against the assurance, the malignity, and (what is of more importance) the pernicious influence of such sentiments on the minds of the simple and ignorant, who, if they give credit to his relations, must be no more than tools and instruments under the control and management of one called to be their Apostle.

Nothing would be more easy for me, as I have observed, than to bring forward quotations such as would justify all I have advanced; but even had I room, I cannot tell whether there be not something degrading in such kind of attack: the reader might smile at those miraculous accounts, but he would consider them and the language of the author as beneath his further attention: I therefore once more refer him to those pamphlets, which will afford matter for pity and for contempt, by which some would be amused and others astonished-not without sor row, when they reflect that thousands look up to the writer as a man literally inspired, to whose wants they administer with their substance, and to whose guidance they prostrate their spirit and understanding. ()

(1) [" When, in October, 1805, Mr. Crabbe resumed the charge of his own parish of Muston, he found some changes to vex him, and not the less, because he had too much reason to suspect that his long absence from his incumbency had been, partly at least, the cause of them. His cure had been served by respectable and diligent clergymen, but they had been often changed, and some of them had never resided within the parish; and he felt that the binding influence of a settled and permanent minister had not been withdrawn for twelve years with impunity. A Wesleyan missionary had formed a thriving establishment in Muston, and the congregations at the parish church were no longer such as they had been of old. This much annoyed him; and the warmth with which he began to preach against dissent only irritated himself and others, without bringing back disciples to the fold. But the progress of the Wesleyans, of all sects

the least unfriendly in feeling, as well as the least dissimilar in tenets, to the established church, was, after all, a slight vexation compared to what he underwent from witnessing the much more limited success of a disciple of Huntington in spreading in the same neighbourhood the pernicious fanaticism of his half-crazy master. The social and moral effects of that new mission were well calculated to excite not only regret, but indignation; and, among other distressing incidents, was the departure from his own household of two servants, a woman and a man, one of whom had been employed by him for twenty years. The man, a conceited ploughman, set up for a Huntingtonian preacher himself; and the woman, whose moral character had been sadly deteriorated since her adoption of the new lights, was at last obliged to be dismissed, in consequence of intolerable insolence."- Vol. I. p. 182.

On the passages in Letter IV., treating of Methodism, the Eclectic Review said: "Mr. Crabbe's representation of the Methodists in general, as addressing the Creator with daring flights of unpremeditated absurdity, if intended to apply indiscriminately, can only be excused, by supposing the writer ignorant and rash, instead of malicious and unprincipled. There is too much truth in his strictures on the author of the 'Bank of Faith.' The Arminian Methodists afford him as much amusement as the Calvinists. He makes no scruple of turning their internal conflicts, as well as the tenour and influence of their leader's preaching, into general and unqualified ridicule. The truth divine' is not secured from his satire, by the supreme authority of that Teacher', who thought proper to illustrate the spiritual change by this striking figure, and the evil spirit, solemnly described by an apostle as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour,' is ludicrously exhibited in Mr. Crabbe's verse as a dragon of romance,

'Whom sainted knights attack in sinners' cause,

And force the wounded victim from his paws.""

With reference to the above strictures, the Poet added the following note in his third edition of the Borough :-" An objection is made to the levity with which the subject of religion is said to be treated in this letter. This the author cannot admit: it is not religion, but what hurts religion, what is injurious to all true devotion, and at enmity with all sober sense, which is thus unceremoniously treated: false and bigoted zeal; weak and obstinate enthusiasm, ignorance that presumes to teach, and intolerant pride that boasts of humility; these alone are objects of his attack. An author has not the less reverence for religion, because, in warring with fanaticism, he uses the only weapons by which it is said to be vulnerable; and he doubts not but he shall be excused (nay, approved, so far as respects his intention) by the public in general, and more especially by that part of it (and that by no means a small part), who think the persons so described, while they are themselves—

'Safe from the Bar, the Pulpit, and the Throne,'

are the very people, from whom, did their power correspond with their wishes, neither the Pulpit nor the Throne (if the Bar should escape) would remain in safety."]

Sects and Professions in Religion are numerous and successive General Effect of false Zeal - Deists-Fanatical Idea of Church Reformers - The Church of Rome Baptists Swedenborgians-Universalists - Jews.

Methodists of two Kinds; Calvinistic and Arminian.

The Preaching of a Calvinistic Enthusiast- His Contempt of Learning Dislike to sound Morality: why- His Idea of Conversion His Success and Pretensions to Humility. The Arminian Teacher of the older Flock - Their Notions of the Operations and Power of Satan · vices

Description of his DeTheir Opinion of regular Ministers - Comparison of these with the Preacher himself- A Rebuke to his Hearers; introduces a Description of the powerful Effects of the Word in the early and awakening Days of Methodism.

We nurse some portion in our favour'd place;
Not one warm preacher of one growing sect
Can say our Borough treats him with neglect;
Frequent as fashions, they with us appear,

And you might ask, "how think we for the year?"
They come to us as riders in a trade, (1)

And with much art exhibit and persuade.

(1) ["The fact is curious in the history of trade, and little known, that the practice of travelling about the country to solicit orders for goods, began among the Quakers, as an incidental consequence of the life led by their errant-preachers: Francis Bugg, of unsavoury name, tells us this. "We no sooner had our liberty,' he says, but all our London preachers spread themselves, like locusts, all over England and Wales. Some went east, some west, yea, north and south; and being generally tradesmen, we not only got our quarters free, our horses free and well maintained in our travels; a silver watch here, a beaver there, a piece of hair-camblet, and sometimes other things; but, moreover, we got into great trades; and, by spreading ourselves in the country, into great acquaintance, and thereby received orders of the best of the country tradesmen for parcels, whilst the Protestant tradesmen in London, who had not this advantage, stood still,

Minds are for Sects of various kinds decreed, As diff'rent soils are form'd for diff'rent seed; Some when converted sigh in sore amaze, And some are wrapt in joy's ecstatic blaze; Others again will change to each extreme, They know not why-as hurried in a dream; Unstable they, like water, take all forms, Are quick and stagnant; have their calms and storms; High on the hills, they in the sunbeams glow, Then muddily they move debased and slow; Or cold and frozen rest, and neither rise nor flow. Yet none the cool and prudent Teacher prize, On him they dote who wakes their ecstasies; With passions ready primed such guide they meet, And warm and kindle with th' imparted heat; 'Tis he who wakes the nameless strong desire, The melting rapture and the glowing fire; 'Tis he who pierces deep the tortured breast, And stirs the terrors, never more to rest.

Opposed to these we have a prouder kind, Rash without heat, and without raptures blind; These our Glad Tidings unconcern'd peruse, Search without awe, and without fear refuse; The truths, the blessings found in Sacred Writ, Call forth their spleen, and exercise their wit; Respect from these nor saints nor martyrs gain, The zeal they scorn, and they deride the pain;

Witness

and in their shops had little to do, whilst we filled our coffers. Thomas Greene, whose wife would scarce suffer him at home, she being willing (according to the proverb), to make hay whilst the sun shines. Thomas died worth, as is said, six or eight thousand pounds, who was poor mason when he set up for a preaching Quaker."" SOUTHEY.]