“I rejoice to hear that dear Mr. Thompson[162] proposes to make
you a monthly visit. O that his doctrine may distil as the dew!
He will teach you the way of God more perfectly, for he has the
unction of the Holy One, and knows the truth as it is in Jesus.
There will not be wanting those who will censure his righteous
dealings, and ridicule his zeal for the glorious Redeemer; but
all those who have Jesus and His salvation, will say, ‘The Lord
prosper you!’ If any of my acquaintances think it worth their
while to hear from me, I shall, with as much pleasure, go to my
desk and write to them, as I formerly went to their houses and
conversed with them. I assure you, I would still seek to please
my people for their good to edification.”
Before following Hervey to his next sphere of labour, further extracts
from his correspondence, at and about this period, will help to
illustrate his character.
Hervey was an earnestly religious man, a devout student of the holy
Bible, and an extensive reader of pious authors, but he was also a lover
of at least some of the light and popular literature of the age. Hence
the following to his sister:—
“BIDEFORD, _October 12, 1742_.
“See how our judgments and inclinations alter in process of
time! I once thought, I should make less use of the _Spectator_
than you; but now, I believe, the reverse of this is true; for
we read one or more of these elegant and instructive papers
every morning at breakfast, and they are served up with our
tea, according to their original design. We reckon our repast
imperfect without a little of Mr. Addison’s or Mr. Steele’s
company.”
Such a confession is not surprising in a man who was now employed in
writing “Meditations among the Tombs,” and “Reflections on a Flower
Garden.”
Hervey seems to have left Bideford in the month of July, 1743; but, on
his way to Northamptonshire, he halted at Bath, where he resided several
weeks, and wrote a number of his most interesting letters. The following
are extracts from some of them:—
“DEAR MRS. A⸺,—I am got as far as Bath, in my way homeward; and
here I am likely to make a considerable stay. My friend, Mr.
C⸺,[163] has taken a trip into Devon, and left me entrusted
with his flock: so that, here is my abode till his return
releases me.
“Sunday last[164] I spent at Bristol, attending Mr.
Whitefield’s preaching. Never have I seen, never have I read,
so remarkable an accomplishment of our Lord’s promise, as is
evident in that indefatigable, powerful preacher. He does
indeed believe in his Divine Master, and _out of his heart flow
rivers of living waters_.
“This afternoon, some hopeful young persons came to visit me.
They seemed to be in the number of those who are pressing
forward unto the prize of their high calling in Christ Jesus.
Perceiving them to be thus minded, I introduced a discourse
concerning growth in grace,” etc.[165]
The next furnishes a glimpse of Bath a hundred and thirty years ago.