the University, and was one of the first things to open their eyes to the real character of the man, who had been so much ridiculed and opposed. They could not but acknowledge, in spite of his eccentricities, that some great and noble principle must be at work within him to occasion such conduct. He means well at least,' they said;-'this is not like madness.'

During the year 1788 he entered for the first time upon a college office, being elected Junior Dean of Arts; and the following year he was appointed to the important office of Dean of Divinity. He was now in a position to exercise great moral influence in his college, especially over its junior members; and, as may be supposed, he was not slow to avail himself of this opportunity for doing good, and reforming evils. This we learn from the following letter from his friend Mr. T. Lloyd : "Dec. 12, 1789.

66

I congratulate you on your appointment to your present office-on your obtaining leave to have the testimonial altered after your own mind— and on the very good disposition of the Provost towards you. Be not sorry that you have consented to sign testimonials, (though I shall not join you according to your former expectations), for it will afford you a fresh plea for looking well to the morals of the young men. Besides, your refusal was invidious; and one who attempts reformation should endeavour to render himself as little obnoxious as possible. You have already, my dear friend, gone through much evil report; the scene now changes; and your good report is commencing. This you are to consider as a new talent, of no small importance, put into your hands: O! use it faithfully; and re

member you are as much accountable for the improvement of it, as for the discharge of your parochial duty. Lay yourself out for usefulness no less in the university than in the town. The Lord indeed seems to be calling you to it; for the fresh sphere you expected in Trinity Church seems to be shut up, at least for the present; and your influence in your own college is evidently increasing; nay further, the Provost is inclined to co-operate with you in reforming the college. Try then how far he will proceed with you; yet try judiciously. Give the present state of our college and of the university at large its proper proportion of your attention and your prayers. You have zeal; use it then in the way which God by his providence points out to you; and not in that way only to which your inclination may lead. It will be your wisdom to exercise your zeal most, where you are most backward to do it; for there will be less danger of nature mixing with it. These hints are offered in love, just as they occur to me."

His attention to this judicious counsel, and consequent efforts for the welfare of his College and the University, were no hinderance to the faithful prosecution of his parochial duties; nor do they appear to have impaired his spirituality of mind, or diminished his zeal in the discharge of the more direct work of the ministry. The effect indeed of his example and preaching began particularly now to manifest itself in the improved tone of his congregation.

"Rev. H. VENN to Mr. ELLIOTT. "Jan. 8, 1790. "On Monday my affectionate friend Simeon walked over and slept here. Oh! how refreshing were his prayers! how profitable his con

versation! We were all revived; he left a blessing behind him. How shameful is our depravity and how exceeding great, when we can be content to live without doing good to the souls of men!-call ourselves Christians, and constantly be in the house of our God, and not desire to instruct, to edify, to animate those with whom we converse! They are the truly excellent of the earth-its salt, who, whereever they go, reach the heart and conscience, and excite the devout wish, 'Oh, that I may follow Christ, like these true-hearted disciples! He preaches twice a week in a large room. My new daughter attended there when I preached; and his people are indeed of an excellent spirit-merciful, loving, and righteous."

CHAPTER V.

THE EVENING LECTURE ESTABLISHED SIR W. SCOTT'S OPINIONTUMULTS IN THE TOWN-THE LECTURES SUSPENDED-DISTURBANCES DURING DIVINE SERVICE-ADMONITION OF THE OFFENDERS A PUBLIC APOLOGY IN THE CHURCH-PREFATORY ADDRESS HAPPY CHANGE IN TWO STUDENTS—SUBSEQUENT DISTURBANCES ELECTED VICE-PROVOST-CASE OF COLLEGE DISCIPLINELETTER TO THE PROVOST AND HIS REPLY-ACQUAINTANCE WITH MR. THOMASON LABOURS AMONGST THE GOWNSMEN-AND PARISHIONERS-VISIT TO MR. FLETCHER-PATRIOTIC FEELINGSJOY IN THE LORD-DEEP HUMILIATION—TO MR. STILLINGFLEET ON INTERCESSION AND SELF-KNOWLEDGE-ON PREACHING FOR MR. J. VENN-PROPOSED MISSIONS TO THE HEATHEN-MEETINGS AT RAUCEBY-DISCUSSION OF THE SUBJECT-MEETING OF THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY.

1790-1796.

MEMOIR CONTINUED.

"AFTER some years I prevailed, and established an evening lecture, with the consent of the churchwardens, (July 18, 1790). I had long before consulted Sir W. Scott, about the right of the churchwardens to shut the church, and of the parishioners to lock up the pews; and his opinion was, that the right of prohibiting me from using the church in canonical hours was vested in the bishop alone; and that none but faculty-pews could legally be shut up in the manner that mine were. I did not however choose to exercise my right in reference to either the one or the other; but desired rather to wait till God himself should accomplish my wishes in his own time and way. To this I was led by

various considerations. My own natural disposition would have instigated me to maintain my rights by force; and I knew I could never do wrong in resisting my corrupt nature. Like a bowl with a strong bias, I could not go far out of the way on the side opposite to that bias; or if I did, I should have always something to bring me back; but if I leaned to the side where that force was in operation, I might be precipitated I knew not whither; and should have nothing to counteract the impulse, or to bring me back. There was no doubt therefore in my mind, which was the safer and better path for me to pursue.

"I did indeed on a late occasion, after twenty years, when, as will be seen in the sequel, my enemies in the parish threatened to renew the former scenes, call on several of them, to tell them what Sir W. Scott's opinion upon the disputed subjects had been, and to say that if they chose to try the matter in an amicable suit at law, I was willing to try it against the whole parish. This I did, not to remedy, but to prevent an evil; as Paul did when he asked his persecutors, whether they would venture to punish him who was a Roman, uncondemned and unheard? In this I felt that I was doing right, because I strove to avoid all occasion for litigation, and to conduct matters in an amicable way: but on all other occasions, I have wished rather to suffer than to act; because in suffering, I could not fail to be right; but in acting, I might easily do amiss. Besides, if I suffered with a becoming spirit, my enemies, though unwittingly, must of necessity do me good; whereas if in acting I should have my own spirit unduly exercised, I must of