A BANQUET AND MUSIC PROVIDED FOR THE AUTHOR. 275

evening at Otley, I determined, as there was no public conveyance, to walk the distance, 10 miles. I started at 12 o'clock, and, although I felt a little hungry on the road, I would very contentedly have waited until tea time, had I not seen a poor woman picking blackberries. I thought that I also might avail myself of my heavenly Father's bounty, and, having walked a short distance, to give the poor woman plenty of space, I gathered and ate till I satisfied my appetite. Whilst thus engaged, the birds were flitting over my head, or warbling on the hedges; and, in my heart, I answered their chirrupping: 66 as long as there is provision for you, I can live, and shall not be hindered, through want, from obeying my Lord's commands." Then, with the confidence of an Independent minister, I proceeded on my journey and arrived, about 4 o'clock, at my destination, where I was received in a most affectionate manner by the disciple who invited me at Harrowgate; and after taking some refreshment, I lectured for two hours to an attentive congregation.

TENTH MONTH, 28th.-I lectured in Leeds according to the arrangement of the 19th; and, at the close of my address, an individual informed me, that his father would pay for the Rooms-another invited me to tea, and contributed £10-another £4 5s.-which with the addition of several smaller sums, amounted to £19 10s. 6d.—An ample return for £5 10s., the expense incurred, in consequence of the refusal to lend me a chapel. This is not the only proof which I have experienced of the promise, that any sacrifice for His sake, shall be rewarded with more here; so am I strengthened in the belief that, when we are convinced our desire is to serve him, we may, in holy con

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GIVING, THE DONOR'S GAIN.

fidence, expend our last farthing, should occasion require, such a trial of faith at our hands.

TWELFTH MONTH, 8th.-I went forward to Eccleshall, where I arrived about 5 o'clock, and called on the Independent minister who conducted me to a convenient hotel.

TWELFTH MONTH, 9th. The minister called, and expressed his regret that he could not afford to purchase a book: this, I determined, should be no hindrance; therefore, lest he should refuse to accept of it, I wrote his name in one and presented it to him. He feelingly said, you want all these means for yourself; but I told him that "giving was my gain." After taking leave, he quickly returned with 68. for one book. He again went out and returned with 5s. for myself, and 108. for another book, again he called for another, and so, I doubt not, would have continued if I had remained for days; for he was a warm-hearted Christian. As the London mail was to pass through at 2 o'clock this afternoon, I determined to make the best of my way home by travelling all night. On taking my seat at the coach-office, the book-keeper said: "the price is 358., but, sir, to you, 30s., for I was much edified by your lecture last evening."-I arrived in London on the 10th, lacking nothing.

CHAPTER XX.

FROM TWELFTH MONTH, 10TH, 1836, TO EIGHTH MONTH, 17TH, 1837.

Author refuses a situation, 277;-Croydon School, 279;Suggestion to parents and guardians, 280;—The effect of lecture in Cambridge, 281;-A congregation offended by the testimony, 282;-Author refuses money, 283;-The Saxmundhamites revived, 284; -The peculiar advantage of the Author's labour, 285;-The attraction of cold heartedness, 286;—A short route, 287.

DURING my absence from home, applications were made to me by a deputation of the Peace Committee, requesting that I would accept the office of Lecturer and Agent of their Society; for which particular service, a fund was placed in their hands by some liberal subscribers. I however, felt, that although peace, as opposed to national wars, was my object as well as theirs, I had, in connexion with it, a much higher duty in charge, viz. the exhortation—“ Be not faithless, but believing," which is the basis of the true peace, that "passeth all understanding.”

Therefore I sent them the following reply.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE

PEACE SOCIETY,

London,

12th Month, 15th, 1836.

MY DEAR FRIENDS!-In reply to your kind proposal that I should undertake the agency of your Society, I beg to state, that I am, at present, engaged in the higher duty of advocating the doctrine of Practical Faith, which the protesting against all war, whether offensive or defensivė,

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AUTHOR REFUSES A SITUATION.

affords me an ample opportunity of illustrating. I find that the essential difference between my work and the duty required of your Agent, is, that he would be confined to a protest against war only, whilst I cry aloud unto the House of Israel, to cast away all dependence whatsoever on the arm of flesh: his may admit of a contract for payment,— mine can accept of no such compromise; because, Faith being my subject, I must be the practiser of Faith :"Let the husbandman that laboureth, be first a partaker of the fruit."

I earnestly hope, that you may succeed in obtaining a lecturer who will devote his whole time to your department in the vineyard; and I desire to return you my sincere thanks for the favour you have proposed, in offering me an Agency, of which, at present, I dare not accept.

I remain, with great respect,

Your's very truly,

GEORGE PILKINGTON.

TWELFTH MONTH, 20th.-After remaining at home ten days, I lectured this evening at Watford, and successively at HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, BERKHampstead, Leighton Buzzard, PEEL COURT CLERKENWELL, CROYDON twice, and returned on the 3rd of first month, having travelled about 130 miles, addressed about 2450 persons on Peace, 450 on Temperance, also about 300 children, and 100 parents on their relative duties.

I visited the Friends' School, at Croydon, and found it, in every respect, like that at Ackworth, as far as regards the great anxiety of the superintendent and teachers for the temporal and eternal welfare of the little ones entrusted to their care; the only difference which I observed in the

discipline, was produced by the total separation of the play grounds, each of which, at Croydon, is walled in and divided from the other by a wide lawn, so that the boys and girls who are related to each other, cannot meet ad libitum, as at Ackworth; but, under the eye of a teacher, the children so circumstanced, are allowed to see each other for a short space of time, in the lawn, on a certain day in each week. I was permitted to be present on one of these occasions; and was greatly interested and delighted in witnessing the ecstacy of enjoyment, of, probably, 40 couples who, in consequence of the wetness of the weather, were seated in the same room, talking together with the greatest earnestness, and, in this way, making the very most of their time. The rapid questions put in quick succession, were listened to with undivided attention, and, without a stop, as quickly answered; nor did my presence, as being a stranger, at all abash them, but, in the most business like style, unconcerned whether I was influenced by curiosity or interest, to intrude on them, they continued their discourse. Nevertheless, all spoke in such a subdued tone of voice, that little more than a general whispering was heard, until the signal for parting was made, when their affectionate farewells closed a scene, that exhibited to my mind, the blessed state from which the human family fell, when Adam transgressed, but to which we are restored through Christ who overcame the world, and gave us power to become the sons of God, which is manifested to the world by our love to the brotherhood; "Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost WHICH IS GIVEN UNTO US," which even unbelievers have acknowledged in the exclamation, see how these Christians love one

another!"

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