On being requested, at a later period, to attend the ordination of a minister at a distance, he excused himself by saying, "It has long been my opinion, that ordinations are best conducted by the presbyters or elders of the immediate vicinity of the party; and that, to step beyond that circle, is to sacrifice or impair the chief benefit of that practice, which is the putting a wholesome check on the abuse of popular suffrage, by making it impossible for a minister to establish himself at the head of a congregation, without the approbation and sanction of the circle of pastors with whom he is to act. It is an affair in which the church are chiefly or solely concerned; and though the calling in a stranger on such occasions may attract a greater audience, it is in my humble opinion at the expense of more important objects. For these and other reasons that might be adduced, you must allow me firmly, though most respectfully, to decline the service you have been pleased to assign me."

The modern practice so generally adopted, seems already to have induced a persuasion, that the attendance of ministers, and those chiefly from a distance, is necessary to give validity to an appointment to the pastoral office. Some instances

expense incurred

have also been known, where the in procuring the public ordination of a village pastor, has amounted to more than half his annual income, while the place of worship was loaded with a debt which the people had not the means

to discharge. It also happens now adays, not unfrequently, that when some stripling from the academy is to receive the honours of a public ordination, the ceremony is announced in large placards on the wall, by printed circulars, notices in the local newspapers, stating the price to be paid for tickets of admission to a splendid dinner, where toasts and speeches are to form part of the entertainment of the day. How far this is in unison with apostolic simplicity, or with the genuine spirit of christianity at any time, the plainest understanding can determine.

To the common practice of a formal opening of new places of worship he entertained a strong objection, as carrying with it a sort of implied 'consecration;' but in the latter part of life this objection was somewhat relaxed. Towards those of his own denomination he was generally unyielding; but when solicited by the Independents, the General Baptists, the Kilhamites and the Ranters among the Methodists, he more readily complied; and to give a triumph to christian liberality he preached at the opening of three new places in the town of Leicester itself, all of a different denomination from his own,-a proof of the high estimation in which he was held in his own neighbourhood, and of the value he put upon christian concord and communion. At the same time he so far preserved his consistency on the subject of opening new places of worship, that he generally went alone to preach on the first sabbath, instead

of setting apart any extra season for that purpose, and to places where his influence was needed and would be felt, in reviving or promoting the general interests of christianity.

He had a decided objection to the term 'chapel' being applied to places of worship among dissenters, seeing it had been previously appropriated to religious edifices connected with the established church. Dissenters, he thought, "need not borrow plumage from the hierarchy, for simplicity is true beauty." Neither did he approve of dissenting ministers wearing a gown, since it had been appropriated as the costume of the university. The early nonconformists, he observed, continued to wear the gown after their ejectment, but it was only as a sign of having taken their degrees. If dissenting ministers, said he, will robe themselves, let them adopt a costume characteristic of their own seminaries, and not appear as if they were members of the national establishment.

SECTION XII.

A. D. 1807, 1808.

MR. HALL'S retirement at Enderby, where for several months he patiently resigned himself to the will of providence, led to two of the most important events of his whole life, and gave a new direction to all his future proceedings. A way was prepared, very unexpectedly, for his settlement with the congregation at Leicester, and the forming of a domestic connection which originated in circumstances equally singular and unpremeditated.

In the summer of 1807, a pious man in the neighbouring village of Lorton died, who had long been a member of the church at Arnsby, and Mr. Hall was requested to preach a funeral sermon at the dwellinghouse of the deceased. Being within seven miles of Clipstone, where Mr. Thomas Edmonds was then stationed, he went over to Lorton on the thursday evening to hear the sermon, and if possible to prevail with Mr. Hall to extend his visit, to preach at Clipstone and administer the Lord's supper on the following sabbath. He resisted the proposal with considerable pertinacity, alleging that he must of necessity return to

Enderby; that he had lately undertaken several short journies, was tired of travelling and of company, wanted retirement and rest, and begged he might not be farther urged upon the subject. After a great deal of altercation Mr. Edmonds took his leave at a late hour in the evening, and ventured to say he should assuredly send for him on saturday if the weather were fine; and if he did not come, the Clipstone congregation would be destitute, as he himself was engaged to preach at another place. By some strange fatuity Mr. Edmonds still persevered in his intention, while Mr. Hall as positively persisted in his refusal. When the horse and gig arrived at Enderby on the saturday, Mr. Hall was much displeased, and told the messenger he might return as he came, he should not go. The messenger, who knew Mr. Hall well, begged permission to stay awhile to refresh himself and the horse. In a little time the whole scene was changed. Mr. Hall became profuse in his attentions, invited the friend to dine with him, and entered into a friendly conversation on the state of the congregation at Clipstone. At length he was prevailed upon to mount the gig, and arrived at Clipstone at a late hour that evening, in perfect good humour with himself and all about him, without once adverting to the singular circumstances which had brought him there.

During this short and reluctant visit he was smitten with the charms of innocence and virtuous simplicity, in one who lived in the family where he