/;^/^-~ ^C,
3  ^-U^^   ^"^^)  ^^^^^
tajiiiitl'i" 
1I~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~,' ":'~ i-'. -.  -.
j;~N                       ~       
i  \ \i   \ 




THE
ILLUSTRATED BY THE
LIFE
OF
ADAM CLARKE, LL.D.
" Industry, order, and early rising, will enable a man to go through a
great deal of work."
"You remember, my dear lad, my motto is-BE DILIGENT, LOSE NO
TIME."                        Dr. Adam Clarke's Letter to his Son.
AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION,
No. 316 CHESTNUT STREET.,7EW YORK: No. 147 NASSAU ST......BOSTON- No. 9 CORNHILL.
LOUISVILLE: No. 103 FOURTH ST.




Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by the
AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION,
in the Clerk's Qffice of the District Court of the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania.
N5 NAo boo/cs are published by the A:MERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION
without the sanction of the Committee of Publication, consisting of fourteen members, from the following denominations of Christians, viz. Bapist, ist,    todist, Cbngregational, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and
Reformed Dutch. Not more than three of the nmembers can be of the same
denomination, and no book can be published to which any member of the
Committee shall object.




PREFACE.
Ta2 material from  which this volume has been
written was obtained from  "The Memoirs of Adam
Clarke," by himself and a member of his family;
"Everett's Adam Clarke Portrayed;" "Everett's Wesleyan Takings;" "The Life of Mrs. Adam  Clarke;"
" Dunn's Life of Adam Clarke;" "West's Sketches of
Wesleyan Preachers;" various articles in the " Wesleyan Methodist Magazines," and numerous sermons in
the possession of the writer, preached on the occasion
of Dr. Clarke's death, by co-labourers and friends.
The author has also consulted "Grindrod's Laws and
Regulations of Wesleyan Methodism," for a knowledge of that peculiar church economy with which
Dr. Clarke was so intimately connected, and has given
to the readers the advantage of the facts obtained from
it, to enable them better to understand the biography.
1*                  5




6                    PREFACE.
His greatest indebtedness is to the " Memoirs," "The
Portraiture," and " Mrs. Clarke's Life"-and about
equally to the first two. Mr. Everett was, for twenty
years, one of Dr. Clarke's confidential friends; and
his manuscript was revised, he informs us, by one
of Dr. Clarke's  daughters.  He writes with  the
warmth of personal friendship, and the evident integrity of the Christian historian.
While we have thus spared no pains in collecting
all the facts which have been printed in England that
would throw light upon the character of the eminent
commentator,-a valuable part of which has never before been published in this country, —we have endeavoured to present them  in a manner adapted to
the youth of the United States.  We hope the freedom
of style, in the use of illustrations, will not render the
work less acceptable to adult readers.




CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL TRAITS.
PAGE.
Adam  Clarke's birth-place-His father and  mother.
Early Physical Traits-Original endowments-Taught
to work at an early age-An early riser-Fondness for
fishing.  Menwatal Characteristics-An incident of the
school-room-His first school-house-His library-His
strong  desire  for knowledge......................................    13
CHAPTER II.
EARLY MORAL AND RELIGIOUS TRAINING.
Morning and evening prayers-Anecdote of J. Q. AdamsThe parental discipline-An incident of his early conviction-A little companion-The conversation-Deep feeling-The different view of his feelings by his father and
mother-Adam Clarke's subsequent opinion of early religious convictions...................................... 23
CHAPTER III.
THE GREAT CHANGE.
Removes to Ballyaherton-The house in which he spent
his boyhood-The "Old Church"-The " New Church"
-Impressive incidents-The lost knife-A  deceptionProvidential escapes —The "False Lights"-Apparent
drowning —A scene on the North Channel-A  novel
preacher-Conviction for sin —Diligence in business-A
temporary error-The crisis-The change.................... 28
CHAPTER IV.
THE IMMEDIATE FRUIT OF THE GREAT CHANGE.
Adam  seeks the conversion of others-Missionary excursions-Labour for the children-Parents thereby affected
-An old man's recollections-An humble chapel-Adam
7




8                     CONTENTS.
PAGE.
apprenticed to a linen merchant-Labour for Christ's sake
-Rebukes sin-His integrity tried, and unshaken —An
incident-Returns to his parents-His employer's residence-A brief review of the change, and its fruits....... 42
CHAPTER V.
PROVIDENTIAL GUIDANCE TO THE MINISTRY.
Early rising, studies, and labour-An incident of his first
attempt to preach-Conflict of mind-Choice of a textA severe trial of faith-Leaves home for Kingswood
School, England-The sea-voyage —The prcss-gang-An
incident of a stage ride-His disappointment on arriving
at Kingswood-A  story of a guinea-The first Hebrew
grammar-Another trial of conscience-His first interview with Rev. John Wesley-His qualifications for the
work of a minister of the gospel-His absorbing desire
to do good-The providence of God observed in leading him to the ministry-Promptings of the Holy Spirit. 50
CHAPTER VI.
THE MINISTRY COMMENCED.
The labours of the Wesleys and Whitefield-A glance at
the formation of the Wesleyan connection-The Bradford
circuit-Frequent preaching-Studies on horsebackInduced to renounce the study of Latin and Greek-Mr.
Wesley's advice —Feelings in reference to preachingHis apparent youth —The effect of a sermon at RoadsA reminiscence of that sermon-A curious history of his
pocket Bible-His texts-Abandons, for life, the use of
tea and coffee-Attends the conference at Bristol.......... 63
CHAPTER VII.
TOILS, PRIVATIONS, AND SUCCESS.
Removes to the Norwich circuit —Privations-Damp beds
-Coarse fare-Small salary-An inhospitable reception-The benefit of keeping the Sabbath holy —An incident-The Sabbath breaker warned —Success, his support-An illustration, the pioneer of our " Great West"Remarkable answer to prayer-Removes to the St. Anstell circuit-Two persecutors disarmed-Mr. Clarke's
popularity as a preacher-The conversion of the celebrated Samuel Drew-His remarks concerning ClarkePreaches to the quarrymen-Preaching refused at Trego




CONTENTS.                            9
PAGE
-The manner of prosecuting his studies —Mr. Clarke
and the shoemaker —Incessant labour-An opposer foiled
-A  timely loan of Kennicott's Hebrew Bible..............  72
CHAPTER VIII.
MISSIONARY LABOUR.
Sent to the Norman Isles -Commences preaching at St.
Hellier's, in Jersey-An escape from a mob-Another
mob-Shameful conduct of a magistrate-The truth triumphs-His love for souls-Visit to the Island of Alderney-A primitive introduction-His cordial reception
at Alderney-Conduct of the " Gentry"-Instability of
popular favour-" A brand plucked from  the burning"
-Mr. Wesley's visit to the Norman Isles-Mr. Clarke's
marriage to Miss Mary Cooke-Opposition from  Miss
Cooke's mother-Mr. Clarke's subsequent family-Cleanliness next to godliness; an incident-The reader introduced to Mr. Clarke's study-His Polyglott Bible-The
extraordinary way in which it was obtained-Ill-health.  87
CHAPTER  IX.
CONSTANCY OF PURPOSE IN AFFLICTION.
A compliment from Mr. Wesley-The Bristol circuit —" In
labours more abundant"-Mrs. Clarke-Mr. Clarke's
opinion of frequent preaching —Visits the sick —An old
pilgrim —A gift from an eccentric minister —Mr. Clarke's
library-Removes to Dublin-Personal and family afflictions —Extreme Destitution-The "Stranger's  Friend
Society"-Becomnes a student in Dublin Medical College
-His knowledge of anatomy-Mr. Clarke at a book auction.....................................................................   101
CIAPTER  X.
CHANGES AND INCIDENTS.
The death of the Rev. John Wesley-The consequent
change in the government of the Societies-The " Deed
of Declaration"-Ill-health of Mr. Clarke and his family
Death of a little son —An encouraging incident-A hasty
spirit reproved-A story-Total abstinence-His opinion
of the sale of strong drink-Political excitements-Removes to Liverpool-An uncomfortable residence-The
imprisoned leaf-Mr. Clarke attacked by two ruffians,
and nearly killed-Great success in preaching-Mrs.
Clarke's assistance in visiting the sick........................ 112




10                     CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
THE PULPIT AND THE FAMILY.
PAGE.
Removal to London-Comlmencement of the Commentary
-Pastoral labour —Frequent and long walks —Mr.
Clarke's preaching-A pulpit scene-A family picture
— Another glance at Mr. Clarke at home —The conversion of Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth-A tract on "The Use
and Abuse of Tobacco"-Removal to Bristol circuit, 1798
-Publishes "Sturm's Reflections" and other worksRemoves to Liverpool, 1801-Feelings at the age of forty
-The conversion of a distinguished scholar-Painful
sickness-Induced by too much labour-A  visit to his
sick room-Renews his labours with characteristic energy..............................................................  120
CHAPTER  XII.
UNSOUGHT HONOURS.
A vein of pleasantry-A delinquent class-member reproved
-The man who was "Rich and a Bachelor"-The erring
steward-A valuable cheese-Mr. Clarke outgeneralledLiterary labours —Ionour from "The Philological Society"-The death of little Agnes, Mr. Clarke's daughter-His removal to London, 1805 —Iis financial accounts kept by Mrs. Clarke-Multiplied engagementsMade President of the Conference-A committee of the
British and Foreign Bible Society-Labours for the Bible Society-Corresponds with Robert Morrison-Literary honours from King's College, Aberdeen~-Other literary distinctions-His feelings in reference to these
honours -Additional publications-Engages in the "Record Commission"-The use to be made of honours
from   men.............................................................  133
CHAPTER XIII.
THE COMPLETION OF THE COMMENTARY, AND CLOSE OF LABOUR
FOR THE RECORD COMMMIISSION.
The Arabic Bible and Tartar New Testament publishedA complimentary expression from the Bible Committee
-Labours in the Record Commission-His opinion of
Hume's history-A  curious item  of English historyDr. Clarke's opinion of the Papal Church-A dignified
official-Unenriched by his services for the Government.
— 1The Commenetary —All his studies made to bear upon




CONTENTS.                          11
PAGE.
that enterprise-its publication undertaken by Mr. Butterworth-The manner in which it was written-The
deep solicitude which it cost-His feelings at its completion-A touching tribute of respect from his children
-An incident, having a relation to the CommentaryObjectors to the work answered kindly........................ 146
CHAPTER XIV.
LABOURS MORE ABUNDANT.
Elected librarian of the Surrey Institute-Publishes " Harmer's Observation"-Other publications-A great enterprise projected-Anecdotes of Dr. Clarke's love for the
Bible-Second time President of the Conference-Anecdotes of Dr. Clarke and the tobacco users-Labours for
the Wesleyan Missionary Society-Occasional Sermons
-A  reproof-Reminiscences-Dr. Clarke at fifty-five
years   of  age..........................................................   155
CHAPTER XV.
RETIRED, BUT NOT RESTING.
Resolves to leave London-Removes to Millbrook-Cultivates his land-Kindness to animals-A petted donkeyThe painted cross-His evenings at Millbrook-A chapel
for the poor-A Sunday-school-Causes of the attendance
of the poor-Dr. Clarke's daughters become colporteurs
-The poor sailors "warmed and clothed"-Dr. Clarke
and his wife's shopping-money-The coronation honoured-Two high-priests of Budhoo-The occasion of their
voyage to England-Placed under the instruction of
Dr. Clarke-Their instruction-Their surprise at seeing
snow and ice-They are baptized, and admitted to the
Christian Church-Their return to Ceylon-A letter from
the son of the elder priest-Dr. Clarke a third time President of the Conference...............................  164
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PALACE OF THE GREAT, AND THE COTTAGE OF THE POOR0
Dr. Clarke settles in Eastcott-Temporary chapel-Sundayschool-The new  chapel-The Duke of Sussex-The
duke's Bibliographical library-He invites Dr. Clarke to
visit him-The visit-A second visit to the duke-The
duke returns the visits of Dr. Clarke-The levee-Dr.
Clarke's acquaintance with English bishops-A liberal
neighbour-Watch-Night...................................... 17




12                      CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVIL
AN APPROPRIATE, LAST LABOUR.
A*4~~~~   ~~PAGE.
Shetland Islands-A  mission to them  begun-Dr. Clarke
has the responsibility for it-A tour in behalf of Shetland-A noble donor-Tracts for " Good Little Girls"A visit to the Shetland Islands-Dr. Clarke's solicitude
for Shetland-Irish free schools-The first school-A
new difficulty-Encouraging results-Dr. Clarke's visit
to Ireland-Sunday-schools-Plan  of proceeding-A
second visit to the Irish schools............................ 185
CHAPTER XVIII.
A 3MORE FAMILIAR ACQUAINTANCE.
Dr. Clarke's personal appearance-His scholarship-His
memory — is library of printed books; their valueHis manuscript library; its value-The museum-Dr.
Clarke's travelling library-The means by which his
library and museum  were obtained-Dr. Clarke's frequent preaching-His  character as a preacher-His
popularity-The relation of his study of the Bible to
his preaching-Habits of preparation for the pulpitManner of handling his texts-The great secret of his
pulpit power-His favourite themes in the pulpit-His
manner in preaching-Dr. Clarke's habitual kindnessA happy turn of an awkward incident-The young lady
and the roasted potato-Feeling towards friends-Love
for children-Letter to a grandson-Dr. Clarke's pleasantry-His wife could keep a secret-The secret of Dr.
Clarke's success-His industry-Eminent testimonies of
his industry-His promptness-An anecdote illustrating
it-His love of order illustrated-Early rising enforced
-An anecdote-Dr. Clarke's example may be imitated.. 197
CHAPTER  XIX.
THE CLOSING SCENE.
The testimony of Dr. Clarke's last years-The seasons of
his life-Continued love for the Bible-RecollectionsI-Ie did not hope to be saved by what he had doneThe testimony of the poet Montcomery-Dr. Clarke at
the Wesleyan Conference-Leaves for home on account
of the prevalence of the cholera-Settles his businessH-is last attendanee at the family altar-His last interview with his children and grand-children-Parting moments at Hayden Hall-Attacked by cholera-The closing   scene.........................................................  214




LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY PHYSICAL AND MENTAL TRAITSo
Adam Clarke's birth-place-His father and mother. Early
Physical Traits-Original endowments-Taught to work at
an early age-An early riser-Fondness for fishing. Miental Characteristics-An incident of the school-room —is
first school-house-His library-His strong desire for knowledge.
ADAM  CLARKE  was born'in Ireland, near
the waters of the North Channel, in the county
of Londonderry, and in the obscure village of
Maybeg.  It is remarkable  that his parents
differed in their recollection of the year of his
birth, his father thinking that he was born in
1762, and his mother believing it to have been
in 1760; and this last there is every reason to
conclude is the true date.
The ruins of the stone house in which he
was born remained in his manhood.   It was
situated on the side of a well-cultivated hill.
" The open plain at the foot of the hill, the
mountains on each side in the distance, and
the river winding its way between them," were
2                 13




14        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
very picturesque to the mind of the youth, and
were spoken of by him in later years with great
vivacity.
His father descended from a good family,
and was well educated, having graduated at
the Glasgow University with honour, and was
considered a superior scholar.  Being disappointed of attaining a place in the ministry of
the established church, he adopted the laborious occupation of a teacher, which he pursued
through life.
The mother of Adam Clarke was of Scotch
descent.  Her son says, "she was not a beauty,
but she was a sensible woman-rather above
the average height-had an air of peculiar
gracefulness in her movements-appearing ra-'ther to glide along than to walk, and was as
straight in her old age as in her prime."
There was one son, Tracy, older than Adam,
who became somewhat distinguished as a surgeon in the English navy, —and three daughters.
The father of Adam Clarke seems to have
been a man of genuine piety, but not sympathetic in his nature, and a stern disciplinarian.
He had high notions of the authority of the
parent and teacher.  He did not so much persuade as command.
His mother was not less pious, nor had she
a lower standard of parental government, but
with her strictness she used some devices to secure obedience to her rules.




EARLY TRAITS.              15
But before looking at the moral training of
the son in the hands of his parents, let us examine his natural traits as exhibited in childhood.  The formation of the character is,
under God, the work of education.  The capacity of the mind is God's gift, who distributes
the measure with wonderful diversity and in
infinite wisdom.  A knowledge of his original
endowments is absolutely necessary, in judging how far any man may be a fair example to
others.  We shall endeavour to put the reader
in possession, to the extent of our materials, of
this knowledge.  As we are now speaking of a
child, it will suit well the present period of the
narrative to refer to him  by his Christian
name.
Adam had, in childhood, excellent health.
He inherited a good constitution.  God gave
him a sound body, and he took as much care
of it as was possible, consistently with hard
study and incessant labour.  He began to walk
at the age of eight months, and a month later
ran in the field near the house after his father.
As he was not a petted child, he learned habits
of hardihood at this tender age.
As he advanced in years, he manifested a
love for manly exercises. These developed the
bodily strength.  But from  an early age he
did not need sport of any kind as exercise.
The circumstances of his father, who was dependent upon his daily labour for the means of
maintaining his family, required the help of




16         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
his sons on a small farm, on which he laboured
in the intervals of the school-hours.
From the first, Adam loved to work. He remarked, on one occasion in after life, " There has
not been a day since I was eight years of age, in
which I have not done something to get my
bread. I have known nothing but labour from
my boyhood; the bread of idleness was never
eaten by me. At seven years of age my father
sent me out to watch the cows; soon after that,
I was ordered to the mountains to help to shear
the sheep. At twelve, I held the plough in a
field near my father's house, which we farmed;
and, as a proof that I was not over and above
strong, the ploughshare coming into contact
with a stone which lay under the surface of the
earth, threw me up between the shafts which I
had been holding with firm grasp, and sent me
with violence among the horses' feet.  Little
as my hand was, I could take it full of wheat,
and, with the sheet wrapped around me, could
scatter the seed over the soil,-yes, and have
as good and regular crops, too, as any of my
neighbours. I was probably made hard, and to
use my limbs at an early period, that my body
might strengthen by exercise; for I had need
of all the strength and fortitude I possessed."
Few men have accomplished much in life,
who have wasted the early hours of the day in
sleep.  A fixed habit of early rising, so as to
become a part of a man's daily experience
through life, must be formed in youth,  The




EARLY TRAITS.             7I
father of Adam  called his family from their
beds at four o'clock in summer, and long before daylight in winter, and gave each his portion of labour with which to commence the day.
But his father was too well acquainted with
the nature of the youthful mind to require incessant toil.  Such amusements were allowed
as were not injurious to the mind,  4:d might
benefit the health.
Adam was very fond of fishing. Standing,
when an old man, on a rock projecting into the
sea, not far from the residence of his boyhood, he
exclaimed, " On this rock, when a boy, I used to
fish. There," pointing to a hollow in the rock,
"I beat the shell-fish, and taking up the pounded
substance, fish and shell, I went farther down,
sowed it like seed upon the water, deliberately
walking up again, when shoals of fish were accustomed to follow: then I had nothing to do but
take my lines and draw them out.  Here, too,
I was once bathing, and, coming out of the
water, I fell back, and cut my leg in different
places, the scars of which I carry with me to
this day."
At eight years of age, when many children,
not afterward distinguished, show great quickness in learning, Adam's mind was inactive in
reference to books.  From whatever cause, he
could not, for a time, keep up with his schoolfellows. As soon as he could read tolerably
well, his father put a Latin grammar into his
hands, requiring him to commit it to memory.
2*




18         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
The recitations dragged heavily. His father
sternly demanded perfect lessons. Other boys
of his age committed page after, page of the
grammar; but Adam  at last threw down the
book in despair, and took his place with an
English class. When he appeared on the floor
to recite, his father demanded, in a tone that
he remembered in old age, "Sir, what brought
you here? Where is your Latin grammar?" In
a piteous tone he answered, "I cannot learn
it."  The reproof which followed, and the
command to resume his task, sent Adam, trembling, to his seat.
Just before this circumstance occurred, a
teacher of a neighbouring village was visiting
the school, and heard his father's censure upon
Adam's dulness.  The stranger, laying his
hand kindly upon the boy's head, said, soothingly, " Oh, he will make a fine scholar yet!"
These words made a deep impression in this
hour of trouble.  But a more powerful stimulant drove his mind fairly from its restingplace. As he sat down and resumed his Latin
grammar, a class-mate called him a stupid fellow, and began rattling it over, to show how
he could say it, and ran on, with page after
page, which looked (to poor Adam) like a
month's task.
But the spirit of the  boy was roused.
"What," said he, "am I to be the butt of
ridicule for all my class-mates?  Am I to be
the dunce of the school!"




MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS.         19
The difficulty was gone, "as if," to use his
own words, "something had broken within him."
In a short time the lesson which seemed unconquerable was recited without an omission. Page
followed page, much faster than his teacher wished to hear him recite.  From that time Adam
out-studied and out-learned every boy in school.
Very soon after this memorable period, some
friends of Mr. Clarke, while loitering in the
grave-yard adjoining the school-room, were puzzling over a Latin epitaph on a tombstone.
"You are wrong in your rendering,-both of
you," said Mr. Clarke, who stood near.  " I
will call my Addy, and he will do better."
Adam  came, and, first looking carefully, (for
he knew the consequences of a blunder,) read
it correctly: "Fortune favours the courageous.'
From  the period above mentioned, Adam
manifested a strong passion for books and for
study.  A desire to pry into every thing was a
marked trait of his mind.  When he was about
eight years of age, his father, having moved
to Grove, ten miles from his former residence,
Adam commenced in earnest to work on the
farm  as well as in the study.  The little
school-house, in which the foundation of his
education was laid, was situated on the skirt
of a wood, on a gently rising eminence, behind which a hill, thickly covered with trees
and bushes, rose to a considerable height.
Before it was a beautiful landscape of streams




20        LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
and cultivated fields and grazing flocks. Here
he read the Eclogues and Georgics of Virgil,
with a keen appreciation of the rural scenes
they describe.  His brother Tracy and himself studied in the school and worked on the
farm a day in turn, and what was learned in the
school by one was carefully rehearsed by the
other, so that but little of the lessons was lost,
while a hearty relish was kept up for that
which was learned.
His library at this time was peculiar, and
shows his mental inclination. It was obtained
by saving economically every penny earned in
various little services to others. A great favourite among his books was Robinson Crusoe.
This he seems to have received as sober history, until his father rather damped his interest in it by saying it was written in a government prison.  Books of Eastern stories were
among his choice ones, and from  them  he
thought he received his first promptings to the
study of Eastern literature,-particularly that
of the Holy Land and Arabia, for which he afterwards became so distinguished. Pilgrim's
Progress was numbered among those he read
with intense interest.  Many of the old English ballads were treasured up and read over
and over.  Various histories and biographies
were also on the list.
A  brief notice of the habits of the Irish
peasantry, by whom  he was surrounded, will
show the source of much of his taste for tales




MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS.          21
and ballads.  During the long winter evenings, the people of a neighbourhood assembled
in turns at each other's cottages.  While the
females were employed in spinning, the young
men in weaving and the children in some simple work, the old people rehearsed stories of
the warlike deeds of their ancestors, or a tale
of the imagination, handed down, perhaps, from
father to son, for many generations. A supper of the most simple food was then served,
and the whole closed by plays and feats of
strength among the young people, while the
aged were delighted spectators. Though Adam
might not be often a participator in these scenes,
they had their influence, as the little stream helps
to swell the river.
His early efforts in composition were rather
remarkable; one of which, in rhyme, composed when he was nine years of age, shows
that he had gathered a large number of items
from classical fables.  The one referred to exhibits no remarkable poetic talents, but much
cheerfulness of spirit.
His desire to obtain a knowledge of every
thing about him was shown in various ways.
He gazed at the stars, and longed to know
their names and places in the heavens.  IIe
obtained an old spy-glass, and with this, often
without hat and bare-legged, he sallied out, on
a clear frosty night, to make observations on
the moon and stars.  He studied the signs of
the weather, until he thought himself some



22        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
what "<weather-wise."  The ultimate fruit of
this early observation was one of his first published articles, called " A Fair and Foul Weather Prognosticator." "Many times," he says,
"I have, even in tender youth, watched the
heavens with anxiety, examined the different
appearances of the morning and evening sun,
the phases of the moon, the scintillations of the
stars, the course and colour of the clouds, the
flight of the crow and the swallow, the gambols
of the colt, the fluttering of the ducks, and the
loud screams of the sea-mews-not forgetting
even the hue and croaking of the frogs," these
various objects being supposed to furnish indications, more or less reliable, of changes in the
weather.




EARLY TRAINING.                  23
CHAPTER II.
EARLY MORAL AND RELIGIOUS TRAINING.
Morning and evening prayers-Anecdote of J. Q. AdamsThe parental discipline-An incident of his early conviction
-A little companion-The conversation-Deep feeling-The
different view of his feelings by his father and mother-Adam
Clarke's subsequent opinion of early religious convictions.
IT is proper to state that Adam's father was a
member of the Episcopal Church.  He was exact in his observance of its religious services;
a firm believer in its doctrines, and constant at
its communion.
His mother, was a Presbyterian, and attended
the ministry and sacraments of her own church.
The children usually went with their father.
The mother taught them the catechism of each
communion.  The following is a part of the
morning and evening prayers, in verse, which
they learned from her:Elvening Prayer.
I go to bed as to my grave,
I pray to God my life to save,
But if I die before I wake,
I pray to God my soul to take.
Mforning Prayer.
Preserve me, Lord, amid the crowd,
From every thought that's vain and proud;
And raise my wandering mind to see
How good it is to trust in thee!




24         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
The late John Quincy Adams is said to have
remarked, in the latter part of his life, that the
evening prayer beginning,
"Now I lay me down to sleep,"
which is the more common form  of the one
given above, was taught him in infancy by his
mother, and he had never once, up to old age,
retired to rest at night without repeating it!
If such men as Adam  Clarke and John Q.
Adams loved, as they did, these simple prayers,
let no youth be ashamed to repeat them, nor
any parent be ashamed to teach them.
Adam's mother made a constant use of the
Bible in her religious instructions.  If he had
done wrong, he was often admonished by some
appropriate quotation from the Scriptures, conveying the desired reproof; and so great was
the reverence that she instilled into his mind
for that holy book, that if he had it in his
hand for the purpose of reading it, and was
disposed to whistle a tune or to be merry, he
would do neither until the book was laid aside.
Her instructions left in his mind a profound
reverence for God, amounting almost to terror
in view of his awful justice.  The doctrine of
the  new  birth was clearly recognised  and
taught by this excellent woman. The religious
training of her children was what is sometimes
called _Puritanical; and, doubtless, was very
much like that so strongly enforced at the same
period by the Puritan fathers of New England.




EARLY TRAINING.              25
Obedience was a word her son well understood.
But her requirements were so judiciously mingled with instruction and persuasion, that to
her, under God, more than to all other causes,
her son owned his future goodness.  His father, toiling to obtain even small pecuniary resources, in school from eleven to fourteen hours
a day, and several hours each day on the farm,
seems to have left to her, mostly, the religious
care of the children; yet, accompanying him to
public worship, and kneeling with him at the
family altar, they doubtless were impressed by
his paternal example and genuine piety.
The early effect of these influences, through
God's Spirit, may be seen in the following incident.  It will indirectly illustrate the truth
of the above remarks.
Adam, when about six years of age, had a
little associate, with whom  he was one day
walking in the field, hand in hand.  They sat
down on a bank, and began to enter into very
serious conversation. They both became much
affected, and this was deepened to exquisite
distress, by the following observations made
by his associate, little Brooks:  " Oh, Addy,
Addy," said he, "what a dreadful thing is eter
nity! And oh, how dreadful to be put into hellfire, and to be burned there forever and ever!"
They both wept bitterly, and, as they could,
begged God to forgive their sins; and they
made to each other strong promises of amendment.  They wept until they were really ex3




26        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
hausted, and departed from each other with
full and pensive hearts.
In reviewing this circumstance, Adam has
been heard to say, "I was then truly and
deeply convinced that I was a sinner, and that
I was liable to eternal punishment; and that
nothing but the mercy of God could save me
from it-though I was not so conscious of any
other sin as that of disobedience to my parents,
which at that time affected me most forcibly.
When I left my little companion I went home;
told the whole matter to my mother, with a
full heart, expressing a hope that I should
never more say any bad words, or refuse to do
what she or father might command.  She was
both surprised and affected; gave me much
encouragement, and prayed heartily for me.
With a glad heart she communicated the information to my father, on whom I could see it
did not make the same impression-for he had
little opinion of pious resolutions in childish
minds, though he feared God, and was a serious, conscientious man. I must own, that the
way in which he treated it was very discouraging to my mind, and served to mingle impressions with my serious feelings which were
not friendly to their permanence: yet the impression, though it grew faint, did not wear
away.  It was laid deep in the consideration
of eternity, and my accountableness to God
For my conduct, and the absolute necessity of
enjoying his favour, that I might never taste




EARLY TRAINING.            27
the bitter pains of eternal death. Had I had
any person to point out' the Lamb of God,
which taketh away the sins of the world,' I
believe I should then have been found as capable of repentance and faith-my youth and
circumstances considered-as I ever  afs afterward."




28          LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
CHAPTER IIIo
THE GREAT CHANGE.
Removes to Ballyaherton-The house in which he spent his
boyhood-The "Old Chulrch"-The "New Church"-Impressive incidents-The lost knife-A deception-Providential escapes-The "False Lights"-Apparent drowning-A
scene on the North Channel-A novel preacher-Conviction
for sin-Diligence in business-A temporary error-The crisis-The change.
THE period  of Adam  Clarke's life upon
which we dwell in this chapter, including the
time of THE GREAT CHANGE, which he experienced  through  Divine  grace, extends  from
about his tenth to his eighteenth year, and
brings us forward to 1778.
Near the commencement of this period his
father removed to Ballyaherton, a parish of
Agherton, and still nearer than before to the
shore of the North Channel.  The house which
the family occupied is seen in the accompanying picture, accurately exhibiting it as it was
at this time, excepting its now newly thatched
roof.  It had  the  appearance of three  huts
joined together. The rooms were all on the
ground floor. There was a garden attached to




F. _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _                                                                                                  _ _ _ _ _ _ __..
The house in whieh Dr. Clarke's boyhood was spent.                                                                    P 28
-~~__:~-~_~-~-;I —--— ~:IS. 28.








THE OLD, AND THE NEW CHURCH.   29
it. Not far distant were the residences of the
two lords of the soil, Mr. Cromie and Counsellor O'Neill.  With one of the sons of the latter, Adam  formed quite an intimacy, which
was recollected with pleasure by both in mature years.
It will be perceived that the dwelling is
sufficiently unpretending in its character, and
is an impressive intimation of the worldly circumstances of Mr. Clarke.  It, however, does
not so much indicate the position in society of
its occupant as it would in New England or the
Middle States, where, land being cheap, people
of very small property may own a dwelling of
some pretensions to elegance.
The hedge on the right is a much more
common enclosure in Ireland than in this country.  The whole has an air of quiet and contentment well calculated to make a favourable
impression on the mind of a boy of ten years
of age.
Now we are looking at pictures, the reader will
please to turn to the representation of the " old
church." (P. 162.) This is from the drawing of
the ruins, as they appeared when it was visited
by Dr. Clarke, near the close of his life, and was
sketched by a friend who accompanied him.
He remarked at the time of this visit, "It was
within the walls of that ruin that I proceeded
with my hie, hcee, hoc; and it was within that
sacred enclosure also that I first received the
3*




30        LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
Lord's Supper.  Mr. Smith was the officiating
clergyman; he preached in the church on the
Sunday; and my father used it as a schoolhouse during the week.  There were only two
pews in it, one on each side of the pulpit, both
of them very large-one for Mr. Cromie's family, and one for Counsellor O'Neill's, the latter of which stood a little forward. The other
part of the ground-floor was occupied with
moveable seats."  The friend who accompanied
the doctor, not perceiving any provision for a
fire, and for the escape of the smoke, made a
remark to that effect.  "' We had a fire on the
middle of the floor," he replied, "' around which
we sat in winter; and the building being large,
and the roof high, the smoke had sufficient
room to fly about without rendering those on
the floor invisible to each other." The interior arrangement, as above described, will remind some of our readers of the early churches
of New England, a few of which have been
seefi, in their dilapidation, by the present generation. We think, however, the fire in the centre cannot be equalled by the reminiscences of
our " oldest times."
"There is no man," says an elegant writer,' who has not some interesting associations
with particular scenes, and who does not feel
their sublimity and beauty enhanced by. such
connection. The view of the house where one
was born, of the school where one was educated,




IMPRESSIVE INCIDENTS.          31
and where the gay years of infancy were
passed, is indifferent to no man."
A few incidents of Adam's life at this period
will show how easily his mind was affected by
comparatively trivial circumstances, which became, in their combined influence, of much importance in shaping his future character.  The
following were taken down from the lips of Dr.
Clarke by a friend; and the improvement that
was made of them, when they occurred, shows
the early fruit of a well-cultivated conscience.
" When I was at school," the Doctor said,
"I lost a knife, and deplored it to a friend of
mine, who appeared to sympathize with me.'I wish I had known that yesterday, Addy,'
said he,' for I had a nice one with two blades,
and an ivory handle, studded with silver, which
I would have given you.' After working upon
my feelings for some time, and thus heightening the disappointment, he at length dashed
all my hopes by telling me he had no such thing.
I felt so much on the occasion that I resolved,
from that moment, never to tell any person
what he had lost by what he might have possessed,-supposing the provision might have
been forthcoming."  Thus he drew, at once,
good from the wrong-doing of others, and the
disappointments of his own mind.
Another incident from  the  same  source
shows how deeply seated in his mind were his
mother's instructions, to regard always the exact truth.  It will be remembered that the im



32        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
pression made by these incidents had gone down
with Adam to old age, and were called up in
the course of social conversation.
"I was but a little fellow," said he. "A boy
had some new farthings given to him; he called
me to him, and, looking downward at the time,
said,'Addy, Addy, I have lost my farthings;
help me to seek for them.' I sought, and sought
anxiously, almost every spire of grass, for
several yards around. But neither of us could
find them.  On giving up all for lost, I accidentally looked at his hand as he was raising
himself from the ground, and found the coins
had been locked in it, the whole of the time,
by the three fingers, while he was pointing with
the forefinger and thumb of the same hand, and
scraping the grass and soil with them."  He
adds, in substance, that the disappointed feeling experienced was trifling, he having had no
personal interest in the search, in comparison
with the pain he felt at the falsehood employed
to effect the deception. This left the circumstance engraven upon his mind.
In studying the means which God uses to
bring men to a saving knowledge of the truth,
we should pay special attention to his providences.  They are often the occasions through
which the Spirit applies the revealed word, and
by them  he wisely revives and deepens impressions made by other means.  It was thus
that he dealt with young Clarke.  We select
the following illustrations of this statement,




PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPES.          33
from  among several others, because he was
heard often to refer to them, especially the
second one, as having made a deep impression
on his own mind.  It is not so much the circumstance, as the use we are able to make of it,
or the workings of the Spirit through it, which
renders it interesting in contemplating the formation of character.
" When I was a boy about ten years of
age," said the Doctor, while retracing  the
scenes of his youth, 4'my mother sent me one
evening to the house of a friend.  A bog had
to be crossed, a full mile in length; a dense
mist spread itself around, and enclosed me in
its depths, long before I had reached the end
of the journey.  Unable to see a step of the
way, and in great perplexity, one of the lights,
to which you have alluded, (an ignis fatuus,)
suddenly sprang up before me.  It was the
first I had ever seen, though I had often heard
of them; and the frightful stories connected
with them  were brought to my recollection,
with tenfold force, by the reality then presented to view.  When I drew backward, it
followed-moving to the right or left, it moved
also in the same direction; on stepping forward, it likewise advanced. All around was
a mere bog, without any regular track, and
consequently every step was threatened with
danger, and any one might have proved fatal
to life.  I stood and trembled; and yet to
have remained without further effort was to fix




34           LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
myself there till morning. I resolved at length
to grope my way cautiously out, though utterly
at a loss in what direction to move, having
changed my position so often already, in consequence of the ignis fatuus.*   After hazarding  a few steps I heard a rustling noise; the
sound of my foot had alarmed some wild ducks,
which frequented the place; and knowing some
of their haunts, it instantly occurred to me to
listen in what direction they flew, and to follow the sound, as I concluded they would take
the direction of the water which adjoined the
place  to  which  I  was going.  Accordingly,
lending an anxiously attentive ear, and following on, I was brought, in consequence of this
attention to their flight, within a few yards of
the friend's door to whom  I was sent."
The thankful mind  of Adam, instructed as
he was to feel that God is ever near, and that
"in  him  we live, and move, and have our being," referred  this  escape, by means so unexpected and so simple, to the hand of his Heavenly Father.
- We need scarcely tell even our young readers that there
is nothing frightful in the ignisfatuus. It is sometimes called
Jackc-o'-tie-lautern, or Will-with-a-wsisp. It is a gas, which
arises probably from decaying matter in damp places, and the
light which it emits is like that which we have seen thrown
out from pieces of rotten wood —called a phoshooretic light.
The reason that it follows, or goes from, a person near it, is
this: the motion of the body disturbs the air, and makes a
current, which, when the person approaches, drives the very
light, shining gas away, and, on his receding, draws it toward
him.








iiii~~i.`;sl —i~~i~-,rai~~7i~illi~~-  lil
fail ~                i; i;;Illinois  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Ii~r  jl       iIl1!1l11
Nri ii l           ii    I I I 1 ri 
i                                                i ii!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~i )Aa'
illliilii!i ii Ij   i
rj ill iI




PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPES.          35
On another occasion Dr. Clarke was visiting
the sea-shore near Port-Stuart, not far from
the place of his father's former residence just
described, and called upon a friend whose
house embraced a view of the Irish Channel.
In the course of a social conversation, glancing
his eye out at the end window, along the sand,
he remarked, " One of the most remarkable
providences connected with my life befell me
on a spot which I have just in view."  He
then proceeded to give the following narrative
of the event:-" I came down to the shore yonder, riding on a mare of my father's, determined to have a swim. Firmly seated, we proceeded until we were beyond the breakers; but
when we had got over swell after swell, and
were proceeding still onward to the ocean, the
mare and myself were swamped in a moment I
I, of course, lost my seat, and fell into the
water. All my views and ideas seemed instantly and entirely changed; and I had sensations of the most perfect felicity that it is
possible, independent of rapture, for the human mind to feel.  I had no pain from the
moment I was submerged; a kind of general
representation, nearly of green colour, became
visible to me, in which a multitude of objects
were seen, not one of which, however, bore the
least analogy to any thing I had ever seen before. How long I continued in this state He
only knows who saved my life; but one wave
after another-for the tide was then coming in




36        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
-rolled me to the shore.  The first sensation,
on coming to life again, was as if a spear had
been run through my heart; this I felt on
getting the first draught of fresh air, when the
lungs were inflated, occasioned merely by the
pressure of the atmosphere. After a short time
had elapsed, I was capable of sitting up; the
intense pain at my heart, however, continued;
but I had felt no pain from the moment I was
submerged, till the time when my head was
brought above water, and the air once more
entered my lungs.  Upon looking round for
the mare, I found she had proceeded a considerable distance on her way home."
The reader will see, in the plate, the house
in which this narrative was given, and the
beach where Adam was so wonderfully preserved from drowning.
These providences preceded the time when
he sought to give his heart to God, and were,
through the Holy Spirit, helping to prepare it
to yield to Him who was calling him in these
acts of his preserving power.
Adam  was at this time about seventeen
years of age; was upright in his outward deportment, and esteemed, with good reason, a
young man of excellent character.  But God,
who knoweth the heart, saw that his affections
were not set upon Him.  While he feared and
reverenced God, he did not love him like one
"born of the Spirit."  He lacked one thing.
This he knew, and, at times, felt deeply. He




A NOVEL PREACHIER               37
had been taught that he was to be saved from
sin by faith in Christ; but the great doctrine
of the atonement was not clearly taught by
the ministers under whose preaching he at this
time sat. At this critical period, Mark O'Neill,
his constant play-fellow, said to him  one day,
"Let us go to Burnside. A very singular kind
of preacher, called a Mz'.ethodist, is to preach
there. ~We shall have fine sport." Adam's mind
at once shrank fi om  the idea of going to a
religious meeting of any kind for amusement,
and this he declared  to his companion, at the
same time consenting to go.
This decided and frank avowal of his feeLings, at the risk of provoking the ridicule of
his coinpanions, was, perhaps, the  turning
point in his religious character.  The distance
was not great.  They found the people assembled in a barn.  Soon the preacher appeared..
He was to Adam  a singular-looking man.. lHe
was plain and serious, but so different in dress
from any clergyman he had ever seen, that the
mind of his curious hearer was deeply impressed.
His words were earnest and practical. After
the preaching, Adam  with many others, followed him  into the house belonging  to the
owner of the barn, where he again spoke to the
people about their spiritual interests.
The effect of the words of this stranger upon.
young Clarke's mind was not very decided..
He continued to. hear with, interest these itinerant preachers, for some time.   They were
"the helpers," (as he sty-led them,) of Mr. Wes —
4,




38 8LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
ley, the founder of Methodism.  They were
men of small attainments in learning, but often
of marked natural abilities, generally deeply
pious and extremely self-sacrificing.
Adam was especially benefited by Mr. Tho-.mas Barber, one of these  " helpers."  His
preaching was accompanied by the power of
God's Spirit to his heart.  He now felt, as he
had not been accustomed to feel, that he was a:sinner.  But it was not a sudden and overwhelming feeling in his case. The Spirit works
wvith different manifestations in different per-.sons.  In Adam  there was a steadily increasing sense -of guilt before God.  IHe now began
to read the Bible, as he had never read it before, in course, and attentively, studying to
ascertain God's will concerning his duty.  He
prayed much, that God would enlighten his
mind by his Spirit.  If he came to a passage
which he did not understand, he would immediately fall upon his knees, and ask God to give
him an understanding mind.  Thus, he says, he
learned, not critically, but to a practical extent,
the general teaching of God's word, and it was
in this manner, and at this time, that his mind
became settled on all those doctrines of which
he afterward became so distinguished an advocate.
He became more serious in his deportment,
and more diligent in his labour, lest the enemies of religion should reproach it on his account.  He arose at four o'clock in the morn



TEMPORARY ERROR.             39
ing, worked diligently fourteen hours, and then
esteemed it a privilege to walk three or four
miles to hear a sermon.  In this way he heard
four sermons in a week, when the preachers
were in that part of the country.
While he was thus diligently seeking instruction, Mr. Barber one day thus accosted him:
"Adam, do you think God has, for Christ's
sake, forgiven you your sins?"
" No, sir; I have no evidence of this."' Adam, do you pray?"
" Yes, sir."' How often do you pray in private?"' Every morning and evening," was the reply.
"Adam," the preacher rejoined, solemnly,
"did you ever hear of any person finding
peace with God, who only prayed in private
twice a day?"
These were words fitly and timely spoken.
They awakened Adam to the fact that he had
not been earnest enough.  His conviction began to be painfully deep.  But he was yet to
pass through a sore trial before he could say,
" Though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me?"
Through the cavilling of some acquaintance his
mind became, for a time, shaken in its confidence in the divinity of Christ. IHe ceased to
pray in his name.  His distress became insupportable, and in his agony he cried out, using
involuntarily the all-saving name he had for



40          LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
bidden to himself, 6 O  God, hear, and have
mercy upon me, for the sake of c/ris-t."   The
utterance of the name of Christ shot an encouraging ray of hope across his burdened
mind.  From  that moment he began again to
fix his eye of faith on the atonement% yet he
had not the faith that secures par-ldon.  His
mind had not found the rest which flows from
justification, but he was directed  towa rad it;
yet the nearer he approached the more fearfully the billows rolled over him.  The imalignant adversary of the soul makes his most
vigorous efforts to destroy it when the penitent
sinner is the most sincere and determined in
4 agonizing" to enter into eternal lirfc   Adam
began now to feel that sin was too heavy a
burden to be borne. Like Peter sinki:n'g, when
"the sea wrought and was tempestuous,l he
cried out,   Lord, save me, or I perish!"
Having gone into the field to work, he became too much distressed to continue his labour; he laid down his farming implements,
and kneeling upon the ground, he continued
supplicating  the mercy  of God.  From  this
occasion he began to say, i' Being justified by
faith, I have peace with God, through our Lord
Jesus Christ."  So dear were the associations
connected with this field, that, in the evening
of life, after nearly fifty years of toil, of fighting,
and triumphing, through grace, he attemlpted
to purchase it, to erect thereon a cottage, in
which to spend his few remaining days, that




TIE CHANCE.              41
he might enter into the "rest which remaineth
to the people of God," near the spot where he
entered into God's spiritual kingdom.  But the
providence of God ordered otherwise.
lii i,




4t2          LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
CHAPTER IV.
T.HE IMMEDIATE FRUIT OF THE GREAT CHAIRGEo
Adam seeks the conversion of others-Missiona.ry excursionsLabour for the children-Parents thereby affected —An old
man's recollections —An humble chapel-Adam apprenticed to
a linen merchant-Labour for Christ's sake-Rebukes sinHis integrity tried, and unshaken —An incident —eturns
to his paren-ts-T-is employer's residence A brief review of
the change, and its fruits.
YOUNG Clarke was now devoted to his religious as well as menta.l improvement.  Hie
read Baxter's G Saints' Rest" and the Life of
David Brainerd, often called the apostle to the
American Indians.  The first gave him deeper
convictions  of  the  solemn  truth  of  eternal
things, and the latter stimulated his desire to
do good to others.  So grateful were the emotions of his heart for the undeserved love of
the Son of God toward him, that he felt constrained to persuade others to enter into life.
He commenced immediately, in an humble but
efficient way, a work which he did' not remit a
day until God  said, " It is enough," and removed his servant to heaven.
After the labours of the day on the farm, he
went through the neighbourhood into the cottages of the poor, and, in a modest yet earnest
malnner, such as carried  a conviction of sin



SEEKS TO CONVERT OTHERS.            43
cerity, discoursed to them concerning the cross
of Christ.  When a whole day was at his conmmand, he ascended a hill, and surveyed the
neighbouring hamlets and villages; to arrange
a plan of visitation.  Then descending, he entered a dwelling, frequently saying, "Peace be
to this house."   He then inquiredc if they had
any objections to uniting  Nvith a siranger in
prayer to Almighty G-od.  lie seldom failed to
obtain a cordial assent.  lie next invited them
to call in the immed3iabte neiglbonus.  Soon
these humnble) neglected poor) wif th glad heart,
filled the house.   With a clear voice  he sang
a hymnn, spake a few words  about the Saviour,
offering to each salvation thrcugh his blood,
and. then kneeled and prayed.  While his audience yet gazed at each other, wvondering at his
interest in the1m, and at the rwords he spake, he
was off to another place.  In this way he someLime3s collected and addressed eight or nine
companies in a single day, walking eight or
ten miles into the country, anld mak ing himself a journey of twenty miles.
On one occasion he walked twenty-six miles
with a friend of like spirit, expecting to enjoy
a somewhat protracted preaching service. But
other arrangements hadc intervened,  and there
was to be no preaching.  Disappointed in the
privileges he had anticipated, he commenced
immediately doing good to othe rs.  Gathering
the children  about him, he addressed theim
They wer e melted to tears.  The adults l4av



44          LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
ing been reached by the word directed to the
little ones, insisted upon an address to them in
the evening.  This he gave, and remained over
the next day, at their earnest entreaty.  Before he left, the preacher coming to the place,
and seeing one so apparently youthful, and
without the authority of the church, gathering
around him  the multitude to hear of the Saviour,-gently reproved him. When long years
had intervened, and the boy had become a man,
with hair white with the frost of time, he passed
through this place: deeply affected, he called
to mind the weeping of the children, the affection of the friends, and the chiding of the minister.  " The people were pleased with me,"
said he; " for I was ydung, and little of my
age."
These efforts will remind the reader of the
characteristic labours of the  Sunday-school
missionaries and tract distributers of this day,
especially those in our Western States and Territories, only that they have the advantage of a
well-filled satchel of attractive books to distribute.
The preachers by whom Adam  had been so
much benefited soon extended the circuit of
their preaching to the immnediate neighbourhood of his residenee, and  his father and
mother —especially  the  latter- professed  to
receive much spiritual benefit 1fi'o  their miinistrations.  A  chapel was ere'cted about ]d lf a'mile from 1Mr. Clarke's house.  it w as in thle




LABOURB FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.             45
form and of the size of a one-floored cottage,
thatched,  and of unsquared stones.  This ch, apel Adam  assisted in erecting.  He says, his
father loaned the use of a horse and carti  and
he carried stones to and from  the cart, twice
as heavy as wai twarranted from  his satrenlth,
and adds,   If any one had offered me twenty
thousa:nd pounds for every twrenty, pounds of
stone I carried, as an indu1cement to abandon
the work, I would have rejected the proposal
with  conteme?t.   Oh no! I v ould  not have
taken worlds for my interest in the work that
was un3foldig itself to my view in the sal..tion  of my own  soul and  the good  of my
neighbounr-  so much  of which was likely to
be accomplished wiithimn that sacred e-nclosure."
The parents of Adam, not having the pecuniary imeans of educating him for the ministry,
as they had purposed, apprenticed him  to a
relative, Francis Bennet, an  exitensive linen
merchant in  Coleraine.   HIe -ioad  now  been
about two  years a professed  Chistian, nand
was a, member of the Wesleyian body.  Ile
was also authorized by the autlhorities of t-at
people " to exhort,"-that is, to hold religious
meetings, in lwhich hoe migt p5resent to the
people the practical truths of religion,  with —
out the form  or the profession  of preaching.,
Mr. Bennet seems to have been, in  spirit, a
man of the world, and it is not strange thiat
young  Clarke did not feel satisfed           with lis
position.  IH-e, however, mainta-inoed his rell



46         LIFE  OF ADAM  CLARKE.
gious integrity.  One of the servants, a profane, violent-tempered girl, greatly  afflicted
him  by her wickedness.  But after much effort and many prayers, he was made glad by
her hopeful conversion.  Another inmate of
the family was an aged, decrepid woman, who
had for many years been confined to her bed.
She was much neglected by the servants, and
was, moreover, perverse in her disposition, and
was, in her personal habits, exceedingly repulsive.  Yet did this young disciple visit her
roomr every evening, for seven months, to speak
to her about her soul, and to pray with her, rendering her at the same time such little service
for her bodily comfort as his circumstances allowed.
He carried with him, at this time, a small
pocket Testament.  Being surrounded with profane persons, Sabbath-breakers, and triflers at
serious things, he was accustomed to take out
the Testament, and, with  some well-selected
passage from  the mouth of God, rebuke the
sinner-using the Word, as it truly is, as " the
sword of the Spirit."
He sought other means of doing  good.
There  were  sermons in  Coleraine, at five
o'clock  in the morning, when  the itinerant
preachers came to that place.  Adam  rose at
four o'clock, and went through the streets to
awaken the people, and summon them to wor.ship.
After remaining a few months with Mr. Ben



AN INCIDENT.               47
net on trial, Adam expressed to his parents a
wish to leave the business, as it had become
very irksome to him; but they were decided in
refusing their consent. While the legal instruments of his apprenticeship were carelessly delayed, a providential circumstance interposed
for his relief.  Adam was employed one day in
measuring and marking the cloth, and a piece
came back to him, which he had measured
several inches short of the required length.
He measured it again; but still there was not
enough cloth.  Mr. Bennet coming in at the
instant, said,
"Can you not make the measure, Adam?
Let us take hold, we will soon stretch it out."
The conscientious apprentice hesitated.
" You won't do it, then!" exclaimed the employer, warmly.  " Then you shall never measure another piece for me."
Adam stood by, and saw him  stretch it, and
yet fail to obtain the desired length.  HIe then
remarked, respectfully,
S i Sir, you cannot charge me with indolence,
dishonesty, or disobedience, from  the time of
my entering your service to the present period.
I am ready to do any thing proper in itself;
but this is not fair measure, and I cannot do
any thing I know to be wrong."  He then
moved toward the door to take his departure.
"Where are you going?" said Mr. Bennet,
relenting a little.
" Home to my father, sir," was the answer.




48          LIFE OF ADAMi  CLARKE.
"YTou might as well stop the night over,''
danswered  Mr. Bennet, in  a subdued  tone.
Adcanm went about other employment, but in a
sho1r time he was set at liberty from a situation
with which he had no sympathy.  The accompanying picture represents lMr. Bennet's establishtmnt.  It remained essentially unaltered
at te tie  oief Dr. Chlake's visit to the neighbourhood, a few  years before his deathl  and
was then sketc hec by a travelling companion.
We have thus exhibited the great change
through which  Adam  Clarke passed, noting
somle of the circumstances which  went before and followed it, in order to form  a more
intelligent opinion of the genuineness of that
chasnge.
This event is really  the  most important
one in any person's life.  Adam Clarke's conversion determined the important features of
his future  character, as it has passed  into
the records of the history of his life.  He
might,  or might not, have been known as a
great man, without this change; but such a
man, with power to impress his generation for
their good, he could not have been.  We have
seen that the ordinary means, faithfully employed, were blessed of God to secure the
grace promised to all who  sincerely seek it.
The immediate work was marked by the presence of the Holy Ghost, producing a conviction of the reality of eternal things, and of the
corruption and guilt of the heart, and leading




FRUITS OF THE GREAT CHANGE.    49
to the Lamb of God, who alone can take away
sin. We have observed the fruit which followed,-holiness of character,-love toward
God. leading to obedience,-peace, which the
world cannot appreciate,-a care to grow in
grace and holiness.  His ardent desire to save
others, by inducing them  to come to Christ,
and his extreme conscientiousness, are worthy
of special notice.  When there was an humble
service to be done for the neglected poor,
either for their souls,-as when he visited from
house to house; or for their bodies,-as when
he waited upon the neglected sick at Mr. Bennet's,-he was bold to do it.  But when an act
was required of doubtful equity, then he started
back, afraid to do wrong.  These are legitimate fruits of the great change.




50            LIFE  OF ADAM  CLARKE.
CHAPTER V.
PROVIDENTIAL GUIDANCE TO THE MINISTRY.
Early rising, studies, and labour —An incident of his first attempt to preach —Conflict of mind —Choice of a text —A severe trial of faith-Leaves home for Kingswood School,
England-The sea-voyage —The press-gang-An incident
of a stage ride-His disappointment on arriving at Kingswood-iA story of a guinea-The first Hebrew grammarAnother trial of conscience-His first interview with Rev.
John Wesley-His qualifications for the work of a minister
of the gospel-His absorbing desire to do good-The providence of God observed in leading him to the ministryPromptings of the Holy Spirit.
UPON his return to his father's house, young
Clarke  engaged  in  the labours of the  farm
rented  by his father, and pursued eagerly his
studies.  IHe  rose  at four  o'clock, and  improved every hour.  In  addition  to pursuing
his Latin  and  Greek, he had, a little before
this time, commenced  the  study  of French.
Even at this period, the desire to c intermeddle
with all wisdom" was a prominent trait in his
character. But it may be safely asserted that
even his thirst for knowledge, which led him
to despise ease and indulgence, was exceeded
by his desire for the souls of the converted.
We shall exhibit evidence of this.
One  of Mr. Clarke's  spiritual counsellors
was Mr. Bredin, the preacher of the circuit, a




HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO PREACH.    51
man of sound judgment, and eminently pious.
He was free from  all extravagance of manner
in handling the word of God, and to him  his
young friend acknowledged, in  after days,
much obligation for an early habit of presenting, in his public teaching, the plain meaning
of the Scriptures, in opposition to a forced, allegorical interpretation.    This man loved me
dearly," he observed once to a friend; " but
he often treated me roughly, by putting me under a severe discipline."  Mr. Bredin discerning, as he thought, unusual excellences of character in Mr. Clarke, resolved to put him forward in the public labour of the church.  The
following incident, taken down from one of Dr.
Clarke's conversational narratives, will exhibit,
in a lively manner, the method he adqpted to
do so.
"He asked my father and mother for the
loan of me eight or ten days, and to allow me
to spend the time with him at Derry.  The distance from my father's house was thirty miles.
Mr. Bredin was at Derry when I set off, so I
walked the whole of the distance alone.  J ust
before I left home, these words were impressed
upon my mind:'Ye have not chosen me, but
I have chosen you, that ye should go, and
bring forth much fruit, and that your fruit
should remainl; that whatsoever ye shall ask
the Father in my name, he shall give it you.'
These words I could not shake off; they recurred again and again-nor the thought that I




52          LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
might possibly be called to the work of tho
mnistry, and that I might be able, perhaps, to
preach some time, though hope was exceedingly distant.  The  day after my arrival at
Derry, Mr. Bredin said to me,'Adam, you
must preach  at "New Buildings" for me tonight.'  I answered,  I  cannot preach, sir;
but I will spea.k to the people.'  IYou must
take  a text,' he replied,'and preach from
it.   I returned,'I never did take a text, and
cannot consent to it now.'  After some words
he  peremptorily  said,'I insist upon  your
takling a text, and preaching from  it, or you
saill see my face no more.'   The last sentelce i knew not how to interpret.  To pacify
him,~ I went, literally in the fear of God, of
man, and of the devil.  I thought,W —-ell 
will go; I can only bring back the tidings,
that I went, tried, and failed.  I got to the
place some time before the hour of preaching;
and, not knowing any one, I wandered down
the banks of a river, which connected itself
with a beautiful sheet of wacter. My perplexity
was exchanged for heaviness; I lay down on
the glrass —prayed-wept-and read my Bible.
At first, there did not appear a  text in the
whole Bible for me;-I read, prayed again,
and these words occurred:  aWe know that we
are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.'  My mind settled down on  cthem  as
the text.  It was not long before a man came
up to me, and asked me, (a.s I ha.d then risen




A SEVERE CONFLICT.             53
from the grass,) whither I was going?  I told
him I was a stranger, and had been sent by
Mr. IBredin, and inquired for the place of worship frequented by the Methodists.  He asked,'Are you the preacher?'  I answered,   Mr.
3Bredin has sent me, and I suppose I shall have
to speak to the people.'  The man measured
me, apparently, with his eye, from head to foot,
and then, in a tone of despondency, mingled
with surprise, said,' You are a young one to
unravel the word!'  I was struck  with the
man's manner, for he appeared serious, and
with the word unravel, which seemed to have a
good deal of meaning in it.  I-e accompanied
me to the place, and, for the first time, I ventured on a text, which was the one named."'And how did you succeed in unravelling
the word?" interposed a friend.
"Oh," said Dr. Clarke, "I spake to the
good people about John being thrown into a
cauldron of boiling oil, and coming out of it
unblistered, with whose history I was pretty
well acquainted.  I noticed also the state of
the world in its hostility to God and his servants, closing with some remarks on personal religion. The people pressed round me after service, one of them saying,' You must preach at
the Mount to-morrow morning, at five o'clock.'
To this I assented, as all seemed pleased; and,
accordingly, I spoke to the people the next
mornring, at the time appointed."
Though Mr. Clarke was, at this time, about
5*




54         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
twenty-two years of age, and by no means to
be considered incompetent, on account of his
age, to " unravel" the word to an humble people, yet he had not now arrived at the period
in which he was, in God's providence, to enter
fully upon the duties of the ministry.  There
was in reserve for him a training in the severe
school of experience.  The course taken by
Mr. Biredin, in urging him  forward, might not
have hurt such a young maln as Adamn Ciarke,
but will hardly answer as a precedent.
The next step taken by Mr. Bre.in in his
behalf was to write to the Rev. John Wesley,
recommending him to invite Mr. Clarke'o attend the school at Kingswood, in England, established by Mr. Wesley, and under his cointrol.
This brought a request from  Mr. Wesley, now
in the evening of his remarkable life, for young
Clarke to proceed, without delay, to the school.
Then followed one of the severest mental conflicts of his life.  His parents were decidedly
opposed to his removal thither.  Though of
age, he could not go wvithout their blessing.
-[is account of the circumstances is as follows:'" M5y mother was much grieved; her prayers
were against me as well as her conversation.'What is this,' said she'that has come over
you?  Your father is advancing in life —your
brother is gone; we both have been looking
forward to you to fill his place —and now you
are going to run up and down in the world like




LEAVES HOMIE FOR SCHOOL.             55
a. vagabond.'  Th/at was her view of the subject.  I said to her,' Mother, I have made it
a matter of prayer.''And so have 1, too,'
she replied,' and the curse of God will follow
you for it.'  This was like a scald upon my
conscience for some days.  She spoke to me
again upon the subject.  I said,'I do not wish
to do any thing contrary to the will of God;
and it appears to be in favour of my poing.
L TWhat!' she replied,  do you think it is the
will of God that you  should break  the first
commandment given with promise?'     H0onour
thy father and thy mother.'
I continued to pray, to believe, and to fear;
but had I known w1hat I was soon to suifer I
never should have left home.  HYaviing to go to
Coleraine on business, where I stopped a iw
days, I found, on my return, my mother lad relented. She, in the mean time, said to my fathey,'  believe we must let this lad go; it may be, the
iand of the Lord is in it.'  Finding the way
opened, I made some preparations for going. T
had taken leave of some of my -friends, and had
privately packed up my clothes.  Just before I
left I was walking and praying in the  ard en,
when my mother came to me.  I was afraid,
for I knew not how it was determined.  She
submitted to my leaving home, and it was not
long before T took my departure."
With a smill trunll  a few boo ks,i and just
money enough for hlis ptassa.e!re,    a.an econor ical liying u ntil hbe should reta cl,. lingswood> jr




56         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
walked to the nearest sea-port, a distance of
thirty miles, and purposed, when he should arrive in England,  to walk firom  Liverpool to
Kingswood, more than two hundred miles.
Nearly half a century from this time, when
he was visiting near the place of his embarkation, he was engaged in a conversation with a
Mr. Galt, on his early days, as follows:
Mr. G.  C"I recollect seeing you on the
morning you left Coleraine for England."
A. C.  "Are you correct in that?"
Arf. i. G' "Perfectly so."
A. C.   I was not aware of your being so
old."
HMr. a.  "I will convince you of it by a
single. circumstance.  You went into such a
shop," (naming the person to whom  it belonged,) "and there bought a pair of stockings."
A. G.  "You are right."
M.. Ge  "I stood by you at the time, and
when you left, I joined with the young men in
saying, Adam Clarke was a fool to go to England to learn to be a Methodist preacher."
A,.  " I had no notion of being a travelling preacher; all I had in view was the completion of my education."
M/r. a. IU "Such was our opinion, and we affected to pity you."
We have introduced the above conversation
to bring out the purpiose wh!ich led,Mr. Clarke
to iEgland.  The ministry yet seemed to him,




SEA-VOYAGE —TIHE PRESS-GANG.    5u]
if h e entered it, far il the lfture.  But " The
way of 1matn is not in himself."
During  this voyage to  England,  young
Clarke was true to his own character and profesSion.  eI:s reproved the profanneess of the
sailors' anld to such an extent won the confidence of tihe captain, that, on his arrival in
Liverpool, he constrained him  to accept the
hospitality of his own family.
When  the vessel approached  the port, a
press-gang,c-me on board.  Europe was at
this ti'me (1782) embroiled in an almost universal vwarc.   The government of England allowed her o0-ficers to seize unprotected persons,
and compel themo to enter the navy, and perhaps to go immediately upon foreign service.
Such an impressment Adam Clarke providentially escaped.  There   ere on board  two fellow-travellers, a hatter and a sailor.  These two
hid themselves, on the appearance of the pressgaung; but Adam said, " Shall sunch a man ass I
flee'f  No  I will not distrust God?" and he
sat down quietly, inwardly committing himself
to God, in prayer.  The officer of this kidnapping crew  looked at his hands, asked him  a
few questions, and declared, with an oath, he
would not (lo.  The poor hatter was found,
and carried away.
Mbr. Clarke was persuaded by the kind fanmily of the captain to change his purpose of
walking  to Kingswood.   -le took  a cheap
mode of conveyance.  At Bristol, and during




58         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
his journey from  that place, he arrested the
attention of those about him  by his intelligence, modest deportment, and especially by
his use of the weapon against sin, which he
habitually carried with him —his pocket Testament.
His rustic appearance excited the mirth of
one of the young passengers.  He was soon
drawn into an argument on important questions of morality  and religion, and  so impressed were his opponents with his ability and
knowledge, that they earnestly solicited him
to accompany them  to London, on his way to
Kingswood, offering to pay the expense of his
journey if he would do so.  But he declined
the request.
On arriving at Kingswood Mr. Clarke was,
in every respect, most sadly disappointed.  He
was told by the principal, that the school was
not for such proficient scholars; that he had
not received notice from  Mr. Wesley to admit
him; that the school was full, and, in short,
hie must not stay.  Here, then, was an emergency!  His friends were far away.  He had
come to England with sanguine expectations.
He had about three cents in his purse, all his
remaining cash.  H3e could  not be turned
away; so the teacher gave him  an uncomfortable room, and cool treatment, until Mr.
Weslev should arrive, who was expected at
Kingswoocl soon.  The way in which God leads
his servants is often, to them, overshadowed




A STORY OF A GUINEA.             5)9
with dark clouds.  So Adam  found it.  But
the Divine purposes will shine through at last.
Clarke soon found it so in his experience.
He was one day working in the garden for
exercise.  Another young man had just dug
over the same  ground.  But in  it Adam
found a guzieac.  He carried it from  one person to another to find an owner, and finally,
not finding one, his tender conscience concluded it must rightfully belong to the establishment, as it was found on the premises;
but the steward would not touch it, and, after
the coin had been a matter of much talk and
inquiry, it was turned back upon the finder's
hands.  With a part of it he bought a Hebrew
grammar, and had a sum remaining sufficient
for his expenses, until other resources were
opened.  "'By means of that grammar," he
says, "I was enabled to pursue a critical examination of the Old Testament, and while doing so made the Short Notes, which formed the
ground-work of my Commentary."
The following is one among the many cases
of conscience which occurred in Adam Clarke's
experience.  The  stewardess of the  school
called upon him, at the table, to drink the
health of some one named,-the custom of drinking healths being then almost universal.  This
he declined, giving as a reason, that the custom was useless in itself, and led to injurious
consequences.  It was replied, that it was one
of the usages of her table, and that he need




60          LIFE OF ADAMI CLAIIE.
not be more scrupulous than all others.  This
reasoning did not answer for ]Hi',z and he persisted.  It was replied, wiarmly, that he should
drink healths at the table, or drink nothing.
The latter alternative he accepted, and to the
end of his stay at the school, took no drink
with his meals 
The arrival of Mr. Wesley  at Bristol, a
short distance from  Kingswood, put an end to
these vexations.  Mr. Clarke walked to that
place, and  wNas introduced to this venerable
man.  le was received kindly, and, after a
fewr words of conversation, asked,  " If he
wished to devote himself entirely to the work
of God?"  The answer was, "I wish to do
and to be what God pleases."  Mr. Wesley remarked, that a preacher was wanted for B3radford circuit, and that in a few days he would
send for him to go thither.  HIe then laid his
hands upon the head of his young "helper,"
and continued a few moments in  prayer to
God, to bless and preserve him, and to give
him success in his work.
On the morning of September 26th, 1782,
Mr. Clarke left Kingswood for his appointed
field of labour, after having remained there
thirty-two tedious days.  As we must now re -
gard him  as about to enter the ministry, we
may take a glance at the steps by which he was
led to it.
In his absorbing desire to do good, we see
one of the leadings of the divine hand to the




HIS QUALIFICATIONS FOR tHIS WORK.   61
ministry.  Not that every  Christian young
man, with whom this is a prevalent feeling, is
thus directed; but it is to be so considered in
its connection with God's providence and Spirit.  Surely he, whose life is to be spent like
his Master's, in doing good, need to begin and
end that service, in a burning love for it.
Through the providence of God, we observe
other steps to the ministry made apparent.
At one time, the father of Adam Clarke indulged a hope that he might obtain sufficient
education to be admitted as a member of the
medical profession.  This failing, as well as
his hopes of having him enter the ministry of
the church of his choice, his mother intimates
a desire, entertained by both parents, that he
should succeed his father as a school-teacher.
But both had given up to what they conceived
to be the directings of the divine will, in helping him to become a linen merchant.  In this
situation we have seen, that Adam  did not betray his trust, but acted, though not pleased
with his situation, as if it were the position of
his choosing.  The divine guidance was soon
manifested, in a change in his employment
more favourable to the great work upon which
he was to enter, delivering him by an occurrence
creditable to his reputation and piety.
Then came the opposition of his parentstheir final acquiescence-the escape from the
press-gang, and  the  friendships formed on
6




62        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
board the vessel, and on the road, in confirmation of all this.
But most of all, perhaps, do we see the will
of God indicated in the bitter disappointment
of mind he experienced at Kingswood, where
he had gone only to complete his studies,-the
finding of the guinea, and the timely arrival
of Mr. Wesley.
I-   st>._..
Krf _
V'




LABOURS OF THE WESLEYS.                  63
CHAPTER VI.
THE  MINISTRY  COMMENCED.
The labours of the Wesleys and Whitefield-A glance at the
formation of the Wesleyan connection-The Bradford circuit
-Frequent preaching-Studies on horseback-lInduced to
renounce the study of Latin and Greek-Mr. Wesley's advice-Feelings in reference to preaching-His apparent
youth —The effect of a sermon at Roads-A reminiscence of
that sermon-A  curious history of his pocket Bible-His
texts-Abandons, for life, the use of tea and coffee-Attends
the conference at Bristol.
ABOUT the middle of the last century, the
two brothers, John  and  Charles Wesley, and
George Whitefield, began to preach the gospel
with great zeal, gathering congregations wherever they  could,-in the open  air, in private
rooms, and  in  barns,-as  well  as  in  the
churches.   A   great revival of  religion  followed.  In  the  course  of  the  providence of
God, John Wesley became the most prominent
in this work.   The  people  who, through his
instrumentality, professed  a  desire to  become
Christians, he formed into " Societies."   When
the  call for labourers became urgent, he employed men of piety from  the mechanic's shop,
from  the farm, and all the common pursuits of
life, as well as from  the schools-to assist him.




64          LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
These were for many years called " Ar. Wesley's  preachers."   As  the  " Societies"  increased in number, he united several, often as
many as forty of them, under the name of  1 a
circuit,  and appointed two or three preachers
to preach in turn to each of them; the most
experienced of these having a general charge
of his colleagues, and being  known as the' superintendent of the circuit."  In the course
of some years, the "' circuits" multiplied, so
that several of them were united and denomilated a' district."  Each society was divided
into  small classes, of about twelve persons.
These classes met every week, to pray, and to
relate their Christian experience.  A  person,
called   class-leader," was appointed to instruct
them in the duties of religion.
Another peculiarity of Mr. Wesley's regulations, was the change of the preachers from
one circuit to another, generally every year.
After his death these changes were made once
in two or three years at least.  Mr. Wesley
had the entire government of all these societies; receiving or dismissing the preachers, appointing them to their fields of labour, and regulating all the affairs of the " Connexion."
These preachers, however, Inet with him  once
a year, in what was called a " Conference,"
where all these interests were made subjects of
free discussion.
Bradford circuit, which was assigned to Mr.
Clarke, included three counties, and thirty-one




THE BRADFORD CIRCUIT.           65
preaching appointments in as many towns or
villages, and was situated mostly between the
Bristol and the English Channels, in the south
of England.  There were three preachers to
travel this field with him, each making the circuit of the appointments every month, so that
there was a sermon required of each every
day.  But the places for public service were
generally far apart, thus requiring the preacher
to be almost constantly (when not taking absolutely necessary rest, nor preaching,) on horseback, the usual mode of travelling at that time.
Besides preaching, Mr. Clarke met the classes,
visited the sick, and gave frequent public and
private religious exhortations. During a little
less than eleven months' labour on the circuit,
he preached five hundred and six times, preaching one sermon every morning at five o'clock
of the whole time.
As it. is already known to the reader that he
had, what might be called a passion for study,
and perhaps known that he became eminent, in
after life, as a learned man, the question may
suggest itself, how was this passion gratified
during these eleven months?  That question
he answers.  He read on horseback, while going from place to place.  In this way he began
the study of Hebrew, committed to memory
the grammar, and read the elementary exercises from  the' Hebrew Bible, and made hinself somewhat familiar with Mosheim's Church
History.  To his Latin and Greek he began to
6*




66          LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
give wh-at attention he could in his moments of
leisure, until the following unfortunate incident
caused him to desist.
In a room, at one of the preaching places,
where the several preachers lodged, some one
had w-ritten, in Latin,  a sentence relating to
the vicissitudes of life.  Clarke wrote under it
a quotation fronm Virgil, corroborative of the
sentiment.  One of his colleagues, a pious, but
unlearned man, when his turn came to lodge in
the  oom  wrote under the quotation a severe reproofI of what he considered a vain display of
learning.'The tender conscience of Clarke,
ever wakeful to wrong emotions in himself, and
little suspecting them  in others, especially in
his seniors in  the ministry, was exquisitely
pained., eacdy at once to assume that he had
done wrong in the case specified, he fell upon
his knees, and, praying God to pardon  the
offence, solemnly vowed never to meddle with
Latin or Greek more! This vow he religiously
kept for four years!  At the end of this period he was led to see the rashness of his vow
by a remark Mr. Wesley made to him, concerning the importance of maaking every possible useful acquisition, and of not forgetting
any thing le had ever learned.  He began to.
review the cause of his vow, and came to the
conclusion that such an engaogement was unjustifiable.  Though the vow itself betays a wealkness, and want of proper consideration that is
highly censurable, involving him, as it proved,




FEELINGS RESPECTING PREACHING.   67
in the violation of a most solemn promise, the
retader may be inclined to accept as a palliation what, however, is no excuse, the sincerity
and warmth of his misguided feeling in contrac(ting the obligation.
Another of Mr. Clarke's colleagues was
about his own age, with whom  he conferred
concerCingl  his advancement in holiness.  These
young men, though not constituted  alike in
mind, nor intimate in other respects, sought
each otlher's company, for the sole purpose of
spiritual improvement. Clarke would often ride
five mles out of his route, to talk with this
sympathizing spirit on his daily experience in
the divine life.
Young Clarke entered upon his public labours with much self-distrust.  H-e says he
tremibled in view of the audience he was to
meet, and prayed constantly for the assistance
of the Holy Spirit.  He read the Bible upon
his knees, and often with tears.  Everywhere
on the circuit, during these eleven months, was
the work of God revived.  He had commenced
with great fear, lest his apparently extreme
youth should hinder his usefulness.  Appearing to many not more than seventeen years of
age, lie was freqlently called the " boy," and
the 6 little boy."  But this circumstance was
the means of advancing, instead of preventing
his access to t he people.  Curiosity led many,
whien it was announced that "        the boy" was to
preach, to sk  to hear hin, who neglected the




68        LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
ministry of others.  His ready utterance, fervent spirit, clear, forcible thoughts, and piety,
which at once melted his own heart and the
hearts of his audiences, pleased all, and secured a repetition of their attendance.  The
following incident willillustrate the above remarks:
At a place called Road, by a peculiarity in
the arrangement of his work with his colleagues, he had not preached until the second
quarter of the year.  But few had attended
the preaching of those who had preceded him.
It was considered an unpromising field for the
gospel seed.  When it was rumoured, that a
"boy" was to preach in the Methodist chapel, the young people came to hear in such
numbers that they filled the house almost to
the entire exclusion of the older members of
the community.  While he preached great solemnity pervaded the assembly.  After the
sermon the preacher read the hymn, beginning-'Vain, delusive world, adieu!
With all thy creature good;
Only Jesus I pursue,
Who bought me with his blood."
He then sang it with a clear, melodious voice,
with which he was then favoured.  The congregation were deeply affected.  That night,
and the next morning, thirteen persons, young
men and women, came to him, earnestly asking for instruction.  The spirit of inquiry




A IREMINISCENCE OF THAT SERMON.   69
spread among the elder people, and a general
revival prevailed from  that time, through the
vicinity.  Some of the fruit of this sermon
was seen after many days.  Tif-y years after,
while Dr. Clarke was visiting a son at Frome,
just before preaching, a man of gray hairs entered the  room  where he was sitting.   He
stood in astonishment, mingled with a respectful timidity before the venerable Dr. Clarke.
C Gan it be possible," he said, " that this is'the tidy boy' who preached  at Road, fifty
years ago?"   He then proceeded in a blunt,
but honest way, to speak of his conviction under the sermon which we have noticed above;
of his membership of the Methodist society
from  that time, and his present joy at meeting again, after so long ani interval, the instrument of his salvation.
Mr. Clarke's constant  companion  at the
coimmencement, as well as later in his ministry, was a pocket Bible.  An item of the history  of the  one used on his first circuit is
worthy of a passing notice, for the facts it reveals.  After his death, it was rescued by a
friend of Dr. Clarke's from  an old  rag-andiron shop, for twelve cents.  The margin was
marked, indicating the chapters read in his devotional exercises, and the texts from which he
preached.  The latter were scattered through
nearly all the books of the Old and New Testaments, indicating that they were selected as
they struck his mind in the course of a conse



70           LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
cutive reading.  They are, uniformly, such portions of the word of God  as would be readily
understood  by  men  of  plain  understanding,
making complete  sense of themselves, and apply, generally, to the daily experience of Scriptural holiness.   We present them   below, for
such  as may be interested  to  examine them.*
On the title-page, in Mr. Clarke's hand-writing,
was Luther's motto, in  Latin,-t which  may be
read-" To  have prayed well, is to have studied well."
During this year he read Mr. Wesley's tract
against the use of tea and coffee.  I-le resolved
not to taste either again until he could answer
the arguments.   As he kept his resolution of
abstinence from   their use until his death, we
conclude he never found an answer with which
he was satisfied, or had so overcome the habit
as to be unwilling to resume it. The reader is
perhaps aware that " taking  tea" in  England
includes, as almost a  matter of course, something  like a social visit.   Therefore  he saved,
he thinks, several years of precious time in declining invitations to tea, by the very conve* Gen. i. 27; xxviii. 15. Lev. xix. 17. Num. vi. 23-27; x.29;
xiv. 2t; xxiii. 10; xxxv. 27, 28. Deut. iv. 9; xi. 13; xxx. 19.
I Sam. 9, part of verse 27, "Stand thou," &c.; xii. 23, 24, 25.
2 Kings iv. 26; v. 12; xvii. 36. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Ezra ix. 8. Job
xxiii. 10. Ps. i., whole; v. 11; ix. 9, 10; xxv. 1-5; xxxiv. 16-10; xxxvii. 39; lvi. 13. Isa. ix. 6; xxii. 20, to the end;
i. 14; ii. 7, 8, 9, 10. Jer. xvii. 7, 8; xxxi. 9, 18-19. Ezra
xi. 16-21; xiv. 14-20, Dan. vii. 13, 14. Micah ii. 10; Matt
iii. 10, 12; v. 3; v. 16, 25; vi. 9-13, &c., &c.
Bn "Bene orasse, est bene studuisse."




ATTENDS CONFERENCE AT BRISTOL.   71
nient and satisfactory excuse, "I never take
tea."  Whatever the reader may think of this
item of self-denial, he will mark the time-saving study evinced in the resolution.
In the summer of 1783 Mr. Clarke left his
field of labour, and attended the Conference in
Bristol.
He was at this conference admitted, in full,
to the office of the ministry, without having
served the usual length of time on trial.




T72           LIFE  OF ADAM  CLARKE,
CHAPTER VII.
TOILS, PRIVATIONS AND SUCCESS.
Removes to the Norwich circuit —Privations-Damp beds —
Coarse fare-Small salary-An inhospitable reception-The
benefit of keeping the Sabbath holy —An incident-The Sabbath breaker warned —Success, his support-An illustration,
the pioneer of our "Great West"-Remarkable answer to
prayer-Removes to the St. Anstell circuit-Two persecutors disarmed Mr. Clarke's popularity as a preacher-The
conversion of the celebrated Samuel Drew-His remarks
concerning Clarke-Preaches to the quarrymen-Preaching
refused at Trego-The manner of prosecuting his stuies —
Mr. Clarke and the shoemaker-Incessant labour —An opposer foiled-A timely loan of Kennicott's Hebrew Bible.
MR. CLARIE'S next field of labour was lthe
Norwich circuit, including  twenty-two preaching places. It lay in the east part of England, having its head quarters at Norwich City.
There were three preachers beside himself to
perform  the labour, one of whom  was Richard
Whatcoat, subsequently one of the  two superintendents or bishops appointed  by Mr. Wesley for the Methodist Episcopal Church in  the
United States. Once a month, every appointment was visited by  each  minister, requiring
two  hundred  and  sixty miles travel.   When
they were going from one preaching place to
another, which was nearly all the time, they
were, with  few  exceptions, entertained  kindly




PRIVATIONS.               73
by the people; but when in the city, they
boarded with the family who lived in "the
preachers' house," and the steward paid (weekly) the expense, according to the number of
meals which were eaten. As there was but one
horse for the four preachers, they managed to
divide his services between them; so that Mr.
Clarke walked over much of his field of labour,
carrying his saddle-bags, containing his few
personal effects.  But this was not the worst
of the inconvenience under which he laboured.
The people to whom he ministered being generally in the humblest walks of life, the entertainment he received, though the best his host
had to offer, was often such as to expose his
health and life. The winter was an unusually
cold one, and the mere cabins-sometimes outbuildings-in which he slept, afforded him insufficient protection from the cold.  The beds
were sometimes damp or poorly supplied with
coverings.  So open were many of the places
in which he lodged, that he carried with him
coarse paper, with a hammer and chisel, to fill
up, in a measure, the apertures. The people
themselves were scantily supplied with poor
fuel, so that he often retired to his sleepingroom cold; slept with a part of his wearing apparel on, and rose cold.  The food was not
only of the coarsest kind, but often scarcely
sufficient in quantity to support nature; but in
kind and quantity it was such as the donors had,
and it was freely given.  The allowance, by
7




74        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
the regulations of Mr. Wesley's connection,
was, at that time, twelve pounds sterling a'
year, or about $60, besides the mere article of
food.  From this the preacher purchased his
clothes, and paid his incidental expenses.  Out
of this small sum  each preacher, when in
health, paid a yearly portion, as a common
provision for sickness.
Among the outbreaking sins which he was
called to oppose, none was more notorious
than  Sabbath-breaking.  Even some of the
members of the society greatly afflicted him by
their loose notion and practice concerning their
duty on this holy day.  This sin he rebuked
with his characteristic faithfulness, and his efforts were blessed, in several instances, with
success.  We present one example:
A miller, who ground on the Sabbath, attended the preaching.  He at first became uneasy under the light he received concerning
this sin.  Soon he told his customers to call on
Saturday, as he should not grind on the Sabbath.  At this they laughed, and came as
usual on the Lord's day; but they found him
true to his purpose.  They prophesied the ruin
of his business, and assisted in fulfilling their
prediction, by ceasing to patronize him.  But
soon one came back, then another, until most
of his old customers returned, and many new
ones; and he remarked to Mr. Clarke, "I am a
thousand pounds richer than before I kept the
Sabbath."




THE SABBATH-BREAKER WARNED.   75
Another incident, which occurred, in part,
under his observation, gives its warning to the
Sabbath-breaker.  A boy, son of the member
with whom Mr. Clarke was then stopping, went
out with two others, on Sabbath morning, with
their guns. In endeavouring to get through a
hedge, the boy of whom we have spoken having reached the opposite side, took hold with
his mouth of the gun which the other held as
he passed it through; it went off, and killed the
latter, almost instantly.  The son of the pious
parent was so distressed that, in his distraction of mind, he endeavoured to drown himself.
But he had been warned, for it was only the
previous week that Mr. Clarke was writing the
names of members of the society, to write
them on tickets of admission to the love-feast,
containing each a passage of Scripture. This
boy, standing at the writing-desk, took up and
read the one which contained the words, "Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy."
While toiling for the religious benefit of the
people Mr. Clarke often laboured with his
hands for them, in little acts of kindness,
which, though unimportant in themselves, gave
him access to their hearts. His sentiment was,
" Be ashamed of nothing by which men's souls
may be benefited."
But while we have endeavoured to give a
faithful picture of Mr. Clarke's privations and
toil in his Master's service for the poor and
neglected, let not the reader understand that




76        LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
there were no circumstances to comfort and
encourage him.  Mr. Clarke found many, to
whom he was the voice of God.  While the
word comforted them, they blessed the messenger.  The lowly lot of those for whose
souls but little interest had been taken, and
to whom religion came as the only gleam of
light in earth's pilgrimage, as well as their
only hope of heaven,-was so elevated by such
labours as he bestowed, that they became
4'rich indeed."  To look upon this change,
wrought by grace, inspired in his heart gratitude and love.  So the pioneer in our Western
country enters the forest, and there is no shelter for him or his children.  The grounds are
not cleared for planting, nor are the pathways
opened for him to walk.  But the brave pioneer toils on, nothing daunted.  What has
cheered him?  Look now, on every side, upon
that recent wilderness.  There are comfortable
habitations all around.  Fields wave with the
ripening grain.  The village church, and the
village school-house are near.  These are, in
part, his reward, and the hope of this made
him happy in his privations.
Occasionally, Mr. Clarke formed acquaintance with those in the higher walks of life;
and from  these he obtained, besides much
religious edification, the loan of books from
their libraries, which to him was a very great
favour.
Having laboured about one year in the Nor



REMOVES TO ST. ANSTELL CIRCUIT.   77
wich circuit, Mr. Clarke received notice, August Tth, (1784,) of his appointment to St.
Anstell circuit, included mostly in the county
of Cornwall. To reach St. Anstell required a
journey of four hundred miles. To defray his
expenses about $5 was sent him! HIe started
immediately on horseback.  A penny loaf sufficed for his own daily sustenance, and his scantily supplied purse was made to provide for his
horse.  While spending a Sabbath in London,
on his route, he, with many of his brethren
then in the city, preached in the open air. A
circumstance occurred during his sermon, illustrating both the providence of God, in protecting his servants, and the character of the times
of which we are writing.
Some years after the present period of our
biography, a zealous and useful preacher addressed Mr. Clarke in the following manner:
" Do you recollect preaching in Moorfields,
London, during the Conference of 1784?"
"I do, distinctly," was the reply.
" Well, I was there, with my brother, andwe had agreed to pull you down after you had
commenced preaching, and ill-treat you.  A
former sermon of your's had reproved us, and
we were provoked that a boy, such as you appeared to be, should teach us.  As you commenced, I approached on one side, and my brother on the other.  Strangely enough to us,
each seemed reluctant to begin.  I beckoned
to him to commence the attack, and he gave
7*




78        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
the same sign to me.  As the sermon proceeded, we were both disarmed of our resentment.  1 became deeply convicted, sought, and
obtained pardon of sin through Christ, and am
now striving to preach the gospel."
Such was some of the fruit of the seed sown
on his journey to his new field of labour.
The  St. Anstell circuit contained  forty
preaching places, each to be visited monthly.
The labour was great, but the Holy Spirit was
with the preachers and people-a general awakening commenced immediately-great crowds
flocked to hear the word, so that the preachers
were obliged, in many cases, to abandon the
chapels, and preach in the open air.  Several persons who subsequently became known
to fame, were the subjects of this gracious
work; among whom  was Samuel Drew, who
became a subject of renewing grace through
the labours of Mr. Clarke, and an intimate
friend until his death, which took place nearly
at the same time with Dr. Clarke's.  Drew
was one of nature's prodigies.  Though following the occupation of a shoemaker, his
name became known throughout Europe as
the author of works on the "Immateriality
and Immortality of the Soul," "' The Identity
and  Resurrection  of  the  Human  Body,"
and several others.  THis early conversion was
doubtless productive of great good to the cause
of religion.
Mr. Drew has left the following notice of




DREW'S REMARKS OF ADAM CLARKE.  79
1Mr. Clarke's public labours on the St. Anstell
circuit:
"Multitudes," he remarks, " who scarcely
ever visited the Methodist chapels on any other
occasion, flocked to hear Mr. Clarke, and, at
times, the places were so thronged that it was
with difficulty he could urge his way through
the concentrated mass.  One instance of this
fell under the writer's notice. It was at the
town of St. Anstell.  The room was so completely filled, that he was obliged to enter
through the window, and literally creep on
his hands and knees over the heads and shoulders of the people, to reach the pulpit.  This
tide of popularity continued to follow him without any abatement."
Although the regular appointments required
one sermon every day and an additional one
every third day, yet Mr. Clarke sought other
places to win the neglected to Christ. Observing a slate quarry on his route, which employed a large number of men who were allowed
one hour for dinner, he invited them to devote
half of that time to listening to a sermon.
This invitation  they readily accepted, and,
thenceforth, he ministered to them, monthly,
while on the circuit, though it was so much
taken from  his already very limited time for
studies  which  he  passionately  loved.  He
seems to have adopted the maxim of another
great and good man, i. e. "Study is a good
thing, but saving souls is better."




80        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
At a place called Trego, his well-intended
effort to do the people good did not receive a
kind response.  He was directed by his senior
preacher to a farm-house, as a point to gather
a congregation.  He arrived at the place toward evening, weary and hungry.  The husband being absent, the lady of the house set
before him  a little coarse fare, and bid him
welcome.  But the head of the family soon
came in, and, in a harsh manner, ordered him
away.  HIe would have none of his preaching,
nor would he entertain him  for the night,
though the wayfaring man had no place of
rest, without another exhausting ride, which
would carry him to a late hour of the night.
Yielding to the necessity of his situation, Mr.
Clarke re-saddled his horse, mounted, and addressed the man in the following strain: "Sir,
remember a minister of Christ came to your
door with the message of salvation to you, to
your family, and to your neighbours.  But
you refused his message, and thrust him from
the hospitalities of your house.  Now, as my
Master bid his ministers do on a like occasion,
I wipe off the dust of my feet, as a testimony
against you." So saying, he took his feet, one
after the another, from the stirrups, and deliberately wiped off the dust from them, and
then slowly rode away.
Whatever may be thought of this proceeding on the part of Mr. Clarke, it is stated as a
fact, that ruin came upon the man's affairs




MANNER OF PROSECUTING STUDIES.  81
shortly; his family became corrupt and were
scattered, and the man himself sank into the
grave soon after, deprived of the farm from
which he drove the messenger of peace. It is
easy to suppose that such inhospitality and
meanness were connected with other and equally offensive traits, which would naturally issue
in the loss of credit and character, and in
final disgrace and ruin, independently of any
malediction.
The reader will wish to know how and to
what extent, Mr. Clarke prosecuted his studies
amidst these incessant public labours.  He
commenced at this time the study of geology and
mineralogy, with text-book in hand on horseback, and a hammer in his saddle-bags.  He
dismounted at such localities as promised specimens of special interest, and, having broken
a few, observed the geology of the location,
and laid up the facts in his mind, he remounted, and'in a few hours, (perhaps moments,) was delivering with freedom of utterance, clearness of thought, and divine assistance, the message of that God to man, whose
wonders in nature had stimulated his faith and
love.
Chemistry was studied in the same practical
way.  Moments of time were saved, while he
was in the city, and spent in the laboratory of a
friend, performing experiments, especially those
concerning the process of refining silver, having in his mind, among other things, references




82         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
to that process in the illustrations of Scripture.
The reading necessary to such experiments was
performed in the way, while going round his
circuit.
Besides some ability in practical science,thus early exhibited, there will be frequent occasion, in the course of this narrative, to show
that Mr. Clarke possessed considerable mechanical ingenuity, combined with close observation of all the mechanical operations going on about him.  The following incident will
illustrate this remark:
Having, while on his circuit, called upon
one of the craft" to make him  a pair of
shoes; he gave particular orders concerning
their shape, in order to secure a good fit, for,
to so great a pedestrian, shoes, he thought,
had greater need to be made to suit the foot
than to please the eye. They were made, and,
when called for, the following conversation
took place:
Mir. Clarke-Looking at the shoes, " They
will not fit."
Sh/oemaker. "How do you know that; you
have not tried them on?"
Mr.. " By my eye; it will not deceive me
in this matter."
Shloemaker. " I defy any man to tell by the
eye that a shoe will not fit, when it has been
made, as these have, according to order and
by the measure."
Z/Mr. ( 6   "I will try to put it on to convince




MR. CLARKE AND THE SHOEMAKER.  88
you of your error." The attempt to put it on
was made without success. He then pointed out
the difficulty, saying, " You should have taken
a little out on the instep, on this side" (placing
his finger on the part) "to have relieved the
other."  Honest Crispin saw it at once, and
exclaimed, earnestly, "Ay, I have found you
out-I have found you out-you are a shoemaker.  None but a shoemaker would have
observed this."
"But he might as well have called me a
watchmaker," said Mr. Clarke, when, in a humorous mood, he was telling this incident to a
friend, "because I- took my watch to pieces,
and cleaned it, as I did at one time; or a tinker,
because I mended the bellows, which I found
out of order at the preacher's house."
Very much of Mr. Clarke's learning, which
he brought to an excellent account in illustrating Bible truth, was the knowledge (as we
say familiarly sometimes) of men and things.
He made his practical labour in science and
mechanics, as well as his observation of such
pursuits, a source of healthy recreation from
more exhausting toil.  But, notwithstanding
such precaution, and the favourable influence
of a naturally hopeful mind and a constant
flow of cheerful spirits, his health declined.
Indeed, preaching as he did, out of doors every
day, in all weather, through the whole season
of hot and cold, once or twice each day,
and frequently four sermons on the Sabbath,




84        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
must destroy any constitution not to take into
the  account his determined  application to
study, which filled up every moment that could
be seized for that purpose, between four o'clock
in the morning and ten at night. His removal
at the end of a year from the St. Anstell circuit to the Plymouth Dock circuit, which now
took place, was no doubt favourable, in some
degree, to his health, in the change of labour
which it secured, though it did not relax its intensity.
The same popularity, attracting immense
crowds-the same divine blessing attending
upon the word preached-the same providential care exercised over him, and the same application to study, characterized this part of
Mr. Clarke's history-as were so remarkable
in his previous field; and the reader will not
be surprised that we add, the same weakness
of body followed him.  We will give a few
illustrations of some of these items, and hasten
on with our narrative.
Having an appointment to preach in Dock,
at five o'clock in the  morning, the  year
through, he went about with a lantern, in the
dark winter mornings, to awaken those who
he thought should attend the preaching.
He was preaching out of doors near a haystack.  A man, whom the truth had provoked,
came with his pockets full of eggs, to hurl at
the preacher.  His movements were observed
by a friend, with a determination to interfere,




AN OPPOSER FOILED.             85
If necessary. The persecutor took a side position, and soon, taking an egg from his pocket,
lifted his hand, and squared himself for the
attack.  But a word arrested his attention,
and he let his hand drop.  Again it was lifted
to throw  the egg, and again he looked-listened-was arrested by the word, and dropped
his arm.  Thus he was foiled several times in
his purpose. He then began to hear with deep
attention.  Seriousness sat upon his countenance, and he stole nearer and nearer, as he
drank in the word.  His eye soon became
fixed and the tears flowed freely.  Involuntarily, not knowing that he was watched, his
hand stole into his pocket, and taking one egg
after another, he dropped the whole on the
ground.  The man received lasting good.
A friend lent him " Chambers's Encyclopsedia."  This was to him a library of itself.  It
enabled him greatly to enlarge the range of
his general knowledge, as well as to enter upon
some new branches of study. But the loan, by
a sister of the celebrated Dr. Kennicott, of a
copy of her brother's edition of the Hebrew
Bible, was the marked event of this period of
his advancement as a scholar. It was now just
published, and this loan enabled him to avail
himself of its advantages several years earlier
than he otherwise could have done.  The careful study of this work gave him his first knowledge of Biblical criticism.
Thus far we have here exhibited the charac8




86         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
ter of Mr. Clarke, in which the elements of a
popular preacher, the traits of a hard student,
the zeal of a devoted Christian, and the consecrated ambition of a mind of no common power,
are plainly seen. A somewhat different sphere
of action will enable us to view his character,
in the next chapter, in a still clearer light.
\'^fi&~Th \II1,^'    ^ ~~




SENT  TO  THE  NORMAN  ISLES.                87
CHAPTER VIII.
MISSIONARY  LABOUR.
Sent to the Norman Isles-Commences preaching at St. ITellier's, in Jersey-An escape from a mob-Another mobShameful conduct of a magistrate-The truth triumphs —lis
love for souls-Visit to the Island of Alderney-A primitive
introduction-His cordial reception at Alderney —Conduct
of the "(gentry"-Instability of popular favour —"A brand
plucked from the burning"-Mr. Wesley's visit to the Norman Isles-Mr. Clarke's marriage to Miss Mary Cooke —Opposition from Miss Cooke's mother-Mr. 0larke's subsequent
family-Cleanliness next to godliness; an incident-The
reader introduced to Mr. Clarke's study-His Polyglot Bible
-The extraordinary way in which it was obtained-Illhealth.
HE  who purposes to  do  the greatest possible amount of good to his fellow-men, will often
find himself called, in the providence of God,
to labour for that end in a way and in a field
of which he had  no  thought.   So it was with
Adam   Clarke, when  it was proposed  that he
should carry the gospel to the people of the
"Norman Isles."
The  Norman  Isles are a group  lying  near
the French shore of the British Channel, the
principal of which are Guernsey, Jersey, and
Alderney.   They  belong  to  England, though
settled by the French, who retain many of their
own ancient laws.




88         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
Mr. Clarke commenced his labours in St.
Hellier's, in Jersey, November, 1786.  He
hired, for a preaching room, a ware-house, a
little out of town.  Private rooms were also
used for the same purpose, in more central
positions, when they could be obtained.  Most
of the inhabitants, of this place understanding
English, he commenced preaching  at once.
For the benefit of such as understood only
French, he wrote, and read a sermon occasionally, not daring to trust himself to preach extempore in that language, though he conversed
in it readily. The word offered to these islanders was generally well received.  But the common people, contrary to their usual practice,
occasionally became opposers.  At one time
he went with some friends, belonging to the
navy, to preach at a village, which could be
reached by land, when the tide was high, only
by a narrow  beach.  On this pass, a mob of
the "baser sort" were assembled, to prevent
him from passing.  But the tide not being at
its full, he crossed at another place, reached
his appointment, and was nearly through his
sermon before the mob was aware he had
passed.  They now came upon him  with the
fury of madmen.  Many of his navy friends
fled in great haste, leaving him to steim the assault as best he could.  Going boldly out, he
gained an eminence, and harangued them  on
the unreasonableness of injuring a man who
came to do them  good.  The drums, horns,




HIS ESCAPE FROM MOBS.            89
and shouting ceased; and, with the exception
of a few missiles from the outskirts of the multitude, he was permitted to pass peaceably
away.
le had a narrow  escape for his life at
another place.  A  mob assailed the place in
which he was preaching, with almost every
imaginary instrument of noise and of destruction. The congregation instantly hurried away,
excepting the members of the society, consisting of thirteen persons. A pistol was twice
pointed at the  preacher from  the window
within a few feet of the pulpit, and twice
the powder flashed in the pan.  Not finding
a ready entrance, the mob formed the desperate resolution of pulling the house down
upon the heads of the little band.  They had
so far succeeded in sapping its foundation that
it seemed about to fall, when Mr. Clarke said
to his friends, " I will go out to them, trusting
in God; they seek not you, but me."  Finding him resolute in this purpose, a stout young
man answered, "I will go with you."  They
opened the door, and were met by a shower of
stones, but were uninjured.  As if moved by
one impulse, the crowd, who, a moment before
were cursing, shouting, throwing stones at the
house, and threatening to seize the preacher
and cast him into the neighbouring mill-sluice,
now opened a passage-way for him, and in perfect silence allowed him to reach a place of
safety.  The little band followed their pastor,
8*




90         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
"not a dog wagging his tongue."  But no
sooner was the prey escaped than the multitude, as if just aroused firom a dream, broke
forth into fresh violence, attacked the house,
and left it in ruins.  The next Sabbath, nothing daunted, he stood amid the ruins, to offer this persecuting people redemption through.
the blood of atonement.  Again the mob assailed him with great violence.  Gaining an influence over those nearest him, he succeeded in
obtaining a hearing.  Hie then reminded them
that he was alone, unarmed, and a stranger;
that they-a multitude of armed men-were
thus showing their bravery!  He had come to
call them fiom wickedness to the service of the
living God.  He paused, and they began to
shout,' he is a brave fellow,-he shall preach,
and we will hear him."  They did hear him,
and many in that place found "' peace in believing."
Though he had thus triumphed over the
mob, he had one more battle to fight.  It was
with  the magistrate.  As Mr. Clarke was
preaching out of doors the following Sabbath,
near the ruins of his chapel, the magistrate
came against him with a mob, and a drummer
at its head. He seized him, dragged him from
the pulpit, and delivered him to the drummer,
who, with his companion, drove him from town,
beating him  at times with  his drumsticks.
From this misusage he was prostrate for several weeks. But he returned, to assert his




HIS LOVE FOR SOULS.              91
right as an Englishman on English territory,
to preach freely the gospel, and to see his enemies ashamed and silenced, and the word of
God glorified.
While thus in'peril among his own countrymen," the love of souls constrained him to
write as follows to a friend: " Never did I
comprehend what is implied in watching over
souls,  as I do now.  My feelings are so increased, and my concern so deepened to get
eternal souls brought to, and kept with Jesus,
that any backsliding among the people is a
sword to my soul, and gives me some of the
most poignant sensations.  My conscience acquits me of a desire even to write a letter which
is not necessary, or for the glory of God; for
I find that in this, as in all other respects, it
is full time to have done with all trifling."
He says again:' I am determined to conquer
or die.  I have taken this motto  from  the
Greek, and placed it before me on the mantelpiece:' Stand thou as a beaten anvil to tho
stroke; for it is the property of a good warrior
to be flayed alive, and yet to conquer. "
In the spirit above indicated, he sought new
fields of labour among the surrounding islands.
That of Aldernev was at this time reported to
be without the eicient preaching of the gospel.  There he purposed to offer the word of
life.  This intention having become public, it
was rumoured that the governor of Alderney
had threatened to prohibit his landing, and, in




92        LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
case he found him  there, to transport him, a
close prisoner, to a small island near, on which
was a light-house only.  In consequence of
this report, the captains of vessels sailing for
Alderney refused him  a passage, and it was
not until after much watching  and waiting
that he succeeded in obtaining one. No one
had invited him to the island. Not one of its
inhabitants were known to him.  The words
of our Lord to his disciples, when sent to the
" lost sheep of the house of Israel," occurred to
him: " Into whatsoever house ye enter, first say,
Peace be to this house; and in the same house
remain, eating and drinking such things as
they give." Luke x. 5, 7. Thus impressed, he
walked into the town, and when in the midst of
it observed a poor cottage.  Into this he entered, with a "peace be this house."  To the
occupants, an old gentleman and lady, he told
the purpose for which he had came to the
island.  They bade him  welcome, set before
him a portion of their homely fare, pointed to a
little chamber in which he might lodge, and
offered their house for a preaching room. Being thus provided, he requested them to circulate an advertisement for preaching there that
evening.  The news of the stranger's arrival,
and his strange purpose, spread with great rapidity.  Long before the time appointed for
preaching a multitude had run together.  To
them, though fatigued by his voyage, he spake
the words of eternal life.  Having dismissed




CONDUCT OF THE GENTRY.            93
them with a promise to preach a gain the next
evening, he had hardly been in bed tw-enty
minutes before his hostess awoke himn  saying,
that a company of the gentry had come to see
him, and hear what he had to say, and he
must come down and preach to them.  IHe
obeyed the summons immcediactely, and found
the room  quite full agapn.  With xgreat freedom  he showed them, in his exhortation, the
need they had of a Saviour, and invited them
to turn fioom all their sins unto the livincg God.
Great seriousness pervaded the company, and
the Spirit of God was present to awaken.
Before the next evening arrived he was again
preaching to a large company.  While at dinner the next day, the constable came in great
haste, saying, that a number of gentlemen and
ladies were waiting to hear him  preach, and
that one of the governor's large store-rooms, at
a place called the Bray, had been cleared for
that purpose.  He hasted with the messenger,
and found a large number of the gentry, who,
hovever, had admitted enough of the " common
people" to fill the place.  To this attentive
audience he preached froma Prov. xii. 26; showing that the righteous was more excellent than
his ungodly neighbour, however great, rich,
wise, or important that ungodly person might
appear in the sight of men.
The evening appointment was met; and on
the following Sabbath he preached, by invitation, in the Episcopal church; and in the even



94        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
ing again in the governor's store-room.  On
Monday, greatly against the wishes of the people, who said, we need such a preacher and
such preaching, he entered a vessel to return;
but it was stopped by a sand-bar.  So he returned, and preached that evening. The people rejoiced, saying, they hoped the vessel
would remain fast in the sand until the next
spring-tides! Many invitations, urging him to
make their houses his home while he should
remain on the island, came from the gentry;
but he regarded the command, " Go not from
house to house" as binding on him and persisted
in accepting only the poor cottagers' hospitality,
whose invitation was first given.  On Tuesday
the wind and tide favouring, he returned to
Guernsey.
Thus was an effectual door opened for the
work of reformation in Alderney, which resulted in the immediate spread of Scripture
knowledge, and the establishment of flourishing societies.
Such labours and such devotion to the spiritual interests of men were not unblest of the
Hlead of the Church.  The following incident,
among many which might be narrated, will
illustrate this:
Mr. Clarke was preaching at one time at five
o'clock in the morning, when a soldier wandered
into the chapel. Though but partially recovered
from the indulgence of the previous night, he
was so powerfully wrought upon through the




BRAND PLUCKED FROM THE BURNING.  95
word of the Lord, that he went away deeply
convicted, and, after three days of great agony
of mind, was made joyful through faith in
Christ.  His wife, also, was brought to seek
for the pardon of her sins, and both became
worthy members of the society under Mr.
Clarke's pastoral care.  Not long after this
event, when Mr. Clarke was recovering from a
prostrating sickness, this poor, honest-hearted
soldier called to see him.  He sat down by his
pastor's side, with great apparent tenderness
and affection, and, seeing his pale face and
emaciated form, burst into tears.  The love of
this sincere disciple of Christ, whose feet had
been so wonderfully taken from  the slippery
places of sin, was a greater satisfaction to Mr.
Clarke than all the flattering words of unconverted men.  He felt that God spoke to him
approvingly, through this poor man's happy
change and holy life.
MVr. Clarke having been in this missionary
field about eighteen months, was visited by the
director of his labours, under Christ,-the
Rev. John Wesley.  Mr. Wesley, after examining the field and giving directions for its future improvement, returned to England, and
Mr. Clarke with him.  During this visit Mr.
Clarke was married to Miss Mary Cooke,
whose acquaintance he had formed when on
the Bradford circuit.  Miss Cooke belonged to
a much esteemed and pious family, and was
worthy of her distinguished husband.  Her




96         ] LIFE OF ADAM[ CLARKE.
mother —a vidow, and member  of the Episcopal church, —ihad valued hig-hly the labours and
character of Mr. Wesley, and had entertained
him  in her family, when he was visiting that
part of his field of labour.  Through him, his
young helper had shared the same hospitality;
she had learned  to respect the piety and talents of the younger as well as the elder evangelist.  But when his hand was offered to her
daughter she was taken by surprise, and gave
a positive refusal to the proposed union.  Her
only objection seemed to  be, the sphere in
which the suitor moved.  To her, it was like
turning her daughter upon the wide, unhonoured world.
All parties appealed for counsel to fMr. Wesley, whose high respect for parental anuthority led him  to lean to the side of the mother.   With  his  characteristic  decision  he
told Mr. Clarke, that if he married without
the consent of the mother, he could not remain  in the connection.  This was a stra.it
place for the young couple, who were of one
heart in the matter, and who both reverenced
Mr. Wesley.  They first laid the case in special prayer before  God,-for (observed Mr.
Clarke very properly) this was a holy cause,
deeply concerning not only himself but the interests of religion.  Mr. Clarke then made a
particular explanation of the case to Mr. Wesley, which so far convinced him of the rightfulness of his position, that he lent his valua



HIS MARRIA GE, AND FAMILY.          97
ble influence in interceding with Mrs. Cooke,
S1he was induced to retract her positive prohibition, but did not yield her approbation.
Though for many years the mother refused a
maternal recognition of Mr. and Mrs. Clarke,
yet she lived, it is believed, to see, and in some
mea sure to retrieve, her error in this protracted
opposition.
Though out of the order of the narrative
we may state here, that the family of Dr.
Clarke was a numerous and happy one.  He
had twelve children-six sons and six daughters, half of whom (viz. three sons and three
daughters) were living at the time of the Doetor's death.
Mr. Clarke having been married on the 17th
of April, 1788, returned with Mrs. Clarke to
his field of missionary labour.  His excellent
partner entered heartily into his labours, visiting the poor and the sick, and taking charge
of the spiritual interest, in part, of the female
portion of the society with which she was immediately connected.  Having been educated
in a somewhat elevated  station in. life, her
sense of propriety was often offended by the
habits of her female parishioners, whose temporal, as well as religious, interest she sought
with great diligence.  She laboured for their
spiritual good in connection with the improvement of their social habits.  Their want of
cleanliness had been a source of constant annoyance to her husband, and led him, while
9




98        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
sojourning with the kind cottagers during his
visit to the island of Alderney, to find an excuse for cooking his own food, which he did
constantly.'" On one occasion," says a friend,
" Mrs. Clarke took courage to speak to a good
woman, whose children never appeared either
to have had their faces washed, or their hair
combed:' Do you think,'said she, placing the
subject in the least objectionable form, by proposing the question,"' Do you think your children are as orderly
as they might be?' "
"' Indeed they are,' " was the quick reply.
"' Would it not be better to wash them?'"
"' Oh! away with your English pride.' "
"  Does not Mr. Wesley say-that cleanliness is next to godliness?' " answered Mrs.
Clarke, hoping by this reference (as she knew
the woman entertained great respect for him)
to win her over to compliance with more decent
habits.
"'I am thankful,' " she exclaimed in return, "'that is not written in my Bible.'"
Having recorded a sketch of Mr. Clarke's
public labours in these islands, we will turn
our attention to some more private matters,
yet those of no less interest in studying the
history of the man.  We will, if the reader
please, step into his study, and see if it often
has an occupant, and if there is any thing accomplished there, amid such multiplied out-ofdoor labours, and among so poor a people, who




A VISIT TO MR. CLARKE'S STUDY.   99
afford their preacher and his family but poor
accommodations in board and lodging.
We must be sure to enter the study by four
o'clock in the morning, for if we enter latersay, at six o'clock, he may have been there two
hours, and be already away at the call of other
duties.  We must also be there in those fragments of time-by others generally thrown
away as useless-but which are like the golddust that the workman carefully collects, and
in time makes into a solid bar-for these moments we must be on the watch, to know all
the time Adam  Clarke spent in his study.
But at this time his preaching territory was
not so extensive as in England.  He was
mostly in one large town, going occasionally
from island to island, as we have noticed.  The
Hebrew  Bible was found  always at hand.
The Greek Septuagint was now examined, and
compared with the Hebrew, and short notes
made in the margin of a Bible, for that purpose.  He found in the public library of one
of the islands a Bible, containing the text in
nine languages, namely: Hebrew, Samaritan,
Chaldee, Syriac, Latin, Greek, Arabic, Persian, and Ethiopic. He can already read the
Hebrew, Latin, and Greek to some advantage.
As the Samaritan, Chaldee, and Syriac are
easily learned when the Hebrew is mastered,
he has obtained the elementary books of these
languages, and we find him now learning to




100         LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
read them.  The Arabic, Persian, and Ethiopic were acqire  d a tu at  later period.
Having sketched the history of Mr. Clarlke's
public labours and intense study in his present
field, the reader is prepared to learn that he wss
at times, utterly broken down in health.  Indeed, it is wonderful that so prodigal an expenditure of strength left him any constitution for
future service in the church.
So lingering was his disease, that the people
were greatly alarmed, and proclaimed a day of
fasting and prayer, and weeping "to snatch
their poor preacher from the grave." The phyician recommended a return to his old habits,
on an extensive circuit, of much riding, and less
application in the study.  The necessity of this
hastened his final removal to England, where
we shall next follow his history.




A COMPLIMENT FROM  MR. WESLEY.  101
CHAPTER IX.
CONSTANCY OF PURPOSE IN AFFLICTION.
A compliment from Mr. Wesley-The Bristol circuit-" In labours more abundant"-Mrs. Clarke-Mr. Clarke's opinion
of frequent preaching —Visits the sick —An old pilgrim-A
gift from an eccentric minister —Mr. Clarke's library-Removes to Dublin-Personal and family afflictions-Extreme
Destitution-The "Stranger's Friend Society"-Becomes a
student in Dublin Medical College-His knowledge of anatomy-Mr. Clarke at a book auction.
IN July, 1789, Mr. Clarke was appointed to
the Bristol circuit; and to the city of Bristol he
immediately removed his wife and infant son.
The reason given by Mr. Wesley for removing
Mr. Clarke to that place was highly complimentary to the latter. He remarked to a company
of Bristol friends at dinner, soon after conference, "I have a little self-interest in sending
Adam Clarke and his wife among you this year;
I desire their company myself."   Mr. Clarke
being made " Superintendent of the Circuit,"
that is, having  a general oversight over the
character and labours of his colleagues, and
the business of the societies, his labour was
even more arduous than formerly.  His health
continued  exceedingly feeble, yet he  abated
none of his former application to the duties of




102       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
the ministry.  The following records may be
taken in attestation of the truth of this remark: "I am almost wrought out with riding
about, preaching, meeting classes, &c.  Yesterday, I rode from Bath to Bristol, and back again
this morning; met five classes, and preached
once-have yet to preach twice, and meet six
classes: to-morrow morning I return to Bristol, as we begin to meet classes at six in the
morning, and continue, at short intervals, the
whole day-and this continuing until the latter end of the week; but, blessed be God, I
am willing to spend and be spent in such a
work as this.  I am  almost prostrated for the
present. "
On another occasion he makes the following
record:'"At seven in the morning I met the
Bride street society, and gave an exhortation;
then preached at Guinea street; thence to
Westbury, where I preached at two o'clock,
and gave tickets; then back to Bristol-fatigued and wet-preached at five, and met the
society; the next morning at five preached
again, and then rode to Marsh, where, scarcely
able to speak, I preached again, and gave
tickets; from  Marsh, the next morning, back
to Pensford; from  thence to Clutton, through
a severe tempest-wet to the skin; Thursday
to Kingswood-preached at five, and returned
home to assist Mr. Hodgson to hold a watchnight at B3ristol, but was scarcely able to move
for more than an hour after I got home.  I at




"IN LABOURS MORE ABUNDANT."   103
length went to lend some aid, and Bro. Hodgson and I held on, till about eleven o'clock,
when w-e made an apology for retiring, exhorting as nmany as conveniently could to remain,
and sing and pray the new year in.  Though
preaching had begun at seven o'clock, scarcely
a person attempted to go away. We left them,
aiid one or two went to prayer.  Just as I was
passing (to mry bed-room, I thought I would go
to t1e lobby window and take a last view of
t;hem, a;t Awhich 1moment one of the singers was
givilng out a hymn.  I thought the meeting
w\, uld close for lack of persons to pray; I will
go do wn.   ir. Hodgson advised me not to go.
I hesitated a moment, but finding my soul
dra-wn out in pity for the multitude, I sa.id,' I
will go down in the name of the Lord.'  Mr.
Hodgson would.not be left behind.  I had before felt much of the presence of God, but
now it was doubled.  We continued singing
and praying, and exhorting, until half-past
twelve o'clock-during which time strong prayers and tears bore testimony to the present
powver of God.  How excellent is the Lord in
his working! tIow wondrous in his mercy!
Lord, I am thine, save thou me! I am willing
to breathe my last breath in thy work!"
Such were the public labours of Mr. Cllrke
at this time.  Let us turn our attention, for a
moment, to the domestic circle, and see how
his excellent wife was engaged about this time,
and we shall learn how far she sympathized




104        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
with her husband in his zealous efforts to save
souls.  Upon this home-sympathy will depend
much of his animation in the work.  Mrs.
Clarke thus jots down her own engagements:
" I went Friday afternoon with Mr. Wesley to
Kingswood, and did not return until Saturday
afternoon.  He is going again to-day, and my
sister is preparing  to accompany him.  My
dear boy claims my attention. I have a class
to meet at half-past two o'clock, and to see tea
prepared against the return of Mr. Wesley and
his company at four.  Then preaching at five;
society meeting at six; also to see all things
previously in order, and to sit as mistress at
the supper-table at eight.  So much for today.  To-morrow I must see all in order for
an early breakfast-to drive out with Mr.
Wesley-tea again at five-attend preaching
at half-past six, and then lead a class afterwards."
If Adam Clarke was enabled to accomplish
an extraordinary  amount of labour in the
course of his life, he owed this ability, in a
very important degree, to the judicious management and assistance of this excellent woman.
Lest the above records of Mr. Clarke's excessive preaching should provoke some young
man to indiscreet exertions, we will present
Mr. Clarke's opinion, in his old age, of frequent preaching, when the experience of life
had instructed his zeal.  Hle says:' "Ie who
preaches the gospel as he ought, must do it




VISITS TIHE SICK.            105
with his whole strength of body and soul, and
he, who undertakes a labour of this kind thrice
every Lord's day,   willl i libly shorten  his
life by it."
In the above accounts of Mr. Clarke's puFbitc labours no reference is made to pastoral
visits.  These he did not neglect.  He was
especially  attentive  to  the  sick and aged.
There was a lady in Bristol, who had attained
to an extraordinary age.  She was poor, and
infirm, but deeply pious.  With her he often
prayed during his labours in that city; and
some years after he had removed to another
place, he called and inquired after her welfare.
He was shown into the room where she lay,
and, going up to the bed-side, he accosted her
in the frank way in which he had been accustomed to address her.  On hearing his name,
she sprang up in the bed, and, grasping his
hand, poured forth blessings upon him-blessings (he observed, in narrating  the circumstance) which he believed he had never lost,
and he had received hundrleds through her
prayers.  The conversation proceeded.
MI-7. Clarkle.  "At what age are you now,
Mrs. Summerhill?"
MJ1rs. S.  "I am  in my one hundred and
sixth year, and my daughter tiere is in her
seventy-fith."
ir. (.' Though excluded through infirmity, from  the ordinances of God's house, I
trust you realize his sacred presence?"




106       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
Mars. S.'As a substitute for the public
means of grace, I read the Church Service
daily.  I canread the smallest print."
She then read a portion of Scripture without
hesitancy.
Mr. Clarke formed many valuable acquaintances in Bristol, with men of distinction both
in the Church, and in the more common employments of life.  Some of his acquaintances, like
himself, were just rising into notoriety. About
this period he became known to Sir Humphrey
Davy and Robert Southey.
Mr. Henry Moor, a man of prominence at
that time, and subsequently one of the biographers of John Wesley, and an early friend of
Mr. Clarke's, though much his senior, speaks
of a visit to Mr. Clarke, while he was residing
in Bristol.  "He took me," says Mr. Moor,
in his plain, clear, quiet way, "into his study,
and showed me his library, with which I was
greatly astonished, for my own would almost
go into my saddle-bags. He had many choice
books,-very choice,-among the rest a large
Polyglot Bible.  We conversed awhile, and I
said, Brother Clarke, you have a nice collection of books, but what can you do with them?
IHow do you command time to use them? On
our circuits, where we have so much to do, I
find it difficult to keep the doors open that have
been opened; and sufficiently hard to retain
any thing I know of the languages.  How will
~-J  ----,~-IIVI I IV w~t~"9"




REMOVES TO DUBLIN.            107
you do?" Mr. Clarke smiled and said, I1 will
do as well as I can."
Mr. Moor was aware, and therefore told it
in his conversations concerning his early friend,
"That he obtained all his learning by redeeming the time."
In 1790 Mr. Clarke was removed to Dublin,
and made general superintendent, under Mr.
Wesley, of the religious interest of his societies,
in that part of the kingdom. To be so far removed from his religious friends, and his associates in labours and success, was not agreeable
to Mr. Clarke; but he received the appointment as a cross to be borne for Christ's sake.
It proved a year of the severest trial of his
ministry thus far, and, perhaps, we might add,
of any subsequent period.  The state of vital
piety in the  societies was lamentably low.
Division of feeling and bitter controversies existed among the members in Dublin. The prosecution of his public duties was embarrassed
also by severe personal and family afflictions.
On' arriving in the city, the building of the
parsonage was in progress.  He began to occupy it before the plaster was sufficiently dry,
and he was seized consequently with a violent
cold which resulted in a fever. Just previous
to his own  prostration, a lovely and only
daughter was taken from  him  by death; and
while he lay helpless and suffering, Mrs. Clarke,
was taken sick. He says to a friend, " My Mary
and I were both ill of a fever at the same time,




108         LIFE OF ADAMT CLATRKE.
she in one room and I in another;,nd so soon
as I was able to move 8at 14, I crept -upon Imy
hands and knees to her bed-side, to see lhow
she was, for I was too weak to walk.,"
Writing to a member of his family in England, while yet unable to rise from his bed, he
uses the following language respecting the consolations of divine grace in this trying hour:
"You will doubtless wish to know in what
stead my religion stood me in a time of sore
trouble.  I cannot wait to enumerate paxrticulars, nor am I able.  Suffice it to say, God did
not leave my soul a moment.  I was kept
through the whole in such a state of perfect
resignation, that not a, single desire that God
would either remove or lessen the pain took
place in my mind;, from  the beginning until
now.  I could speak of nothing  but mercy.
Jesus vwas my all and in all.  The Lord God
omnipotent reigneth! Blessed, blessed forever
be the name of the Lord I * * —For five months
we have had sore afflictions, but the Lord does
all things well."
A winter of unusual severity was no small
item  added to the inconvenience which  his
family suffered.  His income, when his allowance was fully paid, was a meagre support indeed in such a time, but his people being generally of the poorer class, and being themselves
pressed  by the severity of the season, and
rendered uninterested by their dissensions, he
was left without even the full amount which he




EXTREME DESTITUTION.          109
might claim  from  them.  The recital of one
touching incident will suffice to illustrate this
sad part of our narrative.  It is from  his own
lips, at a subsequent time.'" We were allowed
a little over two dollars a week for board. We
were expected, it is true, to be out a great deal,
but to this dependent state of things, neither
my Mary nor myself could consent.  Fuel was
very dear and the weather was intensely cold.
On  one  occasion, having neither food nor
money, I went to my books, and selecting, with
an aching heart, some which might be better
spared than the rest, I repaired with them to a
bookseller, who gave me twelve dollars for what.
cost me thirty-six; the hunger and the cold. I
would have borne rather than the loss of a.portion of my small library, but that my wife
and children should lack such scanty comfort
as this sacrifice supplied, was a thought not to
be endured for a moment."
These afflictions were felt, in their consequences, during the whole of his year's, residence in Dublin.  The reader must be curious,
therefore, to know what he was able to accomplish in the work of saving souls, and in.
his studies, so diligently pursued heretofore.
Scarcely had he recovered sufficient strength
to be on his feet, before he might have been
seen,' passing along the streets, a lank figure,
with long hair, blue coat, and a cocked hat,
appearing to see no man as he passed on his
way, taking long strides, as if measuring the
10




110        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
ground," hastening from chapel to chapel, to
meet the hundreds of souls who waited to hear
the word of life from his lips.
In pity to the many poor of the city who
were uncared for, he was principally instrumental in forming a "Stranger's Friend Society."   Two  features of this  society are
worthy of notice.  The only condition of assistance  was present want.   The members
of the Methodist Society were not to  be.claimants, because other specific  provisions
-were made for them in times of distress.  Mr.'Clarke had the satisfaction of knowing that:this friendly effort for the'" strangers" resulted'in a permanently established society, being in;a high state of prosperity, and patronized by
some of the heads of the English government,.at the time of his death.
To advance his education, he entered him-:self as a student in the Dublin Medical College.  To the science of anatomy he gave
special attention, as he had already done to
geology and astronomy.
By his connection with the college, he formed
the acquaintance of the learned professors, with
one of whom, Dr. Percival, he continued on
terms of intimacy until his death. Such ready
admission of Mr. Clarke into familiar acquaintance, on terms of equality, by contemporary
learned men (a familiarity which his self-respect
and' nice sense of honour forbade him  to seek,)
is an evidence of.their estimate of his ability




DEATH OF MR. WESLEY.            111
and moral worth.  The reader will have occasion to observe that from  this period of Mr.
Clarke's history, honour seemed to seek him to
the end of his life.
Mr. Clarke received, during his severe illness,
a letter of condolence from Mr. Wesley, being
one of the last letters he ever wrote, as that remarkable man passed away from  earth a few
weeks after its date.  His high esteem for Mr.
Clarke's talents and usefulness as a minister
were often expressed in various ways, but most
emphatically, by making him, by his will, one
of the executors of his literary property.  Over
the event of his death, Mr. Clarke mourned, as a
son for his father.
After this year of peculiarly severe affliction,
in which the constancy of his purpose to suffer
as well as to do God's will, was tried as by fire.
Mr. Clarke removed from Dublin to Manchester, his next field of labour.




112          LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
CHAPTER X.
CHANGES AND INCIDENTS.
The death of the Rev. John Wesley-The consequent change in
the government of the societies-The "Deed of Declaration"III health of Mr. Clarke and his family-Death of a little sonAn encouraging incident-A hasty spirit reproved-A storyTotal abstinence-His opinion of the sale of strong drinkPolitical excitements-Removes to Liverpool-An uncomfortable residence-The imprisoned leaf-Mr. Clarke attacked
by two ruffians, and nearly killed —Great success in preaching-Mrs. Clarke's assistance in visiting the sick.
THE Conference at Manchester from  which
Mr. Clarke received his appointment, was the
first after the death of Mr. Wesley.  It was,
therefore, an important era in the history of
the societies which, under the Great Head of the
Church, he had formed.  We have, in another
place, reminded the reader, that, during  the
life of this distinguished man, the whole' connection" was under his superintendence.  After
advising  with  those  whose  position  enabled
them to sit in council with him, he appointed
the preachers their places of labour. By his
direction, therefore, Mr. Clarke  and  his colleagues, had  acted  thus far.  Now  that he
and  his  brother,  Charles  Wesley,  were  no
longer in  the  church on earth, a  new  state




THE DEED OF DECLARATION.         113
of things must at once exist.  The curious
reader, not conversant with this part of the
history of the branch of Christ's church of
which we are speaking, may wish to know by
what authority Mr. Clarke and his companions
in labour, were now removed from place to place,
and may need such information, fully to understand what may follow in this history.
Seven years before his death, Mr. Wesley
drew up what is called a " Deed of Declaration," by which his people were to be governed
after his decease.  This "Deed" conferred the
authority of Mr. Wesley on one hundred of his
preachers, whose names were entered upon it, and
whom he thereby appointed. This authority was
to continue with that number always. When any
vacancies occurred from any cause, those who
remained were to fill them by elections from
the other preachers.  But this authority was
subject to many qualifications and restrictions,
as we shall see.  This "hundred" is called the
" legal hundred," and their name and authority
exists, as Wesley formed them, without any essential alteration, unto this day.  This hundred
then received the power to say where each
preacher should labour. They gave the nomination of the several ministers on the various
circuits, to a committee of representatives of
the people chosen by themselves, and in the
confirmation of these appointments, they allowed
all the preachers to vote with themselves. Thus
it is now, and thus it was essentially when Mr.
10o




114        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
Clarke was sent to Manchester circuit, where
we shall now follow him.
We need hardly inform the reader, that he
commenced his toil in this field in ill health.
He soon suffered a painful bereavement.  His
youngest son, Adam, died in his father's arms
after a sickness of a few hours. The grief occasioned by this bereavement never left Mr.
Clarke.  Whenever, even in old age, this little
one's name was mentioned, or any incident
brought him to mind, his eyes instantly filled
with tears.  His feelings would never allow him
to name another child Adam.
Ever watchful of his own spirit, Mr. Clarke
sought to correct a hasty spirit in any of the
people of his charge.  To one thus sometimes
erring, he     told the following story:Athenodorus had been many years in the
court of Augustus, and being advanced in life,
requested permission of the emperor to retire
into the country, that he might pass the evening of his days in peace and privacy.  On the
wish being granted, he took leave of Augustus
in the following words: " Caesar, I have an advice to give thee.  Whenever thou art angry.
never say or do any thing until thou hast distinctly repeated to thyself the twenty-four letters of the alphabet."  The emperor grasped
his hand.'Athenedorus, thou must stay. I
have still need of thee."
After telling this anecdote, Mr. Clarke addressed his friend in the following strain:



TEMPERANCE.               115
"You will readily perceive that he who suppresses his anger until he has repeated twentyfour letters, is not likely to do or say any thing,
which, from its precipitancy, would cause pain
on calm reflection."  The advice was favourably received, and profitably improved.
Mr. Clarke, from the commencement of his
ministry, for the age and community in which
he lived, took high ground against the use of
intoxicating drinks. Fifty years ago, the time to
which our biography now refers, the use of strong
drinks, even by ministers, was very common.
When Mr. Clarke was in Dublin, the general
prevalence of drunkenness greatly grieved him.
He set his face against it, and, to give his
preaching the greater point, declined the social
wine so universally proffered. For this he was
ridiculed by some, blamed by others, as overscrupulous, and hurting his cause by an ultraposition, and by a few commended as a consistent and sensible man.  Soon after he went to
Manchester, a young married couple came to
him for advice respecting their worldly business.  They purposed, they said, to open a public house.  This, Mr. Clarke knew, involved the
necessity, as then viewed by the public, of selling strong drinks.  " I would die on a dunghill first," was his strong and indignant reply.
Amidst Mr. Clarke's labours and success on
the Manchester circuit, he met with serious and
discouraging obstacles.  The dreadful civil convulsions which were breaking down all the an



116        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
cient forms of society in France, were producing great excitements in England.  Men
had few calm  thoughts about religion, amidst
the heated discussions concerning the " divine
right of kings," and "liberty, and the rights
of the people."  Many ministers became partisans in these contentions.  Mr. Clarke, though
decidedly in sympathy with the efforts of the
people for a larger liberty, when sought by proper means, abstained from politics, in his public
ministrations.  He says:-" I kept the minds
of the people occupied, in my preaching, with
the doctrines of the cross. I dwelt everywhere
upon the importance of a pure heart and its
consequent holy conduct, and God blessed the
word."  His motto was that the minister was a
man of one work, and that work was the salvation of the people through the blood of Christ.
After a ministry of two years on the Manchester circuit, Mr. Clarke removed to Liverpool in the summer of 1783. The law of the connection to which Mr. Clarke belonged, allowed
the continuance of a minister in the same field
of labour only three successive years. But at the
time of which we are now writing, few were allowed to remain after two years. Hence Mr.
Clarke's frequent removals. It will be observed
that he returned a second or third time to the
same field. The rule, however, was subsequently
made to forbid the return of a preacher to the
same circuit, until he had been absent eight
years.




THE IMPRISONED SHAVING.         T17
Though now again residing in a city, we
must not suppose he lived elegantly.  His residence he thus describes:-" The house is small.
The street in which it stands, miserable.  The
neighbourhood, wretchedly poor and miserably
wicked.  So confined is our situation, that a
poor shaving, which happened to be carried by
a high wind into our yard, was kept prisoner
there nearly six weeks, unable to effect its
escape.  I watched that shaving from day to
day.  Sometimes it would rise a little, and
move from one spot to another, by favour of an
eddy of the air.  On one occasion, as by a
strong and desperate effort, it rose about a yard,
but, alas! dropped again. At length I set the poor
captive at liberty." To the credit of his peoople,
this uncomfortable position he was not required
to occupy many months.  While he was away,
on the duties of his circuit, they removed his
family to one of the most healthy, desirable
parts of Liverpool.  The grateful feelings that
attended his surprise, when, on returning, he
found his wife and family cheerfully and conveniently settled in their new home, were long
cherished.
Soon after he commenced his labours in Liverpool, his life was nearly sacrificed to papal bigotry.  He was returning from preaching one
evening with his brother, Tracy Clarke, when
suddenly he was felled to the ground by a stone
striking him upon the head.  H-e bled profusely,
and was carried to his family, pale, fainting,




118       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
and besmeared with blood.  He lay between
life and death for nearly a month. The wretched
man who committed the crime, on being arrested, confessed that he was a Roman Catholic,
and that he was moved to this act of violence,
solely because he had chanced to step into the
chapel and heard him preach  the Protestant
doctrine, though no allusion had been made to
his own faith.
Having recovered from  this prostration, he
renewed his exertions, the Lord's blessing attending them.  He says in a letter dated Sept.
13, 1793:-" Upon the commencement of my
preaching here, the Lord began to workcrowds attended.  Such times of refreshing
from his presence I never saw. Should I die
to-morrow, I shall praise God to all eternity,
that I lived to the present time.  The labour is
severe. Nine or ten times a week, we have to
preach, but God carries on his work, and this is
enough.  My soul lies at his feet.  He has graciously renewed and enlarged my commission.
All is happiness and prosperity.  We have a
most blessed work; numbers are added, and
multitudes are built up on our most holy faith.
Such a year as this I never knew. All ranks and
conditions come to hear us.  The presence of
God is with us:-his glory dwells in our land,
and the shout of a king is in our camp."
On one occasion three deists came to hear
Mr. Clarke.  He was dwelling upon the plan
of salvation through Christ, his favourite topic.




MRS. CLARKE VISITS THE SICK.   119
He reasoned upon the stability of its foundation,
the preciousness of its promises, and the exceeding love of Him who had purchased it by his blood,
until his soul glowed with the inspiration of his
theme. The deists listened, were first interested, then deeply affected, and finally became
supplicants for that salvation they had, until
this moment, derided.  One of them, with his
wife, an accomplished and influential woman,
united with the society to which Mr. Clarke
ministered.  So the word of God was glorified.
While thus preaching, Mr. Clarke employed
several hours each day in visiting the sick and
distressed members of the society.  In the
evening he recounted to his wife the more especial claims some had upon female care; and,
during the next day, she followed up his pastoral visits, as well as attended to her class.
Their children were numerous and very young,
and Mrs. Clarke devoted herself to their nursery, discipline, and their juvenile recreations.
General visiting was thus prevented, though
both were keenly alive to the enjoyments of
the social circle.
Thus, with the co-operation of his excellent
wife, did Mr. Clarke do all the work of a gospel minister,-preaching  the word with all
faithfulness, and visiting from house to house.
How diligently he applied himself in his study
during this period, will soon appear.




120          LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
CHAPTER XI.
THE PULPIT AND  THE FAMILY.
Remnoval to London-Commencement of the Commentary —
Pastoral labour-Frequent and long walks-Mr. Clarke's
preaching-A pulpit scene-A family picture-Anotherglance
at Mr. Clarke at home —The conversion of Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth-A tract on "The Use and Abuse of Tobacco"Removal to Bristol circuit, 1798-Publishes "Sturm's Reflections" and other works-Removes to Liverpool, 1801Feelings at the age of forty-The conversion of a distinguished scholar-Painful sickness-Induced by too much labour-A visit to his sick room-Renews his labours with
characteristic energy.
MR. CLARKE removed to London  in 1795,
and was continued in the field of labour (which
included that city and the adjoining country)
for three years. At this period he became settled in his purpose to write a commentary on
the Old and New Testaments, and to make all
his  studies  bear upon  that  enterprise.  He
commenced anew the critical study  of the Bible, and translated every word of the New Testament from the original languages, examining
closely the various readings, and comparing all
with our common version.  This task  he accomplished, in addition to his other duties, in
about one year.
He sought from  every source  every  work




PASTORAL LABOURS.           121
which illustrated the manners, customs, and geography of those countries in which the different books of the Bible were written.  He was
especially diligent in collecting volumes which
were known of the literature of the East,
printed in their original languages.  He devoted his energies of mind to learn to read.
these correctly,
He never allowed his studies to p event
him from fulfilling any obligation in hiM  more
public character.  To save time, he made it
an undeviating habit to return home after
evening preaching.  The distance was sometimes ten miles, which he walked after nine
o'clock, reaching home at midnight, and rising
at his accustomed early hour in the morning.
As he noted down the place where every sermon was preached, and the distance walked to
deliver it, it is by this means estimated that
he travelled, during the three years he was in
London, over twenty-three hundred miles a
year, for the purpose of preaching, besides his
many and sometimes long walks for other purposes.  He is spoken of by contemporaries, as
making a marked appearance, as he started
out on these excursions to deliver the message
of salvation.  His pale countenance, emaciated
form-having not fully recovered his usual
health-his hair worn long, and already nearly
all grey-his long and quick strides —his eye
intently looking forward, showed at once the
hard student and the man earnestly pursuing a
11




122       LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
definite object.  It is mentioned as one of his
eccentricities, that he knew the number of
steps required to walk from his residence to
the chapels in the city.  Perhaps this resulted
from his habit of inquiring into whatever might
be learned.
Having thus viewecl Mr. Clarke on his way
to the house of God, let us enter with him, and
listen to one of his solemn appeals to the people.  The place is Kingswood-the time Sabbath morning. The chapel is very large, and
crowded.  The preacher ascends the pulpit as
if he felt at home there.  His prayer is an
earnest and somewhat familiar pleading with
God for his gracious presence with the people,
and his divine assistance in the ministration of
the word.  He takes for his text Psalm xxxvi.
7, 8, 9:' How  excellent is thy loving kindness, 0 God," &c.  Not a sound is heard, save
that of the speaker's voice, as he describes how
God gives those who turn unto him, "to drink
of the river of his pleasures." At this point
he raises his voice, and with deep emotion
cries out-" Who is miserable? Who is athirst?
Who is willing to be made happy?  Who is
willing to be saved?"  A wretched man in the
congregation, who had long hardened his heart
by a course of uncommon wickedness, at this
moment cries out aloud, Il am, Lord! I am!
I am!"  A scene of confusion ensues for some
moments, while the man continues to cry in
agony of soul, for God to have mercy upon him.




A SCENE IN HIS FAMILY.         123
The speaker raises his voice again, amid the
commotion, and says: " Listen."  Instantly,
all is quiet again.  "Listen, for I have something more to tell you.  Something for every
soul,-a great, an eternal good.  I am just
going to open to you another stream  of the
river of his pleasures!" After a few more impassioned appeals, many are seen to weep, and
there is heard the subdued cry of the convicted
man amid the otherwise noiseless multitude.
The service closed, the preacher hastens away
to another waiting congregation.
After thus going with Mr. Clarke to witness his public ministrations, let us step into
his family circle. We will seize the moment
when he comes out of his study in the early
part of the evening.  His well-known voice,
saying, " Come all about me!-Corne all about
me!" brings the whole group of his children,
with a joyous shout and a rush, to obtain the
first kiss, or the best seat upon his knee. Look
now! There is one clinging around his neck;
one hanging from each shoulder; one around
his waist; one seated on each foot, and an infant in his arms!  Seven in all, and not a
child-with his merry shout and noisy gleeseems happier than the father, whose face
fairly glows with delight.  The play over,
each kneels at the mother's knee, and repeats
its evening prayers, and then the father carries
them  to bed, and, perhaps, playfully throws
them in.




124       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
Suppose we take a glance at the home of
Mr. Clarke under other circumstances.  We
find him seated in a chair, with one child on
his knee, encircled in an arm,-another in the
cradle, which he is rocking to repose with his
foot,-a book in one hand, which he is attentively reading, and a potato in the other, of
which, to save time, he is making a meal.
Here is parental affection, economy of time,
and moderation in diet, very beautifully exhibited in combination.
We have seen that, in Dublin and Manchester,
Mr. Clarke's desire to make others happy,
extended his exertions beyond his own family
circle, in the formation of the Stranger's Friend
Society.  In London, in connection with seve.
ral benevolent members of the Society of
Friends, he formed an association for the distribution of soup to the suffering poor, in a
time of great scarcity of food.  At one time,
so many were daily distressed by hunger, and
so frequent were their calls at his door that he
taught his children to lay by each a small part
of his accustomed portion of food, and at night
they were made to witness the happiness these
little savings caused the hungry upon whom
they were bestowed.  Thus they were at once
taught to feel for the distressed, and the way
in which they could relieve them; the self-denial by which they purchased their satisfaction,
making it doubly sweet.
We should expect that one so affectionate in




VISIT FROM MR. BUTTERWtORTH.   125
his own family would cherish the memory of
his own parents with the most tender feeling.
Such was the case.-About this period his
father died.  Ever after, while passing the
cemetery in which he was buried, he removed
his hat, observing at the same time, the most
solemn silence, until he had passed the ground.
Let not the young despise this seemingly
unnecessary act. The feeling which prompted
it lay deep in the heart.  My father! My mother! How much meaning in those words to a
person whose heart and mind are properly cultivated!
While Mr. Clarke was labouring on the London circuit, with his usual zeal and faith, God
gave him there also some seals to his ministry.
The following is an instance.
A  Mr. Butterworth, (son of the Rev. John
Butterworth, author of "A Concordance to the
Holy Scriptures,") had married Mrs. Clarke's
younger sister. But to the time of Mr. Clarke's
removal to London, Mrs. Clarke had not seen
her sister since her own marriage,-so slight
had been the intercourse between the families, in
consequence of the mother's displeasure at the
marriage of Mrs. Clarke.  But Mr. Butterworth's good sense now interposed between the
mother's authority and his wife, and he proposed a visit to Mr. Clarke's family with her.
This was carried into effect. A mutual pleasure in the acquaintance succeeded, and Mr.
Butterworth and his wife, who had never yet
11*




126        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
professed saving faith in Christ, went to hear
Mr. Clarke preach one Sabbath morning at
the "City Road Chapel." The following week
they called on Mr. Clarke, and in the evening
Mr. Butterworth walked with him to a, preaching appointment, while his wife remained with
Mrs. Clarke.  When returning, Mr. Butterworth acknowledged that his mind had been
awakened under the Sabbath morning sermon
and inquired what he should do to be saved.
Mr. Clarke engaged in conversation on this interesting topic, pointing him to the cross of
Christ.  When these visiters had  returned
home, Mr. Clarke began to relate to his wife
the state of mind of Mr. Butterworth, and was
agreeably surprised to learn that Mrs. Clarke
had spent the evening in pointing her sister to
the Lamb of God, she having been awakened
under the same sermon.  This intelligent and
excellent couple soon found " peace in believing," became members of the society of which
Mr. Clarke was pastor, and were distinguished
through life for' letting their light shine," in
their holy walk. Mr. Butterworth not only gave
his heart professedly to God, but evinced the
genuineness of that profession by devoting his
fortune to the cause of Christ.  He became
a distinguished patron of the "British and
Foreign Bible Society," and kindred holy enterprises.
After three years' labour in London, Mr.
Clarke removed to Bristol circuit again, in




HIS FIRST LITERARY LABOURS.   127
1798.  About this period he began to be
known as an author, by the publication of the
works which we shall notice in passing.  He
had at various times sent to the press a sermon, or an article for the Wesleyan Magazine,
but now his writings began to assume an important character.  A pamphlet on the "Use
and Abuse of Tobacco," attracted considerable
attention, and ran through several editions.
He remarked to a friend once, in connection
with this work, that both his parents used
tobacco, and he believed his father shortened
his days by it.  When his mother came to
spend the evening of life with him, she continued to take snuff.  He expostulated with
her respecting this bad habit, but kindly and
cautiously, lest he should wound her feelings
without convincing  her judgment.  But his
appeals in reference to health and religion,
caused her to make the effort. After a short
struggle she succeeded, and lived five years
afterward, "preaching gloriously against it."
Mr. Clarke removed to the Bristol Circuit in
1798, and his first literary labour there was to
translate and publish  "Sturm's Reflections."
He thus expresses his feelings on its completion:
"I have finished the last proof of Sturm this
day.  I bless God, I am safely through it at
last, after having spent much time and lost
much, much health in the work.  But it will
live when I am dead; and do good when only
the title-page shall remember me rmore."




128        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
A  little later, he edited and published "A
Bibliographical Dictionary," or an account ofi
the most curious books in the ancient languages,
published in eight volumes.  Then followed
"A  Succinct Account of Polyglot Bibles," a
small work, extracted from the preceding; and
soon after "A  Succinct Account of the Principal Editions of the Greek Testament."
In 1801, soon after these publications, Mr.
Clarke removed to Liverpool.  He was now
about forty years of age.  We are not surprised, in view of his unremitted labour, to
hear him thus speak.  "I was once a young
man without and within: but the outward
young man is gone, though the inward still
continues.  I have only to say, that if my
natural force be abated, my eye grown dim, and
my hair grey,-long-long before the ordinary
time of life, Satan cannot boast that these preternatural failures have taken place in his service, or were ever, either directly or indirectly,
occasioned by it."
Mr. Clarke often formed  an  acquaintance
with men of distinguished learning and talents,
who were not religious.  In his interviews with
them, he did not forget his obligations to them
as a Christian minister, but endeavoured wisely
and faithfully  to win  them  to Christ.  A
curious circumstance gave him an introduction
to Mr. Charles Fox, a distinguished oriental
scholar; and a friendship  was soon formed
which produced important results.  Mr. Clarke




CONVERSION OF A DISTINGUISHED MAN. 129
had received from  a friend a curious stone
brought from the East, containing an inscription in the Persic language.  As he was not
acquainted with Persic, he sought an introduction to Mr. Fox, carried the stone, and began
by his assistance to study Persic.  Mr. Fox
was in heart an infidel.  Mr. Clarke, in their
familiar intercourse, sought frequent occasions
to convince his judgment and win his heart, in
favour of the Christian religion, but without
effect.  In this state of feeling Mr. Clarke removed to the metropolis and Mr. Fox to Bath.
Mr. Clarke wrote him an affectionate Christian epistle. Its spirit, and its frankness, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, touched his friend's
heart.  He yielded to conviction, sought and
obtained the forgiveness of his sins, and continued, till death, (which occurred not long
after,) a consistent Christian.
While in Liverpool the same active spirit for
the promotion of learning animated him  as in
other places. Soon after his arrival in the city,
he projected and formed a "Philological Society."  But he nearly sacrificed his life to his
intense exertions.  He became subject to sudden attacks of illness.
Mrs. Clarke gives the following as the cause
of one of these attacks.  Such an amount of
labour was doubtless well meant; but let none
say that God requires such an expenditure of
health, and exposure of life.
"All this has, I believe, been brought on by




130       LIFE  OF ADAM  CLARKE.
too much labour.  Last evening, to save Mr.
Anderson from coming to Leeds street, through
a deluging rain, Mr. Clarke preached for him,
and met the bands.  Saturday evening he
preached at the Mount.  On Sabbath, at halfpast ten, he preached.  Then met two classes
for tickets, and came home to dinner; preached
again at three o'clock; met two more classes,
and met another, after Mr. Allen had preached
in the evening.  Monday he was visiting the
sick nearly all the forenoon, and preached in
the evening, at six o'clock, at Pitt street, to
about fifteen hundred people. Tuesday evening he preached again, and met another class."
Then followed the terrible night which had
nearly ended his labours and his life together.
After a partial recovery, Mr. Clarke consulted several eminent physicians, who prescribed rest, especially from all mental labour,
and pronounced his life in imminent danger.
We have introduced the above account of
this sickness for two reasons.  First, to warn
the young, especially those beginning, or preparing for a professional life, against a reckless zeal either in the pursuit of knowledge or
immediate usefulness.  There is certainly a
golden mean between a diligent improvement
of time, and a disregard of the laws of our nature.
The second reason for its introduction, is to
take the reader by the hand, and lead him  to
the sick chamber of Mr. Clarke.  We have




A VISIT TO HIS SICK-ROOM.       131
walked with him to the house of God,-we
have heard him  offer "the rivers of God's
pleasures" to others,-will they sustain him in
view of death?  We have seen him happy in
his study, seeking knowledge by which to illustrate the word of God.  Will he be equally so,
if God speaks to him from eternity? We have
watched his joyful emotions, while gathering
about him  his much loved children, or folding
his babes in his arms.  Will his heart not
faint if God intimates that he must leave
them?  We shall see.
Let us draw near to his bed of suffering. We
may hear him say,' I feel myself on the brink of
eternity. I know God cannot err; and my heart
says' I have waited for thy salvation, 0 Lord!'
and,'All the days of my appointed time will I
wait till my change come.' God is merciful, and
I ask no other refuge.  Jesus died, and is alive
again; and because he liveth I shall live also."
After a short pause, we hear him again say, in
a subdued but pleasing tone, "I have from
the beginning laboured in the work, and laboured to improve myself for the work.  I
have neither been an idler nor a busy-body;
and now, standing on the verge of another
world, what have I to boast of, or trust in?  I
exult in nothing but in the eternal, impartial,
and indescribable kindness of the ever-blessed
God; and I trust in nothing but in the infinite merits of the sacrifice of Christ, a ruined
world's Saviour, and the Almighty's fellow.




132       LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
Then what have I to dread?  Nothing. What
have I to expect?  All possible good;-as
much as Christ has purchased, that is, as much
as heaven can dispose.  The Lord is my Shepherd, therefore I shall not want.'  My soul,
looking through every crevice in her ruinous
habitation, sees every thing to hope, and nothing to fear.  Yes,'The work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness,
quietness, and assurance for ever.'  Looking
unto Jesus, I wait the will of the Lord, which
will is, invariably, goodness."
Thus steadfast was the good hope of this
servant of God, who, twenty years before, was
invited by his light-hearted companions to go to
Burnside for the " sport" of hearing a Methodist preacher. Perhaps the decisive course he
then pursued, was the first step in the ways of
wisdom.
Scarcely has he recovered from this sickness, when we find him visiting every day, except Sunday, a friend, ill of a nervous fever.
He waited on him as a nurse, administered religious consolation, and, when he was partially
recovered, presented him with a valuable folio
edition of the Scriptures, saying, "There, I
will load you with the word of God; it has
cost me many a meal, but I would rather live
with Christ's poor and despised ones, and be
banded with them and their religion, than live
in all the splendour of the rich."




Burnside.~~~~~~~ —-------
D. 132. —







HIS  CHRISTIAN  FIDELITY.                  133
CHAPTER XII,
UNSOUGHT HONOURS.
A vein of pleasantry —A delinquent class-member reproved —
The man who was " Rich and a Bachelor"-The erring steward-A valuable cheese-Mr, Clarke outgeneralled-Literary
labours —Honour from  "The Philological Society"-The
death of little Agnes, Mr. Clarke's daughter —lis removal
to London, 1805-His financial accounts kept by Mrs. Clarke
— Multiplied engagements —Made President of the Conference-A committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society
-Labours for the Bible Society-Corresponds with Robert
Morrison-Literary honours from  King's College, Aberdeen
— Other literary distinctions-His feelings in reference to
these honours-Additional publications —Engages in the
"Record Commission"-The use to be made of honours
from men.
THE  following  item   is here  introduced as a
specimen of Mr. Clarke's Christian fidelity.   It
will be recollected by the reader, that we have
said something about " The classes," so often
alluded  to.   The minister having  charge of a
circuit examined  the  list  of  members  of  society quarterly, and those who had attended
these  weekly  religious  gatherings  during  the
quarter, or  were   necessarily  prevented, received a ticket, admitting them  to the religious
festival of the "'Love-feast." as it was called,
and  being  to them   a certificate  of continued
membership.   The custom  is, (for it is now as it
12




134        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
was in Mr. Clarke's day,) for the member receiving the ticket to pay the remainder, if any,
of the sum he had previously agreed to pay towards the maintenance of the ministry.  At
one time Mr. Clarke, with a class-leader, was
examining the leader's record of the attendance of his class, and receiving the payment.
The leader laid down a piece of gold coin, to
be put to a, brother's credit.  Mr. Clarke run
his eye across the line against his name, and
found " absent" marked uniformly against it.' Take the money back," said he to the leader.
" The brother's soul is in danger.  He never
meets.  Return him  the money, and request
him to call upon me."  He looked upon the
money as a bribe to preserve his name upon
the class-paper. In this way, he would soon
become an honorary member, purchasing that
standing with money which others obtained by
attendance upon those means of grace.  Mr.
Clarke's conscience would not allow him to receive such money, though for his own support,
and from the rich.
His reputation became thus established for unyielding integrity, and his decisioniwas sought in
cases of misunderstanding between members of
the church, to such an extent, as to be a serious
tax upon his time. But he seldom refused to
listen to the complaints, and decide the question
between the parties; and his decision generally
closed the dispute. Once one came to him, complaining that a member of Mr. Clarke's congre



THE ERRING STEWARD.           135
gation owed him a large amount for day-labour,
and that the delinquent was a miser and a
bachlelor, but would not pay.  " A miser, and
a bachelor," replied Mr. Clarke, dryly;' two
abominable things.  But call at such a time
on me, and you shall have your money."  The
man was curious to know  how  Mr. Clarke
could give him that assurance; but he called
at the stated time, and received all his due.
Mr. Clarke obtained it simply by his moral influence over the miser.
If the readers are not weary of these incidents, and if they see in them, as we think
they may, illustrations of character, they will
be pleased with two more, before we proceed
with the thread of our narrative.
A steward of one of Mr. Clarke's charges,
in Manchester, was partner in a business firm.
One of their creditors became involved in debt,
beyond his means of paying.  In this condition, the partner of the steward obtained from
the creditor a bill of sale of all his property,
thus leaving all the rest of his creditors wholly
unpaid.  This came to Mr. Clarke's  ears.
When tie stewards met, the erring steward
was in his place.  Mr. Clarke, having consulted his brethren, said to him, "Brother, has
your partner done so and so?" relating the
above circumstance.
"Yes, sir," was the reply.
"Do you approve of it?"
" I see no reason to disapprove of it."




136        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
"Then, sir, your brethren see good reason
why you should not be steward in the church
of God."
The man instantly resigned, and retired,
feeling, of course, sharply reproved; but he
could not complain of the Christian fairness
with which it was done.  He thought of it
over-night, and, in his reflections, the feelings
of the Christian overcame those of the man
of business.  He came the next day to Mr.
Clarke, confessed that his course had been
wrong, and stated that if his partner did not
relinquish the claim  the bill gave them, and
permit the other creditors to come in for equal
shares, he would give up his part of the debt.
His promise and recantation were received; he
was restored to his office, and the cause of religion saved from reproach.
The other story is quite different, but equally
showing the man.  A large cheese was sent to
Mr. Clarke as a present, with an intimation
that the centre would prove the. most interestirg.  The cheese proved to be good, but the
centre valuable, for it contained a bank bill, of
about four hundred and fifty dollars value. But
for some reason, Mr. Clarke seemed to entertain the conviction that the reception of the
money would compromise his ministerial independence; so he returned it to the donor in as
delicate a, manner as possible, saying that his
family pronounced the cheese excellent, but he
must beg to return the bill, as he was resolved




HIS INDUSTRY.             137
not to accept pecuniary gifts. The donor received it, after a little hesitation, purchased
with it a share in a trading vessel, in Mrs.
Clarke's name, which for many years yielded
her a considerable income.
But we must turn to more weighty matters.
Scarcely had Mr. Clarke become settled, when he
invited into his study several young men, who
were striving, in indigent' circumstances, to perfect themselves for the ministry. Between five
and seven o'clock in the morning, he gave
them such assistance in acquiring a knowledge
of Hebrew, as enabled them  to master its
greatest difficulties. Thus did he permit no opportunity to do good to pass unimproved.
He published, while in Manchester, "The
Manners and Customs of the Ancient Israelites."
By the request of its editor, he became a
principal contributor to the' Eclectic Review,"
then just established.  Several works of minor
importance, from his pen, were given to the
public at this time. The Philological Society
of Manchester, of which he had been president,
manifested their esteem for him in a manner
best described by himself in the following letter
to an absent son:-" You remember, my dear
lad, my motto is,'Be diligent, lose no time.'
If I did not act thus, I never should be able to
profit myself or others. During my late absence from home, the Philological Sbciety held
a meeting, not only without my consent, but
12i




138        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
without my knowledge; and what do you think
is the result?  Why, they have got two large
silver cups made, each holding a pint, and beautifully ornamented with a border of oak leaves
round the brim; and they have, in a very
formal manner, presented them to me by two
of the vice-presidents.  They are each finely
engraved with complimentary inscriptions."
While these tokens of respect were encouraging Mr. Clarke amidst his labours, he was
called to pass through a very severe domestic
affliction, in the death of his youngest daughter.
The circumstances of her death are so touching,
and they exhibit so clearly the advantages of
religious instruction in childhood, that they
will be interesting, we are sure, to all our
youthful readers, and suggestive of profitable
reflections to the minds of those more mature,
-especially to Sunday-school teachers and parents.  We extract the account partly from Mr.
Clarke's biography, and partly from that of his
wife, both written, we think, by the pen of the
same affectionate daughter and sister:-" Being
seized with the whooping cough, she had not
strength of constitution sufficient to contend
with the disorder; it fell upon her lungs, and
bowed her down to the grave.  During her
sickness, her parents were chiefly her nurses.
After writing for some time, her father would
go into the room, carry" her about until he was
nearly exhausted, and then return to his labours.  The child was remarkably attached to




DEATH OF LITTLE AGNES.          139
her parents, and though she often expressed
her fears that carrying her so much would
hurt her father, and nursing her so long would
tire her mother, yet the relief both ministered to her in her weakness and pain, and
the beaming of pleasure which displayed itself
in the additional lustre of her eye on these occasions, were eloquent witnesses against the
arguments her tongue framed into words.
" Lovely in her person, she was also peculiarly precocious in mind; she had acquired the
art of reading without any trouble, and possessed a very retentive memory.  Before she
was four years of age, she had learned many
portions of Holy Scripture, and could repeat
numerous hymns.  During her sickness, she
delighted to say these to herself, as she was lying in the lap of her father or mother.  The
study, the pulpit, and the afflicted child, prostrated the remaining strength of Mr. Clarke,
while the yearning  love of the mother was
manifested in every thing which could mitigate the suffering  and exhaustion  of their
afflicted child.  When increased weakness prevented her from kneeling as usual, at her mother's knee, to say her prayers, the distress of
little Agnes was very great, and bursting into
tears,  she  exclaimed:-' Mother, I  cannot
pray!''Yes, my  dear child, you can,' replied her mother.' How?' asked the sobbing
child:'I cannot  kneel  down!''Without
kneeling, my dear Agnes, you can lie still and




140        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
think your prayers, saying them to yourself;
for you know God can see your heart, and hear
what you have not strength to say aloud, as
you used to do.  You often lie there, do you
not, and think of your father and mother, and
talk  to them?'' Yes, I do.'' Well, then,
my dear Agnes, you can do the same in reference to God and your prayers; think of Him
as near you, which He is, and then your heart
can pray to Him as well as if you knelt down.'
" She was lifted into her little cot, which was
beside her parents' bed, and, closing her eyes
and clasping her hands, she remained in this
attitude a few  minutes; then  opening  her
eyes again, she exclaimed with joyful emotion:'Oh, yes, dear mother, I feel that I can pray,'
and she ever afterward continued this silent
posture of prayer.  In the meekness of patience, calmness, and peace, this dear child
yielded up her spirit on the very day she had
completed her fifth year."
We are now' entering upon one of the most
important periods of Mr. Clarke's history.  In
1805, he was once more appointed to labour in
London.  Here he found ample scope for the
exercise of the ability, experience, and ardent
piety of which he was possessed.
The London circuit, at this time, though not
larger in territory than when he laboured in it
before, included more chapels.  From its centre, it extended twelve miles, each way, of
course, being twenty-four in its whole breadth.








(~i~~~y ~oad Ohapel= —.p.I~1




MUCH ASSISTED BY HIS WIFE.    141
Mr. Clarke being appointed the superintendent,
resided near the " City Road Chapel," one of
the most prominent chapels in the Wesleyan
connection. The iron fence which ornaments its
premises so neatly, was put up at Mr. Clarke's
suggestion, and out of respect to his wishes.
From this centre, Mr. Clarke walked to every
part of the circuit, returning every night to his
fimily, both to be with them, and to save the
early morning for himself. Public duties now,
more than ever, accumulated upon his hands,
and would have confused and prostrated a less
systematic and vigorous mind.
To relieve him  of a part of his burden,
Mrs. Clarke kept all the financial accounts
of this extended circuit, with the most rigid
exactness, methodizing every varied item  in
the simplest manner, while, by seeing visitors and every stranger, who would otherwise
have necessarily taken up Mr. Clarke's time,
she saved him from those frequent interruptions
which are equally absorbing of valuable time,
and unfriendly to habits of study.  When from
home, Mrs. Clarke also reported to her husband
the contents of letters received during his absence, and acknowledged herself such as needed
no special reply. Notwithstanding this valuable assistance rendered by his wife, and in spite
of his early rising and scrupulous employment
of every moment, he was almost entirely absent
from  his study.  Mr. Clarke had now become
so prominent a member of the religious body




142        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
with which he was connected, and so much
known to the religious and literary portion of the
community generally, that he was finding the
price, in a measure, of his fame, in the excessive
labour he was expected to perform.  At the
conference of 1806, he was elected its president,
the highest office in the gift of the Wesleyan
connection, being an office conferring great
honour and responsibility, and involving arduous services.  Besides the duties of presiding
officer at the conference session, its term of service extended through the succeeding year, and
required the duty of a general superintendence
of the whole Wesleyan body. By the presisident,"the candidates for full connection in the
travelling ministry were examined in doctrine,
Christian experience, and call to the ministry,
before the conference and the public congregation, and by him  received a solemn pastoral
charge before being invested with the full authority of ministers in that church.
The rules of the conference require, that a
person, after having been president one year,
(the term of the office,) shall not be re-elected
under eight years.  Mr. Clarke, in subsequent
years, was elected a third time to this office,an honour then without a precedent.
The British and Foreign Bible Society was, in
form, organized at the "London Tavern," 2d of
May, 1804, and about three months after its
first anniversary, in 1805, we find Adam Clarke
an efficient member of its committees.  On his




CORRESPONDS WITH MR. MORRISON. 143
first connection with the society, he had charge
of the  foreign  correspondence, but as the
labours of that department increased, he was
relieved by a learned German scholar, and confined his principal services to the oriental department.  Mr. Clarke having remained in
London as long as the ordinary rules of the
Wesleyan Convention allowed, he was about to
remove.  On learning this, the Committee of
the Bible Society addressed to the Conference
a note, requesting that he might be permitted
to remain in London and assist the Society.
By a special act of the Conference the request
was granted.
Few  men  are more generally and more
favourably known to the religious world than
Robert Morrison, the missionary to China of
the London Missionary Society.  Having been
acquainted with Mr. Clarke before he left England, a correspondence was maintained between
them  for many years.  After Mr. Clarke's
connection with the Bible Society commenced,
this intimacy was of great value in prosecuting
his part of its duties.
While Mr. Clarke was thus labouring, in cooperation with the learned and distinguished,-a
self-educated, untitled, itinerant minister,-he
was surprised by the gift, by King's College,
Aberdeen, of the degree of Master of Arts.
This was conferred in the early part of the year
1807, and the next spring the same university
followed it by the highest literary distinction in




144        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
its gift, that of LL.D.  Though these titles
are not very weighty in themselves, at least,
in our country, yet it was an unusual circumstance at this period, for a person in Mr.,
Clarke's sphere to be thus honoured. I-e was,
at different times, made a member of the most
distinguished literary and scientific societies of
his own  country, and of two in America.
Though we must henceforth know him as Doctor Clarke, yet we shall find him  the same
simple, earnest Christian man, as before. At
one time, in social intercourse he remarked,
" With some of the most eminent of the literati
I have an intimate acquaintance, and meet
them frequently.  My connection with reviewers, eminent booksellers, and the members of
the Bristol and Foreign Bible Society, gives
me an opportunity of gaining acquaintances,
and hearing discussions of the most important and instructive kind.  Learning I lovelearned men I prize-with the company of the
great and good I am  often delighted; but infinitely above all these and all other possible
enjoyments, I glory in Christ-in me living
and reigning, and fitting me for heaven!"
In the latter part of the year 1807, while
the full labours of a preacher, and an important part of the duties of a committee of the
Bible Society, were still occupying the large
portion of his time, he found opportunity to
send to the press a work, entitled, " Concise
Views of the Succession of Sacred Literature."




ENGAGES IN THE RECORD COMMISSION. 145
He purposed to add another volume, in the
course of his literary pursuits; but this proved
an exception, a single exception,-so far as we
recollect, to his enterprises of this kind.  He
did not finish it.  But, as if Providence would
in this even favour him, his eldest son, in after
years, completed it.
But we have another record to make, of additional honour, and accompanied, as usual, with
accumulated toil.  In February, 1808, Dr.
Clarke was recommended by the Speaker of
the House of Commons as " a fit person to undertake the department of collecting and arranging those State papers, which might serve
to complete and continue that collection of
state papers, generally called lymer's FEdera," begun nearly a hundred years before.
The secretary of the commission, in addressing
Dr. Clarke to engage his services, remarked
that the work " required the habits of a Christian, a scholar, and a gentleman," and that
"His Majesty's Commission had no doubt of
his qualifications."  With great caution, consulting his brethren in the ministry, and studying the indications of Divine Providence, he
commenced this work, abating at the same
time no pulpit nor Bible Society labour.




146          LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE,
CHAPTER XIII.
THE COMPLETION OF THE COMMENTARY, AND CLOSE
OF LABOUR FOR THE RECORD COMMISSION.
The Arabic Bible and Tartar New Testament published-A
complimentary expression from the Bible Committee-Labours in the Record Commission-His opinion of Hume's
history-A curious item of English history-Dr. Clarke's
opinion of the Papal Church-A  dignified official-Unenriched by his services for the Government. —'he C1om7entary-All his studies made to bear upon that enterprise-its
publication undertaken by Mr. Butterworth-The manner in
which it was written-The deep solicitude which it costHis feelings at its completion-A touching tribute of respect
from his children-An incident, having a relation to the
commentary-Objectors to the work answered kindly.
SOON  after the  connection  of Dr. Clarke
with the Bible Society Committee, the subject
of a new edition of the Arabic Bible came before them, and was warmly advocated by him;
and, finally, upon him devolved much of the
labour of accomplishing the enterprise.   Then
came  the  project of a " Tartar New  Testament."   Of this Dr. Owen, in his History of
the  Society, says:' To  obtain  this  Tartar
New  Testament became a subject of deep  and
lively  interest; the  preparation  of types was
diligently followed up by the Rev. Adam  Clarke,
to whose learned and judicious superintendence




EXPRESSION OF THE BIBLE COMMITTEE. 147
this concern has been implicitly confided.  A
scale of types, constructed by himself, and exe
cuted with singular beauty, was submitted to the
consideration of the committee, and a font was
cast agreeable to the model recommended by
Dr. Clarke, and sanctioned by the approbation
of the president, (Lord Teignmouth, late governor of India,) and other competent judges of
Oriental literature."*
We learn  from  another  source, that so
pleased were the committee with this scale of
types, that it was ordered to be mounted and
varnished, and preserved among the society's
curiosities and treasures.
The laborious services of Dr. Clarke for the
society,-requiring much time, as well as talents and toil, convinced its executive committee
that he ought to have some pecuniary compensation. They, therefore, voted him about four
hundred and fifty dollars, which was delicately
tendered in a complimentary note.  The money,
however, was returned to the treasury, with a
positive refusal of any remuneration.  "To
have done to the cause of God the smallest
service," he said,' was a sufficient reward."
To discharge his duties belonging to the
public records, he visited the British Museum,
the universities, and the public, and many of
the private libraries of England, Scotland, and
- Owen's Hist. of Brit. and For. Bible Society, Vol.., p.
198, English ed




148        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
Ireland.  Records were  examined, and arranged, from the Norman invasion, A. D. 1066,
to the accession of George III., 1760.  Many
of the assistants whom he employed proved incompetent, and some of those who were efficient left him through disgust at the vexations
arising from  the barbarous Latin, in which
many of the manuscripts were written, and
the mutilated  and decayed state of others.
But at this drudgery did Dr. Clarke toil ten
long years, devoting to it, at some periods,
successive days and weeks, and often his hours
from five o'clock till ten in the morning.  The
result was four ponderous volumes, which were
highly satisfactory to his distinguished employers.
The  acquaintance  thus formed with the
sources of the history of the English nation,
suggested the idea to him of writing a history
of England, but his many engagements prevented it.  He once remarked, that Hume, in
the compilation of his history, was careless in
the statement of facts.  Mrs. Clarke was one
evening reading to him from a volume of that
author, when he observed concerning one of
the alleged facts, "I have this day had occasion to examine the documents in which the
truth in that case is contained; and it is as
different from  Hume's statements as if one
should say sixty, and another sixty millions."
He would often, in these evening conversations with his family, bring out many interest



A CURIOUS ITEM OF ENGLISTH HISTORY. 149
ing and curious items, derived from these old,
and nearly forgotten  manuscripts.   On noticing the "i Caltonian Collection," in the British Museum, he observed, that he met with
one record, in which William  the Conqueror,
and several others, signed with a cross(t), instead of their. names.  William's brother being the only one among the latter who signed
his name, he was deemed learned, because he
could write.  Surely these old kings, who have
filled so large a place in history, were less elevated in the true royalty of mind, than the
children of our Sunday-schools!
It may naturally be supposed that duties so
laborious as were involved in the commission,
and requiring so great learning and talents,
would, under the English government, enrich
the commissioned; but he says,   I give up my
salary with my work; I looked for nothing,
and came out of the office unenriched; for I
would in no case hold a sinecure."  On resigning, in consequence of ill health and other
hindrances, he was asked, by the.commissioners, delicately but very meaningly, if they
could do any thing for him-if he had a son to
whom they could be of service.  " Yes," replied
the Doctor, "if you have work for him to do;
but no son of mine shall, with my consent, recieve a salary for which he does not labour."
H-is eldest son was immediately put into the
record office.
During all these ten years of toil in the
13*




150        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
government service, the Commentary, the great
work of his life, was on his hands.  Of this we
will now give a summary account, anticipating,
in a part of it, for the sake of unity of subject,
the time of our narrative.
Amidst Dr. Clarke's numerous other engagements, in sickness and health, from  the dawnings of his manhood, until he saw the last page
in the hands of the printer, he ever kept in mind
this enterprise.  Into other literary engagements he entered, because they were connected
with this.  We shall see from his own account,
that both health and spirits often failed for a
time, but nothing but the entire and continued
loss of health, or of life itself, could shake his
purpose.  Every study and labour of his life,
except perhaps the "Record Committee," was
made subservient to it.  Having now arrived
at a period when the manuscripts were about
ready for the press, the expense of giving it to
the world was beyond his means, and he seems,
for some reason, to have hesitated to present
the responsibility to any publishing house. At
this juncture, his brother-in-law, Joseph Butterworth, offered to assume the whole responsibility.  He issued circulars, and made the contracts, investing in the enterprise a large portion of his fortune.  The first part of the
work appeared in September, 1810.  An edition of eleven thousand copies was immediately
struck off, which did not supply the market.
A.t different periods, for fifteen years, succes



FINISHING THE COMMENTARY.    151
sive portions were sent to the press.  His feel
ings, at the conclusion of this great undertaking, are best given in his own words, taken
from his remarks at the close of Malachi, the
part of the commentary last written.  " In
this arduous labour I have had no assistant,
not even a single week's help from an amanutc
ensis, no person to look for me common places,
or to refer' to an ancient author, to find out the
place, or to transcribe a passage of Latin,
or Greek, or any other language which my
memory had generally recalled, or to verify a
quotation; the help excepted, which I received
in the chronological department from  my own
nephew, Mr. John Edward Clarke; I have
laboured alone for nearly twenty-five years
previously to the work being sent to the press,
and fifteen years have been employed in bringing it through the press to the public; and
thus about forty years of my life have been
consumed; and from  this the reader will at
once perceive that the work, whether well or
ill executed, has not been done in a careless or
precipitate manner, nor have any means within
my reach been neglected, to make it, in every
respect, as far as possible, what the title page
promises, "A  Ielp to the better understanding
of the Sacred Writings."  Thus, through the
merciful help of God, my labour in this field
terminates,-a labour, which, if it were yet to
commence, with the knowledge I now have of
its difficulty, and, in many respects, my inade



152        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
quate means, millions even of the gold of Ophir,
and all the honours that can come from  man,
could not induce me to undertake.  Now it is
finished, I regret not the labour."
The members of his family bore witness to
his solicitude and labour, before his task was
done.  Often, when perplexed with a passage
of Scripture which he wished to interpret, had
they knocked at his study door, and their
knock been unheeded because not noticed, so
absorbed was he in his mental exercise-entering, they have found him on his knees, his pen
and paper lying before him, wrestling with the
"Father of Lights," to send the illuminating
Spirit into his mind. On his knees was the last
sentence of the commentary written,-and in
that humble posture he continued, until he had,
with a heart overflowing with deep emotion, rendered thanks to his Heavenly Father, that his life
and health had been spared, and his sensible
presence given, to bring the work to a close.
Having thus first rendered thanks to God,
he hastened to call his family to participate in
his joy.  Taking his youngest son into the
study he said to him, "This, Joseph, is the
happiest period I have enjoyed for years; I
have put the last hand to my commentary; I
have written the last word of the work; I have
put away the chains which would remind me
of my bondage; and there, I have returned
the deep thanks of a grateful soul to God who
has shown me so great and continued kindness;




A PRESENT FROM HIS CHILDREN.  153
I shall now go into the parlour, tell my good
news to the rest, and enjoy myself for the
day."
The gratitude and sympathy of his children
at this auspicious event, was shown in a very
touching manner.  The parents were invited
to the residence of the two oldest sons.  The
whole family were gathered around a wellspread table.  The dinner being over, an elegant silver vase was brought, covered, and set
at the head of the table.  His eldest son then
arose, and in the name of each and all the
family, presented it to the honoured father.
He was taken entirely by surprise, and for
some moments his emotions were too intense
for utterance.  Rising slowly, and placing his
hands upon this token of his children's love,
he pronounced upon each of them, individually,
his blessing.  He then addressed them  as a
company, in strains of affectionate tenderness,
in the name of their much loved mother and
himself.
The following incidents, having a relation to
the account of the Commentary, illustrate some
characteristics of Dr. Clarke.  A friend, knowing his reluctance to receive money as a gift,
put into his hands twenty-five dollars, intimating that, as he could not himself honour God
by writing an illustration of his Holy Word, he
wished to have a part in such a work, though
written by another, and therefore begged him
to purchase with the money pens and paper




154       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
for the manuscript of his commentary.  The
money was received.  Many years afterward,
when the work was coming from the press, the
doctor sent his friend the comment on Matthew,
reminding him of the circumstance, and adding:
" The money has been applied precisely as you
wished."
As might be expected, the work occasioned
numerous expressions of opinions with regard
to'its merit; by some it was commended, by
others condemned, not always in the kindest,
nor most liberal spirit. These he seldom noticed.  He was opposed, from his mental taste
and religious principles, to controversy. On
one occasion he remarked to a friend:-" Mr.
H-    has been attacking me, finding an abundance of faults with my Commentary, not one of
which he has proved; but my maxim  is, you
know, always to answer such persons kindly,
having reason to believe that by this method
some have not only been softened, but made
ashamed of themselves. I find it not only impossible to please everybody, but that it is
scarcely possible to please anybody.  Woe to
him who writes a Commentary, and consults his
own judgment and consciencein the work! All
hail thou truth of Jehovah! Be thou established forever!'




AN  IRKSOME OFFICE.                155
CHAPTER XIV.
LABOURS MOR1E ABUNDANT.
Elected librarian of the Surrey Institute-Publishes " lHarner-'s
Observations"-Other Publications-A great enterprise projected-Anecdotes of Dr. Clarke's love for the Bible-Second
time president of the conference-Anecdotes of Dr. Clarke
and the tobacco users-Labours for the Wesleyan Missionary
Society-Occasional Sermons-A reproof-Reminiscences —
Dr. Clarke at fifty-five years of age.
WHILE  in London, Dr. Clarke was induced
to stand as a candidate for the office of librarian in the Surrey Institute, which was a public
literary institute of some note.  The office was,
at the time, the subject of bitter, sectarian controversy, and  the popularity of his name was
used, to subdue party violence.  He was elected,
and occupied the position less than a year, and
resigned it in disgust.  He says of its duties:" I have all the books in both libraries to provide;
I have to travel from  shop to shop to examine
books,-to compare the different prices of the
same article, before I purchase; I have lectures,
and the plan of lectures, and even their matter
to arrange; I have to construct the whole machine, and give it its proper momentum  and
direction;-to be incessant in labour, and to
employ all my bibliographical and philosophical




156        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
knowledge in those things; and, as I have taken
them in hand, I shall do them, if God spare my
life."
On leaving the office, he refused to receive a.
penny of the salary which belonged to it. We
infer that the reason was, that party censure
should not have even an unreasonable occasion
to say that he had held the place for personal
profit.  His successor in the institution was the
distinguished Rev. T. H. Horne, author of "An
Introduction to the Critical Study of the Holy
Scriptures."
While the Record Commission and Commentary were yet occupying his mind, Dr.
Clarke prepared for the press an edition of
" Harmer's Observations on various passages
of Scripture," adding tables of contents and observations of his own.
As if his literary  engagements were not
enough, there were placed in his hands the papers and letters of Archbishop Sharp, and of
Granville Sharp, embracing many important
matters relating to the state, to religion, and to
literature-for him to arrange, select, condemn,
or approve.  This task was also undertaken
and executed.
Another labour performed was a draft of a
library for the Bible Society, to be sent to India for the use of the translators of the Scriptures in that country.
Not far from  the same period, an edition
of Butterworth's Concordance, enlarged and




HIS LOVE FOR THE BIBLE.         157
improved, by  his labours  came  from  the
press.
Besides what he did publish, Dr. Clarke, with
a learned friend, proposed to contribute their
influence and assistance in securing the publication of the London Polyglot, a very expensive
and scarce work.  To secure this object, he
published a tract upon the subject as early as
1810, and sent it to the learned men in Great
Britain and on the continent.  So zealous had
he become in this undertaking, that it was not
abandoned until many years afterwards.  The
work was one of immense cost of both money
and time. The expense of the proposed edition
was estimated at four hundred and forty-four
thousand dollars, and it was calculated that
seven years would be required to carry it
through the press.
Thus the Bible, directly or indirectly, was
connected with all his efforts.  We are not surprised, therefore, to learn that at all times and
in all places, he showed a most profound reverence for this Holy Book.  When he read it in
his family devotions, it was always standingthe more," as he said, "to reverence it."
While preaching once in his usual style, he
paused for a few moments, and, without the
least air of ostentation, said-his eyes beaming
meanwhile with benignant pleasure on an attentive auditory-" Some of you may have seen
Adam Clarke before,-more of you have heard
of him, and among other things, you may have
14




158        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
been told that he has studied hard, and read
much; but he has to tell you, that he never met
with but ONE book in his life that he could
hug to his heart, and it is this blessed Book of
God (taking up the Bible at the time that had
lain open before him, and placing it to his
breast, with the endearing embrace of a mother
clasping her child to her bosom.)  The effect
was electrical.  A  simultaneous burst of halfstifled applause was heard through the whole
congregation-men, women and children weeping, while his own eyes were brimmed with
tears. 
As he sat with a friend in his study at one
time, the servant girl, in passing out, set the
door open by placing against it a large Bible.
Rising calmly, Dr. Clarke supplied its place
with something more appropriate, saying, as he
placed the Holy Book on the shelf: "Poor
Betty is ignorant, and has no religion, or she
would not treat God's Word so."
At the conference of 1814, Dr. Clarke was
again chosen president.  This office imposed
upon him great additional duties. Among these
duties, as we have stated, was the task of examining, before the conference and the public congregation, the candidates for full membership.
Besides other matters, it is required, by the
rules of the Wesleyan body, that these candidates shall not indulge in the use of tobacco in
any form.j One of the young men now claiming admission, the doctor knew to be an immo



TIHE TOBACCO USER.          159
derate smoker, and whom, as he highly respected
him, he determined to rescue, if possible, from
the pernicious habit.  The young men being
arranged before the president, he addressed
them, in turn, on the subject, and coming to the
young man in question, the following conversation took place:"Do you use tobacco in any form, brother?"
"A little, sir."
"You must give it up."
"I use it for the sake of my health, sir."'" Our rule is against it, and I cannot admit
you unless you will give it up."
"Well, sir, I will try to give it up."
"An attempt will do nothing, unless persevered in."
I think it hard, sir, where health requires it."
" Our rule knows no exception, and I would
not, in the situation in which I am  placed,
admit my own father-no not an angel from
heaven, without a pledge of total abandonment.
You can take time to consider it; do nothing
rashly; if, after you have thought upon it a
day or two, or another year, you think you can
conscientiously give the pledge, you can then,be received."
The candidate began to feel that the affair
was assuming a serious aspect. HIe must either
be put back on trial, or abandon his place in
the conference, or give the required pledge.
After a little pause he answered, "Well, sir,
I feel inclined to relinquish it."




160       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
"Do you solemnly promise it?"' I do, sir."
"Express yourself clearly, brother.  Am I
to understand you to bind yourself to give it
up now, only for a short period, and be at
liberty to resume it?  There is no mental reservation, is there?"
"I cannot say, sir, what circumstances of
health, &c., might occur to call for it; but I
intend it, at present."
"On these terms, I will not receive you.
You  can  make  the experiment for twelve
months; and then, if you think you can subscribe to the requirement, you can come forward for full admission into the work."
The candidate paused again, looked mortified, and then said resolutely, " Well, then, sir,
I solemnly promise to give it up."
"Forever?"
Yes, by the help of God, not to resume it."
On another occasion, when holding the same
responsible station, the doctor  made much
shorter work with a candidate.  Addressing
the young man, he asked,"Do you take tobacco in any form, brother?"
"I take a little snufg sir."
"Give it up?"' I will give it up, sir, if the conference require me."
" I am the conference, sir, while I am seated
here, and I order you to give it up."
The candidate here extended  toward the




REMINISCENCES.             161
president, a small box about the size of the
first joint of his thumb, saying, " That, sir,
serves me some months."
"Well," answered the doctor, "hand it this
way; it is so small it can be no great cross to
give it up."
Toward the close of the year 1814, the Missionary Society of the Wesleyan Connection
was formed.  Previously to this period, Dr.
Coke, an early co-adjutor of Wesley, had, in
himself, been a virtual missionary society. He
had projected missions, raised the supplies by
his eloquent appeals to the members of the
societies, directed the labours of the missionarries, and gone with them to share their privations.  But it pleased the Great Head of the
Church that his devoted servant should, while
on his way to Ceylon, to form new missions,
sleep in the depths of the ocean.  As Coke
was to the Wesleyan Missions what Wesley
was to the connection generally, when he died
the work he performed was assumed by the
whole body.  Dr. Clarke was present and
preached a stirring sermon at the City Road
Chapel, London, on the occasion of the formation of the society, and was subsequently a
prominent instrument in making it what it is
now, the contributor of a half a million of
dollars annually, for the extension of the gospel in heathen lands. He added to the labours
already mentioned, frequent occasional sermons in different parts of the kingdom, in be14*




1 2       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
half of missions.  We shall hear of him  on
such occasions, preaching to audiences which
crowd to their utmost capacity the chapels,
and obtaining unaccustomed collections by his
eloquent appeals.  From this period, calls to
"open chapels," to deliver charity sermons,
and to aid the collections of various financial
projects connected with religion, drew more
and more upon his time and strength. Sometimes, advantage was taken of the large audiences which his popularity drew together, to
put forward, unexpectedly to the people, the
claims of some benevolent enterprise.  This
considerably annoyed the doctor.
On one occasion an admission fee was required of his audience, for some  charity.
When about half way through his sermon,
having made an occasion for speaking of the
poor, he paused, looked toward the part of the
house where they usually sat, and said, sharply,
"I see you have contrived to keep the poor
away.  If you do not desist from the practice,
Adam Clarke will enter your chapel no more."
His missionary services and duties (luring
the years he was president of the conference,
occasioned frequent tours into various parts
of England and Ireland.  In visiting the latter
country, he looked once more upon the scene
of his early days.  The companions of his
youth were nearly all gone.
Entering the burial-place adjacent to the old
church, he remarked: "Here lie several of my




Ill~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- L~ — --; i-,,  ~~-,T',  -..? ----—.-~'-?~
-~ ~~~~~~~i'll::~~_ -7"~~-'~~~ ~ ~:, l -~ ~~~ ~ -, — ~~=~::l'-      - -  I-.~::,}]  ]~  [ij   ~i[}i~   ]:::{:
The Runs of he 01~Churchin whih Dr. larke as e~uate~[-~-p, 162.'~~ —— 5=_








REMINISCENCES.             163
ancestors and I go to lie most probably in another
land, and shall not, in all likelihood, be gather.
ed to my fathers; but I shall be found when all
the quick and the dead shall stand before the
Lord; and wheresoever my dust shall be scattered, the voice of the Lord shall call it together,
and I shall stand in my lot, at the end of days.
May I then be found of him in peace, without
spot and without blame, and have an entrance
into the holiest through the blood of Jesus."
We have thus, in sketching the history of
Dr. Clarke's abundant labours, noticed his connection with the Bible Society, " The Record
Commission,"  the  Commentary,  occasional
publications, and the special duties belonging
to the presidency of the conference.  It will
be recollected that he filled his appointments
during this period as a circuit preacher, ministering to large audiences every Sabbath, and
frequently during week evenings.  As intimated, we have anticipated in this chapter the
close of the " Record" labours which extended
to 1819-and also the completion of the Commentary in 1826.  We have now arrived at
the year 1815-at which time he was fifty-five
years of age.




164          LIFE  OF ADAM  CLARKE.
CHAPTER XV.
RETIRED, BUT NOT RESTING.
Resolves to leave London-Removes to Millbrook-Cultivates
his land-Kindness to animals-A  petted donkey-The
painted cross-His evenings at Millbrook-A chapel for the
poor-A Sunday-school-Causes of the attendance of the
poor-Dr. Clarke's daughters become colporteurs-The poor
sailors "warmed and clothed"-Dr. Clarke and his wife's
shopping money —The coronation honoured —Two highpriests of Budhoo-The occasion of their voyage to England-Placed under the instruction of Dr. Clarke-Their
instruction-Their surprise at seeing snow and ice-They
are baptized,/and admitted to the Christian Church-Their
return to Ceylon-A letter from the son of the elder priestDr. Clarke a third time President of the Conference.
TOWARD  the  close  of the  year 1815, Dr.
Clarke decided to remove from  London.   Some
parts of his Commentary were passing through
the  press, and  the  labour of completing  the
manuscript pressed  upon him  daily.  In  this
great thoroughfare of business and travel, he
was  subject to  constant interruptions.   Besides, the  friction  of fifty-five years upon his
physical frame, although it had not taken all
his energy, had.abated the vigour of earlier
manhood.  He  says; "I have  made-p,.my
mind to leave this distracting place; to' et'out
of the way of even a turnpike road, that I may
get as much  out of every passing hour as I




REMOVES TO MILLBROOK.        165
can. 1 ought to have no work at present but
the Commentary; for none can comprehend the
trouble, and often anguish, which the writing
of the notes cost me; and what adds to the
perplexity is, the multitude of little things to
which, almost incessantly, my attention is demanded; and to which, while remaining in
town, I must attend."
Having, therefore, resolved to leave the city,
he purchased a small estate a few miles from
Liverpool, to which he removed with his family
on the 20th of September, 1815.  The conference, recognising the importance of his engagements with the Record Commission and
the Commentary, connected his name with the
Manchester circuit, to which he was to go
once a month, leaving the rest of the time at
his own disposal.
To his new residence he gave the name of Millbrook. An important object to be secured now,
was a healthy stimulus to his mind and body.
To obtain this, he spent considerable time in labour upon his land. True to his characteristics,
he began to apply his scientific knowledge to the
improvement of its husbandry.  Soon its exhausted soil began to yield an unusual crop.
His domestic animals received his special attention.  With his own hand he fed them, and
showed them that tender care which even a
brute understands.  To carry out this feeling,
he purchased an ass, with the professed object
of trying the power of kindness on his proverbi



166       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
ally perverse temper. He gave him the name
of Baudet, and set apart an enclosure for his
especial use, sufficiently large to satisfy his
love of liberty.  Here Baudet was fed, petted,
and flattered into good humour with himself
and the world in general.  We are not sure
that there was in this treatment much of a
trial of his amiability. Most donkeys would
be good-natured when having things their own
way.  The heavy burden and the long journey
try the temper.  But, however, the doctor's
object was accomplished, in showing that even
an ass will be moved by love, for Baudet
manifested for him the docility and fondness of
a spaniel.
But let us step into the house, now that he
is well settled in his new home. It is evening.
The children are now young men and women,
and some of them have left the parental roof
to assume the responsibilities of life.  Still
there is a large family circle.  As the doctor's time is so much at his command, he confines his studies mostly to the light of the day
-rising early, as he has always done from
childhood.  The evenings are spent with his
family. The scholar, who has passed the day
in hard thinking, is now the free, light-hearted
parent and husband.  Mrs. Clarke, who, the
doctor says, "is one of the best readers I
ever heard, and can read aloud three hours together," entertains the domestic circle with a
book.  Her husband, whose varied and almost




A CHAPEL FOR THE POOR.          167
exhaustless store of knowledge enables him to
speak freely on the subject which is read, criticises the facts, or discusses the views of the
author.  Ile enters into this entertainment
with freshness of feeling and readiness of utterance.  His vivacity is contagious, and all
are interested and instructed.  The exercise is
not a task, but a privilege to be enjoyed.
Not unfrequently we shall find the doctor
and his wife differently employed.  He has
brought the manuscript of his Commentary
from his study, which he has written during
the day.  He is reading it to Mrs. Clarke, to
whose judgment of its sentiments and mode
of expression he pays great respect.
The neighbourhood of Millbrook was mostly
Roman Catholic, and was constituted generally
of the poor.  There was no Protestant preaching place within several miles. To supply this
deficiency, Dr. Clarke built a chapel near his
house, and at his own expense, sufficiently
large to hold three hundred persons.  The
pulpit was supplied, with his assistance, by the
preachers of the neighbouring circuit.  The
poor were invited to come freely.  They had
said, "If you had a chapel, we would all go
your road."  A Sunday-school of forty scholars was at once established.  Into this the
doctor went often, speaking kindly and familiarly to the children, and making suggestions
concerning the regulations of the school.  The
Roman Catholic children were, at first, timid




168        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
and distant.  A few came to the school, and
went away to their own  chapel when  the
preaching commenced. Soon, (through the children in part,) the parents became interested,
ventured to hear the word from  Protestant
lips, and remained to weep-to pray, and rejoice in salvation through Christ Jesus alone.
But there were causes at work to draw them
to evangelical preaching-Christian in their
character, and, therefore, worthy to be maintained and imitated.  The following are illustrations. The poor labourers of the vicinity
had been required by their employer to commence work at an unusually early hour, and
expressed their fear lest they should not awake
early enough.
"Leave that to me," said the doctor. " I lam
always up in season."
" The next morning, precisely at four o'clock,
the doctor was unexpectedly at the doors of
the poor men in his neighbourhood, rousing
them  from their slumber-a practice he continued for some time."
His daughters, fully sympathizing with their
father's benevolent feelings, went from house
to house, scattering tracts, bearing his contributions of food and clothing for the destitute,
praying with the  sick, and inviting all tc
Christ.  The consequence was, a chapel full of
attentive hearers, and the conversion of many
souls.
We need not say, after the statement of the




SAILORS "WARMED AND CLOTHED."  169
above facts, that the children loved Dr. Clarke.
The children of his vicinity having heard him
say that he was very fond of an apple while
the dew of the morning rested upon it-an expression which may have meant more than they
understood-rose early the next morning, and,
selecting some apples from  the trees moist
with the dew, and, gently tapping upon his
study window, presented the offering, and scampered off with glad hearts.
During the winter following his removal to
Millbrook, Dr. Clarke had a special occasion
for the exercise of his benevolence.  The cold
was unusually severe.  The seamen of Liverpool were, in great numbers, thrown out of employment, and made dependent upon charity
for support.  Dr. Clarke invited twenty of
these poor fellows to Millbrook, and opened
for them  some untenanted cottages on his
place.  Not being able to supply them  with
beds, a plenty of clean straw was procured,
and an abundance of blankets purchased, so
that they were made entirely comfortable. At
appointed times they assembled in his kitchen
for their meals, one in turn remaining to cook
for the rest. During the working hours they
were employed on the farm  in such work as
they could conveniently do, it being a maxim
with the doctor to encourage industry in all
about him. Thus, for several weeks, were they
supported, until the season enabled them to obtain employment.
15




170       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
But his exertions did not stop here.  He
used his extensive influence with the wealthy
and honoured to provoke them  to labours of
love for the suffering. We will present two
more brief illustrations of his benevolence, and
pass on to other matters.
His wife had entrusted him with a considerable sum of money, for divers small purchases,
as he was leaving home for Manchester. While
in the city, some of his countrymen assailed
him with their tales of sufferings.  He never
went shielded against such attacks, and their
complaints were too touching for him to resist.
He emptied his purse into their hats, and returned without the desired articles.  The doctor says: "I had to answer for it.'Well,
Mary, dear,' I said,'I did not spend it for
myself.' "
In 1821, on the occasion of the coronation
of George IV., as King of England, the doctor
honoured the event by making the poor happy.
The story is best told by himself, in a letter to
his sons" DEAR LADS:-We have had a great feast
on the occasion of the coronation. We brought
all our tenants together, even to the least of
their young children, and gave them a dinner.
They ate a world of beef, pies, puddings, and
cheese, besides half a bushel of currants and
cherries. To all our people I also gave a holiday, and paid each his day's wages; and when
all was over, I gave every child a penny; all




TWO HIGH PRIESTS OF BUDHOO.   171
above eight years old a sixpence, and to every
grown person a shilling. We sang and prayed,
and afterward, I dismissed them.  They were
as happy as they could be."
In the year 1818, Dr. Clarke received into
his family at Millbrook two high-priests of
Budhoo, from the island of Ceylon.  The history of their connection with him, and subsequent conversion and return to their native
country, is given, in the sources of information before us, in detail, and is very interesting.  We will give it as briefly as is consistent with a clear presentation of its prominent
features.
The English missionaries at Ceylon  had
translated the New Testament into the dialect
of that island.  These two priests, while offering daily sacrifices to their idols, had read a
copy of this translation. They became deeply
interested, especially in the sufferings and
death of Christ.  The more they read, the
more they wished to know; and they determined to visit Engla.nd, the  source, they
thought, of information of a religion so wonderful.  The doctor, true to his principles of
Christian benevolence, consented to talke them
into his family, ard instruct them gratuitously;
the Wesleyan Missionary Society agreeing to
be at the expense of their support.  They
were cousins; the older (Munhi Rat'hana, Teerunanxi,) twenty-seven years of age, and the
younger (Dherma Rama,) about twenty-five.




172        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
They had been in the priesthood more than six
years.
Their instruction required great patience and
wisdom.  Old prejudices had to be destroyed,
and the foundation laid in their minds for the
first principles of Christianity.  They questioned every step of this process. Early in
the morning they were found in their instructor's study, listening to his patient teaching.
The story of the cross melted them to tears;
but they were greatly astonished that Christ
should have such amazing power to work miracles, and yet be an unresisting sufferer in the
hands of his enemies.  They had many doubts
to be removed, and they were long in receiving
the great doctrines of the cross; for to them,
most emphatically, " Great was the mystery of
godliness." 
Their improvement in their English studies
was very rapid.  Dr. Clarke performed many
experiments for them  in natural philosophy
and chemistry.  They earnestly inquired for
the facts, and when they saw them developed,
and beautifully set forth in the experiments,
their joy was expressed in the warmest manner.
Having lived in a warm climate, as the winter
approached, their curiosity was greatly excited
by the novel appearance of nature.   They
had heard of "solid water," and frost and snow
but regarded the stories concerning them to be
the fables of travellers. Their emotions, on be



SURPRISE AT SEEING SNOW AND ICE. 173
ing introduced to the marvels of an English
winter, are thus described by an eye-witness:" It happened in the winter of this year that
the first snow fell in the night, and in great
abundance; their bed-room  looked into the
garden, and when they rose in the morning,
and drew up the curtain as usual to look out,
their surprise was uncontrollable, and amounted
to a sensation of fear when they beheld the
wide white world before them. In amazement,
they ran into the study, and thence with Dr.
Clarke into the garden, to see and handle this
wonderful phenomenon; and when they felt it
beneath their feet, and caught its rapidly dissolving particles in their hands, their surprise
yielded to their pleasure, and it was with difficulty they could be restrained from exposing
their uninured bodies to the severities of an
English winter's day. Not long after this the
fish-pond was so completely and solidly frozen,
that they were taken to behold, what they had
so long wished to see, the " solid water;" but
its smooth surface retained too much of its
old appearance to quell their fears and satisfy
their doubts. Dr. Clarke then got on it, and
walked to the middle of it, but still they had
so much faith in him that, though they thought
he might do thus much, they were not sure
they could do so unhurt, until they were further assured by seeing other members of the
family-females and all-follow his example.
Dr. Clarke's nephew, having put on his skates,
15*




174        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
began to pass over the surface with a motion
which seemed to them like flying; but perceiving him to be every where in contact with the
mass, their doubt then gave way to ecstacy,
and they too walked on the " solid water," not
only with delight but amusement.  They would
then have a piece of it, which, on account of
its thickness, it was a matter of difficulty to
obtain, and were not contented until they had,
by the action of fire, themselves reduced it
once more to its usual appearance. Thus were
they taught and pleased, and certainly benefited by the varied instructions they received."
After Dr. Clarke had carefully taught them
for twenty-two months, and had faithfully inquired respecting the grounds of their profession of saving faith in Christ, they were baptized by him in Liverpool, admitted into the
Christian Church and to the sacrament of the
Lord's supper. Up to this time, Dherma had
" been in bondage through the fear of death;"
but, on retiring from this solemn service, he exclaimed, joyfully, " Oh, now I no fear to die.
If I die I go straight to the kingdom of God."
Munhi, on returning to his room, prostrated
himself on the floor, and spent a long time in
tears, and prayer, and praise. The former took
the name of Alexander, for Sir Alexander
Johnstone, his friend, in whose company they
had come from India, and the latter that of his
instructor, Adam.  Soon after this interesting
event, they returned, with many expressions of




LETTER FROM INDIA.           175
gratitude to Dr. Clarke, to their native country;
where, amidst the wickedness of heathenism,
they ever remained true to their Christian profession. They wrote several touching letters to
their much-loved instructor, while on their way
to Ceylon, and after they arrived there.  A
letter from a son of Munhi, written to a member
of Dr. Clarke's family, fifteen years after the
doctor's death, will give, as a closing item in
this account, interesting proof of some of the
later fruits of the conversion of these Budhists.
It is dated Ceylon, March 20th, 1847.' My dear father told me you would be a
friend to me if I wrote to you after his death.
After labouring in his Saviour's service for many
years, he expired on the 13th of November,
1840, in a sure hope of a resurrection to eternal
life.  My dear father taught me to pray, like
Dr. Clarke taught him  to pray, who had put
over his bed, while he was at Millbrook, in Singhalese and English,'lunhi, forget not to pray!'
So I am praying to my great and good God,
for myself and for you. I want English teaching.  My father told me when he was dying,
Write to   ~, and that lady will help you to
English teaching.'  I never saw  Alexander
Dherma Rhama, my father's companion, but I
wrote to inform him  of my father's death, and
from his answer to my letter, I learn that he
is the head man over the people of the village
of Moratova, twenty-four miles from Galle. He
is yet sure in the Christian faith.  I have but




176       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
one sister: her name is Elizabeth. I am fifteen;
and my ruling passion is to come to England,
get English teaching, and see that blessed
country."
What a beautiful illustration is this whole account of the Budhist priests of the power of the
gospel over heathen minds!
In July, of the year 1822, Dr. Clarke was for
the third time elected president of the Wesleyan
Conference, an honour, as we have said, never
before bestowed so often upon any one individual.








_~~~~~~             I~           ~         ~J''l[~l,'I ~~ t ~l/u~~ii1_tlil~            ~ ~
    ~                ~..i
-tr~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~r Clarkes                     l-esdenee
D. 177. —~~~



REHrOVES TO EASTCOTT.             177
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PALACE OF THE GREAT, AND THE COTTAGE
OF THE POOR.
Dr. Clarke settles in Eastcot-Temporary chapel-Sundayschool-The new chapel-The duke of Sussex-The duke's
Bibliographical library-He invites Dr. Clarke to visit himThe visit-A second visit to the duke-The duke returns
the visits of Dr. Clarke —The levee-Dr. Clarke's acquaintance with English bishops-A liberal neighbour-WatchNight.
EARLY in the year 1824, Dr. Clarke removed
to London from  Millbrook, having  sold  his
estate there.  He was led to this step by the
fact that most of his children were residing in
the city.  But the noise and the many interruptions of the great metropolis were less than
ever congenial with his feelings since he had
experienced the pleasures of his retirement at
Millbrook. Consequently, he purchased a situation, in the fall of the same year, in Eastcott,
about sixteen miles from London. Amidst the
rural scenery of Hayden Hall, as he named his
residence, we shall now  further follow his hishistory, and study his character.
One of his first acts, after his removal, was to
provide the preaching of the word of life for the
poor of the neighbourhood.  There being no




178       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
house of worship near, at first, an old coachhouse and a stable were cleared, and provided
with rough seats for the use of the preachers.
He preached the opening sermon, setting forth
the object of the house of worship, which was,
he told them, to hold up, through the ministry,
Christ and the cross, and to gather the children
into the Sunday-school. All were invited to
come freely.  After the sermon, one of the
doctor's friends went from house to house, and
obtained the names of seventy children pledged
to attend the school, This place of worship
was soon found to be too small; a more commodious chapel was consequently erected. How
natural, even in our day, do the following remarks sound, which were made by Dr. Clarke
after the Sunday-school was organized in the
new house:-' Well, now  I want books; I
have got but twenty-four'Spelling Books,'
and what are these among so many?  Testaments I also require.  Some of my friends
have done enough-we can do no more-yet
books we want, and books we must have.
There are some young people coming, seventeen and eighteen years of age, who cannot
read a letter, and yet desire to learn. Some
of the children would be glad of some hymn
books, too; we shall shortly have the songs of
Zion here. Hallelujah!"
How great a blessing would have been the
publications of our Sunday-school Union in
such a crisis!. These lights to the path of the




THE DUKE OF SUSSEX.           179
rising generation had not then dawned upon
the church.
Passing from the home and neighbourhood
of the doctor, let us follow  him  awhile in
his intercourse with the learned and distinguished.
We cannot detail the interesting history of
the first introduction of Dr. Clarke to the Duke
of Sussex, brother to the then reigning king,
George IV.  The occasion of their acquaintance  and  subsequent intimacy,  was  their
mutual interest in the  study of the Bible.
The duke was a distinguished Biblical scholar.  In  his library  were  fifteen  hundred
copies of the Bible, in all languages and editions, the most perfect collection, perhaps, in
the world, costing more than $200,000.  When
sixty-five years of age, he had spent thirtyfive of them  in feeble health.  He remarked
at one time to his friend, Dr. Clarke, that
he had been accustomed, during this painful experience, to read the Bible alone, every
morning, two hours before breakfast.  The
reader will be interested to view Dr. Clarke,
for a short time, in his intercourse with such
a man.  We have grouped the several occasions together, though they a little preceded
or succeeded the present point of our narrative.
The private secretary of the duke having
had occasion, in the year 1822, to write to Dr.
Clarke with regard to a matter of literary in



180       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
terest, appended the following note:-" The
duke commands me to say, that he trusts
whenever you come to London, you will honour
him with a visit: when he will be proud to show
you his library, and be most happy to make
the acquaintance of a man of whose talents and
character he has so exalted an opinion."
In May following, Dr. Clarke being in London, he was invited to dine with the duke.
The doctor went, and was received by his royal
friend in his private room, and was conducted
by him through his library, shown many curious things, and asked bibliographical questions.  The doctor's answers the duke requested
his librarian to note, as'curious and important." After dining with the duke, and many
distinguished friends, the doctor intimated his
intention of retiring.  But he was requested to
remain till all the company had departed.  Dr.
Clarke closes his account of the visit, in a letter
to his daughter, by adding:-" When they were
all gone, the duke sat down on his sofa, and
beckoned me to come and sit down beside him,
on his right hand; and he entered for a considerable time, into a most familiar conversation
with me.  At last, a servant in the royal livery
came to me, saying:-' Sir, the carriage is in
waiting.' I rose up, and his royal highness rose
at the same time, took me affectionately by the
hand, told me I must come and visit him some
morning when he was alone, which time should
be arranged between me and his secretary,



VISIT TO KENSINGTON PALACE.   181
bade me a friendly good-night; and I was then
conducted by the servant to the door of the
palace, when lo, and behold! one of the royal
carriages was in waiting to carry a Methodist
preacher, your old weather-beaten father, to his
own lodgings!"
In April, 1825, the doctor was again invited,
together with his son, to visit Kensington Palace.  He received a note from the secretary,
saying that the duke was anxious to introduce
him to a very enlightened nobleman, the Duke
of Hamilton. The visit we will let the doctor
describe, reminding the reader that he was writing to a member of his family, and not for the
public eye.  On his arrival, he says:" The Duke of Sussex soon made his appearance, for by this time the whole company were
in the pavilion, and singling me out, took me
by the hand, and led me forward to two Indian
gentlemen, saying,'Here is my friend, Dr.
Adam Clarke, who will speak Persian or Arabic
with any of you.' I turned, and taking John
by the arm, said:-' May it please your royal
highness, I have the honour of presenting to
you my eldest son.' He took him by the hand,
and bade him welcome, and on the arrival of
any new guest, introduced both myself and my
soln."
A few months after this occasion, the Duke of
Sussex returned Dr. Clarke's visit.  He came
to Hayden Hall without parade, as a private
16




182        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
gentieman, and was received by the doctor in
that polite but plain manner which became his
position and his profession.  After dining, the
royal visitor entered the library and museum of
his friend, and was entertained until a late hour
there, by the stores of Biblical and other curiosities, which the doctor had accumulated through
a public life of nearly half a century.
In October, of the succeeding year, the duke
repeated his visit, dining at Hayden Hall, and
discussing the character and history of ancient
Hebrew manuscripts in the possession of Dr.
-Clarke, with all the enthusiasm of a genuine lover,of the pure Word of God. To the end of the doctor's life this intimacy continued, by interchange
of visits, and by letters on learned matters of mutual interest.  The Commentary, in which his
royal highness took a deep interest, was several
times the occasion of correspondence.
By some of the distinguished bishops of the
Church of England Dr. Clarke's acquaintance,was sought, on terms of considerable intimacy.
iOn one occasion, having just returned from a
call upon the bishop of London, he remarked
to a friend, pleasantly, "' Yes, I have been with
the bishop; but it was not for my son, recollect; I shall not ask, in this way, a favour at
any man's hands."  This son, to whom he refers, became one of the chaplains to the Duke
of Sussex.
Turning from these scenes of flattering at



A LIBERAL NEIGHBOUR.          183
tention, we find Dr. Clarke again in the humble dwellings of the poor.  The winter of
1829-30 was one of great severity.  Many
families of his own neighbourhood were insufficiently clothed and scantily fed.  Dr. Clarke
employed one of his old domestics to go into
every house, and  inquire  concerning  their
wants.  Then with his own hahd  did the
doctor supply their lack of necessary food
and clothing, until his means were exhausted.
With'a heart still pained at the suffering yet
unalleviated, he was pondering what next he
could do, when one of his wealthy neighbours
gave him a handsome sum to distribute, with
which he at once went to London, and purchased flannels, blankets, calicoes, and other
necessary articles.  With these treasures he
hastened back to Eastcot, and spent three days
in distributing them to the most necessitous.
In the spirit of such labour, Dr. Clarke
commenced the new year.  He says, in a letter to his daughter: M' ost of our people went
to the chapel last evening, to hold a watchnight.  Mother was not well enough to watch
in the new year, so I kept watch by myself in
the parlour, and was in solemn prayer for you
call when the clock struck twelve, and for some
time after.  Even to watch by myself I found
to be a good thing; I felt that it might be the
last watch-night I might ever celebrate. iary,
dear, pray much to God, and make him your




184        LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
portion.  I remained up till the preacher and
our people returned from' the chapel.  I had
an excellent fire, and a good supper for them;
I made them sit down while I served them myself; they were pleased, and thus we were all
pleased,"
1yt  F c;    m____     1 ___
-Ji    g




SHETLAND  ISLANDS.                 185
CHAPTER XVII.
AN  APPROPRIATE, LAST LABOUR
Shetland Islands-A mission to them begun-Dr. Clarke has
the responsibility for it-A tour in behalf of Shetland-A
noble donor-Tracts for " Good Little Girls"-A visit to the
Shetland Islands-Dr. Clarke's solicitude for ShetlandIrish free schools-The first school-A new difficulty-Encouraging results-Dr. Clarke's visit to Ireland-Sundayschools-Plan of proceeding-A second visit to the Irish
schools.
THE last labours of Dr. Clarke for the cause
of Christ extend from   the year 1822 to the
close of his life in 1832. They consisted almost wholly in  efforts to open new  fields of
missionary enterprise, and the establishmentin the neglected districts of his native country,
Ireland-of day and Sunday-schools  for the
poor.
At the conference, in 1822, Dr. Clarke's attention was directed to the moral condition of
the  Shetland  Islands, lying  a short distance
from  the northern portion of Scotland.  The
conference missionary funds not allowing  the
establishment of missions immediately in this
fdieccion, on  the  credit of the treasury, Dr.
Clarke began by making applications to a few
16*




186        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
benevolent persons of his acquaintance for contributions to commence the enterprise.  His
old friend and coadjutor in every good work,
Robert Scott, Esq., with his family, gave the
work a start by the ready offering of $600,
and a pledge from  Mrs. Scott of 150 toward every chapel which should be built in
the progress of the mission. Thus encouraged,
the missionary committee appointed two young
men as missionaries, and sent them  to Dr.
Clarke for instructions.
The young men immediately repaired to Dr.
Clarke's residence, received his suggestions,
and then proceeded to their appointed work.
They were at once successful.  The islanders,
25,000 in number, were, in many parts, wholly
destitute of ministerial labour, and in others
only occasionally visited by clergymen from
Scotland.  The want of chapels, as the cold
weather approached, was severely felt.  Dr.
Clarke had directed the missionaries to contract no debts, for any purpose.  Therefore
the money for the support of the preachers
and the erection of places of worship, must be
procured by himself.  He immediately commenced a begging tour.  H-e preached, and
among the multitudes which ever flocked to his
ministry, he took collections, made private appeals to the rich, and solicited contributions
of the products of their business from  the
manufacturer and mechanic, until he himself




A NOBLE DONOR.              187
was astonished at the greatness of the work
which increased upon his hands.  He closes
one of his letters to the missionaries with the
following words: " Tell me all that concerns
yourselves and the work.  Be steady,-act by
united counsels,-love one another,-help each
other,-speak well of each other,-prefer one
another in love.  Act as evangelists,-preach
Jesus-Jesus, in the plenitude of his salvation;" and he adds,' I have sent off to you
about six thousand tracts and pamphlets, and
I will, if God spare me, see you in the spring."
The demands of the mission pressing upon
him  at one time beyond his collections, he
says, "I prayed, called earnestly upon God,
and sat down and wept till I could scarcely
see to write or read."  HIe appealed in this
crisis to his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Scott.  Dr.
Clarke then writes: s" They came, and I set
off in my bad health to London to meet them;
and oh, what a meeting!  Their hearts were
nearly as full as mine. Says Mr. Scott,' Come,
let me have a check; I will give orders on my
bank for 1500.'  Says Mrs. Scott,' and I will
give 825.''And I am  desired,' says Mr.
Scott,' by my sister-in-law, Miss Grainger, to
give $25, and, lest any chapel begun should
be impeded, here is $50 more, and thus I will
give the check for $600.  And this is not all
that I will do.  I tell you again, I will give
$50 to every house or chapel begun under




188        LIFE OF ADAM CLAIRKE.
your direction in Shetland.'"   Dr. Clarke
then adds, "                    thanked od    taned hem;
and could have kissed the ground on which
they trod.  I said in my heart,'0 my poor
Shetlanders, (whom  I have never seen, and
now never shall, but God has laid them  upon
my heart,) God has not forgotten you.' "
In a note, appended to a letter to the mis
sionaries about this time, he says: "A  little
half-granddaughter of mine (Caroline Smith)
is just now dead,-ten years old, and has left
a most glorious testimony for God. It is now
in the press, and I will send some for presents
to good little girls in Shetland."
Notwithstanding the fear expressed above,
by Dr. Clarke, that he should never see his
Shetlanders, he did visit them, with several
friends of the mission, in 1826, and again in
1828.  His detailed account of these visits is
full of interest, and exhibits Dr. Clarke's characteristic trait of close observation of all which
was around him, and his ability to gather rich
treasures of knowledge from every source.
These mission stations continued to strengthen
and multiply, until they. became an established
portion  of the Wesleyan missionary fields.
As late as 1831, (about one year before the
Doctor's death,) when the burden of thlem was
still pressing upon him, and when the toils of
seventy-one years had caused him to anticipate the close of his earthly sojourning, he




IRISH FREE SCHOOLS.           189
bids the Shetlanders adieu in the following
strain:
Poor Shetland! I have worked hard for
thee; many a quire,-many a ream  of paper
have I written to describe thy wants, and to
beg for supplies; and several thousands of
miles have I travelled, in order to raise those
supplies which by letter I had solicited for
thee! It is now' almost done, and almost
over.'  May God raise thee up another friend,
that will be, if possible, more earnest and
faithful, and at the same time more successful!And now, I must say, may the Holy
Trinity be thy incessant friend, oh, my poor
Shetland!"
The burden of this mission had not been removed from  Dr. Clarke, when a friend, who
was preaching through the district of country
in Ireland where Dr. Clarke had preached in
his youth, desired him to do for the neglected
children of Ireland what he had done for the
people of Shetland. His purpose to accept of
this new labour of love being known, several
individuals of wealth offered to be responsible
for the expense of such free schools as should
be formed  under his supervision.  Having
made careful inquiry, the field of operations
was located in the province of Ulster, in the
north of Ireland.  He found this section of
the country destitute of schools, and of any
associations, either religious or benevolent.




190        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
The population was composed of both Catholics and Protestants.  The Port Rush district
was selected in which to make the first experiment.  A  missionary was sent through it, to
inquire if the people would have a free school
on week days, in which their children should
be taught to read; and Sunday-schools, in
which they might learn the way to heaven.
At once the country was awake on the subject.
They all said, " Yes, let Dr. Clarke send us
teachers."
Having with great care obtained men of
good English education and of tried piety
for teachers, and having written out a simple plan by which the scholars should be received and instructed, and furnished money
for the preparatory expenses, Dr. Clarke requested that the work should be at once commenced.  The people rallied in great numbers
at a place appointed, when a new difficulty was
presented.  It was expected that the private
houses of the poor people themselves would be
sufficiently large for school-rooms, but no such
house being found, and not being willing to
lose the present opportunity, the parents proposed to occupy a sand-pit, though they were
already in the piercing cold of December.  A
gentleman who lived near, seeing the zeal of
the people, and knowing the sand-pit to be
wholly unsuitable, offered his parlour to the
teacher until a more proper room could be ob



ENCOURAGING RESULTS.          191
tained. The teacher, out of school-hours, went
among the parents, reading to them the Scriptures, praying with them, and exhorting them
to flee from the wrath to come.  This was indeed a new thing, and many of the poor people, who had scarcely ever heard any sort of
prayer, now learned themselves to pray. The
numbers of the school increased so rapidly,
that in two months the parlour became entirely
too small. A house in the neighbourhood was
hired, and a hundred children, from four to
fourteen years of age, were made happy in
gleaning the rudiments of an education.  So
wicked had been the habits of these children,
that but few of them could give a simple answer of yes or no, without taking the name of
God in vain.  The gentleman whose parlour
was occupied, informed Dr. Clarke, only about
two months after the schools were established,
that before the teacher came, the children,
with their noisy and wicked conduct, were not
only a nuisance, but a curse. The peaceable
people were obliged to drive them  off from
depredations, by whips and sticks; and that
now their voice is not to be heard in the
streets, and that order and decorum  universally prevail.
In the spring following the beginning of this
good work, Dr. Clarke set out on a visit of
inspection to the Irish schools, carrying with
him several teachers, for the purpose of ascer



192       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
taining himself, the best locations and opening
new schools, as well as examining those already
in operation.  He says,' The poor people,
both Popish and Protestant, were, like true
sons of Erin-red hot-made glad-to hear
that their children might, without money and
without price, be taught to read, spell and
write their own names; and where they at last
found that there was neither religion, devotion,
nor common sense in sheer ignorance."  He
studiously avoided giving any denominational
character to the religious instruction in these
schools, but made it an indispensable condition
every where, that the Old and New Testaments
should be read in them, disapproving in strong
terms of the government plan of leaving the
Bible out of the schools.  Every where he
made the Sunday-school an attendant upon the
week-day school. The parents as well as children, including even many of the Roman Catholic population, flocked to these. The great difficulty he had to meet, in this part of the work,
was the lack of suitable teachers, as but few
were capable of teaching. Upon the instructor
of the week-day school came most of the Sabbath-school labour at first, but soon pious persons were raised up to supply this deficiency.
His plan of opening a new school is thus
described.  "The day previously to that appointed for the purpose, the children get warning of it, and the parents and children assem



MODE OF PROCEEDING.           193
ble, sometimes in a barn, or, if fine weather, in
the open air, under the shelter of a hawthorn
hedge.  The intense interest of all on these
occasions is wonderful, and the gentry offered
with zeal and rivalship, land or houses on their
estates, in the recesses of the bogs and mountains scarcely, indeed, accessible, owing to the
bad roads, but still swarming with a vast population of children, who, on announcement, came
pouring down the hills; the parents were all
on my right hand, the children on the left, and
I gave them an impressive address for half an
hour: at the close, sung and prayed with and
for them.
The following description, illustrating his
mode of proceeding, is quite life-like:"' We set off for a place called Croagh, where
the whole youth of a large and populous district, have long been and still are without education, for there is no school existing of any kind
for many miles.  It was published in the
county that I was expected there this day in
order to form  a school.  When we got within
a, mile of the place, we saw several squads of
children, with their mothers, coming down the
hills and over the moors, from  all quarters,
from  a mile and a half to two miles, to the
school house, which is little more than half finished, and which is to serve as a centre for the
conglomeration tf these various masses.  As
we could not go into this half built house, we
17




194        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
were told that a farmer had prepared a small
barn, which was about half a mile off; I then
proclaimed an adjournment to the barn, and
setting off myself, they all filed after me, both
the children and their mothers, my companions
bringing up the rear.  When I arrived at the
place, I addressed the parents out of doors,
and laid down the general rules and conditions
on which the children were to be admitted,
and on which they were to be continued in the
school.  I then, standing at the barn door,
admitted them one by one into the place to the
number of 133;-introduced the school-master
to the general assembly;-gave his character
and  qualifications;-specified  what sort of
teaching the children were to  receive;-the
discipline under which they were to be brought;
how they were to learn their duty to God, to
their parents, and to each other;-how to pray
to avoid every evil in word and deed, in spirit,
temper, and desire; to be industrious, cleanly
and orderly; respectful to  their superiors,
affectionate to their relations, kind and obliging
to their equals. After a good deal of exhortation, I then proceeded to bring the children out of the barn, laying my hands upon
their heads, and praying to God for his blessing upon them  all, delivered them  again to
their parents, to be brought back on the morrow in order to be registered in the school,
classified, &c.-The children were, on the whole,




SECOND VISIT  TO THE IRISH SCHOOLS. 195
really a fine progeny; males and females, from
fourteen to four years of age."
In the following year, Dr. Clarke again
visited his schools, then greatly increased in
number, in scholars, and in influence.  But a
serious illness, while in Ireland, preventing a
personal examination of them   all, he was
obliged to be content with the report of their
teachers.  The rude but heart-felt tribute of
respect which  these  neglected  children of
poverty rendered to their benefactor afforded
him nobler satisfaction than Napoleon ever felt
when returning from the conquest of nations.
Under God, Dr. Clarke had conquered ignorance
and driven moral darkness from  many hearts.
Where he had been, cleanliness, good order,
and, in many cases, religious peace, followed.
These schools, the Sunday as well as the
week-day schools, were without any sectarian character, and the doctor was, without a
penny for his services, the agent for the benevolence of a few individuals.  After his death
the Wesleyan Missionary Society took them,
at the request of his friends, under their care,
and continued them  much in the same spirit
with which they had been begun.  We may
remark here, in anticipation of the account of
Doctor Clarke's death, that he died with his
hand to this work for the children of his native
country.  Were it not for extending too far
this narrative, we could give still more evidence




196        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
that none of the abundant and varied labour
of his life gave him  more satisfaction than
this.
Connected with the Shetland and school
labour in point of time, is Dr. Clarke's revision of his Commentary, for a new  edition.
"The author's own and last hand" was put
to this entire work, a few months before his
death, and before his last visit to his schools.
The copyright of the Commentary thus revised,
after having disposed of large former editions,
he sold for nine thousand dollars.




HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE.                  197
CHAPTER XVIII.
A MORE FAMILIAR ACQUAINTANCE.
Dr. Clarke's personal appearance-His scholarship-His memory-His library of printed books: their value-His manuscript library: its value-The museum-Dr. Clarke's travelling
library-The means by which his library and museum were
obtained-Dr. Clarke's frequent preaching-His character as
a preacher-His popularity-The relation of his study of the
Bible to his preaching-Habits of preparation for the pulpitManner of handling his texts-The great secret of his pulpit
power-His favourite themes in the pulpit-His manner in
preaching-Dr. Clarke's habitual kindness-A happy turn of
an awkward incident-The young lady and the roasted potato-Feeling towards friends-Love for children-Letter to
a grandson-Dr. Clarke's pleasantry-His wife could keep a
secret-The secret of Dr. Clarke's success-His industryEminent testimonies of his industry-His promptness-An
anecdote illustrating it-His love of order illustrated-Early
rising enforced-An anecdote-Dr. Clarke's example may be
imitated.
ADAM  CLARKE, in person, was about five feet
nine inches high, and, in the latter years of his
life, rather corpulent,-his hair of venerable
whiteness, brushed back from  his forehead,-his
complexion ruddy, his countenance open, his
form  erect, and step firm.   His dress was always well adjusted and neat. The black suit
usually worn by clergymen did not agree  well,
17*




198        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
he thought, with the cheerful character of the
gospel of which they were ministers.  HIe generally appeared in public in the dress of an
English country gentleman, with  top-boots,
drab breeches, blue coat, with covered or silk
buttons, pale buff vest, drab hat, and white
neckcloth.
We shall not attempt to decide the question of
the character of his scholarship. We have presented the facts of his connection with the ripest
scholars of his age, not as a passing acquaintance,
but as an associate, a co-labourer-honoured
and respected by them  through many years.
These, and other facts which we have detailed,
must settle the question, in the minds of candid
men, of his scholarship. That he was profound
in all the departments of learning with which
he was acquainted, is more than the most partial
friendship can claim for him. He did, indeed,
"intermeddle with all wisdom."  That which
he once learned, he never forgot.  He had a
most remarkable memory.  He could, at any
time, recall the sentiment of any author in his
very extensive range of reading; and, so exact
were his habits of order, and so well arranged
was every thing in his own mind, that he could
tell in what connection these sentiments stood,
and would often go to his library, and take
down at once the book in which they were contained, and turn to the page on which they were
found.




HIS LIBRARY.                   199
But the most remarkable feature of his intellectual character was, the power to use the
results of his varied study, without apparent exertion, in the practical duties of the ministryboth in what he spoke and wrote for the good
of men.  It came at his bidding so readily, and
fitted into its place so naturally, that it was useful to the learned and unlearned.
His library  of printed works was set up in
five rooms, and included  about ten  thousand
volumes.  Here were the best editions of the
classic authors of Greece and Rome, valuable
standard works in a great variety of languages,
but especially the pure word of God, and whatever might illustrate its pages, of criticism or
history.   This part of his library was valued at
$15,000.*   The manuscript library was one of
the most extensive private collections in the
world, and was valued at about $8000.   Some
of the manuscripts dated as early as A. D. 1024,
0 The printed books actually brought, after the doctor's decease, in an auction sale of ten days' continuance, ~3,200, and
the manuscripts ~180 more, making the considerable sum of
~5000, or not far from $23,000. We are safe in estimating the
value of the library and museum at $25,000. Some of the
books and manuscripts sold for more and some for less than
their value: the following were among the former class, we
should think:-A famous manuscript Bible, translated into the
English language, by Wiclif, in two volumes, brought ~100;
Biblia Sa.cr Polyglotta, ~57; a copy of the first complete edition of the English Bible, by Coverdale, ~63; a copy of Erasmus' New Testament, which cost the doctor one shilling,
brought ~10 15s.




200       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
and but few as late as the eighteenth century.
In the museum, were to be found curiosities
from  ancient Greece and  Rome, including
coins, monuments and mosaics-Indian, Burmese, Egyptian and Chinese idols,-medals,several fac similes of ancient charters, maps and
charts, and a valuable collection of minerals,
among which were rare specimens of precious
stones.
While speaking of Dr. Clarke's library, we
should not have omitted to notice his travelling
library. It was packed closely, in a case made
for the purpose, and comprised the following
volumes: —A  Greek and Latin Testament, a
Septuagint, Hebrew Bible, Pawsham's edition
of the English Bible, 1776,-Horace, Virgil,
and a small copy of the English Prayer Book.
These books were the companions of his frequent excursions to  Ireland, the  Shetland
Islands, and in his tours throughout England.
The question has, perhaps, occurred to our
readers while we have been giving this account
of the size and value of Dr. Clarke's library
and museum, by what means could an individual in his profession obtain such a collection?
The secret of his finding opportunities is, no
doubt, in the application of his unequalled industry in this direction, having continued his
accumulations for full half a century.  The




HIS STYLE OF PREACHING.       201
money was obtained by the profits of his
publications, although several valuable manuscripts were given away, the profits to be applied to benevolent purposes. Besides all this,
his being known as a collector of curious and
ancient things and a judge of rare and valuable books, would induce many persons to give
him such things as presents.
The frequent preaching of Dr. Clarke must
have excited the astonishmeut of our readers,
especially when considered in connection with
his other labours. From 1782 to 1808, a period of twenty-six years, he preached upon an
average, two sermons for every three days.
When we remember the several occasions, during
these years, of prostrating sickness with which
he suffered, the question will be prompted,
iow could it be done?  We shall attempt to
answer this question, while portraying more
fully than we have done, his character as a
preacher.
Dr. Clarke possessed a ready utterance, and
an exhaustless flow of cheerful feeling, which
no degree of toil, nor even the enfeebling influence of old age could destroy, nor much
abate.  These gave a freshness to his pulpit
ministrations which awakened a corresponding
feeling in his hearers. While his heart was
burning with the message he brought, he could
not be at a loss for something to say. This
feeling was stimulated, no doubt, by the im



202        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
mense crowds which, from the first to the last
day of his public life, waited upon his ministry.  These multitudes were both the consequence and the cause of his thought and expression.
The evidence of this popularity is abundant.
Having an appointment to preach at Bandon,
Ireland, he proceeded thither with some of his
friends.    Had a prince entered the town,
scarcely greater tokens of respectful recognition
could have been shown.  Persons were posted
all along the street by which the carriages entered from Cork, who had been eagerly awaiting
his arrival. Friends and strangers were collected from  every part of the circuit, extending thirteen miles, and several had travelled
thirty miles to hear the word of life from his
lips."
It is said that any chapel of the Wesleyan
connection (and some of them  accommodated
immense multitudes) would be crowded, irrespective of the hour or the weather, on the announcement of his name to preach, though the
hour might be five o'clock in the morning, (as
was often the case,) and on one of the working days of the week.  The record of his death
in the conference minutes contains the remark,
that " No man, in any age of the church, was
ever known, for so long a period, to have attracted larger audiences."  But the stimulus
of animated feeling, and varied and large au



HIS PULPIT POWER.           203
diences, can account, but in a small degree, for
his ability of frequent and successful preaching,
His constant study of the Word of God was a
more important means.  All the studies of his
life were pursued in reference to the illustration
of that Word; and were, therefore, in their influences upon his mind and heart, a constant
preparation for the pulpit. Thus, his stores of
knowledge brought to his public ministrations,
though so multiplied, a surprising variety. He
seldom preached from the same text the second
time, and when the theme of a former discourse
came up, as it often must, it was so varied, and
in a relation so new, that the hearers who had
listened to it before, had their interest quickened thereby, rather than lessened. This habit
of keeping the fountain always full with that
food for the heart and mind which had a direct
relation to his public office, took the place, to
a considerable extent, of immediate preparation.
Yet he by no means neglected a specific arrangement of his thoughts before entering the
pulpit. In this collecting of his mind he became
absorbed.  While walking to the house of God,
or entering the private room, (always connected
with the pulpit in England,) he engaged in no
conversation, nor did he seem  to be aware
of what was passing around him.  He never
wrote out fully, as a preparation, what he
was to preach; but with well arranged ideas, he
left the mode of utterance to the warmth of




204       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
the moment.  His manner of handling his
subject was rather expository, though  not
strictly so.
Another source of his pulpit power was a
natural strength of mind, to which few could
lay claim, and which no study can createthough in genius, as a preacher, he had his
superiors in his own day.  Yet, in power
over the masses, he excelled; or, to use his
own  expression,'out-congregationed" them
all.
But we have not yet given the most important cause of his ability to preach often and
to preach well. It was undoubtedly the extraordinary degree of the Holy Spirit's influence
with which he was favoured. He lived spiritually near to God, and seemed always to feel
"Thou God seest me!"  Under this influence
he aimed to reach the heart, and to bring men
to Christo  His sentiments on this subject,
which were exhibited in his practice, he thus
expresses:-" The only preaching worth any
thing, in God's account, and which the fire will
not burn up, is that which labours to convict
and convince the sinner of his sin, to bring him
into contrition for it, to convert him from it; to
lead him to the blood of the covenant, that his
conscience may be purged from  its guilt,-to
the spirit of judgment and burning, that he may
be purified from its infection-and then to build
him up on this most holy faith, by causing him




HIS POPULARITY.            205
to pray in the Holy Ghost, and keep himself
in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  This system is that alone which God will own in the
conversion of sinners.  I speak from the experience of nearly fifty years in the public ministry of the Word; this is the most likely method
to produce the active soul of divinity. Labour to
bring sinners to God. should you by it bring
yourself to the grave."
Dr. Clarke's written sermons differed widely
from  those which were spoken.  The former
were prepared in the study, and to be studied.
He never carried the show of learning into the
pulpit.  He dwelt much there on the great fundamental truths respecting which the Christian
world generally agree. The depravity of man,
the supreme divinity of Christ, his death to save
men, and salvation through faith in his blood
alone, were his favourite themes.  While his
thoughts were rich, and gratified the learned
and intellectual, they were expressed with so
much simplicity of language and cordiality of
feeling, that they edified and delighted the most
illiterate and feeble disciple. An old lady in
the Shetland Isles remarked:-" I had heard
that Dr. Clarke was a great man, and very
learned; but when I heard him, I found him
just like any other man.  I could understand
every word he said."  His voice was clear and
strong, but not trained by the arts of the elocu18




206       LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
tionist-his gestures few and not remarkably
expressive.  He had the appearance in the pulpit of one having something to say, and a heart
which burned with it, and it found expression
in the voice and manner, in the readiest and
most natural way.
We need not add any illustrations of Dr.
Clarke's moral integrity and genuine piety.
If the facts of these pages teach any thing,
they teach that he was ready to maintain his
integrity  with a martyr's  faithfulness, and
that he maintained his piety by an humble
faith.
In speaking of his love for friends, he
says: "' God has given me a body and a mind
that have gone through a great deal;-I can
live sparingly-do with little raiment-with
little sleep, and very little food, but there
is one thing I never have been able to live
without,-MY FRIENDS. Next to God himself,
I must have these or I could not live."
But in no way, perhaps, was his habitual
kindness more manifest than when surrounded
with a group of frolicking children.  With a
natural dignity which won respect, and a playfulness that secured their sympathy and love,
he made himself exceedingly popular with the
little folks. He would form a semicircle of them
about the fire in the evening, and relate some
Eastern tale, or incident in his own eventful
life-and no one could better tell a story,




LETTER TO HIS GRANDSON.         207
whether to old or young people-always drawing from it such instruction, as to profit as well
as amuse.  With the girls he would enter into
their interest in a doll, and with the boys, into
theirs in a game of cricket, as happily as any
of them.
The following letter to his grandson breathes
the same spirit:MT  DEAR LITTLE GRANDSON,Your father and mother tell me you are fond
of birds, especially pretty little birds, that have
pretty feathers-blue, green, yellow, red, fine
glossy black, and fair lily white, with nice bills
and beautiful legs; but your mamma tells me
that you have but one such bird; what a pity,
when you love it so well, and would take great
care of others also, if you had them.  Well,
my dear Adam, I have many very beautiful
birds which have been sent me from  countries
very far off, and they were sent me by very
good people who love me, and I will give some
of them  to you, Adam, because I love you.
Now, my dear Adam, I much like these little
birds. Is it because they have very beautiful
feathers, and beaks, and legs? or because,
when they were alive, they sang so delightfully, ran so fast, and flew so swiftly?  All this
indeed I love, but I love them most because it
was the same good God who made them  that
made myself; and he who feeds me, feeds them
also, and takes care of them; and he made




208       LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
them beautiful, that you and I and all people,
might be pleased with their fine feathers and
sweet singing. Now, a man who has a great
deal of money may go to a place where people
sing for money; or have music in the house,
such as your dear Cecilia plays; but there are a
great many poor people in the world who have
scarcely money enough to buy bread when they
are hungry, or clothes to keep them warm in
the cold weather. Now, my dear, these cannot
hire people to sing, nor can they have music
in their houses, like your mamma, yet they
love to hear music; so would it not be a pity
that they should not have some also?  See,
then, why the good God who made you, formed
so many fine birds, with such sweet voices to
sing the sweetest songs; these are the poor
man's musice they sing to him for nothing!
They do not even ask a crumb of bread from
the poor man; and when he is going to work
in the morning, they sing to encourage him;
and when he is returning home in the evening
very weary, because he has worked very hard,
they sing again that he may be pleased and not
grieve nor fret.  Now, is not God very good
for making these pretty little musicians to encourage and comfort the poor labouring man?
And will you not then love this God who made
them for so kind a purpose?
Now you must know, Adam, that I am very
fond of these nice little birds; and often take
crumbs of bread and scatter them under the




THE SECRET OF HIS SUCCESS.    209
windows, that they may come and pick them
up; and I once put a stick in the ground before the parlour window, with a cross stick
upon the top of it, just like your letter T that
you have been learning in your A, B, C, and
often would I lift up the window and cry,
"Bobby, Bobby," and the sweet redbreast, so
soon as he could hear my voice, would fly near
the window and sit on the cross stick; and
then I left the crumbs and bits of cheese, of
which they are very fond, upon the ledge of
the window, and when I had shut down the
sash, then Bobby would come and eat them all
up! I have told you before, that I love little
birds; yes, I love them  even when they are
dead; and I get their skins stuffed, and made
to look just as if the birds were alive. Now
I send you several of these beautiful stuffed
birds, and they shall be your own, and you
shall take care of them, and keep them for
the sake of your loving and affectionate grandfather,
ADAM  CLARKE.
In considering the secret of the success of a
man who has accomplished much for the good
of his fellow man, it is not easy to designate
any one element in his character.  There is
generally a combination of many.  But still,
one trait may stand forth more prominently
than the rest, and be more easily connected
18*




210        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
with his success.  The INDUSTRY of Dr. Clarke
was such a trait.  If this was not the whole
cause of his greatness and usefulness, without
it, he would  not have been  distinguished.
There was a natural strength  of mind,-a
marked  ability-which  prompted  his unremitted application; but this again was cultivated with a diligence, which all can imitate, that roused and expanded every faculty
with which he was gifted.  His industry astonished his contemporaries and drew from them
frequent expressions of surprise.  The influence of his example and precepts in this respect, was felt by all he associated with. An
indolent person could not long be his companion, nor endure his society. An economist of
time himself, he could not bear to see it wasted
by others; and even when his little grandchildren were around him for a time, he always
kept them engaged according to their ability.
To one he would give a book of pictures to
look over,-to another different bits of coloured
stones, or paper, to arrange on the floor,-to a
third a piece of board with a hammer and nails,
to drive in and pull out again; in order that
even their infancy should not know the evils
of idleness."
A  necessary part of his industry was his
promptness in the discharge of duty.  He
answered letters as soon as they were received;
and in this way wrote, on an average, during




HIS PROMPTNESS.            211
one of the years of his presidency in the Conference, an official letter every day, besides an
extensive general correspondence.
He says, " I never lost a coach or a boat in
my life, by being behind the time of their departure."  Railroads of more recent days,
would have tried his punctuality still more, but
yet we think he would not have "missed the
cars."
A catalogue of books having been sent to
him late one evening, he immediately looked it
over, and saw advertised a rare and valuable
book.  Early the next morning he was at the
book-store, and secured the prize. A few moments after a distinguished literary friend
called for the same purpose, but the book was
gone.  Taking Dr. Clarke's residence in his
way on his return, he called for a sight of the
work.
"Ah, Doctor," he exclaimed, "you have
been fortunate; but how did you secure it?  I
was at the book-store directly after breakfast."
"But I was there before breakfast," replied
Dr. Clarke.
A habit of doing every thing in an orderly
manner was an attendant of Dr. Clarke's industry.  An intimate friend of his, having just
left the study, was about to sit down at the
breakfast-table.
"You are wanted in my study," said the
doctor.




212        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
The person immediately proceeded to the
study, looked around, but seeing no one, returned, saying, "Who wants me, sir?  I find
no one there."
"Did you not see a book on the library table, which insisted on again being put in its
proper place?" replied the doctor, so goodnaturedly that no offence was given, while the
lesson on order was not likely to be forgotten.
Early rising being a subject of conversation
with a young friend, the latter remarked that
he found it impossible to convert the practice
of very early rising into that source of enjoyment which it seemed to be to the doctor;
that he had  been  protesting  and praying
against it for several years, but it still lingered, and seemed to be an inveterate evil.
" My dear brother," said the doctor,' you
have entirely misapprehended the case.  The
remedy is simple, and of easy application.
Now, instead of lying in bed and praying on
the subject of early rising, I get up at the appointed time, dress myself, and go at once to
my study and my books.  If you take my
advice, you will act, in future, on the same
maxim.'
Thus industry,-combined with its relative
habits of order, promptness, and early rising,was an important secret, if not the great cause
of Dr. Clarke's distinction.  This is not only
imitable, but it will be as valuable to any of




HIS EXAMPLE MAY BE IMITATED.  218
our young readers, as it was to Dr. Clarke.
Not that they may accomplish as much as he
did, but their ability may be as much quickened
and enlarged by it.  We may desire his fair
fame.  Are we willing to pay the price he
paid?
X;




214         LIFE  OF ADAM  CLARKE.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE  CLOSING  SCENE.
The testimony of Dr. Clarke's last years-The seasons of his
life-Continued love for the Bible-Recollections-He did
not hope to be saved by what he had done-The testimony
of the poet Montgomery-Dr. Clarke at the Wesleyan Conference-Leaves for home on account of the prevalence of
the cholera-Settles his business-His last attendance at the
family altar-His last interview with his children and grandchildren-Parting moments at Hayden Hall-Attacked by
cholera-The closing scene.
IT is customary to give the dying experience
of Christians, in confirmation of the excellence
of our holy religion. This is well. But if we
give Dr. Clarke's views, while yet in health,
of the service of Christ, though standing knowingly on the very verge of the grave, it will be
a testimony scarcely less solemn and weighty.
He was now old, and his life had been given,
from  youth to hoary age, to God.  Little was
left but the solemn opening of eternal scenes.
How did that life appear to him  in the retrospect, and  that eternity now  so near?  We
preface the account of his death with a few
declarations on this point, from his own lips.
Dr. Clarke was visiting  Port Stuart, and




THE SEASONS OF HIS LIFE.              215
viewing the shore near which he was so nearly
drowned.   Turning  from'contemplating  the
greats deep, he cut out, on a pane of glass,
with the point of a diamond, in a careful hand,
the following lines:
"THE SEASONS OF ADAM CLARKE S LIFE.
"I have enjoyed the spring of life,I have endured the toils of its slumnerI have culled the fruits of its autumnI am now passing through the rigours of its winter —
And I am neither forsaken of GOD
Nor abandoned of man.
I see, at no great distance, the dawn of a new day,
The first of a spring that shall be eternal!
It is advancing to meet me!
I run to embrace it!
Welcome! welcome! eternal spring!
Hallelujah!"
We have, in the following records, his last
testimony  concerning  the  excellence  of the
Bible, over which so many days of study and
toil had been spent.
" In  perpetuam  rei memoriam.*   I have
lived more than three-score years and ten. I
have travelled  a good deal, by sea and land.
I have conversed with, and seen many people,
in, and from many different countries. I have
studied all the principal religious systems in the
world. I have read much, thought much, and rea-; " For a perpetual memorial."




216       LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
soned much; and the result is, I am persuaded
of the simple, unadulterated truth of no book but
of the Bible, and of the excellence of no system
of religion but that contained in the Holy Scriptures; and especially, Christianity, which is referred to in the Old Testament, and fully revealed in the New."  He expresses himself in
the same spirit in a letter to a young friend:
"After having, for more than half a century, read the Bible so much, I formed the resolution in January, 1830, to read the Bible
through once more, beginning with the first
chapter of Genesis, and the first of Matthew,
binding myself to read a chapter of each every
day.  I read the New Testament in Greek,
and the Old Testament in English, comparing
it, occasionally, with the Hebrew.  I bind myself to one chapter in each, daily; but I often
read more, and have, since the first of last January, read over the five books of Moses and the
four Gospels.  This I find very profitable.
At the close of the year he speaks of the
results of this resolution.  The Greek I read
alone, and every word aloud, to accustom myself to speak it regularly and correctly-for
the facility of speaking either it or any other
language would be soon lost without this. I
thought it might be the last year I might be
permitted to go through again with the Book
of God; and if so, I would take my leave of it
in full. Some days I read two chapters in the




RECOLLECTIONS.            217
Old Testament and one in the New.  On other
days I could not do so much; but there were
some in which I could do much more, and read
four or five.  This got me a little before-hand,
when I had to travel.  At the conference I
was a little back; but as I rose early, I accomplished the whole in the course of the year, in
the midst of travelling, preaching, writing, and
other employment.
During his last journey to Ireland in behalf
of his schools, being in indifferent health, and
weary from incessant travelling and preaching,
he thus expresses his feelings:" My youthful days were spent in labour;
my manhood in hard and incessant toil; and
now my old age is consuming fast' away in tra
vail and care; and when care is unavoidably
crowned by anxiety, the taper of life must
soon sink in its socket.  An active mind will
ever say,' Better wear out than rust out;' but
there is a difference between wear out and
grind out.  The one implies regular, though
continual labour; the other extra employment,
and violent exercise.  When I look back upon
my three-score and ten years, I must say, I
find little wearing.  All has been grinding
with me.  Strong attrition has acted on every
part, and my candle has been lighted at both
ends.  Under the blessing of God, I have
been the former of my own fortune.  I have
never been importunate for wealth or favour.
19




218       LIFE OF ADAM CLAI.KE.
I have not been troublesome to any.  I have
not eaten my bread for nought, nor have I
eaten my morsel alone.  Often have the necessities of others fallen upon lme, and strangely
has God supported'me under them.  The Lor(t
knoweth the way that I take, and when he
hath  tried me I shall come forth as gold;
only speak thou the word, and thy servant
heareth."
At another time, after noticing several particulars connected with his personal history as
a Christian, and the accessions which had been
made to his literary stores, he said, " If I had
the offer of millions of money, on condition that
the knowledge of these things, their associations, and the feelings excited by them, should,
in the recollection, be as though they were not,
I would at once say, take your millions, and
preserve to me this knowledge.  If I had it in
my power to change any of the scenes anc
associations through which I have passed, I
would not alter one iota that has come in this
way."
Though he thus speaks of himseyf, the following  declaration  to  a  friend,-almost a
dying testimony,-will show  with what he
connected all the good he had been enabled
to (lo:'i My record is with God, who knows as well
my sincerity and uprightness, as he knows my
worthlessness and weakness,-nor have I ever




DID NOT BOAST IN WHAT HE HAD DONE. 219
sought to balance these in order to have the
cold consolation,' I stand, if not in the list of
merit, yet among the blameless.' No.  I said
to my God,' Thou knowest the way that I
take; I have endeavoured to promote  thy
glory by striving to do good to thy creatures
redeemed by the blood of thy Son; but, in
these respects, I cannot stand with uncovered
face before thee; and thou knowest that my
heart says more forcibly than my voice can
say,' God be mericiful to me, a sinner.'
" God never needed my services. He brought
me into the world that I might receive good
from him and do good to my fellows.  This is
God's object in reference to all human beings,
and should be the object of every man in reference to his brother.  This is the whole of my
practical creed. God, in his love, gave me a
being; in his mercy he has done every thing
he should do to make it a well-being.  Hie has
taught me to love him by first loving me; and
has taught me to love my neighbours as myself, by inspiring me with his own love."
" 0  thou incomprehensible Jehovah, thou
eternal Word, the ever-enduring and all pervading Spirit-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
in the plenitude of thy eternal Godhead, in
thy light, I, in a measure, see Thee; and in
thy condescending nearness to my nature, I
can love Thee for Thou hast loved me. In thy
strength may I begin, continue and end every




220        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
design, and every work, so as to glorify Thee,
by showing how much thou lovest man, and
how much man may be ennobled by loving
Thee I"
We shall close these notices of Dr. Clarke's
religious feeling, in his last years, by the testimony of another, who witnessed one of his last
public labours, a few  weeks only before his
death-the testimony of one, not of his own
branch of Christ's church, but extensively
known where Christian poetry is loved-the
late James Montgomery.  The words which
follow were spoken by him in a public meeting
in Sheffield, in reference to Dr. Clarke's last
ministrations there: 
"Few probably are here now, who will not
call to mind one who was among us, on a like
occasion, last year-one who, by his sermons
from the pulpit on the Sabbath, his address at
the public meeting on the Monday, and his
farewell to the breakfast party next morning,
most effectually served the cause which he was
engaged to plead, by making those who had
the privilege of hearing him, determine to
render their own services more effective thenceforward; witnessing, as they did, the zeal,
faith and love of that venerable disciple towards
the close of his career."
"Who among us does not remember-nay,
which of us can forget-the two discourses referred to? the simple energy with which they




CHARACTER OF HIS PREACHING.   221
wvere poured forth, the unction of the Holy
One which accompanied them, and the devout
feeling so interfused as to overpower the sense
of admiration which the learning, the love, the
transcendent ability displayed in the composition, were calculated to excite.  Then his address to the meeting from this platform, though
uttered under the pressure of great bodily
weakness, was hallowed throughout by such
demonstration of the Spirit and of power, as to
leave an imperishable recollection of its influence upon our minds; while, with patriarchal
grace, he told the simple tale of his own early
experience of the gospel, and showed how it
constrained him to sally forth, boy as he was,
among the mountains and valleys, to the hamlets and scattered huts, in the wild neighbourhood where he was born, with New Testament
and hymn book in hand, preaching and praying, reading and singing, wherever he could
collect a few peasants, or women and children
about him to hearken to his voice, or join with
him  in worship.  The scene, too, after the
breakfast, in the adjacent vestry, was most
touching and impressive.  He knew not how to
give over, while from the fulness of his heart,
his mouth spake.  His last words-of which
more and more fell from his lips as he lingered
in the room, and could not depart without again
and again exhorting the company to diligence
and fidelity to the service of God-those last
19*



222        LIFE OF ADAM CLARKE.
words left a blessing behind which can never
be taken away from those on whom it descended; even as Elijah, before he was carried up
to heaven in the chariot of fire already waiting
for him, may be supposed to have turned back
and spread abroad his hands in benediction
towards the sons of the prophets who tarried
on the other side of Jordan, while he on whom
his mantle was to fall, accompanied him to the
farther side.  Such was Adam  Clarke when
we last beheld him."
Our biographical narrative is now  closed.
There remains only the sad duty of relating
how the venerable servant of God passed the
Jordan of death.
Though in feeble health, he attended the
WTesleyan Conference, in Liverpool, the latter
part of July, 1832.  Strong expressions of
Christian love and confidence passed between
him and his brethren in the ministry.  He occupied the chair of the president during his
temporary absence, and preached the annual
sermon before the conference at the repeated
unanimous vote of that body.  Thus having
taken, unconsciously, his last leave of his brethren in the ministry of the Word, he hastened
away, before the close of the sittings of the
conference, assigning as a reason, not only his
own health, but the desire he had to be with
his family during the prevalence of the cholera,
which was then making fearful ravages around




ALARMED BY THE CHOLERA.          223
him.  " God," said he, "is visiting this nation,
he is visiting this town, which has become a
place of death; he has long had a reckoning
with us as a land; we are in the midst of disease; it is in the metropolis; my house will
be filled with children-there is no barricading
the house against the scourge-I must go and
be with them."
Just before his departure for home, while in
the house of a friend, the cholera being the
subject of conversation, it was remarked, by a
person present, that the wife of one of the
preachers had suffered much from fear of the
cholera, but was delivered from that fear by
the application of the following text of Scripture to her, which she received as a revelation
from God, that she should not be touched by
the cholera-" A  thousand shall fall at thy
side and ten thousand at thy right hand; but
it shall not come nigh thee," &c. Ps. xci. The
doctor rebuked this interpretation by saying,
"Mrs. H. may have such an impression, and
she may believe she has been told so, but this
I know, that God has not so spoken to me."
Deeply convinced that he might at any moment be called from his connection with the
church on earth, he had, before leaving the
conference, transferred all his responsibilities
for the Shetland Mission to them, and made
arrangements to confide to the same care his
Irish schools, which had until now  been in




224       LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
their management, on his sole responsibility.
His monied accounts were all brought into the
most exact order, with as much promptness as
if he knew he was about to retire from earthly
scenes.
On the 21st of August, the doctor arrived at
Hayden Hall.  In his morning and evening
worship with his family, he invariably prayed,
in reference to the cholera, that each and all
might be preserved from its influence or prepared for sudden death.  On Saturday, August 25th, he summoned his family as usual,
for morning devotions.  He commenced with
these words, " We thank thee, 0 heavenly Father, that we have a blessed hope through
Christ of entering into thy glory,"  Having
an engagement at Bayswater, to preach on
Sabbath morning, his friend, Mr. Hobbs, of
that place, came with a carriage to carry him
to his house for the night.  Dr. Clarke had,
but four days before, visited all his children,
kissed most affectionately his grand-children,
and literally blessed, as was his custom, in the
name of God, his own children and theirs.
On stepping into the carriage, he gave a piece
of silver to a servant, for "poor Mrs. Fox," a
sick and now dying neighbour, whose sufferings
his charity and attention had for a long time
alleviated, inquiring at the same after her
spiritual welfare.  When told that she was
peacefully trusting in Christ, he exclaimed.




HIS DEATH.              225
" Praise God," and left his own gate-forever.
Could a farewell have been more fitting, had
it been known to be such 
On his arrival at Bayswater, he was much
fatigued, and spoke but little.  He retired
early. About six o'clock the next morning he
came down and requested the servant to call
Mr. Hobbs.  He found Dr. Clarke standing
with his great coat on, and ready for a journey.
Addressing Mr. Hobbs, he said, "My dear fellow, you must get me home directly; without
a miracle I could not preach; get me home-I
want to be home."  It was soon found necessary to call for a physician, who pronounced the
disease to be the cholera.  When Mrs. Clarke
entered the room, about four in the afternoon,
he was only able to extend his hand towards
her; and, on the appearance of Mrs. Hook,
one of his daughters, he opened his eyes and
strove to clasp his fingers upon her hand.
The disease baffled all human skill; and, at
twenty minutes before eleven o'clock, in the
stillness of a Sabbath night, in the seventysecond year of his age, Adam  Clarke fell
C asleep in Jesus."
The text from  which he had proposed to
preach that Sabbath was legibly written upon
some paper which was left upon his table at
home; he had evidently intended to write out
histhoughts upon it for preservation. It was
this-" Verily, verily I say unto you, the hour




226         LIFE OF ADAM  CLARKE.
is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear
the voice of the Son of God; and they that
hear shall live." John  x.  In  the buryingground, behind  the  Wesleyan  Chapel, City
Road, London, in an humble grave, next to
the vault in which repose the ashes of the venerable  John  Wesley, all that was mortal of
Adam  Clarke lies buried.
" Servant of God, well done!
Thy glorious warfare's past;
The battle's fought, the race is wonl,
And thou art crowned at last."