find more proper objects of attention than they? Are not their fouls as precious as thofe of the rich in this world? And if they are "weak, unprin"cipled, and without thought," do not they fo much the more need to be roused to a sense of their state, inftructed in the knowledge of falvation, and urged to flee from the wrath to come? First of all minifters went forth into fuch places. At length, as minifters could not be spared from their stated work, fome of our brethren, who had been favoured with the knowledge and power of religion, and who had suitable talents, were fent on the fabbath, to inftruct these despised poor in the things of God.

But what are the employments of these people? They read the Scripture, or fome other good book.* The people are entirely filent, except when they join in finging Dr. Watts's Pfalms or Hymns. They then quietly attend while prayer§ is offered. The speaker, according to his ability, fometimes explains and enforces the doctrines of the Scripture. What he delivers is purely re

*This is the practice of many respectable Christians, who have had very decent and good education. Burder's "Village Sermons" are composed for this very purpose: fee vol. I. and II., published by Chapman, 151, Fleet-ftreet, London, at 1s, each.

§ Vide "The Manner in which Proteftant Diffenters perform Prayer in Public Worship Vindicated," by the Author; printed for Baker, Southampton, and Chapman, London,

ligious.

ligious. He endeavours to make the people fenfible, that they are indeed, what they confefs in prayer, "miferable finners." He fhows them how they may obtain mercy; where they may find help to walk in righteousness of life; and the manner and fpirit in which they fhould perform all their duties to God and man; that they should be fo~ * ber, righteous, and diligent in their callings, obedient to magiftrates, and fubmiffive to all lawful authority.

This was the origin, this is the practice of our little village affemblies. But this, it seems, is very formidable! A hue and cry is raised against fome fuppofed "ambitious and defigning faction," (p. 32) and an "Appeal" is made "to the people; " the Clergy are alarmed to watch our motions, and the groffeft charges are brought against us. However, it does not appear that any great harm has been done as yet. Many fouls, "from the dregs of the people," have been refcued from ignorance and vice; many, who were before injurious perfons, have become useful in fociety; many ignorant and thoughtless mortals, "weak and unprincipled," have been brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jefus ; and numbers, who never before attended any place of worship, have been drawn to unite in religious exercifes, without feparation from any church whatsoever, because they never before affociated with any.

Let

Let the candid reader reflect, whether this method of proceeding, confidering it's confequences, has not fome powerful arguments in it's behalf. Is not every Chriftian bound, by the laws, spirit, and example of Chrift ;-by his own fpecial obligations to Jefus, as well as by his relation to his fellow-creatures ;—to do all the good he can ? This will not be difowned by any ferious mind. Not only minifters therefore, but all perfons, who have received mercy, are bound to declare, as they have opportunity and ability, what they have known of the grace of God. The converted Samaritan woman acted on this plan of benevolence.—(John iv. 29.) She went to her countrymen, and said, as a friend, to all the met, " Come, fee a man which told me "all things that ever I did!-Is not this the "Chrift?"

In that remarkable language of invitation, (Rev. xxii. 17.) it is faid, "and let him that hear"eth fay Come," &c. The hearer then, who is a partaker of gofpel mercy, has a warrant to tell others of the mercy he has received. If I have found a medicine, which has been very beneficial in giving me ease, under great agonies of pain, and in curing a moft dangerous and obftinate difeafe; and if I fee others fick with the fame tormenting malady, and ready to die; if there is no fuitable help at hand, no skilful doctor in the vil

lage,

fage, fhall I let my neighbours fuffer and die, because I am not regularly bred ?—because I have not had the university diploma, or the college licence? Surely No. I mean not to plead any thing in favour of an uneducated irregular miniftry, in ordinary cafes. I mean only to fhow the propriety of employing occafional practitioners, who understand the disease and the cure of human nature, where regular and profeffional men are wanting or negligent: and I trust that the time is coming, when every eminent minifter will fay, in this cafe, with Mofes, "Would to God that "all the Lord's people were prophets."

I now beg the reader's attention to the MoTIVES of these itinerants. They profess those which are common to all good men, who undertake any fpiritual good work,-compaffion for the beft interefts of mankind. The candidate for holy orders, in the Church of England, declares that he is "moved by the Holy Ghoft." The Diffenter makes fome profeffion of the purity and benevolence of his views and wifhes, at his entrance on the paftoral character; and thus the Itinerant, pleads," We fee multitudes of our fellow-crea"tures wandering far from God, ignorant of the way to true happiness. We ourselves were once "in the fame fituation. But we have found Him "who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ;'

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and we wish to lead others to Him. We long

"for

"for those who are ftill, what we once were, "foolish, disobedient, deceived, ferving divers "lufts and pleafures, living in malice and envy, “hateful, and hating one another,' to be acquain"ted with the philanthropy of God our Saviour; "to be renewed by the Holy Ghost, which he has "shed on us abundantly; that being juftified by "his grace, they might be made heirs according "to the hope of eternal life." (Tit. iii. 3-7.) And will any one deny this to be an honourable and praiseworthy motive?

You applaud a Howard, who, forfaking his comfortable home and his country, yielding up his ease, risking his health, and even his life, went to vifit the fick and the wretched, the guilty and hardened offender in his dungeon; not to deliver him from his chains and condemnation, but only to ameliorate his condition in the prefent life :* and is there nothing commendable in the felf-denying zeal of those men, who make many facrifices of perfonal reputation and enjoyment, incurring much fhame, reproach, and lofs, to carry the glad

* I esteem it an honour to have been numbered among the friends of Howard, who often vifited me, and for whose memory I have an affectionate reverence; but I confider a Whitefield, and a Wesley, croffing oceans, and traverfing rude countries, with immenfe labour; a Brainerd, in America, encountering every hardship of weather, and every danger and difficulty, among favage Indians, with a view and wish to bring them to God and happiness, as ftill greater heroes, and much greater friends to mankind.