gination they thought him deranged; and were alarmed lest he should become worse. They took him into a private room to expostulate with him, and used their utmost endeavours to induce him to renounce his errors, and to desist from following those "tinkers and cobblers," as they called the Methodist Preachers. They gave him some books; and told him, if he would only read them, and go to church, he would do very well. He was, however, unmoved by their entreaties: he knew that he was not mad, but that God had given him "the Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." The consolations of the Spirit now greatly abounded; and on one occasion he was so full of joy, that, between ten and eleven o'clock at night, he retired into the middle of a large field, that, without interruption or restraint, he might give full vent to his happy soul in praising God.

Shortly after his conversion he became a member of the Methodist society, and continued in happy union with it till the end of his days. Having become a new creature in Christ Jesus," he felt the necessity of improving his mind, and of storing of it with sacred knowledge: to accomplish this he was in the habit of rising at four o'clock in the morning to read the Scriptures, meditate, and pray. To the Rev. Adam Clarke, as the instrument of his conversion, he ever after bore the strongest attachment.

The great change which Mr. Geake had experienced gave a new direction to all the energies of his ardent mind; and he was now as valiant in the cause of Christ, as he had previously been in the service of sin. His attention was especially directed to St. Germain's: he felt deeply concerned for the spiritual darkness of its inhabitants, and of his relations who resided there; but, either deeming himself unqualified, or wanting courage, to preach to them himself, he engaged the Rev. William Myles, and the Rev. Timothy Crowther, who were then stationed in the Circuit, to meet him and preach to the people. Accordingly, at the time appointed, they addressed a large congregation in the open air. This was in the year 1787.

Mr. Geake, having determined upon entering into business on his own account, was married in the year 1788 to Miss Mary Husband, a woman of sound understanding, and of deep piety, and who had been a member of the Methodist society ten years. About this time a suitable farm, called Penimble, in the vicinity of St. Germain's, being unoccupied, he gladly embraced the opportunity which offered of taking it, with a view of permanently establishing Methodism in that place. Immediately upon his settling, he accordingly opened his house for preaching, and most cheerfully entertained the Preachers. The word was accompanied with power; and a class of twelve or fourteen members was formed, of which Mr. Geake was appointed the Leader. Thus the foundation of a cause was laid in St. Germain's, which has been instrumental in the salvation of many souls.

Soon after his conversion, Mr. Geake had had deep and powerful im

pressions on his mind, that it was his duty to preach the Gospel, and had received so much light on many passages of Scripture in his ordinary reading, that he thought he could preach from them; but, fearing that these impressions were not from God, and reflecting on his own inexperience, he did not yield to them, and they gradually left him. However, about this time those convictions returned with increased power; still he hesitated, fearing lest in a work of such moment he should run without being sent, so that his mind was brought into great perplexity and distress. But out of this unhappy state he was delivered in answer to fervent prayer, by having his attention particularly directed to several appropriate passages of Scripture, such as Galatians ii. 9; Ezekiel vi. 11. From this time, being fully satisfied that his call was from God, he engaged in the important work of calling sinners to repentance; but for several years he did so (such was his modesty) without formally naming his text,—a practice highly worthy of the imitation of young men who are just beginning to speak in public.

Mr. Geake now found himself situated in an uncultivated and widelyextended field of labour. In that part of the country there were numerous parishes in which the Gospel in its purity was not preached, and in which the people perished for "lack of knowledge." He believed it to be his imperative duty to enter places of this description, and in doing so often encountered the furious resistance of ungodly men. In many respects he was well adapted for such a work. He was tall and robust in person, had a powerful voice, and was endowed with uncommon intrepidity. But in those days of persecution, it was necessary to possess legal as well as personal qualifications; and as it was deemed impracticable to obtain them from the prejudiced Magistrates of the county, Mr. Geake and his brother Richard, (who was also a Local Preacher,) and the Rev. Mark Daniel, of Launceston, went and procured licences at Exeter. It was about this time, 1794, the Plymouth Circuit was divided, and Launceston was made the head of that part in which St. Germain's was situated.

As many of the circumstances which occurred to Mr. Geake in his early preaching excursions are interesting in themselves, and illustrative of the violent opposition which the first Methodist Preachers had often to endure, and of the temper and spirit of many of the Magistrates of those days, a few of them are thought worthy of being recorded. On one occasion, while Mr. Geake was preaching at Wollaton, in the parish of St. Mullion, a mob entered the house with a large goat, for the purpose of disturbing the congregation; but not succeeding in this, they cried out, "We will pull down the Preacher ;" and immediately endeavoured to put their threat into execution. While the people were endeavouring to protect him from their violence, Mr. Geake said, "Make way for them to come forward, and not one of them will dare to touch me." When they were come up to him, their courage forsook them, and they stood speechless. Mr. Geake then

took up the Bible, and said to them, "Now hear me for half an hour; and if I say any thing contrary to this book, you shall be at liberty to do with me as you please." They did hear with attention, and went away apparently satisfied. Their leader soon afterwards became a

Methodist.

In the year 1796 Mr. Geake and his brother commenced preaching at Trehunist, in the parish of Quethiock. In this place they were opposed by a mob, who pelted them with putrid eggs, &c., and manifested the most determined hostility. On one of their visits, Mr. Geake left his brother to preach at Trehunist, and went himself to a village beyond it. On his way he met a mob, who were going to the former place for the purpose of annoying the Preacher, and of disturbing the congregation. They were provided for their bad work with a basket of eggs, a large book, and a large red owl: the owl was concealed, but, in the bustle which ensued, it made its escape. Disappointed in their expectation of meeting Mr. Geake at Trehunist, they beset him in the road, seized the reins of his horse, and threatened him with the eggs. At first he mildly expostulated with them respecting their conduct in thus detaining him on the road, but to no purpose: he then insisted on their letting him go, and threatened to defend himself with the large end of his whip: by this means he effected his escape. He then proceeded to the place of his appointment, and preached in peace; while the mob went to Trehunist, where they engaged in the fiendish pleasure of disturbing the congregation. The brothers now determined to claim the protection afforded by the laws of their country. Accordingly they applied to a Magistrate who was greatly disaffected towards the Methodists, to obtain a summons for the ringleader of the mob. As they entered the room where he was sitting, he said, in a very imperative tone, "Stand where you are. I know your business already." Mr. Geake then stated his complaint, and desired him to grant the summons. He replied, "I do not wish to have any thing to do with you; and instead of your going about to preach, you should stay at home on your farm, and your brother in his tan-yard." Mr. Geake then said, “We have nothing to do on the farm, or in the tan-yard, on the Lord's day; and we believe it to be our duty on that day to preach the Gospel." The Magistrate replied, "I may think it my duty to be a King, but that does not prove that I ought to be one." He endeavoured to convince them that they were in error; but finding them inflexible, he appeared much displeased, and said, "I may as well talk to the fire as to you." He, however, granted the summons. At the time appointed, Mr. Geake and his brother, with a few friends, went to Callington, where the Magistrates met. They were detained till all the other business of the day was finished, which was not till night. Before they were called to appear, they were informed by a gentleman who had dined with the Bench, "The Magistrates have been discussing your case; and they are resolved to use you as badly as they can."

After a hearing, however, the case was determined in Mr. Geake's favour, and the man was fully convicted. But as the object of the prosecutor was to obtain peace, all further proceedings were dropped, by his consent, on condition that the defendant should pay all the expenses of the trial, and engage to keep the peace. As Mr. Geake was retiring from the room, one of the Magistrates called out, "Geake, I am informed that you pretend to inspiration; but I tell you that inspiration has ceased since the days of the Apostles. And you also say, that you are sent of God to preach the Gospel. Now, remember, if I ever hear that you pretend to inspiration again, or that you profess to be sent of God to preach the Gospel, I will send you to jail for six months for the first offence; and for the second I will transport you for seven years; for I am a quorum." Mr. Geake replied, “You need be at no trouble to collect information; for I will make a confession before you, that I believe God hath inspired me by his Holy Spirit, and hath sent me to preach the Gospel. Now, Sir, make out my mittimus, and send me to jail." The utmost confusion and mortification now became visible in the Magistrate's countenance, which he endeavoured to conceal by spreading a book before him. The Bench was then referred to the solemn affirmation made by Clergymen on that subject. After Mr. Geake and his friends had retired, the defendant and his associates expressed their disappointment at not being at liberty to annoy the Methodist Preachers; when it was replied, "Would to God we could suppress them! but the law is on their side."

Menheniott was another scene of Mr. Geake's labours. On one occasion when he was preaching out of doors in that village, about the middle of his sermon an Esquire came to the place in high displeasure, and ordered a Constable who was present to pull down the Preacher ; but the man refused. He next applied to some labourers; but they also declined. He then had recourse to a party of recruiting soldiers, who were on the outside of the congregation, hearing very attentively; but they treated him with contempt. Having failed in all his attempts to accomplish his purpose, he left the Preacher to finish his discourse in peace. A society was formed in this place, which continues to the present time.

Mr. Geake and his brother were the first Methodist Preachers that carried the Gospel into Pelynt. Here, also, they had to encounter great opposition. Philip Hawk, a pious old man, in whose house they preached, was an object of perpetual ridicule and persecution in this eminently wicked and ungodly neighbourhood. The principal persecutor in this place was the Clergyman of the parish. On one occasion, just as Mr. Geake was about to begin the service, he and Philip Hawk were sent for by him. When they were introduced, he said to Mr. Geake, "You are the Methodist Preacher, I suppose." "I am," was the answer. He replied, "I did not send for you, but for Philip Hawk:

however, I will have no Methodism preached in my parish." Mr. Geake said, "Sir, I have come twelve miles, and there is a congregation waiting; therefore I cannot go away without preaching." "Then I will prosecute you." "I cannot think," observed Mr. Geake," that you intend to do that." "I do." On being assured that Mr. Geake would preach, he said, "Then I will be there;" and was answered, "I shall be glad to see you, Sir." Accordingly, just as the sermon was begun, it was whispered among the people, "The Parson is coming: " room was made for him, and he came up to the end of the table where the Preacher was standing, and heard with apparent attention. After the service, he required the names of the Preacher and of his brother; and then said to Mr. Geake, "Tell your brother from me, that I shall prosecute him." Mr. Geake replied, "I hope not, Sir." The only answer he received was, "I will; for I will have no Methodist preaching in my parish." The Clergyman was, however, informed that they had a licence, and were determined to persevere against all opposition. In the interval between this and Mr. Geake's next visit to Pelynt, he was informed that this Clergyman had attempted to injure his and his brother's characters, by affirming at a Magistrates' meeting, that they were disaffected towards the constitution; that they had been apprehended for sedition; and that they were now at liberty on promise of good conduct: "and these are the men," said he, "who come and preach in my parish." Soon after, Mr. Geake went with his brother to Pelynt, and preached without molestation. Just as the people had departed, the Clergyman came, and demanded to see his licence; which having seen, he said, "Now you are authorized." Mr. Geake, feeling the reproach which had been cast upon his character, said, “Pray, Sir, what have you been saying to disgrace the characters of myself and brother? Who told you that we had been taken up for sedition? Where did you obtain your information? I tell you, Sir, our characters are not liable to any such imputation; and I think it a pity that a man of your disposition should ever have been admitted to the ministry of the Christian church. It must have been a great imposition on the Bishop when you were ordained." The Clergyman, as may be supposed, was much affected, and hastily reiterated, “Do you mean that, Sir? do you mean that, Sir?" Mr. Geake responded, "Yes, I do;" and placing his hand on the Clergyman's shoulder, said, "Instead of a gown, there ought to have been an epaulet here." The next morning the brothers called upon him, and were received in the most courteous and affable manner. They now threatened to prosecute him for defamation, unless he gave the name of his informant. This he begged to decline, but made ample concessions, with which they were satisfied.

About this time, the late Rev. Thomas Roberts, hearing of the occurrences at Pelynt, sent word that he would preach there; but some circumstances happening to prevent his coming, his brother, who