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SALTERS-HALL English Presbyterian.

Such high thoughts did he entertain of the dignity and excellency of the Christian ministry, that he delared, had he a son of his own, who promised to be serious and faithful, he should prefer training him to the ministerial profession, above any other calling, howsoever gainful !*

As Mr. Tong was designed for the profession of the law, he enjoyed the advantages of a liberal education; but his thoughts being diverted into another channel, he was placed for academical learning, under the care of the Reverend and learned Mr. Richard Frankland. He entered the seminary of that valuable person, then kept at Natland, in Westmorland, on the second of March, 1680-1; and under his direction pursued a course of studies for the Christian ministry. He began to preach in the beginning of the reign of James II. a dark and threatening time, when our religion and liberties, and every thing dear and valuable to Englishmen and Protestants were at stake, and in the utmost danger. Even then, he was not ashamed, nor afraid to embark in the despised and persecuted cause of nonconformity. He frequently preached to the poor people in the country, when he knew not but, at the end of the sermon, he might exchange the pulpit for the prison. But God always mercifully preserved him from falling into the hands of his enemies.‡

Upon his first appearance in public, he gave those great and promising hopes, which his after life fully justified. Wherever Providence cast his lot, his labours met with universal acceptance and success. In his younger years he was not without strong solicitations to comply with the national establishment; and could he have satisfied himself in the terms of conformity, he would soon have been qualified to fill and adorn any of the episcopal sees. But he preferred

• Mr. Newman's Sermon, ubi supra, p. 32, 33.

+ Appendix to Dr. Latham's Sermon on the Death of Mr. Madock. Mr. Newman's Sermon, ubi supra, p. 34.

SALTERS'-HALL. - English Presbyterian.

the peace of his own mind, with liberty and purity, to the greatest secular honour and advantage. (B) He had the happiness to be led into an early acquaintance with several religious families, who patronized the nonconformists; particularly Thomas Corbet, of Stanwardine, Esq. and Rowland Hunt, of Boreatton, Esq. both of whom had a high esteem for the two Mr. Henrys, and were good friends to Mr. Tong.*

Soon after his entrance upon the ministry, he had an opportunity of preaching sometimes at the chapel of Cockshut, near Mr. Corbet's house; and there, as we are informed, to shew his great moderation, he sometimes used a small part of the public service. But he had not preached there long, before umbrage was taken by the parson of Elsemere, and complaints made at the spiritual court, which made it advisable for him to desist. However, he still continued for about two years to be very much in those parts, sometimes at Stanwardine, and sometimes at Boreatton. He tells us he has often recorded it as one of the greatest mercies of his life, that he ever knew those families, in which he saw religion in its power, and in its native beauty, without partiality, affectation, or ostentation. He met with the kindest and most friendly treatment, and was greatly encouraged in the service of God by what he observed, and by the friendship into which they were pleased to admit him. This proved an agreeable retirement, and gave him an opportunity of following his studies with great diligence and application, which much contributed to his eminent usefulness in after-life. There it was that he had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with Mr. Philip Henry, and his family;

(B) He was very kindly and pressingly invited to conformity, by the learned and pious Dean of Chester, who treated him with all the candour and civility of a Christian, a gentleman, and a Divine; but always proceeded in his discourse with him upon the lawfulness of the terms by law required. Tong's Life of Matthew Henry, p. 75.

• Newman's Sermon, ubi supre.

SALTERS-IIALL. English Presbyterian.

and with Mr. Tallents, and Mr. Bryan, of Shrewsbury ; Mr. Taylor, of Wem; and Mr. James Owen, then of Oswestry, and several others, men of great learning and eminent holiness.*

Upon the liberty granted by King James, in the beginning of 1687, Mr. Tong preached with great acceptance at Chester, before Mr. Henry settled there; and was ordained to the ministerial office. Mr. Anthony Henthorne, a worthy and religious gentleman of that city, who had been always forward to promote the gospel, opened his doors for the worship of God, and his house being large and convenient, generously offered the use of it to his neighbours. He, also, kindly received Mr. Tong into his family, and treated him in every respect as if he had been his nearest relation. Here the people flocked to hear the word of God, beyond all expectation. At first, they met only between the hours of public worship; most of the people resorting to church, to hear Dr. Fogg, and Dr. Hancock, whose ministry they highly valued. But at noon, and again in the evening, they flocked to hear Mr. Tong, whose preaching was highly acceptable, and useful. The number of attendants increasing, it was found necessary, before Mr. Henry came down to Chester, to provide a larger place. Here, Mr. Henthorne again stepped forward, and made the offer of a large outbuilding, belonging to him, being part of the ancient friary. This being fitted up in the course of a few days, was opened for a meeting-house. It will easily be conceived, that the success which Mr. Tong met with, would raise the spleen of some men, and the scorn and contempt of others. But the work went on and prospered; and success attended the word, in the conversion of many, particularly young persons.

When Mr. Tong was at Chester, he fell under a very threatening illness, which he and others took to be a consump

• Mr. Newman's Sermon, p. 35.- Life of Matthew Henry, p. 37, 38.

ALTERS-HALL.--English Presbyterian.

tion; but he was laid aside from his work only one day in several months, when it pleased God, in mercy to his church, to restore him again to health, and full exercise in his delightful work. This affliction he tells us, he has often placed among the choicest of his mercies.*

Mr. Tong's services at Chester, being only of a temporary nature, he gladly resigned his work as soon as Mr. Henry could conveniently settle there. Not long afterwards, he was invited to Knutsford, in the same county, where he received a call to the pastoral office, some time in the year 1687. Mr. Tong gives a particular account of the rise of the Dissenting interest in that town; and as there is something peculiar in it, we shall lay it before the reader.

The town of Knutsford had been favoured above most other places in Cheshire, with an excellent minister in public, Mr. Turner, a man of great simplicity and godly sincerity, who used to keep days of prayer with some of his hearers, inviting them to pray as well as himself, according to the way of the good old Puritans. His conversation was so eminently holy, and his discipline so strict, that few or none attempted to come to the Lord's table, but such as were persons of sober and blameless lives; and though there were some in the town, and several about it, that were Dissenters in their judgments, yet most of them were satisfied to join with him in all ordinances, and continued to do so as long as he lived. They truly loved and honoured him, and blest God for his ministry, which was productive of much good; so that Knutsford was a place of as much sobriety and regard to religion' as any in those parts. There was at that time an aged Dissenting minister living there, Mr. Lee, a gentleman of birth, an humble upright person, and a good scholar; but through bodily indisposition, not capable of constant work. Upon the death of Mr. Turner, which was not long

VOL. II.

• Life of Matthew Henry, p. 95, 96.

SALTERS'-HALL. - English Presbyterian.

before Mr. Henry came to Chester, the town of Knutsford was divided very much about the choice of another minister. The inhabitants had been used to chuse their own minister, and thought they had a legal, as well as scriptural, right so to do; but some of the inhabitants, who were for a greater strictness in the rituals of religion, and a greater liberty in morals than Mr. Turner had approved, were very industrious to have a minister of their own temper; and rather than fail of their design, after much contention with their neighbours, they chose to give up all pretensions to the right of electing their minister, and applied themselves to the Bishop's-court. The case was somewhat intricate as to where the right of presentation rested; but, at length, the high-church party prevailed, and Mr. Holmes, who was chaplain to the Lord Delamer, was fixed in the living. He was a person of very good learning, and sober conversation. His parents were Dissenters, but his judgment was for a very rigorous conformity. Many of the inhabitants, who had never been Dissenters, refused to own him as their minister, and joined with others who had always been Dissenters in judgment, to set up a meeting, and invite a Dissenting minister to come and preach to them. In this they were encouraged by several eminent Christians who lived near that place; who had been hearers of the Rev. Mr. Edge, at Withington, and were some of the most eminent persons for religious knowledge and wisdom, for a spirit of prayer, for a true Christian temper, and regular conversation, that Mr. Tong ever had the happiness to be acquainted with. Mr. Edge was a minister of extraordinary gravity, wisdom and seriousness, a judicious spiritual preacher; and died not long before Mr. Turner. In this design of setting up a meeting at Knutsford, they consulted several ministers of their acquaintance; and resolved to invite Mr. Tong to settle with them. Encouraged by the advice of the two Mr. Henrys, of Mr. Harvey, of Chester, and particularly of his kind friend, Mr. Henthorn, who knew