258: LIVES OF THE PURITANS. when they expostulated with him, he said, " Be not afraid. The LordGod ruleth over all. If, God may be glorified, and his truth propagated, God's will be done concerning me. ", Thus he assured them, that if his discourse answered the purposehe intended, he was regardless what might befall himself. Upon his going to the bishop, to pay his compli ments before lie went home, the bishop said, " Sir, I purpose to wait upon you home myself ; ' and so accom- panied him' to his house. As soon as Mr. Gilpin had, conducted him into the parlour, the bishop suddenly turned, round, and seizing him by the hand, said, " Father Gilpin, " I acknowledge you are fitter to be the Bishop of Durham, " than I am 'to be the parson of your church. I ask " forgiveness of past,injuries. Forgive me, father. I know " you have enemies ; but while I live Bishop of Durham, " be secure : none of them shall cause you any further " trouble. "* The benevolence and ho4fitality of Mr. Gilpin were the admiration of all the country. Strangers and travellers found a cheerful reception at his house. All were welcome that came : and every sabbath, fromMichaelmas to Easter, he expected to see all his parishioners and their families. For their reception, he had three tables well covered : the first for gentlemen, the second for husbandmen and farmers, and the third for the labouring poor. This kind of hospi- tality he never omitted, even when losses or scarcity rendered its continuance rather difficult. He thought it was his duty; and that was, a decidingmotive. Even when hewas from home, the poor were fed, and strangers enter- tained,as usual. EveryThursday throughout the year,a very large quantity ofmeat was dressed wholly for the poor ; and every day theyhad as much broth as they wanted. Twenty- four, of the poorest were his constant pensioners. Four times in the year a dinner was provided for the poor in general, when they received .a certain quantity of corn and a sum of money ; and at Christmas they had always an ox divided among them. Whenever he, heard of any persons in distress, whether in his ,own parish or any other, he was sure to relieve them. As he walked abroad, he frequently brought home with him poor people, and sent them away clothed as well as fed. He took great pains to,acquaint himself with the circumstances of his neighbours, that the modesty of sufferers might not prevent their relief. But the money best Wood says, that Bishop Barns was a constant favourer of puritanism. ---.4t4enoz Oxon. vol. i. p. 607.
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