people--and his text was 1 John i. 7, The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin.' Simple and unlettered, however, as his audience might be, they had sufficient penetration to discover the uncommon talents of their youthful preacher; which, together with the novelty and loveliness of his juvenile appearance, excited in that little village an astonishment and admiration, which have since circulated through all the districts of the great metropolis, and almost every town in Great Britain. How beautiful is the progression which marks all the dispensations of nature, providence, and grace. From the smallest springs the mightiest rivers rise, to promote the fruitfulness or waft the commerce of the world. From the grain of mustard seed, the kingdom of heaven gradually rises and expands, till it becomes a great tree, beneath whose shade all the nations of the earth repose; and in the history of individuals, from the day of small things, has not unfrequently arisen a career, whose brillianey has dazzled and surprised the world; and from the remarkable concurrence of circumstances, events the most important to the interests of the individual, and the happiness of mankind, have sprung. It is for the most part denied to men, who move in a public and extended circle, to witness those early displays of genius, and that gradual developement of talents, afterwards so eminent for their usefulness or splendour, upon which the eye of a philosopher would love to dwell. This is usually the privilege of a few obscure individuals in some retired spot. The new fledged bird first tries its pinions in its own sequestered bower ere it soars above its native

glen, and courts the admiration of man by the boldness of its flight, or the sweetness of its song. And yet there is such a peculiar interest connected with the early efforts of a mighty mind, and the first stages of an eminent career, that we gather with diligence all that can be gleaned respecting them, and listen with delight to the narration of those who were spectators. But few perhaps who have heard of Spencer, but would gladly be transported to the peaceful village of Collier's End, and mingle with the auditors under his first sermon there. And it requires no uncommon acquaintance with the principles of our nature, and the doctrine of association in the human mind, to predict, that the villages of Halfway, Street, and Lewisham, in Kent, will derive some celebrity in the religious world from having been the scenes of ministerial labour, when a youth, to a preacher, who for these twelve years past has held the delighted auditories of the metropolis the willing captives of his eloquence.* And surely such a principle as this, whilst in its gratification it yields an undescribable pleasure, may be cultivated to no small advantage. It banishes from the mind that despair of reaching

The name of Doctor Collyer is too well known to derive any additional celebrity from being copied on a page my hand has written. And perhaps I may be censured for indulging in an allusion here which bears at least the appearance of flattery. Far be it from me to cherish such a principle. The work in which I am engaged is sacred to friendship and to the memory of departed worth; and is it at all surprising, that whilst endeavouring to preserve the record of a friend removed by death, my memory should sometimes recur to the many excellencies which have so long endeared to me a friend from whom I am removed by distance?

it, which a contemplation of exalted eminence might inspire, by an assurance, that the object at which he aims is not unattainable, since its present possessor once occupied the same level with himself, and was attended by circumstances as unfavourable to his elevation as those which at present may encompass him.

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Our amiable young preacher's first sermon excited a strong desire in his hearers for a repetition of his labours; and his fame, rapidly circulating, produced an invitation also, from another quarter, for the following Sabbath. To these solicitations, we may suppose without much reluctanee, he complied; and he preached again on the morning of July 12th, at a village called Broughin. His text on this occasion was Col. iii. 3, Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.' In the afternoon and evening of the same day, he preached again at Collier's End. In the afternoon from Acts xix. 2, ‹ Have ye received the Holy Ghost? In the evening from Phil. iii. 18, "They are the enemies of the cross of Christ.' The attendance at Collier's End was, on this second Sabbath, so much increased, that the room would scarcely contain the people who were desirous of hearing, and every one seemed still more deeply affected by the impressive manner, the solemn doctrines, and the surprising powers of this young divine. On the following Thursday he preached again at a place called Brickenden, from John iv. 29, Come see a man which told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?' On Sunday, July 19th, he again resumed his labours at Collier's End, and preached in the afternoon from 2 Chron. xxxiii. 12, 13, And when he was in affliction he besought the Lord his God'

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and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed unto him, and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem, and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord he was God." In the evening the multitude that assembled was so great, that to gratify them all, he was under the necessity of preaching out of doors, which he did with great animation and effect, from Rom. xiv. 12, So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.' It appears from the report of one who was present at the delivery of this sermon, that it was remarkably impressive. Although surrounded by so great a erowd, he seemed quite undaunted, and expressed himself with an ease and an energy which produced the most serious impressions upon many, and excited the astonishment of all. To see the old and greyheaded melted into tears beneath the simple touches and fervent appeals of a youth, but little more than sixteen years of age, proclaiming with the boldness and propriety of an experienced veteran the glorious gospel of the blessed God, must have been truly interesting. And it is also gratifying to know, that by the earliest labours of this excellent youth, happy and saving effects were produced, which remain to this day. On the evening of Thursday, July 23d, he preached at Buntingford, a town about ten miles from Hertford, from John x. 9, By me, 6 if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.' On Sunday, July 26th, he preached again, afternoon and evening, at Collier's End. In the afternoon from John vi. 44, · No man can come to me except the Father which sent

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me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.' In the evening from 2 Tim. ii. 19, Neverthe less the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his, and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.' On the Wednesday evening following he preached at Hormead, from Psalm iv. 6, There be many that say, who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.' And on the Thursday evening again at Brickenden. · At Hormead his congregation amounted to six or seven hundred persons, and the place where they were assembled was a barn.* Indeed by this time his fame had so widely circulated, that wherever he preached,

*The circumstance of Mr. Spencer's preaching in a barn, and in the open air, may perhaps excite unpleasant feelings in the breasts of some who, having occasionally heard him with delight, may honour these pages with a perusal. They may feel regret, perhaps, that he should ever have been so irregular, or have ever trodden in the steps of men, who are universally condemned as enthusiasts and fanatics. It is necessary, therefore, in order to vindicate him, and all who have been guilty of a similar offence against the laws of ecclesiastical decorum, from the charge of enthusiasm and fanaticism, to produce some passages of scripture, by which their conduct, in this respect, is fully justified: 'Howbeit, the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands.'-Acts vii. 48. Where (whether in a field, a barn, or a temple,) two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'-Mat. xviii. 20. 'Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in.-Luke xiv. 23. The most impressive sermon ever preached was delivered in the open air, upon a mount. And the wilderness of Judea was the scene of his ministry, who was honoured to be the forerunner of the Messiah.