THERE is a sort of God's dear servants who walk in perfectness; and they have a
degree of clarity and Divine knowledge more than we can discourse of, and more
certain than the demonstrations of geometry, brighter than the sun, and inde-
ficient as the light of heaven. As a flame touches a flame, and combines into
splendour and to glory; so is the spirit of a man united unto Christ by the Spirit
of God.-Jeremy Taylor.

NEW-YORK,

PUBLISHED BY B. WAUGH AND T. MASON,

FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AT THE CONFERENCE
OFFICE, 200 MULBERRY-STREET.

J. Collord, Printer.

PREFACE.

THE years 1832 and 1833 were a season of great and affecting mortality among the Wesleyan ministers. During this period several men of leading influence in that body were separated from their brethren and the Church, and called to resign a charge which they had fulfilled. with superior fidelity and success. Of this number the most distinguished were, Dr. Adam Clarke, and the Rev. Richard Watson; both of whom were universally esteemed and beloved for their piety, attainments, and usefulness. The loss of these excellent men has been painfully felt; and their memory will long be cherished by a large circle of friends, and by the numerous congregations to whom they were accustomed to preach the word of life.

In the following pages an attempt is made to trace the personal history of Mr. Watson; and though the narrative has been compiled under many disadvantages, chiefly arising from the pressure of other engagements, it is presumed that the work contains a faithful, though inadequate, record of his life and labours. The writer will always consider it as one of his greatest privileges, and one for which he will ever be thankful to Divine Providence, that he was favoured with the friendship of this great and good man, and for several years lived in habits of constant intercourse and correspondence with him. They have conversed together on almost every subject of theology, and of public interest, as well as upon all the literary projects in which Mr. Watson was engaged. To give an honest and just view of his habits, character, and opinions, has been the writer's aim; but no one is more sensible than himself that his descriptions fall vastly short of the original. It w Mr. Wats

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required a pen like his own to do full justice to ual endowments, and his great exertions in the

who have kindly furnished materials for this anks of the writer are due, and are very sincerely ecessary to specify the names of the parties in this generally mentioned in the body of the work, in eir respective communications. Mr. Watson's corhich many specimens are given, will be found to an ordinary value, on account of its piety, elegance,

2.EXCH. 27 MAR. 1901

EW THEOL. SEM.