RIIDALL'S MEMOIR. OF JAMES CRABS. *

This volume belongs to a class of biographies well nigh extinct, from the passing away of the persons who alone could give rise to them. Although living till, 1851, James Crabb was a Methodist of the last century, when the world's deadness to evangelical religion and its cold or fierce opposition stimulated the ardent into enthusiasm or fanaticism. The ignorance of the lower and of many of the middle classes, with the real separation between dif- ferent classes of society in all that concerned the taste or intellect, produced in many of the converts of Whitfield and Wesley an un- seemly familiarity with sacred things, and an unsophisticated ex- hibition of their own feelings, which rendered them the subjects of satire both with the pen and pencil, from Smollett and Hogarth down almost to our day. Indeed, the outpourings of the more un- educated converts cannot be perused without a smile, even with the greater toleration in matters of opinion which now exists, and the more philosophical appreciation of benefits which have result- ed to society from the stimulus applied to the Church and to Dissenters by the great Methodists of the last century. The propriety of publishing emanations such as appear in this volume may be questioned, although written sixty years ago by a youth in his teens ; but being in print, we take them as examples of James Crabb and his early times.

" Sunday, 25th September.—This was a day of mixture. In the morning when I awoke, I found my mind very composed, and I went to our six o'clock prayer-meeting ; but I was tempted greatly against many people who were there, and troubled with wandering thoughts. After that I met my class. After I came out of class-meeting, I tied on a handkerchief round my neck, and I could not arrange it to please me—and how the Devil did strive to make me angry in an unwatchful moment ! I could not help weeping. If any carnally-minded persons should read, or hear read this circumstance, they will think it is a mere fable : but the carnal mind cannot discern the things of the Spirit. They are foolishness to them."

And agai " All day I enjoyed continual peace with God. Before I got out of my bed the Lord broke in upon me, and I found Christ to be very precious to me: • Memoir of the Reverend James Crabb, late of Southampton. By John ItadaU„ of Lincoln's Inn, Barrister-aWaw. Published by Walton and Maberly. but in the morning it was a miracle of mercy that I was not overcome in anger, for brother Carey [his pious fellow-apprentice] and I were like to have been stumblingblocks in each other's way about a trifling thing; but through mercy (mercy it was) it was not so. In the afternoon a Jew came into the shop, and a Baptist professor, and they got into talk with brother Carey for an hour and a half : but I think he gained nothing by talking to them. • •

" This day I determined to set out afresh to take the kingdom by force and violence. In the afternoon, I felt that I did not enjoy so much of the presence of God as I might do, nor behave myself with becoming solemnity. In the evening, I was at prayer in a by-place, where there was some silver plate, and the Enemy suggested to me how well I might take some of it Several times throughout the day he had been busy with me ; but God, who has promised never to leave me nor forsake me, was with me, and, glory be to Him, I enjoyed much of His presence."

There is a Food deal too much of such matter as this, and often of matter which wants its raciness. James Crabb, however, was a remarkable man, and his life is a striking example of energy and perseverance; for, without any advantages of education, connexion, fortune, or position, he acquired a certain kind of dis- tinction, and accomplished greater things for philanthropy and religion than is done by thousands possessed of more than all he wanted. It is likely enough that the seed he scattered broadcast often fell in stony places or was swallowed up by tares ; and as he had not the power or perhaps the ambition of founding a sect, the institutions he was the instrument of establishing are likely to pass away with him. Still, independently of religious results in his j

itinerant journies, and of several converts, amongst whom may be reckoned "the Dairyman's Daughter," (for it seems she was origi- nally moved to seriousness by James Crabb,) he accomplished much with small means. His efforts established the female Penitentiary at Southampton ; he was the means of founding various schools in the same place ; he threw himself among the very lowest classes of the town and neighbourhood,—sailors, prostitutes, fishermen, and navvies ; and though we must take general accounts of reli- gions conversions with great allowance, he brought many men and their families to the outward Sabbath decorum which attendance en public worship implies; he created a society for the improve- ment or rather civilization of the gipsies; and besides various works of expense, in which he succeeded by drawing on what Huntington called the Bank of Faith, he obtained a subscription from George the Fourth towards building a chapel. That his per- severance was assisted by powers of personal persuasion is doubt- less true, though if we judge from his diaries and his portrait they must have verged u al the Mawworm or Dr. Cantwell style. Spite of such inward culties as bodily exhaustion, ill-health, de- pressed spirits, and more numerous external obstacles—as want of means, the sluggishness of friends, the opposition of enemies, and what touched him most, the lnkewarmness or backsliding of so-called brethren,—he persevered in what he undertook till he attained his end by dogged pertinacity. He began field-preaching in his teens, when apprenticed to a Socinian shoemaker at Salisbury. His master is charged with " persecuting " him, but it does not appear in what way ; his father, a clothier at Wilton, adopted the more precise course of ceasing all intercourse with him, stopping his pocket- money, and threatening to discard him unless he desisted. How- ever, he continued to labour as a volunteer, and afterwards as a lay preacher for some years, through difficulties not altogether pe- culiar to him, for they more or less appertained to many of the early Methodists. This is an example of what Crabb went through " in life's morning march." He was of age in April 1795. " Friday, 19th June 1795.—I arose about four in the morning, after having had little rest during the night, intending to go to Godalming, a dis- tance of twenty-nine miles. As it was a most wet and cold morning, I wanted to go inside the coach ; but there being no room, my friends, as I was very poorly, would not let me go outside. This was the first time I ever disap- ointed a congregation through wet weather ; and God grant it may be the last, for I was not satisfied in my mind all the day. In the evening I was so very ill that I could scarcely walk. " Saturday, 20th June.—Notwithstanding the weak state of my body, I set out between seven and eight in the morning, intending that day, if pos- sible, to walk near thirty miles. It was so cold a day, though the 20th of June, that I was obliged to put my hands into my bosom many times to get heat. That day, owing to the cold, scores of swallows were taken up dead, and hundreds of sheep that had been shorn died with the cold. The wind was so strong, though we had two days' rain successively, that in about ten hours it caused the dust to fly. The wind blew right against me, and I being weak, could at times hardly creep along ; once it was so powerful that it blew me against some rails, by which I was alone saved from falling. How good is the Lord still unto such a dust as I am !—Lord, help me to love thee more and serve thee better ! The first mile I walked, I was very tired ; but I soon got a little strength. When I had walked about twelve miles, I was so tired and faint that I hardly knew how I should get on. I seated myself under a hedge, and having put up my umbrella to keep off the wind, took out my bread and cheese, (having bought a penny loaf in Chichester,) and prayed God to bless it to the strengthening of my body, and to feed my soul with hidden manna. Oh, how greatly was my soul blelsed! I was for a season as in heaven, though under a hedge. •• " Tuesday, 23d June.—This day I had to go from Hammer Ponds to

Portsmouth, which is thirty-four miles ; twelve I rode and twenty-two I walked. I filled my pockets with two penny loaves and two pennyworth of cheese, and with these I marched on. I can truly say I fed on Jesus all the way. My soul was enlarged with God, and I was enabled to rejoice : but I want to love the God of my strength more."

Sometimes even bread and cheese could not be had.

"Towards the middle of the day I set out for Freshwater. It was very wet and dirty all the way, and I was soon wet through. My boots and um- brella being almost worn out, made it disagreeable to flesh and blood. Though it was but a little way from Yarmouth to Freshwater, yet with the wind, rain, dirt, and want of food, I was so worn out with weakness, that I was obliged to take rest by leaning against a gate. I searched the almost barren hedges for provision, and when I could find any it was very accept- able. 0 Lord, may I gather fruit from thee continually ! My soul at this time much rejoiced in God ; and indeed, in winds and storms He is a sweet portion to my soul. 0 that I had more of His image! "Friday, 23d October.—This day, going from one place to another, I walked nearly twenty miles. This evening my missionary labours ended for a few days, and I returned home with a cheerful heart; for my days, espe- cially the week past, have been crowned with mercies, though I have not been without my crosses. I have been wet through every day since I set off, have not tasted a bit of meat since Tuesday, and sometimes hedge-fruit was a substitute for everything."

This is the stuff which overcomes difficulties. Not, indeed, that walking many miles a day in slush and bad weather, or dining off pennyworths of bread or hedge-fruit, is essential; but to fix the mind unceasingly upon the end, to do all that can be done to

attain it, with the resolution to strive against all obstacles, and keep the body in subjection to the will, is essential.

"His course once chose, he forward thrust outright, Nor turned aside for danger or delight,"

is the true heroic mood, be it engaged on what it may. And this mood, in a limited sphere, carried the preacher through many dif- ficulties, enabled him to bear much that was distasteful, and to achieve success in proportion to his field of labour.

Although " to love and be wise is not given to man," it would seem attainable by a Methodist. James Crabb's " proposal" to Miss Raddon, his future wife, was of a very definite kind, and by no means so enthusiastic as many of his other lucubrations. He was a lay preacher at the time, without any income but what he derived from his father, who had been reconciled to his pro- ceedings. " Whether in Mr. Crabb's then circumstances, being wholly dependent on his father for support, a union with her was prudent might reasonably have been questioned, and it is a matter of surprise that his father should have sanctioned it. Many were the trials to which it led, but they were far more than counterbalanced by the blessings he obtained from his union with her. Mr. Crabb dared not, however, take any step, much less one so serious as that which he now contemplated, without seeking Divine direction ; and therefore, prior to any declaration of his intentions, he for many weeks com- mitted the matter in fervent prayer to the Lord, and did not open his mind to Miss Raddon until he bad reason to believe that he was not acting in op- position to the will of God. In the letter which he wrote to her declaring his attachment, and which bears date January 1798, he told her that the qualities he sought for in a wife, were—' First, that she was born of God's Spirit. Second, that she was in some measure gifted to speak for as well as to think of Jesus. Third, that she had a determination to visit the sick with him. Fourth, that she was willing to give away as much money to the poor and the cause of God as she could get; he having made a covenant with God to give the tenth of all he possessed for ever, and as much more as he could spare. Fifth, that she was plain in her dress. And sixth, that she was moderate in household furniture and housekeeping, that neither the poor nor the cause of God should be robbed of their due.' He further requested, that before she gave him an answer she would take the matter into serious con- sideration, and for that purpose set apart the next Sabbath for fasting and prayer. He proposed to meet her at the throne of grace at seven until eight in the morning, at one until two in the afternoon, at five until six in the evening, and at nine until ten at night."

The life of James Crabb was struggling rather than eventful. He was born in 1774 ; received the common education of those days; and felt the influence of religion when very young, through the means of a clergyman of Wilton. The extracts quoted from his diary indicate his frame of mind during his apprenticeship, and his services as an itinerant or circuit laypreacher of the Wesleyans. A subsequent proposition on his part for Wesleyan or- dination was declined, Mr. Rudall thinks on account of his want of education. As he derived no emolument from lay preaching, and his father became unable to support him, he entered into the family trade, still continuing to preach. The commercial disturb- ances which followed the rupture of the peace of Amiens produced embarrassment and finally insolvency. James Crabb then turned commercial traveller, and afterwards opened a school at Ruin- sey near Southampton ; combining preaching with both vocations. The condition of the poorer classes in the last-named town forcibly attracted his sympathy. After much consideration, he determined to resign his school to his sons and go to Southampton. Again he offered his services to the Wesleyans for a very small stipend, and was again refused. He then started on his own account, address- ing himself solely to those who attended no place of worship. " Having determined on the course he ought to pursue, Mr. Crabb relin- quished his school to his two sons, reserving the spiritual instruction of the pupils and the general oversight of the whole. Having engaged the old As- sembly-rooms at Southampton for two services on each Sabbath-day, he issued a handbill inviting persons of every Christian denomination to attend his first service, when he proposed to give them an account of what he aimed to accomplish. A large concourse of people was gathered together at this meeting, to whom he preached from the words The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few.' He appears to have preached with great power; and perceiving that his address had made some impression upon his audience, he begged that none who were present and connected with other congregations would come there again, but use their influence with those of their neighbours who never went to the house of God, to attend his Sabbath- day's services. In the course of a few weeks his congregations became nu- merous and regular in their attendance, and he had every reason to believe that he was not labouring in vain."

The impolitic exclusiveness of the Church of England, in either neglecting or expelling the enthusiasm which at times springs up among her sons, has often been remarked, especially in relation to the brothers Wesley and Whitfield. Crabb is another though an humbler example. In one sense he was of no particular church, being ready to worship or to preach with or to anybody. But so far as he belonged to any visible church, it was the Church of England. He explained the liturgy, and abridged it for use in his ministra- tions; when a clergyman was appointed to a field in which he was labouring, Crabb withdrew or took a subordinate post, and his whole title to minister was derived from his licence. Two circum- stances, however, must be borne in mind in criticizing the conduct of the Establishment. The English Church is rather national than catholic; it cannot get rid of troublesome or ignorant enthu- siasm by shipping it off to foreign parts. The other point is that

the social and gentlemanly element predominates, probably, over the religious. It would not do to have a mendicant order ; perhaps it would scarcely look " respectable " in the eyes of the world to introduce the extreme platform style of preaching in connexion with the Church.