London, February 5, 1805. "I think I may say, I am determined to try this situation. The Lord seems to give me such tokens of affection, friendship, and acceptableness, amongst the congregation of the Lock, and points out so many spiritual advantages, though mingled with great trials and temptations, that I believe I am right in coming to this decision. On Wednesday evening, I preached for Mr. Fry. Several gentlemen spoke to each of us, expressing a hope that I should undertake the charge; and one of them suggested that if it were an object to me, he did not doubt that very many would gladly contribute towards the expenses of the removal, and some increase of salary. The hint was kind, whatever might be the result. Yesterday morning, Mr. Fry and I conversed for a considerable time together. I told him all my history and circumstances. He seems resolved to omit nothing which may contribute to the hopefulness and comfort of my arrangement; and I really think that it is God's will that I should repose a temporal as well as a spiritual confidence in him. I called yesterday on Mr. Wilberforce, who put five pounds into my hand to go about from poor to poor and distribute. Blessed commission! I am to dine there to-day, and to take leave of the Dean of Carlisle, who goes to Cambridge to-morrow. No two men ever harmonized more sweetly in opinion, views, taste, judgment, &c. than Mr. Fry and myself. Our friendship is forming and confirming on the best grounds, I trust. You will judge how little able I am to see many friends, or to do any thing but labour in my vocation, when I tell you that I am to preach twice on Good Friday, twice on Easter Sunday, once on Easter Tuesday, and, perhaps, Easter Monday, and even next Wednesday. You cannot write too often; the sight of your letters cheers and delights me. I wish I could play on the ground for half an hour with the children."

London, Sunday, April 15, 1805. "I begin a few lines to you, my dearly beloved wife, in the interval between my two services; and I can hardly give any other reason, than that my mind is worked up to a high state of agitation, by meditating and preparing to preach to-night, from John v. 28, 29, and it wants a few minutes relief. The subject is truly solemn; and the manner in which I propose to treat it, will be very trying and awful, both to me and my hearers. I preached to an overflowing congregation, this morning, from Philip iii. 10; it cost me great thought and pains;-I administered the sacrament

to near two hundred persons. I have been meditating for two hours, on death, judgment, heaven, and hell. I feel that in the pulpit I shall either deliver myself with very little, or very great feeling and effect. Oh! for a heart to feel more for myself and others;-what a poor, cold, miserable creature I feel myself to be; I am sometimes constrained to cry out-and can such a worthless being be saved ?—yet there is worth in Jesus for the most worthless. God make me to experience fully the power of his resurrection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become a cast-away. Adieu for the present,-perhaps I may add a few lines before I go to bed.

66 Sunday night, ten o'clock.-My sermon proved very solemn, and brought forth very copious tears from many eyes. I trembled inwardly, whilst I painted the resurrection and punishment of condemned souls; and the effect was very striking on a most numerous and attentive congregation. I am sitting up to think about a sermon for to-morrow morning.

"Monday morning, five o'clock.-Yesterday, at the sacrament, I observed kneeling at the rails, close to Mr. Wilberforce, a negro. I was much struck, and many interesting associations filled my mind. I find also that it was quite accidental, and that Mr. W. knows nothing of him. Last night I dwelt on the meeting of husbands, wives, parents, and children, at the resurrection, and thought deeply of you and your babes; in fact, I wept: I saw the tears of others responding to my own."

While he was thus engaged in the duties and arrangements attendant on his new appointment, the following letter will prove that in dispensing spiritual instruction to others, he was not unmindful of what he owed to one, whose happiness and welfare were so nearly connected with his own.

"My dear Wife,

"London, April 20, 1805.

"I really feel it as an answer to very many prayers, which I have for years past offered up for you, that you are now seriously thinking on the all-important subject of religion. I trust you will henceforth become my spiritual monitor and counsellor, my helpmate in every good word and work, and my wife indeed, united in grace as well as in providence. With respect to the inward conflicts and doubts which you entertain in your mind, you must seek spiritual armour to fight the battle. Remember, that if you truly

desire to overcome all the evil tempers, affections, desires, and principles of your natural heart, you have an evidence within, that God must have wrought it, and that he will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able to bear, but will, with the temptation, make a way to escape. With respect to prayer, I recommend you to consider the precept of 'pray always and without ceasing.' This evidently refers to that perpetual disposition of the heart to lift itself up in sudden, short, and ejaculatory prayer, which is one of the most necessary means and proofs of grace. It is this alone which can render the appointed and regular devotions of the church, the family, and the closet, lively, strong, and efficacious. Satan will lose much of his strong hold, if you thus laboriously strive to obtain a prayerful frame of heart, an habitual meditation upon Christ and eternity, a frequency of conversing on sacred things, and above all, experimental contempla→ tion and conversation. The world is a deadly enemy to spiritual attainment; you cannot too soon see the high importance of being less conformed to it, in all its vanities, vices, follies, and unprofitable waste of time, gifts, and talents. The Christian will appear, even in the simplicity of every personal ornament. The dress, the countenance, the tone of voice, the address, will lose its former levity; and in the minutest trifles of common life, you will see the hand of God leading to important events, and his finger pointing to the life that is to come. I have just been praying most earnestly, that God may carry on such a work in your heart. The grand work of all is, to believe. This is the root and fountain of all other graces. That believing look at the Saviour, which sees an interest in him, or which at least leads to full conviction, both of his sufficiency and efficiency to save our own souls, is the master work of God. May you be led fully to see this, and in God's own time to rejoice in it. Accustom yourself to talk constantly with Nugent and Mary, on the substantial parts of Christianity, and appeal to those little instances of experience which even a child may comprehend. I wrote to you yesterday, and hope you have got my letter. I have this instant received your's of Tuesday. I hope to be able to leave London by the time you mention. The three things which I have to settle, if possible, are-the house, the furniture, and a successor; and I do hope another week will arrange the two former. I only fear for the latter, and this makes me uneasy; however, as I shall retain the curacy till Christmas, there is still time and opportunity; but much depends on a desirable substitute for the summer, otherwise all might be overthrown.

"Saturday morning, six o'clock.-I went yesterday to the Hospital, and spent three hours in very close inspection of the miserable objects whom it contains. I have now resolved on taking the house. It is in Chester-street, about a hundred yards from the Lock; it is surrounded by fields, has a very pleasant prospect, charming air, great retirement and quietness, with a little garden, a remarkably neat exterior, and as neat and comfortable an interior.

"Our final removal, if we can get a curate, must be in the middle of June. I am asked, and have consented, to preach the Charity Sermon at Newport, on May 16th. I must once more assure you, that I shall not stay a day longer than absolute business requires. I trust our separation has been for the best, and that our temporal and spiritual concerns, our views and resolutions, tempers and principles, will all thrive and prosper for the better. God bless the dear children. Kind regards to your fireside, from your truly affectionate husband,

L. RICHMOND."

Mr. Richmond's connexion with the Lock Chapel was not of long duration. A few weeks after his engagement, the rectory of Turvey, in Bedfordshire, became vacant by the death of the late Rev, Erasmus Middleton, author of "Biographia Evangelica," Mrs. Fuller, an eminently pious lady, was at that period in possession of the patronage of this benefice; and being desirous of conscientiously fulfilling the important and sacred trust committed to her, she wrote to the late Ambrose Serle, Esq, one of the commissioners of the Transport Office, author of "Hore Solitaria," and many other valuable works, stating that as she was much indebted to him, for the benefit she had received from his writings, she would present the rectory of Turvey to any clergyman, of similar sentiments with himself, whom he might choose to recommend, Mr. Serle, who at that time attended the Lock Chapel as his constant place of worship, immediately fixed on Mr. Richmond, as the fittest person among his clerical friends and connexions to fill this situation. It is, however, a fact highly honourable to him, and a proof of the purity of his motives, that he could with difficulty be persuaded to accept the nomination. His feelings recall to mind the answer of another truly pious and excellent clergyman, who has refused to exchange a small curacy for three livings successively offered to him, and who will probably, from this circumstance, be recognized by many of the clerical readers of this Memoir, "What can a man want who is useful and happy?" And,

to cite the remark of another upon this truly Christian sentiment, "What can he want who has Christ in his ministrations, and Christ's love in his heart?"

The objection which Mr. Richmond made to his acceptance of this benefice, arose from the apprehension that he should enter a sphere of much less usefulness than that in which he was then engaged. He was not aware, at that time, that the population of Turvey consisted of eight hundred souls.

He ultimately yielded, however, to the judgment of his friends, and entered on his labours at Turvey. He was inducted by his friend, Mr. Fry, on the 30th of July; and, with his family, went to reside at the parsonage in the month of October following. At the time of his induction, he wrote the following letter to Mrs. Richmond :

"My dearest Mary,

Emberton, July 30, 1805.

"I arrived safely, under the divine blessing, at this good man's house yesterday. I have but a few minutes for a few lines, but I must send those few. I went to Turvey this morning. I like the place-I like the house, and I feel disposed to be well pleased, in spite of the casement windows, which are very good of their kind. I was inducted amidst the ringing of bells, and congregation of people, who assembled in troops, to peep at the new rector, and witness the ceremony. The church is very handsome and commodious. The day is delightful, and every thing appeared to advantage. There are several conveniences about the premises. I shall reserve all further particulars for conversation on Thursday evening, when I hope to see you. To-morrow I go to Mr. Higgins, and to make various inquiries at the rectory; and in the evening I preach for Mr. Fry.

"My first impression of all the premises at Turvey was a favourable one; and I am persuaded all may be comfortable, with a bless ing on a contented and satisfied heart.'

CHAPTER VII.

Commencement of his ministerial labours at Turvey-Former state of the parish-Plans and exertions for its improvement-Judicious rules and regulations of his Friendly Society-Effect of his exertions-His Fathers of the English Church'-Doctrine and mode of preaching-Brief reflections on controversy.

MR. RICHMOND commenced his residence at Turvey, in October, 1805. But before we enter on the detail of his ministerial la