Wellington, 12th November, 1811.
IN my last I promised an account of my parochial proceedings: though I
have nothing brilliant to communicate, yet I hope I may say, after nearly
six months’ residence, that I have good ground to believe I have not
mistaken my path in entering the ministry. The increase of congregation,
both among the poorer as well as the richer sort, afford me some
encouragement, and I have frequently observed persons manifestly affected
under the word delivered. I am not so sanguine as to expect great things
should be done by so feeble a labourer as myself. “The honest and good
hearted” among the congregation have already gladly received and profited
by the word under my most excellent vicar, and, consequently, it is not
to be expected that any remarkable change should be effected; but, as I
have observed before, I have perceived that the Spirit of God is among us
to apply the word, and so long as persons are not completely hardened, we
may indulge some hope concerning them.
A few Sundays ago I supplied the church of a neighbouring minister who
has not been long in these parts. I preached from these words, “The Lord
turned and looked on Peter.” I had taken another sermon with me, but
some how or other could not make up my mind to preach it, and it will
appear by the sequel that the Lord had some gracious purpose to answer by
it. A poor woman, a former hearer of Mr. — happened to come into this
part of the country, and she mentioned to her daughter that she should
like to go and hear her old minister, but related at the same time a
dream that she had the night before, that a strange minister at Mr. C—’s
church was the means of doing her good and recovering her from her
backsliding state. She accordingly came, and no sooner did I enter the
desk than she said to her daughter, “That is the clergyman I dreamed of
who recovered me to God.” The subject by the Divine blessing was
suitable to her case, and Mr. —, who related the anecdote to me, stated,
that she began with fresh earnestness to devote herself to the service of
God, and gave manifest tokens of the work being from above.