de me, in a moment, a preacher of the Gospel.
The idea never dawned on me that any line was to be drawn between
one who had nothing else to do but preach and a saved apprentice
lad who only wanted 'to spread through all the earth abroad,' as we
used to sing, the fame of our Saviour. I have lived, thank God, to
witness the separation between layman and cleric become more and
more obscured, and to see Jesus Christ's idea of changing in a
moment ignorant fishermen into fishers of men nearer and nearer
realisation.

"But I had to battle for ten of the best years of my youth against
the barriers the Churches set up to prevent this natural following
of the Lamb wherever He leads. At that time they all but compelled
those who wished to minister to the souls of men to speak in
unnatural language and tones, and adopt habits of mind and life
which so completely separated them from the crowd as to make them
into a sort of princely caste, whom the masses of every clime
outwardly reverenced and inwardly despised.

"Lad though I was, a group of new Converts and other earnest souls
soon gathered around me, and greater things seemed to be ahead when
a great trial overtook me. The bosom friend already referred to was
taken from my side. We had been like David and Jonathan in the
intensity of our union and fellowship in our work for God. He had a
fine appearance, was a beautiful singer, and possessed a wonderful
gift in prayer. After I had spoken in our Open-Air Meeting he would
kneel down and wrestle with God until it seemed as though he would
move the very stones on which he knelt, as well as the hearts of
the people who heard him. Of how few of those men called ministers
or priests can anything like this be said!

"But the unexpected blow came. He fell into consumption. His
relations carried him up and down the country for change of air and
scene. All was done that could be done to save his life, but in
vain. The last change was to the Isle of Wight. In that lovely spot
the final hope fled. I remember their bringing him home to die. He
bade farewell to earth, and went triumphantly to Heaven singing--

And when to Jordan's flood I come,
Jehovah rules the tide,
And the waters He'll divide,
And the heavenly host will shout--