met THEM, except once a year officially, as Chaplain to the Mayor, or on some such occasion. He has been heard to say, that the dislike of him proceeded to such a height, that few persons who wore a tolerably good coat, would take notice of him when they met him in the street. Nevertheless, "the common people heard him gladly." The large church where he preached was crowded beyond example: The care of the soul became the topic of common conversation: Great seriousness prevailed: Drunkards and Debauchees were reformed: The town assumed a new appearance: Great numbers, whose consciences were awakened under his preaching, earnestly inquired, "what must we do to be saved?" The sick sent for him to their chambers for spiritual advice; and when he returned home, he found his house crowded with visitors who had the same object in view. His strength was exhausted in this service; and his health suffered exceedingly by often going out in the winter evenings of Sundays, after he had heated himself by delivering a long Sermon with the utmost exertion. Embarrassing and difficult cases were frequently proposed to him, where Heads of families or Superiors insisted on their dependants leaving off their religious practices. Many are alive, who well remember that an inundation of persecution in various ways broke in and continued for a long time.

Some instances happened, as will always be the case, where the conduct of persons who professed religion, was imprudent and indefensible, and perhaps even immoral: these cases were circulated and exaggerated with indecent satisfaction, and unceasing clamour. All fell heavy upon the Enthu

siast Milner, who thus became the general topic of abusive conversation among profane persons. The Preacher and his adherents were insulted, derided, and hunted down with the most contradictory accusations. Sometimes it was insinuated that he was a sly hypocrite, who himself saw through the delusions with which he turned the heads of others; and who in reality was expecting preferment from certain powerful and notorious Enthusiasts: Others represented him as fond of popular applause; and many believed him to be actually beside himself.

Mr. Milner's labours were not confined to the TOWN of Hull. He was Curate, for upwards of seventeen years, of North Ferriby, and afterwards Vicar of the same. This beautiful little village lies near to the Humber, about nine miles from Hull, and abounds with the country-seats of the opulent. It was impossible to represent the Curate or the Vicar of this place as serving the cure for the sake of filthy lucre. The average annual profits were under thirty pounds, notwithstanding the great wealth of the inhabitants. On the Sunday mornings, in summer, before the regular service, Mr. Milner heard the children repeat the Catechism, and explained it to them in familiar language, many grown-up persons attending. When the morning service was ended, he returned to Hull, to preach in the afternoon. He continued this laborious practice for many years, and as long as his health permitted him. At Ferriby also, as at Hull, the richer sort became disgusted with his doctrine, and impatient of his exhortations; but the COMMON PEOPLE, from all the neighbouring parts, and not a few of the more substantial farmers, flocked to his Church, and heard the word with gladness.

As it was impossible for Mr. Milner to reside among his flock at Ferriby; and as he was sensible how much the probability of doing good is diminished by only seeing the people once in the week, however faithful the preacher may be on the Sunday, his zeal for men's eternal welfare induced him to visit this country village on the week days, as often as a holy-day allowed of his absence from his school, and generally on the afternoons of Saturdays. Many of his own parishioners and other serious persons used to meet him at his lodgings, or at some other convenient house; and on these occasions he read and explained the Scriptures, and exhorted his people and prayed with them.

Many years ago a neighbouring Clergyman of a most notoriously bad character, was so incensed at this practice of Mr. Milner, that he brought him before the Mayor of Hull by an information under the Conventicle Act. The Mayor and the greater part of the Aldermen disliked Mr. Milner's proceedings; but they despised and detested the Informer; and as they did not sufficiently feel their ground, they adjourned the consideration of the affair. Before the next hearing Mr. Milner had procured the best legal information which the kingdom afforded; and he came into court with a confidence grounded on knowledge. With great respect he informed the Mayor and Aldermen, "that he obeyed their summons merely out of civility to his patrons; but that the whole matter respecting his conduct in this instance was so circumstanced, as not to come under their jurisdiction or authority? that if an offence had been committed, it was of an ecclesiastical nature; and lastly, that he spoke ad

visedly, and was well assured that by meeting his own parishioners in his own parish, he had done nothing contrary to any law whatsoever."-The affair was quashed; and the Mayor of that day, a person neither remarkable for religion, morality, nor decorum, was heard to use expressions upon the occasion, which need not be here repeated, and to recommend it to the two Parsons, instead of quarrelling, to use the means, which have frequently been found efficacious in cheering the spirits, expelling care, and restoring good humour*.

Does the curious reader grow impatient to be satisfied more particularly respecting the cause, which produced all this prodigious alteration both in Mr. Milner's own mind, and in the regards of his people? Mr. Milner's publications will most effectually satisfy every inquiry of this sort. The Author, "though dead, yet speaketh:" And, as no man on earth ever wrote, preached, or conversed with less disguise, let the serious reader consult his various writings. A more just, more concise, and more intelligible account cannot be given of his principles, than that he was truly a sincere member of the Church of England. He believed the Artieles of the Church in their plain, literal, and grammatical sense; and all his Sermons were penned according to that interpretation of Scripture which they contain and express. With many persons, unacquainted with the history of religious controversy in these kingdoms, a sort of puzzle may still remain how such sentiments could on the one hand produce all this dislike and persecution from some of the people, and this resentment from his clerical

* To shake hands and drink a bottle of wine together.

brethren; and on the other, could occasion such flocking to his Churches. To explain this difficulty in detail and with minuteness, is neither pleasant nor necessary in this place; but it may in some measure open the eyes of the intelligent to suggest, "that our Author certainly did believe and maintain that the Clergy of the Establishment, in general, had very much deviated from the principles which they profess, and to which they subscribe their assent: That the reading desk and the pulpit were often at variance; and that instead of setting forth to the understanding with plainness, and pressing upon the conscience with energy, the great and peculiar truths of the Gospel, such as the doctrines of Original Sin, of Justification by Faith, and of Regeneration by the Holy Spirit, as stated in the Articles and Homilies of the Church of England, the Clergy in general were substituting in their place a system of little more than Pagan Ethics." He further maintained, "that by their fruits, ye might know them; that one system was fruitful in good works, and the other productive of pride, self-righteousness, and attachment to the ways of the world." To all which it should be added, that Mr. M. had never the least hesitation in owning,-that he himself, during the first years of his being in holy orders, was as deeply involved as any person could be in this charge of DEPARTING from the genuine religion of the Bible and of the Establishment to which he belonged;--that he had been active and earnest in corrupting the most important passages of Scripture and Articles of Faith;-that, though his own conscience never in the smallest degree accused him of insincerity or hypocrisy, yet his " zeal had been