he began to feel for his spiritual state. They made the acquaintance of a pious cobbler in the neighbourhood, and often went to him for religious instruction. "The good man," says Mr. James, "used to pray with us, and at length got us to attempt the exercise of prayer with him. In order to take off all fear from my mind, he requested me, the first time I prayed, to go and stand in a small place that was boarded off, in which coals and other matters were kept. Here, in this dark corner, I stood to pour out an audible prayer for the first time with a fellow creature." A sermon preached by Mr. Sibree, of Frome, prompted the young inquirer to Christian decision and to active effort as a Sunday school teacher. From these simple beginnings he was led on to become a student for two years under Dr. Bogue, at Gosport, and from thence to enter on the pastorate of the church at Carr's Lane, Birmingham, in the autumn of 1801, which he retained with most distinguished success for fifty-four years. CHAPTER VII. ON the 13th of March, 1813, Dr. Edward Williams finished his course at Rotherham. Gently and imperceptibly on the evening of that day he fell asleep, and rested from his labours. The institution was not left without sufficient supervision. Mr. Bennet, of Romsey, accepted the theological chair, joined in the classical department by the Rev. JOSEPH GILBERT.* Joseph Mr. Gilbert was born on the 20th of March, 1799, at Wrangle. At three years old he lost his mother. His father was a Wesleyan, and often entertained the founder of Methodism at his house. At Wrangle, he built a small chapel at his own expense. Young Gilbert received his education at the Free School of his native village, and was apprenticed at Burgh, a few miles from home. At the expiration of the usual term, he engaged himself as assistant in a business at East Retford, and soon after became a partner, and finally conducted it on his own account. There he identified himself with a small company of Congregational Dissenters, in a forlorn little chapel, and, Biographical Sketch of the Rev. Joseph Gilbert. By his Widow.— Pastor and People. By the Rev. George Thomas Coster. at his own expense, obtained students from Rotherham College. In this way his thoughts were turned to the subject of theology, and he began to preach occasionally in the chapel. Eventually he disposed of his business, went to Rotherham, and living near the Academy, became a most diligent and successful student. At the close of his course, he settled for a short time at Southend, in Essex, where he formed a church, making, at the same time, constant progress as a classical scholar; and on the resignation of Rev. Maurice Philips, was invited to fill the vacant chair at Rotherham, and accepted the pastorate of the Nether Chapel, Sheffield. At his ordination, December 8, 1813, he gave the following statement of his early religious experience: "From earliest infancy, as far as memory can reach, I recollect displays of the rich grace of God to my soul, both in exciting a lively concern for my eternal welfare and in manifestations of His favour ineffably sweet and transporting. It was my happiness to have a parent of exemplary piety, and great solicitude for the best interests of his children. Often, and particularly on the Sabbath afternoons, did he address us on the concerns of eternity, with many tears and deep affecting earnestness. Nor did he fail to seize a favourable opportunity. He led us to the beds of the sick and dying, that while young we might learn what sin and death are, by the anxiety of those about to leave the world— endeavoured to excite us to prepare for our latter end. After finally leaving home, I associated with some gay young men, by whose example I was led to seek for happiness in vanity and sin. In this course I found no rest of conscience, knowing I was wrong, and occasionally recollecting past instances of divine goodness. I became wretched. Then I devoted myself to reading, yet without applying to the infallible guide, and, therefore, I still found no rest. At this time I was strongly tempted to disbelieve all religion, and at others, I vainly endeavoured, too much in my own strength, to make myself religious. In this unsettled, changing, inconsistent, and unhappy state, I continued some time, till former instructions renewing their impressions on my mind, the word preached, conversation with pious friends, and especially the study of the Epistles to the Romans and Ephesians, brought me, I trust, to a knowledge, in some degree, of myself, faith in Jesus Christ, and a humble, but fixed determination to become His disciple." No English preacher in the beginning of the present century, produced a deeper impression on the public mind, during his brief career, than Thomas THOMAS SPENCER. He was born at HertSpencer. ford, July 21st, 1791. At a very early age he gave indications of fervent piety, and became a member of the church, under the care of the Rev. Charles Maslen. When on a visit to Hertford, the Rev. Joseph Smith, of Manchester, was so interested in the conversation of the youth, that he wrote immediately to Mr. Wilson, calling attention to his character and gifts. The parents of Spencer, intending to provide for him some regular employment, placed him under the friendly care of Mr. Thodey-a glover in the Poultry, London-where he spent a few months in his shop. Invited to preach at Hoxton Chapel, he ascended the pulpit without an introduction, and so surprised the doorkeeper, that he quickly followed him to call him back, under the impression that, as a thoughtless boy, he had either mistaken his way, or intended some kind of mischief. Mr. Leifchild, who was present at the service, was delighted with his fluency, and still more with the clearness of his views of divine truth, and expressed his admiration of the sermon to Mr. Wilson. It was speedily arranged that he should be received into the Academy at Hoxton, after a little preliminary training at Harwich. While pursuing his simple studies at this place, in the house of the Rev. William Hordle, he was joined by a young probationer, sent for private tuition, under a cloud of suspicion. Robert ROBERT STEPHENS MCALL (born at Plymouth on the 4th of August, 1792), who came to this temporary retreat, was the son of a minister in the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, appointed to preach at Gloucester, and St. Ives, Cornwall. He was sent early to school in Gloucester, and afterwards to different tutors in Penzance, Falmouth, and Redruth. Remarkably quick of apprehension, and keen in the pursuit of knowledge, the chief difficulty in his education was to restrain his ardour, in order to the preservation of his health. At nine years of age a sermon preached by his father, led him to serious reflection, with earnest inquiry, followed by Christian decision, and an irrepressible desire to become a minister. When not quite thirteen years of age, he was sent at his father's expense to the Western Academy at Axminster, then under the superintendence of the Rev. James Small, "begging that good and amiable man to watch carefully over his dispositions and conduct, in order to find out what the state of his soul might prove, and to see how his thoughts ran as he grew in years. Mr. Small, satisfied with his conduct and progress, after the experience of eighteen months, recommended him to be taken on the fund as one of the students for the ministry. All went well until he was invited to spend the |