J. E. Richards, of Wandsworth, conducted the devotional parts of the service. When the stone was fixed, Mr. C. thus expressed himself: "We lay this stone in faith, acknowledging Christ as the head of his universal church, and pray that the doctrines of the New Testament may be the foundation of this church's prosperity; and, that brotherly love may be the cement binding every heart closely together." The Rev. W. Henry, of Tooting, preached in the evening, at the old place of worship, from the following words, "Ye are the temple of the living God. 2 Cor. vi. 16. APPOINTMENT OF A NEW PROFESSOR AT THE LONDON UNIVERSITY. Our readers will learn with much satisfaction, that the Rev. JOHN HOPPUS, M. A. was, at a very full meeting of the Council of the London University on Saturday, December 5th, unanimously elected Professor of Logic and of the Philosophy of the Human Mind. ORDINATIONS. The On the 17th of September, the Rev. John Besly was ordained to the pastoral office over the church and congregation of the Independent denomination at Wincanton, Somerset. service was commenced by the Rev. Mr. Berry, of Stalbridge; the Rev. W. H. Lewis, of Glastonbury, delivered the introductory discourse; the Rev. Mr. Baker, of Shepton Mallet, asked the questions; the Rev. W. Paull, of Castle Carey, offered up the ordination prayer; the Rev. T. Golding gave the charge, from 2 Cor. vi 4; and the Rev. E Paltridge, of Sonth Petherton, concluded. In the evening, the Rev. W. Skinner, of Bruton, prayed; the Rev. J. Jukes, of Yeovil, preached to the people, from Phil. i. 9--11; and the Rev. Mr. Little, of Mere, concluded. BIOGRAPHICAL AND OBITUARY NOTICE OF THE REV. THOMAS BELSHAM. Though far removed, we trust, from all sympathy with that small and decreasing body, of which Mr. Belsham was the ablest champion, yet, as unhappily, for more than half a century, he has been identified with the Dissenting community, it appears necessary that the announcement of his decease should be followed by a brief outline of his public life. This gentleman was the son of the Rev. James Belsham, once minister of Bishop's Stortford, Herts, and afterwards of Newport Pagnel, Bucks, who is described as a man of uncommon learning and great genius, though des titute of that popular address which alone could make his ministry attractive to the multitude. He published two Latin poems, entitled Mars Triumphans," and " Canada;" the latter occasioned by the conquest of Quebec. They have both been much admired for their classic elegance. He also translated Dr. Williams's works into Latin. We know not the number of this gentleman's family, but he possessed two sons who have distinguished themselves, William, a gentleman of property, formerly of Bedford, who obtained considerable reputation as the author of "The History of Great Britain, from the Revolution to the Peace of Amiens, in 12 volumes, with various other publications, intended to advocate Whig principles. father in Trinitarian and moderate CalThomas Belsham was instructed by his vinistic opinions, such as are generally Doddridge. He was placed, for his proadvocated in the writings of Watts and fessional education, under the care of Dr. Caleb Ashworth, tutor of the Academical Institution, founded by W. Coward, Esq, which, upon the death of Dr. Doddridge was, according to the recommendation of his will, removed from Northampton to Daventry for the sake of Dr. A.'s instructions, who, though a learned and orthodox man, yet, like his predecessor, opposed no obstacles to what was then denominated free inquiry. To adopt the admirable words of the Rev. Robert Hall," the theological professor prided himself on the steady impartiality with which he held the balance betwixt the contending systems, seldom or never interposing his own opinion, and still less betraying the slightest emotion of antipathy to error, or predilection for truth. Thus a spirit of indifference to all religious principles was generated in the first instance; which naturally paved the way for the prompt reception of doctrines indulgent to the corruption, and flattering to the pride of a depraved and fallen nature." Such, it may be presumed, was the effect of this fatal system on the mind of Mr. Belsham, who left the Academy to take charge of a congregation at Worcester. In 1775 Dr. Ashworth died, and Mr Robins was appointed, principally through the influence of Mr. Job Orton, who has stated that "the divines and laity of all principles and persuasions in his neighbourhood, were agreed in their opinion of him, and well pleased that he had accepted the office.' From Worcester. Mr. Belsham was called to assist Mr, Robins, who was compelled, in 1781, by the loss of his voice, to resign his situation, and Mr. B. was ap pointed to the vacant theological chair. At that time Mr. Beishani was a semi. arian, holding the opinions of Dr. Sa muel Clarke, respecting the person of Christ. The controversial writings of Dr. Priestley, and the secession of the Rev. T. Lindsey, the Rector of Catterick, from the national church, which terminated in the formation of an avowedly Unitarian congregation at Essex Street, London, contributed to produce in his mind a disposition for further inquiry respecting the Divinity of Jesus, and which was introduced into the theological classes, and so conducted, as to lead many of the pupils into Arian and Socinian opinions, so that, during the eight years of Mr. Belsham's presidency, Daventry Academy was regarded by all parties as the head quarters of latitudinarian opinions. At length, Mr. Belsham followed the example of some of his pupils, and avowed Unitarian opinions; and in January, 1789, resigned his office into the hands of Mr. Coward's trustees. This act has been much applauded, as illustrative of Mr. Belsham's high inte grity, that when he could not teach the doctrines of the Assembly's Catechism, he relinquished a situation in every way agreeable, without any certain expectations for the future. This was, doubtless, honourable; but his conduct would have been more honourable still had he never accepted the appointment. Surely his understanding perceived the discrepancy between the Westminster Confession and his own sentiments, in 1781. Why then did not his conscience forbid the assumption of an office, which the liberal donor, devoted as he was to the doctrine of the Saviour's essential divinity, would not have suffered him to hold for one honr? Obscurity and silence were not the consequences of this act of nonconfor mity. Numerous and active friends exerted themselves to give eclat to his conversion, and he became professor of divinity, in a recently formed institution at Hackney, called the New College, designed for the education of students of the Unitarian creed. Dr. Kippis and Gilbert Wakefield were also tutors of this much vaunted Institution, who also enjoyed the occasional assistance of Dr. Priestley, who living in the immediate neighbourhood, voluntarily undertook to lecture the pupils on "History," Experimental Philosophy and Chemistry." Though aided by these imposing names, the New College did not survive the freshness of its title, for in about ten years, it was dissolved, for "the pupils of the new light" went beyond their teachers a little too far, and" exemplified the progressive nature of the system, by reaching at once the goal of Deism; and in some instances, perhaps not a few, the race had been crowned with the prize of direct, avowed, and unqualified ATHEISM !"* ne", The resignation of Dr. Priestley, as the pastor of the Unitarian congregation, Gravel Pit, Hackney, was fol lowed by the choice of Mr. Belsham, as bis successor, in 1794. Here Mr. Belsham continued till 1808, when Dr. Disthe Unitarian minister of Essex Street, having a large fortune bequeathed to him, declined the office, and Mr. Belsham was elected to succeed him; and performed the whole duty of the chapel, till within a few years, when the Rev. Wm. Madge was chosen as his co-pastor. It is impossible, in this brief sketch, to enumerate all the works of this distinguished polemic; a notice of the more important will be expected. A Review of Wilberforce's Practical View," 1795. "A calm Review of the Scripture Doctrine concerning the Person of Christ," 1811. "The Epistles of Paul the Apostle translated, with an Exposition and Notes," 4 vols. 8vo. 1822. To these may be added, about thirty discourses on public occasions, and polemical tracts, published during his long public life. ་ In 1806, a Committee of Unitarian ministers and laymen was formed, under the auspices of their Book Society, to prepare an Improved Version of the New Testament, which appeared in 1808. Mr. Belsham has since avowed himself the editor of that work, the author of the Introduction, and of the greater part of the Notes. That boastful, but abortive effort would have long since been for gotten, but for the learned and able volumes which were published to expose its literary and moral delinquencies. Mr. B.'s work on " the Epistles," has scarcely excited public attention. The first edition, in quarto, was subscribed for by his personal friends, as an expression of their private regard. The second edition, in octavo, has fallen still-born from the press, and the Unitarian Association purchased the unsold copies, and are now "enabled to offer them to the public at a price very greatly below the original bookseller's charge!" It is understood that Mr. Belsham was in tolerable health till within a few days of his death, when a sudden and severe change in the atmosphere powerfully af fected him, and his nature appeared to * Dr. Magee on the Atonement, Vol. 2. p. 427. wither beneath it. Two days of perfect consciousness preceded his dissolution, but it is reported that an ominous silence was maintained upon the opinions of the past, and the prospects of the future. If this be true, it will become the surviving champions of Unitarianism, to explain the melancholy fact. The Rev. Mr. Fox preached his funeral sermon. He died, as was stated in the December number, at Hampstead, in his 80th year, and was interred in Bunhill Fields. Painful as is the retrospect of a life spent, as we must believe, in the support and diffusion of dangerous errors, it is with gratitude we record that its influence has been more than neutralized by the learned and successful works of Magee and Lawrence, Rennell and Nares, Smith, Fuller, and Wardlaw, men placed by the great Head of the church for the defence of the Gospel. The present state of the Unitarian body in this country, must be to the friends of evangelical religion most satisfactory, while the general failure of its efforts at home and abroad, may well call its surviving members and advocates to pause, and solemnly re-examine the question, "lest haply they be found fighting against God" RECENT DEATHS. Died, on the 220 November, at Wilton, Wilts, Mr. RICHARD THRING, in the 85th year of his age. This venerable man, descended from a long line of pious ancestors, exemplified in an eminent degree, through an extended and useful life, the excellencies which adorn the Christian character. Brought to the knowledge of the truth at a very early age, the rigour of his youth was consecrated to the service of his Redeemer, and his more mature years were uniformly marked by a steady, consistent, course of benevolence and piety. In the year 1771 he united himself in fellowship with the Independent Church at Wilton, and for more than thirty years sustained with honour and usefulness, the office of Deacon therein. When his mind received its first religious inpressions, he heartily and conscientiously embraced evangelical truth; in the profession of these principles he continued steadfast until his latest days; they yielded him through life a source of consolation, which cheered and supported him through every stage of his Christian course, and sustained his mind during life's last scenes, with a peace that passeth understanding. The chief characteristics of his mind during his last illness, and in the gradual approach of death, were patience, humility, and gratitude. He died, as he lived, honourably, happily, and highly respect. ed, and in his departure from this world, most delightfully exemplified the declaration of Scripture, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." Died on Saturday, December 12th, the Rev. ISAAC TAYLOR, of Ongar, in the 71st year of his age. Our venerable friend departed to a better world very suddenly. On the Sabbath preceding his death he preached twice, with peculiar impressiveness, and administered the ordinance of the Lord's Supper; and in the evening heard his young brother, the Rev. W. Temple, of Stanford Rivers, preach to his congregation. He con tinued as well as usual till Wednesday evening, when he was attacked with a violent fit of coughing, which produced great debility, from which he never recovered. He was visited on Friday evening by a neighbouring minister, who found him in his study, certainly very unwell, but during the day he had been trying to work a little; he did not suffer much pain, but complained of stupor. Leeches were applied to his chest that evening, and he seemed much relieved by their application, and he was left by his son, Mr. Isaac Taylor, in bed at half past ten, apparently comfortable. In the morning, at eight, when his family left him to go to breakfast, he did not seem worse, but his daughter almost immediately returning to bring him some tea, observed a change, and before his son could reach him from Stanford, he had ceased to breathe. One gentle sigh his fetters broke, and his happy spirit took its flight to the bosom of his God. A life so holy, consistent, and devoted as his, needed not the confirmation of a death-bed testimony; though the dying experience of such a man might have been of the utmost value to those who survive to lament his loss. His excellent widow, whose writings have so often instructed and comforted others, is deeply afflicted, but bows with calm and Christian submission to the will of God; his children feel his loss deeply; his congregation mourn his removal most sincerely, and his brethren in the ministry unite in the same affectionate regrets. Though Mr. T. had arrived at the age of 71 years, he was just in the midst of his usefulness; he was as diligent and active as ever, he had become more known in the neighbourhood, and therefore was more beloved; his congregation was increasing, and members were added to his church, who had been the seals of his ministry. Within a few years, especially, the hearts of his people became very strongly attached to him, and they esteemed him very highly in love for his work's sake. He had been settled amongst them, at Ongar, eighteen years, and twelve or fourteen at Colchester; these were the only places at which he had regularly discharged the pastoral and ministerial office. His funeral took place on Saturday morning, Dec. 19, six ministers attending as pall bearers, the family and inembers of the church, also a great part of the congregation attending as mourners. The Rev. D. Smith, of Brentwood, offi. ciated. He was interred in the burial ground of his own chapel, close by the grave of his beloved daughter Jane. On the succeeding Sabbath the Rev. J. Thornton, of Billericay, delivered a funeral discourse, to a large congrega. tion, from 2 Peter 1. 10, 11. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling," &c. The Rev. W. Temple, of Stanford Rivers, the adjacent village, preached on the lamented occasion the following Sabbath afternoon, to his own congregation, from 2 Kings ivth chapter, middle clause of the 9th verse, Behold now I perceive that this is a holy man of God." We have reason to hope that our readers will be gratified with a Memoir of this venerable minister, from a pen in every way capable of doing justice to his excellent character. During the past month, THOMAS PELLATT, Esq., Clerk to the Ironmongers' Company, Secretary of the Female Penitentiary, and Joint Secretary of the Protestant Society for the Protection of Religious Liberty. The deceased was long and honourably connected with the congregational church, Fetter Lane, and was an efficient member of the Board of Directors of the London Missionary Society, and of the Committee of the Tract Society, and other important Institutions. He was an eminently upright and devout man, and enjoyed the friendship of some distinguished advocates of philanthropy and godliness His removal, after but a short illness, is greatly deplored by all who knew his worth. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. FAVOURS have been received since the last from the Reverend C. N. Davies -J. Misses E and S. Cooke are informed, that the additional matter we introduced into the Biographical Notice of their revered uncle, the late Mr. Hurn, and which appeared in our December number, was derived from a source, which we are sure they would not question, and as we did not attach their initials to the paper, we alone are responsible for the statements, which we know cannot be impugned. We regret that the Rev. George Clayton's account of Mr. Holgate was too late for the present month. It will appear in our next. Our readers will observe, that there is stitched up with our present number, the Anti-Slavery Reporter for the present month. This we expect to continue along with the monthly extracts of the British and Foreign Bible Society. From the interesting information contained in these documents, we confidently trust that the cause of both these important Societies, as well as the gratification of our readers, will be promoted. We feel obliged to those Correspondents who have favoured us with corrections and additions to our List of Churches, and while we regret that their valued assistance was not furnished before the publication appeared, yet we shall avail ourselves of it, and of any further aid we may yet receive, by the publication in our next Supplement, of a list of corrections and additions. We thank Mr. Thomas for the trouble he has taken, but he has pointed out some omissions which do not exist. The use of the Liturgy in the chapel at Highgate, occasioned its omission in the List of our Chunches, as the exclusive exercise of free prayer has ever characterized congregational churches. The letter of Mr. Beard is not inserted, because we do not wish to open our pages for a series of controversial papers. Our Reviewer, we presume, referred to the presecutions which, for years, have been carried on in several of the Cantons of Switzerland against evangelical separatists, by the known advocates of Unitarian opinions But Mr. Beard says, "That a charge, which is true of a part only, should not be brought against, and paid upon the whole." Then we ask, why do Unitarians continue to reproach the Calvinists of the present day, with the assumed cruelties of Calvin toward Servetus? THE life of De Foe was chequered in a greater degree than is usual even with men who are placed in such circumstances as necessarily expose them to great vicissitudes. Ever disposed to seize the opportunity which presented itself of promoting or defending those great principles of civil and religious liberty, which he held so dear, he was regardless of the personal difficulties and dangers in which they might involve him. From riding in his coach, he was reduced to bankruptcy, imprisonment, and the pillory; and from the pillory, where he stood as a state delinquent, he rose to the enjoyment of the confidence of Government, and to be employed in special services of secresy and importance. His whole life is, in fact, full of incident and adventure; and had he written it himself, it would have been nearly as entertaining as his Robinson Crusoe. In Mr. Wilson, however, he has met with a biographer, who has done full justice to his principles and character, and who has spared no pains to illustrate his actions. Every one knows that the Dissenters were placed in very perilous circumstances at the commencement of the reign of Anne. She was a Stuart, and not only a partaker of their blood, but of their principles, which she held indeed with the weakness of her sex, but with its characteristic tenacity. To the Dissenters she believed she and her family owed no favour, and she was disposed to show them none that she could withhold. She was surrounded by persons, as will always be the case in such circumstances, who fostered her prejudices instead of counteracting them, and who, had their wishes been gratified, would have involved the nation in a civil war for Church and Queen. "When her majesty first came to the crown, the administration of affairs was committed to a new set of men, as to the interest of parties, I mean, for some of the same persons were left in the ministry. Her majesty, like a wise princess, declared in terms as explicit as possible, her resolution of governing the kingdom Memoirs of the Life and Times of Daniel De Foe: containing a Review of his Writings, and his Opinions upon a variety of important Matters, Civil and Ecclesiastical. By Walter Wilson, Esq. of the Inner Temple. In three Volumes. London: Hurst, Chance, and Co. £2s. 2s. NO. 62. VOL, XIV. I |