256 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. under his care. He was not satisfied with the advice he gave them in public, but taught them from house to house ; and disposed his people to come to him with their doubts and difficulties. And even the reproofs which he gave, evidently proceeding from friendship, and given with gen- tleness, very seldom gave offence. Thus, wills unceasing assiduity, he was employed in admonishing the vicious, and encouraging the well-disposed. And in a few years, by the blessing of God upon his endeavours, a greater change was effected throughout his parish, than could havebeen expected. Mr. Gilpin continued to discharge the duties of his ministerial function in the most 'conscientious and laborious manner. Notwithstanding all his painful industry, and the large scope of labour in his own parish, lie thought the sphere of his exertions were too confined. It grieved his righteous soul to behold in all the surroundingparishes so much ignorance, superstition, and vice, occasioned by the shameful neglect of the clergy. The ignorance and public vices in that part of the country, were very remarkable. This appears from the injunctions of Archbishop Grindal in 1570 ; among which were the following :-"That no " pedlar shall be admitted to sell his wares in the church " porch in divine service.-That parish clerks shall be able " to read.-That no lords ofmisrule, or summer lords and " ladies, or any disguised persons, morrice-dancers or " others, shall come irreverently into the church, or play " any unseemly parts with scoffs, jests, wanton gestures, " or ribbald talk, in the time of divine service.". Such was the deplorable condition of the people. Therefore, to supply as far as he was able, what wasmanifestly wanting in others, he used regularly every year to visit the most neglected parishes in Northumberland, Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Yorkshire : and that his own people might not suffer, he was at the expense of keeping an assistant. Even in those wild parts of the country, he never wanted an audience ; and was the means under God ofrousing many to a sense of religion, and the great importance of their salvation. There is a tract of countryon the borders of Northumber- land, called Reads-dale and Tyne-dale ; which, ofall other places in the north, were the most barbarous. It was inhabitedby a kind of desperate banditti, who lived chiefly Biog. Britan. vol. vii. Sup. p. 78.
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