Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/34

24 of his Church; and if I do not understand them, suffer me to come to you for information. "You are an impertinent fellow, and if you thus proceed, I shall order the clerk to put you out of the Church." You may order me out yourself, sir; only tell me to go, and I will instantly depart. Not another syllable was uttered to me, upon this occasion. But upon the following Sunday, when the young people of the congregation were again to be catechised, I appeared with the rest, and our teacher uttering a severe and pointed sarcasm, I was sufficiently abashed to cover my face with my hat—when, in a very angry tone, he commanded me to depart from the Church, he would suffer no laughter there. I assured this Christian preacher, that I did not laugh, that I felt no disposition to laugh; he insisted, that I did, and with great confusion I withdrew from the altar: but waiting for him in the porch of the Church, I humbly implored his pardon, while I informed him, that he had done me much wrong; that I had too sacred a veneration for the place I was in, to deport myself unbecomingly while under its roof; that I had not the smallest inclination to mirth; that the consideration of his denying the operation of the spirit upon the heart had too much disturbed, and grieved me. "Well, I do still say, there is no especial operation of the spirit: I have never experienced any thing of this description." How then, suffer me to ask, could you say, when you were ordained, that you felt yourself moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon you the office of a teacher? "You know nothing of the matter, you are very impertinent." Many were standing by, who seemed pleased with the advantage I had so apparently gained, and, while thus remunerated for the insult I had received, I returned home in triumph.

Some time after, as I was passing the street, one of my acquaintance asked me, if I knew the bishop was at that moment engaged in confirming the young people of our parish? I instantly repaired to the Church, and to my great surprise, found the information correct; my good priest had not intended I should be apprized of the business. I advanced however to the altar, and presented myself to the bishop. My priest appeared exceedingly irritated, and made a communication to the bishop, in a tone too low to be understood by me; but his Lordship replied aloud, "it is of no consequence what they are, provided they understand what they are about." From this reply I concluded the priest had accused me of Methodism. It happened, that I was the first of the circle presented round the altar, and he began as follows: