and it is for none, a power obtained save as a gift of grace through Christ Jesus. But it is a power ever secured to the human soul when brought face to face with a convincing Spirit and the offer of mercy. There is such a thing as being 'led captive by the devil at his will.' Now, suppose that the convinced sinner, yielding to the drawings of Divine love, chooses the service of God. Repenting, he accepts the guidance of His will. In dependence upon the offered mercy, he yields himself unto Christ; and He sends forth His Spirit into the trusting heart. The change may be very rapid, or it may be slow. The beginnings of life may long precede the first clear consciousness of life. But in any and in every case there is at the first a state of warfare. 'The flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh.' Whether we read 'spirit' or 'Spirit,' the practical meaning and effect are the same. The whole passage is one of those in which the two ideas cannot be dissociated. This weary battling is one result of his spiritual walk. And being 'in Christ Jesus,' there is now 'no condemnation' to him. He is accepted in the Beloved.' He cannot cease from the struggle until the enemy is utterly destroyed. He has pledged his all to his Lord, and he can never be content so long as there is anything lacking. He will not be content even with triumph over wrong. He will strive to remedy imperfection. He will seek to adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things.' Sometimes he may fail. Sometimes, in moments of busy activity, the memories of other days may be awakened; or he may suddenly find himself in the midst of circumstances which, by merely sensational association, recall former thoughts and former desires; and he may, before he is aware, find himself using the 6 accustomed words or doing the accustomed deeds. But the consciousness instantly recalls the self-judging, penitent cry: Lord, I am Thine; save me!' He has not wilfully faltered in his consecration, his devotion, his trust. His Saviour has not faltered in His acceptance. The Christian in that moment thanks God that the conflict is not against his Lord, but for Him and along with Him against a common foe. He is a consecrated warrior, in the thickest of the fray. His sky is cloudless, though the battle rages. His life is hid with Christ in God, and his home is peaceful, though tribulations throng around. There is rest in Jesus. In Me ye shall have peace.' By His power, Christ will give all victory. By His indwelling life, He will order all things. The mother may guide the child's hand which holds the pen. If the child uses its intelligence and free-will in order to do its own pleasure in its own way, the result is a scrawl. If the child uses both intelligence and free-will in order to submit itself patiently, trustfully and entirely to the mother's guidance, the result is the fair letter which both desired. So let it ever be, and then the full surrender and the patient trust will issue in a life which accords with the Father's will. Christ indwelling will guide the hand that holds the pen. Happy they who have learnt the lesson well. They have no goods, no talents, no joys, no sorrows, no ambitions, no temptations, with which to deal alone. All are the concern of Jesus Christ. Not I,' is still the inmost cry of their clinging self. Only this change-this blessed change has come. It was: Not I, but sin that dwelleth in me.' It now is: Not I, but Christ liveth in me.' Thanks be to God,' Who giveth us 'this victory.' EARLY METHODISM IN HUNTINGDONSHIRE AND ITS IMMEDIATE VICINITY: BY THE REV. HENRY SMITH. FOR nearly forty years Methodism had been pouring its light upon the country before any Methodist Society was formed in Huntingdonshire. To some this may seem a strange thing, seeing that Wesley frequently urged his Preachers to go not only to places that needed them, but to those places that needed them most. We are not warranted in the assumption that the reason why Huntingdonshire did not receive earlier attention from the apostles of Methodism, was because it was less needy than other counties. Many authorities bear witness to the deplorable condition of the county in the middle of the last century. Andrew Fuller says: 'Huntingdonshire was almost in a state of heathenism.' There was a pressing need for Methodism in Hunts. From a few letters in the present writer's possession, and from the writings of Hickes, Berridge, Venn and Cowper, it is clear that there were individual Methodists scattered up and down the then sparsely-populated county; but we have not been able to trace any Methodist Society here until about 1775, though very diligent research has been made. It is hoped, however, that the call for the relics of early Methodism for the Connexional Museum will be loud enough to send all the veterans of Huntingdonshire Methodism to the nooks and corners and unlikely places, and bring to light treasures which may have been hidden for generations. The first Huntingdonshire Methodist of whom we hear anything was a Clergyman named Jones, who settled at Abbot's-Ripton in 1744, and in 1745 removed to Alconbury, where he lived and laboured until about the year 1755.* It seems to have been through the instrumentality of the Countess of Huntingdon that the Rev. Mr. Jones had been led to a clearer apprehension of the truth. Although he did not itinerate in Hunts to the extent to which Hickes and Berridge did in the adjoining county, nor so publicly identify himself with the Methodists, yet he was one of the first-fruits of Methodism, and for a period of twelve years did in North Hunts what Wesley and his assistants did elsewhere. Wesley, in company with a few Methodist pioneers, crossed the district from south to north. He writes: Tuesday, Feb. 17th, 1747.-We set out as soon as it was well light, but it was really hard work to get forward; for the frost would not well bear or break, and the untracked snow covering all the roads, we had much ado to keep our horses on their feet. Meantime, the wind rose higher and higher, till it was ready to overturn both man and beast. However, after a short bait at Bugden, we pushed on, and were met in the middle of an open field with so violent a storm of rain and hail as we had not had before. It drove through our coats, great and small, boots and everything, and yet froze as it fell even upon our eyebrows; so that we had scarce either strength or motion left when we came into our inn at Stilton.' It is not clear that Wesley entered the county again until about the year 1774. It must not be assumed, however, that the influence of the great eighteenth-century revival was not felt in this county between 1747 -1774. The Congregational Year-Book shows that Huntingdonshire and the * Private letter from the present Vicar of Alconbury. neighbouring counties can boast of a goodly number of 'Old Interests.' Under the eyes of such earnest Pastors and Evangelists as John Bunyan, of Bedford; Richard Davies, of Northamptonshire; Francis Holcroft and Joseph Oddy, of Cambridgeshire, numerous Nonconformist Churches had been planted, and we have it on good authority that during the thirty years which intervened between 1747 -1778, several of these old Churches were revived and strengthened by the accession of converts from Methodist Societies in London, Northampton, Yarmouth and Bedford. Methodism told upon numerous Dissenting and Episcopalian Churches. Several Clergymen during these years did much to prepare the way for the introduction of Methodism. We must mention the name of the Vicar of Wrestlingworth, the Rev. Mr. Hickes. Prior to his conversion he was a zealous persecutor; he refused to administer the Sacrament to those who went to hear Mr. Berridge. But at length he was convinced of sin; and, after a period of six weeks, began to preach in its purity the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He itinerated through the district, preaching in orchards, open fields, public crossings and barns; and hundreds were brought to Christ through his instrumentality. It is said that within a twelvemonth two thousand souls were awakened by his preaching and that of Mr. Berridge. Out of the fruits of their ministry small Methodist Societies were, in all probability, formed in various parts of the county. As early as 1763, parts of Huntingdonshire were included in the Bedford Circuit. In 1766, James Glassbrook was appointed to the Circuit. He found one hundred and sixty-seven members in the Circuit. There seems to have been a spirit of aggression. Several doors of usefulness were opening, and at the Conference of 1767, Wesley sent Francis Asbury to the help of Glassbrook. In 1770 there was enough work for three Preachers. Their names were John Easton, Richard Whatcoat and James Perfect. Tradition testifies to the influence of these men in several villages in the West of Hunts. We have been told by the descendants of old Methodists of the hair-breadth escapes that Asbury, Whatcoat and Easton had on several occasions when they came into the outskirts of the Circuit. ... While Catermole, Glassbrook, Asbury, etc., were itinerating in this district, the poet Cowper found his way to Huntingdon, and while there met with a young Clergyman, the Rev. W. C. Unwin, who, during his university career at Cambridge, had frequently heard Berridge preach. Referring to the Unwin family and their manner of life, he says: 'As to amusements, I mean what the world calls such, we have none. We refuse to take part in them, or to be accessories to this way of murdering our time, and by so doing have acquired the name of Methodist.'* Cowper makes reference also to Mr. Hodgson and Mr. Nicholson, Clergymen in Huntingdon, who were deemed worthy of the name Methodist. During the two years of his life at Huntingdon, Cowper was exceedingly happy. In all probability his hymn on Retirement was suggested by the memory of his days there. Nicholson and Hodgson, as they had opportunity, cooperated with Berridge and Hickes; and, in 1771, Henry Venn, another Clergyman who had been greatly benefited by his connection with Wesley, came to reside at Yelling, some three miles from Huntingdon. In a letter to James Kershaw, * Cowper's Works, vol. i., pp. 61-81. Esq., Venn says: My congregation is many degrees in point of education below my congregation at Huddersfield, so that I am under the necessity of being very plain; for even the manufacturers (factory-hands) about you are rich and learned, compared with the peasants in this county. I find, therefore, it is very profitable to tell them stories.' His ministry was very effective in Yelling. His Clerk one day remarked that he would soon empty all the churches round about. Not content with officiating in his own pulpit, he preached in barns and out-of-the-way places as long as his strength permitted. Great good was done by the preaching of these earnest Clergymen, though it was deeply tinged with Calvinism. Not a few felt compelled on this account to separate themselves from these zealous men, amongst whom was a godly woman named Sarah Webster. About the year 1768, she was convinced of sin under the preaching of Mr. Berridge. She opened her house in Godmanchester for a preaching-service, and for several years she welcomed the above-named Clergymen to her house; but she could not believe that their doctrines of unconditional election and reprobation were Scriptural. Having heard that Mr. Wesley intended paying a visit to Bedford in the latter part of 1774, she resolved upon seeking an interview with him. She walked all the way, heard the good man preach, and gave him a pressing invitation to visit Godmanchester as soon as possible. Under date November 25th, 1774, he writes: 'My new friend [the lady who had conducted him to St. Ives]...carried me to Godmanchester, near Huntingdon. A large barn was ready, in which Mr. Berridge and Mr. Venn used to preach. And though the weather was still severe, it was well filled with deeply attentive people.' This seems to have been the beginning of Wesley's career in Hunts. Within two months he again visited the place, on which occasion 'the whole town seemed moved,' and 'the people flocked together from all parts, so that the barn would in no wise contain them.' He had good reason for believing that God confirmed the preached word.* The barn was situated in Duck-End, Silver-Street. From 1775 to 1788, he occasionally preached at Godmanchester. On his last visit, he observes: 'Still it is the day of small things here; but a few are still fighting the good fight of faith.' Amongst those who went to hear Wesley preach at Godmanchester in February, 1775, were some from St. Neots, and a Methodist Society was soon formed there; and on December 19th, 1775, Wesley had the joy of seeing a 'numerous congregation.'+ In December, 1776, he again preached to a numerous congregation,' in the same town, with much enlargement of spirit.'‡ Besides the Societies in Godmanchester and St. Neots, there must have been others, as Wesley speaks of visiting the chief Societies in Huntingdonshire. Nearly twelve months passed before his coming again; but in his absence Samuel Randall, George Shorter and William Moore watched over the young Societies with great care. yet there was no chapel in the county, which the Wesleyans could speak of as theirs. At Godmanchester they, as a rule, worshipped in a cottage, but on special occasions in the old barn. At St. Neots they worshipped in an old barn, or a hired room; in fine weather, out-of * Journal, vol. iv., p. 39. ‡ Journal, vol. iv., † Journal, vol. iv., p. 64. p. 90. As In The Methodist Magazine for 1818 (pp. 446-8), is given a sketch of the good woman who for more than forty years had been a member of the Society, and through whose influence Wesley was induced to preach his first sermon in Huntingdonshire. Another name intimately connected with Methodism in former years is the Rev. Thomas Tattershall. He was highly esteemed by Mr. Wesley for his zeal, prudence and diligence. He was Superintendent of the Bedford Circuit at the time when it was divided and Huntingdon made the head of a new Circuit; he spent his last days in Huntingdon. His ashes rested within the precincts of the old chapel, and over the pulpit was a tablet to his memory. In 1793, St. Ives was made the head of a Circuit, having two Ministers and about one hundred and seventy members. When Wesley visited the town in 1774, he was told that no Methodist had yet preached there. Thinking it high time to begin,' he preached at one o'clock to a well-dressed, and yet well-behaved congregation." Wesley was followed by other Preachers from Bedford, amongst whom were Whitaker, Corbett, Boon, Vasey and Pescod. The first Methodist chapel was built in St. Ivest in 1784. Some years ago the present writer made many enquiries as to the site of that Chapel, but no one seemed to be aware of the existence of any Methodist chapel or Society until about the year 1789 or 1790, when Mrs. Asplin opened her house for a Methodist service. From a sketch of this godly woman, written by the Rev. Thomas Pollard, it is stated that she was the first person who opened her house to the Methodist Preachers, and that the Rev. W. Jenkins was the first Methodist Preacher who regularly visited the town. Mr. Jenkins had for his colleague the Rev. Owen Davies. What Southey said of Olivers' fiery-mindedness' was not less true of Davies. His first Circuit was Bedford. He and Jenkins gave special attention to the new or revived cause in St. Ives. About this time a lady, who afterwards became one of the pillars of the Methodist Society, came to reside in the town. She had been accustomed to attend the ministry of the Revs. A. Fuller and T. Toller, in Kettering. She was then twenty years of age, and at once became a member of the Society. In those days there was a hunger for fellowship one with another,' which was not easily satisfied. In order that the five-o'clock preaching might be well attended, and that the Class-meeting might not suffer through an irregular and thin attendance, Mrs. Barton went her four-o'clock round through winter and summer for several years. Mr. Barton for many years sustained with great fidelity and ability the offices of Society, Chapel and Circuit Steward. They were the parents of the Rev. W. Barton, a very able Methodist Minister, who was Secretary of the Theological Institution in 1844, and for several years one † See Myles' Methodist Chronology. |