731

mon.

2. The Faithful and Wise Steward. A Sermon addressed to young ministers at an association.

3. The Mourning Parent comforted. The substance of two Sermons, occasioned by the death of two of the author's children.

4. The Scriptural Account of the way of Salvation; in two parts.

5. The Duty of Gospel Ministers, explained and enforced at an ordination.

6. An Humble Essay on Christian Baptism. The second edition, with two Letters to the Rev. Dr. Addington on the subjects and mode of Baptism. 7. Our Saviour's Commission, explained and improved. A Sermon on Matt. xxviii. 19, 20.

8. Scrutator's Query, respecting the extent of our Blessed Saviour's death.

9. Scrutator to Responsor; or an Introduction to a farther proof (if need be) that Jesus Christ laid down his Life for the Sins of all Mankind.

10. Scripture Directions and Encouragements for Feeble Christians.

11. Rules and Observations for the Enjoyment of Health and Long Life. Extracted from Dr. Cheyne.

12. Candidus Examined with Candour. On Free Communion. 13. A Practical Improvement of the Divinity and Atonement of Jesus, attempted in Verse.

14. Entertainment and Profit united. Easy Verses on the chief subjects of Christianity, for children and youth. Third edition.

15. The Stroke of Death, practically improved. A Funeral Sermon for Mrs. Susanna Birley, late wife of the Rev. George Birley, of St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. To which is prefixed the Speech delivered at her Interment, by the Rev. Robert Robinson, of Cambridge.

16. An Essay on the Right Use of Earthly Treasure, in Three Letters to a Friend.

17. Observations on the Rev. Andrew Fuller's Pamphlet, entitled "The Gospel of Christ worthy of all Acceptation." In Nine Letters to a Friend.

18. Observations on the Rev. Andrew Fuller's Reply to the above, or a Further Attempt to prove that the Universal Invitations of the Gospel are founded on the Universality of

Christ, as the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. In thirteen Letters to a Friend. Second edition.

19. The Friendly Conclusion with the Rev. Andrew Fuller, respecting the Extent of our Saviour's Death. In four Letters to a Friend.

20. The Cause of National Calamities, and the Certain Means of preventing or removing them. A Fast Day Sermon on 1 Sam. xii. 14, 15, Feb. 25, 1795.

21. The Eternity of Future Punishment, asserted and improved.

22. The Eternity of Future Punishment re-asserted, the Importance of the Doctrine stated, and the Truth of it vindicated, in a Reply to the Exceptions of the Rev. Mr. Winchester against it. In six Letters to the Rev. GB of C

23. The Interposition of Providence in the Recovery of his Majesty King George the Third, illustrated and improved. A Sermon.

24. A Dissertation on Singing in the Worship of God, interspersed with occasional Strictures on the Rev. Mr. Boyce's Tract, entitled, "Serious Thoughts on the Present Mode and Practice of Singing in the Public Worship of God."

25. A Second Dissertation on Singing in the Worship of God, in defence of the former.

26. The Consistent Christian, or Truth, Peace, Holiness, Unanimity, Stedfastness and Zeal recommended. The substance of five Sermons.

27. A Charge and Sermon, deli vered at the Ordination of the Rev. John Deacon, on Wednesday, April 26, 1786, at Leicester; together with the Introductory Discourse, the Questions proposed to the Church and the Minister, the Answers returned, and Mr. Deacon's Profession of Faith. The Introductory Discourse and Charge by D. Taylor, of London; the Sermon by W. Thompson, of Boston.

28. A Charge and Sermon, together with a Confession of Faith, delivered at the Ordination of the Rev. George Birley, on Wednesday, October 18, 1786, at St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. The Charge by D. Taylor, of London, the Sermon by R. Robinson, of Cam.. bridge.

29. Memoirs of the Life, Character and Ministry of the late Rev. William

Thompson, of Boston, in Lincolnshire. To which is prefixed a Discourse on 2 Cor. xiii. il, occasioned by his death.

30. The Principal Parts of the Christian Religion respecting Faith and Practice. A new edition corrected and enlarged.

31. A Compendious View of the Nature and Importance of Christian Baptism. Fifth edition.

32. A Catechism; or Instructions for Children and Youth, in the Fundamental Doctrines of Christianity. Tenth edition.

33. A Good Minister of Jesus Christ. A Sermon occasioned by the death of the Rev. Samuel Stennett, D. D.

34. A Sermon occasoned by the Death of Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor (the author's first wife) who died October 22, 1793, with a short account of her Life and description of her Character.

35. The Nature and Importance of Preparatory Studies prior to entering on the Christian Ministry considered. A Sermon delivered at Loughborough before the Governors of the General Baptists' Academy, on Matt. xiii. 52.

36. An Essay on the Truth and Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.

37. A Letter on the Duties of Church Members to each other.

38. A Letter to the Churches on the Universality of our Saviour's Death.

On Saturday, November 23, 1816, the Rev. BENJAMIN CARPENTER, of Old Swinford, near Stourbridge, after a pilgrimage of sixty-four years, entered on his eternal rest. It must be left to a future occasion and to some other pen, minutely to describe the excellencies of his mind and character, to do justice to his seriousness of temper, his zeal in what he conceived to be the cause of bis Divine Master, and his constant, delicate, undissembled sympathy in the sorrows of the poor, the sick, the mourning and the destitute. The friend who offers this tribute to the memory of one whom, amidst important differences of opinion, he cordially esteemed and loved, had many opportunities of knowing that Mr. Carpenter possessed unfeigned candour of disposition. The seeming departure from this spirit, which his writings may have been thought occasionally to exhibit, arose from no unkindness of

feeling; for his affection was extended beyond that of most men, to the sincere and upright of every sect and communion. It was the great object of his ministerial labours to promote inward and practical piety-the religion of the heart and life. On the Lord's day preceding his dissolution, he twice preached with his usual solemnity and earnestness, on those remarkable words, Job ii. 10, “Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" in a train of reflections which may now console his deeply afflicted family and friends. On the following Wednesday, an apoplectic seizure deprived him of speech: but from that period, till the powers of nature were exhausted and he sunk into the arms of death, his countenance indicated the serene and holy confidence with which his heart was fixed on a better world-where the tender and endearing intercourses of love will be renewed, and the voice of thanksgiving and praise will alone be heard.

J. H. B.

On Sunday, Dec. 15, at his seat at Chevening, in Kent, CHARLES EARL STANHOPE, in the 64th year of his age; an enlightened, zealous, incorruptible and courageous champion of civil and religious liberty. [We hope to receive a more extended account of this patriotic nobleman.]

Died, on Sunday, November 10th, 1816, aged 41, MRS. BROOKS, the wife of the Rev. James Brooks, of Hyde, near Stockport, Cheshire, and was interred on the 14th of the same month, in the cemetery attached to the chapel at Hyde. On the following Sunday, in the afternoon, a funeral sermon was delivered to a numerous congregation, by Mr. Parker, of Stockport, from 1 Thess. ir. 13, 14.

Mrs. B. had not possessed perfect health for some years; she was, however, generally not only placid, but Sheerful. A nervous fever was the disorder supposed to have been the immediate cause of her death;-and this in less than ten days, deprived her neighbours and acquaintance of a much respected friend, and her husband of an excellent wife. She was one who united an attention to domestic concerns with a relish for mental pursuits. Her disposition and manners were not of

S. P.

September 17, 1816, after an illness of nearly two years, JOHN FORDHAM, of Kelshall, Herts, who has left behind him to lament his loss, a disconsolate widow and four children. In him the community are deprived of a sincere and zealous friend of civil and religious liberty, the Dissenters of a thorough supporter of free and impartial inquiry, his acquaintance of an intelligent, friendly and lively companion, and the neighbourhood of a man remarkable for a frank, straight forward integrity. So prominent was this last rare moral quality, that one and the same observation was made by all ranks on hearing of his death, "Well, we have indeed then lost a truly honest man." Nor was he less distinguished for the constancy and sincerity of his friendship; what he was to day, you might rely upon finding him on the morrow. And so companionable was his nature, that he always instantly dismissed all private concerns upon the entrance of a friend, and to them in every sense of the word he was always at home.

His views of Christianity differed very materially from the popular creed; but he seldom made his own creed the subject of conversation. He appeared to have no desire to make converts to his own opinions. He thought all sects too zealous for creeds, and not sufficiently attentive to the spirit and example of the founder of their religion.

He would say, "If Christianity is a dispensation of grace, it is not less a system of morals and motives every disciple had talents distributed to him, and his appointed work to do." He read with great attention and discrimination the controversies of the day, and was accus

733

tomed to remark, that controversy was necessary to a more correct knowledge of the Scriptures, the best antidote against bigotry, and no bad remedy to the errors of education; but he deprecated controversial preaching, which as he thought, usually leads to a misstatement of the creed of others, imputing to them conclusions which they disavow, and productive of irritation instead of peace and love.

Amongst his particular friends he was fond of promoting religious discussion, and his acquaintance will long remember the strength of argument as well as sweetness of temper he uniformly displayed. Against all intolerance he was accustomed to express a pointed abhorrence; free, unfettered inquiry he considered as the birthright of Christians, and the glory of the gospel; to substitute any creed whether oral or written in the place of the sacred volume, was an evident return to popery, but to anathematize, to excommunicate, was to beat our fellow servants, and to lord it over God's heritage. In conformity to this truly Christian and liberal way of thinking, almost the last act of his life was to provide a few friends with a place of worship, where the New Testament, not human creeds, Christian love, not uniformity of opinion, are the bonds of Christian union. His children are too young to know the extent of the loss they have sustained, but at some future time this imperfect sketch of his character may assist to impart some faint image of the virtues of the parent they have been so early deprived of.

E. F.

On Sunday morning, November 24, at Runwell-house, near Farnham, died, aged 80, MRS. ANN, relict of Mr. Thomas PIESLEY, and was interred the following Sunday in the General Baptists' burying ground, Mead Row, near Godalming, in the same vault with her husband. Mr. T. Moore performed the funeral service, and before a numerous assemblage of friends preached from a passage which she had chosen from the 31st Psalm, part of verse 5, Into thine hand I commit my spirit." From this subject the preacher took occasion to show the character, present privileges, and fu ture portion of the servant of God, and concluded with observing that the life

and death of the genuine Christian was most happily exemplified in the deceased. She was a native of Ditchling, Sussex, where her father, Mr. Agate, was a preacher in the General Baptist connexion: she was of the same persuasion, and a worshipper of the one, living and true God, strict in the practice of moral virtue, and rich in the possession of Christian graces. Her sympathy and benevolence, her unruffled patience, her unaffected piety, the ease and simplicity of her manners, her stedfastness of faith, confidence of hope and serenity in death, reflect lasting credit on her religion, and endear her memory to her friends and acquaintance. That habitual peace of mind which she enjoyed was not disturbed at the prospect of dissolution: she desired it, but feeling neither rapture nor depression, she breathed her last with composure, fell asleep in Jesus, and rested from her labours.

T. M.

On Wednesday, December 11, at Guildford, THOMAS OSBOURN, aged 77, after a long season of weakness and bodily pain. He in early life enlisted in the service of the East India company, and served several years in the Peninsula, and after his return to England he followed the military profession, beloved and esteemed by those who knew him; but at times he drank to excess, and then he was very profane. After his discharge he came to Guildford, where he went to hear Mr. Chamberland, the minister to the Particular Baptists: here he became convinced of the necessity of repentance and newness of life, and was admitted a member of this church, and was very conscientious and circumspect. Prior to this epoch, six or eight of the most enlightened and pious members of this church had been expelled for heresy, (viz. the unity and supremacy of the Father), which they had imbibed through the preaching and conversation of Mr. J. Marsom. Our deceased friend associated with one of these heretics, Mrs. S. Matthews, a devout and intelligent woman, who still attended at the chapel, and was on friendly terms with Mr. Wood, the successor to Mr. Chamberland; she conversed with them freely on the doctrine of the divine unity. Our friend saw reason to consider, and then to believe this

article of the Christian faith; and going to Godalming to hear Mr. Thomas Foster, one of the expelled members, and who had by his zealous exertions collected a small church, he became confirmed in this fundamental truth. Some of his brethren suspected, then questioned, and lastly accused him before the church of disbelieving Jesus Christ to be God. He confessed and contended that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. They replied, that is not enough—you must believe that he is God, you came into the church with this faith. He denied this; it was not faith, I thought it was so, I assented to your creed (this was a written formulary of faith read over and assented to by incoming members). They proposed to suspend him from the Lord's supper which was to be celebrated the next Sunday. He ob jected, While I continue a member of the church, I am entitled to all the privileges of the church. They would not break bread with an heretic; and they cast him out, not after the second admonition as the Apostle directs, but at this very time when he was first charged with this heresy. He retained his other religious tenets, as did Thomas Foster, with whose church he then united and regularly attended at the distance of nearly five miles. He was bold and unreserved in the avowal of his religious principles, and defended them with zeal and ability from the Scriptures against the attacks and insinuations of his opponents who were many and violent; and although he never entirely relinquished all his former Calvinistic opinions, yet he became very moderate and candid, which will appear from a circumstance that I will relate, and which I myself witnessed. Mr. Foster had embraced the doctrine of universal restoration, and Thomas Osbourn after hearing him for the first time preach on the subject, when he came down from the pulpit took him by the hand and said, "Friend, where did you get this new old doctrine?" which he cordially received, and ever afterwards rejoiced therein. He read and studied the Holy Scriptures very diligently, and his conversation was fraught with passages from those lively oracles, and he used to express himself with uncommon feeling and thankfulness on the love of God in Christ Jesus. He died in peace, with a hope full of immortality,

of England, who allowed him a weekly stipend, beside many other favours: and this he did after our friend had refused to comply with his request to attend the service of the Church of England. Generous and noble-minded Churchman! thy liberality shall not be forgotten; and may it not rise in judgment against those whose unfeeling bigotry led them to expel and abandon this worthy and unfriended confessor of Christ. Mead Row.

DOMESTIC.

RELIGIOUS.

An Account of Mr. Wright's Mission in Wales. Extracted from his Journals.

(Concluded from p. 694.) IV. GLAMORGANSHIRE. THIS is the most populous county in Wales, and the most important in a commercial point of view; and here Unitarianism appears to have made greater progress than in any other part of the principality. I preached at the following places.

1. Gelligron. Here I preached in a farm house, to an attentive audience; and Mr. Phillips gave the substance of the discourse in Welsh. Had also the pleasure of visiting the relations of our respected friend, Mr. T. Rees, whose aged grandmother, near her hundredth year, feels a lively interest in the success of the Unitarian cause.

2. Swansea. In this populous and increasing town there is a very respectable and improving congregation. Many of its members, some of them persons of superior rank in society, discover much zeal in the Unitarian cause. Mr. Aubrey's labours in Swansea appear to have been highly useful. The success of Unitarianism seems to have given considerable alarm to some of the reputed orthodox; what they have published, notwithstanding their illiberality, and the temper in which they have been replied to, can hardly fail to excite inquiry and promote the knowledge of the truth. I preached at Swansea four times, most of the congregations were pretty large; and had much pleasant conversation with the friends. Some of them are very active in pushing into circulation small Unitarian tracts.

T. M.

3. White Rock, a place near Swansea, connected with the copper works. Here I preached in a large schoolroom, which is occupied as a place of worship by Christians of different parties. We had a crouded congregation, a number of genteel persons from Swansea and its vicinity attended. Mr. Phillips repeated the discourse in Welsh.

4. Neath. The congregation has been raised in this place by the exertions of Mr. D. Davis. They have erected a very neat and commodious chapel, in which they now meet. In defraying the expence of erecting this building, they have been assisted by subscriptions from several places: still a considerable debt remains, the discharge of which would be beneficial to the cause. The contributions of those friends who have not yet given any thing towards the Neath chapel would be thankfully received. I preached in this place four times; we had respectable, and some of them large congregations. The Unitarians at Neath are not without zeal in the cause. By steady and persevering exertions much good may be done in this town. Mr. Meek preached here twice.

5. Gellionnen. Here is a large and well built meeting-house, among the mountains, of which some Calvinists, who have no kind of claim to it, endeavoured lately to possess theirselves, but were defeated in the attempt. This place was the scene of the useful labours of the late Mr. Josiah Rees. Mr. James is now the minister here, and at Bridgend and Betus. I preached once, but it being in the middle of the day, and a busy time among the far