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M  E  M  0 1 
 
 REY.  ROWLAND  HILL,  M.A. 
 
 BY  WILLIAM  JONES, 
 
 AUTHOR    OF    "TESTAMENTARY    COUNSELS." 
 
 WITH  A  PREFACE, 
 
 BY  THE  REV.  JAMES  SHERMAN, 
 
 OF  SURREY  CHAPEL. 
 
 THIRD    EDITION, 
 
 CAREFULLY    REVISED. 
 
 LONDON: 
 HENRY  G.  BOHN,  YORK  STREET,  COVENT  GARDEX. 
 
 MDCCCXLV. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The  records  of  a  good  man's  life  contain  only 
 a  brief  selection  from  the  interesting  facts  con- 
 nected with  his  earthly  course.  "  In  looking 
 at  a  biographical  volume  of  moderate  size," 
 remarks  Mr.  Foster,  "  which  contains  the 
 principal  incidents  of  a  pious,  diligent,  and 
 useful  life,  protracted  too  beyond  the  ordinary 
 length,  it  is  highly  gratifying  to  reflect  how 
 much  more  is  implied  than  related.  Exclu- 
 sively of  childhood,  and  the  earlier  part  of 
 youth,  (in  which  stage  also  there  might  be  a 
 worthy  preparation  for  what  was  to  follow,) 
 it  is  the  story  of  perhaps  almost  sixty  years  of 
 unremitting  exertion,  applied,  day  by  day,  to 
 the  most  valuable  purposes.  But,  in  such  a 
 course,  what  a  prodigious  number  there  have 
 been  of  distinct  acts,  involving  the  voluntary 
 exercise  of  the  understanding,  and  the  differ- 
 ent moral  and  physical  powers,   directed  to 
 
IV  PREFACE. 
 
 objects  prescribed  by  conscience,  and  per- 
 formed and  repeated  with  a  resolute  perse- 
 verance, from  a  regard  to  the  Almighty. 
 How  many  myriads  of  these  distinct  acts  such 
 a  life  will  have  included  !  What  a  multitude 
 of  them,  to  make  up  the  intellectual  and 
 practical  exertion  of  a  month,  or  even  of  a 
 week !  And  yet  the  biographical  memoir  can 
 record  all  this  only  according  to  the  scale  of  a 
 paragraph  of  three  or  four  sentences  to  the 
 month, — hardly  a  single  line  to  a  day;  though 
 each  one  of  many  thousands  of  these  days  has 
 contained,  in  strenuous,  well-intended,  and 
 for  the  most  part  well  -  applied  effort,  in 
 thought,  speech,  and  practical  occupation,  a 
 quantity  of  good  agency,  of  which  the  expres- 
 sion, in  written  words,  would  be  enough  to 
 fill  the  greater  part  of  a  moderate  volume. 
 So  much  more  good  has  there  been  in  a  good 
 man's  life  than  the  most  prolix  biographer 
 could  ever  tell !" 
 
 The  Author  has  felt  the  full  force  of  these 
 remarks,  in  preparing  an  account  of  the  lead- 
 ing particulars  of  the  Life,  Ministry,  Writings, 
 and  Character  of  Mr.  Hill.  He  has  been  com- 
 pelled to  give  but  a  brief  statement  of  many 
 important  events  connected  with  his  history, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 though  he  trusts  that  lie  has  not  omitted  any- 
 thing necessary  to  exhibit  to  the  public  a 
 faithful  portrait  of  his  venerable  friend.  His 
 opinions  are  recorded  upon  all  subjects  likely 
 to  be  interesting  or  useful  to  the  reader, 
 and,  when  practicable,  in  his  own  language. 
 Should  there  be  the  appearance  of  severe 
 satire  and  cutting  sarcasm  in  any  of  the  re- 
 marks contained  in  this  Memoir,  the  reader 
 must  remember  the  times  in  which  Mr.  Hill 
 was  called  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  the  pe- 
 culiar temperament  of  his  mind.  These  consi- 
 derations will  explain,  though  they  may  not 
 justify,  any  occasional  departure  from  the 
 beautiful  rule,"  speaking  the  truth  in  love.'' 
 
 The  full  force  of  Mr.  Hill's  observations 
 cannot  always  be  given  in  the  written  record. 
 His  manner,  both  in  private  and  public,  gave 
 peculiar  weight  to  his  matter.  It  was  his 
 earnestness  as  a  preacher,  his  full-toned  and 
 beautifully  modulated  voice,  and  the  tear  of 
 compassion  which  floated  in  his  eye,  that 
 fixed  the  conviction  in  his  hearers,  that  he 
 was  sincerely  anxious  to  promote  their  present 
 and  eternal  happiness. 
 
 The  Author's  grateful  acknowledgments  are 
 due  to  the   ministers  and  friends  who  have 
 
V]  PREFACE. 
 
 kindly  furnished  him  with  much  valuable  infor- 
 mation, and  with  many  original  letters;  par- 
 ticularly to  Sir  J.  B.  Williams,  of  Shrewsbury ; 
 the  Rev.  T.  P.  Bull,  of  Newport  Pagnell ; 
 and  the  Rev.  James  Parsons,  of  York.  The 
 Rev.  James  Sherman  has  also  laid  the  Author 
 under  great  obligations,  by  his  careful  exa- 
 mination and  kind  recommendation  of  this 
 Memoir. 
 
 Happy,  indeed,  will  the  Author  be,  if  this 
 humble  memorial  of  a  departed  pastor  should 
 be  the  means  of  diffusing  his  catholic  spirit 
 n  the  church  of  Christ.  At  this  eventful 
 period,  let  the  true  d.sciples  of  our  Divine 
 Redeemer  fervently  pray,  that  the  Lord  would 
 hasten  the  happy  time  when  "  the  envy  of 
 Ephraim  shall  depart,  and  the  adversaries 
 of  Judah  be  cut  off;  when  Ephraim  shall 
 not  envy  Judah,  and  Judah  shall  not  vex 
 Ephraim." 
 
 WILLIAM  JONES. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 THE   REV.  JAMES   SHERMAN. 
 
 The  life  of  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  must  ever  be 
 deeply  interesting  to  the  churches  of  Christ  in  Britain, 
 as  it  embraces  a  portion  of  their  history  in  which  the 
 most  momentous  events  connected  with  their  present 
 prosperity  have  transpired.  The  mental  darkness 
 and  opposition  to  the  gospel  which  pervaded  all  ranks 
 of  society  when  he  commenced  his  ministerial  career, 
 required  men  of  more  than  ordinary  courage,  influence, 
 zeal,  and  holiness,  to  hold  forth  the  torch  of  divine 
 truth  amidst  the  surrounding  moral  gloom.  It  pleased 
 God  at  this  period  to  raise  up  a  band  of  eminent 
 champions  for  Christ,  who,  careless  of  the  world's 
 esteem,  ardently  loving  their  Saviour,  highly  valuing 
 immortal  souls,  and  believing  the  gospel  to  be  the  only 
 remedy  for  guilty  men,  went  forth  preaching  every 
 where,  the  Lord  working  with  them,  and  confirming 
 the  word  with  signs  following. 
 
V1U  MR.  SHERMAN  S  PREFACE. 
 
 The  subject  of  this  Memoir  was  one  of  these  excel- 
 lent men.  The  honourable  family  from  which  he 
 descended — the  noble  sacrifices  he  made  to  publish 
 Christ  to  his  countrymen — the  energy  with  which  he 
 prosecuted  his  labours — the  friendship  he  displayed 
 towards  all  sections  of  the  church  of  Christ — his  libe- 
 rality to  institutions  for  the  education  of  the  poor  and 
 the  diffusion  of  divine  truth — his  arduous  struggles  for 
 civil  and  religious  liberty — his  extensive  usefulness  in 
 awaking  multitudes  from  a  death  of  sin  to  a  life  of 
 righteousness — and  his  uniformly  consistent  character ; 
 must,  to  every  reflecting  mind,  render  him  an  object 
 of  veneration  and  love,  as  a  minister  eminently  qua- 
 lified by  God  for  the  times  in  which  he  appeared, 
 and  the  important  station  in  the  church  which  he 
 occupied. 
 
 Two  Memoirs  of  Mr  Hill  have  appeared.  As  they 
 have  been  adverted  to  in  this  publication,  it  is  unneces- 
 sary for  me  to  notice  them,  except  to  express  my  regret, 
 in  common  with  many  of  Mr.  Hill's  friends,  that  they 
 do  not  manifest  more  of  that  catholic  spirit  with  which 
 he  was  so  eminently  endowed. 
 
 This  third  Memoir,  as  far  as  I  am  capable  of  judg- 
 ing from  fifteen  years'  acquaintance  with  its  subject, 
 contains  a  faithful  and  impartial  portrait  of  his  whole 
 character ;  a  description  of  his  real  sentiments,  from 
 his  own  published  works ;  and  an  account  of  the  his- 
 tory, discipline,  and  institutions  of  Surrey  Chapel, 
 not  to  be  found  in  the  works  referred  to.  It  is  free 
 from  that  narrow-minded  spirit  which  would  confine 
 usefulness  to  immortal  souls  to  one  class  of  men,  and 
 to  one  way  of  accomplishing  it. 
 
 I  seize  the  present  opportunity  to  express  my  fear 
 that  in  some  sections  of  the  church  of  Christ,  party 
 spirit  is  evidently  increasing,  and  that  narrow-minded 
 sentiments  in  the  memoirs  of  liberally-minded  men, 
 
MR.  SHERMAN  S  PREFACE.  IX 
 
 contribute  much  to  maintain  and  per])etuate  it.  Surely 
 the  walls  of  separation  are  lofty  enough,  and  the  dis- 
 tance between  Christians  of  different  denominations 
 already  too  great,  without  heightening  the  one  and 
 increasing  the  other.  The  Bible,which,  happily,  is  now 
 in  almost  every  one's  possession,  shews  such  conduct 
 to  be  inexcusable.  If  a  man  of  God  follow  the  mode  of 
 instruction  which  primitive  ministers  adopted,  which 
 Christ  himself  sanctioned,  and  which  the  Holy  Ghost 
 commended,  why  should  it  be  considered  necessary  to 
 apologize  for  him — to  guard  the  public  mind  from 
 the  contagion  of  his  example,  —  and  to  lessen,  as 
 much   as  possible,  the  influence  of  his  labours  ? 
 
 In  the  Memoir  of  that  eminently  devoted  man,  the 
 Rev.  Mr.  Walker,  of  Truro,  it  is  more  than  intimated 
 that  the  revival  of  religion  in  this  country,  which  fol- 
 lowed the  labours  of  Whitefield,  Wesley,  Hill,  and 
 others,  has  been  erroneously  attributed  to  them,  instead 
 of  to  those  servants  of  Christ  who  confined  their 
 labours  to  a  limited  circle,  and  to  regular  and  canonical 
 services.  Let  nothing  be  detracted  from  the  part  which 
 such  excellent  men  took  in  the  revival  of  religion ; 
 let  them  receive  from  the  whole  church  the  due  acknow- 
 ledgment of  all  the  successes  attending  their  regular  la- 
 bours, which  all  who  love  Christ  must  appreciate  and 
 commend  ;  but  let  not  party  feeling  dictate  a  sentiment 
 which  is  as  contrary  to  universal  testimony  as  it  is 
 to  the  ordinary  operations  of  Divine  Providence.  If 
 these  holy  men,  after  considering  the  claims  of  im- 
 mortal souls,  the  duties  of  their  stations,  and  their 
 accountability  to  their  Master,  could  not  see  it  right 
 to  expose  themselves  to  ecclesiastical  censure,  by 
 preaching  beyond  prescribed  limits,  let  due  credit  be 
 given  them  for  acting  up  to  their  conscientious  con- 
 victions of  duty,  and  their  persuasion  that  they  could 
 serve   Christ  better,  and  accomplish  more  good,  by 
 
x  mr.  Sherman's  preface. 
 
 moving  in  a  regular,  rather  than  in  an  eccentric,  orbit ; 
 but  let  no  uncandid  attempts  be  made  to  tarnish  the 
 lustre  of  the  names,  or  lessen  the  effects  of  the  labours, 
 of  those  who  were  at  least  equally  holy  and  devoted 
 men  ;  and  who,  after  a  diligent  investigation  of  their 
 Saviour's  commands,  a  study  of  the  conduct  of  his 
 apostles,  and  filled  with  yearnings  of  compassion  for 
 the  miseries  of  their  fellow-immortals,  felt  it  to  be 
 their  imperative  duty  to  go  out  into  the  highways, 
 and  into  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  to  compel 
 men  to  come  in,  that  God's  house  might  be  filled.  These 
 holy  men  shewed  their  sincerity  by  sacrificing  the  esteem 
 of  the  great  and  learned,  the  love  and  respect  of  their 
 kindred,  and  the  hopes  of  worldly  advancement,  and  by 
 subjecting  themselves  to  obloquy,  scorn,  and  personal 
 danger,  to  save  souls  from  ruin.  Statesmen,  and  phi- 
 lanthropists, and  historians,  and  ministers,  have  planted 
 on  their  graves  evergreens  and  sweet-blooming  flowers, 
 full  of  fragrance  and  beauty ;  and  if  any  sacrilegious 
 hand,  in  the  darkness  of  bigotry,  attempt  to  uproot 
 them,  the  whole  Christian  Church,  with  the  sword 
 of  truth,  will  keep  guard  around  their  graves,  and  pre- 
 serve them  from  the  spoiler. 
 
 The  Life  of  the  Rev.  Heniy  Venn  is  one  of  the 
 most  interesting  which  modern  times  have  furnished. 
 His  apostolic  zeal — his  lively  piety — his  devotedness 
 to  his  office — and  his  general  aim  at  the  glory  of 
 Christ,  shine  conspicuously  throughout  his  career. 
 No  prayerful  minister  or  Christian  can  read  it  without 
 great  spiritual  advantage.  But  he  is  represented  to 
 have  had  one  blot  on  his  character — "  he  preached 
 in  neighbouring  parishes,  at  the  houses,  and,  in  some 
 few  instances,  in  the  barns,  of  the  fanners ;  and  in 
 his  visits  to  London  he  officiated  at  the  chapel  of  the 
 Rev.  Rowland  Hill."  Let  the  following  extract  speak 
 for  itself: — 
 
MR.  SHERMAN  S  PREFACE.  XI 
 
 "  Were  1  to  deliver  a  panegyric  agreeable  to  my 
 own  views  of  that  excellent  man,  in  whom  I  every 
 day  saw  something  new  to  admire  and  honour,  I  should 
 draw  a  veil  over  what  I  am  going  to  relate.  But  the 
 faithfulness  of  an  historian  compels  me  to  do  violence 
 to  the  feelings  of  a  son.  His  mind  was  naturally 
 ardent ;  and  he  was  of  a  temper  to  be  carried  out  by 
 zeal,  rather  than  to  listen  to  the  cold  calculations  of 
 prudence.  Influenced  by  the  hope  of  doing  good,  my 
 father,  in  certain  instances,  preached  in  unconsecrated 
 places."* 
 
 Does  not  this  stricture  condemn  those  devoted 
 clergymen  who,  contrary  to  ecclesiastical  discipline, 
 lecture  in  their  school-rooms  and  in  cottages  in  their 
 parish — for  these  are  "  unconsecrated  places  ?"  and 
 those  self-denying  clergymen  in  Ireland,  who,  uniting 
 in  the  efforts  made  by  the  Irish  Church  Home  Mission, 
 preach  in  the  consecrated  edifice,  if  they  can  obtain  it,  or, 
 if  not,  in  any  chapel  or  convenient  place  that  presents 
 itself?  If  it  really  was  criminal  for  Mr.  Venn  to  preach 
 at  Surrey  chapel,  where  he  addressed  nearly  three 
 thousand  attentive  hearers  at  one  time,  and  where  God 
 gave  him  so  many  seals  to  his  ministry,  it  is  equally 
 sinful  in  the  cases  above  mentioned.  But  who  would 
 incur  the  responsibility  of  attempting  to  stop  such 
 men  in  their  labours  of  love  to  the  souls  of  men  ? 
 Who  would  not  willingly  pray  that  every  house  might 
 be  a  Bethel,  and  every  building  be  consecrated  for  the 
 publication  of  the  Redeemer's  salvation  ?  For  my  own 
 part,  I  should  hail  the  day  which  would  afford  my 
 beloved  brethren  in  the  Establishment,  full  liberty  to 
 preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  at  Surrey 
 Chapel,  without  offending  any  ecclesiastical  law,  even 
 although  I  might  still  be  shut  out  of  their  pulpits. 
 
 *  Life  of  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  M.  A.,  page  176. 
 
Xll  MR.  SHERMANS  PREFACE. 
 
 Iii  recommending  this  Memoir  of  the  venerable 
 Rowland  Hill  to  the  Christian  public,  I  add  my 
 earnest  wishes  that  it  may  tend  greatly  to  augment 
 the  spirit  of  universal  love  among  all  Christians,  and 
 that  our  Saviour's  prayer  will  be  ere  long  accom- 
 plished, "  That  they  all  may  be  one,  as  Thou,  Father, 
 art  in  me,  and  I  in  thee  :  that  they  also  may  be  one  in 
 us;  that  the  world  may  believe  that  Thou  hast  sent 
 me."   John  xvii.  21. 
 
 JAMES  SHERMAN. 
 
 Surrey  Chapel,  Feb.  1st,  1837. 
 
MEMOIR, 
 
 4c 
 
 CHAP.  I. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The  real  value  of  biography — the  lives  of  mr.  hill  by  pre- 
 vious BIOGRAPHERS  NOTICED — LORD  BACON'S  OPINION  OF  CHURCH 
 DISCIPLINE — THE  STATE  OF  THE  CHURCH  IN  ROMAINE's  DAYS — 
 OPINIONS  RESPECTING  WESLEY,  WHITEFIELD,  AND  THEIR  FOL- 
 LOWERS— MR.  WALKER,  OF  TRURO — THE  REVIVALIST8  OF  RELIGION 
 — THE  BISHOP  OF  CHESTER'S  CHARGE  IN  1835  —  WICKLIFF  AND 
 LUTHER — MR.  HILL'S  USEFULNESS  PROMOTED  BY  THE  COURSE  HE 
 PURSUED  —  EXTRACT  FROM  THE  LIFE  OF  FELIX  NEFF  —  REMARKS 
 ON  VIOLATIONS  OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE — EXTRACT  FROM  THE 
 BISHOP  OF  LONDON'8  CHARGE  IN  REFERENCE  TO  THE  EFFECTS  OF 
 IRREGULAR  PREACHING  —  FELIX  NEFF'S  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE 
 CHURCH  OF  CHRIST. 
 
 The  memoirs  of  our  departed  friends  are  valu- 
 able only  as  they  contain  a  faithful  record  of 
 their  excellences  and  defects,  and  a  full  deve- 
 lopement  of  their  opinions  upon  important 
 points.     An  intimate  acquaintance  with  a  be- 
 
hl  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 loved  friend  may  so  enthrone  him  in  our  affec- 
 tions, that  there  may  be  considerable  danger  of 
 his  excellences  being  too  highly  estimated,  or  of 
 the  blemishes  of  his  character  being  uninten- 
 tionally overlooked.  A  partial,  or  prejudiced 
 statement,  also,  renders  a  memoir  of  little  value 
 to  the  reader  who  consults  it  either  for  infor- 
 mation or  for  personal  improvement. 
 
 There  are  also  peculiar  difficulties  in  justly 
 estimating  some  characters.  "The  pictures  of 
 our  absent  friends,"  it  has  been  remarked, 
 "  though  they  express  no  more  than  their  out- 
 ward and  visible  features,  are  very  desirable 
 and  delightful  monuments ;  but  the  characters 
 of  their  minds,  and  their  inward  and  invisible 
 beauties,  are  far  more  excellent  and  valuable. 
 Fine  spirits,  like  elegant  faces,  are  difficult  to 
 be  drawn  to  an  exactness,  even  by  the  greatest 
 masters."* 
 
 The  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  having  had  two 
 biographers  to  hand  down  to  future  ages  the 
 particulars  of  his  useful  life,  it  may  well  be 
 inquired,  why  a  third  should  make  his  appear- 
 ance.     The  writer   ventures    not    to   suppose 
 
 *  Dr.  Skippers  Funeral  Sermon  for  Richard  Legh, 
 esq.  1687. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  3 
 
 that  he  is  more  capable  than  others,  of  present- 
 ing to  the  public  the  memorials  of  his  departed 
 friend,  yet  there  may  be  substantial  reasons 
 why  the  additional  information  he  possesses 
 should  be  furnished  to  the  public.  The  me- 
 moir of  the  life,  ministry,  and  writings  of  the 
 Rev.  Rowland  Hill,  by  Mr.  Jones,  a  Scotch 
 Baptist,  does  not  contain,  by  any  means,  a  just 
 representation  of  Mr.  Hill's  life  and  character. 
 Had  Mr.  Jones  personally  known  the  departed 
 minister,  he  would  surely  have  omitted  many 
 of  the  unkind  and  unjustifiable  reflections  which 
 his  book  contains.  He  was  a  stranger  to  Mr.  Hill's 
 private  character,  and  very  little  acquainted  with 
 him  as  a  public  man,  and  therefore  could  not  be 
 qualified  for  the  duty  he  sought  to  discharge. 
 It  is  evident  that,  in  the  view  of  Mr.  Jones,  the 
 great  defect  in  Mr.  HilPs  character  consisted 
 in  his  being  an  Episcopalian,  and  not  a  Scotch 
 Baptist;  this  was  "the  head  and  front  of  his 
 offending."  And  although  it  may  be  the  privi- 
 lege of  this  biographer  to  see  his  own  opinions 
 of  church  government  clearly  revealed  in  the 
 New  Testament,  yet  he  should  remember  that 
 others,  whose  names  have  been  held  in  long 
 and  deserved  reputation,  hold  sentiments  widely 
 different  from   his    own.      In   addition  to  the 
 
MEMOIR  OF 
 
 authorities  referred  to  in  several  parts  of  the 
 ensuing  pages,  the  remarks  of  Lord  Bacon  may 
 be  given :  "  I,  for  my  part,  do  confess,  that  in 
 revolving  the  Scriptures,  I  could  never  find  any 
 such  thing;  (one  form  of  discipline  for  all 
 churches,)  but  that  God  had  left  the  like  liberty 
 to  the  church  government  as  he  had  done  to 
 the  civil  government ;  to  be  varied  according  to 
 time,  and  place,  and  accidents,  which  neverthe- 
 less his  high  and  divine  providence  doth  order 
 and  dispose." 
 
 These  were  precisely  the  views  of  Mr.  Hill. 
 He  acknowledged  and  mourned  over  the  defects 
 which  he  discovered  in  the  Establishment  of  our 
 country,  but  still  felt  it  his  duty  not  entirely  to 
 leave  her  communion.  But  this,  says  Mr.  Jones, 
 was  "  glaring  inconsistency,  and  can  only  be 
 resolved  into  his  total  unacquaintedness  with 
 the  nature,  constitution,  laws,  and  discipline  of 
 the  churches  of  Christ,  as  laid  down  in  the  New 
 Testament."*  And  Mr.  HilPs  attachment  to 
 the  church  was  the  cause,  according  to  the 
 wonderful  discovery  of  Mr.  Jones,  why  he  was 
 the  subject  of  fear  and  trembling  in  "  the  valley 
 of  the  shadow  of  death,"  and  was  forsaken  by 
 the  Lord,  "  when  heart  and  flesh  were  failing." 
 *  Jones's  Life,  p.  38. 
 
REV,  ROWLAND  HILL.  O 
 
 "We  see  him,"  remarks  Mr.  Jones,  "all  his  life- 
 time trammelled  with  antichristian  abominations, 
 — not  following  the  Lord  fully,  so  as  to  take 
 part  with  Christ's  despised  disciples,  but  halting 
 between  two  opinions,  on  matters  of  vital  inte- 
 rest to  Christianity, — labouring  to  uphold  a  sys- 
 tem, against  which  the  vials  of  the  wrath  of 
 Heaven  are  pouring  out.  In  the  very  nature  of 
 things,  this  must  darken  his  evidences  of  per- 
 sonal interest  in  the  Saviour!!"* 
 
 Leaving,  however,  the  biographical  sketch  by 
 Mr.  Jones,  it  will  be  necessary  to  shew  that 
 « the  Life  of  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill,"  by  Mr. 
 Sidney,  does  not  render  another  account  of  the 
 excellent  minister  altogether  unnecessary.  He 
 has,  doubtless,  exercised  considerable  discretion 
 in  the  selection  of  the  valuable  materials  pre- 
 sented to  the  public,  but  he  has  remained  silent 
 on  some  points  as  to  which  additional  infor- 
 mation is  required.  Such  silence  has  probably 
 been  produced  by  a  desire  not  unnecessarily  to 
 expose  the  wanderings  of  his  beloved  friend 
 from  the  straight  line  of  ecclesiastical  discipline, 
 and  by  his  own  private  and  conscientious  views 
 upon  that  particular  subject. 
 
 That  a  clerical  biographer  should  feel  it  his 
 •  Jones's  Life,  p.  314. 
 
6  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 duty  strongly  to  remonstrate  against  all  infringe- 
 ment of  church  rules,  is  perfectly  in  character. 
 The  writer  does  not  feel  himself  called  upon 
 either  to  justify  or  condemn  those  irregularities 
 of  which  Mr.  Sidney  complains ;  but  he  deems 
 it  a  duty  to  state  those  special  and  extraordi- 
 nary circumstances,  which  induced  Mr.  Hill  to 
 pursue  that  course  of  usefulness  which  he 
 deemed  most  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  good 
 of  his  cause. 
 
 If  it  can  be  shewn  that  there  were  sufficient 
 means  within  the  Church  fully  to  diffuse  the 
 Gospel  among  our  perishing  countrymen,  and 
 that,  to  accomplish  this  important  object,  there 
 was  no  necessity  to  go  beyond  its  prescribed 
 boundaries, — then  it  must  be  admitted  that  a 
 clergyman  was  not  justified  in  his  violation  of  its 
 discipline :  but  what  was  the  actual  state  of  the 
 Establishment  ?  When  Romaine  commenced  a 
 special  meeting,  to  "  pray  for  the  peace  of  the 
 Church,  and  for  all  orders  and  degrees  of  its 
 ministers,"  ne  was  accustomed  to  mention  the 
 names  of  all  the  pious  clergy  he  knew,  in  his 
 weekly  supplications :  at  that  time  the  names  he 
 was  able  to  include  in  his  prayer  did  not  exceed 
 eight  in  the  whole  kingdom."*  The  question, 
 *  Life  of  Romaine,  p.  32. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL. 
 
 then,  may  be  solemnly  put,  Did  not  such  times 
 justify  Wesley,  Whitefield,  and  Hill  in  depart- 
 ing from  the  strict  rules  of  the  Church  to  which 
 they  were  affectionately  attached  ? 
 
 Now,  the  opinions  we  entertain  upon  this 
 point  will  materially  influence  our  minds,  not 
 only  in  the  matter  we  furnish  to  the  public 
 in  detailing  the  history  of  an  irregular  clergy- 
 man, but  in  the  conclusions  we  draw  from  the 
 statements  we  make.  Our  opinions  may  be 
 most  conscientiously  given,  and  yet  they  may, 
 in  the  view  of  persons  equally  conscientious, 
 be  considered  partial  and  inaccurate.  Without 
 attempting  to  justify  all  the  proceedings  of  the 
 holy  men  who  were  the  instruments  of  reviving 
 religion  in  this  country  in  the  reign  of  George 
 the  Second  and  his  successor,  yet  the  writer 
 admits  that  he  peruses  their  histories  with  great 
 admiration  and  delight.  He  would  apply  to  them 
 the  words  of  Milton,  when  referring  to  the 
 Reformation  : — "  When  I  recall  to  mind  at  last, 
 after  so  many  dark  ages,  wherein  the  huge 
 overshadowing  train  of  error  had  almost  swept 
 all  the  stars  out  of  the  firmament  of  the  church, 
 how  the  bright  and  blessed  Reformation  (by 
 Divine  power)  struck  through  the  black  and 
 settled  night  of  ignorance,  methinks  a  sovereign 
 
8  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 and  reviving  joy  must  needs  rush  into  the  bosom 
 of  him  that  reads  or  hears,  and  the  sweet  odour 
 of  the  returning  gospel  imbathe  his  soul  with  the 
 fragrancy  of  heaven."*  With  these  feelings, 
 he  is  persuaded  the  departed  pastor  of  Surrey 
 Chapel  fully  sympathized,  while  he  rejoiced  in 
 his  personal  knowledge  of  several  of  those  great 
 men  who  "went  forth  without  the  camp,"  bear- 
 ing the  reproach  of  Christ,  f 
 
 But  what  are  the  opinions  of  Mr.  Sidney? 
 He  candidly  admits  that,  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 
 
 *  Milton's  Prose  Works,  with  Introduction,  by 
 Fletcher,  p.  2.     "On  the  Reformation  in  England." 
 
 f  Although  Middelton,  in  his  Ecclesiastical  Me- 
 moirs, considers  "  that  the  influence  of  these  efforts 
 on  the  Establishment  was  not  unmixed  with  serious 
 evils,"  he  adds,  "  that  spirit  must  be  justly  charged 
 with  bitterness,  which  can  roundly  condemn  the  in* 
 novating  zeal  of  the  earlier  Methodists,  when  re- 
 ference is  made  to  the  formal,  inefficient,  infidel 
 profession  of  the  day ;  and  an  involuntary  admiration 
 is  excited  at  the  expeditions  of  such  men  as  the  two 
 Wesleys,Delamotte,  Ingham,  andWhitefield,  prompted 
 by  a  regard  to  the  souls  of  their  fellow-creatures." 
 Middelton's  Ecclesiastical  Memoir,  ch.  iii. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  9 
 
 in  such  a  case,  that  zealous  men  should  require 
 a  little  more  liberty  to  go  forth  in  detachments, 
 was  excusable  amidst  the  difficulties  of  the 
 times  ;*  but  he  states  that,  "  without  denying 
 that  whenever  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 
 these  important  exertions,  that  the  greatest 
 ultimate  benefit  has  flowed  from  such  as  adhered 
 to  the  rules  of  our  church."f 
 
 When  speaking  of  the  excellent  Mr.  Walker, 
 of  Truro,  who  died  in  1761,  Mr.  Sidney  re- 
 marks, "  He  lived  in  an  age  of  great  interest, 
 when  the  long-forgotten  doctrines  of  the  Re- 
 formation began  to  be  received  amongst  a 
 people  who  had  sunk  into  miserable  depths  of 
 apathy  and  irreligion.  A  flame  had  just  been 
 enkindled  by  the  fire  and  zeal  of  certain  ener- 
 getic individuals,  who  possessed  much  more  of 
 the  fervour  than  the  wisdom  of  Christianity, 
 and  whose  eyes  were  so  dazzled  by  a  sudden 
 burst  of  light,  that  they  lost  the  power  of  look- 
 ing calmly  either  on  present  circumstances  or 
 
 *  Sidney's  Life,  page  401.  f  Ibid.  426. 
 
10  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 future  consequences.*  Their  efforts  were  made 
 with  a  laudable  desire  to  rouse  from  the  sleep 
 of  death,  those  who  slumbered  in  their  sins ; 
 but  they  were  so  elated  by  success,  that  they 
 forgot,  while  spreading  gospel  doctrines,  to  lay 
 permanent  foundations  for  a  spirit  of  Christian 
 unity.  The  confusion  and  disunion  which  suc- 
 ceeded the  death  of  one  of  such  leaders,  were 
 generally  as  injurious  as  his  labours  had  been 
 useful.  Whitefield  and  others,  who  pursued  a 
 like  course,  undoubtedly  waged  a  mighty  war- 
 fare against  the  spiritual  enemies  of  man ;  but, 
 in  the  heat  of  battle,  struck  too  much  at  a 
 venture,  and  inflicted  wounds  upon  their  own 
 church,  which  have  not  yet  been  healed.  In- 
 stead of  bringing  into  vigorous  action  the 
 practical  wisdom  of  our  reformers,  they  adopted 
 sudden  plans  of  their  own,  which  were  often 
 ill-suited  to  the  then  agitated  elements  around 
 
 *  "  It  may  be  laid  down  as  a  principle  established 
 by  fact,  that  whenever  a  zealous  and  faithful  ministry 
 is  raised  up,  after  a  long  spiritual  death,  the  early 
 efforts  of  that  ministry  are  not  only  powerful,  but 
 often  attended  with  extraordinary  circumstances : 
 nor  are  such  extraordinary  circumstances  necessarily 
 extravagancies  because  they  are  not  common." — 
 Watson's  Life  of  Wesley,  p.  95. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  11 
 
 them,  and  productive  of  serious  injury  when 
 they  had  settled  into  a  calm.  They  made  too 
 much  haste  for  the  gradual  working  of  gospel 
 leaven  ;  but,  to  do  them  justice,  their  motives 
 were  pure,  and  their  lives  devoted  to  the  willing 
 service  of  God,  It  must  also  be  remembered, 
 that  they  had  no  opportunity  of  seeing,  as  we 
 do,  the  full  extent  of  those  dangers  which  ac- 
 company departure  from  established  discipline 
 and  order.  The  Dissenters  of  that  age  were 
 generally  well-disposed  to  enjoy  their  own 
 opinions  in  peace,  and  set  an  edifying  example 
 of  learning  and  piety.  Watts,  Doddridge, 
 Guise,  and  others,  preached  also  the  true  doc- 
 trines of  the  Reformation,  which  had  unhappily 
 been  overlooked  by  too  many  Churchmen,  who 
 neither  felt  in  their  hearts,  nor  taught  in  their 
 pulpits,  what  they  had  subscribed  with  their 
 hands.  Hence  these  good  men  naturally  at- 
 tracted attention  and  friendship  from  enlightened 
 clergymen,  who  suspected  no  evil,  nor  had 
 indeed  cause  to  fear  it  from  such  liberal  non- 
 conformists. That,  however,  which  was  not  to 
 be  dreaded  from  individuals,  ought  to  have 
 been  apprehended  from  principles,  to  the  spread 
 of  which  an  unguarded  conduct  in  many  mem- 
 bers of  our  establishment  gave  but  too  much 
 
12  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 facility.  Mr.  Walker,  and  his  contemporaries 
 of  a  kindred  spirit,  foresaw  and  escaped  these 
 dangers,  while  they  have  transmitted  to  pos- 
 terity proofs  of  devotedness  to  their  calling, 
 and  of  experimental  godliness,  fully  equal  to 
 those  of  men  more  popular,  but  less  prudent. 
 They  beheld,  with  amazement  and  grief,  those 
 deviations  from  all  rule,  by  which  thousands 
 were  misguided  ;*  though  they  were,  notwith- 
 standing, most  unjustly  reproached  as  enthu- 
 siasts."j 
 
 *  "  When  churchmen  consider  the  evils  done  by 
 the  Methodists  and  others,  they  look  at  the  mere 
 fact,  that  a  great  body  of  people  have  been  raised  up, 
 as  they  say,  out  of  the  church,  within  a  century  past, 
 excelling  in  number,  almost,  if  not  entirely,  the 
 whole  of  the  old  bodies  of  Dissenters ;  and  they 
 assume  that  if  the  Wesleys  and  Mr.  Whitefield  had 
 never  appeared,  the  church  would  have  been  in  as 
 improved  a  state  as  now,  with  none  but  the  old 
 Dissenters  to  contend  with.  There  is  a  great  fallacy 
 in  both  these  views.  The  persons  who  were  led  to 
 God  by  the  ministry  of  these  excellent  men  and  their 
 successors,  were  for  the  most  part  persons  who  never 
 were,  in  any  substantial  sense,  and  never  would  have 
 been,  of  the  church." — Watson's  Life  of  Wesley, 
 pp.  365,  371. 
 
 f  "  The  late  Mr.  Walker,  of  Truro,  and  a  few 
 others,  not  only  loved  and  preached  the  gospel,  but 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  13 
 
 "  One  of  the  last  advices  Mr.  Walker  is 
 reported  to  have  given  to  a  favourite  member 
 of  his  clerical  club,  was,  'Whatever  good  you 
 design  to  do,  do  it  in  the  church ;'  to  the 
 expression  of  which  opinion  he  was  doubtless 
 led,  by  his  foresight  of  that  disorder  in  which 
 all  irregularity  must  ever  end.  Time  has  now 
 amply  revealed  the  wisdom  of  his  judgment, 
 and  it  only  remains  for  us  to  hope,  that  ex- 
 perience will  teach  others,  hereafter,  the  truth 
 of  what  his  penetration  and  knowledge  of  human 
 nature  predicted  of  the  hasty  proceedings  of 
 his  own  days.  We  have  been  accustomed  to 
 attribute  too  much  of  the  present  energy  in  our 
 church  to  men,  who,  having  called  upon  her 
 sons  to  awake,  either  left  them  alone,  or  led 
 them  astray  when  aroused  from  their  lethargy ; 
 a  conclusion  evidently  most  erroneous,  since 
 the  most  effective  clergymen  of  our  times  are 
 imitators  of  those  who  lamented  and  opposed 
 all  irregularity."* 
 
 were  well  disposed  towards  Mr.  Wesley,  and  those 
 under  his  care.  Some  of  these  gentlemen  assisted  at 
 the  first  conferences,  but,  after  a  few  years,  they 
 seemed  unwilling  to  share  in  his  reproach/' — Moore's 
 Life  of  Wesley,  vol.  ii.  p.  196. 
 
 *  Life  of  Walker,  pp.  279—282. 
 
14  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 On  the  same  subject,  Mr.  Sidney  remarks, — 
 "  The  indiscreet  manner  in  which  some  clergy- 
 men of  eminent  zeal,  unquestionable  piety,  and 
 certainly  of  extensive,  but  not  of  unmixed  use- 
 fulness, overlooked  the  value  of  the  forms,  and 
 despised  the  discipline  of  our  establishment, 
 during  the  days  of  the  revival  of  religion  in 
 this  country,  produced  evils  only  to  be  reme- 
 died by  the  line  pursued  at  the  present  time, 
 by  men  not  less  devout  in  heart,  but  more 
 judicious  in  practice.  If  any  thing  can  restore 
 the  primitive  affection  for  our  establishment, 
 it  will  be  the  consistent  and  enlightened  church- 
 manship  of  those  who  now  form  its  brightest 
 ornaments,  but  who  desire  not  to  move  out  of 
 their  own  orbit,  though  they  are  anxious  to 
 shed  their  light  as  far  beyond  it  as  possible."* 
 
 No  one  can  doubt  that  Mr.  Sidney  has 
 stated  his  sincere  convictions  in  the  remarks 
 which  have  been  given.  But  may  it  not  be 
 asked,  was  it  not  absolutely  impracticable  to  rouse 
 the  slumbering  members  of  the  universal  church, 
 without  some  violation  of  strict  discipline,  and 
 more  especially  at  a  time  when  the  laws  con- 
 nected with  ecclesiastical  order  were  expounded 
 
 *  Sidney's  Life  of  Walker  of  Truro,  p.  119. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  15 
 
 by  men  strongly  opposed  "  to  the  truth  as  it 
 is  in  Jesus  ?" — at  a  time  when  six  devoted 
 students  were  expelled  from  St.  Edmund's 
 Hall  for  praying  and  reading  the  Scriptures, 
 which  led  the  learned  defender  of  these  per- 
 secuted men  to  make  the  sarcastic  remark, 
 that  if  they  were  expelled  for  having  too  much 
 religion,  "  it  would  be  well  to  inquire  into  the 
 conduct  of  some  who  had  too  little  :" — "  a  fair 
 reflexion,"  remarks  an  impartial  writer,  "on  the 
 relaxed  state  of  academic  discipline,  as  it  regarded 
 the  personal  morality  of  the  members;  for  it  was 
 notorious  that  Mr.  Welling  had  been  charged 
 on  oath  with  contemning  the  Scriptures,  and 
 ridiculing  the  miracles,  but  was  excused  on  the 
 plea  of  intoxication."* 
 
 If  it  be  admitted  that  the  measures  which 
 were  adopted  in  Whitefield's  times  are  unne- 
 cessary in  the  present  day,  then  his  example, 
 and  that  of  his  coadjutors  in  the  work,  cannot 
 be  prejudicial  to  ministers  who  are  not  called 
 to  proclaim  the  gospel  under  the  same  circum- 
 stances  of  spiritual    lethargy,   in    which   that 
 
 *  Middelton's  Ecclesiastical  Memoir,  p,  148.  See 
 also  chap,  ii 
 
16  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 eminent  preacher  and  his  followers  found  all 
 denominations  of  the  religious  world. 
 
 But  did  not  the  state  of  the  times  in  which 
 Mr.  Hill  exercised  his  ministry,  fully  justify 
 his  course  ?  On  this  point  let  the  devoted 
 Bishop  of  Chester  be  heard.  In  his  charge 
 to  the  clergy  of  his  diocese,  at  his  triennial 
 visitation  in  1835,  he  feels  the  painful  neces- 
 sity of  admitting  that  "in  the  age  which  is 
 gone  by,  the  church  has  not  kept  sufficiently 
 in  view  the  charge  which  she  had  undertaken, 
 the  religious  culture  of  our  people,  in  all  their 
 divisions  and  subdivisions.  She  confined  her- 
 self too  much  to  certain  times  and  limits ; 
 entrenched  herself  behind  established  usage 
 and  legal  arrangement,  whilst  unprovided  flocks 
 were  *  wandering  in  the  mountains,'  and  crowds 
 were  remaining  '  idle  in  the  market-places,' 
 because  6  no  man  hired  them.'  She  has  been 
 slow  to  adapt  herself  to  the  altered  circum- 
 stances of  the  country ;  has  remained  fixed 
 and  stationary,  whilst  all  around  her  has  been 
 progressive  and  expansive." 
 
 "It  was  sufficiently  shewn,"  remarks  this 
 excellent  prelate,  "  by  the  success  which 
 attended  the  irregular  exertions  of  Wesley  and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  17 
 
 his  followers,  what  the  people  needed,  and  what 
 would  engage  their  affections.  But  no  dispo- 
 sition appeared  to  profit  by  the  example,  and 
 to  supply  to  neglected  hamlets,  or  hearers 
 excluded  from  the  church  through  their  regu- 
 lar pastures,  the  food  which  they  wrere  seeking 
 elsewhere  and  from  other  hands.  It  was  for- 
 gotten, that  when  a  parish  extended  over  many 
 miles,  a  considerable  portion  of  its  inhabitants 
 must  necessarily  be  precluded  from  any  regular 
 attendance  on  the  worship  of  the  parish  church. 
 It  was  forgotten,  that  the  soul  is  not  naturally 
 disposed  to  'seek  the  things  that  are  above,' 
 and  requires  to  be  continually  watched,  and 
 roused,  and  led  onward.  There  were  indeed 
 always  some,  but  they  were  comparatively  few 
 in  number,  who  looked  upon  the  example  of 
 the  apostle  as  applicable  to  themselves,  who 
 '  taught  both  publicly,  and  from  house  to  house, 
 testifying  repentance  toward  God,  and  faith 
 toward  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ;'  who  seemed  to 
 remember  that  they  had  engaged  to  set  one 
 object  before  them  as  the  business  of  their  lives, 
 how  they  'might  warn  every  man,  and  teach 
 every  man  in  all  wisdom,  that  they  might  pre- 
 sent every  man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus.'" 
 
 Under  the  circumstances  thus  clearly  stated 
 c 
 
18  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 the  revivalists  of  religion  had  but  one  choice, 
 either  to  break  through  the  strict  discipline  of 
 the  church,  or  to  let  sinners  perish  in  their 
 sins.  Their  conduct  shews  that  they  valued 
 souls  more  than  all  earthly  considerations,  and 
 we  trust  that  such  men  will  be  found  in  every 
 age  of  the  church,  men  who,  like  the  martyrs, 
 'with  the  irresistible  might  of  iveakyiess,  shall 
 shake  all  the  powers  of  darkness.'*  Wickliff 
 in  this  country,  and  Luther  in  Germany,  would 
 have  been  comparatively  useless  characters,  had 
 their  hands  remained  tied  with  the  withes  of 
 human  regulations.  The  Lord,  who  by  his  pro- 
 vidence speaks  to  special  agents,  said,  "  Loose 
 them,  and  let  them  go." 
 
 There  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  wise  and  graci- 
 ous Providence  permitted  Mr.  Hill  to  pursue 
 an  "irregular"course.  He  wras  not  to  be  confined 
 within  the  limits  of  any  particular  church, 
 that  he  might,  among  other  things,  "bring 
 back  many  of  those  who  had  wandered  from  the 
 fold,  only  because  its  dimensions  were  not  suffi- 
 cient to  contain  the  multitude."f  How  could 
 these  wandering  sheep  be  reclaimed,  unless  the 
 shepherd   left   the   fold    in    pursuit   of  them? 
 
 *  Milton.  t  Life  of  Walker,  p.  281. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  19 
 
 Yet  Mr.  Sidney  remarks,  "  Had  Mr.  Hill  con- 
 fined 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  embarrass- 
 ments, in  which  he  was  involved  from  want  of  a 
 well-defined  rule  of  action."*  On  this  point,  it 
 will  be  seen  from  the  following  memoir,  that 
 Mr.  Hill's  opinions  were  decidedly  opposed  to 
 those  of  his  biographer.f  He  felt  that  he  had 
 pursued  a  right  course,  though  one  of  tribula- 
 tion, and  he  could  not  look  back.  His  Mas- 
 ter had  placed  him  in  the  situation  he  occupied, 
 and  he  would  not  forsake  it.  His  usefulness,  in 
 calling  many  souls  to  God,  justified  the  plans 
 he  had  adopted,  and  the  fact  that,  as  a  church- 
 ?na?i,  he  was  freely  admitted  into  every  respectable 
 evangelical  dissenting  pulpit  in  the  united  king- 
 dom, must  have  "opened  to  him  a  wider  and 
 more  influential  field  of  action,"  than  he  could 
 have  found  within  the  limits  of  the  largest 
 parochial  district  in  the  country.      It  may  be 
 
 *  Sidney's  Life  of  Hill,  p.  413. 
 t  See  last  chapter  of  this  Memoir. 
 
20  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 said  of  Mr.  Hill,  as  of  Felix  Neff,  the  pastor  of 
 the  Alps,  that  he  was  precisely  the  man  for  the 
 work  he  had  to  do.  "Herein  appears  that 
 admirable  economy  of  the  Lord,  which  prepares 
 a  labourer  for  a  certain  portion  of  the  gospel 
 field,  and  establishes  a  sort  of  relation  between 
 the  gifts  of  the  workman,  and  the  requirements  of 
 the  work  which  He  allots  to  him ;  between  the 
 character  of  the  work  to  be  done,  and  that  of 
 him  who  is  to  do  it.  This  admirable  economy 
 of  our  Divine  Master  is  very  perceptible  in  the 
 history  of  his  church.  The  Lord  has  always 
 raised  up,  prepared,  and  placed  a  workman,  a 
 special  servant,  wherever  he  has  had  a  special 
 work  to  be  done,  or  a  particular  station  to  be 
 filled.  Thus  it  was,  that  at  Athens,  in  encoun- 
 tering the  Epicureans  and  the  Stoics,  and 
 before  the  Areopagites,  Paul  was  more  neces- 
 sary than  Peter.  Calvin  would  have  failed  in 
 Germany,  and  Luther  in  Geneva.  Chalmers 
 would  not  have  suited  the  High  Alps,  nor  Felix 
 Neff,  Edinburgh. 
 
 "  When  a  man  is  truly  called  of  God  to  his 
 wrork,  he  will  find,  in  some  part  of  the  world,  a 
 situation  which  has  been  expressly  made  for 
 him  only.  Happy  the  servant  of  God  who  is  in 
 his  place ;  who  feels  it,  and  remains  there,  and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  21 
 
 who  has  no  desire  to  leave  it.  A  star  escaped 
 from  its  orbit,  and  condemned,  like  Cain,  to 
 wander  without  finding  a  place  of  rest,  would 
 be  but  a  faint  image  of  any  unhappy  intelli- 
 gence, who  should  not  have  kept  the  place 
 which  the  Lord  had  assigned  him.  '  As  a  bird 
 that  wandereth  from  her  nest,  so  is  a  man  that 
 wandereth  from  his  place,'  Proverbs  xxvii.  8. 
 A  man  is  blessed  in  the  service  of  the  Lord,  not 
 when  he  occupies  an  eminent  post,  where  his 
 ministry  attracts  public  attention,  or  when  he 
 displays  the  splendour  of  some  fine  talent ;  but 
 rather,  I  repeat,  when  he  has  found  his  place, 
 whatever  it  be,  whether  unknown  to  the  world, 
 or  well  known,  humble  or  eminent;  when  he 
 loves  it,  and  abides  in  it ;  and,  above  all,  when 
 he  is  faithful  in  it.  Such  was  the  happiness  of 
 Neff:  he  found  his  place,  he  kept  it,  he  was 
 faithful  in  it."* 
 
 And  such,  also,  was  the  happiness  of  Row- 
 land Hill.  He  found  his  place,  he  kept  it,  he 
 was  faithful  in  it ;  and  the  Lord  manifested  his 
 approbation,  by  adding  to  the  church  a  great 
 multitude  through  his  instrumentality.     A  dif- 
 
 *  Memoir  of  Felix  Neff,  published  by  the  Religious 
 Tract  Society. 
 
22  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 ferent  course  might  "have  spared  him  nume- 
 rous trials  and  embarrassments  in  which  he  was 
 involved;"  but  "he  sought  not  honour  from  man, 
 and,  without  despising  others  who  were  deserv- 
 edly occupying  the  high  places  of  the  church, 
 he  was  content  with  the  quaint  and  lowly  titles 
 of,  u  Rector  of  Surrey  Chapel,  Vicar  of  Wotton- 
 underedge,  and  Curate  of  all  the  fields,  com- 
 mons, &c.  throughout  England  and  Wales."* 
 
 The  impartial  reader  who  "  loves  Christians 
 better  than  parties,"  and  can  see  many  of  the 
 sheep  of  Christ  in  other  folds  than  the  one  in 
 which  he  worships,  will  find  it  a  work  of  diffi- 
 culty to  discover  "the  wounds  inflicted  upon 
 the  church"  by  Wesley,  Whitefield,  and  their 
 self-denying  followers,  "which  have  never  been 
 healed,"  and  the  guilt  of  those  "  deviations  from 
 all  rule,  by  which  thousands  have  been  mis- 
 guided." If  these  remarks  apply  only  to  disci- 
 pline, then  we  trust  the  time  is  not  far  distant 
 when  all  the  denominations  of  the  Christian 
 Church  will,  in  every  case  of  necessity,  with  a 
 justly  indignant  spirit,  tear  into  a  thousand 
 pieces  the  ecclesiastical  regulations  which  pre- 
 vent the  most  enlarged  efforts  for  the  conver- 
 
 *  See  Life  of  Rev.  George  Burder,  p.  127. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  23 
 
 sion  of  souls  at  all  times,  in  all  places,  and 
 under  all  circumstances. 
 
 Surely  the  most  rigid  and  conscientious  dis- 
 ciplinarian cannot  look  into  eternity,  and  in  his 
 imagination  realize  "  the  devouring  fire  and  the 
 everlasting  burnings,"*  prepared  for  the  finally 
 impenitent,  without  being  determined,  in  the 
 face  of  every  restrictive  human  regulation  which 
 may  impede  the  work,  to  adopt  the  most  zea- 
 lous and  enlarged  efforts,  to  pluck  the  brands 
 from  the  burning.  The  canons  of  men  must 
 never  be  permitted  to  overthrow  the  canons  of 
 God.  It  was  in  this  spirit  that  Rowland  Hill 
 again  and  again  rejoiced  "  that  he  had  broken 
 them  a  thousand  times. "f  Let  sinners  be 
 brought  into  the  church  through  regenerating 
 grace,  and  then  their  own  happiness  and  the 
 welfare  of  society  will  be  advanced,  while  the 
 glory  of  God  is  promoted. 
 
 If,  however,  the  remark  respecting  "  the 
 thousands  who  have  been  misguided"  by  the  re- 
 vivalists, refers  to  the  great  increase  in  the 
 non-conforming  churches  of  our  country,  let  it 
 
 *  Isaiah  xxxiii.  14. 
 t  See  the  Bishop  of  Chester's  Observations  on  the 
 Canons,  in  his  Charge  delivered  at  his  Triennial  Visi- 
 tation, in  1835. 
 
24  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 be  asked,  Did  the  ministers  of  the  Establishment 
 adopt  any  sufficient  measures  to  prevent  the 
 secession  of  the  people  ?  If  not,  on  whom 
 should  rest  the  guilt  of  their  loss  ?  "  Had  the 
 clergy  been  disposed  to  co-operate  in  this  evi- 
 dent revival  and  spread  of  true  religion;  and 
 had  the  heads  of  the  church  been  willing  to 
 sanction  itinerant  labours  among  its  ministers, 
 and  private  religious  meetings  among  the  serious 
 part  of  the  people  for  mutual  edification,  the 
 great  body  of  Methodists  might  have  been  re- 
 tained in  communion  with  the  Church  of  Eng- 
 land."* 
 
 On  the  other  hand,  if  it  can  be  shown,  that 
 when  Wesley,  Whitefield,  and  their  successors 
 appeared,  there  was  not  an  efficient  moral 
 agency  in  the  establishment,  commensurate  to 
 the  wants  of  the  people,  then  may  all  episco- 
 palians say,  with  the  present  Bishop  of  Lon- 
 don, "  It  was  necessary  that  Christ  should  be 
 preached ;  and  if  we  did  not  possess  the  means 
 of  doing  so  within  ourselves,  we  have  reason 
 to  rejoice  that  it  was  faithfully,  though  irregu- 
 larly, done  by  others,  "f 
 
 •  Watson's  Life  of  Wesley,  p.  104. 
 f  See  last  chapter  of  this  Memoir. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  25 
 
 With  these  views  of  the  times  of  Rowland 
 Hill,  and  of  his  special  adaptation  to  the 
 station  he  was  called  to  occupy,  the  following 
 Memoir  has  been  compiled.  The  writer  hav- 
 ing watched  his  movements  for  nearly  a  quarter 
 of  a  century,  hopes  he  has  gathered  up  some 
 fragments  which  have  been  left  by  the  bio- 
 graphers who  have  preceded  him,  that  nothing 
 may  be  lost  which  has  a  tendency  to  place  the 
 venerable  saint  fully  before  the  Christian  reader. 
 Like  his  departed  friend,  he  has  no  exclusive 
 attachments,  though  he  has  his  predilections. 
 He  hopes  he  can  love  the  Saviour's  likeness 
 wherever  it  is  to  be  found.  Like  him,  also,  he 
 cannot  consider  Christ's  church  to  be  confined 
 within  the  boundary  line  of  any  one  denomination. 
 The  spiritual  people  of  the  Lord  are  his  church 
 in  this  world,  and  they  will  be  for  ever  with 
 him  in  the  realms  above.  "  There,"  in  the 
 beautiful  language  of  Neff,  "  a  thousand  times 
 better  than  in  ancient  Zion,  is  God  served, 
 praised,  and  glorified;  that  celestial  and  spi- 
 ritual temple  is  formed  of  the  whole  number 
 of  those  holy  beings  who  find  in  God  their  chief 
 happiness.  The  glory  of  Jehovah  fills  and 
 enlightens  it,  and  is  reflected  from  every  one  of 
 the  living  stones  of  which  it  is  composed.     His 
 
26  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 love  unites  them  all.  The  King  of  glory  dwells 
 in  the  midst  of  them.  He  rejoices  in  their  bliss, 
 and  listens  with  pleasure  to  the  everlasting 
 concert  of  their  gratitude.  Such  is  the  temple 
 in  which  God  dwells ;  the  only  temple  that  is 
 worthy  of  him.  What  then  are  we  to  say  of 
 the  different  churches  in  which  the  Gospel  is 
 preached  upon  the  earth  ?  How  many  dissen- 
 sions among  the  labourers !  how  many  conjec- 
 tures and  disputes  about  the  final  purpose  of  the 
 Great  Architect,  and  the  several  parts  ot  his 
 plan,  which  are  known  only  to  himself !  Shall 
 we  search  in  this  chaos  for  the  true  church,  the 
 spiritual  temple  ?  Would  we  wish  to  construct 
 it  of  all  this  mass  of  rudely  formed  blocks,  and 
 rough-hewn  stones ;  or  only  of  those  that  shall 
 appear  to  us  to  be  already  prepared  by  the 
 Great  Master  ?  Shall  we  endeavour  to  arrange 
 in  one  exact  and  uniform  order,  all  those  stones 
 that  we  find  in  the  various  quarries  opened  in 
 a  thousand  places  in  the  world ;  or,  finding  that 
 we  cannot  accomplish  this,  shall  we  try,  at 
 least,  to  collect  them  into  different  heaps,  as 
 men  do  those  stones  that  are  set  aside  to  be 
 measured  before  they  are  applied  to  the  work  ? 
 Oh,  how  much  wiser  is  the  Master !  while 
 some   are   disputing   about   the   excellence    of 
 
 i 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  27 
 
 this  or  the  other  department  of  the  work,  and 
 while  others  are  spending  their  strength  in 
 endeavouring  to  introduce  perfect  order,  the 
 wise  Master-builder  surveys  in  silence  the 
 vast  scene  of  operations,  chooses  and  marks  the 
 materials  which  he  sees  to  be  prepared  amidst 
 all  this  confusion,  and  causes  them  to  be  re- 
 moved, and  placed  in  his  heavenly  edifice; 
 assigning  to  every  piece  the  place  most  proper 
 for  it,  and  for  which  he  has  designed  it.  Such, 
 my  beloved  brethren,  is  the  sublime  idea  which 
 we  ought  to  form  of  this  celestial  tabernacle, 
 this  spiritual  house  of  God,  this  universal  church, 
 both  militant  and  triumphant ;  the  existence  of 
 which  we  confess  in  the  Apostles'  creed.  Oh  ! 
 how  contemptible  now  will  appear,  in  our  eyes, 
 all  the  proud  claims  to  universality  of  this  or 
 that  particular  church,  as  also  those  endless 
 disputes  about  succession,  priestly  dominion, 
 and  discipline,  which  have  at  all  times  divided 
 believers,  and  continue  to  do  so  to  the  present 
 day.  Let  us  rather  labour  in  the  quarry,  where 
 our  work  is  assigned,  to  prepare  as  great  a 
 quantity  of  materials  as  possible;  and  espe- 
 cially let  us  entreat  the  Lord  to  make  us  all 
 lively  stones  fit  for  his  building.     Amen." 
 
23  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 CHAP.  II. 
 
 FROM  HIS  BIRTH  TO  HIS  APPOINTMENT  TO  THE 
 CURACY  OF  KINGSTON. 
 
 The  ancestors  op  mr.  hill— the  birth  op  Rowland— his  earlt 
 religious  impressions  —  he  is  sent  to  eton — sir  richard 
 hill's  letter — anecdote — the  grateful  negro — hymn  com- 
 posed by  mr.  hill,  on  his  conversion— his  usefulness  at  eton 
 — removal  to  cambridge — the  state  of  the  university  at 
 that  time — miss  jane  hill's  remarks — first  acquaintance 
 
 with   robinson  of  leicester,   berridge,   and   whitefield 
 
 mr.  hill's  first  efforts  as  a  preacher — the  convict — anec- 
 dotes of  whitefield— colliers  at  kingswood — the  opposition 
 op  mr.  hill's  parents  to  his  irregular  course — captain 
 scott — characteristic  letter  from  mr.  berridge — particu- 
 lars of  the  expulsion  of  oxford  students — rev.  mr.  simeon 
 — anecdote  of  johnny  stettle — remark  of  cornelius  winter 
 — mr.  hill  takes  his  degree — the  difficulties  he  had  in 
 obtaining  ordination — letter  to  mr.  pentycross — mr.  hill's 
 ordination— his  curacy  at  kingston. 
 
 The  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  was  descended  from 
 an  ancient  and  honourable  family.  The  earliest 
 record  of  his  ancestors  is  found  in  the  reign  of 
 Edward  the  First,  when  they  appear  to  have 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  29 
 
 been  well  known  in  the  northern  counties. 
 Hugh  de  la  Hulle,  of  Hull,  removed  from 
 thence  into  Shropshire,  and  from  him  de- 
 scended Sir  Rowland  Hill,  the  first  Protest- 
 ant Lord  Mayor  of  London.  Sir  Rowland 
 was  twice  called  by  his  fellow-citizens  to  fill 
 that  important  office,  once  in  the  reign  of 
 Henry  the  VHIth,  and  again  when  Edward  the 
 Vlth  was  on  the  throne.  From  the  former 
 monarch  this  worthy  citizen  received  the  honour 
 of  knighthood.  He  died  without  issue,  bequeath- 
 ing his  estates  to  the  children  of  his  sisters. 
 He  devoted  part  of  his  wealth  to  the  establish- 
 ment of  several  important  charities,  which  con- 
 tinue unto  this  day. 
 
 The  founder  of  the  present  family  was 
 Richard  Hill,  born  on  March  23rd,  1654,  who 
 received  his  education  at  the  celebrated  gram- 
 mar-school of  Shrewsbury,  and  afterwards  gra- 
 duated at  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  where 
 he  obtained  a  fellowship.  He  was  tutor  to  Lord 
 Hyde,  the  son  of  the  Earl  of  Rochester,  and 
 being,  through  him,  introduced  into  political 
 life,  he  became,  in  3691,  paymaster  of  the 
 forces  in  Flanders,  an  office  which  he  dis- 
 charged with  distinguished  ability  and  integrity. 
 We   find   him  afterwards    engaged    in   several 
 
30  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 special  missions  to  foreign  courts,  and  though 
 placed  in  peculiarly  difficult  circumstances, 
 effecting  treaties  which  were  highly  heneficial 
 to  his  country.  He  was  chosen  a  lord  of  the 
 treasury,  one  of  the  advisers  of  Prince  George 
 of  Denmark  as  lord  high  admiral,  and  also  a 
 member  of  his  majesty's  most  honourable  privy 
 council. 
 
 This  wealthy  and  upright  statesman  declined 
 the  honour  of  baronetcy,  which  was,  however, 
 subsequently  bestowed  on  his  nephew,  Rowland 
 Hill,  the  son  of  his  brother  John. 
 
 Sir  Rowland  Hill  was  member  of  parliament 
 for  Lichfield,  during  several  sessions.  He  mar- 
 ried the  daughter  of  Sir  Brian  Broughton, 
 barunet, — by  whom  he  had  six  sons, — namely, 
 the  late  Sir  Richard  Hill,  M.  P.,  the  late  Sir 
 John  Hill,  father  of  the  present  commander-in- 
 chief  of  his  majesty's  forces,  the  Rev.  Row- 
 land Hill,  A.M.,  the  subject  of  this  biographi- 
 cal sketch,  also  Thomas,  Robert,  and  Brian, 
 the  first  two  of  whom  died  many  years  since, 
 and  the  latter  resided  at  Weston,  very  near 
 the  family  mansion  at  Hawkstone.  Sir  Row- 
 land had  also  two  daughters,  Jane  and  Mary. 
 The  name  of  Miss  Jane  Hill  will  appear  in 
 these  Memoirs.     She  was  the  pious  and  inte- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  31 
 
 resting  correspondent  of  Lady  Glenorchy,  in 
 whose  Memoir  many  of  her  excellent  letters 
 have  been  published.  The  second  daughter, 
 Mary,  married  Clement  Tudway,  esq.  who  was 
 member  of  parliament  for  Wells,  in  Somerset- 
 shire. 
 
 Sir  Richard  Hill  and  his  brother  Brian  appear 
 to  have  possessed  the  catholic  spirit  of  Rowland. 
 Mr.  Brian  Hill  was  a  man  of  retired  habits,  and 
 therefore  little  was  heard  of  him  during  his  long 
 life.  He  was  content  to  spend  his  days  in  the 
 village  of  Weston,  being  prevented,  by  scruples 
 of  conscience,  from  accepting  any  preferment  in 
 the  church.  His  attachment  to  the  doctrines 
 recognized  in  the  articles  and  liturgical  service, 
 was  ardently  sincere.  While  at  WTeston,  Mr. 
 Brian  Hill  published  a  poem  called  "Henry 
 and  Acasto;"  and  also  a  volume  of  "Travels 
 through  Sicily  and  Calabria."  Having  frequent 
 occasion  to  retire  to  Bath  for  change  of  air,  he 
 heard,  during  his  residence  in  that  city,  the 
 Rev.  William  Jay,  from  whose  ministry  he 
 derived  much  edification. 
 
 The  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  was  born  at  Hawk- 
 stone  on  the  23rd  of  August,  1744.  His  dispo- 
 sition was  lively,  and  he  wras  fond,  in  his  early 
 days,  of  those  sallies   of  wit   and   playfulness 
 
32  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 which  enlivened  the  passing  moment,  and  to 
 which  he  often  referred  even  till  the  close  of 
 life.  This  liveliness  of  spirit  remained  with 
 him  all  his  days;  and  many  incidents  are 
 recorded  in  the  memories  of  his  faithful  domes- 
 tics, in  which  he  displayed  that  happy  cheerful- 
 ness which  was  one  of  his  distinguishing  cha- 
 racteristics. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  obtained  the  first  rudiments  of 
 knowledge  at  the  royal  grammar-school  of 
 Shrewsbury,  which  was  founded  by  Edward 
 the  Vlth,  and  has  been  in  high  repute  for 
 many  years. 
 
 The  honoured  parents  of  Mr.  Hill  were  dis- 
 tinguished for  their  upright  and  correct  conduct, 
 and  stood  deservedly  high  in  the  esteem  of  all 
 who  knew  them.  There  is,  however,  reason  to 
 fear  that  the  youthful  steps  of  their  child  were 
 not  guided  by  them  into  "the  narrow  way  which 
 leadeth  unto  life." 
 
 The  mind  of  Sir  Rowland  does  not,  indeed, 
 appear  to  have  been  greatly  opposed  to  evan- 
 gelical truth;  since,  when  the  rector  of  his 
 parish  refused  his  pulpit  to  a  faithful  minister 
 and  friend  of  his  son  Richard,  he,  "  with  the 
 greatest  kindness  and  candour,  told  him  that 
 he  should  be  welcome  to  preach  in  his  chapel; 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  33 
 
 an    offer   which   was   accepted   with    thankful- 
 ness."* 
 
 At  an  early  age  Mr.  Hill  appears  to  have 
 been  the  subject  of  religious  impressions,  from 
 reading  Dr.  Watts'  beautiful  hymns  for  chil- 
 dren, which  were  presented  to  him  by  a  Chris- 
 tian lady.  These  impressions  were  afterward* 
 strengthened  by  hearing  his  brother  Richard 
 read  a  sermon  by  Bishop  Beveridge,  supposed 
 to  be  the  one  on  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God." 
 
 On  Mr.  Hill's  removal  to  Eton,  Mr.  Richard 
 Hill  felt  deeply  interested  in  the  spiritual  wel- 
 fare of  his  brother.  His  pious  sister  Jane  also 
 pointed  out  to  him  the  great  importance  or 
 early  devotedness  to  God.  It  is  said  that  Sir 
 Richard  was  accustomed  to  place  his  hand 
 upon  his  brother's  shoulder,  and  exclaim, 
 "  Rowland,  Rowland,  if  you  do  not  repent,  and 
 believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  vou  will  be 
 eternally  lost  ;  assuring  him  that  before  he 
 was  at  his  age,  it  pleased  God  to  shew  him  the 
 necessity  of  caring  for  his  soul,  although  he 
 often  neglected  the  convictions  which  he  then 
 
 *  Life  of  Lady  Glenorohy,  page  75. — The  minister 
 here  referred  to  was  the  Rev.  James  Stillingfleet,  after- 
 wards rector  of  Hotham,  in  Yorkshire. — See  Evange- 
 lical Register  for  August,  1836,  p.  285. 
 
34  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 felt.  He  affectionately  admonished  Rowland 
 "  not  to  be  led  away  by  the  bad  example  of  his 
 schoolfellows.'' 
 
 In  1761,  Mr.  Hill,  then  about  seventeen 
 years  of  age,  was  sent  to  Eton,  whither  he 
 was  followed  by  the  advice  and  prayers  of  his 
 beloved  relatives.  Here  he  was  exposed  to 
 those  peculiar  temptations  which  have  proved 
 fatal  to  many  promising  young  men.  At  this 
 time  he  was  occasionally  the  subject  of  deep 
 distress,  from  the  recollection  of  the  words, 
 "  The  end  of  these  things  is  death." 
 
 The  following  letter  will  shew  the  deep  inte- 
 rest Sir  Richard  continued  to  feel  in  the  spi- 
 ritual prosperity  of  his  brother: — 
 
 "  London,  Feb.  22,  1762. 
 "My  very  dear  Brother, 
 "Though  I  have  been  in  town  upwards  of 
 three  weeks,  yet  I  have  hitherto  deferred  writ- 
 ing, that  I  might  let  you  know  when  the  works 
 of  Archbishop  Leighton,  which  you  desired 
 Archer  to  buy  for  you,  were  to  be  at  Eton, 
 where  you  may  expect  to  have  them  by  the 
 next  machine,  directed  for  you  at  Eton,  carriage 
 paid.  The  reason  they  could  not  be  got  sooner 
 was  owing  to  their  being  almost  out  of  print 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  35 
 
 May  you,  by  the  grace  of  God,  be  enabled  to 
 relish,  digest,  and  practise  the  divine  truths 
 contained  in  tfie  writings  of  this  excellent  pre- 
 late, than  whom  the  Church  of  England  never 
 had  a  brighter  ornament. 
 
 "  But  what  I  particularly  admire  in  this 
 archbishop  is  that  spirit  of  patience  and  resig- 
 nation to  the  Divine  will,  under  every  dispen- 
 sation, which  breathes  throughout  all  his  com- 
 positions, and  plainly  discovers  itself  to  have 
 been  the  habitual  temper  of  his  renewed  heart 
 — a  temper  which  is  the  very  life  and  soul  of 
 Christianity,  and  which  alone  can  bring  true 
 peace  and  comfort  to  the  mind  of  the  believer. 
 But,  then,  how  is  this  disposition  to  be  obtained, 
 since  false  presumption  is  often  mistaken  for 
 peace  of  conscience,  and  a  stupid  apathy  and 
 insensibility  may  make  a  person  think  he  has 
 attained  a  true  gospel  resignation,  when  in 
 reality  he  knows  not  what  it  means.  If  we 
 may  believe  the  Scriptures,  it  is  faith  which 
 brings  peace  and  resignation  to  the  soul. 
 1  Being  justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with 
 God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ/  And 
 again,  t  Thou  shalt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace 
 whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee.'  The  conscience 
 being  first  awakened  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  see 
 
36  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 its  own  defilement,  and  afterwards  pacified  by 
 an  application  of  the  blood  of  sprinkling,  attains 
 a  sweet  composure ;  and,  resting  upon  the  faith- 
 fulness of  the  Redeemer,  and  the  all-sufficiency 
 of  his  undertaking,  is  assured  that  all  things 
 shall  work  together  for  good,  to  those  who  love 
 God,  and  are  called  according  to  his  purpose. 
 This  consideration  makes  it  the  desire  of  the 
 Christian's  heart,  that  the  will  of  God  may  be 
 done  in  him  and  by  him,  and  therefore,  under 
 the  most  distressing  circumstances  or  sharpest 
 sufferings,  he  can  say,  Lord,  thou  knowest  what 
 is  good  for  me  better  than  I  do  for  myself; 
 therefore,  not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done. 
 Moreover,  the  soul  thus  brought  out  of  dark- 
 ness into  the  marvellous  light  of  the  Gospel, 
 sees  an  amiableness  and  excellency  in  Christ 
 Jesus,  which  before  he  knew  nothing  of.  Once 
 he  could  look  upon  the  blessed  Redeemer  as 
 having  i  no  form  nor  comeliness  in  him,  that  he 
 should  desire  him ;'  but  now  he  sees  him  '  alto- 
 gether lovely,  the  chief  among  ten  thousand, 
 full  of  grace  and  truth.'  Having  now  obtained 
 the  precious  faith  of  God's  elect,  Jesus  is  be- 
 come precious  to  his  soul;  'for  to  them  that 
 believe  he  is  precious,'  says  St.  Peter.  Time 
 was,  when  this  poor,  perishing  world,  and  its 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  37 
 
 riches,  honours,  and  pleasures,  ran  away  with 
 his  affections ;  but  the  bent  of  his  heart  being 
 now  changed,  he  pants  only  after  '  the  unsearch- 
 able riches  of  Christ,' — the  honour  which  Com- 
 eth from  God,  and  those  pleasures  which  are  at 
 'his  right  hand  for  evermore.'  Time  was,  when 
 his  own  will  was  his  rule,  and  the  command- 
 ments, ordinances,  and  people  of  God  were  all 
 irksome  to  him;  but  now,  ' being  born  from 
 above,  and  passed  from  death  unto  life,'  it  is 
 the  desire  of  his  heart  to  be  guided  by  the  word 
 and  Spirit  of  God.  He  accounts  his  command- 
 ments no  longer  grievous,  but  a  light  and  easy 
 yoke.  He  says  of  the  ordinances,  '  It  is  good 
 for  me  to  be  here,'  and  his  delight  is  in  the 
 saints  of  the  earth,  and  all  such  as  excel  in 
 virtue.  These  things,  my  dear  brother,  I  am 
 well  assured  you  know  by  happy  experience, 
 and  most  certain  it  is  that  flesh  and  blood  hath 
 not  revealed  them  unto  you,  for  the  natural 
 man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of 
 God,  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they 
 are  spiritually  discerned.  Human  nature  can 
 rise  no  higher  than  its  own  source,  which  is 
 earthly,  sensual,  and  devilish ;'  but  the  anoint- 
 ing, which  you  have  received  of  the  Holy  One, 
 abideth  in  you,  and  he  shall  lead  you  into  all 
 
38  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 truth.'  'Nature,'  says  good  Bishop  Cowper, 
 6  is  stark  blind  to  the  things  of  grace,  since 
 these  can  only  be  apprehended  by  Divine  illu- 
 mination, nor  can  be  taught  by  any  other 
 teacher  than  the  Spirit  of  God.'  But,  though 
 it  has  pleased  the  Lord  to  shew  you,  in  some 
 measure,  the  mysteries  of  his  kingdom,  yet 
 remember  that  you  are  but  '  a  babe  in  Christ, 
 and  know  but  in  part.'  Therefore  be  frequent 
 and  earnest  in  prayer  for  fresh  supplies  of 
 knowledge,  faith,  grace,  and  strength ;  and  you 
 have  all  possible  encouragements  to  be  so,  since 
 'in  Christ  all  fulness  dwells,  and  out  of  that  ful- 
 ness we  receive  grace  for  grace.' 
 
 "Learn  then  to  guard  against  self-depend- 
 ence, and  to  live  more  upon  Christ.  See  that 
 he  be  made  unto  you  wisdom,  righteousness, 
 sanctification,  and  redemption.  Resign  yourself 
 to  him  in  all  his  offices,  as  a  Prophet,  Priest, 
 and  King:  a  Prophet,  to  teach  you;  a  Priest,  to 
 make  atonement  for  you ;  a  King,  to  reign  over 
 you,  and  in  you.  View  him  in  his  pastoral 
 office  in  the  character  of  the  Good  Shepherd, 
 'the  Shepherd  that  gave  his  life  for  his  sheep.' 
 Consider  his  watchfulness  and  tender  care  for 
 his  dear  chosen  flock,  '  that  little  flock  to  whom 
 it  is  his  good  pleasure  to  give  the  kingdom,' 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  39 
 
 having  redeemed  them  by  his  blood  *  out  of 
 every  tongue,  kindred,  and  people,'  having  pro- 
 mised them  eternal  life,  and  <  betrothed  them 
 unto  himself  in  faithfulness,  that  they  might 
 never  perish,  and  none  might  pluck  them  out  of 
 his  hands.' 
 
 "  Consider,  my  dear  brother,  how  that  when 
 you,  as  a  poor  helpless  sheep,  wrere  gone  astray, 
 this  dear  Shepherd  sought  you,  and  brought 
 you  back.  Remember  how,  when  wandering 
 further  and  further  from  his  fold,  he  made  you 
 hear  his  voice  and  follow  him,  '  carrying  you  as 
 a  lamb  in  his  bosom,  and  gently  leading  you 
 whilst  you  were  yet  young/  O  think  of  this 
 J  love  which  passeth  knowledge,'  and  may  it  fill 
 your  heart  with  praise,  and  your  tongue  with 
 thanksgiving.  Let  it  constrain  you  to  live  to 
 Him  who  died  for  you,  and  to  grow  daily  more 
 and  more  in  conformity  to  his  blessed  image, 
 that  so  you  may  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our 
 Saviour  in  all  things,  and  by  well-doing  put  to 
 silence  the  ignorance  of  foolish  men,  who  would 
 falsely  accuse  your  good  conversation  in 
 Christ. 
 
 "  But  remember  that  it  is  not  sufficient  that 
 you  set  yourself  against  outward  sins ;  you  must 
 be  watchful  against  heart  sins — those  sins  that 
 
40  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 are  most  woven  in  you  by  nature  and  constitu- 
 tion. Therefore  try  and  examine  yourself, 
 what  manner  of  spirit  you  are  of;  take  the 
 psalmist's  advice,  '  Commune  with  your  own 
 heart,  and  in  your  chamber,  and  be  still.'  Fear 
 not  to  know  the  worst  of  your  case  at  all  times, 
 since  this  is  the  only  way  to  mend  it ;  whilst 
 self-ignorance  and  self-conceit  have  shipwrecked 
 their  thousands.  Let  pride,  peevishness,  and 
 self-will  be  brought  forth,  lamented,  mortified  ; 
 and,  instead  of  these,  seek  to  put  on  all  the 
 tempers  and  dispositions  of  the  meek  and  lowly 
 Jesus,  with  all  the  sweet  and  lovely  graces  of 
 his  Spirit  Bear  patiently  the  perverseness  and 
 oddities  of  those  who  are  under  the  dominion  of 
 fallen  nature,  and  therefore  objects  of  pity,  not 
 of  revenge.  Condescend  to  the  lowest  offices 
 for  the  lowest  people,  when  you  can  thereby 
 render  the  best  service  either  to  their  souls  or 
 bodies.  c  Become  all  things  to  all  men,'  as  far 
 as  you  can  consistently  with  your  holy  profes- 
 sion; yet  take  care  that  you  abuse  not  your 
 liberty  for  a  cloak  to  sin ;  for  sin  in  the  least 
 degree  allowed  or  consented  to,  will  damp  your 
 comfort,  deaden  your  graces,  and  hinder  your 
 progress  in  the  divine  life.  See  then  that  you 
 be  watchful  against  the  first  risings  of  sin;  dally 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  41 
 
 not  with  so  dangerous  an  enemy.  And  though 
 it  will  plead  hard  to  be  spared,  give  it  no  quar- 
 ter ;  but  clothe  yourself  with  the  whole  armour 
 of  God,  and  fight  like  a  true  Christian  soldier, 
 in  the  strength,  and  under  the  banners,  of  the 
 great  Captain  of  your  salvation,  till  Satan  be 
 bruised  under  your  feet,  and  death  be  swallowed 
 up  in  victory. 
 
 "  I  shall  add  one  word  more,  and  I  have  done. 
 Be  diligent  in  your  studies.  However  human 
 learning  may  prove  a  snare  to  such  as  are 
 4  vainly  puffed  up  in  their  fleshly  minds/  yet  in 
 a  gracious  heart  it  is  very  desirable.  And  if  it 
 be  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  use- 
 ful 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  they  will  rather  be  the 
 means  of  discovering  to  you  the  blindness  and 
 depravity  of  human  nature,  and  the  necessity  of 
 seeking  that  only  true  wisdom  '  that  cometh 
 from  above,'  and  without  which  all  other  wisdom 
 will  prove  in  the  end  to  be  only  refined  folly. 
 
 "  And  now,  with  my  sincere  prayers,  that  if 
 
42  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 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  doctrine  of  her  homilies,  articles,  and 
 common  prayer,  may  prove  yourself  a  faithful 
 labourer  in  the  vineyard  of  our  blessed  Lord, 
 I  conclude  myself 
 
 "  Your  most  affectionate  Brother, 
 
 "  Both  by  grace  and  nature, 
 
 "  Richard  Hill." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  carefully  preserved  this  letter,  and  in 
 April  1794,  sent  a  copy  of  it  to  the  Evangelical 
 Magazine,  with  this  remark :  "  It  was  written  to 
 me  by  my  brother,  Sir  Richard,  when  1  was  first 
 called  to  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  being  at 
 that  time  a  boy  at  Eton  school.  He  was  then 
 himself  but  young  in  the  divine  life.  Perhaps 
 what  was  a  blessing  to  me  may  likewise  be  pro- 
 fitable to  some  young  persons  among  your  read- 
 ers in  similar  circumstances." 
 
 It  was  soon  after  he  reached  the  age  of  eigh- 
 teen, that  Mr.  Hill  entered  into  his  Master's 
 "  sweet   service,"  as  he  frequently  termed  it. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  43 
 
 He  was  fond  of  illustrating  his  grateful  feelings 
 at  that  time,  by  relating  the  tale  of  a  poor 
 negro  who  had  been  kindly  treated  by  his 
 employer.  After  he  had  been  some  time  in 
 his  service,  the  worthy  master  said  to  him, 
 k»  Xow  you  are  of  age,  you  may  go  where  you 
 please,  and  serve  any  master  you  think  proper. 
 I  did  not  buy  you  to  keep  you  as  a  slave,  but 
 that  you  might  enjoy  the  sweets  of  liberty.  You 
 can  leave  my  house  to-morrow,  if  you  like.'1 
 The  poor  slave  was  melted  by  the  power  of 
 kindness,  and,  with  the  deepest  emotion,  he 
 exclaimed,  "  Me  leave  you,  my  dear  massa ; 
 oh !  not  for  all  de  world.  Me  want  no  wages 
 to  serve  you ;  if  massa  turn  me  out  at  one  door, 
 me  will  come  in  at  de  oder."  Our  beloved 
 friend  was  tired  of  the  bondage  of  sin,  but  in 
 the  service  of  the  Redeemer  he  found  "  perfect 
 freedom." 
 
 In  reference  to  his  own  conversion,  and  his 
 religious  feelings  at  this  period,  he  wrote  the 
 following  striking  lines : — 
 
 Did  ever  one  of  Adam's  race 
 Cost  thee,  my  Lord,  more  toil  and  grace, 
 Than  I  have  done,  before  my  soul 
 Could  yield  to  thy  Divine  controul ! 
 
44  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 How  great  the  power,  how  vast  the  sway, 
 That  first  constrained  me  to  obey  ! 
 How  large  the  grace  thou  didst  impart, 
 Which  conquer  d  sin,  and  won  my  heart ! 
 
 Vile  was  my  heart,  deep  plunged  in  sin ; 
 A  dismal  den  of  thieves  within ; 
 Where  every  lust  presum'd  to  dwell, 
 The  hateful  progeny  of  hell. 
 
 A  deep  apostate  from  my  God, 
 I  trampled  on  the  Saviour's  blood ; 
 I  scorn'd  his  mercy,  mock'd  his  pain, 
 And  crucified  my  Lord  again. 
 
 But,  lo  !  the  chief  of  sinners  now 
 Is  brought  before  thy  throne  to  bow : 
 Surely  this  mighty  power  from  thee 
 Can  conquer  all  that  conquers  me. 
 
 Hail,  dearest  Lord,  my  choicest  love. 
 By  pity  drawn  from  realms  above, 
 I  wonder  at  that  grace  of  thine, 
 That  won  a  heart  so  vile  as  mine. 
 
 The  mind  of  Mr.  Hill  was  now  deeply  im- 
 pressed with  the  supreme  importance  of  religion. 
 He  frequently  referred  to  the  subject  in  his 
 subsequent  ministry,  when  appealing  to  young 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  45 
 
 people.  In  the  last  sermon  he  preached,  he 
 thus  encouraged  the  sinner  to  come  to  the 
 Redeemer :  "  You  are  not  farther  from  God 
 than  Saul  of  Tarsus  was ;  you  are  not  farther 
 off  from  God  than  I  was  when  first  I  went  to 
 Eton  school ;  there  never  was  a  sinner  fonder 
 of  this  world,  or  farther  from  the  fear  of  God, 
 than  I  was  then ;  but  God  made  me  wise  by  his 
 own  power." 
 
 Whilst  he  remained  at  Eton,  which  was  about 
 four  years,  he  was  zealously  employed  in  the 
 service  of  his  Lord  and  Master.  With  youthful 
 ardour  and  zeal,  and  under  the  constraining 
 influence  of  "first  love,"  he  was  anxious  to 
 bring  his  companions  to  the  Saviour.  Nor  was 
 he  permitted  to  labour  in  vain ;  for  he  had 
 abundant  evidence  that  souls  had  even  then 
 been  greatly  benefited  through  his  instrumen- 
 tality. 
 
 During  his  residence  at  Eton,  Mr.  Hill  fre- 
 quently displayed  the  wit  and  humour  which, 
 through  life,  enriched  his  conversation.  There 
 '  was  once  a  discussion  among  the  scholars  on  the 
 letter  H.  Some  contended  that  it  had  the  full 
 power  of  a  letter,  but  others  thought  it  was  a 
 mere  aspirate,  and  that  it  might  be  omitted 
 altogether,    without    any  disadvantage    to   our 
 
46  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 language.  Mr.  Hill  earnestly  contended  for  its 
 continuance,  adding,  "  To  me  the  letter  H  is  a 
 most  invaluable  one,  for  if  it  be  taken  away, 
 I  shall  be  ill  all  the  days  of  my  life." 
 
 At  the  close  of  1764,  Mr.  Hill  removed  to 
 Cambridge.  He  first  entered  as  a  pensioner  at 
 St.  John's,  but  afterwards  he  became  a  fellow 
 commoner.  At  this  time  he  was  decidedly 
 devoted  to  God,  and  this  was  his  strong  defence 
 against  the  peculiar  temptations  to  which  he  was 
 then  exposed.  Miss  Jane  Hill,  when  writing  to 
 Lady  Glenorchy,  refers  to  Rowland's*  residence 
 at  Cambridge,  and  gives  a  painful  description  of 
 the  times.  "I  trust,"  she  remarks,  "that  he 
 will  ever  stand  faithful  to  the  cause  of  his  cru- 
 cified Master,  whether  he  be  admitted  as  a 
 minister  of  the  gospel,  to  preach  in  his  name,  or 
 not ;  but,  alas,  to  such  a  deplorable  apostacy  is 
 the  world  come,  that  young  men  who  are  stead- 
 fastly attached  to  the  church,  and  live  exemplary 
 lives,  can  hardly  get  their  testimonials  signed 
 for  orders." 
 
 Even  at  this  period,  there  were  a  few  persons 
 at  Cambridge  who  were  willing  to  deny  them- 
 selves, to  take  up  the  cross,  and  to  follow  Christ. 
 
 *  Lady  Glenorchy's  Life,  page  89. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  47 
 
 The  late  Rev.  David  Simpson,  of  Macclesfield, 
 Pentycross,  of  Wallingford,  and  others,  counted 
 it  all  joy  to  suffer  persecution  for  their  Master's 
 sake. 
 
 Mr.  Hill,  when  speaking  of  Mr.  Robinson  of 
 Leicester,  said,  "  He  was  pointed  at  with  myself 
 at  Cambridge,  as  being  out  of  the  common  way. 
 He  was  not  ashamed  to  be  known  as  the  friend 
 of  those  who  were  stigmatized  for  their  religion, 
 though  he  might  not  strictly  accord  with  them 
 in  sentiment  or  in  conduct."  He  was  con- 
 versing one  day  in  the  walks  with  a  fellow- 
 commoner  of  his  own  college,  when  Mr.  Hill 
 passed  by,  whom  the  person  he  was  conversing 
 with  seemed  surprised  that  he  should  notice ;  so 
 great  was  the  contempt  in  which  decidedly  reli- 
 gious people  were  then  held  in  the  university. 
 On  his  inquiring  who  he  was,  Mr.  Robinson 
 answered  gravely,  '  It  is  Mr.  Hill  of  St. 
 John's.' "  * 
 
 Mr.  Hill,  in  the  following  extract,  describes 
 the  occupations  of  the  pious  band  of  his  friends, 
 during  their  residence  at  Cambridge : — 
 
 "Our  custom  was  to  read  with  each  other 
 the  Greek  Testament,    and  other    evangelical 
 
 *  Yaughan's  Life  of  Rev.  Thomas  Robinson,  of 
 Leicester,  page  25. 
 
48  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 publications :  these  meetings  we  always  con- 
 cluded with  prayer.  The  university  was  almost  in 
 total  darkness.  No  wonder,  therefore,  if,  for  such 
 exercises,  and  for  some  other  strong  symptoms 
 of  a  methodistical  bias,  we  were  specially 
 marked,  and  had  the  honour  of  being  pointed  at 
 as  the  curiosities  of  the  day.  This  did  good. 
 Others  soon  joined  us,  to  the  number  of  ten  or 
 twelve  :  some  of  them  were  Nicodemian  disci- 
 ples ;  others  have  proved  bold  and  useful  minis- 
 ters ;  and  some  of  them,  I  trust,  have  been 
 taken  to  glory."  * 
 
 Mr.  Hill  had  not  been  long  at  Cambridge 
 before  his  fame  reached  the  excellent,  though 
 eccentric  John  Berridge,  the  vicar  of  Everton. 
 He  dispatched  a  faithful  messenger  with  a  note, 
 requesting  an  interview  with  Mr.  Hill,  which 
 soon  afterwards  took  place.  It  is  important  for 
 ministers  to  watch  over  and  encourage  youthful 
 disciples,  since  a  word  in  season,  or  an  affec- 
 tionate admonition,  may  preserve  them  in  the 
 hour  of  temptation,  and  prove  a  peculiar  bless- 
 ing to  them,  and  to  the  church  of  Christ.  In 
 after  life,  Mr.  Hill  frequently  referred  to  his 
 sabbath-day  journeys  to  Everton.  He  once  re- 
 marked, "  In  my  younger  days,  the  very  thought 
 *  First  Journal,  page  4. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  49 
 
 of  the  rising  Sabbath  was  very  pleasant  indeed 
 to  my  mind;  oh,  how  delightful  was  the  sun- 
 shine upon  the  day  in  which  my  God  was  to  be 
 served ;  when  I  went  into  his  sanctuary  with  an 
 appetite  for  the  sacred  service,  and  with  a  desire 
 to  say,  "  An  hour  spent  in  thy  house  is  better 
 than  all  I  can  spend  elsewhere."  In  reference 
 to  the  commencement  of  his  religious  course,  he 
 would  often  say,  "  I  have  never  regretted  that 
 I  went  too  young  to  the  dear  Redeemer ;  but 
 I  have  often  regretted  that  I  did  not  go  to  him 
 much  earlier  than  I  did." 
 
 The  ministry  of  Mr.  Berridge,  and  his  private 
 counsels,  were  useful  to  his  young  friend,  though 
 it  is  to  be  feared  that  the  singularities  of  that 
 good  man  strengthened  those  peculiar  traits  in 
 Mr.  Hill's  character,  which  occasionally  led  him 
 to  forget  the  sanctity  of  the  pulpit.  "  Mr.  Ber- 
 ridge," remarks  Mr.  Newton,  "  was  a  first-rate 
 man,  both  as  a  minister  and  a  Christian,  but  he 
 could  not  easily  restrain  his  natural  turn  for 
 humour  and  drollery.  This  was  certainly  a 
 blemish,  especially  when  he  brought  it  into 
 the  pulpit.' ' 
 
 Under  the  counsels  of  Mr.  Berridge,  and 
 other  friends,  Mr.  Hill  preached  "the  unsearch- 
 able riches  of  Christ"  before  he  had  completed 
 
50  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 his  collegiate  course.  His  first  attempt  appears 
 to  have  been  in  a  cottage  on  his  father's  estate, 
 where  he  expounded  to  the  poor  people  por- 
 tions of  Holy  Scripture.  He  afterwards 
 preached  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Cambridge^ 
 and,  accompanied  by  Pentycross,  Simpson,  and 
 others,  he  visited  in  jails,  workhouses,  and  sick 
 rooms,  calling  sinners  to  repentance. 
 
 On  one  of  these  occasions  he  met  with  ayoung 
 man,  who  was  about  to  be  executed  for  rob- 
 bery. "After  I  and  Mr.  Pentycross  prayed 
 with  him,"  he  says,  "  I  asked  him,  before  the 
 executioner  came  for  his  body  to  be  hung  up  at 
 the  prison-door,  "  Can  you  give  me  any  hope 
 that  God  has  answered  our  prayers,  and  broken 
 your  heart?"  The  poor  man,  rattling  his 
 chains,  being  fast  bound  in  misery  and  iron, 
 burst  into  tears,  and  said,  "  O  Sir,  my  heart  is 
 as  hard  as  a  stone."  This  fact  was  frequently 
 mentioned  by  Mr.  Hill,  in  appealing  to  sinners, 
 and  accompanied  by  the  fervent  prayer,  "  From 
 hardness  of  heart,  and  contempt  of  thy  holy 
 word  and  commandments,  O  Lord  deliver  us." 
 
 In  the  year  1766,  Mr.  Hill  became  person- 
 ally and  intimately  acquainted  with  Whitefield, 
 with  whom  he  corresponded,  seeking  his  coun- 
 sel  when   the   subject  of  severe    persecution 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  51 
 
 From  that  devoted  man  he  received  several 
 letters,  urging  him  to  persevere  in  his  course, 
 and  assuring  him  that  dear  old  Berridge,  and 
 good  Lady  Huntingdon,  with  many  others, 
 truly  rejoiced  that  he  was  counted  worthy  to 
 suffer  persecution  for  the  sake  of  a  crucified 
 but  risen  Saviour.  Mr.  Hill  firmly  followed 
 his  friend's  advice,  and,  through  evil  and  good 
 report,  preached  to  perishing  sinners  "repent- 
 ance towards  God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  entertained  the  greatest  veneration 
 for  his  beloved  Whitefield.  He  preserved  his 
 letters  with  much  care,  and  read  them  occa- 
 sionally to  the  members  of  his  church.  He  had 
 an  excellent  bust  of  him  in  his  library,  and 
 always  appeared  anxious  to  follow  in  his  steps, 
 not  only  as  a  preacher,  but  as  an  earnest  sup- 
 pliant at  the  throne  of  grace,  for  he  considered 
 the  great  secret  of  Whitefield's  success  to  be 
 his  power  in  prayer.  At  the  close  of  the  Sab- 
 bath-day, after  preaching  three  or  four  times, 
 Whitefield  would  fall  upon  the  floor,  and  wrestle 
 with  God  for  a  blessing  on  his  labours,  and 
 continue  long  in  fervent  supplication,  before  he 
 took  any  refreshment. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  used   to  mention   an   interesting 
 
52  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 incident,  which  took  place  during  one  of  his 
 visits  to  Mr.  Whitefield.  This  eloquent  and 
 successful  preacher  was  requested  to  call  on 
 a  poor  woman,  who  had  been  dreadfully  burnt. 
 He  promptly  obeyed  the  summons,  and  prayed 
 with  the  sufferer.  Soon  after  he  left  her,  she 
 exclaimed,  "Where  is  Mr.  Whitefield?  I  must 
 see  Mr.  Whitefield."     Her  friends  urged  Mr. 
 
 W to  visit  her  a  second  time,  when  he 
 
 again  went  and  prayed  with  her.  Her  friends 
 came  a  third  time,  when  Mr.  Hill,  perceiving 
 the  painful  impressions  the  affecting  scene  had 
 produced  upon  his  friend's  mind,  urged  him  not 
 to  go,  as  he  could  not  expect  to  do  any  good. 
 "  I  shall  never  forget,"  said  Mr.  Hill,  "  his  re- 
 proving words :  4  Leave  me,  Sir ;  my  Master 
 can  save  to  the  uttermost,  to  the  very  utter- 
 most,' "  and  immediately  proceeded  to  the  dis- 
 tressed female. 
 
 Mr.  Hill's  beautiful  sketch  of  Whitefield's 
 character  and  success^  will  interest  the  reader : 
 "  It  pleased  God  to  give  him  a  most  enlarged 
 mind,  and  liberated  him  from  all  the  wretched 
 trammels  of  education.  He  knew  no  party; 
 his  glory  was  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every 
 creature.  Bigotry  his  soul  abhorred ;  and,  like 
 a  second  Samson,  he  has  so  made  her  main 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  OC 
 
 supporting  pillars  to  totter,  that  we  may  re- 
 joice that  she  trembles  to  the  very  founda- 
 tion, and  daily  live  in  hope  that  her  entire 
 destruction  shall  complete  our  joy.  Now, 
 though  I  cannot  thank  the  devil  for  any 
 thing,  yet  I  will  say,  I  thank  God  for  that  per- 
 missive providence,  whereby  that  great  man, 
 being  turned  out  of  the  churches,  esteemed  it 
 his  duty  to  preach  at  large.  His  first  attempt 
 was  among  the  poor  Kingswood  colliers;  and  I 
 defy  any  missionary  upon  earth  to  find  a  darker 
 spot,  or  to  visit  a  more  benighted  people. 
 These  he  called  out  of  the  holes  and  dens  of 
 the  earth,  and  to  these  he  preached  'repent- 
 ance towards  God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ.'  Oh  !  it  was  a  lovely  sight  to  behold 
 the  glorious  effect !  Eyes  unaccustomed  to 
 weep  before,  now  began  to  flow  with  the  tears 
 of  repentance  unto  life;  white  streaks  ap- 
 pearing thereby  on  their  black  faces,  now 
 turned  up  towards  heaven,  praying  for  mercy 
 and  forgiveness.  Knees  unaccustomed  to 
 prayer  before,  were  now  bent  in  fervent  devo- 
 tion before  God ;  and  their  lives  well  and  wisely 
 regulated  by  the  power  of  that  grace  which  had 
 done  such  wonders  in  their  hearts."* 
 *  Gospel  Grace,  p.  5. 
 
54  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  early  path  of  Mr.  Hill  was  not  without 
 thorns.  He  found  that  through  much  tribula- 
 tion he  had  to  enter  the  kingdom  of  God.  Not 
 only  were  his  parents  opposed  to  his  religious 
 course,  but  his  tutor  strongly  condemned  his 
 irregularities.  In  his  latter  years  he  occasion- 
 ally referred  to  parental  opposition,  but  always 
 with  the  feelings  of  a  great  mind.  Never  did 
 he  forget  the  Divine  command,  "  Honour  thy 
 father  and  mother." 
 
 There  is  a  statement  in  circulation  in  the 
 neighbourhood  of  Hawkestone,  that  an  affecting 
 scene  was  once  witnessed  in  the  family  mansion. 
 The  parents  of  the  youthful  preacher  insisted 
 on  his  giving  up  his  erratic  career,  while  the 
 son  respectfully  but  firmly  contended  for  liberty 
 of  conscience.  At  tbe  moment  a  positive  threat 
 of  exclusion  from  the  family  circle  was  issued, 
 the  Divine  words  cheered  the  sufferer,  and  kept 
 him  steadily  to  his  purpose  :  "  When  my  father 
 and  my  mother  forsake  me*  then  the  Lord  will 
 take  me  up." 
 
 The  mind  of  Mr.  Hill  was  formed  in  too  sen- 
 sitive a  mould  not  to  feel  most  keenly  the  oppo- 
 sition he  experienced.  On  his  return  to  the  beau- 
 tiful and  splendid  scenery  of  Hawkstone,  though 
 surrounded  by  the  most  lovely  attractions  of 
 
 i 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  55 
 
 nature,  he  found  no  peace.  His  own  remark 
 on  the  subject  strongly  describes  his  condition. 
 "Hawkestone  is  now  a  furnace  indeed."  But  he 
 was  enabled,  through  the  timely  grace  given  to 
 him,  "to  glorify  his  heavenly  Father  in  those 
 fires."  At  the  close  of  his  life  he  was  walking 
 on  the  terrace  at  Hawkestone,"  states  Mr. 
 Sidney,  "  when  he  remarked  to  a  lady  who  was 
 with  him,  and  who  had  witnessed  the  affection- 
 ate attentions  which  were  paid  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  added,  whilst  the  tears  fell  down  his  aged 
 cheeks,  "  it  was  for  the  cause  of  my  God." 
 
 The  father  of  our  venerable  friend  allowed 
 him  but  a  small  annual  income,  on  account  of 
 his  strong  disapproval  of  his  conduct.  It  was, 
 therefore,  a  common  occurrence  for  him  to  tra- 
 vel in  his  Master's  service,  not  having  a  shilling 
 in  his  pocket,  and  without  knowing  in  the 
 morning  "  where  he  should  rest  at  night."  His 
 mother,  from  her  mistaken  notions  of  reli- 
 gion, was  his  strongest  foe.  Mr.  Hill  felt  very 
 deeply  her  removal  from  the  world,  and  improved 
 
56  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 the  event  at  the  Tabernacle  in  London,  from 
 2nd  Samuel  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 :  for  this  is  all  my  salvation,  and  all  my 
 desire,  although  he  make  it  not  to  grow." 
 
 Notwithstanding,  Mr.  Hill  found  his  greatest 
 spiritual  foes  to  be  those  of  "his  own  house- 
 hold," yet  he  continued  to  preach  the  word  "  in 
 season  and  out  of  season." 
 
 In  his  village  labours  he  was  often  insulted 
 by  the  people,  and  considered  by  them  a  wild 
 enthusiast,  although  he  spake  "the  words  of 
 truth  and  soberness."  He  frequently  referred 
 to  these  seasons  with  calm  delight,  persuaded 
 that  he  was  then  made  the  means  of  leading 
 many  souls  to  the  Redeemer. 
 
 At  this  period  there  was  much  excitement  in 
 the  public  mind,  in  consequence  of  the  itinerant 
 labours  of  Whitefield,  Wesley,  and  others. 
 Several  devoted  laymen  were  active  in  preach- 
 ing "the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ;"  and 
 among  them  was  the  zealous  and  laborious  Cap- 
 tain Scott,  a  friend  of  the  Countess  of  Hunting- 
 don. Speaking  of  this  lay  brother,  Mr.  Hill  says, 
 "I  knew  him  a  preacher  in  his  red  coat,  before 
 he  left  the  army.      Since  he  has  been  in  the 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  57 
 
 ministry  of  the  word,  he  has  proved  himself  a 
 labourer  that  needs  not  be  ashamed,  and  still  con- 
 tinues to  bring  forth  fruit  in  his  old  age.  Would 
 to  God  it  were  my  lot  to  encourage  a  thousand 
 such  soldiers  and  lay  preachers  in  the  same 
 blessed  cause.,,# 
 
 Mr.  Berridge  also  rejoiced  in  these  varied 
 efforts  to  bring  sinners  to  Christ,  although 
 the  active  labourers  met  with  much  opposition 
 from  "  many  prudent  and  regular  minis- 
 ters." In  answering  the  letter  of  a  clergyman 
 who  inquired  how  he  should  judge  whether  he 
 was  called  to  the  office  of  an  itinerant, 
 Mr.  Berridge  replied  in  the  following  character- 
 istic manner  : 
 
 "  If  you  are  enabled  to  speak  without  notes, 
 — feel  an  abiding  desire  to  preach  the  Gospel, 
 — meet  with  calls  for  this  purpose,  —  comply 
 with  the  calls, — find  the  word  sealed, — and  if 
 persecuted  and  threatened,  have  the  word  given 
 for  support : — where  these  concur,  I  have  no 
 doubt  but  such  a  minister  is  designed  for  a 
 rural  dean,  or  a  rambling  bishop.  You  must 
 wave  the  Gospel-flag,  and  magnify  the  Saviour 
 supremely.     Speak  it  with  a  full  mouth,  that 
 
 *  Tour  through  the  Highlands,  p.  4. 
 
58  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 his  blood  can  wash  away  the  foulest  sins,  and 
 his  grace  subdue  the  stoutest  corruptions. 
 Expect  plain  fare  and  plain  lodging  where  you 
 preach,  yet  perhaps  better  than  your  Master 
 had.  Suffer  no  treats  to  be  made  for  you,  but 
 live  as  your  host  usually  lives,  else  he  may 
 grow  weary  in  entertaining  you.  The  chief 
 blocks  in  your  way  will  be  the  prudent  Peters, 
 who  will  beg,  entreat,  and  beseech  you  to  avoid 
 irregularity.  Give  them  the  same  answer  that 
 Christ  gave  Peter,  Matt.  xvi.  23."* 
 
 Early  in  the  year  1768,  an  event  happened, 
 which  agitated  the  members  of  both  the  Eng- 
 lish universities,  and  seemed  intended  as  an 
 admonition  to  all  the  irregular  troops.  Six 
 pious  young  students  were  expelled  from  St. 
 Edmund  Hall,  in  Oxford,  for  praying,  reading, 
 singing  hymns,  and  exhorting  each  other  in 
 private  and  religious  meetings ! 
 
 Mr.  Hill,  and  his  brother,  Sir  Richard,  felt 
 deeply  interested  for  the  persecuted  students. 
 The  following  particulars  appeared  in  the 
 St.  James's  Chronicle,  for  Thursday,  the  17th 
 of  March,  176a 
 
 "On  Friday  last,  March  9,    1768,  six  stu- 
 
 *  Evangelical  Magazine,  May,  1794. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  59 
 
 dents,  belonging  to  St.  Edmund  Hall,  were 
 expelled  the  University,  after  a  hearing  of 
 several  hours,  before  Mr.  Vice-Chancellor,  and 
 some  of  the  heads  of  houses,  for  holding  metho- 
 distical  tenets,  and  taking  upon  them  to  pray, 
 read,  and  expound  the  Scriptures,  and  sing 
 hymns  in  a  private  house.*  The  principal  of 
 the  College,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dixon,  defended 
 their  doctrines  from  the  thirty-nine  articles  of 
 the  established  Church,  and  spoke  in  the  high- 
 est terms  of  the  piety  and  exemplariness  of 
 their  lives ;  but  his  motion  was  overruled,  and 
 sentence  pronounced  against  them.  Dr.  Dixon 
 observed  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.  Mr.  Vice-Chancellor 
 was  heard  to  tell  their  chief  accuser  that  the 
 University  was  much  obliged  to  him  for  his 
 good  work. 
 
 "  The  following  are  the  names  of  the  young 
 men,   and    the    sentence    pronounced    against 
 them,  namely,  James  Matthews,  Thomas  Jones, 
 Joseph  Shipman,  Benjamin  Kay,  Erasmus  Mid 
 die  ton,  and  Thomas  Grove. 
 
 *  The  house  of  Mrs.  Durbridge,  the  widow  of  one 
 of  Mr.  Whitefield's  devoted  friends. 
 
60  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 u  For  the  crimes  above  mentioned,  we,  David 
 Durell,  D.D.,  Vice-Chancellor  of  the  University, 
 and  Visiter  of  the  Hall;  Thomas  Randolph, 
 D.D.,  President  of  Christ  Church  College; 
 Thomas  Fothergill,  D.D.,  Provost  of  Queen's 
 College;  Thomas  Nowell,  D.D.,  Principal  of 
 St.  Mary's  Hall ;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Atterbury, 
 A.M.  of  Christ  Church,  Senior  Proctor,  deem 
 each  of  them  worthy  of  being  expelled  the 
 Hall ;  I  therefore,  by  my  visitorial  power,  do 
 hereby  pronounce  them  expelled. 
 
 The  case  of  these  persecuted  students  was 
 ably  supported  by  Sir  Richard  Hill,  in  his 
 (i  Pietas  Oxoniensis,"  and  also  by  the  learned 
 Dr.  Home,  the  Bishop  of  Norwich.  The 
 "  Shaver,"  and  other  caustic  works,  also  made 
 their  appearance  on  this  occasion. 
 
 The  state  of  public  feeling  at  this  time,  may 
 be  gathered  from  the  remarks  on  Sir  Richard 
 Hill's  defence  of  these  young  men  by  one  of  the 
 reviewers  of  the  day,  "  We  have  not  lately  met 
 with  so  able  a  vindication  of  orthodoxy  and 
 modern  fanaticism,  and  we  cannot  but  appre- 
 hend that  if  its  contents  are  not  properly 
 exposed  and  refuted,  such  a  performance  may 
 impose  on,  and  mislead  many  an  unwary  reader. 
 The  progress  of  methodism  among  us  is  now 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  61 
 
 become  so  considerable,  that  it  seems  to  be 
 high  time  for  rational  religion  and  common 
 sense  to  keep  a  good  watch,  and  defend  them- 
 selves against  its  encroachments,  lest  we  again 
 be  overwhelmed  by  an  inundation  of  pious  bar- 
 barism, worse  than  that  of  those  spiritual  Goths 
 and  Vandals,  the  monks."* 
 
 Happily  for  the  members  of  the  church  of 
 England,  these  times  of  persecution  have  passed 
 away.  Long  before  Mr,  Hill's  removal  from 
 this  world,  he  said,  "Blessed  be  God,  things 
 now  bear  a  more  pleasing  aspect  in  the  Univer- 
 sity. The  Gospel  is  at  present  not  only  faith- 
 fully 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  fervency  and  zeal,  her  long- 
 neglected  doctrines  to  the  consciences  of  their 
 hearers.,,# 
 
 During  Mr.  Hill's  residence  at  Cambridge, 
 he  was  much  attached  to  Johnny  Stittle,  one  of 
 Mr.  Berridge's  converts,  who  afterwards  became 
 a  lay  preacher.    He  was  naturally  a  gifted  man, 
 
 *  Monthly  Keview,  June,  1768 
 t  First  Journal,  p.  4. 
 
62  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 though,  like  his  patron,  he  moved  in  his  own 
 orbit.  He  preached  for  many  years  in  Green- 
 street,  Cambridge,  and  died  in  1813,  in  his 
 eighty- seventh  year.  He  was  "a  workman  that 
 needed  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the 
 word  of  truth."  The  collegians  would  some- 
 times hear  him  on  account  of  his  remarkable 
 eccentricities,  when  the  word  frequently  reached 
 the  hearts  of  vain,  thoughtless  young  men,  and 
 they  retired  from  the  conventicle  to  their 
 rooms,  to  mourn  over  their  sins, 
 Truth  from  his  lips  prevailed  with  double  sway, 
 And  fools  who  came  to  scoff  remained  to  pray. 
 
 On  one  occasion,  when  Mr.  Hill  was  on  his 
 way  to  Duxford,  to  preach  for  the  Missionary 
 Society,  he  suddenly  exclaimed,  "  I  must  go  to 
 Cambridge,  and  see  the  widow  of  an  old  cler- 
 gyman, who  lives  there, — for  I  have  a  message 
 to  leave  with  her."  He  was  urged  not  to  go, — 
 but  he  was  firm  to  his  purpose.  He  spent  a 
 short  time  with  the  venerable  widow,  and 
 reached  Duxford  just  before  the  evening  ser- 
 vice. On  entering  his  friend  Mr.  Pyne's  house, 
 he  said,  "  Dear  me,  I  quite  forgot  to  leave  the 
 message  with  the  widow,"  and  seemed  almost 
 determined  to  return  to  Cambridge.  He,  how- 
 ever, remained  during  the  service,  and  on  being 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  63 
 
 asked  whether  the  message  he  had  forgotten 
 was  important,  he  replied,  "  Yes,  sir,  I  wanted 
 the  old  lady,  who  will  soon  be  in  heaven,  to 
 give  my  love  to  Johnny  Stittle,  and  tell  him  I 
 shall  soon  see  him  again." 
 
 Mr.  Hill's  individual  attachments  were  re- 
 markably strong,  and  generally  continued  through 
 life.  "  It  is  now  more  than  twenty-eight  years," 
 remarked  the  pious  Cornelius  Winter,  "  that  I 
 have  enjoyed  Mr.  Hill's  friendship.  —  If  the 
 same  degree  of  bounty  and  honour  had  been  in 
 some  pretending  friendship,  that  I  have  proved 
 in  him,  there  had  not  been  such  diversity  in 
 my  memoirs."  This  attachment  was  reciprocal. 
 Hence  Mr.  Hill  mentions  in  his  first  tour, 
 "Preached  for  my  good  old  apostolic  brother, 
 Mr.  Winter.  A  better  or  purer  man  lives  not, 
 to  adorn  the  church  of  Christ." 
 
 Early  in  the  year  1769,  Mr.  Hill  obtained 
 the  degree  of  B.  A.  He  was  a  diligent  student, 
 notwithstanding  his  numerous  engagements, 
 and  though  "a  fellow-commoner,"  his  name 
 appeared  in  the  list  of  honours. 
 
 Immediately  after  the  completion  of  his 
 studies  at  Cambridge,  he  was  anxious  to  obtain 
 ordination,  but  his  irregular  course  threw  many 
 difficulties  in  his  way.     On  this  subject  he  says, 
 
64  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "For  visiting  the  sick  and  imprisoned,  and 
 expounding  the  Scriptures  in  private  houses, 
 I  met  with  no  less  than  six  refusals,  before  I 
 gained  admission  into  the  established  church, — 
 but,  blessed  be  God,  all  this  proved  for  the  fur- 
 therance of  the  Gospel.  i  The  wrath  of  man 
 shall  praise  him,  and  the  remainder  thereof 
 shall  he  restrain.'" 
 
 The  mind  of  Mr.  Hill  was  kept  in  painful 
 suspense  for  nearly  four  years  on  the  subject  of 
 ordination.  During  this  period,  however,  he 
 was  "  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season,"  in 
 his  Master's  work.  He  not  only  preached  in 
 dissenting  chapels,  but  continued  his  itine- 
 rating tours  through  many  parts  of  England. 
 He  was  pelted  with  eggs  and  stones,  lampooned, 
 and  burnt  in  effigy;  but  "none  of  these  things 
 moved  him." 
 
 On  the  death  of  Whitefield,  in  1770,  it 
 was  generally  supposed  that  Mr.  Hill  would 
 succeed  him  at  the  Tabernacle  and  Tottenham 
 court  chapels  ;  but  this  was  not  the  will  of 
 God.  Mr.  Hill  was  anxious  for  episcopal  ordi- 
 nation, and  was  not  disposed  to  take  a  step 
 which    might    have    excluded    him    altogether 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  5. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  65 
 
 from  official  connexion  with  the  established 
 church.  His  labours  in  both  chapels  were 
 greatly  blessed  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  under 
 one  sermon  at  Tottenham-court  many  sinners 
 were  led  to  inquire,  "What  shall  I  do  to  be 
 saved  ?" 
 
 Mr.  Berridge,  in  his  usual  quaint  manner,  in 
 a  letter  to  Lady  Huntingdon,  dated  May  8th, 
 1771,  thus  notices  Mr.  Hill's  preaching  at 
 Bath: — "I  find  you  have  got  honest  Rowland 
 down  to  Bath :  he  is  a  pretty  young  spaniel,  fit 
 for  land  or  water,  and  has  a  wonderful  yelp. 
 He  forsakes  father  and  mother  and  brethren, 
 and  gives  up  all  for  Jesus; — and  I  believe  wall 
 prove  a  useful  labourer,  if  he  keeps  clear  of  pet- 
 ticoat snares.  The  Lord  has  owned  him  much 
 at  Cambridge,  and  in  the  north,  and  I  hope  will 
 own  him  more  abundantly  in  the  west." 
 
 In  1771,  on  the  Sabbath  evening  of  the  17th 
 of  June,  Mr.  Hill  preached,  for  the  first  time,  in 
 the  market-place  of  Wottonunderedge,  Glouces- 
 tershire, from  Eph.v.  19,  and  the  good  effects  of 
 the  attempt  he  then  commenced  have  continued 
 to  this  day.  In  that  town  he  afterwards  built  a 
 tabernacle  for  God,  endowed  alms-houses  for  its 
 members,  and  made  it  his  summer  residence. 
 There  many  sinners  have  been  led  to  God,  and 
 
66  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 the  "despised  intinerant,"  by  his  will,  has  made 
 arrangements  for  supporting  the  religious  interest 
 which  he  established  in  that  town. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  appears  at  this  season  "  to  have 
 experienced  it  to  be  all  joy  that  he  was  counted 
 worthy  to  suffer  persecution"  for  the  sake  of  his 
 dear  Master.  Though  he  was  passing  through 
 the  paths  of  tribulation,  yet  all  his  trials  were 
 to  be  overruled  for  the  promotion  of  his 
 Saviour's  cause.  The  Christian  plant  must 
 often  be  watered  by  affliction,  ere  it  comes  to 
 maturity,  or  its  beauties  can  be  fully  developed. 
 
 At  this  time  Mr.  Hill  wrote  the  following 
 letter  to  his  dear  friend  in  affliction,  Mr.  Pen- 
 ty cross,  afterwards  vicar  of  Wallingford: — 
 
 "Wells,  Aug.  1,  1770. 
 "  My  dear  Penty, 
 "  I  never  sat  down  to  write  you  with  such 
 a  glee  as  at  present,  since  I  have  known  you. 
 From  the  very  bottom  of  my  soul  I  wish  you 
 joy,  on  account  of  your  being  an  outcast  foi 
 God.  This  good  news  I  had  about  nine  days 
 ago  from  Mr.  Ivison,  my  dear  friend,  of  Leeds. 
 I  could  scarce  help  writing  to  you  immediately, 
 but  have,  with  much  pain,  waited  till  you  could 
 have  this  letter  free.     Your  rejection  pleases 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  67 
 
 me  so  much  tne  better,  on  account  of  your  hav- 
 ing met  with  it  from  my  old  friend,  the  prelate 
 of  York,  who  was  the  last,  blessed  be  God,  that 
 put  the  same  honour  upon  me.  At  first,  when 
 they  began  to  reject  me,  I  was  coward  enough 
 to  give  way  to  my  fears,  and  fool  enough  to  con- 
 clude that  unless  I  went  forth  overlaid  with 
 black,  the  very  colour  of  the  devil,  I  never 
 should  prevail ;  but  blessed  be  God  that  every 
 day's  experience  more  fully  proves  to  me  that 
 all  my  fears  wrere  nothing  but  deceit.  Will  my 
 dear  Penty  (though  he  has  frequently  rebuked 
 me  for  it)  suffer  me  to  boast  myself  a  little ; 
 while  I  think  I  may  venture  to  say,  I  mean  it 
 not  for  my  glory,  but  for  your  encouragement. 
 The  poorest  of  the  poor,  and  the  vilest  of  the 
 vile,  is  the  only  character  that  at  all  times  I 
 mean  to  claim  as  my  own,  while,  at  the  same 
 time,  may  I  be  enabled  to  give  all  the  glory  to 
 the  power  of  triumphant  grace,  that  in  any 
 measure  helps  us  to  go  forward.  Thousands 
 and  thousands  attend  all  about  these  parts,  and 
 the  evident  power  of  great  grace  is  abundantly 
 amongst  us.  We  have  more  than  enough  daily 
 before  our  eyes,  fully  to  convince  us  that  no 
 human  garb,  or  human  authority,  shall  ever  be 
 wanting,   when   the    power   of  the   Gospel   is 
 
B?  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 present  to  heal.  Upon  the  whole,  every  day's 
 experience  more  fully  satisfies  me  that  all 
 things  that  have  ever  hitherto  happened,  have 
 been  entirely  for  the  best. 
 
 "  I  do  not,  however,  my  dear  brother,  mean 
 to  lay  down  my  conduct  as  a  rule  for  your 
 walk ;  no,  I  trust,  from  my  soul,  that  I  detest 
 the  thought  of  ever  assuming  that  place  in  any 
 man's  conscience,  which  so  strictly  belongs  to 
 God.  My  only  and  ardent  prayer  for  you  is, 
 that  God  may  abundantly  baptize  you  with  his 
 Holy  Spirit — first  fit  you  for  his  will,  and  then 
 teach  you  wrhat  it  is.  If  your  eye  is  but  simple, 
 and  your  heart  indeed  devoted  to  God,  no 
 doubt  you  will  not  long  be  left  in  the  dark. 
 
 "After  having  said  thus  much,  I  mention 
 what  follows  in  general  terms.  As  a  despised 
 outcast,  and  servant  of  the  dear  Lord  Jesus,  I 
 can  answrer  for  hundreds,  yea,  I  may  say  thou- 
 sands, that  long  to  have  the  honour  to  receive 
 you,  as  a  messenger  of  the  Gospel,  in  their 
 open  arms.  I  can  answer  for  Bristol  above  all 
 places  besides, — how  gladly  they  would  receive 
 you,  as  their  own  soul !  and  as  they  have  done 
 me  the  unsought  kindness  to  put  me  into  the 
 Tabernacle  connexion  in  that  city,  and  having 
 thereby  some  right  to  send  you  an  invitation, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  69 
 
 I  do,  with  multitudes  of  others,  send  you  a  most 
 cordial  one ;  if  you  find  your  heart  inclined  to 
 cast  your  despised  lot  amongst  us,  pray  come 
 without  delay.  The  harvest  in  these  parts  is 
 truly  very  great,  and  our  labourers  are  but  few. 
 Multitudes  of  fresh  places  are  lately  broken  up, 
 and  promise  wonderfully  for  established  works, 
 and  it  only  grieves  us  that  we  cannot  attend 
 even  half  of  our  calls.  Dear  Captain  Joss  has 
 been  amongst  us,  he  will  help  us  when  he 
 returns,  which,  I  believe,  will  not  be  for  some 
 weeks,  as  he  is  now  gone  to  preach  about 
 Wales.  He  has  been  preaching  in  Gloucester- 
 shire to  larger  congregations  than  ever  Mr. 
 Whitefield  had.  About  15,000,  or  upwards,  was 
 his  congregation,  on  the  Sunday  before  last,  at 
 Hampton  Common. 
 
 "  Direct  for  me  at  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kinsman's, 
 Plymouth  :  but  as  I  am  not  certain  whether 
 that  direction  will  be  sufficient,  you  had  better 
 ask  Mr.  Keene,  or  some  of  the  London  friends, 
 for  a  surer  direction ;  only,  my  dear  Penty,  do 
 remember  and  write  soon,  and  when  you  write, 
 pray  don't  forget  to  send  me  the  particulars  of 
 your  refusal. 
 
 "  Dear  love  awaits  dear,  dear  Mr.  Atkinson, 
 and  all  other  friends  in  London.     As  the  last 
 
70  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 post  brought  me  a  very  kind  invitation  from 
 Mr.  Keene  to  Tabernacle  and  Tottenham, 
 I  know  not  but  that  before  the  expiration  of 
 any  long  time,  if  God  spares  my  life,  I  may 
 beat  up  to  that  part  of  the  kingdom;  in  the 
 interval,  let  not  my  dear  Penty,  nor  any  of  our 
 dear  friends,  ever  cease  to  pray  for  their  and 
 your  most  sincere  and  affectionate,* 
 
 "  Rowland  Hill." 
 After  much  trouble  and  anxiety,  Mr.  Hill  was 
 ordained  a  deacon  by  Dr.  Willis,  the  Bishop  of 
 Bath  and  Wells,  on  Trinity  Sunday,  1773, 
 "without  any  promise  or  condition  whatever." 
 The  little  parish  of  Kingston,  near  Taunton,  in 
 Somersetshire,  furnished  him  a  title  for  orders. 
 He  remained  there  as  curate  about  twelve 
 months. 
 
 A  man  he  was  to  all  the  country  dear, 
 And  passing  rich  with  forty  pounds  a  year.f 
 
 In  that  church  he  preached  his  first  sermon  on 
 June  20th,  1773,  from  1  Cor.  ii.  1,  2,  which  he 
 afterwards  printed,  with  the  title,  "  The  Gospel 
 Message,"  iand  dedicated  it  to  the  rector  of  the 
 parish. 
 
 *  From  an  original  letter  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
 Parkinson,  Kingsland. 
 t  Mr.  Hill's  stipend  was  £40. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  71 
 
 CHAP.  III. 
 
 FROM  HIS  CURACY  AT  KINGSTON  TO  THE  OPENING 
 OF  SURREY  CHAPEL. 
 
 Description  of  the  church  at  Kingston — early  recollections 
 of  mr.  hill's  labours— anecdotes — the  farmers  and  their 
 pigs — the  sleepy  hearer  offended — the  young  convert — 
 mr.  hill  refused  priest's  orders — his  marriage  with  miss 
 tudway — state  of  the  establishrd  church,  and  original 
 letter  from  romaine — romaine's  labours  and  his  meetings 
 for  prayer — letter  from  rev.  henry  venn — robinson  of  lei- 
 cester—  extract  from  the  life  of  rev.  david  simpson  of 
 macclesfield — the  cotempor aries  of  mr.  hill  j  dr.  conyers, 
 cadogan,  de  courcy,  toplady,  venn,  and  newton — meetings  of 
 ministers  at  mr.  newton's — remarks  on  faith  and  repent 
 ance  —  meetings  at  mr-  neale's  in  st.  paul's  church-yard — 
 mr.  hill's  letter  to  mr.  simpson,  of  macclesfield — sermon 
 at  st.  John's,  wapping — original  anecdote  kespectiko  cam- 
 bridge — LADY  HUNTINGDON — BUILDING  OF  SURREY  CHAPEL — SER- 
 VICES ON  LAYING  THE  FOUNDATION — MR.  HILL'S  REMARKS  ON  THE 
 CHOICE  OF  A  MINISTER— LETTER  TO  THE  REV.  WILLIAM  BULL — 
 LETTER  TO  MR.  SIMTSON — THE  OPENING  OF  THE  CHAPEL — ANSWER 
 TO  THE  REVIEWER — REGULAR  SERVICES  AT  THE  CHAPEL — ANOTHER 
 LETTER  TO  MR.  SIMPSON — MR.  HILL'S  ANXIETY  EFFICIENTLY  TO 
 SUPPLY  HIS  PULPIT — ORIGINAL  LETTER  TO  REV.  WILLIAM  BULL — 
 SUPPLIES  AT  SURREY  CHAPEL — THE  REV.  MR.  SCOTT'S  REMARKS  ON 
 IRREGULAR  PREACHING THE  REV.  HENRY  VENN'S  FAREWELL  SER- 
 MON— REFERENCE  TO  HIS  BIOGRAPHER — ORIGINAL  LETTER — RE- 
 MARKS ON  MESSRS.  JAY,  BULL,  SIBREE,  ELLIOTT,  AND  OTHERS— 
 EXTENT  OF  CONGREGATIONS— CONCLUDING  REMARKS. 
 
 The  village  of  Kingston,  where  Mr.  Hill  com- 
 menced his  stated  labours,  is  about  four  miles 
 
72  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 from  Taunton.*  The  situation  is  exceedingly 
 romantic  and  beautiful.  The  church  is  built 
 on  an  eminence,  and  in  approaching  it  we  are 
 reminded  of  the  words  of  the  psalmist,  "  Beau- 
 tiful for  situation  is  Mount  Sion."  In  the 
 church-yard  there  is  a  remarkably  ancient  yew- 
 tree.  Its  roots  are  of  great  extent,  but  the 
 main  trunk  has  been  riven  through  its  centre. 
 It  now  appears  like  nine  distinct  trees  spring- 
 ing from  one  root.  Some  parts  of  this  noble 
 tree  are  considerably  decayed.  The  church, 
 which  is  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  is  a  handsome 
 Gothic  edifice,  eighty-six  feet  in  length,  and 
 forty -eight  in  breadth,  consisting  of  a  nave, 
 chancel,  north  and  south  aisles,  the  whole 
 covered  with  tile.  *  At  the  west  end  is  a  well- 
 built  and  elegant  tower,  seventy  feet  high, 
 adorned   with    sculpture,    and    crowned    with 
 
 *  This  retired  village  is  connected  with  the  history 
 of  other  interesting  characters.  The  Rev.  J.  Wesley, 
 in  his  Journal,  in  1776,  three  years  after  Mr.  Hill's 
 settlement,  states,  "  Being  at  Kingston,  near  Taun- 
 ton, I  found  a  clergyman,  Dr.  Coke,  late  gentleman- 
 commoner  of  Jesus  College,  in  Oxford,  who  came 
 twenty  miles  on  purpose  to  meet  me.  I  had  much 
 conversation  with  him ;  and  a  union  then  began, 
 which,  I  trust,  shall  never  end." — Watsons  Life  of 
 Wedeu,  p.  289. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  73 
 
 twenty-four  pinnacles.  This  tower  has  a  clock, 
 and  a  peal  of  six  bells. 
 
 The  living  of  Kingston  is  vicarial,  in  the 
 deanery  of  Taunton,  and  is  in  the  gift  of  the 
 dean  and  chapter  of  Bristol.* 
 
 There  are  few  things  in  the  church  to  attract 
 the  attention  of  the  stranger.  There  is,  how- 
 ever, an  old  reading-desk,  with  a  volume 
 chained  to  it,  containing  a  learned  and  godly 
 sermon  made  in  the  Latin  tongue,  by  the 
 famous  and  excellent  clerk,  Master  Jewell, 
 late  bishop  of  Salisbury,  from  1  Peter  iv.  1 1, 
 with  his  learned  "  Apology  for  the  Church  of 
 England." 
 
 This  hallowed  spot  is  peculiarly  interesting, 
 from  the  fact  that,  here  the  venerable  pastor  of 
 Surrey  Chapel,  sixty  years  ago,  preached  his 
 first  sermon  in  a  pulpit  of  the  established 
 church.  The  hearers  have,  most  of  them, 
 passed  into  eternity,  but  Rowland  Hill  is  not 
 yet  forgotten.  "The  righteous  shall  be  had  in 
 everlasting  remembrance."  The  aged  villagers 
 recite  with  pleasure  the  tales  which  have  been 
 handed  down  from  father  to    son.      Two  will 
 
 *  Collinson's  History  and  Antiquities  of  Somerset, 
 Vol.  iii.  p.  263. 
 
74  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 here  be  given,  which  were  simply  detailed  by  a 
 venerable  man,  who  heard  the  first  sermon 
 Mr.  Hill  preached. 
 
 "  Mr.  Hill  once  offended  the  farmers  mor- 
 tally," said  the  villager,  "  by  saying  that  they 
 were  as  bad  as  their  very  pigs.  Several  of 
 them  were  assembled  in  a  house  at  the  bottom 
 of  the  village,  when  Mr.  Hill  happening  to  pass 
 by,  they  called  him  in,  and  demanded  an  expla- 
 nation of  his  assertion.  He  immediately  con- 
 sented to  give  it.  "Now,"  said  Mr.  Hill, 
 "look  at  your  pigs;  when  the  acorns  drop,  they 
 do  not  go  under  the  elm  in  search  of  them,  but 
 mder  the  oak ;  and  when  they  have  swallowed 
 all  'they  can  find,  off  they  go,  without  giving 
 a  single  look  at  the  tree  which  has  furnished 
 their  meal.  So  you,  like  your  pigs,  know 
 where  to  go  to  look  for  your  wheat,  and  other 
 produce ;  and  when  your  barns  are  filled  with 
 plenty,  like  them,  you  forget  to  look  up  to  the 
 Source  whence  all  your  blessings  have  been 
 obtained."  The  farmers  were  pleased  with  the 
 readiness  of  the  preacher,  though  they  did  not 
 much  reiish  his  homely  but  well  sustained  com- 
 parison. 
 
 These  worthy  cultivators  of  the  soil  once 
 comulained  that  the  preacher  ranted  so  loudly. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  75 
 
 that  he  could  be  heard  through  the  village. 
 Mr.  Hill  referred  to  these  remarks  in  tha 
 pulpit,  and  with  the  deepest  feeling  exclaimed 
 while  pointing  to  a  sleeping  farmer,  "  What « 
 shall  we  not  lift  up  our  voice  like  a  trumpet, 
 and  cry  aloud,  and  spare  not,  when,  with  all 
 our  ranting,  sinners  can  sleep,  and  be  damned 
 under  our  very  sermons?"  The  old  farmer 
 opened  his  eyes,  and  heard  the  last  remark. 
 He  rose,  and  left  the  church,  and  declared  he 
 would  never  enter  it  again,  —  a  sinful  resolu- 
 tion, which,  it  is  said,  he  never  broke.  Perso- 
 nalities from  the  pulpit  should  be  avoided,  but 
 it  is  an  awful  thing  for  hearers  either  to  despise 
 or  to  quarrel  with  the  truth  when  faithfully 
 preached. 
 
 Another  fact  must  be  recorded. — In  the 
 neighbouring  parish  to  Kingston,  a  young 
 female  was  living  with  her  uncle  and  aunt. 
 Having  heard  much  said  about  Rowland  Hill, 
 she  went  to  hear  him.  The  word  came  to  her 
 heart  with  power,  but,  for  some  time,  she  was 
 alarmed  rather  than  convinced.  The  friends  of 
 this  female  were  opposed  to  evangelical  truth, 
 and  after  they  discovered  the  effects  produced 
 upon  her  mind,  it  was  with  great  difficulty  she 
 could  escape  to  the  church.     On  one  occasion, 
 
/D  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 after  hearing  Mr.  Hill,  this  young  female  felt 
 that  she  was  an  unpardoned  sinner ;  and  on  re- 
 turning home  she  retired  into  an  orchard  and 
 fell  on  her  knees,  and  there  sought  for  mercy. 
 The  spot  where  her  first  prayer  ascended  to  God, 
 is  dear  to  several  relatives  who  still  survive. 
 This  young  person  became  an  eminently  devoted 
 character ;  she  married,  and  had  nine  children, 
 whom  she  trained  up  in  the  nurture  and  admo- 
 nition of  the  Lord  ;  several  of  them  still  live,  and 
 are  followers  of  the  Saviour,  and  one  son  is 
 faithfully  preaching  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
 Christ. 
 
 Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  brief  labours  of 
 Mr.  Hill,  at  Kingston,  were  not  without  success. 
 He  has  met,  we  doubt  not,  some  converts  from 
 this  retired  hamlet  before  the  throne  of  God. 
 
 The  refusal  of  several  bishops  to  ordain 
 Mr.  Hill  did  not  induce  him  to  discontinue 
 "  his  irregular  mode"  of  proclaiming  the  gospel 
 to  sinners,  which  led  the  bishop  of  Carlisle  to 
 refuse  him  priest's  orders.  He  was,  therefore, 
 obliged  to  pass  through  life  "  wearing  only  one 
 ecclesiastical  boot." 
 
 After  leaving  his  curacy  at  Kingston,  Mr.  Hill 
 preached  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Hawkstone, 
 the  residence  of  his  father,  who  continued  his 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILI  .  77 
 
 opposition  to  his  son,  with  the  hope  of  bringing 
 him  back  into  that  vineyard  in  which  it  was  his 
 desire  that  he  should  exclusively  labour. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  sought  a  temporary  retirement  in 
 Yorkshire,  and  remained  for  a  season  with  an 
 old  college  friend,  who  greatly  encouraged  him 
 in  his  course.  At  Leeds,  he  was  the  means  of 
 enlightening  many  souls,  and  thus  he  had  the 
 approbation  of  the  Lord,  though  many  men 
 uwere  speaking  evil  of  him.''  He  afterwards 
 preached  with  great  success  at  the  Tabernacles 
 in  London,  Plymouth,  and  Bristol.  At  this 
 period  of  his  life  "he  walked  by  faith,"  through 
 a  clouded  path.  All  earthly  things  were  against 
 him,  and  yet  he  believed  that  he  was  pursuing 
 the  course  which  was  agreeable  to  his  heavenly 
 Father's  will.  His  itinerant  labours  were  emi- 
 nently useful,  particularly  among  the  colliers  at 
 Kingswood  near  Bristol. 
 
 In  1773,  Mr.  Hill  contemplated  a  most  inte- 
 resting change  in  his  condition  of  life.  He  had 
 formed  a  strong  attachment  to  Miss  Tudway, 
 whose  brother  represented  the  city  of  Wells  in  par- 
 liament. Mrs.  Hill  once  referred  to  this  subject 
 in  conversation  with  the  writer  :  "  Little  did  I 
 think,"  said  she,  looking  to  Mr.  Hill,  "when  I 
 first  saw  you  at  Mr. 's    Dart  v.    that    you 
 
78  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 would  ever  be  my  husband ;  you  appeared  un- 
 happy all  the  evening,  stood  alone,  and  seemed 
 to  be  something  quite  out  of  place."  Mr.  Hill 
 smiled  at  the  remark ;  in  fact,  he  was  not  "  of 
 the  world,"  and  could  find  no  pleasure  in  any 
 of  its  pursuits. 
 
 In  his  first  letter  to  Miss  Tudway  he  made 
 a  manly  avowal  of  his  affection,  and  at  the  same 
 time  reminded  her  of  the  life  he  was  likely  to 
 lead  as  an  itinerant  preacher  of  the  gospel  of 
 Jesus  Christ.  One  noble  sentence  will  be  found  in 
 that  letter :  "  Can  you  be  contented  to  see  me 
 a  despised  pilgrim  for  my  once  despised  Master, 
 rejected  for  my  labours,  and  reproached  for 
 my  God?"* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  and  Miss  Tudway  were  married  at 
 Mary-le-bone  Church,  London,  on  May  the  23d, 
 )  773.  There  was  no  issue  of  this  union ;  it 
 was  the  source,  however,  of  much  earthly  comfort 
 to  both  parties.  Mrs.  Hill  appears  to  have  been 
 through  life  but  little  known  beyond  her  own 
 immediate  circle. 
 
 Throughout  the  very  long  connexion  which 
 
 existed  between  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill,  the  latter 
 
 never  attempted  to  retard  the  labours  of  her 
 
 husband.     If  at  times  she  appeared  to  cast  diffi- 
 
 *  Sydney's  Life  of  Hill,  p.  77. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  79 
 
 culties  in  his  way,  it  was  from  a  tender  regard 
 for  his  health,  and  not  to  promote  her  own  com- 
 fort. No  one  rejoiced  more  than  she  did  in  his 
 spiritual  prosperity,  and  no  one  was  more  anxious 
 that  her  beloved  husband  should  abound  in  the 
 work  of  the  Lord.  After  Mr.  Hill  became  pos- 
 sessed of  a  fortune  which  enabled  him  to  exercise 
 great  liberality,  she  would  sometimes  gently  but 
 prudently  pull  the  curb,  knowing  that  he  would 
 give  away  his  last  shilling  with  joy,  without 
 remembering  the  just  claims  of  his  own  house- 
 hold. Mrs.  Hill  was  the  faithful  chronicler  of 
 his  engagements,  which  she  always  recorded  in 
 an  interleaved  copy  of  an  almanack. 
 
 "he  state  of  the  church  of  England,  at  this 
 period,  deeply  interested  the  mind  of  Mr.  Hill : 
 although  he  had  incurred  the  displeasure  of 
 some  of  his  regular  brethren,  he  continued  firm 
 in  his  attachment  to  episcopacy,  and  to  the  gene- 
 ral discipline  of  the  church,  from  which  the 
 shades  of  a  long  night  were  beginning  to 
 retire. 
 
 Romaine  had  been  labouring  with  consider- 
 able success,  though  under  many  difficulties. 
 In  1741  that  excellent  man  made  his  first 
 appearance  in  London,  as  chaplain  to  Sir 
 Daniel  Lambert,  who  was  in  that  year  chosen 
 
80  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 lord  mayor  of  London ;  by  this  appointment 
 "  a  door  of  utterance  was  opened  to  him  in  the 
 cathedral  church  of  St.  Paul."*  At  this  time 
 Whitefield  and  Romaine  were  contemporaries, 
 but  not  companions,  f  for  the  latter  appears  to 
 have  carefully  avoided  the  meetings  which  were 
 held  by  the  irregular  priests.  He  was,  however, 
 on  affectionate  terms  with  good  old  Berridge  of 
 Everton,  and  the  devoted  Grimshaw  who  was  suc- 
 cessfully preaching  at  Howorth.  In  1749  Romaine 
 was  chosen  lecturer  of  St.  Dunstan's  in  the  West, 
 and  in  1750  he  was  morning  preacher  at  St. 
 George's,  Hanover-  Square.  At  this  time  he  was 
 "  almost,  if  not  altogether,  the  only  preacher  in 
 the  established  church,  from  Hyde  Park  Corner 
 to  Whitechapel,  where  those  who  were  acquainted 
 with  the  pure  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God  could 
 have  it  to  their  satisfaction  and  edification.  J  The 
 feeble  sounds  from  the  Lock  hospital,§  as  Dr. 
 Haweis  remarks,  met  at  St.  Dunstan's  those 
 which  echoed  from  St.  Saviour's,  Southwark."|| 
 
 *  Cadogan's  Life  of  Romaine,  p.  7. 
 t  Haweis's  Life  of  Romaine,  p.  18.      J  Ibid.  p.  56.  76. 
 §  Dr.  Haweis  was  Chaplain. 
 
 ||  Here  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones  faithfully  preached  the 
 Gospel. 
 The  following  letter  was  written  by  Mr.  Romaine 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  81 
 
 The  restoration  of  the  true  doctrines  of  the 
 cross  into  the  pulpits  of  the  Establishment  may 
 be  traced,  not  only  to  the  labours  of  Wesley  and 
 Whitefield,  and  their  devoted  co-adjutors,  but  to 
 the  petitions  which  were  presented  to  the  throne 
 of  grace  by  Romaine  and  his  little  band.  In 
 1756  a  weekly  hour  of  prayer  was  agreed  upon, 
 for  the  special  purpose  of  supplication  for  the 
 church  and  its  clergy. 
 
 "Once  a  week,"  remarks  Mr.  Romaine,  "on 
 
 in   June,   17G2,    on   the   death   of  Mr.  Jones  of  St. 
 Saviours  : — 
 
 "  Sunday  Morning,  this  city  (London)  received  a 
 most  heavy  stroke  from  the  hand  of  God  !  That  dear 
 minister  of  the  Lord,  Mr.  Jones  of  St.  Saviour's,  South- 
 wark,  was  taken  from  us.  He  lay  seven  days  ill  of  a 
 fever,  in  great  peace  of  mind.  His  faith  -was  sorely 
 attacked,  but  it  held  out,  and  the  two  last  days  of  his 
 life  he  was  supported  in  a  most  wonderful  manner, 
 rejoicing  in  the  Lord  his  God,  and  waiting  with  a 
 hope  full  of  immortality  for  his  dissolution,  which  the 
 Lord  granted  on  Sunday  morning,  about  2  o'clock. 
 Oh  that  our  latter  end  may  be  like  his  !  Pray  for  me  ; 
 this  is  a  great  stroke  to  me :  I  am  now  alone,  not  one 
 minister  in  any  parish  church  to  countenance  me  ; 
 thank  God,  I  have  One  with  me  whose  favour  is  better 
 than  life, — on  him  I  depend  ;  he  never  failed  me  yet. 
 May  he  be  your  Saviour  and  my  Saviour,  in  life  ard 
 in  death." 
 
 I 
 
82  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Friday  I  have  what  I  call  the  clergy's  litany, 
 in  which,  after  general  petitions  for  the  out- 
 pouring of  the  Spirit  upon  all  the  ministers  of 
 our  church ;  I  make  mention  by  name  of  those 
 of  my  fellow-labourers,  whom  God  has  highly 
 honoured  in  making  them  faithful  and  useful  in 
 the  ministry.  As  I  go  over  their  names, 
 recommending  them  to  the  care,  and  their 
 people  to  the  blessing,  of  our  Glorious  Head, 
 it  is  my  custom  to  ask  particularly  for  them, 
 such  things  as  I  know  or  hear  they  want."* 
 
 From  nine  till  ten  o'clock  on  Friday  mornings, 
 a  few  pious  Episcopalians  were  found  at  the 
 throne  of  grace,  for  several  years  pleading  "  for 
 the  prosperity  of  Jerusalem."  At  the  com- 
 mencement of  these  special  services,  Mr. 
 Romaine  "  could  only  get  three  or  four  brethren 
 to  join  him,"f  but  he  lived  to  see  units  become 
 hundreds.:):  At  the  time  he  began  to  pray  for 
 poor  clergymen,  "the  names  he  was  able  to 
 include  in  his  prayer  did  not  exceed  eight  in 
 the  whole  kingdom ;  but  previous  to  his  death 
 they  were  become  so  numerous  that  he  was 
 obliged  to  divide  his  prayers,  and  offer  them  up 
 
 *  Life  of  Romaine,  by  Dr.  Haweis,  page  112. 
 t  Ibid.  p.  111.        X  Cadogan's  Life  of  do.  p.  50. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  83 
 
 on  two  days  instead  of  one."  *  At  the  time  of 
 his  death  in  1795,  there  were  more  than  five 
 hundred  clergymen,  whom  he  regarded  as 
 fellow -labourers  with  himself  in  word  and 
 doctrine."f 
 
 In  February  1774,  Mr.  Venn,  writing  to  a 
 friend,  mentioned  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Robin- 
 son at  Leicester ;  on  which  event  he  remarks : 
 "Welcome,  thrice  welcome,  the  news  of  the 
 gospel,  thus  spreading  in  large  towns :  when 
 I  set  out,  24  years  ago,  I  knew  but  of  Truro 
 and  Bradford  in  Wiltshire.  Oh  !  may  this  be 
 but  the  beginning !  How  reviving  to  such  as 
 I  am,  now  drawing  nigh  my  departure,  to  behold 
 our  prayers  in  some  degree  answered  by  the 
 labourers  coming  forth  into  the  harvest.}" 
 
 The  biographer  of  Mr.  Simpson  in  reference 
 to  the  few  devoted  clergymen  in  the  country  at 
 this  period,  remarks,  "  Such  men  at  that  time  of 
 day  were  thinly  scattered,  and,  whenever  found, 
 had  their  names  cast  out  as  evil.  Association 
 was,  naturally,  the  more  sought,  as  was  the 
 case  in  the  apostolic  age,  by  letter ;  and  many 
 
 *  Life  of  Romaine,  by  Religious  Tract  Society,  p.  32. 
 t  Life  of  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  M.  A.  Editor's  Preface, 
 page  14.  %  Ibid.  p.  209. 
 
84  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 MSS.  yet  remain,  to  illustrate,  in  the  instance 
 of  Mr.  Simpson,  its  nature  and  advantages ;  the 
 Rev.  John  Berridge,  of  Everton;  the  Rev. 
 Rowland  Hill ;  the  Rev.  Thomas  Robinson,  of 
 Witcham,  (afterwards  of  Leicester;)  the  Rev. 
 John  Fletcher,  of  Madeley;  the  Rev.  H.  Venn, 
 of  Yelling;  and  the  Rev.  William  Romaine, 
 must  be  especially  mentioned ;  since  all  these 
 eminent  persons,  as  well  as  Mr.  Hey,  of  Leeds, 
 and  many  others,  as  existing  documents  discover, 
 manifested,  not  only  that  devotedness  to  God  for 
 which  they  are  severally  renowned,  but  also 
 that  affectionate  kindness,  sympathy,  and  con- 
 cern to  strengthen  each  others  hands,  which 
 marked  those  who  supported  the  earliest  Chris- 
 tian sufferers.  They  "agreed  to  remember 
 each  other  in  their  solemn  preparation  for  each 
 Lord's  day,  by  retiring  on  the  Saturday  evening, 
 from  six  to  seven,  for  prayer ;  to  implore  of  the 
 Lord,  for  themselves  and  the  people,  all 
 spiritual  blessings."  * 
 
 The  irregularities  of  Mr.  Hill  did  not  alienate 
 from  him  the  affections  of  his  beloved  brethren 
 in  the  establishment,  who,  like  him,  had  taken 
 up  the  cross.      Before  the  erection  of  Surrey 
 
 *  Letter  from  the  Rev.  Henry  Venn  to  Mr.  Simpson, 
 quoted  by  Sir  J.  B.  Williams  in  Life  of  Simpson,  p.  1 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  85 
 
 Chapel  we  find  him  occupying  the  pulpit  of 
 his  friend,  the  rector  of  St.  Paul's,  Deptford, 
 Dr.  Conyers,  to  whom  he  was  greatly  attached, 
 He  was  fond  of  referring  to  the  circumstance  of 
 the  Doctor's  conversion,  as  shewing  the  power 
 and  glory  of  the  Scriptures.  He  was  once 
 reading  in  his  Greek  Testament,  Eph.  iii.  8. 
 "  Unto  me,  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all 
 saints,  is  this  grace  given,  that  I  should  preach 
 among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
 Christ."  "  Riches  of  Christ,"  said  he  to  himself, 
 "  unsearchable  riches  !  what  have  I  preached  of 
 these  ?  what  do  I  know  of  these  ?"  Such  was  the 
 beginning  of  new  views,  new  sentiments,  new  de- 
 clarations, with  this  truly  conscientious  pastor. 
 
 After  the  death  of  Dr.  Conyers,  Mr.  Hill 
 preached  occasionally  at  the  Greenwich  Taber- 
 nacle, having  promised  the  Doctor,  before  his 
 death,  never  to  forget  the  people  of  his  flock 
 while  he  continued  in  London. 
 
 The  Hon.  and  Re  v.  William  Bromley  Cadogan, 
 the  vicar  of  St.  Giles's,  Reading,  and  afterwards 
 the  rector  of  St.  Luke's,  Chelsea,  was  sincerely 
 attached  to  our  venerable  friend;  and  it  has 
 been  stated  "  that  Mr.  Newton,  Mr.  Rowland 
 Hill,  and  many  other  popular  clergymen,  whom 
 he   invited    to   his    house,    preached    for    him 
 
86  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 occasionally."*  The  Rev.  Richard  De  Courcy 
 was  also  the  beloved  friend  of  Mr.  Hill;  he  came 
 to  England  in  1768,  and  preached  for  sometime 
 in  Tottenham  Court  Chapel,  and  then  in  the 
 chapels  of  Lady  Huntingdon.  In  1774  he  was 
 presented,  by  the  lord  chancellor,  to  the  vicar- 
 age of  St.  Alkmond  in  Shrewsbury.  He  was 
 the  intimate  friend  and  constant  counsellor  of 
 Sir  Richard  Hill,  and  remained  till  death  on 
 friendly  terms  with  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 
 
 The  Rev.  Augustus  Toplady,  the  vicar  of 
 Broad  Hembury  in  Devonshire,  was  also  one  of 
 Mr.  HilPs  earliest  associates,  for  whom  he  felt 
 the  greatest  veneration,  although  Mr.  T.  fre- 
 quently chided  him  for  his  wanderings  from  the 
 discipline  of  the  church.  When  the  students  were 
 expelled  from  Oxford,  Mr.  Toplady  united  with 
 Sir  Richard  Hill  in  the  controversy  to  which 
 that  expulsion  led.  In  1776  he  settled  in  the 
 French  Calvinist  reformed  church,  in  Orange  St 
 Leicester  Fields,!  where  he  laboured  little  more 
 than  two  years;  he  died  on  the  11th  August, 
 1788,  and  was  buried  in  Tottenham  Court 
 Chapel,  on  the   17th  of  the  same  month.     His 
 
 *  Evangelical  Biography,  vol.  L  p.  406. 
 t  The  chapel  in  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dobson   now 
 preaches. 
 
 M 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  87 
 
 biographer  remarks,*  "The  Rev.  Rowland  Hill, 
 prior  to  the  burial  service,  could  not  refrain  from 
 innocently  trespassing  upon  the  solicitation  of 
 his  departed  friend,  by  addressing  the  multitude 
 on  the  solemn  occasion,  and  embraced  the 
 opportunity  of  affectionately  declaring  the  love 
 and  veneration  he  felt  for  the  deceased.  The 
 beautiful  simplicity  of  his  pathos,  and  the  exqui- 
 site sensibility  he  shewed,  were  more  than  equi- 
 valent to  the  most  studied  harangue." 
 
 The  late  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  A.M.,  the  vicar 
 of  Huddersfield,  then  of  Yelling  in  Hunting- 
 donshire, who  was  briefly  mentioned,  must 
 not  be  omitted  among  the  list  of  Mr.  Hill's 
 contemporaries :  —  "he  was  a  faithful  minis- 
 ter of  the  Church  of  England,  but  never 
 ashamed  of  the  brand  of  Methodism  ;  he  took  a 
 decided  part  with  the  cross-bearing  labourers,— 
 his  wrork  was  his  wages,  and  the  redemption  of 
 souls  his  object,  through  evil  report  and  good 
 report. f  There  was  sometimes  an  exchange  of 
 labour  between  these  excellent  ministers — 
 Mr.  Hill,  after  preaching  in  Huddersfield 
 church,  remarks :    "  I  well  remember  the  glory 
 
 *  Life  of  Toplady,  p.  108. 
 
 f  Evangelical  Biography,  vol.  4.  p.  328. 
 
88  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 which  attended  Mr.  Venn's  ministry,  and  the 
 solemn  awe  which  rested  on  the  people  ;  he  was 
 remarkably  striking  in  expounding  the  Scrip- 
 tures which  were  read  in  the  public  service, 
 and  was  supposed  to  be  not  less  useful  in  the 
 desk  than  in  the  pulpit."* 
 
 In  the  year  1764  the  Rev.  John  Newton,  "a 
 burning  and  shining  light/'  appeared  in  the 
 church ;  he  commenced  his  ministry  at  Olney  in 
 Buckinghamshire,  where  he  became  acquainted 
 with  the  poet  Cowper,  and  was  on  intimate 
 terms  with  Mr.  Bull  and  Mr.  Greatheed  of  New- 
 port, and  Mr.  Ryland  of  Northampton,  In  1779 
 he  removed  to  London,  and  through  the  kind- 
 ness of  the  late  John  Thornton,  Esq.,  became 
 rector  of  the  united  parishes  of  St.  Mary  Wool- 
 noth  and  St.  Mary  Woolchurch  Haw,  in  Lom- 
 bard Street.  He  most  cordially  entered  into 
 Mr.  Romaine's  plan  of  prayer  for  the  revival  of 
 true  religion  in  the  church.  On  this  subject  he 
 remarks  in  a  letter  to  a  friend :  "I  thank  you 
 for  Mr.  Romaine's  book ;  I  have  endeavoured  to 
 observe  his  appointment,  as  likewise  the  Dissen- 
 ters' hour  on  Wednesday  mornings :  I  am, 
 indeed,  a  poor  intercessor ;  but  I  desire  to  put 
 in  my  mite.  Blessed  be  God  for  a  prevailing 
 *  Tour  through  the  Highlands,  p.  5- 
 
 J 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  89 
 
 Intercessor,  a  great  High  Priest,  who  hears  all 
 oar  prayers  and  all  our  concerns  before  the 
 throne."  * 
 
 This  excellent  man  was  in  the  habit  of  receiving 
 ministers  of  all  denominations  at  his  house  to  a 
 weekly  breakfast-meeting,  for  prayer  and  the  dis- 
 cussion of  subjects  connected  with  the  Scriptures. 
 He  was  firm  in  his  attachment  to  episcopacy, 
 but  catholic  to  all  who  differed  from  him.  "  I 
 love  all  Christians,"  he  remarks,  in  a  letter  to 
 Mrs.  S.  "  however  denominated :  for  I  know 
 some  among  all-  parties  who  hold  the  Head, 
 the  Kirk,  Burghers,  Antiburghers,  Relief,  Inde- 
 pendents, who,  notwithstanding  they  differ  from 
 me,  and  among  themselves,  in  some  points, 
 agree  with  me  in  essentials.  The  Lord  has 
 given  us  the  same  views  of  sin  and  the  Saviour. 
 In  smaller  matters  I  take  the  liberty  of  judging 
 for  myself,  willingly  allowing  the  same  liberty 
 to  others."  t  These  meetings  were  not  only 
 beneficial  to  the  parties  who  attended  them,  but 
 their  influence  was  felt  in  the  churches  with 
 which  they  were  connected.  On  one  occasion, 
 when  Cecil,  Foster,  and  several  clergymen  and 
 dissenting  ministers,  were  present,  the  subject 
 
 *  Letter  to  a  friend,  Evang.  Mag.  1331,  p.  565. 
 t  Evang.  Mag.  1808,  p.  417. 
 
90  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 discussed  was,  "  whether  faith  preceded  repent- 
 ance, or  vice  versa  ?"  Many  opinions  were  given 
 upon  the  point ;  when  Mr.  Newton  inquired, 
 "  Can  any  one  tell  me  which  begins  to  work  first 
 in  the  body,  the  heart  or  the  lungs  ?"  "  Why," 
 said  one,  "  they  work  simultaneously."  Mr. 
 Newton  replied,  "  So  I  think  it  is  with  faith  and 
 repentance.0 
 
 Connected  with  the  prayerful  efforts  for  the 
 revival  of  religion  in  London,  may  be  mentioned 
 another  meeting,  though  of  later  date,  which 
 was  also  productive  of  much  spiritual  good,  and 
 in  which  ministers,  differing  on  minor  points, 
 met  together  in  Christian  harmony.  Mr.  Neale, 
 of  St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  who  was  one  of  Mr. 
 Hill's  oldest  and  most  attached  friends,  and  sub- 
 sequently a  member  and  trustee  of  his  chapel, 
 assisted  by  the  venerable  John  Newton,  estab- 
 lished a  meeting  for  social  prayer  and  improve- 
 ment during  the  awful  period  of  the  French 
 revolution.*  Mr.  Newton  conducted  a  monthly 
 lecture  in  the  family  until  the  period  of  his 
 death.  He  went  through  an  interesting  expo- 
 sition of  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  to  the  great 
 edification  of  many  who  heard  him.     In  these 
 
 *  Jowett's  Life  of  the  Rev.  Cornelius  Neale,  M.  A., 
 page  2. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  91 
 
 pleasing  engagements  Mr.  Hill  took  his  part,  and 
 the  union  between  brethren  of  different  denomi- 
 nations was  greatly  strengthened. 
 
 The  labours  of  Mr.  Hill  at  this  time,  in  im- 
 mediate connection  with  the  established  church, 
 will  be  seen  from  a  letter  which  he  addressed  to 
 his  dear  friend  Simpson,  of  Macclesfield,  not 
 long  before  the  erection  of  Surrey  Chapel. 
 
 "  My  very  dear,  much  honoured,  because 
 much  persecuted,  friend  and  brother, 
 
 Your  most  worthy  friends  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roe 
 did  me  the  favour  this  morning  to  eat  a  break- 
 fast with  me.  Blessed  be  God,  disinterested 
 souls  shall  be  borne  through.  Our  greatest 
 honour  is  to  be  sufferers  for  our  God.  No  cross, 
 no  crown.  Twice  have  they  cast  you  out 
 I  dare  not  direct ;  all  that  I  can  say  is,  for 
 myself,  I  bless  the  Lord  I  am  entirely  his,  and 
 daily  find  the  portion  of  the  outcast  is  a  happy 
 one  indeed.  However,  is  not  your  way  plain  ? 
 Another  door  open,  in  which  none  can  molest 
 you?  Be  sure  of  this  :  not  a  hair  of  your  head 
 can  ever  be  touched  for  preaching  under 
 toleration :  nor  can  it  hinder  you  of  any  prefer- 
 ment  that   should   offer.      The   canon   law  is 
 
92  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 nothing,  having  never  had  any  parliamentary 
 ratification.  This  judge  Blackstone  has  publicly 
 declared.  Though  I  preach  in  licensed  places 
 continually,  yet  more  churches  are  open  to  me 
 than  I  can  serve.  Thousands  in  this  city  flock 
 to  hear,  yet  multitudes  go  away  for  want  of 
 room.  Ecclesiastics  roar,  as  Luther  says,  like 
 bears  struck  on  the  snout ;  yet  this,  they  know, 
 is  all  they  can  do.  Your  share  of  humility  and 
 diffidence  I  long  for  exceedingly;  yet  a  little 
 courage  to  face  the  devil  may  not  be  amiss. 
 The  Lord  knows  how  difficult  it  is  to  keep 
 measures  with  the  wretched,  much  to  be  pitied 
 church  governors  of  the  present  day.  As 
 I  can  sincerely  assure  you,  I  love  you  affection- 
 nately,  do  let  me  hear  from  you  how  matters 
 are  to  turn,.  Direct  for  me  at  Wottonunder- 
 edge,  Gloucestershire.  There  is  my  parish : 
 my  church  is  a  meeting-house.  Those  parts, 
 of  late,  have  been  remarkably  evangelized. 
 Happy  should  I  be,  indeed,  to  see  you  there 
 with  Mrs.  Simpson,  if  you  could  spare  time. 
 This,  perhaps,  you  may  do  while  your  church 
 is  building.  No  doubt,  you  have  heard  your 
 poor  fellow-pilgrim  has  got  a  wife  as  well  as 
 yourself.     Next  to  the  blessing  of  redemption, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  93 
 
 she  is  my  greatest.  Pray  for  us  both.  Dear 
 Charles  sends  his  love.*  I  saw  him  yesterday, 
 and  to-morrow  I  preach  for  him  at  the  Lock. 
 Thus,  blessed  be  God,  rams'  horns  and  silver 
 trumpets  sweetly  coalesce.  I  congratulate  you 
 on  being  a  father.  That  the  choicest  of 
 blessings  may  rest  upon  you  in  every  relation- 
 ship of  life,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your  ever 
 affectionate  brother.f 
 
 "  Rowland  Hill." 
 Rev.  David  Simpson,  Macclesfield,  Cheshire. 
 
 In  the  year  1774,  Mr.  Hill  appears  to  have 
 enjoyed  unparalleled  popularity.  "  He  preached 
 charity  sermons  in  many  of  the  London 
 churches,  where  the  church  -  wardens  and 
 overseers  turned  Methodists  pro  tempore,  and 
 had  their  plates  filled  by  the  contributions  of  Mr. 
 Hill's  followers.  He  was  frequently  at  St.  John's, 
 Wapping,  and  there  sometimes  gave  way  to  his 
 natural  disposition  for  drollery,  in  a  manner 
 which  he  afterwards  deeply  regretted.   On  one  of 
 
 *  The  Rev.  Thomas  Charles,  of  Bala. 
 
 t  For  this  letter,  and  other  valuable  information,  the 
 writer  is  indebted  to  Sir  J.  B.  Williams,  of  Shrews- 
 bury, the  author  of  Mr.  Simpson's  Life,  appended  to 
 new  edition  of  his  "  Plea  for  Religion." 
 
94  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 these  occasions,  observing  that  his  auditory  was 
 unusually  large,  and  made  up  of  seafaring 
 persons,  who  were  not  celebrated  for  overmuch 
 religion,  he  remarked,  "  I  am  come  to  preach 
 to  great  sinners,  notorious  sinners,  profane 
 sinners;  and  with  peculiar  emphasis  exclaimed, 
 "  yea,  to  JVapping  sinners."  This  climax 
 operated  like  an  electric  shock  through  all  the 
 congregation,  and  highly  offended  some  of  the 
 inhabitants  of  that  polite  part  of  the  town,  who 
 conceived  themselves  materially  insulted  by  such 
 a  debasement  of  their  place  of  abode."  * 
 
 No  one  could  be  intimate  with  Mr.  Hill, 
 without  discovering  the  evident  satisfaction  he 
 enjoyed,  when  requested  to  occupy  pulpits  in 
 the  church;  and,  on  the  contrary,  the  severe 
 mortification  it  gave  him  to  be  excluded  from 
 them. 
 
 On  one  occasion,  he  was  exceedingly  anx- 
 ious to  preach  at  Cambridge,  and  wrote  to  a 
 friend  he  much  respected,  requesting  him  to 
 secure  for  him  a  few  church  pulpits.  The 
 answer  he  received  much  annoyed  him,  be- 
 cause it  suggested  that  his  appearance  in  the 
 churches  might  undo  all  that  several  resident 
 clergymen  had  been  for  several  years  endea- 
 *  Ecclesiastical  Biography,  vol,  IV.  p.  571, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  95 
 
 vouring  to  accomplish  for  the  spiritual  good  of 
 his  Alma  Mater.  Mr.  Hill  never  forgot  this 
 refusal;  and,  when  referring  to  the  subject 
 many  years  afterwards,  he  mentioned  the  follow- 
 ing circumstance : — 
 
 "  When   I    was    last    at   Cambridge,    I   met 
 
 Mr. .      He  requested  me  to  favour  him 
 
 with  my  company  at  his  rooms.  I  thought 
 that  he  was  not  over  anxious  to  see  me,  so  I 
 replied,  —  Sir,  I  have  called  on  the  Dean  of 
 Ely,  on  the  Master  of  Queen's,  and  the  Master 
 of  St.  John's,  but  I  have  no  time  left  to  call 
 upon  Fellows." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  continued  to  enjoy  the  privilege  of 
 free  intercourse  with  his  pious  brethren  in  the 
 church,  until  the  appearance  of  his  "  Spiritual 
 Characteristics,"  after  which  he  only  occasion- 
 ally preached  for  them,  and  then  principally  in 
 country  churches.  This  work  was  calculated 
 to  wound  the  friends,  without  convincing  the 
 real  enemies,  of  the  church ;  and  though  many 
 of  the  characters  were  accurately  sketched,  yet  it 
 was  done  with  the  pencil  of  Hogarth,  and  not 
 with  the  pen  of  a  divine.  It  will  be  seen  in  a 
 future  chapter  that  Mr.  Hill  much  regretted  the 
 issuing  of  this  publication. 
 
96  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 This  brief  notice  of  the  contemporaries  of 
 Mr.  Hill,  prior  to  his  settlement  as  a  stated 
 minister,  cannot  well  be  concluded  without  a 
 reference  to  the  excellent  Countess  of  Hunt- 
 ingdon, whose  efforts  for  the  spread  of  evange- 
 lical piety  were  productive  of  much  spiritual 
 good.  Her  house  in  London  was  the  resort 
 of  many  devoted  men.  Whitefield  and  Romaine 
 were  both  her  chaplains.  Mr.  Hill  had  occa- 
 sional interviews  with  her,  and  considered  her 
 "one  of  the  most  humble  characters  in  the 
 world;"*  but  still  there  never  appears  to  have 
 been  much  union  of  heart  between  them.  Per- 
 haps they  were  too  much  alike  in  disposition  to 
 act  very  cordially  together.  "  Lady  Hunting- 
 don," remarks  one,f  "  was  in  her  temper  warm 
 and  sanguine, — her  predilections  for  some,  and 
 her  prejudices  for  others,  were  sometimes  too 
 hastily  adopted,  and  by  these  she  was  led  to 
 form  conclusions  not  always  correspondent  with 
 truth  and  wisdom."  No  one,  however,  rejoiced 
 more  than  Mr.  Hill  did  in  the  hallowed  exer- 
 tions  of  this  excellent  woman,  and  Lady  Ann 
 
 *  Letter  to  Wesley,  p.  21. 
 
 f  Evangelical  Biography,  Vol.  ii.  p.  548. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  97 
 
 Erskine,  her  equally  devoted  "  fellow-labourer 
 in  the  Lord." 
 
 We  now  approach  a  peculiarly  interesting 
 period  in  Mr.  Hill's  history.  After  having 
 preached  with  great  success  in  the  churches  and 
 chapels,  streets,  fields,  and  commons  of  London 
 and  its  vicinity,  he  was  anxious  to  enjoy  a  more 
 settled  life.  In  the  year  1780,  he  felt  a  strong 
 desire  to  introduce  the  gospel  into  the  southern 
 part  of  the  metropolis ;  and,  after  much  prayer 
 for  Divine  guidance,  "the  cloud  rested"  on  the 
 spot  where  Surrey  chapel  now  stands.  Every 
 particular  connected  with  this  place  will  be 
 interesting  to  many  readers. 
 
 The  first  meeting  to  consider  the  propriety 
 of  building  this  chapel,  was  held  at  the  Castle 
 and  Falcon  Tavern  in  Aldersgate  -  street,  on 
 February  4th,  1752.  There  were  present,  in 
 addition  to  Mr.  Hill,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Woodgate, 
 the  Rev.  John  Ryland,  and  several  lay  gentle- 
 men. After  much  consideration,  it  was  thought 
 desirable  that  the  proposed  chapel  should  be 
 erected  between  Blackfriars  Bridge  and  the 
 Obelisk  in  St.  George's  Fields.  At  this  meet- 
 ing it  was  determined  that  at  least  fifteen  trus- 
 tees should  be  chosen,  "who  should  appoint 
 and  constitute  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill  as  the 
 
 H 
 
98  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 provider  for,  and  director  of,  the  pulpit,  so  long 
 as  he  should  preach  according  to  the  doctrinal 
 articles  of  the  church  of  England,  and  should 
 not  give  the  use  of  the  pulpit  to  any  one  who 
 was  known  to  preach  otherwise. "  * 
 
 Mr.  Hill  considered  it  a  good  regulation, 
 that  people  should  have  their  stated  ministers, 
 and  that  proper  means  should  be  made  use  of, 
 "  to  provide  a  pure  and  holy  ministry  for  the 
 edification  of  the  Christian  church ;  and  that 
 the  people's  choice,  so  far  as  they  were  fit  to 
 choose,  should  be  properly  consulted."!  Yet, 
 in  a  large  congregation,  he  thought  it  was  better 
 for  the  power  to  be  delegated  to  a  selection  to 
 be  made  from  their  own  numbers."  The  ori- 
 ginal trustees  of  Surrey  Chapel  are  all  dead, 
 but  their  number  is  still  kept  up  by  the  new 
 
 *  The  first  Trustees  of  Surrey  Chapel  were,  Sir 
 Richard  Hill,  bart.,  Rev.  Rowland  Hill,  arid  Messrs. 
 Joseph  Sims,  John  Keysall,  Edward  Webster,  Tho- 
 mas Wilson,  Samuel  Lloyd,  William  Lloyd,  John 
 Bush,  James  Neale,  James  Webber,  Thomas  Brick- 
 nell,  George  Smith,  Ambrose  Martin,  and  John 
 Clarke.  All  these  excellent  men  have  finished  their 
 earthly  course.  —  See  Mr.  Hill's  "Declaration  of 
 Faith/'  inserted  in  Chapter  XI. 
 
 f  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  iii.  p.  101 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  99 
 
 appointments  of  the  surviving  trustees,  without 
 any  reference  to  the  church  or  congregation. 
 
 Mr.  Hill's  opinion  was,  that,  although  the 
 people  should  have  power  to  choose  their 
 minister,  they  should  not  have  power  to  reject 
 him.  He  observes,  u  Admitting  the  choice  of 
 ministers  to  rest  with  the  people,  it  is  but  con- 
 sistent that  the  further  management  should,  in 
 a  measure,  rest  with  others.  If  it  be  with  the 
 people  to  appoint,  and  to  accuse  in  case  of  mis- 
 conduct, it  is  but  reasonable  that  others  should 
 determine  the  justice  of  that  accusation  ;  if  the 
 total  controul  rests  with  those  that  appointed 
 him  to  the  office,  the  rule  is  perfectly  reversed : 
 1  Obey  them  that  have  the  rule  over  you,  and 
 submit  yourselves,  for  they  watch  for  your  souls, 
 as  they  that  must  give  account,  that  they  may 
 do  it  with  joy,  and  not  with  grief,  for  that  is 
 unprofitable  unto  you.'  Heb.  xiii.  7.  Supposing 
 the  controul  to  be  with  the  people,  it  is  they 
 that  are  to  have  the  rule  over  him,  and  he  must 
 be  admonished  by  them.  He  is  neither  shep- 
 herd nor  pastor  to  watch  over,  nor  elder  to 
 rule  over  them,  nor  bishop  to  oversee  them ; 
 he  knows  nothing  of  authority  but  by  their 
 permission,  and  is  perfectly  the  creature  of  their 
 caprice  and  controul.     All  disputes,  therefore, 
 
]00  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 under  such  a  frame  of  government  must  termi- 
 nate in  divisions.  Now,  in  a  strict  independ- 
 ent government,  in  a  variety  of  instances  this 
 fact  is  principally  proved,  because  arbitration  is 
 wanting,  and  the  Presbyterian  government 
 wisely  provides  for  this  arbitration.* 
 
 Perhaps  Mr.  Hill  did  not  sufficiently  consider 
 that  ministers  can  only  sway  the  hearts  of  their 
 people  by  the  exercise  of  moral  power.  If  they 
 retain  their  pulpits  after  the  affections  of  their 
 flocks  are  lost,  they  are  not  likely  to  be  the 
 means  of  much  spiritual  good. 
 
 The  original  estimate  for  the  building  of 
 Surrey  Chapel  was  £3,000.  but  the  actual  cost 
 exceeded  £5,000.  The  subscription  list  was  a 
 liberal  one, — but  the  grave  has  now  closed 
 upon  all  the  original  contributors.  The  trus- 
 tees, by  virtue  of  the  power  vested  in  them, 
 requested  Mr.  Hill  to  become  the  minister  of 
 the  new  place, 
 
 After  the  necessary  preparations  were  made 
 for  the  erection  of  the  chapel,  Mr.  Hill  retired 
 for  a  short  season  into  Gloucestershire,  from 
 whence  he  wrote  the  following  letter  to  Mr, 
 Simpson, — 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  81. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  101 
 
 Roclborough,  near  Stroud. 
 "  My  dear  old  Friend, 
 "  I  received  your  letter  last  post.  I  should 
 be  heartily  glad  to  promise  you  the  assistance 
 you  request,  if  I  thought  it  would  be  in  my 
 power  to  perform.  All  my  time,  at  present,  is 
 taken  up,  in  attending  upon  the  work  of  build- 
 ing a  new  chapel  on  the  Surrey  side  of  Black- 
 friars  Bridge;  a  part  of  the  town  that,  for  many 
 years,  has  been  quite  destitute  of  the  Gospel : 
 the  place  is  to  be  upon  a  large  scale,  and  con- 
 sequently requires  much  of  my  attention. 
 Another  circumstance  confines  me  in  London. 
 Some  good  people  have  jealousies  raised  in 
 them,  lest  building  the  new  place  should  take 
 me  from  the  old  ones :  it  is  thought  neces- 
 sary to  give  them  the  closer  attendance,  that 
 all  may  be  convinced  nothing  is  intended  but 
 the  enlargement  of  the  same  cause.  It  is  but 
 a  little  more  than  a  week  since  I  left  town. 
 In  about  a  fortnight's  time,  when  the  founda- 
 tion is  dug  out,  and  the  materials  are  prepared, 
 I  shall  be  called  again  to  town,  to  lay  the  first 
 stone;  this  will  be  about  the  second  week  in 
 June.  If  possible,  from  thence  I  should  be 
 glad  to  make  an  elopement  to  serve  you  at 
 Macclesfield.  Were  it  a  small  distance  from 
 London,  I  would  venture  upon  an  immediate 
 
102  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 promise ;  but  when  I  consider  the  time  and 
 expense  necessary  for  so  long  a  journey,  I 
 despair  of  being  able  to  accomplish  my  desire. 
 My  dear  friend  mentions  my  expenses  being 
 refunded, — I  feel  ashamed  that  so  much  money 
 should  be  spent  for  so  poor  a  tool ;  and  to  tell 
 you  the  truth,  having  lately  given  away  all  I 
 could  spare,  and  more  than  I  could  spare,  for 
 the  present  chapel,  my  wings  are  considerably 
 dipt,  and  must  take  some  little  time  to  grow 
 again.  I  think,  therefore,  for  this  year,  you 
 had  better,  if  you  must  have  a  stranger  on  that 
 day,  seek  for  another,  than  trust  in  me.  Per- 
 haps, should  lives  be  spared,  I  may  be  more  at 
 liberty  another  year.  If  you  have  any  thing 
 more  to  say  upon  the  subject,  as  I  don't  know 
 that  sooner  than  a  fortnight  I  may  be  in  town, 
 you  may  direct  your  next  to  me  under  cover,  to 
 Richard  Hill,  Esq.  M.P.  Wimpole-street,  Ca- 
 vendish-square. 
 
 "  Your  old  friend  has  much  to  do ;  his  work 
 increases  upon  him  :  he  feels  the  burden.  It  is 
 astonishing  how  all  doors  seem  opening.  My 
 invitations  to  preach  in  the  largest  churches 
 occur  more  frequently  than  ever-  Just  before 
 I  left  town,  our  old  friend  Hallifax,  bishop  of 
 Gloucester,  and  myself,  preached  on  the  same 
 day  in  the  same  church.      Bishops   are   now 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  103 
 
 come  to  high  honour,  to  be  joined  with  Method- 
 ist parsons.  Pray  for  me.  I  need  many  prayers. 
 Love  to  Mrs.  Simpson  and  Nan.* 
 
 "  Your  most  sincere,  most  affectionate, 
 
 «R.  Hill." 
 
 "  Rev.  D.  Simpson, 
 "  Macclesfield,  Cheshire. "+ 
 
 On  the  24th  of  June,  1782,  the  first  stone 
 of  Surrey  Chapel  was  laid  by  Mr.  Hill,  when 
 he  preached  from  Isaiah  xxviii.  16, — "  There- 
 fore, thus  saith  the  Lord  God,  Behold,  I 
 lay  in  Zion  for  a  foundation,  a  stone,  a  tried 
 stone,  a  precious  corner-stone,  a  sure  founda- 
 tion,— he  that  belie veth  shall  not  make  haste." 
 On  this  occasion  great  numbers  were  collected 
 together.  After  the  sermon,  suitable  addresses 
 were  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Wills, 
 Piercy,  and  Medley,  and  fervent  prayer  was 
 offered  up  that  the  new  Tabernacle  might  be 
 filled  with  the  glory  of  God. 
 
 The  state  of  Mr.  Hill's  mind  in  the  prospect 
 of  the  opening  of  his  new  chapel,  and  his 
 anxiety  to  secure  the  services  of  his  much 
 loved  friend  Mr.  Bull  on  the  occasion,  will  be 
 seen  from  the  following  letter: — 
 
 *  Afterwards  Mrs.  Lee. 
 
 t  Sir  J.  B.  Williams's  Life  of  Simpson,  p.  37. 
 
104  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  Rev.  and  very  dear  Sir, 
 
 "  We  propose,  by  the  will  of  God,  to  open 
 the  new  chapel,  in  St.  George's  Road,  on 
 Easter  Sunday;  it  concerns  one  that  the  notice 
 is  so  short,  lest  we  should  miss  of  your  assist- 
 ance thereby.  I  can  only  say  it  will  rejoice  the 
 hearts  of  many  that  sincerely  love  you,  if  you 
 can  make  a  little  elopement  for  the  Easter 
 week,  to  help  us  in  our  Gospel  jubilee.  If  you 
 could  come  and  preach  the  afternoon  or  even- 
 ing sermon,  it  would  be  very  acceptable. 
 There  will  be  work  enough  for  us  all  the  rest 
 of  the  week ;  if  you  cannot  favour  us  with  your 
 company,  you  may  attend  us  with  your  prayers, 
 — the  work  is  truly  great,  it  is  well  it  is 
 recorded  "  our  sufficiency  is  of  God."  I  should 
 be  glad,  dear  Sir,  of  your  immediate  answer,  as 
 we  are  somewhat  perplexed  on  account  of  the 
 uncertainty  respecting  the  time  of  opening  the 
 chapel. 
 
 "  I  remain,  with  much  affection, 
 "Yours  very  sincerely, 
 
 "R.Hill." 
 
 "  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  send  their  love." 
 
 1  April  14th,  1783,  Charles's  Square,  London." 
 "To  Rev.  Mr.  Bull, 
 "  Newport  Pagnel,  Bucks." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  105 
 
 On  the  8th  of  June,  1783,  the  chapel  was 
 solemnly  opened  for  divine  worship,  and  Mr. 
 Hill  delivered  the  first  sermon,  from  1  Cor. 
 ch.  i.  23,  "  But  we  preach  Christ  crucified, 
 unto  the  Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  unto  the 
 Greeks  foolishness;  but  unto  them  which  are 
 called,  both  Jews  and  Greeks,  Christ  the  power 
 of  God  and  the  wisdom  of  God."*  In  the 
 evening,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Piercy  preached,  from 
 the  text,  "  Arise,  O  God,  and  plead  thine  own 
 cause. " 
 
 An  attempt  was  successfully  made  during  the 
 service  to  disturb  the  congregation, — a  report 
 being  raised  that  the  foundation  of  the  build- 
 ing was  insecure,  and  giving  way.  The  con- 
 fusion that  ensued  was  very  great.  Mr.  Hill 
 from  the  pulpit  endeavoured  in  vain  to  still 
 the  tempest.  Many  persons  were  materially 
 injured,  though  no  lives  were  lost.  At  a  sub- 
 sequent period  a  ball  was  fired  at  Mr.  Hill 
 while  in  the  pulpit,  but  it  providentially  passed 
 over  his  head:  the  miscreant  was  never  dis- 
 covered. 
 
 There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  fervent 
 desire    of    Mr.    Hill,    expressed    in    his    first 
 
 *  See  Religious  Tract  Society  Catalogue,  p.  364. 
 
106  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 sermon,  has  been  partly  realized,  "that  the  wor- 
 ship of  God  in  Surrey  Chapel  might  prove  the 
 beginning  of  happy  days  to  thousands  who  were 
 already  born  of  God,  and  the  cause  of  future 
 joy  to  tens  of  thousands  who  were  then  dead 
 "in  trespasses  and  sins." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  printed  this  sermon,  to  prevent  all 
 misunderstanding  as  to  the  doctrines  which  he 
 intended  to  preach, — his  address  on  laying  the 
 foundation-stone  having  been  grossly  misrepre- 
 sented. He  was  soon  the  subject  of  a  violent 
 attack  from  one  of  the  reviews  of  the  day.  His 
 sermon  was  called  "the  first-born  child  of  absur- 
 dity," and  it  was  stated  that  only  a  depraved  mind 
 could  give  currency  to  the  sentiment  "  that  the 
 imagination  of  man's  heart  was  only  evil,  and  that 
 continually."  This  strange  ignorance  of  the 
 Scriptures  will  remind  the  reader  of  the 
 remark  made  by  a  learned  barrister,  "who 
 complained  of  the  bad  taste  of  the  evangelicals, 
 in  comparing  man's  own  righteousness  "  to 
 filthy  rags!!" 
 
 Mr.  Hill,  in  a  preface  affixed  to  his  first 
 sermon  refers  to  his  reviewer's  remarks.  "Their 
 ignorance  also  taught  them  to  tell  the  public 
 how  my  infatuated  hearers  would  walk  for 
 miles  uncovered,  during  the  severest  rain,  by 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  107 
 
 the  side  of  my  carriage,  singing  hymns ;  that  I 
 have  frequently  spoken  till  I  have  spit  blood, 
 and  much  injured  my  constitution  by  my  extra- 
 ordinarily energetic  mode  of  delivery.  Now,  it 
 would  be  the  greatest  piece  of  ill  manners  to 
 presume  to  say  I  am  well,  when  a  body  of  such 
 learned  gentlemen  pronounce  me  to  be  sick; 
 yet,  such  are  the  wonderful  effects  of  my  fana- 
 ticism, that  I  feel  no  more  bad  consequences 
 from  my  much  injured  constitution,  than  if  my 
 zeal  had  never  exceeded  the  completest  repre- 
 sentative of  laziness  in  a  cassock.'' 
 
 The  weekly  services  at  the  chapel  have  been 
 since  regularly  held  on  the  morning  and  even- 
 ing of  the  Sabbath-day,  on  Monday  evenings, 
 tvhen  the  members  of  the  church  meet  together, 
 and  receive  an  address  from  the  pastor;  and 
 also  on  Tuesday  evenings  and  Friday  mornings. 
 On  the  Lord's  day  the  scriptural  service  of  the 
 church  of  England  is  read,  somewhat  abridged, 
 particularly  by  the  omission  of  the  communion 
 service,  which  is  only  used  at  the  time  of  the 
 monthly  administration  of  the  ordinance. 
 
 An  excellent  organ  was  erected  for  the  use 
 of  the  congregation,  which  is  still  considered  a 
 very  superior  instrument,  and  was  long  played 
 by  the  late  Mr.  Jacob,  who  rose  to  great  emi- 
 nence by  his  musical  talents. 
 
1  08  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Soon  after  the  opening  of  the  chapel,  Mr. 
 
 Hill  again  wrote  to  his  friend   Simpson,  who 
 
 had  urged  him  to  preach  in  his  new  church  at 
 Macclesfield, — 
 
 "  My  dear  old  Friend,  and  Brother, 
 "  It  grieves  me  that  I  fear  it  will  not  be  in 
 my  power  to  visit  Macclesfield  according  to  the 
 affectionate  wishes  of  my  heart.  London 
 engagements  much  circumscribe  my  country 
 excursions.  However,  when  I  can  come  to  see 
 you  I  will ;  but  when  that  will  be,  I  dare  not 
 promise.  Penty*  is  now  filling  up  my  place  in 
 London;  he  grows  greatly,  and  is  by  all  ac- 
 counts very  lively  in  his  ministry.  Dear  Mr. 
 Venn  has  also  been  giving  us  a  helping  hand ; 
 and,  I  am  sorry  to  add,  he  now  labours  under  a 
 dangerous  indisposition,  that  indicates  some- 
 thing of  the  dropsy.  Oh  that  such  valuable  lives 
 may  be  spared  !  You  know  you  are  in  my  debt, 
 and  when  you  come  to  London  payment  must 
 be  made. 
 
 "  Things  go  on  most  blessedly  in  London, 
 and  a  little  is  doing  in  different  places  in  the 
 
 4-  Rev.  Thomas  Pentycross,  late  vicar  of  St.  Mary, 
 Wallingford. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  109 
 
 country ;  but  I  long  to  see  that  blessed  prayer 
 a  thousand  times  more  answered, 
 "  Thy  kingdom  come." 
 a  My  dear  friend,  let  us  labour  much  to  pro- 
 mote it :  in  blessing,  God  will  bless  us ;  and  in 
 multiplying  we  shall  be  multiplied. 
 
 "  Your  ever  affectionate  brother, 
 
 «R.  Hill." 
 
 "Rev.  D.  Simpson, 
 "  Macclesfield,  Cheshire."* 
 
 The  following  letters,  addressed  to  Mr.  Bull, 
 shew  the  anxiety  of  the  pastor  efficiently  to 
 supply  the  pulpit, — and  contain  some  charac- 
 teristic remarks, — 
 
 "  My  dear  Brother, 
 "  I  hear  with  much  satisfaction  that  you  are 
 to  be  in  London  (D.  V.)  the  latter  end  of  next 
 week.  I  am  sure  the  people  of  Surrey  Chapel 
 love  you,  and  I  believe  you  love  them;  and 
 they  will  much  want  your  services,  next  Lord's 
 day  se'nnight  in  the  morning.  As  I  heard  you 
 were  to  be  with  Mrs.  Wilberforce,  I  have  been 
 and  asked  her  if  I  may  ask  you;  and  as  she  has 
 
 *  Life  of  Simpson  by  Dr.  Williams,  p.  38. 
 
110  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 given  her  entire  approbation  to  borrow  her 
 guest.  I  have  permitted  myself  to  be  published 
 for  a  charity  sermon,  under  a  strong  persuasion 
 that  you  are  appointed  in  Providence  to  fill  my 
 place  at  Surrey  Chapel.  I  therefore  write  you  a 
 line,  that  you  may  make  for  yourself  no  other 
 engagement  than  what  is  made  for  you  already. 
 I  hear  you  are  to  be  at  Clapham  in  the  evening, 
 and  this  will  be  all  in  your  way, — be  so  kind  as 
 to  send  me  an  immediate  answer,  that  I  may 
 know  what  I  have  to  depend  upon.  N.  B.  Keep 
 in  mind  our  Tuesday  evening  lecture,  and  our 
 little  snug  meeting  on  Friday  morning,  which 
 are  generally  so  comfortable  to  me,  that  1 
 scarcely  ever  resign  my  place  to  any  minister 
 unless  I  love  him  as  well  as  myself;  you,  how- 
 ever, shall  preach  as  often  as  you  please. 
 I  have  other  things  to  talk  to  you  about ;  there 
 is  next  to  a  famine  of  the  word  in  Gloucester- 
 shire. O  that  Newport  Pagnel  might  provide 
 them  with  a  supply.  I  shall  hope  to  see  you 
 on  Saturday  week  at  Mr.  Wilberforce's,  but  am 
 not  certain.     Your  very  affectionate  Brother, 
 
 "  R.  Hill." 
 "  Surrey  Chapel, 
 "  Saturday  Evening." 
 
 "  To  Rev,  Mr,  Bull,  Newport  Pagnel,  Bucks," 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  1  1  1 
 
 "  My  dear  Sir, 
 "  The  last  time  you  favoured  me  with  your 
 assistance  at  the  Surrey  Chapel,  you  gave  me 
 some  encouragement  to  expect  from  you  fur- 
 ther help  about  Christmas  :  charity  to  an  infant 
 cause,  and  compassion  to  one  that  wants  your 
 help,  bids  you  attend  the  call.  I  trust  the 
 Lord  will  incline  your  heart  to  come,  nothing 
 doubting  but  it  is  his  will  that  you  should  come. 
 I  write  to  you  thus  early  that  I  may  have  timely 
 notice  when  you  can  favour  us  with  a  visit,  and 
 how  long  that  visit  is  to  last :  short  visits  from 
 some  people,  I  confess  I  like  better  than  long 
 ones, — but  from  you  I  not  only  can  say,  in 
 regard  to  myself,  but  for  many  others,  the 
 longer  your  visit  is  made,  the  more  thankfully 
 will  it  be  acknowledged.  Last  Bight  I  was 
 with  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson,  and  other  gentlemen, 
 whose  hearts  and  hands  are  engaged  in  the  pre- 
 sent undertaking, — who  all  unanimously  join 
 with  me  in  the  above  request:  it  is  somewhat 
 pleasant  now  and  then  to  graze  in  a  fresh  pas- 
 ture, especially  where  people  seem  hungering 
 for  the  word,  such  I  trust  you  will  find  the  con- 
 gregation in  this  place ;  the  Lord  constrain  you 
 
112  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 to  come  and  see,  to  come  soon,   and  to  stay 
 long, 
 
 "  So  prays  your  affectionate,  though  un- 
 worthy brother,  "  R.  Hill." 
 "  St.  George's  Road, 
 "Nov.  11,  1783." 
 "  Rev.  Mr.  Bull,  Newport  Pagnel,  Bucks." 
 
 A  few  years  after  the  opening  of  the  chapel, 
 a  variety  of  improvements  were  considered 
 necessary,  which  appear  to  have  engaged  the 
 anxious  attention  of  Mr.  Hill;  to  these  and 
 other  points  he  refers  in  the  following  letters, — 
 
 "  London,  Sept.  10,  1790." 
 "My  dear  Brother  Bull, 
 "My  last  letter  you  did  not  answer;  the 
 engagements  of  the  great  are  great.  I 
 hope,  however,  you  will  answer  this,  and 
 answer  it  according  to  my  liking.  Surrey 
 Chapel  is  now  under  repair, — the  congregation 
 have  been  turned  adrift  for  two  Sabbaths 
 already,  and  I  fear  will  be  for  two  more.  I  only 
 now  ask  the  favour  of  your  assistance  to  preach 
 one  end  of  the  day  a  charity  sermon  for  us,  not 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  113 
 
 the  first,  but  the  second  Sabbath  after  it  is 
 opened,  and  at  least  to  stop  one  Sunday  after 
 that.  Modesty  says,  ask  but  little  of  the  great, 
 and  they  will  grant  the  more ;  now,  I  have 
 some  very  peculiar  distant  calls  to  attend  to 
 through  the  month  of  October,  and  I  cannot 
 dare  to  leave  the  chapel  without  a  minister 
 that  the  congregation  highly  approve :  they  love 
 your  ministry  exceedingly;  if  ever  Jesus  blessed 
 you  in  your  life,  he  has  blessed  you  at  Surrey 
 Chapel.  May  you  come  and  be  blessed  again. 
 w  In  much  haste,  your's  affectionately, 
 
 «  R.  Hill.'1 
 "  Rev.  Mr.  Bull,  Newport 
 «  Pagnel,  Bucks.^ 
 
 "  My  dear  Brother  Bull, 
 "  As  grey  as  a  badger  the  chapel  shall  be 
 before  it  is  decorated  again,  with  my  consent ; 
 but  the  people  called  for  it,  and  indeed  not 
 before  the  place  needed  it;  besides  this,  my 
 attendance  on  the  business  has  made  me  feel 
 so  very  worldly,  that  I  scarce  know  where  I  am, 
 or  what  I  am ;  I  have,  however,  just  sufficient 
 sense  left  me  to  recollect  that  you  say  you  can- 
 not come  on  the  first  Sabbath  I  mentioned  in 
 
114  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 my  last, — but  proffered  your  assistance  for  a 
 morning  sermon  on  the  second  Sabbath  in 
 October.  Mr.  Neale  promises  to  see  that  you 
 shall  be  properly  fetched  and  carried  for  your 
 services ;  but  if  I  may  mend  your  plan,  I  would 
 say,  come  to  London  on  the  Thursday — preach 
 at  Surrey  Chapel  on  the  Friday  morning — stop 
 and  visit  your  London  friends  on  the  Saturday 
 — and  go  to  Clapham  on  the  Sabbath  after  the 
 morning  service  with  us.  You  say  you  cannot 
 stop  longer  than  one  Sabbath.  I  am  afraid, 
 however,  that  the  declining  state  of  our  dear 
 old  friend,  Mr.  Thornton's,  health,  may  make 
 you  alter  your  purpose ;  if  so,  however  sorry 
 for  the  cause,  we  shall  be  happy  to  avail  our- 
 selves of  your  services.  You  did  not  mention  if 
 you  had  any  of  your  students  disengaged; 
 I  have  had  people  here  this  day  from  Kingston, 
 to  inquire  about  your  answer;  I  hope  your 
 honour  will  think  of  an  answer  when  you  write 
 again.  I  want  these  poor  little  matters  to  be 
 over,  that  I  may  be  enabled  to  say,  "  Return 
 again  unto  thy  rest,  O  my  soul."  Jesus  is  my 
 rest,  he  himself  is  the  peace  of  God,  and 
 through  him  the  peace  of  God  that  passeth  all 
 understanding,  and  which  keeps  our  hearts. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  115 
 
 "  Love   to  you  and  yours,   from   yours  sin- 
 cerely, for  Christ's  sake, 
 
 "  R.  Hill." 
 "  Wednesday  Noun. 
 "  Sept.  22,  1790." 
 "  Rev.  W.  Bull,  Newport 
 "  Pagnel,  Bucks.*' 
 
 "  My  dear  Friend, 
 "  You  ran  away  in  such  a  hurry  last  Sunday 
 morning  from  Surrey  Chapel,  that  you  forgot 
 to  leave  word  when  you  would  come  again,  as 
 you  told  me;  so  I  told  the  people  that  they 
 might  expect  some  of  your  help  during 
 your  vacation.  Tell  me  what  I  am  to  say 
 to  the  people,  when  they  are  perpetually 
 asking,  'When  are  we  to  have  Mr.  Bull 
 again?'  Many  were  disappointed  last  Sabbath 
 morning,  not  having  received  previous  notice  of 
 your  visit.  I  ask  all  these  favours  in  submission 
 to  Mr.  Thornton,  as  you  are  at  present  his 
 guest.  You  said  somewhat  about  being  in 
 town  this  evening, — if  so,  can  you  preach  the 
 lecture  here,  and  take  a  bed  at  our  house  ?  If 
 you  wrould  do  this,  we  would  send  you  down  in 
 the  carriage  to-morrow  morning  to  Mr.  Wilber- 
 force's,  as  I  suppose  you  are  next  bound  to  that 
 
116  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 place.  Whenever  you  come,  I  pray  that  a  gra- 
 cious God  may  come  with  you,  otherwise  your 
 namesakes  in  the  fields  will  make  as  profitable 
 a  noise  as  yourself. 
 
 "  Your  ever  affectionate  Brother, 
 
 «  R.  Hill." 
 "  Surrey  Chapel,  Tuesday  Morn." 
 
 "  Respects  to  Mr.  Thornton. 
 
 "  Rev.  Mr.  Bull, 
 at  John  Thornton's,  Esq." 
 
 "  After  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Hill  at  Surrey 
 Chapel,  he  generally  resided  in  London  from 
 November  until  the  close  of  May,  when  he 
 retired  for  a  season  to  his  beautiful  residence  at 
 Wotton-under-edge,  or  commenced  his  much- 
 loved  itinerating  labours.  During  his  absence 
 from  London  his  pulpit  was  supplied  by  minis- 
 ters of  different  denominations,  all  holding  the 
 essential  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  The  vene- 
 rable Berridge,  Pentycross,  Glasscott,  Venn, 
 and  Scott,  the  excellent  commentator  on  the 
 Scriptures,  preached  faithfully  the  truth  as  it  is 
 in  Jesus,  at  Surrey  Chapel.  It  is  due  to  Mr. 
 Scott's  memory  to  state,  that  before  his  death 
 his  mind  changed  as  to  the  propriety  of  clergy- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  1 1  7 
 
 men  engaging  in  these  irregular  services.  "  Gra- 
 dually," he  remarks,  "  I  became  sensible  of  the 
 inconveniency  and  impropriety  of  attempting  to 
 unite  things  in  themselves  discordant,  and  more 
 attached  to  the  established  church;  so  that 
 after  I  had  been  a  few  years  in  London,  I  re- 
 fused to  preach  irregularly,  except  once  in 
 the  year,  I  consented  to  exchange  pulpits  with 
 Mr.  Hill,  at  Surrey  Chapel,  that  being  the 
 stipulated  condition  of  his  preaching  a  charity 
 sermon  for  the  Lock  Hospital :  and  when  I 
 took  my  present  living,  I  immediately  refused 
 to  do  this  also,  and  determined  no  more  to 
 deviate  from  regularity. 
 
 "I  do  not  say  this,"  adds  Mr.  Scott,  "as 
 blaming  those  who  once  belonged  to  the  Esta- 
 blishment, but  have  since  been  induced  to 
 labour  in  a  different  part  of  the  vineyard ;  but 
 merely  as  accounting  for  my  own  conduct ;  and 
 as  bearing  my  decided  testimony  against  the 
 practice,  at  present  not  common,  of  holding  a 
 living,  and  yet  preaching  irregularly.  As  to 
 those  who  have  neither  livings,  lectureships, 
 nor  curacies,  and  who  preach  at  one  time  in  a 
 licensed  meeting-house,  or  elsewhere,  and  in  a 
 church  at  another  time ;  I  would  do  the  same, 
 
US  MEMOIR  OP 
 
 were  I  a  dissenting  minister,  if  I  were  per- 
 mitted to  do  it.  The  veto  belongs  to  the 
 Bishop,  not  the  volo  to  the  preacher.* 
 
 In  May,  1790,  Mr.  Venn  preached  for  a  few 
 Sundays  at  Surrey  Chapel,  and  this  washis  last 
 engagement  with  the  people.  In  the  prospect 
 of  these  services  he  wrote,  April  9,  1790, — 
 66  Next  week  I  go  to  town  on  that  arduous  and 
 glorious  business,  of  preaching  the  name  of 
 Jesus  to  thousands  of  immortal  souls !  Oh, 
 Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?" 
 
 On  the  13th  of  June,  1790,  he  took  his  final 
 leave  of  the  congregation,  addressing  a  great 
 multitude  from  Heb.  x.  23,  "  Let  us  hold  fast 
 the  profession  of  our  faith  without  wavering  : 
 for  He  is  faithful  that  promised."  After  this 
 service  he  remarked,  "My  work  is  nearly 
 ended  :  for  my  mental  faculties  are  very  dull ; 
 and  my  bodily  strength  greatly  reduced."f 
 
 In  the  following  letter  Mr.  Hill  states  the 
 ground  of  Mr.  Venn's  declining  further  to 
 supply  the  pulpit  at  Surrey  Chapel,  where  his 
 labours  had  been  remarkably  useful: — 
 
 *  Life  of  Scott,  p.  169. 
 
 t  Life  of  Rev.  H.  Venn,  A.M.  p.  485. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  119 
 
 "London,  March  15,  1701. 
 <•  My  dear  Brother  Bull, 
 "  Since  Mr.  Venn  positively  refuses  to  make 
 any  further  attempts  to  serve  us  at  Surrey 
 Chapel,  through  his  declining  state  of  health, 
 I  cannot  drop  my  applications  to  you  for  your 
 assistance ;  your  mind  seems  fixed  for  Bright- 
 helmstone  for  the  autumn.  I  shall  be  happy  if 
 ever  you  are  prevailed  upon  to  divide  the  time, 
 — but  if  that  is  not  for  the  present  to  be 
 expected,  I  must  request  you  not  to  put  a 
 negative  on  my  application  for  a  short  visit 
 immediately  after  Easter, — this,  you  think,  will 
 be  the  most  convenient  time  for  you :  now,  if 
 you  can  be  here  the  first  Sabbath  after  Easter, 
 and  stay  over  that,  and  two  more,  you  would  be 
 but  a  little  more  than  a  fortnight  from  home :  if 
 you  could  double  the  time,  it  would  give  me 
 double  satisfaction;  but  if  that  should  be  too 
 long,  you  cannot  deny  us  so  small  a  favour  as 
 two  Sabbaths,  and  then  you  will  only  be  one 
 week  from  home ;  now,  you  are  only  to  send 
 word  whether  you  can  stay  a  week,  a  month,  or 
 six  months.  I  am  sure  I  write  the  voice  of  the 
 people,  and  what  I  believe  will  be  to  their  spi- 
 ritual good,  and  I  look  up  to  the  Lord  to  send 
 a   favourable  answer;    may   his    constraint   be 
 
120  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 upon  you,  and  his  blessing  with  you  whenever 
 you  come.  Blessed  be  God,  we  are  not  without 
 some  evidences  of  the  Divine  presence, — only 
 at  times  the  poor  preacher  is  ready  to  sink  into 
 the  earth  under  the  wretched  poverty  of  his 
 performances;  still  the  Lord  seems  to  cover  all; 
 all  that  know  I  write  to  you,  send  love,  in  which 
 they  are  most  heartily  joined  by  theirs  and 
 yours, 
 
 fcC  For  Christ's  sake, 
 
 «  R.  Hill." 
 "  Love  to  Mrs.  Bull  and  your  son. — Send  an 
 answer  speedily." 
 
 "  Rev.  Mr.  Bull, 
 Newport  Pagnel,  Bucks." 
 
 In  addition  to  the  clergymen  whose  names 
 have  been  mentioned,  Messrs.  Joss,  Mills, 
 Piercy,  Medley,  as  well  as  Mr.  Bull,  from  among 
 the  nonconformists,  once  preached  the  tidings 
 of  great  joy  in  Surrey  Chapel.  Since  their 
 removal  "to  the  rest  which  remaineth  to  the 
 people  of  God,"  the  congregation  has  enjoyed 
 the  valued  labours  of  many  of  the  most  talented 
 ministers  of  the  day.  For  nearly  fifty  years  the 
 Rev.  William  Jay,  of  Bath,  has  paid  his  annual 
 visit   to  the  congregation,  and  his  services  are 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  121 
 
 as  acceptable,  now  "the  almond-tree  flourishes," 
 as  when  "the  dew  of  youth"  was  upon  him. 
 He  has  confirmed  many  in  the  faith,  and  led 
 many  thoughtless  prodigals  to  the  Saviour  of 
 sinners.  The  excellent  Mr.  Bull  preached 
 occasionally  until  the  close  of  his  ministry;  and 
 his  simple  and  conversational  style  secured  the 
 attention  of  the  congregation.  Like  the 
 esteemed  pastor,  he  was  fond  of  relating  strik- 
 ing anecdotes,  and  through  them  he  frequently 
 riveted  the  most  important  instruction  on  the 
 mind.  When  preaching  at  Surrey  Chapel,  in 
 1793,  he  mentioned  that  when  Mr.  Whitefield 
 was  once  preaching  for  Mr.  Grimshaw,  in  York- 
 shire, he  took  occasion  to  say  in  his  discourse, 
 that  "he  was  willing  to  hope,  in  the  judgment 
 of  charity,  that  most  of  his  hearers  were  good 
 people,  —  converted  persons,  and  truly  pos- 
 sessed of  the  grace  of  God."  Upon  which  the 
 venerable  Grimshaw,  who  was  present,  rose 
 up,  and  with  an  elevated  voice  said^  "  No,  no, 
 sir,  they  are  not  half  of  them  converted  by  the 
 grace  of  God.  Speak  to  them  faithfully." 
 "  So  let  me  be  faithful  to  you,"  said  Mr.  Bull, 
 "not  mince  the  matter,  and  say,  'Peace,  peace, 
 where  there  is  no  peace." 
 
122  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  Rev.  John  Sibree,  of  Frome,  was  for 
 many  years  one  of  the  acceptable  supplies  at 
 the  chapel,  and  was  highly  esteemed  by  the 
 pastor.  He  was  eminently  calculated  "to  build 
 up  the  household  of  faith,"  and  to  comfort  "the 
 mourners  in  Zion."  The  aged  people  heard 
 him  gladly,  and  his  labours  were  not  in  vain  in 
 the  Lord.  "With  a  voice  exceedingly  melodious, 
 and  which  he  well  knew  how  to  modulate,  he 
 delivered  his  sermons  with  that  energy,  and 
 resigned  himself  to  those  strong  impulses  of 
 feeling,  which  constitute  the  very  essence  of 
 effective  oratory.  Hence  they  are  adapted  to 
 strike  the  conscience  and  impress  the  heart."* 
 
 His  appeals  to  the  thoughtless  sinner  were 
 often  powerful  and  impressive.  One  Sabbath 
 evening  a  youth,  "halting  between  two  opi- 
 nions," who  had  been  led  to  Surrey  Chapel  by 
 a  beloved  mother,  resolved  no  longer  to  attend 
 where  the  guilty  conscience  could  not  find 
 repose.  He  wandered  from  the  place,  intend- 
 ing to  pass  the  evening  in  pleasurable  pursuits, 
 but,  after  walking  for  a  considerable  time,  he 
 found  he  was  involuntarily  and  unintentionally 
 
 *  Murch's  Funeral  Sermon. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  1*2:3 
 
 advancing  towards  the  chapel.  The  sound  of 
 the  music  was  heard,  and  conscience  would  not 
 let  him  pass  by.  He  went  into  the  free  part  of 
 the  chapel,  and  took  his  seat  close  to  the  door, 
 resolving  in  a  few  minutes  to  make  his  exit. 
 The  hymn  being  finished,  Mr.  Sibree  gave  out 
 his  text.  At  that  moment  the  thought  passed 
 through  the  mind  of  the  prodigal,  "I  would 
 rather  hear  the  benediction  than  the  text." 
 Mr.  Sibree  paused  after  announcing  his  subject, 
 and  looking  towards  the  crowd  at  the  doors,  he 
 exclaimed  with  deep  feeling,  "Ah  !  I  am  afraid 
 there  are  some  thoughtless  sinners  present, 
 who  would  sooner  hear  the  preacher  pronounce 
 "  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ," — than 
 his  text.  The  words  powerfully  impressed  the 
 mind  of  the  undecided  youth,  and  he  remained 
 till  the  close  of  the  service.  He  has  since  been 
 united  with  the  church  for  more  than  twenty 
 years. 
 
 Equally  interesting  information  might  be 
 given  of  the  successful  labours  of  Mr.  Griffin 
 of  Portsea,  Mr.  Slatterie  of  Chatham,  and  Mr. 
 Elliott  of  Devizes.  The  latter  minister  was 
 himself  led  to  the  Saviour  by  the  truth  he 
 heard  at  Surrey  Chapel,  and  was  trained  up  for 
 the   work  of  the   ministry  at  the  feet  of  the 
 
124  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 venerable  Mr.  Bull,  whose  name  has  been  men- 
 tioned. The  annual  sermons  to  young  people, 
 which  Mr.  Elliott  has  been  accustomed  to 
 preach  during  his  visits,  have  been  the  happy 
 means  of  leading  several  youthful  sinners  to 
 seek  for  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel.  The 
 limits  of  this  memoir  will  not  permit  the  writer 
 to  pay  a  proper  tribute  of  grateful  respect  to 
 Mr.  James,  of  Birmingham,  and  many  others 
 who  have  ministered  unto  the  people  the  words 
 of  eternal  life. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  maintained  an  affectionate  inter- 
 course with  his  fellow-labourers  in  the  Lord, 
 who  kindly  ministered  to  his  London  congre- 
 gation. He  would  sometimes  address  them 
 with  the  freedom  of  one  who  sincerely  loved 
 them,  particularly  if  there  had  been  a  momen- 
 tary misunderstanding  upon  any  point.  This 
 will  be  seen  in  the  following  singular  letter 
 which  he  wrote  to  a  minister  whom  he  greatly 
 esteemed: — 
 
 "  London,  March  26,  L791- 
 "  My  dear  Brother, 
 "  I  should  serve  you  just  right  if  I  were  to 
 answer  your  letter  in  a  style  as  crusty  as  your 
 own ;  but  as  you  appear  to  be  a  perfect  master 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  125 
 
 in  this  way  of  writing,  I  shall  only  expose  my 
 ignorance  were  I  to  make  the  attempt.  Though 
 we  have  been  always  happy  to  avail  ourselves 
 of  your  assistance  in  all  your  occasional  visits, 
 you  have  never  yet  favoured  us  with  a  direct 
 visit  on  purpose  to  serve  us.  Your  next  visit 
 will  be  of  that  description ;  and  I  dare  say  you 
 will  have  no  occasion  to  grumble  at  the  mean- 
 ness of  our  friends:  we  always  supposed  that 
 your  son  would  come  with  you,  and  you  may 
 make  this  house  your  home  as  long  as  you  like 
 it ;  only  leave  your  crusty  spirit  behind  you — 
 I  am  sure  it  will  not  help  you  in  preaching 
 Jesus ;  as  he  is  love,  he  is  best  preached  under 
 the  spirit  of  love ;  oh  for  more  of  his  love,  that 
 I  may  preach  better  about  it 
 
 "Accept  hearty  love  to  your  crusty  reve- 
 rence, from  yours  sincerely, 
 
 «  R.  Hill." 
 
 The  attendance  at  the  chapel  has  been  large 
 and  respectable  ever  since  its  opening ;  but  the 
 numbers  it  will  hold  have  been  overrated.  The 
 chapel,  which  is  in  the  form  of  an  octagon,  is 
 well  adapted  for  hearing,  and  the  preacher  has 
 a  full  command  of  his  congregation.     It  is  cal- 
 
126  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 culated  that  two  thousand  five  hundred  persons 
 can  be  conveniently  accommodated  with  sittings, 
 though  on  special  occasions  more  than  three 
 thousand  have  been  seen  there  attentively  listen- 
 ing to  the  great  truths  of  the  gospel. 
 
 Within  this  sacred  edifice  many  eminent  per- 
 sons have  worshipped  God ;  among  whom  may 
 be  mentioned,  the  late  Duke  of  Kent,  the  good 
 Dean  Milner,  Sir  Richard  Hill,  the  patriotic 
 and  benevolent  Wilberforce,  the  worthy  Ambrose 
 Serle,  who  here  united  their  prayers  and  praises 
 with  the  leading  clergymen  of  the  day;  and 
 with  many  of  "  the  elect  ladies,"  who  were  zea- 
 lously devoted  to  the  cause  of  God.  Here  "the 
 ministering  spirits  sent  forth  to  minister  unto 
 the  heirs  of  salvation,"  have  frequently  seen  the 
 tear  of  repentance  drop  from  the  eye  of  the 
 prodigal,  and  have  borne  the  intelligence  to 
 heaven,  where  it  has  produced  "joy  in  the  pre- 
 sence of  the  angels  of  God."  In  this  place  the 
 devoted  Rowland  Hill  successfully  laboured. 
 He  fed  his  people  with  knowledge  and  with 
 understanding.  Through  his  instrumentality 
 many  were  added  to  the  church,  who  will  be 
 his  "  glory  and  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  Lord 
 Jesus  Christ  at  his  coming." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  ]"27 
 
 In  a  future  chapter  an  account  will  be  given 
 of  the  societies  which  have  been  established 
 in  Surrey  chapel,  and  of  some  of  the  blessed 
 results  which  have  followed  the  ministry  of  the 
 word.  The  pastor  has  been  removed,  but  the 
 language  of  his  surviving  and  united  people 
 is,  "  Peace  be  within  thy  walls,  and  prosperity 
 within  thy  palaces.  For  our  brethren  and  com- 
 panions' sake,  we  will  now  say,  Peace  be  within 
 thee.,, 
 
128  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 CHAP.  IV. 
 
 THE  LABOURS  OF  MR.  HILL  AS  AN  ITINERANT. 
 
 The  reformers — revolution  of  1688  —  state  of  the  English 
 church  described  by  dr.  gillies  and  middleton — wesley  and 
 whitefield — mr-  jay's  remark  on  the  revivalists  of  reli- 
 gion— itinerant  labours  of  mr.  hill,  and  the  sufferings  he 
 endured  —  hampstead  heath  and  croydon —  his  great  at- 
 tachment to  field-preaching,  and  remarks  thereon — the 
 serpent  —  devizes,  interesting  conversion  —  preaching  at 
 kingswood  —  anecdote  of  sir  richard  hill — letter  from 
 rev.  john  berridge — singular  scene  at  wrexham — his  suc- 
 cessful labours  in  wales — opposition  at  abbergelle — kings- 
 wood  grave-yard — first  tour  in  scotland — impressions  on 
 the  sober  minds  of  the  scotch  people — paisley  and  chris- 
 tian love — mr.  hill  addresses  fifteen  thousand  persons  on 
 the  calton  hill,  edinburgh — the  great  good  which  resulted 
 from  the  tour — the  baptists  of  northampton — second  tour 
 in  scotland — mr.  hill's  serious  contentions  with  the  gene- 
 ral assemely,  and  the  general  associate  synod — reply  to 
 dr.  jamieson's  pamphlet — the  bigot  of  liberality — third 
 visit  to  scotland — dr.  chalmers  at  surrey  chapel — tours  in 
 ireland — the  swearing  captain — ministers  not  to  be  con- 
 fined to  geographical  limits — the  honourable  b.  noel's 
 letter  to  the  bishop  of  london — rev.  thomas  scott's  re- 
 MARKS ON  ITINERANT  PREACHING. 
 
 The  great  Head  of  the  Church  has-  raised  up, 
 in  every  age,  suitable  instruments  to  make 
 known  the  glad  tidings  of  the  Gospel  to  perish- 
 ing men.     The  fathers  of  the  church  handed 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  129 
 
 down  to  their  successors  the  great  truths  which 
 the  apostles  had  preached.  After  the  errors  of 
 Rome  had  been  extensively  spread,  Wickliff 
 appeared  as  a  light  shining  in  a  benighted 
 world.  "  His  preaching,  at  which  all  the  suc- 
 ceeding reformers  lighted  their  tapers,  was  to 
 his  countrymen  a  short  blaze,  soon  damped  and 
 stifled  by  the  pope  and  prelates."*'  The  refor- 
 mation in  Germany,  and  the  adjacent  countries, 
 was  advanced  by  Luther,  Melancthon,  Zuing- 
 lius,  Calvin,  and  Beza;  whilst  in  England, 
 Cranmer,  Latimer,  and  Ridley,  and  in  Scotland, 
 Knox  and  Melville  appeared  as  the  great 
 champions  of  the  truth,  f  The  cause  of  Christ 
 advanced,  through  many  difficulties,  until  the 
 Revolution  of  1688,  when  King  William  landed 
 in  our  happy  land.  He  sustained  the  national 
 church,  but  gave  liberty  of  conscience  to  all 
 who  dissented  from  it. 
 
 *  Milton's  Prose  AYorks,  by  Fletcher,  p.  2. 
 
 f  The  wisdom  and  power  of  God  were  very  mani~ 
 fest  in  raising  up  and  qualifying  such  instruments  for 
 his  work.  They  received  peculiar  endowments  for  a 
 peculiar  service,  and  their  very  infirmities  and  defects 
 were  subordinated  to  the  service  of  God.  Such  men 
 as  Luther  appear  not  now,   nor  are  they  necessary : 
 
 when  they  are,  God  will  raise  them  up. Mann't 
 
 Ecclesiastical  Lectures,  p.  *231. 
 
 K 
 
130  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 A  state  of  peace  is  not  always  a  season  of 
 prosperity  to  the  church  of  Christ.  She  has 
 flourished  most  in  troublous  times.  After  the 
 Revolution  of  1688,  all  denominations  appear 
 to  have  been  in  a  lukewarm  condition.  Like 
 the  virgins  in  the  parable,  "  they  all  slumbered 
 and  slept." 
 
 "Awful  and  gloomy  was  the  period,"  remarks 
 the  biographer  of  Whitefield,  "  when  Method- 
 ism first  appeared  in  these  kingdoms.  Serious 
 and  practical  Christianity  appeared  to  be  at  the 
 lowest  ebb ;  vital  religion,  so  flourishing  in  the 
 last  century,  was  scarcely  known  !  and  the  only 
 thing  insisted  on,  was  a  defence  of  the  out- 
 works of  Christianity  against  the  objections  of 
 infidels.  What  was  the  consequence?  The 
 writings  of  infidels  multiplied  every  day,  and 
 infidelity  made  a  rapid  progress  among  persons 
 of  every  rank,  not  because  they  were  reasoned 
 into  it  by  the  force  of  argument,  but  because 
 they  were  kept  strangers  to  Christ,  and  the 
 power  of  his  Gospel,  We  have  a  most  affecting 
 description  of  this,  given  by  Bishop  Butler,  in 
 the  Preface  to  his  "  Analogy,"  whom  none  will 
 suspect  of  exaggerating  the  fact.  "  It  is  come, 
 I  know  not  how,  to  be  taken  for  granted,  that 
 Christianity    is    not    so    much    a    subject    of 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  131 
 
 inquiry;  but  that  it  is,  now  at  length,  discovered 
 to  be  fictitious ;  and  accordingly  they  treat  ife 
 as  if  in  the  present  age,  this  were  an  agreed 
 point  among  all  people  of  discernment;  and 
 nothing  remained  but  to  set  it  up  as  a  principal 
 subject  of  mirth  and  ridicule,  and  as  it  were  by 
 way  of  reprisals  for  its  having  so  long  inter- 
 rupted the  pleasures  of  the  world. * 
 
 An  impartial  historian  has  also  said,f  "  the 
 bishops,  in  their  corporate  capacity,  were  not 
 conspicuous  for  evangelical  purity  of  sentiment, 
 or  attachment  to  the  distinguishing  tenets  of 
 the  Reformation,  as  expressed  in  the  Articles  of 
 the  religious  community  over  which  they  were 
 destined  to  preside.  They  drank  too  much 
 into  the  spirit  of  the  fashionable  theology." 
 "The  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith  alone 
 was  in  general  inadequately  and  imperfectly 
 stated;  the  corruption  of  human  nature  was 
 spoken  of  in  qualified  terms;  and  salvation  was 
 too  often  represented  as  the  possible  attainment 
 of  moral  exertion,  and  the  legal  reward  of  a 
 religious   and  virtuous    conduct;    they  viewed 
 
 *  Dr.  Gillies'  Life  of  Whitefield,  2nd  edition,  p.  4. 
 t  Middelton's  Ecclesiastical  Memoir  of  the  first  four 
 decades  of  the  reign  of  George  the  III.  p.  10. 
 
132  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 what  were  termed  "  methodistical  tenets,"  with 
 a  sort  of  instinctive  horror,  and  seemed  to  lose 
 the  power  of  discriminating  between  that  zeal 
 for  the  honour  of  his  Saviour,  and  compassion 
 for  perishing  sinners,  which  led  the  preacher  to 
 proclaim  with  appropriate  energy,  and  in 
 familiar  terms,  the  fulness  and  freeness  of  the 
 everlasting  Gospel, — and  a  covert  design  to 
 court  popularity,  and  ultimately  effect  the  over- 
 throw of  the  church.  With  most  of  the  digni- 
 taries of  the  day,  and  their  ordinary  associates, 
 fervour  was  denominated  cant,  watchfulness 
 hypocrisy,  and  abstraction  from  worldly  society 
 unnecessary  strictness."  Among  the  higher 
 orders  of  the  clergy,  the  unction  of  humility 
 which  flowed  from  the  silvered  temples  of  a 
 Beveridge  down  to  the  skirts  of  his  garments, 
 and  the  glow  of  holy  zeal  which  animated  the 
 breast  of  a  Reynolds  or  a  Hopkins,  seemed  to 
 be  exchanged  for  courtly  aspirations  after  pre- 
 ferment and  translation,  or  distinction  in  the 
 divinity  school  of  a  Lord  Lyttelton  or  a  Dr. 
 Johnson."* 
 
 *  See  also  the  remarks  of  Middelton  on  the  state  of 
 the  English  Church,  in  his  Biographia  Evangelica, 
 vol.  iv.  p.  510,  &c. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  1  3o 
 
 "  The  body  of  the  clergy  neither  knew,  nor 
 cared  about,  any  particular  system  of  religion. 
 In  a  great  number  of  instances  they  were  neg- 
 ligent and  immoral ;  often  grossly  so.  The 
 population  of  the  large  towns  were  ignorant 
 and  profligate ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  villages 
 added  to  ignorance  and  profligacy,  brutish  and 
 barbarous  manners."* 
 
 Such  was  the  affecting  state  of  religion,  and 
 of  the  times,  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
 when  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  cause  a  glorious 
 revival,  in  the  midst  of  abounding  impiety, 
 through  the  instrumentality  of  the  despised 
 Methodists.  The  light  began  to  shine  at 
 Oxford,  which  was  the  cradle  of  this  new  refor- 
 mation in  England.  In  November,  1729,  four 
 young  gentlemen  of  Oxford,  Mr,  John  Wesley, 
 fellow  of  Lincoln  College;  Mr.  Charles  Wes- 
 ley, student  of  Christ  Church;  Mr.  Morgan, 
 commoner  of  Christ  Church;  and  Mr.  Kirkman, 
 of  Merton  College, — began  to  spend  some  even- 
 ings in  a  week  together,  in  reading  chiefly  the 
 Greek  Testament.  The  next  year  two  or  three 
 of  Mr.  John  Wesley's  pupils  desired  the  liberty 
 of  meeting  with  them;  and  afterwards  one  of 
 
 *  Watson's  Life  of  Wesley,  p.  67. 
 
134  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Mr.  Charles  Wesley's  pupils.  In  1732,  Mr 
 Ingham,  of  Queen's  College,  and  Mr.  Brough- 
 ton,  of  Exeter,  were  added  to  the  number. 
 To  these,  in  April,  was  joined,  Mr.  Clayton,  of 
 Brazen-nose,  with  two  or  three  of  his  pupils. 
 About  the  same  time  Mr.  James  Hervey  was 
 permitted  to  meet  with  them,  and  afterwards 
 Mr.  Whitefield.  These  excellent  men  visited 
 the  prisoners  in  the  Oxford  goal,  and  found  out 
 the  poor  and  afflicted,  and  ministered  to  them 
 spiritual  and  temporal  blessings.  Sickness  and 
 cowardly  desertion,  arising  from  weariness  of 
 the  cross,  reduced  the  number  of  this  little 
 society  of  zealous  young  men ;  but  those  who 
 were  faithful  persevered  with  unabated  dili- 
 gence in  their  attempts  to  do  good.*  In  this 
 way  commenced  that  great  work  which  has 
 resulted  in  the  conversion  of  many  thousands 
 who  were  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge. 
 
 About  the  same  time  Watts,  Doddridge, 
 and  others  were  instrumental,  by  their  pulpit 
 labours  and  published  works,  in  restoring  the 
 doctrines  of  the  Reformation,  and  widely 
 spreading  them  amongst  the  population  of  this 
 country. 
 
 *  Watson's  Life  of  Wesley,  pages  16  and  19. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  135 
 
 "  All  these  holy  men,"  remarks  Mr.  Jay, 
 "were  a  band  of  heralds,  whose  hearts  the 
 Lord  had  touched :  and  they  flew  like  angels, 
 having  the  everlasting  Gospel  to  preach  unto 
 them  that  dwell  upon  the  earth.  They  roused 
 a  slumbering  nation ;  called  their  attention 
 to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus ;  and  commenced 
 a  revival  of  evangelical  religion,  from  which 
 churchmen  and  dissenters  have  derived  advan- 
 tages, for  which  they  should  not  be  ashamed  to 
 be  thankful." 
 
 For  a  season  Wesley  and  Whitefield  appear 
 to  have  laboured  harmoniously  together, — 
 the  latter  first  proclaimed  the  Gospel  in  the 
 streets  and  lanes  of  the  city,  and  afterwards 
 induced  Wesley  to  adopt  the  same  course. 
 This  novel  mode  of  proclaiming  the  truth 
 excited  great  opposition. 
 
 The  conduct  of  the  Methodists  was  scrupu- 
 lously hallowed;  their  spirit  gentle,  tender,  and 
 sympathizing;  their  courage  bold  and  undaunted; 
 their  patience  proof  against  all  reproach,  hard- 
 ships, and  persecutions ;  their  charities  to  the 
 poor  unbounded,  to  the  full  extent  of  all  their 
 resources ;  their  labours  wholly  gratuitous ;  and 
 their  wonderful  activity,  and  endurance  of  the 
 fatigues  of  rapid  travelling,  seemed  to  destroy  the 
 
136  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 distance  of  place,  and  to  give  them  a  sort  of  ubi- 
 quity in  the  vast  circuit  which  they  had  then 
 adopted  as  the  field  of  their  labours.  For  all 
 these  reasons,  they  "  were  men  to  be  wondered 
 at,"  even  in  the  beginning  of  their  career;  and  as 
 their  ardour  was  increased  by  the  effects  which 
 followed,  the  conversion  of  great  numbers  to 
 God,  of  which  the  most  satisfactory  evidence 
 was  afforded,  they  disappointed  those  who  anti- 
 cipated that  their  zeal  would  soon  cool,  and 
 that,  "  shorn  of  their  strength  by  opposition, 
 reproach,  and  exhausting  labours,  they  would 
 become  'like  other  men.'"* 
 
 Although  there  was  a  temporary  estrange- 
 ment between  Wesley  and  Whitefield,  on  the 
 subject  of  the  Calvinistic  doctrine,  yet  a  com- 
 plete reconciliation  took  place,  when  it  was 
 considered  expedient  for  them  to  act  independ- 
 ently of  each  other.  So  complete  was  this 
 re-union,  that  Mr.  Whitefield,  by  his  will,  gave 
 a  mourning  ring  to  his  honoured  and  dear 
 friends,  and  disinterested  fellow-labourers,  the 
 Rev.  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  in  token  of  his 
 indissoluble  union  with  them  in  heart  and 
 christian   affection,   notwithstanding   their   dif- 
 
 *  Watson's  Life  of  Wesley,  p.  77. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  137 
 
 ference  in  judgment  about  some  particular 
 points  of  doctrine.  Mr.  Wesley,  at  Mr.  White- 
 field's  own  desire,  preached  his  funeral  sermon 
 at  the  Tabernacle,  Moorfields. 
 
 Whitefield,  by  his  extraordinary  labours, 
 exerted  a  powerful  interest  in  favour  of  religion 
 in  many  parts  of  our  country.  He  became  the 
 popular  preacher  at  Moorfields,  Kennington 
 Common,  and  Blackheath,  and  was  greatly 
 esteemed  by  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Scot- 
 land and  Wales.  He  may  be  considered  the 
 leader  of  the  despised  and  successful  band  of 
 holy  and  self-denying  itinerants,  who  were 
 emphatically  "  the  messengers  of  the  churches, 
 and  the  glory  of  Christ." 
 
 On  the  death  of  Whitefield,  his  standard  was 
 borne  by  Rowland  Hill,  who  faithfully  followed 
 in  the  footsteps  of  his  predecessor,  and,  as  a 
 despised  itinerant,  made  known,  through  the 
 three  kingdoms,  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of 
 God 
 
 On  the  30th  September,  1772,  he  preached 
 a  sermon  on  the  anniversary  of  Whitefield's 
 death,  from  John  v.  35,  "He  was  a  burning 
 and  a  shining  light." 
 
 At  the  time  Mr.  Hill  commenced  his  itine- 
 rant labours,  he  had  not  only  to  endure  the 
 
138  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 cruel  persecutions  of  the  world,  but  also  the 
 frowns  of  the  cold  orthodox  party,  who  had 
 strong  objections  to  a  man  being  righteous 
 overmuch."  His  zeal  exposed  their  criminal 
 indolence.  Though  every  where  spoken 
 against,  he  had  grace  to  persevere.  Stones, 
 rotten  eggs,  and  other  filth,  were  often  thrown 
 at  him.  All  these  things  he  bore  patiently, 
 and,  in  the  spirit  of  his  Master,  could  pray  for 
 his  vilest  persecutors,  "  Father,  forgive  them, 
 for  they  know  not  what  they  do." 
 
 It  has  been  properly  remarked  upon  this 
 subject,  "that  when  he  might  have  entered 
 into  the  full  service  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
 land, he  voluntarily  took  his  rank  with  a  few 
 other  pious  and  evangelical  clergymen,  and 
 more  especially  with  the  immortal  Whitefield, 
 by  going  out  of  the  regular  pathways  of  eccle- 
 siastical service  into  the  wilderness  of  society, 
 to  seek  '  the  lost  sheep,'  nobly  sacrificing  ease, 
 and  fame,  and  honour,  and  rank,  and  affluence, 
 to  bring  these  wanderers  to  the  great  Shepherd 
 and  Bishop  of  souls. ',# 
 
 *  Resolution  of  the  Committee  of  Village  Itinerancy 
 on  the  death  of  R.  Hill. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  139 
 
 Soon  after  Mr.  Hill's  first  appearance  in  the 
 metropolis,  and  before  he  obtained  orders,  he 
 became  well  known  as  a  field  preacher.  The 
 crowds  which  pressed  to  hear  him  at  the 
 Tabernacle  and  Tottenham-court  chapels,  were 
 so  great,  that  hundreds  could  not  gain  admis- 
 sion. He,  therefore,  went  forth  into  the  open 
 fields ;  anxious  also  to  meet  the  wanderers 
 in  their  own  way,  he  went  to  Hampstead  Heath, 
 and  preached  to  a  multitude,  who  first  mocked 
 the  doctrines  he  taught,  but  many  afterwards 
 embraced  them. 
 
 The  second  time  he  preached  there,  in  1772, 
 it  happened  to  be  exceedingly  wet,  when  he 
 chose  for  his  text,  Deut.  xxxii.  2, — "  My 
 doctrine  shall  drop  as  the  rain."  Towards 
 the  close  of  the  sermon,  the  shower  being  vio- 
 lent, Mr.  Hill  put  on  his  hat,  and  thus  ex- 
 pressed himself  to  the  people  who  surrounded 
 him,  "  Excuse  my  hat,  friends  ;  but  do  not  let 
 the  rain  alarm  us  so  much:  what  would  the 
 condemned  souls  in  Tophet's  parched  pit  give 
 for  a  single  drop  of  this  consolatory  rain,  that 
 falleth  upon  our  delightful  land,  and  makes 
 fruitful  our  long  burnt  up  fields  !" 
 
 The  same  summer  he  preached  to  multitudes 
 on  Kennington  Common,  the  London  Fields,  at 
 
140  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Brook  Green,  and  also  at  White*  Conduit  House, 
 and  other  places  of  great  resort.  He  had  pur- 
 posed to  preach  in  Smithfield,  on  the  spot 
 where  the  martyrs  suffered  in  the  bloody  days 
 of  Mary,  but  was  dissuaded  by  his  friends,  from 
 the  fear  of  offending  the  magistrates. 
 
 On  Thursday,  August  13th,  in  the  same  year, 
 Mr.  Hill  drew  a  number  of  people  to  Croydon, 
 where  he  preached  till  it  was  dark,  and  then 
 gave  out  that  he  should  speak  at  Mitcham,  it 
 being  fair-time ;  which  he  did  the  same  even- 
 ing, from  Isaiah  li.  1.* 
 
 Only  a  few  months  before  his  death,  Mr.  Hill 
 referred  to  these  labours.  "I  remember,  when 
 I  first  came  to  London,  I  frequently  preached 
 at  Tottenham-court  Chapel,  and  in  the  streets 
 and  lanes  of  the  city;  surprise  was  on  my  mind 
 to  see  the  effects  produced ;  oh,  it  was  delight- 
 ful to  see  how  the  people  felt  under  the  preach- 
 ing of  the  word." 
 
 These  useful  but  self-denying  labours  excited 
 the  strong  prejudices  of  the  cold  orthodox  party, 
 and  clouded  the  young  preacher's  prospects  of 
 admission  into  the  church.     He  refers  to  the 
 
 *  Evangelical   Biography  of  Eminent   Christians, 
 180£  Vol.  iv.  p.  508. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  141 
 
 difficulties  he  experienced  on  this  subject  in  the 
 following  remarks: — 
 
 "Having  been  refused  ordination  by  the 
 Archbishop  of  York,  I  esteemed  it  my  duty  to 
 go  about  preaching  every  where  that  men 
 should  repent;  and  I  believe  the  message, 
 though  attended  with  abundance  of  weakness, 
 was  still  blessed  to  the  salvation  of  many. 
 I  then  concluded  that  it  was  never  the  design 
 of  Providence  that  I  should  be  permitted  to 
 preach  the  word  of  life  within  the  walls  of  the 
 established  church, — though  what  I  never  ex- 
 pected I  afterwards  received."* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  always  enjoyed  field  and  itinerant 
 preaching,  from  a  conviction  of  its  great  useful- 
 ness. "  It  wras  always  a  pleasant  circumstance 
 to  my  mind,"  was  his  language,  "when  the 
 necessity  of  field-preaching  recommended  itself. 
 To  human  nature  this  was  a  disgraceful  office, 
 and  from  such  a  corrupted  principle  I  felt  my- 
 self much  more  inclined  to  caution  and  timidity 
 than  to  boldness  and  zeal."f 
 
 These  labours  were  exercised  in  most  parts 
 of  England,    but  particularly   in   the   western 
 
 *  First  Journal  of  Tour  in  Scotland,  p.  57. 
 f  First  Journal,  p.  7. 
 
142  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 counties.  Mr.  Hill  often  referred  to  Devizes, 
 as  the  place  where  he  had  experienced  the 
 greatest  opposition.*  It  was  here  that  the  well 
 known  tale  respecting  the  serpent,  which  was 
 said  to  be  thrown  at  him,  had  its  origin.  This 
 report  arose  from  the  following  circumstance : 
 a  wicked  fellow  cast  a  snake  into  the  crowd,  to 
 alarm  the  females,  and  interrupt  the  worship. 
 Mr.  Hill  immediately  took  it  up,  knowing  that 
 it  was  quite  harmless;  thus  convincing  his  hear- 
 ers that  their  fears  were  groundless.  He  then 
 placed  it  beneath  his  foot,  and  made  a  profit- 
 able use  of  the  circumstance  for  the  instruction 
 of  his  hearers.  It  is  worthy  of  record,  that, 
 many  years  after  Mr.  Hill  had  preached  in  the 
 market-place  of  Devizes,  he  was  the  means  of 
 leading  a  young  man  to  Christ,  who  became  a 
 minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  who  for  more  than 
 thirty    years   has    successfully   proclaimed   the 
 
 *  At  this  town  the  Rev.  John  Wesley  suffered 
 severely,  and  had  a  narrow  escape  from  death.  He 
 states  in  his  journal :  "  The  Devizes  mob  had  this 
 peculiarity,  that  it  was  led  on  not  only  by  the  curate, 
 but  by  two  dissenters :  thus  Herod  and  Pilate  were 
 made  friends."  Such  facts  shew  the  wretched  state 
 of  the  country  at  that  time. —  Watson's  Life  of  Wesley, 
 p.  136;  see  also  p.  142,  143. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  143 
 
 riches  of  the  Saviour's  grace  in  this  very  town 
 How  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  God ! 
 
 It  was  during  one  of  his  visits  to  Bristol, 
 where  his  labours  had  been  most  useful,  that 
 Mr.  Hill  was  actively  engaged  in  preaching  in 
 the  streets  of  the  city.  This  course  of  labour 
 of  the  devoted  itinerant  appears  to  have  ex- 
 cited the  displeasure  of  his  father,  who  seut 
 his  brother  Richard  to  Bristol  to  admonish  him. 
 On  reaching  the  city,  he  found  that  Rowland 
 was  to  preach  at  Kingswood  to  the  colliers, 
 and  proceeded  to  the  place.  There  he  heard 
 Rowland  most  affectionately  talking  to  the 
 multitude  about  the  Saviour's  love,  and  wit- 
 nessed the  tears  of  penitence  flowing  down 
 their  cheeks.  The  preacher  observing  Richard 
 in  the  crowd,  told  the  people  that  he  had  no 
 doubt  his  brother,  Richard  Hill,  esq.  would 
 speak  to  them  on  the  following  day,  upon  the 
 great  truths  of  the  Gospel.  Richard  was  taken 
 by  surprise.  His  Christian  feelings  overcame 
 all  other  considerations,  and  at  the  appointed 
 time  he  preached  that  Redeemer,  who  humbled 
 himself  that  he  might  gloriously  exalt  his 
 people.  This  is  the  correct  account  of  the 
 tale,  the  scene  of  which  has  been  frequently, 
 though    inaccurately,    laid  at   Marchamley,   a 
 
144  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 beautiful  village  adjoining  the  park  at  Hawk- 
 stone. 
 
 After  this  interesting  scene  had  passed  away, 
 Mr.  Richard  Hill  appears  to  have  regretted  the 
 occurrence.  This  feeling  is  referred  to  in  a 
 letter  from  good  John  Berridge,  the  vicar  of 
 Everton,  to  his  friend  John  Newton,  dated 
 October  18,  1771,  which  contains  a  striking 
 description  of  the  nature  of  pride. 
 
 "  Mr.  Hill,  who  went  to  Bristol  to  chide  his 
 brother,  and  fell  a  prophesying,  has,  since  his 
 return  to  London,  sent  a  very  severe  letter  to 
 poor  Rowland.  Oh  !  what  is  man  !  But,  how 
 easily  we  spy  the  vanity  and  inconsistency  of 
 the  creature  in  another,  and  how  hardly  we 
 discover  it  in  ourselves.  The  foulest  stain  and 
 highest  absurdity  in  our  nature  is  pride,  and 
 yet  this  base  hedgehog  so  rolls  himself  up  in 
 his  bristly  coat,  that  wre  can  seldom  get  a  sight 
 of  his  claws.  It  is  the  root  of  unbelief.  Men 
 6  cannot  submit  to  the  righteousness  of  Christ.' 
 It  cleaves  like  a  pitched  shirt  to  the  skin ;  or, 
 like  leprosy  to  the  wall.  No  sharp  culture  of 
 plowing  and  harrowing  will  clear  the  ground 
 of  it.  The  foul  tweech  will  be  sure  to  spring 
 up  with  the  next  kindly  rain.  This  diabolical 
 gin  has  brought  more  scourges  upon  my  back, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  145 
 
 than  every  thing  else ;  and  it  is  of  so  insinu- 
 ating a  nature,  that  I  know  not  how  to  part 
 with  it.  I  hate  it,  and  love  it.  I  quarrel  with 
 it,  and  embrace  it.  I  dread  it,  and  yet  suffer  it 
 to  lie  in  my  bosom.  It  pleads  a  right,  through 
 the  fall,  to  be  tenant  for  life ;  and  has  such  a 
 wonderful  appetite,  that  it  can  feed  kindly,  both 
 on  grace  and  garbage ;  will  be  as  warm  and  snug 
 in  a  cloister,  as  in  a  palace ;  and  be  as  much 
 delighted  with  a  fine  prayer,  as  a  foul  oath, 
 But  whither  am  I  running  ?  Why,  running  into 
 pride,  whilst  I  am  abusing  it.  Lord,  save  me  ! 
 If  it  must  dwell  within  me,  let  it  not  be  a 
 lordly  master,  but  a  loathed  domestic  ;  if  it  will 
 follow  me  here  like  my  shadow,  oh,  let  it  not 
 entail  a  curse  upon  me.  Oh !  that  I  could 
 once  say  unto  thee, — foul  pride,  farewell  for 
 ever."* 
 
 Some  years  since,  an  aged  lady  called  on 
 Mr.  Hill,  and  in  the  course  of  conversation 
 inquired,  "Do  you  remember  preaching  at 
 Wrexham,  Sir,  about  fifty  years  ago,  in  a  field 
 not  far  from  Peny-Bryn?  Oh,  yes;  I  remem- 
 ber the  time  very  well.  Both  the  parties 
 smiled,  when  the  lady  remarked,    "I  see  you 
 
 *  Original  MS.  Letter. 
 
 L 
 
146  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 remember  the  pig,  Sir!  Indeed  I  do, — and 
 never  shall  forget  it.  After  the  aged  couple 
 had  enjoyed  a  hearty  laugh  at  the  recollections 
 of  the  past,  the  lady  said,  "I  was  then  very 
 young,  and  was  led  by  curiosity  to  hear  you 
 preach,  and  I  hope  the  word  then  came  with 
 power  to  my  soul.5'  Mr.  Hill  afterwards 
 described  the  scene  which  had  impressed  the 
 service  on  his  mind.  Near  the  spot  where  he 
 preached  there  was  a  tenter-field,  on  which  a 
 fine  kind  of  thread,  or  yarn,  was  exposed  to  the 
 air.  Several  women,  who  were  taking  care  of 
 it,  observing  a  number  of  persons  assembling 
 together,  were  tempted  to  quit  their  employ 
 for  a  short  season.  The  gate  of  the  field  was 
 left  open,  and  several  large  pigs  walked  in. 
 In  a  few  moments  the  intruders  got  the  iron 
 which  is  pierced  through  their  snouts  entangled 
 in  the  twine;  and  the  more  they  shook,  the 
 more  they  found  themselves  imprisoned.  The 
 loud  cries  of  the  pigs  alarmed  the  women, 
 who  soon  found  out  the  mischief  which  had 
 been  done.  They  ran  to  the  spot,  and  a 
 general  pursuit  took  place.  Mr.  Hill,  while 
 preaching,  observed  several  of  the  women  fall- 
 ing upon  the  poor  animals,  turning  them 
 on    their    backs,   and    then    endeavouring    to 
 
 , 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  147 
 
 disentangle  their  heads  from  the  twine:  this 
 trifling  event  produced  considerable  amuse- 
 ment, and  for  a  time  interfered  with  the  ser- 
 vice. 
 
 The  Rev.  Thomas  Jackson,  who  frequently 
 travelled  with  Mr.  Hill,  states  that  his  labours 
 in  the  Principality,  particularly  in  the  south, 
 were  remarkably  blessed.  So  deep  was  the 
 impression  left  upon  the  minds  of  the  warm- 
 hearted Welsh,  by  his  preaching,  that  when  he 
 visited  Haverford-west,  after  an  absence  of  forty 
 years,  the  people  rang  the  church  bells  for  joy 
 that  he  was  again  permitted  to  visit  them.  He 
 found  several  of  the  seals  of  his  ministry  still  in 
 the  wrorld. 
 
 At  some  places,  during  his  tours  through  the 
 Principality,  he  met  with  opposition  from  men 
 opposed  to  evangelical  truth.  At  Abergeley 
 he  determined  to  preach  in  the  open  air,  and 
 many  people  assembled  to  listen  to  his  dis- 
 course. A  messenger  was  despatched  to  the 
 vicar,  who  soon  made  his  appearance,  and 
 endeavoured  to  prevent  the  continuance  of  the 
 service.  A  most  singular  conversation  took 
 place,  during  which  the  worthy  itinerant  offered 
 to  make  way  for  the  resident  minister,  and  pro- 
 mised  attentively   to   listen    to   his   discourse. 
 
148  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  vicar  found  opposition  useless.  He  was 
 evidently  impressed  by  Mr.  Hill's  gentlemanly 
 and  dignified  conduct,  and  retired,  leaving  him 
 in  possession  of  the  field. 
 
 In  most  of  the  places  Mr.  Hill  visited,  he 
 was  attended  by  a  numerous  audience,  and 
 "  much  people  were  added  to  the  Lord."  One 
 Sabbath  afternoon,  a  few  years  before  his  death, 
 he  preached  at  the  chapel  at  Kingswood,  on 
 its  re-opening  after  repairs  and  enlargement. 
 The  place  not  being  large  enough  for  the 
 people,  he  proposed  to  preach  in  the  burial- 
 ground;  the  managers  complied  with  the  sug- 
 gestion, though  it  was  the  cause  of  very  con- 
 siderable inconvenience  to  the  congregation. 
 Mr.  Hill  ascended  a  tomb-stone,  and  preached 
 a  most  animated  discourse.  The  writer  saw  the 
 good  man  after  the  service.  He  was  exhausted, 
 but  rejoiced  that  he  had  had  "  a  little  bit  of 
 open-air  preaching  I"  He  then  mentioned  that 
 he  believed  that  such  services  had  been  the 
 means  of  leading  more  sinners  to  God,  than  any 
 of  the  sermons  he  had  preached  in  churches  or 
 chapels. 
 
 Like  the  excellent  John  Wesley,  Mr.  Hill 
 extended  his  tours  to  Cornwall,  and  was  kindly 
 received.      There  is  one  spot,  near  Redruth, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  149 
 
 called  the  Pit,  which  is  an  inverted  amphi- 
 theatre, formed  by  the  falling  in  of  a  mine 
 The  preacher  stands  on  one  side  of  the  Pit, 
 about  half-way  down,  so  that  he  has  the  con- 
 gregation below  and  above  him.  A  great  mul- 
 titude can,  therefore,  distinctly  hear  the  sermon. 
 At  this  hallowed  spot,  Wesley  and  Nelson 
 preached,  when  no  one  could  be  found  to  show 
 them  hospitality ;  4<  they  slept  on  the  ground 
 for  want  of  a  lodging, — and  picked  black- 
 berries to  satisfy  their  hunger.,,#  Here  also 
 Mr.  Hill  proclaimed  the  undying  love  of  the 
 Saviour  to  listening  thousands;  the  prayer  of 
 faith  has  frequently  ascended  to  God  from  this 
 hallowed  spot,  and  many  abandoned  sinners 
 have  been  "  called  out  of  darkness  into  mar- 
 vellous light."  Not  far  from  this  Pit,  which 
 has  been  so  frequently  sanctified  by  the  word 
 of  God  and  prayer,  is  the  celebrated  mountain 
 Carn-brae,  on  which  human  sacrifices  were  once 
 presented  to  "  the  unknown  God ;"  and  where 
 the  antiquary  still  looks  with  interest  on  the 
 remains  of  druidical  worship. 
 
 These   itinerant   labours   were   extended   to 
 
 *  Watson's  Life  of  Wesley,  p.  124. 
 
150  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Scotland.  At  the  close  of  the  last  century  it 
 was  the  custom  for  popular  English  ministers 
 to  spend  a  few  weeks  in  the  year  in  visiting  the 
 neighbouring  country,  or  the  destitute  parts  of 
 their  own.  They  did  not  collect  for  any  par- 
 ticular charity,  but  went  as  evangelists,  to  stir 
 up  the  people  to  the  great  concerns  of  religion, 
 and  by  this  plan  many  sinners  were  called  to 
 the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ. 
 
 Mr.  Hill's  first  memorable  tour  in  Scotland, 
 was  commenced  on  the  15th  of  July,  1798. 
 He  was  invited  by  James  Haldane,  esq.,  to 
 travel  through  the  country,  and  preach  to  the 
 people  wherever  he  could  find  access  to  them. 
 In  an  account  of  this  tour, — he  calls  his  lay 
 Mend  "  his  much  respected  brother  and  fellow- 
 labourer  in  the  Gospel  of  God  our  Saviour." 
 He  tells  him  "You  were  educated  for  the  mari- 
 time life,  and,  from  a  situation  creditable  and 
 lucrative,  commenced  a  peddli?ig  preacher,  cry- 
 ing your  wares  from  town  to  town  at  a  low  rate 
 indeed,  c  without  money  and  without  price.' " 
 
 At  this  time  Mr.  Hill  describes  himself  as 
 "a7i  old  stager  in  the  itinerant  work ;"  and  adds, 
 "  In  preaching  through  England,  Scotland,  Ire- 
 land, and  Wales,  I  always  conceived  that  I  stuck 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  151 
 
 close  to  my  parish.  We  are  to  "  preach  the 
 Gospel  to  every  creature,  even  to  the  end  of 
 the  world."* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  visited  Worcester,  Kidderminster, 
 Wolverhampton,  and  Hanley,  in  his  way  to  the 
 north ;  the  dissenting  ministers  in  these  towns 
 having  kindly  opened  their  pulpits  to  him. 
 At  Macclesfield  he  occupied  the  pulpit  of  his 
 beloved  college  companion,  David  Simpson. 
 Mr.  Hill  says,  "  My  very  affectionate  old 
 friend  was  anxious  that  I  should  preach  to  the 
 people  of  his  charge;  though  it  was  not  the 
 regular  evening  for  the  lecture.  His  large 
 church  presented  a  very  serious  and  crowded 
 congregation,  to  whom  I  attempted  to  explain 
 the  mind  that  was  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  its 
 consequent  effects  on  the  Christian,  from  Phil, 
 ii.  5."f 
 
 At  Manchester  he  preached  for  Mr.  Smythe, 
 minister  of  St.  Clement's  Church,  and  then 
 proceeded  by  Garstang,  Lancaster,  Kendal, 
 Carlisle,  to  Edinburgh,  where  he  arrived  on 
 the  28th  of  July,  and  was  received  at  the  hos- 
 pitable abode  of  Mr.  James  Haldane. 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  69— 69. 
 t  First  Journal,  p.  3,  5. 
 
152  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 On  Lord's  day,  the  29th,  Mr.  Hill  preached 
 his  first  sermon,  at  the  Circus,  in  the  northern 
 metropolis.  He  selected  for  his  text  a  favour- 
 ite passage, — "  If  thy  presence  go  not  with  me, 
 carry  us  not  up  hence."  In  the  evening  he 
 addressed  a  good  congregation,  from  1  Cor. 
 i.  22,  "  For  the  Jews  require  a  sign,  and  the 
 Greeks  seek  after  wisdom,"  &c.  On  this  sub- 
 ject he  remarks, — "How  very  different  is  the 
 immediate  and  direct  simplicity  of  the  apostle, 
 compared  to  too  many  of  the  cold  formal  pro- 
 ductions of  the  present  day !  Oh,  the  simpli- 
 city that  is  in  Christ !  How  lovely  in  its 
 effects,  while  the  minister  preaches  just  as  he 
 feels,  wisely  regulated  by  the  word  of  God,  and 
 warmly  animated  with  a  desire  to  bring  salva- 
 tion to  the  sinner's  heart.* 
 
 A  friend  who  heard  Mr.  Hill,  on  his  first 
 visit  to  Scotland,  has  informed  the  writer  that 
 he  had  but  small  congregations  at  the  com- 
 mencement of  his  labours,  but  after  a  few 
 weeks  he  heard  him  address  twenty  thousand 
 people  on  the  Calton  Hill.  The  impression 
 produced,  by  his  manner,  on  the  minds  of  the 
 worthy  Scotch  people  was  exceedingly  singular. 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  15. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  153 
 
 "On  entering  the  pulpit,  he  knelt  to  pray." 
 "  He's  a  Roman  Catholic,"  said  one.  He  con- 
 cluded his  public  supplications  with  the  Lord's 
 prayer.  Oh,  I  ken  he's  of  the  English  kirk," 
 said  another.  He  began  to  preach,  "  I  under- 
 stand," said  he,  "you  are  fond  of  lectures  in 
 Scotland,  and  so  I  shall  adopt  your  favourite 
 plan."  He  soon  told  rather  an  amusing  anec- 
 dote, and  at  the  end  of  it  exclaimed,  "  But  I've 
 forgotten  my  lecture,"  which  produced  a 
 general  impression  that  the  poor  gentleman 
 was  a  little  cracked.  These  feelings,  however, 
 soon  passed  away,  and  his  lively  and  animated 
 style,  and  his  pungent  and  eloquent  appeals  to 
 the  conscience,  led  many  to  cry,  "  What  shall 
 we  do  to  be  saved?"  A  respectable  Scotch 
 minister,  now  living,  has  stated  that  he  never 
 heard  an  anecdote  from  a  pulpit,  in  his  native 
 land,  until  Mr.  Hill  began  his  itinerant  labours 
 there. 
 
 At  Leith  he  preached  in  a  timber-yard  to 
 two  thousand  people.  On  the  3rd  of  August, 
 "  four  thousand  persons  heard  him  on  the  Cal- 
 ton  Hill."  On  another  occasion  "he  endea- 
 voured at  the  same  place  to  illustrate  and 
 enforce  the  love  of  God  to  man,  from  the 
 parable  of  the  prodigal  son,  when  it  was  sup- 
 
154  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 posed  that  a  congregation  of  nine  or  ten  thou- 
 sand people  were  present.  After  these  la- 
 bours, our  devoted  friend,  accompanied  by 
 Mr.  Haldane,  visited  Stirling  and  Dumblane, 
 "  where  he  saw  the  seat  of  action  of  that  best 
 of  men,  Archbishop  Leighton,  who  was  every 
 thing  that  was  wise,  just,  and  good."  He  then 
 went  to  Crieff,  Dunkeld,  Perth,  Kinross,  and 
 returned  back  to  Edinburgh  on  Lord's  day, 
 the  12th  of  August.  He  afterwards  visited 
 Glasgow,  where  he  preached  in  "the  high 
 church ;"  then  he  proceeded  to  Anderton, 
 Paisley,  Greenock,  Dumbarton,  and  returned 
 again  to  Edinburgh. 
 
 At  Paisley  he  appears  to  have  met  with  men 
 of  kindred  spirit  with  himself.  He  preached 
 "in  the  lower  church-yard,"  the  scene  of  the 
 late  Dr.  Witherspoon's  labours.  He  says, 
 "  I  passed  the  evening  at  the  house  of  the  truly 
 affectionate  son  of  that  truly  apostolic  man,  the 
 late  Dr.  Gillies,  the  author  of  the  "  Memoirs  of 
 Mr.  Whitefield's  Life."  His  house  was  filled 
 with  good  ministers  of  different  denominations, 
 all  living  in  affectionate  love  and  cordiality 
 with  each  other.  This  makes  Paisley  the  para- 
 dise of  Scotland.  Indeed,  hell  would  be  a 
 paradise  if  love  were   there,    and   an   earthly 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  155 
 
 paradise  is  little  better  than  hell,  if  love  be 
 absent.  My  soul  loves  Paisley;  for  there,  I 
 believe,  Christians  love  each  other.  May  the 
 precious  leaven  that  is  amidst  them,  spread 
 itself  through  the  north !  I  grieve  to  find  so 
 many  separated  by  human  laws  on  earth,  who 
 are  all  to  be  united  in  one  by  Divine  love  in 
 heaven  and  glory." 
 
 On  the  19th  of  August  he  again  preached  on 
 the  Calton  Hill.  He  says,  "I  addressed  the 
 most  solemn  congregation  I  have  seen  for  many 
 years.  Fifteen  thousand,  on  the  most  moderate 
 computation,  were  said  to  attend ;  some  suppose 
 a  larger  multitude." 
 
 On  leaving  Edinburgh,  Mr.  Hill  visited 
 Dundee,  St.  Andrews,  and  Kirkcaldy.  At  the 
 latter  place  the  reverend  preacher  was  severely 
 reprimanded  by  an  aged  gentleman,  one  of  the 
 elders  of  the  church,  for  omitting  the  second 
 psalm.  His  apology  was,  that  he  had  to  cross 
 the  water,  and  had  not  time  to  wait,  and  that 
 he  thought  two  psalms  no  more  necessary  than 
 two  sermons  ;  and  that  things  of  this  sort  were 
 left  optional,  as  time  and  opportunity  al- 
 lowed.* 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  44. 
 
156  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Mr.  Hill  continued  at  Edinburgh  till  the  20th 
 of  Sept  when  he  preached  there  for  the  last  time 
 during  this  journey.  The  Calton  Hill  was  the 
 hallowed  spot  where,  from  Acts  xx.  24,  "  But 
 none  of  these  things  move  me,"  &c.  he  ap- 
 pealed to  nearly  twenty  thousand  people.  In 
 reference  to  this  immense  congregation  he 
 remarks,  "  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  leaving  Edinburgh,  he  proceeded  to  Dun- 
 bar and  Berwick.  From  these  towns  he  went 
 to  Alnwick,  Newcastle,  and  Durham,  through 
 Yorkshire,  and  reached  his  beloved  retreat  at 
 Wotton-under-edge,  at  the  close  of  September. 
 He  then  records  in  his  journal,  "  I  have  now 
 finished  a  nine  weeks'  Gospel  tour  of  full  twelve 
 hundred  miles ;  have  preached  in  much  weak- 
 ness to  many  thousands.'' 
 
 This  visit  to  Scotland  was  a  pentecostal 
 season.  The  preacher's  great  subject  was 
 "  repentance  towards  God,  and  faith  in  our 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ."  The  most  powerful  impres- 
 sions were  produced  on  the  multitudes  who 
 flocked  to  his  ministry.     An  old  friend,  who 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  157 
 
 heard  many  of  the  sermons,  has  frequently 
 remarked,  "  Whenever  I  listened  to  him,  eter- 
 nity appeared  to  be  next  door  to  me ;"  and  this 
 was  the  case  with  many  others.  His  little 
 anecdotes  produced  a  wonderful  effect  on  a 
 people  who  had  always  been  accustomed  to 
 dry,  logical  discourses.  During  this  tour  it 
 was  known  that  several  hundred  souls  were 
 added  to  the  church  of  Christ. 
 
 Encouraged  by  the  Divine  blessing  that 
 attended  his  first  labours  in  Scotland,  Mr.  Hill 
 cheerfully  consented  to  make  another  tour, 
 which  he  commenced  on  the  ICth  of  May, 
 1799.  He  visited  many  of  the  churches,  and 
 addressed  large  congregations  as  he  passed 
 through  the  midland  and  northern  coun- 
 ties. At  Northampton,  he  preached  for  Mr. 
 Ryland,  "  on  a  communion  occasion."  He 
 remarks,  "  I  was  happy  to  be  admitted  to  par- 
 take among  them.  Believers  being  all  one  in 
 our  common  Lord,  why  should  not  their  privi- 
 leges be  common  among  all  the  members  of 
 the  same  family?  Though  I  should  suppose, 
 by  far  the  majority  of  that  congregation  are 
 Baptists,  yet  I  hope  they  will  remember  that 
 they  have  ever  had  warm  friends  from  liberal- 
 minded  people  at  large,  and  that  now  it  would 
 
158  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 be  the  greater  act  of  cruelty  to  exclude  those 
 from  communion  who  differ  from  them  as  it 
 respects  the  ordinance  of  baptism,  since  in  that 
 town  the  like  comfortable  communion  may  not 
 be  so  easily  obtained.  May  they,  therefore, 
 maintain  their  liberality  inviolable.  This  sort 
 of  spiritual  mixture  makes  the  best  Christian 
 communions.  The  children  of  God  then  find 
 their  communion  with  each  other,  not  on 
 account  of  their  empty  dry  forms  and  orders, 
 but  because  they  feel  themselves  all  one 
 in  Christ"* 
 
 On  the  7th  of  June,  our  itinerant  again 
 reached  Edinburgh.  He  found  the  pious 
 people  in  the  city  quite  thunder-struck  at  the 
 fulminating  bull  just  uttered  against  them  from 
 the  General  Assembly,  which  had  expelled  Mr. 
 Greville  Ewing,  and  others,  from  their  body. 
 This  circumstance  had  a  most  unhappy  influ- 
 ence on  the  preacher's  mind.  For  a  season  he 
 appears  to  have  forgotten  the  example  of  the 
 apostle,  "  I  determined  to  know  nothing  among 
 you,  save  Jesus  Christ  and  him  crucified." 
 
 The  General  Assembly,  in  their  decree, 
 signed  by  Dr.  Moodie,  as  Moderator,  refer  to 
 
 *  Tour  through  the  Highlands,  p.  3. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  159 
 
 the  pious  itinerants  as  "  a  set  of  men,  whose 
 proceedings  threaten  no  small  disorder  in  the 
 country.  They  complain  of  the  establishment 
 of  Sunday-schools,  and  of  the  bringing  together 
 assemblies  of  people  in  the  fields,  or  in  places 
 not  intended  for  public  worship."  They  object 
 to  the  preaching  of  persons,  without  those 
 advantages  of  regular  education  and  prepa- 
 ratory knowledge,  which,  under  every  form  of 
 a  Christian  church,  since  the  age  of  miraculous 
 gifts,  have  been  held  as  indispensably  necessary 
 for  the  useful  and  successful  discharge  of  a 
 Gospel  ministry.  This  famous  bull,  after  sug- 
 gesting that  "  those  who  openly  profess  their 
 enmity  to  our  ecclesiastical  establishment,  are 
 no  friends  to  our  civil  constitution,"  calls 
 upon  the  sons  of  the  church  to  walk  in  the  old 
 paths  traversed  by  their  fathers. 
 
 This  address  was  ordered  to  be  read  against 
 the  itinerant  brethren,  in  all  the  parish 
 churches  of  Scotland.  At  the  same  time  there 
 appeared  "An  Act  of  the  General  Associate 
 Synod,"  dated  the  8th  of  May,  1799;  the 
 following  extract  from  which  will,  doubtless, 
 interest  the  reader: — 
 
 "  The  Synod  finding,  from  papers  before 
 them,   that   in    sundry    places    various    abuses 
 
160  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 prevail,  among  persons  of  our  communion,  by 
 promiscuous  hearing,  not  only  of  ministers 
 belonging  to  churches  from  which  we  are  in  a 
 a  state  of  separation,  but  likewise  of  lay 
 preachers;  by  our  people  attending  public 
 meetings,  where  private  persons  encroach  upon 
 the  business  of  the  ministerial  office, — and  by 
 the  manifest  abuse  of  Sabbath-evening  schools, 
 the  Synod  agree  in  renewing  their  act  of  the 
 2nd  of  May,  1798,  with  the  following  correc- 
 tions and  amendments : — 
 
 "  The  Synod,  therefore,  agree  in  declaring, 
 that  as  lay  preaching  (or  preaching  by  persons 
 not  invested  with  any  ecclesiastical  office,)  has 
 no  warrant  in  the  word  of  God ;  no  person  in 
 the  communion  of  the  Secession  church  ought 
 to  countenance  the  public  ministrations  of  such 
 persons :  and  as  this  Synod  have  always  con- 
 sidered it  as  their  duty  to  testify  against  pro- 
 miscuous communion,  no  person  under  their 
 inspection  can,  consistently  with  their  prin- 
 ciples, attend  upon,  or  give  countenance  to,  the 
 public  ministration  of  those  who  bear  office  in 
 any  church  against  which  we  have  lifted  up  a 
 testimony  in  a  state  of  separation  from  her." 
 
 The  act  then  condemns  the  Sabbath-evening 
 schools,  if  in  them   "  discourses  are  delivered 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  161 
 
 tending  to  encroach  upon  the  work  of  the 
 ministry,  if  there  is  such  an  attendance  of 
 multitudes  as  to  give  the  school  the  appearance 
 of  an  assembly  met  for  public  worship."* 
 
 These  illiberal  proceedings  created  a  great 
 sensation  among  many  devoted  persons,  and 
 unhappily  much  excited  Mr.  Hill's  mind  against 
 both  the  religious  bodies  whence  they  pro- 
 ceeded. His  spirit  was  deeply  wounded, 
 and  in  every  sermon  he  displayed  consider- 
 able ingenuity  in  holding  up  these  vene- 
 rable bodies  to  the  public  contempt.  He  was 
 completely  led  from  his  great  work,  and 
 appears  to  have  preached  more  against  the 
 Established  and  Secession  churches,  than 
 against  the  kingdom  of  Satan.  A  friend, 
 who  was  present,  saysrof  him,  "  In  every  ser- 
 mon he  fired  red-hot  shots  against  the  General 
 Assembly  and  the  General  Associate  Synod. 
 It  was  astonishing  how  he  varied  his  mode  of 
 attack  on  every  occasion." 
 
 During  this  tour,  Mr.  Hill,  in  almost  every 
 sermon,  urged  the  building  of  a  new  place  of 
 worship,  on  the  plan  of  Surrey  Chapel.  "What 
 should  be  its  glory?"   he  inquired.      "Let  it 
 
 Plea  for  Union,  p.  2,  3. 
 
 II 
 
162  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 embrace  all  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  be 
 the  centre  of  union  among  them  who  are  now 
 disunited;  let  it  then  be  called  the  Union 
 Church;  and  let  her  prove  that  she  deserves 
 the  name.  Let  her  pulpit  be  open  to  all 
 ministers  who  preach  and  love  the  Gospel,  and 
 her  communion  equally  open  to  all  who  love 
 the  Lord  Jesus  in  sincerity."*  Our  excellent 
 friend  did  not  find  his  sober  Scotch  brethren 
 very  willing  to  adopt  his  plan,  and  this  led  him 
 to  make  severe  remarks  on  their  bigoted  attach- 
 ment to  their  own  systems. 
 
 It  is  stated  in  Mr.  Hill's  journal,  that 
 he  again  preached  on  his  favourite  Calton 
 Hill,  to  ten  thousand  people.  He  then 
 proceeded  to  Stirling,  Kinross,  Dundee,  Aber- 
 brothick,  Montrose,  Brechin,  Aberdeen,  Mel- 
 drum,  and  Greystone.  At  the  latter  place  he 
 met  with  the  excellent  George  Cowie,  the 
 Antiburgher  minister,  of  Huntly.  "As  soon 
 as  I  conversed  with  him,"  says  Mr.  Hill,  "  he 
 stole  into  my  heart."  After  preaching  at 
 several  other  places,  he  reached  Glasgow.  At 
 Ayr,  it  was  thought  necessary  to  inform  the 
 town  by  the  bellman,  of  his  intention  to  preach, 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  164. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  163 
 
 ~-the  honest  man  did  his  o'Rce  as  directed, 
 and  on  the  next  day,  which  was  the  Sabbath, 
 he  was  committed  to  prison  for  his  transgres- 
 sion. Mr.  Hill  observes,  "  The  better  day,  the 
 better  deed."  He  adds,  "  If  the  General 
 Assembly  could  have  inflicted  the  same  punish- 
 ment on  me,  for  the  use  I  made  of  my  poor 
 clapper,  as  they  did  on  the  poor  bellman,  for 
 the  use  he  made  of  the  clapper  of  his  bell,  I 
 had  not  been  released  from  my  visit  to  Ayr  so 
 soon  as  I  should  have  wished." 
 
 From  Ayr,  Mr,  Hill  proceeded  to  Greenock, 
 Paisley,  and  thence  to  Glasgow.  Here  he 
 preached  to  great  numbers,  who  were  willing 
 to  listen  to  his  clear  statements  of  the  only 
 way  of  salvation.  After  again  visiting  Edin- 
 burgh, and  preaching  6i  for  the  despised  Itine- 
 rant Society,"  he  proceeded  by  easy  stages  to 
 Wotton-under-edge,  and  arrived  there  on  the 
 17th  of  August,  after  a  journey  of  full  sixteen 
 hundred  miles. 
 
 Soon  after  his  return  to  Wotton-under-edge, 
 Mr.  Hill  was  busily  occupied  in  writing  his 
 "  Plea  for  Union,  and  for  a  Free  Propagation 
 of  the  Gospel,  being  an  Answer  to  Dr.  Jamie- 
 son's  Remarks  on  his  late  Tour."  He  addressed 
 
164  MEMOIR  OP 
 
 the  Answer,  "  To  the  Edinburgh  Society  for 
 Propagating  the  Gospel  at  home."  The  pam- 
 phlet is  a  spirited  reply  to  the  Doctor's  "  Re- 
 marks," which  contain  a  defence  of  the  peculiar 
 tenets  and  views  of  his  own  church.  Both  the 
 parties  in  this  controversy  were  sometimes  un- 
 mindful of  the  scriptural  rule,  "  speaking  the 
 truth  in  love."  Dr.  Jamieson  most  strenuously 
 opposed  the  employment  of  lay  preachers ; 
 while,  on  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Hill  supported 
 the  use  of  all  kinds  of  agency  likely  to  bring 
 souls  to  God.  As  a  preacher  of  the  holy  truths 
 of  religion,  he  prefers  "  an  ingenious  tinker 
 like  John  Bunyan,  with  grace  in  his  heart,  to 
 a  thick-headed  graduate."* 
 
 The  worthy  doctor  strongly  protests  against 
 our  itinerant  friend  as  "  a  bigot  for  liberality." 
 The  reply  is  in  Mr.  HilPs  own  felicitous  style, 
 "  Did  you  ever  hear  of  a  man  who  was  villan- 
 ously  honest,  or  foolishly  wise  ?  Rowland 
 Hill,  the  strangest  phenomenon  that  was  ever 
 exhibited  in  the  north  is  a  liberal  bigot;  or, 
 "a  bigot  to  liberality!" — an  honest  lawyer,  a 
 bigot  to  integrity !  a  good  physician,   a  bigot 
 
 *  Plea  for  Union,  p.  69. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  165 
 
 to  skill !  a  worthy  magistrate,  a  bigot  to  good 
 order !  husbands  and  wives,  bigots  to  chastity  ! 
 children  and  servants,  bigots  to  obedience  !'* 
 
 In  concluding  his  second  journal,  he  remarks, 
 "  Had  my  lot  been  to  have  served  in  Germany, 
 in  Holland,  or  in  America,  I  would  seriously 
 have  requested  the  instruction  of  the  brethren 
 respecting  the  mode  of  their  worship,  and  have 
 adopted  it,  being  directed  by  the  high  example 
 of  the  apostle  Paul,  "to  become  all  things  to 
 all  men,  that  I  might  gain  some."  This  con- 
 duct I  rigidly  observed  in  the  north.  I  remem- 
 bered, while  with  them,  the  apostle's  words, 
 "To  the  Jews  became  I  as  a  Jew,"  and,  there- 
 fore, at  all  times  adopted  the  psalms  of  the 
 Jewish  poet;  because  Scotland,  beyond  all 
 Christendom  beside,  is  left  to  admire  the  Old 
 Testament  psalmody,  with  their  own  peculiar 
 method  of  conducting  it.  By  such  conformity, 
 did  I  sin  against  the  Lord?  I  certainly  did 
 not :  their  prejudices  being  much  more  educa- 
 tional than  sinful."  f 
 
 It  is  to  be  feared  that  very  little  good  resulted 
 from  this  second  visit.     A  friend  who  resided  in 
 
 *  Plea  for  Union,  p.  78. 
 
 f  Tour  through  the  Highlands,  p.  38. 
 
166  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Scotland  at  the  time,  after  the  lapse  of  thirty 
 years,  has  remarked  that,  "  he  never  heard  of  a 
 single  conversion  from  the  labours  of  that  tour." 
 How  important,  then,  is  it  for  ministers  fully  to 
 "  preach  the  Gospel,"  and  not  to  be  led  away 
 from  their  great  work  by  the  angry  disputes  of 
 the  times  in  which  they  live. 
 
 Mr.  Hill,  in  his  latter  days,  regretted  the 
 spirit  he  had  displayed  during  this  second  tour, 
 and  resolved  that  if  God  should  permit  him 
 again  to  visit  Scotland,  he  would  preach  only 
 "  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ."  He  was 
 able  to  accomplish  his  wishes  in  the  summer 
 of  1824.  He  reached  Edinburgh  in  safety — 
 had  a  profitable  tour — no  unhappy  event  trans- 
 pired— and  he  returned  to  his  resting-place  at 
 Wotton-under-edge,  believing  that  "  his  labours 
 had  not  been  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 
 
 In  the  arrangement  of  the  annual  services 
 connected  with  the  London  Missionary  Society, 
 in  the  month  of  May,  Mr.  Hill  always  requested 
 the  directors  to  permit  the  ministers  from  Scot- 
 land to  occupy  the  pulpit  at  Surrey  Chapel. 
 He  heard  them  with  much  interest.  After 
 Dr.  Chalmers  preached  for  the  Society,  on 
 Mr.  HilPs  favourite  subject,  the  influences  of 
 the  Holy  Spirit,  he  frequently  referred  to  the 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  167 
 
 sermon.  "  I  don't  suppose,"  said  he,  on  one 
 occasion,  "  the  good  man  would  be  allowed 
 to  preach  at  St  Paul's,  —  but  if  he  were,  it 
 would  not  produce  a  thunder-storm; — indeed, 
 it  is  a  question  with  me,  whether  St.  Paul 
 himself  would  be  admitted  into  his  own  cathe- 
 dral." 
 
 Ireland  was  also  visited  by  this  excellent 
 man,  in  1793,  and  a  second  time  in  179G. 
 He  was  heard  with  attention  by  the  warm- 
 hearted Irish,  and  he  appears  to  have  much 
 enjoyed  his  visit.  On  returning  home  after 
 his  last  tour,  he  had  a  merciful  preservation 
 from  shipwreck,  to  which  he  often  referred  with 
 much  gratitude.  The  captain  of  the  vessel  was 
 addicted  to  the  wicked  and  ungentlemanly 
 habit  of  swearing.  Mr.  Hill  thus  wisely 
 checked  him,  "  Captain,  let  us  have  fair  play. 
 You  must  not  have  all  the  swearing  yourself. — 
 It's  my  turn  next.  You  must  not  swear  again 
 till  I  have  quite  done."  This  wise  admonition 
 had  the  desired  effect. 
 
 In  the  last  sermon  which  Mr.  Hill  preached, 
 a  few  days  before  he  died,  he  referred  with  much 
 satisfaction  to  his  itinerant  labours.  He  said, 
 '•  I  almost  wish  to  be  made  young  again, — if  I 
 could  but  again  see  such  days,  as  m  hen  I  first 
 
 i 
 
168  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 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 
 recollect  what  I  then  felt !" 
 
 Until  the  close  of  life,  Mr.  Hill  felt  a  strong 
 objection  to  the  ministers  of  religion  being  con- 
 fined by  any  geographical  limits  as  preachers  of 
 the  Gospel.  On  this  subject  his  remarks  are 
 worthy  of  record : 
 
 "  When  good  men  are  fettered  by  human 
 laws,  which  are  bad,  I  pray  that  they  may  be 
 set  at  liberty  by  a  divine  law:  this  must  be 
 good.  If  our  good  reformers  had  not  trans- 
 gressed the  established  parochial  religion  of  the 
 state,  we  had  not  been  blessed  with  the  refor- 
 mation ;  and  even  the  reformed  may  again 
 degenerate  and  become  depraved,  and  need 
 another  reformation.  The  Lord  loved  Lazarus, 
 therefore  he  delivered  him  from  the  dead; 
 when  quickened,  still  he  was  bound :  the  Lord 
 further  says,  "  Loose  him,  and  let  him  go." 
 From  all  human  trammels,  dear  Lord,  release 
 thy  disciples ;  loose  them,  and  let  them  go."* 
 
 May  the  prayer  of  the  departed  minister  be 
 answered.     It  is  to  be  feared  that  the  religious 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  51. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  169 
 
 wants  of  the  people  never  will  be  supplied 
 until  ministers  of  all  denominations  consider 
 souls  of  more  value  than  the  regulations  of 
 their  churches.  In  London  alone,  the  Honour- 
 able and  Rev.  Baptist  W.  Noel,  in  his  able 
 Letter  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  informs  us, 
 "  that  at  the  very  least  536,000  persons  are 
 living  without  any  Christian  instruction,  and 
 without  any  public  acknowledgment  of  God."* 
 How  are  these  wandering  sheep  to  be  gathered 
 into  the  fold?  Mr.  Noel  thus  answers  the 
 question : — 
 
 "  If  we  cannot  attract  the  people  to  our 
 churches,  we  must  seek  for  them  wherever  they 
 are  congregated ;  if  we  have  not  buildings  with- 
 in which  to  gather  them,  we  must  preach  to 
 them  in  the  open  air.  If  precedents  be 
 demanded,  to  justify  so  bold  an  innovation  upon 
 our  modern  practice,  the  very  strongest  and 
 most  conclusive  may  be  adduced :  Our  Lord 
 preached  to  the  people  every  where  :  in  a  house 
 of  Capernaum  he  preached  to  a  crowd  which 
 thronged  the  room,  and  stood  around  the  door;f 
 from  the  top  of  a  hill  he  preached  to  assembled 
 
 *  State  of  the  Metropolis  Considered,  p  11. 
 t  Mark  ii.  2. 
 
170  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 multitudes,*  and  when  the  pressure  of  the 
 crowd  was  great,  he  entered  into  a  boat,  and 
 preached,  f  No  place  seemed  unfit  where  mul- 
 titudes were  gathered  to  listen.  Agreeably  to 
 his  own  practice,  he  directed  his  disciples  to 
 "  go  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  Gospel 
 to  every  creature,;):  and  they  obeyed.  As  dur- 
 ing his  life-time  they  "  went  through  the  towns 
 preaching  the  Gospel,  and  healing  every 
 where,"§  so  after  his  ascension  they  "  preached 
 every  where."  ||  In  the  temple,  and  in  every 
 house,  they  preached  Him ;%  and  the  whole  body 
 of  disciples  at  Jerusalem,  when  driven  thence 
 by  persecution,  imitating  the  apostolic  example, 
 "  went  every  where  preaching  the  word."##  At 
 his  conversion  Paul  adopted  the  same  course : 
 in  the  forum  of  Athens  he  maintained,  against 
 the  sophists  of  that  city,  the  truths  of  the 
 Gospel. ft  At  Ephesus  he  employed  the  school 
 of  Tyrannus  for  the  same  purpose.^  At  Tyre 
 he  knelt  down  for  prayer  with  his  Christian 
 friends  upon  the  sea-shore,§§  and  lastly,  when  a 
 
 *  Matt.  v.  1.  1T  Acts  v.  42. 
 
 t  Mark  iv.  1.     Luke  v.  3.  **  Acts  viii.  4. 
 
 I  Mark  xvi.  15.  ft  Acts  xvii.  17. 
 
 §  Luke  ix.  6.  JJ  Acts  xix.  9. 
 
 ||  Mark  xvi.  20.  §}  Acts  xxi.  5. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  171 
 
 prisoner  at  Rome,  he  made  his  own  house  the 
 place  of  instruction  to  as  many  as  would  assem- 
 ble to  hear.* 
 
 "The  practice  of  Christ  and  his  apostles 
 seems  to  me  conclusive.  What  was  right  in 
 them,  must  in  similar  circumstances  be  right 
 in  us.  Led  by  the  reason  of  the  case,  and  war- 
 ranted by  these  high  precedents,  the  church 
 has  had  out-door  preaching,  at  different  inter- 
 vals, from  that  time  to  the  present.  The  dis- 
 ciples of  Wickliff  went  from  town  to  town,  and 
 from  county  to  county,  to  preach  their  doctrine, 
 not  only  in  churches  and  church-yards,  but  also 
 in  the  midst  of  markets  and  fairs,  and  indeed  in 
 all  places  where  multitudes  were  convened.! 
 At  the  Reformation,  the  most  eminent  preachers 
 of  the  kingdom,  —  Grindall,  Scory,  Jewell, 
 Sandys,  Sampson,  Coverdale,  and  others, — 
 used  to  preach  at  Paul's  Cross  to  multitudes 
 assembled  in  the  open  air,  among  whom  were 
 the  mayor  and  aldermen  of  London,  with  dis- 
 tinguished persons  from  the  court." 
 
 After  referring  to  other  examples  of  itinerant 
 and  public  preaching,  particularly  to  Whitefield 
 
 *  Acts  xxviii.  30,  31. 
 
 t  Vaughan's  Life  of  Wickliff,  vol.  ii.  p.  197. 
 
172  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 and  Hill,  Mr.  Noel  remarks,  "If  myriads, 
 remaining  still  untaught,  you  call  upon  your 
 clergy  to  do  their  duty,  by  providing  curates  to 
 officiate  in  rooms,  to  be  licensed  for  that 
 purpose,  in  every  part  of  the  metropolis; 
 thousands  more  may  be  instructed.  If  this 
 does  not  fully  meet  the  evil,  another  expe- 
 riment may  be  made,  (and  since  Christ  must, 
 if  possible,  be  preached  to  all,  no  experi- 
 ment by  which  we  may  hope  to  approximate 
 to  that  end,  should  go  untried,)  you  may  call 
 forth  from  among  the  ministers  of  the  Establish- 
 ment other  Whitefields  and  Hills,  and  may  see 
 the  signal  effects  of  their  ministrations  renewed 
 in  our  days.  Should  you  fail  to  find  them  in 
 the  Establishment,  (which  I  do  not  in  the  least 
 contemplate,  and  for  one,  am  ready  at  your 
 lordship's  command,  to  make  the  experiment 
 myself,)  then  necessity  has  no  law:  6i  Christ 
 must  be  preached  to  perishing  sinners.91  Before 
 this  necessity,  all  forms,  however  venerable,  all 
 rules,  however  salutary,  must  give  way."* 
 
 It  must  be  admitted  that  the  ordinary  means 
 of  grace  are  not  sufficient  to  meet  the  spiritual 
 necessities  of  the  people.      Great  Britain  and 
 
 •  State  of  the  Metropolis  Considered,  p.  84, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  173 
 
 Ireland  will  not  be  evangelized  until  the  church- 
 man leaves  "  the  beautiful  house"  where  he  wor- 
 ships, and  the  non-conformist  his  humble 
 meeting-place,  and  the  most  experienced  and 
 talented  of  the  pastors*  shall  practically  attend 
 to  the  directions  of  their  exalted  Saviour,  "  Go 
 out  quickly  unto  the  streets  and  lanes  of  the 
 city,  into  the  highways  and  hedges,  and  bring 
 in  hither  the  poor  and  the  maimed,  and  the  halt 
 and  the  blind;  and  compel  them  to  come  in, 
 that  my  house  may  be  filled.,,  These  words  are 
 still  addressed  to  the  faithful  ambassador  of 
 Christ,  who  is  qualified  for  the  work,  and  hears 
 the  call  of  Providence  to  attend  to  it ;  and  if  the 
 powers  that  be  should  command  such  ministers 
 not  to  speak  at  all  nor  teach  in  the  name  of 
 Jesus f  according  to  the  clearly  established 
 custom  of  Christ  and  his  apostles,  what  is  the 
 right  course  for  them  to  pursue  ?    should  they 
 
 *  When  writing  on  the  subject  of  itinerant  preach- 
 ing, Mr.  Hill  remarks,  "  Men  far  superior  to  those 
 of  the  pastoral  office,  must  be  raised  up  in  every 
 age  ;  men  who  can  prove  they  are  even  "  more  than 
 ministers  of  Christ,  in  labours  more  abundant,  in 
 stripes  above  measure,  in  prisons  more  frequent,  in 
 deaths  often.' " — First  Journal,  p.  140. 
 f  Acts  iv.  6,  15,  &c. 
 
174  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 not  answer,  with  Peter  and  John,  "  Whether  it 
 be  right  in  the  sight  of  God  to  hearken  unto 
 you  more  than  unto  God,  judge  ye.  For  we 
 cannot  but  speak  the  things  which  we  have  seen 
 and  heard."* 
 
 In  concluding  this  chapter,  the  attention  of 
 the  reader  is  directed  to  the  observations  of  the 
 Rev.  Thomas  Scott  in  his  practical  observations 
 on  2  Chron.  xviii.  7  to  19. 
 
 "Notwithstanding  the  prejudices  of  mankind 
 and  the  indiscretions  of  individuals,  an  itinerant 
 preacher,  if  duly  qualified  and  sent  forth,  is  one 
 of  the  most  honourable  and  useful  characters 
 that  can  be  found  upon  earth ;  and  there  needs 
 no  other  proof,  that  when  this  work  is  done 
 properly,  and  with  perseverance,  it  forms  the 
 grand  method  of  spreading  widely,  and  rendering 
 efficacious  religious  knowledge,  than  the  experi- 
 ence of  the  church  in  all  ages;  for  great  re- 
 formations and  revivals  of  religion  have  generally 
 been  thus  effected.  It  is  especially  sanctioned 
 by  the  example  of  Christ  and  his  apostles,  and 
 recommended  as  the  divine  method  of  spreading 
 the  gospel  through  the  nations  of  the  earth  : 
 itinerant  preaching  having  almost  always  pre- 
 ceded and  made  way  for  the  stated  ministery  of 
 *  Actsiv.  19,  20. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  175 
 
 regular  pastors.  But  it  is  a  work  which  requires 
 peculiar  talents  and  dispositions,  and  a  peculiar 
 call  in  providence  ;  and  is  not  rashly  and  hastily 
 to  be  ventured  upon  by  every  novice  who  has 
 learned  to  speak  about  the  gospel,  and  has  more 
 zeal  than  knowledge,  prudence,  humility,  or 
 experience.  An  unblemished  character,  a  dis- 
 interested spirit,  an  exemplary  deadness  to  the 
 world,  unaffected  humility,  deep  acquaintance 
 with  the  human  heart,  and  preparation  for 
 enduring  the  cross,  not  only  with  boldness,  but 
 with  meekness,  patience,  and  sweetness  of 
 temper,  are  indispensably  necessary  in  such  a 
 service.  They  who  engage  in  it  should  go  upon 
 broad  scriptural  grounds,  and  dwell  chiefly  upon 
 those  grand  essentials  of  religion  in  which  pious 
 men  of  different  persuasions  are  agreed,  plainly 
 proving  every  thing  from  the  word  of  God,  run- 
 ning nothing  into  extremes,  and  avoiding  all  dis- 
 putes, however  urged  to  it,  about  the  shibboleths 
 of  a  party.  In  this  way,  itinerant  preaching  is 
 a  blessing  which  all  who  love  the  souls  of  men 
 must  wish  to  be  vouchsafed  to  every  part  of 
 every  nation  upon  earth ;  and  if  those  who  are 
 in  authority  would  employ  select  men,  of  honour 
 and  approved  piety  and  ability,  protected  and 
 countenanced  by  them  to  go  from  city  to  city, 
 
176  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 and  from  village  to  village,  through  the  kingdom, 
 teaching  in  every  place  the  plain  acknowledged 
 truths  and  precepts  of  the  Bible,  immense  good 
 might  be  done." 
 
 In  reference  to  these  excellent  remarks,  the 
 biographer  of  Mr.  Scott  observes,*  "At  the 
 period  of  the  Reformation,  in  the  reign  of 
 Edward  VI.,  a  practice  of  the  kind  here  recom- 
 mended existed  in  our  church,  under  the  sanc- 
 tion of  authority.  Six  eminent  persons  (of 
 whom  John  Knox  was  one)  were  appointed  to 
 go  through  various  districts  of  the  kingdom  as 
 preachers  ;  and  that  such  an  office  was  not  con- 
 tinued has  probably  been  a  great  loss  to  our 
 church.  I  have  heard  a  wise  and  excellent 
 clergyman,  lately  deceased,  who  was  always  a 
 strict  adherent  to  order,  lament  the  mismanage- 
 ment of  things  in  the  Church  of  England,  as 
 compared  with  some  other  establishments.  Had 
 Whitefield  and  Wesley,  he  said,  arisen  in  the 
 church  of  Rome,  that  hierarchy  would  have 
 given  scope  to  their  zeal,  and  yet  have  made  it 
 conduce  to  the  support  of  the  church,  instead  of 
 being  exercised  so  as  to  estrange  the  people 
 from  her  communion." 
 
 •  See  Life  of  Scott,  p.  172. 
 
RiV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  177 
 
 CHAP.V. 
 
 GENERAL  CHARACTER  OF  MR.  HILL  AS  A  PREACHER  ; 
 HIS  STYLE,  AND  EXTENSIVE  MINISTERIAL  LA- 
 BOURS. 
 
 Dangers  op  popularity — emperor  Alexander— mr.  hill's  la- 
 bours AT  WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE,  AND  HIS  GREAT  SUCCESS — HIS 
 COADJUTORS — THE  REV.  THEOPHILUS  JONES — MR.  HILL'S  GREAT 
 OBJECTION  TO  NOTELTIES — FELIX  NEFF — EXTRACT  FROM  JAY'S 
 FUNERAL  SERMON — THE  FARMER  AND  THE  WHEELBARROW — THE 
 MANUFACTORY  CHIMNEY,  OR  ILLUSTRATION  OF  THE  SPIRIT'S  INFLU- 
 ENCE ON  THE  SOUL — EXTRACT  FROM  VILLAGE  DIALOGUES,  CONTAIN- 
 ING THE  DESCRIPTION  OF  A  MINISTER — MR.  HILL'S  PREPARATIONS 
 FOR  THE  PULPIT — PARTICULARS  OF  HIS  LIBRARY — HIS  FAVORITE 
 AUTHORS — THE  SOCINIAN  CONTROVERSY,  AND  BELSHAM's  NEW  VER- 
 SION OF  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT — MR.  HILL'S  REMARKS  THEREON — THE 
 WORST  BOOK  IN  MR.  HILL'S  POSSESSION — HE  WAS  AN  EXTEMPORA- 
 NEOUS PREACHER — HIS  REMARKS  THEREON — ORIGINAL  LETTER  TO 
 REV.  THOS.  BULL — MR.  HILL'S  FIRST  SERMON  AT  KINGSTON  IN 
 SOMERSETSHIRE,  AND  EXTRACTS  THEREFROM — THE  CABBAGE  NET — 
 
 SHOES  FOR  CHILDREN — HIS  GREAT  LOVE  FORTHE  YOUNG MR.  HILL'S 
 
 REMARK  ON  THE  SUN  ;  THE  STAR3  ;  THE  BREEZE  ;  THE  LADDER  ;  THE 
 WEDGE  ;  THE  STEAM-BOAT  J  THE  LEAVEN;  THE  LAMB;  THE  BLIND 
 MAN;  THE  BLIND  CHILD;  THE  STATUARY;  THE  FOG — HUMANITY  OP 
 CHRIST— ON  EXPOSITIONS — ACCOUNT  OF  MR.  HILL'S  LABOURS — 
 PREACHED  ONE  AND  TWENTY  TIMES  IN  A  WEEK — INTERESTING  SCENE 
 DURING  MR.  HILL'S  AFFLICTION— SERMON  AT  LEEDS,— ORIGIN  At, 
 LETTER — SPEECHES  OF  DR.  WAUGH  AND  MR.  HILL  AFTER  AN  ORDINA- 
 TION SERVICE — THREE  ORIGINAL  LETTERS — A  CHRISTIAN  MINISTER 
 REMARK  OF  WHIT-EFIELD — NUMBER  OF  SERMONS  PREACHED  BY  MR. 
 HILL. 
 
 One  of  the  most  interesting  views  of  the  late 
 Rowland  Hill's  character  is,  as  a  preacher  of 
 the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.     No  man  loved  his 
 
178  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 work  better  than  he  did,  and  it  was  his  privilege 
 to  enjoy  an  uninterrupted  and  deserved  popula- 
 rity for  more  than  sixty  years.  During  that 
 long  period  he  was  kept  unspotted  from  the 
 world,  and  was  enabled  to  maintain  a  high  state 
 of  heavenly-mindedness.  Few  ministers  have 
 been  benefited  by  the  applause  of  men,  many 
 have  felt  its  withering  influence.  A  popular 
 preacher  is  like  a  man  walking  in  slippery  paths ; 
 and  his  daily  prayer  should  be,  "  Hold  thou  me 
 up,  and  I  shall  be  safe." 
 
 When  the  late  emperor  Alexander  was  look- 
 ing at  the  statue  of  Napoleon,  at  Paris,  which 
 was  placed  upon  a  lofty  pillar,  he  said,  "  I 
 should  be  giddy,  if  I  stood  there."  Preachers 
 are  raised  high  in  official  station,  and  they  are 
 only  safe  when  their  "conversation  is  in  heaven." 
 They  will  feel  the  giddy  influence  of  popularity, 
 unless,  like  the  psalmist,  they  constantly  "  direct 
 their  prayer  unto  God,  and  look  up" 
 
 Ministers,  however  eminent  their  attainments, 
 are  but  earthen  vessels.  They  have  all  the 
 infirmities  of  humanity,  and  are  constantly 
 decaying.  Let  their  people  then  be  careful 
 that  they  are  not  broken  by  overmuch  pressure. 
 Like  a  brilliant  lamp,  while  they  shine  they 
 consume.     Could  we  see  them  in  their  retired 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  179 
 
 moments,  were  we  acquainted  with  their 
 depressing  anxieties,  and  their  constant  toils,  we 
 should  be  more  fervent  in  prayer  on  their 
 behalf.  "  I  am  thankful,"  said  a  pious  female, 
 the  wife  of  a  useful  minister,  "  that  my  beloved 
 husband  is  not  a  popular  preacher."  She  was 
 also  related  to  one  who  stood  deservedly  high 
 in  public  estimation,  and  knew  well  the  greatness 
 of  his  mental  conflicts. 
 
 A  brief  sketch  has  been  given  in  a  previous 
 chapter,  of  the  interesting  and  successful 
 labours  of  Mr.  Hill  as  an  itinerant  preacher. 
 It  must  not,  however,  be  supposed  that  he  neg- 
 lected the  duties  which  devolved  upon  him  as 
 a  stated  Minister.  After  the  erection  of  Surrey 
 Chapel,  he  resided  in  London  half  the  year, 
 and  then  retired  into  the  country. 
 
 At  Wotton-under-edge,  and  the  neighbour- 
 hood, the  labours  of  Mr.  Hill,  and  his  pious 
 coadjutors,  were  greatly  blessed  by  the  Lord; 
 some  pleasing  particulars  are  stated  in  the  fol- 
 lowing letter  from  Richard  Hill,  esq.,  to  one  of 
 his  brothers,  dated  from  Hawkestone,  Novem- 
 ber 25,  1775: — 
 
 "  I  am  just  returned  from  Bath,  and  from 
 spending  some  days  with  my  brother  Rowland, 
 
180  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 at  his  house  in  Gloucestershire,  where  I  have 
 seen  the  work,  and  power,  and  presence  of 
 God  manifested  in  a  wonderful  manner  indeed, 
 through  his  instrumentality,  among  all  sorts  of 
 people,  with  several  of  whom  I  have  conversed, 
 and  find  they  have  been  wrought  upon  in  a 
 sound,  rational,  scriptural  manner.  One  poor 
 man,  upon  whose  heart  God  was  pleased  to 
 work  through  my  brother's  preaching,  sent  to 
 desire  to  see  him  whilst  I  was  there ;  and  I 
 went  with  him  to  the  house.  We  found  the 
 man  in  bed,  and  past  all  hopes  of  recovery. 
 Rowland  asked  him  if  he  was  afraid  to  die. 
 He  said,  "  No,  that  he  knew  God  had  loved 
 him  with  an  everlasting  love,  that  He  had 
 called  him  by  His  Spirit,  that  He  had  freely  par- 
 doned all  his  sins,  and  that  there  was  no  con- 
 demnation for  him."  "I  know,"  said  he,  "that 
 Christ  hath  taken  out  the  sting  of  death ;  in 
 spite  of  all  my  sins,  death  cannot  hurt  me. 
 I  no  more  fear  death  than  I  do  a  visit  from  a 
 Christian  friend.  I  no  more  fear  going  into 
 eternity,  than  I  fear  going  into  the  next  room." 
 After  prayer,  Rowland  said,  "Well,  Thomas, 
 God  be  with  you, — if  we  don't  meet  again  in 
 this  world,  I  trust  we  shall  meet  in  heaven." 
 "  Ay,  Sir,"  replied  he,  with  an  effusion  of  tears 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  181 
 
 of  joy,  "I  know  that  very  well;  but  I  have  the 
 advantage  of  you,  for  I  shall  be  there  first. 
 Satan  has  been  shooting  at  me, — but  I  tell  him 
 he  may  as  well  let  me  alone,  for  Christ  will 
 never  suffer  him  to  hurt  me." 
 
 "  What  a  testimony  is  this  to  the  reality  of 
 the  religion  of  the  blessed  Jesus, — and  what 
 encouragement  do  such  facts  afford  us,  to  be 
 continually  living  upon  him,  and  to  him,  and 
 for  him,  knowing  that  our  labour  shall  '  not  be 
 in  vain  in  the  Lord.'" 
 
 During  his  residence  at  Wotton-under-edge, 
 Mr.  Hill  was  very  laborious :  he  extended  his 
 efforts  all  round  the  neighbourhood,  and  often 
 preached  every  evening  in  the  week,  except 
 Saturday.  Here,  however,  his  mind  was  unbent, 
 and  he  obtained  relaxation  in  his  flower-garden, 
 and  other  rural  pursuits.  He  was  fond  of 
 the  works  of  God,  and  from  them  gathered 
 many  of  his  happiest  illustrations.  The  rose, 
 and  the  lily,  and  the  apple-tree  among  the 
 trees  of  the  wood,  directed  his  thoughts  to 
 One  who  is  "the  chief  among  ten  thousand," 
 although  they  failed  fully  to  unfold  to  his  mind 
 the  beauties  of  Him  who  is  the  "  altogether 
 lovely." 
 
182  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Nor  earth,  nor  seas,  nor  sun,  nor  stars, 
 Nor  heaven,  his  full  resemblance  bears ; 
 His  beauties  we  can  never  trace, 
 Till  we  behold  him  face  to  face. 
 
 Here  Mr.  Hill  seemed  for  a  season  to  be  in 
 the  peaceful  haven,  preparing  for  the  future 
 storm.  His  sermons,  on  his  arrival  in  Lon- 
 don, were  full  of  illustrations  drawn  from  the 
 scenes  he  had  left  behind.  One  of  his  friends 
 has  remarked,  in  reference  to  his  country  re- 
 treat,* "Here  he  was  indeed  the  patriarch 
 of  the  place, — nor  can  any  one  who  has  not 
 visited  the  spot,  form  a  just  estimate  of  his  use- 
 fulness, or  of  the  pleasing  impression  the  mind 
 receives  while  contemplating  his  dwelling-house 
 and  grounds,  with  the  tabernacle  adjoining,  and 
 its  congregation  of  a  thousand  people,  the  alms- 
 houses erected  for  the  pious  poor,  the  lofty 
 elms,  planted  with  his  own  hand,  and  the  dis- 
 tant and  beautiful  hills  of  the  Principality, 
 where  he  had  been  "in  labours  more  abun- 
 dant." 
 
 At  Wotton-under-edge,  as  in  London,  he  was 
 engaged  in  numerous  benevolent  and  religious 
 objects,  for  the  moral  and  spiritual  good  of  the 
 
 *  Rev.  Thomas  Jackson, 
 
REV.   ROWLAND   HILL.  183 
 
 inhabitants.  He  was  the  philanthropist  as  well 
 as  the  preacher.  In  harmonious  efforts  with 
 his  beloved  and  highly  honoured  lady,  he  fed 
 the  hungry,  clothed  the  naked,  visited  the  sick, 
 and  had  compassion  on  all  the  sons  and  daugh- 
 ters of  sorrow.  It  was  here  that  he  enjoyed 
 the  peculiar  luxury  of  doing  good.  He  knew 
 his  people,  and  was  known  of  them,  and  his 
 judicious  and  well-timed  pecuniary  assistance 
 sometimes  led  the  industrious  artisan  to  comfort 
 and  affluence. 
 
 In  these  labours  at  Wotton-under-edge  he  was 
 assisted  by  several  excellent  men,  who  fully 
 made  known  to  the  people  the  truths  of  reli- 
 gion. The  last  minister  was  the  Rev.  Theo- 
 philus  Jones,  to  whom  Mr.  Hill  felt  the  strong- 
 est affection.  Mr.  Jones  had  been  brought 
 up  to  trade,  but  the  providence  of  God  clearly 
 led  him  to  become  an  ambassador  of  Christ. 
 He  was  invited  to  preach  at  Rangeworthy, 
 Nailsworth,  and  Wotton-under-edge.  This  pro- 
 vidential visit  led  to  his  subsequent  connexion 
 with  the  venerable  Rowland  Hill.  After  sup- 
 plying the  Tabernacle  for  several  week*-;,  he 
 received  an  unanimous  invitation  to  become  the 
 assistant  minister  at  Wotton.  Mr.  Hill  soon 
 felt  warmly  attached  to  his  young  friend,  and, 
 
184  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 in  his  own  pecular  style,  thus  described  the 
 preacher  his  people  wished  to  hear  :  "  They  do 
 not  want  a  dictionary  preacher,  for  they  cannot 
 understand  him;  nor  a  dashing  preacher,  for 
 they  will  despise  him;  nor  a  bad-tempered 
 preacher,  for  he  will  divide  them ;  but  a  man 
 with  a  good  loud  voice,  a  disposition  to  be 
 taught,  with  brains  in  his  head,  and  grace  in 
 his  heart." 
 
 The  invitation  to  settle  at  Wotton  led  Mr. 
 Jones  seriously  to  consider  the  path  of  duty. 
 He  gave  himself  unto  prayer,  that  he  might 
 know  the  will  of  God.  He  feared  lest  a  deceit- 
 ful heart  should  lead  him  astray.  After  having 
 sought  the  counsel  of  God  and  his  people,  he 
 complied  with  the  wishes  of  his  Wotton  friends, 
 and  entered  upon  his  stated  labours  in  Novem- 
 ber, 1816.  He  often  referred  to  this  interest- 
 ing period  of  his  ministerial  life  with  grateful 
 feelings  to  God,  through  whose  grace  he  had 
 been  enabled,  with  some  acceptance,  to  dis- 
 charge the  solemn  duties  of  his  office.  He  was 
 publicly  ordained  on  the  29th  of  October,  1817, 
 on  which  occasion  the  Rev.  David  Charles,  of 
 Carmarthen,  delivered  a  judicious  charge  from 
 Acts  xx.  27,  and  Mr.  Hill  presented  the  ordi- 
 nation prayer,   with   a   solemnity   and   fervour 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  185 
 
 most  distinctly  remembered  by  many  who  were 
 then  present.  The  Rev.  Ebenezer  Morris 
 preached  an  impressive  sermon  to  the  people 
 from  Psalm  1.  5.  Five  of  the  ministers  who 
 engaged  in  this  solemn  service  have  since  been 
 removed  to  the  church  above. 
 
 After  Mr.  Jones  gave  himself  up  entirely  to 
 the  ministry  of  the  word,  he  became  a  most 
 diligent  student,  and  spent  much  time  in  prayer 
 and  meditation.  The  congregation  over  which 
 he  presided  rapidly  increased,  and  "much 
 people  was  added  unto  the  Lord."  He  was  an 
 acceptable  supply  at  Surrey  Chapel,  and  for  fif- 
 teen years  faithfully  and  successfully  laboured  in 
 lovely  co-operation  with  his  venerable  friend. 
 
 The  time  approached  when  this  useful  man 
 was  to  finish  his  earthly  course.  In  April,  1833, 
 he  preached  at  Newport,  in  South  Wales. 
 After  delivering  his  last  sermon  in  that  place, 
 and  which  proved  to  be  the  close  of  his  mi- 
 nistry, he  heard  the  painful  intelligence  that 
 his  venerable  colleague,  Mr.  Hill,  had  been 
 called  to  his  eternal  rest.  He  immediately 
 proceeded  to  London,  and  was  present  at  the 
 funeral  of  his  departed  friend.  He  then 
 appeared  in  good  health,  but  during  the  few 
 days  that  he  remained  in  town  he  was  affected 
 
186  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 by  the  prevailing  influenza.  He  was  confined 
 a  day  or  two  at  the  house  of  a  friend,  but  no 
 apprehensions  of  danger  were  entertained. 
 Mr.  Jones  felt  persuaded,  that  if  he  could  get 
 into  the  country,  he  should  soon  be  restored  to 
 health.  The  writer's  last  interview  with  him 
 took  place  a  few  hours  before  he  got  into  the 
 mail.  He  was  then  in  good  spirits,  and  invited 
 him  to  spend  a  few  days  with  him  at  Wotton, 
 in  the  summer.  He  beautifully  described  the 
 distant  prospect  from  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
 town.  How  little  did  he  suppose  that  at  that 
 moment  he  was  "  going  up  to  the  mount  to  die 
 there;"  that  he  had  completed  his  ministerial 
 course,  and  was  soon  to  give  up  his  account  to 
 God.  He  safely  reached  his  home,  but  found  no 
 benefit  from  the  change.  He  gradually  became 
 worse.  The  most  alarming  symptoms  appeared, 
 and  baffled  the  skill  of  his  medical  attendants. 
 His  frame  gradually  sunk,  and,  with  "  a  hope 
 full  of  immortality,"  he  expired,  on  the  4th  of 
 May,  1833,  after  an  illness  of  only  eight  days. 
 It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  Mr.  Jones 
 never  preached  after  he  heard  of  the  death  of 
 Mr.  Hill,  his  fellow- worker  in  the  ministry, 
 and  thus  both  the  pastors  finished  their  work 
 together — one  at  the  age  of  eighty- nine,  and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  187 
 
 the  other  soon  after  he  had  passed  his  forty- 
 fifth  year. 
 
 "  In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death."  We 
 see  from  this  narration  that  it  is  God  who 
 spares  his  people  "  to  hoary  hairs,"  and  he 
 also  calls  them  to  himself  in  the  vigour  of  man- 
 hood. The  dispensations  of  God  may  be  some- 
 times mysterious,  but  they  are  always  right 
 "Clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about  him; 
 but  righteousness  and  judgment  are  the  habi- 
 tation of  his  throne."  The  removal  of  the  ser- 
 vants of  God  should  lead  us  fervently  to  pray, 
 "  So  teach  us  to  number  our  days,  that  we  may 
 apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom."  Let  not  the 
 young  person  presume  on  his  strength.  If  the 
 departed  minister  could  now  speak  to  the 
 reader,  he  would  say  to  him,  as  he  did  to  a 
 friend  who  visited  him  in  the  sick  chamber, 
 "  Ah  !  brother,  I  have  had  the  start  of  you ; 
 there  are  many  before  me  in  Christ.  Oh  !  work 
 the  work  of  Him  that  sent  you,  while  it  is 
 called  day :  the  night  cometh  when  no  man 
 can  work." 
 
 The  long-continued  and  deserved  popularity 
 of  Mr.  Hill,  arose  from  his  holy  and  consistent 
 course,  and  his  determination  only  to  walk  in 
 the  good  old  paths.     He  had  a  great  dread  of 
 
188  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 those  ministers  who  were  fond  of  introducing 
 novelties  into  their  sermons,  and  it  is  an  inte- 
 resting fact  that  Mr.  Hill  was  never  permitted 
 to  wander  from  the  truths  he  first  embraced. 
 He  tried  them  well,  and,  having  found  them 
 sufficient,  never  gave  them  up.  Novelties  may 
 please  those  who  have  "itching  ears,"  but  they 
 feed  not  the  church  of  God,  and  touch  not  the 
 heart  of  the  wandering  prodigal.  Novelties 
 may  give  a  short-lived  popularity  to  the 
 preacher,  but  they  frequently  cast  a  dark 
 cloud  before  the  cross,  and  obscure  its  glories. 
 Man,  but  not  Christ,  is  exalted,  and  therefore 
 sinners  are  not  drawn  unto  him.  Mr.  Hill,  in 
 his  expositions  of  God's  word,  did  not  forget 
 that  there  are  many  things  revealed,  which  are 
 not  explained;  and  he  therefore  followed  the 
 rule  of  a  pious  Welch  minister,  "  who  never 
 tied  knots  in  the  Scriptures  where  God  had 
 not  tied  them,  nor  attempted  to  untie  the  knots 
 which  God  himself  had  tied." 
 
 There  were,  however,  several  natural  causes 
 which  secured  for  Mr.  Hill  the  long  favour  of 
 the  Christian  public.  He  was  a  branch  of  an 
 elevated  and  much  respected  family,  and 
 carried  with  him  through  life  the  air  of  a 
 well-educated  man.     His  voice  was  full,  clear, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  189 
 
 and  melodious,  and  he  could  be  distinctly 
 heard  by  the  largest  assemblies,  even  to  the 
 close  of  his  ministerial  course.  His  person  was 
 tall  and  commanding,  and  he  addressed  his 
 people  like  one  who  deeply  felt  the  importance 
 of  his  office.  He  had  considerable  powers  of 
 imagination,  and  often  presented  beautiful  pic- 
 tures, in  illustration  of  divine  truth,  gathered 
 chiefly  from  domestic  life,  or  the  works  of  cre- 
 ation.    In  his  view, 
 
 "  Heaven  and  earth  were  full  of  the  majesty 
 of  Jehovah's  glory," 
 
 Like  Neff,  the  pastor  of  the  shepherds  of  the 
 Alps,  he  studied  two  books,  that  of  nature,  and 
 grace ;  "  he  loved  to  go  from  the  one  to  the 
 other ;  to  trace  the  hand  of  his  Saviour,  and,  as 
 it  were,  the  impress  of  his  feet,  in  the  visible 
 world ;  and,  again,  in  the  Gospel  to  contemplate 
 the  revelation  of  him  who  made  and  who 
 upholds  all  things.  He  was  naturally  led  to 
 explain  the  one  by  the  other."* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  possessed  a  good  command  of  lan- 
 guage, and  his  sermons  were  characterized  by 
 simplicity  and  deep  feeling.  "  He  had  a 
 remarkable  talent,"  says  Mr.  Jay,  in  his  funeral 
 
 *  Life  of  Felix  Neff,  by  Religious  Tract  Society. 
 
190  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 sermon,  "for  seizing  a  powerful  thought,  and 
 even  a  profound  argument,  and  bringing  it 
 within  the  reach  of  the  popular  understanding, 
 and  also  by  means  of  some  familiar,  or  shrewd, 
 or  striking  allusion,  furnishing  it  with  a  handle 
 to  enable  them  to  take  hold  of  it,  and  carry  it 
 away."  The  propriety  of  these  remarks  will 
 be  seen  from  the  following  facts: — 
 
 In  an  agricultural  district,  in  which  Mr.  Hill 
 had  to  plead  the  cause  of  Missions,  he  found  he 
 had  a  congregation  of  plain  farmers,  and  their 
 labourers,  who  were  not  accustomed  to  deep 
 thought.  He  was  anxious  simply  to  answer 
 the  question,  "  Have  not  the  heathen  sufficient 
 light  ?  and  if  so,  Why  should  we  trouble  our- 
 selves about  them."  Mr.  Hill  admitted  the  fact, 
 but  contended  that  they  did  not  properly  use 
 the  light  they  possessed.  His  illustration  was 
 exceedingly  simple  and  graphic.  He  supposed 
 the  whole  family  at  the  farm-house  to  be 
 assembled  round  the  large  kitchen  fire,  on  a 
 winter's  evening.  The  work  of  the  day  was 
 over.  The  farmer  was  quietly  smoking  his 
 pipe,  and  now  and  then  entertaining  the  chil- 
 dren with  his  oft- repeated  tales.  The  good 
 wife  was  knitting  at  his  side.  At  this  moment 
 of    quiet    domestic    comfort,    the    plough-boy 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  191 
 
 opened  the  door,  and  cried  out  in  great  alarm, 
 u  Master,  master,  there  are  thieves  in  the 
 yard."  All  is  immediate  confusion.  The  far- 
 mer rushes  to  the  closet  to  get  his  lanthorn, — 
 he  supplies  it  with  candle,  —  and  runs  out, 
 holding  the  light  up  to  his  head,  and  advancing 
 with  cautious  steps  in  pursuit  of  the  depre- 
 dators. In  the  yard,  the  wheel-barrow  has  been 
 improperly  left,  and  over  it  the  farmer  tumbles. 
 Why  does  he  fall  ?  Not  because  he  is  without 
 light,  but  because  he  did  not  use  it  properly; — 
 so  it  is  with  the  heathen. 
 
 In  a  manufacturing  district,  Mr.  Hill  had 
 also  to  plead  the  Missionary  cause.  He  made 
 many  inquiries  of  the  local  minister  as  to  the 
 state  of  the  people.  He  walked  through  the 
 town  to  the  place  of  worship,  and  in  his  way 
 tarried  at  almost  every  shop,  and  examined  the 
 various  articles  exposed  to  sale.  He  was  much 
 struck  with  the  quantity  of  smoke  that  ascended 
 from  the  high  chimnies  of  the  manufactories. 
 The  minister  feared  that  Mr.  Hill's  mind  was 
 wandering;  that  he  would  produce  but  little 
 impression  on  the  multitude  assembled  to  hear 
 him.  He  preached  on  the  influences  of  the 
 Holy  Spirit.  He  powerfully  improved  all  the 
 local  information  he  received.     In  one  part  of 
 
192  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 his  subject  he  wanted  to  shew  the  sweet  wil- 
 lingness of  the  renewed  soul  to  obey  the  will  of 
 God  in  all  things, — and  his  illustration  pro- 
 duced a  very  powerful  impression.  He  said, 
 "  I  have  watched,  this  evening,  the  smoke 
 ascending  from  your  factory  chimnies,  and 
 although  there  was  scarcely  any  air,  yet  how 
 obediently  it  moved  in  the  direction  of  the 
 softest  breeze ;  so  it  is  with  the  Christian,  when 
 God  the  Holy  Ghost  breathes  upon  his  souL 
 He  makes  us  willing  in  the  day  of  his  power." 
 
 Although  the  wayfaring  man  could  under- 
 stand Mr.  Hill,  he  was  plain  without  being 
 vulgar.  In  his  remarks  on  several  ministerial 
 characters,  in  his  "  Village  Dialogues,"  he  has 
 evidently  sketched  his  own  likeness.  "  If  by 
 the  sprightliness  of  his  imagination  he  excited 
 a  smile  of  approbation  without  the  least  degree 
 of  levity?  he  knew  how  very  soon  afterwards  to 
 excite  a  tear.  His  preaching  was,  at  times, 
 like  the  sun,  brilliant,  and  even  if  intervening 
 clouds  intercepted  its  bright  rays,  yet  still  the 
 warmth  was  felt,  and  its  fertilizing  effects  were 
 evident.  His  sentiments  were  elevated  and 
 pure.  If  he  descended,  it  was  like  the  swallow, 
 just  to  dip  the  tip  of  his  wing  in  the  stream, 
 and  again  ascend.    After  he  had  taken  his  text, 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  193 
 
 he  would  for  a  time  stick  to  it,  and  give  it  a 
 just  and  correct  interpretation;  though  after- 
 wards, from  the  warm  and  animated  frame  of 
 his  mind,  he  would  branch  out  so  as  to  surprise 
 his  hearers  by  a  brilliancy  of  thought  peculiar 
 to  himself.  His  severer  hearers  would  blame 
 him  for  these  eccentricities,  and  call  him  a 
 rambling  preacher,  though  still  he  was  correct 
 in  his  divinity,  and  well-intentioned  in  his 
 design;  and  in  all  his  ramblings  he  was  ever  sure 
 to  keep  upon  holy  ground."* 
 
 After  selecting  a  text  from  which  he  intended 
 to  preach,  Mr.  Hill  was  always  anxious  to 
 ascertain  the  simple  primary  meaning  of  the 
 Holy  Spirit;  and  for  this  purpose  he  would 
 consult  the  most  distinguished  critical  writers. 
 Having  obtained  its  literal  meaning,  he  well 
 digested  the  subject  in  his  mind.  He,  however, 
 composed  but  little  during  his  long  ministry. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  never  a  hard  student,  and,  as  a 
 general  rule,  he  read  men  rather  than  books. 
 This  remark  applies  especially  to  the  latter 
 years  of  his  life.     His  library  was  small,  but  it 
 
 *  See  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  ii.  p.  117;  and  vol.  iii. 
 p.  43  &  242. 
 
194  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 contained  standard  works  of  great  excellence, — « 
 the  contents  of  which  he  had  well  digested. 
 The  Commentaries  he  consulted  were,  Matthew 
 Henry,  Poole's,  Deodati's,  Ainsworth's,  Trapp's, 
 and  the  Assembly's  Annotations,  Guyse's  Para- 
 phrases, Macknight's  Harmony,  and  his  Trans- 
 lations of  the  Epistles.  In  addition  to  works 
 on  general  history,  he  appears  to  have  been 
 attached  to  the  writings  of  Bishop  Hall,  Bun- 
 yan,  Reynolds,  Perkins,  Burgess,  Sedgwick, 
 Willett,  Downham,  Manton,  Greenham,  and 
 Preston.  He  carefully  read  the  works  of 
 John  Howe,  Dr.  Owen,  Jonathan  Edwards, 
 and  President  Davies.  He  also  valued  the 
 writings  of  his  friend  Toplady,  and  his  vene- 
 rated Whitefield.  He  possessed  but  few  mo- 
 dern works.  He  was,  however,  attached  to 
 Dwight,  and  read  with  deep  interest  the  valu- 
 able publications  of  Magee  and  Wardlaw  on  the 
 Socinian  controversy. 
 
 On  the  latter  subject  this  excellent  man  felt 
 deeply  interested,  and  frequently  directed  the 
 attention  of  his  people  to  the  clear  evidence 
 which  the  Scriptures  furnish  of  the  Deity  of 
 the  Saviour.  The  new  version  of  the  Testa- 
 ment, by  Belsham,  he  frequently  referred  to, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  195 
 
 for  the  purpose  of  shewing  the  numerous  per- 
 versions it  contained  of  the  clearly  revealed 
 truths  of  the  Spirit  of  God.  In  reference  to 
 this  point,  a  minister,  who  was  in  constant  inter- 
 course with  Mr.  Hill  during  the  latter  months 
 of  his  life,  remarks,  "  The  notes  of  Mr.  Hill, 
 on  a  copy  of  Belsham's  Translation  of  the  New 
 Testament,  are  short,  but  some  of  them  are 
 triumphant  refutations  of  the  absurdities  of  that 
 scandalous  version.  Mr.  Hill  told  me  that 
 he  read  the  whole  of  it  carefully  through, 
 with  a  constant  reference  to  the  original  text, 
 comparing  passage  with  passage.  His  acquaint- 
 ance with  the  Greek  Testament  was  extensive; 
 and  to  the  very  close  of  life,  it  was  his  practice 
 to  quote  the  emphatic  words  of  the  original 
 text,  when  he  was  conversing  on  any  important 
 subject.  He  told  me  that  it  was  his  custom  to 
 read  through  the  Greek  Testament  every  year." 
 The  new  and  perverted  edition  of  the  Testa- 
 ment, Mr.  Hill  kept  in  a  particular  drawer,  in 
 his  library;  and  when  he  wanted  to  look  at  it, 
 he  was  accustomed  to  say  to  his  servant,  "Bring 
 me  the  worst  book  I  have  got  in  my  possession." 
 On  the  back  of  this  book,  instead  of  the 
 usual  lettering-piece,  Mr.  Hill  has  written, — 
 
196  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  A  most  horrid  perversion  of  the  New  Tes- 
 tament, by  Belsham,  and  other  infidels  in 
 disguise." 
 
 On  the  fly-leaf  is  written, — 
 
 "  This  perverted  translation  proves  that 
 Socinians  stick  at  nothing  to  carry  their  point. 
 It  is  nothing  better  than  a  direct  imposition 
 upon  public  credulity.  In  many  instances  the 
 translation  is  not  only  preposterous  and  absurd, 
 but  most  grossly  false.  If  it  is  to  be  supposed 
 that  they  (the  translators)  did  their  best,  they 
 were  abominably  ignorant,  but  if  through  trick 
 and  design,  most  profanely  wicked." 
 
 From  this  volume  the  following  specimens  of 
 Mr.  Hill's  remarks  are  extracted: — the  Soci- 
 nian  reading  is  first  inserted,  and  then  Mr.  Hill's 
 observations, — 
 
 Matthew  viii.  32.  "  And  when  they  were 
 come  out,  they  went  into  the  swine;" — 'that  is, 
 '  the  insanity  passed  into  the  swine.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  A  sly  trick  to  get  rid  of  these 
 devils.  What  an  invention !  the  devils  all 
 ran  mad. 
 
 Matthew  xviii.  20.  "Where  two  or  three  are 
 gathered  together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in  the 
 midst  of  them." — 'This  promise,  and  the  two 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  197 
 
 preceding  verses,  are  to  be  understood  as  limited 
 to  the  apostolic  age.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  How  profanely  these  wicked 
 infidels  limit  the  presence  of  Christ,  who  has 
 said,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  always,  even  to  the 
 end  of  the  world." 
 
 Luke  viii.  3.  "Mary,  called  Magdalene,  out  of 
 whom  had  gone  seven  demons," — 'who  had  been 
 cured  of  insanity.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  An  easy  way  of  getting  rid  of 
 seven  devils  at  one  stroke  ! 
 
 Luke  x.  4k2.  "Martha,  Martha,  thou  art 
 anxious  and  troubled  about  many  things,  and 
 there  is  need  of  one  thing  only;" — 'that  is,  there 
 is  need  of  one  dish  only  for  me  to  eat  of.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  If  so,  to  go  on  with  the  absurd  inter- 
 pretation, Mary  chose  a  tit-bit  for  herself,  and 
 Martha  was  not  to  have  a  taste  of  it, — Oh, 
 rational  dissenters ! 
 
 John  viii.  44,  45.  "Ye  are  of  your  father  the 
 devil;  for  he  is  a  liar,  and  the  father  of  liars." 
 — '  The  devil,  the  principle  of  moral  evil  per- 
 sonified/ 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  So  this  personification  of  evil  had 
 a  large  family,  and  all  the  Scribes,  Pharisees, 
 &c.  &c.  were  the  spawn  of  this  personification. 
 
 John  xii.  31 .  "  Now,  the  prince  of  this  world 
 
198  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 will  be  cast  out." — '  The  prince  of  this  world, 
 that  is,  the  Jewish  hierarchy  and  magistracy  will 
 be  abolished/ 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  Can  they  believe  their  own  non- 
 sense ?  The  devil,  the  Jewish  hierarchy ! 
 Poor  little  devil !  Yorkshire  was  as  large  as 
 Judea  then  was,  and  yet  the  prince  of  the 
 power  of  the  air  is  the  spirit  that  now  worketh 
 in  the  children  of  disobedience.  It  is  thought 
 by  many  that  the  devil  breaks  bounds  dread- 
 fully. 
 
 John  xiii.  2.  "  And  supper  being  come  (the 
 devil  having  put  it  into  the  heart  of  Judas 
 Iscariot,"  &c. — 'The  devil;  that  is,  his  own  bad 
 passion/ 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  Here  the  devil  is  only  a  bad  pas- 
 sion. When  the  devils  possessed  the  swine, — 
 it  was,  therefore,  nothing  but  swine  in  bad 
 passions. 
 
 John  xiv.  30.  "The  prince  of  this  world 
 cometh,  and  hath  nothing  in  me;" — 'that  is,  I 
 shall  soon  be  arrested,  and  brought  before  the 
 tribunal  of  the  magistrate  as  a  criminal,  but  no 
 crime  will  be  proved  against  me.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  The  devil — a  Jewish  magistrate  ! 
 The  prince  of  this  world — the  Jewish  rulers! 
 What  preposterous  stuff ! 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  199 
 
 John  xvi.  15.  "All  things  which  the  Father 
 hath  are  mine." — * Every  thing  which  relates  to 
 the  kingdom  of  God  in  the  world,  is  committed 
 to  my  direction  and  superintendence.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  So  that  a  steward,  that  is  deputed 
 to  direct  and  superintend  his  master's  property, 
 has  a  right  to  say  that  all  his  master's  property 
 is  his. 
 
 Acts  v.  3.  "Ananias,  why  hath  Satan  filled 
 thy  heart,  to  deceive  the  Holy  Spirit?" — *  Satan, 
 a  spirit  and  temper  opposite  to  that  of  the 
 GospeL  To  deceive  the  Holy  Spirit ;  that  is, 
 men  who  were  inspired  of  God.  Observe  here, 
 Satan  and  the  Holy  Spirit  are  personifications 
 of  qualities.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  So  the  Holy  Spirit  means  men 
 inspired  of  God ! ! !  Rational  dissenters !  Impu- 
 dent and  barefaced  assertions  are  the  arguments 
 of  the  Socinians. 
 
 Acts  vi.  3.  "  Look  out  from  among  you  seven 
 men  of  good  report,  full  of  the  (holy)  Spirit." 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  What  a  trick !  to  put  holy  in 
 crotchets,  and  thus  to  lower  it  down  to  their 
 own  fancy.  Oh  !  these  daring,  abominable 
 impostors,  to  call  this  garbled  perversion  an 
 "  improved  version,"  and  then,  by  way  of  saving 
 their   credit,    put   in    the    correct    translation, 
 
200  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 ("full  of  faith  and  power,")  from  the  received 
 version,  in  a  note  at  the  bottom. 
 
 Acts  vii.  59.  "Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit." 
 — 'This  address  of  Stephen  to  Jesus,  when  he 
 actually  saw  him,  does  not  authorize  us  to  offer 
 prayers  to  him  now  he  is  invisible.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  Most  curious  !  Christ  may  be 
 worshipped  when  visible,  but  not  when  invisible. 
 When  I  see  the  king  on  his  throne,  I  may  give 
 him  homage ;  but  when  I  cannot  see  him,  there 
 is  then  no  reason,  or  authority,  to  give  him  any 
 credit  as  being  then  my  king.  Could  these 
 people  believe  their  own  nonsense  ? 
 
 Acts  ix.  31.  "And  they  were  filled  with  the 
 comfort  of  the  Holy  Spirit." 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  How  can  that  be,  if  there  is  no 
 Holy  Spirit? 
 
 Acts  x.  3.  "He  saw  in  a  vision  evidently,  about 
 the  ninth  hour  of  the  day,  an  angel  of  God." 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  How  could  that  be,  when  angels 
 are  mere  imaginations  ? 
 
 Acts  x.  38.  "  Now  God  anointed  Jesus  Christ 
 with  the  Holy  Spirit  and  with  power." 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  Here  the  Holy  Spirit  is  left  stand- 
 ing. Why  did  they  not  tell  us  in  a  note  that 
 God  anointed  Christ  with  a  good  disposition  ? 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  201 
 
 Acts  x.  38.  "  Who  went  about  doing  good,  and 
 curing  all  who  were  oppressed  by  the  devil." — 
 '  All  the  diseased  whom  our  Lord  healed  are 
 said  to  have  been  possessed  by  the  devil.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  Then  the  blind,  the  lame,  the  drop- 
 sical, the  deaf,  the  dumb,  &c.  &c.  and  Peter's 
 wife's  mother,  (poor  woman!)  were  all  possessed 
 of  the  devil. 
 
 Acts  xvi.  31.  "  Sirs,  what  must  I  do  to  be 
 safe?" — 'This  is  beyond  all  doubt  the  sense  of 
 the  passage;  though  Paul,  in  his  reply,  used 
 the  words  in  a  more  extensive  signification ;  a 
 practice  common  in  these  writings.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  Beyond  all  doubt,  the  sense  of  a 
 rational  dissenter  must  be  the  meaning,  be  it 
 ever  so  nonsensical  and  preposterously  absurd. 
 
 Rom.  iv.  25.  "  Who  was  delivered  for  our 
 offences ;" — '  that  is,  not  to  bear  the  punishment 
 of  them,  or  to  appease  the  anger  of  God ;  but 
 to  abolish  the  dispensation  by  which  men  were 
 condemned  as  sinners,  and  to  introduce  a  new 
 and  better  dispensation,  by  which  they  should 
 be  justified  and  healed  as  righteous.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  What  mere  ipse  dixit  impudence  ! 
 what  blundering  tormentors  these  vile  per- 
 verters   are,    of    the    plainest    declarations    of 
 
202  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 divine  writ !     Could  they  themselves  give  credit 
 to  all  their  far-fetched  perversions? 
 
 1  Cor.  i.  2.  "  To  all  that  in  every  place  are 
 called  by  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. " 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  This  false  and  abominable  impo- 
 sition must  have  been  through  design, — igno- 
 rance cannot  cloak  them. 
 
 2  Cor.  vi.  6.  "  By  the  Holy  Spirit." 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  Oh  this  Holy  Spirit.  He  will 
 creep  into  the  Bible,  nor  can  all  the  bold  craft 
 of  the  Socinians  keep  him  out. 
 
 Phil.  iv.  14.  "I  can  do  all  things  through  him 
 who  strengtheneth  me." 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  What  an  impudent  omission  of  the 
 name  of  Christ ! 
 
 Colos.  i.  1.  "  Favour  be  unto  you,  and  peace 
 from  God  our  Father." 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  The  improved  version  omits  the 
 words,  "  and  from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ," 
 and  puts  them  into  a  note  at  the  bottom  of 
 the  page.  Mind  the  horrid  trick  of  these 
 imposers  on  the  public  credulity  of  mankind  : 
 without  the  least  apology,  and  without  the  least 
 authority,  they  actually  obliterate  that  expres- 
 sion from  the  text,  and  attempt  to  cover  their 
 imposition  by  putting  it  in  a  note  ! 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  203 
 
 Colos.  i.  20.  "  For  it  hath  pleased  the  Father 
 to  inhabit  all  fulness  by  him." 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  What  a  barefaced  impudent  per- 
 version ! 
 
 1  Tim.  iii.  6.  "Fall  into  the  condemnation  of 
 the  accuser/ ' —  'accuser  is  Archbishop  New- 
 come's  marginal  version.  His  text  is,  Such 
 condemnation  as  that  of  the  devil/ 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  Here  by  the  help  of  an  Archbishop 
 they  get  rid  of  the  devil, — still,  in  a  variety  of 
 instances  they  are  obliged  to  leave  him  to  pop 
 out  (notwithstanding  all  their  tricks  and  arts) 
 as  a  real  existence. 
 
 Heb.  i.  3.  "  Who  being  a  ray  of  his  brightness, 
 and  an  image  of  his  perfections,"  &c. 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  What  mean  tricks !  Is  this  a  trans- 
 lation?   Oh,  most  abominably  shameful ! 
 
 Heb.  vii.  26.  "  He  ever  liveth  to  interpose 
 for  them." — 'Perhaps  it  may  mean  that  Christ, 
 in  his  exalted  state,  is  exerting  his  powers  in 
 some  unknown  way  for  the  benefit  of  his 
 church.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  By  this  quibbling  criticism,  an 
 attempt  is  made  to  deny  what  the  Bible  most 
 positively  asserts,  the  intercession  of  Christ, 
 though  they  seem  to  give  up  the  point  by  a 
 most  curious  perhaps.     Now,  instead  of  all  this 
 
204  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 poor  quibbling,  to  get  rid  of  the  plain  meaning 
 of  words,  why  not  say  at  once,  with  the  rest  of 
 the  same  sort,  that  the  Apostle  was  an  incon- 
 clusive reasoner, — that  he  was  warped  with 
 strong  Jewish  prejudices, — that  his  arguments 
 were  far-fetched, — that  the  whole  of  the  Epistle 
 is  of  very  doubtful  authenticity,  and  that  Mar- 
 cion's  Gospel,  and  the  Gospel  of  the  Ebionites, 
 though  of  no  authority,  yet  they,  being  the 
 "rational  dissenters"  of  those  days,  they  were 
 quite  sufficient. 
 
 Heb.  xiii.  8.  "Jesus  Christ  is  the  same  yester- 
 day, and  to-day,  and  for  ever;" — 'that  is,  the 
 evangelical  doctrine,  as  delivered  by  Christ  and 
 his  apostles.' 
 
 Mr.  MIL  The  English  of  Jesus  Christ  is, 
 evangelical  doctrine ! ! ! 
 
 James  ii.  19.  "The  demons  also  believe  and 
 tremble;" — 'that  is,  human  ghosts.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  Poor  James  also  is  to  be  lugged  in 
 as  speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy; — of  talking  about 
 devils  when  there  are  none !  Who  deserves  the 
 most  credit,  St.  James,  or  the  rational  dis- 
 senters ? 
 
 1  Peter  i.  18.  "Knowing  that  ye  were  not 
 redeemed  with  corruptible  things,  but  with  the 
 precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  spotless  and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  205 
 
 unblemished  lamb,"  &c. — 'that  is,  delivered  from 
 your  former  state  of  heathenism,  prejudice,  and 
 vice,  by  the  Gospel,  which  was  ratified  by  the 
 blood  of  Christ.' 
 
 3Ir.  Hill.  Mind  the  cloven  foot  in  this  cold 
 perversion.  Ask  common  sense  and  common 
 honesty,  if  such  could  be  the  meaning  of  these 
 words,  where  the  sacrificed  Lamb  is  referred  to, 
 by  which  an  atonement  and  reconciliation  was 
 typically  exemplified. 
 
 1  Peter  v.  8.  "  Your  adversary,  the  false  ac- 
 cuser, walketh  about  as  a  roaring  lion,"  &c. 
 
 Mr*  Hill.  How  fearful  these  people  are  of 
 taking  the  devil's  name  in  vain  ! 
 
 Jude  6.  "And  the  angels  who  kept  not  their 
 first  estate,  but  left  their  own  habitation,  he 
 hath  reserved  in  eternal  chains,"  &c. — 'Perhaps 
 the  writer  may  refer  to  some  fanciful  account  of 
 a  fall  of  angels,  contained  in  the  apocryphal 
 book  which  lay  before  him;  a  fact  so  important 
 is  not  to  be  admitted  upon  such  precarious 
 evidence/ 
 
 3fr.  HilL  To  be  sure  not, — if  these  rational 
 dissenters  determine  otherwise.  Mind  this 
 curious  perhaps,  whereby  they  shuffle  away  the 
 whole  of  the  above  passage.  Supposing  that 
 St  Jude  was  weak  enough  to  believe  such  a 
 
206  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 mere  idle  tale, — the  "rational  dissenters"  are  of 
 a  wiser  breed. 
 
 Rev.v.  14.  "And  the  elders  fell  down  and  wor- 
 shipped."— 'This  homage,  paid  to  a  symbolical 
 representation  of  Christ  in  a  visionary  scene,  by 
 symbolical  persons  represented  as  visibly  pre- 
 sent with  him,  cannot  justify  the  actual  worship 
 of  Christ,  when  he  is  not  visible.' 
 
 Mr.  Hill,  referring  to  the  omission  of  the 
 words,  "Him  that  liveth  for  ever  and  ever," 
 says,  "Vile  omission!"  and  adds,  "So  the 
 nature  of  worship  depends  upon  being  visible 
 or  invisible.  No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any 
 time,  therefore  no  man  should  worship  God  at 
 any  time.     Socinian  logic ! ! ! 
 
 Rev.  xiv.  1 1.  "And  the  smoke  of  their  torment 
 shall  go  up  for  ever  and  ever." — 'The  punish- 
 ments threatened  ought,  in  all  reason,  to  be 
 understood  of  temporal  punishments,  and  not  of 
 the  sufferings  of  a  future  life.  So  in  Jude,  ver.  7. 
 Sodom  and  Gomorrha  are  represented  as  suf- 
 fering the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire; — that  is,  of 
 a  temporal  calamity,  a  fire  which  completely 
 destroyed  them/ 
 
 Mr.  Hill.  That  is,  the  punishment  which  is 
 to  last  to  all  eternity  is  to  end  in  time,  and  the 
 burning  of  Sodom,  &c.  in  time,  is  a  full  proof 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  207 
 
 sinners  are  not  to  suffer  the  vengeance  of  eternal 
 fire  in  the  world  of  spirits  !  Awful  as  the  truth 
 may  be,  what  the  Bible  asserts,  we  are  bound 
 to  believe. 
 
 Having  shown  by  these  extracts  the  preacher's 
 great  jealousy  for  his  Master's  honour,  we  may 
 observe,  that  Mr.  Hill  was,  in  every  sense,  an 
 extemporaneous  preacher,  and  was  strongly  op- 
 posed to  ministers'  reading  their  discourses. 
 He  observes  on  this  subject: 
 
 "  The  dull  modern  way  of  reading,  instead  of 
 preaching,  from  the  pulpit,  I  rather  choose 
 to  leave  to  others,  than  to  practise  myself,  as 
 it  only  tends  to  lull  the  people  to  sleep,  and 
 to  cast  additional  loads  of  ignorance  upon  our 
 ministers.*  If  a  minister,  after  having  duly  con- 
 sidered the  leading  truths  of  his  text,  would  but 
 venture,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  to  enforce 
 the  subject  from  the  natural  ability  which  God 
 may  have  given  him,  he  would  find  his  heart 
 animated  by  the  subject,  and  preaching  would 
 soon  be  his  daily  delight."f 
 
 Mr.  Hill  would  occasionally  preach  without 
 much  previous  thought.  This  was  sometimes 
 the  case  when    travelling   for   the    Missionary 
 
 *  Token  for  Eouquet,  p.  5. 
 f  First  Journal,  p.  161. 
 
208  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Society, — but  this  practice  was  the  exception 
 to  his  general  rule.  He  could  preach  with 
 much  less  preparation  than  most  ministers,  but 
 he  never  recommended  any  one  to  present  a  ser- 
 mon upon  the  altar  of  God,  which  had  not  pre- 
 viously cost  some  portion  of  labour.  At  those 
 seasons,  when  Mr.  Hill  had  been  unable  to 
 prepare,  he  felt  himself  completely  dependent 
 on  the  state  of  his  feelings ;  hence,  if  he  had 
 not  the  usual  crowd  to  excite  him,  he  found  but 
 little  pleasure  in  his  work.  To  this  point  he 
 partly  refers  in  the  following  eccentric  epistle 
 to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Bull, — 
 
 "  My  dear  Brother  Bull, 
 "  Though  I  was  Ass  enough  to  promise  your 
 Bull-ship  to  give  you  a  visit  at  Newport-Pagnel 
 Anniversary,  yet,  if  I  had  thought  a  little  more 
 favourably  for  myself,  as  I  am  now  no  chicken, 
 I  should  have  requested  you  to  have  provided 
 for  yourself  an  abler  hand  nearer  home.  If  you 
 could  even  now  let  me  off,  I  should  be  thankful; 
 but  if  I  must  suffer  for  my  folly,  I  have  only  to 
 say  I  must  submit ;  and  if  I  do  submit,  it  must 
 be  on  the  first  time  you  mention  in  your  letter, 
 the  7th  of  May,  which  will  be  much  more  con- 
 venient to  me  than  the  21st     Sometimes,  when 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  200 
 
 subjects  do  not  bite  properly,  I  make  myself 
 appear  so  much  like  an  old  fool  in  what  I  ray, 
 that  I  am  not  only  ashamed  of  myself,  but  ot 
 the  cause  I  would  wish  to  serve ;  and  this  is 
 another  strong  reason  why  you  should  give  mo 
 absolution  from  my  promise,  which  I  must  per- 
 form on  your  demand. 
 
 c;  Your  ever  affectionate  Brother, 
 
 "To  Rev.  Mr.  Bull, 
 "  Newport  Fagnel,  Bucks." 
 
 The  first  sermon  which  Mr.  Hill  printed  was 
 the  one  he  delivered  in  the  parish  church  of 
 Kingston,  on  the  20th  of  June,  1773,  when  he 
 entered  upon  his  curacy.  He  termed  it  the 
 "  Gospel  Message,"  from  1  Cor.  ii.  1,  2,  "And  I, 
 brethren,  when  I  came  to  you,  came  not  with 
 excellency  of  speech,  or  of  wisdom,  declaring 
 unto  you  the  testimony  of  God,  for  I  deter- 
 mined not  to  know  any  thing  among  you,  save 
 Jesus  Christ,  and  him  crucified." 
 
 The  biographer  of  a  celebrated  painter,  after 
 describing  the  first  sketch  of  the  artist,  remarks, 
 that  in  this  early  production  might  be  dis- 
 covered lines,  or  touches,  which  could  also  be 
 
210  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 traced  in  his  latest  and  most  matured  produc- 
 tions. Such  was  the  case  with  the  first  efforts 
 of  Mr.  Hill.  The  following  commencement  of 
 the  Sermon  will  recall  to  the  minds  of  his 
 former  hearers  many  similar  introductions,  even 
 to  the  close  of  his  ministry: 
 
 "  How  awful  is  the  consideration,  that  every 
 soul  which  is  born  into  the  world  is  born  for 
 an  eternity !  an  eternity  that  will  prove  to  every 
 individual  either  a  state  of  the  completest  hap- 
 piness, or  of  the  most  excruciating  torture  and 
 deepest  despair.  My  dear  friends,  I  pray  you 
 to  consider, — there  is  not  a  single  soul  among 
 you,  to  whom  this  most  important  truth  does 
 not  personally  belong.  A  little  while,  and  all 
 will  be  over.  Oh  that  you  may  think  of  it. 
 If  you  are  lost  once,  you  are  lost  for  ever" 
 
 This  introduction  had  no  immediate  con- 
 nexion with  his  text,  but  was  calculated  to  fix 
 the  attention  of  his  hearers.  He  then  proceeds 
 with  a  variety  of  desultory  remarks  on  preachers, 
 and  then  comments  on  his  text.  "  These 
 words  plainly  prove  that  plain  preaching  is  the 
 best  preaching."  His  observations  on  this 
 point,  and  on  the  great  subject  of  the  text, 
 occupy  the  first  twelve  pages.  He  then  gives 
 the  following  divisions — 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  211 
 
 Your  fallen  condition  by  nature  and  by  prac- 
 tice must  be  first  insisted  on.  This  we  will  prove, 
 
 1.  By  express  testimony  of  Scripture. 
 
 2.  By  your  own  experience,  and 
 
 3.  Will  consider  the  curse  pronounced 
 against  sinners  so  long  as  they  continue  without 
 an  interest  in  Christ. 
 
 Under  these  heads  he  discusses  the  fall,  the 
 depravity  of  the  understanding,  the  affections, 
 and  passions,  and  he  closes  with  remarks  on 
 holiness  of  heart,  &c.  Now,  it  will  be  seen 
 that  the  principal  divisions  of  the  subject  do 
 not  very  strictly  present  to  the  mind  the  lead- 
 ing truths  contained  in  his  text.  Mr.  Hill  was  a 
 rambler  at  the  commencement  of  his  career, 
 and  maintained  the  character  until  the  close 
 of  his  useful  ministry. 
 
 There  was  a  natural  restlessness  about  Mr. 
 Hill,  which  must  have  rendered  mental  abstrac- 
 tion a  difficult  task.  He,  however,  had  recourse 
 to  some  employments  to  engage  his  hands,  and 
 then  his  mind  would  sweetly  wander  over  the 
 field  where 
 
 u  Seeds  of  immortal  bliss  are  sown, 
 And  hidden  glory  lies." 
 
 Oil  the  Saturday  morning  I  have  seen  him 
 busily  employed  in  making  a  cabbage-net,  and  in 
 
212  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 the  evening  to  my  surprise  he  was  turned  into 
 a  shoemaker.  He  made  beautiful  little  shoes 
 for  infants,  and  would  sometimes  kindly  pro- 
 mise to  his  female  friends,  on  their  marriage, 
 that  he  should  be  happy  to  present  "  the  first- 
 born" with  a  pair  of  nursery  slippers.  He  had 
 a  pattern  of  the  various  parts  from  which  he 
 cut  out  the  shoe,  and  then  sewed  them  together 
 with  very  great  neatness.  These  little  produc- 
 tions of  a  great  man  were  much  valued  by 
 those  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  procure 
 them. 
 
 His  great  love  for  children  also  induced  him 
 to  cut  out  for  their  use  the  letters  of  the 
 alphabet,  which  he  had  printed  on  card  paper, 
 and  put  into  little  paper  bags.  He  considered 
 that  by  throwing  these  letters  about,  and  calL- 
 ing  upon  the  child  to  bring  a  particular  one, 
 amusement  was  combined  with  the  advance  of 
 knowledge  in  the  young  mind. 
 
 The  following  passages  from  Mr.  Hill's  ser- 
 mons will  give  the  reader  a  correct  view  of  his 
 powers  of  imagination. 
 
 The  Sun. — All  the  lights  in  the  world  put 
 together  will  not  unfold  to  us  the  glories  of  the 
 sun;  it  is  only  to  be  seen  by  its  own  light. 
 So  the  Sun  of  righteousness  is  seen  by  human 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  213 
 
 eyes,  as  "  the  brightness  of  the  Father's  glory," 
 by  the  light  which  guides  his  people  to  himself. 
 
 The  Stars.  —  While  we  look  high,  we  see 
 some  stars,  but  we  can  scarcely  discover  them, 
 because  they  are  dim ;  but  if  we  look  low,  we 
 see  much  brighter  stars,  shining  in  a  lower 
 sphere.  And  those  stars  that  strike  us  the 
 least,  and  those  that  shine  the  brightest,  have 
 all  of  them  their  appointment  of  God,  and  all 
 receive  their  light  from  the  sun.  So  let  a 
 sinner  be  born  of  God,  whatever  station  he  may 
 fill,  he  will  fill  it  to  God's  glory, — he  cannot 
 help  it  any  more  than  the  sun  can  help  shining, 
 — any  more  than  the  moon  can  help  shining 
 when  the  sun  shines  upon  it> — he  will  fill  that 
 state  as  a  child  of  God;  because  the  light  of 
 the  glory  of  God  shines  in  his  heart  through 
 Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  He  who  has  that  light 
 must  shine  as  a  light  in  the  world. 
 
 Some  stars  there  are  which  so  faintly  twinkle, 
 that  we  can  scarcely  discover  them.  Oh  that 
 you  and  I  may  be  begging  God  to  enlighten  us 
 with  that  blaze  of  heavenly  light,  that  we  may 
 shew  forth  the  praises  of  Him  who  hath  called 
 us  "out  of  darkness  into  his  marvellous  light." 
 
 The  star  in  the  East  was  a  safe  guide  to  the 
 
214  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 wise  men;  so  is  the  Spirit  of  truth,  and  the 
 star  of  Divine  Providence  to  the  child  of  God. 
 
 The  Breeze.  —  It  is  that  preaching  which 
 beautifully  sets  forth  "  the  kindness  of  God  our 
 Saviour,  which  is  generally  more  impressive 
 and  useful  than  the  exhibition  of  the  terrors  of 
 the  law.  The  loud  and  sudden  thunder-storm 
 alarms  us  for  the  moment,  but  soon  passes 
 away,  and  is  forgotten ;  but  the  delightful  and 
 cooling  breeze  which  we  sometimes  feel  at  the 
 close  of  a  summer  day,  refreshes  and  cheers  us. 
 Such  is  the  effect  of  ( the  still  small  voice  of 
 the  Gospel  of  peace.'" 
 
 The  Ladder. — The  world  has  a  sad  effect 
 upon  the  professors  of  religion.  It  makes  them 
 very  giddy,  if  they  get  too  much  connected 
 with  it.  "  I  was  once  ascending  a  ladder,  and 
 soon  found  my  head  beginning  to  swim. 
 "  Look  up,  sir,  look  up,  sir,"  cried  a  workman, 
 "  nobody  feels  giddy  when  he  looks  up."  And 
 so  I  found  it.  "Look  up,"  brethren,  in  all 
 your  engagements,  and  then  your  conversation 
 will  be  sweetly  in  heaven  !  and  you  will  escape 
 the  giddy  influence  of  the  present  world. 
 
 The  Wedge. — How  delightfully  the  grace  of 
 God  brings  the  hardened  and  rebellious  heart 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  215 
 
 of  man  into  holy  submission  to  his  power  ;  but 
 how  various  are  the  means  which  are  employed. 
 I  have  noticed  in  the  country,  that  when  the 
 labourer  has  been  anxious  to  fell  the  lofty  tree, 
 he  does  not  expect  to  do  it  by  one  stroke.  He 
 first  gets  in  his  smallest  wedge,  which  makes 
 way  for  another,  and  so  he  gradually  advance?, 
 until  he  strikes  the  last  blow,  and  down  comes 
 the  noble  tree.  In  this  way  the  poor  sinner  is 
 led  by  the  Spirit  of  God, — one  conviction  fol- 
 lows another, — one  providence  follows  another, 
 — until  at  last  the  rebel  is  brought  in  willing 
 submission  before  the  Saviour's  feet,  crying, 
 "  Lord,  save,  or  I  perish." 
 
 The  Steam-boat.  —  On  returning  from  the 
 country,  where  he  had  been  preaching,  he 
 referred  with  great  beauty  to  the  steam-boat  on 
 board  of  which  he  had  travelled.  Among  other 
 things  he  remarked,  "  How  delightful  it  was  to 
 see  the  fine  vessel  dashing  through  the  waters, 
 with  the  wind  and  tide  against  her ; — but  how 
 did  she  accomplish  the  great  work  ?  Oh,  it  was 
 the  fire  within  her  that  produced  the  power ; — 
 and  how  does  a  poor  believer  swim  against  the 
 tide  of  his  corruptions,  and  stem  the  torrent  of 
 worldly  opposition  ?  Oh,  it  is  the  power  of  the 
 Spirit  within  him  which  is  constantly  supplied 
 
216  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 in    answer    to    his    fervent    and    persevering 
 prayers. 
 
 The  Leaven. — It  is  very  curious  how  the 
 leaven  in  the  bread  lightens,  and  renders  it 
 palatable  and  good ;  so,  when  the  leaven  of  the 
 Gospel  comes  into  the  heart,  if  affects  every 
 faculty  of  it,  and  the  truth  is  known  by  its 
 power,  as  felt  on  the  mind. 
 
 The  Lamb. — 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,  and  fed  it  with 
 warm  milk  from  the  cow.  Soon  the  lamb 
 revived :  first  it  feared  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  whenever  it  could  frisk 
 around  me,  but  never  so  pleased  as  when  I 
 would  carry  it  in  my  arms. 
 
 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,  read  that 
 
R£V.  ROWLAND  HILL,  217 
 
 blessed  book  the  Bible, — there  you  will  hear 
 such  things  of  the  love  of  Christ  to  poor  ruined 
 sinners,  as  I  hope  will  melt  your  eyes  to  tears, 
 and  your  hearts  into  love. 
 
 The  Blind  Man. — Ignorant  minds  may  wan- 
 der about  because  they  know  nothing  of  the 
 truth,  but  to  those  whose  minds  are  enlightened 
 from  above,  all  the  great  doctrines  will  appear 
 perfectly  clear.  I  may  take  a  man  out  on  a 
 beautiful  night,  and,  pointing  to  a  star  of  the 
 first  brilliancy  and  magnitude,  I  may  say,  "  Do 
 you  see  that  beautiful  star?"  he  may  say, 
 "No;  I  do  not."  "Why,  how  is  this?  the 
 man  is  blind, — and  so,  because  he  cannot  see 
 them,  are  they  not  there  ?" 
 
 The  Blind  Child. — I  remember  once  being 
 m  company  where  a  very  fine  child  was  pre- 
 sent ;  he  was  very  beautiful,  but  he  was  blind, 
 and  he  laughed  at  those  who  lamented  his 
 great  affliction.  Ah !  but  if  he  had  once 
 enjoyed  the  blessing  of  vision,  he  would  have 
 lamented  his  loss  too  !  Let  us  once  see  the 
 glory  and  grace  of  the  Saviour  as  displayed  in 
 the  Gospel,  and  feel  them  applied  to  our 
 hearts,  and  we  shall  never  forget  their  beauty. 
 
 The  Statuary. — While  a  minister  preaches 
 redemption  by  Christ,  unless  he  shews  also  the 
 
218  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 glorious  effects  of  this  redemption,  he  tells  you 
 of  a  casket  without  a  jewel,  or  sets  before  you 
 a  fine-wrought  picture,  which  leads  you  to 
 admire  his  ability,  though  it  gives  you  but  little 
 idea  of  life.  I  remember  once  conversing  with 
 a  celebrated  sculptor,  who  had  been  hewing  out 
 a  block  of  marble  to  represent  one  of  our  great 
 patriots,  Lord  Chatham :  "  Here,"  said  he,  "  is 
 not  that  a  fine  figure?"  "Now,  sir,"  said  I, 
 "  can  you  put  life  into  it  ?  or  else,  with  all  its 
 beauty,  it  is  still  a  block  of  marble."  Now, 
 Christ,  by  his  Spirit  puts  life  into  a  beauteous 
 image,  and  enables  the  sinner  he  creates  anew 
 to  live  to  his  praise  and  glory. 
 
 The  Fog. — We  cannot  always  enjoy  the  pre- 
 sence of  our  Saviour, — unbelief  will  hide  him 
 from  us.  Sometimes  in  the  winter  it  is  so 
 foggy,  that  if  you  were  to  stand  on  Ludgate- 
 hill,  you  could  not  see  the  Cathedral,  but  it 
 would  be  there,  though  you  could  not  discover 
 it.  So  it  is  with  our  Divine  Lord.  He  i3 
 always  with  us,  though  we  cannot  always  see 
 him, — but  when  the  dark  fog  of  unbelief  is 
 removed  by  the  bright  shining  of  the  Sun  of 
 righteousness  upon  us,  then  we  are  able  to  say, 
 "  We  all  with  open  face  beholding,  as  in  a  glass, 
 the  glory  of  the  Lord,  are  changed  into  the  same 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  219 
 
 image  from  glory  to  glory,  even  as  by  the  Spirit 
 of  the  Lord." 
 
 The  Humanity  of  Christ. — What  a  mercy  it 
 was  that  the  Lord  veiled  his  bright  glories  in 
 the  humanity  he  wore  when  he  came  into  this 
 world.  His  glory  was  seen  on  the  mount  of 
 transfiguration,  but  when  I  come  into  a  better 
 state,  I  shall  have  an  eye  capable  of  receiving 
 the  fulness  of  the  light  of  that  glory  into  my 
 mind.  Oh,  what  joy  shall  I  then  behold ;  yea, 
 believing,  I  shall  rejoice  with  a  joy  that  will  be 
 "  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory." 
 
 The  sermons  of  Mr.  Hill  abounded  with  short 
 and  beautiful  passages,  which,  though  frequently 
 unconnected  with  his  subject,  contained  much 
 important  instruction.  The  following  are  a  few 
 specimens: — 
 
 "Those  that  are  rich  furnish  their  houses  well, 
 so  that  they  may  entertain  their  guests  well. 
 Oh,  may  the  Spirit  furnish  my  heart  with  hea- 
 venly furniture,  suitable  for  the  residence  of 
 my  God." 
 
 "  The  Sabbath-day  is  the  Christian's  market- 
 day,  upon  which  the  soul  lays  in  the  provision 
 for  the  week,  and  memory  is  the  messenger  that 
 brings  them  out  for  the  refreshment  of  the  soul, 
 just  as  they  are  wanted." 
 
220  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  If  we  throw  oil  upon  water,  it  will  swim  at 
 the  top  of  it.  It  is  even  so  with  the  oil  of  grace, 
 it  is  always  uppermost, — it  will  not  sink  and  mix 
 with  the  corruptions  of  our  human  nature." 
 
 "  As  we  have  to  dig  into  the  earth  for  gems, 
 which  shew  their  lustre  when  brought  to  the 
 surface,  and  are  exposed  to  the  light;  so  it  is 
 our  duty  to  remove  the  rubbish  and  ignorance 
 of  the  mind,  that  the  gem  which  is  to  be  found 
 in  many  a  poor  child's  mind,  may  be  brought 
 forth,  to  shine  to  the  glory  of  God  and  his 
 own  happiness." 
 
 "  We  come  to  the  house  of  God,  that  we  may 
 be  taught  heavenly  conduct  in  our  earthly  call- 
 ing." 
 
 "  If  you  want  to  see  the  height  of  the  hill  of 
 God's  eternal  love,  you  must  go  down  into  the 
 valley  of  humility." 
 
 "  The  world  is  made  up  of  a  top  and  a  bot- 
 tom. It  is  froth  at  the  top,  and  mud  at  the 
 bottom ;  and  if  there  is  any  clear  water,  it  runs 
 through  the  middle  of  society." 
 
 "  What  a  mercy  it  is  to  have  some  fine  climb- 
 ing thoughts  after  God,  and  to  find  our  hearts 
 going  out  of  ourselves,  to  seek  what  we  shall 
 never  fully  discover,  '  the  unsearchable  riches 
 of  Christ/" 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  221 
 
 The  sermons  Mr.  Hill  delivered  were  very 
 like  expository  lectures.  He  invariably  gave 
 an  interesting  comment  on  the  context.  Indeed, 
 it  very  frequently  happened  that  he  had  not 
 been  able  to  reach  his  text,  when  the  time 
 admonished  him  to  conclude  his  address.  His 
 remarks,  it  has  been  seen,  often  contained  the 
 most  beautiful  gems.  He  always  recommended 
 preachers,  "  to  take  plenty  of  elbow  room." 
 On  the  subject  of  expositions,  he  remarks, 
 
 "As  it  was  certainly  the  most  primitive,  so 
 surely  it  must  be  the  most  profitable,  to  deal 
 with  the  people  directly  from  the  word  of  God. 
 The  richness  and  glory  which  rest  upon  the 
 language  of  inspiration  are  peculiar  to  itself; 
 and  I  have  always  found  that  weighty,  warm, 
 applicatory  remarks  immediately  therefrom, 
 come  with  a  peculiar  influence  to  the  heart. 
 Surely,  therefore,  nothing  less  than  a  whole 
 chapter,  or  at  least  a  considerable  portion, 
 should  be  selected  for  these  occasions.  We  are 
 never  so  assured  that  we  make  people  wise 
 unto  salvation,  as  when  we  lead  them  to  be 
 acquainted  with  the  pure  word  of  God  itself. "f 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  14. 
 
222  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  pastor  of  Surrey  Chapel  was  a  laborious 
 minister.  He  occasionally  preached  more  than 
 twenty  sermons  in  a  week  when  travelling  for 
 the  cause  of  God.  "  I  do  think,"  he  would 
 say,  "  that  once  in  my  life  I  did  earn  my  daily 
 bread.  I  was  spending  several  weeks  with  a 
 friend  in  North  Wales,  and  she  made  me 
 preach  for  every  meal,  so  that  before  breakfast, 
 dinner,  tea,  and  supper,  I  had  to  ascend  the 
 pulpit."  On  one  occasion,  being  present  with 
 a  venerable  minister  who  had  retired  from 
 active  service,  and  only  occasionally  preached, 
 he  remarked,  "  I  would  sooner  wear  out,  than 
 rust  out."  He  was  fond  of  such  remarks  as  the 
 following :  "  a  good  pulpit  perspiration  is  a 
 famous  thing  to  keep  a  man  in  good  health;'' — 
 "  if  some  ministers  were  to  be  fed  according  to 
 their  preaching,  they  would  not  look  so  plump 
 as  they  do." — uOf  all  diseases  a  man  can  die  of, 
 to  die  of  fat  and  laziness  is  the  worst." 
 
 Like  the  apostle  of  old,  he  was  in  labours 
 more  abundant,  and  even  till  within  a  short 
 period  before  his  dissolution,  after  eighty-five 
 winters  had  passed  over  his  head,  he  would 
 preach  twice  on  the  Sabbath  day,  address 
 the  members  of  his  church   on    the    Monday 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  223 
 
 evening,  and  preach  lectures  in  his  chapel  on 
 Tuesday  evening  and  Friday  mornings  ;  and 
 all  this  was  done  in  addition  to  frequent  occa- 
 sional services.  At  the  age  of  eighty-seven  he 
 left  town  to  reach  Wotton  by  a  circuitous  route. 
 He  arranged  to  preach  every  night  in  the  week 
 on  his  way  to  Leamington,  where  he  had  to 
 supply  on  the  Sabbath  day.  His  work  was  his 
 constant  delight. 
 
 There  were  seasons  when  affliction  kept  him 
 out  of  the  pulpit,  and  he  was  confined  to  his 
 room;  but  it  was  necessary  to  keep  a  kindly 
 watch  over  him,  as  there  was  danger  of  his 
 moving  off  to  chapel  as  soon  as  he  heard  the 
 distant  notes  of  the  organ.  The  evening  of  the 
 new  year  was  always  a  happy  season  with  him, 
 when  the  "general  communion  of  saints"  was 
 enjoyed  at  Surrey  Chapel.  He  was  once  con- 
 fined with  inflamed  eyes,  which  were  bound  up. 
 He  most  reluctantly  consented  to  remain  at 
 home.  Just  as  the  people  were  approaching 
 the  table  of  the  Lord,  the  venerable  man  made 
 his  appearance.  He  had  on  a  large  blue  cloak, 
 and  had  actually,  though  blindfolded,  found 
 his  way  from  the  house  into  the  chapel  alone. 
 The   excitement   produced  by  his  appearance 
 
224  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 cannot  be  described.  There  was  one  burst  of 
 affectionate  feeling,  when  the  people  saw  their 
 beloved  pastor  pressing  towards  the  communion 
 table,  while  the  officiating  ministers  were  urg- 
 ing  him  to  retire.  In  the  midst  of  this  scene 
 he  was  heard  loudly  exclaiming,  "  My  dear 
 people,  they  won't  let  me  say  one  word  to  you." 
 He  then  pronounced  a  brief  but  touching  be- 
 nediction upon  them,  and  retired  from  the 
 chapel. 
 
 On  another  occasion  he  left  London  to  advo- 
 cate the  claims  of  Christian  Missions.  He  had 
 been  much  indisposed,  and  his  Mends  thought 
 it  rather  imprudent  that  he  should  engage  in 
 such  duties.  He,  however,  promised  to  be 
 brief  in  his  sermons,  and  a  friend  who  travelled 
 with  him  kindly  undertook  to  check  him  when 
 he  found  him  forgetting  his  promised  limits. 
 At  Leeds  the  venerable  man  addressed  a  great 
 multitude  in  the  Cloth  Hall.  He  was  excited 
 by  the  scene,  and  became  inattentive  to  the 
 gentle  admonitions  which  he  received  by  a  pull 
 at  his  coat  tail.  At  length  he  told  the  people 
 what  he  had  promised,    and   how  his  brother 
 
 had   been    pulling    him    by   the    coat. 
 
 "  Never  mind,"  he  added,  "  let  us  have  another 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  ?25 
 
 pull,  a  strong  pull,  and  a  pull  altogether,  and 
 who  knows  but  what  the  devil's  throne  may  fall 
 from  some  poor  sinner's  heart." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  would  occasionally  very  frankly 
 tell  the  feelings  of  his  mind  as  to  his  labours  in 
 the  sanctuary.  He  said,  "  When  I  am  in  the 
 pulpit  I  think  no  one  preaches  so  badly ;  but 
 when  I  am  out  of  it,  listening  to  others,  then  I 
 think  no  one  preaches  so  well."  Though  he 
 would  very  often  say  that  he  wished  he  could 
 see  his  successor,  that  he  might  give  up  the 
 work,  yet  no  one  believed  that  he  would  ever 
 retire  from  it  until  he  was  called  into  another 
 world.  For  several  years  he  was  obliged  to 
 sit  while  preaching, — and  he  was  in  the  pulpit, 
 urging  his  people  to  "be  steadfast  and  unmove- 
 able,  always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the 
 Lord,"  only  nine  days  before  he  finished  his 
 earthly  course. 
 
 The  feelings  of  Mr.  Hill,  when  prevented  by 
 affliction  from  fulfilling  an  engagement,  will  be 
 seen  from  the  following  letter: — 
 
 "London,  May,  1831. 
 "  My  dear  Friend, 
 "  During  the  Missionary  week  I  grazed  my 
 shin-bone ;   the   injury,   however,   appeared   so 
 Q 
 
226  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 trifling,  that  I  did  not  not  suppose  I  should  be 
 interrupted  in  my  previous  engagements; 
 though  I  have  waited  till  the  last  moment,  yet 
 the  increased  inflammation  deprives  me  of  all 
 hopes  of  being  able  to  accomplish  my  intended 
 journey.  I  am  forbidden  by  my  surgeon  all 
 sorts  of  exercise  and  exertions ;  and  if  I  trans- 
 gress, the  result  is  immediately  against  me. 
 Under  such  circumstances,  I  need  make  no 
 apology  for  what  could  not  be  prevented. 
 I  think  I  had  rather  lab  ;ur  than  be  lazy ;  still, 
 while  it  is  my  duty  to  say  "  thy  will  be  done," 
 may  that  be  the  prayer  of  yours,  very  affec- 
 tionately, 
 
 «  R.  Hill." 
 "  London,  Friday  Evening. 
 
 "  Rev.  Thomas  Bull, 
 Newport  Pagnel." 
 
 On  the  recognition  of  the  Rev.  John  Arundel 
 as  the  pastor  of  a  Christian  church  in  the 
 Borough  of  Southwark,  Mr.  Hill  met  the  late 
 Dr.  Waugh,  and  engaged  with  him  in  the 
 service.  When  the  friends  met  together  at  the 
 close  of  the  sacred  engagements,  Mr.  Hill  and 
 Dr.  Waugh  were  placed  at  the  head  of  the 
 table,  next  the  chairman.      They  were  both  01 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  227 
 
 them  fine  dignified  men,  and  the  bright  eye  of 
 the  Scottish  preacher  sparkled  with  peculiar 
 brilliance.  The  health  of  both  was  drunk  by 
 the  company,  and  with  short  and  characteristic 
 speeches  they  acknowledged  the  kindness  of 
 their  friends.  Dr.  Waugh  threw  out  some  of 
 his  sweetest  thoughts,  (for  they  were  thoughts 
 of  Christian  love.)  "I  dinna  ken,"  said  he, 
 "  how  I  came  to  mix  with  so  many  of  you  who 
 do  not  belong  to  my  church, — but  the  more  I 
 ken  you,  the  more  I  love  you.  Indeed,  I  see 
 no  real  difference  between  Christians,  though 
 they  may  differ  in  names."  He  then  archly 
 remarked,  "You  know,  my  friends,  we  can't 
 be  all  right,  but  then  as  a  good  Presbyterian  I 
 follow  the  advice  of  the  apostle,  in  reference  to 
 you,  '  We,  then,  that  are  strong,  ought  to  bear 
 the  infirmities  of  the  weak,  and  not  to  please 
 ourselves.'"  These  remarks  were  well  received. 
 Mr.  Hill  was  called  for,  and  he  echoed  the 
 liberal  sentiments  of  his  dear  brother  Waugh. 
 In  reference  to  some  things  which  had  been 
 said  upon  his  "good  old  age,"  he  remarked, 
 "  I  dare  say  you  young  ministers  would  be  glad 
 to  live  to  be  old  men.  Now,  I  will  tell  you 
 how  to  attain  your  wishes, — preach  three  times 
 a  day,  and  seven  days  in  the  week,  and  then 
 
228  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 you'll  find  not  only  that  you  are  in  a  fine  state 
 of  health,  but  that  you  stand  a  good  chance  of 
 becoming  old  men." 
 
 The  following  letters,  addressed  to  a  minis- 
 ter, who,  for  various  reasons,  had  surrendered 
 his  charge,  will  shew  the  deep  importance 
 which  Mr.  Hill  attached  to  the  diligent  and 
 constant  fulfilment  of  the  duties  connected  with 
 the  Christian  ministry.  The  appeals  he  makes 
 to  his  respected  friend  are  very  affecting: — 
 
 "  Surrey  Chapel,  March,  1830. 
 "  My  dear  Friend, 
 "  I  have  been  under  the  necessity  of  writing 
 
 to  Mr.  ,   respecting  the  wants  of  your 
 
 people,  which  are  painfully  urgent,  by  your 
 having  altogether  given  up  that  sacred  office  to 
 which  you  were  solemnly  designated  by  the 
 imposition  of  hands.  1  fully  supposed  you 
 only  wanted  a  helpmate  in  the  work,  and  that 
 you  would  sooner  resign  your  life,  than  resign 
 an  office  which  you  never  should  have  under- 
 taken, unless  it  had  been  your  determination  to 
 die  as  a  devoted  servant  in  the  sacred  work. 
 A  truly  devoted  minister,  I  think,  would  be 
 inclined  to  say,  let  me  rather  be  shut  up  in  my 
 coffin,  than  shut  out  of  the  pulpit      Old,  very 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  229 
 
 old,  as  I  am,  yet  still  1  trust  I  find  it  not  less 
 my  privilege  than  my  duty,  to  dedicate  the 
 very  last  of  my  declining  strength  to  His  glory, 
 in  the  accomplishment  of  the  sacred  work. 
 Should  a  physician  tell  me  that  my  life  may  be 
 in  danger  if  I  continue  to  preach, — I  will 
 answer  him,  "  Neither  count  I  my  life  dear 
 unto  myself,  so  that  I  may  finish  my  course 
 with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have 
 received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the 
 Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God."  So  said  Paul, 
 so  says  poor  old  Rowland  Hill,  and  would  to 
 
 God  my  friend may  be  enabled  to  say 
 
 the  same.  Though  I  hope  I  shall  be  disap- 
 pointed, yet  I  have  my  fears,  that  as  I  may  not 
 
 see  you  at  Mr. 's,   so  a  call  upon  you 
 
 under  present  circumstances  may  prove  painful 
 to  us  both.  Oh,  what  a  mercy  to  be  truly 
 blest  with  a  dedicated  and  devoted  spirit,  while 
 it  is  most  truly  pleasant  to  meet  such  friends 
 on  every  occasion.  There  are  some  few  that 
 keep  going  forwards ;  there  are  others  who 
 stand  still ;  and  there  is  a  third  class  that  are 
 going  backwards.  How  preferable  is  death  to 
 a  state  like  theirs  !  How  happy  shall  I  be  on 
 my  journey,  to  find  that  my  friend,  through 
 some  constitutional  timidity,  has  only  made  a 
 
230  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 halt,  that  he  may  afterwards  make  a  more  firm 
 and  steady  march  in  the  sacred  warfare,  in 
 which,  as  a  minister,  he  is  most  solemnly 
 engaged.  Oh,  that  at  all  times  I  may  be 
 enabled  to  subscribe  myself  your  most  faithful 
 and  affectionate  fellow -labourer  in  the  vine- 
 yard of  the  everlasting  Gospel  of  Christ, 
 
 "  R.  Hill." 
 
 In  reply  to  a  letter  which  he  received  in 
 answer  to  the  one  just  given,  Mr.  Hill  remarks, 
 
 "  I  have  been  out  of  town  for  a  short  time, 
 and  am  but  just  returned.  I  hope  you  will 
 give  me  the  fullest  credit  that  it  was  not  my 
 intention  to  have  grieved  you  by  any  thing 
 that  has  dropped  from  my  pen.  I  could  not 
 have  expressed  myself  otherwise,  as  circum- 
 stances were  then  before  me.  When  we  were 
 favoured  with  a  visit  from  you,  it  did  not 
 appear  to  me  otherwise  than  that  you  enjoyed 
 your  accustomed  share  of  health, — nor  had  I 
 the  most  distant  idea  that  you  meant  to  relin- 
 quish that  most  solemn  office  to  which  you 
 had  been  designated  by  imposition  of  hands. 
 But  weakness  of  constitution  is  urged  as  a 
 reason   for  this  step,   and  testimonies  of  this 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  231 
 
 sort  have  been  transmitted  to  prove  the  fact. 
 Though  I  confess  I  had  no  conception  of  the 
 debilitated  state  of  my  friend's  health,  yet  it 
 must  be  left  to  himself  to  determine  how  far  he 
 is  no  longer  capable  of  attending  to  the  minis- 
 try, in  quiet  conversational  exhortations  at  the 
 Lord's  table,  as  well  as  in  convivial  conversation 
 at  our  own  tables ;  or  whether  a  few  pastoral  or 
 occasional  visits  to  the  sick  would  have  been  above 
 the  strength  even  of  a  debilitated  constitution, 
 more  than  what  is  called  for  in  his  general 
 occupations  through  life.  Here  a  proof  would 
 have  been  left,  that  if  more  could  be  done,  more 
 would  be  done,  as  soon  as  health  might  in 
 some  measure  be  restored.  I  shall  wait  with 
 patience  for  the  present,  and  continue  the 
 pleasing  hope  that  I  shall  at  all  times  subscribe 
 myself, 
 
 "  Yours  most  sincerely  and  affectionately, 
 
 "  R.  Hill." 
 
 The  following  letter  was  also  addressed  to 
 the  same  minister: — 
 
 "  My  dear  Friend, 
 "  As  you  laboured  so  kindly  and  freely,  it 
 was  quite  proper  that  you  should  seek  for  an 
 
232  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 assistant,  and  that  the  people  should  liberally 
 provide  you  one  of  the  same  mind  and  spirit 
 with  yourself,  while  I  could  not  then  for  a 
 moment  admit  the  vague  report  that  you  had, 
 or  ever  could,  out  of  love  to  the  people,  resign 
 your  charge  altogether.  But  you  tell  me  of 
 your  constitutional  weakness,  —  granted:  that 
 some  there  are  of  robust  and  athletic  consti- 
 tutions, in  appearance,  but  are  not  so  in  reality; 
 but  surely  you  are  not  so  diseased  and  debili- 
 tated, at  least  it  appeared  so  to  us,  that  suffi- 
 cient strength  was  not  left  you,  so  as  to  enable 
 you  occasionally  to  drop  a  short  word  of  exhor- 
 tation from  the  pulpit,  or  among  the  Lord's 
 more  immediate  people,  at  the  solemn  time  of 
 your  communion :  nor  could  a  short  but  solemn 
 word  of  prayer  have  been  more  injurious  to 
 you  in  the  house  of  God,  than  in  your  own 
 dwelling, — nor  would  it  have  been  a  greater 
 exertion  to  have  entered  into  occasional  con- 
 versation with  your  communicants  ;  and  as  you 
 are  by  no  means  advanced  in  age,  you  are  not 
 to  conclude  that  your  present  weakness  is  to 
 last  for  life.  If  even  much  caution  might  have 
 been  found  necessary,  yet  surely  a  relinquish- 
 ment of  your  office  altogether  is  quite  another 
 story.     If  all  the  physicians  in  the  world  were 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  233 
 
 to  tell  me  I  must  renounce  my  ministry  on 
 account  of  my  increasing  debility,  and  that 
 such  debility  would  increase  till  a  speedy 
 death  would  be  the  result,  I  would  keep  my  fee 
 in  my  pocket,  and  labour  till  I  died.  Believe 
 me  to  be, 
 
 "  Yours  very  sincerely, 
 
 "  R.  Hill." 
 
 These  letters  will  remind  the  reader  of  the 
 remarks  of  the  excellent  Whitefield,  the  beloved 
 friend  of  Mr.  Hill,  "  I  am  now  brought  to  the 
 short  allowance  of  preaching  but  once  a  day, 
 and  thrice  on  Sunday.  One  physician  pre- 
 scribes a  perpetual  blister,  but  I  have  found 
 perpetual  preaching  to  be  a  better  remedy, — 
 when  this  great  catholicon  fails,  it  is  over 
 with  me." 
 
 Not  many  ministers  have  had  the  privilege  cf 
 preaching  a  greater  number  of  sermons  than 
 Mr.  Hill.  He  kept  an  account  of  them,  from 
 which  it  appears  that  up  to  June  10,  1831,  he 
 had  preached  22,291  times.  It  may,  therefore, 
 be  fairly  concluded,  that  up  to  the  close  of  his 
 long  ministry,  of  66  years,  he  had  preached  at 
 least  twenty-three  thousand  sermons,  being 
 an  average  of  nearly  three  hundred  and  fifty 
 
234  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 every  year.*  Many  of  these  discourses  were 
 delivered  in  streets  and  fields.  In  reference  to 
 these  services  Mr.  Hill  has  said,  that  as  far  as 
 he  had  ascertained,  more  souls  were  converted 
 under  those  sermons,  than  under  any  others 
 that  he  preached. 
 
 Having  thus  shown  the  great  devotedness 
 of  Mr  Hill  to  his  much-loved  work,  his  faith- 
 fulness and  success  will  be  shewn  in  a  future 
 chapter. 
 
 *  It  has  been  thought  by  many  friends  that  this 
 calculation  is  far  below  the  actual  number  of  sermons 
 preached  by  this  laborious  minister.  Whitefield,  in 
 34  years,  preached  18,000  sermons;  and  Wesley,  who 
 preached  nearly  double  that  peiiod,  delivered  40,560 
 sermons. 
 
 t  ^ee  oafi;e  148. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  235 
 
 CHAP.  VI. 
 
 MR.  HILL  S  FIDELITY  AND  SUCCESS  AS  A  MINISTER. 
 
 The  faithful  preacher — want  op  success  depressed  mr.  hill 
 —  his  doctrinal  views — the  trinity — anecdote  of  a  s0c1nian 
 — the  sovereignty  op  god,  and  man's  agency — on  preaching 
 to  the  elect — extent  of  the  atonement — the  law  a  rule  op 
 life — justification  and  sanctification — antinomian  errors 
 — the  divine  attributes — personal  holiness — bad  tempers — 
 the  kentish  female— the  minister  reproved— the  broken 
 plate — the  bankrupt — the  doubting  lady — the  confident 
 antinomian — relative  duties — mr.  jones  op  st.  saviour's — 
 mr.  hill's  great  love  of  the  bible — reference  to  several 
 texts  of  scripture — remark  on  the  types — on  the  graces  op 
 repentance — beautiful  remark  on  repentance — mr.  hill'8 
 great  success — visit  to  an  aged  clergyman — the  youthful 
 convert,  afterwards  a  preacher — the  disciple  op  paine, 
 and  a  new  plan  op  reform — great  success  at  portsea — the 
 itinerant  society,  and  mr.  densham — the  two  brothers  in 
 london — facts  mentioned  by  rev.  mr.  wu.ks,  and  rev.  john 
 newton — sermon  to  sailors — the  rambling  sinner — the  tale 
 of  the  pigs,  and  its  effects — dean  milner's  remark— tbs 
 two  brothers  at  devonport — collections  at  surrey  chapel 
 — imperfections  in  mr.  hill  as  a  preacher,  and  his  deep 
 regret  when  he  trifled  in  the  pulpit — remarks  on  differ- 
 ent kinds  of  preachers — dr.  chalmers,  hall,  mason,  jay — 
 three  original  letters  on  ministerial  character,  and  pro- 
 per qualifications— anecdotes  of  mr.  hill  as  a  preacher — 
 beautiful  simile — the  sprat — on  funeral  sermons — the 
 poor  christian's  remarks  on  affliction  —  prophecy  —  the 
 prophetical  female — on  the  personal  reign  op  christ — the 
 gift  of  tongues — pastoral  visits  and  engagements — anony- 
 mous letters — the  blind  poet — disinterested  labours. 
 
 A  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  is  responsible  only 
 for  the  right  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  holy 
 
236  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 office ;  for  the  promise  is  not  made  to  the  suc- 
 cessful preacher,  but  to  him  who  has  fully  made 
 known  the  whole  counsel  of  God.  "  Be  thou 
 faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a 
 crown  of  life."  There  are  many  devoted  men, 
 who  have  frequently  exclaimed  with  the  pro- 
 phet, "I  have  laboured  in  vain,  I  have  spent 
 my  strength  for  nought."  Let  not  the  faithful 
 labourer  despond,  since  the  inspired  and  evan- 
 gelical prophet  sometimes  "walked  in  dark- 
 ness, and  had  no  light."  It  is  an  encouraging 
 thought  to  know  that  "our  judgment  is  with 
 the  Lord,  and  our  work  with  our  God." 
 Success  cheers  us  in  the  path  of  duty,  but 
 "  though  Israel  be  not  gathered,  yet  shall  the 
 faithful  preacher  be  glorious  in  the  eyes  of  the 
 Lord,  and  his  God  shall  be  his  strength." 
 
 The  want  of  success,  however,  greatly  de- 
 presses the  mind,  and  Mr.  Hill  felt  this.  He 
 considered  it  was  the  duty  of  a  minister  to 
 ascertain  the  cause  for  the  withholding  of  Di- 
 vine influence.  He  would  often  express  him- 
 self in  the  pulpit,  in  the  spirit  of  the  following 
 remarks,  which  he  wrote  at  a  time  when  there 
 were  but  few  additions  to  the  church  at  Wot- 
 ton-under-edge.  "The  congregation  is  as  large 
 as  in  the  best  of  our  days;    notwithstanding, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  237 
 
 I  fear  but  little  real  work  has  of  late  been 
 done.  From  whence,  my  God,  is  this  sus- 
 pension? 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  see,  and  do  not 
 perceive ;  and  by  hearing  hear,  and  do  not 
 understand." 
 
 Such  was  the  constant  fidelity  of  Mr.  Hill  to 
 the  souls  committed  to  his  care,  that  his  dying 
 language  to  his  congregation  might  have  been, 
 "  I  take  you  to  record  this  day,  that  I  am  pure 
 from  the  blood  of  all  men."  In  the  course  of 
 his  public  and  pastoral  ministrations  he  would 
 touch  upon  all  the  truths  of  God,  but  there 
 were  some  subjects  that  he  did  not  frequently 
 introduce  into  his  sermons.  He  believed  in  the 
 doctrine  of  the  holy  and  blessed  Trinity  in  Unity, 
 and  on  "Trinity  Sunday"  he  always  declared, 
 in  scriptural  terms,  his  views  on  that  deeply 
 mysterious  subject.  The  collect  of  the 
 church  expressed  his  creed  upon  the  point, 
 where  it  is  said  "  that  God  has  given  unto  his 
 servants  grace,  by  the  confession  of  a  true 
 faith,  to  acknowledge  the  glory  of  the  eternal 
 Trinity,  and  in  the  power  of  the  divine  majesty 
 to  worship  the  Unity."      It  was  generally  on 
 
238  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 this  occasion  that  he  indulged  in  many  severe 
 but  well-sustained  remarks  on  the  efforts  of  the 
 Unitarians  to  darken  this  part  of  the  counsel  of 
 God,  by  false  translations  of  the  sacred  text. 
 He  enforced  the  truth  by  trite  and  simple  illus- 
 trations. He  shewed,  by  analogy  of  reasoning, 
 how  impossible  it  is  for  man's  poor  and  de- 
 praved reason  fully  to  comprehend  his  own 
 nature,  and  would,  with  peculiar  feeling  quote 
 the  well-known  lines, 
 
 "  Where  reason  fails  with  all  her  powers, 
 There  faith  prevails,  and  love  adores." 
 
 There  was  also  a  little  anecdote  he  some- 
 times introduced. — "A  Socinian  once  wrote  on 
 the  fly-leaf  of  a  Bible  belonging  to  a  young 
 person,  c  Can  you  find  me  the  word  Trinity  in 
 the  Holy  Scriptures?'  Now,  we  know,"  re- 
 marked the  preacher,  "  the  word  is  not  to  be 
 found, — but  the  doctrine  signified  by  the  term 
 we  employ  is  most  abundantly  and  gloriously 
 revealed." 
 
 The  Divine  sovereignty  was  fully  admitted  by 
 Mr.  Hill,  but  he  held  the  doctrine  in  strict  con- 
 nexion with  the  personal  responsibility  of  man. 
 He  believed  both  these  truths,  not  because  he 
 could   reconcile    them,    but  because  he  found 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  239 
 
 them  in  his  Bible.  He  constantly  and  fully 
 proclaimed  the  universal  depravity  of  man,  and 
 no  one  more  completely  humbled  the  sinner 
 than  he  did.  He  not  only  "  leaned  towards  the 
 tenets  of  Calvin,"*  but  he  was  a  Calvinist. 
 He  believed  the  doctrine  of  election,  but 
 rejected  altogether  the  notion,  that  the  election 
 of  some  to  eternal  life  necessarily  implied  the 
 reprobation  of  others.  "A  king  may  spare 
 twenty  guilty  condemned  criminals  out  of  forty; 
 this  election  of  the  twenty  does  not  make  the 
 others  criminals, — they  were  so  before.  The 
 king  only  left  them  where  he  found  them  :  so  it 
 is  with  the  sinner."  Election  to  eternal  life  he 
 held  to  be  true,  but  not  so  as  to  prevent  the 
 most  enlarged  invitations  to  sinners  to  repent, 
 and  believe  the  Gospel.  In  connexion  with 
 these  truths  he  believed  in  the  effectual  calling 
 of  the  saints,  and  their  final  perseverance  to 
 eternal  life.  On  the  latter  point  his  sentiments 
 were  in  strict  harmony  with  the  text,  "  He  that 
 endureth  to  the  end — the  same  shall  be  saved." 
 He  frequently  repeated  the  remark,  "I  can  only 
 prove  my  perseverance  by  my  persevering" 
 
 *  See  his  Life,  by  Sidney,  p.  412;  and  Village  Dia- 
 logues, vol.  iii.  p.  141  and  269. 
 
240  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Often  was  he  severely  blamed  by  the  high 
 doctrinalists,  because  he  did  not  preach  to  the 
 elect  only.  "  I  don't  know  them,"  he  would 
 say,  "or  I  would  preach  to  them.  Have  the 
 goodness  to  mark  them  with  a  bit  of  chalk,  and 
 then  I'll  talk  to  them.  If  it  is  not  right  to 
 preach  to  sinners,  to  whom  am  I  to  preach? — 
 for  all  have  sinned,  and  come  short  of  the  glory 
 of  God." 
 
 He  was  a  most  strenuous  supporter  of  the 
 law,  as  a  rule  of  life,  and  always  enforced  it  in 
 opposition  to  the  Antinomian  view  of  the 
 subject.  "  I  follow  the  law,"  said  he,  "from 
 the  life  within  me,  not  for  life, — and,  blessed  be 
 God,  which  of  the  Divine  commands  do  I  wish 
 to  be  without? — Do  I  wish  for  any  other  God 
 than  He  who  is  reconciled  to  me  in  Christ 
 Jesus?  Can  I  desire  to  fall  down  before  any 
 other  footstool  than  his  ?  Can  I  love  the  Sab- 
 bath too  much?  Can  I  honour  my  beloved 
 parents  too  much?  Can  I  object  to  abstain 
 from  those  things  which  my  heavenly  Father 
 knows  will  injure  me  V 
 
 On  one  occasion,  after  speaking  about  the 
 Divine  law,  he  suddenly  burst  forth  into  prayer, 
 and  exclaimed,  "  Blessed  Lord,  I  do  not  wish 
 thee  to  bring   thy  holy  law  down  to  the  low 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  241 
 
 standard  of  my  imperfections,  but  to  raise  my 
 poor  mind  to  the  high  standard  of  thy  law." 
 
 In  conversation  with  a  friend,  he  was  speak- 
 ing upon  the  extent  of  the  atonement.  "I  don't 
 think,"  he  said,  "  that  Dr.  Williams  has  cleared 
 away  the  difficulties  on  this  subject.  Those 
 who  hold  the  limited  scheme  say,  <  Only  those 
 who  are  elected  to  eternal  life  can  come  to 
 Christ.'  On  the  other  hand,  the  Calvinist  who 
 agrees  with  Dr.  Williams  admits,  *  that  only 
 the  elect  will  come.'  However,  I  love  to  look 
 at  the  atonement  as  a  glorious  plan,  which 
 enables  the  Father,  consistently  with  all  his 
 glorious  attributes,  'to  be  just,  and  yet  the 
 justifier  of  him  that  believeth  in  Jesus.' 
 The  Saviour  said,  c  All  that  the  Father  giveth 
 me  shall  come  to  me ;  and  him  that  cometh  to 
 me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.'" 
 
 In  his  sermons  he  always  drew  a  clear  dis- 
 tinction between  the  purposes  of  God,  and  their 
 accomplishment  in  the  complete  justification, 
 sanctification,  and  glorification  of  a  believer. 
 The  purpose  was  in  eternity,  but  the  act  in 
 time.  He,  therefore,  strongly  objected  to 
 the  terms,  "eternal  justification,  and  eternal 
 sanctification."  When  conversing  on  these 
 points  during  the  dinner  hour,  on  helping  a 
 
242  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 friend,  he  remarked,  "There,  now,  you  have 
 been  eating  that  mutton  from  all  eternity." 
 At  that  moment  there  was  a  knock  at  the 
 dining-room  door.  "  Dear  me,  that  knocking 
 has  been  from  all  eternity.  Just  as  foolish," 
 he  added,  "  is  it  to  talk  about  eternal  justifi- 
 cation, and  eternal  sanctification."  At  the  same 
 time  Mr.  Hill  always  admitted  that  these  doc- 
 trines, though  distinct  in  themselves,  were  inse- 
 parably connected  in  the  believer.  We  cannot 
 be  justified  without  being  sanctified.  He  was 
 once  preaching  on  this  subject,  when  he  thus 
 concluded  his  remarks,  "A  person  once  asked  a 
 dear  little  child  this  improper  question,  i  Who  do 
 you  love  best,  your  father  or  your  mother?'  The 
 child  paused  for  a  moment,  and  then  exclaimed, 
 'I  love  them  both  best.  Now,  if  you  ask  me 
 which  I  love  best,  justification  or  sanctification, 
 I  will  answer  with  the  little  child,  and  never 
 mind  the  bad  grammar,  'I  love  them  both 
 best.'" 
 
 In  order  to  shew  the  difference  between  the 
 power  and  the  disposition,  or  will  of  a  Christian, 
 to  do  that  which  is  evil,  he  would  thus  combat 
 the  errors  of  Antinomianism.  "  Some  professors 
 justify  their  sins  by  referring  to  the  text,  '  It  is 
 not  I,  but  sin  that  dwelleth  in  me.'     Now,  it  is 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  243 
 
 true,  I  have  power  to  put  my  hand  into  the 
 fire  and  burn  it,  but  I  have  not  the  will  to  do  it. 
 I  have  power  to  get  drunk,  but  I  have  not  the 
 will  to  do  it.  So  it  is  with  the  new-born  soul. 
 He  has  power  to  sin,  but  his  renewed  will  can- 
 not consent  to  it.  It  is  contrary  to  the  lovely 
 nature  implanted  in  him  by  the  power  of  the 
 Holy  Spirit." 
 
 He  also  remarked  in  one  of  his  last  sermons, 
 "  The  disciples  had  no  will  to  go  from  Christ, 
 for  He  had  previously  given  them  a  better  will 
 to  come  to  him.  A  man  cannot  have  a  will  to 
 come  to  him,  and  to  go  from  him  at  the  same 
 time.  I  cannot  have  a  will  to  do  two  contrary 
 things  in  the  same  way.  If  I  have  a  will  to 
 come  to  Christ,  I  have  a  will  to  fly  from  myself 
 and  all  my  corruptions." 
 
 The  great  and  constant  themes  of  Mr.  Hill's 
 successful  ministry  were  in  strict  agreement 
 with  his  own  remark,  "A  preacher  has  but 
 three  subjects — ruin,  redemption,  and  regene- 
 ration. These  are  the  doctrines  which  humble 
 the  sinner,  exalt  the  Saviour,  and  promote 
 holiness."* 
 
 He  freely  invited  the  sinner  to  seek  for  the 
 blessings  of  salvation,  and  dwelt  much  on  the 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  ]  78. 
 
244  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 ability  and  willingness  of  the  Saviour  to  receive 
 all  who  came  to  him  by  faith.  On  this  point 
 he  once  observed, 
 
 "  Though,  in  the  humanity  merely,  the 
 Redeemer  could  not  save  us,  yet  the  Divinity 
 being  in  the  humanity,  there  is  infinite  dignity 
 and  power  to  redeem ;  therefore  hereby  he  was 
 '  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost.'  This  is  a 
 fine  expression,  (  save  to  the  uttermost !' 
 Who  can  tell  how  far  God's  uttermost  will  go  !" 
 
 The  attributes  of  God,  particularly  his  love, 
 mercy,  justice,  and  holiness,  afforded  him  lofty 
 themes,  on  which  he  loved  to  dwell. 
 
 In  his  last  sermon  he  remarks,  "  It  is  impos- 
 sible for  us  to  comprehend  the  infinity  of  God  ; 
 that  which  belongs  to  his  superior  mind  is  infi- 
 nitely beyond  the  comprehension  of  our  pigmy 
 powers.  I  might  as  well  go  down  to  the  sea- 
 side and  attempt  to  carry  away  the  waters  of 
 that  mighty  reservoir  in  a  little  shell,  as  to 
 attempt  to  understand  a  millionth  part  of  the 
 infinity  of  God." 
 
 Some  of  Mr.  Hill's  happiest  remarks  were  in 
 reference  to  the  harmony  of  all  the  Divine 
 attributes,  in  the  justification  of  the  condemned 
 sinner,  through  the  atonement.  On  the  cross 
 he  saw  the  Godhead  in  all  his  glory.      The 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  245 
 
 lines  of  one  of  his  hymns,  altered  from  Watts, 
 expressed  his  feelings  on  this  subject, 
 
 Oh !  when  we  view  thy  great  design, 
 To  save  rebellious  worms  ; 
 Where  vengeance  and  compassion  shine 
 In  their  divinest  forms  : 
 
 Our  thoughts  are  lost  in  awful  awe ; 
 
 We  love,  and  we  adore, 
 The  first  archangel  never  saw 
 
 So  much  of  God  before. 
 
 Here  the  whole  Deity  is  known, 
 
 Nor  dares  a  creature  guess 
 Which  of  the  glories  brightest  shone, 
 
 The  justice,  or  the  grace. 
 
 The  doctrines  were  preached  in  their  prac- 
 tical tendency,  and  it  has  been  well  observed 
 that,  for  many  years  it  mattered  not  what  text 
 was  selected, — the  sermon  was  sure  to  be  a 
 comment  on  that  scripture,  "  Without  holi- 
 ness no  man  shall  see  the  Lord."  This  subject 
 was  continually  pressed  upon  his  people.  We 
 detest  such  Calvinism,"  he  remarks,  "  as  would 
 teach  us  to  live  in  sin, — and  we  know  of  no 
 predestination,  but  such  as  absolutely  decrees, 
 
246  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 in  the  use  of  the  means,  the  destruction  of  sin, 
 and  holiness  of  heart  and  life."* 
 
 The  following  remark,  by  Mr.  Hill,  gives  a 
 summary  of  his  views  of  Divine  truth, — 
 
 "True  religion  is  doctrinal,  experimental, 
 and  practical.  If  we  possessed  only  doctrinal 
 religion,  it  would  lead  to  antinomianism;  if  only 
 experimental,  to  enthusiasm ;  if  only  practical, 
 to  pharisaism :  therefore,  if  we  would  be  par- 
 takers of  the  religion  of  Jesus,  all  three  must 
 be  united,  we  must  not  attempt  to  separate 
 them."t 
 
 The  great  importance  of  Christians  bringing 
 their  tempers  into  constant  subjection  to  the  law 
 of  love,  was  a  point  he  very  frequently  introduced 
 into  his  sermons, — 
 
 "The  beasts,"  he  remarked,  "are  often 
 much  better  tempered  creatures  than  we  are, 
 with  each  other.  There  is  much  more  of  the 
 devil  in  a  man  than  in  a  horse,  or,  than  there  is 
 in  a  hog ;  you  may  tame  many  of  these  crea- 
 tures, but  you  cannot  always  succeed  in  mak- 
 ing a  man  a  tractable  being." 
 
 On  one  occasion  he  recommended  his  friends 
 
 *  Answer  to  Wesley,  p.  25. 
 
 t  See  his  delaration  of  faith,  Chapter  XL 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  247 
 
 who  had  troublesome  tempers,  to  put  the  13th 
 chapter  of  the  1st  of  Corinthians  between  their 
 bread  and  butter,  at  breakfast-time, — and  they 
 would  find  the  advantage  of  it  during  the  whole 
 day.  When  the  Religious  Tract  Society  pub- 
 lished "The  Important  Discovery;  or,  Temper 
 is  Every  Thing,"  he  mentioned  from  the  pulpit 
 that  he  had  bought  a  good  supply  of  these  tracts, 
 and  that  as  he  understood  some  of  his  hearers 
 were  troubled  in  their  tempers,  he  should  be 
 happy  to  present  them  with  a  copy,  if  they 
 would  call  on  him  at  the  Chapel  House.  Not- 
 withstanding this  kind  offer,  no  applications 
 were  made  for  the  little  book  ! 
 
 He  was  fond  of  mentioning  the  case  of  a 
 female  in  Kent,  who  was  led  to  the  Saviour 
 through  his  ministry.  Before  her  conversion 
 she  had  an  ungovernable  temper,  which  made 
 her  household  miserable.  But  when  the  kind- 
 ness and  love  of  God  were  manifested  to  her 
 soul,  she  watched  and  prayed  against  her  easily 
 besetting  sin.  At  times,  when  she  found  it 
 rising,  she  would  quietly  turn  to  one  corner  of 
 the  room,  and  there,  for  a  moment,  present  the 
 secret  prayer,  and  drop  the  holy  penitential 
 tear,  and  return  to  her  family  with  a  counte- 
 nance sweet  as  that  of  an  angel.     He  added, 
 
248  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  Her  unbelieving  husband  would  say,  '  I  don't 
 know  much  about  religion  myself, — but  this  I 
 know,  that  it  has  done  my  wife  a  vast  deal  of 
 good.'"  On  this,  and  other  subjects,  how  fre- 
 quently would  he  exclaim,  "Oh,  the  delicacy, 
 the  beautiful  delicacy  of  the  Gospel;  it  com- 
 mands me  not  only  to  abstain  from  evil,  but 
 from  its  very  appearance!" 
 
 Mr.  Hill  hearing  a  whisper  that  a  minis- 
 ter behaved  with  unkindness  towards  his  wife, 
 although  he  talked  vastly  well  in  the  pulpit, 
 determined  to  make  a  morning  call  on  him, 
 and  took  a  young  unmarried  minister  with  him 
 in  his  carriage.  Arrived  at  the  minister's  door, 
 he  apologized  for  not  alighting,  on  account  of 
 increasing  feebleness.  The  minister  and  his 
 lady  soon  made  their  appearance.  To  the 
 latter  the  venerable  man  paid  the  most  respect- 
 ful attention,  but  there  was  a  dignified  reserve 
 towards  the  husband.  He  addressed  his  conver- 
 sation to  the  lady,  and  mentioned  to  his  young 
 companion,  how  he  ought  to  conduct  himself  to 
 his  wife,  should  he  ever  be  blessed  with  such  a 
 helpmate.  His  remarks  were  delivered  in  a 
 soft,  subdued  tone;  but  they  produced  the 
 desired  effect  upon  the  silent  husband.  When 
 the  carriage  moved  away,  the  old  gentleman, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  249 
 
 rubbing  his  chin,  with  a  sarcastic  look,  inti- 
 mated how  effectually  he  had  lectured  the  bad- 
 tempered  husband. 
 
 When  enforcing  the  importance  of  constant 
 watchfulness  over  our  spirits,  he  related  the 
 following  fact, — 
 
 "  I  once  took  tea  with  a  lady,  who  was  very 
 particular  about  her  china.  The  servant, 
 unfortunately,  broke  the  best  bread-and-butter 
 plate ;  but  her  mistress  took  very  little  notice 
 of  the  circumstance  at  the  time,  only  remark- 
 ing, '  Never  mind,  Mary,  never  mind,  accidents 
 cannot  be  prevented/  ■  I  shall  have  it  by  and 
 by,'  said  the  servant,  when  she  got  out  of  the 
 room ;  and  so  it  turned  out.  '  The  good 
 woman's  temper,'  said  Mr.  Hill,  'was  corked 
 up  for  a  season,  but  it  came  out  with  terrible 
 vengeance  when  the  company  retired.'" 
 
 It  has  been  stated  that  many  years  since 
 Mr.  Hill  was  preaching  for  a  public  charity, 
 when  a  note  was  handed  to  him  in  the  pulpit, 
 inquiring,  "  If  it  would  be  right  for  a  bankrupt 
 to  contribute  to  the  collection?"  He  referred  to 
 the  inquiry,  and  answered  it  firmly  in  the  nega- 
 tive. He  then  added,  "  But,  my  friends,  I 
 would  advise  you  who  are  not  insolvent,  not  to 
 
250 
 
 MEMOIR  OF 
 
 pass  the  plate  this  evening,  as  the  people  will 
 be  sure  to  say,  'There  goes  the  bankrupt!'" 
 
 He  was  once  preaching  for  the  Missionary 
 Society,  in  Somersetshire,  when  a  learned 
 Doctor  was  present,  who  had  compounded  with 
 his  creditors.  Mr.  Hill  pleaded  hard  for  the 
 cause,  but  added,  "Mind,  I  don't  want  you 
 that  have  not  paid  twenty  shillings  in  the 
 pound  to  give,  you  had  better  go  and  pay  your 
 creditors  first." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  occasionally  referred  to  the  follow- 
 ing reproof  which  he  gave  to  an  unholy  member 
 of  a  Christian  church, — 
 
 "  A  lady  who  professed  the  religion  of  the 
 Saviour,  but  whose  daily  practice  was  not  in 
 harmony  with  it,  once  said  to  him,  c  Oh  !  I  am 
 afraid  lest  after  all  I  should  not  be  saved.' 
 "  I'm  glad  to  hear  you  say  so,"  replied  Mr.  Hill, 
 "for  I  have  long  been  afraid  for  you,  I  assure 
 you."     The  lady  instantly  retired. 
 
 The  following  incident  was  mentioned  from 
 the  pulpit, — "I  once  met  with  an  antinomian 
 professor,  in  Gloucestershire,  who  told  me, 
 that  he  should  never  doubt  any  more.  I  said 
 to  him,  If  you  have  done  doubting  for  your- 
 self, give  me  leave  to  doubt  for  you.     We  do 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  251 
 
 not  doubt  for  those  who  want  more  grace,  and 
 are  anxious  to  get  nearer  to  God;  but  we 
 doubt  for  those  who  live  regardless  of  the  pre- 
 cepts of  the  Bible." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  frequently  urged  upon  his  people, 
 to  "  owe  no  man  anything."  He  would  say, 
 "I  never  pay  my  debts;  and  for  the  best  of  all 
 reasons,  because  I  never  have  any  debts  to 
 pay."  In  speaking  to  tradesmen,  he  would  say, 
 "  You  are  sometimes  more  in  the  path  of  duty 
 in  looking  into  your  ledgers,  than  into  your 
 Bibles ;  all  things  should  be  done  decently,  and 
 in  order." 
 
 The  right  discharge  of  relative  duties  was  a 
 subject  on  which  Mr.  Hill  sometimes  dwelt. 
 He  would  most  affectionately  press  upon  his 
 people  the  great  importance  of  a  holy  example 
 before  children.  On  one  occasion,  when  refer- 
 ring to  the  bad  conduct  of  the  children  of  some 
 professors,  he  said,  "Through  a  long  life  I 
 have  invariably  noticed,  that  when  such  chil- 
 dren turn  out  improperly,  you  may  trace  a 
 defect  in  the  religious  character  of  one,  or  both, 
 of  the  parents.  If  the  father  is  a  godly  man, 
 the  wife  may  have  much  of  the  world  about 
 her ;  or,  when  the  mother  is  wholly  devoted  to 
 God,  the  children  may  see  a  want  of  co-operation 
 
252  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 in  the  father  in  advancing  the  mother's  plans." 
 The  more  this  remark  is  examined,  the  more  it 
 will  be  found  to  be  correct.  How  important, 
 then,  is  it  for  Christian  parents  to  walk  toge- 
 ther "  as  becometh  saints."  "  We  should  chas- 
 tise our  children,"  he  observes,  "  as  the  Lord 
 corrects  his,  never  in  wrath,  but  always  in 
 mercy.  Every  stripe  given  by  an  angry  hand, 
 from  a  revengeful  heart,  only  increases  the 
 evil  for  which  the  child  is  so  unwisely  and 
 unworthily  corrected."  *  u  To  oppose  the 
 volatile  disposition,  is  to  oppose  nature  itself; 
 it  rather  needs  regulation  than  reproof:  we 
 should,  therefore,  first  please,  that  we  may 
 afterwards  profit.  Though  a  child  should  be 
 allowed  to  be  innocently  gay,  yet  all  these  little 
 gaieties  may  need  a  mild  control.  Parents 
 must  first  be  beloved,  before  they  can  be 
 obeyed,  unless  by  terror,  which  only  excites 
 the  obedience  of  vile  servility,  and  which  con- 
 sequently creates  detestation  ;  when  from  the 
 fear  of  these  things  the  mind  is  emancipated, 
 the  worst  of  consequences  must  ensue  from 
 such  an  ill-judged  education.' 'f 
 
 *  Village  Dialogues  IX. 
 
 t  Token  of  Love  for  Children. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  253 
 
 All  his  faithful  instructions  were  delivered 
 with  great  affection.  His  appeals  were  often 
 accompanied  with  tears.  He  always  loved  to 
 hear  a  minister  in  earnest  about  the  soul,  and 
 divine  things,  without  which  he  felt  assured 
 that  he  would  not  do  much  good.  "  Every  real 
 Christian  minister,"  he  remarks,  "  should  spend 
 till  he  be  spent  in  the  sacred  work.  How  do 
 lawyers  plead  at  the  bar  ?  and  how  do  players 
 act  their  part  ?  The  lawyer  pleads  the  cause, 
 which  is  merely  temporary,  and  the  player  sets 
 off  the  cause  that  is  entirely  imaginary.  Are 
 the  ministers  of  God,  therefore,  who  are 
 engaged  about  matters  that  are  eternal,  to 
 give  us  nothing  but  a  little  unmeaning,  hea- 
 thenish morality  by  way  of  a  sermon?" 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  not  only  faithful,  but  beauti- 
 fully scriptural  in  all  his  ministrations.  His 
 mind  was  well  stored  with  the  language  of  the 
 Bible,  though  he  was  not  always  literally  cor- 
 rect in  his  quotations  of  the  sacred  text.  The 
 holy  volume  was  an  exceedingly  precious  book 
 to  him,  and  to  its  arbitration  all  matters  were 
 referred ;  the  law  and  the  testimony  terminated 
 all  strife,  in  his  mind. 
 
 "There  are  some  texts  of  Scripture,"  he 
 observed,    "  that    seem    to  contain    the   whole 
 
254  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Bible  in  a  few  words.  "Where  is  the  beginning, 
 and  where  is  the  end  of  that  text,  c  Christ  is  all 
 in  all?'  It  contains  all  the  Bible  in  one  sen- 
 tence. Christ  is  '  the  one  thing  needful  f  here 
 again  is  the  Bible  in  a  few  words.  '  Jesus 
 Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever,' 
 is  another  beautiful  text  of  the  same  kind." 
 
 The  excellent  man  had  a  manner  peculiarly 
 his  own,  when  he  quoted  his  favourite  passages, 
 which  it  is  difficult  to  describe.  It  was  the  evi- 
 dent sincerity  of  his  soul,  in  the  expressions  he 
 made  use  of,  that  impressed  his  remarks  on  the 
 minds  of  his  hearers.  "  I  once  preached,"  he 
 remarked,  "  from  that  fine  prayer  of  the  apostle 
 Paul,  Eph.  iii.  16  — 19.  Mark  that  prayer: 
 6  Who  can  tell  the  worth  of  a  Bible,  if  it  were 
 only  for  the  sake  of  those  four  verses  !  Who 
 can  describe  the  blessedness  of  the  man  who 
 feels  and  enjoys  its  sacred  contents.' "* 
 
 When  pointing  out  to  Christians  the  glory  of 
 their  final  victory,  he  would  exclaim,  "  Oh  that 
 fine  hyperbole  of  St.  Paul's,  'We  are  more 
 than  conquerors  through  him  that  loved  us.' 
 More  than  conquerors,  beloved,  why,  what  can 
 that  mean  ?     Nelson  was  a  conqueror,  Welling- 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  49, 
 
REV-  ROWLAND  HILL.  255 
 
 ton  was  a  conqueror, — but  they  were  not  more 
 than  conquerors  ;  and  yet  the  apostle  tells  us 
 that  the  poor  believer  is  more  than  a  conqueror, 
 through  Him  that  loved  him." 
 
 11  The  apostle,"  said  he,  "  was  very  bold  in 
 his  language  on  one  occasion :  '  I  can  do  all 
 things.'  Is  this  correct?  'I  can  do  all 
 things  ?'  Let  us  see  how  he  goes  on,  '  through 
 Christ  who  strengthened  me."  Ah !  that  is 
 the  point.  A  poor  saint  can  do  all  things 
 through  Christ ;  but  nothing  without  him." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  peculiarly  happy  in  his  simple 
 application  of  texts,  of  which  the  following  are 
 illustrations : — 
 
 "  Christians,  did  you  ever  notice  children  at 
 their  play.  When  they  have  their  little  quar- 
 rels, how  soon  they  make  them  up,  and  how 
 lovingly  they  go  on  together  again.  What  a 
 wrise  remark  is  that  of  the  apostle,  6  In  malice 
 be  ye  children.'" 
 
 When  commenting  on  the  Old  Testament 
 Scriptures,  Mr.  Hill  would  sometimes,  in  imi- 
 tation of  Mr.  Romaine,  say,  that  he  loved  "the 
 Gospel  according  to  Leviticus."  When  he 
 expounded  these  parts  of  Scripture,  his  hearers 
 felt  that  the  testimony  of  Jesus  was  indeed  the 
 
256  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 spirit  of  prophecy,  and  the  substance  of  the 
 Old  Testament  records. 
 
 He  beautifully  embodied  the  types  of  the 
 Old  Testament.    The  following  is  an  instance: 
 
 "  The  blood  of  the  lamb  that  was  to  be  slain 
 by  the  Israelites  in  Egypt,  was  to  be  sprinkled 
 on  the  door-posts  of  the  houses,  and  on  the 
 lintel,  but  not  on  the  threshold.  We  are  not  to 
 trample  on  the  blood  of  Christ,  but  are  to 
 look  at  it  as  a  security  from  the  death  and 
 condemnation  which,  as  sinners,  we  deserve 
 from  God." 
 
 To  all  the  graces  of  the  Holy  Spirit  he 
 would  refer  with  great  beauty,  particularly 
 love,  meekness,  and  humility.  On  the  subject 
 of  repentance  he  once  said,  "  Oh  !  repentance, 
 thou  art  my  sweetest  companion  in  the  wilder- 
 ness ;  but  thou  wilt  only  go  with  me  to  the 
 gates  of  heaven.  I  sometimes  think  that  if  I 
 may  be  permitted  to  drop  one  tear,  when  I 
 enter  my  heavenly  Father's  mansion,  it  will  be 
 when  I  say — farewell,  lovely  companion,  repent- 
 ance." 
 
 A  similar  idea  is  found  in  a  sermon  he 
 preached  not  long  before  he  died.  He  traced 
 St.    Paul   into    the    kingdom   of  heaven,   and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  257 
 
 thought  that  when  he  stood  before  the  Lamb 
 that  was  slain,  and  saw  his  glory,  ne  would 
 wish  to  weep  for  a  moment,  on  recollecting  that 
 he  had  once  been  the  persecutor  of  such  a 
 Saviour. 
 
 When  he  had  been  dwelling  on  the  great 
 and  mysterious  subjects  connected  with  the 
 Gospel,  he  would  often  add,  after  many  appro- 
 priate remarks,  "  But  I  cannot  reach  those 
 lofty  themes  with  the  poor  little  pigmy  powers 
 of  my  mind ;  and  after  all  my  efforts  I  am  com- 
 pelled to  say,  in  the  language  of  holy  Paul, 
 '  Oh  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom 
 and  knowledge  of  God !  how  unsearchable  are 
 his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past  finding  out!'" 
 
 The  faithful  and  affectionate  appeals  of 
 Mr.  Hill  were  very  successful,  but  the  extent  of 
 his  usefulness  will  not  be  known  till  the  last  great 
 day :  a  few  facts,  however,  may  be  given. 
 
 During  his  itinerant  labours,  many  hundreds 
 were  led  to  Christ.  He  was  not  only  the 
 means  of  calling  the  poor  profligate  sinner 
 to  repentance,  but  ministers  were  awakened 
 under  his  sermons.  The  writer  attended  a  mis- 
 sionary prayer-meeting  with  Mr.  Hill,  about 
 twelve  years  before  his  death,  and  walked  home 
 
258  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 with  him.  In  our  way,  he  called  on  the  pious 
 rector  of  one  of  the  parishes  in  Southvvark. 
 He  apologized  for  his  late  visit;  "But,"  said 
 he,  "I  did  not  wish  to  pass  without  saying, 
 i  How  do  you  do  ?'  "  The  interview  was  brief, 
 but  interesting.  The  devoted  clergyman  was 
 led  to  Christ  through  Mr.  Hill's  instrumen- 
 tality. Another  young  man,  who  went  to 
 Surrey  Chapel  to  have  a  "a  little  fun,"  took 
 his  place  in  the  gallery.  There  the  Spirit  of 
 God  applied  the  word  with  power,  and  he 
 afterwards  became  a  regular  supply  at  the 
 chapel.  During  the  time  that  great  political 
 excitement  prevailed  in  London,  when  Mr.  Pitt 
 was  premier,  a  member  of  one  of  the  corre- 
 sponding societies,  and  a  disciple  of  Paine's, 
 was  attracted  to  the  chapel  by  the  excellency 
 of  the  organ.  He  heard  the  word,  and  the 
 arrow  shot  at  a  venture  entered  his  heart. 
 He  became  an  eminently  devoted  Christian, 
 the  secretary  of  one  of  the  leading  societies 
 connected  with  the  chapel,  and  most  attached 
 to  his  beloved  minister.  His  former  compa- 
 nions having  missed  him  from  their  club, 
 called,  and  inquired  after  him  :  "  My  views  of 
 reform,"  said  the  good  man,    "  have  undergone 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  259 
 
 a  change, — I  once  thought  it  my  duty  to  try 
 and  reform  others  ;  now,  I  think  that  the  best 
 plan  is  to  begin  reformation  at  home,  —  and 
 when  that  work  is  effectually  done,  then  to  try 
 and  reform  my  neighbours." 
 
 Mr.  Griffin,  in  his  funeral  sermon  for  Mr. 
 Hill,  mentions  that  he  once  preached  in  a  field 
 at  Portsea,  to  a  considerable  audience,  from  the 
 text,  "  It  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all 
 acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came  into  the 
 world  to  save  sinners."  Four  persons  were 
 afterwards  admitted  to  church  membership, 
 one  of  whom  is  now  a  deacon,  who  attributed 
 their  conversion  to  God  to  that  very  sermon." 
 
 Soon  after  the  formation  of  the  London 
 Itinerant  Society,  in  which  Mr.  Hill  always 
 took  a  deep  interest,  Mr.  Densham  became 
 one  of  its  most  active  members,  and  was  the 
 principal  instrument  of  introducing  the  Gospel 
 into  many  villages  around  the  metropolis. 
 This  truly  devoted  man  Mr.  Hill  numbered 
 among  "the  worthies"  of  his  church,  and  fre- 
 quently, when  appealing  to  the  young,  men- 
 tioned the  character  of  "dear  Mr.  Densham." 
 
 This  pious  young  man  was  providentially 
 directed  to  Bow  Church,  Cheapside,  in  the  year 
 179],   when   the   excellent   Mr.  Abdy,   of  St, 
 
260  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 John's,  Horslydown,*  preached  a  sermon  on 
 prayer,  which  was  blessed  to  his  soul  in  a 
 peculiar  manner.  The  words  which  impressed 
 his  mind  were  :  "  A  prayerless  soul  is  a  Christ- 
 less  soul,  and  a  Christless  soul  is  a  hopeless 
 soul."  Some  time  after  this,  he  resided  near 
 Surrey  Chapel,  and  heard  Mr.  Hill.  Finding 
 his  ministry  much  blessed  to  his  soul,  he  joined 
 in  communion  with  him,  and  experienced  such 
 nearness  to  God,  that  for  about  two  years 
 he  enjoyed  heaven  upon  earth.  His  closet  was 
 truly  his  heaven;  and  he  fully  expected  that 
 God  would  soon  take  him  up  to  be  with  him 
 for  ever. 
 
 This  worthy  person  was  afterwards  settled  at 
 Petersfield,  in  Hampshire,  where  he  was  engaged 
 "  in  labours  more  abundant,"  and  secured  the 
 affections  of  his  pastor,  by  his  noble  courage, 
 in  preaching  Christ  crucified  amidst  the 
 showers  of  stones  and  filth  that  were  cast  upon 
 him. 
 
 On  the  25th  of  July,  Mr.  Densham  had 
 appointed  to   meet   the   Rev.    Mr.    Wilks,   at 
 
 *  It  is  stated  that  this  excellent  rector  received  his 
 first  spiritual  light  from  a  sermon  preached  by 
 Mr.  Hill,  in  St.  Thomas's  Church,  in  the  Borough. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  261 
 
 Hazlemere,  to  consult  about  the  purchase  of 
 a  piece  of  ground,  and  the  erection  of  a  new 
 chapel  there.  He  set  off  in  the  morning,  in  a 
 single-horse  chaise,  accompanied  by  one  of  his 
 congregation,  with  whom  he  began  a  very  ani- 
 mated conversation  about  eternal  things ;  after 
 which  he  proposed  singing  a  hymn.  They 
 sung  together  the  sixty -fifth  hymn  of  the 
 second  book  of  Dr.  Watts: 
 
 "  When  I  cau  read  my  title  clear, 
 To  mansions  in  the  skies, 
 I  bid  farewell  to  every  fear, 
 And  wipe  my  weeping  eyes,  &c" 
 
 and  afterwards  began  the  seventeenth  of  the 
 first  book, — 
 
 "  Oh  for  an  overcoming  faith, 
 To  cheer  my  dying  hours, 
 To  triumph  o'er  that  monster,  death, 
 And  all  his  frightful  powers !" 
 
 Just  as  the  verse  was  concluded,  and  near 
 Fareham,  part  of  the  harness  broke,  and  the 
 horse  ran  violently  down  the  hill  leading  to 
 Hazlemere,  but  having  turned  the  corner  of 
 the  inn-yard  without  oversetting  the  chaise, 
 it  was  supposed  that  the  danger  was  over,  and 
 the  bitterness  of  death  past.     The  horse,  how- 
 
262  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 ever,  had  scarcely  reached  the  top  of  the  yard, 
 when  the  chaise  was  overturned,  and  Mr.  Den- 
 sham  received  a  violent  blow  against  the  stable, 
 and  was  taken  up  speechless.  Medical  help 
 was  instantly  procured ;  and  every  possible 
 means  made  use  of  in  vain.  A  considerable 
 contusion  was  discovered  on  the  head.  He 
 revived  a  little,  but  was  insensible ;  and  on  the 
 morning  of  the  following  day  he  entered  into 
 the  rest  that  remaineth  for  the  people  of  God, 
 in  the  thirty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 
 
 There  were  two  other  pleasing  facts  of 
 conversion,  which  the  pastor  was  fond  of  men- 
 tioning with  the  tender  feelings  of  a  spiritual 
 parent : — 
 
 "  I  was  much  pleased  some  years  ago,"  he 
 remarked,  "when  a  poor  youth  came  to  this 
 chapel,  to  hear,  as  he  afterwards  told  me, 
 a  man  who  was  looked  upon  as  being  *  out  of 
 the  common  way.'  He  loves  to  be  out  of  the 
 way,  dear  hearers,  that  he  may  catch  sinners 
 who  are  out  of  the  way.  This  poor  youth  had 
 been  very  depraved,  but  after  hearing  the  ser- 
 mon he  went  home  broken-hearted,  and  said  to 
 his  brother,  '  O  brother,  if  you  had  been  where 
 I  have  been  to-day,  you  would  have  felt  what  I 
 did.    We  have  been  very  wicked.    O  come,  and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  263 
 
 near  the  man  I  have  been  hearing,  and  listen 
 to  what  he  has  to  say  to  your  soul/  The 
 brothers  both  came,  'and  nobody  can  tell,'  said 
 the  youth  to  me,  'the  joyous  feelings  of  my 
 heart,  when  I  looked  into  my  brother's  face, 
 and  saw  the  penitential  tears  begin  to  trickle 
 down."  These  young  men  became  devoted 
 servants  of  Christ,  and  were  numbered  by  the 
 pastor  among  his  "  worthies,"  whom  he  delighted 
 often  to  refer  to,  as  among  his  crowns  of  rejoic- 
 ing before  the  Lord. 
 
 The  Rev.  Matthew  Wilks,  when  preaching 
 the  funeral  sermon  of  Samuel  Foyster,  esq.  one 
 of  the  managers  of  the  Tabernacle  and  Totten- 
 ham-court Chapel,  remarked,  "It  was  not  till 
 
 after  Mr.  F was  married,  that  he  became 
 
 decidedly  pious.  Rambling  about  from  one 
 place  to  another,  he  went  into  Tottenham-court 
 Chapel,  and  took  his  station  behind  a  pillar, 
 that  he  might  not  be  seen.  The  Rev.  Rowland 
 Hill  was  preaching.  The  Lord  saw  him  there, 
 and  met  with  him.  He  afterwards  shewed  the 
 fear  of  God,  in  the  management  of  his  family, 
 and  by  kindness  and  affection  made  religion 
 pleasant  to  them."* 
 
 •  Evangelical  Magazine,  18*29,  p.  324. 
 
264  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  Rev.  Mr.  Pratman,  of  Barnard  Castle, 
 once  breakfasted  with  the  excellent  John 
 Newton,  of  London,  when  the  conversation 
 turned  on  the  usefulness  of  Mr.  Hill  as  a 
 preacher.  Mr.  Newton  stated,  that  he  knew,  as 
 a  fact,  that  Mr.  Hill  once  preached  a  solemn 
 awakening  sermon,  for  a  Baptist  minister,  who 
 afterwards  received  into  the  church  twelve  per- 
 sons, as  the  fruits  of  that  sermon." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  occasionally  preached  to  soldiers 
 and  sailors,  when  he  could  collect  them  toge- 
 ther. Mr.  Griffin,  in  his  funeral  sermon, 
 relates  the  following  interesting  fact : — 
 
 "In  the  early  period  of  his  ministry,  when 
 visiting  one  of  our  seaport  towns,  where  he 
 attempted  to  preach  in  the  open  air,  he  was 
 so  interrupted  by  noise  and  missiles,  that  it  was 
 impossible,  for  a  time,  to  proceed.  He  was  on 
 horseback,  and  his  footman  with  him.  Instead 
 of  attempting  to  preach,  he  had  recourse  to  an 
 innocent  stratagem.  Addressing  himself  to  the 
 people,  he  said,  6  My  lads,  I  have  no  right  over 
 you ;  if  you  do  not  choose  to  hear  me,  I  have 
 no  authority  to  force  your  attention ;  but  I  have 
 travelled  some  miles  for  the  sake  of  doing  or 
 receiving  good ;  I  have,  therefore,  a  proposal  to 
 make   to  you.      I  always   did   admire   British 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  265 
 
 sailors.  I  see  here  some  able-bodied  seamen : 
 some  of  you,  no  doubt,  have  seen  a  great  deal 
 of  service,  and  been  in  many  a  storm,  and  some 
 in  dangerous  shipwrecks.  Now,  as  I  am  very 
 fond  of  hearing  the  adventures  of  seamen,  my 
 proposal  is,  that  some  of  you,  and,  as  many  as 
 you  please  in  turn,  shall  stand  up,  and  tell  us 
 what  you  have  seen  and  suffered,  and  what 
 dangers  you  have  escaped ;  and  I  will  sit  and 
 hear  you  out,  upon  this  condition, — that  you 
 agree  to  hear  me  afterwards/  This  proposal 
 made  many  of  them  laugh  heartily,  and  they 
 said  one  to  another,  '  Do  you  stand  up,  and 
 give  us  a  lecture.'  One  called  upon  a  talkative 
 sailor  by  name,  6 1  say,  Harry, — do  you  give 
 him  a  lecture,'  which  produced  a  loud  burst  of 
 laughter  through  the  whole  crowd ;  and  Mr. 
 Hill,  to  keep  them  in  good  humour,  laughed 
 with  them.  After  waiting  some  time,  Mr.  Hill 
 said,  'Will  none  of  you  take  my  proposal?' 
 None  being  disposed  to  do  so,  he  said,  'lama 
 clergyman — I  came,  not  long  since,  from  the 
 University  of  Cambridge.  If  you  had  heard 
 me,  I  should  have  told  you  nothing  but  what  is 
 in  the  Bible  or  Prayer  Book.  I  will  tell  you 
 what  I  intended  to  say  to  you,  if  you  had  heard 
 me  quietly.'     And  then  beginning  with  a  decla- 
 
2bb  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 ration  of  the  grace  and  compassion  of  Christ,  in 
 dying  to  save  all  penitent  sinners,  he  led  them 
 to  the  consideration  of  the  thief  on  the  cross ; 
 and  then  to  the  character  and  circumstances  of 
 the  prodigal  son,  and  the  compassion  of  his 
 father.  His  description  of  what  he  meant  to 
 have  said,  was  so  interesting  and  affecting,  that 
 he  riveted  their  attention,  and  produced  an  evi- 
 dent change  in  their  disposition  towards  him. 
 While  he  was  speaking  they  drew  gradually 
 nearer,  hanging,  as  is  the  practice  of  sailors, 
 when  standing  in  a  crowd,  upon  each  others' 
 shoulders.  In  this  position  they  listened,  with 
 almost  death-like  silence,  till  he  had  finished 
 telling  them  what  he  should  have  said,  if  they 
 had  been  willing  to  hear  him.  He  then  took 
 off  his  hat,  made  them  a  bow,  and  thanked 
 them  for  their  civilities.  Most  of  them  took  off 
 their  hats,  and  gave  him  three  cheers  :  several 
 vociferated,  '  When  will  you  come  again,  Sir  ? 
 And  one  man,  who  seemed  like  the  champion 
 of  the  whole,  approached  Mr.  Hill,  and  said, 
 '  If  you  will  come  again,  Sir,  I  say  no  one  shall 
 hurt  a  hair  of  your  head,  if  I  am  on  shore/ 
 Mr.  Hill  promised  that  he  would  visit  them 
 again,  as  soon  as  other  engagements  would 
 permit.      There   are   now,   in   that   town  and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  Im,t,.  267 
 
 neighbourhood,  several  places  of  worship;  and 
 it  is  as  quiet  and  orderly  a  seaport  as  any  in 
 the  kingdom." 
 
 The  impressions  frequently  produced  by  Mr. 
 Hill's  "  wild-fire,"  as  some  persons  termed  his 
 eccentric  sallies,  formed  a  remarkable  feature 
 in  his  ministry.  His  homely  illustrations  often 
 contained  the  most  important  principles,  and 
 carried  direct  conviction  to  the  heart,  even 
 when  fortified  within  the  entrenchments  of 
 scepticism.  Several  instances  of  this  kind  are 
 in  the  recollection  of  those  who  regularly 
 attended  the  ministrations  of  Mr.  Hill.  About 
 twelve  years  before  his  decease,  he  was  far 
 from  happy  in  his  discourse  one  Sabbath 
 evening.  His  mind  appeared  unable  to  grasp 
 his  subject.  After  many  common-place  and  un- 
 connected observations,  he  exclaimed,  "  Some  of 
 you  may  think  that  I  am  preaching  a  rambling 
 sermon;  but,  oh !  if  I  should  be  able  to  reach  the 
 heart  of  a  poor  rambling  sinner,  you  will  forgive 
 me. — Sinner,  you  may  ramble  from  Christ,  but  we 
 will  ramble  after  you,  and  try  and  bring  you  back 
 into  his  fold."  At  the  moment  these  remarks 
 were  made,  a  pickpocket  entered  the  chapel. 
 These  words  powerfully  struck  his  mind,  and 
 he  went  home  deeply   affected.     He  brought 
 
268  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 forth  fruit  meet  for  repentance,  by  destroying 
 a  variety  of  illegal  articles  he  had  prepared  for 
 circulation.  He  had  several  interviews  with  Mr, 
 Hill,  who  entertained  a  firm  hope  that  he  was 
 truly  converted  to  God.  The  good  pastor  fur- 
 nished him  with  many  useful  household  articles, 
 and  did  all  in  his  power  to  restore  him  to 
 society. 
 
 Another  equally  interesting  incident  has 
 lately  been  mentioned  by  a  friend.  About 
 three  years  before  the  death  of  the  venerable 
 preacher,  two  gentlemen  entered  Surrey  Chapel 
 previous  to  the  Sabbath  evening  service.  The 
 circumstances  which  led  them  to  the  place  were 
 peculiarly  interesting.  They  had  long  been 
 friends,  but  one  of  them  was  shortly  to  leave 
 his  country  for  India.  He  was  living  "  without 
 hope  and  without  God  in  the  world."  His  com- 
 panion was  a  decided  and  consistent  Christian, 
 and  earnestly  desired  his  friend's  salvation.  This 
 pious  friend,  as  the  time  drew  nigh  for  the  young 
 man's  departure,  begged  of  him  to  grant  him  one 
 special  favour,  namely,  to  spend  with  him  his 
 four  last  Sabbath  evenings,  and  to  accompany 
 him  to  the  sanctuary  of  God.  The  request  was 
 complied  with,  and  many  prayers  ascended  to 
 God,  that  the  sermons  might  lead  the  wanderer 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  269 
 
 to  the  Saviour.  The  first,  second,  and  third 
 sermons  were  heard,  but  no  impressions  were 
 produced.  When  the  last  Sabbath  arrived,  the 
 Christian  felt  increased  anxiety  for  his  friend's 
 soul.  He  took  him  to  Surrey  Chapel,  to  hear 
 good  Rowland  Hill,  and  secretly  prayed  that  the 
 preacher  might  be  in  a  solemn  state  of  mind,  and 
 not  be  permitted  to  indulge  in  eccentric  remarks. 
 The  venerable  man  gave  out  his  text,  "  We  are 
 not  ignorant  of  his  devices ;"  and  immediately 
 told  the  following  tale, — "  Many  years  since,  I 
 met  a  drove  of  pigs  in  one  of  the  streets  of  a 
 large  town,  and  to  my  surprise  they  were  not 
 driven,  but  quietly  followed  their  leader.  This 
 singular  fact  excited  my  curiosity,  and  I  pur- 
 sued the  swine,  until  they  all  quietly  entered 
 the  butchery.  I  then  asked  the  man  how  he 
 succeeded  in  getting  the  poor,  stupid,  stubborn 
 pigs  so  willingly  to  follow  him ;  when  he  told 
 me  the  secret :  He  had  a  basket  of  beans 
 under  his  arm,  and  kept  dropping  them  as  he 
 proceeded,  and  so  secured  his  object.  Ah  !  my 
 dear  hearers,  the  devil  has  got  his  basket  of 
 beans,  and  he  knows  how  to  suit  his  tempta- 
 tions to  every  sinner.  He  drops  them  by  the 
 way, — the  poor  sinner  is  thus  led  captive  by 
 the  devil  at  his  own  will ;  and  if  the  grace  of 
 
270  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 God  prevent  not,  he  will  get  him  at  last  into 
 his  butchery,  and  there  he  will  keep  him  for 
 ever.  Oh,  it  is  because  i  we  are  not  ignorant 
 of  his  devices,'  that  we  are  anxious  this  evening 
 to  guard  you  against  them  ! " 
 
 The  Christian  friend  deeply  mourned  over 
 this  tale  about  the  pigs,  and  feared  it  would 
 excite  a  smile,  but  not  produce  conviction  in 
 the  mind  of  his  unbelieving  companion.  After 
 the  service  was  over,  they  left  the  chapel,  and 
 all  was  silence  for  a  season.  "  What  a  singular 
 statement  we  had  to-night  about  the  pigs,  and 
 yet  how  striking  and  convincing  it  was ! " 
 remarked  the  young  man.  His  mind  was 
 impressed,  —  he  could  not  forget  the  basket 
 of  beans — the  butchery — and  the  final  loss  of 
 the  sinner's  soul.  He  left  this  country,  but  has 
 since  corresponded  with  his  friend,  and  con- 
 tinues to  refer  to  this  sermon,  as  having  pro- 
 duced a  beneficial,  and,  it  is  hoped,  an  abiding 
 impression  on  his  mind. 
 
 What  shall  we  say  to  these  things?  Surely, 
 like  Dean  Milner,  we  must  acknowledge, 
 "  'Tis  this  slap-dash  preaching,  say  what  they 
 will,  that  does  all  the  good."*     But  how  can 
 
 t  Sidney's  Life  of  Hill,  p.  96. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  <271 
 
 these  effects  be  accounted  for?  The  mind 
 of  the  sinner  is  habitually  closed  against 
 the  truth.  He  hears  as  though  he  heard 
 not.  His  soul  is  often  absent  from  the 
 sanctuary,  when  his  body  is  present.  The 
 demon  of  unbelief  reigns  in  his  mind,  and 
 every  avenue  through  which  the  truth  can 
 enter,  is  securely  kept.  The  eccentric  illus- 
 tration excites  the  wandering  spirit,  disturbs  its 
 dreadful  apathy,  and  secures  a  momentary 
 attention,  when  the  truth  contained  in  the 
 homely  comparison  flashes  into  the  mind,  and 
 the  understanding  of  the  sinner  becomes 
 enlightened.  Through  such  means  the  Holy 
 Spirit  often  works,  and  seals  conviction  on  the 
 soul.  Let  every  preacher  use  his  own  talent, 
 and  God  will  not  permit  him  to  labour  in  vain. 
 The  reader  will  remember  the  reply  of  the 
 Bishop,  before  whom  a  complaint  was  exhibited 
 against  Mr.  Rogers,  of  Dedham.  (t  Ah  !  say 
 not  anything  against  good  Mr.  Rogers,  —  he 
 charms  more  souls  to  Christ  by  his  wild  notes, 
 than  we  do  by  our  set  music." 
 
 Sometimes  years  rolled  away  before  Mr.  Hill 
 heard  of  the  results  of  his  ministry.  The  fol- 
 lowing interesting  statement  has  been  recorded 
 by  an  intimate  friend  and  fellow-traveller  in  the 
 
272  MEMOIR  OP 
 
 Redeemer's  cause,  who  was  with  Mr.  Hill  on 
 most  of  his  Missionary  tours  :"* — 
 
 "  Perhaps  no  man  in  modern  times  has  been 
 more  honoured  than  Mr.  Hill,  as  the  instru- 
 ment of  converting  souls, — his  talent  appeared 
 more  particularly  in  awakening  the  careless, 
 instances  of  which  the  writer  has  had  many 
 opportunities  of  witnessing, — and  he  does  not 
 remember  ever  to  have  remained  two  days 
 with  Mr.  Hill,  in  any  town,  without  meeting 
 with  one  person,  or  more,  to  whom  his  ministry 
 had  been  made  useful.  One  case,  among 
 many,  he  cannot  omit: — 
 
 "  After  Mr.  Hill  had  preached  for  the  Mis- 
 sionary Society,  in  Princes  -  street  Chapel, 
 Devonport,  two  tall,  venerable  -  looking  men, 
 upwards  of  seventy  years  of  age,  appeared  at 
 the  vestry  door.  After  a  short  pause  they 
 entered,  arm  in  arm,  and  advanced  towards 
 Mr.  Hill,  when  one  of  them,  with  some  degree 
 of  trepidation,  inquired,  4  Sir,  will  you  permit 
 two  old  sinners  to  have  the  honour  to  shake 
 you  by  the  hand?'  He  replied,  with  some 
 reserve,  '  Yes,  Sir,'  when  one  of  the  gentlemen 
 took  his  hand,  kissed  it,  bathed  it  with  tears, 
 
 ♦  Rev.  Thomas  Jackson. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  273 
 
 and  said,  c  Sir,  do  you  remember  preaching  on 
 the  spot  where  this  chapel  now  stands,  fifty 
 years  ago?'  'Yes,  I  do,'  was  the  reply.  The 
 old  man  then  proceeded  to  say,  '  O  Sir, 
 never  can  the  dear  friend  who  has  hold  of  my 
 arm,  or  myself,  forget  that  sermon.  We  were 
 then  two  careless  young  men  in  his  Majesty's 
 Dock -yard,  posting  to  destruction  as  fast  as 
 time  and  sin  could  convey  us  thither.  Having 
 heard  that  a  young  clergyman  was  to  preach 
 out  of  doors,  we  determined  to  go  and  have 
 some  fun, — we  loaded  our  pockets  with  stones, 
 intending  to  pelt  you;  but,  Sir,  when  you 
 arrived,  our  courage  failed,  and  as  soon  as 
 you  engaged  in  prayer,  we  were  so  deeply 
 impressed,  that  we  looked  at  each  other,  and 
 trembled.  When  you  named  your  text,  and 
 began  to  speak,  the  word  came  with  power  to 
 our  hearts  ;  the  tears  rolled  down  our  cheeks  ; 
 we  put  our  hands  into  our  pockets,  and 
 dropped  the  stones  one  after  another,  until 
 they  were  all  gone ;  for  God  had  taken  away 
 the  stone  from  our  hearts.  When  the  service 
 was  over  we  retired,  but  our  hearts  were  too 
 full  to  speak,  until  we  came  near  to  our  lodg- 
 ings, when  my  friend  at  my  elbow  said,  ■  John, 
 this  will  not  do ;    we  are  both  wrong, — good 
 
 T 
 
274  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 night.'  This  was  all  he  could  utter ,  he  retired 
 to  his  apartment, — I  to  mine ;  but  neither  of 
 us  dared  to  go  to  bed,  lest  we  should  awake  in 
 hell.  From  that  time,  Sir,  we  humbly  hope  we 
 were  converted  to  God,  who,  of  his  infinite 
 mercy,  has  kept  us  in  his  ways  to  the  present 
 moment.  We  thought,  Sir,  if  you  would  per- 
 mit us,  after  the  lapse  of  half  a  hundred  years, 
 to  have  the  pleasure  of  shaking  you  by  the 
 hand  before  we  go  home,  it  would  be  the 
 greatest  honour  that  could  be  conferred  on  us.' 
 Mr.  Hill  was  deeply  affected, — the  tears  rolled 
 down  his  venerable  cheeks  in  quick  succession ; 
 he  fell  on  the  necks  of  the  old  men,  quite  in 
 the  patriarchal  style ;  and  there  you  might  have 
 seen  them,  locked  in  each  other's  arms,  weep- 
 ing tears  of  holy  joy  and  gratitude  before  the 
 Father  of  mercies.  The  writer  is  aware  he 
 cannot  do  justice  to  the  scene,  though  he  feels, 
 at  this  distance  of  time,  something  like  celestial 
 pleasure  in  recording  what  he  witnessed." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  a  very  efficient  advocate  in  all 
 benevolent  objects.  The  largest  collections  in 
 England  for  the  Patriotic  Fund,  and  the  Ger- 
 man Sufferers,  were  obtained  at  Surrey  Chapel. 
 In  1793,  when  a  powerful  appeal  was  made  for 
 the  distressed  weavers  in  Spitalfields,   sermons 
 
KEV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  '275 
 
 were  preached  in  many  of  the  churches  and  cha- 
 pels. In  this  good  work  Mr.  Hill  was  forward, 
 and  at  Surrey  Chapel  he  procured  the  sum  of 
 £220,  17s.  6d.,  being  by  far  the  largest  collection 
 made.  He  was  equally  successful  for  the  cause 
 of  Missions.  He  had  a  manner  peculiarly  his 
 own  in  speaking  to  his  people, — and  seldom 
 went  too  far  for  them.  On  announcing  the 
 amount  of  a  liberal  collection,  he  remarked. 
 1  You  have  behaved  so  well  on  this  occasion, 
 that  we  mean  to  let  you  have  another  collection 
 next  Sunday.  I  have  heard  it  said  of  a  good 
 cow — that  the  more  you  milk  her,  the  more 
 she  will  give.'  On  another  occasion  he  men- 
 tioned the  amount  given  at  the  Missionary  col- 
 lection, which  was  nearly  £500,  and  then  gave 
 out  his  text,  '  Take  heed  and  beware  of  covet- 
 ousness.,  He  told  his  people  that  the  heart 
 was  very  deceitful,  and,  though  they  had  done 
 well,  they  were  not  to  suppose  that  they  had 
 done  enough.'  " 
 
 These  recollections  of  Mr.  Hill's  ministry 
 cannot  properly  be  closed,  without  admitting 
 that  he  was  not  a  perfect  preacher, — but  where 
 can  we  find  one  ?  He  possessed  considerable 
 eccentricity,  which  sometimes  led  him  to  forget 
 the  gravity  which  became  the  pulpit.     Had  not 
 
276  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 God  changed  his  heart,  he  would  probably  have 
 made  one  of  the  first  comedians  of  his  day. 
 It  could  easily  be  discovered  by  the  constant 
 hearer,  whether  the  pastor  would  indulge  in 
 his  natural  love  of  the  comic.  If,  while  he 
 ascended  the  pulpit  stairs,  he  appeared  exceed- 
 ingly anxious  to  seat  the  people  in  the  vacant 
 pews — and  was  busy  with  unimportant  matters, 
 — it  was  a  clear  indication  that  the  sermon 
 would  be  of  the  rambling  order.  But,  on  the 
 contrary, — if  the  ambassador  of  peace  ascended 
 the  sacred  desk,  abstracted  from  every  sur- 
 rounding circumstance, — pausing  now  and  then 
 on  the  stairs,  as  if  engaged  in  ejaculatory 
 supplication,  then  you  might  calculate  on  a 
 profitable  season.  His  prayer  would  be  brief, 
 but  full  of  hallowed  feeling,  and  the  sermon 
 generally  contain  a  vivid  exhibition  of  the  truth 
 as  it  is  in  Jesus, 
 
 There  were  seasons  when  he  was  able  to 
 command  his  feelings,  but  on  other  occasions 
 he  was  led  captive  by  his  natural  tendency  to 
 the  ludicrous. 
 
 He  was  at  Poole  a  few  years  before  his 
 death,  and  preached  for  his  friend  Mr.  Durant, 
 from  a  favourite  text.  "  Being  the  brightness 
 of  his   glory,    and    the    express   image    of  his 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  277 
 
 person."  His  mind  took  the  most  lofty  flights, 
 and  every  word  he  uttered  solemnly  told  on  the 
 assembled  multitude.  The  people  who  went  to 
 "hear  Rowland  Hill"  were  disappointed,  but 
 serious  persons  were  greatly  edified.  He  after- 
 wards preached  at  Dorchester,  and  other  towns, 
 where  he  appeared  to  be  left  to  himself.  At 
 one  place  there  were  eight  clergymen  present, 
 anxious  to  hear  him.  He  told  many  tales, 
 mimicked  the  style  of  a  conceited  lady's-maid, 
 and  by  the  lightness  of  his  remarks  produced 
 a  very  unfavourable  impression  on  their  minds. 
 How  truly  important  is  it,  that  at  all  times  the 
 ministers  of  Christ  should  "walk  worthy  of 
 their  high  vocation." 
 
 Although  Mr.  Hill  considered  that  a  trite 
 remark  might  be  sometimes  desirable  to  rouse 
 the  mind  of  the  hearer,  yet  he  felt  that  such 
 remarks  should  be  succeeded  by  a  solemn 
 appeal  on  some  important  truth.  "  If  the  tear 
 succeeds  the  smile,  then  no  harm  has  been 
 done,"  was  the  conviction  of  his  mind.  He 
 would  say,  "I  never  wish  to  laugh  one  moment, 
 if  I  cannot  pray  the  next."  It  must  not  be 
 supposed  that  Mr.  Hill  ever  attempted  to 
 justify  lightness  in  the  pulpit.      Many  cf  the 
 
278  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 bitterest  moments  of  his  life  have  followed 
 such  exhibitions.  He  was  agonized  in  private, 
 and  found  relief  to  a  burdened  mind  only  by 
 fleeing  "to  the  fountain  opened  for  sin  and 
 uncleanness."  He  once  assured  a  minister, 
 who  has  since  departed  to  his  rest,  "that  he 
 always  preached  the  best,  when  his  walk  was 
 close  with  God."  It  is  likely  to  be  well  with 
 a  preacher,  when  he  passes  directly  from  the 
 throne  to  the  pulpit.  Mr.  Hill  very  beautifully 
 referred  to  this  subject  in  the  funeral  sermon 
 he  preached  for  his  beloved  friend,  the  Rev. 
 James  Rouquet,  formerly  rector  of  St.  Wer- 
 burgh's,  in  Bristol ;  "  Now  and  then  my  dear 
 loved  friend  might  have  been  supposed  to  have 
 made  somewhat  of  a  small  elopement  from  that 
 cheerfulness  which  is  truly  Christian,  towards 
 a  disposition  too  much  bordering  on  a  turn  of 
 pleasantry,  which  might  have  needed  a  little 
 more  the  spirit  of  solemnity  With  the  great- 
 est delicacy  I  drop  the  hint,  and  am  glad  to 
 cover  it  with  the  mantle  of  love,  by  lamenting 
 before  you  all  the  same  weakness  in  myself, — 
 a  lively,  active  disposition  is  too  apt  to  lead 
 into  this  mistake.  In  many  things  we  offend 
 all, — it  is  alone  because  the  Lord's  compassions 
 
ItEV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  279 
 
 fail  not,  that  the  best  of  the  sons  of  men  are 
 not  consumed."* 
 
 There  are  many  imitators  of  good  and 
 popular  men,  but  let  them  remember  that  the 
 imperfections  of  their  model  are  more  easily 
 copied  than  their  excellencies  ;  such  characters 
 too  frequently  resemble  the  courtiers  who  imi- 
 tated the  defects  of  the  monarch's  person,  to 
 raise  themselves  to  distinction. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  made  occasional  remarks  on  preach- 
 ers, and  particularly  on  young  academicians, 
 which  were  not  always  calculated  to  do  good, 
 but  only  to  lessen  them  in  public  estimation. 
 Academies,  "  for  the  manufacture  of  dried 
 tongues,"  was  rather  a  favourite  phrase  with 
 him.  His  observations  were  often  made  in 
 reference  to  the  pointless  style,  and  attempts 
 at  greatness  on  the  part  of  young  preachers, 
 but  then  they  were  sometimes  connected  with 
 remarks  on  his  own  plain,  unworthy  ministry. 
 The  hearer  who  was  not  well  acquainted  with 
 Mr.  Hill,  might  consider  this  "  voluntary  humi- 
 lity" not  in  keeping  with  good  taste.  These 
 and  similar  remarks  often  escaped  the  preacher 
 
 •  Token  for  Rouquet. 
 
280  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 when  "it  was  not  well  with  him"  in  the 
 pulpit. 
 
 He  was,  nevertheless,  the  affectionate  sup- 
 porter of  the  plainest  preacher, — if  he  felt  that 
 he  was  sincere  in  his  Master's  work,  and  did 
 not  preach  himself.  When  Mr.  Jones  settled  at 
 Wotton,  and  Mr.  Hill  was  anxious  that  the 
 Surrey  Chapel  people  should  hear  "his  Welch- 
 man,"  Mr.  Jones,  knowing  but  little  of  the 
 English  language,  felt  unwilling  to  go, — but 
 Mr.  Hill  encouraged  him  by  saying,  "  Never 
 mind  breaking  grammar,  if  the  Lord  enables 
 you  to  break  the  poor  sinner's  heart." 
 
 No  one  could  appreciate  good  preaching  and 
 ministerial  character  better  than  Mr.  Hill. 
 He  listened  with  childlike  simplicity  to  Dr. 
 Chalmers,  the  late  Dr.  Mason,  of  New  York, 
 and  his  respected  friends,  Robert  Hall,  and 
 William  Jay.  After  hearing  these  preachers, 
 he  was  often  humbled  in  the  dust,  and  would 
 say,  "I  can  never  preach  again."  He  was,  on 
 the  other  hand,  thoroughly  disgusted  with  the 
 vapid,  empty  conceit  of  those  ministers  who 
 preached  themselves,  and  not  their  Divine 
 Master.  "  These  sermons,  Sir,"  he  would  say, 
 "remind  me  of  a  hail-storm  upon  pantiles, — 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  281 
 
 they  make  a  deal  of  noise,  but  produce  no 
 impression."  "  I  don't  like  those  mighty  fine 
 preachers,  who  so  beautifully  round  off  all  their 
 sentences,  that  they  are  sure  to  roll  off  the 
 sinner's  conscience." 
 
 The  sentiments  of  Mr.  Hill  on  ministerial 
 character  will  be  further  gathered  from  several 
 interesting  letters  addressed  to  his  dear  friend 
 Mr.  Bull,  which  contain  beautiful  descriptions 
 of  a  truly  devoted  ambassador  of  Christ. 
 
 "  London,  May  24,  1784. 
 "  My  very  dear  Brother  Bull, 
 "  What  an  infinite  blessing  are  godly  minis- 
 ters to  the  church  of  Christ !  for  want  of  such 
 ministers,  I  cannot  describe  to  you  how  much 
 the  cause  of  religion,  through  Wiltshire  and 
 Gloucestershire,  has  lately  suffered.  In  the 
 room  of  these,  we  are  pestered  with  such  a 
 set  as  make  it  the  whole  of  their  business  to 
 foment  divisions,  and  insult  the  poor.  Wales 
 and  other  parts  are  equally  destitute  and  dis- 
 tressed— doors,  opened  by  incredible  industry, 
 are  now  in  many  places  almost  entirely  shut ; 
 for,  you  must  know,  the  modern  sprigs  of  cox- 
 comical  divinity,  after  they  have  done  all  the 
 
282  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 mischief  in  their  power,  up  they  fly,  like  air- 
 balloons,  and  fall  down  again  after  their  inflam- 
 mable air  is  a  little  evaporated,  to  do  the  same 
 mischief  elsewhere,  wherever  the  judgment  of 
 God  permits  them  to  fall.  I  always  think  it  is 
 one  invariable  sign  of  a  worthless  parson,  in 
 the  pastoral  line,  that  he  never  stays  long  in  a 
 place ;  God,  I  trust,  in  rich  providence  to  his 
 church,  has  placed  you  over  a  school  of  the 
 sons  of  the  prophets.  Is  there  one  under  your 
 care  that  seems  calculated  to  revive  the  dying 
 glories  of  religion  amongst  us,  —  one  whose 
 mind  is  fully  devoted  to  the  glory  of  God,  dead 
 to  self  and  pride,  who  wishes  to  go  forth  in  the 
 spirit  of  a  primitive  martyr,  who  cares  not  what 
 he  suffers,  where  he  goes,  what  becomes  of  him, 
 provided  he  is  permitted  to  preach  Jesus,  and 
 bring  sinners  to  the  footstool  of  his  cross  ? 
 Is  there,  I  say,  one  that  can  dare  thus  to  catch 
 the  drooping  standard,  almost  trodden  under- 
 foot of  these  insignificant  apes  of  the  most 
 sacred  character  that  man  can  sustain.  For 
 such  a  childlike,  humble,  diffident,  zealous, 
 devoted  character,  the  churches  of  Christ 
 amongst  us  continually  pray.  Have  you  got 
 the  answer  of  our  prayers  in  your  possession  ? 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  283 
 
 We  faithfully  promise  him  food  and  raiment, 
 and  if  he  is  taught  of  God,  he  has  learned 
 therewith  to  be  content:  more  than  one  such 
 character,  we  would  gladly  receive  amongst 
 us.  Under  the  labours  of  such  instruments, 
 I  think  the  scattered  flocks  would  soon  return ; 
 Oh  that  God  would  send  forth  such  labourers 
 into  his  vineyard ! — for  I  am  determined  to  let 
 the  doors  be  shut,  sooner  than  to  employ  the 
 young  chaplains  of  old  Beelzebub  upon  the 
 sacred  work  of  God:  we  have  had  no  less  than 
 half-a-dozen  such  of  late,  one  after  another, 
 that  I  am  determined  to  have  nothing  more  to 
 do  with  any  of  them,  till  some  good  proof  is 
 given,  to  understand  what  manner  of  spirit  they 
 are  of.  I  have  heard  of  one  whose  name  is 
 English, — is  he  disengaged? — what  think  you 
 of  the  man  ?  When  can  you  see  Miss  Surey 
 again? — you  know  how  affectionately  glad  we 
 are  all  to  see  and  hear  you  here: — we  want  no 
 proud,  pompous  nonsense  to  fit  us  for  the  devil. 
 "  Yours  most  affectionately, 
 
 «  R.  Hill." 
 
 *  To  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bull, 
 
 Newport  Pagnel,  Bucks." 
 
284  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "Wotton-under-edge,  Gloucester- 
 shire, July  16,  1790. 
 
 "  My  very  dear  Brother  Bull, 
 "  You  hinted  to  me  that  you  had  got  some 
 promising  young  men  under  your  care.  I  know 
 of  some  openings  that  might  suit  them,  espe- 
 cially one  in  Wales,  where  there  is  a  congre- 
 gation of  a  surprising  size.  I  entirely  trust  to 
 your  judgment  and  kindness  to  recommend 
 such  good  Jerusalem  blades  as  love  Jesus — are 
 willing  to  take  up  their  cross — and  will  be 
 happy  to  be  every  thing,  any  thing,  or  nothing, 
 so  that  they  can  but  promote  his  glory.  We 
 want  ministers  with  the  zeal  of  a  Luther,  and 
 the  quiet,  patient  spirit  of  a  Moravian  mis- 
 sionary—  that  are  willing  to  adopt  the  cross 
 for  their  coat  of  arms — a  heart  above  the 
 world  for  their  crest,  and  to  take  expendam  et 
 expendar  for  their  motto.  Oh  for  grace  to 
 know  the  worth  and  value  of  immortal  souls, 
 the  infinite  worth  and  value  of  Jesus  Christ ! — 
 this  will  make  us  good  Christians  and  good 
 preachers.  Love  to  Mrs.  Bull,  and  to  Mr. 
 Thomas.  I  send  this  first  to  Mr.  Neale,  lest 
 Mr.  Thornton  should  have  taken  you  a  ram- 
 bling,— and  then  a  letter  to  Newport  Pagnel 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  285 
 
 might  have  a  long  time  to  rest  itself  hefore  it 
 finds  you. 
 
 "  Your  ever  affectionate  Brother, 
 
 «  R.  Hill." 
 
 "  The  Rev.  Mr.  Bull, 
 Mr.  Seutt's,  Brighton." 
 
 "  My  dear  Brother  Bull, 
 c  The  letter  you  receive  with  this  comes 
 from  a  very  honest,  prudent,  faithful  man; — 
 if  he  is  not  a  good  scribe,  I  am  sure  he  is  a 
 good  Christian.  Now,  you  must  know  that 
 some  little  gleam  of  light  seems  arising  in  those 
 very  dark  parts, — if  some  one  was  raised  up,  ol 
 an  humble,  apostolic,  devoted  spirit,  I  believe 
 good  would  be  done.  It  must  not  be  one  who 
 wants  to  sit  upon  a  well-feathered  nest  already 
 provided,  but  one  whose  heart  pants  for  the 
 enlarging  and  extending  the  borders  of  the 
 church,  where  the  salvation  of  Jesus  has  been 
 scarcely  named.  Though  the  efforts  among 
 the  people  themselves  are  but  small,  yet  could 
 a  minister  of  a  right  stamp  be  procured,  other 
 exertions  for  all  necessary  support  wrould  not 
 be  wanting.  We  ought  to  be  more  importunate 
 with  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,   to  send   more 
 
286  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 labourers  into  his  vineyard — labourers  who  are 
 contented  with  hard  work  and  short  wages  : 
 ministers,  above  all  people,  should  take  up  the 
 cross  daily.  But  I  fear  we  of  this  present  day 
 are  not  quite  so  fond  of  the  cross  as  our  ances- 
 tors were.  Now,  I  write  you  this,  to  know  if 
 we  can  be  helped  from  your  quarter.  I  could, 
 while  I  am  about  it,  mention  another  nest,  not 
 very  ill -feathered;  but  then,  the  people  are 
 so  sadly  methodistical  in  that  place,  that  if  the 
 preacher  had  not  a  little  animation  and  vivacity, 
 and  that,  too,  intermixed  with  a  little  good  sense, 
 and,  what  is  best  of  all,  the  whole  of  these  qua- 
 lifications regulated  by  a  little  good  grace, 
 I  question  if  he  would  be  accepted.  If  you 
 had  not  had  the  gout  in  your  great  thumb,  you 
 surely  would  have  sent  me  an  answer  by  now, 
 if  I  am  to  expect  you  here  next  Friday  se'n- 
 night,  to  get  your  tongue  in  order  to  preach  to 
 the  people  on  the  Sabbath  morn. 
 
 "  Yours  sincerely,  "  R.  Hill." 
 
 "  To  Rev.  Mr.  Bull, 
 Newport  Pagnel." 
 
 There  were    seasons    when    Mr.  Hill,    like 
 most  other  preachers,  found  the  time  pass  hea- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  287 
 
 vily  in  the  pulpit,  and  he  proceeded  with  diffi- 
 culty. He,  however,  had  certain  safety  valves, 
 which  always  prevented  an  open  exposure  of 
 his  condition.  Whatever  his  subject  might  be, 
 when  the  matter  appeared  to  run  short,  he  fled 
 to  the  conduct  of  masters  and  mistresses  to- 
 wards their  servants,  and  gave  them  a  severe 
 lecture.  He  would  then  lash  the  Antinomian 
 most  fearfully; — and  should  there  still  be  time 
 to  spare,  the  Socinian  would  be  sure  to  have 
 his  portion.  It  was  surprising  how  he  abounded 
 with  new  and  striking  epithets  on  these  occa- 
 sions. The  Antinomian  was  often  "the  devil 
 dressed  up  like  a  chimney-sweeper ;"  while  the 
 Socinian  assumed  the  equally  dusty  dress  of 
 "the  miller,"  At  these  times  he  often  quoted 
 some  of  the  common  sayings  of  the  Antinomian 
 school :  "  I  don't  join  your  societies,  because  I 
 don't  wish  to  take  the  work  out  of  the  Lord's 
 hands."  On  the  latter  point  he  once  said, 
 "  Nor  do  I ;  but,  blessed  be  his  name,  he  per- 
 mits me  to  work  with  him.  He  calls  me  a 
 fellow  -  worker  with  himself.  My  hands,  my 
 feet,  my  tongue,  my  property,  all  are  his,  and 
 he  condescends  to  use  them  for  his  own  glory." 
 At  the  close  of  these  digressions  he  would 
 
288  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 look  at  the  clock,  and  say,  "I  see  your  time 
 will  not  permit  me  to  go  through  the  subject, 
 perhaps  we  may  resume  it  on  the  next  Sabbath. 
 
 One  morning  the  excellent  man  gave  out  his 
 text,  "  O  God,  my  heart  is  fixed,  I  will  sing, 
 and  give  praise."  He  had  not  been  preaching 
 more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  when  he 
 anxiously  looked  at  the  clock  —  a  sure  indi- 
 cation that  all  was  not  right.  He  then  paused 
 — examined  his  text — took  great  pains  to  wipe 
 his  glasses, — but  still  the  next  thought  came 
 not  forth.  We  feared,  for  once,  the  dear  man 
 was  indeed  "  at  a  stand."  At  last,  however,  he 
 proceeded.  "  O  my  dear  brethren,  it  is  a  good 
 thing  to  have  the  heart  well  fixed  on  the  doc- 
 trines of  the  Gospel."  He  then  began  with 
 justification,  and  it  was  soon  found  that  he  had 
 thoroughly  launched  forth  again.  Before  he 
 got  through  two  or  three  of  the  doctrines, 
 the  time  prevented  enlargement,  and  the  old 
 announcement  was  made,  that  the  subject 
 would  be  resumed  at  a  future  opportunity. 
 
 At  these  times  the  preacher  displayed  great 
 personal  composure.  One  Sabbath  morning  he 
 was  expounding  a  passage  in  Isaiah.  He  placed 
 his  spectacles  on  the  side  of  the  pulpit, — but 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  289 
 
 the  zeal  of  the  preacher  soon  displaced  them, 
 and  they  fell  into  the  desk  below.  He  wanted 
 to  refer  to  the  Scriptures,  but  no  glasses  could 
 be  found.  His  pockets  were  searched,  he 
 looked  again  and  again  to  the  place  where  he 
 had  deposited  them,  but  the  glasses  were  not 
 forthcoming.  All  this  time  he  was  making 
 remarks,  though  not  very  much  connected  with 
 the  subject  At  length  he  exclaimed,  "Dear 
 me,  I  have  lost  my  glasses;"  and  then  he  made 
 an  improvement  of  the  circumstance  by  the 
 remark,  "Dear  young  people,  make  the  best 
 use  of  your  eyes  while  you  can,  for  the  time 
 may  soon  come,  when  you  will  know  the  value 
 of  sight,  by  the  loss  of  it."  Another  pair 
 of  spectacles  being  handed  to  the  venerable 
 man,  he  calmly  added,  "  Now  let  us  see  what 
 comes  next" 
 
 These  seasons  of  difficulty  in  the  pulpit  were 
 only  occasional,  and  intended  to  convince  the 
 preacher  where  his  dependence  should  always 
 be  placed.  His  general  style  was  lucid, — his 
 thoughts  flowed  with  freedom,  and  his  illustra- 
 tions were  exceedingly  apt  On  the  Sabbath 
 evening,  when  powerfully  excited,  (and  without 
 excitement  he  could  seldom  preach  well,)  his 
 eloquence  resembled  the  flowing  of  a  beautiful 
 
290  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 river,  deep  and  clear,  with  occasional  rushes 
 and  falls,  as  it  meets  with  obstructions  in  its 
 course.  Many  of  his  most  beautiful  illustra- 
 tions were  evidently  the  efforts  of  the  moment. 
 Hence,  after  discoursing  on  the  wonderful  love 
 of  God  —  when,  like  the  apostle  Paul,  he 
 seemed  to  have  been  taken  up  to  the  third 
 heavens,  he  exclaimed,  "  But  who  can  com- 
 prehend this  mighty  subject !  It  has  breadths 
 and  lengths,  and  depths  and  heights,  which 
 pass  knowledge.  But  I  don't  think  there  is  a 
 little  sprat  to  be  found,  who  will  complain  that 
 there  is  too  much  water  in  the  sea  for  it  to 
 swim  in, — and  so  I  am  permitted,  with  my  poor 
 little  sprat-like  powers,  to  plunge  into  an  ocean 
 of  love  I  shall  never  be  able  to  fathom,  or  fully 
 comprehend." 
 
 During  the  long  ministry  of  Mr.  Hill  he 
 seldom  preached  funeral  sermons  for  his 
 departed  friends.  He  feared  that  sometimes 
 they  were  the  medium  of  unhallowed  pane- 
 gyric, and  that  it  was  often  difficult  to  be 
 faithful  in  all  points  when  describing  general 
 character.  On  the  removal  of  his  hearers,  he 
 would  briefly  refer  to  the  event,  which  he  did 
 with  much  feeling,  and  many  tears,  often 
 adding,    "  Oh  !    we  want  such  persons  in  the 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  291 
 
 world, — but  they  do  not  want  them  in  heaven ; 
 there  are  no  sinners  to  convert  there,  ( Help, 
 Lord,  for  the  godly  man  ceaseth.'" 
 
 The  situation  in  which  Mr.  Hill  moved  pre- 
 vented him  from  being  able  fully  to  sympathize, 
 as  a  preacher,  with  the  poor  and  afflicted  of  his 
 flock.  He  had,  for  many  years,  passed  through 
 an  even  and  pleasant  path.  The  cross  he  had 
 to  bear  at  the  close  of  life  was  light.  His  ser- 
 mons, therefore,  were  not  always  richly  laden 
 with  experimental  observations. 
 
 A  poor  member,  after  hearing  the  pastor 
 endeavour  to  comfort  the  saint  who  knewr  not 
 where  to  obtain  the  next  meal,  remarked, 
 "  I  think  I  could  preach  better  on  that  point 
 than  our  dear  minister.  I  have  felt  what  it  has 
 been  to  be  nearly  destitute  of  food  for  several 
 days  together.  I  have  heard  the  cries  of  hungry 
 children,  piercing  me  to  the  very  soul."  How- 
 ever high  the  attainments  of  a  preacher  may 
 be,  it  is  "the  furnace  of  affliction"  alone,  that 
 will  enable  him,  from  deep  sympathy  of  spirit, 
 to  "  weep  with  those  that  weep,"  and  fully  to 
 administer  to  \  the  bruised  reed'  the  rich  sup- 
 ports of  the  Gospel  of  grace." 
 
 From  the  information  given  to  the  reader,  it 
 will  appear  that  it  was  not  all  "rant"  which 
 
292  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 was  heard  from  this  venerable  man,  and  that  if 
 there  were  sometimes  "a  plenitude  of  enthu- 
 siasm,"* it  was  the  "love  of  Christ  that  con- 
 strained him''  warmly  to  preach  the  truths  of 
 the  Gospel. 
 
 There  may  have  been  seasons,  perhaps,  when 
 an  excited  mind  led  him  to  use  unguarded  ex- 
 pressions,— but  what  good  is  likely  to  follow 
 an  unfelt  address?  The  affections  must  be 
 moved,  before  impressions  are  produced. 
 
 The  animated  feelings  of  Mr.  Hill  sever  led 
 him  out  of  the  "good  old  paths"  in  which  he 
 had  always  travelled.  He  fed  his  people  with 
 knowledge  and  understanding.  He  was  not, 
 therefore,  very  likely  to  wander  into  the  by- 
 paths of  modern  prophecy  during  the  closing 
 days  of  his  ministry.  He  had  attentively  read 
 and  studied  the  prophets,  but  could  not  come 
 to  the  conclusions  of  the  modern  millennarian. 
 No  one  more  fully  believed  than  he  "that 
 the  earth  would  be  filled  with  the  knowledge 
 of  the  glory  of  the  Lord  as  the  waters  cover 
 the  sea."  He  rejoiced  in  the  prospect  "  that  Bel 
 would  bow  down,  and  that  Nebo  would  stoop, 
 before  the  sceptre  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  but 
 
 *  See  Jones's  Life,  p.  27. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  293 
 
 he  never  could  believe  that  the  kingdom  of 
 Christ  would  be  of  this  world.  He  thought 
 that  it  degraded  the  Divine  Redeemer,  to  con- 
 fine him  in  his  personal  reign  to  the  narrow 
 limits  of  the  Holy  Land, — but  it  appeared  to 
 him  a  high  and  spiritual  view  of  the  matter, 
 to  believe  that  the  Saviour  would  reign,  by  his 
 glorious  Spirit,  in  the  hearts  of  all  people 
 "  made  willing  in  the  day  of  his  power." 
 
 The  words  of  the  Redeemer,  "  It  is  not  for 
 you  to  know  the  times  or  the  seasons,  which  the 
 Father  hath  put  in  his  own  power,"  always 
 checked  the  holy  mind  of  Mr.  Hill  from  vain 
 speculations  as  to  the  exact  time  when  the  Lord 
 would  make  his  second  appearance.  "  I  wrould 
 not  have  you  anxious,"  said  he,  the  last  time  he 
 addressed  his  people,  "  to  settle  the  time  when  or 
 the  place  where  the  Saviour  is  to  come,  so  much 
 as  to  consider  that  he  is  to  come  spiritually." 
 
 In  a  sermon  preached  in  1832  he  remarks, 
 "  I  fear  that  many  good  people  have  gone  too 
 far  in  the  expectation  of  the  personal  coming 
 of  Christ,  but  I  am  sure  none  of  us  can  go  too 
 far  in  our  expectation  of  the  spiritual  coming 
 of  Christ  If  Christ  were  to  come  into  the  next 
 parish,  what  should  I  be  the  better  for  it  in  this 
 corporeal  state?     But  if  he  come  into  my  heart, 
 
294  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 blessed  be  his  name,  it  makes  a  little  heaven 
 there.  You  cannot  too  frequently  present  to 
 God  that  most  solemn  prayer,  'Thy  kingdom 
 come.'  Oh  !  that  lovely  kingdom,  that  is  right- 
 eousness, and  peace,  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
 Ghost,  the  kingdom  of  God,  which  is  Christ 
 within  us  the  hope  of  glory,  a  kingdom  which 
 rules  over  every  passion  of  the  mind,  and  brings 
 us  into  holy  subjection  to  the  Lord." 
 
 He  remarked  in  another  of  his  sermons, 
 "  Though  some  people  may  have  been  a  little 
 out  of  the  way  in  talking  about  Christ's  tem- 
 poral reign  on  earth,  we  shall  none  of  us  be  out 
 of  the  way  in  talking  about  his  spiritual  reign 
 in  our  hearts." 
 
 He  seldom,  therefore,  "  sounded  a  trumpet, 
 or  poured  out  a  vial  of  wrath,  or  broke  the 
 mystic  seals,"  before  his  people.  He  confined 
 himself  to  the  great  doctrinal  and  practical 
 truths  of  the  Bible,  believing  that  they  would 
 build  up  the  saint  in  his  holy  faith,  and  lead  the 
 wandering  sinner  to  the  Divine  Redeemer  as 
 his  only  hope  of  salvation. 
 
 In  1832  I  called  on  him,  and  found  him 
 closeted  with  a  respectable-looking  female,  who 
 appeared  about  thirty  years  of  age.  I  was 
 retiring  from  the  room,  when  Mr.  Hill  called 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  2;)5 
 
 me  back,  and  begged  me  to  be  seated.  There 
 was  then  a  silence  for  several  seconds,  and 
 I  saw  by  an  inexpressibly  sly  shrug,  that  my 
 venerable  friend  had  an  unwelcome  visitor.  The 
 lady,  however,  was  not  "  slow  to  speak."  The 
 silence  was  soon  broken  by  a  few  remarks 
 which  she  directed  to  me.  "  Sir, — I  have  felt 
 it  my  duty  to  call  on  this  good  old  gentleman, 
 and  endeavour  to  explain  to  him  some  great 
 truths  of  which  he  appears  to  be  quite  ignorant. 
 I  heard  him  preach  yesterday,  and  was  quite 
 distressed  to  think  the  people  should  be  so 
 misled.  I  have  been  talking  with  him,  but  he 
 does  not  appear  to  understand  me.  Poor 
 gentleman,  I  suppose  his  mind  is  getting  very 
 weak."  "Very  weak  indeed,"  said  Mr.  Hill. 
 The  female  teacher  then  expounded  to  me  her 
 prophetical  system,  and  inquired,  "  Do  you 
 understand  me  ?"  "  No,  madam,  I  do  not." 
 "  Dear  me,  how  dark  are  the  minds  of  some  of 
 the  Lord's  children  !"  "  There  now  !"  exclaimed 
 my  friend,  "  you  have  got  it."  I  did  not  attempt 
 to  answer  the  rhapsody  of  the  lady,  and  received 
 her  lecture  in  humble  silence.  At  length, 
 Mr.  Hill,  in  a  loud  whisper  across  the  table, 
 said,  pointing  his  finger  to  his  head,  and  looking 
 towards  his  fair  friend,  "  I  think  there's  a  screw 
 
296  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 loose."  This  was  enough  for  the  learned 
 female  theologian,  and  she  immediately  de- 
 camped, "  I  love  to  answer  a  fool  according  to 
 her  folly,"  said  Mr.  Hill ;  and  there  the  matter 
 ended. 
 
 On  another  occasion,  a  gentleman  versed  in 
 the  prophecies  called,  and  requested  an  inter- 
 view, which  was  granted.  He  gave  many  rea- 
 sons for  believing  that  the  Saviour  would 
 personally  reign  at  Jerusalem.  "  Do  you  know, 
 sir,  the  name  of  the  street  in  which  he  will 
 reside  ?"  inquired  Mr.  Hill.  "  Why  do  you  ask 
 that  question  ?"  "  Because  his  personal  presence 
 at  Jerusalem  will  do  me  no  good,  unless  I  am 
 with  him."  This  gentleman  was  unable  to  make 
 a  convert  of  the  good  man,  and  he  soon  gave  up 
 the  work  in  despair. 
 
 In  April,  1832,  he  remarked  in  his  morning 
 sermon,  "  There  is  much  assurance  in  the 
 present  day  in  those  who  follow  the  whimsies 
 of  these  times.  Some  people  talk  of  having  the 
 gift  of  tongues ;  others  pretend  to  be  wise  above 
 the  things  that  are  written,  and  can  understand 
 prophecy  in  a  wonderful  manner.  I  will  only 
 go  so  far  as  the  sacred  book  has  directed  me, 
 and  look  and  wait  with  reverence  for  the  time 
 to  come,     I  am  sure  of  one  thing,  it  is  of  little 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  297 
 
 use  to  have  tongues,  unless  you  have  the  gift 
 of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  teach  you  how  to  manage 
 them."* 
 
 It  will  be  seen  that  our  venerable  friend 
 wandered  not  from  the  great  truths  which  he 
 preached  during  an  unusually  long  ministry. 
 He  was  mercifully  kept  by  the  power  of  God 
 through  numerous  dangers,  and  could  look  back 
 upon  many  that  once  ran  well,  but,  wishing  to 
 be  wise  above  that  which  is  revealed,  and 
 having  fed  their  people  with  fanciful  novelties, 
 instead  of  "  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word,"  had 
 made  awful  shipwreck  of  faith  and  a  pure  con- 
 science. It  is  well  to  be  daily  reminded,  that 
 "  secret  things  belong  to  God ;  but  those  which 
 are  revealed,  to  us  and  to  our  children." 
 
 The  incessant  preaching  engagements  of 
 Mr.  Hill,  and  the  number  of  members  in  his 
 church,  which  amounted  at  one  time  to  nearly 
 800,  prevented  him  from  efficiently  discharging 
 pastoral  duties ;  but  he  did  what  he  could,  and 
 the  poor  and  afflicted  were  not  overlooked  by 
 
 *  See  "  Fifteen  Sermons  on  Important  Subjects, 
 by  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill/'  published  by  Bennett ; 
 they  are  fair  specimens  of  the  preacher's  style  in  his 
 latter  years,  and  his  remarks  are  given  with  con- 
 siderable accuracy. 
 
298  MEMOIR    OF 
 
 him.  He  made  frequent  visits  to  the  aged  wo- 
 men who  occupied  the  almshouses,  and  some- 
 times his  patience  was  a  little  tried  by  their 
 want  of  Christian  contentment.  No  circum- 
 stance gave  him  greater  satisfaction  than  to  see 
 the  poor  professor  of  religion  an  example  to  the 
 world  in  all  things.  He  would  often  say, 
 "  I  love  the  remark,  '  Cleanliness  is  next  to 
 godliness,'  and  /  don't  know  how  godliness  and 
 filthiness  can  dwell  together."  On  another 
 occasion,  when  speaking  to  the  working  classes, 
 he  said,  "  I  don't  think  much  of  that  man's 
 religion  who  is  without  his  Sunday  coat,  when 
 a  good  Providence  gives  him  plenty  of  work." 
 There  were  some  of  the  aged  poor  he  loved  to 
 visit,  and  with  them  he  held  sweet  communion. 
 For  one  old  member  in  particular,  a  woman 
 of  a  fine  understanding,  who  had  well  brought 
 up  her  family,  he  felt  a  high  Christian  regard, 
 and  very  frequently  walked  to  her  humble  abode, 
 to  spend  a  short  time  in  spiritual  conversation 
 and  prayer.  How  delightful  to  see  the  baronet's 
 son,  and  the  uncle  of  the  peer,  and  the  popular 
 preacher,  thus  finding  it  good  "  to  condescend 
 to  persons  of  low  estate."  After  these  visits, 
 in  the  next  sermon  he  preached  he  would  fre- 
 quently refer  to  the  remarks  which  had  pleased 
 
REV.    ROWLAND    HILL.  299 
 
 him.  He  took  a  very  lively  interest  in  the 
 temporal  and  spiritual  happiness  of  all  his 
 flock.  Nothing,  perhaps,  afforded  him  a  more 
 innocent  gratification  than  to  be  requested  to 
 marry  his  young  people,  for  he  was  allowed  for 
 that  purpose  the  use  of  the  churches,  where  he 
 was  not  permitted  to  preach.  When  these 
 requests  were  made,  the  parties  generally  im- 
 pressed on  the  old  pastor's  mind  the  necessity 
 of  secrecy.  However,  he  was  not  long  able  to 
 obey  their  wishes.  The  first  person  that  called 
 would  have  the  question  put  to  him,  "  Young 
 
 is  a  pretty  sort  of  lad.     Do  you  know  him? 
 
 Have  you  heard  the  news?  He's  likely  to  get 
 married."  "To  whom?"  "Oh!  I  must  not 
 tell  you."  "When?"  "Why,  I'm  requested 
 to  be  at  church  on  Wednesday ;"  and  thus  the 
 intelligence  would  soon  spread. 
 
 The  numerous  calls  daily  made  on  Mr.  Hill 
 were  of  a  varied  description.  Some  persons 
 applied  for  situations  under  government,  others 
 wished  to  enter  the  army;  many  were  anxious 
 for  the  priest's  office,  that  they  might  obtain 
 a  morsel  of  bread.  He  wisely  dealt  with  all 
 these  applications.  Like  most  other  public 
 men,  he  was  occasionally  troubled  with  anony- 
 mous  letters,    which   he    always    treated   with 
 
300  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 merited  contempt.  He  would  at  times  refer  to 
 the  reception  of  these  communications  from  the 
 pulpit,  and  then  add  the  remark,  "  if  you  wish 
 me  to  read  your  anonymous  letters,  you  must 
 always  enclose  a  £5  note,  in  them  for  some  good 
 charity." 
 
 The  kind  pastor  had  one  constant  troubler 
 for  several  years,  a  blind  man,  who  was  the 
 fruit  of  his  own  ministry.  He  entered  Surrey 
 Chapel  soon  after  its  erection,  with  a  heart  full 
 of  opposition  to  the  truth,  but  the  sermon  led 
 him  to  the  Saviour  for  mercy.  The  old  man, 
 who  was  a  butcher,  often  related,  that  after  his 
 conversion  he  refused  to  have  the  theatrical 
 bills  exhibited  in  his  shop.  "  Down  went  the 
 devil's  flags,  and  they  never  hung  there  again." 
 The  poor  man  became  blind,  and  lived  till  his 
 mind  was  imbecile.  He  was  then  anxious  to 
 become  the  poet  laureat  of  the  Evangelical 
 Magazine.  Every  month  he  sent  his  dictated 
 effusions  to  Mr.  Hill  for  insertion.  The  good 
 minister,  wishing  to  please  his  old  friend  in  his 
 second  childhood,  used  to  take  down  a  volume 
 of  the  Magazine,  and  place  the  manuscript 
 inside  the  leaves,  and  then  tell  the  messenger 
 
 who  brought  it,   "  Give  my  love  to  Mr. , 
 
 and  say  I  have  put  his  verses  into  the  Magazine." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  301 
 
 He  felt  that  there  was  no  harm  in  thus  inno- 
 cently gratifying  the  aged  poet. 
 
 At  the  close  of  Mr.  Hill's  winter  residence  at 
 Surrey  Chapel,  he  took  an  affectionate  farewell  of 
 his  people  at  the  church  meeting  on  the  Monday 
 evening  previous  to  his  departure  for  Wotton. 
 During  this  last  address,  he  furnished  the  par- 
 ticulars of  his  summer  supplies.  He  would  say, 
 1 1  always  like  to  get  you  the  best  preachers  I  can 
 during  my  absence.  You'll  have  good  Mr.  Jay,  of 
 Bath,  and  young  Mr.  Elliott,  of  Devizes.  I  hope 
 dear  Mr.  Sibree,  of  Frome  (ah,  he's  a  good  man) 
 will  be  with  you.  Then  there  will  be  good 
 Mr.  Slatterie,  and  Mr.  Griffin,  and  others — and 
 may  the  Lord  abundantly  bless  them  all."  In 
 the  latter  years  of  his  ministry  he  would  say  to 
 his  people,  6i  My  noisy  Welshman  will  spend 
 a  few  Sabbaths  with  you."  At  the  close  of  the 
 last  service,  Mr.  Hill  would  get  completely 
 away  from  the  people,  if  he  could  make  his 
 escape,  but  he  was  generally  stopped  in  the 
 vestry.  With  very  deep  emotions  he  would  say, 
 1 1  don't  like  these  farewells,"  and  would  then 
 take  an  affectionate  leave  of  his  friends.  His 
 diversified  remarks  to  the  aged  and  the  young, 
 the  rich  and  the  poor,  were  calculated  to  make 
 
302  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 a  lasting  impression  on  the  minds  of  all  who 
 were  present.  The  pastor  was  loved  by  his 
 people. 
 
 This  sketch  of  the  ministerial  character  of 
 Mr.  Hill  cannot  be  concluded  without  noticing 
 the  disinterestedness  of  all  his  labours.  Although 
 the  trustees  of  the  chapel  contributed  towards 
 the  household  charges  at  Surrey  Chapel,  yet 
 Mr.  Hill's  expenditure  went  far  beyond  such 
 allowance.  He  was  able,  by  the  kindness  of 
 Providence,  to  decline  receiving  a  stated  salary 
 for  his  efficient  services.  He  had  in  every 
 sense  "  freely  received,  and  therefore  he  freely 
 gave."  On  this  subject,  Mr.  Hill  on  one  occa- 
 sion felt  himself  called  upon  to  state  how  this 
 matter  stood. 
 
 "  If  any  one  supposes,"  he  remarks,  "  I  am 
 making  a  purse  by  my  winter's  residence  at 
 Surrey  Chapel,  they  may  be  assured,  that  a 
 considerable  surplus  is  annually  required  out 
 of  my  own  private  fortune  to  discharge  all  the 
 demands  that  are  upon  me  from  day  to  day, 
 from  the  situation  I  am  called  to  fill. 
 
 "  1  have  ever  yet  enjoyed  the  privilege  of 
 lending  my  aid  to  charitable  institutions,  and 
 of  making  all  my  labours,  when  absent  from 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  303 
 
 town,  perfectly  gratuitous,  wherever  I  am  called 
 to  serve.  The  tongue  of  unprovoked  slander 
 has  called  from  me  this  vindication  of  myself." 
 
 In  concluding  this  part  of  the  narrative,  we 
 may  apply  the  words  of  Scripture  to  Mr.  Hill : 
 "  He  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost  and  of  faith ;  and  much  people  were  added 
 to  the  Lord." 
 
 Prompt  at  every  call, 
 
 He  watch'd  and  wept,  he  prayed  and  felt  for  all, 
 And,  as  a  bird  each,  fond  endearment  tries, 
 To  tempt  its  new-fledg'd  offspring  to  the  skies, 
 He  tried  each  art,  reproved  each  dull  delay, 
 Allur'd  to  brighter  worlds — and  led  the  way.* 
 
804  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 CHAR  VII. 
 
 MR.  HILL'S  CHARACTER  IN  PRIVATE  AND 
 RELATIVE  LIFE. 
 
 Personal  holiness  of  mr.  hill — the  intoxicated  minister — 
 the  tale  op  the  wig — moderation  in  diet — amusements — 
 the  professor  of  religion  at  the  horse-races — singular 
 remarks  on  amusements — the  safe  rule — anecdotes  illus- 
 trating mr.  hill's  humility —  his  prayerful  spirit — his 
 extensive  benevolence — the  miser — the  undertaker's  bill 
 — the  pious  clergyman — illustrations  of  mr.  hill's  ready 
 and  pointed  wit — the  rev.  cornelius  winter — the  wet-nurse 
 — common  sense — the  household  of  faith — the  difference 
 between  a  bench  of  bishops  and  a  board  of  ministers — his 
 occasional  depression — the  poet  cowper — mr.  hill  in  afflic- 
 tion— his  great  love  for  his  relatives — st.  john's  "  innume- 
 rables" — character  of  mrs.  hill — her  death— extract  from 
 the  funeral  sermon  for  rouauet — interesting  anecdote — 
 original  letter — mr.  hill's  reference  to  mrs.  hill's  death 
 — family  livings — affectionate  and  liberal  conduct  of 
 mr.  hill  to  his  servants — giles  archer — his  death — the 
 bill  of  exchange— mr.  hill's  absence  of  mind — the  break- 
 fast scene— the  swearing  parent — his  love  for  animals — 
 original  letter — false  reports — interesting  conversation 
 with  mr.  and  mrs.  hill — scripture  biography — review  of 
 mr.  hill's  private  character — anecdote  of  mr.  hill  and  an 
 insolvent — extravagant  praise — the  independent  minister 
 —  leamington— the  bigot  for  liberality — anecdote  of  inter- 
 view with  a  congregationalist. 
 
 An  intimate  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Hill  greatly 
 endeared  him  to  his  friends.  He  was  an  epistle 
 of  Jesus  Christ,  known  and  read  of  all  men,  and 
 few  led  a  more  holy  and  godly  life.    For  eighty- 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  305 
 
 nine  years  he  passed  through  the  world  without 
 spot  or  blemish,  and  had  the  privilege  of  main- 
 taining his  great  popularity  to  the  last.  His 
 moral  worth  was  the  salt  which  preserved  him 
 in  the  changing  scenes  through  which  he 
 passed.  He  would  often  say,  "  I  can  preach 
 without  my  cassock,  but  not  without  my  cha- 
 racter." Personal  holiness  was  the  striking 
 feature  of  his  life, — and  no  one  could  cast  a 
 stone  at  him  on  this  point.  His  soul  was 
 grieved  at  the  failings  of  Christians, — and  par- 
 ticularly of  Christian  ministers,  whom  he' 
 watched  with  great  jealousy.  He  was  once 
 preaching  for  the  Missionary  Society,  and  was 
 accompanied  to  the  chapel  by  several  ministers, 
 and  other  Christian  friends.  After  the  service 
 he  returned  home  by  water,  and  soon  found,  by 
 the  unhappy  hilarity  of  one  of  the  party,  that 
 all  was  not  right.  He  said  to  his  servant,  in  a 
 loud  voice,  "  Charles,  when  you  see  a  parson 
 drunk,  don't  talk  about  it,  for  you  will  injure 
 the  cause  of  religion :  but  whenever  you  see  me 
 drunk,  tell  all  the  world  about  it."  The  remark 
 must  have  affected  the  guilty  man,  if  he  had 
 reason  enough  left  to  understand  it. 
 
 Our  venerable  friend  took  every  opportunity 
 of  enforcing  upon  young  ministers  the  great 
 
 x 
 
306  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 importance  of  ministerial  consistency,  in  their 
 private  and  public  conduct, — if  they  desired  to 
 be  successful  labourers  in  the  vineyard.  He 
 once  preached  a  sermon  to  the  students  belong- 
 ing to  one  of  the  London  dissenting  colleges,  in 
 which  he  dwelt  much  on  this  topic,  and  gave 
 them  the  following  homely  but  convincing  illus- 
 tration.—  "A  pious  man,  having  saved  a  little 
 money,  as  a  barber,  thought  he  would  leave  the 
 anxieties  of  business,  and  close  his  days  in  his 
 native  village.  He  retired,  accordingly,  but,  to 
 his  great  sorrow,  he  found  the  people  destitute 
 of  the  means  of  grace.  After  a  little  reflection, 
 he  determined  to  open  his  little  cottage,  for 
 reading  the  Scriptures,  and  prayer.  The 
 attendance  became  encouraging,  when  the  good 
 man  ventured  to  comment  .  on  a  portion  of 
 Scripture, — then  he  read  a  sermon, — at  length 
 he  began  to  preach  boldly  the  unsearchable 
 riches  of  Christ, — and  eventually  a  neat  chapel 
 was  built,  and  he  was  chosen  the  pastor  by 
 an  affectionate  people.  In  the  course  of  a  few 
 years,  another  friend  left  the  busy  world,  and 
 settled  in  the  same  village.  He  became  a 
 liberal  supporter  of  the  place,  and  active  in 
 every  good  work,  and  was  particularly  attached 
 to  the  worthy  minister.     As  time  rolled  on,  this 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  307 
 
 gentleman  required  a  new  wig,  and  he  deli- 
 cately hinted  to  the  pastor,  that,  as  his  finances 
 were  low,  perhaps  he  could  occupy  a  few  spare 
 moments  in  preparing  one,  and  so  gain  an 
 honest  penny.  The  proposal  was  agreed  to, — 
 the  wig  was  made,  and  sent  home.  Alas,  alas  ! 
 it  was  a  bad  fit,  and  the  charge  exceedingly 
 high.  However,  no  notice  was  taken  of  the 
 matter ;  but  when  the  pastor  prayed,  his  friend 
 said  to  himself,  '  A  sweet  prayer — but  the  wig  P 
 Then,  when  with  holy  fervour  the  truths  of  the 
 Gospel  were  enforced,  the  good  man  would  say, 
 4  We  have  had  a  good  sermon, — but  the  wig  P 
 Oh!  (said  Mr.  Hill,)  the  wig  spoiled  every 
 thing ;  it  was  the  fly  in  the  ointment. — Take 
 care,  my  dear  young  friends,  then,  of  the  wig, 
 throughout  your  ministerial  course." 
 
 The  good  pastor  was  also  anxious,  by  his 
 example  and  precept,  to  impress  upon  the 
 minds  of  young  ministers  the  great  importance 
 of  letting  "  their  moderation  be  known  unto  all 
 men,"  in  their  friendly  intercourse  with  their 
 people.  He  was  careful  to  maintain  this  prac- 
 tice at  his  own  table.  He  was  liberal,  but  not 
 prodigal,  of  the  blessings  of  Providence.  He 
 was  a  remarkably  small  eater,  and  seldom 
 allowed  himself  more  than  two  glasses  of  wine 
 
308  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 after  his  dinner.  This  practice  he  particularly 
 followed  when  he  was  travelling  for  religious 
 objects ;  for  he  had  often  witnessed  the  great 
 evils  which  had  followed  from  indiscretion  on 
 this  point.  Christians,  and  particularly  Chris- 
 tian ministers,  he  considered  should  "abstain 
 from  the  appearance  of  evil."  Mr.  Hill  was 
 an  acute  observer  of  men  and  things,  in  his 
 extended  intercourse  with  society.  He  often 
 found  that  injudicious  persons,  who  were  most 
 forward  in  pressing  the  good  things  of  the 
 world  upon  ministers,  were  the  first  to  expose 
 them,  if  they  went  beyond  the  bounds  of 
 strict  moderation. 
 
 Religion  made  Mr.  Hill  an  eminently  happy 
 man.  He  daily  walked  in  paths  of  pleasantness 
 and  peace.  There  was  generally  the  appear- 
 ance of  great  cheerfulness  in  his  countenance ; 
 sometimes  he  had  the  playfulness  of  a  little 
 child.  He  would  strongly  condemn  all  confor- 
 mity to  the  customs  of  the  world,  though  he 
 never  objected  to  the  rational  and  innocent 
 amusements  of  life.  On  this  subject  he 
 remarks,  "  Did  the  world  but  know  the  plea- 
 sant conviviality  and  real  affection  the  children 
 of  God  enjoy  with  each  other,  they  would  never 
 be  surprised  that  we  envy  them  not  their  mid- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  309 
 
 night  revel,  nor  wish  to  partake,  with  them,  the 
 cup  of  intoxication,  or  roar  out  like  madmen 
 the  wretched  song  of  the  drunkard."  He  some- 
 times touched  upon  sinful  amusements,  and 
 then  told  a  tale  of  "a  mighty  fine  professor  of 
 religion,  who  was  once  found  at  a  horse-race. 
 "  Mercy  on  us,"  said  a  friend,  "  how  came  you 
 here?"  He  meekly  replied,  "I  merely  came 
 to  witness  the  vanity  of  the  world! !" 
 
 On  the  subject  of  lawful  recreations  there  is 
 an  amusing  passage  in  one  of  his  publications, 
 "I  verily  declare,  it  never  would  have  hurt  my 
 conscience,  had  I  possessed  a  living,  to  have 
 made  my  steeple  my  observatory,  the  best  win- 
 dow in  my  chancel  the  place  for  experiments  in 
 optics ;  nor  would  an  electrical  machine,  in  my 
 esteem,  have  defiled  even  the  communion-table 
 itself.  I  should  not  have  broken  my  ordination 
 vows  thereby,  for  these  are  not  the  studies  of 
 the  world  and  the  flesh ;  and  had  I  invited  a 
 large  circle  of  my  intelligent  parishioners  to 
 have  beheld  these  displays  of  the  Creator's 
 glory,  I  should  not  have  done  the  least  injury 
 to  my  conscience,  for  all  this  would  have  intro- 
 duced a  serious  comment  on  the  Scriptures 
 themselves.  <  How  manifold  are  thy  works, 
 O  Lord !  in  wisdom  hast  thou  made  them  all. 
 
310  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  earth  is  full  of  thy  goodness.'  Nor  would 
 the  solemn  work  of  prayer  itself  have  been  an 
 inconsistent  conclusion,  for  the  blessing  of  God 
 on  our  truly  innocent  amusements."* 
 
 The  safe  rule  Mr.  Hill  laid  down  for  his 
 people  was,  "  Go  to  such  places  only  where 
 you  can  ask  a  blessing  on  your  amusements, 
 and  you  will  never  do  amiss. f 
 
 Humility  richly  adorned  the  character  of 
 Mr.  Hill,  though  he  naturally  possessed  all  the 
 dignity  of  one  of  the  English  aristocracy.  As  a 
 minister  of  Christ  he  was  often  humbled  in  the 
 dust,  on  hearing  of  the  success  of  his  labours, 
 and  would  feelingly  exclaim,  i6  Lord,  I  am  an 
 unprofitable  servant."  When  he  approached 
 the  footstool  of  mercy,  and  held  communion 
 with  his  heavenly  Father,  then  he  felt  as 
 "  a  worm,  and  no  man." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  once  at  the  house  of  a  lady,  at 
 Chatham,  who  had  his  portrait  over  her  fire- 
 place. She  requested  him,  as  a  particular 
 favour,  to  put  his  name  at  the  back  of  the 
 picture,  which  would  greatly  increase  its  value 
 in  her  estimation.      He  complied,  and  wrote, 
 
 *  Letter  to  Tattersall,  p.  19. 
 f  First  Journal,  p.  16. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  311 
 
 "  Unto  me,  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all 
 saints,  is  this  grace  given,  that  I  should  preach 
 among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of 
 Christ" 
 
 The  spirit  of  prayer  appeared  richly  to  rest 
 on  the  mind  of  the  holy  man,  in  all  public 
 services.  In  private  life  you  could  not  remain 
 with  him  many  minutes  without  hearing  the 
 language  of  supplication  drop  from  his  lips. 
 He  appeared  fully  to  enter  into  the  text, 
 "Praying  with  all  prayer  and  supplication  in 
 the  Spirit."  A  frequent  remark  of  his  was, 
 "  There  is  a  holy  aptitude  in  the  renewed  soul 
 to  pray  to  God.  Like  the  bird,  it  is  no  trial 
 ever  to  be  ready  to  take  the  wing; — a  Christian 
 is  always  prepared  for  heavenly  communion." 
 Much  of  Mr.  Hill's  time  was  passed  in  secret 
 ejaculatory  prayer,  by  which  he  frequently 
 seemed  to  be  near  the  eternal  throne.  In  the 
 devotions  of  the  family  he  was  brief,  but 
 exceedingly  varied.  He  delighted  to  converse 
 on  the  subject  of  the  Christian's  fellowship  with 
 the  Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ. 
 Referring  to  his  own  feelings,  when  enjoying 
 the  happy  privilege,  he  would  exclaim, 
 
 "  In  secret  silence  of  the  mind, 
 My  God,  and  there  my  heaven  I  find." 
 
31*2  31EM0IR  OF 
 
 He  greatly  enjoyed  the  church  service,  and 
 was  always  present  while  it  was  read.  At  times 
 there  was  a  want  of  due  reverence  in  his  manner 
 in  the  pulpit,  when  repeating  the  Lord's  prayer : 
 his  eyes  would  be  open,  and  he  would  look 
 about  in  various  directions.  He  occasionally 
 repeated,  in  his  sermons,  portions  of  the  pray- 
 ers, and  the  chapters  for  the  day,  "for  the 
 benefit  of  those  who  were  too  late  for  that 
 interesting  part  of  the  holy  worship  of  the 
 sanctuary." 
 
 Benevolence  was  a  striking  feature  in  Mr. 
 Hill's  character.  He  had  no  love  for  money, 
 and  only  valued  it  as  the  means  of  doing  good, 
 and  obtaining  the  meat  that  perisheth.  Such 
 was  the  generosity  of  his  nature,  that  he  would 
 have  given  away  all  that  he  possessed,  had  it 
 not  been  for  the  kind  and  restraining  influence 
 which  Mrs.  Hill  exercised  over  him.  The 
 Chapel-house  was  continually  crowded  by  beg- 
 gars, and  seldom  did  a  worthy  person  apply  in 
 vain.  But  he  had  a  strong  objection  to  a  plan 
 adopted  by  some  ministers,  of  hawking  about 
 their  own  productions,  which  he  thought  only 
 a  genteel  mode  of  begging.  The  writer  was 
 present  one  morning,  when  a  minister  called 
 to  inquire  if  Mr,  Hill  would  keep  the  volume 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  313 
 
 of  sermons  he  had  left  the  preceding  day. 
 The  old  gentleman  rose,  and,  returning  the 
 book,  said  with  much  apparent  condescension, 
 "  Sir,  you  are  very  obliging  to  bring  your 
 sermons  to  me,  but  I  have  so  many  in  my 
 library  which  I  have  never  read,  that  I  do  not 
 need  your  excellent  volume  at  present." 
 
 At  the  last  interview  which  I  ever  had  with 
 my  respected  friend,  he  gave  me  a  donation 
 for  a  poor  minister.  He  then,  for  the  first 
 time,  intimated  that  he  saved  no  part  of  his 
 annual  income,  and  that  he  thought  that  two- 
 thirds  of  it  were  often  devoted  to  charitable 
 purposes.  He  daily  practised  his  own  advice, 
 "  Such  as  have  it  in  their  power  should  make 
 the  poor  man!  s  pocket  the  bank  of  their  riches"* 
 He  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  leading  insti- 
 tutions of  the  day,  and  contributed  very  freely 
 to  almost  innumerable  chapel  cases. 
 
 In  the  final  arrangement  of  his  worldly  affairs, 
 he  was  not  unmindful  of  the  Saviour's  cause.  He 
 devoted,  anonymously,  several  thousand  pounds 
 to  the  religious  and  benevolent  institutions 
 of  the  day,  which  he  had  been  accustomed 
 in  life  liberally  to  support.  Mr.  Hill  fre- 
 quently referred    with    great   severity  to    illi- 
 
 *   Answer  to  Wesley,  page  38. 
 
314  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 beral  professors.  "  A  miser,"  he  would  say, 
 "is  like  a  pig,  of  no  use  until  he  is  dead 
 and  cut  up."  "There  are  some  persons,"  he 
 remarked,  "who  are  so  little  regretted  when 
 they  die,  that  the  last  thing  you  hear  about 
 them  is,  the  payment  of  the  undertaker's  bill." 
 On  the  other  hand,  in  reference  to  a  pious  cler- 
 gyman in  Dorsetshire,  who  was  exceedingly 
 exemplary  in  his  daily  conduct,  he  remarked, 
 "  He'll  cut  up  well,  Sir." — Surely  the  memory 
 of  the  just  is  blessed. 
 
 There  was  one  feature  in  Mr.  Hill's  mind, 
 which  must  have  impressed  every  person 
 favoured  with  his  society  —  his  extraordinary 
 readiness  in  apt  and  striking  illustrations  in  his 
 common  conversation.  Mr.  Jay  gives  an 
 instance  of  this  in  his  life  of  the  Rev.  Cornelius 
 Winter.  "  My  dear  and  honoured  friend, 
 Mr.  Hill,  with  his  usual  force  and  humour, 
 remarked,  <  Mr.  Winter  would  make  the  worst 
 devil  of  any  man  in  the  world,'  which  was  a 
 singular  but  striking  way  of  shewing  his  view 
 of  the  meekness,  gentleness,  and  loveliness  of 
 his  character." 
 
 The  wife  of  a  deservedly  popular  Independent 
 minister,  was  in  sentiment  a  Baptist.  On  one 
 occasion  she  complained  to  Mr.  Hill,  and  said, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  315 
 
 "Some  of  our  people,  Sir,  after  they  receive  good 
 under  my  husband's  ministry,  are  led  away  by  a 
 Baptist  preacher  of  the  Antinomian  class,  in  this 
 town."  "It  is  no  uncommon  thing,  Madam," 
 replied  Mr.  Hill,  archly,  "  to  put  out  rickety, 
 sickly  children  to  wet-nurse"  A  minister  once 
 said  to  Mr.  Hill,  "  How  much  that  is  painful 
 we  are  compelled  to  listen  to  from  our  people !" 
 "Yes,  Sir,  a  minister's  ears  are  like  common 
 sewers,  down  which  much  filth  will  flow ;  but 
 I  always  keep  the  sewers  well  open,  to  prevent 
 any  unpleasant  consequences." 
 
 On  one  occasion,  when  the  conversation 
 turned  on  the  expression,  "household  of  faith," 
 he  remarked,  "  I  suppose,  then,  the  Church- 
 man occupies  the  drawing-room,  the  Inde- 
 pendent the  parlour,  the  Methodist  the 
 kitchen,  and  the  Baptist  the  wash-house.,, 
 
 A  person  once  inquired  the  real  difference 
 between  "  a  bench  of  bishops,"  and  "  a  board  of 
 ministers."  Mr.  Hill  replied,  "The  one  has 
 legs,  the  other  none." 
 
 As  a  Christian,  Mr.  Hill  was  sometimes 
 "cast  down,  though  not  destroyed."  He  once 
 sent  for  me,  and  when  I  called,  finding  him 
 in  deep  despondency  of  spirit,  I  remained  with 
 him   the    whole    afternoon.       He    endured    so 
 
316  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 much  mental  anxiety,  that  he  was  quite  unable 
 to  preach.  A  friend  occupied  his  pulpit  in  the 
 evening,  and  on  returning  to  Mr.  Hill,  after  the 
 service,  I  found  that  the  cloud  had  passed 
 away,  and  the  venerable  saint  appeared  to  pos- 
 sess joy  and  peace  in  believing.  It  was  quite 
 clear  that  this  depression  arose  from  the  state 
 of  the  body,  and  the  effects  of  a  recent  bereave- 
 ment. He  habitually  entertained  such  exalted 
 views  of  the  majesty  and  glory  of  God,  in  his 
 justice,  holiness,  and  love,  that  there  was  a 
 solemn  awe  upon  his  mind,  in  the  prospect  of 
 meeting  Christ  in  his  kingdom.  When  he 
 thought  on  these  things  he  said,  "  Behold,  I 
 am  vile."  An  old  friend  inquired  of  him, 
 Whether  he  had  the  comforts  of  assurance. 
 He  replied,  "I  cannot  say  that  I  have  much  joy, 
 — I  have  no  triumphs, — but  my  mind  is  immov- 
 ably fixed  on  the  glorious  atonement  of  Christ; 
 there  I  rest  while  I  cry,  *God  be  merciful  to  me 
 a  sinner.'" 
 
 During  one  season  of  depression,  he  was 
 suddenly  roused  by  the  occurrence  of  a  most 
 ludicrous  circumstance.  The  servant  entered 
 the  room  with  a  letter,  which  required  an 
 answer,  "Charles,  read  the  letter,"  said  Mr. 
 Hill.     It  was  read  accordingly.     It  stated  that 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  317 
 
 the  bearer  was  the  child  of  pious  parents,  in 
 Lincolnshire,  who  had  trained  him  up  in  the 
 nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  —  that 
 he  had  been  a  few  days  only  in  London,  and 
 that  he  had  fallen  in  with  bad  companions,  and 
 while  asleep  at  his  lodging,  some  one  had 
 stolen  all  his  clothing, — and  that  he  was  com- 
 pelled to  remain  in  bed  until  he  could  borrow 
 clothes  in  the  neighbourhood."  He  then 
 appealed  to  Mr.  Hill  for  support,  on  the  ground 
 "  that  his  parents  had  heard  him  preach  in  the 
 country."  Mr.  Hill  was  tickled  at  the  tale, 
 and  his  humorous  fancy  sketched  a  picture  of 
 the  scene,  after  the  manner  of  a  Hogarth.  He 
 laughed  most  heartily,  and  during  the  remain- 
 der of  the  evening  enjoyed  much  serenity  of 
 mind.  He  was  not  the  only  one  who  some- 
 times found  there  was  but  a  slight  remove 
 from  the  grave  to  the  gay.  Cowper  wrote 
 "John  Gilpin"  when  in  a  melancholy  state  of 
 mind. 
 
 In  the  season  of  affliction  Mr.  Hill  bowed 
 meekly  to  the  will  of  God.  His  naturally  rest- 
 less spirit  then  found  repose  in  Christ.  He 
 was  confined  at  different  periods  with  affec- 
 tions of  the  eyes,  and  also  from  one  or  two 
 severe  falls.     His  sufferings  were  acute.     On 
 
318  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 resuming  his  labours,  after  passing  through 
 these  scenes  of  tribulation,  his  remarks  were  of 
 a  most  spiritual  and  appropriate  character. 
 On  this  subject  he  once  observed,  "  Christians, 
 you  were  taken  out  of  the  quarry  of  nature 
 rough  and  unpolished,  but  the  Lord  by  his 
 afflictive  dispensations  rubbed  you,  and  rubbed 
 you,  and  rubbed  you  again  and  again,  until  he 
 saw  his  own  face  shine  in  you." 
 
 There  was  great  natural  affection  in  Mr.  Hill, 
 to  all  his  kindred  according  to  the  flesh.  He 
 occasionally  referred  to  them,  and  always  with 
 the  deepest  solicitude,  when  he  feared  they 
 were  not  the  subjects  of  divine  grace.  He  was 
 once  speaking  of  a  beloved  relative, — and  after 
 dwelling  in  the  highest  terms  on  his  character, 
 he  remarked,  "  He  is  not  far  from  the  kingdom 
 of  God,  and  I  hope  he  will  be  prepared  for  it 
 before  he  leaves  this  world."  "How  remarkable 
 it  is,"  he  said,  "  you  sometimes  meet  with  the 
 professor  of  religion,  whose  character,  though 
 it  may  be  correct,  is  not  lovely,  and  yet  he  feels 
 the  necessity  of  being  decided  for  God;  while 
 another,  who  is  amiable  in  all  the  relative 
 duties  of  life,  requires  c  the  one  thing  needful,' 
 without  which  he  cannot  enter  the  kingdom  of 
 heaven." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  319 
 
 On  one  occasion,  when  his  relatives  were  the 
 subjects  of  remark,  he  referred  to  a  conver- 
 sation with  a  very  devoted  lady,  who  resided 
 in  North  Wales,  and  with  whom  he  had  been 
 on  most  intimate  terms.  "  Oh  !  Mr.  Hill,'*  she 
 remarked,  "how  painful  it  is  to  have  many 
 dear  relations  whose  general  conduct  is  un- 
 blameable,  but  who  are  without  faith  in  Jesus 
 Christ.  I  can  scarcely  bear  the  thought  of 
 eternal  separation  from  them.  I  was  lately 
 reading  the  seventh  chapter  of  Revelation. 
 When  St.  John  has  given  the  number  of  the 
 sealed  ones;  he  says,  *  After  this  I  beheld,  and, 
 lo,  a  multitude,  which  no  man  could  number, 
 of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and  people,  and 
 tongues,  stood  before  the  throne  and  before 
 the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and  palms 
 in  their  hands.'  "Sometimes  I  hope  that  I 
 shall  find  some  of  my  dear  connexions  among 
 St.  John's  innumerables." 
 
 This  benevolent  thought  cheered  the  mind 
 of  Mr.  Hill.  In  reference  to  one  of  his  dear 
 connexions,  he  remarked,  "  He  is  so  upright 
 in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  he  has  prayers 
 read  daily  in  his  family,  and  feels  so  much 
 respect  for  religion,  that  though  /  cannot  see 
 
320  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 yet  the  evidences  of  the  new  creature,  I  trust 
 the  truth  will  be  applied  with  power  to  his  soul, 
 and,  if  I  should  get  to  heaven,  that  I  shall  find 
 
 him   among   Mrs.  L 's    "innumerables." 
 
 This  excellent  man  was  the  subject  of  deep 
 grief  when  any  branch  of  his  family  was 
 removed  to  another  world. 
 
 In  every  respect  Mr.  Hill  was  a  lovely 
 example  of  that  respectful  attention  which  is 
 due  to  a  beloved  wife.  Her  worthy  name  has 
 been  snatched  from  obscurity  by  the  remarks 
 contained  in  Mr.  Jay's  funeral  sermon.  He  was 
 unable  to  account  for  the  fact  that  "  so  little 
 notice  had  been  taken  of  her;"  and  adds,  "  She 
 was  a  truly  gracious  woman,  of  a  very  sound 
 understanding,  and  possessing  the  ornament  of 
 a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight  of 
 God  of  great  price.  She  was  formed  for  a 
 minister's  wife — by  her  prudence,  peaceable- 
 ness,  untalkative  temper,  and  unintermeddling 
 conduct.  She  was  singularly  suited  to  the  man 
 she  espoused;  and  our  friend's  obligation  to 
 those  properties  in  her  character  which  tended 
 to  qualify  the  peculiarities  of  his  own,  were 
 great;  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  he  would 
 have  been  willing  to  say  of  her,  as  Mr.  Newton 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  321 
 
 did  of  his  wife,  "I  never  followed  her  advice, 
 but  I  had  reason  to  approve  of  it ;  and  I  never 
 acted  against  it,  but  I  had  cause  to  repent 
 of  it." 
 
 The  manners  of  Mrs.  Hill  were  affable  and 
 pleasant  to  those  who  were  acquainted  with 
 her,  though  they  appeared  distant  and  reserved 
 to  a  stranger.  She  was  accustomed  to  see 
 great  numbers,  who  called  on  her  husband  on 
 various  matters.  It  was  impossible  she  could 
 attend  to  them  all, — and  the  necessity  she 
 sometimes  felt  of  protecting  her  benevolent  and 
 unsuspecting  companion  from  imposition,  was 
 calculated  to  raise  reports  not  very  favourable 
 to  her  courtesy. 
 
 Mr.  Hill's  beautiful  description  of  the  union 
 that  existed  between  his  beloved  friends  Mr. 
 and  Mrs.  Rouquet,  may  properly  be  applied 
 to  his  own  domestic  course.  —  "  Those  silken 
 cords,  both  of  nature  and  grace,  were  so  twined 
 around  their  hearts,  and  had  made  them  so 
 completely  one  in  all  they  said  or  did,  that 
 if  ever  twain  were  seen  to  be  one  flesh,  it  might 
 have  been  seen  in  them."* 
 
 *  Token  for  Rouquet,  p.  18# 
 
322  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  high  views  entertained  by  Mr.  Hill  01 
 this  endeared  domestic  relation,  will  be  seen 
 from  the  following  fact: — 
 
 "  The  late  Mrs. dined  with  Mr.  Hill 
 
 on  the  New  Year's  Day,  a  short  time  before 
 her  death.  The  venerable  man  was  deeply 
 interested  in  her  conversation;  and,  on  her 
 sudden  removal,  which  occurred  soon  after, 
 was  much  affected,  and  consented  to  deliver 
 the  funeral  oration.  A  friend  remarked, 
 on  the  occasion,  "  I  am  afraid  our  dear 
 minister  loved  his  wife  too  well ;  and  the  Lord, 
 in  wisdom,  has  removed  her."  "  What,  Sir !" 
 replied  Mr.  Hill,  with  the  deepest  feeling, 
 "can  a  man  love  a  good  wife  too  much? 
 impossible,  Sir,  unless  he  can  love  her  better 
 than  Christ  loves  the  Church.  'Husbands, 
 love  your  wives,  even  as  Christ  also  loved  the 
 Church,  and  gave  himself  for  it.'" 
 
 Mrs.  Hill  had  a  severe  illness  a  few  years 
 before  her  death,  and  underwent  a  painful 
 operation  for  cancer.  When  the  medical  men 
 were  in  attendance,  they  were  proceeding  to 
 confine  their  patient;  but  Mrs.  Hill  begged 
 that  she  might  remain  at  liberty,  feeling  quite 
 sure  she  should  be  able   patiently  to  sustain 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  323 
 
 the  trial.  Without  a  struggle  or  a  groan  she 
 endured  the  painful  operation.  At  this  period 
 Mr.  Hill's  feelings  were  peculiarly  acute.  He 
 was  in  restless  agony,  until  assured  that  his  dear 
 sufferer  had  passed  the  ordeal.  Her  life,  by 
 this  operation,  was  spared  for  a  few  years; 
 but  on  the  17th  of  August,  1S30,  whilst  at  Wot- 
 ton,  she  was  called  to  her  eternal  rest.  Her  suf- 
 ferings were  great,  but  her  "end  was  peace." 
 
 The  feelings  of  Mr.  Hill  were  so  powerfully 
 affected,  that  he  was  unable  to  follow  his  beloved 
 wife  to  the  house  appointed  for  all  living.  His 
 friend,  Mr.  Theophilus  Jones,  attended  to  all 
 the  necessary  arrangements.  Soon  after  the  fune- 
 ral, Mr.  Hill  engaged  in  his  work,  and  through 
 the  grace  given  to  him  his  mind  was  sweetly 
 submissive  to  the  painful  dispensation. 
 
 At  this  time  he  wrote  the  following  letter  to 
 a  Christian  friend}  a  member  of  a  open-commu- 
 nion Baptist  church  at  Northampton : — 
 
 "  Wotton,  Sept.  2,  1830. 
 "  My  dear  Friend, 
 "  How  glad  I  should  be,  if  it  were  only  to 
 see  my  old  friend  in  his  new  situation,  to  have 
 attended  to  your  request,   and  especially  that 
 
324  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 I  might  shew  my  respect  to  a  congregation 
 established  upon  such  free  and  liberal  princi- 
 ples. God's  people  should  all  of  them  look 
 upon  themselves  as  one  in  Christ  Jesus;  and  the 
 more  we  have  of  his  loving  spirit,  the  more  we 
 shall  "  love  one  another  with  pure  hearts  fer- 
 vently." A  very  painful  event  has  kept  me  a 
 prisoner  at  this  place.  I  could  not  leave  my 
 late  dear  companion  in  life  during  her  last 
 declining  days ;  and  now  my  engagements  are 
 so  numerous  about  these  western  parts,  that  it 
 is  quite  out  of  the  question  to  think  of  a  journey 
 to  Northampton,  nor  have  I  strength  to  bustle 
 about  as  in  former  days.  Since  the  departure 
 of  Mrs.  Hill,  letters  of  kind  condolence  are  sent 
 in  upon  me  from  every  quarter, — these  must  be 
 answered.  Excuse  brevity,  therefore,  from 
 "  Your's  very  affectionately, 
 "  Mr.  W.  Rice.  «  Rowland  Hill." 
 
 On  Mr.  Hill's  return  to  London  in  the 
 November  after  Mrs.  Hill's  removal,  he  was  very 
 reserved  in  reference  to  his  bereavement.  In 
 this  matter,  as  in  most  others  which  affected 
 him  personally,  he  said  but  little.  It  was,  how- 
 ever, evident  to  all,  that  his  sorrows,  like  thje 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  325 
 
 waters  of  a  deep  river,  flowed  silently  along. 
 The  solitary  room  and  the  vacated  chair  made 
 him  sometimes  "groan  being  burdened."  He 
 intended  to  refer  to  her  closing  days  from  the 
 words,  "  We  know  that  if  the  earthly  house  of 
 this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we  have  a  build- 
 ing of  God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands, 
 eternal  in  the  heavens."  Soon  after  he  began 
 his  discourse,  he  distantly  touched  on  the 
 bereavement,  but  was  unable  to  proceed,  and 
 exclaimed  with  tears,  "  Oh  !  it  is  painful  work 
 to  be  separated  from  a  dear  friend  after  a  happy 
 union  of  nearly  sixty  years." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  on  more  than  one  occasion  proved 
 that  he  feared  God  more  than  man,  and  that 
 his  supreme  love  was  placed  on  his  Divine 
 Redeemer.  He  was  the  trustee  of  several 
 family  livings,  under  the  will  of  a  departed 
 brother.  On  one  becoming  vacant,  a  near 
 relative  fully  expected  to  be  appointed  the 
 rector.  The  conscientious  trustee  feared  that  he 
 was  destitute  of  piety,  and  therefore  refused  to 
 nominate  him,  and  gave  the  living  to  an  Evan- 
 gelical clergyman  with  whom  he  had  no  other 
 but  a  friendly  connexion.  For  this  he  was 
 charged  with  giving  away  "  the  family  property" 
 
326  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 to  a  stranger.  Considering,  however,  the  living 
 to  belong  to  the  Redeemer's  cause,  he  gave  it 
 to  a  faithful  man.  Doubtless,  he  felt  deeply 
 grieved  that  duty  compelled  him  to  oppose  the 
 wishes  of  his  beloved  relatives,  but  he  added, 
 "  Had  I  acted  otherwise,  1  should  have  pre- 
 pared thorns  for  my  pillow  in  the  hour  of 
 death." 
 
 The  conduct  of  Mr.  Hill  towards  his  servants 
 greatly  endeared  him  to  all  the  members  of  his 
 household.  He  felt  great  anxiety  for  their 
 temporal  and  spiritual  welfare,  and  he  was  often 
 accustomed  to  say,  "  How  honourable  is  the 
 condition  of  a  faithful  servant!"  The  obliga- 
 tions between  masters  and  servants  were  by  him 
 considered  reciprocal.  In  describing  the  cha- 
 racters of  others,  he  sometimes  unintentionally 
 sketched  his  own.  In  his  funeral  sermon  for 
 his  friend  Rouquet,  he  remarked,  "  He  beheld 
 his  servants  as  his  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  changes 
 appeared  among  his  servants  which   so  sadly 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  327 
 
 disgrace  the  families  of  many.  From  the  best 
 of  principles  they  were  bound  to  serve  him — 
 the  principle  of  love."*f 
 
 Such  were  the  feelings  of  Mr.  Hill,  and  hence 
 he  very  frequently  reminded  the  heads  of  fami- 
 lies to  take  care  of  their  tempers,  and  not  be 
 always  scolding  their  domestics.  Sometimes 
 he  became  the  banker  of  his  servants,  and  when 
 there  was  nearly  enough  money  in  his  hands 
 to  invest,  he  would  add  a  few  pounds  to  the 
 amount,  to  encourage  them  *  to  prepare  against 
 a  rainy  day/' 
 
 *  The  kindness  displayed  by  Mr.  Hill  and  his 
 brothers  towards  their  servants,  is  seen  in  the  record 
 made  by  Mr.  Richard  Hill,  and  mentioned  by  Mr. 
 Sidney.  "February  6,  1766.  This  day,  being  Thurs- 
 day, about  a  quarter  past  12  at  noon,  my  dear  humble 
 faithful  servant,  Giles  Archer,  sweetly  fell  asleep  in 
 Jesus.  The  Lord  enable  me  to  follow  him  as  he  fol- 
 lowed Christ/'^  This  young  man  was  greatly  beloved 
 by  all  the  members  of  the  family.  A  few  days  before 
 his  death,  his  master,  Mr.  Richard  Hill,  went  to  see 
 the  dying  servant,  when  he  took  him  by  the  hand, 
 and  pressed  it  close,  and  said,  "The  Lord  bless  you, 
 Sir,  I  know  we  shall  meet  again,  for  it  is  promised  in 
 a  covenant  that  cannot  fail."  Then  he  prayed  that 
 the  Lord  would  bless  all  the  family,  and  expressed 
 
 f  Token  for  Rouquet,  p.  19.    J  Sidney's  Life,  p.  23. 
 
328  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Mr.  Hill  once  sent  for  a  friend  late  in  the  even- 
 ing, who,  on  his  arrival  found  the  venerable  man 
 in  the  parlour  with  his  servant.  Mr.  Hill  said, 
 "  I  never  gave  a  bill  of  exchange  in  my  life, 
 but  I  wish  to  do  so  for  once.  This  man,  point- 
 ing to  his  servant,  has  left  a  little  money  in  my 
 hands,  and  he  wants  to  have  power  to  punish 
 me,  if  I  should  turn  out  a  rogue."     The  servant 
 
 the  greatest  gratitude  for  the  kindness  which  had 
 been  shown  him.  "  Death  has  lost  his  sting :  come, 
 sweet  Jesus,  come  quickly ;  why  are  thy  chariot- 
 wheels  so  long  in  coming  ?  Into  thy  hands  I  commit 
 my  spirit.''*  He  died  in  great  peace.  His  master 
 erected  a  neat  stone  to  his  memory,  which  is  placed 
 at  the  eastern  end  of  Hodnet  Church,  on  which  is  the 
 following  inscription : 
 
 In  Memory  of  Giles  Archer, 
 
 Servant  to  Richard  Hill,  Esq. 
 
 Of  Hawkstone. 
 
 He  sweetly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus, 
 
 Feb.  6, 1766,  aged  35  years. 
 
 A  most  humble  Christian, 
 
 A  most  faithful  Servant, 
 
 In  whose  health  it  appear'd, 
 
 u  That  to  live  was  Christ  f 
 
 In  whose  sickness, 
 
 "  That  to  die  was  gain."f 
 
 *  Original  MSS.  f  PW1,  i.  21. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  329 
 
 assured  his  venerable  master,  he  wished  no 
 such  power.  "You  shall  have  it,  and  I  will 
 give  you  a  bill  of  exchange."  A  stamp  was 
 sent  for,  and  the  necessary  document  prepared. 
 The  good  man  seemed  quite  delighted  at  the 
 thought  that  he  had  for  once  given  an  accept- 
 ance, adding,  that  he  hoped  it  would  keep  him 
 honest,  in  case  the  devil  should  tempt  him  to 
 do  wrong. 
 
 His  kindness  to  his  servants  was  farther 
 evidenced  by  the  testamentary  arrangements 
 which  he  made,  whereby  he  kindly  and  libe- 
 rally provided  for  all  his  household. 
 
 «  C ,"  he  would  often  say,  "  has  been 
 
 a  faithful  servant,  and  he  shall  never  want 
 when  I  am  gone."  Frequently  did  he  express 
 the  hope  that  all  his  domestics  might  become 
 "  servants  of  God,  having  their  fruit  unto  holi- 
 ness, and  the  end  everlasting  life." 
 
 When  Mr.  Hill  was  journeying,  he  felt  much 
 interested  for  the  comfortable  accommodation 
 of  his  servants.  At  a  friend's  house,  in  Kent, 
 where  he  was  to  sleep,  he  said  to  his  worthy 
 host,  "  I  suppose  my  man  had  better  get  a  bed 
 at  the  inn  ?"  "  No,  sir,"  was  the  reply,  "  we 
 have  provided  for  him."     The  venerable  man 
 
330  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 was  evidently  pleased,  and  smilingly  remarked, 
 "  That's  well — love  me,  love  my  dog  also — for 
 I  brought  him  up  from  a  puppy." 
 
 For  many  years  prior  to  Mr.  Hill's  death,  he 
 needed  the  constant  attentions  of  an  attached 
 domestic.  Often  he  was  so  absent,  that  he 
 would  leave  behind  him  many  useful  articles. 
 Before  his  departure  for  chapel,  he  often  under- 
 went a  complete  catechetical  exercise. — "  Have 
 you  got  your  spectacles,  Sir?"  "Yes,  Charles." 
 "Your  white  pocket-handkerchief?"  "Yes, 
 Charles."  "Your  coloured  one?'  "Yes,  Charles." 
 Then  it  was  necessary  to  keep  a  sharp  look  out, 
 or  he  would  decamp  without  his  hat 
 
 This  absence  of  mind  was  often  shewn. 
 The  writer  was  with  him  at  breakfast  during 
 Mrs.  Hill's  illness,  and  noticed  that  he  took 
 the  egg-boiler  from  the  fire,  and  replaced  it 
 again,  but  without  the  egg.  He  then  put 
 water  into  the  tea-pot,  but  omitted  the  tea. 
 As  soon  as  he  poured  it  out,  he  observed,  "  it 
 is  very  weak,  and  must  stand  a  little  longer." 
 "Oh,  my  egg^  said  he,  "it  will  be  overdone."  He 
 endeavoured  to  find  the  egg,  but  in  vain, — and 
 smiled  on  discovering  its  absence  from  the 
 boiler.     "  Are  you  sure,  Sir,  that  you  put  tea 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  331 
 
 into  your  tea-pot  ?"  said  I.  He  examined,  and 
 found  there  was  none, — and  joined  in  a  hearty 
 laugh  at  his  absence  of  mind. 
 
 Sometimes  he  was  requested  to  give  out  a 
 special  notice  during  public  service, — but  he 
 often  forgot  the  subject  till  he  was  descending 
 the  stairs  of  the  pulpit;  he  would  then  look 
 round  on  a  moving  congregation,  and  make  the 
 announcement  in  such  a  style,  that  very  few 
 were  benefited  by  the  information  he  gave. 
 
 There  was  frequently  great  mental  abstrac- 
 tion when  Mr.  Hill  was  walking  through  the 
 public  streets.  He  was  often  seen  on  a  gentle 
 trot,  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets.  His  inqui- 
 sitive eye  would  rest  on  the  articles  in  the 
 shop-windows  as  he  passed  along,  and  he  would 
 sometimes  remain  for  a  few  seconds,  and  then 
 proceed.  After  he  had  once  preached  at  the 
 Bristol  Tabernacle,  the  writer  accompanied  him 
 home.  He  made  several  pauses,  and  at  length 
 placed  himself  before  the  door  of  a  small  shop. 
 — The  owner  very  soon  made  his  appearance. 
 "  There,  Sir,"  said  Mr.  Hill,  "  is  the  wretched 
 father,  who  was  loudly  swearing  at  his  poor 
 children,  when  I  was  passing  to  the  Tabernacle 
 this  morning."  The  astonished  man  soon  retired: 
 
332  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 when  we  proceeded  on,  our  walk  was  improved 
 by  Mr.  Hill's  trite  remarks  on  the  various 
 objects  that  caught  his  attention. 
 
 It  may  not  be  improper  to  notice  the  great 
 attachment  which  Mr.  Hill  felt  to  the  brute 
 creation.  His  horses  were  his  constant  care. 
 In  his  journeys  he  frequently  checked  his  care- 
 ful driver,  and  told  him  to  "be  kind  to  the 
 good  creatures."  When  obliged  to  cross  the 
 Severn,  he  has  been  known  to  go  round  by 
 Gloucester,  to  prevent  the  horses  from  being 
 terrified  by  the  rolling  of  the  passage-boat. 
 These  horses  were  bequeathed  to  his  coach- 
 man ;  and  even  the  day  before  he  died,  he 
 spoke  to  his  faithful  driver,  in  reference  to  his 
 old  favourites.  It  was  a  very  common  thing 
 for  Mr.  Hill  to  return  home  from  a  considerable 
 distance,  after  late  evening  engagements,  if  he 
 thought  the  stables  of  his  friend  would  not 
 afford  comfortable  quarters  for  his  horses. 
 His  domestic  cat  and  other  creatures  shared 
 largely  in  his  daily  regards,  and  in  every  sense 
 he  was  the  good  man  who  was  merciful  to  his 
 beast. 
 
 The  following  letter  will  shew  how  Mr.  Hill, 
 improved  every  passing  circumstance : — 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  333 
 
 "Bristol,  Oct. -28,  1804. 
 
 M  To  George  Kemp,  Esq.,  Poole. 
 "  My  dear  Sir, 
 
 "  I  beg  you  would  accept  of  my  most  grate- 
 ful thanks  for  the  Newfoundland  puppy.  He 
 arrived  safe  at  Bristol  according  to  your  direc- 
 tion, on  Tuesday  last,  in  good  health  and 
 spirit s,  and  was  sent  to  Wotton-  under  -edge, 
 where  I  have  a  little  summer  abode,  and  where, 
 it  is  to  be  hoped,  he  will  prove  a  faithful  watch 
 over  some  faithless  thieves,  who  are  too  fond  of 
 meddling  with  that  which  is  not  their  own. 
 Thus  we  set  dogs  to  arm  against  men,  while 
 men  are  in  arms  almost  universally  against 
 each  other  —  a  sad  evidence  of  the  wretched 
 state  of  our  fallen  race: — being  at  enmity 
 and  rebellion  against  God,  it  is  but  consistent 
 that  we  should  be  given  over  by  Him  to  be  at 
 enmity  and  rebellion  against  each  other. 
 
 "  I  am  sorry  my  servant  forgot  to  send  the 
 Gansell's  bergamy  pear.  I  have,  however,  pro- 
 cured you  a  young  tree,  which  I  hope  will  soon 
 come  into  bearing, — the  fruit  you  will  find  most 
 excellent.  It  is  a  great  blower,  but  a  bad 
 bearer, — it  will  require  a  well-sheltered  place. 
 That  you  may  live  long  to  enjoy  much  of  its 
 
334  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 fruit,  and  live  to  bring  forth  much  fruit  yourself, 
 is  the  sincere  prayer  of,  dear  Sir, 
 
 "  Your  ever  obliged  friend  and  servant, 
 
 "  R.  Hill." 
 
 Before  finishing  our  remarks  on  the  character 
 of  Mr.  Hill,  it  may  be  proper  to  refer  to  the  many 
 singular  reports  totally  unfounded  in  truth,  that 
 were  in  circulation  respecting  him.  His  eccen- 
 tricities were  calculated  to  furnish  matter  for 
 the  manufacturers  of  wonderful  events.  Some, 
 even  among  pious  people,  are  not  sufficiently 
 cautious  on  subjects  which  have  not  come  within 
 their  personal  knowledge. 
 
 At  the  very  commencement  of  Mr.  Hill's 
 ministry  at  Surrey  Chapel,  he  became  the 
 fruitful  subject  of  parlour  scandal,  which  soon 
 reached  the  periodicals  of  the  day.  In  the  first 
 sermon  printed  by  Mr.  Hill,  he  refers  to  one  of 
 these  most  absurd  reports. 
 
 "  It  is  stated  by  the  reviewer,  that  I  told,  in 
 one  of  my  public  harangues,  about  a  carpenter 
 and  his  labourer, — how  the  witty  carpenter 
 threw  a  chew  of  tobacco  into  the  open  mouth 
 of  the  poor  labourer,  upon  which  the  carpenter 
 fell  down,   and  broke  his  leg;    this  narration 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  335 
 
 we  should  deem  too  absurd  for  belief,  if  we 
 had  not  heard  it  related  in  a  public  assembly, 
 and  without  controversy,  by  a  gentleman  too 
 elevated  to  coin  so  low  a  tale,  and  too  judicious 
 to  be  imposed  upon  by  idle  stories."  Mr.  Hill 
 then  positively  denies  the  statement,  and  adds, 
 in  "  reference  to  his  reviewers,  and  the  terms  of 
 his  own  denial,  "I  have  humbled  myself,  in 
 following  these  gentry  in  language  almost  as 
 low  as  their  own ;  like  eels,  they  are  now  at 
 liberty  to  sink  into  their  own  mud  and  dirt,  as 
 their  safest  place  of  refuge." 
 
 On  a  recent  occasion  the  writer  met  several 
 friends  in  the  country,  when  a  gentleman  pre- 
 sent related  with  great  effect,  and  with  all  the 
 air  of  novelty,  one  of  the  oft-told  tales  about 
 "old  Rowland."  "I'm  afraid,  Sir,  I  remarked, 
 that  you  have  spoken  from  inaccurate  infor- 
 mation. I  doubt  the  fact  you  have  just  stated : 
 "  I  had  it,"  replied  he,  with  warmth,  "  from 
 unquestionable  authority."  "Then  I  must  bow," 
 I  rejoined,  "provided  your  authority  be  better 
 than  mine.  —  Mr.  Hill  was  my  minister  and 
 friend,  and  he  assured  me  that  no  such  event 
 had  ever  happened."  The  gentleman  was 
 silenced.       He    unintentionally    propagated   a 
 
336  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 falsehood,  by  incautiously  repeating  what  he 
 had  been  told  by  another  person. 
 
 A  pious  and  excellent  woman  who  long  since 
 joined  the  spirits  of  the  just  made  perfect, 
 recorded  in  her  diary  the  very  popular  tale 
 respecting  the  highwayman  who  stopped  Mr. 
 Hill,  and  who  afterwards  became  his  coachman, 
 and  died  in  his  service. #  Now,  Mr.  Hill  assured 
 the  writer  that  no  such  event  had  ever  hap- 
 pened. He  once  took  up  a  volume  of  the 
 "  Percy  Anecdotes,"  where  the  fact  was 
 recorded,  with  another  equally  without  foun- 
 dation, respecting  his  giving  away  his  shirt  to 
 a  destitute  man.  Across  the  one  part  he 
 wrote,  "a  lie,"  and  on  the  other,  "another 
 lie,"  and  then  added  his  name. 
 
 The  admonition  of  St.  James,  "  slow  to 
 speak,"  is  very  necessary  to  be  remembered 
 by  the  retailers  of  news  affecting  public  men. 
 If  their  statements  do  not  injure  the  moral 
 character,  they  may  make  the  subject  of  such 
 reports  "  the  by-word  of  the  scoffer." 
 
 During  an  evening  which    the  writer  spent 
 
 with  Mr.  Hill  a  few  months  before  the  death 
 
 of  his  excellent  wife,  the  conversation  turned 
 
 upon   these  wonderful  anecdotes.      Mrs.  Hill, 
 
 *  See  page  359. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  337 
 
 I  remember,  inquired,  with  a  smile,  "  Have 
 you  heard  any  thing  about  me?"  I  told  her  of 
 the  reports  of  her  husband  putting  a  new  cap 
 into  the  fire  immediately  it  came  home ;  of  his 
 reported  assertion  in  chapel,  "Here  come's  Mrs. 
 Hill  with  a  chest  of  drawers  on  her  head;"  refer- 
 ing  to  a  highly  fashionable  bonnet;  and  of  several 
 other  rumours  which  were  very  current  in  the 
 country.  All  the  tales  I  could  remember  were 
 positively  declared  to  be  false,  by  the  venerable 
 pair,  and  Mr.  Hill  evidently  felt  much  grieved 
 that  such  statements  should  be  in  circulation. 
 I  think  I  now  see  his  countenance,  when  he 
 said,  "  Sir,  I  hope  that  the  Christian  minister, 
 if  not  the  gentleman,  always  prevented  me 
 from  making  my  wife  a  laughing-stock  for  the 
 amusement  of  the  vulgar." 
 
 It  is  quite  impossible  for  any  person  who  had 
 private  intercourse  with  Mr.  Hill  to  believe  any 
 of  the  tales  respecting  his  public  exposure  of 
 his  wife.  His  attentions  to  her  till  the  close 
 of  life  wrere  of  the  most  gentlemanly  kind. 
 
 On  one  occasion,  the  writer  ventured  to 
 suggest  to  Mr.  Hill,  that,  seeing  how  many 
 false  reports  were  current,  it  wras  highly  im- 
 portant that  he  should  enable  a  qualified  person 
 to  give  an  authentic  account  of  his  life  and 
 
338  MEMOIR  OP 
 
 labours  when  it  might  be  the  will  of  God  to 
 remove  him.  He  said,  "What  can  any  one  say 
 about  me  ?  a  poor  unworthy  creature,  I'm  sure. 
 No,  I  want  no  life."  Mrs.  Hill  then  expressed 
 her  hope  that  an  accurate  memoir  might  be  pub- 
 lished, because  she  knew  that  more  than  one 
 person  had  been  collecting  materials  for  that 
 purpose.  The  venerable  man  gave  a  similar 
 reply,  and  the  conversation  turned  to  other 
 matters.  Inaccurate  reports  perhaps  arise  from 
 the  gradual  additions  which  are  made  to  real 
 facts,  by  the  successive  relaters.  It  often 
 happens,  that  when  a  man  of  exuberant  imagi- 
 nation wishes 
 
 "  To  point  a  moral,  or  adorn  a  tale," 
 
 or  when  he  is  "the  lion"  of  the  evening  party, 
 he  is  in  danger  of  colouring  too  highly  the 
 simple  narrative,  in  order  that  it  may  tell  upon 
 his  audience.  His  statement  is  incorrectly 
 repeated,  or  several  parts  are  mingled  together, 
 and  thus  arise  some  of  the  marvellous  and 
 unfounded  tales  which  have  tended  to  make 
 a  holy  man  "the  fiddle  and  the  bear"  of  a 
 gossiping  party. 
 
 If  Christian  fidelity  required  that  the  spots 
 in  Mr.  Hill's  ministerial  course  should  be  men- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  339 
 
 tioned  in  the  spirit  of  love,  it  is  equally  important 
 that  the  weaknesses  of  his  private  character 
 should  be  referred  to  in  the  same  spirit.  In 
 Scripture  biography  the  failings  as  well  as  the 
 excellences  blithe  saints  are  recorded,  that  the 
 Christian  may  learn  to  avoid  the  one  and  imitate 
 the  other.  We  are  only  safe  when  we  follow 
 in  His  steps  who  was  "holy,  harmless,  undefiled, 
 and  separate  from  sinners." 
 
 Amidst  all  that  was  "  lovely,  and  pure,  and 
 of  good  report/'  there  were  some  things  that  for 
 a  season  appeared  to  cast  a  cloud  over  this 
 "  burning  and  shining  light."  He  certainly  too 
 often  listened  to  flatterers,  who  sometimes  made 
 him  an  easy  prey  to  their  cunning  and  designing 
 purposes.  At  Surrey  Chapel  there  were  a  few 
 persons  who  kept  near  this  wreak  side  of  the 
 holy  man.  Hence  they  always  expressed  their 
 regret  to  him  at  his  absence,  and  asserted  that 
 no  supply  preached  like  him.  After  these  pre- 
 mises, out  came  some  unkind  expressions  against 
 certain  individuals ;  and  in  this  way  they  often 
 succeeded  in  their  object.  If  they  knew  that 
 Mr.  Hill  had  an  unfavourable  opinion  of  a 
 minister,  they  would  assiduously  collect  all  the 
 news  about  him,  and  the  pastor's  mind  becoming 
 
340  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 prejudiced,  he  appeared  to  possess  an  unfor- 
 giving spirit.  His  antipathies  became  very- 
 strong  when  once  they  had  possession  of  his 
 mind.  On  the  other  hand,  he  was  often  un- 
 guarded in  the  selection  of  his  friends,  and 
 received  more  than  once  a  scorpion  into  his 
 bosom.  There  are  many  persons  at  Surrey 
 Chapel  who  can  remember  a  lamentable  instance 
 of  this  kind,  which  for  a  season  led  Mr.  Hill 
 to  appear  in  an  unfavourable  light  to  several 
 esteemed  clergymen. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  occasionally  mistaken  in  hi 
 estimate  of  character,  and  severely  suffered  by 
 placing  unguarded  confidence  in  unworthy  per- 
 sons. He  once  became  security  for  a  member 
 of  his  church ;  the  man  failed,  and  the  incautious 
 pastor  had  to  pay  £1000,  the  amount  of  his 
 bond.  On  the  morning  he  discharged  his  lia- 
 bility, he  called  upon  a  friend,  who,  observing 
 that  he  was  unusually  depressed,  remarked, 
 "  Why,  Mr.  Hill,  what's  the  matter  with  you 
 to-day  ?  you  seem  altogether  heavy  and  un- 
 comfortable." "  Heavy,  Sir,"  replied  Mr.  Hill ; 
 "  heavy,  Sir ;  you're  quite  mistaken  there,  for 
 I'm  a  thousand  pounds  lighter  than  I  was 
 yesterday." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  341 
 
 His  occasional  commendations  of  attached 
 friends  were  very  extravagant  and  injudicious. 
 Hence  he  was  accustomed  to  say  of  a  minister 
 who   preached   at   the    Tabernacle  at  Wotton, 
 
 "  If  we  had  a  dozen  such  preachers  as in 
 
 the  land,  we  should  soon  drive  the  devil  out 
 of  it"  And  of  a  respectable  preacher,  once 
 a  scholar  in  the  Surrey  Chapel  Sunday-school, 
 "  I  never  preached  in  all  my  life  like  my  baker's 
 boy,"  referring  to  the  minister's  former  occu- 
 pation. 
 
 In  intercourse  with  the  venerable  man,  it  was 
 found  that  he  expected  his  friends  to  possess 
 some  practical  knowledge  of  the  doctrine  of 
 passive  obedience.  In  reference  to  a  devoted 
 minister  whom  he  had  been  the  means  of  leading 
 to  God,  and  who  possessed  much  independence 
 of  mind,  Mr.  Hill  shrewdly  remarked,  "  He  is  a 
 nice  lad,  but  he  will  have  his  own  way." 
 
 The  uncharitable  expressions  which  he  em- 
 ployed concerning  some  persons  who  strictly 
 adhered  to  their  own  denominations  were  painful 
 exhibitions  of  the  weakness  of  a  great  man. 
 He  could  scarcely  give  them  credit  for  sincerity 
 in  their  views.  This  will  be  seen  in  reference  to 
 the  friends  at  Leamington  who  had  discontinued 
 
342  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 the  use  of  the  Liturgical  service ;  yet  there 
 can  be  no  reason  to  doubt  that  they  were  as 
 conscientious,  and  had  as  little  of  the  spirit  of 
 party  about  them,  as  the  venerable  champion 
 for  the  formularies  to  which  he  was  so  greatly 
 attached. 
 
 On  one  occasion,  the  worthy  man  expressed 
 himself  strongly  against  a  pious  and  justly 
 esteemed  prelate,  for  his  conduct  towards  a 
 clergyman  who  had  allowed  him  the  use  of  his 
 pulpit.  He  took  up  the  matter  with  personal 
 feelings,  and  charged  the  parties  with  a  bigoted 
 spirit;  but  in  due  time  he  mourned  in  secret 
 over  the  course  he  had  pursued.  It  is  often 
 difficult  to  see  the  mote  in  our  own  eye. 
 Dr.  Jamieson  perhaps  was  not  far  from  the 
 truth,  when  he  called  our  departed  friend 
 "  a  bigot  for  liberality." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  conversing  with  an  Independent 
 minister,  when  he  remarked  with  much  feeling, 
 "  I  hate  ^dependency."  "  Yes,  Sir,"  replied 
 his  Congregational  friend,  "  and  you  hate  de- 
 pendency just  as  much."  This  was  about  the 
 truth. 
 
 Such  was  Mr.  Hill ;  and  the  writer,  in  record- 
 ing the  weaknesses  and  defects  in  the  character 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  343 
 
 of  his  beloved  minister,  has  discharged  the  most 
 painful  part  of  the  biographer's  duty.  He  could, 
 however,  when  remembering  the  number  of  his 
 excellences,  willingly  drop  the  tear  of  grateful 
 recollection  over  his  imperfections,  and  blot 
 them  out  for  ever. 
 
344  iUEMOIR  OF 
 
 CHAP.  VIII. 
 
 MR.  HILL'S  PHILANTHROPIC  LABOURS,  AND 
 PUBLIC  SPIRIT. 
 
 Friendly  and  soup  societies — lord  george  Gordon's  riots — 
 sermon  to  volunteers  at  surrey  chapel — and  the  hymns 
 composed  for  the  occasion — mr.  hill's  efforts  to  promote 
 cow- pock    inoculation,  —  and    dr.   lettsom's    testimony    to 
 
 MR.  HILL'S  USEFULNESS— INTERESTING  FACTS  STATED  BY  MR.  HILL 
 — EFFORTS  TO  PREVENT  THE  ASSESSMENT  OF  SURREY  CHAPEL  TO 
 THE  POOR-RATES— SUCCESSFUL  ISSUE  OF  THE  CONTEST — VISITS  TO 
 PRISONERS— AFFECTING  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GARDENER — POLITICAL 
 OPINIONS  OF  MR.  HILL — THE  GLOUCESTERSHIRE  ELECTION — BRITISH 
 CONSTITUTION — DANGER  OF  POLITICS  TO  MINISTERS — PENINSULAR 
 WAR,  AND  ITS  TERMINATION — GENERAL  ILLUMINATION — PRESEN- 
 TATION OF  THE  FREEDOM  OF  LONDON  TO  LORD  HILL — REPEAL  OF 
 THE  TEST  ACT — MR.  HILL  REQUESTED  TO  PREACH  ON  CATHOLIC 
 EMANCIPATION  —  JOHN  FOX  THE  MARTYROLOGIST  —  THE  POOR 
 CATHOLIC  AND  THE  MASS — MR.  HILL'S  OPINION  OF  POPERY — THE 
 SLAVE-TRADE — HYMN  THEREON — ANECDOTE. 
 
 A  Christian,  although  admonished  by  the 
 Divine  word  "to  love  not  the  world,  neither 
 the  things  that  are  in  the  world,"  is  not  to 
 pass  through  the  years  of  his  pilgrimage  like 
 a  religious  hermit.  He  is  to  avoid  the  spirit 
 of  earthly  things,  but  at  the  same  time  he  is 
 to  "  do  good  unto  all  men,  though  more  espe- 
 cially to  those  who  are  of  the  household  of 
 faith." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  345 
 
 The  pastor  of  Surrey  Chapel  was  not 
 unmindful  of  the  public  duties  which  devolved 
 upon  him.  He  was  the  friend  of  "the  sick 
 and  the  afflicted,"  and  the  aged  and  infirm 
 poor.  He  was  unabated  in  his  efforts  to  pro- 
 mote the  general  education  of  the  people,  and 
 encouraged,  by  every  lawful  means,  the  diffu- 
 sion of  general  knowledge.  To  promote  habits 
 of  economy  and  industry,  he  sanctioned  a 
 benefit  club  for  the  relief  of  its  members 
 and  their  families  in  the  hours  of  affliction, — 
 the  meetings  of  which  were  held  in  the  school- 
 room, adjoining  his  London  residence. 
 
 During  several  severe  winters,  when  the 
 poor  people  in  London  were  in  deep  distress 
 in  consequence  of  the  high  price  of  bread, 
 Mr.  Hill  was  active  in  the  formation  of  soup 
 societies  —  which  were  beneficial  to  thousands. 
 On  this  subject  he  corresponded  with  friends 
 in  the  country,  and  gave  them  full  instructions 
 how  to  proceed.  After  detailing  to  one  friend, 
 in  Berkshire,  the  best  plan  of  making  good 
 soup  at  a  cheap  rate,  he  adds  the  characteristic 
 remark,  "Take  care  to  put  in  plenty  of  onions; 
 — by  the  way,  the  Egyptians  worshipped  onions, 
 better  worship  them  than  the  devil." 
 
346  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  loyal  character  of  Mr.  Hill,  and  his 
 anxiety  always  to  be  engaged  in  his  Master's 
 business,  was  seen  during  the  awful  riots  in 
 St.  George's  Fields,  when  Lord  George  Gordon 
 excited  so  much  of  the  public  attention. 
 During  these  tumultuous  meetings,  Mr.  Hill 
 addressed  the  multitudes  on  "righteousness, 
 temperance,  and  judgment  to  come;"  and  he 
 has  been  heard  to  state,  that  on  these  occa- 
 sions he  had  sometimes  proclaimed  the  Gospel 
 of  peace  to  nearly  twenty  thousand  immortal 
 souls. 
 
 In  1803,  an  interesting  spectacle  was  wit- 
 nessed at  Surrey  Chapel.  Mr.  Hill  preached 
 to  the  volunteer  regiments  which  were  raised 
 at  that  time,  when  hostilities  commenced 
 between  England  and  France,  at  the  close  of 
 the  short  peace  of  Amiens.  The  attendance 
 was  very  large,  and  many  of  the  newly  raised 
 troops  were  unable  to  obtain  admittance. 
 Mr.  Hill  remarks  that  "the  respectable  ap- 
 pearance of  the  volunteers,  their  becoming 
 deportment  in  the  house  of  God,  and  espe- 
 cially the  truly  animated  manner  in  which  they 
 all  stood  up  to  sing  the  high  praises  of  our 
 God,  filled  me  with  solemn  surprise,  and  exhi- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  *347 
 
 bited    before   me    one   of    the   most  affecting 
 scenes  I  think  I  ever  beheld."* 
 
 This  novel  service  was  introduced  by  singing 
 the  hundredth  Psalm.  The  first  lesson  was 
 taken  out  of  the  20th  of  Deuteronomy,  from 
 verse  1  to  10.  The  second  lesson,  from  Ephe- 
 sians,  chap.  vi.  10 — 19.  The  following  hymn, 
 composed  by  Mr.  Hill  for  the  occasion,  was 
 sung  before  the  sermon,  to  the  tune  of  "  God 
 save  the  King:" — 
 
 Come,  thou  incarnate  Word, 
 Gird  on  thy  might}7  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 
 PilPd  with  sweet  liberty, 
 
 Clothed  with  power! 
 Bid,  Lord,  the  dead  arise, 
 By  thy  almighty  voice  ; 
 May  we  in  thee  rejoice, 
 
 In  this  glad  hour. 
 
 *  Sermon  before  the  Volunteers,  p.  4. 
 
348  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  preacher  then  addressed  the  Volunteers, 
 from  the  appropriate  words  in  Psa.  xx.  7,  8,  16, 
 "  Some  trust  in  chariots,  and  some  in  horses ; 
 but  we  will  remember  the  name  of  the  Lord 
 our  God.  They  are  brought  low,  and  fallen; 
 but  we  are  risen,  and  stand  upright." 
 
 The  sermon  contained  most  enlightened 
 views  of  the  constitution  of  our  country, — 
 and  directed  the  minds  of  the  defenders  of 
 her  liberties,  to  the  great  truths  connected 
 with  another  world.  The  following  beautiful 
 passage  was  highly  descriptive  of  the  times, — 
 "  Did  you  ever  stand  by  the  ocean  after  a  tre- 
 mendous storm  ?  Did  you  ever  watch  the  vast 
 impetuosity  of  the  waves,  as  they  lift  them- 
 selves up  against  those  firm  rocks,  appointed 
 by  Providence  to  resist  the  proudest  of  them? 
 Their  resistance  being  made,  they  retire,  and 
 are  lost  in  the  bed  of  the  ocean.  So,  stand  but 
 for  a  while,  and  view  the  present  crisis  of  our 
 public  affairs, — and  I  trust  you  will  behold 
 these  proud  waves,  that  now  attempt  to  dash 
 themselves  against  our  British  shore,  retiring 
 back  again  into  that  ocean  from  whence,  with 
 so  much  impetuosity,  they  arose,  leaving 
 nothing  but  their  unavailing  froth  behind." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  349 
 
 This  service  was  closed  by  singing  the  fol- 
 lowing hymn.  It  was  composed  by  Mr.  Hill, 
 and  a  little  altered  and  enlarged  by  the  pen  of 
 a  judicious  friend,  and  sung  to  the  national  air, 
 "  Rule  Britannia." 
 
 The  Kingdom  of  Christ  exalted. 
 
 When  Jesus  first,  at  Pleaven's  command, 
 
 Descended  from  his  azure  throne, 
 Attending  angels  joined  his  praise, 
 
 Who  claimed  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  heai  the  dire  decree,  and  feel 
 The  vengeance  of  the  mighty  God : 
 Hail,  &c. 
 
 Not  with  the  sword  that  warriors  wear, 
 But  with  a  sceptre  dipped  in  blood, 
 
 He  bends  the  nations  to  obey, 
 
 And  rules  them  by  the  love  of  God : 
 Hail,  &c. 
 
 Oh  may  the  memory  of  his  name 
 
 Inspire  our  armies  for  the  fight; 
 Out  vaunting  foes  shall  die  with  shame? 
 
 Or  quit  our  coasts  with  hasty  flight : 
 Hail,  &c. 
 
350  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 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,  &c. 
 
 Soon  may  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth, 
 P'rom  sin  and  Satan's  dreadful  thrall 
 
 By  thy  great  power  and  grace  be  freed, 
 And  Christ  alone  be  all  in  all: 
 Hail,  &c. 
 
 Ride  on  and  prosper.  King  of  kings, 
 Till  all  the  powers  of  hell  resign 
 
 Their  dreadful  trophies  at  thy  feet, 
 And  everlasting  praise  be  thine  : 
 Hail,  &c. 
 
 Early  in  the  present  century  Mr.  Hill  felt 
 deeply  interested  on  the  subject  of  vaccine 
 inoculation.  Dr.  Jenner,  a  physician  residing 
 at  Berkeley,  in  Gloucestershire,  in  the  vicinity 
 of  Mr.  Hill's  residence — after  many  successful 
 experiments  —  discovered  what  was  then  con- 
 sidered an  absolute  preventive  of  small-pox  ; 
 a  disease  which  was  desolating  the  towns  and 
 hamlets  of  our  land.  The  benevolent  mind 
 of  Mr.  Hill  rejoiced  in  the  prospect  of  any 
 alleviation  of  the  dreadfu.  plague.     He  calmly 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HTLL.  351 
 
 investigated  the  subject,  —  and,  after  frequent 
 interviews  with  Dr.  Jenner,  he  felt  it  to  be 
 his  duty  to  stand  forward  as  the  advocate 
 of  general  vaccination,  at  a  time  when  many 
 medical  men  not  only  refused  to  sanction  it, 
 but  strongly  excited  the  prejudices  of  the  public 
 against  the  measure.  In  1806  Mr.  Hill  pub- 
 lished a  small  pamphlet  entitled,  "  Cow-pock 
 Inoculation  Vindicated  and  Recommended, 
 from  Matters  of  Fact,"  which  he  dedicated  to 
 the  Duke  of  Bedford,  then  Lord-Lieutenant  of 
 Ireland. 
 
 Although  there  have  been  some  failures  after 
 vaccination,  yet  the  discovery  has  proved  a 
 great  national  blessing.  Dr.  Jenner  successfully 
 contended  against  the  powerful  opposition  of 
 the  medical  profession,  and  established  the 
 Royal  Jennerian  Society.  He  received  a  grant 
 of  £10,000  from  parliament,  for  the  great 
 benefit  he  had  imparted  to  his  country  and  the 
 world. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  became  a  member  of  the  Royal 
 Jennerian  Society,  and  felt  much  anxiety  for 
 its  general  success.  From  the  pamphlet  which 
 has  been  mentioned,  it  appears  that  his  first 
 efforts  to  spread  the  blessings  of  vaccination 
 commenced  early  in  the  summer  of  1804,  in 
 
 L 
 
352  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 and  about  Wotton-under-edge.  The  neighbour- 
 hood was  exceedingly  populous,  and  nearly 
 twelve  hundred  patients  were  vaccinated.  The 
 new  system  succeeded  so  well,  that  the  small- 
 pox, which  had  beon  fearfully  raging,  disappeared 
 from  the  place.  At  Portsmouth  Mr.  Hill  pro- 
 secuted the  plan :  at  Bristol  also,  in  the  autumn 
 of  the  year,  he  vaccinated  hundreds  with  entire 
 success.  In  the  year  1805,  being  on  a  visit  at 
 Chatham,  he  found  the  small-pox  prevailing  to 
 an  awful  extent.  He  immediately  set  to  work, 
 and  having  appointed  the  people  to  meet  him 
 at  three  different  places  of  worship,  he  inocu- 
 lated three  hundred  and  twenty  subjects  within 
 two  days.  After  this,  vaccination  became 
 general  among  medical  men  in  those  parts. 
 At  Shepton  Mallet  he  had  to  encounter  the 
 prejudices  of  the  people  against  the  new  system, 
 although  seventy  persons  had  recently  fallen 
 victims  to  the  small-pox.  He  recommended 
 the  subject  in  his  sermon  on  the  Lord's-day,  and 
 on  the  following  morning  vaccinated  upwards  of 
 two  hundred  persons.  At  different  places,  Mr. 
 Hill  instructed  suitable  persons  in  the  use  of  the 
 lancet  for  this  purpose. 
 
 During  a  summer  excursion  into  South  Wales, 
 he  inoculated  996  in  Pembrokeshire.     "  Thus," 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  333 
 
 he  remarks,  "the  poor  people  in  and  about  the 
 neighbourhood  of  Haverfordwest  are  mercifully 
 preserved  from  a  contagious  disease,  which 
 would  very  probably  have  made  inroads  among 
 them,  while  no  less  than  three  hundred  in  the 
 town  of  Carmarthen,  at  a  distance  of  about 
 thirty  miles  from  Haverfordwest,  were  carried  to 
 the  grave,  the  victims  of  that  awful  disease,  the 
 small-pox." 
 
 After  detailing  the  particulars  of  the  opposi- 
 tion the  plan  had  met  with,  Mr.  Hill  states, 
 "  I  have  now  solemnly  to  assert,  that  having 
 inoculated  in  different  places  not  less  than 
 4840  subjects,  besides  3720  and  upwards,  which 
 have  been  inoculated  in  the  Surrey  Chapel 
 school-room,  I  have  not  as  yet  met  with  one 
 single  failure." 
 
 The  benefits  of  this  new  discovery  were  not 
 confined  to  England.  It  extended  to  our 
 colonial  possessions.  Dr.  Lettsom,  an  eminent 
 physician  of  his  day,  and  a  member  of  the 
 Society  of  Friends,  in  writing  to  Mr.  Hill, 
 informed  him,  "  that  a  physician  in  Madras  had 
 inoculated  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
 British  subjects  and  Gentoos  with  the  cow- 
 pock,  without  the  least  inconvenience ;  and  that 
 the  grateful   Brahmins  termed   it    the  dew  of 
 
354  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 heaven^  because,  prior  to  this,  nine  in  ten,  as  is 
 frequently  the  case  in  those  hot  countries,  lost 
 their  lives ;  that  this  happy  preservative  having 
 been  administered  in  camps  and  armies,  the 
 small-pox  had  been  arrested  in  its  progress 
 without  the  least  inconvenience  whatever."  The 
 Doctor  concludes  by  stating,  "  You  have  done 
 more  good  than  you  imagine ;  and  for  every  one 
 you  may  have  saved  by  your  actual  operation, 
 you  have  saved  ten  by  your  example,  and  per- 
 haps, next  to  Jenner,  have  been  the  means  of 
 saving  more  lives  than  any  other  individual. 
 Under  this  sentiment,  you  possess  the  unfeigned 
 esteem  of  your  friend." 
 
 This  testimony  must  have  been  exceedingly 
 encouraging  to  Mr.  Hill.  In  calculating  the 
 beneficial  results  of  inoculating  ten  thousand 
 persons,  one  half  that  number  having  been  done 
 with  his  own  hand,  he  remarks,  "  If  we  take  the 
 average  of  deaths  by  the  small-pox  to  be  rather 
 under  one  in  six,  the  vaccination  of  ten  thousand 
 subjects  therefore  produces  the  preservation  of 
 one  thousand  six  hundred  lives.  After  having 
 said  so  much,  I  need  not  add,  that,  next  to 
 attending  upon  the  functions  of  my  own  calling, 
 I  never  undertook  a  work  so  satisfactory  to  my 
 own  mind.  Let  our  exertions  be  universal,  imme- 
 
REV.    ROWLAND    HILL.  355 
 
 diate,  and  zealous,  and  I  am  very  sure  a  death 
 by  the  small-pox  will  be  brought  forward  as  a 
 very  rare  instance  indeed."# 
 
 It  pleased  God  to  spare  Mr.  Hill  to  see  to  a 
 great  extent  the  removal  of  public  prejudice 
 against  the  system  of  vaccination.  In  some 
 cases  small-pox  has  followed  it,  but  in  few  in- 
 stances have  such  cases  been  known  to  be  fatal. 
 Mr.  Hill  was  on  terms  of  great  intimacy  with  Dr. 
 Jenner,  whom  he  highly  respected;  and  one  of 
 the  London  vaccine  stations  still  continues  in 
 operation  in  the  school-rooms  adjoining  Surrey 
 Chapel. 
 
 The  long  persevering  and  eventually  success- 
 ful efforts  of  Mr.  Hill  in  opposing  parochial 
 assessments  on  places  of  religious  worship,  must 
 not  be  overlooked  in  this  memoir.  He  feared 
 that  if  Surrey  Chapel  were  assessed  for  poor 
 rates,  it  might  be  most  prejudicial  to  small  Dis- 
 senting chapels  throughout  the  country.  He 
 admitted,  that  by  the  act  of  the  43d  Elizabeth, 
 on  which  the  poor  laws  were  founded,  all  places 
 of  religious  worship  producing  profit  might  be 
 assessed ;  yet  he  adds,  meeting-houses  could  not 
 have  been  within  the  meaning  of  the  act,  be- 
 cause none  were  then  permitted  to  exist. 
 
 *  Cow-poek  Inoculation  Vindicated. 
 
356  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 In  answer  to  the  point,  that  all  places  having 
 a  beneficial  interest  should  be  taxed,  he  says, 
 "  Are  we  to  ask  the  magistrate  what  repairs  or 
 alterations  he  may  judge  necessary  or  reason- 
 able? Perhaps  it  may  next  come  within  his 
 province  to  determine  the  quantity  and  size  of 
 candles  we  may  be  allowed  to  consume ;  while 
 he  may  demand  how  far  the  charge  for  mops 
 and  brushes  may  go  beyond  an  allowable  ex- 
 pense. Who  can  tell  what  may  be  the  effect 
 of  such  magisterial  proceedings  ?  If  this  law  is 
 to  be  brought  against  some  places,  why  not 
 against  all  ?  and  especially  against  such  as  can 
 so  well  afford  it?  Why  should  the  beneficial 
 interest  of  a  rich  cathedral  be  free  from  taxa- 
 tion, because  from  their  large  estates  they  need 
 not  let  their  seats,  while  poor  unendowed  places 
 of  wrorship  are  to  feel  the  due  effects  of  this  new 
 construction  of  an  old  law?  they  having  no  other 
 method  of  supporting  their  forms  of  religious 
 worship  which  in  conscience  they  choose  to 
 adopt/' 
 
 The  spirited  publications  of  Mr.  Hill,  and  his 
 repeated  appeals  to  the  sessions,  induced  the 
 parish  of  Christchurch,  in  which  Surrey  Chapel 
 was  situated,  to  come  to  the  equitable  resolu- 
 tion,   "that  no  public  place  of  worship  what- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  357 
 
 ever,  situated  in  the  parish,  should  be  included 
 in  the  poor-rate."  The  very  individual,  also, 
 who  was  most  active  in  these  legal  and  vexa- 
 tious proceedings  against  the  chapel,  after- 
 wards became  a  warm  admirer  of  our  venerable 
 friend. 
 
 During  these  legal  contentions,  Mr.  Hill  was 
 the  subject  of  severe  animadversion  by  the 
 learned  counsel  employed  for  his  opponents, 
 and  the  most  extraordinary  statements  were 
 made,  which  were  only  worthy  of  the  dark  ages; 
 "What  claim  had  people  of  this  description," 
 exclaimed  the  zealous  advocate  for  intolerance, 
 "  to  be  exempted  from  the  poor-rates  ?  None 
 whatever,  —  for  he  was  persuaded,  and  many 
 persons,  and  wise  ones  too,  were  of  opinion 
 that  the  present  prevailing  and  increasing  sys- 
 tem of  Methodism,  existed  for  the  ultimate  and 
 final  destruction  of  the  established  church  of 
 England."  The  counsel  assured  the  court, 
 "that  the  persons  whose  cause  he  was  advo- 
 cating, viewed  with  alarm  and  apprehension 
 the  splendid  and  benevolent  donations  of  Mr. 
 Hill, — justly  considering  them  as  the  most 
 powerful  instruments  employed  in  the  propa- 
 ganda of  Methodism.  These  acts  of  osten- 
 tatious  charity  were  a   gratification   Mr.  Hill 
 
358  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 should  not  be  allowed  to  indulge  in,  without 
 first  contributing  to  the  relief  of  the  parochial 
 poor."  This  language  will  appear  still  more 
 extraordinary,  when  the  reader  is  informed  that 
 the  sick  and  afflicted  poor  of  the  parish  had 
 sometimes  received  £200  in  the  year,  from  the 
 benevolent  and  voluntary  subscriptions  raised 
 in  the  very  chapel  sought  to  be  taxed. 
 
 An  application  to  parliament  led  to  the  pass- 
 ing of  "an  act  to  repeal  certain  acts,  and 
 amend  other  acts  relating  to  religious  worship 
 and  assemblies,  and  persons  teaching  and 
 preaching  therein."  To  this  Mr.  Hill  refers, 
 in  the  following  extract, — "  Our  religious  pri- 
 vileges were  always  great,  but  now  greater 
 still  since  the  passing  of  the  religious  worship 
 act:  we  have  scarcely  any  thing  now  left  to 
 excite  our  fears,  while  we  have  the  highest 
 cause  for  respect  and  gratitude  to  our  govern- 
 ors, and  thankfulness  before  God.  May  our 
 affectionate  obedience  keep  pace  with  the  pri- 
 vileges we  so  amply  enjoy." 
 
 The  prisoners  in  our  gaols  were  frequently 
 visited  by  our  benevolent  friend,  and,  after  their 
 condemnation,  he  would  kindly  enter  their 
 cells,  and  point  them  to  that  gracious  Re- 
 deemer who  was  able  to  save  them  even  in  the 
 
 J 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  359 
 
 eleventh  hour.  In  one  of  these  visits  of  mercy 
 to  Gloucester  goal,  he  met  with  a  man  to  whom 
 his  conversation  appeared  to  be  useful.  He 
 exercised  his  influence  on  his  behalf, — and  suc- 
 ceeded, not  only  in  saving  his  life,  but  eventu- 
 ally in  obtaining  his  liberty.  On  the  man  leav- 
 ing the  prison,  he  could  obtain  no  situation  for 
 want  of  a  good  character,  when  Mr.  Hill  kindly 
 took  him  into  his  employ  as  a  gardener,  and  he 
 conducted  himself  with  much  propriety  for  a 
 considerable  time.  The  writer  has  heard  his 
 venerable  friend  mention,  that  so  entirely  did 
 this  man  appear  to  be  devoted  to  God,  that 
 when  sometimes  he  indulged  in  free  and  lively 
 remarks  to  his  servants,  the  gardener  would 
 look  with  great  gravity  at  him,  and  meekly 
 suggest  the  propriety  of  dying  men  being  con- 
 stantly serious.  Such,  however,  was  the  de- 
 ceitfulness  of  the  heart,  that  this  man  after- 
 wards resumed  his  former  wicked  pursuits,  was 
 tried  for  several  robberies,  was  condemned  to 
 death,  and  eventually  executed.  His  benevo- 
 lent master  again  visited  him  in  his  cell ;  and, 
 during  the  conversations  he  had  with  him,  the 
 prisoner  confessed  that  he  had  made  frequent 
 attempts  to  break  into  his  master's  house,  after 
 
360  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 he  left  his  service ;  that  he  had  secreted  him- 
 self several  times  near  the  premises,  but  had 
 always  been  prevented  accomplishing  his  pur- 
 pose, by  the  recollection  of  his  master's 
 great  kindness  to  him,  and  an  awful  and  over- 
 whelming impression  that  God  was  in  the 
 place. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  considered  this  fact  was  the  origin 
 of  the  famous  tale,  which  has  been  referred  to  in 
 a  previous  chapter,  viz. — that  he  was  once 
 stopped  by  a  highwayman,  who  was  overpowered 
 by  Christian  kindness,  and  afterwards  became 
 his  coachman.  It  sometimes  happened,  when 
 Mr.  Hill  was  travelling,  and  was  recognized 
 by  the  public,  some  persons  would  look  at 
 the  worthy  and  upright  driver,  and,  to  his 
 great  annoyance,  remark,  "  There's  the  man 
 that  stopped  his  master  on  the  highway." 
 
 The  mind  of  Mr.  Hill  was  generally  depressed 
 when  he  returned  from  the  lonely  cell  of  the 
 prisoner.  The  impressions  produced  upon  the 
 minds  of  such  unhappy  persons  appeared  at 
 times  to  be  permanent,  but  too  often,  like  the 
 "  morning  cloud  and  the  early  dew,"  they  soon 
 passed  away.  "  The  Four  Dialogues  in 
 Prison,"  written  by  Mr.  Hill,  and  printed  by 
 
REV.  ROWLAND    HILL.  361 
 
 the  Religious  Tract  Society,  contains  some 
 affecting  references  to  prison  scenes. 
 
 In  detailing  these  particulars  of  Mr.  Hill's 
 public  conduct,  the  reader  will  expect  some 
 account  of  his  opinions  on  the  political  move- 
 ments of  the  eventful  period  through  which 
 he  had  passed.  He  was  an  eminently  loyal 
 subject,  and  devotedly  attached  to  the  finely 
 balanced  powers  of  the  British  constitu- 
 tion. On  this  subject  he  has  remarked, 
 — w  Our  civil  constitution  has  rendered  us 
 the  envy  and  admiration  of  the  world.  What 
 I  now  say  respecting  our  civil  government, 
 I  say  from  the  very  ground  of  my  heart 
 I  am  glad  that  we  have  an  hereditary 
 monarch  to  fill  the  throne.  I  am  glad  that 
 the  rich  men  of  the  nation,  possessed  of  much 
 landed  property,  compose  a  House  of  Lords, 
 and  are  the  hereditary  senators  of  the  land,  to 
 form  a  balance  in  our  civil  power;  and  I  am 
 glad  the  people  have  their  elective  repre- 
 sentatives in  the  House  of  Commons  on  their 
 behalf:'* 
 
 During  the  period  of  the  writer's  acquaint- 
 ance  with   Mr.  Hill,    he  only    once  took  any 
 
 *   Spiritual  Characteristics,  p.  15. 
 
362  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 public  part  in  the  political  movements  of 
 the  day  —  and  then  he  felt  it  his  duty  to 
 canvass  for  votes,  when  the  late  Sir  William 
 Guise  became  the  candidate  for  the  repre- 
 sentation of  Gloucestershire.  He  exerted  his 
 influence  in  favour  of  the  liberal  candidate, 
 with  whose  political  sentiments,  on  most  points, 
 he  coincided.  He,  however,  appears  to  have 
 resolved  never  to  touch  politics  again,  after  the 
 termination  of  that  election.  Before  any  one 
 ventures  to  cast  a  stone  at  the  good  man  for 
 the  course  he  pursued,  let  him  remember  that 
 his  example  is  not  likely  to  be  extensively  pre- 
 judicial, if  those  who  refer  to  it  in  justification 
 of  their  own  conduct,  will,  in  another  respect, 
 follow  in  his  steps,  namely,  only  thus  publicly 
 to  become  the  politician  once  in  eighty- nine 
 years. 
 
 It  was  the  decided  conviction  of  Mr.  Hill, 
 that  Christian  ministers  should  abstain  from 
 the  political  agitations  of  the  day.  Feeling 
 persuaded  that  the  spiritual  tone  of  their  minds 
 must  be  injured  by  frequent  contact  with  noisy 
 partisans,  he  was  grieved  when  he  heard  of 
 any  of  his  brethren  being  fond  of  such  pursuits. 
 He  thought  the  study,  the  closet,  and  the 
 pulpit,  more  suitable  spots  for  the  ambassador 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  363 
 
 of  Christ,  than  the  committee-room,  the  hust- 
 ings, and  the  dining-hall.  The  minister's  great 
 work,  to  which  he  had  devoted  his  life,  and 
 consecrated  all  his  powers,  should  occupy  his 
 chief  and  constant  attention,  and  every  thing 
 be  relinquished  which  would  interfere  with  his 
 spiritual  usefulness.  He  very  frequently  re- 
 gretted that  a  beloved  brother  had  been  led 
 unwarrantably  to  expend  large  sums  of  money 
 in  a  contested  election,  urged  forward  by  a 
 clergyman  in  whose  opinions  he  placed  con- 
 siderable confidence. 
 
 The  political  opinions  of  Mr.  Hill  being  at 
 variance  with  those  of  the  leading  members  of 
 his  family,  he  seldom  brought  them  very  promi- 
 nently forward.  "The  fear  of  man"  would 
 never  have  kept  him  back  from  the  firm  state- 
 ment of  his  views,  had  he  judged  the  same 
 to  be  really  necessary.  In  private  conversa- 
 tion, however,  he  would  freely  canvass  the 
 political  movements  of  the  day. 
 
 During  the  long  Peninsula  war,  Mr.  Hill 
 felt  the  deepest  interest  in  the  result  of  every 
 battle,  because  there  were  some  engaged  in 
 the  conflict  who  were  dear  to  him.  On  the 
 tidings  reaching  England,  of  the  dreadful 
 conflict   of  Waterloo,   which   led   to   the   final 
 
364  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 overthrow  of  Napoleon's  power,  he  listened  with 
 thrilling  solicitude  to  the  statements.  He  found 
 that  his  five  brave  nephews  were  all  preserved 
 amidst  the  dreadful  slaughter  which  had  taken 
 place;  and  his  flowing  tears,  and  his  uplifted 
 hand,  testified  how  sincerely  grateful  he  felt  for 
 the  mercies  that  had  been  so  pre-eminently 
 experienced  by  his  illustrious  relatives.  On 
 the  general  illumination  taking  place,  to  cele- 
 brate the  victory  of  Waterloo,  Mr.  Hill  placed 
 a  neat  transparency  in  the  front  of  Surrey 
 Chapel.  On  a  scroll  at  the  top  of  the  picture 
 were  the  words,  "  The  tyrant  is  fallen !" — 
 Then  appeared  a  quotation  from  Obadiah  iii.  4. 
 "The  pride  of  thine  heart  hath  deceived  thee, 
 thou  that  dwellest  in  the  clefts  of  the  rock, 
 whose  habitation  is  high;  that  saith  in  his 
 heart,  Who  shall  bring  me  down  to  the  ground  ? 
 Though  thou  exalt  thyself  as  the  eagle,  and 
 though  thou  set  thy  nest  among  the  stars, 
 thence  will  I  bring  thee  down,  saith  the  Lord." 
 Then  followed,  "Be  wise  now,  therefore,  O  ye 
 kings;  be  instructed,  ye  judges  of  the  earth," 
 Psalm  ii.  10.  The  painting  contained  an  alle- 
 gorical description  of  the  times.  On  the  short 
 peace  of  Amiens,  Mr.  Hill  exhibited  an  appro- 
 priate   transparency,   with   the   quaint    motto, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  365 
 
 "May  the  new-born  peace  be  as  old  as  Me- 
 thuselah." 
 
 Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Sir  Rowland 
 Hill  was  raised  to  the  peerage,  which  afforded 
 great  pleasure  to  his  venerable  uncle.  The 
 City  of  London  afterwards  presented  his  lord- 
 ship with  its  freedom.  Mr.  Hill  witnessed 
 the  ceremony,  and  was  loudly  cheered  by  the 
 people,  who  crowded  to  see  the  noble  warrior. 
 The  Chamberlain,  on  placing  the  sword  in 
 the  hands  of  Lord  Hill,  made  a  beautiful  re- 
 ference to  the  fact,  that  one  of  his  ancestors 
 was  the  first  Protestant  Lord  Mayor  of  the 
 City.  His  lordship  continues  to  merit  the 
 confidence  of  his  sovereign, — and  for  several 
 years  has  held  the  distinguished  and  respon- 
 sible office  of  Commander-in-chief  of  his  Ma- 
 jesty's Forces. 
 
 It  was  an  interesting  picture  to  see  the  vene- 
 rable man,  towards  the  evening,  looking  into 
 the  daily  news.  Before  his  sight  failed  he 
 often  read  himself,  but  afterwards  his  servant 
 discharged  that  office.  He  would  make  most 
 pointed  and  shrewd  remarks  on  the  various 
 matters  which  the  journal  brought  before  hinru 
 He  was  the  decided  friend  of  liberal  men  and 
 liberal  measures.      He,  therefore,  rejoiced   in 
 
366  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 the  repeal  of  the  test  and  corporation  acts,  and 
 anticipated  no  dangers  from  the  emancipation 
 of  the  Roman  Catholics.  On  the  latter  subject, 
 as  might  be  expected,  there  were  differences  of 
 opinion  among  the  members  of  his  congre- 
 gation. There  were  a  few  who  greatly  feared 
 that  the  passing  of  the  emancipation  bill  would 
 be  followed  by  the  fires  of  Smithfield.  "  The 
 lions  are  now  safe,"  said  they,  "  let  us  not  let 
 them  out  of  confinement."  There  were  others 
 who  took  different  views  of  the  question,  and 
 had  no  fears  as  to  the  effect  of  the  measure. 
 The  press,  they  thought,  was  their  protection 
 against  the  waning  power  of  the  pope.  At 
 that  time  the  discussions  in  parliament  greatly 
 excited  the  public  mind.  Mr.  Hill  was 
 requested,  by  both  parties,  to  preach  a  suitable 
 sermon  on  the  subject.  Each  side  expected 
 an  advocate  of  his  own  peculiar  views.  The 
 good  man,  on  the  Sabbath  morning,  took  a 
 suitable  text,  and  dwelt  on  very  general 
 topics.  Just  before  the  close  of  the  sermon 
 he  archly  remarked,  "  There  are  some  of  you 
 Baying,  '  We  should  like  to  hear  the  old  gentle- 
 man's opinions  on  the  subject  of  Catholic  eman- 
 cipation ?  Should  you  ? — ah  !  the  old  gentle- 
 man is  too  old  to  give  them.     If  he  should  do 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  367 
 
 so,  and  they  were  not  like  your  own,  you  might 
 say,  'Poor,  dear  man,  he  gets  old,  and  his 
 intellects  are  rather  dull.'"  Then  raising  him- 
 self in  the  pulpit,  and  appearing  as  if  anxious 
 to  lull  the  fears  of  the  timid,  he  added,  in  a 
 deep  and  mimic  majestic  tone,  "But  to  tell 
 you  the  truth,  beloved,  I  don't  think  that  the 
 fagot  will  grow  for  the  next  hundred  years, 
 which  will  burn  the  next  protestant  martyr  to 
 popish  intolerance  in  our  country ," 
 
 These  well-timed  remarks  satisfied  all  par- 
 ties, and  proved  that  the  preacher,  though  more 
 than  fourscore  years  old,  had  not  quite  worn  out 
 his  powers.  He  had  no  fears  as  to  the  future 
 efforts  of  popery,  provided  the  knowledge  of 
 the  Bible  was  made  known,  and  the  press 
 remained  unfettered.  His  sentiments  har- 
 monized writh  those  of  honest  John  Fox,  the 
 martyrologist,  who  thus  expressed  himself  on 
 the  power  of  the  Christian  press :  "  I  s  appose, 
 that  either  the  pope  must  abolish  printing,  or 
 seek  a  new  world  to  reign  over,  or  else,  as  this 
 world  standeth,  printing  will  doubtless  abolish 
 him.  But  the  pope,  and  all  his  college  of  car- 
 dinals, must  this  understand,  that  through  the 
 light  of  printing,  the  world  now  beginneth  to 
 
368  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 have  eyes  to  see,  and  heads  to  judge.  He  can- 
 not walk  so  invisibly  in  a  net,  but  he  will  be 
 spied.  And  although  through  him  might  be 
 stopped  the  mouth  of  John  Huss,  and  of 
 Jerome,  that  they  might  not  preach,  thinking 
 to  make  his  kingdom  sure,  yet,  instead  of  John 
 Huss  and  others,  God  hath  opened  the  press  to 
 preach,  whose  voice  the  pope  is  never  able  to 
 stop,  with  all  the  puissance  of  his  triple  crown. 
 By  this  printing,  as  by  gift  of  tongues,  and,  as 
 by  the  singular  organ  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the 
 doctrine  of  the  Gospel  soundeth  to  all  nations 
 and  countries  under  heaven ;  and  what  God 
 revealed  unto  one  man  is  dispensed  to  many, 
 and  what  is  known  to  one  nation  is  opened 
 to  all." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  believed  that  "the  sword  of  the 
 Spirit,"  even  the  word  of  God,  was  the  grand 
 instrument  for  the  destruction  of  popery.  He 
 was  fond  of  telling  a  tale  of  a  poor  Roman 
 Catholic,  to  whom  he  gave  a  New  Testament. 
 After  the  man  had  read  through  the  sacred 
 book,  he  went  back  to  him,  and  said,  "  Sir,  this 
 can't  be  the  word  of  God,  for  there  is  not  one 
 word  about  the  mass  in  it."  "  No,  my  friend," 
 said  Mr.  Hill,  "  you'll  not  find  the  mass  in  the 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  369 
 
 Bible."  This  circumstance  led  the  man  to 
 examine  other  points,  and  eventually  to  em- 
 brace the  Protestant  faith. 
 
 On  the  subject  of  the  Roman  Catholic  errors, 
 he  remarked,  "  I  am  sure  it  is  impossible  to 
 correct  a  man's  errors  by  persecution ;  a  man's 
 errors  could  never  be  beat  out  of  his  head  by  a 
 cudgel.  The  faith  of  Christ  should  always  be 
 contended  for  in  a  Christian  spirit.  Some 
 looked  at  popery  on  the  black  side,  calling  to 
 mind  when  fire  and  fagots  were  burning  in 
 Smithfield;  but  the  times  were  gone  by  for 
 spreading  religion  by  fagot  or  cudgel,  for 
 surely  people  could  not  keep  in  the  right  path 
 by  incarcerating  and  excommunicating  one 
 another,  or  by  imposing  heavy  penances  upon 
 transgressors.  Let  us  have  no  weapons  but 
 those  of  kindness  and  love.  I  am  glad  that 
 I  took  no  part  in  the  Catholic  question ;  I 
 thought  it  my  duty  to  stand  aloof  from  it  alto- 
 gether, and  to  leave  it  in  the  hands  of  those 
 who  know  better  how  to  deal  with  it  than 
 I  could  pretend  to  do.  I  trust  that  all  men 
 will  now  arrange  themselves  on  the  side  of 
 truth,  and  refuse  to  listen  to  error;  for  I  am 
 well   convinced,   that  whatever  delusions  may 
 
 2b 
 
370  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 prevail  among  the  people,  they  will  be  dissi- 
 pated in  these  great  and  enlightened  days."* 
 
 In  reference  to  the  Roman  Catholic  religion, 
 he  remarked,  "  The  power  of  popery  is  now 
 dethroned  by  God,  and  shall  never  more  be 
 established  by  man.  I  would  not  wish  that  a 
 papist  not  guilty  of  political  crimes  should  be 
 prosecuted,  but  the  designs  of  popery  should 
 ever  be  watched  with  a  guarded  and  a  jealous 
 eye.  Every  thing  should  be  adopted  towards 
 the  Roman  Catholics  which  is  conciliatory, 
 prudent,  and  wise."f 
 
 The  great  attachment  which  Mr.  Hill  ever 
 felt  for  the  principles  of  civil  and  religious 
 liberty,  led  him  strongly  to  condemn  the  in- 
 human traffic  in  slaves,  and  to  support  all  the 
 efforts  made  for  their  emancipation.  He  ex- 
 perienced the  sincerest  joy  when  he  found  there 
 was  a  prospect  of  their  deliverance  from  cruel 
 bondage.  Many  years  before,  he  had  composed 
 the  following  simple  lines  on  the  subject,  which 
 he  sent  to  one  of  the  magazines  of  the  day. 
 
 *  Speech  at  the  Anniversary  of  the  British  and 
 Foreign  School  Society,  May,  1S29. 
 
 t  Village  Dialogues,  pages  59 — 107. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  371 
 
 Now  let  the  efforts  of  our  praise 
 
 Arise  to  Him  who  reigns  above, 
 In  whose  essential  holiness 
 
 Dwells  the  eternal  flame  of  love. 
 
 Jesus  our  God,  thy  love  we  sing, 
 
 Unknown  to  sinners  of  our  race, 
 Till  thy  compassions  brought  thee  down, 
 
 To  save  us  by  thy  wondrous  grace. 
 
 Then  what  is  heaven,  but  as  we  find 
 
 In  thee  is  all  we  wish  to  be  ? 
 And  what  is  hell  in  man,  dear  Lord, 
 
 But  as  he  is  devoid  of  thee  ? 
 
 Then  where  is  heaven,  but  in  the  soul 
 Who  dwells  in  thee  supremely  blest  ? 
 
 And  where  is  hell,  but  on  the  shore 
 Where  mercy  finds  no  peaceful  rest  ? 
 
 Soon  may  this  love  and  mercy  teach 
 The  swarthy  tribes  of  Afric's  shore, 
 
 Those  slaves  of  sin  thou  can'st  set  free, 
 And  bid  them  go  and  sin  no  more. 
 
 We  blush  with  holy  shame,  that  men 
 Who  bear  thy  sacred  name,  our  God^ 
 
 Should  dare  one  single  man  enslave, 
 Or  shed  one  drop  of  human  blood. 
 
 Kindle  the  flame  of  love  divine 
 In  some  kind  heralds  of  thy  grace, 
 
 And  bid  each  distant  clime  receive 
 The  gladsome  tidings  of  thy  grace. 
 
ttf'2  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Mr.  Hill  once  mentioned  his  sentiments  on 
 this  important  question,  and  stated  the  follow- 
 ing fact.  "  A  poor  negro  called  on  me  some 
 years  since,  and  told  me  that  i  his  massa  beat 
 him  very  bad,'  and  inquired  what  he  should  do  ? 
 '  Do,'  said  I,  '  why,  run  away  from  your  cruel 
 master  as  hard  as  you  can.'  '  Ah !  massa,' 
 replied  the  negro,  '  me  cannot  run  away,  for  me 
 poor  slave.'  'Slave!  no  such  thing;  the  moment 
 you  touched  British  ground  you  were  free ;  we 
 have  no  slaves  here  !'  The  poor  negro,  delighted 
 with  the  intelligence,  said,  t  Then  me  will  run 
 away  as  good  massa  say;'  and  off  he  went 
 accordingly." 
 
 Mr.  Hill,  in  his  closing  days  viewed  with 
 calm  delight  the  public  movements,  and  in- 
 dulged the  hope  that  his  beloved  country 
 would  still  be  the  glory  of  lands.  He  believed 
 that  all  national  measures  would  be  overruled 
 for  the  good  of  the  Christian  church,  and  the 
 rapid  extension  of  religious  knowledge  through- 
 out the  world. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  37-3 
 
 CHAP.  IX. 
 
 MR.  HILL'S  CONNEXION  WITH  THE  RELIGIOUS 
 EFFORTS  AND  INSTITUTIONS  OF  THE  DAY,  WITH 
 A  SPECIAL  REFERENCE  TO  THE  SOCIETIES  ESTAB- 
 LISHED AT  SURREY  CHAPEL. 
 
 The  book  society  for  promoting  religious  knowledge  among 
 the  poor — the  earthquake  in  london  in  1749 — the  labours 
 of  whitefield  and  wesley — dr.  doddridge —the  great  want 
 of  bibles — sunday  school  society — mr.  hill's  coadjutors — 
 the  london  missionary  society — warwickshire  association — 
 prayer  meeting  at  edinburgh — the  bristol  conference — 
 the  cradle  of  the  missionary  society — the  rev.  john  eyre 
 — first  public  meeting — ministers  then  present — mr.  hill's 
 first  sermon  for  the  society  at  surrey  chapel — beautiful 
 description  of  a  missionary — dr.  bogue?s  remarks  on  bigotry 
 and  the  effects  they  produced — the  epitaph  on  bigotry — 
 its  subsequent  resurrection — annual  missionary  collec- 
 tions and  missionary  day  at  surrey  chapel — female  mis- 
 sionary society — letter  to  rev.  richard  knill— the  mission- 
 ary and  the  wheelbarrow — religious  tract  society — its 
 formation — mr.  hill's  tracts — british  and  foreign  bible 
 society — its  origin — the  first  minute  of  the  committee,  and 
 its  subsequent  proceedings — letter  from  mr.  keisl1ng  of 
 nurenberg — first  suggestion  of  auxiliary  societies  from 
 mr.  williams  of  birmingham — the  title  of  the  bible  society 
 suggested — the  society  of  friends — formation  of  the  society 
 — first  grant  made  to  the  venerable  oberlin — bible  asso- 
 ciation at  surrey  chapel — extracts  from  mr.  hill's  speeches 
 at  bible  meetings — his  objection  to  apologies  for  attending 
 such  meetings— anniversary  of  bible  society  in  1831  —  the 
 effect  of  mr.  hill's  speech  on  that  occasion — original  letter 
 to  the  author — the  benevolent  society — its  nature,  great 
 usefulness,  and  anniversary  meetings — first  sunday-school 
 in  london — raikes — objections  answered — paid  teachers — 
 new  system  of  disinterested  agency  —  beams  —  sims — gibbs — 
 bridges  —  burchett  —  neale — colonel  handtield  —  origin  of 
 southwark  sunday-school  society — its  results- -anecdotes — 
 plans  of  usefulness — apology  for  sunday-schools — opinions  on 
 education — recorder  of  london — meetings  of  sunday-school 
 children  at  easter — mr.  hill's  last  address — infant  schools 
 —dorcas  and  clothing  societies  —  a  lms-houses  — cheltenham 
 — leamington — lay  agency — bunyan — captain  scott — ferrets 
 —indirect  influence  of  societies  at  surrey  chapel. 
 
 The  history  of  Mr.  Hill  is  intimately  connected 
 with   the   rise   and    progress   of  many  of   the 
 
374  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 religious  and  benevolent  institutions  of  the 
 times  in  which  he  lived,  particularly  those 
 which  have  been  established  on  the  catholic 
 principles  which  he  loved  to  promote.  Among 
 these  excellent  charities  is,  "  The  Book 
 Society  for  Promoting  Religious  Knowledge 
 among  the  Poor,"  which  was  formed  in  1750. 
 It  was  one  of  the  earliest  societies,  if  not  the 
 first,  which  established  the  principle  of  union 
 among  the  different  sections  of  the  true  church, 
 the  tenth  rule  directing,  that  the  members  shall 
 be  "  selected  from  Christians  of  various  denomi- 
 nations." 
 
 The  providence  which  led  to  the  formation 
 of  this  Society  was  somewhat  remarkable,  and 
 is  interestingly  detailed  by  its  early  historian.* 
 
 In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1749-50  an 
 earthquake  threw  the  inhabitants  of  London 
 into  deep  consternation.  Tears  were  their 
 drink  by  day,  trembling  and  horror  their  com- 
 panions by  night.  He  with  whom  is  the  result 
 of  natural  causes,  and  who  had  predisposed 
 them  when  he  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth, 
 within  five  weeks  from  the  first  shock,  lifted  up 
 this  mighty  city  again  from  its  basis,  and  shook 
 
 *  Origin  and  Progress  of  the  Society,  by  Dr.  Rippon, 
 1796. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  375 
 
 its  million  of  inhabitants  in  all  their  dwellings* 
 The  second  shock,  it  is  said,  was  more  dreadf  M 
 than  the  first,  and  the  nation  fearing,  askea> 
 May  not  a  third  be  more  terrible  than  the 
 second?  Conscious  guilt,  common  sense,  and 
 the  genuine  piety  of  anxious  thousands,  said, 
 the  houses  already  twice  trembling  within  a  few 
 weeks,  may  this  hour  fall,  and  crush  every  soul 
 of  us,  sinners  and  saints,  beneath  their  ruins.* 
 
 At  this  awful  crisis  "  came  forward  an  indi- 
 vidual, to  improve  the  alarm  of  Providence ; 
 that  person  was  Mr.  Benjamin  Forfitt,  a  pious 
 
 *  In  the  midst  of  a  distress  so  deep,  "  that  the  like 
 is  not  recorded  to  have  happened  before  in  this  care- 
 less city,"  places  of  worship  were  crowded  with 
 frightened  sinners,  especially  the  two  Wesleyan  cha- 
 pels and  the  Tabernacle.  Mr.  Whitefield  preached 
 at  midnight  in  Hyde  Park.  "  One  knows  not  which 
 most  to  admire,"  remarks  Mr.  Watson,  "  Mr.  White  - 
 field  preaching  at  midnight  in  Hyde  Park  to  a  crowd 
 of  affrighted  people,  expecting  the  earth  to  swallow 
 them  up,  or  Mr.  Charles  Wesley,  with  the  very  ground 
 reeling  under  him,  calling  out  to  his  congregation, 
 1  Therefore  will  not  we  fear,  though  the  earth  be 
 removed,  and  the  hills  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the 
 sea,  for  the  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us,  the  God  of  Jacob 
 is  our  refuge/  and  using  this  as  his  text." — Wesley's 
 Life,  by  Watson,  page  212. 
 
376  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 tradesman  in  Leadenhall-street,  and  a  member 
 of  a  Dissenting  church  then  under  the  pastoral 
 care  of  Dr.  William  Langford,  and  since  of  the 
 Rev.  John  Clayton,  Convinced  of  the  immense 
 value  of  his  own  soul,  and  of  the  souls  of  men, 
 Mr.  Forfitt  longed  to  furnish  them  with  suitable 
 means  of  information,  and  persuaded  himself 
 that  Bibles  and  other  religious  books  must  be 
 successful  under  the  Divine  blessing." 
 
 Many  of  the  most  excellent  men  of  the 
 times  immediately  became  the  warm  supporters 
 of  the  institution.  Among  the  preachers  who 
 advocated  its  claim  from  the  pulpit  were  Jones, 
 of  St.  Laurence  Jury,  the  immortal  Whitefield, 
 Romaine,  Venn,  John  Newton,  and  Rowland 
 Hill,  of  the  Established  church,  and  Gibbons, 
 Stennett,  Brewer,  Conder,  Palmer,  Addington, 
 Toller,  Clayton,  and  many  others,  from  the 
 different  sections  of  the  nonconformists.  It  is 
 an  interesting  fact,  "  that  the  very  first  donation 
 made  by  this  Society  was  to  Dr.  Doddridge,  in 
 September,  1750,"  and  it  is  stated  that  at  that 
 period  "  there  were  thousands  of  families  in  this 
 land,  which  had  not  a  single  Bible ;  and  that 
 there  were  many  dissenting  congregations 
 which  had  but  a  few." 
 
 This  Society  has  distributed  many  excellent 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  377 
 
 works,  which  have  been  useful  both  to  the 
 Christian  and  the  unbeliever.  Mr.  Hill's  "  Vil- 
 lage Dialogues"  were  placed  on  its  catalogue 
 a  few  years  before  the  author's  death.  He  gave 
 £300  to  the  institution,  as  an  evidence  of  his 
 love  to  its  liberal  principles. 
 
 In  1785  "  The  Society  for  the  Support  and 
 Encouragement  of  Sunday  Schools'' was  estab- 
 lished, through  the  agency  of  William  Fox, 
 "who  by  indefatigable  zeal  roused  the  public 
 mind  to  their  value  and  importance,  by  means 
 of  extensive  epistolary  correspondence,  by  the 
 publication  of  various  papers  through  the  metro- 
 politan and  provincial  press,  and  at  public  meet- 
 ings called  for  the  purpose." 
 
 Among  the  zealous  supporters  of  this  new 
 Society  was  Rowland  Hill,  who  acted  in  Chris- 
 tian harmony  with  the  beloved  Bishop  Porteus, 
 William  Romaine,  Henry  Foster,  John  Newton, 
 and  Abraham  Booth,  aided  by  the  generous 
 efforts  of  Jonas  Hanway,  Henry  Thornton, 
 William  Wilberforce,  and  other  illustrious  lay- 
 men. In  this  Society  the  affections  of  Mr.  Hill 
 were  secured,  because  its  committee  had  stated, 
 that  "private  advantage  and  party  zeal  were 
 entirely  disclaimed  by  the  friends  and  pro- 
 moters of  the  institution.     However  men  might 
 
378  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 be  divided  into  political  parties,  or  however 
 Christians  might  unhappily  separate  from  each 
 other  on  account  of  difference  of  sentiment, 
 there  they  were  all  invited  to  join  the  common 
 cause,  the  glory  of  God,  the  good  of  their 
 country,  and  the  happiness  of  their  fellow- 
 creatures."  Half  the  committee,  by  the  rules 
 of  the  Society,  are  members  of  the  Church  of 
 England,  and  half  Protestant  Dissenters. 
 
 The  formation  of  the  London  Missionary 
 Society  deeply  interested  the  mind  of  Mr.  Hill. 
 The  subject  had  occupied  the  serious  attention 
 of  several  devoted  men,  on  whose  minds  the 
 Spirit  of  the  Lord  evidently  rested.  In  1793 
 the  Warwickshire  Association  of  ministers  had 
 discussed  the  question,  "  What  is  the  duty  of 
 Christians  with  respect  to  the  spread  of  the 
 gospel  ?"  when  they  determined  that  the  even- 
 ing of  the  first  Monday  of  every  month  should 
 be  a  season  of  united  prayer  to  God  for  the 
 success  of  every  attempt  made  by  all  denomi- 
 nations of  Christians  for  the  spread  of  the 
 gospel.  * 
 
 About  this  time  a  number  of  Christians  in 
 Edinburgh,  "  excited  by  a  desire  for  the  spread 
 
 *  Life  of  Rev  George  Burder,  page  157. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  379 
 
 •of  the  gospel,  agreed  to  join  together  m  prayer 
 for  that  purpose.  These  meetings  were  con- 
 ducted on  such  a  plan  as  not  to  interfere  with 
 the  duties  of  the  family  and  the  closet.  They 
 met  at  seven  o'clock  on  the  Sabbath  mornings, 
 and  continued  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  during 
 which  time  three  or  four  members  usually 
 prayed.  They  made  known  their  plan,  and 
 urged  the  people  of  God  everywhere  to  adopt 
 similar  measures.  Who  knows,  said  they,  what 
 may  be  the  result  ?  At  any  rate,  it  may  tend 
 to  increase  our  own  esteem  for  the  inestimable 
 blessing  of  the  gospel  of  peace."# 
 
 The  late  Dr.  Bogue  and  his  friends  had  their 
 attention  directed  to  the  same  important  point. 
 In  1794  he  was  supplying  the  Tabernacle  at 
 Bristol,  a  place  dear  to  thousands  who  had 
 there  heard  the  gospel  from  the  lips  of  White- 
 field  and  Hill,  when  the  subject  received  serious 
 consideration.  The  parlour  of  the  Tabernacle 
 house  is  called  by  some  the  cradle  of  the 
 London  Missionary  Society,"  for  there  Mr.  Hey, 
 who  was  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Independent 
 congregation  in  Castle  Green,  Bristol,  joined 
 with  Dr.  Bogue  and  Mr.  Steven,  minister  of  the 
 
 •  Evangelical  Magazine,  Vol.  iii.  p.  468. 
 
380  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Scotch  church  in  Covent  Garden,  London,  who 
 was  Dr.  Bogue's  colleague  in  the  Tabernacle 
 pulpit,  in  attempting  to  rouse  the  public  mind  to 
 the  neglected  duty.  Dr.  Bogue  inserted  in  the 
 Evangelical  Magazine  for  September,  1794,  an 
 address  to  Evangelical  dissenters  who  practised 
 infant  baptism,  which  awakened  considerable 
 attention  to  missions.* 
 
 At  a  meeting  held  at  the  Red  Cross  Street 
 Library,  the  Rev.  John  Eyre,  of  Homerton, 
 fell  into  conversation  with  several  of  the  Scotch 
 ministers  of  London,  Messrs.  Waugh,  Love, 
 and  Steven,  on  a  publication  which  the  Rev. 
 Melville  Home  had  recently  sent  forth,  to 
 rouse  attention  to  Missions.  Mr.  Eyre,  on  his 
 return  from  the  Library,  called  on  the  Rev. 
 Matthew  Wilks,  minister  of  the  Tabernacle, 
 Moorfields,  and  communicated  to  him  the  con- 
 versation, with  the  powerful  effect  the  subject 
 had  produced.  These  two  ministers  resolved 
 to  meet  again,  when  each  was  to  bring  a  friend 
 with  him.  Their  number  having  augmented  to 
 seven  or  nine  persons,  it  was  agreed  to  meet 
 once  a  fortnight  at  the  Castle  and  Falcon, 
 Aldersgate-street,  for  prayer,  and  the  reading 
 
 *  Life  of  Dr.  Bogue,  pages  170,  177. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  381 
 
 of  the  Scriptures  on  the  subject.  After  several 
 meetings,  publicity  was  given  to  the  subject, 
 and  a  public  meeting  was  summoned  for  Mon- 
 day, the  21st  of  September,  1795,  to  be  held 
 at  that  tavern. 
 
 On  that  occasion  about  two  hundred  minis- 
 ters, of  different  denominations,  met  together, 
 when  the  Missionary  Society  was  formed.  Sir 
 Egerton  Leigh,  Bart,  presided. 
 
 In  these  preliminary  services  we  find  our 
 venerable  friend,  Mr.  Hill,  associated  with 
 Eyre,  Love,  and  Haweis,  of  the  Establishment  ; 
 Sibree,  of  Frome  ;  Lambert,  of  Hull ;  Cook,  of 
 Maidenhead ;  Kingsbury,  of  Southampton  ; 
 Hey,  of  Bristol;  Bogue,  of  Gosport;  Great- 
 heed,  of  Newport  Pagnel;  Saltern,  of  Bridport; 
 Waugh,  Wilks,  and  Hunter,  of  London;  Burder, 
 then  of  Coventry;  Parsons,  of  Leeds ;  Lowell, 
 of  Woodridge ;  Sloper,  of  Devizes ;  Whitridge, 
 of  Osv/estry ;  Slatterie,  of  Chatham  ;  Ralph,  of 
 Maidstone ;  Jay,  of  Bath  ;  Rooker,  of  Goldhill ; 
 Townsend,  of  Ramsgate ;  Griffin,  of  Portsea ; 
 Ray,  of  Sudbury;  and  many  other  excellent 
 men. 
 
 On  Thursday  morning,  the  24th  of  Septem- 
 ber, Mr.  Hill  preached  for  the  Society  at  Surrey 
 
382  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Chapel,  from  Matthew  xxiv.  14, — in  which  he 
 gave  the  following  beautiful  sketch  of  a  devoted 
 Missionary's  character,  —  "  What  manner  of 
 persons  should  these  indeed  be,  in  all  holy 
 conversation  and  godliness  !  How  full  of  that 
 heavenly-mindedness  and  spiritual-mindedness, 
 which  shall  raise  them  so  far  above  the  world, 
 as  though  they  scarce  had  an  existence  in  it ! 
 What  a  holy,  burning  zeal,  for  the  salvation  of 
 souls!  and  what  wisdom  from  above,  to  conduct 
 that  zeal !  what  purity  of  knowledge,  to  deal 
 with  those  whose  deep-rooted  fondness  for  their 
 ancient  superstitions  will  make  them  watch, 
 with  a  jealous  eye,  over  every  attempt  to  de- 
 clare among  them  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus. 
 
 "  Nor  should  their  patience,  meekness,  and 
 child -like  simplicity  be  less  eminent  than 
 their  zeal.  They  must  win  by  love,  and  con- 
 quer by  holy  perseverance.  They  must  not 
 be  like  some  sort  of  Missionaries,  who  suppose 
 they  are  to  be  sent  a  pleasant  voyage  at  the 
 public  expense ;  but  they  must  be  men  '  that 
 count  not  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves,  so 
 that  they  may  finish  their  course  with  joy,  and 
 the  ministry  which  they  have  received  of  the 
 Lord.'      Men   that   can  be  contented,  out  of 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  383 
 
 pure  love  to  Christ,  to  *  stand  in  jeopardy  every 
 hour/  They  must  not  only  live  like  martyrs, 
 but  perhaps  die  like  martyrs.  We  know  not 
 but  the  ancient  proverb  of  the  primitive  Chris- 
 tians is  again  to  be  revived,  '  the  blood  of  the 
 martyrs  is  the  seed  of  the  church.'  They  must 
 be  as  dead  to  themselves  as  if  they  had  no 
 being ;  they  must  be  completely  crucified  with 
 Christ !  In  short,  ere  they  embark  upon  the 
 work,  they  must  learn  to  leave  themselves 
 behind  them.  With  holy  triumph  they  must 
 be  taught  to  say,  '  Farewell,  my  dear  native 
 land;  farewell  to  all  the  ease  and  happiness, 
 and  earthly  indulgencies,  I  have  enjoyed 
 therein.  Welcome  affliction,  necessities,  dis- 
 tresses of  every  kind;  labours,  watchings,  fast- 
 ings, I  now  dread  no  more.  Welcome  now  a 
 life  to  be  spent  in  journeyings  often,  in  perils 
 of  waters,  in  perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  in  the 
 wilderness,  in  perils  by  the  sea.  Yea,  welcome 
 weariness  and  painfulness,  hunger  and  thirst, 
 cold  and  nakedness ;  yea,  welcome  death  itself, 
 whenever  the  blessed  Lord  himself,  who  died 
 for  me,  demands  that  costly  sacrifice  at  my 
 hands.  These  are  the  men  that  shall  be  made 
 more  than  conquerors  over  all  the  difficulties 
 
384  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 that  human  prudence,  or  unbelief,  would  pre- 
 sent before  us  to  impede  the  way."* 
 
 In  referring  to  the  meetings  held  for  the 
 formation  of  this  Society,  the  biographer  of 
 Dr.  Bogue  remarks,  "  The  Christian  world 
 seemed  to  awake  as  from  a  dream — wondering 
 that  they  could  have  been  so  long  asleep,  while 
 the  groans  of  a  dying  world  were  calling  upon 
 them  for  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  Another 
 consideration,  which  rendered  these  seasons 
 unspeakably  delightful  was,  the  visible  union 
 of  Christians  of  all  denominations  ;  who,  for  the 
 first  time,  forgetting  their  party  prejudices  and 
 partialities,  assembled  in  the  same  place,  sang 
 the  same  hymns,  united  in  the  same  prayers, 
 and  felt  themselves  one  in  Christ."  This  sen- 
 timent was  so  generally  felt,  that  when  Mr. 
 Bogue,  in  the  course  of  his  sermon,  said,  "  We 
 are  called  upon,  this  evening,  to  the  funeral  of 
 bigotry ;  and  I  hope  it  will  be  buried  so  deep, 
 as  never  to  rise  again,"  the  whole  vast  body 
 of  people  manifested  their  concurrence,  and 
 could  scarcely  refrain  from  one  general  shout 
 of  joy.      Such   a   scene,    perhaps,    was   never 
 
 *  Gospel  Grace. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  385 
 
 beheld  in  our  world ;  and  afforded  a  glorious 
 earnest  of  that  nobler  assembly,  where  we  shall 
 meet  all  the  redeemed,  and  before  the  throne  of 
 the  Lamb  shall  sing,  as  in  the  last  hymn  of  the 
 service,  "Crown  him,  crown  him,  crown  him 
 Lord  of  all"* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  so  heartily  rejoiced  in  these  re- 
 marks on  the  funeral  of  bigotry,  that  he  under- 
 took to  write  a  suitable  epitaph.  The  following 
 lines  are  from  his  pen : — 
 
 Here  lies  old  Bigotry,  abhorr'd 
 By  all  that  love  our  common  Lord  ; 
 No  more  his  influence  shall  prove 
 The  torment  of  the  sons  of  love. 
 
 We  celebrate  with  holy  mirth 
 This  monster's  death,  of  hellish  birth; 
 Ne'er  may  his  hateful  influence  rise, 
 Again  to  blast  our  sacred  joys. 
 
 Glory  to  God  we  now  are  one, 
 United  to  one  Head  alone  ; 
 With  undivided  hearts  we  praise 
 Our  God,  for  his  uniting  grace. 
 
 Let  names,  and  sects,  and  parties  fall, 
 Let  Jesus  Christ  be  all  in  all ; 
 Thus,  like  thy  saints  above,  shall  we 
 Be  one  with  each,  as  one  with  Thee. 
 
 *  Life  of  Dr.  Bogue,  p.  179. 
 2  c 
 
386  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 There  is  reason  to  fear  that  there  has  been 
 a  resurrection  of  this  enemy  of  the  church ;  but 
 till  the  close  of  life,  Mr.  Hill  often  repeated  the 
 remark  of  a  favourite  author,  "Mr.  Bigotry 
 fell  down,  and  broke  his  leg — would  that  he 
 had  broken  his  neck !" 
 
 The  annual  collections  at  Surrey  Chapel, 
 for  the  Missionary  cause,  were  liberal,  some- 
 times exceeding  £400.  A  Female  Missionary 
 Association  has  also  raised  about  £2000  for 
 the  same  object.  Mr.  Hill  continued,  through 
 life,  the  zealous  friend  of  the  institution,  and 
 travelled  more  than  ten  thousand  miles,  advo- 
 cating its  cause,  and  frequently  contributed 
 liberally  towards  the  expenses  necessarily 
 incurred. 
 
 The  Missionary  day  at  Surrey  Chapel  was 
 a  high  day,  both  for  ministers  and  people, 
 Mr.  Hill  was  all  activity,  preparing  for  the 
 service.  He  generally  read  the  prayers,  and 
 felt  much  joy  "that  his  non.-con.  brethren, 
 once  in  the  year,  heard  the  beautiful  liturgy  of 
 the  church  of  England."  An  aged  minister,  who 
 was  much  opposed  to  formularies  and  instru- 
 mental music,  was  once  present.  He  made 
 some  remarks  against  the  service  to  the  friends 
 near  him:  just  then  the  congregation  sang, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  387 
 
 "  The  thunder  of  thy  word  shall  roll," 
 and  there  was  a  fine  imitation  of  thunder  on 
 the  organ.     "Oh!  said  the  good  man,  how  I  do 
 hate  this  attempt  at  theatrical  effect,  and  yet 
 how  truly  sublime  it  is !" 
 
 Mr.  Hill  corresponded  with  several  of  the 
 devoted  men  who  had  engaged  in  the  Mission- 
 ary work,  and  especially  with  those  who  had 
 been  members  of  his  own  church.  He  felt  a 
 deep  interest  in  their  welfare  and  success. 
 On  the  departure  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Knill 
 for  Russia,  he  addressed  to  him  the  following 
 letter : — 
 
 "  To  my  well  -  beloved  brother,  Richard 
 Knill;  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  be  with  him, 
 through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  '  Unto  me, 
 who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints,  is 
 this  grace  given,  that  I  should  preach  among 
 the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ/ 
 
 Commission'd  from  the  Lord  of  hosts, 
 Herald  of  God,  go  forth  and  shine ; 
 
 Proclaim  the  light  where  darkness  reigns, 
 Prove  all  the  strength  of  Jesus  thine. 
 
 Girt  with  the  panoply  of  God, 
 
 Go,  dare  the  dreadful  powers  of  sin; 
 Go,  urge  the  lingering  battle  on, 
 And  never-fading  honours  win. 
 
388  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Wield  the  tremendous  sword  of  truth, 
 
 While  hell's  dark  legions  trembling  stand; 
 
 To  hear  the  Conqueror's  dire  decree, 
 And  feel  the  vengeance  of  his  hand. 
 
 To  northern  climes  those  tidings  bear, 
 Which  bring  lost  sinners  near  to  God, 
 
 And  bid  Siberian  heathens  know 
 The  power  and  grace  of  Jesu's  blood. 
 
 Nor  let  thy  fears  presume  to  quell 
 
 The  holy  flame  that  swells  thine  heart- 
 
 Strength,  more  than  equal  to  the  day, 
 The  great  Jehovah  will  impart. 
 
 In  weakness  shall  thy  strength  be  found, 
 While  unbelief  will  shrink  away : 
 
 While  sinners  burst  the  bonds  of  death. 
 And  rise  to  bless  the  Gospel  day. 
 
 Vale  in  Christo,  amicissime  frater,  iterumque  vale. 
 Oct.  9,  1820.  Rowland  Hill,  aged  76. 
 
 The  writer  once  attended  a  Missionary 
 Prayer  Meeting  with  Mr.  Hill,  when  he  gave 
 a  very  characteristic  description  of  a  Mis- 
 sionary to  savage  and  unenlightened  nations. 
 "We  want  men  of  good  plain  sense  in  their 
 heads,  and  plenty  of  grace  in  their  hearts, — 
 men  who  can  make  a  good   wheelbarrow,  and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  389 
 
 talk  to  the  inquisitive  heathen  about  the  love 
 of  Christ,  all  the  time  they  are  knocking  it 
 together." 
 
 The  Religious  Tract  Society  is  also  con- 
 nected with  the  history  of  Mr.  Hill.  In  the 
 year  1799,  the  Rev.  George  Burder  men- 
 tioned to  him  his  wish  to  form  a  Society  for 
 the  publication  of  cheap  and  small  religious 
 books.  The  design  was  immediately  sanc- 
 tioned; and  after  the  Missionary  Sermon  was 
 preached  at  Surrey  Chapel  in  that  year,  Mr. 
 Burder,  from  the  pulpit,  requested  the  attend- 
 ance of  the  ministers  present  in  the  vestry. 
 There  he  unfolded  his  plan,  —  when  it  was 
 agreed  to  have  an  adjourned  meeting  on  the 
 following  morning,  the  9th  of  May,  at  the 
 St.  Paul's  Coffee  House.  The  friends  met, 
 when  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson  presided,  and  the 
 matter  was  further  discussed.  At  an  adjourned 
 meeting  held  on  the  same  day,  Mr.  Hill  was 
 called  to  the  chair,  when  the  rules  of  the 
 Society  were  adopted.  On  this  occasion  he 
 displayed  much  of  his  native  humour.  He  ob- 
 jected to  the  term  "  'Religious  Tract  Society,' " 
 and  wished  "Christian"  to  be  substituted,  as 
 less  likely  to  have  a  canting  appearance;  but 
 his  objection  was  overruled. 
 
390  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 *'  The  beginning  of  this  Society  was  small,  but 
 its  latter  end  has  greatly  increased.  It  was 
 then  in  its  infancy,  but  it  was  an  infant  Her- 
 cules ;  or,  rather,  it  resembled  the  spring-head 
 of  some  mighty  river,  hardly  awakening  notice 
 at  its  first  bubbling  up,  but  increasing  its  waters, 
 forming  channels  in  every  direction  for  their 
 flow,  and,  swollen  by  an  accession  of  tributary 
 streams,  enriching,  fertilizing,  and  refreshing, 
 by  its  pure  and  vital  current  almost  every 
 country  of  the  globe."* 
 
 A  few  weeks  only  before  the  death  of 
 Mr.  Hill,  he  had  an  interview  with  two  of  the 
 friends  connected  with  the  Society,  when  he 
 expressed  his  anxiety  that  the  Committee 
 should  adopt  his  "  Village  Dialogues,''  or  por- 
 tions of  them,  on  the  list  of  the  Society's  pub- 
 lications,—  seeing  how  extensively  they  were 
 distributed  in  all  parts  of  the  world.  The 
 excellent  man  rejoiced,  when  he  heard  that  an 
 institution,  which  he  fostered  at  its  commence- 
 ment, had  circulated,  in  eighty  languages, 
 nearly  two  hundred  millions  of  copies  of  its 
 books  and  tracts.  He  was  not  only  its  steadj 
 friend   for  more   than   thirty  years,    but   just 
 
 *  Leifchild's  Life  of  Rev.  Joseph  Hughes,  p.  179. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  391 
 
 before  his  death  he  presented  £200  to  its 
 funds.  He  was  the  author  of  the  tracts,  "Tho- 
 mas Steady  and  John  Wild;"  and  "  Four  Dia- 
 logues in  Prison." 
 
 In  the  Committee  of  the  Religious  Tract 
 Society,  all  the  preliminary  measures  were 
 discussed  and  settled,  which  led  to  the  for- 
 mation of  "  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
 Society."  The  extensive  usefulness  of  that 
 institution,  and  the  deep  interest  felt  in  every 
 circumstance  connected  with  its  rise  and  pro- 
 gress, will  justify  the  introduction  of  some  par- 
 ticulars connected  with  it,  which  have  not  been 
 fully  detailed  in  any  previous  work. 
 
 On  Tuesday,  the  7th  of  December,  1802,  the 
 first  step  was  taken  to  raise  this  noble  edifice. 
 At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the  Religious 
 Tract  Society  on  that  day,  when  the  late  Mat- 
 thew Wilks  presided,  and  the  venerable  John 
 Townsend,  Joseph  Hughes,  Dr.  Steinkopff,  and 
 Mr.  Charles,  of  Bala,  were  present,  with 
 several  excellent  laymen;  the  following  minute 
 was  entered,  "  Mr.  Charles,  of  Bala,  having 
 introduced  the  subject,  which  had  been  pre- 
 viously mentioned  by  Mr.  Tarn,  of  dispersing 
 Bibles  in  Wales,  the  Committee  resolved,  that 
 it  would   be    highly   desirable    to   stir   up   the 
 
392 
 
 MEMOIR  OF 
 
 public  mind  to  the  dispersion  of  Bibles  gene- 
 rally, and  that  a  paper  in  a  Magazine,  to  this 
 effect,  may  be  singularly  useful.  The  object 
 was  deemed  sufficiently  connected  with  this 
 Society,  thus  generally  to  appear  on  these 
 minutes,  and  the  Secretary,  who  suggested  it,* 
 was  accordingly  desired  to  enter  it." 
 
 From  this  little  spring  arose  that  mighty 
 river,  whose  spiritual  waters  are  now  flowing 
 through  the  world,  and  causing  the  deserts  in 
 many  places  "  to  rejoice  and  blossom  as  the 
 rose."  Let  us,  however,  trace  its  gradual  pro- 
 gress. On  the  21st  of  December,  Mr.  Hughes 
 read  a  paper  on  the  importance  of  forming  a 
 Society  for  the  distribution  of  Bibles  in  various 
 languages ;  and  on  the  28th  of  the  same 
 month,  when  Mr.  Hill  was  present,  "  the  object 
 of  the  intended  Society  was  maturely  con- 
 sidered, and  determined  unanimously  to  be, 
 "To  promote  the  circulation  of  the  Holy 
 Scriptures  in  foreign  countries,  and  in  those 
 parts  of  the  British  dominions  for  which  ade- 
 quate provision  is  not  made,  it  being  under- 
 stood that  no  English  translation  of  the  Scrip- 
 
 *  The  Rev.  Joseph  Hughes,  Secretary  of  the  Reli- 
 gious Tract  Society.. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  393 
 
 tures   shall   be   gratuitously  circulated  by  the 
 Society  in  Great  Britain." 
 
 In  January,  1803,  this  important  subject 
 being  resumed,  the  address  prepared  by  Mr. 
 Hughes  was  received,  and  the  outlines  of  a 
 plan  prepared  by  Mr.  Mills  was  read,  and, 
 with  some  alterations,  adopted.  In  February, 
 a  little  advance  was  made  in  the  object,  when 
 it  was  determined  that  the  Society  should  be 
 "  for  promoting  a  more  extensive  circulation  of 
 the  Holy  Scriptures  at  home  and  abroad,"  and 
 it  was  resolved  "  that  the  translation  of  the 
 Scriptures  established  by  public  authority,  be 
 the  only  one  in  the  English  language  to  be 
 adopted  by  the  Society."  The  friends  present 
 at  this  meeting  resolved  to  apply  to  his  Majesty 
 to  become  the  Patron  of  the  Society,  and 
 Mr.  Wilberforce  was  to  be  consulted  on  the 
 subject. 
 
 At  this  period  the  friends  of  the  new  cause 
 were  greatly  stimulated  by  a  letter  received 
 from  Mr.  Keisling,  of  Nurenberg,  in  Germany. 
 He  was  a  merchant,  who  annually  travelled 
 through  a  considerable  part  of  that  country, 
 in  the  prosecution  of  his  business.  In  his 
 letter,  he  described,  in  very  affecting  terms, 
 the    great    difficulty    under    which    the    poor 
 
394  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 laboured,  in  procuring  Bibles,  and  the  eager 
 desire  manifested  by  persons  of  all  ages 
 to  be  supplied  with  the  word  of  life.  He  la- 
 mented the  inadequacy  of  his  own  means  to 
 satisfy  their  pressing  wants,  and  expressed  his 
 hope  that  the  friends  of  religion  in  England 
 would  afford  him  that  aid,  without  which  they 
 would  remain  unrelieved.  This  communication 
 led  the  Committee,  by  the  advice  of  Mr.  Wil- 
 berforce,  to  adopt  measures  to  ascertain  the 
 want  of  the  Scriptures,  both  at  home  and 
 abroad;  and  Dr.  Steinkopff,  who  was  about  to 
 visit  the  continent,  was  requested  by  the  Com- 
 mittee to  obtain  all  the  information  he  could 
 upon  the  subject.  He  afterwards  presented  to 
 the  Society  an  interesting  report  of  the  want  of 
 the  Bible  in  Germany  and  Switzerland. 
 
 At  the  Fourth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Reli- 
 gious Tract  Society,  which  was  held  at  Saint 
 Paul's  Coffee-house,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1803, 
 the  Secretary,  Mr.  Hughes,  stated,  "  that  it 
 was  in  the  contemplation  of  some  respectable 
 friends  to  form  an  extensive  plan  for  the  dif- 
 fusion of  Bibles  into  the  hands  of  such  persons 
 as  were  unable  to  procure  them.  He  requested 
 the  members  of  the  Society  who  were  present, 
 to  inquire  in  their  respective  vicinities,  as  to 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  395 
 
 the  facility  of  procuring  Bibles,  and  to  commu- 
 nicate such  information  to  the  Society." 
 
 At  this  meeting,  the  late  John  Townsend,  in 
 an  impressive  address,  urged  the  necessity  of  a 
 diligent  attention  to  the  want  of  Bibles,  both  in 
 England  and  the  continent,  and  Dr.  Bogue,  of 
 Gosport,  suggested  the  propriety  of  printing 
 the  Scriptures  in  the  modern  Greek  language, 
 should  a  Society  be  formed  for  the  noble  pur- 
 pose of  extending  the  distribution  of  the  Divine 
 Word. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  continued  on  the  Committee  of 
 the  Tract  Society,  by  the  choice  of  the  friends 
 of  the  institution  assembled  at  its  fourth  anni- 
 versary, and  took  a  lively  interest  in  every  step 
 which  was  taken  to  spread  the  knowledge  of 
 Scriptural  truth  through  the  world. 
 
 An  interesting  circumstance  is  recorded  in  the 
 minutes  of  the  Religious  Tract  Society,  on  the 
 28th  of  June,  1803,  which,  perhaps,  was  the 
 first  suggestion  which  led  to  the  subsequent 
 formation  of  Auxiliary  Societies.  The  minute 
 is  in  these  words:  "A  letter  from  the  Rev. 
 Mr.  Williams,  of  Birmingham,  being  read,  in 
 which  he  suggests  the  propriety  of  encouraging 
 the  formation  of  Local  Societies,  to  which  poor 
 persons  might  be  permitted  to  pay  for  Bibles, 
 
396  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 by  instalments  of  one  penny,  &c.  per  week,  the 
 prices  being  further  reduced  by  the  aid  of  such 
 society, — Resolved,  that  the  consideration  of 
 the  same  be  deferred  till  the  formation  of  the 
 Society  be  accomplished."  The  Secretary,  in 
 a  tract  which  he  prepared,  "on  the  necessity 
 of  a  more  extensive  circulation  of  the  Scrip- 
 tures," was  requested  to  notice  the  suggestion  of 
 Mr.  Williams,  relative  to  small  societies. 
 
 In  January,  1804,  a  special  meeting  was 
 held  "  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  the  Bible 
 Society,"  —  when  it  was  resolved,  "That  the 
 title  of  the  Society  should  be  '  The  British  and 
 Foreign  Bible  Society,'  agreeably  to  the  sug- 
 gestion of  the  Secretary,*  and  '  that  a  circular 
 letter,  on  the  subject,  should  be  prepared  by 
 the  Secretary  of  the  Tract  Society."' 
 
 The  first  intimation  that  the  members  of  the 
 Society  of  Friends  would  concur  in  the  object 
 of  the  institution,  was  communicated  to  the 
 Committee  in  March,  1804,  when  Mr.  Reyner 
 mentioned  "that  from  a  conversation  he  had 
 with  Robert  Howard,  Esq.,  he  had  reason  to 
 conclude  that  several  respectable  members  of 
 the   Society   called   Quakers,  would  attend  at 
 
 *  The  Rev.  Joseph  Hughes,  A.  M. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  397 
 
 the  proposed  meeting,  and  exert  themselves  in 
 behalf  of  so  excellent  an  object" 
 
 The  measures  which  have  been  thus  minutely 
 detailed,  led  to  the  formation  of  the  British  and 
 Foreign  Bible  Society,  on  the  7th  of  March, 
 1804,  when  Granville  Sharp,  esq.  presided. 
 It  is  a  pleasing  fact,  that  the  first  donation 
 received  by  the  new  Society  was  £'20  from 
 Mr.  D,  Dale,  of  Glasgow,  to  assist  the  vene- 
 rable Oberlin  to  circulate  the  Scriptures 
 among  his  poor  people  in  the  Ban  de  la 
 Roche. 
 
 A  Bible  Association  was  formed  at  Surrey 
 Chapel  in  the  year  181:2,  which  has  circulated 
 16,878  copies  of  the  Holy  Word,  and  contri- 
 buted £3360  to  the  general  funds. 
 
 No  one  rejoiced  more  than  Mr.  Hill  did  in 
 the  prosperity  and  usefulness  of  the  Bible  So- 
 ciety. He  was  grateful  for  its  long  and  unin- 
 terrupted union,  and  deeply  sympathized  with 
 its  supporters,  when  in  circumstances  of  trial 
 and  difficulty.  He  was  its  steady  and  unchange- 
 able friend  when  the  storm  and  the  tempest 
 beat  upon  it,  and  strictly  adhered  to  its  funda- 
 mental principles.  At  a  public  meeting,  where 
 a  right  reverend  prelate  presided,  he  referred 
 to  the  points  in  dispute,  and  added,  "  Why,  my 
 
398  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 lord,  I  would  take  a  Bible  from  the  devil 
 himself  at  the  end  of  a  pair  of  tongs,  and  thank 
 him  for  it,  though  I  should  call  him  a  fool  for 
 his  pains.'' 
 
 The  mind  of  Mr.  Hill  was  always  deeply 
 pained  when  he  heard  ministers  attempt  to  jus- 
 tify their  attendance  at  a  Bible  meeting.  "  He 
 had  once  heard,"  he  remarked,  "  of  a  clergyman 
 who  had  apologized  for  being  present  at  a 
 Bible  meeting.  Apologize  for  attending  at  a 
 Bible  meeting  !  Why,  he  ought  then  to  apolo- 
 gize for  reading  his  liturgy,  for  that  is  full  of 
 the  Bible;  he  ought  to  apologize  for  reading 
 the  Psalms,  which  he  repeated  at  least  four 
 times  in  a  month ;  he  ought  to  apologize  for 
 reading  the  Lessons,  the  Gospels,  and  the 
 Epistles ;  in  fact,  if  he  discharged  his  duty  as 
 a  clergyman,  he  would  have  constant  apologies 
 to  make,  for  a  great  part  of  his  duty  consisted 
 in  reading  the  Scriptures." 
 
 But  the  most  interesting  scene  in  connexion 
 with  the  Society  was  at  its  anniversary  in  1831, 
 when  much  confusion  arose  from  an  attempt 
 then  made  to  alter  its  fundamental  principle. 
 The  scene  resembled  the  troubled  sea;  the 
 longer  the  meeting  continued,  the  louder  the 
 billows  of  opposition  roared.     Holy  men  were 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  399 
 
 weeping, — mistaken  brethren  were  unintention- 
 ally driving  the  noble  vessel  on  the  sands, — the 
 enemies  of  religious  truth  were  rejoicing,  and 
 saying,  "  So  would  we  have  it."  In  the  midst 
 of  this  scene  of  indescribable  confusion,  the 
 venerable  Rowland  Hill  arose.  The  calming 
 effect  produced  was  instantaneous.  The  secret 
 prayer  had  ascended  to  the  great  Head  of  the 
 church  from  the  sincere  friends  of  the  Society, 
 and  the  voice  of  supplication  was  heard ;  and, 
 through  the  well-timed  remarks  of  the  aged 
 advocate,  peace  was  restored. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  had  a  peculiar  talent  for  the  plat- 
 form. He  had  a  ready  command  of  his  powers, 
 and  his  choice  wit  and  beautiful  imagination 
 always  furnished  him  with  suitable  matter.  His 
 speeches  were  short,  but  much  to  the  point. 
 He  had  a  great  objection  to  long  speeches, 
 which,  to  use  his  own  language,  "  contained  a 
 river  of  words  with  only  a  spoonful  of  thoughts." 
 He  considered  that  the  representatives  of  re- 
 ligious institutions  were  the  only  persons  who 
 had  license  to  intrude  upon  the  public  meeting 
 at  any  great  length.  The  following  letter  on 
 this  subject  will  interest  the  reader ;  it  was  a 
 reply  to  an  invitation  to  preside  at  a  meeting  in 
 Surrey  Chapel. 
 
400  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  YTotton,  Sept.  20,  1820. 
 "  My  dear  Friend, 
 
 "  An  old  man  in  the  83d  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  patience 
 is  needed,  while  the  poor  chairman  must  si*  it 
 out  for  three  hours  at  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  oh  the  dulness,  the  eircumlocutiousness,  the 
 conceit,  the  tautology,  &c.  &c.  of  others.  In 
 short,  few  know  how  to  be  pithy,  short,   and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  401 
 
 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  punishment,  and  try  if  you  cannot  per- 
 suade some  other  good-tempered  sinner  to  suffer 
 in  his  stead. 
 
 "  Your's  very  sincerely  and  affectionately, 
 "  Rowland  Hill." 
 
 «  To  Mr.  William  Jones." 
 
 The  individual  support  which  Mr.  Hill  ren- 
 dered to  the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  day 
 was  not  sufficient  to  satisfy  his  liberal  mind. 
 Immediately  after  the  erection  of  Surrey  Chapel 
 he  was  anxious  to  train  up  his  newly  formed 
 congregation  to  the  habit  of  "  devising  liberal 
 things,"  and  he  did  not  labour  in  vain  in  effect- 
 ing his  object.  His  church  became  a  local 
 blessing, — a  fountain  whence  the  waters  of  life 
 flowed  to  refresh  the  neighbouring  wilderness. 
 It  was  a  repository  to  which  "the  lame,  the 
 halt,  the  sick,  and  the  blind"  repaired,  and  met 
 with  a  rich  supply  for  all  their  temporal  neces- 
 sities. The  annual  contributions  at  Surrey 
 Chanel  for  many  years  averaged  nearly  £2000, 
 
 2   D 
 
402  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 in  addition  to  the  subscriptions  for  supporting 
 the  preaching  the  Gospel. 
 
 Soon  after  the  opening  of  the  chapel,  namely, 
 on  the  1st  of  January,  1784,  Mr.  Hill  formed 
 the  Benevolent  Society,  for  the  relief  of  the 
 afflicted  poor  at  their  own  habitations.  The 
 catholic  spirit  of  the  founder  is  seen  in  the 
 advice  he  gave,  and  the  objects  he  pointed  out 
 as  worthy  of  the  Society's  attention.  He  laid  it 
 down  as  a  rule,  that  none  were  to  be  excluded 
 on  account  of  the  sect  or  party  to  which  they  hap- 
 pened to  belong.  The  suffering  Catholic  and  dis- 
 tressed Protestant  were  alike  the  objects  of  the 
 Society's  pity.  The  Visitors  were  to  be  selected 
 from  "  those  persons  supposed  to  be  the  most 
 godly  and  judicious,"  who  were  to  speak  to  the 
 persons  they  visited  "in  a  meek  and  humble 
 spirit,  in  the  fear  of  God,  concerning  the  salvation 
 of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ;  recommending  them  to 
 God  in  fervent  prayer;  ever  bearing  in  their 
 minds  that  the  immortal  soul  was  of  infinitely 
 greater  importance  than  the  temporary  relief  of 
 the  perishable  body."  The  Visitors  were  also 
 requested  "  to  observe  how  far  the  habita- 
 tions and  apparel  of  the  persons  they  visited 
 appeared  cleanly  and  decent.     Such  as  these 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  403 
 
 would  profit  by  the  Society,  and  should  be 
 liberally  assisted ;  while  others,  who  were  filthy 
 and  squalid,  give  sufficient  evidence  that  they 
 were  sunk  so  low,  as  to  render  any  efforts  to  do 
 them  good  without  the  least  probability  of  ulti- 
 mate success." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  greatly  attached  to  this  Society. 
 It  suited  the  natural  kindness  of  his  heart. 
 Its  anniversary  was  always  held  on  the  evening 
 of  New  Year's  day,  on  which  occasion  a  sermon 
 was  preached  for  the  charity,  and  a  selection 
 from  the  cases  relieved  during  the  year  was 
 read,  accompanied  by  powerful  comments  and 
 appeals  from  Mr.  Hill.  After  the  cases  were 
 finished,  the  sacrament  was  administered  "  to 
 the  members  of  all  Christian  churches  present." 
 It  was  quite  clear  that  "  this  communion  of 
 saints,"  called  out  the  most  affectionate  feelings 
 of  Mr.  Hill's  mind.  Many  friends  can  recall 
 the  manner  in  which  he  would  exclaim,  "  Come, 
 let  us  sing  our  fine  dedication  hymn,  at  the 
 beginning  of  another  year, — 
 
 Here,  Lord,  we  give  ourselves  away, 
 
 Our  souls  to  thee  resign  ; 
 Oh  may  each  moment  of  our  lives 
 
 For  evermore  be  thine." 
 
 The  collections  on  these  occasions  often 
 exceeded  £100.      These    seasons    of  spiritual 
 
404  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 communion  will  long  be  remembered  by  many 
 who  were  privileged  to  be  present. 
 
 The  Benevolent  Society  has  visited,  up  to  the 
 1st  of  January,  1835,  about  40,466  distressed 
 families,  containing,  perhaps,  more  than  200,000 
 persons,  and  has  expended,  on  this  object  alone, 
 upwards  of  £23,000.  It  is  a  memorable  fact, 
 that  during  the  fifty  years  the  Society  has  been 
 in  operation,  it  has  not  lost  one  of  its  Visitors, 
 through  the  raging  fever,  or  other  infectious 
 diseases  which  often  prevailed  in  the  families 
 they  visited.  The  promise  of  God  has  been 
 graciously  fulfilled  in  their  experience.  "  A 
 thousand  shall  fall  at  thy  side,  and  ten  thousand 
 at  thy  right  hand,  but  it  shall  not  come  nigh 
 thee."  The  reports  of  the  Society  have  con- 
 tained abundant  evidence  that  "  its  labours  have 
 not  been  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 
 
 The  Sunday-school  cause  appears  to  be  the 
 next  object  which  engaged  the  attention  of 
 Mr.  Hill.  The  appeals  made  by  Mr.  Raikes, 
 of  Gloucester,  on  this  subject,  were  not  in  vain. 
 Our  friend,  however,  had  to  meet  the  consci- 
 entious opposition  of  some  good  people  on  the 
 subject.  "  There  were  many,"  he  remarks, 
 *•  who  had  some  scruples  whether  such  schools 
 were  not  an  infringement  on  the  sacred  services 
 of  the  Sabbath,      They  soon  peioelved,  how- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  405 
 
 ever,  that  as  religious  instruction  was  designed 
 to  be  united  with  erudition,  they  were  well 
 calculated  for  the  general  good;  and  this 
 brought  about  a  most  happy  agreement  among 
 all  parties,  to  unite  in  promoting  the  better 
 education  of  youth."* 
 
 Under  the  auspices  of  Mr.  Hill,  the  first 
 Sunday-school  was  established  in  the  metro- 
 polis. There  are  no  records  in  existence  which 
 shew  the  exact  time  of  its  opening.  Mid- 
 delton,  in  his  Ecclesiastical  Memoir,f  states 
 it  was  in  1784,  which  must  have  been  about  the 
 time,  for  in  1827,  at  a  meeting  of  the  old  scho- 
 lars, which  had  been  educated  in  the  school,  an 
 elderly  female  stated  that  her  first  serious 
 impressions  were  received  in  that  place  about 
 forty-two  years  previous  to  that  period,  and 
 although  they  had  subsided  for  a  time,  yet  they 
 had,  by  the  mercy  of  God,  been  again  revived, 
 she  trusted,  to  her  everlasting  benefit.^ 
 
 *  Apology  for  Sunday  Schools,  p.  29.       +  Page  210. 
 
 X  In  a  funeral  sermon  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
 Harris,  on  the  death  of  the  Superintendent  of  the 
 Hoxton  Sunday-school,  the  preacher  remarks,  "  To 
 Mr.  Kemp  belongs  the  honour  of  having-  established 
 the  second  Sunday-school  in  London ;  this  institution 
 having  been  preceded  in  its  formation  by  that  alone 
 ■which  is  connected  with  Surrey  chapel. 
 
406  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  children  were  first  collected  in  the 
 chapel,  and  afterwards  in  a  school -house 
 adjoining ;  where  they  were  instructed  by  paid 
 teachers  and  superintendents,  for  nearly  twenty 
 years;  but  under  this  system  there  was  but 
 little  prosperity.  There  was  the  want  of  that 
 generous  and  hallowed  feeling,  which  is  pro- 
 duced by  the  disinterested  labours  of  instructors 
 who  are  constrained  by  the  love  of  Christ  freely 
 to  give  what  they  have  freely  reeerved.  The 
 labours  of  these  friends  were  not  altogether  in 
 vain ;  others  were  raised  up,  who  came  forward, 
 and  "without  money  and  without  price,"  im- 
 parted to  the  young  the  knowledge  of  the 
 Divine  Redeemer.  Among  these  devoted 
 labourers  were  some  of  the  most  attached 
 friends  of  Mr.  Hill.  The  names  of  Sims,  over 
 whose  grave  the  pastor  of  Surrey  Chapel  was 
 seen  to  weep,  when  he  exclaimed,  "  There  lies 
 an  honest  Shoemaker  5"  John  Gibbs,  who  died 
 in  1824;  Hugh  Beams,  one  of  the  fruits  of 
 Mr.  Hill's  ministry,  who  left  the  world  a  little 
 before  him ;  William  Bridges,  who  died  in 
 1809;  andBurchett,  who  was  removed  in  1810; 
 are  names  that  will  never  be  forgotten,  in  con- 
 nexion with  the  early  history  of  the  institution. 
 Mr.  Beams  took  the  office  of  Superintendent  of 
 
REV.  EOWLAND  HILL.  407 
 
 the  Surrey  Chapel  School,  in  1807,  on  the 
 retirement  of  Mr.  Coleman,  its  first  manager. 
 When  Mr,  Beams,  in  1808,  became  the  Secre- 
 tary of  the  Southwark  Sunday-school  Society,  he 
 was  succeeded  in  the  superintendency  by  the 
 late  excellent  Benjamin  Neale,  who  became  a 
 peculiar  blessing  to  the  children.  The  grace 
 of  God  had  early  changed  his  heart.  In  the 
 fatigue  of  committees  and  societies  for  the 
 promotion  of  the  Gospel,  his  labour  and 
 strength  were  usefully  and  most  cheerfully 
 expended.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  touch- 
 ing, simple,  and  perfectly  natural,  but  often- 
 times powerful  eloquence.  This  life  of  useful- 
 fulness,  however,  was  short.*  He  lives  in  the 
 hearts  of  many  grateful  pupils,  whom  he  was 
 the  means  of  leading  to  God.  He  was  once 
 asked  how  it  was  that  the  teachers  always 
 obeyed  his  wishes;  when  he  replied,  "lama 
 tyrant,  but  they  know  it  not ;  1  rule,  but  never 
 shew  my  sceptre."  A  rapid  decline  carried 
 him  off  on  the  6th  of  August,  1816,  in  the  thir- 
 tieth year  of  his  age. 
 
 *  Memoir  of  Rev.  Cornelius  Neale,  M.  A.,  by  Rey, 
 W.  Jowett,  M.  A  p.  3. 
 
408  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Pie  sleeps,  oh!  how  kindly!  on  Jesus's  breast; 
 Never  more  the  sick  dreamings  shall  trouble  his  rest ; 
 And  her  lips  that  would  healing  and  comfort  restore, 
 Shall  burn  his  cold  lips  and  cold  cheeks  never  more. 
 
 Weep  not,  that  so  soon  he  is  gone  to  be  blest ; 
 He  gave  to  his  God  the  first  hours  and  the  last ; 
 Can  the  labourer  cease  from  his  labour  too  soon  ? 
 He  wrought  all  the  morning,  and  rested  at  noon. 
 
 We  gather  the  flower  when  full  in  its  bloom, 
 While  brightest  in  colour,  and  best  in  perfume; 
 And  the  victim  was  given  to  God,  in  old  time, 
 Without  spot,  without  blemish,  a  male  in  his  prime.* 
 
 The  late  Colonel  Handfield,  of  the  Ordnance 
 Office,  who  died  in  1821,  was  for  many  years 
 the  teacher  of  the  Bible  class.  Two  gentlemen 
 holding  responsible  offices  in  the  East  India 
 House,  and  the  Board  of  Controul  for  the 
 affairs  of  India,  had  the  care  of  the  Testament 
 classes;  and  several  professional  gentlemen 
 were  engaged  in  the  same  interesting  work. 
 Mr.  Hill  felt  grateful  to  the  kind  providence  of 
 God,  in  raising  up  these  excellent  men  to  assist 
 
 *  Lines  to  his  Mother,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  B.  Neale, 
 Jowett's  Life  of  Rev.  Cornelius  Neale,  p.  4. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  409 
 
 him  in  training  up  the  youthful  poor  m  Che 
 nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 
 
 At  the  close  of  the  last  century,  the  Sunday- 
 school  cause  was  greatly  enlarged,  through  the 
 instrumentality  of  Mr,  James  Robert  Burchett, 
 a  proctor  in  Doctors'  Commons,  whose  name 
 has  been  already  mentioned.  He  was  truly 
 devoted  to  the  Sunday-school  work.  "A  seem- 
 ingly insignificant  object,"  remarks  his  bio- 
 grapher, "and  fortuitous  circumstances,  were 
 the  means  of  directing  his  attention  to  the 
 subject.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1799,  after 
 attending  at  Surrey  Chapel,  he  was  walking 
 home  with  a  friend,  and  discoursing  upon  the 
 sermon  they  had  heard.  Mr.  Hill  had  been 
 mentioning  the  great  good  effected  in  Scotland, 
 (which  he  had  visited  a  little  time  before,)  by 
 Sabbath -schools,  and  made  a  very  powerful 
 appeal  to  his  congregation,  to  go  and  imitate 
 their  Scottish  brethren.  Mr.  Burchett's  ardent 
 mind  immediately  caught  the  idea,  and  began 
 to  consider  how  it  might  be  best  accomplished. 
 
 Mr.  B 's  friend  offered  the  use  of  one  of 
 
 his  rooms ;  and,  remembering  that  whatever  we 
 do,  should  be  done  with  all  our  might,  they 
 agreed  to  open  a  Sunday-school  the  next 
 Lord's  day.     At  this  stage  of  the  conversation, 
 
410  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Mr.  Cranfield*  called  at  Mr.  Burchett's.  On 
 his  entering  the  room,  Mr.  Burchett  exclaimed, 
 "  I  am  glad  to  see  you  :  we  have  just  been 
 contriving  a  plan  to  open  a  Sunday-school, — 
 but  I  recollect  you  have  one  already  in  Kent- 
 street;    perhaps  we   had  better  endeavour  to 
 
 enlarge  your  border/'      Mr.   C welcomed 
 
 the  idea,  and  complained  that  he  had  been  for 
 some  time  without  assistance.  They  accord- 
 ingly visited  him  the  following  Sabbath,  and 
 found  him  labouring  alone  with  about  forty 
 children.       They    inquired    whether    children 
 
 would   readily   attend;    to   which   Mr.    C ■ 
 
 replied,  that  he  would  engage  to  collect  a  con- 
 siderable number;  and  they  agreed,  on  their 
 part,  to  supply  them  with  teachers.  A  suffi- 
 cient number  was  soon  procured  from  Surrey 
 Chapel ;  but  the  school  was  no  sooner  filled 
 with  children,  than  they  were  forcibly  struck 
 with  the  destitute  condition  of  many  other 
 parts  of  the  Borough,  and  shortly  after  a  room 
 was  hired  in  the  Mint,  then  the  lowest  and 
 most   depraved   neighbourhood   in   Southwark. 
 
 *  Called  Campbell  in  the  Memoir  of  Burchett. — 
 This  worthy  man  is  still  living,  and  is  bringing  forth 
 fruit  in  old  age.  He  continues  to  be  most  actively 
 engaged  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  411 
 
 This,  too,  was  speedily  filled,  and  they  pro- 
 ceeded to  open  another  school  in  Gravel 
 Lane,  and  one  in  Garden  Row,  Saint  George's 
 Fields.  Children  flocked  in  great  numbers ; 
 and  five  hundred  were  quickly  taken  from  the 
 streets,  and  brought  under  the  means  of  instruc- 
 tion. Hitherto  they  had  not  solicited  any  sub- 
 scriptions from  the  public,  Mr.  Burchett  having 
 made  himself  responsible  for  all  expenses.  All 
 this  was  done  in  the  summer  of  1799;  and 
 when  Mr.  Hill  returned  to  town  in  the  autumn, 
 his  patronage  was  solicited,  and  readily  ob- 
 tained. He  rejoiced  exceedingly  in  the  object; 
 and,  "  Since,"  said  he,  "  you  have  undertaken 
 to  provide  teachers  and  children,  I  will  find  the 
 requisite  money."  He  recommended  them  to 
 form  a  junction  with  the  school  which  had  long 
 been  formed  at  Surrey  Chapel,  and  the  whole 
 was  denominated  "  The  Southwark  Sunday- 
 school  Society." 
 
 Mr.  Burchett  was  not  content  with  the  ser- 
 vices which  his  counsel  and  his  purse  rendered 
 to  the  Society,  but  he  was  for  many  years  a 
 zealous  teacher  in  any  of  the  schools  where 
 his  labours  were  most  wanted;  and  Sabbath 
 after  Sabbath  he  was  seen  surrounded  by  a 
 number  of  poor  children,  teaching  them  their 
 
412  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 alphabet,  and  tenderly  imparting  to  them  the 
 first  principles  of  the  doctrines  of  Christ 
 At  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1810,  there 
 were  eight  schools,  containing  nearly  two 
 thousand  children.*  These  useful  institutions 
 have  continued  to  multiply,  so  that  there  are 
 now  twelve  schools  in  connexion  with  the  So- 
 ciety, containing  about  two  thousand  six  hun- 
 dred children.  The  annual  income,  including 
 collections,  amounts  to  nearly  £250. 
 
 Upwards  of  sixty  thousand  children  have  al- 
 ready been  trained  up  in  these  schools,  and  many 
 cheering  facts  of  usefulness  have  come  to  the 
 knowledge  of  the  teachers.  From  these  nur- 
 series of  the  church  several  ministers  and  mis- 
 sionaries have  gone  forth  to  preach  the  Gospel. 
 Not  long  before  the  removal  of  Mr.  Hill,  many 
 encouraging  circumstances  transpired.  On  one 
 Sabbath-day,  the  clerk  of  Surrey  Chapel  an- 
 nounced, from  his  desk,  the  ordination  services 
 of  a  pious  young  man,  who  was  about  to  proceed 
 to  a  foreign  land.  He  had  been  a  scholar  in  the 
 Surrey  Chapel  School.  The  minister  then  sup- 
 plying the  pulpit  had  been  trained  up  in  the  same 
 place,  and  also  in  the  same  class.     At  the  ordi- 
 
 *  Memoir  of  Burchett,  Evan.  Mag.,  1812,  p.  165. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  413 
 
 nance  of  the  Lord's  supper,  held  about  that 
 time,  a-  young  woman  whispered  to  an  old 
 teacher,  who  happened  to  be  next  to  her, 
 "  I  had  never  been  here,  had  it  not  been  for 
 your  address  from  the  words,  "  I  love  them 
 that  love  me,  and  those  that  seek  me  early 
 shall  find  me."  A  very  large  proportion  of 
 the  teachers  now  engaged  in  the  schools  were 
 once  scholars  themselves. 
 
 One  interesting  circumstance  connected  with 
 Sunday-schools,  Mr.  Hill  often  mentioned. — 
 
 "I  remember  a  poor  man  once  met  me  in 
 the  street,  and,  giving  me  a  little  bit  of  paper, 
 he  asked,  c  Will  you  be  so  good  as  to  read  this 
 forme?'  Can't  you  read  yourself  ?  I  inquired. 
 '  No,  Sir ;  I  was  born  in  the  days  in  which  there 
 were  no  Sunday-schools ;  but  my  children  can 
 read  very  prettily,  and  they  read  to  us  after  I 
 have  done  my  labour;  and  we  were  never  so 
 happy,  as  since  we  have  taken  to  read  religious 
 books,  to  look  into  our  Bibles,  and  to  pray  that 
 we  may  be  governed  by  their  contents.' " 
 
 In  addition  to  the  usual  plans  adopted  in 
 Sunday-schools,  several  novel  efforts  have  been 
 made  by  the  Committee  of  the  South wark  Schools, 
 to  increase  their  usefulness. 
 
414  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 1.  Fragment  Schools. — These  were  opened 
 in  the  most  destitute  districts,  and  children 
 were  gathered  together  from  the  very  lowest 
 orders.  Shoes,  and  a  kind  of  smock-frock,  were 
 furnished  them  on  the  Saturday  evening,  which 
 were  returned  on  the  Monday  morning.  The 
 teachers  were  anxious  to  gather  up  the  frag- 
 ments, that  nothing  might  be  lost.  These 
 efforts  were  long  continued,  but  it  was  found 
 that  but  few  of  such  children  would  endure  dis- 
 cipline,— at  the  same  time  some  continued,  or 
 removed  to  other  schools,  when  these  special 
 efforts  were  no  longer  required. 
 
 2.  Select  Classes.  These  have  been  estab- 
 lished for  the  reception  of  those  children  whose 
 age  renders  it  necessary  for  them  to  leave  the 
 schools.  In  these  classes  they  continue  to 
 derive  the  benefits  of  religious  instruction  under 
 experienced  teachers,  who  sometimes  instruct 
 them  at  their  own  houses  on  the  Sabbath  after- 
 noons. The  young  persons  admitted  are  from 
 fifteen  to  twenty  years  of  age,  a  period  when 
 the  character  often  assumes  the  form  which  it 
 retains  through  life. 
 
 3.  Meetings  of  Old  Scholars.  In  the  Surrey 
 Chapel  school,  these  meetings  are  held  on  the 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  415 
 
 last  Thursday  evening  in  October.  The  day  is 
 therefore  well  known  to  all  the  children.  Some- 
 times more  than  one  hundred  old  scholars  take 
 tea  with  those  who  first  instructed  them  in  the 
 ways  of  the  Lord.  After  free  conversation, 
 a  suitable  address  is  given  by  the  friend  who 
 presides.  The  written  communications  of  the 
 females,  and  the  verbal  statements  of  the  young 
 men,  have  often  verified  a  remark  of  Mr.  Hill's, 
 "  that  where  the  grace  of  God  is  communicated, 
 it  marvellously  improves  the  understanding," 
 and  have  given  cheering  evidence,  that  "our 
 labours  have  not  been  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 
 
 In  1801,  Mr.  Hill  published  "An  Apology 
 for  Sunday-schools,"  in  which  he  not  only 
 answered  the  objections  raised  by  some  good 
 people,  but  replied  to  the  violent  attacks  of  the 
 then  Bishop  of  Rochester.  The  catholicity  of 
 the  Sunday-school  system  had  won  the  affections 
 of  the  writer.  He  remarks,  "  We  neither  design 
 to  make  the  children  voluntarily  committed  to 
 our  care  Churchmen  or  Dissenters,  but  Chris- 
 tians. In  this  grand  design,  therefore,  we  drop 
 all  names  but  that  of  Christian,  and  direct 
 the  children  not  to  be  dissenters  from  the 
 Church,   but   dissenters   from   sin,  leaving   all 
 
416  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 lesser  matters  to  their  own  decision  on  a  future 
 day. 
 
 In  his  attachment  to  the  cause  of  education, 
 Mr.  Hill  never  changed,  but,  after  long  and 
 careful  consideration,  he  remarked,  "The  more 
 I  look  at  the  matter,  the  more  satisfied  I  am 
 that  the  reign  of  education  is  the  reign  of  order 
 and  happiness,  and  that  to  promote  it  is  an  in- 
 junction arising  out  of  the  essence  of  Chris- 
 tianity itself.  "* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  frequently  referred  to  a  conversation 
 he  had  on  this  subject  with  Sir  John  Sylvester, 
 who  was  for  many  years  Recorder  of  London. 
 He  inquired  of  the  learned  judge,  "  If  he  had 
 discovered,  among  the  crowds  of  young  delin- 
 quents that  had  passed  under  his  eye,  whether 
 the  seeds  of  education  had  been  sown."  The 
 Recorder's  reply  was,  "  I  am  quite  persuaded 
 that  the  want  of  education  is  one  of  the  great 
 disposing  causes  which  fills  our  criminal 
 calendar,  for  when  young  people  are  properly 
 educated,  I  rarely  find  them  become  adepts  in 
 crime." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  had  an  annual  assemblage  of  the 
 
 *  British  and  Foreign  School  Society,  1827. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  417 
 
 Sunday-school  children  of  London  on  Easter 
 Monday  and  Tuesday,  when  he  composed  a 
 suitable  hymn  for  the  occasion,  which  he  printed 
 and  gratuitously  distributed.  These  little  com- 
 positions were  much  valued  by  the  young  people, 
 who  were  addressed  from  the  text  of  Scripture 
 printed  at  the  head  of  the  hymn.  Mr.  Hill 
 generally  gained  their  attention,  and  many  of 
 them  heard  to  the  saving  of  their  souls.  Mr- 
 Weight,  in  his  funeral  sermon  for  Mr.  Hill, 
 mentions,  that  on  the  Easter  Tuesday,  only  two 
 days  preceding  his  death,  he  deeply  regretted 
 his  inability  to  engage  in  his  usual  services. 
 "He  stood  at  his  drawing-room  window,  and 
 saw  the  dear  little  children  thronging  the  cha- 
 pel-yard, and  spoke  with  much  delight  of  by- 
 gone days,  when  he  had  met  them,  and  preached 
 to  them  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
 
 Mr.  HuTs  constant  practice,  which  he  con- 
 tinued till  within  a  year  or  two  of  his  death, 
 was  to  visit  the  Sunday-school  adjoining  his 
 chapel  for  a  few  minutes  on  a  Sabbath  after- 
 noon. His  presence  cheered  the  teachers,  whose 
 services  he  often  kindly  acknowledged,  and  he 
 frequently  had  an  opportunity  of  admonishing 
 the  disobedient  child.     On  leaving  the  school, 
 
418  MEMOIR    OF 
 
 he  proceeded  to  the  vestry  of  his  chapel,  where 
 the  visitors  of  the  sick  were  assembled  together. 
 There  "  the  word  in  season"  from  the  lips  of  a 
 beloved  pastor  led  them  to  fresh  zeal  in  the  work 
 in  which  they  were  engaged. 
 
 The  last  ministerial  effort  which  Mr.  Hill 
 made  was  in  the  cause  of  Sunday-schools.  He 
 had  enraged  to  address  the  teachers  of  the 
 South  London  Sunday-school  Union,  on  Tues- 
 day evening,  the  2d  of  April,  1833,  only  eight 
 days  before  his  decease.  Although  he  was  in 
 so  weak  a  state,  that  he  could  scarcely  ascend 
 the  pulpit,  yet  he  was  anxious  to  discharge  this 
 duty.  He  spoke  with  affectionate  fervour  about 
 ten  minutes.  He  became  greatly  exhausted, 
 and  finished  his  address  and  his  ministry  with 
 his  favourite  and  oft- repeated  exhortation, 
 "  Therefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  be  ye  stead- 
 fast, unmoveable,  always  abounding  in  the  work 
 of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  you  know  that  your 
 labour  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord." 
 
 In  this  last  address,  Mr.  Hill  referred  to  the 
 subject  of  infant  schools :  "  I  did  think,  till  I 
 considered  the  subject  more  deeply,  that  we 
 were  carrying  things  a  little  too  far,  by  the 
 education  of  children  in  infant-schools.     No\r 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  419 
 
 I  think  otherwise,  and  feel  that  we  cannot 
 begin  too  early, — the  earlier  they  are  brought 
 under  a  religious  education  the  better." 
 
 The  limits  of  this  memoir  prevent  an  enlarged 
 statement  of  many  other  societies  to  which  the 
 venerable  man  felt  attached.  The  British  and 
 Foreign  School  Society,  and  many  others,  were 
 supported  by  him  in  life,  nor  did  he  forget, 
 anonymously,  to  give  them  a  substantial  proof  of 
 his  affection  before  he  died.  These  institutions, 
 formed  on  catholic  principles,  were  considered 
 by  Mr.  Hill  the  glory  and  safety  of  our  land. 
 
 In  attending  to  the  wants  of  foreign  lands,  he 
 did  not  neglect  his  own  district  and  country. 
 He  felt  that  charity  begins  at  home.  There  was, 
 therefore,  at  Surrey  Chapel,  a  Dorcas  Society,  for 
 assisting  poor  married  women  in  the  season  of 
 confinement;  and  a  Clothing  Society,  for  sup- 
 plying the  deserving  poor  with  wearing  apparel 
 at  half  the  cost  price.  In  addition  to  all  these 
 charities,  Mr.  Hill  raised  the  needful  funds 
 for  building  twenty-four  alms-houses  for  pious 
 widows,  connected  wdth  which  is  the  school  of 
 industry,  for  the  instruction  and  clothing  of 
 twenty-four  poor  children.  In  this,  and  in  many 
 other  benevolent  efforts,  he  received  the  cordial 
 co-operation  and  liberal  support  of  his  esteemed 
 
420  MEMOIll  OF 
 
 and  beloved  friend,  John  Broadley  Wilson,  esq. 
 of  Clapham. 
 
 The  alms-houses  are  in  the  borough  of  South- 
 wark,  and  are  built  in  the  Gothic  style.  The 
 persons  admitted  into  them  must  have  been 
 members  of  Christian  churches  for  seven  years, 
 though  it  is  not  necessary  that  they  should  all 
 of  them  belong  to  Surrey  Chapel.  The  appli- 
 cants bring  satisfactory  testimonials  of  moral 
 and  religious  conduct,  and  when  admitted  they 
 receive  four  shillings  a  week  and  a  good  supply 
 of  coals.  At  Wotton-under-Edge  there  are 
 similar  alms-houses  for  the  aged  females  belong- 
 ing to  the  Tabernacle. 
 
 The  zeal  and  liberality  of  Mr.  Hill  were  not 
 confined  to  his  own  particular  body.  In  the 
 year  1808  he  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  erec- 
 tion of  a  large  and  respectable  chapel  at 
 Cheltenham,  to  which  he  liberally  contributed. 
 At  this  place  Mr.  Hill  frequently  preached 
 during  the  summer  months,  when  he  was  in 
 Gloucestershire,  and  always  excited  considerable 
 interest  among  the  people.  The  Rev.  John 
 Brown  has  for  many  years  been  the  minister  of 
 the  place,  and  is  deservedly  beloved  by  his 
 congregation. 
 
 The  mind  of  Mr.  Hill  was  greatly  exercised  in 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  421 
 
 his  last  days  by  his  anxiety  to  assist  a  new  inte- 
 rest in  the  town  of  Leamington  in  Warwickshire. 
 For  several  years  the  services  of  the  Church  of 
 England  were  read  in  the  Independent  chapel, 
 in  Clemens-street,  but  after  mature  deliberation 
 the  trustees  considered  it  undesirable  to  con- 
 tinue the  practice.  A  few  persons  seceded,  and 
 worshipped  in  a  large  room,  where  the  liturgy 
 was  read,  and  afterwards  they  erected  a  neat 
 and  respectable  chapel  in  Mill- street.  A  con- 
 siderable debt  was  incurred,  when  an  appeal 
 for  aid  was  made  to  Mr.  Hill ;  and  his  mind  was 
 greatly  moved  by  the  plea,  that  the  parties 
 were  suffering  on  account  of  their  attach- 
 ment to  the  liturgical  service.  He  became 
 the  champion  of  this  cause,  and  eventually 
 advanced  more  than  £2000  to  redeem  the 
 chapel,  and  to  erect  and  furnish  a  house  for 
 the  minister.  This  property  has  been  vested 
 in  trustees,  with  very  positive  directions,  that 
 the  liturgy  of  the  Church  shall  be  constantly 
 read.  It  is  deeply  to  be  regretted  that  Mr.  Hill 
 allowed  this  matter  to  alienate  his  affections 
 from  several  ministers  with  whom  he  had  been 
 on  the  most  brotherly  terms.  He  charged  them 
 with  possessing  a  sectarian  spirit,  because  they 
 did  not  see  with  him  on  the  subject.     The  best 
 
422  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 of  men  cannot  always  discern  the  beam  which 
 is  in  their  own  eye,  though  able  to  discover  the 
 defects  of  others.  He  referred  to  Leamington  in 
 a  sermon  preached  a  short  time  before  his  death, 
 in  which  there  are  some  pleasing  remarks : 
 
 "  I  have  endeavoured  to  establish  the  Gospel 
 at  Leamington,  on  the  same  plan  that  wre  have 
 adopted  at  Surrey  Chapel.  A  worthy  clergy- 
 man came  to  me  and  said,  "  Would  you  not 
 like  to  give  it  over  to  the  Church  ?'  '  Ay,'  said  I, 
 1  with  all  my  heart,  if  the  Church  people  will 
 let  the  Dissenters  preach  in  it.  We  must  sing 
 together  above,  why  not  come  a  little  closer 
 while  here  below  T  A  good  man  once  said  to 
 me,  <  I  want  to  be  so  near  to  every  body,  that 
 we  may  all  shake  hands,  and  show  what  we  are 
 each  to  one  another.'  I  am  sure  this  is  the 
 spirit  of  Christ.  I  hope  it  will  ever  be  the 
 spirit  of  the  people  at  Surrey  Chapel." 
 
 A  few  extracts  from  letters  written  by  Mr. 
 Hill,  in  the  year  1831,  to  the  Rev.  Edward 
 Bates,  who  was  then  supplying  the  pulpit  at 
 Leamington,  will  shew  the  deep  anxiety  he  felt 
 for  the  prosperity  of  the  new  chapel,  and  also 
 state  his  views  on  the  ordination  of  ministers, 
 and  the  necessity  of  their  being  devoted  to  God 
 "  in  body,  soul,  and  spirit." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  420 
 
 1  Surrey  Chapel,  March  12, 1831. 
 "  It  is  desirable  that  you  should  be  at  Leam- 
 ington as  soon  as  you  possibly  can.  The  situ- 
 ation at  that  place  is  very  important.  I  tremble 
 whenever  I  go  there.  May  God  bless  you  with 
 all  that  wisdom  which  is  from  above,  that  no 
 man  may  despise  thy  youth.  May  the  Lord 
 enable  you  to  live  near  to  him  in  the  spirit  of 
 your  mind,  and  this  will  produce  in  you  the 
 best,  the  richest,  and  the  most  successful 
 oratory  from  the  pulpit.  I  wish  to  say  more  to 
 you  on  this  important  subject." 
 
 "  Surrey  Chapel,  May  24th,  1831. 
 "  I  seem  persuaded  God  will  make  you  a 
 blessing  so  long  as  the  Lord  shall  keep  you  in 
 the  dust  before  him.  It  will  be  no  great  cri- 
 minality if  I  make  one  little  alteration  in  the 
 sacred  volume:  '  He  filleth  the  humble  with 
 good  things,  but  the  proud  he  sendeth  empty 
 away/  Oh,  that  most  lovely  valley  of  humi- 
 liation, the  safest,  the  most  lovely,  the  most 
 fertile  spot  between  the  city  of  destruction,  and 
 the  celestial  city !  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. 
 Oh,  I  could  say  a  thousand  things  concerning 
 
424  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 this  more  than  celestial  valley, — the  air  is  so 
 salubrious,  the  ground  so  fertile,  the  fruit  so 
 wholesome  and  rich  ;  while  from  the  branches 
 of  every  tree  the  voice  of  prayer,  or  praise,  is 
 heard,  in  delightful  concert  with  each  other. 
 While  living  in  this  valley,  no  weapon  that  is 
 formed  against  us  shall  prosper,  for  all  the  fiery 
 darts  of  the  devil  are  sure  to  pass  over  our 
 heads,  as  the  enemy  of  souls  cannot  shoot 
 low  enough  to  reach  us  to  our  hurt.  Take 
 this  hint  from  a  very  old  man — just  putting 
 off  his  harness,  while  you  are  but  just  putting 
 it  on.'' 
 
 "  VTotton-under-edge,  Sept- 9, 1831. 
 "  I  conclude  you  are  now  settled  in  your 
 winter  quarters,  and  that  a  fair  trial  will  now 
 be  given,  to  see  how  far  the  great  Head  of  the 
 church  may  design  that  you  should  attend  more 
 statedly  at  a  place  of  very  solemn  importance, 
 as  it  respects  the  future  prosperity  of  the 
 Redeemer's  kingdom  in  our  land ;  as  people  of 
 the  first  rank,  together  with  others,  make 
 Leamington  a  place  of  general  resort.  And 
 while,  I  trust,  you  are  made  tremblingly  to  cry, 
 '  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  T  yet,  for 
 your  encouragement,  let  it  not  be  forgotten  that 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  425 
 
 your  '  sufficiency  is  of  God  ;'  and  the  more  you 
 feel  of  your  own  weakness,  the  more  you  may 
 expect  a  degree  of  that  strength,  which  will 
 render  you  an  able  minister  of  the  New  Testa- 
 ment,— not  of  the  letter,  but  of  the  Spirit, — 
 whose  praise  is  not  of  man,  but  of  God,  If  you 
 are  enabled,  from  the  feelings  of  a  devoted 
 mind,  to  enter  upon  the  work,  you  may  depend 
 upon  that  blessing  from  above,  which  will  be 
 attended  with  a  most  glorious  result.  Read  and 
 pray  over  St.  Paul's  epistles  to  Timothy  and 
 Titus,  that  you  may  be  taught  how  to  conduct 
 yourself  throughout  every  department  of  the 
 sacred  work.  In  such  a  place  as  Leamington, 
 you  know  that  your  conduct  will  be  closely 
 watched ;  and  by  a  consistent  manifestation  of 
 the  same,  you  will  '  put  to  silence  the  ignorance 
 and  clamour  of  foolish  men.'  Your  ordination 
 should  soon  be  thought  of. — What  are  your 
 views  on  that  important  subject?" 
 
 "  Leamington  Spa,  Nov.  29,  1831. 
 "  As  it  is  highly  necessary  your  ordination 
 should  take  place,  I  quite  agree  with  you  that 
 no  time  will  be  more  suitable  for  that  event 
 than  when  you  are  in  town.  Though  there 
 are  difficulties  in  the  way  of  forming  what  is 
 regularly  called  a  church,   as  it  respects   the 
 
426  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 characters  of  some  belonging  to  this  place,  yet 
 I  trust  you  have  already  proved  that  you  have 
 received  your  commision  from  above,  as  a  sent 
 minister  of  the  word  of  life ;  this,  in  my  opinion, 
 according  to  the  apostolic  rule  of  ordination, 
 will  be  a  sufficient  warrant  that  you  should 
 receive  imposition  of  hands,  and  thus  be  desig- 
 nated more  immediately  to  the  sacred  work. 
 We  know  many  brethren  in  London  that 
 would  gladly  assist  on  that  solemn  occasion; 
 I  shall  leave  you  to  select  them,  mentioning  this 
 as  my  peculiar  request.  I  should  suppose, 
 among  others,  Dr.  Colly er  would  have  no  objec- 
 tion to  be  one  of  the  number,  as  he  seems  less 
 stiff  in  the  Independent  line  than  some  others ; 
 while  I  should  suppose  that  some  of  the  brethren 
 (whose  names  have  been  already  mentioned 
 between  ourselves)  belonging  to  the  late  Lady 
 Huntingdon's  connexion,  will  lend  their  friendly 
 aid:  and  if  this  were  to  be  done  on  a  Friday 
 morning  at  Surrey  Chapel,  without  any  osten- 
 tatious parade,  I  think  it  would  be  more  to  the 
 credit  of  the  sacred  cause.  After  the  solemnity, 
 instead  of  expensive  tavern  feastings,  it  would 
 be  much  more  consistent  to  adjourn  to  my 
 house  to  partake  of  a  plain  family  repast,  and 
 there  offer  up  solemn  prayer  among  yourselves, 
 and  thus  conclude  the  day." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  427 
 
 Mr.  Hill  by  his  will  left  to  "  the  Village  Itin- 
 erancy for  the  Education  of  Young  Men  for  the 
 Christian  Ministry,"  £11,000,  for  the  general 
 purposes  of  the  Society,  and  to  maintain  the 
 worship  of  God  at  the  Tabernacle  at  Wotton- 
 under-edge,  and  at  the  newly-established  interest 
 at  Leamington.  This  Society  was  established 
 by  the  Rev.  John  Eyre,  minister  of  the  Epis- 
 copal chapel  at  Homerton,  to  whom  Mr.  Hill 
 was  much  attached,  and  has  already  sent  forth 
 more  than  one  hundred  faithful  ministers  into 
 the  villages  and  dark  places  of  our  country.  In 
 addition  to  the  property  left  in  trust  to  the 
 Evangelical  Society,  the  anonymous  donations 
 given  by  Mr.  Hill  to  different  religious  insti- 
 tutions, at  the  time  of  his  death  amounted 
 to  nearly  £3000. 
 
 In  carrying  forward  his  various  benevolent 
 objects,  Mr.  Hill  availed  himself  of  the  kind 
 efforts  of  his  lay  friends.  He  considered  that 
 "  if  a  man  had  the  grace  of  God  in  his  heart, 
 and  a  wise  tongue  in  his  head,"  he  had  a  full 
 commission  to  bring  all  the  sinners  he  could  to 
 Christ.  He  rejoiced  in  the  labours  of  his  lay 
 brethren,  provided  they  were  prudent  and 
 modest    in    their    conduct.       Occasionallv    he 
 
428  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 would  admit  them  into  his  own  pulpit,  and 
 when  unable  to  carry  the  elements  round  the 
 table  on  a  communion  Sabbath,  he  more  than 
 once  requested  a  lay  brother  "  to  lend  him  his 
 legs  for  a  short  season.,, 
 
 When  referring  to  the  usefulness  of  some  lay 
 preachers,  he  observes,  "  We  bless  God  for  the 
 names  of  a  Captain  Scott  and  a  Captain  Joss ; 
 for  Captains  may  have  tongues,  and  brains,  and 
 grace  as  well  as  Doctors.  And  men  of  inferior 
 ranks  have  been  equal  to  them  in  a  wise  con- 
 duct, a  holy  walk,  and  extended  usefulness  in 
 the  ministry  of  the  word.  Some  I  could  men- 
 tion, eminent  in  trade,  not  less  eminent  in  the 
 ministry  of  the  word  ;  perhaps  the  more  useful, 
 as  having  an  influence  over  their  dependents. 
 And  though  these  were  neither  chosen  by  the 
 people,  nor  set  over  them  against  their  will, 
 yet  accepted  ordination  from  the  general  con- 
 sent of  the  church  of  God,  and  proved  excel- 
 lently useful  in  their  day  and  generation. 
 Others  also  shall  I  mention?  Stone-masons* 
 butchers,  weavers,  tailors,  shopkeepers,  and 
 shoemakers,  and  a  certain  tinker,  who  lived  a 
 century  and  half  ago,  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop 
 BunyaHj  who  was  quite   the  apostle  of  Cam- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  429 
 
 bridgeshire  and  Bedfordshire,  and,  though  a 
 Baptist,  admitted  all  to  communion  with  him, 
 whom  he  believed  to  be  the  children  of  God."* 
 
 It  is  however  right  to  remark,  that  Mr.  Hill 
 would  only  sanction  the  preaching  of  laymen 
 whose  characters  were  unexceptionably  good, 
 and  whose  talents  were  likely  to  be  useful. 
 He  was  not  anxious  to  press  them  forward  to 
 the  pulpit,  but  rejoiced  to  hear  of  their  efforts 
 in  the  Sabbath  schools,  the  villages,  and  the 
 workhouses  of  our  land.  He  had  frequent 
 applications  from  young  men  who  were  anxious 
 to  enter  the  ministerial  office,  or  engage  in 
 missionary  labours.  But  he  was  very  careful 
 not  to  take  them  from  their  worldly  occupa- 
 tions unless  he  could  discover  the  clear  leadings 
 of  the  providence  of  God,  and  acceptable  talents 
 in  the  applicants. 
 
 The  following  letters,  addressed  to  his  friend 
 Mr.  Bull,  will  shew  Mr.  Hill's  proper  anxiety 
 upon  those  points. 
 
 u  Wotton-under-Edge,  Aug.  31,  1792. 
 "  My  dear  Brother  Bull, 
 "  To  recommend  a  candidate  for  the  ministry 
 of  the  word  is  a  work  so  solemn,  that  I  tremble 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  147. 
 
430  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 at  the  undertaking.  You  have  already  been 
 asked  if  you  have  a  vacancy,  on  Mr.  Thornton's 
 donation,  in  your  academy,  and  it  seems  you 
 have.  Now,  there  is  a  young  man  in  South 
 Wales  that  appears  devout  and  in  earnest,  and 
 who  bears  a  good  character  among  all  that  know 
 him.  It  seems  that  he  has  preached  in  a  plain 
 way  among  his  poor  neighbours,  for  some  time, 
 and  with  some  acceptance;  but  then  he  is  a 
 shoemaker — and  parsons  of  every  description 
 are  esteemed  better  gentlemen  than  craftsmen 
 of  that  description.  I  have  examined  him,  to 
 know,  to  the  utmost  of  my  power,  how  far  pride 
 may  have  prompted  him  to  seek  this  office,  more 
 for  his  own  promotion  than  for  the  glory  of 
 God  in  the  salvation  of  souls.  I  confess  there 
 are  so  many  upstarts  of  this  character,  that  are 
 now  doing  an  abundance  of  harm  throughout  the 
 land,  that  they  make  me  suspect  the  motives  of 
 all  who  seek  to  climb  up  into  the  ministry  from 
 different  low  occupations  in  life  ;  but  still,  what 
 the  Lord  has  done  he  can  do,  and,  from  the  low- 
 est of  the  people,  send  into  his  church  the  best 
 of  his  ministers.  You  will  receive  herewith  the 
 young  man's  address.  That  God  would  bless 
 your  heart  with  richer  views  of  the  glories  of 
 the  Lord  Jesus,  and  sweeter  times  in  preaching 
 
REV,   ROWLAND  HILL.  43 J 
 
 his    salvation    to     the    people,   is   the    sincere 
 prayer  of 
 
 "  Your  affectionate  Brother, 
 
 "  Rowland  Hill." 
 
 In  another  letter  written  about  the  same 
 time,  Mr.  Hill  remarks: 
 
 "  I  keep  a  look  out  for  a  student,  but  cannot 
 say  how  soon  I  shall  send  you  word  when  I 
 have  succeeded.  Jesus  rode  into  Jerusalem  on 
 an  ass :  that  minister  is  not  His,  who  does 
 not  feel,  and  carry  his  Lord  into  the  congre- 
 gation. When  I  can  meet  with  a  colt  of  this 
 description,  that  loves  his  Lord,  and  loves  to 
 bear  his  Lord  among  the  people,  I  shall  recom- 
 mend him  to  you.  You  will  pare  his  clumsy 
 hoof,  and  comb  his  rough  mane;  but  encou- 
 rage him  in  his  lusty,  though  uncouth,  bray, 
 if  he  brays  stoutly,  with  a  single  eye  to  the 
 glory  of  God.  Ham's-horn  preachers  love  to 
 quote  the  conquest  of  Jericho, — the  coarse  blast 
 was  wonderfully  successful. 
 
 "  1  have  just  finished  the  labours  of  the  day. 
 How  poorly  done,  though  done  with  all  our 
 might !  I  have  been  holding  up  Chrises  full 
 salvation    to    a   ruined    world,    from    the    last 
 
432  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 invitation  in  the  Bible,  Rev.  xxii.  17.  What  lan- 
 guage so  free  and  full  as  the  language  of  the 
 Bible !  Oh,  for  hearts  full  of  Christ's  love,  and 
 lives  devoted  to  his  glory !  But  what  a  mere  slug 
 do  I  find  myself  in  the  divine  life !  Quicken 
 me,  O  Lord,  according  to  thy  word: — to  this 
 you  will  add  a  double  amen — one  you  will  say 
 for  yourself,  and  another  for  your  ever  affec- 
 tionate brother, 
 
 "  R.  Hill." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  many 
 of  his  members  actively  engaged  in  the  vineyard 
 of  the  Lord,  some  of  them  in  our  own  country, 
 and  others  in  distant  lands.  He  felt  deeply 
 interested  in  their  spiritual  prosperity,  and 
 received  great  comfort  in  hearing  of  their  works 
 of  faith,  and  labours  of  love,  and  patience  of 
 hope. 
 
 Meetings  for  prayer  were  held  every  week 
 at  Surrey  Chapel,  and  also  at  the  Tabernacle 
 at  Wotton.  Mr.  Hill  was  unable  freo^iently  to 
 attend  them ;  not  from  any  unwillingness  to 
 sanction  them  by  his  presence,  but  from  in- 
 ability arising  from  his  numerous  public 
 engagements. 
 
 Soon    after   the  opening   of  Surrey   Chapel 
 
REV.   ROWLAND   HILL.  433 
 
 several  devoted  men  went  through  the  crowded 
 districts  of  Southwark,  talking  to  the  poor,  and 
 holding  district  meetings  for  prayer.  There 
 Were  persons  in  those  days  who  considered  these 
 proceedings  irregular,  and  complained  to  Mr. 
 Hill  on  the  subject.  "Let  them  alone,"  said 
 the  good  pastor,  "  they  are  my  ferrets  ;  they  go 
 into  the  holes  and  corners  where  I  cannot  go, 
 and  drive  out  the  poor  sinner  to  hear  the 
 gospel."  He  encouraged  all  his  people  to  cul- 
 tivate the  talent  they  possessed,  in  humble  and 
 prayerful  dependence  on  God  for  his  blessing. 
 
 The  reader  will  see  that  Mr.  Hill  did  not 
 possess  a  faith  unaccompanied  by  works.  He 
 preached  a  free  and  full  salvation  through  the 
 merits  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  His  constant 
 announcement  was,  "By  grace  are  ye  saved, 
 through  faith,  and  that  not  of  yourselves ;  it  is 
 the  gift  of  God,  not  of  works,  lest  any  man 
 should  boast."  Did  he  then  make  void  the  law 
 through  faith  ? — no  !  he  established  it.  He 
 could  say  in  the  conclusive  language  of  St. 
 James,  "  Shew  me  thy  faith  without  thy  works, 
 and  I  will  shew  thee  my  faith  by  my  works." 
 He  was  at  all  times  anxious  that  his  people 
 should  glorify  God  in  their  bodies,  as  well  as 
 
 their   spirits;    and     many    who    attended    his 
 t    F 
 
434  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 ministry  can  well  remember  how  frequently  he 
 would  exclaim,  "  Beloved,  we  want  you  to 
 practise  the  holy  morality  of  the  gospel.  Oh  ! 
 let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they, 
 seeing  your  good  works,  may  glorify  your  Father 
 who  is  in  heaven." 
 
 The  influence  of  the  Societies  established  at 
 Surrey  Chapel,  was  not  confined  to  the  local 
 district.  Applications  were  often  made  to  Mr. 
 Hill  for  the  particulars  of  the  plans  he  adopted, 
 which  were  freely  given.  When  writing  to  a 
 clergyman  in  Yorkshire  on  this  subject,  he 
 remarks,  "  With  this  you  will  receive  the  papers 
 relative  to  the  different  charities  we  have  among 
 us,  for  your  own  selection  and  discrimination. 
 In  all  these  efforts  we  only  manifest  what  the 
 Scripture  means  by  righteousness,  by  the  fruits 
 and  effects  produced  thereby.  Oh !  when  shall 
 we  reach  all  that  is  contained  in  that  single 
 word  of  exhortation,  "Therefore,  my  beloved 
 brethren,  be  ye  steadfast,  unmoveable,  always 
 abounding  in  the  work  of  the  Lord ;  forasmuch 
 as  ye  know  that  your  labour  shall  not  be  in 
 vain  in  the  Lord"  Without  that,  we  have  no 
 bottom  or  foundation  for  our  obedience ;  and 
 on  that  foundation,  the  higher  we  are  called  to 
 build,  the  more  God  will  be  glorified  thereby." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  435 
 
 Our  minister  has  been  removed  from  the 
 scene  of  his  earthly  labours ;  but  "  though  dead, 
 he  yet  speaketh"  in  the  Societies  he  formed ;  and 
 his  works  continue  to  follow  him.  May  we,  who 
 were  his  hearers,  remember  that  our  responsi- 
 bilities are  in  proportion  to  the  privileges  we 
 have  enjoyed.  What  language  can  describe 
 the  awful  condition  of  those  persons  who  at- 
 tended the  faithful  and  affectionate  ministry  of 
 Rowland  Hill,  and  yet  perished  in  their  sins ! 
 
436  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 CHAP.  X. 
 
 MR.  HILLS  OPINIONS  ON  ECCLESIASTICAL  POLHY. 
 
 Review  of  biographers'  remarks  on  mr.  hill  —  archbishop 
 usher — remarks  on  mr.  hill's  opinions — the  chief  magis- 
 trate's duty  as  to  religion — persecution  makes  hypocrites 
 — and  is  destructive  to  establishments — the  establishments 
 in  england  and  ireland,  scotland  and  canada — duty  of  con- 
 scientious nonconformists — the  sabbath-day — act  of  unifor- 
 mity— on  the  compulsory  support  of  establishments — the 
 connexion  of  the  church  with  the  state — the  effects  of 
 such  connexion  pointed  out — all  dissenters  should  have  full 
 liberty  of  conscience  if  their  principles  are  not  inimical 
 to  civil  government — the  ancient  convocation  of  the  church 
 why  allowed  to  be  dissolved — the  danger  of  placing  the 
 civil  sword  with  any  religious  body — episcopacy  as  recom- 
 mended by  usher  and  leighton  —  the  king's  conge  d'elire — 
 remarks  on  the  christian  bishops  —  discipline  —  church 
 courts — on  apostolical  succession — the  official  holiness  of 
 the  priests— the  articles  of  the  church — form  of  prayer — 
 mr.  hill's  opinions  on  the  real  danger  of  the  church — the 
 liturgical  service — lord  bexley's  opinion  on  church  reform 
 — the  sectarianism  of  the  church  as  holding  no  ministerial 
 connexion  with  the  ministers  of  any  reformed  churches — 
 she  acknowledges  popish  ordination — the  meeting  of 
 various  christian  sects  in  heaven. 
 
 It  is  difficult  to  gather  from  the  biographers  of 
 Mr.  Hill,  what  were  his  exact  views  of  an  esta- 
 blished religion,  or  the  scriptural  government  of 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  437 
 
 of  a  Christian  church.  One  of  them,  who  pro- 
 fesses to  hand  down  to  posterity  the  sentiments 
 of  this  venerable  man,*  certainly  knew  but 
 little  about  him.  He  assures  his  readers  that 
 "the  system  of  things  pursued  at  Surrey 
 Chapel,  and  with  which  Mr.  Hill  was  so  won- 
 derfully enamoured,  professed  to  be  a  correc- 
 tion of  the  corruptions  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
 land ;  but  that  if  that  system  were  tried  by  the 
 primitive  church  at  Jerusalem,  we  should  be 
 compelled  to  write  upon  it,  'Ichabod.'"  He  states, 
 "It  is  a  mere  scheme  of  human  device,  the  pro- 
 duct of  the  wisdom  of  Rowland  Hill,  but  on 
 which  the  word  of  God  stamps  the  epithet  of  folly. 
 How  impotent,  then,  are  all  his  charges  of  he- 
 resy, schism,  bigotry,  and  sectarianism,  brought 
 against  those  persons  who  would  reduce  the 
 profession  of  Christianity  to  the  Scripture 
 standard." 
 
 Again,  the  same  writer,  who  professes  to  give 
 a  correct  sketch  of  the  venerable  man's  charac- 
 ter, calls  him  "Rowland-never- wrong,"  f — a  man 
 "labouring  to  uphold  a  system  against  which 
 the  vials  of  the  wrath  of  Heaven  are  pouring 
 
 *  Jones,  p.  329.  f  Ibid,  p.  285. 
 
438  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 out."*  He  assures  his  reader  that — "A  dispo- 
 sition to  make  light  of  the  instituted  order  of 
 Christ's  house,  being  the  besetting  sin  of  the 
 present  day,  few  men  have  contributed  more 
 to  it  than  Rowland  Hill;"f  and  then,  to  crown 
 the  whole,  the  reader  is  told,  in  reference  to  the 
 humble  expressions  that  fell  from  the  lips  of 
 the  dying  saint,  "  that  in  the  very  nature  of 
 things,  the  upholding  of  the  system  to  which 
 Mr.  Hill  was  attached,  "must  darken  his 
 evidences  of  personal  interest  in  the  Sa- 
 viour!!":): 
 
 When  the  Redeemer  was  reviled,  he  reviled 
 not  again.  The  writer  of  this  memoir  desires 
 to  follow  in  his  Master's  footsteps,  and  not  to 
 render  "railing  for  railing."  In  recording  the 
 leading  incidents  in  the  life  of  his  departed 
 friend,  he  has  endeavoured  faithfully  to  detail  the 
 opinions  of  Mr.  Hill,  and  the  plans  he  adopted 
 and  found  useful  at  Surrey  Chapel. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  felt  a  firm  attachment  to  the  epis- 
 copal church  of  our  country,  —  although  he 
 lamented  the  existence  of  many  defects  in  her 
 discipline  and  practice.     Like  the  pious  Arch- 
 
 *  Jones,  p.  314.  f  p.  315. 
 
 X  Jones,  p.  314 ;  also,  ante,  p.  5. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  439 
 
 bishop  Usher,  he  "hoped  a  time  of  reformation 
 would  come."  He  saw  the  necessity  of  cutting 
 off  many  abuses,  and  confessed  that  the  tole- 
 rating those  abominable  corruptions  that  the 
 canonists  had  brought  in,  was  such  a  stain 
 upon  a  church,  that,  in  all  other  respects,  was 
 the  best  reformed  in  the  world,  that  he  appre- 
 hended it  would  bring  a  curse  and  ruin  upon 
 the  whole  constitution."* 
 
 The  writings  of  Mr.  Hill  contain  his  matured 
 sentiments  on  most  points  connected  with  eccle- 
 siastical establishments;  and  although,  under 
 certain  limitations,  it  will  be  seen  that  he  wras 
 friendly  to  them,  yet  he  always  "  considered 
 religion  too  sacred  a  matter  to  be  settled  by  the 
 mandates  of  the  state,  and  that  the  consciences 
 of  individuals  should  be  left  altogether  unfet- 
 tered upon  that  important  subject." 
 
 The  writer  will  not  attempt  to  justify  the 
 opinions  of  his  departed  friend,  or  to  reconcile 
 them  with  the  views  of  any  denomination  in 
 the  Christian  church.  He  does  not  appear  as 
 the  champion  of  a  party ;  and  his  only  anxiety 
 is  clearly  and  fully  to  present  Mr.  HilPs  senti- 
 ments on  various  important  subjects,  alike  inte- 
 
 *  See  Life  of  Bishop  Bedell,  by  Burnett. 
 
440  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 resting  to  the  conscientious   episcopalian,   and 
 the  equally  conscientious  nonconformist. 
 
 On  the  duty  of  a  Christian  chief  magistrate 
 to  promote  true  religion,  Mr.  Hill  makes  the 
 following  remarks,  "  Should  any  supreme  ma- 
 gistrate, in  some  heathen  land,  become  Chris- 
 tian, suppose  under  the  influence  of  the  pre- 
 sent missionary  exertions,  is  he  not  at  liberty, 
 nay,  is  it  not  his  duty,  to  promote  the  Gospel  to 
 the  utmost  of  his  power?  This,  I  conjecture, 
 will  readily  be  granted,  provided  he  does  not 
 persecute :  and  this  is  readily  granted  in  return, 
 for  the  church  never  gained  any  but  hypocrites 
 for  her  converts  by  the  rod  of  persecution,  and 
 was  always  the  purest  when  in  a  persecuted 
 state  herself."*     He  adds,  "The  chief  magis- 
 
 *  The  proper  language  of  a  government,  in  giving 
 a  religious  establishment  to  their  country,  seems  to 
 be  simply  of  this  kind  :  This  is  what  approves  itself 
 to  our  judgments  and  consciences ;  and  what  we 
 shall,  therefore,  provide  for  having  taught  to  our 
 people :  we  invite,  and  shall  welcome,  the  concur* 
 rence  of  all  who  can  agree  with  us  ;  others  we  leave 
 to  pursue  the  course  which  shall  approve  itself  to 
 their  consciences,  —  reminding  them  only  of  their 
 responsibility  to  God  for  the  choice  they  may  make. 
 — Scolt's  Continuation  of  Milners  History  of  the  Church 
 of  Christ,  vol.  ii.  p.  517. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  441 
 
 trate  may  have  some  forms,  or  modes,  respect- 
 ing Christianity,  which  he  may  think  to  be 
 preferable  to  others.  Shall  not  liberty  be 
 granted  to  such  a  magistrate  to  take  that  body 
 of  Christians  under  his  more  immediate  cog- 
 nizance and  support,  who  voluntarily  subject 
 themselves  to  such  rules,  provided  he  presumes 
 not  to  compel  others  to  submit  to  it,  or  to 
 support  it?"* 
 
 On  the  subject  of  persecution,  Mr.  Hill 
 inquires,  "  Allowing  establishments  a  power  to 
 persecute,  what  evils  might  naturally  be  ex- 
 pected? Is  it  not  probable  such  persecuting 
 churches  would  soon  find,  sown  within  them, 
 the  seeds  of  their  own  destruction  ?  And,  if 
 the  arbitrary  power  of  the  prince  is  suffi- 
 ciently strong  to  enforce  obedience  to  the 
 priestly  authority  to  which  he  meanly  submits, 
 what  is  such  a  nation  better  than  a  nation  of 
 slaves  ?" 
 
 "  If  it  be  granted,"  Mr.  Hill  observes,  "  for 
 the  sake  of  argument,  that  the  civil  magistrate 
 has  a  right  to  patronize  and  promote  what  he 
 may  call  an  Established  Church,  for  himself  and 
 all  that  are  voluntary  conformists  to  it, — yet 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  102. 
 
442  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 will  justice,  will  common  sense  allow  him  to 
 enforce  others  to  conform  to  his  Established 
 Church,  while  the  consciences  of  many  must 
 recoil  at  such  a  conformity  as  being  sinful  and 
 hypocritical  before  God?  This  must  appear 
 the  more  preposterous  in  our  happy  country, 
 for  under  the  British  crown  there  are  no  less 
 than  three  different  establishments,  namely, 
 Episcopacy  in  England  and  Ireland,  Presby- 
 terianism  in  Scotland,  and  Popery  in  Canada. 
 
 "Now,  if  it  be  criminal  not  to  be  of  the 
 Establishment,  such  persons  should  change 
 their  religion  as  often  as  they  change  their 
 situation;  and  in  order  to  accomplish  this, 
 would  any  one  wish  to  see  the  three  different 
 state  religions  armed  with  a  sufficient  power  to 
 enforce  conformity  ?"  * 
 
 "  If  the  national  Church  happen  to  be  favour- 
 able to  the  dictates  of  my  conscience,  it  is  my 
 privilege  to  conform;  if  otherwise,  it  is  my  duty 
 to  dissent."f 
 
 "  I  think,  therefore,  on  the  general  view  of 
 matters,  that  it  may  be  concluded  that  national 
 churches  have  their  advantages  so  far  as  the 
 
 •  Religious  Freedom,  p.  19 ;  see  also  Village  Dia- 
 logues, vol.  iii.  p.  106. 
 
 \  On  Parochial  Assessments  of  Chapels,  p.  41. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  443 
 
 defence  and  enlargement  of  the  outworks  of 
 Christianity  may  be  promoted  thereby ;  for  to 
 me  it  is  a  matter  of  doubt  how  even  the  Sabbath 
 itself  could  be  observed  without  the  assistance 
 of  the  civil  magistrate ;  and  it  may  be  said,  that 
 the  very  existence  of  Christianity  depends  upon 
 the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  for  wherever 
 that  sacred  day  is  neglected  and  profaned, 
 profligacy  and  dissipation  of  manners  are  found 
 to  prevail."* 
 
 When  speaking  of  the  vain  attempt  to  unite 
 minds  by  legal  enactments,  he  remarks,  "  The 
 act  of  uniformity  disgraces  the  first  pages  of 
 our  common  prayer-book."  f  "  There  is  no 
 forcing  people  to  be  religious,  —  it  is  most 
 absurd  to  think  of  making  a  man  religious  by 
 means  of  a  cudgel ;  it  must  be  done  by  persua- 
 sion."^; He  also  considered,  "  that  to  enforce 
 others  to  pay  for  the  state  religion  was  a  rotten 
 prop,  which,  if  removed,  establishments  would 
 be  founded  on  a  firmer  basis."  § 
 
 It  will  be  seen  from  the  extracts  which  have 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  105. 
 
 t  First  Journal,  p.  86. 
 
 %  Surrey  Hibernian  Society  Meeting,  1828,      See 
 
 so  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  iii.  p.  107.  26th  ed. 
 
 §  First  Journal,  p.  103. 
 
444  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 been  given,  that  although  Mr.  Hill  considered 
 it  to  be  the  duty  of  the  chief  magistrate  to 
 promote  true  religion,  yet  he  was  to  effect  the 
 object  by  moral  means,  and  not  by  compulsory 
 legislative  enactments.  Hence  his  remark, 
 u  National  churches  have  their  advantages,  so 
 far  as  the  defence  and  enlargement  of  the 
 outworks  of  Christianity  may  be  promoted 
 thereby." 
 
 He  had  the  most  decided  objection  to  all 
 political  interference  with  the  concerns  of  the 
 church,  and  in  this  respect  he  differed  from 
 one  of  his  biographers.*  To  this  point,  there- 
 fore, the  reader's  attention  is  directed.  "  The 
 connexion  of  the  Church  of  England  with  the 
 state,"  he  observes,  w  I  sincerely  regret,  as  it  is 
 impossible  that  she  can  be  otherwise  than  cor- 
 rupted thereby."f  On  the  same  point  he 
 remarks,  "  While  Christianity  was  supported 
 by  her  native  purity,  her  beauties  were  all  her 
 own,  and  the  dignity  of  her  power  on  the  hearts 
 of  millions  had  a  glorious  effect.  But  when 
 the  church  was  embraced  by  the  state,  and 
 began  to  partake  of  the  riches  of  the  world,  she 
 
 *  See  Sidney's  Life,  preface,  p.  8;  also  364,  &c. 
 f  First  Journal  of  Tour  in  the  Highlands. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  445 
 
 partook  of  its  corruptions  also ;  evils  which  are 
 always  naturally  to  be  expected  from  such 
 temptations  being  presented  to  the  depraved 
 human  heart.  Is  blame  then  to  be  attached  to 
 any  state  which  patronizes  and  supports  the 
 cause  of  Christianity  ?  Quite  the  reverse. 
 Prophecy  declares,  "  that  kings  shall  be  her 
 nursing  fathers, and  queens  her  nursing  mothers ;" 
 consequently  it  is  the  duty  of  every  magistrate 
 to  protect  and  promote  the  promulgation  of  this 
 most  salutary  news  of  mercy  and  grace  to  man- 
 kind. By  this  event,  however,  a  distinction 
 soon  became  visible  enough,  between  a  Christian 
 of  man's  making  and  a  Christian  of  God's 
 making.  When  it  became  creditable  to  make 
 a  profession,  outward  Christians,  without  inward 
 Christianity,  made  their  appearance  in  abun- 
 dance, and  the  Christian  character  was  awfully 
 polluted  thereby.  No  wonder,  therefore,  that 
 as  Christianity  rolled  on  through  the  muddy 
 channel  of  worldly  applause  and  courtly  appro- 
 bation, it  became  deeply  contaminated  thereby, 
 or  that,  while  it  was  carried  down  a  channel  so 
 defiled,  it  partook  of  its  defiling  effects.  This 
 paved  the  way  for  the  establishment  of  anti- 
 christ, through  the  pride,  and  luxury,  and 
 voracity  of  priests,  and  for  the  introduction  of 
 
446  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 every  abominable  error  that  pampered  the  cor- 
 rupted heart  of  man."* 
 
 "  The  primitive  church  had  no  beauties  but 
 her  own.  She  claimed  no  state  assistance ;  and 
 even  while  she  appeared  hostile  to  the  religion 
 of  every  state,  by  the  purity  and  simplicity  of 
 her  designs  she  prospered  in  the  midst  of 
 heathen  darkness,  and  the  persecuting  fury  of 
 her  enemies.  Her  bishops,  in  those  days,  were 
 eminently  her  glory,  being  influenced  by  no 
 other  motives  than  a  regard  for  the  honour  of 
 God  and  the  salvation  of  the  souls  of  men."f 
 
 "  Notwithstanding,  it  is  readily  admitted  that 
 national  churches,  from  a  native  tendency 
 towards  abuse,  are  never  likely  to  prove  the 
 most  spiritual  in  any  land.  Without,  therefore, 
 an  unlimited  protection  of  every  dissentient  who 
 can  prove  that  there  is  nothing  in  his  religion 
 inimical  to  the  civil  government,  they  will 
 become  injurious;  for  then  persecution  natu- 
 rally commences,  and  nothing  can  be  so  con- 
 trary to  the  mind  of  Christ  as  the  spirit  of 
 persecution." 
 
 "  On  these  principles  alone  I  declare  myself 
 no  enemy  to  the  Established  Episcopal  Church 
 
 *  Apology  for  Sunday  Schools,  p.  20,  21. 
 f  Religious  Freedom,  p.  51. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  447 
 
 of  England,  or  the  Presbyterian  establishment 
 in  Scotland;  while  I  deeply  lament  over  each, 
 that  by  their  connexions  with  the  civil  power 
 they  have  lost  so  much  of  their  original  purity 
 and  design.  Even  the  primitive  church  of 
 Rome  would  never  have  become  the  whore  of 
 Babylon,  had  not  the  favours  of  the  world  and 
 the  embraces  of  Constantine  deprived  her  of 
 that  chastity  which  was  her  original  glory." 
 
 "  If,  therefore,  the  religion  of  the  state  does 
 not  afford  me  what  I  conceive  to  be  the 
 sufficient  means  of  salvation,  it  is  meet  that 
 I  should  be  at  full  liberty  to  provide  for  myself. 
 And  in  this  respect,  while  the  dissentients  feel 
 themselves  as  much  protected  as  others,  it  may 
 be  said,  that  by  the  laws  of  the  land  they  are  as 
 much  established  as  others.  The  one  may  be 
 thus  excited  to  zeal  and  watchfulness  by  the 
 other,  and  the  general  good  be  promoted  through 
 the  whole."  * 
 
 In  referring  to  the  ancient  convocation  of 
 the  church,  Mr.  Hill  remarks,  "  It  should  be 
 matter  of  serious  consideration  among  the 
 leading  clergy  of  the  day,  why  the  state  has 
 thought  proper  to    deprive    the    church  of  its 
 
 *  First  Journal,  pages  110,  111. 
 
448  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 original  constituted  authority,  by  dissolving 
 the  convocation  directly  it  is  formed,  and 
 taking  into  its  own  hands,  from  time  to  time, 
 the  reformation  of  its  abuses?  as  though  the 
 Lords  and  Commons  were  better  qualified  to 
 manage  the  church,  than  a  synod  of  Divines."* 
 
 "  Whenever  the  clergy,  with  us,  meet  in  con- 
 vocation, they  are  just  allowed  time  to  compli- 
 ment the  king  with  an  address, — and  he  returns 
 the  compliment  with  a  dissolution.  The  state 
 wisely  remembers  the  mischief  that  has  already 
 been  done  by  priests  and  priestly  courts. 
 When  they  get  the  civil  sword,  they  are 
 almost  sure  to  use  it  without  mercy.  It  is 
 judged  wisest,  therefore,  not  to  trust  them  for 
 the  future."! 
 
 The  danger  of  placing  power  in  the  hands  of 
 any  denomination  of  the  church,  is  pointed  out 
 in  the  following  passage.  —  "I  believe  that  if 
 any  denomination  be  armed  with  the  civil 
 sword,  they  will  precisely  act  the  same  part. 
 No  blame  attaches  itself  either  to  the  episcopal, 
 presbyterian,  or  any  other  government  what- 
 ever, by  these  remarks.     All  will  act  just  in 
 
 *  Spiritual  Characteristics,  p.  112. 
 f  First  Journal,  p.  114 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  449 
 
 the  same  way  under  the  same  circumstances. 
 The  church  is  sure  to  be  polluted,  when 
 invested  with  the  sword  of  civil  power.  Our 
 meek  and  lowly  Saviour  thus  directed  his 
 bold  and  forward  disciple,  Peter,  "  Put  up  thy 
 sword, — for  all  they  that  take  the  sword,  shall 
 perish  by  the  sword."  Had,  then,  all  religious 
 people  devoted  themselves  to  the  study  of  His 
 character,  "whose  kingdom  is  not  of  this 
 world,"  the  spirit  of  persecution  would  have 
 been  turned  into  the  spirit  of  forbearance  and 
 love/'* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  considered  a  moderated  episcopacy 
 to  be  the  most  scriptural  system  of  church 
 government. 
 
 He  observes,"  I  believe  that  no  prescript  form 
 is  established  in  the  New  Testament  church;  and 
 though  every  denomination  is  convinced  that 
 their' s  is  precisely  the  order  which  God  has  de- 
 creed for  the  government  of  his  house ;  yet  I 
 verily  believe,  and  wiser  heads  than  mine  have 
 thought  the  same,  that  nothing  is  precisely 
 determined,  but  that  we  are  referred  to 
 general    rules,    and    that    these  were    brought 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  88. 
 
 t  Spiritual  Characteristics,  p.  106. 
 
 2  Q 
 
450  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 forward  just  as  circumstances  demanded.* — 
 Notwithstanding,  the  nearer  we  act  according 
 to  the  primitive  precedent,  the  more  we  may 
 expect  the  blessing  of  the  Great  Head  of  the 
 church  upon  our  labours. f 
 
 On  the  subject  of  episcopal  government,  he 
 remarks,  "  When  I  speak  of  episcopacy,  I  beg 
 at  all  times  to  be  understood,  as  pleading  for 
 such  a  reduced  episcopacy,  as  was  recom- 
 mended by  those  learned  and  pious  episco- 
 palians, the  Archbishops  Usher  and  Leighton, 
 which  they  conceived  was  the  episcopacy  of  the 
 primitive  church.  Bishops  then  claimed  no 
 other  power  than  what  was  delegated  to  them 
 by  the  elective  voice  of  the  presbyters,  and 
 people  at  large.  In  the  purer  days  of  the 
 church  this  election  naturally  fell  on  the  most 
 spiritual  and  wise  of  their  body.  Around  him 
 they  voluntarily  collected,  as  toward  a  centre : 
 they  gave  an  affectionate  submission  to  him,  as 
 a  father, — and  their  government  was  thereby 
 both  strengthened  and  simplified. 
 
 "  A  mere  shadow  of  such  an  episcopacy  still 
 remains  in  the  English  church ;  for,  upon  the 
 
 *  See  Lord  Bacon's  opinion,  referred  to  in  chap.  1. 
 t  First  Journal,  p.  139. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  451 
 
 death  of  a  bishop  the  king  gives  his  conge 
 d'elire,  or  leave  to  elect,  to  the  presbyters  of 
 the  cathedral  church,  at  the  same  time  re  com- 
 mending  a  person  for  their  choice ;  which 
 recommendation  they  no  more  dare  refuse 
 than  they  dare  to  eat  a  red-hot  salamander. 
 One  extreme  generally  produces  another. 
 However  I  might  be  disposed  to  vote  for  the 
 reduction  of  the  episcopacy  of  the  English 
 church,  yet  I  had  much  rather  be  under  the 
 right  reverend  fathers  in  God  with  us,  than 
 under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  most  reverend 
 mothers  in  God  among  the  stricter  Inde- 
 pendents."* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  summed  up  his  sentiments  on  this 
 subject  in  these  words,  "  I  am,  all  things  con- 
 sidered, for  a  reduced  episcopacy,  a  reformed 
 liturgy,  and  the  election  of  the  minister  by  the 
 suffrages  of  the  people."! 
 
 Our  beloved  friend  thought  it  highly  import- 
 ant that  the  bishops  should  be  less  secular  in 
 their  pursuits,  and  so  resemble  the  primitive 
 bishops,  6i  who  always  lived  on  their  cure,"  and 
 who  were  devoted  entirely  to  the  cultivation  of 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  108. 
 
 t  Spiritual  Characteristics,  p.  107. 
 
452  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 their  own  vineyards.  He  considered  many  of 
 the  dioceses  too  large  for  the  efficient  super- 
 intendence of  one  bishop,*  and  he  hoped  the 
 time  would  come  when  the  number  of  dioceses 
 and  bishops  would  be  considerably  increased — 
 that  they  would  receive  a  fixed,  though  liberal 
 income — and  that  the  system  of  promotion, 
 except  to  the  archiepiscopal  chairs,  would  be 
 altogether  discontinued.  Then  his  desires 
 would  be  realized,  and  our  prelates  preach 
 "like  Bishop  Paul,  Bishop  Peter,  and  Bishop 
 Timothy,  all  round  their  diocese,  and  writh  the 
 same  zeal  that  the  bishops,  at  the  time  of  the 
 Reformation,  went  from  town  to  town,  and  to  dif- 
 ferent market-crosses,  far  and  wide.  And  then 
 they  will  have  quite  as  much  to  do  as  the  most 
 laborious  among  the  working  clergy  of  the  day; 
 and  woe  betide  the  Methodist  and  the  Dissenter, 
 when  this  event  takes  place !" 
 
 When  speaking  on  the  subject  of  discipline, 
 Mr.  Hill  remarks,  "  The  church  is  grievously 
 defective  in  this  respect ;  and  as  to  her  church 
 courts — spiritual  courts,  falsely  so  called — it  is 
 enough  to  say,  that  they  are  of  Roman  birth.  I  am, 
 
 *  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  iii.  p.  104 ;  26th  edition. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  453 
 
 however,  no  ecclesiastical   politician,  therefore 
 farther  this  deponent  sayeth  not." 
 
 In  reference  to  apostolical  succession,  Mr. 
 Hill  spoke  decidedly.  "  It  is  very  strange," 
 he  would  say,  "to  find  so  many  protestant 
 churches  making  so  much  of  a  popish  ordi- 
 nation, for  the  sake  of  a  chimerical  apostolic 
 succession."*  He  considered  it  "a  foolish  boast 
 for  the  clergy  to  claim  to  be  the  immediate 
 and  privileged  descendants  of  our  Lord,  and 
 his  successors."f  The  official  holiness  of  the 
 priesthood,  he  most  solemnly  objected  to. 
 Hence  he  remarks,  "As  to  the  priests,  some 
 will  have  it,  that  the  efficacy  of  their  func- 
 tions is  in  their  office,  and  is  not  at  all  affected 
 by  their  character ;  so  that  a  priest,  though  as 
 wicked  as  sin  can  make  him,  yet  in  himself  he 
 has  a  power,  by  a  sort  of  spiritual  conjuration, 
 to  send  others  to  heaven ;  while  he  himself,  if 
 wickedness  can  take  him  thither,  is  going  fast 
 to  hell."t 
 
 *  First  Journal. 
 
 i  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  i,  p.  341. 
 
 J  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  iii.  p.  93. 
 
454  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  articles  of  the  church  were  highly  valued 
 by  Mr.  Hill :  "  a  sounder  confession,"  he  ob- 
 serves, "cannot  be  desired;  but  too  many,  1 
 fear,  can  subscribe  the  most  explicit  Calvinism, 
 and  preach  the  grossest  Arminianism.  In  short, 
 many  can  preach  as  though  they  had  engaged  to 
 go  by  the  rule  of  reverse."* 
 
 No  one  was  more  attached  to  the  prayers  of 
 the  church,  than  the  minister  of  Surrey  Chapel. 
 He  thought  "  that  they  might  be  a  little  altered 
 for  the  better  by  some  few  omissions, — but,  on 
 the  whole,  he  considered  them  to  be  full  of  spi- 
 rituality and  meaning-" 
 
 During  the  long  life  of  Mr.  Hill,  he  often 
 heard  the  cry,  "The  church  is  in  danger." 
 He  smiled  at  the  fears  of  many  of  his  beloved 
 friends.  He  felt  that  if  the  episcopal  church 
 were  a  scriptural  one,  it  was  built  upon  a  rock 
 that  could  not  be  moved.  He,  therefore, 
 remarks,  "  The  real  danger  of  the  church  can- 
 not be  from  those  that  are  without,  but  from 
 those  that  are  within.  Let  the  ministers  of  the 
 established  church  faithfully  preach  the  doc- 
 trines they  are  sworn  again  and  again  to  main- 
 tain ;   let  them  prove,  by  their  conduct,   that 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  111. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  455 
 
 they  have  entered  into  the  sacred  office  with 
 no  other  designs,  than  a  pure  and  holy  love  to 
 the  souls  of  men ;  let  them  manifest,  in  their 
 daily  walk,  that,  "  as  He  who  has  called  them 
 is  holy,  so  they  are  desirous  themselves  to  be 
 holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation ;"  and,  at 
 once  the  idle,  the  contemptible,  the  malicious 
 cry,  "  the  church  is  in  danger,"  will  in  a  great 
 measure  cease  throughout  the  land.  Meeting- 
 houses will,  in  some  places,  be  thinned, — and 
 our  churches  will  be  revisited  with  unaccus- 
 tomed crowds."* 
 
 "  Now,  let  no  other  motives  but  such  as  are 
 pure  as  the  church  of  Christ  itself,  be  admitted 
 in  the  nomination  of  the  bishops  to  their 
 respective  sees ;  and  let  them  well  attend  to 
 the  religious  and  moral  characters  of  those  they 
 ordain.  Let  them  take  heed  that  they  are 
 such  as  can  most  solemnly  protest,  before  God, 
 "that  they  are  inwardly  moved  by  the  Holy 
 Ghost  to  take  upon  them  that  office  and  admi- 
 nistration. "  Let  such  as  these,  abstracted 
 from  the  world,  or  at  least  from  the  wicked 
 enjoyments   of    it,   which    they   renounced    at 
 
 *  On  Parochial  Assessments  of  Chapels,  p.  48. 
 
456  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 baptism — and  completely  dedicated  and  devoted 
 to  the  service  of  God, — live  among  their 
 parishioners  as  their  kind  advisers,  fathers,  and 
 friends ;  and  diligently  preach  the  word  of  life, 
 with  all  possible  zeal,  to  promote  their  eternal 
 good, — it  will  then  soon  appear  how  weak  and 
 unavailing  are  all  the  efforts  of  the  low  enthu- 
 siast, and  the  paltry  sectarian,  to  disturb  their 
 peace."*  f 
 
 Mr.  Hill,  notwithstanding  these  opinions  of 
 the  defects  to  be  found  in  the  episcopal  church, 
 observes,  "  The  liturgy  is  a  public  blessing  to 
 the  nation, — nor  is  there  a  church  upon  earth 
 that  so  much  promotes  the  abundant  reading 
 of  the  word  of  God.  While,  therefore,  I  love 
 her   constitution,    I   may   grieve    over   a   fatal 
 
 *  "  No  dissenting  congregations  can  exist/'  remarks 
 Mr.  Hill,  "but  as  their  ministers  are  blameless  in 
 their  deportment,  and  diligent  in  the  discharge  of  the 
 sacred  duties  imposed  upon  them  by  their  congre- 
 gations. They  are  a  voluntary  association,  having 
 no  support  from  the  state, — and  if  deficient  in  purity 
 and  consistency  of  conduct,  in  the  general,  the  sup- 
 port from  the  people  will  soon  be  withdrawn,  and 
 they  will  be  left  to  sink  into  ruin." 
 
 f  On  Parochial  Assessments  of  Chapels,  p.  52. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  457 
 
 declension  from  her  original  doctrines,  and 
 wish  for  her  further  reformation  ;*  still,  as  she 
 is,  may  she  stand  !  And  if  she  be  not  betrayed 
 by  the  bad  lives  and  conduct  of  her  own 
 ministers,  she  will  ever  continue  impregnable 
 from  without."! 
 
 The  sectarianism  which  Mr.  Hill  strongly 
 condemned,  wherever  he  found  it,  he  never 
 justified  in  the  church  to  which  he  was 
 attached.  He  mourned  over  the  fact  that  its 
 discipline  prevented  the  exercise  of  practical 
 charity  towards  many  brethren  who  only  dif- 
 fered from  the  church  in  matters  which  were 
 not  essential  to  salvation.  Upon  this  point  he 
 observes,  "It  may  not  be  amiss  to  remind 
 every  high  churchman  of  a  passage  to  be  found 
 in  the  beginning  of  the  Common  Prayer-book, 
 
 *  i(  If  the  friends  of  the  church,  instead  of  taking 
 the  lead  in  a  mild  reform  of  abuses,  contend  obsti- 
 nately for  their  protection,  and  treat  every  man  as  an 
 enemy  who  aims  at  reform,  they  will  certainly  be 
 overpowered  at  last,  and  the  corrective  applied  by 
 those  who  will  apply  it  with  no  sparing  hand." — 
 Second  Letter  to  Rev.  Dr.  Marsh,  on  the  subject  of  the 
 Bible  Society,  by  Lord  Bexleyy  then  N.  Vansittart.  Esq. 
 page  51. 
 
 +    Apology  for  Sunday  Schools,  p.  32. 
 
458  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 concerning  the  service  of  the  church,  —  as  it 
 breathes  that  spirit  of  true  Christian  candour, 
 that  should  never  be  forgotten.  <  And  in  these 
 our  doings,  we  condemn  no  other  nations,  nor 
 present  any  thing  but  to  our  own  people  only; 
 for  we  think  it  convenient,  that  every  country 
 should  use  such  ceremonies  as  they  shall  think 
 best,  to  the  setting  forth  God's  honour  and 
 glory,  and  to  the  reducing  of  the  people  to  a 
 most  perfect  and  godly  living,  without  error  or 
 superstition/  Had  they  adopted  the  practice 
 of  such  liberal  sentiments  nearer  home,  would 
 not  the  church  of  England  have  shone  more,  as 
 being  possessed  of  the  temper  and  spirit  of  the 
 church  of  Christ  ?  And  which  of  her  advocates 
 will  vindicate  that  spirit,  whereby  she  stands 
 aloof  from  all  other  reformed  churches  through- 
 out the  Christian  world,  without  having  the 
 least  ministerial  fellowship  and  connection  with 
 them?  Even  the  most  able  and  excellent 
 ministers  of  the  established  church  of  Scotland, 
 though  precisely  under  the  same  civil  protec- 
 tion with  our  own,  are  perfectly  secluded  from 
 any  connection  with  our  establishment.  How 
 often  have  I  heard  even  candid  dissenting 
 ministers  lament  the  fact,  that  while  the  ordi- 
 nation of  a  popish  priest  is  deemed  valid,  so 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  459 
 
 that  after  recantation  no  further  ordination  is 
 demanded ;  yet,  if  a  protestant  minister,  of  any 
 country,  wishes  to  join  her  community,  re-ordi- 
 nation is  rigidly  required ! !"  * 
 
 "  There  will  be,"  exclaims  this  worthy  cham- 
 pion for  the  general  fellowship  of  the  saints, 
 "  but  one  church  in  heaven.  There  shall  I  find 
 many  a  stiff  Seceder,  narrow-minded  Independ- 
 ent, high-flying  Episcopalian,  and  many  a  rigid 
 Papist,  who  may  have  escaped,  by  the  compas- 
 sion of  God,  even  from  the  church  of  Rome 
 itself,  notwithstanding  her  numerous  errors,  and 
 the  blasphemous  absurdities  of  her  mass."f 
 
 The  extracts  which  have  been  given  from 
 Mr.  Hill's  published  works,  clearly  shew  that 
 he  was  devotedly  attached  to  the  episcopal 
 church,  though  he  deeply  deplored  her  defects. 
 "No  one  circumstance,"  he  states,  "would 
 give  me  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  system  of  church  government  adopted  at 
 Surrey  Chapel,  and  its  practical  operation,  will 
 be  explained  in  the  next  chapter. 
 
 *  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  iii.  p.  108  ;  26th  edit, 
 t  First  Journal  of  Tour  in  Scotland,  p.  109. 
 
460  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 CHAP.  XL 
 
 THE  DECLARATION  REFERRED   TO   IN   THE  CHAPEL 
 
 TRUST-DEED,    AND    SIGNED    BY   MR.  HILL. HIS 
 
 VIEWS  OF  CHURCH  GOVERNMENT,  WITH  PARTICU- 
 LARS OF  THE  PLANS  ADOPTED  AT  SURREY  CHAPEL. 
 
 The  declaration  signed  by  mr.  hill,  of  his  doctrinal  opinions 
 — letter  to  mr.  bull — description  of  the  church  of  christ — 
 particulars  of  church  government  at  surrey  chapel — its 
 practical  operation —  "the  good  heart"  —  "the  blessed 
 almshouses"  —  indiscriminate  communion  considered  —  the 
 congregational  system — mr.  hill's  opinion  as  to  the  inde- 
 pendency of  churches  —  on  the  ordination  of  ministers- 
 difference  between  the  plans  adopted  at  surrey  chapel 
 and  the  congregationalists — on  the  fellowship  of  chris- 
 tians—  the  liturgical  service  —  extracts  from  dr.  words- 
 worth?s  ecclesiastical  biography  —  clergy  should  have  a 
 little  "eleow  room  "  —  objections  to  the  baptismal  awd 
 burial  services — an  eccentric  minister  —  "  mr.  lovegood's* 
 plans — the  strict-communion  baptists  and  mr.  hill— origi- 
 nal letter — dr.  philip  and  africa — extracts  from  dr.  pye 
 smith's  sermon  —  extracts  from  dr.  stewart's  sermon  ov 
 "  presbyterian  eldership  " — what  was  rowland  hill  ? 
 
 In  all  systems  of  church  government,  it  is  of 
 paramount  importance,  on  the  settlement  of  a 
 minister,  that  his  doctrinal  sentiments  should 
 be  clearly  and  fully  ascertained.  This  was  the 
 solemn  conviction  of  Mr.  Hill  at  the  commence- 
 ment of  his  pastoral  labours,  and  he  therefore 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  461 
 
 considered  it  necessary  to  define  his  views  of 
 the  great  truths  of  revelation. 
 
 On  the  4th  of  January,  1785,  about  eighteen 
 months  after  the  opening  of  the  chapel,  a  Trust 
 Deed  was  regularly  executed  by  Mr.  Hill  and 
 his  Trustees.  This  deed  refers  to  the  follow- 
 ing "formulary  or  declaration,"  prepared  by 
 the  pastor,  as  containing  a  full  statement  of  the 
 truths  to  be  preached  by  him,  and  his  successors 
 in  the  ministry  at  Surrey  Chapel : — 
 
 "  Having  been  appointed  by  the  providence  of  God  to  the 
 work  of  the  ministry  in  the  Surrey  Chapel,  upon  my  own 
 request  I  entered  into  the  following  solemn  engagements  re- 
 specting my  ministry  in  that  place  ;  namely,  That  I  hold  that 
 office  no  longer  than  while  I  preach  agreeable  to  the  doctrinal 
 Articles  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  do  not  give  the  use  of 
 the  pulpit  to  any  one  who  is  known  to  preach  otherwise. 
 As  men  of  corrupt  minds  are  prone  to  misconstrue  words  of 
 the  plainest  signification,  and  as  these  have,  by  many,  been 
 perverted  from  their  original  meaning, — agreeable  to  the 
 request  of  my  brethren  in  trust,  I  give  my  sentiments  re- 
 specting these  Articles  of  religion,  in  what  sense  I  am  per- 
 suaded they  were  understood  by  our  first  Reformers,  and 
 consequently  of  my  own  engagements  in  not  preaching  con- 
 trary to  them  myself,  and  in  not  permitting  others  to  do  the 
 like.  That  my  sentiments  may  be  delivered  in  a  clear  and 
 concise  method,  I  shall  not  regularly  consider  each  article  in 
 order,  but  sum  up  the  leading  Doctrines  contained  in  them, 
 in  a  short  system,  or 
 
 Confession  of  Faith. 
 
 "  I  believe,  according  to  the  1st  and  5th  Articles,  that  the 
 Godhead  is  One.  That  he  is  endued  with  all  possible  perfec- 
 tions, and  that  yet,  in  a  manner  perfectly  mysterious,  there 
 are  Three,  —  God  the  Father,  God  the  Son,  and  God  the 
 Spirit,  equally  and  eternally  existing  together  ;  that  each  ought 
 to  be  worshipped  as  God ;  that  though  their  Deity  is  personal, 
 
462  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 their  existence  is  one,  I  believe,  according  to  the  2nd  and 
 4th  Articles,  that  the  union  subsisting  in  the  person  of  the 
 Lord  Jesus  Christ  between  his  human  and  Divine  nature,  is 
 to  be  considered  as  one  of  the  essential  pillars  of  the  Gospel ; 
 that  whatever  Christ  did  on  earth  in  a  way  of  obedience  and 
 suffering,  was  in  order  that  it  might  be  imputed  to  his  people 
 for  righteousness — so  that  it  is  not  our  faith,  but  the  work  of 
 Christ  wrought  out  by  him  for  us,  that  is  our  imputed  righte- 
 ousness for  justification.  I  also  believe  that  Christ  now  acts 
 as  our  Intercessor  and  Advocate  in  heaven,  with  his  glorified 
 person,  united  to  the  same  Divine  nature  be  had  eternally 
 with  his  Father.  As  directed  by  the  6th  Article,  I  adopt  the 
 Old  and  New  Testament,  exclusive  of  the  Apocrypha,  as  the 
 only  unerring  rule  for  faith  and  practice.  And  though  it  is 
 absurd  and  unscriptural  to  persecute  people  for  not  subscrib- 
 ing or  believing  human  formularies,  yet  each  church  has  an 
 undoubted  right,  in  regard  to  doctrine  or  discipline,  to  declare 
 their  own  sentiments  as  the  terms  of  admission  to  their  re- 
 spective members. 
 
 "  Agreeable  to  the  9th  Article,  1  believe  that  man,  since  the 
 fall,  is  perfectly  cut  off  from  God,  and  that  though  in  natural 
 men  some  principles  of  good  towards  each  other  may  be 
 found,  yet  as  this  neither  extendeth  to  God,  nor  proceedeth 
 from  the  sanctifying  agency  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  it  cannot  be 
 considered  to  be  of  the  nature  of  true  holiness,  and  therefore 
 is  frequently  found  to  appear  amongst  those  that  in  the  spirit 
 of  their  minds  live  without  God  in  the  world.  I  believe, 
 therefore,  that  man  has  not  only  lost  all  the  nature  of  true 
 holiness,  but  that  he  is  filled  with  enmity  itself  against  God; 
 that,  according  to  the  original  Latin  phrase,  "quam  longissime" 
 he  is  fallen  as  far  as  possible — to  the  very  uttermost.  I,  there- 
 fore, conclude  that  the  natural  man  is  equally  cut  off  from 
 God  with  the  fallen  spirits,  and  that  consequently  his  nature 
 is  earthly,  sensual,  and  devilish ;  and  that  Jeremiah  meant 
 to  describe  the  moral  state  of  all  mankind,  when  he  says,  'the 
 heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately  wicked, 
 who  can  know  it?  '  indicating  thereby  that  its  wickedness  is 
 so  deceitful  and  desperate,  that  none  but  God  can  know  it. 
 
 "  I  consequently  next  believe,  respecting  our  fallen  state, 
 agreeable  to  the  10th  Article,  that  we  have  no  good  or  free 
 will  of  our  own,  to  turn  to  God,  but  that,  as  we  are  naturally 
 enmity  against  God,  there  is  nothing  left  us  of  a  moral  nature 
 that  can  help  us  to  join  in  with  God.  I,  therefore,  utterly 
 deny  that  there  is  any  power  in  man  to  make  himself,  or  to 
 help  to  make  himself,  through  Christ,  acceptable  to  God; 
 and  would  as  soon  affirm  that   it  is  in  the  power  of  a  fallen 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  463 
 
 spirit  to  join  in  with  the  infinitely  pure  and  holy  nature  of 
 God,  as  it  is  with  the  carnal  mind  of  man,  which  has  before 
 been  declared  to  be  enmity  against  God.  I,  therefore  conclude 
 that  the  conversion  of  a  sinner  to  God  does  not  arise  from 
 some  supposed  seeds  of  grace  working  in  every  man,  the 
 accepting  or  rejecting  of  which  is  left  to  the  determination  of 
 his  own  will,  which  cannot  determine  upon  any  thing  that 
 is  good  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  I  am  firmly  persuaded  that  our 
 salvation  arises  from  the  absolute  power  of  Almighty  God, 
 who  works  in  and  illuminates  the  understanding  of  those 
 only  who  are  chosen  m  Christ  Jesus  before  the  foundation 
 of  the  world,  that  they  may  have  that  good  will,  and  after- 
 wards continues  unchangeably  to  work  in  them  to  will  and  to 
 do  by  his  own  good  pleasure,  that  he  may  secure  their  perse- 
 verance unto  eternal  glory. 
 
 "  I  next  declare  my  firm  persuasion,  agreeable  to  the 
 11th,  12th,  13th,  14th,  and  18th  Articles,  that  there  is  no 
 one  cause  or  condition  whatsoever  whereby  man  is  pardoned 
 or  accepted  by  a  holy  God,  but  only  on  account  of  the 
 obedience  and  atonement  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  imputed  to 
 them  that  are  chosen  in  him  unto  salvation ;  that  as  every 
 man  is  perfectly  ruined  by  the  transgression  of  the  first 
 Adam,  so  every  elect  soul  is  as  perfectly  saved  through  the 
 obedience  of  the  Second  Adam,  by  being  made  complete 
 in  him  ;  that  every  idea  of  a  sinner's  being  accepted  by 
 Christ  on  account  of  some  conditions  that  he  performs, 
 I  utterly  disown.  I  therefore  conclude,  with  the  Reformers, 
 that  all  supposed  good  works  done  before  justification  are 
 not  of  the  least  avail,  and  that  the  doctrine  itself  is  absurd, 
 as  no  man  can  do  good  works  till  he  is  first  justified  by  faith. 
 Lastly,  I  conclude  that  whatever  mercy  God  may  secretly 
 reveal  to  such  as  have  never  heard  the  glad  tidings  of 
 salvation,  yet  this  can  only  be  given  them  for  the  sake  of 
 Christ,  in  whom  they  are  chosen,  and  by  whom  alone  they 
 are  saved,  and  not  on  account  of  their  framing  their  lives 
 according  to  the  law  or  the  light  of  nature,  or  according  to 
 that  too  common  expression  of  their  *  doing  as  well  as  they 
 can.'  I  believe,  in  regard  to  the  17th  Article,  that  the  godly 
 consideration  of  predestination  and  our  election  in  Christ 
 is  full  of  sweet,  pleasant,  and  unspeakable  comfort  to  godly 
 persons,  and  such  as  feel  in  themselves  the  workings  of  the 
 Spirit  of  Christ.  And  though  this  doctrine  cannot  be  better 
 explained  than  in  the  Article  itself,  yet  as  some  have 
 strangely  mistaken  it  by  holding  up  the  unscriptural  notion 
 of  our  being  elected  on  account  of  our  faith  or  good  works 
 foreseen,  I  further  thus   declare   my  sentiments   respecting 
 
464  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 the  same.  I  believe  that  no  soul  ever  did,  or  ever  can, 
 influence  God  in  giving  him  the  grace  of  election  ;  that  we 
 are  not  chosen  on  account  of  any  foreseen  good  in  us,  but 
 entirely  by  the  sovereign  will  of  God ;  that  as  all  mankind 
 are  equally  fallen,  election  unto  salvation  must  be  absolute 
 and  unconditional.  I  believe,  therefore,  if  all  mankind  were 
 absolutely  elected,  all  mankind  would  absolutely  be  saved, 
 since  God  cannot  change  in  his  love.  I  conclude,  therefore, 
 that  none  of  the  elect  can  fall  away,  and  that  they  only  shall 
 be  saved ;  and  that  where  it  is  said,  Article  16th,  we  may 
 depart  from  grace  given,  and  fall  into  sin,  it  is  not  to  be 
 understood  that  a  child  of  God  may  finally  fall,  and  perish 
 everlastingly,  but  that,  though  he  may  backslide,  he  shall 
 and  must  be  recovered ;  so  that  I  believe  the  perseverance 
 of  the  saints  is  absolutely  decreed,  and  that  it  does  not  in 
 anywise  depend  upon  their  faithfulness  to  God,  but  entirely 
 upon  God's  covenanted  faithfulness  to  them,  that  keeps 
 them  faithful  to  him ;  that  God  has  fixed  his  love  on 
 a  certain  number,  to  which  none  shall  be  added  or  taken 
 away :  and  I  further  believe,  respecting  their  sanctification, 
 that  all  who  live  to  maintain  a  visible  profession  shall  be 
 sanctilied  by  the  power  of  God  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  is  the 
 invincible  Sanctirier  of  the  elect ;  so  that  our  sanctification 
 is  secured  by  our  election,  and  that  we  prove  our  election 
 no  otherwise  than  by  our  sanctification,  by  shewing  that  we 
 are  called  by  a  holy  calling,  and  predestinated  to  be  con- 
 formed to  the  image  of  God's  dear  Son.  I  therefore  express 
 my  utter  abhorrence  of  all  antinomian  doctrines ;  and  as 
 I  am  fully  persuaded  every  true  believer  must  be  holy, 
 I  leave  upon  record  my  strongest  testimony  against  all  those 
 awful  perverters  of  the  Gospel,  who,  under  the  pretence  of 
 affirming  our  sanctification  is  in  Christ,  or  any  other 
 subterfuge  whatever,  exclude  the  necessity  of  an  inward 
 work  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  sanctifying  and  regenerating 
 the  souls  of  the  elect. 
 
 "  I  next  agree  with  the  19th  Article,  that  the  visible 
 Church  of  Christ  is  a  congregation  of  faithful  men,  in  which 
 the  pure  word  of  God  is  preached,  and  the  sacraments  duly 
 administered  according  to  Christ's  ordinance :  and  I  further 
 add  my  sentiments  concerning  what  is  recorded  in  the  latter 
 part  of  the  23d  Article,  respecting  the  calling  and  ordination 
 of  ministers  ;  that,  agreeable  to  the  sentiments  and  behaviour 
 of  the  first  Reformers,  there  are  other  ministers  and  churches 
 of  Christ  besides  those  that  are  Episcopal ;  that  all  Protest- 
 ant ministers  of  the  Gospel,  after  a  proper  trial  of  their  gifts, 
 should  submit  to  some  decent   solemn  appointment  to  the 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  465 
 
 pastoral  charge ;  and  that  as  all  such  ministers  have  an 
 equal  right  to  the  same  office,  they  should  give  each  other, 
 as  far  as  circumstances  may  allow,  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
 ship in  the  name  and  fear  of  God.  I  omit,  for  the  sake  of 
 brevity,  enlarging  upon  those  Articles  in  which  the  absurdities 
 of  Popery  are  renounced,  but  only  observe,  that  I  perfectly 
 agree  with  them  in  all  they  say  against  the  fooleries  and 
 blasphemies  of  the  man  of  sin.  I  believe  the  pope  is  Anti- 
 christ, and  that  his  religion  is  abominable.  Lastly,  should 
 any  one  attempt  in  future  times  to  miscontrue  what  I  have 
 now  declared,  I  beg  to  be  understood  only  after  the  meaning 
 of  that  Catechism  prefixed  to  the  New  Testament  of  the 
 Bibles  printed  in  the  different  years  of  1583,  1602,  1614,  and 
 which  bears  the  title  of  *  Certain  Questions  and  Answers' 
 touching  the  doctrine  of  predestination,  the  use  of  God's 
 word,  and  sacraments,  which  is  also  transcribed  at  large  in 
 the  book  in  which  the  concerns  of  the  Chapel  are  recorded ; 
 and  further,  according  to  what  was  specified  to  be  the  doctrine 
 of  the  Church  of  England  by  those  bishops  and  ministers 
 who  went  over  to  declare  against  the  remonstrants  at  the 
 Synod  held  at  Dort  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1618." 
 
 "  Such  are  the  sentiments  I  consider  myself  solemnly 
 engaged  to  maintain,  as  being  not  only  consistent  with  the 
 meaning  of  the  first  Reformers  in  the  above  -  mentioned 
 Articles,  but  what  I  also  conceive  to  be  perfectly  agreeable 
 to  the  word  of  God  :  upon  these  truths  alone  I  dare  ground 
 the  hopes  of  my  eternal  salvation,  humbly  beseeching  God, 
 that  after  my  decease  a  succession  of  faithful  and  zealous 
 ministers  may  be  raised  up,  to  preach  the  same  glorious 
 truths  among  the  people  till  time  shall  be  no  more.  Amen. 
 Amen. 
 
 "  ROWLAND  HILL." 
 
 The  contents  of  this  interesting  document 
 agree  with  the  brief  statement  of  Mr.  Hill's 
 doctrinal  opinions  referred  to  in  a  former  chap- 
 ter, and  which  he  steadily  maintained  through- 
 out his  long  ministry.  He  occasionally  touched 
 upon  all  the  doctrines,  yet  he  loved  to  dwell  on 
 
 2H 
 
466  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 the  riches  of  free  distinguishing  grace,  the  abso- 
 lute necessity  of  regeneration,  and  the  duty  and 
 privilege  of  a  holy  walk  before  God. 
 
 In  addition  to  this  Declaration,  a  letter  may 
 here  be  introduced,  from  which  his  doctrinal 
 views  may  also  be  gathered. 
 
 "  Wotton-under-edge,  June  10, 1801. 
 "  My  dear  Brother, 
 "  What  a  miserable  Gospel  is  that  which 
 directs  me  to  qualify  myself  for  the  mere 
 mercies  of  my  God !  This  is  Gospel,  if  blind 
 men  may  be  told  they  may  see  if  they  would  give 
 themselves  eyes,  or  that  lame  men  may  walk  if 
 they  will  give  themselves  legs.  Farewell  con- 
 ditional salvation, — or  I  am  in  despair.  In  the 
 doctrine  of  unconditional  election  I  find  sancti- 
 fication  irresistibly  secured  to  a  sinner  as  vile 
 as  the  vilest  that  ever  lived  since  Adam  fell. 
 Oh  blessed  be  Jehovah  for  the  Father's  law,  the 
 Son's  gospel,  and  the  Spirit's  grace  !  Some 
 Arminians  have  been  making  a  bustle  about  us 
 in  these  parts,  and  it  is  their  inconsistent  stuff 
 that  has  drawn  these  thoughts  from  my  mind. 
 The  Arminian,  from  his  notions  of  a  milder 
 remedial  law,  instead  of  the  holy  law  of  God, 
 insults  God  in  his  purity; — as  he  proceeds,  he 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  467 
 
 next  insults  the  Son,  in  his  atonement; — and, 
 from  first  to  last,  insults  the  Spirit,  in  his  free 
 grace,  and  gratuitous  almighty  operations. 
 Oh,  blessed  be  God  for  a  free-grace  Gospel, — 
 this  I  continue  preaching  about  the  country 
 from  place  to  place,  and  God  help  me  to  keep 
 at  it  to  the  last. — My  love  to  young  Smith  and 
 Elliott.  We  shall  expect  to  see  the  latter  at 
 Rodborough  at  the  time  appointed.  Love  to 
 Mrs.  Bull,  and  your  lovely  Tommy. 
 "  Yours  affectionately, 
 
 "R.Hill." 
 "  To  Rev.  W.  Bull." 
 
 The  doctrinal  sentiments  of  Mr.  Hill  having 
 been  fully  detailed,  his  views  of  church  govern- 
 ment will  now  be  given,  with  the  particulars  of 
 the  plans  he  adopted  at  Surrey  Chapel. 
 
 The  church  of  Jesus  Christ,  Mr.  Hill  con- 
 sidered to  be  "  penitent  believers,  when  con- 
 vened together,  of  every  party."*  "  The 
 primitive  Christians,"  he  remarks,  "  lived  in 
 connected  harmony  and  friendship  with  each 
 
 Village  Dialogues,  Vol.  iii.  p.  95.     See  also  defi- 
 nition in  previous  declaration. 
 
468  MEMOIR  O? 
 
 other;  elders,  or  overseers,  or  bishops,  terms 
 of  the  samp  scriptural  import,  were  ordained 
 or  appointed  in  different  cities,  to  govern 
 the  juniors ;  the  elders  presided  over  one  and 
 the  same  congregation,  and  some  of  them  had 
 the  public  management  or  superintendence  of 
 the  people,  while  others  of  them  were  its  public 
 teachers."* 
 
 In  his  Warning  to  Professors,  Mr.  Hill  thus 
 describes  the  system  of  church  government 
 adopted  at  Surrey  Chapel, — "  I  am  happy  to  be 
 so  situated,  as  that  I  am  at  full  liberty  to  attend 
 to  such  discipline  as  is  necessary,  for  the  credit 
 of  every  Christian  church:  and  under  a  little 
 proper  regulation,  I  find  that  a  thousand  good 
 communicants  can  be  as  easily  regulated  as  ten, 
 without  encumbering  ourselves  with  a  set  of 
 restrictive  church  rules  and  church  books,  f  the 
 Bible  being  quite  enough  for  us.    All  applicants 
 
 *  Village  Dialogues,  Vol.  iii.  p.  9C,  97. 
 
 f  "  My  objection,"  remarks  Mr.  Hill,  in  his  Warn- 
 ing to  Professors,  p.  69,  "  is  against  those  church 
 books  which  contain  abominable  anti-christian  laws 
 and  rules,  whereby  Christians  are  separated  from  each 
 other,  by  not  allowing  even  occasional  communion  ; 
 not  against  such  church  books  which  are  made  use  of 
 for  the  sake  of  regularity  and  discipline." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  469 
 
 know  that  they  are  inadmissible,  unless  they  can 
 first  produce  evidence  from  different  witnesses, 
 as  required,  that  their  characters  are  fair  and 
 good;  the  clearest  knowledge  of  the  theory  of 
 the  Gospel  goes  for  nothing  if  this  be  wanting, 
 though  that  also  is  made  a  matter  of  serious 
 inquiry. 
 
 The  city  of  London  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  occa- 
 sions, before  all  the  communicants,  the  names 
 and  abodes  of  those  who  wish  more  statedly  to 
 join  the  communion.  They  are  next  regularly 
 registered,  that  we  may  call  upon  them  when- 
 ever necessity  requires :  after  this,  they  receive 
 frequent  charges,  that  they  may  know  all  con- 
 formity to  the  world  is  totally  prohibited  among 
 us.  By  this  plan,  considering  the  very  imper- 
 fect state  of  things,  though  we  do  not  suppose 
 that  all  is  gold  that  glitters,  yet,  comparatively 
 speaking,  the  disgraceful  characters  have  been 
 very  few.  Thus  things  have,  with  a  little  atten- 
 tion, been  comfortably  managed,  while  the  most 
 pleasant  peace  and  harmony  universally  pre- 
 vail.    I  should  not  have  mentioned  the  above, 
 
470  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 if  I  had  not  been  under  the  necessity  of  contra- 
 dicting a  very  prevalent  report,  that  we  have 
 no  discipline  at  Surrey  Chapel.  I  might  further 
 add,  no  persons  are  admitted  till  after  they 
 have  been  probationary  communicants  for  three 
 months.  Such  as  are  admitted  among  us,  if 
 permitted  by  others,  are  at  liberty  to  go  else- 
 where also;  only,  if  they  come  with  us,  we 
 expect  to  know  their  lives."* 
 
 As  to  the  internal  government  of  a  church, 
 Mr.  Hill  observes,  "  I  like  the  idea  of  ministers 
 and  elders,  the  elders  being  all  men  of  prayer 
 and  great  spirituality.  The  elders,  like  alder- 
 men, or  eldermen,  of  a  city,  should  be  repre- 
 sentatives of  the  younger  members  of  the 
 church,  whose  general  approbation  should  at  all 
 times  be  attended  to.  Government  should  be 
 a  delegated  business,  and  a  few,  well  chosen, 
 always  accomplish  the  best  work.  Now,  it 
 should  rest  with  these  to  attend  to  the  manage- 
 ment of  the  congregation,  while  the  people  at 
 large  should  be  heard  on  every  just  occasion, — 
 proposing  no  other  terms  of  communion  among 
 their  members   than   what   the   word  of  God 
 
 *  Warning  to  Professors,  p.  63. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  47 1 
 
 demands,  '  repentance  towards  God,  and  faith 
 in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;'  and  that  they  should 
 be  persons  of  a  godly  life  and  sound  faith.** 
 
 A  detail  will  now  be  given  of  the  practical 
 operation  of  the  plan  which  has  been  described. 
 When  any  person  wished  to  be  united  in  Chris- 
 tian fellowship  with  the  church  at  Surrey  Chapel, 
 he  was  introduced  to  the  pastor  by  one  of  its 
 members,  who  was  acquainted  with  his  moral 
 and  religious  character.  This  introduction  was 
 generally  private,  which  Mr.  Hill  preferred, 
 because  he  thought  that  few  could  really  com- 
 mand their  feelings  before  the  assembled  church, 
 and  that  much  more  satisfactory  information 
 could  be  elicited  by  free  conversation.  These 
 interviews  were  often  of  an  interesting  descrip- 
 tion. It  was  peculiarly  delightful  to  hear  the 
 aged  minister  ascertaining  by  a  lengthened 
 examination  the  spiritual  condition  of  a  youthful 
 applicant.  When  he  found  that  his  ministry 
 had  been  the  means  of  producing  the  anxious 
 inquiry,  "  Wliat  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?"  the 
 mutual  tear  would  be  seen,  and  it  might  easily 
 be  discovered  how  sincerely  the  faithful  servant 
 rejoiced  in  his  reward. 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  168. 
 
472  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 On  one  of  these  occasions,  a  respectable 
 female  called  on  Mr.  Hill,  and  expressed  her 
 wish  to  be  united  with  the  church.  He  had 
 several  friends  with  him  at  the  time, — but  soon 
 received  the  applicant.  He,  however,  was  not, 
 at  that  time,  in  the  happiest  state  of  mind. 
 Among  other  questions,  he  put  the  following 
 one  to  the  applicant.  —  "Have  you  a  good 
 heart?"  When  she  replied,  "I  hope  I  have, 
 Sir."  Mr.  Hill  called  the  attention  of  a  friend 
 to  the  reply,  and  said,  "  Come,  and  see  a  won- 
 derful woman,  who  has  got  a  good  heart.  I'm 
 sure  it's  more  than  I  can  say."  The  worthy 
 female  was  much  affected,  but  most  judiciously 
 answered,  "I  trust,  Sir,  I  have  a  new  heart; 
 and  I  did  not  think  it  wrong  to  call  the  work  of 
 the  Holy  Ghost,  a  good  work."  This  remark 
 touched  the  worthy  man.  The  tear  started 
 from  his  eye,  and  he  immediately  apologized  in 
 the  most  Christian  manner  for  having  wounded 
 her  feelings.  This  fact  is  honourable  to  both 
 the  parties. 
 
 The  pastor  having  received  from  the  appli- 
 cant satisfactory  references  as  to  moral  and 
 religious  character,  he  was  invited  to  attend 
 the  next  meeting  of  the  church.  These  meet- 
 ings   were    held    on    every    Monday    evening 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  473 
 
 through  the  year,  at  seven  o'clock,  and  were 
 confined  to  church  members.  They  were  com- 
 menced by  singing,  after  which  a  member 
 engaged  in  prayer,  —  then  the  names  of  the 
 persons  proposed  for  membership  at  former 
 meetings,  were  read  over,  and  the  inquiry 
 made,  u  Is  there  any  objection  on  the  part  of 
 any  of  our  friends  to  the  persons  now  proposed 
 for  Christian  fellowship?"  If  no  objections  were 
 made,  the  persons  were  considered  as  admitted 
 members. 
 
 After  the  names  of  former  candidates  were 
 called  over,  Mr.  Hill  mentioned  to  the  church 
 the  new  applications  which  had  been  made  to 
 him,  and  detailed  the  substance  of  his  conver- 
 sations. He  dwelt  particularly  on  the  means 
 by  which  the  applicants  had  been  led  to  the 
 Divine  Redeemer.  These  statements  were 
 interspersed  with  many  useful  observations, 
 particularly  on  the  various  means  by  which  it 
 pleased  God  to  call  his  people  to  the  knowledge 
 of  himself.  The  venerable  minister  then  pro- 
 posed the  admission  of  the  candidate,  and  he 
 was  received  accordingly,  with  the  concurrence 
 of  the  church,  but  not  by  the  votes  of  the 
 members  present.  In  case  any  friend  raised 
 an  objection  to  the  apnlicant's  reception,  it  was 
 
474  MEMOIR    OF 
 
 generally  considered  by  the  minister  in  private, 
 who  made  a  future  report  to  the  church  on  the 
 subject. 
 
 At  the  first  church-meeting  the  applicant 
 received  a  ticket  as  an  occasional  communicant, 
 — his  name  was  called  over  at  several  subse- 
 quent meetings,  after  which  he  was  received  as 
 a  regular  member. 
 
 On  some  occasions  the  members  were  pub- 
 licly admitted,  without  any  previous  interview 
 with  the  minister.  The  examinations  on  such 
 occasions  often  displayed  the  peculiar  discern- 
 ment of  the  pastor.  He  knew  how  far  to  probe 
 the  tender  conscience.  He  was  the  kind  but 
 faithful  physician ;  "  the  son  of  consolation,"  to 
 the  timid  but  genuine  seeker  for  salvation.  He 
 sometimes  detected  the  hollow  pretensions  of 
 the  hypocrite,  and  then  he  could  speak  with 
 the  power  of  "the  son  of  thunder;"  and  a  per- 
 son whose  empty  profession  had  once  been 
 detected  by  Mr.  Hill,  seldom  wished  to  have 
 a  second  encounter  with  him. 
 
 It  sometimes  happened  that  very  singular 
 scenes  were  witnessed  by  the  members  of  the 
 church.  One  fact  of  this  kind  will  shew  the 
 wisdom  of  our  departed  friend.  At  the  time 
 when  he  had  completed  his  plan  for  building 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  475 
 
 almshouses  for  the  reception  of  aged  female 
 Christians,  there  was  an  alleged  revival  of  reli- 
 gion among  the  women  advanced  in  life,  some  of 
 whom  were  anxious  to  join  the  church.  On  one 
 occasion,  a  poor  female  made  her  appearance  at 
 the  church  meeting;  when  Mr.  Hill  made  his 
 usual  inquiry,  "Is  there  any  friend  present  who 
 wishes  to  be  proposed  as  a  member?"  The 
 aged  dame  rose,  and  made  an  unusually  low 
 courtesy.  The  following  dialogue  then  took 
 place. 
 
 Min.  So  you  wish  to  join  the  church  ? 
 
 Ap.  If  you  please,  Sir. 
 
 Min.  Where  have  you  been  accustomed  to 
 hear  the  gospel  ? 
 
 Ap.  At  your  blessed  chapel,  Sir. 
 
 Min.  Oh  !  indeed,  at  my  blessed  chapel,  dear 
 me !  and  how  long  have  you  attended  with  us  ? 
 
 Ap.  For  several  years. 
 
 Min.  Do  you  think  you  have  got  any  good 
 by  attending  at  chapel  ? 
 
 Ap.  Oh  !  yes,  Sir,  I  have  had  many  blessed 
 seasons. 
 
 Min.  Indeed !  under  whose  ministry  do  you 
 think  you  were  led  to  feel  yourself  to  be  a 
 sinner  ? 
 
 Ap.  Under  your  blessed  ministry. 
 
476  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Min.  Indeed !  and  do  you  think  your  heart 
 is  pretty  good  ? 
 
 Ap.  Oh  !  no  Sir,  it  is  a  very  bad  one  ! 
 
 Min.  What !  and  do  you  come  here  with 
 your  bad  heart,  and  wish  to  join  the  church  ? 
 
 Ap.  Oh !  Sir,  I  mean  that  my  heart  is  not 
 worse  than  others, — it  is  pretty  good  on  the 
 whole. 
 
 Min.  Indeed, — that's  more  than  I  can  say; 
 I'm  sure  mine's  bad  enough.  Well,  have  you 
 heard  that  we  are  going  to  build  some  blessed 
 alms-houses  ? 
 
 Ap.  Yes,  Sir,  I  have. 
 
 Min.  Should  you  like  to  have  one  of  them  ? 
 
 Ap.  Dropping  a  very  low  courtesy,  "Yes, 
 Sir,  if  you  please  !" 
 
 Min.  I  thought  so.  You  may  go  about  your 
 business,  my  friend,  you  wo'n't  do  for  us." 
 
 The  applicant  then  slowly  retired,  when  the 
 good  man  made  a  profitable  improvement  of  the 
 circumstance,  and  pointed  out  the  great  deceit- 
 fulness  of  the  human  heart. 
 
 When  all  the  business  connected  with  the 
 church  meeting  was  disposed  of,  the  pastor 
 delivered  an  affectionate  address  to  his  people, 
 which  generally  lasted  about  half  an  hour. 
 He  seldom  took  a  text,   but  indulged  in  free 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  477 
 
 conversation,  and  was  accustomed  to  press 
 home  on  his  people  the  practical  duties  of 
 religion.  During  one  winter  he  read  extracts 
 from  letters  he  had  received  from  Whitefield, 
 Berridge,  and  other  departed  friends,  who  once 
 laboured  with  him  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord. 
 This  correspondence  carried  him  back  to  his 
 early  days,  and  his  mind  was  frequently 
 kindled  up  to  a  state  of  peculiar  ardour. 
 These  were  seasons  long  to  be  remembered 
 by  his  church.  As  he  approached  the  end  of 
 his  ministry,  after  more  than  eighty  winters 
 had  passed  over  him,  it  was  an  interesting 
 scene  to  behold  the  aged  minister,  like  the 
 apostle  John,  appearing  in  the  midst  of  an 
 affectionate  and  united  people,  and,  like  that 
 apostle,  exhorting  them,  "  My  little  children, 
 love  one  another ." 
 
 If  any  fact  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
 pastor  which  cast  a  shade  over  the  character 
 of  a  member,  he  always  privately  inquired  into 
 the  affair.  If  he  was  convinced  that  the  charge 
 was  altogether  false,  he  took  no  public  notice 
 of  the  matter,  but  allowed  the  person  to  con- 
 tinue in  communion.  If,  however,  he  considered 
 that  the  charge  was  well  founded,  he  requested 
 the  person  to  deliver  back  his  communion  ticket, 
 
478  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 and  would  briefly  refer  to  the  event  at  the  next 
 meeting  of  the  church.  He  considered  that  by 
 this  plan  much  painful  matter  was  kept  from 
 the  members,  the  knowledge  of  which  could  not 
 be  productive  of  any  practical  good. 
 
 The  plans  adopted  at  Surrey  Chapel  will 
 shew  that  Mr.  Hill  did  not  sanction  an  indis- 
 criminate approach  to  the  table  of  the  Lord. 
 In  reference  to  "  those  congregations  who  suffer 
 the  avenues  of  the  Lord's  table  to  be  left  wide 
 open  to  every  intruder  who  may  venture  to 
 approach/'  he  remarks,  "  The  good  being  thus 
 kept  away  by  the  intrusion  of  the  bad,  and  for 
 want  of  a  proper  <  communion  of  saints,'  the 
 saints  naturally  resort  to  those  places  which  are 
 more  congenial  to  the  feelings  of  their  holy 
 minds.  I  believe  matters  of  fact  prove  this 
 point,  for  I  am  told  that  at  those  places  where 
 the  communion  is  thus  promiscuously  adminis- 
 tered, it  is  generally  but  ill  attended."* 
 
 *  Warning  to  Professors,  p.  66.  One  of  the  biographers 
 of  my  departed  friend  inquires,  "  Where  in  the  midst 
 of  all  the  invectives  of  the  apostle  against  the  church 
 of  Corinth,  is  there  a  single  word  to  be  found  about  with- 
 drawing from  it?"  t  If  the  Christian  is  not  to  with- 
 draw from  a  church  containing  improper  characters, 
 f  Sidney,  page  398. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  479 
 
 It  may  be  asked,  in  what  respects  the 
 opinions  of  Mr.  Hill  differed  from  his  Congre- 
 gational brethren.  The  following  extracts  will 
 give  the  needful  information  upon  this  subject. 
 p  In  regard  to  the  internal  government  of  every 
 church,"  Mr.  Hill  remarks,  "  it  must  be  con- 
 gregational ;  and  I  know  of  no  churches  but 
 what  are  so,  where  there  is  any  real  government 
 at  all,  whether  Methodist,  Moravian,  Quaker, 
 or  Presbyterian,"* 
 
 In  describing  the  Congregational  system, 
 Mr.  Hill  observes,  that  "  A  strict  Independent 
 congregation  is  a  complete  spiritual  republic. 
 All  other  republics  are  incomplete.  In  those 
 they  act  by  their  representatives ;  but  in  this, 
 youngsters  and  old  ladies  all  act  for  themselves. 
 They  neither  have,  nor  can  they  have,  rulers, 
 
 how  is  he  to  attend  to  the  exhortation,  "  Wherefore 
 come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith 
 the  Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing,  and  I 
 will  receive  you  ?"  2  Cor.  vi.  16.  But  should  we 
 still  remain  in  communion  with  such  a  church,  is  it 
 not  the  duty  of  all  its  members,  according  to  the 
 direction  of  the  apostle  respecting  the  incestuous 
 person,  "to  put  away  from  among  them  wicked 
 persons?" 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  131. 
 
480  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 overseers,  or  elders,  for  each  has  a  positive 
 right  to  rule,  to  oversee,  and  to  control  the 
 conduct  of  his  own  minister.  As  to  elders,  the 
 novice  ranks  with  them  the  moment  he  is  ad- 
 mitted. The  minister  is  the  speaker,  and  only 
 the  speaker,  in  their  spiritual  house  of  com- 
 mons"* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  did  not  agree  with  his  Congre- 
 gational brethren  as  to  the  independency  of  dif- 
 ferent churches,  and  their  system  of  ordination. 
 "  Where  is  the  separation  and  independency  of 
 the  churches  to  be  found  in  Scripture?  I  am  sure 
 not  in  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  where  we  have 
 frequent  meetings  of  the  whole  body  in  connexion. 
 They  assembled  connectedly;  they  consulted  con- 
 nectedly; and  they  acted  according  to  the  judg- 
 ment of  the  connected  body.  See  Acts  xi.  xv. 
 &c.  &c.  But  when  it  is  added,  it  was  not  a  few, 
 but  the  whole  church  that  was  consulted,  it 
 would  be  very  difficult  to  shew  how  many  were 
 consulted  among  the  multitude,  considering  the 
 many  thousands  of  them  that  then  believed,  and 
 met  at  the  same  time.  But  this  would  be 
 nothing  to  the  purpose ;  for  while  sometimes  we 
 hear  of  the  apostles  and  elders,  at  other  times 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  134. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  481 
 
 the  brethren  are  mentioned  as  part  of  the  con- 
 gregated body ;  upon  the  very  face  of  the  busi- 
 ness, this  will  never  lead  to  the  idea  of  separate 
 and  independent  communities.  And  the  word 
 "church"  itself,  in  my  opinion,  stands  more  in  the 
 way  of  common  sense  than  most  words  besides; 
 for  what  does  it,  after  all,  mean  ?  —  a  mere 
 gathering  together.  The  very  same  word  is 
 applied  to  meetings  of  heathens  and  Jews,  and 
 a  mere  mob,  as  well  as  an  assemblage  of  Chris- 
 tians. And  whether  in  larger  or  smaller  bodies, 
 thev  still  congregated;  and  a  congregation, 
 whether  small  or  great,  in  Scripture,  is  ever 
 translated  in  one  sense,  a  church.  Nothing, 
 therefore,  could  thereby  be  determined.  It  is 
 enough  to  prove  that  they  met,  consulted,  and 
 acted  together  in  those  days;  therefore  they 
 evidently  appeared  not  to  be  independent  but 
 united  j*  and  consequently  it  is  not  to  be 
 wondered  at  that  the  ordinations  of  those  days 
 
 *  "  Dr.  Owen,  while  lie  pleads  for  the  independence 
 of  churches,  as  it  is  called,  yet  strongly  urges  the 
 necessity  of  the  existence  of  a  little  presbytery,  for 
 the  internal  management  of  those  churches.  I  believe 
 a  variety  of  Christian  congregations  would  be  much 
 more  happy  among  themselves,  if,  instead  of  being 
 governed  k  by  old  men  and  maidens,  young  men  an-d 
 2   I 
 
482  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 presented  another  aspect  than  those  now  prac- 
 tised among  the  Independents ;  for  we  find  the 
 apostle  Paul  directs  Titus,  without  the  least 
 ceremony,  and  without  referring  to  the  choice 
 of  the  people,  to  ordain  elders,  overseers,  or 
 bishops,  (terms  evidently  synonymous)  in  every 
 city,  which  would  have  been  contrary  to  all 
 common  sense,  if  the  people  had  a  scriptural 
 and  exclusive  right  to  ordain  them  among  them- 
 selves by  their  mere  elective  voices ;  unless  it 
 can  be  proved  that  two  appointments  to  the 
 same  office  by  different  persons  are  better  than 
 one."* 
 
 children,  provided  they  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord/ 
 and  are  admitted  into  their  communion,  they  had 
 constructed  among  themselves  such  a  sort  of  spiritual 
 committee  for  the  mangement  of  their  church  con- 
 cerns. " — Village  Dialogues,  vol.  iii.  p.  105.  26th  ed. 
 
 *  First  Journal,  page  135,  where  there  is  a  length- 
 ened argument  on  the  subject,  and  Mr.  Hill  gives  his 
 opinion  on  the  term  deacon,  "  which/'  he  contends, 
 "  according  to  the  plain  sense  of  theBible,means  servant 
 or  minister.''  p.  147.  On  the  term  bishop  he  says,  "  Our 
 translators  of  the  Bible  being  mostly  high-churchmen, 
 supposing  that  Episcopacy  must  be  founded  upon  the 
 apostolic  office,  are  pleased  to  confer  on  the  apostolic 
 deacomhip  of  Judas  the  title  of  a  bishopric.  Acts  i.  20. 
 An  unfortunate  hit — for  we  hear  of  no  other  bishopric 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  483 
 
 "  In  what  part  of  the  word  of  God  is  this 
 new  method  of  ordination  by  the  mere  election 
 of  the  people  so  rigidly  enjoined  ?  Of  two 
 elections  only  we  are  informed  in  the  New 
 Testament,  the  one  that  of  Matthias,  the  other 
 the  election  of  the  seven  stewards  commonly 
 called  deacons ;  it  will  puzzle  the  wisest  heads 
 among  them  to  find  a  third." 
 
 "  Now  I  do  verily  believe,"  Mr,  Hill  observes, 
 "  that  the  whole  work  of  making  ministers  rests 
 with  God  alone.  And  while  one  party  affirms 
 it  is  by  the  people's  election,  and  another  by 
 the  power  of  ordination  of  presbyters  or  bishops, 
 the  Lord  will  give  his  people  to  know  that  the 
 Holy  Ghost  is  the  only  maker  of  every  spiritual 
 church  officer,  and  that  ordination  was  nothing 
 but  an  apostolic  institution,  giving  the  right 
 hand  of  fellowship  to  those  who  were  previously 
 ordained,  or  sent  of  God:  and  instead  of  sup- 
 posing that  the  people's  choice  made  the 
 minister,  the  people  should  have  nothing  to 
 do  in   choosing  the   minister  as  their    private 
 
 besides  this  solitary  one."  Ibid.  p.  146.  See  also  his 
 remarks  on  "the  elders,"  Ibid.  p.  15*2,  &c.,  whom  lie 
 considers  to  be  "  overseers,  rulers,  or  leaders."     See 
 
 also  the  38th  of  the  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  iii. 
 
484  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 pastor,  till  he  be  first  ordained  or  appointed  of 
 God ;  while  it  is  readily  admitted  that  the  pas- 
 toral charge  over  separate  bodies  must  be  kept 
 up,  and  should  in  common  sense  be  referred  to 
 the  choice  of  the  people."* 
 
 The  extracts  which  have  been  given  shew 
 that  Mr.  Hill  was  afraid  of  what  he  called  the 
 republicanism  of  the  Congregational  system. 
 He  more  especially  objected  to  that  form  of 
 church  government,  because  he  did  not  consider 
 that  sufficient  spiritual  power  rested  with  the 
 pastor.  He  thought  that  ministers  "  who  gave 
 themselves  to  the  study  of  the  word  and  to 
 prayer,"  should  be  invested  with  more  authority 
 than  the  poor  unlettered  member  of  his  church. 
 In  the  admission  and  dismission  of  members, 
 Mr.  Hill  exercised  greater  power  than  the 
 Independent  minister,  but  still  all  he  did  was 
 with  the  privity  of  the  members  of  his  church. 
 
 He  would  sometimes  humorously  remark, 
 "  that  he  did  not  love  to  be  governed  in  the 
 church  by  old  women  and  servant  girls,"  and 
 therefore  he  objected  to  the  plan  of  deciding 
 cases  which  often  affected  private  character  by 
 a  majority   of    votes.      He    feared    that   such 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  141,  142. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  485 
 
 majorities  were  sometimes  unfairly  obtained, 
 even  against  the  minister  himself,  when  an 
 influential  man  in  a  church  happened  to  be  his 
 opponent.  The  poor  and  dependent  members 
 might  be  unfairly  influenced,  and  a  bold  leader 
 might  draw  the  unreflecting  part  of  the  people 
 after  him.  Such  scenes  had  been  witnessed; 
 and  when  matters  affecting  the  minister's  income 
 or  some  nice  point  of  theology,  were  the  subjects 
 of  discussion,  he  did  not  consider  the  poor  and 
 illiterate  the  best  judges  to  be  appealed  to. 
 
 On  a  close  examination  of  the  Congregational 
 system,  there  will  not  be  found,  perhaps,  a  very 
 material  difference  between  it  and  the  plans 
 adopted  at  Surrey  Chapel.  A  wise  and  prudent 
 Independent  minister  meets  his  deacons  for  con- 
 ference on  the  business  to  be  brought  before 
 their  members,  and  prevents,  as  far  as  possible, 
 the  discussion  of  all  matters  which  may  lead  to 
 disunion.  It  is  generally  admitted  that  the 
 peace  of  a  Congregational  church  depends  much 
 on  the  conduct  of  the  leader.  The  difference, 
 then,  between  the  Con^re£rationalist  divine  and 
 the  pastor  of  Surrey  Chapel  was  this : — the  one 
 by  previous  prudent  movements  endeavours  to 
 prevent  any  cause  of  painful  collision,  and  so 
 
486  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 secures  a  majority  of  his  members'  votes, — the 
 other  brings  his  matured  plans  before  the 
 church,  and  seeks  its  concurrence,  but  does  not 
 expose  himself  to  the  painful  results  of  factious 
 opposition.  He  appeals  to  them  as  counsellors* 
 but  not  as  judges. 
 
 Although  Mr.  Hill  objected  to  indiscriminate 
 communion,  he  rejoiced  in  the  general  fellow* 
 ship  of  the  saints.  His  soul  always  appeared 
 peculiarly  animated  when  he  beheld  around 
 him  his  beloved  brethren  of  different  Christian 
 denominations.  At  the  sacramental  feast  at 
 Surrey  Chapel  there  were  frequently  present 
 the  members  of  many  different  churches.  The 
 people  of  the  Lord  from  all  parts  of  the 
 country,  when  they  came  to  London,  felt  it  a 
 privilege  to  join  in  the  communion  with  good 
 Rowland  Hill.  The  pious  Episcopalian,  the 
 conscientious  Presbyterian,  the  liberal  Baptist, 
 the  simple  -  hearted  Moravian,  the  cautious 
 Independent,  and  the  zealous  Wesleyan,  would 
 unite  around  the  same  festal  board.  It  was 
 then  that  the  church  was  "  one  fold  under  one 
 Shepherd/'  It  was  then  that  the  beauty  of  the 
 Saviour's  prayer  was  perceived,  "  That  they  all 
 may  be  one, — as  thou,  Father,  art  in  me,  and  I 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  487 
 
 in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us ;  that 
 the  world  may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me."* 
 
 On  these  occasions  it  was  pleasing  to  see  the 
 kind  manner  in  which  the  good  pastor  would 
 meet,  what  he  considered  to  be,  the  innocent 
 prejudices  of  his  Christian  brethren.  He  was 
 willing  to  give  the  elements  to  one  while  sitting 
 in  his  pew,  if  he  could  not  kneel  at  the  table, 
 or  he  would  allow  another  to  stand,  if  he 
 thought  it  to  be  a  remnant  of  superstition  to 
 kneel ;  and  it  is  said  that  he  once  humorously 
 offered  to  administer  the  sacrament  to  a  non- 
 conforming brother  in  any  mode  he  pleased, 
 provided  he  did  not  wish  to  receive  it  while 
 standing  on  his  head  !  He  was  attached  to  the 
 formularies  of  the  church  himself, — but  he  did 
 not  think  it  necessary  to  press  them  on  others 
 who  had  the  least  doubt  of  their  excellence. 
 
 Although  the  liturgical  service  was  greatly 
 
 •  "  I  have  not  the  least  doubt,"  remarks  Mr.  Hill, 
 "  that  the  primitive  Christians  were  all  one  in  Christ, 
 and  there  was  no  idea  of  a  Christian  not  heing  a  com- 
 municant in  every  church — if  but  a  Christian :  and 
 that,  consequently,  no  congregation  of  Christians 
 have  a  right  to  exclude  a  believer  from  their  commu- 
 nion, provided  his  faith  and  practice  be  consistent  with 
 the  gospel." — First  Journal,  p.  81. 
 
488  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 valued  by  Mr.  Hill, — he  considered  it  desirable 
 slightly  to  abridge  it  for  the  use  of  his  people 
 at  Surrey  Chapel.  The  communion  service 
 was  only  read  on  the  Sabbath  when  the  Lord's 
 supper  was  administered.  He  has  remarked, 
 "The  liturgy,  with  a  little  further  reform,  I 
 consider  to  be  excellent."  It  is  to  be  regretted 
 that  some  few  improvements  have  not  been 
 made,  considering  the  circumstances  connected 
 with  its  compilation.* 
 
 The  communion  service  was  frequently  re- 
 ferred to  by  Mr.  Hill,  in  his  public  ministra- 
 tions, and  it  was  often  affecting  to  hear  with 
 what  feelings  of  deep  self-abasement  he  would 
 repeat  the  following  prayer.  "  We  do  not  pre- 
 sume to  come  to  this  thy  table,  O  merciful  Lord, 
 trusting  in  our  own  righteousness,  but  in  thy 
 
 *  Dr. Wordsworth,  in  his  "EcclesiasticalBiography," 
 remarks,  in  reference  to  the  Liturgy  published  in  the 
 reign  of  Edward  the  Sixth,  "  All  the  care  imaginable 
 was  taken  to  unite  the  whole  nation  in  one  religion  ; 
 and  whatever  was  in  the  former  Liturgy,  that  might 
 exasperate  or  offend  the  Roman  Catholics,  was  taken 
 out,  by  which  compliances,  and  the  expunging  of  the 
 passages  before  remembered,  the  book  was  made  so 
 passable  among  the  Papists,  that  for  ten  years  they 
 generally  repaired  to  the  parish  churches,  without 
 doubt  or  scruple." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  489 
 
 manifold  and  great  mercies.  We  are  not 
 worthy  so  much  as  to  gather  up  the  crumbs 
 under  thy  table.  But  thou  art  the  same  Lord, 
 whose  property  is  always  to  have  mercy. 
 Grant  us,  therefore,  gracious  Lord,  so  to  eat 
 the  flesh  of  thy  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  to 
 drink  his  blood,  that  our  sinful  bodies  may  be 
 made  clean  by  his  body,  and  our  souls  washed 
 through  his  most  precious  blood,  that  we  may 
 evermore  dwell  in  him,  and  he  in  us.  Amen." 
 
 Very  often  did  he  remark,  "  that  the  clergy 
 should  have  a  little  more  elbow-room  allowed, 
 and  not  be  compelled  to  read,  on  all  occasions, 
 every  sentence  contained  in  the  prayer-book. 
 He  referred,  when  making  these  remarks,  to 
 the  passages  in  the  baptismal  and  funeral  ser- 
 vices, which  have  often  given  much  anxiety  to 
 some  pious  and  laborious  clergymen.  If  these 
 passages  could  be  more  generalized,  they  might 
 save  the  feelings  of  the  living,  while  the  state 
 of  the  dead  could  not  be  affected.  I  remember 
 once  mentioning  to  Mr.  Hill  that  a  holy,  but 
 somewhat  eccentric  clergyman,  whom  we  both 
 knew,  when  reading  the  sacramental  service,  was 
 so  excited  on  the  subject  of  the  sufferings  and 
 death  of  Christ,  that  he  paused,  and  exclaimed, 
 "  Oh !  how  these  forms  keep  down  the  soul !" 
 
490  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  There  now,"  said  Mr.  Hill,  "  why  should  not 
 that  dear  man  have  liberty  to  speak  out  what 
 he  felt?"  The  forms  are  good,  but  they  should 
 not  be  allowed,  at  all  times,  to  fetter  the  minis- 
 ter's mind."  Mr.  Hill  records  his  own  practice 
 in  the  following  sketch  of  Mr.  Lovegood : — 
 
 "  When  Mr.  Lovegood  came  to  read  in  the 
 communion  service  those  consolatory  passages 
 of  Scripture,  so  appropriate  to  the  feelings  of 
 a  contrite  mind,  "Come  unto  me,"  &c.  and 
 when  he  read,  "  This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and 
 worthy  of  all  men  to  be  received,  that  Christ 
 Jesus  came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners," 
 he  repeated  it  thrice  ;  and  for  a  short  space  he 
 stood  silent  before  them  all ;  and  while  he  was 
 thus  musing  "the  fire  kindled,  and  at  last  he 
 spake  with  his  tongue :"  My  dearest  flock,  can 
 you  doubt  for  a  moment  your  portion  in  such 
 forgiving  love  as  this,  under  the  transporting 
 view  of  the  astonishing  gTace  and  compassion 
 of  Him,  who  "saveth  to  the  uttermost  them 
 that  come  to  God  through  him."  Dear  man ! 
 will  his  ecclesiastical  rulers  be  angry  with  him 
 because  he  could  not  precisely  abide  by  the 
 prescribed  form  that  was  before  him  ?  He  kept 
 silent,  even  from  good  words,  while  it  was  pain 
 and   grief  unto   him, — till   his   heart  was   hot 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  491 
 
 within  him,  and  at  last  he  spake  with  his 
 tongue ;  he  was  weary  with  forbearing,  and  he 
 could  not  stay."* 
 
 On  communion  Sabbaths  Mr.  Hill  frequently 
 raised  the  affections  of  his  people  towards  the 
 cross,  by  his  short  but  striking  observations 
 on  the  texts  contained  in  the  sacramental  ser- 
 vice ;  and  in  the  last  sermon  he  preached,  he 
 remarked,  "  Oh  !  that  is  a  pretty  prayer  that  we 
 make  use  of  at  our  communion,  'And  here  we 
 offer  and  present  unto  thee,  O  Lord,'  (God 
 grant  that  this  may  be  our  daily  prayer,  and  not 
 on  communion  days  only,)  ■  ourselves,  our  souls 
 and  bodies;'  don't  leave  any  thing  behind,  'to 
 be  a  reasonable,  holy,  and  lively  sacrifice  unto 
 thee.' " 
 
 Although  Mr.  Hill  adopted  the  forms  of  the 
 established  church,  when  he  administered  the 
 sacrament  at  Surrey  Chapel,  yet  if  he  spent  his 
 communion  Sabbath  with  the  Independent  or 
 Presbyterian,  he  wrould  unite  with  them  in 
 their  mode  of  administration.  At  Wotton- 
 under-edge  he  pursued  the  plan  adopted  by  the 
 Congregationalists.  His  soul  loved  Christian 
 fellowship  with  all  God's  people,  and  he  was, 
 
 •  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  i.  p.  84. 
 
492  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 therefore,  strongly  opposed  to  the  exclusive 
 system  of  the  strict-communion  Baptists.  On 
 this  point  he  certainly  carried  his  feelings  of 
 opposition  too  far,  and  would  sometimes  refuse 
 all  contributions  to  their  chapel  cases. 
 
 It  was  a  happy  circumstance  that  he  could 
 unite  with  all  Christians  at  the  table  of  the 
 Lord, — but  still  it  would  have  been  well  had 
 he  believed  that  conscientious  motives  alone 
 induced  his  strict-communion  Baptist  brethren 
 to  keep  him  from  their  fellowship.  On  one 
 occasion  he  had  preached  for  a  Baptist  minister 
 on  the  ordinance  Sabbath,  and  after  the  sermon 
 took  his  seat  in  a  pew.  "  I  am  sorry,  Sir," 
 said  a  respected  deacon,  "  you  cannot  sit 
 down  at  our  table."  uAt  your  table!"  replied 
 Mr.  Hill,  "  I  thought  it  was  the  Lord's — and  I 
 know  I  should  be  welcome  there  !"  He  then  re- 
 tired from  the  place.  How  painful  must  such  a 
 circumstance  have  been  to  the  pious  officer  of 
 the  exclusive  church. 
 
 With  many  ministers  of  the  Baptist  denomi- 
 nation, who  upheld  open  communion,  he  was 
 on  terms  of  affectionate  intercourse.  On  this 
 subject  one  of  his  biographers  remarks,  "He  is 
 delighted  with  such  writers  as  Dr.  Mason,  of 
 New  York,  and  the  late  Mr.  Robert  Hall,  of 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  493 
 
 Leicester ;  because,  like  himself,  they  wrote  at 
 random  on  the  subject  of  communion,  teaching 
 men  to  make  light  of  the  commandments  of 
 God,  when  they  stand  in  the  way  of  their  unau- 
 thorized Christian  communion."* 
 
 The  sentiments  of  Mr.  Hill  on  this  subject 
 will  be  further  seen  from  the  following  letter 
 given  to  one  of  his  communicants  on  his  re- 
 moval to  Northampton,  where  he  wished  to  be 
 united  with  the  open  -  communion  Baptist 
 church. 
 
 "  May  22d,  1829. 
 "  My  dear  Friend, 
 
 "  Though  we  naturally  lament  the  loss  of 
 those  who  are  dear  to  us  in  the  Lord,  yet  we 
 rejoice  that  their  removal  from  us  is  not  a 
 removal  from  the  means  of  grace,  so  essential 
 to  our  spiritual  profit  in  the  divine  life. 
 
 "  The  Baptist  congregation  at  Northampton 
 has  at  all  times  held  a  warm  place  in  my  affec- 
 tion and  regard,  as  it  respects  their  love  to  all 
 who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  in  sincerity,  and  prove 
 the  same  by  a  holy  correspondent  life  ami 
 conversation.      In  this    sense    only   we  should 
 
 *  Life  by  Jones,  p.  163. 
 
494  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 hold  what  may  be  called  a  strict  communion 
 but  when  our  communion  with  each  other  is 
 found  inadmissible  on  account  of  our  less  im- 
 portant differences  about  the  mere  circumstan- 
 tials of  religion,  or  the  administration  of  a 
 religious  ordinance,  this  should  not  be  called 
 strict  but  sectarian  communion.  I  am  persuaded 
 our  good  liberal-minded  loving-hearted  friends 
 at  Northampton  will  not  ask  you  any  questions 
 of  such  a  minor  consideration,  but  come  at  once 
 to  the  essential  point,  whether  by  the  power 
 of  the  converting  grace  of  the  Gospel  you  have 
 passed  from  death  unto  life,  and  consequently 
 have  been  enabled  to  live  like  those  that  are 
 alive  from  the  dead ;  and  I  am  happy  to  testify 
 there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  respecting  the  con- 
 sistency of  your  conduct  while  you  continued  in 
 connexion  with  us.  With  my  hearty  love  to 
 your  minister,  Mr.  Grey,  and  all  my  kind 
 Northampton  friends,  believe  me  to  be 
 
 "  Yours  ever  affectionately, 
 
 "  Rowland  Hill." 
 Mr.  W.  Rice. 
 
 The  writer  has,  he  trusts,  faithfully  recorded 
 the  sentiments  of  his  esteemed  friend  on  several 
 important  points.  Throughout  Mr.  Hhl's 
 ministerial  course,   his  great  objection   to  the 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  495 
 
 Congregational  system  was  the  want  of  a  court 
 of  appeal  in  the  event  of  disputes  happening  in 
 particular  churches.  Although  such  an  appeal 
 is  not  considered  necessary  by  Congregation- 
 alists,  yet  practically  it  has  been  felt  to  be 
 sometimes  desirable.  Hence,  whilst  India  has 
 received  her  Episcopal  bishops,  the  churches  in 
 Africa  have  received  bishop  Philip,  under  the 
 modern  but  modest  name  of  Superintendent  of 
 the  Missions. 
 
 "  I  own  I  am  disposed  to  think,"  remarks 
 Dr.  Pye  Smith,*  "  that  the  most  perfect  church 
 polity  would  be  the  union  of  a  convenient 
 number  of  Independent  churches  within  a  circle 
 of  two  or  three  miles  into  an  effectively  bene- 
 ficial association,  yet  each  having  its  own  pastor 
 or  bishop,  and  also  possessing  a  general  super- 
 intendent, as  do  the  Lutherans  and  our  Wesleyan 
 brethren.  This  would  little,  if  at  all,  differ 
 from  the  great  and  good  Archbishop  Usher's, 
 or  Mr.  Baxter's  plans  of  a  reduced  or  reformed 
 Episcopacy.  Thus  it  might  be  hoped  that  we 
 should  enjoy  the  benefits  of  each  of  the  three 
 politics ;  the  Congregational  for  the  sound  basis; 
 the    Presbyterian   for   consolidation,    extended 
 
 *  Sermon  on  Temper  to  be  cultivated,  &c.  p.  5G. 
 
406  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 communication,  and  active  efforts  in  spreading 
 the  kingdom  of  Christ;*  and  the  Episcopal,  for 
 promoting  unity  of  character,  and  well  organ- 
 ized and  directed  action  in  our  endeavours  to 
 "  shine  as  lights  in  the  world,  holding  forth 
 the  word  of  life."  This  plan  appears  to  ap- 
 proach very  near  to  the  views  entertained  by 
 Mr.  Hill.  Many  years  since,  it  is  under- 
 stood that  he  was  anxious  to  unite  Surrey 
 Chapel  with  several  other  places  of  religious 
 worship  in  London,  for  the  purpose  of  attaining 
 objects  similar  to  those  pointed  out  in  this 
 extract,  but  failed  in  accomplishing  his  wishes. 
 
 *  "  The  absolute  need  of  a  combination  of  ministers 
 and  churches  seems  now  to  be  generally  felt,  and  to 
 a  certain  degree  acted  upon  by  almost  every  respect- 
 able body  of  Christians,  whatever  name  they  assume; 
 for  what  can  an  insulated  congregation  or  individual 
 do,  in  extending  the  empire  of  Christianity?  The 
 valuable  combination  of  godly  men  in  the  Church 
 Missionary  Society,  although  of  the  Episcopal  church, 
 may  be  adduced  as  an  example;  and  all  these  combi- 
 nations for  educating,  and  approving,  and  sending 
 forth  missionaries  to  the  heathen,  and  superintending 
 their  conduct  in  foreign  countries,  are  of  a  similar 
 character.  These  all  partake  of  the  essential  traits 
 of  Presbyterian  combination,  so  far  as  concerns  the 
 individual    missionaries    employed,    and    the    grand 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  497 
 
 Mr.  HilPs  opinions  having  been  given,  the 
 reader  will  discover  that  he  was  an  Episcopalian 
 in  sentiment,  but  in  practice  he  approached  to 
 Presbyterianism.  The  fact  was,  that  being 
 unable  to  remain  in  the  Established  Church, 
 and  having  failed  in  his  efforts  to  unite  other 
 dissenting  booties  with  Surrey  Chapel,  he  adopted 
 a  system  which  he  considered  to  be  scriptural, 
 and  calculated  to  promote  the  peace  of  his  peo- 
 ple,— and  it  appears  to  have  worked  well  under 
 his  administration. 
 
 object  of  evangelizing  the  heathen.  The  Church 
 Missionary  Society  is  not  under  the  government  of 
 diocesan  bishops,  but  under  that  of  a  voluntary 
 Society  of  associated  brethren,  who  are  all  equal  in 
 power;  and  the  other  societies  are  all  a  virtual 
 acknowledgment  that  the  Congregational  system 
 must  be  converted  into  mutual  association  in  the 
 accomplishment  of  any  grand  and  extensive  enter- 
 prise."    Dr.  Stewart  on  Presbyterian  Eldership,  p.  5. 
 
 2k 
 
498  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 CHAR  XII. 
 
 MR.  HILL'S  LIBERAL  VIEWS  AS  TO  DIFFERENT 
 SECTIONS  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  CHRIST. 
 
 Censures  on  mr.  hill — church  government  among  secondary 
 things — extract  from  "dissent  not  schism" — liberality  of 
 mr.  hill,  without  being  indifferent  to  essential  truth — 
 thb  churchman  and  dissenter  in  prayer— conversation  on 
 
 attending  evangelical    preaching interesting  anecdote 
 
 of  dr.  gilbee — outward  forms  insufficient  to  save  the  soul 
 — the  character  of  a  good  minister — remarks  on  mr.  wes- 
 ley— extract  from  record  newspaper — the  opinions  of  thb 
 rev.  henry  venn,  and  the  rev.  david  simpson,  on  hearing  thb 
 gospel — the  rev.  mr.  moorhouse,  of  huddersfield — original 
 letter  —  saints*  days — the  socinian's  remark  —  the  lanca- 
 shire woman— the  minister's  apology — remarks  on  special 
 days  fixed  by  the  church. 
 
 The  subject  of  this  memoir  has  been  severely 
 censured,  by  some,  for  his  partial  wanderings 
 from  the  episcopal  church;  but  by  others  he 
 has  been  condemned  for  not  completely  em- 
 bracing the  principles  of  nonconformity.  His 
 esteemed  friend,  Mr.  Sidney,  gently  chastises 
 his  beloved  relative,  by  his  strictures  on  an- 
 other clergyman.  "  Mr.  Venn,"  he  observes, 
 "in   occupying   Surrey   Chapel   pulpit,   forgot 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  4<)9 
 
 the  observance  of  ecclesiastical  discipline  and 
 order;  it  was  an  act  of  irregularity,  contrary 
 to  canonical  rules,  and  therefore  not  advisable 
 even  in  those  days."* 
 
 The  other  biographer  speaks  of  "Mr.  Hill's 
 glaring  inconsistency,  in  trimming  between  the 
 conformists  and  nonconformists,  which  he  states 
 can  only  be  resolved  into  his  total  unacquaint- 
 edness  with  the  nature,  constitution,  laws,  and 
 discipline  of  the  churches  of  Christ,  as  laid 
 down  in  the  New  Testament."* 
 
 Now,  though  the  Scotch  Baptist  biographer 
 of  Mr.  Hill  can  see  so  clearly  his  own  views  in 
 every  page  of  the  New  Testament,  yet  there 
 are  men  of  equal  authority,  who,  in  the  exercise 
 of  a  becoming  candour,  will  admit  the  modest 
 pretensions  of  some  who  may  happen  to  differ 
 from  them. 
 
 H  We  believe,"  remarks  an  eloquent  writer, 
 "that  God  has  placed  church  government 
 among  secondary  things,  and  that,  therefore, 
 for  persons  really  to  be  separated  from  the 
 church  of  Christ,  they  must  deny  and  dissent 
 from  fundamental  truth,  and  not  merely  err  in 
 subordinate   points   of  faith,   or   in   matters   of 
 
 *  See  Sidney's  Life,  p.  158.         f  Jones's  Life,  p.  38, 
 
500  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 ecclesiastical  order.  Admitting,  for  the  sake 
 of  argument,  that  episcopacy  is  right,  this 
 would  not  prove  that  all  other  forms  are  funda- 
 mentally wrong — so  wrong,  that,  however  their 
 advocates  might  embrace  the  verities  of  the 
 Gospel,  they  could  not  be  saved.  The  whole 
 spirit  of  the  New  Testament  is  opposed  to  this 
 proud  and  uncharitable  exclusiveness.  It 
 places  individual  safety  in  "  repentance  towards 
 God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,"  and 
 it  exhibits  the  oneness  of  believers,  as  consist- 
 ing in  this  spiritual  fellowship  with  their  Head, 
 and  with  each  other.  With  respect  to  all  that 
 is  external  and  circumstantial  and  secondary  in 
 our  religion,  there  is,  if  I  may  so  speak,  the 
 incessant  display  of  a  noble  indifference,  be- 
 cause there  is  always  the  spirit  of  a  sublime  and 
 generous  catholicity."* 
 
 "The  three  great  forms  of  church  govern- 
 ment^ episcopacy,  presbyterianisra,  and  Congre- 
 gationalism^ when  brought  honestly  and  impar- 
 tially to  the  test  of  Scripture,  are  all  right  and 
 all  wrong, — though  right  and  wrong  in  dif- 
 ferent degrees.  There  is  something  in  the 
 record  in  favour  of  all,  but  the  book  is  not  the 
 
 *  Dissent  not  Schism,  p.  63. 
 
REV,  ROWLAND  HILL.  501 
 
 exclusive  property  of  any.  There  is  more, 
 perhaps,  in  support  of  each  system,  than  the 
 thorough-going  advocates  of  the  others  will 
 admit.  There  is  more  of  episcopacy  than  is 
 quite  palatable  to  the  Presbyterian  and  the 
 Independent;  there  is  more  of  Presbyterianism, 
 than  the  Episcopalian  can  easily  digest;  and 
 there  is  more  of  Congregationalism  than  either 
 the  priest  or  the  presbyter  can  manage  to  get 
 rid  of;  while,  therefore,  I  have  my  personal 
 convictions  of  what,  in  my  view,  is  most 
 accordant  with  primitive  usage,  most  agreeable 
 to  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel,  and  adapted  to 
 universality,  yet  I  believe  that  all  the  systems, 
 if  worked  by  spiritual  men,  and  for  spiritual 
 purposes,  will  be  acceptable  to  God,  their 
 societies,  churches^  and  their  advocates,  "  heirs 
 together  of  the  grace  of  life."  Each  "  holding 
 the  Head,"  and  striving  "in  godly  sincerity"  to 
 serve  him,  and,  while  seeking  to  do  so  in  that 
 mode  believed  to  be  best,  looking  out  with  an 
 eye  of  delight,  and  a  heart  of  affection,  on  those 
 who,  in  their  way,  are  trying  to  do  the  same, — 
 cultivating  intercourse  and  communion  with 
 them, — and  constantly  saying,  in  their  saluta- 
 tions and  their  prayers,  "  Grace  be  with  all 
 them  that  love  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  sin- 
 
502  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 cerity;"  such  men,  whoever  they  might  be,  and 
 such  societies,  whatever  was  their  form,  would 
 have  nothing  about  them  of  a  schism,  or  a 
 sect."* 
 
 These  enlightened  sentiments  harmonize 
 with  the  views  of  Mr.  Hill  which  have  been 
 given  in  a  former  part  of  this  memoir.  He 
 was  able  most  conscientiously  to  hold  affec- 
 tionate fellowship  with  the  people  of  God, 
 wherever  he  found  them.  He,  therefore, 
 remarks,  "I  feel  it  would  be  my  privilege  to 
 hold  Christian  communion  with  every  Pro- 
 testant church  upon  earth.  Were  I  in  Ger- 
 many, it  never  would  be  a  question  with  me, 
 "Are  you  Lutherans  or  Calvinists,  —  but  are 
 you  Christians?  Nor  would  it  distract  my 
 brains,  or  concern  me,  if  their  modes  and  forms 
 did  not  altogether  suit  my  judgment  or  taste ; 
 and  were  I  to  attempt  the  reformation  of  such 
 matters  at  the  expense  of  peace,  I  should  do 
 abundantly  more  harm  than  good  by  it.  I  wish 
 people  would  act  more  according  to  that  excel- 
 lent prayer  in  our  church  liturgy,  that  we  may 
 be  "kept  in  the  unity  of  the  Spirit,  in  the  bond 
 of  peace,  and  in  righteousness  of  life."f 
 
 *  Dissent  not  Schism,  p.  70. 
 
 |  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  iii.  p.  107, 26th  ed. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  503 
 
 "Nothing,"  he  remarks,  "but  a  small  line 
 of  demarcation  separates  some  religions — 
 a  little  river  separates  the  Presbyterian  church 
 from  the  Church  of  England.  At  this  side  of 
 the  Tweed  I  am  a  Church  of  England  man, — 
 on  the  other  side  I  am  a  Presbyterian ;  a  little 
 step  across  a  stream  of  water  makes  the  whole 
 difference  with  me."* 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  not  indifferent  to  Christian 
 principle ;  but  he  considered  truth  far  more 
 important  than  the  peculiarities  of  any  system. 
 
 "  There  are  essential  truths,"  said  he,  "  by 
 which  we  must  abide ;  but  if  you  saw  a  good 
 churchman  and  a  good  dissenter  upon  their 
 knees,  you  would  not  be  able  to  find  out  which 
 was  which.  If  you  would  close  your  eyes 
 against  something  that  you  saw  in  the  place, 
 and  not  close  your  ears  against  the  prayers  that 
 were  offered  up,  you  would  not  be  able  to  tell 
 whether  it  was  a  churchman  or  a  dissenter  that 
 was  engaged  in  that  solemn  duty."t 
 
 Mr.  Hill  could  preach  without  his  gown  in 
 a  dissenting  pulpit,  or  appear  in  the  knotted 
 cloak    and    long    bands    of    his    Presbyterian 
 
 *  British  and  Foreign  School  Society  Meeting,  1827, 
 t  Meeting  of  the  Missionary  Society,  1830. 
 
504  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 brother.  In  these  respects  he  could  truly 
 "become  all  things  to  all  men,  that  he  might 
 win  some." 
 
 In  the  course  of  frequent  interviews  between 
 the  writer  and  Mr.  Hill,  many  of  his  opinions 
 were  elicited ;  the  conversation  once  turned 
 upon  the  advice  frequently  given  by  clergy- 
 men to  their  people,  to  continue  their  attend- 
 ance at  church,  though  evangelical  doctrines 
 should  not  be  preached.  The  good  man,  with 
 peculiar  energy,  exclaimed,  "  Sir,  if  I  should 
 not  be  permitted  to  speak  to  my  dear  people 
 again,  tell  them,  that  if  the  Socinian,  or  Anti- 
 nomian,  should  ever  gain  possession  of  the 
 Surrey  Chapel  pulpit — or  any  other  errors 
 should  be  preached  in  it — that  they  have  my 
 authority  to  run  away  from  the  place  as  hard  as 
 they  are  able ;  for  it  is  the  Gospel  they  must 
 hear."  On  inquiring  whether  he  had  been 
 personally  acquainted  with  the,  late  Dr.  Gilbee, 
 he  replied,  "  Oh  !  yes ;  I  knew  him  very  well ; 
 but  what  do  you  know  about  him?"  I  told 
 him  that  a  friend  once  asked  the  Doctor  his 
 advice  upon  this  subject.  "The  Gospel  has  left 
 our  parish  church, — where  am  I  to  go?"  "As  a 
 churchman,"  said  Dr.  G— — ,  "hear  the  truth  in 
 the  establishment  if  you  can ;  but  if  you  cannot 
 
REV,   ROWLAND  HILL.  505 
 
 find  it  there,  go  to  the  meeting-house;  if  it  is  not 
 there,  and  you  hear  that  it  is  to  be  found  at  the 
 bottom  of  a  coal-pit  twenty  miles  from  your 
 residence, — go  there,  Sir:  you  must  hear  the 
 Gospel;' 
 
 Mr.  Hill  was  remarkably  attentive  to  this 
 fact,  and  when  I  paused,  I  saw  the  tear  starting 
 from  his  eye.  "  Oh,"  said  he  "  that  was  just 
 like  Dr.  Gilbee.  He  preached  at  St.  Bride's 
 Church  several  years  since,  for  the  Missionary 
 Society.  His  text  was,  c  Other  sheep  I  have, 
 which  are  not  of  this  fold,  them  also  must  I 
 bring,  and  they  shall  hear  my  voice,  and  there 
 shall  be  one  fold,  and  one  Shepherd.'  I  shall 
 never  forget  that  sermon.  I  stood  near  the 
 pulpit  door,  —  and  had  much  difficulty  in 
 restraining  my  feelings  ;  and  when  I  found  the 
 preacher  was  about  to  conclude,  I  thought,  how 
 I  should  like  to  call  out,  '  Go  on,  Dr.  Gilbee; 
 let  us  have  a  little  more  of  this  good  stuff, 
 before  you  finish.'  At  the  close  of  the  service 
 I  went  into  the  vestry  to  see  the  good  man. 
 I  said  to  him,  '  Dear  Dr.  Gilbee,  will  you  per- 
 mit a  poor  old  unworthy  servant  of  your  Divine 
 Master,  to  thank  you  for  your  good  sermon.' 
 'Come  in,  dear  Mr.  Hill,'  said  he,  'I  am 
 happy  to  see  you.      I  once  wandered  into  your 
 
506  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 chapel — the  music  charmed  me — and  there  it 
 was  I  felt  the  power  of  the  truth/  'Judge/ 
 said  Mr.  Hill,  '  what  my  feelings  were  !'  He 
 added,  '  Now  you  know  Dr.  Gilbee's  spiritual 
 papa,  you  do  not  wonder  at  the  advice  he  gave. 
 He  was  a  chip  of  the  old  block,  Sir.'  *'* 
 
 In  one  of  Mr.  Hill's  publications  he  gives  the 
 like  opinion :  "  Some  have  said,  that  if  we  have 
 not  the  Gospel  in  the  pulpit,  we  are  sure  to 
 have  it  in  the  reading-desk,  and  that  therefore 
 we  ought  to  wait.  But  how  few,  if  any,  were 
 ever  known  to  be  converted  to  God  by  the  mere 
 reading  of  the  church  prayers ;  and  how  disgust- 
 ing also  to  hear  such  excellent  prayers  read  by 
 improper  men !  how  much  is  it  less  than  blas- 
 phemy and  hypocrisy  conjoined  ?  Well  may  it 
 be  said  by  the  prophet,  '  Who  hath  required 
 this  at  your  hands,  thus  to  tread  his  courts?'" 
 
 *  Dr.  Gilbee  was  eighteen  years  rector  of  Barby, 
 in  Northamptonshire.  He  preached  for  the  London 
 Missionary  Society,  at  St.  Bride's  Church,  in  May, 
 1812,  and  died  on  the  3rd  of  October,  1813,  in  his 
 fiftieth  year.  It  appears  that  his  mind  was  deeply 
 affected  by  hearing  sung,  "  Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul/'  &c. 
 How  frequently  a  solemn  hymn  has  prepared  the 
 mind  of  a  sinner  for  the  reception  of  the  Gospel  J 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  507 
 
 In  the  Apology  for  Sunday- Schools,  Mr.  Hill, 
 when  speaking  of  the  attendance  of  the  children 
 at  different  places  of  worship,  remarks,  "  If  they 
 meet  with  a  bad  minister  in  a  meeting,  they 
 may  seek  for  a  good  one  in  a  church ;  and  if  a 
 bad  preacher  be  found  in  a  church,  they,  on  the 
 other  hand,  may  seek  for  a  good  one  in  the 
 meeting.  It  is  fit  that  the  best  ministers 
 should  be  best  attended ;  and  as  for  bad  ones, 
 it  matters  not  how  much  they  are  neglected." 
 
 In  the  Village  Dialogues  we  find  the  follow- 
 ing sentiments  on  the  same  subject:  "  Who  can 
 bear  the  thought,  that  a  set  of  ruined  sinners 
 should  have  their  eyes  and  hopes  turned  from 
 God,  to  seek  for  salvation  in  the  mere  outward 
 forms  of  their  different  churches  ?"* 
 
 The  deep  importance  which  Mr.  Hill  attached 
 to  the  duty  of  a  Christian  to  attend  only  upon 
 an  evangelical  ministry,  will  be  seen  by  the 
 following  extracts  from  his  works. 
 
 u  That  is  the  best  minister  who  lives  best, 
 and  does  the  most  good ;  mere  outward  parties 
 are  of  little  or  no  consideration  whatever. 
 If  people  have  a  bad  minister  in  the  church, 
 it  is  a  mercy  that  they  may  provide  themselves 
 with  a  good  minister  in  a  meeting-house,  or 
 *  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  iii.  p.  91. 
 
508  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 wherever  else  they  are  permitted  to  assemble: 
 when  bad  men  are  suffered  to  fill  a  good  office, 
 it  is  only  the  more  injurious  to  the  cause : 
 good  men  should  be  equally  respected,  however 
 denominated,  who  fill  up  their  stations  to  the 
 glory  of  God,  and  for  the  good  of  souls."  * 
 
 "  Let  the  regular  ministers  of  the  Established 
 Church  be  as  lovely  in  their  behaviour,  and  as 
 respectable  in  their  conduct  as  they  should  be, 
 while  they  fill  a  station  so  honourable  and 
 respectable  in  itself,  and  it  will  soon  appear 
 what  love  and  respect  they  will  universally 
 command.  But  if  people  are  expected  to  adore 
 every  thing  that  is  cloaked  in  a  cassock,  how- 
 ever ignorant,  profligate,  or  profane,  the  idoliza- 
 tion of  such  a  priesthood  is  not  only  abominable 
 in  itself,  but  will  be  the  utter  destruction  of  all 
 morality  in  the  land."f 
 
 In  his  answer  to  some  of  Mr.  Wesley's 
 remarks,  Mr.  Hill  appeals  to  his  people  at 
 large,  whether  he  does  not  treat  them  as  the 
 meanest  dupes,  in  commanding  them  to  go  no- 
 where but  to  their  parish  churches,  let  the 
 minister  be  ever  so  erroneous  in  his  principles ; 
 
 *  Religious  Freedom,  p.  45. 
 
 t  Investigation    on     Parochial    Assessments    of 
 Chapels,  p.  40. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  509 
 
 and  in  proudly  forbidding  them  to  attend  upon 
 the  ministry  of  any  besides,  excepting  his  own 
 and  such  as  receive  their  commission  from  him. 
 He  says,  "If  the  clergy  are  stra?igers  to  God, 
 what  says  the  Lord  Jesus, — 'My  sheep  hear  my 
 voice,  and  a  stranger  they  wtill  not  follow/ 
 But  Mr.  John  Wesley  gives  an  absolute  command 
 to  all  Christ's  sheep,  whether  real  or  supposed, 
 in  his  connexion,  to  follow  strangers."* 
 
 If  Mr.  Hill  considered  it  the  solemn  duty  of 
 a  pious  churchman  to  hear  the  Gospel  wherever 
 he  could  find  it,  the  true  catholicity  of  his  mind 
 is  seen  from  the  fact,  that  he  gave  the  dis- 
 senter the  very  same  advice.  In  the  Village 
 Dialogues  he  says,  "  It  is  better  to  follow  the 
 Gospel  than  a  party/'f  And  then  Mr.  Traffic 
 adds,  "  So  we  have  left  the  meeting,  and  do  not 
 mean  to  go  there  again,  unless  we  should  have 
 the  same  Gospel  preached  there  as  once  was 
 when  old  Mr.  Trueman  was  the  minister,  in 
 my  grandfather's  time." 
 
 "  Can  he,"  Mr.  Hill  feelingly  inquired,  "  that 
 is  a  godly  preacher,  wish  us  for  a  moment  to 
 leave  the  care  of    our  immortal  souls   in   the 
 
 *  Answer  to  Wesley,  p.  36,  37. 
 
 f  Village  Dialogues,  Vol.  i.  p.  180.  See  also  Vol.  ii. 
 p.  103.  26th  ed. 
 
510  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 hands  of  one  that  never  had  a  thought  of  taking 
 the  least  care  of  his  own?  It  never  yet  was 
 known  that  God  gave  signal  tokens  of  his  divine 
 favour  but  where  the  Gospel  is  faithfully  and 
 affectionately  preached  and  applied  to  the  souls 
 of  men."  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Mr. 
 HilFs  advice  to  a  pious  churchman  would  have 
 been,  "  keep  as  near  the  church,  as  it  regards 
 her  doctrines  and  liturgy,  as  circumstances  will 
 allow;  but  you  must  statedly  hear  the  glorious 
 Gospel  of  the  blessed  God  faithfully  and  con- 
 stantly preached."  # 
 
 The  opinions  of  several  excellent  clergymen, 
 whose  labours  were  eminently  blessed,  fully 
 harmonize  with  Mr.  Hill's  on  the  important 
 point  which  has  now  been  fully  stated.  His 
 much-valued  friend,  the  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  the 
 vicar  of  Huddersfield,  and  his  old  college  com- 
 
 *  The  following  inquiries  appeared  in  the  Record 
 Newspaper,  for  July  22,  1830  : — 
 
 "  1.  Is  not  preaching  the  Gospel  the  great  ordinance 
 of  the  divine  Redeemer?  He  said,  'Preach  the  Gospel 
 to  every  creature/  and  (  Lo !  I  am  with  you  alway, 
 even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.'  Am  I  justified  in 
 concluding  that  forms  of  prayer,  however  scriptural, 
 and  the  reading  of  the  holy  word,  is  an  acceptable 
 substitute   for  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  ?   and  may 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  511 
 
 panion,  David  Simpson  of  Macclesfield,  were 
 among  the  number. 
 
 After  Mr.  Venn  left  Huddersfield,  remarks 
 his  biographer,  the  people  who  had  profited  by 
 his  preaching  were  repelled  from  the  parish 
 church  by  discourses  which  formed  a  marked 
 contrast  to  those  they  had  lately  heard  within 
 the  same  walls ;  so  that  they  were  dispersed 
 in  various  directions ;  some  to  neighbouring 
 churches,  some  to  dissenting  chapels.     Several 
 
 I,  without  the  faithful  preaching  of  the  word,  expect 
 the  fulfilment  of  the  promise  of  the  Lord's  presence  in 
 his  sanctuary? 
 
 "  2.  Is  it  not  my  duty  to  teach  my  children  to  at- 
 tend only  where  the  Gospel  is  evangelically  preached  ? 
 If  they  attend  an  unenlightened  minister,  whose  in- 
 structions are  contrary  to  the  word  of  God,  what 
 course  am  I  to  pursue  ?  Am  I,  at  the  close  of  every 
 sermon,  to  intreat  them  not  to  follow  the  advice  of  their 
 minister  ;  or  how  am  I  to  act,  so  as  to  discharge  my 
 solemn  duty  as  a  parent,  and  yet  to  uphold  the  im- 
 portance of  the  ministerial  office  ? 
 
 u  3.  Am  I  not,  as  a  Christian,  responsible  for  my 
 example  ?  Am  I  not  to  be  '  a  light  in  the  world  ;'  '  a 
 city  set  upon  a  hill?'  If  so,  am  I  entirely  clear  from 
 the  blood  of  those  who  perish  under  an  unfaithful 
 minister,  when  I  have  sanctioned  that  minister  by  my 
 constant  attendance  upon  him?  Suppose  I  am  called 
 to  visit  a  dying  man.     I  find  he  has  built  upon  the 
 
512  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 of  them  at  length  determined  upon  building  a 
 chapel, #  in  the  hope  that  they  might  be  united 
 together  in  one  body,  under  a  pastor  of  their 
 own  choice.  Mr.  Venn  gave  his  sanction  and 
 assistance  to  this  plan,  and  advised  the  people 
 to  attend  the  chapel  after  it  was  built."  f  He 
 also   printed  an  affectionate  pastoral  letter  to 
 
 wrong  foundation.  I  tell  him  my  fears  :  he  is  sur- 
 prised at  the  intelligence  he  receives  from  me,  and 
 remarks,  '  We  have  both  attended  the  same  minister. 
 I  thought  you  were  rig-ht.  I  believed  in  the  doctrines 
 of  our  guide  ;  am  I  wrong  ?'  and  before  I  can  give  him 
 correct  information  he  expires.  Am  I  not  responsible 
 for  my  example  under  these  circumstances  ? 
 
 "  I  have  from  my  earliest  youth  had  a  solemn  reve- 
 rence for  the  ministerial  office;  but  I  feel  perplexed 
 when  I  endeavour  to  separate  the  office  from  the  man 
 who  fills  it,  and  particularly  when  I  read  the  language 
 of  the  holy  Apostle  St.  Paul,  *  Though  we,  or  an  angel 
 from  heaven,  preach  any  other  Gospel  unto  you  than 
 that  which  we  have  preached  unto  you,  let  him  be 
 accursed.'  Upon  which  Mr.  Scott,  in  his  excellent 
 Commentary,  remarks,  '  Let  us  for  ourselves  keep  at 
 the  utmost  distance  from  the  terrible  anathema,  and 
 caution  all  men  against  those  who  thus  (  pervert  the 
 Gospel  of  Christ.' » 
 
 *  Highfleld  Chapel,  long  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
 the  venerable  Mr.  Moorhouse,  and  subsequently  of  the 
 late  Dr.  Boothroyd. 
 
 f  Life  of  Rev.  Henry  Venn,  p.  174. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  513 
 
 the  people,  dated  the  very  week  that  the  chapel 
 was  opened ;  and,  with  a  liberality  very  uncom- 
 mon, most  cordially  recommended  the  late  Mr. 
 Moorhouse  as  their  minister,  in  which  office  he 
 continued  among  them  above  fifty  years,  with 
 great  acceptance  and  success.* 
 
 When  the  Rev.  David  Simpson  was  leaving 
 Buckingham,  a  parishioner  to  whose  conversion 
 his  ministry  had  been  instrumental,  fearing  that 
 his  successor's  sentiments  were  very  different, 
 asked  his  advice.  Mr.  Simpson,  keeping  in  view 
 the  inspired  direction,  "  Take  heed  what  ye 
 hear,"  and  the  meeting-house  supplying  the  in- 
 struction the  church  wanted,  said,  without  hesi- 
 tation, "Join  the  Dissenters. "f 
 
 The  following  letter  from  Mr.  Hill  to  a  mi- 
 nisterial brother,  who  had  erected  a  chapel  in  a 
 parish,  where  the  people  had  long  been  in  dark- 
 ness, but  in  which  a  new  episcopal  church  had 
 been  erected,  will  profitably  close  these  remarks. 
 
 "London,  May  9,  1822. 
 "  My  dear  Sir, 
 "  If  a  church  is  built  near  the  standard  you 
 have  fixed  for  the  Gospel,  and  the  Gospel  is  still 
 •  See  Evangelical  Register  for  August,  1836.  p.  289. 
 t  Life  of  Simpson,  by  Sir  J.B.  Williams,  p.  58. 
 2L 
 
514  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 kept  out  of  the  pulpit,  the  people  will  soon  be 
 tired  of  the  poor  thin  morality  of  the  day ;  and 
 if  the  Gospel  should  be  preached,  it  will  only 
 add  strength  to  the  sacred  cause.  Where  the 
 carcase  is,  there  the  eagles  will  be  gathered  to- 
 gether. If  the  Lord  is  pleased  to  fill  your  soul 
 with  much  of  the  power  of  his  divine  Spirit, 
 that  will  give  an  unction  and  richness  to  the 
 words  that  drop  from  your  lips,  which  will,  by 
 the  Divine  blessing,  take  it  home  to  the  hearts  of 
 the  hearers,  and  give  you  a  congregation  which 
 will  prove  your  consolation  and  your  support. 
 
 "  May  we  all  feel  how  much  we  need  of  God 
 in  the  sacred  work,  and  then  we  shall  deal  more 
 with  him  that  we  may  be  enabled  to  deal  better 
 with  the  people.  They  who  deal  in  the  false 
 commerce  of  unfelt  truth,  generally  have  their 
 labour  for  their  pains. 
 
 "  That  the  Lord  may  give  you  souls  for  your 
 hire,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of 
 
 "  Your's,  for  Christ's  sake, 
 
 "  Rowland  Hill." 
 
 The  seasons  set  apart  by  the  Established 
 Church  in  commemoration  of  the  leading  events 
 connected  with  the  birth,  death,  resurrection, 
 and  ascension   of   the  great    Redeemer,   were 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  515 
 
 always  high  seasons  of  spiritual  enjoyment  to 
 Mr.  Hill.  He  considered  that  the  Reformers 
 had  shown  great  wisdom  in  retaining  those  days, 
 but  he  had  no  superstitious  veneration  for  them.* 
 He  always  considered  them  to  be  times  of  man's 
 appointment,  and  the  observance  of  them  not 
 binding  upon  the  conscience.  In  his  opinion,  it 
 was  important  that  the  great  events  connected 
 with  the  work  of  redemption  should  be  specially 
 brought  before  the  church  on  fixed  occasions, 
 and  not  left  to  the  ordinary  discussions  of  the 
 pulpit.  Can  there  be  any  special  difficulty  in 
 the  way  of  such  a  plan  being  universally  adopted 
 by  the  churches  ?  There  might  be  special  ser- 
 vices, without  connecting  particular  days  with 
 these  services.  "  Every  day,"  Mr.  Hill  remarked, 
 "  ought  to  be  a  Christmas-day  with  a  Christian ;" 
 and  no  day  can  be  improper  for  the  special  con- 
 sideration of  subjects  so  sacred  and  so  essentially 
 important. 
 
 In  the  last  sermon  preached  by  Mr,  Hill,  he 
 says,  "  There  is  no  more  superstition  in  our 
 commemorating  the  death  of  Christ,  the  resur- 
 rection of  Christ,  the  ascension  of  Christ,  and 
 the  descent  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  than  there  is 
 m  our  Government  sometimes  setting  apart 
 *  See  Vil.  Dialog,  vol.  iii.  page  73. 
 
516  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 days  of  humiliation  or  thanksgiving,  and  ap- 
 pointing a  form  of  prayer  to  be  read  thereon. 
 None  of  these  things  are  bad,  unless  they  are 
 made  bad.  For  my  part,  I  love  the  recurrence 
 of  these  days.  It  is  a  pleasure  to  think  that 
 there  are  times  in  which  our  minds  are  most 
 solemnly  called  to  meditate  upon  the  spiritual 
 blessings  we  enjoy."* 
 
 Perhaps  some  Christian  brethren,  in  their 
 zeal  to  depart  from  what  they  considered  to  be 
 error,  have  gone  to  extremes,  and  have  given 
 up  those  practices  of  the  church  which  might 
 be  attended  to  with  considerable  benefit  to  their 
 hearers.  It  was  a  pleasing  sight  to  see  Mr. 
 Hill  enter  the  pulpit  on  a  Christmas  morning 
 when  his  mind  was  in  a  happy  peaceful  state. 
 The  notes  of  the  organ  announced  the  Christ- 
 mas hymn,  and  the  congregation  were  heard 
 repeating 
 
 u  Hark  !  the  herald  angels  sing 
 Glory  to  the  new-born  King. 
 Peace  on  earth,  and  mercy  mild  : 
 God  and  sinners  reconciled." 
 
 The  prayer  was  generally  the  language  of  gra- 
 titude for  God's  "  unspeakable  Gift,"  and  his 
 sermon  an  illustration  of  the  truth,  "  God  was 
 *  Rev.  R. Hill's  Last  Sermon,  page  40. 
 
REV.    ROWLAND    HILL.  517 
 
 manifest  in  the  flesh."  On  Christmas  day, 
 Good  Friday,  Easter  and  Ascension  Sundays, 
 he  was  accustomed  to  attack  the  Socinian  heresy. 
 His  remarks  were  simple  and  scriptural.  There 
 was  a  little  anecdote  he  was  fond  of  mentioning 
 on  these  occasions,  and  which  was  often  re- 
 peated when  the  memory  of  the  pastor  began 
 to  fail.  "I  was  preaching  once  at  Exeter, 
 when  I  made  some  free  observations  on  the 
 Socinian  controversy.  The  minister,  of  that 
 denomination,  was  present.  I  was  told  that 
 when  he  left  the  chapel  he  remarked,  "  Poor 
 old  man,  his  faculties  are  fading  fast."  Soon 
 afterwards  I  preached  for  my  dear  friend 
 Mr.  Roby,  who  shines  so  brightly  at  Manchester; 
 and  after  the  service  was  over,  an  old  woman 
 said,  i  Dear  old  gentleman,  'tis  a  pity  he  should 
 ever  go  to  heaven.'"  He  would  then  make  very 
 amusing  comments  on  the  different  opinions 
 entertained  of  him,  or  rather  the  truth  he 
 preached,  by  his  orthodox  and  heterodox 
 hearers. 
 
 About  two  years  before  his  death,  he  preached 
 on  the  morning  of  Christmas-day.  In  the  even- 
 ing an  Independent  minister  was  to  occupy  the 
 pulpit,  who  thought  it  right  to  say  to  the  good 
 man,  that  the  sermon  he  intended  to  preach  was 
 
518  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 not  strictly  applicable  to  the  season,  which  he 
 hoped  would  be  excused.  "  What,  Sir,"  said 
 Mr.  Hill,  in  rather  a  commanding  tone,  "  no 
 sermon  suitable  for  Christmas-day !  why,  Sir, 
 the  New  Testament  is  full  of  Christmas-day; 
 you'll  have  no  difficulty,  Sir,  in  giving  the  peo- 
 ple a  suitable  sermon." 
 
 The  wise  arrangement  of  the  Scriptures  which 
 is  used  in  the  church  on  these  special  seasons, 
 will  be  seen  by  only  examining  the  selections 
 read  in  the  morning  service  on  Christmas-day. 
 In  these  portions  of  Holy  Scripture,  the 
 great  truths  connected  with  the  humanity  and 
 Divinity  of  the  Saviour's  nature  are  clearly  and 
 fully  set  forth.  The  word  of  God  cannot  be 
 read  altogether  in  vain.  It  may  therefore  be 
 desirable  for  brethren  dissenting  from  the  Estab- 
 lished Church  to  consider  whether  the  cause  01 
 truth  might  not  be  advanced  by  the  introduction 
 of  a  practice  somewhat  like  that  which  Mr.  Hil 
 found  beneficial  in  his  own  congregation* 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  519 
 
 CHAP.  XIII. 
 
 MR.  HILL'S  SENTIMENTS  ON  BAPTISM. 
 
 Infant  baptism — baptismal  regeneration  not  scriptural- 
 walker,  OF  TRURO — MODE  OF  BAPTIZING  AT  SURREY  CHAPEL — 
 BAPTISM  NOT  CONFINED  TO  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CHURCH — BAPTI8M  AT 
 ANNAN,  IN  SCOTLAND — ON  GODFATHERS,  ETC. — EXTRACT  FROM  TEE- 
 TULLIAN — CONFIRM ATION— ITS  ABUSE — FACTS  SHEWING  IT8  USE- 
 FULNESS— PHILIP  HENRY— CONDUCT  TOWARD  BAPTIZED  CHILDREN 
 AND  CATECHUMENS — HINTS  TO  PJEDO-B APTIST  MINISTERS  —  INTE- 
 RESTING 8ERVICE  AT  CAMBERWELL. 
 
 The  excellent  pastor  of  Surrey  Chapel  endea- 
 voured to  walk  before  his  people  in  all  the 
 commandments  of  the  Lord.  He  constantly 
 supported  the  doctrine  of  infant  baptism,  and 
 affectionately  urged  all  parents  publicly  to  dedi- 
 cate their  children  to  God,  which  he  considered 
 to  be  their  peculiar  privilege.  It  is,  however, 
 due  to  his  memory  distinctly  to  state,  that  he 
 objected  to  the  formularies  of  the  Church  of 
 England  on  this  subject. 
 
520  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Mr.  Hill  could  not  believe  in  what  he  con- 
 sidered the  unscriptural  doctrine  of  baptismal 
 regeneration.  "It  has  sometimes  been  said,"  he 
 remarks,  "  that  regeneration  is  identical  with 
 Christian  baptism.  What  can  be  more  contrary 
 to  Scripture?  How  is  it  possible  to  suppose  that 
 a  mere  application  of  an  outward  ordinance  can 
 inwardly  purify  the  heart  ?  What  is  baptism  but 
 '  an  outward  and  visible  sign  of  an  inward  and 
 spiritual  grace  ?'  Shall  the  mere  shadow  or  sign 
 pass  for  the  thing  signified  thereby?  If  the  in- 
 ward and  spiritual  grace  be  not  found  in  our 
 hearts,  our  baptism  will  only  rise  up  in  judg- 
 ment against  us.  Instead  of  harbouring  the 
 mistaken  idea  that  baptism  is  regeneration,  we 
 had  better  pray,  as  in  the  Collect  for  Christmas- 
 day,  that  we,  '  being  regenerate,  and  made  God's 
 children  by  adoption  and  grace,  may  daily  be 
 renewed  by  his  Holy  Spirit,'  and  then  we  shall 
 perfectly  love  him,  and  worthily  magnify  his  holy 
 name ;  but  never  till  then."  * 
 
 *  Dialogues  in  Prison.  See  also  Village  Dialogues, 
 vol.  i.  D.4. 1.  For  full  information  on  the  unscrip- 
 tural tenet  of  baptismal  regeneration,  see  the  autho- 
 rities collected  in  the  Memoir  of  the  Rev.  Legh  Rich- 
 mond, by  Grimshawe,  in  the  82d  and  following  pages. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  521 
 
 In  reference  to  Mr.  Walker  of  Truro,  Mr.  Hill 
 makes  the  following  observations.  "  His  lectures 
 on  the  Church  Catechism  prove  that  he  was  no 
 friend  to  the  doctrine  of  baptismal  regeneration, 
 as  upheld  by  some  to  supersede  the  need  of  per- 
 sonal regeneration,  which  must  be  accomplished 
 upon  the  hearts  of  all  that  are  by  grace  made 
 meet  for  glory.  He  was  much  better  taught 
 than  to  suppose  that  the  mere  outward  admini- 
 stration of  an  ordinance  could  be  any  thing 
 further  than  a  sign  of  what  should  be,  and  not 
 the  thing  itself,  which  must  be ;  satisfied  that 
 such  a  mere  popish  explanation  of  that  ordi- 
 nance must  be  very  injurious  to  the  souls  of 
 men,  so  as  to  make  them  live  in  stupid  ignorance 
 of  the  necessity  of  being  renewed  in  the  spirit 
 of  their  minds.  He  gives  his  readers  to  under- 
 stand, that  however  we  may  be  outwardly  ad- 
 mitted to  the  privileges  of  Christianity  by  the 
 administration  of  the  outward  and  visible  sign, 
 yet  all  would  be  of  no  avail  without  the  inward 
 and  spiritual  grace  ?"  * 
 
 It  was  the  practice  of  Mr.  Hill  to  announce 
 from  the  pulpit  the  day  on  which  he  intended  to 
 baptize  the  children  belonging  to  his  people. 
 
 *  Sidney's  Life  of  Walker,  p.  289. 
 
522  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  baptismal  service  was  commenced  by 
 singing  a  hymn:  then  the  pastor  delivered  a 
 suitable  address,  in  which  he  gave  his  opinions 
 in  favour  of  infant  baptism,  in  a  brief  but 
 scriptural  manner.  He  affectionately  pointed 
 out  the  solemn  duties  the  parents  had  to 
 discharge,  and  strongly  enforced  upon  them 
 the  great  importance  of  a  holy  example.  At 
 the  close  of  his  address,  the  pastor  offered 
 up  an  earnest  prayer  to  the  God  of  all  grace, 
 that  he  would  be  pleased  to  bless  the  parents, 
 and  that  the  children,  from  earliest  infancy, 
 might  become  the  devoted  followers  of  the 
 Divine  Redeemer.  He  then  received  the  child 
 from  its  father,  and  baptized  it  in  the  name  of 
 the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost. 
 
 Mr.  Hill  did  not  confine  the  rite  of  baptism 
 to  the  children  of  his  own  members,  but  admi- 
 nistered the  ordinance  to  the  children  of  all 
 parents  who  professed  the  Christian  faith,  with- 
 out reference  to  their  particular  denominations. 
 He  mentions  the  following  fact  in  one  of  his 
 tours  in  the  north. 
 
 "  Had  I  rode  blindfold  into  Scotland,  I  should 
 have  known  where  I  was  by  the  following  cir- 
 cumstance: —  The  worthy  minister  at  Annan 
 had  a  child  who  could  walk  alone,  and,  contrary 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  523 
 
 to  the  good  man's  wish,  it  remained  unbaptized, 
 because  none  of  the  numerous  sects  would  bap- 
 tize it,  but  as  it  was  to  be  baptized  in  that  sect. 
 Having  but  just  left  my  own  country,  with  my 
 free,  easy,  English  conscience,  I  baptized  the 
 child,  without  enforcing  any  thing  further  on 
 the  parents  than  that  they  were  bound  by  that 
 ordinance  to  dedicate  their  child  to  God;  to 
 teach  it  repentance  towards  God,  and  faith  in 
 our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  without  cramming  its 
 head  with  the  useless  decisions  of  the  different 
 sects  of  the  day."* 
 
 On  the  baptism  of  children  Mr.  Hill  required 
 the  presence  of  both  parents,  if  living;  but  he  did 
 not  consider  the  episcopal  system  of  godfathers 
 and  godmothers  to  be  necessary,  since  it  did 
 not  appear  to  be  sanctioned  by  the  custom  of 
 the  primitive  church. f 
 
 *  The  Rev.  Philip  Henry,  in  baptizing  a  child,  de- 
 sired the  congregation  to  bear  witness  that  he  did  not 
 baptize  that  child  into  the  church  of  England,  nor 
 into  the  church  of  Scotland,  nor  into  the  church  of 
 the  Dissenters,  nor  into  the  church  at  Broad  Oak— 
 but  into  the  visible  catholic  church  of  Jesus  Christ. 
 Life  of  P.  Henry,  p.  194. 
 
 t  See  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  i.  p.  91.  On  this 
 subject  Tertullian  also  speaks,   as  quoted  by  Lord 
 
524  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  practice  of  confirmation,  Mr.  Hill  did 
 not  recommend,  and  was  generally  silent  upon 
 the  point.  It  is,  however,  worthy  of  the  con- 
 sideration of  all  dissenting  from  the  church, 
 whether  they  have  sufficiently  considered  the 
 privilege  and  importance  of  the  act  of  baptism. 
 A  child  is  presented  to  the  church  by  this 
 ordinance,  and  solemnly  dedicated  to  the  Lord ; 
 but  the  fact  is  too  frequently  forgotten.  It  is 
 sometimes  to  be  feared,  that  when  persons  leave 
 the  communion  of  the  established  church,  there 
 is  danger  of  their  going  to  extreme  points. 
 Hence,  some  things  are  rejected  altogether, 
 when  a  modification  of  them  might  be  useful. 
 These  remarks  apply  to  the  confirmation  ser- 
 vice of  the  church  of  England. 
 
 That  it  is  frequently  misunderstood,  most  will 
 admit.      The  writer   knew  a  young  man  who 
 
 Chancellor  King,  in  his  work  on  Church  Govern- 
 ment: — "  What  necessity  is  there  that  sponsors 
 should  expose  themselves  to  danger,  who,  through 
 death,  may  fail  of  the  performance  of  their  promises, 
 or  may  be  deceived  by  the  wicked  dispositions  of 
 those  they  promise  for  ?"  Justin  Martyr,  Tertullian's 
 senior  by  fifty  years,  when  he  enumerates  the  method 
 and  form  of  baptism,  says  not  one  word  about  spon- 
 sors or  godfathers,  as  may  be  seen  in  his  i  Second 
 Apology/  p.  93,  94." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  525 
 
 refused  to  be  confirmed.     "  I  was  regenerated 
 at   the   time    of  my   baptism,"    he    remarked, 
 *  when  my  godfathers  and  godmother  took  upon 
 themselves  all    future  responsibility  about  my 
 souL     If  I  am  confirmed,  then  all  will  rest  on 
 my  own    shoulders."      That  the   ordinance   of 
 confirmation   is    often    abused,    must    also    be 
 acknowledged  :  it  is  painful  to  witness  the  light 
 and  thoughtless  conduct  of  thousands  who  go 
 to  be  confirmed.    An  attention  to  dress  engages 
 more  time  than  the  state  of  the  soul.     It  is 
 deeply  affecting  to   see   such   persons   rushing 
 to  the  holy  communion,  "eating  and  drinking 
 condemnation   to    themselves,  —  not  discerning 
 the  Lord's  body."      That   this    ordinance  has 
 been  spiritually  blessed,  must  also  be  admitted. 
 A  lady  in  the  west  of  England  informed  the 
 writer  that  one,   if  not  both,    of  her  beloved 
 daughters,    had    been    mercifully   led    to    the. 
 Saviour's  feet  by  his  blessing  on  the  confirma- 
 tion service.     But  mark  the  circumstances  of 
 the  case.     The  parents  had  trained  up  their 
 children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the 
 Lord.     The  vicar  of  the  parish,  and  his  curate, 
 were  holy,  devoted  men,  and,  long  before  the 
 time  appointed  for  confirmation  arrived,  these 
 ministers  frequently  conversed  and  prayed  with 
 
526  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 their  youthful  charge.  The  great  truths  of  the 
 Gospel  were  unfolded,  and  the  necessity  of  per- 
 sonal piety  enforced.  The  young  people,  with 
 minds  thus  prepared,  presented  themselves  first 
 to  the  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  their  souls :  and 
 then  to  the  earthly  bishop.  This  was  like 
 the  primitive  saints,  mentioned  in  the  2nd  of 
 Corinthians,  viii.  5,  "  who  first  gave  their  own 
 selves  to  the  Lord,  and  then  unto  the  apostles, 
 by  the  will  of  God,  insomuch  that  they  desired 
 Titus,  that,  as  he  had  begun,  so  he  would  also 
 finish  in  them  the  same  grace  also." 
 
 In  the  life  of  the  pious  Philip  Henry,  his 
 practice  in  reference  to  the  improvement  of 
 baptism,  and  the  admission  of  his  catechumens 
 into  the  church,  is  thus  noticed  by  his  biogra- 
 pher, and  the  example  may  suggest  to  ministers 
 the  great  importance  of  spiritually  improving 
 this  divine  ordinance. 
 
 He  drew  up  the  following  short  form  of  the 
 baptismal  covenant,  for  the  use  of  his  children: 
 
 I  take  God  the  Father  to  be  my  chiefest 
 good,  and  highest  end. 
 
 I  take  God  the  Son  to  be  my  Prince  and 
 Saviour. 
 
 I  take  God  the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  my  Sanc- 
 tifier,  Teacher,  Guide,  and  Comforter. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  527 
 
 I  take  the  word  of  God  to  be  my  rule  in  all 
 my  actions. 
 
 And  the  people  of  God  to  be  my  people  in 
 all  conditions. 
 
 I  do  likewise  devote  and  dedicate  unto  the 
 Lord  my  whole  self,  all  I  am,  all  I  have, 
 and  all  I  can  do. 
 
 And  this  I  do  deliberately,  sincerely,  freely, 
 and  for  ever. 
 
 This  he  taught  his  children,  and  they  each  of 
 them  solemnly  repeated  it  every  Lord's  day,  in 
 the  evening,  after  they  were  catechized,  he 
 putting  his  amen  to  it,  and  sometimes  adding, 
 "  So  say,  and  so  do,  and  you  are  made  for 
 ever." 
 
 He  also  took  pains  with  them  to  lead  them 
 into  the  understanding  of  it,  and  to  persuade 
 them  to  a  free  and  cheerful  consent  to  it.  And 
 when  they  grew  up,  he  made  them  all  write  it 
 over  severally  with  their  own  hands,  and  very 
 solemnly  set  their  names  to  it,  which  he  told 
 them  he  would  keep  by  him,  and  it  should  be 
 produced  as  a  testimony  against  them,  in  case 
 they  should  afterwards  depart  from  God,  and 
 turn  from  following  after  him.* 
 
 *  Life  of  the  Rev.  Philip  Henry,  A.M.  by  Sir  J.  B. 
 Williams,  D.D.  p.  83. 
 
5*28  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 In  dealing  with  his  children  about  their  spi- 
 ritual state,  he  took  hold  of  them  very  much 
 by  the  handle  of  their  infant  baptism,  —  and 
 frequently  inculcated  upon  them  that  they  were 
 born  in  God's  house,  and  were  betimes  dedi- 
 cated and  given  up  to  him,  —  and  therefore 
 were  obliged  to  be  his  servants,  Psa.  cxvi.  16, 
 "I  am  thy  servant,  because  the  son  of  thine 
 handmaid!*  This  he  was  wont  to  illustrate  to 
 them  by  the  comparison  of  taking  a  lease  of  a 
 fair  estate  for  a  child  in  the  cradle,  and  putting 
 his  life  into  it.  The  child  then  knows  nothing 
 of  the  matter,  nor  is  he  capable  of  consenting ; 
 however,  then  he  is  maintained  out  of  it,  and 
 hath  an  interest  in  it.  And  when  he  grows  up, 
 and  becomes  able  to  choose  and  refuse  for  him- 
 self,— if  he  go  to  his  landlord,  and  claim  the 
 benefit  of  the  lease,  and  promise  to  pay  the 
 rent,  and  do  the  services;  well  and  good — he 
 hath  the  benefit  of  it :  if  otherwise,  it  is  at  his 
 peril.  "Now,  children,  (would  he  say,)  our 
 great  Landlord  was  willing  that  your  lives 
 should  be  put  into  the  lease  of  heaven  and 
 happiness,  and  it  was  done  accordingly  by  your 
 baptism,  'which  is  the  seal  of  the  righteousness 
 that  is  by  faith,'  and  by  that  it  was  assured  to 
 you,  that  if  you  would  pay  the  rent,  and  do  the 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  529 
 
 service,  that  is,  live  a  life  of  faith  and  repent- 
 ance, and  sincere  obedience,  you  shall  never  be 
 turned  off  the  tenement;  but  if  now  you  dislike 
 the  terms,  and  refuse  to  pay  this  rent  (this 
 chief  ren^  so  he  would  call  it,  for  it  is  no  rack^) 
 you  forfeit  the  lease.  However,  you  cannot 
 but  say  that  you  had  a  kindness  done  you,  to 
 have  your  lives  put  into  it.  Thus  did  he  fre- 
 quently deal  with  his  children,  and  even  travail 
 in  birth  again  to  see  Christ  formed  in  them  ; 
 and  from  this  topic  he  generally  argued ;  and 
 he  would  often  say, — "If  infant  baptism  were 
 more  improved,  it  would  be  less  disputed."f 
 
 "  The  admission  of  young  people  out  of  the 
 rank  of  catechumens  into  that  of  communicants, 
 had  a  peculiar  solemnity  in  it.  Such  as  he 
 catechized,  when  they  grew  up  to  some  years 
 of  discretion,  if  he  observed  them  to  be  intelli- 
 gent and  serious,  and  to  set  their  faces  heaven- 
 ward, he  marked  them  out  to  be  admitted  to 
 the  Lord's  supper;  and  when  he  had  a  competent 
 number  of  such,  twelve  or  fifteen  perhaps,  or 
 more,  he  ordered  each  of  them  to  come  to  him 
 severally,  and  discoursed  with  them  of  the 
 things  belonging  to  their  everlasting  peace,  put 
 it  to  their  choice  whom  they  would  serve,  and 
 \  Life  of  Philip  Henry,  p.  85. 
 2  M 
 
530  MEMOIR    OF 
 
 endeavoured  to  affect  them  with  those  things 
 with  which  by  their  catechism  they  had  been 
 made  acquainted,  drawing  them  with  the  cords 
 of  a  man,  and  the  bands  of  love,  into  the  way 
 which  is  called  holy.  For  several  Lord's-days 
 he  catechized  them,  particularly  in  public, 
 touching  the  Lord's  supper  and  the  duty  of 
 preparation  for  it,  and  their  baptismal  covenant, 
 which  in  that  ordinance  they  were  to  take  upon 
 themselves,  and  make  their  own  act  and  deed ; 
 often  telling  them  upon  such  occasions,  that 
 they  were  not  to  oblige  themselves  to  any  more 
 than  what  they  were  already  obliged  to  by  their 
 baptisms,  only  to  bind  themselves  faster  to  it. 
 Then  he  appointed  a  day  in  the  week  before  the 
 ordinance,  when  in  a  solemn  assembly  on  pur- 
 pose he  prayed  for  them,  and  preached  a  sermon 
 to  them  proper  to  their  age  and  circumstances; 
 and  so  the  following  Sabbath  thev  were  all 
 received  together  to  the  Lord's  supper.  This 
 he  looked  upon  as  the  right  confirmation,  or 
 transition  into  the  state  of  adult  church  mem- 
 bership."* 
 
 Cannot  those  Christian  denominations  of  this 
 country,  which  conscientiously  object  to  the  con- 
 firmation   service,    adopt    some    plan    for   the 
 *  Life  of  Philip  Henry,  p.  195-6. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  531 
 
 special  benefit  of  their  baptized  charge  ?  It 
 might  be  practicable  in  the  morning  of  one  Sab- 
 bath in  the  year  to  consider  the  duties  of  Chris- 
 tian parents  in  reference  to  those  children  who 
 have  been  devoted  to  God  in  baptism.  The 
 afternoon  of  the  same  day  might  be  set  apart 
 for  the  children  themselves,  to  point  out  their 
 responsibility  in  reference  to  the  special  privi- 
 lege they  have  enjoyed  ;f  and  the  evening  might 
 be  devoted  to  an  affectionate   address   to  the 
 
 f  Since  writing  the  above,  the  author  has  met  with 
 the  following  account  of  an  interesting  service  at  the 
 chapel  of  a  respectable  minister  of  the  Baptist  deno- 
 mination at  Camberwell.  After  referring  to  several 
 meetings  which  had  been  held,  it  is  stated — "The  last 
 meeting  was  in  its  design  more  special,  and  in  the  mode 
 of  conducting  it  more  novel,  than  the  rest.  It  was  an 
 assembly  of  Christian  parents  bringing  their  children 
 with  them,  to  present  them  before  the  Lord  in  his 
 holy  temple.  After  prayer  by  one  of  the  deacons,  the 
 word  of  God  was  read,  and  the  parents  were  addressed 
 in  the  presence  of  their  children,  on  parental  obliga- 
 tions and  responsibilities.  They  were  then  requested 
 to  withdraw  into  the  chapel,  and  plead  in  earnest 
 prayer  for  them,  while  the  children  remained  in  the 
 vestry  with  the  pastor,  to  be  affectionately  exhorted 
 and  prayed  for  by  him.  When  these  separate  exer- 
 cises were  finished,  the  parents  returned  to  the  vestry. 
 Their  hearts  were  full — they  wept  over  their  beloved 
 
532  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 members  of  the  church,  explaining  the  duties 
 which  devolve  on  them  in  connexion  with  the 
 children  who  have  been  baptized.  It  is  to  be 
 feared  that  the  frequent  neglect  of  our  children 
 gives  our  Baptist  brethren  strong  grounds  for 
 considering  that  we  feel  the  ordinance  to  be 
 one  of  little  importance.  Let  our  children  be 
 brought  into  the  temple  every  year,  and  the 
 Lord  will  meet  with  them  there.  The  sympathies 
 of  the  minister  and  the  church  will  be  drawn 
 out  for  them,  and  prayer  will  ascend  to  the 
 throne  of  God  that  his  promises  to  believing 
 parents  may  be  fulfilled  in  the  saving  conversion 
 of  their  beloved  offspring. 
 
 offspring ;  and  when  two  verses  had  been  sung,  and 
 a  few  parting  admonitions  had  been  given  by  the 
 pastor,  he  commended  them  to  God  in  prayer,  and 
 so  the  meeting  concluded. "— Baptist  Magazine,  April, 
 1836,  p.  162. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  533 
 
 CHAP.  XIV. 
 
 MR.  HILl/s  INTERCOURSE  WITH  DIFFERENT 
 DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 Mr.  Hill's  remarks  on  union  with  dissenters — "better  love 
 christians  than  parties"  —  the  opinions  op  bates,  howe, 
 baxter,  calamy,  henry,  and  watts,  on  catholic  communion — 
 on  interchange  of  pulpits  between  evangelical  preachers 
 — "order  and  decorum" — dr.  steinkopff — opinion  on  schism  — 
 on  the  right  of  private  judgment— mr.  locke's  opinions  on 
 that  point  —  state  prosecutions  —  usefulness  of  the  dis- 
 senters—  all  respectable  dissenting  pulpits  opened  to 
 hr.  hill — "the  dissenter  born" — the  boat — mr.  hill's  occu- 
 pation op  church  pulpits. 
 
 Perhaps  few  men  ever  lived,  who  more  d^* 
 cerely  prayed  with  the  apostle,  "  Grace  be 
 with  all  those  who  love  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ  in  sincerity,"  than  the  subject  of  this 
 memoir.  He  could  not  consider  that  the  sepa- 
 rate folds  in  which  the  members  of  the 
 church  were  found,  rendered  it  necessary  that 
 there  should  be  any  alienation  of  affection 
 amongst  them.  He  often  rejoiced  "  that  the 
 party  wall  of  separation  was  so  much  lowered 
 in  his  days,  that  Christians  could  kindly  shake 
 hands  over  it."      In    his  view,   pure  religious 
 
534  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 principle  was  the  only  ground  of  union  among 
 all  Christians. 
 
 The  venerable  man  is  condemned  by  one  of 
 his  biographers,  for  inconsistency,  in  not  en- 
 tirely leaving  a  defective  national  church  ;*  and 
 his  other  biographer  regrets  the  diminution  of 
 his  usefulness,  by  his  constant  irregularities,  in 
 not  keeping  within  its  ecclesiastical  enclosures,  f 
 Let  the  reader,  then,  examine  the  grounds  of 
 Mr.  Hill's  union  with  his  dissenting  brethren, 
 of  different  denominations. 
 
 In  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  George  Burder,  he 
 remarks, — 
 
 "  What  should  be  the  real  ground  of  union 
 among  Christians  at  large  ?  What  then  con- 
 stitutes that  sacred  character?  the  converting 
 grace  of  God  upon  the  soul,  whereby  we  are  led 
 to  feel  our  exceeding  sinfulness  before  him,  and 
 are  directed  to  seek  for  salvation  through  Jesus 
 Christ  alone ;  let  this  be  evidenced  by  a  holy 
 conformity  to  the  mind  and  will  of  God,  and 
 then,  let  it  be  asked,  if  these  be  not  the  real 
 members  of  the  church  of  Christ  below — and 
 
 *  Jones's  Life,  p.  314. 
 
 t  Sidney's  Life  of  Hill,  p.  413. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  535 
 
 whether  they  will  not  he  owned  as  such,  when 
 called    to   meet   in    the    general    assembly    or 
 church  above?     Are  we,  then,  to  suppose  that 
 a    mere    difference     about     church     discipline 
 should   be    a   sufficient   ground    of  separation, 
 amons:  those  who  are  all  united  in  the  same 
 spiritual  Head  ?      If,  notwithstanding  a  differ- 
 ence about  meats  offered  unto  idols,  and  a  dis- 
 tinction of  days,  primitive  Christians  were  still 
 commanded  to  live  in  love  and  unity  with  each 
 other ;  ought  we  not  to  adopt  the  same  rule  in 
 the  present  day,  and  constrain  the  world  to  say, 
 "  See  how  these  Christians  love  ?"     Supposing 
 a  Baptist  should  request  communion  with  his 
 paedobaptist  brethren,  would  it  be  right  in  us 
 to  reject  him  because  he  withholds  his  child 
 from   the    privilege   of  infant   baptism?      And 
 how  do  we  feel  when  we  ask  the  same  privilege 
 in  return,  and  receive  for  answer,  "  Oh,  no,  it 
 is  inadmissible  :  we  do  not  doubt  but  that  you 
 are  a  believer, — but  then  in  our  esteem  you  are 
 an  tinbaptized  believer,   and  it  is   against  our 
 church  rules  to  admit  any  such  to  be  so  closely 
 connected  with  us,  however  closely  they  may  be 
 united  to  the  Lord."     O,  my  dear  brother,  how 
 do  you  and  I  feel  our  hearts  warmed  at  the 
 name  of  an  immortal  Bunyan,  who,    though  a 
 
536  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Baptist  himself,  was  such  a  faithful  witness 
 against  the  bigots  of  his  own  denomination ; 
 and  whose  affectionate  spirit  was  so  open  to 
 hold  communion  with  all  who  loved  our  com- 
 mon Lord:  and,  blessed  be  God,  we  do  not 
 want  Bunyan  baptists  in  the  present  day;  long 
 may  they  live,  to  build  up  the  church  of  Christ 
 in  peace  and  love  !  How  happy  did  I  feel  my- 
 self at  Northampton,  years  ago,  when  I  was 
 admitted  to  Christian  (not  sectarian)  commu- 
 nion, among  just  such  a  set  of  loving  Christians, 
 when  the  late  Mr.  John  Ryland  was  pastor  of 
 that  congregation;*  and  satisfied  I  am,  that  I 
 do  perfectly  right,  when  desired  to  administer 
 the  communion  in  any  dissenting  congregation, 
 immediately  to  comply,  and  respectfully  follow 
 the  order  they  adopt  among  themselves.  Is  it 
 not  also,  at  least,  a  supposable  idea,  that  the 
 seven  Asiatic  churches  might  have  adopted  dif- 
 ferent modes  of  public  worship,  and  perhaps  of 
 government  also,  and  still  esteemed  themselves 
 as  in  Christian  fellowship  with  each  other  ?f 
 
 He  also  adds,   "  From  long  experience,  I  am 
 now  fully  satisfied  that  the  Christian  church  is 
 
 *  This  excellent  man  died  July  24,  1792. 
 f  Warning  to  Professors,  p.  74,  75. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  537 
 
 best  managed,  when  her  kind  and  friendly 
 doors  are  wide  open  to  all  who  are  truly  righ- 
 teous, and  close  shut  against  all  those  who,  by 
 their  unrighteous  deeds,  prove  that  they  know 
 not  God.  It  is  by  the  life  alone  we  are  directed 
 to  judge,  while  to  judge  of  hearts  is  the  solemn 
 prerogative  of  God."* 
 
 On  these  grounds  Mr.  Hill  justified  his 
 attachment  to  "  all  the  members  of  the  house- 
 hold of  faith."  How  nobly  would  he  repeat  the 
 remark,  "  It  is  in  my  heart  to  hold  communion 
 with  all  who  hold  communion  with  the  sacred 
 Head,  Christ  Jesus ;  and  whatever  Christians, 
 from  the  narrow  rules  of  their  church,  choose 
 to  reject  me,  blessed  be  God,  I  dare  not  reject 
 them."f 
 
 A  very  favourite  aphorism  with  him  was, 
 "Better  love  Christians  than  parties ;"J  a 
 sentence  which  deserves  to  be  recorded  on  the 
 heart  of  every  believer. 
 
 In  contending  for  the  communion  of  saints, 
 Mr.  Hill  only  followed  the  examples  of  many 
 of  the  most  illustrious  of  our  divines.  Among 
 those   truly  catholic   men  who    contended    for 
 
 *  Warning  to  Professors,  p.  65.   f  First  Journal, p.  37. 
 X  Apology  for  Sunday  Schools,  p.  31. 
 
538  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 occasional  communion  with  tht  established 
 church,  will  be  found  the  names  of  Bates, 
 Howe,  Baxter,  Calamy,  Matthew  Henry,  and 
 Watts.  They  urged  the  duty  of  communion 
 with  all  Christians,  on  the  great  principle, — 
 "In  necessariis,  unitas;  in  non  necessariis,  liber- 
 tas;  in  omnibus,  charitas."** 
 
 The  excellent  John  Howe,  in  1690,  wrote 
 his  "  humble  requests  both  to  conformists  and 
 dissenters,  touching  their  temper  and  behaviour 
 towards  each  other,"  which  Dr.  Calamy  has 
 preserved  in  his  Life  of  Baxter.  These  requests 
 should  be  read  by  all  orthodox  ministers,  with 
 humble  prayer  to  God  that  their  minds  may  be 
 prepared  to  adopt  the  excellent  advice  they 
 contain.  After  advising  Christians  "  not  to 
 over-magnify  their  differences,  or  count  them 
 greater    than    they   really   are ;     carefully    to 
 
 *  See  the  numerous  facts  on  this  subject  collected 
 by  Mr.  Joshua  Wilson,  in  his  "  Historical  Inquiry," 
 concerning  the  principles,  opinions,  and  usages  of  the 
 English  Presbyterians,  from  the  restoration  of  Charles 
 the  Second  to  the  death  of  Queen  Anne  ;  in  which  it 
 will  be  seen  that  the  orthodox  nonconformists  clearly 
 distinguished  "  bet  ween  fundamentals  and  little  matters 
 of  dispute." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  539 
 
 abstain  from  judging  each  other's  states  God- 
 ward,  upon  their  differences;  not  to  value 
 themselves  upon  being  on  this  or  that  side  of 
 the  severing  line ;  not  to  despise  one  another 
 for  differences  on  lesser  matters,  or  wonder 
 that  they  differ,  and  not  be  offended  mutually 
 with  one  another  for  different  choice  of  this  or 
 that  way  wherein  they  find  most  of  real  advan- 
 tage and  edification, — he  adds,  "But,  above  all, 
 let  us  with  sincere  minds  more  earnestly  endea- 
 vour the  promoting  the  interest  of  religion 
 itself,  of  true  reformed  Christianity,  than  of 
 this  or  that  party.  Let  us  long  to  see  the 
 religion  of  Christians  become  simple,  primitive, 
 agreeable  to  its  lovely  original  state,  and  again 
 itself,  and  each  in  our  own  stations  contribute 
 thereto  all  that  we  are  able.  Let  it  be  remem- 
 bered that  the  difference  lies  among  Christians 
 and  Protestants,  not  between  such  and  Pagans. 
 Let  us,  therefore,  carry  it  accordingly  towards 
 each  other ;  and  consider,  our  assemblies  are  all 
 Christian  and  Protestant  assemblies,  differing 
 in  their  administrations,  for  the  most  part,  ncrt 
 in  the  things  prayed  for,  or  deprecated,  or 
 taught,  but  in  certain  modes  of  expression. 
 And  differing  really,  and  in  the  substance  of 
 things,   less   by   mere    conformity   or    noncon- 
 
540  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 formity  to  the  public  rule  of  the  law,  than  many 
 of  them  that  are  under  it,  do  from  one  another ; 
 and  than  divers  that  are  not  under  it.  For 
 instance,  go  into  one  congregation,  that  is,  a 
 conforming  one,  and  you  have  the  public 
 prayers  read  in  the  desk,  and  afterwards  a 
 form  of  prayer,  perhaps  used  by  the  preacher 
 in  the  pulpit,  of  his  own  composure,  before  he 
 begins  his  sermon.  Go  into  another  congre- 
 gation, and  prayer  is  performed  without  either 
 sort  of  form, — and  perhaps  the  difference  in  this 
 is  not  so  great.  It  may  be  the  conformist  uses 
 no  preconceived  form  of  his  own,  and  the  non- 
 conformist may.  Both  instruct  the  people  out 
 of  the  same  holy  book  of  God's  word.  Now, 
 let  us  shew  ourselves  men,  and  manly  Chris- 
 tians, not  swayed  by  trifles  and  little  things,  as 
 children,  by  this,  or  that  dress,  or  mode,  or  form, 
 of  our  religion,  which  may,  perhaps,  please 
 some  the  more  for  its  real  indecency.  But 
 know  that  if,  while  we  continue  picqueering* 
 about  forms,  the  life  be  lost,  and  we  come  to 
 bear  the  character  of  that  church,  "  Thou  hast 
 a  name  that  thou  livest,  and  art  dead,"  we  may 
 ere    long    (after    all    the   wonders   God    hath 
 
 *  Skirmishing. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  541 
 
 wrought  for  us)  expect  to  hear  of  our  candle- 
 sticks being  removed,  and  that  our  sun  shall  go 
 down  at  noon-day. 
 
 "  The  true  serious  spirit  and  power  of  religion 
 and  godliness  will  let  no  man  act  against  his  con- 
 science, or  his  rule  understood,  but  will  oblige 
 him  in  all  acts  of  worship  to  keep  close  to 
 Gospel  prescription,  so  far  as  he  can  discern  it. 
 And  that,  he  will  find,  requires,  that  in  subordi- 
 nation to  the  Divine  glory  he  seriously  design 
 the  working  out  the  salvation  of  his  own  soul, 
 and,  taking  the  course  in  order  thereto,  put 
 himself  under  such  a  ministry,  and  such  a  way 
 of  u§jng  God's  ordinances,  as  he  finds  most 
 profitable,  and  conducing  to  that  great  end,  and 
 that  doth  his  soul  most  real  good.  If  you  are 
 religious,  or  of  this  or  that  mode  or  way  of  reli- 
 gion, to  serve  a  carnal  design  for  yourself  or 
 your  party,  not  to  serve  your  soul,  you  commit 
 the  most  detestable  sacrilege,  and  alienate  the 
 most  sacred  thing  in  the  world,  religion,  from 
 its  true  end,  which  will  not  only  lose  that  end, 
 but  infer  a  heavy  vengeance.  Yea,  and  'tis  too 
 possible  to  transgress  dangerously,  by  preferring 
 that  which  is  less,  though  never  so  confidently 
 thought  to  be  divine,  before  that  which  is 
 greater,  or  separately  from  its  end.    You  greatly 
 
542  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 prevaricate  if  you  are  more  zealously  intent  to 
 promote  Independency  than  Christianity,  Pres- 
 bytery than  Christianity,  Prelacy  than  Chris- 
 tianity, as  any  of  these  are  the  interest  of  a  party, 
 and  not  being  considered  in  subserviency  to  the 
 Christian  interest,  nor  designed  for  promoting  the 
 edification  and  salvation  of  your  own  soul.  But 
 that  being  your  design,  living  religion  will  keep 
 your  eye  upon  your  end,  and  make  you  steady  and 
 constantly  true  to  that  and  to  your  rule,  without 
 which  you  can  never  hope  to  reach  your  end." 
 
 "  You  ought  most  frequently  to  attend  that 
 worship  which  you  find  to  be  most  edifying  to 
 your  own  soul;  as  that  should  be  your%more 
 ordinary  diet  that  best  agrees  with  you.  And 
 that  way,  therefore,  you  must  most  constantly 
 adhere  to  which  is  most  grateful  and  savoury 
 to  you,  because  you  cannot  so  much  edify  by 
 what  you  less  relish.  But  your  judgment  and 
 latitude  will  well  allow  you  sometimes  to  fre- 
 quent the  assemblies  with  which  you  hold  not 
 constant  communion.  And  if  it  will  allow,  it 
 will  also  direct  you  thereto  for  a  valuable  end ; 
 as,  that  you  may  signify  you  ordinarily  decline 
 them  not  as  no  Christians,  or  their  worship  as 
 no  worship,  but  as  more  defective  and  less 
 edifying ;  and  that  you  may  maintain  love,  and 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  543 
 
 both  express  and  beget  a  disposition  to  nearer 
 union.  And  if  our  rulers  shall  judge  such 
 intercourses  conducing  to  so  desirable  an  end, 
 they  may  perhaps  in  due  time  think  it  reason- 
 able to  put  things  into  that  state,  that  ministers 
 of  both  sorts  may  be  capable  of  inviting  one 
 another  occasionally  to  the  brotherly  offices 
 of  mutual  assistance  in  each  others  congrega- 
 tions. For  which,  and  all  things  that  tend  to 
 make  us  a  happy  people,  we  must  wait  upon 
 Him  in  whose  hands  their  hearts  are."* 
 
 In  1704  appeared  "The  Layman's  Reasons 
 for  his  joining  in  Stated  Communion  with  a 
 Congregation  of  Moderate  Dissenters.  By 
 Matthew  Henry."  In  this  paper  he  remarks, 
 u  1  am  heartily  concerned  about  my  soul  and 
 my  everlasting  condition.  It  is  my  care  and 
 desire  to  please  God,  and  to  work  out  my  sal- 
 vation. All  other  interests  and  concerns  are 
 nothing  to  me  in  comparison  with  this.  I 
 seriously  profess  I  am  afraid  of  sin,  and  am 
 solicitous  to  be  found  in  the  way  of  my  duty, 
 and  to  get  all  help  I  can  to  forward  me  towards 
 heaven,  and  fit  me  for  it.  Hereunto  I  can  add 
 this  further  protestation,  that  through  the  grace 
 
 *  See  also  Howe's  Letter  on  Occasional  Conformity, 
 p.  579 ;  Calamy's  Life  of  Baxter,  p.  496. 
 
544  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 of  God  I  have  a  catholic  charity  for  all  good 
 Christians.  I  cannot  monopolize  the  church ; 
 'tis  narrow  enough.  I  dare  not  make  it  nar- 
 rower. I  love  a  good  man,  whatever  party  he 
 belongs  to,  and  him  that  follows  Christ,  though 
 he  doth  not  follow  with  me.  He  that  fears 
 God  and  works  righteousness  is  accepted  of 
 God,  and  shall  be  accepted  by  me. 
 
 "  My  practice  is  this:  I  join  myself  sometimes 
 with  the  assemblies  of  the  public  establishment, 
 if  an  opportunity  offers  itself  on  the  week-day ; 
 or  if  I  happen  on  a  Lord's-day  to  be  out  of  the 
 reach  of  such  assemblies  as  I  choose  statedly  to 
 join  with,  I  freely  and  cheerfully  attend  the 
 divine  service  of  the  church,  knowing  nothing 
 in  the  prayers  but  what  I  can  heartily  say  amen 
 to,  which  I  choose  rather  to  do  than  to  answrer 
 aloud  after  the  minister.  And  this  I  do  that 
 I  may  testify  my  catholic  charity,  and  my  com- 
 munion with  and  affection  to  all  good  Chris- 
 tians, though  I  be  not  in  every  thing  of  their 
 mind.  Hereby,  likewise,  I  endeavour  to  fulfil 
 all  righteousness,  and  in  my  place  I  bear  my 
 testimony  to  that  which  is  of  God  in  the  public 
 establishment,  wherein  I  do  rejoice,  yea,  and 
 will  rejoice." 
 
 Never  was  there  a  period  when  the  senti- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  545 
 
 ments  of  these  good  men  deserved  greater 
 consideration  than  in  the  present  day.  The 
 spirit  of  these  departed  worthies  was  ever  found 
 in  Mr.  Hill  during  his  long  ministerial  course, 
 and  it  is  hoped  that  his  hallowed  example  will 
 influence  the  minds  of  many  brethren,  who 
 differ  in  non-essentials,  cordially  and  unitedly 
 to  "  contend  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the 
 saints." 
 
 The  long  and  affectionate  intercourse  which 
 Mr.  Hill  maintained  with  many  of  his  noncon- 
 formist brethren  greatly  attached  them  to  him. 
 The  revered  names  of  Bull,  Wilks,  Burder, 
 Waugh,  Sibree,  Hughes,  and  of  many  others  who 
 have  finished  their  course  with  joy,  were  dear 
 to  him,  and  also  those  of  many  living  ministers 
 who  still  continue  to  labour  in  the  church. 
 His  heart  and  his  pulpit  were  alike  open  to  them. 
 The  interchange  of  services  with  evangelical 
 preachers  being  a  favourite  subject  with  Mr.  Hill, 
 his  views  will  now  be  given  on  that  subject. 
 
 "  A  minister,  I  humbly  conceive,  should  have 
 an  uncontroled  right  over  his  own  pulpit.  It  is 
 cruel  in  the  extreme  not  to  allow  him  the 
 assistance  of  those  whose  ministrations  he 
 believes  will  be  the  spiritual  advancement  of 
 the  people  of  his  charge.     Let  it  but  be  proved 
 
 9   N 
 
546  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 to  me,  that  a  man  preaches  and  lives  the  Gos- 
 pel, and  that  he  has  been  blessed  with  seals  to 
 his  ministry,  I  ask  by  what  authority  dare  any 
 set  of  Christians  reject  him,  or  tie  up  the  hands 
 of  any  other  ministers  who  choose  to  give  him 
 the  right  hand  of  fellowship  ?  But  such  admis- 
 sion, say  some,  would  be  riding  upon  the  back 
 of  all  order  and  decorum.  Happy  should  I  be 
 to  ride  upon  the  back  of  such  order  and  decorum 
 till  I  had  ridden  them  to  death :  for  the  more 
 free,  and  open,  and  loving,  gracious  ministers  are 
 among  themselves,  the  more  will  the  cause  of 
 God  be  promoted,  without  the  least  infringe- 
 ment on  any  order  and  decorum  they  mutually 
 observe,  which  may  be  consistent  with  the  word 
 of  God. 
 
 "  What  order  is  broken  thereby,  but  the 
 order  of  the  devil,  'divide  et  impera,'  (divide 
 and  rule,)  and  the  order  of  the  pope,  which, 
 when  translated  into  modern  sectarian  Pro- 
 testant language,  stands  thus — i  It  is  against 
 the  order  of  our  church  V  Now  this  is  the  very 
 doctrine  which  will  support  every  innovation 
 that  the  pope,  Turk,  or  devil  can  invent.  And 
 I  deliberately  say,  these  are  the  tricks  of  hell 
 itself,  to  divide  the  church  of  God  upon  earth.,,# 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  121-2. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  547 
 
 Our  departed  friend  frequently  exchanged 
 pulpits  with  members  of  different  denomina- 
 tions, and  when  he  announced  the  names  of 
 such  brethren  to  his  congregation,  he  generally 
 added  some  kind  and  catholic  observation. 
 He  was  much  attached  to  his  beloved  friend 
 Dr.  Steinkopff.  One  morning  at  Surrey  Chapel, 
 after  his  sermon,  he  remarked,  u  I  shall  not  be 
 with  you  this  evening,  for  I  am  to  preach  for 
 dear  Dr.  Steinkopff  at  the  Savoy,  and  he  will 
 be  here.  I  hope  you'll  all  come ;  and  if  you 
 can't  understand  every  word  he  says,  it  will  do 
 you  good  to  look  at  him." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  considered  the  right  of  private  judg- 
 ment as  the  natural,  unalienable  right  of  all. 
 He  remarks,  "  No  state  can  justly  presume  to 
 correct  any  supposed  religious  errors  by  its  au- 
 thority, provided  the  errorists  can  but  give 
 proper  security  to  the  state  by  which  they  are 
 protected.  Such  are  the  chartered  privileges 
 of  our  own  land.  By  this  right  of  private 
 judgment,  on  the  one  hand,  the  members  of 
 the  Established  Church  are  entitled  to  enjoy 
 their  own  privileges  without  being  attacked 
 by  the  Dissenters ;  so  also  the  Dissenters  are 
 equally  at  liberty  to  enjoy  their  own  privileges, 
 without  any  molestation    from  the  Established 
 
548  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Church.  The  Dissenter  who  aims  at  the  demo- 
 lition of  the  Church,  and  the  Churchman  who 
 attempts  the  ruin  of  the  Dissenters,  are  alike 
 persecutors  in  heart."* 
 
 "  It  is  evident  from  the  arguments  of  Locke, 
 that  the  state  has  nothing  to  do  with  any  per- 
 son's religion,  provided  he  can  give  evidence 
 that  there  is  nothing  in  his  religion  inimical  to 
 the  state.  The  dissenter  has  nothing  to  do 
 with  the  established  church ;  nor  has  the  esta- 
 blished church  any  thing  to  do  with  the  dis- 
 senter. All  are  at  liberty  to  persuade,  but  no 
 one  has  a  right  to  enforce  his  arguments  by 
 persecution."f 
 
 In  connexion  with  these  views,  Mr.  Hill  be- 
 lieved, "that  all  state  prosecutions  for  the 
 sake  of  religion,  were  absurd  and  abominable.,, 
 At    the    time    he    opposed  the  assessment    of 
 
 *  Apology  for  Sunday-Schools,  p.  29,  30. 
 
 "  The  wishes  of  all  good  men  are,  that  the  national 
 church,  being  secured  in  her  worship  and  emoluments, 
 may  not  be  allowed  to  force  others  to  her  communion, 
 and  that  all  dissenters  from  it,  being  secured  in  their 
 liberty  of  conscience,  may  not  be  permitted  to  meddle 
 with  the  riches  or  power  of  the  national  church." — 
 Milton's  Tenure  of  Kings  and  Magistrates. 
 
 f  On  Parochial  Assessments  of  Chapels,  p.  8. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  549 
 
 Surrey  Chapel  for  the  poor-rates,  he  remarks, 
 *  I  have  pledged  myself,  that  if  ever  the 
 parish  shall  succeed  against  us,  (in  making 
 us  pay  the  poor-rates  for  Surrey  Chapel,)  the 
 example  of  the  Quakers  shall  be  ours.  What 
 a  set  of  constables  can  seize,  of  our  movable 
 property,  they  may.  While  we  feel  ourselves 
 forbidden  to  resist  force  to  force,  we  shall  never 
 dare  to  yield.  Though  we  must  submit  to  be 
 distrained,  we  never  can  suffer  ourselves  to  be 
 deprived  of  a  privilege,  in  which  millions  are 
 interested  equally  with  ourselves."* 
 
 The  warm  attachment  of  Mr.  Hill  to  his 
 nonconformist  brethren  arose  from  a  knowledge 
 of  their  usefulness.  He  remarks,  "I  consider,  and 
 lament  how  much  the  Gospel  is  wanting  in  the 
 established  church, — and  that  if  a  set  of  zealous, 
 well-minded  people  did  not  act  for  God,  thou- 
 sands, and  tens  of  thousands,  might  have  been 
 left  to  perish  through  lack  of  knowledge,  who 
 are  now  converted  to  God  through  their  instru- 
 mentality, and  are  constrained  to  live  to  his 
 glory. 
 
 "  For  these  my  sentiments,  no  wonder  that 
 the  bigoted  high -churchman  has  frequently 
 favoured  me  with  his  sharp  reproof ;  but  bigots 
 *  Religious  Freedom,  p.  51. 
 
550  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 are  bigots  of  every  party,  and  it  is  folly  to  sup- 
 pose that  any  can  escape  their  angry  bite,  but 
 as  you  join  the  party  to  which  any  of  them 
 belong."  * 
 
 No  one,  who  is  at  all  acquainted  with  the 
 success  of  Rowland  Hill,  can  doubt  that  it  was 
 greatly  promoted  by  his  wandering  beyond  the 
 strict  line  of  the  national  church.  He  always  felt 
 and  acknowledged  this  himself.  Hence  he  ex- 
 claims, "Had  I  a  thousand  lives,  I  trust  they  would 
 be  spent  in  the  Lord's  blessed  work.  I  dare  not 
 be  fettered  by  human  laws,  while  I  am  under  a 
 Divine  command  to  <  preach  the  Gospel  to 
 every  creature,'  and  <  to  spend  and  be  spent 
 for  Jesus  Christ.'  I  have  been  somewhat  a 
 sufferer  for  such  conduct ;  but  laws  like  these, 
 appear  to  me  not  better  than  the  statutes  of 
 Omri :  and  I  dare  not  renounce  the  Lord's 
 standing  rule  to  all  his  ministers,  while  under 
 the  conjoined  promise,  "I  am  with  you  always, 
 even  to  the  end  of  the  world."f 
 
 Had  Mr.  Hill  remained  strictly  within  the 
 walls  of  the  church,  how  few  pulpits  would  have 
 been  accessible  during  the  first  forty  years  of  his 
 
 *  Warning  to  Professors, 
 f  First  Journal,  p.  51. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  551 
 
 successful  course  !  See,  then,  how  the  Lord 
 overruled,  for  good,  his  violation  of  episcopal 
 rules.  Every  respectable  dissenting  pulpit  was 
 freely  opened  to  him,  throughout  the  united 
 kingdoms ;  and  such  was  the  lovely  liberality  of 
 the  nonconformists,  that  they  received  him  as  a 
 churchman  into  their  congregations.  Mr.  Hill, 
 however,  never  abused  the  confidence  placed  in 
 him  by  his  brethren,  though  he  would  some- 
 times drop  a  broad  hint  on  the  subject  of  the 
 bigotry  that  was  to  be  found  in  most  places. 
 One  little  incident  he  would  sometimes  allude 
 to:  "  I  once  conversed  with  a  man  in  the 
 country,  and  asked  him  if  there  were  any  good 
 people  in  his  town.  His  reply  displayed  the 
 narrowness  of  his  spirit.  '  O,  Sir,  we  are  most 
 of  us  dissenters  born.'  I  could  not  help  warmly 
 replying,  4  Do  not  tell  me  about  being  dissen- 
 ters born,  but  about  dissenters  born  again." 
 
 On  another  occasion  he  remarked,  "  No  mat- 
 ter what  the  name  of  the  boat  is  that  ferries  over 
 the  poor  benighted  sinner  into  the  land  Oi 
 Gospel  light  and  liberty,  provided  the  blessed 
 work  be  but  accomplished." 
 
 It  was  always  a  source  of  much  pleasure  to 
 Mr.  Hill  to  occupy  pulpits  in  the  established 
 church.      He  frequently  had  this  gratification 
 
552  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 during  his  tours  for  the  Missionary  Society. 
 On  such  occasions  he  would  never  preach  for 
 the  dissenting  minister  in  the  same  town,  since 
 he  feared  that  by  so  doing  he  might  bring  his 
 clerical  friend  into  difficulties.  He  longed  for 
 the  time  to  come,  when  orthodox  and  respects 
 able  ministers,  of  all  denominations,  should 
 exchange  pulpits,  and  so  prove  that  though 
 worshipping  in  different  folds,  they  were  all 
 members  of  the  household  of  faith,  who  would 
 eventually  unite  in  the  pure  service  of  "  the 
 general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born, 
 whose  names  are  written  in  heaven." 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  553 
 
 CHAP.  XV. 
 
 MR.  HILL'S  PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Remarks  on  mr.  hill's  publications  —  his  sermons — reply  to 
 wesley — sermons  at  surrey  chapel — the  village  dialogues 
 — their  usefulness — the  author's  own  review  of  the  work — 
 original  letter  —  his  tours — defence  of  sunday-schools  — 
 sale  of  curates — warning  to  professors — treatise  on  cow- 
 pock  inoculation — pamphlets  in  support  of  religious  free- 
 dom, and  in  opposition  to  parochial  assessments  on  places  of 
 worship — hymns  by  mr.  hill  —  contributions  to  albums — 
 a  hint  to  gallery  singers — remarks  on  singing — anecdotes 
 — oratorios — original  letter  from  rev.  john  berridge  on 
 musical  entertainments— mr.  hill's  opinions  thereon. 
 
 The  writings  of  Mr.  Hill  were  numerous,  though 
 several  of  them  are  not  of  permanent  interest. 
 His  first  effort  from  the  press  was  in  1773,  when 
 he  printed  "  The  Gospel  Message,"  which  has 
 been  noticed  in  Chapter  III.  of  this  memoir. 
 In  1776  his  "Token  of  Respect  to  the  Memory 
 of  the  Rev.  James  Rouquet"  appeared.  Mr.  Hill 
 was  then  chaplain  to  the  Countess  of  Chester- 
 field. This  sermon  breathes  the  warmest  affec- 
 tion for  the  memory  of  his  departed  friend,  and 
 contains  several  beautiful  references  to  the 
 scenes  of  domestic  life,  and  is  a  good  specimen 
 of  the  tenderness  which  often  characterized  his 
 sermons. 
 
554  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 In  1777  Mr.  Hill  published  "A  full  Answer 
 to  the  Rev.  J.  Wesley's  Remarks  upon  a  late 
 Pamphlet  published  in  Defence  of  the  Cha- 
 racters of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefield  and  others." 
 The  spirit  of  the  pamphlet  was  like  the  times  in 
 which  it  appeared,  when  "Ephraim  vexed  Judah, 
 and  Judah  Ephraim."  The  members  of  the 
 household  of  faith  were  for  a  season  divided, 
 and  the  enemies  of  the  cross  cried  out  "  Aha, 
 aha  ! — so  would  we  have  it." 
 
 The  biographer  of  Wesley,  when  reviewing 
 the  unhappy  conflict  between  these  excellent 
 men,  tells  his  reader,  that  "  amidst  the  scur- 
 rilities and  vulgar  abuse  of  Mr.  Toplady,  other- 
 wise an  able  writer  and  a  man  of  learning,  and 
 the  coarse  virulence  or  buffoonery  of  the  Hills 
 and  Berridge,  it  is  refreshing  to  remark  in  the 
 writings  of  '  the  saintly  Fletcher'  so  fine  a  union 
 of  strength  and  meekness ;  an  edge  so  keen,  and 
 yet  so  smooth ;  and  a  heart  kept  in  such  perfect 
 charity  with  his  assailants,  and  so  intent  upon 
 establishing  truth,  not  for  victory  but  for  salva- 
 tion."* 
 
 There  was  too  little  charity,  it  is  to  be  feared, 
 in  the  hearts  of  all  the  controversialists.    If  the 
 friend  of  Wesley  complains  of  the  titles  given  to 
 *  Watson's  Life  of  Wesley,  p.  260. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  555 
 
 their  pamphlets  by  the  Calvinistic  brethren, — 
 "  an  old  fox  tarred  and  feathered ; n  "  the 
 serpent  and  the  fox ;"  "  Pope  John,"  &c ;  yet, 
 on  the  other  hand,  the  Arminian  brethren,  with 
 all  their  meekness,  did  not  employ  the  mildest 
 epithets.  Hence,  in  their  works  we  find  the 
 following  descriptions  given  of  their  Calvinistic 
 opponents:  "  devil's  factors — children  of  the 
 old  roaring  hellish  murderer,  who  believe  his 
 lies  —  advocates  for  sin  —  witnesses  for  the 
 father  of  lies  —  blasphemers  —  Satan  -  sent 
 preachers  —  devils  —  liars  —  fiends."  These 
 and  similar  expressions  the  writer  cannot  con- 
 sider to  be  the  "  models  of  temper,  logical  and 
 calm,  which  Mr.  John  Wesley  felt  it  to  be  his 
 duty  to  use  in  bringing  the  aggressors  to  a  due 
 sense   of  their  own   misdoings."* 
 
 Long  before  the  close  of  life,  Mr.  Hill  deeply 
 regretted  the  unchristian  bitterness  which  had 
 been  displayed  in  religious  controversy.  The 
 writer  has  heard  him  confess,  that  all  parties 
 went  too  far,  and  forgot  that  "  speaking  the 
 truth  in  love"  was  the  rule  which  should  ever 
 be  observed  by  the  Christian.  The  parties  have 
 at  length  laid  down  the  arms  of  their  unholy 
 strife,  and  are  now  together  before  the  throne  of 
 the  Lamb. 
 
 *  Watson's  Life  of  Wesley,  p.  281. 
 
556  MEMOIR    OF 
 
 It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Hill  to  give 
 the  following  explanation,  "That  being  absent 
 from  home  when  his  first  pamphlet  against  Mr. 
 Wesley  was  printed,  some  of  the  severest  terms, 
 which  he  never  saw  till  he  read  them  in  print, 
 were  introduced  by  a  friend.  He  immediately 
 sent  to  London  to  rectify  some  of  those  mistakes, 
 but  the  impression  was  sold  off." 
 
 Soon  after  this  controversial  essay,  followed 
 the  first  sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Hill  at  Surrey 
 Chapel,  entitled  "  Christ  Crucified,"  whifch  con- 
 tains an  interesting  view  of  the  leading  truths 
 of  the  Gospel,  and  well  deserves  an  attentive 
 perusal.  His  Expostulatory  Letter  to  the 
 Rev.  W.  D.  Tattersall,  the  vicar  of  Wotton- 
 under-edge,  against  theatrical  entertainments, 
 exposes  very  powerfully  their  evil  tendency. 
 He  very  ingeniously  introduces  to  his  clerical 
 antagonist,  Rousseau,  the  French  infidel,  who 
 objected  on  moral  grounds  to  such  entertain- 
 ments, and  considered  them  most  pernicious  to 
 young  people. 
 
 In  1794  the  sermon  which  Mr.  Hill  preached 
 at  Surrey  Chapel  on  the  formation  of  the 
 London  Missionary  Society  was  published,  en- 
 titled "  Glorious  Displays  of  Gospel  Grace." 
 It  contains  some  references  to  the  labours  of  his 
 beloved  friend  Whitefield,  and  several  inimitable 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  557 
 
 sketches  of  the  character  of  a  true  missionary, 
 which  have  been  noticed  in  Chapter  IX.  This 
 sermon  appears  to  have  been  prepared  with 
 more  than  usual  care. 
 
 In  1801  "  The  Village  Dialogues"  made  their 
 appearance  in  succeeding  numbers  of  the  Evan- 
 gelical Magazine.  This  is  unquestionably  the 
 most  important  work  he  published.  "  Most  of 
 the  Dialogues  passed  under  the  eye  of  the  late 
 invaluable  Mr.  Ambrose  Serle,  who  kindly  under- 
 took upon  him  the  office  of  final  editor  of  the 
 press."  Mr.  Hill's  original  intention  was  to 
 publish  a  series  of  tracts  for  village  circulation, 
 and  he  therefore  offered  these  little  productions 
 to  the  Religious  Tract.  Society.  A  few  numbers 
 were  published  by  that  institution,  but  the  re- 
 marks freely  made  on  the  unworthy  ministers  of 
 different  denominations  led  the  committee  to 
 discontinue  their  publication,  as  likely  to  inter- 
 fere with  their  neutral  principles.  The  work 
 displays  much  genius,  and  clearly  shows  how 
 closely  Mr.  Hill  observed  man  in  all  classes  of 
 society.  He  could  hold  intercourse  with  the 
 most  elevated  person,  and  he  enjoyed  conver- 
 sation with  the  simple-hearted  but  pious  rustic. 
 The  reader  of  this  work  can  never  forget  the 
 cottage  piety  of  good  Thomas  Newman,   the 
 
553  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 clerk  of  the  parish,  nor  the  holy  devotedness  of 
 Mr.  Lovegood,  its  beloved  clergyman.  The 
 smile  has  often  been  excited  by  poor  Thomas's 
 fears,  that  if  the  lord-chancellor  were  to  hear 
 what  a  wonderful  man  his  minister  was,  the 
 king  would  soon  make  him  the  lord  archbishop 
 of  Canterbury  ;*  and  the  tear  has  often  been 
 dropped,  when  reading  the  account  of  young 
 Henry  Littleworth's  return  to  his  father's  house. 
 Many  of  the  characters  are  sketched  with  great 
 effect,  though  sometimes  there  is  a  degree 
 of  sarcasm  which  may  to  some  appear  to 
 be  too  severe.  His  motives  were  good,  and  in 
 all  things  he  desired  the  advancement  of  his 
 Master's  cause.  Most  ardently  did  he  love  the 
 holy  man  of  God  who  preached  the  Gospel  in 
 sincerity  and  truth,  while  his  very  soul  abhorred 
 the  hireling  who  went  into  the  priest's  office  for 
 a  morsel  of  bread.  This  will  account  for  the. 
 great  severity  of  many  of  his  remarks. 
 
 The  portraits  contained  in  this  work  were 
 evidently  taken  from  life.  The  author's  eye 
 was  fixed  on  known  characters,  and  hence  the 
 genuine  feeling  which  he  sometimes  displayed. 
 On  one  occasion,  the  present  writer  was  with 
 the  venerable  man,  when  he  referred  to  one  of  his 
 *  Village  Dialogues,  vol.  i.  p.  151,  26th  ed. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  559 
 
 sketches:  "There,  Sir,"  said  he,  "that  great 
 booby,"  pointing  to  a  learned  doctor  who  was 
 present,  "  could  not  help  weeping  when  he  read 
 it."  The  learned  doctor  beautifully  replied, 
 *  And  you,  Sir,  reminded  me  of  one  of  the 
 ancient  masters  of  eloquence,  who  was  so  en- 
 raptured with  the  beauty  of  a  character  he  had 
 sketched,  that  for  a  season  he  could  scarcely 
 believe  that  it  was  not  a  reality."  The  simple 
 painting  of  nature,  without  artificial  colouring, 
 always  produces  a  pleasing  and  deep  impression 
 upon  the  mind. 
 
 Mr.  Hill's  views  of  all  the  essential  doctrines 
 can  be  clearly  gathered  from  these  dialogues, 
 and  the  work  contains  some  of  the  most  clear 
 and  unanswerable  remarks  to  be  found  in  any 
 writer  on  the  Socinian  and  Antinomian  errors. 
 The  lovely  and  catholic  spirit  he  always  dis- 
 played towards  all  good  men  are  here  clearly 
 discernible.  On  this  subject  he  observes, (<  One 
 set  of  critics  I  shall  entirely  disregard ;  and  as 
 in  no  one  instance  have  I  shown  any  favour 
 towards  them,  so  shall  I  expect  none  in  return. 
 I  mean  the  bigots  of  every  party.  And  while 
 they  are  so  ignorant  of  their  own  spirit  as  to 
 sanction  their  sectarian  principles,  by  masking 
 their  evils  under  the  mild  appellations  of  order, 
 
560  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 regularity,  consistency,  principle,  discipline, 
 steadiness,  &c,  it  would  be  in  vain,  were  I  so 
 inclined,  to  attack  them  in  return.  But  1  for- 
 bear to  enter  into  a  controversy  with  those  who 
 make  the  sacrament  the  exclusive  criterion  of 
 any  sect  to  which  they  belong ;  so  contrary  to 
 the  mind  of  Christ,  and  to  the  nature  of  that 
 ordinance,  in  which  all  his  living  members  are 
 so  solemnly  directed  to  look  upon  themselves 
 as  one  in  him."* 
 
 The  author  concludes  the  first  edition  of  the 
 Dialogues  by  becoming  his  own  reviewer,  (not 
 to  say  biographer)  and  anticipates  the  senti- 
 ments of  the  public  in  the  following  manner : — 
 
 "  <  His  Mr.  Lovegood  is  neither  a  bigoted 
 churchman,  nor  a  friend  to  stiff  dissenters ;  he 
 is  neither  one  thing  nor  another ;  and  for  this, 
 the  rigid  professor,  on  both  sides  of  the  ques- 
 tion, will  give  it  the  author  on  both  sides  of  his 
 ears.'  This,  however,  will  be  to  him  nothing 
 more  than  the  old  thing  over  again. 
 
 "  '  He  has  lashed,  say  some,  the  regular 
 clergy  with  the  most  contemptuous  severity.' 
 Not  the  regular  clergy.  Look  at  their  names 
 and  characters,  and  say,  for  the  credit  of  the 
 
 *  Preface  to  Village  Dialogues,  p.  7.  2GthecL 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  561 
 
 church,  are  these  the  regular  clergy  ?  The 
 regular  clergy  he  has  treated  with  respect. 
 
 "  ■  A  wicked  wretch !  he  hates  the  church, 
 and  wants  to  overturn  it.'  If  it  be  not  over- 
 turned by  the  above-mentioned  regular  clergy, 
 regularly  wicked,  it  will  never  be  overturned 
 by  him.  Indeed  !  indeed  !  he  loves  the  church, 
 and  wishes  for  its  reformation. 
 
 "  ■  But  we  are  sure  he  hates  bitterly  the 
 state ;  and  Mr.  Spiteful  and  his  comrades  will 
 prove  the  fact.'  When  he  and  his  adherents* 
 leave  off  abusing  the  government,  under  which 
 they  are  protected  themselves,  they  will  then 
 be  left  at  liberty  to  make  good  their  mad  and 
 wanton  charges  against  others  as  fast  as  they 
 can. 
 
 "  '  He  is  at  times  much  too  jocular.'  How 
 was  the  poor  author  to  act  under  this  charge  ? 
 Some  have  privately  advised  a  graver  style : 
 others  have  said,  ■  Let  every  man  appear  in  his 
 own  dress/  He  only  begs,  that  his  kind  critics 
 would  bear  with  him,  for  if  at  one  time  he  has 
 been  too  jocular,  at  another  time  he  has  been 
 too  dull. 
 
 "  ;  He  has  been  holding  up  the  doctrine  of 
 
 *  The  Anti-  Jacobin  Reviewers. 
 2o 
 
562  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 faith  without  works  V  Strange  assertion  !  let 
 the  reader  put  on  his  spectacles,  for  his  sight 
 cannot  be  clear,  and  read  again ;  and  then  see 
 if  the  whole  design  of  the  book  be  not  to  prove 
 that  real  Christianity  inspires  holiness  to  God, 
 devotedness  to  his  glory,  and  universal  benevo- 
 lence towards  all  mankind.  ;  But  he  is  certainly 
 an  advocate  for  the  old  free-grace  notions  of 
 the  reformers.'  Yes,  and  let  our  modern  re- 
 formers of  the  doctrine  of  the  Reformation  prove 
 that  they  have  done  more  against  all  the 
 wickedness  existing  in  this  day,  than  those 
 great  men  of  God  did  in  their  day  against 
 Popery  and  its  concomitant  evils,  and  the  point 
 is  given  up. 
 
 "  <  But  what  will  that  terrible  literary  phalanx, 
 the  reviewers,  say  ?  Oh,  that  matter  is  easily 
 settled;  they,  like  the  wise  men  of  Gotham, 
 tell  the  world,  even  by  the  title-page  of  their 
 books,  under  whose  service  they  have  registered 
 their  brains  and  pens ;  the  man  who  minds 
 them  (I  speak  of  them  as  a  body)  proves  he 
 has  no  mind  of  his  own :  and  the  greatest 
 literary  amusement  a  man  can  have,  if  he  have 
 but  time,  is  to  read  their  most  curious  contra- 
 dictions of  each  other.  It  appears,  that  a  certain 
 set  of  these  reviewers  has  already  discovered, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  563 
 
 that  the  writer  of  these  Dialogues  is  both  a 
 Solomon  and  a  fool.  If,  however,  he  may  be 
 permitted  to  speak  for  himself,  he  has  been 
 writing  for  no  party — he  wishes  matters  to 
 stand  as  they  are — he  is  for  the  existence  of  an 
 establishment,  together  with  a  free  toleration  to 
 all  dissenters,  under  the  protection  of  the  most 
 excellent  constitution  on  which  our  British 
 government  is  framed.  He  is  for  no  revolu- 
 tions; as,  whatever  corruptions  may  defile  us, 
 an  excellent  platform  for  reformation  is  always 
 before  us. 
 
 "  May  that  blessing  which  is  from  above,  be 
 upon  every  reader,  that  whatever  has  been 
 represented  that  is  evil,  may  be  detested  and 
 rejected :  so,  on  the  contrary,  may  all  that  has 
 been  exhibited,  which  is  lovely,  honest,  and  of 
 good  report,  be  the  abundant  portion  of  every 
 heart  !" 
 
 This  excellent  work  passed  through  twenty- 
 six  editions  in  the  life-time  of  the  venerable 
 author,  and  he  had  repeated  testimonies  that 
 God  had  been  pleased  to  bless  it ;  although,  as 
 an  author,  he  was  not  enriched  by  his  literary 
 labours.  On  this  subject  he  wrote  the  following 
 letter  to  a  clerical  friend: — 
 
564  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  London,  March  3,  1830. 
 "  My  dear  Sir, 
 "  I  send  you,  according  to  your  request, 
 another  set  of  the  '  Village  Dialogues.'  They 
 have  been  for  some  time  in  the  booksellers' 
 hands; — while  I  had  them  in  my  own  hands, 
 they  contrived  to  get  me  into  debt,  and  I  was 
 glad  to  get  rid  of  them  for  £100.  After  that, 
 by  a  juggle  among  themselves,  they  were  again 
 brought  to  market,  and  sold  for  no  less  than 
 £600.  Thus  I  have  lost  my  books,  and  the 
 profits  of  them  also,  and  cannot  do  what  I 
 would  with  my  own.  I  am  sorry  for  it, — as,  far 
 beyond  my  expectation,  it  has  proved  a  useful 
 publication  to  many. 
 
 "  Yours  affectionately, 
 
 «  R.  Hill." 
 
 After  the  publication  of  these  excellent  Dia- 
 logues, through  which  the  beloved  author, 
 "  though  dead  yet  speaketh,"  several  pamphlets 
 appeared,  containing  the  particulars  of  his  first 
 and  second  tours  in  Scotland,  and  his  contro- 
 versies with  Dr.  Jamieson,  the  titles  of  which 
 will  be  seen  in  the  Appendix.  It  is  not  neces- 
 sary to  dwell  on  these  productions,  particularly 
 as   they  have  been  frequently  referred   to   in 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  56,*> 
 
 the  preceding  memoir.  These  works  are  not 
 always  written  in  the  spirit  of  meekness,  but 
 the  peculiar  times  in  which  they  appeared 
 will  partly  account  for  the  severity  of  their 
 style. 
 
 The  "Apology  for  Sunday  Schools,"  contain- 
 ing replies  to  the  charges  raised  against  those 
 useful  institutions  by  the  Bishop  of  Rochester, 
 gives  most  enlightened  views  of  the  importance 
 of  education,  and  exposes  in  a  masterly  man- 
 ner, the  weak  and  unsupported  statements  of 
 his  right  reverend  opponent.  This  sermon, 
 and  the  one  preached  before  the  volunteers  in 
 1803,  are  two  of  his  best  compositions:  they 
 contain  some  very  powerful  passages,  and  are 
 well  worthy  of  perusal. 
 
 The  "  Spiritual  Characteristics,"  represented 
 in  an  account  of  a  most  curious  sale  of  curates 
 by  public  auction,  who  were  to  be  disposed  of 
 in  consequence  of  the  "Clergy  Residence  Act," 
 were  published  in  1803,  and  our  venerable 
 friend  signed  himself,  "  An  Old  Observer." 
 This  work  contained  so  many  severe  and 
 caustic  remarks  against  the  irreligious  and 
 inconsistent  ministers  of  the  established  church, 
 — that  it  excited  very  powerful  feelings  against 
 the  writer.     It  has  been  correctly  stated,  that 
 
566  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Mr.  Hill  regretted  the  publication  of  this  work, 
 and  therefore  did  not  personally  sanction  its 
 republication.  The  Rev.  J.  Ball,  in  his  "  Ani- 
 madversions on  a  late  Anonymous  Pamphlet," 
 entitled,  "  An  Admonitory  Epistle  to  the  Rev. 
 Rowland  Hill,  A.  M."  remarks,  at  page  9,  "  As 
 you  profess  to  have  been  his  friend  till  the 
 second  edition  of  the  <  Spiritual  Characteristics' 
 made  its  appearance,  let  me  ask,  if  your  friend- 
 ship led  you  to  inquire,  at  the  proper  sources  of 
 information,  whether  Mr.  Hill  had  any  concern 
 in  it?  Had  you  made  such  inquiries,  you 
 would  have  ascertained  that  he  had  no  con- 
 cern in  it  whatever,  and  that  he  had  not  seen  a 
 single  page  of  it.  And  yet,  without  knowing, 
 and  without  taking  the  trouble  to  inquire  into 
 the  real  state  of  the  case,  you  have  had  the 
 effrontery  to  declare  that  'he  has  obtruded  a 
 second  edition  on  the  public.' "  The  opposition 
 raised  against  the  work  "promoted  the  sale  of 
 the  book  in  a  most  extraordinary  degree  ;"*  and 
 whatever  may  have  been  the  general  opinion 
 concerning  the  propriety  of  issuing  the  work, 
 yet  "  it  discovered  much  originality  of  genius, 
 and  knowledge  of  mankind." 
 
 *  Ball's  Animadversions,  p.  24. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  5G7 
 
 Although  Mr.  Hill  never  sanctioned  a  second 
 edition  of  the  work,  yet  the  offence  he  gave  to 
 "  the  higher  powers  "  was  never  forgiven.  He 
 was  excluded  from  the  churches,  where  he 
 had  been  accustomed  to  preach.  Even  the 
 pious  and  amiable  Bishop  Porteus  felt  it  his 
 duty  to  prevent  his  occupying  the  pulpits  in 
 his  diocese.  These  results  were  most  pain- 
 ful to  Mr.  Hill,  and  led  him  to  regret  the  pub- 
 lication of  the  book.* 
 
 In  1806,  Mr.  Hill  published  his  "Warning 
 to  Professors,"  which  contains  many  useful 
 admonitions.  This  work  brought  the  excellent 
 writer  into  collision  with  the  reviewers  of  the 
 day,  who  complained,  and  not  without  reason, 
 of  the  "  sarcastic  remarks  contained  in  the 
 work,  against  some  of  the  dissenting  churches, 
 which,  for  the  purpose  of  regularity  and  dis- 
 cipline, make  use  of  what  is  termed  a  church- 
 book."f  In  the  third  edition  of  this  useful 
 work,  Mr.  Hill  replied  to  his  reviewers,  and 
 assured     them     "  that    against     no    body     of 
 
 *  It  is  much  to  be  deplored  that  a  new  edition  of 
 this  work  was  published  immediately  after  the  au- 
 thor's death. 
 
 f  Evangelical  Magazine,  1805. 
 
568  MEMO  J 11  OF 
 
 dissenters  did  he  cast  the  most  distant  reflection, 
 whether  Independents,  Presbyterians,  Baptists, 
 or  any  other ;  but  as  their  restrictive  rules  shut 
 out,  even  from  occasional  communion  with  any 
 body  of  Christians  but  their  own  ;  nor  against 
 any  of  their  church  rules,  or  church  books,  did 
 he  mean  to  urge  the  least  objection,  only  as  the 
 principles  of  brotherly  love  and  unity  were  vio- 
 lated thereby." 
 
 In  1806,  Mr.  Hill  sent  out  an  excellent 
 pamphlet,  vindicating  and  recommending  cow- 
 pock  inoculation,  which  had  an  extensive  cir- 
 culation, and  removed  the  prejudices  of  many 
 persons  against  this  useful  discovery.  A  full 
 reference  to  this  subject  is  made  in  Chapter 
 VIII.  of  this  memoir. 
 
 In  addition  to  the  works  which  have  been 
 noticed,  Mr.  Hill  prepared  several  small 
 volumes  for  the  young,  entitled,  "  Divine 
 Hymns  for  Children;"  "Instruction  for  Chil- 
 dren, or,  a  Token  of  Love  for  the  Rising  Gene- 
 ration ;"  and  a  Catechism,  entitled,  "  The 
 Christian  Dispensation;"  which  display  much 
 simplicity,  and  a  tender  regard  for  the  spi- 
 ritual interests  of  the  juvenile  reader.  He 
 loved    his    Divine    Redeemer,    and    was    not 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  569 
 
 unmindful  of  the  command  delivered  by  him 
 to  Peter,  "  Feed  my  lambs." 
 
 After  these,  he  published  several  pamphlets 
 on  religious  freedom,  in  consequence  of  the 
 attempts  to  assess  Surrey  Chapel  for  poor- 
 rates. 
 
 Two  small  tracts,  entitled,  "  Four  Dialogues 
 in  Prison,"  and  "Thomas  Steady  and  John 
 Wild,"  have  had  an  extensive  and  useful  cir- 
 culation. 
 
 In  addition  to  the  remarks  which  have  been 
 made  on  the  prose  works  of  Mr.  Hill,  his 
 claims  as  a  poet  must  not  be  overlooked. 
 Not  that  any  one  will  venture  to  seek  for  him  a 
 place  among  the  distinguished  bards  of  our 
 country,  but  still  he  has  left  behind  him  several 
 beautiful  specimens  of  Christian  psalmody, 
 which  will  always  be  favourite  pieces  with  the 
 children  of  God.  In  the  early  part  of  life, 
 Mr.  Hill  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  Cowper  the 
 poet,  and  several  of  his  hymns  were  reviewed 
 and  retouched  by  that  inimitable  writer.*  In 
 the  Surrey  Chapel  collection  there  are  several 
 of  his  productions. 
 
 *  See  Preface  to  "  Hymns  for  Children,"  p.  5. 
 
570  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 His  beautiful  hymn  on  the  promised  rest,  is 
 generally  known  and  admired. 
 
 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  promised  rest. 
 
 With  holy  fear  and  reverent  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  promised  rest. 
 
 Thou  say'st  thou  wilt  thy  servants  keep 
 
 In  perfect  peace,  whose  minds  shall  be, 
 Like  new-born  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 ; 
 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  promised  rest. 
 
REV    ROWLAND  HILL.  571 
 
 Bid  the  tempestuous  rage  of  sin, 
 
 With  all  its  wrathful  fury,  die; 
 Let  the  Redeemer  dwell  within, 
 And  turn  my  sorrows  into  joy  : 
 
 Oh  may  my  heart,  by  thee  possessed, 
 Know  thee  to  be  my  promis'd  rest. 
 
 No  one  acquainted  with  Mr.  Hill  can  read 
 this  hymn,  without  seeing  before  him  the  image 
 of  the  writer  in  his  happiest  moments,  when 
 his  mind  was  sweetly  and  graciously  subdued 
 by  the  power  of  the  Divine  Spirit.  If  I  were 
 asked  for  a  description  of  Mr.  Hill  when  "  it 
 was  well  with  him,"  I  should  just  read  this 
 short  composition.  It  possesses  the  pathos  of 
 the  excellent  man,  when  he  left  the  footstool  of 
 mercy,  and  immediately  ascended  the  sacred 
 desk. 
 
 The  following  lines  are  a  beautiful  comment 
 on  Rev.  vii.  13.  "  What  are  these  which  are 
 arrayed  in  white  robes  ?"  &c. 
 
 Q.  Exalted  high,  at  God's  right  hand, 
 Nearer  the  throne  than  cherubs  stand, 
 With  glory  crown'd  in  white  array, 
 My  wondering  soul  says,  Who  are  they  ? 
 
572  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 A,  These  are  the  saints,  belov'd  of  God, 
 Wash'd  are  their  robes  in  Jesu's  blood  ; 
 More  spotless  than  the  purest  white, 
 They  shine  in  uncreated  light. 
 
 Q.  Brighter  than  angels,  lo,  they  shine, 
 Their  glories  great,  and  all  divine ; 
 Tell  me  their  origin,  and  say, 
 Their  order  what,  and  whence  came  they  ? 
 
 A.  Through  tribulation  great  they  came, 
 
 They  bore  the  cross,  and  scorned  the  shame ; 
 
 Within  the  living  temple  blest, 
 
 In  God  they  dwell,  and  on  him  rest. 
 
 Q.  And  does  the  cross  thus  prove  their  gain? 
 And  shall  they  thus  for  ever  reign, 
 Seated  on  sapphire  thrones,  to  praise 
 The  wonders  of  redeeming  grace? 
 
 A.  Hunger  they  ne'er  shall  feel  again, 
 Nor  burning  thirst  shall  they  sustain  ; 
 To  wells  of  living  waters  led, 
 By  God,  the  Lamb,  for  ever  fed. 
 
 Q.  Unknown  to  mortal  ears,  they  sing 
 The  secret  glories  of  their  King ; 
 Tell  me  the  subject  of  their  lays, 
 And  whence  their  loud  exalted  praise. 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  573 
 
 A.  Jesus,  the  Saviour,  is  their  theme. 
 They  sing  the  wonders  of  his  name; 
 To  him  ascribing  power  and  grace. 
 Dominion  and  eternal  praise. 
 
 Amen,  they  cry  to  him  alone, 
 Who  dares  to  rill  his  Father's  throne  ; 
 They  give  him  glory,  and  again 
 Repeat  his  praise,  and  say,  Amen. 
 
 The  two   following  hymns  show  Mr.  Hill's 
 earnest  desire  to  bind  up  the  broken  in  heart. 
 
 A  Pastoral  Hymn. 
 
 Sweet  peace  to  the  sinner  who  flies  to  the  Lord, 
 Who  trusts  on  his  grace,  and  relies  on  his  word! 
 The  Saviour  will  come  from  the  heavens  above. 
 And  gladden  his  heart  with  the  smiles  of  his  love. 
 
 How  rich  is  his  mercy !  how  free  is  his  grace ! 
 Who  came  from  above,  to  redeem  a  lost  race ! 
 Then,  sinner,  fall  down,  and  his  pardon  implore, 
 His  favour  receive,  and  his  mercy  adore. 
 
 His  heart  was  so  tender, — all  praise  to  his  name, 
 Tho'  cover'd  with  filth,  yet  a  Magdalen  came ; 
 And  others  as  vile  as  Manasseh  could  be; 
 Yet  all  have  been  sav'd  by  his  death  on  the  tree. 
 
 Then  why  should  poor  sinners  think  hard  of  the  Lord  ? 
 To  him  may  they  fly,  and  believe  on  his  word  ; 
 The  smoke  of  the  flax  he  will  raise  to  a  flame ; 
 The  reed  nearly  broken,  his  strength  shall  proclaim. 
 
574  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Adored  be  our  Saviour,  our  Shepherd,  and  Rock, 
 Who  tenderly  guards  the  poor  lambs  of  his  flock  ! 
 Who  screens  from  the  heat  of  the  clear  sultry  gleam, 
 And  leads  by  the  banks  of  the  soft  running  stream. 
 
 No  terrible  tempest  shall  ever  annoy 
 The  peaceful  abode  which  we  there  shall  enjoy! 
 While  basking  beneath  the  bright  beams  of  his  love, 
 We  wait  to  be  calPd  to  the  regions  above. 
 
 A  Song  in  Adversity. 
 
 Thy  suffering  disciples,  dear  Saviour,  draw  nigh. 
 And  under  thy  cross  on  thy  mercy  rely; 
 Supported  by  thee,  they  can  banish  all  pain; 
 Disciples  of  Jesus  shall  never  complain.  n 
 
 Should  the  sword  of  thy  judgments  go  forth  thro'  the 
 While  the  stroke,  we  confess,  would  be  just,  at  thine 
 We'll  sing  of  thy  mercy  again  and  again :  [hand  ; 
 Disciples  of  Jesus  shall  never  complain. 
 
 Should  the  arrows  of  sickness  and  death  fly  abroad, 
 Each  arrow,  we  own,  would  be  just  from  our  God  : 
 In  humble  submission  the  lot  we'll  sustain : 
 Disciples  of  Jesus  shall  never  complain. 
 
 Should  blasting  and  sickness  in  judgment  destroy 
 The  corn  and  the  wine  we  in  mercy  enjoy ; 
 No  losses  shall  grieve  us ;  e'en  death  shall  be  gain : 
 Disciples  of  Jesus  shall  never  complain. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  575 
 
 Should  the  Lord  by  a  murrain  the  cattle  destroy, 
 No  anxious  disgust  our  minds  should  annoy ; 
 Should  he  deluge  our  harvest  with  tempest  and  rain, 
 Disciples  of  Jesus  shall  never  complain. 
 
 Should  an  Isaac  as  lovely  as  Abra'm  possest, 
 Or  the  wife  of  my  bosom,  be  torn  from  my  breast, 
 Twas  the  Lord  that  both  gave,  and  demanded  again  ; 
 Disciples  of  Jesus  shall  never  complain. 
 
 In  the  following  letter,  Mr.  Hill  refers  to 
 Mr.  Cowper's  kind  services  in  revising  his 
 hymns.  It  contains  also  a  specimen  of  the 
 writer's  humorous  style. 
 
 "  My  dear  Brother  Bull, 
 "  At  last  the  famous  publication  is  out — 
 Cowper,  Bull,  Hill,  &  Co.,  'parturiunt  montes, 
 nascitur,'  &c. :  and  now  the  paper  is  so  palti y? 
 the  pointing  so  bad,  and  the  typographical 
 blunders  so  capital,  that  I  have  not  ventured  to 
 advertise  them.  My  printer  is  a  poor  man,  and 
 it  is  charity  to  employ  him,  but  he's  the  biggest 
 blunderer  in  all  the  world,  myself  not  excepted. 
 I  intend,  if  I  can,  not  to  advertise  till  the 
 next  edition,  and  that  shall  be  more  correct. 
 Mr.  Cowper  will  find  almost  all  his  judicious 
 amendments  strictly  attended  to ;  the  omissions 
 are  so  small,   that  I   think  he  himself  would 
 
576  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 judge  them  scarce  worth  apology.  I  think  you 
 know  them  all.  I  have  mentioned  the  cor- 
 rector's name  in  the  preface,  just  as  you  have 
 directed.  I  mean  to  defer  the  other  publica- 
 tion for  a  few  weeks  longer,  till  I  see  how 
 this  takes  with  the  public.  But  as  I  hope  to 
 see  you  soon  in  town,  I  shall  be  able  to  judge 
 better  about  the  business,  and  have  things  in 
 sufficient  forwardness  for  your  kind  corrections. 
 The  hymn-books  you  receive  with  this  you  have 
 already  more  than  paid  for  by  your  friendly 
 assistance.  The  Jialf- dozen,  more  decently 
 bound,  are  for  Mr.  Cowper ;  will  you  send  them 
 to  him  the  first  opportunity.  Madame  Wallis 
 travels  in  the  same  bundle ;  when  you  have  had 
 enough  of  her,  you  will  not  forget  to  return 
 her — too  good  to  be  parted  with  for  a  trifle — 
 charming  poetess,  the  best  in  her  way  that  ever 
 wrote.  You  are  to  come  to  London  on  Good 
 Friday ;  this  intelligence  I  received  at  Clapham, 
 and  I  told  Mr.  Thornton  that  I  should  ask  you 
 to  come  to  our  house  on  good  Thursday ;  and 
 that  if  you  preached  a  good  sermon,  I  would 
 send  you  on  the  Good  Friday  afternoon  to  good 
 Mr.  Thornton's,  with  a  good  number  of  thanks 
 for  your  good  services ;  my  good  wife  also  pro- 
 mises you  a  good  supper,  a  good  pipe,  and  a 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  577 
 
 good  bed,  provided  you  give  us  a  little  notice 
 that  we  are  to  expect  your  good  company :  so, 
 wishing  you  a  good  night,  as  it  is  a  good  while 
 past  11  o'clock, 
 
 "  I  remain,  though  after  a  poor  rate, 
 "  Your  good  friend  and  servant, 
 
 "  R.  Hill." 
 "  Friday  Eve. 
 "To  the  Rev.  W.  Bull,  Newport  Pagnel." 
 
 Until  the  close  of  life,  Mr.  Hill  was  accus- 
 tomed to  stir  up  his  poetic  muse.  In  1880, 
 when  eighty-six  years  of  age,  on  being  requested 
 to  write  a  few  lines  in  the  album  of  a  young 
 friend,  he  inserted  the  following  sweet  comment 
 on  his  favourite  verse  in  Phil.  iv.  8,  "  Whatso- 
 ever things  are  true,"  &c. 
 
 As  constellations  bright  and  clear 
 Adorn  the  night  till  day  appear ; 
 So  these  bright  graces,  all  divine, 
 Throughout  the  soul  with  lustre  shine. 
 
 Christ  loves  his  church,  and  she  shall  find 
 Herself  adorned  with  his  own  mind; 
 Yes,  his  dear  meek  and  lowly  heart 
 To  every  bride  he  will  impart. 
 
 2p 
 
578  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 The  first,  the  leading  grace  of  love, 
 Comes  like  an  angel  from  above ; 
 No  hateful  feelings  now  can  dare 
 Insult  the  soul,  for  love  is  there. 
 
 A  train  of  milder  graces  wait 
 To  decorate  her  heavenly  state, 
 Perfumed  with  odours,  drest  in  white, 
 Shining  in  robes  divinely  bright. 
 
 How  kind,  how  gentle,  and  how  mild, 
 How  holy,  harmless,  undefiled, 
 How  bright,  dear  Lord,  thy  saints  shall  shine, 
 When  drest  in  graces  so  divine. 
 
 The  following  was  written  in  a  lady's  album 
 in  1827. 
 
 "  Love  not  the  world,  nor  the  things  that  are  in  the 
 world ;  if  any  man  love  the  world,  the  love  of  the 
 Father  is  not  in  him." — 1  John  ii.  12. 
 
 Madam  Bubble  cries  out,  Come  purchase  my  toys, 
 Come  to  vanity  fair,  and  partake  of  my  joys ; 
 No  more  shall  dull  care  make  us  gloomy  and  sad, 
 We'll  live  as  we  like,  and  be  merry  and  glad. 
 
 What  a  merciful  change,  when  a  heavenly  birth 
 Subdues  in  our  hearts  this  madness  of  mirth, 
 Directs  us  to  walk  in  the  fear  of  our  God, 
 And  peacefully  travel  the  heavenly  road ! 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  579 
 
 Madam  Bubble,  begone,  as  an  infamous  cheat, 
 Thy  speeches  are  lies,  and  thy  traffic  deceit ; 
 Madam  Bubble,  begone  ;  no  allurements  of  thine 
 Shall  check  my  pursuit  after  blessings  divine. 
 
 The  last  time  Mr.  Hill  supplied  the  pulpit 
 at  Wotton-under-edge,  his  mind  was  grieved  by 
 some  circumstances  connected  with  the  persons 
 who  formed  the  choir.  He  felt  that  no  one 
 whose  moral  character  was  not  unspotted  from 
 the  world,  should  be  allowed  to  lead  the  holy 
 praises  of  God.  On  this  occasion  he  dictated 
 the  following  lines,  which  contain  marks  of  the 
 writer's  peculiar  talent. 
 
 A  Hint  to   all  Gallery  Singers. 
 Wherever  the  cap  jits,  let  them  wear  it. 
 
 In  solemn  ranks,  behold,  we  stand 
 
 Selected  as  a  choral  band, 
 
 "While  o'er  our  tuneful  notes  we  glide, 
 
 Only  to  gratify  our  pride. 
 
 But  how  impossible  to  sing 
 
 The  praise  of  our  most  Holy  King, 
 
 Till  hearts  are  tuned  by  grace  divine 
 
 To  celebrate  such  love  as  thine. 
 
 And  which,  of  all  the  choir,  can  say, 
 
 We've  lips  to  praise,  and  hearts  to  pray? 
 
580  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 But  how  can  ever  prayer  be  found 
 
 Where  sin  and  wickedness  abound  ? 
 
 And  how  disgraced  the  cause  of  God 
 
 While  such  can  sing  Christ's  cleansing  blood, 
 
 That  bids  all  hateful  sin  depart, 
 
 When  grace  divine  renews  the  heart ! 
 
 What  strange  hypocrisy  and  guile 
 
 Must  that  black  sinner's  heart  defile 
 
 Who  emulates  an  angel's  song 
 
 With  such  a  heart  and  such  a  tongue  ! 
 
 And,  oh  !  what  scandal  and  offence 
 
 Proceed  to  God's  dear  cause  from  thence, 
 
 While  such  with  hearts  and  lips  profane 
 
 Pretend  to  celebrate  His  name. 
 
 Let  silence  seize  that  lying  tongue 
 
 That  can  presume  to  lift  its  song 
 
 Before  that  great  heart-searching  God, 
 
 Whose  awful  sin-avenging  rod 
 
 Might  send  the  sinner  down  to  dwell 
 
 Amid  the  darksome  shades  of  hell. 
 
 Great  God !  in  mercy  yet  impart 
 
 Thy  powerful  grace  to  change  the  heart ; 
 
 And  make  such  sinners  meet  to  shine 
 
 Where  angels  chant  their  songs  divine. 
 
 On  this  same  subject  Mr.  Hill  remarks, 
 "  I  am  very  thankful  that  my  respected  con- 
 gregation at  Surrey  Chapel,  in  whose  service 
 I  have  been  engaged  for  nearly  half  a  century,  in 
 a  spirit  of  uninterrupted  harmony  and  peace, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL,  581 
 
 have  not  suffered  an  exclusive  set  of  singers  to 
 monopolize  to  themselves  this  delightful  part  of 
 the  service  of  God.  All  that  can,  feel  it  their 
 duty  to  stand  up,  that  they  may  praise  God 
 with  their  powers  both  of  heart  and  voice; 
 while  many  have  felt  their  souls  thrill  with 
 sacred  joy  at  the  sound  of  animating  songs  of 
 praise ;  such  was  the  command  given  when 
 David  directed  the  praises  of  Israel  of  old :  c  Let 
 the  people  praise  thee,  O  God ;  yea,  let  all  the 
 people  praise  thee.'  How  can  we  be  said  to 
 1  speak  to  ourselves  in  psalms,  and  hymns,  and 
 spiritual  songs,'  when  in  many  places  not  a  voice 
 is  heard  excepting  from  the  singing  gallery  ? — 
 while  it  is  to  be  feared,  that  some  of  these  would 
 find  their  mouths  completely  stopped,  if  none 
 should  presume  to  sing  but  such  as  are  taught 
 by  the  Holy  Spirit  'to  make  melody  in  their 
 hearts  unto  the  Lord.'  If  such  sort  of  gallery- 
 singers  know  how  to  please  themselves,  yet  sure 
 I  am  that  the  growing  evil  will  excite  no  growth 
 of  spiritual  life  or  animation  in  those  who  v/ish 
 to  have  their  hearts  rightly  affected  in  this  part 
 of  the  public  service  of  God."  * 
 
 The  mind  of  Mr.  Hill  was  pleasingly  excited 
 
 *  Preface  to  Psalms  and  Hymns.  8th  edit. 
 
582  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 by  the  powers  of  music  and  psalmody.  "  Charms 
 of  these  sorts,"  he  remarks,  u  are  from  God  him- 
 self;  they  soften  and  soothe  the  mind,  producing 
 a  most  happy  preparatory  frame  for  future 
 good.  Many  a  blessed  evidence  have  I  known 
 of  this  sort :  sinners  have  been  first  softened  by 
 the  hymn,  and  afterwards  converted  by  the 
 sermon."  *  "  Now  this  act  of  divine  worship  is 
 an  immediate  address  to  Deity  himself;  and  the 
 posture  is  ever  mentioned  as  that  of  standing, 
 nay,  angels  are  described  as  lying  prostrate  in 
 praise.  Sitting  is  a  slovenly  lazy  posture  for  an 
 act  of  such  high  devotion." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  evidently  felt  much  spiritual  delight 
 when  he  heard  his  own  favourite  compositions. 
 He  had  no  voice  for  singing,  yet  his  ear  was  ex- 
 quisitely fine  and  correct.  He  once  attempted 
 to  lead  off  the  old  hundredth  hymn,  but  he  told  a 
 friend  afterwards,  "  that  he  was  so  frightened  at 
 the  noise  he  made,  that  he  never  again  attempted 
 to  pitch  a  tune."  It  may  be  proper  to  record 
 another  little  fact  connected  with  Mr.  Hill's 
 love  of  music,  his  occasional  admonitions  to  his 
 congregation  on  the  subject  of  singing.  He  had 
 a  great  objection  to  noise  when  substituted  for 
 
 *  First  Journal,  p.  176. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  5S3 
 
 harmony.  He  always  considered  soft  devotional 
 singing  its  perfection ;  and  would  therefore  say, 
 "  I  wish  the  men  would  be  quiet  when  the  soft 
 parts  of  the  hymn  are  singing ;  let  them  listen 
 to  the  organ,  and  they  will  not  so  frequently 
 interrupt  the  harmony."  These  admonitions 
 were  kindly  received,  excited  a  smile  from  the 
 good  old  men,  who  sang  with  all  their  hearts 
 and  voices  too,  and,  for  a  short  time,  produced 
 a  reformation  of  manners. 
 
 Soon  after  the  erection  of  Surrey  Chapel,  the 
 performance  of  sacred  music  was  sanctioned  by 
 its  pastor,  and  also  by  Sir  Richard  Hill  and 
 other  excellent  persons.  These  musical  enter- 
 tainments, however,  were  strongly  condemned 
 by  others,  among  whom  were  the  venerable  John 
 Berridge  and  the  Rev.  John  Newton.  The 
 latter  endeavoured  to  expose  their  sinfulness  in 
 his  work  on  the  Messiah.  The  mind  of  Mr. 
 Hill  appears  for  a  season  to  have  been  unde- 
 cided upon  the  subject,  but  at  length  he  consi- 
 dered it  desirable  to  discontinue  these  musical 
 exhibitions.  On  this  point,  the  following 
 letter  from  Mr.  Berridge  to  his  friend  Mr. 
 Newrton,  contains  some  very  just,  though  quaint, 
 remarks : — 
 
584  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  Everton,  June  14,  1786. 
 "  My  dear  Brother, 
 "  I  have  received  and  read  your  c  Messiah/ 
 and  I  thank  God  for  the  Sermons,  and  for  the 
 testimony  you  have  borne  against  oratorios: 
 they  seem  a  growing  evil.  The  public  prints  give 
 notice  that  three  oratorios  are  to  be  performed 
 in  Louth  church,  at  the  end  of  this  month. 
 The  fiddling  of  scripture  in  a  theatre  seems  to 
 me  a  profanation  of  God's  word,  making  it  a 
 mere  carnal  amusement;  and  the  matter  is 
 made  worse  by  bringing  oratorios  into  God's 
 house  ;  they  then  become  a  satanical  ordinance, 
 and  Mr.  Hill's  grace  before  and  after  the  mu- 
 sical treat,  was,  though  not  intended,  a  conse- 
 cration of  it.  The  bringing  an  oratorio  band, 
 an  army  of  pipers  and  fiddlers  into  God's  house, 
 appears  to  me  a  wTorse  profanation  than  bring- 
 ing doves  into  the  temple.  But  the  cry  is,  they 
 were  all  professors.  Perhaps  so;  and  they  are 
 quickly  made  by  a  gallery -ticket  and  a  hymn- 
 book.  From  Sir  Richard's  avowed  vindication 
 of  church  oratorios,  displayed  in  two  letters  to 
 our  trustees,*  containing  twenty  quarto  pages, 
 
 *  Trustees  of  the  Tabernacle,  London. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  585 
 
 it  seemed  plainly  his  desire  to  have  annual  ora- 
 torios in  Surrey  Chapel ;  and  I  could  not  tell 
 how  far  Mr.  Hill  might  be  influenced  by  his 
 brother  and  a  large  band  of  fiddlestick  profes- 
 sors. Therefore  I  am  not  sorry  that  a  stir  has 
 been  made  about  the  matter,  to  nip  the  evil  in 
 its  bud.  But  if  I  had  known  Mr.  Hill's  decla- 
 ration, that  no  more  oratorios  should  be  per- 
 formed in  his  chapel,  it  would  have  saved  me 
 the  trouble  of  writing  my  letter,  which  was  sent 
 to  Mr.  Mills,  of  Moorfields,  in  answer  to  a  letter 
 from  him,  and  designed  for  no  one  else.  I  am 
 sorry  to  find  you  all  agree  in  calling  oratorios 
 inexpedient  things,  and  nothing  more ;  whereas, 
 if  they  are  lawful  exhibitions  for  God's  house, 
 the  devil  will  soon  find  a  way  to  make  them 
 expedient :  for  what  is  more  expedient  to  ease 
 a  chapel  of  its  debt  than  a  lawful  oratorio  ?  and 
 what  more  expedient  to  repair  a  decayed  chapel, 
 or  to  help  to  support  the  minister,  than  a  lawful 
 oratorio  ?  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord  of  the  Sabbath, 
 and  Lord  of  his  house,  and  no  one  has  a  right 
 to  appoint  offices  and  ordinances  but  himself. 
 All  human  inventions  are  innovations  of  his 
 authority  neither  expedient  nor  lawful."* 
 
 *  Original  MS.  letter. 
 
586  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 To  this  subject  Mr.  Hill  appears  to  refer  in 
 the  following  curious  epistle. 
 
 11  My  dear  Brother, 
 
 "  What  must  you  think  of  my  treatment  last 
 Tuesday  eve,  when  his  majesty's  tweedle-dee 
 and  tweedle-dum  man  interrupted  our  worship, 
 and  that  after  such  a  serious  introduction  of 
 singing  with  an  organ,  which  we  enjoyed  the 
 Sabbath  before.  Pride  must  have  its  fall,  and 
 for  the  future  all  the  tweedle-dums  that  kings 
 love,  they  shall  keep  among  themselves ;  their 
 fine  airs  will  never  do  for  a  Methodist  meeting- 
 house, and  so  farewell  to  the  first  and  the  last 
 of  this  business. 
 
 "  Brother  Bull,  thanks — a  thousand  thanks 
 for  your  last  visit, — the  people  sucked  in  the 
 truth  very  greedily,  which  proves  that  they  desire 
 the  sincere  milk  of  the  word,  that  they  may 
 growr  thereby.  Jesus  is  emphatically  the  Word. 
 The  more  he  is  preached,  the  more  his  people 
 are  blessed :  they  that  feed  on  him  are  delighted 
 with  one  of  our  songs, 
 
 11  Bread  of  heaven, 
 Feed  me  till  I  want  no  more." 
 
 Self  and  self-righteousness  are  the  two  prin- 
 cipal repasts  of  those  that  know  not  God ;  the 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  587 
 
 one  is  carrion,  the  repast  of  the  world ;  the 
 other  is  chaff,  the  dish  of  the  false  professor, 
 but  (to  the  believer)  His  flesh  is  meat  indeed, 
 and  his  blood  is  drink  indeed  ! 
 
 "  But  I  forget  the  design  of  my  letter.  After 
 my  Tuesday  blunder,  Mrs.  Hill  and  I  came 
 over  to  Mr.  Neale's  in  hopes  of  an  interview 
 with  you  at  his  house ;  but,  like  a  nimble  Jack, 
 we  found  you  gone,  and  so  we  did  our  very  best 
 to  patch  up  our  bad  behaviour.  I  rejoice  with 
 you  that  your  lovely  son  is  as  he  is :  Jesus  gives 
 you  this  joy ;  his  great  sacrifice  procured  all  we 
 ever  had,  now  have,  and  ever  shall  have. 
 
 Past  ten  o'clock,  eyes  half  shut,  mind  marvel- 
 lously stupid,  spirits  much  exhausted,  and  candles 
 burning  to  waste.  I  shall  therefore  save  the  best 
 part  of  a  halfpenny  if  I  finish  directly. 
 
 "  Yours  very  gratefully  and  affectionately, 
 "  Rowland  Hill." 
 
 "London,  some  day,  I  know  not  what,  in  the 
 month  of  February,  and  here  ends  my 
 present  knowledge," 
 
 Towards  the  close  of  life,  Mr.  Hill  occasion- 
 ally sanctioned  the  performance  of  sacred  music, 
 for  the  benefit  of  the  alms-houses  he  had  erected. 
 He,  however,  strongly  objected  to  any  one  being 
 
588  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 engaged  in  the  service  whose  moral  character 
 was  incorrect  On  these  occasions,  his  friend 
 Mr.  Jacob,  Dr.  Crotch,  and  other  talented  men, 
 engaged  in  the  services.  It  is,  however,  just  to 
 the  memory  of  Mr*  Hill  to  state,  that  he  most 
 decidedly  objected  to  the  appearance  of  Chris- 
 tians at  theatrical  oratorios.  In  closing  this 
 chapter,  his  opinion  upon  this  subject  shall  be 
 given  to  the  reader. 
 
 "  The  greatest  honour  which  can  be  put 
 upon  the  science  of  music  is  found  in  the  sacred 
 Scriptures  themselves ;  the  joys  of  heaven  being 
 represented  to  us  by  those  delightful  charms,  is 
 it  fit  that  such  a  science  should  be  employed 
 for  the  celebration  of  the  worst  of  passions? 
 Oh  how  must  the  Christian  feel  when  he  dis- 
 covers the  artifice  of  the  enemy  of  souls  thus 
 to  snatch  that  sacred  torch  from  the  altar  of 
 God's  own  erecting,  to  kindle  a  flame  opposite 
 to  all  the  holy  designs  of  Heaven." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  589 
 
 CHAP.  XVI. 
 
 MR.  HILL  S  LAST  YEARS  AND  DEATH. 
 
 The  good  man's  approach  to  the  grave — looking  back  on  life 
 — sternhold's  lines — mr.  hill's  remarks  on  death — original 
 letter  to  a  clergyman  in  yorkshire  —  the  last  letter 
 mr.  hill  wrote  with  his  own  hand — interesting  interview 
 on  mr.  hill's  leaving  town  in  1s32 — sermon  at  dr.  fletcher's 
 — the  young  lady's  reception — beautiful  remarks  in  closing 
 sermons— the  rev.  john  gambold's  hymn — mr.  hill's  anxiety 
 to  see  his  successor  at  surrey  chapel  —  applications  to 
 clergymen  and  dissenting  ministers  —  two  original  and 
 characteristic  letters — the  missionary  deputation — first 
 sermon  in  1833 — on  assura  nce— mr.  hill*s  reserve  in  refer- 
 ence to  his  personal  feelings — his  last  sermon — his  last 
 address— dying  experience,  and  death — the  funeral  ser- 
 vice—tablet erected  in  surrey  chapel — remarks  thereon 
 — dr.  bate's  remarks  in  baxter's  funeral  sermon. 
 
 All  the  movements  of  a  good  man  are  interest- 
 ing as  he  approaches  the  termination  of  his 
 course.  His  path  is  as  the  shining  light,  which 
 shineth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day. 
 During  the  Christian's  pilgrimage,  his  experi- 
 ence may  vary ;  "  it  may  be  neither  dark  nor 
 aght,  yet  at  eventide  it  shall  be  light." 
 
530  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 In  the  prospect  of  an  eternal  state,  Mr.  Hill's 
 mind  "  rejoiced  with  trembling."  He  was  not 
 altogether  delivered  from  the  bondage  arising 
 from  the  fear  of  death,  and  anticipated  the 
 event  with  the  most  solemn  feelings.  After 
 hearing  a  sermon  from  the  words,  "  Surely  the 
 bitterness  of  death  is  passed,"  he  affectionately 
 thanked  the  preacher,  and  remarked,  "  Even 
 the  apostle  says,  '  the  last  enemy  that  shall  be 
 destroyed  is  death.  Yes,  he  is  an  enemy,  but 
 a  conquered  one  to  the  believer." 
 
 "  There  are  some  people,"  he  observed, 
 "  who  often  talk  about  looking  back  on  a  well- 
 spent  life.  I  look  up  to  Him  who  spent  his 
 life  gloriously  to  redeem  my  precious  soul ;  and 
 there  alone  I  dare  to  look.  I  thank  God  who 
 has  kept  me  from  the  grosser  sins  of  the  world, 
 but  there  is  not  a  prayer  more  suitable  for  my 
 dying  lips  than  that  of  the  publican,  '  God  be 
 merciful  to  me  a  sinner.'  " 
 
 For  a  considerable  period  before  the  close  of 
 his  ministry,  Mr.  Hill's  mind  daily  dwelt  on  his 
 expected  change.  Like  the  great  apostle,  there 
 were  seasons  when  he  could  say,  "  I  am  ready 
 to  be  offered."  His  sermons  often  contained 
 beautiful  indications  of  the  state  of  his  own 
 mind.     When  in  the  valley  of  deep  humiliation, 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  591 
 
 he  would  often  exclaim,  "  Oh,  I  love  those  lines 
 of  old  Sternhold — 
 
 "  Mercy,  good  Lord,  mercy  I  ask, 
 Mercy's  the  total  sum  ; 
 For  mercy,  Lord,  is  all  my  suit, 
 O  let  thy  mercy  come." 
 
 The  following  passages  are  specimens  of  some 
 of  the  thoughts  which  sparkled  from  the  mind 
 of  the  venerable  preacher  in  the  closing  years 
 of  his  ministry. 
 
 "  I  can  only  look  upon  death  as  a  dreary 
 curse  brought  into  the  world  by  sin ;  but  when 
 I  can  look  on  Christ  as  my  life,  then  I  can 
 stand  on  the  high  hills  of  salvation,  where  I  can 
 sing,  <0  death,  where  is  thy  sting?  O  grave, 
 where  is  thy  victory  ?  " 
 
 "  Death  is  at  all  times  an  awful  calamity,  and 
 we  cannot  rejoice  over  that  which  in  itself  is 
 sent  as  a  curse;  but,  blessed  be  God,  we  can 
 still  stand  on  the  Rock  of  ages,  and  from  thence 
 can  look  down  into  the  chambers  of  the  grave 
 with  serenity." 
 
 "  'Tis  a  great  mercy  to  have  a  soft  pillow 
 under  our  heads  in  a  dying  hour;  but  to  enjoy 
 this  privilege,  remember  we  must  live  near  to 
 God." 
 
592  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  What  a  mercy  it  is  to  feel  Christ  as  our  life 
 while  we  are  in  life,  that  when  we  come  to  die 
 we  may  find  his  love  as  a  fire  within  us,  warm- 
 ing our  souls  when  the  chilling  hand  of  death 
 is  upon  us." 
 
 "  We  none  of  us  can  lie  down  and  die  com- 
 fortably, but  as  we  are  led  to  say,  by  spiritual 
 life  working  in  our  souls,  when  death  is  doing 
 its  last  office  on  the  body,  '  I  live — yet  not  I, 
 but  Christ  liveth  in  me/  " 
 
 "  I  would  rather  die  a  thousand  deaths  than 
 that  the  cause  of  God  should  grow  cold  upon 
 my  heart." 
 
 Having  been  invited  to  occupy  the  pulpit  of 
 a  clergyman  in  Yorkshire,  Mr.  Hill  sent  the 
 following  reply  to  the  invitation.  The  letter 
 displays  the  humble  state  of  his  mind  at  the 
 close  of  life. 
 
 "  London,  March  3d,  1830. 
 "  My  dear  Sir, 
 
 "  You   invite   me   kindly  to  preach  in  your 
 
 church ;  but  how  can  an  old  man  promise  to 
 
 take  such  a  journey,  who  is  far  advanced  in  the 
 
 86th  year  of  his  age?    However,  through  mercy, 
 
 it  is  in  my  heart  to  labour  still ;  though,  after  all 
 
 our  doings,  we  have  only  to  lament  that  we  have 
 
 done  so  little,  and  that  so  defectively.    May  this 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  593 
 
 be  my  last  dying  petition,  '  God  be  merciful  to 
 me  a  sinner !'  I  am  now  interrupted  a  third 
 time  while  writing  these  few  hasty  lines,  and 
 conclude  by  adding  that  I  am, 
 
 "  Affectionately  your's, 
 
 "  Rowland  Hill." 
 
 The  same  spirit  of  deep  humility  will  be  dis- 
 covered in  a  letter  written  to  one  of  the  respected 
 managers  of  the  Tabernacle  at  Bristol,  a  place 
 ever  associated  with  the  most  pleasing  recol- 
 lections in  the  mind  of  Mr.  Hill.  This  letter 
 was  perhaps  the  last  which  he  personally  wrote. 
 The  calm  view  which  he  takes  of  his  past  minis- 
 terial labours  is  exceedingly  interesting. 
 
 "  Wotton-under-edge,  Aug.  2,  1631. 
 "  My  dear  Friend, 
 "  Long  as  I  have  been  enabled  to  resist  the 
 imperious  consequences  of  old  age,  yet  I  find  at 
 length  I  must  submit,  and  no  wonder — before 
 the  conclusion  of  this  month,  I  shall  pass  into 
 the   88th  year  of   my  age.      During  this  last 
 winter  I  have  been  visited  with  such  an  inflam- 
 mation in  one  of  my  eyes,  that  I  can  scarcely 
 see  what  I  write,  nor  can  I  read  the  plainest 
 printed  chapter  in  the  Bible  but  with  difficulty, 
 2Q 
 
594  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 unless  by  a  previous  recollection  of  its  contents ; 
 add  to  this,  an  injury  done  to  the  shin-bone 
 during  the  missionary  week  has  greatly  crippled 
 me,  while  a  small  open  wound  still  continues  to 
 demand  attention  and  care.  I  am  at  length  com- 
 pelled to  have  a  young  friend  with  me  to  attend 
 to  the  short  services  belonging  to  this  place  alone, 
 while  a  few  efforts  occasionally,  to  serve  some  of 
 the  smaller  congregations  in  the  vicinage,  seems 
 to  be  the  utmost  my  exhausted  strength  will 
 admit.  After  this,  you  will  naturally  expect  me 
 to  add,  that  an  autumnal  visit  to  Bristol  cannot 
 be  expected  from  me,  as  I  now  feel  it  cannot  be 
 accomplished  by  me.  I  now  feel  that  I  cannot 
 do  the  things  that  I  would,  and  it  grieves  me 
 that  I  must  at  length  give  up ;  and  while  I  am 
 obliged  to  cease  from  what  is  called  labour,  may 
 I  wait  with  holy  patience  for  my  eternal  rest 
 in  Christ.  That  day,  with  me,  I  am  now  sure, 
 is  very  near  at  hand.  That  gospel  which  I  have 
 preached  I  may  say  many  thousands  of  times  to 
 others,  is  now  the  only  solid  resting-place  of  my 
 soul :  though  in  this  letter  I  scarcely  see  what  I 
 write,  yet  in  this  I  feel  what  I  write.  Though 
 I  don't  lament  over  what  I  have  preached,  yet 
 I  greatly  lament  that  I  have  not  preached  the 
 same  truths  with  more  spirituality,  fervour,  and 
 
REV,  ROWLAND  HILL.  595 
 
 devotedness  of  heart.  Though  I  cannot  charge 
 myself  as  having  been  a  lazy  drone,  yet,  as  a 
 busy  bee,  oh  !  that  I  had  been  better  taught  how 
 to  collect  the  sacred  honey  from  those  hills  from 
 whence  all  our  hopes  of  salvation  come. 
 
 "  Though  while  I  write  I  scarcely  see  what 
 I  write,  yet  one  word  shall  further  be  written,  as 
 flowing  from  the  heart  of 
 
 "  Your's,  very  affectionately, 
 
 "  Rowland  Hill. 
 
 "Love  to  your  family  and  friends." 
 
 YV.  D.  Wills,  Esq. 
 
 It  may  not  be  improper  here  to  introduce 
 a  letter  which  Mr.  Hill  wrote  to  an  aged  and 
 beloved  ministerial  brother: — 
 
 "  My  dear  old  Friend  and  Brother, 
 "  What  an  honour  to  be  enabled  to  bring 
 forth  fruit  in  old  age  :  the  people  tell  me  you 
 were  highly  favoured  with  this  token  for  good 
 during  your  last  summer's  visit  at  Surrey 
 Chapel, — they  say  that  your  preaching  was  not 
 in  word  only,  but  also  in  power,  and  in  the 
 Holy  Ghost,  and  in  much  assurance.  This 
 makes  them  cry  out  for  another  taste  of  the 
 same  sort, — and  in  obedience  to  their  wishes  I 
 write   to    inform   you,  that    we    shall   have   a 
 
596  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 vacancy  to  fill  up,  from  after  the  four  first 
 Sabbaths  in  July,  till  after  the  last  in  August. 
 Say  how  much  of  that  time  you  can  spare  for 
 us, — the  more  of  it  the  better.  Nothing  but  a 
 heavenly  union  with  our  sacred  Head,  Christ 
 Jesus,  can  avail  to  keep  up  the  power  of 
 religion  upon  the  heart.  How  little  the  world 
 can  know  of  that  blessed  mystery,  "  Ye  are 
 dead,  and  your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God!" 
 Oh,  glorious  death !  Oh,  glorious  life ! — 
 enough  to  make  us  alive  even  in  the  very 
 jaws  of  death.  May  you  be  enabled  to  tell 
 of  this  great  salvation  in  a  more  abundant 
 manner  in  your  declining  years,  with  more 
 animation  and  holy  warmth  than  ever  you 
 enjoyed  in  your  youthful  days. 
 
 "  Your  ever  affectionate  Brother, 
 
 «  R.  Hill." 
 
 One  of  the  most  interesting  scenes  the  writer 
 ever  witnessed  in  connection  with  Mr.  Hill,  and 
 which  strikingly  displayed  the  peculiarities  of 
 his  mind,  was  on  the  day  he  left  London  for  his 
 country  residence  in  1832.  The  rapid  manner 
 in  which  he  passed  from  the  "grave  to  the  gay" 
 was  a  strong  indication  of  the  strong  excitement 
 he  felt.      On  the  Sabbath  evening,  I  had  taken 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  59? 
 
 my  leave  of  him,  not  expecting  to  see  him  again. 
 He  sent  for  me  in  the  morning,  and  requested 
 me  to  attend  to  some  small  commissions.  I  was 
 with  him  a  few  minutes  before  he  left  the 
 chapel-house.  Having  finished  his  lunch,  he 
 called  out,  "  Charles,  are  the  horses  ready  ?" 
 "  Not  quite,  Sir."  "  Horses  are  good  things, 
 Sir,"  he  remarked,  "  I  had  one  that  carried  me 
 many  miles  to  preach  the  gospel ;  he  was  a  kind 
 creature ;  I  remember  I  taught  him  to  dance, 
 and  he  managed  it  very  well  indeed.  Oh  !  me — 
 I  am  now  leaving  this  place,  never,  perhaps,  to 
 see  it  again.  Oh  !  'tis  a  solemn  thought.  Charles, 
 where  is  the  old  cat  ?  I've  not  seen  him  for  a 
 long  time  ;  he  used  to  keep  my  feet  warm  in  the 
 winter,  and  curl  his  tail  round  my  legs.     How 
 
 does  Doctor go  on  ?  I  don't  much  like  that 
 
 man.  There's  something  odd  about  him,  and 
 his  temper  is  queer.  Charles,  are  the  horses 
 ready  ?"  "  Nearly  so,  Sir."  "  I  had  a  cow 
 once  at  Wootton,  and  she  was  a  great  favourite  ; 
 I  tried  to  teach  her  to  dance,  but,  poor  thing ! 
 she  made  a  sad  out  of  it.  I  once  permitted 
 her  to  give  me  a  ride,  but  I  had  no  sooner  got 
 on  her  back,  than  away  she  went,  quite  delighted 
 with  her  load,  but  I  was  soon  upset ;  so  I  never 
 gave  her  another  treat.     Pray,  Sir,  how  is  the 
 
696  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 Trinitarian  Bible  Society  going  on?  Trinitarian, 
 too  !  what  right  have  they  to  assume  that  title  ? 
 Our  Bibles  are  as  Trinitarian  as  theirs."  At 
 this  moment  the  servant  entered  and  said,  "  The 
 horses  are  ready,  Sir."  "  Oh  !  dear,  must  I  go  ?" 
 He  rose  with  difficulty  from  his  chair.  He 
 walked  to  the  door,  and,  turning  back,  he  sighed, 
 and  gave  a  searching  look  round  the  room,  and 
 then,  in  a  subdued  tone,  with  his  eyes  raised,  he 
 exclaimed,  "  Oh  !  'tis  a  solemn  thought — I  am 
 not  likely  to  see  this  place  again."  He  paused, 
 and  in  a  voice  little  louder  than  a  whisper, 
 added,  "  But  what  a  mercy  to  have  lived  here 
 fifty  years,  and  by  heavenly  grace  to  have  been 
 kept  unspotted  from  the  world  !"  He  then  said 
 to  his  attendant,  "  I'll  go  into  the  kitchen,  and 
 see  the  servants."  He  slowly  descended  the 
 steps,  where  he  found  them  all  waiting  to  bid 
 him  farewell.  Standing  in  the  centre  of  the 
 kitchen  with  deeply  affected  feelings,  he  said, 
 "  You'll  not  see  your  old  master  again."  All 
 present  were  in  tears.  Just  at  this  moment  the 
 old  cat  made  his  appearance.  "  You  nasty  old 
 creature,"  said  Mr.  Hill,  so  you  have  just  come 
 to  say  mew,  mew,  before  I  go :  where  have  you 
 been  ?  ah  !  you  may  mew  !  let  me  stroke  his 
 back,  Daniel."     The  cat  was  caught,  and  the 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  599 
 
 good  man  having  patted  poor  puss  several  times, 
 ordered  him  to  be  set  at  liberty,  when  off  he 
 ran,  as  if  pleased  that  he  had  so  successfully 
 made  his  peace  with  his  master.  Mr.  Hill  then 
 proceeded  to  the  coach-yard.  He  looked  for  a 
 second  or  two  with  deep  interest  at  the  chapel. 
 "  There  I  have  preached  for  fifty  years ;  but  my 
 work  is  done."  He  got  into  his  carriage,  and 
 then  exclaimed,  as  he  drew  up  the  window-blind, 
 "  Farewell,  till  bodies  meet  to  part  no  more." 
 
 The  effect  of  this  scene  can  scarcely  be  con- 
 ceived. I  was  relieved  by  tears  as  the  carriage 
 disappeared,  and  then  thought  that  our  next 
 meeting  would  probably  be  at  the  judgment- 
 seat  of  Christ. 
 
 The  venerable  man  was  spared  once  more  to 
 return  to  London.  From  his  increasing  feeble- 
 ness it  was  evident  that  "  the  time  of  his  depar- 
 ture was  at  hand."  The  last  time  he  preached 
 for  his  friend,  Dr.  Fletcher,  at  Stepney,  it  was 
 with  extreme  difficulty  he  reached  the  chapel. 
 In  the  vestry  it  was  doubtful  whether  or  not  he 
 could  preach.  A  friend  read  the  Scriptures 
 and  prayed,  for  him.  After  a  considerable  effort 
 he  ascended  the  pulpit,  and  the  sight  of  a  crowd- 
 ed congregation  revived  his  spirits.  The  congre- 
 gation sang  Dr.  Watts's  71st  psalm,  3d  part — 
 
600  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 u  Wilt  thou  forsake  my  hoary  hairs, 
 And  leave  my  fainting  heart? 
 Who  shall  sustain  my  sinking  years, 
 If  God,  my  strength,  depart  ? 
 
 "  Let  me  thy  power  and  truth  proclaim 
 To  the  surviving  age  ; 
 And  leave  a  savour  of  thy  name, 
 When  I  shall  quit  this  stage. 
 
 "  The  land  of  silence  and  of  death 
 Attends  my  next  remove  ; 
 O  may  these  poor  remains  of  breath 
 Teach  the  wide  world  thy  love !" 
 
 The  effect  of  the  hymn  was  exceedingly  inte- 
 resting, under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the 
 preacher.  Mr.  Hill  preached  a  short  sermon 
 from  his  favourite  text  in  1  Cor.  xv.  58,  which 
 evidently  did  him  good.  After  the  service, 
 many  of  the  people  were  anxious  to  take  a  last 
 farewell.  A  young  lady,  wrho  seemed  to  ap- 
 proach him  with  the  grateful  feelings  of  a  con- 
 vert, requested  the  favour  of  taking  his  hand  : 
 the  good  man  was  not  in  one  of  his  happy  mo- 
 ments, for  nature  was  exhausted.  He  tardily 
 complied  with  the  request,  and  then  dryly  re- 
 marked, "  I  hope  that  will  last  you,  ma'am,  for 
 seven  vears." 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  601 
 
 At  Surrey  Chapel  he  was  obliged  to  sit  while 
 preaching,  for  a  considerable  time  before  his 
 death.  His  sight  failing  him,  his  text  was  written 
 out  in  large  text-hand,  which  he  wras  able  to 
 decipher  with  the  assistance  of  extra  glasses. 
 At  seasons  there  were  beautiful  thoughts  in  his 
 sermons.  The  following  were  uttered  in  his 
 88th  year  :— 
 
 "  I  may  as  well  try  to  pluck  the  stars  from 
 the  firmament  with  this  little  arm  of  mine,  as  to 
 plant  one  of  the  graces  of  the  Spirit  in  my  heart 
 by  any  powrer  of  my  own." 
 
 "  When  God  created  the  world,  he  had  only 
 to  say,  t  Let  there  be  light,  and  there  was  light  f 
 but  when  he  has  to  convert  a  soul,  all  the  powers 
 of  sin  and  hell  are  engaged  against  him." 
 
 "  The  grace  of  evangelical  repentance  does 
 not  break  the  heart,  and  leave  every  bit  of  the 
 broken  parts  still  stone ;  but  it  melts  the  heart, 
 and  changes  every  principle  of  it.  If  you  break 
 a  flint  stone,  every  portion  of  the  stone  is  still 
 flint ;  but  if  you  melt  it  in  the  fire,  every  particle 
 of  it  becomes  changed.  So  it  is  writh  the  heart 
 of  man :  the  Lord  does  not  break  it ;  but  by 
 the  fire  of  Divine  love  he  gloriously  changes 
 the  heart,  and  it  becomes  entirely  new." 
 
602  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  No  engraver,  however  eminent,  can  engrave 
 a  good  image  or  likeness  upon  a  clumsy  or 
 coarse  material,  not  capable  of  receiving  the  fine 
 touches  of  his  art :  so,  while  there  is  nothing 
 within  us  but  these  earthly  hearts,  I  could 
 venture  to  say,  God  cannot  engrave  his  holy 
 image  there,  unless  he  gives  first  of  all  a  better 
 spirit  to  receive  the  impression." 
 
 Notwithstanding  his  great  debility,  it  was 
 often  difficult  to  prevail  on  the  aged  preacher 
 to  seek  the  repose  which  nature  required ;  and 
 yet  his  beautiful  remark  was,  "  I  never  had  too 
 much  of  the  seraph,  but  always  too  much  of 
 the  snail."  His  affectionate  people  heard  him 
 with  great  kindness ;  and  after  he  had  finished 
 his  sermon,  they  would  exclaim,  "  Dear  old 
 gentleman,  he  has  been  very  sweet  this  morning. 
 Ah  !  there's  nobody  like  him,  after  all !" 
 
 As  he  continued  to  approach  "  the  house  ap- 
 pointed for  all  living,"  two  subjects  alternately 
 occupied  his  mind — his  own  death,  and  his  suc- 
 cessor in  the  pulpit.  You  could  seldom  call 
 upon  him  without  hearing  him  repeat  the  tenth 
 and  eleventh  verses  in  the  134th  hymn  in  the 
 Surrey  Chapel  Collection ;  a  simple  and  beau- 
 tiful  poem,   composed   by  the  late  Rev.  John 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  603 
 
 Gambold,  A.  M.,  formerly  minister  of  Staunton 
 Harcourt,  in  Oxfordshire,  and  afterwards  one  of 
 the  bishops  of  the  United  Brethren. 
 
 O  tell  me  no  more 
 Of  this  world's  vain  store, 
 The  time  for  such  trifles  with  me  now  is  o'er. 
 
 A  country  I've  found, 
 Where  true  joys  abound, 
 To  dwell  I'm  determin'd  on  that  happy  ground. 
 
 The  souls  that  believe 
 In  Paradise  live, 
 And  me  in  that  number  will  Jesus  receive. 
 
 My  soul,  don't  delay, 
 He  calls  thee  away  ; 
 Rise,  follow  thy  Saviour,  and  bless  the  glad  day. 
 
 No  mortal  doth  know 
 What  He  can  bestow, 
 What  light,  strength,  and  comfort  do  after  him  go. 
 
 Lo  !  onward  I  move, 
 And  but  Christ  above, 
 None  guesses  how  wondrous  my  journey  will  prove. 
 
 Great  spoils  I  shall  win 
 From  death,  hell,  and  sin  ; 
 Midst  outward  afflictions  shall  feel  Christ  within. 
 
 Perhaps  for  his  name, 
 Poor  dust  as  I  am, 
 Some  works  I  shall  finish  with  glad  loving  aim. 
 
604  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 I  still  (which  is  best) 
 Shall  in  his  dear  breast, 
 As  in  the  beginning,  find  pardon  and  rest. 
 
 And  when  I'm  to  die, 
 
 Receive  me,  I'll  cry, 
 
 For  Jesus  hath  loved  me,  I  cannot  tell  why. 
 
 But  this  I  do  find, 
 We  two  are  so  joined 
 He'll  not  live  in  glory,  and  leave  me  behind. 
 
 Lo !  this  is  the  race 
 I'm  running  through  grace, 
 Henceforth,  till  admitted  to  see  my  Lord's  face. 
 
 And  now  I'm  in  care 
 My  neighbours  may  share 
 These  blessings — to  seek  them  will  none  of  you  dare  ? 
 
 In  bondage,  0  why, 
 And  death,  will  you  lie, 
 When  one  here  assures  you  free  grace  is  so  nigh  ? 
 
 For  several  years  before  his  death,  Mr.  Hill 
 had  constant  anxiety  of  mind  to  see  his  suc- 
 cessor in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  The  old  war- 
 rior thought  he  could  cheerfully  retire  from  the 
 spiritual  conflict,  if  he  could  only  deliver  up  his 
 standard  to  an  efficient  leader  of  his  people. 
 
 On  one  occasion  he  mentioned  his  intention 
 of  writing  to  a  clergyman,  who  had  conscien- 
 tious scruples  about  remaining  in  the  church. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  G05 
 
 "Do  you  know  him,  Sir;  they  tell  me  he's  a 
 nice  lad."  "No,  Sir,"  I  replied,  "but  I  un- 
 derstand he  has  been  a  neighbour  of  yours  for  a 
 considerable  time."  "A  neighbour  of  mine, 
 Sir,  where  did  he  live  ?"  "  Within  the  walls  of 
 the  King's  Bench  Prison."  "Mercy  on  us,  we 
 must  not  write  to  him,  however."  At  this  time 
 he  confessed  a  wish  that  "young  Mr.  Sidney" 
 could  clearly  see  his  way  to  accept  the  pulpit," 
 adding,  "  He  must  come  to  us,  for  we  cannot 
 place  the  chapel  under  ecclesiastical  jurisdic- 
 tion, —  many  good  dissenters  having  liberally 
 contributed  towards  its  erection." 
 
 The  aged  pastor  was  affectionately  attached 
 to  a  deservedly  popular  and  useful  preacher  in 
 the  north  of  England,  and  considered  him 
 well  qualified  to  be  his  successor.  On  this 
 subject  he  addressed  to  him  the  following 
 letter,  which  is  very  characteristic  of  the 
 writer: — 
 
 "  May  15,  18-26. 
 
 "  My  dear  Brother, 
 
 "  You  have  an  application  to  supply  for  us 
 
 when  you  are  in  town ;  and  happy  shall  I  be,  if 
 
 you  can  comply  with  our  request.  Now,  though 
 
 I  most  heartily  advise  you  to  continue  in  your 
 
606  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 present  sphere,  where  you  are  so  much  needed, 
 — in  a  city  where  there  is  so  much  darkness 
 and  death — yet  should  any  providence  direct 
 you  to  remove,  I  remind  you  that  the  poor  old 
 ass,  of  Surrey  Chapel,  has  now  nearly  com- 
 pleted the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age, — and 
 though  he  continues  to  trot  under  his  panniers 
 as  well  as  he  can,  yet  after  the  double  duty,  as 
 the  parsons  call  it,  on  the  Sabbath,  he  after- 
 wards hangs  his  head  over  his  manger,  and 
 cannot  wrell  partake  of  his  required  food.  And 
 though  it  is  wicked  to  be  cruel  to  dumb 
 animals,  and  though  I  mean,  by  the  blessing  of 
 God,  to  prove  I  am  not  a  dumb  animal  as  long 
 as  I  can  speak, — yet  it  is  now  high  time  to 
 begin  to  cry  out  for  help.  There  is  no  place 
 better  calculated  for  the  speaker  and  for  the 
 hearers,  than  Surrey  Chapel.  The  young 
 greyhound  will  soon  discover  that,  when  he 
 gets  upon  the  chase,  he  need  not  run  so  fast, 
 and  still  catch  quite  as  much  game,  though  at 
 present  he  cannot  help  it. 
 
 "  But,  seriously, — This  must  be  esteemed  to 
 be  a  very  important  station, — and  while  I  am 
 surprised  at  its  continued  prosperity,  I  am 
 happy  to  say,  we  do  not  decline.  Oh,  that 
 the  great  Head  of  the  church  would  allow  me 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  607 
 
 to  see  and  know  somewhat  of  my  successor 
 before  I  die.  My  lot,  through  mercy,  has  been 
 fair,  and  comfortable,  among  the  kind  people  I 
 have  been  called  to  serve.  I  bless  God  for 
 them,  and  I  think  any  man  of  liberality,  of 
 good  temper,  and  open  conduct,  would  be 
 happy  in  such  a  sphere.  I  hint  no  more  at 
 present,  further  than  that  I  am, 
 
 "  Your's  very  affectionately, 
 
 « II.  Hill." 
 "  To  the  Rev.  J.  Parsons,  York." 
 
 A  passage  in  this  letter  refers  to  a  singular 
 description  which  Mr.  Hill  had  given  of  a  Mis- 
 sionary Deputation,  consisting  of  himself,  and 
 his  excellent  friend  to  whom  he  wrote.  After 
 returning  from  the  tour,  he  said  to  his  Surrey 
 Chapel  friends,  at  one  of  their  meetings, 
 "The  Directors  of  the  Missionary  Society 
 are  strange  folks,  for  they  actually  sent  a 
 young  Yorkshire  greyhound,  and  an  old  Lon- 
 don ass,  to  plead  their  cause.  I  had  hard 
 work,  I  assure  you,  to  keep  up  with  my  com- 
 panion, but  I  hobbled  after  him  as  hard  as  I 
 was  able." 
 
 He  also  wrote  the  following  letter  to  the 
 same  esteemed  friend: — 
 
608  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 "  Wotton-under-edge,  Sept.  15;  1826. 
 «  My  very  dear  Brother, 
 
 "  I  hope  you  understood  me,  that  I  by  no 
 means  designed  to  invite  you  from  your  present 
 
 situation   at   ;    only,   if  you   should   ever 
 
 design  a  removal  from  thence,  I  was  anxious  to 
 be  favoured  with  information  of  your  design. 
 My  opinion  perfectly  coincides  with  your  own. 
 
 You  are  more  wanted  at than  in  London. 
 
 I,  however,  am  now  very  old,  past  eighty-two. 
 I  greatly  wish  to  see  my  successor  before  I  die. 
 A  candid,  liberal,  warm-hearted,  sound-headed, 
 spiritual  servant  of  God,  who  would  rather 
 work  himself,  than  snore,  or  feast  himself  to 
 death,  in  the  service  of  Christ,  is  the  man  we 
 want.  I  have  seen  enough  of  some  sort  of 
 parsons,  both  in  and  out  of  the  church,  to  be 
 sick  of  them.  If  you  should  hear  of  such  a 
 true-hearted,  faithful  servant  of  the  word,  how 
 thankful  should  I  be  for  the  information ! 
 
 "  I  should  be  tempted  to  come  down  to 
 Bristol,  if  my  old  bones  were  not  wanting 
 a  little  rest.  But  if  I  could  see  you  in  these 
 parts,  as  you  return,  (we  are  on  the  road,)  it 
 would  be  a  very  high  gratification  to 
 
 "  Your's  very  sincerely,  "  It.  Hill." 
 
 "  To  the  Rev.  James  Parsons." 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  G09 
 
 On  the  subject  of  a  successor,  he  remarked 
 from  the  pulpit,  "  I  do  long  for  the  time  in 
 which  I  shall  see  a  faithful  minister  of  God 
 more  immediately  raised  up  amongst  you,  who 
 shall  be  enabled  to  do  the  work  of  an  evange- 
 list in  an  acceptable  manner ;  I  want  to  see 
 a  minister  who  is  no  sectarian,  or  party  man ; 
 one  who  loves  all  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ  in  sincerity;  that  loves  to  stand  upon 
 that  ground  which,  thank  God,  I  have  occupied 
 all  the  days  of  my  life — neutral  ground — nei- 
 ther a  stiff  churchman,  nor  a  bigoted  dissenter ; 
 one  who  is  either,  or  nothing  at  all ;  who  cares 
 little  for  outward  external  matters, — but  whose 
 mind  is  purely  occupied  within.  One  thing  is 
 needful,  and  all  other  things  are  but  idle  talk- 
 ing, and  vanity."* 
 
 "  I  have  served  you  more  than  fifty  years, 
 and  never  quarrelled  with  you  except  about  your 
 sins."  The  venerable  man  then,  with  peculiar 
 energy,  exclaimed,  "  Thanks  be  to  God,  thanks 
 be  to  God,  thanks  be  to  God,  that  peace  has 
 been  within  these  walls,  and  prosperity  within 
 our  palace.  May  the  spirit  of  affection  ever 
 dwell   among   you,   that  you   may  be    another 
 
 *   Fifteen  Sermons  on  Important  Subjects,  p.  61. 
 
 2  R 
 
610  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 brood  of  the  true  Philadelphian  stock,  loving 
 one  another  with  pure  hearts  fervently/ ' 
 
 It  was  not  the  will  of  his  heavenly  Father 
 that  his  aged  servant  should  see  his  successor 
 before  he  died.  He  was  permitted  to  leave  his 
 church  in  peace,  and  many  prayers  have  ascended 
 before  the  throne  of  God,  that  the  mantle  of 
 Elijah  may  rest  upon  one  who  will  feed  the 
 people  with  knowledge  and  understanding.*  It 
 was  to  be  regretted  that  Mr.  Hill  allowed  the 
 matter  to  depress  his  mind,  but  his  great  love 
 to  his  people  led  him  to  desire  to  see  their 
 future  minister. 
 
 The  first  sermon  Mr.  Hill  preached  in  1833 
 contained  some  affecting  allusions  to  his  own 
 mortality.  "  Many  of  my  friends,"  he  remarked, 
 "  have  been  swept  away  by  the  scythe  of  death 
 since  this  time  twelvemonths,  and  there  is  one 
 standing  among  you  who  does  not  expect  to  see 
 this  year  out.  The  days  of  my  pilgrimage 
 must  be  nearly  ended.     Oh !  it  is  a  beautiful 
 
 *  Since  the  above  was  written,  the  Rev.  James 
 Sherman,  late  of  Reading,  has  become  the  successor 
 of  Mr.  Hill  at  Surrey  Chapel.  Mr.  S.  remarks  in  his 
 sermon  preached  on  commencing  his  regular  labours 
 there, — that  it  was  the  expressed  wish  of  Mr.  Hill, 
 that,  if  it  pleased  God,  he  might  succeed  him. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  (311 
 
 sight  to  see  the  setting  sun  on  a  summer  day — 
 the  rays,  though  faint,  may  be  clear ;  so,  while 
 the  rays  of  my  poor  abilities  begin  to  get  very 
 feeble,  God  can  still  through  them  impart  light 
 and  life  to  your  souls." 
 
 Until  the  close  of  life,  Mr.  Hill  had  such  a 
 deep  sense  of  his  personal  unworthiness,  and 
 such  exalted  views  of  the  holiness  of  God's 
 character,  that  he  seldom  found  himself  on  the 
 mount  of  assurance.  He  fled  to  the  cross  of 
 Christ  and  there,  beholding  his  great  love, 
 rejoiced  in  hope.     His  constant  song  was, 
 
 "  We  two  are  so  joined, 
 He'll  not  live  in  glory,  and  leave  me  behind." 
 
 The  experience  of  Mr.  Hill  was  in  perfect 
 harmony  with  the  opinions  he  often  expressed 
 in  the  pulpit.  "  Modest  words,"  he  remarked, 
 "before  God  always  become  us  best;  strong 
 expressions  of  personal  interest  may  do  for 
 some,  but  not  for  all ;  many  sin  in  speaking  too 
 boldly,  none  in  speaking  too  humbly."  He 
 was  better  pleased  with  living  evidences  of  an 
 interest  in  Christ  than  with  a  few  dying  expres- 
 sions, however  interesting  they  might  be  to 
 survivors.      All  a  Christian  can  expect  in  the 
 
612  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 solemn  hour  of  death  is  the  fulfilment  of  the 
 promise,  "  Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace 
 I  give  unto  you."  He  was  fond  of  repeating 
 in  his  sermons,  the  language  of  a  minister, 
 who,  on  being  asked,  "  How  he  felt  his  mind 
 in  the  prospect  of  eternity,"  replied,  "  There 
 is  a  sweet  communication  kept  up  between 
 the  Lord  and  my  soul." 
 
 No  one  who  knew  Mr.  Hill  expected  that 
 there  would  be  a  very  full  disclosure  of  his 
 feelings  at  the  close  of  life.  He  never  liked  to 
 talk  much  about  himself.  Hence  in  his  last 
 affliction  he  was  free  in  his  remarks  to  his 
 servants,  but  rather  reserved  to  his  friends. 
 Up  to  the  time  he  entered  the  valley  of  the 
 shadow  of  death,  he  was  repeating  the  Scrip- 
 tures, and  making  many  suitable  remarks  on 
 them.  On  the  approach  of  a  ministerial  friend, 
 he  became  more  cautious  and  reserved. 
 
 The  last  sermon  Mr.  Hill  delivered  was  on 
 Sunday,  March  31st,  from  1  Cor.  ii.  7,  8.  "  We 
 speak  the  wisdom  of  God  in  a  mystery,  even 
 the  hidden  wisdom  which  God  ordained  before 
 the  world  unto  our  glory.  Which  none  of  the 
 princes  of  this  world  knew,  for  had  they  known 
 it,    they  would   not  have   crucified  the  Lord 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  613 
 
 of  glory."      Although   exceedingly   feeble,    he 
 preached  for  nearly  fifty  minutes. 
 
 The  outline  of  this  sermon  was  preserved  and 
 afterwards  published  by  Mr.  Weight,  who  had 
 been  assisting  Mr.  Hill.  It  resembles  a  con- 
 fession of  faith  at  the  close  of  a  long  ministry, 
 and  contains  his  opinion  on  the  union  that  should 
 subsist  between  all  Christians,  one  of  his  old 
 and  favourite  themes.  "  We  have  often  heard," 
 he  remarks,  "  of  family  likenesses,  and  that 
 it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  distinguish  between 
 two  individuals  of  the  same  family.  There  is 
 also  a  wonderful  likeness  among  the  children 
 of  God,  and  we  do  wiser  and  better  to  look 
 after  that  than  after  the  paltry  sects  and  modes 
 into  which  Christianity  is  now  too  much  divided. 
 There  is  but  one  and  the  same  grace  belonging 
 to  them  all.  God  be  praised,  all  the  minor 
 differences  which  prevail  in  time,  will  cease 
 when  we  are  for  ever  with  the  Lord."*  He 
 refers  to  the  sacramental  service  of  the 
 church  of  England,  and  gives  his  approval 
 of    the     special    days     appointed     for     divine 
 
 *  "  The  First  and  Last  Sermon  of  Rev.  Rowland 
 Hill,"  printed  by  Page  &  Sons. 
 
614  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 worship.  His  views  of  the  millennium  are 
 clearly  stated  He  mentions  his  conversion 
 when  a  boy  at  Eton  school,  and  the  great  suc- 
 cess of  his  early  ministry.  His  final  appeal 
 to  the  sinner  is  very  striking:  "  How  will 
 you  escape,  if  you  neglect  so  great  salvation  ? 
 You  say  you  hope  to  come  to  Christ  by-and-by. 
 By-and-bys  are  not  with  you;  you  may  be  struck 
 dead  before  your  by-and-by  comes.  God  be 
 praised,  we  can  say,  c  His  arm  is  not  shortened 
 that  it  cannot  save;'  it  is  stretched  out,  even 
 now." 
 
 The  last  address  Mr.  Hill  delivered  was 
 to  the  Sunday-school  teachers  who  were  as- 
 sembled at  Surrey  Chapel,  on  Tuesday  evening, 
 the  2nd  of  April,  1833.  He  was  then  in  a  state 
 of  extreme  debility.  He  requested  Mr.  Weight 
 to  address  the  teachers,  and  promised,  if  able, 
 afterwards  to  add  a  few  words.  He  fulfilled 
 his  promise  with  difficulty, — but  when  in  the 
 sacred  desk,  he  appeared  to  forget  his  infir- 
 mities. His  address  was  full  of  excellent 
 advice.  After  urging  the  teachers  to  tell  the 
 children  that  they  were  lost  and  miserable 
 sinners,  he  added,  "You  will  dwell  on  the 
 lovely  story,  how  Christ  Jesus  gave  himself  an 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  615 
 
 offering  for  sin.  You  will  tell  the  children,  in 
 language  they  can  best  understand,  the  need  of 
 being  acquainted  with  the  Saviour, — how  they 
 should  love  him,  and  what  obligations  they  are 
 under  to  obey  him."  He  then  referred  to  the 
 sermon  which  Mr.  Weight  had  delivered,  and 
 remarked,  "  I  cannot  give  you  a  finer  exhor- 
 tation to  conclude  with,  than  that  which  my 
 good  young  brother  has  addressed  you  from, 
 "Therefore,  my  beloved  brethren,  be  stedfast," 
 don't  be  wavering  in  any  part  of  your  duty — 
 "immoveable;"  that  will  prove  that  you  are 
 steadfast  indeed,  if  there  is  no  moving  you  from 
 it;  —  "always  abounding  in  the  work  of  the 
 Lord;"  we  cannot  imagine  how  much  we 
 increase  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  as  we 
 abound  in  it.  Remember,  that  it  is  in  time 
 alone  that  you  can  do  good.  In  heaven  there 
 will  be  nothing  to  do  in  bringing  sinners  to 
 God." 
 
 In  his  last  sermon,  and  when  he  was  on  the 
 very  threshold  of  eternity,  he  exclaimed,  "  I  do 
 believe  that,  for  the  first  ten  thousand  years 
 after  wre  enter  the  kingdom  of  glory,  it  will  be 
 all  surprise ;  but  will  this  surprise  never  end  ? 
 Never,  while  we  behold  the  person  of  the 
 Lord." 
 
616  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 On  the  Monday  previous  to  his  removal  the 
 Rev.  Thomas  Jackson  had  an  interview  with 
 the  dying  minister.  He  remarked,  *  Upon  a 
 review  of  my  public  life,  and  in  the  near  pros- 
 pect of  eternity, — if  my  time  were  to  come  over 
 again,  I  would  pursue  exactly  the  same  course 
 which  I  have  done."  He  spoke  of  himself  in 
 terms  of  the  greatest  humility,  and  mentioned 
 his  wish  as  to  the  place  of  his  burial.  "If  it 
 had  pleased  God  to  have  taken  me  to  himself 
 while  I  was  at  Wotton,  I  should  have  liked  to 
 have  been  buried  with  Mrs.  Hill;  but,  as  tny 
 heavenly  Father  has  otherwise  determined,  I 
 would  rather  be  buried  in  Surrey  Chapel, 
 where  I  have  preached  for  half  a  century,  than 
 have  my  body  carried  so  many  miles  after  my 
 death." 
 
 During  this  conversation,  Mr.  Jackson  said, 
 "  Well,  Sir,  it  is  probable  we  shall  soon  lose 
 you ;  but  our  loss  will  be  your  gain.  You  are 
 going  to  be  with  Jesus,  and  to  see  him  as  he  is." 
 — Mr.  Hill  replied  with  great  emphasis,  "  Yes, 
 and  I  shall  be  like  him ;  that  is  the  crowning 
 point." 
 
 It  now  became  evident  that  he  was  fast 
 approaching  the  world  of  spirits :  his  mind  was 
 calm,  and  he  seemed  to  be  breathing  after  holi- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  617 
 
 ness.  He  quoted  several  appropriate  hymns 
 and  texts  of  Scripture.  On  the  day  before  his 
 death,  when  he  had  been  lying,  apparently 
 dozing,  for  some  time,  he  turned  himself  in  his 
 bed,  and  in  a  manner  peculiarly  his  own,  said, 
 "  The  greatest  curse  that  ever  entered  the 
 church  of  God  is  dirty  antinomianism." 
 
 The  Rev.  George  Clayton  was  with  Mr.  Hill 
 not  long  before  his  departure  to  the  heavenly 
 rest.  The  dying  saint  said  to  him,  "  I  have  no 
 rapturous  joys,  but  peace — a  good  hope,  through 
 grace — all  through  grace." 
 
 "  On  the  Wednesday  before  his  death,"  re- 
 marks Mr.  Weight,  "  I  enjoyed  much  conversa- 
 tion with  him.  He  told  me,  if  he  could  live 
 over  his  life  again,  he  would  preach  the  very 
 same  truths  as  those  he  had  been  accustomed 
 to  deliver.  '  I  have  to  deplore  nothing  but  that 
 I  have  not  preached  them  with  more  of  the  Holy 
 Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven.'  I  asked  him  if 
 he  felt  his  personal  interest  in  Christ  ?  '  I  can 
 see  more  of  the  Saviour's  glory  than  of  my  inte- 
 rest in  him.  God  is  letting  me  down  gently 
 into  the  grave,  and  I  shall  creep  into  heaven 
 through  some  crevice  of  the  door.' 
 
 "  In  the  evening,  his  mind  occasionally  wan- 
 dered.    He  called  up  his  servant,  and  desired 
 
618  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 him  to  read  to  him.  He  read  5th  chap,  of  2  Cor. 
 Mr.  Hill  commented  on  the  4th  and  17th  verses. 
 About  ten  that  night  he  sent  for  me  to  conduct 
 family  prayer  by  his  bedside,  refusing  to  rest 
 until  I  had  done  so.  On  Thursday,  the  collec- 
 tion of  phlegm  in  his  chest  prevented  his  speak- 
 ing very  audibly;  but  I  could  hear  him  softly 
 repeating  verses  of  Scripture  and  hymns,  parti- 
 cularly, '  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 ;'  and  c  Christ  also  hath  once  suffered 
 for  sins,  the  just  for  the  unjust,  that  he  might 
 bring  us  unto  God.' 
 
 "  About  ten  o'clock  that  morning,  I  repeated 
 to  him  a  verse  that  had  often  been  on  his  lips, 
 
 '  And  when  I'm  to  die/  &c. 
 
 He  shewed  me  that  he  understood  what  I  was 
 saying,  but  he  could  not  articulate.  And  this 
 was  the  last  evidence  of  sensibility  he  gave.  At 
 half-past  five  the  same  day  (11th  April),  without 
 a  sigh,  groan,  or  struggle,  he  gently  expired." 
 
 "  How  bless'd  the  righteous  when  he  dies, 
 When  sinks  a  weary  soul  to  rest ; 
 How  mildly  beam  the  closing  eyes, 
 How  gently  heaves  th'  expiring  breast ! 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  619 
 
 "  So  fades  a  summer  cloud  away, 
 
 So  sinks  the  gale  when  storms  are  o'er, 
 So  gently  shuts  the  eye  of  day, 
 So  dies  a  wave  along  the  shore." 
 
 "  Mark  the  perfect  man,  and  behold  the 
 upright  :  for  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace." 
 
 The  announcement  of  Mr.  Hill's  death  pro- 
 duced a  painful  impression  on  the  minds  of 
 his  people,  for  they  felt  that  a  father  and  a 
 friend  had  been  removed  from  them.  He  had 
 baptized  many  of  them  in  their  infancy,  and 
 others  had  been  led  to  the  saving  know- 
 ledge of  God  through  his  instrumentality. 
 They  were  allowed  to  see  the  body  of  their 
 devoted  minister,  before  it  was  removed  to  its 
 last  resting  place.  He  was  lovely  in  death 
 The  countenance  seemed  to  be  an  index  of  the 
 state  of  the  soul  at  the  moment  death  was 
 swallowed  up  in  victory.  The  lines  of  extreme 
 old  age  had  been  removed  by  the  gentle  swell- 
 ing of  the  face,  and  you  could  almost  imagine 
 that  the  process  of  the  resurrection  morning 
 had  commenced. 
 
 On  Friday,  the  19th  April,  1833,  the  remains 
 of  the  venerable   man   were  conveyed  to  the 
 
620  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 silent  tomb  which  had  been  prepared  for  their 
 reception,  directly  under  the  pulpit  where 
 he  had  for  fifty  years  faithfully  preached  the 
 Gospel.  A  considerable  assemblage  of  mi- 
 nisters met  in  the  chapel- house  before  the 
 funeral,  when  the  aged  Dr.  Rippon  was 
 requested  to  pray  for  the  sanctification  of 
 the  event  to  all  connected  with  the  departed 
 minister-  The  body  was  then  conducted  from 
 the  house  into  the  chapel,  preceded  by  the  Rev. 
 Dr.  Collyer  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Jackson.  The 
 noble  nephew  of  the  deceased,  the  commander- 
 in-chief  of  the  British  forces,  accompanied  by 
 his  aide-de-camp  Captain  George  Hill,  attended 
 as  chief  mourner.  The  pall  was  sustained  by 
 clergymen  and  ministers  of  various  denomina- 
 tions. The  trustees  of  the  chapel,  the  executors, 
 the  private  friends  of  the  deceased,  the  ministers 
 wTho  had  long  supplied  the  pulpit,  the  deputa- 
 tions from  several  religious  societies,  and  the 
 servants  of  the  family,  then  followed.  On  enter- 
 ing the  chapel,  the  effect  of  the  scene  was  over- 
 whelming. The  place  was  crowded  by  persons 
 in  decent  mourning.  The  poor  sisters  from  the 
 alms-houses  appeared  in  the  new  attire  which 
 their  departed  friend  had  provided  for  them. 
 The  children  of  the  School  of  Industry  were 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  621 
 
 seen  in  their  neat  emblems  of  sorrow.  The 
 pulpit,  the  desks,  and  the  whole  of  the  front  gal- 
 lery, were  covered  with  black  cloth.  The  body 
 was  placed  before  the  pulpit.  All  the  necessary 
 preparations  having  been  quietly  made,  the 
 funeral  service  was  read  by  Dr.  Collyer  and  Mr. 
 Jackson.  At  the  time  the  body  was  lowered 
 into  its  resting-place,  the  officiating  minister 
 read  the  sentence,  "  We  commit  the  body  of 
 our  father  to  the  grave,  in  sure  and  certain  hope 
 of  the  resurrection  to  eternal  life."  The  substi- 
 tution of  the  word  father  for  brother  produced 
 a  solemn  effect.  The  instantaneous  expression 
 of  feeling  appeared  like  the  passing  of  the 
 electric  fluid;  all  were  touched  at  the  same 
 moment.* 
 
 *  "  At  the  funeral  of  the  Rev.  John  Wesley,  the 
 late  Mr.  Richardson,  who  now  lies  with  him  in  the 
 same  vault,  read  the  funeral  service  in  a  manner  that 
 made  it  peculiarly  affecting.  When  he  came  to  that 
 part  of  it,  "  Forasmuch  as  it  hath  pleased  Almighty 
 God  to  take  unto  himself  the  soul  of  our  dear  brother" 
 &c.  he  substituted  with  the  most  tender  emphasis,  the 
 epithet  father  instead  of  brother,  which  had  so  powerful 
 an  effect  on  the  congregation,  that  from  silent  tears 
 they  seemed  universally  to  burst  out  into  loud  weep- 
 "ng." — Watson's  Life  of  Wesley,  page  341. 
 
622  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 During  the  funeral  service,  Luther's  Hymn 
 was  sung ;  the  trumpet-stop  on  the  organ  giving 
 a  fine  effect  to  the  music.  At  the  close  of  that 
 service  the  Rev.  Thomas  Russell  gave  out  one 
 of  Mr.  Hill's  favourite  hymns. 
 
 Jesus,  thy  blood  and  righteousness 
 My  beauty  are,  my  glorious  dress  ; 
 Midst  flaming  worlds  in  these  arrayed, 
 With  joy  shall  I  lift  up  my  head. 
 
 The  Rev.  George  Clayton  then  offered  up  a 
 suitable  prayer.  The  funeral  sermon  was 
 preached  by  the  Rev.  William  Jay,  of  Bath, 
 who  for  nearly  fifty  years  had  been  one  of  the 
 most  acceptable  preachers  in  the  chapel,  and  a 
 man  greatly  beloved  by  the  departed  minister. 
 His  appearance  reminded  the  congregation  that 
 the  supplies  as  well  as  the  pastor  were  hasten- 
 ing to  their  home.  When  Mr.  Jay  preached 
 his  first  sermon  "he  was  but  a  youth,"  now 
 "grey  hairs  were  upon  him."  His  text  was 
 selected  from  Zech.  xi.  2.  "  Howl,  fir  tree,  for 
 the  cedar  is  fallen."  He  gave  a  faithful 
 sketch  of  the  character  of  his  departed  friend, 
 with  the  pencil  of  a  master.  The  concluding 
 prayer  was  offered  up  by  the  Rev.  George 
 Collison,  of  Hackney. 
 
 It  was  an  interesting  spectacle  to  witness  the 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  623 
 
 grave  of  Rowland  Hill,  at  the  close  of  the  funeral 
 solemnities.  There  stood  one  of  the  heroes  of 
 Waterloo,  with  the  star  of  his  order  glittering  on 
 his  breast,  looking  at  the  last  earthly  home  of  a 
 most  endeared  relative,  whose  prayers  had  often 
 ascended  to  God  on  his  behalf.  There  also 
 was  the  aged  clerk  of  the  chapel,  who  for  fifty 
 years  had  been  connected  with  its  religious 
 services.  His  head  was  supported  upon  his 
 knee,  the  foot  resting  upon  a  hassock.  His  eye 
 seemed  immovably  fixed  on  the  tomb,  and  his 
 tears  witnessed  how  much  he  respected  the 
 departed.  There  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel 
 beheld  the  earthly  house  of  their  venerable 
 father,  and  silently  exclaimed,  "  May  we  also 
 be  faithful  unto  death,  and  may  our  last  end  be 
 like  his."  The  widow,  the  orphan,  the  Sabbath- 
 school  teacher,  the  visitors  of  the  poor  and 
 afflicted,  and  the  aged  tenants  of  the  alms- 
 houses raised  by  the  deceased,  all  surrounded 
 the  grave.  Earthly  distinctions  were  forgotten, 
 and  amidst  the  sorrows  of  the  scene,  all  rejoiced 
 that  the  pastor  was 
 
 "  Not  lost,  but  gone  before." 
 
 On  the  front  of  the  organ  gallery,  a  neat 
 marble  tablet,  with  a  bust  of  the  deceased,  ha3 
 been  erected,  bearing  the  following  inscription  • , 
 
624  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 To  the  Memory  of  the  late 
 
 REVEREND  ROWLAND  KILL,  A.M. 
 
 formerly  of 
 
 St.  John's  College,  Cambridge, 
 
 and  for 
 
 Half  a  Century  the  zealous,  active,  and  devoted 
 
 Minister  of  Surrey  Chapel, 
 
 This  Tablet  is  erected,  rather  in  token 
 
 of 
 
 the  grateful  Recollections  of 
 
 A  revered  Pastor, 
 
 by  his  bereaved  and  mourning  Congregation. 
 
 than  as  a  Tribute 
 
 suitable  to  the  Worth  of  One, 
 
 the 
 
 Imperishable  Monuments  of  whose  Labours 
 
 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.  MDCCCXXXIII. 
 
 Born  23d  August,  1744.     Died  11th  April,  1833. 
 
 It  would  have  been  a  valuable  addition  to  this 
 beautiful  monumental  incription,  had  it  noticed 
 the  itinerant  labours  of  Mr.  Hill.  On  the  tomb- 
 stone of  Berridge  he  is  described,  as  "  an  itiner- 
 ant servant  of  Jesus  Christ."  Whitetield's  monu- 
 ment refers  to  his  "  long,  laborious  travels"  in 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  G"2o 
 
 the  Saviour's  cause;  and  Wesley's  tablet  has  the 
 record,  "  He  was  the  chief  promoter  and  patron 
 of  the  plan  of  itinerant  preaching.  He  was 
 sixty-five  years  in  the  ministry,  and  fifty-two  an 
 itinerant  preacher." 
 
 The  writer  closes  this  chapter  in  the  words 
 of  Dr.  Bates,  in  his  funeral  sermon  for  the  Rev. 
 Richard  Baxter,  which  are  peculiarly  appro- 
 priate to  Rowland  Hill:— 
 
 "  Thus  lived  and  died  that  blessed  saint. 
 I  have,  without  any  artificial  fiction  of  words, 
 given  a  sincere  account  of  him.  All  our 
 tears  are  below  the  just  grief  for  such  an  inva- 
 luable loss.  It  is  the  comfort  of  his  friends 
 that  he  enjoys  a  blessed  reward  in  heaven,  and 
 has  left  a  precious  remembrance  on  the  earth. 
 Now,  blessed  be  the  gracious  God,  that  he  was 
 pleased  to  prolong  the  life  of  his  servant,  so 
 useful  and  beneficial  to  the  world,  to  a  full 
 age ;  that  he  has  brought  him  slowly  and  safely 
 to  heaven.  I  shall  conclude  this  account  with  my 
 own  deliberate  wish :  May  I  live  the  short  remain- 
 der of  my  life  as  entirely  to  the  glory  of  God  as 
 he  lived ;  and  when  I  shall  come  to  the  period 
 of  my  life,  may  I  die  in  the  same  blessed  peace 
 wherein  he  died.  May  I  be  with  him  in  the 
 kingdom  of  light  and  love  for  ever.  Amen." 
 2  s 
 
626  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 CHAP.  XVII. 
 
 THE  TIMES  OF  ROWLAND  HILL GERERAL  REVIEW 
 
 OF  HIS  DEVOTED  ATTACHMENT  TO  CHRISTIAN 
 UNION,  AND  THE  CAUSE  OF  CHRIST  UNIVER- 
 SALLY. 
 
 Mr.  hill  a  special  instrument  for  his  own  TIMES — REV.  MR. 
 simeon— eminent  persons  connected  with  the  revival  of 
 religion — mr.  hill  a  leader — the  different  opinions  of 
 his  biographers  on  his  ministerial  course — his  own  opi- 
 nion on  the  same  subject — the  saviour's  prater — extracts 
 from  dr.  pye  smith's  sermon  on  union  among  christians — 
 philip  henry  on  the  same  subject — ground  and  extent  of 
 christian  union— extract  from  "fundamental  reform"  — 
 results  of  liberal  institutions  —  efforts  still  necessary 
 for  the  conversion  of  the  world — by  whom  to  be  made  — 
 bishop  of  London's  charge — conclusion' — list  of  mr.  hill's 
 
 WORKS. 
 
 No  one,  it  is  presumed,  can  have  read  the  de- 
 tails which  have  now  been  given,  without  feeling 
 that  the  beloved  man,  whose  history  has  been 
 recorded,  was  specially  raised  up  by  God  for  a 
 great  and  holy  work.  The  times  in  which  he 
 appeared  were  peculiar,  and  required  an  extra- 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  627 
 
 ordinary  effort,  to  rouse  Christian  professors 
 from  their  awful  lethargy.  This  period  has 
 been  briefly  sketched  in  a  former  part  of  this 
 work;  and  it  is  only  necessary  to  remind  the 
 reader,  that  when  Mr.  Hill  began  his  acade- 
 mical course,  holy  men  were  expelled  from 
 Oxford  for  praying,  and  expounding  the  Scrip- 
 tures, and  at  Cambridge  the  poor  shoeblack,* 
 at  St.  John's,  was  the  only  person  in  the  uni- 
 versity who  ventured  to  give  Mr.  Hill  a  friendly 
 smile.  Long  subsequent  to  this  event,  oppo- 
 sition to  vital  godliness  was  continued,  and  the 
 late  venerable  Mr.  Simeon,  who  had  suffered 
 much  persecution,  is  said  to  have  shed  tears, 
 when  he  received,  in  the  street,  the  first  mark 
 of  respect  from  a  pious  undergraduate, 
 
 It  required  no  ordinary  determination  to 
 break  through  the  restrictions  which  prevailed 
 in  the  established  church  when  Mr.  Hill  be- 
 came a  preacher  of  righteousness.  Bold,  fear- 
 less, enterprising  men  were  needed ;  men  who 
 were  able  to  "  count  all  things  but  loss  for  the 
 excellency  of  the  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus 
 their  Lord."  Such  men,  it  has  been  seen,  were 
 raised  up  in  the  church, — Wesley,  Whitefield, 
 Berridge,  Fletcher,  Hervey,  and  Toplady,  pre- 
 *  See  Sidney's  Life,  p.  158. 
 
628  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 pared  the  way  for  Pentycross,  Simpson,  Robin- 
 son, Venn,  Cadogan,  Newton,  the  good  Dean 
 of  Carlisle,  and  many  others,  to  proclaim,  wdth 
 liberty,  the  only  way  of  salvation.  Among  the 
 ranks  of  the  nonconformists,  appeared  many 
 holy  men,  whose  works  still  praise  them : 
 Watts  and  Doddridge  had  disappeared  from  the 
 scene ;  but  the  venerable  Mr.  Bull,  the  holy 
 Cornelius  Winter,  the  eccentric  Ryland,  with 
 a  band  of  pious  laymen,  boldly  preached  the 
 unsearchable  riches  of  Christ ;  and  in  their 
 train  followed  Wilks,  Bogue,  Andrew  Fuller, 
 Burder,  and  many  others  who  "have  now  fallen 
 asleep."  Even  the  "  elect  ladies"  of  the  church 
 were  not  inactive.  They  were  deeply  grieved 
 "that  many  deceivers  had  entered  into  the 
 world."  Hence,  Lady  Glenorchy,  the  excellent 
 Countess  of  Huntingdon,  Lady  Ann  Erskine, 
 and  others,  devoted  themselves  to  promote  the 
 cause  of  Christ,  and  their  labours  were  not  in 
 vain  in  the  Lord. 
 
 These  united  efforts  disturbed  those  who  were 
 at  ease  in  Zion.  The  narrow  boundaries  of 
 party  were  broken  down,  and  men,  constrained 
 by  the  love  of  Christ,  confined  not  themselves 
 within  the  geographical  limits  presented  to 
 *.hem  by  human  systems.    They  heard  the  great 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  629 
 
 Head  of  the  church  say  to  them,  "  Preach  the 
 Gospel  to  every  creature ; "  and  wherever  they 
 were  able,  they  plucked  brands  from  the  ever- 
 lasting burnings.  It  is  certainly  one  beautiful 
 feature  of  Christianity,  that  it  is  adapted  to 
 universality,  unless  encumbered  and  impeded 
 by  machinery  of  human  invention.  And  that 
 system  must  be  the  most  primitive  and  scriptu- 
 ral, which  encourages  men  to  go  every  where 
 preaching  "  repentance  towards  God,  and  faith 
 in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
 
 Mr.  Hill  having  been  raised  up  at  a  par- 
 ticular period  of  the  history  of  the  church, 
 must  not  be  measured  by  any  party  standard. 
 The  dress  of  no  particular  regiment  in  the 
 great  army  of  the  Living  God  will  suit  him. 
 He  was  one  of  the  irregulars,  in  the  recruiting 
 party,  sent  to  enlist  wrandering  prodigals, 
 and  to  bring  them  under  the  standard  of 
 Immanuel.  He  was  born  to  be  a  leader,  but 
 not  to  be  led.  His  ambition  was  not  to  raise  a 
 party,  and  to  call  it  after  his  own  name,  but  to 
 serve  all  parties  to  the  full  extent  of  his  power. 
 He  was  never  intended  to  be  confined  within  the 
 pale  of  any  church.  He  was  "a  comet,  and  there- 
 fore his  path  was  eccentric  and  unconfined."* 
 *  Sidney's  Life,  p.  91. 
 
630  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 In  examining  his  character,  we  must  look  at 
 him  as  sui  ge?ieris.  It  is,  therefore,  to  be 
 regretted  that  his  biographer  should  think  it 
 right  to  admonish  his  reader  that  the  example 
 of  his  beloved  friend  was  not  always  to  be 
 imitated;*  and  to  indulge  in  speculative 
 musings,  as  to  what  might  have  been  the 
 happy  consequences,  if  Mr.  Hill  had  returned 
 into  the  bosom  of  the  church  whence  he  wan- 
 dered.f  Had  he  done  so,  he  might  have  found, 
 with  Jonah,  that  the  storm  of  God's  providence 
 would  have  driven  him  back  to  the  discharge 
 of  his  special  duty.  This  Columbus  was  not  to 
 be  chained  to  the  oar;  and  such  would  have 
 been  the  case,  had  he  been  confined  within  the 
 limits  of  parochial  labours. 
 
 One  of  his  biographers  thinks  he  wandered 
 too  fai*4 — the  other§  that  he  did  not  wander 
 far  enough,  "  and  that  by  labouring  to  uphold 
 a  system  against  which  the  vials,  of  the  wrath 
 of  heaven  are  pouring  out,"  he  was  "  all  his  life 
 time  trammelled  with  antichristian  abomina- 
 tions !"  Without  attempting  to  reconcile  the 
 opposite  views  of  the  biographers  of  our  de- 
 
 *  Sidney's  Life,  p.  413.  f  I^d-  p.  413. 
 
 X  Ibid.  p.  413.  §  Jones's  Life,  p.  314. 
 
KEV.   ROWLAND   HILL.  631 
 
 parted  friend,  let  him  speak  for  himself  on  this 
 point. — "I  observed  with  regret,  that  good  men, 
 fettered  by  the  trammels  of  education,  or  by  the 
 laws  of  their  different  churches,  by  no  means 
 exerted  themselves  as  the  sacred  cause  most 
 assuredly  demanded.  As  matters  thus  opened 
 to  my  view,  I  was  the  less  embarrassed,  and 
 the  path  of  duty  appeared  much  more  plain 
 before  me.  My  prayer  was  answered,  c  Teach 
 me  the  way  in  which  I  should  go,  for  I  lift  up 
 my  soul  unto  thee/  I  trust  I  heard  the  voice 
 of  a  gracious  Providence  distinctly  say,  This 
 is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it/  In  preaching  through 
 England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  and  Wales,  I  always 
 conceived  /  stuck  close  to  my  parish.9  '  I  am 
 now  an  old  stager  in  the  itinerant  work,  and  I 
 bless  God  for  the  line  in  which  I  have  been 
 called ;  being  assured  that  I  have  followed  the 
 will  of  God  therein,  as  I  am  satisfied  the  sal- 
 vation of  many  souls  has  been  promoted 
 thereby."* 
 
 Throughout  the  whole  of  his  ministry,  Mr.  Hill 
 considered  it  perfectly  right  to  sacrifice  points  of 
 non-essential  importance,  when  necessary  to 
 promote  the  Saviour's  cause ;  and  should  some 
 persons  consider  that  he  was  wrong  in  adopting 
 *  First  Journal  of  Tour  in  Scotland,  p.  07. 
 
632  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 such  a  plan,  still  the  whole  tenor  of  his  life 
 will  shew  that  he  was  sincere  in  the  course  he 
 pursued.  As  long  as  every  denomination 
 holds  all  its  peculiar  views  upon  minor  points 
 to  be  so  absolutely  important,  that  strict  adhe- 
 rence to  them  must  be  a  qualification  for 
 Christian  fellowship,  there  is  too  much  of  the 
 church  of  Rome  left,  to  authorize  an  expectation 
 of  a  general  union  among  "  the  members  of  the 
 household  of  faith." 
 
 Before  the  catholic  principles  of  Mr.  Hill 
 are  condemned,  let  Christians  consider  the 
 solemn  prayer  of  the  Redeemer  for  his  people, 
 "  that  they  all  may  be  one,  as  thou,  Father,  art 
 in  me,  and  I  in  thee  ;  that  they  also  may  be 
 one  in  us, — that  the  world  may  believe  that 
 thou  hast  sent  me."  Can  any  one  denomina- 
 tion venture  to  deny  that  saints  are  to  be  found 
 in  every  communion  of  Christians ;  and  if  so, 
 are  they  not  acting  directly  in  opposition  to  the 
 prayer  of  the  Saviour,  in  refusing  all  spiritual 
 intercourse  with  them  ?  Dr.  Pye  Smith,  in  his 
 Sermon  "  On  the  Temper  to  be  cultivated  by 
 Christians  of  different  denominations  towards 
 each  other,"  remarks,*  "  It  is  impossible  to 
 doubt  that  many  persons,  in  all  ages  of  Chris- 
 *  Pao-e  9, 
 
REV.   ROWLAND  HILL.  633 
 
 tianity,  who  have  held  sentiments  upon  a  large 
 variety  of  religious  topics,  and  those  such  as  we 
 must  admit  to  have  been  of  great,  though  not 
 of  the  greatest  importance,  very  different  from 
 those  of  each  other,  have  been  equally  upright, 
 devotional,  humble,  and  universally  holy  men. 
 Take,  for  instance,  a  few  names  that  will  readily 
 occur,  but  which  might  be  increased  to  almost 
 any  extent :  in  the  church  of  Rome,  Du  Verger, 
 the  Arnauds,  Pascal,  and  other  Jansenists,  with 
 Fenelon,  who  was  not  a  Jansenist ;  among  the 
 Lutherans,  Arndt,  Spener,  Bogatzky,  and 
 Bengel ;  in  the  Episcopal  church  of  our  own 
 country,  Usher,  Hall,  Beveridge ;  and  of  the 
 Scots'  Episcopalians,  Leighton,  Scougal,  and 
 Forbes,  of  Corse ;  of  Presbyterians,  Rivet, 
 Witsius,  Rutherford,  Halyburton,  and  more 
 than  one  Erskine ;  of  Congregationalists,  Owen, 
 Watts,  Edwards,  and  Williams;  of  those  Avho 
 disapprove  Infant  Baptism,  Booth,  Suteliffe, 
 Fuller,  and  Ryland ;  and  I  might  go  on  to  add 
 names  ever  dear  to  the  Christian,  from  the 
 Society  of  Friends*,  and  our  brethren,  the  dif- 
 ferent classes  of  Methodists.  Have  not  those 
 men  drawn  opposite  conclusions  upon  many 
 subjects, — in  relation  to  which  each  thought 
 and  felt  strongly, — however,  not  regarding  them 
 
634  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 as  first-rate  articles  of  revealed  truth?  Upon 
 those  contrary  doctrines,  and  contradictory 
 declarations,  it  is  impossible  that  the  views  of 
 all  those  persons  should  have  been  agreeable 
 to  the  truth  ;  some  must  have  been  in  error ;  yet, 
 who  will  venture  to  charge  any  of  them  with 
 oeing,  more  than  the  others,  or  more  than  is 
 the  common  lot  of  human  nature,  defective  in 
 learning,  attention,  diligence,  impartiality,  or, 
 above  all,  sincere,  vital,  powerful  piety." 
 
 The  holy  and  excellent  Philip  Henry  breathed 
 similar  sentiments  on  this  point.  When  preach- 
 ing on  John  xvii.  21,  he  remarked,  "Notwith- 
 standing the  many  sad  divisions  that  are  in  the 
 church,  yet  all  the  saints,  as  far  as  they  are 
 sanctified,  are  one:  one  in  relation,  one  flock, 
 one  family,  one  building,  one  body,  one  head  ; 
 one  by  representation,  one  in  image  and  like- 
 ness ;  of  one  inclination  and  disposition ;  one 
 in  their  aims,  one  in  their  askings,  one  in  amity 
 and  friendship,  one  in  interest,  and  one  in  their 
 inheritance;  nay,  they  are  one  in  judgment  and 
 opinion ;  though  in  some  things  they  differ,  yet 
 those  things  in  which  they  are  agreed  are  many 
 more,  and  much  more  considerable,  than  those  in 
 which  they  differ.  They  are  of  a  mind  concern- 
 ing sin,  that  it  is  the  worst  thing  in  the  world; 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  635 
 
 concerning  Christ,  that  he  is  all  in  all ;  concern- 
 ing the  favour  of  God,  that  it  is  better  than  life ; 
 concerning  the  world,  that  it  is  vanity  ;  concern- 
 ing the  word  of  God,  that  it  is  very  precious."* 
 The  question,  however,  may  be  asked,  on 
 what  ground  can  a  general  communion  of  saints 
 be  established  ?  We  answer  the  inquiry  in  the 
 language  of  Dr.  Pye  Smith  :f  "The  atoning 
 sacrifice  of  Christ,  and  the  renewing  influence 
 of  the  Holy  Spirit,  are  the  essentials  of  Chris- 
 tianity, and  they  are  presented  to  the  church 
 in  1  Cor.  vii.  19,  in  opposition  to  a  zealous  con- 
 tention about  forms  and  ceremonies,  and  a 
 bigoted  adherence  either  to  the  rejection  or  the 
 retention  of  them.  Neither  circumcision  avail- 
 eth  any  thing,  nor  uncircumsion.  Let  us  not 
 quarrel  about  modes  and  forms,  but  let  this 
 generous  rule  be  the  uniting  principle  of  our 
 hearts."  J 
 
 *  See  an  excellent  Tract  on  "The  Unity  of  the 
 Church,"  by  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  B.  W.  Noel,  M.  A. 
 
 f  Sermon,  p.  18. 
 
 X  "  As  for  particular  churches,  they  are  bound  to 
 allow  communion  to  all  those  who  profess  the  same 
 faith  upon  which  the  apostles  did  give  communion. 
 For  whatsoever  preserves  us  as  members  of  the  church, 
 gives  us  title  to  the  communion  of  saints ;  and  what- 
 
636  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 To  what  extent  Christian  union  may  be 
 carried  without  the  violation  of  principle  is  the 
 next  point  of  consideration.  The  answer  shall 
 again  be  given  in  the  words  of  Dr.  Smith.* 
 "  It  is  one  of  the  peculiar  duties  of  all  true 
 Christians,  especially  at  the  present  time,  for 
 the  honour  of  God  and  their  own  benefit,  to  do 
 
 soever  faith  or  belief  that  is  to  which  God  hath  pro- 
 mised heaven,  that  faith  makes  them  members  of  the 
 Catholic  Church.  Since,  therefore,  the  judicial  acts  of 
 the  church  are  then  most  prudent  and  religious  when 
 thejr  nearest  imitate  the  example  and  piety  of  God  ; 
 to  make  the  way  to  heaven  straiter  than  God  made  it, 
 or  to  deny  to  communicate  with  those  with  whom  God 
 will  vouchsafe  to  be  united,  and  to  refuse  our  charity 
 to  those  who  have  the  same  faith,  because  they  have 
 not  all  our  opinions,  and  believe  not  every  thing  neces- 
 sary which  we  overvalue,  is  impious  and  schismatical ; 
 it  infers  tyranny  on  one  part,  and  persuades  and 
 tempts  to  uncharitableness  and  animosities  on  both  ; 
 it  dissolves  societies,  and  is  an  enemy  to  peace :  it  bu- 
 sies men  in  impertinent  wranglings  ;  and  by  names  of 
 men  and  titles  of  factions,  it  consigns  the  interested 
 parties  to  act  their  differences  to  the  height,  and 
 makes  them  neglect  those  advantages  which  piety  and 
 a  good  life  bring  to  the  reputation  of  the  Christian 
 religion. "  —  Dr.  Jeremy  Taylor's  Discourse  on  the 
 Liberty  of  Prophesying. 
 
 *  Sermon,  p.  33. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  637 
 
 their  utmost  to  procure  the  establishment  of 
 three  points  of  practice — the  union  of  ministers 
 of  all  evangelical  denominations  in  public  meet- 
 ings for  prayer ;  their  free  interchange  of  volun- 
 tary pulpit  services ;  and  their  sitting  down 
 together  at  the  Lord's  table,  in  the  celebration 
 of  that  which  is  pre-eminently  the  ordinance  of 
 Christian  communion,  the  communion  of  all 
 who  *  glory  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
 Christ,  and  who  look  for  his  mercy  unto  eternal 
 life.'  Were  we  but  favoured  to  see  a  prevailing 
 union  in  these  three  principal  constituents  of 
 Christian  fellowship,  it  would  conduce,  I  cannot 
 but  think,  beyond  all  past  example,  to  the 
 purest  happiness  of  individual  believers,  and 
 to  the  abundant  prosperity  of  the  universal 
 church."* 
 
 *  u  Let  not  other  denominations  see  that  we  now 
 cherish  an  irreligious  sectarianism  in  ourselves,  more 
 exclusive  and  more  proud  than  that  which  we  con- 
 demn in  them."  If  the  mode  in  which  Dissenters 
 celebrate  the  Lord's  supper  contains  nothing  which 
 seems  to  be  opposed  to  the  will  of  God,  we  ought  to 
 unite  with  them  in  their  chapels;  and  if  they  do  not 
 think  that  our  mode  is  opposed  to  the  will  of  God, 
 they  are  sectarian  when  they  refuse  to  unite  with  us. 
 On  all  occasions  we  ought  to  recognize  each  other  as 
 brethren,  and  especially  in  this,  the  most  solemn  act, 
 
638  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 This  threefold  union  was  frequently  witnessed 
 at  Surrey  Chapel  whilst  under  the  pastoral  care 
 of  the  venerable  Rowland  Hill,  and  all  good 
 men  should  pray  that  his  catholic  principles 
 may  universally  prevail. 
 
 In  a  former  chapter  it  has  been  shown  that  the 
 history  of  Mr.  Hill  was  connected  with  the  rise 
 and  progress  of  several  of  those  noble  institu- 
 
 in  which  we  profess  to  be  the  disciples  of  our  common 
 Saviour. 
 
 "  We  should  admit  Dissenters  to  our  pulpits.  That 
 this  has  not  long  since  been  done,  is  a  disgrace  to  our 
 church.  Why  must  the  Scotch  Presbyterians  alone 
 have  the  benefit  of  the  instructions  of  Dr.  Chalmers 
 in  London,  when  every  pulpit  in  the  Establishment 
 ought  to  welcome  him?  Why  must  Dr.  Cooke  betake 
 himself  to  Surrey  Chapel  ?  Why  must  the  Dissenters 
 alone  listen  to  Dr.  Wardlaw  or  Mr.  Jay  ?  The  pre- 
 tence that  bad  doctrine  might  thus  be  taught  from 
 the  pulpits  of  the  Establishment,  is  idle  in  the 
 extreme.  If  a  clergyman  wish  for  bad  doctrine,  what 
 is  to  hinder  his  rinding  it  in  the  Establishment?  He 
 need  not  go  out  of  it,  for  any  form  of  extravagance, 
 or  dulness,  or  error.  And,  if  he  does  not  wish  for  it, 
 he  would  not  admit  an  unsound  Congregationalist 
 any  more  than  he  would  an  unsound  Episcopalian 
 now,  to  preach  for  him."  See  Fundamental  Reform 
 of  the  Church  Establishment,  pages  43  &  44.  By  a 
 Clergyman. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  639 
 
 tions  which  were  established  on  the  catholic 
 principles  he  so  evidently  loved.  These  liberal 
 institutions  had  worked  great  and  important 
 changes  before  the  removal  of  Mr.  Hill  to 
 his  eternal  rest.  The  darkness  which  covered 
 the  earth,  and  the  gross  darkness  the  people, 
 began  to  withdraw  before  the  rising  of  the  Sun 
 of  righteousness.  In  India  numerous  churches 
 had  been  planted,  and  the  Scriptures  printed 
 in  many  languages  and  dialects.  China  had 
 been  furnished  with  unadulterated  truth  in 
 her  own  tongue.  Ethiopia  was  stretching  out 
 her  hands  unto  God,  and  her  enslaved  sons  in 
 our  western  colonies  were  on  the  eve  of  emanci- 
 pation. Several  of  the  beautiful  islands  of  the 
 Pacific  had  been  delivered  from  savage  and 
 inhuman  rites,  to  serve  the  living  and  true  God; 
 
 "  Mr.  Hill  used  freely  to  admit,  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  par- 
 ticularly by  giving  power  to  the  clergy  to  admit  as 
 visitors  ministers  of  certain  other  orthodox  Protestant 
 denominations.  Some  such  concessions,  wisely  regu- 
 lated and  judiciously  used,  would  perhaps  tend  rather 
 to  increase  than  diminish  the  stability  of  our  position ." 
 Sidney's  Life  of  Hill,  p.  398. 
 
640  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 and  Europe,  though  still  in  great  darkness, 
 had  partly  shaken  off  the  chains  of  the  Roman 
 pontiff. 
 
 Great  as  these  changes  have  been,  there 
 remains  much  to  be  done  before  the  Gospel 
 will  be  spread  through  the  world.  There  are 
 many  official  as  well  as  moral  difficulties  to  be 
 removed  out  of  the  way.  No  spiritual  power 
 must  prevent  the  Gospel  from  being  freely  and 
 fully  preached  in  every  heathen  land.  Souls 
 must  be  loved  better  than  the  discipline  and 
 rules  of  any  church,  and  our  highly  esteemed 
 colonial  prelates  must  allow  their  ministers  and 
 missionaries  "a  little  elbow-room."  Let  men 
 who  "  contend  earnestly  for  the  faith,"  who  are 
 "wise  to  win  souls,"  and  who  "travail  in  birth 
 again  until  Christ  shall  be  formed  in  them," 
 be  encouraged  to  "  go  forward/'  and  let  them 
 not  be  stopped  at  every  advanced  step  by  the 
 spiritual  police,  to  ascertain  whether  they  are 
 moving  strictly  within  the  limits  which  human 
 regulations  have  prescribed. 
 
 The  conversion  of  the  world  will  not  be 
 committed  to  any  one  section  of  the  Christian 
 church.  All  the  saints  will  share  in  this  blessed 
 work,  and  the  truths  in  which  they  agree, 
 and  not  their  sectarian  differences,  will  be  the 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  641 
 
 means  of  its  accomplishment.*  It  is  encou- 
 raging to  find  that  this  principle  is  now  attract- 
 ing public  attention.  The  Bishop  of  London, 
 in  a  recent  charge,  remarks,  "  The  Wesleyan 
 Methodists,  I  fear,  cannot  be  considered,  at  the 
 present  day,  as  being  directly  or  intentionally 
 subsidiary  to  the  church ;  but  I  know  not  why 
 we  should  hesitate  to  acknowledge  the  good 
 which  they  have  done  to  the  cause  which  the 
 church  has  in  hand,  by  their  zealous  and  labo- 
 rious exertions,  as  teachers  of  Gospel  truth,  in 
 many  parts  of  the  kingdom  where  the  church 
 afforded  no  sufficient  provision  for  the  spiritual 
 wants  of  a  rapidly  accumulated  population.  It 
 wras  necessary  that  Christ  should  be  preached 
 there ;  and  if  we  did  not  possess  the  means  of 
 doing  so  within  ourselves,  we  have  reason  to 
 rejoice  that  it  was  faithfully  though  irregularh/ 
 done  by  others." 
 
 These  remarks,  if  applicable  to  our  own 
 country,  are  equally  so  to  the  world  at  large. 
 Let  us  rejoice,  then,  to  whatever  denomination 
 we  may  belong,  in  the  growing  prosperity  of 
 
 *  Would  not  this  be  a  valuable  subject  for  a  prize 
 essay? — namely,  "The  truths  in  which  real  Christians 
 are  agreed,  and  not  their  sectarian   differences,  will 
 lead  to  the  evangelization  of  the  world," 
 2  T 
 
642  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 every  Missionary  cause.  Although  "  they  fol- 
 low not  with  us,"  yet  we  will  bid  them  God 
 speed.  For,  in  such  labours,  "he  that  is  not 
 against  us,  is  for  us."  Let  us  "  love  our  com- 
 mon work  better  than  our  fellow  and  confe- 
 derated labourers,  and  rejoice  that  devils  are 
 cast  out,  whosoever  may  be  the  instrument; 
 the  blessedness  of  the  achievement  may  well 
 dispose  us  to  overlook  some  little  irregularity 
 in  the  means."* 
 
 The  writer  has  completed  his  memorial  of 
 a  revered  pastor.  It  has  been  his  wish  not 
 to  give  utterance  to  a  single  expression,  which 
 he  thought  would  be  objectionable  to  his  de- 
 parted friend.  He  has  had  no  ambition  to 
 advance  the  views  of  any  particular  party,  but 
 has  been  most  anxious  to  increase  the  spirit  of 
 union  among  all  true  Christians.  Now  that 
 the  successor  of  the  immortal  Whitefield  has 
 finished  his  course,  let  us  hope  that  suitably 
 qualified  ministers  will  be  raised  up,  to  carry 
 on  the  work  of  the  Lord.  Let  such  spiritual 
 Samsons  advance  in  the  holy  conflict,  pre- 
 pared to  snap  asunder  the  bands  of  every  party 
 which  may  interfere  with  the  most  enlarged 
 efforts  for  the  conversion  of  perishing  men. 
 *  Dissent  not  Schism,  p.  66. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  f>43 
 
 The  evangelization  of  the  world,  however, 
 will  not  be  realized  by  human  effort  alone : 
 "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my 
 Spirit,  saith  the  Lord."  It  is  the  solemn  duty  of 
 Christians  to  plead  earnestly  with  God  for  the 
 general  effusion  of  Divine  influence,  "and  to 
 give  him  no  rest,  till  he  establish,  and  till  he 
 make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the  earth."  The 
 members  of  Christ's  holy  church  must  be  seen 
 more  at  the  throne  of  grace,  than  heard  amidst 
 the  contentions  of  party  strife.  Sectarian 
 meetings  must  be  exchanged  for  meetings  of 
 prayer.  And  why  should  not  this  be  the  case? 
 Is  it  impossible  in  these  times,  to  imitate  the 
 example  of  the  primitive  saints,  "  who  when 
 the  day  of  Pentecost  was  fully  come,  were  all 
 with  one  accord  in  one  place  ?"  And  would  not 
 similar  and  more  glorious  results  follow  ? 
 Prayer  led  to  the  revival  of  religion  in  the  days 
 of  Romaine,  and  bound  together  the  little  rem- 
 nant of  the  saints  as  the  heart  of  one  man. 
 Let  the  same  means  now  be  tried,  and  in  pro- 
 portion as  the  Spirit  of  grace  and  of  supplications 
 rests  upon  "  the  household  of  faith,"  will  there 
 be  real  unity  in  "the  holy  catholic  church." 
 The  breath  of  prayer  wrould  raise  "  the  curtains 
 of  our  distinct  habitations,"  and  "  the  place  of 
 
644  MEMOIR  OF 
 
 our  tents  be  sufficiently  enlarged"  to  contain 
 "  the  one  fold,"  of  the  Saviour's  flock.  The 
 combined  efforts  of  true  Christians  "  would 
 lengthen  the  cords  and  strengthen  the  stakes 
 of  the  church," — and  the  world  be  speedily 
 brought  into  happy  subjection  to  "  the  Prince 
 of  peace." 
 
 "Come  then,  and,  added  to  thy  many  crowns, 
 Receive  yet  one,  the  crown  of  all  the  earth, 
 Thou  who  alone  art  worthy." — Amen. 
 
REV.  ROWLAND  HILL.  645 
 
 List  of  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill's  Works,  which 
 are  referred  to  in  the  previous  Memoir. 
 
 1.  The  Gospel  Message;  being  the  substance  of  a 
 Sermon  delivered  in  the  parish  church  of  Kingston, 
 near  Taunton,  June  20,  1773. 
 
 2.  A  Token  of  respect  to  the  Memory  of  the  late 
 Rev.  James  Rouquet;  being  the  substance  of  a  Sermon 
 preached  at  the  parish  church  of  St.  Werburgh,  in  the 
 city  of  Bristol,  on  Sunday,  November  24,  1776. 
 
 3.  A  full  Answer  to  the  Rev.  John  Wesley's  Remarks 
 upon  a  late  pamphlet  published  in  Defence  of  the 
 character  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Whitefleld  and  others. 
 October,  1777. 
 
 4.  Christ  Crucified  the  Sum  and  Substance  of  the 
 Scriptures;  a  Sermon  preached  on  Whitsunday,  June 8, 
 1783,  on  the  Opening  of  Surrey  Chapel,  St.  George's 
 Road.  1783. 
 
 5.  Glorious  Displays  of  Gospel  Grace ;  a  Sermon 
 preached  at  Surrey  Chapel  on  the  formation  of  the 
 London  Missionary  Society,  on  the  24th  May.   1794. 
 
 6.  An  Expostulatory  Letter  to  the  Rev.  W.  D.  Tatter- 
 sall,  A.M.,  Rector  of  Westbourne,  Sussex,  and  Vicar 
 of  Wotton-under-edge,  Gloucestershire  ;  in  which  the 
 bad  tendency  of  the  admission  of  Stage  Amusements, 
 in  a  religious  and  moral  point  of  view,  is  seriously 
 considered.  1795. 
 
 7.  First  Journal  of  a  Tour  into  the  North,  with 
 Remarks  on  the  Present  State  of  Religion  in  Scotland, 
 on  some  party  distinctions  in  England,  and  on  Lay 
 and  Itinerant  Preaching.  1798. 
 
 8.  An  Answer  to  Dr.  Jamieson's  Remarks  on  the 
 late  Tour  of  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill.  1798. 
 
 9.  A  series  of  Letters  occasioned  by  the  late  Pas- 
 toral Admonition  of  the  Church  of  Scotland.  1798. 
 
 10.  Divine  Hymns  for  Children  ;  designed  as  an 
 Appendix  to  Dr.  Watts's  Divine  Songs.  1798. 
 
 11.  Instruction  for  Children;  or,  a  Token  of  Love 
 for  the  Rising  Generation.  1798. 
 
646  MEMOIR  OF  REV.  ROWLAND  HILL. 
 
 12.  A  Second  Tour  from  London  through  the  High- 
 lands of  Scotland,  and  the  North-western  parts  of 
 England.  1799. 
 
 13.  A  Plea  for  Union,  and  for  a  Free  Propagation 
 of  the  Gospel ;  being  an  Answer  to  Dr.  Jamieson's 
 Remarks  on  the  late  Tour  of  the  Rev,  R.  Hill.  1800. 
 
 14.  The  Village  Dialogues.  1801.  Subsequently- 
 enlarged, 
 
 15.  An  Apology  for  Sunday  Schools ;  the  substance 
 of  a  Sermon  preached  at  Surrey  Chapel,  Feb.  22, 1801, 
 for  the  Southwark  Sunday  Schools,  with  Incidental 
 Remarks  on  the  late  Charge  of  the  Right  Rev.  the 
 Lord  Bishop  of  Rochester.  1801. 
 
 16.  Spiritual  Characteristics ;  represented  in  an 
 account  of  a  most  curious  Sale  of  Curates  by  Public 
 Auction,  who  were  to  be  disposed  of  in  consequence  of 
 the  Clergy  Residence  Act.   By  an  Old  Observer.  1803. 
 
 17.  The  Protection  of  God  our  best  Confidence  in 
 Time  of  Danger ;  being  the  substance  of  a  Sermon 
 preached  before  the  Volunteers  at  Surrey  Chapel.  1803. 
 
 18.  A  Warning  to  Professors;  containing  Aphoristic 
 Observations  on  the  Nature  and  Tendency  of  Public 
 Amusements.  1806. 
 
 19.  Cow-pock  Inoculation  Vindicated  and  Recom- 
 mended, from  matters  of  fact.  1806. 
 
 20.  A  Serious  Investigation  of  the  Nature  and 
 Effects  of  Parochial  Assessments  being  charged  on 
 Places  of  Religious  Worship.  1811. 
 
 21.  Religious  Freedom  in  Danger ;  or,  the  Tole- 
 ration Act  Invaded  by  Parochial  Assessments.  1816. 
 
 22.  A  Catechism  for  Children  ;  being  a  Short  and 
 Easy  Summary  of  the  Christian  Dispensation,  in- 
 tended for  the  Use  of  Sunday-schools. 
 
 23.  Four  Dialogues  in  Prison. 
 
 24.  Thomas  Steady  and  John  Wild ;  a  Dialogue 
 about  Fairs. 
 
 25.  A  Collection  of  Hymns  for  the  Use  of  Surrey 
 Chapel. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Abergelley,  scene  at,  147. 
 Abdy,  Rev.  Mr.,  259. 
 Absence  of  mind,  330,  331. 
 Academicians,  279,  306. 
 Addington,  Dr.,  376. 
 Admission  to  church,  470-478. 
 Affliction,  223,  317,  318. 
 Agents,  special,  18,  129. 
 Albums,  577,  579. 
 Aldermen,  470. 
 Alexander,  Emperor,  178. 
 Almshouses,  298,  419,  420,  475. 
 Amiens,  peace  of,  346,  364. 
 Amusements,  21 1,  212,309,310. 
 Annan,  minister's  child  at,  522. 
 Annual    Meetings    of   Sunday 
 
 Schools,  417. 
 Anonymous  letters,  300. 
 Anonymous  donations,  313. 
 Antinomianism,   250,  287,  315, 
 Aphorism,  537.  [463. 
 
 Apocrypha,  459. 
 Apology    for    Sunday    Schools, 
 
 415,  565. 
 Apostolical  Succession,  453. 
 Applications  to  Mr.  Hill,  299. 
 Archer,  Giles,  327. 
 Arnauds,  633. 
 Arndt,  633. 
 Articles    of   the   Church,    454, 
 
 458  to  465. 
 Arundel,  Rev.  John,  226. 
 Assembly,  General,  158. 
 Assessments,  parochial,  355. 
 Associate  Synod,   159. 
 Assurance,  Christian,  316,  611. 
 
 Atonement,  241. 
 Atterbury,  Rev.  Mr.,  60. 
 Attributes  of  God,  244. 
 AuxiliarySocieties,  origin  of,395« 
 
 B 
 Bad   minister  not  to  be  heard, 
 
 508. 
 Bacon,    Lord,   on    Church    Go- 
 vernment, 4. 
 Bail,  340. 
 
 Ball  fired  at  Mr.  Hill,   105. 
 Ball,  Rev.  John,  566. 
 Bankrupt,  249. 
 Baptism,  infant,  519  ;   mode  of, 
 
 522  ;  improvement  of,  526. 
 Baptist  minister,  preaching  for, 
 
 264. 
 Baptists,  liberal,  324,  492,  493. 
 Baptismal  regeneration,  520. 
 Baptismal  service,  489. 
 Baptists,  communion  with,  157, 
 
 493. 
 BaptistChapel,Camberwell,  531. 
 Basket  of  beans,  269. 
 Bates,  Dr.,  538,  625. 
 Bates,  Rev.  Edward,  422. 
 Bath,  31,  138. 
 
 Baxter,  Rev.  Rd.,  495,  538,625, 
 Beams,  Mr.  Hugh,  406. 
 Bedford,  duke  of,  351. 
 Bellman,  of  Ayr,  162. 
 Belsham's  new  version    of  the 
 
 Testament,   194  to  207. 
 Benevolence,  312,  313. 
 Benevolent  Society,    402,   403, 
 
 404. 
 Bengel,    633. 
 
648 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Berridge,  Rev.  John,  48,  49, 51, 
 57,80,84,  116,144,477,554, 
 583,  584,  624,  627. 
 
 Beveridge,  Bishop,  33, 132,  633. 
 
 Bexley,  Lord,  on  Church  Re- 
 form, 457. 
 
 Beza,  129. 
 
 Bible,  254. 
 
 Bible  Society,  origin  of,  391  to 
 397. 
 
 Bigot  for  liberality,  164,  342. 
 
 Bigotry,  386,550. 
 
 Bigotry,  funeral  of,  384. 
 
 Bigotry,  epitaph  on,  385. 
 
 Bill  of  Exchange,  328. 
 
 Biography,   1. 
 
 Bird,  the,  311. 
 
 Bishops,  451,  495. 
 
 Bishops,  bench  of.  315. 
 
 Blackstone,  Mr.  Justice,  on  the 
 Canons,  92. 
 
 Blessed  Almshouses,  476. 
 
 Blind  man,  217. 
 
 Blind  child,  217. 
 
 Blind  poet,  300. 
 
 Board  of  ministers,  315. 
 
 Boat,  551. 
 
 Bogatzky,  633. 
 
 Bogue,  Dr.,  379,  381,  384,  395, 
 628. 
 
 Book  Society,  373. 
 
 Books  hawked  by  authors,  313. 
 
 Booth,  Rev.  A.,  377,  633. 
 
 Bow  Church,  Cheapside,  259. 
 
 Bradford,  Wilts,  83. 
 
 Brewer,  Rev.  Mr.,  376. 
 
 Breeze,  the,  214. 
 
 Bridges,  Mr.  William,  406. 
 
 Bristol  Tabernacle,  379,  593. 
 
 British  andForeign  Schools,419. 
 
 Brook  Green,   140. 
 
 Broken  plate,  249. 
 
 Broughton,  Sir  Brian,  30. 
 
 Broughton,  Mr.,  ExeterCollege, 
 134. 
 
 Brothers,  the  young,  262. 
 
 Brothers,  the  aged,  272. 
 
 Brown,  Rev.  John,  420. 
 
 Buckingham,  513. 
 
 Bull,   Rev.   W.,   88,   104,    109, 
 
 111,  112,  113,  115,119,121, 
 
 208,  281,  284,  285,429,431, 
 
 466,  545,  575,  586,  628. 
 Bull,  Rev.  Thomas,  225. 
 Bunyan,  John,   164,  428,  535. 
 Bunyan  Baptists,  536. 
 Burchett,  J.  R.,  Esq.,  406,  409. 
 Burder,   Rev.  George,   22,  381, 
 
 389,  534,  545,  628. 
 Burnt  woman,  52. 
 Butchery,  the  devil's,  270. 
 Butler's  Analogy,   130. 
 By-and-bys,  614. 
 
 C 
 Cabbage-net,  211. 
 Cadogan's  Life  of  Romaine,  80, 
 
 82,  85,  628. 
 Calabria,  31. 
 Calls  to  Sinners,  239. 
 Calling  effectual,  239. 
 Calton    Hill,    Edinburgh,    153, 
 
 155,  156,  162. 
 Calamy,   Dr.,  538. 
 Calvin,  20.  129. 
 Calvinist,  239,  245. 
 Cambridge,  46,  47,  61,  94. 
 Canada,  442. 
 
 Canons  of  the  Church,  23,  92. 
 Carnbrae,   149. 
 Castle  and  Falcon  Tavern,  97, 
 
 380. 
 Cat,  the,  597. 
 
 Catechumens  of  P.  Henry,  529 
 Catholic  Emancipation,  366. 
 Catholicon,  Whitefield's,  233. 
 Cecil,  Rev.  Richard,  89. 
 Chalmers,    Dr.,    20,   166,  280, 
 
 638. 
 Character  of  Mr.  Hill  how  to  be 
 
 estimated,  629. 
 Character,  importance  of,  305. 
 Charles,  Rev.  Thomas,  of  Bala, 
 
 93,  391. 
 Chastisement  of  Children,  252» 
 
INDEX. 
 
 649 
 
 Cheerfulness,  308. 
 
 Cheltenham  Chapel,  420. 
 
 Chester,  bishop  of,   16,  23. 
 
 Chief    magistrates'    duty   con- 
 cerning Religion.  440. 
 
 Child,  questions  to,  238,  242. 
 
 Chimneys,   191. 
 
 Christ's  kingdom  exalted,  349. 
 
 ChristCrucified,  sermon  on,  556. 
 
 Christ's  humanity,  219. 
 
 Christian  Dispensation,   a  cate- 
 chism on,  56$. 
 
 Christmas-day,  514,  516. 
 
 Churchmen   and    Dissenters  on 
 their  knees,  503. 
 
 Church  at  Kingston,  73. 
 
 Church  of  Christ,  25,464,467. 
 
 Church  of  England  in  Romaine's 
 Days,  6,  79. 
 
 Church,   when  it  may  oe   left, 
 504-512. 
 
 Church  Services,  312,  454. 
 
 Church    and    State,    connexion 
 between,  444. 
 
 Church,  the  primitive,  446. 
 
 Church  in  danger,  454. 
 
 Church  Government,  449,  468 
 to  498. 
 
 Civil  Constitution  of  Great  Bri- 
 tain, 361. 
 
 Civil  Sword,  448. 
 
 Clavton,     Mr.,     Brazen    Nose 
 College,   134. 
 
 Clayton,  Rev.  John,   376. 
 
 Clayton,  Rev.  George,  617,  622. 
 
 Clergy  in  Romaine's  days,  6,  S3. 
 
 Climbing  Thoughts,  220. 
 
 Clothing  Society,  419. 
 
 Coachman,  360. 
 
 Coke,  Dr.,  72. 
 
 Coleman,  Mr.,  407. 
 
 Collection,  275. 
 
 Collections    at    Surrey   Chapel, 
 401. 
 
 Collyer,  Dr.,  426,  620. 
 
 Columbus,  630. 
 
 Comet,  629. 
 
 Commander  of  the  Forces,  36a 
 
 Common  Prayer  Book,  457,488. 
 
 Communion  of  Saints,  486,  502; 
 ground  of,  635  ;  extent  of,  638. 
 
 Conder,  Dr.,  376. 
 
 Confirmation,  524,  526. 
 
 Conge  d'elire,  451. 
 
 Congregationalism,  479,  484, 
 485,  495,  500. 
 
 Controversy  with  Wesley,   554. 
 
 Conquerors   more  than,  254. 
 
 Conversions,  272. 
 
 Conversion  by  Eph.  iii.  S. — 85. 
 
 Conversion  of  the  world,  641. 
 
 Convocation  of  the  Church,  447. 
 
 Conyers,  Dr.,  85. 
 
 Cooke,  Dr.,  Belfast,  638, 
 
 Cooke,  Rev.  John,  381 
 
 Cornwall.   148. 
 
 Counsel,  speeches  of,   357. 
 
 Covenant,  Baptismal,  526. 
 
 Coverdale,    171. 
 
 Covetousness,  275. 
 
 Cow,  275,  597. 
 
 Cowper  the  poet,  SS,  317,  5u"J, 
 576. 
 
 Cowie,  Rev.  George,   162. 
 
 Cradle  of  the  Missionary  So- 
 ciety,  379. 
 
 Cranfield,   Mr.,  410. 
 
 Cranmer,   129. 
 
 Crotch,  Dr.,   58S. 
 
 Croydon,    140. 
 
 Cudgel,  the,   369. 
 
 Curate  of  all  the  fields,  &c,  22, 
 D 
 
 Dale,  Mr.  D.,  Glasgow,   397. 
 
 Deacons,  4S2. 
 
 Death,   590,  592. 
 
 Debts,  251. 
 
 Declaration  of  Faith,  461. 
 
 De  Courcy,  Rev.  R.,   86. 
 
 Densham,  Mr.,  259. 
 
 Dependency,  342. 
 
 Depravity  of  man,  462. 
 
 Deputation,  the.  607. 
 
 Despondency,  315. 
 
650 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Devil,  the  worst,  314. 
 Devizes,   142. 
 
 Dialogues  in  prison,  391,  520. 
 Discipline,Church,  6,14,22,452. 
 Disinterestedness  of   Mr.   Hill, 
 
 302. 
 Dissenters,  447. 
 Dissenters    and    Churchmen  in 
 
 prayer,  503. 
 Dissenters  born  again,  551. 
 Dissent  not  Schism,  500. 
 Divine  and  Human  Natures  of 
 
 Christ,  462. 
 Dixon,  Dr.,  of  Oxford,  59. 
 Doctrines,   how  preached,  238, 
 
 245. 
 Doddridge,  Dr.,  11,  134,  376 
 
 628. 
 Dorcas  Society,  419. 
 Dorchester,  sermon  at,  277. 
 Dorsetshire  clergymen,  314. 
 Dort,  Synod  of,  465. 
 Dunstan's  (St.)  Church,   80. 
 Durbridge,  Mrs.,  59. 
 Durell,  Dr.,  Vice  Chancellor  of 
 
 Oxford,  60. 
 Du  Verger,  633. 
 Dying  scene,  616-619. 
 
 E 
 Earthquake  in  London,  375. 
 Easter  services  for  Children,  417. 
 Eccentricities  of  Mr.  Hill,  275. 
 Eccentric  clergyman,  489. 
 Edinburgh  meeting  for  prayer, 
 
 378. 
 Edmund's  (St.)  Hall,   15,  58. 
 Edwards,  Dr.  J.,  633. 
 Egyptians,  345. 
 Elbow-room  for  ministers,  489. 
 Elders,  470,  483,  496. 
 Election,  239,  463. 
 Elect,  preaching  to,  240. 
 Elect  Ladies,  628. 
 Elliott,  Rev.  R.,  123,  301,  467. 
 Emancipation,  Catholic,  366. 
 England,  Reformation  in,   129. 
 English,  Rev.  Mr.,  120. 
 
 Engraver,  602. 
 Episcopal  Church,  438. 
 Episcopacy,  450,  495,  496,  500 
 Epitaph  on  Bigotry,  385. 
 Establishments  of  Religion,  44C 
 
 to  443. 
 Erskine,  Lady  Ann,   628. 
 Erskine,  Rev.  Mr.,  633. 
 Evidence  of  a  bad  pastor,  283. 
 Exeter,  sermon  at,  517. 
 Expositions,  221. 
 Expostulatory  Letter  to  Tatter- 
 
 sall,  556. 
 Extemporaneous  preaching,  207. 
 Eyre,  Rev.  John,  380,  381,  427. 
 
 F 
 Faith,  household  of,  315. 
 Faith  and  repentance,  90. 
 Faith  and  Works,  433. 
 Faithful  minister,  236. 
 Fagots,  367. 
 Fall,  462. 
 False  reports,  337. 
 Family  livings,  325. 
 Family  likenesses,  613. 
 Farewells,  301. 
 Farmers  and  the  Pigs,  74. 
 Farmer,  sleeping  one,  75. 
 Farmer  and  the  thieves,   190. 
 Fathers  of  the  Church,   129. 
 Fear  of  death,  590. 
 Fearful  disciple  reproved,  250. 
 Fellows,  95. 
 Female  convert,  76. 
 Fenelon,  633. 
 Ferrets,  the,  433. 
 Final  perseverance  of  saints,464. 
 First  sermon  at  Kingston,  209. 
 Flatterers,  339. 
 Fletcher,   Rev.  John,  84,  554, 
 
 627. 
 Fletcher,  Dr.,  599. 
 Forfitt,  Mr.  Benjamin,  375. 
 Fog,  218. 
 
 Forbes,  of  Corse,  633. 
 Forced  payments  to  State  Reli- 
 gion, 443. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 651 
 
 Foster,  Rev.  H.,  89,  377. 
 
 Fothergill,  Dr.,  60. 
 
 Foyster,  Samuel,  Esq.,  263. 
 
 Fox,  William,  377. 
 
 Fox,  the  martyrologist,  367. 
 
 Fragment  Schools,  414. 
 
 Friends,  pictures  of,  2. 
 
 Friends,  the  two,  268. 
 
 Friendship,  63. 
 
 Freedom    of   London    to    Lord 
 
 Hill,  365. 
 Free  Will,  463. 
 Fuller,  Rev.  A.,  628,  633. 
 Funeral  of  Mr.  Hill,  619. 
 Funeral  of  Wesley,  621. 
 Funeral  sermon,  489,  622. 
 Funeral  sermons,  290. 
 Fundamental  reform,  637. 
 Furnished  houses,  219. 
 
 G 
 Gambold's  (Bishop)  Hymn,  603. 
 Gardener,  the,  359. 
 Gems,  220. 
 
 Geographical  limits,    168. 
 German  reformation,    129. 
 German  sufferers,  274. 
 Gibbs,  John,  Mr.,  406. 
 Gilbee,  Dr.,  504,  506. 
 Gillies,  Dr.,  131,  154. 
 Gilpin,  John,  317. 
 Glascott,  Rev.  Mr.,   116. 
 Glenorchy,    Lady,  31,   33,   46, 
 
 628. 
 Glorious    Displays  of    Gospel 
 
 Grace,  556. 
 Gloucester,  Bishop  of,   102. 
 Gloucester  Jail,  359. 
 Gloucestershire  election,   362. 
 Godfathers  andGodmothers,523. 
 Good  heart,  472. 
 Gordon,  Lord  George,  346. 
 Gospel  Message,  553. 
 Gospel  must  be  heard, 504  to5 14. 
 Government,  language  of,  440. 
 Grave  of  Rowland  Hill,   623.  . 
 Grazing  in  fresh  pasture,   111. 
 Greatheed,  Rev.  Mr-,  88,  381. 
 
 Greek  Testament,   195. 
 
 Greenwich  Tabernacle,  85. 
 
 Grey,  Rev.  Mr.,  Northampton, 
 494. 
 
 Griffin,  Rev.  John,  123,  259, 
 264,  301,  381. 
 
 Grimshaw,  Rev.  W.,  of  How- 
 arth,  80,  121. 
 
 Grimshaw's  Life  of  Richmond, 
 520. 
 
 Grindall,   171. 
 
 Grove,  Rev.  Thomas,  59. 
 
 Guise,   Sir  Wm,  362. 
 
 Guise,  Dr.,   11. 
 H 
 
 H,  the  letter,  45. 
 
 Hail-storm  on  pantiles,  280. 
 
 Haldane,  J.,  Esq.,  150. 
 
 Hall,  Bishop,  633. 
 
 Hall,  Rev.  Robert,  280,  492. 
 
 Halyburton,  633. 
 
 Hampstead  Heath,  139. 
 
 Handfield,  Colonel,  408. 
 
 Hanover-square,  St.  George's, 
 80. 
 
 Hanway,  Jonas,  377. 
 
 Harris's  Sermon  for  Kemp,  405. 
 
 Haverfordwest,   147. 
 
 Haweis's  Life  of  Romaine,  381. 
 
 Hawkestone,  55. 
 
 Heathen  have  light,   190. 
 
 Hearers  of  Mr.  Hill,  435. 
 
 Heart,  the  hard  one,  50. 
 
 Heart,  the  good  one,  472. 
 
 Heaven,  Church  in,   459. 
 
 Henry,  Matthew,  538,  543. 
 
 Henry,  Philip,  523,  526,  634. 
 
 Hervey,  Rev.  James,   134,  627. 
 
 Hey,  Rev.  Mr.,  Bristol,  379,381. 
 
 Highfield  Chapel,  Huddersfield, 
 512. 
 
 Hill,  Rev.  Rowland: — Ances- 
 tors, 29  ;  kindred,  30  ;  birth, 
 31;  early  disposition,  32; 
 education,  32  ;  religious  im- 
 pressions, 33 ;  goes  to  Eton, 
 33 ;    removal   to  Cambridge, 
 
652 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 46  ;  preaches,  50  ;  introduced 
 to  Berridge  and  Whitefield, 
 51  ;  opposition  of  parents,  54  ; 
 his  mother's  death,  56;  vil- 
 lage labours,  57 ;  takes  his 
 degree,  63 ;  cannot  at  first 
 obtain  ordination,  64,  141  ; 
 ordination,  70 ;  labours  at 
 Kingston,  73 ;  itinerant  la- 
 bours, 77,  137,  139,  140  to 
 158;  his  marriage,  77;  state 
 of  the  church,  79  ;  popularity 
 in  the  churches,  93  ;  singular 
 incident,  95  ;  Lady  Hunting- 
 don, 96  ;  Surrey  Chapel,  97, 
 Mr.  Hill  fired  at,  105  ;  his 
 attainments  and  labours  as  a 
 preacher,  177 ;  fidelity  and 
 success,  235  ;  private  and  re- 
 lative life,  304 ;  philanthropic 
 efforts,  344  ;  connexion  with 
 religious  societies,  373 ;  de- 
 claration of  faith,  458  ;  church 
 discipline,  464  ;  liberal  views, 
 498 ;  opinions  on  baptism, 
 519  :  intercourse  with  dissen- 
 ters, 533  ;  his  publications, 
 553 ;  last  years  and  death, 
 589  ;  last  sermon,  612  ;  fune- 
 ral, 619;  monument,  624; 
 original  letters  from  Mr.  Hill, 
 66,  91,  101,  108,  109,  111, 
 112,  113,  115,  119,  124,208, 
 225,  228,  230,  231,  281,284, 
 285,  323,  333,387,400,423, 
 424,  425,  426,429,431,466, 
 493,  513,564,575,586,  592, 
 593,  595,  605,  608. 
 
 Hill,  Mrs.  Rowland,  77,  78, 
 320,  322,  337. 
 
 Hill,  Sir  Richard,  29,  33,  34, 
 60,  143,  179,  583. 
 
 Hill,  Rev.  Brian,  31. 
 
 Hill,  Miss  Jane,  30,  46. 
 
 Hill,  Sir  Rowland,  30. 
 
 Hill,  Lord,  Commander  of  the 
 Forces,  620. 
 
 Hill,  Capt.  George.  620. 
 
 Holiness,  personal,  245,  305. 
 
 Hopkins,  Bishop,   132. 
 
 Home,  Rev.  Melville,  380. 
 
 Home,  Dr.,  60. 
 
 Horses,  332,  597. 
 
 Horse  race,  309. 
 
 Howard,  Robert,  Esq.,  396. 
 
 Howe,  Rev.  John,  538. 
 
 Hughes,  Rev.  Joseph,  391,  545. 
 
 Humility,  220,  310,  423. 
 
 Hull,  Hugh  de  la,  29. 
 
 Hunter,  Dr.,  381. 
 
 Huntingdon,  Lady,  51,  56,  96, 
 138,  628. 
 
 Huss,  John,  368. 
 
 Hyde  Park,  sermon  by  White- 
 field,  375. 
 
 Hymns  forVolunteers,  347,  349. 
 
 Hymns  for  Children,  568. 
 
 Hymns,  original,  570-575, 
 I 
 
 Illustrations,  ready,  314. 
 
 Illuminations,  general,  364. 
 
 Imitations  of  great  men,  279. 
 
 Incestuous  person,  479. 
 
 Inconsistent  professor,  250. 
 
 Independency,  342,  480. 
 
 Infant  baptism,  519. 
 
 Infant  schools,  418. 
 
 Influences  of  Holy  Spirit,   191. 
 
 Influence  of  Surrey  Chapel,  434. 
 
 Ingham,  Mr.,  Queen's  College, 
 134. 
 
 Insolvent,  250. 
 
 Interesting  scene,   596. 
 
 Invitations  to  sinners,  243. 
 
 Ireland,   167. 
 
 Irregular  preaching,   18,117. 
 
 Itinerant  labours,  135,  137,  141 
 to  169,  631. 
 
 Itinerant  preaching,  want  of,  in 
 Church  of  England,  176,  624. 
 
 Itinerant  preachers,  173,  174. 
 J 
 
 Jackson,  Rev.  Thomas,  147,182 
 272,  616,  620. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 653 
 
 Jacob,  Mr.,  organist,  588. 
 
 Jails,  50. 
 
 James,  Rev.  J.  A.,  121. 
 
 Jamieson,  Dr.,   163. 
 
 Jay,   Rev.  Wm.,  31,   120,   135, 
 
 189,  280,301,314,320,  381, 
 
 622,  638. 
 Jenner,  Dr.,  350. 
 Jerome,  368. 
 Jerusalem  blades,   2S4. 
 Jesus  the  rest  of  his  people,  114. 
 Jewell,   171. 
 Johnson,  Dr.,   132. 
 Jonah,  630. 
 
 Jones,  Thomas,  Oxford,  59. 
 Jones,  Rev.  Mr.,  St.  Saviour's, 
 
 80,  81. 
 Jones,  Rev.  Theophilus,   183. 
 Jones's  Life  of  Hill  referred  to, 
 
 3,  4,  437,  438,  492,  498. 
 Joss,  Capt.,  120,  428. 
 Jowett's  Life  of  Rev.  C.  Neale, 
 
 M.  A.,  90. 
 Judas,  482. 
 Justification,  241. 
 Justification     connected      with 
 
 Sanctification,  242. 
 K 
 Kaye,  Benjamin,  59. 
 Kemp,  George,  Esq.,  333. 
 Kemp,     Mr.,     Hoxton   Sunday 
 
 Schools,    405. 
 Kennington  Common,  139. 
 Kent,  Duke  of,  126. 
 Kent,  lady  in,  247. 
 King,  Lord  Chancellor,  523, 
 King  William,  of  England,  1 29. 
 Kingsbury,  Rev.  Mr.,  381. 
 Kingston,    Somersetshire,    first 
 
 curacy,   70,  72,  209. 
 Kingswood  Colliers,  53,143,148. 
 Kirkaldy,  the  elders'  reproof  at, 
 
 155. 
 Kirkman,  Mr.,  Oxford,   133. 
 Knill,  Rev.  Richard,  387. 
 Knots,   188. 
 Knox,  129,  176. 
 
 Ladder,  the,  214. 
 
 Lamb,  216. 
 
 Lamb,  blood  of,   256. 
 
 Lambert,  Sir  Daniel,   79. 
 
 Lambert,  Rev.  Mr.,  Hull,  381. 
 
 Lamp,   178. 
 
 Langford,  Dr.  Wm.,  376. 
 
 Last  sermon  by  Mr.  Hill,  612. 
 
 Last  address  by  Mr.  Hill,  614. 
 
 Latimer,   129. 
 
 Law,  a  rule  of  life,  240. 
 
 Lay  preachers,   164,  427. 
 
 Layman's  reasons  for  stated 
 communion,  543. 
 
 Leamington  Chapel,  342,  421. 
 
 Leaven,  the,  216. 
 
 Leeds,  224. 
 
 Legh,  Richard,  Esq.,  2. 
 
 Leifchild,  Rev.  John,  390. 
 
 Leigh,  Sir  Egerton,  381. 
 
 Leighton,  Archbishop,  34,  154, 
 633. 
 
 Leith,   153. 
 
 Lettsom,  Dr.,  353. 
 
 Leviticus,   255. 
 
 Liberal  institutions,  efforts  of, 
 639. 
 
 Library  of  Mr.  Hill,   194. 
 
 Lightness  in  the  pulpit  impro- 
 per, 276  ;  its  bad  effect,  277  ; 
 referred  to,  278 ;  mourned 
 over,  278  ;  not  to  be  imitated, 
 
 Lincolnshire  boy,  317. 
 
 List  of  Mr.  Hill's  works,  645. 
 
 Litchfield,  30. 
 
 Litany,  clergy's,   82. 
 
 Liturgy,  456,  488. 
 
 Locke,  John,  548. 
 
 Lock  Hospital,  80,  117. 
 
 London  fields,   139. 
 
 London,  Bishop  of,  24, 1 69,64 1 . 
 
 London,  first  Protestant  Lord 
 Mayor,  29. 
 
 London,  Recorder  of,  415. 
 
 London,  state  of,   169. 
 
 Long  pull   &c.  224. 
 
654 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Love,  Rev.  Mr.,  380,  381. 
 "  Love  me,  love  my  dog,"  330. 
 Lovegood,  Mr.,  490. 
 Lowell,  Rev.  J.,  381. 
 Luther,   18,  20,  129,  284. 
 Lutherans,  502. 
 Lyttleton,  Lord,   132. 
 
 M 
 Macclesfield,   151. 
 Macknight,   193. 
 Malice,  255. 
 Manchester,   151,  517. 
 Mann's    ecclesiastical    lectures, 
 
 129. 
 Marriages,  by  Mr.  Hill,  299. 
 Mason,  Dr.,    New  York,    280, 
 
 492. 
 Mass,  368. 
 
 Matthew,  James,  Oxford,  59. 
 Medley,  Rev.  Mr.,   120. 
 Melancthon,   129. 
 Melville,   129. 
 Members'  opinion,  291. 
 Methuselah,  365. 
 Metropolis,   172. 
 Mercy,  591. 
 
 Middleton's     Evangelical    Bio- 
 graphy,  132,  140,  405. 
 Middleton,  Erasmus,  59. 
 Middleton's   Ecclesiastical  Me 
 
 moirs,  8,  15,  131. 
 Millenarianism,   292. 
 Mills,  Rev.  Mr.,   535. 
 Mills,  Samuel,  Esq..  393. 
 Milner,  Dean,  126,  270,  628. 
 Milton,  7,  129,  548. 
 Mind,  the,  257. 
 Ministers   but   earthen   vessels, 
 
 178. 
 Minister,   letters  to,    on  giving 
 
 up  his  ministry,  228,  233. 
 Minister,  faithful,  236. 
 Minister's  call  and   ordination, 
 
 464. 
 Minister's    right  to  his    pulpit, 
 
 546. 
 Ministers,  dissenting,  456. 
 
 Ministers  to  be  chosen  by  the 
 people,  98,  451  ;  but  not 
 rejected  by  them,  99. 
 
 Ministers,  reproofs  to,  248,  305. 
 
 Ministers  to  be  in  earnest,  253. 
 
 Minister,  descriptions  of  one, 
 282,  284,  285. 
 
 Ministerial  moderation,  307. 
 
 Ministers'  ears,  common  sewers, 
 315. 
 
 Minister  at  Wotton,  341. 
 
 Ministers  and  politics,  362. 
 
 Ministers  to  be  careful  in  re- 
 commending students,  429. 
 
 Miser  like  a  pig,  314. 
 
 Missionary  day  at  Surrey  Cha- 
 pel, 386. 
 
 Missionary  Society,  166,  378, 
 381. 
 
 Missionary,  character  of  a,  382, 
 389. 
 
 Mitcham,   140. 
 
 Moderation  in  diet,  378. 
 
 Monumental  inscription,  624. 
 
 Moral  responsibility,  238. 
 
 Moravian  Missionary,  284. 
 
 Moore's  Life  of  Wesley,   13. 
 
 Morgan,  Mr.,  Oxford,   133. 
 
 Morris,  Rev.  Ebenezer,   185. 
 
 Music,  sacred,  587. 
 
 Music  and  the  non-conformist, 
 387. 
 
 N 
 
 Napoleon  Buonaparte,  364. 
 
 National  churches,  442. 
 
 Neale,  Mr.,  St.  Paul's,  90,  lli, 
 284. 
 
 Neale,  Benj.,  Esq.,  407,  408. 
 
 Neff,  Felix,  20,  25,  189. 
 
 Negro,  the  grateful,  43. 
 
 Negro's  application,  372. 
 
 Nelson,  John,   149. 
 
 Nephew,  Mr.  Hill's,  364. 
 
 Nest  well  feathered,  285. 
 
 New  year's  evening  at  Surrey 
 Chapel,  223,  403. 
 
 Newfoundland  puppy,  333. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 655 
 
 Newspapers,  365. 
 
 Newton,  Rev.  John,  49,  85,  SS. 
 
 89,  90,  264,  321,   376,  377, 
 
 5S3,  628. 
 Noel,    Hon.    and    Rev.    B.  W., 
 
 169,  635.  637. 
 Non-essential    points    may    be 
 
 given  up,  631. 
 Northampton  Baptists,  157,493, 
 
 536. 
 Novelties,   188. 
 Nowell,  Dr.,  60. 
 O 
 Oberlin,  pastor,  397. 
 Ordination,  what?  464,483. 
 Ordination  refused,   141,  184. 
 Official  holiness  of  the  priests, 
 
 453. 
 Oil  of  grace,  220. 
 Old  men,  228, 
 Old   women  and   servant  girls, 
 
 484. 
 Old  scholars  meeting,  414. 
 Omri,  statutes  of,  550. 
 Onions,  345. 
 Orange-st.  chapel,   86. 
 Oratorios,  583  to  588. 
 Order  and  decorum,  546. 
 Owen,    Dr.  John,  on   Indepen- 
 dency, 481,  633. 
 Oxford,   expulsion   of  students, 
 
 15,  133. 
 
 P 
 Paine,  disciple  of,  258. 
 Paisley  Christians,   154. 
 Palmer,  Rev.  Mr.,  376. 
 Pantiles,  hail-storm  on,  280. 
 Parents,  54,  252. 
 Parish    church,    when   may   be 
 
 left,  504  to  509. 
 Farochial  assessments,  355. 
 Parsons,  Rev.  James,  606,  608. 
 Larsons,  Rev.  Edward,  381. 
 Pascal,  633. 
 Pastoral  duties,  297. 
 Patriotic  fund,  274. 
 Paul's,  St.,  80,  167. 
 
 Peace,  effect  on  the  church,  130. 
 
 Peninsular  war,   363. 
 
 Pentycross,   Rev.  Mr.,    47,   50, 
 66,  108,  116,  628. 
 
 Persecution,  369,  441. 
 
 Perseverance  of  saints,   239. 
 
 Personal  reign  of  Christ,  293, 
 296. 
 
 Peter,  Rev.  David,   1S4. 
 
 Philadelphian  stock,  610. 
 
 Philanthropist,   183. 
 
 Philip,  Dr.,  Africa,   495. 
 
 Physicians'  advice,  229,  233. 
 
 Pickpocket  converted,  267. 
 
 Pictures  of  friends,  2. 
 
 Piercey,  Rev.  Mr.,   105,  120. 
 
 Pietas  Oxoniensis,   60. 
 
 Pigs  and  the  farmers,   74. 
 
 Pigs  and  bean  basket,   269. 
 
 Pilgrim's  Progress,  90. 
 
 Place  assigned  for  all,   21. 
 
 Plea  for  Christian  Communion, 
 163. 
 
 Poet,  the  blind,   301. 
 
 Politics,  361. 
 
 Poole,  sermon  at,  276. 
 
 Poors'  rates,  549. 
 
 Poor    man's    pocket,    the    rich 
 man's  bank,  313. 
 
 Popery,  368,  369,  370,  464. 
 
 Popularity  dangerous,   178. 
 
 Popularity,  its  effect,   179. 
 
 Popularity,  Mr.  Hill's,   188. 
 
 Porteus,  Bishop,  377,  567. 
 
 Portrait,  lines  on,   311. 
 
 Pratman,  Rev.  Mr.,   264. 
 
 Prayer,   51,  311,  312. 
 
 Prayer  Meetings,   432. 
 
 Prayerless  soul,  260. 
 
 Preacher,    description   of,    184, 
 193. 
 
 Preachers'  subjects,  243. 
 
 Preacher,  plain  one,   280. 
 
 Predestination,  462. 
 
 Press,  power  of,  368. 
 
 Presbyterian    church    govern- 
 ment,  100,  495,  496,  500. 
 
656 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Pride,   144. 
 
 Priests,  official  holiness  of,  453. 
 
 Primitive  church,  446. 
 
 Prince's  chapel,  Devonport,  272. 
 
 Prison,  scene  in,  50. 
 
 Prisons,  Dialogues  in,  360. 
 
 Prisoners,  358. 
 
 Private  judgment,  right  of,  547. 
 
 Privileges,  358. 
 
 Prize  essay,  subject  for,  641. 
 
 Promiscuous  communion,  478. 
 
 Prophecy,  292,  296. 
 
 Prophetic  female,  294. 
 
 Prophetic  gentleman,  296. 
 
 Protestant    Lord    Mayor,    the 
 
 first,  365. 
 Pulpit,  conduct  in,  49. 
 Purposes  of  God,  241. 
 
 Q 
 Quakers,  549. 
 
 R 
 Raikes,  R.,  Esq.,  404. 
 Ralph,  Rev.  Mr.,  381. 
 Rambling  hearer,  263. 
 Rambling  sermon,  267. 
 Randolph,  Dr.,  60. 
 Ray,  Rev.  J.  M.,  381. 
 Record  paper,  510. 
 Rector,  conversion  of,  258. 
 Rector  of  Surrey  Chapel,  22. 
 Reform,  new  plan  of,  259. 
 Reformation  of  the  church,  457. 
 Reformation  in  Germany,    129; 
 
 in    England,    129,    176;     in 
 
 Scotland,  129,  176;  Milton's 
 
 remarks,  7. 
 Regeneration,  520. 
 Relative  duties,  251. 
 Relatives,  love  of,  318,  319. 
 Religious    Tract    Societv,    3S9, 
 
 391. 
 Repentance  and  faith,  90. 
 Repentance,  tear  of,  256. 
 Repentance,  grace  of,  601. 
 Reports,  false,  334  to  337. 
 Reprobation,  239. 
 Responsibility  of  man,  23S. 
 
 Review  of  VillageDialogues,  561 
 
 Reviewers,  60,  106,  334. 
 
 Revivalists  of  religion,  9. 
 
 Revival   of   religion  in  Church 
 of  England,  81,  82. 
 
 Reyner,  Joseph,  Esq.,  396. 
 
 Reynolds,  Bishop,   132. 
 
 Rich  man's  best  bank,  313. 
 
 Richmond,  Rev.  L.,  520. 
 
 Ridley,   129. 
 
 Riots  in  St.  George's  fields,  346. 
 
 Rippon,  Dr.,  374,  620. 
 
 Rivet,  633. 
 
 Robinson,  Rev.  Thomas,  47,  83, 
 84,  628. 
 
 Roby,  Rev.  W.,  517. 
 
 Rochester,  Bishop  of,  565 
 
 Rogers,  Rev.  Mr.,  Dedham,  271. 
 
 Romaine,  Rev.  Win.,  6,  79,  81, 
 82,  84,255,  376,  377. 
 
 Rome,  church  of,  447. 
 
 Rooker,  Rev.  Mr.,  Goldhill,  381. 
 
 Rousseau,  556. 
 
 Rounded  sentences,  2S1. 
 
 Rouquet,  Rev.  J.,  278,  321,  326. 
 
 Russell,  Rev.  Thos.,  622. 
 
 Rutherford,  Rev.  W.,  633. 
 
 Ryland,  Rev.  John,  SS,  97,  157, 
 *536,  528. 
 
 S 
 
 Saints    to    be    found    in    all 
 churches,  633. 
 
 Sabbath,  49,  219,  443. 
 
 Sacramental  service,  488,  490. 
 
 Safety-valves  in  preaching,  287. 
 
 Sailors,  sermon  to,  264. 
 
 Sale  of  curates,  565. 
 
 Saltern,   Rev.  Mr.,  381. 
 
 Salvation  by  grace,  461. 
 
 Sampson,   171. 
 
 Sanctification,   241,  463;    con- 
 nected with  justification,  242. 
 
 Sandys,   171. 
 
 Satan's  devices,  268. 
 
 Saturday  evening  prayers,  84. 
 
 Saviour'sprayer,John  xvii.,  632. 
 
 Saviour's,  St.,  Southwark,  80. 
 
INDEX, 
 
 657 
 
 Scott,  Captain,  56,  428. 
 
 Scott,  Rev.  Thomas,  116,  174, 
 176. 
 
 Scott's  Continuation  of  Milner, 
 440. 
 
 Scotch  opinions  of  Mr.  Hill,  153. 
 
 Scotland,  Reformation  in,  129. 
 
 Scotland,  itinerant  labours  in, 
 150,   166. 
 
 Scory,   171. 
 
 Scougall,  633. 
 
 Screw  loose,  295. 
 
 Scripture,  462, 
 
 Scriptural  preaching,  253. 
 
 Secrets,  299. 
 
 Sectarianism  condemned,  457. 
 
 Sectarian  communion,  493. 
 
 Sectarian  baptism,  523. 
 
 Select  classes,  414. 
 
 Seraph  and  snail,  602. 
 
 Serle,   Mr.  Ambrose,  126,  557. 
 
 Sermon  to  volunteers,  348. 
 
 Sermons,  number  of,  preached 
 by  Mr.  Hill,  233  ;  by  White- 
 field,  234  ;  by  Wesley,  234. 
 
 Serpent  thrown  at  Mr.  Hill,  142. 
 
 Set  music,  271 
 
 Setting  sun,  611. 
 
 Servants,  287,  326,  327  329. 
 
 Sewers,  common,  315. 
 
 Sharp,  Granville,  Esq.,   397. 
 
 Sherman,  Rev.  Jas.,  Preface  by, 
 vii. ;  Mr.Hill's  successor,  610. 
 
 Shipman,  Mr.  Joseph,  59. 
 
 Shoemaker,  212. 
 
 Sibree,  Rev.  John,  122,  301, 
 381,  545. 
 
 Sidney's  Life  of  Hill,  5,  9,270, 
 498,  605. 
 
 Sidney's  Life  of  Walker,  9,  13. 
 
 Singers*  gallery,  579. 
 
 Singing,   582. 
 
 Sinner,  last  appeal  to,  614. 
 
 Simeon,  Rev.  Charles,  61,  627. 
 
 Sims,  Mr.,  406. 
 
 Simpson,  Rev.David,  47,  83,  91, 
 93,  101,  108,151,  511,  628. 
 
 Skippen's    funeral   sermon    for 
 Legh,  2. 
 
 Slap-dash  preaching,  270. 
 
 Slatterie,  Rev.  Joseph,  123,  301, 
 381. 
 
 Slave  trade,  371. 
 
 Slave,  poor,  372. 
 
 Slavery,  370. 
 
 Sloper,  Rev.  Mr.,  381. 
 
 Smith,  Dr.J.  P.,  495,632, 635,  6. 
 
 Smithfield,  366. 
 
 Societies  at  Surrey  Chapel,  386. 
 
 Socinian,    new    version    of  the 
 Testament,  194  to  207. 
 
 Socinian,  287. 
 
 Socinian  minister,  517. 
 
 Soup  Societies,  345. 
 
 Southwark   Sunday  School   So- 
 ciety, 411,412. 
 
 South   London    Sunday   School 
 Union,  418. 
 
 Sovereignty  of  God,  238. 
 
 Spaniel,  the  young,   138. 
 
 Speaker,  character  of  Mr.  Hill, 
 as  a,  399. 
 
 Special  days,  514,  623. 
 
 Spectacles,  the  lost,  288. 
 
 Speeches,  long,  400. 
 
 Spener,  633. 
 
 Spiritual    characteristics,    95, 
 565. 
 
 Spiritual  courts,  452. 
 
 Spitalfields'  weavers,  274. 
 
 Sponsors,  524. 
 
 Sprat  and  the  ocean,  290. 
 
 Stager,  old,   150. 
 
 Stars,  213,  601. 
 
 State  prosecutions,  548. 
 
 State  of  English  church  on  ap- 
 pearance of  Methodism,  130. 
 
 Statuary,  217. 
 
 Steady  and  Wild,  391. 
 
 Steam-boat,  215. 
 
 Steinkopff,  Dr.,  391,  394,  547. 
 
 Stennett,  Dr.,  376. 
 
 Steven,  Rev.  Mr.,  380. 
 
 Stewart,  Dr.,  on  Eldership,  496. 
 2  U 
 
653 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Stillingfleet,  Rev.  James,  33. 
 
 Stittle,  Johnny,  61,  62. 
 
 Strict  communion,  493. 
 
 Students,  431. 
 
 Style  of  Mr.  Hill,  290. 
 
 Successor,  Mr.  Hill's  anxiety 
 respecting,  605-9. 
 
 Sun,  the,  212. 
 
 Sunday  School  atSurreyChapel, 
 258,  405,408;  facts  of  use- 
 fulness in,  412,  413. 
 
 Sunday  School  Society,  377. 
 
 Sunday  Schools,  apology  for, 
 415,  565. 
 
 Sunday  coat,  298. 
 
 Supplies  at  Surrey  Chapel,  258. 
 
 Sutcliffe,  Rev.  Mr.,  633. 
 
 Surrey  chapel :  its  origin,  97  ; 
 Trustees,  98;  its  cost,  100; 
 opened,  105;  supplies,  116; 
 accommodation,  126;  meet- 
 ings, 166;  members,  297; 
 assessed,355  ;  collections,  386. 
 societies  at,  386 ;  missionary 
 day,  386  ;  contributions,  401 ; 
 Benevolent  society,402;  Sun- 
 day schools,  404  ;  Sundry 
 societies,  405  ;  church  govern- 
 ment, 457  ;  trust  deed,  457  ; 
 declaration  of  faith,  458  ; 
 oratorios,  583. 
 
 Swearing  captain,   167. 
 
 Swearing  father,  331. 
 T 
 
 Tabernacle,   139. 
 
 Tarn,  Mr.  Joseph,  391.. 
 
 Tattersall,  letter  to,  556. 
 
 Taylor,  Bishop  Jeremy,  on  the 
 communion  of  saints,  635. 
 
 "  Temper  is  every  thing,"  247. 
 
 Tempers,  246  to  249. 
 
 Tertullian  on  sponsors,  523. 
 
 Texts,  favourite  ones,  men- 
 tioned, 254. 
 
 Theatrical  entertainments,  556. 
 
 Thornton,  John,  Esq.,  88,  114, 
 116,  284,576.' 
 
 Thornton,  Henry,  Esq.,  377. 
 Thunder-storm    in    St.     Paul's, 
 
 danger  of,   167. 
 Times  of  Rowland  Hill,  627. 
 Tokenof  respect  forRouquet,553 
 Token  of  love  for  children,  568. 
 Toller,  Rev.  Thomas,  376. 
 Tomb-stone  of  Berridge,  624. 
 Tongues,  dried,  279. 
 Tongues,  gift  of,  296. 
 Toplady,  Rev.  A.,  86,554,627. 
 Tottenham  Court  Chapel,  139. 
 Townsend,  Rev.  George,   381. 
 Townsend,  Rev.  John,  391,  395. 
 Tradesmen  and  their  ledgers,25 1 
 Transparencies,  364. 
 Triennial    charge    of  Bishop  ot 
 
 Chester,  16. 
 Trinity,  theHoly,  237,  238,  459. 
 Trinitarian  Bible  Society,  598. 
 True  religion,  246. 
 Truro,  83. 
 
 Trust  deed  of  SurreyChapel,46 1 
 Tudway,  Clement,  Esq.,  31. 
 Tudway,  Miss,  77. 
 Tweed,  503. 
 Types,  256. 
 
 U 
 Undertakers'  bill,  314. 
 Union     among    Christians  :  — 
 
 ground  of,  534,  635  ;    extent 
 
 of,  636  to  639. 
 Union  between  Whitefield  and 
 
 Wesley,  136. 
 Union  church,   162. 
 Uniformity,  act  of,  443. 
 Unitarians,  238. 
 Unity  of  the  church,  634,  635. 
 Unsuitable  sermon,  518. 
 Usher,  archbishop,  439,495,633. 
 Uttermost,  salvation  to  the,  52. 
 
 V 
 Vaccine  inoculation,  350  to  568. 
 Vaughan's  Life  of  Robinson,  47. 
 Venn,  Rev.  Henry,  83,  84,  87, 
 
 108,  116,118,376,  498,  510, 
 
 628. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 659 
 
 Village  Dialogues,  193,  390 
 556,   564. 
 
 Village  Itinerancy,  138,  427. 
 
 Visits  to  prisons,  50,  35S,  359. 
 
 Volunteers,  sermon  to,  345. 
 W 
 
 Wales,  South,   147. 
 
 VValker,Rev.G.,Truro,9,13,521. 
 
 Wapping  sinners,  94. 
 
 Wardlaw,  Dr.,   194,  638. 
 
 Warning  to  professors,  468,  567. 
 
 Warwickshire  Association,  378. 
 
 \V.aterloo,  362. 
 
 Watson's  Life  of  Weslev,  10,  12, 
 24,  72,  133,  134,  136,  149, 
 375,  554,  555. 
 
 Watts,  Dr.,   11,  33,  134,  633. 
 
 Waugh,  Dr.,  226,  3S0,  3S1,  545. 
 
 Weaknesses  of  character,  339. 
 
 Wedge,  the,  214. 
 
 Weight,   Mr.,  613  to  617. 
 
 Wells,  Somersetshire,  31. 
 
 Welsh  preacher,   188. 
 
 Welshman,  the  noisy,  301. 
 
 Weslev,  Rev.  Jn.,  7,  10,  12,13 
 17,  22,  24,72,  133,135,  142, 
 149,234,  509,621,  627. 
 
 Weslev,  Rev.  Jn.,  answer  to,554. 
 
 Wesley,  Rev.  Charles,  133,  375. 
 
 Weston,  Salop,  31. 
 
 Wet  nurse,  315. 
 
 Wheelbarrow  and  missionarv, 
 388. 
 
 White  Conduit  House,   140. 
 
 Whitefield,  Rev.  George,  7,  10, 
 12,  15,  22,  24,  51,  52,  121, 
 134,135,  137,  172,  233,  234, 
 375,  376,  477,624,627. 
 
 iWhitridge,  Rev.  Mr.,  381. 
 Wickliffe,  18,  129. 
 Wife,  Mr.  Hill's  attention  to  his, 
 
 320  ;      affection     for,      322  ; 
 
 funeral  sermon  for,  325,  327. 
 Wife,  a  good   one,    how   to   be. 
 
 loved,   322. 
 Wig,   306. 
 Wilberforce,  Wm.,    Esq.,    109, 
 
 115,   126,  377,  393,  394. 
 Wild  notes  of  Mr.  Rogers,  271. 
 Wilks,  Rev.  Matthew,  260,  263, 
 
 3S0,  381,  391,  545,  C28. 
 Williams,  Rev.  Mr.,    Birming- 
 ham,  395. 
 Williams,  Rev.  Mr.,  633. 
 Williams,  Dr.,  Shrewsbury,   93. 
 Will,  on  the,  242. 
 Willis,  Dr.,   70. 
 Wilson,  Thomas,  Esq.,  3S9. 
 Wilson,     Joshua's,      Historical 
 
 Inquiry,  538. 
 Winter,  Rev.  Cornelius,  63,  314, 
 
 62S. 
 Witsius,   633. 
 Woodgate,  Rev.  Mr.,  97. 
 Wordsworth,   Dr.,    on    the    Li- 
 
 turgy,   488. 
 Workhouses,  50. 
 Works  by  Mr.  Hill,  645. 
 World,  how  made,   220. 
 Wotton  -  under  -  edge,    22,  65, 
 
 179,   181,    1S2. 
 Wrexham,  fact  at,    145. 
 
 Y 
 York,  archbishop  of,   141. 
 
 Z 
 Zuinglius,  129. 
 
 THE  END. 
 
 .London:  H.  Fisher,  R.  Fisher,  ft  P.  Jackson    Printers. 
 
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