body 
was so fatigued, that I had not much power to speak. 
Father, thy will be done." Such varied remarks as 
the following occur in his hand-writing, in reference 
to different occasions oh which he preached and ex- 
pounded-T-" many Were drunk ; I was confused", 
"no mobbing, but very much abused in m'y way 
there" "the people were still, and a tolerable num- 
ber" "to a number of dissenters, I hope the Lord 
kept me from trimming." "Thursday, at castle, on 
1 Cor. v. 10, ' We must all appear before the judg- 
ment-seat of Christ.' Two prisoners were condemn- 
ed to death at the assizes the day before ; the. Lord 
enabled me to use^terrOr, with some power and love" 
the people were inclined to mob, but were over- 
awed .by the word" "in a barn for the first time, 
with miich comfort. God send, if I am to live, 
this may not be- my last 'barn sweet to rejoice 
anywhere, though, in a barn." "Some gownsmen 
were there, but were permitted to do ho more' than 
gnash with their teeth." " Sunday, May 10 ? (1767) 
1 Cor. ix. 24 ; ' So run that ye may obtain} Eor 
Newmarket races many people there. I was a little 
confused, but I heard -it was blessed what cannot 
God do?" - . 

Not only ..were all the energies of Mr. Rowland 
Hill's own mind at this period directed to the object 
of preaching Christ, but he had been the means also 
of communicating to some of his-fellow students, and 



40 HIS PERSEVERANCE IN PREACHING. 

others, apportion of his ardent zeal. They had formed 
a little soxjiety, of which he was the leader ; .and he 
urged them on in pursuit of the one end they had in 
view, through every possible barrier that was cast be- 
fore them. He was assailed on all sides. His father 
and mother were decidedly opposed to his career, 
and his superiors in the university condemned, in 
- the strongest terms, his infringements of discipline. 
Hints of a refusal of testimonials, .and even .degree, 
were held out as the probable result of his irregu- 
larities, but in vain. To preach Christ he was "TCT 
solved; and it was not his natural disposition . to 
yield to any intimidating menaces, nor could he 
see, that, by his present departure from the regula- 
tions of the university, he was throwing any obstacle 
in the way of his future usefulness. The stigmas 
and censures cast on him he considered as honours 
of the highest. order; and expulsion, or refusal of 
any university privilege, would only have driven him 
at once to other/scenes of labour, and not to des- 
ponding silence .and.obscure repose. Besides the in- 
clination of his own zealous and fervent disposition, 
he was under the influence^of a- master spirit of no 
ordinary mould ; he was encouraged in his -course, 
whenever difficulties appeared before him, by the, stir- 
ring letters of Whitefield, of which the following is 
an .example. . ^ 

Haverfordivest, June 4, 1767. 

MY DEAR PROFESSOR, : ' " 

I wish you joy of the late high dignity confer- 
red upon you higher than if you were made the 
greatest professor in the university of Cambridge. 
The honourable degrees you intend giving to your 
promising candidates, I trust will excite an holy am- 
bition, and an holy emulation let me know; who is 
first honoured.* As I have been admitted to the de- 

* By preaching in any of the various places which Mr. Row- 
iand Hill visited for that purpose. 



SECOND LETTER OF MR. WHITEFIELD. 41-; 

1 

gree of doctor .for near these thirty years, 1 .assure 
you I like my field preferment, my airy ^pluralities, 
exceeding well. For these three weeks- - last past I e . 
have been beating up for fresh .recruits* in Glouces- 
tershire and South Wales. Thousands and thousands 
attended, and good Lady Huntingdon was .present- 
at one .of out reviews her ladyship's aid-de-camp 
preached in Breclpiock street, and Captain Scott, that 

tlorious field officer, lately fixed up his standard upon 
ear Mr. Fletcher's horseblock, at Madeley. Being- 
invited thither, I have' a great inclination to lift up the 
Redeemer's ensign next week, in the same place-^-with 
what. success you and your dearly . beloved; candi- 
dates for good old methodistical contempt shall know 
hereafter. G,od willing, I intend fighting my way 
up to town. Soon after my arrival thither, I hope 
thousands and thousands of volleys of prayers^ ener- 
getic, effectual, fervent,* heaven-besieging, heaven- 
opening, heaven-taking prlyers, shall be poured forth 
for you all. Oh, my dearly beloved and longed for 
in the Lord, my bowels yearn towards you. Fear 
not to go_ without the camp-^-keep open the corres- 
pondence- bet ween the two .universities. Remember 
.the praying legions they were never known to yield 
God bless those, that are gone to their respective 

* Mr. Whitefield, however, had so. often been deceived, by his 
"recruits,"' that he had become very cautious ,as to receiving 
them; and without either something striking in their replies to 
his questions, or in their appearance, or a strong recommendation, 
they were not easily received by him. 'His friend Cornelius 
Winter tells us that he dismissed a tailor with, "go to rag fair 
and buy old clothes" nor did -he readily take any person into his 
confidence, The late celebrated Robert Hall was often obliged 
to_act in the same way, and once said to a shoemaker, who would 
fain have become a minister by his influence, and urged on him 
as an argument, that he ought not to keep his talents concealed in 
a napkin" the smallest pocket handkerchief you have will do, 
Sir." I recollect telling this story to Mr. Rowland, Hill, who 

laughed heartily, and replied, "I remember when 

came to me, and talked about not hiding his talents, I could not 
help telling him, that for my part, I thought the closer he hid 
them the better." 



42 CONTINUANCE OF MR. ROWLAND HILL'S LABOURS. 

cures. I say not livings a term, of too modern 
date Christ is our life Christ is the Levite's inhe- 
ritance, arid Christ will be the true disinterested Le- 
vite's lot and portion and all, Greet your dear young 
companions whom I saw they are welcome to write 
when they please. God be your physician under 
your .bodily malady ! A thorn a thorn but 'Christ's 
grace Will be sufficient for you. To his tender, never 
failing mercy, I commit you as being for his great 
blessed name's sake, my dear professor. ' 

Yours, &c. &c. G. W. 

P. S. I am sorry it hath so turned out about the 
letter kit you shall have it when I reach London. 

To Mr. Rowland Hill, . 

at St.; John's College, Cambridge. : 

On 'the Sunday after this letter was written,- he 
preached at the castle'^pambridge, but describes 
himself as rather confused/ a feeling which probably 
arose from Ms bodily ailment. On the Tuesday fol- 
lowing he spoke at Chesterton, on the gospel being 
revealed to babes, "with some power and to many 
people," adding this prayer, "Lord bless it, then shall 
I know that I do thy will." He seems, at 'this early 
period of his ministerial labours, to have been always 
much cast down by a small attendance, a discourage- 
ment ,he seldom experienced either then or in his 
maturer life, but which, whenever it -did happen, 
seemed to deprive him of all energy. He remarks 
in the entry immediately following the one last quoted 
" a poor poor congregation : Lord, what are we 
come to ? Lord, help" this was at the castle, where 
he preached the following Sunday, on receiving the 
adoption of sons, to " many people, but not much af- 
fected." This appears to have been his last opportu- 
nity but two of speaking at the castle "; for, after men- 
tioning two other texts on which he had preached 
there, he describes the door to the prisoners as shut 
against him. 



VISITED BY TWO PIOUS DANES. 43 

Just at this time he received a visit in college from 
two pious , natives of Denmark, who Had been with 
his brother Richard at Hawkstone, and who brought 
a letter of introduction from Mr. Whitefield. A por- 
tion of their diary, during their stay in England, con- 
tains an account of this interview, and is written with 
great -piety and simplicity, as will be seen from the 
following interesting extract.* "The 16th of "June, 
(1767) we arrived at Cambridge in the Crown Inn, 
at Mr. Cowling. The 17th we went to Mr. Row- 
land Hill of John's college, showing our letter of in- 
troduction from Mr. Whitefield. We spent almost 
the whole day with him in his edifying company he 
told us much blessed news of the kingdom of our 
dear Saviour, viz. that there were at Cambridge seven 
awakened and Jesus-loving, students, one little girl 
from ten, one boy from thirteen years, and several 
married and unmarried "n^^fe. His bible and pray- 
er were his only study, &c.f and, after our friend 
having prayed very fervently with us, we departed 
from, Cambridge the 18th of June, for Newmarket.- 
Afterwards we came again the 25th of ditto, to Cam- 
bridge, where we spent a blissful evening with our- 
dear Mr. Hill. The 26th June he conducted us to 
a pious friend, Mr. Matthew,' at Grandchester, where 
we met with the revered Mr. Berridge, : at Everton, . 
and in the evening setted'off for Nottingham. The 3rd 
9f July we arrived in the Angel Inn, at Mr. Eamp, in 
Oxford,' and to our joy found there our dear Mr. 
Rowland Hill, from Cambridge, who brought us to 
Mr. Jones of Edmund Hall, where we met with nine 
pious students, amongst Whom were 
Mr. Hallward of Worcester 

Foster of Queen's 

Pew of Hertford 

* I give this extract exactly as it is found in the paper contain- 
ing it, which was preserved by Rowland Hill. 

t As will be soon seen Mr.. Rowland Hill, did not neglect his 
college studies, and no man set a more proper estimate on, the 
Value of learning. 



40 HIS PERSEVERANCE IN PREACHING, 

others, apportion of his ardent zeal. They had formed 
a little society, of which he was the leader ; and he 
urged theni on in pursuit of the one end they had in 
view, through every possible barrier that was cast be- 
fore them. He was assailed on all sides, His father 
and mother were decidedly opposed to his. career, 
and his superiors in the university condemned, in 
-the strongest terms,, his infringements of discipline. 
Hints of a refusal of testimonials, and even -degree, 
were held out as the probable result of his irregu- 
larities, but in vain. To preach Christ he was 'ic7 
solved ; and it was not his natural disposition , to 
yield to any intimidating menaces, nor could he 
see, that, by his present departure from the regula- 
tions of the university, he was throwing any obstacle 
in the way of his future usefulness. The stigmas 
and censures cast on him he considered as honours 
of the highest order; and expulsion, or refusal of 
any university privilege,. would only have driven him 
at once to other scenes of labour, and not to des- 
ponding silence and.obscure repose. Besides the in- 
clination of his own zealous and fervent disposition, 
he was under the influence. of a^ master spirit of no 
ordinary mould ; he was encouraged in his ^ course, 
whenever difficulties appeared before, him, by the, stir- 
ring letters of Whitefield, of which the following is 
an.example. , "-. 

Haverfordwest, June 4, 1767. 

MY DEAR PROFESSOR, , " 

I wish you joy of the late high dignity confer- 
red upon you higher than if you were made the 
greatest professor in the university of Cambridge. 
The honourable degrees you intend giving to your 
promising candidates, I trust will excite an holy am- 
bition, and an holy ernulatiori let me know, who is 
first honoured.* As I have been admitted to the de- 

* By preaching in any of the various places which Mr. Row- 
iand Hill visited for that purpose. 



SECOND LETTER OF MR. WHITEFIELD. 41? 

1 

gree of doctor for near these thirty years, I assure 
you I like my field preferment, my airy "pluralities, 
exceeding: well. For these three weeks last s past I 
have been beating up for fresh recruits* in Glouces- 
tershire and South Wales. Thousands and thousand's 
attended, and good Lady Huntingdon was present 
at one ,o our reviews her ladyship's aid-de-camp 
preached in Brecimock street, and Captain Scott, that 
glorious 'field officer,lately fixed up his standard upon 
dear Mr. Fletcher's horseblock, at Madeley. Being 
invited thither, I have'a great inclination to lift up the 
Redeemer's ensign next week, in the same place--with 
what . success you and your dearly beloved: candi- 
dates for good old methodistical contempt shall know 
hereafter. Gpd willing, I intend fighting my way 
up to town. Soon after my arrival thither, I hope 
thousands and thousands of volleys of prayers^ .ener- 
getic, effectual, fervent^ heaven-besieging, fieavenr 
opening, heaven-taking prayers, shall be poured forth 
for you all. Oh, my dearly beloved and longed for 
in the Lord, my .bowels yearn towards you. Fear 
not to go. without the cainp-^-keep open the corres- 
pondence, bet ween the two universities. Remember 
.the praying legions: they were never known .to yield 
God bless those, that are gone to their respective 

* Mr. Whitefield, however, had so, often been deceived, by his 
"recruits,"' that he had become very cautious as to receiving 
them; and without either something striking in their replies to 
his questions, or in their appearance, or a strong recommendation, 
they were not easily received by _ him. 'His friend Cornelius 
"Winter tells us that he dismissed a tailor with, "go to rag fair 
and buy old clothes" nor did -he readily take any person into his 
confidence. The late celebrated Robert Hall was often obliged 
to act in the same way, and once said to a shoemaker, who would 
fain have become ^a minister by his influence, and urged on him 
as an argument, that he ought not to keep his talents concealed in 
a napkin" the smallest pocket handkerchief you have will do, 
Sir." I recollect telling this story to Mr. Rowland. Hill, who 

laughed heartily, and replied, " I remember when 

came to me, and talked about not hiding his talents, I could not 
help telling him, that for my part, I thought the closer he hid 
them the better." 



42 CONTINUANCE OF MR. ROWLAND HILL ! S LABOURS. 

cures. I say not livings a term, of too modern 
date Christ is our life Christ is the Levite's inhe- 
ritance, arid Christ will be. the true disinterested Le- 
vite's lot and portion and all, Greet your dear young 
companions whom I saw they are welcome to write 
when they please. God be your physician under 
your bodily malady ! A thorn a thorn butChrist's 
grace will be sufficient for you. To his tender, never 
failing mercy, I commit you as being for his great 
blessed name's sake, my dear professor. ' 

Yours, <fcc. &c. G. W. 

P. S. I am sorry it hath so turned out about the 
letter but you shall have it when I reach London. 

To Mr. Rowland Hill, > 

at St. John's College, Cambridge. 

On 'the Sunday after this letter was written,- he 
preached at the castle'^Cambridge, but Describes 
himself as rather confused, a feeling which probably 
arose from his bodily ailment. On the Tuesday fol- 
lowing lie spoke at Chesterton, on the gospel being 
revealed to babes, "with some power and to many 
people," adding this prayer, " Lord bless it, then shall 
I know that I do thy will." He seems, at this early 
period, of his ministerial labours, to have been always 
much cast down by a small attendance, a discourage- 
ment he seldom experienced either then or in his 
maturer life, but which, whenever it -did happen, 
seemed to deprive him of all energy. He remarks 
in the entry immediately following the one last quoted 
" a poor poor congregation : Lord, what are we 
come to 1 Lord, help" this was at the castle, where 
he preached the following Sunday, on receiving the 
adoption of sons, to " many people, but not much af- 
fected." This appears to have been his last opportu- 
nity but two of speaking at the castle ; for, after men- 
tioning two other texts on which he had preached 
there, he describes the door to the prisoners as shut 
against him. 



VISITED BY TWO PIOUS DANES. 43 

Just at this time he received a visit in college from 
two pious natives of Denmark, who Had been with 
his brother Richard at Hawkstone, and who brought 
a letter of introduction from Mr. Whitefield. A por- 
tion of their diary, during their stay in England, con- 
tains an account, of this interview, and is written with 
great piety and simplicity, as will be'seen from the 
following interesting extract.* "' The ,16th of "June, 
(1767) we arrived at Cambridge in the Crown Inn, 
at Mr. Cowling. The 17th we went to Mr. Row- 
land Hill of John's college, showing our letter of in- 
troduction from Mr. Whitefield. We spent almost 
the whole day with him in his edifying company he 
told us much blessed news of the kingdom of our 
dear Saviour, viz. that there were at Cambridge seven 
awakened and Jesus-loving, students, one little girl 
from ten, one boy from thirteen years, and several 
married and unmarried TOWS- His bible arid pray- 
er were, his only study, &c.f and, after our friend 
having prayed very fervently with us, we departed 
from Cambridge the 18th of June, for Newmarket.- 
Afterwards we came again the 25th of ditto, to Cam- 
bridge, where we spent a blissful evening with our- 
dear Mr. Hill. The 26th June he conducted us to 
a pious friend, Mr. Matthew, at Grandchester, where 
we met with the revered Mr. Eerridge, at Everton, 
and in the evening setted'off for Nottingham. The 3rd 
of July we arrived in the Angel Inn, at Mr. Eamp, in 
Oxford, and to our joy found there our dear Mr. 
Rowland Hill, from Cambridge, who brought us to 
Mr. Jones of Edmund Hall, where we met with nine 
pious students, amongst whom were 
Mr. Hallward of Worcester 

Foster of dueen's 

Pew of Hertford 

* I give this extract exactly as it is found in the paper contain- 
ing it, which was preserved by Rowland Hill. 

t As will be soon seen Mr. Rowland Hill, did not neglect his 
college studies, and no man set a more proper estimate on. the 



value of learning. 



44 LONG VACATION OP 1767. 

Mr. Gurden of Magdalen 
Glark of St. John's 

Kay and Giwe of Edmund Hall's College,* . 
Spending the following day with these dear brethren, 
and left Oxford the 5th of July." 

At the beginning of this month, Mr. Rowland Hill 
left the university for the long vacation, and, was on his 
way home, when he met these pious foreigners at Ox- 
ford; but before his departure, he preached with re- 
ference to his intended absence, on two occasions, to 
which he thus alludes" Lord's day at Painter's, on 
last chapter of 2 Cor., The grace of. our Lord Jesus 
Christ, &c. my parting sermon, I was but dead." 
"-Monday, June 30, at Chesterton, to many people, 
with much comfort, on John vi. 68, Lord, whither 
shall we go. thou hast the ivords of eternal life 1 
Many tears a dismal Carting," 

When he wrote the||||last words his mind must 
have been deeply affecletPboth by the sympathies of 
those he was leaving at Cambridge, as well as by the 
prospects which awaited him at home, which was 
about to be. to him a mingled scene of cloud and sun- 
shine. The> latter he enjoyed in the cordial wel- 
come of his sister, and elder brother, who had lately 
become a village preacher, and a visitor of prisons like 
himself; but the displeasure of his parents cast a 
gloom over his soul ; and he used often to speak of 
his sorrowful walks amidst the beautiful scenery of 
his father's grounds, and of the frowns, which pierced 
to the very core of his tender and affectionate heart. 
But he was encouraged in his own career, and con- 
gratulated on his brother's activity, by his " much 
honoured Mr. Whitefield," who addressed him in his 
peculiar and energetic style of expression. 

* Two of the expelled in 1768, . ; 



THIRD BETTER, OP MR. WHITEPIELD. "45 

Lyndon, July 14, 1767. 

MY DEAR PROFESSOR, 

^WHAT said our Lord to Martha ? Did I not say 
unto" thee, if thou ; wouldst believe thou shouldst 
see the glory of God ? . Blessed, for ever blessed, be 
the God and Father "of our Lord Jesus Christ, for 
what he hath done for your dear brother. A preach- 
ing, prison-preaching, field-preaching, Esq. strikes 
more jthan all black gowns and lawn sleeves in the 
world. And, if I am riot mistaken, the great Shep- 
herd and Bishop of souls will let the world, and his 
own children too, know that he will not be prescribed 
to, in respect to men, or garbs, or places, much less 
will he be confined to any order, or set of men under 
heaven. I wish you both much, very much, pros- 
perity. You will have it, you|will have it this is the 
way, walk in it. Both taberaicle 'and chapel pulpits 
shall be open to a capta^^^n esquire sent of God. 
The good news from (jlioTa is encouraging. Say; 
what tliey will, preaching should be one part of the 
education of a student in divinity Us-us promptos 
facit. Dear Pentycross and the friends you intro- 
duced with one Mr. Atkinson were with me three 
hours on Saturday last. I hope it was not lost time. 
Write often, and let me know how you go on, What 
says your friend, dear Mr. Powis. God bless him and 
help him to go forwards dear Esq. Hill I pray for 
you night and day. Miss Gode is gone off trium- 
phantly, and also another of Brighthelmstone flock 
Hallelujah come, Lord, come. 

; Ever yours, &c. 

. . ''' G- W. 

When at home, Mr. Rowland Hill preached wher- 
ever he could collect a congregation. His first entry 
in his memoranda written at the time, is "Wednes- 
day, July 7 beginning at Jerusalem Lower Heath, 
(a part of his}father's estate) to many people. I had 
some power given me, but I thought they were very 



44 LONG VACATION OF 1767. 

Mr. Gnrclen of Magdalen 
Clark of St. John's 

Kay and Grove of Edmund Hall's College,* 
Spending; the following day with these dear brethren, 
and left, Oxford the 5th of July." 

At the beginning of this month, Mr. Rowland Hill 
left the university for the long vacation, and was on his 
way home, when he met these pious foreigners at Ox- 
ford ; but before his departure, he preached with re- 
ference to his intended absence, on two occasions, to 
which he thus alludes " Lord's day at Painter's, on 
last chapter of 2 Cor., The grace of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, &-c. my parting sermon, I was but dead." 
" Monday, June 30, at Chesterton, to many people, 
with much comfort, on John vi. 68, Lord, whither 
shall we go, tlwu hast the words of eternal life ? 
Many tears a dismal parting." 

When he wrote these last words his mind must 
have been deeply affected both by the sympathies of 
those he was leaving at Cambridge, as well as by the 
prospects which awaited him at home, which was 
about to be to him a mingled scene of cloud and sun- 
shine. The latter he enjoyed in the cordial wel- 
come of his sister, and elder brother, who had lately 
become a village preacher, and a visitor of prisons like 
himself; but the displeasure of his parents cast a 
gloom over his soul ; and he used often to speak of 
his sorrowful walks amidst the beautiful scenery of 
his father's grounds, and of the frowns which pierced 
to the very core of his tender and affectionate heart. 
But he was encouraged in his own career, and con- 
gratulated on his brother's activity, by his '' much 
honoured Mr. "Whitefield." who addressed him in his 
peculiar and energetic style of expression. 

* Two of the expelled in 1768. 



THIRD LETTER OP MR. WHITEFIELD. 45 

Landon, July 14, 1767. 

MY DEAR PROFESSOR, 

WHAT said our Lord to Martha ? Did I not say 
unto" thee, if thou wouldst believe thou shouldst 
see the glory of God 1 . Blessed, for ever blessed, be 
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for 
what he hath done for your dear brother. A preach- 
ing, prison-preaching, field-preaching, Esq. strikes 
more than all black gowns and lawn sleeves in the 
world. And, if I am not mistaken, the great Shep- 
herd and Bishop of souls will let the world, and his 
own children too, know that he will not be prescribed 
to, in respect to men, or garbs, or places, much less 
will he be confined to any order, or set of men under 
heaven. I wish you both much, very much, pros- 
perity. You will have it, you will have it this is the 
way, walk in it. Both tabernacle and chapel pulpits 
shall be open to a captain or an esquire sent of God. 
The good news from Oxford is encouraging. Say 
what they will, preaching should be one part of the 
education of a student in divinity Usus promptos 
facit. Dear Pentycross and the friends you intro- 
duced with one Mr. Atkinson were with me three 
hours on Saturday last. I hope it was not lost time. 
Write often, and let me know how you go on. What 
says your friend, dear Mr. Powis. God bless him and 
help him to go forwards dear Esq. Hill I pray for 
you night and day. Miss Gode is gone off trium- 
phantly, and also another of Brighthelmstone flock 
Hallelujah come, Lord, come. 

Ever yours, &c. 

G. W. 

When at home, Mr. Rowland Hill preached wher- 
ever he could collect a congregation. His first entry 
in his memoranda written at the time, is "Wednes- 
day, July 7 beginning at Jerusalem Lower Heath, 
(a part of his father's estate) to many people. I had 
some power given me, but I thought they were very 



46 - FOURTH BETTER OF MRrWHITEFIELD. 

.. . 

nnaffecfed." Again ; "Saturday, at Marchamly, (a vil- 
lage near Hawkstone) from Matt, xviii: 3, Except ye 
be converted, &c. Much Straitened oil account of basli- 
fulnessm speaking before my dear brother." During 
his whole visit to his family, he never lost an oppor- 
tunity of proclaiming his Saviour, but deeply lamented 
that he could so seldom find one. He had, how.ever, 
the joy of seeing his brother Brian added to those of 
his own kindred who were already his fellow-believ- 
ers in Christ Jesus, on which he was congratulated by' 
Mr. Whitefield in terms -too characteristic of that ex- 
traordinary man not to be inserted here. , . 

London, August 8, 1767. 

MY DEAR PROFESSOR, 

I HAVE been sadly Cindered irom answering your 
last letter delivered \iijij\yy your brother. 1 gave it 
him to read, and we h^felmst, a profitable confer- 
ence. . God be prais|dl||pother of your brothers is 
gained. What gracelis this ! Four or five out of one 
family it is scarcely to be paralleled. Who knows 
but the root as well as the branches may be taken by 
and by: Abba, Father, all things, are possible with 
thee. Steadiness and perseverance in the children, 
will be one ,of the best means, under God, of con- 
vincing the parents. Their present opposition I think 
cannot last very long ; if it does, to obey God rather 
than man, when, forbidden to do what is undoubted 
duty, is the invariable rule. Our dear Penty is under 
the cross at Cambridge. But, crescit sub ponder e 

. c ., | . ' " . 

Satan thwarts and men object ; 
Yet tae thing they thwart, effect. 

I should be glad if any one's exhibition* was taken 

* A college friend, to whom Mr. Rowland Hill was much at- 
tached, having been the means of his conversion, wrote -him 
.wordFthat he had been threatened m:this way. He says, " the 
sum of their determination concerning" me may be comprised 
iii these few words that I immediately return?to college, and 
that unless they receive a letter of my recanting my present prin- 



;. MB. ROWLANDS ILL'S DEPRESSION. ,47 

from him for visiting the sick, &c.\It would vastly . 
tend to the furtherance of the gospel ; but Satan sees 
too far, I imagine, to play such a game now. Let him 
do his work he is only a mastiff chained. Continue 
to inform me how he barks, and howfar- he is permitted 
to.go in your parts ; and God's people shall be more and 
more stirred up to .pray for you all, by my dear pro- 
fessor, , . 
Yours, &c. &c. . 

, In our all-conquering Emmanuel, 

' To Mr. Rowland Hill, Y ' - G. W. . 
at Hawkstone, Shropshire. . . 

Mr. Rowland Hill's-acufe sensibility to ,the "opposi- 
tion of ^ his parents, and the hinderances which Were 
cast in the way of his exertiojis, seem very much to .- 
have weakened the spring of Jjlis elastic mind. This ' 
is evident from the languas^lljihis diary " Saturday, 
Sept. 5, (1767) at MarclHpa^Gal. ii. 20, 21 j on 
living by faith in Christ.^pmhree last times I have 
spoken, I have found but Mitfle comfort, occasioned, 
by my speaking so seldom." God forbid that the lit- 
tleliair on my head may not all be shorn off." On 
almost every succeeding occasion too, at this period, % 
his remark is, " but little > comfort." On* Tuesday, Oc- 
tober 12th, just .before his return to Cambridge, he 
thus registers his farewell:. "AtMarcharhly, Heb.ii. 
30, How shall we escape if we neglect, so great sal- 
vation. The last time the people are very dead. 
Was enabled to say many sharp things to rouse them. 
What I have spoke I have spoke faithfully through 
grace assisting. that I had spoke oftener. . Lord, 
put thy seal to thine own worcl, ancj. par.dpn what was 

. ' - . 'i- - : . - ' 

ciples, which they (who know not;-'what they say; nor whereof 
- they affirm) declare are contrary to the'doctriiies b| the Christian 
church, I am to have no ^further benefit, from .them, and. my ex- ' 
hibition of thirty pounds per. year to' be withdrawii. Oh '.vthatl 
had thirty thousand to" give up r for Jesu's sake." He'adds, ; "I 
have been with Mr. Romaine frequently of late, blessed be God 

for it." . . ' -: . " - .-. ;" 



48 HE VISITS LADY HUNTINGDON. 

mine." On the twenty-first of the same mo'hth h 
took his departure for the university, having first com 
mended to God in, prayer those of whom he was now 
about to take leave. This is noticed in a letter of his 
sister to her friend Lady Glenorchy, dated Oct. 20, 
1767, in which she says " We have just had a part- 
ing prayer with my dear brother Rowland, who leaves 
us to-morrow. He proposes to see good Lady Hunt- 
ingdon in his way to Cambridge, which I trust will be 
blessed to him, and that he will ever stand faithful in 
the cause of his crucified Master, whether he be ad- 
mitted as a minister of the Gospel, to preach in his 
name, or not ; but alas ! my dear friend, to such a de- 
plorable apostacy is the world come, that young men 
who are steadfastly attached to the church, and live 
exemplary lives, can^ hardly get their testimonials 
signed for orders." tkkhis way to Cambridge, Mr. 
Rowland Hill preach^Hte Mrs. Layton's of Bath, 
Saturday, Oct. 24ti^||^jpwas, as he says, "rather 
dashed at the audience Lord f6r boldness a little 
assistance from above." .This he repeated with "not 
much comfort or perspicuity." He observes " I do not 
love to speak to fine people." He preached, however, 
in Lady Huntingdon's chapel, and expounded in her 
house " with much comfort." 

The instant he arrived, at Cambridge, he began 
preaching ; and he thus describes his first meeting of 
his friends and followers there "the people were 
much in tears at seeing me. Lord keep them and me. 
A little comfort. Always find more comfort iri speak- 
ing to my own people than any where else." His 
feelings, during this term at college, seem to have 
varied exceedingly. On one occasion, a Sunday, he 
writes "much comfort and stiuiuglaudate De- 
uiri" On another, the following Wednesday---" dis- 
tressed at the smallness of the congregation, so that I 
had not any liberty. Lord, where is. the word that 
was sown on Sunday eve ! Cast thy bread upon the 
water sand thou shaltfind it after many days." Of 



f't 



HIS RETURN TO CAMBRIDGE. 49 

(f fe,, 

a subsequent sermon he says, " 1 doubt too much in 
my own spirit :" and he closes the year 1767, and 
commences tne following with this prayer, "Lord 
grant us a deal-of .blessed preaching this next year." 
He.prayed also, in a truly Christian spirit, for grace 
to act with forbearance -to wards the gownsmen who 
ridiculed him ; and remarks, in reference to the pre- 
sence of some of them when he was addressing the 
people, "the Lord would not let me" trim, blessed be 
his name." 

Not only was Mr. Rowland Hill actively engaged 
at this time with the flock he had collected at Gam- 
bridge, but he kept up a constant correspondence 
with:those k undergraduates and others at Oxford, who 
professedsentiments in unison with his, and who were 
employed in somewhat similar scenes of religious ex- 
ercise. -His principal correspondent was his friend 
Mr. Hallward,; of Worcest^^Mege, who informs him 
of the great stir their procS^^s were making in the 
university, and of the outcry raised both by " gown 
> and town." Little, however, did he -anticipate that 
the opposition made to these young men would- end, 
as it did, on March 11, 1768, in the expulsion of six 
students from St. Edmund's -Hall. In the previous 
autumn, Mr. Hallward informs him of meetings which 
took place in the house of a Mrs. Durbridge, the wi- 
ndow of a humble, but eminently pious friend of Mr. 
Whitefield,. of whose triumphant death Mr. Rowland 
Hill had some time before received an animating ac- 
count from the pen of his friend Hallward,' who re- 
ports him to have said, when the languor of disease 
prevented his holding much intercourse j with those 
who visited him, "the still voice of Jesus to my : soul 
,is sweeter than any other conversation whatever." 
It was in this house that their assemblies for prayer 
and exhortation were chiefly carried on, till at length 
discovery was made of their meetings, from which, 
when known, they "thought it cowardly to desist," 
though they heard " of loss of character, degrees, or- 
5 ' ' 



50 RELIGIOUS MEETINGS AT OXFORD IN 1768. 

ders, and even expulsion itself." Mr. Rowland Hill's 
correspondent assures him, that they were unmoved 
by these things, and: that for his owtf 5 part, he was his 
pupil, and could declare, with sincerity, that he con- 
.sidered it "a happiness and privilege to be counted 
worthy to suffer reproach for Jesu's sake with the lit- 
tle flock" in Oxford, where he says in another letter, 
" the lion has roared, though I think he has had but 
little real cause hitherto. God grant he may for the 
future have more." 

At length the storm which had been long gather- 
ing, and gave a few warnings of its future violence, 
poured the full torrent of its vengeance upon six stu- 
dents of St. Edmund's Hall. Their names were, Ben- 
jamin Kay, James Matthews, Thomas Jones, Thomas 
Grove, Erasmus Middleton, Joseph Shipman, who on 
the complaint of Mr. Higson their tutor, and. contrary 
to the inclination of, Jllff*Dixon, the .principal of the 

' ' ^*#&gftSj*-v">. ' JL A 

college, were sumirldnW before "the vice-chancellor 
and his assessors for preaching and expounding doc- 
trines contrary to those of the church of England, and 
frequenting illicit conventicles. The result of this in- 
quiry was, as has been before stated, their expulsion 
an act which was soon followed by a letter ad-* 
dressed to Dr. Durell, the vice-chancellor, fromlVh*. 
Whitefield, and by a pamphlet entitled Pietas.Ox- 
oniensis from the pen of Mr. Richard Hill, dedicated 
to the Earl of Lichfield, then chancellor of the uni- 
versity of Oxford. This pamphlet was answered by 
Dr. Nowell, principal of St. Mary's Hall, and public 
orator, who gives the articles of accusation, and his 
own notes of the evidence, and maintains that Mr. 
Higson deserved the thanks given him by the vice- 
chancellor, and that the sentence of expulsion was 
just. On the thanks to Mr. Higson, Whitefield re 
marks, 

" Piidet hsee opprobria nobis ; 

Et dici potuisse, et non potuisse refelli; 

What thanks, reverend Sir, he may meet with from 



PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SIX STUDENTS. 51 

^ the whole oiniversity I know Hot; but one thing 1 
know, namely, that he will receive no thaiiks for that 
day's work from the innumerable company of angels, 
the general .assembly of the first-born which are writ- 
ten in heaven^ or from God the -judge of all, in that 
day when Jesus the mediator of the new covenant 
shall come in his own glory, in the glory of the Fa- 

" ther, and his holy angels, and gather his elect from 
all the four comers of the world." Mr. Higson it 
seems was subject to insanity, and had been under re- 
strictions, and therefore when he went to Dr. Dixon 
with the charge---" that there were several enthusi- 
asts in their society who talked of regeneration, in- 
spiration, and drawing nigh unto God," he treated 
it as the eifect of excitement in a disordered mind, 
especially as the young men in question had lived 
most exemplary lives, and had conducted themselves 
in an orderly manner inMie college. The tutor, 
however, dissatisfied withthe*clisposition of the head 
of the college towards the young men, applied to the 
vice-chancellor as yisiter, who appointed certain as- 
sessors and a day for hearing the accusations against 
them, arid they were cited to this court by! a notice 
on the door of the hall chapel. It appears that Dr. 
Dixon, the principal 1 of the hall, defended their dog- 
trines from the articles of the established church, and 
praised, in the highest terms, the exemplariness- of 
their lives ; and others considered, that if by a ,well 
meant zeal they had fallen into any impmdencies, 
an admonition was the most their conduct required. 
The charges against them Were certainly a most sin- 
gular medley. Some of them were accused of being 
of low origin, others of being illiterate,, of being 
reputed methodists, and of being connected with 
Messrs. Venn, Newton, ana 1 Fletcher, clergymen of 
the same principles ; and it was insinuated that they 
only came to Oxford for the purpose of "skulking 
into orders." Part of the testimony produced on the 
occasion, was a letter to the tutor, by a gentleman, 



52 ' THEIR ACCUSATION AND DEFENCE. 

assuring him that Thomas Jones had smade a very 
good periwig for him only two years before,- when 
employed in the trade of a barber; arid hence it was 
argued, that he could not be a-fit person to continue, 
.especially after: his irregularity in praying and ex- 
pounding the scriptures, in a seat of learning like Ox- 
ford. J It was moreover considered a happy circum- 
stance that the views of the methodistical leaders of 
the day, of "filling the church with their votaries had, 
by this seasonable interposition, been disappointed." 
These last words are those of Dr. Nowell, in his reply 
to the pamphlet entitled Pietas Ozoniensis,axid. which 
was soon followed by an answer from the pen of its 
author, Mr. Richard Hill, called " Goliath slain, being 
a reply to the Rev. Dr. Nowell's answer to Pietas 
Oxoniensis, wherein the false glosses of that gentle 
man's pamphlet are removed, his great misrepresen- 
tation detected, the ancient doctrines of the reforma- 
tion and of the church^lFEngland defended, and the 
sentence against the expelled young men proved, from 
his own words, to be far more severe, arbitrary, and 
illegal, than it hath hitherto been represented." The 
intimate connexion of his brother Rowland with these 
zealous young men was, in a great measure, the rea- 
son of the very prominent part taken by Mr. Richard 
Hill in this controversy, which was carried on for 
some time with great vehemence in various letters, in 
the "Shaver's sermon" so called, and in the newspa- 
pers of the day. There can be no question that their 
preaching and expounding while in statu pupillari, 
was an infringement, by these young men, of the letter 
of the university statutes; but it was shrewdly observed 
by one of the-heads of nouses present on their trial, 
"that as these six gentlemen were expelled for having 
too much religion, it would be very proper to inquire 
into the conduct of some who had too little," and 
whose pursuits, if visited according to the same regu- 
lations, would have subjected them to a similar in- 
fliction; : But the doctrines they promulgated form- 



ROWLAND HILL CONTINUES HIS EXERTIONS. 53' 

'. ' *f 

ed the chief^subject of their judges' displeasure ; and 
the zealous clergymen, Yenn, Newton, Fletcher; and 
others, whom they followed, were at that time accused 
of holding tenets opposed to those ,'of the church to 
which they belonged. Time, however, has. done jus- 
tice to their piety and merits,* and the church of Eng- 
land is daily adding to the number of her rzealous and 
active ministers, men who consider their doctrines 
not at variance with her liturgy and articles, and whoj 
without any infringement of her rules; are preaching 
salvation throughfaith alone in a crucified Redeemer, 
arid whose works tire an answer to those who insinu- 
ate that they lay no, stress on them as evidences of 
their belief. - - 

The subject of the expulsion of these young men 
from Oxford, has been alluded to here on account of 
the very intimate connexion which subsisted between 
Mr. Rowland Hill and the^ttle company 'of which ^ 
they were a part, who entered-iritp his views, and 1 who 
followed his example at that university ; and because 
of the perseverance and determination with which the 
late Sir Richard Hill defended their principles. , As 
may be imagined, this event deeply affected Mr. Row- 
land Hill ; and although his Alma Mater proceeded 
not to such lengths of severity, he was not without 
his share of difficulties and'bpposition. There were 
also those of the. same religious sentiments as his own, 
who considered his irregular -course as not the best 
preparative for .his degree or future^ ministry. He 
never did, however, from the first impulse he received0 
nor would his nature permit it, move in any defined 
and settled orbit.; He was encouraged in his pro- 
ceedings by the:advice of many of his friends, who 
told him they were '"glad to. hear the kingdom of 
Cfirist grew so formidable at Cambridge as to make 

.._'"- ' ^ ' > 

' * Of Fletcher, Southey, whom nobody will suspect of lack of 
affection for the church, says "No age or country- has ever pro- 
duced a man of more fervent piety, or more perfect charity ; no 
church has ever possessed a more apostolic minister." 

'' - 5" ' 



54 HIS SKILL IN ATHLETIC EXERCISES. 

the adversary think it worth while to oppose." He 
had, in a most extraordinary degree, the power of 
attracting and retaining ,the regard of those whose 
minds were at all disposed to religion ; an instance of 
which appears in the following extract from one 
of their . letters :" My dear Rowly, ,,may v the Lord 
prosper you in every thing you' undertake. Although 
I know you so little personally, I find my heart more 
drawn out to you than almost to any one I know." 
It is evident from the correspondence of his early 
associates, that there never was a leader more zeal- 
ously followed or more , cordially beloved than Mr. 
Rowland Hill during his residence at 'Cambridge. 
Religion never could be accused of gloom as respect- 
ed him at any period of his life ; and when at school 
and at college, he was exceeded by no person, but 
his brother Robert, in every species of athletic exer- 
cise. He was an exceedingly bold and intrepid rider, 
and in ,the exercises of Skating and swimming, he 
has probably never been much excelled by any per- 
son. He once swam from Cambridge to Grandches- 
ter, a distance of two miles, against "the stream ; and 
it is not many years ago since a person who walked 
by the side of the river at the time, reminded him of 
the fact. 

During the year 1768 Mr. Rowland Hill was dili- 
gent in his studies preparatory to his degree of B.A., 
to which he proceeded a twelvemonth later from his 
first going to college than is usual, having, to use 
the technical language of the university, degraded, 
or -postponed his examination for a year. His tutor, 
Pearce, of St. John's, was a person of much learning 
and eminence, having been in the year 1767 third 
wrangler and second medalist. He was afterwards 
public orator, master of Jesus college, master of the 
temple, and dean of Ely. Mr. Pearce was not much 
older than his pupil. They had occasional commu- 
nications in after life, arid entertained for each other 
a sincere mutual esteem; and it is this connexion 



TAKES- -HIS DEGREE IN 1769, 55 

which accounts for Mr. Rowland Hill's having been 
frequently permitted- to preach .in" the Temple church, 
before the order of thetbishop of London for his ex- 
clusion from the,pulpits. jn his dipcess.! Considering 
the activity with which- he kept .up his communica- 
tions with his religious friends and followers at Cam- 
bridge, and in its neighbourhood, it is extraordinary 
that he cpuld rfind time for any' serious application 
for his approaching examination ;" but-he-was -natu- 
rally fond of certain subjects of mathematical science, 
particularly optics, hydrostatics, mechanics, and as- 
tronomy, of the principles of which he .acquired, with 
the able assistance of his tutor, a fair general know- 
ledge, and tHe popular parts of them frequently en- 
gaged his attention, and seemed greatly to interest 
him during his whole life. He was by no means 
unmoved by the, charms of rational enjoyments ; but 
the object to which his whole soul was attracted was 
"the one thing needful," to; 1 which his, attention, if at 
any time diverted. from- it, was always prepared in 
an instant to return. 

In January, 1769,-.Mr. Rowland Hill proceeded to 
his degree of B.A., when his name appeared in the 
list of honours, an unusual thing for a fellow 'com- 
moner in those days, though latterly the members of 
some of the most distinguished: families in the king- 
dom have passed with the 'highest success, through a 
course of study requiring, no common industry and 
talent, and of the extent and difficulties of which 
those who lived in the last century had not the re- 
motest idea. , ; 

Before he took his degree, several of his college 
friends had been ordained and had settled in various 
cures, and maintained with him a regular correspond- 
ence, in which they informed him of their religious 
experience and ministerial difficulties and successes. 
Th<jy had different views, of the best mode of effecting 
their important object : some disapproved all irregu- 
larity ;. while others thought it essential to their use- 



56 THE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF HIS FRIENDS. 

fulness. One of them, ill a letter to Mr. Rowland 
Hill, giving an 'account of his labours in the>neigh- 
bourhood of his parish where* the duty was great, 
says' 1 You need not, I think, mention anything to 
Simpson of -what I design by the, will of God to do 
in the ministry; either now or afterwards. I dare 
not give -'him -any pain ; and though we think dif- 
ferently about the methods of advancing 'the kingdom 
of Christ, yet Fani-SUre his eye is more' single than 
mine, and what I very often take in myself to be a 
burning zeal is nothing but constitution. ' Mr. Ber- 
ridge's plan I wish to follow the most of any -method 
I have. heard of, for he is a stated .minister, and is ac- 
tually himself at the head of what he calls 'his ' shops/ 
so that he does not just preach and never see their, 
faces, but is 'joined in ' society with them all." Mr. 
Berridge had great influence over Mr. Rowland Hill 
and his pious associates who followed 'the example 
of his itinerancy ; and whatever differences of opin- 
ion may exist as to the expediency of their mode of 
proceeding, there can be no doubt that they were 
actuated by the purest and most truly Christian de- 
sire to sow as widely as possible the seeds of eternal 
truth in the uncultivated soil around them* When 
Mr. Berridge first entered oh the duties of his s minis- 
try, and for some time after he was -presented to the 
living of Everton by his college, he was prejudiced 
against both Wesley and Whiten" eld ; but his senti- 
ments having changed, and his zeal having become 
the topic of conversation in the religious circles of 
the day, a correspondence commenced^ betweenlhem, 
which was speedily succeeded by a confirmed inti- 
macy. He afterwards separated from Wesley, when 
the union between him and Whitefield was dissolved. 
Mr. Berridge's first interview with John Wesley took 
place on the second of June, 1758, and on the twen- 
ty-second of the same month he began to itinerate, 
preaching in farm yards, in fields, and wherever he 
could collect a congregation. The counties of Cam- 



JOHN STITTLE. 57 

bridge, Essex, Hertford/ Bedford, and Huntingdon, 
were the principal scenes of his labours,. and in this 
circuit he preached, upon an average, from ten "to 
twelve sermons a week, and not unfrequently rode 
on horseback a hundred miles.- He rented: houses 
and barns, maintained lay preachers; and travelled 
-at his own expense charges which his fortune, in- 
herited from his father, and his income from his .pre- 
ferment, enabled him to .bear. Mr. Hicks, a clergy- 
man, in his neighbourhood, who had been converted 
by a sermon he heard from him, was his chief com- 
panion ; and it has been, computed, that the result 
of their preaching in, one year, was the awakening 
of a sense of religion in about four .thousand souls. 
The most violent opposition was raised against him, 
which ; seemed only to stir up his 'strength and en- 
kindle new zeal in his soul ; nor did he regard all 
the opprobrious names with which- he was assailed 
by his enemies for more than twenty years. Thus 
in the early culture of certain portions of that soil, 
which is now under a more orderly tillage, and ex- 
hibits symptoms of an ^abundant harvest, God per- 
mitted the seed sown by the first spiritual husband- 
men; to be irregularly scattered on its surface ; and 
it could only be a sincere desire to make it fruitful, 
that stimulated the labours of these undoubtedly 
pious and indefatigable men. . 

One of the lay preachers countenanced by Mr. 
Berridge, was a man well known at Cambridge by 
the familiar appellation o'f Johny Stittlej an eccentric, 
uneducated, but naturally gifted man, perfectly devoid 
of the fear of any human being, aiid of a spotless pri- 
vate reputation. Mr. Berridge thus notices 'him in a 
letter to Mr. Rowland Hill : "John Stittle preached 
at my house in the holydays ; he is a wonderful man 
indeed ; somewhat lifted up- at the present, I think ; 
but his master will take him by the nose by and by." 
During the whole of Mr. Rowland Hill's residence 
at college, he was in constant communication with 



58 PERSEVERANCE OP MR. ROWLAND HILL. 

Mr. Berridge, and his friends, who urged him to per- 
severe in his irregular administrations. He had, 
whilst an undergraduate, diligently taken care of 
what he' called "his little flock' at Cambridge ;" -and 
his labours there, as well as in numerous other places, 
had involved him in a series of troubles which would 
have damped all the energies of a less zealous and 
enterprising spirit. The numbers, however, , who 
were awakened to an interest in their souls by his ex- 
ertions, the sincere^ and" devoted attachment of his 
friends, the great work of grace in his own family, 
and the consciousness of sincerity, were his consola- 
tions, and prepared him to pass with fortitude through 
the difficulties which lay in the course which he had 
determined to pursue; which was, to hold commu- 
nion "with men of all sorts, provided they were of 
the right sort -;'-' and to cast the gospel net whenever 
an opportunity presented itself, looking to the church 
for orders and a standard of doctrine. 



MR. ROWLAND HILL REFUSED ORDERS. 59 



CHAPTER II. 

R7R. ROWLAND HILL REFUSED ORDERS BY SIX 

BISHOPS. 

t * ''"'- 

i ' * 

WHEN Mr. Rowland Hill proceeded to his first 
degree, he was more than twenty4hree years of 'age; 
and he therefore immediately exerted himself Jo the 
utmost to obtain orders. His irregularities while-at 
Cambridge, and his disinclination to: promise to con- 
fine himself in future to the rules of the church, 
caused him to experience the mortification of refusals 
of ordination from no less than six bishops. Still, 
such was the impression on his mind that it was his 
duty to preach the gospel, that he could hardly be 
persuaded to retire amongst his friends for a short 
period previous to each successive application for 
admission into the church. .The world around him 
was in gross darkness; and he longed to impart to it 
a few rays of heavenly light : he saw sin every where 
powerful, and his soul was stirred up to combat the 
enemy of man's salvation. 'Had he lived in these 
days of 'more widetyjextended truth, he would proba- 
bly have-waited in patience and in prayer. He could 
riot, however, endure the thought of leaving his fol- 
lowers at Cambridge ; and he went frequently to the- 
imiversity for the purpose of continuing his adminis- 
trations among them, a circumstance which threw a 
serious obstacle in the way of his being episcopally 
x ordained. He had also an impression on his mind 
that his life would be very short, and he earnestly 
desired to spend the brief existence he conceived to ' 
be allotted to him here, in the active service of God/ 
His college friends, now ordained and occupying sta- 



60 CONDOLENCE OF HIS FRIENDS. 

tions in the church, sympathized with him most feel- 
ingly on his disappointment. One of them, the Rev. 
E. Buckley, of Kippax, near Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, 
1 adds to his expressions of condolence, an invitation 
to his house in the following urgent terms: "My 
dear friend, I had the favour of yours, and know not 
whether to say I am sorry or not for the refusal you 
have lately met with, since I doubt not it is the will 
of a good and gracious God that it should be so. It* 
would be conferring an honour and pleasure upon me, 
if you would make my house your : home, and the 
sooner you come, the greater, will be the obligation. 
Let the next post inform me that you are; on your 
journey northwards ; perhaps the bishop of York, who 
is one of the most candid men in the world, will do 
for you what the bishop of Lichneld has refused ; 
we probably can muster up some friends for you here, 
who will stir and interest .themselves more in your 
behalf than any of your own relations.", Another 
of them writes" When I think of your present sit- 
uation from your late disappointment, forgive me if 1 
have now and then some fears of your zeal becoming 
damped, and your love for souls waxing cold. Oh ! 
that my fears may be without foundation. Indeed, 
my dear Rowly, we had need be praying night and 
day that the Lord would be pleased to make us the 
happy, though unworthy, instruments of reviving his 
work." This last sentence declares the great object 
of the ; zeal of these devoted young men ; and what- . 
ever differences of opinion Christians may have of 
their mode of endeavouring to promote a revival of rev 
ligion, there can be only one of the integrity of their 
intentions. 

The death of Mr. Whitefield had deprived Mr. 
Rowland Hill of the guide by whom he.had been di- 
rected in his former difficulties. Mr. Berridge, now 
his chief adviser, recommended him " to stand still 
and not to hurry." "When the cloud," he says in a 
very long letter, dated Jan. 19, 1770, f< seems to move 



ADVICE OF MR. BERRIDGE. 61 

towards any place, prepare to follow it, but pray still 
to be kept from the delusions of your own spirit, and 
from the wrong counsel of. others." "Be not," he 
adds, " anxious- about .orders ;. they will come as soon 
as wanted ; nor be anxious about any thing but to 
know the Lord's , -will, and to do the Lord's work. 
One of your Master's titles is Counsellor, and a won- 
derful .counsellor he is. Therefore ask no counsel, 
and take ho counsel but of the Lord ; so shall you 
walk'more evenly than if you had the whole congre- 
gation of gospel divines at your elbow every moment 
to advise you. Your late successful expedition seems 
a providential prelude for a field preacher next sum- 
mer;- and if Yorkshire is to be the'field of action, 
Wales must lay* out of your way."- .-' o 

The winter of 1769-70, Mr. Rowland Hill passed 
comfortably in his father's .house at IJawlsstone, and 
if the bishop of Lichfield would have ordained; him, 
he might have had a title for orders in the adjacent 
village o Weston ; but the preaching expedition al- 
luded to by Mr. Berridge, .and his former course, de- 
cided the bishop to refuse his application. - Hitherto 
his brother Richard had been an active lay preacher ; 
but he xvas prevailed on to relinquish that work, and 
seek other modes of usefulness derivable from his 
fortune and station. Mr. Richard Hill's giving up 
preaching was a great grievance to Mr. Berridge, who 
thus alludes, to it when writing in his, quaint and pe- 
.culiar style to his brother Rowland :. " As Paul was, 
so be thou a fool for Christ's- sake ; yea, .the very scum 
and off-scouring of all things.' I -believe the Lord 
..Tesns, who lias a peculiar love for your family, in- 
tended this honour for your elder brother, but through 
bad advice -lie has declined it : and the Lord now 
seems to be conferring this honour upon you, which 
will make the younger brother prove at length the 
better gentleman. I am glad you find a peaceful 

- * Mr. Berridge had a whimsical objection to the word He, ex- 
cept in its bad sense. -''-,- 

' . 6 , - - 



.62 SCRUPLES OF MR. BENTYCROSS. 

refuge for the present, and good winter quarters at 
Hawkstone; but if the Lord makes you take the 
field in the spring, and gives success, you may expect 
friends and foes will fasten on you like leeches ; and 
needfully fasten to draw out the hot and bad blood 
which a successful expedition will occasion." 

In all his deviations from the course prescribed by 
the church of England, Mr. Rowland Hill continued 
unalterably attached to her articles and liturgy, and 
was never, like some of his early friends, troubled 
with conscientious scruples as to subscribing to them. 
No person ever exceeded him in his admiration of 
the spirituality and beauty of the book of Common 
Prayer; he used also to speak very highly of the 
homilies ; he once remarked, in allusion to the ob- 
jects of the Prayer Book and Homily Society, that 
they could distribute few books more likely to be 
useful, than a judicious selection from those "good 
sound old-fashioned sermons." It was impossible not 
to be struck with his devout attention, in his own 
chapel, to the reading of the prayers ; and he often 
expressed the strongest disapprobation of the apparent 
disregard shown to them by those who came in after 
service was begun. He always considered'the want 
of a vivid perception of the excellence of the liturgy 
as an evidence of a lack of spirituality ; and in con- 
versation would frequently repeat parts of it with 
great energy, and say, "well done the good old 
reformers ; what fine scriptural ideas they had ; if 
they were alive now, I would try to get them into" 
Surry chapel pulpit" - . 

This was not the case with his friend Pehtycross; 
he had many scruples about the book of Common 
Prayer, which Mr. Berridge endeavoured to remove. 
He notices it in a letter to Mr. Rowland Hill, in which 
he says " Poor Penty, I fear, will not take a degree, 
or not take it honestly. He came to my house about 
three weeks ago, and brought two pockets full of 
doubts and scruples relating to the articles and litur- 



MR. BERRIDGE AND HIS FOLLOWERS. 63 

gy. I would fain have, had the scruples left at Ever- 
ton, but he took them all back with him to college, 
and seemed determined not to part with them. How- 
.ever, from .the precipitate step he. formerly took in 
signing a college paper, I apprehend it possible he 
may take a flying leap into a degree still. There is 
something very amiable in dear Penty. I believe 
the Lord loves him, and designs him for great things.. 
Perhaps he may be intended for a spiritual comet, a 
field preacher like yourself : this seems to be his great 
aim and ambition. If he cannot subscribe to the 
church articles, he does not mean to settle among the 
dissenters ; he wants to raise a flock of his own, and 
I hope the Lord will give him one. When he left me 
he talked of going tp the Welsh college.* May the 
Lord direct him." . 

If ever there existed a set of Christians who dif- 
fered without dissension, it was that to which Mr. 
Rowland Hill belonged at Cambridge. Their leader, 
Mr. Berridge, ,spent his ample fortune in the service 
of religion, and ,in .the employment of persons as 
preachers, into the essentials of whose characters and 
opinions he alone inquired. His resources were so 
exhausted in his old age, that his friend Mr. Romaine 
is found begging on his behalf, "for the support of 
two preachers and their horses, and. several local 
preachers, and for the rents of several barns in which 
they preach.-" Into, whatever streams the current of 
his life, diverged, they were all tributary to the cause 
of his Redeemer, 

In the spring of 1770 Mr. Rowland Hill's active 
spirit brought him, out into exertion from the retire- 
ment of .his father's house. This involved him in 
trials and difficulties such as he had not before expe- 
rienced. Besides his father's displeasure, and his 
. disappointments in his endeavours to obtain orders, 
he met with violent opposition on many occasions, 
and was often pelted and abused by the assemblies 

; * Lady Huntingdon's, at Trevecca. 



G4 . MR. HILL COMMENDED BY J. WESLEY. 

he addressed. He was extremely desirous of accom- 
panying his sister- into Scotland, to visit Lady Glen- 
prchy, but was unable to accomplish the journey, and 
he afterwards acknowledged that it was a providen- 
tial, though a severe disappointment. Going to 
Edinburgh, he took up, his abode in the house of his 
friend Mr. Buckley, and while there he received a 
long letter of advice and comfort from Mr. Berridge, 
who says " I look upon your present trials as a 
happy omen of future service ; and if you continue 
waiting and praying, a door will open by and by. 
Be not solicitous about orders ; as soon as they are 
wanted they will drop into your lap;' - 1 would ob- 
serve concerning your present situation, it may pos 
.sibly grow more dark before it clears up. The dark- 
est moment in the whole nucthemeron is just before 
break of day." He then adds," give my dear love 
to:Mr. Buckley ; he must be an honest and bold man 
for Jesus if he can welcome you. What a mercy it 
is there are some left who are not afraid of the cross, 
nor ashamed to receive a stigmatized pilgrim." ; 

Mr. Rowland Hill generally resided at Hawkstone 
in the winter, but visited, in his preaching. expedi- 
tions at other seasons of the year, an immense num- 
ber of places; and though he suffered greatly from 
innumerable trials, and every species of opposition, he 
had the consolation of abundant success. In, the au- 
tumn of 1770, while with Mr. Buckley, he Was the in- 
strument of many conversions in Yorkshire, particu- 
larly at Leeds. Of this he was apprized in a letter 
from a Mr. Iveson of that place, who says, " indeed, 
dear Sir, many souls here remember with joy and gra- 
titude the happy times they enjoyed under your min- 
istry." The same person adds, " Mr. J. We,sley in a 
letter to Miss Hirrold expresses his approbation of 
your preaching amongst his people. Prom this I 
suppose you will be cordially received by all his 
preachers,, as they are informed of his good will to- 
wards you." He also assures him that the Wes- 



HIS FIRST VISITS TO BRISTOL-- HIS DISTRESS. 65 

leyans, at Leeds, regarded him with the sincerest af- 
fection, and were much attached to his preaching. 

In the spring of 1771, Mr. Rowland Hill commen- 
ced preaching at 'Bristol, and in the neighbourhood. 
He was introduced 'to the Tabernacle -congregation 
there by Mi\ Cornelius Winter, who bears testimony 
to the usefulness of his sermons, and considers ha- 
ving made ins acquaintance as one of the greatest 
mercies of his life. " From the sabbath," he says, "on 
which I had the pleasure to introduce him into the 
Tabernacle pulpit, has religion been reviving through 
his, instrumentality, and tb,e flame has burned strong 
ever since. Other instruments may have helped, but' 
it began with him." , He, was at this time under the 
frowns -of his family, disappointed of admission into 
the church, and distressed for money. 

Sir Rowland Hill restricted his allowance to a. very 
small sum, both in token of his displeasure at his itin- 
erant life, and to prevent it/ But he was determined 
to go fotfh though " without purse or .scrip," and to 
pursue,' hi ' defiance of every human restraint; the 
course he conceived providence had marked out for 
him. Many of his most arduous journeys were made 
upon a little Welsh pony given him by a clergyman, 
and he often left the. scene of an. evening sermon the 
next morning, without knowing where he should find 
at night a resting place for himself and the faithful 
animal which carried him. He seldom however fail- 
ed to meet with a kind reception from some person 
who loved him for his work's sake, though he was 
often- reduced to. great difficulties. On one evening 
in particular, as he used frequently to describe, when 
he landed on his return to Bristol, and had paid 'the 
passage across the Severn for himself and his pony, 
he had not sufficient left in his purse to procure a 
night's lodging, and went on, he knew not whither, 
hungry and exhausted. But he was not deserted, 
and before night he found shelter and refreshment, as 
well as the means of prpceeding on his journey. Im- 
6* ' '' '. 



66 HIS FIRST SERMON AT DEVIZES. 

pelled by the irresistible conviction that he, was fol- 
lowing the commands of God, he pursued his one 
great object undaunted by every earthly obstacle. 
No one could feel more acutely the displeasure of his 
parents, over which he^ often wept in the silent ago- 
ny of his heart, nor did he ever once refuse compli- 
ance with their wishes but for the gospel's sake. He 
might have reposed amidst their smiles, in the lap of 
affluence, ease, and plenty ; but he gave up every 
thing in the sincerest devotion to God, and received, 
as will be hereafter seen, the fulness of the promise 
even in this life' to such as have willingly left all for 
the cause of the Redeemer. 

In the year 1771, many parts of Gloucestershire, 
Somersetshire, and Wiltshire, were visited by Mr. 
Rowland Hill. He has himself recorded in his diary 
many of the texts from which he preached, and the 
effect of his sermons. He there describes the diffi- 
culties he had to contend against, and the success 
which followed his efforts to spread a knowledge of 
the truth. Extracts from this journal w'ill convey 
the truest idea of the state of his mind and the results, 
of his ministry. > -:. 

" May 5, 1771, morning at Chippenham, Mark vi. 
47 a very dead time. Evening at the Devizes. The 
first gospel sermon* that ever was preached there, on 
Isa. i. 2, 3. Hear 4 heavens, and give ear, earth, 
I have nourished and brought up, -fyc. &f.c. Supposed 
to be many thousands. A little, disturbance, though 
we trust a great blessing. Many thanked me. for my 
sermon and besought me to return. Before I began 
preaching my heart was low, but afterwards was 
abundantly comforted at the goodness of the Lord. 
A-spirit of praise and thanksgiving was upon all the 
people, and all agreed that the town was taken. Hal- 
lelujah." ? ' - ' - 

In, the midst of these labours he received the fol- 

* He must have meant the first in the recollection of persons 
then living. 



LETTER. OP MR. BERRIDGE. 67 

lowing letter of encouragement, from the veteran in 
the same cause at Everton. , . 

'.'.." Everton, May, 8, 1771. 

DEAR ROWLY. . .,-' 

MY heart sends you some of its kindest love, and 
breathes its. tenderest wishes for you. .,, -I feel my 
heart go out to you whilst I am writing, and can .em- 
brace you as my second self. How soft and sweet are 
those silken cords which the dear, Redeemer twines 
and ties about the hearts of his children ! How dif- 
ferent from mere natural affection, and much more 
from vicious self-love.- Surely it is a pleasant thing 
to love with a pure heart fervently, and something of 
this love I feel for you, which brings a melting tear 
into my eye, and refreshes my very body as I write. 
Grace, mercy, and peace, be with you.. -May heavenly 
truth beam into your soul, and heavenly love inflame 
your heart. I suppose you are now, arrived in the 
West, and are working: as a labourer in your master's 
vineyard. Be faithful and diligent, and look up to 
your master continually for direction and .assistance. 
Remember his gracious promise, " Lo, I am with you 
always, even to the end of the world.'' He will sup- 
ply you .with wisdom, strength, and courage : for he 
sends none upon a warfare at their own cost. I think 
your chief work.for a season will be to break up fal- 
low ground. This suits the accent of your voice at 
present. God will give you other tongues when they 
are wanted; but now he .sends you out to thrash the 
mountains, and a glorious thrashing it is. Go forth, 
my dear Rowly, wherever you are invited into the 
devil's territories; carry the Redeemer's standard 
along with you ; and blow the gospel-trumpet boldly, 
fearing nothing but yourself. If you meet with suc- 
cess, as I trust you will, expect clamour and threats 
from the world, and ,a little venom now and then from 
the children; These bitter herbs make good sauce 
for a young recruiting serjeant whose heart would.be 



68 LETTER OF MR. BERRIDGE. 

lifted up with pride, if it was not kept down by these 
pressures. The more success you meet with, the more 
opposition you will find : but Jesus sitteth above the 
water-floods and remaineth a king for ever. ; His eye 
is ever upon you, and his heavenly guards surround 
you. .Therefore' fear not ; go on humbly, go on bold- 
ly, trusting only in Jesus,.and all opposition shall fall 
before you. 1 Make the scriptures 1 your only stiidy, 
and be much in prayer. The apostles gave themselves 
to the word of God and to prayer. Do'thou likewise;: 
labour to keep your mind in a heavenly frame ; it will 
make your work pleasant, and your preaching and 
your conversation savoury. Now is your time to 
work for Jesus ; you have health and youth on your 
side, and no ; church or wife on your back. The 
world is 'all before you, and providence your guide 
and guard. Go out therefore, and work whilst the 
day lasteth ; and may the Lord Jesus water your own 
soul, and give ten thousand .seals to your ministry. 
I am with great affection your J. B^ e." 
'For R Hill, Esqiiire, to be left with - ^ 
the right honourable the Countess of 

Huntingdon, at Bath,' in Somersetshire. 

On the day after the date of this letter, Mr. Row- 
land Hill proceeds in his diary" May 9th. Bridge- 
water, oh Luke xix. 10 The son of man came to 
seek and to save that 'which was lost. .A large 
assembly of people, but very little comfort. Lord, 
what an unprofitable servant. that I s might do 
better for the future." ' . 

" 10th, at Stowey, to the most outrageous congre- 
gation I .ever saw. There was such a noise with 
beating of pans, shovels, &c. 'blowing of horns and 
ringing of bells, that I could scarce hear, myself 
speak. Though we were pelted with " much dirt, 
eggs, &c. I was enabled to preach oiit. my sermon*", 

" llth, at Putsham, to a serious and attentive con- 
gregation out of doors, on Heb. ii. 17, 18, on^the 



MR. ROWLAND HILL'S JOURNAL. 69 

compassionate unchangeable priesthood of Christ. 
Though I had not a, deal of liberty; yet. some I believe 
were comforted in -their -souls. Though'the congre- 
gation stood serious, some scoffed at a distance , others 
threw stones. One man was slightly cut, and another 
almost stunned by a blow, which cut him violently 
over the eye. We could get neither sight norknow- 
ledge of our secret enemies in this affair : may the 
Lord forgive and convert them." ' 

"Sunday, 12th, a' day much to be remembered. 
Commented in the morning .to a few. serious people 
at Putsham. Some unction attended while I ex- 
plained to them part of the first Psalm.. After dinner, 
rode to Watchet, preached upon the prodigal son, / 
will arise, fy'c. Luke xv. 18,' 19, out of doors, with 
some freedom and power, to-some hundreds, who 
behaved with the deepest attention. This 'town 
seems totally conquered; praise the Lord. ;From 
hence rode 1 to Dunster, a; market town, where Was 
a congregation consisting 'of hear 2,000^ hearers. 
Though the gospel had only been preached here four 
times before, yet through the goodness of the Lord 
in putting it into the heart of a magistrate to punish 
offenders, all opposition seems to be at an end. The 
people behaved with the most awful attention, while 
I wa's enabled to preach .witji much freedom on Is. 
xlviii. 22. There is no peace for the wicked.' After 
having finished here about a quarter after seven, 
according to a very pressing invitation, after a little 
refreshment, I went with three hundred sbuls'to Mine-" 
head, who came over tp hear and invite the preach- 
ing to their town. A congregation which was sup- 
posed to consist of full 2,000 souls was presently 
collected. All but a very few of the upper sort of 
people behaved with remarkable attention, and seem- 
ed' deeply struck at the majesty of the word, which 
came 'witiipoweiy having great liberty-, arid being 
enabled to pour forth my soul amongst ;them with 
much love while explaining to them Luke xiv. 21, 



70 MR. ROWLAND HILL'S JOURNEY. 

(TO out quickly into the streets and* lanes of the city 
and bring in, fyc. fyc." - 

"13th, at Melsconb (Melksham,) on 1st of Isaiah, 
2, 3, jEfear, O heavens, and give ear, O, earth, I have 
nourished, fyc. A. miserable, .dry, humbling time. A 
large number of people unaffected and inattentive; 
it was in a dissenting meeting house. I wanted hum- 
bling, the Lord make it useful, and take away my 
pride." - 

"14th, at Stockegomar, on Jer. iii. 33, In vain is 
salvation hoped for from the hills, fyc. fyc. Here 
also I had rather a humbling time. Some were 
ofFended at my plainness, others, however,- were 
blessed." - - - 

"Wednesday. 15th, in the morning at five o'clock. 
Explained to them the 23d Psalm with comfortable 
enlargement. The Lord will not always be chiding; 
that I may learn humility for the future. In the 
evening at Bridgewater, on Job xlvi. A, Behold Lam 
vile. With someliberty. .The congregation was not 
so large, which I fear was occasioned by the deadness 
of iny preaching the last time. I think, this is the 
first time Lever preached to a decreasing congrega- 
tion. Lord make me careful and prayerful." 

" 1 5th continued, and preached again at Bridge- 
water, with some though not so great freedom as the 
time before. By what I have seen in this western 
round, I believe that God is about to revive, his work 
.in the midst of us. Doors are opening every where,; 
the hearing ear, and the understanding heart, are giv.en 
to many. I am more than ever convinced that itine- 
rant preaching does a world of good, and that God 
blesses it continually. for more life and diligence 
to do more for Christ." ; - . 

Mr. Hill next returned to Bristol, and preached 
there twice on Sunday the 19thl He concludes his 
notice of these sermons by the remark " a gracious 
gale through mercy attended all .day. , Who. would 
not be a slave for Jesus Christ!" On the morning 



FIELD PREACHING. 71 

of the following day he preached at Kingswood, and, 
"in the evening," he says, he " had the honour to com- 
men'ce viler than ever by renewing field preaching in 
Bristol, to some- thousands, upon Acts iii. 19, Repent 
ye therefore and be converted r that your 'sins may be 
blotted out, when the time of refreshing shall come 
from the. presence of the Lord. The word was with 
power, the people were deeply attentive, arid a great 
blessing seemed visibly in the midst of us. I am 
fully satisfied as to field preaching, I know the Lord 
puts honour upon it, and am sure'th'at as soon as ever 
that custom dies, methodism will die with it" , 

"While at Bristol, he contiimed these labours daily ; 
and in one sermon he says he " spoke much against 
the Arians," and that he had '-' a comfortable, profita- 
ble time." ; His text was Isa. liv. 5, Thy Maker is 
thy husband. He adds, " glory be to : God for the 
smiles 'and refreshings we have had. during these holy 
days. The Lord I trust has been abundantly with us 
in refreshing showers from "above. Some few have 
been a little provoked ; I cannot help it ; I mean not 
to oifend, but I must be faithful: The loving ;kind- 
ness~of the .Lord should teach me to be honest ; he 
has abundantly given me the hearts of the people to 
counterbalance aHopposition. Halleluja'h." 

He now proceeded to Bath, and addressed the so- 
ciety of Lady Huntingdon there ; he also preached 
three sermons, in the neighbourhood, the first of which 
he designates "a senseless unfeeling sermon, to a 
senseless unaffected congregation ;" from the second 
he derived more comfort, having been enabled to over- 
awe an assembly disposed at first to riot, and who, 
after ;they had heard him, earnestly entreated him to 
come again ; and from the third he expected a bless- 
ing, as some scoffers, were drawn out into attention. 
The day after, the last mentioned sermon, he returned 
to Bristol. His feelings in that city are thus describ- 
ed in his own words " May 29th, on Luke v. 13, / 
will, be tho'ii clean. A comfortable time for poor 



72 JUNE 16, 1771, FIRST SERMON AT WOTTON. 

doubters at the Tabernacle. I have hitherto always 
found enlargement .at Bristol, and I believe the Lord 
is with us for good." - " 

In addition to -his own labours, Mr. Rowland Hill 
began, while at Bristol, " early five' o'clock preach- 
ings," which were exceedingly well attended: and he 
was followed by congregations of " many-thousands" 
at Pool, and other places in the neighbourhood. He 
found " much comfort" from a visit to Worcester ; and 
on his return to Bristol, preached at Strpud, " in the 
streets, to a very large number of people, with some, 
though no great pOAver, on the prodigal son, I will 
arise, fyc.; many people much offended at my plain- 
ness, but much blessed to others." On the evening of 
the same day he preached at Stroud, he, addressed 
" some thousands in the wood" at Rodborough, which 
he repeated a few days after, and says, 'Uhe people 
were watered though I thought myself dry;" The 
; next place he mentions inGloucestershire,was "Pains- 
wick, upon the common, in a wagon for my pulpit," 
and the following evening at Rodborough, in the Ta- 
bernacle, " because it was damp." On Sunday, June 
16th, he preached at Dursley to immense crowds,.and 
went, for the first time, on the. evening of that day, 
to Wottoh-under-edge, a place that was destined to 
become his favourite summer residence in after life. 
His own account is -" Sunday eve. "Wbtton-under- 
: edge, a fresh place. The first sermon amongst them ; 
they behaved with .remarkable attention, and stood in 
great crowds under the market-place, while I spoke 
from Ephes. v. 19j Awake thou that sleepest, $*c. 
My soul upon the whole was. much at liberty, :and the 
people seemed much revived." An old lady of one 
of the most respectable families in the town, who was 
awakened to a sense of religion under his ministry, 
used frequently to, describe his. first visit to Wotton. 
She was sitting at her tea, when a relation suddenly 
came in, and said, "Ann, the baronet's son, who 
goes about preaching, is now under the market-house.'' 



ANECDOTE. '73 

"Are you sure it is the baronet's son himself?" "Yes, 
that I am, for I saw his brother, ; Mr: Riehard tiill, 
not long ago, and he is so like him, I am/sure he is 
of the same family." Upon this she accompanied her 
friend out of curiosity to see. and -hear the stranger, 
little thinking of the alteration, his Breaching would 
be the means.of producing in her own views of .her-, 
self and of her Saviour. 0ne man who stood, by her 
seized a stone- and was going to thrbw^it at Mr. Hill ; 
but another, who was r near him laid- hold of his 
arm and said, in the broad dialect of Gloucestershire, 
"if thee dost touch him -I'll knock thy head off," 
when the, assailant dropped the stone, aftd the people 
all became quiet, overawed by the solemnity of the 
subject, and the earnestness of the preacher. From 
Wotton he went to Bath, where he preached " a very 
offensive sermon, yet much blessed.'' ,.'.,-' ' 

In Gloucestershire he lost :no opportunity of ad- 
dressing the multitudes who followed him. The ef- . 
feet's produced by his sermolls are-, thus described : by y 
himself "few dry eyes among them"" certainly A \ 
God is, amongst us" ft all things go on gloriously 
here" "a humbling dry time to my own soul'' " a 
small dead unaffected audience," : [in a yard at Chel- 
tenham] " what miserable work it is to -preach at the 
rich," and so on. His chief opponents bnythis tour, 
were some of the inhabitants of Devizes, who pelted 
him with eggs and stones, and foliowed^him to an ad- 
jacent village, where "-were many poor, simple people 
longing to" hear ; but some of the;Devizes persecutors . 
spoilt the opportunity by ^molesting, us as much as 
they could." He found also a similar spirit of opposi- 
tion at Marlboroughj where he preached " upon the 
green, from Isa. xlviii. 22. There is no peace for 
^he wicked:, to a very rude and rebellious cdngrega- 
tidn, 1 who laughed even at 'the mention of the text- 
they, pelted me with stones and eggs, biit through 
mercy I was not hurt."-''- 

The next scene of Mr. Rowland Hjll's exertioriswas 
7 



74 LETTER FROM SHIPMAN. 

-Plymouth and its neighbourhood, where he preached 
to immense congregations, though " much distressed 
. by a letter" he had received, from certain Influential 
persons,- forbidding him to preach " in , their parts" 
any more.' From .-Plymouth' he- returned to Bristol, 
and visited , many of the places before-mentioned in 
its vicinity; after which he made a tour in South 
"Wales, which concluded ;the labours of 1771. 

Towards the close of this year he received a letter 
from Shipman; one of the expelled from Oxford in 
1768, giving him an account of the triumphant death 
of one of his brothers, two of whom he had lost. It 
is the production of a devout, and certainly not an 
illiterate person. "'Why," says he, " art thou cast 
down, my soul ! Is there not reason to rejoice? 
The spirits of two of my dear brothers, are now with 
God. All hail, ye happy spirits ; BOW are you joined 
to the glorious c"ompany,pf archangels, angels, and 
spirits of just men made perfect ; now do you see 
Jesus, whom.unseen you loved ; now areryou sing- 
ing the song of Moses and the Lamb, and worship- 
ping the great and glorious God face to face;, now, 
while I -am left in a world of misery, and surrounded 
with mighty enemies, the world, the flesh, and the 
devil, you are secure in the embraces of your God, 
and basking in the beams of uncreated glory." This 
is the energetic language of one, who but for the .sen- 
tence passed on him at Oxford, would, gladly have 
become a minister of the church of England, and 
whose irregularities were only occasioned by his 
horror at the darkness visible which covered^as with 
a funeral pall, the face of the whole- land. 

January, 1772, found Mr. Rowland Hill in, his 
usual winter quarters at Hawkstone, where he re- 
ceived accounts in letters frbin his friends, of the re- 
sults of his itinerancy during the preceding summer. 
-One of his correspondents, Mr. Hunt, of Bristol, in a 
letter dated Jan. 22, 1772, says, I frequently call to 
mind, the blessed seasons we have had together, when 



LETTER OF M-B&HUNT, OF BRISTOL. :75 

the Lord's glory shone round about us, and his power 
rested upon our souls. With what pleasure did I 
then Behold the large and attentive congregations, 
hanging as it were upon your lips. s Q for more of 
those glorious times j however enthusiastic in the sight 1 
of the world, and imprudent in the 'sight of some pro- 
fessors. They were of Goo 1 they led .to .God." 
SpeaMng of Mr. Richard Hill/he writes- ''your dear 
brother in his letter desires to 'be remembered to, us. 
Be pleased to present my kind respects to him in be- 
half of. hundreds to whom he is : very dear. His 
labours of love last summer will be long had in 
remembrance." To this letter is added :the fol- 
lowing postscript.: " Mr. Kinsman: -in . a ;letter: : .tp; 
a friend writes thus Dear Mr. Hill was much 
blessed: at Plymouth to the stirring 'tip of many: 
young professors, &c. ; may God fill you with :hui 
mility." ,- . -. ^ . .-\-\ -~ / : : -'- ': . :'"= ."**-'' 

After what has been before stated of ; Mr. Richard 
Hill, the allusion to his labours in this letter wiir be 
received with surprise. The circumstances .under 
which he was prevailed on to preach ;are, as remark- 
able as the fact itself. Sir Rowland Hill, gratified ; by 
his cessation from his once favourite pursuit, -sent 
him to Bristol to' prevail on his brother Rowland to 
follow his ^example and return home. On his arrival 
at Bristol, Mr. Richard Hillheard that Rowland was 
gone to Kingswood to preach -to the colliers... He 
immediately followed him, and found him surrounded 
by an immense multitude of these long neglected 
people, listening with the, greatest interest- to the 
solemn appeal he was making to their consciences. 
Mr. Rowland Hill saw his brother, and guessing his 
errand, only proceeded with increased earnestness ; 
and such was the. power of his .address, that the black 
faces of the poor colliers soon exhibited innumerable 
channels of tears, which the sermon had' caused them 
to shed. Mr. Richard" Hill was much affected by the 
unusual scene, and his brother Rowland taking ad- 



76 ANECDOTE. 

! ' 

vantage of his emotion, announced, at the conclusion 
of the. service " My brother, Richard Hill, Esq. will 
preach here at ;this time to-morrow." Talren by sur- 
prise under the impression produced by what he had 
just witnessed, Mr. Richard Hill consented to .preach 
to the colliers; and instead of returning with his bro- 
ther to Hawkstone, became his coadjutor in the very 
work he designed to persuade him to relinquish. 
This is the true version of a ; story which has been 
variously related, and is one of the remarkable in- 
stances of the tact and persuasive power possessed by 
Mr. Rowland Hill. 

Testimonies of his usefulness, similar to those con 
tained in the letter of ;Mr. Hunt, were sent him from 
many other quarters, 'together with congratulations on 
the kind reception, accompanied. with some trials, he 
informed his friends he had received, in his own fa- 
mily. No, one, wrote to him with more cordiality 
than his old friend Mr.'Berridge, who was /looking 
forward to; the enjoyment of receiving him at Ever- 
ton, when he came to the university to take his mas- 
ter of arts degree. He tells him that he must con- 
sider his admission to his father's house as -"mercy 
from the Lord, who prevents expulsion 'after nine 
month's itineration ;" and adds, "your retreat^ must 
have its trials too ; and kindly they are provided,' lest 
you should love a retreat too well, and tarry too long." 
He advises him, moreover, to go on as soon as pos- 
ble, with his work, in spite of all opposition, and 
says '" you heed not doubt of being in God's way, 
because he owns your word"" make the best of 
your time; and whilst the Lord affords travelling 
health and strong lungs, blow your horn soundly." 
In conclusion he adds,' " I do not invite you to Ever- 
ton when you come to Cambridge, because a man who 
has possession of my heart may enter my house with- 
out a call. Hearty love and respectful salutations to 
your brother. ;, and hope when he visits Yelling he 
will not forget Everton.' I have a chapel and a ca- 



MR. ROWLAND HIDll-S SUCCESS IN LONDON. 77 

thedral at his service. Grace be with you and with- 
your J;B -e." -- ' 

Following his old friend's advice, Mr. Rowland Hill 
'came but from his retreat at Hawkstone in the spring 
of 1772, and visited his favourite Bristol, where, and 
in its vicinity, he preached many sermons. It appears 
from his memoranda that he went five times to Wot- 
ton-under-edge, though without any idea of making 
that most lovely spot his residence. During this tour 
the hills, woods," and vales of Gloucestershire, were 
the scenes of his addresses to many thousands who 
assembled around him, and the character of the man 
had now began to make an impression even on his 
enemies. '' ; '.-'' : ' : 

In the summer of this year, Mr. Rowland' Hill was 
the means of reviving Mr. Whitefield's cause in Lon- 
don, and preached to immense congregations at the 
Tabernacle and Tottenham Court chapel. His resi- 
dence was the Tabernacle house in Moprfields, from 
which he-made preaching excursions in the neigh- 
bourhood of London, in addition to his labours in the 
metropolis itself. The effect of his addresses to the 
people on these occasions were extraordinary in the 
extreme. 1 One-individual wrote him word for nis 
encouragement, that the Lord had blessed the truths; 
he had delivered to '" hundreds," nay, he might safely 
say "thousands," and earnestly entreats him to return 
as soon as possible, as "multitudes longed for the 
time when they should hear Mm again." "Many," 

he continues, "I have visited on their sick beds,* 

* 

. * 'Many instances of this kind occurred as the result of his 
preaching : one most unexpectedly happened to nlyself. In the 
year 1821, Mr. Rowland Hill' preached at Norwich, and about 
four years afterwards an old woman was brought from that city 
into the wofkhouse'Of Acle. She was taken ill, and 1 visited 
her, and found that she was acquainted with the way of .salva- 
tion as it is in Jesus. I inquired of her by what means she was 
brought to : a knowledge of the way of life. She replied, " three 
or four years ago, I saw a crowd going along a street in Nor- 
wich; I asked where they were going ; and they toid me to hear 
a famous preacher called Rowland, Hill. I followed them and 



r* 



78 CAPTAIN JOSS. 

blessing God for' the time they heard you. Notes 
of thanks were put up from whole families stirred up 
to seek the Lord by your ministry." 

"While Mr. Rowland Hill was engaged in London, 
captain Joss, a zealous follower of Mr. Whitefield, 
was visiting and stirring up his Gloucestershire hear- 
ers, and sent him from time to time accounts of the 
progress of their cause, to which he added urgent 
exhortations to continue his exertions. ," Enterpri- 
sing captains," he says, "in time of war, make great 
interest to get roving commissions, in order that they 
may cruise where they' please, and that an opportu- 
nity might thereby fall in their way of making many 
prizes ; while lazy arid cowardly captains make inte- 
rest for a line-of-battle ship, in order that they may 
skulk under the lee of an admiral. God hath hon- 
oured you with a roving commission, and I am very 
glad that you keep the sea." If "dubbed Captain 
Crazy " by poltroons, he advises him to disregard it, 
for "true sailors " would " go through fire and water 
for him, and love him dearly." " Thus,", he -adds, 
"you see the' sailor has tumbled down upon me una- 
wares, but a word to the wise is enough. I have 
been cruising in the latitude of Gloucestershire for 
fourteen days, and have met with some pretty smart 
engagements at Wotton, Dursley^and.Rpdborough, 
in particular. Last night, at Frampton, we had one 
shot fired at us which struck brother Glover between 
wind and water ; he careened and stopped his leak, 
and we presently silenced the enemies, and I sincerely 
hope real good was done." 

Captain Joss was not his only assistant at this time ; 
there were those in Gloucestershire whose lives were 
spent in the endeavour to rouse their listless neigh- 
bourhood to a sense of religion. Amongst them, there 

could scarcely squeeze in; but I heard him, and the Lord bless- 
ed that sermon to my soul. I knew nothing ,of Christ before, 
but bless the Lord I know him now," She died happily, trusting 
in her Saviour. " . 



BUTCHER HOGG. 79 

was a man of the name of Hogg r a grazier and large 
butcher, at Painswick. He was a person whose cha- 
racter for integrity was so thoroughly appreciated, 
that even the irreligious farmers in the neighbourhood 
often said to hinTin dealing, " Mr. Hogg, we know 
you will give us the value of our cattle ; you are the 
best, judge of the proper price, take them and pay us 
what you think them worth." Never in a single in- 
stance did they regret their confidence in .his honesty. 
Amidst all his eccentricities, his reputation was un- 
blemished ; and though not slothful in business, he 
was "most fervent in spirit. He r too, wrote to Mr. 
Rowland Hill to: encourage and comfort him. He- 
assures him of his respect, and urges him to redoubled 
diligence. "I pray," he says, "for your life ;. but I 
hardly think you will live many years ; and though 
I cannot spare you, I; will not say spare thyself; for 
if I know my heart, I do pray the Lord to.give poor 
barren self leave to kill myself in crying aloud to poof 
sinners, and if I am not.noarse and weak for two or 
three days after the sabbath, I think I have been bar- 
ren and dead." This man had tasted of the love of 
Christ, and devoted himself to the work of inviting 
others to participate in the same comforts he had him- 
self so richly enjoyed. . v 

In the summer of this year, Mr. Rowland Hill pro- 
ceeded to the degree of master of arts, at Cambridge, 
and visited, his friends in the. neighbourhood of the 
university. He also preached in London, .and in 
many places in Kent and Surry-, after which he re- 
tiredj as the winter came on, to the seat of his family 
in Shropshire. Prom his friend Captain Joss he re- 
ceived, while there, accounts of his converts in Lon- 
don "'We have taken," he informs him, "above one 
hundred into society concerning whom it may be said 
that you were the happy instrument of opening their 
eyes. There are many more with whom I have con- 
versed, who I sincerely trust will be your crown of 
rejoicing in the day of the Lord indeed, my dear 



80 AN ADDRESS OF MR. ROWLAND HILL IN 1772. 

brother, what the Lord hath done by you in London, .": 
cannot but afford you matter of joy and humilia- 

-tion." . ' -; . 

The style of Mr. Rowland Hill's addresses to the 
people, were at this period of dife extremely simple 
and forcible; they abounded with lucid views of the. , 
doctrines of the .gospel, mingled with sudden bursts v 
of vivid, sublime, and sometimes singular illustra- 
tions. A specimen of his mode of appealing to the 
people is to be found in a preface to a little ' work 
containing an address to those who had been convert- 
ed by his ministry in London. It is dated Taberna 
cle house, August 27th,-. 1772, and begins "How 
happy is the man" that can assume this character to 
himself a sinner saved ! Stop and consider is it 
thine ? then, what miracles of mercies have been 
revealed to thy heart ! :The world by nature know 
nothing of our Immanuel ; : but the convinced sinner 
knows that he is 'lost without him ; he sees that he 
cannot be more completely fallen, or more certain of 
destruction, than he is in himself. This strikes at the 
root of all his self-righteous pride, and compels him to 
cry out as with the prophet of old, 'Wo is me, for I 
am undone,' Isa. vi, 5. -He now trembles at justice, 
and prays for mercy. He sees nothing else but fla- 
ming vengeance held forth' by the law ; and he owris 
that he deserves it as his portion for his iniquities. 
His legal hopes from a covenant of works now fall to 
the ground. Then it is the Lord the Spirit divinely 
convinces of the work of Jesus : he sees it, and is en 
abled, as his faith increases, to rest satisfied with the 
fulness of it : he rejoices in the dignity of it, and is 

. happy in the security of it. This teaches him bold- 
ly to renounce all his home-spun righteousness as 
dung and dross : he dares not bring it as a condition 
at first, or as a wretched adjunct to complete the whole 
at last : no ; he renounces it wholesale, and is enabled 
to rest only upon Jesus as his everlasting all. 
'. " But does he not upon these principles renounce the 



HIS VIEWS OF THE DIVINE DECREES. 81 

- law ? .Yes, as a covenant of works, he renounces it al- 
together ; for, ' he is dead to the law through the body 
of Christ, that he may be married to, another.' But 
does he renounce it also as a rule of life ? No, by no 
means ;, for in this point of view he is still under the 
law of Christ; and love to Christ makes him return 
obedience as his privilege. Besides, among his new 
testament blessings, he has given him in covenant 
with Christ his head, a new, i.;e. an obedient heart. 
O blessed are they then that believe in Josus ; they 
have all things,, the best of things, and. all top for no- 
thing." The doctrines stated here are a complete re- 
futation of the charge of antinomianism so frequently 
brought against him. This awful error he denounced 
from his earliest days, to a few hours before he en- 
tered into his Saviour's presence in a 'world -of glory. 
His doctrinal opinions remaine4 unaltered to the 
latest moments of his existence. In speaking of the 
doctrine of ^election, he used often to say" here I 

. am lost ; I cannot fathom with my puny understand- 
ing the mystery of, the divine decrees I can only 
say with St. Paul O the depth.. I know it is my duty 
to invite all to Christ, but, the Holy Spirit of the jiving 
God can alone, enable the sinner to accept the invita- 
tion. I do not like the word Reprobation Prcete- 
rition is as far as I can go why God passes by some 
and accepts others I cannot tell we must wait till we 
see as we are seen, and know as we. are known. We 
know nothing can any man tell me w hy grass is 
green? then let us, leave. all explanations, and be- 
lieve what God has revealed." ' 

Before he was ordained, the doctrines of Mr. Row- 
land Hill were exceedingly misrepresented; and in the 
controversies, which took .place on these questions, 
there were found persons ready to fan, rather than to 
allay, a flame which tended only to consume, and not 
to enlighten the portions of the Christian camp in 
which it burned. In a letter dated London, Nov. 16, 
1772, Captain Joss, no doubt on the information 



82 WANT OF A CENTRE OP UNION. 

of others, tells him "Mr. W y said last night, 
election was the most horrid monster upon earth ; rio 
name, said he, is bad enough for it, or-them that hold 
1 it ; they are obliged to draw a veil over itj and only 
let a corner of the monster be seen, for if the beast 
were wholly unmasked, nineteen of the people out of 
twenty would ran axvay and also said that he would 
write to the bench of b s, and that he would make 
Mr. R.H. ashamed of himself. Indeed he seems almost 
[in a] frenzy many, many, many, send hearts full of 
"Bye to you." On this and similar reports Mr.Rowland 
Hill remarks, in vindication of the practical nature of 
his preaching "I bless God, it is our mercy, (who are 
called Calvinists,) that we can appeal to heaven, aswell 
as to the consciences of all our hearers, that in the inte- 
grity of bur hearts we are-ever bearing the swiftest wit- 
ness against all iniquity, without the least reserve: and 
that we are making it the subject of almost every dis- 
course, that without holiness, personal and universal 
holiness , no man shall see the Lord. Yet with the 
greatest injustice is Mr. Wesley ever branding us with 
the detested name ^of antinomians, while he must be 
convinced, that in our inmost souls, we entirely dis- 
own both the principles and practices of those revolt- 
ers from obedience ; insomuch, that I have often 
known it to be a fact, that when some of those- good 
people connected with him have ventured to break 
through his command to hear what dreadful doctrines 
we antinomians have to advance, they have been as 
much astonished at what they have heard in favour 
of holiness as if they had been sitting upon enchanted 
ground." No two Christians born of the spirit of 
God can have essential differences- had there exist- 
ed, in the times to which \ve are referring, such a 
centre of union as the bible society, upon whose plat- 
form all the varied colours of the prism are blended 
together in one common purity and .brightness, had 
these zealous men come more together, slight would 
have been the controversy now to be recorded as hav- 
ing taken place between them. 



MR. ROWLAND HILL PREPARES B'OR ORDERS. 83 



CHAPTER III. 

MR. ROWLAND HILL PREPARES FOR MARRIAGE 
. ' - AND ORDERS. 

IN the beginning of the year 1773, Mr. Rowland 
Hill was contemplating'in the retirement of Hawk- 
stone; two very important events his marriage and 
his ordination. During his visits to his brother-in- 
law he had formed ah attachment to his\sister, Miss 
Tudway, founded upon the evidences hejperceived in 
her of the truest piety. Her mind had been diverted 
by the power of religion from the frivolous pleasures 
of the world, to seek the solid enjoyments of a life 
devoted to God ; -and the choice of Mr. Hill could 
not have fallen on a lady inore calculated to promote 
the happiness he was permitted .to enjoy, in a union 
of nearly sixty years' duration. All the stories which 
have been told of his carelessness as a husband,' and 
his public allusions to this excellent lady, are utterly 
without foundation. He was only amused at most 
of the anecdotes related of him, and said "I won- 
der at people's invention ;" but when told it had been 
reported that he had made some remarks in public 
on Mrs. Hill's dress, he exclaimed with indignation 
"It is an abominable . untruth derogatory to my 
character as a Christian and : .a gentleman they 
would make me out a bear." , 

,-. The _ following letter, from Mr. Rowland Hill to 
Miss Tudway, will be considered by those who read 
it as a model for the courtship of a Christian. Upon 
the original are the words in the hand-writing of Mrs. 
Hill, "First Letter." / . 



4, HIS FIRST LETTER TO MISS TUDWAY; 



DEAR MADAM, 

I AM told by my dear sister that you are no stran- 
ger to a very important correspondence in which you 
are a person very intimately concerned. Suffer me, 
dear madam, with the utmost simplicity, to speak all 
my mind. And first, I think I can safely say with 
all my heart, as before the presence of God, that ] 
love your person without this on both sides the ques 
tion, there -can be no real happiness in such a con- 
nexion as you know is upon the tapis. Permit me 
also to say, that I am fully persuaded of the truest 
work of grace upon your soul ; and.though I know 
the sincerity of your mind makes you at times doubt 
of every thing, yet your very doubts to nie are the 
strongest evidence of -the sincerity of your heart. 
Thus, as a man and as a Christian, with your leave, 
would I be glad to make choice of you as my part- 
ner through life. But now, dear madam, let us, above 
all things, .consult matters honestly before God as to 
your union with a poor worm in the character of a 
minister of Christ. Herel will be explicit, as I mean, 
above all things, to be honest before God. The pre- 
sent plan , of labour, to which it seems, evident to me 
it has pleased God to call me, will frequently com- 
pel me to leave my home, wherever it may be, and 
to take'up at times the life of an itinerant, and such 
a life as this you must expect will sometimes be at- 
tended, as to myself, with hardships and contempt. 
"Were your kindness for my person, however it might 
be the language of love, to make you attempt to dis- 
suade me fronx-this, such dissuasion would not only 
be a burden upon my mind, but also, if not complied 
with, a grief to yourself and now, dear madam, if 
such an union should take place, do you think you 
could make, your mind perfectly .easy in. thus giving 
me up to the service of the Lord ? Can you be con- 
tented to see me a despised pilgrim for my once de- 
spised, master, rejected for my labours, and reproach- 
ed for my God? I know the diffidence of your mind 



HIS FIRST LETTER TO MISS TUDWAY. $5 

will make you a little stagger at these questions, and 
yet I believe, at the same time, you will find some- 
thing arising at the bottom of your mind earnestly 
anxious to answer them aright. And should such 
be your views, should you be enabled to love me on 
the one hand, and yet to give me up when called to 
it 011 the other, suffer me to. frame to myself the hap- 
py idea of being possessed of such a companion in 
tribulation, and such a partaker of, my joys,; as Jrill 
give me reason of thankfulness to the day of my 
death. " , 

Thus much, however, you have of the dark side 
of the question, and I choose that you should know 
it, as I would not deceive , you on any terms what- 
ever; in other respects, as I am: sure Hove your per- 
son; I shall .always think it my pleasure and duty to 
make your life a happiness to itself! One place we 
would have (and I wish it might be Bristol) which 
we might call more peculiarly our home.- London 
is a place which will annually expect a considerable 
share of my time and labours ; and from the gene- 
rous treatment I have.^eyer received from all co'n- 
'.erned in these parts, I have no, doubt but you 
will enjoy, as being connected, with me, equal free- 
dom, without expense or trouble;, as if entirely, at 
home. . . - . , , 

Will you be so kind as to inform my dear sister 
Tudway that, after much consultation before the Lord, 
I sent the letter, as she altered- it, to my dear father 
last Tuesday. As yet I have received no answer ; 
when I. have, you. and she shall immediately hear the 
event. In about a week's time I, shall move towards 
Cambridge,if nothing in Sii; Rowland's letter prevents. 
I do not request, though I shall wait with earnestness^ 
for a speedy answer to this. Dear madam, take your 
time, pray it over, and if you can write, write all that 
is in your mind: but if you choose not. to do this, 
?peak to my dear kind sister, and she will tell me 
what you say upon this occasion. f '. . 

, " 8' 



86 LETTER TO MISS TUDWAY. 

My dear madam, may grace be with you, and may 
we both be directed for the best. So prays 
Your most truly affectionate friend 

and servant for Christ's sake, 

ROWLAND HIlLL. 

There is no date to this letter, but from mention of 
the journey to Cambridge, and the expression, " these 
parts," in reference to London, it appears to have been 
written from the metropolis, just before he left it to 
take his master of arts degree in 1772. 

It was through the instrumentality of Mr. Tudway 
that Mr. Rowland Hill. was ordained deacon. : The 
state of mind in which he contemplated this event 
will be best illustrated in Ms own words, in a letter 
to Miss Tudway. . - 

Berwick^ February 2nd, 1773. 

MY VERY DEAR MADAM, ' 

I suppose by this- time you, my dear sister, &c.^ 
are now all got safe to London, I therefore sit down 
to tell you all about it. I did not get home till, Fri- 
day last, and was stopped on- the Thursday, on the 
road, by the severest wetting I think I ever met with. 
Upon my arrival I found air things well; nothing 
was said about my long stay from home, as they did 
not themselves expect me before. I am now for a 

day or- two with Mr. Powys, of Berwick. 

* * . . '# * , *, . #'.*'. * 

Now concerning this application to your old bishop 
for ordination. Mr. Tudway's kindness in offering 
his assistance I most gratefully acknowledge, jand for 
the sake of the pleasure it would give my friends and 
relations, glad should I be to see the event brought 
about. 'So-far as I can, therefore, without wounding 
my conscience, I would do the utmost in my power 
not to frustrate the event ; and if Mr. Tudway:chooses 
first to sound [the bishop's] inclinations about it, and 
there seems a probability of success, I believe I could, 



LETTER TO MISS TUDWAY. 87 

with a safe conscience, while matters are in agitation 
for a timej withdraw from more public labours, so as 
not to give immediate disgust. ' 

I can, however, never think of making any- future 
promises of altering my conduct from what it is at 
present, even after ordination, if I should see it my 

duty still to go on as before. 

# # * * #-#.""# * 

It might be represented that I am a younger brother 
with a small fortune, that I was bred up for the church, 
have taken two degrees, consequently much has been 
expended on my education ; but that all is lost upon 
me/without ordination and that it ds now too late 
to turn my hands to any other employment in life, 
&c. &"c. &c. and if he (the bishop) has heard of 
.all my doings, it might be mentioned to, him that, as 
I have .taken a religious turn, it might be mucjb^ 
better to ordain me, and let me into the church, than 
to compel me to go preaching in the fields, whether 
I would or no. Mr. T. might then mention, that if his 
lordship would take time to consider of it, Mr. Hill 
would, in the interval get proper testimonials, title; 
&c. Perhaps also,, it. might riot be amiss to say, if 
he should not willingly comply, that. Mr. R. Hill only, 
requests the favour of deacon's orders, as the bishop 
of Carlisle has promised secojnd orders whenever he 
applies. If 'he should ask the reason of this, it may 
be said, that as he unfortunately met with a repulse 
from the late bishop of Ely, - the bishop of Carlisle, 
being then but just come upon the bench, was unwil- 
ling to counteract the bishop of Ely, but [said] that 
after I was ordained deacon he would ordain me priest 
without any delay. Let me riot, however, be thought 
to direct Mr. T. by "these hints ; he knows best the 
bishop's temper, and, consequently, how to proceed. 
My brother also may be consulted. 

* * * * " * * 
When the bishop comes down to Wells, I dare ven- 
ture to: say, that canon Lovel will speak a kind word 



88 LETTER TO,MISS TUDWAY. 

on my behalf, since -I did not, while there, either 
preach at the Cross, or give them offence by any lay- 
preaching^ as they heard, of. 

Thus much, my dear madam, concerning ordina- 
tion. I desire to leave it simply to the Lord, and pray 
that I may be enabled to preserve a conscience spot- 
less in the affair. I am fully persuaded what is my 
duty before God. I should be thankful for ordina- 
tion ; but as I am forbidden to salute any man by 
the way, I must go forward. . At present I am what 
the world despises as a lay itinerant. I am certainly 
convinced of ,the Lord's blessing in the work ; this is 
a point that lies solemn upon my heart ; and, indeed, 
it gives me the sincerest happiness that my dear Miss 
T. would rather have me preserve an honest con- 
science before God, than by in the least injuring it, to 
enjoy the greatest advantages .that this world can 
give. I should be glad, my dear Madam, if you could 
hasten these matters, that my mind maybe freed from 
a state of suspense. In the, interval, I shall set my- 
self hastily in concluding matters here as to our 
union; and shall wait, not without anxiety, to hear 
how the bishop sounds, that I, may know when 
speedily to prepare for my journey to London, that 
all things may be concluded as soon as convenient. 
I cannot help frequently making you the subject of 
my prayers. You are to. be united to one who must 
bear the cross this makes me- feel for you with a 
tenderness and sympathy 1 cannot express. You : 
may tell, my dear brother that! made a loose at Hard- 
wick last Sunday, [and] am to do so , again the next. 
When I have heard from Bristol about the house in 
agitation, I will immediately inform you. In the 
interval, cease not to pray for and write soon to 
Yours most sincerely and most affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 

To Miss Tudway. 

This letter was soon followed by another, alluding 



LETTER TO MISS TUDWAY. 89 

to>]Vliss Tudway's state of mind with regard to reli- 
gion; :j ^ahd describing his situation at home. 

/' ,':;.; V . Hough, Feb. 12, 1773. 

thanks to-my dear_ Miss T. for her immediate 
answer to my last on her -arrival in London. I am 
happy also to hear that a God of providence protected 
yoli: all safe to your journey's end^-and what a mercy 
it is that we have a faithful, .unchangeable, covenant- 
Keeping God in Christ, as our God of grace, to- pre- 
serve us safe in our journey from time to eternity. 
In spite of all your doubts and fears, I have no doubt 
for you, whatever , you may have for yourself, that 
this will: be your end, .. happiness, and consolation 
everlasting. . You say in your letter .that you fear 
you are a hypocrite, though it is written for your 
consolation, " blessed is the man that feareth always ;" 
yet sure I am that this your much-afraid language 
is nothing better than the language of unbelief. You 
are too much for looking into self: you there find 
that -all is misery. 0, my dear madam, look but to 
Jesus, and there is salvation in abundance. 'Tis in- 
deed a glqrious thing to know our sins to hate our 
sins, and ourselves upon account of them ; and when 
this is known, where should we fly hut to the gospel 
for a remedy 1 Remember this, that Mary Tudway 
is as- bad as she can be she is utterly undone* 
now where is she "to look'? Only to Jesus. ; Her 
vile heart never can withstand the power of his 
grace. Has she millions of sins that threaten her 
destruction '? the Lord has received double for them 
all. In Jesus she is complete : the Lord give her 
poor trembling heart to believe this ; and then, as she ; 
is soon to change one of. her names, so she will soon 
lose^another - that ugly name much-afraid you will 
then be enabled entirely to disown. 

# ## *'* *:'# 

* The doctrine of total 'depravity. wins one on which he always 
strongly insisted.- ' '. " 

" ' 8* 



90 MR. ROWLAND HILL 5 S JOURNAL. 

Hawkstone at present is a furnace indeed. You 
may tell my brother that last Sunday, through the 

instigation of , Sir Rowland absolutely forbad 

me leaving the family, so that poor Hardwick cannot 
have my attendance. I shall make some other trials ; 
the success that may attend them must be left to the 
Lord. I wrote to my brother sometime ago largely, 
upon the subject of my ordination, and now expect 
every post to hear from -him again. My present 
situation is nothing but idleness, and almost total loss 
of time ; this hurts my conscience not a little. I am 
sadly fearful lest these attempts for ordination- should 
keep me longer from- my work, which I am so fully 
persuaded of my call to from the Lord. Pray my 
dear brother to hasten on these matters, that I may 
know whether I can spare the time that may be re- 
quired for this affair. As yet I have heard nothing 
from Bristol about- the house. When I have I will 
let you knpw. My sister wants to add a postscript, 
and I have almost filled up the paper, 

I remain yours, most sincerely and affectionately, 

R. HILL. 

Love to all dear .Christian relations. -. My sister's 
pretty postscript is in the cover. 

Notwithstanding the difficulties attendant upon his 
entrance into orders from his former lay preaching, 
Mr. Rowland Hill could' not resist leaving Hawkstone 
in March this year, upon a short journey. His own 
diary affords us this information. v 

" March 24, 1773, set out from Hawkstone ; reach- 
ed Coventry, preached at six in the evening, to a 
small congregation, notice not having been given, in 
the Baptist ^Meeting-House, upon Solomon's Song, iv. 
12. The Church of- Christ a garden enclosed? 
He says of Coventry "an appearance of good seems 
arising here." He continues, 

'/ Friday, March . 26, hastened to Northampton, 
where I preachedin the late Dr. Doddridge's meeting- 



MR. ROWLAND HILL'S JOURNAL. 9li 

house, to a large assembly, on Moses lifting up the* 
serpent in the Wilderness, John ii. 14, 15. Even-- 
ing, to a still larger congregation, on the* Prodigal 
Son, Luke xv'. Lord's day morn, preached in the 
same place ; . excessively crowded, many stood with- 
out. Most attentive.and serious, Rev. iii. 10, Behold 
I stand at the door and knock, fyc. Blessed be God 
for a good appearance at Coventry and .Nbrthamp 
ton," ' ... . . > .' - : 

" Olney, March-28, the same eve reached this place ; 
a very large; congregation from every quarter attend- 
ed. No meeting-house . would nearly ' hold them. 
Preached 'out of doors- for the first time. Go ye forth 
into all the' world, and. preach the gospel to every 
creature, Mark xvi. 15, 16." 

From, Olney he-went to "Woburn, the residence of 
his friend, Mr. Grove, a gentleman of fortune, who, 
but for his expulsion from Oxford in 1768, would 
have devoted himself to the church, from which he 
did not separate till he was refused re-admission to 
the university, though he promised in future to con- 
form to the statutes. 

At Woburn, Mr. Rowland Hill preached on five 
occasions to large and attentive assemblies, with such 
success, that he remarks in his journal-" blessed be 
God for the appearance of great good here." Miss 
Tud way justly feared that, these irregularities would 
become known, and prove a hinderance to his admis- 
siqirinto orders, and gave him her affectionate advice 
to discontinue them. This drew from him the fol- 
lowing letter. , 

. . - ' ~ ' J ' 

MY DEAR MADAM, - . 

STILL do I continue a prisoner, though a prisoner 
at large, under this hospitable roof. I wish I could 
get from -hence to Cambridge, but cannot contrive it 
without qither coming round by London, or being at 
a considerable expense in hiring a man and horse to 
travel with me across the country, to carry the few 



92 LETTER TO MISS TUDWAY. 

things I have with me. Besides, I really think my 
staying here 'will be much better,, upon second con- 
sideration, than going to so public a place as Cam- 
bridge, where I am so well -known, and where I shall 
meet with many solicitations to preach. Here there- 
fore I will stay, and I. have. a hearty welcome till the 
bishop's answer is received. On Saturday at furthest; 
I shall hope to receive it, as I really dread staying 
over, here on the Sunday, my temptations to preach 
will I know be so great ;' and- if I do not, as I am 
known in these 'parts, T know it will slacken dear 
Grove's hands, and grieve the dear people of God in 
the neighbourhood. 

Here, as well as in other places, there seems to be 
a more extensive opening than ever that I were 
at liberty to labour for my God. I wish you may be 
at ease about my conduct, since! can assure you I 
act with all the caution in my power. I wish yon 
never to feel one painful sensation about me, -but that 
the kindest harmony of disposition may ever subsist 
between us.. I know your heart' is upright before 
God your fearing" mind frequently perplexes you. 
I am -sure it is a sign of a most tender heart, and 
such tender hearted disciples shall never want direc- 
tion from above. ' 

If the bishop chooses to ordain [me]~ without pro- 
mise or condition, I should really prefer Scotland for 
many reasons. This however must be considered at 
another time. That the Lord may direct us both al 
all times is the constant prayer of 

Yours ever most tenderly [and] affectionately, 

R. HILL. 
Woburn near Beaconshead, Bucks, 

Thursday evening. . 

The answer of the bishop being favourable, Mr.' 
.Rowland Hill, though most reluctantly ,'withdrew into 
his native "county" there being," are the words in 
his journal, '-'a considerable prospect' of 'my ordiria- 



HIS MARRIAGE AND ORDINATION. 93 

\ 

tion retired into Shropshire, and preached a few ser- 
mon's at Hardwick,Marchamley,&cV' Preaching was 
indeed his element ; it was ah exercise necessary to 
the health and vigour of his mind, so that Mrs. Hill 
used frequently: to say, in his declining years, "what 
I dread, is lest he should ever be so feeble as not; to be 
able to preach in that case, what would become of 
him I cannot tell." It appears in a letter to MisS'Tud- 
way, written a few weeks before he went to : London 
to be married, that he was most impatient of the re- 
straint now place<i j upon him, and that he trembled, 
lest any of his former followers and friends should at- 
tribute his silence to the diminution of his'zeal. "All 
that I fear is," .he says, " lest my being in London 
should get wind, and lest my silence, and apparent 
change of conduct, should disgust or dishearten the 
dear children of God. I have the tenderest sensations 
about these matters -that can be 'conceived. I. seem 
to be assured it is .absolutely necessary for me to be 
as secret iii London as possible, and I hope we shall 
be moving oiit of it again as soon as convenient. Ill 
tempered professors, that hate the power of godliness, 
already triumph their triumphs have in a measure 
perplexed some that are sincere. The hearing of 
this hasigrieved me not a little. I do hope and trust 
that this triumph of the wicked is to be short. Till 
then, the utmost caution I am convinced should be 
used, and other matters must be left to God." In this 
letter he also expresses his intention of giving up the 
house at Bristol, and informs Miss Tudway that a 
house was building for hinrat Wotton-under-edge. 

Oil the .twenty-third of May, 1773, Mr. Rowland 
Hill was married at Mary4e-bone church, and went 
immediately with Mrs. Hill into Somersetshire, where 
lie was ordained deacon, on, the Trinity Sunday fol- 
lowing, by Dr. Wills, the aged bishop of Bath and 
Wells. His title to. orders was the parish of King- 
ston in that county,, and his stipend ^forty pounds a 
year i His ; bwn record of his entrance into the church 



-M -.;. MR, ROUQ.IJET. 

is in these words "On Trinity Sunday^ June 6th, 
through the kind and unexpected interposition of pro- 
vidence, was I ordained by the bishop of Bath and 
Wells without any promise or condition whatever" 
.He proceeds "Tuesday, June 8th, preached my 
first sermon at Bristol in a church, for dear Mr. Rou- 
quet, at St. Werburghs, to a large congregation Op we 
out from among them, <f*c. 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18 some- 
what assisted." 

Mr. Rouquet was one of his most valued and inti- 
mate friends, He was the son of a French protestant 
refugee whose father was condemned to the galleys 
for his religion. He was educated at Merchant Tai- 
lor's school, and at St. John's college, Oxford. He 
became, at the request of Wesley,-, the superintendent 
of the .school at Kingswood near Bristol, for the 
education of the children of Methodists, and the sons 
of itinerant preachers. He was, nevertheless, ordained 
deacon by Dr. Johnson, bishop of Gloucester, but was 
dismissed from his curacy for preaching from house to 
house, and in the jail of Bristol. He was, notwith- 
standing, presented to a vicarage by -the lord chan- 
cellor, and ordained priest by Dr. Wills, bishop of 
Bath and Wells, who was so pleased with his exam- 
ination, that although a strong cry of Methodist was 
raised against him, he appointed him .to preach at the 
next ordination. 'His text was, Feed my sheep ; but 
the sermon drew down upon him such severe cen- 
sures, that the bishop desired a copy of it might be 
sent him, and after having read it, wrote him a most 
affectionate letter, expressing his entire approbation 
of-its doctrines, and assuring him of the continuance 
of his friendship. After this, Mr. Rququet pursued 
his own course unhindered, and he preached at the 
opening of the Tabernacle, 'at Trowbridge, in 1771 ; 
and in the same place, on the anniversaries of that 
event, till his death in 1776, without any notice be- 
.ing taken of his irregularity. 

This being the history of Mr, Rouquet, it will, be 



MR. ROWLAND HILL VISITS KINGSWOOD. .95 

no. matter of surprise that Mr. Rowland" Hill preach- 
ed his first sermon after ordination, at St. Werburghs, 
Bristol. The -next place he visited was Kingswood, 
the scene of the singular adventure between himself 
and his brother Richard. .Here he collected around 
him once more, the poor ignorant colliers ; and after ad- 
dressing them with the most aifeqtionate earnestness, 
he proceeded to Wotton, as appears from his diary. 

"Friday, June. llth, Wotton. .Only fear the Lord,, 
and, serve him for consider how great things the 
Lord hath done /or thee, $"c. fyc. 1 'Sam. xii. 21, 22, 
&ic. ., Afterwards had a sacrament with my dear bro- 
ther J.pss." 

. He .preached once at Dursley during his stay at 
Wotton, but soon returned to Kingswood, where he 
observes on two of his sermons, that they "were dry 
hard times rO what, an unprofitable worm." Al- 
though he generally perceived and enjoyed a solemn 
effect on his hearers, he always felt and expressed the 
humblest conviction'of his own~ weakness. "Oh !" 
he often exclaimed, " how much better I , ought to 
have preached Oh ! how unworthy, I am to be an 
ambassador for. Christ." 

..- One of his most frequent observations Was, that he 
never remembered to have left the pulpit without an 
humble recollection of his own unworthiness. His 
ebullitions of humour and fancy ..while preaching, 
were often succeeded by tears 1 of contrite sorrow, and 
prayers for deeper solemnity of mind. He had'natu- 
rally a keen sense of the. ludicrous, which seemed at 
times to spread its influence over the entire surface 
of his.mind : like a vapoury cloud, floating.across the 
face of a. luminary of the heavens, some comic idea 
would dim, for an instant, the lustre of his higher con- 
ceptions ; but on its passing suddenly away, his ima- 
gination shone forth in all its splendour, and.gene- 
rally led him into the opposite expressions of pathos or 
sublimity. This is the constant characteristic of his 
writings, as it was of his sermons. , 



96 LETTER FROM MR. BERRIDGE. 

On" Sunday, June 20, 1773, ;Mr. Rowland Hill 
preached his first sermon at his curacy, from 1 Cor. 
ii. 2, 1 am determined to know nothing among you, 
fyc. and spent "a comfortable day". there. He esta- 
blished a Wednesday evening lecture in his church at 
Kingston, but was much dissatisfied with -the attend- 
ance.- He also preached almost daily in the villages 
around. Mr. Toplady, very soon after his ordination, 
invited him to Broad Hembury^ and tried to dissuade 
him from his irregularities : his remonstrances .were, 
, however, in vain. He was, as MivBerridge said, "a 
comet," and his path eccentric and unconfined. He 
went on labouring in many places day after day, till : 
Tuesday, August 24th, when he was " taken violently 
ill with a bilious complaint, and was silenced" .for a 
few days, but on getting better, re-commenced his 
herculean 'exertions. He met with every species of 
opposition; was lampooned, burnt in effigy, pelted, 
and threatened but none of these things moved him 
or disturbed his inexhaustible flow of spirits. He 
i placed his family motto, " go forward," on his seal, - 
' and acted on its precept. His active itinerancy greatly 
delighted "his old friend Mr. Berridge, who thus be- 
gins a letter to him, dated Sept. 3, 1773, "Dear -Sir, 
I mean my dear Rowly, your kind letter was long 
in coming, but it broughtgood tidings, arid refreshed 
my heart. The motto of your seal rejoiced me much ; 
it gave me a peep into your bosom-, and a taste oi 
your letter before I read it. Indeed I was 'somewhat 
afraid lest orders and a* * * * would cure you oi 
rambling ; but my fears were groundless, and all is 
well. The lampoon published against you is a bless- 
ed omen for good, that God intends to honour you. 
It seems to me x a happy token that you will remain 
an-itinerant, and that much good will arise from your 
,t ministry. Luther used to say, when the Lord had 
j fresh work for him, a strong trial was always sent 
beforehand - to prepare him for it by humiliation. 
Study not to be a fine preacher. Jerichos are blown 



BEREIDGE AND FLETCHER! 97 

down \vith ram's horns. Look simply unto Jesus for 
preaching food; and what is wanted will be giyenj 
and what is given be blest; whether it be a barley of a 
wheaten loaf, a crust or a crumb.' Your mbuth^will 
be',a flowing stream, or a fountain sealed, according 
as your heart is. Avoid all controversy in preach- 
ing, talking, or xvriting; preach nothing down but 
the devil, and nothing up but Jesus Christ," It would 
have been happy for the then existing Christian world, 
if this rule had been followed ; the painful recollec- . 
tion would thus have been spared us, that the cham- 
pions of the cross quarrelled in the hour, of victory. 
Mr. Berridge once received Mr. Fletcher with all the 
cordiality of believing love : ; now he writes in the 
letter from which his advice to Mr. Hill is quoted : - 
," Mr. Fletcher has sent me word that my ; pamphlet 
contains the lore of antinomianism, and that he is 
going to publish another 'check in answer to it. So 
he may, but he will not draw a reply from me." Of 
Fletcher it is but justice to say, that he had put away 
from him all bitterness -perhaps not, however, all 
clamour, , ,.-. 

In the autumn of this year, Mr. , Rowland Hill re- 
ceived from Mr. Ryland, junior, of Northampton, 
afterwards the well-know^. Dr. Ryland : of Bristol, 
accounts of the great success which had folio wed his 
visit to that place and country in the spring.. He 
mentions in. his letter, the names and religious state 
of several of his converts, and observes " If this will 
not excite you to hasten hither, I do not know what 
will." He adds,, " Hervey goes" on wellhe supped 
here last night. Dear Mr. Newton preaches at Col- 
lingtree to-day. We ~have two. or three godly pld 
women dying ; one poor lad went to -Wesley's out of 
curiosity y and has been half in despair for a while 
through their falling^ away doctrine." " They at- 
tend," he says withmuch candour, " at our place, except 
the fourth, whose relations at Kettering were fright- 
ened at too much predestination, too much water, 
9 .''. ' 



98 MR. HILL REFUSED PRIEST'S ORDERS. 

top much methqdism, and the encouragement of lay 
preachers, so they could not be easy with his coming 
to uSj and he goes to Castle Hill ; tut he is a very 
good lad, and goes on vjeW." ; 

Having received a promise from the bishop df Car- 
lisle that he would ordain him priest, Mr. Rowland 
Hill obtained a letter dismissory to his lordship from 
ihe bishop of Bath and Wells ; but he excused him- 
self, by saying that he had received an order from 
the archbishop of his province, not to admit him to 
a further grade in the chuich, on account of his per- 
petual irregularity, and that he considered himself 
bound to obey it. Thus ended his hopes and attempts 
to get into .full orders. 

This disappointment is only slightly noticed in his 
diary :" Missing of full orders, with a letter-dismis,- 
sory from the bishop of Bath and Wells to the bishop 
of Carlisle, I thought it was my duty again to begin 
my public labours, as usual." 

This impprtant year Mr. Rowland Hill closed, 'by 
great activity, in the metropolis and its vicinity. His 
journal contains,- however, scarcely any thing but the 
texts he preached from, with here and there a remark 
as, " Friday, first time at Richmond, in the old play 
house." " Wednesday, hsard of the death of my dear 
mother;; she died Friday, Dec. l?th, at half-past 
eleven." "My first charity sermon at St. Mary Al- 
dermary." "Dec. 31st, Greenwich, a concluding 
sermon for the old year, Behold Tarn vile, Job xl. 
4. Good congregations here." . . 

As-he attracted larger numbers at this time than 
any other person, he was 'much pressed to preach 
charity sermons in the churches in London, invita- 
tions which he always accepted with great readiness ; 
and to the end of his life nothing gave him more ex- 
quisite pleasure than being asked to preach in a church, 
and nothing caused him such evident mortification as 
a refusal to allow him to officiate in an episcopal place 
of worship. He used often to say" Good Mr. - 



HIS UNQ.UAL1FIEJD STRENGTH AND SPIRITS. 99 

asked me to come ai>d see him, hut he will not let me 
preach -in his church; I go nowhere where I cannot 
preachj and I do not. choose, to hurt his .'mind by 
preaching in a meeting-house while oh a visit to him." 
Sometimes, when mentioning books, containing stric 
tures on the establishment, he would exclaim "I don't 
like that book, it is full of bigoted railing against" the 
church."- Nothing made him. more indignant than 
being 'callqd a dissenter" I am not," he would say; 
"the church turned me off, and not I her I confess 
I like" a little more -liberty than she allows, and thank 
God, I can ask great Dr. Chalmers, and great Dr. 
Morrison, and others,-when they come to London, to 
preach in Surry Chapel pulpit 3 ? and then he would 
add, with his own indescribably arch look ," I sup- 
pose they would not let St. Paul, if he was to come~ 
upon earth now, preach in his .own cathedral ; but I 
really do not think it would produce an earthquake 
if he did." He was soon after* his ordination, often 
preaching by dawn of day,. and the shades of evening 
would close over him engaged in the same .exercise, 
at a distance, perhaps, of many miles from the scene 
of his morning labours. " When night came, instead of 
being tired, his spirits seemed to rise to their great- 
est height, and he- allowed them full vent in the over- 
flow of his animated conversation. After a day's 
exertions, which -would have completely prostrated 
the strength of an ordinary man, .he appeared uncon- 
scious of the slightest fatigue ; and when supper, was 
at an end, he became unusually communicative and 
entertaining, and would tell ofm's preacning adven- 
tures, declare the experienced of his own mind, and 
enliven the social circle with remarks arid anecdotes, 
given in a manner such as those only who knew 
him in retirement can 'possibly conceive; and this, 
perhaps, after four sermons preached to assembled thou- 
sands, with an' energy of manner andpower of voice of 
themost extraordinary nature. Suddenly, when all the 
party were raised to the highest pitch of interest; .he 



100 SHERIDAN. 

asked " what's o'clock ?" and, finding it was late, he 
would exclaim " dearest me, only think of that it 
is time for all Methodist preachers to be in bed I am 
sure" then, after his night's rest; he began the next 
day with the* same ardour as ever in 'the service of 
God. / . >: 

He was, after his marriage, accompanied by Mrs.' 
Hill on most of his preaching expeditions, and very 
.cheerfully did she share in all the difficulties and pri- 
vations which attended him in his extraordinary 
career; and never upon any occasion, in the course 
of their union of more than half a century, placed 
the slightest obstacle in the way of what her husband 
considered his positive duty as a minister of Christ. 

This year, , as has been noticed in a brief quotation 
from his diary, Mr. Rowland Hill lost his mother. 
Lady Hill. No one of his family was so strongly 
opposed as she was .to the course he was pursuing. 
The choice of the first text he preached from after 
her decease was remarkably characteristic of him : it 
was 2 Sain, xxiii. 5 Although my house be not so 
with God, yet he hath made with me an everlasting 
covenant-, ordered in all things and sure an evident 
allusion to the religious differences existing between 
himself and those of his house, a circumstance well 
known to the congregation of the Tabernacle before 
which he preached.. The great secret, perhaps, of 
the amazing effect of his preaching was, its being all 
nature. He generally chose the subject which im- 
pressed and affected his own' mind at the moment, 
and discoursed on it as he felt, not as he had pre- 
viously thought : and thus, on every occasion, whe- 
ther joyous or grievous, he found his way to hearts 
whose strings vibrated in unison with those of his 
own. Sheridan used to say of him, " I go to hear 
Rowland Hill because his ideas come red-hot from 
the heart." Never was there a truer 'description of 
the preaching of any minister ; he spoke as he felt ; 
and the tears he shed, and the smiles that beamed 



AMBROSE SERLE, DEAN MILNER. 101 

upon his countenance, soon " wakened up their fel- 
lows" in the listening throng that heard Him. After 
one sermon, in which he had poured forth the expe- 
rience of his pious soul in expressing the exulting 
feelings of the Christian's -joy, Mr; Ambrose Serle 
came into the vestry of Surry Chapel, and seizing him 
by the hand, exclaimed^" Oh, my dear sir, if we are 
so happy now, what shall we be a hundred thousand 
years hence in heaven?" And on another occa- 
sion Dr. Milner, the celebrated dean of Carlisle, was 
so worked upon, that he went to him and said" Mr. 
Hill, Mr. Hill, I felt to-day 'tis this slap-dash preach- 
ing, say what they will, that does all the good.", The 
elements of our nature remain unchanged after 
the highest refinement and cultivation of the under- 
standing ; and the same genuine feeling which 
touched the hearts of these highly gifted men in Mr-. 
Rowland Hill's riper age, was the secret which 
attracted the spell-bound multitudes who followed 
him in his youthful days. - . 

9* - ~< . - ' -. 



108 MR. ROWLAND HILL J S SERMONS, 



CHAPTER IV. 

:-'.- .: , 1774. .'. - - ', 

MR. ROWLAND HILL'S first sermon in the year 1774 
was at Tottenham-court chapel, on Sunday, January 
2d ; his subject wasjAe barren fig-tree. He preach- 
ed twice more the same day, and on the Monday :he 
proceeded to Berkhampstead/ and after" expounding 1 , 
"by way of an opening, at Mr. Langton's," he preach- 
ed in a church in.the neighbourhood. Though every 
day at this time was filled up with preaching engage- 
ments, he has recorded little of them but texts and 
places. He remarks, on Thursday, January 6th, 
"Consecration day at Richmond. Morning, upon 
worshipping the Father in spirit and in truth, John 
iv.23,24. Afterwards a most blessed sacrament with 
Messrs. Joss and West. 0, when shall we enjoy the 
like, liberty at Tabernacle and Tottenham !" He was 
much in the habit of seizing upon and spiritualizing 
the circumstances around him, of which we have an 
instance in the following entry in his journal : 
"Lord's day, Tottenham," upon the Lord's promise oj 
showers of blessings it was a very rainy morning." 
He made at this, time frequent preaching expeditions 
to Richmond, where he received the most violent op- 
position. The first date of his going there this year 
is Friday, January 27th " Richmond. He will help 
the feet of his saints, but the wicked shall be silent 
in darkness, for, fyc. } 1 Sam. ii. Much confusion." 
After entering in his diary the texts of every day, he 
remarks, "Thursday (February 3d) dear Mr. Ber 
ridge came to town. I read prayers for him; he 
preached most gloriously." " Lord's day, February 
6th Noon, Richmond. Expecting much persecu- 



AWFUL EVENT 103, 

lion in the eve, prepared for it by preaching upon, 
These'things have I spoken unto you that ye might 
have peace ; in the world ye shall have tribulation; 
fyc.. John xiv. 33, Afternoo^ went to church, and 
heard myself vehemently taken to task>y the parson. 
Eve, contrary to all expectation, we had a.most com- 
fortable and tranquil time. Unto him that loved us 
ind washed [us] from our sins in his own blood ; 
Rev. i.'5, 6. Afterwards a sacrament; dear Mr. 
West assisted. I. trust the Lord was with us bless- 
ed be X-rod, we concluded with victory." On one oc- 
casion an attempt had been made to persuade him 
lot to go to Richmond, because a party of young men 
tiad hired a boat, and were coming down the river 
with the determination to draw him through the^wa- 
ter. His feelings may be conceived, when informed 
the boat was upset, and that the poor .misguided .ene- 
mies of his ministry had all entered into the presence 
of their Judge in another world. 

The next scenes of Mr. Rowland Hill's labours 
were Chatham and Sheerness ; and on his return 
from those places to London he preached " The Last 
Sermon at St.-Catharine's, near the Tower, upon Job's 
repentance." On Sunday, February 27th, he preach- 
ed at the Tabernacle, and on Monday he says "took 
my leave of the chapel society. Tuesday, general 
sacrament. At chapel Mr. Joss assisted for the first 
time. Blessed be Go<J, thousands communicated ; it 
lasted from six till ten." His journal proceeds, 
" After a tedious journey arrived safe at Rodborough 
on Saturday, March 5th. Lord help'. Lord's day 
morn Rodborough': a very tempestuous day. A 
man shall be a hiding place from the storm, &c.: 
Isa. xxxii. 2 afterwards a sacrament. Eve, same 
place. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen 
you, and : have ordained you, &c.: John xv. 19 a 
good congregation, but a dryish time. I believe good 
will be done here: . My Master help." We.have, in 
his first text mentioned in this extract, an instance of 



104- GLOUCESTER, WILTSHlREj WALES. ', 

the habit hot long ago alluded to. He goes on, 
" Monday, March 7th, Wotton. The believer built 
upon the rock. Tuesday, Dursley. The Lord, the 
strength, fortress, and refuge of the afflicted" and 
the next Tuesday,vhe adds, " went and saw my dear 
sick father." On his return he went to Gloucester, 
and preached and read prayers twice at the hospital : 
" the last a blessed time, but poor dead Gloucester, 
how few think it "worth their while to hear !" From 
Gloucester he returned to Wotton, and after preach- 
ing there and in the neighbourhood, 'he made a tour 
through Wiltshire, at the end of which he observes, 
"blessed be God, .a happy journey through Wilt- 
shire," After this he spent a short time at Bristol, and 
;then went into Wales; While at Bristol, one entry 
in his diary is, " Tuesday, St. Nicholas ; there being 
a violent thunder-storm at that time, preached upon, 
A man being a covert from the storm: Isa. xxxii. 2." 
On his way into Wales he preached at " a blessed 
consecration of an old barn in the morning, on pre- 
paring a habitation for the Lord." Mr. Rowland 
Hill was also in the habit of speaking frequently in 
the open air, making what he called "his field cam- 
paigns," and used to go into large towns on the mar- 
ket days, and address assemblages in the market- 
houses, of which he has briefly recorded several in- 
stances. When he heard of a fair or a revel, he would 
go and try to gain a hearing in spite of all the vio- 
lence with which he was constantly assailed. On 
such occasions, his favourite text was, Come ye out 
from among them, which he often so applied to the 
consciences of those who gathered round him, that 
some, convinced of the evil of their course , would 
retire home, to seek in penitential prayer the Saviour . 
to whom they had been so feelingly invited. Many, 
-very many, were the instances of conversions which 
attended, on such opportunities, his solemn warnings 
to the riotous assemblies congregated at these scenes 
of vice and iniquity. ; 



.ANECDOTE OF HO\VELL HARRIS. 105 

Several times in the course of his journey through 
Wales this year, events of a similar description oc- 
curred, which greatly encouraged and supported 
him under an^attack of, illness ; upon which tie re- 
marks, " my body quite weak r but my .soul was re- 
Jreshed." A like example had been previously before 
his eyes in the case of Howell Harris, one 'of Mr. 
. Whitefield's most energetic followers, who was aMnan 
of extraordinary powers of -body and mind.. Harris 
used to relate of himself, that being once on a jour- 
ney through Wales, he was subjected to great tempta- 
tions to desert'.his. Master's cause, when he said '-'Sa- 
tan, I'll : match thee for this" and "so I did," he used 
to add, "for I had: not ridden many miles before I 
came to a revel, where there was a show of moun- 
tebanks,- which I entered,' and just as they were com- 
mencing, I jumped into the midst of them and cried 
out 'let us pray,' which so thunderstruck them that 
they listened to me quietly, .while I preached them a 
most tremendous sermon that frightened many of 
them home." Mr. Rowland Hill greatly delighted in 
^tlnVanecdote, and often considered that amidst some- 
what similar scenes, he had been enabled successfully 
to assail ,the kingdom of Satan., The 1 Dumber of 
sermons he preached oh this tour in Wales, -was as- 
tpnishing ; at least .three and sometimes four a day, 
and none of less duration than an hour. The Welsh 
people followed him by thousands i from place ~ to 
place, and he has often said that nothing could pre- 
vent their attendance. Many^ a time has he stood 
during a shower of rain, preaching : to a vast con- 
course of peasantry, who remained as unconcerned 
atid attentive as though the sky had been without a 
.. cloud. He often used.to, mention this to his English , 
hearers,, when the weather had kept them at home 
on the sabbath. " If," he would say, "you loved the 
gospel as the Welsh do, you would not mind a show- 
er." Nothing, however, made him so angry as the 
enthusiasm of the junipers, whom he called the cari- 



106 REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS. 

caturists of religion. Once, moved by the energy of 
his manner, numbers of them rose in the chapel and 
began to jump; he cried aloud, ," let us have no 
more of this mummery and nonsense." Notwith- 
standing this rebuke", as Mrs. Hill and he were; sitting 
together in the inn,, two men asked to speak to him 
about his sermon; but on entering the room they 
began to jump like madmen. "If you will have such 
nonsense you may. have it to yourselves," he said 
quietly, and retired till the jumpers went away. He 
could not endure any thing bordering on fanaticism; 
" this," he used to say, " is not the fine/sublime,, gen- 
tle, yet irresistible work of the Holy Ghost on the 
soul, making us not fanatics, and enthusiasts, but 
new creatures in Christ Jesus." ( . 

Whilst on the last mentioned expedition, MK-Row 
land Hill was not forgotten by his London friends. 
A longjetter from captain Joss, which reached him 
whilst travelling, describes the condition , of his hear- 
ers in the metropolis and its, neighbourhood. " You 
ask," 'he says, "if I can tell you any gospel news? 
Yes, my dear brother, glory be to our dear Emman- 
uel, his word runs and is glorified. You have need 
to be greatly humbled before the Lord ; for it may 
be said in truth respecting you what Gideon said 
ironically concerning the men of Ephraim, Judges 
viii. 2: Is not the gleaning of 'the grapes of 
Epkfaim better than the vintage of Abiezer ? 
Your last visit has been remarkably blest ; many 
have been awakened, several of which have- joined 
the society.^ I shall mention one very remarkable 
instance which came to my knowledge last Saturday, 
from the person's own mouth. A young lady came 
to hear you out of curiosity, when.it pleased: the 
Lord to call her, I believe savingly. She was greatly 
persecuted by, an elder- brother, who was head 
of the family, as the mother is a widow ; however, 
by her patience and conversation she was made the 
means of 'the conversion of a sister, and that sister 



TREVEGCA. l(fi 

o another, and she of the conversion of the aged 
mother ; and who knows but the Lord may save the 
brother also ? Thus the Lord gives them you by 
clusters : no wonder you meet with so much ballast ; 
you would overset without it. A ship that is built 
for war, requires a great quantity of ballast to 
counterpoise her metal which she carries upon her 
upper deck. Things at Tabernacle and chapel* 
are just as you left, them, only I have not been at 
chapel sacrament since the first time with you." 
. Towards the end of this long letter the worthy 
sailor adds '/ The Lord triumphs at Richmond, and 
persecution runs high: The.different times I hove 
them, we have been stoned, covered with dirt out of 
the- kennel, &c." Little do we know, in these- days 
of tranquillity and peace, what these zealous revival- 
ists had to suffer fron) the violence of mobs, as well 
as from the contempt of men of the world, who de- 
spised their persons .and avoided their society . 

In the course of this summer's tour, Mr. Rowland 
Hill visited and preached at Lady Huntingdon's col- 
lege at Trevecca, on 2 Cor. xii. 10: When lam 
weak, then lam strong, a text he was veiy -fond of, 
because he said, no "one but a Christian could un- 
derstand its meaning ;" in proof of which he would 
add,; A' a wprldlywise divine absolutely said, { I am 
sure that fellow Whitefield is mad now, for I heard 
him say with my own ears, when I am weak, then I 
am strong.' how certain is it, that none can com- 
prehend .the word of God, but by the aid of the en- 
lightening influences of the Holy Ghost." - It was at 
Trevecca that the first opposition arose to the decla- 
ration of Wesley, in the celebrated conference of 1775. 
Lady Huntingdon ordered all those who refused to 
disavow the doctrines contained in its minutes,t im- 

* Tottenham-court chapel and the Tabernacle, Moorfi elds. 

t The parts of these minute's, so strongly objected to, have been 
often published, and, therefore, it is unnecessary to introduce them 
at length here. The passages which were most condemned as tend- 



103 WESLEYAN CONTROVERSY. 

mediately to leave the Welsh college. Mr. Fletcher, 
the superintendent, being called upon to, give his 
sentiments in writing on these points, without re- 
serve, admitted that the wording of the minutes. was 
unguarded and inexplicit ; but after explaining them 
in his own way, he vindicated and approved the 
doctrines they contained, and resigned his appoint- 
ment. Wesley's next conference was held at Bristol, 
where his adherents were met by a sort of anti-coun- 
ci.r summoned by .the honourable Walter Shirley,, one 
of Lady Huntingdon's chaplains, who manifested a 
most conciliatory spirit on the occasion. In this he 
was met by the -leader of the Methodists, who ac- 
knowledged that certain expressions in the minutes, 
which gave rise. to the dispute,. were unguarded as io 
working for salvation, and that they had no "merit 
or confidence but in the alone merits of our Lord 
Jesus Christ -for justification or salvationj either in 
life, death, or the day of judgment.; and though no 
one is. a real Christian believer, (and consequently 
cannot be saved) who doth not good works, where 
there is time and opportunity, yet our works have no 
part in meriting or purchasing our justification, either 
in whole or in part," This .declaration appeared to 
satisfy Wesley's opponents, and the meeting was con-- 
ing to support, the doctrine of salvation by works, were these 
" We said* in. 1174:, ' we have leaned too much towards Calvinism." 
Wherein 1 , . 

."1. With regard to man's faithfulness. Our Lord himself 
taught us to use the expression, and we ought never to fee ashamed 
of it. We ought steadily to assertion his authority, that if a man 
is not ' faithful in the unrighteous mammon,'"God will not give 
him the true riches. :."'' ' 

"2. With regard to working/or life. This also our Lord has 
expressly commanded us. Labour, fyya^Ss, literally,' work for 
.the meat that endureth to everlasting life.'- And in fact, every 
believer till he~comes to glory, works for, as well as from, life.: 

"3. We have received it as a maxim, that 'a man is to do 
nothing in order to justification.' Nothing can be more false. 
Whoever desires -to find favour with God, should 'cease to .do 
.evil, and learn to do well.' Whoever repents, should ' do works 
/meet for repentance.' And if this is not in order to find favour 
what does iie : do:them Tor?" , . 



BLAMEABLE SPIRIT. 109 

eluded -with prayer and. mutual professions of bro- 
therly love. .The result also of 'the' conference- was 
made known to the world; 

This calm unhappily lasted but a short time : the 
old question was raised again, and the dispute was car- 
ried on with more violence than ever. Numerous 
pamphlets were published on both sides, and to the 
arguments contained in them were added the keen- 
est ridicule and the strongest possible invective; Mr. 
Richard Hill wrote a great deal upon the subject ; 
and Mr. Rowland Hill, with Messrs. Topladyj Ber- 
ridge', and Hervey, -entered into the same arena. 
The titles of some of -these productions were singular 
enough, Farrago double distilledAn old fox tar- 
red and feathered, alluding to. Wesley Pope John. 
^Logica Genevensis The finishing stroke, and 
others of the same character; and it is but justice, to 
Mr. Rowland Hill to remark that in his maturer age, 
though he still retained his views' as to the doctrines 
he opposed,/he lamented that the controversy had 
not been carried on in a different spirit. It has been 
often asserted; that the pamphlets and other publica- 
tions on the part of Wesley 'and his followers, were 
models of temper and forbearance, while those writ- 
ten by the Hills and 'their adherents abounded in 
invective and :abuse. Mr. Rowland Hill shall here 
speak for him'self. He excused his severity of ex- 
pression by a quotation from; Cicero "ut ad uren- 
dwri et secandum' ^medici, sic nos ad hoc genus 
castigandi raro invitique venianius, nee unquam nisi 
necessario si nulla r reperietur alia medicina." This 
was the motto of a pamphlet in which he says, " how- 
ever I may lament the many 'harsh terms that: made 
their appearance in the last pamphlet,; yet I think 
'Mr. J.Wesley has but very little reason to complain, 
when we review the following specimen of some of 
the mild ^epithets which these two "meek -and loving 
gentlemen-, Messrs. John ,aiid Charles Wesley, have 
conjointly given to the Oalvihists : devil's factors 
10 



110 BLAMEABLE SPIRIT. 

Satan's synagogues children of the old roaring 
hellish murderer who believe his lie advocates for 
sin witnesses for the father of lies blasphemers^ 
Satan-sent preachers devils liars fiends. These 
terms are taken out of different poems composed by 
those gentlemen, all of which, if I greatly mistake 
not, are still upon sale." Wesley's biographer, Wat- 
son, a great and good man, surely was not aware 
of .these expressions when he called the, publications 
of his party " models of temper, and calm but occa 
sionally powerfully reproving."- These epithets ta- 
ken from Mr. Rowland Hill's work would never have 
been introduced here, but that it has been very often 
insinuated that the acid was all on one side. Can 
any thing, justify Wesley in setting forth an analysis 
of Toplady's Treatise, on Predestination in these 
words? "The sum of all this :--one in twenty 
(suppose) of mankind are elected ; .nineteen in twenty 
are reprobated. .The elect shall be saved, do what 
they will ; the reprobate shall be damned,, do what 
they can. Reader, believe this, or be damned. Wit- 
ness my hand A. T." Certain., it is that. Mr. Row- 
land Hill and his friends never held doctrine such 
as this ; never did persons more, freely invite all -to 
come to Christ, nor have any preachers, since the 
days of the Apostles, been more practical in their 
doctrines or holier in their lives. Mr. Hill passed 
through a life extended to almost eighty-nine years, 
without a speck to stain his moral character ;., in 
this respect his sun careered, in a cloudless sky; and 
smik in celestial brightness into a world of; glory. 
It is only to be lamented that the combatants^did 
not meet instead of writing. They were inflamed 
by constant misrepresentations which lost nothing 
in passing from one to another. When they did 
meet, their mutual religion generally awakened a 
common love towards each other. When Toplady 
saw Olivers, one of his most acute opponents, whom 
he hadj-idiculed in verse and attacked in prose, all his 



MR. ROWLAND HILL,'s CANDOUR. Ill 

anger seemed to cease. " To say the truth," he writes, 
"I am glad I saw Mr. Olivers, for he appears to be a 
person of stronger sense and better behaviour than I 
had imagined." Mr. Rowland Hill, with admirable 
candour, says of -his own writings "a softer style and 
spirit would better ha've become me';" and this would 
have undoubtedly been the case had they met and 
conversed. Mr. Hill also wrote to London and Bris- 
tol to forbid the sale of one of his severest publica- 
tions, part of which, addressed -privately to a friend, 
had been printed without his consent: "Thus," says 
he " have 1 done my utmost to prevent the evil that 
mightarise from any wrong touches of the arjcof God." 

It 'is impossible not to notice in the Life of Mr. 
Rowland Hill,- a controversy in which both he and his 
brother Richard appeared so prominent; and the quo- 
tations given from his own writings. will, it is trusted, 
prove that he had the candour to censure the spirit in 
which, heated by polemical excitement, he had written 
upon such mysterious and hallowed subjects. The 
cause was the Lord's; but the armour in which both 
parties came into the field was not selected "from the 
panoply of light: ' They therefore turned their wea- 
pons against each other, and forgot^ for a period, the 
effect of such a spectacle on the enemies of their 
common salvation. Let ,the c/ase be fahiy stated, the 
faults OIT hoth^ sides be acknowledged, and may the 
remembrance of them serve as a warning to those 
who treat upon 'religious, differences. Let Us give 
credit to both parties for integrity of principle ; and 
let Calvinist and Arminian join, in one common ac- 
knowledgment, that they never should have sought 
God by nature, had he not first sought them^by 
grace;, that the only way to eternal life is through the 
'all-sufficient atonement, of a dying Saviour f and 
the only evidence of our interest in his blood, a heart 
sanctified by his Spirit, and a life dedicated to his 
glory. , , , 

From Trevecca, v.aere we left him to make this 



.112 . WOTTON. 

.digression, Mr. Rowland Hill returned to, Wotton, 
. ; after, "in some measure, a happy ramble .through 
Wales," and immediately visited, day after, day,- .all 
the -scenes of his former labours in Gloucestershire. 
There he had erected his house and a chapel, call- 
ed the Tabernacle, in one of .the most romantic situ- 
ations that, can be conceived, and very suitable. to 
the complexion of a mind exceedingly alive, to the 
picturesque beauties of nature. ' The celebrated Ro- 
bert Hall once paid him a visit at Wotton, and said 
of it" Sir, it is the most paradisaical spqH was 
ever in." Strong as was the ; expressiori, he did not 
say too much. Opposite the house is the most per- 
fect amphitheatre of hill, three parts of which is 
clothed with a hanging wood, of exquisite variety of 
foliage, enclosing a dale of the richest fertility. 
The summit of a hill on the left of the house com- 
mands a, landscape on which nature has -lavished her 
choicest attractions. The Welsh Moimtains,'the Mal- 
vern Hills, the rich vale of Berkley, the broad course 
of the silvery and majestic Severn, and a foreground 
of grassy -knolls and hanging woods, form the princi- 
pal features of a scene in which all are blended in the 
loveliest harmony and proportions. In front of the 
house, a rocky path winding through a sloping wood 
of beech, breaks it with its white and narrow streaks 
into clusters of great beauty and variety. On the sab- 
bath this road teemed with human'beings, coming 
from the lovely .glens around, to hear the word of life 
from the lips of their beloved minister. . About half 
an hour before service, he might be seen watching 
through a telescope his approaching flock, as they de- 
scended into the valley, and making his remarks to 
those near him on the seriousness or levity of their 
manner. Sometimes he gave a hint of the latter in 
his sermon, and they who were conscious of its ap- 
plication wondered, how he knew it. Some of them 
used, to say, " we must mind what we do, for Maste* 
Hill knows every thing, bless him." , - 



VARIED SCENES OF LABOUR. ' 113 

But to resume the narrative. Mr. Rowland Hill 
went from Wotton to Bristol and Bath, where he was 
followed by congregations " larger than ever." "After 
three years' absence" he visited Devizes, and returned 
to Bristol, where he preached to great.multitudes, both 
in places of worship and "out of doors." In .his 
journey to London he .passed through Worcester, 
Gloucester, and Birmingham, where he met with, such 
a. reception as gave him "much cause -for thankful- 
ness and joy." ; His route was very circuitous, and 
extended to the potteries, in Staffordshire. He spent 
also a short time at Coventry and Northampton, and 
was much encouraged by his affectionate reception: 
and the crowds who flocked to hear him. Preaching 
all the way as : he journeyed, he at length reached Lon- 
don on the sixth of August. Here he at once resum- 
ed his labours, as appears from his journal. "London, 
Lord's-day morn, August 7th: an excellent sacra- 
ment at the, Tabernacle. Afterwards preached in the 
same place to ah overflowing congregation : Behold I 
set before thee an open door. Eve, to a vast multitude 
in White. Conduit Fields : Father forgive them for 
they know not what they do :" evidently in allusion to 
the opposition he met with. Not .a day followed 
without a sermon , and on the Monday week aftei-the, 
last date, he -preached at " Whetstone, on Christ's 
name being as ointment poured forth, Afterwards, a 
primitive feast, made sweet by prayer, singing, and ex- 
hortation. Afterwards expounded part of the. 1st of 
Solomon's Song in the field. Tuesday, intended to 
have preached in London Fields. Prevented by rain ; 
met society in the Tabernacle." The scenes of his mi- 
nistry at this tinie were places of all kinds ; churches, 
chapels, fields, gardens, the streets in short, every- 
where that he could obtain a hearing, every day of his 
life, and with great effect. One entry in his little diary 
at this time is "Saturday, met society,. and gave a 
general exhortation. Many this eye came to me under 
soul concern. Blessed be God, the work of grace 

10*' '- : * 



114 DEATH OF MR. POWYS. LORD BARHAM. 

still is carried on upon the hearts ^ of many." . On 
" Lord's-day, 'September llth," he-" concluded in Lon- 
don. Morn, chapel, on the great mountain, a plain 
before Zerabbabel. Eve, Tabernacle : Thine, Lord, 
is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the 
victory, and the majesty, for all that is in the heaven 
and the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom,O Lord, 
and thou art exalted head above all : I Chron. xxix. 
11. Oixthe same day 200 was collected for the pub- 
lic cause of Christ, The congregations in London 
continue as large if not larger than ever. A di- 
vine power in general went with the word. Most 
enlarged this time at Tottenham, and in the churches." 
From London Mr. Hqwland Hill went into Glou- 
cestershire, where he seems, from -his diary, scarcely 
to have missed preaching a single day till his return 
to London in December, where he concluded the 
labours of the year. 

^During the year 1774,, Mr. Rowland Hill had the 
misfortune to lose Ms friend, Mr. Pbwys, of Berwick, 
whose death he felt very severely ; the more so as 
there were but very few, in his own sphere of life, 
who appreciated his views of religion or approved 
his zeal. There was, however, one individual in 
particular, for whom he cherished the. sincerest affec- 
tion and regard. This was the excellent Sir Charles 
Middleton, afterwards well known as Lord Barharn, 
whose management of the navy when first lord of 
the admiralty, in times of unequalled difficulty, will 
ever be mentioned to his honour in the pages of 
British history. His wise and prompt services were 
commended in the highest terms by Lord Nelson ; 
and the navy of England reached the acrtie of im- 
mortal fame, when a man, ridiculed as a saint and a 
methodist, presided over its affairs. Let this for ever 
silence those who assert that religion incapacitates 
for the uses of this life. But another point deserves 
to be mentioned. Lord Barham permitted no Sun- 
day labours in the dock-yards ; yet he managed to 



1775. -LOVE. FEASTS. SAILORS, " 115 

comply with the urgent and rapid .demands of the 
hero of -the deep', whose circumstances and uncom- 
mon movements .required no ordinary energy in the 
supply of his resources. Neither nations nor indi- 
viduals will ever lose by the entire dedication of that 
sacred day, to the worship of a God who prospers 
those who serve him, and obey his commandments. 
When Lord Barham retired, in a good old age, to 
his seat in Kent, Mr, Rowland Hill paid him an an- 
nual visit. The affectionate and- venerable old man 
often came to the door- to welcome -his arrival ; and 
Mr. Hill used to say, nothing cheered him more "than 
to see the silvery locks and heavenly smiles of the 
good old lord," as he stood to receive him under the 
portico of the house at Barham court. - No visit 
afforded Mr. Rowland Hill more pleasure than this : 
-they had known each other when they first set out 
in the paths of religion, and were .drawing to the 
close of their pilgrimage,a:ejoicing.in.the light that 
had led them all the way. 

Mr. Rowland Hill .commenced the year 1775 at 
Woburn. His first sermon in London was in Alders- 
gate church. He was very- regular in his attendance 
at the meetings of the society and classes at the Ta- 
bernacle. He also attended some ..." Love Feasts" 
which seem to have afforded him no great satisfaction, 
for he remarks on the first meeting of the kind this 
year, " Wednesday, a love feast at .the Tabernacle ; 
tolerable for a love feast." jn the month of Febru- 
ary ha went to Brighton, where he spent., about a 
fortnight in diligent preaching, and in gathering and 
forming societies of. Christian's. He then paid a visit 
to Portsmouth, which occupied him till the end of the 
month. He had the greatest pleasure in labouring 
amongst sailors, : and generally found his way to their 
hearts and affections^ Many a sturdy tar that .de- 
nounced -his opening address with an oath, before 
the close of his solemn appeal had melted into tears,; 
and often did- they fill the eye and drop down the 



116 ANECDOTE. 

rough, cheek of some veteran, who, till touched ;with 
a .recital of the Saviour's love and sufferings, 
seemed as hard and sapless as the oak which bore 
him on the bosom of that ocean, where, without a 
thought of judgment or eternity, he had sternly pe- 
rilled his life in -the service of, his country. Frequent- 
ly did Mr. Hill experience the no very gentle grasp of 
some sailor's hand who had been brought to a know- 
ledge of the way of life by a sermon he had come to 
sneer at and oppose; Of his visits to seaports.he used 
to -say, "I was most. affected by those'who came about 
me, and told me in tears that I had led them to Christ 
last time I was there; this, always touches nW 
When they abused, pelted, and threatened him, ,he 
stood calm and unmoved; his countenance, capable 
of almost every expression, never assumed that of 
fear ; but as soon as ever a person told him, in a way 
that removed all suspicion, of his. having been the 
means of bringing him to*God, he. could never sup- 
press his emotion. His courage, at all times remark- 
able, often awed his most violent opposers, and on one 
occasion frightened away two or, three highwaymen, 
which probably gave rise to the. foolish story of his 
taking a robber , into his service. ' He was riding in a 
phaeton somewhere near London, accompanied by 
Mrs. Hill, when they .'were "attacked in the dark by 
either two or .three men, who violently demanded 
their money. They had a few minutes previously 
made a successful attack upon "a Mr. Whitefoot, his 
assistant, who preceded. them in- a gig. When they 
came- to Mr. Rowland Hill, and he used to laugh 
heartily, as he told the^s-fcory, lie set up such a tremen- 
dous .unearthly shouf, that one of them cried out, '' w& 
have stopped the devil by mistake, and had better be 
off "-^on which they ran away and left Mr. Hill and 
his- lady in peaceable possession of the road. He used 
to say, "-I stood up in the carriage and made all the 
outrageous noises I could think of, which frightened, 
the fellowsoutof their wits, and away they scampered." 



A NOTICE FliOM THE PULPIT .' 117 

"During this year Mr. Rowland Hill preached at 
many places in Kent without much opposition, but 
had to encounter a desperate tumult, raised by a rab- 
ble in the street, atMaidstone. He briefly notices 
it" Thursday (March 24th) T&aiAstoiie^-His fan w 
in his hand, he will thoroughly purge his~ floor. 
Some persecution, people still within, but in a tumult/ 
without in tumults, often." At Chatham his recep- 
tion was quite the reverse of this, so that he 1 remarks, 
"uncommon sweetness at Chatham." As his engage-, 
ments multipled, he grew weary of keeping a regular 
diary of his preaching, and says in one place " from 
hence to my departure frdrn London omitted to -put 
down in ord.er." After merely mentioning/ as far as 
he could recollect the texts he had preached upon, he 
adds, "Wednesday, April 19, 1775, after a long stay 
in and about London of four months, after some bless- 
ings, and- many humblings, set out for Gloucester- 
shire, reaching Reading on that evening, preached 
in the Independent meeting, Unto him .that hath 
loved us, <$'c Thursday, Newbury, in the meeting 
house, oh being perfect through Chrisf s 'comeliness 
put upon us." ' '/>''-. - 

'. On Saturday, April 22d, he reached Wotton, 
and remained there till June 24th, preaching almost 
daily. - ._ v . , ; . 

His retirement into the country was no repose to 
him ; he preached as often there as' in London. On 
a Sunday after the service of his "chapel at Wotton he 
would give out such a notice as this:: , ff 

"To-morrow evening meet the society."" Any 
body: here fronrNibley?" (a nod of assent) "-Tell 
them I shall preach there Tuesday Wednesday, 
preach here Thursday, Wickwar Friday, Uley - 
Saturday^ must have some rest Sunday here again, 
God willing," After thisnotice,he riot unfrequently for- 
got the places where he intended to go, when Mrs. Hill's 
accuracy was of no slight service in aiding his me- 
mory. He often said at breakfast,-" where am I to 



118 MR, ROWL ANB HILL ? S GARDENKR. 

preach to-day 1 ?" and fortunate it was for 'himself 
and the people, that she had not forgotten -the detail 
of his arrangements. . 

Mr. Rowland Hill had great reason to rejoice in 
the consistent lives and zealous devotion to God of 
many of his converts at Wotton. There, was amongst 
them a person named Rugg, of a piety so deep, and 
of a life so useful and unblemished,- that even his 
enemies admired and, were awed by his character. 
Mr. Rowland Hill used to say of him, that he was 
one of the most complete Christians he ever met with. 
He has been,, however, mentioned here^ because he 
was connected with an extraordinary fact, illustrative 
of God's care of his own people. Mr. Hill's gardener, 
at Wotton, who had always passed for an 1 honest 
quiet sort of man, was at length discovered to have 
been the perpetrator of several burglaries, and other 
daring robberies in the neighbourhood, though he 
had, till caught in the fact, never been .even sus- 
pected. He was tried at Gloucester, condemned, and 
executed. It need scarcely be said, that his master 
visited him in jail. During his inter views with him 
there, he confessed the many crimes of which he had 
been guilty. " How was it, William," he inquired, 
" that you never robbed me, when you have had such 
abundant opportunity ?" " Sir," replied he, " do you 
recollect the juniper bush on the border against the 
dining-room? I have many times hid under it at 
night, intending, which I could easily have done, to 
get intq the house and plunder it but, Sir, I was 
afraid ; something said to me, he is a man of God, it 
is a house of prayer if I break in there I shall sure- 
ly be found out so I neve? could pluck up courage 
to attempt it." In another conversation he told him, 
" Sir, I well Mew that old Mr. Rugg was in the habit 
of carrying a deal of money in his pocket ; times and 
times have I hid behind the hedge of 'the lane lead- 
ing to his house he has passed within a yard of me, 
when going home from the prayer meeting, again 



MR. HILL ? S UNWEARIED DILIGENCE. 119 

and again.* I could not stir I durst not touch so 
holy a man. I was afraid. I always began trembling 
as soon as he came near me, and gave up the thought 
altogether, for I knew he was a holy man." This is 
a fact which well assures us that God our sun is a 
shield too. 

In the year ,1775, orchards, commons, gardens, 
churches, chapels, woods, hills and dales, were the 
varied scenes of Mr. Rowland Hill's daily exertions. 
Every now and then there appears also an entry in 
his diary, of a sermon at Kingston, his curacy, but 
there is no record of the time when he finally left it. 
He made this year a tour through great part of De- 
vonshire, where his ministry produced a most power- 
ful effect, and he spent a whole fortnight in great 
activity at Plymouth. Thence he proceeded to 
Launceston, arid preached 'in the town hall, .and, to 
use his own words, " Saturday,. (no date, but it was 
in July) reached Bideford the dissenting minister 
refused the pulpit before I asked for it expounded 
thrice, and preached in the market-place." Here, he 
says, " God's word ran, and was glorified."- On his 
return from this tour he remained at Wotton, till 
August 21st j when he set off for London, preaching 
every day , on his. journey. Qn his arrival in the 
metropolis, he had the satisfaction to experience no 
diminution either in the number or the affection of 
his followers.- . . ' 



120 REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS, 



CHAPTER V. 

REMARKABLE CONVERSIONS; 

DURING his residence .in London^ Mr. Rowland 
Hill not only preached in various places of worship, 
but expounded in families. He was in the habit of 
going occasionally for this purpose, to the house of 
Lord Robert Manners, between whose accomplished 
lady and Mrs. Hill there existed a long and sincere 
friendship. . 

: He received, while, in the metropolis in the year 
1775, the usual tidings of the succ'ess of liis itine- 
rancy. On one of the letters conveying this infor- 
mation is written, "good news from Bideford," in 
allusion to an account which it contains of the re- 
markable conversion of an individual who had been 
a notorious opposerof the truth. '.'Indeed, sir," says 
his correspondent, " there seems to be a lasting im- 
pression 4efton the minds of many; and as for Mr. 

'. ' , the man I before mentioned, it does my soul 
good to converse with him; and the order of his 
house is turned upside down, from a prayerless 
family to a praying one." From Northampton Mr. 
Ryland, junior } sent him, in a long letter, a list of 
persons converted .under his ministry in that place, 
during three visits, with remarks on their cases and 
progress in religion. These were very encouraging, 
and were some of them instances of the power of God 
in rescuing, by the instrumentality of his word, even 
those -who appeared to be buried in the most hopeless 
depths of ignorance, and sin. Mr. Ryland concludes 
by observing, "upon the whole, my dearest sir, I 
think you" and we have vast reason to be thankful 



SOCIETAS EVANGELICA., PENITENTS. 121 

that God blessed yon. so gloriously amon^ us : and I 
hope the Lord will make it a mean of endearing North- 
ampton to you, and of inducing you to visit us oftener." 
Daring the latter part of this year, Mr. Rowland 
Hill divided his time 'between London and Bristol. 
He left the latter city at Christmas, to assist in forming 
in London a society called " Societas Evangelical 
whose object was to aid settled ministers in itinerating 
in their immediate districts. No other particular event 
seems to have occurred to him at this time : he pur- 
sued a regular course of daily preaching and labour- 
ing in his Master's cause, arid opposition seemed 
gradually to decrease. He even received . letters ac- 
knowledging the deep concern of the writers at having 
harboured an unkind thought of his motives, or used 
an opprobrious expression towards his person. One 
of them says "I most ardently, most zealously, most 
sincerely ask your pardon for, the many unknown of- 
fences towards you, for the opprobrious and scurrilous 
language, for the most bitter invectives with which I 
have treated your name and person, and for the trou- 
ble I give you in this my prolix epistle : and likewise 
beg of you, in the name of the Holy One of Israel, to 
offer up your prayers .for me, if you can possibly think 
me worthy ; and in requital fprrso great a -blessing, 
you shall possess mine, not only with my lips, but 
with my heart." Notices also were perpetually placed 
in his hands as he was entering the pulpit, containing 
similar penitent acknowledgments, and desiring.that 
public confession might be made to that effect. There 
were also often given him, just as he was preparing to 
preach, slips of paper, containing instances of conver- 
sions and of awful judgments, ^that he might make 
allusion to them in his sermons. Several of these 
were preserved by Mr. Hill, and were labelled "noti- 
ces given me in the pulpit." The following is one 
of them : " Dear sir, for your encouragement 1 send 
you this, not,to exalt you, but to lay you low at the 
feet of Christ Jesns. A man of a small fortune mar 
11 



122 NOTICES IN THE PULPIT. 

ried a young woman with a little money. In a few 
years, through their extravagance, they spent all they 
had, which drove him to such ways which made him 
a terror to his wife and father-in-law, the latter of 
which he was determined to murder, and he set out 
last summer on a Sunday with a full determination to 
do it. Agoing across White Conduit Fields while you 
were preaching, he stopped to hear you, and the Lord 
pleased to set the word home with power, and it en- 
tered into his very soul, and the lion became 1 a lamb 
from that very moment. The Lord showed him what 
a devil he was ; so that his, heart of stone became a 
heart of flesh, and he is now become the best of hus- 
bands, the best of fathers, and the best of sons-in-law ; 
and as he was a' terror to the neighbourhood, he is 
now become a wonder to all, and his father-in-law says 
he must be in a trance. I only send you this account, 
which you mayindeed depend upon, and may the Lord 
encourage you still to go on Amen.- Be clothed 
with humility." When these notices were given him 
he used generally to read them aloud ; and once an 
impudent fellow placed a piece of paper on the reading 
desk, just before he was going to read prayers. He. 
took it, and began " The prayers of this congrega- 
tion are desired-^-umph for umph well, I suppose 
I must finish what I have begun -for the Rev. Row- 
land Hill, that he-will not go riding about in his car- 
riage on a Sunday /" This would have disconcerted 
almost any other man; but he looked up as coolly 
as possible and said" If the writer of this piece of 
folly and impertinence, is in the congregation, and will 
go into the vestry after service, and let me put a sad- 
dle on his back, I will ride him home instead of going 
in my carriage."* He then went on with the service 
as if nothing had happened, 
ifew year's day, 1776, found Mr. Rowland Hill in 

* I once told him this story, and asked him if it was true 
" Aye, that it is," he said, " true enough you kiiow I could not 
call him a donkey in plain terms out of the reading desk." 



SIR HARRY TRELAWNY. 133 

London, employed in the foundation of the society last 
alluded to. In February, as appears from an extract in 
hisbrief journal, he left London, " after, upon the whole, 
seeing the happy establishment of Societas Evangeli- 
ca, returned about the beginning of February to Glou- 
cestershire; preached at Wotton on the following sub- 
jects." Here follow merely his texts, without any 
remarks. After labouring with his usual diligence in 
Gloucestershire for a short time, he paid a visit to his 
family at Hawkstpne, to which ..he makes no other 
allusion than this : "During my stay at Hawkstone, 
preache<l on the following subjects at Weston, .before 
my father; They that despised Moses' law, perished 
without mercy, tyc. Eve, Moses lifting up the ser- 
pent in the wilderness? He remained with Sir Row- 
land Hill till' the 6th of May, when he returned to 
London, preaching daily on his road. Vast crowds 
followed him every where, particularly to hear him 
out of doors at Blackheath, and other places in and 
near the metropolis. 

After his summer labours in London, Mr. Rowland, 
Hill returned to Wotton, where, he remained diligent 
as usual, till September, when he departed on a long 
preaching excursion into Wales, and returned by way 
of Bristol. While at Bristol, he made a journey to 
Taunton to meet Sir Harry Trelawny, a young baro- 
net from Oxford, and "found him," he says, " to all 
appearance, a most amiable and devoted youth." 
When Sir Harry was awakened to a sense of religion 
does not appear ; but it is certain that he had become 
a very zealous and active itinerant preacher, which 
drew down upon him the displeasure of the heads of 
his college. He was most anxious for this interview 
with Mr. Hill, and accompanied him to Mr. Tud- 
way's, at Wells, where they had much conversation 
upon the subject of religion, as well as consultations 
on the means of promoting its revival. Soon after 
they parted, Sir Harry wrote Mr. Rowland Hill a let- 
ter, which will illustrate the nature of their inter 



134 LETTER OF SIR H. TRELAWNV. . 

course, and the position of the writer with regard to 
Oxford. - . , 



MY EVER AND VERY DEAR BROTHER, 

I am this evening, through the rich, free, and un- 
deserved mercy of our triune covenant God, arrived 
safe at home. 

Oh ! my dear friend, since I left you I know still 
more how I loved you. I seemed as if I had not my 
coat on when I rode away from Wells. I have not 
passed waking hours, I believe, without' reflecting 
upon you, and that not without desires of again taking 
sweet counsel with you, and walking in the house of 
God as friends. . 

Indeed I love you so much that I have been afraid 
. that the Lord would make a breach between us. Oh ! 
may we ever unite in the strictest friendship and har- 
mony, looking every moment unto Jesus, that best 
of all friends, as the supreme object of our love. 
Should we both remain till March, on this side the 
grave, I hope to attend you through Cornwall, and 
enjoy much comfort in your company, my dear bro- 
ther. , 

"When I came home, I found, among others, a let- 
ter from Oxford, from the sub-dean of our college, 
in which I am genteelly dismissed from that society. 
After having said many things on the subject, and 
given his opinion decisively respecting my return, he 
says this " When you consider all this, you will not 
be surprised at my expressing my most earnest wishes, 
both for your own sake, and for the sake of the place, 
that you would never think of residing in Oxford 
again." 

Could you see the whole letter, you would see still 
greater reason to conclude with me that my way is 
made clear, and that Oxford is not intended to be my 
place of abode as an academy. ,0h ! for a more in- 
timate fellowship and acquaintance with Jesus Christ 



MISTAKES OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 125 

the Friend and the Saviour. God grant me to feel 
more real love to him, and more ardent desires after 
him. 

Now, dear, dear sir, pray for me, and write to me 
wheu you have leisure. May God make me thank- 
ful for my acquaintance with you. 

I am, my much, very much beloved brother, your , 
faithful, sincere, and affectionate friend in Jesus, 

HARRY TRELAWNY. 

Please to remember me in a Christian manner to 
Mrs. Hill, and all friends. I hope I shall not be long 
without a letter. 

Sir Harry Trelawny was at this time a very young 
irian, and wrote and acted with all the fervour of 
youth. It cannot be doubted that he arid others, 
when they entered the university, consented to place 
themselves, under its discipline, and that, therefore, 
every irregularity was in fact a breach of their en- 
gagement with that body. The only excuse for their 
conduct, was the almost total dearth of vital religion 
which prevailed at that time. A similar line of con- 
duct in the present day would be altogether inexcus- 
able ; and there is reason to believe that the career 
of Sir H. Trelawny would have been much more 
useful, had he passed in patience through his studies 
at Oxford and entered the church, of which his zeal 
and talents as a preacher, as well as his situation in 
society, would have rendered him in all probability a 
bright .and useful ornament , When Mr. Rowland 
Hill advised others to follow a course similar to his 
own, he forgot that he was a sort of privileged person; 
that both his bodily strength and mental energy were 
incalculably beyond those of almost any other indivi- 
dual ; and that the same tacit consent to -his moving 
in an eccentric orbit, which he was gradually gain- 
ing, would not be granted to another, whose constitu- 
tion of mind, powers of imagination, and long proved 
11* 



126 MR. RICHARD HILL. MR. HALLWARD. 

integrity of heart and purpose, had not become the 
subjects of equal notoriety. 

It is a fault often to be lamented in modern biogra- 
phy, that while all the virtues of men of piety are 
blazoned forth as bright examples to follow, their fail- 
ings are seldom exhibited as beacons to warn us of 
the dangers of our course. It must therefore be can- 
didly acknowledged that the venerable subject of 
these memoirs had, at this period of his life, fallen 
into an error which somewhat diminished his useful- 
ness, and brought him into discredit with persons of 
influence. He was constantly in the habit of mixing 
up politics with his sermons, .and of denouncing, in 
every place which he visited, the war with America; 
and this in such violent language, that hints were 
given him of its being noticed. The agitation of this 
question also made the controversy between him and 
the Wesleyans, partly political and partly theological, 
and was the cause of serious evil. Whatever may 
be the opinions of ministers as. to abstract political 
questions, their theme in the pulpit, and no other 
ought to enter there, should be Christ and him cru- 
cified. 

- In the year 1776 Mr. Rowland Hill had the. grati- 
fication of seeing his brother Richard elected as the 
representative of his native county in parliament ; a 
circumstance which brought them, when in London, 
into perpetual contact with each other. Mr. Richard 
Hill was chosen member for Shropshire, at six suc- 
cessive elections : in 1806 he resigned. Men of piety 
and zeal ever received a cordial welcome to his house; 
and he manifested, upon all occasions, an ardent de- 
sire to aid them in their endeavours to extend the 
knowledge of the Saviour. The very year in which 
he first entered the house of commons, Mr. Richard 
Hill defended, in a series of letters, the doctrines of 
Mr. Hallward, his brother's friend and correspondent 
before mentioned in this work. He afterwards pub- 
lished them in a pamphlet entitled Pietas Redingensis 



EEV. W. B. CADOGAN. DEATH OF ROTJQ,UET. 127 

or Reading Piety. Mr. Rowland Hill's early friend 
filled the curacy of St. Giles', Reading, from which it 
ir well known he was displaced by Mr. Cadogan, on 
his succeeding to that preferment, but was afterwards 
entreated' by him, in the most affectionate and peni- 
tential terms, to re-occupy the useful station from 
which he had been so unjustly removed. Mr. Cado- 
gan concludes his invitation in these affecting 
words "I should be obliged to. you for an answer 
as soon as convenient, as you may be sure I shall 
make no other application till I have heard from you. 
I commend myself to your pity and prayers, of both 
of which I stand in greatlieed ; and. hope you will 
believe me, though once a blasphemer, . persecutor, 
and injurious, to be yours most faithfully and affec- 
tionately in Christ Jesus, W. B; Cadogan." This 
offer Mr. Hallward could not accept, as a friend had 
presented him to a living ; but he visited the former 
scene of his labours, and-continued with the people 
for several months. 

This year Mr. Rowland Hill was deprived, by 
death, of his excellent friend Mr. Rouquet, whose con- 
stant and hearty welcome at Bristol had given a 
charm to all his visits to that city, and in whose 
church it will be recollected he preached his first ser- 
mon after ordination. He died in the 47th year of 
his age, on the 16th of November, 1776. Just before 
he expired, he exclaimed thrice, " I want to go home" 
when his spirit winged its way to the mansion pre- 
pared for it in the unseen world of glory. He went 
home, and left many a poor pilgrim to weep over the 
loss sustained by the departure of such a guide in the 
way. None dropt upon his grave tears of more 
genuine grief than Mr. Rowland Hill, who briefly 
notices the event in his much neglected diary. ' His 
entry is, , _ " 

"Monday, dear Rouquet died. Thursday, Trow- 
bridge anniversary*^!? the fat and drink the 
* This sermon Mr. Rouquet al-ways preached. 



138 FUNERAL SERMON. 

* .- ' 

sweet, fy'c. Lord's day morning/ began my labours 
in Bristol. Morn, preached a funeral sermon at St. 
Werburgh's, Well done good and faithful servant, 
fyc. Eve, Tabernacle, on the same occasion/ 
heard a voice from heaven saying unto me write, 
*c. Tuesday, St. Nicholas / have finished, my 
course, I have, fyc" 

The first of these sermons on the Sunday, or rather 
as muclxas he recollected of it, he published with the 
title, a " token of respect to the memory of the late 
Rev. James Rouquet ; being the substance of a ser- 
mon preached in the parish church of St. Werburgh, 
in the city of Bristol, on Sunday, November 24th, 
1776, by Rowland Hill, A. M., chaplain to the Coun-. 
less of Chesterfield." He was appointed Chaplain to 
Melusina, Countess Dowager of Chesterfield, in Sep- 
tember, 1773, as appears from the instrument itself 
found amongst his papers. The sermon bears a 
strong and well expressed.testimony to the excellence 
of Mr. Rouquet's character, and the usefulness of his 
ministry : it is dedicated to the poor, amongst whom 
its excellent subject so diligently laboured, and who 
followed in weeping multitudes his coffin to the tomb. 

Mr. Rowland Hill began the year 1777 at Bristol, 
where he remained after the death of Mr. Rouquet. 
He preached there nine striking and useful sermons, 
on the whole armour of. God, a subject on which he 
always spoke with great originality and fervour. One 
of his favourite books was Gurnall's Christian Ar- 
mour, and he often recommended it. The remark of 
an old divine, that there is no armour for the back in 
the panoply of the Christian soldier, was also fre- 
quently quoted and enlarged on in his sermons. 
" The believer," he used to say, " never turns his 
back upon his foe." Then he would exclaim, " show 
thy shining breastplate of righteousness, go forward, 
advance towards thy enemy, and God shall protect 
thee behind ; he has promised it the glory of thy 
God shall be~thy rereward" This last expression 



PRISON SCENES. 129 

-he gave with an energy and emphasis belonging ' to 
himself alone. 

Mr. Hill began at this time to preach frequently to 
littta children, whom he Assembled oh. a Sunday for 
that purpose ; and he had reason to believe that last- 
ing impressions had been made on the minds of many 
of them. To us it seems extraordinary, that the idea 
of a Sunday school had never yet presented itself to 
any one of the pious men who were reviving the 
cause of religion in this country. Mr. Rowland Hill 
was extremely fond of children, and delighted in ex- 
horting them to come to Jesus; and his little books 
for their instruction, as well as his hymns for their 
use, have ever been justly admired. 

Mr. Rowland Hill was a diligent visitor of the jail 
at Bristol, where he preached to the prisoners. He 
began, as has been before noticed, to visit prisoners 
at a very early period of his religious career, and his 
mode of addressing those unhappy creatures was 
peculiarly striking, and seemed at once to win the 
confidence even of the most hardened. He main- 
tained, while conversing with condemned criminals, 
a solemn dignity of manner, with an admirable con- 
trol over 'his feelings ; but when he left the cell of 
darkness and misery, a painful reaction took place 
in his mind. After coming from Newgate, in Lon- 
don, where he had visited some poor wretch who 
was going to suffer death, he would scarcely eat of 
any thing .at dinner, and at its conclusion drew back 
in his chair to the Wall near the window, quite ab- 
sorbed in the solemn recollection of the scene of dis- 
tress. If asked a question, he answered it in an 
absent manner, and every now and then muttered 
some indistinct expression, in reference to the. painful 
subject which had taken such a hold of his benevo-. 
lent and sensitive mind. All he has written of prison 
scenes 'was felt and "experienced by him and he 
drew the picture with painful fidelity to the horrors 
of human wo, derived from disobedience of the laws 



130 REFLECTIONS OK PRISON SCENES. 

of God and man. His reflections on these occasions 
seemed to be of a twofold character pity for the 
sufferers, and thankfulness for the striking contrast 
of his own situation to theirs. He would ejaculate 
in a solemn whisper " condemned to die ! my 
God, what a mercy to be kept from sin by the re- 
straining grace of thy Holy Spirit," Those who 
imew him well will remember these moments of 'pen- 
sive thought, which he vented as though insensible 
of the presence of any other person. He occasion- 
ally seemed lost to all sense of the things, of time, and 
was carried away from every earthly recollection by 
a current of thought deep and rapid, on the stream 
f which all the affections and purposes of his mind 
were borne far beyond the attractions of this vain 
and changing world of uncertainty, emptiness, and 
wo. 

To trace Mr. Rowland Hill, at this period of his 
life, as we have done in the earlier stages of his 1 min- 
istry, would only carry us precisely through the same 
scenes as those we have already noticed ; nor would 
it be easy, as he ceased to keep any regular journal 
of the places and subjects of his preaching. It is in- 
tended also to insert in this memoir nothing but what 
' is derived from authentic sources, or from his own 
papers. There was likewise little or no variation in 
his mode of itinerating : the only difference was a 
gradual diminution of the violent opposition he met 
with in his early days. When he left off entering 
his texts in a regular diary, he purchased a small 
bible which he had divided into two interleaved vo- 
lumes ; and in this found it more convenient to note 
the subjects as he preached from them. He began 
this early in 1777, and marked the portions of scrip- 
ture which he brought before the people in the vari- 
ous places which he visited, till the year 1799. 

The year 1777 Mr. Rowland Hill divided between 
Bristol, Wotton,,and London, and preached probably 
as many sermons as in any year of his life. In Oc- 



WESLEYAN CONTROVERSY CONTINUED. 131 

tober he wrote the little work, from which an extract 
has been already given, called, "A Full Answer to 
the Rev. J. Wesley's remarks upon a late pamphlet, 
published in the defence of the characters of the Rev. 
Mr. Whitefield and others, in a Letter to a Friend." 
^However greatly it is to be regretted that the contro- 
versy should still have continued, it is impossible to 
read this pamphlet, without being struck with his 
candid spirit and acute reasoning upon facts, although , 
there is much in it from which any man may fairly 
be. allowed to differ. He says in the beginning 
," The Lord rectify my former mistakes, and give me 
to write in the spirit of the gospel." " Still) how- 
ever," he adds, in the next sentence, " if plain facts 
continue to bear hard upon Mr. Wesley, let it be re- 
membered the fault is not mine." He certainly does 
produce some very striking ones to prove the truth 
of his statements in a former book, and to show that 
whatever Wesley's views of perfection -might be, he 
was doubtless at some considerable distance from it 
himself. Mr. Hill was more particularly vexed at 
the attacks made .by Wesley on the memory of White- 
field, and the character of his friend Lady Hunting- 
don ; and these accordingly form the first and leading 
subjects of his letter. ."But Wesley, whom .notning 
escaped, had made severe remarks " upon young Mr. 
Rowland's " political preaching, and denounced his 
observations oh the rights of the colonies as disloyal. 
This charge Mr. Hill rebuts in the strongest terms, 
and declares that both himself and his hearers are 
daily praying for blessings upon the king, peace upon 
the kingdom, and wishing, as much as in them is, 
to live peaceably with all men. He, says besides, 
" from the pulpit and the press our characters are 
bespattered, and our sentiments most grossly misre- 
. presented." We can only lament now, that any 
portion of a life so devoted to ^ God should have been 
wasted in such a controversy as this. Here we shall , 
take leave of the .subject, to which it was necessary, 



132 DEATH AND FUNERAL OF TOPLADY, 1778. 

' * . 

in 'a faithful biography, to advert. The' warfare 
perhaps was not without its uses ; Irat the .benefits 
derived from it were such as nature gains by the 
commotion of the elements in a storm, and not like 
those which the earth receives from the fertilizing 
and .refreshing shoAver, or from the beams of the 
bright and genial sunshine of each warm and cloud- 
less day. 

Latejn the year 1777, Mr. Rowland Hill records 
that he preached a sermon at "Mr. Toplady's chapel ;" 
little thinking, probably, that he was during 'the follow- 
ing year, to lose him by the stroke of death, though 
it had been feared for some time past that his health 
was on the decline. There were few persons for whose 
piety, character, and talents, Mr. Rowland Hill had 
a higher veneration ; and the shades of difference of 
opinion, in some points, which existed between them, 
never obscured in the slightest degree the perfect sin- 
cerity of their friendship. v The removal of Toplady 
was the prominent event affecting Mr. Hill in 1778. 
In other respects, his career was very similar to that 
of former years an 'uninterrupted and energetic 
course of almost daily preaching. Mr. Toplady died 
on ^Tuesday, August 11, 1778 ; and on the 17th of 
the same month, his remains were conveyed from 
Knightsbridge, for interment in Tottenham-court 
chapel. In accordance with his expressed desire, 
that he might be laid in the sepulchre of the dead 
without any eulogy from the living, or the parade of 
an ostentatious funeral, the time of his burial .was 
kept, as much as possible, concealed from the public. 
Still, from information which could not be prevented, 
thousands of persons attended at the ceremony ; and 
PJ. Rowland Hill, unable to restrain the expression 
of his feelings, rose unexpectedly, and with an ener- 
gy and pathos that commanded the* breathless atten- 
tion of the congregated multitude, delivered an un- 
studied, but not on that account less touching and 
iDeautiful address, .on the excellences of him over 



LETTER OF MR. MATTHEWS. 133' 

whom they were then assembled to lament. The 
power of his language oil this occasion added to his 
reputation as a speaker : it also evinced the real feel- 
ing and piety of his heart, whence it came in all the 
glowing sensibility of the emotions by which it was 
agitated and impressed. The same evening he 
preached at the Tabernacle, on Jer. xxxii. 40, 41, 
evidently an allusion to the deceased, and the pecu- 
liar opinions of which he had been the champion ; c 
and Mr. Matthews,* the friend of Toplady, employed^ 
the close of the day in writing him an account of the 
last moments of that eminent departed minister. 
His letter was as follows : : 

REV. SIR, ...'- 

I have scarcely time to transmit you the fol- 
lowing remarks and sayings of our dear departed 
friend, the Rev. Mr. Toplady. He was blessed dur- 
ring his late illness with great consolations, and al- 
most t an uninterrupted sunshine of God's counte- 
nance. His assurance of faith was steady and firm, 
like the basis on which it was built; He has fre- 
quently declared, " that he had not had the least 
doubt of his personal interest in Christ, for many 
months past." He told me very lately that he was 
" the happiest man in the world." He said to a friend, ' 
" how this soul of mine longs to be gone, like a 
bird out of a cage, : to the realms of bliss ; that 
some guardian angel might be commissioned, for I 
long to be absent from this body." 

When being asked by a friend if he always enjoy- 
,ed such great manifestations, he replied, " that he 
could not, say that there were no intermissions ; for 
if there had 1 not been, his consolations would have 
been more than he could have supported ; but when 

V ' ' 

* Mr. Matthews was a most respectable and excellent book- 
seller, No.' 18, Strand, and was much with Mr.- Toplady in his 
last illness. He was, I have heard Mr. Hill say, the, father of 
the celebrated comedian of the same name. 

12 



134 LETTER OF MR. MATTHEWS. 

they were abated, they always left such an abiding 
sense of God's goodness, and his being fixed upon 
the rock, that it filled his soul with joy and peace. 

Another time, and indeed many days together, it 
was his declaration. " Oh ! what a day of sunshine 
has this been, I have not words to express almost 
without intermission his presence has been with me ;" 
and then repeated various passages of God's word, 
adding, " what a great thing it is to rejoice in death !" 
Speaking of Christ, he said, " his love is unalter- 
able." He was happy in declaring that , the 8th 
chapter of the Romans, the 33rd and six following 
verses, " were the joy of his soul." He often spake 
upon that passage of God's word with great delight, 
and said, " Lord Jesus why tarriest thou so long ?" 
He used to say, "I find as the bottles of heaven 
empty they are filled again," meaning, I suppose, the 
continual out-pourings of the Spirit with which he 
was favoured. 

When he drew near his end, he asked, " Who can 
fathom the joys of the third heaven ?" And believing 
the doctrine of the ministration of angels to God's 
saints, he said, " What can be the reason that the 
ministers of the gospel speak so little upon it ?" 

A little before his departure, he was blessing and 
praising the Lord for giving him strength in helping 
himself; and understanding ; but added, " What was 
all this to his presence and the shining of his love 
to my soul '?" And cried out "the sky is clear, there 
is no cloud." - 

Within an hour of his death, he called his .servant, 
and said " Can you and my friends give me up ?" 
she said, " We can, as the Lord is so gracious to 
you." He replied, " Oh, what a blessing it is that my 
dear friends are made willing to give me up into the 
hands of my dear Redeemer, and to part with me. It 
will not be long before God takes me." He added, 
" No mortal man could live, after God had manifest- 
ed to him the joys that I have seen," Many more 



WESLEY AND MR. RICHARD HILL. 135 

glorious confessions passed from his lips, but time 
fails me to enumerate them. I can only add, that 
his gain is the church's loss, and pray God to send 
more such able champions into his vineyard,.that may 
be enabled to make as bold a stand for the defence of 
the gospel as he has done. 

I hope, sir, you will pardon the incorrectness thai 
you meet with, and excuse the hasty manner of 
drawing it up, being much straightened for time. 
May the Lord bless you and your ministrations, and 
grant that 'you and I may thus die the death of the 
righteous, and that our latter end may be life his. 
is the earnest prayer of 

Your most obedient humble servant, 
in the best of bonds, 

JAMES MATTHEWS. 

Strand, No. 18, August 17th, 1778. , 
The Rev. Rowland Hill. 

This interesting account of the comfort enjoyed by 
Mr. Toplady in the prospect of death, is a complete 
answer to. all assertions to the contrary, which were 
too readily believed. A similar contradiction to these 
reports was given to the public at the time they were 
afloat ; and Mr. Matthews was one of those who sign- 
ed the published testimonial to the triumph of his 
faith, in the awful moment of separation from all the 
scenes and attractions of this material world. In 1779, 
Mr. Richard Hill addressed a letter to Mr. Wesley, 
calling on him, in a series of questions, to say whe- 
ther or not he was the person who circulated any of the 
reports, which tended to cast a shade over the last 
moments of his friend, Mr. Toplady. He had previ- 
ously made the same queries, anonymously, in the Ge- 
neral Advertiser; and as Wesley declined answering 
them without knowing their author, he now acknow- 
ledges that they came from him, and repeats them. 
SirRichardHuTs own copy of this letter was amongst 
the papers of his brother. Mr. Rowland Hill, and on 



136 NEWTON, ROMAINE, COWPER. 

it is written, in the author's hand-writing, " to this 
Mr. John never made any reply; but two friends of 
Mr. Toplady's waiting upon him to know wherefore 
he had made such assertions, he passed by them, got 
into a coach that was waiting, and said, ' those that 
are for peace will let these things alone.' " 

From this time to the period of the erection of 
Surry chapel, Mr. Rowland Hill continued his itine- 
rancy in various parts of the kingdom. He paid fre- 
quent visits to his family at Hawkstone, when he 
always officiated in the chapel of the house, and in the 
episcopal chapel at Weston, where he used great 
fidelity, and took much pains in the selection of his 
subjects. 

In the year 1779, Mr. Newton came to London, 
and commenced his ministerial duties there, in which, 
and in those of Mr. Romaine, Mr. Hill took a lively 
interest. It was through Mr. Newton that he be- 
came acquainted with the poet Cowper ; and no one 
more deeply grieved over the painful gloom, which 
obscured an intellect as pure and enlightened as ever 
adorned a human being. He received much kindness 
and attention from Cowper, and always spoke of him 
with the greatest reverence and affection. 

The crowds which followed -Mr. Rowland Hill 
every where at this time were excessive, and his mi- 
nistry was greatly blessed. Amongst those who pro- 
fited by his preaching, were several persons who had 
amassed considerable fortunes, by diligence and inte- 
grity in business, and who were willing to consecrate 
no small portion of their gains to the service of their 
Saviour. They moreover naturally desired to find 
some place of a permanent nature, in which the minis- 
ter whom they loved might assemble them as his own 
congregation, and convey at the same time the truths 
of the gospel to a neglected portion of the metropolis. 
Mr. Rowland Hill had often preached in the open air, 
to vast multitudes in St. George's fields ; and he used 
to say that -at the tim/. of the riots, In 1780, he had 



SURRY CHAPEL. 137 

addressed on the momentous concerns of eternity, as- 
semblies of nearly twenty thousand people. Many 
of these were so wrought on by his preaching, that they 
returned home-to seek in retirement mercy from their 
God, forgetting' political excitement in an all absorb- 
ing anxiety for the salvation' of their souls. His own 
thoughts, as well as those of his friends, now turned 
towards St. George's fields, as an appropriate situation 
for a large place of worship ; and it was at length de- 
termined to erect a building for this purpose which 
should be called Surry chapel. To further this object 
he found many willing and liberal contributors, who 
cheerfully consented to permit him to spend the sum- 
mer months either in travelling, or in his delightful 
retreat at Wotton, and were content with such sup- 
plies during his absence as he should appoint. At 
this time, not only, chapels in every part of the king- 
dom were freely opened to him, but a considerable 
number of churches in the, country and in London. 
In the neighbourhood of the seat of his family, 
there were several clergymen who cordially welcomed 
him to theirpulpits, and none more so than his zea- 
lous friend Mr. De Courcy, the incumbent of the pa- 
rish of St. Alkmbnd in Shrewsbury, where he preached 
many of his most effective sermons. He found also 
clergymen ready to afford him their services at Surry 
chapel, particularly Messrs. Venn and, Scott. The 
former of these excellent men came regularly from 
Yelling to assist him; and an annual exchange took 
place between Mr. Hill and the well known preacher 
at the Lock.* 

It was determined to have the service of the new 
chapel performed according to the ritual of the church 
of England ; and there were but few among the origi- 

* Mr. Scott's own remark on this exchange is" after I had 
been a few years in London, I refused to preach irregularly; ex- 
cept as once in the year I consented to exchange pulpits with 
Mr. Hill of Surry chapel, that being the stipulated condition of 
his preaching a charity sermon for the Lock Hospital." 
. V r ; 12* 



138 SURRY CHAPEL. 

nal promoters of its erection, who did not find in such 
spiritual forms of devotion, a suitable expression of 
the outgoings of their minds, in the~public worship of 
God. The situation was chosen, not with reference 
to the advantages of place, but with the design of .. 
ameliorating the religious condition, and administer- 
ing to the-sphiiuul benefit, of one of the most depraved 
districts in the metropolis ; and this not only by pre- 
cept, but by the yet stronger influence of the pious 
and benevolent example, of those who formed the nu- 
cleus of the congregation. Mr. Rowland Hill's own 
design with respect to the chapel, was that its pulpit 
should be open to pious ministers of all denomina- 
tions, and of every country. This sort of union was 
the point to which all the public actions of his life 
converged, and made him the zealous supporter of 
every institution, that drew together men of different 
religious communities into one common arena of ac- 
tion. The impulses of a benevolent disposition, 
much more than deep reflection, were the moving 
principles of his religious career ; and he believed 
that things might be as he wished to see them. The 
light of love was so bright in his mind, that it over- 
powered the milder beams of deliberate calculation. 
' This was so evident, that even those who differed 
most widely from him, never doubted for an instant, 
the perfect purity of his intentions, or the honesty of 
his opinions. 



SURRY CHAPEL. 



UHAPTER VI. 

SURRY CHAPEL. 1782. 

THE first meeting to forward the erection of Surry 
chapel, was held on February 4th, 1782, at which 
Mr. Rowland Hill and several other persons, minis- 
ters and laymen, attended. It was there determined 
that, the building should be placed in the most eligible 
spot, between Blackfriars' bridge and the obelisk, to 
be chosen by persons selected for that purpose. It was 
also agreed that the affairs of the chapel should be 
vestedln trustees, but that Mr. Rowland Hill should 
provide and direct the ministers, so long as he should 
preach agreeably to the doctrinal articles of the 
church of England, and did not give the use of the 
pulpit to any one i.oho was known to preach' other- 
wise. Very liberal subscriptions soon .raised the 
necessary funds ; and amongst the names of the 
subscribers appears that of Lord George Gordon, for 
fifty pounds. The erection of Surry chapel receiv- 
ed also the sanction of the managers of Mr. White- 
field's chapels, where Mr. Rowland Hill had: so often 
preached, and they expressed an earnest wish to re- 
main still upon the most amicable terms,:and to assist 
one another. . 

The first stone of this well known place of worship, 
was laid by its future minister, on June 24th, 1782, 
when he addressed the vast assembly present, on the 
words, Therefore thus saith the Lord God, behold I 
lay in Zionfor a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, 
a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation ; he that 
believeth shall not make haste, Isaiah xxviii. 16. He 
has marked against this passage in his interleaved 



140 SURRY CHAPEL. 

bible, " 1st sermon, Surry church, June 24, 82." No 
less than three other persons afterwards preached to 
the multitude around them. Very much to the annoy- 
ance of Mr. Rowland Hill, some individual, soon af- 
ter the ceremony, published a sermon which pro- 
fessed to be the one delivered by him on the occasion. 
This he disclaimed in several- of the daily papers ; 
notwithstanding which, it was reviewed, as his, in 
some of the periodicals of the day, and amongst them 
in the European Magazine, in which both himself 
and his pretended production were ridiculed. This, as 
will be seen hereafter, 'he noticed severely in his pre- 
face to the sermon delivered at the opening of his 
chapel. 

Although anxious of course to be much on the spot, 
during the erection of this important building, Mr. 
Rowland Hill did not neglect to pay a visit to his peo- 
ple in Gloucestershire, where there had flocked around' 
him a band of converts, whose piety would have done 
honour to any church in any age. Religion was not 
then, as it is now, admired and courted by the world; 
but it was sneered at and despised, and those who 
were the subjects of its genuine influence were mark- 
ed and avoided. This threw the real.Christian on his 
own resources ; they were his all, and he experienced 
their inexhaustible power of giving inward comfort, 
and producing external fruitfulness. 

The building of the new chapel in London was suf- 
ficiently advanced in the summer of 1783, to allow it 
to be opened for public worship on the eighth of June. 
Mr. Rowland Hill selected for his text on that 'day 
the words But we preach Christ crucijied r unto the 
Jews a stumbling block ; and unto the Greeks fool- 
ishness: but- unto- them' which' are called, both Jews 
and Greeks, Christ the power of God, arid the wis- 
dom of God: 1 GOT. i. 23, .24. While the works 
were in progress; he had frequently spoken to many 
people drawn to them by curiosity, and his addresses 
on these opportunities were made very useful. Se- 



SURRY CHAPEL. OPENING SERMON. 141 

veral persons also were converted by the sermon he 
had preached at the ceremony of laying the founda- 
tion stone, some of whom came to him to declare the 
impression made on their mindsj and to ask his advice. 
He used also to gather the little children together, 
when they came to play about the building, arid after 
engaging their confidence by kind words, and by little 
presents of cakes and fruit, he would talk to them of 
Jesus iri the simplest and most affecting manner. In 
the evening of the same day that Mr. Rowland Hill 
opened his chapel by the sermon just alluded to, Mr. 
Piercy preached another in the same place, and a very 
serious occurrence had nearly happened. The build- 
ing being erected on a marshy soil, the foundation 
was considered by some persons insecure, and in the 
midst of the service a false alarm: was given that it 
was yielding to the pressure of the crowd. Mr. Hill 
entered the pulpit, and endeavoured to persuade them 
that all their apprehensions were groundless, to prove 
which, he said he should remain there till the last,_and 
begged them to stay quietly in their seats. Notwith- 
standing this, a general rush took place, and many in 
their struggle to get out were much injured. Mr. 
Rowland Hill was forced out by the pressure, and fell 
in the chapel yard, but providentially escaped any 
serious bruises. ~ 

The spurious production which was" sent out as the 
sermon delivered by him on the day of laying the 
foundation-stone, induced Mr. Rowland Hill to pub- 
lish the one he preached at the Opening of Surry 
chapel. Many of his hearers also earnestly requested 
him to print it v Though not in the habit of writing 
or making notes of his discourses, he had 'on this oc- 
casion drawn up a copious outline of his address, to 
which he could allude, in the event of another attempt 
to palm Upon the public a 'composition like the. form- 
er. A person, too, had -taken, down the sermon in' 
short-hand as "delivered, and sent him a copy of it ; 
and from these two sources he compiled his publiea- 



143 ORIGINAL TRUSTEES OF SURRY CHAPEL. 

tion, which he prefaced by some severe and character- 
istic remarks, upon what had been said of him in the. 
previous year, by the writer of the article in the Eu- 
ropean Magazine. He first corrected the inaccura- 
cies into which they had fallen, as to his personal 
history and adventures. He next made the following 
observations upon their censures of his doctrine : 
" And as they are pleased to give the public charitably 
to understand that my methodistieal doctrines-of grace 
are ' hostile iomorality, tend to overthrow the duties of 
good citizens, and the virtues of good menJI could 
almost find it in my heart to ask them to explain to 
the public. our enthusiastical notions of grace ; and I 
dare say they would soon discover that they know no 
more what they write against, than poor Quixote knew 
what he fought against, when he fought with the wind- 
mill." The title of the sermon is, " Christ crucified the 
sum arid substance of the scriptures,": 'and most strik- 
ingly does it illustrate the great scriptural doctrines 
of the divinity, incarnation, atonement, and exalta- 
tion of Christ, and the sanctification and comfort 
of his church. It concludes with a plain but excel- 
lent remark on the happiness arising from religion. 
"Fancy not that you lose your pleasures when you 
lose your sins, and that living to God will be an irk- 
some task : no, blessed be God, thousands can declare 
that they never knew what it was to be redeemed 
from misery, till they were redeemed from sin. My 
whole soul prays that God would make you of that 
happy number. Even so be it, Lord Jesus.. Amen." 
The' management of the affairs of Surry chapel 
was, as has been before mentioned, vested in trustees ;* 

* The original trustees were, Sir Richard Hill, Rev. Rowland 
Hill, Messrs. Joseph Simms, John Key'sall, Edward Webster, 
Thomas Wilson, Samuel Lloyd, William Lloyd, John Bush, 
James Neale, James Webber, Thomas Briknell, George Smith, 
Ambrose Martin, John Clarke. All these have passed into an- 
other world except Mr. William Lloyd, who dined with "Has 
venerable 1 minister and the other trustees only a few weeks be- 
fore his death. 



DEATH OF SIR ROWLAND HILL. J43 

and Mr ; Rowland Hill had the satisfaction to see his 
brother Richard at the head of the directors of 'the 
concerns of his new and respectable congregation-. 
Surry chapel has been the scene of many a remark 
able event in the religious occurrences of the age, and 
of very numerous and 'striking conversions. Both 
the organ and' singing have long been celebrated: 
and some, attracted there simply by a desire to hear 
its music, were caught in the net cast by its vigilant 
and zealous minister, and became numbered with its 
most active, liberal, and constant Mentis. Once, 
however, Mr. Rowland Hill had a narrow escape 
from the iniquitous design of some miscreant, who: 
fired at him while in the pulpit, through one of the 
low windows next Blackfriar's road. The report 
was heard, and the ball, or other hard substance, 
passed to the left of the pulpit, through- the window 
near the organ, which it broke. The individual who 
attempted this diabolical act was never discovered; 
nor did he repeat it ; and whenever Mr. Hill men- 
tioned the circumstance, he always expressed his 
thanks to providence for delivering him from so great 
a danger : for had not the substance aimed at him 
risen in its projection, it passed so directly over, him, 
that there was every reason to fear his long and val- 
uable life would not have been spared. 

'In the autumn of the same year in which his 
chapel in London was completed, Mr. Rowland Hill 
lost his father. Sir Rowland Hill died August 7th, 
1783. By this event he obtained some accession 
of fortune, which he much heedqd, as the income 
he derived from his chapels at Wotton and London 
never, in anyone year of his life, covered his expen- 
ses upon them. Of the proceeds of Surry chapel, the 
trustees paid him only ,300 a. year, and out o'lthat, 
he boarded the whole of the supplies who occupied 
the pulpit, during his absence in the summer. The 
, rest of the receipts went towards the support of the 
chapel, and to the aid of the numerous charitable 



144 BENEVOLENT SOCIETY, SURB.Y .CHAPEL. 

institutions connected with it, to which Mr. Hill al- 
ways was a munificent contributor from his own 
purse. Some person once\ said of him, "Rowland 
Hill must get a good annual sum by his chapels and 
travelling." which coming to his ears, he remark- 
ed " Well, let any one pay my travelling .expenses 
% for one year, and he shall have all my gains, I pro- 
mise him." ' - 

Though Mr. Rowland Hill supplied the pulpit at 
Surry chapel,; while absent, with ministers of various 
denominations, his chief delight was in getting it 
occupied by his old clerical friends, Pentycross, Ber- 
ridge, and Yenn ; and when he could no longer ob- 
tain help from the church it gave him no little dis- 
quietude. Probably no place of worship has been 
the source of more institutions, for promoting the 
glory of God and the welfare of man, than Surry 
chapel. One of the first, begun in 1784, was its be- 
nevolent society for the relief and personal visitation 
of the sick poor. There were a number of pious and 
judicious members of the congregation to whom this 
duty was entrusted, and who -were willing to devote 
themselves to the work. Thus whenever a doubtful 
application was made to Mr. Rowland Hill for relief, 
he asked for the person's address, and answered, " I 
will have the case visited ;" and before many hours 
had elapsed] some of the visitors -of the society had 
either relieved the distressed family, or detected the 
intended imposture. Accounts of the most striking 
cases of want, that- had occurred to these truly Chris- 
tian philanthropists, were read annually from, the 
pulpit, and a collection was made for the supply of 
the society for the ensuing year. There were at- 
tached, moreover, to the chapel, no less than thirteen 
Sunday schools, containing above three ^thousand 
children ; and from this source, there have been sup- 
plied to the heathen world, several valuable and effi- 
cient missionaries. More devoted teachers, than 
those who undertook the gratuitous superintendence 



ALMS-HOUSED, DORCAS SOCIETY, &C. 145 

.of these children, have never been found in any simi- 
lar institution. . ' 

The" contributions of Mr. Rowland Hill's congre- 
gation to the cause of missions .were immense ; and 
the annual meeting of the. London missionary society, 
which took place within its walls, was one of the 
most striking sights of the kind to be seen in the me- 
tropolis. There was also a female missionary society 
which contributed about one hundred pounds annu- 
ally to this cause. 

One of the most interesting appurtenances of Surry 
chapel, is a neat gothic building in the borough, the 
centre of which is appropriated to a school of indus- 
try for twenty-four poor ghis r who are both clothed 
and educated. Its wings contain alms-houses for the 
same number of poor women, who are allowed, in, 
addition to a comfortable room and a sufficient sup- 
ply of fuel, four shillings a week towards their sup- 1 
port. The only qualifications 1 necessary for .a can- 
didate, 7 on a vacancy, were -distress, and a Christian 
character. The person applying must have been 
seven years -a regular attendant of the sacrament at 
some place of worship, and was required.to bring tes- 
timonials of her consistent conduct from the minister. 

-In addition to the institutions already. mentioned, 
there were formed, by members of this religious com- 
munity, a Dorcas society for the relief of poor mar- 
ried women,.and a clothing society for the supply of 
the needy, at very reduced prices. It may be said of 
. these societies, that though. the machinery by which 
they were worked was somewhat complicated; the 
objects they had in view were admirably effected by 
them ; and the reason of this was, that those to whom 
their management was committed, were persons who, 
by evident proofs/of real piety and zeal, had gained 
the conndence<.both of their pastor and the flock, in 
general. . ; 

Mr. Rowland- Hill formed at Surry chapel a reli- 
gious society peculiarly his own, with the articles of 
13 



146 PRAYER MEETINGS. 

the church of England as its standard of doctrine. 
Con verts who gave him satisfactory evidence of their 
sincerity, were admitted into the society, and theft 
names enrolled as admissible to the table of the 
Lord ; a custom not unusual in dissenting communi- 
ties. He was a warm advocate for prayer-meetings, 
which he constantly attended ; but no person prayed 
in his presence, unless called upon to engage in this 
sacred exercise by himself He considered that much 
benefit arose from them, in the increase of a spirit of 
piety and brotherly love ; but late in life, he admitted 
that they were not without their attendant evilSj arid 
wished he had considered by what means he could 
have so managed as to have made them the channels 
of more unmixed usefulness. . Still he was of opinion 
that, on the whole, great good resulted from them. 
The question, by what mode of meeting his people, 
in addition to the common assemblies for regular 
worship, a minister can most effectually promote their 
growth in religion, and become acquainted with their 
state of mind, without -engendering spiritual pride, in 
some, and jealousy in others, is well worthy the con- 
sideration of those who have had the longest expe- 
rience upon such subjects. The most labqrious and 
intelligent of the clergy have found the greatest .diffi- 
culty in deciding on the best way of thus managing 
the private discipline of those who have received 
spiritual benefit from their preaching. 

To distinguish public fiom social worship, in 
which a layman may officiate in the presence of his. 
minister, is a very favourite theory with some good 
and zealous persons. The evils resulting from this 
custom amongst dissenters, have long been visible in 
the dictatorial direction- of what the precise views of 
their several ministers must' Joe, and in the want of 
a teachable spirit in receiving their instructions, as 
well as of a willingness to be ^guided by pastoral 
authority and influence. For a clergyman to^ permit 
and sanction such a proceeding, is scarcely consist- 



SITUATION OF SURBY CHAPEL. 147 

ent with the proper discipline and order of the church;- 
and is, to use the: judicious language of Mr. Scott, an 
" irregularity which cannot be justified to our dio- 
cesans or others." Besides, any. thing which tends 
to make men undervalue the appointed usages of 
public worship, conducted solely by the authorized 
minister, is an evil which no good, arising from other 
modes of bringing the professedly religious together, 
can ever possibly counterbalance. 

After the erection of Surry .chapel, Mr. Rowland 
Hill became the minister of a regular congregation, 
with a settled residence in London. He was riot, on 
this account, less mindful of the former scenes of his 
labours. There existed no jealousy between him 
and the managers of Tottenham-court chapel and the 
Tabernacle, in which he had so 'often preached, and 
where he had been the means of very numerous con- 
versions. The recollection of his early preaching in 
these places was cherished by him to the end of his 
days, with a happy retrospect of; the ease with which 
he spoke, and the crowds who attended his ministiy. 
In the last sermon he ever preached, delivered on 
March 31, 1833, he said, " Oh.! my dear brethren, I 
almost wish to ,be made young again ; if I could but 
see such days, as when I first came and preached at 
Tottenham-court chapel, and was in the habit of 
preaching in the streets and lanes for want of 'room. 
Oh ! how I love to recollecfwhat I then felt." 

When Mr. Rowland Hill entered upon his residence 
in St. George's Fields, they wore an aspect far diifer- 
ent from their present; appearance. All about him, es- 
pecially between his house and the Westminster road, 
was nothing but a marshy swamp, and the turnpike 
gate which now opens upon it, near the house of bishop 
Bonner, was called the Marsh Gate. Here he was con- 
tent to live and labour for the Lord, and to be the scorn 
and ridicule of the world, for the sake of promoting, 
by what he conscientiously believed to be the most effi- 
cient means, the" spread of the Redeemer's kingdom. 



148 SIR RICHARD HILL. 

At this period of his life, though opposed by innu- 
merable enemies, and treated with unsparing censure 
by a portion of the press, Mr. Rowland Hill had many 
comforts. Sir Richard Hill, now the head of his 
family, was a frequent attendant at Surry chapel, and 
a Jdndred spirit even in his lively and witty turn of 
-mind. .'While one brother, was preaching daily in all 
places, and at all times, the other was not ashamed 
. to quote in the senate, from what he denominated "a 
now-a-days obsolete book called the bible," nor ever 
lost an opportunity of publicly avowing his reli- 
gious opinions. His house also was open to the lead- 
ing revivalists of the day ; and he was one of the 
very few who, had .the courage, in the midst of the 
rank and fashion with which his situation, style of liv- 
ing, and fortune, surrounded him, to declare that. he 
was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, and of its 
faithful and despised ministers. - . . 

The year after he -opened Surry chapel, Mr. Row- 
land Hill had not only the satisfaction to see his elder 
brother again returned to parliament as the represen- 
tative of the county of Salop, but his brother. Mr. 
John Hill, was also elected member for the town of 
Shrewsbury. He continued to sit in parliament till 
the year 1796, when the borough was contested with 
him by his relation, the honourable William Hill, now 
Lord Berwick,, who succeeded, and was returned to- 
gether with William Pulteney, Esq. In 1805, how- 
ever, Mr. John Hill was re-elected for Shrewsbury, 
and .Sir Richard for the county. On the dissolution 
in 1806, they both retired together from parliament. 

. At this time also, ;Mr. Rowland Hill had many 
churches open tohim,bothinLondon J and in the coun- 
try; but the two perhaps in which he most delighted 
werethatof Mr. Cadogan *Reading,andSt.Allmibnd's, 

* In a letter addressed to a near relative of mine Mr. Cadogan 
writes" I am happy to inform you that Mrs. Cadogan is a. great 
deal better, and in full expectation of seeing you with Mr. and 
Mrs. Hill on Tuesday next. Pray give my love to them, and tell 



SPREAD OP INFIDELITY. * 149 

Shrewsbury. De Courcy, the minister of the latter, 
was originally a protege, of John Wesley, and is high- 
ly commended by him in a letter to Lady Maxwell: - 
but he had withdrawn himself from Wesley's advice 
and Arminian doctrine. He was a man of great power 
as a preacher, and was made very useful: 

Just at the pe'riod which now engages our attention, 
. it-is well known that the plague of infidelity, which 
had infected a great part of the continent of Europe, 
became an awful moral epidemic; destroying the pre- 
sent comfort, and blighting the best prospects of thou- 
sands in this country. Satan seemed to be gaining a 
direful ascendancy; and but for the few lights scatter- 
ed here and there in our land, who upheld the scrip- 
tural purity of the church's doctrines, we should, 1 to 
all human appearance, have been involved in the same 
gloom, and horrified with the same appalling deeds of 
darkness that desolated a neighbouring nation. God, 
however, in mercy provided for us an antidote to these 
evils; and if ever there w.as an illustration of the 
truth, that the holy seed is the substance and bulwark 
of a land, it was in our own case. In London and in 
, other parts of the kingdom, there were here and there 
planted men, who lifted up the standard of the cross 
against the enemies of the truth ; arid some of them 
lived to witness the wide-spreading influence of those, 
doctrines which they had fearlessly inculcated in days ' 
of error, ignorance, and unbelief. Full homage has 
been paid to their memory, and their works are fol- 
lowing them. . - . . ' : 
In the midst of his other engagements, Mr. Rowland 
Hill-never forgot his flock at Wotton, nor his faithful 
followers at Bristol and in, Wales, where his journeys 
were eminently prosperous. In, the principality, 
wherever he went, he was followed by multitudes. 
He would seize the opportunity of 'the noontide- rest 

them that we shall depend upon seeing them, and that I shall give 
out the Rev. Rowland Hill to preach on Tuesday evening." This 
letter was dated April 14th. 1789. " 

13* 



150 WELSH SERMONS IN SURRY CHAPEL. 



'..<*; 



from labour, to gather around him the peasantry of 
the mountains; and in the evenings of summer, 
thousands would congregate on the side of some ro- 
mantic hill, after a walk of many miles by rugged and 
steep paths. He could not speak Welsh, but those in 
that country who can understand English are exceed- 
ingly fond of hearing preaching in our tongue. The 
Welsh preachers will tell us their language is the 
most expressive in the world, and from its being per- 
/ec?, "there is no- doubt it was that which our first pa- 
rents spoke in paradise ! Still the Welsh are so per- 
verse, that they delight in hearing English preach- 
ing, for which they were, on one or two occasions, 
severely and quaintly rebuked by their famous Howel 
Harris. Much, however, as they like English in 
Wales, when .in England they delight in the accents 
of their native tongue ; and when any eminent Welsh 
minister happened to be in London, Mr. Rowland Hill 
used to invite.him to preach a. Welsh sermon in Surry 
chapel. On such occasions hundreds of natives of the 
principality, who were employed in the gardens near 
the metropolis, would assemble : and the numbers not 
unfrequently amounted to a congregation of two thou- , 
sand, forming a very interesting spectacle. 

While Mr. Rowland Hill thus used every means in 
his power to spread the knowledge of the truth at 
home, his zeal was- not confined within the limits of 
his native Country. He desired to lend his aid in 
enlightening the whole world, and grieved over, the 
chains and darkness of the poor negro slave. A 
propf of this is to be seen in. the 'folio wing letter" to 
him, from a pious and devoted Moravian missionary, 
written long before the institution of those societies 
which will ever form the brightest jewels in Eng- 
land's shining diadem of fame and honour. It shall 
be given in its original .broken English; and:willbe 
read with admiration of the simplicity and piety of its 
author j and of the account he gives of the result of 
his labours amongst the negroes in Antigua. 



LETTER OF PETER BROWl|i 151 

Antigua, July the 27j 1785. 

MY VERY DEAR SIR, AND BROTHER IN CHRIST, 

I rejsivet your very kind letter by Captain Key- 
ser. I shame myself for that hoiiher you wrote to 
me, -because I am of the lower sorte peoble in the 
world, and even a German man, which cannot speak 
proper English (tho' the neger understand me.) As 
you then, worthy sir, has wrote me such a feeling 
letter, and with such a kind impression, so then I will 
make my poor answer to you so good I can, and you 

* will be so kind and except of it. I am now here more 
than IG^year, sendet from mybrethern callet the Uni- 
tas Fratrum, from Amerika; callet Bethlehem the 
plape where I came to the congrigation, and I am now 
more than 30 year with the brethern. A smal be- 
ginning was made here since the year 1759, but riot 
much progress whas at this time, while several of our 
brethern diet. But then as our dearest Lord has 
given me the grace to be amongst them, so my doing 
was nothing, but the sufering and death of our dear 
Seviour, and what it has cost him to redeem us from 
death, devil, hell, arid sin ; so as I have found forgive- 

, ness of my sins, and grace in the wounds of Jesus. 
This then has enderet* in there hearts, and broke 
there strong and brass hearts, and has brought them, 
to the knowledge that have the souls do,t which our 
dear Lord and Seviour has redeemet with great pain 
and smart. This has stirrt up there sinful hearts, 
and came changet niore and more, and so the poor 
blak became so eager to hear the word of Goti, and 
to hear from our dear Seviour ; arid so as many as 
come obdient to the gospel so they become Christians, 
loving him who has redeemet us, comen obiedens to 
there owners, and faithful peoble in all respect, who 
thus truly belief in Jesus Christ our Lord. ' 

When I came here 16 years ago, there was about 
14 baptiset negero,but since this time it has increaset 

* Entered. t That the souls do have. 



152 BETTER OP PETER BROWN, 

in baptism do* 3,000 negro by site what is baptiset by. 
the enmisterst of the English church. There num- 
ber is even larch, but them what is baptiset by us they 
have there pertikler [instruction] to speak faifatlyt 
with them. The missioners which is placet here with 
me, the man with the negro man, and the missioners 
wifes with the negro women, and that is a great work, 
and that is every month, one month with the baptiset 
ones, and the other month with the candidates for 
baptism, and a great many learners which comes and 
goes that we callet new peoble. By them we only 
see how the grace of our dear Lord thus afiectet their 
heart, and wait to be comfortet. Others even who 
comes to the meeting, .and has not done with the 
world and. the sin, they go away again from us. So 
by the negro we can say, the kingdom of God is like 
a net which is cast in the sea, and all sorte ,fish it 
cadges good and bat, so the good ones is to be savet 
and the others thrown away. Otherwise we have 
most every evinning meetings, and so on Sunday for II 
and afternoon, fornoon is preaching, and in the after- 
noon there are the quarter meeting we callet, first the 
( new peoble, then the-candidats for baptism, "and then 
the baptiset. Then every meeting has there own in- 
struction such as is suitable to them, them with each 
class muss speak to their circumstances that is comen 
to the class where they are in. 

I have wrote^T your letter to the baptiset negro, and 
told them how a gentelman in London, who has a 
larger congregation as we are, has such an esteem for 
the work of God in Antigua amongst the poor negro, 
and thus pray for us [that] they may love God from 
all there heart, and, all there soul and mind. So then 
Jiey sigh. I asket them if I shall salute this good 
gentelman from them, and if they will pray for him 
likewise? So they all with one voice saying, yes, 
masteiygive our hearty love to that good gentelman ;. 

* To t Minister?, t Faithfully. Catches. II Pore. IT Read. 



A MORAVIAN MISSIONARY IN ANTIGUA. 153 

we also will pray for him so good we can. ' It was 
indeed a moving amongst them. 

Certainly, dear sir and brother, when the grace of 
our dear Lord changet there heart, then they become 
comelines* unto our Liord Jesus Christ as you write ; 
and when we seem them and feel how the grace of 
our Lord works on there heart, and in the meeting, 
.we faifatly speaking, see the tear trinkling down from 
there sheekes, for longing to love our dear Seviour, 
who soferet and diet for us when we see this and 
feels this from them, then we cannot be otherwise but 
love them, and spend there life with them ; but they 
are a stifF-naketf people, and great hipocrites, but the 
grace of our dear Lord has meltet many hearts, and 
that comforts us in our work. 

You writes from your hounable B. in-law, if we at 
this site keep meeting? I have inquiret by gentel- 
mans hear who knows Mr. T'udway's estats, and that 
is on Barham t<5wn and thereabouts ; we have not as 
yet kept meeting on this site, neither we have there . 
This time we have two congrigations here, one St 
John's which whas the first and largest, and the other 
Gracehill, which is a of-springt of St. John's, near 
Fallmuth, ten miles from here to south east, then 
to south-west, where is near 900 baptiset people, there 
we should lay on the 3ter congregation, which is 
about 6 miles from here. We have first our mind on 
2 : 3 akker of land there from a gentelman of his es- 
tate, but he resides in London; a young gentelman. 
He was expectet out this year,, but is not come, he 
, lias not quite his : age, his name is Francis Fry,, but is 
expectet the next year out, and if please God that 
good gentelman's heart will grant us this favour, with 
a pease of land from his estate, God will bless him 
for it, while it is for God's sake, and the poor negro 
slaves. Then I must build again, and if our dear 
Lord spare me my life, and lam well, I shall be glad 

* Comeliness. f Stiff-necked. * Offspring. Third. 



154 . LETTER OF PETER BROWN- 

for it. If then another door shall be openet, and the 
hounerable Tudway will help us at this site, which 
we callet the windward site, that is to the eastert, we 
shall be very thankfull. But, dear sir and brother, 
we are. poor peoble, we have nothing in :this world, 
our time we have here we spendet to the poor negro, 
and we are providet by our brethren at home, for all 
our necessary matters outwardly, 'and when we ever 
lay on a new place, our dear brethren at home, tha,t is 
in Germany and Amerika, supscribe by collection 
from the congregation, every where for the Headen 
missions, and by them we are support for building 
and our outwarte wants. 

, Now then, worthy belovet sir and brother, what 
you wish in the end of your letter, that all glory and 
thanksgiving will be given to God arid the lamb, and 
that out of all nation shall be gatherith together, and 
shall praise and thank him for ever. That the lamb 
of God has taken away all sin, and 1 has washt our 
garment white in his own blood. I join with you in 
this, and hope to see us on that happy place for ever, 
and eveiv amen. Though unknown here, but, in spi- 
rit are one even on earth, and therefore we love one 
another while he has lovet us and gave his life, and 
shet his blood for us. "Please to give my humble re- 
. spect to youriady, the hounerable Mr. Tudway and 
his lady, and all with you who loves Jesus Christ .in 
sincerity, and all well wishers and all friends to the 
gospel, , amen. So thus all my fellow lebrors* with 
me, which works in the vineyard of our Lord, and 
the poor negro thus the same with iiSj and I am with 
much love and esteem to your worthy person, though 
unknown to your most afectionate humble servant, 
and poor brother, 

PETER BROWN. 

From the interest Mr. Rowland Hill took in the 
success of this pious missionary, we may trace the 
+ Labourer*. 



MISSIONS. 155 

first movement towards the great exertions, which 
he afterwards made, to. send the gospel to the remo- 
test regions of the earth. The wonderful efforts 1 of 
Brown in Antigua had reached his ears, and excited 
an increased love for the missionary cause. Anti- 
gua, as is evident from "his Village Dialogues, was 
long and often in his thoughts ; and indeed the nu- 
merous conversions and zeal of the poor negroes in 
that island, were calculated to awaken, in every pious 
breast, a fervent longing for their souls, and pity for 
their wrongs. Towards enlarging their place of wor- 
ship, the poor slaves, at each evening meeting^ brought 
stones and other materials with them, and worked 
diligently at the task of 'providing more extensive ac- 
commodation for the worship of their God : cheer- 
fully completing their toil by voluntary labours at 
the close of those which were forced on them during 
the day. By accounts such as these, Mr. Rowland; 
Hill's 'benevolent mind was stirred.' up by 'degrees to 
extensive exertions on behalf of heathen nations ; and 
by his zeal and energy at home; he became one of 
the most unvarying holders of the cord that support- 
ed the machine, in ,which the first missionaries .of 
the present day descended into the depths of the un- 
explored, idolatrous, and wretched recesses of the 
heathen world. . 

It has been often objected to the zealous promoters 
of missions, that they, aid them at the expense of those 
who have a prior claim to sympathy in their own 
land. It is an unjust accusation. Those who shine 
brightest in their own-sphere reflect the most light to 
a distance ; and indifference to the cause of the hea- 
then is generally accompanied by negligence at home. 
No one cared more for his people and fellow country- 
men than Mr. Rowland Hill;, and this he proved by 
indefatigable exertions while residing 'with his differ- 
ent flocks, and by unceasing endeavours -to obtain, 
when absent, such supplies as would administer unto 
them in all diligence and gospel sincerity. When 



,156 LETTER PROM MR. VENN. 

writing, soon after the erection of his chapel in Lon- 
don/ to Mr. Burder, he tells him, $ the poor sheep 
left in the country are near my heart," and begs him 
.to occupy his place while he visits them. He also 
describes himself, in his droll manner, as "rector of 
Surry chapel, vicar of Wo.tton-under-edge, and curate 
of all the fields, 'commons, &c: throughout England 
and "Wales." One of his most favourite substitutes, 
when away, was. Mr. Venn, of Yelling ;* whose as- 
sistance he the more valued on account of his being a 
beneficed clergyman. Mr. Yenn, however, in occupy- 
ing Surry chapel pulpit, forgot the due observance of 
ecclesiastical discipline and order. He felt, no doubt, 
that the doctrines were those of his own communion, 
and the service the same. 'Still it was an act of irre- 
gularity contrary to canonical rules, and therefore not 
advisable, even in those days ; but -he was a man of 
admirable piety and zeal. - The following letter from 
him will much interest those who view with delight 
the spread of religion in the university of Cambridge, 
and the inconceivable blessing that has long accom- 
panied Mr. Simeon's ministry there. ' 

. , / Yelling, Jan. 31, 1786. 
DEAR SIR, 

About a fortnight since, I received yours, dated 
the 21st of December. Much am I indebted to my 
Christian brother for remembering me before the 
throne of grace. The God who healeth 'hath heard 
their prayers for me, and I arh in such health, that 
provide'd I can get a supply, and it may be agreeable 
to you, I purpose making the experiment of preach- 
ing for you at Surry chapel in ^April, 'beginning the 
Sunday after Easter, for eight Sundays. Rut I shall 
not be able to do more than preach twice on -the sab- 
bath ; not on a Tuesday. If .it please our adorable 
Master that I come, I will be sure not to overwilk 

; * The author' of the Complete Duty of Man. 



LETTER OF MR. VENN. 157 

''*: 

myself, and take the best care I can not to exceed 
either in length, or in exertion of voice. At home 
you may suppose there are strong objections against 
making the attempt; but were I sure to suffer in 
body, if your hands in the glorious work may be 
strengthened, and opportunity given for you to spread 
.the .gospel,. or visit and confirm those who have' re- 
ceived it, I hope I should not shun making the trial. 
If it please God my brother Gambier is alive, I shall 
be so "much at his house, and my son's-in-law, and 
other friends, that I shall seldom be a lodger at your 
house. ' ,' 

You will be agreeably surprised when I tell you I 
preached in exchange for dear Simeon at Trinity, to 
many of the gown, and afterwards in the evening to 
a company at Mr. Musgrave's, and on Wednesday 
evening at your old friend Mrs. Bunn's. Indeed there 
is a pleasant, prospect at Cambridge. : 'Mr. Simeon's 
character shines brightly. He grows in humility, is 
fervent in spirit, and very bountiful and loving. 
Isaac Milner* kept an act in the schools, Dec. 15th 
last, on justification by faith only. His thesis was 
forty minutes, and -admirable. The pit could not 
contain the masters of arts, and a greater number 
there was of students than has been seen there for 
years. I went over on purpose; and I doubt not 
good will come from it. Jonathan Edwards's works 
are now called for ; and, what is remarkable indeed, 
the professor of law (Dr. Jowett) and the three first 
mathematicians in the university confessedly, Milner, 
Goulthurst, and Parish, are all on the side of the 
truth. .Lift up your prayer, that they may feel, and 
live, and work, for Christ, and the salvation of souls. 
There are j twelve students promising to come forth 
in the service of our Lord. - 1. have heard also of an 
excellent minister hear Chester. His name, Nichol- 
son. When the bishop ordained him (though he was 

* Late dean, of Carlisle, master of Queen's college, Cambridge, 
arid container of the History of the Church, begun by his brother. 

14 



158 LETTER OF MR. VENN. MR. SIMEON. , 

never at college) he was so much superior in scho- 
larship, and his knowledge of divinity to the rest, that 
the bishop took great notice of him, and when alone, 
told him, " I have had many complaints of you as a 
Methodist ; but go on and prosper, and God bless 
you." 

Mrs. V. joins with me in wishing Mrs. Hill, and 
yourself all increase in spiritual blessings. 

From yours sincerely in Christ, 

EL VENN,'-. 

To add to , Mr. Rowland Hill's delight at these 
tidings, Mr. Venn again writes, in a letter dated " Yel- 
ling, March. 23d, 1786:" ".On.Sunday last, Mr. Si- 
meon and I exchanged. There were more than twenty 
of the- gown to -hear. In the evening I spoke to 
eighty in a house. The prayers offered up for our 
poor university are regarded. Two of the first amongst 
the bachelors of this -year promise well. So great is 
their character, that instead of ridicule and spiteful 
sneers, the profane youth choose to avoid the subject 
of religion, lest they should be fairly out-argued. I 
have now been twice at Cambridge, and both times 
have had my heart much warmed with what I have 
seen and heard. How delightful the prospect, that 
when we old and worn out servants and soldiers shall 
be called out of the field, .others are entering in, who 
\ will do valiantly under the banner of our dear gene- 
ral, -who has died for us. Mr. Simeon's light shines 
brighter and brighter. He is highly esteemed-, and 
exceedingly despised ; almost adored by some; by 
others abhorred., what numbers, if the Lord will, 
shall come out from Cambridge in a few years, to 
proclaim the glad tidings !" , . 

Such news as this would deeply affect. him to 
whom it thus came. \ The gospel he preached in the 
university to the poor, despised, and humble follow- 
ers of his steps, now influencing the lives, opinions, 
and characters of the first men in Cambridge ! What 



MB, SIMEON. 159 

' ' ,"55. 

ah assurance would this afford him, of the reality of 
the impressions of his younger days ! He had al- 
ways the highest respect for the characters of those 
individuals mentioned by Mr. Venn, and spoke of 
Mr. Simeon's invaluable labours with the sincerest 
delight, though he well knew that he disapproved all 
irregularity in a clergyman's administrations. In- 
deed, there is every reason to believe, that the obser- 
vance of order, which has been so judiciously re- 
garded by Mr. Simeon and his followers at Gam- 
bridge, has tended greatly to promote the influence . 
of numbers of the zealous clergy, who are now so 
vigilantly and successfully defending the best interests 
of the church. On one occasion, Mr. Rowland Hill, 
with his usual delicacy of feeling,, refused to preach 
-in a dissenting place of worship at Cambridge, lest 
he should appear in any way to interfere with the 
course so wisely pursued by Mr. Simeon, whose in- 
calculable usefulness will never be fully appreciated, 
till the day in which the unostentatious followers of 
the Lamb shall be rewarded in the presence of the 
assembled universe. 



160 SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 



CHAPTER VII. . * 

SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 

THE Sunday schools attached to Mr. Rowland Hill's 
chapels were amongst the earliest established in this 
country. The one at Surry chapel commenced in 
i786j and was cordially supported by him during his 
whole life. Its teachers were selected from the most 
pious, active, arid intelligent members of the congre- 
gation, who conducted its affairs with the spirit and 
faith of prayer. Those who' were engaged in that in- 
teresting work of Christian love, will ever remember 
how he used to come into the school-room' on a Sun- 
day afternoon, to converse with the teachers, and en- 
courage or rebuke the children, as the case required. 
The silence which took place on his entrance) was not 
that of uneasiness or impatience at his presence, but a 
pleasing expectation that some word of comfort or ad- 
vice would fall from his lips, to refresh and stimulate 
them in their holy occupation. Mr. Hill's mode of 
encouraging the children who were distinguished for 
their diligence and good conduct,was singularly happy, 
and seldom failed to leave a salutary impression on 
their minds. His power of reproof to offenders was 
extraordinary ; few persons could bear his look and 
voice of censure, which was seldom, and most reluc- 
tantly called, forth. When some of the children, who 
had been regular in their attendance at the school, 
grew up, and became useful men in the world, he 
would often speak of their good behaviour in youth 
" Aye, I remember him, he was always a nice lad." 
He was fond of asking "Have you read Ellis's 
book on the South sea islands ? oh ! worthy, sensi- 



LETTER : OF COWPER, THE POET. 161 

ble, good creature he was a teacher in our Sunday 
schools ; he is an honour to us." Several missionaries 
were trained in 'the same place, and many, who were 
themselves instructed there, became instructers of the 
succeeding generation, leading "others to the source 
of their own usefulness and comfort, . At Wottori, as 
well as in. London, the same -work went on, and his 
school became a Blessing to the place and neighbour- 
hood. When there, a bell rang on the Sunday morn- 
ing before breakfast, to summon the inmates of his 
house into the midst of the teachers and children, 
when his family prayer was offered up amongst them, 
with an indescribable unction and fervour. Those 
who have never heard him pray, cannot imagine 'the 
sublimity with which he engaged in commraiion'with 
God, or his striking conceptions of the infinite holi- 
ness of the divine nature, and of his own worthless- 
ness ; he seemed, before man, -to be invested with all 
the dignity of the saint, while he was humbled in dust 
and ashes before the Most High. A remarkable 
proof of his power was the stillness of 'the children 
while he prayed : some of whom were converted at a 
very early age, whose characters he has beautifully 
drawn in his " Token for children." His hymns for 
children are very simple and beautiful. The first 
edition of them was corrected and improved by the 
poet Cowper, as appears, from the following letter : - 

Weston Underwood, March 29^, 1790, 
MY DEAR SIR, . 

The moment when you ceased to be incog. I ought 
to have written you at least a few lines of apology 
for the liberties I had taken .with your hymns, but 
being extremely busy at that time, and hoping that 
you would be so charitable as to pardon the omission, 
I desired Mr. Bull to be my proxy, charging him to 
make my excuses, and to assure you that I was per- 
fectly satisfied with your making any .'alterations that 
you might see to be necessary in my text. If any 
14* 



162 HYMNS FOR CHILDREN. 

thing fell from my pen that seemed to countenance 
the heresy of universal redemption, you did well to 
displace it, for it contradicted the scripture -and be- 
lied me. - 

I am much obliged to you for the little volumes 
which I received safe on Saturday ; and because I sup- 
pose that your end will be best answered by dispersion, 
if I should have occasion for half a dozen more, will 
order them from your bookseller without scruple.. 

I am, my dear sir, with much respect, and with 
Mrs. Unwin's compliments, 

Your affectionate humble servant, 
, WM. COWPER. 

Should you want me on any similar occasion here- 
after-, I am always at your disposal. 

Rev. Rowland Hill. 

We have now no means of ascertaining the words 
of the Alteration mentioned in this letter. That the 
fundamental .principles of both these good men were 
Calvinistic, generally speaking, is well known ; but the 
term particular redemption^ opposition to universal 
redemption, was never made use of by Mr. Hill. He 
offered Christ freely to all, telling them at the same 
time, that by nature the withered hand of man was 
unable to receive the gift of salvation, until restored 
by his power who commanded him to stretch it forth. 

The following short hymn is a fair specimen both 
of the style and doctrine of those he composed for 
children : 

A PRAYER FOR A GRACIOUS MINI?. ' '. ' 
Blessea are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God : Matt. v. 8. 

Dear Jesus, let an infant claim 
The favour to adore thy name; , 
Thou wast so meek, that babes might be 
Encourag'd to draw near to thee. : 

My gracious Saviour, I believe 

Thou canst a little .child receive ; . 

Thy tender love for us is free, 

And why not love poor sinful me 1 



A HAPPY DEATH. ILLNESS OF MR. VENN. 163 

Then to a child, dear Lord, impart 
An humble, meek, and lowly heart: 
cleanse me by thy precious blood, 
And fill me with the love of God. 

Tho' oft I sin, yet save me still, 
And make me love thy sacred will; v 

, Each day prepare me by thy grace, 
' To meet thee, and behold thy face. . 

In- the spring of 1790, Mr. Rowland Hill made 
another preaching tour in Wales, and his old friend 
Captain Joss came into Gloucestershire, to supply his 
place while absent. To notice, however, in detail his 
preaching- journeys at this period, would only be a 
repetition of events precisely similar to. those already 
described. Year after year they were much the same, 
except that his character rose, and opposition to him 
rapidly diminished. Captain Joss, in his reply to.Mr. 
Hill's application for his services while in Wales, 
comforted him by an account of .the happy death of 
an eminently pious female. He tells him that just at 
the last, she said, " put by the curtain ;" which was 
accordingly drawn aside, and the beams o?.;the sun 
coming Ml into the room and on her bed, she re- 
marked u thirty and four years have I known the 
Lord, and can now no more doubt , of his eternal love 
to me an unworthy creature, than I can doubt of the 
shining of tlie sun, which I now see and feel;" She 
uttered only a few more words, full of faith, and then 
departed to those realms of joy, of which God and 
the Lamb-are the sun, the temple, and trie glory. 

In the beginning of the year 17'91,/Mr. Rqwland 
Hill's valued friend, Mr. Venn of Yelling, found him- 
self unequal to the task, of continuing his attendance 
at Surry chapel. The author of the "Whole Duty 
of Man" had well learned one part of it resignation 
to the divine will which he thus expresses in a let- 
ter to Mr. Rowland Hill, dated Yelling, January 21st, 
1791.- " My very dear brother,! write to you when 
just recovered from a gentle stroke of the palsy, which 
prevented me: for three Sundays from speaking. This 



164 EXTRAORDINARY CONVERSIONS. 

was beyond expectation though now I shall not be 
able to do my own little work without an assistant, 
which I have in my eye. From hence you will con- 
clude, I must give up every thought of preaching for 
my friends, and now withdraw from being a servant 
of the church, to take care only of my family- and my 
own poor sinful soul, which will be employment 
enough for my impaired strength' and faculties.- I 
depend much upon my praying friends they will not 
despise nor forget a poor broken vessel, in whom 
hath been lodged the treasure of the knowledge of 
Christ Jesus the Lord. Pray for rny.good behaviour, 
and joyful acquiescence in the will of God -may 
pain, weakness, confinement, solitude, be all borne 
with great cheerfulness." How encouraging to see 
aged and afflicted ministers of Christ thus exhibiting, 
in their own persons, the power and value of the 
truths they spent their lives in enforcing on others. 

Among the many results of Mr. Rowland Hill's 
labours at-this time in London, none were more re- 
markable than the extraordinary conversions of seve- 
ral notorious infidels and persecutors. Some of these 
became afterwards zealous promoters of the cause 
they once hated and despised. One individual, a 
member of an infidel club, came on a Sunday evening 
into Surry chapel, merely to gratify his curiosity, or to 
ridicule the truths he heard, but returned home crying 
for. mercy and pardon ; and in a few days after visited 
Mr. Rowland Hill, to inquire what he should do to be 
saved. He was a man engaged in a laborious busi- 
ness, but dedicated his few leisure hours to the service 
of God ; and it is supposed that his benevolent exer- 
tions brought him to a premature, but happy termi- 
nation of his life. Another man, a drunkard, swearer, 
and cruel persecutor of his wife, who belonged to 
Mr. Wesley's Society, received her one evening, on 
her return from his chapel, with such kindness of man- 
ner, that she was astonished. He said, " I have been 
to hear Mr. Hill ; I am a sinner ; you were right, I 



ANECDOTE. 165 

wrong I hope I shall never be unkind to you 
again, but that we shall walk together in the same 
way." Instances such as these- were of frequent oc- 
currence, in addition to the numbers of the careless 
and indifferent, whom his ministry aroused from their 
awful lethargy. The reports that were in circulation 
of his odd sayings in the pulpit, brought not a few 
into his chapel^ where they heard, instead of observa- 
tions to excite their mirth, an awakening appeal to 
sinners that sent them as trembling, and weeping pe- 
nitents to a throne of grace. Most of the anecdotes 
told of his eccentricities in the pulpit are incorrect, 
though it is certain that at times he did illustrate his 
meaning,by introducing into his sermons what he often 
acknowledged afterwards he had better have left out 
"but," he would -add,-'.! the queer thought came into 
my .head, and out it came, and I could not help it ; 
I wish it had kept in-though." It almost always hap- 
pened, that whenever he had given way to his natural 
disposition for the ludicrous, or had been more than 
usually eccentric in his manner, there followed a low- 
ness of spirits, and he then acknowledged the regret 
he felt, at having been led away by any levity of mind, 
while engaged in the solemn service of the pulpit. A 
gentleman of his acquaintance once met him at Brigh- 
ton, where he heard him preach a sermon, in which 
there, was such a mixture of the humorous, that tlie 
congregation were excited by it to a considerable de : 
gree of laughter. This was followed by such an aw- 
ful address to their consciences, and a pathos so deep 
and melting, that there was scarcely an individual pre- 
sent who did not weep. In the evening, the conver- 
sation at the house in, which he was visiting was of a 
very lively nature. After Mr. Hill retired, the gen- 
tleman before alluded to thought he heard x some one 
in the passage, and on going out, found him at the 
foot of the stairs. He feared he was unwell ; but on 
inquiring the reason of his remaining there, he dis- 
covered him to be in deep agony of mind, to which he 



166 MODES OF PREACHING 

gave vent in confessions of sorrow afrhaving been such 
a trifler, and mourned over his unseasonable drollery 
with the simplicity of a child. Before he went to his 
room he said " I never wish to say a-single word to 
excite a smile, which would prevent an immediate ap- 
proach to God, in all the solemnity of spiritual prayer." 
The scene was most affecting, and was a striking 
proof of his contrition, when he reflected, that by giv- 
ing way to the natural sprightliness of his disposition, 
he might have prevented his real usefulness, or have 
forgotten for an instant the character of a messenger 
of the gospel. 

Mr. Rowland Hill was a great observer of the dif- 
ferent modes of preaching, and once drew up, in his 
peculiar style, a string of characteristics of the various 
kinds of pulpit orators. He thus describes them : 

Bold Manner. The man who preaches what he 
feels without fear or diffidence. : 

Self-confident. A man who goes by nobody's judg- 
ment but his own. 

Rash. A preacher who says what comes upper- 
most without any consideration. 

Rambling. A man that says all that pops in his 
mind without any connexion. 

Stiff. One who: pins himself down to think and 
speak by rule,- without any deviation. 

Powerful. The man who preaches from the bottom 
of his heart, the truths of the gospel with energy to 
the consciences of his hearers. 

- Finical. Minces out fine words with nothing in 
them. 

Sober. The man who lulls you fast asleep. 

Elegant. The manwhoemploys all his brains upon, 
dressing words, without ever aiming at the heart. 

Conceited. Yainly aims at every thing, and says 
nothing. - , 

Welch Manner. A man that bawls out very good 
things till he can bawl no longer. 

Methodist. Splits the heads of his sermons into so 



DESCRIBED BY ,MR. ROWLAND HILL. 167 

many parts, that he almost splits the heads of his 
hearers. 

^Affectionate. The happy man who feels for souls 
tenderly, preaches Christ' affectionately, and yearns 
over souls in the bowels-of Jesus Christ. 

Dogmatic. A man who goes by his own brains, 
right or wrong. . ' 

Peevish. One who picks into every body's thoughts, 
and thinks no one right but himself. 

Fanciful. One who instead of being led by wis- 
dom, runs after a -thousand visionary whimsies and 
conceits. 

Self-important. Thinks nobody like himself. 

Noisy. A loud roar, and nothing in it. 

Genteel. The, vain fool that is fond of dressing up 
words without meaning. 

He once said of a man who knew the truth, but 
seemed afraid to preach it in its fulness "he preaches 
the gospel, as a donkey mumbles a thistle, very cau- 
tiously." He could not endure any thing like vanity 
in a minister. A very fine dissenter,, with a doctor's 
degree fresh from the north, once paid him a visit; 
he fidgetted about all the time he was talking ; when 
he left the room, Mr. Hill lifted up his eyes and said 
in his most comic tone of voice, "only think that a 
D. D. degree should 1 ever be converted into a pedestal 
for a puppy!" 

During the period of the French revolution, and its 
concluding awful scenes, Mr. Rowland Hill wisely 
conceived that the best course he could take, as a mi- 
nister of the truth, was, without joining any .political 
party, to preach the gospel of Christ, as the surest 
antidote to disloyalty and error. Many were curious 
to hear him at this time, wh.ose, infidel principles, 
cherished by the iniquitous associations which they 
joined, had rendered them disanectedtowards all order 
and proper government, whereby their own happiness 
and comfort, and the peace ofjsuch of their fellow- 
countrymen as had imbibed their pernicious notions, 



168 WISE COURSE OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 

were destroyed. Some of these were so impressed by 
his sermons, that the result was a change of heart by 
the grace of God, and of course a change of princi- 
ples and; conduct. His own language on. this subject is 
"-We 'know that the state receives daily benefit by 
the gospel we attempt' to disseminate, as we have the 
nillest evidence that such as were enemies to the 
bible, and enemies to the government, are now the' 
friends of both, and that from the best and firmest 
principles ; and even such as are suspected of disloy- 
alty to the constitution, are refused connexion with 
us." He has also recorded an encouraging instance 
of the power of the' gospel. " Two brothers, in a large 
line of business, were both of them -members in some 
of the corresponding societies. They were called by 
a kind providence to attend at Surry chapel. Their 
. curiosity, or a much worse principle of ridicule and 
contempt, brought them at first to hear. It pleased 
God to impress the word home upon their hearts, and 
from mere monsters, they became men and Christians 
indeed. v The joy introduced into their families was 
inexpressible, and the credit brought to religion very 
considerable. . When they -came to me to be admit- 
ted to.Vthe Lord's table, they freely told me, though 
with much compunction, what they originally were. 
From them I was informed, that it is the first busi- 
ness of this horrid horde of rebels, to seduce all their 
associates into the principles of infidelity, through the 
medium of Paine's Age of Reason. ' This being ac- 
complished, their language becomes the most sangui- 
nary, and their projects the most daring and danger- 
ous. Upon their conversion to God, all their former 
connexions were immediately renounced, ancj. a strict 
adherence to public and private worship was seriously 
attended to, and a large number of their apprentices, 
led on by them in the same way, were wonderfully 
recovered from the like snare." No one can for an 
instant doubt, that Mr. Rowland Hill, in these times 
of agitation and danger, pursued the proper course. 



IRELAND. STROLLING PLAYERS. 169 

May all ministers remember, that the true mode of 
allaying the convulsion, of the waters, when the storm 
of unbelief and anarchy comes on, is to drop on each 
wave as it passes beneath them/a portion of that sacred 
oil which has power to diffuse a holy calm wherever 
its influence extends. 

On the 22nd of January, 1793, good-old Mr. Ber- 
ridge died, aged 76. His constitution had long be- 
fore given way, T and he sunk into the grave, fairly 
worn, out by exertion and anxiety for. the spread'of 
the word of life; His funeral sermon was preached 
by Mr. Simeon of Cambridge, from 2 Tim, iv. 8. Six 
clergymen, who perhaps -a few years before would 
have ridiculed &nd despised him^ supported the pall 
on the occasion of his interment, and gave the tribute 
of a heartfelt sigh to the. memory of his piety, disjn- 
terestedness, and zeal. When speaking of him, Mr. 
Rowland Hill used to say, "many a mile have I rode, 
many a storm have I faced, many a snow have 1 gone 
through, to hear good old Mr. Berridge j for I felt his 
ministry, when in my troubles at Cambridge, a com- 
fort and blessing ,to my soul. Dear affectionate old 
man, I loved him to my heart." 

In the autumn of 1793 Mr. Rowland Hill visited 
Ireland, and found pulpits open to him in Dublin and 
other places. His career was not, however, marked 
by any event of great importance or interest, till the 
year 1795 j which he spent in great activity. At 
Wotton, he was exceedingly annoyed by the intro- 
duction into the town of a company of travelling ac- 
torsj whom he thought it his duty to oppose, to the 
utmost extent of his influence. The clergyman of 
the parish was favourable to the license for the per- 
formances being granted ; and he and another gen- 
tleman signed the petition to the authorities for that 
purpose. A number of respectable inhabitants drew 
up a counter petition, 'which had Mr. Rowland Hill's 
entire approbation: Still the first was successful, and 
the performances were permitted. The bishop of the 
15 



170 EXPOSTULATORY ADDRESS. 

diocess was on Mr. Rowland Hill's si^e, but acted 
towards both parties in a very /judicious manner, and 
obtainedfrom the clergyman an assurance, that though 
he could not withdraw the opinion he had given on 
such entertainments, he would not be in future "a 

. strenuous advocate for them.'' Notwithstanding this, 
Mr. Rowland Hill thought it right to express his cen- 
sure of these amusements, in an expostulatory ad- 
dress to the clergyman in question, remonstrating 
with him on the course he had pursued, and resorting 
at times to a vein of sarcasm, which it is to be feared, 
diminished the salutary effects of some very striking 
and truly spiritual remarks, to be found in the pamph- 
let. After declaring his opinion, that there is no- 
thing in religion hostile to such recreations as may 
be denominated innocent, and contrasting them with 
those of the stage, he makes, as he draws to a con- 
clusion, the following excellent observations : " There 
was a time when primitive Christianity could make 
its way, notwithstanding all the opposition that was 
drawn forth against it, by the persecuting rage of hea- 
then darkness and papal superstition. Her cause 
was glorious, and her beauties were her own. Ho- 
liness to the Lord was engraven upon the lives of its 
professors. Under the. influences of that divine 
change, which made 'all its real converts new crea- 
tures in Christ Jesus] they lived like those who firmly 
believed that the life of Christianity was a life of 
deadness to the world, and devotedness to God; 
their only glory was in the cross of Christ, by which 
they esteemed themselves crucified to the world, and 
the world unto them. They were dead, and their 
lives were hid with Christ in Gfod. 

"Now, is this the Christianity of the present day ? 
Is there a single feature belonging to the modern 
professor, which bears the most distant resemblance 
to the sacred primitive character, as thus described 
in the word of God ? I know the answer, and am 
glad to meet it. l We need not in .these days be so 



LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETYv '171 

strict and rigid in our religion as were the primitive 
Christians.' -Now, if this expression be allowed to 
speak out, it means not so pure and holy ; and then 
I ask, -why not ? If the nature of God be unaltera- 
ble, so must the nature of true religion. And if this 
alteration be now allowed, when did the time for this 
first commence ? And how far may we suppose that 
we have advanced injjhis lawful decline? 

" Religion indeed may alter in its forms, under dif- 
ferent dispensations, but not in its grand designs. 
That we should love the Lord our God with all our 
hearts, minds, souls, and strength, and our neigh- 
bours as .ourselves, is the, grand ultimatum of all re- 
ligion, and the eternal demand of him with whom is 
no variableness, nor shadow of turning. If time 
should have it in its power to deface the strength of 
this command, by the same parity of reasoning, time 
might ultimately obliterate the command itself; cen- 
tury after century we need only love him a little and 
a little- less. The commandment has already stood, 
as enjoined by our Lord, for near eighteen hundred 
years; and by the sample we now show in the pre- 
sent century,- in opposition to the strict and rigid 
sentiments of the primitive Christians, in a century or 
so farther down, it seems as though it would be per- 
fectly annihilated." " ' 

There never was a Christian more convinced than 
Mr. Rowland Hill, of the perfect incompatibility of 
stage amusements with spirituality ,of mind. Some 
years after the aifair at Wotton, he published, in two 
letters to the Rev. George Burder, some 'aphoristic 
observations on public amusements, which he entitled' 
a " Warning to Professors." 

The year 1795 was the era of an event in which 
Mr. Rowland Hill was most deeply interested the 
formation of the London Missionary Society for the 
conversion of the heathen. There was no institution, 
to which he was to the end of his days more fervently 
attached; and it never possessed a more zealous and 



172 LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, 

effective promoter of its interests. He was one of its 
first directors; he concluded its first meeting with a 
solemn invocation of the blessing of God on its de- 
signs; in the vestry of his chapel, the proposal was 
first made that the islands of the South sea should be 
the scene of the commencement of its efforts ; and to 
the last- days of his existence, the success of this cause 
was one of the chief objects of his solicitude and 
prayers. He rejoiced in the prosperity of .every mis- 
sion, upon the- principles of the gospel, to the heathen 
world ; but the profession of the London missionary 
to unite^ in one great object, without , reference to 
minor differences in views or in forms, peculiarly 
harmonized with the tone and character of his mind. 
He could never see that, except with reference to the 
universally acknowledged source of all truth, the 
word of God, such a union is at least in the present 
state of the Christian world impracticable ; and that, 
as things are now,' we shall probably act most effec- 
tually by arranging. ourselves in separate companies 
under the same captain of our salvation. When 
those who had united with them at first, retired to 
act with their own particular communities, he felt it 
as a desertion, and used to say, " ours is a mission- 
ary society for all ; why leave us ?-' . In fact, it was 
a peculiar feature of his plans, that he never believed 
a scheme which he, had long cherished could not be 
reduced to practice,' making no allowance for the 
nature of the minds of men ; like the theorist, who 
in constructing some machine, forgets to calculate 
on the friction of the parts, and the resistance of the 
air. 

Mr. Rowland Hill preached a missionary sermon 
at Surry chapel for his favourite, and now long useful 
society, on the occasion of the first general meeting, 
on Thursday, .September the 25th, l'T95. His text 
was, And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preach- 
ed in all the world for a witness unto all nations y 
and then shall the end come : Matt. xxiv. 14. - There 



MISSIONARY DAY AT STIRRY CH'APEL. 173 

were present about two hundred ministers of various 
denominations, forming a most impressive and ani- 
mating spectacle, which has been repeated for many 
'years on the second Wednesday in May, in the same 
place. The missionary day at Surry chapel' was, to 
its devoted pastor, in the brightest sense, a gala. On 
that morning he rose earlier than usual, and before 
breakfast,' was seen seated at a table near the win- 
dow of his room, looking alternately at the people as 
they gathered in the chapel yard, hours before the 
opening of the doors, and at the bible and book of 
common prayer, to select the lessons for the day, and 
to refresh his recollection of the service he was about 
to read. When any one entered the room, he would 
say, "see what a churchman I. am ; ,1 must have it 
all correct ':" then perhaps he would make a few re- 
marks on the first .movements of his mind towards 
the great cause of missionary -labours. Presently 
Mrs. Hill came down, when he said to his servant, 
"'come up to prayer." The family were soon as- 
sembled, and in a short, but sublime supplication, he 
poured forth the ,deep feeling of his soul. It was_a 
solemn and affecting moment ; few could' have -heard 
him unmoved. At breakfast he was interrupted 
every instant, but not at all annoyed, by the en- 
trance of those connected with the management of 
the society, or by the introduction of some distin- 
guished foreigner, who desired to witness the rou- 
tine of the day. Now. and then he was. called out 
to prevent the persons in the yard, from rushing 
through the house into the chapel, in their anxiety 
to gain early admission; and.it was only by the 
strongest remonstrances, that many of them were 
prevailed - on to wait 'for the opening of the doors. 
As soon as the hour of service 'arrived, -he went to 
the vestry ; presently there was a general movement 
in the chapel, and all eyes were fixed on his venera- 
ble figure, as he slowly ascended the steps of the 
desk, ffo reader ever gave a more solemn effect to 
15* . - 



174 MISSIONARY DAY AT SIJRRY CHAPEL. 

the liturgy of the church of England ; his deep feel- 
ing, brought out by the scene and the occasion, his 
powerful and melodious voice, and his thorough .con- 
ception of the beauty and -spirituality of the form of 
prayer he loved, combined to give a pathos and dig- 
nity to his performance of this part of the/service, 
which has never been. surpassed by any minister. 
After the prayers, the missionary hymn was given out 
by one of the phalanx of ministers who occupied the 
front of the galleries^ and sung by the immense con 1 - 
gregation, all standing. The Ml tones of the fine 
organ, the combination, in a simple melody, of three 
thousand voices, and the recollection of the object of 
their meeting, inspired an emotion which thrilled 
through every Christian's breast. After the . sermon, 
Mr. Rowland Hill held a plate at one of the doors, 
and the people seemed to strive for the honour of 
putting their donations into his hands. If the collec- 
tion went on well, his countenance beamed with de- 
light, and he hastened at its conclusion up the steps 
to his own house, to reckon its. amount, surrounded by 
those whom he had invited to dine with him in the 
schoolroom. The sum gathered was seldom found 
deficient Once, in times of ; difficulty, it .was less 
than usual by nearly a hundred pounds. His depres- 
sion was evident to all near him ; but in the evening, 
. as he sat silent and in low spirits at the falling off, a 
gentle tap was heard at the door, a letter was brought 
in, and carelessly opened, with the remark "a beg- 
ging letter, 1 dare say." It contained a. draft for one 
hundred pounds, from a generous individual, who had 
observed the effect of the diminution in. the collection 
on his mind, and who expressed his anxiety for the 
honour of Surry chapel, and the comfort ,of its then 
aged pastor. His eye brightened, and he exclaimed, 
" the Lord hath not forsaken us, we shall now do bet- 
ter than ever ; we should never doubt." . 

-In the midst of the large company he entertained 
at dinner after the morning service, he said little ; 



MISSIONARY DAY AT SURRY CHAPEL. 175 

-but when he spoke, there was an instant silence. Se-. 
veral clergymen were generally of the party, and 
sometimes a discussion took place between them and 
the dissenters who w : ere present. Mr. Hill used vi- 
gilantly to watch this, that he might instantly repress 
any symptoms of .sparring. It once happened that 
the parties growing warm appealed to him. He put 
on one of his arch" looks, and said, "Veil I declare I 
must say you are both equally wrong ; and I was just 
thinking that if you were tied together by the tail, like 
two cats, and thrown over a forked ^stick, you would 
scratch each others eyes out." .The effect of such an 
unexpected decision must-be left to the imagination, 
- The majority of Mr. Rowland Hill's guests on the 
missionary day, left the dinner table at an early hour, 
to attend some evening meeting of the .same society : 
two or three intimate friends generally remained with 
him, and he then opened his mind with much freedom, 
both with, reference to recollections of the past and an- 
ticipations of the future. He would tell of his early 
trials and difficulties, speak of the present. aspect of 
the times, and intersperse between his observations 
the most amusing and enlivening anecdotes.. If the 
sermon had been elaborate and wanted unction, he 
would say, "that cut and dried stuff never tells; it 
does not get hold of the people ; it is [too fine by half. 
There was once a ; man preached for me at Wotton, 
and used such hard words the people could, not un- 
derstand him. Some of the plain folks used to say to 
me when I came from London, { we do know what 
we do hear, when you do preach ; but Mr. do 
use so many, dictionary words we can't understand 
his meaningr we don't know where he .do get 'em, 
unless it be out of the almanack.' " On one occasion 
he said," it is astonishing what nonsense some 
people will talk in the pulpit. When I was out "the 
other day on a missionary journey, I heard of a man 
who had been preaching on modern improvements, 
and amongst others, of the merciful way of making 



176 " MISSIONARY COMMUNION. 

war since the invention of gunpowder^ which proved 
so much easier a death than that inflicted by the' 
ancient weapons. He got rightly served for his pains, 
for they have called him the gunpowder parso/r ever 
since.". Then, he added, '' I preach Christ crucified ; 
and when that ceases to be my, only theme, may I 
cease from the pulpit.'' Sometimes he remarked, "I 
once heard a sermon indeed in Surry chapel ; it was 
from Dr. Chalmers what a man that is what 
a lustre his humility gives to the powers of his great 
mind, and to the grace that, is in his heart," He 
wrote in a volume of Chalmers's sermons " many 
books I began to read' I could not- finish ; but these 
admirable discourses so attracted my attention, that 
I could not take my eye from them, till after I had 
read the last page with supreme regret." " 

The members of the London Missionary Society, 
who belong to different religious societies connected 
with the various places of dissenting worship in the 
metropolis, are in the habit of concluding their week 
of business, by what they call a missionary com- 
munion. The communicants are admitted by tickets 
from their ministers, who are supposed to know their 
religious state. In these meetings Mr. Rowland Hill 
felt a real interest and pleasure, and considered them 
as excellent means for the promotion of Christian 
love at home, as well as sympathy with the miseries 
of the heathen world. He attended them regularly, 
addressed those who were present on such occasions 
with great effect, and returned home in a highly spi- 
ritual and serious frame of mind. The excellent Ijr. 
Steinkopif had the same view of the use of these 
meetings, and frequently attended them. 

In the year 1796, Mr. Rowland Hill repeated his 
visit to Ireland. He 'had found a ready access to the 
affections of the pious people in Dublin, and his name 
has ever been held in high veneration in that city. 
Letters to hirri rrqm his Irish hearers, bear testimony 
to his zealous exertions there, and to the commence- 



IRELAND. 177 

ment at that period of the: work of religion amongst 
them. A clergyman pressed him to go into the North, 
to "proclaim the word of life in his parish," where he 
tells him that notwithstandin v g4he numbers of papists 
among his people, a work of- grace was going on. 
His vivid imagination, animated manner,' liveliness of 
disposition, and rooted abhorrence of popery, -suited 
in a hign degree the pious protestants who crowded 
around- him. Letters still in existence from his Irish 
Mends, express their assurance of his deep sympathy 
in the awM scenes of 1797: The clergyman just 
referred to tells him, " not less than 15,000 lives have 
been lost in the course of the rebellion, out of which 
number something less than IjOOO might be on the 
part of the loyalists. In our contest with the French, 
our loss' has been small ; the rebels who joined them 
were papists, with, scarcely "the exception of a single 
protestant, and would no doubt have committed many 
outrages, had they not been restrained by the. inter- 
ference o'f the French officers, to whose humane exer- 
tions the bishop of Killaloe owes his life." Wherever 
he went, his presence inspired such confidence and re- 
gard, that those whom he ^admitted to any degree of 
intimacy, looked upon him as a friend and a.brother, 
to whom they might appeal far advice and consolation 
m the difficulties, and trials by which they were after- 
wards surrounded; and their experience in such cir- 
cumstances would have allowed them to have address- 
ed him in the words of Ovid, 

mihi care quidem semper, sed tempore duro 
Cognite, res postquam procubuere more. 

In the, year 1^98 Mr. Rowland Hill paid his first 
visit to Scotland. .He was invited there by a few zea- 
lous persons who had engaged the circus in Edin- 
burgh as a, chapel, on the plan of the Tabernacle in 
London. They requested Mr. Hill to come and open 
it, and spend five or six weeks with them. He was 
pleased with the idea, and readily acceded to their re- 
quest. The circus had been secured for one year only, 



178 PLACES VISITED BY MR. ROWLAND HILL 

by-way of experiment, and it was agreed to- fix the 
hours of service at seven o'clock in the morning arid 
six in the evening, that there might be no interference 
with the regular attendance of persons at their own 
places of worship ; a plan of -which Mr. Rowland 
Hill entirely approved. '- He published on" his return' 
the journal of his tour, with a dedication to Robert 
Haldane, Esq. thegentlemanwhowasdeputedtoinvite 
him to Edinburgh. He informs us in this work that 
he left Wotton-under-edge on the ".Lord's day, July 
15, 1798," after the afternoon service, and preached at 
Frampton, on his way to the North, in the evening. 
After preaching, daily at various places in his way, he 
reached Macclesfield on July 19. He says "A visit 
to this town was a peculiar pleasure and satisfaction 
to my mind. Mr. Simpson, the minister of the new 
church, is my dear old friend. Our acquaintance com- 
menced at Cambridge. Being of the same college, 
our custom was to read with each other the Greek 
Testament, and other evangelical publications; these 
meetings we always concluded with prayer. The 
university was then almost in total darkness. -'No 
wonder, therefore, if for such exercises, and for some 
other strong symptoms of a methodistical bias, we 
were speedily marked, and had the' honour of being 
pointed at as the curiosities of the day. This di,d 
good. Others soon joined us to the number of ten 
or twelve; Some of them were Nicodemian disciples; 
others have proved bold and useful ministers ; and 
some of them, I trust, have been taken to glory. 
Blessed be God, things now bear a more pleasing as- 
pect in that university.' The gospel is at present not 
- only faithfully preached by Mr. Simeon and others, 
but many; young men are training up, who I trust will, 
if worldly prudence and the fear of man prevent not, 
prove a blessing to the church, by preaching with fer- 
vency and zeal, her long neglected doctrines to the 
consciences of their hearers." ' . 

After preaching in Mr. Simpson's church to a "very 



IN HIS JOURNEY TO SCOTLAND. 179 

serious and crowded congregation," he proceeded to 
Manchester. The minister of St. Clement's, Mr. 
Smythe, with whom his acquaintance commenced in 
Dublin, welcomed him to his pulpit, where he ad- 
dressed "a solemn and attentive auditory" on the 
eternal obligations of the law, and our free salvation 
by. the gospel: 2 Cor. iii. 18. He passed no day 
without preaching, till he came to Penrith, where he 
was told no one would receive him, on which he re- 
marks, (' I hope some gospel hero in the neighbour- 
hood will make it a point to besiege that town. The 
inhabitants, as report saySj are awfully dead in tres- 
passes and sins. I am informed .that even the few 
dissenters there, are dissenters from many of the in- 
valuable truths of the gospel." At Carlisle he- offici- 
ated in a small chapel built by Lady Glenorchy, and 
passed the evening at the Grapes Inn, but could not 
prevail on the landlord to take any thing for his ac- 
commodation "This," he says, "I mention as -a 
tokeri of respect for the kind reception given to a 
stranger, as, it was -done in the name of the Lord 
-Jesus. They gave much more than a cup of cold wa- 
ter to an unworthy prophet in thy name ; may they 
receive much more than a prophet's reward!" His 
first evening in Scotland was spent at Langham, where 
there was .a fair ', and he regrets, with some very pro- 
per remarks, on the evil tendency of such scenes, that 
he was obliged to spend the night in this uncongenial 
situation. To avoid the noise and confusion, he took 
a solitary walk by the river's side. There a gentleman, 
whom he conceived to be the minister of the parish, 
oiferedm'm an asylum in his house -from the disquie- 
tude of, the town: but having procured a private lodg- 
ing he declined it. While conversing with this kind 
individual, two of his unknown Edinburgh friends, 
Messrs. Haldane and Aikman, passed by. ; He disco- 
vered that they were itinerants, on the errand of 
preaching the gospel, and had the gratification of their 
company during the remainder of the evening; At 



180 HE OPENS THE CIRCUS AT EDINBURGH. 

Hawick he-saw, for .the 'first time, a Scotch funeral, 
conducted without a prayer or the presence of a mi- 
nister, and observed to a bystander" your funerals 
are soon over." A loquacious old woman told him, 
prayers were no use to the dead. This he admitted, 
but "suggested that the people of Scotland lost an 
.excellent opportunity of doing good to the living, if 
they could do nothing' for the dead." He adds, " I 
was surprised at .this omission in .Scotland; but con- 
sidering that a Scotsman always stands as an antipode 
to the pope, it appeared probable., that papal prayers 
for the dead determined John Knox, their valuable 
but uncouth reformer, against all prayers at a funeral 
whatever."' . - < -': 

At Edinburgh Mr. Rowland Hill was received by - 
Mr. James Haldane, at his house in George Street, 
where he says "nothing was wanting, but more grati- 
tude and thankfulness on my part, for such a kind and 
affectionate reception." ". On the day after his arrival, 
Sunday, July 29, he opened the circus. His text was 
the prayer of Moses, Exodus xxxiii. 14, 15 If thy 
presence go not with me, carry us not up Hence: In 
-the- morning- the- attendance consisted only of a few 
hundreds, but in the evening the place was foil. His 
subject was, 1 Cor. i. 22, 23, 24, and he " employed 
some time in showing Paul?s method of treating his 
proud Corinthian hearers;" "How very different," he 
proceeds, "is the immediate and direct simplicity of 
the apostle, compared to too many of the cold and 
formal productions of the, present day. the sim- 
plicity that is in Christ I How lovely in its effects, 
while -the minister preaches just as he feels, wise- 
ly regulated by the word, of God, and warmly ani- 
mated with a desire to bring salvation to the sinner's 
heart!" . 

Mr. Rowland Hill's method of preaching, was a 
complete novelty in Scotland, except to a few aged 
persons who recollected the visits of Whitefield to that 
.country. An anecdote in a Scotch pulpit was an ex- 



PREACHES ON CALTON HILL. 181 

periment that no Presbyterian would have ventured 
on; but those -told by Mr. Hill were so lively and 
affecting, that his hearers were raised to the highest 
pitch of interest. An excellent Scotch minister* who 
was presenton many of these occasions, thus describes 
their effect : "During some of his sermons,.the eternal 
world appeared to be next door to us, and but a step 
between us and the judgment day, which seemed to 
cause a shaking among our dry bones. .Not that Mr. 
Hill preached a different gospel from, what we had 
been accustomed to hear, for at that time as well as 
now, there were.various able ministers. of the New 
Testament, both in and 1 out of -the establishment r but 
there was a general formal sameness, seldom ^hat 
was striking'Or catching." 

The singularity of Mr. Rowland Hill's manner;'the 
fervour of his address, and the brilliant powers of his 
active and energetic mind; soon drew vast multitudes 
around him. The circus, large, as. it was, could not 
contain half the numbers .who flocked to hear -him ; 
and they cried out-that the galleries were giving way 
under the pressure of the crowd.. He accordingly 
went forth to the Calton Hill, where he preached from 
a platform to a mass of people, amounting to at least 
ten thousand in number. The spot was well-adapted 
to such a purpose; the platform was .placed "in the 
centre of a sort of natural basin, and the green slopes 
which surrounded it, were covered with, innumerable 
immortal beings, silent as the breathless evening of 
autumn, fixed in deep attention to the words that 
issued from the sonorous and commanding voice of 
the -speaker, as he delivered, in all the majesty and 
dignity of his office, his message of mercy to the lost 
and ruined sinner. The retiring of the multitude 
under the most solemn impressions was, indeed, a 
touching sight ; every person seemed deep in thought, 

,* The Rev. John Campbell, the w.ell known missionary to Af- 
rica, who kindly communicated to me his recqlleetions of tfie 
visits of Mr. Hillto Scotland: ' 

16 



183 , SCENE AT GLASGOW. - 

and numbers were, for the first time, absorbed in the 
concerns of their souls and of eternity. The old wo- 
men, as they looked out of -their doors at the slowly 
passing stream of human beings, observing a party of 
soldiers among thenij exclaimed, "Eh sirs, what will 
become of us now ! what will this turn to ! the very 
sodgers are ganging to hear preaching." It was al- 
Avays a principle with Mr. Rowland Hill, to expect 
great things from his labours : . " While we are straight- 
ened," he says, "in our expectations, the blessing is 
withheld ; but when our hearts are enlarged, the more 
we ask, the more we have." .'; 

The same interest which had been excited by Mr. 
Hill's preaching in Edinburgh, accompanied him in a 
short excursion into the Western Highlands. He 
first reached Glasgow, on August 13th, time enough 
to preach in the evening in the churchyard of the 
High church." The scene he describes as "most 
solemn." " Underneath us," he adds, " were, the re- 
mains, I may venture to say, of millions, waiting for 
the resurrection. Here I stood on a widely extended 
spacej covered, or nearly covered, with the living, all 
immortals five thousand, I should suppose, at least. 
What solemn work to address such multitudes ! Who 
is sufficient for these things .'" Though greatly ex- 
hausted by his exertions, he " could not refuse the re- 
quest to preach next morning" at eight o'clock, when 
he proceeded to Paisley, and preached in the yard 
of the church, over which Witherspoon once presi- 
ded, to an assembly nearly as large as that at Glas- 
gow. He says, " my soul loves Paisley, for there I 
believe Christians love each other. May the precious 
leaven that is evident there, spread itself through the 
North. I grieve to find so many separated by hu- 
man laws on earth, who are all to-be united in one, 
by divine love, in heaven and glory." . 

The return of Mr. Rowland Hill to Edinburgh was 
marked by an increase, even of the immense crowds 
who had previously flocked to hear him. On the 



ROTHERHAM. WOTTON. 183 

Oalton Hill he now calculates the numbers at fifteen 
thousand, in addressing whom, his principal aim in 
his sermons was to alarm the sinner. He experien- 
ced .a most hospitable reception at Melville house;, 
.-whose noble owner was glad to have the benefit of 
his services in his family worship. The last time 
he preached on Calton Hill, it is supposed the con- 
gregation amounted to nearly twenty thousand, 
though the rain threatened. He thus expresses the 
feelings of his mind on the occasion" to be clear 
from the blood of such a multitude, and to declare 
to them the, whole counsel of God, what wisdom 
and grace does it require !" On this occasion, a col- 
lection was made .for the charity work-house, which 
was thankfully received by the magistrates of the 
city. -. :.'.-. . - \ : ; - 

Thus did this zealous messenger of Christ labour 
in Scotland ; and it was believed that during his first 
visit to the North, at least two hundred \souls were 
converted to God, some of whom had been notorious 
for their vice and profligacy. At Rotherham, on his 
way home, he preached on a Sunday evening to ten 
thousand people in 'the open air, on -the necessity 
of conversion, and repentance unto life, from Acts 
iii. 19. When he began; he was. annoyed by the 
bells of a neighbouring church ; but as soon as they 
were told what was going on, the ringers civilly 'de- 
sisted.- , He was very near, however, meeting with 
a much more -serious inconvenience. A madman 
rushed through the Congregation, brandishing a 
drawn sword with great vehemence, and struggled 
hard. to reach him. He was speedily disarmed by 
the people, without injury to any one ; and the tran- 
quillity of the assemblage was but little disturbed by 
the event. Mr. Hill arrived at Wotton, on Saturday, 
September 22nd. He concludes his journal with 
these words : " I have now finished a nine weeks' 
gospel tour of full 1,200 miles ; have preached in 
much weakness to, many thousands ; and have been 



184 WOTTON. 

, more or less engaged on diiferent calls, near eighty 

. o o o * 

-times, with no other calamity than a little indispo- 
sition for a few days, and the : temporary lameness 
of the same horse which conveyed me through all 
my journey, excepting the short respite he required 
till he could overtake me on the road.\ Without also 
the least personal insult from any quarter, excepting 
a small share of a distant hiss of false aspersion, 
and I trust unjust reflection. For them I only quote 
that fine expression in our church liturgy, ( pardon 
our persecutors and slanderers, and turn their hearts.' 

"Thus again am I restored toihe spot I love as a 
place of temporary retirement ; a place well situated 
as a sphere of usefulness, and dear to me, as it was 
one of the first-fruits, of my youthful ministry. I bless 
God, many souls were then called and saved by grace, 
and many of them I trust are gone to glory. The con- 
gregation is as large as in the best of our days ; not- 
withstanding, I fear but little real work has of late 
been done; From whence, my God, is this suspen- 
sion ? Is the fault in me, or is it in them ? Or is it 
that I am to be called elsewhere, by being driven to 
give a less portion of my time to a people, who ' by 
seeing they see, and do not perceive, and by hearing 
they hear, and do not understand ? " There are but 
few diligent ministers of the gospel, who will not feel 
and appreciate these "remarks. , 

The unprecedented exertions of Mr. Rowland Hill 
in Scotland, and the increase of itinerant preaching, 
excited the attention of the general assembly, who 
thought it their duty to publish, .what they entitled 
their Pastoral Admonition, .warning the population 
against countenancing such irregularities; and ac- 
companying their advice, with^some severe-censures 
on the conduct and motives of the travelling preach- 
ers. Mr. Rowland Hill, in his Observations on the 
Established Church of Scotland, addressed to James 
Haldane^ Esq., had himself made some remarks, 
which were by no means calculated to allay the an- 



ESTABLISHMENTS. 185 

gry feelings of the body : to whom they referred. To 
these he appended, " Reflections on some party dis- 
tinctions in England." ^"With regard to establish- 
ments he .observes, that " even the outward profession 
of Christianity is no 'small blessing to any nation ; 
and. I should conce.ive, .'without deviating from the 
laws of liberty, or of -Christianity, the rulers of the 
earth may, and ought to support and protect it." 
Upon this principle he declared himself a friend to 
establishments ; but they must be such as would 
permit him to_ have an " uncontrolled right over 'his 
own pulpit," .and "allow him the assistance of those 
whose ministrations he believed would be to the spi- 
ritual advancement of the people of his charge:" He 
adds, after his own manner, "but such admission, 
say some, would be riding upon the back of till 
order and decorum : happy should I be to ride upon 
the back of such order^and decorum, till I had ridden 
them to death."* "By this primitive mode of pro- 
cedure,'? in.his opinion, " a great number of valu'a- 
. ble ministers have been raised up; some from the 
army, some from the navy. We bless God," he adds, 
" for the names of a Captain Scott, and a Captain 
Joss ; for captains have tongues and brains as well 
as doctors." That there are defects in all establish- 
ments can neither be doubted or denied ; but once 
admit the principle, that any * individual may in- 
fringe the rules and order of his religious community, 
according to his own views, and we introduce such 
elements of irregularity and conftision, as niust 
eventually destroy all discipline, government, and 
real usefulness. , There are abundant s'pheres of ex- 
ertion for every Christian ; and it matters not much 
in what circle, within the pale of the church, a man 
moves, provided he fully fills out its. circumference. 

* I once asked him why he called Ms carriage horses order and 
decorum' Oh !" he answered, " they said in the, north, ' Mr. 
Hill rides upon the backs ofortier and decorwm,''r-so I-called one 
of my horses order and 'the -other, decorum, that they might tell 
the truth in one way if they did not in another. . 

16* > 



186 DIMINISHED INTEREST OP 

It was on this r point of preaching, and: the power of 
the stated minister to .admit whom -he would into his 
pulpit, that Mr. Rowland Hill differed, both with the 
churchman and the presbyterian ; nor could he see, 
that an objection which he raised himself against this 
mode of procedure, js amongst the many unanswera- 
ble arguments which are to be brought against- it. 
" I know also," he says, : i( that this view of matters 
will considerably .lessen the idea of ministerial im- 
portance, when the preacher is found promiscuously 
among all sorts of characters". This had, however, 
no weight with him, because he conceived the mode 
he adopted as consonant << with God's own method of 
sending forth his labourers." .This one .idea occu- 
pied such an immoveable position: in his mind, that it 
became the hinge upon which all its motions turned, 
the centre from which they sprung, the point to which 
they reverted. .- 

Mr. Rowland Hill's controversy with the -general 
assembly, marred both the pleasure and usefulness of 
his second journey to Scotland. It was carried on 
with vehemence in letter after letter, and pamphlet 
after pamphlet. It engrossed .all his sermons, and 
' was the perpetual topic ,qf his conversation. To 
ridicule their Admonition seemed his chief object. It 
is true the smile was often, turned against, his oppo- 
nents ; but "probably," observes. a shrewd and pious 
Scotchman, " Satan was clapping his "shoulder and 
whispering, well done Rowland It is far better for 
^ you to expend your ammunition against the general 
assembly, than against my kingdom I thank yoiij 
for I have not lost one follower during this second 
visit of yours." True it was, that he was caught in 
this snare4-not one conversion was ever proved to 
have taken place during this visit ; but there is every 
reason .to believe he afterwards saw and regretted his 
error. Thus not only his virtues, but his failings, 
will be a lesson to the gospel minister ; and if a spirit 
emancipated from the incumbrances of the material 



MR. HILL'S SECOND VISIT TO SCOTLAND. 187 

World, has any retrospective interest- in the scenes 
which it has quitted, or any cognizance of its memory 
being cherished in the breasts of the living, his would 
at this instant desire, that not only the .excellences 
of his^character should be held forth, as an example, 
but that the errors into which he fell should also be 
recorded, as dangers to be carefully avoided. This 
was assuredly his feeling while on earth. When ob- 
serving that some biographers had painted the cha- 
racters of good men as though they had no faults, he 
used to say earnestly " Well, I hope no one will 
ever write in this way about me. a poor miserable 



sinner." 



As maybe expected, from the. foregoing observa- 
tions, the journal of Mr. Rowland HiU's second tour 
in Scotland^ contains but little matter to which we can 
advert with profit. His time and his talents seemed 
entirely taken -up with attacking the general assembly. 
On his road he paid a visit to Mr. Robinson, of Lei- 
cester, and preached in his church. " Our first ac- 
quaintance," he, says, "commenced at Cambridge ; tie 
was then pointed at, with myself as being out of the 
common way. Since then, however, blessed be God ! 
things are considerably altered for the better in that 
seat of learning;" The crowds, it is true, on Calton 
Hill were still large, but there are no evidences of 
conversions to God. -His account of the anxiety to 
Hear in the neighbourhood of Forres is very striking. 
"The people travel almost throughout the night, that 
they may reach a morning sermon. From twenty 
miles around, and some even from a greater distance, 
they flock from every quarter, and .hear with -a pecu- 
liar seriousness and attention ; while notmuch less 
and sometimes many more, than a thousarid,pr nearly 
two thousand, people would attend, and that, too, in a 
country where the . inhabitants^ were by no means 
numeroiiSj and where the Gaelic is in general use 
among the common people." Mr. Rowland Hill did 
not return to Scotland for more than twenty years 



188 Mia. HILL'S LAST VISIT TO SCOTLAL: ?. 

after this second .journey. He was in his eightieth 
year when he paid his last visit to Edinburgh, the 
scenes of which will be reserved for another part of 
this volume. His mode of preaching will form the 
subject of the next chapter. 



MR. ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING. 189 



CHAPTER VIII, 

MR. ROWLAND HILL ? S PREACHING. 

MR. ROWLAND HILL may be said to have been a 
preacher, for more than seventy years. A cottage on 
his father's estate was the scene of his first attempts to 
expound the scriptures. Some r of the tenantry at- 
tended there to hear him, which coming to the ears 
of Sir Rowland, he determined to, inquire .into the 
truth of the report, before, he noticed it to his son. 
He accordingly asked a half-witted boy- " who 
preaches at your mother's house ?" The lad replied 
"the young man that. fettled mother's clock;" aiid 
Sir Rowland, not being aware that the young preacher 
had amused himself iri repairing the old woman's 
clock,* supposed, he .had been misinformed, conse- 
quently, no interruption .was given to the preaching 
in the cottage. -To those who have never heard Mr. 
Rowland Hill, the most vivid description will convey 
no adequate conception of the unique mode of his ad- 
dress, and of his singularly dignified and commanding 
appearance in the pulpit ; nor do such of his sermons 
as have been printed, afford ;the slightest illustration 
of the style of his natural eloquence. It was an un- 

* He was very fond of this employment. Once, at a friend's 
house, he had retired, as the "company supposed, before' preach- 
ing, to consider his sermon ; but on^his host's- entering the room 
to inform him that the time had arrived for going to the, place of/ 
worship, he found him with an old clock, all to pieces, on 'the 
table. Mr. Hill : said " Ihave been mending your old clock, 
and I will finish it to-morrow." He preached with more than 
usual ease, and fervour, and drew several beautiful images from 
the occupation in which his friend, to his surprise, had found him 
engaged. ' 



190 MR. ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING. 

interrupted stream of ideas, from a warm heart and 
fertile imagination, mingled with every v species of si- 
militude that suggested itself to his mind at the mo- 
ment. Robert Hall said of him " no man has ever 
drawn, since the days of pur Saviour, such sublime 
images from nature; here Mr. Hill excels every other 
man." Indeed, his excursive mind gathered tribute to 
his Master's cause, from every portion of the visible 
creation ; and as he described his anticipations of the 
invisible glories, and perfect holiness and happiness of 
the unrevealed; scenes of heaven, it might have been 
thought, at times, that, like an angel, he had seen 
them. The limits of this work will allow only a few 
specimens of his most striking observations in the 
pulpit, but these cannot be omitted. 

A few years ago, when making a preaching tour in 
Yorkshire, Mr. Rbwland Hill paid a. visit to an old 
friend, who said to him " Mr. Hill, it is just sixty- 
five years since I first heard you preach, and I re- 
member your text, and part of your sermon." " ? Tis 
more than I. do," was his remark, "You' told .us," 
his friend proceeded, ^ that some people were very 
squeamish about the delivery of different ministers, 
who preached the same gospel. You said, suppose 
you were attending to hear a will read, where you ex- 
pected a legacy to be left you, would you employ the 
time when it was reading, in criticising the manner 
in which the lawyer read it? No, you would not ; 
you would be giving all ear to hear if any thing was 
left to you, and how much it was. That is the way 
I would advise you to hear the gospel." 

The energy of his manner at times, and the power 
of his voice, were almost overwhelming. Once, at 
Wotton, he was completely carried away by the im- 
petuous rush of his feelings, and, raising himself to 
his full stature, he exclaimed " Because I am in ear- 
nest, men call me an enthusiast ; t but I am not ; mine 
are the' words of truth and soberness. When I first 
came into this part of the country, I was walking on 



MR. ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING. 191 

yonder hill; I saw a gravel pit fall in, and bury three 
human beings alive. I lifted up my voice for help, so 
loud, that I was heard in the town below, at a distance 
of a mile ; help came and rescued two of the poor 
sufferers. No one balled me an enthusiast then ; and 
when I see eternal destruction ready to fall upon poor 
sinners, and about to entomb them irrecoverably in. 
an eternal mass of wo, and call aloud on them to es- 
cape, shall I be called an enthusiast now? No; sinner, 
I am .not-' -an. enthusiast in; so doing ; I call on thee 
aloud to -fly for refuge, to the hope set before thee in 
the gospel of Christ Jesus." 

He had a 'singular facility of suiting his reasoning, 
to the capacities of the uneducated, without seeming 
to be. aiming low ; bringing them insensibly up to 
him, and not, as is top often the case, offending them 
by a direct and visible eifort to descend on their ac- 
count. If a preacher attempts this, the lower orders 
either .see it, and are displeased, or else they look 
upon him as one who can soar no higher. The bene- 
volent man who says to the object of his charity, by 
word or manner" This plain gift is good enough for 
you," destroys all sensation of gratitude in the person 
he relieves ; but it is possible to befriend a distressed 
fellow creature, without making him feel the.lowness 
of his situation ; so it is possible to come down to the 
level of a poor man's intellect, without giving- him of- 
fence by letting, him know with what vast eondelcen- 
sion a minister is trying to do it. The following is 
an instance of Mr. Rowland Hill's management of this 
difficulty : He was. preaching for the London Mis 
sionary Society, to a congregation of plain* farmers 
and their labourers. Now, it is a : very common ob- 
jection with persons of this description, that the hea- 
then have sufficient light, and that, therefore, we 
might let them alone, and ; do more at home. His 
object was to reason them out olthis opinion, and he 
addressed them thus "I admit that the heathen have 
some natural light, but they do not use even this 



' 192 MR. ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING. 

aright. Now, suppose the whole family in a farm- 
house, assembled round the large kitchen fire on a 
winter's evening, all peaceful and happy. Presently, 
the stableman opens the door, and cries out, ' Master, 
master, the thieves are robbing the hen-roost.' Up 
they all start ; the farmer rashes to his closet for his 
lantern ; he lights the candle, and rims out, and, hold- 
ing up the light nearly to his head, advances with 
cautious steps. The wheel-barrow has been left in the 
way, and over it the good man fallsand- why '\ be- 
cause he has no light ? no, because he used it im- 
properly. . Thus it is with the heathen." : ' , 

Once, in a manufacturing town, the subject of his 
preaching was the influences of the Holy Spirit. On 
his way to the chapel he stopped several times, and 
appeared to be watching with interest, the ascent of 
the smoke from the factory chimneys. In his sermon, 
he wished to describe the obedience of a willing soul, 
to the gentlest breathings of the. Spirit of God, and 
said " I 'have been watching the smoke, as it went 
up from the numerous chimneys around me ; there 
was scarcely any air, yet how obediently it moved in 
the direction of the softest 'breeze. So it is with the 
regenerate soul, when God 'breathes upon its renew- 
ed powers He makes it willing in the day .of his 
power." /.' ' 

A very favourite subject with Mr. Hill, was the in^ 
separable union of justification and sanctification. He 
commenced one of his sermons on it with these words, 
"God cannot make. us happy, .except he makes us 
holy ; therefore; whom he justifies he necessarily also 
sanctifies." " Then," he would say, " many are will- 
ing to be justified, but desire not to be sanctified. 
Not so with me ; I can say of justification arid of sanc- 
tification like the child, who replied, when asked which 
he loved best, his father or his mother, l / love them 
both best."' - . ,, 

When speaking of the love and holiness of God, 
he seemed to rise above the world, and his counte- 



" Mil. ROWLAND HILL'S. PREACHING. 193 

nance beamed with an almost unearthly illumination; 
Once he endeavoured to convey to his hearers, by a 
variety "of striking illustrations, some idea of his con- 
ceptions of the divine love ; but suddenly he cast his 
eyes towards heaven, and exclaimed" but I am un 
able to . reach the lofty theme,! yet I do not think, 
that the smallest fish that swims, -in .the \boundless 
ocean, ever complains of the immeasurable vastness 
of the deep. So it is with me ; I can plunge with my 
puny capacity into' a subject, the immensity of which 
I shall never :be able fully to comprehend !" 

No man was ever more practical in his preaching ; 
let your light shine, was his constant, exhortation. 
" If the sun shines," he would say, " orr a dull brick or 
stone, they reflect none of its beams; there is nothing 
in them capable of this ; iior is there in an ungodly 
maiij any natural power- of reflecting the light of God. 
But let the sun shine upon a diamond, and see what 
rays of sparkling beauty it emits. Just so the Chris- 
tian who has the graces of the spirit ; when God 
shines on his soul, beams of celestial Ipveliness are 
reflected by him on 'the world." " The Christian's 
character," he said, "should savour of holiness. The 
promise is, I will be as the dew unto Israel ; and how 
sweet is the fragrance of the flower, after the gentle 
falling of the dew so must the true believer be, un- 
der the soft distilment of the droppings of heaven on 
his heart." "Cultivate,", he often urged, "a spirit of 
love. Love is the diamond, amongst the jewels of the 
believer's breastplate. The other graces shine, like 
the precious stones of nature, with their own peculiar 
lustre and various hues ; but the diamond is white 
now in white all the colours ,are united : so in love is = 
centered every other Christian grace and virtue love 
is the fulfilling of the law. It is the only source of true 
obedience to the commands of God." "If we love 
God," he used to say, "we must necessarily love that 
holy law, which is a transcript of his divine mind 
and will. Some people will tell you ttiatif you would 
17 .,- 



194 MR; ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING. 

gain heaven, you must pass through a self -deny ing 
course of the practice of virtue and obedience they 
make religion house , of correction work no, no, I 
love the service of my God; like the bird, I fly at 
liberty, on the wings of my obedience to his holy 
will." Frequently he described the nature of Christ- 
ian obedience, by saying, "The grace of God begets, 
in the man that is born of the spirit, a natural hatred 
to sin, though he loved it in his- old estate. The 
vulture's nature is to prey, with horrid preference, on 
the putrid carcasses of the dead. But did you ever 
see the gentle dove gorging this loathsome food 1 ? 
So the sinner feeds with delight on the nauseous 
enjoyments of his iniquity, like the carrion-eating 
bird of prey, while the regenerate soul has a holy 
disgust of all that -is offensive to its heavenly na- 
ture." ; 

His views of the efficacy of prayer were singularly 
-happy. "We know," were his words, "that the infi- 
nite God cannot be moved or actually drawn nearer 
to us by prayer, but prayer draws the Christian nearer 
to God. If a boat is attached to a. large vessel by a 
rope, the person in., the former does not bring the ship 
nearer to him by his pulling the rope, but he brings 
the boat, and himself in it, nearer to the ship. So the 
more ~ fervently we pray, the nearer we bring our- 
selves to the Lord most high. The Christian is there- 
fore' enjoined to pray without ceasing; not that he 
can be always engaged in the ...positive act, but he 
ought to have, what I call a holy aptitude for prayer. 
The bird is not always on the wing, but he is ready 
to fly in an instant ; so the believer is not always on 
the wing of prayer, but he has such a gracious apti- 
tude for this exercise, that he is prepared in an instant, 
when in danger or need, to fly for; refuge to his God. 
In all the avocations of time, the child of God will 
never lose sight of his heavenly father. I have often 
seen a little child following his parent in the fields, 
and stooping now and then to gather, a few flowers. 



, J 

MR. ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING. 195/ 

He looks up and sees him at a distance ; the little 
creature runs and gets up to him again, afraid he 
should go too far away. So the Christian, while ga- 
thering a few flowers from the world, suffers his God 
to bexrfteh a distance from him ; hut the instant he 
perceives that he is alone, he run& to reach again his 
father, protector, and friend." ^ v 

He had a happy mode of contrasting the light of 
reason with the light of religion. " By the light of 
reason," he would say, " we cast a sort of glaring illu- 
sion around ourselves ; but if confided in, it tends only 
. to obscure our vision of more : exalted glories. Illu- 
minate this town ; the streets are light, while the hea- 
vens are lost in darkness ; but when the day breaks 
forth, both the earth and the sky become visible. So 
the sparks of our own kindling , while they shed ah 
artificial brilliancy for a short distance around us, in- 
volve the scenes above in shadows even darker than 
those of night ; but if the day spring from on high 
dawn in the soul, we have clear views both of earth 
and heaven." 

The effect of his bursts of eloquence were much 
heightened, by their flashing forth unstudied, the in- 
stant the idea, oft in reference to some present object, 
arose in his mind. On one occasion, when past the 
age usually allotted to man, he was preaching on a 
summer's 'evening to an immense crowd, assembled 
partly within and partly without the walls of a chapel. 
A window was taken out, and he stood on the seat for 
a pulpit, so that all heard -him. Ere he concluded, 
the sun, in unclouded glory, had just reached the edge 
of the 'horizon ; he pointed to it and exclaimed, in a 
tone of the sublimest energy, " See you. the sun, .how 
majestically and brightly it sheds its parting beams 
around you ! 1 have heard, that the rays of the setting 
siin produce a most salutary effect, on the vegetable 
world that my setting sun, which must soon go 
down in death, may, during the evening of my days, 
be more and more blessed, in shedding a beneficial 



196 MRliwijANi) HILL'S PREACHING. 



light on the.treestheLord hath planted, and is water- 
ing to his glory." 

The real secret of Mr. Rowland Hill's preaching 
having been, at times, somewhat tinctured with the 
ludicrous, was, that -he seemed as though he were 
unable to restrain the rapid succession of ideas which 
crowded into his mind, and tended to explain his 
meaning. It will be easily believed,,that the majority 
of the stories told of his pulpit peculiarities, are with- 
out the slightest foundation; nor. did he ever yield 
to the force of the vis comica, which had so great a 
natural power over his faculties, except for the sake 
of illustration. For instance, when he was preach- 
ing to very plain people, he said, "I want you to 
have a holy aversion to sin. Do you know what I 
mean by aversion ? Suppose any one of you were 
to put your hand into your pocket and feel a toad 
there, you would draw it out instantly from an aver- 
sion to the animal. Now my desire is, that when 
conscious of the presence of sin, you should have 
just .such an aversion as this to it--a hatred of it. and 
disgust at its horrid nature." One day, when speak- 
ing of vanity in dress, and the inconsistency of it 
in Christians, he looked archly, and said, "I am, 
like old John Bunyan, thankful to say, that I have 
only one man in my country congregation who wears 
a pigtail." It is impossible not to acknowledge, as, 
he did freely, that he was at times too. ready to use 
expressions, calculated to produce a smile on the 
countenances of his hearers. Still, while the truth! 
of this is readily confessed, the exaggerations must 
be contradicted. 

The few sermons Mr. Rowland Hill published, 
were written by him from recollection, or from notes 
taken by others at the time of their delivery, but give 
no idea of .the freedom and perfect ease of his man- 
ner. He placed no restraint upon his flow of feel- 
ing; the exuberant fountain of his mind seemed ca- 
pable of an endless stream, of every possible variety 




MR. ROWLAND HILL'S PREieSlNG. - 197 

of thought and image. Perhaps the best specimen 
of his printed sermons, is the one preached on Sun- 
day, December 4th, 1803, to the volunteers assembled 
at Surry chapel, from Psalm xx. 7, 8. It was on this 
occasion that he introduced his hymn to the tune of 
"God save the King." The words were, 

Come, thou incarnate word, 
Gird on thy mighty sword, 

Our prayer attend: 
Come, and thy people bless, 
And give thy word success, _ . 

- Spirit of holiness 

On us descend ! - " 

, . . * O may thy servant, be 
I Fill'd with sweet liberty, 

1 Clothed with power ! 

I . Bid, Lord, the dead arise . ' 

By thy almighty voice; __ 

May we in thee rejoice 
1 .. . In this glad hour. 

j After the sermon, the hymn, which he wrote to the 

J tune of "Rule Britannia," was sung with wonderful 

effect 'by the immense congregation, all standing. 

I THE -KINGDOM OF IMMANUEL EXALTED. 

I . - ' 

;Jj ' 

H When Jesus first at heaven's command 

Descended from his azure throne, 
Attending angels joined his praise, 
. Who claim'd the kingdoms for his own. 
Hail Immanuel Immanuel we'll adore, 
And sound his fame from shore to shore. 

Girt with omnipotence supreme, 
The powers of darkness trembling stood . 
To hear the dire decree, and feel - - . 
The vengeance of the mighty God ! .. - 
Hail Immanuel, &c. 

' Not with the sword that warriors wear, 

But with a sceptre dipt in blood, ' - 

; He bends the nations to obey, 

And rules them by the love of God. ' 

Hail Immanuel, &c. 
17V - 



198 MR. "ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING. 

may the memory of his name, - 

Inspire our armies for the fight 
Our vaunting foes shall die with shame, 
Or quit our coasts with hasty flight. 
Hail Immanuel, &c. 

In his salvation is our boast, 
And in the strength of Israel's God 
Our troops shall lift their banners high, 
Our navies spread their flags abroad. 
Hail Immanuel, &c. 

Soon may the kingdoms of the earth, 
From sin and Satan's dreadful thrall, 
By thy great power and grace be 'freed. 
And Christ alone be all in all. 
Hail Immanuel, &c. 

Ride on and prosper, King of kings, , 
'Till all the powers of hell resign 
Their dreadful trophies at thy feet ; 
And endless glory shall be thine. 
Hail Immanuel, &c. . 

In the copy published in his -hymn book, Mr. Hill 
omitted the three verses which have reference to the 
particular occasion for which they were composed, 
and added the two ^following:- 

Go with thy servants, glorious Lord, 
And bid them tread the tempter down , 
Be more than conqueror by thy word 
And wear the/universal crown. 
Hail Immanuel, &e. 

Soon shall the monster, sin, submit 
His hateful sceptre to thy call ; 
Death, and death's author soon shall die, 
And Jesus Christ be all in all. 

Hail Immanuel, &c. , 

The singing of this last hymn, as it was occasion- 
ally heard at Surry chapel, by three thousand peo- 
ple, led by a first-rate player on an , organ of very 
superior powers, afforded, probably, one of the most 
inspiring examples of congregational music ever 
heard. This was admitted, even fry those who dis- 
approved the introduction of the air into the \yorship 



MR. ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING. 199 

of, God. Indeed the singing of Mr. Rowland Hill's 
London congregation, was a striking proof of what 
may be' effected, by proper pains, with this delightful 
portion of our public service, which is too often per- 
formed with disgraceful negligence. 

In the country, as, has been before stated, almost 
every summer's evening was spent by Mr. Hill in 
preaching in the villages around his residence. After 
an early dinner, his phaeton drove up to the door, 
and he used his equipage, not in the ostentatious va- 
nities of the 'world) but to carry him to proclaim to 
the poor and the ignorant, the way of life and peace. 
The peasantry all knew his errand, and many of his 
hearers who kept horses, rode to the various places 
in which he was to preach , They greeted him orfthe 
road with a respectful and affectionate smile, and by 
the time he reached the spot selected for his sermon, 
he was not unfrequently attended by a considerable 
cavalcade. The poor bowed and curtsied as he went 
along, and sometimes a simple-hearted creature would 
cry out "God bless you, sir, I wish you a good op>- 
portunity." When he came to the appointed village, 
some honest farmer often claimed the privilege of 
providing a stable for his horses, and he commenced 
his labour 'of love, amidst the smiles and the prayers 
of many humble followers of the Saviour. In this 
respect, the latter part of his days presented a happy 
contrast to his early life. In one town, a horse-dealer, 
who possessed considerable stable room, was deter- 
mined to have the honour of providing for his horses, 
and no persuasion could induce the man to receive 
the slightest gratuity. The kindness he received, at 
times quite overpowered him, especially when he re- 
flected on what he had suffered in his former days ; 
and oh these occasions, his words were v accompanied 
with an unction and feeling that melted the hearts of 
those, who heard him. "0 my dear hearers," he 
.would say, "may the. Lord bring home his own pre- 
cious word to your souls ; may the sweet influences 



20Q Mil. ROWLAND H1LL 7 S PREACHING. 

of divine grace inspire you with all the tenderness of 
a Saviour's love, and lay you low at the foot of his 
cross. Many a poor man makes a bright Christian ; 
God keeps him humble, that he may dwell in his heart, 
and that the beams of his grace may shirie in his life. 
I love the poor, the lowly believer. See yon even- 
ing star how bright it shines ; how pure, how gentle 
are its rays rbut look, it is lower in the heavens, than 
those that sparkle with a restless twinkling, in the 
higher regions of the sky. God keeps you low that 
you may shine bright." Then he would suddenly 
change his image^-" where do the rivers run that fer- 
tilize our soil is it on the barren top of yonder hill? 
No, in the vales beneath. If you would have the ri- 
ver, whose streams make glad the city of our God, to 
run through your, hearts and enrich them to his glory, 
you must abide in the vale of humility." Simple ad- 
dresses of this kind were understood and remem- 
bered by his poor hearers ; thus his ministry remain- 
ed in 'their hearts, and his kindness engaged their 
affections. - - 

The anxiety of Mr. Rowland .Hill's mind at times, 
before he entered on the solemn work of preaching, 
was very remarkable. He seemed quite lost in re- 
flection, and every now and then ejaculated in a low 
tone, " Lord help me to preach." On such occasions 
too, he was absent in the highest degree, and scarce- 
ly knew what he did. A colonel in the Engineers, to 
whom his ministry had been made useful, was very 
anxious to be introduced to him. In the evening of 
the day on which they were made known to each 
other, Mr. Hill was going to preach at Woolwich, 
and asked his new acquaintance to accompany him 
in his phaeton. A favourite dog jumped into the 
carriage, and was suffered to go with them. The 
pious officer hoped for some conversation ; but his 
companion appeared unconscious of his presence, and 
.went on whispering to himself the arrangement of 
his sermon, pulling at the same time the hairs out of 



MR. ROWLAND HILL'S PREACHING. 201 

the dog's back, and spreading them on the colonel's 
knee ! He was very much amused, with the absence 
of the minister for whom he had conceived so great 
a veneration, but said he was glad his train of thought 
was not interrupted, for such a sermon he had never 
heard before, as Mr. Hill preached that night. 

His ascent of the pulpit stairs in his old age was 
most striking. His venerable figure, his slow and 
solemn step, the evident fulness of his mind wrapt up 
in his subject, his commanding air and perfect self- 
possession, combined to produce the feeling that his 
people -often expressed, "it does us good if we can 
only see him." As >soon as he felt a Saviour's love 
when a boy, he rejoiced in proclaiming it to others, 
despising the shame, ; and his only grief when the 
feebleness of age came .upon him, was that. he. could 
not be a more laborious labourer in the vineyard of 
Christ. 



202 RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. 



CHAPTER IX. 

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY. 

IN the year 1799 Mr. Rowland Hill assisted in the 
formation of the Religious Tract Society. He was 
the chairman of its first committee, and always re- 
garded this excellent institution as one of the most 
useful societies of the age. He contributed to it se- 
veral interesting tracts, which "have had a very exten- 
sive circulation. " 

The speeches of Mr. Hill at public meetings, were 
not less original, than the imagery of his sermons de- 
scribed in the last chapter. His addresses on these 
occasions were invariably short, and notunfrequently 
contained an innocent and witty philippi c, against those 
long harangues by which the patience of hearers is so 
often exhausted. He Aised to tell the following droll 
story of what he said on one occasion. " His Royal 

Highness the Duke of was in the chair, and 

kindly desired me to sit next him. A man absolutely 
had the bad taste to spin out his dull tiresome oratory 
for more than an hour. Some of the people, tired to 
death, as well they might, went away. His Royal 
Highness whispered to me { really Mr. Hill I do not 
think I can sit to hear such another speech as this ; 
I wish you would give one of your good natured 
hints about'it.' It was my turn next; so I said < may 
it please your Royal Highness, ladies, and gentlemen, 
I am not going to make either a long or amoving 
speech. The first is a rudeness ; and the second is 
not required to-day, after the very moving one you 
have just heard so moving, that several of the com- 
pany have been moved by it out of the room nay, I 



LONG SPEECHES. 203 

even fear, such another would so move his Royal 
Highness himself, that he would be unable to con- 
tinue in the chair ; and would, to the great regret of 
the meeting, be obliged to move off.' This tickled 
his Royal Highness and the assembly, and we had no 
more long speeches that day." 

As he grew older, Mr. Rowland Hill's impatience 
of the length, at which some people venture to speak, 
did not at all diminish. The following reply to an 
invitation to preside at a meeting of the Tract So- 
ciety, will show his feeling on this subject ; and if it 
operates as a hint to such as are more lengthy than 
luminous, on similar occasions, many a chairman,.and 
many a hearer, will have reason to be glad that it was 
preserved to be inserted here. 



MY DEAR FRIEND, . 

An old man, in the 83rd year of his age, ought to 
be a little provident of his remaining strength.- You 
will say, no bodily strength can be needed, to sit 
quietly in a chair at a public meeting. True, but no 
small degree of mental patience is needed, while the 
poor chairman must sit it out for three hours at the 
least, to hear many a tiresome long speech (if they 
are not all of the .same sort) without any remedy or 
redress, upon the high fidgets, above half the time 
gaping and watching the clock. In most of these 
public meetings I have been tired down before they 
have been half over, and have been obliged to sheer 
off with the remains of my patience, and leave the 
finishing to others, while nothing but a short speech 
might have been expected from me. 

In the way in which too many of these sort of 
meetings are now conducted, I have my. fears, that 
many a good cause is injured by the means adopted 
for their support. Though some may be gratified by 
what may be said to the point, yet the dulness, the 
circumlocutiousnesS) the conceit, the tautology, 



204 POPULARITY. 

&e. of others. In short, few know how to be pithy, 
short, and sweet. And as I find It very difficult to be 
pithy and sweet, my refuge at all times is to be 
short. Pity therefore a poor old man, and let him 
not.be sentenced to suffer such a sort of pillory pun- 
ishment, and try if you cannot persuade some other 
good tempered sinner to suffer in his stead. 
Yours very sincerely and affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 
Mr.. Jones, . 

Religious Tract Society, 

Paternoster Row, London. 

r~ 

Mr. Rowland Hill's antipathy to long speeches 
was not stronger than his disgust at the unmeaning 
flourishes, wm'ch are too often introduced into ser- 
mons, to catch the vulgar ear, rather than to touch 
the sinner's heart. His remarks on this failing, though 
in an. eccentric style, are well worthy of notice. 
" Fine affected flourishes," he says in a letter to a 
friend, "and unmeaning rant, are poor substitutes for 
^plain, simple, unaffected gospel truths ; yet such sort 
of preaching will have its admirers; and it is surpris- 
ing what strange stuff of different sorts will make up 
a popular preacher, insomuch that being registered in 
that number, should rather fill us with shame than 
with pride." Speaking of the spurious popularity of 
one individual, and of the crowds who were attracted 
by his declamatory and florid style, he .observed 
" they are quite tired of being hammered with the 
same threadbare old truths. They are for the man. 
who can carry them away, upon the wings of his 
amazing oratory, up into the third heavens among the 
angels and archangels, and turn them into spiritual 
star-gazers at a, single flight. They cannot bear any 
longer to be kept creeping on their knees, as poor sin- 
ners at the foot of the cross, while they have nothing 
to do but to catch hold of the tail of this -wonderful 
jfme spiritual kite, and,fiy away with him wherever he 



INTERESTING NOTICE. 205 

may choose to carry them." When once asked his 
opinion of the excitement produced by a well known 
preacher, -he said, " this cannot last; he is like a sky- 
rocket that goes off blazing into the air ; but the dry 
stick soon falls to the ground, and is forgotten." 

Probably one great cause of the usefulness of Mr. 
Rowland Hill's own preaching, was his utter forget- 
fulness of self, when engaged in deh'vefing his mes- 
sage to "sinners; His warnings came from a heart 
awed with the terrors of the Lord, his descriptions of 
religious experience, were faithful delineations of the 
working of his own mind, and his, invitations to Christ, 
were poured forth with all the tenderness of one who 
really yearned over souls. He expressed the desires, 
feelings, and recollections of the instant, so that even 
immediately after preaching, he did not remember 
what he had said; and often has he declared,, that he 
never reached the foot of the pulpit stairs, without 
the ; impression that he, had not discharged his office 
as he ought, Hence, scarcely a Sunday passed with- 
out some, notice of his success. One little slip of pa- 
per placed in his hands in the pulpit, is. a very strik 
ing instance of deep conviction, in an individual who 
afterwards had much joy and peace in believing. It 
was written in a beautiful hand, and worded thus : 
" Will God indeed hear prayer for a hardened and 
impenitent sinner, who would mourn over his vile- 
ness, but cannot ; who longs to approach his mercy- 
seat, and to draw near to the table of the Lord, but 
dares not; whose soul is darkness, and his heart cold 
within him! Oh ! that Jesus would shine into his 
soul, and chase away the clouds of sin that involve 
it, that he may no, longer go sighing all the day long, 
as they that have no hope, arid no consolation. 



The person who thus depicted the first workings ol 
religion in his soul, was publicly invited to an inter- 
view in private with Mr. Hill, After a long delay, 
18 



206 VISITS TO THE SICK. HYMN. 

he came trembling to confer with his beloved pastor, 
who had the satisfaction of seeing him, at last, in the 
full enjoymentof the perfectlove which casteth but fear. 

The interest with which Mr. Rowland Hill watch- 
ed the closing scenes of his converts, walking as it 
were by their side to the very gates of death, and con- 
sidering the end of each of them as a memento of his 
own, is worthy the' imitation .of every minister. His 
calmness in the chamber of the dying, the tenderness 
with which he held forth the love of Jesus, as the only 
refuge of the expiring believer, and his composed and" 
solemn commendation of the soul to God, were won- 
derfully contrasted with his agitation, when he left 
the bedside of one he loved, but whom he was soon 
to lose. The emotions he had suppressed, often vent- 
ed themselves on these occasions in tears, but oftener 
in a violent 'sickness,- which would have alarmed a 
stranger, and was most distressing to his friends. 
Nor did his anxiety for his 'dying hearers end with 
the ebullition of his sorrow ; he thought of them often, 
and sometimes composed hymns which he sent them. 

The depth of Mr. 'Hill's- piety, Was never more per- 
ceptible than in his Lymns. The one entitled " a 
Prayer for the Promised Rest" he considered as the 
best he ever wrote.: it has been repeated with, a holy 
joy, by many of his flock in the approach of death. 



A PRAYER FOR THE PROMISED REST. 

Dear friend of friendless sinners, hear, 
And magnify thy grace divine, 
Pardon a worm that would draw near, 
That would his heart to thee resign : 
A worm, by self and sin opprest, 
That pants to reach thy promis'd rest. 

With holy fear, and reverend love, 
I long to lie beneath thy throne ; 
I long in thee to live and move, 
And charge myself on thee alone : 
Teach me to lean upon thy breast, 
To find in thee the promis'd rest. 



VILLAGE DIALOGUES. 207 

Thou say'st thou wilt thy servants keep 
In perfect peace, whose minds shall be 
Like new bora babes, or helpless sheep, 
Completely stay'd, dear Lord, on thee: 
- How calm their state, how truly blest, 
- Who trust on thee, the promis'd rest. 

Take me, my Saviour, as thine own, 
; ' And vindicate my righteous cause,- 
v Be thou my portion, Lord, alone, 

And bend me to obey thy laws ;. " 

In thy dear arms of love- caress'd 
Give me to find thy promis'd rest. 

Bid the tempestuous rage of sin, 
With all its wrathful fury die ; 
Let the Redeemer dwell within, 
And turn my sorrows into joy ; 
may my heart, by thee possess'd, 
Know thee to be my promis'd rest. 

It is time, however, that we pass on from these di- 
gressions to a more regular narration of events. 

About the year 1800, Mr. Rowland Hill conceived 
the idea of composing his Tillage Dialogues, the cha- 
racter of which is too well known to need description 
in these pages. " Why, sir," if was remarked to him, 
"your dialogues make us laugh and cry in the same 
breath !" " To be sure," said he, "that 'is just what I 
did when I wrote. them:" -"But, sir, you are scarcely 
justified, are you. in the satirical attack you have made 
upon Jhe church ?" " What ! Attack upon the church ! 
I meant no such thing why, how unreasonable it is 
to say so -look you, the hero of my piece is a clergy- 
man of 'the most truly evangelical character." 

The preface to the dialogues informs us, that the 
author's chief adviser, during the progress of the work, 
was the excellent Mr. Ambrose Serle: The letters of 
this able and pious man on the subject, will be read 
with great interest by those acquainted with the Vil- 
lage Dialogues. The first is as follows : 

-.. James Street, 2bth May, 1801. 

REV. AND DEAR SlR, 

You must have thought me extremely rude, by 



208 LETTER OP MR. AMBROSE SERLE. 

my long omission to acknowledge the receipt of your 
friendly letter ; but the fact is, I have been absent from ; 
town on public business, for these last five weeks, two 
days excepted,and therefore could not avoid the delay. 
The little tracts on which you condescend to ask my 
opinion, though your own knowledge and experience 
must have rendered you a far more competent judge 
than I am, do certainly contain many great, .solid, and 
fundamental truths, which no man can dispute, with- 
out bringing into doubt the reality of his own faith 
and hope as a Christian ; and, I conceive it to be my, 
duty earnestly to pray, that the widest dissemination 
of those evangelical principles, consonant as they are 
to the articles and homilies of the established church, 
may take place throughout the world. But I conclude 
that not the principles themselves, but the manner in 
which they are- offered, have raised a difficulty among 
your friends. I own, with respect to myself, (though 
I have formerly been a defaulter,) that the grave and 
the solemn subjects of death, and hell, and a judg- 
ment to come, with all that relates to God and the sal- 
vation of man, seem to require a weighty seriousness 
of spirit, thoroughly impressed with an humble, awful 
sense of matters most indisputably momentous and 
sublime ; but I cannot dare absolutely to condemn a 
more lively frame of mind in others than 1 can choose 
to allow in myself, because I have seen the blessing of 
God co-operating with writing and discourses, abound- 
ing with sallies of high vivacity and genius, which 
perhaps persons of a reserved or melancholy temper, 
not warranted, however, by religion, which is joy and 
peace in itself, might be inclined to dislike or refuse. 
Spiritual hilarity, too, may have its exorbitances as 
well as the natural ; and this ease of. heart often ex- 
poses men, otherwise humble and serious, to cheerful 
sensations, bynomeans accommodated to people under 
trials, ..anxieties,, or temptations. The case, therefore, 
must be left to God, with due allowance for the pe- 
culiar turns of the human mind, which grace does not 



LETTER OF MR. AMBROSE SERLE. 209 

alter, but improve, and which vary 'in .almost every 
person we meet with; and these, when the great 
points are correct, become a proper subject for mutual 
charity and forbearance among Christians, 

Possibly some of your friends may be, offended, at 
what they suppose an implied censure upon the great 
body of the ministers of the established church. I be- 
wail the melancholy fact, however, that too many 'such 
ministers as Mr. Dolittle are in the establishment, 
who act and speak more as men of the world, than a 
heathen can allow to be consistent with the Christian, 
profession. I lament, too, that such unfit and unwor- 
thy men are not, or cannot be, turned out of it. . But 
I rejoice, at the same time, that there, is, in our day 
" a great company of the priests" who have truly be- 
lieved, who are sedulous in their respective stations, 
. who are highly instrumental in turning many from 
darkness to light, and whose lives and conversations 
are an ornament to their profession, and examples to 
their flocks. Between these two very different sorts of 
people, I am sure you will think with me, that a strong 
and broad line pf distinction should, in every discus- 
sion relative to the duty of the function, be constantly 
and eminently drawn. Justice and truth, as well as 
the : edification of souls, do forcibly require it. 

The bottom of the ^page reminds me, that I am 
trespassing 'upon the indulgence you- have allowed ; 
and therefore I will only add my. hearty prayers that 
the Lord of life and glory, in whose name you stand 
among the children of men, may direct and bless all 
your labours to the end for which you stand up at 
all the salvation of souls by Jesus Christ. I beg to 
be i remembered in the same by you, and remain. 
Rev. and dear sir, your friend 

and servant in one common Lord, 
Rev. Rowland Hill. AMBROSE SERLE. 

In August, 1801, Mi\ Ambrose Serle again wrote 
to Mr. Rowland Hill on the style of his Village Dia- 
1 : 8* ' 



210 LETTER OP MR. AMBROSE SERLE. 

logues, and the humorous incidents with which ./.they 
abound. 

James Street) Ikth August, 1801. 
MY DEAR SIR, 

Your last favour canie to my hands in the north, 
as 1 was travelling on public business. 

Though I have not had the pleasure of seeing the 
last dialogues you mention, I am persuaded that you 
have no object in their publication but spiritual edifi- 
cation ; and whether this object can be attained by 
lively sallies or graver attempts, is a matter which, I 
own, depends so much upon the blessing of God, that I 
feel it to be a kind of hazard in me to say any thing posi- 
tively upon it. There appears, however, a real distinc- 
tion between pleasantry and levity, though this distinc- 
tion, considering the different humours, and conse- 
quently the different opinions of men, cannot easily be 
so marked, so as to define always where one ends and 
the other begins. Gloomy tempers are prone to cen- 
sure (and especially upon subjects of a serious and 
solemn nature) the least departure from which parti- 
cularly suits them. People of more cheerful disposi- 
tions can be pleased, nay, I believe, can be advantaged, 
by lively expresv^.ions and representations of the most 
sacred and important truths. I remember to have 
heard, that once, in a large company assembled on 
some particular occasion, two ministers, strangers to 
each other, were invited, to meet ; the one a man of 
great wit and vivacity, like yourself ; and the other of 
a melancholic turn, rendered, perhaps, still more me- 
lancholic by repeated trials and sufferings. The plea- 
sant man indulged his vein, and frequently excited a 
degree of mirth in the circle about him ; the other, 
surprised at what appeared to him a conduct quite out 
of order, sat in silence, wrapt up in reserve. Towards 
the breaking up of the company, the cheerful minister 
was called upon to be the voice of the rest in prayer to 
God, in which exercise his soul was so carried out in 



VILLAGE DIALOGUES. 211 

sublime communion, and the most ardent excitations 
of spiritual life and love, that it seemed a flame 'from 
heaven, diffused and enkindled in the hearts' of all 
about him. When they arose, the dear melancholic 
man went up to him, with tears streaming from his 
eyes, and addressed him to the following purpose : 
" My dear brother, forgive me, I beseech you. Here 
have I been for this whole afternoon, condemning you 
as a person of a light and frothy mind, talking utterly 
unworthy, not only of a Christian minister, but of a 
Christian man ; .but I see and confess, from what God 
has done in you, and enabled you to utter in prayer 
before him, and in the presence of this company, that 
the fault is all my own, and that gloominess of mind is 
no necessary part of true religion, nor cheerfulness of 
mind an enemy to it." Having said this, he cordially 
embraced his no less aifectionate brother, with mutual 
tears of joy. Excuse this story. 

With my hearty prayers, that the Lord may, bless 
all your labours for the edification of souls, and for 
his own glory by Christ Jesus, 
I remain, dear sir, 

Your friend and obedient servant, 

AMBROSE SERLE. 

The Village Dialogues have passed through thirty 
editions, and have been translated into some of the 
languages of the continent. The rural dialects which 
abound in them, are those of the West of England, 
with which Mr. Rowland Hill was most familiar ; and 
in the midst of matter of almost every kind, they cer- 
tainly contain some beautiful descriptions of the effect 
of real piety, on men of every class, as well as scenes 
of the most affecting pathos. He utterly denied, that 
"when a bad minister or character had been held 
forth as a proper example for reproof," it was intend- 
. ed by him for a " sweeping charge," without any discri- 
mination, and frequently asserted, that he had no in- 
tention of attacking the church by any such descrip- 



312 SALE OF CURATES. 

tions : on the contrary, his declared design was to 
show, in some of his characters, the value and great 
usefulness of its devoted and laborious clergy. How far 
he took the steps most likely to effect such an .object, 
must be left to the various opinions of the readers 
of the work; and it is fairly questionable, whether 
some of the scenes described- in it may not have a ten- 
dency to produce ah impression on the mind very op- 
posite to his. real design. Still there is- every reason 
to believe, that they have been instrumental in awak- 
ening numbers of careless and irreligious people ; 
frequent instances having occurred, of persons da- 
ting their conversion from the perusal of this book. 
Thus the undoubted purity of iris object has been 
owned of God. .- 

It would not he right, in a life of Mr. Rowland 
Hill, to leave ' unnoticed some dialogues of a very 
different description, from those to which reference 
has been just made. Contrary to the advice of his 
sincerest friends, and to the urgent entreaties even 
of many dissenters, he persisted in publishing his 
" Sale of Curates." The consequence was that anti- 
cipated by almost every person of discretion his 
exclusion from the numerous pulpits of the establish- 
ment into which he had been previously admitted. 
His popularity, and the. well known excellence-of all 
his purposes, made him the welcome assistant of a 
great number of clergy, wherever he found it con- 
venient and agreeable; but after this book was circu- 
enlated, they, considered it impossible any .more to 
invite his services ; the more especially, as in many 
instances it would have been in opposition to -the will 
of their ecclesiastical superiors. He certainly re- 
gretted, at last, that it was ever printed, and said, " I 
wish I .could buy it up." It was one of the mistakes 
of a- long and laborious life, in which there was so 
much to illumine the page of Jus history, that after 
these remarks, which fidelity .requires', we may pass 
on to contemplate his happier and wiser efforts, for 



WARNING TO PROFESSORS. 213 

the spread of divine truth. The current of his ar- 
dent and inventive mind, sometimes overflowed the 
limits which reason and religion prescribed for its 
course, diffusing itself in shallows,* arid injuring the 
very .soil he had most assiduously cultivated ;. but it 
oftener rari. within its proper bounds, conveying fresh- 
ness and fertility to every scene "through which it 
passed. 

At the commencement of the present century, there 
was scarcely an event of religious interest, with which 
Mr .'Hill- was not in some degree connected. Men 
employed, in disseminating the truth over the con- 
tinent of Europe, and missionaries in various -parts 
of the world, seemed to delight in reporting to him 
the tidings of their success, or in opening to his sym- 
pathising breast, all their cares, dangers, and suffer- 
ings. Jle: thought consistency at home the great 
secret of usefulness abroad ; and with a view to the 
correction of worldly conformity,; in many who pro- 
fessed the name of Christ in our own land, he pub- 
lished his " Warning to Professors." Allusion to it 
has been made before in these pages ; but it is men- 
tioned 1 to introduce some admirable remarks of Mr. 
Serle, who says, in a letter to Mr. Rowland Hillj " 1 
have read over the 'Warning' with much delight. 
It is a publication that has long been wanted among 
us ; and there is a life, and spirit, as well as a seri- 
ousness, in the composition, which, in the Lordis 
hand, cannot fail, I think, of making deep impres- 
sion. I have been praying over it, that the Divine 
Spirit may accompany this most necessary tract 
with his efficacious blessing, and that thousands 
now riving, and tens of thousands yet unborn, may 
receive counsel, edification, and fidl correction res- 
pecting those worldly conformities, and carnal (I 
might say devilish) snares, which in all ages. are, and 
have been, laid for the entanglement of professors. 
Every. true believer will rejoice in your work. The 
opinion of nominal Christians, however specious and 



214 SURRY CHAPEL COMMUNICANTS. 

sensible they may appear in eyes like their own,4s 
not worth a moment's attention. The Lord make 
us good non-conformists to the world, and then the 
world may deride us as they please. 'A little of their 
slander and opposition will cause professors to mind, 
as well as to mend their ways ; for while the men of 
the earth are watching over then: conduct, they will 
be more zealously induced to look up for wisdom and 
strength from above, that their feet may be kept' from 
falling, and that they may glorify the Lord more and 
more in their lives and conversations. 'Once % more 
accept my thanks for this most seasonable and power- 
ful publication." 

Mr. Hill was very vigilant over the consistency of 
the members of his own chapel. " The city of Lon- 
don," he says, in his " Warning," "may be compared 
to a great wilderness ; we seldom know how our next 
neighbour lives. I have therefore found great utility 
in announcing, on three different occasions, before all 
the communicants, the names and the abode of those 
who wish more statedly to join the communion. 
They are next regularly registered, that we may call 
for them whenever necessity requires : after this they 
receive such frequent .charges, as that they know all 
conformity to the world is totally prohibited among 
us. By this plan, considering the very imperfect 
state of things, though we do not suppose that all is 

fold that glitters, yet, comparatively speaking, the 
isgraceful characters have been but few. Thus 
things have, with a little attention, been most com- 
fortably managed, while the most pleasant peace and 
harmony universally prevails." Indeed the. com- 
municants at Surry chapel, thus carefully wsrtched 
over, have ever been remarkable for a conduct of 
admirable purity, happily untainted by the ascetic or 
morose. '.' , 

This era of Mr. Rowland Hill's life was marked 
by the ever, memorable event of the formation of the 
British and Foreign Bible Society, an institution which 



BIBLE SOCIETY. 215 

he cherished in its rise, and whose principles he de- 
fended in all the trying scenes through which it has 
passed. The, first members of it were amongst his 
most esteemed friends, and its president, Lord Teign- 
mouth, was connected by marriage with the Hill fa- 
mily. It was at .the 'suggestion of the bishop of Lon- 
don, that Lord Teignmouth was proposed in the com- 
mittee, by Mr. Owen, as president pf the Bible Society, 
and the proposition was instantly seconded by Mr. 
Rowland Hill, who had the happiness of being thus 
instrumental in placing, at the head of that truly ad- 
mirable body, one of the most judicious and excellent 
noblemen that could have been selected for. such an 
important office.- Never was any man more entirely 
given up to the cause of truth than Mr. Hill, and all 
the energies of his mind, and the powers of his body, 
were voluntarily .offered to the Lord as his reasonable 
and willing service. As each successive formation of 
auxiliary associations gave additional strength to the 
Bible Society, he seemed filled with a glow of interest 
and delight. When the news first arrived of the 
meeting at Cambridge, he was just about to sit down 
to dinner, which he finished with the utmost haste, 
and would scarcely wait; the removal of the cloth, 
before he said to the author of these memoirs, then a 
boy "spending the holydays at his house," now read 
me every word of these speeches." His ecstacy was so 
great, that expressions of the most pure delight burst 
every moment from his lips. ".0 what a change 
since I was at the University the Lord be praised, 
the Lord be praised." To the immortal honour of 
Trinity College, the master and seniors of that learned 
body presented a donation of fifty guineas to the, 
Bible Society, .on the day of the .Nation's Jubilee,- a 
proper homage to that blessed book which must be 
our ladder to true learning, even unto gray hairs, 
and the mystery of whose truths, both literate; and 
illiterate, we can only know by the teaching of the 
Holy Ghost. . 



216 CONVERTED FARMERS. 

On the discovery of vaccination by Dr. Jenner, 
Mr. Rowland .Hill eagerly embraced this new means 
of conferring a benefit on his fellow creatures. "This," 
he said, "is the very thing for. me;" and wherever 
he went to preach, he announced after his sermon 
" I am ready to vaccinate to-morrow morning, as 
many children as you choose, and if you wish 
them to escape that horrid disease, the small-pox, 
you will bring them." Once a week he innoculated 
the children who were brought to him from Wotton 
and the neighbourhood ; and it is well known, that 
one of the most effective vaccine boards in London 
was established, and still continues in operation at 
Surry chapel. 

When vaccinating 'children, Mr. Rowland Hill 
seemed quite .in his element, talking kindly to the 
parents, and coaxing the little frightened creatures in 
the most good natured manner. In a few years, the 
numbers innoculated by him amounted to more than 
ten thousand, and in most of the cases he was parti- 
cularly successful. Dr. Jenner was a person of very 
animated conversation, with a remarkably kind dis- 
position ; and although he did not fully participate in 
Mr. Hill's religious views and feelings, he had the 
highest veneration for his character, and was a fre- 
quent attendant on his ministry at Cheltenham. Dr. 
Jenner seemed at times forcibly struck with the deep 
tone of his friend's piety and, glowing anticipations' of 
happiness, in a spiritual state of being. Mr. Hill once 
introduced him to a nobleman in these terms: "allow 
me to present to your lordship my friend Dr. Jen- 
ner, who has been the means of saving more lives 
than any other man." Dr. Jenner bowed, and said 
with great earnestness, "Ah ! would I, like you, could 
say souls? 

The ministry of Mr. Rowland Hill, in middle age, 
was made very useful to some of the Gloucestershire 
farmers, amongst whom pleasing instances of conver- 
sion, and a total change of habits and manners, took 



CONVERTED FARMERS. 217 

place. These persons were remarkable examples of 
the power of religion, on. previously ill-cultivated 
minds. The frost of selfishness, by which all the 
softer faculties of their souls had formerly been con- 
gealed, dissolved under the melting .influences .of the 
love of God, and the simple graces of true piety flow- 
ed forth in streams of active benevolence. .Such is 
the character of , Farmer Littleworth in the Village 
Dialogues, which was drawn from what the author 
himself had witnessed inhisownflock. One individual 
in particular, presented as striking an instance of the 
efficacy of religion, as can be conceived. He was in 
his. youth, an attendant upon every scene of rural dis- 
sipation within his reach; a fighter, a horse racer, 
a midnight rioter in fairs and revels. Grace changed 
his heart and his life, so that he became a true and 
zealous servant of the Lord Jesus Christ ; peaceful, 
diligent, industrious, generous. He frequently de- 
scribed the happiness he enjoyed in the service of 
God, contrasting it with his stings of conscience when 
he lived in sin. " When I used to go," he said, "to ail 
kind of fairs, and revels, and horse races, I was never 
happy. As I was coming home through the woods 
at night, the rustling of a leaf would frighten me ; 
terrified by I know not what, fleeing when no man 
pursued, I galloped, home as fast, as my horse could 
carry me. Now, if I go to visit a poor dying man, or 
if I have been enjoying the word of life, I come home 
in a calm and peaceful frame of mind. I find that 
the Lord is present with me ; and as I walk my horse 
gently along , I look up and^see the bright stars^above 
my head, and enjoy the assurance that the God who 
made them all, is mine in Christ. what a mercy ! 
the loneliness of the wood, the rustling of the leaves, 
the stillness of night, no longer alarm me I am, I 
trust, reconciled to my God, and at peace, with him 
and my own conscience, through the death of his Son. 
He that fills the heavens with his glory, and the earth 
with his mercies, condescends to dwell in, and to 
19 



218 DEATH OF SIR RICHARD HILL. 

comfort my poor sinful heart." Mr. Rowland Hill 
had a great regard fpr this excellent man. He had 
naturally a fervent spirit ; and sometimes as he looked 
at his venerable minister, a tear stole down his cheek, 
when he remembered that he was the first-messenger 
of comfort to Ms soul. This pious farmer knew the 
state of mind, and inquired into the temporal wants 
of .every poor man in his employ ; and it may be 
truly said,. the Lord was with him in his. business, for 
it always seemed to prosper. 

On November 28th, 1808, Mr. Rowland Hill lost 
his affectionate brother Sir Richard Hill, who was 
succeeded in his title and estates by his brother Mr. 
John Hill, the father of Lord Hill, and the other brave 
soldiers before-mentioned. A handsome addition to 
the income of Mr. Rowland Hill, was left him by his 
deceased brother, and he immediately increased his 
charities in proportion to his augmented means. He 
was perpetually endeavouring to extend the limits of 
his usefulness, and began to turn his thoughts towards 
the introduction of the gospel into Cheltenham, then 
rapidly rising, to its present high estimation, as a 
place of fashionable resort. Cheltenham was some 
years ago little more than a village, till the discovery 
of its mineral waters attracted many persons from a 
distance. The parish church being totally unequal 
to their accommodation, Mr. Hill, in conjunction with 
some good men in the neighbourhood, conceived the 
plan of erecting a chapel there, to which it was hoped 
the visitors would-be attracted. Had there then ex- 
isted the present ample and excellent provision for 
the spiritual wants of its inhabitants and others, he 
would not have interfered ; arid no pe'rson rejoiced 
more sincerely than Mr. Hill, in his old age, at the 
zeal of the clergy who presided over the large con- 
gregations in that place. ' By his influence, subscrip- 
tions were soon raised, to erect a handsome and 
commodious place of worship, in which he was zeal- 
ously assisted by a gentleman residing in the town. 



MR.. ROWLAND HILL'S AMUSEMENTS. 219 

Another of his. coadjutors in this work was his Mend 
0. P. Wathen, Esq. of Woodchester, near Stroud, to 
whom he thus mentioned his intention. "I suppose 
you have heard of our design to build a large chapel 
at Cheltenham, upon the plan of ours at Surry cha- 
pel ; the church service to be adopted, anal the pulpit 
open to evangelical ministers of all denominations. 
This event will probably call me more frequently 
to visit your part of the country." The first, stone 
was laid in the year 1808, by Mr. Rowland Hill, who 
preached on the occasion to a large assembly, and in 
the autumn of 1809 it was completed, and opened 
for divine service. Whenever Mr. Hill visited Chel-= 
tenham, the building, was crowded to excess, and he 
continued to preach in it occasionally, to vast con- 
gregations, and with. great popularity, till within a 
year of his death. From this pulpit he preached some 
of his finest sermons ; and his dignified appearance, 
energy of manner, and widely extended fame, attracted 
persons of every rank, not a few of whom greatly 
profited by the truths they heard. 

In the midst of all Mr. Rowland Hill's numerous 
engagements, it was delightful to watch his innocent 
relaxations. His garden was to him a source of per- 
petual enjoyment, and he prided himself on his suc- 
cessful cultivation of flowers. On arriving from a 
long and- fatiguing journey, he seldom went into, the 
house till the borders were examined, and notice 
taken, of the progress of the giants in his absence. 
The strawberries, melons, and fruit trees, were brought 
to great perfection under his own special superin- 
tendence. Three or four times, in a warm summer's 
morning, he would quit his study to 'gather rose 
leaves for a pot-pourri^ a supply of which, prepared 
by his own hands, he was, very proud of offering to 
hisvisiters. After dinner, while some person read 
aloud, he was busily occupied in making nets for his 
fruit trees or fish ponds ; and if he took a walk in the 
evening, it must be with an odometer to measure, the 



330 MR. ROWLAND HILL 5 S AMUSEMENTS. 

distance from the house at Wotton," to some place in 
the vicinity. He ,also had his pets of the animal 
creation, and often .exhibited the tricks which he had 
taught them, with a humour belonging to himself 
alone. Still in the midst of alLhis amusements, reli- 
gion appeared admirably predominant, visibly quali- 
fying his every pursuit, and gently restraining the 
redundances of one of the most active and original 
dispositions ever implanted in man. 



RECOLLECTIONS OF MR. HILL. 221 



CHAPTER X. 

MY OWN RECOLLECTIONS OP MR. .ROWLAND HILL. 

I HAVE hitherto, given such a history of the life of 
Mr. Rowland Hill, as I could collect from my re- 
membrance of- what he has told me himself of his 
extraordinary career, and from the interesting docu- 
ments which he bequeathed to me. As I have never 
passed a year without spending some portion of it 
with him, I think I shall be enabled to convey to 
those interested in his memoirs, a more complete view 
of. his unique character, by bringing before them in. 
the first person, my recollections of his public en- 
gagements, and the pleasing developement of his 
amiable and cheerful qualities, in the retirement of 
his own family. Surrounded as he was by persons 
of every description, it was necessary that he should 
<be somewhat reserved, except to a few individuals 
who possessed his confidence. Numbers fancied 
they knew him well, because he was courteous, 
polite, and cheerful, in the presence of every person 
of whom he entertained a good opinion ; but though 
the readiness of his wit and humour caused him 
to converse in an apparently unrestrained man- 
ner with many, very few were acquainted with 
the movements of his mind, or the events of his 
early days. Some presumed upon his kindness ; but 
he bore their forwardness with patience, for the sake 
of dding good, and because he believed it arose from 
ignorance. If once his suspicions were awakened 
and confirmed, those he had detected in doing wrong, 
seldom sought a second interview with him. Many 
years ago, an individual who had done 'discredit to a 
19* . , . 



222 ANECDOTE. 

profession of religion, was standing at his door, just 
as he was going out, and greeted hinl xvith "How do 
you do, Mr. Hill, I am delighted to see you once 
more." He made no answer; but with an air of 
perfect amazement, exclaimed, "What! arn't you 
hanged yet ?" and returned to the house till the as- 
tonished visiter departed. He was so well known by 
name, to every description of person, that applications 
of afi kinds were made to him ; and I have witnessed 
some such scenes .at Surry chapel house, as I think 
were never to be met with in any other place. I well 
remember one morning the footman ushered in a 
most romantic looking lady. She advanced with mea- 
sured steps, and with an air that caused Mr. Hill to 
retreat towards the fire-place. She began, 

"Divine shepherd" 

" 'Pon my word, ma'am !" 

" I hear you have great influence with the royal 
family." 

"Well, ma'am, and did you hear any thing else?" 

" Now seriously, sir my son has the most wonder- 
ful poetic powers. Sir, his poetry is of a sublime 
order noble, original, fine" 

"Well, I wonder what will come next," muttered 
Mr. Hill, in a low tone. 

"Yes, sir, pardon the liberty, and therefore I called 
to ask you to. get him made Poet Laureate." 

"Ma'am, you might as well ask me to get him 
made archbishop of Canterbury !" . 

The mother of the poetic genius withdrew, looking 
highly indignant at the fit of laughter it was impossi- 
ble to suppress. " 

At times the knocker of Mr. Rowland Hill's' door 
had literally no rest from morning till night; and 
nothing could exceed the good humour with whichhe 
submitted to every species of interruption. Foreign- 
ers, all sorts of mendicants, candidates for the minis- 
tryin short, almost every person who called, found 
him ready to listen to their cases. These were 



ANECDOTE. 223 

sometimes, like that which has been just described, 
not a little singular. One evening after dinner, his 
servant said, "Sir,, a foreign gentleman wishes to 
speak to you." "Well, show him in," said Mr. Hill, 
and there entered a tall mustachoed man, who ad- 
dressed him with, . 

" Meester Hill, I have heard you are a wonderful 
great, goot man can do any ting." 

"Mercy on us ! then I must be a wonderful man 
indeed." 

"." Yes, sate, so you are a very wonderful, man ; so 
I call to ask you to make my ambassador do his duty 
by me" 

" Sir, I can assure you I have not the honour of 
knowing him." / 

" Oh,- sare, but he regard a letter from you." 

"Sir, I can have no possible influence with him, 
and cannot take the liberty of writing to him, on a 
subject about which I know nothing." 

" But sare, I will tell you" 

Finding his applicant inclined to be pertinacious, 
he concluded the. business by saying 

"Well, sir, you may give my compliments to the 
ambassador, and say, that / advise Mm to do his 
duty ; and that will do as well as writing." 

"Yery goot, sare goot, day." 

The unreasonable requests to which Mr. Hill was 
continually subject are almost incredible; and the 
patience with which he bore them all, was truly sur- 
prising. Numerous stories of his sayings on such 
occasions, have been widely circulated, many of 
jjvhich originated in the imaginations of the invent- 
ors. I do not recollect a single instance of his losing 
his temper, when annoyed in this manner ; nor do I 
ever remember him to have given way to uncontrol- 
led irritability, under the most trying excitement. 
In this respect he was, in the retirement of his fami- 
ly, a happy example of the precepts he so forcibly 
inculcated in his public ministrations. 



234. AN ELECTION. 

In the winter of 1810-11 Mr. Rowland Hill took a 
very active part in a contested election, and engaged 
in the canvass, with all the energy of his persevering 
character. He never more fully, experienced the 
effects of his unbounded popularity, than, on this oc 
casion. Wherever he appeared, he was greeted with 
enthusiasm, and -had the greatest difficulty in pre- 
venting the populace from taking the horses out of 
his carriage, and drawing him themselves. This 
was the only time in my remembrance, that he was 
occupied in an active political canvass, for which he 
considered there were good reasons : he ever after- 
wards declined to interfere. As was to be expected, 
this deviation from his usual course was the 'cause 
of many remarks, which h& generally suffered to pass 
unnoticed; but on one of the days of the poll, he 
happened, to be seated at table with a young, man, 
who observed, in rather a sarcastic tone, " really the 
Methodists make excellent canvassers." 

Mr. Hill, roused in an instant, said, " I consider 
myself singularly fortunate in having met you to-day, 
as I shall now obtain a correct definition of a term I 
never knew .the real meaning of. Pray allow, me to 
ask you to tell me what a Methodist is." 

"Indeed; Mr. Hill, I beg .your pardon, I did not 
remember you were present, when I made use of the 
word." 

" I cannot say that your apology at all lessens my 
right to ask the question, as you have now made the 
expression personal to myself." 
'" no, no, no, indeed." 

.." Well, but as I presume a person of your educa- 
tion and ability is not accustomed to use language 
you do not know the meaning of, I still for the sake 
of information beg leave to press my question." 

"Why in truth I I I cannot exactly say." . 

"Then allow me, as an old man, to give a little 
wholesome advice to you, as a young one never 
again, particularly in a large company, make use of 



CHELTENHAM. 225 

words, the signification of which you do not under- 
stand, and cannot explain." 

I heard Mr. Rowland Hill give an account of this 
conversation, when he added "we met the next day 
for all this, and were as good friends as ever : I only 
gave him a little proper counsel." Mr. Hill certainly 
felt the young man's observation very acutely, and his 
resolution never to come forward again in a similar 
way, is a proof that he thought it unadvisable for a 
minister to be carried out of the path of higher and 
spiritual pursuits, by the force of any temporal excite-* 
ment. The messenger of the gospel becomes -the 
truest patriot, when he is most diligently employed 
in winning his fellow countrymen to the religion of 
Christ Jesus, whose precepts, obeyed from the heart, 
are the firmest pillars of the social system, and the 
surest antidote to anarchy or misrule. 

In the summer and autumn of 1811, Mr. Rowland 
Hill's thoughts were much occupied by an attempt to 
rate his chapel in Blackfriars' road, which 'I shall no- 
tice hereafter, and by the affairs of his cause at Chel- 
tenham. In a letter to the Rev. G. Clayton, he speaks 
thus of the work that was going on in the latter place. 
"You will be happy to hear, that the cause at Chel- 
tenham continues to prosper exceedingly. In the 
morning we are completely filled without a crowd; in 
the evening, in general, we nearly overflow, while 
some are kept away through the excessive heat of the 
place. God's word shall not return to him void, arid I 
am persuaded much good.is 4o be done, where preju- 
dice is removed, and a serious attention is given to the 
w ord of life." With regard to his mode of managing 
the services, he remarks in the same letter," the eco- 
nomy of the chapel I trust, also, is well contrived' .to 
increase, unity and peace throughout the Christian 
church at large. While the public are accommodated 
with that mode of worship, which is most congenial 
with their educational .prejudices, they will have an 
opportunity of finding that Christian ministers of va- 



236 SEVERE ACCIDENT. 

rjous denominations, are all so happily united in all 
the essential doctrines of the gospel, as gives the hap- 
piest evidences of the unity of the Christian church, 
notwithstanding some little differences, scarcely wor- 
thy to be thought of, among those that are really one 
in Christ." 

In the autumn of 1811 Mr. Rowland Hill met with 
a severe accident. He was riding his favourite cream- 
coloured horse " Bob" through a steep arid rugged 
road, as the nearest way to a village in a neighbouring 
valley, where he was going to preach. The animal 
stumbled against one of the many large stones scat- 
tered over the narrow way, and fell with his whole 
weight on Mr. Hill. Being of a most gentle and docile 
nature, he lay quiet till his rider was extricated from 
his perilous situation, when the latter was found to be 
much bruised, and to have broken two of his ribs ; He 
was confined for some weeks to his bed ; but his cheer- 
fulness never forsook him, though before he arose, a 
severe inflammation settled in his right eye. Not being 
able to preach, Mr. Hill remained at Wotton till to- 
wards Christmas, when the state ; of his eye became 
so alarming, that he went to London to consult the 
celebrated Mr. Ware. I travelled with him on that 
occasion. We were two days on the road: he was 
mostly silent and dejected, complaining of great pain, 
till I remarked, " there is Eton, sir." He then seemed 
to forget his sufferings, and talked to me, in the kind- 
estmanner, of his religious feelings when a boy there, 
accompanied with beautiful remarks on the dedication 
of our-, youth to God, and the pleasures of the remem- 
brance of having spent it in his service'. On 'arriving 
in London, before we went to Surry chapel, he drove 
to 'the house of Mr. Ware, and received all the kind- 
ness and attention for which that eminent oculist was 
so justly esteemed. When he reached his own resi- 
dence, he rose into a frame of the most exalted piety, 
and walked up and down the room, breathing forth 
resignation to his chastening Father's will, in all the 



CHELTENHAM. s 227 

fervour of a sanctified use of affliction. A minister 
present observed, " I never saw him in a more holy 
state of mind:" in truth the Lord was \vith him in 
the furnace, and all that the fire destroyed, were the 
ties which had. hound him too closely to earth, and 
to himself. "God," said he, "has laid me on one 
side, has incapacitated me for his work to humble 
me, to make me feel that I am nothing in his cause, 
and that I may more justly value the privilege of la- 
bouring for his glory." The skill of Mr. Ware was 
at length made the means of restoring him to his 
beloved people. I shall never forget his first return 
to the pulpit, on his recovery, nor the expression of 
happy welcome which beamed on the faces of a nu- 
merous and affectionate congregation. 

In the summer after his restoration to his ministe- 
rial duties, I had the pleasure to accompany him and 
Mrs. Hill to Cheltenham. When there, he was fol- 
lowed by visiters of every rank, to whose accommo- 
dation in the chapel, the most polite attention was 
paid by the trustees. He much enjoyed the morning 
walk at the wells, and received great benefit from 
the waters ; but the .pleasures of the place did not, 
tempt him to relax in his usual routine of weeldy 
village preaching. This will appear, from a letter 
to his friend Mr. Wathen, announcing his intended 
plan. He says, "Mrs. Hill has promised to go with 
me to Cheltenham, and we are to take young Sidney 
with us, .to show him the place. In consequence 
of this, we shall travel all the way in our own car- 
riage, and shall hope to be with you at your dinner 
hour on Saturday, the 4th of July, which I suppose 
must not be late, as we shall afterwards haveto'go 
to Cheltenham in the evening. Though by this plan 
I shall not need the offer of your carriage, yet it 
need not prevent the kind design of your attending 
us to that place. I should rather hope it would for- 
ward your intention, ,as we shall have*a spare place 
in our carriage, that you may travel with us. YOU 



228 SERVICES OF SIR. ROWLAND HILL. 

know we are to return, if lives be spared, on the 
Wednesday, that I may preach at Rodborough, and 
Ebley on the Thursday, and perhaps at Painswick 
on the Friday, and return to Cheltenham on the Sa- 
turday." Though his weak eye suffered from the 
heat of the crowded chapels, he would preach ; no 
illness that did not actually confine him to the house, 
no remonstrance could prevent it, and frequently" 
after -sitting silent and wrapt up in thought, he was 
heard to say indistinctly to himself "0 that I could 
do more for. my God, that I could bring more souls 
to Christ : Lord help." Every walk in "the grounds 
of his friends, every hill he climbed, to enjoy some 
romantic view, every event seemed to furnish glean- 
ings for his sermons. His mind turned all the inci- 
dents of life to the account of his work, in which it 
was evident to those who were witnesses of his zeal, 
that no man ever engaged with more heartfelt ear- 
nestness, to bring souls to a true concern for their 
eternal salvation. His. playful, guileless mind, ran 
innocently, and often sportively, on the surface of the, 
earth; but far more frequently did it soar on the 
wings of devotion, into regions above this world, ex- 
panding itself in the praise and service of the God 
of heaven. 

Towards the year 1813, the conspicuous part which 
his nephews took in the great and warlike r deeds of 
the peninsula, in addition to their vast importance, 
caused Mr. Rowland Hill to feel and to express no 
ordinary interest, in the. tidings of battles and victory, 
that were perpetually reaching those who were at a 
distance from all the horrors and massacre of war. 
The exploits and services of Sir Rowland Hill in 
Spain, have been rewarded by due fame and honours, 
and his kindness and attention to the troops under 
his command, by which he obtained the immortal 
name of "the soldier's friend," are still fresh in the 
grateful recollections of many a brave fellow whom 
he led to victory. The town of Shrewsbury, to mark 



SIR ROWLAND HILL. 229 

its sense of the honour he had brought to his native 
county, returned him to Parliament in 1812, and his 
brother, the late Colonel Hill, represented him on 
that occasion, and was chaired for him.* Involved as 
he was in all the changes and perils of an arduous 
warfare, and engaged in harassing responsibilities, 
Sir Rowland Hill lost no opportunity of assuring" his 
uncle, Mr. Rowland Hill, of his sincere esteem, and 
of communicating to him from time to time, accounts 
of the' difficulties he-had encountered and surmounted. 
Firmness and kindness, accompanied -by the highest 
military talents, were' the qualities which inspired the; 
confidence, and ensured the affection, of all connected 
with this gallant officer. Persons coming from. Spain 
at this period, used frequently to call at Surry chapel 
house,, with, such tidings as they knew would be inte- 
resting to Mr. Hill, or if they had been the bearers of 
letters to .his nephew, to express, in -terms of the warm- 
est gratitude, their sense of the way in which he had 
received them. There were several soldiers under 
Sir Rowland Hill's command, who had been hearers 
of his uncle, who inquired after, their welfare, from 
his nephew, with all the affectionate anxiety of a pas- 
tor for the members of his flock: Sir Rowland's an- 
swers were given, in a manner that clearly explained 
the cause of the devotion to their general, which was 
so often expressed by the brave men under his com- 
mand. In one of his letters to Mr. Rowland Hill, 
he says, ."Ihope my aunt received a note I wrote 
some weeks ago, to inform her that the soldier she 
inquired abouj was well ;" and I recollect a poor sol- 
dier's wife telling Mrs. "Hill, "0 ma'am, we all re- 
spect Sir Rowland Hill for his kindness to us." An 
officer from Spain, once came to the house at Surry 
chapel, to bring Mr. Hill some intelligence of his 
nephews, who said, " Sir, your nephew, Sir Rowland 
Hill's calmness and self-possession are the admiration 

* The splendid column erected afterwards to Lord Hill, is 
known to every traveller on the great Irish road. 

20 



230 LORD HILL. 

of the whole army. He never loses, them for an in- 
stant, in the most trying situations. I was near him 
a short time ago, when he came up to an elevated 
spot, to order a piece of cannon to be" placed on it. 
He spoke as coolly as if he had been in a room ; and 
though the shot flew about him like hail, he was per- 
fectly unruffled." Wheii such honourable mention of 
his nephew was made to Mr. Rowland Hill in con- 
versation, or read by him in the papers, his eyes filled 
with tears of pleasure, mingled with the apprehension 
that the next news might be, that he had lost him in 
the hour of his military glory. A kind providence, 
however, spared him this sorrow : the hero lived to 
wear the laurels he so bravely won, and to add, by 
every species of kindness, to the comfort of his vene- 
rable relation in his last days. When the brilliant illu- 
minations-took place to celebrate the victories of our 
arms, Mr. Rowland Hill placed a transparency in the 
front of Surry chapel, which attracted much attention. 
At the head of it two hands held, on a . scroll, the 
words" the tyrant is fallen." Under this came a 
quotation from Obadiah, iii. 4, The pride of thine, 
heart-hath deceived thee } thou that dwelleth in the clefts 
of the rock, whose habitation is high; thai saith in 
his heart, who shattering me down to the ground ? 
Though thou' ex alt thyself as the eagle, and though 
thou set thy tiest among the stars, thence will I bring 
thee down, saith the Lord. To this was added, Be 
wise now, therefore, O ye kings : be instructed, ye 
judges of the, earth : Ps. ii. 10. The subject of the 
painting, was the sun .setting on. the sea, exhibiting 
on. the shore, to the left, a lion couching at the foot 
of a fortress near the trophies of war; and to the 
right, a lamb lying by the implements of agriculture, 
with a village church, and a cottage before' him. 

At the conclusion of the peninsular war, Mr. Row- A 
land "Hill had the satisfaction to see his nephew ad-' 
vanced to the peerage, and to witness the honours 
with which he was welcomed, on his return to his na- 



PRESENTATION OF A SWORD TO LORD HILL. 231 

tive country. Soon after his arrival, he took me with 
him one morning to Lord Hill's hotel in Hanover- 
square. He was at breakfast, surrounded by his com- 
panions in arms, who seemed much interested in the 
lively conversation of Mr. Hill. After breakfast,' Lord 
Hill went with' us to see a picture of the Duke of 
Wellington, surrounded by a group of military offi- 
cers, whom he had commanded in Spain. Before en- 
tering the carriage, Lord Hill, struck with the beauty 
of the horses, stopped to admire them, which was 
quite to the humour of Mr. Hill, who prided himself 
not a little on their appearance and docility. It was 
a day of great gratification to me as a boy ; but no 
youth could have enjoyed it more than my aged and 
indulgent relative. - J " 

"In addition to the other honours conferred upon 
Lord Hill, the city of London had voted him a sword, 
which was presented to him on the same day a simi- 
lar mark of distinction was given to Lord Beresford. 
Mr. "Rowland Hill was invited to Guildhall, and good 
naturedly allowed me to accompany him. His witty 
and original conversation, attracted those around him 
who were. assembled in the waiting room ; and never 
did he manifest a more redundant flow of spirits. In 
placing the sword in the hands of Lord Hill, the 
chamberlain alluded to the fact, that a Sir Rowland " 
Hill of his family^ was the first protestant lord mayor 
of London. As soon as MiVRowland Hill presented 
himself at the door of the Guildhall, the populace, 
who had been shaking hands with, and cheering Lord 
Hill, cried out, " here comes the good old uncle," and 
followed him by loud huzzas as he departed. He 
could not help contrasting ..these expressions of re- 
spect, with tlie- contempt, obloquy, persecution, and 
personal insults, of which he was the daily subject at 
the commencement of his ministry; Once, on the 
terrace at Hawkestone, about this time, he remarked 
to a lady who was walking with him r and who had 
witnessed the affectionate attentions which were paid 



232 ILLNESS OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 

him, by Sir John Hill and his family " You have 
seen how I am now received here; but in my youth 
I have often paced this spot bitterly weeping : while, 
by most of the inhabitants of yonder house, I was 
considered as -a disgrace to my family. But," he add- 
ed, the tears trickling down his aged cheeks, " it was 
for the cause of my God." - The motives which ever 
actuated his conduct, were a sincere desire for the 
extension of the Redeemer's kingdom, and a love for 
souls; and the course he pursued, arose chiefly from 
the advice of others, and the circumstances of the 
.times. His services, offered in the integrity of his 
heart, were accepted ; and even in this life, ;he receiv- 
ed the full accomplishment of the promises of Christ, 
to those who leave all to follow him. , 

The honours which had been won by the relatives 
of Mr. Rowland Hill, the high estimation into which 
his own character had risen, and the respect shown 
him by all ranks of persons, might have had the. effect 
of endearing him, in his declining days, too closely to 
this world, had it not pleased God in his wise provi- 
dence to counteract these dangers, by the visitation of 
his chastising hand in sickness. 4 few months after 
the excitement caused by the presence of the sove- 
reigns and others, who had contributed to the over- 
throw of Napoleon, and the scenes of gratification in 
which, by his connexion with some of the heroes of 
the peninsula, he had been necessarily involved, Mr. 
Hill was attacked by a severe 'and painful disease. 
This happened about the usual time of his returning 
from Wotton to London. His friends became serir 
ously alarmed, and were anxious to bring him to town 
as soon as possible, that he might have the benefit of 
the medical skill of the metropolis. His -feelings un- 
der sickness are thus expressed by himself, in a letter 
to one of the -members of Surry chapel:. "My days, 
must benearly ended, and consequently, my life is com- 
paratively of little worth. Still may the languid efforts 
of my declining days prove riot an unacceptable offering 



ILLNESS OP MR. ROWLAND HILL. 233. 

before him, by whose divine power our weakest efforts 
maybe crowned with the most abundant success. At 
present, however, I am obliged to give way to disease, 
and though perhaps nothing dangerous, yet exceeding- 
ly painful and lowering to the constitution. Yesterday 
I suffered severely, and to-day am very feverish, weak, 
and low, and how I shall be able, to accomplish my . 
journey to town, as yet I cannot tell. This, however, 
I shall attempt as speedily as circumstances will admit." 
"In a few days," he proceeds, " it will be needful that 
I should write again, .that it may be known how far 
I shall be able to attend on the accustomed services 
of the chapel, which, at present, were I there, I should 
not be able to perform. All this is from the. hand of 
God. One at my time of life can have no .reason to 
complain, having been possessed of so much health; 
and strength, for so many years. I have been fa- 
voured beyond most; God, forbid that these light af- 
flictions should excite the most distant murmuring, 
from one that has cause for the most abundant thank- 
fulness before God." The only difficulty with Mr. 
Rowland Hill in sickness, was to prevent his preach- 
ing; nothing but positive physical inability, would in- 
duce hini to yield to the orders of his. medical attend- 
ants, and the entreaties of his friends* To the letter, 
from which the last quotation is taken, Mrs. Hill add- 
ed a postscript,. in which she says, " The exertion of 
preaching is injurious .to Mr. Hill, but I find it diffi- 
cult to. keep him from it," His removal to. London 
was effected as soon as possible, where he was attended 
by Dr. Babington and Mr. Cline, with such skill and 
kindness that his complaint began quickly to give way. 
Dr. Babington called so often, and was so attentive, 
that he expressed to him his fears, lest such frequent 
visits should interfere with his -own interests. Dr. 
Babington replied, Mr; Hill, I shall be happy indeed 
to be made in any way the instrument of your reco- 
very, for I shall not only have the pleasure of seeing 
you in the enjoyment of health, but shall have con- 
20* 



234 LETTER TO MR. WATHEN. 

ferred a benefit upon numbers, to whom your ministry 
is made useful." By the blessing of God on the ad- 
vice of this eminent physician, and the skill of the 
well known surgeon who was called to his aid, he was 
restored to many years of labour and usefulness. 

During his illness, those who knew the restlessness 
of his temperament and impatience of confinement to 
the house, were surprised at seeing how he bore it. 
I remember the first evening on which he felt deci- 
dedly better. He was lying on a sofa in his drawing 
room, and we were just going down stairs, having 
taken leave of him, when he said " Stop, I will have . 
the servants up here, ring the bell." When they 
came in, he said "We will go to prayer," and, re- 
maining on the sofa, he breathed forth a short prayer, 
full of expressions , of; gratitude to God, and earnest 
dedication of returning" strength to his glory. An an- 
swer to the affectionate inquiries of his friend, Mr. 
Wathen, will prove the truly Christian state of mind 
in which he welcomed returning health. 

December 5th, -1814. 

MY VERY DEAR KIND FRIEND, 

You will be more assuredly convinced that I am 
better,if I answer the letter you have so kindly written 
to my wife. ' 

Yes, the Lord in infinite wisdom.and goodness has 
chastened and afflicted me, but has not given me over 
to death. Only on this day se'nnight I was in such a 
state, that if the' Lord had not put a speedy termina- 
tion to my disease, it must have speedily terminated 
my life; but, by the blessing of God on some of the 
best medical help that London affords, lam still pre- 
served, and that it may be for his future glory, 
as far as he condescends to engage me as ah instru- 
ment in his hands, for the future good of his church . 
and people \ Haying already terminated the seventieth 
year of my life, it becomes me to look upon my pre- 
sent recovery as a short respite, rather than a long re^ 



LETTER TO MR. WATHEN. 235 

prieve. Still the Lord may design that we should do 
something for him, arid more than we may expect, 
even in the latter stages of our lives, and we shall not 
wish to die, if still we have any thing to do for him in 

this lower world of wo. > 

* * # . * * * . * * 

~ '....*. 

You say nothing about Mrs. Wathen's health. We 
would, therefore, conclude she is better.; What a 
mercy it is to enjoy health, if we are but enabled to 
enjoy it to the glory of God, ; 

You kindly ask what you can do for -me. I an- 
swer, pray for me, that my sickness may be sanctified. 
This blessing I have had from thousands. I am asto- 
nished that such an unworthy creature, should have 
been so laid upon the hearts of so many of the .people 
of God. ' , . . 

I still continue convalescent, and ,am gaining 
strength, and really long, in my .feeble way, again to 
be.set at work. , 

Your ever most affectionate ' . . 
and obliged friend, &c. 

ROWLAND HILL. 

O.- P. Wathen, Esq. - 

No one was more anxious for Mr. Rowland Hill's 
recovery, and to show him every attention, than 
his friend, Mr. Wathen. As soon, too, as his appe- 
tite returned, he sent him venison, woodcocks, and 
such other delicacies as he knew would be acceptable, 
for which he received the following letter of thank's : 

London, December IQth, 1814. 

MY VERY DEAR SlR, v 

You very frequent. and kind inquiries after my 
health, are most aifeetionately acknowledged by us 
both. - Through the mercy of God, since my last at- 
tack, which is now near three weeks ago, I have felt 
no returns of disease, and .my strength is considera- 
bly recruited. that, through the sparing and re- 



236 LETTER TO MR. WATHEN. 

storing mercies, of our God, we may be dedicated to 
live more abundantly to his glory ! We are thankful 
for the good news you send us respecting the health 
of Mrs. Wathen.^ We are never so thankful for health 
as when we have been deprived of it. We are told, 
that chastisement is sent for out profit, and for this 
purpose, " that we may be made partakers of his holi- 
ness." The greatest blessing that God can 'confer, 
is his own divine image on the heart. This is hea- 
ven within us, and what would heaven be without 
his image when there ! 

A thousand thanks for your kind prog. In a few 
days we shall partake of our venison feast, and shall 
remember with gratitude the affectionate hand that 
sent it. The woodcocks were devoured to-day ; they 
were both very good. Neither Moorfields, Snows- 
fields, Lincoln's-inn-fields, Leicester-fields, Saint 
George's-fields, . Saint Giles-in-the-fields, nor any- 
other fields about London, could have produced us 
such a treat. 

* * *,# * # X 

My kind love to Mr. -. I know his services will 
be acceptable at Wotton, and I hope Mr. ; s will 
prove the same at Rodborough. Remember us to all 
your family, and believe me, 

Yours most affectionately, 

R. HILL. 
0. P. Wathen, Esq. 

I recollect going with Mr. HilLthe first time he 
walked out after he regained' his strength. With 
much persuasion he put on his great coat. In the 
streets he received innumerable congratulations from 
persons he met ; from tradesmen, who ran out of their 
shops, and from the inmates of every house he called 
at. The day was fine for the season. When he 
returned, his man inquired " Sir, where is your 
great coat ?" " That's more than I. can tell you," he 
replied laughing, " but I'll tel) you where I have been, 



MR. ROWLAND HILL'S WALKS. . 237 

*> 

and you must go a hunting after it by and by." The 
ludicrous occurrences which resulted from his for- 
getfulness of such matters, often afforded us consider- 
able merriment, in which no one. partook more hear- 
tily than himself. If he had not been accompanied 
by a careful servant, parts of his dress would have 
been frequently separated in his journeys, by very 
wide intervals. If ever any man had attained to the 
digito monstrarierit was Mr. Rowland Hill. Wher- 
ever he walked in London, persons were whispering, 
" There's Rowland Hill," and when, as was his cus 
torn, he stood to look at the prints in the shop win- 
dows, he attracted great attention. Of this, however, 
he never could be persuaded, and was just as much 
at ease in the crowded streets, as in his own grounds 
at Wotton. If a companion said to him " You had 
better come on, sir, there are so many people staring 
at you," he would say "0 no, there's nobody thinks if 
worth while to look at me, I am sure." This was 
not affectation ; he ever truly esteemed others better 
than himself, in the spirit of genuine humility. 

During the visit of the sovereigns to this country, 
a pious general, in the staff of the Emperor Alexan- 
der, was a constant attendant at Surry chapel. From 
him Mr. Rowland Hill gleaned many interesting par- 
ticulars of the autocrat, and had no doubt of his real 
tpiety and love for the Bible Society.. This distin- 
guished officer very frequently dined at Mr. Hill's, 
and the conversation sometimes turned upon the 
Greek church, the errors of which were ably pointed 
out by Mr. Hill. One day a remark was made on 
the admirable petition " By all thy sufferings, 
known and unknown, good Lord deliver us." "Aye," 
said Mr. Hill, " I consider that prayer to be one of the 
most touching ever uttered. The unknown suffer- 
ings of Christ ! All his described sufferings were 
slight, in comparison with what infinite holiness must 
have felt in the midst of sinners ; the light, the glory 
of heaven, in the darkness and impurity of the world, 



238 INTENSITY OF FEELING. 

yet spotless, and without sin ! my Saviour, no 
tongue can describe, no angel can fathom, the abyss 
of thy suffering for me a sinner. As I cannot reach 
the infinite height of thy love and thy glory in hea- 
ven, so I cannot descend into the depths of thy sor- 
rows when here on earth. I can only wonder and 
adore !" Often did he burst forth with strains such 
as these, and so intense were his feelings, that every 
nerve seemed shaken with the workings of his mind. 
Never did any Christian feel more completely, the 
power and beauty of the mysteries of redeeming 
love. 



FESTIVITIES AT THE. CONCLUSION. OF THE \VAR. 239 



CHAPTER XL 

FESTIVITIES AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 

THOUGH no person offered sincerer thanksgivings 
for- the restoration of peace than Mr. Rowland Hill, 
he constantly .expressed his disapprobation of the 
manner in which the victories of our arms were cele- 
brated in this country. In allusion to the roasting 
of oxen and sheep, and other festivities at Wottpn, he 
says, in a letter to a friend, "Had twice as much been 
distributed, in a wholesome and orderly manner, I 
should have been glad to have been in the thickest 
of it ;" but as he considered such modes of manifest- 
ing a natiqn's joy, neither appropriate to the occasion, 
nor really beneficial to the poor, he declined partici- 
pating in them. I was with him w.hen he received . 
the news of the battle of Waterloo ; on finding that 
his five gallant nephews had survived a contest, in 
which so many brave herpes fell, he lifted up his 
hand without uttering a single word. , The expression 
of his countenance is still pictured in my memory : it 
manifested a stronger sense of gratitude to God, than 
could have been conveyed bywords. He rose from his 
chair, went to the window, looked towards the lovely 
view before him, as if to conceal the emotions by which 
he was unmanned, and left the room without speaking. 
Though Mr. Hill was.now in his seventy-first year, he 
had engagements more numerous and fatiguing, than 
most young men could have gone through. He never 
preached less than four times a week to his people in 
London, and five at Wotton, besides meeting the so- 
ciety on a Monday evening ; , in addition to which, 
there was scarcely a religious or benevolent institution, 



240 FATIGUES OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 

according with the views he had adopted as his rule of 
action, which did not claim and receive a large share 
of his exertions. In one week, when past the age 
just mentioned, he went through the exertion of tra- 
velling a hundred miles in a mountainous part of 
Wales, and preached twenty-one sermons ! Sometimes 
he complained that he was tired on a Sunday evening ; 
but the vivacity of his conversation and the liveliness 
of his manner used occasionally to elicit the remark, 
"Well, sir, yours is a curious sort of fatigue ;" to 
which he would reply, " I was tired just now, but I 
forgot it." In a letter written at this time, he observes 
how wonderfully he had been favoured with health. 
" Thanks be to God," he says, "with a very few ex- 
ceptions, I have had an abundant share of this bless- 
ing,' for upwards of. seventy years. No wonder if I 
now begin to complain that my limbs get stiff, and that 
I cannot accomplish similar, active exertions to those 
of former days. Still may the will be the same, when 
the power is denied. The glory of our lives should 
be to live to the glory of God ; and what are all our 
doings, compared to what our most merciful Redeem- 
er has done for us ? for a spirit of full dedication 
to the glory of God !" In another letter he remarks, 
" Old as I am, I am just returned from a long mission- 
ary ramble; but I feel I am getting old. that 
I may work well to the last !" In all his journeys, 
even when he had reached a period beyond that 
usually allotted to man, he was disconcerted if he 
did not 'find a pulpit ready for him every evening. 
In one of his letters fixing his days for preaching, 
on his road to some place, he says, "Ever since 
my Master has put me into office, I have, ever es- 
teemed it my duty to remember his admonition 
As ye go preach.'" His general answer to invi- 
tations 'to houses on his route, was, "I shall be 
happy to come to you, if you can find me a place to 
preach in." 

To preach, and to promote the preaching of Christ, 



Q,UAJUI''1CAT1ONS OF PKKACHERS. 241 

was ever a prominent object , of Mr. Rowland Hill's 
life, and he made his own ease a'nd convenience en- 
tirely subservient to it. This induced him to assist 
itinerants whose qualifications he approved ; but he 
never countenanced the slightest .interference with 
the sphere of a clergyman, whose doctrines and zeal 
were admired by. him. In writing, his opinion. of 
the sort of persons required for, such, a work, he 
says " Lively, zealous, wise, simple-hearted, liberal- 
minded, &c. &c, preachers, are all we want. These 
cannot be manufactured at academies. what huge 
offence I gave the other day, by warning young 
preachers not to travel about the' country, with a 
sack of dried tongues for sale, ; wherever they werit. 
It is a poor traffic, and ill-calculated to bring souls, to 
Christ." Again he remarked on another occasion 
"Holy and faithful -ministers, blessed with equal 
ability and zeal, are greatly needed. We should deal 
much with the Lord of the harvest,- to raise/them up 
and send them forth. How different the poor tools 
of ministers .of our manufacturing, when compared 
with the burning and shining lights the Lord can 
send forth." 

Though at this stage of his life Mr. Rowland Hill 
was free from most of those temporal cares and anxi- 
eties, which are the painful lot of many of God's peo- 
ple, he had to mourn the unexpected decease of some 
highly valued friends of his flock. Two of these were 
Mr. Beames, and Mr. Benjamin Neale, the, eldest son 
of the proprietor of the well known glass and china 
repository, in St. Paul's churchyard, men devoted to 
the cause of truth and benevolence. Mr. Hill's af- 
fection for the former of these excellent Christians, is 
thus strongly expressed in a letter to Mr. B. Neale. 
" I ought to love him ; he is my wise,, and good, and 
faithful friend. Yital Christianity creates many such, 
and there is no real friendship out of Christ. It can- 
not be; for there is no love put of Christ, for- he alone 
is the centre and source of love." 
21 



242 LETTER TO Mlt-S. B. NEALE. 

From the family of the Neales, Mr. Hill had re- 
ceived for many years the strongest proofs of attach- 
ment, and maintained such an intercourse with them, 
as should subsist between a pastor and the affection- 
ate members of his congregation. Mr. Neale. was'a 
man of the strictest integrity, and appropriated to the 
cause of charity and religion, a large share of the in 
come he had the good fortune to acquire by diligence 
in business. One of his sons, Mr. Cornelius Neale, 
obtained the first mathematical and second classical 
honours of his year at Cambridge : he was senior 
wrangler and second chancellor's medallist. His lite- 
"rary attainments were not more remarkable' than the 
kindness of his disposition, of which I had three years' 
happy experience, being placed under his able tuition, 
through the recommendation of Mr.' Rowland Hill. 
Mr. Cornelius Neale married the accomplished daugh- 
ter of Dr. John Mason Good, the well known author 
of many valuable works. The sincerity of Mr. Hill's 
regard for Mr. Benjamin Neale, will appear from the 
following letter, addressed to Mrs. Neale, in allusion 
to the alarming state of her husband's health : 

Wotton, AugustZZ, 1815. 
MY DEAR MADAM, 

While I feel myself gratified for your kind atten- 
tion, in sending me the information respecting the 
dangerous state of Mr. Neale's health from a recent 
attack, yet no news could have affected me more, as I 
have no friend upon earth that I have reason more 
sincerely to value and esteem. These are most pain- 
ful events, and under them it requires a great sacrifice 
of our own wills to say " Thy will be~done." I do 
not blame myself for this struggle. It is no sign that 
we value the blessing of God, in the enjoyment of 
those who appeared to be raised up for useful and valu- 
able purposes, if we can part with them without regret. 
That mind is badly framed that prefers stoical indif- 
ference to .Christian sensibility ; and though the pain is 



LETTER TO MRS. B. NEALE. 243 

abundantly more acute, where those finer feelings of 
the mind are found to exist, yet who that deserves the 
name of a human being would wish to be without 
them 1 The'man without natural affection is but v a 
monster in human shape. To weep with those that 
weep,is as much our duty, as to rejoice with those that 
rejoice^ while there is a secret consolation that it flows 
from the .mind of Christ within us ; for when the fa- 
mily of his friend Lazarus partook of the cup of hu- 
man wo, Jesus wept ''.". - 

. We are not to live in this world of wo, without be- 
ing called to the exercise of the same sort of feelings 
by similar events. Mrs. Hill's spirits and strength 
have been exceedingly enervated by attending on her 

dying brother at Wells. / 

* # *.*. * #-.* * , 

Your best beloved has been enabled to live to God, 
and such die to be eternally with him. 

As soon as I have finished this letter, I must write 
on another similar subject. This morning's post has 
brought me the tidings of the dangerous illness of a 
younger brother not my brother Brian, who, I .be- 
lieve, is known to you, and I trust is known to God, 

but of another brother. . ' ~ 

* # # # * * * . * 

, ' - 

You know I shall be naturally anxious to hear from 
you, .or some of the family, on a speedy day. I just 
tell you how I am to be situated, that you may know 
how to direct. I shall continue in this place till Wed- 
nesday in the next week, the 30th instant, when I go 
to.Portsmouth for Mr. Griffin,* where I shall continue , 
about a fortnight before my return. 

May the supporting hand be upon you. With most 
affectionate. love to all, "': 

Yours very sincerely ,- 

R. HILL. 
Mrs.B. Neale. ' .-. 

* One of Mr, Hill's constant supplies at Surry chapel, and the 
author of an excellent Funeral Sermon on his death. 



244 LETTER TO MRS. B. NEALE. 

On the death of Mr. B. Neale, Mr. Hill thus beau- 
tifully addressed the language of condolence to his 
widow. , 

Wotton, August 14. 1816. 
MY DEAR MADAM, 

Not knowing how far your mind might have been 
overpowered by the heavy bereavement you have 
been called- to sustain, I was just preparing to make 
some inquiries from Mr. C. Neale, an immediate at- 
tention to which, I feared, might too much revive the 
sorrows of your mind. I am exceedingly thankful, 
however, by the contents of your letter, to find that 
you have been supported with so much calmness and 
sedateness of spirit under a loss so irreparable and 
severe. Still," not irreparable, if he who decreed it is 
more abundantly the portion of our hearts ; nor yet 
severe, if we can believe that the darkest -providence 
has a brighter side than the eye of sense can discern : 
and I am the more thankful for you, dear madam, 
since I am satisfied, that holy serenity of mind is no 
proof of apathy and unfeeling indifference, but rather 
of a dignified and submissive calmness, before him 
who doeth all things well. I therefore greatly thank 
God on your behalf. 

Though none of those endearing ties, that nature 
forms, subsisted between me and our late invaluable 
friend, yet I know not one upon the earth I more af- 
fectionately esteemed, and the loss of whose advice 
and friendship I more sincerely regret. But these 
painful deprivations are all from tfre hand of God. 
We deserve them as judgments, and by raising up 
others again, he can restore them in mercy; and if 
our outward adversity tends to inward prosperity, 
even from our sharpest trials we shall obtain joy and 
gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 
Fruitless sorrow can produce nothing better than re- 
bellious murmurings before God ; while patient sub- 
mission sweetens every bitter, and enables us to say 



ATTEMPT TO ASSESS SURRY CHAPEL. 345 

that all is well. No doubt but that the reflection of 
the loss you have sustained, will be frequently re- 
turning to your mind ; but still it is not an unpleas 
ing melancholy, while we can recollect those pleas 
ing qualities, those heavenly graces which cannot die 
with those that die, and which they once possessed, 
while they were on this lower, this pilgrim state with 
us. . . 

As you say nothing particularly respecting your 
mother's mind, I trust she is blessed with the same 
calmness, and holy resignation of spirit to the will of 
God, which you have been permitted to enjoy. It is 
an honour to parents, to have children that were their 
joy and glory while in life, and an inexpressible con- 
solation, to believe that they are in glory after life. 
# # * * * * .* * 

With the sincerest regard to the remains of a fa- 
mily for whom I have the highest love and esteem, 
believe me to be, 

Dear madam, 

Yours very affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 
Mrs. B. Neale. 

I was much with Mr. Rowland Hill in the year 
1816, during the period of his resistance to the at- 
tempt made to assess Surry chapel to the parish rates, 
By his exertions these efforts proved unsuccessful ; 
but I never recollect him more agitated and anxious, 
undeivany circumstances. I accompanied him to the 
court oil the clay of the sixth appeal, and witnessed 
the numerous congratulations which he received, 
when the decision proved to be in his favour. With 
most of the principal inhabitants of the parish of 
Christ-church, Mr. Hill lived upon very friendly terms, 
and pleasing interchanges of civility took place be- 
tween himself and his neighbours. The pamphlets 
of Mr.RowlandHilljOiithe subject of rating his chapel, 
are known to the public, as well a his principles of 
21* 



246 CHURCHMEN AND DISSENTERS. 

action : it will not, therefore, be necessary for me to ad- 
vert to them at any length. Every investigation of 
the finances of Surry chapel, and, the emoluments of 
its minister, only reflected credit on his disinterested- 
ness, and the benevolence of a worthy people. Hurt 
as he was by the repeated trials of his opponents to 
attain their object, he was, if possible, even more 
grieved at the insinuation, that he was hostile to the 
established church. "No one circumstance," he de- 
clared, "would give him so much satisfaction, as to 
see the church of England what she should be the 
living temple of the living God the palladium of 
British piety, and the glory of the land." 

The dissenters are much indebted to Mr. Rowland , 
Hill, for his exertions on behalf of their religious 
liberties, as well as for the good advice he gave them 
upon all occasions. I recollect his coming home one 
day from a meeting, where some observations had 
been made on the privileges of churchmen, which he 
disapproved. "I took the liberty," he said, "to make 
a few remarks ; and among other things I told them, 
you know from time immemorial, there has been a 
certain state saddle, and those who have a firm seat 
in it, will naturally lack off those who try to get up 
behind ; -and if you could get into it, you would do 
just the same." His sentiments, with respect to the 
clergy were "It is the chartered privilege of the 
church to lead, and let her ministers outlive and out- 
shine the dissenters, who are so much dreaded by 
some as rivals, -by a conduct which is consistent with 
their sacred office, and we shall soon see what will be 
the result. No churches are empty, where the doc- 
trines of the reformation are duly urged, with purity 
and energy, upon the people's mind." 

Mr. Rowland Hill used to seize every opportunity 
of showing his respect for the active ministers of the 
church, and was very particular in attending the an- 
niversary sermon, preached by a clergyman, for the 
London Missionary Society. If invited elsewhere on 



ANECDOTE. 247 

' ' n f ' "' 

that day, he replied, "No, no, 1 always go to church, 
and always intend it ;" and on one of these occasions, 
a most interesting circumstance occured. The preach- 
er was Dr. Gilbee, formerly rector of Barby, North- 
amptonshire, whose discourse from John x. 16, was 
full of piety and Christian love. Mr. Hill was so de- 
lighted, that he said, "when 'I found he was drawing 
to a conclusion, I could hardly help crying out 'go 
on, Dr. Gilbee, pray give us a little more.'" At the 
close of the service' he went to the vestry, and open- 
ing the door gently, asked permission to introduce 
himself. " v . , 

"Dear Dr. Gilbee, will you permit a poor unworthy 
servant of our Div.ine Master, to thank you for this 
day's sermon ?" " . 

"0, dearest Mr. Hill," exclaimed Dr. Gilbee, " come 
in, come in how glad I am to see you. It was under ( 
your ministry, that I was first led to God !" 

This declaration was followed by such emotions as 
are experienced_by those alone who know what it is 
to reciprocate the, affection engendered in their hearts 
by the communication of the spirit and image of a 
crucified Redeemer. " 

Mr. Hill was much esteemed by his late Royal 
Highness the Duke of Kent, who took every oppor- 
tunity of showing him both public and private marks 
of his regard. , I remember his coming twice to Sur- 
ry chapel ; and in the course of Conversation after- 
wards, in the drawing room, his Royal Highness men- 
tioned how much he was struck by the service, par- 
ticularly the singing. 

Mr. Jacob, the organist of Surry chapel^ was a per- 
former of first-rate talent, and had refused many ad- 
vantageous offers of employment, merely from con- 
scientious principles. Mr. Rowland Hill indulged him, 
with an annual sacred performance, for the benefit 
of his alms-houses, to which persons were admitted 
by five shilling tickets. Choruses, unusually grand 
and inspiring, were succeeded by the most striking 



248 THEQPHILUS JONES. 

displays of the power of the organ, played by such 
masters of the art as Wesley, Crotch, and Jacob. The 
thunder-storm of the latter musician, produced an al- 
most awful effect ; to which a performance, on the 
swell of the organ, accompanied by Salomon, the cele- 
brated violinist, formed a soft and charming contrast. 
Many persons were pleased with these oratorios; 
others objected to them.' Mr. Hill, however, as he posi- 
tively refused to allow any voluntary on the Sunday, 
in his chapel, thought it only fair to give the excel- 
lent musician who conducted the singing, an oppor. 
tunity of showing his powers, considering that the 
character of the music, and the charitable object in 
view, rendered the permission perfectly allowable. 

Mr. Hill first heard Jacob at the commemoration 
of Handel, in Westminster Abbey, where he sung as 
'a boy. He was appointed organist to Surry chapel 
at a very early age, and continued in that situation 
for many years.. His ear was so fine, that he was se- 
lected by the great Haydn to tune his pianoforte. 
Unhappy differences between Mr. Hill and himself 
separated them after a long connexion; but in his 
last illness he sent for his venerable pastor, and died 
expressing towards him, the same affection and vener- 
ation he had felt in former years. 

Repeated attempts to assess. Surry chapel, were not 
the only events by which Mr. Rowland Hill was ha- 
rassed at this period of his life. Certain occurrences 
.at Wotton, which ended in the departure of his resi- 
dent assistant from that place, occupied a large share 
of his attention. He became exceedingly anxious to 
find a suitable successor for this situation, and dili- 
gently inquired for a young man of ability and piety, 
to be his coadjutor while living, and succeed him 
when he died. Such a one he found, to his great 
delight, in a young Welshman, named Theophilus 
Jones, who was originally apprenticed to the trade 
of a cabinet-maker ; but gave such signs of zeal, pie- 
ty, and preaching talents, that he had long attractec 



THEOPHILUS JONES. 249 

the notice of those \vho recommended him to Mr. 
Hill. I was present at his first coming to Wotton, 
and recollect the surprise excited by the easy address 
and sensible conversation of a person only just emer- 
ged from obscurity. Mr. HilLand his hearers were 
equally-pleased with their new minister, who, had 
his taste been corrected, and his understanding train- 
ed by early education, would probably have ranked 
amongst the first preachers and theologians of his 
day. The congregation, diminished by reason of the 
differences of many with their'former. pastor, was not 
only restored to its previous numbers, but augmented 
by the accession of a large body of fresh members, 
attracted by the popularity of Mr. Jones. After a 
short probation he was ordained, according 'to the 
mode adopted by dissenters, as the" regular minister 
of Mr. Hill's Wotton chapel, where he continued to 
labour till the death of his patron, whose funeral he 
survived little more than a week. The increased 
attendance at the Tabernacle, and the numerous 
conversions which followed the. ministrations of this 
laborious young man, gave Mr. Hill the sincerest 
pleasure. His. anxiety for such a result, be thus ex- 
presses in a letter to Mr. Jones, soon after he com- 
menced his residence at Wotton. "How thankful 
shall I be to hear -that the Lord prospers you in the 
work, makes you a complete healer of the breaches, 
and has given you the honour jmore than to fill up 
the vacant places that division, and sin, and death, 
has made among us. I find very few ministers of 'a 
truly devoted and spiritual cast. Such as are made 
up by the artifice of man, are never fit to do the work 
that God has to accomplish in his living church, his 
spiritual house, in which he himself condescends to 
dwell; and believe mej my dear youth, as long as 
God continues to bless you, I trust nothing \vfll be 
wanting in me, to add to your happiness and comfort 
in life. The next time you meet in society, present 
the people with my love ; and if there have been jar- 



250 THEOPHILUS JONES. 

I 

ring strings among us, for the time to come may they 
be so well tuned by the skilful hand of our .God, 
that they may never jar again. for peace and 
prosperity within the lamp of God. Nothing can be 
done for him, without Him. for more simple de- 
pendence on His almighty strength." He-.gives him 
also the following hints as to preaching: "Rash 
preaching always disgusts ; timid preaching does no- 
thing but leave poor souls fast Asleep ; while bold 
preaching, if delivered under an affectionate love to 
the souls of men, and with an humble desire to pro 
mote the glory of -.God, is the only preaching that" is 
owned and blessed .of God." 

When he received the first reports of his labours 
and success, he wrote to him" My dear youth, while 
God blesses you, I trust it will be my .happiness 
to make you happy, and to uphold you to the utmost 
of my feeble powers. I trust Wotton will be a place 
of profitable and active retirement, preparatory to a 
sphere of more extended usefulness, on a future day. 
If you were to continue the same plain bawling 
Welshman you are now, in your present situation, I 
might observe, go on-; .never mind breaking gram- 
mar, if the Lord enables you to break hearts, and 
bring souls to Christ ; but if you could acquire a little 
more culture, without losing any of your zeal and 
holy simplicity of heart, your usefulness might be 
more extended. I would not give you a single six- 
pence, to have; your tongue dressed at any of our 
modem academies; they are, in general, sad soul- 
starvation places. Only take the hint, and work on, 
and blunder on, as hard and as fast as you can." 

The advice thus offered, was not lost upon Mr. 
Jones. He laboured hard, to overcome the defects 
arising from his want of education, and in a mea- 
surHsucceeded. At length Mr. Hill, seeing his praise- 
worthy improvement, determined to make him one of 
his London supplies, and invited him in these terms : 
" I am very sorry I have not time to say more, -than 



. THEOP.HILUS JONES. .251 

that I love you much, because tlie Lord blesses you, 
and that makes me bless God for you. It does my 
heart good to hear of you in my old age, Mr. 
is to give you five pounds towards your journey to 
London; and the first thing you shall do, shall be to 
preach Welsh in bur chapel, and that will clear your 
.throat for a little English afterwards," By excessive 
application, Mr. Jones had stored his naturally gifted 
.mind with no ordinary share of doctrinal .theology, 
and had collected an admirable library of old divines, 
in which he was very generously assisted ; by his pa- 
tron and friends. Hence, while liis manner was ener- 
getic in, the extreme, his voice at times overpowering, 
and his delivery without the slightest culture, such was 
the excellence of his matter, and so searching were his 
sermons, that all defects were overlooked, in the midst 
of a flow. of admirable and awakening truths. Mr. 
Hill wrote to him on this subject, inliis own kind 
and original style. " As for matter" he says, " I shall 
not be ashamed to own you as a,brother minister, all 
the world over ; but as to manner, you greatly put 
me in mind of myself in my younger days. '. When I 
was once set a-going, I was almost afraid to stop and 
pause, even for a little breath, lest I should.be stuck 
fast. Now, I prophesy concerning you, that your ' 
ministry will be more, powerful, if, at times, you- are 
less vehement. I say at times; for there are those 
sort of solemn sentiments, that require the utmost 
energy that can be adopted : but the same sort of mo- 
notony of loud speaking throughout, spoils this good 
effect ; even your bodily, health will fe,el the advan- 
tage of [less exertion], and the people, will be bene- 
fited thereby. Still, my dear youth, let not any painful 
cold. attention to manner ancl voice, chill the warmth 
of your heart, and the fervency of your zeal to bring 
souls* to God. Let it be your main study to feeLwellf 
that- you may make ttie people feel well, anorthen 
good will be the result. ,Go on and prosper, and be 
as,s.\jre$ that you/ have a very warm place in my ztf- 



252 VILLAGE PREACHING. 

fections and esteem ; and that it is with uncommon 
satisfaction and joy, I bless God, that you have been 
sent amongst us." On another occasion, Mr. Hill ex- 
pressed himself in terms well worthy the attention of 
every minister. After inquiring how his young as- 
sistant prospered, \vhat fresh trophies were won over 
the powers of 'darkness, and how the children of God 
prospered among themselves, he proceeds :-" In the 
church of Christ, life begets life, all the world over, 
and death generates death. . that I was more cau- 
tious respecting myself as a minister,, as -so much- de- 
pends on us how it is with the people also. We 
work badly upon the hearts of others, but as God in 
infinite mercy works well in us : we preach best when 
we feel best; and the nearer we live to God, the bet- 
ter we feel. A religion, without feeling, is no religion . 
How can we have repentance, without feeling holy 
sorrow for sin, and indignation against it,? How can 
we have faith in the Lord Jesus, and behold that in- 
finite fulness of grace treasured up in "him for iis, 
without rejoicing in him, while we believe with joy 
unspeakable and full of glory ? Converts made by 
mere human persuasion, only corrupt, the church, 
having nothing but a name to live, while . they are 
dead. Death must be the result of any connexion 
with them; while nothing revives the church so de- 
lightfully, as when it is frequently the birth-place of 
new-born souls, Such are the only evidences and 
seals, to the ministers themselves, that they are sent 
of God." 

- The course Mr. Rowland Hill prescribed to Mr. 

Jones, was much like that pursued by himself. He 

was not willing that he should lose a single day,' and 

offered him poor old "Bob," his favourite saddle-horse, 

A to carry him on preaching expeditions, to all the vil- 

^lage|> around Wotton. In one of his letters he says, 

u I hope old Bobby and you are perfectly agreed about 
^yillagepreaching;" and in another, " The best cdvet- 

pusness a minister can possess, is to be covetous aftei 







QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE MINISTRY. 253 

the souls of men. We should judge pur work is never . 
done, while one single unconverted soul is within our 
reach. Alas, then ! how little we have done in com- 
parison of what we have to do ! for more of that 
holy zeal which makes us travail in birth again, till 
Christ shall be formed within the souls of thousands 
that are dead in trespasses and sins !" . . 

No man ever -had more solemn views than Mr. 
Rowland Hill, of the true nature of the ministerial 
work, and'of the necessity of an humble dependence on 
the Lord's assistance, for a blessing in it. One of his 
remarks was "If favoured at any time with what is 
calleida good opportunity, I. am too apt to catcli ; my- 
self saying " Well done I, when I should lie in the 
dust, and give God 'all the glory." Another was 
" Lord" make me distrustful of myself, that I may con- 
fide in thee alone self-dependence is the pharisee's 
high road to destruction." ' " Oh dear," he said, "what 
poor stuff makes a preacher in the, present day ! a 
useful minister must have brains in his head, prudence 
in his conduct, and grace in his heart ; which is more 
than too many of the made-up talkers, who, set up in 
these times, for preachers, have.'? =~: 

He was accustomed strongly to urge, on all who en- 
'tered the .sacred office,- the necessity of maintaining 
Christian and heavenly tempers among their people j . 
"Some folks," he would say, ^appear as if they had 
been bathed in crab verjuice in their infancy, which 
penetrated through their skins, and has made them 
sour-blooded ever sincebut this will not do fora 
messenger, of the gospel ; as he bears a message, so he 
must manifest a spirit of love." A minister having 
observed to him, that notwithstanding the fault found 
. with his dry sermons, there/were hopes of their use- 
fulness, for Sampson had slain the Philistines with the 
jaw-bone of an ass "True, "he did," replied Air, Hill; 
" but it was a moist jaw-bone." He used to like Dr. 
Ryland's. advice to his : young academicians "Mind, 
no sermon is of any value, or likely to be useful, which 



254 QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE MINISTRY. 

has not the three R's in it Ruin by the Fall Re- 
demptionby Christ Regenerationby the Holy Spirit." 
Of himself he remarked, " My aim, in every sermon, 
is a stout and lusty call to sinners, to' quicken the 
saints, and to be made, a universal blessing to a\l." 
It was a favourite saying with him "The nearer we 
live to God, the better we are enabled to serve him. 
how I hate my own noise, when I have nothing to 
make, a . noise about Heavenly wisdom creates 
heavenly utterance." In a letter to Mr. Jones he ob- 
serves "There is something^ in preaching the gos- 
pel, with the Holy Gh,ost sent down from heaven, J 
long to. get, at. At times, I think I feel somewhat 
like it, and then I bawl almost as bad as the Welsh- 
man. If we deal with divine realities, we ought to 
feel them such, and then the .people will in general 
feel with us, and acknowledge .the power that does 
wonders on the heart ; while dry, formal, discussion- 
al preaching, leaves, the hearers just where it found 
them. Still, they who are thus favoured, had need to 
be favoured with a deal of humility. We are too apt 
to be proud of that which is not our own. . . . . 
humility, humility, humility !" 

It is no wonder, with such impressions as to the 
nature of his work, and the state of his mind, that Mr. 
Rowland Hill's preaching was so honoured and bless- 
ed of God. " Lord help," was his; constant, earnest 
prayer, and it was heard.. . 



VILLAGE ITINERANCY. .255 



CHAPTER XII. 

VILLAGE ITINERANCY. 

THE too long neglected condition of a large portion 
of our rural population, and the desecration of the 
sabbath by every species of unholy pastime, were evils 
earnestly deplored, and assiduously endeavoured 'to be 
corrected by Mr. Rowland Hill, wherever his influence 
extended. With this view, he was for many years de- 
voted to the promotion of village preaching; not for 
the purpose of interference, to assist the growth of z 
sect, within rtie legitimate sphere of an exemplary 
clergyman, but to gather those, who wandered as 
sheep having no shepherd, into the fold of Christ. 
For the furtherance of this object, Mr. Hill became a 
very active member of a society called the Village 
Itinerancy, on whose committees, I find from the me- 
moranda of his engagements, he was a frequent attend- 
ant, It was in the year 1796, that proposals were 
made for the establishment of this institution, to which 
a theological seminary was added in the year 1803. 
The tuition of the students has long been superintend- 
ed by the Rev. George Collision, a truly pious and ex- 
cellent man, much esteemed by Mr. -Hill, and whose 
primary object is to make every other species of know- 
ledge subsidiary to that of the scriptures. 

No minister can be permitted to occupy any of the 
stations selected by this society, whose 'sentiments "are 
not conformable to the doctrinal articles of the church 
of England," and I believe there has never occurred 
an instance of its itinerants having trespassed on a 
field diligently and wisely cultivated by the labours 
of others. Had its designs extended beyond "fheneg- 



256. VILLAGE ITINERANCY 

lected districts of our land," it would not have receiv- 
ed the countenance and support of Mr. Rowland Hill, 
whom I have often heard make some of his severest 
remarks, on the conduct of such as use every artifice 
to decoy, to their places of worship, the converts of 
faithful and successful ministers. From the active 
share taken by Mr. Rowland Hill, in the business of 
the Tillage Itinerancy, it is evident, that its members 
professed a spirit kindred with, his owri, in their at- 
tempts to ameliorate the destitute condition of thou- 
sands of our fellow-countrymen, who are living in all 
the ignorance and depravity of heathens, for want of 
more pressing calls to the only source of wisdom, 
piety, and happiness. To use the words of Mr. Hill, 
his great design wasj " to enrich the church by fresh 
trophies of grace," and, I may add, to bring forth cap- 
tives from the dark strong-holds of Satan, into the 
glorious light and liberty of the, gospel. 

Mr. Rowland Hill was constantly urging the duty 
of selecting preachers, to go forth among those who 
were destitute of the means of grace, and of providing 
accommodation for worship, in places not possessing 
this advantage. It was part of his principle, that all 
young converts should be set to work for God, in a 
manner suitable to their natural gifts or relative situa- 
tions. Some he recornmended as teachers in Sunday 
schools, others as expositors of the plain truths of the 
scriptures to the simple and ignorant, and those who 
enjoyed a ripeness of religious experience were .advis- 
ed to become visiters of the sick. There is employ- 
ment in the vineyard, he always considered, for every 
description of labourer, but he strongly urged the ne- 
cessity of duly weighing the nature of the department 
most suitable fo individual circumstances. A young 
and respectable tradesman, remarkable for "diligence 
in the Surry chapel Sunday schools, consulted Mr. 
Hill on the propriety of becoming a ministeiy and re- 
ceived the following answer to his inquiries: 



LETTER OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 257 

i 

'Wotton, October. 

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND, \ 

As the office of administer seems to be beyond, all 
others the most useful, so I am not surprised that 
such as feel themselves devoted to God, are desirous 
to fill that office : and, though the 'grand work in. those 
that may be called to fill that, important trust, must 
be found in a real work of grace upon their own hearts, 
yet there'are other qualifications absolutely needed, 
before they can prove themselves "workmen.that heed 
not be ashamed." There must be a measure of natUr 
ral gifts, as. well as spiritual graces ; and though we 
may know how far we may possess the .one, by a 
close examination of our hearts before God, the other, 
I should suppose, can only be discovered to .us by - a 
due and proper use of means. ; 

There is what the scripture calls an aptitude to 
teach a. quickness and readiness, of thought, well re- 
gulated by the letter of the word, and by that wisdom 
which is from above : and, for the. want bfthis,many 
have entered into the, ministry to prove a burden to 
themselves, and a dead weight to the churches they 
may be called to serve. 'Now this holy. aptitude, in 
my opinion, can only be discovered by the practical 
exercise of such gifts, ; of which others are always bet- 
ter judges than we can be ourselves ; and such will be 
naturally called forth for the further exercise of them, 
by such as have felt the spiritual good of them to their 
hearts : and then, if Providence sets before you such, 
open doors as these, you may better judge. how far. 
you are called to the sacred oiRce. As for all human 
erudition, however good in its place, yet, in itself, it 
is nothing,, it is much worse than nothing. How 
many of our half-dead churches, are contented to be 
filled with mere pulpit lumber 'of this sort, while the 
prosperity even of living churches is greatly impeded 
thereby? In addition to this, what heartburnings 
and animosities are the result, which too frequently 
22* - . " 



258 LETTER. OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 

terminate in painful divisions and separations, to the 
disgrace of the sacred cause. , 

In these free remarks, while I cannot entertain the 
most distant doubt, respecting your integrity and up- 
rightness before God, yet I have lived too long in the 
World, not to know the need of such hints as these, 
and I am sure you will take, them as they are really 
meant. 

Let me also drop a further hint, as respects your 
present situation in life. All tradesmen, who by their 
own honesty and integrity, can preserve for them- 
selves an honourable independence, fill a' creditable 
situation in life, and are not debarred from being oc- 
casionally useful in the church of Christ. You, at 
present, are most usefully engaged in our Sunday 
schools, and the gratuitous services of yourself and 
others, are highly creditable and beneficial to the 
cause. While thus engaged, you may, by degrees, 
feel your way, how far the Lord may design you for 
more extended usefulness in the work, and this alone 
a future day can decide. 

And now for my last hint, till I shall [D. V.] again 
see you in town. A person who enters the ministry, 
and is obliged to be entirely dependent upon the 
people for his support, unless he be of remarkable 
abilities, is frequently called to suffer severely from 
those who furnish him with his support ; and. if you 
should -throw up a profitable concern, you may suf- 
fer for it in a future day. While I would at all times 
wish to live dependent on God, yet it is a great pri- 
vilege to live a little independently of the world. 

I shall be both thankful for your affliction, and 
thankful for your recovery, if it has proved a profitable 
season for your soul. Sanctified afflictions are spiritual 
promotions : what a mercy to be better for the rod ! 

With cordial love to your family and all friends, 
believe me to be, 

Very sincerely yours, 

ROWLAND HILL, 



NECESSITY OF EXERTION AT HOME. .259 

From this letter maybe gathered the sentiments of 
Mr. Rowland Hill, with reference to- the gifts required 
in the sacred office of preaching, and it would be 
well, if a more general regard were paid to the aptitude 
for teaching, by all persons engaging in these solemn 
duties. 'The rule Mr, Hill prescribed to himself, and 
exhorted others to follow, was "While a soul within 
our reach is ignorant of a Saviour, we must endeavour 
to win him to Christ," in which, however differing 
as to the best means of effecting this object, all true 
Christians cannot fail heartily to concur. These are, 
nevertheless, to be carefully considered, before we em- 
bark in ; -so: serious an undertaking, lest our zeal, un- 
tempered with wisdom and prudence, should carry 
us into the battle, like the mettle of a sightless war- 
horse, only to receive wounds, arid retreat incapaci- 
tated for further exertions. . Particular cases of appa- 
rent interest, must sometimes be passed over, for the 
sake of securing a larger aggregate of usefulness, and 
.with this view all our calculations should be made. 
Still, on the contrary, will it be proper to inquire, 
how far these are consistent with the positive com- 
mand "to preach the gospel to every creature ;" and 
it appears to me, to be a matter worthy of the earnest 
attention of the members of our church, how we may 
most effectually promote an ingathering of the for- 
saken outcasts of our community. Somejplan could 
surely be devised, so that missionaries, acting in perfect 
conformity with established rules, might be eommis- 
sioned to invite the thousands, in the precincts of our 
" large towns, whose numbers and situation place 
them beyond the reach of the efficient exertions of 
an appointed minister. Our district visiters, and, I 
may say, the agents of our Prayer Book and Homily 
Society, have effected much good in this way ; but 
they have scarcely crossed the margin of a widely 
extended .field, hitherto left as desert as the barren 
wilderness, and almost as unexplored. While we 
have carried the seeds of truth, and have cultivated 



260 SEAMEN. WATERLOO BRIDGE. 

the regions of our very antipodes, is it not a strange 
inconsistency, to suffer any portion of the land in 
'which we dwell, to remain unblessed with husband- 
men, fit and able, under the divine guidance, to 'con- 
vert the moral barrenness of the immense waste be- 
fore us, into a scene of verdure, fruitfulness, and 
beauty ? . x 

In unison with Mr. Rowland Hill's expressed de- 
sire, to win every soul within his reach to Christ, his 
efforts were often directed to the seamen of Great 
Britain. He was one of the first promoters of a float- 
ing place of worship, in which the heroes' of the deep 
might hear the gospel, on the bosom of their favourite 
element. He loved preaching to sailors, and was 
orice much encouraged by .accidentally overhearing 
three or four of these brave fellows, supplicating at 
the throne of grace, in the most touching accents, for 
a blessing on nis labours. The seamen returned his 
kindness with the deepest regard ; and I remember 
once, an honest tar knocked us up at three o'clock 
in the morning, to say that he had taken " a passage 
to the West by a five o'clock coach," but that he 
could not leave, without just having a peep at his 
dear Rowland Hill, and craving his blessing. 

One of Mr. Hill's favourite recreations, was watch- 
ing the progress of the erection of Waterloo-bridge. 
Many a walk have I taken there with him. The 
workmen knew him, and would look up and smile 
when they saw him coming, for he had generally 
some good-natured remark ready to accost them with. 
He was once near 'meeting with a serious accident 
there, from walking carelessly on the edge of a- plank, 
but was saved by the prompt interposition of a person 
engaged in the works. ' As was the case with him, 
in every thing to which ~he turned his thoughts, he 
gathered from these visits illustrations for his preach- 
ing. I recollect his saying, in one of his sermons on 
the present state of the church and of the world, "If 
we look, only at the confusion which exists around 



1 



MISSIONARY MUSEUM. 261 

us, we shall see but little sign of the fulfilments , of 
the great revealed purposes of God. But he does de- 
sign to raise, from the apparently incongruous mate- 
rials which are scattered upon the earth, a temple to 
his own glory, of which his people are to be the lively 
stories. Wliat appears to us to be, irregularity and 
disorder, will all be made subservient to the plan 
of the great Architect I went down yesterday to 
see the works at the new bridge.; all" appears con- 
fusion ; but soon shall this confusion be cleared away, ' 
and a noble monument of art do honour to. the con- 
triver's genius. So it is with the aspect of the world ; 
we must not regard so much present appearances, as 
future prospects; only "let us be found working- for 
God. Oh ! how the workmen laboured at the huge 
masses of stone, to fit them for their places ;. so. the 
Lord is at work, in polishing and framing for their 
places, the living stones of his glorious "building, that 
we may be made like unto Him who is himself the 
chief corner stone, and be happy in his presence, in 
holiness for ever." ; , , 

Another of Mr. Hill's favourite places'of resort, was 
the museum of the London Missionary Society. I 
have often gone there with him, where we used to 
meet his old fellow-labourer in the same, cause, Mat- 
thew Willis, whose zeal was as fervent in mission- 
ary efforts as his own. Mr. Wilks would pay, " these 
are the signs of the great work, and it does our old 
hearts good to see them. Well, how is your, eye 
now, Mr. Hill, is it better ?" On Mr. Hill's replying 
that it was free from pain and irritability, but very 
dim, he remarked, with his own peculiar look and 
voice " well, if you cannot see you can preach. 
What a mercy if you were quite blind, you could 
preach, eh '.--what a comfort to have it in the head, 
and. feel it in the heart that must be your consola- 
tion, and it is the only one." Matthew Wilks was an 
eccentric minister of the old school, but possessed a 
vigorous understanding, a benevolent heart, and a 



262 FRUITS OF MISSIONARY ZEAL. 

great depth of theological knowledge. . When he 
died, his loss was keenly felt byMr.HiU, who attend?; 
eol his funeral, and at the grave, passed a well^erited 
eulogium on the many excellences of his character. 

Mr';. Hill's missionary zeal didt not efFervesce and. 
evaporate in a speech upon a platform, or the exciter 
ment of a sermon : it was carried home to his fire- 
side, formed the frequent topic of his conversation, 
and the theme of fervent supplication at the family 
altar. After a meeting, \vhere he had seen some con- 
vert to the gospel from the miseries of barbarism and 
idolatry, I have known him so filled with holy joy, 
that he could j converse on nothing else. Adverting 
to the appearance of the convert, he would remark, 
" Blessed be God for these first fruits did .you ob- 
serve the gentle manners and the innocent smile of 
one, that was but , a short time ago ferocious, and, 
perhaps, 'a cannibal ! ' what a work is divine grace 
in the human soul ; imparting to a savage, all the 
decorum and delicacy of the most cultivated mind." 

When Prince Eataaffe, from Madagascar, visited 
this country, and attended the anniversary of the Lon- 
don Missionary Society, "Mr." Hill was completely 
overpowered by his feelings. The poor boys, too, 
sent here from the same island, vyere continually in- 
vited to his house, and treated by him with every spe- 
cies of kindness and attention. After they had been 
a short time in London, he invited Lord Gambierand 
Mr. Wilberforce to come and see them. Their man- 
ner towards the young strangers seemed in an instant 
to win their confidence, and it wa's amost truly inter- 
esting spectacle, to see these three benefactors of the 
human race, rejoicing over those they hoped to rescue 
from the thraldom of ignorance, superstition, and 
idolatry. Mr. Hill often spoke of the pleasure he en- 
joyed on that day,and never without some affectionate 
expression of his esteem for the abolisher of the slave 
trade, and the friend of every effort to promote the 
best interests of mankind. 



. - INCONSISTENCIES OF PROFESSOK.S. 263 

:It is a melancholy fact, that the inconsistency of 
professing Christians has often staggered tlie convert- 
ed heathen, who have been brought to our shores as 
specimens of the happy effects of missionary labours. 
One of the poor Hottentots, who came over. with 
Kitchener, said, in the presence of Mr. Hill, " Me tink 
all English real Christians before me come ; me 'Jfraid 
not -now," a severe rebuke from such a quarter, that 
should teach us the great importance of exhibiting, in 
our own example, the force of the precepts we incul- 
cate upon others. . . .-'.-. 

Once, perceiving Mr/Rowland Hill to be unusually, 
pensive, and hearing him sigh, I ventured to say "to 
him, ^ Sir, I hope nothing is the matter with you." 
"No, Sidney," he replied, "I was only thinking how 
weary I am of a great deal: of what is called the reli- 
gious world !" In writing to a friend, who was much 
staggered.by the conduct of some who had been sup- 
posed to be under the inrluenceof religion, he remarks, 
" I am grieved, my dear sir, that you have seen so 
much amohg religions professors, ; that is so contrary 
to their high calling of God in Christ Jesus: Real 
religion is still the same, let the proiessors of it be 
. what they may." In the year 1818, when informed 
of the death of two individuals,. Avhose lives had cast 
stumbling-blocks in the way of many, and had been 
very distressing to himself, Mr. Hill observes, in a letter, 
" And so poor -- and - are both gone. what 
. a mercy, to be blest with a blameless and .harmless 
conduct through 'life, that real religion, may be a 
greater credit to us, than 'such poor worms can be to 
it, in the whole of our deportment through the world !- 
Happy they who are kept by that power which 
keeps so gloriously. That we may live to God, may 
we live on God ; then shall we live witfi God to all 
eternity." - ' . . 

In the letter from which the last quotation is taken, 
Mr. Rowland Hill communicates to his friend, the 
wonderful triumphs of the missionary cause in. Ota- 



264 SOUTH SEAS. 

heite. "Charming news from the South Seas. The 
next number of the magazine will be worth. your 
reading. How is the Lord making those to be his 
people, that were not his people. A large cargo of 
their gods is now on its voyage, as a present to .the 
Missionary Society, and in others of the South Sea 
Islands, they seem preparing to treat their deities with 
the same contempt." The converted Pomarre and his 
subjects, were often in the thoughts of Mr. Rowland 
Hill,;and received from him some interesting tokens 
of his regard, - : 

Aged as both Mr. and Mrs. Hill were, at the period 
to which I have just referred, they made the weight 
of years no excuse for repose or inactivity, but court- 
ed rather than avoided every .useful exertion. When 
engagements, multiplying around .Mr. Hill, occupied 
his time and attention, Mrs. Hill .would answer or ar- 
range for him his daily accumulating pile of letters, 
and thus, in a considerable degree, relieve the anxiety 
of his mind. Their only source of grief, seemed to be 
the loss by death of those who had so long and faith- 
fully accompanied them, in their protracted pilgrim- 
age. Frequently, when Mr. Rowland Hill has been 
seated in the pulpit, while the hymn was singing, be- 
fore the sermon j I have observed the slow and pensive 
turn of his head, from one part to another of the 
chapel, succeeded by an expression.of sadness on liis 
venerable countenanced His 'hearers, in general, 
knew not the cause of his embarrassed manner, but 
he would afterwards explain it to those who dined at 
his table. "I could not preach this morning ; my 
eye glanced on the places so long occupied by my 
dear old' friends, now filled by strangers. Ah ! I 
must soon be gone myself; Lord help me to serve 
him, while I live." On Sunday, December. 13th, 
1818, Mrs. Hill says, in a letter to an acquaintance, 
"Mr. Hill preached, both morning and evening, fu- 
neral sermons, for two members of Stirry chapel ; I 
trust each in glory." One of these was the mother 



LETTER TO MllS. B. NEALE. 265 

of his friend, Mr, Benjamin locale ; and the follow- 
ing letter was written to the widow of 'that gentle- 
man, on the death of her aged relative : l ' 

Surry chapel^ Monday noon. 
MY DEAR MADAM, .-".'' 

I /had frequently called in St Paul's church- 
yard, to inquire after our dear friend, and the report 
was such as left me no hopes that she could long 
survive ; and you must naturally suppose that I had 
heard of the event, "before your [Letter] was received. 
Alas ! almost all niy dear friends of that household, that 
were such steady and Honourable friends to the cause 
of God and humanity among us, are now no more. 
Such has been his sovereign will, who doeth all things 
well. When the Lord visits by taking away, it cer- 
tainly becomes us to grieve and to lament, but not to 
despond, while the residue of the spirit is with him 
that can' restore the loss. 

Though the task you impose upon me next Sun- 
day morning is a painful one, yet it is a ^favouraiile 
circumstance, that I am in no great danger of saying 
more than I should, respecting tHe excellences of our 
dear departed friend. . 

She was but a very few months older than myself. 
How soon must my departure be now at hand : and 
though my strength has been hitherto continued be- 
yond expectation, yet for grace and power that' 
my few remaining days may be more than ever dedi- 
cated to his glory. With ; our love to the Daltons, be- 
lieve me to be; 

Yours very sincerely and affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 
, Mrs. B. Neale. ' ..'-'" " ; . " : 

.-'-'. ' . - - . < 

Just before the death of this pious and valued 

Christian, Mr. Hull says of ;her, in a .letter to Mr. 

Grifflh, of Portsea, " Our dear old friend, Mrs. Neale, 

is nearly exhausted and gone. She is the last of one 

23 



266 LETTER TO Mil. JONES. 

of the most kind and affectionate families that the in- 
dulgent providence of God sent among us for our 
credit and supports How many of my friends have I 
been permitted to outlive ! , How soon Lam to follow 
them must be left to him who knows' our appointed 
time! 

In the year' 1819, just before his usual time of quit- 
ting London for his residence in the country, Mr. 
Rowland Hill was walking in Surry chapel, and not 
perceiving that a trap- door was left open in the floor, 
he fell through it, and severely injured, his leg. Con- 
sidering his age, and the circumstances^of his. fall, it 
was a providential escape from far more serious conse- 
quences. He mentions to Mr. Jones, in the following 
terms, the derangement of all his plans by the unfor- 
tunate accident. "It is now just a fortnight, since I 
have been called4o sing of mercy and of judgment. 
Of mercy, that I had no broken bones through a 
dangerous fall ; of judgment, that I am still kept a 
prisoner at home, deprived, of the privilege of work- 
ing for my Master ; nor, from the tardy appearance 
of the healing of a wound on my leg, do I know when 
I shall be. released. _What pleases the. Lord, often- 
times displeases us ; and yet we at- all times ought to 
say, whatever is, is best. If we could but get, more 
out of self, the hell of self, and live more in God, we 
shall live more to his glory." A short time after, he 
writes: 

' ,'".;.- June 3<Z,1S19. 

MY DEAR BROTHER JONES, . 

I thought to have sent you another letter before 
now, respecting the state of my wounded leg ; but I 
have waited, that I might inform you precisely, when 
I should be permitted to take such a journey, under 
the pressure of such a wound, till I can wait no 
longer. , Hitherto, I find the least exertion brings on 
an increased inflammation, which throws me bac> 
I have only preached once for these .six weeks, to 



SANCTIFIED AFFLICTION. 267 

-.''"/. 

small congregation, on a Friday morning; .and though 
I sat all the time,, 1 was supposed to be the worse for 
it. The wound) however, this day begins to look 
more favourable, and I should trust my confinement 
will not be long. I should hope, at farthest, another 
week or ten days from, hence, .will give me some 
hopes of a release., I feel as much for you as 1 can 
for myself. I Imow you will soon want a release, 
and I should be sorry not to have a little of your 
company, before you take your flight. Here I am 
quite^ useless : I wish to be doing, though it is but a 
little. that ,we may be anxious, to work while we 
can. The more we have to do for God, the more 
we shall feeL the need of living near to God, as no- 
thing can be well done for him, but what- is done 
entirely by him. If all our works are not begun, 
continued, and ended in God, they are of nothing 

worth. / > 

" * * # # # * * # 

Love to all. , 

''.' Yours affectionately, 
: R. HILL. 

It has been well remarked, that it is a good sign 
when affliction draw's us near to God, instead of dri- 
ving us from him. , This was eminently the case with 
Mr. Hill: the pressure of suffering never weighed him 
down, it only tried and proved the true strength of 
the principles by which he was upheld. ;As soon as- 
he felt a Father's rod, he acknowledged the chastise- 
ment as a correction of love, and .endeavoured to im- 
prove by if. - That which seemed in him, at times, like 
impatience, was only his anxiety to be again at work, 
from which it was with the, utmost difficulty he could 
be restrained. In, one of the many letters kindly lent 
me by the correspondents of my excellent relative, I 
found .these useful remarks on the benefit of trials. 
"We are made up of sad, thoughtless, inattentive 
materials, liable to be allured -with present objects, 

" " " 



26$ HOLY PATIENCE. 

more than we should be. In this carnal state, we aro 
terribly apt to be carnally minded, and this generates 
death to the soul. To have a life hid with Christ in 
God, is a state infinitely beyond that which human 
nature can eyer reach. He that created souls alone can 
re-create them, and enable us to live above ourselves 
and above the world, that we may be brought into a 
state of newness to God. For. the accomplishment of 
this sacred purpose, we must have our afflictions on 
the earth. We all are bom to have them as sinners, 
and, when born again, they are perpetually needed to 
bring us near to God : and as we are' prone to per- 
petual backslidings and revoltings, ^repetition of them 
is equally needed, to prevent us from getting wanton, 
careless, and secure. Holy patience is not the natu- 
ral growth of the human heart, yet in that frame ot 
mind, we can alone find our resting place in a trying 
hour : we must be still, that we may know the Lord 
our God.". 

Nothing was. more remarkable in Mr. Hill, than his 
keenness in discerning the varied peculiarities of hu- 
man beings, and the accuracy with which he discri- 
minated between different shades of character. To 
the humble Christian, he was all tenderness and affec- 
tion, but showed little mercy to those given to hypo- 
crisy or cant. He once rebuked an antinomian who 
was addicted to drinking ; when the man asked him 
impertinently "Now do you think, Mr. Hill, a glass 
of spirits will drive grace out of my heart?" "No," 
he answered, " for there is none in it." When per- 
sons who had obtained pecuniary advantages, by me- 
thods scarcely consistent with the holy life of a 
Christian, spoke of them as providential, he used to 
observe "Well, you may think it was Providence, 
but say no more to me about that." Writing to a 
friend, connected with a town in which there were 
many antinomians and socinians, Mr. Hill remarks 
"What between the black frost of antinomianism, 
and the white frost of socinianism, no wonder that 



MR. HILL ON A MISSIONARY TOUR. 269 

:\ 

the growth of spiritual vegetation is so corrupt and 
starved. Nothing but redemption by the blood and 
righteousness of Christ, and sanctification by the 
power and Spirit of Ghrist, can give life to the dead, 
and make the wilderness to blossom as' the rose." 

January, 1820, found Mr. Rowland Hill in London, 
quite recovered from the injury in his leg. "Writing 
to Mr; 0. P. Watheiij he says, in a letter dated the 
sixth' of that month " Through the mercy of God, 
we both, considering what antiques we, are, continue 
very well, and we should be abundantly better still, if 
blest with that spiritual health which can keep the 
soui v alive to God." Mr. Hill used often to make 
preaching excursions in the spring, for the benefit of 
various religious societies. About this time .he came 
into the neighbourhood of Cambridge^ and hearing 
that he was to preach at Royston, a village about ten 
miles from the University, I went there to meet him. 
It wanted little more, when I arrived, than an hour tp 
the time fixed for the sermon; the place of worship 
had long been filled with a dense crowd, and numbers 
were watching for him, on the road by which he was 
expected to enter the town. Presently, a chaise drove 
up at a rapid pace, containing Mr. Hill and his friend, 
Mr. Burder, the former of whom, the instant he re- 
cognised me, desired the post-boy to stop, and I went 
with him to the house where he was to be set down. 
After a few minutes' conversation, he accepted an 
offer made him of a room to himself, till summoned 
to the pulpit, and those who supposed his object was 
to arrange his ideas for the sermon, were surprised 
that he invited me to go with him. When we were 
alone, he inquired anxiously about the religious state 
of the University, and talked of various other mat- 
ters, till it wanted only ten minutes to the time for 
calling him into the chapel, where Mr. Burder had be- 
gun the service. ;I said, " Sir, I shall most assuredly 
not hear you to-day, for it is impossible to get into the 
place, which is alreadv overflowing, so please to tell 
23*'' 



270 LETTER. TO MR. JONES. 

me what text you are going to preach from." " That 
is more ttian I know myself," he replied, and began 
turning over the leaves of an old bible on the table. 
Before he had completed his search, somebody enter- 
ed to inform him it was time to go. "Sidney," said 
he, "catch hold of the back of my gown, and we will 
squeeze in," and a squeeze indeed we found, it. 
When lie was in the pulpit, I observed he still turned 
the leaves of the bible ; but at length he stopped, to 
give out for his text the words of Isaiah, xliii. 21 : This 
people have I formed for myself ; they shall show 
forth my praise and I certainly never heard him 
preach better,; on the necessity of evidencing the 
power of the grace of God in the heart, by a life of . 
dedication to his glory. This was only one of the 
many times I perceived, that he left the selection of 
his text to the very last moment. .. 

After labouring as usual in London and at Wotton, 
Mr. Rowland Hill made, in the autumn of 1820, a 
long preaching expedition ; during which he : wrote 
the following characteristic letter to Mr. Jones,: 

Manchester, August 22nd, 1820. 

MY. DEAR BROTHER JoNES, . 

By now I suppose you are again settled, after your 
Welch ramble, at Wotton : may the seed sown meet 
with a divine increase ! We do nothing ; God must 
dp every thing. Old as I am, I am well worked 
wherever I go. The congregations are every where 
astonishing; sometimes, for want of room, I am 
obliged to turn out in the open air .... . . . .... At 

times, I trust, the power of God is felt among us ; if 
- we think we can do without him, we may depend upon 
it he will do nothing by us. He will, and he ought to 
have all the glory. I hate dry, doctrinal preaching, 
without warm, affectionate, and experimental applica- 
tions. When we feel what we are at, others will feel 
too ; but when our own sham feelings are substitu- 
ted in the room of real ones, the people will soon de- 



LETTER TO MR. JONES. 271 

tect us, while this false fire will not communicate any 
real warmth to the heart. It is poor work to attempt 
to move the mere- passions of others, but as our own 
hearts are divinely influenced by that power which 
is from above., I fear you have felt much from the 
misconduct of some during your absence. You will 
be informed how we were constrained to act towards 
them. What - wisdom.' fidelity, and prudence, are 
necessary in the : management of the Christian 
church ! 

, I can, however, tell you of another event, which, if 
accomplished, may prove a great blessing to the neigh- 
bourhood. Mr. , Mr. 's son-in-law, has de- 
termined to wind up all his mercantile concerns, and 
be a resident in our neighbourhood; and by what he 
says, the nearer he can be to us, the better he .will 
like it. He means rrpt to take a settled charge, but 
to give his unsettled aid, wherever it may be needed. 
1 mention this, that we may be on the look out. He 
is much beloved by all who know him. 

It is my design to see Wotton again, with the Lord's 
leave, some time before the. second sabbath in Sep- 
tember, in order to prepare for a missionary meeting 
in our town ; though, I fear, we may have some dry 
doings among us, through the stiffness of some who 
may have the settlement of that work. 

Will you tell John, the gardener, that he must take 
some opportunity to bring some loads of stone from 

the neighbourliood of Mr. 's mill, which is very 

hard and good. This must be broken very very 
small; though, perhaps, the road had better not be 
relaid till nearer the winter season. Will you tell him, 
at the same time, ,'-. . , .... also to gather the laven- 
der as it gets ripe, and some of the ripest of the balm 
of Gilead. You must also give my love to all' the 
people, requesting their prayers, that I may not be per- 
mitted to suffer spiritual decline in my declining days ; 
and may you, my dear brother, have that faith and 
love which the Holy Ghost, can alone create in our 



372 LETTER TO MR. JONES. 

hearts; grow in grace exceedingly; and, while you can 
slay your tens of thousands, a;hd I my thousands only, 
go on ; and prosper, [an'dj-l, trust, I shall heartily re- 
joice in your success. < Never doubt hut that I am 

^ Your ever affectionate brother; || 

R. HILL. 

From Manchester, Mr. Rowland Hill went to pay a 
visit to his relations in Shropshire, by whom he was 
received with the utmost kindness and, affection^ and 
was invited to preach in some churches, in the neigh- 
bourhood of the family residence. Mrs. Hill notices 
this in a letter to Mr. Jones, in which she informs 
him, that they shall not return to Wotton as soon as 
they expectedj.on account of the pressing invitation 
they had received to prolong their stay. She says 
" Mr. Hill preached at Stan ton~ church last evening, 
and to-day at the chapel, where the; family attend. 
Next .Sunday [he is to preach] in a church at Wel- 
lington: How, can he ever bear," she adds, jocosely, 
" to preach at such a poor place as Wotton Taberna 
cle a'gain, after being such a churchman !"' Indeed, 
as has been before mentioned, nothing gave him such 
unfeigned .delight as being offered a pulpit in the es- 
tablishment. It would, at an^r time, induce him to 
alter his unimportant arrangements, and cause him . 
to prolong his stay, in whatever neighbourhood such 
an attraction occurred. 

It is well known, that, numbers of -poor people art 
kept away from the worship of God .on the sabbath, 
by their inability to make a decent appearance ; and 
the attention of Mr. Rowland Hill was drawn towards 
the best mode" of supplying them with the requisite 
clothing. . This he communicated, in a letter to his 
truly generous friend, Mr. John Broadley Wilson. 



Wotton, November l 
MY DEAR SIR, , ' 

Our good friends at Surry chapel, and others, have 



LETTER TO A YOUNG MINISTER. 273 

a design of extending the plan of religions instruc- 
tion among the poor, by seeking after some of the 
lower classes, whose wanfr of decent clothing pre- 
vents their attendance. It:is therefore designed to 
lend them a sort of Sunday livery for- that purpose, 
under a supposition, that by giving them a taste for 
profitable instruction, they may be roused from their 
degraded state. : ' 

It is therefore in contemplation, to convene a pub- 
lic, meeting for that purpose, some time after the ,28th 
of this month, while" it is concluded the most eligible 
spot for such a meeting would be the boy's school be- 
longing to the British and Foreign School Society, 
Borough-road, and you, being one of the- committee 
belonging to that institution, are requested to forward 
the application. ' 

With most 'affectionate respects to yourself and 
Mrs. Wilson, believe me to be, . 

, -My dear Sir, . ., 

' Most sincerely and gratefully yours, 

ROWLAND HILL. 

\- 

1 will conclude this chapter \vith a letter written by 
Mr. Hill to a very pious and amiable" young minister, 
whose sickness, alluded to in it, terminated fatally.* 



DEAR YOUNG FRIEND, ' 

A letter, received yesterday from Mrs. Neale, in- 
forms me of the painful situation of your health; and 
I am grieved to hear, that at least for.the present, you 
are obliged to leave your sphere of usefulness at Ex- 
eter, and to seek your native air for the recovery of 
your health. The Lord's ways are frequently in the 
deep. Let us still hope that the present dispensation 
is only designed to deepen your humility, to brighten 
your zeal, and enrich your experience in the divine 

'- * 

* The person addressed in this letter was the son of the Rev. 
John Griffin, of Portsea, a memoir of whom was written and pub- 
.ished by'his bereared father. 



274 LETTER TO A YOUN'G MINISTER. 

life ; and that you will be better taught to teach, by 
being tutored in the furnace of affliction the better to 
serve in the sacred cause in which you are engaged. 
Pure metals shine the brighter the harder they are 
rubbed. The Lord alone can prepare our hearts to 
receive that splendour of light, whereby we are enabled 
to shine forth to his glory. If sharp trials are neces- 
sary for the accomplishment of this glorious end, what 
a mercy from God when he sends them ! Still, when 
such as are likely to be useful are cast aside, it appears 
like a judgment we ought to lament " Help, Lord, 
for the godly man ceaseth." While it is a great 
mercy to live to be useful, yet it is our greatest curse, 
to be cumberers of the ground ; and When such cum- 
berers intrude themselves into the ministry of the . 
word, they prove the greatest curse to the living 
church of Christ. May you be deeply sensible, how 
much of the life and power of God is needed u'pon 
your soul, to make you an able minister of the New 
Testament, " not of the letter, but of the'Spirit, whose 
praise is not of man but of God." May your life be 
granted for this purpose, and for this alone. 
* * <* * * *.** * * * 

I am still, through mercy, willing to work as long 
as I can, and as hard -as I can. It is a mercy to be 
" steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work 
of the Lord," and then the next word sounds like a 
gracious promise, our " labour shall not be in vain in 
the Lord." 

With very kind love to your father and to your new 
mother, who, I am told, is a very excellent woman, 
believe me to be, 

Your very affectionate 

ROWLAND HILL. 



THE SOCIETY AT SURRY CHAPEL. 275 



CHAPTER XIII. 

THE SOCIETY .AT SURRY CHAPEL. 

I HAVE already mentioned the importance attached 
by Mr. Rowland Hill to a. species of improving inter- 
course, between himself and the communicants at 
Surry chapel, called " Meeting the Society." His views 
upon this subject will be further gathered, from the 
notice he takes of it in a letter to Mr. Jones, who was 
about to supply his place there for a few Sundays. 
" I hope you will find meeting the society, on a Mon- 
day eve, pleasant to your mind. . I generally speak to 
all fresh communicants, first in private, after having 
received a sufficient account, as far as it can be ob- 
tained among such a wilderness of people, and next en- 
courage them to relate their experience to their fellow- 
communicants. But, if diffidence forbids them, I 
speak for them, and tell before their faces what they 
have previously told me. I have oftentimes found 
that the most modest have proved amongst the best ; 
but it is difficult to act in London, as in the country, 
where people are most easily known. I always call 
upon one of the brethren to introduce that service with 
prayeiyand sometimes request another to conclude. 
Poor - is as dry as a stick. When strangers at- 
tend at Surry chapel, such ministers as do not tike our 
sort of church government, make it more like a public 
p'reaching than a society meeting. . This I do not like, 
but we cannot have everything just as we like. When 
I am in town, I give them to understand that meeting 
is only for the communicants. I drop these hints; | 
wish you may improve upon the plan." 

'An agecTand experienced minister's views of th$ 



276 LETTER TO THE AUTHOR. ' 

nature of his own office are always valuable, and 
therefore, I feel assured a letter to me, when I was 
first ordained, will not be considered an unnecessary 
addition to what has been already given on the same 
subject. . 

" . ' '., ' , .<"- 

Wotton, July 26fA, 1821. 
MY DEAR SIDNEY, 

I am ashamed I have not written to you since 
you have been Revd. 1 had been meditating; upon 
a long letter to you, such as a primitive "bishop 
should write to one just set off in the sacred, work to . 
which you hayeiieen called ; but when I cannot write 
as I should, I do not like to- write at all. Still for a 
few words. No real good can be expected, even from 
the private Christian, where- the ground-work of reli 
gion is wanting Regeneration. As ,well may you 
pretend to know what were the real transactions oi 
life before you were born, as to know any thing of real 
religion, which is nothing less than the life of God in 
the souls of men, till after you are born again. By 
that alone we feel, sin to be hateful, and, as we feel 
against it, we shall be able to preach feelingly against 
it. This begets genuine repentance, the harbinger oi 
all future good. The Lord Jesus sent his harbinger, 
John the Baptist, to ; urge this, his first message, 'home 
to the heart. A young minister, if the Lord designs 
to bless him, will begin with the law, charging theiin- 
ful violations of it home to the conscience, in a bold 
and fearless, but still in a tender and compassionate 
spirit. The law, not that neutralized modern stuff, 
that some call morality,, but that infinitely, holy 'and 
pure law, which is the exact transcript of the image of 
God himself, before the sound'of which every mouth 
must be stopped, "and all the world become guilty 
before God, for that all have sinned, and come short 
of the glory of God." And, till sinners feel the justice 
of this law, and own their guilt as transgressors, though 
the gospel may be admitted in theory, yet it never car 1 



LETTER TO THE AUTHOR. ' 277 

be admitted as the power of God. to the salvation of 
the soul, or felt as such in its transforming influences, 
in making us new -creatures, in -Christ Jesus. 
Till -this divine;influence be duly felt^ every youhg 
minister, especially if he be -of a captivating turn of 
mind, is in. perpetual danger of being captivated and 
ensnared .by the world. When this begins to take 
place, he 'will first attempt the impossibility of serving 
God and mammon at the same time. When he has . 
proved, the impracticability of such an effort, he will 
give himself up to the service of mammon altogether. 
If you wish to, gain a character as a minister of the 
word of .life, you must first lose it entirely in the es- 
teem of the world, and then, gain it, by your upright 
and holy zeal, by your complete deadness to the world, 
"that .'you may.-give yourself wholly to the.work of the 
ministry, and spend and be spent in the sacred cause. 
Half-way work is odious 'in every profession, but in 
the work of God, most abominable. . Such as honour 
Christ shall be- honoured by him. Yon have sufficient 
knowledge of the Gospel, to know that it is a glorious 
gospel, while the! thin, meagre religion of the world 
is beneath contempt. '-, 

Though you seem to have set sail under the auspi- 
ces of a prosperous gale, yet storms and tempests may 
soon await you; and, when needed, the Lord will 
send them. ... ' 



Satan cannot break his chain, and the bolder you are, 
if tempered with wisdom, from above, the more timid 
will your enemies be. Mind this passage go beyond 
it if you pan" Be you steadfast, unmoveable, always 
abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you 
'know -your labour shall not be in vain in the Lord." 
Mrs. N., now with, us, has this day received a letter 
from your late tutor, Mr. N. It is surprising what a 
glorious change has passed .upon his mind. my 
.Ifiar youth, pray for a .well grounded assurance, that 
24 " 



278 .' tyUMERQUS ENGAGEMENTS. 

a power as glorious has been, in very deed, v com- 
municated to your mind, as the only genuine, evi- 
dence that you were inwardly moved by the Holy 
Ghost, to take upon- you that most sacred office you 
have been called to fill ! that you may be filled 
with all that high spirituality Mr. Neale now evident- 
ly and eminently, possesses, with your own natural, 
animation and vivacity of spirit. , 



But just room for ' 

Yours affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 

In a subsequent letter to me, on the same subject, 
he remarks, " No eminent blessing attends such as do 
not labour to' be blest ; while such as are favoured 
with a sound head, a warm heart, and a bible creed, 
carry all before them;" . 

Mr. Rowland Hill's memoranda of engagements, 
in his interleaved Almanac of 1821, are more nu- 
merous than ever, both as to causes supported by 
him, and places of preaching. He thought nothing 
of six or seven . sermons a week, .besides, meeting 
his people and attending to the business of societies 
for benevolent or religious objects; and, although he 
occasionally complained of languor, his spirits never 
failed him, nor did his mind appear in the slightest 
degree overworked. He seemed, however,: to be im- 
pressed with perpetually increasing convictions,-as to 
the solemnity and importance of his sacred ..office-. 
His words, in a letter, are, " for more of the Spirit 
to make us preach spiritually ! By the aid -of our 
bibles and good books, we may collect good materials 
together ; but, unless the Lord himself sends down the 
celestial fire, there can be neither light nor warmth 
from the very best of these dead materials. Jesus, 
the Lord- and giver of life, keeps all in his own 
hands. .to keep our souls dependent on himself." 



MISSIONARY JOURNEY. '279 

Speaking of a young baptist preacher, whose ser- 
mons were full of dry theology, with little or no unc- 
tion, he called him "A sprig of made-up divinity, 
from a cold water academy." - / 

The undi'minished willingness- of Mr. Rowland Hill 
to labour, in his old age, will be seen by the account 
the following extract from a letter, dated January 3d, 
,-1822, gives of his probable acquiescence in an arduous 
journey for the London Missionary Society:" The 
Missionary Society is sinking for want of -support ; 
they have astonishing openings before them, for which 
astonishing exertions must be made. Now, they tell 
me, no minister, that 'travels to. beg for them, puts 
them to less expense,, arid gets so much money for 
them [as I do] when. I can take a, journey for them. 
And now you shall hear the plan they have designed 
for an old man, in the 78th year of his age. Tarn to 
set off from hence directly after the missionary meet- 
ing, Monday, the 13th .May, and then travel quite up 
as far as York, 200'miles from hence, taking Lincoln, 
Hull, and several other large towns, in my way thither, 
and on my return. 7 -' After: some other observations, 
relative to the alteration this plan must make in his 
usual movements, he adds, " Though, at my time. of 
life, I should rather seek after rest than attempt such 
extraordinary labours; yet, may it be spoken with hu- 
mility, it cannot be denied that these latter itinerations 
of my ministry have been attended with abundant in- 
dications of the power of God to the'souls of men, 
and have proved times of , general refreshment from 
the presence of the Lord." -'". 

A return o inflammation in Mr. JHill's.'eye caused 
the postponement of this journey to the 10th of June, 
and, byhis own memoranda, it appears that he preach- 
ed every day 'from that time till the llth of July. 
The congregations and collections were immense, but 
the undertaking was .too much for his strength ; and 
daily preaching,Jn very hot weather, brought on _a 
complaint, which weakened and depressed him. At 



280 . EASTERN TOUR. 

the end of a letter he notices this effect of such exer 
tions in his own brief manner : u . how hard I have 
' been worked. Thousands attend field-preaching. Fre- 
quently almost tired. Still I am upheld, though I 
was seriously ill." - 

This year Mr. .Hill manifested his attachment to 
the establishment, by an act of the most creditable 
liberality. A clergyman, whose religious views cor- 
responded with his own, became curate' of the church 
at Wotton, when he immediately ordered his chapeho 
be shut up in an afternoon, desired his congregation 
to go to. church, and himself- set them .the example. , 
.About this time Mr. Rowland Hill made an eastern 
tour, for the! benefit of the London Missionary Soci- 
ety, visiting, Norwich, Yarmouth, and Bury St. Ed- ' 
mund's. He had not been in the 'latter -place -for- 
nearly half a century, always refusing to go; there, as 
if oppressed by the painful recollection of violent 
persecution from the world, and coolness in profes- 
sors of religion, he had experienced^fifty years before 
in that town. He now met with the kindest possible 
reception, but appeared 'under most solemn impres- 
, sions. When he saw vehicles of- all descriptions 
.coming in, filled with those who were flocking to hear 
him; he exclaimed several times---" What shall I do, 
a poor, sinful, unworthy creature ? how shall I preach 
to this people?" A gentleman remarked "I am 
surprised, sir, that you should be so much agitated ; 
I could never 'have supposed that you .felt in this 
way ;" to which Mr. Hill replied "I always feel a 
great deal before I preach, but I am unusually agita- 
ted to-night." The place in which he was to preach 
could not contain near all who thronged for ad- 
mission ; hundreds stood without the walls, and the 
. crowd seemed to increase his excitement. A person 
present says" He gave out his text, laying a pecu- 
liar emphasis oh the first word, Ask of me and I 
will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and 
the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession : 



BURY ST. EDMUND S. 281 

Ps. ii. 8. ; In the course of his sermon, he- spoke most 
affectingly of the state and extent of the Redeemer's __ 
.possession the whole heathen world. The ground 
. of the Redeemer's plea in which he illustrated the 
connexion between the dignity of his person and the 
merits* of his death ; an<i in the most striking man- 
ner, he finally set, forth the .certainty of the fulfilment 
of the text, as the Father's promise and the Redeem- 
er's plea. In the whole discourse, there was an 
elevated and sublime range of ideas, and a simplicity 
and majesty of language, which arrested the atten- 
tion and astonished, the; -minds' of the whole audience. 
.The part of the application,.in which he appealed to 
his hearers .on attending , to the duty, and cultivating 
the spirit of prayer, in imitation of Christ, will never .. 
be forgotten." As Mr. , Rowland Hill came down 
from the pulpit, he took Mr. Dewhirst, the worthy 
minister of the chapel, by the hand, and, ' bursting 
into tears; said" Good Mr. Dewhirst, that I could 
be more useful to souls the little time I have .to live !" 
His prayer on this occasion was answered, by the 
conversion of some, and the excitement of a more 
ardent devotion in others. So delighted .were the 
people of Bury with Mr. Rowland HilPs sermon, that 
they pressed him, in the spring of- 1822, to. return to 
them once more, but he was unable to accept the 
invitation. In a letter to Mr. Dewhirst on the sub- 
ject, he says " What a kind set of people you-must 
have with .you at Bury, to : -make so much of the 
poor defective Cervices you had from me. How true 
it must be, that the. excellency of the power is not 
of man, but from the Lord alone ; and the more we 
are enabled to depend on him, the more he will hon- 
our, that dependence, by a glorious manifestation of it 
to the souls of men ; and the more we watch the 

* Mr. Hill generally chose the phrase,' the atonement of Chest's 
death "Merits" he saidto me.one day, " is commonly used; but 
it conveys only a thin idea of reconciliation, to God, through the 
death of his Son atoiiement (once separated. from God by sin, 
now at me again) atonement is the word I like." '; - 



ACCIDENT TO MR. 




distinctions, among 'the different churches of -Christ, 
and the nearer shall we be united to each other, for 
our mutual good. When the gospel comes not in 
word only, but in power, in the Holy Ghost, and in 
much assurance, that sets air right; and then, with 
one heart and one mind, we can all glorify God as 
one. If a spirit of bigotry has set us snarling at each 
other, this powerful influence drives it all away: the 
'blessed union created thereby makes hell tremble, 
while all hands are strengthened." 

Mr. Rowland Hill, after his labours in the country 
in 1822, was just on the eve of departure to London, 
when he had the misfortune to be seriously bruised,, 
and to break one of his ribs by an accident. -He pre- 
vailed on Mr. Jones to go immediately and supply his 
place at Surry chapel, till he should recover; and on 
feeling himself a little better, he wrote to him in the 
following terms;- 

MY DEAR BROTHER JONES, 

Soon after you left us, I -felt myself more severely 
and universally injured than I at first supposed. . The 
fractured rib is frequently the cause of much pain. 
The accumulation of phlegm occasionally creates a 
cough, [and] the pain I then feel is excessive. for 
patience to prove the event. This is the first time. I 
have attempted to use the pen, though my right arm 
and shoulder are so exceedingly shaken, that it is as 
much as I can accomplish to lift my arm to the table., 
so as to hold my pen. In short, wherever t_ am. pla- 
ced, there I must continue, but as I borrow the strength 
of others to be removed from place to place, though I 
seem to be a shade better since yesterday. I conceive 
it necessary to be thus particular, that future supplies 
maf be properly considered. "When the calamity 
first happened, I conceived I might be able just to 
creep towards the pulpit, and deliver somewhat like 



ACCIDENT TO MR. HILL. 283 

an apology for a sermon. Under this impression, I 
advised you to go to London ; but as matters, are, it 
might have been best had you continued on the spot. 
You know what a miserable shift we are, on such oc 
casions, obliged to make. Mr. r will be with us 
on sabbath morning (to-morrow) and - in the eve ; 
and, on- the sabbath afterwards, we must contrive such 
another patch, As, therefore, the' people in London 
may help themselves a little better than we can do at 
this place, the sooner you return the better. Still, it 
occurs to my mind; that if between this and a fortnight 
hence, I should be so far restored, as that, I could 
preach two half sermons, and procure others to read 
and pray, such a service would be better accepted, 
than what could be obtained from the generality of 
our supplies. Of this you shall have timely notice ; 
and after that I should remove slowly to town, and 
you would re, turn tp your winter post, where all will 
be -most affectionately glad to .see you. I am tired ol 
writing. Love to ail. . -..' 

Yours affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 
Thy will be done. 

On all these occasions, Mr. Hill's anxiety was 
more for the good and comfort of others than for 
himself. On hearing of his accident, I immediately 
begged that every information might be sent me as to 
the prospects and progress of his recovery, about 
which I naturally felt most deeply anxious. To a 
long and kind letter from Mrs. Hill on the subject, 
he added a postscript in these words " Yes, through 
the mercy of God, I am abundantly better, though 
Kill, when in bed, I cannot turn, but as I am turned. 
6 s that I maybe -able to spend the very, very few- 
remainder of my days to his glory, by, whom I have 
hitherto been kept. But you say nothing about 
yourself. , -.. , 



284 HIS RECOVERY. 

When you come, I shall do my best to< prove that I 
am . ~ , . 

Yours most affectionately, 
..'- ROWLAND HILL. 

Mr. Hill recovered with astonishing. rapidity, and 
commenced the year 1823 with, if we may judge from 
his notes of engagements, more activity than ever. 
It was a rare occurrence indeed for hirn to name the 
day, while in London, which he could call his own. 
The more he .had to do, the happier he appeared ; 
and, though increasing years brought with them a 
sense of diminished strength, his desire to work never 
decreased. This is shown by his own written re- 
mark" Through the mercy of God, my will for 
labour is where it was, but my ability begins to fail. 
I look upon myself to .have been most mercifully fa- 
voured through life, and' wish to meet my declining 
days with holy calmness 'and resignation to myhea- 
venly. Father's will. May he increase spirituality 
where he denies strength, and bless me with a more 
abundant influence of his grace and spirit in my de- 
clining days." After a season of great activity in 
London, and what always seemed to^renew.his ener- 
gies, an excellent missionary collection at Surry 
chapel, amounting to 425, he went to Wotton, 
preaching, as was his custom, every evening except 
the Saturday, at places on his journey, which he 
usually macle last the week. He travelled with his 
own horses by easy stages, and was looked for with 
the most 1 anxious 1 expectation wherever a sermon 
from him was announced. Nothing escaped him on, 
the road, and his remarks were generally extremely 
pointed and entertaining. I remember once being 
with him on a journey in the West of England, which 
he enlivened all the' way by his -animated observa- 
tions ; at length we passed a chapel, belonging Jo a 
sect in no great favour with him, on the front of which 
was a large board, with an inscription, indicating to 



MR. HILL IN TRAVELLING. 



285 



what party it belonged. Looking up quickly, he said 
-"What's that?"; and on my reading it, observed, 
with his drollest expression of countenance ''They 
had better do like the old washerwomen, who put up 
over their doors Mangling done here.'" 
' After the accustomed enjoyments of his, lovely 
place in Gloucestershire, mingled with his usual quan- 
tity of labour, Mr. Rowland Hill proceeded, hi the 
autumn of 1823, on a long' and arduous missionary 
tour.* He enjoyed an unusually strong state of health 
this autumn, arid went through his herculean task with 
the most perfect comfort to himself, and no small be- 
nefit to the cause he' espoused. On August 23rd, 
1823, he entered on his 79th year, and kept his birth- 
day ; riot with ,rest and festivity, but by a sermon at 
Tavistock; desiring that the day of his Own nativity 
should be the date of the new birth unto righteousness 
in others, till then -dead in trespasses and sins. 

* I have thought it worth while to give from. his memoranda, 
the following arrangement for August and September, 1823, to 
show what a plan of exertion my venerable relative :had marked 
out for himself at 78 years of age, "a period at which most old- 
men naturally look for quiet, indulgence, and repose. 



August, 1823. 
1 

2 ' 

3 

4 
5 

6 Trowbridge 

7 Bruton 

8 .Sherborne 

9 Weymouth 
10 Weymouth ' 



18 Exeter 
19Tiverton 

20 Barnstaple 

21 Bideford .. 

22 Oakhampton 

23 Tavistock 

24 Tavistock " 

25 Plymouth . 

26 Plymouth 

27 Plymouth 
28Ashburton 

29 Totness 

30 Kirigsbridge- 



11 Weymouth 

12 Weymouth, Dor- 31'DarFmouth 

Chester 

13 Bridport September, 1823. 

14 Sidmouth _ 1 Kingsbridge . 

15 Exmouth - 2 Yeovil . 

16 Exeter 3 Castle Gary 

17 Exeter 4 Wincaston ' 

5 South Potherton 



6 Pounsford-dinner 

7 Sacrament Pouris- 
' ford & Taunton 

- 8 Wellington 
9 Bridgewater" 

10 Shepton Mallet 

11 Homeward 

12 Bristol 

13 ' 

14 Home (probably 3 

times) .'. . . : 

15 Society 

16 Old Town 

17 Kingswood 

. 18 Hawkesbury 

19 Newport 
.20 

21-Wotton 



286 LAST 'JOURNEY TO SCOTLAND. ' 

, ,,In the spring of 1824 Mr. Rowland Hill was found 
engaged, with the; same self-denialand earnestness as 
ever, in the cause of religion. .Mrs. Hill says, in a 
letter dated. March 16th " Mr. Hill is gone into the 
city on business, - and from thence to Hackney to 
preach. In short, he has so much to .do, that I am 
astonished his strength holds out ; but I desire to be 
thankful for the wonderful health he has:" It was 
this year proposed to him to revisit Scotland once 
more in the summer, and he thus announced his ac- 
ceptance of the invitation to a correspondent " You 
will be surprised to hear that, old as I am, I have ac- 
tually engaged to travel so far as Scotland. Though 
I fear I may have promised too much, for my time of 
life ; yet I must look up to c the strong for strength. 
I go directly from hence to Edinburgh by water." 
On the night of June 2, ,Mr. Hill went on board a 
steam vessel, which left the river Thames "on the 
Wednesday morning, and arrived safe at Edinburgh on 
the Friday following. When about mid way: on his 
voyage, lie was requested by two .Scotch members of 
parliament to address the passengers, and readily 
assented to their proposal. The subject chosen) was 
our Lord's sermon on the mount, on which he corn- 
men" ted in a natural, easy, and impressive manner, for 
about three quarters of an hour. Though in his 
eightieth year, Mr. Hill stood the whole time, -to the 
astonishment of his hearers, arid the power which 
accompanied his words produced an effect upon all 
present, of no ordinary nature. As soon as he had 
concluded, the whole assembly of about sixty, per- 
sons, pressed forward to shake hands and thank him; 
and it was evident that they had heard with serious 
attention, a message of truth delivered. under a sense 
of its infinite importance, solemnized by the reflection 
that the aged lips from which it came, must, in a few 
years: more, be closed in the silence of death. He 
often mentioned this interesting /event with the most 
pleasing recollections, and spoke in grateful terms of 



LAST JOU11NEY TO SCOTLAND. 287 

the many kind attentions shown him' during the whole 
voyage. : . 

On reaching Edinburgh, he was most hospitably 
welcomed at the house of the Rev. J. Aikman, near 
JHeriot's Hospital,, .who very obligingly sent me the 
following account of his visit : " I regret that I am 
able to say v so little respecting the last visit of your 
late venerable and highly esteemed relative to this 
.city, as his stay was so very short, scarcely completing 
a week. But this I can say with confidence, that his 
unexpected appearance amongst us, : after an absence 
of, twenty-five years, was hailed with much delight by 
Christians of ^denominations, and especially by those 
who had attended his ministrations, during his former 
visits to this country , On the - inorning of the only 
sabbath he spent in Edinburgh, he preached to a 
crowded congregation in our chapel, of upwards of 
1,500 persons, many being prevented access from the 
multitude which thronged the doors, and -for whom 
there was no accommodation. In the evening, he 
preached to a still larger congregation, in Dr. Peddie's 
(of the secession church) place of worship. He was 
listened to, on both occasions, with the greatest interest, 
and considering the advanced age.he had now attainr 
ed, his appearances, while highly creditable, to his 
talents, were still more illustrative of that ardent zeal 
in the adorable Redeemer,, and that fervent piety and 
love to the souls of men, by which the whole .career 
of his long, laborious, and .most eminently useful life, 
has been so much distinguished. His friends here 
were fearful lest he might sustain injury, by his pulpit 
and other exertions ; but such was the.earnestdesire he 
had to embrace every opportunity of promoting, the 
interests of that great cause which had so long enga- 
ged all his energies, that he unhesitatingly engaged, if 
I mistake not, during every day he remained with us, 
to preach in different places of worship in the city. 
He preached in the .Tabernacle for his old friend, Mr. 
James Haldane, in the Albany-street chapel, and on 



288 LAST JOURNEY TO SCOTLAND. 

the evening previously to his quitting- us, in the 
large chapel of the secession church, near Brougbton- 
place, to an overflowing audience. In-.the whole of 
his sermons he was heard with the most respectful at- 
tention, and with ail-that affectionate regard which the 
knowledge of his honourable character, and his long, 
faithful, and disinterested services in the best of causes, 
so justly inspired. On reaching Glasgow, he was in- 
troduced, shortly after his arrival-, if ' I recollect right, 
to a public meeting of the friends of Christianity, as- 
sembled for the promotion of some one of those great 
and philanthropic schemes, for the spiritual benefit of 
our fellow men, which so happily mark the character 
of the period in which our lot is cast ; and his appear- 
ance in the midst of them, while welcomed by the 
most cordial and joyous congratulations, and his pater- 
nal and affectionate address, gave an impulse to the 
meeting, of no ordinary kind. His exertions in the 
week, were of a similar character with those by which 
his short residence here was marked, and while, in 
leaving us, we experienced a measure of that feeling 
which prevailed in the breasts of the Ephesiah bre"- 
thren, when taking lea ve.of Paul " that they should 
see his face no more in the flesh," we were yet soothed 
by the reflection, that the Lord, in his adorable pro- 
vidence, had permitted us once more ,to see and hear 
him, in whose former labours many of us had felt so 
deep an interest, and of which labours, and I can speak 
of what came under my own .personal knowledge, 
there is fruit gathered many years since into the hea- 
venly garner, and fruit still on earth, to be conveyed 
there in the due. and appointed season." 

The Monday after his arrival in Edinburgh, Mr. 
Rowland Hill visited, with the greatest interest, the 
scenes of his past labours. On the Carton Hill he 
stood for a few minutes, in silent and pensive contem- 
plation of the spot, where, in former days, he had 
addressed assembled thousands on the momentous 
concerns of the eternal world ; and then adverted al 



\ 

LIVERPOOL. MANCHESTER. 289 

ternately to the magnificent landscape before him, arid 
to the times in which, standing on that, very soil, lie 
had felt his spirit stirred within him, to point out to 
the careless and to the ignorant, the only, road to the 
bright and everlasting glories of a heavenly existence. 
Mr. Hill went to Glasgow by the track boat, embark- 
ing at Grangemouth, u small village in Stirlingshire, 
and his presence excited ah intense iriterestin the peo- 
ple, who crowded to see him. He'i'emained on deck 
nearly the whole time of the passage, enjoying, \vithout 
fatigue, the beautiful scenery through which he passed, 
Mr. Hill was received at Glasgow with enthusiasm, 
and became the chief object of attraction, during the 
bustle and excitement of a week's religious festival. 
At Paisley he preached in the High church, and 'pro 
ceeded to Greenock, where he spent several days, that 
he might refresh himself by excursions on the lakes. 
On his departure, numbers followed him to the water's 
edge, to take a parting look and bid a long farewell 
to the aged. minister, whose hoary bairs and furrowed 
cheeks foretold that he was quitting the shores of 
Scotland for ever. . After a boisterous voyage in a 
steam vessel, Mr. Hill reached Liverpool at three in 
the morning ; he went to bed till eight o'clock, when 
he arose to breakfast, and was sufficiently recovered 
by the evening to address an overflowing congrega 
lion in the chapel of Dr. Raffles. " It is no use try- 
ing to get in," said a man, " they run over like peas 
from a bushel," and so they did in everyplace during 
this entire joiTrney. The same sensation was excited 
at Manchester, by Mr. Hill' v s staying to preach there 
on his way to Hawkstone, his birth place, and to 
Hardwick, the seat of Lord Hill. After a most kind 
reception from his family, he returned to Wotton, 
delighted with his tour, and the success of the collec- 
tions, which amounted to nearly sixteen hundred 
pounds. On his arrival, Mrs. Hill wrote me word : 
" All his friends here were pleased to see him look so 
well, and I doubt not but you will feel the same plea- 
25' . ' 



290 RETURN TO WOTTON. 

sure by the information you receive. Through mercy 
he was .protected on his journey, though he had a ter- 
rible voyage on his return from Scotland. I hope, 
from all I hear, that his visit to the North will not be 
in vain. I understood from , who was there at 
the same time, that the respect shown him was very 
great, which you know is very pleasing to flesh and 
blood ; but what is much better, vast crowds attended 
his preaching, and from the immense multitude, we 
may hope some might be called from darkness to 
light, from sin to God." ' 



PASTORAL CHARACTER OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 291 



CHAPTER XIV. 

PASTORAL CHARACTER OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 

AMPLE justice has been done, by the admirers of 
Mr. Rowland Hill, to the power and spirituality of his 
preaching, the splendour of which somewhat over- 
powered the gentler, but not less admirable light of 
his character, as a pastor and adviser of those bene- 
fited by truths, faithfully and impressively declared 
from the pulpit. Some, indeed, have ventured to . 
insinuate, that he was found wanting, in the discharge 
of this essential part of ministerial duty ; I shall 
therefore devote the following chapter, to instances of 
Mr. Hill's private intercourse with : his people,^ in 
which he was an example truly worthy to be follow- 
ed, by -all who have undertaken the solemn charge 
of " watching 'for souls, as men that must give an ac- 
count." I am happily confirmed in my view of Mr. 
.Rowland Hill's vigilance over his converts, by the 
opinion of others, who had abundant opportunities 
of observing it. One of these,* an excellent and well 
known dissenting minister, kindly wrote to me on 
this subject, and I cannot do better than avail myself 
of his judicious testimony. In adverting to his ac- 
quaintance with Mr. Hill, he says,;" there is nothing 
in life that I look back upon with more pleasure, than 
the neighbourly and friendly intercourse I was, for a 
long series of years, -permitted to enjoy with that 
eminent servant of Jesus Christ. One or two points 
I should like to be noticed in his memoirs, which hap- 
pening to fall under my immediate observation, and 
perhaps not equally so under that of others, are de- 

. * The Rev, George Clayton. 



292 VISITS TO HIS PEOPLE. 

serving of a lasting record, as illustrative of his 
character, and as entitled to imitation. There are 
many who knew and admired him in the character 
of a preacher, who possibly give him less credit than 
they ought in the character of a pastor. During the 
months he was in town, he not only filled the pulpit, 
but he watched and tended the flock. Calling on him 
one morning at Surry chapel house, seven or eight 
years ago,* I found him attired for going abroad. He 
said he was going a round of pastoral visitation, and 
very courteously invited me to accompany him. 
Having an hour or two to spare, I readily. complied. 
He first conducted me to the alms-houses, and passing 
from one apartment to another, he gave a word of 
exhortation and comfort to the old ladies ; and with 
one of them, confined by illness, he offered up a 
prayer, very short, but admirable for its simplicity, 
spirituality, and adaptation. We then proceeded to 
some of the most wretched hovels, which abound in 
the back streets of that neighbourhood. Several of 
these were inhabited by pious 'poor. He spoke to 
them with tender sympathy, and the most lovely con- 
descension. One or two he admonished for their 
slovenly neglect arid want of cleanliness, reminding 1 
them that godliness should make people tidy and clean 
in their habits. With some he left money ; with some 
he offered prayer to all he gave kind looks, kind 
words, and his blessing. Coming out of a,room that 
fwa's certainly very dirty, he exclaimed, 'we must 
endure all things for the salvation of souls.' After 
this, we entered the habitations of others of his 
charge, moving in what is called a respectable sphere 
of life. Among these, some of whom were the prin- 
cipal tradespeople in Southwark, he dropped a word 
in season, comforting the afflicted, warning .their 
minds against impatience and fretfulness, and exhort- 
ing to perseverance and prayer. It was truly edify- 

* It should be recollected . that Mr. Rowland Hill was then 
more than eighty years of age. 



VISITS TO THE SICK. , 393 



ing to observe how he changed, his tone and manner, 
according to the requirements of the case, and how 
truly l grace was poured into his lips' while he went 
from house to house as the ' shepherd of his people.' " 
This is a most accurate description of Mr. Rowland 
Hill's mode of visiting his people, a duty which no 
person ever more wisely or faithfully discharged. He 
balanced admirably between the doing and overdo- 
ing of this difficult part of a minister's work be- 
tween the inattention which the people regard. as a 
neglect, and those too frequent and hasty calls which 
are little valued, if not often considered intrusive. 
On these occasions too, he always went as a minis- 
ter, and in no other character, and was careful to 
avoid all conversation but that which was profitable. 
He strongly urged upon the poor the necessity of 
.every-possible adornment of the Christian character, 
particularly cleanliness ; and used always to consider 
a slovenly person and a dirty house, as an evidence 
that religion had effected <no salutary change in the 
character. The admirable neatness of the inmates 
of his -alms-houses at Wottbn, struck every one who 
visited them. The least symptom of untidiness was 
noticed by him in ah instant with " here, mistress, is 
a.trifle for you to buy some soap and a scrub-brush ' 
there is plenty of water to be had for nothing ; 
good Mr. Wliitefield used to say, ''cleanliness is next 
to godliness."' 

The solemn faithfulness of Mr. Rowland Hill's 
conversation with the sick, was always in the accents 
of love ; and his coricludirig prayer seldom -..-ieft a 
tearless eye in the chamber of the dying. His manner 
.of pointing out to the penitent sufferer, the difference 
between the repentance of fear and love, was exceed- 
ingly clear, and often productive of the happiest 
effects. His- attention also to the little comforts of 
the afflicted poor, made them feel that he really had 
their interests at heart. I have seen him early in the 
summer searching his garden, with a;basket in his 



294 ADVICE TO CONVERTS. 

hand, for the few-ripe strawberries he could find, to 
carry them himself to some sufferer, to whom they 
would prove a welcome refreshment; and. when he 
offered this little present, it was with a most affection- 
ate kindness of manner, I have before described the 
agitation, under which Mr. Hill often laboured, when 
he left scenes of sickness and distress, and I think I 
can truly venture to affirm, that he sympathized most 
sincerely, on all occasions, with the trials of each in- 
dividual who confided in him. Not only were Mr. 
Rowland, Hill's personal visits directed to .the edifica- 
tion of his people, but he frequently corresponded 
with many of .them for the same laudable purpose. 
He wrote to a young gentleman, to whom his minis- 
try had been made useful, in the following kind and 
encouraging terms "you, my dear young 'friend, 
shojild exceedingly magnify the grace of God, by 
which, I trust, you have been called, so early in life, 
to the knowledge of himself, whom to know is life 
eternal, whom to serve is heaven upon: earth, I am 
grieved at heart, that you .have had too many stum- 
bling-blocks set before* you, in what is called the reli- 
gious world ; still real religion is the same;;, there 
would be no counterfeits, if there was not real gold. 
The grace of God converts the heart and regulates 
the life in time, and ultimately brings us to himself 
in eternity ; and such, amidst too many false profes- 
sors, are still to.be found, who prove themselves to be 
blameless and harmless, the sons of God, and are 
enabled to shine as lights of the world." 

To the same friend, on receiving tidings which his 
words will explain, Mr. Hill wrote " your letter con- 
tains plenty of good news, and some of the best of 
it in a short compass. What a mercy, that your 
union has been attended with such a blessing to others 

of the same family. Miss , you humbly trust, 

has been brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is 
in God our Saviour, and Mrs. begins to feel the 
like inclination, towards the things of God. The 



ADVICE TO CONVERTS. 295 

more we feel our hearts brought into sweet union 
with God, the more will our union with each other 
be attended with such consequences, as are happy 
and blessed among ourselves. Peace and love frOrn 
God, when shed abroad in the heart by the Holy 
Spirit from above, is sure to produce peace and love 
among ourselves. What a perpetual, hell possesses 
the minds of those, who are under the dominion of 
their corrupted .passions, and what sweet, serenity, 
xvhat perfect peace :do they enjoy, whose minds are 
stayed on God. that we may enter into th'at state 
of- spiritual rest which sweetens every cross, and 
renders our sharpest trials among the richest of. our 
blessings in disguise !" ' " ' , . 

Mr. Hilt faas always a willing guide to those whom 
religion had involved in domestic trials, of which. I 
shall give an instance, in his .advice to a young Jady 
under the deepest impressions, but much.opppsed at 
home. " The question you ask, how far it is right to 
abstain from conversing on religion upon parental 
authority, I [will] answer, to the best of my ability. 
It is a happiness for 'you, dear madam, that you have 
not a desire or wish to converse upon any religious 
subjects, but such as the, subject matter of oiir devo- 
tions in the public liturgy ; and to be prohibited from 
ever speaking about that, which should- be [our] 
present practice as well as [our] future hope,' would 
be a strange prohibition indeed, and in -direct viola- 
tion of that express command, let your conversation 
be always to the use of edifying, that it may admin- 
ister grace to the hearers. See also Deut. vi. 6 -10 ; 
MaL iii. 16, 17. Had .you been unhappilyled aside 
by Roman Catholics, by Socinians, or by any-other 
sectarian sentiments, contrary to those sound doc- 
trines taught by our established church, I should even 
then think it a .hardship to .impose a silence, while 
conscience, though in error, directs you to propagate 
what you conceive to be right. While at the same 
time [that] I might admire your upright zeal, I should 



296 SCHISM. 

do the utmost in my power to use no other weapons, 
but those of sound arguments, to refute your errors, 
and that by the most persuasive mildness to r win by 
love, as well as to convince by truth. . Let. it therefore 
be hoped, that when your parents have fully disco^ 
vered,you have not a wish to hint; to any relative or 
friend, beyond what should be the daily practice of us 
all a serious caution against such a conformity to 
the world, as must have a tendency to pollute the 
mind, without any sanctimonious severity against 
others in matters that are indifferent, and that your- 
faith is the common creed of all Christians of the 
Protestant persuasion when your parents have abun- 
dant evidence of this, they will feel their mistake, and 
find it their duty to permit you to live comfortable at 
home, and allow at least some variation of sentiments 
in you, which may not be altogether conformable to 
their own. I trust it will prove an argument greatly 
in your favour, that while you love the good man of 
every denomination, yet it is not your design or wish 
to deviate from the established church, or to make 
proselytes on such a low design but if you can give 
good advice to such as are -bad, and direct them to 
the Saviour, that he may change their hearts, I must 
say that no parental .authority should prevent you 
from so good a work. If , such are persecuted, it is 
for righteousness' sake, and then the Spirit of God 
and of glory shall rest upon them : 1 Pet. iv, 1218." 
When asked his opinion upon the nature of schism, 
Mr. Rowland Hill replied "the word schism is made 
frightful by misapplication. Our fellow subjects in 
Scotland 'gflre Presbyterians, should they not tie allowed 
to be the same in England also,~where we are Episco- 
palians ? "Why should I be prohibited from being an 
Episcopalian, when there? Are we not to be permit- 
ted to choose our own church discipline, without being 
branded with such an odious appellation ? A schis- 
matic is a man of a turbulent bad spirit, to whatever 
party, respecting things that are indifferent, he may 



ADVICE. FASTING. 297 

belong; biit.if \ve allow that these little shades of 
difference may exist, we ought to, love as brethren, 
and where Christian candour and love is found to 
reign, the odious sin of schism, according .to its ge- 
nuine interpretation^ can never .exist." 

A young Christian .was so tried by. opposition 9t 
home, as to be driven to inquire whether it might 
not be allowable to seek an opportunity of leaving the 
parental rooi Mr. Hill's reply to the question was, 
" I am truly sorry for your perplexity. To leave a 
parent's home I conceive is a step that would not be 
advisable, but under very severe and 'oppressive cir- 
cumstances indeed. That separation from the world 
which we conceive real Christianity inspires and de- 
mands, as it respects its sinful amusements and de- 
lights, may give considerable offence, and for a con- 
siderable time; but -while we,- are directed by the 
grace of God which is, in us, not to be conformed to 
this world, yet, under the guidance of that good sense 
which true religion naturally inspires, we shall be 
enabled to obviate the mistake, that we are not actu- 
ated by sour moroseness, but by an , obedient attention 
.to what we conceive to be the .will of God, [and to 
show] that we know how to keep up the .distinction 
between pious cheerfulness and frothy levity, in our 
conversation in the World. It is this that will enable 
us to show mor ; e cheerful obedience and affectionate 
attention, to such as have a natural authority over 
us ; and it is to be hoped few will be found in this 
liberal and enlightened age, who will; not be'won by 
such patient continuance in welldoing." 
: - To an inquirer as to the duty of fasting, -Mr. 
Rowland Hill writes* "you ask me about the duty 
of fasting. This seems more as a duty upon solemn 
occasions, than that which is enjoined upon us indi- 
vidually like other duties, which can never cease to 
exist. The duties of prayer, repentance, faith, love, 
watchfulness, holy patience, resignation^ and submis- 
sion to the holy will of God, and a variety of others 



398 REAL RELIGION. 

of the same sort, should become tfie constant habit 
and practice of the mind ; and if at any time private 
fasting may be our duty, yet still -we are directed -as 
much as possible not to appear to fast before men, 
that the duty may be performed with greater sincerity 
before God. I believe we are much more called to 
regular abstinence^ and constant mortification ol 
every evil habit and desire, than' to those particular 
acts that may occasionally be enjoined;" 

When advising a young Christian as to conduct 
before worldly parents, he observes "Much pre- 
judice is found to.arise in the minds of many, through 
mere mistake respecting what religion really is. A 
preposterous or caricatured misconception frequently 
occupies the mind, through misrepresentation or want 
of 'proper information. It is our mercy, however, that 
the wisdom and prudence which real religion inspires, 
is so well calculated to obviate tlfese objections. It 
directs us to go to the- Bible alone, that oar creed-and 
- conduct may be regulated thereby ; while it is not 
less favourable, to those who claim a relationship to 
the established church, [for] as she directs, so we be- 
lieve. The awful proof of the depravity of the 
human race, is too notorious to be denied, and while 
reason tells us that he alone can forgive us, against 
whom the oifence has been committed, revelations 
makes -known to us the way whereby alone we can 
be forgiven, through him that suffered, the just for 
the unjust, that he. might bring us to God; not that 
we may wantonly live in sin, but that we may most 
powerfully be saved from it. And while this most 
important doctrine of the renewal of the heart is made 
so much the subject of divine revelation, we find it 
not less the subject of our perpetual devotions^ in the 
established church. ' Can we conceive a higher strain 
of devotion, than what we have in that prayer in the 
communion service-r-' Cleanse the thoughts of our 
hearts by the inspiration of thy 'Holy Spirit, that we 
may perfectly love thee and worthily magnify thy. 



LETTER TO MISS WATIiEN. 299 

I _ 

holy , name;' >and further 'that we being regene- 
rate and made thy children by adoption and grace, 
may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit?' It must 
be confessed, that if we live consistently with such 
devotions as these, we; cannot live according to the 
course of this world, but we must' live unto God. 
And 'here is our difficulty ; a solemn cheerfulness is 
our privilege, while a sullen moroseness tends only 
to disgust. I trust your own good sense will direct 
you to this happy medium before your parents, 
while they are given to understand, -by your in- 
creased affection and attention to them, that they 
may have full evidence, that they cannot r have a 
child that loves them 'better, because you love and 
fear the Lord." ' ' 

The kind feelingj added to his natural benevolence, 
with which religion inspired Mr. Rowland Hill, was 
continually: manifested in his correspondence. Of 
this we have a pleasing specimen, in ;a letter to a 
little girl, the daughter of his friend Mr/Wathen. 

~! "!'"' ' ' 

MY DEAR Miss WATHEN, 

, How kind to correspond with such an old man, 
old enough to be your great grandfather. Should 
I ever be ground young again, I shall certainly re- 
member your kind attention to me ;. but as I cannot 
find out where the mill is to be found th; t grinds.old 
people into young ones, I can only advisj my young 
friend, Miss Wathen, to follow the excellent advice 
of her parents, whereby she will be directed to be 
wise and good; but not without the Lord should 
bless her with his grace, whereby she alone, can be 
enabled to live to his glory. With love to your most 
dear parents, believe me to be, 

-'.'- Most affectionately yours, 

ROWLAND HILL. 

Prom these specimens 'of Mi 1 . Rowland Hill's cor- 
respondence, it will be seen how vigilantly,.affection- 



300 CHARITIES OF MR. -.ROWLAND HILL. 

ately, and wisely he discharged the office, of apastq- 
ral guide and adviser.- of his followers. He, was not 
without his failings as a man; .his peculiar' course it 
would-be vain, as it would be-unwise, for any other 
individual to attempt to follow; but _as respects his 
character as a shepherd of the flock, the greatest ho- 
nour we can pay his memory, is to imitate his watch- 
fulness, prudence, and .-affectionate patience towards 
all who sought the benefit of his counsel. .. 

Another admirable feature, in the character of Mr. 
Rowland Hill, was the discretion which he exercised 
in the distribution of his numerous charities. Indis- 
creet benevolence, however diffusive, confers no real 
benefit on society ; and it. is as morally wrong. to en- 
courage imposture in the lower orders, as it is to re- 
fuse them the assistance their necessities require. : To 
this Mr. Hill was perfectly alive ; and, besides the ju- 
dicious visits of the members of the Surry chapel Be- 
nevolent Society, he used ,every means in his power 
to inquire into the, wants of applicants before he re- 
lieved them ; and I can truly affirm, that I never yet 
saw a case of real distress turned away by him with- 
out some consolatory act of kindness. In the country, 
also, he endeavoured to suit the assistance he gave 
the poor to their peculiar circumstances, with which 
he was intimately acquainted, and devised all sorts 
of plansj in seasons of unusual suffering, to extend a 
continuance of the charity required .during the time 
it was most needed. It has been well observed to me, 
in a kind communication in reference to this work,* 
" So many eccentric, ludicrous, and extravagant things 
have been circulated of Mr. Hill in relation to his 
charitable deeds, as though he were open to imposi- 
tion from the frail benevolence of his heart, thatit 
ought to be known that good sense, shrewd discern- 
ment, ,and sound experience, were united in the exer- 
cise of that large philanthropy, by which he was pre- 
gminently^distinguislied in life and ..death. 5 ' To do 
, *By the, Rev. George Clayton. : 



CHAiUTIES OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 550] 

justice to the memory of my beloved guardian, as re- 
spects his private, intercourse with his people, and the 
wisdom. and benevolence of his heart, has been my 
object in this brief chapter, from which, I trust, it has 
appeared, that he was not allured by a flattering popu- 
larity -into forgetfumess of the silent and unseen vir- 
tues of a life, both in public and private, dedicated 
to Goa. 

26 



'302 MR. HILL'S PRESENTS FOR CHILDREN. 



CHAPTER XV. 

* - ' . ' 

MR. HILL'S PRESENTS FOR CHILDREN. 

WHEN the increasing dimness of Mr. Rowland 
Hill's sight, from repeated attacks of inflammation, 
very much prevented his reading, he found a source 
of in-door amusement, in making some pretty and 
instructive presents for the children of his friends. 
These were boxes covered with coloured paper, and 
containing, in partitions, the letters of the alphabet, 
from, which improving sentences and texts of scripture 
might be formed. In each box there were printed 
directions, in easy verse, to be learnt by the children, 
and a couplet in rhyme on every letter. In a morn- 
ing before breakfast, Mr. Hill was to be seen hard 
at work on his newly-invented playthings, cutting 
out the letters, which he had had printed on paste- 
board for the purpose, with the greatest apparent 
earnestness. While at Bristol, in 1824, he gave a 
specimen of his invention to Mrs. Hannah More, who 
says, in her answer to the letter \vhich accompanied 
it, " I admire the usefulness and the humility, of all 
your baby manufactures. Your .carefully sorted 
alphabets' are like Ajax making bows and arrows for 
little children. Happy would it have been for cer- 
tain heroes, ancient and modern, who set the world 
in a flame, had their leisure been as innocently and 
usefully employed." When he sent his little present 
to this celebrated and excellent authoress, Mr. Hill 
indulged his humorous vein by imitating the style, 
of SternhokLand Hopkins : 

With this my love doth come to you ; 
My love it is both sure and true, 



DANGER AND RECOVERY OF MRS. HILL. 303 

. And eke the same, likewise also, 
Unto.your household it doth go. 

It is pleasing Jo see the playful anddively spirit of 
these two useful and admirable persons, whose cheer- 
fulness was the result of a 'life spent in cultivating the 
truest spirit of genuine Christianity. . . 

In December, 1524, Mrs. Hill had the, courage, at 
her advanced age, to submit to a dangerous and pain- 
ful operation, which she bore with amazing-fortitude 
and patience. Her- recovery was rapid, even beyond 
the expectations of the eminent and skilful surgeons 
who attended her,* and the effect produced on her 
mind, was an admirable proof of the depth and reali- 
ty of the religion* she professed. When Mr. Jones 
wrote from Wotton, to express his anxiety and that 
of the people for her restoration, she added the follow- 
ing postscript to Mr. Hill's reply. " I cannot let this go 
without trying to send you a line or two, (it is my 
first attempt, at letter- writing since my -illness,) to 
thank you for your very kind letter. The contents 
of it drew a pleasant tear .from my eye, as having 
a hope your requests would be heard on my behalf ! 
I am afraid to say. so, but I think, in some measure, I 
desire purification of soul, may be the blessing I may 
gain from the trial I have had;- -My mind has been 
calm during the confinement of a sick room ; and at 
the time of operation, I trust I was enabled to look to 
God for his support; and I liad a confidence that the 
prayers of the children of God would be heardj as I 
believe many felt arid prayed for me." In a letter to 
her friend, Mrs. Edward Walker; her feelings -under 
the severe trial are further \expressed by Mrs. Hill : 
" I have been writing to you .several times in my own 
mind, but now I will try to bring it into effect,, as I 
am persuaded you will be glad to receive a few lines 
from me. I must not write much, as I find neither 
my head nor arm can yet bear imich use. Through 

* Sir William Blizard and Mr. English. 



304 JOURNEY TO THE WEST OP ENGLAND. 

the mercy of God 1 am as well, nay, better than could 
be expected; but being of a nervous habit, I feel now, 
in that respect, from the shock of a^gevere operation. 
But O, what cause have I to be very thankful for the 
support, I trust I was favoured with in a time of 
need, and I hope it is my desire (but we know not 
ourselves) that the affliction may not .wear away, 
without a real blessing to^my sou]. My five weeks' 
retirement has been a time of consideration and ex- 
amination. I cannot look back on a well-spent life. 
but, on the contrary, I find much, -very much, to 
mourn over ; yet I hope it has, in some measure, .been 
a season of prayer and praise, and that I would not 
have been without the affliction ; bftt we are not good 
judges of ourselves whilst under the rod. We are 
deceitful creatures ; may the Lord make us sincere in 
every point of view. And now, my dear. friend, ac- 
cept my thanks for your. land anxiety about me; 
friendship is soothing as we pass through this vale of 
trouble and sorrow." , , 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Rowland Hill commenced every 
successive year of their lives with an increasingly ear- 
nest desire to be found in the service of God. Mr. 
Hill's prayer was, that he might work to the very 
last, and that he might see perpetual .fruits of his 
exertions. " To preach and not to do good by it," 
he observed to a friend, "is one of the greatest trials 
I know; but the Lord V work can only be done , by 
the Lord himself?' In the year 1825 he went through 
his usual routine in London, and took a journey into 
the west of England, actuated byv the purest desire 
to be useful. He sometimes exclaimed, "Lord, help 
me to do a little more good before I die, and raise up 
young ministers, who shall work from the bottom of 
their hearts. These last are what I, find it difficult to 
meet with." He was also fond of applying to him- 
self a quotation from one of his own hymns : . 

My dear Redeemer and my God, 
Take ihon the purchase of thy blood; 



MR. ROWLAND HILL AT EIGHTY-TWO. 305 

The price was paid, that I might be 

A living sacrifice to thee. ... 

Mr.' Rowland 'Hill's .devotion to the cause 9f religion 
was accompanied with the most genuine humility; he 
felt, to use his own expression, ."that no success 
could be the result, without a divine' influence from 
above," and that he had " reason to blush that God 
could and did bless so feeble .an instrument for such- 
a .glorious purpose." In one of his journeys in 1825, 
he attacked the' errors of Socinians in no very gentle 
terms, some of whom observed, rather sneeringly, 
" poor, old gentleman, it is a pity he does not leave 
off." This came to his ears ; and after a very animated 
address on a public occasion, he suddenly said, in-his 
own inimitable manner, after explaining the cause of 
the remark, " th& poor old gentleman will never leave 
off, till the power to refute errors and spread the 
truth leaves off him, so further kind advice on this, 
subject will only be thrown away." . .'- 

In the spring of 1826, on arriving in town, I found 
Mr. Rowland Hill was preaching in 'Kent, and a few- 
days after I reached his house, he returned, full of 
life and animation, -from his journey: The same 
course of activity, in London,' and the same diligence 
in the country, marked the progress of this venerable 
individual during the whole of the year. He made 
an autumnal journey into"" Devonshire, preaching 
daily, and in a letter dated Bxmouth, August 25th, 
1826, he observes" I have now entered the 83rd 
year of my life ; I ought to be much more ripe than 
1 am. I wish,' by a wise conduct, as long as strength 
lasts, to do good -without doing harm. My course is 
nearly finished that I may finish it with joy !" ' 

In the beginning of January, 1827, Mrs. Hill wrote 
me word" Mr. Hill is still able' to preach twice on a 
Sunday, though he says, in the evening of the day, 'I 
am very tired;' but he is thought the wonder of the 
age, to dp wha.t he does at eigKty-two" One of the 
most remarkable things about him at this time was, 

: 26* - . - ; 



306 SPIRITUALITY OF HIS SERMONS. 

that his voice did not fail, and that he was able to 
command the earnest attention of his immense con- 
gregation, and to speak so as to be heard by them all. 
His chief trial was a cough, which came on in the 
spring, but which, while it effected his comfort in the 
delivery of his sermons, was not considered at all det- 
rimental to his constitution, as he was relieved by con- 
siderable expectoration. At this advanced period of 
his life, Mr. Hill's mind seemed, instead oHoing its 
powers, only to be more and more matured ; and his 
vivid, and, in former years, uncontrolled imagination, 
did not take less lofty flights, but gathered, in the 
wide range of its excursions, only heavenly fruits. 
The ludicrous was banished from his sermons, and 
his aspect and language wore all the solemn dignity 
of age; his manner too, was that of one who recol- 
lected, that he must soon himself realize the impor- 
tance of the truths he had, for more than half a cen- 
tury, been charging home upon a thoughtless arid a 
sinful world. Whenever I happened occasionally to 
, hear him, I was greatly struck with the increasing rich- 
ness and method of his sermons ; and oil my remarking 
the latter to him, he said, "I used to ramble a little, 
I know, but I believe I do stick to my text in my old 
age." I never shall forget the power with which he 
preached about this time, on the words, I know that 
my Redeemer liveth, enlarging on the necessity of a 
personally felt and acknowledged interest in Christ, 
" The older I grow," he said, " the more I feel my 
need of the Saviour, and the only evidence I have 
of my interest in him, is the life-giving influence of a 
living Redeemer on my heart we know that we are 
his, by the spirit which he hath given us. fine 
expression I because I live, ye shall live also if 
Jesus lives in your hearts by faith, then, and then 
only, can you say, I know that my Redeemer liveth. 
This language belongs only to those who are dead 
indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus 
Christ, their living and life-giving Lord;" 



HIS LIKENESS TAKEN BY MISS SHEPPARD. 307 

, To be useful, either directly or indirectly, was, 
during his whole life, the happy lot of Mr. Rowland 
Hill ; but about the time to which our attention has 
been called in this chapter, he was destined to be the 
means of good, in a way he could never have antici- 
pated. .Miss Sheppard, a young lady residing at 
the well known and beautiful place belonging to her 
family, called the Ridge, near Uley, Gloucestershire, 
offered to take his likeness, with the benevolent view 
of building an infant school, from the profits of the 
sale of a print to be engraved from her painting. In 
this object she succeeded, in a way equally creditable 
to her talents and her kind disposition. An interest- 
ing correspondence took place on the proposed design, 
and the letters of Mr. Rowland Hill have been .very 
obligingly lent me for insertion in this work. The 
first is a note expressing his opinion of the likeness. 

DEAR MADAM, 

It certainly must be the universal opinion, that 
you have hit me off very correctly. As soon as it 
maybe convenient to yourself, on Monday morning 
next, we shall be happy to see you. We, through 
the mercy of God, are returned in good health from 
our western tour. We hope you are all well at the 
Ridge. 

Yours,_ sincerely, 

ROWLAND HILL. 
Wotton, Monday evening: 

( - . 

Miss Sheppard, in order to secure more effectually 
the success of her plan, requested Mr. Hill to promote 
the sale of the engraving, to which he replied as fol- 
lows : ^ , 

London, October 2&th, 1826. 
MY DEAR MADAM, - 

To oblige kind friends is at all times a grateful 
task, but a difficulty is. thro vm in the way to know 



308 ME. ROWLAND HILL ! S LETTERS 

how to perform it, as it relates to your present re- 
quest. Had you sat before a glass and taken your 
own likeness as completely as you h'ave taken mine, 
I could have said more respecting an excellent female 
artist, than I can say when I have to sell a represen- 
tation of myself. Perhaps, however, Mrs. Hill may, 
in a few instances, do what I cannot. But a further 
difficulty will be found among most of her expected 
customers : she will have to treat with those who 
have shallow pockets and short purses, and who ge- 
nerally complain of want of money for more impor- 
tant purposes, while the pressure of the times most 
grievously, augments the complaint.. However, some- 
tiling I hope we maybe able to accomplish, and if 
the print proves as good as the painting, I should hope 
the effort may be made with some little success. 

Mrs. Hill feels herself much obliged to Mrs. Shep- 
pard, for her kind attention in seeking out for a ser- 
vant for her. '" 
* #'## * .* # # 

How different the servitude of those that wait upon 
each other, when compared to the servitude of those 
who wait upon the Lord. All his commands are for 
our own interest and good, and the more we serve 
him, the better we like it. How different the service 
of the slaves of sin how disgraceful their occupa- 
tion, how badly paid ! With us it is good wages, 
good work, good food, good raiment ; while there is 
provided for all of them a building, a glorious build- 
ing, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 

'With kind remembrances to all the family, believe 
me to be, 

Most sincerely yours, 
Miss Sheppard, ROWLAND HILL. 

The Ridge, Uley, Gloucestershire. 
In this, and in two other letters on the same sub- 
ject, it will be seen that Mr. Hill never forgot to add, 
to his observations on the concerns of time, sentiments 



TO MISS SHEPPARJD. 309 

that might elevate, the mind to objects of eternal in- 
terest. The next letter is a beautiful instance of this 
habit. 

London, March 2(M, 1827. 
My DEAR MADAM, . ' 

I have not sufficient . vanity to suppose, -that the 
very -correct and well-executed representation of my 
old phiz, would Jiave had such a run among some 
of the higher ranks, but out of admiration. of the 'fe- 
male artist, who can imitate life and mind after such 
an inimitable style. Though I have not sufficient va- 
nity to hang up myself in my own house, yet I must 
contrive somehow so to exhibit myself, that, if possible, 
I may pick up some customers for the accomplishment 
of. your kind design. [Still] I cannot form for. my- 
self any sanguine hopes of considerable success, as 
those with whom. I am called to labour are found t6 
be among the .poorer, or at least, the middling classes 
of mankind, and^these find it necessary to seek after 
cheap bargains, especially in the purchase of such 
things as are not among the more useful and neces- 
sary commodities of life. However, when the print 

is published, 1 shall make the trial. 

# * * #.'#'# # , # 

Still, dear madam, if you can represent life, it is be- 
yond your power to communicate it. Christ alone is 
the life, and a giver of a most glorious life to all those 
who are born from above. He not only correctly 
depicts his image upon the regenerate heart, but puts 
his own life upon every feature he creates within. 
This is a religion that never .could have been con- 
trived by the art of man, as it can only be accom- 
plished by the power of God. All other evidences of 
. the truth of Christianity seem to sink into nothing 
when compared to thisthe inspiration of the living 
mind and soul, of Christ, by that faith which works 
by love, and makes us all one with him. Without 
this life, whatever our profession may be, we are still 



310 MR. ROWLAND HILL's LETTERS 

dead -before him dead in trespasses and sins. 
what a brilliant passage is that " Ye are dead, and 
your life is hid with Christ in God : when, there- 
fore, Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we also 
shall appear with him in glory." Yes, it is Christ 
within us that is the hope of glory,- communicating 
the divinest realities to the heart, arid is nothing less 
than an infusion of. heaven itself, through all the fa- 
culties of the soul, and establishing that kingdom 
there, which is righteousness, and peace, and joy in 
the Holy Ghost. 

With very kind regards to all your large family, be- 
lieve me to he , .,' . 
Theirs and yours very sincerely, 

^ROWLAND HILL. 

The last letter to Miss Sheppard, on the subject of 
the print, contains a beautiM allusion to the image of 
Christ on the soul of the believer. 

Surry chapel, May 7th, 1827. 
MY DEAR MADAM, 

I am quite offended at myself, for not having at- 
tended to your letter and Mr. Sheppard ? s before 
now; but the truth is, I have been glad to make a 
short elopement from town, to get out of a perpetual 
bustle. And now I am returned, I find the bustle 
worse than ever ; while a variety of public meetings 
and institutions demand much more of my attention 
than my increasing lassitude, through age, will enable 
me to bestow upon them. , 

During this last winter, a print has been in circula- 
tion, which has met with so large a share of the pub- 
lic approbation, that I fear the print recently publish- 
ed by you will meet with a dull sale, at least in this 
metropolis. 

'*** * * * * * 

However, we must do our best, while my subscrip- 
tion to your infant school shallnot belessened; though 



TO MISS SHEPPARD. 311 

I nnd the more general preference given to the other 
print stands much in my way in my efforts to promote 
the sale of yours: and, unfortunately, that print stands 
exhibited for sale at a print shop nearly opposite the 
chapel. However, if we. cannot do what we would, 
we must he contented to do what we can, while the 
same objection that" exists in London may not be the 
case elsewhere. "-. , 

> Above all things, we should look for that correct 
pencil, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, that can de- 
pict, if I may so speak, with so much 'wisdom and 
power, the sacred image of Jesus Christ on the re- 
generate, heart. By him alone the restoration of the 
divine likeness, which is the beauty of holiness, can 
be restored to the heart, bringing with it the only evi- 
dence whereby we know that we are born from above, 
bom of the incorruptible seed, which liveth and 
abideth for ever. " 

, What a blessing, when such a divine spirit runs 
through the branches of a large family, inspiring .us 
with that wisdom of holiness, that so powerfully and 
wisely regulates all our footsteps through life, and 
ultimately lands us safely and honourably in the king- 
dom of everlasting joy, there to see as we are seen, 
and know as we are known, and there to be eternally 
with the Lord. 

With kind regards to all the family, I remain, 
Yours very truly and sincerely, 

ROWLAND HILL. 

The praiseworthy exertions and talents of Miss 
Sheppard produced a sufficient profit, from the sale of 
the portrait of Mr. Hill, to enable her to lay the 
foundation-stone of a spacious. room at Uley, in the 
autumn of 1827, which was opened in the spring of 
1828. The school consists of about one hundred and 
sixty infants and fifty girls ; the building is also used 
as a Sunday school for three hundred children. The, 
art of painting has never been consecrated to a j more 



312 , JOURNEY TO WALES. 

truly Christian purpose; and happy are they who 
possess the will to devote, in like manner, to the glory 
of God, the gifts he has in his providence bestowed 
on them. 

Though occasionally complaining, "I begin to/get 
old," Mr. Rowland Hill made arrangements, early in 
the year 1827, for a preaching ramble in South Wales. 
When excited by the, impulse of the ; moment, he 
shook off the remembrance, of his old" age; and, when 
planning his journey for this year, he said to a respect- 
able Welsh minister, who was requested to reside in 
London some- of the summer months" Being a very 
young man, lwi]\ be one of your supplies during part 
of your absence." Indeed, but for the judicious in- 
terference of Mrs. Hill, he would constantly have un- 
dertaken more than his physical powers would have 
allowed him to go through. Theardour of hismind 
was undiminished, and his zealous desire to win souls 
to Christ evidently increased as he, approached the 
period when he trusted., through faith and patience, 
to meet his Redeemer in glory. When alluding to 
this hope, he said "But if I would reign with Christ 
hereafter, he must reign in me here, and that without 
a rival." A rich vein of spirituality ran, as Mr. Hill 
advanced in years, through his general conversation, 
and he seemed daily to ripen for heaven, and to long, 
with unutterable earnestness, for a deeper and deeper 
sense of the Lord's presence in his soul. His was an 
entire dedication to God, which became, under the 
divine blessing, the spring of almost unexampled use- 
fulness, and was the secret of that attraction which 
drew around him cordial admirers of every denomi- 
nation, forgetful, in contemplating the energy of one 
who kneio nothing among them] but Christ and him 
crucified, of the minor differences which divide those 
who .are passing as pilgrims through the wilderness 
to an eternai^home of union and love. 

During the year 1827, though gradually yielding 
to some of the infirmities of old age, which crept on 



AFFECTION OF Mil. H1LL ! S HEARERS. 313 

him by degrees, Mr. Hill pursued a course of. aston- 
ishing activity. He visited Brighton, and parts of 
Kent^and Sussex, in .the spring; and, after the ac- 
customed fatigues of London, went on his proposed 
preaching excursion in South Wales. There, in- 
spired by scenes of nature's loveliness, and by the 
cordiality of those who surrounded him, he appeared 
to forget the weight of years, and the incumbrance 
of his' aged frame. ' He both caught and imparted 
warmth wherever- he went amongst that animated 
people, and generally returned from his visits to the 
principality, refreshed both in body and mind. 

At the great age to which Mr. Hill had arrived, it 
was not at all a matter of surprise, that now and 
then, before he entered the pulpit, he 'should express 
a fear, lest increasing lassitude should cause him to 
preach with impaired force and effect ; but the wonder 
was, that as soon as he began to address the people, 
this apprehension was entirely forgotten. Somebody 
would, perhaps, say to him" Well, sir, notwith- 
standing your complaint of weakness, do you know 
how long you preached this morning?" " Perhaps 
half an hour, or a little more." " Why, sir, you were 
more than an hour in your sermon." He then used 
to look astonished, and say" Well, I am sure I had 
not an idea of it it was too long for me, .and too 
long for the people but when 1 am once set a-going 
I cannot stop : T must be shorter though." Some- 
times, when conscious that he had spoken at an un- 
usual length, he said " Time and strength too for- 
bid my adding more ; but bear with me, while I 
speak, to you of these things, for t shall not live much 
longer, and you will soon hear my voice no more." 
An allusion to his removal seldom failed to bring 
tears into the eyes of his people, who were constantly 
saying, when they looked on his hoary hairs and 
aged face" The Lord spare hiin to us a few years 
more .what shall we do when he is gone !" For 
several years before his death he was often eontem- 
... '27 



314 MR. JOHN EROADLEY WILSON. 

plating it as near at hand. In a letter to a friend, in 
the .autumn of. 1827, he says " 1 am sorry to hear 
you complain of health : we must all have something 
to bring us to the grave. Before that time comes, 
that we may be brought nearer to- God ! No wonder 
that I, at my time of life, have admonitions in plenty, 
that the time of my departure is near at hand.' for 
grace to be ripe for. glory !" 

The feeling which marked every successive year 
of Mr. Rowland Hill's decline, is expressed in a cou- 
plet, written in the first leaf of his memoranda of en 
gagements for 1828 : 

Dearest Saviour, let me give, 
All I have, and am, to Thee. 

By reference to 1 his Almanac, it appears that in ac- 
cordance with this prayer, nearly every day was 
indeed consecrated to his Redeemer's service. Being 
entirely free from care and anxiety of .a worldly 
nature, he had nothing but the weakness arising from 
his great age, in the way. of his holy pursuits. In- 
deed, a special blessing seemed to rest upon all his 
temporal affairs, and upon ,his family ; and the af- 
fectionate attentions of Lord Hill, now resident in 
Loridon as commander of the forces, added exceed- 
ingly to the. comfort and happiness of the evening of 
his days. Time had also supplied, with, new mem- 
bers equally dear to him, the places of those friends 
of his congregation whom he had seen pass away, 
and they seemed to vie with each, other in respect for 
his character and attention to his comfort. Amongst 
these there was no one to whom he professed a more 
cordial attachment, than the well-known and generous 
Mr. Broadley "Wilson, of Clapham, of, whom he used 
to say " } I have but one thing to desirer that he may 
be kept out of heaven a good long time., he is so much 
wanted on, earth." In a letter ~on Business to this 
gentleman, dated Wotton, August 4th, 1828, Mr. Hill 
thus assures him of his sincere and, well merited 
friendship "This, however, [gives me] an oppor 



. CHELTENHAM. 315 

tunityof expressing to you my sentiments of high 
regard and esteem, whose 'favour and attention are 
so highly regarded by me. How different are those 
feelings of affection, which are created among those 
who are one in Christ, to 'those common ties of affec- 
tion which are ; found among the people of the world, 
while only swayed by worldly motives between, each 
other, to manifest their little love of that' sort among 
themselves. that more of this were manifested in 
the church of Christ at large, that the old proverb 
may be" effectually .revived ^ see how these Chr'isr 
tians love.' God is love, and love is the fulfilling >of 
the law? 

" A short time since, I was invited to Cheltenham ; 
collections are wanted there a little more than former- 
ly. The people were astonishingly attentive, and 
crowded the chapel. Mr. Close* is truly faithful, and 
does an abundance of good, while his unreserved 
and frank behaviour endears him to, ali who know 
him. I was astonished when there, to see in that 
place .of dissipation, the decent and orderly appear- 
ance which is exhibited on the sabbath day; the 
churches, if not all other places, are crowded, while 
not a shop is open all the town over. One thing, 
however, was wanting ; you were not therej nor can 
I be here long. Can an old man, just eighty-four jV 
wonder that his strength decays. , and that I cannot, do 
the things I yet would ; still I trust I feel the desire 
to do all I can, but how poorly done ! God be mer- 
ciful to me a sinner" 

Sentiments such as are contained in this letter,, 
were the genuine feelings of Mr. Hill's' mind, arising 
from true humility of heart before God, and a con- 
sciousness that the best of men must acknowledge 
themselves to have been unprofitable servants. Jui 
his latter days, this lowly sense of himself never de r 
stroyed -his general cheerfulness before the world, 

* The active and much respected perpetual Curate of Chel- 
tenham. 



316 FIDELITY OP MR. HILL'S SERVANTS. . ^ 

which he not Only enjoyed himself, 'but largely dif- 
fused ; imparting to others a portion of his buoyant 
and animated spirits. This. caused him to be re- 
ceived with smiles wherever he appeared ; and when 
he attended the . public ' meetings in London, he was 
instantly surrounded by a host of friends pressing for- 
ward to greet him, or to hand him from his carriage 
and assist him to the platform. On these days, all 
seemed pleasure and enjoyment, save now and then 
to his worthy and honest coachman, who was occa- 
sionally gazed at by people, whispering " look, .look, 
there is Rowland Hill's carriage,^ and. that is the 
highwayman he made his servant." When told of 
this, his master used to laugh and say" what swal- 
lows people .must have, to credit such stories !"' The 
truth was, Mr. Rowland Hill was singularly fortunate 
in having the comfort, in his latter years, of attached, 
faithful, and upright servants, who seemed to regard 
his interests as though they were their own. 



I 

H 

I 



PROPHECY. 317 



CHAPTER XVI.: 

PROPHECY. , 

I HAVE before stated, that during the whole of his 
long and active life, Mr/ Rowland Hill never altered 
his views of doctrine, in any essential particular. It 
was therefore to be expected, that in common with 
the majority of sound and experienced divines, he 
should look with serious apprehension on the crude 
speculations, wild theories, and visionary interpreta- 
tions of prophecy, which a few years ago glared forth 
suddenly on the Christian world, and seemed almost 
to extinguish, for a time, the gentler effulgence of long 
received truth. Too many appeared to forget ? that 
the Bible is not only a guide to man, but the sacred 
and mysterious book of God ; and that while the 
light to lead believers is diffused, like the beams of a 
sun, over the entire surface of the new creation, 
Jehovah's unapproachable eternal throne is shrouded 
by clouds and darkness/ indicating his presence, but 
impenetrable by mortal eye. When it pleases the in- 
comprehensible author of truth, to unravel his own 
enigmas, the divine prescience is acknowledged and 
adored ; ^but it is the province of Him, who gathered 
the darkness visible around himself to chase away its 
shades, and to open at his own : time, and in his 
own way, the seals of prophecy. Wisely indeed 
hath the Father kept the times and the seasons in his 
own power ; but to show the omniscience of infinity, 
he has recorded the divine purposes in words unin- 
telligible, till explainedby their.accomplishment, when 
it. is clearly made manifest, that all the complicated 
movements of time, haye been regulated by the fore- 

. "27* 



318 PROPHECY. 

knowledge and wisdom of God, to exhibit which, he 
has recorded them in the written volume of his un- 
fathomable decrees. Every riddle of earthly invention 
may be successfully investigated by the. ingenuity ot 
man ; but God alone can solve the dark problems 
of his all-wise designs, the obscurity of which, till 
fully made known, and plainness when perfectly 
disclosed, prove at once the boundlessness of divine, 
and the muteness of human intelligence. This.view 
of the contents of the sacred pages, seems, to me 
to convey to the mind an indelible conviction of the 
impossibility 'that they could have been the invention 
of a creature, and ought to have its due weight with 
those who do not yet know, by the unction of the 
holy one, the truth of the deep things of God, and 
who have no witness in themselves that they have 
Christ, the sum and substance of the scriptures, within 
them, as the hope of glory. 

I might also observe, that many of the later pro- 
ductions on prophecy, have not even the charm of 
novelty to recommend them ; nor is it at all a new 
device of the author of error, to attempt to draw us 
away from the cross of Christ, by splendid antici- 
pations of the speedy visible erection of his throne 
on earth. The dangers with which such speculations 
were fraught, presented themselves at a glance to 
the mind of Mr. Rowland Hill, and I trust the re- 
marks of so aged, experienced, and consistent a 
Christian minister; 1 will be received with attention, 
and become useful to many who liave been too 
prone to form sudden and mistaken opinions. He 
wrote me a long letter on the subject, in which he 
says, "all divine truths,* among such as are led by 
the spirit of truth, are at once instinctively admitted 
without controversy /but yet such as suppose they take, 
the Bible for their guide, are too frequently misguided 
by their own imaginations. There is a deep and safe 
passage between Scyllaand. Charybdis, and none but 
* He meant of course such as are really necessary to salvation. 



REMARKS OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 319 

rash- and wanton seamen are in danger while they 
pass. Mr. Ward, of Iver, has pleased me hugely, by 
erecting a needed light-house for some of the present 
day. They who presume to prophesy upon pro- 
phecy, have, in my humble opinion, ventured upon 
very dangerous ground. It appears to me niost 
evident, that prophecy is not to be folly understood 
till after its. accomplishment. How mysterious were 
all those prophecies, respecting-, the kingdom and 
coming of our Lord, and even to >the disciples them- 
selves, till .after the day of Pentecost; and afterwards, 
how plain and lucid are they^made to appear. But 
some fertile imaginations think they have discovered, 
not only when the millennial glories are to appear, 
but seem to have depicted upon their imaginations, 
all the pomp and visible splendour of the personal 
coming of the Lord Jesus upon the earth; and. in my 
opinion also, [in a manner] ill suited to that spiritual 
reign, which some spiritual minds would rather wish 
to expect. 

" Itjsmy opinion, that Mr. Ward's paper contains 
such wise and needed remarks in the present day, as 
may well deserve our most serious consideration. Is 

it true, that a man so lovely as -, and in other 

respects so wise and good, is among the number of 

those who are in (he pursuit of such hazardous spe- 

'culations? [This. is not to be] wondered at, in one 

possessed of such a wild and staring imagination as 

seems to envelope the mind of , or the whimsical 

mind of young ; but that others of a more solid 
understanding, should prefer to have such windmills 
whisking about their heads, is strange indeed. ; If I 
had not conceived that there might be a dangerous 
tendency in these speculations, 1 should feel less con- 
cerned ; but it is to be feared, after they, have been 
misguided in their speculations : - and calculations on 
revelation, they may give up revelation altogether. 
We cannot sink too low in humility, nor yet rise too 
high in heavenly-mindedness, but we may soon be 



320 CHELTENHAM. 

lost in the wilderness of needless speculations. Such 
as are sober-minded will keep within their depth, and 
when the Lord directs us to launch forth, we may do 
it with safety. If we are wise according as it is writ- 
ten, we shall be -profitably wise"; but if we want to 
be wise beyond what is written, we shall smart for 
our folly." ^ 

The year 1828 passed away without any particular 
event affecting Mr. Rowland Hill. In the autumn, 
Mrs. Hill said of him", in a letter to me" he. is just 
gone to Bath, to preach for one Sunday; from thence 
he will return here, (Wotton,) and visit Bristol for 
three Sundays, and return to town after -the se'cond 
Sunday in November. He appears as. well in health 
as usual, particularly while preaching." At Bath, he 
usually preached in the chapel of his frierid Mr. Jay, 
an individual whose piety, preaching abilities, and re- 
ligious writings, are weir known to .the public. He 
for many years filled the place of Mr. Hill at Surry 
chapel, during part of the time of his absence, much 
to the satisfaction of the people who attended him. 
With minds very differently constituted, and of alto- 
gether opposite habits, these two devoted ministers 
sustained a long friendship in the most perfect .har- 
mony, constrained towards each other by the common 
love of their Saviour. Mr. 'Bill, when speaking of 
the easy flow of Mr. Jay's well arranged discourses, 
used to say, " he blows the silver trumpet," and freT 
quently commended his ever increasing spirituality 
in preaching, and "the unspotted consistency of his 
life. . ' - : 

Mr. Rowland Hill, during his absence from London 
this year, spent four Sundays at Cheltenham, where 
prodigious crowds thronged the place in which he 
preached. It was remarked, that he had never Been 
heard to declare the gospel of salvation with greater 
solemnity and power, than on these occasions. His 
sermons were enriched with all the maturity of age, 
combined with the vigour of middle life, to which was 



RELIGION A REALITY. 321 

y 

added the affecting consideration, that he should pro- 
bably never again proclaim the tidings of redeeming 
love, in that place of fashionable resort. He said in 
his ..droll way, "I am going to Cheltenham; I will try 
and be upon myPs and Q/s;" and indeed he did, by 
all accounts, seem carefully to watch and weigh every 
expression that fell from his lips. -He came home 
much refreshed by 4iis visit there, and full of com- 
mendation of, the zeal and .activity -of .the clergy, 
whose labours he. had witnessed. * He said to me, '.'1 
love to go to church at Cheltenham, aiid I went 
whenever I could, all the while I was there." His often 
repeated prayer at this time, was " that we may 

-feel more of the divine life in our own souls when 
preaching the word of life to others." Hfe remarked 
also-in a letter to me" Nothing 'can be effectually 
done in the ministration of the word of .life, but by 
the : Holy Spirit. While some explain away this glo- 
rious truth to mean nothing, or next to nothing, .and 
others caricature the same by mad and enthusiastic 
reveries, it is still nothing less than the wisdom which 
is from above> which converts fools because of trans- 
gression, and makes them wise for their everlasting 
good?'- "Preaching," he frequently observed, "is 
poor dead work, unless we. are.. under -the life-giving 
influence of the Holy. Ghost to feel the power 
the life of religion, it. is not an imaginary thing it 
is a divine reality." "A Christian," he said one day, 
after sitting for sqme time absorbed in reflection,-" is 
one (0 what a mystery) who~Ms God the Holy .Spi- 

. rit, in his soul a temple of-the living God -cleanse 
me, 0. Lord, that, thou mayest dwell in -my h^art. 
What slight conceptions have .those -of 'the sublime 
.and glorious work of .divine grace, who fritter reli- 
gion away into a little scrap of morality." Now and 
then, after, a long silence, he exclaimed,, "my petition 
is Lord, teach me to hate sin more and more ;" and 
I remember once in a' sermon, he raised his voice, 
and in a most emphatic and dignified manner asked 



323 1.839. VISIT TO MR. HILL AT WOTTON. 

the congregation "what say you to this prayer-- 
Lord, let us rather die than sin /" , 

In' a letter to me, dated January 12th, 1829, after 
kindly observing "'You talked of a journey in the 
spring, and that then you should again see London, 
which gives us a hope that we shall then again see 
you and yours," he adds, " Considering that we are 
both such very old pilgrims, almost at our journey's 
end, we ought to be very thankful we are as we are, 
continued in health. to bring forth fruit in old 
age!" His frame of mind at this time seemed pe- 
culiarly peaceful and happy, and he wrote in his 
memorandum book, as one rejoicing in this bless- 
.ing 

. Hail! lovely Peace, with balmy wings, - 
'Tis the sweet boon the Spirit brings. 

And I recollect his frequently saying " What a glo- 
rious promise The peace of God, which passeih^dll 
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds 
through Christ Jesus. 11 ' The spring of this year was 
marked by no! particular incident in the career of 
Mr. Rowland Hill, and he went to Wotton as usual, 
after the period of the meetings in London: In 
August I paid him a visit in Gloucestershire. On 
the arrival of Mrs. Sidney and myself at Wotton, 
we" found him from home, but Mrs. Hill expected 
him in a few days, from a journey he had taken into 
Devonshire. At Devonport he had been followed 
by an immense throng of hearers, who were impress- 
ed with a mournful foreboding that it would be his 
last visit. His residence there was made very agree- 
able 'to him, by the great kindness and attention 
of Lord and Lady Northesk, as well as by the civili- 
ties of all with whom he came in contact, and he 
returned home with many pleasing recollections of 
his tour. As soon 1 as his voice was heard in the 
house, kindly asking after his people, Mrs. Hill said 
"Now you shall take/him by surprise" arid I 
never shall forget the kindness, the cordiality, the ani- 



BIRTH-DAY SERMON. , 333 

jnation of his Welcome. We inquired about his jour- 
ney, and he spoke of the civilities he had received, 
the numbers who had heard him, and the support he 
had met with in his labours,'but added--" When some 
people came and told me, with tears of joy, that they 
were awakened under my preaching many years ago, 
when I was in those parts, it was almost more than 
the old man could bear." He generally, when his 
feelings overcame him, relieved his mind by changing 
the subject, and, turning to me, he said "Sidney, I 
hope you are, going to preach in the churcli here to- 
morrow." I answered, that the clergyman had invited 
me to do so in the afternoon, and that I was to read 
prayers in the morning! .- " That's right," he replied, 
"we will shut up our place." Accordingly I found, 
on returning to his house after the morning service, 
that he had said at the conclusion of his sermon 
."; My relation, Mr. Sidney, will preach at the church 
this afternoon, so this place will be closed, that you 
may all go." Obedient to his .wishes, the people went, 
and the fine old church was, in consequence, crowd- 
ed to excess. - . ... 

On this sabbath Mr. Hill entered his eighty-fifth 
year, and under a solemn impression that it would be 
his last birth-day, selected for the evening text Death 
is swallowedup in victory. His countenance was un- 
usually pale,.but exceedingly expressive- of the train, 
of serious and devout ideas that was passing through 
his mind, and of the awe with which he contemplated 
the near approach .of the day when his account must 
be.rendered up to God. His calm but lofty tone.be- 
spoke the holy repose of his own bosom. It was like 
the half-hour before su'n-s.et, in the midst of nature's 
most majestic scenery, when th,ere is not a breath to 
agitate the frailest leaf, or ripple the glassy smooth- 
ness of the water's surface it was ithe sublime of tran- 
quillity. Death appeared awful, and judgment appal- 

J- . J , . . JL J. . I.. , v O . A A 

ling ; but his soul was composed f in the hope that the 
destroyer had been deprived of his conquest, and the 



334 BIRTH-DAY, 1829. 

judge propitiated, through faith in the atoning virtue 
of an all-sufficient sacrifice. This earth presents not a 
spectacle of equal grandeur to that of a Christian, who 
has power to wrest the dart of the king of terrors 
from his > hand, on the very confines of the eternal 
world, and who exults in the triumph of being made 
more than conqueror, not by his own strength, but 
through him who has loved him, -and redeemed 'him 
by his blood/ True grace ennobles and dignifies the 
soul, because the paltry -tiling self is cast into the dust, 
and the glory of the victpryascribed to him alone, who 
sitteth on the throne till all his foes be made his foot- 
stool. Mr. Rowland Hillwas happily enabled thus to 
exult in "the contemplation of his death, for to him it 
was in reality deprived of its alarms. He shed no tear 
on this birth-day, but the people shed many : and one 
poor man, devoted to his ministry, said to me "Sir, 
I cannot bear the thought of losing him I wish we 
could put him back about forty years!" But the 
finger oh the dial-plate of human life is capable Of no 
retrograde motion,, and blessed are they who, like my 
venerable relative, watch its onward course with a 
sereiie and heavenly peace, as it approximates towards 
the completion of its circle. G enuirie faith is always 
unmingled with presumption -and this was eminently 
the character of , the blessed hope in the breast' of Mr. 
Rowland Hill, who trembled when he looked : oh his 
human infirmities; but .when he could look off* from 
the creature, upon him, who having begun a good 
work in us, will complete it unto the end, he was /en- 
abled.- to rejoice in 'the prospect of death, with joy un- 
speakable and full of glory. 

During our stay at Wottori, a . Church Missionary 
meeting was held at Uley,, and Mr. Hill determined to 
attend it, that he might express his interest in the 
prosperity of the' cause. - Speaking to me of the Lon- 

-'*! recollect hearing .a clergyman, equally distinguished for 
learning and piety, ..say" No expression in the New Testament 
comforts me like the word /tyopoij-rrf, 'looking off self unto Christ." 



a*- 



"CHURCH MISSIONARY MEETING. ' '' 3S& 

don Missionary Society, he said, in a jocular way 
" You churchmen'have left our society in -the lurch, 
but I shall -go for all that." When -we had' descended 
into the lovely vale of Uley, we arrived at the door of 
a rieatj plain, and commodious building, and the 
coachman, by whom I was sitting on the box of Mr. 
HilPs carriage, .observed to me "Sir, this is the 
school-room that was built out of the sale of my mas- 
ter's picture." . On entering . the room, I perceived at 
the end opposite the temporary platform, ah engrav- 
ing of Mr. -Hill, .framed and glazed, a delightful testi- 
mony to the usefulness both of the artist, and the sub- 
ject on which 'she had so^happily arid successfully ex- 
ercised her skill. When Mr. Hill rose to speak, the 
most profound interest was immediately manifested, 
and he addressed the persons 'present like an aged 
patriarch; the days of whose pilgrimage were nearly 
ended. -He was, he said/ connected with another so- 
ciety, in whose successes he was sure every one who 
heard him truly rejoiced, but he did not less, tin that 
account, delight to join the;* exemplary individuals 
around him. " I love," he added, "to see the zeal 
which now animates the exertions -of the vigilant 
ministers ; of the church ; and let an old -man, just 
dropping .into the grave, give you his blessing, and 
urge you to abound in the work of -the Lord, while 
you have 'youth and strength to labour." He after- 
wards dined with a neighbouring clergyman, and was 
as full of anecdote and life as I "ever remember to 
have seen him. . 

, Mr. Rowland Hill concluded the year 1829 with 
fewer sufferings, from the .feebleness of age, than were 
even indicated by his appearance, but he complained 
of much inconvenience from dimness of sight. Eady', 
in 1830, 1 received a letter from him, written with an 
almost 'youthful vivacity. 

: ": ' 28 ^ . ' / ' ?.. . 



326 LETTER OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 

Surry chapel, February l&th, 1830. 
DEAR SIDNEY, , ' 

Though I have taken up my pen to write, yet the 
day is so dark through fog, and my eyes so dim 
through age, that I can scarcely see what I write. 
No wonder at my time of life, through the severity of 
the season, I have been nearly kept a prisoner at home 
almost ever since my arrival in town for the winter. 
My old wife came to town with a bad cold, but is now 
much better, but while this weather lasts, keeps within 
doors-, by way of prevention. So much for ourselves. 
And what shall I say next for I feel so dull and stu- 
pid, that I scarcely know w,hat to say ? yes ! this 
thought just now bites me -A few thoughts for a 
young minister. - One embittered anonymous pub- 
lisher says " I look upon myself to be as great a man 
as the apostle Paul." Well, that is pride With a wit- 
ness ! for I really think, taking him as a whole,, a 
greater man never lived, since his days to the present 
day.. Yet I think both you and I may be humble 
imitators of that which we can never reach. JPirst, 
I woiald wish to imitate his style. the vanity of the 
old man, to try to get up to the style of St. Paul ! 
Stop a little before you bestow your censure I never 
thought of getting up to his style, but still I will aim 
at it, by the blessing of God, by getting down to his 
style. Only read him from 1 Cor. i. 17, and through- 
out all the second chapter, and then ask who is likely 
to do the most good to the living church of Christ ? 
Those egregious doctors of the sounding brass tribe, 
may blow away with turgid, trumpery, and swell 
away till they burst with pride, and the tinkling 
cymbal fid-fad musicians, may try to tickle the fancy 
of such half-witted admirers as mistake sound for 
sense. But still how different that wise, that digni- 
fied simplicity of speech the apostle used, wlien he 
preached the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent d,own 
from heaven, which so effectually wrought on the 
heart of all them who believed : and though we 



LETTER OF MR. ROWLAND HILL.. 327 

should prove ourselves proud indeed, if we should 
ever fancy that we could reach,a style like this, yet 
to aim .at such a model will still be our highest-wis- 
dom, and this we shall never reach' in any measure, 
but as blest with that wisdom and spiritual under- 
standing which is entirely from above. 

I [was] reminded of this, since indisposition has 
prevented my going through the whole of the ser- 
vices on the Sabbath-day, when I heard one of the 
auxiliaries exhibit too much in the Rev. Mr. Tink- 
ler>s style. how disgusting to see a man in the 
garb of a minister, transmogrified at least halfway 
towards a monkey, by his own silly pride and self- 
conceit ! how I'wish and pray for that man, in 
my fast declining days, whose wisdom and spirit- 
uality, whose simplicity and godly sincerity, and 
[heart] fired with a seraph's zeal, might [enable him 
to] spring upon the prey, and carry all before him. 
How glad should I be 

* * * * . * * s . * 
[of such a one] from some of your clerical tribe, wno 
in the fulness of his holy zeal, pants for a little more 
liberty than the church allows. . / - 

1 * - * * * ' * *'...* 

But for more- of the outpouring of the spirit of 
Christ among us ! But as Mrs. H. has somewhat to 
add . ........ with hearty love to you both, be- 

lieve me to be, 

Yours most affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 

""-" - 

This letter was written under the disadvantages 
mentioned in it, which caused the omissions I have 
endeavoured to supply. Indeed Mr. Rowland Hill's 
eyesight was becoming very indistinct, and he was 
for nearly two years before Ms death, obliged to die 
tate to an amanuensis, \yhich he did with an ease and 
fluency truly surprising at his age. His infirmities at 
this time were not allowed to be any plea for repose. 



338 , BIBLE SOCIETY, 1830. 

Mrs. Hill, in a letter to me, dated -April 30th,1830, 
says" Mr. Hill, notwithstanding a very bad cold, 
started yesterday for a fortnight's tour in Kent," .and 
he appeared much better for the journey on his re- 
turn, though he had been very active in preaching. 
When. I arrived mLondon in May, I had the happiness 
to find him wonderfully well in health, and as full of 
holy zeal as ever. Qn the anniversary of the Bible 
Society, he said, to me at breakfast "Sidney, are you 
going to the Bible meeting to-day because I mean to 
go I wish to be .there /once more ?". Somebody sug- 
gested that the fatigue might be too much for him, 
when he laughed, and said " I tell you what, I will 
go, so there is an end of it -ring the bell, and tell 
them to get the carriage ready directly." We arrived 
late; the great room in Freemasons'-Hall was. full, 
and. a speaker was addressing the assembly. /Mr. 
Hill entered.with a firm step," requiring no other assist- 
ance but my arm ; and the instantaneous bursts of ap 
-plause that succeeded the announcement of his name, 
and continued even after he had reached the platform, 
seemed almost to overpower him. He was called on 
to move the thanks of the.meeting to the vice-presi- 
dents, and rose amidst reiterated plaudits, with a dig 
nity of manner well suited to his age and character. 
He was much embarrassed when he commenced, but 
soon rallied, to pay a well-merited compliment to the 
excellent prelates who were among the subjects of his 
motion, and to the scriptural tone of the service of the 
church/ At length he recovered altogether, and with 
a look of humour, which soon communicated its in- 
fluence to his hearers, he drew up, and said^-" I once 
did, indeed, hear of a clergyman who made an apology 
for being at a Bible Society. . An apology for being at 
a Bible Society ! Well, then, he should make an apo- 
logy for reading me liturgy, which is so full of the 
Bible; he should make an apology for reading the 
Psalms; and then he should make an apology for 
reading the first and second lessons. Next, he should 



MR. WILBEEPORCE. 329 

make an apology for reading the ten commandments, 
and another for reading the epistles and gospels. In 
short, if he did his duty, he would have a great many 
too many apologies to make, for a great part of his 
duty is to read the Bible. I therefore conceive that 
our venerable prelates do themselves great honour by 
attending here to-day, since they preside over a church 
which has so much of the Bible in its public service," 
To this he added much in a grave and solemn tone, 
praying that the bishops might long live to put their 
hands on those who should yearn over souls in the 
bowels of Jesus Christ, declaring that he should re- 
joice on his death-bed in the recollection, that, one ot 
his last speeches had been made in behalf of the Bible 
Society, and concluding with his blessing. The effect 
of Mr. Hill's speech, heightened by his dignified and 
venerable appearance, was adverted to with real feel- 
ing by those who succeeded him. Amongst others . 
who applauded him, I was particularly struck with the 
Christian joy and admiration that beamed upon the 
countenance of Mr. Wilberforce, the expression of 
which, when lighted up, indicated a mind full of 
wisdom, generosity, and kindness. Mr. Hill remark- 
ed of him " I do not know, the good quality that 
dear man does not possess, and how such a multi- 
tude of excellences could ever have been condensed 
into' one human being, is to me the greatest miracle 
of nature I ever saw. I have known Him many years, 
and never did 1 see in 'him one thing Tdid not love, 
and yet every time I see him, I think I find something, 
in him to love more." Lord Teignmouth was pre- 
vented by illness from being present at this meeting, 
but he was sufficiently recovered to call on Mr.. Row- 
land Hill about a fortnight .after. I was present at 
. the interview, and truly can I say, the whole heart of 
the president of 4he- Bible Society appeared to be in 
that sacred cause. I remember an observation w tiich 
he made" Mr, Hill, in a few years more, into 
what, insignificance, will the followers of this world's 



330 



LORD TEIGNMOUTH. 



ambitious projects sink, compared with the true great- 
ness of the simple servant of Christ, or missionary to 
the, heathen, who, in defiance of all reproach; has 
spent his devoted life in spreading the gospel !" It 
was gratifying to see this venerable nobleman arid the 
aged subject of this memoir, entering into a work so 
great and glorious, with an energy no earthly object 
could have inspired. ' 



~LAST ILLNESS OF MRS. HILL, 331 



CHAPTER XVII. 

LAST ILLNESS OF MRS. HIL'L. 

THOUGH the severe operation to which Mrs. Row- 
land Hill submitted with so much fortitude was the 
means of preserving her life for several years, her 
frame never fully recovered the shock it received. 
During the spring of 1830, she often expressed a 
conviction that her earthly career was drawing to a 
close, a foreboding which was unhappily realized 
shortly after her departure from London. Her health 
suddenly gave way during the ; summer, and gradu- 
ally declined to the day of her death. The last let- 
ter, I ever received from her, and probably the last 
she ever dictated, is in the hand-writing of Mr. Hill's 
confidential servant, Mr. Charles Groring. It is as 
follows : , 

. Wotton, July. 20th, 1830. 
MY DEAR SIDNEY, 

Not knowing till now what my movements were 
likely to be, prevented my writing or allowing Charles 
to write to you before, according to your desire. I 
am sorry to acquaint you that my health is worse 
than when you left me in London. I have just been 
to Gloucester to consult Dr. Baron, who, from my 
great age, is 'I believe doubtful of my restoration to 
health. ,1 am, at present, no better for his advice, 
and am extremely weak, scarcely able to go up or 
down stairs. By the doctor's advice, I have 'relin- 
quished all thoughts of going to the sea. He also 
^says I must be kept, as quiet as possible. May the 
Lord prepare me- for his will, whether it be for life 



332 LAST ILLNESS OP MRS. HILL. 

or death. I am glad to tell you Mr. Hill is as well 
as can be expected. With our united love to your- 
self and Mrs. Sidney, who I hope is much better, 
I am, dear Sidney, 

Yours affectionately, 

M. HILL. 

Ill the beginning of the month of August her illness 
became alarming, and the mournful tidings of her 
approaching dissolution were thus communicated to 
me by Mr. Rowland Hill. 

. Wotton, August I2thj 1830. 
DEAR SIDNEY, - 

I am now passing through deep waters, and I feel 
myself almost overwhelmed by them..- I fear the in- 
creasing debility,- which of late has been making a 
rapid progress upon. Mrs, Hill's constitution- will soon 
terminate in her dissojution ; nor does the best hu- 
man means, or medical aid, in the least avail. Con- 
sidering her natural' timidity, she is as calm as can 
be expected ; but the solemn stroke'pf death ! The 
thoughts of such a separation sink my spirits exceed- 
ingly. I would still try to labour, but under such 
burdened spirits, how difficult the task ! While the 
feelings of human nature cannot, and indeed should 
not altogether be resisted, yet still it is [our] duty to 
say " The Lord -gave, and the Lord hath taken 
away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Love to 
you both, from 

Yours very affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 

P. S. Mrs. Hill is now so exceedingly weak, that no 
persons but her immediate attendants are permitted to 
see her. I mention this, as Charles has hinted your 
kind intention of giving us a, visit, to take, your leave 
of your departing friend. I almost fear that if you 
were to travel immediately, with all possible ex- 
pedition, you would scarcely find her alive, .while 



DEATH OF MRS. HlLL. 333 

the result of such a visit would only give pain to 
her mind. In a great measure, her recollection 
seems nearly gone, through the weakness of her bo- 
dily frame. 

/ . ' ' . 

The death of Mrs. Hill, which took place on the 
17th of August, was borne by Mr. Rowland Hill with 
the truest Christian resignation. A few days after the 
funeral, he wrote me a long and kind letter, which 
will give the best idea of the state of his mind under 
this afflicting bereavement, . ""'. * 

Wotton-under-edge, Aug. 27th, 1830. 
MY DEAR SIDNEY, ' '.. -' . 

My dear wife is gone, but just, a step before me, in- 
to the world of spirits. Her decline, at the last, was 
very rapid. Though the innocent aberrations of her 
mind, during the last few days of her life, w'ere some- 
what painful, and drew many a tear -from my eyes, 
yet, at collected intervals, she would be in a state of 
fervent ejaculatory prayer ; and 1 am satisfied that 
they who die under the influences of the spirit of pray- 
er, will, awake up in the regions of eternal praise. 
She is now deposited in the vault where your grand- 
mother and your parents lie, and I, according -to the 
regular course of nature, must verysoon be added to 
their number. And, that God would give the 
grace that we may so apply our Hearts unto wisdom, 
that neither the splendour of any thing that is great, 
or the silly conceit of any thing that is ; good in us, may 
in anyway withdraw our eyes from beholding our- 
selves as, sinful dust and ashes.:- Every 'moment we 
are in danger, especially if we/ire admired by the half- 
professors of the day. What an important admoni- 
tion '-love not the world. ' ' 
; Though I am glad that I dissuaded you from your 
kind purpose of a journey to Wotton, to see Mrs. Hill 
before her departure, as it would have answered no 
_end, yet you cannot but be assured at all times-how 



334 LETTER OP MR. ROWLAND HILL. ' 

happy I am to see you when in town. To that place 
of my winter's residence I suppose I must make an- 
.other, and, most probably, my last effort to resort. I 
begin to feel for the future prosperity of the Surry 
chapel congregation exceedingly. I know that good 
ministers must be of God's own making and sending; 
and while my prayers are not wanting at a throne of 
grace, that the Lord would send us one after his own 
heart, to be my helpmate in my fast declining days, 
yet, hitherto, the blessing has been withheld. Though 
I have hitherto kept myself detached from all those 
little sectarian principles which so miserably divide 
the church, yet even that seems to operate against 
me. The dissenter, by the contracted discipline of 
the church, feels himself thrust at a distance, and 
consequently keeps his distance, while their mutual 
prejudices are augmented thereby. when shall 
that happy day dawn upon us, when real Christians 
and Christian ministers of all denominations, shall 
come nearer to each other. In some parts, blessed 
be God, this has been in a measure accomplished. 
With us, I fear the contrary is to be lamented. I 
once had several of the clergy of the establishment 
to lend me their friendly aid ; this [not being the 
case now] the more pains me, as from an educa- 
tion bias, I should be happy to obtain the help from 
that . quarter, I so deeply need ; but such chapels 
must be given over to the church, or they are not as- 
sisted by it. 

I bless God my dear Sidney is not half such &fine 
prea9her as they have got at - -. He is now their 
fixture ; I should be sadly grieved at such a fixture 
with us. See the character of a preacher as depicted 
by Paul, 1 Cor. ii. that is the preacher to whom, 
with the greatest thankfulness, I should be happy to 
give. the right-hand of fellowship; and then old Si- 
meon's .song shall be my death-bed song of praise, on 
behalf of a people Hove as my own soul, many of 
whom are my crown, and rejoicing in the Lord 



RESIGNATION OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 335 

" Lord, [now] lettest thou thy servant,depart in peace, 
for mine i-^eyes have seen thy salvation." 

With "kind affection to your deservedly much-belov- 
ed, believe me to be, 

Yours very affectionately ; 

ROWLAND HILL. 

To a friend,* whose kind and affectionate consola- 
tions were highly valued by Mr. Rowland Hill, he 
expresses himself on the loss he had sustained in these 
terms " It could not but be supposed, -that after a 
union of [nearly] sixty years, a separation -must have 
been severely felt. Though for some weeks before 
Mrs. Hill's departure I was prepared for the stroke, 
yet, when the solemn event really took place, I found 
that anticipation proved but a feeble defence of what 
afterwards I was called to feel. You had once the 
same sharp trial to sustain, and I am sure, after such 
a trial as you were called to undergo, nature must 
have had hard struggles in you before you could say 
meekly .'Thy will be .done.' To live without natural 
affection converts a man into a monster. The Creator 
of our nature has kindly interwoven it in our consti- 
tutions, to operate as a. social bond between each other. 
Were we without it, the world would be -a thousand 
times worse than it is ; and though these bonds are 
most cruelly violated among such as, are in a course of 
nature, yet where grace reigns through righteousness, 
how sweetly are we united to each, other thereby, and 
how comfortably are we directed to those social and 
relative duties between each other, in which the pre- 
sent happiness of human life so much consists. While 
we are here, [we are] directed to love each other ' with 
pure hearts fervently,' [and] in the accomplishment of 
that command, we taste somewhat of the heaven that 
shall be, fqr heaven is a heaven of love, for 'God is 
love.' No wonder, if we feel at times considerable 

* Henry Brooker, Esq., Brighton. 



336 CHARACTER OF MRS. HILL. 

pain when these silken cords are snapped asunder in 
this world by the violent hands of death ; but, blessed 
be God, in -those regions, where death can no more 
enter, such sorrows can never interrupt our everlasting 
joy i there we shall obtain joy and gladness, and sor- 
row and sighing shall flee away.'" 

For more, than half a century had Mr. and Mrs. 
Rowland Hill been united by ties of the purest Christ- 
ian affection, such as are happily not severed by death, 
but extend into another state of existence, leaving to 
the survivor the only true consolation, that members 
of the Redeemer's family, both in earth and heaven, 
are still one in him. The opposite characteristics of 
this truly venerable pair were, "during a very long 
life, blended together in the most perfect harmony ; 
and being each equally desirous to do good, what 
was wanting for this end in one, was generally sup- 
plied by the other. Gifted with a sound, and discri- 
.minating -judgment, Mrs. Hill managed with peculiar 
tact the difficult task of controlling her husband's 
ardent nature, without checking his usefulness or ac- 
tivity ; and the weight of her influence was so nicely 
balanced, that it restrained, but did not repress it 
wisely directed but did not dictate. The understand- 
ing with .which she accepted the offer of Mr. Row- 
land Hill's hand was never forgotten or evaded by 
her, nor did she," in a single instance, during the 
whole term of their union, suffer personal conveni- 
ence or inclination to impede such movements as he 
considered it his duty to make. Mrs. Hill's natural 
reserve prevented her being known or appreciated by 
casual visitors ; but those whom she admitted to in- 
timacy 'will ever cherish the liveliest recollections "of 
the sincerity of her friendship, and of the solid though 
-retiring qualities of her mind. 

Instead, of giving way to' unavailing grief, or suffer- 
ing his mind to preyupon itself in seclusion, Mr. 
Rowland Hill endeavoured to find comfort in afflic- 
tion by seeking it in the concerns of his ministry. 



LETTER TO MR. JONES. 337 

The members of Suriy chapel were perpetually in 
his thoughts, and he used to express great anxiety 
for their welfare. He recollected that he had forgot- 
ten to give Mr. Jones, who went to supply his London 
pulpit soon after the funeral of Mrs. Hill, some in- 
structions 'he thought necessary for the furtherance 
of his peculiar discipline, and as soon as the omis- 
sion occurred to him, he wrote ( ) as follows OP 
the subject: " ' N 

i ^ - 

Wotton, 1th September, 1830. 

MY DEAR BROTHER JoNES, 

Before you went off for London I forgot to men- 
tion one thing. Though it is much more difficult to 
keep up proper Christian discipline in London than 
in the country, yet if we cannot do what we would, 
we should do what we can, and aim at such a discip- 
line as may prove a check to some, if it cannot prove 
a sufficient check -to all. I have, therefore, felt my 
mind much grieved, that the/ visiting * ministers at 
Surry chapel, during my absence, look upon our . 
communicants' meeting, on a Monday evening, as un- 
worthy of their notice and attention, whereby bad 
becomes abundantly worse. I am very soon to leave 
all these concerns, as it respects the church below^ 
yet I wish to leave things in as good a plight as cir- 
cumstances will admit ; and for this end, let me hum- 
bly request you to set such an example, by your 
punctual attendance, that others -may be excited, by 
your good example, to be ashamed to neglect that 
part of the service [to] which it is their duty to at- 
- tend. 

Alas for me ! since the death of my attentive wife, 
the temporal concerns of my family, and little farm- 
ing matters, are brought under my notice ; and though 
I am thankful for the attention of and my ser- 
vant Charles, somewhat of supermtendency is needed 
by me, * * * * . * * 
so much about the little things of this world. May 
29 



338 



LEAMINGTON 



the Lord make you the happy, honoured instrument 
of preparing .souls for a better world than this which 
I must soon leave. How happy should I be if I 
[could] live nearer to God. Most affectionate love to 
all, from theirs and _, _ 

Yours very sincerely, 

ROWLAND HILL- 

- \ 

Soon after the painful event, by which he had been 
bereaved of the beloved partner in his early sorrows 
and more, recent joys, Mr. Rowland Hill quitted, for 
a few weeks, those, scenes which daily reminded him 
of his trials arid his loss. He went to Leamington, 
in Warwickshire, and endeavoured to divert his 
thoughts from .affliction^by superintending the affairs 
of a chapel he designed to manage upon his custom- 
ary plan. Unexpected opposition arose to the intro- 
duction of the liturgy, but he persevered successfully 
in his determination to make the service as like that 
of our church as possible. He wrote me a long let- 
ter, in which he mentions the difficulties he had en- 
countered. "I am greatly indebted," he says, " to 
the support of some liberal minded dissenters in 
that place ;" but he'arinexes to this declaration, a 
strong complaint against the prejudices of, others, 
who were- hostile to the book- of Common Prayer. 
This gave him the greatest uneasiness, and .called 
forth the following characteristic question and reply 
in the letter just mentioned : " What sort of an evil 
is a sectarian spirit ?- . It is the cruel iron wedge, of 
the devil's own forging, to separate, Christians from 
each other Christians thereby become, like divided 
armies." With regard to the promoters of his object 
at Leamington, he says" They are very anxious to 
come as near the church as they possibly can but 
.if they were to resign their chapel entirely to the 
church, they exclude at one stroke every other pro- 
testant minister of any denomination." He proceeds, 
"while, therefore, the people at Leamington have 



FORMS OF PRAYER. 339 

opened their large and handsome chapel, by adopting 
the liturgic service, and have settled matters accord- 
ingly, yet, in the admission of good ministers of 
every denomination, they choose a little more liberty 
than the church allows." Mr. Hill was always a 
strong advocate for the liturgy of the church, and 
confessed, that while he condemned all formality in 
prayer, he found his devotions much assisted by our 
spiritual and edifying forms. It is part of the truest 
glory of our nation, that it possesses, under the sanc- 
tion of the'state, such an admirable standard of what 
the spirit of devotion in a people ought to be, which 
it is surely much more calculated to inspire than 
many, to use an expression of Mr. Hill's, of the 
"tiresome forms of others, disguised in an extempo- 
raneous dress." I once mentioned to him, that I had 
heard it had been observed by a clergyman of his 
acquaintance " If a man could but hear only half 
of the extempore prayers offered up in this country 
on any one Sunday, he would fall down on his knees 
in an ecstacy, to give vent to his thankfulness for the 
liturgy."---" That he would sure enough," he replied, 
"and let me ask if a man's heart cannot respond to 
, those spiritual petitions which abound in our service, 
what has grace done in it?" It is, indeed, also a 
a mattei;of surprise, that they who object to forms 
altogether, do not .see plainly, that if the words "of 
supplication used by the minister are adopted by the 
people, they become to them, though uttered extem- 
pore, in every sense of the word, sCform. 

Mr. Rowland Hill returned to Wotton, for a short 
time after his visit to Leamington, and then proceed- 
ed to London. In the beginning of the year 1831 he 
wrote me the following letter : 

. London, January 7th, 1831. 

MY DEAR SIDNEY, 

* * * ##.# # * 

You talk of a visit to London ; whenever you can 



340 



LETTER OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 



come 1 shall be happy to receive both you and yours, 

* * * * * , ' * 

and how happy should I be if yoii were but permit- 
ted to allow me your pulpit services for my domestic 
accommodation. 'No wonder that I now feel myself 
worn out, both in body and mind. However the set- 
ting slm, in its decline, may diminish in respect to its 
meridian splendour, yet, in the magnificence of its 
beauty, it finishes its Mgh celestial progress with -a 
most grateful and pleasing serenity to the beholder's 
eye. You, dear Sidney, are, I trust, but still rising to 
the meridian of your ministerial career, not to be 
eclipsed by the clouds and mists that arise from this 
lower world. .0 that your fine path -may be like 
" the path of the just, shining more and more unto 
the perfect-- day !" In short, may your sun set with 
more. grandeur than ever it, arose, till it shall again 
arise in those bright regions, as yet unknown to us, 
to set no more ! . 

While I was writing the above, yours arrived. I 
quite agree with you as it respects the evil tendency 
of the prophetic fancies that are jumping about in 
the skulls of some young clerical divines. I fear it 
will prove the cause of thrusting out some better 
things from their hearts, which will be the case, un- 
less, established by grace. 

these interruptions ! when will they suffer me 
to finish this jumble 1 Still their visit was on a most 
important object, . . . . Leamington. That will 
draw a long sum out of my short .purse. Most glad- 
ly, however, will that be parted with, if the end can 

be accomplished, 

# * '##-# * * * 

1 have marked the end of April, when you and 
yours are to be expected; but age so seriously bids 
me to look into the grave, that it is now high time to 
speak with caution respecting a future day. 

Yours affectionately, 

K HILL 



LETTER OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. .341 

Early in February I received another letter from 
him, in which he again alludes to the prophetic 
questions mentioned in the last. 



Surry chapel, Feb. kthj 1831. 
MY DEAR SIDNEY, 

Charles must write 

While I indite, ' 

For lack of. sight, 

By candle light. , 

....... . . I remember the time you 

propose to visit me, and shall be happy to see you 
both. What a number of . . . .have got addleheaded 

on the subject, of the personal reign of Christ. I have 
been lately- told J that - - as infected with the same 
mania. God help you and me to preach on the spi- 
ritual reign of Christ as much as we can : we never 
can go too far on that subject. I am sure this wild 
mania will be productive of much mischief, among 
some otherwise good-minded people. may keep 
his maggots and fine flourishing style to himself. I 
like Paul's plain style best. Better to feed the appe- 
tite of the hungry, than to tickle the fancies of- the 
whimsical. This breed of preachers are apt soon to 
preach themselves out of breath, and come to nothing. 
May you and I never be the retailers of such whipt- 
syllabub divinity better keep a cook's-shop to satisfy 
the craving appetite, than a confectioher's-shop tore- 
gale the depraved appetite of the dainty. Good 
brown-bread preaching is the best after all. I have 
been much shut up by a cold this winter, and expect 
soon to be shut up in my coffin for an increasing 
hope foil of immortality! ~ 

Yours, very affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 
Kind love to your wife. - 

In another letter to me upon the same subject^ he 
remarks" I believe the present itch to prophesy 
29* . ' 



342 PROPHECY. 

upon prophecy, is calculated to promote much evil, 
and but little good. I 'believe no prophecy is to be 
understood till after it is accomplished. We may 
most safely conjecture, but not rashly determine, the 
times 'arid seasons respecting such future events, 
which the Father hath kept in his own hands. Some 
people seem to have more brains of a certain sort 
than they know well how to manage : skittish fancy 
next steps in, sets the imagination atwofkj and from 
the symbolical and figurative expressions, in which 
future events are wisely hid from our eyes, whimsies 
by thousands possess the brain. But what is the bad 
result? Why, as these speculations are so very 
various, most of them must be wrong ; and what sort 
of effect is this likely to produce on infidel minds ? 
An extract, however, is more to the point, from Bishop 
Hall far beyond that which can be produced from 
the brains of Rowland Hill '0 blessed Saviour, 
what strange variety of conceits do I find concerning 
thy thousand years' reign ! What riddles are there 
in that prophecy, which no human tongue can read! 
Where to fix the beginning of that marvellous mil- 
lenary and where the end; and what manner of reign 
it shall be, whether temporal or spiritual, on earth or 
in heaven, undergoes as many constructions as there 
are pens that have undertaken it ; and yet, when all 
is done, I see thine apostle speak only of the souls of 
the martyrs reigning so long with thee, not f thy 
reigning so long on earth with those martyrs. . How 
busy are the tongues of men, how are their, brains 
taken up with the indeterminable construction of this 
enigmatical truth, when, in the mean time, the care 
of thy spiritual reign in their hearts is neglected ! 
0, my Saviour, while others weary themselves with 
the disquisition of thy personal reign here upon earth 
for a< thousand years, let it be the whole bent and 
study of my soul to make sure of my personal reign 
with thee in heaven to all eternity.' " 
Tn the spring of 1831, Mr. Rowland Hill's mind 



MR. HILL'S VIEWS AS TO HIS SUCCESSOR. 343 

was exceedingly occupied with the affairs of the 
chapel at Leamington, which he determined to get 
entirely into his own possession. He says, in a letter 
to a friend, dated February 12th "I am about to 
take upon myself the concerns of a large and hand- 
some chapel at Leamington Spa, and put it into the 
hands of the Tillage Itinerancy, as future trustees for 
the public good." He became extremely anxious 
about' a fit and proper minister for that place, of 
fashionable resort, and also for the appointment of 
his successor at Surry chapel. Mr. Hill was very, de- 
sirous to be succeeded by a clergyman of the church 
of England, of sentiments similar to his own, "who 
wished for a little more liberty." I frequently ventured 
to hint to him, that he would have little chance of 
finding, in these times, 'such a clergyman as he would 
approve, willing to accept his offer, unless he would 
allow 'his chapel to be placed under episcopal man- 
agement. " Well," he replied, "Sidney; in that you 
must come over to me, not I to you churchmen -I 
cannot do it." His feelings on this question will be 
further evident, from a , conversation which passed 
between him and his friend Mr. Collison, tutor of 
the seminary attached to the Village Itinerancy, who 
kindly gave me the substance of it in the following 
terms: "He (Mr. Hill) stated to me, that he had 
been asked the question, whether Surry chapel could 
not become, by an act in his life-time, a regular epis- 
copal chapel, under appropriate jurisdiction, and con- 
formable to that order 1 He paused before he gave 
me his reply, and with great solemnity of manner he 
exclaimed 'I said, No, I cannot dp that when 
Surry chapel was erected, it was on the broad ground 
of the gospel. I received money from good people 
of all denominations, on my personal assurance' that 
it should be so applied.' Rising from his chair, and 
deepening the tones of his voice, he continued, 'I 
pledged myself that Surry chapel pulpit should be 
open to" approved and good ministers of the gospel, of 



344 MR. HILL'S VIEWS AS TO HIS SUCCESSOR. 

all denominations. I have always acted upon this 
plan, and I cannot with a good conscience do other 



wise.' " 



The clergymen from whom Mr. Rowland Hill 
would have willingly selected his successor, were too 
much attached to the church to desert it upon any 
terms, even for a sphere of labour which came so ap- 
parently near their own in form. His anxiety to be 
assisted hi his old age, and followed at his death by 
an episcopally ordained minister, was very great. In 
a letter to me he says, after a few remarks on seeing 
no prospect of my obtaining preferment " that, how- m 

ever, shall rest with yourself, as I should be heartily 
glad, as I am just going out. of the world, to see you 
established rector of ISurry chapel [and] vicar of 
Leamington, where a very handsome- chapel will 
soon be in my hands."* He adds, in his humorous 
way " I say nothing about making you perpetual 
curate of Wotton-under-edge, being only a fit place 
of preferment for the poor Welchman who is there 
already." 

* He purchased this chapel soon after. 



BIBLE SOCIETY. 345 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

. BIBLE SOCIETY, 1831. 

THE 'effort made in the year 1831 to change the 
constitution of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 
and the unusual scene at its anniversary, will long be 
remembered with regret, by every sincere friend of 
that institution. In the midst of the confusion which 
pervaded the meeting, Mr. Rowland Hill rose to speak, 
and was received with all the respect due to his age, 
character, and experience. In a few words, uttered 
with the truest dignity of manner, he pointed out the 
real nature of the question by^ which they were agita- 
ted, and rebuked the impatient'spiritof the assembly. 
On the proposal to exclude from the society, all per- 
sons not proiessing belief in the doctrine of the Holy 
Trinity, he 'remarked, that he wished all sucLbelong- 
ed to it, because the Bible contained "the truth to 
convince them of their errors ;" and he placed the 
point at issue on its proper footing, by the observa- 
tion, " I do not ask'wAo. gives me the Bible, but what 
sort of a Bible he gives me ?" After adverting to the 
sad spectacle presented by the want of 'harmony, 
among Christians, and'to the triumph it afforded un- 
believers, Mr. Hill declared his determination to take 
leave of them, till the restoration of that happy union 
by which they had so long been distinguished. Be- 
ing detained at the election for the University of Cam- 
bridge, I did not reach Mr. Rowland Hill's house till 
the evening of the day on which he made his memo- 
rable protest against all innovations in the constitu- 
tion .of the Bible Society. Mrs. Sidney arrived on the 
previous Monday, and as he had not seen her since 
Mrs. Hill's death, he was at first much agitated, and 



346 MR. HILL'S LAST MISSIONARY DAY. 

put out his hand without speaking. After a short 
time he said, " So you are come to see a poor old man, 
left all alone, just dropping into the grave," and made 
affecting allusions to his loss. As I was unable to get 
to town till between eleven and twelve o'clock at 
night, I found Mr. Hill was gone to bed; but he came 
down the next morning full of the preceding day's 
meeting "Sidney," he began, "I. went to the Bible 
Society yesterday, but there was such a noise I came 
away." 

I told him I expected there would be a great com- 
motion. ^ . - . ' - ' - , 

" Commotion indeed," he replied, " you never heard 
any thing like it. The proposal to turn out the So- 
cinians appears to me to.be altogether, in the present . 
state of the society, unreasonable and unwise. If 
there was a danger of their gaining an ascendancy, 
or if they gave away another version .of the Scrip- 
tures, -I should he" for separating from them at once; 
but as.Jong as they are in the minority, and are con- 
tent to circulate our Bibles, it is quite preposterous to 
refuse to let them distribute the only antidote to their 
own errors. Why, for my part, I should be glad to 
get a Mahometan to receive and disperse our Bibles; 
he might get good and would do good." " . ' " 

" What do you think, sir," I asked, " of the other 
question on which so much has been said beginning 
the proceedings with prayer?. Surely you will be of 
opinion, that it is possible for Christians to meet in 
the spirit of prayer, without the act, especially with 
such different views as to the latter." 

" Certainly it is ; and I consider the introduction of 
any religious form or test into the Bible Society ut- 
terly unnecessary nay^ impracticable." 

The missionary day at Surry chapel this year was 
the last Mr. Hill ever attended. . He said in 1829, 
just before he entered the chapel, "I, will read prayers 
a couple of years longer ; then I -will give it up," 
and his prediction, if such it may be called, was ful- 



GIFT OF TONGUES. . 347 

tilled. He was in very low spirits the whole day, 
caused chiefly by his recollection, that it was the first 
occasion of the kind he liad ever heen without Mrs. 
Hill. As he went to the house, carrying a plate filled 
by those who pressed to give Am their contributions, 
he sobbed aloud, and I heard him say as he came into 
the room, in a voice almost inarticulate through his 
emotion "Another good minister* gone, I shall soon 
, myself be numbered with the dead ; Lord help me to 
do a little more for him while I live." He gave .his 
usual dinner, and I sat in the place till then occupied 
by Mrs, Hill; but a mournful foreboding prevailed- 
the shadow of death seemed to cast a gloom over the 
party. Mr. Hill scarcely spoke a word, but returned 
thanks after dinner with the most impressive so- 
lemnity, and when his guests departed, he retired 
to take his usual rest, .after which he. became more 
cheerful. . , 

Though; the age and loneliness of Mr. Hill at times 
occasioned great depression, he was quite as fre : 
quently in a lively humour, and retained all his cha- 
racteristic wit and drollery. One evening, when he 
was in high spirits, and enjoying a newspaper, which 
a relation was reading to him, -a visiter was announ- 
ced, who entered the room with the air of a*man 
about to communicate some important or interesting 
intelligence, ? 

"Sir, I have the greatest pleasure in calling on you, 
to say that I can offer you the opportunity of meeting 
a person endowed with a wonderful gift indeed." 

"Pray, sir, what is that? I am getting almost too 
old to go a wonder hunting." 

"The miraculous gift of tongues, sir; a lady pos- 
sessing it is coming to spend a few hours with me, 
and I hasten to ask you to meet her;" 

Mr. Hill inquired, after sighing out, " Oh, dear !" 

* He had just been informed of the death of a minister with 
whom he had long been acquainted. 



348 GIFT OF TONGUES. 

with a wistful glance at the .newspaper, " "What Ian- . 
guage does she speak ?" 

" Why, sir, that is not known ; some think she 
speaks two but it is evidently regular language." . 

" Two languages no one can understand ! enough 
to craze any body." "-.-', ,-. '. . 

" Oh, Mr. Hill ! I am, sorry to see an old man at 
your age ridicule sudh things." . 

" Are you, indeed, sir? I do not think I shall leave 
it off for all that." 

The visiter, still unwilling to depart withouimaking 
a proselyte, renewed his arguments, to the annoyance 
of Mr. Hill, who was always disappointed when inter 
rupted in a'newspaper. 

The next question was " If nobody knows what 
she says, how Was it discovered that she speaks two 
languages?" . 

This, as may be supposed, elicited no satisfactory 
explanation ; but by way of terminating difficulties, as 
well as the visit, it was suggested as desirahtej that 
some celebrated linguist should hear her performance 
of sounds. , '. 

The champion of tongues, finding; his eloquence 
unavailing, at length tooli leave, expressing his regret 
at Mr. Hill's incredulity, to which the latter courte- 
ously observed "I thank you, sir, all the same for 
your kind invitation ; but if she does not understand 
what she says herself, it is not likely that 1-should be 
much the wiser." . 

The worthy visiter, shaking his head, only replied 
"Oh, sir !- I wish you could once see and hear, and 
then you would be convinced." 

When he was gone, Mr. Hill looked up and said 
"Now'finishthe debate my poor old brains can take 
that in, though they cannot reach this wonderful wo- 
man's, whimsies." x 

Mr. Rowland Hill never mentioned the recent ex- 
hibitions called the gift of tongues, without either 
ricliculirig or deploring them ; and it is indeed much 



GIFT OF TONGUES. 349 

to ba lamented, that Christians should have been so 
led away by. the power of their own imaginations. In 
the days of the apostles, the miraculous agency of the 
Holy Spirit was given for clear and determinate pur- 
poses, and the gift of tongues was to enable unlearned 
but inspired men to address the Gentiles in their own 
languages. No one can deny that they were given 
with this view on the day of Pentecost ; arid that 
their subsequent design was the same, is evident from 
the words of St. Paul tongues are for a. sign, not 
to them that believe, but to. them that believe not* 
and, therefore, as is justly observed by Whitby, not 
to be used in assemblies of .the former. This decla- 
ration, and the following question of the apostle,, sure- 
ly ought to be decisive with such .as have contended 
for the manifestations of the present day: If, there- 
fore, the whole church be come together into one place, 
and all speaK' with tongues, and there come in those 
that are unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say 
ye are mad ?t The diversities of ' gifts spoken of 
by St. Paul were evidently essential to the - early 
c.hurches. These were, wisdom to teach ; knowledge 
to comprehend ; faith to enable them to work mira- 
cles ; prophecy to foresee and describe the trials, sup- 
ports., and condition of their converts, and the church 
at, large; discerning of spirits to discriminate be- 
tween operations of the Holy Ghost and the power 
of evil spirits, or the imaginations of. men, as well as 
to judge of the sincerity and qualifications of indivi- 
duals for various offices ; the gift of, tongues to'ad- 
.dress strangers; the gift of interpretation to describe 
what was thus spoken. All these were wanted in an 
infant church perfectly opposed to* the world,- and 
whose success depended not, on the agency of man, 
but on the miraculous aid of the, spirit of its divine 
founder. The planting of Christianity was by the ex- 
traoxdinary powers of the Holy Ghost, 'its watering 
and increase by the ordinary, and the divine agency is 
* 1 Cor . xiv. 22, tlCor, T. 23. 

HO 



350 ACCIDENT TO MR. HILL. 

never exerted withotitadefinitepbject; nothirigis done 
in vain, either in the natural or the spiritual creation 
of God. If it be inquired, what proof have we of the 
presence of the Divine Spirit in the visible church of 
Christ, I answer, in the greatest of all miracles, the 
conversion of a soul. Neither healing diseases, raising 
the dead, or infliction of sudden judgments, is to be 
compared with that power which, by means of an in- 
strument so simple as preaching, lays the proud heart 
of man in the dust before the cross, raises him to holy 
joy, alters the habit of his mind and tenor of his life, 
gives him strength -to bear scoffing and persecution, 
takes away the terrors of the grave, and turns the 
active current of the soul from the creature to God, 
from self to Christ, from sin to holiness. This is a 
miracle which the unbeliever ought to see if he does 
not. But no sign can savingly con-vert ; this is the 
province of a direct influence of the Holy Ghost on 
hearts harder than adamant, till the Lord melts thorn 
by the fire of his word, and impresses on them When 
softened the seal of his 'divine image. God designs to 
raise from the chaotic mass of darkness and disorder 
that surrounds us, a creation of light and order, to. his 
own glory; but here the sublimity of the Holy Spirit's 
agency consists in its gentleness : as - in producing the 
old world, it is Described as "brooding o'er the vast 
abyss," so now -it rests with dove-like tenderness on 
the church, making it gradually pregnant with eter- 
nal glory, and indicates not its. "presence by fanatic 
gestures, wild 'and unmeaning exclamations, or the 
dreams and visions, of enthusiasm. 

As Mr. Rowland Hill was getting into his carriage, 
after one of the meetings at Exeter Hall this year, he 
grazed his leg against the step. He said it smarted a 
little, but took no further notice. In a few days it 
began to assume the appearance of violent inflamma- 
tion, and confined him for some time to the house, of 
which, notwithstanding his years, he was very impa- 
tient. The injury was near being attended with the 



VALLEY OF HUMILIATION. 351 

most serious results, from the difficulty in persuading 
him to nurse the limb sufficiently. While confined by 
this accident, Mr. Hill's mind was much occupied with 
the affairs of his chapel at Leamington. The young 
man to whom he had committed the chargeof that con- 
gregation received many letters from him, in- which his 
observations on : the temporal affairs of the place are 
interspersed with spiritual remarks, bearing the most 
gratifying evidence of the ripening of his mihd for a 
better world. He says, in one of them "God will , 
make you a blessing, so long as he shall keep you, in 
the dust before him. It will be no great criminality, ( 
if I make a little alteration in [one passage] of the 
sacred volume. 'He filleth the -hungry. with -good 
things, but ihe proud he sendeth empty away.' that 
most lovely valley of humiliation ! the^ safest, the 
most lovely, the most fertile spot between the City of 
Destruction [and Heaven]. May you get into it, 
make your constant abode in it, and never get out of 
it, till from thence you shall be called to glory. 
I could say a thousand things concerning this more 
than celestial valley. The air is so, salubrious, the 
ground. so fertile, the fruit so wholesome ; while from 
the branches of every tree the voices of prayer and. 
praise are heard in delightful concert with each other. 
While living in this valley, no weapon that is formed 
against us shall prosper, as;all' the fiery darts of the 
devil are sure to pass over our heads, since the enemy 
Of souls cannot shoot low enough to reach us to our 
hurt. Take this hint from a very old man, just .put- 
ting off his harness while you are -just putting it on." 
On Thursday, June 2nd, the appearance of the 
wound on Mr. Rowland Hill's leg being rather- more' 
favourable, he left London for Leamington, and, as he 
went by easy stages, he found himself able to preach 
once on, the Sunday. 'The unsettled state of his af- 
fairs in that place caused him considerable excitement, 
and brought on a return of the inflammatory symp- 
toms. Still he would preach on the Tuesday evening; 



352- MR. HILL'S RECOVERY. 

the consequence of which was, an alaiming increase 
of his sufferings, and many days' confinement to his 
room. Towards the end of the month, however, he 
rallied beyond all expectation, and was able to preach 
on Sunday, July 3, to a most crowded congregation,, 
at Stratford-upon-Avon. From Stratford he went to 
Cheltenham, and preached there on the following- 
Tuesday, with uncommon power and animation. He 
arrived at Wotton on the Wednesday, and was well 
enough to undertake one sermon on Sunday. "Con- 
tinual returns, however, of unpleasant appearances 
in his leg rendered the remainder -of the autumn very 
trying. Towards the end of it he went to Leaming- 
ton, where, by the blessing of God on the kind atten- 
tion of a skilful surgeon, he rapidly recovered, and 
returned to Surry chapel late in the winter. The 
confinement Mr. Rowland Hill had undergone in the 
year 1831, tended very much to weaken his aged 
frame, and there were many visible signs in his con- 
stitution that nature was giving way. Still his men- 
tal faculties were perfectly unimpaired, and he mani- 
fested all the perspicuity, vigour, and imagination of 
youth. A letter to Mr. Jones contains his, own de- 
scription of his feelings in. the early part of 1832. 

Surry chapel, Feb. 6th, 1832. 

MY DEAR BROTHER JoNES, 

Thanks for your letter: I am happy that. divine 
success seems to attend the. ministry of the word 
among you. As to myself, my strength is so far de- 
parted from me, that the morning service in this place 
is as much as ever lean sustain. Though we are 
forbidden to take any thought for the morrow, yet I 
have many an anxious thought how I should be able 
to perform the duties of the .Wotton service, without 
some extra aid. I feel that I am soon to go the way 
of all flesh : while the outward man is now so rapid- 
ly on the decay, my prayer is, that the inward man 



LETTER TO MR. JONES. 



353 



may be renewed day by day. As it is now highly 
necessary thatl should have some .one constantly with 
me, to preach when I feel unable, I should like to 

know what your plans are for the ensuing summer. 

# * '# * * * * * 

I am extremely sorry to hear of the indisposition of 
; her life is valuable for the sake of her family, 
but you give me hopes that the sickness is not unto 
death ; may it be to the glory of ;God. that I 
could feel, a more lively hope in the good things I 
have been .preaching so long ; most fully would I 
wish to say, " when heart and flesh fail me, God is 
the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever- 
more." I have sent you some books : I have been 
preitty well drained infurnishing the library at Leam- 
ington. , 

* * * * * * #-#.' 

With kindest remembrances to Mr. and Mrs. Long, 
and all inquiring friends, from theirs and ; 

Yours very sincerely, 
ROWLAND HILL. 

I also received a letter from him, in which he ex- 
presses the same sense of his bodily decay, and alludes 
to his anxiety concerning the future pastor of his 
London flock. 

Surry chapel house, March 8th, 1832. - 
MY DEAR SIDNEY, ' 

Why have I been so long in answering your let- 
ter on the offer of your visit to London 1 ? It is on 
account : of the rapid debility I daily feel from declin- 
ing years : though, perhaps, one cause maybe through 
the necessity of being almost at times bed-ridden, from 
the injury-received upon my shin-bone during the 
last public meetings in May. And though I cannot 
say that I have any particular disease, yet; I am so far 
enfeebled, that even one sermon on a Sabbath-day is 
quite as much as can be accomplished by me. In 
30* 



354 LETTER TO THE AUTHOR. 

short, I am now breaking apace, and O that I could 
but feel, that as the outward man is decaying, the 
inward man is renewed day by day ! 

I have made up my mind to leave London, before 
the bustle of our different religious meetings in May : 
if, however, you and yours wish to come to town 
previously, I shall be happy to receive you, so far as 
strength and ability will permit. I mention the time 
I design to go out of town, that you may make your 
arrangements accordingly, and not be prevented visit- 
ing London at an earlier date, if that will be conve- 
- nient for you. 

Though I cannot say with Paul, the care of all the 
churches is upon me. yet Q how happy should I be, 
if this important station in particular, were but blest 
with that minister, of a free, generous, open-hearted 
turn of mind, who would be my affectionate help- 
mate in my fast declining days : but, alas ! where is 
such a one to be found? How grievous, that the 
late revival in the church has been disfigured-by the 
vain imaginations of many who scarcely -know what 
they are next to believe. If any such were willing 
to come amongst us, by taking more liberty than the 
church allows, I should be afraid to trust them; 
while too many dissenters are so far stiffened on their 
side the question, as to be afraid to submit to the 
apostle's advice, and to become all things to. all men, 
that they may win the more to Christ. 

* * * * . * # * 
As long as I live, and afterwards, I trust the pulpit 
will be equally open to all who preach 1 the pure and 
simple gospel of Christ, but not intermixed with the 
whim-warns of the present day. The fiery materials 
that compose the new opposition Bible Society, I find 
are quarrelling among themselves, and no wonder at 
it, while, the new gang of prophesiers are amongst 
the most active of its supporters. Such sort of phos- 
phorus materials will be sure to ignite among them- 
selves. that you and I may abide by that sure 



MR. HILL'S INCREASING 'DEBILITY. 355 

word of prophecy, to which we do well to resort, in- 
structed by the Holy Ghost in all wisdom and spi- 
ritual understanding. I may further add, that as the 
tithe system, pluralities, and other church evils, whe- 
ther real or supposed, are at present under investiga- 
tion, some of our more bigoted rules may -be brought 
under consideration. Neither in England nor in 
Scotland do we find such principles upheld as there 
formerly were. Surely a reformation of that which 
is wrong may be effected without a demolition of that 
which is right. - 

* * * * . * * ... * 
Love. to you both. , 

I am yours .very affectionately, 

ROWLAND HILL. 

Mr. Hill did not leave London till May 7, and I 
had the pleasure of spending the week previous to his 
departure with him. I found'him in excellent general 
health, but much weaker than I had ever before seen 
him, yet deprived of none of the clearness or vivacity 
of his intellect. There was a continual variation in 
his feeling's, and though generally more comfortable 
than might have been expected, he was occasionally 
oppressed with a most trying languor. "Yesterday," 
he says, when writing to Mr.Broadley Wilson, "was 
one of my languid days. I feel as though I had got . 
to the bottom of Hie Hill Difficulty : that I was 
better acquainted withJAe Valley of Humiliation, as 
I am very sure I must soon enter the Valley of the 
Shadow of Death. that, I may he taught that plea- 
sant song more perfectly, 'yea, though. I walk through 
the valley of the shadow' of death, I will fear no evil, 
for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they com- 
fort me.'" .God keeps the.real Christian humble to the 
end, that.he may be brought to lean on the only true 
support in the dark vale through -which he must pass 
into eternity- a truth beautifully exemplified in the last, 
days of Mr. Hill. . His faith never failed, but it was 



356 MY LAST VISIT TO MR. HILL. 

unmingled with self-confidence ; he trusted the stability 
of his anchor, and knew the firmness of the rock, 
fearing only frailty in the vessel. Taught from on 
high, he had learnt the plague of his own heart, as 
is evidentfromuthe following passage in a letter to 
Mr. Wilson : { < I feel myself increasingly the, old 
man, yet I have reason to be thankful that I have no 
other disease, than that which old age naturally 
brings with it.. My course I am sure now must soon 
be finished. that grace may he given me to lay 
down this life -with holy tranquillity and joy ; but '0 
this corrupted heart, how it interrupts our peace and 
joy even to the last." Like the great Henry, Mr. 
Hill wished to carry his repentance to the gates of 
heaven. . 

Notwithstanding his debility, Mr. Rowland Hill felt 
a strong inclination to make an effort to attend the 
meeting of the Bible Society in 1832, from which he 
was only prevented by the wetness of the day.- " So. 
Sidney," he said to me on my return, " you have had . 
I hear a peaceful day^I am thankful indeed for 'that, 
though I believe it was as well I did not go; it would 
have been too much for me." The- excellent spirit of 
candour displayed on that occasion by Mr. Gerard 
Noel, and the happy restoration of unity and peace, 
will long dwell in the memories of those who rejoiced 
, to welcome among them once more a minister so 
justly valued and beloved. Venerable as the Bible 
Society has long appeared, it has become more than 
ever an object of our admiration, from the dignity of 
its triumph over opponents from without and divisions 
within. 

Lest he should be exhausted by the bustle of the 
other meetings, Mr. Rowland Hill retired, to Leaming- 
ton, and afterwards went to Wotton, where, in the 
month of August, Mrs. Sidney and I visited him for the 
last time. On our arrival, I", found that he had enga- 
ged the pulpit of the church for me, and that he intend- 
ed to shut up his own chapel on the afternoons of the 



MY LAST VISIT TO MR. HILL. 



357 



two Sundays we were to pass with him. "He was ex- 
tremely feeble, 1 and was evidently breaking, butseemed 
generally revived by preaching. One Sunday morning 
he said to Mr; Jones^-"You must preach this morn- 
ing; I feel good for nothing." "No, no, sir," he re- 
plied; I ventured to say, >"I hope you 'will, Mr. 
Jones." He smiled, and said "I would readily, if I. 
did not think a sermon would do Mr. Hill good, and 
you will see it will." Accordingly, Mr. Hifl preach- 
ed himself, and, as I heard on my return from.church, 
with entire forgetfukiess.of his debility. His text 
was, then Manasseli knew the Lord: 2 Chron. xxxiii. 
13; and he spoke for more than an hour! In the 
morning I thought him utterly unequal to the task of 
addressing his people, but in the afternoon, he was full 
of animation. " There, sir," said Mr. Jories, " I told 
you preaching would cure you ;" to which he answered 
good humouredly, "I believe you were right, you 
cunning Welshman." He next turned to me and 
said: "Sidney, I wish your church rules would let 
you preach for us this evening." " Sir," I replied, " I 
, am very well contented to obey them as they are." 
"Ah !" he exclaimed, "good old Mr'. Berridge used' 
to give notice, (and here 'he: imitated his voice and 
manner,) l Mr! Gwinnapp will preach upon my horse- 
block this evening ; I wish I could ask him to preach 
in the church.'" This said Mr. Gwinnapp was one 
.of Mr. Berridge's lay coadjutors when Mr. Hill was 
at Cambridge. . . . ". _ 

On the last day lever spent with Mr. Rowland 
Hill, I was invited to preach at a neighbouring village 
in the morning. Though he had been to hear me the 
previous day, when I took 'the weekly lecture in the 
church at Wotton, his affectionate kindness induced 
him to go again. I never saw him afterwards in aplace 
of worship ;. but the solemn and devotional feeling he 
then manifested has left, an indelible impression on 
my mind. He made the responses of the liturgy in a 
subdued but feeling_tone, lifting up his hand occasion^ 



358 . MY LAST VISIT TO MR. HILL. 

ally, and laying a natural and appropriate emphasis 
on such~ portions of the prayers as more particularly 
seemed to contain petitions for the blessings "he most 
needed. Numbers of Mr. Rowland Hill's people were 
present, and it was most affecting to see the manner in 
which they crowded round him as he left the church, 
pressing to 'shake him by the hand, and to show him 
every possible token of their love. As we were to go 
away early the following morning, I was desirous to 
have taken leave of Mr. Hill that night, but he said, 
"No, I shall see you to-morrow;" and accordingly 
soon after seven o'clock, to our surprise, he made his 
appearance. On my regretting the exertion he had 
made, he replied, "Never mind, I shall sleep all the 
better to-night for my early rising ; I wished to see the 
last of you." He sat down in a chair in the dining- 
room, apparently lost in thought, and when I took him 
by the hand at parting, he could scarcely articulate, 
" God bless you both ! I shall see you in town in the 
spring, if- 1 'live so long ; . but I feel that I have but a 
short season longer left me here." This was my final 
interview with him, who had for years acted towards 
me with the affection of a parent. 

The increasing weakness of .Mr. Hill perpetually 
reminded him that his time was short} and allusions to 
his death constantly pervaded his conversation and 
letters. He remarked^ when writing to a friend, " As 
to my mind, I only wish to commend myself to the 
blessing of Him, who alone can preserve us in our so- 
lemn exit from this'world of wo." He further con- 
tinues " We need not fear sickness or death, when 
once we can confidently say by faith in the Lord Jesus 
Christ, death is swallowed up in victory. Alas ! for 
me, one sermon on the sabbath, and one in the week, 
is as much as I can accomplish. This is being brought 
to short commons, when compared with what, in the 
former part of my life, I have been accustomed to per- 
form." Mr. Hill's inability to work was the only 
source of his disquietude : his lamp was still full of oil, 



LETTER TO THE REV. J. LANGLEY. 



359 



but the waning of the flame foretold that it would soon 
cease to burn. . 

In the autumn of 1832, Mr.. Rowland Hill was in- 
vited to preach in the church at Wallingford, once 
served by his old friend Mr. Pentycross. He had 
been there in 1831, and was now urged to return, and 
was offered,-as an additional attraction, other pulpits 
in adjacent churches. Mr. Langley, the rector of St. 
Mary's, Wallingford, in a communication he oblig- 
ingly sent me, says, " Mr. Hill could have had five or 
six churches in this neighbourhood, so completely had 
prejudice worn away, and it was his rule when he 
could get the church, never to preach in a meeting- 
house. In-1831, when he preached for me, he preach- 
ed for a clerical brother t at Wooburn, Bucks." The 
following letter is -Mr. Hill's reply to Mr; Langley 's 
invitation- to Wallingford : 

Wotton-under-edge, Nov. 14^, 1832. 
MY DEAR SIR, \. 

, No wonder that a man! in his 89th year should, 
from dimness of sight, be obliged to write by dicta- 
tion. . You have my affectionate thanks for your kind 
invitation to your house and pulpit : Providence, 
however, seems to direct me another way. Leaming- 
ton Spa, though a very growing place, has, till of late, 
been in a very dead state respecting the- .means of 
grace. By the kind providence of God, I have been 
enabled to purchase for them a chapel, in which, hav- 
ing established our liturgic service, many have been 
induced to hear the word of life. , 



. * 



It therefore seems to be my duty to go somewhat out 
of my way to .London, in order that I may nurse up 
that infant cause. Be assured I otherwise should have 
been glad to have paid Wallingford another visit, and, 
had strength -been gran ted, to have preached in other 
churches: for I must say of the establishment, as 
Cowper said of the state, " : 



360 LETTER TO THE R.EV. J. LANC4LEY 

England ! with all thy iaults, I love Ihee still : 
though I have my fears lest the present talk'of a re- 
formation of some abuses will prove of ho effect, while 
some outward amendments may take place, and she 
internally not be the better for it. This can only be 
accomplished by the sending forth of such spiritual 
ministers, as are inwardly moved by the Holy Ghost 
to take upon them that office of administration. 

I hope you have accepted the invitation to preach 
the annual sermon for our Cto/wHcMissionary Society, 
it being willing to send forth ministers of : any Pro- 
testant denomination, who are capable of holding forth 
the word of life to perishing sinners. If you have no 
better accommodations when you comedo London in 
May next, (though it seems presumptuous in me. to talk 
of what I should like to do six months hence,) I should 
be heartily glad to give you and Mrs. Langley bed 
and board at my house ; and if you choose to follow 
the same example as your predecessor, Mr. Penty- 
cross, you shall be heartily welcome to my pulpit 
also. Though I do not wish to see these walls of 
separation entirely demolished, yet I should be heartily 
glad if they were so far lowered,, as that we could 
come nearer to 'shake hands with each other. Per- 
haps you may live to see better days in this respect, 
though I cannot, as I feel the time of my departure 
is just at hand. . < ' ' 

And when I'm to die, 
Receive me I'll cry, 
For Jesus hath loved me, I cannot tell why. 

With kindest regards to Mrs. Langley,believemeto be, 
Most sincerely and affectionately yours, 

ROWLAND HILL. 
Rev. John Langley, - 

Rector, of St. Mary's, Wallingford. 

I have not met with a letter more characteristic of 
Mr. Rowland Hill than this : his love for the church, 
his missionary principles, his desire to obtain clerical 



OLD BIGOTRY. 



361 



aid in Surry chapel, and the feeling with which; he 
anticipated his decease, are all embodied in it. The 
lines quoted were perpetually on his lips for nearly a 
year before he died; and when he came to the last 
words, he would repeat them. with a strong emphasis 
" No, indeed, I cannot tell-why every sinner saved 
is a mysterious monument of redeeming love." With 
regard to the walls of separation between different 
orders of Christians, he did not wish such partitions 
destroyed, " bat only lowered) that we may' shake 
hands a little easier over them," especially, as he 
would have willingly added, if old Bigotry, who kept 
parties 'close prisoners within these inclosures, was 
but dead and buried. Intone of the first . sermons 
preached for th*e London Missionary Society, Dr. 
Bogue, eyeing with delight the mixed congregation, 
exclaimed, . " Behold us here assembled with one ac- 
cord to attend the funeral of old Bigotry" 'which 
caused Mr. Hill to write ah epitaph upon her, be- 
ginning ... 

Here lies old Bigotry, abhorred ; 

By all who loye our common Lord, , - . 

If, however, old Bigotry did die on that occasion, Mr. 
Hill seemed to think she had been succeeded, to 'her 
heart's content, \>y Party-spirit. This may be gather- 
ed from the following letter to me :-. 

Leamington Spa, Nov. 2&th, 1832. * 
MY DEAR SIDNEY, . ' ^ 

I understand you wish to know how I ant, and as 
I am writing to Lord Hill, I enclose this note to -tell 
you where I am, and that I hope to be in London by 
the latter end of next month-; ......... as I am 

nearly worn down, I find it will be necessary to have 
an assistant ...; Though I have no particu- 
lar disease, yet the lassitude of old age will not let me/* 
do the;things thatl woulB^ I hope some good is do- , 
ing in' this place ; but after all my efforts to establish 
a place of worship as similar to the church as cir- 
31 



362 PARTY SPIRIT. 

cumstances will admit, I find the high church party 
are by no means content with it. They talk, there- 
fore, of building for themselves ; and as I have had 
trouble enough from rigid dissenters, it seems I anvto 
expect a similar trial from the very opposite quarter. 
High and low church sectarianism seems to be the 
order of the day : we are much more busy in contend- 
ing for parties than for principles. I hear perpetually 
that there is as. much whimsicality and defectiveness 
among your church party as there can be bigotry 
among the dissenters. With kind, love ,tq Mrs. Sidney, 
I remain, "yours sincerely,. \ 

ROWLAND HILL. 

When Mr. Hill expressed his disappointment, that 
though he came "as near the ctiurch as possible^" he 
could not satisfy her members, He ought to have re- 
flected, that he as much dissented from the discipline, 
as others do from the forms, or doctrines, prescribed 
by her laws ; and that the clergy were quite as much 
justified in rigidly maintaining their order , as he 
could possibly be in defending his own system. That 
party-spirit, however, is dividing and weakening the 
Christian world, is. a fact as lamentable, as it is unde- 
niable, and results in a great measure from a want 
of due impression as -to our accountableness for the 
moral discipline of our understandings'. In the con- 
trol of our bodily actions we refrain from our incli- 
nations for the sake of reaping an ultimate .benefit ; 
but as respects our reason, we are too apt to do as we 
like, and will not give up a single particle of preju 
dice or opinion to promote a wider union. New 
parties, new societies, are .formed in an instant, and 
as quickly deserted again, by persons who, either on 
cooler reflection, see their error, or with all the im- 
petuosity of an -unbridled imagination, spurred on by 
enthusiasm, rush into the wilds of .fanaticism. A 
man, alsbj is more frequently judged of, in these days, 
by the party he belongs to, by what particular things 



SOLEMN MANNER OF MR. HILL. 



363 



he admits or abstains from, than by "the general tenor 
of his daily life; and, what is more than all to be de- 
plored, an angry spirit is suffered to expel from the 
heart brotherly love and forbearance. These evils 
were justly deplored by Mr. Rowland Hill, as evi- x 
deiices of a lack of genuine Christianity. True faith, 
like the dove sent forth by Noah!, may for a season 
hover over the waters without finding a resting place, 
but will always return r to the ark, bearing the olive 
brancb/of peace and love. 

During the last eighteen months, or thereabouts, 
of Mr. Hill's life, he engaged in almost 'everycause, 
with the impression that it would probably be the 
last effort he should make for it. His friend Mr. 
George Clayton, in a letter to me, thus strikingly de- 
picted his manner and feelings on one of these occa- 
sions: "The last time he occupied my pulpit at 
Walworth, when* he preached excellently ; for an hour, 
on behalf of a charitable institution, (it was in the 
winter twelvemonth before his death.) he retired to 
the vestry after service, under feelings of great and 
manifest exhausture. There he remained, till every 
individual save, the pew-openers, his servant, and 
myself, had left the place. At length, he seemed, 
with some reluctance," to have summoned energy 
enough to take his departure, intimating that it was 
in all probability the last time he should preach in 
Walworth. Charles* went before to open .the car- 
riage door the pew-openers remained in the vestry. 
I offered my arm, which he declined, and then fol- 
lowed him as he passed down the aisle of the chapel. 
The lights were nearly extinguished, the silence was 
profound, nothing indeed was heard, but the slow 
majestic tread of his own footsteps, when in an under 
tone he thus soliloquized, 

' And when I'm to die, 
Receive me, I'll cry, ' 

For Jesus hath loved me,' I cannot tell-why , 

* Mr. Hill's servant. 



364 SOLEMN MANNER OF MR. HILL. 

But. this I can find, . 

We two are so. joined, 
That he'll not be in glory and leave me behind.' 

To my heart this was a scene of unequalled solem- 
nity, nor can. I -ever recur to it without a revival of that 
hallowed, sacred, shuddering sympathy, which it ori- 
ginally awakened." This description is not over- 
wrought ; no man could witness Mr. Hill's manner 
when he contemplated his departure, without an im- 
pression which probably will never be obliterated from 
his memory. , , " 



CHRISTIAN SABBATH. 



365 



CHAPTER XIX. 

/ \ -' '."'/" 

CHRISTIAN SABBATH. 

( .''.''. " 

ONE of the last acts of Mr. Rowland Hill was to pub- 
lish, in the Leamington Spa Courier, an exhortation to 
the due observance of the Christian sabbath. This 
was attacked, in a letter to -the editor, by a person 
signing himself "Oliver," who called it "a sermon 
in a newspaper," which he said was "certainly a, rari- 
ty," and added, that "if an individual will preach in 
a newspaper instead of in a pulpit, he must' expect to 
be answered." The writer admitted, that the word 
sabbath signifies rest from labour, and that the com- 
mand requires it to be kept holy, but exclaimed against 
"ja. puritanical and pharisaical observance of the day," 
or "a temporary imprisonment and a rueful visage." 
"The man of business;" he also observed, "the artisan, 
the labourer, who is necessarily engaged six days, 
would find the seventh so irksome, were he to venture 
on the Course advocated in your correspondent's let- 
ter, that the day of rest would no longer be consider- 
ed a blessing." To these observations Mr. Hill re- 
plied, in a letter dated Surry chapel, Jan. 7, 1833, 
and assured Mr. Oliver that his-face was "not a whit 
longer than his own, and that he was ready to admit 
that an innocent walk; in the open air with a serious 
friend, engaged in some proper Sunday talk, may be 
as conducive to real edification as being shut up in 
some gloomy habitation." Mr. Hill concluded by 
placing the devotion of a Christian, and his keeping the 
Sabbath-day, upon other proper scriptural' grounds, 
calling them " the easy practice of such as are made 
partakers of a divine nature, -arid are renewed in the 
31* 



366 SABBATH PRIVILEGES 

spirit of their minds." Strict observance of the sab- 
bath was forced on the Jews by severe denunciations 
and appalling penalties ; but under our milder dis- 
pensation, all religious duties, though not less binding 
on that account, partake of the nature of privilege. 
These are viewed by regenerate men, not as hard and 
uncongenial requirements, but as spiritual pleasures ; 
the law no longer appears on tablets of stone, but 
written on the hearts of believers, insures obedience, 
not to its letter by penalties, so" much as -to its spirit 
by love. - 

Mr. Hill used to say the very sunshine, upon the 
day when he was called to the holy privilege of serv- 
ing his God, seemed more genial to, him than at any 
other time : he never thought of the punishment to be 
inflicted for neglect of sabbath duties, but was wrapt 
up in holy relish of their sweetness. > That wisely re- 
gulated laws should enforce respect to the sabbath is 
honourable to every Christian nation; but observance 
of sabbatic rest, to. be acceptable to God and truly 
profitable to man,. must come from a heart changed 
and sanctified by grace. True obedience proceeds 
from the affections ; and, therefore, Isaiah -not only 
requires of the Jews external observance, but to call 
the sabbath a delight* Never did any individual 
more strongly evince this feeling than Mr. Rowland 
Hill ; and they who spent a Sunday in his company, 
were always, much struck with his manner and ap- 
pearance, 1 as indicative of a most exalted state of 
piety, and a s_erene and heavenly pleasure in the 
worship of God. He used sometimes to ejaculate, 
quoting his own lines,.. -....-..'- 

" O for the grace to live to Thee, 
What can -an angel wish fpr more ! 
Dear Saviour, come, and let me be . 
k . The subject of this mighty 'power. 

The increasing languor and debility "of old age pre- 
vented Mr. Hill, in the spring of 1833, from engaging 

* Isaiah Iviii. 13. 



LETTER TO THE LADIES OF SURRY CHAPEL. 367 

to preach, except once on the Sunday in Surry chapel, 
and he was obliged to be supported by an elevated 
and not very easy seat in the pulpit. The ladies of 
his congregation, . observing with regret that he ap- 
peared uncomfortable, resolved to present him, with 
such 'a chair as would, obviate all the inconvenience 
he had long suffered. This they sent him with an 
appropriate and respectful letter, to which he returned 
the following reply : 

February 15th, 1833. 

MY VERY DEAR AND AFFECTIONATE FRIENDS, 

I cannot sufficiently express the warmth of my 
gratitude for your affectionate present of such a com- 
modious chair for the pulpit, especially as it is a proof 
of the very kind 1 attention manifested by some of the 
most honourable; and respectable of the female part 
of the congregation assembling in Surry chapel. 

As I cannot expect long to occupy the very com- 
fortable accommodation you have provided for me, 
may I therefore entreat you to address the Great 
Head- of the church, that he would send you such 
helps 'and ministers as shall completely outshine .the 
dwindling taper j whose physical strength is now al- 
most exhausted, though not his affectionate regards 
to a congregation who have always manifested such 
love and esteem. 

Though I feel myself less than the least, and un- 
worthy of such kind attention, I still can most heartily 
subscribe myself, your willing servant in the Redeem- 
er's cause. ' . 

ROWLAND HILL. 

Those of Mr. Hill's congregation who were more 
particularly favoured with! .his friendship, watched 
him as he drew near to the grave with .all the solici- 
tude of Children for a parent. He, had nothing to 
disturb his repose in extreme old age, but the occa- 
sional derangement of .the somewhat imperfect ma- 



368 MR. HILL'S WISHES AS TO A SUCCESSOR. 

chinery by which his. system was carried on in the 
several places of worship under his care. To this, 
particularly as respected Leamington, his letters con- 
stantly refer, and are chiefly short dictations on mat- 
ters of business, and arrangements of his summer 
plans, without any particular sentiments to require 
their introduction into these pages. : Indeed, all his 
letters were written amidst the hurry and interrup- 
tions of his numerous engagements, which accounts, 
for their unstudied and often careless style.: In those 
I received from him a few weeks before his death, he 
alludes, chiefly to -his- often 'repeated -wish to be suc- 
ceeded by a clergyman at, Surry chapel. In 'one of 
them, written to say that he was commissioned, -by 
the patrons of a church likely, to become vacant in a 
large and populous district, to inquire if -I would ac- 
cept it, he observes" I should be glad^to get you to 
stop short, and be minister of Surry chapel." Mr. 
Hill remained, however, steadfast in his determination 
to keep it open on what he called his broad principle, 
and this was quite as much the result of a sense of 
. honour as of inclination, as may be collected from 
the conversation with Mr. Collison already alluded 
to. Three times, shortly before his death I received 
communications from him on this subject; the se- 
cond of which, contained in a letter announcing the 
intention of the clergyman of the church, just men- 
tioned not to resign his situation, was in these terms 
"I have no other preferment to offer you but that 
of Surry chapel, but as we cannot put ourselves un- 
der the management of the established church I must 
say nothing on that head." Mr. Hill used freely to ad- 
mit, that as a useful and commanding post, the church 
had no equal; but he considered that even this might 
be rendered more efficient, without any violation of 
principle, and particularly by giving power to the 
clergy to admit as visiters, ministers of certain other 
orthodox protestarit denominations. . 
Some such concessions, wisely regulated and judi- 



PROPOSAL FOR A DROLL ADVERTISEMENT. 369 

eiously used, wouldperhaps tendrather to increase than 
diminish the stability. of our position; but the great 
evil to be.deplored in the present day is, that men, 
because tfie church is not perfect according to their 
views, quit it altogether. . Every church made up of 
fallible human beings niustnecessarily be.a mixtureof 
flesh and spirit; but to make defects an excuse for ir- 
regularities or separation is contrary^to the spirit and 
tenor, of scripture, which rather enjoins us to correct 
than to forsake. Where, in the midst of all the invec- 
tives of the apostle against the church oi Corinth, is 
there a single word to b& found about withdrawing 
from it ; or when those of Asia are reproved, can any 
mandiscoveracommandtoseparate from them? Ithas 
been asked, where was your church before the time of 
the reformers? The answer to .this is obvious, and 
has often been given, where it is now. It r was ob- 
scured by the church of Rome, of which it never was 
an integral member, like corn in the midst of a pro- 
fusion of -tares : and our reformers did not innovate, 
but renovate, they did not institute, they only restored. . 
The lapse of ages will necessarily render alterations 
of some kind essential in all human institutions, but 
it yet remains to be proved that any thing has "been 
gained, either in "spirituality or usefulness, by those 
who, approving of our church's standard of doctrine, 
have deserted her because of some defects in her ma- 
chinery, which, can only be gradually accommodated 
to the changes of time. -. 

. If Mr. Rowland Hill occasionally made remarks on 
what he called the 'stiffness of the' church, he eyen 
more strongly censured the increasing narrow-mind- 
edness he witnessed among many o the dissenters ; 
and only a few weeks before his last illness, jocularly 
proposed to advertise for " a wet-nurse of the same 
denomination, in the family of a dissenter .to the back- 
bone, to take care of. a chM who was to be brought 
up to the same way of thinking" \mi knowing the 
really excellent qualities of his heart, few persons 



370 MR. HILL'S LAST LETTER TO THE AUTHOR. 

were offended by his humour/ In the postscript of 
the last letter I ever received from Mr. Hill, he again 
alludes to his wish to be succeeded by a .clergyman. 
The letter itself contains nothing of any moment,'but 
it was his last .to me, -and it shows that even in his 
89th year, the energies of a orice indefatigable spirit 
were not quite exhausted. 

: Surry chapel, March Ath, 1833. 
MY DEAR SIDNEY, / - 

I can now tell you my arrangements, that you may 
be able to make yours. I purpose, by the will of God, 
to leave this place on Tuesday, the thirtieth of April, 

for Dorking. The next day I go to 

Brighton, to spend a fortnight or three weeks. .... 

. . . . . . From the latter place I find I can cross the 

country to Oxford, and from thence to Leamington, 
stay there about a month, and then proceed to Wotton 
for the remainder of the summer ; at which place I 
shall be happy to see you. and yours as long as you 

can manage to stay. ' 

* * . . * . - * # - # # ' # 

/' j ' . ; ' 

There your services in the church will be very ac- 
ceptable, and probably useful. ........ 

lam, yours very sincerely, 

ROWLAND HILL: 

P. S. . . . .... . could you but hear the voice 

pronouncing, ^ loose him and let him go," all these 
matters would be settled at once. : 

I am induced to make this .statement of Mr. Hill's 
wish respecting his successor, by the various reports 
which I have heard upon the subject. No doubt he 
could have found a man to occupy his place at his, 
decease, with all the qualifications he desired, except 
episcopal ordination, among the many pious, liberal, 
and enlightened dissenters of his acquaintance ; but he 
retained thafond hope, even to the last, that he should 
meet with a clergyman, as he styled it, " panting for 



MR. HILL'S LAST SERMON. 371 

more liberty." Th&e, however, are not days in which 
the members of our .church can complain of want of 
liberty, and surely the parochial clergy enjoy as much 
of the essentials of that tlessing, as the ministers of 
any dissenting community'. Assailed as 1 our church 
now is, it.becomes us to unite and put on our armour, 
remembering that our breastplate is righteousness, in 
which we must shine before men. The armies of 
Rome, by dazzling the eyes of tneir opponents with 
the splendour of their polished breastplates, often 
awed thenrto surrender without drawing a sword i 
we hope the church is now polishing her harness, 
and that she will conquer rather by lustre than by 
strength. When Mr. Hill first became a preacher, 
many slept upon their,, weapons, or woke only to 
thwart those who were willing to fight the battles of 
the Lord ; and in such a case, that zealous men should 
require a little more liberty to. go forth in detach- 
ments, was" excusable amidst the difficulties of their 
times ; but after all, it is from our well-formed and 
disciplined ranks now brought into the field, that the 
final decisive victory will be gained. This opinion 
is not less warranted by scripture than by reason, as 
is evident from the language of St. Paul, who writes 
to the Golossians,* that he was with them in spirit, 
" joying uhd beholding their order and steadfastness 
of their faith in Christ" and , it is worthy of re- 
mark now strikingly : he' connects ^repea^a, firmness, 
with T<$, order. 

It is time, however, to pass on to the closing scene 
of the days -of Mr. Rowland Hill. Though his in- 
creasing weakness, plainly foretold that lie must soon 
be taken from his people and his friends, yet he was 
removed at last-in a more sudden manner than could 
have been, anticipated. On Sunday, March 31, "he 
preached for the last time, on 1 Cor. ii. 7, 8, and -felt 
so well that he engaged to preach again on the fol- 
lowing Tuesday, to the teachers of the Southward 
* Coi.il. 5.' 



372 ADDRESS TO SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS, 

Sunday School Union, but he became so extremely 
languid on that day as to be obliged to request -his 
assistant, Mr. Weight, to officiate for 'him, At the 
conclusion of a short sermon from this worthy 
minister, Mr. Hill aseended.the pulpit, and delivered, 
with unusual fervour and animation, a brief and af- 
fectionate address, by which he was completely ex- 
hausted. Feeble as he was, he told those who heard 
him, he rejoiced still, to feel his heart in the work ; 
and after urging -them to dedicate their youth to the 
glory of. God, he ended with invoking .the divine 
blessing on their labours. This was his last effort : 
that day the doors of Surry chapel closed on their, de- 
voted pastor for ever. Notwithstanding his strength 
was almost gone, Mr, Hill intended to preach again 
on Good Friday, and -though, at breakfast he com- 
plained of excessive languor, he would, had not Mr. 
Weight been present, have made an effort to occupy 
the pulpit on that day. He was prevailed on, how- 
ever, not only to give, up preaching, but to remain in 
the house during the morning s.ervice ; and about 
one o'clock hejtook an -airing in his carriage towards 
Camberwell, but did not return so refreshed as was 
expected. Still he remained down stairs all day,, and 
conversed as usual with persons who called to in- 
quire after him. A surgeon, who came in during the 
evening, said that Mr. Hill's temporal arterips were 
distended, and threatened apoplexy ; but by judicious 
treatment, these appearances were so far removed, 
that the next morning he rose at his usual hour in 
good spirits, and breakfasted with apparent appetite. 
The day passed off comfortably, and in the evening 
he had the newspapers read to him according to cus- 
tom, making no particular complaint. In fact, he 
thought of. preaching on, the Sunday, and had'select- 
ed his text from 1 Pet. i. 3; but though not well 
enough to attempt a sermon, the whole day was spent 
by him in tolerable comfort,, and he sat up till ten 
o'clock at night... On Easter Monday and Tuesday. 



LAST ILLNESS. 373 

the boys and girls, accompanied by their- Sunday 
teachers, came as usual in procession to Surry chapel; 
but they were never more to hear the voice -which 
had so often- proclaimed to little children the invita- 
tions of a dying Saviour, Their devoted friend 
prayed earnestly in his family for the " young lambs" 
of the. Redeemer's fold, watched their arrival from 
,the window of his drawing-room, and listened to their 
voices, as they. sung in .assembled thousands, in his 
chapel, the last simple and, touching hymns he wrote 
for them. On the first of these evenings, he dictated 
to Mr. Weight a string of aphorisms, one of which is 
singularly descriptive of his own. character "He" 
(the pious minister) "will not consider his own feel- 
ings, but lay himself out for the universal good of his 
Saviour's X3ause: he will spend and be spent for his 
Redeemer; and will die harnessed~as a good soldier 
of Jesus Christ." ' "''_- ~ 

During the evening of Tuesday, Mr. Hill's servant, 
; Chaiies, observed such an alteration in his master, 
as induced him to .send ,to ; inform Lord Hill of 
,his situation. -His lordship was .unfortunately out 
of town, but his nephew and aid-de-.camp, Captain 
George Hill, immediately attended, bringing with him 
his uncle's physician, who, in common with the other 
medical 'men, was of -opinion that nature was giving 
way,'but that-from great strength of constitution he 
might rally for a short time. These were but faint 
hopes not to be realized ; the hand of death was upon 
him. . " . 

The same tone, .of humility and .-self-abasement, 
which characterized Mr. Rowland Hill through life, 
was visible in his last moments. The dying lamp 
flared not forth the glittering flame of presumptuous- 
assurance, but shone steadily to the end with a bright 
yet lowly hope. Reviewing-his past doctrines, he de- 
clared, "Were -I to live my life over again, I would 
preach just .the same" looking upwards to eternal 
glory, he cast himself into the dust, and only said, "I 
32 - 



374 LAST ILLNESS. 

shall creep into heaven through some crevice in the 
rfoor." His view of his own personal interest in 
Christ seemed nearly lost at times, in. a sublime con- 
templation of the Saviour's glory; -and his servant 
heard him cry out in the night, , . 

How soon will thy. seat of judgment appear, 
Prepare me to meet, and welcome Thee there. 

Both when asleep and awake, his favourite lines, 
" And when I'm to die," &c., were constantly on his 
lips. Sometimes he repeated part of his. own beauti- 
ful hymn:* *' 

Gently, my Saviour, let me down 
To.slomber in the arms of death : : 

.. I rest my soul on Thee alone, 
E'en till my last expiring breath. 

And he was overheard saying to himself, " Eye hath 
not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the 
heart of man, the things which God hath prepared 
for them that love him." 

* This hymn was written by Mr. Hill fqr the comfort of a 
dying", member of his Surry chapel congregation, who received 
it a few hours before death. I found it amongst his papers, in 
his own hand-writing, and I believe it never has been printed. 
It is called, v 

THE PRAYER OP THE DYING CHRISTIAN. 

Gently, my Saviour, let me down - . 
To slumber in the arms of death : 
I rest my soul on Thee alone, 
E'en till my last expiring breath. 

Death's dreadful sting has lost its power : ; 

A ransom'd sinner, say'd by grace, 
Lives but -to die, and die no more, 

Unveil'd to see thy blissful face; 

Soon will the storm of life be, o'er, J 
And I shall enter endless rest : , 

' There shall I live to sin no more, " 
And bless thy name forever blest. .. . 

Dear Saviour, let thy will be done ; 
Like yielding clay I humbly lie, . 

May every murmuring thought be gone, 
. Most peacefully resign'd to die. 



LAST ILLNESS. 375 

On thfrevening of the day before he died, Mr. Hill's 
mental aberrations wereattimes verypainful ; but when 
his mind did not wander, from the effects of disease, it 
was beautifully drawn towards heavenly objects. 
During one of the intervals of calm self-possession, 
he called for his servant, and desired him to read the 
fifth chapter of the second epistle to the Corinthians:; 
at the fourth verse: he looked up and said, "Ah, 
Charles, we do not like to die!" at the seventeenth 
verse, he exclaimed in a strong tone, " a new exist- 
ence, mind that Ah, Charles, I shall soon leave 
you!" ''', 

The Rev. George Clayton was one of those who 
were admitted to Mr. Hill's room when he drew near 
his end, and from hin>I received this account of the 
last interview he had with his dying friend : " I was 
at his .bedside within a few hours of his dissolution : 
it was truly an. impressive scene. Lord Hill's phy- 
sician was with him when I arrived, and remarked 
that nothing more- could be attempted for the vene- 
rable patient, and the expected change must soon 
take place. Mr. Hill grasped my hand with much 
affection, and said, ' You have often seen me ill, and 
I recovered ; but this is an irrecoverable .complaint. 

Bid me possess sweet peace within, ' . . , 

, Let child-like patience 'keep my heart ; 
Then shall I feel my heaven begin 
Befpre my spirit hence depart. , < 

Yes, and a brighter heaven still. : 

Awaits.myspuf through his rich grace, 
~ Who shall ;his word of truth reveal, ' 

. Till call'd to sing his endless praise. . 

Hasten thy chariot, God of love, 
And fetch me from this world of wo ; 
I long to reach those joys above, 
;' And bid farewell to all below. . , 

There shall my raplur'd spirit -raise 
. Still louder notes than" angels sing; 
High glories to-Emmanuel's grace, 
My God, my Saviour, and my King. 



376 LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 

I shall not get over it it is a solemn thing to die. 
I have no rapturous joys, but peace a good hope 
through grace all through grace.'' The Rev. T: 
Jackson, who was in .the chamber, observed, ' You 
would not give up the hope you have, sir, for all the 
world' 'No,' said he, 'not for ten thousand thou- 
sand worlds. Christ is every thing to a dying man 
but I want to be perfectly holy perfectly like my 
dear Lord without holiness there is no such thing 
as getting to heaven.'" . After this r he roused himself, 
and protested, with a stronge effort, against the evils 
and dangers of Antinomianism, when Mr. Clayton, 
finding him exhausted, offered up a short prayer, 
and retired. - 

The last sign of sensibility he gave, was an evi- 
dence that he understood, though unable to articulate, 
his favourite verses, And when Tm to die. fyc. repeated 
to him by Mr. Weight. About twenty-five -minutes 
before six on Thursday evening, April 11, his happy 
spirit was released from the bondage of mortality, 
without sigh, or groan, or any other evidence of the 
agony of a last struggle. Those about him could 
scarcely believe he was gone, so peaceful was his end 
so gently, in answer to his own prayer, was he let 
down to slumber in the arms of death. 

One of the most beautiful casts I ever saw, was 
taken of my excellent and venerable relative after his 
decease, by the well-known phrenologist Deville, the 
appearance of which indicated rather a balmy rest 
in slumber, than the painful fixedness of a corpse in 
death. The organs of his fine head were considered 
to be indicative bf the prominent characteristics of 
his nature benevolence, quickness of perception, 
strong attachment, firmness approaching to self-will- 
edness, devotion to the truth, kindness .to children, 
love of approbation, mirthfulness, attention to pro- 
perty, sense of justice. I was prevented by illness 
from seeing my dear guardian at the last ; but this 
beautiful bust in possession of the celebrated pbre- 



FUNERAL. 377 

nologist, to whom it belongs, made an indelible im- 
pression on my memory. 

As soon as the death of the venerable minister be- 
came known, all parties seemed to unite in doing 
honour to his memory. He was buried, at his own 
request, beneath the pulpit of Surry chapel, on Fri- 
day, April 19, and was followed to the grave both by 
clergymen and dissenting ministers.* The funeral 
was admirably conducted, and all confusion prevent- 
ed by excellent regulations. The vast congregation, 
nearly all in .deep mourning, were .admitted by tickets, 
and presented, as they filled the galleries hung with 
black drapery, a mournful contrast to the animating 
scenes witnessed in the same place for nearly half a 
century. The vicinity of the chapel exhibited every 
possible token of respect, and shops partially shut, 
private houses with closely drawn blinds, crowds in 
black, unable to gain admittance to the ceremony, 
showed' that the last, homage was being paid to a 
person of no ordinary popularity. Soon after eleven, 
the solemn procession left the house, and as it entered 
the chapel, a dirge was played upon that fine-toned 
organ,- whose notes had so long been sounds of glad- 
ness in the ears that now could * hear no longer. 
Lord Hill attended, as chief mourner, and was fol- 
lowed by those invited- to be present at the cere- 
mony. JDr. Collyer read the first part of the burial 
service, when a hymn was sung, the last verse of 
which was often on the lips of him they were com- 
mitting to the tomb : 

" When from the dust of death I rise, 
To take my mansion, in the skies, 
E'en then shall this be all my plea, 
Jesus Tiaih liv'd and died 'for me." 

* One of these, Mr. Theophilus Jones, Mr. Hill's Wotton as- 
sistant, so often mentioned in this work, came to London to attend 
the funeral while under the effects of a slight attack of influenza. 
The journey and the excitement of the mournful scene increased 
it to such a degree, that he died in a few weeks after he had fol- 
lowed his venerable patron to the grave. 
32* 



378 FUNERAL. 

As these words were singing, the coffin was gently 
lowered into the grave, when the faltering voices in 
the choir, and the sobbing -of such as were unable to 
refrain from audible expressions of their grief, pre- 
sented a scene, which the lapse of many years will not . 
efface from, the memories of those who witnessed it. 
When, the minister who read the conclusion of the 
service, substituted the word father for that of bro- 
ther y a simultaneous burst of grief seemed to escape 
from the whole congregation. Those who had hither- 
to suppressed their emotions, were .unable longer to 
subdue them, when touched with the tenderness of that 
deserved and endearing appellation. The moment 
when the body of one long beloved is committed as 
dust to dust and ashes to ashes, is generally that in 
which sorrow, before successfully controlled; breaks 
forth from the recesses of the soul the hollow sound 
of the coffin, when tke earth is. cast upon it, is ever 
the signal for an overflow of the accumulated flood of 
mental anguish. The power of that simple but touch- 
ing ceremony was never more fully evinced than on 
this day : thy who had hitherto remained silent "and 
resigned, now wept aloud. 

After a prayer from the Rev. George-Clayton, fol- 
lowed by the singing of 'Luther's hymn, Mr. Jay 
ascended the pulpit to. deliver a funeral sermon over 
the tomb of his departed friend. His text was, Zech. 
xi. 2 ; Howl, fir-tree, for the cedar is fallen. The 
affecting service was concluded by a prayer from the 
Rev. George Collison. When all was over, 'many : 
looked into the grave, and dropped a parting tear up- 
on the coffin, in which the .form they once loved to 
gaze upon, now lay silent and unseen, beneath the 
very spot whence he had so long proclaimed the mer- 
cies and terrors of the Lord. His people can now be- 
hold his face no more in the flesh',but they will see him 
again on that day, when preachers and hearers shall 
render up their separate accounts before the judg- 
ment-seat of Christ. " There he lies," said Mr. Jay, 



MR. HILL'S SPOTLESS CHARACTER. 379 

pointing to , the grave over which he was preach- 
ing^ Who lies ? The preacher once, the wit- 



ness now." 



The will. of Mr. Rowland Hill was an object of 
much curiosity at the time of his death ; but the only 
bequest* necessary to be mentioned here, is that the 
residue of his property was left to the Tillage Itine- 
rancy, including, with certain deductions, his cha- 
pels and, their appurtenances at' Wotton and Leam- 
ington.! -' . ."''.' 

Thus ended .the earthly pilgrimage of one of the 

most devoted messengers of gospel truth that ever de-r- 
elated the way of mercy to mankind. It maybe truly 
said of him, that from the, early age of boyhood, to 
the hoary hairs of one approaching his ninetieth year, 
he had never spent a '.day, except confined by sick- 
ness, without some effort to promote the cause of his 
Redeemer, and this with no less .energy when frown- 
ed on by 'his family, and despised by 'the world, than 
when he lived amidst the kindest attentions from re- 
lations, and basked in the exhilarating beams of an 
unequalled popularity. "Though he was surrounded 
by many enemies in the early part of his career, not 
one of them could discover a spot in his character; 
and notwithstanding the fire of his eager spirit,' the 
occasional haste* with : which he acted/ and the eccen- 
tric course in which he moved, he has left behind him 
not only a lasting fame for unwearied diligence, un- 
daunted resolution, and extraordinary success, but 
that which alorie can give weight to the instructions 
of any minister, an unsullied reputation. What is a 
minister without a character? was his frequent in- 

* It may, however, be noticed; that'always the kindest and most 
affectionate of masters while he lived, he did not forget a liberal 
provision for his faithful servants.. 

t At the death of Mr. JHill, the numerous societies he supported 
drew up resolutions expressive of their respect to his memory. 
Amongst others, the Village Itinerancy put forth a long and able 
Jestimpny to his character and usefulness, and it is only justice to 
them to add, before they were informed of hi& bequest. 



380 ANECDOTES. 

quiry his was not only unstained, but unsuspect- 
ed ; and whenever a cloud passed across his sun, no 
one doubted that the light was still umningled with 
impurity, though obscured for an instant. It was 
the -study of Mr. Hill's entire life to maintain an un- 
tarnished honour, and it was his nature too : he did 
not shine in public with a light extinguished in pri- 
vate,, but was himself the example of his own pre- 
cepts. Once he was called to. occupy, the pulpit of a 
person whose character was, alas ! not altogether im- ! 
-maculate, and who worried him with apologies be- 
cause he could not offer him. a cassock. " Sir," said 
Mr. Hill, who ,could not disguise his sentiments, " I can 
preach without my cassock, but not without my cha 
racfcr character is.ofdmmense importancej sir, to a - 
preacher of God's holy gospel."* 

. A consciousness .of real virtue made Mr. Rowland 
Hill indifferent to the remarks of his enemies. On a 
particular occasion, he was scurrilously attacked in 
one of the public journals, and was urged by a zealous 
friend, exasperated against the writer, to bring a le- 
gal action in defence. .To this the venerable servant 
of God replied, with -calm, unruffled dignity "I 
shall neither answer the libel, nor prosecute the 
writer, and that for two reasons first, because, in 
attempting the former,.! should probably be betrayed 

* Mr. Hill never lost an opportunity of urging on young min- 
isters the necessity of a spotless reputation. He was once'ad- 
dressing a number of candidates for the sacred office, and in 
adverting to this his constant theme, said "I will tell you a 
story. A barber , having amassed a comfortable independence, 
retired to his native place, where he became a preacher in a small 
chapel. Another person from the same village, being similarly 
fortunate, settled there also, and attended the ministry of the bar- 
ber. Wanting a new wig, he said to his pastor, 'you might as 
well make it for me,' to which he assented. The wig was sent home 
badly made, but charged at nearly double the usual price ! The 
good man said nothing, but when any thing particularly profita- 
ble escaped the lips of the preacher, he observed to himself, ' ex : 
cellent but oh! the wig!' When the barber prayed with appa- 
rent unction, he also" thought, 'This should touch my heart but 
oh ! the wig f Now my dear young brethren, wherever you are; 
placed, remember the wig .'" 



MR. ROWLAND HILL 5 S APPEARANCE. 381 

into unbecoming violence of temper and expression, 
to my own grief, and the wounding of my friends ; 
and in the next place, I have learned by experience, 
that no marts character can be eventually injured 
but by tiis own acts" ~ ' 

The person of Mr. Rowland Hill is well known to 
the public. He was rather above the middle height 
in statore, and -when young was remarkably thin, 
though wonderfully strong- and active. 'His coun- 
tenance was .expressive of the complexion of his 
mind, and the. pi ay iipon his lips, and piercing look 
of his small gray eyes, denoted both intelligence and 
humour. When 'between, fifty and sixty years of 
age, his. fine upright figure, combined with a high- 
bre^, gentleman-like deportment, caused him to be 
the subject of /general admiration ; and when the 
weight of eighty years rested on his head, his erect 
form was not bowed down, nor was the vigour of 
his mind- in the slighest degree impaired. A^few 
years ago, a gentleman in a country town followed a 
crowd into a chapel, not the least knowing who was 
to be the preacher ; on returning home, he said-^" I 
have seen a man with such ^commanding air as I 
never witnessed before who can it be?" It was 
MA Rowland Hill ; and this was the effect hiaappear- 
ande produced on all who saw him in his latter days ; 
and as Johnson said -of Burke, if any person had 
merely , chanced to take shelter with him from a 
shower, he xvould.have gone home and , said, "I 
have seen an extraordinary man." . ; 

In his theological opinions, Mr. Rowland Hill lean- 
ed towards the tenets of Calvin, -but what, is called 
Hyper-Calvinism he could not endure. ,Iri a system 
of doctrine he was the follower of no man, -but drew 
his sermons fresh from a prayerful reading of the' 
Bible, and happy would it be for all ministers if they 
followed his example. By faith, and earnest entreaty 
for divine teaching, he let down his vessel into the 
wells of salvation, and the water came up clear, un- 



388 DANGER OF IMITATION. 

polluted by human traditions, unfavoured by dogmas, 
and unadulterated by the muddy conceits of man's 
fancied discoveries. He was for drawing together ail 
the people of God wherever they could meet, and was 
willing to join in a universal communion withX3hrist- 
ians of every name. When on one occasion he had 
preached in a chapel, where none but baptized adults 
were admitted to the sacrament, he wished to have 
communicated with them, but was told respectfully, 
" You cannot sit down at our table" he only replied 
calmly, " I thought it was the hord's table." 

That Mr. Rowland Hill was made the means 01 
great usefulness, no person acquainted with his his- 
tory can deny ; nor can man dictate a course of ac- 
tion, to those evidently raised up of God, in sluggish 
times, for the purpose, of awakening the 1 dormant en- 
ergies of the church. The danger is, lest; others 
should imitate, in days totally different from those in 
which he first appeared, what in the present state of 
things would be much more injurious than beneficial. 
No mode of religion can 'be arranged by our finite 
and imperfect faculties, so as to suit the composition 
of every mind, or meet the difficulties of every case ; 
but if individuals are generally to prescribe for them- 
selves,, and apply their own remedies to particular 
portions of the system, they will soon pay dearly for 
their interference, by the derangement of the whole 
body. Were every soldier to fight with the weapons 
he thinks himself best skilled to use, or to occupy 
such a post as appears most advantageous to himself, 
it is 'evident that single and irregular instances of 
courage would but ill atone for the want-of combined 
and uniform' effect in an entire battalion. Had Mr. 
Hill confined himself for these last thirty years to the- 
community of which by ordination he was a member, 
his talents as a preacher, his exalted character, and 
distinguished family connexions, would have opened 
to him a wide and most influential field of action, and 
he would have been spared numerous trials and em- 



WRITINGS OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 383 

barrassments in which, he was involved, from want 
.of a well defined rule of action. His disinterestedness, 
true piety, fervent zeal, great success in conversions, 
the age in which he first became a preacher, and 
the peculiarities of his nature, will, however, form an 
apology .for a course In which few would have the 
power, if they possessed the inclination -, to follow him. 
He that presumed to guide- himself in a -similar path, 
would, like Phaeton in the fable, when he ventured to 
drive the chariot of the sun, be precipitated speedily 
from his position, and become like him, in all but no- 
toriety, - . - - 

- Infelix currus aurig'a paterai. . . - 

In one thing all may follow, jiim-^daily penitence 
before God; and never, was a more beautiful-idea, 
than that which he repeatedly thus expressed "If I 
may be permitted to drop one tear, as I enter the 
portals of the city of my God, it will be at taking ,an 
eternal leaveof that beloved and profitable companion, 
Repentance" , 

Mr. Rowland Hill was. -too .much occupied by a 
perpetual round of preaching, and other active engage- 
ments, to devote much time to literary pursuits, or 
composition. "He was a very fair. scholar, and used 
sometimes jocularly to say, " I am thankfull am not 
obliged, when I quote a passage from the classics, to 
confess, like John Bunyan, (dear honest old soul) the 
Latin I borrowed." In his controversial pamphlets 
he displayed great acuteness of reasoning, always 
seizing upon, and exposing the weak points of his 
opponents ; but I am compelled to acknowledge that 
the shafts of his ridicule were often top keenly sharp- 
ened, and that his/bow was strung too much after, the 
fashion of the world. This, however, was an error 
into which many other good men have fallen, and 
which they, as well as- my beloved relative, lamented 
in riper years and a maturer state of grace. His hymns 
and Token for Children, are delightful productions, 
worthy to be introduced Jnto every Sunday school : 



384 JUVENILE WORKS. 

his catechism also deserves to be better known. The 
Token for Children commences with a sermon to the 
young, which those who read it will acknowledge to 
be, for plainness of language and adaptation to the 
infant understanding, a model for such addresses. 
It contains' excellent observations, mingled with sim- 
ple and engaging t anecdotes, one of which, as a 
sample of his attractive mode of writing for and 
speaking to children, Twill introduce here. "As chil- 
dren love stories, I will tell you another. Walking 
through my field on a winter's morning, I met with 
a lamb, as I thought, dead ;^but taking it up, I found 
it just alive ; the cruel mother had almost starved it 
to death. I put it into my bosom, and brought it to 
my house : there I rubbed its starved limbs, warmed 
it by the fire-side, and" fed It with warm niilk from 
the cow. Soon after the lamb revived : first, it fear- 
ed me ; but afterwards it thoroughly loved me. As 
I mostly fed it with my own hand, so it followed me 
wherever. I went, bleating after me, whenever it saw 
me, and was always happy when it could frisk 
around me, but never so pleased as when I would 
carry it in my arms. But you, dear children, have 
had more'from your parents and friends than ever 
my lamb received from 'me ; what ungrateful hearts 
must yours be, if you do. not love your parents and 
friends ten times better than ever my-lamb loved me. 
And let me now remind you of a still better story. 
Jesus is a shepherd, the shepherd of souls ; and of 
him it is said, ' he carries the lambs in his bosom, 
and gently leads those that are with young.' If you 
desire to love Jesus, I dare say your parents will let 
you read that blessed book, me Bible, though good 
children alone; wish for such a favour. There yoir 
will hear such things of the love of Ghrist to poor 
ruined sinners, as I hope will melt your eyes to tears, 
and your hearts to love."* That one whose element 

1 * Instructions for Children, or a Token of Love, &c. London : 
Page and Sons, Blackfriars' Road. 1832. p. 16. 



VILLAGE DIALOGUES. 385 

was in the highest regions of sublime and lofty 
thought, should thus descend into the very midst of 
the lambs of the fold, and rejoice to lead them to the 
gentle flow of the source of an eternal spring of liv- 
ing waters, and to the tenderest herbage of a gospel's 
greenest pastures, is surely an evidence of such love 
as none but new-born souls can enjoy, and will be 
considered as an atonement for any expressions of 
warmth or satirical invective, to which he gave vent 
in times of controversial excitement, and which ho 
one more sincerely lamented than himself. 

The opinions of Mr. Ambrose Serle on the Warning 
to Professors, and the Tillage Dialogues, already giv- 
en, preclude the necessity of my adding to them many 
remarks of my own. He wrote most of the Dialogues 
on separate slips of paper, after Mrs. Hill had retired 
for the night; and I remember his once saying to me, 
when speaking of the pathetic portions of the work' 
" When I read them over I used to burst out a cry- 
ing." There are few who could peruse unmoved his 
Prodigal's Return, and Funeral of Mr. Merriman, 
descriptions true to nature^ because drawn from the 
remembrance of such events coming under his own 
observation ; and indeed almost every character por^ 
trayed in these volumes, is from the original of some 
devoted, eccentric, or profligate individual. The 
religious doctrines advanced in the course of these 
conversations are conformable to the articles and litur- 
gy of our establishment ; but I am convinced the' work 
would have been much more useful, and certainly less 
exceptionable, had the place of ludicrous satire on 
negligent ministers, both in and out of the church, 
been supplied by a more serious and expostulatory 
method of treating evils, arising from an awful'care- 
lessness of pastoral duties. The consequence result- 
ing from such unpardonable heedlessness, are far too 
appalling to be alluded to, in atone even approaching 
to levity. Souls are lost by them, and, to use the 
sublime idea of Jthe great Robert Hall, were all nature 
33 



386 RESPONSIBILITY OF MINISTERS. 

to become animated and vocal, it could not jutter a 
groan sufficiently deep, or .a cry sufficiently piercing, 
to express the magnitude and extent of such a stu- 
pendous catastrophe. Certainly Mr. Rowland Hill 
did not view the laughable events described by him 
as happening to ministers, in such a light as this : and 
it was always his custom, when speaking in private to 
those engaged in the sacred office, to address them 
withagravityof manner which tended to impress upon 
their minds the deep responsibility that rested on them. 
I have seen young clergymen, whom he kindly noticed 
as my friends, affected almost to tears, even when they 
recollected the counsel he had given them ; and sure 
I am, that no human being ever felt more strongly 
the value of souls, or the infinite, the overwhelming 
solemnity of ministerial engagements. This has, I 
trust, already appeared in these pages: his orb shone 
brightly and steadily, during a lengthened period of 
unwearied labour ; and the venial eccentricities of his 
character, were only as sparks thrown off in the ra- 
pid revolutions he made in his peculiar course. 

A tablet, surmounted by a bust, is soon to be erected 
in Surry chapel to the memory of my beloved and af- 
fectionate guardian, with the following inscription : 



TABLET IN SURRY CHAPEL. 38,7 

- TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE ' 

REVEREND ROWLAND HILL, A. M., 

FORMERLY OF 

' ., ' 

SAINT JOHN'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, 

AND FOR 
-HALF A CENTURY THE ZEALOUS, ACTIVE, AND DEVOTED 

MINISTER OF SURRY CHAPEL, 
THIS TABLET IS ERECTED, RATHER IN TOKEN 

OF / '..",...' 

' THE GRATEFUL RECOLLECTIONS OF 

^ \ ' 

.. A RE VERGED PASTOR, ' 

BY HIS BEREAVED AND MOURNING CONGREGATION, 
. "' THAN AS. A TRIBUTE V,' 

..' SUITABLE TO THE WORTH OF ONE, 

' ' ' ' THE - ' . , ' -.-'. 

; IMPERISHABLE MONUMENTS OF WHOSE LABOURS 

1 ' - / 

ARE THE . 

NAMES WRITTEN IN HEAVEN* OF THE MULTITUDES LED TO GOD 
BY HIS .LONG AND FAITHFUL MINISTRY. 

HIS MORTAL REMAINS! . " -. 
WERE INTERRED IN THIS CHAPEL ON THE 
NINETEENTH DAY OF APRIL, , 
A. D. MDCCCXXXUI. 



388 RELIGION DURING THE LAST CENTURY. 



CHAPTER XX. 

RELIGION DURING THE LAST CENTURY. ' 

THE course pursued by Mr. Rowland Hill and his 
associates, can never be fully appreciated, without a 
brief retrospect of the religious state of this country, 
at the time when they first commenced their exertions. 
From the restoration of the Stuarts to the accession 
of the house of Hanover, -the church of England was 
not without many able, zealous, and learned advocates 
of the cause of religion ; nor has she, at any other 
period of her history, been favoured with men of 
greater erudition and powers of reasoning/ Without, 
however, detracting from the merits of such able 
writers, it must be acknowledged that their talents 
were, with, very few exceptions, employed rather to 
inculcate and defend systems of divinity, and modes of 
church government, than to awaken a sense of the per- 
sonal nature and heart-renewing influences of genuine 
Christianity. Upon the restoration of the royal fami- 
ly, the theme of every treatise was conformity, in 
order to eradicate the lax discipline of the late times ; 
but as soon as ,the hostility of popery to our church 
appeared, a controversy immediately commenced be- 
tween our divines and the papists. Many valuable 
books were then published,containing copious and clear 
illustrations of controversial points, and unanswerable 
arguments in favour of our tenets, as contrasted with 
those of the church of Rome, which are deficient only 
in the life of religion. Thus these erudite and capti- 
vating works became often as injurious, from a want 
of the principles they withheld, as they were beneficial 
L y what they taught; leading astray from those/wwefo- 



DEFECTIVE THEOLOGY. 389 

1 

mental mAessential truths upon which our reformers, 
no less learned, but much more spiritual, had happily- 
based all the doctrines of our church. The good re- 
sulting from a -powerful' defence of the externals of 
religion, did not counterbalance the evil arising from 
an omission to lay due stress on the necessity of that 
internal grace, by which alone man's heart can be 
cleansed,' so as "perfectly to love, and worthily to 
magnify" a God in Christ. "They stoodj" says 
-Watson truly, in his life of Wesley, ."between the 
people and the better divines of the earlier age of the 
church, and put them out of sight :" their preaching, 
too, was of so cold, though refined and cultivated a 
style, that-whtle it engaged and gratified the Reason, it 
failed to a waken the dead in trespasses and sins. Chris- 
tianity was portrayed as to the proportions and linea- 
ments of her form, by hands that were masters of the 
art ; but in- the midst of all the graces and symmetry 
of a lovely image, life was wanting : there was no voice 
to reach the ear, no animation to awaken sympathy 
in the heart. 'Most of the clergy were ignorant of 
the gospel, and were content to add to a litiirgic ser- 
vice, neither understood nor appreciated^ a brief moral 
essay, instead of preaching Christ and Him crucified.*- 
This deadness was not peculiar to the church ; the 
same opiate had affected every 'religious community, 
and those who were not lulled into an ignoble repose, 
had better have slept than been employed as they 
were, though somewhat drowsily, . it is true, in scat- 

*'"Foralong season," says Berridge, "the good old church 
doctrines have been ; much forsaken; by some they are derided, 
and by many deserted. Yet no doctrines can build, the church of 
Christ up butjhose Avhich planted it. -We may la'bour much in 
'oppingoff loose branches of immorality and infidelity; yet nothing 
will be done effectually till the axe is laid to the tree's root." He 
observes further, " Men are rightly treated in a reading desk, and 
called by their proper name of miserable sinners, but in the pulpit 
they are complimented on the dignity of their earthly, sensual, 
devilish nature ; are flattered with a princely will and power to 
save themselves; and are ornamented with a lusty badge of me- 
rit," Christian World Unmasked. - 

33* 



390 WESLEY AND WHITEFIELD. 

tering the sseeds of Socinian and -Antinoiman error: 
these were every where dropping the poison of the 
world into the cup of salvation, which, like the fabled 
glass of old, instantly, detects the. uncongenial infu- 
sion ; the mixture becomes agitated, the lovely vessel 
blirsts into a thousand fragments, presenting to our 
view only broken, scattered, and useless remnants of 
a once beauteous whole. > . - . 

This state of things was not without exceptions in 
the zeal and characters of some, whose light rendered 
more vivid and brilliant by surrounding darkness, 
was an object of hatred in the eyes 'of the immoral, 
who would gladly have put it out if they could.* To 
profligacy and vice, the inhabitants of owr large towns 
added a thorough abhorrence of the solemn warnings, 
which denounced the awful consequences of igno- 
rance and sin, and formed ready combinations with 
our villagers, to insult every faithful witness who 
protested -against their abominations. 

Wesley and "Whitefield, when they first entered on 
their arduous labours, had all these difficulties to con- 
tend with : they had not to dread the fire and the 1 
stake, but they were looked upon as the scum and 
'offscouring of the earth, and were treated as such. 
They: were men of widely different characters, both 
as respects their natural dispositions as well as the 

. * Considerable efforts were made towards the end of the six- 
teenth and beginning of the seventeenth century, to. second the 
objects of the royal proclamation for the suppression of vice, and 
some thousands of convictions for immorality, of various de- 
scriptions, took place. Great exertions were also made, for the 
establishment of schools vide " An account ^of the Rise and 
Progress of the Religious Societies in' the city of London, &c., 
and of the Endeavours for the Reformation of Manners which 
have been ' made .therein, by Josiah .Woodward, -minister of 
Poplar, 1698," also other works giving'a history of the manners 
of that period. However pious and laudable these exertions 
were, they do not appear to have been so thoroughly based upon 
gospel principles, and, therefore, not so efficient, as the subse- 
quent labours of Whitefield, Wesley, and their contemporaries, 
who struck at the root of the evil, by going at once to the principle 
of a necessity, of a change of heart as the source of irue morality 
and virtue. 



WESLEY AND WHITEFIELD. - 391 

discipline of : their minds, and painful frailties were 
visible in the midst of their true greatness, to show 
that we are to regard them only as imperfect instru- 
ments, while the entire' glory of all they effected is to 
be ascribed to God alone. An ambitious love; of power 
was evidently the besetting weakness of John Wes- 
ley; aspiration ,, after the honours, when he had no 
prospect of the sufferings of martyrdom, was that of 
Whitefield. In his letters to l\Ir. Rowland Hill at 
the beginning -of this volume, it is evident how* he 
courted and enjoyed persecution ; and whenever the 
fire, to use his own expression, was 'kindled in the 
country, he, was not satisfied unless honoured by being- 
scorched a little in its flame. This was a wrong spi- 
rit, and did injury to his own mind and to his follow- 
ers, by encouraging a morose and morbid carriage 
towards the world, giving needless offence, and provok- 
ing animosity, in those they might have attracted -and 
endeared by the lovely graces of true Christianity. 
Wesley had nothing of this sort in his constitution, 
and very properly resisted violence, when offered to 
himself or his adherents, in al^gal and dignified man- 
ner. His people had been insulted, on one occasion, 
by the officers of a regiment quartered at Lowestoft, 
in Suffolk ; he immediately wrote to inform their com- 
mandant of the fact, and asked for redress with be- 
coming firmness. " Before," said he, " I use any other 
method, I beg of you, sir, who can do it with a word, 
to prevent our being f insulted any more. We are 
me,n ; we are Englishmen ; as such, we have a na- 
tural and a legal right to liberty of conscience."* 
That Wesley and Whitefield so wed the seeds of a re- 
ligious revival in our country is unquestionable, and " 
I trust it will therefore be considered interesting, thus 
to notice the different spirit in which they engaged 
in the same enterprise. ' % ' . 

* This letter is amongst the valuable collection of autographs 
m the possession of Dawson- Turner, Esq., of Yarmouth, by whom 
it was kindly communicated to me. 



392 ENTHUSIASM OF WESLEY. 

I have mentioned, that the defect in writings on re- 
ligion, which appeared in days immediately preceding 
those of the revivalists, was that they contained little 
or no allusion to the absolute necessity of exchange of 
heart by conversion, as the true source of the social 
and relative, as well as the spiritual duties of man. 
Preaching morality alone, invariably leaves our hear- 
ers unawakened and unreformed; nor is tliere any 
pure and certain virtue, but such as proceeds from a 
renewed and sanctified state of mind. Hence, when 
Wesley and Whitefieldbegan their labours, they struck 
at once at the rooi, and proclaimed the essential but 
unpalatable truth, that sinners must be born again, 
and that the only proof of our interest in a Saviour's 
atonement, is a soul renewed by the power of his Holy 
Spirit. Whatever different opinions the two greatlead- 
ers had of the evidences and knowledge of me time of 
conversion, they happily agreed that it was a work of 
God upon the heart, and that its fruit was holiness. 
The credulous mind of Wesley led him often to mis- 
take for divine influences,, what was nothing but the 
overflowing of a heated enthusiasm ; and it is not a 
little extraordinary, that so acute and talented a man 
should have found a congenial situation in the midst of 
persons whose bodily contortions were a melancholy 
caricature of the genuine effects of conviction. That 
Wesley believed such fits and ravings as followed his 
preaching, to be the work of the Holy Spirit, none of 
his adherents have d.enied, though some of them have 
endeavoured, evidently perplexed at the absurdity, to 
soften down his opinions. Whitefield never encou- 
raged these excesses, nor did he consider them as pro- 
duced by the Spirit of God. Though differing as to 
the adjuncts of conversion, the champions of truth 
agreed as to its necessity, cause, and effects, and were 
doubtless instrumental in awakening the dormant 
energies of a great portion of their thoughtless fellow- 
creatures. They found at first able and willing coad- 
jutors in the United Brethren ; but afterwards a sepa 



ROMAINE. 393 

I 

ration took place, the details of which do not belong 
to this work. 

When the minds of Wesley and Whitefield were 
diverted from- present-effects to the unprofitablexcon- 
sideration.of/maZ causes, equally unfathomable in the 
natural and spiritual system of things, abreach between 
them was the speedy consequence. Wesley published 
a sermon on the doctrine of predestination, pointing 
out what he conceived to-be its Antinomian tendency, 
at which Whitefield, \vho r drew from it a directly op- 
posite conclusion, took great offence. " The contro- 
versy between the leaders caused a disunion of their 
societies ; but in January, 1750,* the supporters of vi- 
tal religion were gratified , by -witnessing their recon- 
ciliation. It was, however, only a smothering of the 
flamej which, after Whitefield's death, burst forth with 
an unextinguishable violence, burning to this hour, 
though happily with, diminished vehemence. 

While Whitefield and Wesley were .engaged in ac- 
tive itinerancy, Romaine was successfully employing 
in London the effective machinery of our church, by 
his adherence to which, he grafted on the parent 
stock, buds that are now filling the land with fruit- 
fulness; while the scions, fixed upon many other 
stems, have either .withered away or produced little 
else but leaves. He was sincerely attached to the doc- 
trines and discipline of our, 'establishment, and saw- 
plainly, that to- bring her authority into reverence, to 
make her services comprehended, and preach/,the 
truths contained in her articles and homilies, was the 
surest way of doing permanent good. Though he 
did not depreciate the usefulness of enlightened itine- 
rants, in days of almost universal darkness, he clear- 
ly foresaw that without consummate prudence, both 

* ; The forgiving spirit of both Whitefield and Wesley was most 
creditable to their Christian feelings. When Whitefield died, 
John and Charles Wesley were found to be designated in his will 
as " his honoured and dear friends, and disinterested fellow-la- 
bourers;" and Wesley preached a ftineral sermon at Whitefield's 
death by his special desire. 



394 EDWARD SPENCER. 

evils to others, and dangers to themselves, were to be 
apprehended from such a course. Sir Harry Tre- 
lawny, whose correspondence with Mr. Rowland Hill 
has been already referred to, earnestly, requested Mr. 
Neale, of St. PauPs-churchyard, to introduce him to 
Mr. Romaine in his vestry. " Well," said Mr. Neale, 
"as you so much wish it, I certainly will, but mind, I 
do not promise you he will not be "angry- with us both, 
as he never speaks to any body there." They 1 went 
together before the service, and Mr. Neale ventured 
to say to Mr. Romaine, "Sir, I hope you will give me 
leave to bring in Sir Harry Trelawny, who is very 
desirous to speak to you." 

" 0, Sir Harry Trelawny ! I have heard of him, 
you may." 

On Sir Harry's entering, Mr. Romaine looked at 
him kindly, and said in a solemn tone, 

"Sir, you stand upon ice now you must excuse 
my saying more, as it is contrary to my custom to 
admit persons here." 

Without denying that wherever the necessity of 
conversion by the Spirit of Christ was urged upon 
the people, both religious advantage and improved 
morals were the happy results, I think it will appear, 
upon looking at the present consequences of those im- 
portant exertions, that the greatest ultimate benefit 
has flowed from such as adhered to the rules of our 
church. I have never, met with a pious nonconfor- 
mist who questioned the usefulness of Roinaine's 
ministry in London, nor the value of his admirable 
writings : and if we look to places far removed from 
the metropolis, we shall see that a similar blessing has 
followed thewell-regulatedexertionsofdevotedclergy- 
men during the last century. Take for instance the 
example of Edward Spencer, rector of Wingfield, in 
the county of Wilts. He was brought up at the feet 
of Whitefield, and was acquainted with Wesley; but 
he refused to labour without the pale of an episcopal 
communion. He was made the means of numerous 



BERRIDGE. 395 

sonversipns while curate of Bradford, and on his re- 
tirement to Wingfield, formed a school upon evangeli- 
cal principles, in which several of our zealous clergy 
received their first religious impressions, and were led 
to enter the ministry they have long adorned.* Much 
as he admired Whitefield and Wesley, Spencer fore- 
saw the danger of moving with their rapid and eccen- 
tric evolutions, and the evils that would be entailed 
on posterity by the divisions of their parties. 
^ The persons who had most influence in directing 
the newly-awakened mind of Mr. Rowland Hill, were 
Whitefield and Berridge, to the former of whom he 
was more particularly led by his brother Richard, who 
had ^embraced Calvinistic opinions. Lady Hunting- 
don, also, had paid him considerable attention ; but 
though he always treated. her memory with respect, 
and vindicated her character against aspersions 
during the Wesleyan controversy, I think he was 
not one of her ladyship's most cordial admirers. The 
mode in which she exercised her authority, was not 
suited to a mind impatient of restraint.; Berridge, 
when he made himself known to Mr. Rowland Hill, 
was in the zenith of his. activity, and .together with 
Whitefield, inspired him with a kindred ardour. 
Much has been related in various books, of the ex- 
cesses of the followers of Berridge ; but from all I 
have ever gathered ftom Mr. Hill on the subject of 
his character, I am convinced that nothing of the 
sort took place during the time he constantly attend- 
ed at Everton. Whatever enthusiasm Berridge may 

* Among his pupils were Crouch and Hill, of St. Edmund's 
Hall, Oxford, and a long list of active and well-known clergy. 
Middleton bears testimony to the excellent character of Spencer 
in his "Ecclesiastical Memoir of the first four decades of the 
reign of George III," p. 48, 49. I was under his tuition for seve- 
ral years, and well recollect being taken to his school by my be- 
loved relative, Mr. Rowland Hill, who preached in Wingfield 
church, where the crowd wasso excessive that Mr. Hill was oblig- 
ed to stand upon the stairs of the pulpit, close to the door, while 
the prayers were being read. Numbers were unable to gain ad- 
mittance, but the windows of the church being all opened, .they 
stood in silence in the churchyard and heard the sermon, 



396 WHITEFIELD'S WANT OP SYSTEM. 

have manifested, before he threw off the opinions oi 
Wesley, his view of the nature and mode of con- 
version, was afterwards sobered down into a right 
conception of that glorious work of the Holy Ghost 
upon the soul. Mr. Rowland Hill never concealed 
his own opinion of these fanatical misrepresentations 
of the effects of a divine power which acts gently on 
the heart, and I have even heard him say, " John 
Wesley was too willing to believe in such extrava- 
gances : he oughtto have known better."* 

It is a striking and encouraging fact, that the zeal- 
ous preachers of the gospel, who sprung up in the 
times to which we are now referring, pointed with one 
consent to the doctrines ;of our church, as a pure 
standard of truth. They found what they wanted laid 
down there as the first principles of religion, namely, 
Regeneration and Justification by Faith^ the latter of 
which Berridge truly called " the jewel of the gospel 
covenant, the ground-work of the reformation, [and] 
the glory, of the British church." They found that 
our Articles contained the master-key to unlock the 
dungeons of error, in which Satan had long confined 
his willing captives, and- they rejoiced to use it, but 
too much overlooked the necessity of arranging in 
order the multitudes who were set free. They cut 
down the harvest of the earth, but did not gather the 
corn into sheaves, so that it became the easy spoil of 
every bird of prey, while those who adhered to the 
discipline marked o'llt by our reformers, if they reap- 
ed less, collected and preserved more. Whitefield ex- 
ercised an arbitrary control over his immediate fol- 
lowers and friends, and carried his dictatorial spirit 
at times almost to an excess but he did not possess 
the art of contriving and managing any organized 

* Mr. Rowland Hill's views of these bodily affections may be 
seen in the Village Dialogues Dialogue xlvi, called Enthusiasm 
detected, where the subject is ably treated. The names also of 
.Peggy Goosecap, Sally Fancy, and Janet Meagrim, are not ill 
suited to the characters of too many females who are deplorably 



'forgetful of the counsel of St. Psnil. 



I 
EFFECTS OF WESLEY 7 S MANAGEMENT. 397 

.system. The character of Wesley was precisely the 
reverse; 'he loved power, knew how,to : regulate his 
sect, and established and maintained, by a skilful ar- 
rangement of his classes and bands, under responsi- 
ble leaders, -an extraordinary influence over them. 
Lady Huntingdon did the same to a certain degree, in 
the formation of her Connexionj-'biit with less talent. 
Whatever benefits may have arisen from the Metho- 
dist system, it has unquestionably led to some evils. 
Watch-nights and love-feasts have often acted ,as 
hotbeds' to force, rather than as warmth to cherish 
the healthy growth of religion ; the mode of conduct- 
ing classes, in which believers engage to tell each 
other, the true stdte of their souls,' leads many to self- 
deception, or else to attempts to deceive others; while 
the bands of perfect individuals 'generate such a de- 
gree of spiritual pride, that eveu Wesley himself found 
no slight difficulty in Tnaintaining them; and it is 
only fair towards their great leader to believe, that 
were he now in the midst of his-people; he would en- 
deavour to remedy many of these 'defects. 

Whitefield's zealous spirit exhausted all its ener- 
gies in preaching, and his. foil dedication to God was 
honoured-by unbounded success. The effect produced 
by his sermons was indescribable, arising in a great 
degree froin the most . perfect forgetmlness of self", 
during the solemn moment of declaring the salvation 
that is in Christ Jesus. -His evident sincerity- im- 
pressed every hearer, and. is said to have forcibly 
struck Lord Chesterfield, whenheheardhim at Lady 
Huntingdon's. At his death there was only one young 
man -to be found, who -had caught the fire of his zeal, 
'possessed-' similar powers of eloquence, and was ac- 
tuated by- the, same self-deny ing -and disinterested 
spirit. .This was Mr, Rowland Hill, who appeared 
in many respects to have been cast in the same mould. 
His doctrines, his -preaching talents, his popularity, 
his want of any definite system, were all Whitefield 
again. At first, Wesley commended the exertions 
34 



398 MR. ROWLAND HILI/S RESEMBLANCE 

of the youthful itinerant, especially after he heard, 
that, in the fulness of his Catholic spirit, he had 
attended a watchnight at Leeds; and young Row- 
land was flatteringly assured, that the next of those 
meetings was "very unlike the one" they had when 
he was there ! Mr. Hill was, however, not quite so 
easily caught as was perhaps imagined ; and we have ~ 
seen with what severity he was'afterwards attacked by 
Wesley, both in his writings and from the pulpit, when 
he began to take part in the Calvinistic controversy, 
the mode of conducting which he seemed to regret 
more and more, as each successive year brought him 
nearer to a heaven of perfect love. I believe both the 
vicar of Everton and his young friend were drawn 
into the dispute by the imputations cast upon their 
dead and living fellow-labourers ; for soon after the 
Bristol .meeting in 1771, caused by the edict of Lady 
Huntingdon relative to the minutes of Conference of 
the preceding year, Berridge wrote thus to Mr. Hill 
"The late contest at Bristol seems to turn upon 
. this hinge, whether it shall be Pope John or Pope 
Joan. My dear friend, keep out of all controversy, 
and wage no war but with the devil."* Had the ex- 
cellent giver of the counsel followed it himself, and 
thus set an example of forbearance, it would have 
been the means of saving Mr. Rowland Hill from 
many hinderances in his early career, and many pain- 
ful reflections in- later years. 

The position which Mr. Rowland Hill occupied in 
the midst of good men at this time was very remark- 
able. The followers of WMtefield flocked round his 
standard, owned him as their leader, and acknowledg- 
ed that their drooping cause was revived through his 
instrumentality, both in London and in various parts 
of the kingdom. His appearance in everyplace was . 
the signal for a revival, and there is reason to believe 

* This letter, which is in my possession, is; dated Oct. 20th, 
1771 ; the Bristol meeting was in August of the same year. . 



TO WHITEFIELD, WHOSE CAUSE HE REVIVED. 399 

that thousands were awakened under his .ministry. 
By the Methodists, Mr. Hill's doctrines were altoge- 
ther misrepresented ; for he certainly never was a whit 
behind Wesley in declaring the free invitations of the 
gospel, but only marked more distinctly the impor- 
tant truth, that the ability to accept them throughfaith 
must be given us of God. He preached for the first 
time at his curacy, from 1 Gor. ii. 1, 2/on June 20th, 
1773 ; and after a clear and faithful exposition of his 
text, concluded in these words " Such is the salvation 
that my whole soul prays you may receive. No la- 
bours of mine, such as they are, will ever be thought 
too much for the accomplishment of "these glorious 
purposes. Suffer me, therefore, to conclude by be- 
seeching you, by all that is dear and tender, to lay 
these-things most closely to heart. While I thus ad- 
dress you, I feel the most affectionate sympathy to- 
wards you that words can possibly express. I pray 
yon, therefore, to go home, and lay this my first mes- 
sage to heart. -The expanded arms of a dear Redeem- 
er are now open, to embrace every returning prodigal 
that is enabled to receive this gospel call. None are 
. too vile for Mercy to receive. The Lord of love has 
given you the promise ; Whosoever comethto me I 
will in no wise cast out. Even so, Lord Jesus. 
Amen. Amen.?'* 

At the time when Mr. Rowland Hill delivered the 
" Gospel Message"! to his parishioners at Kingston, 
the .doctrines contained in it were too seldom taught 
from the pulpits of our church; but though such 
ministers were comparatively few in number, they 
were happily' not extinct. Mr .'Hill's sermon was dedi- 
cated to the incumbent of his parish, the Rev. James 
Brown, whom he calls "a brother beloved in the gos- 
pel of our God," who vigilantly watched over thespi- 

*Johnvi. 37. 

t This sermon was printed for the benefit of the poor of King- 
ston, under the title of -"The Gospel Message, being the substance 
of a sermon delivered in the Parish church of Kingston, r.,ear 
Tannton. June 20, 1773, by the Rev. Rowland Hill, A.M." ' 



400 DEPRAVITY OF HUMAN NATURE. 

ritual interests of their joint charge, while his eur^e 
.was engaged in itinerating. Mr. Hill, when a young 
man, looked almost upon every place he came' .to as a 
fortress of, Satan, to which it was right to lay siege, 
and he endeavoured to effect his object, not only by 
attacking external bulwarks, but by undermining the 
very foundation, of the stronghold. To this end, he 
commenced with declaring the depravity of human 
nature, and described in. forcible language the con- 
. sequences of the fall, of which the following striking 
specimen is found in his first discourse at Kingston: 
" When our first parents were sent forth from the 
hands of their -Greater, 'their hearts being the direct 
transcript of his moral image, they appeared the com- 
pletest . workmanship of a holy God, [and] were 
blessed with a nature as spotless, and pure as an 
angel could possess. All love, all peace, all joy, all 
delight in, and conformity to, the will of God that 
made them, were the continual inmates of their happy 
breasts. Not the least taint of the minutest impuri ty 
had they to disturb their peace, but all was heaven 
and consolation' in the Lord. God pronounced this, 
his last work, to be very good, and as such, took de- 
light in the creature that he had made Such was 
man, while blessed with innocence before the fall ; 
but how dreadful were the consequences of the first 
transgression ! How was God's workmanship robbed 
of all Its holiness and grandeur thereby ! How was 
this once glorious temple of the Holy Ghost prostitu- 
ted to iniquity, and converted into ,the most hateful 
den of filthy lusts and vile abominations ! Which ot 
you can deny this, who either reads his bible or reads 
himself? From Genesis to Revelation all scripture 
declares this awful truth, that as soon as ever man 
fell, immediately was he deprived of every thing that 
was good and dreadfully filled with every thing thai 
was bad." He proceeds, " as the salvation procured 
by a crucified Redeemer, can never be regarded by 
any but those who have been first convinced that 



INVITATIONS TO SINNERS. 401 

they are lost without it, the fall must be preached as 
an introduction to the gospel." -In declaring the doc- 
trine of original sin, Mr. Rowland Hill used to lay 
great stress upon the expression quam longissime* 
in our ninth .article, which he would translate, the 
furtherest possible ; but whatever his opinions on the 
mysterious subject of election may have been, nothing 
could be more decided than his invitation of sinners 
to Christ. As an instance, I will give the concluding 
appeal of his sermon on the death of his friend Bou- 
quet.--" Every moment brings you nearer to eternity. 
How then will you bear to stand in the presence of a 
holy sin-avenging God, whose authority you have de- 
fied, and 'vv.hose gospel you have hitherto despised? 
that some alarming word might constrain you to 
fly, hastily to fly, from the wrath to come ! Death and 
destruction alone are before you while you continue 
living in sin. But thanks be to God' for his unspeak- 
able gift ! Christ is revealed as the salvation of the 
lost; whosoever cometh shall certainly be received, 
for his promise stands, he will in no wise cast' them 
out ; the poor, the maimed, the. halt, and the -blind, 
are all alike to him. He loves to magnify the riches 
of his mercy to the returning sinner. - Such is the 
adorable Christ , that is now .ready to snatch you as 
brands from the burning, and make you standing 
monuments of mercy and - salvation. The same. 
Lord that called our brother from his sins, saved 
him by his' grace, and has now brought him to glory, 
stands waiting to receive the basest that lives uppn 
earth. that I could' prevail ! I point you to that 
lovely sacrifice, the Lamb of 'God, that taketh away 
the sins of the world ; to .his mercy I commend you, 
and may his salvation be the happy portion of all our 
hearts." That such was the tenor of Mr. Rowland 
Hill's preaching in his latter days, is known to the 
multitudes who heard him ; but ray object is to vin- 

* The expression is, " ab original! justitia quam longissime 
distet, &c." ' . 

34* 



402 PLATO'S VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE. 

dicate his ministerial character from the doctrines 
imputed to him, while he was the associate of Top- 
lady, and the follower of Berridge. 

Notwithstanding the irregularities of Mr. Rowland 
Hill, he lived on terms of most affectionate union with 
the zealous clergy, who agreed with him in doctrine, 
and felt the importance of the momentous truths he 
taught. Equally opposed by the world as himself, 
they united with him in the bonds of the gospel. 
Wherever the depravity of man's nature, salvation as 
it is in Christ Jesus, the necessity of regeneration, and 
justification by faith, were faithfully preached,' a spot- 
less life proved no. defence against a multitude of 
enemies. Those who upheld the dignity of human 
nature, could not endure the humbling declaration of 
their lost and helpless condition ; .but in contending 
against this truth, they proved themselves to have less 
light in the day of Christianity, than heathen philoso- 
phers possessed during the night of Pagan darkness. 
Even Plato declared the result of his observations on 
man, to be a conviction that evil was hereditary in his 
nature,* from which, through ignorance of the true 
remedy, he-laments that no refuge can be discovered.! 
" I have heard," says this philosopher, a from wise 
men, that we are dead, and our body is a tomb ft but 
this doctrine, during the early life of Mr. Hill, drew 
down upon him and his friends every species of oblo- 
quy, hatred, and persecution, from those who forgot 
that they were giving, by their violence, a practical 
demonstration of the very truths they were contend- 
ing against. 

The same ties which united Mr. Rowland Hill to 
many of his pious brethren in the church, bound him 
also both to zealous laymen and active nonconformist 
ministers. They all gazed so intensely on the light to 



* His expression is avpfyvTOV EKOOTW KUKOV xai v6ar\pa. 

t oiro^uyiji' oiiSejiian pri^Avarai. 

J "Eywye j/wjwa T&V aotywv, us vvv fijteis TeBvajUV' Kal rd fifa <rw/(fl( eonv 



J. WESLEY. 403 

which they pointed, that minor objects were lost in 
the full blaze of its celestial beams. In a letter ad- 
dressed to Mr. Burder, Mr. Rowland Hill observes 
' " Consider, my dear brother, with what a united heart 
and spirit, you and I travelled through the North of 
England in our younger days ; not an idea struck us 
but repentance towards God, and faith towards our 
Lord Jesus Christ." This was the exact state of the 
case: they laboured together to uproot the noxious 
plant -of unbelief by its roots, and to raise in its stead 
the tree of life; and the singleness of their design 
will cause their failings to be forgotten and for- 
given in" these days, when the essential portions 
o( the principles they upheld, are widely diffused 
throughout .the globe, and extensively honoured in 
our nation. . 

While the parties into which zealous men had been 
divided, waged a controversy of principle with the 
world, they differed amongst themselves in a great 
degree, though not altogether, about words. In his 
sermon on Jer. xxiii. 6, the Lord our righteousness, 
Wesley makes these admirable remarks "Men may 
differ from us in their opinions as well as their ex- 
pressions, and, nevertheless, be partakers of the like 
precious faith. , It is possible they may not have a 
distinct apprehension of the very blessings which 
they enjoy: their ideas may not be so clear, and yet 
their experience may be as sound as ours." He like- 
wise deprecates our being "rigorous in requiring 
others to use just the same expressions" as our own; 
At the conclusion of his sermon on attending the 
church, service, Wesley also says" nearly 'fifty 
years ago, a great and good man, Dr. Potter, then 
archbishop of Canterbury, gave me an advice for 
which I have ever since had occasion to bless God : 
' If you desire to be extensively useful, do not spend 
your time and strength in contending for or against 
such things as are of a disputable nature, but in tes- 
tifying against open notorious vice, and in promoting 



404 J. WESLEY. 

real essential hpliness.' Let us keep to this : leaving 
a thousand disputable points to those, that have no 
better business than to toss the ball of > controversy , 
to and fro." This determination, like the advice of 
Berridge to Mr. Rowland Hill, was most excellent : 
but when heated by disputation, how do the best of 
men forget to abide by their own counsel. In the 
sermon on the "Wedding Garment," we find Wesley 
calling the opinion of those who believed the " linen 
white and clean," in which the saints will appear 
before God, to be the imputed righteousness of Christ, 
Antinomian jargon ! This was not in itself a very 
gentle' expression, and certainly rather contradictory 
to the sense conveyed in the verse, which he quotes 
from his Methodist hymn book, in a sermon on "The 
Lord our righteousness," as containing a proper ex- 
planation of his sentiments : 

Jesus, thy blood and righteousness 
My beauty are, my glorious dress : 
'Midst flaming worlds, in these arraifd, 
With joy shall I lift up my head. 

If Wesley did not choose to toss the ball of contro- 
versy to and .fro, he undoubtedly threw it very hard 
at supporters of the doctrine of election, when he 
asserted in his sermon on " Free Grace," that they", 
though unintentionally, represented " the Most High 
God as more cruel, false, and unjust, than the devil." 
To say nothing of using language such as this, the 
unfairness of it must be evident, to all who'' know 
how constantly those whom he attacked endeavour- 
ed to magnify the infinite love of God to a sinful 
world. However contradictory the doctrines of 
Whitefield and others may Jiave appeared to, Wesley, 
they could not be more so than the .expressions just 
quoted from the works of the latter, nor than his 
notions on perfection, when he says that it is not the 
perfection of angels, or of Adam, nor does it " exclude 
ignorance, and error, and a thousand other infirmi- 



MR. FLETCHER. 405 

ties." Now it is a singular kind of 'perfection* that 
lacks all these requisites ; and is much the same as 
though a man were to call a thing infinite or eternal, 
but at the same time premise it was not so infinite 
as infinity, or eternal as eternity ! . I am free, to ad- 
mit, that too great .warmth was exhibited in these 
contests by each party, but the entire blame is not due 
to Mr. Rowland Hill and his iriends.t Had they 
properly defined their different expressions before they 
used them, and met in the same spirit as at the Bristol 
Conference in 1771, the conduct of these good- men 
might have been set forth as an example, where it can 
now only be mentioned as a warning. Whenever Mr. 
Rowland Hill had been betrayed into a degree of un- 
becoming warmth, he .was always ready to confess it. 
Speaking of some remarks he had made on Fletcher, 
he says" I am sorry his name was mentioned in the 
last pamphlet, with the least apparent disrespect, as I 
still Hope and pray the time may come, when he will 

* Vid, sermon on the text, let us go on unto perfection : Heb. 
vi. 1. The Greek word rsXaor^ra, here translated perfection, is 
evidently contrasted with the expression rw rfjs dp%rjs nv XpioroS 
Arfyoi', and is thus admirably explained by Beza " sermonem 
justitise convenientem adultis, et ab elemental! distinctum" -they 
were to leave elementary principles, and to proceed to a course 
of inquiry suited to' a maturer growth in Christianity. ,, 

t I have made these remarks .upon Wesley's share in this con- 
troversy, because I think a larger portion of blame has been cast 
upon my venerable relative for his conduct init than he merited. 
Southey observes "On the part of the Calvinists, the most con- 
spicuous writers were the brothers Richard (afterwards Sir 
Richard) and Rowland Hill, and Augustus Montague Toplady, 
vicar of Broad Hembury, in Devonshire. Never were any wri- 
tings more thoroughly saturated with the essential acid of Cal- 
vinism than those of the predestinarian champions. It would 
scarcely be creditable that three persons of good birth and educa- 
tion, and of unquestionable goodness and piety, should have car- 
ried on controversy in so vile a manner, and with so detestable a 
spirit if the hatred of the theologians had not unhappily become 
proverbial." Life of Wesley, vol. ii. pp. 373, 374. Admitting 
that they were not free from blame, I trust this useful and. emi- 
nent writer will allow that they had great provocation. Oh that 
the terms Calpinist and Arminian had never been invented 'to 
divide those who love our common Saviour ! 



406 SUNDAY SCHOOLS. EDUCATION. 

express his concern for the many gross misrepresen- 
tations of our sentiments, he hath sent forth to the 
world in the warmth of controversy, and gladden the 
hearts of thousands, who respect him as an honest 
though mistaken man, by renouncing merit, and ex- 
alting the Saviour, as all in all to the believing soul. 
This many good people have been taught to do, who 
still differ in some points relative to particular election 
and universal redemption." Watson says, that 
Fletcher's writings, though greatly admired among 
the Wesleyans, are not admitted as standards of their 
docftines. 

Mr. Rowland Hill had the honour of introducing 
Sunday schools into the metropolis of his native coun- 
try, institutions which have, when properly managed, 
been most efficient aids to a faithful preaching of the 
gospel, arid are the legitimate 'field for an exercise of 
well regulated zeal, in such laymen as are willing to 
devote 1 themselves to the work of teaching. "The 
bishop of Rochester, Dr. Horsley, viewed these rising 
institutions with suspicion, and made some severe re- 
marks upon them, in a charge to the clergy of his 
diocess. His objections were replied to by Mr. .Hill, 
in a sermon on the origin, present design, and real 
utility of Sunday schools ; in which he assures his 
lordship, his notion that they were mixed up with po- 
litical views was unfounded, and that any teacher 
would be instantly dismissed who taught any thing 
of the kind, except obedience upon scriptural princi- 
ples to the .powers that be. Education, considered 
in the abstract, cannot be pronounced a benefit in a 
moral or a civil sense ; that depends entirely, by the 
blessing of God, on what is taught, and the spirit in 
which it is conveyed 1* Instruction, through a wrong 
medium, is like the rays of the sun concentrated and 

* See some excellent remarks on this subject in a late charge ot 
that most exemplary and universally respected prelate, the bishop 
of Winchester. 



MR. HILL'S REGARD FOR THE CHURCH. 407 

transmitted through the focus of a burning glass, the 
effect of which is to" ignite and consume, not to en- 
lighten. 

That Whitefield, Wesley, Hill, arid others, were 
the means of not only awakening numbers who at- 
tended on their preaching, but of frequently exciting 
the zeal that was .wanting in many of the ministers of 
our church, is a fact which it is impossible to deny ; 
but wherever the clergy began to exert themselves 
with due diligence, there a check was immediately 
given to the spread of irregularity. This effect was 
always foretold by Mr. Rowland Hill, whom nothing 
seemed to gratify more thoroughly, than to see him- 
self deserted through the influence of clergymen, who, 
to use his own expression, " preached the doctrines 
from their hearts they hadsubscribed with their hands." 
I have frequently said to him "Sir, such a one does 
not come to your chap'el now"" No," he would re- 
ply, "I should scold him well if he did, to leave such 
a minister as he hasin His parish church." Mr. Hill 
was also fully alive to the freedom, notwithstanding 
imaginary restraints, possessed by the parochial cler- 
gyman, compared with the fettered situation of a mi- 
nister dependant upon the uncertain favour, and un- 
der the direction of his flock: the sheep guiding the 
shepherd. " I certainly," I have heard him say, "pity 
a priest-ridden people, wherever they are to be found, 
all the world over; but a, people-ridden priest is a, stiil 
greater object of compassion." Happily, the laws of 
our establishment provide against both these evils, al- 
lowing the people full liberty of conscience,but placing 
the minister beyond the reach of those capricious fan- 
cies, in which the majority of any congregation may 
choose to indulge. Thirty-two years before his death, 
Mr. Rowland Hill thus addressed his flock in Surry 
chapel" I have a right to declare my predilection in 
favour of our own establishment. Her public liturgy 
is a public blessing to the nation; nor is there a 



408 PREPARATIONS FOR THE MINISTRY. 

church upon the earth that so much promotes the 
abundant,reading of the word of God. "While, there- 
fore, I love her constitution, I may grieve over a fatal 
declension from her original doctrines, and wish 
for her farther reformation ; still, as she is she- may 
stand !" Living as he did to see a daily increasing 
diligence in her members, from the highest to the 
lowest, 'and a disposition to make such wise modifi- 
cations in her system as the lapse of time may have 
rendered necessary, he deprecated still more strongly 
any thing approaching to demolition, a feeling in 
which, it is but fair to add, many temperate, con- 
scientious dissenters fully participate. 

I have in this chapter endeavoured to point out the 
situation which Mr. Rowland Hill filled in the midst 
of his contemporaries, and the motives by which he 
was guided, during the early days of a religious revi- 
val in our country. The more recent acts of his life 
have been sufficiently adverted to in other parts of this 
volume, and are fresh in the recollection of the pub- 
lic. He however frequently committed the mistake of 
encouraging pious young men to become preachers, 
who had a. gift of speaking, without the other essen- 
tial requisites for such an important function ; differ- 
ing in this particular from the practice, not only of 
the church, but of the majority of dissenters, who 
bestow much pains in training their candidates for 
the sacred office. The mode of ministerial tuition 
adopted by the latter, has often been held up as more 
calculated to effect the object in view, than the course 
of study prescribed by our universities, but I think 
without due consideration. Lprd Bacon held it to be 
an error, that scholars, in his days, " came too unripe" 
to the pursuits of logic and rhetoric ; and the same ob- 
servation \vill_ apply to the study of divinity, which 
is best apprehended by minds first subjected to the 
discipline of a regular course of academical learning. 
Many of the most distinguished ornaments of our 



VALUE J3F. ACADEMICAL, STUDIES. 409. 

courts- of law, prepared themselves for those attain- 
ments by which they have risen to deserved eminence, 
by aspiring to and gaining the highest honours of Ox- 
ford or Cambridge; and brought to the arduous task 
of learning their profession, an intellect sharpened 
and set in order for the work, by a previously well-re- 
gulated exercise of the reasoning powers, and a classi- 
cal cultivation of the taste. The same principle ap- 
plies to the study of theology,* a premature learning 
of which leads only to superficial and unprofitable 
knowledge, because the understanding itself has rfot 
been previously raised above the capacity of youth, 
by due and well-regulated degrees. How far prepa- 
ratory exercises may be made to bear more strongly 
on the after life of practice, is another question ; but 
if ever any false notions of preparation for action, be 
allowed to supersede the long established system" of 
mental training, we shall cease to enjoy many bless- 
ings of which we may be justly proud, and which are 
so much to be ascribed to the erudition, as well as to 
the zeal of clerical members of the church .of Eng- 
land. Learning combined with piety, like what is 
called toning in a print, gives 'grace and beauty to 
the impression. 

In my humble attempt to delineate the character of 
my beloved relative, I trust I have not fallen into the 
error of concealing his failings; I feel, therefore, that 
I may venture to conclude, by pointing to a few of 
those graces of which he was a bright example. The 
first of these, is the devotion of his youth to the ser- 
vice of God. WJiile yet a boy at school, he was the 
means of the conversion of some of the same tender 
age as himself, the remembrance of which shed a 
beam of peace and joy over the entire course of his 

* It ought, however, to be remarked, that the study of the Greek 
Testament, of the Evidences, and various theological -works, is 
far from being neglected in our Universities, where also great 
encouragement is given to proficients in the Hebrew language. 
35 



4,10 EXCELLENCES OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 

" % 

long protracted journey through life. This work 
will not be written in vain, if the history of Mr. Row- 
land Hill, and his pious relatives, be the means of 
inducing any youthful reader to seek the same hap- 
piness they found in the enjoyment. of early piety. 

Another excellency which shone brightly in this 
eminent servant of Jesus Christ, was the highest 
spirituality, accompanied with the deepest humility. 
Although the love of approbation was the leading 
quality of his mind, he never once forgot, in the 
midst of the applause which welcomed him every 
Where in his latter days, to prostrate himself in dus't 
and ashes before God, and the riper he became in 
grace, the more fervent were his supplications for 
humility. 

Mr. Hill was also an example to every Christian, in 
the retirement of his family. It was impossible to 
be the inmate of his house and not love him ; he neg- 
lected none of those little acts of kindness, which 
make up the sum of human happiness in private life: 
and his uniform cheerfulness gave an inexpressible 
charm to the circle of his fire-side. With respect to 
his conduct to bis servants and dependants, (..lie very 
words he used in eulogizing the memory of Rouquet, 
are applicable to himself. " He beheld his servants 
as fellow-creatures, and knew that they had as much 
right to happiness as Himself. Disdainful looks, 
proud, snappish, severe speeches, which some can 
make use of upon every supposed offence, were never 
seen or heard from him : hence none of those chan- 
ges appeared among his servants, which so sadly 
disgrace the families of many. From the best of 
principles they were bound to serve him, the prin- 
ciple of love."* 

I may also_ use Mr. Hill's description of the cha- 
racter of Rouquet as a friend, to describe his own. 
"As a friend, from a very intimate acquaintance 
* Funeral sermon on the death of Rouquet, p. 19. 



EXCELLENCES OF MR. ROWLAND HILL. 411 

witfi him, give me leave to bear my testimony, that 
one more constant and sincere, I never found ; to 
have equalled him would have been difficult, to have 
excelled him impossible.- And no wonder ; an ex- 
perimental knowledge of the friend. of sinners, is the 
only true basis upon which real disinterested friend- 
ship can be built. From the best of motives, there- 
fore, he was of a more generous turn, than to love 
in prosperity alone : in adversity he was the same, 
his conduct was invariable throughout."* 

Another characteristic of Mr. Rowland Hill was,,.a 
spirit of universal disinterested benevolence, such as 
rendered him truly deserving of the affectionate tes- 
timony given to his worth by the bishop of Winches- 
ter, who, in addressing the members of the British 
and Foreign Bible Society soon after his death, de- 
scribed him as an individual "associated in their 
minds with every thing pious and benevolent." I 
have before alluded to his courtesy towards visitors 
and applicants of every kind, and the unbounded' 
generosity with which he relieved the necessities of 
those who he knew intended no imposture. All 
ministers have not the means of giving to the needy, 
but all may \>e" pitiful and courteous." 

The last trait in the character of my venerable 
guardian I shall mention, is the determination he 
acted on to go nowhere but as a minister, the conse- 
quence of which was, that he was universally useful. 
I do not so much allude to his public engagements, 
as to his private intercourse with his friends ; and all 
who were favoured with his acquaintance, will ac- 
knowledge that he appeared as much a pastor in 
their houses, as he did when urging them, in ani- 
mated appeals from the pulpit, to walk in the light 
of the Lord. Whenever, also, he saw any thing in 
the private life of his friends which he considered 
inconsistent with a profession of religion, he never 
* Funeral sermon on the death of Rouquet, pp. 19, 20. 



412 CONCLUSION. 

'' / 

failed to point it out, but with such evident kindness 
and delicacy) that defects were corrected, without 
feelings being wounded. Where, however, gentle 
remonstrance was unavailing, he did not scruple to 
rebuke the faults of his people. 

To 'draw folk to heaven with fairness, 
.By good example, this was his business. 
. But if he knew any person obstinate) 
Whether he were of high or low estate, 
Him would he reprove sharply for the nonce. 
A better priest I trow, no where there is ; 
He waited after no pomp or reverence ; 
He made himself no spiced conscience, 
But Christ's lore, and his apostles twelve 
He taught, but first he followed it himself. 

CHAUCER. 



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412 CONCLUSION* 

failed to point it out, but with such evident kindness 
and delicacy^ that defects were corrected) without 
feelings being wounded. Where, however, gentle 
remonstrance was unavailing, he did not scruple to 
rebuke the faults of his people. 

To draw folk to heaven with fairness, 
By good example, this was his business. 
But if he knew any person obstinate. 
Whether he were of high or low estate, 
Him would he reprove sharply for the nonce. 
A better priest I trow, no where there is ; 
He waited after no pomp or reverence ; 
He made himself no spiced conscience, 
But Christ's lore, and his apostles twelve 
He taught, but first he followed it himself. 

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