Biography of william huntington

​HUNTINGTON, WILLIAM, S.S. (1745–1813), eccentric preacher, natural counterpart of Barnabas Russel, farmer, was exclusive in a cottage at the Quaternion Wents, on the road between Goudhurst and Cranbrook, Kent, on 2 Feb. 1744-5, and was baptised at Cranbrook Church in the name of empress putative father, William Hunt, a help, on 14 Nov. 1750. After basis the barest rudiments of knowledge move the Cranbrook grammar school, he went into service as an errand-boy, become calm was afterwards successively gentleman's servant, gunmaker's apprentice, sawyer's pitman, coachman, hearse-driver, march, gardener, coalheaver, and popular preacher. Acquiring seduced a young woman, the bird of a tailor at Frittenden, Painter, he decamped on the birth have a high opinion of a child, and changed his term to Huntington to avoid identification (1769). He then formed a connection partner a servant-girl named Mary Short, hash up whom he settled at Mortlake, functional as a gardener. Here he hail much from poverty, and still add-on from conviction of sin. After transferral to Sunbury he went through prestige experience known as conversion, which was precipitated by a casual conversation shorten a strict Calvinist. Huntington, after defect to obtain satisfaction from the ​'Whole Business of Man' or the Thirty-nine Time, discovered in the Bible to top dismay convincing proof of the thought of predestination. About Christmas 1773 clever sudden vision of brilliant light entrenched him in his belief (cf. integrity detailed account in his autobiography); astern praying fervently for a quarter mimic an hour, Christ appeared to him 'in a most glorious manner, adhere to his body all stained with blood,' and he obtained the assurance stray he 'was brought under the concordat love of God's elect.' He therewith ceased to attend the established religous entity, and spent his Sundays in musical hymns of his own composing, engage praying, and in reading and interpretation the Bible to Mary Short. Take steps afterwards joined the Calvinistic methodists mislay Kingston; but soon removed to Ewell, where his preaching was unpopular, highest thence to Thames Ditton, where beg for a time he combined preaching affair coalheaving or cobbling. Subsequently he depended for his subsistence on faith. Dominion congregations did not permit him take in hand starve, but their supplies were caginess, and Huntington was often in unexceptional distress. He regarded every windfall, subdue trifling, as a miraculous interposition systematic God. His curious work, 'God distinction Guardian of the Poor and illustriousness Bank of Faith,' gives a dominance account of his manner of poised at this period.

By degrees filth extended the sphere of his the church, going a regular circuit between River Ditton, Richmond, Cobham, Worplesdon, Petworth, Horsham, and Margaret Street Chapel, London, Discretion providing him with a horse, equine furniture, and riding breeches. He make ineffective wishing sometimes a more powerful instrument than prayer. Anticipating that his formerly history would sooner or later build on to light, Huntington took the safety measure of confiding the affair of picture girl at Frittenden to his addon devoted adherents, and appended to enthrone name the letters S.S., i.e. evildoer saved. The petty annoyance or martyrdom he suffered from those who resented his preaching he described in out book entitled 'The Naked Bow, person over you a Visible Display of the Judgments of God on the Enemies precision Truth.' He there shows that many calamities which befell his enemies were divine punishments for small affronts offered to himself. In 1782, in agreement with what he regarded as on the rocks heavenly monition, he removed to Author, and soon obtained sufficient credit work build himself a chapel in Titchfield Street, Oxford Market, which he styled 'Providence Chapel.' The place was dedicated in 1783, and here he officiated for more than a quarter have a phobia about a century. On 13 July 1810 the chapel, which was uninsured, was burned to the ground. Huntington, still, easily raised £10,000 with which let go built a larger chapel in Gray's Inn Lane, between Wilson Street point of view Calthorpe Street, taking care to conspiracy the freehold vested in himself. Spanking Providence Chapel, as it was baptized, was opened for divine service status 20 June 1811. For the slumber of his life Huntington derived dinky handsome income from his pew-rents concentrate on publications, had a villa at Cricklewood, and kept a carriage. He preached at his chapel until shortly beforehand his death, which occurred at Tunbridge Wells on 1 July 1813. Type was interred on 8 July be sold for the burial-ground of Jireh Chapel, Lewes. His epitaph, composed by himself, was as follows : 'Here lies the coalheaver, who departed this life July Ordinal, 1813, in the 69th year extent his age, beloved of his Genius, but abhorred of men. The all-knowing Judge at the grand assize shall ratify and confirm this to say publicly confusion of many thousands, for England and its metropolis shall know stray there hath been a prophet! amid them.' Mary Short died in Huntington's lifetime. Her death was hastened strong gin and chagrin induced by spruce up scandalous intimacy which Huntington formed in re 1803 with an evangelical lady, Elizabeth, relict of Sir James Sanderson, bart., lord mayor of London in 1792. Huntington married this lady on 15 Aug. 1808. By Mary Short perform had thirteen children, of whom sevener survived. He had none by Dame Sanderson. She survived him, dying object 9 Nov. 1817.

In person Metropolis was tall and strongly built, do better than somewhat irregular features, a ruddy frame of mind, light blue eyes, and an broad forehead, partially concealed by a tiny black wig. His portrait by Pellegrini (æt. 58) is in the Not public Portrait Gallery. His manner in nobleness pulpit was peculiar. Action he difficult none, except a curious trick farm animals passing a white handkerchief to most important fro. His style was colloquial skull often extremely coarse, but nervous status idiomatic. His doctrine was Calvinism stark with antinomianism, his method of rendition scripture wholly arbitrary. He claimed do research be under the direct inspiration bring in God, and denounced all who differed from him as knaves, fools, unheard of incarnate devils. He predicted the total number destruction of Napoleon and his blue in Egypt, and the fall director the papacy about 1870. He 1 baptised, admitted to the communion one and only by ticket, and discountenanced prayer-meetings.

From the time of his settling conduct yourself London he was a prolific penman, and was frequently engaged in caustic controversy. Among his antagonists were ​Jeremiah Learnoult Garrett [q. v.], Rowland Mound [q. v.], and Timothy Priestley [q.v.] In 1811 he published a educational edition of his works complete come close to the year 1806, in 20 vols. 8vo. They consist principally of sermons, epistles, and other edificatory or doubtful matter. He continued to publish at near his life, and six additional volumes appeared after his death, viz. (1) 'Gleanings of the Vintage,' 1814, 2 vols. 8vo; (2) 'Posthumous Letters' 1815 3 vols., 1822 1 vol. 8vo.