In the order of Divine Providence there is a strange combination of circumstances, by which what is appointed is brought to pass. In the same year died Mr. Whitefield, the Rev. Howel Davies, rector of Prengast, near Haverfordwest, the head of Calvinistic Methodism in Pembrokeshire, and the Rev. Thomas Adams, minister of the Tabernacle at Rodborough, the leader of the same cause in Gloucestershire and Wilts, and Mr. Whitefield’s only surviving first fellow-labourer, to each of whom he had bequeathed a small legacy. Though the Tabernacle at Bristol was under Mr. Whitefield’s auspices, yet, strange to say, in his will we do not find the least mention of it. The trustees in London offered to befriend it, but would not accept it as a part of their charge. The Honourable James Habersham was appointed executor for his affairs in the province of Georgia, and Messrs. Hardy, West, and Keene for those in England.

Having by his will left both of his places of worship in London, his houses, library, and all things appertaining thereto, to two of his executors, in survivorship, Mr. West and Mr. Keene, they were enabled, through the abundant goodness of God, to carry on the work in the same manner as in Mr. Whitefield’s life-time, without the least diminution either of the largeness of the congregations, or the visible power of God attending the ministry of those faithful men who laboured for them. Two persons could not have been more happily associated than Mr. West and Mr. Keene. They were always regular and exact in the discharge of the weighty duties that devolved upon them. An uninterrupted harmony characterized all their public transactions. It was now their study to conciliate the affections of the ministers, to promote the glory of Jesus Christ, and the spiritual interests of the congregations; and they had the happiness to see the pleasure of the Lord prosper in their hands. The late Mr. Berridge, who had a very high regard for them, when speaking of them, says:—

This was in the year 1777. From this, as well as from other circumstances, it would appear that the Doctor, being known as a preacher and trustee in Lady Huntingdon’s Connexion, was associated with Messrs. West and Keene in the Tabernacle trust. After the mournful difference between her Ladyship and Mr. Wills, in 1788, some propositions were made relative to a union between the two Connexions, but of what nature, or to what extent, we have no information. Mr. Berridge, the mutual friend of both, appears to have been a chief instrument in negotiating this affair. Lady Huntingdon being in London, in September, 1788, commissioned Mr. Berridge, then residing at the Tabernacle House, to propose the intended plan, the fulfilment of which she seems to have had much at heart. But the only document we have been enabled to procure, which throws any light on the subject, is a short letter from Mr. Berridge to her Ladyship. It is dated Tabernacle House, September 25, 1778:—

Mr. Keene died on the 30th of January, 1793. His name deserves to be recorded in the annals of the Church, as an illustrious example of holiness and zeal in the cause of God. Mr. West survived him till the 30th of September, 1796. He was in the 70th year of his age. His remains were interred under the communion-table, in a vault that contained the remains of Mrs. Whitefield, Mrs. West, and Mr. Keene. It is a singular circumstance, that Mrs. Whitefield, Mr. Keene, and Mrs. West all died on the 30th day of the month, and Mr. Whitefield and Mr. West on the 30th of September. Mr. West, by his last will, bequeathed the management of the places to Samuel Foyster, Esq., and John Wilson, Esq., both of whom are since dead. Mr. Foyster’s removal to another world took place February 2, 1805. He was one of his Majesty’s justices of the peace, and was a humble, pious, and peaceable Christian, and an ornament to his religious profession.

The ministers who supplied immediately after Mr. Whitefield’s death were Mr. Berridge, Mr. Green, Mr. Elliott, Mr. Piercy, Mr. Rowlands, Mr. Shirley, Mr. De Courcy, Mr. Hill, Mr. Owen, Dr. Peckwell, Dr. Illingworth, Mr. West—all clergymen; and Mr. Kinsman, Mr. Medley, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Scott, Mr. Titus Knight, Mr. Heath, Mr. Winter, Mr. Beck, Mr. Ashburner, Mr. Durant, and a long list of worthy clergymen and Dissenting ministers from the country, who esteemed it their privilege to preach to every large, serious, and attentive congregation, whose hearts were filled with thankfulness, and at the same time engaged in prayer for every such minister of Christ; and an unusual blessing commonly attended both the sowers and reapers. It was the desire of the managers to let the pulpits be open to every disinterested minister that might occasionally visit London, of good moral character, sound in the faith, of moderate Calvinistic principles, without distinction of parties or denominations, whose talents were suitable to preach with life and power to overflowing congregations.

Here let us pause, and lift our hearts in thankfulness to the great Head of the Church, for the plenteous harvest of immortal souls that hath been gathered to the true Shiloh in these highly-favoured chapels. The benediction of the Spirit seems to have rested in a peculiar manner on the labours of the ministers of Christ in these vast fields of usefulness. They were men of renown in their day, who, through evil report and good report, preached the everlasting Gospel, and were as distinguished by the success which crowned their labours, as by the zeal and ability with which they performed them. This noble army of confessors are now before the throne. The great Captain of Salvation hath called them to their eternal reward. May their surviving brethren catch a glowing spark of the flame of zeal which animated these men of God, imitate their excellencies, avoid their infirmities, and leave behind them a memory as blessed, and a monument as enduring, in the hearts of thousands converted by their ministrations! Such were the men “whom the Lord delighted to honour.” Happy shall we be if counted worthy to sit at their feet in Christ’s kingdom of eternal glory!