greeted with the acclamations of the whole assembly. Notwithstanding the almost insuperable aversion Mr. Hall had to public meetings, especially to his appearance on a platform, the pious vicar retained such an ascendency over him, that his eloquence was afterwards frequently employed at these anniversaries, in advocating the claims of the bible society, and they went on hand in hand together in promoting the important interests it embraced.

The harmony which subsisted between these eminent individuals, each the leader of a host, was never interrupted, though occasion might sometimes be furnished for the exercise of mutual candour and forbearance. The charms of Mr. Hall's ministry were not to be resisted; the meetinghouse would inevitably make encroachments on the church, and several of Mr. Robinson's hearers were from time to time received into the baptist communion. The worthy vicar, sufficiently aware of the captivating eloquence of his friend, never suffered this circumstance to create any jealousies between them. After numerous secessions, St. Mary's church was still replenished with fresh hearers; the labours of Mr. Robinson were eminently successful, and he might be considered, as Mr. Hall said of another clergyman in a similar case, "the great hammer" of the town of Leicester. But when numbers had been baptised, Mr. Robinson very pleasantly remarked in conversation, "I cannot think how it is, brother Hall, that

so many of my sheep have wandered into your fold." "Oh sir," replied the other, "they wanted washing, to be sure, that is all." The vicar of course enjoyed the repartee, and their mutual cordiality and esteem, continued undiminished to the end of life, after an acquaintance of more than thirty years.

Mr. Robinson was not insensible to the numerous excellencies of his nonconforming brother, nor was he wanting in sympathy amidst his severe and frequent affliction. On one occasion, while Mr. Hall was labouring under a paroxysm of his disorder, he received a visit from one whose praise is in all the churches, the Rev. Isaac Mann, the late faithful and indefatigable pastor of the baptist church in Mazepond, London, a man who combined in his character an undeviating attachment to religious principle, with a candour and a liberality of feeling that endeared him to all denominations. During this short interview, it so happened that Mr. Robinson called in to see Mr. Hall, who in an agony of pain was sitting with his head resting on his arms upon the table. The two visitors affectionately sympathised with their afflicted friend, who then believed his disorder to be preternatural, the effect of some spiritual agency; and was the more persuaded of this, because none of his medical advisers could ascertain the cause. Their attempts to controvert his opinions on the subject of demonology, called forth a train of metaphysical reasoning on the connection between matter and

spirit, the seen and unseen world, which delighted and astonished them. Mr. Hall having left the room for a very few minutes, Mr. Robinson turned to Mr. Mann and said, "Oh who can tell what mercy there may be in this affliction? Who can tell what temptations and dangers it may have averted, and what might have resulted from such prodigious intellects, had they not been sanctified and chastened by so severe a visitation. He might have been exalted above measure, but is now humbled and abased at the Redeemer's feet."

In the course of the summer Mr. Hall was pressed to go to London, to deliver an address at the formation of an Academy at Stepney, for training up pious young men for the ministry, an object in which he cordially concurred. The only institutions of the kind, belonging to the baptist denomination, being nearly at the extremities of the kingdom, it was agreed on all hands that a more central situation was highly desirable; and to give it his countenance and support, he also delivered the anniversary address at the return of the season.

While in London on this important occasion, Mr. Hall suddenly determined to call on his friends at Cambridge, in his way back to Leicester. He had often wished to pay his promised visit, since he resigned his charge four years before, but could not summon sufficient resolution for the purpose. The congregation had also continued in a very unsettled state since the time he left; and after

having been accustomed to his superior style of preaching, and lived on angels food' for about fourteen years, they knew not how to be content with any other preacher. Aware of the partiality of the people, who had given the most substantial proofs of their attachment, and fearful of encreasing the difficulties of his successor, he had from motives of delicacy deferred his intended visit. But hearing that his friends at Cambridge were happily united in their present excellent but afflicted pastor, he suddenly made his appearance among them. The news of his unexpected arrival instantly spread in all directions, and the dawn of the sabbath excited universal joy and satisfaction. He staid only three or four days, which were wholly occupied in receiving the congratulations of his friends, who were delighted to see him once more in the midst of them. On taking leave he offered up a most affecting prayer, and promised a more lengthened visit when his engagements would permit.

Before the end of the year Mr. Hall engaged in a public ordination, a service which he very rarely performed; for though not disposed to complain of others, who felt less difficulty in coming forward on such occasions, he entertained great reluctance in taking upon himself this kind of responsibility. Whenever he entered on such an engagement it was in a manner rather peculiar to himself, appearing not as one having authority,

but performing an act of friendship or brotherly love; and carefully avoiding all appearance of ostentation, he generally confined these services to the immediate sphere of his own acquaintance. His feelings on this subject are pretty well known, and are strongly expressed in one of his printed letters. "Ordination services, as they are now conducted, I consider as of more show than use. The presence of one or two ministers, along with the church, accompanied with prayer and laying on of hands, and a few serious exhortations, would be a genuine scriptural ordination. Nothing can be more distant from this, than the manner in which these things are at present conducted."

Conformably with these views, and omitting the extraneous formalities, he complied with the solicitations of his highly respected friend Mr. Robertson, and preached at his settlement over the Independent congregation at Stretton. He engaged the more freely in this service, as it afforded an opportunity of expressing, what to him was at all times highly gratifying, his brotherly affection for those not immediately within the pale of his own communion. In the printed sermon he mentions the circumstance of his having been invited to take a part in this service among his pædobaptist brethren, as "a specimen of liberality" which afforded him great pleasure; adding in his preface, "how much it is to be lamented, that the christian world should be so violently agitated by disputes and divided into factions, on points which it is