ciple seems to have followed him throughout life; and he was rather a strenuous advocate for encouraging a spirit of emulation, within certain limits, in schools of instruction. His assiduity and success recommended him strongly to the favour of his master, who always expressed a great partiality for him, considering him as a credit to his school; and who took much pains to promote his improvement. Mr. Robinson was not unmindful of the obligations he owed to this venerable friend, and always spoke of him with sincere respect and affection. At the age of fourteen, his father removed him from school with the intention of putting him to business; but he could not bend his mind to this new occupation, and to his great joy he was soon sent back to school. Probably the representations and solicitations of his master contributed to this change. When the time for his entrance at college drew near, a difficulty arose with respect to the means of defraying his expences. The governors of the school offered him one of their exhibitions; but as these at that time amounted only to twenty pounds a year, his father was still afraid of the undertaking: when, such appeared to be his character for learning and abilities, that they unanimously agreed to allow him a double exhibition. Mr. Smyth of Heath, grandfather to one of the present representatives for the university of Cambridge, being one of the governors, was the proposer of the plan; and the difficulty having been thus overcome, he was immediately admitted a Sizar of Trinity College, Cambridge. It does not appear that he had any strong religious impressions in early youth. His affectionate parents had been anxious to “train him up in the way in which he should go," though they had little advantage from public ordinances. His mind was at this time lively and gay. He had conceived a passionate admiration for plays, especially for English tragedy; and took part, as I believe, in some boyish dramatical representations. When it was at length determined that he should be educated at the university, he accidentally met a poor man, a shoemaker in Wakefield, who asked him if he was not going to be a clergyman. Upon his an swering in the affirmative, the man said to him, "Then, sir, I hope you will study your Bible, that you may be able to feed the flock of Christ with spiritual food." He proposed lending him a book or two on practical and experimental subjects, which he might read with his Bible, and would find useful in assisting him to understand it. Young Robinson was so much impressed by the man's honesty and kindness, that he received the books very thankfully, and read them as he had advised him. About this time he had a severe illness which threatened his life. Whilst his friends were watching round his bed, full of apprehensions, and were expressing those to each other; he repeated to himself many times, as in the spirit of prophecy, "I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord*." He was incapable of speaking out, but his mind was under a strong conviction that both his life would be preserved, and he should be raised up to become an active preacher of the truth. About this time also he had a dream *Psalm cxviii. 17. : which made a lasting impression on his mind. I wish I could recollect the circumstances of the story more minutely; but, in substance, he told me that he had a lively representation before his eyes as of Wakefield church on fire; there were awful appearances in the sky; the universal conflagration began, and he was hurried up into the air to meet his Judge. I understood him to say, that his mind was exceedingly affected by this incident for a considerable time afterwards, and that he never wholly lost the impression of it. The reader will be reminded of Mr. Newton's dream about the ring, as recorded by himself in his 'Authentic Narrative ;' and of Colonel Gardiner's vision of the crucified Saviour, as related by Dr. Doddridge. The humble and simple-minded christian will not reject such narratives with disdain, as altogether incredible, though he will require clear evidence to support them. If God be the perpetual and minute governor of the world, and if he have access to all the dif ferent faculties of our souls; "why should it be thought a thing incredible with us," that he should at certain times present affecting objects to our imagination? If a credible witness declare that such an object was presented to his mind; that it deeply impressed him; that he considered it as a call to serious thought; that it led him to serious thought; and was the instrument of exciting him to much active exertion in his after life: I know not why we should reject this testimony. In the present instance, as in the other cases, there is the " dignus vindice nodus," there is a great end to be accomplished worthy of such an interposition; and it is difficult to account for the appearances represented, or for their effect upon the mind of the person influenced, without the supposition of such an agency. I do not, however, understand that the impressions which he received from these several incidents were such as to fix his character. Cordial devotedness to God's service was in him not a sudden, but a gradual and deliberate choice. For two years he continued under great perplexity of mind, and underwent many variations of character, whilst he was resolving what to do. He was used to describe himself as having great pleasure in dancing and plays, at this period of his age. |