of bacon well covered with dust, he cut, oh, such a rasher, placing the same between the bars of a gridiron before the fire; soon the dirt and dust began to roll off in layers, and the bacon frizzed away. When all was ready, bacon and tea were placed upon the table, and we regret we were so ungrateful as not to feel tempted to partake of more than a taste of each. However, it was far different with the spiritual meal which followed. Oh, how sweet was the conversation of that godly old man; it was all of Jesus, and, when he prayed, it was prayer-full of unction, and so to the point! We were not long in discovering that he was richly taught by the Spirit of God.

Again, the village preacher must be prepared for all sorts of weather. We recollect particularly one Sunday, the most uncongenial day we ever encountered, rain, snow, and wind; not a soul was out along the road that could help it; we were strongly tempted to return, especially as we thought, "What shall we do at night to have to drive seven miles in such weather?" However, we got safely to the little place, and we did feel lifted up above surrounding circumstances, and we thought, "Well, the few before us must be living souls, hungering for the bread of life, or they would never venture out such a day," and we spoke with unusual liberty of soul; but we still dreaded the night, for, if a sharp frost set in, the roads would be dreadful; but the Lord was better to us than all our fears, and brought us home in safety. Many a time the nights have been so dark, that under the trees in the country lanes we have been obliged to let the reins loose and leave the horse to himself; and faithful creatures have we proved them to be. What a shame ever to ill-treat them! And now, in calling to mind these wanderings, we must not forget the privilege enjoyed of spending

A WEEK AT WILFORD.

Arriving at Nottingham station, a vehicle was ready to convey us to Wilford, and, as we drove up the carriage sweep to the hall, fleshly feelings and tremblings prevailed, all of which soon vanished when we heard the sweet voice of the late Lady Lucy Smith, bidding "the Wayside Note writer" welcome, in the name of the Lord. And here we must pause to bestow a tribute of respect to the memory of that dear departed saint. We are not accustomed to flatter human nature; but all who knew her will not accord it adulation, when we say one seldom meets in this world with a Christian so Christ-like as was her ladyship. Her graceful and dignified figure, her sanctified conversation, her meek and grace-softened deportment, as she moved about her house and grounds, she seemed to brighten and bless all around; you could not but feel happy in her presence. Exalted in life, she sought the benefit, spiritual and temporal, of those amongst whom her lot was cast. As the remembrance card which was distributed at her death among her poor pensioners, truthfully states, "Through the grace of God bestowed on her, she was truly a mother in Israel, and a succourer of many." We must add it is a matter of deep regret to the writer, that though nearly three years have passed since the death of the inestimable lady, no memoir (as far as we know) has been published. Details of a life like hers must be full of interest to the Church of Christ, and we think should be preserved. But to return. Soon after our arrival at Wilford House, it was time for family worship. What a sweet sight it was! a group of servants ranged on one side of the room, all so neat and orderly. Lady Lucy had selected the hymn which we gave out, one of the servants with a sweet

voice gently leading the singing; then followed expounding the Scriptures and prayer. On the Sabbath morning we preached at Nottingham, taking for our text the two words, "Fitly framed" (Eph. ii.); and, though it was with fear and trembling, we were encouraged afterwards by her ladyship's frequently saying through the week, "Well, it is all fitly framed." In the evening we preached in her ladyship's own chapel, adjacent to the hall.

On Monday morning, by her request, we visited several of her poor pilgrims, and we recollect having sweet converse with a young man whose name we have forgotten-the far-famed Clifton Grove was witness to our mutual tellings of the preciousness of Jesus.

On the Tuesday we preached in one of her ladyship's almshouses, at Nottingham, from "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that He may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people" (Psalm cxiii. 7, 8). A goodly number of the inmates attended, after which we paid a visit to that dear departed saint "Ruth Bryan," who was pleased to say that she had long desired to see "the Wayside Note writer." It was a meeting the savour of which rests upon our spirit to this day; her heavenly conversation, her sweet submission to the will of God, under her deep trial (and a deep trial, indeed, it was), and her experimental acquaintance with divine truth, will not be soon forgotten.

In the evening we went with dear Ruth to hear Mr. Baxter preach, and when, a few months back, we were privileged to preach in the same pulpit, we could but look down upon the spot where dear Ruth had sat, and, think, "Ah, happy saint! no longer there; thou hast crossed Jordan safely, and art now with Jesus, whom you so much loved, harping with your harp amidst the happy throng above."

Other services were held during our brief stay at Wilford, and we witnessed the reverence with which Lady Lucy was held by all around her, and it struck us that her fellow could only be found in that saint of blessed memory, the Countess of Huntingdon-sisters and saints now in glory together. What a different scene, when, returned to the great gas-lit metropolis, we plunged into the labyrinth of London activity. Wilford, with its sanctified calmness and order, and London, with its unhallowed restlessness and scenes of sin and debauchery presenting themselves at every corner, and yet while treading the streets of London we have often been in as close communion with God as ever we were in the calm retreat and silent shade of country life. Christ to the Christian is the same everywhere. And now, in drawing our reminiscences to a conclusion, if the reader should be in like manner desirous of spreading the truth as it is in Jesus, we would remind him of the promise, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and it shall be found after many days." This we have proved to be the case. We recollect feeling much downcast in going constantly to a certain village to preach the Gospel, and yet no fruit appeared; when, one day, meeting a friend who was a deacon of another place of worship, he said to us, "By the way, we received yesterday nine persons into church fellowship, and two of them dated their knowledge of divine things to your preaching at such a village." Here was unexpected fruit, and we praised the Lord and went on our way rejoicing. Another case occurs to us which we also mention, that others may be cheered in their work. Coming away from a house of prayer, and thinking, "Oh that God would save precious souls! all seems so deathlike and dark," we overtook a poor but

tidy country woman. We were giving her a passing word, when she stopped us, saying, "I've long wanted to speak to you, sir; but could not muster up the courage;" and then followed a precious testimony of how the word had been blessed to her soul. Soon after this conversation she became seriously ill from that terrible of all maladies, cancer. We were often by her bedside, and have every reason to believe that this poor creature, who had been a great sinner, died resting and trusting in the finished work of Christ. We would say, then, fellow-worker in the Lord's vineyard, Go on, nothing doubting.

Personally, there is great profit in such labours, as Scripture declares, "Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof, so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured." Too apt are we, like Martha, "to be cumbered about many things," and to be absorbed in the cares and concerns of life; and, as an inevitable consequence, a coldness and indifference creep over us respecting the things of eternity. Now, any thing that stirs us up to the study of God's word must be well. We need driving to the throne.

Labour of the kind alluded to also brings us in contact with other Christians, and as "Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend; and as in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man."

Well, in reviewing the past, we can say, we have done what we could to spread the name and fanie of Jesus. We have followed our dear Lord's example in some little measure, "Who went about the villages teaching." He knows all the difficulties we have had to contend with, and the many anxieties that have attended these occasional runs out from home in His service. We can only rest upon the promise, "All things work together for good to them that love Christ." When we lay our head upon a dying pillow, if permitted to look back, these little preaching trips will be looked upon as green spots along the wilderness way, and we shall never regret that we have so done, but rather that we have not oftener spoken of our blessed Redeemer. We close these reminiscences with one of the sweet songs of dear Mrs. Moens, with whom, too, in bygone years, we have taken sweet counsel. Her words fit into our experience well.

"Hitherto the Lord hath helped;

We have proved His promise true;
Strength in weakness has been given,
He has brought us safely through.
"Oft our foolish hearts were fearful;

Unbelief, like mountains rose;
Still we found Almighty power
Conquer all that could oppose.
"Days and years are quickly passing,

Each one brings us nearer home,
Nearer to the land of promise,

Never, never more to roam.

"Let us testify of Jesus

As we daily onward press;
Tell His love and sound His praises
To poor sinners in distress.
"Heav'n and glory are before us,

Brethren, sisters, in the Lord,
Who can tell what there awaits us,
When we see our Father God?
"Not one thing hath ever failed,'

Then shall be our thankful song;
Everlasting praise and glory,
To our Triune God belong."

Brethren, pray for us, and may the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Grace be with you. Amen. Ilford.

G. C.

ROMAINE.

AMONG the spiritual worthies of the last century, William Romaine has a prominent place. His portrait, prefixed to his works, is an index of the mind and character of that gifted man-intelligence, firmness, tenderness, benevolence, and cheerfulness beaming forth from it. He lived from 1714 to 1795, thus outliving by many years his great contemporaries, Gill, Doddridge, Whitfield, Toplady, and Hervey, with the exception of John Newton. His father was a French refugee, who had fled to England after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and settled at Hartlepool. William was his second son, a boy full of genius, early indicating strong intellectual powers, writing with ease and freedom on abstruse subjects, and mastering the Hebrew language at a precocious age. That he was early brought to the feet of Jesus is evident, although his biographer passes over a fact so important in silence; and it is a subject of regret that the memoir of such an eminent divine should have been so imperfectly given. The deeplyinteresting period of his connexion with Lady Huntingdon is entirely omitted. No one could have doubted then or now that Romaine's preference was with the church of which he was so long a minister, and therefore Mr. Cadogan need not have dwelt so frequently on this matter, to the exclusion of every other. We get from himself the following detail of his early experience: "God's dealings with me have been wonderful, not only for the royal sovereignty of His richest grace, but also for the manner of His teaching, on which I cannot look back without adoring my meek and lowly Prophet. He would have all the honour (and He well deserves it) of working out and also of applying His glorious salvation. When I was in trouble and soul-concern He would not let me learn of man (many years ago I chose my motto, Cease ye from man'). I went everywhere to hear, but no one was suffered to speak to my case. The reason of this I could not tell then, but I know it now. The Arminian Methodists flocked about me and courted my acquaintance, which became a great snare unto me. By their means I was brought into a difficulty which distressed me several years. I was made to believe that part of my title to salvation was to be inherent-something called holiness in myself, which the grace of God was to help me to. And I was to get it by watchfulness, prayer, fasting, hearing, reading, sacraments, &c., so that after much and long attendance on those means, I might be able to look inward, and be pleased with my own improvement, finding I was grown in grace, a great deal holier and more deserving of heaven now than I had been. I do not wonder now that I received this doctrine. It was sweet food to a proud heart. I feasted on it, and to work I went. It was hard labour and sad bondage, but the hopes of having something to glory in of my own kept up my spirits. I went on day after dry, striving, agonizing (as they called it), but still found myself not a bit better. I thought this was the fault, or that, which being amended, I should certainly succeed; and therefore set out afresh, but still came to the same place. No galley-slave worked harder, or to less purpose. Sometimes I was quite discouraged, and ready to give all up; but the discovery of some supposed hindrance set me to work again. Then I would redouble my diligence, and exert all my strength. Still I got no ground. This made me often wonder, and still more when I found out at last that I was going backward. Methought I grew worse. I saw more sin in myself instead

of more holiness, which made my bondage very hard, and my heart very heavy. The thing I wanted, the more I pursued it, flew farther and farther from me. I had no notion that this was divine teaching, and that God was delivering me from my mistake in this way, so that the discoveries of my growing worse were dreadful arguments against myself; and now and then a little light would break in and show me something of the glory of Jesus; but it was a glimpse only, gone in a moment. As I saw more of my heart, and began to feel more of my corrupt nature, I got clearer views of Gospel grace; and, in proportion as I came to know myself, I advanced to the knowledge of Christ Jesus. But this was very slow work ; the old leaven of self-righteousness, christened holiness, stuck close to me still, and made me a very dull scholar in the school of Christ. But I kept on making a little progress, and, as I was forced to give up one thing and another on which I had some dependence, I was at last stripped of all, and neither had, nor could see, where I could have aught to rest my hopes that I could call my own. This made way for blessed views of Jesus. Being now led to very deep discoveries of my own legal heart, of the dishonour I had put upon the Saviour, of the despite I had done to the Spirit of grace by resisting and perverting the workings of His love: these things humbled me; I became very vile in mine own eyes; I gave over striving; the pride of free-will, the boast of mine own words, were laid low. And, as self was debased, the Scriptures became an open book, and every page presented the Saviour to new glory. Then were explained to me those truths which are now the joy and very life of my soul."

Romaine was ordained in 1736, and appointed chaplain to the Lord Mayor of London, when he preached his second printed sermon at St. Paul's Cathedral on "Redemption from sin by the blood of Christ;" and we are told of this discourse that "it contained the reasoning of a logical head, the writing of a classical pen, and the preaching of a sound divine." After concluding a lengthened controversy with Warburton and exposed his heresies, and completed a laborious edition of a translated Hebrew concordance, Mr. Romaine resolved on leaving England, and passing the remainder of his life in France; but He "who deviseth man's ways had willed it otherwise, and His servant was to serve Him where He had first revealed Himself to his soul. The voyage was prepared for, and even his trunk sent on board the vessel which was to convey him across the channel; but, on his way to secure his passage, a strange gentleman, whom he had never seen before, accosted him in the street, asking if his name was Romaine, having recognized him from his resemblance to his parents, with whom formerly he had been acquainted. After conversing together of his family and circumstances, the stranger told him that two lectureships were vacant for the united parishes of St. George's, Botolph Lane, and St. Botolph's, Billingsgate; and, having interest in those parishes, he would exert it on his behalf, if Romaine would continue in England. He consented, and the future proved it was the work of the Divine Disposer of all events. The lectureship became his, and Romaine never had cause to regret this decision. The following year he was appointed lecturer at St. Dunstan's in the East, but the doctrines he there proclaimed were unpalatable to the rector, who bitterly opposed him; the doors were not allowed to be opened until seven o'clock, the hour of the lecture, neither the church to be lit, "so that Mr. Romaine frequently read prayers and preached by the light of a single candle, which he held in his own hand; the church doors being shut until the precise moment