ving but few fpiritual perfons to converfe with, he continued for fome time in a state of fufpence, relative to his interest in divine things, and was uncertain, whether he was actually renewed in the fpirit of his mind. But God, who heareth the forrowful fighing of the prifoner, at length gave him the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the fpirit of heavinefs. While he was one day perufing the thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, his attention was particularly arrested by the following paffage: "The godly confideration of predeftination, and our election in Chrift, is full of fweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly perfons, and fuch as feel in themfelves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh, and their earthly members, and drawing up their minds to high and heavenly things." Art. 17.

Having difpaffionately examined this fentence, and comparing the ardent afpirations of his foul with that lively defcription of God's chofen people, he could not but perceive a ftriking analogy between them, and from this instant a dawn of hope arofe in his bofom. It was suggested to his thoughts, Surely you must be a child of God; for you pant after him as your all-fufficient good; neither have you any in heaven but him, nor on earth that you defire in comparison of him. These reflections were fucceeded by an inward tranquility, and pleasure, more eafily felt than expreffed; for he now rejoiced with joy unfpeakable and full of glory.

His gloomy and tormenting fears being happily diffipated, and his heart exulting in the grace of God his Saviour, he was foon impreffed with an ardent concern, to interest the attention of his relations to thefe important objects. Their great indifference, even to the form of godlinefs, gave frequent occafion to many strong cries and tears to God in fecret, that Chrift might be formed in their hearts, the hope of glory. But being unable to fupprefs his feelings any longer, he one evening exclaimed with an affectionate emotion, as they were retiring to their chambers, "What, fhall we go to bed without prayer? How do we know but fome of us may wake in hell before morning?" By this unexpected addrefs, the family were feized with a folemn awe, and while they looked on each other with conscious shame, for the neglect of fo obvious a duty, he fell upon his knees, and prayed with that readinefs and fervor, which greatly excited their aftonishment.

Nor was his anxiety confined to their fpiritual welfare, for his heart's defire was, that his neighbors might alfo participate of the unfearchable riches of Chrift. He therefore fhortly began to read Mr. Whitefield's Sermons, to as ma

ny as would attend ; and supposed with Melanthon, that what had proved fo fingular a bleffing to his foul, would not fail to produce fimilar effects on them, as foon as they were heard. Continuing to read the works of eminent divines for fometime, the small company who attended these exercises, perceiving him to be a youth of promifing abilities, encouraged him to cultivate them, by the ftudy and delivery of his own discourses. After repeated folicitations he was prevailed upon, and his first effay of this nature was from Ezekiel, xxxvii. 3. "Son of man, can these bones live? and I anfwered, O Lord God, thou knoweft." He ufed to fpeak of this as a season peculiarly folemn and affecting. The Lord encouraged these his early efforts, by giving him many feals to his ministry, among whom were his father, mother, and three fifters.

About this period Mr. Whitefield, in one of his voyages to America, was obliged by an unexpected occurrence to repair to Plymouth (where he had never been before,) to fecure himfelf a paffage in a fhip about to fail from that port. Here, according to his ufual custom, he embraced the first opportunity of preaching to the inhabitants. He had not delivered many difcourfes before a gracious Providence: preferved him from being affaffinated, and at the fame time over-ruled the horrid attempt of his enemies, to the furtherance of the Gospel: For the odd adventure, as he calls it, brought thousands more to fee and hear the man, who had been marked out as a victim to the rage of perfecutors; and God gave fuch teftimony to the word of his grace, that remarkable fuccefs attended his miniftry. Intelligence of thefe circumftances being circulated around the adjacent country, Mr. Kinfman fled with great eagerness to hear him. Being introduced, after fermon, to his company, he prevailed on him to vifit Tavistock. But the oppofition he here met with was fo violent, as to excite fuch a deep-rooted antipathy in the mind of Mr. Kinfman to his native town, that he refolved to refide in it no longer. Having removed to Plymouth, he, at the age of about twenty-one, commenced an acquaintance with Mifs Ann Tiley, with whom he was united in marriage in the year 1745. She was a very fpiritual and zealous Chriftian, and, with many others, had been converted under Mr. Whitefield's ministry, while he was detained there through the delays of the convoy. By her he had four children, Ann, Andrew, John and George, the two former of whom still furvive, and are members of the religious community over which he prefided..

Near five years had elapfed, fince Mr. Whitefield preached lat at Plymouth, In this interval Mr. and Mrs. Kinf

man had devoted the piece of ground to the service of God, on which the Tabernacle now ftands, and toward the erecti on of which they had generously contributed. This place was chiefly fupplied by Mr. Whitefield's colleagues, Cennick, Adams, Middleton, &c. who were kindly entertained under Mr. Kinfman's roof free of any expence to themfelves or the infant caufe. Though his preaching at Tavistock had been attended with very pleafing effects, while refident there, on his removing to Plymouth, he was fo far from intruding his fervices upon that fociety, that the utmoft he could be prevailed upon to do for fome time, was to read a fermon to the people when a vacancy occurred: Nor was it till the year 1750, that he entered fully into a regular courfe of preaching.

Early in the year 1749, Mr. Whitefield taking the tour of the Weft, arrived at Plymouth, where he was received by his late converts as an angel of God; and by none more cordially than Mr. Kinfman; at whofe house he refided during the prefent, and every fubfequent vifit. From this time he became intimately acquainted and closely connected with Mr. Whitefield; for whom he retained the moft filial affection to his dying day, frequently travelled with, and confulted him as a father upon all his religious concerns.

As Plymouth-Dock, about two miles from Plymouth, became increasingly populous, and as there was no place of worship in all the town to accommodate the inhabitants, except the little chapel in the King's yard; Mr. Kinsman confidered this circumftance as a fit occafion to diffufe among them the favor of the knowledge of Chrift. He began to preach out of doors, and continued for fome time amidst the moft violent perfecutions; was frequently obliged to fly for his life; and expected, that before the enfuing morning his dwelling houfe at Plymouth would be demolished. He has fometimes been furrounded by eight or nine drums from the military to drown his voice.

But amidst this formidable oppofition, his ftrength was equal to his day. Now Providence would foften his adver faries into pity, and thereby divert them from their evil purpofes; then would fortify him with courage to withstand the united efforts of an outrageous mob. Once in particular at Dock, a perfon of confiderable fortune hired a number of men to interrupt his preaching. On arriving at the fpot, they were fo moved by his engaging addrefs, that they not only defifted from their defign; but directed their vengeance against their mifchievous employer, who with difficulty ef caped with his life; and fo exemplified the words of David, "His mifchief fhall return upon his own head, and his vio lent dealing fhall come down upon his own pate."

At another time, when the congregation was affembled in Plymouth Tabernacle, it was difturbed by a lieutenant of the navy, who came with a part of his crew, armed for a defperate affault. Having broken the windows, they entered the place in a body. Their first attempt was to extinguish the. lights, and then to fall upon the people. But a perfon, perceiving their defign, drew up the chandelier to the ceiling of the building. Baffled in this project, they fell upon the people, without regard either to age or fex, and beat them with their bludgeons in a merciless manner.

The worship being interrupted, a general alarm and outcry of murder enfued. At this instant Mr. Kinsman, by an extraordinary effort, throwing himself into the midst of the throng, seized the lieutenant, the ringleader of the rioters, and as he was drawing his fword upon him, he wrested it from his hand. No exertion on the fide of the rioters could force Mr. Kinfman to quit his hold of the lieutenant, and by main strength, in the heat of the rencounter, he drew him out of the Tabernacle into the yard, where the same scene of confusion was continued. Here the lieutenant made many violent struggles to difengage himfelf; loft his laced hat; and had his clothes confiderably torn in the attempt. Mr. Kinsman preferved his hold, and dragging him into his dwelling-house, carried him off through the front door to the magistrate. Both parties were now at a lofs, to difcover what was become of their champions. Mr. Kinfman's friends were almost distracted, fuppofing he had been carried off by the rioters, and torn piece-meal. But they were foon agreeably disappointed. The lieutenant conducted himself with great infolence before the magistrate, who committed him to the watch-houfe, where he lay all night. Being brought before him again the next morning, he acknowledged his offences, engaged to repair all damages, and make fuch other conceffions as the injured party might require. Mr. Kinfman, having obtained his object, and being unwilling to injure the caufe of religion, in the esteem of the world, by a spirit of inexorable refentment, acceded to his propofals, and he was accordingly difmiffed; nor washe ever after called upon by Mr. Kinsman or his friends, to fulfil his engagements.

Having procured a private house in Dock, he preached the first time to about fixteen perfons; but the congregation rapidly increased, and God gave teftimony to the word of his grace. Here his animated exertions, his profufe perfpirations, and his inattention to his bodily health, foon injured the finest of conftitutions, and laid the foundation of that asthmatic disorder, which proved so severe a trial to him for

more than forty years. At length his amiable manners, and exemplary life, filenced the clamours of the populace; and, though many hated the cause, he became refpected and revered; and the congregation not only increafed, but "the Lord added to the church daily fuch as fhould be faved."

Mr. Whitefield, returning from America, landed at Ply-. mouth, and intending to preach on the Lord's-day morning, multitudes came from all parts of the country to hear him, fo that the place could not contain them. Juft as it was time to begin the fervice, he became so much indifpofed as to be unable to preach; fo that Mr. Kinfman was obliged to engage though unprepared. This circumftance diftreffed him fo much, that he wept exceedingly. He fpoke from the following words: What hath God wrought? This difcourfe was made fo eminently useful, that it never was forgotten by multitudes, and to this day many speak of it as the best opportunity they ever enjoyed. ά the depths of divine wif Q dom!

In the year 1752 a meeting-houfe was erected at Dock; which, by the bleffing of God upon his ministry, was obliged to be enlarged fix or feven times, and now measures fixtyfour by fixty feet.

He was now called out to itinerate frequently in many counties in the kingdom, and his peculiar abilities attracted general attention, which, together with the affability of his manners, the uncommon cheerfulness of his difpofition, and his great usefulness, raised him to a high degree of efteem wherever he went. Nor was he lefs refpected, nor his minif try attended with lefs general good, at Briftol and London, cities to which he was invited by Mr. Whitefield; who was used to call Bristol, Mr. Kinfman's America, alluding to his own popularity and fuccefs in that quarter of the world. The frame of his mind, on entering upon this new scene, may be learned from fome hints found among his papers, Nov. 21, 1754. "Having received many preffing invitations, I once more attempt to go forth in the name of Chrift, to preach his Gofpel. The weaknefs, and continual disorders of my body, have been urged as powerful diffuafive by my anxious friends, against the undertaking. But none of these things move me, for I find the God of grace, is the God of nature also. After committing my dear friends and family to the Lord in prayer, I left them, though not without inward throes on their behalf, and efpecially for my little ones, who became continually more and more engaging. Through the good hand of my God upon me, I find my journey more agreeable than I expected, and the Lord continues to affift me in my labours, though at intervals I have fome fevere fits of the asthma."