Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/229

Rh his time was most delightfully passed in the service of God the Saviour. Upon one occasion, his entrance into one spacious place of worship was hailed by the musical choir, devoutly chanting

Yet, even in this short visit to his native island, the Promulgator went through evil as well as good report. We subjoin a specimen of each. A gentleman of Falmouth, writing to his friend in Tregony, thus expresses himself:—

"Mr. Murray will shortly be in your town; we have attended upon him here with inexpressible delight; three such sermons, as he has delivered, my ears never before heard; such a preacher never before appeared in this town. I am convinced his ideas are all his own, I never heard any thing like them; his mind seems clearly informed, and his heart very much warmed by the love of God." But the following advertisement appeared in a London paper.

"Mr. Murray is an American, the most popular preacher in the United States. In the conclusion of one of his sermons, preached on that continent, he endeavoured to enforce, with all the powers of eloquence, the necessity of establishing in those states the same Olympic games, which were for many ages established among the Grecians." But this was not all; it was storied, that he had left America in consequence of a criminal prosecution.

Arriving at London, he was once more enriched by the maternal benediction. He found his venerable parent in the enjoyment of a fine green old age, and again she rejoiced in the presence of her son. In London, and at Hampstead, in the meeting-house once occupied by Mr. Whitefield, he delivered his message of peace. Patronized in the city of London, by an opulent family, who cherished him as a son, he was strongly solicited once more to take up his abode in that metropolis; but the providence of God had not so decreed, and, after continuing there a short time, he departed thence, and journeyed to Portsmouth, for the purpose of being in readiness to commence his return to America. In Portsmouth, he was again a solitary stranger; but he had not been more than four hours in that celebrated and important emporium, ere he was engaged, by a respectable clergyman, to preach a lecture, which had been previously announced. In Portsmouth he tarried two weeks,