[47] This was probably the Rev. Thomas Cole, born in Gloucester, in the year 1679, and educated for the ministry in the Independent Academy at Abergavenny. In 1718, he became the pastor of an Independent Church in his native city. When Whitefield was a pupil in St. Mary de Crypt School, he used frequently to attend Mr. Cole's ministry; and often diverted his schoolfellows by a ridiculous relation of some of the good man's pious anecdotes. On a schoolfellow admonishing him, and saying, "George, one day you may be a preacher yourself," the youngster replied, "If I am, I will not tell stories as old Cole does." A few years after this, Whitefield preached in Cole's pulpit, and used several anecdotes to illustrate the subject of his discourse. When the service was concluded, Mr. Cole, good-humouredly, laid his hand on Whitefield's shoulder, and said, "I find Whitefield can tell stories as well as old Cole." Stimulated by Whitefield's example, Mr. Cole became a sort of local itinerant, and, in the villages round about Gloucester, and frequently out of doors, preached three or four times every week. He was seized by death, whilst preaching at Nymphsfield, on August 4, 1742, and entered into the joy of his Lord in the sixty-fourth year of his age.--_Theological Magazine_, 1803, p. 461. [48] "Dr. Benson, the late worthy Bishop of Gloucester."--Edit. 1756. ["Before I conversed with his lordship, God was pleased to give me previous notice of it. Long ere I had the least prospect of being called before the bishop, I dreamed, one night, I was talking with him in his palace, and that he gave me some gold, which seemed to sound again in my hand. Afterwards, this dream would often come into my mind; and whenever I saw the bishop at church, a strong persuasion would arise in my mind that I should very shortly go to him. I always checked it, and prayed to God to preserve me from ever desiring that honour which cometh of man. One afternoon it happened that the bishop took a solitary walk, as I was told afterwards, to Lady Selwyn's, near Gloucester, who, not long before, had made me a present of a piece of gold. She, I found, recommended me to the bishop]; and, a few days after,[49] as I was coming from the cathedral prayers [thinking of no such thing], one of the vergers called after me, and said the bishop desired to speak with me. I [forgetful at that time of my dream] immediately turned back,[50] considering within myself what I had done to deserve his lordship's displeasure. [51]When I came to the top of the palace stairs, the bishop took me by the hand, told me he was glad to see me, and bid me wait a little till he had put off his habit, and he would return to me again. [This gave me an opportunity of praying to God for His assistance, and adoring Him for His providence over me.]