It is difficult to know where to draw the line, in noticing the clerical leaders of the Evangelical party.  If all the worthy men who helped on the cause were here commemorated, this chapter would swell into outrageous dimensions.  Dr. Conyers of Helmsley, and subsequently of Deptford, the friend and brother-in-law of J. Thornton; Mr. Richardson of York, the intimate friend of Joseph Milner and the editor of his sermons; Mr. Stillingfleet of Hotham, another friend of Milner’s; Mr. Jowett, a voluminous and once much admired writer, would claim at least a passing notice.  But there is one more Evangelical clergyman whose work must not be ignored.

Thomas Robinson of Leicester (1749-1813) was the friend of all the Evangelical leaders of his day.  Having taken his degree with credit at Cambridge—­he was said to be the best general scholar of his time—­he served for a short while the curacy of Witcham, a village near Cambridge.  Here he raised, by his reputed Methodism, a sensation which extended to the whole neighbourhood, and even to the University itself.  ’His tutor and friend, Mr. Postlethwaite, hearing that he was bent on turning Methodist, from the kindest motives took him seriously to task, exhorting him to beware, to consider what mischief the Methodists were doing, and at what a vast rate they were increasing.  “Sir,” said Robinson, “what do you mean by a Methodist?  Explain, and I will ingenuously tell you whether I am one or not.”  This caused a puzzle and a pause.  At last Mr. Postlethwaite said, “Come then, I’ll tell you.  I hear that in the pulpit you impress on the minds of your hearers, that they are to attend to your doctrines from the consideration that you will have to give an account of them, and of your treatment of them, at the Day of Judgment.”  “I am surprised,” rejoined Robinson, “to hear this objected.  It is true.”  Robinson got no further explanation from the tutor, but that the increase of Methodism was an alarming thing.’[828] From Witcham, Robinson was removed to Leicester, where he spent the remainder of his life, and where he passed through very much the same sort of experience which attended most of the Evangelical clergy of the period:  that is, his ‘Methodistical’ views raised great opposition at the outset; but he lived it down, became a very popular preacher, and took a leading part in every scheme for the amelioration of the temporal and spiritual condition of Leicester.  Mr. Robinson was also well known as an author.  His ‘Christian System’ and ‘Scripture Characters’ were once much read and much admired books, especially the former, which is still found in most libraries of divinity collected in the early part of the present century.