I took no measures for my own preservation; but Divine Providence wrought for me in a way that I never expected. When I was at Clare Hall, I was particularly acquainted with a fellow of that college, and we were both upon terms of intimacy with Mr. Pitt, the late Lord Chatham, who was at one time also at the university. This fellow of Clare Hall, when I began to preach the gospel, became my enemy, and did me some injury in some ecclesiastical privileges which beforetime I had enjoyed. At length, however, when he heard I was likely to come into trouble, and to be turned out of my living at Everton, his heart relented. He began to think, it seems, within himself, "We shall ruin this poor fellow among us." This was just about the time that I was sent for by the bishop. Of his own accord he writes a letter to Mr. Pitt, saying nothing about my Methodism, but to this effect: "Our old friend Berridge has got a living in Bedfordshire, and I am informed he has an esquire in his parish that gives him a deal of trouble; has accused him to the bishop of the diocese; and, it is said, will turn him out of his living; I wish you would contrive to put a stop to these proceedings." Mr. Pitt was at that time a young man, and not choosing to apply to the bishop himself, spoke to a certain nobleman to whom the bishop was indebted for his promotion. This nobleman, within a few days, made it his business to see the bishop, who was then in London. "My lord," said he, "I am informed you have a very honest fellow, one Berridge, in your diocese, and that he has been ill treated by a litigious esquire who lives in his parish; he has accused him, I am told, to your lordship, and wishes to turn him out of his living; you would oblige me, my lord, if you would take no notice of that esquire, and not suffer the honest man to be interrupted in his living." The bishop was astonished, and could not imagine in what manner things could have thus got round: it would not do, however, to object; he was obliged to bow compliance; and so I continued ever after in my sphere of action.