congregation consists of the late Mr. Cadogan's hearers, and they are, for the most part, zealous for the church, and therefore if they cannot hear the gospel in it, they are resolved to keep as near to it as they can."

Though the advice contained in this letter might tend to check any precipitate determination on the part of my father, there was obviously nothing to satisfy his inquiries, or remove his objections; and these, ultimately, led him to deviate a little from the line prescribed to the clergy of the establishment, and to take charge of the chapel mentioned by Sir Richard, at Reading. He went thither shortly after, for the purpose of acquiring specific information respecting it. While at that place, he thus

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"I arrived here at noon to-day, and find Mr. and Mrs. * very agreeable people. But no company can make up for the loss of yours and my sweet babes. I find myself quite desolate without you; and if it please God that we meet again in peace and love, as I hope we shall soon, it will not be necessary that you should use any arguments to prevent my leaving you, as nothing but urgent necessity, and the will of God, shall separate us again. May our God make the occasion of our temporary separation the means of our future welfare.

'Since I have been here, I have had the offer of an application to be made for me for two foreign situations-one at St. Helena, with five hundred guineas per annum, and the other at Bermuda, with nearly the same sum; both apparently spheres of great ministerial importance. But though I trust I am desirous of going where our Lord would lead us, I cannot think it is his will, that, under our circumstances, I should undertake either of these

charges. Oh, may He condescend to point out the path he would have us pursue.

"I preached yesterday at Ashampstead, a village at some distance from Reading, where I had a congregation of attentive hearers; many of them serious people; perhaps more like my Imber congregation than any I have preached to since. The chapel is a commodious building, very similar to Wellington church, though not so long; and it is better attended than any place in Reading. The trustees seem to wish me to stay; but I do not intend to give them any answer at present, nor shall I fix on anything till after my return to Wellington."

The attendants at this place of worship, had made repeated efforts to bring it under episcopal jurisdiction; and they professed the strongest attachment to the articles and liturgy of the church—the latter being invariably used in the chapel. But to revert for an instant to the circumstances which gave rise to it. The Rev. Dr. Talbot, an eminently useful divine, was in 1767, presented to the living of St. Giles's, Reading; where he approved himself a faithful preacher, and an exemplary pastor. At his death, the Hon. and Rev. W. B. Cadogan was appointed his successor. He entered upon his duties, truly desirous of fulfilling them, and zealous of doing good; but he attempted to perform the work assigned to him, by inefficient means. Strongly prejudiced against those distinguishing doctrines of christianity, which he afterwards considered it his glory to preach, he branded his predecessor's excellent curate as a methodist, although a strictly consistent churchman; and hastily dismissed him from his situation. The greater part of his congregation, influenced by the

excellent widow of the late incumbent, believed that their new vicar, though defective in his doctrinal views of religion, was conscientious and sincere; and they were induced earnestly to pray that his zeal might be according to knowledge. The declaration, "If any man will do the will of God, he shall know of the doctrine," was remarkably exemplified in the case of Mr. Cadogan. In Mrs. Talbot he found a Priscilla, who became his friend, guide, and director; and who gradually and discreetly explained to him "the way of God more perfectly;" illustrating her sentiments, by the lovely example of her own humility and unobtrusive piety. In a short time he began to preach the same doctrines as his predecessor; and after a brilliant career of about twenty years, during which he was eminently useful as a preacher of righteousness, this devoted servant of Jesus Christ finished his course, and "entered into the joy of his Lord."

His hearers at St. Giles's, deeply lamenting their loss, had not the consolation of finding it repaired by his successor. They entreated permission to appoint a lecturer, whose salary they undertook to provide. On the rejection of this offer, they determined on erecting the chapel referred to; the management of which, was placed in the hands of trustees selected from the principal subscribers.

After much consideration and prayer, my father decided upon a removal to Reading; and he accordingly left Wellington in the beginning of October 1805; attended with the affectionate regard of the

vicar, and followed by the tears, prayers, and blessings of the people.

The congregation at the chapel was numerous and devout; but my father shortly found himself surrounded with greater difficulties than had hitherto attended the exercise of his ministry; especially with reference to that freedom which he considered indispensable to usefulness. He studied with increased and earnest attention, the principle on which the church of England receives her members; and the examination resulted in a perfect conviction of its entire conformity with the statements of scripThis conviction was not the effect of reading any authors upon the subject, or of conversation with other clergymen; but as he used emphatically to say, was thought out" in meditation and study of the word of God.

ture.

If the observation of Bishop Hall be correct, "that the good use which is made of sins is as gainful to God as that which arises from good actions," much more may it be inferred that the errors and mistakes, into which his servants may sometimes be suffered to fall, with respect to certain points of doctrine, may, if turned to good account, be very beneficial in their consequences both to themselves and others. Such individuals may rest with greater security on their principles, after having tried their strength and examined their stability by the infallible test of the word of God; and they are at the same time well furnished with arguments to meet the objections, and to remove the scruples of those who occupy the

"When

weaker ground on which they once stood. thou art converted strengthen thy brethren" was an exhortation which, from this period, my father acted upon in respect to this controverted subject. To his conversation many owe clear and distinct apprehensions of its nature, and a satisfactory explanation of its difficulties. If a statement of his confirmed sentiments should tend to obviate objections in the minds of any who may read these pages, his temporary doubts and subsequent firm belief of the orthodox character of the baptismal services, may be still more extensively useful.

The church of England, he would say, provides all her services and forms of worship, for her true and spiritual members. Not, indeed, that she affirms all are so actually, but that all are supposed to be so in her charitable judgment. None are received within her communion whom she does not regard as dear children. In implicit reliance on the language of scripture—"I will be a God to thee and to thy seed; the promise is to you and to your children;" and, following the example of her great head, her language of love is "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not." Nor does the church degrade the ordinance, by which they are admitted to her communion, to a mere lifeless ceremony, unconnected with holy privileges and spiritual blessings; but immediately acknowledges them as regenerate and heirs of glory. After charging their sponsors to bring them up to follow the example of our Saviour Christ, that they may daily proceed in