uilt a church at his own expense, but having an advanced idea of the
Divine benevolence, he could never find any preacher whose doctrines
suited him. Nevertheless he was profoundly convinced that such a
preacher would be sent to realize his hopes, and was not discouraged
by the disbelief of his neighbors. His anticipation was strangely
fulfilled. Rev. John Murray, almost crazed by the death of his wife,
sailed from England for America in 1770, intending to abandon the
pulpit entirely. The vessel put in at Philadelphia instead of New
York, and as the stage for New York had left, Mr. Murray concluded to
remain on the vessel and go to New York that way. But on the voyage
they got lost in the fog, and got into Cranberry Inlet in a dangerous
position. They went ashore, being out of provisions, and found a
country tavern. Mr. Murray strolled along the coast, intending to get
fish for the crew, and fell into company with Farmer Potter, who had a
supply, and who at once told him, to his astonishment, that he was
glad to meet him, and had been looking for him a long time. Potter
decided at once that this was the minister he had been looking for,
and of whom he had often spoken when telling his neighbors, "God will
send me a preacher of a very different stamp from those who have
heretofore preached in my house; that God who has put it into my heart
to build this house will send one who shall deliver to me His own
truth, who shall speak of Jesus Christ and His salvation." Potter
briefly sketched his own life and said:

"The moment I beheld your vessel on shore, it seemed as if a voice had
suddenly sounded in my ears: 'There, Potter, in that vessel cast away
on that shore is the preacher you have been so long expecting.' I
heard the voice and I believed the report; and when you came up to my
door and asked for the fish, the same voice seemed to repeat, 'Potter,
this is the man, this is the person whom I have sent to preach in your
house.'"

Murray says: "I was astonished, immeasurably astonished at Mr.
Potter's narrative, but yet I had not the smallest idea that it could
ever be realized. I requested to know what he could discover in my
appearance which could lead him to mistake me for a preacher." "What,"
said he, "could I discover when you were in the vessel that could
induce this conclusion? No sir, it is not what I saw or see, but what
I feel, which produces in my mind a full conviction." "But, my dear
sir, you are deceived,