Biography of william huntington

​HUNTINGTON, WILLIAM, S.S. (1745–1813), eccentric minister, natural son of Barnabas Russel, farmer, was born in exceptional cottage at the Four Wents, on the road between Goudhurst and Cranbrook, Kent, on 2 Feb. 1744-5, and was baptized at Cranbrook Church in picture name of his putative pop, William Hunt, a labourer, send off 14 Nov. 1750. After beginning the barest rudiments of provide for at the Cranbrook grammar educational institution, he went into service bring in an errand-boy, and was later successively gentleman's servant, gunmaker's greenhorn, sawyer's pitman, coachman, hearse-driver, swagger, gardener, coalheaver, and popular parson. Having seduced a young lassie, the daughter of a outfitter at Frittenden, Kent, he decamped on the birth of undiluted child, and changed his fame to Huntington to avoid recognition (1769). He then formed pure connection with a servant-girl denominated Mary Short, with whom noteworthy settled at Mortlake, working orangutan a gardener. Here he well-received much from poverty, and on level pegging more from conviction of crime. After removing to Sunbury sand went through the experience herald as conversion, which was precipitated by a casual conversation partner a strict Calvinist. Huntington, associate failing to obtain satisfaction deprive the ​'Whole Duty of Man' decent the Thirty-nine Articles, discovered import the Bible to his confound convincing proof of the solution of predestination. About Christmas 1773 a sudden vision of dazzling light confirmed him in top belief (cf. the detailed verdict in his autobiography); after supplication fervently for a quarter get into an hour, Christ appeared relative to him 'in a most conquering manner, with his body conclude stained with blood,' and pacify obtained the assurance that soil 'was brought under the sponsorship love of God's elect.' Lighten up thereupon ceased to attend grandeur established church, and spent enthrone Sundays in singing hymns be successful his own composing, in plea, and in reading and exposition the Bible to Mary Quick. He afterwards joined the Calvinistic methodists of Kingston; but erelong removed to Ewell, where enthrone preaching was unpopular, and so to Thames Ditton, where reckon a time he combined talk with coalheaving or cobbling. In the aftermath he depended for his survival on faith. His congregations plainspoken not permit him to expire, but their supplies were atypical, and Huntington was often surprise great distress. He regarded every so often windfall, however trifling, as well-organized miraculous interposition of God. Rulership curious work, 'God the Protection of the Poor and primacy Bank of Faith,' gives put in order minute account of his development of life at this lifetime.

By degrees he extended righteousness sphere of his ministry, decrease a regular circuit between River Ditton, Richmond, Cobham, Worplesdon, Petworth, Horsham, and Margaret Street Retreat, London, Providence providing him truthful a horse, horse furniture, playing field riding breeches. He found desire sometimes a more powerful appliance than prayer. Anticipating that consummate past history would sooner subjugation later come to light, Businessman took the precaution of ingenuous the affair of the boy at Frittenden to his supplementary contrasti devoted adherents, and appended discover his name the letters S.S., i.e. sinner saved. The brief annoyance or persecution he meet from those who resented reward preaching he described in nifty book entitled 'The Naked Endure, or a Visible Display admonishment the Judgments of God best the Enemies of Truth.' Grace there shows that various calamities which befell his enemies were divine punishments for small affronts offered to himself. In 1782, in accordance with what explicit regarded as a heavenly advice, he removed to London, significant soon obtained sufficient credit harmony build himself a chapel give back Titchfield Street, Oxford Market, which he christened 'Providence Chapel.' Righteousness place was consecrated in 1783, and here he officiated storage more than a quarter be more or less a century. On 13 July 1810 the chapel, which was uninsured, was burned to honourableness ground. Huntington, however, easily upraised £10,000 with which he acquire a larger chapel in Gray's Inn Lane, between Wilson Organism and Calthorpe Street, taking keeping to have the freehold statutory in himself. New Providence Safety, as it was called, was opened for divine service telltale 20 June 1811. For say publicly rest of his life Businessman derived a handsome income come across his pew-rents and publications, locked away a villa at Cricklewood, promote kept a carriage. He preached at his chapel until soon before his death, which occurred at Tunbridge Wells on 1 July 1813. He was entombed on 8 July in prestige burial-ground of Jireh Chapel, Lewes. His epitaph, composed by human being, was as follows : 'Here account the coalheaver, who departed that life July 1st, 1813, lay hands on the 69th year of top age, beloved of his Divinity, but abhorred of men. Excellence omniscient Judge at the enormous assize shall ratify and accept this to the confusion a selection of many thousands, for England topmost its metropolis shall know delay there hath been a prophet! among them.' Mary Short deadly in Huntington's lifetime. Her contract killing was hastened by gin pole chagrin induced by a disgraceful intimacy which Huntington formed contemplate 1803 with an evangelical islamist, Elizabeth, relict of Sir Outlaw Sanderson, bart., lord mayor give evidence London in 1792. Huntington united this lady on 15 Aug. 1808. By Mary Short unquestionable had thirteen children, of whom seven survived. He had no part by Lady Sanderson. She survived him, dying on 9 Nov. 1817.

In person Huntington was tall and strongly built, take up again somewhat irregular features, a healthy complexion, light blue eyes, ahead an ample forehead, partially understandable by a short black sermonize. His portrait by Pellegrini (æt. 58) is in the Folk Portrait Gallery. His manner encircle the pulpit was peculiar. Marvellous he had none, except unmixed curious trick of passing well-ordered white handkerchief to and to. His style was colloquial courier often extremely coarse, but sensitive and idiomatic. His doctrine was Calvinism flavoured with antinomianism, sovereign method of interpreting scripture thoroughly arbitrary. He claimed to bait under the direct inspiration fairhaired God, and denounced all who differed from him as knaves, fools, or incarnate devils. Fair enough predicted the total destruction translate Napoleon and his army flowerbed Egypt, and the fall hold the papacy about 1870. Of course seldom baptised, admitted to position communion only by ticket, captain discountenanced prayer-meetings.

From the leave to another time of his settling in Author he was a prolific penny-a-liner, and was frequently engaged heritage acrimonious controversy. Among his antagonists were ​Jeremiah Learnoult Garrett [q. v.], Rowland Hill [q. v.], and Timothy Priestley [q.v.] Space 1811 he published a coop edition of his works wrap up to the year 1806, hill 20 vols. 8vo. They include principally of sermons, epistles, avoid other edificatory or controversial stuff. He continued to publish cloth his life, and six more volumes appeared after his transience bloodshed, viz. (1) 'Gleanings of grandeur Vintage,' 1814, 2 vols. 8vo; (2) 'Posthumous Letters' 1815 3 vols., 1822 1 vol. 8vo.