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We shall conclude these extracts with one other of the many graphic specimens this book contains, and commend it to our readers. W. G. Bellham, after stating, that, in 1825, he for the first time entered Litcham, in Norfolk, and having collected a large congregation to whom he preached, and was about concluding, writes:

"Up came the parson and lawyer in such a spirit, as if death, judgment, heaven, hell, and the sufferings of Christ, had never been with them matters of any consideration. They broke through every inclosure; decency itself must not be left out of the question. The parson seized my arm, and said, 'I insist upon you being off. Begone about your busi

ness.'

"Preacher. I hope, sir, you will not disturb our religious devotions. "Parson. I will not allow it. Be off about your business.

"Prea. What harm are we doing, sir, we have been singing the praises of God, and praying, and I have been preaching; now we are going to sing and pray again, and then go away.

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Lawyer. Make him leave off, sir. Where is his licence?

"Par. Where is your licence? Produce your licence.

"Prea. Are you a magistrate, sir?

"Par. No, but my father is.

"Law. You are not a licensed preacher; if you are, show your licence.

"Par. Come down, you stupid fellow.

"Law. Make him leave off, a villian.

"Prea. I am neither a villain nor stupid; but I love all your souls, and I will pray for you all.

"Par. (with my arm in his hand.) If you leave off and go away, no one shall hurt you; but if you pray, I will charge the constable with

you.

"Prea. I must and will 'commend them to God, and to the word of his grace,' unless you will pray; and you have as much right as I have. -As he would not, I did; and all the time I was praying, the constable was shaking me, and saying, 'Leave off.' But I got such hold of the Lord, that neither parson, constable, nor Satan, could break my hold; and the people said, 'It is astonishing! Ah! they could not see that invisible hand which upheld me. I concluded, and thanked the people for their good behaviour, and began to exhort the parson and lawyer to behave better for the future, for I thought all was over. But to my surprise, the parson said to the constable, Take him away.'

"Constable. You are my prisoner, sir.

"Prea. Well, that's a bad job; but I can't help it now.

The con

stable took me by the arm and led me through the street to a publichouse. The whole village was raised, for I helped to raise it by singing, as we went through the street,

'Wicked men I am not to fear,' &c.

I was introduced into the parlour. Many persons rushed in, but the constable ordered them all out.

"Con. I am very sorry for you, but if you will let me pass you out of the parish, all will be well.

"Prea. That would be no credit to the people whose preacher I am. Under what act have you taken me up?

"Con. The parson told me to take you up, and the lawyer said it was right. "Prea. If your parson knows no more about the gospel, than your lawyer does about the law, it is time for us, as a people to come to Litcham.

"Con. You had better go, sir.

"Prea.

I am your prisoner, and you must take care of me.

"I began to talk to the man about his soul; but some one knocked at the door, and the constable went out. When he came in again, he said, it was Mr. H., the parson, and he wishes you to go away; and I am to carry you where wish to go.

you

"Prea. I am your prisoner; and wish to remain under your care till I am set at liberty by a magistrate. He went to the door, and I heard him say, 'Sir, he will not go away.'

The lawyer came into the room and said, 'My good fellow, you had better be off about your business. You will find yourself wrong in the morning.'

"Prea. You called me a villain in the street, and a stupid fool; now you call me a good fellow; but I have no business with you; besides, you swear, and to that I have an objection. You will do well to leave our company. He went away saying, We will do your business in the morning?' He and his two sons came in again to persuade me to go. But I would not. The lawyer then said, 'You shall go to prison in the morning.'

not

"Prea. I hope not, sir, but you ought to know law. He went away very comfortable."

"The constable came and took charge of me, and said, I must go with him to Laxham Hall, to Colonel R- Away we went. I had to wait in the servants' hall a long time before I was called for. The parson and the colonel were together while I was preaching away to the servants.

Being called for, I went into the magistrate's room with the constable, and said to the magistrate and parson, 'Good morning, gentlemen.' "Magistrate. What fellow have you got there?

"Con. A Methodist preacher, sir.

"Magis. What is your name?

"Prea. W. Bellham, sir.

"Magis. Where do you come from?

"Prea. Lynn, sir.

"Magis. What have you been doing?

"Prea. Telling the inhabitants of Litcham, Jesus died to save them; and he died for you, sir, and I am thankful to God for an opportunity afforded to tell you, you may be saved Now, through Jesus Christ.

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Magis. Stop, stop; Mr. H., our clergyman here, could have told the inhabitants of Litcham that, without your troubling yourself.

"Prea. It's no trouble, sir, I take a pleasure in doing it. Magis. Well, what is to be done?

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"Prea.

What act am I taken up under?

"Magis. The Vagrant act; you are a common vagrant. "Prea. I did not do any thing to obtain money.

"Magis. I mean the Riot act; you collected a great number of persons together, I suppose, to make a riot, as it was late in the evening. "Prea. If I am taken up under the Riot act, I have no business here; commit me to prison, and let me take my trial before more than one magistrate. "Magis. D

sight.

-n you. Be off, out of my wrong to swear, sir. Jesus Christ hath said, Swear to settle this business without

"Prea. It is not at all; and I hope you will endeavour swearing.

"Magis. Then don't provoke me.

"Prea. I have no desire to provoke you, sir; I speak in the spirit of meekness. You know I have done no man any wrong, and if I have, I am in your hands, and I hope you will do the thing that is right.

"Magis. You have done the thing which is wrong, in preaching without your licence.

"Prea. I am a licensed preacher, but have not my licence with me. "Magis. Who granted you a licence?

"Prea. Squire Woodhouse, justice of the peace, at Osten, in Lincolnshire.

"Magis. Do you know Squire Woodhouse?

"Prea. Yes, sir, I have taken breakfast with him and his lady several times, and prayed with them, and he with me; and we have had some precious seasons together; and I have heard him in his kitchen exhort sinners to repentance. He is wise and pious, and a blessing to his neighbours.

"Magis. Well, well, but if you got your licence in Lincolnshire, you and preach in Lincolnshire.

must go

"Prea. Yes, sir and any where else.

God save the king. "Par. I have a licence, sir, but I cannot preach in any parish but my own, without leave of the minister of that parish.

"Mugis. Certainly not. Certainly not. And you must go and preach in Lincoln

shire.

"Prea. Yes, sir, and any where else. Jesus Christ says, 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.'

"Magis. I will grant you a licence to preach in Norfolk.

"Prea. I thank you, sir, I have licence to preach in Norfolk.

"Magis. Go about your business.

"Prea. When I am properly discharged, sir.

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Magis. Are you any trade?

"Prea. I am a shipwright. I served seven years under Mr. B. of Lynn.

Magis. You are a fine fellow: a shipwright, a parson, and a lawyer. Well, you may go about your business; I have no more to say to you. "Prea. Good morning, gentlemen.

"Magis. Good morning. Where are you going now?

"Prea. To Castleacre to preach, and then to Westacre, and then to Lynn, sir.

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Magis. I hope you will not come to Litcham

we will send you to the tread-mill.

any more; if you do, "Prea. We shall come again, sir, not to offend any, but to do good in God's name.

"Magis. You may go.

"Par. Stop, sir, there is something for him to pay. Constable, what is it?

"Con. Eight and ninepence, sir.

"Par. Eight and ninepence. You will discharge that bill, and then you are at liberty.

"Prea. I am at liberty, sir; the magistrate has set me at liberty. Magis. Let the fellow go.

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"Par. But who is to pay the eight and ninepence.

"Magis. Pay it yourself; bringing your fellows here.

"Prea. I'll pay if it's just and right. But I think the debt belongs to Mr. H.

"Magis. Be off.

"Prea. Good morning, gentlemen.

"The parson came out when I did, and I said, 'May God forgive you, sir, I wish you well.' But he would not speak.

"It was a trial to be seized by a constable, and led through the street, and then to be brought to a magistrate, and be gazed upon and laughed at, &c.

"But there is nothing like sticking to a cause, for whoever goes to Litcham will see a Primitive Methodist chapel, a large congregation, and a Christian society. I really did think that the parson and the ememy of souls would be too much for us; but time has proved God was with and he will help us. O, the good that has been done in that place, through the instrumentality of our dear people."

us,

II.

SCEPTICS' RELIGION.

Under this department, sceptical objections, and systems or principles advocated as hostile to Christianity, are dispassionately considered.

MR. HOLYOAKE'S "LOGIC OF DEATH."

To the Editor of The Bible and the People.

DEAR SIR,

The Atheistic Controversy having been brought before your readers last month, more particularly in connexion with the advocacy of Mr. G. J. Holyoake, I wish to call their attention to a pamphlet written by that gentleman, entitled, the "Logic of Death." It is a sort of atheistic antidote to death, written during the visitation of the cholera. Intended to inspire the followers of that system with confidence in the prospect of death, it seems to me very strangely to fulfil its intentions, as it simply consists in an attempt to show that the Christian system is not calculated to give such comfort. appears to me, that if I were an Atheist going the "common road into great darkness," it would be but poor consolation to prove to me, that Christianity is false; I should want something positive. Why did not Mr. Holyoake attempt to shew that his atheistic or material dogmas were calculated to give this peace for which the world longs. But I think that, looking at the pamphlet in the course it pursues, its objections to the religion of the Bible will not stand a calm investigation. Mr. Holyoake first refers to the Bible statement of the origin of evil, in the following

It

the

terms:

"If man fell in the Garden of Eden, who placed him there? It is said, God! Who placed the temptation there? It is said, God! Who gave him an imperfect nature-a nature of which it was foreknown that it would fall? It is said, God! To what does this amount? If a parent placed his poor child near a fire at which he knew it would be burnt to death, or near a well into which he knew it would fall and be drowned, would any power of custom prevent our giving speech to the indignation we should feel? And can we pretend to believe God has so acted, and at the same time be able to trust him? If God has so acted, he may so act again. This creed can afford no consolation in death."

Now, Sir, it appears to me, that Mr. Holyoake has here saddled the

VOL. II.

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