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counties in the kingdom; and his peculiar abilties attracted general attention, which, together with the affability of his manners, the uncommon cheerfulness of his disposition, and his great usefulness, aised him to a high degree of esteem wherever he went. Nor was he less respected, nor his ministry attended with less general good, at Bristol and London, cities to which he was invited by Mr. Whitefield; who was used to call Bristol, Mr. Kinsman's America, alluding to his own popularity and success in that quarter of the world. The frame of his mind, on entering upon this new scene, may be learned from some hints found among his papers. Nov. 21, 1754, "Having received many pressing invitations, I once more attempt to go forth in the name of Christ, to preach his Gospel. The weakness, and continual disorders of my body have been urged as a powerful dissuasive by my anxious friends, against the undertaking. But none of these things move me; for I find the God of grace is the God of nature also. After committing my dear friends and family to the Lord of Prayer, I left them, though not without inward throes on their behalf; and especially for my little ones, who become continually more and more engaging. Through the good hand of my God upon me, I find my journey more agreeable than I expected; and the Lord continues to assist me in my labours, though at intervals I have some severe fits of the asthma."

Mr. Whitefield being about to sail for America, sent for him to London. On his arrival he was introduced, and dined with him at the Tabernacle-house, in company with a young clergyman. After dinner there was a most tremendous storm of thunder and lightning. As they stood at the window below the raging elements, Mr. Kinsman, supposing the clergyman, from his being a visitant to Mr. Whitefield, to be a serious person, familiarly put his hand upon his shoulder, and, with great cheerfulness and energy, repeated the words of Dr. Watts,

"The God that rules on high,

And thunders when he please;
That rides upon the stormy sky,
And manages the seas,-"

And then, with peculiar pathos and confidence, added,

"This aweful God is ours

Our Father and our Love!"

The

The words so appositely introduced, so solemnly and so emphatically delivered, made a deep impression on the mind of the young clergyman, and began a conversation, which, by the blessing of God, ended in his saving conversion. Here his ministry was greatly owned; and he thought himself highly honoured in preaching the first sermon that ever was delivered from the pulpit of the present Tabernacle. His harmonious voice, his sprightly and pathetic manner of address, brought no small number of all ranks to hear him; among whom was Mr. Shuter, the celebrated comedian, who, having been excited by curiosity to hear Mr. Whitefield, was so affected with his preaching, that at one time there were hopes of his being under serious impressions. Having also heard Mr. Kinsman, he was so delighted with him, that he frequently visited him. But the lamentable immorality that pervades the stage, the scoffs of ridicule from men of considerable influence, and the contemptuous insinuations of the profane (that most dangerous and destructive method of attack to which Mr. Shuter was, by his profession, particularly exposed) soon operated as a foil to those rising hopes that were entertained concerning him, and, as blasts, swept away those promising and blooming flowers. Some years after, having forgot where he lived, accidentally meeting Mr. Kinsman at Plymouth, he embraced him with rapture, and enquired, If that was the place of his residence? He replied, "Yes; but I am just returned from London, where I have preached so often, and to such large auditories, and have been so indisposed, that Dr. Fothergill advised my immediate return to the country, for change of air."-"And I,' said Mr. Shuter, have been acting Sir John Falstaff so often, that I thought I should have died; and the physicians advised me to come into the country for the benefit of the air. Had you died, it would have been serving the best of Masters; but had I, it would have been the service of the Devil. Oh, Sir, do you think I shall ever be called again? I certainly was when I was studying my part in the Park; and if Mr. Whitefield had let me come to the Lord's Table with him, I never should have gone back again. But the caresses of the great are exceed ingly ensnaring. My Lord E-sent for me to day; and I was glad I could not go. Poor things; they are unhappy; and they want Shuter to make them laugh. But, O Sir! such a life as yours!-As soon as I leave you, I shall be

KING RICHARD. This is what they call a good play; as good as some sermons. I acknowledge there are some striking and moral things in it. But after it, I shall come in again with my Farce of A DISH OF ALL SORTS, and knock all that on the head. Fine reformers are we!'-The inha bitants afterward taking notice that he visited Mr. Kinsman, were astonished; and one gentleman in particular, asked him, if he were a Methodist? "Mine is a fine method, is it not? No; I wish I was. If any are right, they are."

Mr. Kinsman has now and then amused his friends by saying "That his popularity in the metropolis originated entirely in mistake. On his arriving in town, Mr. Whitefield published, Mr. Kinsman, a promising young man, to preach; and the people running away with the idea that he said, "My Kinsman is to preach," flocked together to hear Mr Whitefield's relation. When he was once preaching in London on the Lord's Day, a heavy and unexpected shower of rain coming on, several Sabbath breakers passing by at that instant, fled into the Tabernacle for shelter. Among these, was a young man who was person ally acquainted with Mr. Kinsman at Plymouth. Seeing him in the pulpit, he immediately resolved to wait the con clusion of the service, and enquire after the welfare of his relations. This he accordingly did ;-to whom Mr. Kinsman replied, with his usual affability, "Your good aunt and religious mother are both lately gone to heaven; but which way are you going? what will your pious mother say, if she should miss her William there?"-Though the sermon had not the least effect, this sentence struck him to the heart; and God made it the means of his conversion. He afterwards became a very valuable member of the church at Dock, and died an Israelite indeed! Some years after, his youngest son, a wild young man, marrying, and having a child, applied to Mr. Kinsman to baptize it. He having some knowledge of his character, told him, he would baptize his child for its grandfather's sake; and then began to relate the striking circumstance of his father's conversion. This so affected the young man, that from that time he became serious; and became likewise a member of the same church at Dock.

As the mariner, when he puts to sea, does not expect to reach the desired haven unassailed by the inauspicious gale; neither should Christians expect to bask in the sun beams

of

of prosperity, without the intervention of a lowering cloud. About this time, while on a visit at London, Mr. Kinsman was exercised by a providence exceedingly afflictive. His dear child, about three years of age, was drowned by falling into a well * !

At Plymouth and Dock his preaching was still attended with remarkable success, particularly among young persons; nor was any period of his ministry accompanied with a greater outpouring of the Spirit, than while he was going through the epistle to the Ephesians. At length the repeated solicitations of the people induced him to limit the sphere of his operations, and, except his visits to London

The following extract from a letter to Mrs. Kinsman, which he penned upon this very mournful occasion, gives some idea of his pa thetic manner of address, and the strength of parental affection : London, July 26, 1757.

"MY DEAR LOVE, "Since my coming to this place, I have repeated returns of my disorder; but the good Lord hath carried me comfortably through the work I have been engaged in. Last night I was appointed to read letters; when five thousand were gathered to hear. if I am in my element in any one part of my work, it is in that. The Lord was pleased to give me strength of body to stand near three hours, and the liberty of speech, filled my own soul with wonder. O grace! But this was, I soon found, as a preparative for the severest trial I ever felt. I find a constituted asthma is not enough for such a stupid heart as mine. Just now, my friends began distantly to open to me the melancholy news; and the manner in which the Eternal has been pleased to take away my once most lovely babe was in some measure anticipated and here did I think over the scene which thy dear eyes must behold, and the throbs which this awefui providence must occasion in thy distressed breast. I must drop my pen, and give vent to those tender passions which none but parents know, and which I never before so fully felt. These words came on my mind," Aaron held his peace." The last sermon I preached was from Romans viii. 32. "He that spared not his own Son," &c. O the heights, the depths of the love of God! How can we murmur! or how dare we repine! To the honour of his grace, I must tell you, that I never feit sorrow like this, and yet have not found one rebellious thought. My concern is increased, that I am not with you to bear a part, and assist you in the midst of that anguish, which I fear your spirits has felt. But the Lord orders all things well. In pity to my poor weak nerves, God hath called me to a distance, and I doubt not he hath been, and will be better to you than seven husbands. I can only drop a tear. I think on my poor children, Nancy and Andrew. O that their dear little hearts may be duly impressed! I long, I long to hear from you. But I don't know how to ask you to write particulars: 'twill be like opening that wound a fresh, which I pray God to heal speedily in your dear, dear heart," &c.

and

and Bristol, his labours were chiefly confined to the above places. In 1763, the society at Dock becoming very numerous, wished to be formed into a regular church. They therefore gave Mr. Kinsman an unanimous call to take the oversight of them; and he, having accepted it, was set apart to the pastoral. office at Broadmead, in Bristol, August 4, by the rev. Benjamin Fawcett, of Kidderminster; the rev. George Powell, of Weathersfield; the rev. Jeremiah Field, of Wellington, Somerset ; the rev. Hugh Evans, and the rev. John Thomas, of Bristol. In 1771, having resigned business to his son, he went to reside wholly at Dock; until which period (we have been informed) he never received any pecuniary consideration for his services; nor did he, in the whole course of his ministry at Plymouth-never having required any.

Mrs. Kinsman was continued a valuable blessing to her husband and the church, till July, 1774. It is but justice to her memory to say, that she was a great ornament to her Christian profession, and a mother in Israel. The Lord was very gracious to her during her long illness; and indulged her with a very cheerful and happy frame in her last moments. Mr. Kinsman continued a widower till October, 1776, when he married Mrs. Joanna Webber, of London.

In January, 1792, dropsical symptoms began first to make their appearance in his legs, and left little hopes to his friends of a long continuance among them. For the last twelve months he could do little more than preach two or three sermons; and it was with great difficulty he continued to administer the Lord's Supper. As he approached to the close of life, he would frequently look out of his chamber window, and on seeing multitudes flocking to the meeting, would say, "Thither I once led up the tribes of the Lord to worship." At other times, when he has heard persons passing his house with oaths and imprecations in their mouths," How wonderful are thy ways, O Lord! I only want breath to praise and preach to others, and cannot; but these have lungs to swear, and breath to blaspheme thy holy name." He would often repeat a conversation he once held with the late celebrated Mr. James Hervey, relative to the divinity of Jesus Christ. "I now feelt his doctrine," said he to his family, "to be a solid ground of hope in my declining days. I am going rapidly; but I

must

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