Many of the men were so affected, that they sobbed aloud, and I could scarcely refrain from doing the same thing myself.  After this I prayed that the word spoken might be blessed to those who had heard it, and then took my leave.  It was not easy to dismiss this sad scene from my mind, nor have I ever lost the impression it made upon me.

We had a very good time that evening in the church, and there was much power and blessing.  At the close of the service, I gave out that I would preach again the following evening, and having no opportunity for an after-meeting, the word preached was left with prayer for a blessing on it.

The next morning there came an unexpected, as well as a most abrupt, opposition to the work; and no wonder, for it was not likely that Satan would permit it to go on smoothly.  A vicar from the neighbourhood, who had formerly been a military man, and had still the commanding manner of such, presented himself, and tried to terrify my good and kind friend, the vicar.  He told him that he had heard a great deal about me; that I was just like Starkie,* and preached the same doctrines; and that he was deputed by other clergymen to come and ask that my preaching be stopped.  Then he went on to say that I was nothing less than a Jesuit in disguise; and turning; to me, he said, “Sir, you know you are!” I replied, begging his pardon, “I can assure you I am not.  You must be altogether misinformed.”  But he said, again turning round, and sternly looking at me, “You know I am not mistaken or misinformed; your countenance betrays you!” I smiled at this, not knowing how my countenance looked.  He was quite satisfied with himself, and rather more so because he thought he had succeeded in extracting a promise from the vicar that the services in question should be stopped.

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* A clergyman who had associated himself with H. J. Prince and some others, and founded the “Agapemone” at Spaxton, near Bridgewater. _________________________

This officer-clergyman then went away, saying that he was quite convinced in his mind that I was a Jesuit, and nothing should ever dissuade him; this interview had confirmed his thoughts on the subject.  My dear good friend was so afraid of that loud, overbearing man, that he consented to give up the services after that night.

Presently another clergyman, evidently in concert with the former, called on the same errand.  His more gentle manner and plausible words had greater effect, so that the vicar more than half decided to have no service, even on that evening.

Before he had fully made up his mind, it so happened that there came on a tremendous thunderstorm, accompanied with hail and vivid flashes of lightning.  This was considered by him quite providential, and an indication that God wished the services stopped.  When the sexton came over to the vicarage, a little before the service time, the vicar said, “Don’t ring the bell for church tonight; it is of no use:  no one can possibly come out this weather!”