he became acquainted with Mr. Graves, a gentleman of considerable property, and a member of the university, who in the circle of his connections, expressed his high admiration of Mr. Robinson's talents and virtues, noticing particularly his benevolence to the poor: he shortly removed from Fulbourn to Hauxton a village about the same distance from Cambridge on the London road. Here he lived several years in an humble cottage, his family increasing, and his means of support so scanty, that he could with difficulty have procured the common necessaries of life without the occasional assistance of friends. That excellent man the late John Thornton Esq. whose benevolence was unbounded, appears to have conferred on him some pecuniary favours, and to have made him one of his numerous almoners. Mr. Wallin the late much respected pastor of the Baptist church at Maze Pond, Southwark, whose friendship for Mr. Robinson ended but with his life, likewise rendered him occasional services. In his retired situation at Hauxton, Mr. Robinson was most sedulously engaged in the pursuit of his studies, in fulfilling the duties of the pastoral office, and, in what he peculiarly excelled, village preaching: there were indeed few villages in the county where his labours were not exercised, and attended with uncommon success. His condescension to the poor, even to children, and his endeavours to promote their temporal and spiritual welfare, made him almost their idol. In some of his cottage visits during his after residence

at Chesterton, I have had the happiness of forming one of the company, and have been equally entertained and instructed. How edifying and interesting was the sight of a great man, who had for his intimate friends the most learned members of one of the first universities in the world, sitting with his pipe in the chimney corner of a cottager, conversing in a manner the most peculiarly adapted to please and to improve. His labours were indeed more abundant besides his statedly preaching on the Sabbath, twice, sometimes three times, he preached several lectures on the week days, not only in the evening, but at six in the morning; at the same time taking care that these exercises should not interfere with the necessary labours of the poor, as he discontinued his lectures on the week days during the hay and harvest seasons.

In his village preaching he was both encouraged and assisted by the late Mr. Berridge, some time senior fellow of Clare Hall, and afterwards Vicar of Everton, in Bedfordshire, a clergyman of respectable abilities, and much beloved, particu larly by the calvinistic methodists; a laborious and useful preacher, who was very successful in raising and establishing various dissenting congregations, not only in his own, but in neighbouring counties. "His master Jesus Christ," he used to say, "employed him to serve near forty shops "in the country besides his own parish." though within the pale of the establishment he had not a particle of the churchman about him:

Al

concerning his evangelical high church brethren he would frequently in his homely dialect exclaim

"Such an one will do little good, he has too "much of the steeple in his belly." Mr. Robinson however as he advanced in life, had too little methodism in him for the old gentleman, and he gradually became less a favourite: "he knew," to use his own language, "how to estimate his good "qualities, without making himself a simpleton." Mr. Rowland Hill, and Mr. Charles De Coetlogon were likewise at their setting out in life, Mr. Rọbinson's associates: the latter continued his inti

macy with the dissenters, till he was appointed chaplain to a lord mayor of London, when he thought proper to join the high church party, and preached a furious sermon against the repeal of the Test act, in which he reviled the dissenters, and bitterly attacked their civil and religious rights. This, it may be remarked, is not the only instance in which the evangelical clergy (as they are usually termed) after eating the bread of dissenters, and experiencing their warmest friendship, have lift up the heel against them.

From a number of letters which have lately been put into my hands written by Mr. R.* it seems evident that almost at the outset of his public life he entertained just and enlarged sentiments of civil and religious liberty, and a detestation and contempt of Priestcraft, as it appears in a greater or

* Vol. iv. p. 292–304.

less degree, not only in established churches but in those who dissent from them: the letters referred to will afford the reader additional evidence how utterly unfounded are the assertions of his former biographer, that "with simplicity of manners, he "united a little professional cant: the latter he "could practice on occasion, as well as most men."* The incontrovertible fact however is, that no man was ever more free from "professional cant" himself, or more despised and ridiculed it in others, than Mr. Robinson. Perhaps, however, by men of a sceptical turn of mind, expressions of fervent love to God, and to Christ, and of regard to the eternal interests of mankind, may be denominated "cant." If so Mr. Robinson, it must be confessed, was as subject as most men to such a charge.

The congregation at Cambridge experienced in a few years after the settlement of their pastor such an increase both in numbers and respectability, as to render a larger and more commodious place af worship indispensibly necessary: the old meeting house was pulled down, and a new one erected at the expence of the congregation: their pastor felt great satisfaction at their conduct, as he had an aversion to a society involving itself in debt, or de-. pending on others for assistance. In mentioning

* Dyer's Memoirs. p. 52.

It is to be lamented that a spirit of independence, as well as an attention to economy are not more visible in country congregations. What occasion is there for the unnecessary and

the Trust deed, Mr. Robinson observes, "the sub"scribers and purchasers, as well as the present trust, aimed at no dominion, and will submit to

no slavery. They did all they could to secure "the same independency to their successors, and "wished to inspire them with a just terror of that worst of all animals, a lord brother." An animal we may remark, equally disgusting, whether cloathed in a lay, or a clerical habit.

In the year 1770, Mr. Robinson printed a tranlation of two or three sermons of Mons. Saurin, which were intended as a specimen of a larger number: these were reprinted together with others a few years afterwards: and which will be noticed in the order they were published. In 1772 he published A sermon preached to a society of young people at Willingham in Cambridgeshire on the Nature and .Necessity of early piety: although this discourse, as a composition, is by no means equal to several of his succeeding ones, yet for its ingenuity and practical piety, and for the learning discovered in the notes, it affords a favourable specimen of the peculiar talents of the author: a second edition was

proud distinction of pews, in a place where all profess to be on an equality before God,the children of one common father, and the disciples of one common redeemer. Seats with backs are sufficient for comfortable accommodation; and were this method followed in building meeting houses, one third of the expence might be saved, and the congregations would be less burthensome to others, and more independent themselves, than they too frequently are. People who must have pews ought never to go a begging to others to erect them.