Having thus taken a decided part in favour of Christianity, he soon found occasion to leave his infidel companions, and with them the practice into which they had initiated him. His attention was now wholly engrossed by his studies; and his time was spent in the acquirement of such knowledge, as he conceived to be necessary for that holy calling to which he now seriously turned his thoughts. On his former associates he looked with the sincerest pity; and on their practice with abhorrence. And, from that moment to the latest period of his life, he always spoke of his residence at Oxford with sorrow, and of the vices which were practised, and even sanctioned among the dissolute students, in terms of detestation.

At the age of twenty-one, he was chosen common councilman for the borough of Brecon, which station his father had held when living; and, at the age of twenty-five, he was elected chief magistrate, which important office he filled with more than common reputation. The whole corporation were bighly satisfied with the rectitude of his conduct, during the time that he presided among them; and the good order of the town was much promoted by his unwearied exertions to advance the public benefit.

As it was his full intention to enter into holy orders, the authority, which his office gave him in Brecon, procured him many flattering prospects of rapid advancement in the church. But preferment through political interest is a path in which disappointment frequently smiles at the simplicity of hope.

The member of parliament for Brecon, to express his gratitude for the assistance in his election received from the family of Coke, promised to the young candidate for holy orders, something that might gratify his wishes; and taught him to expect a prebend in the cathedral of Worcester. By another gentleman, still more exalted in rank, and therefore, it was presumed, of more influence and authority, his expectations were flattered with the same delusions. These contrived to keep alive his hopes through a series of years, and it was not till age and experience had taught him the

folly of relying upon empty promises, that he was awakened from that dream in which thousands have been entranced through life.

Deluded with the prospects of sudden elevation in the church, the visionary phantom continued to dance before him, till his serious impressions began to fade, and the necessity of being born of God assumed a less imperious aspect. To prepare himself for that shower of golden honours which he fully expected every moment to fall upon him, he hastened to obtain episcopal orders, that no impediment might obstruct his course, or intercept the bounty of his friends.

Several years had now elapsed since the first intimations had been given that brought on the ambitious delirium with which he was still enslaved. On this account he sought no regular employment, and made no permanent engagement. His hopes had indeed become less ardent through repeated disappointments; but this circumstance was not sufficient to induce him to abandon them. His fallacious friend, having procured a seat in parliament, had rewarded him with promises, which he was now furnishing him with leisure to interpret. From his more noble friend he had even still less to expect than from the member; but "In Folly's cup still laugh'd the bubble Joy," till being properly qualified, he took out his degree of Doctor of Civil Laws, on the 17th of June, 1775.

During those intermediate years, in which Dr. Coke, as we shall henceforth call him, waited upon earthly promises, he made no great proficiency in seeking the accomplishment of those that are heavenly. The world and its allurements nearly engrossed his whole soul; so that, although he was a Christian by profession, he was destitute of experimental godliness; and preserving a moral demeanour, he looked no farther. As to the impressions which the treatise of Dr. Witherspoon had made on his mind, they were refined into abstract truths, and as such he was satisfied to retain them.

But the necessity of experiencing the love of God actually shed abroad in his heart, by the Holy Ghost given unto him, and bringing with it an internal evidence of the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins, he was content to leave for future consideration.

Convinced that the sanguine expectations, which he had long cherished with inordinate fondness, were likely to terminate in ultimate disappointment, Dr. Coke began seriously to think of forming some plan for life, in which he might be useful to his fellow-creatures. And, although a stranger to vital religion, his aim was to preach the Gospel; for in no other department had he entertained any thought of exercising his talents. Beyond the pale of the established church he had neither inclination nor inducement to pass; and in the church he could scarcely hope for any thing above a curacy, unless he should risk his fortune to give effect to promises which had hitherto fed both his vanity and his hopes. He might indeed have purchased a living; but to do this he felt much reluctance, from the doubts he entertained whether such transactions were morally just. From the dictates of conscience he was never willing to deviate; and he was warned by this monitor, to avoid making any approaches towards the conduct of Simon Magus, whose money was doomed to perish with him that offered it.

Few as the steps were which he had hitherto taken in life, we may perceive in them a tenderness in adhering to the admonitions of conscience, even while his heart was unrenewed by divine grace. Among his infidel companions he was never able to throw off its restraints; and by these means he was preserved from those excesses of vice into which he saw others plunge without remorse. At the time of his ordination he had many scruples, which caused him to hesitate, and waveṛ in a state of indecision.

But these scruples did not arise from any doubts on the moral propriety of his ordination; but from a laudable apprehension lest he should solemnly undertake a task, without

being able to accomplish it and thus involve himself in an awful responsibility that might imbitter his life, and plant his dying pillow with thorns. The same principle prevailed, when ambition would have tempted him to purchase a living; and its influence finally deterred him from forming engagements, the duties of which, those very scruples prove he was better qualified to perform, than many who are totally strangers to consideration, hesitation, and remorse.

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CHAPTER II.

Obtains a euracy at South Petherton-Builds a gallery-Becomes acquainted with Mr. Maxfield-Seriously affected by "Alleine's Alarm"-Reads his sermons-Becomes evangelical in his preaching-Church frequented by Dissenters—Interview with Mr. Hull-Becomes acquainted with an old Methodist-Preaches in some dwelling-houses in his parish—Finds the pardoning love of God-Begins to preach extempore— Effects of this preaching-Persecution-Excluded from the pulpit-Chimed out of the church-Encouraged by Mr. Maxfield-Preaches twice near the church door-Finds an asylum in the family of Edmonds.

DR. COKE, having now exhausted his patience, in waiting on those proficients in artificial friendship-" who squeeze my hand, and beg me come to-morrow," began seriously to look around him for some respectable curacy, that would promise to be permanent. It was not long before one of this description offered itself, at South Petherton, in Somersetshire. This he readily embraced, as it afforded him an ample field for the exercise of his talents, of his zeal, and above all, of his earnest desire to be useful, which, from his earliest recollection, had always been predominant in his heart.

On his arrival at Petherton, though a stranger to vital godliness, he selected for the subjects of his discourses, some of the most momentous truths of the Gospel; and delivering these with a degree of animation, to which his auditors had not been accustomed, he soon attracted more than ordinary congregations. To enforce the doctrines which he taught, in a manner best calculated to recommend them to his hearers, he endeavoured to form his sermons upon the best models of