inculcate on the sons of science, whose superior parts and learning might induce them to despise the rambling methodist ;* at the same time it must be lamented, that so many preachers since his day, have, without his abilities, studiously copied his defects. Mr. Robinson instead of vitiating, appears to have improved his pulpit taste by his methodistical connections: notwithstanding the popularity of his address, his discourses were well connected, and, except in a few instances in his Village Sermons, and which, from local circumstances might scarcely be deemed improper, were free from any thing bordering on the mean, the vulgar, or the trifling.

Although Mr. Robinson had a considerable degree of respect and affection for Mr. Whitfield, whom he used to style his spiritual father, it appears that even at his first setting out in the religious world, he had learned that important lesson which his life and writings so forcibly inculcate Call no man master or father upon earth; for on his leaving his trade, when he was about twenty years of age, he, somewhat to the surprise of Mr. Whitfield, was shortly found preaching amongst the methodists. His first sermon was addressed to a small congregation at

Dr. Watts, it is reported, when he was informed of the success which attended the preaching of Mr. Whitfield, exclaimed to some of his learned brethren-" His wild notes "produce greater effect than our regular music."

B

Mildenhall in Suffolk: he was soon after invited to preach at the Tabernacle, in Norwich, and at several places in Norfolk and Cambridge-,. shire his sermons were not unfrequently preached with little, and sometimes without any preparation he delivered them extempore, which method he observed to the close of his pulpit labours.

Mr. Robinson continued preaching amongst the methodists for about two years, during which period he appears to have turned his attention more particularly to the controversy between the members of the established church and the dissenters, and to have resolved to take his lot with the latter. A temptation to join the former, too powerful for any but a man of christian integrity to repel, presented itself: "A rich relation who had

promised to provide liberally for him, and who "had bequeathed him a considerable sum in his will, threatened to deprive him of every advan

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tage which he had been encouraged to expect, "unless he quitted his connection with the dis"senters but the rights of conscience, and the approbation of God, were superior, in his re

gard, to every worldly consideration: he pre"served his integrity, steadily maintained his principles, and persevered in his connection "with the dissenters; but forfeited the favour of "his relation, and every advantage which, living "or dying, he had in his power to bestow."*

* Funeral Sermon for Mr. Robinson, by Dr. Rees. Page 59.

Shortly after leaving the methodists, Mr. Robinson formed a small independent calvinistic church at Norwich, during his connection with which, he administered infant baptism; but on his leaving this church, he relinquished the practice, and became an antipædobaptist: his opinion, in this respect, he firmly, although without bigotry, retained to the close of life: he was baptised by immersion, at Ellingham in Norfolk.

In the spring of the year 1759, he received an invitation to preach to a small congregation of Baptists at Cambridge, but continued for prudential reasons for two years on probation before he settled: about the same time he entered the marriage state with Miss Ellen Payne, to whom he had paid his addresses during his residence at Norwich.

Mr. Robinson on his settlement was ordained according to the customary mode amongst the dissenters: his confession of faith, consisted merely of a string of calvinistical opinions expressed in the usual common place language: its peculiar excellence is its brevity; the delivery of it was however followed by some observations of much greater consequence than the mere confession: after reading it he remarked, that “ these appeared scripture "truths; that where any of them surpassed his comprehension, his reason did homage to reve"lation: that in this there was nothing done but

"what a naturalist did every time he studied a daisy: that he intended however in his future ministry to dwell on the least disputable, as ،، they were the most essential truths of religion." How much is it to be lamented that the spirit of these observations is not deeply imbibed by every christian minister, and more particularly on his entrance on the pastoral office.

Mr. Dyer informs us that Mr. Robinson afterwards entered into an explanation of the articles of his confession in an essay on Moderate Calvinism, which essay so late as the year 1794, was in the possession of the family, and which "discovers "considerable ingenuity, and no small share of "learning." After making of Mr. Dyer, and of the different branches of Mr. Robinson's family, every inquiry in my power respecting the essay alluded to, I regret to say, I have not been able to obtain any further information respecting it.

The congregation at Cambridge on Mr. Robinson's first settlement was in all respects, in a very low state: it is described by himself at an after period of his life as follows:

"The settlement of Robinson seems rather a "romantic, than a rational undertaking: for this pastor was to be maintained. He had not re"ceived above ten guineas from his own family for

some years he had no future prospect of re"ceiving any his grandfather had cut him off with a legacy of half a guinea. He had received only an hundred pounds with his wife, and this he

"had diminished among the methodists.

He had

"never enquired what this congregation would "allow him, nor had any body proposed any thing.

They had paid him, for the first half year, 31. "12s. 5d. they had increased since, but not enough "to maintain him frugally; there was no prospect "of so poor a people supplying him long, especially should his family increase, which it was

likely to do. Besides, the congregation, through "the libertinism of many of its former members, "had acquired a bad character. These would "have been insurmountable difficulties to an older "and a wiser man: but he was a boy, and the "love of his flock was a million to him. His set

tlement, therefore, on this article should be no "future precedent for future settlements." In a note he adds, "the support of this church, has al

ways been by a quarterly voluntary subscription "paid to the deacons. During the first years of "his ministry the annual income kept increasing "from the small beginning mentioned to 25, 30,

35, 40, 501, in succeeding years; and about "the year 1770, it amounted to upwards of 901. "since that year it has decreased, and of late in"creased again. The perpetual changes of the "subscribers by deaths, removals, &c. have al

ways rendered the income so variable, that it "has never been two years together the same."

Mr. Robinson on his settlement at Cambridge, resided, with a member of his congregation at Fulbourn, a village about five miles distant; where