frequently, in his after years, the cause of regret. Yet, it must be observed, that though his acquirements were unsatisfactory to himself, his qualifications for the sacred office were never disputed by disinterested judges.

II. From his entering into Holy Orders, till his promotion to the Diocese of St. David's, including a period of Fifty Years.

Mr. Bull's last tutor, being a party man, kept an Index Expurgatorius, and endeavoured to restrain his pupils from reading any of the proscribed books. His son, however, being of a more liberal mind, furnished him with such authors as were adapted to increase his theological stores. He was thus enabled to read and study Hammond, Hooker, Grotius, Taylor, &c.; and at the age of twenty-one, applied to Dr. Skinner, the ejected Bishop of Oxford, who, in proof of his high approbation, ordained him both Deacon and Priest on the same day. *

Having obtained credentials for the regular discharge of the sacred office, he commenced his ministerial labours in the parish of St. George, near Bristol. The emolument being but £30. per annum, he thought there would be no temptation for the enemies of civil and ecclesiastical

* Nelson's Life of Bishop Bull, sect. 5th.

order to molest him. About this time he met with one of his godfathers, who informed him of his father's declaration at his baptism. Being unacquainted with his father's intention, he felt a secret satisfaction, that his choice of office would have been sanctioned and promoted by the voluntary efforts of a pious parent, of whom he had been prematurely deprived. At St. George's, he found numerous and conflicting opinions abounding among his parishioners; but, by his regularly preaching twice on the Sabbath, adorning his doctrine with a holy life, and abounding in acts of charity, he overcame their prejudices and reclaimed many from error. A singular circumstance, which raised Mr. Bull in the esteem of the inhabitants of St. George's, as a preacher, ought not to remain unnoticed. Having made some progress in his sermon, one Sunday, and turning over the leaves of his Bible to explain some passages which he was quoting, his notes upon loose pieces of paper, were suddenly put in motion, and commenced a divergent expedition. Every one was anxious for their descent. Some seafaring men wished to capture them, and make them lawful prizes. Others, expecting that the preacher would be immediately silenced by his misfortune, wished to be of use without delay. In the scramble for the booty, the friends of the preacher prevailed, and restored to him his squandered property. Having conveyed the notes to him, they were surprised to see him deposit them between the boards of his book,

shut them up, and pursue the even tenor of his way without their aid or guidance. This unexpected promptness in continuing his discourse, secured for Mr. Bull the unintentional approbation of those who had been anticipating a hors de combat.

Another circumstance, which raised him still higher in the estimation of the public, must not be omitted. One day while he was preaching, a Quaker entered the church ore rotundo-vociferating in the imperative mood, "George, come down, thou art a false prophet and an hireling." Such an uncommon demand excited the indignation of most of the congregation, which was principally composed of seamen. Their partiality to their young preacher had been great, ever since his notes had been afloat in the air, and to manifest their continued regard they proposed to answer the Quaker by a knock-down argument. Accordingly they arose en masse, and gave him a pugilistic salutation. A repetition of the salute excited the sympathy of Mr. Bull. Descending from the pulpit, he interposed himself between the Quaker and his assailants, and endeavoured to effect a cessation of hostilities by the following harangue: "Come, neighbours, be not so violent "against the poor man, but spare him, you do "not know by what spirit he is actuated, you "cannot tell but it may be phrensy or some other "distemper in him. If so, the man is certainly "an object of your pity and care. However, let

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me prevail upon you to forbear and hurt him "not; but let me argue the matter a little coolly "with him." This expostulation had the desired effect, for they left the matter to be decided between him and their Minister; and sat down to hear what defence he should make for such uncourteous conduct. To whom Mr. Bull turned and addressed: "Friend, thou dost call me a "false prophet and an hireling. Now as to thy "first charge, prophecy doth generally mean "either preaching or interpreting God's word, or "else foretelling things to come. And so a pro"phet, either true or false, is understood in "scripture. Wherefore if thou dost mean I am "a prophet in the first of these two senses, I "readily acknowledge that I am so, and a true "one also I hope, forasmuch as in all truth and sincerity, I have now for some time preached " among this good people what I could learn to be "agreeable to the doctrine of Christ and his Apos"tles, not failing to interpret to them the mind of "God in the scriptures, without any other end than "to bring them to the knowledge of the truth, and "thereby to the attainment of life everlasting. "But, friend, if thou dost call me a prophet and "a false prophet, from my foretelling things to "come, I then appeal to my parishioners here "present, whether I ever once pretended to this "manner of prophecy, either in my sermons or "discourses with them. And so in this sense I "can be no false prophet, having never deceived any one by pretences of this nature. And as

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"to the other charge against me, that I am an hireling, I appeal again to these present, and "that know me, whether they can say that I have "preached among them for the sake of gain or "filthy lucre, and whether I have not on the "contrary, been ready on all occasions to serve "and assist them to the utmost of my power, and "to communicate as freely as I receive."

Such a manly appeal not only overawed the enthusiastic intruder into a sullen silence, but resuscitated the indignation of the auditors, who rushed upon him with impetuosity to give the finishing stroke to the arguments to which they had been listening. Mr. Bull, seeing that the life of his antagonist was in danger, rushed forward to his defence, and by powerful intreaties, prevailed upon the enraged audience to spare him. Having successfully acquitted himself as a disputant and mediator, he re-ascended the pulpit and finished his sermon as if no interruption had befallen him.

While at St. George's, Mr. Bull, in addition to his official duties, regularly visited all his parishioners from house to house. By this means he became acquainted with their various necessities, and administered aid accordingly. He instructed the ignorant, confirmed the wavering, restored the backslider, reclaimed the vicious, advised the friendless, admonished the young,