CHAPTER III.

Mr. Watson's removal to the Leicester Circuit-Method of Study-Case of strong Temptation-Poetical Composition-Appointment to the Derby CircuitSuccess of his preaching in Derby-First Publication-Disputes in the Methodist Connection-Character and Labours in the Derby Circuit-Admission into full Connection with the Conference-Appointment to the Hinckley Circuit-Begins the Study of Hebrew-Theological Studies-Indiscretion-Reported to have embraced heterodox Opinions-Unkindly treated-Retires from the_Itinerant Ministry-Did not hold the Tenets imputed to him-Enters into Business— Marriage Divine Call to the Ministry-Becomes a private Member of the Methodist New Connection-Enters upon the Ministry in that Body-Appointment to the Manchester Circuit.

DURING the year in which Mr. Watson was stationed at CastleDonington, he spent a Sunday in Leicester, having exchanged places with one of the preachers resident in that town. On this day he preached two sermons on Hebrews xi, 6: "He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." In the first of these discourses he undertook to prove the being and perfections of God, in opposition to that branch of infidel philosophy which denies a first cause, a superintending providence, and a moral government; and in the second, he directed the attention of the congregation to the manner in which God is to be sought, and the reward which will crown the exertions of those who seek him according to his word and will. These sermons displayed such a range of thought, a power of reasoning, a richness and force of diction, and a glow of pious feeling, as excited great surprise, especially when viewed in connection with the youthful aspect of the preacher; and a strong desire was expressed that he might be appointed to the Leicester circuit the ensuing year. A request to that effect was forwarded to the conference; and he was accordingly sent to that station, under the superintendency of the Rev. Jonathan Edmondson. This appointment was

in every respect a happy one. His lot was cast among an affectionate people, who esteemed and loved him; and his labours were both acceptable and useful. Here one of his most intimate and faithful friendships was formed, that with Mr. Carr,-which only ended with his life. But the greatest advantage which he derived from this appointment arose from his intercourse with his superintendent; who was himself a great reader, a hard student, and withal a kind-hearted and friendly man. From him Mr. Watson received valuable advice and help in the acquisition of different branches of knowledge; and for the person of this enlightened" guide of his youth" he ever after cherished a strong regard. The following particulars respecting this part of Mr. Watson's personal history have been furnished by Mr. Edmondson, who has been spared to survive his distinguished friend :

"In the year 1798 Mr. Watson was stationed with me at Leicester. I soon perceived that he was a youth of very superior parts; that he had a most surprising grasp of intellect; and that, if he held on his way, he would become one of our brightest luminaries. I could not render him all the assistance he should have had at that critical period. of his life; but I did what I could; and, with a generosity of soul worthy of himself, he always expressed a grateful sense of my poor services.

"As an inmate of our family he was social, friendly, and affectionate. He gave no trouble, was well-pleased with every thing, and was greatly beloved by all under my roof. We never saw him out of temper. He never put on any lofty airs; but was humble, modest, and unassuming. We never had an angry word, an unkind look, or the slightest interruption of a most delightful friendship; and when he left us, at the end of the year, we sustained a loss in our domestic circle which we deeply deplored.

"The studies of Mr. Watson, before he came to Leicester, had been extremely irregular and desultory; and he had acquired such a habit of passing rapidly from one thing to another, without going to the bottom of any, that it was difficult for him to fix his thoughts for any length of time upon any given subject. But when he conquered that habit, he could acquire more information in a few days, than some others could in as many months. Perceiving this defect, I strongly urged the necessity of steady perseverance in all his literary pursuits; and afterward found that my advice had not been disregarded.

"The principal subject of his study was divinity; but he did not altogether neglect the sciences. What he had learned of Latin when a boy he had partly forgotten; and he had never turned his attention to the Greek of the New Testament. But in after life, by persevering application, he acquired a familiar acquaintance with both those languages.

"As a reader, he had no taste for common and ordinary works. Standard books, of high reputation, were his favourites; and that circumstance assisted him much, when he became an author, both in regard to the style and sentiments of his valuable publications; though I am not aware that he adopted any writer as a model of composition. His memory was remarkably strong. He told Mrs. Edmondson, that if he read a work once, it was almost all his own; and that if he read it twice, it was his own altogether.

"I gave Mr. Watson a plan of reading and study, adapted to the itinerant life, which I had formed for myself, and which I afterward published in my Essay on the Christian Ministry.' How far this plan was observed by him, while he continued to travel, I cannot say; but I know it met with his approbation, and that he adopted it while we were stationed together. When we went out into the circuit, our saddle bags were loaded with books; and when we returned, we generally gave an account of what we had read and studied. Our circuit was not one of the most extensive, but it included Melton-Mowbray; and we were a fortnight out and a fortnight at home. During the fortnight at home we walked thirty or forty miles a week; and supplied Leicester, and six or eight adjacent villages, generally returning home three or four miles after the evening service. I mention this to show the necessity and utility of the plan now given to an itinerant preacher.

"While I was in that circuit I made a resolution to select some important subject of meditation on every journey, when I was alone; or of conversation, on every journey when I had company. This I recommended to Mr. Watson, and have reason to believe he continued to observe it in after life; for I have heard that he could employ his thoughts on the most profound subjects while walking even in the noisy streets of London.

"Finding that Mr. Watson had an extraordinary gift in composition, I proposed that he should write essays on given subjects, and read them to me when finished. This he did with considerable success, and very much to my satisfaction. The first subject, I believe, was the best method of redeeming time; but what became of that, or his other early essays, I cannot say. I know that they were valuable; and am of opinion, that, if they could be recovered, they would do him credit, even now, when his literary character stands so high. We had then several works on the ministry, and many ordination sermons and charges, which we examined with great care. Mr. Watson compared them together, and prepared a treatise on the Christian ministry; but that has been long since lost or destroyed.

"Mr. Watson's temper was noble and generous, without the slightest tinge of suspicion, or mixture of either littleness or meanness. He indulged in the innocent cheerfulness of youth, and occasionally amused his friends with anecdotes of an extraordinary character; but he was generally grave, solemn, and dignified.

"When he travelled with me he was much esteemed as a preacher, though not remarkably popular. His sermons were not of that finished character which they assumed in his riper years; and yet there was in them a strength of mind and a grasp of thought which was admired by all judicious hearers. I heard him occasionally; and was of opinion that his discourses were more remarkable for boldness of thought, and appropriate figures of rhetoric, than for regularity of composition."

While in the Leicester circuit Mr. Watson's studies were not exclusively directed to divinity, literature, and science. He also turned his attention to some of the useful arts of life; and his ever-active mind aspired to an acquaintance with every subject within his reach. In his visits to the different villages he made minute inquiries into the nature of the various manufactures in which the people were engaged. Nor did he satisfy himself with verbal answers, and the inspection of the machines and operations which were presented to his view; but at the houses where he lodged he often tried his skill in wool combing, stocking weaving, and other employments, as a matter of relaxation from severer pursuits.

With some men, preaching is a sort of mechanical exercise. They can speak with fluency on most theological topics, especially after a certain degree of premeditation and writing; and, relying upon their own powers of memory and elocution, they are accustomed to address their congregations with little variation of either manner or feeling. Very different from this were Mr. Watson's views and habits in regard to the Christian ministry. It was, indeed, his practice both to study and write with reference to the pulpit; but he felt, at the same time, that he could not preach with comfort to himself, unless the Holy Spirit were to excite in him suitable affections when delivering God's truth ; and thus give him an "utterance" which unassisted human nature can never attain; and that he could not preach with profit to the people, unless that Spirit were to apply the word to their understandings and consciences. He therefore gave himself to prayer, especially in his closet; and earnestly implored the blessing of God both upon himself and his hearers. Although his mind was sometimes exercised by strong temptations, in common with every "good minister of Jesus Christ;"

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yet he was not disappointed of the Divine blessing; but often proved, that "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" in preaching, as well as in acts of devotion, and in religious duties generally. A remarkable instance of this kind occurred one Thursday evening in Leicester. On entering the pulpit, at the usual time of Divine service, he requested the prayers of the congregation in his behalf in a very feeling manner; adding, that his mind had been in a state of distressing perplexity and embarrassment through the day, nearly the whole of which he had spent in prayer; that, immediately before he came to the chapel, he had been upon his knees a full hour, pleading with God for his blessing and help; and that he was still in doubt whether he should be able to preach at all. After this statement, by which the sympathy of his friends was excited, and their supplications for him were called forth, he read, as his text, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man," Gen. vi, 3; and then preached with great enlargement and power. The sermon was very striking and impressive; and its effect upon the congregation most salutary and beneficial. Nearly all present were deeply affected by the train of thought into which he was led; and several persons united in an urgent request that the sermon might be printed. To prevent all possibility of pecuniary loss to him, and to express the sense they entertained of the discourse, they engaged to assist in the sale of the publication, and pledged themselves to give half a guinea for every copy which they might purchase for their own use. He acknowledged his obligations to the kindness of his friends, but refused to comply with their request; perhaps thinking that it was the influence which attended the delivery of his sermon that constituted its principal interest; and that he had no reason to believe the same influence would attend its perusal, should it appear in print. Many persons who have heard particular sermons with deep feeling, wonder whence their emotions originated, when the same sermons are read in silence and with critical attention.

That Mr. Watson's mind was eminently poetical, will be readily conceded by those who have attended his ministry, or read his works; but at no period of his life did he pay much attention to poetical composition. His mental conceptions often partook of the true sublime; and he could easily clothe them in diction of appropriate force and beauty; but it was seldom that he suffered his thoughts, noble and lofty as they were, to flow in "harmonious numbers." Occasionally he indulged himself in versification; but his mind was too busily employed with other subjects, which he deemed of superior importance, to study poetry as an art. One of his poetic effusions, written at Leicester, and presented to his friend Mr. Carr of that town, has been preserved; and is no mean specimen of his capabilities in that department of literature. He gave it as an "imitation;" but the name of the poet whose manner he professed to copy has escaped recollection. Some of the thoughts, it will be observed, are borrowed from Adam's morning hymn, as given in Paradise Lost. The structure of the verse occasionally indicates a want of practice; but the youth who wrote these stanzas could, in after life, had he turned his attention to the subject, have produced poetry of more than ordinary merit.

1798.

PRAISE TO GOD.

THESE are thy works alone, O God of power,
And these thy heavenly attributes display;
Moving, reveal new glories every hour,
And pencil thy perfections bright as day.
Fairest of all, thyself enthroned above,
Fountain of being, life's ethereal flame,
Object Divine of universal love,

In ages past, and years to come, the same.
Ye morning stars, the first-born sons of light,

Ye angel choirs, pour forth your notes along;
Stretch all your powers, your ardours all unite,
And swell the' august, the universal song.
Struck out of darkness, I, while life's pure flame
Shall glow within, and animate this clay,
Oft as the rising sun thy praise proclaim,
And oft as he, declining, ends the day.

Praise from thy lower works to thee shall rise,
Inanimate and animate conspire;

The variegated earth, and starry skies,

And brutes themselves, shall strike the sounding lyre.

The sun, the mighty sovereign of the day,

Whose powerful beam the genial warmth inspires,
Shines not in vain, but pays to thee the lay,

Who gav'st him birth, and kindledst up his fires.

Queen of the night, we hail thy silver gleams,
Instance of goodness and of care Divine,
Which, when we lose the sun's superior beams,
To lighten up our darkness bid thee shine.

The starry arch, the wide ethereal blue,

The comet's sweep in vast eccentric line,
The circling systems, and the fiery glow

Of central suns, all praise thee as they shine.
The rushing hurricane, the whisp'ring breeze,
The pois'nous wind, and the salubrious air,
The gentle zephyrs quiv'ring on the trees,
Alike thy justice and thy love declare.

The boist'rous ocean, too, the finny swarm,

The flowery tribes that on earth's surface grow,

All that the philosophic sage can charm,

All that is grand above, or good below:

Join nature all, join all harmonious tongues!
Sacred to thee be every tuneful string!

See clouds of incense rise; hark, hark their songs,-
"Great is the Lord, our Father, God, and King!"
R. WATSON.

At the conference of 1799, Mr. Watson took leave of his esteemed superintendent and kind friends in Leicester, and repaired to Derby, where he was appointed to labour with the Rev. Messrs. William Shelmerdine and Anthony B. Seckerson; men whom he esteemed and loved to the end of life, for their piety, sense, and Christian affection. Mr. Sargent was then leaving the Derby circuit; and Mr. Watson hastened to his new appointment, where he spent a week in the house