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WILLIAM ASHETON TONGE

1

MEMOIRS

OF

THE REV. SAMUEL BOURN,
&;c. Sfc.

MEMOIRS

OF

The Rev'' SAMUEL BOURN,
FOR MANY rEJlRS,
ONE OF THE PASTORS
OF
THE UNITED CONGREG.VTIONS OF THE NEW MEETING
IN BIRMINGHAM,
AND OF THE MEETING IN COSELEY.

AN APPENDIX, CONSISTING OF
VARIOUS PAPERS AND LETTERS,
and
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF SOME OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES,
AND
A SUPPLEMENT,
containing
Specimens of his Historical and Catechetical Exercises.

BY JOSHUA TOULMIN, D.D.

Birmingham,
PRINTED BY J. BELCHER AND SON;
AND SOLD BY J. JOHNSON, ST. PAUL's CHURCH VARD,
LONDON. 1808.

C\

1 y

TO
MRS. JONES,
WIFE OF SAMUEL JONES, ESQUIRE,
OF
GREEN HILL, NEAR MANCHESTER,
THESE MEMOIRSOF
HER EXCELLENT AND VENERABLE
GRANDFATHER,
IN TESTIMONY OF THE AUTHOR's
GRATITUDE,
FOR THE APPROBATION, ASSISTANCE AND
•PATRONAGE AFFORDED
TO TIIIS WORK,
ARE VERY RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED,
BY HER OBEDIENT
AND OBLIGED HUMBLE SERVANT,
JOSHUA TOULMIN.

Birmingham, (Paradise-street) ,
July, 1808.

PREFACE.

THE subject of the following Memoirs had
always been held in high esteem by the authot ; but
his settlement with the congregation, where there are
still living some respectable characters formed in a
great degree by Mr. Bourn's pastoral attentions to
them in their youthful years, forcibly suggested the
design of drawing up a biographical work which
might revive the memory and extend the name of a
man, peculiarly eminent and useful in his day and cir-
cle ; and which might hold up to young ministers a
pattern of exemplary ardor and zeal in the duties of
the pastoral office, and in the cause of religious li
berty. The author is persuaded that in this undertak
ing he has attempted to execute an useful design, and
lie has the pleasure to know, that it meets the wishes
of many who yet cherish the memory of Mr, Bourn
Tvith respect and affection.
It is to be regretted, that the Memoirs of him pre^
^ed to the volume of his posthumous Serraoqs., had
not been composed on a larger scale ; for at that time
many particulars and materials could have been sup*

C viii )
plied to render the narrative more full and interesting,
which in the lapse of time are lost. The want of these
has, however, been made up in some measure by the
information of friends, who in thtir early years knew
Mr. Bpurn, and particularly by one much to be es»
teemed gentleman*, who obligingly furnished the
Specimens of the Historical Catechetical Exercises;
of which, if these should occasion a call for them, he
has a number sufficient to form an octavo volume.
But the design of writing this life, at least ac
companied as it is with various papers, must have
been relinquisbed, had not the intention of drawing it
up been made known by a respected friend t to the
worthy lady and her husband, whose names stand in
the dedicatory page. Her communications, and their
joint patronage, have not only been very serviceable,
but essential to the completion of the design, into
which they have entered with a zeal and generosity
that do honour to them ; as expressive of their just
respect for the narae, and high estimate ofthe charac
ter, of an ancestor distinguished by his Christian
virtues and ministerial gifts and labours. f
The assistance afforded to some parts of this
work by his friends, the Rev. James Scott, of Cradley,
* Mr. William Ryland, of New-street, Birmingham.
t Rev. Mr. Awbrey, of Glocester,

( ix )
and Mr. William Scott, of Stourbridge, and by Dr.
Barnes, as well as by other gentlemen, whose names
occur in the course of it, must not be passed over
without grateful acknowledgments.
The author would add, that he wishes ever to
reflect with adoring gratitude on the Providence,
whose gracious disposals have given him, in the de
cline of life, to enjoy the honour and felicity of a
pastoral connection, in union with a colleague * ani
mated by the spirit of our predecessors, with a con
gregation of Christians, who have had for their min
isters a Brodhurst, a Bourn, a Blyth, a Hawkes, and
a Priestley ; and have known how to estimate those
characters and their own felicity under their minis
try; " a congregation," to express himself in the
words of Dr. Priestley, *' the most liberal, I be-
" lieve, of any in England; and to this freedom
" the unweared labours of Mr. Bouin eminently con-
« tributedt." * Rev. John Kentish.
t Priestley's Memoirs, vol. i, p. 98.

CONTENTS.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.
Page
Memoirs of the ReV. Samuel Bourn, Senr. - 1
MEMOIRS OF THE REV. SAMUEL BOURN.
Chap. I. Mr. Bourn's Birth, Education, Settle
ment in the Ministry, and Removal to
Chorley ... - 15
Chap. II. Mr. Bourn's discharge of his Minis
try at Birmingham and Coseley - 24:
Chap. III. Review of Mr. Bourn's Publications 50
Chap. IV. His Character. — ^Anecdotes - 82
Chap. V. Mr. Bourn's Marriage and Family 117
NOTES TO THE MEMOIRS.
Account of Mr. Seddon — the Congregation at
Bolton — Mr. Coningham — Mr. Eccleshall
— Assembly's Catechism revised — Mr. James
Strong — and London Cases - - 137
APPENDIX.
No. 1. A Letter from the ReV. Samuel Richard
son to Mr. Samuel Bourn Sen. - 147
No. 2. Address at the Dedication of a Child
without Baptism — ^American Form of Dedi
cation — Address at the Baptism of an Adult 167

( xii )

Page

No. 3. Invitations to Mr. Bourn from Coseley
and Birmingham — Mr. Bourn's Answer —
A Letter from Mr. Brekell, and an Account
of him - - - 174
No. 4. The Prayer of a Young Man entering on
the Ministry - - - 185
No. 5. Letters on Mr. Statham's Affair - 189
No. 6. Declaration of the Rev. Samuel Bourn
Jun. at his Ordination at Rivington - 205
No. 7. Letters and Extracts from Letters - 213
No. 8. An Order of two of the Justices of the
County of Stafford to Mr. Bourn, and his
Answer ... g^g
No. 9. Biographical Notices of Mr. Bourn's
Contemporaries  Mr, Mottershead — Mr.
Willets— Mr. Platts— Mr. Brodhurst— Mr.
Pickard  Mr. Wilkinson  Mr. Blyth—
Mr. Flower — Mr. Edge — and Mr. Hancox 250
No. 10. Epitaphs - - - 280
SUPPLEMENT TO CHAPTER II. PAGE 31,
Being a Selection of Historical Passages of Scripture
cast into the form of Catechetical Lectures.
I. The Usurpation and Death of Abiraelech - 1
II. Jephthah's Daughter - - 17
III. Eli and Samuel - - - 31
IV. Elijah and the Priests of Baal - 45
V. Hezekiah . - 61
VI. The three Hebrew Youths - - 81
ERRATUM.
P. 189, 1. 3, for Affairs read Affair.

INTRODUCTION.

MIEMOim

CF TBE

Rev. SAMUEL BOURN, SeJ?^-

THE respectable person whose character it
is the design of the following biographical
treatise to delineate, descended from ancestors
who distinguished themselves by their ingenious
and public spirited plans. His grandfather and
great-grandfather v/ere clothiers in Derby, and
expended considerable sums of money to convey
water into that town. His father; from whom
he took his name, was born there in the year
J648. An uncle, Mr. Robert Seddon, an emi
nent minister, who by the Act of Uniformity,
in 1662, was ejected from the rectory of Lang-
ley, in Derbyshire, took him, in an early period
of life, under his patronage, and sent him to
B

( '2 )
Emanuel College in Cambridge; where he re
mained till 1672*.
He left the university without taking any
deo-ree, not being satisfied with the oaths and
declarations then required.
It appears, by a letter addressed to him by
his tutor, at the college, the Rev. Samuel Rich
ardson, April 9, I671j that he recommended
himself to the attention and respect of that
gentleman by his enquiries after religious truth.
The letter shows a thinking, liberal mind. It
turns upon the manner of conducting religious
disquisitions, and on the nature of moral and
evangelical righteousness. As a specimen of
clearness and precision in reasoning, and as cal
culated to correct some false ideas, and to remoye
some prejudices existing in the minds of those
Avho, in the present day, claira the exclusive
merit of embracing evangelical sentiments, it
deserves to be preserved f.
Mr. Bourn, on leaving Cambridge, returned
to Derby, and employed himself for some time
in a school. He became then chaplain to Lady
* See Note No. 1, at the close of the Memoir.
t Appendix, No. 1.

( 3 )
Hatton. His next removal M'as to London,
where he was ordained, and lived some time with
an aunt of his own name. From London he
was sent down to Calne, in Wiltshire, by the
influence of Dr. Annesley, the ejected vicar of
St. Giles's, Cripplegate, and ibe maternal grand
father of the celebrated IVIr. John ^Vesley.
Here he discharged the duties of the pastoral
office for sixteen }ears, with great diligence and
remarkable success.
Long after he had left that place, he was
remembered with great affection and respect as
a singular example of humility and zeal, and an
instrument of much good to the souls of many.
While he was at Calne, he received invitations
to Bath, Durham and Lincoln, which he de
clined. But his uncle, Mr. Seddon, having on
his death bed recommended his nephew as his
successor to the cons-regation of which he was
a minister, at Bolton, in Lancashire*, he ac-
ceeded to the overtures made to him from that
quarter. The most judicious and serious hearers
soon perceived their happiness in the choice to
which providence had led them. From persons
of a different description he received, at first,
some unhandsome treatment. His friends at
Calne, hearing this, with respectful offers of an
See Note 2.

( 4 )
enlarged maintenance, invited him to return to
them. But he waved the proposal and chose to
continue at Bolton; where, by his great integ
rity and inoffensive behaviour, he conciliated
the esteem and respect of all; and when he died
had not one enemy.
His natural strength abated for a long time
before his dissolution : yet it was the least per
ceivable in the pulpit, where his wonted vigour
was wonderfully exerted even to the close of
life. When he went up to it weak, he appeared
to grow strong with his work, and to forget his
weakness. The pulpit and his closet were his
favourite elements. But his constitution being
gradually broken down, his strength entirely
failed; and having for some time waited for his
dismission with great faith and patience, he
received it with humble hope on the fourth
of March, 1719, in the seventy-second year of
his age. Once during his illness, when he revived
a little and sat up, he said to those about him,
with a vivacity of spirit and expression natural
to him, and which accompanied him to the last,
" Now I think I shall trouble the world a little
longer." In the anticipation of his end he ob
served, " that the greater depredations death

( 5 )
makes among mankind, the greater glory will
God have in overcoming death, and recovering
the ruins of mankind by a resurrection." To
some company, the next day, he said, " I am
going the way of all the earth; but I trust,
through the infinite mercy of God, and the
merits of Christ, the mediator of the New co
venant, that my spirit is going the way of all
saints." He added, " Though ministers die, the
gospel ministry lives; because Christ is a priest
for ever." He received with thankfulness, in his
sickness, as he had in his health, the least marks
of respect and services of affection. When some
young persons visited him, " He thanked them
that they would come to see a poor dying crea
ture." To a friend and a minister* who asked
him, *' How he did," he answered, " My work
is, I think, now near an end." His friend re
plying, " Then, Sir, your reward is near." Af
ter a little pause he returned, with an air and
tone expressive of humility and complacency,
" My reward ! It is all grace !" After this his
friend addres.sed him to this effect: " You are
in all probabihty leaving us behind you for a
while in this world, where you know we are re
proached and condemned by some for our dis
sent from the way estabhshedj what think you
now that you are in near view of the tribunal
* Mr. Aldred.

( 6 )
of God, of your having acted in the capacity
of a Nonconformist minister?" Mr. Bourn an
swered, " I have chosen the way of truth and
holiness ; and if I were to pass through life
again, should, if I know my own heart, act as
I have done."
Owing to a singular combination of circum
stances, a funeral sermon was preached for him
by his son. A member of his congregation was
removed out of this into another world just be
fore him, whose death Mr. Bourn, Jun. was in
vited to improve in a funeral discourse. He
availed himself of the opportunity, on the morn
ing of the day in which that discourse was to be
preached, to pay the last tribute of affection and
respect to his venerable parent, by a sermon from
2 Kings ii. 3. " And the prophets that were
at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto
him ; knowest thou that the Lord will take
away thy master from thy head to-day ? And he
said yea, I know it; hold your peace."
He described the consistency and excellence
of his father's character in these pointed strains ;
" Though he shone," says he, " in the pulpit, he
did not shine ora/y there : nor was he like those
physicians who prescribe large or unpalatable
doses of physic to their patients, but take none

( 7 )
themselves. He lived the truths he preached;
and did not stand as a Mercury on the high
way, that shews travellers the road, but keeps its
place while they pass on. He did not press on
you humility and lowliness of mind, with a proud
heart of his own. He did not recommend tem
perance, and go into excesses himself. He did
not rally against oppression, and in the mean time
bear hard on the poor. He did not beg charity
to the distressed, to the lecture, for building
houses of worship, and withhold his own. He
did not preach up the heavenly world to you and
all the time pursue only this world. He did not
put you on diligence in your proper callings, and
neglect his own callings; for to this work, the
work of the ministry, he gave up all his strength.
He visibly wore away in his work, and did not
rust away." Mr. Bourn, in the early periods of his life,
was a close student, and laid in a vast stock of
knowledge. He had a wonderful art of extract
ing the spirit of an author, and transferring it into
his own discourses with advantage. A fund of
knowledge and a rich invention, enlarging his
views and furnishing lively images and apt sim
ilitudes in composing, communicated an amazing
fulness and variety to his public discourses, which
always smelt of the lamp.

( 8 )
He is described as ascending the pulpit
•' with a serene and heavenly countenance *." His
composed, serious air, at that time, when he con
stantly used a short mental prayer, shewed an
awful sense of the great work that lay before
him, and affected the minds of others. His
voice was clear and strong : there was a mixture
of softness and vehemence, tending at once to
convince and ravish the soul; which, being sup
ported with gravity and good sense, and united/
with graceful and becoming action, made him
reign over his most judicious auditors, arid often
made them fear that he would end too soon*
His prayers, " though unhappily accompanied
with peculiar grimaces, wholly unaffected, but
disagreeable to strangers," were rich and copious;
the thoughts clothed in strong and lively ex
pressions, and delivered with peculiar reverence
and fervour. Though he surpassed many of his brethren
in his abilities and talents for the pulpit, yet he
always spoke and conducted himself towards
them with modesty and affection. His friendli
ness and humility charmed them, and endeared
him to those who could not be so well pleased
with equal or superior parts, where those moral
excellencies were wanting. His kind and con-
* A letter from Mr. Ralph Laithwait, June 26, 1751.

( 9 )
descending behaviour to young ministers was a
peculiar trait in his character. They were wel
come to his pulpit, his conversation and his
table. He was ready to applaud the excellencies
of their sermons, and without remark candidly
passed over their defec+s. At meetings of min
isters he gave life and spirit, as vvell as light
to their conversation: and his affability and fa-
cetiousness, mixed with gravity, made his com
pany peculiarly pleasant and agreeable to them
all. He was an utter stranger to the spirit of
jealousy, a frequent attendant on eminent degrees
of pulpit eloquence; and as free from ambition
and the love of power. Few ministers ever lived
amongst their people with more reputation and
peace ; for his innocence and humility made him
the object of universal esteem and love. He had
low thoughts of his own, but a quick sense of
the excellencies of others. " He was contented,"
it is said, " with a mean dwelling; for he lived in
expectation of an house from heaven." He was
ready, at all hours, to visit the pooiest.
His charity was eminent. He wfllit about,
all his days, doing good. He spared neither his
pains nor his purse. Many good works com
menced "with him, and were encouraged by him.
c

( 10 )
but none stopt at his door. He was free of his
own, and had an excellent talent of soliciting the
charity of others, so as to gain the character of
the best beggar in Bolton. With him originated
a little charity school, for teaching twenty poor
children ; and though at first, and for some time,
he was assisted by the contributions of several
gentlemen in Bolton and Manchester, for several
years the support of it lay wholly on himself.
At his death he left a legacy of twenty pounds
to maintain the weekly lecture at Bolton; as
large a bequest, except twenty shillings, as any
kgacy his children or grand-children received
from his will. The moderate portions he gave
his children, and the small legacies he left them,
it was observed by his son, were not gathered
from the subscriptions of his people. Yet so far
was he from any mean art to raise his salary,
though his people were abundantly able to have
done it, he never appeared uneasy at the income
they afforded him.
His sentiments on doctrinal and controverted
points, were consonant to those of Calvin and the
reformed churches: but his humility, candour and
affectionate temper, while he lamented some de
viations from that system which he had observed,
would not allow him to be censorious or uneasy
with any of his brethren.

( 11 )
Mr. Bourn married the daughter of the
Rev. George Scortwreth, ejected by the Act of
Uniformity from Lincoln; a very fervent and
affectionate preacher *. She was a woman of
prudence and piety, who directed her domestic
concerns with attention. By her Mr. Bourn had
seven children.
His eldest son, Joseph, mature in virtue and
eminent for piety, died iu the twenty -first year
of his age. In the same year the two youngest
sons fell victims to the small pox. Mrs. Bourn
,survivedher husband several years, under great in
firmities of old age and decays of nature, cheered
and enlivened, at lucid intervals, with the expect
ation of heaven and immortality.
Mr. Bourn never was inclined to appear in
print; but after his death his son published a
volume of his sermons ; apprehending that " a
specimen of his father's way of preaching might
be instructive to young ministers, and contribute
to preserve them from degenerating into loose
and empty harangues, that want spirit and life."
They are entitled, " Several Sermons preached
by the late Reverend Mr. Samuel Bourn, of Bol
ton, Lancashire. I. The transforming vision of
Christ in the future state, from 1 John iii. 2.
* Palmer's Nonconformist's Memorial, vol. ii. p. 154, 1st
edition.

( 12 )
II. The believer's hope of this transforming vi
sion, the reason and the motive of real holiness
in the present state, from 1 John iii. 3." Tp
these discourses is subjoined his funeral sermon
for his father, with a delineation of the character
and memoirs of the life of the author by Mr,
William Tong, an eminent minister of that day,
and pastor of the congregation of protestant dis
senters at Salter's Hall, London. The volume is
addressed in a dedication, by the editor, that
breathes the spirit of filial affection and respect,
of zeal and devotion, to Madam Hacker, of Duf-
field ; a lady who was related to the family, and
had distinguished the author by marks of her
friendship and kindness. In this dedication,
speaking of the discourses, the editor says :
" Though he who once spoke them ta the world
is fallen asleep in the arms of the great shepherd,
and they want the force that his generous spirit,
his earnest delivery, his lively action and charm
ing elocution gave them ; yet the things spoken
challenge regard, and will find it from serious
and judicious readers. It will not be easy to
go through the former set with an earthly mind,
nor the latter without a determination to change
the life." Speaking of his father, he says, " As my
father was a great preacher, so he was a good

( 13 )
pastor ; as he was a good scholar, so he was an
honest, upright man, characters that too seldom
meet; and all those were recommended by an
excellent natural temper, and adorned with emi
nent humility."

( 15 )

MEMOIR

OF THE

REV. SAMUEL BOURN,

OF

BIRMINGHAM.

CHAPTER I.
Mr. Bourn's birth, education, settlement in the Min
istri/, and removal to Chorley.
MR. SAMUEL BOURN, the principal
subject of this biographical piece, and the son of
the excellent Mr. Samuel Bourn, of Bolton, was
born in the year 1689, at Calne, in Wiltshire,
where his father was a minister at that time. ]
In 1698 the family removed to Bolton, in
Lancashire, when he was nine years of age.
Here he received the rudiments of classical
learning. His academical studies were pursued
under the direction of Mr. Chorlton and Mr.
James Coningham, at Manchester; but under

( 16 )
such disadvantages as he often lamented. The
nature and causes of these disadvantages have
not been stated. His tutors were eminent men
in their day ; and of Mr. Coningham, in parti
cular, it is saicl, that he was a man of very consi
derable learning*.

'i3

When Mr. Bourn had completed his academ
ical course he entered on the ministry, and
preached with great acceptance ; and his abilities,
spirit and manner in the pulpit, created high ex
pectations of his future usefulness. He soon re
ceived an importunate invitation to settle with
a small society at Crook, near Kendall, in West
moreland, which, with the approbation of his
father, he accepted, and went to reside there in
1711. In this retired situation he spent nine
years in a close application to his studies, to re
cover the time which he thought he had lost
before. Here he first felt the effects of an iffl-
guided and intolerant zeal for established and
prevailing systems:— For having dechned, from a
regard to the principles of christian liberty, and
a consistent adherence to thera, to subscribe the
assembly's catechism, then the received standard
of orthodoxy among the Dissenters, many of
the ministers in the neighbourhood refused to
concur in his ordination. This unfriendly and
* See Note 3.

( 17 )
illiberal conduct, obviously tended to fix a stigma
on his character, and to raise prejudices against
him. But the unfavourable impressions it made,
were much alleviated and compensated by the
esteem and friendship of a worthy family, with
which he contracted an honourable and very
happy alliance.
Nor did the discouragements, which were
cast in the way of his free investigation of truth,
divert him from the ingenuous and candid pur
suit of it. In the year 1719 the Trinitarian
Controversy, to which the writings of Mr,
Whiston and Dr. Clarke gave rise, was agitated
with peculiar warmth and animosity in the west
of England, and excited much attention in other
parts of the kingdom. Mr. Bourn, who was
then a professed Athanasian, determined to enter
into a diligent and thorough examination of the
poiiits in debate. To take a fair and full view
of the controversy, he carefully read, on the
one hand, Dr. Clarke's " Scripture Doctrine,"
*' Reply," &c. and on the other hand, " The
Defences" of Dr. Waterland and other Athana
sian writers of reputation in that day: but
above all, he examined the Scriptures, upon the
points in question, with care and diligence.
The result of his enquiries was an entire change
p

( 18 )
of sentiment on the subject of the controversy.
This, though it should not be admitted as an
evidence to the soundness of his judgment, must
be considered as a proof of an openness to con
viction, and integrity of mind. But he him
self never saw reason to retract or censure the
conclusions into which his study of the con
troversy led him : but, by repeated reviews of
the arguments and the reflections of more mature
years, he was confirmed in them. He often de
clared, that " next to his bible, nothing did more
contribute towards establishing him in Doctor
Clarke's scheme than the replies of his opponents
to his principles and objections, and the insuffi
cient defences which they made of their own*."
It may be proper here to recollect, that as
the Trinitarian Controversy was managed in those
days, the proper humanity of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and the genuine consequences of that
doctrine, did not come under discussion. The
point, which was laboured by Dr. Clarke and
his advocates, was to establish the supremacy of
God the father, and to shew that the texts and
arguments alledged by the writers on the other
side, to prove the equahty of the Son with the
Father, were not, on the principles of just reason-
* Blyth's " Funeral Sermon for Mr. Bourn," p. 13. Bourn's
" Twenty Sermons," Preface, p. 5.

( 19 )
ing and sound criticism, conclusive to the purpose
for which they were urged. It seems to have
been taken for granted, rather than examined and
proved, by both sides, that the texts of scripture
relative to the person and dignity of Christ,
quoted in the debate, contained the doctrine of
his pre-existence, and of an angelical, or rather
superangelical, glory and power before all ages.
These points had been ably and judiciously
handled in many pieces, published under the pa
tronage of the benevolent Firmin, towards the
latter part of the seventeenth century. But these
Unitarian Tracts seem to have been neglected or
forgotten in the controversy of the days of
Clarke and Waterland. It might be denominated
the Arian Controversy of the fourth century re
vived ; and most, if not all, who by the study of
it were induced to discard the Athanasian or
Trinitarian doctrine, were led to adopt the
Arian or Semi-Arian scheme. The questions
concerning the person and character of. Jesus
Christ have been, of late years, placed in a new
light by the pens of a Lindsey, Lardner and
Cardale, and by the copious writings of Dr.
Priestley, especially his " History of Early Opin
ions concerning Jesus Christ."
But to return from this digression, to the
subject of these Memoirs. In the year 1 720, Mr.

( 20 )
Bourn removed from Crook, and succeeded Mr.
afterwards Dr. Winder, (the learned author of
" the History of Knowledge,") who accepted an
invitation to Liverpool, at Tunley, a small place
near Wigan, in Lancashire, where he spent eight
years in the diligent and faithful labours of his
pastoral office. In the year 1725, he received an
unanimous, earnest and affectionate invitation
from the congregation at Park-lane, near Wigan,
which, however, it appears he declined. On the
twenty-ninth of December, 1727, he was elected
pastor of the congregation of Protestant Dissent
ers at Chorley, in the same county. He acceeded
to the invitation, and continued in his connection
with that society for four years.
The manner in which he was chosen to be itiS
minister was singular, and the form of it was as
follows :
" Whereas the trustees for the new chapel
at Chorley have declared that, being at a distance,
they are not fit persons to choose a minister to
preach constantly in the said chapel: but, how
ever, have signified their mind, that it would be
agreeable to them that the preference should be
given to Mr. Samuel Bourn : now in as much as
we have reason to think that the right to ,choose
is uot in them, but that the chief, if not the sole

( 21 )
right of choosing a minister is vested in us at
present, we do entirely fall in with the sentiments
and desire of the said trustees with reference to
giving Mr. Bourn the preference, and therefore
do hereby give him the first call; and desire that
he may be the fixed minister to preach in the said
new chapel, according to the true intent of the
last will of Mr. Abraham Crompton, of Derby,
lately deceased. As witness our hands, December
twenty-nine, 1727. JOHN CROMPTON.
THOMAS MATHER.
The above nomination has more the air of
patronage to a living, than is consistent with the
principles of Protestant Dissenters, who, with
gieat propriety, claim it as their right and their
privilege to choose their own ministers ; amongst
whom patronage ought not to be admitted,
whether exercised by a principal member or by
trustees ; the former, on all just principles, has
only a single voice ; the latter do not constitute
the congregation, nor are representatives of it,
but only guarantees for the legal security of the
property of the congregation, whether it consists
in a building or in monies and estates left to it,
or in both; and their powers are defined and
limited by the deed of uses, which invests them
with the trust they hold. But the proceedings

( 22 )
of Dissenting Congregations have not been al
ways agreeable to these principles. In the case
before us it is probable that the above nomination
was accompanied by an invitation from the con
gregation at large; as the gentlemen, whose
names are subjoined to it, appear to express their
own desire only. An election to a lectureship,
supported by funds provided by an individual,
stands on different grounds to the choice of a
pastor, and equitably lodges with the individual
who has endowed it, or with those to whom he
transfers his own right.
Sometime about the middle of the seven
teenth century, Mr. Hilton, then resident in
London, set up and endowed a lecture to be
preached on every Monday morning, at the
Meeting House in Bolton, the town of his
nativity, by four ministers in turn. Among
the first lecturers were some eminent ejected
ministers; Mr. Newcome, Mr. Pendlebury,
Mr. Baldwin and Mr. John Walker*. On
May 7, 1731, Mr. Bourn, on the death of a
lecturer, Mr. Seddon, was unanimously chosen by
the trustees in the room of the deceased gentle
man, and preached his first sermon on the thirty-
first of that month. He had filled the post of a
* Palmer's Nonconformists Memorial, Vol. ii. p. gg, first
edition.

( 23 )
lecturer at Bolton no more than a twelvemonth,
and a service of four years in the pastoral charac
ter at Chorley, when Providence opened to him a
new and more extensive sphere of usefulness, by
invitations from the congregations at Birmingham
and Coseley. It appears that some of Mr. Bourn's con.
gregation at Crook, did not hold the divine au
thority of the rite called Infant Baptism; but,
as on the birth of a child they wished to express
sentiments of devotion, and to bring themselves
under an engagement to give their offspring a
religious education, Mr. Bourn was ready to meet
the state of their minds, and, with a candour,
which did him credit, to assist their pious views,
by dedicating their child to God in their name,
without the use of water. A specimen of such
a service is given in the Appendix*.
* No. 3.

CHAPTER

( 24 )

CHAPTER II.
Mr. Bourn's discharge of his Ministry at Birming
ham and Coseley.
SEVERAL of the worthy and conscientious
divines whom the Act of Uniformity, which took
place on the twenty-fourth of August, 1662, si
lenced or ejected from their livings, took up their
residence at Birmingham; and preaching there
and at many places in the vicinity, laid the foun
dation of various congregations of Dissenters
from the national establishment. Among these
were Mr. Thomas Bladon, ejected from Alrewas,
in Staffordshire, a man distinguished by the prac
tical strain of his preaching, and eminent for his
piety : Mr. Thomas Wilsby, from Womborn, in
the same county, a judicious, moderate and peace
able divine, whose catholic spirit, exemplary con
duct, and active labours, greatly promoted moder
ation and piety : Mr. Samuel Hildersham, B. D.
from West Felton, in Shropshire, one of the as
sembly of divines ; a grave, peaceable, pious and
learned divine: Mr. Samuel Bryan, from AUesley,
in Warwickshire, in the flower of his age, who
for preaching was cast into the gaol at Warwick,
where he patiently supported an imprisonment
of six months, and on his liberation embraced the

( 25 )
first opportunity to preach again — he vvas a man
of an obliging, chearful and communicative tem
per and manners: Mr. Thomas Baldwin, Jun.
highly valued as a man, a Christian and a minis*
ter, ejected from Cient, in Staffordshire ; a judi
cious and solid preacher, of a swe6t, hnmble and
affeble behaviour ; of a ready and active bene-
nevolence and extensive charity; who patlend.y
suffered the loss of his substance, and who, after
his ejectihent, exercised his ministry at Birming
ham, where, and at Cient, he was held in high
estimation : Mr. William Fincher, bom at Shell,
near Worcester, and ejected from Wednesbury,
in Staffordshire — he frequently preached after
wards at Gornal, in Sedgeley parish; then re
tired towards the place of his nativity, but died
at Birmingham— He was a solid, close and
awakening preacher; a good, humble and hea
venly mail, and of so sweet a temper, that he was
never seen in a passion : and particularly Mr.
William Turton, from Rowley, in the above
coufity, whose ejectment, as it gave him some
ease from the hard study arid labour which had
brought him almost to the grave, was a means
pf recovering hjs health and strength*.
-''* See Palmer's Nonconformists Meanorial, Vol. ii, pp. 389,
, 407, ¦ 3?7, 47p, 39^, 404, 400.

( 26 )
. Under Mr. Turton, it should seem, waa
formed the first congregation of Protestant Dis
senters in the town of Birmingham, of which he
continued the pastor for thirty years, from 1686
to 1716. This congregation, from the situation
of its place of worship in a higher part pf the
town, and from the circumstance of. its being the
first society of Disseuters itt it, gained the names
of the Old and of the Higher Meeting : by which
terms it was distinguishjsd, ftom another congre
gation, still denpminated the New Meeting, and
for some years after its commencement the Lower
Meeting; as the congregation assembled at a
chapel in Deritend, the lower part of the town.
In connection with Mr. Turton, Mr. Daniel
Greenwood, first settled at West Bromwich, was
minister of the Upper Meeting. The first pas
tor of the Lower was Mr. Sillitoe, who died early
in life. In 1715 its pastors were Mr. Thomas
Pickard and Mr. Edward Brodhurst; this l^st
gentleman died on the twenty -first of July, 1730:
on the twenty-first of April, 1732, Mr. Boui;n was
invited to succeed him.
A short time before this the congregation
at Coseiley, in the parish of Sedgeley,' origi
nally formed under the ministry of Mr. Jo
seph Eccleshall, ejected from the vicarage bf

( 27 )
Sedgeley*, on the removal of their minister,
Mr. George Doughty, to Burton upon Trent,
had united itself to the congregation of the
Lower Meeting in Birmingham. Mr. Bourn re
ceived, therefore, a distinct and earnest invitation
to reside at Coseley, as the pastor of that society,
in conjunction with Mr. Pickard, who lived at
Birmingham f.
Previously to these invitations, Mr. Bourn,
on the nineteenth of April, preached a sermon on
opening a new chapel in Moor-street, for the
use of the congregation of the Lower Meeting.
It had been exposed to great inconveniences from
the scite of its former chapel, situated at the end
of the tpwn, distant from a great number of its
members, near the wat^r, and often liable to flobds.
A report had been current about the years 1724
and 1725, that the congregation of the Upper
Meeting had it in contemplation, as they wanted
room to accomriiodate the increasing number pf
the hearers^ to erect a new place of worship. On
the ground of this report a proposal was made
by the congregation of the Lower to unite with
the other in building a new place of worship, to
form one church, and that the ministers of both
should alternately officiate in each place. The
proposal was accepted; subscriptions were opened,
* See Note 4. t See these two Jnvptations, Appendix, No. 3.

( 28 )
and a new chapel erected. But afterwards some
difierences arising between Mr. Greenwood and
his society, a separation took place, and he with
drew from' his connection. Several very respect
able gentlemen were successively invited to take
an equal share in the pastoral office with Mr.
Pickard and Mr. Brodhurst ; who declined it :
and Mr. Daniel Mattock, without waiting for an
united invitation from both congregations, settled
as sole pastor with that of the Upper Meeting.
When the new structure was finished, new over
tures of union were made, but without success *.
In the mean time Mr. Brodhurst died, and Mr.
Bourn accepted the invitations to succeed him,
from Birminghath and Coseley.
His sermon on opening the ftew chapel was
founded on Haggai ii. 7, 8> 9. The text na
turally led him to describe the chief glories of the;
first temple, that built by Solomoii ; beside its
structure and dimensions, its magnificence and
splendour as a building ; the sacred and extraordii
tiary accompaniments, as the ark or golden chest,
in which were deposited the law, the pot of
manna, and Aaron's rod ; the Schechinah, or
cloud of gloty on the mercy seat; the urimand
thiimmim; , the holy fire; • the holy oil, and
the^|)irit' of :'pi;t)phe(iy; -With these marks

» «

The Case df thfg'iEoWef Meetifig Pfedple."' A MS.

( 29 )
of favour, wttli these manifestations of glbfy
which belonged to the first temple, are contrasted
the glory reflected on the second temple from the
appearance of Christ, the Mes^siah, from the dis
pensation of the spirit, and the blessings of the
gospel. From the illustration of these points thef
preacher proceeds to show, that the spiritual pre
sence of the Lord of the temple, in the houses
of worship now built fdr his service, gives thosd
houses a glory superior to all other glories, even
td those of the first temple : that the glory of
the first temple was no gldry compared with the
glory of our christian assembliiss, through the
Redeemer's presence with Christians : i. e. aS Mr.
Bourn explains himself, by the standing effects
of his wisdom, power and glory, in the gospel
written or preached in our assemblies ; and by all
the gifts and graces of wisdom, skill, faithfulness
and love, which he bestows on the pastors and
members of his churches.
, The manuscript Copy, from which this view
of the sermon is taken, is iniperfect, and wants
the conclusion, which was designed to show what
improvement Christians ought to make of so
noble a doctrine. The remarks with wMdh the
subject is lintrodu^ed,; drawn from some veises ill
the. fii-st chapter of the prophecy, are written

( so )
with a pith, force and seriousness very expressive
df the spirit and manner of Mr. Bourn.
"Inthe first chapter, he, i. e. the prophet,
bears the character of a reprover; for as the care.
lessness of wicked men, so the remissness of good
men is to be blamed. He enters upon this unac
ceptable part of his work by observing what no
tice was taken above of their plea of indolence :
verse 2. '• This people say, The time is not come,
the time that the LoM's house should be built."
Men who want a heart for public service, will
find out one excuse or other for withdrawing the
hand. " Then the prpphet represents the falseness,
aljsurdity and isinfulness of siich a plea : V. 4,
" is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled
houses, and this house to lie waste?" It has no
good aspect, when men can readily firid time and
money for erecting, finishing, furnishing arid
maintaining each a house for himself s and yet,
when their whole strength: is laid together, make
a difficulty of erecting and supporting the charge
of a house ^r Goii. .
•' We never can impose upon the All-seeing
God>by- so thmtdisguises. 5-He keeps an exact ac-
couritof men's expences upon their own houses.

( 31 )
and upon his house. And God speaks, as if he
measured, and would have us measure, our af*
fection to himself by our affection to his house.
** This house was to be a temple, a house of
Godi so that indifference about it did too plainly
intimate how httle they cared whether God
dwelt .amongst them. When men professing re*-
ligion can live at dase in their own rich and
costly houses, while the intereist of .God's house
is neglected, this shews a temper and a state of
mind which highly.^ needs correction and ,reproof
in order to its cure, j.^^^- , ,
" As a farther branch of , his reproof; the
prophet represents to them hoysr little they
, gained? "ay, how much they lost by a temper
and conduct so shamefully frugal and' sparing:
verses 5, 6 — 9, ,10, 11. " Thus saith the Lord,
Consider your ways, ye have sown muc^, and
-bring in little; ye eatj but hayCj not enough; —
lie that earneth wages, eameth \Yages to put into
a bag with holes:.! did blow r upon your sub-
. stance, because of, my house that is waste." ;,. ,
V The import of which is, th^t the , great
Ruler of the world has the success of husbandry,
manufactures, traffic and all .secular bujsiness in
hjs ow^iihands— That, therefore, , it is menjs ii^-

i: 32 )
terest, even as to this world-,- to keep in! with
God; that what they- lay out for him and his
house, may tutn to a good account to then&selves
and families, as what they lay out on their own
houses: tlmt true consideration and miriisterial
assistance are often' necessary to enable us to put
a right interpretation on Prbvidencei Thirigs did
liot thrive and prosper at 'all with them: yet
they saw not the cause of this, till awakened' : by
a message from God.'' ''
Mr. Boul-ri, on settling ''with the congrega
tions at Birmingham and Coseley, applied lliriiself
with earnestness and assiduity to the duties of the
ministry. H<e preafched at eafeli' place alternately,
onthe Ldrd's-day, in eorljrinctidn first with Mr.
Thomas Pickard; and after his death, with Mr.
Samuel Blyth, zealously promoting the interests
^of true religion and unfeigned piety. But his
labours Were not confined' to the pulpit. The
"great objects df his ministry were kept in vie-vr
and pursued in his most familiar visits. These
were made without form or ceremony: and he
availed himself of the opportunities which they
afforded him, to admonish his people of theif
faults, and to encourage them to every laudable
work. But his ministerial diligence and zeal
Were particularly displayed in the attention which
he bestowed on the religious instruction of the

( S3 )
rising generation. " For my own part," he said,
** I have long considered the youth of our chris
tian assemblies as the principal object of a mi
nister's regard ; a large share of my endeavours
have been employed in their service, and I hope
God has not denied his blessing to them*."
His pious and generous concern to raise and
assist the spirit of religion in the minds of youth,
appeared in a publication so early as the second
year of his settlement, entitled, '• The Young
Christian's Prayer Book." But his catechetical
compositions, which I shall particularly enumerate
in another chapter, are the most expressive proofs
of the ardour of his mind in his assiduous endea
vours to give youth a liberal and extensive view
of the principles, and a rational conviction of the
truth, of religion. This was the immediate design
of the catechetical exercises and lectures to which
he devoted the Lord's-day evening. These ser
vices procured the esteem, gratitude and attach
ment of his hearers ; which a number of them
strongly expressed in a petition, dated December
twelve, n^Q, requesting the publication of his
" Sabbath-day Evening Lectures." These, as
the catalogue of his works will shew, compre-
* " Lectures to Children and Young People." Preface, p. f.

( S4 )
hended not only the first principles of religious
faith and practice, but also a full view of the
evidences of the truth and divine authority of
the christian religion ; the grounds of the Pro
testant Reformation; and the principles of Pro
testant Dissenters.
Besides the lectures, which he delivered in a
catechetical form on these subjects, he also went
over the Old and New Testament in a similar
mode of instruction. He selected striking inci
dents, or eminent characters, or prophetic chap
ters, which he threw into the form of a narrative
in his own words, and from which he deduced a
great number and variety of instructions and re
flections, in a pointed and energetic strain, to be
. committed to memory, and to be delivered, viva
voce, by the youth. These were never printed ;
but some specimens of them will form a pleasing
and interesting supplement to this chapter.
These catechetical exercises were conducted
in a manner that was suited to relieve the minds
of the catechumens from restraint and awe. For
Mr. Bourn's carriage and mode of examination
were condescending, courteous and chearful.
There was a pleasantness and kindness in it that
invited and encouraged them to make their replies
with a modest freedom. This indicated the be-

( 35 )
nevolence of his temper, and by conciliating at
tention and respect, contributed to his success.
The motives and spirit which directed and
animated these labours, are forcibly expressed by
him in the following paragraph: " Let youth be
taught," says he, " to think justly, and to live
virtuously, to know the truths, to obey the pre
cepts, and to be swayed by the motives of the
gospel, and the world will soon be mended. But
while the arts of dress and diversion, of diet,
trade, building, planting, painting, with many
more which affect only the body and the affairs
of time, are cultivated with the utmost assiduity
and zeal, but the art of educating youth is neg
lected; while christian protestant parents are
more concerned about building houses, furnishing
rooms, raising trees and flowers, ittiproving trade,
and cultivating land, than about building up
souls for immortality, raising subjects for Christ's
eternal kingdom, and forming spirits on earth to
become inhabitants of heaven, can we hope to
see the world mended, religion flourish, truth and
righteousness gain the ascendant over error and
vice, and God's interest sit triumphant in the
world over all the efforts of sin and wickedness*
* " Vindication of the Protestant Reformation " Preface, pp.
6,7.

( 36 )
The good effects of Mr. Bourn's labours
among the youth of his congregations remain to
this day; for there are yet living several respect
able persons who were in early life his catechu
mens; who affectionately venerate his memory;
whose minds were formed by his exertions to the
knowledge of the principles of religion, and were
brought to resign their hearts to its power and
influence, whose enlightened zeal, benevolence,
probity and worth of character, reflect honour on
the narae of the pastor and instructor of their
youth ; and are monuments of the success of ef
forts that have long since ceased. The deep and
virtuous impressions which they left on the minds
of numbers, who have long since passed off the
stage of life 5 and the reflex influence of those
impressions, by example and instruction, on their
posterity, which, in many happy instances, exist
to this day, cannot be calculated ; but ought to
be held up to the consideration of young minis
ters to stimulate and encourage their similar ex
ertions. Mr. Bourn himself had a pledge of his ac»
ceptance and usefulness, during his own life, in
the affection of both his congregations, which he
enjoyed in a high degree; and in the great esteem,
of which he often received expressive marks. A
few years before his death, a particular occasion

( 37 )
offered, to call out and evince their cordial and
unanimous attachment.
In the beginning of June, 1751, he first re
ceived information, in a letter from the Rev. J.
Dobson, a minister in Lancashire, that the views
of the congregation at Bolton, in that county,
were directed to him, . as a successor to their pas
tor, Mr. Buck ; on the ground that " a person of
his abilities, not only in common ministerial work,
but in controversy, was much wanted, and would
be very singularly serviceable among them at that
juncture, and in future." Mr. Bourn, frora a re
gard to the people in Bolton, and his idea of the
agreeableness of a minister's situation there,
owned in his answer to Mr. Dobson's letter, de
livered to him by two members of the congrega
tion, that an unanimous invitation would deserve
to be seriously weighed. But as so far in life he
had not acted but upon an invitation written and
subscribed, which he looked upon not as a matter
of mere form, but highly proper in itself, he could
not without such a pre-requisite, and an account
of the dissenting contributers and their characters,
if there were any, admit the case into deliberation;
much lisss consult any of his friends about it, or
lay it before his people in Birmingham and
Coseley; which yet justice and prudence wouM
require, before he brought the matter to an issueJ"

( 38 )
Notwithstanding that these were his sentiments,
he offered to accompany the two deputies from
Bolton to Birmingham, and to call together a few
of the chiefs, that they might form some judg
ment whether it would be worth their while to
send a call, and what might probably be the issue
of an harmonious and united one. This proposal
was dechned. On the twenty-sixth of June he received a
very pressing and unanimous invitation from the
congregation at Bolton, signed by one hundred
and fifty-eight names; expressing how they
should rejoice to see him in the pulpit of his late
reverend father of pious memory ; and urging his
acceptance, with great importunity, by consider
ations drawn from their numbers, the large sphere
of usefulness the situation would open to him, the
improvement of the many young persons among
them, and the fear of the consequences of his re
fusal on their harmony and unanimity.
It appears from a letter dated the third of
June, 1751, which Mr. Bourn addressed on this
occasion to his congregation at Coseley, that the .
preceding considerations had great weight with
his mind; particularly, that the society at Bolton
was the remains and offspring of his worthy fa
ther's people, who was their minister above twenty

( 39 )
years; were numerous; of a good character, with
a great number of hopeful young tradesmen. Be
sides these reasons, he alledged that there was a
commodious house, in a free air over a river ; that
there was a weekly lecture and a meeting of
ministers every Monday ; that the ministers were
very sociable and friendly, and among them were
two of his sons ; that there was plenty of agree
able company for his choice; that their offers of a
salary exceeded not only what he then had, but
what he thought could be well raised at Coseley j
the congregation was growing, and the salary, it
might be expected would grow. These, he
thought would be allowed to be inviting and
tempting considerations : but what deserved, in
his opinion, attention more than any, was the
prospect a minister had of greatest usefulness and
acceptance during some of the first years of his
ministry. " I have no great reason," he added,
" to boast of my success here, i. e. Coseley, nor
can well judge of the universal acceptance of my
labours. However, I have not much beside to
object to on that part, only that we have met
with some very singular usage from a quarter
where it was least expected or least deserved.
And if that temper should Spread into many or
any families, I should not take one hour about
quitting Coseley. Though other considerations

( 40 )
are to be weighed, before I resolve to leave the
country, either this year or next."
The biass towards Bolton which the preced
ing sentiments express, was overcome by strong
proofs ofthe high estimation and affectionate re
gards of his friends at Birmingham and Coseley,
which he soon received, and which served to
evince not their attachment only, but to shew
that he had entertained too discouraging and de
preciating apprehensions of his usefulness among
them. They all concurred, as with one voice, to
intreat him to continue with them : every indi
vidual eagerly striving to shew their regard for
him, by persuasions, petitions, and every other
means to engage his stay.
A petition from the congregation at Bir
mingham, signed by one hundred and forty-four
heads of families, remonstrated against the invi
tation from Bolton, as what tended to make a
wider breach in the dissenting interest at Bir
mingham than he could fill up by removing thi
ther ; expressing themselves pleased with the just
sense the people there testified of his ministerial
abihties ; but assuring him that it was impossible
that they should have a juster sense of, or set a
higher value on his labours, than was fflt by
those who had for years attended on his miuiairy,

( 41 )
which they were fully convinced had greatly
promoted the cause of true religion and christian
liberty among them : urging that the unanimity
with which his stay was desired, and the grief
his removal would cause, were full proofs how
pleasing his labours had been and would, doubt*
less, be hereafter; and begging him, in conjunc*
tion with their earnest prayers for the preserva%
tion of his very valuable life in peace and com
fort to himself, and as a blessing to his people^
not to think of leaving them, but to return to
the society at Bolton such an answer as might
prevent any future application.
The petition from the congregation at
Coseley, signed by ninety-three members, was
alike earnest and affectionate. It addressed him
as one able and willing to solve all their doubts
and enlighten their minds ; as one who had been
a public blessing among them, the instrument
and principal of much good, who had kindly
used his interest with his valuable friends at Bir
mingham, and who had been long careful of
their temporal as well as spiritual comfort. It
begged him to be intreated not to forsake a people
and place where so much good might be done ;
requesting him for their own sakes, and for the
jsakg of their children, and the many lambs of

( 42 )
the flock, which he had so wisely, and carefully,
and unweariedly instructed, not to leave them.
It prayed that their forwardness might be ex
cused, if they mentioned what his great master
had said. That it was more honour and blessed
ness to give than to receive. It conceded, that
his great goodness and faithfulness among them
justly merited a higher esteem and veneration for
his person than had been shewn by some ; but it
¦handsomely suggested that the greatness of his
mind would still appear in passing over the inso
lence of some and the ensnaring, enticing golden
baits of others. It urged on his consideration
the dejection and sadness that sat almost upon
every countenance, while others gave vent to their
grief with sorrowful tears, and all from doubts
and fear of his removal; the general, heavy and
insupportable load of sorrow his actual departure
would bring upon them : and it concluded with
expressing their just expectation of some returns
of his former kindness and affection, in a state of
things that called for his real pity and compas
sion, when he saw so much affection in them to
wards himself.
These petitions were accompanied with one
from the young men, and another signed by forty
young persons of the other sex, in the congrega
tion at Birmingham.

C 43 )
Mr. Bourn was determined by these assur
ances, by these strong testimonies ofthe affection
ate attachment of both congregations, and .of the
usefulness of his ministry, to continue with them :
and he retained to his death a grateful sense of
these expressions of their regard and love.
The importance of his remaining in this con
nection was discerned and felt by those who were
not immediately interested in it. I am tempted
to give, in this view, a letter which he received on
the subject, from Mr. Job Orton, of Shrewsbury.
It serves to show, in connection with the preced
ing petitions, the estimation in which he was held,
and to give us an idea of the extent and assiduity
of his luinisterial labours. It was as follows.
Salop, July 13, 1751.
Dear Sir,
As I had not the pleasure of seeing
you when I was last at Binningham, I take this
method to inform you, that the Prayer Books
came safe, and if you will please to send me a note
of the charge I will remit the money to you, or
where you shall direct.
My heart is full of concern for my good
friends at Birmingham, who I find are at present

( 44 )
in a great deal of distress through fear of losing
you, but I hope you will take pity on them, and
continue with them. I cannot be a competent
judge how far your present situation is agreeable,
or what prospects you may have at Bolton. But
I am persuaded you will never be swayed by
mercenary motives, or any other unworthy a
Christian and a minister. Therefore I am less
anxious about the consequences of your determi
nation than my friends are; but when I consider
your present sphere of usefulness, and how well
you are suited to both the societies among whom
you labour — with the success God has honoured
you with among your own people — how far the
prejudices of neighbouring churches are removed
r— and how highly you are esteemed by multi
tudes, who formerly spoke of you with indigna
tion and contempt, I cannot but look upon these
things as strong arguments for your continuance.
I believe you have the hearty esteem and love of
every individual at Coseley, and, as far as I have
heard, at Birmingham ; though I know soiue per
sons' passions have outrun their judgment, and
contradicted their deliberate sentiments, in some
behaviour to you that may have been unbecom
ing ; and they were much to blame in paying no
more regard to your judgment in this and the
other choice : but do you know any minister who

( 45 )
upon the whole stands higher in the esteem of his
people, and has less uneasiness from them than
yourself*. And can you promise yourself it will not be
otherwise at Bolton? You know there nas been
uneasiness and differences among them since Mr.
Buck's death ; and family quarrels, which have
been the worst sort, as least reconcileable. Per
haps you may have heard how good Mr. Motter
shead was treated by some of them, in turning
him out of the lecture, if my information be right.
Are you sure your temper and theirs will suit?
You know the worst of things where you are ; but
are you not running an hazard at your time of
life to enter on a new scene, and probably to en
counter fresh prejudices. You have at present
great comfort in many under your care ; perhaps
more than most ministers have : should you have
less "at Bolton it will embitter your advancing
years. Some regard is, I apprehend, to be had tp
the consequences of your removal with respect to
your present charge. What will poor Coseley
do? Where find so faithful and condescending a
pastor? But the society at Birmingham, will prob
ably be ruined; as I am assured some of the
* Vid. Charge at my Ordination, p. 49.

( 46 )
wisest and most serious and public spirited men
in it will immediately leave it, and the rest pro
bably grow factious and quarrelsome in another
choice. You are not indeed answerable for these
consequences ; but this surely deserves consider
ation, whether such a society as Birmingham
should be left in such hazardous circumstances,
in which probably Coseley may be involved, un
less the reasons on the other side greatly prepon
derate. God has made you the instrument of spread
ing a spirit of candour and moderation through
your neighbouring churches, and propagating ra
tional and becoming sentiments in religion. Will
they not decline if you go? Will not the Philistines
triumph; especially if your flock should be divided
and scattered ? Excuse, dear sir, the freedom with
which I presume to argue this matter with you,
though I dare say you will take no hasty steps,
nor suffer any httle slights to drive you away
from such a post of honour aud usefulness. I
heartily pray that Providence may guide and di
rect you in this important affair, so as shall be
most for the advancement of pure and undefiled
religion, and your own peace and comfort.
When ministers remove, the blame is generally
laid upon their wives, but I am persuaded Mrs.
Bourn will suffer no personal or topical attach-

( 47 )
ments to sway her, contrary to what shall appear
the leadings of Providence. If you determine
for Bolton I shall be glad (if you chuse to favour
me with them) to know the chief reasons which
lead to such a determination, both to satisfy my
own mind, and vindicate my friend's character,
if I should hear it aspersed on that account.
My respectful service to Mrs. Bourn.
Wherever you go be assured of the highest es
teem and respect of, Dear Sir,
Your very affectionate and obliged friend,
• brother and servant,
JOB ORTON.

Mr. Bourn, besides those catechetical exer
cises to which he particularly directed his atten
tion, added to the usual services of the pulpit an
exposition, both morning and afternoon; but
then his sermons were not long, especially that
in the morning, which, indeed, was rather too
short, being little more than an introduction and
an explanation of the text and context *.
* Ortou's " Letters to Dissenting Ministers,'' Vol. ii. p. 64..
1806.

C 4S )
He continued in his station of eminent Use
fulness, laying himself out in active labours, and
devoted to the interests of practical religiofli, un
til he was suddenly attacked With a paralytic
disorder, which^ in a few days,- terminated his
ministry and his life. He perceived the first
symptoms of his disorder in the afternoon of the
Lord's-day, March 17, 1754, in his pulpit at
Coseley. His voice was observed to alter in his
prayer before sermon; and, with great decency
and composure, he purposely contracted that part
of the service. After which he attempted to gd
down, but being deprived of the use of one side
of his body, he was not able without the assist
ance of friends; by whose help having reached
the vestry, on being asked by some, " What was
the matter with him," he answered,, with some
languor, •' I don't know." Soon after, on being
seated in a chair, he two or three times repeated
the word, Palsy. When an attempt was made
to remove him to his own house, he opposed it
as much as he could, and intimated as well
as he was able, that he would speak to his
people ; whom he had that day treated from the
pulpit with more than usual marks of tendernes,s
and affection; but through the increasing pres
sure of his distemper he was disabled ; and in this
last attempt of his pious zeal to rally, as it were,
his forces, his speech faltered, and he was only

( 49 )
Understood, and that in broken accents, to utter
some few unconnected words, such as, Love—-
Charity — Glory. Then, finding his work was fin
ished, he calmly submitted to his discharge, and
remained speechless till the Friday following;
when, about ten o'clock in the forenoon, the
scenes of mortal life closed, and " death," as his
Worthy colleague* expressed himself on this occa
sion, " extinguished one of the most useful
lights of the churches." '^.
Mr. Bourn, after his connection with Cose
ley and Birmingham, was harrassed by two trials
at the Quarter Sessions. The treatment he met
with appeared to his friends at Birmingham so
severe, as well as unmerited, and the matter at
issue to have so important an aspect on the Dis
senting cause, that they voluntarily and respect
fully entered into a subscription to defray the
expences which he had been obliged to incur in
his defence; though without employing council
he had been his own advocate.
As the activity and zeal with which Mr.
Bourn discharged his ministry is an example, so
the esteem and success with which he was hon
oured, is an encouragement to ministers who imi
tate his diligence and fervor.
'* Mr. Elyth.
H

( 50 )
CHAPTER III.
A Review of Mr. Bourn's Publications.
A CATALOGUE merely of Mr. Bourn's
works will shew the views that governed his
studies and the spirit which guided his pen.
The titles will not create ail expectation of a dis
play of depth and extent of learning ; nor raise
a suspicion that he sought literary fame, or meant
to enrol his name in the annals of knowledge.
But though they do not exhibit him the man of
genius and the classical scholar, they place him
in a very respectable and useful point of view
as a Divine and a Ministers condescending to
instruct youth, and solicitous to excite, animate
and diffuse the spirit of devotion.
Several of his publications were of the Ca
techetical kind, and formed parts of one plan for
the better education of youth in Christian, Pro
testant and Dissenting principles. He adopted
" the mode of question and answer," he said,
*' though not so pleasant and entertaining to po
lite readers, as the most easy and familiar, and
best suited to young people and the ignorant,
and best adapted to be an instrument of educa
tion in the hands of parents and others ; and so

( 51 )
best correspondent with his design*." Some of
Mr. Bourn's publications were devotional; others
were polemical and miscellaneous. To these may
be added a few single sermons.
His first appearance from the press was in
1733, as the author of " The Young Christian's
Prayer Book; with a prefatory address to young
persons, upon the obligation and importance of
early devotion." A second edition of this useful
manual was printed in Dublin, without the au
thor's knowledge, by the encouragement of the
Rev. Dr. John Leland, with a recommendatory
preface by that learned writer. A third edition,
with many additions, was published in 1742.
The fourth, the most accurate and complete, in
which is inserted Dr. Leland's recommendation,
came out in 1748. Not the views of the author
only, but the nature and influence of prayer,
are well stated in the preface. *' Here I offer,"
he says, *' to your acceptance, my young friends,
a few of my labours, wherein I have aimed not
only to assist your devotion, as the title imports,
but also to lead your judgments into right appre
hensions of God, and to regulate your lives : the
former of which is the only foundation of reli
gion ; and the latter, the only perfection of it ;
* A letter to Mr. Abraham Bourn, his son, July 22, 1745.
MS.

( 52 )
and prayer is only an effect of the former and
only a means of the latter : now as the means are
only valuable so far as they promote their proper
end, you will hence see, that all prayer, as to you,
is lost, which does not make you live better;
for God requires prayer not for his own sake,
but for your sake; to sweeten your tempers by
conversing with himself, the best of Beings, and
fill you with benevolence ; to correct your pas
sions and bring them under the conduct of rea
son ; and to amend your actions and carriage to
all about you, in order to your becoming greater
blessings, and prepared for more grace; when
prayer to God thus transforms young souls into
his own image, it is devotion indeed; when it
has no such effect, it is a piece of dead for
mality." In the year 1735 he published, without his
name, a tract entitled, '' An Introduction to the
History of the Inquisition, containing Reflecrions
upon the unreasonableness and wickedness of
Persecution;" and a Sermon, called " Popery a
Craft, and Popish Priests the chief Craftsmen;"
on the fifth of November : Acts xix. 25. One
of his remarks on this passage is; " There was
certainly something divine in Paul and his doc
trine, which put the whole tribe of pagan priests
into such a fright." To the enquiry. Who was

( 63 )
the maja that durst touch this craft of theirs,
and endeavour to bring the people to their senses?
he answers, " It was one Paul, a Protestant
minister, who protested against all church cor
ruptions : a dissenting minister, who dissented
from the religion established at Ephesus ; and
who had disturbed almost one half of the world
by his preaching." V. 26. One man, with truth
and Christ on his " side, is able to defeat a whole
iarmy, a whole hierarchy of craftsmen, if he be
allowed a fair hearing. One Paul, one Luther,
one Calvin is an overmatch for all the hireling
priests in the world. One poor monk, in whom
the fight of gospel truth began to shine, shakes
the whole papal kingdom and confounds popes,
cardinals, bishops and priests, without any other
aid, but the truth and goodness of his cause."
The whole discourse is in a strain of wit, hu-
piour and satire *.

* This discourse of Mr. Bourn has been confounded
with a satirical tract in the " Independent Whig," Vol. ii.
p. 236, which was occasioned by the threats of a prelate
and his brethren to suppress that work when it came out
weekly, by some extraordinary and unconstitutional inquisi
tion ; and was intended to shame the authors of that design.
Its title was, " The Craftsmen ; a Sermon or Paraphrase on
the nineteenth chapter of the Acts of the Apostles." Com^
posed in the style oi the late Daniel Burgess. It was pub
Ushed with no ill success.

( 54 )
The date of the two preceding pieces, viz.
1735, leads to the cause with which they origi
nated, and which sharpened Mr. Bourn's wit and
gave it a peculiar point and keenness. At that
time an alarm of the growth of popery waa
raised and spread through the kingdom ; it was
seriously beheved by many to be well founded,
and a set of judicious and learned sermons a-
gainst the errors of popery, was preached at
Salter's-Hall, by some of the most able divines
of that day among the Dissenters; but, as it was
created at the juncture when the Dissenters were
seeking relief from the oppression of the Test
Laws, some persons of penetration were disposed
to consider it as a political fetch, to silence and
disappoint them. It is certain that use was made
of it in the public prints of the day to urge the
Dissenters from prosecuting their claim, as ini
mical to the harmony amongst Protestants, which
the growth of popery made necessary for the
general safety *.
Mr. Bourn's subsequent publication was " An
Address to Protestant Dissenters ; or an Inquiry
into the grounds of their attachment to the A^-
** Dr. Chandler'sr Serinon at Salter's Hall, January 16,
1734—5, on " The Notes of the Church," p. 55 and the
Postscript.

( 55 )
sembly's Catechism ; whether they act upon bi
gotry or reason. Being a calm examination of
the sixth answer in the Assembly's shorter Cate
chism. By a Protestant Dissenter." Without
his name. — 1736. The title of this tract, which
has not fallen into my hands, may be pronounced
creditable to the author's views and spirit. For
it evidently indicates that it was written in de
fence of free inquiry, and to shew the repugnancy
of an implicit attachment to human formularies
and standards of truth with the principles of Dis
senters. In the next year, 1737, Mr. Bourn's pen was
again taken up and wielded in the cause of free
inquiry, as well as employed on particular po
lemical discussions, in " A Dialogue between a
Baptist and a Churchman; occasioned by the
Baptists opening a new Meeting-House for re
viving old Calvinistical doctrines, and spreading'
Antinomian and other errors at Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick. Part 1. By a con~
sistent Protestant." Without his name. This
was followed, in 1739, by the publication of Part
2d. wherein is contained a defence of the first part,
and a Vindication of the Rights of Christian
Ministers. By a consistent Christian. Without
his name.

( S6 )
It appears, by a paragraph in the secoiid
part, that Mr. Bourn had been treated with great
illiberality and impertinence by censorious bigots.
Odious names were fixed on hinu Empassioned
sermons were pointed at him. Innumerable sto
ries were circulated to asperse his character; and
letters were written to him in very insulting and
abusive language. All this, he says, without any
other provocation, but teaching men with calm
ness, plainness and patience, what he believed was
the truth of the gospel. The questions debated
in these dialogues, besides the right of private
judgment, are the scriptural meaning of the
phrase, "sound doctrine," the nature of' ortho
doxy, the divinity of Christ, the use of reason
in religion, election and- reprobation, Adaril's fall
and original sin, free grace and free will, the
righteousness of Christ, perseverance and baptisnw
These dialogues display the judgment, good sense
and wit of the author. The author confessed, as
to the spirit in which these pieces were writ
ten, that there was "a warmth iu some parts,,
chiefly in opposing pulpit antics,, such a disgrace
to that sacred place, and Antinomian doctrines,
so destructive to christian virtue." " There is
also," he adds, " some pleasantry and humouF}^
but, I think, not much anger *."
* A Letter to Dr. Watts, December, 1743,

( 57 )
Mr. Bourn's next pubhcation in the same
year was not an exercise of polemical abilities,
but a specimen of a devotional spirit, and a
proof of the earnestness with which he endea
voured to promote the practice of religious du
ties. It was entitled, " The Christian Family
Prayer Book ; or family prayers for morning and
evening; with a variety of occasional forms."
This wdrk was introduced to the notice and re
ception of the public, with a recommendation by
Dr. Watts, to whom the author was, at the same
time an entire stranger; in deference to whose
request, and yielding a little to the prejudices of
some well-disposed christians, as the doctor ex
pressed it, several of the doxologies were altered
into the more common, or trinitarian, form ;
though Mr. Bourn himself thought it best suited
a volume of christian prayers, either to use or
imitate the scripture doxologies, which even Dr.
Watts said, " he much preferred." A Discourse
*' representing the reasonableness, beauty, plea-'
sure and usefulness of family religion," was pre
fixed to these prayers. This discourse has lately
been reprinted, in a detached form, by my wor
thy colleague, Mr. Kentish. These offices of de
votion have passed through several editions; and
after the first impression two prayers prepara
tory to the Lord's Supper, were inserted.

( 58 )
In 1738 an occasional service in which Mr.
Bourn was engaged, that of preaching at the
yearly meeting of ministers and private christians
at Dudley, on Whitsun -Tuesday, May 23, led
him to give from the press the sennon which he
delivered from Phil. i. 27, 28, on "the true
christian way of striving for the faith of the gos
pel." This discourse, as the preacher himself cha
racterised it, though " well intended, calmly, se
riously and tenderly delivered, well fitted to pro
mote peace, upon equal, honourable and catholi'c
terms, much adapted to calm men's passions:" it
may be added, abounding with just, generous and
liberal sentiments; gave umbrage, disgusted many
hearers, and produced contention. On this ef
fect of it he observes, " that not only the most
innocent, but the best, and the best intended dis
courses may occasion passion and violent conten
tion, witness the sermons of Christ, of Peter,
^tephen and Paul: Mark x. 34, Luke xii. 49,
53. John X. 19, 21. Acts iv. 2—29. v. 33. vi.
10, 15. xiii. 45—50. xiv. 2, 5, 19. xv. 1, 2, 5.
xvii. 5. xxi. 20, ^1—27, 28, SO, 31, 36. xxii.
21, 22, 23. But whether this was chargeable
on Christ and his apostles and their discourses;
or on the bad state of the minds of tlie bearers,
-let every man judge *." In the course of the dis-
^coui-se, exhorting his brethren in the ministry
* Pp. 43, 44,

( 59 )
to constancy and courage iu the cause of truth,
he says ; " Certain it is, that at less cost of edu
cation and books ; at less pains in study; at less
hazard of reputation and a worldly interest, we
may be quite orthodox, and think as our fathers
and neighbom's think. But where then is our
faithfulness to Christ and souls? Where our love
to truth? Where our christian courage?" It con
cludes with hints of advice to ministers and to
the people : with ministers to be honest men ;
?' Honest to our Lord and master; by searching
for his truth and his will in the original records
of the New Testament; not in human compo
sures : honest to souls, by opening our Lord's
will as far as we understand it ; honest to consci
ence, by a sincere search after truth, by daring
to own it, by faithfully communicating it: honest
to our brethren, by doing to them as we would
think it fit, and would calmly wish to be done
by, were we in each other's case. Let this hon
esty run through all our conversation, and a little
of it be taken into pulpits. This honesty of
heart," he adds, " carries in it that purity of in
tention, which will secure us from a worldly tem
per, from mean and selfish A'iews, from a secular
management, and from whatever would hinder
us from seeing the truth ourselves, or from an
unworthy flattering others, either in their errors
or their vices."

( 60 )
Addressing the people, he exhorted them
thus : « Let your religion be a gospel religion j
drawn thence; tried there. It is not our busi
ness to see or believe for you; but to help you to
see yourselves, by the best light we can shed up
on you. Let it be a peaceful religion, managed
with a christian spirit, a divine temper, with a
unity of heart, under all the differences of the
head. Let it be a religion quite the reverse of
the devil's religion."

•a'

The last clause led hini, on the publication
of the discourse, to describe the devil's religion,
in a note, as consisting of these articles : strong
faith, without a holy life; •' the devil's believe,"
James ii. 19: orthodox opinions, or a sound
judgment without grg.ce and virtue; "I know
who Thou art; the Holy One of God," Mark i.
24 : furious zeal, like raging waves of the sea,
without charity and love, Jude ix. 13 : bitter rail
ings and fierce contending about trifles ; as about
the body of Moses, Jude 9: cruel persecuting';
Cain was of the devil when he slew his brother,
1 Johti iii. 12: Subtlety, lying, falsehood; "he
is the accuser of the brethren ; useth snares as
a fowler, and cunning devices, Rev. xii. 10.
Zech. iii. 1. Job i. 9. ii, 5*."
* Discourse itself, pp. 37, 38, 40 ; the note.

( 61 )
The offence taken at this sermon was ex
pressed by sorae strictures on it from the press,
under the form of an answer to it. This drew
from Mr. Bourn, " Remarks on a pretended An
swer to a Sermon preached at Dudley, May 23,
1738, intitled, " The true Christian way of striv
ing for the Faith of the Gospel." The design of
these remarks is to obviate and explode the ill-
natured cavils, the indecent scurriUty and out
rageous abuse of the pretenderl answerer; and
proper specimens are exhibited to prove that he
writes without judgment, truth or candor. With
out his name; Svo. 1739.
Mr. Bourn's " Examination of the sixth
Answer of the Assembly's Catechism," which
had been made the test of orthodoj^ in the
Trinitarian controversy, and the agreement of
which with the scriptures of truth and the plain
and certain dictates of reason, had been discussed
by him in his *' Address to Protestant Dis
senters," provoked the Animadversions of Mr.
Sloss, the minister of the independent congrega
tion at Nottingham ; who, in Mr. Bourn's opi
nion, wrote neither with the spirit of a christian,
nor in a manner becoming a scholar, a gentleman
or a friend to truth. On these grounds he de
clined directing any remarks in defence of his
own piece to Mr. Sloss himself, but made an ap-

( 62 )
peal to his pedple, in a tract called " An Address
to the Corigiegation of Protestant Dissenters,
whd meet at the Castle Gate in Nottingham, in
Vindication of a Pamphlet called, A Calm and
Fair Examination of the Sixth Answer in the
Assembly's shorter Catechism. By a Protestant
Dissenter, — 1738." This is an able, close and im
pressive discussion of the positions advanced by
Mr. Sloss in support of his Trinitarian sentiments,
and a full confutation of his censures.
In the same' year Mr. Bourn gave from the
press, a specimen of those labours he bestowed
on the instruction of youth, by the publication
df " Lectures to Children and Young People, in
a Catechetical Method; consisting of three Ca
techisms: viz. a short doctrinal Catechism, in
five propositions; a short historical Catechism,
in eight chapters; and a large doctrinal and prac
tical Catechism, in seven parts; with a preface
she wing; the Necessity and Importance of a Reli
gious Education."
Th^ attention of the puhhc was called to
this piece, by a recommendation of it from the
pens of the Rev. Mr. Mpttershead of Manches'-
ter, Mr. Rogerson of Derby, Mr. Grove and Dr.
Amory of Tayinton, and Doctors Chandler and
Benson of London. The excellence of these

( 63 )
compositions is represented as arising from the
following characteristics: they were intelligible to
youths of honest minds and moderate capacities ;
and yet were well adapted to entertain and im
prove the well grown christian : there was no
biass in them to particular schemes or human
systems of divinity; but the rehgiou of Christ
was laid before young people in its original sim-
pHcity and native beauty : disputable things were
left out, and proper distinctions preserved between
the means and the end: the virtues and duties
of a christian were justly described, built on right
principles and enforced with suitable motives. In
a word, youth were there taught first, how to
think, and then, how to act.
In the first and second editions of these lec
tures are contained marginal notes of illustration
and enlargement; and some explanatory remarks
and excellent observations upon various parts of
religion and virtue, extracted from Bishops Fleet
wood, Hoadly and Butler; Deans Sherlock and
Prideaux; Drs. Barrow, Clarke, Delany, Turn-
bull, Evans, Hunt, Watts and Wright; Messrs.
Bennet, Chandler and Grove; Lord King; Locke,
Nettlelon, Wollaston and Crousaz. To these
editions " the Assembly's Catechism, revised and
rendered fitter for general use," was also annexed
by permission from the principal author, the Rev.

( 64 )
James Strong, of Ilminster, in the county of
Somerset, with some few alterations* In 1739
these lectures came to a second edition ; and in
1748 to a third, with this title, "Religious Edu
cation begun and carried; on in three Catechisms."
The notes were left out.
The third Catechism of this set was, with
the author's consent, republished by Mr.: Job^
Orton, with alterations and additions. This con
sent was readily granted, says Mr. Orton, *• such
was his condescension to a younger brother, and
such his desire to have religious knowledge and
goodness diffused into young minds." Mr. Or
ton called his edition of it " A Summary of Doc"
trinal and Practical Religion." This piece, again
carefully revised by him, and with alterations, has
passed through numerous editions. In the preface
to it Mr. Bourn is very handsomely spoken of, as
'* one of the most judicious, pious and laborious
ministers of the age ; who had carefully studied
human nature and the dispositions and tempta
tions of youth, and took indefatigable pains in
their instruction, both in public and private."
A hint thrown out by Mr. Bourn, in the
preface, deserves to be brought forward, both on
account of its importance and as an expression
* See Note 5.

< 65 )
of the benevolence aud zeal of the worthy author.
He observes that niany children have no edulca-
tioH, through the ignorance and inability of pa
rents. He suggests, on this grouiid, the propri
ety and usefulness of a congregational fund, to
furnish poor fariiilies with proper books to assist
tbe education of their children. He recommends
this step as a means of raising up, from the lower
classes in society, a generation of better instructed
and more virtuous young persons. " If this an
swered no other end than furnishing masters of
families with a larger choice of good servants,
and more honest wdrkmen, I hope," he says,
" they will think their money well, very well,
laid out ; but when they consider these funds as
means of refoi-ming the world, and of promoting
the eternal happiness* of multitudes of their fel
low creatures, surely every well disposed gentle
man and tradesman will cheerfully concur in so
noble a desire *."
The next piece he published, in execution of
his plan for the better instruction of youth in
Christian, Protestant and Dissenting principles,
was entitled : " The Christian Catechism ; where
in the principal truths of natural religion, and the
truth and divine authority of the christian reli-
* Preface, p. 36.
K

( GG )
gion, are asserted and proved ; and the chief ob
jections considered, by way of question and an
swer ; the whole being adapted to the education
of christian youth." Without his name. — 1744.
12mo. This catechetical piece, as soon as it appeared
from the press, was adopted by the Rev. Joseph
Mottershead, of Manchester, as the text book of
his lectures to the youth of his congregation*.
The preface exhibited a general state of the
controversy with the deists; containing reflections
on their mode of attack, some remarks on Mr.
Chubb's objections to the evidence arising from
miracles, and some close and poignant remon
strances on the views which the enemies of reve
lation can propose to themselves, by the success
of their endeavours to undermine its authority
and reception amongst men: asking, in strong ap
peals, what would they themselves gain ; in what
respects would the world be gainers, or what
would the glory of God gain by their success ?
The margin of this tract abounds with many use
ful references, and is enriched with many judici
ous extracts from the works of Bishops Butler,
* Mr. Bourn's letter to his son, -Mr. Abraham Bourn, July
22, 1745. MSi.

( ^7 )
Chandler, Conybear, Gibson and Kidder; Deans
Sheriock and Prideaux; doctors Clarke, Sykes,
Warburton, Whitby, Lardner; Grotius, and others
who have written in defence of revealed religion.
These quotations are proofs of the extent of Mr.
Bourn's reading, and of the judgment with which
he selected and applied the passages that suited
his purpose. In the year 1745, September 18, Mr. Job
Orton, whose name and character justly rank
very high among practical writers, and in the
history of Protestant Dissenters, was ordained to
the pastoral oifice at Shrewsbury. On this occa
sion Mr. Mottershead preached on the character
of Jesus as a divine teacher, from John iii. 2. and
Mr. Bourn delivered the address, generally called
the charge, which was on the appeal of Paul
concerning his own conduct, 1 Thess, ii. 10,
" Ye are witnesses, and God also ; how hohly
and justly and unblameably we behave ourselves
among you who believe." The admonitory re
flections suggested by these words, are ranged
under exhortations to be holy, just and righteous,
and unblameable ; to be holy in spirit and con
versation, and to labour after a serious spirit in
the public services of the ministry ; and consti
tuted holy by a spirit communicated from on
high, and by pardon of sin : to be just and right-

( 6», )
eous tp the' sentiment^ of- the,heai:t; to God. and
the Lord Jesus Christ, in giving| up that heart
and that time to God's service, which , you hav&
vowed to him ; to the truths of God and the
gospel of Christ, to souls, to your brethren in the-
ministry, in your removes from any people, when
tljat shall be; and in your common dealings:
to be unblameable; particularly unblameably-
humble, temperate, meek, chaste, diligent and
contented." These are the outlines of a discourse fraught
with pithy counsels and sage admonitions, perti
nent to the occasion; breathing a virtuous and
elevated mind, and delivered in forcible and ele
vated language.
Soine passages from it may be acceptable;
and usefid to the reader, and will^ certainly, af
ford fair specimens of the author's, discernment^
good sense and excellent; spirit.
" Ministers of God should have something
so divine in their tempers, as will diffuse a serious
air into their countenances. Not that a man,
upon every occasion, is to throw all his religion,
and perhaps more than , he has,, into, his, face ; or
to, carry his religious pretensions beyond what his
inward principles will; support; fori this will not

( 69 )
always, nor long hold. Yet a man possessed of
solemnity of mind, and whose soul admits of great
and sacred conceptions, seldom carries before him
a vain or a trifling aspect."
" Go into the pulpit filled with thoughts of
God; and with an awful fear, lest you should
miscarry in that day's work on which the good
of a hundred, or many hundred souls, may de
pend.'-' '
" Choose out the most solemn subjects, and
tteat them with a spirit and language" suitable to
the greatness and majesty of the theme. Wherte-
ever you trifle, let it not be in God's house, or
with the souls of men."
" See, that all your discourses be drawn up
with thoughtfulness, judgment and skill, that the
justest mind may be pleased with them ; yet so
plain, that the meanest hearer may take them in;
and so pointed and affecting, that all the auditory
should be moved with them."
" Sincerity in searching after and professing
religious truth, or christian honesty is, as to God,
the only acceptable orthodoxy ; in any other sense
it is either precarious or impossible. In any other

( 70 )
sense it sigtlifies our agreement to human
schemes j which is only a topical and a chrdnical
character, suited only to certain places and times ;
so that what is orthodox in one church, or in one
age, is not so in another."
I ; ¦ « Feign not mysteries, where there are none.
How plain an institution is the Lord s-supper, yet
a set -of christian priests have, by wonderful arti
fices, wrought it up into a mystery, Avhich is, and
eternally will be incomprehensible. Your busi
ness is to clear up men's way to heaven, not to
hedge it up. Let God and men be witnesses you
do so." rio:i
" See to it, that your. thoughts and time be
devoted to the interests of souls. If your people
have not the best share of you, you are not an
honest rnan ; ,nor will you be able tp call God or
men to bear witness how justly you behaye."
*' Be just to your brethren in the ministry.
Let God see you entertaining kind and friendly
thoughts and designs towards them ; and let men
find you free from all ungenerous insinuations,
which tend to lessen their esteem and usefulness.
May God be 'witness that you heartily wish ^nd
pray fdr their Success; atid men, be witnesses that
you really pli-omote iti '¦ Treat your brethren, who

( 71 )
may differ from you in controverted points, with
candor and friendliness, as you would claim to be
treated by them. Nor be wanting to give encou
raging countenance to modest and ingenuous,
pious and hopeful young ministers, who are en
tering into the labours of deceased pastors,"
** Be just in your removes from any people,
when that shall be. Never stir till your way is
open ; nor ever think of any unfair means of ad
vancement. This will not do for us. It looks
like a distrust of our own qualifications, or of the
wisdom and goodness of the master we serve, the
Lord of his churches."
" We have all of us our diflSculties and trials,
especially from the tempers and behaviour of our
people; you will have yours. Prepare for them;
bear them with submission; iriiprove your own
spirit by them, where you cannot mend the spi
rits of others; and wait on God to remove them."
" You are the servant of souls, though re
lated to a higher master, 2 Cor, iv, 2, What
vanity does it betray, upon the sole credit of ordi
nation, to set up for men of figure, to change airs
and stile, and begin to write themselves ambas
sadors." .-

( n )
" Let your countenance discover the: affabi
lity of your mind ; and your discourse be clear of
superior airs, or unacceptable stiffness ; and your
dress have such plainness as shall reveal the sim-
Iplicity of your heart, and a soul too great for a
fop or a beau."
" There is a pulpit modesty which is very
graceful and enga^ng, and very consistent with
a firmness of mind necessary to an acceptable de
livery, arising from a comprehensive view of your
work, and consciousness of right intentions. It
is very disgusting to see pride in the pulpit
preaching up humility; or to hear a man des
cribing himself, in his prayers, as exceeding little,
when, on most other occasions, he appears to have
an idea of himself as exceeding great."
" An ungovemed temper will be an ill com
panion to yourself; it will be troublesome td your
friends ; it will be a flaw in your character and a
bar to your success."
" There is a serious warmth, of a quite di^'
fering nature, from weak passion and unhallowed
wrath, which never worketh the righteousness of
God. Passionate prayers, and angry or satyrical
sermons, how much soever admired by weak peo
ple, detract from the wisdom and understanding

73 )
of a minister. Especially guard against being in
a passion against any, upon whom you have a de
sign of doing good."
" Let me recommend to you diligence with
your people. Many of your older people may be
at their pitch of goodness ; but with young peo
ple there is room for all your pains ; and these I
esteem the principal objects of a minister's concern
and care ; and if you arrive at a skilful, moving
way of dealing with them, there is hope you may
not labour in vain."
" If your people find their children and serv
ants ; growing wiser and better under your care,
this will raise you high in their esteem and love,
in case they have any sense of true worth, and
any value for religion and virtue,"
"Nor will your pleasure be small from the
sight of the sons and daughters of your beloved
people growing up under your eye, and by your
labours, in all shining virtues ; and, through early
impressions of religion in their young and tender
liearts, likely to adorn the church of God, and
become an honour to every station and relation
they may hereafter stand in."

( 74 )
^' When good and worthy men meet with
esteem and encouragement below their merit ; or
with very undeserved neglect and abuse; let
them wait for, and appeal to a judgment which
willbe gloripusly just, remembering that this is
BOt *be rewarding hut the working day."
f A mipd elevated hy the noble princij^es
of the gospel above this i^orld, and all the little
transitory possessi<Mi8 and enjoyments of it, is
highly becoming all beings who are designed for
immortality; and gives a special digriity and ve-
nerableness to the character of ministers; who
with the greater inward assurance, and wjth more
hope of success, may recommend immortal pros.*
pects and pursuits to others, when their own chief
views visibly turn that way. On the other hand,
nothing will more degrade our character or is
more inconsistent with the nature and ends of
Dur office, or is more likely to blast our hopes of
success, if we have any, than a mean hunting
after worldly preferments, or an eager scrambling^
for the wealth and advantages of this world.'*
It will be, I conceive, a just apology for so
many extracts from an occasional and fugitive
discourse, that they are worth preserving in this
mode ; and serve to give a portraiture of the per*
son from whose pen they flowed.

( 75 )
Mr. Bourn's next ptib?icat«m was in prosecu
tion of his |)lan fbr the instruction of yoUtb, un
der the title of " Tlie Prtitestant Catechism ; or a
Vindication of the Protestant Reformatibn, edh-
taining a brief account of the original of popfery,
presumptions against it, a refutation Pf its doc
trinal errors, a display of the unscriptural, idola-
teous worship of the Romish church, its immo
ralities in principle and pfactice, and the wicked
metiiods df propagating its sup^stition; the pleas
of the Papists in behalf of their religiony with'
tiieir objections against that of the RefdrmedB
properly considered. The whole adapted to the-
service of Protesta-nt youth, and intended as an
assistant to their instructors," Without his name.
1746. As in the other tracts, there are abo in thi^
numerous illustmtions drawn from the writingar
of Arehbislidpsi Tillotson and Tennison ; Bishops
Burnetj Chandl^n H<5adlf and Stillingfleet j Drs.
Abbdt, Md<Hetonr Bennet; CbilhiJgworth, Ba
ronius, Bfellaruiine, Du PiurFleuri, See,
** If Christians and Protestants act up to*
their obhgations, they will be very serious and di
ligent" says the author, *' in training up their
children in the knowledge and practice of their
•wn christian and protestant principles. As this

( 76 )
is the only method to peipetuate the light of
truth, and to continue religion in the world, so it
is the most necessary and the most noble work
parents, tutors and ministers can possibly employ
themselves in. Here, if any where, must the re
formation of the world begin.
To the preceding publication followed, in
the next year, " The Protestant Dissenters Cate
chism ; or a Vindication of the Principles and
Practices of Protestant Dissenters : containing a
brief history of the Dissenters, the hardships of
ministerial conformity : reasons for separating
from the church of England peculiar to the laity;
a defence of the rights of conscience, private judg
ment, and the toleration of peaceable dissenters :
Answers to several objections commonly urged;
designed and fitted by way of Question, and An
swer, for the use of dissenting parents, to assist
them in the instructing their children concerning
the true grounds of their Nonconformity, as well
as to furnish the unlearned in general with a fair
and plain view of the Controversy. By a lover
of truth and liberty." Without his name. 1747.
12mo. The utility and importance of a tract on this
plan, or of instruction on the point's discussed in

( 77 )
this piece are well stated by the author in his
preface. " Piety and virtue are," says he, " the chief
strength and glory of Protestant Dissenters, as of
all society ; the deserting of which, if ever they
are so unfortunate, will expose them to the con
tempt both of God and men. But as truth and
liberty are subservient to piety and virtue, those
are their secondary strength and ornament ; and
therefore they are prompted by the powerfullest
motives to contend for and support them.
" Nor can they be excused, if their young
ones are educated in ignorance of their principles,
or indifference to their practice: the consequence
of which would naturally be their becoming hi
gotted separatists, or loose apostates ; whereas, on
the contrary, explaining to and inculcating on
their minds, the genuine principles of Protestant
Nonconformity, (which are, the free use of scrip
ture, and of the understanding and conscience in
reference thereunto, with the duty of maintaining
the original simplicity and purity of God's service)
is the way to bring up a race of rational, steady
conformists to Christ's institutions, able to plead
the cause thereof against all ecclesiastical im-
posers, and all obtruded human forms of worship :
If every professor of Christianity should be able to

( 78 )
give a reason of his christian hope, ot why he is
a christian, it is likewise highly expedient that
such as so call themselves should be capable of
assigning a reason why they are Protestants, and
why Protestant Dissenters : If the foundation of
tiiese distinctions be of any import tP mankind, (and
sa*ely it is in a considerable degree) the rising ge
neration ought to be thoroughly acquainted with
it and apprised thereof; for who will be solicitous*
to guard or dtefeAd what they understand not th#
nature and value of ?"
It is proper to add to this extract the author's
efti^rVatiorfS, offered to obviate any offence that
rtiigiit be taketi at the spirit or language of the'
piece, in some parts of it. *• If the ^Its hi thrC
coil^itiitiott and offices of the national church are"
fepresented" &tf whei'e in the ^dlYamng sheets
with more sharpness of expressidn than some raay
iJiink fitting, this I can assure theni prbceeds not
from any acrimony in the Writer, any resentment,
or iflditiatidii to rrritalfethe rtiiiidff of othew, bttt
purd'y to impress the sitlgect, ^tfi a force: ade
quate to itS^nhpPrtatlce> on the usnrferstandlhg'of
the less atteittiver reader, and on the hearts eveft
of fhe leartred vi'rtudus clergy tiretaselves' (if tJiis
Bbok shEtTl haply fall under tiieir inspectiotij that
a due sense ihay be excitfed in all ofthe necessity
of a reformiatioh, ih order tb unite the bedt men df

( 79 )
all parties in one extensive, firm and comely body
of Protestants, and that the worthiest ministers
and most valuable of the laity may enter the
chnrch, as in truth the fold of Christ, without
timt reluctance, those imeasy scruples and misgiv*
ings of conscience, which oflen accompany the
required subscriptions, declarations, oaths and
practices, in the breasts of the most judicious and
upri^t : tbe effecting of which would be exceed
ingly grateful to thousands, both in and out of
the establishment, and in particular to the author."
This piece drew on it animadversions from
the pen of a clergyman : which led Mr. Bourn to
pubhsh '• An Answer to the Remarks of an un-
knoMm Clergyman on the Protestant Dissenters
Catechism, or Vindication of the Principles and
Practice of the Protestant Dissenters. By the
Author of the Protestant Dissenters Catechism,
in aLetter to theRemarker,'' without his name.
To which is annexed a Letter to the Author, from
a Dissenter in London, concerning the propriety
of kneeling at the Lord's Supper. 1747 or 8.
12mo. Our author's last publication was a practical
treatise entitled, "A new Call to the Uncon
verted, in four Sermons on Ezek. xxxiij. 2."
Without his name.

( 80 )
These two last performances have not fallen
in the way of his present biographer.
In the year after his death, 1755, there was
published a volume of " Twenty Sermons on the
most Serious and Practical Subjects of the Christ
ian Religion : fitted for the Use of Private Fami
lies." Which came to a second edition in 1757.
These Sermons are recommended as good models,
on which a young minister may form his style and
manner of address, by Mr, Orton, who ranks the
author with Dr. Jortin, " as saying the most spi
ritual, pertinent and excellent things, in the plain
est and most familiar manner ; so that the hearers
of the lowest understanding may take them in.* ''
Some years after the author's death the Disr
course entitled " Popery a Craft, and Popish
Priests the chief Craftsmen," at a distance of nearly
thirty years from its first publication, appeared
again from the press, in a collection of curious
.Tracts, under the title of " A Cordial for Low
Spirits," originally published, and some of them
wiitten by Thomas Gordon, Esq. the translator of
Tacitus, and author of " The Independent Whig ;"
and in 1763 republished in 3 vols. 12mo. by the
Rev. Richard Baron, a minister ofthe Baptist de-
* '• Letters to Dissenting Ministers, Vol. i. p. 115, and
Vol. ii. p. 98.

( ai )
nomination, who was distinguished by strong in
tellect, and ardour in the cause of civil and reli
gious liberty.

CHAPTER

M

( 82 )

CHAPTER IV.
His Character, — Anecdotes.
THE preceding review of the ministry and
publications of Mr, Bourn will dispose the reader
to give full credit to the delineation of his charac
ter, as a Christian and a Minister, which is drawn
by the pen of his Biographer, in the Memoirs
prefixed to his Posthumous Sermons.
" Our author," says the writer, "was not more
remarkable for his plain, nervous and well studied
discourses, than for the warm and spirited manner
in which he delivered them. His address was
lively and animated, and he had a peculiar art of
engaging the attention of his audience. He con
vinced their judgment, by laying the principles
of the Christian religion plain before them ; and
then won them over to a love of those virtues
and graces which adorn the mind, and are taught
in the gospel, by dressing them in their native,
simple, but lovely garb. An expressive smile
upon his countenance shewed him delighted when
he was expatiating upon the bea,uties of holiness,
and the happiness that accrues from a religious
life; and it never failed to have the same effect
upon his hearers. He had, in his prayers an in-

( 83 )
exhaustible variety of sentiment, with great pro
priety of expression ; and his address to God wks'
fervent and devout. He was particularly fond of,
and took indefatigable pains in, the instruction of
youth ; infusing into them just ahd clear ideas of
God and religion, and giving them a serious, vir
tuous turn of mind. When engaged in contro-'
versial debate, he managed it, on all occasions,
with that warmth and spirit whichhe imagined
the importance of the subject required. He would
sometimes indulge a vein of satyrical humour, ri
diculing, with great pleasantry, the foibles of his
acquaintance ; but would carry it no further than
that they might perceive it was designed for their
good. He was a strenuous defender of gospel
faith, an undaunted asserter of christian liberty,
and a zealous promoter of rational, pure and un
defiled religion. His precepts from the pulpit re-'
ceived a double force from the example he set to
others in private life ; in an humble, becoming
deportment ; in a readiness to visit the sick, to
sympathize with and comfort mourners,/and those
who are afflicted; by a charitable distribution of
food, money and cloaths to the podr ; by compas
sionating and relieving the distressed j by recon
ciling jarring neighbours, and uniting them in
cordial friendship. He kept a strict discipline in
his family, and was solicitously careful about the
eternal welfare of every individual in it. All who

( H )
kn^W him, friends and enemies, experienced the
universal goodness and cpijidour of his heart*."
The stature of Mr. Bpurn, we are informed,
was rather below the middle height ; his habii t of
bo^y thin and slender ; hi^ eye ha4 a pi,ercing. vi
vacity ; his carriage was Uyely and active.
In his common C9p,yets^ti(^, a^d om parti
cular occasions, he had ^ great quickness of re
partee, and a readiness in pungent ari,d witty re
plies. Riding one day to preaphj in cpmpany
with a gentleman who was a Quaker, as they ha4
to pass thrpugh a deep wa.ter, in a flppd cr^atedj
l^y heavy iiains, he was as^^ by hij^ compaijiipjji,
** What wilt thou do, fi;ien4 Bourn, if 1;hy papers
should be so wet or ^a^mage4. tljat thpu coul(dstr
not read th/^m ?" He replied, " At virprst it couW^
be only a siknt. mj^eti^."
On one of t;he trials, yirb^n. he ha^d. beei^ ad-
^ittedj according to his request, to plead his cause
himself, the counsel emp|Py?d by thp a,dyersj9
party, chagrined, with th^ sl?ill, Sagacity a.n^
povirets of! speech whjch he. displayed, asked himi
withifpniqal ill humour, "pf vyhpm he had learnj^
his oratory?" '/.Of one," replied Mr. Bourn,
* Memoirs, p. 6, 7.

( 85 )
•< whom you do not know ; of Paul of Tarsus*.''
On the same, or another occasion, the decision of
the court bein^^- in his favour, the opposite Coun
dl remarked to it, .vith a sneer, he supposed the
parson would go home with triumpli, and next
Su^ay there wpuld be a Te Deum sung by his
«?ongregati(Mi, and a sermon preached on the oc
casion, if he could find a text. Mr. Bpurn said,
^ if finding a text were all, he could pieach a ser
mon before the court broke up, fpr suitable words
suggested themselves tp his thoughts; t<?^ wit,
*¦ This story has been told ip the following manner. —
During Mr Bourn's ministry at Birmingham, an unhappy differ
ence took place in the neighbourhood, between a dissenting
minister and his congregation, which at length came to, a. trial
at Warwick Assize, Several Dissenting ministers in that count}i^
were summoned to attend it, and Mr. Bourn was among the
number. His tum for being questioned coming of course, the
counsel for the defendant observing a plain old man to present
himself, thou<;ht him a fit sulgect for a little mirth, — '' Well
friei)d," sajd he, "you are a dissenting njinister 1 suppose?"
" Yes," replied Mr. Bourn, " I h^ve that honour." " Be so
good then as to tell in what relation you consider youreelf as
standing to your society." — Mr. Bourn :— '' Sir, I ara their serv
ant-" " You consider yourself as their servant then," says he,
** a very modest, humble man truly. — But pray, who gave you
tha.t title?" " An old man," replied Mr, Bourn, " called Paul
—perhaps you may have heard of his name, but it seems, you
Icnow little of his writings." It ie also told, that, one. gentleman
remarked to another, that when Mr. Bourn was examined by
counsel he would silence them; or, said he, ''I will give
you my wig." The event shewed that the remark^ was a just
vne.

( 86 ) ,
" As the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the
laughter of a fool."
If these anecdotes indicate a presence of
mind and a happiness of thought, others, which
are in circulation^ reflect honour on his talents
and spirit as a minister. He is said to have been
negligent in dress, so as not to study the res
pectability of his appearance or the embellishment
of his person, by the quality of his cloaths. On
ascending the pulpit at Lewin's Mead, in Bristol,
at the time of a great fair, where he was un
known, the minds of the people were immediately
impressed with sentiments in his disfavour, that
approached nearly to inward contempt, and a ge
neral displeasure was felt with their ministers for
engaging the services of one whose exterior was
so unpromising and mean. When he began his
prayer their attention was arrested, as he pro
ceeded their hearts were warmed and elevated,
and his sermon, from 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. fixed every
ear and charmed and affected every mind. Dur
ing the interval of the morning and afternoon
service, numerous enquiries were made, who was
the gentleman that had preached, and whether he
were to officiate again.

o

But the devotion and the powers which he
displayed in the pulpit not only overcame the dia-

( 87 )
advantageous sentiments created by his appear
ance, but subdued the strong prejudices which
were formed against him on account of his bold
deviations from the orthodoxy of the day, A
great obloquy and odium were connected with
his name. Many protested against hearing him.
But there were instances of persons, who, notwith
standing a determination not to come within the
sound of his voice, but not being acquainted with
his person, having by some accidental circum
stances been his hearers, went , away delighted,
ashamed of their own prejudices, and determined
not to speak a disrespectful word of him again.
That the effect in hearing Mr. Bourn was
so different from what preconceived opinions
Wpuld anticipate, is to be resolved into the onction
as the French call it, which diffused itself through
his sprayers and discourses. It was a distinguish«-
ing trait and excellence of his character, that he
was fully possessed of, that he was borne and car
ried away, by the sublime and devotional spirit
of his office. Of this the nature and design of
his publications is a proof: they are all conse
crated to the great objects of the christian min
istry; of which he was evidently solicitous to
make. full proof. This gave force and animation
to his manner in the pulpit. This determined the
course of his private studies. An -idea may be

( 88 ,
formed of the views he entertained concerning the
importance of this character, and of the solemn
consequences arising from the discharge of its du
ties, by the prayer for a young ministef, in thfe
Young Christians Prayer Book*.
Another distingiiishing trait in Mr. Boum'i
character was ardour in the cause of religious li
berty and free-enquiry. TWb of his catechetical
compositions, namely, " The Vindication of the
Reformation and of a Protestant Dissettt,** wef-6
designed td develope and defend the principles of
religious liberty, and to point out their influence
in removing the corruptions of Christianity, and
the application of them to justify the separation
of Protestants from the chtirch of Ilome, and th^
secession of Dissenters frOm the church of Etf^-
land. The following questions and answers fur
nish specimens cX the manner in Which he argued
the right of private judgment.
'' Q. Oil What grotiTld do ydu deny the ne
cessity of human judges in religious affairs?'^
'* A. Because we have a plain and infalUble
rule whereby all whd will sincerely alpply therd-
unto may be equally directed in their duty ; and
^ • Appendix, No. iv.

( 89 )
none but Christ is a competent judge who has
sincerely endeavoured to understand and conform
to this rule. Nor can any man be a judge in re
ligion who is not a party, and who will not there
fore always judge his own opinions and his own
worship right. Besides what need can there be
of any judg-e, while one man's possessing his opi
nion is no bar to his neighbour's possessing his,
nor does him the least injury. In temporals, one
man's possessing a thing may be an invasion or
withholding of another man's right; and when
titles are litigated, or there are several claimants,-
a judge is needful, to determine the dispute, and
fix the property, but the spiritual concernments
of mankind are of a quite different species: all
may possess the same truth, or perform the same
duty, without interfering with or in the least
prejudicing one another ; as, on the other side,
men's contrary opinions in points of faith and
various practices in respect of worship, have not
the smallest tendency, in the nature of things to
prejudice the different parties. And therefore
in these cases there is no more occasion for a
judge, than there is for deciding what apparel
men shall wear, when people shall dine, or what
they shall feed on. This being the very truth,
there can not be a more flagrant instance bf the
audaciousness of one set of men than their assert-
N

( 90 )
ing the necessity of a human judge in a matter
which does not in the least require any ; or the
low stupidity of the vulgar, on the other hand,
in admitting, nay greedily embracing, such an
imposition*." To the question, " But is not this to make
every private man a judge, even in opposition to
the judgment of councils, bishops, assemblies of
divines ?"
The reply is, " It may be answered, 1.
Every man to whom God has given eyes and un
derstanding is obliged to use them as well as he
can; especially in rehgious matters, or in judging
of the sense of scripture, wrote for every man's
tise. 2. Every man, as a servant to his own mas
ter, being accountable for doing or not doing his
Lord's will, has a right to judge what his Lord's
will is. 3. In doing this he only opposeth his
reason to the authority of men, and the judgment
and will of God to the judgment and will of
men f." On this statement a question may arise, " If
people are left to their own judgment and choice
• The Protestant Dissenter's Catechism, p. 118—120.
t A Vindication of tke Protestant Reformation, p. 155.

( 91 )
in religion, may they not be of any religion, and
justify themselves upon this principle r"
Mr. Bourn answers, " Men not only may
but ought to be of that religion which appears to
them best, on a sincere, impartial, diligent en
quiry, and will be justified before God and all
good men, in choosing that which seems most
eligible to them on such a scrutiny. On the
other hand, that is no religion which is not
judged to be right, and chosen as such by men
themselves; and he who does not exercise his
understanding, and act upon his own choice, is
really of no religion at all. If a man only pro
fesses to believe what another dictates, or acts
only as another requires, without using his own
reason, or attending to the dictates of his consci
ence, he has nothing like a divine faith, but sub
stitutes a blind obedience to man instead of a re
gard to God and truth. Joshua knew that truie
devotediiess to God could be consequent only on
men's choosing whom they would serve. Josh.
xxiv. 15*."
To another question connected with this sub
ject, viz. " Has not every church or christian so
ciety a right to establish religion, which is necessary
to the well being of society?"
* Protestant Dissentei's Catechism, p. 12&, 127.

( 92 )
Mr, Bourn answers, " Real inward religion,
the virtues ofthe mind aud heart, are already es
tablished by the laws of Christ, who is a judge of
real religion, because he searcheth tlie heart ; and
this real religion, these virtiies,. are indeed very-
beneficial to society : moreover, the exercise of in
ward virtue in external social duties, speaking
truth, doing justly, living chastly, shewing mercy,
these, as beneficial to society, ,are established by
laws, human and divine ; but' external forms,
modes, professions, ceremonies, which only can be
established by human laws, are no ways beneficial
to society, but an injury, as they tend to break
its peace, and to put a damp on, and are often
substituted in the stead of real religion*."
On these principles Mr, Bourn was attached
to ^the cause of a protestant dissent, and defended
it not only from the press, but avowed it with
warmth and earnestness in his private correspon
dence. In a letter to one of his sons, February
23, 1744-5, I find him thus expressing himself:
** The cause of the dissenters is a just and worthy
one; but our enthusiasts and bigots are like to
ruin it; at least sadly disgrace it." In another
letter he more fully writes to the same purpose :
" the cause ofthe dissenters, when rightly stated
* A Vindication of the Protestant Dissenters, p, 126, 127,
135, 136.

( 93 )
and understood, is a worthy and glorious cause.
It is that, of truth, religious truth, virtue and li
berty. And I shall be sorry if any of my sons
desert or betray it ; and more sorry if they act
that part, not from conviction, but only from se
cular considerations, ]\Ir.  may go to church
and be easy, and yet Mr. Ab. Bourn may go
there and not be easy, Mr. '¦¦- may seem to be
easy aud not be so : but if he be so it is less
strangle, since he only returns to the communion
and worship he was educated in, and perhaps did
not leave upon religious principles. Besides any
man may be easy in any two ways, who has a
previous indifference to both ; who never studies
the difference, or so slightly attends as not to see
the chief distinguishing characters of either.
The purity and liberty of religious worship (the
cause they judged Gods and Christ's) our fathers
thought .vorth the loss of all church preferments,
of a comfortable subsistence, of reputation, of
liberty, of life. In this cause they took patiently
if not joyfully, the spoiling of their goods, the
plunder of their studies, separation from their
friends, cruel mockings, large fines, tedious im
prisonments, lingering deaths. And shall we, their
sons, basely and cowardly sacrifice this cause*.?"
Besides Mr. Bourn's publications from the
* Letter to Mr. Abraham Bourn, July 24, 1747'

( 94 )
press, he was, on particular occasions, called upon
to defend the principles of liberty and of the
dissenters by his pen, in private and personal cor
respondence. In January 1745-6 Mr. Groome
the vicar of Sedgley, addressed him in a letter, in
consequence of a letter from Mr. Bourn, on his
dissent from the church of England, which drew
from him a long letter in vindication of a dissent,
to which Mr. Groome replied, that he had read it
with calmness and deliberation, but in his humble
opinion it was done in a very weak and ineffectual
inanner, " whether it is so or not, upon examina
tion shall be left, if you please, to the determina
tion of the learned and unprejudiced. Before I
give you any other answer I beg you would in
form me who are the authors that have answered
some or all the London cases *, because I will im
mediately procure them, if possible. The reading
of which may perhaps abate my passion for their ar
guments, in favour of which, at present, I may be
suspected to be deeply prejudiced. I shall only
at this time advise you not to grow too head
strong by the indulgence which the law gives you.
For these are known rules in law, " that he for
feits his privilege who goes beyond the bounds of
it ; that no privileges are to be extended beyond
the bounds which the laws give them ; for they
• See Note, No. 5.

( 95 )
ought to be observed as they are given." To
this Mr. Bourn rejoined :
Cosely, January 30, 1745.
Sir,
Wlietber my letter in answer to yours be a
very weak one, I readily concur with the proposal
of leaving to the determination of the learned and
unprejudiced. And whether it be ineffectual as
to yourself I must leave to your own feeling and
judgment. And I hope by your advice not to grow
headstrong, &c. your meaning is not, that human
"establishments add any thing to the evidence of
truth or to the force of argument, or that the
want of such an establishment detracts at all from
them. Nor that any man has less right to plead
his cause for being deprived, and perhaps unjustly,
of some of the advantages of this world, to which
he has an equal right with other peaceable sub
jects. With regard to your request, I know that
three or four of the London cases have been an
swered : for I have the answers by me, which you
shall be very welcome to the reading of, if you de
sire it, as Delaune's Plea for Nonconformity, in

( 9Q )
answer to Dr. B. Calamy about'scrupulouS con
sciences-; Mr. Nathaniel Taylor's answer to the
second and third cases about church communion;
Mr. Pierce's answer to the sixth chapter of the
abridgment of the London cases, I have also
Robinson's Answer to Bennet on Liturgies.
Tong's Defence of Henry on Schism I have not.
And if some others of the cases are not answered
when you have read Delaune'^ Plea and the his
tory of his sufferingis* for writing it, you will see
reason (and more might be added) tp justify the
silence of the dissenters.
But if you are disposed to read any more
-upon that controviersy. Bishop ,¦ Stijlingfleet's Ire-
nicum, Baxter's Nonconformity stated and ar
gued, Calderwood's Altare Damascenum, Peirce's
Vindication ofthe Dissenters against Dr Nichols,
in Latin or English, Boyse's Answer to William,
Lord Bishop of Derry (all which books I have)
will set the case of the Protestant Dissenters in a
fair light. To make an impartial judgment of
which is the desire of your humble, servant, S. B.
Whether Mr, Groome read the authors to
whom Mr. Bourn referred him, there are no do.
cuments to shew. Nor is the first letter which
* See my edition of Neal's History of the Puritans, vol.
iv. p. 608—610. Editor.

( 97 )
he wrote to be found. It seems that it was writ
ten with asperity, and that Mr, Bourn's reply,
though it did not carry conviction to his judg
ment, softened his temper, as may be con61uded
from the substance of it given above, and appears
from a postscript, of which, though part of it is
lost by time and torn off, sufficient remains to
shew that it both disavowed every feeling of per-
sPnal enmity, and expressed a strong conviction
that a minister of the gospel ought to be " a lo
ver of peace, unity and concord, and be disposed
to love his enemies and forgive injuries; that
these virtues are essential qualifications to his
character and will adorn his profession." On
which ground Mr. Bourn says, in his answer,
•' I do entirely agree with you in the whole of
your christian postscript."
From Mr. Bourn's existing letter, in this
correspondence, it may be gathered, that Mr.
Groome's turned on various topics connected
with a dissent from the church of England. It
inight be deemed tedious to give it at length :
but some passages from it may be acceptable to
the reader, as specimens of his reasoning and
spirit, and may call the attention of the Dissenters
of this day to some points of which they seem
to have lost sight. o

, ( 98 )
No one will be at any loss to imagine
to what languag'e and what charges in Mr.
Groome's letter the following paragraphs allude :

I

'• As to " railing," rendering the services of

ig, il.llU..iIllg

their brethren " odious, contemptible or abomi
nable," I hope tlie Dissenters generally leave it
to men \yho have a better talent for such work;
and instead of " an obstinate and unreasonable
¦ I' .
separation," satisfy themselves with a conscien
tious and reasonable Nonconformity to subscrip
tions, oaths, declarations and practices, which no
men have a right to impose upon them, as terms
of ministerial, or christian, communion. Were
there nothing of conscience or reason in the case,
but pure obstinacy and humour, it is strange, that
the prospect of preferment in the church and the
path of profit in the state, have not long before
this cured that obstinacy. Men, generally, are
true to their worldly interest, and quick enough
to see it, and need neither courting nor scolding.
to embrace it. Nor can I think the human
branches of the government, discipline and wor
ship of the church of England would be so stren
uously pleaded for, or so securely subsist, if all
the advantages of this world were withdrawn,
and she was left to the force of naked truth and
right, as the primitive christian church was.

( 99 )
'* With regard to discipline, it is so far fi-om
being a mortification to the Dissenters, that they
count it their happiness to be delivered from the
claws of the spiritual court — that they can exer
cise all christian discipline among themselves ; and
as they need no coercive power to give sanction
to their sentences, so they are very thankful the
clergy have none, and hope that neither the es
tablished nor dissenting clergy will ever be trusted
more with civil power. Yet we think parish min
isters are abridged in their pastoral office: though
if you feel it not it is a less infeHcity to you.
But then what means the church by praying' year
after year for a godly discipline, if you have it
already?" •* As to church-music, would not David's
example countenance dancing as well as organs?
And when you have turned the churches into
music meetings and dancing rooms, you will still
be very angry if we do not pay reverence to con
secrated floors and walls. But one law for organs
in the New Testament, or one example of their
use in the christian church for the first three
hundred years, would weigh more with me than
any instances of Jewish worship. Besides, it is
no great recommendation of organs, that a Pope
first introduced them into the church, as is ob
served, from Platina, by a learned gentleman of

( 100 )
the church, in a discourse on cathedral worship,
at the end of a compendious history of Noncon
formity. Nor does it tend to enhance our value
for them* that they had been read out of the
church, with other things, by an English convo-
qation, in 1562, if a majority of one vote by the
proxies, who heard not the debate, had not kept
them in.
" In lieu of your decent and sensible quota
tion from the Scots' Presbyterian Eloquence, I will
transcribe you one from a much belter and greater
author, no less an one than the late Marquis of
Halifax, a courtier in the reign of Charles II. and
James II. and therefore far enough from a Pres
byterian. This noble writer, after expressing his
disrelish of impertinent wanderings in prayer,
thus goes on: " But when God and nature have
distinguished men from their fellow-labourers by
blessing them with a happier talent, or by giving
them not only good sense but a powerful utter
ance, enabling them to gush out upon the atten
tive auditory, with a mighty stream of devout
unaffected eloquence ; when a man so qualified,
endued with learning, and above all adorned with
a good life, breaks out into a warm and well de
livered prayer before sermon, it has the appear
ance of a divine rapture: he raises and leads the
hearts of the assembly in another manner than the

( 101 )
most composed or best, studied fprm of words can
do. And the Pray wees who serve up their ser
mons with the same garnishing, would look lik^
so many statues, or men of stjaw, compared with
those who speak with such a pow.erful zeal that
men are tempted at the moment to beheve that
heaven itself has dictated their words to them."
" You proceed to affirm that I am the
greatest oppression, (I suppose you mean oppres
sor) in the parish, both to priest and people :
which I assure you I did not know before : and
many years believed there was at least one greater.
I am not conscious of ability, nor of having had
opportunity of (j)ppressing the rich. And as to
the poor, I am free to stand the vote of the ma
jority, or to submit, fairly cast. Not only so, but
I -believe I can secure you a See for your cunning
or pains, if you prove the point, that I am the
greatest, that is, that there is not (nor has been
since I came into it), a greater oppressor in the
parish; though if you fail of proof, as I expect
you will, yet I will not say, that *' you have the
b^st talent at lying and[ calumny of any in th©
parish *."
* Mr. G. had spoken, referring to Mr. B. himself, of
the *' cunning craftiness of suclx men as lie in wait to deceive,
and of a talent of lying."

( 102 )
** You conclude with advice: in compliance
with which I have considered the ruinous nature
of schism, aiid as far as I can find from, my bible,
from the principles of reason, from consulting the
learned John Hales of Eton, Chillingworth, Stil-
lingfleet's " irenicura," and other authors, the
guilt of schism heth chiefly at the church door : I
mean on them who impose indifferent things as
liecessary, and make terms of ministerial and
christian communion Christ never made.
" As to our Lord, I read that h^ preached in
houses, fields, ships, that is, in conventicles, as
we'll as in the synagogues, and conformed to all
God*s^ institutions. And that'St. Paul was a dis
senting minister, both from the Jewish and pagan
established churches : yet he preached in thb
synagogues ; as I would do in the churches, if I
might. " But when you ascribe sp great effects to
my coming into the chtirch, you make a more sig
nificant man of me than I took myself to be.
But then, unhappy me! you take off all this kind
and generous allowance, by reckoning it uncom*
mon insolence to give directions to the orthodox
clergy. Why, really, I have been so much in the
wrong till now, as to think myself orthodox, and
a minister of the gospel -too, and that one ortho^

( 103 )
dpx brother might give advice to another. But it
seems I am sadly mistaken. But coming into the;,
G^lurch would set all right again : but yet there
would be some danger in that too : for if toleration
only makes me almost "stark mad," what would
preferment and an establishment do? Especially, if
I should prove so lucky as to set steeple upon
steeple, I raight look down from the top, till I
became giddy and ran quite mad. One mortifi
cation is yet behind : " There is a certain rainister
in my neighbourhood, who can't call me a brother
minister until I acknowledge his diocesan as a
father. His diocesan may be Aw father; but till
1 know him and know the ground of his pater
nity, it would be folly or presumption in me to
own him as my father."
It is a proof of Mr. Bourn's sincere and ar
dent attachment to the principles of religious li
berty, and shews the consistency of his conduct,
that he felt great displeasure at any violation of
them among Dissenters themselves. An affair at
Kidderminster drew from his pen strong remon
strances against an imposing spirit. The congre
gation in that town, after the death of their es
teemed and worthy pastor the Rev. Matthew
Bradshaw, in 1742, directed their views to Mr,
Statham, who had pursued his academical studies
under the Rev. John Jennings. Two persons who

( 104 )•
took an active piiTcyn this occasion, not satisfied
with forming- their judgment of the sentiments
which this gentleman' entertained on CPntrovert'ed
questions ' iil theology, frbm the tenot ' of ' his
preaching, and from other sources of irifdrmation,
drew up a test td try the soundness of his faith,
and to furnish a model by whieh his futufe dis
courses were td be framed. It consisted of three
articles, his assent or subscription to which was
to be the condition df his being chosen pastor :
one was on the doctrine of the trinity, the second
on original sin, and the third on our justification
before God only on account of the merits of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ applied by faith.
This measure met with the marked disapprobation
of Mr. Bourn : he considered it as opening an in
quisitorial office to try ministers' faith, as an in
vasion of the rights and -privileges of a thristian
society, and as the offspring of insolence and'
pride in the persons who proposed it ; while he
was grieved at the heat and animosities which it
produced. He employed his pen to expose its
folly and to counteract its operation by two let
ters, the dne anonymous and the other with his
name, in which he freely passes his censures upoii'
it: they are given in the Appendix*, as justice
cannot be so fully done to the reasonings they
• No. i.

( 105 )
contain and to the spirit which dictated them, as^
by laying them at length before the reader.
A distinguishing trait in Mr. Bourns charac
ter was an openness and frankness in the avowal
.of his sentiments. He was clear in his ideas and
decided in his judgment; and he carried that de
cision, without much regard to consequences, into
his conduct, in instances where some, from timi
dity, or doubt, were guarded and ambiguous in the-
, statement of their opinions.
A montlily publication* which promises to
be very serviceable, by diffusing a spirit of candor
and liberality, and by promoting a free discussion
of theological questions, has lately given to the
public some letters of Mr, Bourn to Dr. Dodd
ridge, and one from the doctor to him. Thjs
correspondence passed in the years 1739-40, 17'^1
and 1742, The letters of these gentlemen are
very characteristic and expressive of their res
pective tempers. The occasion of Mr. Bourn's
address was a note on John i, 1, in the Family
F^xpositor; which, in his judgment, wholly re
moved and destroyed ; the most obvious sense of
the, paraphrase.
"^ The Monthly Repository of Theology and General Lite'
ratme. Vol, i. Nos, 6, 7, 8,9.

( 106 )
The paraphrase Mr. Bourn thought would
lead an attentive and learned reader into an idea
of the wyo; as a being subordinate to that God
who generated or gave him being, with whom he
was, and who constituted him, before his incarna
tion, guardian of the Jewish state : in the note
the author openly declared against taking the
word God, when used of the ^oyof, in a subordi
nate or inferior sense. But it was not so much
the notion which Dr. Doddridge advanced in his
note, and the absurdity of it, in Mr. Bourn's view,
that offended him, as the latter part of the note,
where the doctor, making very solemn declarations
of sincerity and seriousness, expressed himself in
general and lax terms, so as to create a suspicion
that, in complaisance to a party, he had trimmed
it a little with the gospel of Christ. On which
he remonstrated thus : " I can't forbear saying,
that nothing of this nature — no, not the shadow
,of corrupting the word of God, should come
from a doctor in divinity, who having, (as he
owns) sat at the feet of his master, andljtamed
from him, undertakes to expound his will for the
instruction of plain, honest souls, who are willing
to learn, and who yet will be more ready to attend
to your solemnly professed faith than they are
capable of judging of the reasons upon which
that faith is founded*."
* Monthly Repository, p. 293—296.

( 107 )
The doctor, in his reply, without going into
any critical discussions, renewed his solemn de
clarations, that as he saw no reason to alter the
passage Mr. Bourn excepted against, in a second
edition, so he wrote it " as what appeared to
him most agreeable to truth, and most subservi
ent to the purposes of God's glory and the edifi
cation of the readers*."
As this letter shows the spirit of Dr. Dodd
ridge to be mild and benevolent, and friendly and
respectful to him to whom it is addressed, so Mr.
Bourn's answer indicates the frankness and sim
plicity of his mind. Of this the following pas
sages are a specimen.
To the doctor's apprehension that Mr. Bourn
entertained very unfavourable sentiments con
cerning him, he replied : " While, sir, you do me
the justice to suppose I have really an ill opinion
of you, you do me if not yourself great injustice,
in regard I have on many accounts a very good
opinion of you, and often express it : but I have
an ill, a very ill opinion of corrupting the word
of God, of imposing upon the understanding of
men in important doctrines of religion, and of
prevaricating in solemn professions of faith.
* Monthly Repository, p. 342.

( 108 )
Now if you, or any good fnin, are iri any of
these respects guilty, I miist own this ought sd
far to abate my good opinion ; and itt this case a
word behind a man inay be very seasonable, when
he is turned aside to the right hand ol- to the left.
*' Though I am far from judging any in an
a fool for not thinking as I do, or for hot declar
ing he does so, yet if he be of my opinion, and
make a profession of his faith which iiafiirally
leads his readers and hearers to believe he is of a
very different opinion, though I will not call the
man a knave, yet I cannot acquit the actidii of
insincerity and double dealing j and though even
by such methods a man may intend the glory of
God and the edification of souls (as I hope Peter
did, when he dissembled his sentiments, Gal. ii,
11.) yet you know these holy intentions will ndt
excuse, much less consecrate, unholy actions.
" Moreover, as I apprehend no man is fully
qualified to preach and expound the gospel of
Christ, who has not honesty and courage to de
liver plainly what he judges the true sense of it,
and that there is no gospel-truth any Christian
or minister of Christ need be afraid or ashamei
to profess, so I cannot think but God is mos't
glorified, and that souls will, in the issue, be most
edified by an open and honest publishing the

( 109 ).
rfuth, especially when the nature of the work
requires it, (as in the case of a printed exposition)
and where we take on us solemnly to do it ; and
Want of openness, sincerity and courage may
have worse effects on good men (as Peter's <lissi-
mulation had on Barnabas) than the exercise of
those virtues ; nor need I fear to affirm that it is
certainly better to lose the favour of man, by an
excess or an imprudent use of sincerity, than
lose the favour of God by a defect of it*."
Tlie answer which Dr. Doddridge returned
td Mr. Bourn's second letter is supposed to be
lost : by Mr. Bourn's reply to it, it should seem
that it was written in his usual strain of politeness
and respect. Mr. Bourn's answer affords a spe
cimen of the decision of his judgment. The
doctor had expressed a fear of derogating from
those divine honours which the scriptures ascribe
to Christ. That fear Mr. Bourn allows to " be
just and pious : but the same principle," he adds,
** ought to make us more fear derogating from
those divine honours the scriptures ascribe to God
the father, amongst which are the honours of ab
solute supreme government, — of begetting his
only begotten Son, — of constituting him guardian
of the Jewish nation, — of appointing him man's
* Monthly Repository, pp. 409, 10.

( 110 )
.redeemer, sending him on the great errand, &c.
&c. all which, and a hundred other arguments,
demonstrate the inferiority or subordination of
the Son to the Father; and if he was subordinate
(or was begotten, that is, any way derived, though
incomprehensible) before his incarnation, he must
continue inferior or subordinate after his incarna
tion, though after that he is invested with all
power in heaven and earth*."
Some, I am sensible, have felt regret at the
publication of this correspondence, and have been
disposed to blame it ; especially as it was of a
private nature, and brings to light, so many
years afterwards, a difference between two worthy
and eminent men, who have been long asleep in
their graves. But doth not this objection pro
ceed from too great a tenderness for characters of
distinguished merit? The best are men: failings
and faults attach to them. Should we be anxious
to hand them down to posterity as blameless and
perfect ? The failings and the faults of the good
are, as well as their virtues, instructive, and form
features in their characters. If the latter excite
emulation, the forraer teach caution. The prin
cipal figure in a picture loses nothing of its beauty
from the shades that accompany it. History
* Monthly Repository, p. 459.

( 111 )
and Biography should shew men as they were ;
or the delineation of character is erroneous, dis
guised and partial. The dissention between Paul
and Barnabas, the reproof of Peter by Paul have
not been suppressed. The consequence is, that
we see these apostolical men in their true colours;
and it appears that there was no combination to
support a fraud and to impose on the world. As
to the persons before us, if Dr. Doddridge in
curred with Mr. Bourn the suspicion of trimming,
it arose partly from his kind fear of giving unne
cessary offence, and partly from his being more
devoted to what were deemed the orthodox doc
trines, than Mr. Bourn imagined*; and Mr.
Bourn's remonstrances do credit to the ingenuous,
undisguised sincerity of his own character. They
might mistake each other's conduct and views:
but they were both men of exalted virtues ; they
were both to be numbered amongst the most
exeellent and useful Christians and Christian min
isters. To return to Mr. Bourn : The ardor of his
mind and the openness of his temper were not
always confined to those opportunities of expres
sing themselves, which an epistolary correspon-
* In vindication of Dr. Doddridge's sincerity, reference
may be made to Orton's Memoirs of him, p. 261 — 371^ ani
Pr. Kippis's Life of him, p. 173—178, Svo,

( 112 )
dence or the press afford, but would break out
on tbe moment, and, as sorae will think, without
a fdue attentioaa to time and place, seize the occa
sions as they ai'ose. In June 1742 there appeared
in the vicinity of Coseley, a field preacher and a
baptist, under the disguise of a Methodist, who
adivanced antinomian .doctrines and collected mo
ney from the crowd, that gathered round ihim.
He was an empty fdilow'and a poor preacher: but
the novelty 'df the (thing drew multitudes. When
one day he had addressed the people, on Tipton
Green, and a plelte-was sent round to collect for
him, Mr. 'Bourn made a speech to the audience,
after the .dther ;had concluded, to fortify them
against his pernicious doctrine, and to prevent
their parting with their money inconsiderately ;
admonishing them that they knew nothing; of ithe
man .who) had spoken to them; but- that there were
old peraple t-and distressed-families, with whose^ji-
tAiationthfiy' were -well acquainted, who had.jafed
of their assistance, if they had any thrngto.hes-
tow, and who were proper objects of their cha
rity. Thus he dispersed . the crowd, and every
one went; to his Ovwra house.
At another time Mr. Bourn attended a. Qua
kers' meeting ; and after one of the friends had
spoken, he took advantage of , the silence, ^a^4
mounting a fomv replied ¦ tp, and fully answered,

( 113 )
what had been said, when, during the earnestness
of his discourse, his foot slipped, and he fell down.
Instantly numbers of the auditors called out,
•' Help the gentleman up !" repeating it, as if
apprehensive tliey might, by that unfortunate slip,
be deprived of some part of his discourse.
Being present, at another time» at the ordi
nation of a young minister to an independent
congregation in Birmingham, who had been accom
modated with the use of the New Meeting-
house for the occasion, Mr. Bourn was so moved
and disturbed by the sentiments advanced in the
confession, that he made several efforts to rise and
controvert them at the moment ; and was with
difficulty restrained from an open and immediate
animadversion, by his friend Mr. Orton,. who sat
in the pew with him.
In these instances, at least in the last, Mr,
Bourn's zeal will be thought, in this day^ to have-
transported him beyond the rules of decorum,
and that forbearance and deference which are due
to the feelings of others, and to their right to
deliver their sentiments without interruption and
molestation. But it will be recollected that
he hved nearer ta times in which it had not
been unusual to controvert at the moment, and
Q

( 114 )
on the spot, principles advanced by the preachers
in places of public worship. In the preceding
century. Dr. Gunning, afterwards Bishop of Ely,
went, on two Lord's-days, to Mr. Biddle's meeting
house, accompanied by some learned friends, arid
publicly commenced a disputation with him. It
is an improvement in modern manners that these
intrusions on the order of a religious society, and
attacks by surprize, are discarded.
Mr. Bourn, though he did not think it pro
per to lay aside the Assembly's Catechism, which
initiatdry piece of religious instruction carried
with it, in that day, a very undue authority ; yet
shewed in his use of it his integrity of mind
and zeal for truth : for in his catechetical lectures
he freely censured, as he thought a faithful pastor
• ought to do, the doctrines he believed to be erro
neous; which were not, in his opinion, esitherfew
or small. In his sermons, notwithstanding the
¦ ardor of his mind, he never dwelt much in con-
troversy ; but could appeal to his hearers, that
his aim was to make all his sermons evangelical,
•practical and useful. And* the earnestness and
readiness with which, on incidental occasions or in
his catechetical lectures, he entered ihto contro
versial discussion, were not wholly expended on
points about which Christians disagree. His ca
techism on the truths of natural religion, and on

( 115 ) .
the ti:uth and divine authority of the Christian
reveUtion, is a pi-oof of the abihty and ardor with
which he defended the common cause against
those who reject divine revelation. In the sum
mer of 1741 he carried this controversy, which he
judged the greatest Christian controversy, into
the pulpit; and vindicated, in a series of discourses,
the divine mission of Moses and the prophets,
Christ and his apostles, and the credibifity and
divine authority of the scriptures, against the
deists *.
Mr. Bourn appears also to have intended a
work calculated to do peculiar honour to the
scriptures, by exhibiting their sentiments on all
the subjects of faith and duty, in a methodical
arrangement. The manuscript is before me, en
titled, " the Scriptmes of the Old Testament di
gested under proper heads; wherein the whole
faith and duty and expectation of a Christian are
represented; according to the method of Dr.
GaStrell, Bishop of Chester, in his Christian Insti
tutes: wherein the history, examples or facts of '
scripture are more especially referred to.'' The
Bishop's judfcious collection of scriptures is
formed out of both the Old and New Testament*
and the passages are digested together, without
regard to the order of the sacred books from
* Monthly Repository, vol. i. p. 411. Bourn's Letter to
Dr. Doddridge. .<,

< 116 )
which they are derived. Mr. Bourn's treatise
follows the order of the books and chapters, and
blends together, as the title intimates, declara
tions, and facts, under the heads borrowed from
the contents of the bishop's piece; ahd is also
limited to the books of the Old Testament.
The author adopts, from Dr. Clarke's letter to
Dodwell, a sentence which seems to have sug
gested and directed his design, as it is a motto
to his title. " The scriptures," says the doctor,
" are not writ in a scholastic way, but in a plain
and unpolite style, where argument, similitude
and illustration are promiscuously us^d; which is
the way of representing things popularly and to
mean capacities." At the end of every head
there are references to authors : the sentiments
are not always delivered in the words of scrip
ture, but are expressed in the form of remarks,
pointing out the truths to be deduced from the
passages quoted, or the subjects of them. For
instance, under the head of candour in judging,
are quoted thus, Gen. xii. 18. Good men are apt
to be 'tod suspicious. Ch. xviii. "24. Abraham
Judgeth^naritably'of Sodom. Ch- xx. 10. An ill
suspicion is an affront. Ch. xxxi. 26. Laban cen
sures Jacob, and has ah ill suspicion of hini. Ch.
xliv, 17. IVJen may he betfe'r than we appre-
Ijended them to be, Ch, xlix. 7. We must dis
tinguish between sin and the person.

( 117 )
CHAPTER V.
Mr. Bouni's Marriage and Family.
MR. BOURN, during his residence at
Crook, married Miss Harrison, of or near Ken
dall; from a very respectable family, some
branches of which had lived, independently of
trade, on their own estate at Blackholme, near
Windermere, from father to son, ever since the
days of Queen Elizabeth. Mrs. Bourn was a lady
of piety and good sense, and of great excellence
of character. She survived her husband many
years, residing at Birmingham, and died in 1768.
I find her maternal feelings and high sense of the
importance of the virtuous and religious charac
ter, well expressed in a letter to one of her sons,
March 20, 1746-7. In which she writes thus:
*' I had a handsome and good letter from
Benjamin last week. He expresses himself easy
at present in the main, and as for futurity he
seems to be in a very good and resigned temper,
resolved to stick to his duty and chearfuUy take
what providence allots him. Dr. Benson says -that
he is much improved, and that he is a most ami
able youth, Mrs. Benson also, iri a letter to me,
gives a good character of' him. They wish that

( 118 )
lie may meet with encouragement iaccording to
his desert. This is very reviving to me. I had
rather have assurance of the virtuous and pious
dispositions of my sons than to have bags of gold
brought me, or to hear that they were commenced
lords or dukes. And good reason for the prefer
ence: for wisdom is not only preferable to gold,
but every other thing that can be desired on earth
is not wortby a comparison with it,"
Mrs. Bourn left behind her, in manuscript.
Reflections written on her Birth-day, and other.
Occasions, which she had transcribed from loose
and scattered papers. They breathe a spirit of
fervent devotion, and shew a reflecting mind, ' In
One, November 14, 1758, when she had attained
to her seventieth year, she thus writes : '• "What,
yet in this sinful state ?-T-Sure it must be for some
end, some wise design, that I am thus long spared,
after so many of my dear and intimate friends
and acquaintance are removed, and have taken
their last farewell of this world. , They are gone,
never more to return. Lately they were busy in
life, had, much busiriess-, and many affairs and
projects depending. Some of them ydung, in
the midst of their days; perhaps laying schemes
for years to come; but lo! they must go when
summoned, and leave their all here in other hands.
Oh! what trifles are all the busy hurries of this

( 119 )
world in God's account! Oh! could we but see
and value things according to truth, how little
and trifling would the things of this world ap-
jiear; and how vast and important the concerns
of our souls and the other world !"
On another of these occasions, No*.'ember
14, 1760, she expresses herself thus : " How
many of my dear friends have got the start of
me, and have left me in this dark and dreary
world ; and yet I am loth to call this world bad
names, because here are so many and such a va
riety of blessings. The riches of his goodness
abound greatly in this distant country; what then
will that goodness be which he has lain up to be
enjoyed hereafter by them thst love him." On
another occasion, March 22, 1761, "It is seven
years this day," she writes, " since my dearest
relation I had upon earth, was removed from me.
Then I comforted myself with hopes that T
might surely weather out a little while longer ;
I thought it could not be long. But, like the
other parts of life, I have met with both afflictions
and mercies since that time: indeed, my afflic
tions were themselves mercies, if I had a heart
to improve them, to hastfen my pace towards
heaven, by confirming christian habits, and
weaning' myself from the fondness for' this world
and the things below." One passage more shall

( 120 )
close these extracts. Mar^h 22, 1763: '* It is
now ten years since my late dear Mr. Bourn left
me and his body behind him, and in his spirit as
cended to his God and father. It cannot be long,
certainly, I have yet to sojourn here below. I am
fearful and yet am desirous of that change. It
is awful to sinners : to unpardoned sinners it must
be dreadful indeed. I am a sinner ; but I hope
for pardon through a mediator, according to the
merciful scheme of redemption by Jesus Christ.
Oh ! that 1 may not fail of coming up to the,
terms required of those who shall be pardoned
and saved. Oh ! for an interest in the pardoning
covenant made with sinners in Jesus Christ. I
have often dedicated myself to God in this gospel
covenant. I have recognized and renewed it
from time to time. I hope for pardon for my
many deviations from it, through the boundless
mercy of the ever blessed God, in and through
him. May I now then rejoice in hopes of that
eternal life which is the gift of God. Oh! how
unspeakable is his gift ! Perhaps we shall never
know its unspeakable value to all eternity ; for
as it will be a gift that can never be spent, how
can the value of it be perfectly known?"
Mr, and Mrs. Bourn had nine children,
the two eldest of whom were Ministers ; namely
Joseph and Samuel.

(121 )
Mr. Joseph Bourn was born in 1713. He
pursued his academical studies at Glasgow : butj-
unhappily, his progress in literature was much
impeded by a, severe fever in his youth. His first
settlement wasat Congleton^in Cheshire: but the
greatest part of his ministry was spent in a pasto
ral connection with a congregation df Protestant
Dissenters at Hindley, two miles from Wigan, in
Lancashire; where his name and his virtues are
still remembered with affection and respect. He
married in 1748 Miss Fanworth, the daughter
of one of the best of men ; a young lady of con
siderable female accomphshments. He died in
1765, and was interred in the chapel at Hindleyj
in which a neat, plain white marble tablet was e-
recte.d to his memory*. He left a widow, with
six children,,, (the oldest between ten and ele^
ven) and near her confinement with a seventh.
Two died in their infancy : three are now living,
to perpetuate their parents' virtues, and to cherish
their memory with respect: the eldest, Mrs.
Jones, married to Samuel Jones, Esq. of Man
chester; the youngest, Mrs. Darbyshire, married
to Mr. James Darbyshire, of Bolton le Moors;
and Mr. Joseph Bourn, who is also resident in
that town.

* Appendix, No. 9; Epitaphs.
R

( 122 )
Mr. Joseph Bourn was atall man, of respect
able port and aspect, with a fine open counten
ance. He took great pleasure in educating his
children; w^as of an excellent, cheaj-ful dispo
sition,^ had an unusual share of the milk of
human kindness, was extremely disinterested,
would not let difficulties withhold him from
serving others, who stood in need of his friendly
aid, and did acts of liberality rather beyond the
proportion of his, finances, especially eis he never
came to the possession of a paternal estate, near
the Devizes, in Wiltshire, that had been long in
descending to him, after his mother's death, who
survived him. several years. In 1753, a year of
scarcity, oatmeal, then the common food of the
lower class, being raised to forty shillings a load,-
and much above the average price, he purchased a
large quantity, and sold it to the poor at twenty
shillings. At another time, a small legacy had
been left to him, by a gentleman who respected
his character ; and a relation of the testator ex
pressing her disappointment, and urging what she
conceived to be her superior pretensions, Mr.
Bourn, in consequence of this observation, and in
consideration of her large family, readily yielded
his own claims to her's. Many other anecdotes
evincing the liberahty of his mind, have been re
ported; aud some letters in existence are very ex-

( ISS )
pressive of his sentiments on the nature and use
of riches. In one, written September 22, 1763,
to his mother, he delivers himself thus: " I think
it a gracious providence, and a happiness to me
and my brothers, that our mother has been so
long spared to us, who deserves so well of all her
children, and whose counsels and prayers they
=ought to value ; and which, I hope, are not fruit
less. Whatever worldly expectations I may have,
or dependencies, I am as little anxious about the
matter as most people. I am fer from indulg
ing a secret wish, that a worthy parent, or pa
rents on either side, should be removed before
God's time, because something more of this world's
good -would accrue to me. Having food and rai
ment for myself and family, I hope I can say with
St. Paul, " I am therewith contented." I have
long considered the possession of wealth as not
valuable on its own account; but rather as a ta
lent and trust, for the improvement of which the
possessor is accountable: and valuable chiefly as
it puts one in a capacity of doing more good."
 Mrs. Joseph Bourn survived her husband
riiany years; dying in 1785.
Mr. Samuel Bourn, well known as the author
of some vdlumes of sermons, was the second son
of Mr. Bourn, the subject of this work. He was
born about the year 1714, He received the rudi-

( 124 )
ments, of his education: at -Stand school, near
Manchester ; after which he pursued his aCadein-
icai and theolpgical studies in thci university of
Glasgow, when pmfessorHutcheson began to add
celebrity to that seminary. Having finished his
education there with considerable reputation, he
became, in 1742, minister of a congregation of
Protestant Dissenters at jRiviqgton, a village in
Lancashire, near th© .seat of Lord Willoughby de
Parham, who was one of his fcougregation, and
by whom he. was highly esteemed. Some years
after his settlement at this place, he was ordained
by the Rev. Mr. Hardy of Horwich, (a neighbour
ing chapel,) and some othei;^ divines. On this oc
casion he delivered a Declaration, with regard to
the offieoiof a minister of the gdspel, that had
greati singularity and' novelty in it,' and deserves
to . be,, preserved and submitted to the judgment
of the candid and liberal reader*. " During his
connection at Rivington he lived partly there,
and. partly at Bolton: his residence in the formed
place was at Leicester- Mills, a: most delightful
A'ale, a mile from the chapel, where, secluded from
the commerce of men, he could feel himself at full
liberty to indulge his contemplative faculties, and
to nourish .and digest those beautiful sentiments
of virtue and religion," says my author, " which, on
-;I,., . ¦ * See Appendix, No. 6.

'( 125 )
being puWashed, announced him to the worjd as
the scholar, the ^ philosopher and the christian.
But the vale of Leicester-Mills could notions-
conceal talents of so fine a lustre." On May 19,
1752, he preached at Manchester to an assembly
of Dissenting riiinisters and otliers, a sermon, from
Mack iv.^0, on the rise, progressj corruption and
¦declension df the christian religion, and the means
of its restoration and advancement. The con
gregation at Norwich,- comnionly called Presby
terian, was at this tihie looking out for a minister,
as a colleague to their leahied pastoi', Dr, John
Taylor; and this sermon, though it was published
without its author's name, Excited attention, and
directed their views to -Mr. Bourn, The attach'-
ment he felt for a. cpngregation by whom he was
greatly esteemed;* made him unwilling to accept
the overtures he had received from Norwich : but,
on consulting with Lord Willoughby, with whom
he lived onr terms. of the greatest intimacy, he
overcame his reluctance, and accepted an invita
tion which, was in itself honourable, and which
opened. to him an enlarged sphere of respect
ability and usefulness. Accordingly in 1754 he
left Rivington, and settled as co-pastor with Dr.
Taylor, at Norwich*.
In 1758 he published proposals for printing
* ]^;lonthly Magazine for December 1795, p. 917.

( 126 )
by subscription two vdlumes of Discourses on the
principles and evidences of natural religion and
the christian revelation, and on some practical
subjects. He secured, an attention td these pro^-
posals by a personal application; on a journey
through many parts of the kingdom; and they
were favoured with a f^tronage truly jiespeetable
and honourable to the author, as is shown by the
list of the numerous subscribers prefixed to the first
edition. A benevolent wish to afford him some
compensation for the loss of a thousand pounds,
which he had risked in an unsuccessful scherne
for erecting cotton mills at Leominster, prosecuted
by his brother, Mr. Daniel Bourn, and which were
burnt down, aided his desigh. The discourses did
not appear from the press till the j^ear 1760, or
1761. '•In the mean time, in 17^9*9 being in Lon
don, and, as the report of the day Was, attending
on Dr. Chandler's preaching, in whose hands were
his MSS. he heard the doctor assert frdfti the pul
pit, "that the doctrine of annihilation, dr that
the souls of wicked men Shall be totally destroyed
in the future state, is utterly inconsisterit with
the christian scheme.'' Mr. Bourn having, in one
of the discourses intended for the public eye,
advanced and defended the principle against
which Dr. Chandler thus strongly protested, con
sidered the doctor's declaration as an attack di
rected to himself. As Dr. Chandler, ndtwith-

( 127 )
standing the confidence With which he made bis
assertion, produced no argument of reason, or au
thority of scripture, to prove it, Mr. Bourn ad
dressed a letter to him, from the press, concerning
the christian doctrine of Future Punishment;
induced, as he himself says, "by a curiosity to
know by what proof the- doctor was able to sup
port his assertion; and in hope of receiving such
satisfaction as might be expected from a gentle
man of his known abilities and study of the
christian revelation." The doctor did not accept
the challenge, though delivered with force of argu
ment and politeness of address. The letter ac
companied the second edition of the discourses,
and was republished in 1768 by Mr. Baron, in a
valuable collection of tracts, in 4 vols. 12mo. en
titled, the Pillars of Priestcraft and Orthodoxy
shaken ; vol. iii. On Mr. Bourn's " Discourses
it is unnecessary here to make any remark ; they
have been long before the public, in high estima
tion, and they must continue to be held in esteem,
so long as elevated ideas of the divine nature and
government, and a rational and well founded de
votion shall exist in the mind of man*." The senti
ments concerning future punishments, supported
by Mr. Bourn in one of these discourses and in
the letter to Dr. Chandter, had been advanced
'^ AtontWy >taga?ine, Pecemher 179S, p, 918.

( 128 )•
and ably defended by a learned and sensible gen
tleman of the: city of Norwich, Mr., afterwards
Dr., Joseph. Nicol Scott,; then a dissenting minis-! <
ter, in a set of ingenious and liberal discourses, i
preached at the French Church in that city-, and
published in 2 volumes 8vo. in 1743*. '
The reception Wjith which Mr, Bourn's Dis
courses were honoured, encouraged him to print ,
two more volumes in 1764, The subjects handled i
in these discourses were the ' parables of our Sa*
viour; which our author explained with peculiar.
judgment and taste; illustrating the meaning, the;
piopriety and the beauties of those divine apo-*;
logues in a manner very, instructive and engage
ing, and well suited to display their force, arid ex
cellence. In 1761 Mr, Mason, the author pf se-;
veral ingenious" and ..valuable Works, and particu
larly known by a popular and useful treatise on
Self-Knowledge, published two volumes of dis-?
courses, entitled, Christian Morals. To thesp he
annexed strictures on some assertions made by Mr.
Bourn in his first pubhcation ; charging him with
contradicting himself and the New Testament;
" two very material charges,", as Mr. Bourn; ob
serves, , " one affecting him as an authorj andtljei
other as a christian."', As Mr. Mason's remarlcs
* MonthlyT Magazinej for January IBCfS, pp. 511—12.

( 129 )
had heen' recommendfed to Mr. Bourn's attention,
he thought proper to affix to his own Discourses
on the Parables an answer to them. The most
material point discussed in this answer, is the pro
priety and truth of Mr, Bourn's assertion, that
*' the expression, the resurrection of the body of
of the flesh, is not to be found in the New Tes
tament." This Mr. Mason controverted, and Mr.
Bourn defended. The principal criticism which
occurs, in the discussion of this point, is an observ
ation drawn from the context, in which the apostle
considers the opposite nature and tendency of a
worldly and sensual, to that of a moral and spirit
ual, life. Mr. Bourn maintains that Rom. viii. 1 1,
hath no reference at all to the resurrection, but
denotes the invigorating influence of the spirit of
Christ in our mortal bodies, making them sub
servient to the dispositions or intentions animating
and enlivening them in the spiritual and divine
life. The controversy terminated with Mr.
Bourn's answer: like most other controversies,
leaving, in too great a degree, a stmg behind it.
In 1777 Mr. Bourn addressed the pubhc
again in two additional volumes, containing Fifty
Sermons on various Subjects, Critical, Philosophic
cal and Moral. These discourses, though, as has
been justly observed, they do not abound, with

( 130 .)
that depth and originality of thought which cha
racterised those of the other four volumes, (being
probably written when the vigour and forCe of
his mind began to bend under the pressure of in
creasing disease) are yet very respectable compo
sitions*. They contain criticisms frequently new,
and always plain, rational and judicious ; and a
great share of good sense is crowded into a nar
row compass f.
Previously ,to the publication of these dis
courses, in 1775, Mr. Bourn found bodily infirm
ities increasing upon him;' and, being rendered
incapable of properly discharging the duties of
his function, he resigned his ministerial charge,
and retired to a village, near Norwich, In thia
seclusion from the world his faculties felt a
gradual decay; and he became a melancholy
example of a strong and vigorous mrnd fad
ing away into childish imbeciUty. Not many
months before his death, he again removed
to Norwich, where he died^ in the eighty-third
year of his age, and was interred in the bury
ing ground of the Octagon Chapel. Late in
life Mr. Bourn formed a matrimonial connection,
* Monthly Magazine for December, 1796, p. 9 18.
t Monthly Review' for March,, 1778.

( 131 )
but has left no descendants*. His widow still
survives. Mr. Bourn's rrianner and delivery in the pul
pit would not, perhaps, entitle him to the distinc
tion of an orator: but there was a certain full and
mascuUne, tone in his preaching-f, which com
manded respect and rivetted the attention. He
was noticed and much respected by the clergy of
the city, and lived in habits of social intercourse
and intimacy with many of them. When infirm
ities obliged him to resign his pastoral connection,
in which he had gained great admiration, both in
public and private life, and to retire on a private
property, of sixty pounds a year, the clergy were
interested in his situation. Dr. Mann, then Bishop
-of Cork, visiting Norwich, on business, at that
time, and rhearing of Mr. Bourn's situation,
offered him preferment of three hundred pounds ¦
per annum, and better when it fell, in the church
in Ireland; and to compleat his friendship, added,
'* I will not insist on your doing duty, as I fear
it will be too much at your time of' life; put in
whom you think pfoper." The offer was dei-
clinedij;. • Monthly Magazine, as before.
t The same.
I On pVivate information.

( 132 )
Mr. Bourn intended for pubhcation a large
work, in which he had made great progress, and
which was to be entitled, " The History cf 4he
Hebrews." Tbenratiuscript is still in existence,
and in the possession of one of his neices *, A great
part of this work was fairiy transcribed, as it was
fully the intention of the author to have pub
lished it: a hope of its seeing the light may still
be entertained. Mr, Abraham Bourn, the third son of Mr,
Bourn, was educated to the medical profession,
was first settled as a surgeon at Market Har-
borough, afterwards at Leicester,- whence he
removed to Liverpool. Tliere were united
in him, with the advantages of a liberal edu
cation, a natural benevolence, a vivacity of
temper, and the manners of a gentleman. He
appeared as an advocate for the Dissenters and as
a theological controversialist, in two tracts pub
lished in 1755 and 1756: they were occasioned
by the appearance of a pamphlet entitled, a Pre
face to a "book which bore the title of, "The
Christianity of the New Testament;" by Peter
Whitfield. This writer was a gentleman in trade,
a man of good sense, considerable learning and
extensive reading, and by no means a coirtempti-
* On private inforihation.

( 133 )
hie controversialist*. Mr. Wliitfield's design was
to vindicate his conformity to the ecclesiastical
establishment of this nation, contraiy to the prin
ciples of his education. To this- piece Mr. A.
Bourn replied, in a letter to Mr. Whitfield, under
the title of, " Free and Candid Considerations on
"the general Points of Difference between the
Church of England and those of other Denomi
nations; wherein the Conduct of the English
Dissenters is examined, and shewn to be consist
ent with the genuine Principles of civil Liberty,
Reason and Christianity." This tract was fol
lowed, in the subsequent year, by another, called,
*' A Review of the Argument between Mr. Peter
Whitfield and Mr. Abraham Bourn, upon the sub
ject of Conformity, with a Defence of the Ap
pendix to the former." In these pieces Mr. A.
Bourn displayed a liberality of sentiment, a com
pass of reading, and a discrimination and strength
of judgment that did him credit, and could not
but be, at the time, serviceable to the cause in
favour of which he wielded his able. pen. In the
former, with delicate and filial respect, alluding
to the two volumes of Prayers, one for the use of
femilies and the other of young christians, pub..
lished by his father, as both excellent in their
• Monthly Review, vol. kv, p, 313.

( m )
kind and greatly approved, he characterises, in
expressive terms, his public devotional serdces.
*» Those," he adds, " who attended on that gen
tleman's ministration, or ever heard his extempore
prayers, will allow, that in copiousness of thought,
dignity of sentiment, propriety of expression, pa
thos, and in almost every respect, they excelled
the forms he published *."
The names of Mr. Bourn's other sons who
survived him, were Benjamin, Daniel and Miles.
Mr. Benjamiil Bourn resided in London, and was
a]|i)Ookseller. He was the author of an ironical
piece, written in the manner of Swift, called
*' A sure Guide to Hell," and of a Supplement to
it. He was an ingenious, Sensible and amiable
man, — Mr, Daniel Bourn resided some years at
Leominster, where he gratified a spirit of enter
prize and a taste for mechanical iftiprovements,
hy erecting a cotton mill on a large scale, and the
first, it is thought, that was ever constructed, in
England. This undertaking proved unsuccess
ful, as the mill was burnt down. A son of this
gentleman, an attorney at law, now lives in Lon-
don.-T^Mr. Miles Bourn was a mercer at Dudley.
^ Free and Candid Considerations, p. 23,

( 135 )
There was another son, called John, an
amiable young man, cut off in the blpom of life,
at the age of eighteen or twenty. The rest died
young.

END OF THE MEMOIRS.

JVOTE &
TO THE MEMOIRS.

No. 1. Page 2.
MR. SEDDON was a native of Preftwich
parifh, in Lancafhire; received his grammar learning
under Mr. Cole, at Ringley fchool, and fpent feveral
years at college : after this he lived in the family of Mfi
Angler, an excellent fcholar, and a man eminent fot
piety, zeal and good works. His firft fettlement. as
a minifter was at Gorton Chapel, Lancafhire, from
whence he removed to Langley, in Derbyfhire, where
he was filenced in 1662. His loyalty to the Stuart
family endangered his life. After his eje(9;ment h«t
fpent many' years in the family of Samuel Hallows,
Efq. He had an intereft in the regards and friendfhip
of many perfons of quality, and wherever he we.nt
conciliated attachment. He fixed his refidence, aftet
the revolution, at Bolton, in his native county : exert
ing himfelf with great zeal and afFedlion in his Maf
ter's fervice; and, buying a houfe, gave the people
leave to build a chapel behind it. He died of a para
lytic ftroke, at the houfe of his brother, Captain Sed
don, in which he was born, in March 1695, aged 77,
"He was a man of great piety, patience and meek*

( 138 )
nefs : a folid, zealous and ufeful preacher ;" inftru
mental inthe converfion of many to piety and virtue.
He took great delight in good difcourfe, for which he
was, in a diftinguiflied degree, furniflied. He was
very converfant in the fcriptures, and his memory
ferved him for a concordance, which he never once
ufed in the compofition of his fermons for thirty
years *•

No. 2. Page 3,
THE congregation of Dissenters at Bolton
Was formed under Mr, Goodwin, who had been vicar,
and Mr. Park, who had been at the fame time lecturer,
ofthe parifli of Bolton, The latter (Mr. Park) was a
man of incomparable parts, learning and piety, and a
very exaft preacher. He was alfo a man of ready wit
and very facetious in converfation. He died in 1669,
aged 70, Mr, Goodwin, who wrote much but printed
nothing, was a great proficient in chemlftry, a plain
praftical preacher, and had an excellent gift in prayer.
In 1672 he took a llcenfe, and preached with great
acceptance and ufefulnefs, every Lord's-day, in a
private houfe at Bolton, where he died, December
12, 1685, aged 72, He was fucceeded by Mr. John
Leaver, ejeded from Cockey Chapel, in Lancafhire,
a man of great integrity, and an ufeful preacher : his
congregation confifted of fome , hundreds of commu
nicants. He died, aged 58, July 4, 1692. His fuc-
ceftbr was Mr. Robert Seddon, of whom we have
* Pahner's Nonconformist's Memorial, vel. i, p. 323. 1st editiea.

( 139 )
fpoken. "The neighbourhood of Bolton hasbeen an
ancient and faraous feat of religion. Atthe very firft
dawn of the reformation the day fpring from on high
vifited this town and the adjacent villages j and by
the letters of the martyrs, Mr. Bradford and Mr.
George Marfh, now extant,* it appears that a number
of perfons and families in that neighbourhood betimss
received the gofpel in its purity and fiihplicltj. A
good relifh of it remains to this day*."

No. 3. Page l6.

MR. CONINGHAM went through his aca
demical ftudies at Edinburgh, where he took the de
gree of Master of Arts. He entered on his miniftry,
for which he was admirably well fitted, at Penrith, in
Cumberland. ' Here, where alfo his miniftry was ufe-'
ful, he opened a feminary to aflift young ftudents in
philofophicat and theological ftudies. From this
place, having continued in ,lt fix years, he removed to
Manehefter, and was a colleague with Mr. Chorlton,
both as a paftor and a tutor, for five years, till Mr.
Chorlton's death. After which he remained fix years
m that town, ftruggling with a variety of difficulties,
from divifions among his people, from the oppofition
ofthofe who were enemies to the DlflTenters in ge
neral, and from a profecution for keeping an academy.
In 1712 he accepted an invitation to a congregation in
London ; here he was happy in the efteem and affec
tion of his people and in the fuccefs of his ministry.
* Palmer's Nonconformist's Memorial, vol. n. p. 85, 88. 1st edit.

( i4d' )
But.hlsfeliqit'y and profpedis were termiMted in the
fhort fpace of four years. He died September 9,
1716, leaving the charafter of a man free and commu
nicative in converfation ; merciful and charitable to
the extent of his circumftances ; tender and affeftion-
ate in his counfels and admonition : of a chriftian
exceedingly charitable in his fentiments to the difiisr-
l . CI -I ^ , ,  , ,
ent parties among Protefl;ants, fervent in his. prayers
for an increafe of love and peace : of a minifter ar
dently concerned for the caufe of prailical religion;
and of a preacher whofe mind was furnilhed with what
might both pleafe .and profit;, whofe fpirit was fe
rious ; whpfe heart was deeply affecSed with the truths
he delivered; wjhofe vyords were well chofen ; whofe
appearance in the pulpit was graceful; and whofe pray
ers were diftjnguifhed by propriety of expreflion, by
affedtionate fympatby for private cafes, ^nd a warin
glow of concern for the public and for the ftate of
leligion*.

No. 4. Page sr.
MR. JOSEPH ECCLESHALL was a man
pfan obliging, facetious and pleafant temper; but very
ferious and adive in his minifterial work, which he
perforraed with zeal, prudence and diligenge, both in
public and private, preaching and praying with great
fervency and afiisdllon, He was fuccefsful in efFeftr
ing a great change in the manners of the people, and
in putting a ftop to prpfanenefs in a populous parifli,
* See Dr. Wright's Funeral Sermon fpr Mr. Coningham.

( 141 )
confifting of nine villages ; where on his firft fettle
ment ignorance and irreligion abounded. After his
ejed^ment he continued his fervices fecretly by night,
till the rigour of the tlrnes abated. He then appeared
publicly In his minifterial charafter, and kept up two
meetings In the parifh, two or three miles diftant, at
each of which he preached and admlniftered the fa
craments the remainder of his days *.

No. 5. Page 64.

THE defign of the author in the AfTembly's
Shorter Catechifm revifed, " is," as he ftatesit, •• by
a few alterations to frame the catechifm in fuch a
manner, as that feveral controverfies that do not con
cern things which are abfolutely neceflTary to falvation,
may be paft by ; that the ufe of It may be fcrupled by
none, or by as few as poflible ; and yet that the af-
fembly's method and language too may be continued
as far as the cafe would well admit." The piece,
whatever may be thought of the author's fuccefs in
accompllfhlng thefe purpofes, and though It might ftill
leave the compofition in the judgment of fome, open
to obje(3;ions, was In itfelf a laudable, and, at the time
it was made, a bold attempt to moderate the extrava
gant deference with which it had been regarded ; It
was a proper and feafonable memento to thofe who
were difpofed to fet it up as the ftandard of truth, that
the " authors of it never pretended to Infallibility;
that they could not have dominion over the faith of
any ; that there was room for fuppofing that they
* Palmer's Nonconformist's Memorial, vol. ii. p. 401, 402.

( 142 )
were rnflujjnoed by t^ie prejudices of education as well .
as other men ; and that as fearching the fcriptures daily,
to fee whetjier the apoftles' dodlriues were true, was
a rational and t}pf>le pradlice ; fo our ufing the like
methods, with regard, tp unirifpired.^rien.and their prin
ciples, muft, be more reafonable and,.r)eceflary*."
" It',isno\y generally, thought,'' ,adds the au
thor, " that the .religiipus principles fet forth in the
bible have been better underftood in this prefent age
(through the free and diligent fearches of the learned)
than they had been in any fince the primitive times.
As there are ftill farther advances made in critical
learning, and by the later annqtations on the fcriptures,
gt-eat improvements are made upon thofe that went
before, no confiderate perfon can reafonably think,
that In ninety years fpace tnen of letters and' ftudy
Ihould fee no.caufe for giving fuch accpunts of the
doftrlnes of revelation as would fome way or other vary
from what h?d' been taught before that period; efpe
cially confidering tliat the teachers . of chriftianity in
this. nation had been no very long while out of anti
chriftian darknefs, that much of their time had heed
taken up in defending the reformation againft the Ro-
¦ manifts (as well as in their ordinary minifterial work)
and how little the:y had left for thoroughly ftudying
the Inferior points of gofpel divinity t,"
By fuch found reafonings did the author of the
''AfTembly's Shorter Catechifm, revifed," defend his
undertaking. He alfo took fhelter under the names of
Baxter, Dr. Cotton Mather, and Dr. Watts, who had
fevjErally expreflTed their diflatisfaftion wl'tli that work,
¦f Preface, pp. 1, 2. -i- lb. p. 2, a.

( 143 )
But neither the authority of names, nor ftrength of
reafoning could, in the opinion of- all, fcreen his work
and defign from cenfure. Remarks on It came from
the pen of Dr. Guyfe, ah eminent Independent minifter
of that day.
Mr. James' Strong, the author of the piece
which has given occafion to this long note, was min
ifter of a congregation of dlffenters, firft at Langport,
and then at Ilmiuflier, In Somerfetftiire, where he died
May 21, 1738, inthe fifty-third year of his age : on
the third ofthe March preceding he had preached the
funeral fermon of the ingenious and excellent Rev..
Henry Grove, tutor of the academy at Taunton.
Mr. Strong's death was occafioned by a cold, termi
nating in a fever, which he caught in his exertions to
extlnguifh a fire that broke out In the town. His only-
publications were the catechifm of which we have
fpoken, and the fermon on Mr. Grove's death. " His
piety," fays Dr. Amory, " was rational and manly;
his integrity was remarkable : ftri(9;ly juft and honeftly
plain, he knew, how to ufe a cautious prudence, keep
ing ever clear of low artifice and diflimulation. He
was a wife, hearty and firm friend ; and candid, zeal
ous and conftant. As a minifter he was diligeht and
earneft in his endeavours to know the truth and the
will of his mafter, and to recommend thefe and thefe
only to his hearers : his aim in preaching was not to
raife a warm zealfor abftrufe fpeculations, enthufiaftic
failles or the diftintStions of a party, but to bring men
to the love of God and the love of mankind. He was
a thorough and confiftent difl'enter, equally rejeiting
all claims of authority in matters of religion, and all

( 144 )
additions to the gofpel, whether fet up in the eftab
lifhed church, or by dlffenters *."

No. 6. Page 94.
THE London Cafes, twenty-three in num
ber, were fo many treatifes on points of difference be
tween the Church and the DiflTenters. The object of
this coUeftion was to recover the latter to the commu
nion of the former. They were written by fome of
the naoft eminent divines of the church of England,
who refided in London ; among whom were Dr. Scott
and Dr. Claget. They were firft publifhed in 1684.
Dr. Thomas Bennet, firft reftor of St, James's, Col
chefter, and afterwards vicar of St, Giles, Cripplegate,
London, gave them again to the 'public, in 1699, in a
condenfed forrn, under the title of " An Anfwer to
the Diftenters Pleas for Separation : or, an abridgment
of the London Cafes ; wherein the fubftance of thofe
books is digefted into one fhort and plain difcourfe."
It was intended to have returned an anfwer tothe
pieces in the original coUedion dlftiri6bly, and the
work was divided among feveral perfons, but at length
laid afide; not on account of any peculiar difficulty
that was found it it, but becaufe It was thought partly
needlefs and partly unfeafonable, Calamy's Abridg
ment of Mr. Baxter's History of his Life and Times,
Vol. i, p. 365.. Note.
* Amory's Funeral Sermon forthe Rev. Mr. Strong, pp. 30, 31,32.

APPENDIX;

CONTAINING

OKICINAIL FAFEES,
LETTERS,

&d. &c.

APPENDIX.

No. 1.
A LETTER FROM THE REV. SAMUEL
RICHARDSON TO MR. SAMUEL
BOURN, Senr.
WHO HAD BEEN HIS PUPIL IN EMANUEI. COLLEGE IN
CAMBRIDGE.
Emanuel College, April 9, 1671.
MR, BOURN,
I received yours, and thereby perceive your
difiatlsfadion in what I faid concerning moral and
evangelical righteoufnefs ; and likewife the reafons of
your diflike in that bufinefs. I commend your at
tempts, and am glad to fee you endeavour after the
knowledge of religion, and to bufy yourfelf about things
of the greatest concernment. But unlefs a man pro
pofe unto himfelf a right end in difputes, efpecially ia
thofe of a religious nature, and ufe fit and congruous
means for the attaining of that end, controverfies will
be eternal, and truth will be as far from being difco
vered and acknowledged by the litigious parties, after
all their rencounters, if not farther, as it was before it
fell into a difpute.

( 148 )
Wherefore I will lay down fome rules which are ^
always to be obferved in all difputes and difcourfes
whatfoever, without which they will prqve ineffeftual,
if not do great dlflTervIce to truth, by raifing paffion,
and obfcuring what was already fufficiently evident,
hy their Impertinent wrangllngs and evafions,
1. Therefore men ought to be fure In their difputes
that they proceed from a rigljt principle, and are di-
refted to as right an end, that is, that a fincere and an
unprejudiced love of the truth, and a defire to propa»
gate it for the good of mankind be the principle atid
end from which they fiow and tend to, Againft this
will they offend who make intereft and carrying on of
parlies, oftentation of their parts, and affedation of
conqueft to be their reafons and ends in their polemi
cal difcourfes, 2, As to the method and manner to be ufed In dif
quifitions after truth, Firft, a man ought tp t|?ive a
clear aiid diftind notion of the thing which he
is about to affert or confute ; otherwife he will miftake
both truth and his adverfary, and fo perpetually bandy
to and fro without hitting the mark, though he do
very often his pretended antagonift. Hence come
thofe eager, and yet oftentimes very frivolous disputes
of the fchbolmen, which for the moft part arp fun^
into metaphyfical fubtil ties, that they feldom appear
the farne to different heads, n^y, not the fame at dif-
ferpnt times, ai>d confequently they produce endlefs
ftrifgs and fruitlefs repartees, when pone ofthe difpu
tants have any fettled apprehenfion of the things they
contend fpr; fuch. Indeed, are the ufual fchool meta-
phyfics, efpecially that part concerning the modes qf

( 149 )
• entity, and the differences of efiinces, fubfiftences,
fubftances, and the feveral modes of them, all which
arenot intelligible; and I am confident they them
felves had no exprefs idea of what they contend about.
Secondly, as confequent upon the foregoing rule
this ought to be obferved : That according to the
more or lefs clearnefs or precifenefs of notion, or the
greater or leffer degrees of evidence men ought to
judge and determine pf things, and not be as dogma-?
tical and- peremptory In things of lefs evidence or mo
ment as they are In things more clear and of higher
importance. Againft this rule every zealous fadlon
who hath adopted fome opinions charaderiftical of
their party, do offend ;* which they urge with as great
If not greater vehemence than they do the moft mo?
^lentous and undoubted truths of religion.
Thirdly, there ought to be a clofe adherence to
the queftion in hand, and no Impertinent excurfions ;
which often fall out through inadvertency or unftea-
dinefs of mind, or for evading that which moft pincheth
them ; and fo Infenfibly flipping Into other difputes,
nothing to the bufinefs In hand, and thus cunningly
endeavour to hide their moft fhameful tergiverfation
from their unwary readers. So loth men are to ac
knowledge their own inabilities, and the betternefs of
their adverfaries ; and that love of fuperiority and not of
ingenuity aiid truth, aduates themin thefe contentions.
Thefe are the rules which I think juftly are to be
obiferved in the handling of controverfies ; which if
they were, I am confident that we fhould not have
the tenth of thofe controverfies which are now on foot
in the chriftian world; neither would they be naa-

( 150 )
naged with that intemperate heat, nor be unfuccefsful
in finding out and begetting an amicable compliance
with the truth ; neither would they be fo voluminous
and tedious, when all that is to any purpofe would be
contraded in a leffer room.
But we will now fee what you return to my
thoughts about, moral and evangelical righteoufuefs.
Whereas I faid, "That making a diftindion betwixt
grace and moral righteoufnefs and making grace an
hi°^her degree of perfedion than moral rlghteoufuiefs,
and to prefume that was the chief defign ofthe gofpel,
that this was a main reafon that hindered the efficacy
o£jeligion." You, in a large difcourfe, reply, "Thatlffo,
the goodnefs and prefcience of our Saviour would have
obliged him to have given notice of it to the world,
which he hath no where done." But we muft not
think that our Saviour must have prefently done that '
which we judge moft convenient and ufeful to the
chriftian world ; although I inake no doubt but that
he hath done fo ; but we make wrong meafures, and
think that convenient which is not so; and if his doc
trine be fo plain that nothing but wilful ignorance and
infinCerity hinders it from being underftood, he hath
done his part, and leaves us to our liberty to do, ours.
I make no doubt but the dodrine of infallibility Is of
moft pernicious confequence to the chriftian faith ; but
where hath the goodnefs and prefcience of Chrift put
him upon giving the world plain warning of it. Nay
antichrlft himfelf is fo obfcurely deferibed that it will
want much of a demonftration to tell wh^ he is, at
leaft as to the generality of mankind ; and yet a moft

( 151 )
palpable and univerfal knowledge of him would be
much, as one would think, to the advancement of re
ligion ; how eafily could our Saviour have told us, that
it was the church of Rome, that "his dodrine would
be purgatory, indidgences, infallibility, &c. which if
lie hath done, it is fo inyfterioufly, that one would
think his great care of his church and prefcience
might have engaged him to have been a little more
plain in the bufinefs. But I am fo far from thinking
that the goodnefs and wifdom of our Saviour Ihould
oblige him to give notice to the world of all the par
ticular accidents and emergencies which will prove
©f good or evil confequence to the church, that I think
the contrary, that he hath on purpofe left us ignorant
6f them, thereby to try and prove our fincerity^ and
faithfulness to his dodrine, and the didates of our
confcience, and to exercife our diligence and watchful-
nefs, and a continual dependanCe upon him and di
vine Providence ; all which virtues would have beeti
much weakened, if not loft, by fo puhdual notice of
events. But befide, if your argument was far more Con
vincing than it is, it will prove nothing againft a plain
matter of fad. For it is manifeft that Henry Nicho
las, David George, Jacob Behmen, with other enthu
fiafts and their followers, did look upon moral right
eoufnefs as a low, fordid, and beggarly thing in com-
parifon of other more high and myllerious privileges
of the gofpel, fuch as evangelical grace, union and
communion, fpiritualizatlon, and other high flown
fancies of perfedion ; which fet them above that low
and mean difpejifation of moral righteoufnefs, and con-

( 152 )
fequently allied themfelves the liberty of ading all
manner of turpitude and immorality, being fecured
of far greater and raore noble perfedions. And 1 can
ffiow yod from fayings of our own men, famous a-"
mongft us, who have fuch flight apprehjenfions of mo
rality, that they are bold to fay, that it Is not the want
of it, that is, it is not our fins, that will damn us, but
the want of fomething elfe which is mpre divine, and
which is more neceffary to falvation;, fuch as grace,
faith, application of merits ; which if fo, it muft needs
follow, that thefe latter may be without the former,
or at leaft are infinitely more to be fecured and looked
after than the other, and confequently men muft. If
they be true to this dodrine, be very carelefs and
negligent in the pradlfe of moral rightfepufnefs, or at
leaft much confounded and ftaggered in the knowledga
of religion by fuch falfe notions of grace, fauh, &c.
But you fay, " that impenitence was the great
impediment to the advance of the chriftian inftitution.''
But 1 pray what Is impenitence' but an obftinate perfe
verance In vice and immorality ; and repentance Its con
trary, but an univerfal change of a vicious Into an holy
and a righteous life? Let me know what a man caa
repent of befides his own fins and wickednefs ; and
what other confequences are the proper refults of re
pentance, but the calhiering of all moral vices, and the
pradifing the contrary virtues. And what are con
vidion, compundlon, and the hoft which you redkoa
up, but feveral ads of the mind and will exercifed in
the bufinefs of repentance; although you fpeak of
them very confufedly ; for compundlon and regret of
mind are the fame ; and fo hatred to, and ave;rfioni

( 155 )
from, fin, and their converfion to God and godlinefs
is not aipart, but repentance wholly com,pleated. The
differences of thefe feveral parts arife from the variety
of their objeds, as convidion arlfeth from a clear and
certain apprehenfion that we have finned ; compunc"
tion and regret of mind from the confideration that It
was In our power to have not committed it ; averfion
and hatred from looking upon it as prejudicial and
noxious to our natures and perfedions : humlllaiion
from the being fenfible that we have offended a moft
powerful and benign being. This is true concerning '
the pans of repentance, if we fpeak that which we un- ''
detftand. You fay, " Preachers, according to the comraand
and example of Chrift, do. In order to repentance, en
deavour to bring people to a fenfe and repentance of
•the firft born 'fin, that rivetted pollution, &c," But
where, I pray you, are we commanded to repent, in
the firft place, nay or atall, of this inbred corruption,'
original fin ? 1 find no fuch command in all the fcrip*
tures; and I am fure itis againft the very nature of ¦
repentance, for that always fuppofeth a man's own
doing that of which he may be faid to repent ; for to
repent of what I never d'd is nonfenfe; and if I did
it, then it is not original fin, but adiial fin of which I
am faid to repent. So rafhly do men take things by
cuftom and hearfay, without the trouble of a ferious
and Impartial inquiry. There are many miftakes
about original fin, which perchance I may fome time
or other give you notice of.

( 154 )
'* Another great hindrance to chriftianity/' you
fay, " is infidelity." This is true indeed^ for infidel
ity is nothing elfe but the flot belief of chriftianity.
But I fay, that the immediate and proper caufe of in
fidelity is and was the want of moral righteoufnefs ;
for it is moft certain, both, by hlflory and reafon, that
the more men were honeft, fincere, harmlefs, loveri
of God and truth,, how and whenever revealed unto
them, (all which are parts of moral righteoufnefs] I
fay, that thefe men did the moft readily and, freely
embrace the dodrine of Jefus; and fuch were the
ti-rayiuvm in fcripture } and fuch were they of whom it
was faid, Thofe that are of the truth vi\]X hear my,
voice : and indeed no wonder, feeing they in fome
meafure poffeffed thofe qualities and, difpofitions which
the dodrine of Chrift did chiefly; aim at to inhance,'
and improve by. a more clear declaration of moral
righteoufnefs, and encouraging man to the acquiring
ofit by fuch ample and ftupendous rewards in another
world. And therefore faith was weaker or ftronger
according as men were more or lefs poffeffed of fuch
virtues and vices as were moft promotive or moft ob-
firudive to the reception of it; and therefore thofe
were weak in faith who believed in Jefus, but durft'
not confefs him for fear of the fanhedrim, loving the
praife of men and their own temporal concerns more
than God and his truth. And I make no doubt to
pronounce, that no man who fufficiently faw and
heard the miracles and dodrine of Chrift and his a-
poftles, ever disbelieved, but upon tiie account of not
being duly prepared with moral goodnefsj

( 155 )
You fay farther, " that trufting ifct our own right
eoufnefs is anQt^ier great impediment tothe receiving
the chriftian religion ;" for which you refer us to the
xth ofthe Romans; fo a little before you lell us,
that you never heard that the fcrlptutg bad us ftand
upon our own legs, nor walk in our own ftrength,
4rc. What, then? How is it proved from hence, that
moral and evangelical rightepufnefs are not the fame?
AndyettHs is deemed and ufed as an unanftverable
objedion to this dodrine. Certainly men affirm and
deny things, and yet, which is ftrange, confidently
too, without the leaft confideration of what they fay :
£pr is trufting in our own righteoufnefs and ftrength
nepeffary adjunds of moral righteoufnefs? Cannot a
ijiprally righteous man, nay, ought he not (without
which he Is not mor^l) to put his truft in God, and
acknowledge a continual dependence upon him; and
to know and confefs that all his power and ability
to do good is the free gift of God Almighty, who is
&e firft and only independent fountain of allbdngand
perfedion ? WiU not any morally good nnan readily
grant all tkis, as believing the exiftence of God, and
coilfequently, his univerfal fovereignty and providence
over all h'l^ creatures, and his infiiiiite unchangeable
gopdne&, and fo the prime Caufe and Author of all
the good in the whole creation?
Yet notwithftanding all thid> a niordly good man
knows that he not only ought to ftand but to walk
upon his own legs,, and to truft, although not to his
own, yet 1:o, the ftrength which by God is given him,
and to ufe diligence, induftry, care, pains in tbe exer
cife and ufe of thofe power* and abilities «given hira;

( 156 )
which are as much his own as any thing icanbe; for
the whole world arid all the perfedions in It are the gift
of God. - In this fenfe therefdre every man that would
come thither muft ^o to- heaven upon his own legs,
and truft In his own rlghteoufnefs, that is, in that
righteoufnefs which he hath done himfelf, than which'
nothing can be more his. own, and yet in the mean
time acknowledge and own the goodnefs, mercy and
foirgivenefs of God as much, nay, and far better, and
more becoming the nature of God, and more fuitable
to all rational beings, than thofe who talk fo much of
recumbency, and of renouncing all our own righte
oufnefs, and wholly relying upon the merits of our
Saviour; and fpeaking of Inherent moral righteouf
nefs as a work ofthe law and of bondage, and not be
coming the glorious liberty of the gofpel; or at moft
but clrcumftantlal thereunto; which dodrine, if fol
lowed, doth utterly defeat the main end ofthe chrifti
an Inftitution, which was to make men leave off their
fins, and to purfue the contrary virtues, which is moral
rightepufnefs, by exhibiting fuch means and encourage
ments to that purpofe as ' if diligently attended unto
and fincerely followed would bring them off from fin,
vice and wickednefs, and make them in love with vir
tue and goodnefs, and fo render them capable of the
felicity promifed in a future ftate.
As to the xth of the Romans, to which you refer
us for the proof that trufting in our own righteoufnefs
is an impediment to the receiving ofthe gofpel," and
fo, by confequence, that iiioral and evangelical right
eoufnefs are not the fame ; this confequence, let St.
Paul be interpreted how you plefife, is fo wide and re-

( 157 )
mote, that it is none at all ; fbr, as I faid before, it is
not the property of moral nghteoufnefs to be fo trufted
unto, as if it was an adequately efficient or a merito-
ous caufe of juftification, that is, falvation. Becaufe
there Is no truly moral man but he is confclous to
himfelf of many failures committed againft the rules
of eternal rlghteoufnefs, and contequently is a tranf-
greffor, and fo obnoxious to punifhment, and therefore
if he be faveid, that is, dealt with as a wholly righteous
perfon, he attributes it to the goodnefs and mercy of
God, who is pleafed to pafs by' thofe fmaller offences,
yet real tranfgreffions of his law, and deal with him
as an univerfal obferver thereof. But fuppofe that
this morally righteous man was an exad obferver
of the whole law, yet neverthelefs he would be far
from thinking that he did therefore merit that unfpeak7
able reward promifed in the word to us, that he would
rather judge from thence he deferved none at all ; for
indeed he might know that the laws of God, fuch as
are the laws of morality and univerfal reafon, oblige
to obedience not fo much from the rewards annexed
to the obfervation of them, as from the reafonablenefs,
equity and the ro w^cttov which . are confpicuous in
them, that is, from the fultablenefs of them to the
divine perfedions, and agreeablenefs to right reafon,
and human nature. So that 1 make no doubt but the
laws of nature had been obligatory, although they had
not been ftrengthened bythe motives of rewards and
punifhments, and that this obligation would have
arofe from the equity that is In them.
What becomes now of all that truiling^in pur own
rightea'ufnefs, andirelyingTipon our own merits,; .^ndf

( 15? )
gettipg heaven "by ojjir ownftr^jngth, which this doc
trine is fp much,, charged wi;th, ,; . wjti^n reward U>
niot»th«^ u^ext and iqiinpdiate cojaffi^uent of any mpr^J,
obedienice whatfpevier ; and therefore in the xtl) of the
Romans tbe Jews might he i faid to eftablifh their owrt
lighteoiifnefs, ^at is, their own way of juftification,
and rejed th»ti ¦Qf Gpd's way df jijiftificatipn, by ad-
beririig tp the ^i[pf?ii? inftitutipn, ajnd refufing that of
the chriftian; tbatM, t^ey tho.ught. «o be faved by
that topical, carnal and pedagogical ceconbroy of
Jklofes, ai»d wouW not yield toithat more manly and
perfed religion of Je,f«s, whofe precepts were nothing
elf« than eternal reafpn» and clear and immediate de-
dudionsfrogn th^ijice; by the obfervance pf whieh God,
^y Jefns Chrift, had declared unt^ the world that he
woyld fave and j'Uftify mankind, and that no one muft
«xped falvation by any other djfpenfation of th«ir own
iftwention, this being the moft perfed, and therefore
to .be univerfHl and pefpestuaJ. Ahd, therefore un
doubtedly it was not the raoral law of Mofefe aJoue,
but isv eonjjwAioo with the ceremonial and judicial
that they <ttd fo pertinacioufly adhere unto. For it is.
ssoft certain! that the, gseaier moraUftsi Jflaey had been
the fo^n/sr- and more eagerly would they have enter-
t«)bed th.e eh<riftiajiv fklth ; which indeed is nothingi
fife than an exoelleoit improvement,, and a dearer and
fulliet explicailion of thofe eternal laws of reditude, a
fhetit aind ohfcure diaught of whioh was contained in
the decalogue,^butextiraocdinarily illuftrated,jand with
many noble inftaacss, enlarged, and with great and
lavAfinng aid^anftageS' iJedtkriiiaa ended vmta the. world
llyi eth/*.! Som ai). Gad, wkam ; this fehfe might he "^id

( 159 )
tobert^oj t5 vofts, the end of the moral law, that is,
the perfedion and end of it, as being by him im
proved to the uttermoft that it could be : fo alfo might
he be faid to be the end of the ceremonial laW, al
though in another fenfe, that is not as a perfedive, but
as I may fay, a deftrudive end, having put a period
thereto and cancelled the obtiga^tion to it.
But you fay, " The; apoftle here entails falvation
upon faith in Chrift, and nof upon moral righteouf
nefs." But I fay, that St. Paul, and all other writers
of holy writ, Intail falvation Upon moral righteoufnefs ;
to prove which'-l muft tranfcribe the whole New Tef
tament, which is every where inculcating moral right
eoufnefs, without whieh no one fhall inherit theking.i
dOm of God, fuoh as love of God and our neighbour,
charity, chaftity, fobriety, juftice, &c. and denounc
ing daimnation againft thofe who violate the forefaid
Jaws-. And let any tell me whether thefe precepts be
not parts of moral righteoufnefs ; and therefore It Is
moft evident that no falvation is to be eispeded with
out thefe; and confequently wherefbever falvation is
attributed to any other' things in fcripture, it is moft
certain that they mufl comprehend moral righteouf
nefs, fuch are faith and repentance. ,
Now as to repentance. It is manifeft that it is
nothing elfe than a new fufception of moral righteouff
nefs, as 1 before fhewed.
And as to faith which juftifies, 1 fay that moral
goodnefs is effential to It ; and whatever there Is in
faith befides moral goodnefs is not the immediate
caufe of juftification.

( 160 )
But that you may underftand the nature of faith,
fo much mentioned in fcripture, I will give you a brief,
but, as 1 think, a clear, intelligible and true notion of
it, which will not a little conduce to the underftand- .
ing rightly the evangelical difpenfation.
Faith therefore in fcripture is feldom ufed but in
one of thefe two fenfes, viz, Firft, for the chriftian
religion, or that new way of falvation taught by Jefus
Chrift, Hance we have the dodrine of faith, and the
Word of faith in the fcripture.
The Second, Is wherein is denoted fome ad of
ours as an affent or belief given unto fome.thing, or
perfon ; and this is the moft ufual fignification. The
former, perchance, is by the fchoolmen and fyftemar
tical divines called objedive, the latter fubjedivc
faith, properly enough.
But It Is this latter which in a few words I fhall
fpeak about, for it is to this that juftification is afcribed ;
in fcripture. Faith in Chrift, or belief in Chrift, Is to
be diftinguifhed by three degrees which, ratione intel-
lectus, are diftind, though they altogether do but com-
pleatly make up our ad of faith. The firft Is to, be- .
lieve ^hat Jefus is the Meffias. The fecond, to be
lieve from hence that his dodrine is true, A»d,
therefore, thirdly, to truft and confide in him, and
confequently In God by him, and to yield obedience
to all the commands of God, moved thereto by the
hopes of immortal life promifed to all them who ^
do. And thefe are the three degrees of faith, which
are diftind according to the order and progrefs which
the mind lifeth in giving her affent unto things : yet

( 161 )
there is fo clofe a connedion betwixt thetn, that he
who hath. eminently one of them hath them all; for
it is impossible biit he that believes Jefus to be , the
Meffias, fhould not believe his dodrine to be true ;
and when this is his dodrine, viz. That he fhaU ob
tain eternal happinefs upon perfevering univerfal obe
dience to his commands, he cannot but apply himfelf
to the performance of thofe conditions requlfite to ob
tain this felicity. For no man can knowingly and
wittingly negled and contemn any good, much lefs
the greateft that he is capable of receiving, such as
this is, viz. eternal falvation.
This third degree of faith, which is but the com
pletion of the other two, is that which we call juf
tifying faith ; which is nothing elfe than a giving up
wholly a man's self to the will and government of God
by Jefus Chrift, in hope of eternal life. And becaufe
to be fubjed to the regirhent of God by Chrift Is to
obey his 'commands, therefore falvation Is frequently
annexed to forgiving of injuries, loving of enemies,
in fhort, to doing our duty towards God, our neigh
bour and ourfelves, all which duties are but fo maqy
parts or inftances of moral righteoufnefs.
From the clofe connedion of thefe three ads of
faith it comes to pafs that the fcripture attributes fal
vation fometimes to the two firft, which indeed pro
perly belongs unto the laft, as in John xx, 31. He
t^ believeth that Jefus Chrift Is the Son of God fhall
be faved. So Rom . x, 9. He that believeth that Jefus
Chrift is rifen from the dead fhall be faved. The bare
belief of either of which, that is, an affent to fuch pro-

( 162 }
pdfitiotfs, I fuppofe, no one will fay to be ttat beUef
which will intitle him to falvation ; but, as I ^d be-
fbre, becaufe no one can fimcetely and heattily believe
one or the other j but he nHufiof neoeffity hav« the third
ad of faiths viz, a fiduciary obedi«tiGe to th« will of
God ; therefore falvatiilm «s fometimes made a confe
quent upon tbe two firft, as well as the \a&, but upon
this account becaufe they are fuppofed to comprehend
the laft, as indeed they do. As I may fhew by tUi
obvious infta'nce. Suppofe I fa\j|r a man fallen intO'
fuch extremity and povei^ that he was almoin fliarvcd
and pined for hunger, and I fhottid bid hita come to
my houffe, and I would fill fiis belly, and give him
money to fupply his wants for the future ; I iky now-»
that if this man believe what I tell is and will prove
true, he will undoubtedly come tp me for relief ; if lie
does not come, fuppofing that he can, he did imt be
lieve that 1 would .perform what I protnifed. So it is
here, he that believes Jefus the Meffias, believes tbe
truth of his dodrine, and he that believes tbe truth of
his dodrine, will come to him for falvation, that i^,
perform the conditions of obedience ; which if he do
not, it is certain he did nbt firmly believe either the.
firft or the fecond. You fee therefore the reafon why
fo much is attributed to faith or believing in Chrift
in feripture, and the want of it the caufe of damna
tion ; feeing it is the greatefeb fpur and obligalaoft to
our duty, without which we flag, and can nevet^te
able to go through the difficult paffages of an hdijT
life. This is a ftiort and hafty account of juftifying
faith, which I am fure is^ intelli^Ie and «Iear and

( 163 )
agreeable to fcripture and the method of the divine
dealing with rational creatures. And yet you fee that
the performing the commands of God and Chrift,
which are but fo many moral precepts, is effential
to it : and becaufe no one is io exad in his duty to
wards God and man but he fometimes fails in his per-
ferOiance, yet neverthelefs in an hearty repentance and
ia u&ig all the means granted him by God in order to
liis amendment to the utmoft of his power he fhall be
fyn6, notwiAftaading his fulures, by the grace and
jbrour of God in Jefus Chrift. And this is to be
&ved by feith, and not by works ; feeing to be faved
by works is to be faved by virtue of an entire obferv
ance <|f the whole law of God, which no mere man
ever pradifed. And thus may St. Paul and St, James
be eafily reconciled, (ioncerntng faith and works,
it^ieh being obvious I leave it for you to do.
Ib noi this more ^tisfadocy to leaibn and to the
great ends ofthe chriftian oeconony than fuch defcrip-
^ns of the juftifying ^th, as laying hold of and an
apprehending Chrift^ s righteoufnefs; the app^oatioa
«f his merits to the foul, and fuch like explications*
which you ihalt eafily meet with ; tot befide tbeir anv
biguity, and in fome degree falfebood, tfaey lie open to
tbe iame ineonveniences with which they eharge this
esEplteaition of ours; fori demand, is this apprehenfion
©r application, or call it what you will, is it our own
ad or not? if it be our own, then we are juftified by
our works, for this ad of faith being an ad of our
mind, is as much our own ad as any ad of moral
righteoufnefs whatfoever; if it be not our own, then
we are obliged to' do notbing ourfelves ia the bufinefs

.( 164 )
of juftifying faith ; which is contradldOry to the very
notion of it before given jfor doth not; apprehenfion
and application denote in this cafe foaieiad of ours,
viz. to apprehend or lay hold , of ; to apply; which if
it be faid, that they, do not, then farewell all ufe of
words, and hopes of ever underftanding one another
by thera. And I beUeve that no man will, fay, that
we are purely paffive in the bflfinefs of juftifying faith,
and have no more to do in It, or contribute no more
to it than a piece of wax doth to the reception, qf the
Impreffion ftainpt upon It. If, it be; f^id, that we do
fomething in it, but, by God's affiftance, then fay I we
affert the fame as to all moral obedience, acknowledg
ing the divine aid and affiftance in all the performances
of thera. , ; .
And whereas you fay, " th^t moral righteoufnefs
changed into evangelical, ceafeth to be what it was bei
fore, having a new caufe and principle i and thejefore
yoftfay, that moral righteoufnefs may prpcee«l from a
bad principle, as a raan may g,d rightepufly out of ,fi-
nifter defigns and ends, as applaufe, &c." In whic^
you are much miftaken, for it Is npt ,the material an^
vifible part of an adion in which cpnfifis the morali,^,
viz. the goodnefs or evil ofit, but inthe internal and
firft ads of the mind and will, that is, from tb.e prinr
cipleand end from wWchand to jvlileh they proceed
and are direded ; fo that, if they fail here, although -the
external effed be never fp, good,, they are notmprally
good, according to fuppofitiqn, and therefore make noj
their author, morally righteoiis. So that moral right
eoufnefs is not as .to .its nature changed when ^6tei
upon evaDgelicaVprinclples,^]^ut increafed and im-

f 165 )
proyed'ioinjore great and noble inftances, by the fpei
cial grace and favour bf Gdd difplayed In the, chriftlaii
difpenfation. So .that we have greater encouragements
and. /helps from the gofpel totffe. ading of moral
figb^teoufhefs, but without change of what it was be*
fore, unlefs as to degree. For .example, yout ob
fervation. If I get a hundred pounds by mine' own
labour and induftry,- and afterwards by the help and
benefiiBneeuof., friends getj another fbttn4red]pbunds;
is not this latter of the fame nature with the former?
So ^f . a; man by .the ordinary providence and affiftance
of God a£fc morally and rigliteoufly, and afterwards by
a more fpecial grace and affiftance, the nature of his
adions is ftill the fame, only differ in number and
intenfenefs, for the principle and end are the fame,
viz. a fenfe of doing that which he thinks to be his
duty towards God, himfelf and his neighbour,
I Ihould here tell you what Is the right and legi
timate principle of all human adions, which is the
fame in all conditions and difpenfations whatfoever :
but I have neither room nor patience for the prefent
to write any longer, I think I have left nothing con
fiderable unanfwered, if you think not, fhew what it
is, and I will endeavour to fatisfy you in the next.
There is one thing which I canjiot pafs by,
which is, that I faid, " that the work of regeneration
was an eafy task." I believe you are much miftaken,
and will find no fuch thing in my letter. Perchance
I might fay, that as it was commonly taken, it was
not over difficult, being made only a bufinefs of
fancy, and the leaft part of it, if any at aU, to confift
in the renovation of our mind by the mortification of

( }66 )
la£b) and irregular appetites, to dd tvbieh is th« bu<
finefs of regeneration, which is, I know, very difficult,
atid not to be done without much i£ligence and great
«ififbnoe from Hie Divine Spirit. But as to tbe otbef
notifKi, I could make it appear to be very eafy, if I
had time or room, and if required ihall bereaftet
do it. No more, but my prayers to God to make yo<i,
».good man, and lead you into the way of ttuth*
SAMUEL RICHAEDSON.

Ko. 2,

( 167 )

No. 2.
ADDRESS AT THE DEDICATION OF A
CHILD,
WITHOUT BAPTISM.
WE are here met upon a very folemn occafion ;
not merely to welcome a child into our worlds or to
improve our acquaintance with one another-~to give a
child a name, or to feaft together: but we ftand here
as 'witneffes of an awful tranfadion between a be
lieving father and mother and the eternal God, in and
by which they give up an immortal child to the ferv
ice and blefling of tbe immortal God, its creator, owner
and faviour. Tb: way in which this dedication or furrender is
ufually made, is by baptifm. Wafhing with water in
the name of the father.
Now baptifm hath two parts, the moral, internal
and fpiritual } the pofitive, ceremonial or fignificative.
The moral part is your acknowledging God's in
tereft in and claim to your child ; and your furrender-
ingjit up to his difpofal and government.
The ceremonial part is only a fign of the other.
The parents of this child difapprove of the prefent
ufe and application of the external fign ; and judge
their child has no right to it. Therefore I am not to
baptize it. But yet it is their judgment that a fo-
femn furrender of it to God fhould be made.

( 168 )
This furrender is not the ad and deed ofthe child,
but of the parents. They, from ationvidlon that their
child is God's property, and that they are but truftees,
do confent, by a public ad, to give it up to God.
This may prove of advantage to the child, as
hereby the parents enter into ' a frefh,* voluntary en
gagement to educate It for God. > And It will afford pa
rents an argument to urge upon their child to ferve the
God to whom it has been devoted.
Having devoted your child to God, you muft con
fent that he difpofe of It as he pleafeth.
Ybu are under additional bonds to engage it to
ferve the God of its fathers.
You are to pray with and for It, and may plead with
God on its behalf;
You are to recomniend to It a perfonal furrender
of Itfelf to God ; and to that end to teach it to know
God, in all his relarions to it, and to fee the happing
arifing from religion, and which will be the reward of
of it. You are to walk befote It.
Now let me take from you your profeflion of
the chriftian faith, and your furrender of yourfelves'
and your child to God through Jefus Chrift.
Do 'you believe God, the creator, is the great pro
prietor of your child? He made It, this gives him a
right to it, fuperior to yours. Baptifm is an acknow
ledgment of God's right — a dedication of it to his
fervice. God expeds you to treat it as his, as well as
yours. Which implies training it up in thofe virtues
and duties which will render it amiable., acceptable,
ufeful, in every relation and ftatfon it may ever ftand

( 169 )
in, as member of a family, civil community, Chriliiari;
church on earth, truth, juftice, love, fobriety, godli
nefs. And for the fociety of heaven ; now the fame
virtues and duties which will qualify it for fociety on
eart&, will alfo fit it for heaven. For the religion of
both is the fame, and Ues in keeping the command
ments of God.

A service similar to the above is not uncom^
mon in the present day, among the christians de-*
nominated Baptists. Besides being fdunded oil
the general principles of pietji it is considered as
sanctioned by the conduct of our Lordi when
some parents brought their children to receive his
blessing and prayers. It is, I apprehendj an usual
practice among the Baptist churches in North
America; for in a 4to tract entitled, The Customs
of primitive Churches, I meet with a form fof
this service. It is short, and it may gratify curi
osity, if we give it a place here.
AMERICAN FORM OF DEDICATION.
THE friends being met at the parents' houfe, and
the child brought to the room, the minifter fpoke to
this effed: *' He who giveth us children expedeth that we
give them to him again, for the fruit ofthe womb is his
reward ; accotdingly it is written. Suffer Uttle children
7.

( 170 )
to come unto me, and forbid them not. The dedica
tion of a child to God is the occafion of our being to
gether In this place ; and of your bringing hither your
babe. It is well that it was In your heart thus to do ;
for In confequence of this your child alfo may here*
after fay, I was caft upon the Lord from my mother's
womb. We would know by what name we fhall do
this unto it?"
After the father had given the name, the minifter
took the child in his arms, laid his hand on its head,
bleffed, and prayed as followeth.
" Thy name is ' ' - By that name art thou
now devoted to the Lord. And by that name be thou
henceforth bleffed of the Lord, and bleffed to the
Lord. Amen. Lord Jefus look upon us; for behold
here Is another little child brought unto thee I Accept
our devoted thing. Take up this infant in thine arms
of love, and carry the little lamb In thy bofom! Lay
thine hands upon it for good and blefs it ! Grant to it
health of body arid foundnefs of mind ; a ftature of
comely proportion, and a foul endowed with wifdom.
Be its portion from the Lord many and happy days,
and thofe crowned with riches and honour! Let it
ever be under thy fpecial care and indulgent provi
dence ! ^y thy gentlenefs be he made great ; and be
his advance in life, a growth In favour with God and
man! Above all, we pray that the name of
 ^ may be written in the book of life ! That thou

wilt imbue Its foul with grace, that it may live well
and die happily! May be a comfort to its parents;
ufeful in fociety ; an ornament in the church ; and
at laft an inheritor of glory. Even fo, Lord Jefus,

( 171 )
Amen. The grace of whom be with thee ; the love
of God the father ; and the communion of the Holy
Ghoft. Amen,

The next piece, on the baptism of an adult,
may be acceptable as'a specimen of Mr, Bourn's
sentiments, and manner of conducting the service
on an occasion which does not often occur in the
course ol a Paedo-baptist minister's ministrations.

ADDRESS AT THE BAPTISM OF AN
ADULT.
YOU ftand here, by your own confent and choice,
to declare yourfelf a fervant of the God of heaven, and
to avouch him to be your God, To enter yourfelf un
der Jefus Chrift, as one of ^s difciples, and a fubjed
of his kingdom.
This I hope you deliberately do, with underftand
ing and fincerity. If thus qualified and prepared, this
will be a good day's work j and if you prove true to
your (engagements you will never repent ofit; for you
will find that Chrift's yoke is eafy, and that his re
wards will be great.
He who believeth and is baptized, fhall be faved.
Mark xvi. 16. That is, he who becomet|l a real con
vert to my lellglon, believeth In me as a teacher fent
from God, and accepts my gofpel as the rule of his
life; and makes before men an open profeffion of my

( m )
religion, fliall be faved* For baptifm being then the
ufual and only fign anfi ceremony by which perfons
entered themfelves under any mafter In religion ; being
baptized Is equivalent to making a public profeffion of
dlfclplefhlp ; fo that by your defiring and accepting of
baptifm you declare before God, angels and men, that
you are the devoted fervants of God, and refolved dif
ciple of Jefus Chrift : and if yov^ believe with the
heart what you confefs with the inbiith, this fincere
and cordial belief will be in ^ou a'^riticfple of'fueh
holinefs of life and obedience to the ^pfp6l as will'
qualify you for falvation.
The fitnefs of baptifm* or wafhing with water, ap
pears as it is a inemorial of God's wafhiag the impure
and wicked world by a flood, I Pet. iii, 20, And
as It Is an emblem or fymbol of that purity of mind
and manners, of heart and life, which chriftianity re
quires. The quantity of water, or the mode of walk
ing the body, J confider as a cafe of indifferency^
Cuftom, health, decency, are to be regarded here, as
fufficient io deterinlne a circumftance our Lord has
Hot determined, For it is not wafhing the body, much
lefs the mode of doing it, which purifies the heart,
and cleanfeth the confcience7~but a fincere, confcient*
tious belief and profeffion of chriftianity. The anfwer
pf a good confcience towards God, (by the refurreCv
tion of Jefus Chrift) 1 Pet. iil, 21..
This is the great point to which you ate to attend ;
thofe boncfc to G6d a!nd Jefiis Chrift yOu are now
going to enter into. I hope you are fincere in this
tranfadion with the great God, who. will not be
mocked. See to it that your future life, your chriftian

( 173 )
temper, and your well ordered converfation evidence
that you have this day dealtfaithfuUy with God.
In hope of your future faithfulnefs, I proceed to
take from you your profeffions and engagements.
1 . Do you renounce the devil and all his tempta
tions, the pomps and vanities of the wicked world, and
all the finful lufts of the flefh and of the mind?
2. Do you now dedicate yourfelf to God, through
Jefus Chrift, to be his fervant for ever ; and refolve,
by divine afliftance, to live agreeably to the gofpel,
confirmed by the Holy Spirit ? '
,3, Is it your defire to be now entered into the
church and kingdom of God and Jefus Chrifl, bythe
external fign and ceremony of being . baptized with
water?

No. S.

( 174 )

No. S.
INVITATION TO MR. BOURN,
To accept the Pastoral Charge of the Congregaiioit
dt Coseley^
TO THE BEV. MR. BOURN.
Cofeley, April S3, 17S2.
Keverend Sir,
YOU having, by your coming once amongft
us, given us a fpecimen of your great minifterial abili
ties, whereby you have gained the univerfal approba
tion of our whole fociety, there being not one perfon
(that we know of) againft you ; we doubt not but you
will have a willing, a tradable and an obedient people
to exercife your miniftry over and amongft, and do
hope, how profitable and acceptable foever your la
bour hath been elfewhere, that it will be more and
greater here and at Birmingham, and that you will be
more ferviceable In promoting the interefts of your
great mafter, the glory of God, and the good of fouls.
Therefore we who have hereunto fubfcribed our names,
do heartily defire, with all the importunity imaginable,
that you will lay afide all objedions, and get over all
obftrudions, and come as foon as poffibly you can, to
dwell and refide with your family amongft us at Cofe
ley, and (in conjundion with Mr. Pickard, whom we
likewife highly approve of) take upon you the paftoral

( 175 )
charge of teaching and governing this congregation,
according to the word of God, and the Inftitutions of
our Lord Jefus Chrifl, according to which you may
exped fubmiffion from, &c.
Signed by 111 perfons.

INVITATION TO MR. BOURN,
riLOai THE CONGREGATION AT BIRIUINGJTAW.
TO THE REV. MR. S. BOURN.
Birmingham, April 21, 1732.
Reverend Sir,
WE, whofe names are underwritten, (hav
ing firft fought to God by folemn prayer In a matter
of fo great importance) do now make our applica
tion to you, defiring that you will pleafe to accept of
an equal fhare of the paftoral office amongft us, in con
cert with the Rev. Mr. Thomas Pickard; and we
promife you that it fhall be our ftudy and care to be
have towards you as chriftians ought to do towards the
minifters of Jefus Chrift.
Signed by 87 perfons.

SINCE the preceding Memoirs were drawn

( 176 )
up a' respectable friend* has met with the two
following letters, and handed them to the author.
They appear to claim a place in this work. The
one as Mr. Bourn's answer to the invitations re
ceived from Coseley and Birmingham j the other by
Mr. Brekell, as connected with the state of those
congregations previously to the proposal made to
Mr. Bourn, and as a memorial of the excellent tem
per and- disinterested conduct, of a very respectable
man, who had been invited, though it seems not
unanimously, to a connection with Mr. Pickard j
but had declined it.
Mr. Brekell, of whom it is not known that
any .biographical account exists, was many years
pastor of a congregation of Dissenters in Benn
Gardens, Liverpool, where he succeeded Dr.
Winder, in 1717. He publishiedin 1765 a volume
of Sermons, under the encouragement of a nume
rous and respectable list of subscribers, entitled,
" The Grounds and Principles df the Christian
Revelation, illustrated in a series of T)iscourses on
Select Subjects;" in which there is a considerable
display of judicious and learned criticisip. He
was also the author of various tracts that bear
testimony to his erudition and judgment, the,
titles of which are gi,ven below f. He was also
• Mr, Thomas Colmore.
t Mr.x Brekell's Tracts are, 1. The Christian .Warfare,

C, 177 )
considered a^ the authot of " An Essay on Pray*
ing in the Name of Christ," under the signature
or a Critical and Practical Discourse on itialfibg our Calling
and Election sure ; with an Appendijc concerning the Persons
proper to be admitted to the Lord s Supper. 1 742. Z. Euro
clydon, or the Dangers ofthe Sea icobsidfeHed and imprtj^'^d, iu
sQme Reflections npon St. Paul's Voyage and Shipwreck. Acta
xxvii. 1744. 5. Liberty and Loyalty; or a Defence and Ex
plication of Subjection to the present Government upon the
FritircipleSf of the ReVttlutiyn. If 46. 4l Th'e Divide OVafcles,
cr tIhe Sufficiency ofthe Holy Scriptuiies as a Rule of Religion
asso-ted, according to the Sixth Article of the Church of Eng-s
land. 1749. 5. Holy Orders, or an fissay on Ordination.
1752V 6.' Paedo-baptisra, or a Defence of Infant Baptism', in
pemt- of Antiquity, against the Exceptions of Dr. Gill and
othefs. 1753. 7i Paedo-baptism ; • th^ second part, or a De
fence of the Authority of Infant Baptism, in Ansvrer to the
common OBjectidns against it. 1755. 8., An Essay on the
Hebrew Tongue, being an Attenlpt to shew that the Hebrew
Bible irii^t ibe ori^rially read by Vowel Leftdrs withoiit the
Vowel Points, 1758. 9. The Same, the second' part. 10.
Free and Candid Remarks upon the Rev. Mr. Mottershead's
Drscourse of Baptizing sick and dying Infants. Glasgow, 1 750.
II. Regeneration, or a Discourse on being born again. 176I.
12. Remarks upon a Letter to a' Dissenting Minister, concern
ing the Expediency of Stated Forms of Prayer for Public
Worship. Second Edition. To which is now added, an
Examination of the Preface to a New Plan of Christian Pub
lic Worship, called the Christian Common Prayer Book, or
Universal Liturgy, lately published : with a Defence of Water
Paptism. 1762. 13. A Dissertation upon the Subject of Cir
cumcision; containing an Inquiry into the Origin of this Rite,
with an Attempt to settle sorae Points of Antient History and
Chronology, "by the help of this Medium in a new Method.
A a

( 178 )
of Verus, in the Theological Repository, vol. i.
p. 363; and of Remarks on an Interpretation of
John i. 15, in that work, p. 54.
As Mr. Brekell was the contemporary, so he
was the correspondent of Doddridge, Benson and
Lardner. The first repeatedly refers to him, in
his Family Expositor, as an agreeable writer, and
his learned and ingenious friend. A letter of the
second serves as a preface to the Christian War
fare: and the third quotes a MS. of Mr. Brek
ell's, stating his opinion, oh the authority of He
gesippus, that if the question concerning the pre
tended purit}' of the three first centuries were
thoroughly examined, " it wolild appear that the
christian church preserved her virgin purity no
longer than the apostolic age ;" and asserting, on
the testimony of Papias, that in his time, viz.
A. D. 116, " some persons inculcated other pre
cepts than those that were delivered by our Lord,
and proceeded from the truth itself; and on the
testimony of Socrates, that before the reign of
Constantine there sprang up a kind of heathenish
1763. 14. A Discourse on Music, chiefly Church Musicj
occasioned by opening the new Organ, at St. Peter's Church,
in Liverpool. 176'6'. 15. The Double Question discussed, in
a Dissertation on Jeremiah, chap. xxxi. verse 29, occasioned
by a late C6ntroversy about Children suffering for the Crime
of their Parents; and Idolatry being punished by the Judge,
as mentioned Job xxi. 19. xxxi. 26, 27^ 28.

( 179 )
Christianity, which mingled itself with the true
christian religion *."
Mr. Brekell is supposed to have died about
the year 1770.

MR. BOURN'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE
INVITATIONS FROM
COSELEY AND BIRMINGHAM.

ADDRESSED TO THE REV. MR. PICKARD.

Chorley, May 8, 1732.
Reverend and dear Sir,
I defire you will inform the good people at
Cofeley, and the gentlemen who invite me to Birming
ham, that I do accept their invitation.
And I do it with a pleafure overbearing all reluct
ance to leave this part of the country, which yet on
many accounts is dear to me. The encouraging prof-
pe(9; which both the churches yield, and the hope of
an agreeable fellow fervant in our mafter's work, bring
me to a Ipeedy deteriiiination.
The truft which fo many fouls commit to us, is
indeed very Important ; nor am I infenfible of my own
• JUrdner's History of Heretics, B. i. p. 67 ; or Works,
Vol. 13^. Svo. p. 268t

( 180 )
infiifficlenj3y,^r a fh^reiiiit; but my ]jeft abilities of
mind and body fhall, with divine a^siftance, be faith
fully employed in their fervice, \yhile God fpares the
poor remains of a weak life.
And making a referve, for a jiift Providence over
my own and my family's health, I forefee nothing
that will prevent my being , amongft my nevv friends
towards the end of next month ; unlefs you will allow
rue ,to fuppofe it possible they may repent of their
choice, which, if fignified tb me th6 moment I ain
mounting for Warwlckfhire, will keep me ftill in
Lancafhire. I propofe to be in motion, with my family, on
Wednefday morning, June 21, and (hall try to reach
Warrington by noon, and wifli the waggon from
Cofeley may be ready there by ten o'clock that day,
prepared to load and travel the fame afternoon towards
Holmes Chapel, in order to reach Cofeley, if it may
be, on Friday, and there I ftxall choofe to fpend the
firft Lord's day. Mr. Hlggifon's, at the Pied Bull, in
Warrington, is the ho\a.fe -to meet at, I have yet ^ad
no leifure to weigh, my books and goodsi^ but hope, to
reduce them within two tons, and bring ithem to War
rington in two qarts or ohe waggon, Alfo I defire
twb fingle pads may be fent in halters for me and my
wife ; I rhay perhaps fell lijy own mare, ' I exped my,
jCbn from Gl^fgow, with a little horfe, and among^ us
we fhall relieve the little boys in the waggon.
And now you will thipk it time to inform ybu, that
through the good hand' of God about us, land my-
fpoufe came home in fafety, and, except the leaft, who
is grown better, found Qu^ family in health. The

( 181 )
worft incident upoii the road, which I recollect, was,
that 1 left my mare at Derby, very lame ; fhe had re
ceived feveral bites and blows from my brother's In-
hofpltable beaft ; but Cor. Crompton lent me one of
his old fervants till mine recover.
The Lord's day after 1 left you I fpent at Stand,
near Manehefter, by exchange ; and pafl'ed through
Bolton on Monday, being my lefture day there ; when
I laid before my brethren, who with Mr. Motterfhead,
from Manehefter were nine, my invitations. They
had no pleas or objeftions, which themfelves thought
of weight; Mr. Motterfhead and Mr. Wood told me,
in cafe 1 would wait a while they believed I fhould
receive a call from -the two congregations at Cam
bridge, and might be a means of uniting them ; but I
could not at all fufpend my inclinations upon fuch a
propofal. The m,oft material bar was an afiTurance from fome
of my friends, that ip cafe Mr. Buck (who had a call
to Yprk) left Bolton, 1 fhould be immediately Invited
there. Boltoa Is as agjreeeble a fituation fora dlfilgnt-
ing minifter as 1 know ; but Mr, Buck, I apprehend,
has not refolution enough to bring th^ matter to a
fpeedy Iflue, My way to you feems very open ; the
c^fe ^t Birmingham^ would not well bear a long fuf-
penfe; thefe confiderations chiefly bring me to a
fettled difpofition for fpending the remainder of life
in your part?.
I judge it wyi beft fuit my circumftances, as it beft
fits my Incllnapon, to fit down firft at Cofeley ; but
Ihall not be inflexible to any meafures hereafter pro
pofed for tbe common good.

( 1S2 )
My fervice to the Rev, :Mr. Tonckes; I own all
his friendfhip with, thankfulnefs, and depend upon his
candour and good ofiices. : ;
I am. Sir, your very affeftionate Servant and
Brother,
SAMUEL BOURN.

MR. BREKELL'S LETTER TO MR.
PICKARD.
Liverpool-, December 3, 1730.
Dear Sir, I received yours of the 28th ult. acknow
ledging the receipt of mine ofthe 10th ult. I did not
expe6k to hear from you again upon the fubje£h, efpe
cially confidering that the people did in their laft letter
renounce all expeftatlons from me. However I muft
own the contents of yours are agreeable upon feveral
accounts. It gives me a fenfible pleafure that the namelefs
letter I fent you hath anfwered a good end, and that
there is now a profpeft of a raore general union and
harmony among you. I did verily belle've the mak
ing that lelter public would be of fervice fome way or
other; but I thought myfelf obliged in honour to
communicate It to nobody but yourfelf, and to leave
the reft to your difcretion.

( 183 )
Your letter hath alfo given me an unexpeded op
portunity to confront a report, which hath been fpread
here, occafioned by a letter from your town, in which
it was fuggefted, that my friends at Birmingham
thought I had trifled with them, and fo refented my
treatment of them to fuch a degree that they would
not receive me now upon any terms. Perhaps they
thought me too flow in returning my final anfwer.
But nobody can tell how difficult it Is to bring one's
thoughts to any certain ifl'ue, and to come to a full
refolution In fuch cafes, except thofe perfons who have
tried, and have both confidered and felt the weight and
moment of fuch an aff^air. If they fuppofed I, only
demurred upon the matter in order to make better
terms for myfelf where I am, they did not guefs right.
For though my friends here did willingly offer me
handfome encouragement to continue with them;
yet vvlren the matter was determined for my flay in
this place, I as freely gave up all the additional fupply,
referving only for myfelf a claim to the original en
gagement. And now judge you, whether any low
regards to private intereft have had any great influ
ence upon my conduit in this whole affair. But I
will fay no more in my own vindication upon this
head; becaufe your letter, as I hinted before, ren
ders any apology of this kind unnecefl'ary. For it
feems my friends at Birmingham are not fo very angry
with me, but you have faith to believe that my fettling
among them would be very acceptable to the people
ftill. Now with refped to any farther treaty with them,
it Is too late to talk of it. I have declared myfelf in

( 184 )
favour of Liverpool, and Ifl fhould go back fronl my
word I might juftly be faid to triflel So that, as the
cafe now ftands, the moft univerfal agrteenlent amongf
you wduld be ineffedual to alter my refolution, h6vr'
great an Influence foe^ev fuch a cbmfortable pfbfped
might have had upon me befdr^, v(>liile the ifaatter ^va^s
in fufpence aud tinder dellbe'i^atlbn. But, though my
hands are tied, iwy heart is Uot bound. Artd when I
am able to recjiilte the riefpeds df nay frierids ho other
way, 1 can follow therti witfh my gbdd wifhes. May
the God of peace reveal to them all the tWitigs which
belong to their pekce and happinefs, bbth prefent and
to come. May every m'an's" eyes be opened at laft,
and the zeal of God's houife eathiitt tip, fo as to be
willing to facrifice both priv'ate aflvedlbns attd refeht-^
ments to the public honour aud Intereft of rdliglon arid
virtue. May there be none fo wicked as to efpoufe-
the caufe of immorality from a f^cfet love of vice,
nor any fo weak, as by Conniving at' the fins of Others
to make them their own. How tender are humart
paflions ! How much tenderer and' mor^ melting are
fpiritual affedions! And what a fevere piece of felf
denial it Is to give up a man whom we pity and love !
But the love of God forbids us to fide with his enemies.
And what Ihall we think of that perfon who doth not
fcruple to write (or caufe to be written) what, through
a confcioufnefs of guilt, he is afhamed to own ; and,
like a peftilence that w;alks In darknefs, propagates
mifchief and falfebood under the difguife of a borrowed
band. I am, dear. Sir, your affedionate humble Servant,
J. BREKELL.

( 1^5 )

No. 4,
THE PRAYER OF A YOUNG MANi
ENTERING THE MINISTRY.
GREAT God! By my parents and friends, I
hope by the ad and temper of my own heart, I atri
dedicated to ferve thee in the miniftry of the gofpel
of thy Son.
But, alas, I am a child l how can I fpeak for God ?
I am a man of unclean lips* how fliall I fay, " Here
am I, fend me }"
I tremble at the awfulness of that miniftry, whofe
ifl'ue will be life or death to myfelf, and td thofe who
hear me. Who is fufiicient to go on God's errand, to
entreat fouls to be reconciled to himj to befpeak hearts
for Chrift? Who is fit to lland between the living and
the dead, and intercede with God to fpare finners?
I can do nothing in this fervice, nothing acceptable
to a holy God ; nothing worthy of Jefus Chrift; no
thing faving to foiils^ or fatisfadory to myfelf, unlefs
thou touch my lips and my heart, that ray iniquity may
be taken away, and my fin covered : my unholinefs
tvIU ruin me, if it be not pardoned ; how can I go with
comfort to my ftudies, or with hope of fuccefs Into
the pulpit, with my guilt linremoved, and my fpirit
unfandified. B b

( 186 )
O God of grace, mould my heart anew, forgive my
fin ; be with my heart, and with my mouth in all
tranfadlons I fhall be engaged In between God and
fouls. FiU my mouth with arguments, when I plead
with finners to turn to God ; fill my foul with rever
ence, when I ventu]re tq plpad,with a holy God to pity,
pardon and fave finners ; that fo the miniftry of the
gofpel In my hands 'may become glorious, by being a
miniftration of the fpirit, of righteoufnefs, and of life
to purnbers of fpuls ; that I may be the happy inftru-
meflt, under Gqd, of raifing, to life many a dead foul,
and. of awaking many a carelefs chriftian, and of
finifhing grace in many a child of God.
To prepare me for anfvverjng thefe great ends, en
due my foql with the deepeft; fenfe of thine all-feeing
eye over me In all my works, of the worth of fouls,
and of thf awful account I muft give of my life and
miniftry to Jefus Cfirift, my mafter and judge, in
whofi? narae, and by whofe authority I go forth.
Make me fenfibl? I can never acquit myfelf with
faithfulnefs to God and Jefus Chrift, and to my own
foul, unlefs I am faithful to the fouls of others; in oi:-
der that I may at laft, be found faithful, work In me a
true lovp to, fouls, and a tender cqmpasslon over th«m ;
open min? eyes to, fee how great their neces.sities, are ;
and break, in upon my heart with powerful grace, that
fhall determine me to wait on my miniftry, which I
am to receive ofthe Lord Jefus, fo as to fulfil it.
If I become a watchman in Ifrael, assift me to give
faithful warning tp wicked men, that I may be a means
of faving their fouls from hell; but if the wicked will
not turn and live, inay I deliver my own foul. ¦>

( 187 )
Ifl become a fhepherd and paftor, may I feed the
flock of God with great vigilance and diligence, as un
der the infpedian of fhe great fhephef d ; that the flock
may grow, the fcuilding be carried on, and the huf-
bandry of God thrive uhder my hand.
As I hope thou haft given me a love to th« truth as
it is in JeTus, I pray that no templatiofts may ever pre
vail with me to cdrrupt the ivord of God, or handle It
deceitfully. And ifl regard to an unferlous fpirit, a worldly
temper, and a loofe life would fpoil all my #ork, God
help me to look to myfelf, as well as to liiy dodrine,
that afteir I havfe preached to otheirs, I myfelf may not
he caft away : but may I be able td aippeal unto God
aiid men as witnfefles h6w holily, H6\*r juftly, hovir
iteibferaeably I have behaved myfelf^.
If ever I am ordained k Mnifter bf fhe^ew Tefta-
ihent, aiid have the miniftration of the feals of the
ihriftian covenant comimitted _^to my truft, enable me
judicioufly, and with fidelity, to diftinguifh between
the holy and prophajie, and make a difference betweeii
the clean and the uiiclean ; arid not i<> countenance fin
By promifcuous admiEsions,
Deliver me from the love of filthy lucre, that in fo
fioly a miniftry, I may not be governed by a worldly
principle and fecular views ; but learn to truft God!
with my bodily flippdrt, while I aih fincerely engaged
in his fervice ; and whatever ftate and place thy hand
fliall fix me in, make me therein contented, never
growing ambitious of worldly preferment,
I pray, O God, that at all limes my behaviour may
be mixed with that true grayity, that innocent chear-

( 188 )
fulnefa, and .hearty friendlinefs, that no one may def
pife my youth.
Make me gentle unto all men, apt to teach, in
patience and nieeknefs inftruding thofe who oppofe
themfelves, in order to recover them from the fnare of
the devil,
I ara fenfible of great deficiencies as to minifterial
furniture, but I hope thy grace will be fufficient for me,
that though I am but an earthen veffel, unworthy of fo
precious a treafure as the truft of preaching the gofpel,
yet thou wilt make It appear that the excellency of the
power which wins fouls Is of God.
And while I am giving up myfelf to the facred of
fice, and to reading, meditation and prayer, in order to
execute it as a fteward of Gpd, may fuccefs attend and
encourage all my labours, that I may fee the great de
fign of chriftianity, and of the chriftian miniftry an
fwering, by men's turning from all iniquity, by thf:
general reformation of men's tempers and lives, and
by the prevalency of a heavei^ly fpirit amongft rpy
hearers. And having myfelf fet my hand to the plough,
may I never look back, left I lofe my fhare in the king^
dom of Gpd; but at the end of a life devoted to God,
s^nd to the' intereft of his jjlng^pm, when the chief
Shepherd fhall appear, may I receive a crown of glory
that fadeth not away, and fliine as a ftar in the firmar
n^ent of God for ever and ever. An?ci?-

No. 5,

(189 )

No, 5.
LETTERS, &c. ON MR. STATHAM's
AFFAIRS.

ARTICLES OF FAITH, or QUERIES,

PEESENTED TO MR. STATHAM BY ME,

AHD ME. T.  r^ OP KIDDEEMINSTER,
To be assented to, or subscribed, as a condition of his
heing chosen Pastor to the Congregation of Pro^
testant Dissenters in that town.
I. Whether he does believe that in the unity of
the Godhead there be three perfons or fubfiftences, of
one and the fame fubftance, power and eternity; the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghoft : and that the
Lord Jefus Chrift, though he took man's nature in the
womb of the virgin, is neverthelefs, in refped of his
Deity, one and the farae God with the Father and the
Holy Ghoft ; that Is to fay, the Godhead and the man
hood were Infeparably united In the perfon of Chrift ?
II. Whether he does believe that all the offspring
of Adam are by nature finners, and children of wrath,
conceived In fin, and fhapen or forraed in iniquity,
deftitute of original righteoufnefs, and by nature bent
unto vanity and fin. And that this corruption or de-

( im )
pravlty does remain even in thofe that are regenerated,
fo that when they would do good evil is prefent with.
them ?
HI. Whether he does believe that we are juftified
or accounted righteous before God, only for the merit
of our Lord and Saviour Jefos Chrift, applied by faith,
and not for our own works or merits ; and that the
rlghteoufnefs which Tfre fo tecdive of the mercy of God
and the raerits of Chrift, embraced by faith is accepted
of God for our perfed and full juftification ?

A LETTER,
Without the alj.thdr's name, relating to the foregoing
Articles, sent to Mr. Butler, of Kidderminster.
Dear Sir, I am Informed an o£ce of in(|uIfition is
opened in your town, for the trial of minifters' faith' j
tJiat the Inquifitor General is the pificiouB Mr. 
— — , and the innocent Mr,  • — ' his under officer.
Now as there are many fufpeded minifters in tbe
country, it may be bighly proper, by a printed adver-
tifementj to give public notice of jthis office,- that all*
people may fend their minifters to be triedj in orcjer to
be received or rejeded, as they are found or not fiound
true fterling by Mr. .'st new-invented touch-
ftone. Public- good will fcarcely adrait of any delay
in fo ufeful a defign.'

( m )
Bi;t did Mr.  : — — go In the name "of the
cUprcb. of Proteftant DIfl"enters of Kidderminfter?
And hfid he really a commission from them to apply
the teft to Mr. Statham ? Or did he go with falfebood
upon his topgiif, aqd a Ije in his right hand, and with
m^tchlefs prefumpUon, arrpgate thi^ office to himfelf?
Surely the ra^fl is not gone this length in vanity, pride
an^'bigptry, ia^the-^rts of deception and treachery.
If this be theiCafc!, I fea,r he. is paft cure. However
call him to a,(:cpunt) £^nd try if; he may be recovered,
He^h^s a zeal for God, and if ance turned out of the
rog^ of ig,n.ora.nce, error and folly, may do good ferv-
icf,. But whilei it is a zeal employed in crucifying the
m^n'vftg.E^ of the Lord of glory, it muft be a mifehie
vous, geaji
I arploth to think fo meanly ofthe underftandings,
wifdom and candour of the Kidderminfter DlflTenters,
as to think they gave Mr,  ' " ¦ ¦ a commission to
ad ihe part he did^ and am apt to fufped it was
wholly his own doing. He Is felf-fufficient enough to
fet-up either far a preacher, ar a trier of. preachers;
and doubtlefs thought it fufficient to confult the oracle
oft Ms own head.
As hehaql, I fuppofe, no commission from men,
perhaps he will pretend a commission from God.
Well, let hlin produce It, and we will fubmit ; for we
mijft not refift God, Will he plead a natural right ?
To do what ? To <jueftIon whether a man be a Christ'
ian, afteri he has fprung from chriflrtan parents, been
trained up- in chriftian fchools, been ordained a chrift
ian minifter, has preached the chrilliian gofpel, lived
a chriftian. life, ajid is of a chriftian fpirit and temper !

( 192 )
For I take it for granted Mr.  *s teft had no
concern with his learning or virtue, his ability dr faith
fulnefs ; though thefe are the two great gofpel qualifi
cations of a chriftian minifter. No, he only queftions
his failh. Wh?it, his christian faith ? Infolent man!
Dare come to a chriftian minifter of approved ability
and fidelity, and affront him to his face with fuch lan
guage as this : " Sir, after all your professions and
preaching, notwithftanding your unblemlfhed life and
unforfeited charader, yet I, as a reprefentative of the
church (chofen and deputed by myfelf) greatly fus-
ped whether you are a chriftian, and am come tb put •
the left to you. Thefe are the Articles; I will read
tbem, for I am a moft orthodox and graceful reader.
Now, If you will fubfcribe thefe articles, I will own
you as a fellow chriftian ; and, my power is fo great,
I will undertake for a call to you to be our minifter ;
but if ever you depart a hair's breadth from thefe ar
ticles, I, who bring you here, will fend you back
again." Is not this the plain, natural language of this-
man's condud ? Is this infolence tolerable, or is it
curable? But what are thefe articles? for I would
fain fee this great curiofity, if Mr. Inquifitor dare
fhow them? Are they fcripture articles? Are they
drawn up in words which the Holy Ghoft taught?
No, I fufped not. The Son of God, the Holy Ghoft,
the apoftles, muft not compare with the wifdom and
fidelity of Mr. — ¦  1 The wifdom of the Kidder
minfter trier, to be fure, is far above that ofthe Lord
»~*^ Jefus. The words which man's wifdom (I muft not
fay man's pride, ignorance and folly) didates arc

( 193 )
preferable- to all the articles tbe -wifdom of God has
didated. The Bible is an imperfed book, and the
gofpel an Infufficient: rule ; Mn Statham might be
found a chriftian, a very good chriftian, by the New
Teftament — but perhaps not by Mr. -'- -" ' 's new
gofpel. Fori dare fay, it is a gofpel of his own com
pofing. ¦
1"; Thus are things come tb a fine pafs; minifters
who fuffer 'for not fubfcribing articles and canons
drawn up by learned bifhops, and enforced by convo-
cationS) xoancils, parliaments, kings, muft fubmit to
the articles of a Kiddermlnftei: weaver. The igno
rance of the man's condud vies with his Infolence.
By it he gives up the great principle of chriftianity'/
of the Prdteftant religbn, and of the Diflenters ;
namely, the perfedion of the fcriptures as a rule of
faith, and the right of perfonal judgment ; as well as
tramples upon all the laws of juftice, breeding and
good manners. What, muft human articles be made
the ftandard of chriftian faith ? perhaps antichriftian
articles; articles which very probably the arrogant
impofer himfelf underftands not! Articles, the blind
belief of which, has neither mended the heart ofthe
impofer, nor has the leaft tendency to mend othei^
mens. Ifl muft fubfcribe to human, unchriftian articles,
I will fubfcribe the articles of the Council of Trent,
by which I may ftand fair for a cardinal's hat ; or
the articles and canons of the church of England, by
which I may obtain five hundred a year, or a bifhop '
C c

( m )
rie ; Ul^t-'nthun the ^^ttlck^'of a plidantie layman,
foir only fifty pounds a^yeat.)
But what, muft Mr. Stptham : fubfcribe or lofe thif
place, and lofe as much reputation as this teft maker
can deprive-him of? 9&t! the pt^cfeciftting ipirit of dif-
fenting, popesy '., iSee the injuftice aad pride of Pope
— — — — ! Pray draw up articles, human articles., for
Mr. ', '.u . — , let him ^a, or lofe Jiis^tmde; £gn
0^ he 9x{!l\^ed cbmmnnioa; fee how he v^ouJd Uke
fuch a teft.' I kno'v ef,no0»toift«r, except ~—, of
Nottingham, 'frljio has .had prefumption to )d^aw up
articles foy theif, .people. "But lo! at Kiddern^jnfter,
a ]9,Y brqfh^r has 4''awo up articles for his minifter.
Pray take to task this officious impertinent man ; make
one trial to check ihis extravagant pride and infupport.?
able prefumption ; left the wildfire fpread, eatch m
oihex churcfhei, expofe us to ridicule and contempt,
divide;^ break and confound ' the whole difiTenting in
tereft. Your's, &c.

!.'^l,.Ur.^ ,, t ¦,,,,: I '

A LETTER,
Sent to Mr,  , of Kidderminster, relating to the.
, ' same Case.
Cbfeley, March 7, 1742-3.
Lear Sir, I grieve at the various reports ofthe ill ftate
of the DifTenters in Kidderminfter, and that our frietid

Mr. I ¦ ' ' ' fbouid be the chifef I{)%uix>«^t^of the
miAsbtef beguli, and bonfequeciitly of all which may
probably flow from it. Ai»i it Is ftrange he cannot.
fee the natural bad fruits of fiisi o\^n condud, as well
as.the apparent fcMy. and, ttarighiteoufnefst of it ; and
it> is pity his, talents, fhotild.be fo ill em(tle>yiedi and
bis, zeal fo ivretebedly beftb(^<ad, ivhich miighfc, in a
ijgtitrdbannel^^do! the ohiurchofi Ohriftlgood fervice.
He 'baSy indeed, ^h^j too many proofs of his am-
bi^iaqn, fdlF-fafficoenidy and' vanity, to have It hldifrosa
the leaft difcerning ; but ¥ could not have beilleved he
would have carried It to f6^ttHl^ffeiabJeiand arrogant;
ai-hieight as he has done; lording it over Gpd's faferi-
tage,^ affeiSiing' dominion over the faith of. miaiftej^j!,i)
ahd hieakiii§ AtiWa the barriers of juft liberty. For
hfe'ECMe^npt appears to me^ plain trampliBg-Bp&n this!
Ttgl^> efibafioaflity, bkrijftiatiity^ the protdflanfL a»d
^ffiSDAitijgi^a^ at onc^f ait afiV^nt to the Son of Gi)d«
t&tfee sgiiftlgB^'theminfiftefs of Chrift, and th^fhfift-»i
ian cfattfcb at'lSc^efdiiMier; and in wM'ch.' I hopei
eimsy honeftaiid?^neroii& ixlan wiU; oppofe him.
'- ^. What, is evtary lakatdMgekl' to think as^^Mr, - a",
¦ I'-i •?' does, aind' t»' ua^k^atjd/^ ^l^ fcriptures in his
fenfe'itt'dKijatSSd'dtid'ddubtfidf^rticlfes.Hi Hasinbt evtepy-
njao aajongftyouas mutib righti tof dravi^ up aad ita-
liofe articles oiphi'm, as he to dor it fori otiier men?
Had not? Mr-. Statham as g6dd a- right to fifti out Mr.
—^ — ^-^.- bplnipni aifd to" raefc" and: torture his con-
fisienfce byah^SWfeifctBftias.Mr* ¦>" • " — - thus to treat?
Mr. Statham? Is it not as bad to be people-ridden, as
to be pri^itdHeri ? ' Mufl a man be firft a fool,, and a
flav#, bji ^wss^dpobiif JiisjerlLyf or aknave/; by fitb-

fcrlbing againft confcience^^or bothy bfefiwe-lre can- be'
qualified to be a preacher at Kidderminfter? Will any
wife, juft and generous- ifenaA fubraitito: fuclit a yoke?q
A yoke our ehriftian<iffr'd«ieftanti Diffefating fath'efs
long attempted to break^;nMuft,a minifter. wea.r a yoke-
formed by a fluff- weaver,, after he. has fhaken off the
yoke of the Jewifh Rabbles, 'thei 'yoke .ofthe Roman
Pontiff; Ithe ypkis'-JoL high j church' priefts? Mufti a:
chriftian minifter fubmit to>Rabbi ¦ .'•, ¦! ni , and make
anS ambitious lay man his father in religion? and the maffi
ter df his faith, againft the eXprefs command of Jefusl
Chrift? Matt.. Sxxiii. 8-^12. csi-i,--'? sv.; ,ii'a<?--"'
^ Againj has.raot» Jefus, Chrift and. his;infpired apoft!e&,
drf^iveiredra fnffidieril nuBiber.-ofarticleSiof faith,, and Iq;
lan^uag? fufficiently , intelligible. anfl-..pl$jin,; but muft;
Mi-. — — '-TT — come 3ndipr^gh,%»new gofpel, am.end.i
cbrted arid authoritatively .explaiin .what.tour Lord audi
matter has delivered ?,iOr,,ratbqr:j:,.uxuft -hieKd,arken ^and.)
d^tiy-^ plain truths by' words w,iith?>,ut kP??i?Jfedge;? °Wasi
Chrift and St.' Paial,. John, JPfitfttiaoidijJSmes ,unable OEi
unwllUrigJ'to deliver, the touithanof God explicitly arada
particulitly enough,to be a ftandard of chriftian' faith ?
Hafe Mr. tmj.c,!,].'.',.'', — greater,. abi!Uties,,or;,more love_.to-
t'fiith and'to fouls than thfey? or only more, ignorance,!
pride and;.fel#conceit'?, Muft the fufficiencyj plainnefet
and perfpicuity of the' holy.fcripturesi, belithus given up?=
and our ca-dfe betlrayed to the-churGh;,of Rome by this.
new apoftle? -'Mu&.we,'atonce make a fep:|rific£_of-the.
liberty Vherewi.tk-4iing- William ^ndfiking George have^
under God, made us- free ?i«d ?„'; ).):i Ji ;;1 •¦ i-iUiiUiir,
'¦' Had not king Henry VIILi and the bifhops; a^ good
a right to impdfe the fix popiftiiartJc|_es,;and io burn

( 197 >
iflen for refufing them, as Mr. — '' ' ' '¦iV'h'a's to impofe
his thr^e articles, ahd brand a man for refufing them,
ahH'depri\'e him of that good reputation he had a right
to,""atid had never forfeited? Did not they as much be
lieve the fix articles to be the truths of God and 'JefUs
Gl^ft, %,'s' Mr. '  '¦  believes his to be fo? lOr,
wa's'theif^eal lefs fifery tha^n his? 'But did their ftrong
fatth'ahd -bnrhing izeal give theiri a> right to impofe
them upon Others, and to perfecute fthfeniiwith" hjird
ifeines knd hard blows for not fubfcribing them ? - .'^'^
•t' In fhort,' there 1.9 noproper fphere for friend -^-^  's-
adivity, but the fpiritual courts, efpecially that ipf the'
inqdlfi tion, whofe articles ahd perfecutlons u'pon'tb'eni'
maytbe-diefefrfded' by any'^tiniciples iipoii 'fsShteh Mr.
—a — i-1:— Can defend his. -srlJ •, .;;•: u'uvi .oj8 .'c , .v.c
,' It'jiS' childifh and vain to plead. He has frvith on
Mtifide. Let him go, try his preaehlhg talent at. Llf-
bon, Paris, Rome, and they will teach him to his coft
that they have truth On th'eir fide. They willtfeach'
biiW this by the fame methods in kind, though perhaps'
a: little {harper in degree, than thofe by whieh he would
teS'ch Mr. Statham that he has truth on his fide.^''^ ' ''*
But even as to the point of truth (which is only
begging the queftion, the''ufual vvay 6f ignorant, per-
fibciiting'bigots)" 1 deny he has truth on his fide ; nay;
Idefy him' to find any one of his three articles in the
New Teftament. Therefore upon his principles
might "juftly' charge Bim with being a grand heretic,
anarch fchlfmatic, as well as a prefumptuons, impofing,
pei'feCuting incendiarj'. ' For I a/firm that not one of
his three articles are In the New Teftament, either in
the fame or in equivalent terms. They are, therefore,^

C 198 )
fo fat frojn being.fundamental, that they are not chrift- j
ian articles. I will ujidertake to prove that two of his
articles, if not all three, are even contrary to, and in-
CDofiflent with, the plain declaraitions of the gofpel.
For, .inftance,, ^,:.i -jd ' -^sbt. .il a,'; i.7-3il
,1. If I! Jefus Chrift b© in any intelligible fenfei
a»dln his wholie perfon,, the Soa of'G«)d, John vi, 69»
be is not, nor can be, the very fame God with the
Bath/errwhofe fon ha is> unlof^ hie. be the fon pf himfelf*
Again, if he was begotten by Gbd, he canApt be th«,
iatne-^GadwIththeFathetwho begot him, Johniii. 16.
Farther, If he prayed to the Father as the only trae-
God, the Son wbo^ piiayed to the Father, and- who was
with the Father] ;in glory before the TS^orldiwaSi Jphm
xvii, 3, &c. could not be the famte Got! witb-the Fa>.
ther, whom he addrefiTed, was fent byj atid feturnedfto,
whofe will he did, aad whofe glory he fdughS. IfithcK
Father istgrmt^r thaa tbe.Son (not a past of tbe Sc»i^
only) John x* 29^ ch. xiv. 28. then' he is no<l the farae?
God, with thesPaAh*?*; Again., If there is- but onftf
(jfuprepie) God; and^'he;is the Father, 1 Cor. yiii.^.,
the one Lord Jefu^, is »Qt the fame God! with the one
God and Father. )i;-,i ';,> jdC; a 'y ' J ,'.¦ r 3V.3 - fct
.^» Twenty plw arguments pf^ this? nature does thef
fcripture furnifh us with againft ,Mt. - 'i . ¦ ;....'s firft:
aiticle; and. I exped the laft refuge of his jargon wIUt
be myfterioujfiief^ and incomprehenfibility ; tfcfe only
refuge of the , incomprehenfible m,yftery of tranfubr<
fiantiation. ,-,of,.o„:,;i.jif; ,;j. jV„ ..jj,^,. • .'- -,.,
But farther, to expofe the abfurdity of this article,
let me afk,. Has Mr. 7—*-  ^jany raeaning by the
word Perfon ? If he has none,4he article is a bundle of

A

( 199 )
words without fepfe. If he ha? any meaning, and
does not abufe words, he means by a perfon, an indi
vidual, intelligent agent, or a Being of infinite under
ftanding and adiye power. So here are three infi
nitely underftanding, powerful agents, that is, three
iupreme Gods, lb that we have a produd of heathen
theology (tritheifra) inftead of chriftian divinity; con
sequently here is a denial of the firft fundamental ar
ticle of religloo, the unity of God, and confequently
atheifm. Now is not this a fit man to fet up for a
creed-maker, a cenfurer of goijpel minifters, a preacher
ofthe gofpel.
He explains perfons by fubfiftences, a word he as
little underftands as the other. There may be beings
fubfifting, which are no perfons; perhaps he means
fuch. But are there three blind beings la one God,
or in what Mr, . .. blindly calls the unity of the
Godhead? And who revealed it to Mr, — . .. that Father,
Son and Holy Ghoft are of one and the fame fub
ftance? It is revealed to me, that Jefus Chrift Is the
exprefs image of his Father's perfon, Heb. i. 2, 3.
But I have not yet found it in the chriftian revelation,
that He, the Holy Ghoft, and the Father are of one
and the fame fubfta,nce.
What he means by man's nature, which the Son
of God took, perhaps he would be puzzled to tell, left
he fhould compound Chrift of two perfons, as he has
compounded God of three. If Chrift, as to his Deity,
is one and the fame God with the Father and the Holy
Ghoft, he confifts of four perfons, for there are three,
he fays, in the Godhead, .and one inthe human nature.

( ^50 )
(If he hive any determinate meaning, and incluilfe ' a
rational fpirit) novv. three and one always make four/
The Godhead (containing 'three perfons) and the man
hood {<;ontairiirfg one). that is, four perfons are; infepa
rably united, he fays, in the (pne) perfon of Chnft.^
Prayi, Sir, when you want a minifter fend for Mr, — > — '¦
he will fubfcribe this, famous article to ,be as fine a
piece "of pagan divihity, contradidion, and antichriftian
nonfenfe as was ever drawn up. But enough of this.
II. As to the fecond article, allow me to afk. If
fome of lhe<ofF»pring of Adam are born children ofthe'
covenant, Ads iii. 25. are they all by nature children-
of wrath? If at leaft fome children are innPcentSj'Jer.
ii. S4. ch. xix. 4. are ihey conceived in fin, bentto it,
ehildren of wrath? If fome children (asthofe of be
lieving parents) are not unclean, but holy, 1 Cor, vii.
14; arc .they all by nature finners (in -Mr,,-  ^ — rr-'.s
-fenfe) that is, children of wrath, fhapen in Iniquity;
and bent to fin ? If children, are the ftandard of , con
verfion and the new nature, Matt, xviii. 3. are they
at the fame time formed in iniquity, children of wrath,
and bent to fin? When our Lord fays. Except ye be
converted and become as little children, &c.' does he
mean (according to Mr. —r~-. — ^ — .article) except ye
become finners, children of wtathy deftitute of right
eoufnefs, and bent unto fin, ye cannot enter the king
dom of heaven?
If David's child (and as fome ofthe Jewifh rabbi's
fay, if David himfelf) was illegitimately begotten, was
warmed and conceived in fin ; is this any proof that
children begotten In the Jionourable ftate and unde
filed bedof marriage are conceived in iniquity? Heb.

(' $.01 )
xiii. 4 ; pt trill not an hyperbole folve this as t^ll as
otho; fimilar texts ?
Let me ask once more. If God be the fole fhaper
and former of every child, Pfi c. 3. Pf* cxxxix. to
a|Erm he has fhapen every child in fin, and formed it
in iniquity, is not this & daring outrage againft the
wifdotn, holinefs, juftice and goodnefs of God ; and a
provoking invediye on all mankind.^ And does not
every cbrlfllan mother owe a ftone at the head of this
inveigher? For did we want the proverb. As Innocent
asa new born child; we have a more authentic decla
ration from the Son of God, Suffer little children to
come unto rne, for of fuch is the kingdom of heaveUi-
He embraced, and bleflTed them, whom the candid,
or cruel, Mr*  '"~" piits under a barbarous curfe*
Markx. 13—16.
I acknowledge it may be true in the inftance of
Mr. ¦ ' who, I believe, reckons himfelf a re-*
generate man, that when he would do good, out of
zeal, the, evil principle of pride and vanity (from
which, 1 doubt, he was never yet converted) Is prefent
with him, and overrules to mifchief and breaking the
church of Cbrift, what he perhaps intended for good.
But I hope, and am perfuaded It Is not fo with ray pther
friends, Mr. —  and Mr. —  ' — >¦ (as I am fatis
fied It was not with St. Paul) they, I believe, by na«
ture and by religion are bent to virtue ; and when they
would do good, the better principle "^"^"7 becomes
vidorious, carries the day, overcomes the principle of
evil, and they, through grace, do the good they wifh
to do.
Pd

( 202 )
III. As to the third article. The gofpel of truth
fays. We are juftified freely by God's grace, through
the redemption' which Is In Chrift Jefus. Rom. iii.
2i. That we are juftified by faith, verfe 28, ch. v.
1 Gal. ii. 16, That faith Is Imputed for righteoufnefs.
Rom. Iv. S, 22. That ¦we are juftified by works.
James ii. 20 — 26. That by their words men- fhall be
juftified or condemned. Matt. xii. 37. That the doers
ofthe law fhall be juftified in the great day, Rom. Ii.
13—16. But where does the gofpel fay. That we
are juftified only for the merit of Chrift applied by
faith, and not for dur works? that Is, where does the
gofpel contradld itfelf, as Mr.  is bold tp
cbntradldit? The gofpel fays. He who doth righteoufnefs is
righteous, 1 John ii. 29, ch. iii. 7. If they are
righteous, God accounts them to be what they are,
righteous by doing right. Ads x. 37, Therefore he
doth not account thera fo only for the merit of
Chrift applied by faith.
After thefe remarks need I add my cqnfidence that
Mr.  r does not underftai d his own articles ;
a circumftance greatly aggravating his prefumption.
Of his Ignorance of the firft I have the proof in my
hands ; and I greatly fufped he has no clear Ideas of
the two latter. And upon the "whole I may venture
to prophecy, that if he have no better a hand at ftufF
making, than at article making, he will be foon a
bankrupt weaver, as he has been once a bankrupt
preacher, though I believe better of him in his own
provifioe. I fhall conclude with defiring you to obferve the

( 203 )
pradical tendency and influence of thefe abfurd doc
trines, and irrational faith in them. Have they any
the leaft tendency in their nature to promote love to
God and raen, repentance, righteoufnefs and good
works, a rational religion and a lively hope? Have
they had any influence, but to nourlfh a proud, dog
matical, impofing, dividing, cenforiouS, contentious
Ipirit? To believe, " That the Soa of God came from
heaven to undertake our redemption ; that he died
for us. Is able to fave us, has all power in heaven and
earth given to him, and will be our final judge,"
has a natural, a ftrong tendency to excite gratefulnefs
to God the Father, and to the Son of God, to engage
our obedience, to excite our hope, to give ub joy.
But the dry and the abfurd fpeculations about fubfift
ences, fubftance, effeuce, hypoftatical nnion, &c.
bas had no fuch influence, nor ever can have.
To believe, " that In Adam all die," fhews the
evil of fin, and fhould make us fear committing It;
yet to believe, that God has made us right, and what
we fhould be; and that all the ill confequences of the
fall are more than balanced by what Chrift, the fecond
Adam, has done and will do for us, is ground of grate
ful praife, of vigorous endeavours, and of chriftian
hope. But that God has made us finful, fhapen us
perverfe, prone to fin, and children of wrath. Is a
fine plea for finning, but giveth us a horrid idea of
God, To beUeve, " that God will juftify all who by fin
cere repentance, faith and obedience come to , pod,
through Chrift, and according to the gofpel of his

( 204 )
Son, and who work rrghteoiifnefs," is a jpowerful mo
tive to repentance, and to all chriftian virtue and piety,
•—But that God has no regard to perfonal righteoufnefs
(the glory of God, of Chrift, of angels, of men ; and
recommended through all the Bible) but only to the
merit of Chrift applied by faith (if Mr. — . has
any meaning in this) has no tendency but to weakea
the obligations to a holy and righteous life, and to give
men without virtue and goodnefs a falfe confidence to
be accoiinted righteous while ihey are not fo, but
really wicked. I leave it to you, and to any cool,
fober chriftian, to judge of the truth and moment of
fuch articles as Mr. — — — 's by their plain, natural
tendency and influence.
And I hope a firm and noble fpirit will rife up
amongft the Proteftant DlflTenters in Kidderminfter
againft thefe, and all other invafions of their chriftian
rights and privileges ; that you may be in a capacity
for fettling in the choice of a man of learning, inte
grity and pulpit abilities, and not tamely fubmit to>
or concur in, the choice of a worthlefs bigot.
Tour affedionate friend, S. B^

*ro. 6.

< 205 )

No, 6.
DECLARATION OF
The Rey. S. BOURN, Jun.
AT HIS ORDINATION AT RIVINGTON.
TO reply. Sir, to what you have juftly obferved
and prdpofed, in compliance with cuftom, and with a
defire of giving fome fatisfadion to this worthy affem
bly, particularly thofe who may be Interefted In my
future condud and miniftration ; I raake this public
and cordial declaration of my fentiments and intentions
with regard to the office of a flalnlfter of the gofpel.
I efteem it an office of vaft importance to the inte
reft of mankind ; upon the right difcharge of this fa
cred office depend, in a great meafure, the moft perfed
order of fociety, the improvement of men's under
ftandings and difpofitions, the peace of their caufe and
their everlafting happinefs. The'whole defign and end
of it is to make mankind wife, religious, virtuous and
good ; to infpire them with thofe fentiments and dif
pofitions of mind that bring moft fatlsfadlcn and hon
our to themfelves, are moti: beneficial to fociety, and
which are the beft preparatives to a future ftate of
perfedion In goodnefs and happinefs.
The means to be made ufe of to this end, are the
dodrines, inftrudlons, precepts, examples, encourage
ments, promifes of reward anddeniinciatioosof pun-

( 206 )
ifhment, contained In the gofpel of Jefus Chrift ; means
contrived and adapted by the infinite wifdom of God,
to operate the moft powerfully upon human nature,
and bring men to repentance and a good life. For
the application of thefe means, and attainment of this
end, by the univerfal confent of mankind in all chrift
ian nations, and in purfuance of the general examples
of the apoftles, of pur Saviour, the firft propagators of
chriftianity, particular focieties of chriftians are
formed ; one day in feven is fet apart to public worfhip ;
religious foleinnities are inftituted, and perfons are
eleded or appointed to be condudors of fdcial worfhip,
and Inftrudors and admonitors to their fellow chrifti
ans in their feveral focieties, by their public difcourfes
as well as private examples. A method, that no hu
man wifdom can devife any other fo neceffary, fo
proper and beneficial. The minifterial ofHcie therefore
is founded upon the reafon of things, the end of all
religion, the defign of , the gofpel, the prefent and
everlafting interefts of, mankind, a foundation quite
fufficient, though the New Teftament was wholly
filent onthis point ; nor, indeed, do I apprehend that
there Is in the New Tefliament any exprefs inftitution
either of public worfhip and the minifterial office in
general, or ofthe particular manner in which it is tq
be executed ; I am not at prefent aware that any thing
more is faid there relative to this office In all ages of
the church, thara general defcrlptions of the qualifi
cations requlfite to thofe that ferve in it; vIz; capa
city of mind, integrity and inoffenfivenefs of condud,
and fidelity and diligence in. applying the means ofthe
gofpel to the good and falvation of mankind. 5ut tbe

( 207 )
being and foundation oF the office is all along fup
pofed as refulting from the common fenfe and Confent •
of mankind and the general end of all religion ; and
there are no particular precepts enjoining in what
manner perfoiis fhall etiter upon this pffice, or in what
form public worfhip fhall be conduded, or how and
at what feafons baptifm and the Lord's-fupper fhall be
admlniftered, Thefe things ate, I humbly conceive,
left by tbe wifdom of our divine legiflator to be mo
delled and regulated bythe prudence of chriftians with
regard to the different conjundlons of times and cir
cumftances, and general end and purpofe of our holy
religion. We may. Indeed, from intimations in thS New
Teftament, and from other hlftories, trace out in a
great meafure the pradice ofthe apoftles and prlmliive
chriftians in thefe particulars ; but though tiieir ex
ample could In all cafes be clearly afcertained, as in
' fome it cannot, yet it Is not to be confidered as an
univerfal and Invariable rule to all fucceeding chrifti
ans. For fome of their ufages were founded upon
reafons relating peculiarly to thofe times and the parti
cular circumftances of the firft profeffors of chriftianity,
and confequently, by proeefs of time and chang'e of
circumftances, thefe reafons are annulled; nor do tbe
apoftles everintiraate that their own pradice, in thefe
formal offices of religion, was to be obferved as a rule
by chriftians In future ages. We may therefore
juftly, and In fome Inftances we do deviate from the
pradice of the primitive church, whilft in other in
ftances, where the reafons of them ftill hold In force,
aad their tendency to the. great end of the chriftian.

( 208 )
religion Is apparent, we adhere to it. Thus, for in
ftance, we Proteftant DifTenters obferve the ancien^
manner of eledlng perfons Into the mlnlfte/ial office,
by the votes or fuffrages of the people tp, whom h^
fhall officiate, with tl^e, concurrence o( fuch as are
already in the office, and the folemnlty of public
prayers. We obferve this cuflpm not, only as con
formable to the primitive pradice, hut as having
. learned by the long and fad e;£perlence of the chrjfli-
an world, what incumbrances and diforders have en-
fued from other fchemes, where the minifterial office
aqd charader hath been inter>yoven wi^h (eculai;
power, fubjeded to worldly Intereft, and proftituted tp ,
ferve the ends of ambition and avarice ; where horrible
corruptions have been introduced into the chriftiaa
religion; ignorance and fuperftition been encouraged,
and a blind fubmiffion to human authority in religioa
inculcated and enforced, inftead of an obedience to the
laws and precepts of Jefus Chrift. It is our profefled
defign to preserve our holy religion, and the offices of
it, from being thus corrupted and abafed ; to reftore it
to its native purity and fimplicity, by throwing off
fuperfluous ceremonies and fecular incumbrances,
that rather obftrud than promote the end qf chrifti
anity, and to reduce it to a forra fimilar to the primi
tive and apoftolic form ; yet not without allowing
fuch alterations as the different conjundlons of times
and circumftances fhall make expedient and ufeful.
We do not confider ourfelves, I prefume, as bound by
divine authority to any particular moie of worfhip,,
or other public miniftrations ; but are fenfible tbjrt
the nature of chriftianity;' as culculated for au uni-

( 209 )
Vetfal religion, and the fole end of whifch is the general
reformation of mankind ; admits of a great latitude
and variety with refped to forra and drefsj to outward
ufages and appearances, according as the difcretion of
Chriftian focieries may dIred, or the different confti
tution and regulation of cii^Il government, the connec
tions of fodety and pofture of human affairs may ren*
der expedient and beneficial ; and the general end of
the gofpel difpenfation may, I conceive^ be equally
intended and equally anfwered by different forms of
public miniftration»
It will not, I hope, be imagined that any thing Is
here fuggefted tending to diminifh the importance, or
take away the foundation of public worfhip and the
office ofthe minlftiry ; but. On the contrary, tP eftablifh
them. Though we find little faid in the New Tefta-^
ment, ahd what is faid, expreffed in. very general
terms, relating to the inftitution and regulation of the
public offices of religion, afld the perfons who are to
officiate in them^ yet we cannot^ with any. colour of
reafon, doubt but that it was the will of our bleffed
Savioiir that the public miniftration of the gofpel
ftiould continue to the end ofthe world. There Is no
inftitution of civil government in the New Teftament,
yet it Is faid to be the Prdinance of God; and the civil
magiftratej^ though he has no authority or command
from God InveftIng him in his office, is called the
minifter of God to nlen for good, becaafethe office of
magiftrote is founded in reafon, in the necessity and
intereft of mankind : fo the miniftry of the gofpel,
though . not inftituted in the New Teftament, and
EC

( 210 )
(hou^ thfey that officiate it have no authority or com
mand from Cbrift, derived to them bjr any channel
whatfoever, iavefting thera in their office, or direding
the particular manner of executing -it; yet may with
fimllax propriety be called the ordinance of Chrifl,
and they the biiinxfteTS of Chrift for tbe falvation of
Hien, becaufe their office is founded upon the general
end and nature of the Chriftiaa religon, and the eter
nal Intereft of niankindl And as It is the will of God
that civil government fhall be maintained by a perpe
tual fucceffion of perfons to difcharge the, offices of it,,
we may iuUke manner certairily conclude it to be, the
will of Chrift that there IbaH be a perpetual fucceffion^
of perfons in the office of maintaining and propagat
ing hi» religion In the world. And it is mattifeil from.
feveral places iri the New Teftament that the apofUea
of our Saviour, in their inftrudions and pradice, pro
ceeded on a foppofition of a public miniftration of
the gofpel being continued In Chriftian focieties in all
future- ages.. But there was no need of particular pre
cepts inftituting the minifterial office and regulatings
the execution 6f it, fince it has a fufficient foundation.
in the common reafon of mankind, the intereft of fo«
ciety, and tbe general' end of all religon : and thei
particiilar modes of miniftration are, I cbncravei^
wifely left to human prudence, tof be varied as circum
ftances and occafions (ball require, in order that the
propagarion, influence and general end of Chriflianity
might not be hindered by a rigid adherence to forms
and modes of little fignification or advantage ;,> a high:
opinion of, and obftinate adherence to, which thanga
have been a great weaknefs in Chriftians, and a prin-

( 211 )
clpal hindrance to the. propagation and influence of
tbe gofpel in the world. The natjire of the paftoral
office, its utility to mankind, and the importance of
capacity and fidelity in thofe that engage Irr it, appear
front the great ends It is intended to anfwer; viz.
to preferve the purity, extend the knowledge, and
promote the pradice of ihe beft and only true religion
ia the worid, that which our bleffed Saviour has infti
tuted, which is contained wholly In the dodrines and
precepts of him and his apoftles, and the fole end of '
which is to advance the peace and good order of man
kind in this world, and to prepare them for eternal
happinefs in another^ It Is to be difcharged, in order
to this end, hyxonduding public worfhip in the moft
rational and becoming manner, and moft expreffive of
the fenfe all raen ought to have of their common
dependence upon God, and obligations to him ; by af
fifting men to underftand, and perfuading them to
pradice all that is revealed and commanded In the
New Teftament; teaching nothing as a dodrine but
what is taught there, recommending nothing as a duty
but what is recommended there ; direding men's at
tention continually to the facred fcriptures, and to
them alone, as the ground and rule upon which they
are to form their judgment, govern their adions and,
found their hopes, with refped to the favour of God,
and an everlafting ftate, by endeavouring to make men
real Chriftians, not pnly in judginent and opinion,
but which Is of infinitely greater moraent. In temper apd
life. With thefe fentiments of the office of a minifter
ofthe gofpel, and with a fincere Intention to difcharge
it according to my ability, with a fteady view to thofe

( 212 )
great ends It is intended to promote, I now voluntarily
engage in it, with a difpofition gratefully to receive
the friendly advices of thofe who have already dif
charged this office with fo much honour to themfelves
and advantage to others ; and with a defire of the fer.t
vent petitions of this affembly to the Almighty Au
thor of all knowledge, virtue and happinefs, for his aid
and blessing; that he will vpuchfafe to make me an
inftrument of his providence and grace in the conver
fion and falvation of my fellow Chriftians ; and that
the event of aJl may be to the honour of God and our
bleffed Saviour, and to my own and others eveili^ing
advantage, which God of his infinite mercy grantj,
thrpugh Jefus Chrift Pur Lord. Amen.

No. 7.

("213 )

No. 7.
LETTERS, AND
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS,
LETTERS are generally considered as ex
hibiting a character in its true light, free of art
and disguise; as genuine expressions of the dis
positions of the mind on the incidental occurrences
of hfe. Those of good men convey also moral
lessons with simplicity and force; and those of
men who have moved in a pubhc sphere, often
furnish entertaining and interesting anecdotes.
These reasons, it is hoped will justify the appear
ance of the following Letters, and Extracts frbm
Letters, principally written by Mr. Bourn to his
Son, Mr. Abraham Bourn.

Letter from Mr. Bourn to Mr. Abraham Bourn,
at Chowbent. Cofeley, February 13, 1742.
Dear Abraham, Yours, of January 22, we have ; your pa
rents wifh you more perfed health and a cheerful-

( 214 )
mind, and would contribute to both as far as able ; and
the latter may conduce to the former ; which latter
may be procured principally by a truft In God, and a
firm perfuafion that while you keep in virtue's path
nothing can befal you but what the great Governor
and Lover of Virtue will caufe to turn out for your
good. Mind, therefore, only your part, and leave God
to his. I am afraid your brother Samuel Is too impa
tient undet his l^t, and wbuld have advancement before
God fees he is fit for It, or it for him, I wifh this be
not one foundation of what you call, in his cafe, the
hippo. But no methofd^, no tare will givfe perfed
health, or render us iihhiortali May ybuir and his in-
difpofifiorts ttibve you feofii fcfipirepare fbr the w©rfd of
iinmortals. : ,
The othfer two vols-, of jN^ture. Delioeated 1 prcipofe
to fend you -when either of your brothers cjome over;
but as to books of humour I am, but poorly ftpcked
myfelf; I bprrow but few of them, and buy fewer.
If Cor, ijafippper'has forgot you, I hope your fa
ther and mother win not ; and if ^e die, or other-ivays
fbrfake yoii, if ybu have a eM'rti, as Ihbpe ybu have,
tothe favour of the Fathetbf Spirits, you will nbt
want. J commend you to God, and am
your affedionate father,
, SAMUEL BOURN,

( 215 )
From the Same to the Same,
Cofeley, June II, 1742.
Dear Abraham, YOURS, of May 15, I received laft Satur
day; I am forry your indifpofition continues, and that
no methods fucceed to remove it. Befides the direc
tions I gave you when at Cofeley, I am able to add
little more, except you try to drink water (cold, or
warmed with a toaft) Inftead of malt liquor. How
ever I hope your bodily diforders will be a motive to
you to improve your mind, and take care of your foul ;
then your affiidion will prove a real and great bleffing.
I believe I took notice of your former letter in mine
to Samuel, but that he has negleded to inform you
of it. Mr. Jof. 's mifcondud muft be an un
fpeakable grief to his parents, and his own ruin if he
does not return and amend. Take care of the begin
nings of fin, and the firft entrance of wicked thoughts.
One argument for a wig (which you write whig)'
Is your having 'worn your hair thefe nineteen years;
apply that argument to your skin, which you have
worn longer, and fee If it will hold for a change.
Your hair is not really (o old as you imagine. It Is re
newed every year, and is not unhandfome ; but If very
troublefome, I fhall not oppofe your converting it into
a wig, though perhaps It may be as well to defer it
now till next fpring.
May the prefence and bleffing crf God be with you,.

( 216 )
to which end always live in his fear, and keep in the
path of duty and virtue. I am your afi'edionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

' * 1 r'

V Frbm the Sitme to the Same.
Cofeley, November 16, 1742.
Dear Son Abraham,
YOUR letter of Odober ll was very accept.*
able to us ; wherein I hope you fpeak the genuine
fentiments of your heart, and wifh you may perfevereP
and grow more perfed In them, that the force of good
principles and difpofitions rooted in your heart, may'
ftand and overcome the force of the ftrongeft attacks
which (hall be ever made upon your virtue ; and you
are arriving now at an age perhaps the moft critical
in life, and are going forth into the world, where you
will probably be furprifed with new temptations to let
go your religious principles, and to depart from- the
paths of virtue. But I.prayand hope that God will
carry you through all, and render you vidorious. And
conquering virtue will be your prefent joy and future
crown. Nor can your parents conceive a greater joy
than*fo fee all their fons walking in the way of truth.
I would have you cherifh a difpofition to read, as
one ofthe beft methods to cultivate the mind, to adorn.
and fortify the heart, and regulate the life ; and al-»
ways read with thefe views, yet be not. too fond of-

( 217 )
poetry ; it may enliven your imagination and give yoU
fprlghtly fentiments, but is lefs apt to improve the
judgment than other writings.
I have fent you Reynolds' Lifej with his Poem pA
Death. The lattet has fonie fine flights In it, though
all the philofophy of It may not be juft* The former
is but a dull piece, and not the true image or portrait
ure ofthe ingenious Mr, Reynoldsi *
I obferve with you the rule of my cctndud with
your other brothers, to let yoii want nothing neceffary
in your ftation ; but not to- truft a ftoCk of money
with youth till they are more capable of felf-manag-
ing, and their prudence and oeconomy be a little tried.
I would not put a temptation into their hands.
I wifti God may qualify you for a wife ufe of your
liberty, when your apprenticefhip expires, that your
condud may pleafe all your friends, and be approved
by your affedionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

Leiter ftom Mr. Bouni to Mr. Abraham Bourn,
in London. Cofeley, January 23, 1743.-
Dear Abraham, AS you find yourfelf fiibjed to a Httle in -
attentlPn, which expofes you to great difad vantages,
you will, Ihope, guard againft it, and try to acquire
an habit of thoughtfulnefs and care. Though you
Ff

( ?18 )
uiuft in fome d/egree conform 4o, the cuftoih of , the
pl^ee, jet lam fbrryrtbat Inxliry and foppery is fo
prevalent, and fo great ftrefs is laid ppon externals^
If you ufe thenii learn to think above them, and to
cultivate that wifdom and skill, and thofe vlrtiifes which
give a real exaltation' to a man, and will never wear
out. As oft as convenient I would have you attend Mr,
Benfbn, both as a good, preacher and your father's
friend. He writes of an infirttidry In the ftreet he lives
in, which you may attend On moderate terms; but
whether worth your while I cannot judge. In Cafe
young Mr, — — ^ retain the virtuous charader of his
father and family, he may be a very ufeful companion
to you at London and to Paris, if you go, and his
time and fcheme anfwer youfs. But I fuppofe three
months at Paris may be enough, and perhaps the
longer you ftay the more hazard may your innocency
and virtue be in, which ihould not be exchanged for
all the skill in the world.
I had thought to have fent you Homer, but appre
hend your time may be far better employed in many
other authors. Read the beft {erraons, and books in
your own profeffion.
The fon of  ' — has hid his face, and
left his father's houfe, through the fhame of having
committed folly in Ifrael, to the great grief of his pa
rents and friends. The young woman is of an inferior
family, and of a very indifferent charader ; whom he
will not marry. See, Son, the dreadful effeds of fin,
of that fin ; refolve, guard and, pray againft it. pnter
into no familiarities with any of the fex, high or lovi^.

( 219 )
till you intend a laudable courtfhip; and avoid the
friendfhip of young men of fufpeded condud, what
ever other advantages it may procure. That dreadful
fin is a prevailing one, and which youth are moft in
danger of, and yet of moft pernicious confequence to
the peace, comfort and credit of families, and to the
intereft of religion. Flee every youthful luft.
I am your affedionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

From the Same to the Same.
¦ Cofeley, March lO, 1743,
Dear Abraham, WE are glad and thankful to God when
we hear of your welfare, as by yours of February 7.
God. has in good meafure raifed me up from a danger
ous and violent fall againft the'edge of a joift In the
bay loft, which cruibed and difplaced or broke my ribs,
and by which I was fome weeks confined. How pre
carious is life ! Such warnings have we to be ready to
give it up !
I hope by every chriftian and focial virtue you will
endeavour to recommend yourfelf to both God and
man. And pay a great regard to the Lord's-day, the
great means of keeping up a fenfe of God and the
pradice of religion In the world.
You muft lay afide thoughts of Paris tijl we fee

( 220 )
how a French war is Hke to iffue. Mr. Birch, the
furgeon, fays three or four winter months at Paris is
fufficient. I hope your brothers have a fhare in your thoughts,
affedions and prayers. I am your affedionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

From the Same to the Same,
Cofeley, July 6, 1743,
Dear Abraham, I wifh a fenfe of God's kind providence may
always excite you to a reverential and grateful obe
dience ; and that the fame goodnefs you have thus far
experienced may always attend you and be improved
by you. When you are fixed I fhall exped to hear
from you, with all proper particulars.
While my fons fhew themfelves fons, I hope their
father will ad his part, as far as his circunaftances will
allow, arid their cafes require affiftance.
Wherever Providence fhall place you, endeavour
to recommend yourfelf to the efteem of your fuperlors,
and to the affedion and good-will of all about you, by
pradifing and even excelling In every virtue, efpetially
that fidelity, induftry, quicknefs, care and obliging
carriage vvhich fp much adorns a fervant. This wilt

( 221 )
be your honour and comfort, and the report of it be
very acceptable to your affedionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

¦%

From the Same to the Same.
Cofeley, September 5, 1743.
Dear Son, YESTERDAY we had your letters to me
and brother Daniel, who was then with us ; I fuppofe
they came by Mifs Smith, I am pleafed you are fo:
large in your hiftorlcalaccounts ; It is fome entertain
ment to us in the foHtarinefs of Cofeley, to hear what
is doing at London, and it is a fatisfadion to know all
your own proceedings. While you are in town, it may
be proper to keep by you a lift of Daniel's chapmen,
and where they live, that you may more readily do
him a Httle fervice now and then; and hereby encou
rage and cherifh the principle of brotherly affedion and
good-will which I hope is planted already in you, and
which will render brothers ferviceable to one another ;
not negleding to cultivate a more extenfive benevo
lence to all fellow creatures ; one of the raoft amiable
refemblances of the Deity.
While your bufinefs is fmall, greater numbers en
joy the bleffing of health, which fhould cheer a gene
rous heart, though It thereby fuftain fecular lofs, I
Jiope ypu will improve your leifure hours to the beft

(, 222 )
advantage. As I fent jou a Freuich, Grammar, if
needful I wpuld fend you a Didiopary, though pro
bably you may borrow one, and I am willing to be at
needful expence for your Inftrudion.
Though I thought more acquaintance with the
city, wit;h the charaders and cuftoms of the hofpltals,
andl^^angers to your morals In thofe places might
not be neceffary, yet in cafe you are likely to have time,
and can obtalij' (upon ireafbnable cdnfld<eration) liberty,
I fhould not oppofe your taking a turn in them at pre
fent,, Only I would h?,ve you talk over the cafe with
Mr. Benfon, Mr, Latham the apothecary,, and, others,
to hear tlieir feveral fentiments, who have l^en longer
in the wprld and In the city than you. And if yon can
eriter as a cub (as Mr. Birch propofed) by a fevy petty
fees or a bpttle pf wine now and then, this migh^ beft
cpnfift„witji, your pre^nt ftation, apd fave, a great fee,
which may gp fawards a tour to Paris, if your frjen^s
advife to it, apd you c^p, a year hence or thereabout,.
have a fuitable compatfion. perhaps, in another year
peace may h? fettled Ijetjveen England an4 France.
"Tlipiigh I wpuld not l^ave you fpend your portion in
education, yet 1 would npt fpare ijfefulcofj; and al
ways propofed either yppr entering a Londoji hofpital,
or vifiting thofe at Paris, but not both, unlefs you
enter here only in the capacity of a cub, if you can lie
fpr a few. months reconciled tp that diminutive cha
rader. When you have made any progrefs in ydur
defign let me know the probable expence, and I will
remit It to you, Mr, Benfon fays, In one hofpital the
juniors drefs, in others they are only lookers-on, I
intend to pay for your wig, and not let you want need-

( 223 )
ful fupplles. But you fee the world running Into lux-'
ury, and young raen into foppery; and the gofpel has
not efficacy enough to reftrain them. Therefore
though you muft appear clean, neat, and a little gen
teel upon occafions, yet affed not to be fine, preferve a
moderate inInd, and guard againft a paffion for exter
nals, the prevalence of which fhows the genOTiPjf or-
ruption of men's judgments and pradical relifhes ; and
endeavour to diftingulfli yourfelf by fuperior judg
ment, skill, fincerity, benevolence and addrefs. If an
apothecary's fervant can bleed, I am Informed the
bleeding fee (which Is ufually 2s. 6d. or 5s.) is the
fervant' s perqulfite.
The Iefs regard you fee paid to the Lord's-day be
more upon your guard, and try your beft, by example, to
recover a juft efteem for it, which I take to be the beft
infKtution for preferving religion, virtue and order in
the world. It may be proper ftatedly to- hear Mr.
Benfon ; he Is your father's friend, I would alfo have
you hear now and then Mr, Newman, Dr. Wright's
affiftant; he is a ferious and judicious preacher, and
has publifhed a good trad, called the progrefs of vice.
Mr, Spilsbury is a genteel man, Mr. Chandler a folid
one. As I hope I ara, fo I alfo hope y^u are, folicitous
above all things that you preferve your Innocence, and
improve in virtue, as the only true bafis of prefent and
eternal happinefs ; and as a means to this live in the
fear of God, as the all-feeing and righteous governor
and judge ofthe world. I am your affedionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

( 224 )
the Same to the Same.
Cofeley, July 19, 1744
Dear Abrahain,
jim-. . I have herewith fent you a copy of my
Chrl^n Catechifm, bound in calf, and I have provided
one for each of yout brothers, I have long expedei
to fee your brother Samuel, but he waits, I believe, till
Daniel's work is ereded, and then we may yet wait
fome montlis on that (to me) hopelefs and expenfive
projed. In anfwer, to tbe chief contents of your lafi to youi*
mother and me, my prefent. thoughts are, that {oi
about forty or fifty pounds you raay, with due provi
dence, fpend four, five or fix months at Paris, where you
will fee much more than in our hofpitals; and ftill far
more than on fhip board, where chiefly gun fhot
wounds may probably come under your care. Mr,
John Roe fays you may live at Paris for 6s, per week,
and thinks you may go as fafely as in time of peace,
by obtaining a pafs, and going inthe packe'tboat. I
wifh you may have an hour or two of his company.
If you go, his diredlons and recommendatory letter
may do you fervice. And in cafe you determine this
way, I think you had better keep your place till neat'
the time of going on board. The London infirmary
may anfwer your ends very fufficiently. If Mr. Benfon
finds you can come in on moderate terms, I do not
abfolutely refufe my confent to your going on board a
man of war, if your inclination- ftill ftand that way,
and, you have your chief friends advice to it. But yo»

( 225 )
wrill prDbably not fee ,any great variety of cafes, and
muft be imprifoned amongft a fad crew, whofe jeft
your piety and virtue will render you ; or to ^hofe
manners and language you inay in time be tempted
to, conform; and to lofe religion and virtue will be a
fad exchange for furgical skill. Your chief danger
abroad may poffibly arife from the fex, againft whofe
fnares I pray God preferve you, and as to which you
cannot be too much on your guard no\v and al^Vays,
I commend you to the care of a wilfe and kind
PWvidence, and am your affedionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

Letter from Mrs. Bourn to Mr. Abraham Bourn^
at Market Hart/bfough, Cofeley, Odober 31, 1744.
Dear Abraham, I heartily wifh you fuccefs and fatisfadion
in your new fettlement, and in the period of life you
are now entering upon, I have good hopes that you
have already and will ftill take care to engage the pre
fence of God with you, by earneft and importunate
prayer upon the occafion, and alfo by a circumfped
and religious behaviour, both in public and private.
Every new ftation brings new temptations with It
which require nevtr wafchfulnefs and refiftance ; for
the chriftian conflid is not at an end fill life itfelf is
at an end.
Gg

( 226 )
As to managing your houfhold affairs and expences,
I would advife ypu to begin low ; the contrary is, and
has been the ruin of numerous tradefmen. You know
your fortune win not bear fetting out high; it raay be
fome time before you come into bufinefs, and Provi
dence may liave wife ends in it to try your humility,
truft, dependence and refignation ; and It Is eafy to
rife, when you find your circumftances will admit it.
You know it is an apoftolic exhortation, as well as a
parental one, ," Mind not high things,'' The nation
is ftrangely run Into extravagance and luxury even
fince I can remember, I think one fhould rather try
to fwim againft the tide of vanity which prevails, than
to bear away with the foremoft In it. Endeavour after
contentment with a little, and it will prepare you for
more. I am your affedionate mother,
HANNAH BOURN,

,From Mr. Bourn to Mr. Abraham Bourn.
Cofeley, November 30, 1744,
Dear Son, We are at prefent under fome gentle provi
dential frowns ; fon Daniel had the firft joint of the
fore finger of his right hand taken quite off, by his
own machine, and has been under the furgepn's care
about three weeks, and is ip the way pf healing. And

( 217 )
fohie days after our fervant had her right hand crufiled
bythe cog wheel of a wind-mill, and that fo badly that
the furgeon was afraid of a mortification ; but we
hope in time fhe will be reftored : we more fufped the
furgeon' s honefty than his skill ; a fufpicion, I hope,
you will never give the leaft ground for, Asa fu^-
geon's bufinefs depends on his reputation, that repu
tation muft be gained by proofs of both judgment and
integrity ; healing well and foon, as far as the cafe
will admit. Therefore it> his bufinefs honefty is his
true policy ; and to trifle with a patient and keep back
health and foundnefs, as it Is robbing his pocket fo it
is a cruelty to his body, and a fin againft God and
man. Next to skill and honefty, tendernefs is a recom-
mending quality in a furgeon, who ought to have a
cool head, a compaffionate heart and a gentle hand.
Prefence of mind in fudden cafes, and dexterity of
hand in operations are further requilites. I hope you
will be improving in them all ; and may a bleffing
from God attend your fervices In both your capacities,
as apothecary and furgeon. In order to go through
both with judgment, you fhould apply yourfelf to ana
tomy, and if you ever can do it, attend fome diffedi-
-ons. For in many cafes a remedy muft be applied
to the origin of the nerves, mufcles and ligaments,
where it raay fucceed better than on the part affeded.
Ihave but a few books of medicine left ; when you
can compafs Chambers's Didionary, it may ferve in
ftead of many fingle trads on a variety of fciences
and arts. Perhaps I may lend you mine for a year,
aftet I have gone over it.

( 2^8 )
Forged not your good mother's admonition, that
new ftatiofts have new teinptaj^ons attending thetn,
againft which, be ever on ypur guard, and by all raeans
preferve your innocence and a good confcience, and
then ypu will be better, able to bear outward infelici
ties, ajfh^re of w^hicljiWe fhould all exped,
I am your affedionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

From the Same to the Same*
Cofeley, December 29, 1744*
Dear Son, I fhall be forry if Harborough air does not
fait your health, but do not fuffer yourfelf to be per
fuaded out of your health, and to tamper with fpirltu-
ous remedies, which may deftroy it indeed, or gradu-.
ally and Infenfibly bring on a wrong habit. Reglmetl
and exercife are the great fources of health, and after
being ufed to the air of that country It may come to
fuit your conftitution better.
We are thankful to a good God who favours your
beginnings ; I wifh you continued fuccefs.
Mr, — - is I think a hard man, and has pinched
yon in many articles, and would have done it in more,
which was not the part of a candid, generous man ;
and though I would have you be guilty of no mean
unfair adions, I would have you look to yourfelf as

( 229 )
far as prudence and honefty will hear you out. But
I know not how to give you any particular diredions.
I hope you have fome friends about you capable of be
ing advifed with to your advantage.
That God may blefs your undertakings, and that
you preferve your innocence, and grow in every virtue,
IS the ardent prayer of Tour affedionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

Extract from a Letter to Mr. A. Bourn, dated April
13, 1745,
I fuppofe you have heard of the Lancafhire phoeno-
menon, viz. the large trad of mofs ground heaved off
its bed by fubjacent waters, Increafed by a land flood,
and carried over adjacent ground, about forty acres of
which is covered by the mofs, to the thlcknefs of one,
two and three yards, near Garfliang,

From the Same to the Same.
Cofeley, Auguft 23, 1745.
Dear Abraham, YOURS ofthe 16th I had on Wednefday
evening, which could not but give us affiidion in pro-

( 230 )
portion to our love to you and concern fcJr your wel
fare. And though your diforder was owing to an In-
difcrefion, fuch as moft young people are liable to ; yet
permitting It was, I hope, with kind intentions in a
good God, for promoting in you a ferious turn of
mind ; a mind much and often turned towards another
world ; in regard you fee how foon and how eafily
all our projeds for this world are broken.
As nothing,ls certain but death, let us not treat It
as if it was the greateft uncertainty. ' And as nothing
is great but eternity and what refers to it, let us not
treat it as a matter of indifferency, or a trifling ob
ject. I would fain have my fons, in an age of vanity, do
their part to keep up religion and virtue In the world J
the almoft only caufe ¦ wofth fupporting ; and fup-
porting which with fincerity and upright intentions
will be acceptable to the. great Patron of goodnefs, the
Father of Spirits, and our bleffed Saviour ; whofe great
errand was to recover almoft loft religion and virtue,
as the only way to reftore men to happinefs.
It would be a great fatisfadion to me to fee you,
but it would be very Inconvenient ; and as you are
growing better, 1 hope ,God will reftore you, enable
you to execute your defigns, and allow us fome cheer
ful Interviews on this fide heaven ; where that we may
all meet at laft is the prayer of your affedionate
father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

( 231 )
From the Same to the Same. •
Cofeley, December 7, 1745,
Dear Son, AS the rebels have marched pn for Derby,
and may probably move towards the capital, when
your town will lie In their rout, as we with and pray
for your fafety, fo we fhall be glad to have your ac
count of their behaviour, their numbers, progrefs and
all other circumftances, and as foon as may be.
Your brothers Jofeph and Samuel are here, fled
from before the rebels, the firft of whom came into
Manchester before they left It ; and they enlifted In
Manehefter forty men that night. They (your bro
thers) had the honour of paying their duty to the Duke
[of Cumberland] at Lichfield, to kifs his hand, and
who asked them feveral queftions. They came to
Blrminghara on Saturday night, laft : Jofeph goes this
day for Derby, Samuel propofes to fet out on Mon-
4ay, and to call on his brother at Derby, and return
that day Into Lancafhire,
On Tuefday I went, with many others, to Staf
ford, expeding to fee an engagement. The king's
army drew up in the field beyond Stone, but the rebels
turned off about Tockworth hill, and gave our army
the flip. I fear a third army muft be drawn out
to fight thefe troublefome and flippery guefb,
I have fent you a fmall piece which I drew up tp
ferve my country at this jundure,
I ara your affedionate Father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

( 232 )
The Same to the Same.
Cofeley, February 20, 1746.
Dear Son, I wrote to you, by the carrier, a ftiort letter,
upon the receipt of yours, to prefs you to call in your
money, and to employ Dr. Benfon or your friend Mr.
Robinfon, to buy for you a fhare in the South Sea annui
ties. The Dodor has orders to buy me a fhare, and
I exped he will fend me down this week a letter of
attorney to Impower him to buy, fell and receive the
dividends for me, I fear your want of knowing the
world, and your good temper will now and then ex
pofe you to fome inconveniences, againft which yoii
fhould guard by wifdom and refolution.
When I inquired how your books turned out,
I meant only your books of debt and credit, which
I find turn out but indifferently; but hope, if by fud-
cefs and prudence your credit be more eflablifhed, you
will do better in fucceeding years.
Chambers's Didionary is doubtlefs a ufeful ftand
ing book, but you muft buy as you can afford, I heat
that my Proteftant Catechifm will be publifhed by Mr.
Robnnfbn in about a month,
Mr, Orton has been tried whether he will reraove
to Birmingham, but gives no encouragement. Next
th-ey propofe ta try Mr, Kay of Whitchurch, Mr.
Amory of Taunton, and Mr. Willets of Newcaltle.
But fuccefs with any of them is dubious, Mr, Wil
lets is unhappily engaged in a coal work in Wales,
which often requires fiis attendance.

( ^35 )
Your brother Samuel writes that thitty-fix rebeU
quartered on Mr. Bent, the ^ifl^enting minifter In Chori*
ley, ate up'forty-onje pounds ofcheefe before fupper,
I hope the klngdooi will foon be purged of thefe hun
gry robbers. I am your affedionate fatber,
SAMUEL BOURN.

flxtract from a Letter-to Mr, A. Bourn, at Leicester j
dated Marfh 18, 1748.
Dear Son, I have youts of February 29, by poftj
fr^id^ed, and ofthe 6th inflant; and I wifh you com
fort and fujxefs in your new fettlement.; where not
raifing your espedations top high may prevent pi?
abate tKe fenfe of difappointnjent. And not to form
full judgment of men upon firft appearances may
prevent ypur mlftaking their true cl^araders ; your
own gpod ,4ifpofltipn will, I believe, generally lea^
you to the candid fide, which may render more need
ful advice to a foQienfipn of judgiyent till after due
trial. It giveth me fome fatisfadion, that In your prefent
ftation you are likely to fpend your Lord's-days more
to your ad^^ntagp, and with more pleafure than I
prefume you could do at Harborough.
Hh

( 234 )
It is high time you join your felldw Chriftians in
a solemn -commemoration of that great eVent, the
death ofthe Son of God. And I wifh it may tend
fo eftablifh you In the Chriftian faith, in Chriftian
love, and in fincere adivity for the whole caufe of
Chriftianity. ,, ,

Extract froma Letter to the Pev. Joseph Bourn, of-
' Hifidley. ¦ ,'
, Cofeley, January 25, 1749.
Dear Son, THE account you give of your dear . bro
ther Is very afFedIng, and we are Very defirous of an
other letter as (bon as poffible. We are very defirous
of a life which may be our joy, and a bleffing to the
church ; but we muft fubmit to wifdond which can
never err, and to goodnefs whofe intentions are all
kind. We alfo hope this great interruption of your
brother's health, and the extreme danger he has been
in, will prove a^ feafonabl6 adinoriltion to you both,
and to us alj, better to improve time, and to try tb fill
up t^ery part of life In the beft manner, that death
may be always welcome to us. , ' ¦
Itis a favourable circumftance that Samuel waa
taken ill at a houfe where he is fo well attended.
Give our tender love to him, atid we hope God will
deal with him as with a fon, fupport him under, and
raife him up from this affiidion.

f 235 )
That God may preferve and keep you and your
brothers from every fatal fnare, is the prayer of your
affedionate father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

The Same to the Same. 'V
Cofeley, January 12, 1750.
Dear Son, YOURS of December 29, advifing us of
your marriage, we received not till Tuefday laft ; on
the morning of which day We had the report brought
to Birmingham, by Mr. Crompton, by whom I wrote
to you a fhort letter, I hope ypu have fucceeded well
at laft, and your Mother and I fend you and your
bride, our new and our firft daughter7in-}avy, our beft
wifhes, That you may both behave tp each othef
with that fidelity, thait tender affedion, and that wif
dom and prudence as to find and render the married
ftate of the moft refined and lafting friendfhip, and of
the pureft, moft fublime and exquifite pleafure. To
which end you muft both of you think of pradifing
occafionally.lelf-denial,- and be learning that govern
ment over your fpirits and paffions which is neeeflary
to the pradice of either the private or the focial vir
tues. Our wllh and hope alfo is, that by a wife,
frieqdiy, benevolent behaviour, you will gain the ef
teem, love and good-will of your neighbourhood.
The company of your fpoufe will be welcome to
us, and we defire it may ^e in March, or before I take

( ¦ 236 ) '
my Derby journey, which will probably be !n Aptil,
when 1 exped the <3tdinatlan, which Was put off be-
forCj will take place.
You will offer our refpeds to Mr. Farnworth,
your new father, and our new brother. His charader
pleafeth me, as well as bisfranknefs with you about
fortune. But as you mention not a mother-in-law,
either you have none, or are guilty of a very culpable
omlffion, We fhall be pleafed to Hear you have a convenient
fituation in the country, with a Httle groiind. If you
can have theni Upon moderate terms.
I am againft your paying the illegal dues, fince the
cafe was lately tried at Weftminfter, and given againft
the clergy. But If a prefent of equal value will be
a'ccepted, as a prefent, do not hefitate to give it.
Hear what your brethren fay; and if the fees are de
manded, let the clergyman be modeftly told, that it is
an adjudged cafe,
I am furprifed that Samuel does not yet write to
me. It Is fome fatlsfkdion that he approves of your
Choice ; we fhall judge better ofit when we have feen
her outward form, air and bebaviout, and had an op*
portunity of bringing to light' the virtues and qualitites
bf her mind. We fliall, however, I befieve, judge
with candor, and make dhe allowances for an eduoa^
tion in the' coUtttry, which, in the general, I prefer
'to that of a town, efpecially upon the fcore of innoi
cence, fimplicity of manners, fincerity, Induftry, fru
gality, and other perfonal and domeftic virtues.
. I am your affedionate Father,
SAMUEL BOURK.

( 237 )
From, the Same to the Same,
Cofeley, Odober 3Q, 1750.
Dear Stju, WE received yours ofthe 6th, and congra
tulate you, and all the relations about you, upon the
birth of your fon, and the ftate of recovery our daugh
ter Is in. May he becorae your and our joy, through
the bleffing of God, upon a wife and Virtuous educa
tion. As you will now feel new paffions begin to
fpring and operate, and a fet of new folicitudes com
ing on ; may they be all under the diredlon of Im
proved reafon and the precepts of religion , and all
direded to the nobleft purp6fes.
You will give our refpeds ia our dear Peggy, to
hear of whofe recovery will give us pledfure.
Let me haVe an account of the debates and iffues
of the meetings of the brethren you fpeak of, I heard
Mr. Whitfield one Lord's-day evening at Birmingham.
His fermon was a ftrange compound ; and I fear the
filly, abfurd, and falfe things he delivered will have ill
effeds, outweighing all the good he does by better
things. His charader alfo finks, and the Methodifts
in general Ipfe ground, and are. growing a loofe or a
vain conceited fet of people, I wifh the ftanding
minifters in the church, and amongft the Dlffenters
may excel thefe irinerants in juft popularity and in
purity of morals ; the moft worthy as well as the moft
fure way of Cxtlnguifhing thi» and other enthufiaftic
feds.

( 238 )
I hope the Bolton people after a few ftruggles will
coalcfce again, and recover their union.
That the bleffing of God may attend your family
and your labors, is the prayer of your affedionate
father,
SAMUEL BOURN.

Letter from Mrs, Bourn to Mr. Abraham Bourn.
Auguft 2, 1751.
I often think of my dear Abraham ; I have
good hopes that his principles are fettled and good,
firmly refolved for virtue, and that It is your principal
l^ufinefs, care and ftudy to ad fo as through all your
life, in every change, difappointment or fuccefs, you
will by all means obtain and keep up a filial, a child
like regard to the Supreme Being, and an intercourfe
with him, according to the example and inftrudlons
given by his dear and well beloved Son.
I have been and am now reading, Lucas's Enquiry
after Happinefs ; I know not whether you have it, or
have read it, but I think no young perfon that can
afford fhould be without it. How many among the
fons of men place happinefs where it is not tb be
found, and then purfue the deceitful fhadow. It is
certain, I think, that thofe adions, and that courfe of
life which lay the beft foundation for happinefs In the
next life, are the beft ground for comfort and fatisfac-.
tion in this.

( 239 )
That all my fons, and partlculariy yourfelf, may
be happy here and for ever, is the ardent wifh and
prayer of your ever tenderly affedionate mother,
HANNAH BOURN,

Letter from Mr. Bourn to Mts. Mary Smith,
written a short time before her death.
Cofeley, July 8, 1741.
Dear Mrs, Mary,
SINCE 1 laft left you your image Is almoft
every moment with me ; and it is to relieve my own
mind, as well as to fupport yours, that I fend you
thefe lines.
The fymptoms of approaching death appeared, I
thought, fo plain, that I could not ad as became a
.faithful monitor, unlefs I intimated to you my appre
henfions of fo momentous a change drawing on.
If the skill of phyficians, the affedipn of ^ father,
.ihe ardent -yvlfhes -and prayers of pumerous friends
could avail for your life, you muft not yet die ; but
when God feems to deny fuccefs to all thefe, does he
not hereby fignify his will, " that he will. have you
home?" I doubt not you pan fubmit your judgment
and your will to his, becaufe it is his ; but I wifh you
were able alfo to die out of choice, as well as with con-
. fentj becaufe il is befl: for you ; arid that it is in kind
nefs and love, that your heavenly Father is now fend-

t 240 )
ing for you. If a houfe in heaven Is prepared for you,
and God has been long preparing you for it, why
fhould you not w rH ingly ¦ go .^ The paffage indeed is
dark, but it is fafe, -your dear and bleffed Lord has
paffed through it : he is alive on the other fide, he is
in glory there ; he Is waiting for you with arms of
power and love r aflgeb are xaady to convoy you ; ten
thoufand faints will bid you welcome. Go forth,
then, faithful chriftian ; Go, meet your Lord ; march
feariefs to the gates of death, they will prove to yoia
the gates of heaven, .¦ ¦ ,
I own it js a ,nevir, a ftrange, a hard conflid ; to
part with fo dear a father, fo many delightful conripan-
ions, fo many pious friends. But they will foon be
with you ; and perhaps your going a little before may
be defigned by a good and gracious God to quicken
and render more ferious their -preparations to folio*-
after. The grave Is indeed a .cold bed, but Chrift has
fweetened it by lying there ; there your dear mother
Kes ; and it is the houfe appointed for all the living,
even for God's own foas and daughters, -Batcaofl-
der, you-jviH-not 'fee its 'dat4«efsi, nor feel, its cold;
you will be mounted aboire the skies, and only a
feeble tabernacle ofclay%id in the duft till the. great
rifingday.' You have now but one enemy before yjMi, and be
is a difarmed, unftkigfed, cbnquered enemy; ;nay,
through 'Chrift. he is -become your friend. Let this
comfort you, that ybu have but one enemy more to
meet; whereas, were you yet to live many years,
who knows -wfcat demies aad what 'dangsrs yo.u

( ^41 )
tnl^t meet iii your Way. Dare to nleet ttis eneniy<
death ; the engagement is foon over, And then you are
fafe, f6t ever fafe,
I am fehfible, dean! departing friend, what is youf
difcouragement; "Were you ready to go you would
rnake no tarrying, yo\i would cheerfully tdfigh. The
world and all its glories are nothing to you ; yoU
C6nld leave the earth, but you doubt your liieetnefs
fpr he'aven." Sut \^liy thefe doubts and th^se fears ?
Yon have entered Into Good's covenant ; ydu hav^
BttWed yput foul to J6ftts Chrift, yoti lov6 the Lord
Jefus, and have faithfully, though Imperfedly, ferved
him; yoa have madfe confcience of your Ways, and
feared him. If yow are not ready, which of tts Is fo ?
Ah ! Mrs. Mary, could I hope myfelf near as ready
forlieaveA as I atti fatisfied you are, I Ihotild feel a
fatisfadion I never yet felt. But I muft ftand to rU
fen, while you, like ripe fruit, are gathered in.
I do not flatter ypu, rhy friend, 1 dare not do It;
I fpttit the fenfe of niy heart, and I fpeak and ^Vrite it
for your comfort and encouragement, that the latter
end of your jourriey may be ferer*, cheerful, and
full of hope.
Your fins, your failings, your imperfedions, you
review with grief, and doubtlefs are all blotted out.
And you fhould endeavour to rejoice in God your •
Saviour, who has done fo great things for you.
Lift up your admiring heart In praife to God, who
brought you forth in a family of religion, who has
taught you out of his word, enlightened, fandified
I i

( 242 )
adopted, pardoned, you, and is now calling you to
his everiaftlng kingdom.
May thefe refledions and thefe profpeds give you
peace and comfort ; yea, fill your foul with a joy un
fpeakable and glorious.
Though I thus write, yet I hope this will not be
the laft converfation I fhall have with yoii before we
part. With the greateft wilHngnefs fhould I come
over erery day to fee you, was it in my power to con
tribute in the leaft either towards keeping you a while
longer In our world, or to render more eafy and com
fortable your paflTage to a better. But you have
friends about you well fitted for both thefe kind of
fices, who, I doubt not, are faithfully difcharging
them. May God affift you, dear Mrs. Mary, in and
through your laft great work, that death may be eafy,
fweet and welcome to you ; and in your lateft ad
dreffes, while below, offer up one petition for your
fincere and affedionate, though unworthy, friend,
SAMUEL BOURN.

No. 8.

( 243 )

No. 8.
AN ORDER OF
TWO OF THE JUSTICES OF THE COUNTY
OF STAFFORD TO ^IR. BOURN,
AND HIS ANSWER.
MENTION has been made in chapter ii.
page 49, of two trials at the Quarter Sessions
with which Mr. Bourn was harrassed. His ene
mies were foiled in each ; but the illiberality of
their spirit suggested another mode of attack;
that was to remove hini by Order out of the
parish of Sedgley: an order designed to cast
contempt on him, and equally remote from the
manners of gentlemen and thp equity of magis
trates. Since the greatest part of these Me
moirs were printed off, the Author, after much
enquiry, has met with a copy of the Letter with
which Mr. Bourn rebuffed this insult, and of the
Order. He is indebted for this obliging com
munication to his respected friend the Rev.
William Hawkes, of Manchester, STAFFORDSHIRE.

( ^44 >

STAFFORDSHIRE.
To SAMUEL BOURN, at his house in the Pa-'
rish of Sedgley and County aforesaid,
WHEREAS npQn your esamination, taken uppn
oath, before us, twfp of His Bflajefty's Juflilces pf the
Peace for the faid County, at Wolverhampton, on Wed»
nefday the fixth day of this Infiant December, It ap
peared that ypu have Intruded yourfelf into the faid
parifh of Sedgley wilhout complying with the laws
in fuch cafes made ; and that the place of your laft
-legal fettlement is at Adlingtpn., in the Parifh of Stan-
diflj, in the County Palatine, of Lancafker : thefe are
therefore to require you to depart with your wife; and
:family out of and frpqp! the faid Parifh of Sedgley,
before *^P fp.urth day of January next, or otherwife
to bring a certificate acknowledging you to, be a Pa-
rlfhloner elfewhere, or fhew good caufe to the con
trary. Given under our hand's and f^als the fifteenth
day of December, 1738.
J, WARD.
R, SEDGWIGjK,,

T6

( 345^ >

To J. WARD ««d R. SEDGWICK, Esqrs.
two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for
the County of Stafford, 8fC,
Cofeley, December 27, 1738.
Gentlemen, UNDER your hands and feals I received
an order dated the fifteenth inftant, either to depart
with my wife and family out of the parifh, before the
fourth day of January next — or to bring a certificate—
pr to fhew good caufe to the contrary. The laft of
thefe I now offer to do, and hope I can affign fuoh
caufes and reafons as will fatisfy all impartial and un
prejudiced perfons.
Your order Is grounded upon two allegations ;
namely, that I was an intruder into the parifh, &c.
and that the place of my laft legal fettlement was Ad-
lington, &c.
This latter allegation is very true. But I make
bold to deny the former as wholly groundlefs, and
which I am able to difprove. In regard I came Into
the parifh upon the unanimous Invitation of a nume
rous congregation of Proteftant Dlffenters ; which in
vitation was fig,ned by above aTiundred perfons, many
of them fubftantlal yeomen, farmers, and tradefmen,
and moft of them inhabitants of the parifh : and as
this Is agreeable to the moft primitive way of minify
ters and bifhops fettling with a people ; fo I take it
to he as hpuourable a way as any by which any cler-

( 246 )
gyman in the county came Into his prefent fettle
ment. And If I did not comply with any laws in that
cafe made, it was becaufe I was a ftranger to them.
Nor has the community, pr any individual, as far as
appears, fuffered any inconvenience thereby.
This ground of your order then being wrong, it is
to be hoped any further compliance will not be infifted
on. It was, indeed, alledged againft me in court,
during my examination, that Mr. Homer, one ofthe
church-wardens, had complained, " That I was likely
to become Chargeable to the parifh ;" but when asked
upon what reafons he grounded that complaint, he
anfwered, "that I would not take a parifh child,"
As every man fees, this is no reafon at all of my
being likely to become chargeable to the parifh; fo
It carried, in it two other fuggeftions, namely, that
this was only a contrived or fham complaint to put
a colour upon a bad caufe ; and that this proceeding
againft me was (I do not fay a mark of fplte and re
venge, but) an ad of refentmeut for a laudable felf-
defence. For the whole force of the reafpn ftand?
thus, *' Becaufe you would not fubmit to take a pa
rifh apprentice, impofed on you againft equity and
law, and agalnftthe judgment and IncHnation of two of
the parifh officers, who figned the firft Indenture fome
weeks after the Juftices, and under an undue influ
ence; therefore you have this fa|fher trouhje gIVen
you," Befides, Mr. Homer, the church-warden, under
the force of a recolledlng confcience, honeftly de
clared in court, though in contradidion tp his pre-

( 247 )
tended complaint, " that he knew no more of me than
(he tankard before him." This complaint, fuch an
ene as it is, will give me an advantage in law, as
being made by one officer only, which I fhall raake
ufe of as I fhall be advifed.
It was alfo further alledged in court, while under
examination, *• That Ifl would not bear the burdens
of the parifh, I ought not to enjoy the advantages
of it," What meaning can this have but that, if I
will not fubmit to an Illegal burden, impofed on me
in an irregular and unprecedented way, and from
which I was freed by the judgment of the court of
Quarter Seffions, I fbail not have a peaceable abode in
the parifh ?
But befides the weaknefs and abfurdity of fuch
reafoning, I may venture to fay in my own behalf^
and In anfwer to that allegation. That I have volun
tarily (vvhich furely is a nobler principle than fear or
force) contributed to the eafe and relief of the parifh,
and perhaps in as great a degree as any man in the pa
rifh. I think I can make it appear, that in fix years
and a half I have, in money, clothes, and books dif
tributed forty pounds ; befides almoft daily charities^
amongft my poor neighbours. And I beg leave to.
name one inftance ; when the Lord of the parifh had
been vifiting the cottages (between five and eight
hundred of which are reckoned to be in the parifh)
and had put the miferable, hungry, naked cottagers
updh a rack rent, I heard the cries of the diftreffed,,
obtained fome relief for them, and at Chriftmas laft
diftributed a good fliare of twenty pounds worth of
clothes amongft the half ftarved wretches, moft of

( 248 )
whom Mr. Ward will poffibly aekflowledge to be hi»
tenants. In requital for thefe (I hopar) gbod deeds, I am
liarraffed with indentures, war, and orders, and am t*
be fent out of the parifh. It was, indeed, pretended
in court, that all this proceeded from a care of the
parifh. But is there one man in the parifh whP cart
be impofed on by this pretence? Is thdte a fingW
man in tbe parifh who does not believe there are ©ther
fprings of this profecution befidesi a fatherly and ten-*
der care of tbe parifh ? Is there a mam in the pSriflV
who- really fears I fhall become chargeable to it; or
who believes the parifb, and the poor in particular, will
be gainers by ray removal out of it.'' Is there a mart
in the parifh, who knows not that none of thefe things
arife from the parifh officers, who, I think, have more
fenfe of honour and juftice than to molefl a quiet and'
ufeful neighbour, who neither wifhes nor feeks their'
hurt.'' Nor can it, I think, be mad<e to appeair that any
fervant of mine is likely to become chargeable to the'
parifh, I only keep one maid fervant, the two I havS
had were both, of the parifh, and are bdth married ;
the fervant I now have is daughter to a credatable' fub
ftantlal farmer,
I hope, gentlemen, upon all thefe confiderations,
and that no behaviour un fuitable to my' cbarader i*
objeded to me, you will ceafe proceeding againft me.
If you 11:111 infift on a certificate,. I defire more time:
may be allowed me. If you gr^t an order tore-
move me, I beg leave to infift on it, fot your own
fake, that my being Hkely to become chargeable to
the parifli may not be alledged in it. I hope alfo that

( 249 )
Mr. Ward (the chief. If not the fole diredor of this
affair) will fo far regard his credit with the fex, as tp
order a very handfome attendance on Mrs. Bourn into
her parifh. This refped paid to my wife, and fo
juftly due to her faperlor merit, will render all the
unneighbourly treatment I have met with, or fhall
meet with, much more tolerable to.
Gentlemen, your humble Servantj
SAMUEL BOURNi

No. 9.

£

( . 250 )
No, 9.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES
OF SOME OF
MR. BOURN'S CONTEMPORARIES.

INTRODUCTION.
" I HAVE often thought," observes the
learned and judicious Dr. Ebenezer Latham,
*' it is a debt due to the churches, as well as to
the memory of those who have deserved well
of them, (if some faithful hand would discharge
it) to transmit some account of those who have
devoted themselves to the cause and interest of
the naked truth, or gospel, in that way wherein
they could have no temptation from the rewartls
of this world. It would be only a proper con
tinuation of Mr. Baxter's and Dr. Calamy's
account of our ministers, brought down ta the
present time, 'and might serve, in several res
pects, some valuable purposes*." It is pleasing
to the friend of religious virtue to recal to re
collection its advocates and patterns : to trace the
progress of divine knowledge and truth in the
labours of those that were devoted to it; and to
* Funeral Sermon for Mr. Bradshaw, p. 33, 34.

( 251 )
observe, that, through the different periods of
time, and iii various places, there ever have been
some, who have been eminent examples of ra
tional zeal and active goodness; "burning and
shining lights" of the day in which they have
lived. One of the most entertaining and instruc
tive parts of the life of the excellent Mr, Philip
Henry, is the chapter which exhibits a short
account of sonie of his friends, especially his
brethren in the ministry. In this view, it is
hoped, that short Memoirs of some of Mr.
Bourn's contemporaries, especially of those with
whom he was connected, and who were ani
mated by his principles, will be acceptable and^
interesting to the reader of his Memoirs.
In the list of his friends and connections
stands the name of the venerable Mr. Motter*
shead, of Manchester.

THE REV. JOSEPH MOTTERSHEAD
Was born on the 17th of Aaguft, 1688, in the
neighbourhood of Stockport, in Chefliire, where his
father, Jofeph Motterftiead, refided, .'.ud cuMvalcO his
owu eilate, which his fon inherited tifter hun..
He purfued his academical ftudies under the Rev.
Timothy Jollie^ at Attercliife, near Shd. u ;iU ; a man

( 25^ )
of an excellent fpirit, under whom were • ti'ained up
many who afterwards ¦ appeared id the miniftry with
great eminence and ufefulnefs :. thdugh his ife'minary,
with refped to claffical learning ajnd ftee philofophy,
laboured under great defedsj. Under an apprehenfion
that the mathematics tended to fcepticifm and infi
delity, Mr, JolHe forbad the ftudy of them ; but
jiiany of his pupils, by ftealth, made a cpnfiderable
progrfefs in that branch of fcience, Dr, SahderfbTi,
aftferwatds the celebrated profeffor of afttonomy at
Cambridgej ftudied under him*. Mr. Mbtterfhead,
after his removal from AtterclifFe, fpent one year with
Mr. Matthew Henry ; of whom he always fpoke la
tenns of ithe iripft affedionate regard, fuch as indica»
led an early and ftrong attachment to him ; and who
died at his houfe, on his return from Chefter towards
London. His firft fetllettient as a mlniftet was at Sllh^fley,
near the forefl of Delamere ; the feCond at Nantwich,
in Chefhlre. In 1718 he was married at Kingfley
to Mifs Bennett, the eldeft daughter of Mr, Bennett,
of Hapsford, near Chefter, By her he had four chil
dren, three of whorri, a fon and two daughters, lived
to years of maturity. About the year 1718, when he
had dot been many years" at Nantwlch, he accepted
the invitation of the DIffentIng congregation at Man
ehefter to be thelt minlfier : and the remainder of his
life, a period of more 'than fifty years, was fpent in
connedion with that fociety.
In Manehefter his chlldiren were born and edii*
Gated. His fon was brpught up to be a phyfician,
* Account 9f Dissenting Academies, M.S.

( 253 )
but whilil he was at Edinburgh, preparing himfelf to
graduate, his mind and views were changed, his me
dical ftudies were rellnqulfbed, and he took orders in
the church of England, ahd it Was not a Httle curious
that Mr, Motterfhead and his fon fhould officiate, at
the fame titne, ofie at the Meeting Houfe, and the
other in the Church, almoft within hearing of each
other. His fon was afterwards appointed chaplain on
board a man of war, which is fuppofed to have been
loft at fea, for neither the veffel nor the crew were
ever heard of.
His eldeft daughter married his friend and col
league Mr. Seddon, a minifter diftinguifhed for manly
talents, and a moft Intrepid mind. Mr, Seddon, in
the courfe of his miniftry, became a decided advocate
for thofe religious opinions now denominated Uni
tarian, and he boldly advanced and defended thofe
opinions in his public fervices at a time when they
were very obnoxious to his hearers. From this prac
tice he was requefted in vain to defift, and, at length,
a deputation from the fociety defired Mr. Motterfhead
to remo'nftrate with his fon-in-law upon his conduct.
Mr, Motterfhead undertook the commiffion, and
ripened the bufinefs to Mr, Seddon, when the latter
replied that he would enter with him upon the dif-
cuffion ofthe fubjeds in queftion moft willingly, and
when convinced of his error, he would be forward to
acknowledge it, and read his recantation, A day was
fixed for the dlfcuffion, and tbey met and entered
upon it in the fpirit of perfed peace and cordiality with
each other, and the whole day was confumed in de
bate. At the clofe of it Mr, Motterfhead withdrew

( 254 )
and reported to the fociety that he had not fucceeded
in convincing his fon-in-law of his error, but that his
fon-In-law had almoft convinced him that he was
right ; an inftance of great candour and liberahty at
a very advanced age *.
Mr. Motterfhead's fecond daughter, and the only
one of his children who furvived him, married Mr,
John Jones of Manehefter, who was neariy related on
the maternal fide to the Mr. Bourns, well known as
leading minifters at that time among jibe dlffenters,
Mr. Motterfhead married as his fecond wife Mrs,
Gaskell, a widow lady, who introduced into his family
the three daughters of her former husband, the care
and conduct of whofe education then devolved upon
him ; and their refpedable charaders In after life, anfl
the affedionate attachment which they uniformly
fhewed to Mr, Motterfhead, prove that he difcharged
* The Sermons, which Mr. Seddon delivered on t'he person
of Christ, excited great attention at the time, and became much the
subject of conversation. In consequence of a visit which the author
of these Memoirs of Mr.' Bourn made to his eldest son, then a
Pastor of the Dissenting congregation at Chowbent, twelve miles
fi-om Manchester, in the years 1790, 1792) enquiry was made
after them. It was fonnd that the MS. was in the possession <ji
Mr. Seddon's son ; a set of Discourses on Self-deception was also
met with. Both were published in one volume . duodecimo, at the
expence of the Unitarian Society in London, \yith Memoirs of the
Author, by the Rev. Mr. Harrison, one of the ministers of the con
gregation at Manchester, in succession to Mr. Seddon and Mr.
Mottershead. They met with a very favourable reception, and se
veral years back the whole impression was disposed of, which cir
cumstance, it is hoped, will be considered as calling for a ne\v
edition.

( 255 )
this truft with great fidelity. A ftriking inftance of
this attachment occurred many years after thefe ladies
were married and fettled in life. One of them was
the mother ofthe celebrated Lord Clive, who when he
was firft appointed to go out to India as Governor,
voluntarily offered to Mr. Motterfhead to take one of
his grandfons out with him under his immediate pro-
tedion and patronage, which was certainly a very H-
" beral and handfome offer on his lordfhip's part to the
friend and protedor of his 'mother ; but Mr. Motter
fhead, and his daughter, Mrs. Jones, refpedfully de
clined the offer, preferring for their young^-friend the
moderate gains of Induftry in England to the princely
emoluments of India, with their neceffary accom
paniments. As his third wife Mr, Motterfhead raarried Mifs
Blackmore, the daughter of a very refpedable dif-
fentlng minifter at Worcefter.
He lived to the advanced age of eighty-three, dy
ing in 1771, and continued to officiate as a minifter
almoft to the clofe of life. A volume of Sermons is
the only work he has given to the public. Many in
ftances might be adduced of the refped entertained
for him by the fociety with which he was conneded,
and the town in which he, lived ; but onte inftance
ittiall fuffice— At the time ofthe rebelHon a committee,
which confifted of many very refpedable inhabitants,
was formed in the town of Manehefter to favour the
Pretender, and they refolved to levy a large fum of
money for him, and Mr. Motterfhead was feleded by
them as a hoftage, under the perfuafion that his con
gregation would pay a great price for his ranfom.

( 256 )
This committee held their fittings very privately at
each other's houfes, and the fitting at which this re
folution was paffed, was held at the houfe of a gentle
man who married a lady, that before her marriage had
belonged to Mr. Motterfhead's congregation, and this
good lady got intelligence from her husband of this
refolution, and loft no time in giving information of
it to Mr. Motterfhead, who was thus enabled to make
his efcape.
In the fmall volume of Sermons which Mr. Mot
terfhead publifhed, there was included a Difcourfe on
Baptizing Sick and Dying Infants, to fhew that it was
" a thing improper, and a pradice not fit to be coun
tenanced or encouraged by wife and rational Chrifti
ans." Free and Candid Remairks on this Difcourfe
foon appeared frora the prefs at Glafgow, written by
the Reverend and Learned John Brekell, a Diffenting
Minifter, at Liverpool, Thefe remarks were drawi^
up in a handfome and refpedful ftrain, and addreffed
to Mr, Motterfhead, as to a " worthy and efteemed
friend, a perfon of known Integrity and honour, of a
charader fc- amiable that the regard due to it from all
that had the honour of his friendfhip or the happinefs
of his acquaintance, would make a modeft pen blufh
If any expreffion fhould drop from it in the leaft dlf-
refpedful," Mr. Motterfhead publifhed alfo a Sermon entitled,
Jefus Chrift a Divine Teacher, preached at Shrews
bury, September 10, 1745, at the ordination of Mr.
Job Orfon, from John ill. 2. He is likewife confi
dered as the author of an Effay on the Death and Sa
crifice of Chrift, under the fignature of Theophilus,

( 257 )
which appeared in the firft volume of the Theoloj:;lcai
Repofitory. A paragraph, in a charge at the ordina
tion of the Rev, Hugh Worthington j of Leicefler, and
of two other minifters, on the condud to be oljferved
towards their brethren in the miniftry, deferves to be
given here as a fpecimen of Mr. Motterfhead's difpo
fitions and temper : "Avoid (fays he) all ftrife and
hot contentions with them ; treat them as brethren,
fpeak well of them lo their hearers, and take all oppor
tunities that occur of promoting their acceptance and
ufefulnefs in their refpedive fpheres. This is doing
as we ourfelves would be done by. Beware of con
demning them in any refped, or of leffenlng their
reputation ; entertain no uncharitable furmifes on
groundlefs reports, either of their faith or morals.
Satan is the accufer of the brethren ; fhould not you
and I dread an imitation of that malignant fiend ? But
If any brother prove immoral and fcandalous, admon-
ifh him faithfully; if he do not reform, difown him
as a brother. This you owe to Chrift and his church,
yea, to yourfelves and the miniftry,"
" This, (obferves Mr. Worthington) was like the
advice of one who had learned to copy after his divine
mafter both in temper and life*."
* Worthington's Charge, October 15, 1755, at the Ordination
of Messrs. Hewsen, T. Hirons and White, p. 33,

THE

( 258 )
THE REV. WILLIAM WILLETS
merits, in the next place, a particular and honour
able notice among Mr. Bourn's contemporaries.
" He was born at Tlvidale, in the parifh of Rowley
Regis, in tbe county of Stafford, on the ninth of April,
1697, His father, Mr. William Willets, of Dudley,
is mentioned by Dr, Calamy * in the Hft of young
diffenting minifter^ then lately deceafed, of whom
neither Oxford nor Cambridge would have needed to
be afhamed. He married Anna, daughter of Mr.
Humphry Colborne, a perfon of confiderable property ;
and died of a decline about the year 1702, His wi
dow returned with two children, a fon and a daughter,
to the houfe of her father, by whom they were educated,
William, after a competent fchool education, paffed
through a courfe of academical ftudies to prepare him
for the miniftry, in the feminary of Dr. Latham, at
Findern, near Derby; to whieh the Dlffenters of the
laft age were indebted for many of their moft refped
able minifters f. He fettled at Prince's Risborough,
* Vol, II. Pref. p. xxxii, ed. 1713. ,
f Mr. Willets, Mr. Fownes of Shrewslbury, Mr. Turner of
Wakefield, Mr. Harrison of Lancaster, Mr. White of Derby, Mr.
Moore of Abingdon, Mr. Blyth and Mr. Hawkes. \
A Life of Dr. Latham, and an account of his seminary, with
a list of his pupils, would be very desirable ; such as he has him
self subjoined of Mr, Franklands to- his funeral sermon for Mr,
Madox,

( 259 )
in Buckinghamfhire, and while there married in 1722
the fifter of his tutor. He was ordained, along with
Mr, William Mofs, of Buckingham, and Mr, Mat
thew Leefon, of Thame, at Aylesbury, June II,
1724, Dr, Edmund Calamy preaching his celebrated
fermon, The Miniftry of the Dlffenters vindicated ;
and Mr, John Troughton giving the charge ; whioh
alfo wag publifhed with a preface by Dr. John Evans,
Falling into a bad ftate of health, his minifterial la
bours were fufpended for fome time ; but In the year
1727 he fucceeded Dr. Samuel Lawrence, who that
year removed from Newcaftle-under-Llne, on the
death of the excellent and learned Mr. Benjamin Ben
nett, of N]ewcaftle-upon-Tyne. — He publifhed in 1733
a " Scripture Account of the Lord's Supper," which
is one of the firft attempts, fhortly after followed by
Hoadly, Grove and others, to reprefent the Lord's
Supper as a rational fervice, by fetting It in its prlml
iive fcriptural light ; he firft inquires into the true
meaning of the feveral paffages of fcripture which re
late to its inftitution *, and to the abufes of it among
the Corinthian converts : and then gives a number of
fliort plain pradical diredlons for profitably attending
not only on this, but on all the other parts of Chriftian
worfhip. In 1750 he publifhed a very ufeful treatife
on the Chriftian education of children ; with famiHar
dialogues betwixt a parent and his child, on the plan
laid down in the treatife.
* In doing this, however, he adopts p. 31 — 11, Cudworth's
notion of its being a fea^t upon a sacrifice, which has been well
exposed in a " Letter to Bishop Cleaver," who lately revived it.

( 260 )
" About 1754 he raarried Katherine, fifter ofthe late
eminent Jofiah Wedgwood, Efq. of Etruria, by whom
he had a large family. His eldeft daughter is the wife
of the Rev. W. Turner, of Newcaftle-upon-Tyne;
two others married Mr, Holland, furgeon, of Knuts-
ford, and his brother Mr. Swinton Holland, of Triefte,
and his fon was educated for the miniftry, and died
minifter at Burton-upon-Trent, about 1801. In 1768
he publifhed an excellent trad, entitled, the Import
ance of Faith ; which he defines " a fincere, humble,
grateful, dutiful regard to God, and reliance upon
him, proportioned to the knowledge we have of him,
and of his will and purpofes concerning us." This
he confiders " as a neceflary fupplement to the na
tural weaknefs of the human underftanding, and the
great fecurity of all human virtue and good condud,"
He fhews that " a regard to the didates of reafon and
confcience, as the voice and law of God would be as
really faith in God, as an equal regard to any fuper
natural revelation. But fince human reafon Is weak,
and flow in arriving at the maturity of which It Is ca
pable," he fhews by a clear hiftorical dedudion that
" God has not confined himfelf to this fingle way of
guiding us, but from the creation of man communi
cated with him in the way of fupernatural revelation,"
" The great fault of our firft parents confifted In their
want of faith, and defire to render themfelves Inde
pendent of God ; and the one general apparent defign
and tendency of the different difpenfations of God to
mankind, however they might vary as circumftances
varied, was to keep up and reftore a proper regard to
God among mankind, till the fecond Adam, our bet*

( 261 )
ter pattern (who did not. like the firft, ad the rob
bery* to be equal with God, but was humbly obedi
ent to his Father even unto death) eftablifhed his
divine fyftem upon the foundation of faith, or a fu
preme regard to the Father of all, and a confequent
reverence of this laft 2;reat meffenger, a cordial com-
pliance with the kind meffage from God to men by
him, and a humble but afsured hope In the accom-
pllfhment of his promifes. So that the faith which is
fo acceptable to God does not confift in opinion, but
in the temper and difpofitions of the mind towards
God : and is neceffarily produdive of fincere obedi
ence," About this lime he wrote, and printed as a
hand bill, " The wonderful Relation of a Hen that
fpoke," ' with a view to abollfh the cruel fports on
Shrove Tuefday, Many copies of it were circulated
with great fuccefs. It is preferved in the fecond vol.
of the Pleafing Inftrudor, In 1770 we firid him of
fering fome judicious fupplementary remarks to his
friend Mr. Turner's mafterly and decifive Vindica
tion of the Condud of the Apoftles from the ob
jedions of a writer figning Pyrrho. See Theological
Repofitory, vol. u, p, 183. In the third vol,' of the,
fame excellent work we have a ferles of Remarks on
Chubb's Farewell, which fhew at once the ability
and candour of their author. In the fecond and third
volumes alfo he clofely follows Dr, Prieftley through
his feveral objedions againft the reafoning of Saint
Paul, defending the apoftle in general with fuch fuc
cefs, that the Dr. in'the conclufion of vol, in. fays,
* P. 28, Philip, ii. 9.

( 262 )
" He thinks himfelf particularly obliged to W. W,
for the pains he has taken to examine the papers
figned Paulinus, and acknowledges that, in feveral
refpeds, he has derived great fatisfadion from his in
genious remarks, though he does not think he has
removed all the difficulties." In his Memoirs, how
ever, lately publifhed *, he fays, that he did not re
ceive much fatisfadion. In 1773 he publifhed a
volume of Sermons by his revered tutor and relative j
to which it is to be regretted that he did not prefix a
more particular account of fo excellent and ufeful a
perfon, and of his feminary ; a tafk for which no one
was better qualified. In 1776 he enlarged and re-
publifhed " A Sketch of the (Economy of Divine
Providence with refped to Religion among Mankind,"
originally printed in a periodical paper, and afterwards
appended to the Treatife on the Importance of Faith.
It goes nearly upon the fame plan with Bifhop Law
In the Theory of Religion ; and is a pleafing and in
ftrudive little Effay. Shortly after he refigned his
minifterial charge, and in 1779, in the eighty-fecond
year of his age, experienced a calm and peaceful re
moval from this to a better world,
" Mr. Willets was a man of a highly cultivated un
derftanding, and gentle poHfhed manners, of gre^t
fweetnefs of difpofition animated with cheerfulnefs
and even vivacity of fpirit; fo that he fecured at once
the high refped and efteem of older perfons, and
the cordial attachment and reverence of the young.
He had great mechanical ingenuity ; and had culti
vated with much fuccefs feveral of the branches of
-¦* Page 35.

f 263 )
natural philofophy, partlculariy raagnetlfm and op
tics. He was probably one of the firft who infpired
with a tafte for phllofophical inveftigations the after
wards juftly celebrated Dr. Prieftley ; who, when he
refided at N^mptwicb, frequently came Over to fpend
his leifure hours with Mr, Willets. In the p^ime of
life he was an animated preacher; and, even to the
laft, his facrauiental fervices were particularly impref-
five. He left a flourlfhing congregation, containing
not lefs than fifty young perfons under age ; who
have all, from a number of unfortunate circumftances,
which it would be painful to dwell upon, been dif
perfed in various ways ; fo that the fociety is now
completely broken up,"
The reader owes the above article to the
pen of the Rev. William Turner, of Newcastle-
upon-Tyne,

ANOTHER contemporary of Mr. Bourn,
whose name offers in this connection to our re
collection, was MR. JOHN PLATTS,
who commanded refped, in his own times, by his
learning, ufefulnefs and eminent worth : and his
name deferves to be recorded as tbe friend of moder
ation and free-inquiry ; for bis pen and miniftry were

( 264 )
employed to check the- fpirit of Intolerance, to com
pofe the animofities created by the controverfies of
the day, and to diffeminate the principles of liberty
and peace. With thefe views he publifhed a fmall
trad entitled, " An Effay for allaying the Animo
fities among the Britifh Proteftents, in a Difcourfe
founded upon the 14ih and part of the 15th chapters
ofthe Epiftle to the Romans," and, alfo a Sermon to
recommend "An Union of Intereft and Affedion
amongft Chriftians, notwithftanding their different
apprehenfions." This was preached at a meeting of
miniflers, at Nottingham, September 2, 1731, and
publifhed at their defire and at the requeft of the
mayor and other gentlemen. This was the defign
of Eight Difcourfes upon the Myftery of Godlinefs,
from 1 Tim. iii. 16, publifhed nearly at a time when
the Trinitarian Controverfy was agitated with the
greateft warmth and bitternefs. In thefe difcourfes it
was his aim fo to difcufs his fubjed, efpecially by
avoiding phrafes and terms of art, on which modern
articles and fyftems lay a great ftrefs, as to render
them more calculated to allay than raife heats and
feuds in tbe Chriflian church : while he decidedly
afferted the fupremacy and unity of God the Father,
as the one only living and true God, p, 57, 58. The
objed and ftrain of thefe pubircations evinced the
pacific and benevolent fpirit of the author : and alfo
indicated a fortitude and cpennefs of mind, as he had
to meet the jealoufies and refentments of contending
parlies. This worthy man, furnifhed with talents
and abilities that qualified him to fill a public fta
tion to great advantage, fpent his time and fulfilled

( 265 )
his miniftry in an obfcine part of the country, being
firft fettled at Lofcoe, near Wirksworth, from whence
he removed to Ilkefton, in the county of Derby, where
he died N"ovember 18, 1735, In the fifty-third year of
his age. He had acquired a confiderable treafure of
ufeful learning, of which he rbade no oftentatious fhow,
but an ufeful application in the exercife of his miniftry.
The general ftrain of his preaching was pradical, and
his difcourfes were compofed with folidity and judg-*
ment, in a plain, rational, and fcriptural manner. He
united with a fteady attachment to the caufe of li
berty, and a diligent enquiry after truth, a truly ca
tholic fpirit, " loving and owning fincere Chriftians
of every denomination, and in return owned and loved
by them," His focial virtues were none of the leaft
confiderable ; a good neighbour, a kind and faithful
friend, affifting others in difficult matters with that
fingular prudence and judgment with which he man
aged his own. He was a man of perfed fincerity, a
ftranger to artifice and deceit. His deportment was a
happy mixture ofthe grave and the pleafant} free and
chearful without offence, and grave Without affeda
tion ; entertaining others without leffening himfelf;
inftruding others from a treafure of ufeful knowledge ;
and enlivening converfation by agreeable turns of wit.
" His common adions (where men are leaft upon
their guard, but which are the greateft evidences of
the difpofition of the heart) were truly agreeable (it
is faid) to the great fines of his Hfe ; and he was jufti-
¦fied even by his words*." His temper was calm and
* Rogerson's Funeral Sermon for Mr. John Platts, pp, 42, 44.
M m

( 266 )
ferene, free from the failles of paffion, ^and univerfally
benevolent. To finifh his charader, a deep and ha
bitual fenfe of God dwelt upon his mind, and unaf
feded piety, to an uncommon degree, fpread Its influ
ence over his life.
Befides the publications already mentioned, there
Came from his pen a trad entitled, " The uninter
rupted Succeffion of Bifhops proved not neceffary to
the conveyance of the Minifterial Office, and the va
lidity of ordinances in the Church ; wherein is con
fidered the nature of the Sanhedrim, the Synagogue,
and the Rights of Societies, before the writings of
the facred books and, fince they were written," An
other trad of his was " An Hiftorical Account of the
feveral Attempts for a further Reformation of the Es-
tablifhed Church of England." After his death there
appeared, edited by Mr, Jofiah Rogerfon, who preached
his funeral fermon, the minifter of the congregation
at Derby, a Treatife, entitled a Rational Account of
the Principles of Chriftianity and the Pradice thereof.
«' Mr, Piatt's writings might have fomething in
them peculiar to himfelf, but they were plainly calcu
lated to promote the caufe of peace and virtue : and
perfons of candour and impartiality, whether they
agreed with him in his fentiments or not, could not
but difcover an honeft defign, a folidity of judgment,
a ftrength of reafon in them, mixed with a temper
becoming a minifter and a Chriftian *,".
* Rogerson's Funeral Sermon for Mr, John Platts, pp, 42, 44..

( 267 )
THE next places in this biographical mis
cellany are .claimed by Mr. Brodhurst, whom Mr.
Bourn succeeded at the New Meeting, in Bir
mingham; Mr. Pickard, who was his colleague,
and Mr. Wilkinson, who was chosen to be a min
ister at the Old Meeting within nine years after
Mr. Bourn's settlement with the other.

MR, EDWARD BRODHURST,
a native of Derbyfhire, was bom In 1691, and died at
Birmingham, in 173Q, leaving behind him an amiable
and excellent charader, as a Chriftian and a minifter.
His minifterial endowments were confiderable, and
his ftrain of preachln^g affedionate and fervent. He
was a man of a very devotional fpirit, and befides the
regular and ufual feafons of religious retirement. It
was his cuftom to fet apart a determinate portion of
time, once every week, for more protraded and fo
lemn devotional exercifes, with a particular view to
his charader and circumftances as a minifter. He
united with his devotional temper a fpirit of charity
and ads of beneficence, to which he fet afide no in
confiderable part of his yearly Income, and regardecl
it as facred and unalienable. He was Indefatigable In.
hig public work, and remarkably prudent In his wholQ
behaviour. His principal aim as a preacher was to
explain and inculcate the more common and import-

( 268 )
anJ principles of religion in a plain and forcible mari
ner. His talents and the onction which bis pulpit
fervices difplayed, gave him celebrity throughout all
the neighbouring congregations. He conduded a
feminary for the education of youth with ability and
reputation ; and it was his chief concern to infVill Into
the minds of his pupils the principles of religion and
virtue. An epitaph*, drawn up by the pen of the
celebrated Dr Watts, and tranflated into Eni^lifh by
Mr. Toncks, a minlfier refident in Birmingham, gav^_
a juft delineation of his abilities and virtues, which
were all fet off by an amiable modefty and a freedom
from all affedation of vain glory. The bigotry of a
clergyiman of that day denied to his friends the grati
fication of infcribing this epitaph on his grave ; il was
therefore preferved on a mitral mbnuraental ftone, on
the front of the New Meeting Houfe, where it perpe-?
tuated the raemory of his name till the building was
deftroyed In tlie ripts of 1791,
After his death in 1733 was; publifhed a volume of
his fermons, throifgh which runs an unaffeded ftrain
<»f piety, expreflive of the fpirit of the author. The
editor was determined in his feledion of them for the
prefs^, partly by the requeft of many who had heard
them, when delivered from the pulpits of congrega^^
tions in the neighbQurhood, and partly by the referr
ence they had to fome particular providences, regard
ing either fingle Individuals, or the ftate of religion
and of public affairs in general. The laft from.
thefe words, «' Whpre Is the Lord God of Elijah?"
in 2 Kings ii. 14, was preached npt long before the
"f Appendix, No. 10,

( 269 )
author's death, on an annual meeting of minifters on
Whit-Tuefday, at Dudley, in Worcefterftiire, with
a view to the recent death of fome eminent and ufe
ful minifters ; at which he glanced in the following
affediouate ftralns of eulogium and lamentation,
'• You know your lofs: do I need to fay that you
want the deep learning, the fine towering thoughts,
the pathetic fpeaking talents of a Reynolds * ? the pru
dence, the unwearied induftry, the chearfulnefs, fe
rioufnefs and extenfive benevolence of a Spilsbury f?
Do we not juftly lament our want of the folid judg
ment, the calm and meek fpirit, the unaffeded piety
and gravity of a Godley J ? that holy zeal, vivacity
and eagernefs for the fervice of God and fouls, which
were vifible in a Thompfon § ?"
* Some years minister at Shrewsbury : who died August 24,
1727. He was distinguished by several publications. See Memoirs
cf Iiis Life,
f A nephew of Dr, John Hall, Bishop of Bristol, who ap
pointed him his executor, thirty-three years pastor of the Dissenting
Congregation at Kidderminster; he died January 31, 1727, aged
sixty. A gracefvil and &miliar address from the pulpit, and a wise,
prudent conduct out of it, gave him great weight and influence iq
the place of iiis residence,
+ Pastor of the Congregation at Walsall ; a diligent and
faithful minister, distinguished by piety, a fervent zeal in the cause
of religion, and an extensive charity to men, in union with eminent
humility, modesty, and meekness, who finished his course in 1720,
§ Minifter of the Dissenting Congregation at Bromsgrors.

( 270 )

MR, THOMAS PICKARD,
with whom Mr. Bourn was a colleague for raany
years after his fetfleraent in Warwickfhire, was born
at Alcefter, In that county, about the year 1682, He
received his academical education at Stratford upon
Avon, and was fet apart to the minifterial office ac
cording to the Bresbyterlan form, on the 19th of Sep
tember, 1705. The certificate of his ordination is a
memorial of the fentiments and manner according to
which the fervice was conduded In that day. It Is as
follows : — " Forafmuch as Mr. Thoraas Pickard, of
Birmingham, In the parifh of Birmingham, in the
county qf Warwick, hath earneftly defired to enter or
derly according to the rules of the gofpel of our Lord
and Saviour Jefus Cbrift, into the facred office and
fundion of the miniftry, and having requefted us
whofe names are underwritten, folemnly to Inveft him
with minifterial ai^thority, and knowing him to be a
man found and orthodox in his judgment, of a, pious
and unblameable converfation, and competently qua^-
lified with minifterial abilities (no exception being
made againft his ordination or admiffion) we have
approved him and have proceeded folemnly to fet him
apart to the office of preaching Prefbyter, and all the
jarts and duties beloriging to it, with fafting and
prayer and impofition of hands, and do fo far as con
cerneth us impower him to perform all the offices and
duties of a faithful minlfier of Jefus Chrift, In wit<.

( 271 )
nefs whereof have we hereunto fet our hands, the
nineteenth day of September, 1705,
NATH, MANSFIELD, M. A.
EDMUND BOUCHER,
Preacher of the Gospel at Appleby.
WILLIAM TURTON,
P readier of the Gospel in Birmingham *.
Mr. Pickard began and clofed his miniftry at Bir
mingham, in connedion, firft, with Mr. Brodhurft,
and then with Mr, Bourn, For many years before
his death he was laid afide by incapacity from his
public duties, which he bore with great patience and
refignation. He was a man of a pacific and friendly
difpofition, and was much refpeded by his people,
whom he was always ready to advife, and, to his
ability, affift and fe^rve. He died about the year 1757,
aged feventy-five.

MR. JOSEPH WILKINSON,
one of the minifters at the Old Meeting, in Birming
ham, firft as affiftant to Mr. Mattocks, and then in
connedion with the Rev, William Howell, was born
at Warley, near Halifax, in Yorkfhire ; received his
* The above were ejected ministers ; Mr. Mansfield from the
Chapelry of Armitage, in Staffordshire; Mr. Souther from the Rec
tory of Churchill, in Worcestershire ; and Mr. Turton from Row-
Jey, as before mentioned.

( 272 )
grammar learning at the public fchool at Bradford,
and purfued his academical ftudies under the eminent
and excellent Dr, Doddridge, at Northampton, He
never fixed any where as a minifter but at Birming
ham, where he fettled about the year 1739 ; and con
tinued his miniftry for feventeen years, till in 1756 he
Was obliged to refign on account of his health, and
foon after engaged in bufinefs. He died at the houfe
of his fbn-in-law, the Rev. Thomas Aftley, (now paf
tor of a congregation of Proteftant Dlffenters at Chef-
terfield) at Dronfield, In September, 1780. As he
quitted the miniftry with rauch reludance, fo the lofs
of him In that charader was very fenfibly felt and
deeply regretted. His public fervices had been highly
acceptable, and his preaching admired, efpecially as a
fon of confolation. His difcourfes were particularly
adapted to meet the cafes of the affiided, and to ad
minifter comfort to them : while, in general, they
breathed a great ferioufnefs of fpirit and unaffeded
piety, and were accompanied with a folidity of judg
ment and the trucft benevolence. He never publifhed
any thing In hls<>wn name, only permitting Dr, Kip-
pis to maji« ufe of his name in the account he In
ferted of Mr. Baskerville In the Blograpbla Britannica.
Mr, Wilklrifon's private charader was diftinguifhed
by the gieateft integrity, the trueft friendfhip, liberal
ity of fentiment, agd great candour and modefty in the
judgment he formed and paffed upon others. His
public fpirit rendered hira alive to every intereft
that concerned the community, and ready to give
all the affiifenee in his power. He took a very ad
ive part in the Birmingham Canal, which has proved

( 273 )
cf fuch efl['entlal fervice to the town at large, ad Weft
as to the proprietors ; and his good fervices on the oc
cafion were gratefully and honourably acknowledged.
Quick in difcerning and of folid judgment, his friend
fhip was highly efteemed throughout the whole circle
of his acquaintance, tn bufinefs he was diftinguifhed
by his integrity, judgriient and aflidulty : and at thfe
fame time attached to himfelf general regard by a re
finement of condud which might have adorned a
tiigher ftation*. On thefe grounds muft be founded
a teftimonial lately given to bis charader, that ** He
was very refpedable as a minifter, then very refped
able asa merchant, and always very refpedable as W
gentleman."

THE next character which merits a Vety
respectful notice, is
MR. SAMUEL BLYTfi,
colleague v^ith Mr. Bourn after Mr, Pickard was
laid afide by bodily infirmities, born January Sl,
1719, at Norton Lees, in Derbyftiire. He received
his grammar learning urider Mr. Trout, of Sheffield,
and purfued academical fludies undei^Dr, Latham
at Findern, iri Derbyftiire, His firft fettlement as a
preacher was at Froom, in Somerfetlhite, Some line*
• On the obliging eommumcatioii of the ReV. Mr. Astley,
N n

¦>

> ( 274 )'
ftill preferved, addreffed to him on leaving that place,
(hew the efl:imatIonin which he was held in that early
part of his public life. In 1746 he commenced his
minifterial connedion at Birmingham arid Cofeley;
which on account of the infirmities of declining life,
he refigned in 1791, after haying fiiftained the paftoral
character forty-five years. He died December 28,
1796, highly refpeded and beloved. His manners
were diftinguifhed by modefty, mlldnefs andfuavity.
Simplicity and candour were the leading features in
his charader. His converfation was lively and inte
refting, as his difpofition was naturally chearful. He
was full of aneicdotes, which he related remarkably
well. It was remarked that he never fpoke ill of any
one; but frequently vindicated afperfed charaders.
When he could fay nothing particular in favor of
others, he would obferve, that there are always fome
good traits of charader, which the world In general Is
not fo fond of relating as their faults; that we ftiould,
therefore, always learn what they were before we de
cided upon the charader of a perfon. His pacific de
portment, and care to keep clear of all party contefts
and objeds, conciliated tfie refped and affedion of
perfons of all perfuafions ; which remarkably appeared
at the riots in 1791. He was benevolent and gene
rous beyond, it may be thought, the proportion of bis
¦fortune •, andi he ftrldly devoted a tenth part of his in
come to charitable purpofes. He was regular, punc
tual and affiduous in his paftoral attentions; yifitipg
at fixed times all the families of his congregatinn four
times In a year. As he was amiable and happy in his
domeftic connedion, foifilial refped and gratitude

( 2175 >
bear teftimony that he was the beft of fathers. Dc.
Prieftley, between whom and himfelf a perfed har
mony prevailed, during a cnnnedlon of ten years,
notwithftanding a difference of fentiment on fome
points, faid of him, " that he was the trueft Chriftian
he had ever known ;" and when in grateful and ref-
pedful acknowledgment of the peculiar care and at
tention which the Dodor beftowed on the youth of
the congregation, the parents joined in a fubfcriptlon
lo offer him a donafion of two hundred pounds, he
would not accept tbis liberal prefent unlefs, he were
permitted to give a moiety of It to Mr. Blyth', whofe
attention to other parts of the paftoral office, he con
fidered entitled him to an equal fiiare with himfelf in
any expreflion of their efteem and affedion. Mr.
Blytb never publifhed any thing but a funeral fermon
for Mr. Bourn.

AMONG the neighbouring ministers in
Mr. Bourn's day, of whom some memorials can
be recovered, were the following gentlemen :
MR. GEORGE FLOWER
was a native of Burton-upon-Trent, in the county of
Stafford, and ftudied under Mr, Woodhoufe, at She
riff-Hales, In the fame county. In 1696 he fucceeded
Mr. Warren, afterwards of Coventry, as domeftic
chaplain to Mr. Foley. He was a man of confider-

( 276 )
able accomplKhments, and of an amiable femper. In
1715 all the furniture of his meeting houfe was burnt
by the high church mob, in tbe market place ; and
the damages were returned by the commiffioners ap
pointed by the king fo eftimate them, at ,^6130 is. Id,
But in thofe days of violent diffentions and riots Mr.
flower was fometimes greeted by the populace as a
favourite. Dr. Latham delineates his charader, as q.
perfotj in whom the gentleman, the Chriftian, and the
fcholar were gracefully united*. He died, having
fuftained thp paftoral charader thirty-five years, Jan
uary 1, 1733, aged fifty-nine. His remains were
conveyed to Burton-upon-Trent ; where a very durr
able ftone, bearing a memorial of hira, was in good
prefervation in 1802, The prefent neat and elegan|
place of worfhip at Stourbridge was ereded In 1788.
Mr. Flower was the firft paftor of the congrega
tion of Proteftant Dlffenters formed at Stourbridge,
in 1698 ; when their place of worfhip was firft ereded
and opened. From the year 1662 to that time, al
though no regular chyrch had been eftablifhed, relii
gious worfhip had been carried on in different private
houfes, feveral of which, now ftanding, are known
to have been ufed for focial devotion In that $owi^
and its neighbourhood. The religious fervices were
conduded by various ejedpd apd filenped minifters,
twelve + of whom fettled in Stourbridge, or within four
* Pr. Latham's Funeral Sermon for Hr. Bradshaw, p, 32,
t Mr. John Reynolds, ejected from "Wolverhampton. Mr,
Ambrose Sparry, Martley, Worcestershire. Mr. Henry Hickman,
a Fellqwslup at Oxford, Mr, Thomas Wilsby, Womborn, St§f-

( 277 )
miles of It. The feat of PhlHp Foley, Efq. at Preft-
wood, was particularly a friendly afylum to thefe
pious worthies, and a place of worfhip ; after this gen
tleman's deceafe it is fuppofed divine fervice, which
had previoufly been performed alternately at Preft-
wood and Stourbridge, was maintained In the latter
place only, which became alfo the refidence of the
minifter.

MR. JOHN EDGE,
fucceffor to Mr. George Flower, as paftor of the con
gregation of Dlffenters at Stourbridge, was born at
Cauldwell, near Kidderminfter, In 1708, and purfued
his academical ftudies under the Rev. Mr, Fleming,
who kept a feminary at Bridgnorth, He was not a
popular preacher, but his difcourfes were folid and ju
dicious, and occafionally Impreffive ; and, as a paftor,
he was very dlHgent, His manners were unaffuming;
but his appearance venerable and dignified. He was
ordained Odober 2, 1734, and fulfilled a miniftry of
forty-four years, dying of a paralytic ftroke, at the
age of fixtyTuine, on the 12th of July, 1777, His
fordshire, Mr. Richard Hinks, Tipton, Staffordshire. Mr. Ri
chard Serjeant, Stnne, Worcestershire. Mr. Edward Paston, Hale*
Owen, Shropshire. Mr, Richard Cook, of Kinfare, silenced. Mr.
Joseph Eccleshall, Sedgley. Mr. Richard Hilton,' West Brom
wich, Staffordshire. Mr. Bebee, silenced. Mr, James lUingworth,
¦» Fellowship at Cambridge.
See Palmer's Nonconformist's Memorial, under these name>

( 278 )
remains were depofited In Kidderminfter church yard,,
in a tomb belonging to the family of the Spilsburys i
as he married the daughter of the Rev, John Spils
bury, the refpedable paftor of the Diflenting Congre-r
gation in that town.

MR. JAMES .HANCOX,
of Dudley, was born at Hurcott, near Kidderminfter,
His parents were members of the eftablifhed church,
and he was defigned for the miniftry in it, with the
profped of patronage from Lord Foley. But to fe
cure him from the fnares of an univerfity education,
he was placed" for academical learning under Dr. La
tham, at Findern ; where he was led into views that
raade him averfe to minifterial conformity; and he
tefufed to take orders In the church, by which condud
he incurred the great difpleafure of both his grandfa
thers, and fuffered from it effentially in his fortune.
He at orie time turned his attention to phyfic. His firft
fettlement as a minifter, was at Great Appleby and
Snarefton, in Leicefterfhire, where he could not have
long remained, for in 1726 he was paftor of the
congregation at Bloxham, in Oxfordfhire. On the
death of Mr* Jofeph Stokes, who had fucceeded
Mr. Willets, about 1702, he was invited to Dudley, irt
1743 ; here he fpent the reft of his life, for twenty-
fix years, with great reputation and refped ; though

( 279 )
lie hai advantageous ofFers froin other places, which,
partly from a fondness for retirement, he declined.
He died September 27^ 1769. He was a man of
good fpirits and animated converfation, which he fea-
foned with a Hvely flow of wit ; friendly and hofpit
able, and of great generpfity and benefic^ce of tem-
per= He publifhed only a fingle fermon, a favourable
ibecimen of talent and a devotional fpirit, as well as of
loyalty, entitled, ** Tfie Safety of a good Prince the
Jogr of a gjratpfut Pfeople," from 2 Sam. xix. 30,
preached at Dudley, Novemljer 20, 1743, being the
Lqrd'^-day after his Majefty's return to his Britifh
doQiinions,.from the battle and vidory at Dettingen.
It would give- the writer of these brief Me-
ropirs sijQcgrp pleasure to pay a like tribute of
respect to -others who were ,cpnt,eippQi:aries wit^
Mi;. Mqu^> \^^ he is not iii^§l^d m^h ,ni^tgriaj[s
Iw it.

No. 10,

( 280 )
No. 10;
E i» i f A P H ^.
THIS fpecles of compofition, though ufually it
accompanies the grave-ftone or mural monument only,
is a proper appendage to written memoirs of the de
ceafed ; comprifing in a few lines the delineation of
their charaifters and the events of their lives. The
few that follow are conneded with fome of the names
preferved In the preceding pages, except that for Mr.
Witton, who was paftor of the congregation at Weft
Bromwich, Staffordfhire ; with any other account of
whom the author of this volume is not provided.
The tranflation of the latin epitaph for Mr, Brod
hurft, as before mentioned, was drawn up by the Rev,
John Toncks, of Birmingham. This gentleman was'
born at Harborne, near that town. He commenced
his academical ftudies, firft under Dr, Benyon, at
Shrewsbury, and then, on his death, purfued them at
Edinburgh, where he fpent fome years. His private
fortune enabled him to render, in a manner, gratuitous
fervices, in his minifterial charader, to fmall congre
gations in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, particu
larly at Kingswood, where he preached a number of
years, receiving from the people what was barely fuf
ficient to keep his horfe. He was a man of polite
and hofpitable manners, generous and beneficent,
and of liberal and catholic principles. He died July
i>, 1737, aged feventy years. His only daughter, Mrs.

( 281 )
Scott, of Birmingham (and he had no fon) ftill fur
vives, to an honourable and very ufeful advanced age,
ading on the principles and example of piety and
benevolence bequeathed to her by her worthy fa»
ther.

FPITAPH ON MR. BRODHURST,
BY BR, WATTS,
M, S,
Hoc Marmore comnjemoratur
Vir, iu Sacris supra, Socios peritus,
Nee in literjs humanis minus Sciens :
Rebus divinis a prim^ setate deditus,
Veritatis libere studiosus,
Fidei Christianae strenuus Assertor,
Et Pietate nulli Secundus ;
Concionator eximius,
Ratione, Suadola, Eloquio potens;
Pastor pro Grege sibi coramisso,
Solicilus et vigil pene supra vires.
Moribus faciljs. Vita beneficus,
Ornnigeniae Charitatis Exemplar;
Mille Virtutibus infractus,
Quas sacra celavit modestia;
Sed non usque celabuntur.
I Lector ct expecta Diem
Qui Casio Terrisque simul innotescet
Qualis et Quantus ficit
JSDVARPUS BRODHURST.
o p

( 282 }
Natus est agro Derbiensi I691 ;
Birminghamiae defunctus Julii 21, 1750.
Animam ad superos avolaotem
Ecclesia Militans luget
TriHmphans gratulatur,
Suscipit CitRISTUS, agnoscit DEDA
Euge fidelis Serve.

IN ENGLISH,

This calls to our Remembrance
A Person of superior skill in Diviijity,
Nor less acquainted with Humane Literature:
Inclined from his Infancy to Things sacred ;
An impartial Enquirer after Truth;
An able Defender of the Christian Faith ;
A truly pious and devout Man;
A Preacher that excelled
In force of Reason and art of PersuasiQn :
A Pastor vigilant beyond his strength
Over the Flock committed to his Charge;
Of courteous behaviour and beneficent life;
A pattern of Charity ia all its branches ;
A Man adorned with many Virtues,
Concealed under a veil of '^lodesty,
But shall not for ever be concealed :
Go,. Reader, expect the day
When Heaven and Earth at once shall know
How- deserving a Person
Mr. EDWARD BRODHURST was.
He was bom in Defbysbire, l691>
Diqd at Birminghan^, July 21, l73Q.

(283 )
His Soul, ascending to the Blest aboVe,
The Church on Earth bemoans.
The Chuich triumphant congratulates,
Is received by CHRIST, approved of GOD,
Well done good and faithful Servant!

Sacred
To the Memory of the
REV. JOSEPH BOURN,
Minister to this Society
Nineteen Years.
He died February 17, 1765,
Aged 52 Years,

Here lie the Remains of
RICHARD WITTON, A. M,
Forty Years Pastor of this Church ;
Justly esteemed and beloved
For his chearful and unaffected piety,
His inflexible integrity.
His open and benevolent temper,
His faithfulness and zeal
In the service of bis Divine Master,
He received his dismission
December 28, 1765,
Aged 82.

( 284 )
Reader,
Though Ministers die
The Gospel lives,
And will live
For ever :
Obey it
And be happj'.

Here are interred the Remains of
THE REV. JAMES HANCOX,
Who, having for 26 Years
Performed the duties of a faithful Pastor,
To the edification of this Church,
¦ And with honour to the office,
Which, it! opposition to views of- worldly interest,
He had deliberately chosen.
And having, in the tnore private walks of life,
With eminent integrity, steadiness and wisdom,
Supported and adorned the Christian character,
Was suddenly called
From his Master's service on earth,
To his presence above,
September 27, 1769, ;Etat. 67-

SELECTION

OF

jSistorical Passages qf Scripture^
CAST INTO THE FORM OF
CATECJHETICAIL LECTURES s
AS A
SUPPLEMENT TO
CHAPTER ii. PAGE 34.

A
SELECTION OF

CATECHETICAIi LECTURES,
8fc. Sfc.

The USURPATION and DEATH of ABIMELECH.
Judges ix. B. C. 1206.

GIDEON died in a good old age, and in great
efteem and reputation : but as foon as his head was
laid low, the Ifraelites fell to their old habits of lewd-*
nefs and idolatry; God's worfhip was negleded, as if
he had never ftood in any covenant or relation to
them, and the family of Gideon treated with that In-
jnftice and contempt, as if his name had carried no
charader, and he had never ftruck a ftrofce for his
country's advantage and honor.
Gideon left behind him threefcore and ten fons,
which he had by feveral wives, and one he had by a
concubine of Sechem, called Ablmelech. This Abi«
Bselech, a daring ambitious youth, goes to Sechem,
and hy the intereft of his mother's relations, and by

( 4 )
infinuating that it would be better to have him alone
to reign over thera than his feventy brethren, he got
himfelf proclaimed king.
The Sechemltes furnifh him with money out of
the treafury of their heathen temple, with which,
having hired a band of ruffians, he marches to his fa
ther's houfe, and inhumanly murders his feventy
brethren on one ftone, except Jotham, the youngest,
whom Providence preferved by a timely efcape.
This young man being informed of all that pafTed,
goes to the top of Mount Gerizim, and, in the ab
fence of Ablmelech, addreffeth himfelf to the people
affembled at a folemn feftival In this fable :—
" At a time when the trees talked, they refolved
to choofe a king, and offered the government firft to
the olive tree, then to the fig tree, and the vine, who
all declined the honor; al laft, offering fovereignty to
the bramble, he accepted it. Now," fays Jotham,
"the moral is plain; my father and brothers who
have fo generoufly ferved you, but who declined all
rule over you, as againft the will of God and the con
ftitution of your government, they are the olive, fig
tree and vine ; Abimelech, a bafe born fon, he Is the
bramble, and he will prove a fire amongft you, and
make you pay dear for what you have done."
The Sechemltes In a fhort time found Jotham's
parable and prophecy made good ; for there broke out
fuch inteftine divifions and animofities between them.
and their new mpnarch, as ended in a juft punifliment

( 5 )
npon them both. For the people growing weary of
Abimelech's tyranny, chofe one Gaal, a prince of tbe
country, to be their head ; an inipudent boafter, but
a very coward, who in his cups poured out invedives
freely againft Ablmelech, but was miserably beaten
by him, and his army routed. After which, through
the management of Zebul, Abimelech's deputy, a
cunning and bold man, Abimelech takes Sechem by
ftorm, puts all the inhabitants to the fword, razeth
the city to the ground, and foweth It with fait as the
laft Infult of an enraged and triumphant enemy.
Next, Ablmelech, by raifing a vaft pile of wood
round the caftle, fets fire to It, burns it to the ground,
and all the miferable people perlfhed in the flames, to
the number of about a thoufand. Then he aflaults
the neighbouring town of Thebez and took it ; the
Inhabitants retiring into the fortrefs, which Abimelech
intending to burn as he had Sechem, he is ftruck to
the ground by a piece of a millftone, thrown by a^wo-
man, and is killed out by his armour bearer, to avoid
tbe fcandal of dying by the hand of a woman. The
general being dead, the army dlfl^anded and the war
ended.

OBSERVATIONS,
1. If Ifrael remembered not the Lord their God,
no wonder they proved ungrateful to their friends, the
inftruments of God's goodnefs to them.

( 6 )
a. If generous and ufeful meh were to look for
no rewards but on earth the ingratitude of the world
would caufe great difcouragement ; but their record is
on high, and their rewards in eternity.
3, Ablmelech came In like a fox, ruled Hke a
lion, and died like a dog : as was said of Pope Boni
face Vlll,4.. Magiftrates and minifters too often obtain
preferment in ftate and church, through the intereft
of friends, without any merit of their own, to the
great detriment of liberty, juftice and piety,
g. Abimelech's birth was not more bafe than
his spirit was mean, and his adions villainous.
6, Thofe who defign ill themfelves are moft apt
to think others design ill,
7. It is to be feared the Sechemltes had devoted
more wealth to adorn and enrich their idol temple,
than they had offered at God's owu temple.
8. Ambition of reigning fo dazzles men's under
ftandings and hardens their hearts, that they forget
all the refped due to the facred names of father and
brother, 9. Barbarous and deteftable is the brute who
can feed his eyes with the tragical objed of the blood
ofthe neareft relations, whom he confiders as bars In
tbe way of an unquenchable thirft after wealth and
empire, 10, The moft horrid crimes will go down witk
a man refolved on vice.

( 7 )
II. Bloody tyrants never want Inftruments as
cruel and inhuman as themfelves, who for money will
be hired to perpetrate the worft of villainies.
I a. Some think the ftone on which Abimelech
murdered his brethren, was dedicated by him to the
idol Baal, and ereded in the fame place where his fa
ther Gideon had deftroyed the altar of Baal, as an
amends for the difgrace done by him to that idol.
13. It added Infolence to their impiety that they
eleded and proclaimed Abimelech king, in the very
plain where Jofhua formerly ereded a pillar, as a mo
nument of the folemn covenant between God and If
rael, 14., Here was a king proclaimed by a few fedi
tious apoftate Sechemites, without the confent of the
people, or a call from God, and It profpered accord
ingly. 15, Ufurpers of power ufually ad the tyrant In
the exercife of it, making their will the law, and
Itnunpling on jufHce and all its patrons, who oppofe
Iheir ambitious projeds,
16, Modefty, wifdom and ingenuity feem to
vie with each other in tbe parable of Jotham, and
"irliich (hews he fought tbe good of his country, and
not his own greatnefs, or revenge for his brothers'
blood. 1 7. Fables have an advantage above other me«
tbods of teaching, in regard they are inftrudive even
to tbe meanefl, and delightful and eafy to be remegi-
bered.

( 8 )
1 8. It Is worthy to be obferved that this parable
of Jotham's Is more ancient than any recorded in any
other book. For the facred fcriptures are a magazine
and the fource of all forts of knowledge.
19. It has been the temper and way of the
wifeft and beft men in all ages and places to decline
preferment, and to choofe rather to be ufeful than
great. ao. It grieves wife obfervers to fee nations, ci
ties and churches blind to their own Intereft in the
choice of their own rulers and guides, and exalting
the moft worthlefs of men,
21. How lofl to all fenfe of juftice, gratitude,
generofity and all virtue' were the Ifraelites, when
under fo defperate an ufurper and fuch a lawlefs mur
derer, not one Ifraelite Is found to revenge the caufe
of the noble family of Gideon.
2%. The justice fell on Ifrael; the provid
ence of God took a juft revenge upon both Ablmelech
and the Sechemltes, for the innocent blood they had
fhed, and their cruelty againft the family of Gideon.
23, When the quarrel is between God and Sa
tan, there is no doubt of the IflTue, but when one de
vil fights with another It is of fmall moment which
fide gets tbe vidory, Ablmelech or Gaal.
24, Since fait lands are barren, the fowing a
place with fait will not make it perpetually barren, yet
this adion was a token of the conqueror's indignation,
and implyed his wifhes for its utter deftrudlon.

( 5 )
aS« When God makes ufe of men as inftruments
in his hand to do his work, he means one thing and
they another. Ifa, x, 7, God punlfhea the Sechem
ites for the murder of Gideon's fons ; — Abimelech
only revenges his own quarrel for their flighting him.
a6. The apoftacy occafioned In Gideon's family
by the ephod, is punifhed with the blood of his fotts;
their blood is fhed by the Shechemites ; theirs Is fhed
by Ablmelech, and his by a woman. So juft and fure
are the retaliations of God,
37. The calamitous death ofthe w'retched Sech
emites, perifhing in the flames, would have deferved
compaffion had it not been a juft judgment upon them,
for their ftupid ingratitude to a perfon who had de
ferved fo highly at their hands.
a8. The great concern that even Irreligious men
have for their reputation after death, is a ftrong natural
indication of the foul's feparate exiftence and immor-
tafity after death,
29. Vain fools are folicitous for their reputation
amongft mortals, while they are prodigal of their fouls,
and will lofe all credit with the wife Immortals,
30, It Is a melancholy and afFeding fight to
fee pride and other odious paffions alive, when the man
himfelf is dying.

( 10 )

THE EXAMINATION.

Q. After Gideon's death; do the IfraeUtes.remaIn
faithful to God and fteady to his. worfhip? A* No ;
they "remembered not the Lord their God,i wht) had
delivered them out of. the hands, of all their enemies on-
every fide, but went a whoring, after Baalim.
Q. Are they grate^ful to the family of Gideon ?
A. No, neither (hewed they any kindnefs to the houf^-of
Jerubaal, according to all the goodnefs which he had.
ihewn to Ifrael.
Q, Does God punifh their apoflacy and Ingrati-;
tude by fuffering foreigners to opprefs them? A. No.
Q, How then? A. By Inteftine broils and a
civil war.
Q. Who was a principal Inftrumept of their mi-.
fery ? A, Ablmelech, Gideon's fon by a concubine.
Q, How got he Into the faddle, and aggrandized
himfelf? A, By making an intereft amongft his mo
ther's relations, and by unjuft Infinuatlons againft his
brethren, Q, Isit very ungenerous and wicked for any tO'
raife their ovvn reputation upon the ruin-. of- that' of >
others? A, Yes.
Q, Are ambition, avarice and unclean lufts the
three dreadful paffions In man's heart, which ftIck at
nothing to accomplifh their end ? A. Yes.

( n )
Q, Does Abiraeleoh's plot take? A. Yes,
Q, Whence got he money to fupport his pre
tenfions. A. Out of the Idol temple where their pub
lic treafure lay.
Q. What fort of men doth he enlift for foldlers ?
A. The raoft profligate rufilans he could pick up,
called vain and light fellows.
Q, Are men of giddy heads, broken fortunes
and lewd lives ready for the vileft purpofes ? A. Yes.
Q. What was Abimelech's firft undertaking at
the head of this licentious crew ? A, To murder his
feventy brethren in cold blood.
Q. Do the men of Shechem abhor this treachery
and defert the barbarous traitor ? A. No; they pro _
ceed to eled and proclaim him king.
Q. Do they hereby abet this Inhuman murder,
and become accefTarles In It? A. Yes.
Q, Which of Gideon's fons efcaped? A. Jo
tham, the youngeft.
Q. In what manner doth he reprefent to the
Sechemltes their madnefs and ingratitude ? A, By an
la^^enious fable of the trees fpeaking and choofing a
king. Q, How doth he preface his difcourfe? A.
" Hearken unto me, ye men of Sechem, that God may
hearken unto you."
Q,, Is aittention to the Voice of God by his mi
nifters the way to happinefs in God's favour ? A.
Yes.

( 12 )
Q, To which tree do the trees ofthe wood make
the firft ofi'er of royalty ? A. To the olive tree.
Q, What is lis reply? A, Should 1 leave my
fatnefs, wherewith by me they honour God and man,
and go to be promoted over the trees ?
Q, What Is the fig tree's reply, to whom, the
pfFer Is next made? A. Should I forfake my fweet
nefs and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over
the trees ?
Q. What does the vine reply, to whom the third
offer is made ? A. Should I leave my wine, which
cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over
the trees ?
Q. Do not all thefe replies (hew that private and
<juiet ufefulnefs is preferable to the pomp and noife of
power and dominion ? A. Yes,
Q. What fignifies the phrafe of '• cheering God
and man?" A, That wine was every where drank
by men to the honour of their Gods, and offered in
facrifice to them, or that wine cheers magiftrates and
meaner men,
Q, To whofe turn doth It come to have the
fovereignty at laft offered ? A. To the bramble,
Q, Does It accept the offer ? A, Yes,
Q, Are not they ufually raoft fond of preferment
who are leaft fit for It? A, Yes,
Q, What is the bramble's anfwer? A. That
having chofe him he expeded fubmifSon, which, if
they refufed, he would prove a fire to confume them.

( IS )
Q. Was not this prophetic of the miferles A-
bimelech brought upon them, and particularly of his
confuming them by real fire ? A. Yes. ,
Q. Doth Jotham leave the Shechemites to make
the application of his fable? A, No; but having
gained their attention by his ingenious invention, he
goes on in plain terms to upbraid them with their un
grateful and cruel treatment of his father's houfe.
Q. What proof Is there of the fuccefs oC this
fpeech of Jotham's? A. An evil fpirit of contention
and divifion foon fprung up between the Shechemites
and Ablmelech,
Q, What was God's defign in permitting this?
A, That the blood f^f the feventy fons of Gideon
might be upon A-iJinielech and the men of Shechem.
Q. XTill a juft God fooner or later make requifi-
tiop I'or innocent blood? A. Yes.
Q. When their jealoufies of each other had oc
cafioned Abimelech to leave the town, whom do they
choofe as their leader to oppofe Abimelech ? A. One
Gaal. Q. How did they behave under him? A,
Having gathered in their vintage they made a harveft
feaft, went into the houfe of their God, did eat and
drink and curfed Ablmelech.
Q, Were not thofe excellent churchmen who
could drink, curfe and fwear in the very temple?
Yes. Q. But do thefe champions at their cups and
oaths prove as ftout in the field of battle ? A. No.

( 14 )
/ Q. ^ho gave notice to Ablnaeleph pf all that
was doing In Sheqhem, and advifed him to attack It by
night? A. Zebul, whopi he left as his deputy and
agent In the city.
Q, When Gaal faw Abimelech's men coming
down towards the city early in the morning, how does
Zebul banter him? A, By telling hiin the companies
of troops he faw were only the fhadows of the mount
ains and trees,
Q. When Gaal plainly perceived they were men,
how does Zebul further rally him?. A, " Where is
now thy mouth wherewith thou saidst. Who Is Ablme
lech that we fhould ferve him ? Is not this the people
whom thou haft defpifed? Go now and fight them."
Q, Does Gaal come off conqueror? A, No,
but is miferably beaten,
Q, Does Shechem much mend Itfelf by changing
Ablmelech for Gaal ? A. No,
Q, Was Satan like to caft out Satan ? A, No.
Q, Are the Shechemites fick of them both? A.
Yes. Q, Will not men without confcience be men
without conftancy ? A, Yes,
Q., Will drinking healths to the confufion of an
enemy at all conduce to his overthrow ? A, No.
Q. What becomes of Gaal ? A. He is expelled
the city, through the inflxience of Zebul.
Q. How did Ablmelech become mafter of it?
By furprifing it when the inhabitants were gone upon
a' tillage.

( 15 )
Q, How does he treat It ? A, He beats down
the town, flays the inhabitants, and fows it with fait.
Q, As ftreets bear no fruit, and it could not be
fown. with fait as a fign or means of barrennefs, what
muft be the fignification of this adion? A, It was
done according to cuftom, In deteftation of their
treachery and rebellion.
Q. How does he treat the citadel or fort ? A.
He burns It to afhes with all the people in it,
Q. Which is the next town he attacks? A.
Thebez. Q. Is It a dangerous cafe to be In the way of a
proud, ambitious man ? A. Yes.
Q. Muft fuch exped no mercy? A. No.
Qi Does he fucceed agalnftthe town? A. Yes,
Q, But now that his own turn came to be reck
oned with, what is his fate ? A., He is knocked down
with a piece of a millftone,. flung by a woman, as he
was attempting to fire the caftle, ThusPlutarch fays
that Pyrrhus at the fiege of Thebes was killed by a
woman throwing a tile on his head,
Q, Wherein does he discover his foolifli pride,
mean fpirit and wrong judgment when dying? A.
In laying to heart that Httle circumftance, that he died
by the hand of a woman,
Q, Had he not more occafion to have died re
penting of his blood-thirftynefs, and crying for mercy?
A. Yes. Q, Does God hereby glorify his juftice in pun-

( 16 )
ifliing the wickednefs both of the Shechemites and of
Ablmelech? A. Yes.
Q. And the more feeble the inftrument Is which
God employs, does the more honour redound to God ?
A. Yes, Q, May we not learn from this hiftory, that If
mert are not animated to virtuous and heroic adions
by nobler motives than temporal rewards, they will
often, through the world's ingratitude, meet with dif
appointment? A, Yes,
Q, That worldly advantage is no infallible proof
of perfonal merit ? A. Yes.
Q. That fince real merit often meets with ill re
turns from men. It is an unfpeakable privilege that we
have clear views of a future ftate, where every labour
of love will have a full reward from God? A. Yes.
Q. That if men knew the vexations and difap-
polntments, toils and cares, which attend high fta-
tions, they would count themfelves happy in a quiet
and ufeful foHtude ? A, Yes,
Q. That evil purfues finners ? A, Yes.
Q, That it fometimes overtakes them when they
are not only fecure but triumphing? A. Yes.
Q. That God will make himfelf known by the
judgments which he executes? A. Yes,

( 17 )

JEPHTHAH'S DAUGHTER.

Judges X, xi. xii. B. C, 1161.

AFTER fome years refpite the whole nation of
the Hebrews began again to degenerate Into Immoral
ity, lewdnefs and Idolatry. Every tribe falling Into
the vile fuperftitions ofthe heathen round about them;
and their punlfhinents Increafed In proportion to their
wickednefs ; for their enemies on every fide broke In
upon them, and laid them wafte. Yet when they put
away their Idols, reformed their wicked fives, and
returned In earneft unto God, the Lord was grieved
for the mifery of Ifrael, and raifed up a deliverer for
them after this manner.
There was one Jephthah, fon of Gilead, of the
tribe of ManaflTeh, by a concubine, whom his brethren
had expelled from the family, and forced to feek his
fortune elfewhere : he followed the military life, and
being a man of a warlike genius and known courage,
the chiefs of Ifrael fent to him to take the command
of their army againft the Ammonites. Jephthah hav
ing reproached them with their III ufage of him, and
having obtained a promife that he (hould be their
prince if he overcame the Ammonites, accepted the
command. Being at the head of the forces, to pre
vent an unneceffary efl^ufion of blood he fent ambafla-
c

( 18 )
dors once and again to the king of tbe Ammonites, to
expoftulate with him upon the injuftice of his preten
fions againft Ifrael, But this prince being deaf to aU
his remonftrances, and wholly Intent upon war, the
fpirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he led forth
his army. But before the engagement he made a
folemn vow, that if it (hould pleafe the Lord to blefs
him with vidory, he would offer unto hini the firft
living creature which came forth of his doors to meet
bim aft?r his return.
Jephtliah returned in triumph, but his joy for vic
tory was foon turned into forrow, and all the relifh of
his public fatisfadion was deftroyed, for as he drew
nigh unto bis, houfe, his only daughter, tranfpo,rted
¦vvith the glory her father had acquired, came to ii^eet
him witb a concert of mufic. This fight ftruck Jeph-
tha to the heart j " Alas (fays he) my daughter, thou
haft brought me very low, for I have opened my
mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back," And
Jiavlng to)d her his vow, (he, not at all dlfmayed, wi^^
a generous conftancy, bade her father perform his
vow, for (he could freely facrifice her life for the hon
our of her father and the liberty of her CQuntry^
She only defired two months retirement, with her
virgin, companions, for a parting lamentation : after
which (he returned to her father, who did with her
according to his vow. Befides this abatement of Jeph
thah's joy, the glory of his vidory over the Amnjon-
ites was dimlni(hed by a terrible flaughter of the en
vious and quarrelfome Ephraimltes.

( 1& )
OBSERVATIONS.

I. IT is veiry grievbus to fee a people chofen of
God to be an example of imCorrupted virtue and wor
fhip to other nations, grow themfelves fo corrupt and
vicious. a. G6d's purilfliments beating pace and propor
tion according to their Iniquities, w'as a declarafiou
from heaven to them and other nation^, thit he could
never befriend an Irreligious and finful people.
3- Real and tbordiigli reformation ?s a method
for obtaining mercy, which carries more weight with
it than the loudeft ccies.. ,,. (j,^; ,.. , c
¦ 4-. The mercies df^ Gdd are afvvays'a's f6'i\irs,vi ^s ¦
men's repentance.
5. Thowgh God= exp*effe*h' Mrfrfel'f a^ If r^olv-
ing to^ d^ver bis revolt mg- people no- mort , yet when
they return to him, fo great Is hls^oodnefsy he' has
again compaffion on them-,
6,. The three moflf enajnent (hephe'«i& and' savi
ours of Ifrael, Jofeph, Mofes- and David, were like
Jephthah, aJl thruft out by thek brethren, before they
were called of God to their great offices.
7. Though as a punKhmept to the parentis' and
difc^tuiagejiient from fin, baftards were put under a
mark, of infamiy, yet by virtue and a good^ life they
were qualified for God's mercy.

( 20 )
8. Though Jephthah is called the fon of an har
lot, probably it means only a concubine or foreigner,
otherwife he could have little ground for that complaint
of Injuftice which he infifts on.
9, The negleded and vicious education of baf
tards ufually produceth in them corrupt morals, and
itis more to their honour if tbey efcape the contagion,
and arife to virtue,
10, A family (hould fear defpifing any branch of
It, fince they may find thenjfelves beholden to thofe
they once defpifed.
II. Both God and good men are often ne
gleded by thofe who in their diftrefs fly to both for
help, IS, It Is our wifdom to make no man our ene-
.^rtij, fince the time may come when we fhall greatly
wi(h him our friend,
13, God does nothing in vain, and ufually giveth
every man an opportunity of employing to good pur
pofe the gifts he has beftowed,
14, When we deal with men whom we have
reafon to diftruft, it la a point of prudence to make a
clear bargain with them.
15, A fenfe of juftice and humanity (hould guide
us In all our undertakings, efpecially when engaging
In war and law fuits,
16. Men Intoxicated with power and fuCcfefs
will not hearken to the faireft propofals, but harden
their hearts to their own deftrudion.

( 21 )
17. The fpirit of the Lord coming upon Jeph
thah, imports his being infpired from above with an
extraiordlnary degree of wifdom and courage,
18. It is becoming a good man when in purfuit
and expedatlon of fingular favours from God, to vow
fome acceptable fervice to God, as an evidence of gra
titude to the great Author.
ig. But by ra(h and indifcreet vows, perfons are
brought under the unhappy neceffity of either break
ing their vows, or of becoming more criminal by per
forming them.
ao. Thofe who have opened their mouths to the
Lord, in perfonal vows and facramental dedication of
themfelves to him, muft not think of going back,
21. Heroic virtue never flione more glorloufly In
any virgin than in Jephthah's daughter, who from a
fenfe of her father's confcience and honour, and her
country's liberty, abfolutely refigns herfelf to his dif
pofal .
2 2, The painter Tlmanthes, who was to paint
the confufed lamentations of Agamemnon for the fa
crifice of his daughter Iphigenia, (a fable borrowed
from this facred ftory) drew a veil over that which
tranfcended the skill of his pencil,
23, Could we believe that an Innocent, beauti
ful, virtuous young lady, the only hope of an Indulg
ent father, an Ifraelite, a prince in Ifrael, was really
made a burnt offering by her own father, fuch an ex
ecution is (b full of horror and amazement, that we
ftiould choofe rather to draw a veil over It, than
offer to reprefent it.

( 23 )
, ,: J4- Since this Is fo inh-uman a fj^d, in itfelf, and
fp expressly fqrbjdden by thje law of God, it is more
reafonable to think that Jephthah's daughter \yas only
confecrated as an unfpotted virgin to the fpeqial fervice
of God, as the Nazarites were.
-'- . ig. Perpetual virginity, or, dying childlefs, was
fo great a reproach to Ifrael, who^m God had promifed
to multiply, and where perhaps.' every virgin might
h9pe to become mother of the Meffiah, that it muft
h^ an h^avy affiidion fjo Jephthah tq fee his family thus
utterly extinguifhed bythe fulfilling of hisrafh vow,
""' 26, Since Jephthah'*s vow' may be rendered,
" whatever coitieth firft out of my houfe, I will confe
crate it to the Lord, orfiffef it up a burnt o'ffering^;"
fince her requeft is t» bewail, not her fhort life but
her virginity; flnqe the daughters of Ifrael going- to
lament, may b© rendered, going^ ta talk, wi=th her one©
a year, and fiace it .is fai^. (fic knew n& man, which
would be very needlefs if (he was dead, upon, all
thefe accounts, aswell,as the barbarpufnefs .ofthe fup-
pgfed execution,, iiiatiy a^e inclined j;o jthink, her fate
fe#?. perpetual yiiglnity. ,
27, Our finding. Jephthah amongft the heroes of
faith, in Heb. xi, is a further confideratifln, leading
is to believe he did not properly fa'ciifice bis own
daughter, or, he repented of what he had done, '
2f8. If Jeiphfthjahrtd'ld. reaMy faeFifieetbis daugjbtar
as.ai.blurnt offejjiag, hto svaa v-ery" W&^h iri! miking, the
yow, and) tke executioai! bfdt wag; very iuainoteli and
wicked. , : •.¦^.-osiq:,,. -. ,

( 23 )
%(). God does fometimes accept the good in
tentions of his people, and pafs by their infirmities,
and pardon their tranfgreffions,
30, It Is poffible that Jephthah, having been fome
years out of Judsea, in the land of Tob, might have
gained a corrupt notion that a human facrifice to the
true God would be as acceptable as the human facri
fice thefe Idolaters offered to falfe Gods.
31. It Is very becoming In young people to bear
a part in the forrows and affiidions of their compan
ions. 32. The moft renowned and fuccefsful general
fometimes meets with unfuitable returns from the
people he has been the inftrument of delivering.

THE EXAMINATION,

Q, AFTER the fall of Abimelech under whofe
government do the Ifraelites live for upwards of forty
years ? A, Under Tola and Jair,
Q, What is remarked concerning the latter?
A, That he had thirty fons, men of reputation, who
affifted their father- in riding circuits for the diftribu
tion of juftice.

( 24 )
Q, Are times of peace wifely improved In doing
juftice and practlfing religion ? A. Yes,
Q. Does this good difpofition long remain?
A, No, they fell off to worfhip the Idols of all the
wicked nations round tliem. ^
Q, How does the juftice of God overtake them ?
A. He fuffered thofe very nations whofe impotent Idols
they worfhipped, to Invade and harrafs them for eight
een years together, and the Phlliftlnes much longer—
Q, When they faw their folly, confeffed and la
mented their apoftacy, what is the firft meffage God
fends them ? A, He fends a prophecy with this awful
threatening, that he would deliver them no more, and
with this fatyrlcal reproach, " Go, cry unto the Gods
ye have chofen : let them deliver you In the time of
your tribulation,"
Q, May not God juftly abandon thofe who fool
ifhly and wickedly abandon him ? A. Yes,
Q, When they confefs the juftice of their pun-
i^ments, and begin a reformation from their Idolatrous
pradices, how are the tender compassions of God ex
preffed towards them? A, His foul was grieved for
the mifery of Ifrael. Chap. x. i6.
Q, What man had God qualified to be their de
liverer? A. Jephthah,
Q. What is his charader ^ A. He was a
mighty man of valour.

( 25 )
Q, What was his parentage ? A, He was the
fon of Gilead, by a Concubine or fecondary wife,
Q. j\Iay men by perfonal merit, wipe away the
reproach of a bafe original ? A. Ye,s.
Q. What was his country ? A. He was an exile,
driven from his Own country by his brethren.
Q. When the elders of Gilead, and amongft
tliem his own brethren, fend a propofal to liim to be
their captain general againft the Ammonites, what
anfwer doth he make? A. He replied. Did ye not
hate me and expel me out of my father's houfe, and
why are ye come to me now, when ye are Ln diftrefs ?
Q. Is It a fign that a fenfe of vlrtufe is greatly
funk amongft a people, when the advantages of birth
and fortune are preferred before perfonal merit? A,
Yes, Q. Does he abfolutely refufe the offer ? A. No.
Q, Upon what terms does he accept it ? A,
That if he was God's inftrument in faving them,
he (hould be their head.
Q. Was this agreeable to their general propofal?
A. Yes. Chap. X. 18.
Q. Is it a mark of a truly generous mind, to ftifle
and fubdne all refentment of perfonal affronts and in
juries, when public good and the welfare of our coun
try are at ftake ? A, Yes,
Q. As foon as he had accepted his commiffion
X>

( 26 )
and was conftituted ruler and judge, does he immedi
ately fall upon the Ammonites? A, No.
Q. How does he ad then ? A. He fends an
embaffy to the king of Ammon, to demand the reafon
of his Invading Ifrael.
Q. Should all methods of peace be tried before
war Is entered into ? A, Yes,
Q. What is the king of Amnion's pretence ?
A, That Ifrael long ago took away his lands, in their
march from Egypt, and he now demanded the refti
tution of them,
Q, Is our tenure of a title to all earthly poffef
fions very uncertain? A, Yes.
Q. If we are fo happy as to poffefs the heavenly.
country, will our title ever be called In queftion. A.
No.
Q. Does Jephthah deny the truth of the king of
Ammon's charge, and the juftice of his allegation?
A. Yes. Q. And how does he defend his caufe ? A. By
appealing to the hiftory of Ifrael's march ; that they
had Invaded no country which did not at firft attack
them, but were at the trouble of a long march to avoid
giving offence to Edom and Moab : that the country
now In difpute was then poffeffed by the Amorites,
from whom they took it, after they were fet upon by
them with force of arms : that God had given them
a good title to it, and that they had been In poffeffion
ofit three hundred years.

( 27 )
Q. Does it not hence appear that the king of
Ammon, in this claim, violated all the laws of nature
and nations ? A. Yes.
Q. Is the Ammonitifh king fatisfied with the
apology of Jephthah? A, No; he refolved to oppofe
might to right,
Q, To whom does Jephthah appeal, when he
could have no right by plea or argument ? A, To the
judge of the whole world.
Q. And does God give him fuccefs? A, Yes,
fo great that he deftroyed twenty of the enemy's
towns. Q. But when Jephthah was going out to war,
what vow does he utter ? A, That if God would give
him vidory, whatever met him firft, out of his" houfe,
at his return, he would offer It to God as a burnt
offering, Q, And who firft met him after his vidory?
A, His daughter, being bis only child,
Q. Might Providence permit this to teach him
and others the folly and danger of ra(h unguarded
vows? A. Yes.
Q. At the fight of his daughter, how does Jeph
thah exprefs his forrow and confufion ? A. Alas, my
daughter, thou haft brought me very low, and thou
art one of them who trouble me ; for I have opened
my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.
Q. Are vows a ftrong bond on the foul ? A.
Yes.

( 28 )
Q. In all lawful things muft they be performed?
A, Yes, Q, What is his daughter's anfwer? She faid
unto him. My father. If thou haft opened thy mouth
unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath
proceeded out of thy mouth, for as much as the Lord
hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even
ofthe children of Ammon,
Q. Is not this a noble inftance of filial affedion
and refignation to God ? A, Yes,
Q, Is it the duty of children to rejoice In their
parents' fuccefs, to comply with their lawful defires,
and to contribute to cheer and comfort their fpirits ?
A, Yes, Q, What is the only requeft (he makes? A.,
The fpace of two months, to join with her companions
in bewailing her virginity,
Q, Does it become us to weep with thofe who
weep, as well as to rejoice with thofe who do rejoice?
A, Yes, Q. Did Jephthah perforin his vow ? A, Yes,
Q. Is It a queftion undetermined amongft the
learned, whether (he was flain, or made a burnt oft'er-
Ing to God, or only devoted to God's immediate ferv
ice asa virgin Nazarlte? A. Yes,
Q, But does not Jephthah feem to have ex
ceeded the right, and tranfgreffed the duty of a father,
which ever way it is taken ? A, Yes,

( 29 )
Q, Yet does It not (how a brave and noble tem
per In the young lady, to facrifice her perfonal privi
leges as a grateful acknowledgment of public mercies?
A, Yes, Q. What was done in memory of this transac
tion ? A, The IfraelitKh virgins, for a long time, did
four days in a year celebrate the daughter of Jephthah
in folemn mournings, and in fingiijg verfes to her
praife. Q. Who envied Jephthah the glory of his vic
tory, as they had before envied Gideon, Chap, viii,
1 ? A. The Ephraimltes,
Q. What is their quarrel with him ? A. That
he had not confulted them In the war.
Q. How high does the quarrel rife ? A. They
threaten to revenge the affront with fire and fword.
Q. What Is Jephthah's anfwer ? A. That when
invited to it they had refufed his alliance, and that he
followed divine diredlon in what he had done,
Q. Did this fatisfy them? A. No; the E-
phraimltes prepare for battle, are overthrown, and lofe
forty-two thoufand men.
Q. When the Glleadites had fecured the fords
of Jordan, by what teft did they dlftinguKh the E-
phralmltes from the other Ifraelites ? A. By obliging
them to pronounce the word Shibboleth, which the
Ephraimltes could not frame to do, but called it Sib-
boleth.

( 30 )
Q. Have great divifions rifen in church and
ftate by fo little things as the letters of one word ? A,
Yes. Q. May we not learn from this ftory that thofe
who are lightly efteemed amongft men may be of
great account with God ? A. Yes,
Q. That nations may with courage and honour
enter Into war with an Invading enemy, after juft and
equitable terms of peace are rejeded? A. Yes.
Q. That Incautious vows bring a fnare on the
foul? A. Yes,
Q. That virgin fouls are capable of generous
fentiments and heroic refolutions ? A. Yes.
Q. That wrath Is cruel, anger outrageous, and
that It Is hard to ftand before jealoufy and envy ? A,
Yes,

ELI

( 31 )
ELI AND SAMUEL,
Samuel i, ii. iii, B. C. 1165,

DURING the high-priefthood and government
of Eli, Samuel was born, and the birth of this eminent
prophet and judge was in the following manner.
Hannah, the beautiful and virtuous wife of the
pious Elkanah, a levite, for a long time had no child,
and It greatly added to her affiidion that Elkanah's
other wife, Penlnnah, often reproached her with her
barrennefs. In the bitternefs of her foul (he goes to
the tabernacle, and there, in tears and much earneft-
nefs, fhe prayed to God to give her the comfort of a
fon, vowing In a folemn manner to dedicate him whol
ly, and from his infancy, to his worthip and fervice.
The length and earneftnefs of her devotion gave Eli,
who fat upon a throne by one of the pillars of the
tabernacle, occafion to fufped (he had drank too li
berally at the feftival, and took notice of it to her;
but with modefty and refped (he anfwered, that not
drink but forrow was the occafion of her unufual fer
vour. Eli, as foon as he underftood her cafe, by a di
vine infpiration told her God had beard her prayer,
and would grant her the blessing (he defired ; upon
which (he went away cheerful, and her countenance
was no more fad. Josephus.

( 32 )
Accordingly God gave her a fon, whom in grate
ful acknowledgment of God's goodnefs (he called
Samuel, which lignlfies, asked of God, As foon as he
¦was weaned, and arrived at a fmall ftature, his parents
carried him to the tabernacle, and prefented him to the
hisrh-prieft, as a perpetual nazarlte, to be employed
in fuch divine fervices about the tabernacle as he was
qualified for; upon which occafion Hannah uttered,
by infpiration, an excellent prophetic hymn. Eli grew
old, and his two fons became defperately wicked;
whom he reproved with the tendernefs of a father, but
did not punifh wifli the feverity of a judge. Upon
which God fends a prophet, with a denunciation of
terrible calamities coming upon his family for their
irreclaimable Impieties,
Young Samuel remained untainted In the midft
of lewd and debauched company. To him God now
began to reveal himfelf, which he did by a voice calling
him by his name. Samuel, being not yet acquainted
with this way of divine intercourfe, thought Eli, who
lay In a room of the tabernacle near him, had called
him. The voice being repeated thrice, and he as oft
rifing and going to Ell, the high-prieft at laft judging
it was a call from God, ordered him to reply, •' Speak,
Lord, for thy fervant heareth," Samuel acted accord
ingly, and God made a frefh revelation to him of his
wrath againft the houfe of Eli, becaufe his fons had
made themfelves vile, and he reflrained them not.
Samuel was loth to be the meffenger of fuch dreadful
tidings, but Ell adjured him to be plain and open, and
to hide nothing from him. Samuel then told him all;

( ss )
to whom the aged judge repHes, that the judgment
was heavy : they had deferved It : It was the Lord ;
let him do what feemeth him good. Samuel's repu
tation grew, and he was univerfally acknowledged as
a prophet of God.

OBSERVATIONS.
I. THOUGH under the Jewlfti dlfpenfatloh
men were permitted to have two wives, to prevent
worfe confequences, yet the chriftian law reduceth
martlage to the original inftitution of a firiglis pair.
a. Elkanah went up to the houfe of God three
times a year, with all his males able to travel, and oncfe
a year with his whole family.
3. It has been the lot of many a virtuous holy
pair to have no children, for it is the prerogative of
God alone to fhut or open the womb.
4. It is not only unkind, but tinjuft and cruel,
td reproach perfons with infelicities they could fibt
help, and which are already a great and heavy affiidion
to them. §. The tendereft fpirits are the moft affeded
with unkindnefs.
6. In caufelefs wrongs the beft remedy is con-
E

i 34 )
tent, and fbews a more magnanimous fpirit than either
grief or revetige.
7. The barrennefs of Hannah was no abatement
ol her tender hufband's affedion to her.
8, It Is a very difficult point with the virtuous
mind to fupprefs all workings of envy, when they fee
their equals preferred before them in any of the vifible
bleffings of Providence, though that envy Is a tacit
reproach upon the wifdom and reditude of an unerring
Providence, 9. Whatever external comforts we want, our
way Is to go to God for thenji, who allows us the li
berty to be very particular in our prayers. I have
heard of a minifter who ufed to fay, when he wanted
a horfe he went to God for one. This was blunt
enough, yet we need diredions from Providence in
much lefs matters.
10, When we are in purfuit of any bleffing, it
is. proper to bind our fouls vvith a vow, that if God
grant It we will devote It to his honor, and cheerfully
employ it in his fervice.
11, The beft difpofal parents can make of their
children, is to devote them to God.
12. Levites, in common, were not obliged to
ferve at the tabernacle till twenty -five years of age,
and not after fifty ; but Hannah devoted her fon to
God from his youth till the day of his death,
13, When wife and good men take up an injur
ious fufpicion of a perfon upon wrong grounds, they

( ^5 )
are willing to be convinced of their miftake, and
readily change their fufpicion of guilt Into approbation
of innocence. 14. External figns are oflen fo ambiguous and
equivocal, that from them alone we (hould be very
cautious of paffing a judgment on charaders and
adions, 15. A forrowful fpirit may produce fome fymp
toms, not diftingulfhable at firft fight from the effeds
of an Intoxicated head,
16, Guilt is ufually clamorous and impatient of
fufpicion, while innocence is filent, and even carelefs
of mlf-reports. 17. Nothing is more comely than cheerfulnefs
In the fervice of a good God.
18. When God has given us the mercies we
prayed for, we (hould remember the vows we made
while praying for them.
19. Little children (hould be taught, and fliould
iearn betimes to worlhlp God.
so. The little fervices of children are acceptable
to a gracious God.
2r. Thefe children are Hke to be a blefling
whom parents have obtained froni God by ferlou*
ptayer. 2 a. It is an unfpeakable privilege to have a good
education, and to be brotight betimes to the houfe of
Cod.

( 3^ )
23- Hannah's vow feems to bring her fon un
der the obligation of perpetual Nazarltefhlp {or fepa-
ration to the fervices of religion) the laws of which
were, i. to drink no wine or Intoxicating liquors ; a.
to let the hair of the head grow uncut ; 3. to touch no
dead body. Importing a ftrid temperance, a renounc
ing bodily pleafures, and abftaining from all moral
pollutions, a4. The principles of religion and virtue muft
have been very ftrong In Samuel to preferve him,
while young, from the ill influence of the fons of the
high-prieft, who were grown beyond meafure profane
and wicked, 25. God often imprefseth and fpeaketh to child-
ten fooner than parents are aware,
26, Thofe who have not been ufed to the
voice of God, may think for a while it is only the
voice of man.
27, Samuel's readinefs to rife out of bed and
run to Eli, who he thought called him, (hews the
obliging, obedient difpofition of his mind, and is a
ledure to children and fervants to come at the call
of their parents and mafters.
28, Though young people under the firft im
preffions of religion, may not know that God is work
ing In them for their eternal falvation, they (hall after
wards come to know him.
a9. Young fouls are obliged to hear when God
fpeaks, and to do what God commands.

( 37 )
30. Aged minifters aad chriftians muft not think
they are above advice or reproof, even from the young,
when there is reafon to think God has moved thofe
young perfons to admonifh them for their faults.
31. It is an Inftance of the wifdom and goodnefs
of Providence, when before old prophets die young
ones are growing up.
3a. The weak and criminal indulgence of fome,
otherwife fenfible and good parents, is often the oc
cafion of their children's ruin,
33, Not to punifh finning children is a fin.
34, He who truly and wifely loves his children,
chaftlfes them, though not unjuftly, without faults, nor
cruelly without bounds,
35, Submiffion to God, when his hand of juft
difpleafure is gone out againft our families. Is a fign
of an excellent fpirit.
36. No perfon arofe in Ifrael after Mofes, more
illuftrious for prophecy and government than Samuel,
whom It was highly reafonable to acknowledge as a
prophet of God, when he had the teftimony of the
high-prieft, and when his predidions were fo clearly
fulfilled by correfponding events.

THE

( 38 )

THE EXAMINATION.

Q. WHO were the two laft judges In Ifrael, be
fore the change of the Jewifh government Into a mo-
sarehy? A, Eli and Samuel,
Q, Whp w^as the father of Samuel, A. Elka
nah. Q, What was his charade^? A. He was a
pious wprfhipper of (}od, at a time pf great corruption ;
and a very affedipnate hufband,
Q. What cuftom did hp fall in with, allowed to
the Jews, but forbidden to the chriftians? A, He
had two wives -, Pennlnah and Hannah,
Q, Which was his moft beloVfed wife? A. Han--
nab. Q. What was her great Infelicity ? A* That
flie had no children,
Q, Did her hulband treat her any worfe upon
this account ? A. No ; but with all poffible refped.
Q. Who did upbraid her with her unhappinefs,
and hereby add affiidion tp the abided? A- Pcnni-
nab. Q. Was this barbarous towards Hannah and
a reproach caft on God, who is the former of

( 39 )
children, and has the key of the womb in his hand f
A. Yes. Q, How did Hannah bear it ? A. It filled her
tender heart with fuch grief that (he could not with
any pleafure partake of the holy feftival at the taber
nacle. Q. How does her hufbatid endeavour to com
fort her? A. By the moft kind arid tender expref
fions ; faying, ' ' Am not I better to thee than ten
Ibns ?" Q. What method does Hannah take for relief?
A. After the facred feaft (he always retired to the
tabernacle, at evening fervice, and poured out her
prayers to God for the bleffing of a,fon^
Q. Is prayer the pnly univerfal remedy for all
the afflidions of God's people? A. Yes,
Q. Is It not pity that unity (hould be wanting
In families where there is a fenfe of piety? A. Yes.
Q. Is not prayer a proper means to affuage our
griefs, calm our paffions, and to bring us into a good
temper towards both God and our families ? A. Yes.
Q. What is Hannah's vow, while upon her
knees? A. That if God would pleafe to give her a
man child (he would devote hlin to God as a Nazarile,
all the days of his life.
Q. When EH the high-prieft obferved fbme-
thlng unufual in Hannah's manner of prayer, what
is his fufpicion and cenfure of her ? A. That fhe had

{ 40 )
been top free at the facrlficial feafi, and was Intox
icated. Q. May not' wife, grave; and good men be! over-
hafty and rafh in iheit cenfures ? A. Yes.
Q. When Hannah had convinced him of het
Innocency, and acquainted him with her affilding cafe,
how does he afone for his miftaken cenfure? A. By
a kind and fatherly benedldion.
Q; How is Hannah's prayer anfwered ? A. By
God's giving her a fon.
3 Q. What name do his parents give him ? A*
Samuel. Q. What does It fignify? A. Heard of God;
or afked of God ; or (in Hephil) lent of God.
Q, Was It not an encouraging token that Samuel
would prove an extraordinary man, when he Is brought
into the world with more than ordinary obfervation?
A. Yes. Q. Does Hannah remember and perform her
vow? A. Yes; as foon as (he had weaned him, at
about three years old, fhe took him up to the houfe of
God at Shiloh, and delivered her fon to the high-
prieft, that he might abide in tbe houfe of the Lord
forever*. Verfes aa— 36^
Q. How does Hannah farther exprefs gratitude
* The first -bom wa» presented tothe Lord at forty days oH,.
and redeemed, LukS ii. 22. This, perhaps, Hannah had done
before.

( 41 )
to God, and her vidory over her Infultlng adverfary ?
A. lu an excellent foug of praife, under the afflatus
of a prophetic fpirit. Chap. ii. i— lo.
Q. But was not Samuel, at three or four years
old, too little for any fervice at God's temple? A.
The high-prieft was fo pleafed with his early difpofi
tion to virtue and induftry, that he took him to attend
his own perfon ; and, young as he was, he might light
the candles, hold the dilhes, open and (hut the doors,
run on errands, learn his catechifm and prayers, and
be a delightful and improving companion to the high-
prieft. Chap. I. 28. ii. 18. iil. i.
Q. What piece of refped did Hannah fhew her
young fon ? A. Though the high-prieft allowed him
to wear a prieftly robe, when minifterlng in the temple,
yet his mother at every yearly feaft brought him a
new coat for his daily wear.
Q. While Samuel was thus promifing, how dd
the fons bf EH behave ? A. They grew prodigioufly
wicked ; abounding In lewdnefs, avarice, luxury, In
juftice and all profanenefs, fo that they brought the
worfhip of God Into great contempt. Chap. II, i2
—17, aa.
Q. Are not wicked priefts thei moft hurtful and
moft contemptible creatures upon God'searth ? A. YeSi
Q. When mlnlftets are vicious and profane, can
we exped to find much religion and virtue amongft the
people? A. No,

( 42 )
Q, When the wickednefs of Eli's fons was fo
notorious that It reached the ears of their aged father,
how does he refent It? A. He reafoned with them
calmly, and reproved them with paternal tendernefs
and plainnefs, but did not exert his authority as gover
nor and judge in punifhing their enormous impieties.
Q, How do the fons take their father's reproof?
A. They hardened themfelves In their evil courfes,
and hearkened not to the voice of their father, there
fore God determined to deftroy them ? Chap, II. 2$.
Q, How does Gpd refent the fons wickednefs,
and the father's lenity and indulgence? A, He
fends a prophet to EH, to let him know how dear
his indulgence to his lewd fons was like to coft
him, and how unbecoming he had aded to the
dignity of his office, and the privileges of his fa
mily. That Ged wpuld hpnor thofe who honoured
him, but that thofe who defpifed him (hould be lightly
efteemed ; that his fons fhould be cut off In one day,
his family reduced to fhameful beggary, and a more
faithful prieft (hould be raifed up In his ftead.
Q. Is this the only meffage God fends to Eli ?
A. No ; he fends him more fad tidings by young
Samuel, Q, How does God firft reveal himfelf to Samuel,
at the age of about thirteen ? A. He called him three
times fucceffively by name, in one night, as he lay in
a room near the high-prieft's chamber.
Q, What voice does Samuel take it to be ? A.
The voice of EH the high-prieft.

( 43 )
Q. Was not his rifing out of bed three timt.,
and running to Eli, an inftance of wonderful diligence,
quicknefs and adivity In a Httle fervant and pupil to
his mafter? A, Yes.
Q. Was Samuel his joj', while his own fons
were his (hame and grief? A, Ye.s.
Q, When Ell perceived it was the Lord who
(from the holy place probably) began to fpeak to
Samuel, what Inftrudion did he give him? A. To
fay, if the voice called again, I am here, Lord, ready
to obey thy voice.
Q. At the fourth call what is the meffage
brought to Samuel ? A. That he was to inform EH,
that he was going to do a thing in Ifrael which would
make both the ears of every one who heard It to
tingle, in the deftrudion of Eli and his houfe ; that the
fentence was paffed, and was Irreverfible.
Q, Does Samuel deliver thefe dreadful tidings
to Eli? A, He feared to do it, till Eli preffed and ad
jured him to do it ; and then he told him all.
Q. What Is Eli's reply ? A. It is the Lord ; let
bim do what feemeth him good.
Q. Is not this an anfwer worthy the ancient pre
fident of Shiloh, and worthy of a heart facrificed to
Gpd? A. Yes.
Q. May we npt learn frnra this ftory the effica
cy of fervent continued prayer ? A, Yes,
Q. And the zeal God had for the purity and ho-
ii nefs of his worfhip? A, Yes.

( 44 )
Q, The wretched condition of wicked minifters ?
A, Yes. Q. That It is better to live where fcarcely any
thing is lawful, than where every thing Is fo? A,
Yes, Q. That It is the duty of parents early to curb,
and juftly to punifh the vices of children? A, Yes.
Q, That early piety and virtue in young, hearts
Is very pleafing and acceptable to God? A, Yes.
Q. That God will punifh fin In his own people,
as well as the wickednefs pf his pvpfpffed enemies ?
A, Yes,

ELIJAH

(45 )
ELIJAH AND THE PRIESTS op BAAL.
1 Kings xviii, B. C, 906,

AS wicked as king Ahab was he had in his court
one Obadiah, a perfon of eminent piety, who feared
the Lord greatly, and who, when queen Jezebel, In the
rage of her perfecution, would have deftroyed all the
feminarles and fchools of the prophets, coticealed a great
number of them, and fed them at his own charge.
After three years drought and famine, when
through the extremity of it even the king's horfes and
cattle were In danger of perltbing, tbe king goes a
foraging Into one part of the kingdom, while his ftew
ard Obadiah goes into another,
Elijah the prophet, by divine order, meets Oba
diah, and bids him go and tell the king he was there,
Obadiah objects that it would be at the hazard of his
head to deliver fuch a meffage, efpecially If the Spirit
which direded his motions (hould convey him away,
and difappoint the king of the fight of him. How
ever, after fome difficulty with himfelf, and upon fo
lemn affurances from the prophet that he would not
ftlj: from the fpot, he goes.
When the king met Elijah, with great indigna
tion and bitternefs he asks him, " Art thpu he who

( 46 )
troubleth Ifrael ?" The prophet with great freedom
and gravity repHed, that not he, but the king: himfelf
and his idolatrous court were the true occafion of all
their calamities. And in order to put the matter upon
a fair proof, he bids the king fummon all the Idolatrous
priefts and prophets, in order to try which religion
was the trueft, his or theirs. Tbe king could not re
fufe fo juft a propofal, but Iffued out his proclamation
accordingly. When the affembly was met, Elijah
addreffed himfelf to the people, faying, " How long
waver ye between two fuch oppofite religions ? If Je
hovah be God follow him; but if Baal, follow him."
Tbe people being filent he goes on and prOpofes that
Baal's worfhippers (hould prepare one facrifice and
himfelf another; and that the Deity which anfwered
by fire (hould be acknowledged as the true God.
The people all agreed to ftand to the iffue of this un
exceptionable propofal. Baal's prophets being more
numerous had the preference to prepare their facrifice
firft, and when ready they cried aloud, " O Baal,
hear us!" and fung and danced about the altar, but
all to no effed. Then Elijah turns their fuperftition
into ridicule, and in a very (harp and fatyrlcal man
ner mocked them, faying, Cry louder, for certainly
he Is a God, but perhaps he Is talking to fomebody, or
diverting himfelf, or on a journey, or perhaps afleep;
This put them upon louder outcries, and upon bar
barously fcarifying their bodies to gain the favour of
their deity; but having no anfwer they gave over ac
cording to agreement.
Then Elijah prepared his facrifice, and to prevent
all fufpicion of coUufipn, and tP render the mlraculnu$

( 47 )
decifion more ccnfpicupus and Incpnteftible, he pr-
dered a vaft quantity pf water to be poured over and
over uppn the altar, till the trenches rcund It were full.
And uppn his prayer to God to appear In his own
caufe, a fudden fla(h of lightning from heaven In an
Inftant confumed the facrifice, dried up the water, and
parched the very ground the altar ftood upon.
The people ftruck with convidion and aftonifli
ment cried out, Jehovah Is the God I Jehovah is the
God! Elijah Improves this fit of zeal, and orders
them to flay all the idolatrous priefts, which was im
mediately executed. Then having notice of a fmall
cloud arifing out of the fea, he advifed the king to
haften home before the rain and floods Intercepted his
journey. And Elijah out of refped ran before the
king's coach to the palace gate, where the king report
ing to the queen all that was done, and in particular
the fate of the priefts, (he fwore he (hould not live a
day ; but he fled and efcaped the effeds of her refent
ment and rage.

OBSERVATIONS.
I, THAT king Ahab did not either perfecute
or difcharge a fervant who had courage to profefs a
different religion from himfelf, (hews that religion and
honefty will have reputation in the world, be it ever
:f> bad, .

( 48 )
a. Ahab was not fo impolitic, nor fo much un
der the influence of higotted priefts, as to exclude from
civil ofiices by an unrighteous teft, thofe who by ca
pacity and fidelity were fit to ferve him, merely becaufe
, they did not wor(hip God in his way.
3. Where It is faid (chap. xvIII. i.) the word
of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, it (hould
be rendered after the third year ; for the famine lafted
above three years.
4. When the priefts and Levites were generally
gone over to Judah and the houfe of David (2 Chron.
xl. 13, 14.) It was a great kindnefs in God to raife up
a fet of prophets to Inftrud the tribes of Ifrael.
5, But it is a fign things are in a bad ftate, that
reHglpn is funk low, and that impiety and falfe zeal
triumph, when Gnd's prophets and true worfhippers
dare not appear, but are hid from the world.
6, Early piety often proves eminent piety. O-
badiah, who feared God| from his youth, when grown
up feared the Lord greatly. Chap, xviii, 3. 12,
7, It Is of great fervice to the Intereft of religion,
when men who profess it, recommend themfelves by
their integrity and faithfulnefs to thofe who profefs it
not. 8. It is an inftance of a juft and kind Providence
over the world and church, when, In the worft times,
God raifes up fome patrons to (belter and feed his
minifters and fervants.
9. Worldly men are much more concerned, and

( 49 .)
take miich raore pains to get food for their beafts (o
fave them alive, than to get food for their fouls to fave
them. 1 6. It was a vain attempt of Ahab to hunt for
Elijah through all his dominions, in hope to oblige him
to reverfe his fentence, and to fend rain, which was
out of his power ; but it would have been a wife ftep to
feek for him. In prder tp be Inftruded In his duty, and
tp learn the pnly way of obtaining God's favour.
II. Itis becoming wife and good men to men
tion their good deeds, when it Is done not out of van
ity and oftentation, Ifut for felf-defence, and as an evi
dence pf their fincerity.
12. One inay in part judge hew men ftand af
feded ta Gpd and religion, by pbferying hpw they
ftand affeded to his minifters and pepple.
' * Airt thpu he who ti-publeth Ifrael ? ' '
13. It muft be a time pf great degeneracy a-
mpngft God's prbfeffing pepple, when faithful preach
ers are reckoned the troublers of a land.
I
14. Bad men think it a great trouble to be re
proved for their fins and warned of their danger, and
be told of God and anpther wprld.
15. It has been the way pf perfecutcrs, bigpts,
a,nd all wicked men, to charge upon righteous and good
men thofe calamities which themfelves are the authors
or pccafipns of.
16. , Gond minifters may be accounted the trou*
G

< 50 )
lers of, Ifrael, but profane and wicked princes and
priefts are really fo.
17. The caufe of God and religion are fp per
fedly reafonable, and fo. Inconteftably juft, that it will
always 'ftand a fair trialj and. needs not fear an exami-
..nation of its equity and evidence..
18. in leffer and reconcileable differences cobl-
nefs and moderation is a commendable temper, but in
cafes fo neceffary" as hoftility between God' and Baal,
he. who is not with God is againft Jtlm. ,
19.' Religion, or 'the worfhip of God, muft be
a matter of choice, and the dldate ofthe u'rid^rftaM-
ing, arifing from convidion that there is one and but
one fupreme omnipotent and all-fufficierit ,Gpd,
20. If truth and^ orthodoxy muft have beeii de
termined by a majority of votes, God's (iaufe hkd'now
been loft, fPri here were 85-0, againft one; viz, 400 of
Baal's prophets arid 450 of the prophets ofthe groves.
a I . Perhaps -the pVlefts pf Baal hadi the greater
hopes of fuccfefs' in a trial to beo determined by fire.,,
becaufe the fun, the created fountain of fire, was wor
fhipped by tliern', urider'the title and image of Baal.
32. Some think that the idolatrous priefts called
on Jehovah in or by tbe name of Baal (chap, xvill.
26,) and they worfhipped'-the tru'e'God by a falfe me
diator ;'' that they had one God, but lord mediators
mart}', which aftferwards degenerated into Gods many.
23, The folly and mifery of trufting an idol is
'apparent, inafinuch as it cannot htear and hfelp us
when we moft want help.

( 51 )
24- Whether the Baalites cut themfelves out of
vexation, or in prophetic fury, or to obtain favour by
offering their blood, it might gratify the devil, that cruel
fpirit, but could be no ways pleafing to God, vvho,has
expreflly forbidden it. Lev, xix, 38. Deut, xlv. i.
25, The B.aalites can do nothing while Elijah
is prefent ; nor can Baal do any thing before the true
God. a6. They leaped upon the altar, flipuld be ren
dered, they danced before, or about the ajtar, after the
cuftom of the Heathen ; and the fame vvord is ufed
verfe 21, and rendered halting. To halt between
two opinions, pr thpughts, is tp wprfhlp twp different
objeds, 27. The worfliip of idols Is a moft ridiculous
pradice, and to reprefent it as fuch, and hereby tp ex
pofe it to contempt, is but doing it juftice.
aS. Though it may be in the power of evil fpi
rits, by a fubtle management of the meteors of exhal
ation of the air, to caufe fire to defcend from the clouds ;
yet fince they can do notiing but by divine permiffion,
it is unreafonable and abfurd to fuppofe that in a cafe
of competition between himfelf and falfe Gods, he
(hould give evil fpirits a llcenfe to rival him In his
miracles, 29. Though God may feem to hide himfelf for
awhile, as if he faw not the triumphs of idolatry, yet
he will at length appear to end the controverfy be
tween true and falfe worfhippers, and true and falfe
worfhip.

(' 52 )
30, As night vanifhes before the day, fo a lie
flies before the truth.
3 1. The prayers pf pne prophet pf Gpd are wprth
mpre and will prevail mpre than the cries of 450 falfe
prophets. 32, Itis poffible the judgment and opinion of
one man may have more weight and truth in it than
that of a whole council.
33, The church and religion muft be In an III
ftate when the number of falfe and vicious minlfiers
exceeds that of the pious and faithful.
34. The evidences for religion are fo plain and
even palpable, that a verdid will be obtained for It by
all mankind, who will give a ferious attention to
them. Jehovah he Is Gpd.
35. Elijah aded by a cpmmiflipn frpm the Gpd
of heaven. In ordering thefe idolatrous priefts to be
flain, as guilty of high treafon againft the God and
king of Ifrael, Deut, xiii, i— 11,
36. By faith Elijah forefees abundance of rain,
yet continues in prayer and patience to obtain It.
37. Great bleffings fometimes arife out pf fmall
beginnings ; a clpud of an hand's breadth.
38. When Elijah ads In the charader of a mef
fenger from God, he fupports the dignity of it by bold
nefs and freedom ; but when he puts off that charader,
he, as became a fubjed and fervant to his prince, ads
in fhe humble ftation of a footman.

( 53 )
39- Proud and woridly hearts are hardened and
enraged againft God and his minifters, by that which
(hould convince and humble them.
40. How liable is frail man to great and fudden
changes! Elijah juft before is bold as a Hon, and now
runs away like a timorous hare,
41, Jezebel fwears by her gods to be the death
of Elijah, but they are Gods which could do her no
harm though fhe broke her path ; and had (he ccnfi-
dered under whofe protedlon Elijah was, it would
have prevented both the making and breaking her
oath.

THE EXAMINATION,

Q. IS not the ftory of Elijah and Baal's pro
phets decifive in favour of true religion ? A. Yes.
Q, And a demonftration that the God of Ifrael
is the fupreme governor pf the wprld ? A. Yes.
Q. What influence had Elijah's prayer in bea-
ven? A, Uppn it Gpd bPth withheld and gave rain,
James v, 17.
Q. Is It npt a great hpupur tp prophets and to
prayer when it is faid they have ppwer to (hut heaven,
that it rain npt in the days pf their prpphecy. Rev,
xi, 6, A, Yes.

( 54 )
Q, Was not a famine of bodily provifipns a juft
punifhment pf a pepple whp had defpifed fpiritual
prpvifipns? A. Yes,
Q. When Jezebel, Ahab's queen, perfecuted
and murdered the prophets of God, who concealed and
nourifhed them? A, Obadiah, fteward of the king's
houfehold. Heb. xl. 38.
Q. Was it not bravely done to proted God's
minifters, when his miftrefs, the queen, perfecuted
them? A. Yes,
Q. From what principle does he (hew his hu
manity to the prophets of God ? A. From a princi
ple of religion. He feared God greatly, and from his
youth. Q. Is It not a proof of fincere and eminent piety
to keep free from corruption, and to be fteady to reli
gion in a wicked court ? A. Yes.
Q. How was Obadiah employed when Elijah
prefents himfelf to him? A. He was taking a round
on pne fide the country (while the king goes on the
other fide) to find grafs for the king's horfes and
cattle. Q. Muft not the famine be very fevere when the
king himfelf is reduced to ftralts ? A . Yes .
Q. Was this a proper means to awake both the
court and the country to repentance? A. Yes.
Q. How does Obadiah falute Elijah ? A. With
great humility and refped, bowing to the grpund, and
calling him Lord.

( 55 )
Q, Will thofe , who fear Gpd pay a due refped
to his-failhful minifters ? A, Yes.
Q. How does : Obadiah offer to excbfe himfelf
from the meffage Elijah fent by him tp the king ? A.
That it wpuld exppfe him tp the king's refentme(it,
efpecially if he (hpuld not be found by the king ; and
that his care of God's prophets did not deferve to haye
his own Hfe put in danger.
Q, But when Elijah giveth. hina jhis wprd and
oath that he would appear befpre the kipg, does he gp ?
A. Yes. Q, What Is the king's cpmpliment to Elijah?
A. t'Art thon. he ^^10, troubletlij Ifrael ?" Acts
xvii. 6. -:
' Q. Is riot his thus affrpntlng the prophet of
God a proof that he had little regard for the God of the
prophet? A. Yes.
Q. Are thofe whp by their wickednefs prpcure
Gpd's judgments, or thpfe who faithfully foretell them,
the real troublers of a laiid ? A. Thofe who procure
them. Q. What order does Elijah givp the king, to be
executed previous to the fending of rain ? A. To ga
ther the heads of the nation, with all Baal's prophets,
and the prophets of the groves, to Mount Carmel, in
order to decide the great queftion, which was the true
leligipn. Q. Hpw many were thefe prophets ? A. Eight
tundred J^nd fifty.

( 56 )
d. What prpbably might be the difference be
tween thefe twp forts of prophets? A. The former
were minifters in the worlhip of a falfe God. The
latter mlniftered in the falfe worfhip of the true Gud,
I Kings xvi, 31.
Q. When the affembly was met, and the pro
phet, in a quick and fmart ftile'expoftulates with them
about their wavering In a cafe fo plain and fo Import
ant, and fays to them ; If Jelio,vah be God fpllpw him ;
but if Baal,'. follow him; how^do they anfwer hini ?
A. Like people confounded they anfwered not a
word, ¦ ,-¦ .j^U ,. ; - ¦ / ;
Q, When he proceeds to propofe an experiment
to put an end to the controverfy between God and
Baal ; that he and Baal's prophets (hpuld e^ch pffer a
facrifice tp their refpedive God, and that he who , an
fwered by fire (hould be owned and, worfliipped as
the true God, what Is the people's anfwer ? A, They
anfvi'ered. It' Is vi^ell fpokeri.
-: I -.1.!' ,. ,. ,,.,;¦¦ 1
Q, Though they could not, with any fliew of
reafon, refufe fo fair a propofal, yet was it not pitiable
It (hould at that time of day need any proof of Jehp-
vah s being Qpd alone ? A. Yes.
Q, How do the priefts and prophets of Baal ad
drefs themfelves to the trial? A. Having prepared the
facrifice, they dontinued crying, finging, dancihg,
wounding thepifelves for feveral hours together ; but
all In vain,
Q, When Elijah thus faw them ad the partx)f
fools and madmen how does he treat thera ? A. He

( 57 )
banters them Tvlth true wit and great fevetlty, for thelt
ridiculous behaviour.
Q. When Elijah, at the time of their evening fa
crifice, fets about his facrifice, what method does he
take to take away all fufpicion or poffibility of a
cheat? A, He caufed a large trench to be made
round the altar, and ordered twelve barrels of water
to be poured upon the altar, till the trench was filled.-
Q, Has he a precompofed form of prayer to
make ufe of? A. No ; he ufes a free prayer, fuited to
the occafion. Q, By what convincing and undeniable evidence
does Elijah prove his claiitis In behalf of the Lord
-God of Ifrael ? A. By fire from heaven, which burnt
up the whole pile, and dried up all the water,
Q. When the trial of God's title to his people's
homage was put to iffue, by confent of parties, would
God fuffer any evil fpirits to Impofe upon and delude
men, whatever their natural power may be ? A, No ;
it would be unworthy of God to permit fuch a delu^
fion. Q. What verdid do the people give In upon this
clear and remarkable iffue ? A, The Lord Jehovah he
is God. Q. What was the fate of the prophets of Baal?
A, They were, by order of God's ambaffador, feized
and executed, as traitors againft God, the king of If
rael, and as the deceivers of mankinds
H

( 58 )
Q, Are not right and truth the beft fupports of
any caufe? A. Yes.
Q. And will they be finally vidorious? A.
Yes, Q, What became of the four hundred prophets
of tbe groves? A, Either they did not attend the
fummons, or more probably were fpared as lefs guilty
than the others, yet were afterwards inftruments of
Ahab's fall, by encouraging him to go up to Ramoth
Gilead, Chap, xxii. 6.
Q. How did God fignify he was pleafed wItb
this refprraation ? A. By a miraculpus fending pf
rain; a circumftance proper to fix the people In the
worfhip of the true God, on whom they fo vifibly de
pended. Hag. il. 1 8, 19.
Q. Hpw began the rain? A. In a little clcud,
which appeared like a man's hand.
Q. What was this a token of to the prophet?
A. That abundance of rain was at hand.
Q. Were not all thefe manlfeftatlons of God's
being, his glorious form, juftice and mercy, enough
to convince the moft miftaken and unbelieving people ?
A. Yes, Q, Are Ahab and Jezebel wrought upon by
thefe clear providences ? A, No; thpugh Elijah had
been an inftirument pf fp great a bleffing tp the coun
try, the incurable queeii threatens him with immediate
death-.

( 59 )
Q. How does Elijah efcape? A. He flees for
his life. Q. When good men are perfecuted in one city,
is It lawful and prudent for them to flee to another, if
Providence opens them a way? A. Yes.
Q, What tradition, amongft others, do the Jews
pretend has been handed down from Elijah ? A, That
the world (hould laft fix thoufand years ; whereof two
thoufand were fpent before the law ; two thoufand un
der the law, and two thoufand are to be fpent under
the Meffiah. Boyle's Dictionary.
Q, May we not learn from this ftory the unhap
pinefs of a people under wicked princes? A. Yes.
Jezebel flew and cut off the prophets of the Lord.
Verfes 4 — 13.
Q. That they who fear the Lord will befriend
all who fear him ? A. Yes.
Q. That it is a dangerous ftate to be unrefolved
under the convldions of the truth of religion? A.
Yes. Q. That religion is fo reafonable that it will
abide an appeal to the confciences of all reafonable
men? A. Yes.
Q. That the intelligent addreffes of a calm and
fedate mind are more becoming the worfhippers of the
true God, that the enthufiaftic heat and diforder which
Baal's prophets are in at prayer? A. Yes.

( €i& )
Q, That reformation' Is the only means to obr
tain a return of thofe good things which- fin had for-"
felted and removed ? A. Yes.

HEZEKIAH.

( 61 J
HEZEKIAH,
9 Kings xiv.— XX. B. C, 839—698,

AMAZIAH fucceeded his father Joa(h, king of
Judah, who being flufhed with a vidory he obtained
over the Edomltes, fends an arrogant challenge to
Jehoa(h, king of Ifrael ; from whom he receives a moft
fcornful anfwer, under the allegory of a defplcable
thlftle feeking an alliance with the noble cedar,
Amazlah being exafperated with this anfwer, it
came to a battle, wherein he is totally defeated, and
afterwards murdered ; and was fucceeded by his fon
Uzziab, or Azzariah. He was famous for war and
husbandry ; but, after a long reign, he, at laft, loft
both his health and his glory by pne ra(h ad : attempt
ing to invade the prieft's office, for which he Is ftruck
with an Incurable leprofy, Jotham, his fon, fucceeds
hira ; a wise, pious and fuccefsful prince ; but fuc
ceeded by Ahaz, his unworthy fon, whofe daring im
piety made his reign as unfortunate and inglorious as
his father's was fuccefsful and glorious. For not
withftanding his deliverance frora the kings of Ifrael
and Syria, and- the encouraging prophecies of Ifaiah,
he outwent the very worft of his predeceffors In idol
atries and impieties. His fon Hezekiah fucceeds, and
proves as eminently good as bis father was remarkably
wicked. He promoted a general reforraation, and

( 62 )
had a promife of recovery from a dangerous difeafe,
and of an addition of fifteenyears to his life, confirmed
to him by a miracle. His fucceffes encpurage him tp
throw off the Affyrlan yoke, and to refufe paying the
yearly tribute which had been impofed upon his pre
deceffors. Upon this Sennacherib, fon of Salmanefer,
came againft him with a powerful army. Hezekiah
(who now faw his error too late, 2 Kings xviii. 14)
made his fubmiffion by a rich prefent. But the trea
cherous Affyrian foon after fent his army againft Je
rufalem Itfelf, under the command of Tartan, Rabfaris,
and Rabfhekah, This laft general made a fpeech to
Hezekiah's officers, full of invedives and blafpheniies,
not only againft the king, but againft the God of If
rael; which, according to Hezekiah's order, was only
anfwered by filerice. The Affyrlan army being called
off to engage Tirkakah, king of the Arabian Ethiopia,
Sennacherib fent a threatening letter to Hezekiah, filled
with proud boafts and infults, which Hezekiah carried
to the temple, and fpread in prayer before the Lord.
He had no fooner ended his prayer, than God fent the
prophet Ifaiah to affure him he would give fuch a
check to the Impious and arrogant Affyrlan, as (hould
fend hlin home with ignominy and deftrudion. Ac
cordingly, being returned vidorious over the Ethio
pians, in one night the angel of the Lord fmote dead
an hundred four-fcore and five thoufand of his foldlers.
Soon after, as Sennacherib was at Nineveh, his capital,
worfhipping in the houfe of his Idol God, his own fons
killed him. Arid Hezekiah, elated with his fucceffes,
gave the meffengers of Merodach (or Berodach) Bala-
dan, king of Babylon, who came to inquire about the

( 63 )
late miracle, a fight of his treafures and arms, which
occafioned a meffage from God, that thofe very Baby
lonians, whofe eyes he had glutted with a (hew of his
glory, would (hortly ftrip his city and kingdom of all
its wealth, and carry his children and fubjeds into
captivity ; though he (hould die in peace.

OBSERVATIONS.
I. IT Is probable Amazlah fent to Jehoa(h, king
of Ifrael, a demand of the hundred talents with which
he had hired the Ifraelite' s troops ; and alfo reparation
for the plunders thofe troops had committed, or elfe to
meet him In the field of battle.
2, Never, fure, was a proud prince more terribly
mortified than Amazlah was by Jehoafh's meffage, con
cerning the fable of the thlftle and cedar.
3. They who are fond either of war or law, may
have enough of them before they have done ; for many
who go forth haftily to ftrive, know not what to do in
the end thereof, when their neighbours have put them
to (hame. 4. Worldly glory is apt to dazzle the eyes of
wife men, and when they are lifted up with the ideas
of their own grandeur, they are very prone to forget
the laws of their infinite Benefador.
5 . It is not eafy tp conjedure what (hould tempt

( 64 )
king Uzzlah to fo extravagant a piece of folly as. In
dired contrariety to God's law, to habit himfelf like a
prieft, and atterapt to pffer incenfe at the gplden altar,
unlefs a vain ambition to imitate Heathen princes, who
many of them joined the regal and facerdotal offices
tosether, a Chron, xxvi. i6 — ai,
6. Jofephus fays, that the king In his paffion
threatened the priefts who oppofed him with death ;
that a dreadful earthquake happened, and that the roof
of the temple opened with a (hock, through the cleft
of which a fun beam paffed, which ftruck diredly on
the king's face, who in that moment became a leper,
7. If prefumptuons finners will not be con
vinced by the judgments of God's mouth, tbey (hall be
convinced by the judgments of his hand,
8. It Is well for children when they take warn
ing by the falls and harms of their parents, not to imi
tate them (though In the main wife and good) in their
bad adions. Jotham went not into the temple.
2 Chrpn. xxvii. 2.
9, Whether king Ahaz's making his fon t»
pafs through the fire, and burning his children In the
fire, mean the paffing of his children between two fires,
and fo confecrating them to Moloch ; or their* being
delivered Into the glowing arms of that brazen idol to
be devoured, or both; it was a great abomination,
and (hewed the utmoft contempt of God and religion.
JO, It vcas as weak as It was wicked In king
Ahaz to fall In love with the idols of a beaten, mifer
able people, the Affyrlans. It was no Iefs bafe In the

( 65 )
high-prieft to proftitute his authority and betray his
truft. In making and fetting up in God's courts an-al-
tar, the pattern of an idolatrous one, at the king's
order. rr. The fign which God gave king Ahaz, when
he was threatened by the kings of Ifrael and Syria,
of a virgin's conception, principally regarded the pre
fervation pf the hpufe pf David, Ifaiah vu. 8.
la. It is very furprifing tp fee one ofthe beft of
the kings of Judah arifing out of the family, and
(prlnglng out of the loins of one of the worft,
13. Hezekiah's ficknefs and recovery feems to
have happened before, or during Sennacherib's Inva
fion ; for firft, the prophet promifed him deliverance ;
fecondly, he promifed him fifteen years, therefore fince
he reigned twenty-nine years, this promife muft be in
the fourteenth year, the fame in which Sennacherib
invaded the kingdom.
14. Neither greatnefs nor goodnefs will exempt
men from mortal fickneffes and death. Hezekiah is
fick, probably of the plague.
15. The miraculous fign promifed to Hezekiah,
was the retrogradation (or going back ofthe fun's (hadow
on the dial, pr flight of fteps) for, firft, there was no
need that the fabric of the univerfe or folar fyftem,
(hould be altered, when the infledion of the fun's
rays was fufficient. Secondly, It was not feen at Ba
bylon, fince they fent for Information about it to Jc

( 66 )
rufalem : and, thirdly, there are no footfteps of It in
other hlftories.
i6. It can be no principle but pride and ambi
tion, which keeps kings frora being contented with
their kingdora, and moves them to grafp at univerfal
dominion, 17. God might permit this army to lay wafte
the cities of Judah, at the time when Hezekiah was
making a great reformation, in order to punifh the
people who complied not heartily with the reforma
tion ; or to give himfelf an opportunity of dlfplaying
his power In their protedlon.
18. When the brazen ferpent, ereded by Mofes
as a memorial of God's goodnefs, was turned Into an
Idol, It became Nehuftan, a dragon, a foul fiend, the
ferpent, not a type of Chrift, but an Image of his
grand enemy ; and this moved Hezekiah to a juft In
dignation againft it.
19. As all grofs fuperftition and Idolatries ufu-
^ ally arife to their height from little beginnings, it is
probable the Ifraelites at firft fancied that to pray before
It as a fort of mediator, would give fome efficacy to their
prayers. In time they began to burn incenfe to it as
an idol god.
20. What a wrong notion had Rabfhekah and his
mafter Sennacherib, of God, who thought that they
might more fafely be trufted, and could do more for
Ifrael than God could do,
211, Pioi^d men love to talk big, and boaft of
what they have done and will do ; though hereby they

( 67 )
only expofe themfelves to the laughter of wife men,
and to the'anger of a juft God.
32. Succefs often makes men Indolent and
fancy, even against God himfelf, to whom their fuc
cefs Is owing.
23. It is not eafy for us to judge whether it was
imprudent In Hezekiah to refufe paying the yearly
tribute to the Affyrlan king, or whether buying his
peace proceeded from diftruft of God ; but afferting
the rights and Independency of the crown which Ahaz
had alienated, cannot be called unjuft.
24, As the wind. In the fable, Inftead of forcing
the traveller to let go his coat, only caufeth him to
wrap it clofe about him, fo the threats of Rabfhekah
and Sennache'rib, Inftead of frightening Hezeldah from
his truft in God, only engage . him to more earneft
prayer to God.
25. Prefuraptuous kings and conqderbrs, when
they have been too hard for their fellow creatures, are
apt to think they (hall therefore be a match .for the
Creator himfelf.
a6. It is better at any time to commit our
caufe in filence to God, than to ftand arguing the mat
ter with nolfy and Ul-tongued men ; who eraploy rail-
ery and bad language inftead of reafon and arguraent,
37. Rabfhekah has a fine talent at fatire and ca
lumny, but one grain of truth and fincerity would have
been worth all his abufive wit and fcurillous rhetoric.
28. Liberty of accefs to God, an^ leave to fpread

( 68 )
all their cafes before the Lord, is the great privilege of
God's people, and their great relief in time of danger.
29, It cannot be faid of the greateft of men, but
It raay be faid of the great God, " That none can de
liver out of his hand." The force of which argument
(hould Induce all finners to make their peace. with
him, 30. It muft arife either from grofs Ignorance, or
great malice, that Sennacherib compared the God of
Ifrael, an Infinite and Eternal Spirit, to the dunghill
gods of the nations.
31, The more outrageous and blafphemous the
enemies of God and his people are, the greater ground
there is to hope that the God whom they reproach will
controul and rebuke them,
32. Thofe who abufe the people of God affront
God himfelf; and he will reckon with them for what
is faid againft hU fervants, as well as for what is faid
againft himfelf.
33. One angel of God can do mpre fpr a people
than thoufands of armed men can do againft them.
Pfalm Ixxvl. penned perhaps on this occafion.
34. Whether the Affymn army was deftroyed
hy a peftilential air, by lightning, by a burning wind,
or by falling one upon another, according tP the He
brew idipm or phrafeology, it may be faid to be done
by a deftroying angel, who might have a difcretionary
commiffion as to the manner of killing them.
35. They are in a dangerous fituation who have
the united prayers pf Gpd's pepple againft them.

( 69 )
36, The incurable ftupidity of fome men is
amazing. Though the Lord of Ifrael had done fo
much to convince Sennacherib that he was the only
living and true God, yet he is found worlhipping Nif-
roch, a falfe God.
37. Sennacherib efcaped, when his lefs offending
fubjeds died, that he might be made fenfible of that
great power he had Infolently blafphemed, or tp be
referved tp a mpre Ignpminlous death.
3 8 . The parricide, or murder, was dreadful wick
ednefs in Sennacherib's fons ; but it was rlghteoufnefs
in God to permit them to rebel againft their father,
when he was in rebelHon againft the God who made
him. 39. If it be true, as reported by fome, that Sen
nacherib intended to facrifice his two fons to appeafe
either his Idol God, or the God of Ifrael, it will be
Ibme alleviation of their crime, but will by no means
juftify It.
40. The principle of grace and virtue in the beft
of men, is In danger of being corrupted by a great
flow of riches and hpnpur.
41. It may be advantagepus to fome good men
to die of their ficknefs, rather than Hve to meet thofe
temptations which prove too ftrong for their virtue,
and which may occafion them to meet death when
lefs prepared for it.
42. Itis a happinefs to a good man to die In
peace, and not to fee thofe miferles come upon his
country and famiily whicli he could not bear.

( 70 )

THE EXAMINATION.

Q, WHAT became ofthe fervants who affaffi-
nated Jehoafh, king of Judah? A. His fon, Ama
zlah, cut them all off, but fpared their children.
Q. What law of a changeable sera was this a
conforraity to ? A. That every man (hould be put to
death for his own fins,
Q, In order to make war upon the Edomltes,
whofe forces does Amazlah procure? A. He hires an
hundred thoufand Ifraelites, for an hundred talents of
filver ; and pays the money down upon the fpot.
Q. How Is he reproved for it? A. A prophet
' of God orders him to difmifs thofe troops ; otherwife
Be (hould be defeated, for entering Into an alliance
¦^th a degenerate people.
Q. What objedion does the king make? A.
What fliall we do for the hundred talents ?
Q. How does the prophet reply? A. He bids
hira rely upon Prpvldence to makei that up.
Q.. Will a firm belief of God's all-fuificiency to
make good loffes fuftained In his fervice, encourage us
to go through difiicult diftreffcs ? A. Yes.
Q. How do the IfraelitKh troops behave when

( 71 )
dlfmlffed ? A. In refentment for the flight put upon
them, they plunder the towns of Judah as they re
turned, and flew many ofthe inhabitants.
Q. Are thefe ways of God dark to us ? A. Yes.
Q. But may we not be fure thefe towns deferved
and needed a fcourge? A. Yes.
Q, After Amazlah's fuccefs againft the Edom
ltes how does he behave? A. He challengeth Jeho
afh king of Ifrael Into the field.
Q. What reply does Jehoafh make ? A. He
fends him an anfwer full of fcorn and fatire, comparing
him to a poor thlftle, which once propofed a match
with the ftately cedar, but has its vanity checked by
being that inftant trod under foot by a wild beaft.
Q. Does Amazlah learn wifdom by this reproof?
A. No ; he is exafperated by it; takes the field, and is
routed, and Jerufalem plundered.
Q. Was this a juft punifhment for his late folly
in worfhipping the Idols of the conquered Edomltes ?
A, Yes. Q. When a prophet reproved him for praying
to Gods which could not deliver their own worfhippers,
how dpes he take it ? A. Hefcornfully afks him who
made prophets privy counfellors, and bids him mind
his own, bufinefs.
Q. What return does the prophet make ? A.
ite only tells him he is ripe for deftrudion.
Q. What became of him'? A. He grew fo
odious to his own fubje,fl;s that they murdered him.

( 72 )
Q. Wliat is the charader of Uzzlah, whp fuc
ceeded his father Amazlah? A. He reigned the
Ipngeft pf any prince of Ifrael and Judah, namely
fifty-two years ; during the reign of five kings of
Ifrael ; and was famous for military difcipline and huf-
bandry. Q. But what obfervation Is made towards the
end of his reign? A. That when he was ftrong his
heart was lifted up to his deftrudion.
Q. What Inftance is given of his prefumption
and forgetfulnefs of the law of God? A, His dreffing
up himfelf In a prieft's habit, and attempting to burn
incenfe In the temple,
Q. Who oppofed him ? A. Azarlah the high-
prieft, and eighty inferior priefts.
Q. When this remonftrance, that it was againft
the law, and would not be for his honour, availed not,
but be would proceed, what befell him? A, He is
ftruck by the hand of God with the leprofy; is thruft
out of the temple, and forced to dwell in a private
apartment all his days.
Q. .Can the greateft of kings withftand the
judgments of God? A, No; when God begins he
will overcome, Q. What is his fon Jotham's charader? A.
He became mighty, becaufe he prepared his way before
the Lord, ,
Q. Is religion the beft ground of even worldly
profperity? A. Yes.

( 73 )
Q, How does Ahaz, his fon, begin his reign ?
A, With a moft defperate courfe of impiety and
wickednefs, Q, What deteftable Inftance pf his impiety is
mentlpned? A. Sacrificing his Pwn children to
heathen idnls.
Q. What greatly aggravated his wickednefs?
A. The good example of his father, and his reHgious
education. Q, How did God chaftife him ? A, By fuffer
ing Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, fpn pf RemaHah,
king pf Ifrael, to ravage his country and befiege his
capital. Q. What was Pekah's fuccefs ? A, He flew an
hundred and twenty thnufand In Judah, and carried
captive to Samaria two hundred thoufand.
Q. How Is vidorious Ifrael reproved for thus
treating their brethren? A. As they were returning
in triumph, the prophet Oded meets them, and tells
them that though God had juftly fuffered them to
chaftife their brethren of Judah, they had flain them
with a rage which reached Heaven, and asks them,
" Are there not with you, even you, fins againft the
Lord your God :" and orders them to difmifs their
captives. 2. Chron. xxviii. 9 — 16.
Q. Do the IfraeHtes comply? A. Yes; fome
commanders of the beft quality readily fell In with the
prophet; and the captives were cloathed, fed, and
fent home. K

( 74 )
Q. "WTas It not an- inftariCe of great compaffion
In God, towards a people who little deferved It. A
Yes. Q. What other Inflance df favour does God (hew
to Ahaz and Judah, when the kings of Syria and Ifrael
befieged Jerufalem? A. By the prophet Ifaiah God
affures king Ahaz riot only that Jerufalem (hould not
be taken, but that the houfe of David fhould continue
till the Meffiah was brought forth of a virgin of that
houfe. Isaiah vu. lo — 16,
Q, When the Edomltes and PhlHftlnes join
with tbe Syrians, to whom does Ahaz apply for help?
A, He fends to the Affyrians, under Tiglath-pllefer,
and, by a largfe prefent, engages him to Invade Syria,
and lay wafte Damafcus,
Q. What remark Is made upon his affiftance ?
A, That he diftreffed Ahaz, but ftreilgthened him
not ; for Judah was brought low.
Q. What remark is made upon Ahaz? A.
That in the time of his diftrefs he trafpaffed yet more
againft the Lord.
Q, What piece of ftupid wickednefs was he
guilty of? A, When he went to pay his compli
ments to Tiglath-pllefer, at Damafcus, he faw an
heathen altar which pleafed him, and ordered dfle to
be made Hke it, and placed It in the temple of God ^
and ftrips the houSe of God to furnifh a prefent fpr the
Affyrlan king.
Q. Had Ahaz been faithful to God would he

( 75 )
have thus needed to court and fpeak to an idplatrous
heathen prince ? A. No.
Q. Who fucceeds Ahaz? A. Hezekiah his
fon. Q. How does he begin his reign? A, Reftor
ing religion} and promoting reformation.
Q, What was his moft eminent and prevailing
virtue ? A, Truft In God ; and courage fupported by
that truft, Q. How was he rewarded at prefent? A, The
Lord was with him ; and he profpered whltherfoever
he went forth.
Q. What is the firft ftep Hezekiah takes in the
work of reformation ? A. He gathers an affembly of
the priefts and Levites, and excites them to their duty
by a warm and ferious fpeech.
Q. What Is obferved concerning the Levites ?
That they were more upright in heart to fandify them
felves than the priefts.
Q. What great ordinance did Hezekiah receive
and keep with great folemnlty. A. The feaft of the
paffover. Q. At what time is it kept? A. In the fecond
month, becaufe they had not time to do it in the firft
month. Q. Is the fubftance of a duty tp be negle(9:ed be
caufe fpme fit circumftances are wanting? A. Np,
Q, When prpclamation was fent thrpugh all
Ifrael and Judah, and all the tribes are invited to at-

( 76 )
tend, how are the meffengers received ? A, Many
laughed them tp fcprn and mocked them.
Q, Was not this a fad omen of their approach
ing diffolution and captivity ? A. Yes.
Q. How are they received in Judah ? A. Di
vers in Ifrael humbled themfelves and went. Andin
Judah the hand of the Lord was to give them one
heart to do the commandments of the king.
Q. When fome attended who were not cere
monially purified, what petition does the king put up
in their behalf? A, The good Lord pardon every one
who prepareth his heart to feek God, the Lord God
of his fathers, though not cleanfed according to the
purification of the fanduary.
Q. What is obferved as to the joy attending
this feaft? A. That fince the time of Solomon there
was not the like In Jerufalem.
Q. What befel Hezekiah about the middle; of
his reign? A. While the Affyrkn king was threaten
ing to invade his kingdom, he was threatened with a
mortal diftemper.
Q; When the prophet Ifaiah admonilhed hlin to
fet his houfe Ii) order, and prepare tp die, hpw is he
affeded? A, He earneftly prayed fpr longer life, and
wept fpre ; probably at the thpughts pf the ill ftate pf
his kingdom. Q. What anfwer hath he to his prayers ? A.
The prophet Is fent back to tell the king that he (hould
recover in three days, (hould be delivered from the
king pf Affyrla, and (hpuld live fifteen years Ipnger.

( 77 )
Q. What means of cure were appHed? A.
Only a plaifter of figs, laid on the boll, pr plague fore.
Q. What fign is given him that he (hould be
able to go up to the houfe of the Lord In three days ?
A. The fun's (hadow went back ten degrees, or cer
tain meafures on the dial fteps of Ahaz.
Q, Does not God's dominion over the fun (hew
the folly of paying that wprfblp tP the creature which
is due only to the Creator ? A. Yes,
Q, What occafioned Sennacherib to Invade Ju-
daja at this time ? A, Hezekiah had thrpwn pff the
Affyrian ypke, and refufed to pay the tribute impofed
on his father, called rebelling againft the King of Af
fyrla ; and probably the Affyrlan was further provoked
by Hezekiah's overthrowing all heathen Idolatry.
Q. What method dpes Hezekiah take ? A . He
being unprepared to refift, makes his fubmifllon, and
buys his peace by a large prefent.
Q. Doth Sennacherib ftand to his agreement ?
A. No ; but in a year pr two after returns with a vaft
army, to lay fiege to Lachi(h.
Q, What is Hezekiah's next method? A, He
fortifies Jerufalem, and ftpps up the heads of the foun
tains about the city.
Q. Would a powerful army, if they wanted
water but a fevsr days,. be turned to aheap of duft?-
A. Yes. Q. While Sennacherib was befieglng Lachlfh,
}iow does he treat Hezekiah ? A. He fends a raoft

( 7? )
iafultlng jijeffage to him by Rablbejiah, who triumphs
pver .both Hezekiah and the God pf Ifrael ; and in
ftead of treating with Hezekiah's officers, meanly ad-
drefljeth himfelf to the people,
Q. How does Hezekiah anfwer bim? A, He
orders his minifters to make him no anfwer at all, fince
his fpeech was Invedlve, raillery and blafphemy, in
ftead of reafon and argument,
Q, By Rabflaekah's fo readily fpeaking Hebrew
have fome conjedured he was an apoftate Ifraelite ?
A. Yes, Q, How are Sennacherib's forces for a while di-
vertfed ? A. By the approach of an army of Ethiopians
and Egyptians, Q. Before Sennacherib's march to fight this ar
my how dpes he ad? A, He fends king He?eklah a
letter full of Infult and threatenings, like the fpeech of
his general. Q, Does Hezekiah return another threatening let
ter? A. No; he fpreads Sennacherib's letter jn
prayer before the Lord, and fo inclofeth it in a letter
to the King of Kings,
Q, What anfwer has he from God i* , A. That
a virgin, the daughter of Sion, defpifed and laughed
at hira, and that God would put a hook In his nofe,
and a bridle In his lips, and make him return with
(hame. 2 Kings xix. 21, 28.
Q. May It not be a fupport to all the cTiurch's
friends, that God has a bridle in the jaws of all his
church's enemies ? A. Yes,

( 79 )
Q. H6w is the threateWbg UnS. prophecying ac
complifhed ? A. By an angel ofthe Lord fmiting dead
one hundred and eighty -five thoufand fb'ralers In one
night. Q, How does an heathen writer confirm this
account ? A, He fays, a fwarm of rats and mice en
tered the Affyrlan Canip one night, and fo ghiwed
their bow-ftrings and (hleld-ftraps as tp fender them
ufelefs. Qj Is Sennachierlb heileby cpnverted frpm his
Idplatry ? A. No ; for on returning home he worfhips
his Idol God.
Q. What befell him there ? A. He Is murdered
by his own fons.
Q. Will fatal and ruining judgments overtake
fuch as will take no warning by leffer ones. A. Yes.
Q. What Is obferved to the dlfhonour of this
pious king, after all thefe favors from God? A, That
his heart was lifted up, and he rendered not again ac
cording to the benefit done unto him,
Q, But did he continue in this forgetful and
undue temper? A. No; he humbled himfelf for the
pride of his heart.
Q. Had Hezekiah wifdom enough to ftand the,
trial of wealth, honour and power i A. No.
Q, What was one occafion of his being lifted
up? A. An honourable embaffy fent by Berodach-
Baladln, king of Babylon, to compHment him on his
recovery, to enquire refpedlng the miracle, and to
court his alliance.

( 80 )
Q, After he had (hewn the ambaffadors all his
magazines and treafures, what meffage has he from
God ? A. God fends the prophet Ifaiah to fignify to
him, that for the punifhment of his pride and impru
dence, all thefe treafures (hould one day become a
prey to the Babylonians.
Q, What is Hezekiah's reply? A. Good is the
word of the Lord, Is It not good. If there be peace
and truth In my days ?
Q. Is it the charader of true penitence to fub
mit to God's rebukes, as not only juft but good? A,
Yes.

THE

( 81 )
THE THREE HEBREW YOUTHS,
Dan. iii, B. C. 580,

AT the firft captivity of Judah, In the reign of
Jeholakim, while Nebuchadnezzar remained at Jerufa
lem, he gave orders to Afbpenaz, the mafter of the
eunuchs, to make a feled choice of Hebrew youths,
of royal or noble birth, of quick parts and fair coun
tenance, to be carried to Babylon, and there raade
eunuchs In his palace ; whereby was fulfilled the word
of Jehpvah, by Ifaiah the prophet, above an hundred
years before, Ifaiah xxxix. 7, Amongft thefe were
four of royal birth, Daniel, Hannaniah, Mithael and
Azarlah, whofe names he changed to Beltefhazzer,
Shadrach, Mefhach and Abednego : thefe were or
dered to be Inftruded in the Chaldean learning, and
to be fed with meat from the king's table. But being
religious obfervers of the laws pf their cpuntry, they
defired tp be excufed frpm eating pf the king's dainties,
and tP be fed with pulfe and plain fpod. The mafter
of the eunuchs was willing to gratify them, only he
feared the confequence If they (hould look lean or thin.
But upon trial they not only appeared frefh and fair,
but made great Improvements in all forts of learning,
which recommended them to the favour of the king,
and to preferment. Some years after the Jewifh wars
were over, and Nebuchadnezzar was returned to Ba-

( 82 >
bylon, out of the rich fpoUs he had gathered he caufed
a golden image to be made, about thirty yards high, to
the honour of Bell, his God,. which he ereded and
dedicated In the plain of Dura ; and fummoning all
the grandees to attend that folemnlty, he commanded
all upon the found of the trumpet to proftrate them
felves and worfhip It, upon pain of being thrown into
a fi ery furnace , This order they all obeyed , except the
captive Jews, particularly thofe young men, Shadrach,
Mefhach and Abednego; who, being, accufed of diso
bedience, and brought before the king, and threatened
that hour to be burned In the fiery furnace, peremp
torily refufed, telling the king that the God whora
they ferved was able to deliver them, but that though
he (hould not they would not wor(hIp his Image.
This bold, and as the king judged It, prefumptuons
anfwer, fo enraged the king that he ordered the fur
nace to be heated intenfely hot, the young princes to
be bound, and thrown into It. The fire raged with
fuch fury that the flames (hot forth upon the men who
threw themin, and fuffocated or burnt them to death.
But the three youths received not the leaft harm, only
their bands were loofed, and they ftood up and walked
in the fire.
The king ftanding at a fecure diftance to fee the
execution, in a fit of aftonlfhment cries out. Did not
we caft three men Into the furnace? Behold I fee four
walking In the midft of the fire, and the form of the
fourth is Hke the Son of God. Then apprpaching the
furnace, in a fudden tranfpprt pf devotion he called
out, Shadt'ach, Mefhach and Abednego, ye fervants of

( 83 )
the moft high Gpd, come forth. They came forth
unhurt, not one hair of their head finged, nor fo much
as the fmell of fire about them. Upon which, under
a ftrong convidion that the God of Ifrael was the
only living and powerful God, king Nebuchadnezzar
publilhed a decree that all his fubjeds (hould worfl»Ip
the God of Shadrach, Mefhach and Abednego ; and
that whoever (hould fpeak againft him (hould be cut
in pieces, and their houfes made a dunghill, for that
no other God could deliver after this manner.

OBSERVATIONS.
1. FROM the fourth year of Jeholakim rauft be
dated the beginning of the feventy years captivity
foretold by Jeremiah, when the whole land was fub
jed to the king of Babylon, though Jerufalem was
net deftroyed. a. Daniel being carried captive to Babylon, this
firft year of the captivity, and continued there the
whole feventy years, faw the rife, reign and ruin of
that monarch; fo (hort lived are the kingdoms of this
world, but the kingdom of heaven is everlafting.
3, We canned judge of God's love or hatred to
man by what happens tp them here, fpme pf the beft
of Jews are carried captive intp a ftrange land, while
foiae of tbe worft are fpared in their own land ; which

( 84 )
is illuftrated by the two baskets of figS, the one very
good and the other very bad.
4. Whether thefe young princes and gentlemen
were carried away trophies of vidory, as hoftages to
fecure the loyalty of the country, or only as foreign
fervants to wait on the king, it is grievous to fee fuch
fine youths made captives in an idolatrous country.
5, It does honour to Nebuchadnezzar that he
does not order young women to be chofen, for the
fervice of his luft, but young men for the fervice of
his government, 6, That he chofe to be ferved by young gentle
men of a different religion, without putting any teft
upon them , (hews that he was no perfecuting bigot,
that he chofe fervants not for the fake of their religious
opinions, but their capacity and fidelity.
J. Thofe who would be ufeful In the world,
either In church or ftate, muft learn wifdom while they
are young. 8 . By the orders the king gave about their edu
cation atid food, he appears to have a great tendernefs
for the young captives. In regard of their lovely coun
tenances, fweet difpofitions, the pregnancy of their
underftandings, their quality and birth.
9 . Whether their names were changed in token
of their fubjection and flavery, or In tpken of their
being naturalized and made Chaldeans, or only to do
them hpnpur, dpes npt appear.
IP. As names were given thcta taken from Chal-

( 85 )
dean Gods, Bell, the fun; Baelta, the raopn; Azar,
Mars; and Negp, fire; it looks as if thefe were hon
orary names conferred upon them, and perhaps to
draw them to Idolatry. Daniel, the judgment of
God ; MKhael, the ftrong God ; Azarlah, the help of
the Lord. Beltethazzar, a perfon favoured, by the
moon and Mars, or the keeper of hidden treafures of
Bell. Shadrach, the Infplratipn pf the fun ; Mefhach,
the gpddefs Shach. Abednego, a fervant of Negp, pr
of fire. II. That Gpd gave Daniel and his companions
favour with the prince of the eunuchs, as he did Jo
feph with the keeper of the prifon, is an inftance of a
ktnd Providence about good men, and of God's influ
ence upon the hearts of all men.
I a. By the plalri and temperate diet thefe ypung
gentlemen chpfe, they preferved their confciences,
they befriended their mental faculties, promoted the
health of their bodies, and beauty and vigour of
their cpunten^nces.
13. It difcpvers juft and npble fentiments that
they preferred the honour of their charader, as religi
ous Ifraelites, to their civil dignity as princes.
14. It.wpuld have been very unbecpming had
they Indulged themfelves In a delicious luxurious life,
while they were captives, and their brethren in great
affiidion. ¦ 15. The great Imprpvements thefe ypung ftu
dents made in academic learning, and their great pre
ferment may ,be juftly looked upon as a reward of

( 86 )
their temperance, Induftry and fteadlpefs In their re
ligion. 1 6, It would be an affeding fight to all the cap
tive Jews to fee the facred fpolls of the temple of the
true Gpd ccnverted Into an image confecrated to an
idol God, 17, The fixty cubits, or thirty yards high, of
the Image, Is fuppofed to Include both thg image it
felf and the pedeftal or frame on which It ftood, other*
wife, the height would be vaftly dlfproportloned tothe
breadth of fix cubits, according to man's ligdy, and
the quantity of gold to make It would be Incredible.
1 8, If the image was of maffy gold, about four^
teen yards, it Is coraputedta take a thoufand talents*
or three millions of our money, bjiit perhaps it was
only plated with gold, ,^
19, Itis a reproach to the wdr(kipp«s of th«
true God to fee idolators more liberal and laviih of
their money upon Idols and ImageSi than they are in
the fervice of their God,
aO, Though the worfhip of the fun and h<^s of
heaven was an ancient Idolatry, yet probably the wor-
(fiip of iraages might begin about this time, fince the
colony of the Chaldeans planted in Samaria ibmetime;
before, feem n.pt to bave fet up an image for worfhip.
21. Yet that this was not the firft Babylooiih
image fet up for wor(hIp, appears from {^ah, who
fpeaks of their haying feveral.
82. Strong convidlons do not always^ iffue in a

( 87 )
tliprpugh cpnverfion. Nebuchadnezzar had a few
years before acknowledged the God of Ifrael to be God
of Gods and Lord of kings, yet now he fets up an
image to be worfhipped, in defiance of the worfhip
due to the true God,
23. Ambition Is a paffion without bounds; no
thing would content fome Eaftern and Roman empe
rors but divine honour. Nebuchadnezzar feems, per
haps through the flatteries of his courtiers, and their
enVy at the exalted Jews, to have defigned this as art
iniage or emblem of hirafelf, fo that he was worfhip
ped by the worfhip paid to It.
24. If one God and one mediator do not fuffice
raen, they multiply Gods and mediators, and never
know where tP ftpp.
25. Acts of parliament and proclamations of
kings for uniformity of worfhip, are almoft as unjuft
and abfurd as for uniformity of faces, fince men can
no more alter their fentiments of mind at the comraand
of others, than the (hape of their faces.
a6. But there Is fcarcely any pradice fo unright
eous and abfurd which the unthinking and worldly
part of mankind will not be drawn Into by a concert
of raufic, or driven to by the terrors of a fiery fur
nace. 27. It Is to be apprehended that a great part of
mankind fear men, their fellow creatures, more than
God, their Creatpr.
a8. No condud can fee conceived raore filly and
unworthyj ridiculous and abfurd, than for a man, the

( 88 )
living Image of the immortal God, to fall down and
worthip at the feet of a ftupid, fenfelefs, Ufelefs linage.
ag. It Is the unhappinefs of kings and courts,
that felfifli, envious, ambitious, dKhoireft courtiers
are always ready to undermine and accufe raen more
innocent, honeft and worthy than therafelves.
30. The charader of Daniel will by no means
fuffer us to think that he worlhlpped the image, nor
would his high ftation admit of his abfence on fo grand
an occafion; it is therefore moft probable that his
enemies thought it wifeft to begin with his inferior
friends, in hope to pave a way for a fuccefsful attack
upon him ,
31. Here is a mighty prince, who ruleth over
feveral nations of the earth, and yet has no rule over
his fpirit. In his rage and fury he commands thefe
youths to be burned,
3s, Religlpus zeal and heavenly wifdpm are
calm, gentle and mild; but falfe zeal, bigptry and fu-
-perftitipu are wild and raging.
33. Thpugh the king had highly preferred thefe
three young gentlemen to be minifters of ftate and
privy counfellors, yet they are not determined to puf-
chafe or keep their places at the expence of their cpn-
fclence. 34 i Never was a mere raagnanlmpus and he
roic anfwer given tn a great and angry king, than that
given by thefe three Hebrew ypuths, or delivered with
raore calm and fedate refolution.

( 89 )
35- Itis better to die than to wor(hip images ;
to be burnt to death in men's furnaces than to be caft
into hell-fire. 36, Faith In the power, goodness and provid
ence of God, is the great fupport of the fervants of
God in all fufferings for religion's fake,
37, Babylon is not the only city and country
where fires have been kindled to burn to a(hes the
fervants of God.
38. When the king ought to have been as Calin
as a judge upon the bench, for he was trying a caufe
of life and death, he is like a wild bull in a net, go
verned not by reafon, but wholly by pride and paffion.
39. As hot as the furnace was heated it was
nothing to the lake of fire and brimftone that burneth
for ever. 40. Not only perfecuting princes, but all the
wicked inftruments of their tyranny and cruelty, (hall
be reckoned with by a juft God. The flame flew the
men who thruft them In.
41. The raore righteous and the raore coura
geous the fervants of God are, the higher does the rage
of perfecutors rife againft thera.
4a. In raoft terrible affiidions if Chrift and his
angels ar.e prefent with God's fuffering fervants, they
need not fear any real evil.
43t It was an aftonlfbing providence indeed, to
M.

( 90 )
fee the confuming power of the fire totally fufpended,
as if the flames had been confclous of the innocency
ofthe fufferers, and Injuftice ofthe fentence.
44. Bel could not fave his wor(hippers at the
mouth of the furnace, but God proteded his In the
midft of it.
45. It was by the noble principle of divine faith
in an invifible God, and faith In an Invifible world,
that thefe JewKh worthies quenched the viclence of
fire, 46, Thofe who prefer their fouls to their bodies,
and the favour of God to the favour of men, will
rather lofe their lives than fnrfake their Gpd,
47, It was a great mercy tp Babylpn. and the
nelghbpuring natipns, whp wpuldhear of this wonder
ful event, that thefe brave Jews were carried captive,
to give proof of the excellency of true religion, and
on occafions to demonftrate the being and providence
of the one God, to the idolatrous kingdoms of the
world, 48. It added to the luftre of their piety and vir
tue, that thefe youths kept their religion in an idola*
trous country and a luxurious court, and under great
temptations to forfake it,
49, This rairacle did not thoroughly convert
Nebuchadnezzar, only made him refolve that none
fliould fpeak 111 of God, and the religion of Shadrach,
Mefhach and Abednego.
SO. It is of fervice to the church, and a great

( 91 )
relief to the worfhippers of Gpd, to have the mouths
of accufers ftopped, and the hands of perfecutors tied
up, though their hearts are not changed.

THE EXAMINATION.

Q. IN whofe reign did Nebuchadnezzar, part
ner with bis father Nebopolaffar, king of Babylon,
make his firft defcent upon Judah and Jerufalem?
A. In the reign of Jeholakim, king of Judah, in the
third or fourth year after he had beaten the army of
Necho, king of Egypt, Dan, I, i, Jer. xxv. i.
Q, What prophet foretold this event, and alfo
the duration of the captivity for feventy years ? A.
Jeremiah. Q. After he had taken Jerufalem how does he
difpofe of part of the veffels of the temple ? A. He
brought thera to the houfe of his God, as if he had
triumphed over the God of Ifrael.
Q. Will profane temples and veffels be any fe
curity to a profane people ? A. No.
Q. What order does the king of Babylon give to
the mafter of the eunuchs ? A. To look out fome of
the fineft youths for genius and parts, and of the beft

( 92 )
appearance, tP be made eunuchs. In prder tp wait on
him at Babylon.
Q. Of what families were they to be chofen?
A. They were to be of the royal faraily or of the no
bility. Q. Which four were diftinguKhed frora all the
other captives? A. Daniel, Hannaniah, MKhael,
and Azarlah. Q. What order doth the king give concerning
them? A. That they (hould be inftruded for three
years In the Chaldean language and leai'ning, and bg
fed at the king's charge,
Q. Is a good education the fureft means to ren
der youth ufeful In the world? A. Yes.
Q, And Is youth the beft time for learning ? A.
Yes, Q, What new names are given them by the
prince ofthe eunuchs? A. Thofe of Belte(hazzar,
Shadrach, Mefliach and Abednego ; names borrowed
from their feveral idols, the Sun, Moon, Mars and
Venus. Q. Dp thefe Jewifh captive ycung gentlemen
accept pf the offer of being fed with royal provifions?
A, No ; they modeftly declined It, and chofe rather
to be fed with plain food, as pulfe and water.
Q, What reafons might move theni to this
choice? A, They feem afraid of being tempted to
tat what by their law was unclean, or to be drawn into

( 93 )
idol feafts ; they might judge a mortified diet fuited
beft their captive ftate, and that fimplicity of food and
liquors would beft contribute to the purity and clear
ness of their minds, the health of their bodies, and the
vigour and comelinefs of their countenances,
Q. What fays the governor to this propofal ? A.
He apprehended fuch low and plain living would
greatly Impair them, and give them a meagre look,
whereby he would endanger his own life,
Q, How do they anfwer this difficulty ? A.
They only defire him to put It to the Iffue of ten days
trial. Q, Does he confent to the propofal ? A, Yes,
Q. What Is the Iffue? A. They looked fairer
and fatter than thofe who ate a portion of the king's
meat. Q. Is it very wife and becoming In young men
to guard agaitift flqihly indulgences, and tp abftain
frpm dainty meat and coftly liquors. A. Yes.
Q, Is this abfteraioufness and felf-denlal the
more wondefrul In thefe young men, as they were of
genteel extradlon and education ? A, Yes.
Q, Is It wifdom In parents of the higheft rank
to bring up their children hard and plain ? A. Yes.
Q. What Improvements do thefe young gen
tiemen ifiake in knowledge and learning? A. After
their thfee years', ftudy was finifhed, the king, upon
exaraining them, declared they had more fenfe than all
the magicians and aftrologers in all his realm.

( 94 )
Q. " Jfptwithftanding the king's, approbation cf
them, and their preferment upon it, had they a raore
fevere trial than ever to gcT through ? A. Yes.
• *'¦•¦ . •. f
^ ' Q. Upon what ^ occafion.' A. Upon Nebu-
itHadnezzar's ereding a prodigiousjmage of gold, and
Jeguiring all his fubjeds to wor(h1p it,
Q. Though Daniel's applying the h^d of gold
in the king's dreara to Nebuchadnezzar, hiight give
him fome elevation, yet ought not the refledlon that
it (hould be broken in pieces, have kept hirn humble,
and prevented all thoughts of being adored ? A.
Yes. Q. What effed had the king's proclamation?
A. Moft complied with it, and worlhlpped the Image.
Q. Will men who have no real religion be eafily
drawn to profefs any religion? A. Yes.
Q. Do the terrors of this world influence many
more than the terrors ot-a. future- judgment? A.
Yes. ' "' ,-^-^^^.''
Q. But who refufed complying with the order
of the great king ? A. The three young Jews, Sha
drach, Mefhach and Abednego.
Q. Where was Daniel during this tim6 ? A. It
is probable he was too great to be accufed firft.
Q. Was it not bravely done In thefe young raen
thus publicly to own their God.and Religion, though in
the face of the greateft dangers? A. Yes.
FINIS.

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