i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^i 
 
Columbia ©nitotrsttp 
 
 mtI)fCitpof35fttjg0rk 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
cl*c<*■^'.*w■>:-:♦xx-<*^«</.«■:*'.<<**<<v:<'i'/>:1<««-:-^:M->M^*<-v«v>lc•'.<<<■x■;- 
 
 V Wi'.'lvt »*.V*W-«V:-iv««."/>rf . i- ^ >^ 
 
 /.'.'.•jj;-Cr-*»;-»v»v:A 
 
 V 
 
 t ft,»/,tlVi- fl/ /.f't^/f^f^ 
 
 :UK\'': DAN TAYLOB , 
 
 / 
 
M E xM ( ) I R S 
 
 Of THE 
 
 REV. DAN TAYLOR, 
 
 LATE 
 
 PASTOR OF THE GENERAL BAPTIST CHURCFi, 
 
 eilj)itec6apel, iLoufton; 
 
 WITH 
 
 EXTRACTS 
 
 FROM HIS 
 
 DIARV, CORRESPONDENCE, AND UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS. 
 
 >ft®®®(i)9»< 
 
 By ADAM TAYLOR. 
 
 " In labours more abundant in journey ings often in weariness 
 
 and painfulness besides that which cometh upon me daily, the 
 
 care of all the churches." Paul. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR AND SOLD BY THE AUTHOR; 
 
 SOLD ALSO B\ BAYNES AND SON, AND WHITTEMORE, PATERNOSTER ROW; AND 
 MANN, COMMERCIAL ROAD, LONDON ; WILKINS, DERBY ; NOBLE, BOSTON j &C. 
 
 1820. 
 
p. & F. Hack, I'riiiters, Culliiiii Street, 
 reucliiircli Street, Loiitlon. 
 
riuirACE. 
 
 W HEN it pleased tlie great Disposer of all events to call to 
 himself llie venerable INlinister who is the subject of the follow- 
 ing pages, it appeared to be the general feeling of his friends, 
 that it would be ungrateful to permit a person who had been the 
 lionoured instrument in formins: the New Connection, and had 
 laboured, for nearly half a century, with such diligence, dis- 
 interestedness and success, in promoting its prosperity, to sink 
 unnoticed into the grave. It was also hoped, that a faithful 
 detail of his exertions for the glory of his God and the good of 
 his fellow creatures might be useful in assisting and encouraging 
 surviving christians, and especially young ministers, in the pro- 
 secution of the same great objects. At the ensuing Association, 
 at Castle Donington, in 1817, it was therefore unanimously re- 
 solved, "That a Life of our late venerable Brother, Dan Taylor, 
 is very desirable :" and the iVuthor was requested to undertake 
 the compilation of it. It certainly would have afforded him 
 pleasure, if a person of more leisure and less closely connected 
 ^vith the deceased had been selected for the work ; but when it 
 was urged that he had enjoyed a considerable intimacy with 
 Mr. T. for the last twenty years — that he had access to all his 
 papers as executor — and that the collections which he had 
 n»ade in composing a former work had already furnished him 
 with much interesting information, he felt it his duty to comply. 
 Whether he has been able to avail himself successfully of these 
 advantages, in the execution of the task assigned him, must be 
 Icll to the judgment of the intelligent reader. 
 
 133210 
 
IT. PR F.I' ATE. 
 
 In writing this Memoir, the Author has studiously avoided all 
 affectation or display, either as to matter or manner. To have 
 given an account of Dan Taylor in a pompous, embellished 
 style, had the writer been ever so capable of it, would have been 
 ridiculously inconsistent. All that is aimed at, is a plain and 
 simple narration of facts, disposed in their natural order, and 
 adapted to give the reader a just idea of the character, and an 
 accurate conception of the labours of that worthy man. To 
 attain this, all the documents that could be procured have been 
 carefully examined, the surviving friends and connections of the 
 deceased have been consulted, and an attempt has been made 
 to follow him, from year to year, through the whole course of 
 his active life. This method, it is true, has its inconveniences; 
 but after mature deliberation it was thought the most eligible. 
 It brings the subject indeed before the reader frequently in 
 Bimilar scenes, and thus has an appearance of repetition which 
 some may deem tedious. This however is not wholly the fault 
 of the writer. It is because his hero so often took journeys, 
 attended Associations, assisted at Ordinations, engaged in Dis- 
 putes, Sec. that he is obliged so often to narrate them. And it was 
 thought impossible to convey any adequate view of his industry, 
 zeal and labours, by a more general description, without a chro- 
 nological enumeration of particulars. But efforts have been 
 made to render these parts as concise as a due regard to the 
 object of the work would permit. 
 
 The author is persuaded, that no apology is necessary for 
 introducing the Extracts from the Diary and Correspondence of 
 the deceased. It ought however to be observed, that the Diary 
 was written in the beginning of his religious profession; and that 
 he evidently could not expect that it would ever be seen by any 
 of his fellow crcatuies. He therefore notes the feelings of his 
 mind in the most artless and unstudied language. These enlries 
 are the unvarnished and unreviewed effusions of a young chiis- 
 ^ian, wiio was earnestly endeavouring so to run that he mi^ht 
 
PKEFACE. V. 
 
 obtain the pri/c of his higli calling in Chiiat Jesus. Must ot 
 his Letters also were the product of the moment; iVecjuently 
 scrawled over when he was busily engaged in ollu r dulies ; and 
 dispatched without correction, and probably often without peru- 
 sal. To consider therefore any of these Extracts as specimens 
 of his skill in composition or accuracy of style would be, iii the 
 higliest degree, unfair : they are designed to give a view of the 
 heart of the writer, and to enable the reader to estimate the 
 value of his character, and the variety of liis labours. 1 or this 
 purpose they are peculiarly valuable. 
 
 In sketching the character of Mr. T. the Author has laboured 
 after impartiality and usefulness, by selecting such traits as 
 might be advantageously imitated, and stating them with fidelity. 
 And, with the same view, he has not scrupled to notice detects, 
 when they might operate as warnings to others in similar cir- 
 cumstances. Aware, however, that his neutrality might be 
 suspected, on account of his ackncnvledged veneration for the 
 worthy original, he has availed himself of the assistance of 
 several surviving ministers who were well acquainted with the 
 deceased, and who have kindly favoured him with their senti- 
 ments. And he tiusts, it will appear, on a candid examination, 
 that he has not either unreasonably exalted or depressed the 
 character which he has attempted to delineate. He expects to 
 be blamed for both extremes; but a consciousness of having 
 sincerely intended to be faithful will, he hopes, enable him to 
 support such censure with fortitude. 
 
 It would be ingratitude in the w liter not publickly to acknow- 
 ledge the obligations which he owes to those friends who have 
 assisted him with their kind communications respecting Mr. T.'s 
 labours, w ritings and character ; as well as with the Loan of 
 Letters which they have received from him. To such he returns 
 his sincere thanks ; and trusts that a perusal of the succeeding 
 volume will prove that he has duly appreciated their favours. 
 
vi. PREFACE. 
 
 On the whole, the Author has endeavoured to keep in view 
 the objects which animated the zeal of the good man whose 
 history he has recorded ; and aimed at the profit more than the 
 entertainment of the reader. If this Memoir should be blessed 
 as the means of comforting or instructing the children of God 
 in general, or tend to the encouragement, animation or direction 
 of young ministers, for whose benefit it is more especially 
 designed, his purpose will be accomplished; and he will bless 
 that God \\ ho has enabled him, in the midst of many avocations, 
 to complete the work. 
 
 Sii VKESPEAR's Walk, 
 23 IMarcli, 1820. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 25, lines 15 «Sc 16, read *' a fine girl of almost two years and one quarter 
 
 old, and his son, ten months. 
 Page 137, line 16, read, " will do them no good." 
 190, line 27, tor " 1798" read " 17S9." 
 
COMENTS. 
 
 CHAP TEH FIRST. 
 
 I'ROM HIS niKTII TO THK 1 OKMATION Ol '1111: NEW CONNKC 
 
 TION OF (ilLNEK AL UA1»'JISTS. 
 
 Section 1. llie Transactions of that. Period, p. 1 — OO. 
 
 Ancestors of D. T. 1— his Childhood and Youth, 2, 3— Strikinjr 
 DeUverance, 4 — Serious Impressions, 4, o — Attends the M<'- 
 thodists, (> — Pursues Learning, 7 — Adopts a younger lirother, 
 7 — begins to preach, 8 — leaves the Methodists, and settles at 
 Wadsworth, 8, 9 — becomes a Baj)tist, 10 — travels in quest of 
 (ieneral Baptists, 12 — is baptized, 1*3 — ^^joins the Lincolnshire 
 Association, 14 — forms a church, 14 — is ordained pastor, 15 — 
 builds a meeting-house at Birchcliff, 15, IG — marries, 17 — Mr. 
 Slater dies, 11) — Mr. T. visits Lincolnshire and London, 19, 20 — 
 is dissatisfied with the Old Connection, and disputes with Mr. 
 Boyce, 21 — loses two children by death, 2r> — prepares for form- 
 ing the New Connection, 29 — improves his neighbours, 30 — 
 Dr. Fawcett, 31— Henry Foster, 32 — G.Birley, 33— J. Sutclitf, 
 33. 
 
 Section 2. Extracts from his Diary durimj that Period , 
 
 p. 35—72. 
 
 Personal Religion, 35 — Self-dedication, 47 — guarding against 
 temptations, 50 — Improvement of occurrences, 52 — Ministerial 
 diligence in reviewing his labours, 55 — remarking his defects, 
 57 — improving passing events, 59 — his fears as a minister, GO — 
 hopes, (J3 — discipline, 64 — study and improvement of books, (j8. 
 
 CHAPTER SECOND. 
 
 FROM THE F0R:\IATI0N OF THE NEW CONNECTION TO THE 
 TLME WHEN MR. TAYLOR LEFT YORKSHIRE. 
 
 Section 1. The Transactions of that Period, p. 72 — 13f>. 
 
 Formation of the New Connection, 72 — Mr. T. travels, 78 — w rites 
 against Dobell, 79 — disputes with Priestley and Graham, 82 — 
 preaches atQueenshead, 87 — builds a meeting-house there, 88 — 
 opens a boarding-school, 91 — preaches at Halifax antl Shore, 
 and erects meeting-houses at both places, 99 — travels, 101 — 
 labours at Burnley, 102 — Scrutator's query, 10(j — disputes at 
 Kegworth with Mr. W. 110— removes to Halifax, 113 — is em- 
 barrassed, 120— indisposed, 122 — collects for Halifax, 123 — 
 writes against Hall's Helps, 124 — is invited to London, 125 — 
 removes, 129 —h its lal)ours, 131 — intrepidity, 135. 
 
till. CONTENTS. 
 
 Section 2. Extracts from Letters written by Mr. T. during 
 
 tkis'Perlod, 136 — 168. 
 On the various explanations of the Trinity, 139 — on Dobell's 
 Scriptural Plan of Salvation, 143^on the Death of Mrs. Thomp- 
 son, 159 — on Hall's Helps to Ziou's Travellers, 161 — on Election, 
 163— on Adoption, 166. 
 
 CHAPTER THIRD. 
 
 FROM MR. I). TAYLOR'S REAIOVAL TO LONDON TO THE TLME 
 
 OF HIS DEATH. 
 
 Section 1. The Transactions of that Period, p. 169 — 2o2. 
 
 Mr. T. nrrives in London, 169 — Disputes with Mr. G. Boyce, 171 
 — with Mr. A. Fuller, 172 — Letters of Agnostos, 175 — Strictures 
 on Mr. Morris' Account of this Controversy, 178— Mr. T.'s 
 success, 183 — He is calumniated, 185 — travels, 188 — disputes 
 with Wiiiciiester, 188 — ^is exercised with heavy domestic atflic- 
 tions, 194 — opens a shop for books, 196 — writes on the Decay 
 of Religion, 200— Mrs. T.'s Death, 202— Mr. \Vm. Thompson's 
 Decease, 203— deep Afflictions, 204— Mr. Brittain's Death, 207 
 — Indisposition, 208 — Dr. Stennett's Decease, 210 — Mr. T. 
 proposes to resign the pastoral office, 212 — resumes his station, 
 2 1 4 — travels, 215 — undertakes the olhce of Tutor to the Academy, 
 215 — and Editor of the G. B. Magazine, 217 — addresses the 
 King, 220 — lays down the Magazine, 221 — visits Yorkshire, &c. 
 222 — leaves the General Assembly, 224 — is indisposed, 225 — • 
 travels, 226 — Mr. Booth's Decease, 229 — Contentions in the 
 (Church, 230 — Mr. T. is indisposed, 231 — assists the Church in 
 Southwark, 232 — Disunion and Division in the Church, 237 — 
 the Academy removed into the Country, 239, 2 11 — Indisposition, 
 242 — visits Yorkshire, 243 — breaks a rib, 244 — advocates the 
 cause of the French Protestants, 245 — New contentions arise 
 in the Church, 246 — Last Indisposition and Death, 247 — 252. 
 
 Section 2. Extracts from Letters, ^^c. tcrittcn by Mr. T. during 
 
 this Period. 252—288. 
 
 Against the Innocence of Error, 254 — on Family Worship, 258 — 
 Queries respecting the Duration of Future Punishment, 262 — 
 On the Decline of Religion in the Baptized Churches, 267 — To 
 a young Minister on settling with a People, 275 — To a young 
 Relative settuig out in the Ministry, 280. 
 
 Section 3. A Review of Mr. T.'s Character, p. 288—323. 
 Strength of Body, 288 — ^'igour of Mind, 289— Decision and Per- 
 severance, 290 — Intrepidity, 291 — Integrity, 291— Affection, 
 292 — Intellectiial Faculties, 293 — Attainments in general Litera- 
 ture, 294 — in Theology, 294 — strict adherence to Scripture, 297 
 — Steadiness in his Opinions, 299 — Candour, 300 — his Character 
 as an Author, 304 — as a Disputant, 305 — as a Preacher, 308 — 
 his excellency in Prayer, 311— as a Pastor, 313 — his Disinter- 
 este<lness, 313— Character as a Tutor, 314— at a Christian, 318 
 -- l»itiiiiiilic5 of Age, 32(». 
 
MEMOIRS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV. DAN TAYLOR 
 
 CHAPTER FIRST. 
 
 FROM HIS BIRTH TO THE FORMATION OF THE NEW CONNEC- 
 TION OF GENERAL BAPTISTS. 
 
 Section I. The Tmusactio?is of the First Period, 
 
 X HE venerable Minister whose labours and character we pro- 
 pose to record, could not boast of splendid ancestry, nor trace 
 his pedigree to distant ages. Nothing certain can be recovered 
 respecting his progenitors, previous to his paternal grandfather, 
 Adam Taylor j who was born in 1650, and resided in Lancashire 
 till IGSO; when he removed into the West Riding of Yorkshire. 
 It has been supposed that the unsettled state of religion, under 
 the tyrannical Stuarts, might have induced him to leave his na- 
 tive country; but of this there is no direct evidence. He rented 
 some land in Northowram, called Horley-Green, within a short 
 mile of Halifax; and supported, through life, the character of a 
 Reputable farmer. He was twice married, and had eleven chil- 
 dren by each wife. He died January 27, 1727, in the seventy- 
 seventh year of his age; and was buried in Halifax church-yard. 
 The small-pox made affecting ravages in his luunerous family. 
 In February 1714, six of his children, three sons and three 
 daughters, were cut off, in the short space of a fortnight, by this 
 cruel disorder. Their names were Tamar, Terah, Zara, Fr, 
 Abiahj and Tirzah ; and they lie beneath the same stone with 
 their father. 
 
 A 
 
2 D. TAYLOR'S ANCESTRY. [1738^. 
 
 Azov Taylor was Adiim Taylor's twentieth cliilcl, imd born in 
 1711. He married, for his second wife, Mary, the daughter of 
 Robert Willey, of Fokh Her mother's maiden name was 
 Hannah Shepherd ; whose relatives were near neighbours to the 
 pious Oliver Hey wood; and there is reason to conclude were 
 connected with that worthy minister. Azor Taylor and his wife, 
 though in narrow circumstances, w^ere industrious and respectable;; 
 very regular in their attendance on the worship of the established 
 church, and noted for taking more care of the education and 
 morals of their children than many of their neighbours. Being 
 botli good readers, they possessed more books than usually fall 
 to the share of persons of their station in society; and taught 
 their children to read in their infancy. 
 
 Dan Tayloe, the subject o^f this memoir, was the second 
 child of this w^orthy couple. He was born December 121, 1738, 
 at a place called Sour-Milk-Hall, in Northowram. In his in- 
 fancy, he was remarkable for bodily vigour and activity; and 
 very early exhibited proofs of strong intellectual faculties. At 
 three years of age he could read well ; and, before he attained 
 his fifth year, his proficiency in that useful art was so noted, 
 that strangers frequently visited his father, in order to hear his 
 son read the tenth chapter of Nehemiah, which they styled the 
 hard chapter. This he performed so much to their satisfaction, 
 that he usually received small presents, as tokens of their appro- 
 bation. For his skill in this essential part of education, he was 
 chiefly indebted to the attention of his affectionate mother, who 
 proud of his promising talents, took every opportunity of cultiva- 
 tinir them. Nor w^as the son insensible of his oblifrations; but 
 always ready to give her all the credit of his acquirements. One 
 day, while yet but a boy, he attended at church with a number 
 of other children to be catechized, when the clergyman struck 
 with the readiness of his answers, asked him, " Who taught you 
 to read r" The boy, eager to do justice to his beloved instructor, 
 replied in a voice Imid enough to be heard tliroughout the build- 
 ing, " My mother!" As this good woman made her scholar take 
 most of his lessons from tlie Bible, it might with great propriety 
 be said, of him, as it was of young Timothy, that he " knew the 
 scripturcs from his youth." 
 
 \\ lien almost live years of age, he was sent to work in a coal- 
 
J74?j "^S CIIILnilOOD. S 
 
 urine with liis father; a proof of tlic scanty moans of tlie family, 
 "Nvhich obliged them to put him so early to such hard labour. 
 But in this situation, his natural intrepidity was conspicuous. 
 Though so young, he appeared as void of fear when one hundred 
 yards below the surface of the earth, as he did, in future life, 
 when in the pulpit addressing the most numerous congregations. 
 
 In this dangerous and toilsome occupation, this boy spent 
 many succeeding years. He daily descended into the pit early 
 in the morning, and continued busy under ground till late in the 
 afternoon: so that, during the winter season, he seldom saw the 
 light of the sun, except on the Lord's day. The strength of his 
 constitution and the vigour of his mind enabled him to support 
 great fatigue ; but this excessive confmement and labour, in his 
 tender years, probably checked his growth and kept him low in 
 stature. It could not how^ever damp his ardour for knowledge, 
 nor abate his exertions to obtain it. Every leisure hour that he 
 could command was sedulously devoted to the acquisition of 
 of useful learning; and, so intent was he on this object, that he 
 soon began to take a book with hmi into the coal-mine, and im- 
 proved every occasional intermission of labour to enricli his mind. 
 It might be interesting and instructive to trace the progress of 
 his mental improvement; but the want of proper information 
 forbids the attempt. This however is certain, that, though la- 
 bouring under great disadvantages, without instructors, and with 
 little money to purchase books, his success was great; and his 
 fame for learning spread through the neighbourhood. He was 
 frequently employed in teaching others, before he was ten years 
 old. His neighbours indeed were probably no very accurate 
 judges of literary excellence ; «but we shall soon have decisive 
 evidence, that his attainments, considering the circumstances in 
 which he was placed, were highly respectable ; and reflect great 
 credit on his abilities and application. 
 
 This decided taflte for mental improvement and his regular oc- 
 cupation as a labourer, happily engrossed most of his time, and 
 preserved him from many of the temptations incident to tUe sta- 
 tion in which he acted. He had seldom leisure for childish 
 amusements; and therefore was not so much exposed to the 
 company of wicked children. But, like all the offspring of fallen 
 xAdam, he was prone to evil. His temper was warm and easily 
 irritated ; and, w hen roused to anger, he w as ready to seek re- 
 
 A 2" 
 
4 HIS SERIOUS IMPRESSIONS. [1753. 
 
 venge. This naturally involved him in quarrels ; and prompted 
 him, when under the dominion of his passions, to use improper 
 expressions; especially when he found himself too weak to 
 attack the offender. When he was about nine years of age, one 
 of his fellow workmen accidentally wounded him with a pickaxe. 
 Filled with resentment, he used violent language against the ag- 
 gressor ; and, in his rage, took the sacred name of God in vain. 
 His father being soon afterwards informed of the circumstance, 
 corrected him very severely; mingling his strokes with serious 
 expostulations on the enormity of the offence, and sanctioning 
 his reproofs by a solemn application of that aw ful interrogatory 
 to the despisers of the Lord, Rev. vi. 17. " The great day of 
 his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?" Through 
 the influence of divine grace, his father's chastisement and this 
 awakening passage, made a lasting impression on his young 
 mind ; and, thirty-five years afterwards, when preaching the 
 funeral sermon for his deceased parent, with the coffin before 
 him, he took this passage of scripture for his text ; and publickly 
 ascribed his first convictions to this incident. 
 
 A striking deliverance, which he experienced not long after- 
 wards, probably deepened these religious impressions. A large 
 quantity of water had accumulated in a coal-mine, and obstructed 
 the operations of the workmen. Young Dan and the miner 
 under whom he then laboured, being employed to open a drain 
 for it, in an adjoining mine, inadvertently approached the mass 
 of water; which suddenly forced its way, and rushed upon them 
 in an overwhelming body. The active boy, on perceiving the 
 danger started off towards the mouth of the pit, and leaping over 
 his companion, actually outran the stream. On reaching the 
 bottom of the shaft, he was quickly drawn up by those at the top; 
 and closely followed by the water, which filled the pit to the 
 height of several fathoms. In a short time it found a passage 
 through the proper outlets, and the mine was cleared. The 
 spectators were soon agreeably surprized at finding the workman 
 safe; who in the moment of danger, had climbed to a part of 
 the works above the level of the water. Thus both the man 
 and boy were delivered from the most imminent danger, by 
 means at once astonishing and instructive. 
 
 The concern for the salvation of his soul continued to increase. 
 At times his convictions of sin were strong. He went frequently 
 
1753.1 "IS YOUTH. 5 
 
 to hear the Metliodlsts, ^vho hatl been sonic timn cslahnshcd at 
 Halifax. When about fifteen, lie became regular in his atten- 
 dance on their worship, not only on the Lord's days, but often 
 on the week day evenings. His usual companion on tlicso oc- 
 casions was his brother John. Notwithstanding their hard la- 
 bour through the week, they were in the constant habit of 
 walking on the Lord's day, six, ten, and sometimes twelve miles 
 from home to hear their favourite ministers. John and Charles 
 Wesley and G. Whitfield stood high in the opinion of these youUis ; 
 and to hear them they cheerfully would travel twenty or even 
 thirty miles on foot, widi often a very scanty supply of food to 
 support them. " But at times, ' says one of them,' we experienced 
 such special pleasure in our trudging to hear good preachers that 
 it was to us as meat and drink." But the minister most highly 
 esteemed by them was the Rev. Mr. Grimshaw of Haworth; on 
 whose awakening labours they frequently attended, though the 
 distance was upwards of twelve miles. 
 
 This conscientious youth did not confine his religion to an at- 
 tendance on the public means of grace; he wished it to regulate 
 all his conduct. He observed with regret, the neglect of family 
 worship in his father's house, and was anxious to introduce it, but at 
 a loss how to make the attempt: not daring to mention the subject 
 to his father, who had something of sternness in his temper, and 
 kept his children at a distance. In this perplexity, he consulted 
 with his brother Joliii, who was his chief adviser in such concerns. 
 Judging it imprudent to interfere in the management of the 
 family, they determined to discharge ;heir own duty. Retiring 
 into an unoccupied room, the elder brother commenced the so- 
 cial exercise by reading a portion of scripture and engaging in 
 prayer. When he had finished, he encouraged his young asso- 
 ciate to imitate his example. Mr. D. Taylor was then in his 
 fifteenth year; and this was probably the first time that he en- 
 gaged in any religious exercise, in the presence of a fellow crea- 
 ture. The boys continued this practice, as opportunity offered, 
 as long as they dwelt under the paternal roof. 
 
 W^hen nearly sixteen years of age, he with another brother and 
 a sister, was confirmed by the bishop, and thus made a regular 
 member of the church of England. Probably his attachment 
 to the ^lethodists, who were then rigid adherents to the establish- 
 ment, induced him to submit to this ceremony without previous 
 
5 HIS YOUTH. [1753. 
 
 examination. It can hardly be supposed, that, acquainted as he 
 then must be with the New Testament, he could have approved 
 of it, had he reflected at all on the subject. His brother John, 
 who was four years younger than he, felt the inconsistency of 
 confirming heedless or wicked children, and escaped the operation. 
 
 During the four succeeding years, this young man constantly 
 attended the public means of grace; and frequently was present 
 at the prayer and class meetings of the Methodists. Yet, thougli 
 so careful to embrace every opportunity of learning the way of 
 salvation, he was long under great distress and darkness of mind. 
 At times, especially on his return from prayer meetings, his 
 trouble of soul rose to anguish and melted him to tears. lie 
 has often been heard to say, that if the gospel had been preached 
 as it ought to have been, he should have obtained liberty much 
 sooner. By degrees he obtained clearer views of the plan of 
 mercy through a redeemer; and was enabled, with greater con- 
 fidence, to lay hold on the hope set before him in the gospel. 
 The application of that noble passage, John iii. 16, *^ God so 
 loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoso- 
 ever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life," 
 was, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, made very instrumen- 
 tal in producing these happy effects. He was now desirous of 
 making a more decided profession of his attachment to that 
 Saviour whom his soul had found precious; and, soon after he 
 had attained his twentieth year, he proposed himself to the 
 Methodists, and was gladly received into strict communion with 
 them. 
 
 Though Mr. Taylor was at this period steady in his attach- 
 ments to the Methodists, and regular in his attendance at their 
 assemblies; yet he occasionally heard preachers of other deno- 
 minations. When he was about sixteen, the Particular Baptists 
 began to endeavour to raise an interest at Halifax. His brother 
 John, who, though only twelve years of age, was a zealous 
 calvinist, went frequently to hear their ministers; and the subject 
 of this memoir, to please his brother, as well as to learn their 
 sentiments, sometimes accompanied him. He was however, 
 from his first beginning to think on religious subjects, a decided 
 opposer of the doctrines of high Calvinism. At this time, these 
 doctrines became the general topic of conversation in the neigh-, 
 bouihood; and lie was then a warm advocate for the great truth, 
 
1758.} HtS mother's DUATH. 7 
 
 that Christ cHcd for every man, which lie afterwards (U.fcmled so 
 ably, throughout his long lif(>, both from the pulpll and fi(,in the 
 press. 
 
 In Sei)tend)er, \7')^, ids mother died; and that event aiTccted 
 him deeply. The circumstances of the fandly induced him and 
 his brother .lohn to leave their father's house. They hired a 
 room near Halifax, and provided f(jr themselves. Probably one 
 inducement w idi INIr. J^. Taylor to choose his situation, was that 
 he might more conveniently attend the instructions of Mr. Titus 
 Knicht, then in connection with the Methodists. This cjentlemau 
 taught a school at Halifax; and Mr. T. attended him, at his- 
 leisure hours. Here he cultivated the languages which he had 
 for some time attempted without instructor. Mr. J. Taylor 
 observes at this date: " My brother Uan was now a young man: 
 his spare hours busily employed in learnhig, and the rest in re- 
 ligion." He must have improved his leisure with great assiduity, 
 as we shall find, that, in a few years afterwards, he had attained 
 a considerable acquaintance with the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew 
 lanjiuajres. This occasional attendance at Mr. Knidit's school 
 was the only opportunity he ever enjoyed of a living preceptor. 
 But this ardent pursuit of learning did not cause him to forget 
 the claims of humanity. His mother had left a young son, named 
 James, of about five years of age. To him the two elder bro- 
 thers W'cre very much attached ; and felt unwilling to leave him to the 
 care of strangers. They therefore took him with them when they 
 left their father's house, and maintained him as long as they lived 
 together, which was little more than a year. In the spring of 
 1760, they gave up their apartment; and Mr. D. Taylor went 
 to live with a person of the name of Godfrey Honley; a worthy 
 man of " the same craft" with himself; being both a coal- miner 
 and a Methodist. He took with him his young brother, and 
 continued with affectionate solicitude, to provide for his support. 
 Here he pursued with increased alacrity and success, his literary 
 studies. Indeed his disposition was well adapted to succeed in 
 whatever he undertook. To a good understanding and quick 
 powers of mind, he joined an unwearied application and an un- 
 vieldin«>' resolution, which enabled him to encounter and conquer 
 difficulties that, to an ordinary mind, wouhl have appeared insur- 
 mountable. His progress in religion kept pace with his ad- 
 vances in literature. His regular conduct and zealous e iideavours 
 
8 HE BEGINS TO PREACH, [1760. 
 
 to promote the interest of real piety in his own heart and amongst 
 his associates gained him great respect from his christian friends; 
 \vhile his occasional exercises in social prayer, and visiting the 
 sick raised an high opinion of his gifts. It soon became the 
 general wish of those who best knew him, that he would begin 
 to preach, and several urged him to make the attempt. For 
 some time, he resisted their importunities; but the superinteudant 
 of the district soon put an end to his hesitation. This gentleman, 
 taking Mr. T. aside one evening, told him, without preface or 
 apology, that he must prepare to preach before a number of se- 
 lect judges early the next morning. The young man was thunder- 
 struck at the communication, and retired to his lodgings in great 
 perturbation of mind. There he sat up the greatest part of the 
 night; and, by the light of the fire, endeavoured to prepare for 
 the task. In the morning he made the attempt with much fear 
 and trembling, from Ephes. ii. 8. ^^ By grace are ye saved 
 through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." 
 When he had concluded, he withdrew, abashed under a deep 
 sense of the imperfection of his performance. In the course of 
 the forenoon, the superinteudant expressed to a friend his satis- 
 faction with the discourse, and his hopes of the preacher. The 
 friend observed, " You should have taken the young man with 
 you to breakfast, and told him how well you thought he had 
 succeeded," " O !" replied the other, " the devil has told him 
 that long ago." This probationary discourse opened the way for 
 Mr. T's regular entrance on the work of the ministry; and 
 he preached his first public discourse in September, 1761, in a 
 dwelling house at Hipperholm, a village near Halifax. 
 
 Mr. T. was now frequently employed as a local preacher, in 
 various parts of the district, with great acceptance and success. 
 The opinion of his superior abilities for the sacred work was 
 confirmed; and several of his friends thought him qualified for a 
 a more extended sphere of usefulness. They earnestly pressed 
 him to wait on Mr. John Wesley, the patriarch of the Methodists, 
 in order that he might be admitted as a travelling preacher. 
 But he was by no means forward to take this decisive step. He 
 had begun to examine divine truth for himself, and was already 
 determined to form his opinions and regulate his conduct by 
 scripture alone; and to " call no man master on earth." Pur- 
 suing this course, though he agreed with Mr. Wesley in many 
 
J-J^^O] LEAVES THE MKTHODISTS. 9 
 
 leuiling points, yet, he doubted of tlie pio))riety of lils \noi\e of 
 explaining several other important parts of" doctrine. Besides 
 tliis, lie was convinced that the New Testament gave no counte- 
 nance, either by precept or example, to tlie sciiemc of discipline 
 which that gentleman had imposed on his followers. Indeed 
 his independent spirit was not formed to submit to that dictator- 
 sliip which Mr. \\ esley then assumed over the conduct and faith 
 of his preachers. Instead therefore of applying to the great man 
 for liis permission to preach the gospel, Mr. T. at Midsummer^ 
 17G'2, withdrew entirely from all connection with him and his 
 adherents. 
 
 About the time tliat Mr. D.Taylor left the Methodists, several 
 other ministers, in the same neiiihbourhood, seceded from them* 
 Amongst these were, Mr. Titus Knight, already mentioned as 
 Mr. "^r's tutor, who raised an independent church at Halifax, 
 over which he presided for many years with credit and success^ 
 Mr. James Ctossley, who became pastor of a church at Holm- 
 house, near Luddenden; and Mr. Edwards, the founder of an 
 independent interest at Leeds. These all embraced the calvin- 
 istic doctrines; but Air. T. retained tirndy his opposition to 
 personal election. 
 
 Mr. T's character and abilities were too well knowrt to per- 
 mit him to remain long unemployed. Four persons in the vici- 
 nity of Heptonstall, a village nine miles west of Halifax, had 
 recently detached themselves from the Methodists; and being 
 previously acquainted with him, invited him to preach for them. 
 'J'his invitation he accepted; and, in a few weeks after his 
 secession from his former associates, delivered his first discourse 
 for them, in the open air, at a place called The Nook, in Wads- 
 worth, the adjoining township to Hepstdnstall. He preached 
 several times in the same place, and the attendance was, con- 
 sidering the circumstances, rather encouraging. At that time, 
 the country was remarkably wild and uncultivated; the inhabi- 
 tants few, scattered and in general depraved; and the four friends 
 who had invited him, occupying low stations in society, and 
 possessing little influence: yet, with this discouraging prospect 
 before him, Mr. T. resolved to cast his lot amongst them ; and to 
 attempt to introduce the gospel into this dark neighbouihood. 
 Accordingly, at Michaelmas, 1762, he left Halifax, and removed 
 to Wadsworth. He now took a final leave of the coal-mine, and 
 
10 SETTLES AT WADSWORTH. [1762. 
 
 devoted himself to the work of tlie ministry. He boarded at 
 Wadsworth with a poor religious woman, who thought herself 
 honoured by having a minister for her guest, and well paid for 
 his maintenance with a few shillings weekly. 
 
 His few associates were unable, from the straitness of their 
 circumstances, to contribute much towards the support of the 
 cause in which they had engaged; and the winter was approach- 
 ing, when they would be less able to continue their present 
 support, and when preaching in the open air would be no longer 
 practicable. All these discouragements had probably been fore- 
 seen by our young minister; but he was too resolute to abandon 
 an attempt in which he thought the glory of God and the salva- 
 tion of immortal souls were concerned, because it was attended 
 with difficulties; and too independent in spirit to wish to be a 
 burden on others. He therefore took apartments, and resolved 
 to exert himself to preserve the interest from expiring in its very 
 birth. The apartments were fitted up to answer the double pur- 
 pose of a place of worship and a school. Mr. T. preached in 
 them on the Lord's day; and taught a few children, during the 
 rest of the week. In both employments he was successful: and 
 the profits of the latter enabled him to pursue the former with 
 more freedom and to greater advantage. 
 
 During the winter, Mr. T. and his friends found it necessary 
 to consider on what principles they could unite to carry on the 
 cause of their blessed Redeemer. Their difference of opinion 
 respecting the extent of the atonement made by the death of 
 Christ forbade them to join with the independents, though they 
 nearly agreed with them, in their sentiments on church order and 
 government. While they were deliberating on this subject, their 
 attention was called to another no less important. The Particular 
 Baptists had, several years previous to this date, founded various 
 churches within ten or fifteen miles of Wadsworth; and had 
 been, for some time, making an attempt to introduce their cause 
 into Halifax. The subject of believers' baptism became a topic 
 of conversation among the professors of religion; and it was na- 
 tural for a mind so inquisitive and active as Mr. Taylor's, to be 
 led to examine a point so interesting. He had indeed paid some 
 attention to it while amongst the Methodists, and teased them 
 sufficiently with his queries and doubts; but he now thought it 
 to be his duty to endeavour to satisfy his own mind on the subject, 
 
1763. j BECOMES A BAPTIST. |1 
 
 that he miglit be able to instruct others. He has himself left us 
 an account of the progress and result of this investigation. 
 " For some time (he informs us) he was very unwilling to allow 
 the propriety of believers' baptism, because it was contrary to 
 the disposition of all those, except one, among whom he la- 
 boured, as well as of the most of those with whom he then was 
 or ever had been acquainted. He would therefore gladly have 
 found arguments against it, strong enough to overthrow it. With 
 this view, he read several authors on the contrary side; but met 
 with nothing in them like a scriptural proof of infant baptism : 
 all he met with was mortifying disappointment. Being conscious 
 that he had to do with a heart-searching God, he was determined 
 to act uprightly. He therefore procured the reading of a 
 pamphlet or two written in defence of believers' baptism^ and 
 this confirmed him in the sense which he had before put on the 
 scriptures."* He has frequently remarked to the v.riter of 
 these pages, that Dr. Wall's celebrated History of Infant Bap- 
 tism contributed more than any other book, except the New 
 Testament, to convince him that it had no foundation in scrip- 
 ture, but was A'holly an invention of man. 
 
 Having thus obtained satisfaction to his own mind, he resolved, 
 though contrary to the entreaties of his friends, to endeavour to 
 explain and enforce what he believed to be the will of God. 
 If we may judge of his abilities from a piece which he published 
 a few years afterwards, we shall conclude that he was, even at 
 that time, no despicable defender of the truth. John Slater, one 
 of the four who invited him to Wadsworth, was his iirst convert; 
 if they did not, which is very probable, study the subject together, 
 and advance, with equal steps, towards conviction. Several 
 others, soon afterwards, embraced the same opinion, and anxiously 
 waited for an opportunity to carry their theory into practice. 
 But here a serious difficulty arose. Mr. Taylor, according to 
 his new views of things, was himself an unbaptized person, and 
 thus unqualified to baptize others. He was, therefore, desirous 
 of making a profession of his faith by baptism, not only that he 
 might obey what he esteemed a command of Christ, but also that 
 he might be authorized to administer the ordinance to his friends. 
 ]7Qr this purpose, he applied to several ministers of the Particular 
 
 * See Preface to liis Humble E?>SHy on Christian BaptiMn. 
 
12 TRAVES IN SEARCH [176^?, 
 
 Baptist persuasion; but they all refused to baptize him. They 
 professed themselves perfectly satisfied with the sincerity of his 
 Christianity, his qualifications for the ministry, and even with his 
 call to the sacred employment: but they disapproved of his sen- 
 timents respecting the extent of the death of Christ. Some said 
 that, as individuals, thev could cheerfullv have administered the 
 ordinance to him, if their churches would have permitted it; while 
 others frankly declared that scruples of their own prevented them. 
 They all, however, declined a compliance with his request. 
 
 In these circumstances, Mr. T. was at a loss how to proceed. 
 Jle was then young, and little acquainted with the state of reli- 
 gion in the world, or even with the various sects in his native 
 country. He appears to have been equally ignorant of the General 
 Baptists connected with the General i\ssembly in London, 
 and of the societies which had then recently arisen in the mid- 
 land counties; and probably thought, that he and his few friends 
 at Wads worth were the only Baptists in existence who denied 
 the doctrine of personal election. It was therefore very agreeable 
 information which he received from one of the ministers to whom 
 he applied, that there was a Baptist minister and church at 
 Ijoston, in Lincolnshire, of doctrinal sentiments nearly agreeing 
 with his own. This intellioence was soon communicated to 
 Air. Slater; and, after some deliberation they determmed to set out 
 immediately in quest of these singular professors. The distance, 
 one hundred and twenty miles, "was indeed formidable to persons 
 who had never travelled beyond their own neighbourhood; the 
 season, the depth of winter, unfit for such an excursion; and the 
 weather inclement: but the object was in their estimation im- 
 portant, and they braved all difficulties. On Friday morning, 
 February 1 1, 176.3, they set out on foot, and travelled as far i\s 
 they could during the day. Towards the evening they found 
 themselves in a field surrounded with water; and while they 
 were making ineffectual attempts to extricate themselves, the 
 nio;ht closed on them. This oblioed them to continue in the 
 open air all night; and they were happy in finding a hay,- rick 
 under which they might repose. They commended themselves 
 to the divine })rotection in earnest prayer; and lying down under 
 this friendly shelter, sunk into a sound sleep in the morning, 
 they found themselves comfohtably refreshed ; and, after returning 
 l^hanks to their heaNcnly protector, set forwards on their journey, 
 
I'^QSA ^^ GENERAL DAPTISTS. 13 
 
 Towards the evening of the following clay, a decent inn pre- 
 sented itself, and they went in to obtain refreshment. 1m dl of the 
 object of their inquiry, their conversation here turned u|)on it; 
 and tlu-y were agreeably surprised, when the landlord informed 
 them, that there was a society of Baptists of their own sentiimnils 
 at Gamston, a place which they had passed about eight miles; 
 and that a deacon of that church resided in the village in which 
 they then were. To this deacon they went, and introduced 
 themselves as well as they could; stating the object of their 
 journey, and requesting information. Whether their exterior 
 appearance after their late nocturnal accommodations was not 
 very prepossessing, or the person whom they accosted was na- 
 turally cautious, he received them coldly, viewed them with an 
 eye of distrust, gave short answers to their enquiries, and pointed 
 them to a public house. Not discouraged with this forbidding 
 reception from the first General Baptist whom they had seen, 
 they returned the following morning to Gamston; and arrived 
 at the meeting house as Mr. Dossey was concluding the service. 
 Mr. T. introduced himself and his companion to that worthy 
 minister; who received them kindly, invited them to his house, 
 and in the evening took them to hjs colleague, Mr. Jeffery. 
 With these friendly christians, the two succeeding days were 
 spent in giving and receiving information : and the result was, 
 that Messrs. Jeifery and Dossey were perfectly satisfied with the 
 character and faith of the two strangers; and declared their wil- 
 lingness to baptize them both. Mr. Slater however declined, 
 wishing to receive the ordinance from the hands of his estecnied 
 fellow traveller; but Mr. Jeffery baptized Mr, D. Taylor, in the 
 river near Gamston, on Wednesday, February 16, 1763, 
 
 Our travellers returned to VVadsworth with their zeal animated 
 and opinions confirmed. Soon after their arrival, Mr. T. with 
 his usual frankiiess, delivered several public discourses on the 
 subject of believers' baptism; earnestly exhorting his hearers to 
 search the scriptures and judge for themselves; and publickly 
 baptized Mr. Slater and some others. The attention of the 
 country was excited, and strong symptoms of opposition were 
 discovered. But Mr. T. convinced that he was on the side of 
 the truth, despised difficulty; and stood ready, both in public 
 and private, to defend his principles and practice against every 
 >ittuck. 
 
14 MR. W. THOMPSON. [1763. 
 
 At Gamston, Mr. T. learnt some interesting particulars res- 
 pecting the old English General Baptists. He was made ac- 
 quainted with the Lincolnshire Association of Churches of that 
 persuasion ; and informed that it would assemble at Lincoln in 
 the ensuing May. Desirous of increasing the acquaintance and 
 strengthening the union which had already been formed, he at- 
 tended that meeting. Religion was then in a low state in the 
 churches which sent representatives to that assembly; and the 
 acquisition of a zealous young minister, of promising abilities, 
 was an event highly gratifying to all who wished well to its 
 interests. He was therefore kindiv received at the association. 
 May 17, 1763; and Mr. G. Boyce, who, as messenger of the 
 churches, presided on that occasion, paid him particular atten- 
 tion. But the most valuable and cordial friend which this visit 
 procured him, was ^Ir. VVm. Thompson, of Boston, Lincoln- 
 shire. They were then both young, zealously engaged in 
 preaching the gospel and entertained similar views of its lead- 
 ing doctrines. A warm attachment to each other was quickly 
 formed; which ripened into a christian friendship that death it- 
 self could only suspend. Mr. Thompson took his new friend with 
 him to Boston; and introduced him to several of the General 
 Baptist churches in that neighbourhood. This must have had a 
 happy effect on the mind of our young minister, who had for- 
 merly thought himself alone in the earth. 
 
 The professors at Wadsworth were then unformed into a re- 
 gular society. In order to remove this defect, Mr. Taylor pre- 
 vailed on Mr. Thompson, to accompany him on his return to 
 Yorkshire. This visit was rendered highly useful. The visitor, 
 being an ordained minister, preached for this people, instructed 
 them in the nature of church fellowship, formed them into a 
 duly organized church, and afterwards administered to them 
 the Lord's Supper. The persons who formed this original 
 society were fourteen ; but, in three months, eight otliers were 
 baptized; and several appeared to be under serious impressions. 
 Mr. Taylor was not insensible of his obligations to his friend. 
 He tells him, October 15, 17()'>, " I think I esteem you the 
 dearest friend that 1 have on eardi, by reason of the sameness of 
 disposition, judgment, Sec. and more especially because I am so 
 well persuaded of your experimenlal knowledge of, and sincere 
 esteem for, the Lord Jesus Clirisl. O that the Lord would en- 
 
1763.] ORDINATION. 15 
 
 able you and inc, my dear brother, to love liim more and more. 
 In order to this, let us often be thinking what tlic Lord has done 
 for us, and how little we have deserved from him. This, if any 
 thin«-, will break our stubborn hearts. I am glad tliat you 
 are still my real friend. The Lord grant that nothing may hap- 
 pen between us, that may break our love." In a few months 
 after Mr. Thompson's visit to Yorkshire, Mr. Taylor being 
 unanimously invited by his friends to take the oversight of them, 
 complied with their wishes; and was solemnly ordained to the 
 pastoral office, July 30, 1763. Mr. G. Boyce, the messenger, 
 delivered the charge to the minister, from 1 Tim. iii. 1. " This 
 is a true saying, If any man desire the office of a bishop, he de- 
 sireth a good work." Mr. Dossey, of Gamston, addressed the 
 church, from Heb. xiii. 7- " Remember them which have the 
 rule over you.'' 
 
 Probably the ministers who assisted at the ordination might 
 encourage this infant society to attempt to erect a more commo- 
 dious place of worship; as we find the plan soon after resolved 
 upon, and the ground obtained. In promoting this undertaking, 
 Mr. T. was indefatigable. In the letter to Mr. Thompson 
 already quoted, he observes, " I have been constantly employed, 
 either in digging in tlie stone pit or collecting money among 
 friends; so that I have had no leisure to write or read much, 
 except when I should have slept. I need not say to you, * Pray, 
 my brother, that the Lord may prosper the work of my hands.* 
 We have bought the ground, about three hundred yards north-east 
 from Hebden-bridge. We have done a little towards preparing 
 the place; and have bought most of the wood and bargained with 
 the mason. We propose to have the house ten yards in breadth 
 and thirteen in length within; and think that upon the most 
 moderate calculation we cannot build with less than one hundred 
 and forty pounds. How we shall raise it, I know not. I am a 
 little comforted with the thought, that the right hand of the Lord 
 bringeth mighty things to pass; and he hath done great tilings 
 for us already." From the same letter, it appears that Mr. T. 
 had made an excursion to collect for the proposed building, in 
 the course of which he had preached thirty-four times; and 
 visited Ashford, in Derbyshire; Sheepshead, Leicester, Earls- 
 hilton, Wimeswould and Knipton in Leicestershire; Kilsby, 
 Longbuckby, Moulton, Northampton, and Inirton Latimore in 
 
Jg FIRST PUBLICATrON. [1763. 
 
 Northamptonshire; Morcott and Loughnam in Rutlandshire^ 
 and Gamston, Retford and Worksop in Nottinghamshire. In 
 this journey, he collected, exclusive of expences, nearly twenty- 
 two pounds. In the middle of October, he went out again, on 
 the same business, under the auspices of Mr. Boyce^ and visited 
 most of the General Baptist churches in Lincolnshire. This 
 journey occupied him till December 9. The following day he 
 wrote to his friend Mr. Thompson: " We get well forward with 
 j)reparing the place for our new meeting house. Blessed be the 
 Lord! 1 prospered pretty well in my journey, I brought to 
 W ads worth, besides expences, forty pounds four shillings^ and 
 a horse that I hope will make us something." It seems, that 
 Ills long absence from his charge, had produced its usual effects. 
 In the same letter, he observes: " 1 found my friends well in 
 body, though not altogether as well as I could wish in soul. One 
 of the persons I baptized, I am ready to doubt of; she I fear is 
 not so earnest as we miglit wish. The generality of my friends 
 seem very much alive : and are very laborious in doing what they 
 can for Christ's cause. I hope the Lord will own and bless u-s, 
 though it should be that some forsake us." 
 
 This year, 1763, Mr. T. first appeared as an author; and his 
 maiden publication was a poem; a species of composition in 
 which he was not perhaps qualified by nature to excel. The 
 strength of his reasoning powers, and his determination to search 
 for truth, joined to a studied attention to simplicity and accuracy 
 of expression, prevented him from succeeding in works of genius, 
 in which boldness of imagery and pompous diction are expected. 
 This production was an l^legy on the Rev. Mr. Grimshaw of 
 IlazcortJi; a faidiful, diligent, zealous, and successful preacher 
 of the gospel; a clergyman of the established church. On his 
 ministry Mr. T. had often attended with profit and pleasure; and 
 frequently walked twelve miles to enjoy the privilege. His death 
 therefore deeply affected him, and he paid a tribute of respect to 
 his memory in these verses, which were printed on a quarter 
 sheet. Though they certainly can boast few of the attractions 
 of the more elevated poesy, yet, considering when they were 
 wiitten,and what small opportunities the author had then enjoyed 
 of acquiring the graces, or even the proprieties of language, they 
 are far fiom des})icable. The concluding lines convey a faiy 
 
17()4.1 NKW MEETING HOUSE. ' 17 
 
 specimen of the whole; and airoid a pleasing idea of the writer's 
 spirit, at this early period. 
 
 " His body lies in yonder silent tomb, 
 Until his Saviour call, ' Arise and come !' 
 Each atom then the thnnd'tinj; voice shall hear, 
 And mount to meet the Saviour in the air; 
 l^ompous and gay, like Jesus' body made ; 
 For all the members shall be like their Head 5 
 Ami in his j^lory shall for ever shine. 
 O ! might that lot, that happy lot, be mine; 
 When all the biood-wash'd throng shall jointly sing, 
 The praises of their ever-glorious King! 
 My tongue shall then with endless pleasure tell, 
 What wond'rous grace hath sav'd my soul from hell ; 
 The loving Saviour's lovely name shall be^ 
 The subject of my song eternally." 
 
 1764. In the summer of this year, iSIr. T. again visited Lin- 
 colnshire; and was engaged, June 24, in opening a new meeting 
 house at Boston, for the use of h is friend, Mr. Thompson. With 
 the view of increasing the collection towards his own new meet- 
 ing house, he extended this excursion to the midland counties : 
 and hearing, for the lirst time, of the churches which had then re- 
 cently risen in those parts, he called on Mr. Hutchinson, of 
 LfOUshborouo-h, one of their leading members. Thus commenced 
 an acquaintance which produced important consequences. 
 
 On his return to Yorkshire, he pushed forward the building at 
 Wadsworth, with vigour; and December 12, had the satisfaction 
 to commence public worship in it, with a discourse from 1 Kings 
 ix. 3. It was erected on the declivity of a hill, called Biichclijf; 
 about a quarter of a mile from their former place of meeting. 
 During the building of this house, Mr. T. was not only 
 diligently employed in overseeing the workmen, but also daily 
 laboured with his own hands. He had been accustomed to toil, 
 and whatever he undertook, he did it with his whole might. 
 Several parts of the furniture of the old place of worship were 
 relnoved to- the new one; and the pastor actually carried his 
 pulpit on his back from one station to the other. 
 
 In November, 1704, 'Mr. T, mained Elizabeth Saltonstal/y 
 a young woman, whose parents were honest and respectable, in 
 easy though not affluent circumstances. She was one of the 
 lirst fruits of his ministry in those parts, having joined the church 
 in the former part of the preceding year. This connection was 
 
 c 
 
Ig "THE NECESSITY OF [1764. 
 
 a blessing to him and the cause in which he was engaged. She 
 was a pious and aft'ectionate partner, and bore him thirteen chil- 
 dren. Her prudence and care were very useful in the manage- 
 ment of a family, which was often numerous, during the frequent 
 absence of her husband. If his estimate may be allowed, 
 *' whether considered as a wife, a friend, or a mistress of a fa- 
 mily, she had many valuable qualities; and if she did not possess 
 all the splendid, she had not a few^ of the solid accomplishment* 
 of a most valuable associate." After her death, he publickly de- 
 clared that " he delibcratelv classed her amonsr the best of wives i'*^ 
 an opinion which it is presumed will be sanctioned by those who 
 had the most accurate means of appreciating her real character. 
 This year, our audior published a sermon under the title of 
 ** The Absolute Necessity of Searching the Scriptures." This was 
 a duty to which he frequently and earnestly exhorted his hearers; 
 and to the neglect of which he ascribed most of the errors and 
 contentions among christians. To promote this laudable prac- 
 tice, *^ he had delivered a discourse, in a mixed company, which 
 to his great surprize, he soon found was little understood and 
 less loved." In order therefore to avoid misrepresentation, he 
 published the substance of what he then delivered in this pamph- 
 let; which, though " he did not suppose it contained any thing 
 worthy the notice of the wise, might perhaps be of some use to 
 the ignorant and teachable." The method of this tract is natural 
 and clear, the arguments well selected and judiciously stated, and 
 though the style exhibits some inaccuracies and provincialisms^ 
 it is generally correct and nervous. Tlie writer has avowedly 
 " studied plainness," yet there occur some passages of more ani- 
 mation than might be expected. In urging motives, for instance, 
 to enforce the duty of searching the scriptures, he first notices 
 the command of Christ; but instead of stating this in the form of 
 a proposition, he introduces it thus: — " Having thus exp/uined, 
 I am, in the second place, to enforce the duty recommended in 
 the text, by a few arguments. But what am I now about? 
 What! Enforce by argument what Jesus has corflinanded! Who 
 could have imagined it necessary ? Surely, if he hath said it, it 
 ought, without a, moment's hesitation, to be diligently attended 
 to by all who hear or read it. I called your attention, at the en- 
 tering upon this discourse, by telling ypu, ^ Tlie word of God is 
 thus written.' vMl scriptine is the word of Ciod, being written 
 
I7(>5J SEARCHING THE .SCRIPTURES." 19 
 
 by men who were * moved by the Holy Gliost.' l)iit llie text is 
 more directly and emphatically so, ' He wjio made all things, 
 and without whom was not any thing made that was made/ 
 spoke these words. Spoke them, not when he was upon his 
 high and lofty throne, but when he had ' taken upon him the 
 form of a servant, when he was made flesh, and dwelt among 
 iFs.' Methinks, J hear every lover of the dear Redeemer say, 
 * I need no other argument. If my Lord hath commanded it, 
 I will, from this day, make it my business, through his gracious 
 assistance, to search the scriptures. Determined am I, through 
 his grace, let friends or foes, let men or devils, say what they 
 will, determined am I, to be led and directed by the scriptures, 
 and by them alone.' " Again, speaking of the natural dis- 
 j^osition of men to follow their teachers, he observes, " The 
 scripture is the touchstone whereby we ought to try every word 
 we hear, every doctrine we receive, every work we are found 
 ill the practice of. The Bcreans (Oh that every hearer of the 
 word this day would act like them !) are commended as noble, 
 for that they searclied the scriptures. Not carelessly looked 
 them over; hut seajched them; scrutinou^ly examined tlicir pre- 
 cise import. When? a little on the Lord's day only ? Nay, they 
 searched the scriptures daili/, to see whether these things were 
 so. What things? Those spoken of by Paul and Silas. But 
 was not this a little too scrupulous? Did it become them to 
 scrutinize into the truth of men who were inspired ? Yes. Intinite 
 Wisdom commends it in them as noble." 
 
 1760. The friends at Wads worth continued their exertions 
 to promote the cause of their Saviour. (Conscious of their need 
 of divine assistance, they set apart January 9, 176.3, as a day for 
 fasting and prayer; and Mr. T. observes, " that he hopes they 
 had great humiliation of soul, inflamedness of desire, and resolu- 
 tion." I'rom the circumstances of the neighbourhood, a rapid 
 increase could not be expected; yet the cause gradually extended 
 itself, and new^inquirers, from time to time, attended tin* nieans 
 of grace. But, in the beginning of .April, this year, the rising 
 interest lost a zealous supporter, and the pastor a most affectionai« 
 and prudent associste, by the death of Mr. Slater. This gooii 
 man had cordially co-operated witli Mr.T. in his eflorts to pro- 
 mole the spiritual edification of his neighbours, and c\erted In u 
 
 c 2 
 
20 MR. slater's death. [1765. 
 
 self vigorously in forwarding the erection of the new meeting 
 house at Birchcliflf. When that design was completed, he ob- 
 served : " I am now at liberty and free to die, having seen the 
 great thing that I wished to see in this world ; a house for the 
 worship of God at Birchcliff." His minister felt the loss 
 severely; and thus notices it in his diary, April 18. "Yesterday 
 we interred the body of my dear brother Slater, who, glory be 
 to the Lord, has been blest with unshaken confidence in God 
 throughout his whole illness. This is matter of support to us 
 under so great a stroke. He was my dear, I believe my dearest 
 friend. The Lord has hereby taught me something of the vanity 
 of every earthly enjoyment. I doubt, I almost idolized him. 
 Lord, pardon me and humble me, and teach me to have all my 
 hopes to centre in thee ! I had much liberty in preaching his 
 funeral sermon: blessed be the Lord!" 
 
 This afflictive dispensation did not eventually retard the pro- 
 gress of the truth. Mr. Slater's happy death attracted the atten- 
 tion of the neighbours, and the prudent conduct of his associates 
 gained their respect and confidence. April 26, Mr. T. remarks: 
 " To day I have been collecting subscriptions towards our meet- 
 ing house, and blessed be the Lord, have prospered well. 
 Friends are very free, even those whom I least expected to be 
 so. When shall 1 learn to be more thankful?" 
 
 May 10, Mr. T. set out for the Lincolnshire Association; and, 
 on the following Lord's day, preached three times at Boston. 
 On the 21st he arrived at Lincoln; and was deputed by the 
 Association as their representative to the General Assembly in 
 London. He was the bearer of certain queries respecting sub- 
 scriptions to the articles of the Church of England, in order to 
 obtain a licence to preach. Many of these ministers disapproved 
 of this practice, esteeming it a sinful compliance with an unjust 
 imposition; and wished their denomination to make a stand 
 against it. They esteemed the business important ; and iheir 
 choice of the subject of this memoir for their deputy, who was so 
 young and with whom they had so recently formed an acquaint- 
 ance, is a strong evidence of the high estimation in which they 
 held his talents and character. 
 
 May 26, he preached twice at Boston, and thence proceeded 
 to London, where, on the 29th, he attended the General 
 Assembly. On the lolluwing Lord's day, June 2, he preached 
 
1765.1 CONFERENCE WITH MR. ROYCE. 21 
 
 twice for Mr. Brittaiu, to that church of vvhicli he was afterwards 
 pastor, and once for Mr. Fry of Ilorslydown. He returned by 
 way of Lincohishire; and preaching twice at Fleet, thrice at 
 Wablet, once at Wisbeach, once at Toft, twice at Boston, and 
 once at Coningsby, arrived at home June 17. This appears to 
 have been liis fust visit to the metropoUs. 
 
 When Mr. T. at first united with the Lincolnshire General 
 Baptists, he probably was but very imperfectly acquainted with 
 their doctrinal sentiments. Possibly he made no rigid inquiry 
 on the subject: but, standing alone as he then did in Yorkshire, 
 united himself with eagerness to a body of christians, several of 
 Mhom were highly respectable. But it soon appeared, that a 
 ^vide dift'erence subsisted beiween his views, on some important 
 points of doctrine, and those of many of his new associates. Du- 
 rino- the present year this painful fact became very apparent. 
 In his late journey, he stopped to preach at Gamston, May IQ: 
 and observes in his diary: " We had long contests about original 
 sin, justification, atonement, &c. but how far do we difTer in 
 judgment with respect to all these things! What can be done? 
 Lord, teach thou me!" In the course of his excursion, this dif- 
 ference occasioned much debate and warmth. The worthy 
 Mr. G. Boyce, who, as the messenger of these churches, felt him- 
 self called upon to preserve their harmony and purity, thought it 
 necessary that some endeavours should be used to promote a better 
 understanding. He therefore appointed to meet Mr. T. at 
 Gamston, in the ensuing August, freely to discuss the contro- 
 verted points. In order to prepare for this important interview, 
 it was mutually agreed to devote some part of the 5th day of 
 August to solemn prayer and fasting for the blessing of the 
 Father of lights on their conference. With what seriousness 
 Mr. T. prepared for this meeting, appears from the memorandum 
 in his diary at the above date. " I and my great and good friend 
 Mr. B. are erelong to meet at Gamston, to talk upon some 
 points wherein we differ; and we agreed to set apart as much of 
 this day as circumstances permit for fasting and prayer that the 
 Lord may direct us; that our beginning, proceeding, and ending 
 may be in love, and under the direction of his Holy Spirit; that 
 our minds may be enlightened, our understandings enlarged; that 
 we may know and receive the whole truth as it is in Jesus. 
 Because I have not much time to spare from my study this dav, 
 
24 " WEAK CHRISTIAN ENCOURAGED." [1766. 
 
 duties of the great work in which it was engaged. No young 
 minister can read it without being really benefitted by the 
 perusal. Though some of his charges at seasons of ordination, 
 several of which were afterwards published, may be thought to 
 supercede some parts of this tract, yet none of his subsequent 
 publications take so comprehensive a view of the duties, and es- 
 pecially of the qualifications, of a christian minister. Probably 
 too this address will not be the less useful and interesting to 
 persons setting out in the sacred work, as being the production 
 of a young man like themselves, who spoke out of the abundance 
 of the heart, felt all the difficulties which he describes, panted 
 after all the excellencies which he recommends to others, and 
 sincerely laboured to follow those advices which he offers to his 
 fellow labourers. It has been long out of print; but it would 
 be an injury to religion to suffer it to fall into oblivion. 
 
 The preacher on this occasion, when he had concluded the 
 principal subject of his discourse, added an address to Christians 
 in general, founded on Isaiah xl. 31, " They that wait on the 
 Lord shall renew their strength." This address was at first 
 published with the other part of the sermon ; but it afterwards 
 appeared in a separate form, and was entitled, " The Weak 
 Christian encouraged to zcait upon God; zcith some Directio7is" 
 It forms a very useful little piece; containing important instruc- 
 tions how to wait on God, in prayer, in reading and hearing the 
 word, and in holy meditation ; with earnest exhortations and 
 powerful motives to the constant, humble, expecting and con- 
 fident exercise of these sacred duties. 
 
 Mr. T. returned from the association, at which this discourse 
 ^was delivered, through the counties of Nottingham and Derby, 
 with a design most probably of cultivating his acquaintance with 
 the midland churches. This excursion occupied a fortnight, 
 in the course of which he preached ten times, and arrived at 
 home, May 17- In the latter part of the year, he took a 
 journey into the same parts, which employed nineteen days. 
 
 We have no information respecting the progress of the cause 
 at Wadsworth during this year, or the following; only that it 
 appears to have been in a state of improvement. Nor have we 
 been able to trace the labours of the pastor, except that we find 
 him at the Lincolnshire Association, at Coningsby, June C, 1767; 
 fiom whence he \\cnt to the General Assembly in London, as 
 
17G8.J ni:.\ni oi- rwo ( im.iuti'.N. 25 
 
 the subytiliitc for Mr. 'I'liompsDii who luul Ijcimi (kpiitcd to 
 tliat service, lie rctmiicil to W'iid.'iWoilli, June 'iO; and set oul 
 again in October on his usual lour through the co»\nlies of J.in- 
 cohi, Nottingham, and Derby. In both \hosr. journevs, lie 
 preached frequently and had encouraging proofs lliat hi.^i labours 
 were acceptable and useful. December If), he baptized three 
 persons at Wadsworlh; and soon after left lionie again to visit 
 the churches. 
 
 1768. This year oj)i;ncd widi a severe domestic aflliction. 
 The small pox, a disorder peculiarly fatal to Ids family, seizAtl 
 botii his children, and great danger was ap[)rehended. Mr. T. 
 who, as we have seen, was abroad on a journey, was immediately 
 sent for home; but, before his arrival, January 7, his daughter, 
 a fine girl of u})Vxards of three years of age, had just expired; and 
 his son, almost two years old, died in two days afterwards. 'J'his 
 was a severe trial, especially as he had tiien no other chiklren. 
 He felt it keenly; but acquiesced in the })ainful dispensation. 
 The following observations in his diary on this melancholy occa- 
 sion, exhibit a pleasing view of the state of his mind. " January 
 10. I am now returned from a long journey, and imd my dear, 
 dear little daughter dead, and my son near dying. He expired 
 about fifty hours after my arrival at home. So now 1 am 
 left childless. This is indeed a heavy stroke; but I suppose the 
 infinitely wise and good Lord sees that I stand in need of heavy 
 strokes in order to bring my rebellious mind into subjection to 
 his blessed self. Lord, work for thine own honour the way thou 
 seest best. But O! sutler me not to disregard the operations 
 of thine hands. Tn much mercy be thou pleased, glorious 
 Jehovah, to make me submissive and obedient. Lonl, thy will 
 be done in, upon, and by me, in all things!" 
 
 The same cruel disorder, which had snatched away the two 
 children of this pious minister, had removed many odiers from the 
 nei"hbourino- families, and not a few from those of his friends. 
 To support himself and his fellow sufferers in these trying scenes, 
 he delivered two appropriate discourses, from '2 Kings iv. 2G ; 
 the resigned answer of the bereaved Shunamite, respecting her 
 deceased son, " It is well." The substance of these discourses 
 were afterwards published under the title of " The Mourning 
 Parent comforted.'' The object of this publication is thus cx- 
 
 1) 
 
24 " WEAK CHRISTIAN ENCOURAGED." [1766. 
 
 duties of the great work ill which it was engaged. No young 
 minister can read it without being really benefitted by the 
 perusal. Though some of his charges at seasons of ordination, 
 several of which were afterwards published, may be thought to 
 supercede some parts of this tract, yet none of his subsequent 
 publications take so comprehensive a view of the duties, and es- 
 pecially of the qualifications, of a christian minister. Probably 
 too this address will not be the less useful and interesting to 
 persons setting out in the sacred work, as being the production 
 of a young man like themselves, who spoke out of the abundance 
 of the heart, felt all the difficulties which he describes, panted 
 after all the excellencies which he recommends to others, and 
 sincerely laboured to follow those advices which he offers to his 
 fellow labourers. It has been long out of print; but it would 
 be an injury to religion to suffer it to fall into oblivion. 
 
 The preacher on this occasion, when he had concluded the 
 principal subject of his discourse, added an address to Christians 
 in general, founded on Isaiah xl. 31, " They that wait on the 
 Lord shall renew their streno;th." This address was at first 
 published with the other part of the sermon ; but it afterwards 
 appeared in a separate form, and was entitled, " The Weak 
 Christian encouraged to zcait upon God; zcith some Directio7is" 
 It forms a very useful little piece; containing important instruc- 
 tions how to w'ait on God, in prayer, in reading and hearing the 
 word, and in holy meditation ; with earnest exhortations and 
 powerful motives to the constant, humble, expecting and con- 
 fident exercise of these sacred duties. 
 
 Mr. T. returned from the association, at which this discourse 
 vwas delivered, through the counties of Nottingham and Derby, 
 with a design most probably of cultivating his acquaintance with 
 the midland churches. This excursion occupied a fortnight, 
 in the course of which he preached ten times, and arrived at 
 home, May 17- In the latter part of the year, he took a 
 journey into the same parts, which employed nineteen days. 
 
 We have no information respecting the progress of the cause 
 at Wadsworth during this year, or the following; only that it 
 appears to have been in a state of improvement. Nor have we 
 been able to trace the labours of the pastor, except that we find 
 him at the Lincolnshire Association, at Coningsby, June C, 1767; 
 fiom whence he went to the General Assembly in London, as 
 
17G8.J DEA-ni or rwf) cini.nrvKN. 25 
 
 llic .subslitute lor Mr. 'riionipson who luul lyrcu dcpuled to 
 tliat service, lie rctunicil to Wudswortli, June '20; aiul set oiiL 
 again in October on his usual tour ihrougli the couniics of \A\i~ 
 cohi, Nottingliani, and Derby. In both these; journevs, he 
 preached frequently and had encouraging proofs llrat hi.i laljours 
 were acceptable and useful. December UJ, he baptized three 
 persons at Wadsworth; and soon after left home again to visit 
 the churches. 
 
 1768. This year opened widi a severe domestic afilietion. 
 Tiie small pox, a disorder peculiarly fatul to lils family, seized 
 both his children, and great danger was apprehended. Mr. T. 
 who, as we have seen, was abroad on a journey, was innnediately 
 sent for home; but, before his arrival, January 7, hi-'i daughter, 
 a fnie girl of upwards of three years of age, had just expired; and 
 liis son, almost two years old, died in two days afterwards. This 
 was a severe trial, especially as he had tlien no other children. 
 He felt it keenly; but acquiesced in the ])ainful dispensation. 
 The following observations in his diary on this melancholy occa- 
 sion, exhibit a pleasing view of the state of his nnnd. " January 
 10. I am now returned from a long journey, and iind my dear, 
 dear little daughter dead, and my son near dying. lie expired 
 about fifty hours after my arrival at home. So now 1 am 
 left childless. This is indeed a heavy stroke; but I suppose the 
 infinitely wise and good Lord sees that I stiind in need of heavy 
 strokes in order to bring my rebellious mind into subjection to 
 his blessed self. Lord, work for thine own honour the way thou 
 seest best. But O! suffer me not to disregard the operations 
 of thine hands. -In much mercy be thou pleased, glorious 
 Jehovah, to make me submissive and obedient. Lord, thy will 
 be done in, upon, and by me, in all things!'' 
 
 The same cruel disorder, which had snatched away the two 
 children of this pious mmister, had removed many odiers from the 
 neichbourins: families, and not a few from those of his friends. 
 To support himself and his fellow^ suflerers in these trying scenes, 
 lie delivered two appropriate discourses, from 2 KiNgs iv. 20; 
 the resigned answer of the bereaved Shunamite, respecting hei" 
 deceased son, " It is well." The substance of these discourses 
 were afterwards published under the title of " The Mourning 
 ParoU coniforlcil.'^ The object of this publication is thus ex- 
 
 1) 
 
26 " MOURNING PARENT [1768. 
 
 plained b}' the author. — ^' As I in some measure know the worth 
 of these meditations myself, and am unacquainted with any thing 
 on the same or a similar subject easily to be bought and read by 
 the poor for whom I chiefly write, I hope it will be esteemed 
 rather a piece of service, proceeding from real love to other dis- 
 tressed parents and sympathy with them, than the effect of osten- 
 tation. I publish them with the same views with which I 
 preached them: J, to support bereaved parents under their 
 troubles; 2, to prepare others for troubles of the like sort; and 
 3, to assist all God's people in the necessary and useful duty of' 
 comforting one another." These are plain, experimental and use- 
 ful discourses; well adapted to answer the valuable purposes for 
 which they were designed. The feelings of the tender parent 
 and resigned believer are apparent throughout; and, in some in- 
 stances, there are strokes of natural eloquence peculiarly affecting. 
 It is impossible to read the dying soliloquy of a pious parent over 
 a profligate child without partaking the agony that it describes. 
 " I am going," says the christian parent, " to be happy with my 
 God, and my Saviour, in the realms of bliss: to take my place 
 in that glorious kingdom, to wear that crown, and enjoy that fe- 
 licity, which are not the reward of my own obedience, that hath 
 always been imperfect, and the best part of it no better than 
 filthy rags: but, which is the gift of God, through Jesus Christ 
 our Lord. But O ! how it tears my heart, to reflect upon the 
 case of an impenitent son whom I am leaving in the world. He 
 has lived to this day, and has never yet savingly known the God 
 that made him! and now I am going to leave him: I can no 
 longer admonish, advise, or pray for him. But soon his disem- 
 bodied spirit must follow mine into eternity, must stand before 
 that God of whom he is now ignorant and negligent; yea, against 
 Avhom, he now rebels. Who can bear the thought of the an- 
 guish he must then feel, and the woe, to which he shall be con- 
 signed ? And there is an aftea-day, still more awful : when all 
 that arc in their graves, when all the dead, both small and great, 
 shall be caused to stand before God, and the books shall be 
 opened, and the dead shall be judged out of those things that are 
 written in the books, according to their works. Methinks I see, 
 amongst the rising multitudes, my own unconverted child. He 
 arises from the grave, compelled to it by the resistless energy of 
 the Oiuuipolent's awful voice. His distracted heart is lilled with 
 
17G8.] lOMFORTED." 07 
 
 the most racking agouits, and all tlio syiiiptuin.s of glia.>,ll) despair 
 are manifest in liis pale looks. The crush of the hngcst moun- 
 tains, to grind his revived bones to powder, the jaws of the 
 tiercest lion to shatter in pieces his reanimated body, any thing to 
 screen him from the wrath of God, and the Jyamb, would now be 
 welcome, be delightful to him. But no such favour is allowed. 
 He is compelled to appear; he is examined; he is judged; he is 
 condemned. The dreadful sentence; ^ Depart thou cursed, into 
 into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels,' is 
 denounced, is executed. The bottomless the flaming pit, opens ; 
 and my wretched son sinks into fiames unquenchable; and there 
 is consigned to welter, without reprieve, without hope, through 
 never ending ages." 
 
 This awakening visitation seems to have excited the pious 
 parent to greater zeal and exertion in his sacred work, and his 
 eiforts were not in vain. The congregations at Birchcliff were 
 numerous, frequently overflowing, and many were affected by tlie 
 word. A house was tkis summer built for his residence adjoining the 
 meeting-liouse to ^^hich he removed in November. The erection 
 of this house occupied his time and attention, and probably de- 
 tained him from the Lincolnshire Association; as we do not find 
 Iiis signature to the minutes of that assembly. He took pos- 
 session of his new dwelling with nuich satisfaction, on November 
 the 10th. He observes, *' I have been removing the place of 
 my habitation, which has been matter of labour and discompo- 
 sure; but blessed be the Lord, I trust he has enabled me to 
 watch over my heart. I am now much more agreeably fixed. 
 O! that the blessed God may enable me to love him more and 
 to glorify him more, for and with all my blessings and advantages." 
 Those who have seen the edifice for which this good man is so 
 grateful, will not, it is presumed, accuse him of wishing to exalt 
 his gate, or of seeking great things for himself. 
 
 At the close of this year, he took un excursion of a fortnight 
 into Lincolnshire, and as usual preached frequently. His friend 
 Mr. Thompson accompanied him on his return to Wadsworth, 
 and spent there a few happy and useful days. 
 
 In the beginning of this year, Mr. T. published his first po- 
 lemical work. It was, " An humble Essay on Cltristian Baplism, 
 offered to the consideration of upright Inquirers concerning the 
 Suhjects and proper Mode of adnunistering this Ordinance" 
 
 D '1 
 
" IIUMnLE ESSAY 17G8. 
 
 Contrary to liis usual practice, he dkl not aflix his name to this 
 piece. Several publications on tliis subject bad tben recently 
 appeared, in which the defenders of believers' baptism by immer- 
 sion vs'ere roughly handled and held up as objects of contempt. 
 To check this ill-timed triumph our author yielded to the solici- 
 tations of his friends, and printed this Essay. Its design is well 
 explained in the opening of the work. *' It may be allowed," 
 says the writer, " that very much cannot well be said more than 
 has before been said on this subject; yet it is ho])ed that could a 
 few thoughts, in easy language, suited to the capacities of common 
 readers, be once more oftered to view, it might, under the 
 blessing of God, have a happy tendency to discover the error of 
 those vain persons, who, alas! delight in reproaching what they 
 know little of; to satisfy some inquiring souls, and establish some 
 weak minds, with regard to this ordinance. With this view, the 
 folh:)wing remarks are humbly and in the spirit of meekness sub^ 
 milted to consideration." " The chief request the author would 
 nrake to the reader is, 'that he would impartially examine the 
 scriptures with regard to the ordinance of baptism, and regard 
 this pamphlet as far as it will be found consistent with them; 
 but JtoJ'arlher. He has long thought, and still thinks, that would 
 every one, according to his ability, act thus, and not take things 
 from others without examination, it would greatly tend to the 
 promotion both of truth and peace. And, O ! what would we 
 not give, v^hat would we not suffer to promote these?" 
 
 In conformity with these views, the writer states with brevity, 
 plainness and force, the arguments for immersion built upon 
 scripture; and examines at large the objections drawn from the 
 sacred volume. But, though he rests oir revelation as the only 
 foundation of a positive institution, yet lie considers the pleas for 
 immersion and sprinkling drav/n from antiquity, decency, and the 
 j)ractice of die great body of christians. This he does, ** for the 
 sake of some who seem to think, that the practice of immersion 
 was but lately become usual, whereas the truth is, it hath but 
 lately been laid aside." On the proper subjects of l)aptism, he 
 pursues a similar plan : first insisting pretty largely on the com- 
 mission of our Saviour, and the precepts and exam})les of the 
 New 'JV'stanienl, and ihrn considerina: the ariiuments for infant 
 buptism founded on clicumcision, the baptizing of Jewish con- 
 verts, the practice <jf anliquily,^lc. the work concludes with 
 
JT'GOJ ^^ CHRISTIAN BAPTISM." 29 
 
 *' Remarks on some passages of the Fathers," (U signed to prove, 
 tliat there is no trace of infant baptism during the two first cen- 
 turies of Christianity. 
 
 This pamphlet exhibits great acquaintance with the suljject, and 
 considerable abilities in controversy. Its principal excellencies 
 are perspicuity and force. More learning indeed is displayed, 
 than could iiave been expected from the opportunities of the 
 author; several of the Fathers are quoted in their original lan- 
 guages : and now and then a critical disquisition respecting the 
 signification of a Greek or Hebrew term is introduced. This 
 erudition is however confined, with much propriety, to the notes. 
 The Essay was well received; and the first impression sold off 
 soon after its publication. 
 
 17^9. This was a year of peculiar labour and success. 
 Mr. T. preached diligently, not only in his own meeting house 
 but in the dwelling houses of his friends, frequently at some dis- 
 tance from Wadsv.'orth. His exertions were abundantly blessed 
 by his divine Master. Twenty persons were added to the church 
 in the course of the year; and the congregations were so nume- 
 rous that it became necessary to erect a gallery for their accom- 
 modation. 
 
 Mr. T. w^as now in a feeble state of health. For some weeks 
 previous to June 1*2, he had been nearly laid aside from his sa- 
 cred work : and about that time, returning in a heavy rain from 
 preaching at a distance brought on a severe cold which long 
 afflicted him. It does not appear, that he was obliged wholly to 
 suspend his ministerial labours; and these indispositions had a 
 happy effect in animating him to greater diligence and circum- 
 spection. 
 
 The difference of sentiments between Mr. T. and his Lin- 
 colnshire friends, continued to produce disputes. This year, at 
 the Association held in Lincoln, May 9, at which Mr. T. was 
 present; the contentions ran so high, that a division seemed highly 
 expedient. Our n:iinister had sedulously cultivated an acquaint- 
 ance with tjic midland General Baptists, and had found them 
 strenuous advocates for what he esteemed the essential truths of 
 the gospel. It was therefore natural for him to wish for a closer 
 union with professors whose sentiments he so cordially api)roved. 
 lie proposed that tliey should unite \^ith the churches in ]^in- 
 
30 SUCCESS. [1769. 
 
 colnshire; but to this they decidedly objected, because they es- 
 teemed several of them highly erroneous in their creed. They 
 even went farther and declared it to be the duty of all who main- 
 tained the truth, to have no fellowship with such as had so grossly 
 fallen from it. These remarks had considerable effect on the in- 
 genuous mind of the subject of these memoirs ; and he, in con- 
 junction with his friend, Mr. Thompson, resolved to leave their 
 former associates, and endeavour to form a new union with their 
 midland brethren. In order to accomplish this design, a pre- 
 paratory meeting was held, at Lincoln, about Michaelmas, this 
 year: when Mr. Taylor andMr. Thompson were met by Mr. F. 
 Smith of Melbourn, Mr. J. Grimley of Loughborough, Mr. N. 
 Pickering of Castle Donington, and several other leading men 
 in the midland churches. At this Conference the plan was laid 
 for the formation of the Nezo Connect io?i of General Baptists y 
 which, as we shall soon see, was successfully carried into effect 
 in the succeeding year. 
 
 Having thus followed Mr. Taylor through the first period of 
 liis life, we shall close this section with a few hints that could 
 not properly be introduced under any distinct year. 
 
 We have already seen, that the country in which this active 
 minister had fixed his residence was, when he settled there, 
 excessively wild and ignorant. His exertions to spread the 
 light of knowledge and especially of the scriptures among its 
 dark and depraved inhabitants were almost incredible. He did 
 not confine his attention to Wadsworth, nor his labours to the 
 meeting house, but went out on all sides to a considerable dis- 
 tance to preach on the evenings of the Lord's day and frequently 
 on the week days. In the expressive language of one of his cotem- 
 poraries, who had good opportunity of observing his conduct : 
 " Mr. D.Taylor laboured hard, not only on the Lord's day when 
 it was common with him to preach three times; the third at a 
 considerable distance, in a wild country, the inhabitants of which 
 were hardly civilized and generally great strangers to religion. 
 But, by the blessing of God on his Lord's day evening and week 
 day labours, many were brought to repentance; an honourable 
 change took place in their behaviour; several meetings for prayer 
 and christian conference were established around the country ; 
 and the improvement was so evident that intelligent observers 
 
17()9.] ^^- ^- FAWCF.TT. 31 
 
 could not but allow the propriety of applying to the place and 
 its inhabitants, ' The Lord hath done great things for them*/ 
 and many would have gratefully replied, ' I'he Lord hath done 
 great things for ws, of which we are glad.' " Mr. T's excursions 
 on this benevolent errand often extended to places at six or eight 
 or even ten or twelve miles from Wadsworth. His exertions 
 laid the foundation for the raising of churches in various places; 
 but, as this effect did not take place till the ensuing period, we 
 defer particulars to the next chapter. 
 
 In the year 1764, Mr.T. obtained a valuable co-adjutor in these 
 laudable attempts, Mr. afterwards Dr. Fawcett then accepted 
 the office of pastor over the Particular Baptist church at Wains- 
 gate, a village in the vicinity of Birchcliff, and fixed his residence 
 at that place. A congenial taste for literature and equal zeal for 
 religion soon produced an intimacy between these two ministers, 
 which, notwithstanding their dift'erence of sentiments on points 
 of doctrine, ripened into a friendship that was never interrupted 
 through the course of their long lives. They cordially co-operated 
 in their attempts for the good of their neighbours; and frequently 
 consulted on the best means of improving their character. 
 Among other schemes for this purpose, in the beginning of 1769, 
 they united their influence in the establishing of a Book Society, 
 on a general plan, at Heptonstall. In reference to this institution 
 Mr. T. observes in his diary, January 29, 1769, " To-day, 
 several of us have been engaged in establishing a circulating 
 society. May it be of real use : and may the blessed God enable 
 me more simply and sincerely to seek his glory in all things I 
 do." These prayers were answered : the society was very 
 useful in carrying forward the improvement in the manners and 
 knowledge of the inhabitants, and gave rise to many similar 
 institutions in adjacent neighbourhoods. The pious and intelli- 
 gent ministers who formed the plan, were careful to secure a 
 selection of books proper for general reading ; which chiefly 
 consisted of works on divinity, biography, travels, 8cc. and took 
 frequent opportunities of instructing their friends in the mosf 
 beneficial mode of using them. Some time after the formation 
 of this institution, Mr. T. delivered a discourse to the members 
 upon " the Uses to be made of Knowledge." 
 
 But this good understanding between the pastors did not pre- 
 vent their flocks from occasional squabbles. They would some- 
 
33 REV. II. FOSTER. [1769* 
 
 times contend respecting the points on whicli they diftered ; and 
 it seems that their contentions liad produced quarrels. Their 
 pious pastors observed with deep regret the interruption of 
 harmony which these debates occasioned, and the injury which 
 vital and personal religion sustained from them ; and mutually 
 agreed, that each would preach against them, on July 9, 1769. 
 This they did : and Mr. T. observes, " From what has been 
 represented to me, both discourses took good eft'ect, and will be 
 succeeded as instrumental in making peace:" ad(Hug, with 
 evident sincerity of gratitude, " Glory be to God for all mercies; 
 but especially for so good-natured and peaceable a neighbour as 
 ]\Ir. Fawcett!" 
 
 When Divine Providence had separated these good men, they 
 maintained a friendly correspondence, and communicated to 
 each other their literary productions. Mr. T. seldom visited 
 Yorkshire without contriving, amidst all his other engagements, 
 to find leisure to preach at least once for liis friend, Dr. Fawcett. 
 The w riter of these Memoirs will not easily forget the satisfac- 
 tion both parties evinced on spending a day together, in 1814, 
 when the Association was at Birchclitf. The Doctor survived 
 his friend little more than eight months; dying, July 2j, 1817, 
 in the seventy-seventh year of his age. 
 
 These worthy men had a common friend in the Rev. H. F'oster, 
 afterwards a very celebrated divine of the established church. 
 This gentleman was a native of those parts, and then a student 
 at Oxford. When he came into the country to spend liis vaca- 
 tions, he contracted a friendship for Messrs. Fawcett and Taylor. 
 These three young men were in the habit of meeting regularl}'-, 
 three or four times in the week, either at Mr. Fawcett's or 
 Mr. Taylor's, to improve their knowledge of divinity, read the 
 classics and cultivate other branches of learning. These friendly 
 conferences were doubtless highly advantageous to all parties: 
 the young Oxonian being able to assist his self-instructed friends 
 in their philological pursuits; while they, having been longer en- 
 gaged in the affairs of religion and the work of the ministry, would 
 " expound to him the way of God more .perfectly." Messrs. 
 Taylor and F'oster were afterwards both settled in London; and 
 maintained their friendship till the deaUi of the latter, mIio de- 
 j)aited this life, May 2(3, 1814; aged sixty-nine years. 
 
 Jt ha;s already been mentioned, that, dining this period, the 
 
1769.] MR. G. BIRLRY. 33 
 
 subject of these pages kept a school. It was indeed in its in- 
 fancy, and consisted chieHy of young children of both sexos. 
 The frequent absence of the master on his rehgious engagements 
 probably prevented its rapid increase; and it appears to have 
 been conducted nearly in the manner that is usual in schools o f 
 that class. He experienced the painful discouragements of which 
 every conscientious schoolmaster is too sensible, and often, in his 
 diary, complains of " trials from stubborn boys;" but doubtless 
 he frequently tasted that sincere pleasure which a mind like his 
 would enjoy in beholding his efforts for the good of his pupils 
 crowned with success. One method which he adopted for this 
 purpose ought to be recorded for the imitation of others. When 
 the business of the day was finished, he prayed with the children 
 before he dismissed them; and gave them a subject to think of 
 or consult their friends upon, and to bring him an answer next 
 morning. The subjects were generally of a religious nature; 
 such as " What does such a passage of scripture mean?" What 
 is the signification of this expression in the Lord's prayer, 
 " Hallowed be thy name?" It is obvious how much this method 
 would tend to fix their attention, exercise their intellectual 
 powers, and enlarge their stock of knowledge. 
 
 The various avocations of Mr. T. rendered it necessary that 
 he should have an assistant, who could be always in the school 
 and supply his place. During part of the period now under re- 
 view^, this station was occupied by Mr. G. Birley, who after- 
 wards settled at St. Ives, as the pastor of the General Baptist 
 church in that town ; and for many years conducted, with ability 
 and success, a respectable boarding school. As that gentleman 
 is still living, it would be indecorous to expatiate on this part of 
 our subject; but justice requires that a biographer of Mr. D. 
 Taylor should record that Esteem and affeclion which mutually 
 existed between these two ministers, during the future part of 
 their lives; and the veneration and tender respect with which the 
 survivor cherishes the memory of his deceased friend. The most 
 unequivocal proofs of reciprocal attachment will abound in the 
 course of these Memoirs. Mr. B. resided at Birchcliff from 
 August 176 J to March 1768. 
 
 Soon after Mr. B. left Yorkshire, the subject of these pages 
 was occasionally assisted in his school by Mr. J. Sutcliff, to 
 whom he taught the rudiments of the latin language; and was 
 
 E 
 
34 " RULES FOR HEALTH." [1769. 
 
 useful in the concerns of religion. Mr. S. joined Mr. Fawcett's 
 church in his youth, and from thence was sent to pursue his studies 
 at Bristol Academy. For many years, he presided with much 
 reputation over the Particular Baptist Society at Olney, and was 
 the zealous co-adjutor of Mr. Fuller in his missionary labours. 
 Mr. T. corresponded with this young friend while at the academy; 
 and encouraged him to a steady pursuit of the noblest objects. 
 In after life, when his journeys led him within reach of Olney, he 
 seldom failed to visit his former assistant; and frequently, in 
 his letters, speaks of " passing sweet and useful hours with his 
 excellent friend, Mr. S." \Vhen the latter visited London he 
 usually called on Mr. T.; and once, if not oftener, preached foF 
 him at Church-lane. This valuable man died, June 22, 1814. 
 
 We cannot close this section without one reflection, which has 
 constantly forced itself upon us in tracing the transactions of this 
 period. There must certainly have been something truly excel- 
 lent and amiable in the character of a man, who thus attracted 
 the attention and secured the friendship of the wise and good of 
 all parties ^^ith whom he had intercourse. 
 
 Towards the close of this period or in the beginning of the 
 next, our author published ^' Hides and Obsertatio)is for the 
 Enjoyment of Health and Long Lfe; extracted from the cele- 
 brated Dr. Cheyne's Essay on Health and Long Life." His 
 motives for stepping into a subject so foreign to his professional 
 pursuits are thus explained: — " Dr. Cheyne's Essay is, in my 
 humble opinion, a book which ought to have a place in every 
 family. But as the book is scarce, the philosophical reasonings 
 abstruse, and the technical phrases peculiar to the art of medicine, 
 I imagined a small extract from it might be very profitable to 
 those who have neither much money to lay out, nor time nor ca- 
 ))acity to read some parts of the essay itself. I have therefore 
 ventured to throw these few pages among the lower ranks of my 
 poor fellow-creatures; with an ardent wish, that, through the 
 blessing of God, they may be restrained from those excesses and 
 irregularities which are, at once, so fatal in their consequences 
 both to body and soul." Though this pamphlet is tlius pro- 
 fessedly designed for the use of those in tiie lower ranks of life, 
 yet many of the observations refer to the studious, the sedentary 
 and the luxurious; characters not so frequently found in that class 
 of society. We presunjc not to examine the truth of the obscrva- 
 
176:^.1 DIARY. ;^5 
 
 tions or propriety of the rules; but tlouhtless iho good Doctor's 
 opinions were recommended to our zealous buptist by his praise« 
 of cold-bathing, and his recognition o( immersion as the ancient 
 and proper mode of baptizing. 
 
 Section II. Mr. Taylor's progress in personal religion and 
 Jitncss for the minislerial and pastoral duties, during the 
 first ten years of his public labours; illustrated by Extracts 
 from his Diary. 
 
 As it was during the first years of Mr. T's. ministry, that the 
 foundation of his future eminence and usefulness was laid, it will 
 be interesting and instructive to trace his progress and the means 
 which his heavenly Father adopted to prepare him for his service. 
 We are happy in possessing a Diary which he kept at that time, 
 which will enable us to make this attempt with more success. 
 Though it was evidently never intended to meet the eye of the 
 public, yet it contains such a genuine picture of the exercises of 
 his soul, and abounds with so many lessons of admonition and 
 instruction, that we are persuaded no apology is necessary for 
 inserting liberal extracts from it. We expect that many \\ill 
 esteem them tlie most interesting part of the volume. 
 
 The root of all religious excellence, whether as private chris- 
 tians or ministers, being personal piety, we shall, in the tirst 
 place, select some passages iihistrative of his great care to pro- 
 mote the growth of grace '\\\ his own soul. These \\ ill atJtord 
 abundant evidence — how carefully he watched over his temper aLid 
 conduct— with what severity he marked his imperfections and 
 errors before his Maker in secret — with what earnestness he 
 sought for pardon and grace — widi what sacred jealousy ho 
 noted the first workings of those iiinful depravities to which his 
 natural constitution or the circumstances in which he was called 
 to act peculiarly exposed him — how frequently and how scrupu- 
 lously he examined his evidence of an interest in Christ and ad- 
 vance in divine life — how assiduously he laboured to correct every 
 thin«i in which he thou<i,ht hinself defective — and how anxious 
 he was to extract lessons of correction and improvement from 
 his own failings. Tliesc extracts will, it is presumed^ afibrd 
 
^ ANXIETY TO PROMOTE [1764^. 
 
 useful admonition and support to conscientious christians in 
 similar circumstances. Nor Avill the doubts and fears that at 
 times overclouded this good man's prospects and drove him to the 
 borders of despair, be without their advantage; especially when 
 connected with the means by which he was enabled to regain the 
 enjoyment of peace and joy in believing. 
 
 " August 3, 1 764. This morning, I had a happy submissive 
 frame. 1 have lately had some struggles with a proud spirit, 
 which led me to wish almost that others might not prosper in the 
 labours of preaching. I think I have gotten over it in some good 
 degree; yet I am afraid that it is only for fear of some judgment 
 from God, not simply out of love to him, his cause, and work. 
 
 cursed deceitful heart I" 
 
 " 28. This day, I am convinced of my too-much self 
 
 indulgence as well as omission of duty. 1 see in myself much 
 inactivity of mind, and dullness and deadness of soul. I wish to 
 see more of my emptiness and unworthiness. O proud heart ! 
 This afternoon my mind was much stirred up to be more earnest 
 with God. I think I saw that I had some humility; but O ! how 
 little!" 
 
 " 29. This morning I indulged myself too long in bed, 
 
 which brought some guilt on my mind. I see the devil uses all 
 means to prevent me from cleaving to the Lord." 
 
 " 31. I have this day tried myself by some of the marks 
 
 of the reality of faith, laid down by Mr. Erskine; which has been 
 profitable; they being I hope found in me. I have been taught 
 the necessity of getting a clear evidence, and of pressing this 
 necessity on others: seeing without it we cannot, with confidence, 
 claim the promises." 
 
 ** September 3. Reflecting on some inadvertent steps which 
 
 1 had taken, I was led to think, that the Lord is pleased some- 
 jtimes to permit us to take such steps, in order that we may re- 
 flect upon them and be humbled under our folly." 
 
 " 8. This evening, I have had to speak to J. A. about 
 
 neglecting family prayer. 1 found myself much perplexed in the 
 case. Oh! what an ignorant creature am L' and what a great 
 work is the ministry ! This evening, I have been nmch oppressed 
 with guilt, darkness of mind and fear; yet upon the whole I 
 t^iink I have, though in a small degree, the marks of God's child. 
 
1764.] PERSONAL RKLIGION. 37 
 
 O! how glad I am, at such seasons, to lay hold of a little evi- 
 dence! to have a place though the lowest! I am too remiss: 
 Lord, quicken me! O what spiritual pride, what sell-sufticicncy 
 do I feel in my heart!" 
 
 " Sep. 9. This morning, my mind is still sensible of guilt 
 and fear; nor can I get deliverance from it. I find my soul much 
 disarmed and disabled; cannot apply the promises, except Matt. 
 V. G, which has been of some use to me. Bless the Lord! I, 
 this morning, in the name, strength and awful presence of God, 
 determine to be more watchful and live more devoted to God. 
 Lord, be my helper!" 
 
 " 15. This day I have been much filled with doubts 
 
 and scruples of mind; have read Mr. Venn on Repentance, and I 
 think, I find something of it in me; yet cannot get above doubt. 
 I have thought to-day that one proof of a truly upright soul is, 
 that he will do every thing, in secret as well as openly, which he 
 thinks will tend to his soul's good or redound to God's glory. 
 Lord, help me ! I have not been so watchful over my tongue as 
 I should have been. To-day I have learnt, L That when chris- 
 tians meet they should beware their discourse does not turn on 
 trifles. 2, That they make not too free with the names of others. 
 
 what deceitfulness and pride have I seen in my heart to day ! 
 3, When together they should beware of lightness." 
 
 " 16. This day, I have been much perplexed with 
 
 doubt as to my state. I think I have some reason to believe that 
 the devil has a hand in it, especially on a Saturday (a day in which 
 
 1 am often much beset with it) in order to keep me from fixin«- 
 on the work of the study as I ought." 
 
 " 18. This afternoon I have been made sensible that 
 
 I am really under a declension of soul. I am much in darkness, 
 and see a vile wicked heart. I have little evidence of grace; 
 yet I have been trying my repentance again by Mr. Venn's marks, 
 and hope that I am not wholly destitute. I here and now freely 
 acknowledge the divine goodness in withholding comfort from me, 
 and shewing me my barrenness. O that I may never rest till my soul 
 is more alive to God and my evidence clearer! 1 now, throutrh 
 divine grace, surrender myself into his hands. May I never more 
 serve myself, but earnestly, steadily, heartily seek his glorv; and 
 leave it to his infinite wisdom to dispose of me, as to comforts, 
 as he pleaseth. Lord, help !' 
 
38 ANXIETY TO PROMOTE [1764. 
 
 " Sep. 25. This morning, my doubts returned, and my 
 mind was restless, so that I could not well sleep. I arose soon, 
 felt submission, some degree of fervour in prayer and an earnest 
 desire tliat the Lord would search and try my reins and my heart. 
 Read Dr. Doddridge's and Mr. Bunyan's marks of grace; and 
 tliink, after self-examination, that I am possessed of them; yet 
 find no power to rest satisfied, no clear evidence of my interest 
 in Christ. My former sins are presented to my view in all their 
 abominableness. I perceive, not that 1 feel terror of mind, but 
 I hope some degree of humility; and can well justify God should 
 he condemn me. I feel an earnest desire to devote myself to 
 God for tlie future, though he never shine on me more. I fear 
 to fall into sin again should my life be continued; and have this 
 forenoon felt a wish rather to die now. O that, from this mo- 
 ment, my all may be the Lord's. I think I have this day learnt, 
 that a truly humbled sinner will rather bear his trouble than have 
 it falsely taken away ; and desires it may be laid on severely and 
 kept on continually, till taken away by Christ's blood eyed by 
 faith. 1 feel a desire and some power to bless God for troubling 
 my conscience for my sins. O may it be continued and increase 
 as he pleases, till it bring me to his sovereign feet for grace and 
 mercy, and strip me of self and pride! I'his afternoon I have 
 read Bunyan on the way whereby a sinner is brought to God 5 
 and find that it agrees with my own experience. Glory be to 
 God! O may 1 henceforth serve him with all my heart. May 
 sin, which so often fills my mind with darkness, never more have 
 dominion over me! \et even this evening my heart was full ot 
 proud and light thoughts. But I trust I received some strength 
 to withstand them; and was humbled for them in prayer." 
 
 " December 8. To-day, by the desire of vain glory, which 
 has too much place in me, I see how difficult it is to perform 
 good works, whether of piety towards God, charity towards men, 
 or temperance to myself, without making it appear to the world, 
 To deliver me from this spirit, Lord, work in me a stronger love 
 to thee, a greater sense of my unworthiness, and more clear and 
 believing views of eternity. Malt. vi. 16 — r-19. Lord give me 
 ^Ir. Henry's !?eriousness, zeul and courage." 
 
 ** '■ 1(3. '1 his morning [ am sensible of two thiniis 
 
 wherein 1 am faulty, in which, through divine grace I determine 
 to amend. 1, 1 walch not, as I ought, over my heart.— Prov, 
 
17()5.] PERSONAL RELIGION. 39 
 
 iv* 23, 2, I am not so diligent 'and cartful, as I ought t<j be, in 
 llie duly of self-examination. — 2 Cor. xiii. G." 
 
 " Dec. 3\. Tliis evening, being despised, as I thouglit, bv 
 a young man of note, by whom I have formerly been esteemed, 
 my ])iide discovered itself in an extraordinary manner. I ihiuk, 
 it was matter of humiliation to me afterwards. I pray for 
 humility; but would have the Lord hundjle me my own way, 
 by love. Lord, make me willing to be humbled tliy Nvay, thougli 
 by thy rod." 
 
 " February 10, 1765. This morning, taking a walk out for 
 meditation, 1 think I had a very clear sight of the goodness of 
 Ciod in keeping me in a low, mean condition. Self and pride 
 are very strong in me. Lord humble me and make me w illing to 
 be humbled thine ow n way!" 
 
 " 27. This evening, having to preach at J . H's, being 
 
 in a good frame and encouraged by seeing how many come tt> 
 hear the word, how strong did spiritual pride work ; but glory be 
 to God! I was enabled to strive and pray against it. I had much 
 liberty in preaching from Psalm Iv. 22. After preaching I felt 
 the workings of the same evil. Even in telling some of my 
 experiences and trials to a few friends, I felt a secret rising of 
 pride that I had these to tell of. Deceitful heart ! Who could 
 have thoufjlit it ;" 
 
 " xApril ]- Through die divine aid of the blessed God, I 
 resolve and engage this day to set myself, and all my powers, to 
 oppose the sin of pride, and every thing which I think has a 
 tendency to promote, strengthen or encourage it, in thought, 
 word or deed. Lord, be my helper." " I have lately observed 
 several peevish tempers in me, w hich led me to resolve on things 
 imprudently; and which, if 1 had had an opportunity of executing 
 them, Avould have been hurtful. Whence I learn the necessity 
 of being aware of this temper; and if I find it gets place in me, 
 to withdraw immediately, and if possible, speak of nothing till 
 I can think and speak more sedately. Lord, help!" 
 
 " March 4. This morning perceiving in myself, as I thought, 
 something which has been in some of my relations, as symptoms 
 of approaching death, I was called to rejoice, thinking that I was 
 perh.aps near my end. I think, if the Lord will, I should be 
 be glad to do somewhat more for him ; but 1 tind nothing of 
 weight with me to give me reluctance to dying, but the present 
 
40 ANXIETY TO PROMOTE [1765. 
 
 State of my bi:etliren ; and tlie Lord can provide. I love my 
 ^vife, but God can provide for her too !" 
 
 " April 4. I have had much awakening of mind by reading 
 a letter written by a minister — visiting a sick person — talking 
 with friends. The Lord's name be praised! But I was con- 
 demned in my mind for making too free with the name of another. 
 How often do I resolve against this sin. Lord, humble and 
 pardon !" 
 
 " 10. O what carelessness, deadness and backwardness 
 
 to prayer. Lord, humble and quicken me! This day, I again 
 resolve, through divine aid, (but oh! how little do I keep my re- 
 solutions. Lord, enable me to keep them better!) to watch and 
 fight against pride, that darling, though great and abominable sin : 
 to watch against it in all its appearances, and whatever leads to 
 it, as being grievous to God, quenching to the spirit, and most 
 pernicious to the soul. Lord, help me! O deceitful heart! O 
 vain creature! What have I to be proud of? Nought but sin." 
 
 *' May 10. To-day w^e have had a day of fasting and prayer; 
 and I believe not without some humblings and quickenings of 
 soul. I hope, I have endeavoured to examine myself; and oh f 
 what deadness of affection ! what pride ! what trifling in prayer I 
 how little zeal for God! how much of what I should not, and 
 how little of what I should feel within me! Lord humble and 
 pardon me, and enable me more fully to give up myself to thee. 
 I thank the Lord, I have reason to believe that my brethren 
 are pretty lively." 
 
 " July 16. To-day my darkness has continued. I have 
 examined myself by Wilkie's and Doddridge's Thoughts of Grace • 
 and have found some evidence, I trust, of its being wrought in 
 me; but could not still take the satisfaction my soul desired. I 
 have met with singular advantage in reading Doddridge's Rise 
 and Progress, chap. 24. The Lord be blest for such books; but 
 especially the precious bible. I have sometimes thought of, and 
 been ready to compare myself with Francis Spira. At others, 
 I have been ready to say with Job, * 1'hough he slay me, yet 
 will I trust in him ;' resolved, if I perish, to perish at his feet.' 
 This evening I had some profitable conversation with sister S — 
 who informed me, that the great and gracious Mr. F. was lately 
 in the same case. The Lord be blest for his supporting hand !" 
 
 " July C4. I hope to day T have been blest \yith an humble 
 
1765.] PERSONAL RELIGION. 41 
 
 waiting frame. I trust, tliat by the grace of the hlossctl Goil, 1 
 shall be able to make a wise improvement of tlie Lord's late 
 withdrawmcnt from me; in seeking to liave a more huml)le sense 
 of my own weakness — the evil of sin — and the necessity of cleav- 
 ing to the Lord. 1 shall be more established in my trust in God, 
 and better able to speak to others. The I^ord be blest for liis 
 rod! O that I could but learn to go to the Lord's work, simply 
 as an instrument in the Lord's hand; and to look to him and de- 
 pend on him for support and success. Lord ! help." 
 
 " July 26. To-day my mind has been a good deal sunk with 
 thoughts of things relating to our church, &c. I want more 
 faith in God. 1 was somewhat strenothened this evenino- in 
 prayer. O ! how strange it is that I should feel, more especially 
 that I should indulge, a backwardness to this known, necessary, 
 and profitable duty. Lord, help, awake and enable me to be 
 more earnest in it for the future! Thou-'h I think, I endeavour 
 to keep my heart fixed upon God, and often to breathe out my 
 wants to him, yet 1 find it absolutely necessary to have often 
 stated times to lift up my voice as well as my heart to God. I 
 find the enemy busy to keep me from this." 
 
 " • 29. To-day I think need not be reckoned among the 
 
 days of my life, for I do not know that I have eidier done or re- 
 ceived much good; only had pretty much liberty in the evening 
 in praying with a sick man." 
 
 " September 27. To-day I set apart as much time as I con- 
 veniently can for fasting and prayer, to the following ends: 
 
 I. To confess and humble myself for my sins. They are many; 
 L I have especial reason to be humbled for the mother of abomi- 
 nations, pride; that accursed evil which so much besets me, and 
 so often too muck overcomes me, especially after liberty in 
 preaching. 1 Tun. iii. 6. 2, Lightness of mind. How much 
 have I of this! how ill does it become a minister of the gospel! 
 1 Tim. iii. 4. 3, Too soon angry. Tit. i. 7. 4, Too slothful 
 in business, in prayer and in study. 2 Tim. ii. 1.5. 1 Tlni. iv. 
 13, 14. 5, Too much indulgence of the flesh, especially with 
 sleep. 2 Tim. ii. S. G, Too often, especially formerly, for which 
 I have reason to be humbled, indulged sinful thoughts. 7, My 
 conversation among friends too trifling, and on things not the 
 most profitable. 8, I fear I am too fond of the praise of men, 
 not the praise of God. 9; I am too forgetful of mercies. 
 
 F 
 
42 ANXIETY TO PROMOTE [1765. 
 
 II. To implore the pardon of these and all my other sins; and 
 grace to conquer temptations to them for the future, and to seek 
 an increase of the opposite graces. 
 
 III. To inn)lore the following particular favours: 1, If the 
 Lord please, that T may be blest with such a degree of health 
 and streno-th of body and such endowments of mind, that I may 
 mana«^c and go through every part of my work, as a minister, to 
 the olory of his name, to the honour of his gospel and the satis- 
 faction of his people. 2, More light into, and knowledge of his 
 word, and wisdom to illustrate and improve the truths of it; re- 
 concile difficulties and seeming contradictions in it; that I may 
 be directed to such a method of handling it, that I may be able 
 to suit my discourses to the circumstances of those to whom I 
 speak : that God \vould so succeed my labours that his name may 
 be much glorified; his cause, well defended; his truth, propo- 
 gated; his ways, embraced; his children, established; and many 
 souls, converted. 3, More compassion for poor sinners, more 
 concern for the low state and drooping condition of religion, and 
 the abounding of errors in principle and practice which is too 
 evident: a more single eye to God's glory and more simple de- 
 pendance on him in my work than I have. 4, That God would 
 preserve me in a spirit of candour and moderation; and would 
 keep me from the dangerous extremes and errors of this age of 
 folly and vanity; simply attending to his w'ord, and earnest at a 
 throne of crace for direction and instruction in it. 5, A clearer 
 evidence of my interest in Christ and more freedom from unne- 
 cessary doubts. 6, That God would bless my wife, daughter,, 
 other relations, religious friends, at home and distant, with need- 
 ful, temporal and spiritual supplies. 7, Greater thankfulness 
 for the liveliness that is so evident among my dear brethren, and 
 the awakening there seems to be among others, and to pray to 
 God that he would increase it. 
 
 I think I resolve against all the above-mentioned sins; and 
 would be sincere in seeking the above graces; but ah! what 
 dullness of mind! how much of what 1 should not be! how little 
 of what I ,should be! I would once more resolve to make a sur- 
 render of my all to God; and would pray, ' Lord, by what means 
 thou seest best, graciously make me what I should be/ 
 
 Dan Taylok." 
 
1765,] PERSONAL RELIGION. 43 
 
 " October 7. To-day, I hope, I have been blest with .some 
 victory over that destructive evil to which I am so mucli addicted 
 a light and frothy spirit. Tiie Lord be blest." 
 
 " • 22. This evening, I have been emj)]oyed in the 
 
 work of self examination by sevend marks of Christianity in 
 Dr. Doddridge; and especially by Psalm xv. and blessed be the 
 Lord, I think I have some reason to hope that they belong to 
 me. I am the most condemned by verse J. 1 think 1 would 
 not, for any reward, injure the character and reputation of ano- 
 ther; but 1 doubt I have not that tender regard for it, that I 
 should have. Lord help and pardon!" 
 
 " 29. This morning, T had great liberty in studying 
 
 the word. O ! how good to be soon in the morning at this worki 
 This evening, upon examination, I doubt my mind is not suitably 
 impressed with a sense of the value of precious time. 2, Nor 
 sufficiently resolute in pursuit of one subject. Havino- several 
 things about me, I am too soon diverted from one thing to another. 
 3, I indulge too much curiosity in reading new and even trilling- 
 authors. 4, I doubt, whether 1 am not too nice and curious in 
 the pulpit; of which my brother Thompson has sometimes told 
 me: my hearers are unlearned, N.B. 5, I often protract my 
 discourse too long. Asa christian — how little zeal for God ! love 
 to precious souls! how littl<3 of that mind which was iu Christ 
 Jesus. 1 doubt whether I take sudicient time to ponder the 
 path of my own feet. As these and such things have not only a 
 bad influence on my own soul, but also on the souls of others, I 
 desire to be humbled for them ; and may God, by his grace, en- 
 ;ible me to overcome and amend tliem." 
 
 '' December 13. I hope I have this day enjoyed some en- 
 livening visits from the Giver of every good gift. This evening, 
 I have been examining my state, by Mr. Walker's Account of 
 the New Creature and Dr. Reynolds on a Work of Grace; and, 
 blessed be God, I have good evidence that my state is safe. Lord, 
 help me to rejoice in thee and to glorify thee. As a preacher, I 
 have read Mr. Ilervey's Accomit of the Puritans whom the Lord 
 oreatly succeeded in their labours. 1 bless God, I trust that he 
 has taught me something of it. It is such preaching at w Inch I 
 aim. Lord, help and succeed me ! As to my life and behaviour, 
 I have examined it this eveninii". I trust that 1 know sonic ihino- 
 <^f the christian's life; and feel an earnest desire to attain to it 
 
 r 2 
 
44 ANXIETY TO PROMOTK [1767. 
 
 more effectually. But here how defective! Lord, quicken me 
 ill tliy way!" 
 
 "January 10, 1/67. This evening, having examined myself 
 as to my love, by 1 Cor. xiii. and Mr. Bennett's discourse upon 
 it, I trust I have reason to bless God for a little measure of it; 
 but, ah! how little! Lord, work in me more powerfully, and in- 
 crease my grace of this and every other kind ; and humble me 
 for, and pardon, my defects and neglects through Christ my 
 baviour. 
 
 " • 28. O wliat an evil heart I have! 1 heard of a minister 
 
 of Christ who was succeeded in his labours, and was different 
 from me in some sentiments. O! how unwilling was my cursed 
 j)roud heart to allow it! Lord, I think, I would not indulge 
 such a spirit. Graciously pardon it, and enable me to overcome 
 
 it. 
 
 " February 13. Much of this day I have spent in thinking 
 concerning the Trinity and the person of the blessed Jesus. But 
 what a subject! how suited to humble our natural pride! Lord, 
 humble me more!" 
 
 J^ 14. To-day I have employed in meditating on the 
 
 same sublime and mysterious subjects; and O! how many per- 
 plexing questions arise in my mind. Yet I have had some hap- 
 piness in the work, and a sweet dependance on the God of 
 wisdom. I trust, I have been enabled by faith to plead, at the 
 throne of grace, James i. 5. Blest be the Lord for that text! 
 Lord, hel;) me to make a good use of it. This evening, after 
 self examination and prayer, 1 trust I know something of Chris- 
 tianity; and feel a longing to know more of it, and a desire to 
 be humbled for any defect. Lord, humble and quicken me!" 
 
 " 17. This morning, I had tolerable liberty in the 
 
 morning exercise; and my wife's prayer before family worship 
 was affecting, and, I trust, profitable to me. Since my marriage, 
 I have gone through several parts of the bible several times, in 
 family worship; but I now think it my duty to take the whole 
 bible before me, and begin this morning. Why should not my 
 wife and any that mny come under my roof, be in!?tructed ineveiy 
 part of what the Lord hath spoken:" 
 
 " AprW 7. This morning, i was in meditation, convinced, that 
 I am too negligent in w atchiug over my heart and tongue, and in 
 communing with my own heart and with God. Lord, humble and 
 
1768.] PERSONAL RKLIGIOIf. 45 
 
 pardon, and quicken my slu-^gish soul. I trust, 1 have cnjoycni 
 some degree of vvarmness of mind towards God, more than for- 
 merly, to-day. The Lord awaken me more." 
 
 "j^pril 14. Upon reflection on past behaviour, this evening, 
 I am conscious that I am too formal in duty and do not suf- 
 ficiently labour with my heart to keep it in a suitable frame. 
 O! how abominable to trifle with the great and good God!" 
 
 '' May 24. This morning, my mind was much set at liberty 
 in prayer: it was sweet exercise to me. Blessed be the Lord! 
 I had some useful conversation with my beloved brother and 
 friend, Mr. Favvcett, concerning ministerial exercises, and the 
 frame of our minds in them." 
 
 " July 4. This morning, reading and talking about the study 
 of the scriptures has, I trust, been of use to my mind. Thanks 
 be to God for all his mercies! 1 trust, my mind has been some- 
 what moved towards God, and aflected before him all the day. 
 But O! what reason have 1 to complain of a stupid insensible 
 unaftected mind! Lord, I adore thee, that thou hast promised 
 to take away the stony heart and give me an heart of flesh. 
 O ! accomplish thy word unto thy servant, wherein thou hast 
 caused him to trust." 
 
 " August 1. This morning, having set apart some time for 
 prayer, examination and meditation, with abstinence, I trust my 
 mind was inflamed with ardent desire more exactly to imitate and 
 to be more entirely conformed to our blessed Lord and Saviour, 
 Jesus Christ. O! how divinely amiable the pattern. But, O 
 how far short of it do I come! Lord quicken n)e according to 
 thy word, and make me more alive to thee by Christ Jesus!" 
 
 " May 12, 1768. To-day, I have been much beset with a 
 peevish, ill, unhappy temper. The Lord pardon it, and give me 
 more complete victory over it. I generally find religious exer- 
 cises have a tendency to solemnize my spirits and raise my mind 
 up to the Lord. O Lord, I bless thee for liberty to attend to 
 thee and upon thee. IMay my soul delight in doing it; and may 
 1 ever draw near with humble boldness." 
 
 " August 25. I still find it good for me to draw near to God; 
 but I have much tossing at present about many concerns, and 
 perhaps may be sometimes too careless in catching opportu- 
 nities for it. Yet, I trust, I would not be so ; Lord, pardon me 
 it I am. And, Lord, may I ever prize so great a favour for thy 
 name's sake!' 
 
45 ANXIETY TO PROMOTE [1771. 
 
 " June 25. Several days past have been days of great labour, 
 toil, and hurry, with me; and I have reason to fear that I have 
 not taken time enough for private devotion. But, through grace, 
 I this morning determine to pay more constant and resolute re- 
 gard to it. Lord, help me. Yesterday was a mortifying hum- 
 bling day. I preached three times, with a mind very dark ; but I 
 trust that I sincerely bless God for it, this morning. I hope it 
 will be a means of quickening my soul to cleave to the Lord 
 more, and to be more careful in examining and watching over my 
 own heart. Lord, of thy grace keep me near to thee, by thine 
 own means. Chasten, correct and mortify me, any way rather 
 than let me depart from thee." 
 
 " April 20, 1769. I hope I have enjoyed some real nearness 
 to the Lord the last eleven days, though I have not taken proper 
 time to note down my experiences. But whatever pain I am put 
 to, or however throng I am, I think I had better take time for 
 that; and would humbly propose to do it, and to be more close 
 in the work of self-examination and watchfulness over my own 
 heart. O Lord, make me to live like a christian in all things'." 
 
 ** June 15. I had good liberty in preaching twice to day to 
 a crowded auditory; glory to God for it; but 1 had much dark' 
 ness of mind after, till, in self-examination and prayer, I was in 
 some measure delivered. Glory be to Godl" 
 
 " 26. I believe my darkness chiefly arises from three 
 
 causes: i, Too much formality. 2, Too much trifling or want 
 of earnestnesi? for duty and in duty. 3, Too great a thirst for 
 learning which I fear employs my mind too much, and makes it 
 too cold towards God and religion. But I desire this morninir. 
 O thou heart-searchnig God, to give up myself afresh to thee, 
 to watch against these things, and pray that I may enjoy strength 
 and quickening grace from thee, that, for the remainder of my 
 time, my whole heart may be given up to thee, and that I may 
 walk with thee to more perfection." 
 
 " November 30, 1771. Some accounts of harsh speeches and 
 thoughts from my brethren. Lord, help me to be strong in 
 faith, giving glory to thee: and O! that I may do all in love, 
 without prejudice or retaliation!" 
 
 In order to promote his own cdiflcatlon, as well as to do what 
 he thought duty rc([uircd, wc iiiid him, in conformity to the exam-^- 
 
1765.1 PERSONAL RELIGION. 47 
 
 pie and advice of many cniliicnt christians, ctitcrii)<r into solemn 
 covenant with the Lord ; and expressly devoting liiniself, and all his 
 powers and faculties, to his service. The following extracts arc 
 of this nature; and will shew how serious and interesting these 
 transactions were. 
 
 " 1764 — December 28. This morninjr, I had some humblin^s 
 of heart from a sense of my past sins and present im|>erfections- 
 and neglects. Lord! humble me to the dust, give me to see all 
 the odious and abominable nature of every sin. IMay I abhor it 
 and fly from it as I would from the face of a serpent. This day, 
 the 28th of September, at almost ten o'clock in the forenooo, 
 upon my knees, in my chamber, I resolve, through divine grace, 
 in the name of Jesus, to make a surrender of all I have or am, 
 to be devoted wholly and intirely in doing and suffering in the 
 service of God and the setting forth his praise and glory; to be 
 more resigned under cross providences, more watchful over my 
 heart, words and actions; more earnest in seeking the good of 
 poor souls, both in public and private; more diligent in every 
 part of my work; more constant and fervent in my devotions; 
 more earnest in endeavouring after every christian temper and 
 increase in it; more serious in my constant behaviour. My study 
 in all things shall be to act as becometh the gospel, and tlie 
 capacity in which I stand towards God and his people. Lord I 
 help me to keep with thee to my life's end ; and, if I neglect in 
 any of these things. Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in 
 thine anger lest thou bring me to nothing. 
 
 Signed, in the name of Jesus; and resolved upon in the 
 strength of the blessed S])irit, this day, in this place and postine, 
 by me, D \N Taylor." 
 
 " I7G.5 — ^Tay 3. I am now moderately recovered from a dis- 
 order. 1 have felt a great decline in health, I think, seven days; 
 and one dny and two nights the disorder has been a little severe. 
 I think, 1 have had moderate satisfaction with regard to my state, 
 as beino- enabled to repose some decree of confidence in the dear 
 Redeemer. Nor do 1 know diat my conversation in general can 
 be much blamed, eidier by friends or enemies. But I have not 
 been so exact, punctual and conscientious in aj^proving myself to 
 God and convcrsini.^; with him in secret, and constanllv exaniinin;:^ 
 
48 ANXIETY TO PROMOTE [1765. 
 
 HI}' heart, and all my thoughts, words and works before him, as 
 I ought to have been. Lord! here I stand much reproved before 
 thee. I would own it. I pray to see all the evil of it. I desire 
 to be truly humbled for it. Lord! with regard to this and every 
 thing else, search and try my deceitful heart. I thank my good 
 and gracious God, 1 have had several very clear and convincing 
 proofs, that the Lord has made my poor worthless labours pro- 
 fitable to many souls; and that my brethren are much knit in 
 affection to me as an instrument in the divine hand : whence I 
 conclude that the many racking and distracting doubts and scru- 
 ples I have had with regard to these things are chiefly from the 
 enemy. Oh gracious God; I would once more, in the name of 
 Jesus Christ, through whom alone my best works and resolutions 
 can be accepted, through the aid of the blessed Spirit, by whom 
 alone I am sufficient for any thing, I would once more resolve 
 to give myself more to thee than ever I have done, to be more 
 constant and conscientious, and more earnest with and before 
 thee in private. I would here, O Lord, disregarding friends or 
 foes, my own desires or my own interest, or any thing else which 
 may stand in competition with thy will concerning me, and my 
 duty towards thee; here I would, this third day of May, resolve 
 to make a surrender of my all to thee, to be thine and thine alone. 
 Lord! help me strictly and conscienciously to keep covenant 
 with thee, without any deviation from thee, while in this body of 
 clay. Dan Taylor.'' 
 
 But it was not on these more solemn and formal occasions 
 only, that he devoted himself and all his powers to God. He 
 frequently renewed his engagements : especially at seasons which 
 naturally recalled to his mind his obligations to his Creator and 
 Saviour; such as arriving at home after long journeys, recovery 
 from sickness, &c. The reader will not, it is presumed, be dis- 
 pleased to peruse a few instances of this nature. 
 
 " September 10, 1764. Being Lord's day morning, I have 
 read Dr. Doddridge on devoting a day to God ; and lind myself 
 extremely deficient and too much insensible and unhumbled; but 
 determine, through divine aid, henceforth to observe his directions ; 
 and through grace, in the name and presence of Jesus, the God 
 of my salvation, the object of my hope and life of my soul, to 
 begin tn live anew, 'i'liis day, in the strength of Jesus, I make 
 
17()9] PERSONAL RELIOION. 49 
 
 a surrender of my all to liim, to be inlirely devoted to his service 
 to study what may be for the setting forth of his glory to my 
 life's end." 
 
 " October 27, 17G(3. I have been journeying in various parts 
 nineteen days. I hope my mind has been sometimes alive, but 
 at other times more dead. Lord! I desire now again to renew 
 my covenant with thee, through thy dear Son, by the aid of thy 
 divine Spirit, desiring to walk with thee, and to give myself up to 
 thy service entirely ; with a view to glorify thy name for what 
 thou hast done for me. Lord, help me !" 
 
 " June 20. I am now returned home from a long journey to 
 London and some other places; in which I have been called to 
 preach pretty often, and blessed be God, I have had some evi- 
 dences of the usefulness of my labours, both former and present. 
 Now I am arrived safe at home, T would humbly surrender my- 
 self and my all afresh unto the God of my life; imploring grace 
 that I may make it my one business and study, with more inde- 
 fatigableness and success, to promote his interest and advance 
 the glory of his name. Lord, graciously take me and use me, 
 at thine own pleasure, for thine own praise 1" 
 
 "January 1, 1/69. The first day of a new year! O that T 
 may live more to the Lord this year than I ever have done before ! 
 Lord, I would humbly desire to make a fresh surrender of my 
 all into thy blessed hands, and to thy holy will. O be mercifully 
 pleased to assist me by thy Spirit, and accept me through thy 
 Son. This day my mind has been in some measure set at 
 liberty towards the Lord; and especially this evening after 
 preaching twice and administering the Lord's supper. Lord, 
 help me to cleave to thee for ever." 
 
 " June 17, 1770. I am now returned from my journey, God 
 be blest, in good health; and would humbly attempt, through 
 grace, to give myself up to the work of the ministry with 
 diligence and zeal. Lord! give me grace to be faithful to tliee, 
 and earnest for the good of precious souls. Give me more of 
 the mind that was in Christ; and enable me to manifest it in my 
 temper and conduct for thy honour and glory. O that the Lord 
 of souls may be more near my heart!" 
 
 " That I may prosecute my business as I ought, Lord help 
 me duly to improve precious time. I would give up my school, 
 except one or two, for a time; and try if I can possibly make 
 
 G 
 
50 ANXIETY TO PROMOTE [1765^ 
 
 out a living without it, that I may devote myself more to prayer 
 and to the ministry of the word: and with thee, O God, 1 leave 
 myself and my all. As this will make a change in my circum- 
 stances, I think it necessary to form a new plan for the improve- 
 ment of my time. At present, this may perhaps be the fittest.. 
 Rise at five in general, except disordered or disappointed of my 
 proper bed-time, ten. From i\\e to ten in the morning, devotion 
 in family and private, and study of divinity. From ten to twelve, 
 read the classics, fathers, or some book in greek or latin. After 
 dinner to three, read the lives of good men, or church history,, 
 or some other useful history. From three to eight at night, 
 except on preaching evenings, and then as convenience admits^ 
 visit friends, catechise children, 8cc. The Tuesday T would set 
 apart for literary correspondence, more or less of it as circum- 
 stances require, and Saturday for preparing for the pulpit. Let 
 all be done with gravity, humility, honesty and zeal. Lord,, 
 help me by thy Spirit. After eight till sleep, books of practical 
 divinity and devotion." 
 
 The mind of Mr. Taylor was by nature eagerly desirous of 
 knowledge. He had, though in circumstances sufficiently nar- 
 row, managed to collect many books; and was impatient to be- 
 come well acquainted with their contents. In this period, there 
 is reason to believe, that he not only increased his acquaintance 
 with the learned languages and the authors who used them; but 
 that he acquired some knowledge of the elements of the mathe- 
 matics and natural philosophy. He seems to have been aware 
 that this literary ardour might prove, a dangerous temptation ^ 
 and kept a conscientious watch lest it siiould interfere with his 
 ministerial duties and preparation, or interrupt his attention to 
 personal religion. The following extracts prove how carefully 
 he guarded this, to him, easy-besetting sin. 
 
 "August 17, 1764. To-day, having been employed in dry 
 studies, my mind has not been lifted up to the Lord so nuich as. 
 sometimes." 
 
 " December 19, 1765. This evening, our private meeting 
 hath been of use to me. But O ! what ignorance have I dis- 
 covered in myself of the way of salvation. I have too much 
 neglected to pray through a fondness for reading. Foolish 
 creature! Arc not all my springs in God? I trust the Lord 
 
1768.] PERSONAL IlELlGKiN. 51 
 
 liatli ill some measure Immbled me for it. Lord, liumble me 
 jmore!" 
 
 "January 14, 1707. Tliis morning my mind was so intent 
 •upon the pursuit of learning, tliat I had a most prodigious struf^- 
 gle with flesh to take due time in devotion before I attended to 
 it. I trust, I was humbled for it; and devotion was afterwards 
 Tery useful to my soul. Tlie Lord's name be blest!" 
 
 *' September 9- lliese two days I have not enjoyed that 
 'liveliness of soul which I sometimes have and might have. Yet 
 last night in our private meeting, and this evening in preaching, 
 my mind was something set at liberty. O what reason I have to 
 lament a backwardness to prayer, and a mind I fear too much 
 drawn from it, in pursuit of learning." 
 
 " Fefcruary 23, 1 7(38. These two days, 1 have had much con- 
 versation with several persons, which has, I fear, too much pre- 
 vented close meditation. I hope it has not been quite useless. 
 I fear too ardent a desire after learning too much diverts my 
 mind from devotion. Lord! forbid that any thing should keep 
 ■me from communion with tliee. Keep my eye single!" 
 
 " January 5, 1769- I think the great thing that ]>erplexes 
 and distinbs me, is, that my mind seems too much taken up with 
 the desire of learning, ^ly present circumstances, as far as I 
 can see, demand it of me, to pursue it with diligence. O ! that 
 I could do it, yet keep my heart more with God." 
 
 " September 29, 1 7G9- This morning I found it very difficult 
 to get my thoughts from being fixed on learning, even in my de 
 votions. Lord, help me to pursue all things, to tliy honour and 
 glory!" 
 
 !Mr. Taylor was also careful to improve, to his spiritual edifi- 
 cation, the common occurrences of life. When he received 
 letters or visits from his friends, he noted what impressions their 
 <:orrespondcnce or company had made on his mind, and what 
 hints of instruction might be derived from it. His own domestic 
 mercies and trials, the afflictions of his neiglibours, the falls of 
 professors and the important transactions of the neiglibourhood, 
 afforded him subjects of profitable reflection, and quickened him 
 in the discharge of his personal and oflicial duties. His friendly 
 interviews with his brednen in the ministry, especially with 
 
52 ANXIETY TO PROMOTE [1765. 
 
 Messrs. Favvcett and Ashworth, were liighly conducive to his 
 advantage both as a christian and a man. 
 
 " September 29, 1764. I have this day been to visit T. H. 
 and find it difficult to speak to a person on a death bed. I have 
 observed I think, 1, That a person may be filled with fear, from 
 a sense of danger and seemingly impending wrath, when yet he 
 has no true humility or sense of the odiousness of sin, and his 
 just desert of divine wrath; yea, how difficult is it to persuade a 
 soul of its own deserts. 2, We may, and I doubt many do, go 
 to God as an absolute God, without having an eye to Christ; 
 and may expect mercy from God for their repentance, &c. which 
 I think is very dangerous and legal. 3, That by speaking against 
 particular sins, we may sometimes enrage those who are guilty 
 of them, and see not their evil nature; and though we ought, I 
 think, to speak against particular sins, because the scriptures 
 sometimes do; (witness our Lord to the woman of Samaria, 
 John iv.) yet we ought to do it in such a manner as to lead the 
 sinner to look at the fountain, the heart. Otherwise if we pre- 
 vail against that sin, yet the work of justification and purification 
 are in danger of being neglected." 
 
 " February 14, 1765. I have been to see a young man who 
 is sick. Lord prepare me for it." 
 
 '^ l6. These two days, I have been many times to see 
 
 the young man. I hope it has been the means of awakening me 
 to greater watchfulness." 
 
 " 17. To-day the youth is dead, I doubt without any 
 
 real awakening. O dreadful! Lord, quicken and enable me to 
 improve it for my own and others good!" 
 
 " May 4, 1760. To-day I have received a letter from dear 
 Mr. John Dracup. O! what humility, self-abasement, zeal for 
 the honour of God, and love to Christ, as well as a knowledge 
 of divine things appears in it I How becoming a christian and 
 a minister! But how little does my cold, ignorant, stupid heart, 
 know of these things! * Surely I am more bruli.sh than any man, 
 and have not the understanding of a man.' In every view 1 take 
 of myself, how unlike a christian or a minister! Dost thou not 
 see, my cursed, proud, deceitful heart, how little thou hast to be 
 proud of? Rather how much to be ashamed of before a God of 
 unspotted holiness? i\li! how the devil laughs me to scorn, 
 while he drags me forwards in the net of pride! Lord, by any 
 
1766.] PERSONAL RELIGION. 53 
 
 means, pluck nic from him : liumblu my proud heart, quicken 
 my stupid senseless slothful mind, lest 1 and my people be led to 
 destruction togedier." 
 
 "July 31. To-day, Mr. Fawcett being ordained, I set it 
 apart for fasting and prayer; and I hope it has been profitable 
 to me. 1 have heard the minister's duty explained; But, O how 
 far short of it am 1! Yet I engage, through grace, to attempt 
 greater diligence. I have now done with preaching on doctrinal 
 points, and determine henceforth to be diligent in illustrating, 
 enforcing and promoting experimental and practical religion; 
 as being most necessary, especially in this declining age. Lord, 
 help 1" 
 
 " September 14. To-day I have had much concern for my 
 wife, who, after a day and night of hard labour, has this evening 
 born me a daughter. This has been a day of bringing past sins 
 to remembrance, and promising what I would do for God in 
 times to come. O that through grace, I may never more forget 
 the God of my mercies; but may devote myself to him in all 
 holy conversation and godliness! To this end let me often read 
 and ponder Psalm cxvi. ' Keep thy heart with all diligence.' ** 
 
 " January 23, 17G6. To-day I have been hearing Mr. B. 
 preach, and had afterwards some conversation with several, on 
 certain important yet controverted points. 1 find conversation 
 tends to enlarge the mind; but how needful resolutely to attend 
 to the word of God. Lord, help me!" 
 
 " March 17. O! what nights the last two have been on ac- 
 count of pain in my face and head. How difficult duly to 
 exercise faidi and patience at such times! What a miserable case 
 theirs who have no God to go to at these seasons ! What a 
 blessing and how necessary to be always prepared to go hence! 
 Lord vouchsafe to pardon my sin ! clear my evidence for heaven, 
 and keep it clear; and graciously sanctify to me this affliction, 
 that 1 may be more like thee!" 
 
 " April 10. To-day a young man came to me who has been 
 for some time tempted to put an end to his life. I trust, I was 
 enabled in some measure, to think for and speak to him, to his 
 satisfaction. But oh! how ignorant am I in such cases! \\ hat 
 reason to bless God for his mercy in delivering me froiii these 
 dreadful temptations; but how ungrateful! W hat cause to pity 
 and sympathize with such persons, but how iubensible and stupid 1' 
 
54 ANXIETY TO PROMOTE [1769. 
 
 " June S. I have been at Halifax these two days, and have 
 heard of the fall or misconduct of several professors; which I 
 hope will make me watchful and earnest at a throne of grace 
 for myself and others. Coming home, I was favoured with and 
 took the opportunity to open the necessity and the way of salva- 
 tion to a poor ignorant person I met with. May it be to his 
 profit! Lord make me wise!" 
 
 " December 1 . This day, I have had some distress from the 
 fear of the death of my little daughter. How difficult to repress 
 such sorrow ! Yet 1 trust after some meditation and prayer, I 
 was enabled to leave her in the hands of the Lord ; and have had 
 some happiness and liveliness most of the day. Blessed be the 
 Lord." 
 
 " March 3, 176?. I have this day heard a valuable practical 
 discourse, delivered by my esteemed friend and brother, J. Fa wcett, 
 from Prov. ii. 20. which, 1 trust, has been of use to me. Lord 
 help me to preach and practise as I ought to do! Afterward, 
 I was informed that one of our friends had spoken of a practical 
 -discourse delivered by me and some other things, unbecomingly. 
 A fresh call to me to pray for wisdom, patience, prudence and 
 zeal. Lord, help me I" 
 
 " April 15, 1768. This has been a day of hard labour among 
 watchful company; but I trust it has pleased the good Lord to 
 enable me to guard my temper and my tongue. This evening I 
 had great liberty in speaking a few words to them concerning 
 their precious souls 1" 
 
 " December 10. The Lord has graciously this day delivered 
 my wife of a son. May he, by grace, be made a son of God. 
 By this means, the Lord has increased my blessings and my 
 charge; may it please him to increase my wisdom and my dili- 
 gence, life and love, as a christian and a minister, for his name s 
 sake!" 
 
 " February <23, 1 769- To-day, I have preached and baptized 
 nine persons amidst much scorn and persecution from the world. 
 Lord, enable me to endure hardness; and as my charge is now 
 so nuich increased. Lord increase my zeal, prudence, humility 
 and couraQ-e." 
 
 " April 12. Blessed be God that I have some hopes of a 
 work of grace being begun and in some measure carried 
 
17G5.] MINISTERIAL LSEFULNKSS. 55 
 
 on in one of my young men boarded with nic. O \ I And, teaci* 
 me to use all prudent means to foster it, I entreat thee !"* 
 
 " June 27. This evening, 1 had good Hberty in pn-aelung ; 
 but being far from home, and very rainy, I fear tliat 1 got great 
 cohi." 
 
 "July 1. I have had two days of great illness, caused I 
 believe by the cold I took last Thursday evening. Lord enable 
 me to improve it for some good purpose." 
 
 " • — — 4. My disorder yet continues; but blessed be tlie 
 good God who can and will make all things work together for 
 the good of his children. O ! Lord make me love thee, trust m 
 thee, and be resigned to thee in all things. Thy will be done iu 
 me, upon me, and by me, through Christ Jesus," 
 
 Having made these extracts to illustrate Mr. Taylor^s character 
 and experience as a private christian, we shall add a few more 
 to exemplify his diligence, earnestness and care to improve in 
 every qualitication for the work of the ministry ; and to discharge 
 all die duties of that important employment with fidelity and 
 success. Every serious mind will be pleased and edified with 
 the proofs of sincerity and zeal which these extracts display ; but 
 to young men, just entering on the sacred work, they must be 
 peculiary useful and interesting. 
 
 He was careful to review his labours and to observe what sub- 
 jects were most useful, what modes of preaching most successful ^ 
 and to collect hints of instruction from every source. 
 
 " October 14, 1764. These six days I have been considerably 
 drawn to God; and have learnt: 1, That a minister should be 
 as a watchman to observe, on every hand, the approach of the 
 enemy. 2, "^J hat generally clearing up the necessity and nature 
 of a real change. See. which, I think, is ranch the work of brother 
 Thompson, is attended with the best effects. 3, Thut it is good 
 to obsene what kind of preaching is irost blest. 4, From the 
 ~ affairs at Hull, what prudence and discretion aie necessary foe 
 ministers !" 
 
 " January 1, 1765. I have been profited much by talkino- 
 with an ancient christian, at my father's. I see tlie necessity of 
 insisting more upon the misery of man by nature. Lord I help 
 me to preach the gospel, the whole gospel." 
 
 * This prohiibly refers to INIr. Sntcliflf, who was witli h'un at this peri^Hl^ 
 
56 ENDEAVOURS TO PROMOTE [1768* 
 
 '^ January 11,1 765. This morning, in meditation, I thought it 
 necessary to be often hinting in preaching, the impossibility of 
 doing any real good without the divine grace attending it. This 
 may keep me and the hearers mindful of it; and so make us cry 
 for it, and not rest in mere form." 
 
 " May G5. To-day I have observed that I ought in preaching 
 to speak with clearness to the understanding — with evidence to 
 the judgment and faith — with life and energy to affect the mind — • 
 and with softness and tenderness to allure. Lord, help me ! 
 
 " December 8. I have heard a valuable discourse this even- 
 ing, at Wainsgate, from Mr. J. Hartley, on overcoming the 
 world. Lord, help me to preach and practise it. Upon re- 
 flection, to day 1 have thought that it might suit the state of my 
 brethren to be a little particular in handling some of the duties of 
 Christianity. This, therefore, I would attempt when I have 
 finished the subject in hand, if opportunity permit. Lord help 
 and assist!" 
 
 " i^pril 18, 1768. From a sermon which I this day heard 
 concluded, and some conversation after it, 1 am ready to think it 
 may be useful to open up some dark passages of scripture, of 
 which many seem to have strange notions." 
 
 " July 31. I have preached three times this day; and hope 
 that a sense of the worth of souls and the greatness of the 
 ministerial work has been more than ordinarily impressed on my 
 miiid, by a few words spoken this evening, by two friends. Lord, 
 may I keep this constantly on my mind. O humble me, in any 
 way, for every neglect, in that infinitely important work." 
 
 " August 18. This evening, in our private meeting, a person 
 made some mortifying remarks on the imperfections of my 
 preaching, which, though I trust that they are entirely unfounded, 
 will, I hope, be of use to me. Lord, grant they may ! And may 
 I always be w illing and desirous to be taught, especially in this 
 most important work." 
 
 " April f), 17O9. I hope a remark made by a poor illiterate 
 woman to-day will be of some use to me, in conducting my 
 ministry. Lord, help me to make improvement daily by and 
 from the meanest." 
 
 '' Septenil)er (24. This morning, reading some of Gillie's 
 Historical Colleclions has, I trust, been very reviving to my soul. 
 1 fear, 1 do not suHiciently ojjserve the Lord's hand in this work 
 
1764.1 MINISTERIAL USEFULNESS. 57 
 
 of convincing and converting sinners. I would humbly resolve 
 to note it more, through his grace assisting. I would also hum- 
 bly attempt more earnestness and resolution, if possible, in my 
 endeavours to keep my hearers to the solid, substantial, experi- 
 mental parts of religion, and from disputes. Lord mercifully 
 grant that neither my imprudence, nor that of any other pro- 
 fessor, may be a means of hindering thy blessed work !" 
 
 2. He was equally faithful in recording any thing that ap- 
 peared to him amiss in his public labours ; and especially notes, 
 the disadvantages which he experienced from the neglect of due 
 * preparation for the sacred work. Against these defects he earn- 
 estly sought divine assistance; and endeavoured to improve them 
 as cautions to future watchfulness. 
 
 ^' August 6, 1764. This day I have thought that I am not so 
 particular as I ought to be in laying down the fall of man." 
 
 " September 13. This evening, in going to preach, my heart 
 was not so fixed, nor my tongue so well employed as they ought to 
 have been. My friend and I had religion for our theme; but 
 we spoke more of others than was necessary. On account of 
 this, my mind w^as not so well disposed for preaching as I could 
 have wished; yet the Lord blest me with much liberty. Blessed 
 be his name." 
 
 " 27. This morning, my mind was moderately at liberty 
 
 in prayer, and has been through the day inflamed with a desire 
 after the good of souls, and continued in an even, happy frame 
 in the evening. I expected to have had much liberty in preach- 
 ing; but found the contrary. My mind was very barren. I 
 was too careless before preaching in keeping my heart fixed 
 upon the Lord for help; and too self-sufficient. I thought, in 
 preaching, every body would loathe it almost, and was ashamed 
 to so forward; but I was informed afterwards that J. P. was 
 very much blest. Hence I learn these things. 1, It is bad to 
 be big with expectation of some extraordinary power, though I 
 am in a good frame. The enemy may get advantage against me 
 as he did to day ; and draw me into remissness and self-indulgence : 
 which, 2, I should always watch against, especially before 
 preaching: always having my eye fixed upon God as helpless in 
 myself. 3, I should beware of being discouraged by thinking 
 that others are unhappy because I am.'* 
 
58^ ENDEAVOURS TO PROMOTE [1 766« 
 
 " December 0.3. Being Lord's clay, I have been a little dis- 
 ordered in body, and very flat and dull in mind in preaching 
 tliree times. I think the Lord withheld from me, as justly he 
 might, divine influence, because I had not prepared for the pulpit 
 as 1 should have done. I was much cast down and discouraged 
 in the evening, and much disordered in my body; but resigned 
 to the divine will, and in some measure received comfort from 
 1 Cor. XV. 19 " 
 
 " 30. I had moderate liberty in preaching this day three 
 
 times; but did not get, so well as I should have done, my ser- 
 mon wrought into my heart by meditation. I think taking my 
 notes into the pulpit was hurtful to me, as I depended too much 
 upon them. For the future, T would resolve to meditate more 
 closely on my prepared matter, before I preach." 
 
 " September 15, 1765. To-day I had much liberty in 
 preaching thrice; but I preached much too loud; and half -an 
 hour too long, I think, every sermon. 1 must, if possible, learn 
 to speak ratlier lower and shorter. But O! how precious are 
 souls! Surely if 1 should preach myself to death, and by doing 
 it, be more instrumental to the conversion of one sinner, I should 
 have my reward. Talking with Mr. P. about religion, and the 
 dreadful havoc which Satan makes among professors, I hope I 
 shall be awakened to cleave more closely to God and his word." 
 
 " December 5. In my preaching, [ doubt I am not suf- 
 ficiently studious what will promote the Redeemer's glory; nor 
 labour as I ought to do, to display his excellencies. Lord., 
 help." 
 
 " February 5, 1766. To night I preached from Psalm xliv. 8. 
 but had not that freedom I could have wished. I fear I had not 
 made due preparation. It is right that the Lord should s'.ourge 
 us for our folly, when we can be so vile as to serve him with 
 what costs us nothing. Lord, help me to love thee for thy rod; 
 keep my mind near to thee; and humble me before thee in what 
 way thou pleasest." 
 
 " ]March 2. To-day having much liberty in preaching twice, 
 I continued too long and spoke too loud, till I fear that I hurt 
 my constitution r O ! who that loves souls would not do any 
 thing short of self-murder, to be instrumental in promoting their 
 salvation? Lord, help me: and succeed my poor labours!" 
 
 — Q.O. I have this day been favoured with much liberty 
 
 (( 
 
1764.] MINISTERIAL USKFILNESS. 59 
 
 in preaching twice, especially in tlic forenoon. But tiiis after- 
 noon, I mentioned a sentiment, wliicli I think cf)iitrary to the 
 gospel, Avith too much heat of spirit. O what a corrupt heart 
 is mine! Lord, pardon me; and enable me in future to avoid it, 
 tmd to watch over my own lieart and tongue." 
 
 " Deceml)er 21. To-day in the afternoon, by giving too 
 much vent to my passions in preachiiig, and having not thought 
 sufficiently previously, I fear [ was led into some indecencies, or 
 tit least into some inaccuracies of expression. May I be warned 
 for the future! I hope my mind was kept in a solid frame this 
 
 evenincf." 
 
 o 
 iCi 
 
 January C2, 17^9- I have preached three times this day, 
 blessed be the Lord, with tolerable liberty ; but have been led to 
 •extremes, I doubt, both in length of sermons and strength of 
 voice. I fear too, in the warmth of passion, some odd words 
 may have slipt from mc, which had better have been kept in. 
 O Lord! may I enjoy more prudence and real zeal for thee." 
 
 3. He was careful to improve the interesting occurrences 
 M'liich took place, in the neighbourhood, as well as to instruct 
 liis hearers in such doctrines and duties as seemed to be little 
 understood or too much neglected; and he sometimes con- 
 descended to preach on a given subject or from a given text, at 
 the desire of his friends. 
 
 " January 3, 176.5. On new year's day at night a man in 
 PTeptonstall murdered another, after they had been drinking 
 together, according to the common custom of the season. I 
 hope some impressions arc made upon the minds of the neigh- 
 bours by this occurrence. O that 1 knew how to improve it to 
 my own good, and the good of my hearers" 
 
 " 5. To-day 1 have had pretty much liberty in preacliino- 
 
 three times. In the afternoon, I endeavoured to improve the 
 murder mentioned aljove, from Fsalm 1. <2'2. to a numerous 
 auditory. O that the Lord would bless it." 
 
 " February <2(), 1707. 1 have had much uneasiness and dis- 
 tress on account of some opposition which some professors 
 (shocking as the thought is) have made against two close practical 
 sermons, delivered by me, on lloiii. xiii. 8. INIay the Loril blesf 
 me with true courage mixed with prudence, uprightness an*' 
 
 H 2 
 
(30 E»iDEA\OURS TO PROMOTE [1770. 
 
 simprichy; tender concern for the honour of God, and real love 
 to precious souls." 
 
 '* February 10, 1768. The Lord seems to be scourging us 
 by floods and tempests; but I feel my heart strangely insensible. 
 Lord! pardon, humble and quicken; and let not my heart forget 
 thee." 
 
 " 12. This day, I have beheld the havoc made by the 
 
 floods with very little true humihty of mind. Oh! what an in- 
 sensible stupid heart I have! Lord, in mercy, soften, melt, 
 pierce and take away this heart of adamant." 
 
 *' 14. I preached three times, and endeavoured to im- 
 prove the late providence of the floods. Good Lord, succeed 
 it !" 
 
 " September 12, 1769. I have visited several friends to-day, 
 and my heart has been enlarged amongst them. I have seen a 
 necessity of preaching both clearly and earnestly on the subjects 
 of private prayer and family religion." 
 
 " October 25. This day I have preached to a crowd, with 
 good liberty, from Isaiah xiv. 9, at request. O, eternal God, 
 may those dear souls who heard me, hear and fear thee." 
 
 " November 22. I endeavoured to deliver a simple discourse 
 on faith and love; which notwithstanding its simplicity, I have 
 reason to believe was very useful. O, all-wise God! give me to 
 take up my cross in this, as in other things; and so to preach as 
 to be best understood and felt, though I do not obtain the cha- 
 racter of a learned man and a tine speaker." 
 
 " March 7, 1770. I have this day, endeavoured to clear up 
 the nature of faith to a crowded audience, by particular request, 
 against some pernicious sentiments which 1 fear begin to have 
 too much place m our country. Lord, succeed it." 
 
 " March 11. I have this day been handling another piece of 
 controversy for the ease of some perplexed minds. Lord, make 
 it useful." 
 
 4. For many years after the commencement of his ministry, 
 he was often exercised with gloomy thoughts and desponding 
 fears, respecting his usefulness as a minister. These frequently 
 attacked him after the labours of the Lord's day, and caused him 
 much anxiety. 
 
 August 3, 1764. This evening I was discouraged by the 
 
l'}55.] MINISTERIAL USEFULNESS. 5\ 
 
 thoughts, that my preaching and every thing should come to 
 nought; but was blest with some degree of resignation to the 
 will of God, and afterwards with some confidence in him. 
 Bless the Lord !" 
 
 " August 12. Just before going to preach this afternoon, I 
 was almost overwhelmed with fear that I should at last, notwith- 
 standing my preaching to others, be found a reprobate. I was 
 well convinced how unable I am to believe of myself, and the 
 need I have to cry for faith. Surely they who call believing an 
 easy matter, know^ not what it is ! O w hat fears have filled my 
 mind this evening!" 
 
 " September 10. This forenoon, I had much liberty and 
 comfort in preaching ; but, in the afternoon, being got into the 
 pulpit, after the first prayer, my mind was so confused and my 
 memory so taken away, that I could scarcely remeniber from 
 one sentence to another. I really thought the devil had some 
 unconmion power against me. However I went through the 
 work moderately. Blessed be the name of the Lord!" 
 
 " February 24, 1765. I preached twice: much too long the 
 second time, which was a funeral sermon for a youth. I had not 
 that liberty which I expected; and had a very hard struggle after- 
 wards under the thought, that I had profited nobody, and disgusted 
 all who were there. I have many such times after preaching. 
 O that I knew whence they come! Perhaps the Lord permits 
 the devil to tempt me in order to humble me: or, perhaps it is 
 really so; and the people are disgusted with the shallow and in- 
 digested stuff I preach. If the former, Lord, humble me. If 
 the latter, make me more diligent in study and looking to thee 
 for help. How oft am I made to think that I shall do no good ; 
 but preach my congregation away. I have, for some time, been 
 convinced that happiness is not of this world; but, till now, I 
 have been so weak as to be too much elated at the conversion 
 of sinners, the multitudes that attended the word, &c. Now 
 though these may, as I think they ought, increase my joy ; yet, 
 glory be to God, I hope he has convinced me this day, that 
 there is none to look to, or to expect happiness from, but him- 
 self, O ! when shall I learn to think to act, always to be, as 
 though there were no being but He and myself ;n heaven, or in 
 earth !" 
 
 " Fe'bruary 26. To-day, especially in the morning, I had a 
 
(y2 ENDEAVOURS TO PROMOTE [1767. 
 
 very lively sense of religion on my mind. Bless the Lord for 
 it! I have been blest with a discovery of the use of trials, espe- 
 cially such as I had on Lord's day afternoon. Alas ! what a 
 proud worm should I be ! how soon forget my dependance on 
 God were he not thus to humble me ! Lord, I bless thee for it. 
 O ! keep me near thee, though with thy rod. Use thine own 
 means, and bow mine heart." 
 
 " April 5. This afternoon I have been much distressed from 
 a sense of the greatness and difficulty of the ministerial work. 
 How unfit am I ! could I think it agreeable for the divine will, 
 
 how freely could I wish to beg my bread rather than preach 
 the gospel. Lord, pardon my pride, unbelief, or whatever thou 
 seest amiss in me: give me light, life, humility, faith, resigna- 
 tion, and whatever thou seest necessary. This evening I was 
 much encouraged by observing the zeal of Mr. Thomas Doolittle, 
 'svho built the first meeting-house in London. Lord, give me 
 
 faith r 
 
 " July 14. I had moderate liberty in preaching in the fore- 
 noon; but in the afternoon, during the singing of the first hymn, 
 was involved in much darkness, which continued all the time of 
 divine service. I got through the work m ith much difHculty, 
 and extreme gloominess of mind. I had to preach afterwards 
 at Gall-Stones ; and went full of darkness and distress: and 
 though 1 had moderate liberty in preaching, yet I was not deli- 
 vered from it. After coming home I \\as ready to be persuaded 
 that 1 never should be able to preach again. In the night I was 
 a-ccnsed of hypocrisy. 1 think I desire to ])e honest and upright 
 before God. In all things I desire that God would search me, 
 and try me ; and if there be any way of wickedness in me, that 
 he would humble me fur it. And wliether I have comfort or 
 not, which I would have, or not have, as the Lord seest best, yet 
 
 1 desire that I may be able to follow him with a perfect heart. 
 Lord, be pleased, if I am deceived, to undeceive me, and give 
 me to cleave to thee." 
 
 " March 29, ^707. The former part of this day was a dav 
 of more liberty and hopes ; but the evening, of exceeding much 
 darkness and doubt. I preached three times with tolerable 
 liberty of mind, yet could not afterwards forbear fearing that T 
 should be a Judas. Loid! >shc\v me where and what I am! 
 O! make nic what 1 .'?huuld be; and lei inc not pcii-h for thy 
 name's sake 1'^ 
 
1707.] MINISTERIAL USEFULNESS. ()3 
 
 " March G, \70S. Preached thrice, unci before the hist service 
 had some discouraging suggestions and fears that my labours 
 were unsuccessful. But upon retlectiou I was enabled to lake 
 courage, know ing that these fears have been ijcfore suggested, 
 when it has pleased tlie Lord to own me in a particular munner. 
 I had great liberty afterwards." 
 
 At other times he enjoyed much pleasure in his sacred work, 
 and often recorded, with grateful praise, the success with which 
 a divine blessing crowned his labours. As he advanced in the 
 ways of truth, his confidence increased, and he seems by degrees 
 to have been enabled to overcome those desponding fears which 
 had so often harassed his mind, in the former part of his 
 ministry. Out of many entries of this nature, we select a few. 
 
 " September lo, 1765. This evening I preached at Willliam 
 Crossley's. In the work, my mind was moderately at liberty, 
 l^o-day I have heard some encouraging news concerning the 
 word which the Lord is pleased to give me to speak. Blest be 
 his name. Thine, Lord, I would be ; wholly thine. O ! take 
 my heart, my whole heait." 
 
 '^ June 15, 176G. I have had a moderate degree of delight and 
 pleasure this day in preaching twice; and have been informed 
 of some apparent good, which the Lord has been pleased to 
 effect by my preaching last W ednesday evening. O ! rich grace 
 and goodness ! \\ hat shall 1 render to the Lord for his goodness 
 to me! Lord, keep me humble and thankful; and enable me 
 in all things to aim at thy glory !" 
 
 *' 18. This evening i went to preach much dis(jrdered in 
 
 body ; but, blest be the Lord ! he delivered me from it in the 
 work, so that I scarcely perceived any thing of the effects of it 
 afterwards.'^ 
 
 " Se-ptember 1 1. This morning my mind was dark, and I was 
 at a loss for, and in some distress about, a text for the next 
 Lord's day; but in a[iplying to the Lord and his word, I soon 
 found both words, matter, and method. Blest be the Lord for 
 James i. 5." 
 
 " January 6, 1767- 1 have this day had evidence that my 
 preaching is somewhat beneficial and acceptable, even to wise 
 and experienced christians : an encouragement not to be over- 
 looked. Lord, make me truly thankful; and enable me to 
 preach more usefully !" 
 
64 ENDEAVOURS TO PROMOTE [1764. 
 
 '' September Q7. I have preached three times with freedom 
 and delight; and have already had some testimony to the useful- 
 ness of my poor labours this day. O ! may the God of all 
 grace enable me to admire his condescension. May it please 
 thee, good Lord, to continue thy favourable regards to me in 
 this respect, for the advantage of precious, immortal souls." 
 
 " April 5, nGS. I have seldom enjoyed more liberty of 
 mind and more sensible pleasure in preaching, than I have done 
 this evening, in speaking of the fuhiess of Christ. Lord, may 
 mine own heart, and the hearts of those who have heard me, 
 enjoy more of the sweetness and experience more of the truth 
 of it : and be thine the glory." 
 
 " September 8, 1769. Each of these two days I have 
 preached three times ; and have reason to believe that my poor 
 labours are yet succeeded with a blessing. Glory to God for it ! 
 O! that my vain mind may not be led away from the Lord; but 
 that I may serve him in the beauty of holiness; and never be 
 suffered to pull down by my conduct what I attempt to advance 
 by my tongue !" 
 
 " March 17, 1771. Glory be to my God, I hope my soul 
 has been more alive to him this week than for some weeks past. 
 I have been favoured with several clear evidences that my poor 
 ministerial services are still owned by Him with success ; espe- 
 cially from the experiences of three persons, mIio have proposed 
 to join with us in church fellowship. O Lord, may I never 
 more grieve thy Holy Spirit; but grant me. Lord, to cleave to 
 thee, and watch over mine own heart daily! May my growing 
 acquaintance with spiritual subjects, and with the power of 
 godliness, and my encreasing conformity to the blessed Jesus, 
 prove that thou dost indeed smile upon me !" 
 
 Mr. Taylor's anxiety to discharge the important duties of a 
 pastor, in a manner most conducive to the good of his charge, 
 and the glory of his Saviour, is very apparent from every page 
 of his Diary. The affairs of the church lay near his heart ; and, 
 sensible of his want of experience, he was earnest in seeking for 
 divine illumination. The following few extracts Mill at once 
 explain and confirm this remark. 
 
 " August. 9, 1784. This day we had a church meeting, and 
 I heard a bad report of C D. whom I shall go to reprove to- 
 nu>rrow; but oh! how irksome." 
 
1766.1 MINTSTERIAI, USEFULNESS. 55 
 
 " August 10. This day I have had rruich peace and liberty of 
 mind; especially in reproving C. D. I have learnt that we \^ant 
 love among us ; and freedom in telling our experience to one 
 another." 
 
 *' December 10th. In the evening I had many discouraging 
 thoughts and much discontentedncss of mind to struggle with ; 
 arising from the consideration of my circumstances, as being with 
 a small poor people, having no ministers to converse with, &c. 
 but I found access to God, some power to wrestle against it; 
 and, I trust, ^vas delivered from it in sonie measure. O ! for faith !'' 
 
 " 13. This morning, as well as last night, I had some 
 
 distress of mind concerning the poverty and smallness of our 
 church, 8cc. but was enabled, from a mind resigned to God, and 
 I trust from a degree of confidence I had in the Divine favour, to 
 feel some degree of willingness, that the Lord should suffer me 
 to be despised or distrest here, as he pleased, so his will might be 
 done in me and by me. Lord, grant me seriousness, humility, 
 meekness and patience becoming my station. To-day I have 
 been kept moderately lively and watchful : Blessed be the Lord. 
 At night my mind was in a cold carnal frame." 
 
 " 22. These four days my mind has been much roused 
 
 to follow and set forth the glory of God more. O ! that I knew 
 what to do to be useful to the rising generation ! Do teach me, 
 how and when to perform the duty of reproof. I am among 
 those who need it much; but I think 1 know not how to perform 
 it as I ought. Lord, help me! The hearing of so many sudden 
 deaths has been a means to awaken me, I trust, to prepare, and 
 stir up my hearers to prepare to meet God." 
 
 " January 22, \765. To-day I went to speak with brother 
 E. concerning a small difference which had happened between 
 him and brother F. G. by a few words spoken in freedom, though 
 by way of reproof. I learn, 1, How much the enemy seeka 
 every advantage. 2, What prudence and patience is necessary 
 for a minister: therefore, 3, How needful for me to be oft at the 
 throne of grace. Blessed be the Lord, I succeeded. I hope, 
 the breach will go no further. Lord, give me wisdom !" 
 
 " March 5, 1766. To-day, we, as a church, have set apart 
 for, and spent a great part of it in, fasting and prayer. I hope 
 it has been a good day to many of us. I think it hath been so 
 to me. 1 hope it has tended to the enlivening and fi.xing of my 
 
 1 
 
^5 ENDEAVOURS TO PROMOTE [1767^ 
 
 mind; and I hope our consultations have been carried on in 
 brotherly love and singleness of heart. Lord, succeed them." 
 
 " May ^9' To-day, in our church meeting, I hope all our 
 souls were, in some measure, happy; but a case which was 
 brought before us, concerning a sister, who on account of a bad 
 frame of mind, and other ruffling circumstances, refused to come 
 to the Lord's table, brought a kind of gloom upon us, though I 
 trust, that it will turn to advantaae. O ! that I had wisdom to 
 manage such cases! How great a work to be a minister. Lordl 
 teach me!" 
 
 " November 6. This has been the day of our church meeting. 
 Though some things of importance, a little disagreeable in them- 
 selves, were agitated, and though I have reason to own my 
 ignorance in speaking of such things ; yet I have reason also to 
 wonder and be amazed that I was enabled to see so clearly and 
 speak so readily upon those points as, I trust, I did : and I hope 
 they were rather of use than harm. Blest be the Lord!" 
 
 " January 29, 1767. In the afternoon is our church meeting: 
 and as I expect some difficult and perplexing cases to be men- 
 tioned, I would devote this forenoon to seek the Lord by prayer 
 and fasting, that he would graciously communicate wisdom to 
 my poor dark ignorant mind, and to all our minds, to enable us 
 to think of and to speak to such cases with wisdom and prudence, 
 and to the peace and good of the church, which may the Lord 
 graciously preserve and promote. In our church meeting a 
 brother and a sister roused a quarrel which has been for some 
 time in agitation, to our great disturbance, which it was impos- 
 sible for us to decide, on account of the stupidity of our brother's 
 temper.' O! what a work it is to be a minister! How unfit am 
 I for it! Lord, give me understanding! O ! what a blessing it 
 is thou art able to make wise the simple. Lord, give wisdom!" 
 
 "February 5. To-day we have had another church meeting, 
 ^lany disorders seem to be creeping in amongst us, and many 
 difficult cases are to be handled. O! how ignorant am I of my 
 o-reat work! Lord, instruct!" 
 
 " 7- These two days, I have visited and conversed with 
 
 a few friends concerning the above-mentioned disorders, and have 
 laboured to study some passages of scripture suitable. Lord, 
 direct and succeed." 
 
 '^ . 8. I have this day delivered two discourses on Iio??i, 
 
1769.] MINISTERIAL USEFULNESS. QJ 
 
 xiii. 8. on account of the irregularity of some professors in that 
 respect. Lord, succeed my poor labours." 
 
 " April 14. 1 set apart this forenoon for abstinence and 
 prayer over, and meditation upon, the former Epistle to Timothy: 
 and though I have reason to complain of insensibility, yet I trust 
 it has not been wholly in vain. O! that God would make me a 
 minister after his own heart." 
 
 '* July 50. This morning, being much sunk in distress about 
 a case in our church, occasioned by the behaviour of one of our 
 sisters. 1 hope I felt something of the power and sweetness of 
 those precious words, * 1 will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' 
 Blessed be thy name, good Lord, for so precious a promise I O 
 that my soul may for ever be supported by it, and love thee 
 for it." 
 
 " wAugust *2. We had a very distressing meeting concerning 
 several, but especially J. H. who, alas! has committed an abo- 
 minable sin. Lord, be merciful to her and make so dreadful a 
 circumstance of use to all the rest of us. Lord, make us take 
 heed lest we fall." 
 
 " April 23, 1759. To-day, we have had a church meeting 
 attended with some perplexity on account of a weak brother; 
 but I am in great hopes that a blessing from the Lord will follow 
 upon it. Lord, grant it may: and build up our souls in the holy 
 faith, and make us an honourable, happy, useful people through 
 Jesus Christ." 
 
 " July \5. I have had some sad accounts of two persons in 
 fellowship with us : one who is imbibing pernicious errors, and 
 the other running into sin. O that I knew what means to use ! 
 Lord, teach me; and recover my bodily health, that I may be 
 able to visit them." 
 
 " 17. I have been to visit the two brethren above 
 
 mentioned; but never did I before see such a proof of the deceit 
 and desperate wickedness of the human heart. Lord, impress 
 on their consciences what 1 have said to them, for Jesus Christ's 
 sake!" 
 
 " — • — 20. T have had more conversation with these unhap|)j 
 friends; but oh! how stupid! May this uncommon trial liumble 
 me, and make me more sensible of my own inability to do any 
 thing as of myself; and to value Christ and his grace mort 
 highly." 
 
 I 2 
 
gg ENDEAVOURS TO PROMOTE [1764. 
 
 '* May 10, 1770. We kept a fast to join in prayer for a 
 blessing on the word preached, and for the success of the gospel. 
 O that God may hear our poor prayers, and grant his blessing 
 to attend us in every work. Lord, help thy poor dust to use 
 every proper means for the propagation of thy truth and interest; 
 and grant me and my dear brethren grace so to devote ourselves 
 to thee, that we lay no stumbling block in the way of any one; 
 but may we let our light shine before men, that thy name may 
 be glorified I" 
 
 During this period, Mr. Taylor obtained many books, and 
 was diligent in the improvement of them. We have already 
 seen that his acquisitions in critical, theological and biblical 
 knowledge were very considerable. But those writers to whom 
 he paid the most particular attention were the practical and 
 experimental divines. He himself informs us, " that in the first 
 years of his ministry, it was his general practice, on Friday even- 
 ings, to read the lives of those ministers who had been celebrated 
 for zeal, holiness and usefulness."* How carefully he perused 
 these and other books of a similar tendency, and how conscien- 
 tious he was to profit by them himself and to draw lessons of 
 instruction from them for the benefit of others, his Diary abounds 
 with instances. But as the extracts from that manuscript have 
 already exceeded our intention, we shall confine our selection to 
 a small number; and thus close this chapter. 
 
 " July 27, 1764. This evening, by reading Baxter's Life, I 
 have been confirmed in my resolution to speak upon controversies 
 with candour." 
 
 " September 9. To-day I liave observed I think very clearly 
 from Mr. Edwards, that the devil can raise any kind of external 
 ideas in the mind : therefore no external ideas whatever, simply 
 as such, can be evidences of grace. I have learnt also, tliat in 
 judging of experience, whether my own or others, I should dis- 
 tinguish between what is in itself purely spiritual, and such 
 accidental frames as may or may not attend it." 
 
 " December 7. To-day my mind has been somewhat affected 
 by reading, in Mr. Henry's Life, his very serious examination of 
 himself before his ordination to the pastoral ofiice. O! that 
 God would make me such a minister! By reading this book I 
 
 • See Gen, Bap. Mag. vol. I. p. i. 
 
1765.1 MINISTERIAL USEFULNESS. 59 
 
 am more determined to study for poutc, so far as I can with 
 truth. This day, reading the crosses of an ancient minister, and 
 especially the poverty to which he was exposed has been some 
 support to me. The Lord who upheld him is always the samel'* 
 " February 13, 1765. This morning by reading Mr. Henry, 
 and considering what I read yesterday in Dr. Watts, (blessed be 
 God for those books!) I again resolve through divine aid to avoid 
 controversy as much as possible; and when Providence calls to 
 it, to be short, candid and practical. Lord, help me I" 
 
 " May 17. To-day I called at the public house at Ekmond- 
 ■wike, where I met with a volume of sermons by Mr. Hill; 
 which were of use to me : especially one on the ministerial work. 
 Lord, make me a workman not needing to be ashamed !" 
 
 " September 20. This morning the Lord, in his providence, 
 brought to my hand ]Mr. Bennett's Christian Oratory. I have 
 looked over the first sermon concerning fasting; and, as in many 
 other things, O ! how defective do I find myself. 1 have some- 
 times, in some measure, attended to the duty; but how care- 
 lessly! how ill managed'. I hope for the future, to set apart 
 tlie Thursday now and then, or another day if more suitable to 
 my circumstances, for God, diat is, as much as I can of it, to 
 prosecute some such method as he lays down. What an almost 
 christian, or half christian am 1! Lord, graciously pardon and 
 quicken 1" 
 
 " October 19, 1765. To-day, I have entered on reading a 
 book of controversy. Brine against Watts's Ruin and Recovery. 
 I trust, that I am enabled to read impartially, and have them 
 both before me; but see not yet any reason to change my judg- 
 ment. I see reason, however, to be confirmed in my resolution 
 to speak of deep controversy with moderation. Lord, help me!'* 
 " July 4, 1766. This afternoon I have had the opportunity 
 of running over the life of Mr. P. Henrv, who I find was an 
 humble peaceful christian, a tender father, and affectionate 
 husband, whose delight was acts of love to man, and devotion to 
 God; a faithful, laborious, warm, plain, practical preacher; full 
 of heavenly conversation among friends; laboured for peace, yet 
 valiant for the truth; diligently practised and earnestly recom- 
 mended the study of the Bible above ought else; lived to God. 
 Go and do likewise. Lord, help me!" 
 
 *' February '2. Today 1 have not been very well in budv ; 
 
70 ANXIETY TO PROMOTE (1766. 
 
 but have enjoyed some liberty of mind in preaching twice; and 
 have had some revivings in hearing and reading Gillie's Success, 
 &c. That excellent enlivening book ! the Lord be blest for it 
 and every other such help." 
 
 " February 18. To-day the reading of Gen. iii. Matt. vi. and 
 some of Melancthon's works has been, I trust, quickening to 
 me. Blest be the Lord for all my good books, especially the 
 Bible." 
 
 " March 26. The reading of Mr. Flavell on Keeping the 
 Heart, was quickening to my soul. He observes, * This work (of 
 keeping the heart) has been neglected, and the time and strength 
 of professors eaten up. 1, By controversies. 2, By worldly 
 thoughts/ It is too, too evidently so at this day. The Lord 
 awaken my dead and careless soul; and the Lord awaken all my 
 dear brethren ! Blest be the Lord, my impressions of this 
 kind were rendered more heavy and affecting this evening by 
 readins: a little more of that excellent little book." 
 
 " April 12. To-day, hearing a part of Dr. Doddridge on 
 Growth in Grace was I trust useful to me. I hope I discovered 
 a little growth, blessed be the Lord; and I desire to be ashamed 
 to see how little it is. Lord, quicken me with thy Spirit." 
 
 " 29. These too days I have had some cheering 
 
 encouraging views of things; especially in reading Marshall on 
 Sanctification; but not that full assurance and satisfaction, I 
 •would have. O may the Sun of righteousness arise upon my 
 soul with healing in his wings!" 
 
 " ISIay 18. These two days I discovered something I trust 
 of the necessity and nature of living by faith; and read part of 
 Marshall on Sanctification and Dr. Owen on Lidwelling Sin, 
 both of which were of use to me. The Lord be blest for my 
 books, and such as are by his providence put into my hand." 
 
 "September 21. Last night, having to arise from bed for 
 something for my little daughter, I endeavoured to read and 
 examine myself by Mr. Venn on Repentance. I hope much 
 to my profit, as it was to my satisfaction." 
 
 " 22. The last night, having to rise again, on the like 
 
 acco'^nt, I read some further in Mr. Venn, with singular satis- 
 faction. Blest be the Lord 1 This morning my mind is alive 
 to God. May my life be devoted to his glory. Gracious God, 
 jji.'»y it please thee to keep clouds and darkness from my mind^ 
 
17(59.] PERSONAL RKLIGION. 71 
 
 and cause mc to enjoy a more clear evidence of my interest in 
 
 theel" 
 
 " November 10. This day reading of the learned Crotius 
 complaining, at iiis death, of having spent his life in much labour 
 for little profit, and of the diligence and sanctity of some of 
 God's dear and faithful ministers, will, 1 hope, be useful to me, 
 as they have made some impression on my mind. Lord, help 
 me to follow such as through faith and patience have inherited 
 the promises!" 
 
 "January 26, 1767. My heart was sensibly warmed and 
 quickened to-day in reading the Life of the excellent Mr. Cotton, 
 of New England. Awake ! O my soul, in the name and strength 
 of Jesus, and follow the example of such eminent men, as they 
 followed Jesus Christ. In my morning devotions, and in the 
 evening in reading and thinking of Christ as the only true 
 foundation, I trust my mind was quickened. Lord help me clearly 
 to view that solid foundation, and savingly to build upon it 
 myself, and to point others to it!" 
 
 " February 21. I have this day read and heard much of the 
 Life of that truly great man, Dr. Doddridge; ancj have reason to 
 be ashamed of want of zeal, life and w atchfulness. But O Lord, 
 humble and quicken me. I would surrender and devote my all 
 to thee. May I do it more eflfectually and more to thy glory 1" 
 
 " February 21, 1768. I have, this day, begun to read Caryl 
 on Job, as a devotional book; but whether 1 shall go on with it 
 or not, 1 know not till 1 try its manner, method and spirit. I 
 have read over Dr. Doddridge's Family Expositor, six volume-s, 
 octavo, in about a year, as a book of devotion; and, I think^ 
 with advantage. But, 1 fear, I am an inattentive reader. Lord ! 
 help me to improve the little time I have to the glory of thy 
 
 name." 
 
 " April 4, 1769. To-day Dr. Watts's Works came to my 
 hand. 1 am wonderfully favoured by providence in this respect, 
 l^ord! make every book 1 read a blessing to mel" 
 
 " August 4, 1770. These two davs, the readinsj of Dr. 
 Doddridoe's Life and his Rise and Progress has been of great 
 use to me, and discovered to me very sensibly some of my 
 manifold defects; but through grace I would humbly make a new^ 
 attempt to reform and correct them. Lord Jesus! help me 
 more carefully to watch over and keep my own heart, and in a 
 
72 FORMATION OF [1770. 
 
 more spiritual manner to visit my people — to preach to them 
 more spiritually and experimentally — to study the practical and 
 experimental parts of scripture more closely and apply it more 
 conscientiously. Jesus, grant it!" 
 
 " March 1 1, 1771. 1 have been reading a large part of the 
 Life of the excellent Dr. Doddridge. O! that I did but more 
 imitate so admirable an example ! Lord, thou knowest it is my 
 desire to serve thee ^vith a perfect heart. I praise thy great 
 name, I trust, thou dost give me more powoi' over worldly 
 thoughts than I experienced for a while after beginning in 
 worldly business; which, I hope, I began widi an eye to thy 
 
 glory." 
 
 CHAPTER SECOND. 
 
 FROM THE F0R:MATI0N OF THE NEW CONNECTION TO THE 
 TIME WHEN MR. TAYLOR LEFT YORKSHIRE. 
 
 Section I. The Transactions of that Period, 
 
 JlIaving given these Extracts from Mr. Taylor's private 
 Diary, which may be considered as furnishing ihe History of his 
 Religious Experience and Mental Exercises, during the first 
 ten years of his ministry, we now resume the Narrative. 
 
 1770. This year was distinguished by much labour and many 
 important transactions, which had a considerable influence on 
 his future life: of these the formation of the New Connection 
 of General Baptists occupied his principal attention. We have 
 already noticed the difference of sentiment on some fundamental 
 points of Christianity which had always existed between Mr. T. 
 and his Lincolnshire brethren. He thought that the great and 
 essential doctrines of the gospel were neglected, if not opposed, 
 by too many of the ministers of that Connection. These doc- 
 trines he considered it his duty and his privilege to maintain in 
 the mobt explicit and earnest manner, and to endeavour to induce 
 
AGED 32.] T»lB NKW CONNKCTIOM. 7;5 
 
 his friends to act the same manly part. So early as December 
 10, 1763, he thus addressed his fellow-labourer, Mr. Thompson : 
 ** I preached at Lincoln last Lord's day, three times, to a very 
 great crowd of rude people. The friends there are very desirous 
 that you would come and preach to them ; and I am ready to 
 desire the same. I think it might be of use. 1 believe there 
 are some good people there, though I cannot take in their 
 notions. I thought things were bad, in those respects, when I 
 saw you ; but 1 have since had abundant reason to think so. 
 The many strange notions that some of our friends have imbibed, 
 have almost astonished me. And, alas ! what makes the case 
 more deplorable, 1 doubt these destructive principles get ground. 
 O ! how every lover of the Lord Jesus Christ should fight 
 against them with all his might. Let me, as a brother, intreat 
 you to deal faithfully with them. O how easy is it to be led 
 into a method of man-pleasing. Let us beware of it, and 
 remember that we are the servants of God. Come, my brother, 
 let us not fear man ; but speak freely. Our souls, and the souls 
 committed to us, are at stake. Let us never forget that, as 
 things now are, the law should be considered as a covenant of 
 works under which we all are by nature, and as a rule of life to 
 believers. Let us endeavour to pull down the pride and rouse 
 the spirits of degenerate man, by discovering its inflexibility and 
 proving that it cannot admit of the least failure. Tnis, I sup- 
 pose, will teach sinners the necessity of coming to Jesus Christ 
 for righteousness. Let us oppose, as much as the scripture 
 does, if it may be, that master-piece of all the schemes that 
 ever were hatched in hell — * that God will accept sincere, though 
 imperfect obedience, and accept us on account of it.' A scheme 
 which, while it pours the utmost dishonour upon the merits of 
 the blessed Jesus, is attended with the most pernicious conse- 
 quences to poor souls." Such was the decided tone in which 
 Jvir.T. addressed his associate, soon after tlieir first acquaintance; 
 and longer observation confirmed him in his views of the im- 
 portance of these disputed doctrines. His correspondent shared 
 lus sentiments, and though of a temper less intrepid than his 
 friend, was equally sincere in his opposition to the tenets against 
 which he exclaimed, and earnest in his efforts to maintain what 
 both esteemed to be the great truths of Christianity. 
 
 The discussions to which this important difference of opinion 
 
 ./;. 
 
74 FORMATION OF [1770. 
 
 naturally led, had a most unhappy tendency to render the meet- 
 ings of the ministers discordant and unprofitable. At the period 
 of which we now treat, the associations and conference had 
 indeed become scenes of heat and contention ; and it appeared 
 to every judicious observer, that a separation was the only 
 practicable mode of restoring peace. Though Messrs. Taylor 
 and Thompson were strongly attached to several of the Lincoln- 
 shire brethren, and very reluctant to leave them; yet, after having 
 for several years endeavoured, without success, to bring the 
 majority to their sentiments, they felt it necessary, in order to 
 preserve themselves from the contagion of what they esteemed 
 dangerous heresy, and to evince a consistent regard to truth, to 
 act with decision. They therefore resolved to withdraw them- 
 selves entirely from the Lincolnshire Association, and the 
 London General Assembly; and to establish a New Connection 
 of such as could cordially unite in supporting the same truths, 
 and preaching the same gospel. These intentions were com 
 municated to the midland churches, with an invitation to assist 
 in concerting means for carrying their designs into effect. As 
 several ministers in Lincolnshire professed themselves of Mr. T/s 
 sentiments on the points in debate, they also w ere invited to co- 
 operate in this attempt ; but, either through fear of the evils of 
 division, or attachment to those with whom they had long been 
 united, they declined the proposal. A provisional meeting was 
 however held at Lincoln, about Michaelmas, 1769, which was 
 adjourned to May, 1770, when Messrs. Taylor and Thompsoa 
 met at the same town, and were joined by nine ministers from 
 the churches in Leicestershire and the adjoining counties. The 
 meeting was harmonious, and a plan was formed and cordially 
 adopted for carrying into effect the proposed union, in London, 
 at the ensuing Whitsuntide. 
 
 Their old friends were not unconcerned spectators of this 
 defection, nor inactive in endeavours to prevent it : being ex- 
 tremely unwilling to lose such useful associates. Mr. Uoyce, 
 3S messenger of the churches, was more particularly concerned, 
 and felt much interested on the occasion. He had treated 
 Mr. T. with great friendship, entertained a high opinion of his 
 abilities and a great respect for his character ; and was therefoie 
 very desirous of preserving his co-operation. Every method 
 w^a adopted by this worthy minister to produce satisfaction in 
 
AGED 
 
 32.] THE NEW CONNECTION. 75 
 
 the mind of liis young fiitMul respecting tlic subjects in dispute. 
 Several stated conferences had been held for tlie express purpose 
 of discussing them, and every opportunity of occasional conver- 
 sation seized with avidity. Finchug that all these means had not 
 produced the desired effect, Mr. Boyce now commenced a 
 laboured investigation by letter; and, in the former partof tliis 
 year, four or five long epistles were written by each party. [\\ 
 these letters, Mr. B. did not rest his cause wholly on the strength 
 of his arguments ; but availed himself of every topic of persua- 
 sion to induce Mr. T. to lay aside his design of separating. lie 
 extenuated the points in which they differed, magnitied the sub- 
 jects on which they agreed, painted in glowing colours the pro- 
 bable mischiefs that would be the effect of division, and the 
 great advantages of continuing to act in concert; and used every 
 art to interest the feelings in his favour. One of the letters 
 concludes in these soothing terms : " Do, my brother, carefully 
 weigh and seriously consider the vast importance of peace and 
 unity, and whether there be a sufficient reason for the separation 
 now in agitation. I have so much confidence in your honesty, 
 uprightness and integrity, that, I am persuaded, you will not 
 encourage or abet the least thing that has the least appearance 
 of, or tendency to hurt and divide the churches, dishonour our 
 glorious Lord and Head, and wound and grieve the minds of 
 many who are upright in heart. If once we begin to divide and 
 separate, away fly love and christian affection ; shyness, in- 
 differency, and evil-surmisings enter in and make way, not to 
 bring us nearer, but to keep us at a greater distance one from 
 another. O heaven ! can we come there ? How can it be ? 
 How unprepared for that community ! We all pretend we 
 contend here for truth. What is truth? A most interesting 
 and important question. O Lord, direct us in thy truth. Guide 
 us in the paths of peace. Grace be with you, and peace be 
 multiplied among all the brethren in Christ Jesus. I remain, your 
 friendly, peaceable and loving brother in the Lord, G. Boyce." 
 To another epistle, the good man subjoins this affectionate 
 postscript. " You do not tell me whether you intend to come 
 to the next association. Pray, come. I desire you to come ; 
 and bring with you a heart full of love and peace ; and may the 
 God of love and peace be widi you, and remain with you, and 
 with us all for ever. Remember you are appointed to preach. 
 
 K 2 
 
75 FORMATION OF (1710. 
 
 And if God be pleased to bring you among us, pray do you 
 bring with you a true gospel, conciliating sermon." 
 
 But though Mr. T. had then a respect for Mr. Boyce which 
 bordered on veneration, and felt " his heart full and pained" at 
 doing any thing that might grieve him ; yet he remained unmoved. 
 He conceived that the honour of his Redeemer, and the pros- 
 perity of liis cause, were involved in the event; and therefore 
 laid aside all personal considerations. To all the affectionate 
 appeals of his esteemed correspondent he calmly answered : 
 " I am not able to apprehend the pertinency of all you have 
 said on the subject of separation; unless it can be proved that a 
 separation from a connection with others argues a want of love 
 in those who withdraw towards those they withdraw from. To 
 join with any one in such a connection as that we now discourse 
 of, because we love him ; or to withdraw from him for the con- 
 trary, is a low and carnal manner of acting, and quite unworthy 
 of a minister of Christ." He then frankly stated his reason for 
 withdrawing. " It is not to be doubted, if we regard the Bible, 
 that some of the vilest errors are, in this age, maintained by 
 some of the General Baptists, with as much warmth as they 
 have ever been by any party of men in former ages. It behoves 
 us therefore to take the alarm ; and, with all the little might we 
 have, to militate against those pernicious tenets which our fore- 
 fathers so much abhorred, and the word of God so expressly 
 condemns." Hence it is evident, that a deep sense of duty to 
 God, and a sincere attachment to what he esteemed his truth, 
 induced this conscientious minister to leave a connection, to 
 many members of which he was affectionately attached, and 
 with whom he continued long afterwards to cultivate a friendly 
 intercourse. 
 
 At Whitsuntide, Mr.T. took the proposed journey to London, 
 and met his friends, on June 6, at Mr. Brittain's Meeting-house. 
 In prosecuting the object of their meeting, a great part of the 
 labour devolved on him. He was delegated, with two others, 
 to wait on the General Assembly, which was then sitting, in 
 order to explain the reasons of their secession, and take a 
 friendly leave. On the following morning, he delivered a dis- 
 course to his new associates, from 2 Tim i. 8. ^' Be not thou 
 ashamed of the testimony of our Lord." In the afternoon, they 
 proceeded to business, and Mr. Taylor was called to the chair, 
 
AGED 32.] TME NEW CONNECTION. 77 
 
 an honour which was conferred on him by every succeedin*^ 
 annual association, with one exception, to the year of his decease. 
 A number of Articles of Faith, which, at the request of his 
 brethren, he had prepared, were read and approved ; and various 
 regulations were adopted for conducting the proposed union. 
 Thus was completed a design which had for some time engrossed 
 his chief attention, and laid near his heart ; and in the accom- 
 plishing of which he was, under Providence, the principal 
 instrument. And throughout his future life, he always stood 
 ready to devote his labour, his influence, his talents and his 
 property, to the promotion of the prosperity of the I^ew Coiniec- 
 tion of General Baptists. 
 
 When Mr. Boyce and his friends saw the separation which 
 they had so warmly opposed carried into effect, they took 
 offence; and said that Mr. T. ought to have waited longer out 
 of gratitude, for the countenance which he had received from the 
 Lincolnshire Association. This insinuation touched his generous 
 soul ; and in a letter to Mr. Thompson, he thus warmly repels it. 
 " Have they some separate interest to maintain opposite to that 
 of God .'* If they have, 1 have received more, infinitely more 
 favours from God than from them. If their's is only the Lord's 
 interest, and if I am serving the Lord still, wherein am I un- 
 grateful to them .? I am ready to own my obligations to them 
 on all proper occasions ; but, as I am so infinitely obliged to 
 my heavenly Friend, I ought more especially to manifest my 
 gratitude to him for his love to me, by contending earnestly for 
 the faith which he has once delivered to the saints. This, it is 
 evident, I could not do, either peaceably or consistently, in the 
 Lincolnshire Connection. I hope I shall always be ready, 
 according to my ability, to make suitable returns and manifest 
 unfeigned gratitude to Mr. Boyce and to all the Lincolnshire 
 ministers and churches ; and perhaps wish as heartily to see a 
 happy union, well founded and established, among all the 
 General Baptists, and shall be as ready to contribute to it, 
 as any other." 
 
 Mr. T. was at this time very popular as a preacher, especially 
 in the midland counties. On his return from London, this year, 
 notice had been given that he would preach one evening at 
 Loughborough; but being unacquainted with it, he did not arrive 
 till Mr. Donisthorpe had nearly finished the service. A vast 
 
78 WADSWORTII CHURCH. [1770. 
 
 crowd which had collected to hear him, were greatly disappointed, 
 and insisted on his preaching the next moniing, at eight o'clock, 
 when a large congregation assembled, though the hour was so 
 early and the notice so short. In the evening, he preached at 
 Gastle Donington to great multitudes : people walking with 
 eagerness ten or sixteen miles to hear him. He was not indeed 
 backward to gratify them; but yielded readily to their entreaties. 
 In another journey this year, he preached at Diseworth on the 
 Lord's day morning, at Kegworth in the afternoon, and at 
 Packington in the evening; on Tuesday evening, at Hinckley; 
 on Wednesday, at Longford; on Thursday, at Barton; on Friday, 
 at Hugglescote ; on Saturday, at Hallum and Smalley; on Loid's 
 day at Quorndon, Loughborough and Leak ; and on Monday, 
 at Kirk by Woodhouse. This is a fair specimen of his usual rate 
 of labour, when on his preaching excursions, which generally 
 took place thrice, if not four times, in the course of a year. 
 
 The cause of religion at VVadsworth appears to have gained 
 ground this year. In the beginning of April, four persons were 
 baptized ; amongst whom was his brother John. It afforded 
 him great pleasure to see this brother, for whom he had always 
 shewn a particular affection, become, to use his own express.^on, 
 " a serious General Baptist." And as this convert soon was 
 called forth to exercise his gifts in preaching, it strengthened the 
 hands of the pastor, and greatly encouraged him in his incessant 
 exertions to spread the gospel. These exertions, indeed, took 
 him so often from his own congregation, that some of them 
 began to murmur. But previous to his leaving them, on his 
 journey to London, he gave them an exhortation on the subject, 
 which appears to have produced good effect. They met together 
 on the Lord's day ; when none of the members, and not above 
 two or three of the usual hearers, were out of their places. A 
 letter was read from their affectionate pastor, and Mr. Parker 
 and Mr. J. Taylor conducted the service so much to the satis- 
 faction of the friends, that they assured Mr. T. on his return, 
 they should not again be so much afraid of his leaving them on 
 the Lord's day. Encouraged by this circumstance, and anxious 
 to seize every opportunity of promoting the cause of religion, he 
 formed a meeting among a few of bis younger friends, for the 
 exercise of ministerial gifts. Several persons met weekly for 
 prayer and expounding the scriptures, and once a month they 
 
Aged S3.] labours. 79 
 
 had an interview with their pastor for advice and instrnction. 
 These means produced happy effects, and several youn^ niiuistera 
 were, in a short tinie^ called to the sacred work. 
 
 1771. In this year, Mr. T. pursued his great work among 
 his own people with diligence and success. In a letter to Mr. B. 
 dated August 20, he gives this account of his engagements, 
 " You little know how busy T am in caring for a numerous, 
 increasing and scattered people, some of them above sixteen 
 miles distant ; and a family with three small children. I often 
 preach seven, eight, or nine times a week; and, blessed be God! 
 1 have good evidence that it is not in vain. I have baptized five 
 since I saw you, and some others are about offering themselves." 
 Soon afterward these enquirers came forward, and in October, 
 six of them were received into fellowship. 
 
 The poverty of his congregation and the augmented demands 
 of his family, made it necessary for him to seek for some means 
 of improving his income. With the advice of his friends, he 
 opened a shop, in addition to his school. This increased his 
 cares and occupied his time ; but it does not appear that it added 
 much to his income. His attention was too much engrossed 
 with the religious and literary concerns in which he was con- 
 stantly engaged, to be at leisure for the details of trade ; and his 
 own unsuspecting honesty and openness of disposition, exposed 
 him to the petty impositions of the unprincipled. 
 
 About this time he appears to have been very busy in literary 
 pursuits. He read many voluminous works with great attention • 
 and collected a Hymn Book for the use of the New Connection, 
 which he published the following year. His abilities and 
 character were now so highly esteemed amongst his friends, that 
 he was considered as the champion of the common cause against 
 every attack. x\bout this time, Mr. B. Dobell, the pastor of the 
 church at Cranbrook, in Kent, published a pamphlet, intitled, 
 " The Scriptural Plan of Salvation by Jesus Christ," in which 
 he advanced the opinions respecting faith, justification, &:c. 
 against which Mr. T. and his friends had deemed it their duty to 
 protest. This pamphlet was put into the hands of our author, 
 ^vho inniiediately drew up Remarks on it, in a letter to a friend, 
 under the signature of Philahtlies. These Remarks fill eight 
 closely written folio pages ; and exhibit that accuracy of thought, 
 
SELF-DEFENCE. [1771. 
 
 and knowledge of the scriptures which are so conspicuous in his 
 other controversial writings. They were never printed ; but 
 through the kindness of Mr. B. we have been favoured with the 
 original copy, in Mr. T.'s hand writing, and shall probably pre- 
 serve a specimen of its contents in the Extracts subjoined to 
 this chapter. He also wrote a long letter to Mr. Newton, who 
 had published a " Review of Ecclesiastical History ;" consisting 
 of hints and encouragements. This year too he laid the plan 
 and made some progress in composing his " Fundamentals of 
 Religion in Faith and Practice." 
 
 In addition to all these avocations at home, Mr. T. took 
 several journeys in the course of this year. In the depth of 
 winter, the close of January and beginning of February, he 
 visited the midland churches, and preached amongst them with 
 his usual frequency and acceptance. In May, he presided at 
 the Association in London, by which he was requested to draw 
 up an explanation and defence of the articles adopted at the 
 first Association, in reply to some objections made against them 
 by Mr. Boyce and his friends. This he accordingly performed, 
 and sent to the Lincolnshire Association. In September, he 
 had the pleasure of entertaining five of the midland ministers 
 and his dear friend Mr. Thompson, at Wadsworth, where a con- 
 ference was held. This interview afforded him much satisfaction 
 and encouragement. 
 
 The resolute stand which Mr. T. thought it to be his duty, 
 at this time, to make against what he esteemed dangerous and 
 fatal errors, and in defence of what appeared to him essential 
 truths, exposed him, not only to the reflections of those whom he 
 opposed, but sometimes drew on him the admonitions of his 
 friends. He had not unfrequently to defend himself from charges 
 of too much stiffness about indifferent things. The followin<y 
 extracts from exculpatory letters, exhibit sufficiently the prin- 
 ciples on which he acted, in the arduous struggle in which he 
 was engaged. He observes, in a letter to Mr. Thompson, dated 
 July 27, 1771: " Do not be offended my dear brother, if I 
 humbly note some things contained in yours to me. Be assured 
 I love you dearly. There might be, as you say, ' too much 
 stiffness discovered at London,' &c. This was a fault if it was 
 so. But I think it was not about * indifferent things.* If you 
 refer to brother T'.'s case, suri^Iy it is not indilT^rcnt whether 
 
AGED 
 
 33,] CANDOUR. 81 
 
 believers or unbelievers are baptized and admitted into church 
 fellowship. What can be more important? Besides, you know 
 we must agree in something ; and we made our artich-s a test of 
 agreement. Now, besides many expressions in them which I 
 cannot reconcile with brother F.'s sentiments, you will allow 
 that it is absolutely contrary to the whole tenor and design of 
 the sixth article. How then could we with safety admit of it ?" 
 ^' T think some thin2:s wliicli mi"l)t be thou<;ht trifles at London 
 may lay a foundation for important consequences. As the truth 
 of the gospel is the instrument of converting sinners, we should 
 be careful to keep it clear. If trouble sometimes attends this, 
 we should endeavour to be patient of labour in it. Perhaps 
 what is szccetest for the present is not always of most profit. 
 ^leanwhile T pray that God may enable us to see eye to eye I 
 and remember, good brother, a foundation is now laid." * 
 
 In another letter to the same correspondent, dated September 
 4, 1771. he observes, *' I assure you, dear brother, you do not 
 seem too catholic for me in what you say about Messrs. Watts, 
 Doddridge, Hervey, Venn, Whitfield, &c. 8cc. &c. I pray God 
 give you and myself a large increase of christian candour. Yet 
 there is need to beware lest we forget not only the certainty but 
 the importance of the leading truths of the gospel ; as well as 
 that uprightness of mind which will assuredly be the effect of 
 genuine faith. But, blessed be God ! the time is coming — is 
 coming fast, when we shall know even as we are known. O 
 blessed day indeed I when darkness shall be expelled for ever," 
 
 1772. In the former part of this year, Mr. T.'s health was, 
 as he expresses it, '' feeble," yet his exertions in his sacred work 
 were unabated. In addition to his usual avocations, he this year 
 engaged in tw'o important debates. The Socinians were then 
 very busily disseminating their doctrines in the West Riding of 
 Yorkshire. In a letter under date of March 20, 1772, Mr. T. 
 informs his friend Mr. B. — " The opposition now made to the 
 doctrines of the gospel, in these parts, is very dreadful ; espe» 
 cially by Dr. Priestley, of Leeds, and Mr. Graham, of Halifax; 
 two of the most learned and artful men in our country. 
 Dr. Priestley is the person addressed in my verses under the 
 name of Clemens. He has published several small pieces, 
 which, with unparalleled contrivance, he has caused to be spre^ci 
 
g2 " PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT [1772, 
 
 over, I believe, most parts of England." This zeal in the one 
 party roused their opponents to action. The same methods 
 ■were adopted to defend the truths of Christianity that were used 
 in attacking them ; and various penny and two-penny tracts were 
 printed and circulated in defence of the Divinity and Atonement 
 o( Christ. Mr. T. was too warmly interested in the subjects of 
 debate to remain long an unconcerned spectator of th€ combat. 
 Fearing lest, in the heat of the controversy, the practical im- 
 portance of the doctrines should be overlooked, he pubiished, 
 under the assumed name of Plii/agathus, " A Practica} Im- 
 provement of the Divinity and Atonement of Jesus, attempted 
 in verse; humbly offered as a Supplement to the Tracts lately 
 published by Mr. Cayley, the Rev. Mr. Morgan, Veriis and 
 Biblicus." The »hort Preface describes the nature and design 
 of the work so justly, that we transcribe it. " The author of 
 the following lines neither designed that they should be, nor 
 pretends that they are, properly argumentative. The proof of 
 the glorious doctrines of the Divinity and Atonement of our 
 blessed Lord, at least as far as is necessary for the unlearned and 
 the poor, may be fouud in the tracts mentioned in the title page. 
 It is only designed here to point out, in some faint manner, the 
 importance and excellency of these doctrines : lest they sliould 
 be, as they too often are, esteemed matters of little weight, and 
 only speculative notions; whereas they yield the richest consola- 
 tion to the believer, and should be esteemed by him, more 
 valuable than all the treasures of the Indies — than all worlds. 
 The author pretends to little skill in poetry, as it is a subject on 
 which he seldom employs a single thought. Therefore let 
 nothing here be expected to please the critic. He has paid 
 little attention to method ; but has put down his thoughts as they 
 occurred. If any pleasing impression be made on the mind of 
 the simple honest reader, that he love the truth more ardently 
 and abide by it more firmly, to his own edification, and the 
 praise of the dear, dear Immanuel, it will be a cause of joy 
 and pleasure to Philagathus." 
 
 Notwithstanding this modest account, there are some passages 
 in the tiact which, for warmth of thought and sublime simplicity 
 of language exceed any other production of the author that has 
 fallen under our notice. The humble, affectionate and fervent 
 worshipper of the J.amb that was slain, a])pears in every line; 
 
A<GKD ^4.3 OV THK DIVINITY AND AXON li.M KNT," §3 
 
 and this ^vell-tinTe(I publication must, we think, have Jiad a vcr_y 
 salutary' effect. 'i\\c subject is opened thus: 
 
 *' Immortal Spirit! breathe, a worm implores; 
 
 Assist to sinfj tiic Name that heaven adoresl 
 
 The dear ImmnnueVf. name, who on tlie tree 
 
 Siiffer'd and bled tior wretched worms like mc ; 
 
 I sing his names, his works, his power, his love, 
 
 ExtolI'd by all the radiant host above. 
 
 Jehovah is his name — the source of life, 
 
 ■Let all that live join in a sacred strife 
 
 Let holy ennilation fire our souls, 
 
 To spread his fame far as the distant poles - 
 
 Let all in hcav'n and earth as one conspire ; 
 
 Infants shall lisp, aiid Gabriel tnneliis lyre. 
 
 /)ur tono[H€s 4ie form'd : our tonj»ues shall speak liis praise. 
 
 Our Iweath he cjives : let each his honour raise. 
 
 (J1 were we skill'd in more harmonious lays." 
 
 This however was rather observing the manoeuvres of the 
 combatants, than actually joining in the contest; but it was not 
 long before our author became more directly engaged. Mr. 
 Graham, of Halifax, preached before the ** dissenting clergy-" 
 at Leeds," September 18, 1771 ; and took that opportunity of 
 attacking the opinions generally denominated orthodox, and 
 tiieir abettors, with considerable wurnith, and too much bitter- 
 ness. He afterwards published the discourse under the title of 
 " Repentance the <3nlj Condition of final Acceptance." This 
 sermon was put into the hands of Mr. T. soon afti^r it was 
 published, and he thought it his duty to notice it. Accordingly 
 in the ensuing February, he published " The Scriptural Account 
 of the Way of Salvation. In two Parts :" a pamphlet con- 
 taining more than 100 pages ICmo. It consisted oi 'dn Appeal 
 to the conscience of every reader respecting some important 
 doctrines of sciipture ; and a free examinatioit of ^Jr. Graham's 
 Sermon in a letter addressed to that gentleman. The former, 
 widi lidelily and alfection, presses on the consideration of eveiT 
 rational crciiture, the condemned state of man by nature — his 
 utter inability to deliver himself from that state — the divinity of 
 Jesus, the only Saviour — the atonement which he has made for 
 the «ins of all mankind — and the manner in which the sinner 
 may become interested in this Saviour. In the Letter lo 
 Mr. Graham, our author animadverts very freely, but very its- 
 
 L'J 
 
84 DISPUTE WitM [1773. 
 
 pectfully, on tbe dangerous tendency of some of lliat gentleman's 
 sentiments — the insufficiency of the arguments by which they 
 are defended — and the unjust and illiberal manner in which he 
 treats those who oppose him. 
 
 Though Dr. Priestley and his followers had not then perhaps 
 assumed the modest designation of '* Rational Christians," yet 
 ihey valued themselves highly on the rationality of their system 
 of divinity. Wr. Graham had boldly asserted, that " the scheme 
 of justification by faith carried so much absurdity upon the face of 
 it, as an honest man, and indeed a man of common sense, would 
 be ashamed to father upon the christian religion." This heavy 
 charge Mr. T. examines at considerable length ; and though he 
 disapproved of settling religious disputes by reason, which he 
 thought should rather be decided by the authority of Revelation; 
 yet, unwilling that any of his sentiments should be represented as 
 repugnant to common sense, he meets his antagonist on his own 
 ground ; and discusses, by way of query, the true use of reason 
 in matters of religion, and its application to the points in debate. 
 This part of the work exhibits the author in a new character. 
 On former occasions, he had shewn himself a scribe well instructed 
 in the word of God, and had successfully wielded that sword of 
 the Spirit ; but here he appears an able logician and acute me- 
 taphysician. The whole discussion is peculiarly interesting, and 
 well worthy of being preserved ; but its length forbids its inser- 
 tion in these memoirs ; and it cannot be abridged without injury. 
 We therefore transcribe a short passage from another part, as a 
 specimen of the spirit and style of the work. 
 
 " Your remark, in the same page, on our Saviour's conference 
 with the woman of Samaria, John iv. seems very notable. 
 
 * Under the metaphor of water,' you say, * and its aptness to 
 quench thirst, our Lord recommends religious character as what 
 alone can gratify man's nobler powers, and prepare him for that 
 endless life which he brought to light.' lldigioiis characteVy 
 Sir! — gratify man's powers'^ — his nohlcv powers.^ — this alouc 
 gratify them 1 — this prepare h'nn for endless life .' — this aluiie 
 prepare him .^ What! the Father, nothing.'' the Son, notliing.^ 
 the Holy Ghost, nothing.^ * Grace' — 'blood' — 'ransom' — 
 'propitiation, — ' sacrifice' — 'bearing our sins' — ' suffering for our 
 sins' — 'redemption through his blood' — 'complete in him' — 
 
 * made a curse for us' — ' made sin for us,' &c. Sec. &c. all nothing ? 
 
AGED 34.] MR. GRAHAM. 85 
 
 neither gratify man's nobler powers, nor prepare liim for endless 
 life? A\'hatl do no part of cither ? religioua character alone 
 do both? Well, Sir, I remember that you are my superior; 
 und it is perhaps, at present, as well that you are. Yet give me 
 leave to ask, Do you really think, that all which the sacred 
 writers have recorded concerning * rejoicing in the Lord,' * being 
 made glad with the light of his countenance' — ^ rejoicing in his 
 mercy' — ^ his righteousness' — ' his salvation,' 8cc. must all be 
 included in being gratified with religious character ? Does all 
 they say about ' joy and peace in believing' — * Christ dwelling 
 in the heart by faith' — ' the Spirit dwelling in them' — ' the love 
 of God shed abroad in their hearts' — 'tasting that the Lord is 
 gracious' — 'rejoicing in Christ Jesus and having no confidence in 
 the llesh ;' with almost numberless expressions of the like kind ; 
 does all this extend to nothing more than gratiiication by reli- 
 gious character? Does not the apostle assure us that ' God 
 makes us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in 
 light' — ' that he who works in us for this self-same thing is God? 
 Col. i. 12, 2 Cor. V, 5. And shall we so metamorphose words 
 and things, as to make God and religious character the same? 
 I ask again, Where does our Lord recommend religious character 
 in the light you speak of? Surely the passage you refer to, in 
 John iv. contains nothinjr like it. Religious character, if I 
 understand the words, (though I own, in the connection in which 
 you have placed them they appear to me a*^little uncouth) must 
 either mean something we possess or perform, or by which we 
 are distiniruished. Must we then drink this \\ater which Jesus 
 speaks of out of ourselves ? Does he not call it ' the water that 
 / shall give him ?' And would it not have been more just to 
 have referred us to the parellel place, John vii. 3 — [), where we 
 are told, that the water which Christ gives is the S])irit ; that is, 
 the lioly Ghost, which every believer receives from him to 
 comfort, jcfic.-li aiul support his mind, as water does the animal 
 frame? It would be no hard matter, i believe, to shew what 
 kind of nobler pozcers are gratified by religious character, and by 
 that ALONE ; but that I at present waive." 
 
 Mr. G. had asserted that " the doctrine of the atonement" 
 was not known nor believed in the world till many hundred years 
 after our Lord and his apostles had left it." To liiis Mr. T. 
 replies by transcribing the tcbtimonics of Barnubab, Clemens ot 
 
g5 MIXT COMMUKION. [1772. 
 
 Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Irenaius, Clemens of 
 Alexandria, Origen, and other ancient fathers, full to the point: 
 and concludes the argument thus : " I am quite confident that 
 this doctrine has, in the substance of it, been maintained in all 
 ages of Christianity, and will be to the end of time." — " As I 
 pretend not to any considerable knowledge of the ancients, 
 perhaps others more acquainted with these writings, may think 
 of passages much more pertinent. The import of these yourself, 
 Sir, and the reader will consider at your leisure." What he has 
 produced how ever is fully sulTicieut for the purpose ; and proves 
 his acquaintance with those authors to have been, considering 
 his circumstances, very extensive. 
 
 The other controversy in which ISIr. T. engaged this year, 
 was on the subject of mixed communion. Messrs. Turner, of 
 Abingdon, and Ryland, of Northampton, had published "Reasons" 
 in favour of this practice, under the signatures of Candidus and 
 Pacijicus. These Reasons, Mr. Birley had sent to Mr. T. with 
 a request that he would favour him with some observations on 
 them. After repeated solicitations, our author sent a number 
 of remarks, which his friend soon after published in a neat 
 pamphlet, entitled " Candidus examined with Candor, &c. by 
 P/ti/alethes." When some of these tracts were sent to the 
 author, he thus addressed the publisher, in a letter, dated Nov. 
 17, 1772. *' Yesterday I received your parcel. It is no won- 
 der that the work is incorrect. I only gave you a rough draught 
 of my first thoughts on the subject; nor did I so nmch as tran- 
 scribe the copy. I merely designed it as a few leading thoughts, 
 which, if you plt^ased, you might further pursue ; and expunge, 
 retrench, enlai ge or destroy, at your jjleasure ; but not in anywise 
 as fit for the press as it was. However, printed it is ! may it do 
 some service. Leisure for accurate thought I have not. I find 
 patience and submission very necessary ; yet I have nmch to be 
 thankful for. Lord! help me. 1 am indeed a poor helpless 
 creature, and much of my life of little use." 
 
 A work, publislied under such circuniJrtances, is privileged 
 from criticism. Though it possesses little of that display which 
 has rendered sonie recent works on the same subject very 
 popular; yet, it is presumed, that to the honest christian, who 
 wishes to make hi:? Bible the guide of his conduct, it will be 
 satisfactory. The autliui a'5>ume>, that our only rule for admit- 
 
AGED 34.1 LABOIRS. ^J 
 
 ting persons to the privilege of clmrcli members, is tlie New 
 Testament; in which he contends theie is neither prect.-pt nor 
 example in favour of unbaptized persons being :»dmitte(i to 
 communion at the Lord's table. On this principle he defends 
 the practice of the strict baptists ; and answers the objections uf 
 those who blame their consistency. 
 
 ^Ir. T. presided at the Annual Association, at Loughborough, 
 June 3 & 4, and preached from Dan. xii. 13. It was thouglit 
 iidvisable that a circular letter should be addressed from this 
 meeting to the churclies; and the chairman was requested to 
 prepare one, during the continuance of the assembly. 71iis he 
 accomplished with his usual promptitude; and his performance 
 received the sanction of his brethren. From Longhborousfh he 
 went to Bessell's Green, in Kent, whither a few of the southern 
 cliurches had sent their representatives, on the 10th and 1 1th of 
 the same month. Here also he read his circular, and it was 
 approved. It was soon afterwards printed and dispersed. In 
 this epistle, the brethren were earnestly and affectionately ex- 
 horted to look to and depend on Christ — to attend diligently to 
 his ordinances — to frequent and faithful examination — to peace, 
 unity and order- — to a circumspect walk and conversation — to 
 avoid the love of the world, 8cc. 
 
 Towards the close of this year, Mr. T. took another journev, 
 which occupied hiin three weeks, and returned to his friends 
 again about the middle of November. lie likewise continued 
 his exertions to spread the gospel in his own neighbourhood. 
 At this time he had pushed his attempts to a considerable dis- 
 tance on several sides. He had, for some tinjc, preached occa- 
 sionally at Queenshead, a wild and uncultivated place, nearly 
 destitute of religion, eleven miles eastward of Birchcliff, and 
 had made such a progress as encouraged him, in conjunction 
 with his brother John, to establish regular preaching there in 
 November this year. His brother preached at Queenshead 
 tliree Lord's days in the n)onth, and Mr. D. Taylor the fourth; 
 wiien the iormer su}>plicd lor him at Birchclill'. '' Mr. U, 
 T.'s labours," in the expressive words of his coadjutor, ** to 
 found the geneial baptist cause at Queenshead are not to be 
 described, and almost incredible; he rejoiced and labo\ued sur- 
 prisingly to accomplish this object." Nor did he coniine his 
 attempts to this station ; but seized with avidity, and occupied 
 
gg G. B. CHURCH FORMED. [1773. 
 
 with indefatigable diligence, every opening which Providence 
 presented to him to prosecute his grand design, and to spread 
 the good news of salvation into every dark corner of that then 
 benighted country. 
 
 No sooner had ^Ir. J. Taylor begun to be regularly engaged 
 in the work of preaching, than he and his brother appointed 
 stated interviews for mutual conference, advice and prayer, res- 
 pecting their ministerial labours and duties. This laid the 
 foundation of what was afterwards called the " Preacher's Meet- 
 ing;" and has lately been denominated the " Yorkshire Con^ 
 ference :" an institution which has materially assisted in support- 
 ing and regulating the General Baptist interest in that district. 
 
 These persevering endeavours at home, and his frequent 
 journeys to distant parts, obliged him often to leave his own 
 flock to be supplied by the young preachers. Many of his 
 friends, participating in his views and rejoicing in his success, 
 submitted to this privation with cheerfulness. A few, how^ever, 
 were dissatisfied ; yet, hoping that their pastor would at length 
 tire himself out, and confine his labours to his own charge, they 
 suppressed their complaints. But observing no symptoms of 
 languor in this active minister, and finding that every year his 
 views extended, they concluded that the prospect of any suspen- 
 sion of his exertions, as long as his health and strength continued, 
 was visionary, and broke out, about this period, into open mur- 
 murs. The peace of the church was, for a time, interrupted; 
 but a few of the most discontented w ithdrawing, an end was put 
 to the opposition, and Mr. T. left to pursue his favourite object 
 without controul. 
 
 1773. The service at Queenshead was continued on the 
 the original plan for several months; and Mr. D. T. persevered, 
 Midi unabated zeal, in his labours to promote this interest. Tq 
 his efforts principally the friends in that place owed the erection 
 of a meeting-house in the course of the summer of 177.'3. In 
 order to })romolc the necessary funds, he took a journey, in July, 
 through the midland churches. He left home on the Qth ; on 
 the 1 1th preached at Melbourn, Packington, and Measham; on 
 the leih, at Haibury; KOlh, at Longford; 14th, at Hinckley; 
 loth, at Barton; Ifilh, at Hugglcscote; 18th, at Quorndon, 
 Leake, and . Loughboiougli; l(Jlh, at Discworth; 20th, at 
 
AGED S5.] AT QTJEl-NSHEAD. 89 
 
 Castle-Donington; 21 st, at Kegwortli; 22nd, at Smallcy ami 
 Ilallam; and on the 23rd, at Kirby Woodliousc : \vhence he 
 returned the next day to Wadsworth. In this busy journey he 
 collected upwards of £65, besides his travelling expcnccs ; \vliich 
 probably were trifling, as he was much in the habit of walkin*'. 
 
 September 29, Mr. T. preached at tlie opening of the 
 Uuilding, for which he had made such extraordinary exertions, 
 from 1 Kifigs, ix. 3. On the following day, his brother John 
 was ordained to the pastoral office over the friends in that place, 
 who had been previously formed into a separate society. On 
 this solemn, and to Mr. D. T. very pleasing, occasion, he deli- 
 vered an introductory discourse, proposed tlie questions to tlie 
 minister and the people, offered the ordination prayer, and 
 addressed tiie newly-ordained pastor, from 2 Tim. ii. 15. This 
 charge was distinguished for affection, solemnity, and length ; 
 containing, as Mr. Thompson who heard it asserted, ^ix imndred 
 particulars. WeU might the young man to whom it was ad- 
 jdressed, describe it as " a long and heavy ch&rge." Tliis was 
 the first time, as far as we have been able to learn, that Mr. T. 
 was^ engaged in the interesting service of ordination ; but we 
 shall find, as we proceed, that he was afterwards frequently 
 called to this sacred part of the ministerial work, and was pecu- 
 liarly acceptable in it. 
 
 In the beginning of the ensuing month, he took a joamey into 
 Lincolnshire ; and was engaged, October 3d, in the ordination 
 of Mr. Hannath, at Killingholm, when he addressed the people. 
 He arrived at home, October 10th, and resumed his labours 
 with renewed vigour. 
 
 In the beginning of June this year, Mr. T. attended the 
 annual association at Melbourn, when his friend, Mr. Tiiompson, 
 presided, and he acted as moderator. What was tlie reason why 
 he was not in the chair, on this occas<?n, might not be easy now 
 to ascertain : probably he waived it in compliment to his bosom 
 friend and fellow labourer. But this was tlie only instance, in 
 the whole forty-six years that he lived after the formation of the 
 New Connection, in which he did not occupy the chair at the 
 annual association. 
 
 1774« We have but little information respecting the subject 
 pf tlii? volume during this year. The annual association being 
 
90 ORDAINS MR. WORSHIP. [1775. 
 
 at Wadsworth, He had no occasion to leave home in order to 
 attend it: and we have no traces of any other journey. About 
 Midsummer he sold off his shop goods, and hired a farm, named 
 Hirst. He took this step with a view to accommodate a few 
 boarders; judging that a boarding school might be a source of 
 profit more congenial to his feelings than trade, for which both 
 his disposition and habits di^squalified him. This attempt there- 
 fore to increase his finances had been unsuccessful: and, for a 
 time, he was involved in considerable difficulties to raise the 
 necessary supplies for the stocking of his farm, Sec. The kind- 
 ness' of his landlord, to whose son he had been made useful 
 when on a bed of death, and his own exertions, crowned with 
 the blessing of heaven, carried him through his embarrassments. 
 He pursued this new engagemeht, as he did every thing which 
 he undertook, with all his might. He rose early and laboured 
 hard; and the house and grounds soon assumed a very improved 
 appearance. But, amidst all the bustle and engagement of this 
 new scene, he did not forget, that his great work was to under- 
 stand and teach the truths of Christianity. He fitted up a room 
 for his books, of which he had now a good store ; and felt most 
 completely at home when retired to his study. 
 
 1775. January 9, Mr. T. was engaged at Great Yarmouth, 
 in the ordination of Mr. B Worship, over the General Baptist 
 Church at that place. He gave the charge to the minister, 
 from 1 Tim. iv. 1, 2; and Mr. Thompson addressed the people 
 from 1 Tlies, v 12. Both the discourses were published a few 
 months afterward, in one pamphlet, entitled, ** The respective 
 Duties of Ministers and People briefly explained and inforced." 
 Mr. T.'s charge^ which occupies two-lhirds of the book, consists 
 of plain and faithful descriptions of the duties of a christian 
 pastor, affectionate and practical advice, animating motives to 
 diligence and zeal, and encouraging supports under the tiithcul- 
 ties to which that high station exposes its possessor. It need 
 not be added, that this charge is adapted for usefulness : on this 
 subject, Mr, T. could not deliver an useless discourse. 
 
 Mr. T. proposed to attend the Lincolnshire Association at 
 Coningsby, in compliance with the request of the ministers who 
 composed it; but his various avocations prevented him from 
 taking that journey. He wrote them a letter, which was read at 
 
AGED 37.] LABOURS. 91 
 
 that meeting, and caused a considerable sensation. It ])rf)lja1jly 
 expatiated freely on the mischievous tendency of sonic; rjf the 
 sentiments which several of the mendjcrs countenanced • and 
 this appears to liave excited improper resentment. " Mr. T.'s 
 letter," says the venerable Mr. Boyce, in a note on the minutes 
 of this association, " occasioned much disorder, and hindered us 
 from carrying on the business of the day as we should have done; 
 and, at present, has made the breach wider than it was before ; 
 having fdled our minds with trouble and sorrow, instead of joy 
 and peace." 
 
 June 7 & 8, Mr.T. attended the Annual Association of the 
 New Connection, at Hinckley, and returned home about the 
 20th. Soon after his return, fourteen boys were sent from 
 Leicestershire, to be boarded and educated at Hirst. At this 
 time, lie had from twenty to thirty day scholars. I'hese, with his 
 family, his farm and his church, must have claimed all his time and 
 attention. We do not, therefore, find him taking any other long 
 journey this year. But he persevered in his exertions to spread 
 the gospel in his own district; and, about this time, preached 
 very frequently at Halifax, where he was very desirous of raising 
 a General Baptist interest. His frequent absence from his own 
 people gave umbrage again to some of the Wadsworth friends, 
 and caused a contention, which retarded the prosperity of reli- 
 gion. The congregations, however, were larger than they had 
 ever been known ; and, on the w hole, the cause at ^Vads\vorth 
 gained ground. 
 
 The increase of his school probably turned his thoughts to 
 the subject of a catechism; as we find him, at this time, 
 repeatedly urging his friend Mr. Thompson to write a good, 
 plain catechism, for the instruction of children and youth. As 
 his friend seems never to have attempted the task, ^fr. T. 
 was induced some years afterwards to compose one himself. 
 
 This appears to have been a time of peculiar labour. " I am 
 amazingly busy this seed-time," he informs ]Mr. W. Thompson, 
 March 28. '^ I have often to labour all day, preach or attend 
 meetings in the evenings, and write in the nights. Last night I 
 was up till near three o'clock this morning making an Errata 
 and a Table ofContents." " We are in the midst of harvest," 
 he tells Mr. B. August 31. " My family is large, my school 
 pretty full, and my only assistant has neidier that authority nor 
 
9^ '*> FUNDAMENTALS [I77>b-^ 
 
 care that I could wisli." To Mr. Thompson he writes in these 
 terms, August 10th, " I have fourteen boarders come to hand^ 
 with a pretty numerous family besides, and sometime to take 
 up with Mr. Ingliam, my young assistant, and my son; and the 
 hay harvest having been just at the same time,, and above twenty 
 day scholars, sometimes nearly thirty, with every tiling to provide 
 for my boarders, and much concern for two pretty large and 
 widely-extended churches, besides the new interest raising at 
 Halifax, must, you will grant, have considerably thronged me. 
 You can hardly think how I have been employed since I saw 
 you ; and have had many letters to writs to correspondent* whom 
 1 could not deny." Perhaps the confusion and incoherency in 
 the 3tyle of this extract, furnish the best illustration, and proof 
 of the truth of its contents. 
 
 This year our author published his principal work, which 
 appears to have cost him much tliought and labour. He had^ 
 in a course of fifty sermons to- his own congregation, gone 
 through a sort of system of divinity, and handled the principal 
 subjects of revealed religion. The idea of publishing the sub- 
 stance of these discourses naturally suggested itself to the author, 
 and was encouraged by his hearers, and his friend Mr. Thompson-. 
 The first hint of this design which we have discovered, is in a 
 letter to Mr.B. dated October 5, 1771, " A Treatise," he ob- 
 serves, " on some principal subjects in divinity is in some likeli- 
 hood of being some time published, if ever poor, poor D. T. is 
 able to prepare it for the press. Brother Thompson i9> I sup- 
 pose, procuring subscriptions for the printing of it, who has 
 taken a copy of the contents into Lincolnshire. But alas! little 
 of it is yet in proper order, and whetlier ever it will be, God only 
 knows." In the beginning of the year following the proposals 
 ibr printing it by subscription were published, at the close of 
 his * Scriptural Account of the Way of Salvation." But his 
 other engagements caused the work to proceed slowly, and it 
 was not till towards the close of 1774, tiiat the manuscript was 
 completed^- He was anxious to submit his prodiK:tioa to son>e 
 competent judge, and to avail himself of his advice and correc- 
 tions. With this view, he sent tlie copy to Dr. Stennett, wha, 
 for some years had expressed a high regard for our authoK. 
 But his expectations from that gentleman were totally disapr 
 pointed. *' My muimscript returned from Dr. Stennett yester-^ 
 
AGED 37.] OF RELIGION." 93 
 
 day," he writes to Mr. Thompson, November \G, 1774, " but, 
 to my great surprise and grief, though he has had it three 
 montlis, and stopped the press several weeks, I find not one 
 remark made by him of any kind whatever. Thus, it appears 
 I must publish again, without the assistance and inspection of 
 any one friend, except the general advices which you were kind 
 enough to give me at first. This is very discouraging indeed, 
 and greatly oppresses my spirits. Lord, direct me for thine 
 own honour." 
 
 It was at last published; and in a Dedication, dated March 
 4, 1775, inscribed " to his dear brethren in Wadsworth, as a 
 small token of that sincere and undissembled affection which his 
 heart felt and his relation and office demanded towards them all." 
 In this dedication he apologizes thus for the delay in publishing. 
 " Through a great number of unforeseen incidents, and by rea- 
 son of the multiplicity and variety of concerns to which my 
 situation and connections oblige me to attend, and with which 
 you are not wholly unacquainted, this work has been delayed 
 much longer than I at first intended, or many of my friends 
 would expect. For this I am heartily sorry, and I here entreat 
 their excuse and pardon. I believe those who best know me, will 
 not be forward to accuse me of allowed indolence; and those 
 who candidly consider the uncertainty of all human affairs, and 
 the importance of writing for the public, w ill perhaps be inclined 
 to construe this delay in the most favourable light." 
 
 The Table of Contents, inserted in the margin,* will afford 
 the reader sufficient information respecting the important subjects 
 
 •CONTENTS. Chap. I. The Character and Perfections of God. Chap.U. 
 The State of Man before Sin entered into the World. Chap. III. Of the 
 Moral Law, and its suitableness to the primitive State of Man. Chap. TV, 
 On the Fall of Man, and his natural Propensity, as fallen, to deviate from 
 the Moral Law and his Inability to keep it. Ch«p. V. The Sinner ar- 
 »-aigned and condemned by the Law of God. Chap. VI. This condemned 
 State proved to be the State of all Men by Nature. Chap, VII. An In- 
 quiry concerning several "NVays of obtaining Salvation which Men often pro- 
 pose to themselves. Chap. VIII. The Way of Salvation illustrated: — 1, 
 God's Lo\ e to the World in sending his Son : 2. The Divinity and Atonement 
 of Clirist: 3. The Fulness and Freeness of Salvation : 4. The Language 
 and Manner of Expression by which the Scriptures exhibit Salvation to 
 Mankind : 5. The Way in which Sinners come to the Enjoyment of this Sal- 
 vation. Chap. IX. The Scripture Account of Faith in the Lord Jesu* 
 Christ. Chap. X. The genuine Effects of Faith in Jesus Christ. Chap, XL 
 
94 " FUNDAMENTALS, &C." [1775. 
 
 discussed in this volume : and the author himself, in the Dedica- 
 tion, has clearly, though briefly described the manner in which 
 he has endeavoured to treat them. 
 
 " i\s I have kept in view, especially the advantage of the 
 illiterate and persons of inferior capacities, I have made it my 
 great concern to write with plainness and simplicity. Had I 
 been ever so much master of a learned style, or could I have 
 adorned my page ever so richly with the figures and tropes 
 of oratory, or with nice criticisms and learned disquisitions, I 
 should have thought these very improper on the present occa- 
 sion. These have therefore been avoided as much as I thought 
 consistent with doing justice to the truths of God. If it ap- 
 peared necessary to suggest any hints which might rise above 
 the capacity of the meanest reader, it is generally thrown into 
 the margin; so that he need not perplex himself with it. I hope 
 it will appear throughout, that I have laboured to make every 
 truth T have treated, clear to the understanding, accompanied 
 with its own native evidence from the oracles of infallible 
 truth." 
 
 The author has, in a laudable degree, accomplished his desiorn, 
 and treated these important subjects with plainness and perspi- 
 cuity, and, at the same time, with a serious earnestness. The 
 language is natural, manly and chaste ; w holly unadorned, but 
 often very impressive. But what principally distinguishes this 
 performance, is the implicit and reverential regard paid to the 
 dictates of Revelation, in discussing these momentous, awful 
 and sometimes mysterious subjects. No conjectures are in- 
 dulged, no mere reasoning employed, either to establish or illus- 
 trate any position. The whole is built on the oracles of truth, 
 and affords a beautiful and instructive exemplification of the 
 excellent advice which the author addressed to Mr. Worship. 
 " AKvays give full scripture proof of what you assert; and let 
 all you urge as matter of duty be accompanied with the sanction 
 of divine authority. Let ' thus saith the Lord' be your sole and 
 
 The Nature. Extent, Means of, and Motives to, Evancjelical Holiness. 
 Chap. XII. The Christian's Treasure opened. Chap. XIII. Encourage- 
 ments and Advices to true Christians. Chap. XIV. A short View of Death, 
 Jud<;nu'nt, Heaven, and Hell. Chap. XV. An Address to the careless Sin- 
 ner, the awakened Sinner, the self-rii,diteons Person, the mere notional 
 I'rofessor, the lukewarm Professor, and the real Believer, 
 
AGED 38.] LABOURS. ^ 95 
 
 your constant warrant in every part of fuilli and practice. * 1 as- 
 sert;' ' it is my opinion ;' ' it must ))e allowed ;' * it is commonly 
 supposed;' 8cc. are too slender and feeble arguments where 
 souls and immortality are in question. You will rather faithfully 
 study and diligently adhere to your Bible; consider that as a 
 rich storehouse of sacred intelligence ; and continually refer to 
 it, as sufficient authority for all you advance." 
 
 Nearly three hundred subscribers to this work were obtained 
 before its publication ; almost one half of whom were from the 
 Lincolnshire churches. The whole impression was sold olF in 
 a few years, and it continued for a long time out of priiit. 
 
 177G. This year appears to have been in a peculiar degree 
 occupied at home. His farm, his church and especially his 
 school, employed much of his time. He attended, indeed, the 
 Annual Association at Boston, May 29 Sc 30, and was appointed 
 one of a committee to prepare some proposals to the Lincoln- 
 shire Association, for promoting a re-union. It does not appear 
 that he undertook any other distant journey this year. About 
 Michaelmas, Mr. Thompson pressed him to visit Lincolnshire, 
 to which he replied, September 18. "I have hardly time to 
 inform you that I do not see how to make it suit to come into 
 Lincolnshire at present. The concerns of religion, my family, 
 farm and school, seem to require my abiding at Wadsworth." 
 
 1777. The education of the youth committed to his care, 
 was viewed by Mr. T. as it will be by every one who conscien- 
 tiously undertakes it, as a momentous charge. Though so 
 busily engaged in very important religious and literary pursuits, 
 he employed much thought on the proper means of improviu"- 
 their mi«ds and affecting their hearts. He frequently requested 
 his correspondents, who were engaged in the same employment, 
 to give him advice, with an earnestness that evinced his anxious 
 desire to receive it. And his diary contains frequent instances 
 of earnest supplications to the Father of lights, for w isdom and 
 prudence in the discharge of his duty to his pupils. About this 
 period, he compiled and printed several small pieces for their 
 instruction. One was a lialf sheet intitled, " A Lookino-G'Ja.ss 
 for Youth:'' containing a short but animating account of the 
 efforts made to obtain excellence, in their respective pursuits, 
 
r 
 
 96 ATTENTION TO HIS PUPILS. [1777. 
 
 by Demothenes, Virgil and Dr. Doddridge ; with the astonish- 
 ing success which crowned their industry and perseverance : and 
 concluding with an exhortation to similar ardour and diligence. 
 Another tract, intended to assist in the religious improvement of 
 the youthful mind, was also published this year ; under the title 
 of " Entertainment and Profit united : or, Easy Verses on some 
 of the chief Subjects of Christianity, for the Use of Children 
 and Youth." These verses, like most of the author's other 
 works, are remarkable for simplicity, plainness and scrupulous 
 adherence to scripture : being little more than paraphrases on 
 important texts, with a hint or two of application. They were 
 well received by the public ; and a second edition was called for 
 in a few months. As the Preface to the first edition of this 
 tract has been omitted in subsequent impressions, the following 
 extract from it is inserted here, as containing some useful hints 
 on an important and difficult part of education, and exhibiting, 
 probably, the author's own method of conveying religious in- 
 struction. " Several passages of scripture are placed at the 
 head of every lesson, which contain and illustrate the leading 
 thoughts of it. The author's advice to parents or teachers is, 
 that the child read over carefully, once or twice, the verses thenir 
 selves under each head ; then turn to the passages in his Bible, 
 prefixed to the verses, and get those passages intirely by heart. 
 Then let the child get the verses under each head by heart also ; 
 and let the parent or teacher refer the child to the particular 
 text, or part of text on which each part of the lesson is founded, 
 and explain to him, both the texts of scripture and the verses. 
 Thus, by a very little labour daily, the child will become ac- 
 quainted with his Bible, in the letter and doctrine of it at once. 
 When the text and doctrine are thus learnt, the teacher may 
 propose such questions to the child, as may occur to his mind 
 under every head; and let the child answer in the very words of 
 scripture, or the words of the verse, or words of the child's own 
 inventing, as the teacher pleases, or, as may suit the child's fancy 
 or capacity. This, I think, is a good method of improving the 
 judgment and memory of children, and of bringing them to a 
 fixed knowledge and lasting remembrance of divine things. 
 And the tender atfection which every serious teacher must feel 
 for the children entrusted with him, will certainly dictate to hjin 
 what improvement and application he ouglit to make of every 
 subject." 
 
AGED 39.] " CHRISTMAS VERSES." 9? 
 
 It was probably about this time also that he printed a copy 
 of verses for Christnias-day, which he caused his scholars to 
 commit to memory and repeat, for a small prize, before proper 
 judges. We have not been able to recover a copy of them, liut 
 they commenced thus : 
 
 " I hear 'tis matter of learned contention 
 
 At what time our Saviour appear'd ; 
 And when, as a pattern of great condescension, 
 
 His weeping in Hetlilehcm was lieard. 
 But let me not puzzle my head with enquiring 
 
 The date of this wonder of love; 
 But let my whole sonl he employ'd in admiring 
 
 What brought my dear Lord from above." 
 
 The controversy respecting baptism was this year revived. 
 Mr. Addington, an independent minister, then settled at Market 
 Harborough, Leicestershire, had, some time previous to this 
 date, published a vindication of pajdo-baptism, under the title of 
 " A Christian Minister's Reasons for baptizing Infants, and for 
 administering the Ordinance by sprinkling or pouring." This 
 work had been put into Mr. T.'s hand soon after its appearance, 
 with an earnest request that he would reply to it ; but he declined 
 the task, through want of leisure and inclination. Dr. Stennett, 
 however, took up the subject, and published an answer. Both 
 these works were large and elaborate ; and adapted chiefly to the 
 learned. Mr. Addington, however, printed, soon afterwards, 
 a small tract, which he called " A Summary of a Christian 
 Minister's Reasons for, 8cc.' As this was likely to find its way 
 into the hands of the poor and illiterate, Mr. T. thought that it 
 required an antidote. He therefore seized the occasion, and 
 reprinted his Humble Essay on Christian Baptism, to which he 
 now subjoined two Letters to Mr. Addington, containing "Stric- 
 tures on his Sun)mary of a Christian Minister's Reasons," &c. 
 The Essay had been several years out of print, and had become 
 so scarce, that it was with difficulty the author himself now ob- 
 tained a copy. To this edition he prefixed his name, and an 
 advertisement expressing his wishes, that the controversy, if 
 pursued, might be conducted in a christian spirit. His object is 
 sufficiently explained in a few words in the commencement of 
 the first letter to Mr. A. After mentioning, in terms of appro- 
 bation. Dr. Stennett's Reply to " the Christian Minister'* 
 
 N 
 
98 STRICTURES ON ADDINGTON. [1777» 
 
 Reasons," he adds, " If the Humble Essay, with the few follow- 
 ing remarks, should be thought in any degree worthy to supply 
 liis lack of service for the lowest of the people, to prevent those 
 pernicious consequences which I am persuaded your late pub- 
 lications are calculated to produce, I shall think myself happy 
 in having presented them to the world." 
 
 The Strictures are written with the confidence of a man who 
 feels conscious that he stands on firm ground : and some of his 
 remarks are so closely urged, that their weight and edge must 
 have been felt by the gentleman on whom he animadverts. He 
 lays aside that respectful distance and acknowledged inferiority 
 which marked his address to Mr. Graham, and treats Mr. A. 
 with the freedom of a brother minister. -After running over 
 what appeared to him to require observation in the " Summary,"" 
 he concludes with the following friendly and honest advice to- 
 the author ; which we transcribe, because it may be of great 
 service to all religious disputants, whether by the tongue or the 
 pen. 
 
 " I ask your pardon, Sir, if I presume so far as to offer you 
 a word or two of advice, which, if attended to, will, I think, be 
 of service to yourself and your readers ; should you think proper 
 to resume thia controversy, or to take up any other. I give it, as 
 far as I know, with due respect to your person and character." 
 
 " 1 advise you then, my dear Sir, to read the passages of 
 scripture carefully over, which relate to the subject you are upon ; 
 and try to be impartial and divest yourself of prejudice. Con- 
 sider yourself in the sight of that God who trieth the reins and 
 hearts, and to whom we must quickly give an account of all our 
 thoughts, words and works." 
 
 " Do not be positive in asserting without evidence, nor take 
 things for granted without proof; especially things which you 
 know are denied by your opponents. This unnecessarily pro- 
 longs the debate, and excites a disposition not the most happy 
 or most honourable to the christian character •, and is, in short, 
 unfair, and unworthy of a minister of Christ." 
 
 " Do not lead your readers to imagine that your opponents 
 say such things as you know they do not say ; nor represent your 
 adversaries knowingly in an unjust light. Make Matt. vii. 12. 
 your rule in your treatment of others. This is honourable, and 
 like a man." 
 
AOBd59.] HALIFAX meeting-house. S>0 
 
 " Do not confound tl>e argument and darken llio judf^nicnl 
 by noise and declamation, or far-fetched remarks ; nor j)iit off 
 jour readers with possibilities or even probabilities, in the place 
 of certainty and positive evidence ; nor impose upon the ignorant 
 with unmeaning or equivocal phrases ; but let the world see that 
 you are willing to be tlaoroughly known, and esteem it an honour 
 to be set right if you are wrong." 
 
 ^' You see, my good Sir, I use the same faniilianty I would 
 do, if I had the honour and the great pleasure of your company 
 in my own parlour. I have imagined, however, that these 
 advices were needful while I have run over your Summary; 
 though to avoid offence, I have seldom seemed to observe it." 
 
 In the spring of this year, Mr. T. was in Lincolnshire, assist- 
 ing at the ordination of Mr. K. Poole, and the opening of a new 
 meeting-house at Maltby, where he baptized seven persons, 
 April 16. The other occurrences may therefore be placed 
 w ithin a few days of that date. 
 
 In May, our minister attended the Annual Association at 
 Castle-Donington ; and was requested to draw up a circular 
 letter on the nature and obligations of church fellowship. At 
 this assembly, certain queries were received from the Lincoln- 
 shire ministers, intended to open the way for a re-union. Much 
 discussion ensued, and at length Mr. Taylor was requested to 
 prepare answers to them; and he, widi Messrs. Grimley, 
 N. Pickering and Tarratt, were appointed to meet the deputies 
 from the Lincoln«liire churches. They accordingly had a con- 
 ference, at Gosbertou, May 27th, with Messrs. Boyce, Proud, 
 Anderson and Thornally : when Mr. T. being chosen chairman, 
 two days were spent in fruitless attempts to adjust the differences 
 between them. On the evening of the first day, Mr. T. preached 
 to a numerous audience. 
 
 Uuiing this year, Mr. T. was peculiarly engaged in piomoting 
 the General Baptist cause in Yorkshire. Anxious to succeed 
 in the attempt at Halifax, he exerted himself strenuously in 
 promoting the building of a new meeting house near that town. 
 He and two others made themselves responsible for all the ex- 
 pences ; and were sometimes driven to considerable difficulties. 
 He, however, took several journeys to collect for it ; and by his 
 activity and perseverance, the object was accomplished. The 
 j)lace was opened, September 3, 17^77; when his brother John 
 
 N 2 
 
100 SUCCESS AT SHORE. [1778. 
 
 preached in the morning; and lie in the afternoon, from 
 
 Hag. ii. 9. 
 
 Another meet ins-house "svas erected about the same time, in 
 this district, by the exertions of this indefatigable minister. 
 Very soon after he settled in Wadsworth, he carried the news of 
 salvation to a wild, uncultivated and obscure place, seven miles 
 from Birchcliff, called Shore; and, many years before the present 
 date, a few persons had joined themselves to his church from that 
 neighbourhood. When he w as the only General Baptist preacher 
 in the country, he frequently traversed the rocks, the bogs and 
 the mire, to preach the gospel at this extremity of the desert ; and 
 when others were called to assist in the sacred work, their visits 
 became more frequent. The success of these persevering efforts 
 was as great as could, from circumstances, be expected ; and 
 encouraged Mr. T. and his friends to attempt to build a place 
 for public worship. By their exertions, a small edifice was 
 completed, and opened a few weeks before the meeting-house 
 at Halifax, by the same ministers. Thus, in about twelve years, 
 this zealous servant of God had the satisfaction of seeing, as the 
 fruits of his labour, four places erected in his own neighbour- 
 hood, by the General Baptists, for the preaching of the gospel. 
 And, what must have greatly heightened his pleasure, the cause 
 at Birchcliff continued to prosper, notwithstanding his various 
 engagements at other places. Fifteen were this year added to 
 the church by baptism ; and live restored who had fallen back 
 to the world. The church was harmonious, congregations nu- 
 merous, and many were soon expected to offer themselves for 
 fellowsiiip. 
 
 ]77fi. This year, ISIr. T. was deeply involved in pecuniary 
 difficulties. The stocking of his farm and supplying necessary 
 accommodations for his boarders, had called for funds which he 
 had no means of providing. These embarrassments were in- 
 creased by the expences incurred in building the meeting-houses, 
 especially that at Halifax, for which he was responsible. Some- 
 times he was ready to sink under the pressure ; but, like David, 
 he encouraged himself in the Lord his God ! After mentioninir 
 some of his difficulties to Mr. B. November 22d he adds, " I 
 believe the Lord w ill help me through, though my case be dark. 
 If he see proper to correct me, 1 lejoice in the assurance thitt 
 
AGED 40.] JOURNEYS. IQI 
 
 his rod will be the rod of a father ; ami he will not chastise me 
 above measure. He knows what we are able to bear. This is 
 my comfort." 
 
 His exertions to remove these burdens were great. In the 
 course of this year, he took seven journeys to collect for Halifax 
 case. In January, he spent three weeks from home on this 
 business. In February, he employed about the same time in 
 Lincohishire. In May, he visited the Isle of Axholme, and in 
 four days preached seven times. In June, he attended the 
 Annual Association at St. Ives ; and from thence proceeded to 
 London to collect; returning home June 27, after an absence 
 of four weeks. In July and September he paid two other visits 
 to the Isle of Axholme : and in November he went to Maltby; 
 where he assisted at the ordination of INIr. Ingham, on the 4th, 
 to whom he gave a charge from Prov. xxiii. 5, 6. 
 
 At the Association, he read the circular letter which, at the 
 request of the preceding meeting, he had prepared, on " the 
 Nature and Obligations of Church Fellowship ;" which, after 
 some corrections, was adopted and ordered to be printed. 
 While he abode in London, which was only five days, he trans- 
 cribed this epistle, had it printed, and sent it off to the different 
 churches. 
 
 Notwithstanding his frequent absence from his charge, yet 
 the cause at Birchcliif continued to advance. During this year 
 eleven were admitted to communion, and no more than one ex- 
 cluded. It appears, from Mr. T.'s journal, that, besides all his 
 other labours, he preached, in this year, at least two hundred 
 and ninety times. 
 
 Neither toils, embarrassments, nor discouragements, abated 
 his zeal in the cause in which he was embarked. After his re- 
 turn from London, he thus addresses his friend, Mr. Thompson, 
 July 4, " I hope you arrived safe at Boston, hearty and happy; 
 and animated with fresh life and vigour to pursue the great and 
 good work of our God and Saviour. I bless God, I trust I can 
 say, that it is in some measure the effect of my journey with 
 respect to mjself. Time is short. Eternity is at hand. A rest 
 remains. Now is the time for labouring. God help us that 
 we may duly improve our precious golden opportunities. May 
 we be eminent in the work of God here; and, though nlterly 
 unwoithy, high in the kingdom of God hereafter." Such were 
 
102 BURNLEY CHURCH. 11779, 
 
 the principles on which this worthy minister acted, and which 
 supported him in the most painful anxieties, and through almost 
 incredible labours, ** He had respect to the recompence of 
 reward." 
 
 1779. Previous to the Association this year, Mr. T. went 
 three journeys to visit the churches. In May he presided at the 
 Association, at Longford ; and preached from Acts xxviii. 28. 
 At this meeting he read the circular which, at the desire of the 
 preceding Association, he had prepared, " On the Advantages 
 of Associations." This is an excellent performance; but it is 
 presumed that, in one or two passages, the author uses language 
 more unguarded than he would have done in later periods of his 
 life. It was, however, approved and ordered to be printed. 
 At this assembly he was earnestly requested to compose a cate- 
 chism for the instruction of children in the principles of religion : 
 which he undertook, and some time afterwards accomplished. 
 
 September 15, he visited Barton and Hugglescote, at the 
 earnest request of the friends there ; and gave the charge, from 
 1 Pet. V. 2, 3, 4, to Mr. Samuel Deacon, Jun. who was then 
 ordained pastor over that church. On the same day, several 
 deacons were set apart to their office, whom Mr. T. addressed 
 from 1 2'im. iii. 13, 
 
 Unaflfected by the difficulties he had already experienced, he 
 still continued his exertions to introduce the gospel, and found 
 churches in benighted places. For several years he had preached 
 occasionally at VVorsthorn, a village near Burnley, a consider- 
 able town in Lancashire, eleven miles from Wadsworth. To 
 this town it was now resolved to remove the service. Under 
 date, October 29, 1779, he informs Mr. Thompson: " A few 
 weeks ago, I have ventured to hire a house in the market-place 
 of Burnley, a town of some note in Lancashire, to preach in. 
 Tiie town is a w retched place ; no religion in, or near it, that we 
 know of. The Methodists have made several attempts there, I 
 am told, but have always been beaten out. The Quarter 
 Sessions at Preston being far distant, I wrote to the Bishop of 
 Chester's court for a licence, and received one a month since: 
 so that I went to open tlie place on the 10th instant, and intend 
 being there again on the 31st. Brethren Sntcliif and Folds 
 have each been once ; and we intend to preach there once every 
 
AGED 
 
 41.1 LABOURS. 103 
 
 Lord's day. The room Is filled, and the prospect encouraging. 
 I am particularly familiar with a physician and au attorney iii 
 the town; which, I think, will be of some advantage." To 
 Mr. Birley he observes : " I have lately hired a house in Hiirn- 
 ley to preach in. It is a wretched place. This will increase 
 my expences and labours; but the Lord will help me through.** 
 About this period, Mr. T. was anxious that some provision 
 might be made in the new connection, for the instruction of 
 young men who had been called to the ministry, ^llie idea 
 appears to have been first started, several years previously, in a 
 conversation between him and a poor blind member of his 
 church. The more he thought on the subject, he felt it of 
 greater importance ; and was induced to bring it forwards at 
 various associations. The proposal was at first but little re- 
 garded ; but gradually gained considerable attention. He drew 
 lip a plan for the accomplishment of his object ; and read it to 
 the ministers at the association, who generally approved of the 
 design ; and though it did not receive the sanction of the asso- 
 ciation, yet several friends entered w^armly into his views, and a 
 small subscription was raised. His whole heart appears to have 
 been engaged in this attempt; and he endeavoured to inflame his 
 correspondents with similar ardour. " The fund for the assist- 
 tance of 3'oung ministers," he tells Mr. B. August 6, 1779, "is 
 very likely to increase much. I believe there is ten pounds 
 subscribed, at, and since the association, chiefly in Barton church. 
 I hope you will promote it so far as you are able, Tlie good 
 Lord help us to do the little we can for our precious Saviour, 
 while we live, in this poor dark wicked world." 
 
 This year, Mr. Dossey, from Gamston, who had some 
 thoughts of the ministry, spent several months with Mr. T. for 
 the improvement of his abilities. It appears, from Mr. T.*s 
 correspondence, that he was anxiously concerned to promote tlie 
 knowledge and graces of this young man. 
 
 The cause of God at VVadsworth still maintained its pros- 
 perity. He informs his friend, Mr. B. August 6: "Things 
 appear to go on well in our congregation — thanks to God. We 
 had never more hearers : I think never so many : and many 
 seem to receive the word heartily ; though on this account \fe 
 are not without complaint. We expect the admission of some 
 soon." Thus it pleased the great Head of the church to sue- 
 
104 CATECHISM. [1780 
 
 ceed the arduous labours of this indefatigable minister, who, as 
 appears from his journal, delivered more than three hundred and 
 fifty public discourses in the year 1779. 
 
 1780. This year Mr. T. was, as usual, actively employed in 
 spreading and defending the truths of the gospel. In the spring 
 he twice visited Lincolnshire ; and May 10th. ordained two 
 deacons at Kirton. The Association was at Halifax, at Whit- 
 suntide, but unhappily the minutes of that meeting are lost. In 
 November, he again visited Boston, Kirton, &c. and preached 
 frequently. These hints contain all the information which we 
 have obtained of his active occupation, in 1780. 
 
 But his publications prove that he was still busy in his 
 Master's work. The Catechism which, at the request of a for- 
 mer Association, he had undertaken was completed in the begin- 
 ning of this year, and sent to the ministers, 8cc. in the midland 
 counties for their perusal. After detaining it sixteen weeks, 
 they returned with the following approbation, which was pre- 
 fixed to several of the early editions : " We desire leave to re- 
 commend the following pages to the careful perusal of all 
 parents, tutors and guardians, under our pastoral care, and of 
 all other parents, tutors and guardians, with whom we have any 
 influence ; and advise them to teach the children and youth 
 under their eye the contents of them ; and we earnestly pray 
 that the blessing of Almighty God may attend them to the pre- 
 sent and future advantage of the rising generation." Signed, 
 " N. Pickering, S. Deacon, Sen. F. Smith, J. Grimley, T. 
 Perkins, G. Hickling, and S. Deacon, Jun." It was published 
 in the summer of this year, and has been well received. This 
 work is too well known in the General Baptist churches to ren- 
 der any account of it necessary for them ; but, as its sentiments 
 confine it to their use, for the information of others, we insert 
 the co)ttc)its m the margin,* and just hint, that the answers are 
 
 * Contents. Sect. T. Concerning the Holy Scriptures. II. God the 
 Creator and Preserver of all things. III. The Perfections of God. IV. The 
 Purity of Man in his primitive State. V. The Fall of Man. VI. The De- 
 pravity of Man in consequence of the Fall. VII. The Sinfulness of Sin, and 
 the various kinds of Sin. VIII. The Necessity and Worth of Forgiveness. 
 1\. The Nature and Necessity of Regeneration. X. The Helplessness of 
 Man, and his Inability to recover himself from the Fall. XI. The Certainty 
 of eternal Misery to those who die unrecovcrcd from their fallen and sinful 
 
AGED 42.] DISINTERESTEDNESS. 10*5 
 
 generally given in the words of scripture. Il has already run 
 through eleven editions. 
 
 At the association at Longford, 1779, a case Mas presented 
 from the church at Kegworth, respecting the sense of our Lord's 
 prohibition, Matt. vi. VJ — 21. '' Lay not up for yourselves 
 treasures on earth," &c. After much conversation, Mr. T. and 
 Iwo other ministers, were requested to write their thoughts on 
 the passage, and bring them to the next association. With this 
 request, our author complied. Tlis friend Mr. B.who was not 
 present, requested Mr. T. to favour him with his thoughts on the 
 text ; and in compliance with the wishes of his friend, he sent 
 liim, in the autumn of this year, three long letters, which were 
 afterwards published under the title of " An Essay on the right 
 Use of Earthly Treasure." In this little piece, the author frankly 
 states, and earnestly defends his opinion, that our Saviour forbids 
 his followers to lay up treasures for themselves; that is, as he 
 insists, " in order that they may have a store of treasure of their 
 own, which they are not willing to apply to any purpose for the 
 good of their fellow creatures, or the promotion of religion, when 
 there appears a necessity for it, or it seems to be required in the 
 course of divine providence." He illustrates this proposition 
 from scripture and reason ; and endeavours to shew that laying 
 up treasures for (Mirsehes is equally inconsistent with the spirit 
 of Christianity and the dictates of soimd reason. Whatever others 
 may think of his views on this delicate subject, it is certain that 
 they influenced his conduct through life. He spared neither 
 labour nor expence to promote what he esteemed to be the cause 
 of truth : and, on many occasions, sacrificed his worldly interest 
 to the prosecution of this object. His strength, his abilities, 
 his influence and his property, were all devoted to the service of 
 his heavenly Master, and he stood ready, on every occasion, to 
 spend them all for his glory. The expensive, and sometimes 
 distressing exertions, which he made for the building of meeting- 
 houses, aud hiring rooms for preaching; his frequent journeys, 
 
 State. Xll. Tilt "Willingness of the blessed Cod to save poor Sinners. 
 
 XIII. The glorious Provision which God has made for poor Sinners. 
 
 XIV. The Freeness of Salvation. XV. Tiie Way to be made partakers of 
 this Salvation. XVI. The Happiness of those who partake of Salvation. 
 XVII. The INIisery of unconverted Sinn(MS. XVllI. The Duty of converted 
 Persons. XIX. Baptism and the Lord's Snpp(r. XX. A ScripUual lleprc- 
 5CUtatioM of Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hill. 
 
 C> 
 
106 scrutator's [1780. 
 
 usually at his own expenoe ; and liis amazing bodily exertion, all 
 proved the zeal and sincerity with ^vhich he laboured to exem- 
 plify his principles by his practice. 
 
 As we proceed we shall find him making still greater sacrifices 
 to serve the cause in whicli he was engaged ; but it may be no- 
 ticed here, that, as an author, he acted on the same disinterested 
 plan. He sold his publications at so low a price as to leave 
 very slender profits, had the whole impressions been sold ; and 
 he frequently sustained great loss by many copies remaining on 
 hand. The Essay on the right use of Earthly Treasure may 
 itself be mentioned as an instance of the disposition we have 
 ascribed to him. It contains twenty-four closely-printed duode- 
 cimo pages : much more letter-press than various modern two 
 shilHng pamphlets ; and was^sold for two pence. His aim was to 
 do good, to propagate the truth, or check the progress of error ; 
 not to la^' \\x) treasure for himself. 
 
 This year the controversy respecting the extent of the object 
 of the death of Christ, was revived in those parts, w ith consider- 
 able acrimony. It originated between the Independents and the 
 Wesley an Methodists ; and several pampldets were published on 
 both sides, which, as Mr. T. thought, disgraced the cause by 
 their scurrility. " He was," he informs his friend, " greatly 
 aflfected with much of the matter contained in them, but more 
 especially with the rnanne? and spirit in w^liich they were written. 
 Does Christianity, does natural religion teach us to render evil 
 for evil, and railing for railing ? Can the language of Billings- 
 gate ornament their page, or give cogency to their arguments ? 
 Can they not state and vindicate the truths of God, unless they 
 adopt the method of Satan, the accuser of the brethren ?" 
 .Feeling for the honour of religion, whicli was thus disgraced by 
 her friends, he wished to check the torrent, and " introduce a 
 discussion of the subject in a natural, easy and instructive man- 
 ner." He therefore sent to the printers of the Leeds Intelligencer, 
 a provincial newspaper much read in those parts, the following 
 letter, which was inserted, August lo, 1780. 
 
 " Sirs, — I beg leave, through the channel of your valuable 
 
 paper, to propose one Query to your ingenious correspondents, 
 
 viz. What christian writer first maintained, that Jesus Christ, the 
 
 ■ blessed Son of God, did not lay down his life for the sins of all 
 
 mankind : I have read the scriptures more than once ; but I 
 
AGED 42.] QUERY. 107 
 
 cannot find it asserted llierc : and tliougli I do not j)iofcss myself 
 an antiquarian, yet, I think, I can venture to allirni, diat we 
 liavc no evidence of a writer in the first centuries aljettin"" this 
 strange o})inion. If any of your learned acquaintance will .rive 
 an answer to the above query, in your paper, they w\\\ nmcli 
 oblige, Sirs, your constant reader, Scrutator." 
 
 This Query excited attention, and September .5th, a reply 
 appeared in the same paper, signed llespousor. The writer 
 insisted, that the first christian writers who ariserted the strance 
 opinion, as Scrutator termed it, were the apostles of Christ; and 
 that that they had learned it of the Old Testament writers, and 
 even of their blessed Master himself. In support of this posi* 
 tion, he cited several passages, as Psalm xxxiv. 22. Jolm x. 11, 
 ylctsxx.QS. -Rf?r. V. 9, 8c xiv. 3, 4. After repeating these texts, 
 and shortl}' commenting on them, he concludes with, " Here, I 
 hope, Mr. Scrutator has his query answered." Scrutator, how- 
 ever, did not feel satisfied with this answer ; and in a rejoinder, 
 inserted September 19, made his objections to the assertions and 
 conclusions of Responsor: at the same time, expressing his 
 wish for a full answer to his first query. In the following paper, 
 a third party entered the lists, who called himself Observafor, 
 and roundly told both the parties that he thought their letters 
 were not calculated for much usefulness ; advising them, if they 
 chose to continue the debate, to state the question more clearly, 
 that they might instruct and not confuse their readers. To this 
 polite intruder. Scrutator replied ; and sent his reply for inser- 
 tion in the next number, but the publishers thought proper to lay 
 it aside. Probably Observator's remarks had been introduced 
 only to put an end to a controversy, which they thought unin- 
 teresting to many of their readers. 
 
 Mr. T. who had neither expected nor desired that the subject 
 should be thoroughly discussed in a newspaper, soon after re- 
 published, in a penny tract, the whole correspondence, together 
 with his letter to Observator, and an introductory letter, explain- 
 ing the occasion of the Query, addressed to a friend, under the 
 assumed name of JEquiis. Some time afterwards Responsor 
 printed Remarks on Scrutators Rejoinder. To this Mr. T. 
 in the middle of the following year, replied, in a twopenny pam- 
 phlet, entitled " Scrutator to Responsor : or an Introduction to 
 a farther Proof (if need be) that Jesus Christ, the blessed Son 
 
 o 2 
 
1'0& SCRUTATOR [17 
 
 of God, laid down his life for the sins of all mankind ; — in two 
 Letters to Ilesponsor: with a short letter to Consider ator.^^ In 
 the first of these letters, after praising the temper, abilities, 
 and candour of his opponent, he examines the proofs, which 
 he had produced in favour of his proposition, that the sacred 
 writers assert the limited extent of the atonement made by 
 Christ ; and having, as he supposes, shewn that they contain no 
 such doctrincj he concludes thus: "I have twice declared, both 
 to you and the public, that 1 could not find the doctrine in my 
 Bible. I now declare it a third time. I am persuaded a human 
 writer was the author of it, and not a very ancient one. But 
 the laws of disputation oblige no man to prove a negative. The 
 Bible is open; the writings of all ages are open. If any of the 
 sacred writers, or any ancient ecclesiastical writer, have asserted' 
 it, let any man shew the place where it is asserted, and I give- 
 up the point." 
 
 Responsor it seems, in his animadversions, had challenged 
 Scrutator to prove from scripture, that Christ died for the sins 
 of all mankind. Scrutator very willingly accepted this chal— 
 lenge ; and, in his second letter, undertook the task. Though 
 this doctrine appeared to him " like a golden thread interwoveiii 
 throughout a great part of scripture ;" and therefore many pas- 
 sages afforded evidence equally full and clear, yet he fixed on 
 that remarkable text, ] John ii. 2. " H^ is the propitiation 
 for our sins ; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the 
 whole world." On this he rested the merits of his cause, and^ 
 shewed at large, that it necessarily contained the truth for which 
 he contended ; and that it was contrary to every rule of inter- 
 pretation and to every dictate of common sense, to give it any 
 other meaning. This pamphlet, we believe, closed the debate. 
 
 Previous to this publication, a third person had ventured to 
 interfere in the dispute, and assumed the title of Considerator. 
 His work being handed to Mr. T. he addressed a short note to 
 him, at the close of the publication we have just noticed. As it 
 exhibits an instance of the pointed manner in which he could 
 repel officiousness and' silence ignorance, it may be worth pre*- 
 serving. It ran thus : 
 
 " Sir, — When 1 had nearly prepared my letters to Responsor 
 for the press, your's w as brought to my hand; and I do assure 
 you, it gave me no little concern to find that one of nn: 
 
AGBD 
 
 42.] TO RtSPONSOR. 109 
 
 fellow-creatures should have so little regnrd to his reputation, 
 his time, his conscience, and his Bible, as to be capable of 
 takiiTg so much pains to make himself perfectly contemptiljle. 
 I would not willingly expose you more than may be for your 
 real advantage, and shall therefore avoid making any remarks on 
 your pamphlet. Instead of this, I beg your acceptance of the fol- 
 lowing advice, viz. — As you are evidently unqualified for polemic 
 writing, I advise you to lay aside the thoughts of it, and to de- 
 sire your friends no more to abuse you and your cause by put- 
 ting you upon it. Instead of it, employ your time in reading 
 the plain, practical parts of scripture with simplicity, and prayer 
 for divine illumination ; and reduce what you read to those 
 practical purposes which it is designed and calculated to sub- 
 serve. Should you never be able to defend the truth by the 
 arts of controversy, as it is probable you never will, you may 
 be hereby prepared, under the blessing of God, to honour it by 
 a hoJy conversation. This is more noble, and will prove much 
 more profitable. That you may, by these methods, be brought 
 to a better temper, and a better judgment, and that you may at 
 last, through the blood of the Lamb, be brought to the regions 
 of everlasting truth and felicity, is the prayer of 
 
 Your sincere well-wisher. 
 
 Scrutator.'^ 
 This year Mr. D. Taylor preached two hundred and seventy- 
 eight times. 
 
 17&1. We have little account of Mr. T.'s engagement dur- 
 ing this year; but there can be no doubt that he continued ac- 
 tively employed in promoting the interest of religion. We find 
 him presiding at the Association, at Loughborough, June 6Sc 7, 
 when a circular letter, drawn up by him, was read, approved 
 and ordered to be printed. As we have not seen this letter, we 
 are ignorant of its merits. 
 
 At this period, Mr. T. was looked up to throughout the New 
 Connection with the greatest deference, and his opinion was 
 considered almost as an oracle. He was consulted on difficult 
 eases, and frequently invited to distant places to settle disputes. 
 At this Association, the church at l^ongford having proposed 
 some questions respecting marrying with unbelievers, the meet- 
 ing requested Mr. T. to write an answer to them. And some 
 
no DISPUTE [1781. 
 
 time afterwards, the church at Kegworth being thrown into con- 
 fusion, sent for him to their assistance. 
 
 As we have been favoured with a detailed account of this 
 visit, by persons who were present at all the proceedings, we 
 shall insert the leading particulars, as a specimen of the high 
 esteem in \\liich Mr. T. was then held in the churches, and the 
 laudable use which he made of his influence. 
 
 Mr. W — . had been for some time an esteemed preacher in 
 the church at Kegworth; of a respectable character and unsullied 
 morals. His natural talents were of a superior order; and he 
 liad cultivated them with all the care that bis circumstances per- 
 mitted. He was a man of calm passions, a close reasoner, and 
 remarkably cool in conducting a discussion. When he began 
 to preach, it was understood that he maintained what are usually 
 termed orthodox tenets ; but after some time it appeared that, 
 if he had not abjured the doctrines of the depravity of human 
 nature and the divinity and atonement of Christ, he was unwil- 
 ling to produce them explicitly in his public discourses. This 
 led the more observant of his hearers to fear that his creed had 
 undergone some important change, and their minds became un- 
 easy. Candidly hoping that they had entertained an unfounded 
 suspicion, and being unwilling to give Mr. W. pain, they con- 
 cealed their fears, till that gentleman himself drew aside the veil, 
 by addressing certain queries to the Leicestershire conference. 
 From these it was evident, that the writer had imbibed the errors 
 of Socinianism ; and a general alarm was excited. The worthy 
 men who had founded the General Baptist interest in those 
 parts, considered the doctrines which iSIr. W. questioned as the 
 fundamentals of the gospel, and the only ground of hope for 
 sinners. Their feelings were roused, and the conferences, which 
 were then holden monthly, were chiefly occupied with discus- 
 sions on these topics. A great sensation was produced in the 
 church at Kegworth; and the harmony of the society interrupted. 
 The debates which were caused by this difl'crence of opinion 
 did indeed confirm some in their former faith, and induce them 
 to esteem the great doctrines still more important and precious : 
 but the views of Mr. W. evidently grew more decidedly hostile 
 to them, and the minds of a few of the private members seemed 
 unsettled. Those whom experience and scripture had taught 
 the baneful tendency of these speculations, exerted themselves 
 
AGED 43.] AT KEGWORTH. Ill 
 
 to check the growing defection. Four or five of tlie neighbour- 
 ing ministers were invited; and it was agreed that they and 
 Mr. W. should publicly debate the important subjects. On 
 the day appointed, which had been eagerly anticipated, Messrs. 
 Grindey, Ilickling, Austin, and S. Deacon, Jun. attended at the 
 place of meeting; at which the members had assembled in great 
 numbers, and with impatient anxiety. Mr. W.'s adroitness and 
 ability were well known ; and, on this occasion, he displayed 
 them to peculiar advantage. The good men who were opposed 
 to him, conscious of their ignorance of the arts of controversy, 
 and fearing to injure a good cause by their unskilfulness, stood 
 solely on the defensive, or, at the utmost, ventured only on dis- 
 tant and indirect attacks; and after much desultory discourse, 
 the conference was closed with exhortations to peace and the 
 cultivation of mutual forbearance. 
 
 The effects of such a conclusion may be easily anticipated. 
 Those who favoured Mr. W.'s views were strenirthened and en- 
 couraged by the weak and timid manner in which he was opposed, 
 and others became unsettled in their minds : while the steady 
 friends of the gospel were discouraged and greatly perplexed. 
 As a last effort, they proposed to send for Mr. Taylor; and 
 Mr. W. and his adherents, elated probably with the advantage 
 they had already obtained, cheerfully agreed to the proposal. 
 The invitation was forwarded immediately, and accepted without 
 hesitation. Mr. T. soon arrived in Leicestershire; and the 
 preliminaries for the contest were arranged. The meeting-house 
 at Castle Donington, the appointed place of discussion, was 
 crowded to excess by the members of Kegworth and the adjacent 
 churches, and by many of the neighbouring ministers. The 
 conference began at ten in the morning, and lasted, with an 
 hour's intermission, till near eight in the evening. After prayer, 
 Mr. T. inquired of the church what was their special design in 
 sending for him. This brought forward the queries of Mr. \V. 
 respecting the fall and the atonement; which Mr. T. took dow n in 
 writing, and after modifying them till they were perfectly satisfac- 
 tory to his opponent, adhered to them, as the subject of debate, 
 throughout the day. Mr. W. then proceeded, at considerable 
 length, to state the reasons of his doubts respecting the depravity 
 of human nature; adducing the connnon objections urged by 
 the Sociniaus, and endeavouring to invalidate the arguments 
 
113 HAPPT RESVLT, [KSL 
 
 usually employed against them. When he had concluded this 
 part of the subject, Mr. T. replied to his exceptions, in a very 
 perspicuous manner; and then established the doctrine of human 
 depravity — from the scripture testimony — ^tlie awful state of the 
 whole world in all ages — and the early propensities to evil ob- 
 servable in all the race of man. On these and other topics, he 
 expatiated with peculiar felicity, and the most perfect good 
 humour. They then discussed, in the same manner, the subject 
 of the atonement ; against which Mr, W. urged the usual argu- 
 ments ; and Mr. T. in reply, shewed from the nature of the 
 sufferings of Christ — the phraseology of scripture — the Jewish 
 sacrifices of atonement — and the authority of the greatest divines 
 and most eminent lawyers, that the word punishment was pro- 
 perly applied to the sufferings of Christ ; and that they were 
 penal and vicarious. On this subject he dwelt with great force 
 and a most happy effect. He was evidently master of the 
 question ; and Mr. W. declined the debate. Throughout the 
 conference, Mr. T. obtained as great credit from the modesty, 
 gentleness and good temper with which he conducted it, as by 
 the force and pertinency of his arguments. 
 
 *^ After this dispute," continues our informant, " Mr. T. 
 preached many sermons previous to his return to Yorkshire, all 
 bearing on the important doctrines which he had advocated w ith 
 so much ability. They were delivered with singular energy and 
 fervour; and produced the most salutary effects. The church be- 
 came settled, the wavering were fixed in their attachment to the 
 gospel, and those who had been the steady friends of truth were 
 much confirmed and greatly encouraged. Jn one day, the dismal 
 cloud which had settled over that church, and which had not 
 only threatened to effect its ruin, but also to reach other churches, 
 was dispelled. Mr. VV. and a few who adhered to him, sepa- 
 rated from their friends ; and, for a short time, carried on 
 preaching ; but they soon dwindled away. Permit me, my good 
 friend, to say, that, in my opinion, the occurrence above stated 
 was one of the most important events in the life of your venera- 
 ble relative. But for ///w, at that time, the withering system 
 of Socinus would probably have spread rapidly in the midland 
 churches ; — but he so grasped and strangled the monster, that it 
 has not, since that time, been able to lift up its head with any 
 degree of confidence." Such are the sentiments of an intelligent 
 
AGED 44.] HALIFAX CHURCH FORMED. IIS 
 
 observer, respecting the services rendered to the cause of tnitli 
 by Mr. T. on this occasion : and such the impression left on his 
 mind of the ability, discretion and piety displayed bv that 
 minister in conducting this delicate business; an imprtsision 
 which the lapse of nearly forty years has not weakened. 
 
 1782. The General Baptists at Halifax had hitherto con- 
 tinued members of the church at Queenshead ; but they became 
 a distinct society in the begnming of this year. As Halifax was 
 ^ the most populous town in the neighbourhood, it was natural 
 for the friends of the General Baptist cause to wish to see it 
 flourish in that town. Mr. T. in particular, was very anxious 
 for thi«, and had laboured much to promote it. i^s he was ac- 
 knowledged to be the best qualified preacher in those churches, 
 it was, thought by many, both members and others, that the com- 
 mon interest required that he should be stationed at the principal 
 town. He was likewise highly esteemed by all the denomina- 
 tions of Christians in the place, and his occasional labours 
 excited more attention, and drew more hearers, than those of any 
 of his brethren. These considerations induced the friends at 
 Halifax to attempt the removal of Mr. T. from the diurch at 
 Wadsworth to them. This was no easy enterprize. The sincere 
 attachment that subsisted between him and his friends at \^'ads- 
 worth, rendered them decidedly averse to the proposal. The 
 removal of a pastor from a church over which he had been 
 ordained, unless in cases of apostacy or heresy, was very un- 
 common among the General Baptists in their best days ; and we 
 believe no instance of such a removal had previously occurred 
 in the New Connection. These circumstances certainly were 
 discouraging; but the friends of the measure persevered, and 
 brought the business before the Annual Association this vear, at 
 Melbourn: requesting its advice respecting Mr. D. Taylor's 
 removal to Halifax. The reply was, *' We advise BirchclifF 
 church to let brother T. go; and we further advise Halifax 
 church to encourage him." 7 his advice did not put an end to 
 the discussion ; the matter was referred to several conferences ; 
 till at length it was agreed by both parties, to refer the subject 
 to the decision of Providence, by Mr. T. labouring for six 
 months at Halifax, while his place at Birchcliff should be sup- 
 plied by Mr. J. Sutcliff, a young man of respectable character 
 
 p 
 
114 REMOVAL [1782. 
 
 and abilities, who had some time previously been called to the 
 ministry by the church at Wadsworth. This experiment, on the 
 issue of which the decision of the subject was placed, com- 
 menced at the close of this year. The situation of Mr. T/s 
 mind, at this stage of the business, is sufficiently evident from a 
 letter he addressed to Mr. Thompson, June 6, 1782, speaking 
 of the Association, he observes: " Brother Hutchinson was 
 sent from Halifax to propose some questions respecting the ex- 
 pediency of my removing, as a preacher, to Halifax ; and Brother 
 Sutcliff settling, as a preacher, at Wadsworth. Brother Sutcliff 
 is moderately approved by all. On this account, I was particu- 
 larly sorry that you were absent. The associated brethren, I 
 think, unanimously advised, that Wadsworth people should con- 
 sent to let me go, and that Halifax people should encourage me. 
 ^rhis had been proposed to our friends before the Association; 
 but they seem quite averse to it. It is, I think, the opinion, 
 both of General Baptists and others, that this change would be 
 greatly to the advantage of the General Baptist interest. I wish 
 to be passive in it. I know not what to do. I beg an interest 
 in your prayers, and your best advice as soon as possible. I can 
 have no secular advantage in view at Halifax, since what is 
 raised there is much less than the little I have at Wadsworth. 
 Though Brother Sutcliff preaches, I think, with universal appro- 
 bation, yet I am persuaded he is not likely to get through the 
 difficulties that must be got through, in order to raise the interest 
 at Halifax. I have the happiness, however undeserved, to be 
 considerably esteemed among all parties at Halifax ; and the 
 thoughts and talk of many are very romantic with respect to the 
 consequences of my going there. However, I have no fear of 
 being in some measure successful there, through the blessing of 
 God. Pray write directly your best advice. Our friends are 
 all in an uproar about it; and I cannot still them. I believe it 
 would be to their real advantage, if I were separated from them. 
 But I know nut how to leave them." — " Circumstances between 
 my people and those of Halifax are exceedingly perplexing. I 
 know not how to act. If you can address my friends freely on 
 the subject, I wisli you would. I think they will hear you. 
 Pray be large and free in your advice to me." 
 
 Towards the close of 17B1, Mr. T. congratulated his es- 
 teemed friend, Ms. Birley, on the birth of a son, and did it \\ith 
 
AGED 44.] TO HALIFAX. 115 
 
 sincere pleasure. But so luicertain is all earthly bliss, that, in a 
 few weeks, he received a Icttei- from his friend, inforniinfr him 
 that Mrs. B, was dangerously ill ; and piessiiig him to come 
 immediately to St. Ives. As he was then setting out on a journey, 
 and it appearing wholly inconsistent with his duty to comply; 
 he was obliged to decline the visit. This was evidently a severe 
 self-denial to his affection. J)uring his joarney, the subject lay 
 heavy on his mind, and he embraced every opportunity of mak- 
 ing inquiry, and sending consolation. Not receiving any certaia 
 intelligence, when he returned home, he addressed an affectionate 
 letter to Mr. B. full of christian love and consolation to both 
 the husband and wife, dated January 17, 1/82. Alas! it came 
 too late for the use of one of the parties addressed ; though it 
 must have been peculiarly seasonable to the other. Mrs. B. 
 M'as removed beyond the reach of earthly consolation, January 9, 
 and, about tlie same time, death seized her only child, a boy 
 about ten weeks old. Mr. T. sincerely sympathized with his 
 afflicted and bereaved brother; and, at his earnest request went 
 to St, Ives, February 3, and preached a funeral discourse from 
 Ezek. xxiv. 16. This sermon was afterwards published, mider 
 the title of *' The Stroke of Death practically improved," ac- 
 companied with an oration delivered at the interment, by Mr. 
 R. Robinson, of Cambridge. "^Tlie sermon is affectionate, plain 
 and practical ; and furnishes a very favourable specimen of the 
 author's method of improving such affecting and instructive 
 dispensations. 
 
 Mr. J. Deacon, who afterwards settled at Leicester, spent 
 part of this year with Mr. T. in pursuing his studies, prepa- 
 ratory to the work of the ministry : and a small portion of the 
 expence was defrayed from the contributions for the instruction 
 of young preachers already mentioned. 
 
 178.^. From the commencement of tliis year, Mr. T. la- 
 boured chiefly at Halifax; and ^Ir. Sutcliff supplied the pulpit 
 at Birchcliff. The effects, at the latter place, are variously 
 reported. A person who was connected with neither party, the 
 pastor of a neighbouring church, states, that " the cause pros- 
 pered at Birchcliff, and the church and congregation were easy 
 and satisfied." But the friends at Wadsworth informed the en- 
 suing Association, that the number of iiearer? was considerably 
 
 r C 
 
116 REMOVAL [1783, 
 
 diminished during the last half vear, and fourteen or fifteen of the 
 members were so uneasy, that if brother T. left them, they had 
 no dependance that they would remain in fellowship." This 
 probably was the sincere, though exaggerated forebodings of an- 
 affectionate people, struggling to retain their esteemed pastor 
 and founder ; but the event seems not to have verified their fears. 
 At Halifax, the success was more decisive. The same person 
 informs us, that '^ the evidence of benefit there was too glaring 
 to be overlooked, and too strong to be doubted. Every heart 
 felt delightful satisfaction, and every countenance was cheerful. 
 The hearers began to increase immediately; the friends and 
 their families experienced real advantage; their resolutions were 
 renewed and confirmed, and they went on their way rejoicing." 
 This is the account given by a spectator: Mr. T. himself, in a 
 letter to Mr. Thompson, dated April 28, 1783, made a more 
 modest, and probably a more just, representation. " As to the 
 progress of religion among us," he says, " I cannot say any 
 very great things. The interest is perfectly out of credit with 
 most in the town and neighbourhood ; I believe through the 
 mismanagement of those who have had it in hand. And 1 have 
 good reason to suppose, that there is the most keen and under- 
 hand opposition made against us by all the professors in the 
 town. JSevertheless the cause rises; and I believe will rise, 
 though with great diflficulty and labour. We hope several have 
 been converted there within the few months past, and some 
 great opposers ; particularly on© who has been a very notorious 
 persecutor of us till lately. The number of hearers appears to 
 increase gradually, though not largely, every Lord's day, since I 
 began to preach there; so tliat now the congregation looks 
 pretty respectable. In short, things are just as I expected, and 
 foretold they would be. I expect to baptize some next Lord's 
 day but one there; and some others soon after." These expec- 
 tations were not disi^.ppointed ; before the Association, eight had 
 been baptized; and the congregation had increased to two 
 hundred. 
 
 The success of tiiis experiment was reported to the Associa- 
 tion, at Notlingham, June 1 1, and advice requested: and the 
 opinion of sixteen of the representatives to seven neuters was, 
 that it would be most to the advantage of the cause of Christ for 
 brother T. to continue at Halifax. This decision, and the evi- 
 
AGED 45.] TO HALIFAX. 117 
 
 deuce tliat appeared of the propriety of it, determined the ques- 
 tion. Soon after tlie Association, Mr. T. was dismissed from 
 Birchclift to Halifax, and consented to become their pastor. 
 
 This union was publicly recognized, October B, when 
 Mr. Thompson addressed his old friend from Rev,ii. 10. " Be 
 thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." 
 Mr. Tarratt preached to the people, from I Thes. v. 12 — 15. 
 " We beseech you, brethren, know them which labour among 
 you," &c. " The day/' says an eye witness, " was a good day; 
 the w ork was conducted w itli much regularity ; many who Mere 
 present received much benefit ; the people and cause at Halifax 
 were comforted and confirmed ; and earnest and cordial thanks- 
 givings were presented to our gracious God." 
 
 Mr. T.'s removal excited considerable attention throughout 
 the w hole connection ; and in many instances amongst profes- 
 sors of other denominations. This induced him to publish 
 " A Brief Account" of this transaction, as an introduction to a 
 pamphlet which he printed early in the ensuing year. As this 
 account is concise, we transcribe it; not merely as containing 
 facts, many of which have been anticipated in the course of our 
 narrative; but as exhibiting the temper and views of the author 
 respecting this important occurrence. 
 
 " Unworthy of notice as 1 am, my removal to Halifax has 
 been the subject of much conversation among some of those 
 who have been informed of it. It has been ascribed to several 
 causes. Many have enquired, and some have a right to know, 
 what the real cause is. These are desired to read with attention 
 and candor the following general account of the matter." 
 
 *' I never had any desire, so far as I remember, to be a 
 Minister at Halifax. On several accounts, I should have pre- 
 ferred almost any other place, if I had wished to leave Wads- 
 worth, which 1 don't recollect that 1 ever did. As to pecuniary 
 advantages, or any kind of secular emoluments, any one who 
 knows tiie ttate of our interest at Halifax, must be sensible these 
 could not be any inducement, if I had wished for these, I 
 should certainly have removed to some other people, as it ia 
 well known I might have done." 
 
 " Nor did the people at Halifax ever attempt to persuade me 
 lo leave Wadsworlh, and go to them. Nor did they ever, that 
 1 know of, express any desire for this, unless upon mulurc and 
 
118 REMOVAL [1783. 
 
 impartial deliberation, it should appear to wise and disinterested 
 men, to be upon the whole, most likely to advantage the cause 
 of Christ, and promote the happiness of mankind ; and conse- 
 quently to be my duty, according to that great apostolic rule, 
 " whatsoever ye do, do all to the glorj- of God." This alone, 
 they professed to regard as the test, by which they desired the 
 affair to be tried, and the hinge on which they would have it 
 turn." 
 
 " Now it has, for some years past, been apprehended by 
 many who appear very well qualified to judge in the case, that, 
 all circumstances considered, such a remove was very likely to 
 contribute to the advancement of our blessed Redeemer's in- 
 terest. This has also been frequently suggested to the people 
 at Halifax, by persons of other persuasions, as well as of our 
 own persuasion. This was referred to the judgment of a large 
 number of ministers and others, at our annual association, in 
 17B2. And after considering the matter, they very unanimously 
 advised my brethren at Wadsworth to consent to my removal." 
 
 " Since that time, the case has been laid before several others, 
 both ministers and private christians ; and we haxe had many 
 meetings concerning it, and have spent much time in consulting, 
 and praying for divine direction, with respect to it. And i my- 
 self have taken much pains, both in reading authors, in literary 
 correspondence, and in personal conference with no small num- 
 ber of my acquaintance, in order to know the opinions both of 
 the living and the dead, in cases of this nature, and I can truly 
 say, have often accompanied this labor with earnest addresses at 
 the throne of grace, for that * wisdom which is profitable to 
 direct.' 
 
 " After this labor had been continued for some months, the 
 matter was again referred to a considerable number of our 
 ministers, at a quarterly conference, and they were desired to 
 re-consider it. And whatever we had been able to collect, that 
 appeared important, both against the remove, and in favor of it, 
 was laid before these ministers at that time. This was done by 
 the consent of both parties, that is, both the people at Wads- 
 worth, and those at Halifax. Upon re-consideration of the 
 subject, the ministers abovcr-mentioned still continued to give 
 their judgment in favor of my removal." 
 
 ** 1 have been invariably passive in the matter from the be- 
 
AGED 
 
 45.1 TO ir\LIFAX. 119 
 
 ginning of the discussion of it; feeling, as I humbly hope, 
 through rich grace, a sincere desire to be any thing or nothing 
 that my Lord and Saviour may be glorified, and his interest ad- 
 vanced in the world." 
 
 ** The result of this was, that the people at VVadsworth came 
 to this conclusion, that the matter should be referred, as nuicli 
 as possible, to the determination of Providence. They there- 
 fore agreed that I should labor chiefly at Halifax for six months; 
 and if it appeared, at the end of this period, that the removal 
 was likely to accomplish the desired end, I should continue to 
 labor there; but if not, I should return to my beloved flock at 
 VVadsworth." 
 
 " T here beg leave to remark, by the way, that though I am not 
 fond of spending time in compliments and encomiums, yet I will 
 venture to say, that all circumstances considered, and especially 
 considering the mutual endearments that have long subsisted 
 between me and my VVadsworth brethren, I look upon the dis- 
 position manifested in this agreement, and the cordiality with 
 vvhicli many of them came into it, as one of the best evidences 
 I expect to be favoured with on this side heaven, that my poor 
 labors among them have not been * in vain in the Lord.' All 
 who attentively read the scriptures must know speculatively, 
 and the true believer knows by experience, that a readiness to 
 part with our dearest comforts, when required for the sake of 
 Christ, is that temper which the Lord requires of all his disci- 
 ples, and which the gospel efi^ectually produces in all those in 
 whom it savingly takes place." 
 
 " At the end of six months, the matter was again referred to 
 the judgment of the associated ministers and brethren, in the 
 present year, 178.'>; when, haviiig considered the state of both 
 the churches, they once more gave it as their judgment, with 
 great unanimity, and in a very positive manner, that so far as 
 we can judge from circumstances, there is great reason to be- 
 lieve thiit my removal to Halifax is likely, through the blessing 
 of God, to issue in the advancement of our Saviour's interest; 
 while my brelhren at \\ adsworth are very well supplied with a 
 a minister in mv absence, who niav ' feed them with knowledge 
 and u'.iderstandino;.' This account of the matter is verv short 
 and general ; hut as exact and sitnj)le as I know how to lav it 
 before the reader, M>iv the (^ud of our fcaUalion be jilorilicd 
 
120 LABOURS. [1783. 
 
 in every step we take below! And may our one design on 
 earth be to serve him, who ' spared not his only begotten Son, 
 but freely delivered him for us all.' " 
 
 Mr. T. took several journeys in the course of this year. 
 March 23, he baptized three persons in Monscardale, near 
 Ashford, and preached at the water-side. He learnt afterwards, 
 that his discoure had caused a great sensation ; and the friends 
 there were very anxious that he should pay them another visit; 
 which he did in his way to the Association. May the 9th, he 
 was at Epworth, and baptized seven persons. About the same 
 time he was called to defend the truth by his pen. The General 
 Baptists at Nottingham had pushed their attempts to a place 
 several miles distant, where they had gained some proselytes. 
 This alarmed the clergyman of the place, who circulated some 
 papers in defence of infant baptism, and against separation 
 from the established church, addressed to " all candid Anabap- 
 tists;" and challenging them to answer. These were sent to 
 Mr. T. with an earnest request, that he would draw up a reply. 
 Ever ready to defend a cause to which he had devoted all his 
 powers, he cheerfully undertook the task, and prepared an answer, 
 which was circulated among the neighbours; but it does not ap- 
 pear that any of these papers were communicated to the press. 
 
 When we consider how entirely Mr. T.'s time was occupied 
 in the concerns of religion, not only in his own church and 
 neighbourhood, but m all parts of the Connection, it is easy to 
 suppose that his domestic concerns could share little of his at- 
 tention. His frequent journies and the uncertainty of the place 
 of his final settlement, at this period, must have operated greatly 
 against his school ; which indeed he appears to have now wholly 
 relinquished. It is not surprising therefore, that, with a numer- 
 ous and often afflicted family of seven young children, he should 
 sometimes find himself driven to straits. Yet, thouoh like the 
 Apostlcof the Gentiles, he could truly say, that 'the care of all the 
 churches daily came on him,' it does not appear that many of 
 those for whom he was spending his time and his talents, re- 
 flected on the sacrifices he was makingj for ihe common cause : 
 or made any efforts to relieve his embarrassments. From this 
 charge, however, it is just to make an honourable exception in 
 favour of his valuable brother, Mr. Thompson ; who on several 
 occawionM dirorted the benevolence or rather justice of his wealthy 
 
AGED 45.1 GRATITUDE. J^l 
 
 friends to this disinterested laboiuer. In a letter to litis gentle- 
 man, dated April 28, \7''<), Mr. Taylor thus gratehillv and 
 piously acknowledges a favour of this nature. " My chief 
 reasons for writing thus speedily, amidst a crowd of other 
 business, are to entreat you and your family to accept ilie 
 thanks of my \vife and myself for your kind interposition in 
 behalf of our wellare ; and to desire Mr. and Mrs. 15. to ac- 
 cept the same from us both, for the web of cloth, added to all 
 their former favouis. 1 often i)ray, in my poor way, for them 
 and you; and hope my gracious God and Father will reward 
 both you and them. I assure you, the present gift comes very 
 opportunely, for my family, as well as myself; as 1 tind it diffi- 
 cult, this hard time, to keep all things so decent as it is thought 
 a minister's family ought to be, and especially the family of one 
 who has so many eyes upon him, as I have. Uut my good God 
 has often provided for me in the time of immediate necessity 
 before now; so that, if I should not trust him in future, I should 
 be peculiarly culpable." On another occasion, on receiving a 
 donation, probably of a similar nature, his gratitude to divine 
 providence and his kind benefactors, breaks out in this strain : 
 ** With inexpressible pleasure I received your last; but when I 
 had opened it, with what a mixture of shame and blushing, 
 humiliation and gratitude, did I survey its contents. Surely the 
 
 good people at B , will think 1 mind nothing but begging, 
 
 1 know not what to say — and therefore I say nothing, but, * the 
 Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of 
 Jacob defend thee. Send thee help from the sanctuary, and 
 strengthen thee out of Zion.' 1 am sure 1 shall find it very 
 
 difficult to hold up my head at B any more. Desire 
 
 Mr. and jNIrs J3.'s further acceptance of our warmest and most 
 affectionate thanks ; and desire the same favour of all who have 
 contributed to the late unexpected and undeserved instance of 
 hospitality to a poor unworthy creature. \ou may truly inform 
 those whom you may think proper, that, though I know no way 
 of making them any suitable returns; yet, 1 feel my spirits much 
 animated and invigorated to consecrate this and every other in- 
 stance of providential bounty to the interest of him who has so 
 positively, and with infinite condescension assured me, that 
 
 * none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.' " 
 
 In reading such sentiments as these from a person who had 
 
 2 
 
12^ ILL HEALTH. [1784 
 
 devoted superior powers of mind, with unremitting assiduity to- 
 promote the best interests of his fellow creatures, we feel a mix- 
 tare of pleasure and shame. — It is impossible not to admire the 
 humble gratitude of the writer, who is so willing to acknowledge 
 obligations to his benefactors, and his piety in devoting all to the 
 service of his heavenly Master; but, it is painful to think that 
 such a man should be under the necessity of receiving that sup- 
 port as benevolence, to which he was so well entitled as an 
 equitable remuneration for his important and meritorious 
 services. 
 
 His exertions and cares appear about this time to have greatly 
 affected his health. He describes his case in these terms ta 
 Mr. Thompson, February 5, 1784. "" I thank God my breast 
 is much easier than it was ; bat when I cough or exert myself in- 
 speaking, I feel myself strangely affected, and my spirits greatly 
 sunk. I am not fond of tampering with doctors or physic of 
 any kind ; yet if my good friend Dr. N. would be kind enough 
 to advise me of some little easy thing, which he apprehend* 
 might be of service to mc, I should take it as a great favour. 
 Tlie best account 1 can give of myself is as follows — I appre- 
 hend, I contracted the complaint chiefly by sitting too closely to 
 writing, and too late in cold evenings. It began and continued 
 some time to be a painful soreness; even my breast seemed so 
 sore that I couki not easily bear any thing to touch it. But the 
 soreness and pain are now nearly gone ; yet I have an inward 
 weakness left. I am not without fear, that my lungs are af- 
 fected. I do not cough much in comparison of what I did; 
 but when I do cough I am much affected as above. My spirits 
 are sunk, 8cc. I spit a little blood at the first ; but do not now. 
 I find warm ea^y exercise relieves me ; but I cannot bear exer- 
 tion or cold. My appetite is good, and I rest well." There 
 can be little doubt, that this illness was owing to his great fati- 
 gues; but a robust constitution and returning spring seem to- 
 have enabled him to encounter the shock and recover his usual 
 stpeagtbs 
 
 1784. Mr. T. undertook the oversight of the languishing 
 cause at Halifax widi his usual zeal and activity. He preached 
 generally thrice on the Lord's-day; and frequently during the 
 week preached or conducted prayer an<l experience meetings, iik 
 
AOKD 46.] JOURNEYS. 123 
 
 private houses, round the neighbouiliood. His labours were 
 crowned with encouraging success; and, before the Association 
 this year, fifteen had been added to the church, and hopes were 
 entertained of further increase. Tl>e congregation had consi- 
 derably improved, and the members were lively and harmonious. 
 The debt on the meeting-house still pressed IteaviJy on tlw 
 interest at Halifax; the members being poor and few. In order 
 to lessen this burden, Mr. T. took several journeys, in the course 
 of this year. In June,. July and August, he travelled w ith this 
 object through most of the southern parts of England. Of this 
 journey, as far^ he had then proceeded, he gives an account to 
 his friend Mr. Thompson, in a letter, dated IValdren, Sussex^ 
 July 9, 17B4. " I have preached live times atCanteibury, three 
 times at Dover, twice at Deal, once at Sandwich, four times in 
 London, and four times at Chatham. Last night I preached at 
 Besseirs Green; and am going out to-day amongst Bessell's 
 Green friends of the old Connection ; and must preach amongst 
 them this evening. I preached last evening to Mr. Stangar's 
 people; but it does not appear that they have much money to 
 spare for me. I intend to go from hence toward Horsley, 
 Lewes, Ditcheling, Chichester, &.c. I forgot to say that I also 
 preached once at Headcorn, once at Smarden, and twice at 
 Cranbrook. The people in general receive me with much ap- 
 parent cordiality. I have collected on the whole, with your 
 guinea ^^hich stands first, £69. os.^^d. before BesselFs Green. 
 Thus far I wrote at Bessell's Green; but was called off, and 
 have been on a muddle since, surrounded with company, and 
 engaged with talk. I am now at Waldren; came by Tunbridge 
 Wells, but got nothing there. 1 expect to be at Chichester 
 next Lord's-day. Am going to Lewes to-day; expect to be in 
 London again in about two weeks. Should be glad to hear 
 there of dear Mrs. T. Have engaged, if practicable, to preach 
 for Dr. Stennelt. I wish to be at home, but must endure hard- 
 ness ! I think i cannot see you at Boston in my way. I expect 
 I must go from Cambridge, &c. to Leicester, and I trust thence 
 to Wadsworth." In another letter to the same minister, dated 
 Loiidoriy August 6, it appears that he was still on his travels. 
 He says: " After a very long and tedious journey, I anivcd 
 through divine mercy safe in London on the evening before last; 
 Rud preached that evening, after riding about fiftv-tivc milca, 
 
124 *• CONSISTENT CHRISTIAN." [1784^- 
 
 and sixty the day before. I mention this as an instance, that, 
 after very great fatigues, I and my pony are in good spirits. 
 Yesterday I dined with Dr. Stennett; but Avas under the absolute 
 necessity of writing live letters, relating to my future journey." 
 
 From the last clause, it is evident that he had not then com- 
 pleted his design, but meant to visit other places before his re- 
 turn to his family. When he arrived at Wadsworth, does not 
 appear ; probably in a week or two after the date of this letter. 
 His exertions removed, in a great measure, the incumbrance on 
 the meeting-house, and left the cause there at liberty. 
 
 Though Mr. T. entered so heartily into the interest of Halifax 
 church, he did not forget his old friends at Wadsworth. In the 
 beginning of this year, he published a pamphlet of one hundred 
 and sixty pages, duodecimo; which he called ^' The Consistent 
 Christian : or the Truth and Peace, Holiness, Unanimity, Sted- 
 fastness and Zeal recommended to Professors of Christianity. 
 The substance of five Sermons." These discourses were founded 
 on Zech. viii. 19, " Love the truth and Peace," and had been 
 delivered to the church and congregation at Wadsworth, in the 
 prospect of his leaving them to labour for six months at Halifax^ 
 They were dedicated, on publication, " to all professors of 
 Christianity, particularly his dear brethren in Wadsworth and the 
 adjacent neighbourhoods, among whom he had spent the most 
 active part of his life, and whose felicity was matter of his 
 earnest prayer." This is an excellent pamphlet: containing 
 much useful instruction and advice to enable professors to adorn 
 the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things; and many 
 earnest exhortations and animating motives to stimulate them to 
 dilioence and zeal in the discharge of their holv vocation. 
 
 It must have afforded great pleasure to Mr. T. to observe the 
 cause at Wadsworth, which he had so successfully planted, and 
 for tvventv vears so carefullv watered, tiourish under the care of 
 Mr. Sutcliff, liis successor. In a letter to Mr. Thompson, 
 dated February 5, 1784, he observes, " This day brother Sutcliff 
 baptized live persons; and I think they will have more soon. 
 The day appointed for brotlier S.'s ordination is Easter Tuesday.** 
 There can be no doubt that he assisted at this solemnity with 
 mingled emotions of pleasure and pain. 
 
 About this time, Mr. T. at the request of his friend Mr. B— * 
 read with great attention, *' HaU'?* Helps to Zion's Travellers/ 
 
AGED 
 
 47.] " REMARKS ON HALL." 125 
 
 and sent bis remarks on it, to his friend, in seven long letters, 
 the first dated Angust G, 1783, the second January 17, 1784, 
 and the rest in the two succeeding months. 7 he Remarks dis- 
 cover considerable critical skill, and afford a favourable specimen 
 of the author's talent for controversy. The chief subjects dis- 
 cussed are " sovereign love," " election and reprobation," 
 " adoption," " the atonement," &c. On some of these impor- 
 tant points the writer states his views more explicitly than we 
 recollect to have seen in any of his printed works. He treats 
 Mr. Hall with great respect. He had been personally acquainted 
 with him for several years, and esteemed him a pious and judi- 
 cious minister, though not infallible. Though he freely opposes 
 same things in his book, he speaks highly of it in general, and 
 concludes his observations thus: " I do not apprehend it neces" 
 sary to make any farther remarks on Mr. H.'s book. The fol- 
 lowing pages of it appear to me in general according to truth, 
 and calculated, through the blessing of God, to answer good 
 purposes. I lay down the volume with earnest prayer, that the 
 blessing of God may attend it and its worthy author; and that 
 every attempt to oppose error and sin, establish truth and pro- 
 mote holiness, may be accompanied with the same blessing." 
 These remarks occupy more than fifty close written quarto 
 pages, and are well worthy of preservation. ' 
 
 1785. The ancient General Baptist society in Church-lane, 
 Whitechapel, London, which had existed more than one hundred 
 and thirty years, was, at this period, in a state of considerable 
 declension. The members had sunk, in fourteen years, from 
 three hundred to one hundred and fifty; and the congregation 
 was proportionally diminished. The cause of the General Bap- 
 tists was then very low in London, and appeared hastening to- 
 wards extinction. In a letter, addressed by the friends in 
 Whitechaj^el to the cliurch at Halifax, in August 1784, they 
 thus describe the state of things. " Although this metropolis is 
 estimated to contain about a million of inhabitants ; yet, in the 
 five churches of our denomination, we should find it very hard 
 to make out three hundred members. Out of these five churches 
 there is but ours, and one nearly extinct, that hold the funda- 
 mental doctrines of the gospel respecting tlie divinity and atone- 
 ment of our blessed Saviour. So that we are left as ^ a spairowr 
 
126 REMOVAL [1785. 
 
 upon the house top/ And we are sorry to add, that we are far 
 from flourishing : the addition of new members scarcely keeping 
 pace with the decease of our old ones." The worthy pastor of 
 this church, Mr. J. Brittain, then in his seventy-fourth year, 
 saw with pain these discouraging facts ; and though he had long 
 laboured diligently in his Master's work, found himself, from the 
 infirmities of age, unable to stem the progress of decline. With 
 a laudable anxiety for the welfare of Zion, he addressed a letter 
 to the church, dated January 23, 1784, requesting them to look 
 out for a minister, whose youth and abilities might qualify him 
 to assist in the support of the cause ; and offering to relinquish 
 a considerable part of the emoluments of his office in favour of 
 such an assistant. The church felt the propriety of the measure, 
 and immediately resolved to pursue it. They addressed letters 
 to Messrs. D. Taylor, VV. Thompson and G. Birley to request 
 them to look out for a proper person. This application made 
 a deep impression on Mr. T.'s mind ; and he frequently men- 
 tions the importance of the subject to his correspondents. 
 Nothing, however, being done before the Association at Kirton 
 in that year ; the case was referred to the consideration of that 
 assembly ; and dismissed, by its members, with an acknowledg- 
 ment of its importance, and a declaration of their inability 
 to recommend a suitable person. 
 
 But though the Association, as a body, thought it expedient 
 to give this cold answer, many of its members took up the sub- 
 ject with great ardour. The importance of an able minister 
 being stationed at London, was deeply felt : and such was the 
 general estimation in which Mr. T.'s character and abilities were 
 then held by his brethren, that, Mhen any occasion called for 
 superior talents or exertion, they instantly directed their eyes to 
 him. His late removal to Halifax having been accomplished on 
 the avowed principle, that the promotion of the general interest 
 of the connection justified the removing a minister from one 
 church to another, the conclusion was easy ; that, as l^ondon 
 was far more important than Halifax, he ought to be stationed 
 at London. These sentiments were freely expressed by many 
 of the ministers at Kirton ; and were speedily conveyed to the 
 ears of Mr. Biitlain. He caught eagerly at the idea, and com- 
 municated it to the church on July 4; when it was unanimously 
 resolved to endeavour to obtain Mr. T.'s assistance. Committees 
 
JIOED 47.] TO LONDON. 127 
 
 were appointed to conduct correspondence, and raise supplies; 
 and the whole society, as well as their venerable pastor, deter- 
 mined to exert all their powers to accomplish this object. 
 
 Various and formidable obstacles indeed presented themselves. 
 The friends in Yorkshire were in general averse to the proposal ; 
 although some, who had advocated the claims of Halifax against 
 Wadsworth, now very consistently pleaded in favour of London. 
 Several churches feared that the precedent, which would be 
 thus established, would weaken the union between churches and 
 their pastors, encourage an unsettled disposition and a fondness 
 for change in young ministers, and diminish the respectability of 
 the General Baptist cause. Others felt a tender concern for 
 Mr. T's reputation, lest it might be insinuated that he removed 
 from place to place in quest of a more dignified station or higher 
 salary. But those who were best acquainted with all the cir- 
 cumstances, viewed things in a very different light. They appre- 
 hended that the greatest difficulty in the proposed removal was 
 to reconcile with Mr. T.'s duty, as a husband and a father, the 
 leaving of his farm, his connections, and his long tried friends, 
 and venturing with a young family of nine children, to settle in 
 such a place as London, on the prospect of an aniiual income 
 of only one hundred pounds. This reflection affected deeply 
 the mind of his sincere friend Mr. Thompson ; and caused him 
 to consider the project as impracticable. Some who opposed 
 the design endeavoured to rouse the fears of Mrs. T; but, 
 though she was to venture in a state of weakness a journey of 
 two hundred miles, with twin infants at her breast, not five weeks 
 old, to leave her relatives and acquaintance, and to sojourn 
 amongst strangei's; yet she calmly answered all objectors by 
 saying " that wherever her husband thought it his duty to go, it 
 was her*s to accompany him." 
 
 The London friends persisted in their design; and addressed 
 letters to the \ orkshire, Lincolnshire, and Leicestershire con- 
 ferences, and to many of the leading ministers in the Connection; 
 explaining at large the probable advantage to the common 
 cause which would result from the proposed removal, and soli- 
 citing their deliberate and impartial consideration of the subject. 
 In fact, it did occupy the attention of the whole connection for 
 nearly twelve months; and, it is highly probable, that few steps 
 which regarded only an individual minister, ever excited ^o 
 
1^8 REMOVAL [1785. 
 
 much interest and discussion as this occasioned. At length, all 
 the parties concerned agreed to refer the final decision of this 
 long agitated question to the Association at Boston, in April, 
 J78o; when, after a patient and solemn deliberation, which 
 occupied above ten hours, the Association determined by nine- 
 teen yeas to eight neuters, " that it would be most for the glory 
 of God for Mr. T. to remove to London." 
 
 M.T. himself appears to have taken very little part in any of 
 the deliberations on this subject, except in suggesting the pro- 
 per modes of discussing it, and moderating the violence of par- 
 lizans. But it appears that, acting on his constant principle of 
 devoting himself and all he possessed to the service of his 
 Saviour, he had already formed his resolution. The motives 
 that influenced his determination are thus stated by himself in a 
 letter to the deacons of Church Lane, dated March 15, 1802: 
 a period when family afflictions and other causes had involved 
 him in great difficulties. " When the church did me the honor, 
 such I sincerely esteem it, of inviting me to settle among them, 
 I felt the importance of their invitation ; but left the matter, as 
 you know, for twelve months under the consideration of the 
 whole Connection. In the mean time, I received some letters, 
 as may naturally be supposed, from my London friends and 
 others upon it. But the great difficulty, both with me and my 
 country friends, was how my family would be supported. I ap- 
 prehended then, as I do still, that where the Lord, in his provi 
 dence, calls ministers, he will take care of them. Some 
 thought, however, that I was too bold, and should or might be 
 exposed to insupportable difficulties : but, as they were pleased 
 to compliment me, they thought 1 was so hard as to get through 
 any thing that could be gotten tlirough. In the midst of these 
 anxieties, when I was following my own plough, in Mhich I 
 took great delight, (I perfectly remember both the place and 
 time,) one of the family brought me a letter from Mr. Brittain; 
 in which he earnestly requested that I would let nothing hinder 
 me from coming to London ; and enforced his request by men- 
 tioning the low state of the General Baptists in London ; and 
 saying that a London minister, M'hose name he mentioned, re- 
 joiced in this low state, and had said to somebody, that ' it was 
 like a candle just going out.' Mr. Brittain prayed that he might 
 be diiiiippolntcd; b\it added, thnt the church was very low, and 
 
AOEd47.] to LONDON. 129 
 
 that for one member added three were lost. Tlils roused all 
 my spirits, and led nie to drop all care about my familv; and 
 to resolve to come to try what could be done, leaving iIilfu and 
 myself with God; unless the next Association should convince 
 me that I ought not to make the trial. Hut the Association 
 unanimously advised me to come ; only many thought that 1 
 should have a larger salary, and some used strong language upon 
 it. However, I determined uj>on taking the matter as it was; 
 and Uiough I had two children, in a few days after, added to 
 my seven, yet I comniitted them all to him that feedeth the 
 ravens. I have never yet repented, and 1 believe I never shall: 
 I should be the same if my goods were sold to j)ay my debts 
 
 to-morrow." 
 
 Soon after Mr. T.'s return from Boston, he set out for 
 London ; taking with him a letter of dismission from the church 
 at Halifax. On his arrival in the Metropolis, he was cordially 
 received into full connection \\ ith the society in Church Lane ; 
 and at a special meeting of the members, June 8, read his Con- 
 fession of Faith; with which they declared themselves thoroughly 
 satisfied, and renewed their unanimous call for him to become 
 joint pastor over them with their aged elder Mr. Brittain. After 
 continuing a few weeks with them, and making the necessary 
 arrangements for removing his family, he returned to Wadsworth. 
 Esteeming it be his duty to settle in London with as little delay 
 as possible, he lost no time in preparing for his journey. He 
 disposed of the stock on his farm, his furniture, and the principal 
 part of his books; and endeavoured to satisfy all just claims. 
 This was to him a task of no small magnitude : and, in order to- 
 do it effectually, he submitted to much toil, and made many 
 sacrifices. His fatigue was greatly increased by the affectionate 
 anxiety of his friends, in different places, that he would preach 
 a farewell sermon for each before he left a district, which owed 
 so much to his exertions. His labours were incredible; and the 
 writer of this Memoir well recollects the harrassed and exhausted 
 state of body, in which he addressed a numerous congregation, 
 from the pulpit at Halifax, on the evening before he set out for 
 London; as well the affectionate and animated manner in which 
 the discourse was delivered; and the silent, grateful, and respect- 
 ful sorrow that overspread the audience. Yet, on this interest- 
 ing occasion, the preacher asserted that, ihrough excessive fatigue, 
 
 R 
 
ISO REMOVAL [1785. 
 
 his heart had been asleep all the time he was speaking. But 
 the foUowiug extracts from a letter, dated July 4, 17B5, to his 
 friend Mr. Thompson, will explain his circumstances and 
 proceedings better than any description. ^^ My dear brother 
 Thompson, I have this evening received your kind favor, and 
 wish I had time to answer it, so largely as my inclination 
 prompts me to. But you can hardly think how I am chafed and 
 pushed, to care for my family as I ought to do in settling my tem- 
 poral affairs, and gratifying my friends every where, by preach- 
 ing in oi>e place and another before I leave Yorkshire. It is a 
 trying time with me indeed, both on spiritual and temporal 
 accounts; but my heavenly Friend and Father will help me 
 through. As I am bound in conscience to be at London as soon 
 as possible, consistent with prudence and safety to myself and 
 family, I am doing what I can to prepare for the journey ; and 
 have fixed to leave Hirst on Wednesday the 20th instant, to take 
 my family to Halifax that night, and to leave Halifax the next 
 morning. Brother Scott has engaged to go to Retford, and take 
 his wife with him, in his own waggon, with my family. I mean 
 to stay at Retford on LordVday, the 24th, leave him there on 
 Monday morning, and take his waggon forward to London. I 
 hope to be at Huntingdon by the Wednesday at noon, the 27th 
 instant, and there to rest my family for that day ; and spend the 
 evening with brother Birley, who is desirous to honour me with 
 meeting i»e there : I expect some of my St. Ives friends with 
 him. What pleasure would it give me and my family to see 
 Mr. and Mrs, Thompson among the rest! But the distance 
 forbids me to desire it. I hope to go off on Thursday morning; 
 and to be at my house in Turville-street, Cock-lane, Spitalfields, 
 London, on Friday evening the 29 th, if it please the Lord to 
 give me a prosperous journey. If you write to me in London, 
 I would have you direct the first to me, at Mr. Brittain's, as 
 my name is not yet known at the post-office ; and my situation 
 will be rather obscure. But if you can write soon after the re- 
 ception of this, about next Friday, 1 believe your letter will 
 find me at W'adsworth, and I shall receive it with great pleasure. 
 Thanks be to God! my good wife and all my nine children are 
 well. Lngratcful as I am, I hope I feel the weight of your 
 observations; and, in some measure, know how to value the life 
 of my bosoni coni])anion, and to be thankful for her recovery. 
 
AGED 47.1 TO LONDON. 131 
 
 A thousand dianks for your kind earc and good wislics in bcluilf 
 of myself and family. M> London friends appear very ofifec- 
 tionate; and engage to give me one hundred pounds tlie first 
 year. So that if you write at all, I advise you to write very 
 tenderly. I informed t^iem that I could not possibly judge what 
 such a family ^s mine would want in London ; but I hoped I 
 should not be extravagant, and would venture myself vath God 
 and them." 
 
 " My late family expences, my loss in selling my books and 
 goods, and the expences of my journey, will indeed go a great 
 way. So that I am afraid I shall find it difficult to get through 
 with credit, and pay all the money I have on interest, for the 
 stocking of my farm. But I hope I am able to trust in him who 
 has hitherto helped me. He knows I aim at nothing but his 
 glory. ' A lifty pound bank note,' as you say, would set me at 
 liberty, or half so much ; but I can neither expect nor desire it. 
 However, elotiiing my family and furnishing my house, only to a 
 moderate degree of decency in London, will certainly be no little 
 matter. But I expect my London friends will help me in the 
 latter/' 
 
 It will only be necessary to add to the above extract, that, by 
 the good hand of his God upon him, he accomplished his plans, 
 and arrived safely in London, with his family, at the time in- 
 tended. On the Lord's-day previous to his arrival, the venera- 
 ble !Mr. Brittain preached from Ro}?i. xv. £9. " I am sure that 
 when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the gospel 
 of Christ." Li the course of his sermon he said much in praise 
 of his expected colleague, and anticipated such great effects 
 from his settling in London, that a friend said to him when he 
 came down from the pulpit, " Well, Sir, you have not indeed 
 preached yourself to-day, nor yet have you preached Christ 
 Jesus ; but you have preached your brother Taylor." 
 
 Indeed it is abundantly evident, that the expectations of the 
 London friends were raised to a romantic height. Nor were 
 they alone iu their enthusiasm ; it w as fully shared by many in 
 the country. The following extracts will give the reader some 
 idea of the estimation in which Mr. T.'s character and abilities 
 were held at this period. The friends at Church Lane, in their 
 letter to the district conferences, say : " Our views of his 
 removal are, that, on account of his good attachment to, and his 
 
 
132 REMOVAL N [1785 
 
 ability and stability in the cause, he ipight not only be a means 
 of stopping the mouths of gainsayers to the truth, but of raising 
 the interest to a degree of reputation, in the eyes even of those 
 who at present will hardly set their foot in a place where general 
 redemption is preached." " As a church, we are quite unani- 
 mous in giving him a call ; and we do think that it might be 
 much for the good of the cause and interest in this large city, 
 where the General Baptist interest is so very low." 
 
 In their letter to the church at Halifax, after stating the ob- 
 jects they had in view, and the previous steps which had beeu 
 taken, they proceed thus : " Having introduced the subject thus 
 far, we proceed to the more immediate but more difficult part 
 of the business, and entreat your clemency, dear brethren, for a 
 few moments, while we further acquaint you, that we have been 
 informed, by more than one or two, who were at the Kirton 
 Association, that when they considered our case, it was the 
 opinion of several present, that brother D. Taylor was the pro- 
 perest, if not the only person who was likely to accomplish the 
 above-mentioned purposes, if he were sent to London. And 
 Providence having recently called him, among other places, to 
 this metropolis, we have had the pleasing opportunity of hearing 
 him a few times ; but, though few, yet sufficiently often to be 
 entirely of their opinion concerning him. Hence we leave you 
 to judge what are our wishes ; and which we doubt not but from 
 these broad intimations, (for we hardly dare go farther) you will 
 plainly discover." 
 
 In their letter to the Association at Boston, they observe: 
 " At first we had no other design than to obtain an assistant 
 minister during our pastor's natural life, who, if approved, might 
 succeed him, after his decease, in the pastoral office. But when 
 one who has already sustained that character many years, with 
 so much esteem by all the churches, is the object of our wants 
 and wishes, and is pointed out as the only instrument to effect 
 our relief, we cannot be so unjust as to deprive him of tliat 
 station which he has so long and so honourably filled in the 
 church of Christ, by reducing him from a pastor to an assistant 
 minister only. We therefore, if so happy as to be blessed with 
 him, shall receive him as a joint elder or co-pastor with our 
 present minister, with whom we shall most gladly unite in 
 accepting him in that capacity." — " We wish, for his own and 
 
AGED 
 
 47.] TO LONDON. 133 
 
 family's sake, that he be permitted first to come amongst us for 
 a short time, as it were upon probation ; not for us to have the 
 trial of him, for as to his abilities we are quite satisfied ; but that 
 he may have the trial of us." 
 
 We shall close these extracts with a copy of the Letter of 
 Dismission, which the church at Halifax gave to Mr. T. when 
 he left them for London. This document ought to be preserved 
 for the honour of both the parties." 
 
 " To the General Baptist Church in London. 
 
 Beloved Bfethren, 
 
 As it is thought best by the Association of Ministers 
 and others, and that it will be most for the glory of God and the 
 good of men in general, that our pastor be with you in London, 
 although to part with such a valuable and worthy minister has 
 been, in all probability, the greatest affliction we expect to meet 
 with on this side the grave; yet as the great Governor of the 
 universe hath a just right to dispose of his servants as he sees 
 best; we, in compliance therewith, humbly acquiesce in the 
 divine providence, and dismiss him to you : praying that he may 
 be a lasting blessing to you and your children, and that every 
 spiritual good may be accomplished thereby. 
 
 As to our worthy minister's character, it is fair and un- 
 blemished in the world : and so far as we have any knowledge 
 of him, it has been as becometh the gospel of our great 
 Redeemer. He hath always made it manifest by every act of 
 generosity, industry and study ; and hath constantly endeavoured 
 to promote that glorious cause. May that disposition be cul- 
 tivated and continued by him, by you, and by us all, for the great 
 Redeemer's sake. 
 
 Signed in behalf of the Church, 
 
 Solomon Bri/aVy Richard Thomas, John Wilhon, 
 
 Benj. Buttencorth, Robert Taylor, Jatnes IV oiler, 
 
 Eliz, Mitchell." 
 
 The period which we have just closed foimed a very busy 
 portion of Mr. T.'s life. He was then in the prime of his 
 strength, possessed uncommon vigour and activity of body, and 
 
134 ACTIVITY AND DILIGENCE. 11785, 
 
 a zeal for the honour of his Saviour and the salvation of sinners, 
 that animated him to employ all his energies for the promotion 
 of these glorious objects. The high respect in which he was 
 held thoughout the New Connection opened a wide field for 
 exertion, and he was eager to occupy it to the uttermost. His 
 journeys for the advancement of religion during this period, con- 
 sidering his other engagements, were almost incredible. Seldom 
 a year passed in which he did not travel several hundreds of 
 miles. He often, as we have seen, took long journeys to preach 
 on extraordinary occasions ; such as ordinations, opening of 
 new meeting-houses, 8cc. He made also frequent excursions to 
 visit the midland and Lincolnshire churches, preaching almost 
 every evening, and thrice on the Lord's days, to numerous con- 
 gregations, many of whom followed him with affectionate ap- 
 probation, from one place to another, often to a distance of 
 twelve or sixteen miles from their own habitations. He has 
 frequently observed, as a matter not of conjecture but certainty, 
 that, before his removal to London, he had travelled, for the 
 purpose of spreading the gospel, more than the entire circuit of 
 the globe, or twenty-five thousand miles. 
 
 He was equally ardent in his endeavours to promote religion 
 in his own neighbourhood. A person who resided with him in 
 the years 1781 and 1782, thus describes the usual course of his 
 labours : *^ I generally heard him twice and often thrice on the 
 sabbath; and three or four times on the week days, in dwelling 
 houses at the distance of from two to five miles from his own 
 habitation. When I have walked with him I have been sur- 
 prized at his activity and alertness. He could climb the steep 
 hills with as much ease as I could walk on tlie plain ; and skip 
 ]ike a goat in difficult passages, where I was afraid of my neck. 
 One Lord's day evening, after preaching twice at Birch cliff, he 
 walked to Burnley, about fourteen miles distant. 1 accom- 
 panied him. We had scarcely time to take refreshment pre- 
 vious to starting, and it must be half-past seven when we arrived. 
 He preached, in a dwelling-house, to about thirty people; and, 
 after preaching, liaving smoked his pipe and taken a little bread 
 and butter, and a small quantity of warm ale, we set out for 
 Wadsworth. We arrived at liome about two in the niorninji. I 
 was tired to excess; but he complained very litllc, and in the 
 morning resumed liis labuurs nearly at the uoiial hour. Lxcr-» 
 
AGED 
 
 47,] IXTREPIDITY. 135 
 
 tions slniilnr to tliis were common willi lilm, not only uliile I 
 resided at ^Vads^vortll, but before and after that period." 
 
 In bis attempts to introduce tlie gospel into dark places, 
 where the sound of it had never reached, he frequently encoun- 
 tered that enmity which the carnal mind always feels against the 
 truths of God ; but his intrepidity of spirit was always equal to 
 the occasion. Many anecdotes, illustrative of this remark, are 
 preserved in Yorkshire ; but the lapse of time has rendered the 
 accuracy of their circumstances doubtful. One however we 
 shall insert, as a specimen of the rest; and as we received it 
 from the person who accompanied him when it occurred, we 
 may rely on its authenticity. W hen !Mr. T. first went to preach 
 at Worsthorn, near Burnley, a violent spirit of opposition mani- 
 fested itself in some of the neighbouring places. On one of his 
 early visits, a number of rude people assembled before the hour 
 appointed for the service, and openly declared their intention of 
 pulling him down from the pulpit. This was overheard by one 
 of his friends who had accompanied him from Wadsworth, and 
 filled him with alarm. He took an opportunity, before the 
 commencement of the worship, to ask Mr. T. if he had brought 
 his licence with him. " For what purpose r" enquired the 
 preacher. " Because," replied his friend, " there are a number 
 of rude men come, determined to pull you down." " Pooh [ 
 pooh l" Mr. Taylor exclaimed with a smile ; and, without 
 taking any farther notice of the intimation, calmly began the 
 service. He had scarce read his text. Has. xiii. 9- when a 
 stout man, with a look of black resolution, pushed his way 
 through the congregation, right towards the pulpit. His friend 
 now began to tremble, supposing the attack was about to com- 
 mence; but the preacher fixing his eye steadily on the man, 
 pursued his discourse with the utmost composure. The intruder 
 listened attentively till the sermon was finished, and then retired 
 without any attempt at interruption. 
 
 A similar instance of fortitude occurred towards the close of 
 this period. Being on a journey in the north of Lincolnshire, 
 he called upon a friend at Brigg. The Methodists being in- 
 formed that he was in the town, desired him to preach for them, 
 to which he readily consented. Not having any })lace of wor- 
 ship except a dwelling-house, they borrowed an old meeting- 
 house belonging to the presbyterians, which had been some time 
 
136 CORRESPONDENCE. [1768. 
 
 unoccupied. In this Mr. T. preached; and the novelty of the 
 circumstance drew crowds of rude people to the spot. In the 
 midst of the service, a heavy stone, of the size of half a brick, 
 was thrown with great force through a window behind the pul- 
 pit, which passed close by the preacher's head and fell in the 
 middle of the room. The people were struck with consterna- 
 tion ; but Mr. T. neither changed his position, nor shewed the 
 least symptom of discomposure, but continued his discourse 
 with as much calmness as if nothing had occurred. 
 
 Section II. An Attempt to exhibit Mr. Taylors Viezvsy 
 Pursuits, Cares and Labours, during this Period^ in Ex- 
 tracts from his Correspondence and unpublished Manuscripts. 
 
 It does not appear that the subject of these Memoirs kept a 
 regular Diary, during the period which we have just reviewed; 
 at least no such document has been found amongst his papers. 
 We cannot therefore trace the state of his mind, or its various 
 exercises, with the same precision as in the former chapter; but 
 as we have, by the kindness of his surviving friends, been 
 favoured with a number of Letters written by him prior to his 
 removal to London, we shall select a series of Extracts from 
 them and his other papers, arranged in the order of their dates. 
 These will, it is presumed, exhibit interesting evidence of his 
 sincere devotedness to God, his ardent desires for the temporal 
 and eternal welfare of his fellow-creatures ; of the solicitude he 
 felt, and the zeal with which he laboured, for the prosperity of 
 Zion; and of the variety and importance of his exertions. Some 
 passages will also be introduced, as displaying his sentiments 
 on important points of doctrine, or conveying useful instruction 
 to those who are engaged in investigating or defending the great 
 principles of Christianity. 
 
 1. TO MR. D . 
 
 " JVadsziorth, July 15, 1768. 
 " Dearly beloved Brother, 
 
 ** Your's, dated June 17, came duly to hand, which I 
 read with great pleasure on several accounts. I am glad you 
 
AGE 
 
 D SO.] AND EXTRACTS. 137 
 
 have been so well em ployed, since you got to N , in com- 
 posing a few short discourses. I hope the next news will be, 
 
 that you have been at M , and there preached a few short 
 
 discourses; and may llie good Lord attend you with his s})irit 
 and blessing ! Remember, * he that desires the office of a bishop 
 desires a good work/ Besides, in the discourses which you 
 have composed, you have done the greatest part of your work. 
 It will be easy to read them now you have composed thera. 
 You also seem urged to it by the necessity of the people. 
 What ! several meals of food ready provided and well cooked, 
 and a family of your Father's household starve for bread, only 
 for want of setting it before them ! Nay sure, I hope better 
 things of my brother B — . Pray what is food for; but to be 
 eaten ? How should it be eaten, if kept in the cupboard ? What 
 use will it be of to the family, if nobody ever see it besides the 
 cook ? Do you say it will do men no good : You cannot be a 
 proper judge of that. It is the best you have. If they can feed 
 upon it, let them : if not, you are clear. Pity the poor souls; 
 and do what you can for them. It is best for you and for me 
 to follow the leadings of divine providence in all things. You 
 have, I think, a very clear call to begin the sacred work ; and 
 give me leave to put you in remembrance ' to stir up the gift 
 that is in you.' — 2 2'im. ii. 6. May the good Lord be your 
 help ! In order to this, you and I, my dear brother, have great 
 need to be watchful, * lest we grieve the holy Spirit of God.' 
 He is our only helper, both as christians and as ministers; and 
 if he withdraw we shall bring ourselves to shame and confusion. 
 May the Lord guard us by his grace! Be much in prayer; 
 and think of me when you approach near to a throne of grace, 
 I received a letter from brother Thompson, in the same hand 
 with your's, which confirms the sad account which you gave me 
 of poor S — . Lord, grant we may be able to trample upon a 
 vain, wicked, ensnaring world. If not, it will trample upon us," 
 
 2. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Wadszcorth, April 23, 1770. 
 
 " Ml/ tery dear and much esteemed Brother, 
 
 " I hope you still abide in health, and increase in 
 grace and in spiritual gifts : the Lord make you to increase and 
 
138 CORRESPONDENCE [177Q. 
 
 abound yet more and more ! You must be kind enough to ex- 
 cuse my not prosecuting the subject of redemption here, as I 
 have scarcely time to scribble over a few lines to you, having 
 so much business at present before me ; and yet I think myself 
 obliged to write on the following occasion. 1 was last week at 
 Lincoln, with ten other ministers, to consult about establishing 
 and promoting the New Assembly at London next Whitsuntide. 
 We had a happy meeting, and were unanimous in determining 
 to promote it. But none of our (shall I say, cowardly?) Lin- 
 colnshire ministers, besides brother Thompson and myself: the 
 rest were out of Leicestershire, Warwickshire, &c. But of 
 this matter I trust you will hear more by and by. I, with bro- 
 ther Thompson, came from Lincoln to K , where, we be- 
 lieve, there are a number of serious lively souls; but want a 
 good preacher, and bringing into proper order. There is a 
 pretty meeting-house, and many of the town's-people seem wil- 
 ling to hear. The town is a pretty large market town, and I 
 think no other dissenters in it. A fine air, exceeding healthful; 
 so that I think there is a prospect of keeping a school and 
 
 preaching the gospel. K seems to be a centre for a large 
 
 sphere of usefulness. Lincoln, where we have a meeting-house, 
 ©n one hand; Stockworth and Misterton, on another; the Isle, 
 on another; and many other towns surround where the gospel is 
 little known. I think 1 never saw^ a place where there was a 
 greater prospect of promoting our Redeemer's cause. They 
 propose to give a minister per annum at present, and in- 
 creasing as the number increases. And I believe a school- 
 master, properly qualified and dihgent, may procure a good 
 living, and much reputation to himself and the gospel, and do 
 much service. After this induction of circumstances, you will 
 easily apprehend I most heartily wish that you could and would 
 come thither. At their entreaty, I thought proper to desire 
 you to corne. They seem not an obstinate people, but willing 
 to submit to any gospel terms, which is a great matter to a 
 minister. Mr. Thompson most heartily joins me in begging 
 you would come there if possible. He would be a friend to 
 you, in procuring you an addition to your annual income, to his 
 utmost. ^Vc are the more earnest, as you would be in the line 
 almost between Wadsworth and Boston; and so we hope we 
 could promote one another's usefulness. What is in my power 
 
AGKD 32.] AND EXTRACTS. . 139 
 
 to do for you shall not be omitted, depend ujx)n it. O, my bro- 
 ther, come and help to revive the dying interest of our adorable 
 Saviour! You shall see God will be with you." 
 '^ " If there is any prospect at all of your settling there, I de 
 sire you would come once and preach to them ; and I and bro- 
 ther Thompson would endeavour to meet you there ; and, if 
 possible, would remove every obstacle out of your way. Write 
 as soon as possible; and open your mind fully on this subject: 
 as they and we wait in suspense, and must exert ourselves to the 
 utmost to get them another preacher, if you cannot or will not 
 
 come." 
 
 3. TO MR. WILLIAM THOMPSON. 
 
 Wadszcorth, Juli/ 9^ 1770. 
 " Dearly beloved brother Thompson, 
 
 I n\ost sincerely wish, that I knew how to give you the 
 satisfaction you desire, concerning the personality of the Father, 
 Son and Holy Ghost. It is indeed, as you say, a sublime sub- 
 ject. I have employed my thoughts, and read the scriptures 
 and several authors upon it, with some diligence, at times ; but 
 especially for some months past. But I am very far from being 
 able to say certainly, in what sense and how far the Father, 
 Word and Spirit are three and one. I am inclined to believe 
 that it is a matter above human comprehension ; and w hat God 
 has not revealed in his word. Hypotheses may be formed, 
 schemes may be drawn, reasons assigned, supposed representa- 
 tions invented, and parallels run; but I am free to declare, that 
 those who seem most positive and dogmatical seem to me to 
 know the least about the matter. And though I think inquiries 
 are lawful : and, if pursued with humility and modesty, may be 
 very useful ; yet I am sometimes ready, in this point, to join the 
 pious Dr. Jeremy Taylor, in saying, 'That he who goes about 
 to speak of the mystery of the Trinity, and does it by words and 
 names of man's invention ; talking of essences and existences, 
 hypostases and personalities, priorities in co-equalities, and unity 
 in pluralities, may amuse himself and build a tabernacle in his 
 head ; and talk of something he knows not what : but the good 
 Jnan who feels tlie power of the Father — -to whom the Son is 
 become wisdom, sanctification and righteou^sness — and in v»hose 
 
 s C! 
 
140 CORRKSPONDKN'CrK [1770« 
 
 heart the Spirit is shed abroad, — this man, though he understands 
 nothing of what is unintelligible, yet he alone truly understands 
 the christian doctrine of the Trinity !' Perhaps the last clause 
 might have been better expressed." 
 
 "You, my brother, have more consideration than to confound 
 the proof of a truth ^vith the explication of a mystery; and 
 thereby accuse me of giving up any part of gospel truth, because 
 I pretend not to comprehend incomprehensibles. I find it 
 pleasing enough for a curious mind to set my brains to work and 
 invent similies, &c. to illustrate this great point of the personality ; 
 but I would rather at present content myself with admiring and 
 adoring : lest I should be found too busy with those secret things 
 that belong to God. Perhaps it may form part of our heaven 
 to contemplate this grand and awful subject." 
 
 " That God is, as you express it, one simple, undivided, infinite 
 Spirit, is, I think, certain. Yet that the scriptures speak of a 
 distinction between the Father, Word and Spirit, and yet attri- 
 bute Godhead to each, is to me very evident. But wherein 
 this distinction consists; and how they are three and how one — 
 whether as the three essential formalities (as some call them) of 
 the human soul, power, intellect and will — or as motion, light 
 and heat in the sun ; as Mr. Baxter imagined — or as three dis- 
 tinct, eternal, intelligent spirits, inexplicably united, as Mr. Howe, 
 Dr. Sherlock, &c. seem to have thought — or, whether three 
 proper distinct persons, entirely equal to and independent of each 
 other, yet making one and the same being in some unknown 
 way, as Dr. Abraham Taylor and some other Athanasians seem 
 to talk — or whether we are to consider the Father as the fountain 
 of Deity, communicating the whole divine nature to the Son, 
 and the Spirit deriving the whole divine nature from them both ; 
 as Bishop Bull and Dr. Owen seem to have thought — or whether 
 we must call the distinctions only modal, as the three dimensions 
 of one cube ; as Dr. Wallis and Archbishop Tillotson appear to 
 have conjectured — or must suppose the distinction merely eco- 
 nomical, or as you express it, three personal characters applied 
 to the one infinite Spirit, as the followers of Sabellius — or disr 
 distinguish between the essence, the wisdom and the power; 
 that is, the energetic or active power of God, and call these the 
 three persons in the Trinity; as Dr. Watts thought — I say 
 which of th«f>e bids fairest for truth is another question. I 
 
AGE 
 
 D 32.] AND EXTRACTS. 141 
 
 think I see difficulties in all, and insuperable ones in some. Bui 
 I wonder not at it, when I read Job xi. 7, 8." 
 
 " I am inclined to believe that bold inquiries of this kind had 
 a bad influence on the judgment or minds of the ancient Corin- 
 thians, Ebionites, and Carpocrations ; and afterwards on Pho- 
 tinus, and Paulus Samosatenus, and their followers ; and those 
 who, in these last centuries, have, in this point, espoused their 
 sentiments : 1 mean the Socinians, as well as the ancient and 
 modern Arians; and led them from the plain truths of the gos- 
 pel. When we attempt to explain things that are inexplicable, 
 we necessarily lay ourselves open to the enemies of the truth, 
 who generally take occasion to object against some supposed 
 appendage or circumstance, rather than against the main thing in 
 dispute. So the Arians and Socinians, at this day, will not so 
 directly dispute against the proper divinity of Jesus Christ sim- 
 ply and abstractedly considered ; but are ever nibbling at tlie 
 personality, &c. as though there was a necessary connection of 
 the one with the other. Whereas any understanding thoughtful 
 man may see, and an honest man will confess, that they have no 
 necessary dependance one upon another. The personality, as 
 it is called, or tlie distinction of the sacred Three, is, I think, 
 an incomprehensible mystery ; and therefore if we attempt to 
 explain it, the enemies of the Divinity of Christ will make ex- 
 ceptions, as I think they may easily do, against any scheme of 
 explication that 1 have seen. Here the unwary schemer is set 
 fast : and the opponent begins w ith his taunts and banter ; 
 raises a dust by the breath of his mouth, and the schemer is be- 
 wildered." 
 
 *' I am not very willing, in these sacred mysteries, to coin 
 new words, lest 1 should join more or fewer ideas to these 
 words than my Pible warrants. I therefore say with the scrip- 
 ture : *■ The Fat)}cr, Word and Spirit are three, and these three 
 -are one.' [i any one should choose to ask me: ' Three what?' 
 and 1 could not tell hiin, 1 should not be ashamed, whether he 
 was an Arian or Athanasian. 1 irhould only ask him: * Where 
 is it written?' and it is much if I did not turn laugher before 
 the dispute was over." 
 
143 CORRKSPONDENCE I1771i 
 
 4. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Wadsworthy Nov, 9, 1770. 
 
 '* I am often much concerned for Lincoln ; but am 
 now so more than ever. Certainly the Baptist interest might 
 be raised there. Were 1 at liberty, I think I could cheerfully 
 sacrifice my little all in the attempt — I wish you ^vould think of 
 a method. Shall I venture to mention one ? Might not the 
 churches be persuaded to collect a little to supply the expences 
 of one year ? Let a number of ministers be chosen to supply it 
 statedly for one year in turns, and have their expences paid out 
 of this collection, at the discretion of a committee chosen for 
 the purpose. Let quarterly collections be made ; and let what 
 is received at these either go to disburse the ministers' expences, 
 if wanted; or, if not wanted, let it be kept in stock for the 
 second year's supply. I think, union of heart, patience, resolu- 
 tion and faith, would accomplish the great design. Great it 
 certainly is, and will prove so both to the souls in Lincoln and 
 to the Baptist interest. I arrived safely at Wadsworth on 
 Saturday night ; and found family and friends well : blessed be 
 the Father of all mercies ! O how swiftly does time fly away ! 
 Lord, help us to improve it better! And may we at last give up 
 our accounts with joy !" 
 
 5- TO THE SAME, 
 
 " Wadsworth, Sept. 4, 1771. 
 
 *' By faith, I still think, is meant (or at least it 
 includes) a confidence in God, founded on the truth of his 
 word, and the revelation of that truth received and embraced. 
 If I had time I would give you my reasons at large ; and I do 
 intend, God willing, to do it at some other opportunity. If you 
 maintain that this confidence is the effect of faith, rather than 
 included in its nature and essence, yet if you maintain thi» 
 confidence necessary to salvation, 1 think we need not fall out 
 about the matter. By assurance of faith, I understand a firm 
 assured, unshaken confidence in God without any prevailing 
 doubts, founded on his word. As to Mr. Romaine's notion of 
 faith, he expresses himself so variously about it in his Life of 
 Faith, &.C. that I think it i» hard to determine what notion he 
 
AGED 
 
 33.] AND EXTRACTS. 143 
 
 has of it. A stranger to the man who compares his various 
 definitions together, would probably think he has no settled 
 notion of it. I congratulate you, my dear brother, on your de- 
 lightful prospect at M ; and rejoice to hear that you ar« 
 
 so hearty a friend to field preaching. Pray come soon to Wads- 
 worth. We have plenty of field room in the West Riding of 
 Yorkshire. I pray God bring you here in the fulness of the 
 blessing of the gospel of peace. Be assured, it will rejoice my 
 heart to see you here. The hurry of the Association will be no 
 more than is common at other Associations: and if we would 
 not have hurry, we should not have appointed them. The Lord 
 bless you." 
 
 6. Extracts from Mr. D. Taylor's Remarks on Mr. 
 Do bell's Scriptural Plan of Salvation hy Christ; 
 written in 1771, but 7iever published. (See page 79.) 
 
 '* AIr\vilI allow, perhaps, that tne serfpture is true, when 
 it saith ' Christ was a sacrifice for sin.' But then the question is. 
 What is meant by this expression ? What ideas do we fix to the 
 phrase ? Do we really mean that our sins were laid on him, that 
 he bore them in his own body on the tree ? and thereby was a 
 real propitiation or atonement for sin f* There are many kinds 
 of sacrifices ; but a sacrifice for sin seems necessarily to mean a 
 sacrifice that makes an atonement for sin ; and this doctrine is 
 abundantly taught concerning our Lord and his sacrifice. Sin 
 is an offence to God, as it is a breach of his law. God there- 
 fore is offended by our sins, and we are the offenders : Hence 
 both Jews and heathens, have cultivated the notion and senti* 
 ment of appeasing the offended Deity, when a sacrifice for sin 
 was offered ; as multitudes of instances might be adduced from 
 both kinds of w riters to evince, W^e had displeased God : God 
 was pleased with the sacrifice of Christ : On that account he 
 accepts us. Does not this necessarily lead us to the doctrine of 
 satisfaction for sin ? If God would not accept sinners, without 
 Christ's sacrifice, was not he without this unsatisfied ? If he 
 accepts us for tlie sake of this, is he not then satisfied by it ? 
 But must it not then be justice that is satisfied ? It seems ridi- 
 culous to talk of the satisfaction of mercy : Mercy requires no 
 satisfaction. So then if we have a proper notion of a sacrifice 
 
144 CORRESPOKDENCB [1771* 
 
 for sin, and allow that Christ was such a sacrifice, w'e are once 
 more unavoidably led to the doctrine of satisfaction to divine 
 justice; though Mr. D. seems to think it an unnecessary article 
 of faith. Are we not assured that we have access to God by 
 Christ ? Could we have access to him without Christ's dying 
 for us? Does not our being shut out from him, prove that he 
 is angry, and of consequencCj unsatisfied f Does not our ad- 
 mission to such access prove him to be pleased, and consequently 
 satisfied; not by us, but by him that obtained our access? Is 
 not this all fully confirmed by the apostle's declaration, Ro?n. in. 
 2 J, 26. where we are assured ' Christ was a propitiation, &c. 
 that God might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth 
 in Jesus r' Now if this is Mr. D.'s notion of a sacrifice for sin, 
 we rejoice in the agreement that there is between his judgment 
 and ours. Let our swords be beaten into ploughshares, and our 
 spears into pruning hooks , and let us join in maintaining this 
 great, this all-momentous truth, whoever may oppose it." 
 
 *' On the ether hand, if he talks of any other kind of sacrifice 
 for sin, not with this design, not producing these effects, we are 
 not only much in discouragement, and left without hope; but I 
 ask leave to be free in saying, I regard it as absolute nonsense 
 and absurdity. I am so far from believing it an article of gospel 
 truth, that I believe it diametrically opposite thereto ; and so far 
 from being any part of the terms of salvation, that, I greatly fear, 
 those who believe this inevitably shut themselves out from the 
 salvation of Christ. Not because there is any merit or desert in 
 believing this or the other truth ; but because such a view of 
 things as this leads naturally to many other errors, of a pernicious 
 nature ; because it robs the soul of power to confide in Christ 
 as a complete Saviour ; it leads us to confide in our own works . 
 and thereby brings or keeps us under the curse. Gal. iii. 9, 10 : 
 it argues that we are not convinced of our wretchedness, nor 
 have we any suitable views of the evil and damnable nature of 
 sin, or of the wrath of God revealed from heaven against it; 
 consequently no conviction of our need of Christ, nov of the 
 worth of him. How then should we love him, because he first 
 loved us ? I therefore beg Mr. D.'s free explication of what he 
 means by a sacrifice for sin." 
 
 •* To talk of either law or gospel admitting of any obedience 
 as the terms of salvation, which is imperfect and defective, 
 
AGED 33.] AND EXTRACTS. ' 145 
 
 argues, I tiling, very great and shameful iguoraucij bolli of tlie 
 perfections and the word of God: and, if it couhl be admitted, 
 would involve the poor sinner (such as we all are) in numerous 
 and inextricable difliculties. For if he admits of soniediing 
 imperfect as the means or terms of salvation, it would naturally 
 be inquired, how far may this be imperfect and yet the person 
 be safe ? Where must the bounds of this obedience, as to the 
 perfection of it, be fixed ? If he says, we must come as near 
 perfection as we can; then I ask, What must they do who do not 
 come as near perfection as they can ? They must lie down in 
 despair. And where is the man that does or ever did come as 
 near perfection as he can ? I am free to own, though I would 
 do it with shame, sorrow and humiliation, that there is not a day 
 in which I can appeal to God, that I have come as near per- 
 fection as I could: and I believe Mr. D. and every man and 
 woman living, upon close examination, as in the sight of God, 
 must say the same. If so; then according to this scheme, 
 who can be saved hereafter ? or have any well grounded hope 
 here ? I know a clause in this article may, if taken without con- 
 sideration, be esteemed a kind of salvo; namely, * repenting, 
 returning to his duty,' Sec. But, I fear, his difficulties will 
 crowd upon him here, as much as ever, if he come to be once 
 in real earnest about his soul's salvation. For it is still to be 
 inquired: Must he return to observe perfectly or imperfectly? 
 Not perfectly, ISIr. D. seems to allow ; and it would be to the 
 last degree discouraging, if this were required of him, in order 
 to salvation : for then no flesh could be saved. I speak here of 
 all the parts of holiness, which I suppose Mr. D. means by 
 obedience to the laws of God, or of the gospel. If imperfect 
 duty will do, it is still to be inquired, how far perfect 1 and how 
 much imperfection will be allowed and admitted ? If this can- 
 not be determined (as I believe it never will), the poor soul has 
 nothing to aim at, nor any way in the world of coming to satis- 
 faction with regard to his state." 
 
 *' He will perhaps say, Mie must sincerely do the best he can/ 
 and I say so too : so ought every one at all times; but a tender 
 conscience, such as is ever likely to come at heaven, here again 
 will be fastened. If he nmst sincerely do his best, common 
 sense will tell him that he must do this every day of his life, and 
 every moment of every day ; and that this extends to his con- 
 
 T 
 
146 CORRESPONDENCE [1771. 
 
 slant guarding of every thought, temper, desire, and passion; 
 that with every word he speaks he is incessantly determining to 
 glorify God, and is always contriving this when he is not speak- 
 ing or actino-; yea, that ' whether he eats or drinks, or whatever 
 he does, he do all to the glory of God !' Tliis is undoubtedly 
 every real believer's duty, and every real believer's desire. But, 
 alas ! w hen will he live one single day that he can say at night, 
 he has done so ? I could wish to see that day, when 1 could 
 say it for myself; but I hardly expect it, till this vile body shall 
 be fashioned like to Christ's glorious body. This is the work, 
 not of a fallen, but a perfect creature. Hence, if this is the 
 way of salvation, I believe we may venture boldly to say, no 
 man can be saved hereafter, much less can he come at any well 
 grounded hope of it here. Hence I fear the popish sentiment, 
 ' No assurance of salvation here,' takes its rise. A sentiment and 
 delusion big with mischief on many accounts ; contradictory to 
 the tenor of the gospel, and inconsistent with the nature of real 
 conversion to God. it might be seen at large how much these 
 unscriptural and detestable, I had almost said, diabolical princi- 
 ples tend to overthrow all our peace, to subvert the very founda- 
 tions of real Christianity; if we had time to trace them in all 
 their horrid consequences.^' 
 
 " The truth is, neither perfect obedience, nor imperfect, to the 
 law of God; neither doing our best, nor desiring, nor endeavour- 
 ing to do our best, in this view, nor any thing of the like kind, has 
 any foundation in scripture, as being the terms of our justification 
 before God. Any thing of this kind is diametrically opposite 
 to the perfections of the blessed God, and the whole tenor of 
 the gospel. The way of a sinner's justification is clearly taught 
 by the apostle in very ditTerent terms. * It is by Christ's obe- 
 dience,' says the apostle, * that we are made righteous :' Iio?)2. 
 V. 19. ' ^^ot by our obedience, it is the righteousness of God' 
 (not of us) ' that is unto all, and upon all them that believe ;' 
 not them that do their best. Rom. iii. Q.2. * Salvation is by 
 grace through faith ; not of works, lest any man should boast.' 
 Eph. ii. 8, 9. The scripture is full of this doctrine ; and it is 
 a rich blessing to us that it is." 
 
 " Man being perfect, nothing could justify him before God 
 but obedience absolutely perfect iu all respects. Loving God 
 with all the heart, 2i,c. Man being now fallen, and unable to do 
 
AGED 
 
 33.^ AND EXTRACTS. 147 
 
 this. Rom. viii. 3. Christ has done that glorious work for him; 
 by which, through faith, the sinner is justified, and God's jus- 
 tice, as well as his mercy, gloritied. llom. iii. 20". Cluist's 
 obedience was perfect — * He knew no sin,' 2 Cor. v. 21. This 
 is received and applied by faith. Acts xiii. 3, 16, 31. Item. iv. 
 6. X. 4. And faith is not imperfect in any believer with respect 
 to the quality of it, though often the degree is but small ; yet 
 tlie word of God respects not the degree, but the quality in the 
 matter of justification. It is not he that belicveth much, or 
 strongly; but Mic that believeth is Justified from all things.' 
 Acts xiii. 39' So that in this respect there is no deviation 
 from, nor coming short of the word of God; and it is 
 equally express, on the other hand, that he that believeth not 
 is condemned now, and shall be damned hereafter, whatever Ikj 
 <lo besides. To believe in Jesus is evidently to confide in him 
 ^s a complete Saviour; and necesssarily implies a rejection of 
 all dependance on our own righteousness in the point of justifi- 
 t:ation, and all thought of doing works of righteousness in order 
 to be justified thereby. Not only the word of God shews the 
 evil tendency of this, and its destructive consequences ; it is in- 
 consistent with the very nature and quality of genuine faith in 
 Jesus. But then, may such a person live after the flesh ^ Will 
 he live after the flesh ? Far from it. So far from it, that 1 must 
 ask leave to remain satisfied, that a person can give no stronger 
 proofs of his being an absolute stranger to faith, and to every 
 branch of salvation, than to surmise or imagine any thing of this 
 nature. Instead of this, the scripture assures us, and the believer 
 knows it by experience, that ' faith works by love,' that ^ it 
 purifies the heart,' that * we are sanctified by it.' Acts xv. 9- 
 xxvi. 18, 19. Gai. V. 6. May this faith, with all these precious 
 cflx?cts, be the happy portion of Mr. D. of my dear friend to 
 whom I now vvrite, and of his most afi'ectionate brother and 
 humble servant." J-^niLALETiies." 
 
 7. TO MR. B. 
 
 " IVadszcorth, August 5, 1773. 
 
 ^' Have you got me a INIill's Greek Testament? 
 
 Has Candidus written again ? Is there any revival of religion 
 
 among you ? 1 hope the dear Lord Jesus is still precious to 
 
 your soul; and you delight in preaching a free, full salvuliou 
 
 T 2 
 
148 CORRESPONDENCE [1778» 
 
 through him. 1 have had the pleasure of baptizing my wife's 
 mother and my brother Robert, since T saw you: Glory to God 
 for his mercies. Amidst all our learning, let us ever be learning 
 to live by faith in * the Son of God, who has loved us and given 
 himself for us.' This is the way, the only way to be happy in 
 all states, in life and death ; and to face death with comfort and 
 joy. JMessed be God ! we have a glorious evidence of this at 
 present. T am to preach a funeral sermon, this day, for a wo- 
 man who has been long and much afflicted, yet lived and died 
 very happy in the views of Christ as her Saviour. I hope you 
 will be an instrument of the conversion of many ; and of train- 
 ing them up for heaven. If you settle at S , proceed slowly 
 
 in every thing of importance and difficulty. Look constantly to 
 the Father of lights for spiritual understanding." 
 
 8- TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Wadsworth, Nov. 5, 1773. 
 
 " Dea?' Brother B. 
 
 " Your's came to hand and was received with pleasure, 
 at my return from Lincolnshire; but I wish you could have 
 come to Wadsworth. The ordination work was got through by 
 brother Thompson, brother Tarratt and myself. I hope there 
 is a prospect of great good being done at Queenshead. Blessed 
 be the Lord for it. They are now twenty-one members in 
 fellowship, who had their first Lord's supper the last Lord's 
 day. I hope you will pray for us both: and may your prayers 
 be heard and answered. 
 
 " I trust the good Lord is teaching yon to make some suitable 
 improvement of your late trial, by your father's decease. Death 
 is indeed solemn and awful ; tliough pleasant and delightful to a 
 child of God, especially when his heart is engaged properly on 
 Jesus. May your heart bs thus engaged daily. And, as the 
 souls of your surviving relatives are, 1 doubt not, precious to 
 you, I hope you are endeavouring to instruct and assist them in 
 the proper improvement of their late visitation. O what a 
 blessing to be useful to poor souls ! even thougli it be at the 
 ex})ence of our ease, our honour, or even of our literary amuse- 
 ments too. * You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; 
 that though he was rich, yet for our s;ikes he became poor, tiiat 
 
AGED O 
 
 ^5.1 AND EXTRACTS. 149 
 
 wc ihrougli Ills poverty might be made ricli.' (.) how engaging 
 a motive this to awaken us to labour for the good of our fellow 
 creatures!" 
 
 9. TO MR. WILLIAM THOMPSON. 
 
 ''Wadszcorth, Sept.^S, 1775. 
 
 " My dear Brot/icr, 
 
 " I am glad to hear of your various labours; I hope 
 they will be accompanied with proportionable success. For my 
 part T am confined at home generally, and have little opportunity 
 to preach abroad, except at Halifax and Queenshead; but 1 
 wish success to those who are at liberty. Since I saw you, w^e 
 have had much trouble with one or two unruly members, on 
 account of my preaching so frequently at Halifax, &,c. who 
 have, 1 fear, done us much harm. However, the work^ I be- 
 lieve, does not entirely stand. Last Lord's day I baptized two; 
 and hope for more very soon. O what prudence is necessary 
 in all such cases! I often see my need of wisdom. Blessed be 
 God, who has promised to assist and uphold ! The promises 
 are sweet in time of trial." 
 
 " O that I could see you in Wadsworth, when you visit 
 Yorkshire ! We ding, ding, ding on; in a corner of the world, 
 unenvied, unvisited, and almost unknown. If you can come, it 
 w ill chear my heart, and the hearts of many. I^ not, the Lord 
 make you useful and happy elsewhere." 
 
 10. TO MR. B. 
 
 " Wadsworth, Aug. 31, 1775. 
 " I wish the Lord may make you of great use in D- 
 
 and in every other place where Providence calls you. Think 
 closely, read your Bible carefully, live by faith in Jesus; and 
 you will be very likely to preach successfully." 
 
 11. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " JVadazcorth, Jidj/ 24, 1770. 
 " il/j/ ven/ dear Brother, 
 
 ** Yesterday 1 enjoyed the very great pleasure of a 
 letter from you, dated the IDth, for which I most sincerely thank 
 you ; and for all tokens of favour which you have discovered to 
 me in t!ic sale of my bt)()k, anil in varioUL^ other respects. But 
 
150 CORRESPONDENCE [1777, 
 
 I cannot now take time to w rite you a long letter ; you cannot 
 think how I am hurried on many accounts, especially this hay 
 harvest ; but I have lately got a stroke upon my eye, which has 
 very near deprived me of sight. It is with great difficulty that 
 I distinguish the letters of a common Testament. I was not 
 able to read my text yesterday, had I not known it by heart. I 
 am better to-day ; but it is w ith difficulty that I make out the 
 meaning of your letter. This causes mortification, and compels 
 to self-denial; but 1 hope it will be sanctified. I suppose you 
 have heard of the letter I lately wrote to Mr. Ryland. The 
 same requests 1 offered to him, I beg you would also indulge 
 me with in answer to this. Am very glad that you intend 
 
 coming soon into D . Give me leave to adjure you by 
 
 all that is sacred in the most inviolable friendship, by all that is 
 tender in real compassion, by all that is sensible in a heart-felt 
 sympathy, to favor me with your company one week at Wads- 
 worth; that I may be happy in hearing you preach the everlast- 
 ing gospel to my dear congregation, and in receiving your in- 
 structions with respect to the good management of my school, 
 that weighty and awful concern ! Let me know when you wilt 
 
 he in D , ajid what day you will come from thence to 
 
 Wadsv.orth. Though I am strongly confined, yet I will venture 
 to promise that, Deo favente^^ 1 will meet you there to bear 
 jou company forward to Wads worth. I can talk with you then 
 about my book and other things. God Almighty bless yon. I 
 have good entertainment for man and horse, and I believe none 
 will be more welcome to both than yourself, while my name is 
 
 Dan Taylor." 
 
 12. to the same. 
 
 " Wadsworthy April 22, 1777. 
 *' I hope your soul is happy, and your labours successful. 
 Praised be the Lord, there is an appearance of great success in 
 most of the places where we preach in Yorksiiirc, and at one 
 place in Lancashire, vvliich we have lately entered and succeeded 
 in it; though all otlicr preachers, for twenty or thirty years past, 
 have been beaten out of it. The people are ignorant, and even 
 barbarous beyond description. Five from thence have lately 
 offered for baptism, whom I expect to baptize on the fifdi ot 
 
 • God asi.istii)L'. 
 
AGED 39.] AND EXTRACTS. 151 
 
 ^lay. I still greatly wish to sec you in Yorksliirc. I am j^lad 
 
 to hear that you are likely to settle at . I hope it ^^ ill 
 
 b«e a comfortable settlement and to the liedeemer's j^lory. W'c 
 are beginning to build a mceting-honse at Halifax. If our 
 friends refuse to assist us in it, we must leave ourselves with 
 God. I hope you will assist us in it, in your circle, in a proper 
 time, if yaii can. God will reward you." 
 
 13. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Wadsn'orthj Juhf 12, I777. 
 " 1 have had such an affair in hand this day as I never 
 had before. Three men came to me, when at dinner, to inform 
 me, that one of them was to go with the Devil, who would 
 come for him at four o'clock. He seemed quite sensible, which 
 affected me more. He related to me such circumstances, which 
 I have not room here to mention, as astonished me. I spent 
 the afternoon till after live o'clock with him. What will be- 
 come of him God only knows ; but I think he will go mad. I 
 have been acquainted with him many years. O that cursed evil 
 sin ! What hath it done ? God bless you !" 
 
 14. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " TVadszc'ort/t, July 26, 1777. 
 " As to preaciiing, your great Doctor, &c. I have 
 only room to say — for G od's sake, for Jesus' sake, for the sake 
 of immortal souls, for tl le sake of your own soul, as you will 
 answer it to the great Judge hereafter, let none of these things 
 move you. Convert all the Doctor's parish, if possible. I do 
 pray and will pray that yoi i may not leave him one single hoof in 
 darkness and slavery. I re ^joice that Satan rages. I hope it is 
 a cood siirn that Jesus bles ses. As to viur character, alas! for 
 those who can take notice of that ! You know, my brother, 
 that your reputation, qo\v,\ uued with the salvation of one soul, 
 is not so much worth as a speck of dust, compared with a 
 mountain of gold. But I li. ^pe in God, if you are but faithful, 
 fruitful, s})iritual and prudeii t, you may yet be the more imme- 
 diate, or more remote inst rument of converting thousands. 
 Whatever you do, let all your discourses be plentifaily seasoned 
 with the Evaiigciici safesj^' an d they zciil do good. If you see 
 
 ♦ The Salt < )f tlic GospcL 
 
152 CORRESPONDENCE [1777, 
 
 dear Mr. R. pray let my best and tcndcrest respects and sincere 
 ■wishes for his prosperity be presented to him, and intreat him ta 
 ' come over to Macedonia and help you.' — The people are cer- 
 tainly mad. Is not the soul of a servant as valuable as that 
 of a prince ? For the Lord's sake, creep into every corner as 
 prudence shall admit ; and, if possible, preach Christ crucified 
 to cveiy servant in the county. When I speak of prudence, I 
 do not mean that poor, mean, starched, dirty thing, sometimes 
 called so among the beaus and the fops. 1 mean a noble, 
 manly consideration of what is best, and most contributes to 
 spread abroad the savour of a Redeemer's name, and to convert 
 precious souls. When you have considered that, pursue it with 
 inflexible and invariable resolution, without regarding your own 
 interest, advantage, Scc. ; keeping steadily in view the interest of 
 Jesus, and the happiness of men. God i^lmighty bless you." 
 
 15. TO THE SAME. 
 
 "■ WadsKoith, Bee. 22, 1777. 
 " I have just now received yours, and thank you for it. 
 T heartily wish to be with you one Lord's day, could I make it 
 possible, consistent with other duties and demands. But present 
 circumstances have obliged me to fix the following plan; and I 
 have wrote to the churches accordingly, which I cannot see how- 
 to reverse. I come off from home next Monday morning ; 
 must preach at Ep worth in the Isle that night, God willing, 
 which is upwards of sixty miles. Tuesday, at Kirton ; Wednes- 
 day, at Louth ; Thursday, at Boston, and must stay one day at 
 Boston ; Saturday, at Fleet. As the Fleet church, you know, 
 is not in connection with us, they only promise to collect for us 
 on condition of my preaching to them one Lord's day. You 
 know, Fleet people are rich; I have therefore consented. At 
 Sutton, on Monday. The Friendly Society have their ainiual 
 meeting at Fleet, on the Tuesday, January 6th, and I am ap- 
 pointed the preacher; V\hich will oblige me to stay there on 
 Tuesday. Shall set out for you on \^'ednesday morning or Tues- 
 day night. Shall stay with you till Friday, January 9th; must 
 then return to Gosberton and Boston, and through the Marsh 
 homewards. If I cannot have your money, I must come with- 
 out it. Tiie circumstances of my family, school, farm and 
 cliurch, will not admit of my aljjencc more than three weeks; 
 and you se^ mv ioinnev is cramrai'd full of work." 
 
AGED 
 
 40.] AND EXTRACTS. 153 
 
 16. TO MR. THOMPSON. 
 
 '' IVadsKorth, Oct. '2, 1779 
 *' Deaj' Brother Tliompson, 
 
 " I was favoured vvilli youi's in due course, which I 
 read with pleasure. Thanks be to God for the recovery of your 
 health, and for the addition of so many to your church. May 
 they be all eternally saved ! I think too we ought to praise our 
 
 God when he calls any of his children (such I think Mr. G 
 
 was) out of this troublesome sinful world. O that blessed day 
 when the last enemy, death, shall be destroyed ! Let the sight and 
 hope of it cheer our hearts while labouring up the hill ! Glory 
 be to God, we shall soon be at home. Let us exert ourselves 
 for our good Saviour by the way. This will increase our best 
 treasure, while we are enriching many others." 
 
 17. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " WadsKorth, July 4, 1778. 
 " We abode at St. Tve's till after the Lord's day, and 
 went to Cambridge on the Monday, where we spent some time. 
 
 Stept over to see Mr. R , and staid witli him about three 
 
 hours. I think he is a great man, and his conversation very 
 entertainins:. Thence we went forwards towards London about 
 twenty miles ; and arrived in town on Tuesday, where Mr. B — 
 came to us. We were extremely busy there the five days we 
 were in town. We attended a trial for perjury at Guildhall, 
 before Lord Mansfield ; Davenport was counsel for the plain- 
 tiff, and the celebrated Dunning for the defendant. Dunning 
 pleased and exceedingly amazed me. O the abilities of that man ! 
 What ten thousand pities is it, that they are not employed more 
 entirely for God ! We applied to Mr. Thornton, who was free. 
 but full of complaints, by reason of losses. He, however, gave us 
 a guinea, as he said, ' with all his heart.' On the Saturday we 
 went to Dr. Stennett's meeting, and heard ]Mr. Jenkyns from 
 Wrexham. The doctor was very free and kind; but all in a 
 bustle. He seemed extremely pleased to see me ; often thanked 
 me for my publications, and said he believed there was very lit- 
 tle difference in judgment between him and me ; very earnestly 
 wished I could spend a day with him, and preach for him ; 
 
 u 
 
154 CORRESPONDENCE [1778^. 
 
 begged I would become a correspondent, and represent any case 
 of necessity to him ; desired me to accept of four guineas from 
 him, and draw on him for it in two months ; with many other 
 tokens of the tenderest respect. I desire to give God the glory,, 
 and to consider it as a motive to be more diligent and more dis-^ 
 interested in the service of God ; and to trust him more steadily 
 with my concerns, and those of my family. On the Lord^s day 
 T preached at Park-Meeting-house in the morning, and at 
 Mr. Brittain's in the aftenioon. Brother Scott preached foe 
 Mr. Brittaiu in the morning, and at the Park in the afternoon;, 
 and brother Birley preached at Mr. Brittain's in the evening. 1 
 transcribed the cia?cular letter, made the appointed alterations, 
 saw it printed, and ordered it to be distributed as appointed at 
 the Association. Came to Stony Stratford and preached there 
 on Monday night; dined oa Tuesday at Olney, and spent a few 
 hours with my two friends, Mr. Sutcliff, the Baptist minister,, 
 and Mr. Whitford, the Independant. Preached, at night, at 
 Barton Latimore ; the next night at Moulton, taid the Thursday, 
 night at Loughborough, to an amazing crowd ; there being a 
 person to be interred, and I beiiig desired to preach a funerals 
 sermon. Called at Nottingham on Friday morning, and got 
 home safely on Saturday. Found family and fiiends well ; 
 thanks be to God for all his great goodness to me and mine! 1 
 hope to be in the Isle (of Axholme) as soon as I have done witli 
 my hay, which we shall begin next week, God willing. Grate- 
 ful respects to Mks. Thompson and Polly, and love to allj 
 friends." " Your's, most cordially, 
 
 "DanTaylob." 
 
 18. TO MR. B. 
 
 " JVadsnorth, Nov. '22, 1778. 
 " The particulars of my charge to brother Ingham^. 
 God willing, you shall have in a future letter; but I am so muchi 
 
 engaged at present in writing a long letter to Mortimer,. 
 
 Esq. who is persecuting the Baptists in Derbyshire, that I 
 would not turn my thoughts to any thitig else till that be finished. 
 He is a Member of Parliament. I must have the letter ready, 
 for the confcrejue, December 8th: towards which I shall, go. 
 out, God wiliinp-, December Cd or 3d." 
 
AGED 40.] AND EXTRACTS. 155 
 
 19. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " IVachzcortlif Januari/ IQ, 1779. 
 " Though I pity the impudent, hardened fellows ; yd 
 I am not displeased to hear that you have been disluihed, &c. 
 i hope it is a sign that God is for you, and ihe Devil against 
 you ; and the J)evil is afraid of losing ground in , and there- 
 fore rages. Let me charge to go on, prudently bold for your 
 Master. He W\\\ not, he cannot disown you. I feel a most sen- 
 sible pleasure and reviving of heart, when I read that * religion 
 j-ather gains ground among you.' God be praised! May he 
 own and bless you more and more ! Think of such passages as 
 Actsix, SI. and 1 Cor. xiii. 11: and tell your people, God is 
 ifaithful: and bid them to think of those passages". 
 
 "20. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Wadsztorthy May 12, 1771^. 
 " I beg to be excused from the excessive drudgery of 
 giving you my remarks upon what your ingenious author says on 
 i Cor. XV. 28. My time is so taken up with various concerns, 
 «nd the remarks are so large, that I know not how to do this by 
 letter. Should I ever more be favoured with the opportunity of 
 
 a day's conversation with you at Wadsworth, or , we can 
 
 talk on the subject. My thoughts are that Christ, in the capacity 
 of Mediator, as man, in whom all the fulness of the Godhead 
 dwells:; has received the kingly power in his church and overall 
 things for his church's sake, as a reward for his sufferings in be- 
 lialf of poor sinners. Phil. ii. 5 — 12. Heh, ii. 9. Sec &c. 
 which office he will execute till the end of time ; and then w ill 
 surrender up the kingdom with liiuiself, to be disposed of or sub- 
 ject to his heavenly Father; and shall no more exercise any me- 
 diatorial function, but shall be crowned and inconceivably happy 
 iixiiong his saints for even" 
 
 21. TO THE SAME 
 
 IVadszi'orthyOd. 8, 1779. 
 *^ As I had but just time to see the letter from Mr. 
 W — to you, it was not possible for mc to write you a long 
 letter; and if notliing will atone for the shortness of my last; but 
 sending you the notes of all my cxposilion.s, ^c. I nuist rciiKii 
 
 u 2 
 
156 CORRESPONDENCE [1779. 
 
 exposed to the penalty. For Lst. I have endeavoured to expound 
 many parts of scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments, 
 of which I never wrote any notes. My avocations and concerns 
 are so various, that I have sometimes not time to write notes of 
 my discourses at all, and sometimes but very short ones, not fit 
 to be seen by any beside myself. 2nd. My notes are many of 
 them taken from me, from year to year, soon after I have w ritten 
 them. Brethren J. Taylor, Ingham, Thompson, Birley, 8cc. 
 &,c. &c. &c. have often made so free with me, as to leave me 
 very low in this kind of treasure. However I consider my notes 
 of little worth; and if they will do any good or give any pleasure 
 to any of my brethren, it is as much as I can expect, or desire. 
 I once took it into my head, pursuant to your request, to try at a 
 paraphrase, 8cc. on the prophet Isaiah; and employed a few 
 hours in it, one day or two ; but new concerns demanded my at- 
 tention and I dropt it, though, with design, at some future op- 
 portunity to resume it. You will find the rough draft in the 
 
 parcel directed for you, in Mr. W 's Box, If you can make 
 
 them out, I beg your thoughts, and shall expect you to return 
 them, and other things when I have the great pleasure of seeing 
 
 . I also send you a copy of my plan of education, &c. which 
 
 I beg you will make quite free with; and for a time, lend your 
 whole attention to. Retrench, add, alter, &c. 8cc. as you think 
 best; and let us try to have something ])erfect by the next As- 
 sociation. I wish you would amplify and print, and spread your 
 letter to the General Baptist Churches on this head. I am daily 
 more and more persuaded of the necessity and practicability of 
 something of this kind, and if we do not stir in it, I do not know 
 who will. The notes in the old ruffled book (silly creature that 
 I am I) were written long ago: and there cannot be any thing 
 in them worth your reading ; only I am fond of gratifying you, 
 otherwise I am ready to blush to send them. You will keep 
 them secret till you return them. At the Association, all the 
 preachers were present except one. Several were engaged in 
 prayer, Sec. and the three preachers chosen to preach were my- 
 self, brother Pickering, and brother Smith. I tried to give the 
 charge; and, as brother Pickering so positively refused it, and 
 and the brethren in general pressed me to it, I yielded, though 
 both unexpected, and therefore unprej)ared, to speak also to the 
 deacons. Tlic purport of what I said to them, you will guess 
 
AGED 
 
 41.] AND EXTRACTS. 157 
 
 at by tlic notes in the parcel. TIig notes of my cliargc to the 
 minister I left in his (that is) brother Deacon's haml : but I ex- 
 pect to receive it by and by; and, if worth seeing, will shew it 
 you. It was on 1 Pet. v. 2, 3, 4. God Almighty bless you, 
 my dear brother." 
 
 22. TO THE SAME. (Scc page Wo.) 
 
 " WachzcortJij Jannary 17, 1782 
 
 " T) earl If beloved Brother j 
 
 " On the 31st of December I received your very af- 
 fecting letter ; it did indeed affect me much, and 1 w ished, and 
 laboured and contrived with great intenseness and concern, to 
 see you, as those who were with me well know. But my plan 
 of j)reaching at home and abroad, and other circumstances were 
 such, tluit I could not see how to make it practicable. I w rote 
 to you from Fleet by the coach, January 3d, and gave you a 
 general account of my situation ; most heartily condoling your 
 distressing situation, and mentioning such brief hints of thought 
 as appeared suitable. I expected an answer by return of coach, 
 and then by the post 5 but received none. I am now returned 
 home, and have been out three days in Lancashire, Scc. attempt- 
 ing to preach the blessed gospel, according to engagement 
 before my coming into Lincolnshire. I am only returned this 
 afternoon, and am extremely anxious to hear of your state, and 
 that of dear Mrs. B. who is, I trust, ere this time much reco- 
 vered. I beg the favor of an answer by return of post." 
 
 " Let us ever remember, my dear brother, that nothing is 
 certain in this uncertain world; we live daily on the brink of the 
 grave, and every eardily comfort is fleeting and fading. God 
 alone is all-sufficient and unchangeable. O the happiness that 
 results here and eternally from having him for our portion ! In 
 the joyful sense of this, I hope my dear brother and the dear 
 partner of his joys daily live. Tor I cannot think to give uj> 
 Mrs. B. into the jaws of death yet, if God please; though, 1 
 believe your loss will be her unspeakable gain. As sure as we 
 meet we must part. Death is, and will be ravaging families 
 and neighbourhoods. Thanks be to him who has promised that 
 * this last enemy shall be destroyed.' O what a world ! What a 
 time will iliat be! Glory be to the name of the Lord for the 
 charming, the dLlii^htful i)rospcct ! It shall surely be as the Lord 
 
158 CORRESPONDENCE [1782. 
 
 hath spoken. Then bosom friends shall be separated no mote. 
 Breaches in families be no more known : pains and disorders no 
 more felt. Our kind father will for ever wipe away all tears 
 from our eyes. * There shall be no more death.' " 
 
 " O, my dear brother, look up and exhort the dear partner of 
 your life to look up to this inexpressibly happy world ! and re- 
 member who has assured us, that he * that shall come will come, 
 and vvill not tarry.-'" 
 
 23' TO MR. THOMPSON. 
 
 " Wadsworth, June G, 1782. 
 " Dearli/ beloved Brother, 
 
 " T had begun to answer your favour at Leicester^ 
 but visitants and labour came in so fast, that I could not pro- 
 perly go on with it. I novv give you an account of my journey. 
 On Friday, May 17, at five o'clock, I went out from home, as 
 soon as I had dismissed mv scholars. Walked fifteen miles 
 that evening, and forty the next day, to Hatfield Woodhouse. I 
 should have gone the seven miles farther to Epworth, had not 
 the evening come on very rainy, and likely to be very dark ; and 
 the waters been so much out, that 1 understood it to be very 
 dangerous venturing over St. Toft's Common. I therefore stopt; 
 and got to Epworth about seven o'clock the next morning. I 
 preached at Butterwick in the forenoon, and rode on to Kirton; 
 examined four persons, delivered a short discourse at the water, 
 "with prayer, and baptized them, in the afternoon ; and preached 
 in the evening. My good friends at Kirton insisted that I 
 should take Miss T — 's pony, which 1 did the next morning, 
 hoping to meet you at Mr. S — 's. I met with Messrs. J — . and 
 B — . in the streets of Lincoln, who insisted that I should stay 
 and preach that evening. They assured me that the waters 
 were so out, that you would not be likely to come to Charlton ; 
 and that it would be unsafe and imprudent for me to venture 
 thither. At last 1 consented to stay and preach; and next day 
 went to Castle Donington, and the following morning to Mel- 
 bourn. The Association being ended on IViday, 1 went to 
 preach at Castle Donington that evening. Next evening at 
 Qoorndon ; and, on Lord's day, had the pleasure of hearing 
 Mr. R — . at Leicester. 1 preached there in the afternoon and 
 evening to very great crowds. 1 met the few people uii Mou- 
 
AOED 44.] AND EXTRACTS. 159 
 
 day, and gave them advice respecting settling in a tliuK h stale, 
 &c. Preached again to a vast crowd. Next night, I preached 
 at Nottingham to the honse crammed full, and many without 
 doors. Next night, at Gamston; at eleven the next morning, at 
 Retford; and that evening, at Misterton. On Friday morning, 
 1 baptized live persons at Epworth ; delivered a discourse at the 
 water-side to a crowd of very attentive spectators, and preached 
 at noon at the meeting-house well iilled. 1 intended to have 
 immediatelv gone oflf towards ht>me, but their intreaties were so 
 importunate, and the people so attentive and apparently so 
 affected, that I was quite overcame, and yielded to preach again 
 in the evening : when w'e had a large congregatioti. Next 
 morning, I set off, on my frightful journey for home. Rode ott 
 INIr. x\ — 's galloway about twenty-four miles ; and after that 
 walked thirty-eight: which, with the rain and the deep mire, 
 tired me very substantially. Yet I bless God I was so refreshed 
 with sleep, that I went through the business of the next day, of 
 preaching three times, keeping a children's meeting, a shorS 
 thurch meeting, and a leaders' meeting, with moderate ease and 
 pleasure. God knows, I desire to give him the praiseJ' 
 
 24. TO THE SAME, ON THE DEATH OF MRS. T. 
 
 " Loudon, August 6, 1784* 
 
 ** Dearly beloved BrotheVy 
 
 " After very long and tedious journey, I arrived, throwo-ft 
 divine mercy, safe in London the evening before last; and 
 preached that evening. Yesterday I dined with Dr. Stennett, 
 and was under the indispensible necessity of writino- five let- 
 ters, relating to my future journeys. I mention this as an apo- 
 logy for my not writing immediately to you, for \\hom I feel 
 sensations of sympathy not easy to be expressed. I saw the 
 account of dear Mrs. Thompson's departure, of whi<:h indeed 
 I expected all my journey to be informed; and much wonderecJ 
 that she continued so long as she did : for I had no hopes of her 
 recovery, as 1 iuJ'ormed my wife after my return from Boston." 
 
 " I feel for you, my dear Brother; and feel for dear Miss- 
 Thomp^on. But death is the fate of all men. We shall follow 
 soon; and it will be our advantage to live in daily expecta- 
 tion of it. It becomes me with gratitude to confess that mi/^ 
 ioss is not small, but i/ouis i^s much greater. It, however.,, be- 
 
160 CORRESPONDENCE [1784. 
 
 comes us both to remember, that our Ahiiighty Saviour lives 
 for ever: and blessed be his glorious name! He has the keys of 
 the unseen world, and of death. He has the same care over my 
 dear hostess and invaluable friend now, which he had while she 
 Avas studying- and promoting my happiness, and more peculiarly 
 promoting your's. The same Almighty Saviour, my dear bro- 
 ther, still knows and cares for you, and dear Miss Thompson, 
 and unworthy me. O that we may always trust in him, and 
 praise his glorious name! To him be glory and praise for ever!'* 
 
 *' The time will come, my dear brother, when that promise: 
 * the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death,' will be ex- 
 plained and fulfilled to us both. Then shall ravages in families 
 be made no more ! But all real saints shall be united under one 
 head, in one body, in the enjoyment of uninterrupted and ever- 
 lasting delight, without sin, without sorrow, without pain, and 
 without fear. Happy indeed are the people who are in such a 
 case! Let us look forward to this day, and rejoice in the pros- 
 pect of it ! Let us be continually laying up treasure above. 
 The day will soon come, when, as I suppose, your eyes and 
 mine shall see the dear Mrs. Thompson again. And, O inex- 
 pressible consolation ! we shall see her Saviour and our Savioui', 
 her God and our God, through endless ages !" 
 
 " God forbid that dear Miss Thompson should, at that tre- 
 mendous day, see her tender and affectionate parent in the 
 bosom and on the throne of the adorable Jesus, and the amiable 
 daughter should hear it said, * Depart from me.' O distracting 
 consideration ! My dear young lady, let me persuade you not 
 to ' neglect that oreat salvation' which the Lord the Saviour 
 has provided for you, at the expence of his invaluable blood ; 
 and which you are as welcome to enjoy as a God of love can 
 make you. This is a loud call, dear Miss, ' to prepare to go 
 hence.' It is a loud call, * to be reconciled to God.' O let it 
 not at last be said, ' Because I called ajid ye refused ; I 
 stretched out my hand and ye regarded not; therefore I will 
 laugh at your cahunity, 1 will mock when your fear cometh.' 
 Rather, ^ O taste and see that the Lord is good!' Experience 
 the truth of that declaration, ' they that seek me early shall find 
 me.' ' O seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him 
 while he is near.' Then, my amiable young friend, w^ill the 
 Lord be y(nu- God; and your dear parent's Saviour, your 
 Saviour aiui your «^vcrlasting portion." 
 
AGE 
 
 D 44.] AND EXTRACTS. 1 (> I 
 
 " And yoii, my esteemed brother, may you by this aiVectlng 
 stroke, be weaned from the things that are seen, and animated 
 in your heavenly race : that the partner of your earthly joys may 
 at length welcome you to the world of glory. To Jesus com- 
 mit yourself still more confidently ; to I Jim devote yourself still 
 more seriously and ardently; and by Him you shall certainly, in 
 a little time, begin the song of victory and triumph, which you 
 shall continue for ever and ever." 
 
 25. TO THE SAME. ( See p. V24 ^ 125 precedi}}g. 
 
 The foil ozciftg Extracts fro7?i Mr. Dan Taylors Letters on 
 Mr. Hall's * Help to Zion's Travellers', are inserted, 
 partly as containing a fair Statement of the IVriters Views on 
 some important SuhjectSy and partly as exhibiting his Candour 
 tozcards those zcho differed from him in sentiment. It is hoped 
 that they zvill assist in clearing his character both from the 
 charge of heresy and bigotry. 
 
 " Wadsziorth, Jan. 31, 1784. 
 
 " Dearly beloved Brother, 
 
 " Whatever you, or Mr. Hall rnay think, I am not, so 
 far as I know myself, an * opposer of sovereign grace'. My sins 
 and wretchedness are such, that I have nothing else to rejoice in, 
 or to hope for good from. Yet I confess, I do look upon 
 sovereign grace as proceding from a gracious Sovereign, that is, 
 one who * delighteth in mercy,' Micahx'n. 18, and is * not willing 
 that any should perish' among all his guilty subjects, 2 Pet. iii. 9: 
 though according to his infinite dignity, and his infinite w isdom, 
 he sees it necessary to punish, in the manner, and by the methods 
 and rules laid down in his word. On this account, I may, pos- 
 sibly, have the infelicity of differing with the pious author of the 
 * Help to Zions Travellers'. This, however, 1 am very sure of, 
 that if I should differ from him, it is not because I take any de- 
 light in differing from others, but always feel very sensible pain 
 when I am obliged to it, especially from men of seriousness, 
 godliness and wisdom." 
 
 " Our author's next subject is that of Election and Reproba- 
 tion. Awful subject indeed ! This is the first time, so far as I 
 remember, that I ever gave my thoughts of them in writing. I 
 am very sensil)le the dlfiiculties attending them, especially the 
 
 X 
 
162 CORRESPONDENCE [1784, 
 
 former, are not few nor small, and perhaps more and greater than 
 I am able to remove. But as you desire and expect it, I will 
 tell you with simplicity, the views 1 have of them, hoping and 
 entreating that you will be quite free in your remarks on what 1 
 write." 
 
 "Mr. H. chuses to consider them distinctly, as he apprehends 
 (p. 50) they are not related to each other. It is the part of 
 candour and equity in me to consider them in the same order. 
 He begins with election, p. 42, but is very short upon it. He 
 first mentions three ideas, which he says * are inseparably con- 
 nected with election, or a proper choice, whatever kind of elec- 
 tion we refer to, whether made by God or man/ These are 
 ' freedom in him who makes the choice — an end to be accom- 
 plished by the choice — and pas^iveness in the person who is 
 chosen.' 1 am not sure that I understand his third idea. I 
 should suppose, from the strain of his argument, that his mean- 
 ing is, that no one is properly chosen, or elected, if he make use 
 of any efforts in order to obtain that favour or honour. But if 
 this be Mr. H's. meaning, it is certainly an oversight. The 
 contrary is most fully manifest in every branch of civil and reli- 
 gious life. Do not all representatives in parliament, for instance, 
 exert themselves in order to obtain the favour and choice of the 
 respective counties and boroughs throughout the nation I And 
 yet are they not chosen to their office r Do not all ranks of 
 men take the same methods in numerous instances ? Is there a 
 physician, a lawyer, or a clergyman who does not thus labour to- 
 obtain the favour of patients, clients and parishioners, in order 
 to be chosen by them? May we not descend to the very lowest 
 concerns in this enquiry ? Is it not common for both sexes to 
 take this method in order to obtain that choice which precedes 
 maniage? And yet these are all properly chosen. So that in 
 tliis sense it cannot be necessary that the j)erson chosen be 
 * considered as passive,' and consequently * this idea is not in- 
 separably connected with election.' If the pious author's mean- 
 ing be different from what I here suppose, I wish I were able 
 to discern it, or to see the pertinency of it, in the present case." 
 
 " He goes on, pursuant to his design, to make a few wise and 
 j)roj)er concessions, for the clearing of which he takes notice of 
 the different senses in which election is to be understood ift 
 scripture, and then fixes upf>n (hat whl< h he intends particularly 
 
AiiED 44.] . AND EXTRACTS. \\j3 
 
 to illustrate. lie treats the subject witli bi(;vky, and only in a 
 general way, without much nicety rcsi)ecting circumstances. 
 This, I think, is a proof of the good gentleman's wisdom, con- 
 sidering how much the doctrine itself, and especially the circum- 
 stances of it, have been the subject of contention for fourteen 
 hundred years past. For, so far as I have yet learned, these 
 matters were not disputed about in the christian church till the 
 days of Austin ; and considering how much the best and greatest 
 of men both do differ, and have, in many ages, differed on this 
 head, I wish to speak of it with modesty and caution." 
 
 " As our author is not quite so explicit as I could wish, I 
 ask leave to state what appears to me to be his idea of this great 
 divine transaction ; and then I would tell vou liie view that I have 
 of it, and the reasons why 1 find myself obliged to differ from 
 him respecting it. lie apprehends, if 1 lightly understand iiim, 
 as many others also do, * that the blessed God, before the world 
 began, fixed upon a certain number of the human race, as his 
 people, and absolutely determined to bring them to glory; while 
 he passed by all the rest of mankind, without providing any 
 salvation for them, or ever intending to do any thing for them 
 that might contribute to their recovery from the fall, or make 
 them happy in the next world.' lie does not determine ^^helher 
 tins choice * respected its objects as sin/ess, or as criml/ial/ 
 p. 56, 51 ; and therefore 1 do not see that I have any thing to 
 observe on that point heie. The view which I have formed of 
 this doctrine is this : ^ It appears to me that tlie great and 
 blessed Aulhor of our being, when man had iallcn, or when he 
 saw that man would fall, fixed upon a glorious method of 
 recovery, by tlic removal of our guiit through the blood of his 
 Son, and the renewal of our hearts by the operation of his 
 Spirit, that he therefore gave his dear Son to die for a miserable 
 xmd sinful world, and lakes such methods to bring sinners to 
 himself, as his intinite wisdom sees best — that as he knew from 
 eternitv who would be brouiiht to himself tlnouiih iiiilh in his 
 Son, bv the methods he should make use of, and who would 
 finally resist these methods, he determined, according lo this 
 foreknowledge, to save the former, and consign the latter to end- 
 less miserv.' As 1 must confess 1 have thought much on llio 
 subject, however ignorant or mistaken I may be res})ecti:ig it, 1 
 imagine with ni\se!f that much may be said in \ indication of 
 
 X " 
 
i6i CORRESPONDENCE [1784. 
 
 that view of it which 1 have here given. But I do not think 
 it proper to enhirge upon it here. I will therefore only mention 
 a few plain things in favour of it." 
 
 1 . " I have not yet observed that this view of the subject is 
 contrary to any single passage of scripture ; though there may 
 be some difficulties in reconciling it to the views we may some 
 of us have formed of some passages. I think, on the other 
 hand, that Mr. H.'s view of the subject is very evidently contrary 
 both to the scope and letter of many passages; among which I 
 reckon those mentioned below." 
 
 2. "It seems evidently to concord with all those scriptures 
 which clearly express the love, pity and goodness of God to all 
 mankind: as Psa/ni c\\\\ 9'-, Ezek.w'ui. 32; xxxiii. H; I Tim. 
 ii. 4; 2 Pet. iii. 9, &c. W hereas Mr. Hall's view of the mat- 
 ter, to me, seems opposite to all these scriptures." 
 
 3. " It seems further corroborated by all those scriptures 
 which very expressly tell us that Christ died for all, &c. : as 
 2 Cor. V. 14, 15 ; 1 Tim. ii. 6; Hcb. ii. 9; 1 John ii. 2, &c. 
 i\nd indeed the truth appears to me to run through the whole 
 l*^ew Testament, where the death of Christ, and the way of sal- 
 vation is spoken of. But it seems to me quite contrary to 
 Mr. H.'s view of the doctrine now in question." 
 
 4. " The view of the subject which I give above, appears 
 perfectly agreeable to all those passages w hich assure us that the 
 blessings of the gospel are provided for all, and the messages of 
 life and salvation are to be proclaimed to all: as Isaiah xxxv. 6; 
 Luke n. 10; Mark x\'i. 15, 16; Matt. xx'n. 1 — 15, compared 
 with Luke xiv. 16 — 25, &c. \\ hereas, according to the con- 
 trary explication of this great doctrine, it is certain that these 
 blessings are only prepared for a few. And I, for my part, can- 
 not see how, on that principle, we can preach the gospel, (that 
 is, proclaim good tidi/igs) to any body. For the essence of the 
 gospel is, that' Christ died for our sins,' 1 Cor. xv. 1, 2, 3. All 
 our comfort and hope, and all the real comfort and hope of 
 any man alive, where the scriptures are known, arise from this 
 spring ; and consequently, how can I tell good tidings to any 
 })ersons alive, if 1 cannot assure them that Christ died for them? 
 And how can 1 do this, if he only died for a few, and I cannot 
 tell them who these few are :" 
 
 5. " This \icw of the doctrine now in question, appears per- 
 
AGE 
 
 D 44.] AND EXTRACTS. 163 
 
 fectly consistent with all those scriptures which speak of the 
 reason or cause of men's final condemnation. But Mr. ll.'s 
 idea of it seems quite opposite to all these scriptures. They 
 do not ascribe men's final condemnation to their not being 
 elected, which on Mr. Il.'s principle is, if 1 apprehend right, 
 the only reason why non-elect sinners are not saved; but to their 
 disol)edience to the gospel, their unbelief, their neglecting the 
 great salvation, 8cc. Prov. i. 24 — 28; JoJmVn. 18,36; 2 Thes. 
 i. 8, 10, 11, 12; Ilek iii. 19; iv. 1, 2, 11, Sec." 
 
 6. " The explication of the doctrine which I have given 
 above, seems most perfectly to coincide with those scriptures 
 which speak of Election as being ' according to the foreknow- 
 ledge of God,' as Rom. viii. 29, 3 1. 1 Pet. i. 2, and ' through 
 sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.' 2 Thes. ii. 13. 
 For, as the great God had most certainly the foreknowledge of 
 every man, and every thing; he must here speak of foreknowing 
 something, with respect to these persons, particular and different 
 from what he foreknew in others; and as he invariably deter- 
 mines and. declares that believers shall be saved, and unbelievers 
 shall be damned, I think it most natural to conclude that what 
 he foreknew with respect to them was their * sanctification of 
 the spirit and belief of the truth,' through which he ' chose them 
 to salvation.' I may add here, that on this ground it is evident, 
 as our author justly observes, that God did not chuse them * be- 
 cause they were' but that they might be holy. But it is not 
 asserted, that I know of, in the scripture, that God chose them 
 to believe, but ^ through belief of the truth,' &c. Compare 
 Ephes. i. 4. 2 Thes. ii. 13. This leads me to observe yet far- 
 ther." 
 
 7. " That I apprehend this view of the doctrine perfectly 
 harmonizes wiih those scriptures which describe the characters 
 of the elect of God. The scriptures, if I mistake not, always 
 speak of God's elect, i}t the sense now before us, as being con- 
 verted persons, and in such kind of language as to exclude all 
 others from being considered of the number of God's elect. 
 See Psalm IV. 3; Luke xviii. 7 ; Co/, iii. 12; James ii. 5. I 
 shall only add one consideration more, in this view, at present, 
 viz. 
 
 8. *' That I am further confirmed in my views on this head, 
 from those scriptures which describe the character of the repro- 
 
166 CORRESPONDENCE 1784. 
 
 bate. For Mr. II. has not convinced me, by all he has said on 
 the subject, that Reprobation is not the opposite of Election. 
 -And it is undeniable, that the scripture character of the repro- 
 bate is most directly opposite to the scripture character of the 
 elect. Compare the passages last referred to, Mith 2 Cor. xiii. 
 5, 6, 7; 2 Ti?n. iii. 8; Tit. i. 16; which are, I think, the only 
 j)laces in the New Testament where persons aie called repro- 
 bate." 
 
 " You may probably think, that I have not been suf- 
 ficiently explicit in declaring my own ideas of Adoption. 1 
 have confessed that it may be considered as prior to regeneration, 
 in the order of nature ; though I cannot, for the reasons above 
 given, look upon adoption as prior to faith. You will observe, 
 that I said, in the order oi nature ; for, in order of time, J do 
 not apprehend there is much difference between a person's being 
 adopted and regenerated. According to my experience of divine 
 things, and accordmg to the experience of most or all I have yet 
 conversed w ith, w ho appear to have ' tasted that the Lord is 
 gracious,' and more especially according to the scripture account 
 of things, my thoughts on the subject are these — 
 
 " 1 consider man, by nature, as a poor, guilty, miserable 
 creature, * altogether become filthy,' having nothing in or from 
 himself but sin, till he come to embrace Christ by faidi. 1 con 
 sider Christ as possessing every good which the poor sinner can 
 possibly need, to make him completely holy and happy; accord- 
 ing to Col. i. 19, and the whole tenor of the gospel. \\ hen the 
 sinner is convinced of his guilt, ruin and helplessness, and 
 brought to understand who the blessed Jesus is, and what he has 
 done for him, and his ability and readiness to save him to the 
 uttermost: and is thus brouoht to venture his wretched soul on 
 the all-mi"htv and all-oracious Saviour, bv an humble confidence 
 in him, he receives all blessings from the blessed Redeemer's 
 fulness, John i. 1(3: and, by virtue of union with him, he is 
 intitled to, and possessed of a free, full salvation, in all its parts 
 and branches, 1 Cor. i. 30; and adoption amongst the rest. 
 One of the blessings also that he receives by faith, is the Holy 
 Spirit; sometimes called 'the Spirit of Clnisl,' and sometimes, 
 * the S])irit of God:' for iu Deity, 1 conceive, * Christ and the 
 
An ED 44.] AND EXTRACTS. ] G7 
 
 Tatlier nre one.' Tliut tlie sinner llms receives the Spirit, f 
 loarn, not only from experience, but from many passaj;es of 
 scripture. Among these see the following: Johi vii. :]() -^ 
 (juL'u. .'3. 14; Kph. 1. 14. Sec especially the greek of this 
 last passage. By the Spirit, the love of God is shed abroad in 
 his heart, Jio7n v. 5. It is in him a fountain of holiness and 
 comfort, Johfi iv. 14 ; vii. 38. So that now being restored 
 to the love and image of God, he is born again or regenerated. 
 1' hese are my views. I submit them to your censure.'* 
 
 " I must confess myself strongly inclined to ^Vfr. H.'s 
 views of the doctrine of ato/ie/nent, in every branch of them, as 
 far as I observe ; unless in some very few expressions which 
 seem to imply a limitation that I. think the scriptures does not 
 countenance. On the whole, however, I venture to make two 
 remarks. One is, that I think the doctrine of atonement, and 
 every other doctrine of scripture, appears to most advantage in 
 the simplicity in which the sacred writers have left it : and that 
 too much nicety respecting the circumstances of it, frequently 
 does more harm than good. The other is, that when we are 
 discussing matters of intricacy, in which the greatest and best 
 of men have been differently minded, modesty and calmness of 
 temper are peculiarly proper." 
 
 " Mr. II. 's next desiorn is to remove the stund)linir- 
 blocks out of the way of Zion's Travellers i elating to C/iriatian 
 Experience. On this head, our author, in my humble opinion, 
 has expressed himself with great judgment in many places. O 
 that tliere were many more such workmen than there are, who 
 need not be ashamed ! who know how to separate ' the precious 
 from the vile,' and to place sciiptural and genuine clnislianity 
 in its true light. If it should appear to the over nice critic, 
 that every clause on this head is not exactly in point, (which 
 may be the case with any writer on any subject) yet our author 
 sufficiently evinces the impossibility of forgiveness without re- 
 pentance. To be sure, if I had the ])leasure of sitting at the 
 oood licntleman's elbow, I mioht be inclined to ask wlnther 
 some expressions might not be changed fur the better. Vet, I 
 
168 CORRESPONDKNCE [1784. 
 
 SO entirely hate contention about trifles ; and his leading views 
 on the subject seem to me so scriptural and so excellent, that I 
 cannot persuade myself to take any critical notice of these 
 expressions." 
 
 '^ The iiezc hirthy the joys and sorrows of the true 
 christian, and the doubts that sometimes arise from internal 
 depravity in the real saint, are the next subjects of experimental 
 religion, of which Mr. H. treats: p. 131 — 146. On all which, 
 according to my judgment, he makes wise and judicious remarks; 
 such as are founded on scripture, and calculated to promote the 
 interests of holiness and the peace of the genuine followers of 
 the Lamb. — When I find, from time to time, that good men are 
 so nearly the same on these experimental subjects, I can hardly 
 restrain my grief upon reflecting that they differ so widely, and 
 especially that they are sometimes so ready to be angry with one 
 another, on other matters. I think, however, that I receive one 
 advantage from it. It endears heaven to me ; and raises my 
 heart in the prospect of that happy day and world, where they 
 shall certainly ' see eye to eye,' and ' know as they are known,' 
 for ever and ever." 
 
 " Mr. H. gives us a delightful account of the holiness 
 and happiness that result from vital union with Christ, p. 63, 
 &c. ; which is only one instance among ten thousand in proof 
 of this cheering truth, that, however true believers may think 
 differently in more abstruse or speculative matters, they generally 
 agree in their experience : and therefore that it is exceedingly 
 wrong and inconsistent for them to jar and contend, and quar- 
 rel and call foul names, in their way to that heaven, where, in a 
 little time, all darkness and confusion shall be for ever removed." 
 
AGED 47.] SETTLES IN LONDON. 1 (J9 
 
 CHAPTER THIRD. 
 
 FROM MR. D. TAYLOR'S REMOVAL I'O LONDON TO THE TIME 
 
 OF HIS DEATH. 
 
 Section I. 2V/e Transactions of that Period. 
 
 1785. IVIr. D.Taylor, \vlth his wife and nine children, 
 arrived in London, in good healtli, on Friday evening, July 27, 
 1/8.3. His friends had taken a house for him inTurville Street, 
 Bethnal Green; and kindly exerted themselves towards furnish- 
 ing and preparing it for the reception of the family. They 
 were affectionately received on their arrival; and, considering 
 the novelty of the scene, found themselves comfortably situated. 
 On August loth, Mr. and Mrs. T. were cordially admitted into 
 full fellowship w ith the society in Church Lane : the one being 
 dismissed from Halifax, and the other from BirchclifF. A 
 special church-meeting was held, Aug. 22, when an unanimous 
 and affectionate invitation was given to Mr. T. to become 
 co-pastor with Mr. Brittain, which he accepted. On Wed- 
 nesday, Sept. 22, this transaction was publicly recognized before 
 a large assembly ; when ^L'. Thompson delivered a charge to 
 his valued friend, and ^Ir. S. Deacon preached to the people. 
 Dr. Stennett had consented to deliver the charge, but was pre- 
 vented. On the following Lord's day, four persons were or- 
 dained to the office of Deacons, to whom Mr. T. addressed a 
 suitable discourse. 
 
 Mr. T. entered upon the important station to which he was 
 thus called with his usual energy. His venerable colleague 
 withdrew, in a great measure, from the active duties of the 
 pastoral office, and left them to his younger brother, who dis- 
 charged them with diligence and zeal. He preached generally 
 three times every Lord's day, and on the Thursday evening, to 
 his own people ; and not long after his settling with them, he 
 appropriated an hour weekly to the catechising of their children. 
 He also was soon invited to assist his brethren of other denomi- 
 
 Y 
 
170 JOURNEYS. [1785, 
 
 nations in supporting public lectures, and supplying destitute 
 congregations. Before his ordination, he had preached at the 
 lecture in Little St. Helen's ; and frequently for the church in 
 Fetter Lane, afterwards under the care of INIr. A. Austin. His 
 labours were made successful. The congregation at Church 
 Lane soon improved in numbers and attention ; and, before thie 
 close of the year, several offered themselves as candidates for 
 fellowship. 
 
 But though Mr. T. justly considered the station in which he 
 was now fixed as very important and demanding peculiar regard, 
 yet he did not think it to be his duty to devote his whole atten- 
 tion to it. He was esteemed throughout the Connection as the 
 common friend and guardian ; and was frequently called to visit 
 country churches on business of public importance. In the early 
 part of the negociations with the London friends, he had there- 
 fore candidly stated to them, that his connections with the 
 country churches, and his influence among them, would probably 
 oblige him frequently to visit them, and consequently to be ab- 
 sent from his own charge ; and desired them, in order to prevent 
 future dissatisfaction, to consider seriously whether this did not 
 render it improper for them to seek for him as a pastor. At his 
 request, this subject was discussed, at a church-meeting, June 
 13, 1785 ; and it was unanimously agreed, that " Mr. T. should 
 be left to his full liberty respecting his journeys; being well 
 persuaded that he will not be absent more sabbaths than he can 
 well avoid." He soon found it necessary to avail himself of 
 this indulgence. Li a letter, dated Aug. 23, 1785, he tells his 
 friend Mr. Thompson, " I have lately preached twice at Canter- 
 bury and once at Chatham ; and expect to be at Berkhamstead,. 
 Sec. in a week or two; so that you see I am hobbling about 
 still. Pray for me." The week after his ordination, he set out 
 ao^ain on a journey to Norwich, to set in order a number of per- 
 sons who had left the Methodists, and professed themselves 
 General Baptists. These he organized as a church, and ordained 
 their j)reacher, Mr. Wright, to the pastoral office over them. 
 On this occasion, Mr. T. went through all the parts of this 
 solemn work, unassisted by any other minister. In his way 
 liomewards, he attended the Lincolnshire Conference at March, 
 and returned to his family in the beginning of October. 
 
AGED 48.] DISSERTATION ON SINGING. 171 
 
 1786. The olil General Baptists, in their zeal to lay aside 
 the inventions of men, banished singing, as practised in most 
 congregations, out of public worship. In the seventeenth cen- 
 tury, much contention had been raised on this subject, and some 
 <livisions caused by it. At the time of the formation of the New 
 Connection, and for many years afterwards, singing was disused 
 in most of the churches belongino- to the Lincolnshire Associa- 
 tion ; and this was one source of difference between them and 
 the congregations of the New Connection, who practised singing. 
 In the course of 1785, Mr. G. Boyce, tlie messenger, published 
 " Serious Thoughts on the present Mode of Singing in the 
 Public Worship of God:" intended to vindicate himself and 
 friends in the omission of it, and to expose the errors of those 
 who adopted it : in which he very unceremoniously challenged 
 the latter to defend their conduct. As usual, in cases of this 
 nature, Mr. T. was looked up to by his friends, as their defender; 
 but his regard for the venerable author of the " Serious Thoughts," 
 and his other pressing engagements, rendered him very averse to 
 enter the lists on this occasion. This aversion was encreased on 
 reading Mr. B.'s tract, from a fear that he should not be able to 
 i\o justice to the subject, and yet manifest that respect which is 
 due to the hoary head, especially when found in the way of 
 righteousness. A private letter, however, which he received 
 Dec. 23, 1785, from the author, which probably contained some 
 strong defiance, determined him to break silence ; and, accord- 
 ingly, early in this year, he published-*^' A Dissertation on Singing 
 in the Worship of God: interspersed with occasional Strictures 
 on Mr. Boyce's late Tract." In this pamphlet, INIr. T. not 
 only vindicated the practice of the churches with which he stood 
 connected ; but took the opportunity of introducing many sensi- 
 ble and useful directions and cautions, as to the most proper 
 and edifying mode of conducting this pleasing part of worship. 
 The author exhibits considerable ability, both in parrying the 
 attacks of his opponent and in producing his own arguments: 
 but, as the scriptures contain no particular rules for the conduct- 
 ing of public worship, he could only a[)})ly the general directions 
 to his purpose; and there is not perhaps that conclusiveness in 
 his reasonings, as on some other subjects. In one or two 
 instances also, his want of acquaintance with the history of the 
 ancient Englisii General Baptists, led him into mis-statements j 
 which, ill his cirtum^jtances, it was not cu^^y lo avoid. 
 
 Y 'i 
 
17^ CONTROVERSY [1786. 
 
 But our author was led at this time to engage in a controversy 
 on a subject much more important than the mode of singing. 
 Mr. Andrew Fuller, of Kettering, afterwards the celebrated 
 secretary of I'he Baptist INIissionary Society, who was then rising 
 into eminence, had for some time felt his ardour in preaching 
 the gospel checked by the system of doctrine which he had em- 
 braced. Many of his associates, he observed carefully avoided 
 those earnest and universal invitations to sinners which dis- 
 tinguished the addresses of scripture; and have characterized the 
 preaching of many of the most pious and successful ministers of 
 the gospel in every age of the church. This induced him to 
 consider the subject; and, after several years of doubt, he lixed 
 on a scheme, which, as he thought, would sanction the free use 
 of the universal calls of scripture, and yet preserve his favourite 
 opinion unshaken. He first defined faith to be the belief of the 
 truth; or the crediting of the testimony which God has given in 
 the gospel ; and then, because the moral law makes it the duty 
 of all men to believe the testimony of God, concludes that faith 
 in Christ is the duty of all men, sinners as well as saints : and 
 that therefore all men ought to be invited and exhorted to prac- 
 tise this duty. In vindication and explanation of this system, 
 Mr. F. published, in 1785, a large pamphlet, under the title of 
 ** The Gospel of Christ worthy of all Acceptation: or, the 
 Obligations of Men fully to credit and cordially to approve 
 whatever God makes known." In this treatise, various topics, 
 either immediately or more remotely connected with the princi- 
 pal subject, are discussed ; and great pains taken to guard the 
 doctrines of Calvinism, and to shew that the author's scheme is 
 consistent with the decrees of God, particular redemption^ &.c. 
 
 This publication excited considerable attention, and roused a 
 strong opposition. The higli Calvinists, who first took the 
 alarm, betrayed great apprehensions lest the concessions of the 
 author should undermine tlieir peculiar system ; and various 
 replies and animadversions on the work were published by writers 
 of that party. Those, on the contrary, who opposed the distin- 
 guishing tenets of Calvin, rejoiced that the force of truth had 
 compelled so able a man to yield so much; and thought the 
 agitation of this subject afibrded a favourable opportunity of 
 stating and defending their own sentiments. Among others, 
 JNIr. Birlcv, of St. Ivc5, who was personally acfpiainted witJi 
 
AGE 
 
 D 48.] \V1TK MR. lULLKK. 173 
 
 Mr. Fuller, felt a strong wish that this occasion bliould be im- 
 proved, and the tendency of his principles examined. He 
 therefore put Mr. F.'s treatise into the hands of his friend 
 Mr. D. T. with an earnest request, that he would read it atten- 
 tively, and favour him with his remarks on it. Many other 
 ministers of the New Connection joined heartily in the same re- 
 quest; and some besought him with tears to undertake the work, 
 assuring him of their continual and fervent prayers for his suc- 
 cess. Thus urged, Mr. T. at length complied; and, in nine 
 letters, addressed to his fiiend Mr. B. signed Philanthropos, he 
 endeavoured to establish Mr. Fuller's leading proposition, that 
 the gospel ought to be preached to every man, and that it is the 
 duty of every man to believe and accept it. But then Mr. T.did 
 not derive this obligation to believe from the injunctions of the 
 moral law, as INJr. F. had done: he took very different ground. 
 He contended that universal invitations and exhortations must 
 pre-suppose that provision is made for the salvation of all men, 
 by the death of Christ for all, or they would be mockery to 
 perishing sinners, and inconsistent with the justice and goodness 
 of the adorable Jehovah. Thus he endeavoured to prove the 
 universality of the atonement made by the death of Christ, from 
 the universality of the invitations to believe in him, admitted by 
 Mr. F. Mr. T. however, did not rest his cause wholly on this 
 argument; but introduced a very convincing, though concise 
 view of the direct scripture evidence of his favourite doctrine, 
 that Christ died for the sins of all mankind. This was the lead- 
 ing object of iSlr. T.'s animadversion ; but several other collateral 
 subjects were discussed in the pamphlet which was published in 
 the begiiming of 1786, under the title of " Observations on the 
 Rev. A. Fuller's late pamphlet, entitled, ' The Gospel of Christ 
 worthy of all Acceptation :' in which it is attempted farther to 
 confirm his leading Idea, that * Faith in Christ is the duty of all 
 Alen who hear the sound of the Gospel,' by proving that the 
 universal Calls and Invitations of the Gospel are founded on the 
 Universality of Divine Love to sinful Man, and on the Death of 
 Jesus Christ, as a Propitiation for the Sins of the ichole Woild. 
 Jn Nine Letters to a Friend. By a Lover of all Mankind." 
 
 After a lapse of more than a year, Mr. F. published 
 " A Defence of a Treatise, entitled * The Gospel of Christ 
 worthy of all Acceptation;' containing a Reply to Mr. Button's 
 
174 ' CONTROVERSY [1787. 
 
 Remarks and the Observations of Philantliropos." In a post- 
 script, it is stated that * the foregoing Reply would have appeared 
 much sooner, had it not been for family afflictions." May 30, 
 
 1786, IVIr. F. it appears, lost a daughter by death, in her seventh 
 year, which seems to have deeply affected him. In this pam- 
 phlet, ^Ir. F. treated his opponent with considerable respect, 
 commended the spirit in which his observations were written, 
 and made several important concessions. Instead of replying 
 regularly to the objections of Philanthropos, he reduced the 
 subject of the controversy into four questions, and discussed 
 them in distinct sections. This indeed gave it a systematic 
 form : but it tended to divert the attention of the reader from 
 the principal object ; and by displacing and disjointing the 
 arguments and reasonings of his antagonist, sometimes weakened 
 their strength. 
 
 In a few months after tlie appearance of Mr. F.'s Reply, in 
 
 1787, Mr. T. })rinted " Observations on Mr. Fuller's Reply to 
 Philanthrophos : or a further Attempt lo prove thiit the universal 
 Invitations of the Gospel are founded on the Universality of 
 Plvine Love, and the Death of Jesus Christ as the Propitiation 
 for the Sins of the whole World. In Uhiiteen Letters to a 
 Friend." To these Letters he affixed his name; and, in the 
 commencement of them, avowed himself the author of the former. 
 iSlr. T. in this correspondence, charges his opponent with over- 
 looking many of the arguments of w hich he had availed himself 
 in the Nine Letters, which he therefore supposed remained un- 
 weakened. i\nd it seems he was not singular in this opinion. 
 Mr. J. Martin, who wrote largely against jNIr. F. on high cal- 
 vinistic principles, observes; " Should our author be hurt that 
 so much of his Treatise and Defence appears to be overlooked, 
 when he recollects in what manner he himself thought it most 
 j)rudent to answer one of his friends, Mr. D Taylor, it is pre- 
 sumed he will not imagine the present mode of reply was pre- 
 ferred for want of due respect." Mr. T. did not charge Mr. 1'. 
 \\ illi any impr()j)er njotive, eithei- in omitting his reasonings, or 
 in some occasional instances of palpable misrepresentation, 
 which he found it necessary lo notice. Our aiillior followed 
 Mr. F. through !iis Ueply, and answered the objections which 
 he had made, or a(kno\vledg( d their pertiniMuy. He did not 
 indeed think it piui.lciil lo spend imu h lime on several p.utj ot 
 
Ar.ED 49.1 \\rni mr. riM.i.r.u. 175 
 
 his opponent's pcrforniance, in wITk h Ik; had intindurcil topics 
 foreign to the main suhject of tlie controversy, to wliich Mr/l'. 
 wished to lix the attention of the reader; and for tliis reason, h« 
 dechned the discussion of several important fpu-stions whicli 
 Mr. F. had started. These Letters display great ac<|Maiiil;in(e 
 with the scrij)tures, a thorough knowledge of the subject, and 
 considerable powers of reasoning. 'I'hey were well received, 
 and soon reached a second Edition. 
 
 Hostilities were now suspended; and it was supposed that 
 the contest was concluded ; but when the second edition of the 
 Thirteen Letters had been long before the pidjlic, after a truce of 
 nearly three years, a pamphlet made its appearance, in 1700, 
 under the title of " The Reality and Efficacy of Divine Grace ; 
 with the certain success of Cinist's Sufferinos in behalf of all 
 who are finally saved ; considered in a Series of Letters to the 
 Rev. A. Fuller; containing Remarks on the Observations of the 
 Rev. Dan Taylor, on Mr. F'uUer's Reply to Philanthropos. 
 By Agiiostos.^^ As these Letters were addressed to Mr. F. 
 and contained many very favourable representations of the abi- 
 lity and success with which he had conducted the controversy, 
 it was concluded that they were the production of a friend and 
 admirer ; and a respectable Particular Baptist minister, with 
 whom Mr. F. was in habits of great intimacy, was generally re- 
 puted to be the author. It had indeed lately been suspected, 
 that Mr. F. furnished some important hints to the ^\riter, and 
 that some parts of this correspondence bespeaks the same hand 
 as his former publications ; but it was not supposed that Agnostos 
 was a mere man of straw. After Mr. F's. death, when the 
 reasons for concealment no longer existed, the publishers of the 
 posthumous Edition of his works, have informed us, that, except 
 one or two pages, these letters were Mr. F's. own production; 
 and have included them as such in their collection. They have 
 indeed changed the title, and instead of '' Letter to Mr. F.'* 
 called them " Letters Ijij ]Mr. F." and tlnoughout the corres- 
 pondence substituted the fnst person for the second. This was 
 a manoeuvre to which we could hardly have expected that the 
 stern Mr. F. would have stooped. His friends have suggested 
 what they think might induce him to assume the mask ; and \\ e 
 leave the reader to form his own judgment how far they have 
 satisfactorily accounted for it. It was a little singular, that 
 
176 CONTROVERSY [1790 
 
 Mr. T. wlio entered tlie lists in a disguise, should acquire cour- 
 age, in the course of the contest, to tlnow it aside and avow 
 himself to the world ; and that Mr. F. who had commenced the 
 comhat in the open day, should see it prudent, in the last action, 
 to wrap himself in a veil whieh death alone could remove. 
 
 The Letters of Aguostos occupy ninety-two closely printed 
 pages, 12mo. and contain a laboured review of the conducting of 
 the controversy by both parties. i\gnostos, or as it now ap- 
 pears, Mr. F. very iiaturallij gives the advantage both in matter 
 and manner to his own productions; and sometimes makes his 
 friend address him in terms which must have an amusing effect 
 when turned into the iirst person, and thus transformed into com- 
 pliments paid by himself to his own excellencies. One object 
 of the writer is to persuade the readers that the combatants were 
 nearly of the same sentiments on many of the points in debate : 
 and this proximity is generally produced, by deducing forced 
 consequences from Mr. T's. positions, or accusing him of mis- 
 understanding terms. Though it must be allowed that, in seve- 
 ral cases, Mr. F. informs himself that he may make important 
 concessions to his adversary, and advises him so to do. Mr. F. 
 in the person of his in^aginary correspondent, concludes the dis- 
 pute, on his part, in this friendly manner '■'■ Whatever I may 
 think of his sentiments, my good opinion of Mr.T.'s integrity and 
 piety is not lessened by this controversy ; and from what I know 
 of you I can answer for the same in respect of yours. Heartily 
 desirous that every divine blessing may attend us all, and that we 
 may each be led into the truth as it is in Jesus, I remain &c.'* 
 
 VV hen the Letters of Agnostos appeare<l, Mr. F. very politely 
 sent a copy of them to Mr. T. who in a few weeks published a 
 small tract which he called "The Friendly Conclusion: occasioned 
 by the Letters of Agnostos to the Uev. A. Fuller, respecting the 
 Kxtent of our Saviour's Death, and other Subjects connected 
 with that Doctrine. In Four Letters to a Friend." In which he 
 took a formal leave of the controversy. He assigned as the reasons 
 for declining it, his disinclination to controversy, his unwillingness 
 to tread over the same ground witii every new Antagonist, the 
 manner of Mr. A's writing which he shouhl be sorry to imitate; 
 but especially the agreement in opinion on the most important 
 subjects on which the dispute had been maintained, which now 
 u[)[)r'ared in all parties. Here ^Ir. T. turned the tables on 
 
AGE 
 
 D 52.] WITH MR. rUI.LKR. 177 
 
 i\«^nostos, ami ciuleavourcd to shew, by pertinent extracts from 
 their own treatises, that both Mr. F. and Agnostos liad come over 
 to his sentiments. This has been styled " an nn!^easonable and 
 inifounded triumph:" and, it is said, to have been " so com- 
 pletely disgusting, that it was some time before jNFr. F. could 
 be induced to read this last act of the drama, and longer sliil 
 before he could forget what appeared to him, at the time, an 
 act of disinjrenuousness."* Whether it was " unfounded" or not 
 must be left to the judgment of the candid reader, when he has 
 attentively read and compared the publications of both parties. 
 That it was " seasonable," can hardly be doubted, when it is 
 recollected that Agnostos had set the example; and, by his 
 extraordinary publication, had reduced Mr. T. to the necessity 
 of removing the impression which that writer had endeavoured 
 to produce, by proving to the public, that he had not relinquished 
 iiis own sentiments. When Mr. M's. statement first appeared, 
 the writer of the present memoir enquired of ]Mr. T. whether 
 he was aware that the publication of the " Friendly Conclusion" 
 had given such offence to Mr. F. He said that he believed 
 a transient feeling of that nature had existed; but that it was, 
 he understood, Avholly removed by some mutual explanations, 
 at a personal interview, which took place not long afterwards. 
 And it is well known, that, in following years, these two minis- 
 ters were on friendly terms; and that on two occasions, Mr. F. 
 preached for the charitable institutions at Church Lane.-f- 
 
 Thus ended this protracted controversy; in which our author 
 was thought, by many competent judges, to have displayed great 
 ability, and ably and successfully defended the cause of truth. 
 The principal combatants indeed retained, in a great measure, 
 their original sentiments, though on both sides some important 
 explanations and concessions Avere made. Mr. T. had good rea- 
 son to believe that his labour had not been in vain ; but had been 
 blessed as the means of enlightening the minds, and conHrming 
 the faith of many. His chief design, in beginning and continu- 
 
 * Morris' Memoirs of Fuller, p. 293. 
 t May 25, 180G, Mr. Fuller preached tor the Church Lane Sunday School ; 
 and Julie 6, 1807, for the Church Lane Friendly Society for visitinj; the 
 Sick. When the deputation from one of these Institutions waited on him 
 to request his assistance, they asked him, whether he would prefer preacli- 
 ing at Church Lane, or at some other INIectini^-house ; to which jMr. F. in- 
 stantly replied : " I had much rather preach in ^Mr.T.'s pulpit, to convince 
 the world that perfect cordiality subsists between him and mysidf." This he 
 accordingly did on both ocoassions. 
 
 Z 
 
178 CONTROVERSY [1790, 
 
 ing this dispute, was to establish the great truth, that Christ died 
 for the sins of all mankind, and that by his death provision 
 was made for the salvation of all the fallen race. He pleaded 
 this cause with that ardour which always animated his soul 
 when he was treating on this his favourite doctrine, which he 
 esteemed " the very glory of the gospel." He pressed his 
 adversary with vigour and eifect; and, while they confined 
 themselves to the testimony of scripture, it is presumed, that 
 every impartial reader will admit, that he quitted himself like a 
 man. And those who prefer listening to the oracles of infalli- 
 bity rather than to the abstruse, and often indecisive, reasonings 
 of metaphysics, will regret that Mr. F. did not, in a more manly 
 and direct manner, meet his antagonist on the ground of plain 
 scripture evidence. But that gentleman had naturally a meta- 
 physical way of thinking; and was very expert in pushing an 
 adversary to consequences, and reducing him to absurdity. To 
 this mode of treating religious subjects, Mr. T. had a settled 
 dislike. " These reasonings,'^ he observed, " generally leave the 
 mind in uncertainty. When we have the divine testimony for 
 what we assert, we may hope to be of use to such as dare give 
 the allwise God credit for the truth of what he declares in his 
 w ord. But if we go beyond this, we generally lose ourselves iu 
 a labyrinth."* This was not the evasion of one who found him- 
 self unqualified for disquisitions of this nature; for he has shewn, 
 on several occasions during the course of the debate, that he 
 could manage these weapons of contention with sufficient dex- 
 terity. It was the deliberate dictate of his judgment; founded 
 on full conviction of the sufficiency of scripture, and a deep 
 reverence for its adorable Author. He frequently repeated, with 
 high approbation, the observation of the great Dr. Watts: '^ in 
 every sacred truth that is revealed to us, a plain evidence that 
 God lu'th said it should be a sufficient answer to a thousand 
 objections. "t 
 
 Though our account of this interesting controversy has already 
 extended beyond our intention, yet we cannot do justice to the 
 character of Mr. D. T. without taking some notice of the man- 
 ner in which ]Mr. F.'s biographer has treated him. J 
 
 I'he writer certainly had an undoubted right to give the victory 
 to his own hero; to doubt whether Mr. T. well understood the 
 
 * Fiicndlv Conclusion, p. 7,8. t Thirteen Letters, p. 122. 
 
 t Morris' Memoirs, p. 27",— 27H, 2S0 -2«JG. 
 
AGED 52.] WITH MR, FULLER. 179 
 
 grounds of tlic coHtroversy; and to assert, if such were Iiis 
 opinion, that lie was, at any rale, but ill prepared to meet tlic 
 close metapliysical reasoning of Mr. F. or to defend himself 
 against the pugilistic efforts of such a gigantic adversary. lUit 
 in giving an account of th-e contest between these very unequal 
 combatants, he should not have misrepresented the manoeuvres 
 even of the dwarf. This we presume he has been guilty of in 
 more than one instance. Brevity obliges us to select only a 
 few examples. 
 
 Mr. M. after Agnostos, represents Mr. T. as *' highly ap- 
 proving, in the early part of the debate, Mr. F.'s definition of 
 natural and moral ability; and yet, when the effects of this defi- 
 nition began to operate on his own system, changing his mind 
 and imposing another meaning on the terms." But, before such 
 an insinuation as tliis had been published, it might have been 
 prudent to have examined the fact. Mr. T. had, it is true, ap- 
 proved of Mr. F.'s distinction of natural and moral ability ; but, 
 ihe/irst time he had occasion to advert to the subject, observes 
 " His definition of natural ability appears to be just and proper. 
 How far this can be said of his definition of moral ahilitij is not, 
 to me, quite so evident. But I admit the definition, for the 
 present, to avoid unnecessary altercation."* Surely this guarded 
 manner of expression left Mr. T. at full liberty to explain him- 
 self on the subject, when he saw occasion, without any imputa'- 
 iion of changing his mind through fear for his system. 
 
 " Mr. F. had conceded," says Mr. M. " the universality of 
 the death of Christ. This is hardly accurate. ]Mr. F. had as- 
 serted, that the death of Christ had sufiicient merit to atone for 
 the sins of all the world, or a thousand worlds; but steadily 
 insisted that it was specialli/ designed for the salvation of those 
 alone who were finally saved : and had spent no little time in 
 proving, that this special design was not inconsistent with the 
 doctrine of Christ's dying for all. INIr. T. who was intent on 
 iiis great object, and unwilling to be diverted from it; aiid who 
 knew that many great men had maintained, that thoug-li an atone-* 
 ment was made for all, yet some were specially elected to salva- 
 tion, willingly granted the consistenci/ of these two ideas ; and 
 observes, " It is so plain that Christ might absolutely design the 
 ijalvatioi) of some, and yet lay down his life for all, that I lliink 
 
 * Nine Letters, p. fi4. 
 z 'Z 
 
180 CONTROVERSY [1790, 
 
 die consistency of these two positions was hardly ever denied by 
 any man of consideration, whatever were his sentiments respect- 
 ing either of them." Mr. M. introduces this quotation by 
 observing that " notwithstanding all that ^Ir. T. has written 
 about universal provision, he has at length but little to object ;" 
 and subjoins to the extract this remarkable assertion : " After 
 this, there is no need for quotation ; nor for any farther dispute 
 on this head." Now would not the unwary reader be led to 
 suppose that Mr. T. had made some important concession, or 
 even yielded the victory to his antagonist. But the fact is quite 
 different. That author had only asserted that the tzvo ideas 
 zcere consistent with each other, without either denying or allow- 
 ing that they zcere realli/ connected. He did not consider that 
 question as having any influence on the point in debate, and 
 therefore waived the discussion of it. 
 
 " This scheme," he observes, in the same passage from which 
 Mr. M. has made his quotation, " whether true or false, I do 
 not oppose; nor do I remember that I ever did oppose it; 
 nor do T wish to oppose it ; though I have no objection to give 
 my thoughts on it, such as they are, when necessary. At pre- 
 sent, the impropriety of doing it is obvious, as it would compli- 
 cate the present question, and might confound the simple reader. 
 Nor is it in the least necessary, having no connection with the 
 point in debate. This scheme grants me all I wish : that ' Jesus 
 died for the sins of all mankind ;' which, I assuredly believe, is 
 not only a gospel truth, but the very glori/ of the gospel."* 
 
 " But you know. Sir," he adds in a subsequent page, " a 
 special design in the death of Christ is no part of the subject 
 now in debate. The question before us is,* whether Jesus died 
 for the sins of all mankind :' Hie affirmative of this question 
 is perfectly consistent with ' a special design in the death of 
 Christ:' and I think it will not be doubted, that the greatest 
 number of those who have maintained such a special design, 
 and these, without any invidious comparison, men of the greatest 
 learning, piety, and usefulness, have also maintained that 'Jesus 
 died for all mankind.' With respect to myself, I think it suffi- 
 cient to observe, that though I am willing to read what Mr. F. 
 or any other man shall please to \\rite on the subject of election; 
 yet as ' a special design in the death of Christ' does not afTcct 
 
 * lliiitctn Lc Iters', p. 91. 
 
AGKD 52.] ' AVITH MR. FULLER. 181 
 
 the present question, but may divert from it, 1 therefore, at 
 present, neither affirm nor deny such special design. But, if 
 any such election be maintained as supposes, that all the rest of 
 mankind never enjoyed the possibility of happiness, nor had any 
 provision of haj>piness made for them; but were necessarily, 
 either from eternity or from their birth, exposed to eternal misery, 
 such election as this I deliberately consider as opposite to 
 the spirit and design of the gospel, and to the tenor of scripture. 
 As the object of Mr. F.'s argument on this head, that of * a 
 special design in the death of Christ,' is consistent with the 
 grand point which I wish to defend, 1 agree with him, not to 
 add more on the su])ject, lest it * should lead us from our pre- 
 sent design.'* If the reader wish to see an explicit declaration 
 of Mr. T.'s ideas on electiou, he may turn to the ' Extracts 
 from his Letters on Hall's Helps, page 163 preceding.' 
 
 Mr. M. praises both parties for their mutual willingness to 
 yield. Mr. T. he savs, '^ had no wish to controvert the doctrine 
 of election, of divine decrees, or of final perseverance." This 
 may mislead us. Mr. T. had no wish to controvert those points 
 on that occasion, because he considered them as foreign to the 
 subject, and likely to lead them from it : but we have seen that 
 he by no means intended to admit them as truths. This want 
 of accuracy in the reporter checks our exultation, when we read 
 that Mr. F. " was willing to concede the universality of the 
 death of Christ, the general indirect influence of the Holy Spirit, 
 and regeneration by the word." The last point he yielded, 
 though very reluctantly; but, when he spoke out, it did not ap- 
 pear that any great alteration in his views respecting the two 
 former had taken place. 
 
 ^* The discussion," Mv. M. asserts, " with all its imperfec- 
 tions, was productive of much advantage. It had its effect on 
 some of Mr. T.'s connections in giving a more evangelical tone 
 to their preacliing." If this be true, it certainly was a great 
 advantage; but we know not to whom he alludes. On Mr. F.'s 
 connections, he continues, it had its effects, " in rendering the 
 doctrine of the cross more generally interestinir. The universality 
 of the atonement was more fully acknowledjied as the ground of 
 general invitations", (die very point which Mr. T. had laboured 
 to estaljlish); '^ addresses to the unconverted were applied with 
 greater j)ungency and force." Such is the stiitement of IMr. F.'s 
 
 • ThiitcLH LcUcrs, pp. 'JO, 190'. 
 
182 ORDINATIONS. [1786. 
 
 biographer of the effects of this interesting discussion. If it 
 be accurate; and none will suspect the ^vriter of partiality 
 towards Mr. T., it is undeniably evident, that, notwithstanding 
 all the jJHgiUstic efforts of his gigantic adversary, the dwarf car- 
 ried oft' the victory, and obtained his object. 
 
 In giving a connected view of this controversy, we have been 
 led out of the order of time : we now return to the year 1786, 
 when it commenced. 
 
 In the course of this year, Mr. T. was engaged at four ordi- 
 nations. In February, 1786, he gave a charge to his friend, 
 Mr. A. Austin, when he was ordained over the church in Fetter 
 Lane: and, in the beginning of April, he preached to the 
 church at Bessell's Green, when Mr. J. Austin was called to the 
 pastoral office over them. On April 26, he visited Leicester, 
 to assist at the ordination of his former pupil, Mr. J. Deacon, 
 over the church in that place. On this occasion, Mr. T. deli- 
 vered an Introductory Discourse, proposed the questions to the 
 people and minister, offered the ordination prayer, and delivered 
 a long charge to the young pastor. Mr. Thompson, of Boston, 
 addressed the people. Tlie whole work of the day was pub^ 
 lished soon afterwards, in a pamphlet of 180 pages, 12mo. 
 The Introductory Discourse is appropriate; and defends the 
 order of dissenting churches in choosing their own officers, by 
 an interesting sketch of Ecclesiastical History, shewing the de- 
 cline of the primitive discipline into the tyranny of popery, and 
 its revival in consequence of the Reformation. It affords evident 
 proof of a mind well acquainted with the subject, that fre- 
 quently reflected on the dealings of Providence with the church. 
 The charge, which is founded on Titm ii. 7, 8, is evidently one 
 of the most laboured of Mr. T.'s publications, and has been 
 allowed by all who have read it to possess a very high degree of 
 excellence. A modern writer, totally unconnected with Mr. T, 
 observes on this piece: '* It extends to upwards of eighty pages, 
 every one of which is replete with the most important ad- 
 monitions and persuasive exhortations to the proper discharge of 
 the higli office with which ihe young minister had been invested. 
 Jf this memoir should fall under the inspection of any ministers 
 by whom that adiniiuble clitiii-e has not been perused, we beir 
 Jijave, with all becoming tklVrence, most earnestly to recojnniend 
 
AGF.D 4S.] KRVIVAL AT CHURCH LANK. IS.? 
 
 it to their attention ; for, if they liavc taken nj) the sacred voca- 
 tion on scripture grounds, and are animated by llic laiuhdjlc 
 wish of discliarging tlic various duties of the office with crecfit 
 to themselves, the edification of others, and the glory of tiieir 
 great Master in heaven, we venture to afilirni that it is impossi- 
 ble they can read it without profit.* To this testimony we 
 fully subscribe; and think that this charge exhibits a convincing- 
 proof of the excellence, both as to matter and style, to which 
 the author would have attained, had not his incessant and im- 
 portant avocations prevented him from bestowing that attention 
 on his compositions, without wliich the best natural abilities 
 cannot advantageously develope themselves. 
 
 October 18, in the same year Mr. T. was again called to 
 deliver a charge to his highly esteemed friend Mr. Jjirley, who 
 was then ordained to the pastoral office over the General Bap- 
 tist Church at St. Ives, where he had laboured for several years. 
 The charge, from Ro??i. i. 9, was afterwards printed, in conec- 
 tlon with the address to the people by Mr. Robinson of 
 Cambridge, and Mr. B's. confession of faith. Though not so 
 elaborate as the charge to Mr. Deacon, yet this discourse is 
 replete with excellent advices and powerful motives for the 
 conscientious discharge of the duties of the pastoral office ; and 
 must have been very interesting and useful to the worthy minister 
 to whom it was addressed, on account of the long and intimate 
 friendship which had subsisted between himself and the 
 preacher. 
 
 Notwithstanding all his more public engagements Mr. T. was 
 earnest and diligent in his attention to the prosperity of his own 
 flock. In addition to his regular and occasional hibours in the 
 pulpit, he was very anxious and assiduous to restore the disci- 
 pline of the church, which, owing probably to the advanced 
 years of the pastor, had considerably declined. Prayer-meetings 
 also were established, and various other means adopted to promote 
 the success of the cause. Nor did he labour in vain. The 
 congregation improved weekly, and many were added to the 
 church; and the affection and esteem of the members towards 
 their pastoi; continued and augmented. Complete evidence of 
 these facts presents itself, in the following extracts from a Letter 
 to the association at Leicester, read and approved at a church 
 meeting. May 15, 1786, and ordered to be entered on the 
 * Xew Evangelical Maiia/ini", \o. XXX f. p. 132 
 
184 DEBATE WITH MT^. BOYCE. [1787. 
 
 minutes. " We feel ourselves happy," they say, " in having it" 
 in our pov\'er to inform you, that since our much esteemed 
 Mr. D. Taylor came among us, things have taken a pleasing 
 change. Our church consists of two pastors, six deacons, and 
 one hundred and eighty members ; twenty-three of whom have 
 been added in the course of the current year. Tliree now wait 
 for admission; and one has been withdrawn from. We are 
 happy in our dear pastors, and at peace among ourselves ; but 
 we sincerely pray that the glory of God may increase amongst 
 us. We have also the pleasure to inform you, that our hearers 
 are much increased : many of them, who used to attend the 
 national churcli, seem highly to approve of the doctrine they 
 hear preached among us." 
 
 1787. This year Mr. T. published "A Second Dissertatioii 
 on Singing in the Worship of God, introduced by two Letters 
 to the Rev. G. Boyce." The first of these was intended to 
 correct some misrepresentations in the reply which Mr. G. 
 Boyce had published to Mr. T.'s First J)issertation; and the 
 second to refute some objections which he had advanced. The 
 Dissertation comprized eight propositions, in which the pro-" 
 priety and scriptural grounds of vocal singing in public wor- 
 ship, and the impropriety of the use of musical instruments 
 were attempted to be demonstrated. Mr. T. found this a dis- 
 agreeable contest; as his antagonist was a venerable minister, 
 ' to whom he had many obligations, and with whom he had 
 long been intimately acquainted ; but who was evidently very 
 little qualified to conduct a literary controversy. It was dif- 
 ficult, therefore, to do justice to the subject and yet maintain 
 that respect to his opponent which he wished to shew him. 
 This squabble however docs not appear to have produced any 
 interruption in the friendship or correspondence of the parties; 
 for, in the following year, we find Mr. Boyce earnestly urging 
 Mr. T. to write a^iainst Mr. Winchester. 
 
 The state of religion at Church Lane continued to improve. 
 This year Mr. T. commenced a Lecture on the Monday eveuino' 
 at Poplar, four miles from his own place, in a little meetino-- 
 house that had formerly belonged to the Methodists ; which he 
 kept up for many years, fie also, at this time, instituted, with 
 the approbation of his friends, a quarterly exhortation to the 
 
AOED 50.] PROCRESS. 183 
 
 members of tlic clmrcli, on the daties and ihc privileges of 
 church fellowship ; which he maintained as long as lie lived. 
 " The church was very happy and harmonious," and, during 
 this year, twenty were baptized, and ten received from other 
 churches. 
 
 The Association was at London this year, when ^Ir. T. as 
 usual, presided ; and was unanimously requested to write an 
 Introduction to the Minutes and a Circular Letter for the next 
 meeting. This year Mr. T. was also admitted into the 
 " General Body of J)issenting Ministers in and near London :" 
 of which he continued an active and useful member till his 
 death. 
 
 We have not been al)lc to recover any intimations of his jour- 
 neys in 1787; though there can be little doubt that he made 
 several. 
 
 1788. Our information respecting the labours and engage- 
 ments of Mr. T. during this year, is very scanty. He presided 
 at the association at Birmingham. From the association, he 
 be went to Nottingham, where, he assisted at the ordination of 
 Mr. R. Smith, over the General Baptist church in that town, 
 when he addressed the people, from l^hiL iv. 3. 
 
 In 1788, he published the second Edition of his Thirteen 
 Letters to Mr. Fuller. It appears, from his correspondence, 
 that a great interest had been excited by the debate; and that 
 this edition of the Letters had been eagerly called for: copies to 
 the value of ten pounds having been bespoke before publication. 
 
 The cause at Church Lane continued to advance: thouirh 
 there appears to have been some discouraging circumstances, 
 which exercised the faith and patience of the friends of Zion. 
 In die course of the year, twenty were received by baptism, and 
 four accepted from other churches ; but there was a painful 
 necessity of excluding six, and three were removed by death. 
 August 1, he commenced an annual sermon to young people, 
 which he continued to deliver on that day, till his death. 
 
 The Methodist Conference was held at London, in 1788; 
 and ^Ir. T. seized that opportunity of hearing some of the 
 preachers. Aug. 6, he informs Mr. B. " INlr. Wesley's confer- 
 ence ends to day. I have heard about twelve of his preachers, 
 at five o'clock in the morning; which has gratified my curiosity, 
 
 A A 
 
186 CALUMNY. [1789. 
 
 though not given me much instruction. Their want of tliought 
 seems to me to spoil all their labours ; though there are some 
 valuable and considerable men among them. The variety of 
 divine workmanship, in their different tastes and talents, has 
 afforded me a peculiar gratification." He could not, however, 
 enjoy this gratification, even at this early hour, without having 
 his conduct misrepresented. It was reported, that he had 
 attended the Methodist Conference, been reconciled to Mr. 
 John Wesley, and admitted one of his preachers. These strange 
 reports reached the ears of his friend, Mr. Thompson, of Boston, 
 who wrote him a letter of inquiry and expostulation. In reply 
 to this, under date of Aug. 18th, he observes. "I have just 
 received your surprizing letter. Who Mr. W. is, I know no- 
 thing; but can assure you, and give you authority to assure 
 others, that there is not a syllable of truth in his report. I never 
 was at the INIethodist Conference at all. I never spoke either 
 to Mr. Wesley or any of his preachers on the subject, either 
 in jest or earnest; nor ever had the least inclination or thought 
 of joining Mr. Wesley or his people. Nay, though I heard 
 several of their preachers, in the mornings, at five o'clock, yet 
 I studiously avoided conversation or any kind of intimacy 
 with them ; lest foolish people should put a wrong construction 
 on it. Mr. Brittain and I have not had one word of difference^ 
 There is, for any thing I know, the most perfect amity between 
 us. So that there never was the least foundation for Mr. \V.'s 
 report, in any branch of it." To endeavour to trace the author 
 or the reason of this strange calumny would be a waste of time; 
 but it is too true, that, in following years, many reports equally 
 unfounded, calculated, and probably designed, to injure his cha- 
 racter, were circulated, with unconnnon diligence, throughout 
 the connection. 
 
 1789- In the commencement of this year, the British empire 
 was involved in consternation by the mental aflliction of the 
 monarch ; which for several months rendered him incapable of 
 holding the reins of government. In the beginning of March, 
 it pleased God to remove the malady, and he resumed the func- 
 tions of royalty. This event excited general satisfaction ; and 
 March l.^th was observed as a day of national thanksgiving. 
 The subji'ct of lliis Memoir and his people heartily joined Mith 
 
AGED 51.] " COMPENDIOUS VIEW." 187 
 
 llieir fellow-subjocts in gralitude to divine Providence fur this 
 signal mercy ; and he delivered a disconrse, on that day, from 
 Isaiah y: 12: in which he endeavoured to point out the im- 
 portance of the event to the liapphiess of the country, tlie proper 
 means of testifying gratitude for it, and the lessons of instruction 
 ^vhich might be derived from a pious cojisideration of it. A\. 
 the earnest request of his hearers, he published this discourse, 
 under the title of " The Interposition of Providence in the late 
 recovery of his Majesty King George the Third, illustrated 
 and improved." Though very plain and practical, yet this ser- 
 mon discovers a greatei' knowledge of political affairs than, 
 considering the preacher's many avocations, could have been 
 expected ; and exhibits in a very favourable point of view, the 
 author's love to liis country and loyalty to his sovereign ; 
 virtues for which he was always conspicuous. 
 
 Mr. T. presided at the annual association at Retford, May 
 ^7 aud 28, and, in compliance with the request of the preceding 
 liieeting, delivered a long discourse on the Inspiration of the 
 Holy Scriptures ; which was highly approved and unanimously 
 requested to be printed. On this journey, he assisted at the 
 ordination of Mr. J. Goddard, at Ilkiston, to whom he delivered 
 the charge. On INlay 31, having to pass through Derby, he 
 preached m the open air, from Li^ike ii. 10, nearly on the 
 place where the meeting house has since been built. This was 
 the first time that a General Baptist minister had been heard 
 at Derby, and led to the introduction of the cause into that 
 town. From Derby he proceeded into Yorkshire, and preached 
 for his former friends, with great acceptance. He returned to 
 London after an absence of three weeks. 
 
 i\bout the middle of this year IMr. T. published *' A com- 
 pendious View of the Nature and Importance of Christian 
 Baptism, for the use of plain Christians." This was one of 
 the most successful of his compositions, and has already run 
 through seven editions. It was occasioned by the publication 
 of some warm tracts on both sides of the subject; and its design 
 is tlms expressed in the commencement : " Common Chris- 
 tians cannot enter far into the intricate parts of a controversy. 
 With these they are often confoiuided. Though they are fre- 
 quently no more than the appendages of the subject in dispute, 
 yet they perplex the weak reader^ till he is ready to forget th« 
 
 A A C 
 
188 CONTROVERSY [1789. 
 
 main question ; \vhich ^vben carefully attended to, is generally 
 easy and plain. This, I think, is, in some measure, the case 
 with regard to the controversy on Christian Baptism. 1 have 
 long thought so; and my mind was peculiarly struck with this 
 apprehension by reading a late pamphlet on the subject. This 
 gave birth to the small publication now put into the hands of the 
 reader. The design of it is to state the nature and importance 
 of baptism in an easy light; and to collect what appears essen- 
 tial to the controversy into a narrow compass." This design he 
 lias executed with his usual simplicity and precision; and this 
 tract has, in many instances, been blest to the satisfaction of se- 
 rious enquirers. It it is too well known to need enlargement. 
 
 The little interest at Shore, which owed its existence to Mr. 
 T.'s labours, was now in considerable pecuniary difficulties, and 
 naturally turned their eyes to their founder for assistance. They 
 sent a letter to the church over which he presided, requesting 
 that he might be permitted to visit the midland churches, and 
 collect for their case. This request was granted; and on 
 Lord's day evening, Oct. 11, he set out from London, after 
 preaching twice, if not thrice, to his own congregation, and 
 preached at Leicester on iNIonday evening; at Loughborough, 
 and attended a conference, on Tuesday; at Nottingham, on 
 Wednesday, at Kirkby Woodhouse, on Thursday; at Wimes- 
 would, on Friday; at Sawley, on Saturday; at Diseworth, Mel-^ 
 bourn and Castle Donington, on the Lord's day; at Kegvvorth, 
 on Monday ; at Ticknall and Cauld'\v ell, on Tuesday ; at Pack- 
 ington and Barton, on \\ ednesday; atllugglescote, and attended 
 a conference, on Thursday; at VVolvey and Longford, on Fri- 
 day; and returned to London on Saturday. Thus it appeared 
 that this indefatigable ujinister preached twenty times, attended 
 two conferences, and tiavelied at least three hundred miles, in 
 fourteen days. 
 
 It has been already hinted, that Mr. Fuller was engaged in 
 defending his peculiar opinions at the same time, against the 
 high calvinists, on the one hand, and iSJr. T. on the other. It 
 w as not long before Mr. T. himself was placed in similar circum- 
 stances. W hlle he was engaged in defending his favourite tenet, 
 that Christ died for the sins of all mankind, against Mr. F. he 
 was led into dispute witli a minister of very dili'erent opinions 
 and character. Mr. L. Winchester, a J5aptibt minister of Phi- 
 
AGED 51.] WITH Mil. WINCHES! i:R. 189 
 
 Ja(lcli)liia, ill America, had been active in his own country, in 
 pronat^ating the doctrine of the limited duration (jT future 
 punishment, and the linal salvation of all the fallen race. Some 
 time before this period, he had come to England; and had dis- 
 seminated these principles with great diligence and some degree 
 of success. The novelty of the sentiments, and the zeal of 
 JNfr. W. in maintaining them, excited the attention of tlic 
 religious public. IVIr. T. was too anxious for the pre- 
 servation of the truth not to pay particular regard to tlic pro- 
 gress of these new doctrines. But he did not condemn them 
 without examination. lie read attentively all that he could 
 procure that had been written in their favour, both in ancient 
 and modern times, at home and abroad. The result of this 
 examination, he states in a letter to ^Ir. B. dated July 29, 
 1788. '^ With regard to all the audiors I have read, my present 
 thoughts are, that they have too much labour to make. It is a 
 maxim with me, that no revealed truth can require a great deal 
 of labour and criticism in order to prove it: and therefore this 
 cannot be u revealed truth, because they are reduced to the 
 necessity of so much critical labour and shuffling (so I call it) 
 in order to maintain it, or to set it in a plausible light. -As to 
 single passages, it is my humble opinion, that any one of those 
 texts. Matt. xxv. 46; xii. 32; xxvi. 24, will afford reasonable 
 and even irrestible evidence against them, on this head. 1 am 
 the more inclined to disbelieve their sentiment, because ihey all 
 seem to me to have lost all proper ideas of the subject of evan- 
 gelical religion and of acceptance with God." 
 
 jNIr. W.'s scheme being well adapted to the dispositions of 
 our depraved nature, and propagated with considerable zeal and 
 assiduity, gained proselytes among professors of various deno- 
 minations. Many viewed its progress with sorrow, and wished 
 that some attempt could be made to check its course. As it 
 was known, that Mr. T. had thought and read on the subject, the 
 eyes of many, both in town and country, were turned to him; 
 and he was earnestly solicited to take up the question. Num- 
 bers of his brethren in the ministry in London, joined in this 
 request; and amongst others Mr. A. Booth and Mr. II. Foster 
 were peculiarly urgent. At length, probably perceiving that the 
 heresy approached his own congregation, he consented to en- 
 counter it. lie tells his coirespoudcut; Dec. JO, 1788. '^ It 
 
190 CONTROVERSY [1789. 
 
 is amazing to me that tlie sentiment prevails in the manner it 
 does. I think it an alarming omen with respect to the state of 
 religion and the following age. Several churches in London 
 are hurt by it; and Mr. Foster informed me, a few days ago, that 
 many of the young enlightened clergy have taken in the senti- 
 ment. All seem to think that something ought to be written in 
 opposition to it; yet no one seems willing to undertake it. I 
 have at last yielded to do something. Last Lord's day, I preach- 
 ed two sermons, such as they were, on the Eternity of Future 
 Punishment: the substance of which, with a few notes, will be 
 published, God willing, in a few weeks." Accordingly, early in 
 1789, our author sent forth a pamphlet, which he called *' The 
 Eternity of Future Punishment, asserted and improved : a dis- 
 course on Matt. XXV. 46." He here brought forward a plain 
 and perspicuous statement of the evidence in favour of his 
 opinion from the express declarations of scripture and other 
 topics of argument : and fairly met and answered the principal 
 objections usually urged against it. As the advocates for the 
 limited duration of future punishments are obliged to impugn 
 the accuracy of most of the received translations of the scriptures 
 which are obviously hostile to their sentiments, it became ne- 
 cessary, in contending with them, to recur to the import of the 
 original text. It required great address to bring disquisitions of 
 this nature within the reach of a mixed conorejiation. JNIr. T. 
 felt the difficultv; and has met it with considerable success. 
 
 This Tract was well received by the religious public, especi- 
 ally in London. The author informs his friend, April 4, 1798. 
 " As to the London ministers, many of them, of various deno- 
 minations, have expressed their approbation of my small thing, in 
 terms too strong for me to repeat. I desire to bless God that 
 my poor labours give satisfaction, or prove useful to any of his 
 ministers or people. When Mr. Foster had read one, he came 
 himself and bought half a guinea's worth to give away; and I 
 lind that he has written into Yorkshire and stron«iIv recom- 
 mended it." ^Ir. Winchester, on the contrary, affected to treat 
 this performance with great carelessness, as almost beneath his 
 notice. He did, b.owever, in a short lime, condescend '* to spend 
 little more tiian one afternoon" in animadverting on it; and pub- 
 lished these tce/l matured " i^emarks," as a reply to our author's 
 Discourse. VV htu iliis publication was put into the hands of 
 
AfJKD 51.] M'FTII MR. WINCHESTER. 191 
 
 M\\ T. lie tliouglit it required no answer. .July CG, lie informs 
 Mr. 13. "1 have not concluded to reply to Mr. \V. I iliink I 
 cannot write to any purpose without exposing the man; and that 
 I do not wish. His Remarks arc so foreign to the subject, so 
 destitute of argument, so full of misrepresentations, Sec. 8cc. that 
 1 cannot treat them as I could wish. I think those who suppose 
 that his Remarks either require or deserve a reply, are incapable 
 of being much benefitted by any reply that I can make." lu 
 this opinion, he persevered ; notwithstanding many of his friends 
 urged him to resume the subject lest his silence should be con- 
 sidered as a proof of his defeat, till he had received a letter 
 from his late antagonist, ISIr. G. Boyce, of Coningsby, soliciting 
 him, in the strongest terms, to reply to Mr. W. This application 
 from so venerable a friend was not to be refused ; and about 
 Michaelmas he published " The Eternity of Future Punishment 
 Re-asserted ; the Importance of the Doctrine stated and the 
 truth of it vindicated: in a Reply to the Exceptions of the Rev. 
 
 Mr. VV. against it, in Six Letters to the Rev. G. B. of C ." 
 
 In these Letters, he treats INIr. W. with freedom, exposes the 
 unfairness of his conduct as a disputant, the weakness of his 
 arguments, and the inconclusiveness of his reasonings : and 
 notices the overflowings of his self-importance in a manner 
 which must have been felt by his opponent. Indeed, as Mr. VV. 
 had most unaccountably forgot to attempt a refutation of any of 
 Mr. T.'s arguments, the latter could do little more by way of 
 reply than re-state them and animadvert on the sti ange conduct 
 of his antagonist. 
 
 This Reply was evidently deeply felt by Mr. \V. wlio in ^^ug. 
 1790, published a rejoinder, under the pompous title of " The 
 Restitution of all Things which God hath spoken, by the Mouth 
 of all his Holy Prophets, since the World began, defended." Scc. 
 This appears to have been a curious production. Mr. T. soon 
 laid the phm and collected the materials for a full answer to it ^ 
 l)Ut his friends, whom he consulted on die propriety of publish- 
 ing it, differed greatly in opinion. Some esteemed Mr. W.'s 
 publication too contem})tible to deserve an answer, and that our 
 author would degrade himself bv noticino; it : while others 
 thought, that justice to his own character and the cause in which 
 he had engaged required a reply. Of llus opniion was his friend,. 
 N Mr. B. who wrote thus : ^' i think the dispute cannot honourably 
 
192 ESSAY ON [1790. 
 
 stop in its present stage, and therefore advise tliat an answer be 
 published ; both for the sake of your own character and of the 
 truth. For I still think that you have the truth on your side and 
 are well qualified to make it appear, if the Lord continue your 
 health and capacity, which I hope and pray that he will." For 
 some reason, however, which cannot now be ascertained, this 
 Reply was never printed : and the friends of Mr. W. triumphed 
 not a little that so able a disputant had been reduced to silence* 
 The fact is, the answer was prepared, and a considerable portion 
 of it transcribed for the press. It now lies before us : and it is 
 obvious that, whatever restrained the writer from meetinsf his 
 opponent again before the public, a consciousness of being van- 
 quished, on any apprehension of difficulty in defending his posi- 
 tions, had no intluence on his determination. 
 
 1790. At the association at Retford, in 1789, Mr. T. at the 
 request of a former association, delivered a discourse on the 
 Inspiration of the Scriptures^ which, as we have seen, he was 
 unanimously entreated to publish. Esteeming the subject to be 
 of peculiar importance, especially considering the bold and 
 assiduous attempts then making to overthrow the divine authority 
 of the sacred volume, he thought the reverence which it de- 
 manded, and the respect which was due to his brethren and the 
 public, required him to take every means to render his work as 
 complete as he could. He informs Mr. B. under date, Nov. 
 17, 1789 : " On account of my sluggish temper and numerous 
 avocations, I have only a few chinks of leisure time ; and those 
 few chinks I have thought proper to fill up, for some weeks past, 
 in taking a survey of the ])eistical controversy, in former and 
 later times. To make way for this, I have laid aside my dis- 
 course on Inspiration, Sec. almost ever since ^Midsummer. I 
 thought this my duty, both out of respect to my friends who have 
 Haltered and honoured me widi a request to publish that dis- 
 course, and in order that I might do more justice to the subject 
 and not give occasion to the adversary. I am nearly come to a 
 conclusion to print it after Christmas, if life and health be spared* 
 May the Lord direct and assist in it, and attend it with his 
 blessing. My great difficulty is to comprize all tliat ought to 
 be said williin so narrow a compass, and to arrange it in the 
 liappiost and easiest manner. It is easy cnongh to write some- 
 
AGED 52.] INSPIRATION. 103 
 
 tiling. But to write kc//, on snch a tlicmc, williin siicli limits, 
 appears to me to require more judgment and taste than 1 can 
 pretend to be possessed of. However, I can only do my best, 
 and that I am willing to do." Indeed it appears to have cost 
 liim no little thought and some self-denial to form this resolution. 
 Writing to the same friend a few weeks previously, he observes : 
 ■^' I do not know that I shall print an Essay on Inspiration. I 
 have done littk yet in preparing it for tlie press. It seems an 
 absurd tiling for me to talk of printing on such a subject. So 
 ignorant ! and so little time !" 
 
 The persuasions of his friends prevailed, and the discourse 
 Mas published in August, 1790, under the title of " i\n Essay 
 on the Tru-th and Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures." Jt ex- 
 tends to nearly 200 pages octavo. Hie author has, in this 
 volume, placed most of the principal arguments for the truth of 
 Christianity, both external and internal, in a plain and conclusive 
 light, level with the capacities of common readers. " Perhaps 
 few treatises on the subject have compressed so much useful 
 matter into so small a compass. It is remarkable for its per- 
 spicuity and condensation. If the more recent publications of 
 IJr. Chalmers and Mr. Dick should be thought to have super- 
 seded our author's Essay, it may be said that the latter compre- 
 hends the substance of all that has since been delivered in the 
 volumes of those distinguished authors: and that the proportion 
 of peisons who have it in their power to avail themselves of their 
 writings is very small indeed, when placed in competition with 
 such as can only afford to purchase ^Jr. T.'s Essay. It certainly 
 •exhibits the fruits of extensive reading, and no inconsiderable 
 portion of learning, skilfully concocted and rendered permeable 
 to commoji capacitie6."* This is the character given to the 
 Essay by a disinterested critic; and it coincides with the opinion 
 expressed by many good judges at the time of publication. 
 Dr. Stennett, in a letter to the author, December 13, 1790, 
 calls it "an able, sensible and seasonable defence of Christianity; 
 and hopes much good will be done by it." We cordlallv unite 
 with the worthy Doctor in his i)iaises and his hopes. If the 
 Essay had been written in the form of a dissertation, unincum- 
 bered with a text, introduction, improvement and the other 
 formalities of a sermon, the arguments might perhaps have been 
 
 * New E\iuigclical jMagaziuc at before. 
 li D 
 
]94 DOMESTIC LI 790. 
 
 better connected, and several disquisitions, wliicli tend rather to 
 interrupt the course of reasoning and weaken its effect, avoided. 
 It it is nevertheless an excellent piece ; and we think no sensible 
 man can give it a careful and impartial perusal without being 
 convinced of the divine origin of Christianity. It is peculiarly 
 adapted for the benefit of common readers ; and for their sakes 
 it ought not to be suffered to fall into oblivion. It has, how- 
 ever, been long out of print; and several years before the 
 decease of the author, he had projected a new edition, and 
 desired several of his friends to louk it over and suggest im- 
 provements. 
 
 The latter part of this year, 1790, was a season of severe 
 domestic affliction to the subject of this Memoir. In July, his 
 eldest daughter exhibited symptoms of consumption, and it was 
 thought advisable to procure her the benefit of the sea air. 
 Towards Michaelmas, a fever attacked his family, and for 
 several months involved them in deep distress. September 14, 
 he tells his correspondent, " My eldest daughter is now appa- 
 rently at the point of death of a violent scarlet fever. What 
 will be the consequence of such a disorder taking my numerous 
 family, God only knows. I leave all with him : and rejoice in 
 him as my God and salvation ; knowing his wisdom and his 
 goodness." He concluded this letter abruptly : " Bad news of 
 my daughter calls me away directly." On the Gth of October, 
 he informs the same friend, ^^ The last lines were scrawled in 
 great confusion; the physician called upon me at that instant, 
 to inform me how near death my eldest daughter was. He had 
 always been of opinion that she could scarcely recover; and 
 then confirmed it : seeming to think that a few hours would 
 terminate her life. I finished and scaled the letter, wrapt uj) 
 the parcel in the greatest hurry, and ran off to see and pray w ilJi 
 my child for the last time. But as I went to Sluicklewell^ v»'hcre 
 I had taken lodgings for my sick family, I v^as unconnnonly 
 filled with faith, hope and love; and when I got tlurc, prayed 
 with sueh con.'itlence and liberty as I have seldom enjoyed. 
 After a continual stru<>ole for life, durini; eljiht liours that niojit, 
 to the astonishment of the doctor and every body else, she bi^gan 
 to recover. She was in body and mind reduced to the state of 
 an infant; she is very weak, but recovering. ISIy daughter G — 
 was seized wilh the same dreadful disorder the Mondav follow- 
 
AGED 52] AFFLICTFONS. I !)."> 
 
 iiig, aiul lias been very badly; but \\c hope llu; fi'ver turned 
 yesterday. But my dear wife took lier bed yesterday of the 
 same disease, and is very ill this morning. You may, in a de- 
 gree, judge of my condition: a wife and two ehildren laid u{) 
 with a heavy aflliction which forbids my dearest friends to see 
 me. Worn down with labour, almost lost with matching, over- 
 wlielnied with cares, and full of gloomy prospects, I am scarcely 
 fit to write or do any thing else. Init my God is wise and good. 
 ^Vith this I am satisfied and moderately happy. On Mr. \V — , 
 Sec. Sec. you shall hear from me, God willing, when I am able 
 to think; if it please God that I survive the present visitation. 
 He only knows how that will be." 
 
 This afflicting dispensation of providence continued for several 
 months; and throughout the trying season, Mr. T. evinced the 
 most affectionate regard for his family, and made every exertion 
 for their accommodation. Thousfh he had to discharefe all his 
 pastoral duties, which appear to have been only once omitted 
 during the whole of this dark period; he was constant in his 
 attendance on the afflicted, cheerfully submitted to the most 
 menial oiiices to serve them, and w^as frequently, for a week to- 
 gether, watching over them without any opportunity of putting 
 off his clothes. It pleased his heavenly Father to succeed his 
 attention, aided by the assiduity and skill of Dr. Whitehead, 
 who, on this occasion, acted the part of a friend as well as phv- 
 sician. This gentleman's kindness made a deep impression on 
 Mr. T.'s heart; and three years afterwards, he seized an oppor- 
 tunity of publickly expressing his gratitude : " My wife," he says, 
 " and all my family were recovered by the blessing of God, 
 which wonderfully attended the indefatigable endeavours of an 
 eminent physician. Dr. John Whitehead, to whom I am indebted 
 beyond what I can express for his kind and incessant attention 
 to my family on that, and on all other occasions, whenever his 
 attention has been requisite."* The subject of this ^Memoir was 
 deeply affected with the goodness of God in preserving his 
 family. December 9, he writes in this strain : " The situation 
 I have been in for more than three months has allowed me very 
 little time, spirit or capacity for correspondence. Through in- 
 finite mercy, I am alive, and now in moderate spirits : and my 
 dear wife and children are doinsf bravelv, and o-rowinjr stronjr. 
 
 * Funeral Sermon for Mrs. Taylor, page C4. 
 n B 2 
 
196 COMMENCES [179L 
 
 On the 1st of September, my eldest daughter was seized with a 
 raging fever; my daughter G. on the 20th of the same month; 
 my wife on the Q.d of October, and my daughter N. on the 13th. 
 All my other children were taken from me by my kind friends. 
 The physician had but little hopes, for a long time, of the re- 
 covery of my wife and eldest daughter; but the Lord has done 
 great things for us indeed. Glory be to his great name ! I have 
 lately had an attack of the rheumatisn), and my eyes are very 
 badly, so that I have done very little. But I am better of the 
 rheumatism through mercy ; and my eyes are, I hope, not 
 growinjr worse." No one who has the feelings of a husband 
 and father can read these affecting details without heartfelt 
 sympadiy for the affectionate and pious sufferer. 
 
 We have no account of Mr. T. taking any journey this year^ 
 except to the association at Castle Donington, and from thence 
 to the Lincolnshire churches. Probably his domestic afflictions 
 prevented him. Religion did not advance at Church Lane so 
 rapidly as in former years, only ten being baptized ; but the 
 church continued in a good degree harmonious and affectionate*. 
 
 1791. When ]Mr. T. removed to London, it was allowed on 
 all hands that the proposed salary was insufficient for the com- 
 fortable support of his numerous family. It was expected that 
 the increase of tlie cause would soon enable the church to afford 
 a more adequate remuneration; but though the members had 
 increased from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and thirty ; 
 yet, either from want of consideration or ability, no addition 
 had been made to his income. Several individuals had, indeed, 
 endeavoured to lessen his burden, by taking one and another of 
 his children into their families. This, though kindly intended, 
 was but a partial and temporary relief; and probably operated to 
 his disadvantage, by leading to an idea that his expences weie 
 less than they really were. I'hc heavy afflictions with which his 
 family had been exercised in the preceding year,^ had involved 
 him in considerable embarrassments, and made it necessarv to 
 take some measures to extricate himself from them. As there 
 did not appear any prospect of effectual relief from his people, 
 lie determined, after much deliberation, prayer and consultation 
 with the leading members of his church, to enter into business 
 as a bo(jksellcr. He ticcortlingly removed his residence, at 
 
AGED 
 
 53.1 BOOKSEI.LF.n. ]97 
 
 T.ady-day, 1791, to Union Street, HishopsjL^ale Street; and 
 opened a shop. With what temper and views he connnenced 
 this undertaking, the following extract from his private memo- 
 randa will abundantly shew. 
 
 " Holy and heavenly Father! hitherto thou hast helped mc; 
 and I would humbly and heartily bless thee for all the dispensa- 
 tions of thy kind Providence in my favour. In the support of a 
 numerous family and many labours (though, alas! poor and de- 
 fective), I have passed through the world! thus far to more 
 than fifty-two years of age, with much pleasure and happiness. 
 Blessed be thy Name for all thy love to me and mine."- 
 
 " I am now, widi the advice of my friends, and after frequent 
 prayer to Thee, my glorious Leader and Guide, beginning in 
 business for the comfortable and honourable support of my 
 wife and children; of whom thou hast spared nine, who live 
 and grow^, to give me much pleasure; and who, I trust, will by 
 thy grace live to thy glory. My God and Father; Thou know- 
 est the sincerity w ith which I have prayed to thee on this account; 
 and the integrity with which I am undertaking this burden, 
 together widi the service of a numerous and affectionate people. 
 I trust in thee, my God, for that wisdom which is profitable to 
 direct in this and all my odier concerns. O give me the spirit 
 of simplicity, wisdom, integrity and watchfulness; and all shall be 
 well. Let not my heart cleave to the earth, nor dishonour thy 
 great name. ^lay I, by thy grace, preserve the spirit of a 
 christian and a minister, in all the business before me! O that 
 I may still preserve a tender regard for Uiine honour, and a cordial 
 affection for the souls of men! that my dear people may sustain 
 no injury by my secular incumbrances. But may the church 
 still grow in number, knowledge, and purity, to be an habitation 
 of God through the Spirit." 
 
 " What success may be best for me and mine is only known to 
 thee ; and widi thee, my all wise, holy and merciful God and Father, 
 1 humbly, and wiUi satisfaction, leave it. If Uiou art pleased to 
 succeed my poor endeavours and those of my family, 1 desire to 
 consecrate all I have and am to thy service, in the most useful 
 niauner that I can ; and do here, this morning, resolve and pro- 
 mise, that through thy grace, thy cause and thy poor t hildrcn 
 shall not be forgotten by me. At present, thou knowest, I have 
 not much to spare, besides what is necessary for the suj>ply of 
 
198 NEW HYMN-BOOK. [1792. 
 
 my own necessities and those of my dependants. But I begin 
 this morning, by putting one sliilling into a separate account for 
 pious and charitable uses ; and intend to do the same every 
 ^veek, for the lirst year. If it please thee, O Lord, to succeed 
 my endeavours, 1 do intend, as thou, O heart-searching God 
 knowest, to encrease the sum to the best of my judgment, in 
 pioportion to the increase \vith which thou shalt favour me." 
 
 " j\nd now, my gracious God and Father, I leave myself, my 
 family, and all my secular, spiritual and ministerial concerns in 
 thy blessed hands; humbly imploring that I may be kept faith- 
 ful as a servant of thee, and thy people, and may at last finish 
 my days to the honour and glory of thy adorable name. Amen. 
 No. 35, Lhiion Street, March 28, 1791." 
 
 Mr. T. attended the Annual Association at Wisbeach, April 
 28, 1791. At this meeting it was resolved, that a new hymn- 
 book should be published for the use of the Connection ; and 
 Mr. J. Deacon was requested to make a collection of such 
 Iiymns as he might think proper for the purpose. A committee, 
 of which our author was at the head, was appointed to meet at 
 Leicester to * examine and decide' upon their merit. Accord- 
 ingly, Mr. T. went to Leicester in the beginning of August; and, 
 at the request of his brethren, undertook the care of the print- 
 ing and publishing of this new collection. This occupied much 
 of his leisure time for several succeeding months ; and appears 
 to have been his only literary engagement during the present 
 year. The General Assembly, at which he usually attended as 
 a visitant, urged him to write a " History of the General Bap- 
 tists;" but he declined it^ on account of his numerous engage- 
 ments. 
 
 In the early part of this year, he felt the consequences of 
 the fatigues of the preceding one. His eyes were so affected as 
 to render it painful either to read or write ; yet he pursued his 
 ministerial labours with assiduity and success. During the 
 course of the year, fourteen were baptized and ten received 
 from other churches ; and the members of tlie church rej)ort to 
 the Association, that they are " unanimous and plentifully fed 
 with the bread of life." 
 
 1792. Whatever appeared to the subject of this Memoir to 
 be his duty, he pursued widi i.rdour. He had entered into 
 
AGED 54.] SUCCESS. 199 
 
 business from a conviction that, in liis circumstances, duty callcil 
 him to it: and he prosecuted it with his usual spirit. He 
 pubhshcd a catalogue of his books ou sale, and dispersed it 
 throughout tlu^ connection; and was conscientious and diliirent 
 in his dealings. And though his numerous avocations botii 
 literary and religious, necessarily interrupted his attention and 
 diverted his thoughts, yet his industry and integrity were crowned 
 with such a degree of success as to enable him to encrease his 
 fund for charitable purposes. March 30, 179^-2, when he had 
 been a year in business, he records in his Diary: " I find, on 
 reviewing my last year's account, if 1 have made no mistake, as 
 I think 1 have not, that what I have given to the necessities of 
 the poor amounts to £3. 14s. 10^/. and so far as I can judge, my 
 circumstances are rather improved than otherwise. 1 do there- 
 fore propose, God being my helper, if spared, to devote one 
 shilling and sixpence a week to pious and charitable uses, as the 
 Lord may direct ; and earnestly pray that it may be to his glory, 
 through Jesus Christ." INIrs. T. continued, through this year, to 
 be greatly afflicted ; and had now nearly lost her eye-sight. 
 Feb. 8, he tells ISlr. Thompson, " Blessed be God, we are all 
 in tolerable health, except my poor wife, who has been in a 
 feeble state for some time. The will of the Lord be done." 
 
 It must have afforded this good minister great satisfaction that 
 neither his business nor his afflictions hindered the progress of 
 the cause of his Saviour at Church Lane. Lideed, ten years 
 after this date, he boldly addressed the deacons in these 
 memorable words. ^' I thank God, I can say w ithout hesitation, 
 that, amidst all my labours, I never omitted one meeting, public 
 or private, on account of business or secular incumbrances." 
 lie had his reward. J^uring the year previous to the association 
 in I79'^f twenty-live persons were received into fellowship by 
 baptism; and the rej)ort of the state of the church concluded 
 thus : " Blessed be God! we are united and harmonious in our 
 tonsullations ; and have the truth delivertd to us as it is iii 
 Jesus." 
 
 The Annual Association was at ILdifax tliis vear : and afforded 
 INIr. T. an agreeable opportunity of visiting his native country 
 and his first christian associates. At this meeting he was 
 requested to compose a catechism on the reasons of dissent from 
 national churches. Instead of which, he annexed a short, per- 
 
200 LETTERS ON THE [1793. 
 
 tinent section on that subject to the next edition of his Catechism 
 for Youth. This has been retained in all subsequent impressions. 
 
 1793. Though Mr. T. had long withdrawn from any close 
 connection with the Lincolnshire churches, yet he maintained a 
 friendly intercourse with most of their ministers ; and when oc- 
 casion offered, attended their Associations. He was always 
 received with affection; and his advice and assistance were highly 
 respected. In an excursion to Lincolnshire, about 1790, he had 
 an interview with .several of the ministers, and the Decay of 
 Keligion in the baptized churches became the subject of dis- 
 cussion. Mr. T. promised to write his thoughts on this important 
 topic; but, owing probably to his various engagements, post- 
 poned the fulfilment of this promise. In order to induce him 
 to perform it, the Lincolnshire Association held at Coningsby, 
 May 7, 1793, resolved " That Brother Boyce be requested to 
 write to brother Taylor, to put him in mind of his engaging, 
 when last amongst us, to write his thoughts on the Decay of 
 Christianity in the baptized churches." This resolution Mr. Boyce 
 forwarded to Mr. T. with an earnest entreaty that he would 
 comply. Though fully aware of the difficulty and delicacy of 
 the task, yet, convinced also of its great importance, he addressed 
 several Ions; letters to the venerable minister who had transmitted 
 the request of the Association. In these letters, he first enquires, 
 " what is meant by vital religion — what is necessary in order to 
 its existence — what is tlie giand principle of it in the human 
 soul — and what are the means of promoting it to be used by 
 individuals :" and then proceeds " to assign the causes of its 
 declining among any class of men, and to point out the proper 
 methods in order to its revival." He very ])lainly and confidently 
 ascribes the decline of religion, complained of by his corres-^ 
 pondent, to the neglect of preacliing Christ crucified as the only 
 Saviour of sinners, aiul the great doctrines contained in tliis pro^ 
 position or connected with it; and urges home on the consciences 
 of the ministers for whose use he writes, the necessity of recur- 
 ring to a jilain, zealous and practical regard to these fundamental 
 truths in all their public labours. We do not know that these 
 Letters were ever sent to Mr. Bovce; but from the rou^h 
 draught of them now before us, the writer evidently intended 
 them for ])uljlication. Possibly ilie domestic allliclioub with 
 
AGED 
 
 55. J DECAY OF RKUGION. 201 
 
 wliicli he was exercised, at tliis pciiod, prevented liiin from pro- 
 secuting the design. We sincerely hinient tliat tliis design was 
 not executed, as the tract is adapted for peculiar nsefuhiess. 
 Though we may probably present tiie reader with a few extracts 
 from this correspondence in another place, yet we venture to 
 copy one short passage here, as illustrative of the zeal and energy 
 of the writer's mind, though involved, as we have seen, in cir- 
 cumstances of afiliction and discouragement. 
 
 " I am deeply sensible how dangerous it will be to consult my 
 own feelings on such a subject as this. I am conscious that I 
 cannot speak truth here, without re])roviiig and condemning 
 myself, as in many things defective; and therefore I cannot 
 discuss the subject honestly without exposing my own mind to 
 guilty and painful sensations. But if these sensations produce 
 deep humility at the footstool of divine mercy, and true genuine 
 repentance, God will be glorified, and I trust that I and others 
 shall receive the advantage. I must therefore speak faithfully 
 for God, though in this respect, I speak against myself." 
 
 " I am deeply sensible also that on a subject of this kind, no 
 man can be faithful and speak the truth of God, without incur- 
 ring the resentment of many. The devil, who is the god and 
 prince of this world, and who is particularly })leased with sleepy 
 carnal professors, especially with sleepy and carnal ministers, 
 who are his best friends and servants, must be vexed at the 
 feeblest attempts to oppose his interest, and to advance the 
 interest of Jesus Christ, which is directly opposite. This w icked 
 spirit ' works in the children of disobedience,' and under his 
 influence they must unite with him in resenting every attempt to 
 demolish his kingdom." 
 
 " The observation now made applies to all the oj)position 
 which good men meet with in every age, in attending to the will 
 of God. But it applies with peculiar force to every attempt to 
 promote a general reformation in the churches ; because this is 
 giving Satan a broadside without ceremony ! And should such 
 an attempt succeed, he knows very well that the injury done to 
 liis cause will be extensive in proportion to that success. I am 
 far from pretending that any effort of which I am capable will 
 ever be eminently worthy of the attention of infernal spirits, or 
 of their colleagues on earth ; but, in proportion to the degree in 
 which it is only intended to injure the interest of Satan, it must 
 
 c c 
 
202 MRS. Taylor's beath. [1793. 
 
 provoke his rage and the rage of wicked men. And there are 
 some peculiar reasons why an attempt of this kind should be 
 resented by carnal professors of Christianity, especially by carnal 
 ministers. It not only, in general, opposes error and sin, which 
 they delight in ; but it disturbs their false peace, and tends to 
 ruin their reputation as religious people, and so to prevent that 
 peculiar mischief which they are able to do under the mask of 
 pretended piety, which is undoubtedly as dear to the devil almost 
 as his own existence." 
 
 " Be it so, your brother whom you have honoured witli this 
 request is come to a resolution, under the direction of the Holy 
 Spirit, to speak freely on a subject the most important of all 
 others: and the brief discussion of which he considers the most 
 weighty and solemn business in which he ever has been employed, 
 or ever expects to be, on this side of heaven." 
 
 While Mr. T. was thus engaged in devising means for the be- 
 nefit of his fellow creatures and the glory of God, he was called 
 to endure heavy affliction. Mrs. T. soon after her recovery 
 from the fever, in 1790, suddenly lost the sight of one eye, while 
 taking a walk in the garden. By medical assistance, it was 
 very partially recovered; but the other eye immediately began 
 to grow dim; and for three years, she was nearly blind. Her 
 constitution also gradually declined, and she was reduced to a 
 state of great debility. Tow'ards the close of 1792, she had a 
 slight paralytic stroke, which left her helpless as a child. In 
 this condition, she remained till October 22, 1793. She passed 
 that day in her usual state ; but in the evening she had another 
 stroke of the palsy, which rendered her totally insensible ; and, 
 after six hours' languor, terminated her life. Thus he lost a 
 partner who had, for nearly thirty years, been a most valuable 
 * help-meet for him, and an affectionate and prudent mother to 
 his numerous children.' 
 
 The afflicted widower applied to his friend, Mr. B. to preach 
 the funeral sermon for his departed consort; but that gentleman, 
 througli an excess of timidity, positively, though very affection- 
 ately, declined tl)e service. -After making several vain efforts to 
 alter his resolution, till there remained no time to procure ano- 
 ther minister, Mr. 'i\ was reduced to the painful necessity of 
 altemj)ting himself to improve the solemn event. Tliis he did 
 fromJ*.sY///// xlviii. 14: a text which hud been peculiarly encourag- 
 
AGED 55.] MR. THOMPSON'S DKATII. 203 
 
 iug to Ilis deceased partner amidst the decays of nature and the 
 a])proaclies of death. In the begiiuiing of the following year, he 
 j)ubHshed this Sermon, together with some Account of her Life 
 and Character: " as a testimony of grateful respect to the 
 jnemory of the deceased, and earnestly recommended to hjcr 
 iiijic surviving children, and her numerous friends in town and 
 country." i\fter detailing the principal events of her life, and 
 sketching her character with affection and discrimination, he 
 adds : " On the most deliberate and impartial recollection of 
 which I think myself capable, I am not conscious of one day 
 having passed since we were united together, in which it has not 
 been my wish and design to make my departed wife as happy 
 as possible. But in the execution of this design I acknowledge 
 there have been many imperfections. On a survey of twenty- 
 nine years, I am deeply convinced, and desire to live and die 
 wnder the humbling conviction, that, though I deliberately class 
 iier among tlie best of wives, yet she would certainly have been 
 a better wife, if she had had a better husband." 
 
 We know little of the progress of religion at Church Lane 
 this year. Harmony prevailed, and tlie Lord's day services were 
 well attended j but the members complained of lukewarmness, 
 and the additions by baptisms were only nine, and five received 
 from other churches. Yet they thankfully confess that they 
 were fed with the truths of the Gospel of Christ Jesus their 
 Lord." 
 
 1794. In tiie beginning of this year, February 7, death de- 
 prived Mr. T. of his highly esteemed friend, Mr. William 
 Thompson, of Boston. Many years before his decease, it had 
 been mutually agreed, that when one was taken to his rest, the 
 survivor should preach and publish a sermon, on the occasion, 
 from '2 Cor. xiii. 11, addressed to the bereaved church, and ac- 
 companied with a few Memoirs of the deceased. When the 
 painful event apparently drew near, Mr. Thompson, who was 
 well acquainted with the distresses of his friend's family and his 
 many engagements, feeling that a journey to Boston would, at 
 that juncture, be very inconvenient to him, kindly released him 
 from that part of the engagement ; but expressed a strong desire 
 that he would fulfil the other stipulations. In conii)liancc 
 with this wibli of lii^> dej)arted brother, .Mr. T. delivered three 
 
204 DOMESTIC [1794. 
 
 sermons to his own people, March 9, frO"i the proposed text. 
 Mr. Thompson's papers were soon afterwards sent to London, 
 and preparations were made for drawing up the promised Me- 
 moir. But such were the domestic and ministerial avocations 
 of the author, that the work was not printed till 1 79G. It then 
 made its appearance under the title of <* Memoirs of the Life, 
 Character, Experience and Ministry of the late Rev, William 
 Thompson, of Boston, Lincolnshire ; to which is prefixed a 
 Discourse, occasioned by his Death." The Discourse, which 
 must have been much compressed in preparing for the press, is 
 called " The good Pastor's last Advice to his People : a Dis- 
 course on 2 Cor, xiii. 11, addressed to the General Baptist 
 Church at Boston." " The Memoirs" consist chiefly of Ex- 
 tracts from the Diary of the deceased, arranged under proper 
 heads, and accompanied with pertinent reflections. This publi- 
 cation must have been interesting and edifying to the connections 
 of the worthy minister of whom it treats ; and is well adapted 
 for the edification of all serious readers, but more especially of 
 ministers. 
 
 It pleased God, at this period, to exercise the faith and pa- 
 tience of the subject of the present Memoir, with a train 
 of family afilictions. In the course of the winter, several of his 
 children were seriously indisposed; on March 18, one of the 
 twins, who were born just before he left Yorkshire, was snatched 
 away by death, after a very short illness. The afflicted parent 
 felt the stroke, but bowed submissively to the divine will ; and 
 the following Lord's day morning improved the trying dispensa- 
 tion, from the appropriate passage, Psa, xxxix.9- " I was dumb, 
 and opened not my mouth, because thou didst it." But the 
 weight of his trials and the state of his mind under tliem will 
 be best exhibited in his own words, as entered in his Diary, the 
 day after his daughter's death. 
 
 *' It has pleased a holy and wise God, for reasons known to 
 himself, to exercise me this year with trials that jiavc appeared, 
 to my weak mind, very severe. Lord, let me not attempt to 
 exaggerate them, nor be impatient under them. I have indeed 
 felt them very sensibly ; but surely, thou heart-searching Jehovah, 
 thou knowest that I have not willingly allowed myself to nmr- 
 mur. 1 have prayed and endeavoured that I might reverence 
 ^nd justify thee in all. O that 1 may ever do it from my heart ' 
 
AGED 56.] TRIALS. 205 
 
 Two of my daughters have enjoyed a poor state of health all the 
 winter; and 1 have been alarmed for one of them. My dear 
 wife is taken from me, after a long and grievous aflliction, alj(jut 
 five months ago; and one of my daughters (Maria) a most ami- 
 able, sensible child, now lies dead. The expences of medicine 
 and suitable nourishment for my family, and the expences of 
 my poor wife's funeral have been heavy indeed." 
 
 " 1 have been much fatigued in body and mind ; and some- 
 times much depressed in spirit by incessant labours and incessant 
 thought and anxiety. Trade is very low, almost worth no- 
 thing ; taxes high, and every thing dear. I have sometimes been 
 afraid that my mental powers would be injured by anxiety and 
 excessive thoughtfulness, and sometimes been afraid that tliey 
 really were injured. But, blessed be God, I yet live; and now, 
 though attended with troubles, yet, by a little relaxation, I think 
 my nerves are a little braced and my spirits invigorated. I hope 
 the Lord will again shine upon me that I may yet praise him. 
 Yea, my gracious Father, by the assistance of thy Holy Spirit, 
 though thou slay me yet will I trust in thee. Only keep my 
 heart near to thyself, and save my dear children. Glorify thy 
 name in our holiness and happiness, and all shall be well for 
 ever. I think I have all reasonable evidence, that the God of 
 love and mercy has taken my wife and five of my children to 
 himself. This is a great honour for which I cannot be suffi- 
 ciently thankful. O that I and the rest of my dear family may 
 be brought to the same glory in due time. Then we shall sing 
 victory for ever, and bask in the beams of love to all eternity. 
 Lord, grant it for the precious Redeemer's sake. Amen. 
 
 Dan Taylor, March 19, 1794." 
 
 At Midsummer this year, the Annual Association was 
 held at Church Lane ; when Mr. D. T. read the circular letter 
 which, at the request of the preceding meeting, he had j)re- 
 pared, on the ** Operations of the Holy Spirit." It professed 
 " to evince the reality of these operations and to assist in the 
 practical improvement of what is said upon them." It was 
 well ajjproved by the Assembly and ordered to be printed 
 with the Minutes. As this Association was held at his own 
 meeting-house, he was not called upon to take any share in 
 the public services : his country brethren preaching for him 
 two Lord's days, and several times on the other day^. of the 
 
206 ASSOCIATION. ' [1794. 
 
 week. On the evening of the latter Lord's day, Mr. T. en- 
 deavoured to assist the recollection and promote the edification 
 of his people, by a discourse from Matt. *xin. 51, " Have ye 
 understood all these things ?" From this passage, he took 
 occasion to give a concise but clear recapitulation of the various 
 topics which had been discussed in the several sermons, and to 
 point out the proper improvement to be made of them. This 
 discourse made a considerable impression on all who heard it. 
 Indeed the church bore an honourable testimony, at this meet- 
 ing, to the useful tendency of his ministrations. '' The gospel," 
 they say, " is preached to us in its purity; and we pleasingly 
 observe, with increasing zeal, stimulating the hearers to internal 
 and external holiness." Yet the cause at Church Lane seem§ 
 to have declined this year : for though eleven were baptized, yet 
 an equal number were excluded, and nine removed by death. 
 
 Left as Mr. T. was, at the decease of his partner, with nine 
 
 motherless children, eight of them daughters, who required tlie 
 
 care of a female superintendant ; being fully occupied with the 
 
 concerns of his business, his ministry and the churches; and 
 
 thus having little leisure to direct his dependants, or to inspect 
 
 their conduct, it almost became necessary for him to obtain a 
 
 mistress for his family, and a mother for his children. The 
 
 propriety and necessity of such a measure were generally allowed 
 
 by his friends, but they could not easily agree who wajuhe piost 
 
 proper person to undertake the charge. He however cut short 
 
 the discussion; and, on August 12, married Elizabeth l^ewton, 
 
 a member of his own church. Whatever difference of opinion 
 
 might have been entertained at the time when the connection 
 
 was formed, she proved a valuable wife and an affectionate 
 
 mother to his children. After her death in 1809, he declared to 
 
 the public, " I may venture without hesitation to say that few 
 
 in the marriage relation can have lived more happily than we 
 
 have during the time of our connection. I am bound in duty 
 
 gratefully to acknowledge that no man can reasonably desire a 
 
 more agreeable companion, or one in whom were stronger 
 
 evidences of the most sincere affection. She was uniformly 
 
 attentive to family duties ; gave invariable evidences of strict 
 
 integrity and prudent economy. All her powers, I firmly 
 
 believe, were ext-rtcd for my comfort ;uid tljat of my family. I 
 
 find no difliculiv in declaiiu}: niv full jjersuasion, that mv con- 
 
AGED 
 
 50.] ^'^- RRittain's nr.ATiT. 207 
 
 ncction with my late dear wife has been an unspoakahlc blessini^ 
 to myself, to my nunierous family, to the church of Clirist and 
 to many others : for wliich therefore I desire, with all my lieart, 
 to say, * Let the Lord be magnified who has pleasure in the 
 prosperity of his servant.' "* Whatever abatements may be 
 made for the partiality of an affectionate husband, softened by 
 the recent separation, those who best knew the circumstances 
 will readily allow, that this eulogy was, in a very honourable 
 degree, well merited. 
 
 On Sept. IS, 1794, Mr. Brittain, the venerable co-pastor 
 with the subject of this Memoir, departed this life ; on the 28th 
 Mr. T. delivered a discourse on the occasion, to a numerous 
 congregation, from Psalm Ixxiii. 25, 26. This was a delicate 
 service. Mr. Brittain, though a good man, and an useful 
 preacher, had sometimes more zeal than prudence. Being 
 naturally under the influence of strong passions, and having 
 enjoyed few of the advantages of education, his conduct in some 
 instances displayed a degree of eccentricity which gave occasion 
 of reproach to those who sought occasion. He was, notwith- 
 standing, jnstly esteemed very highly by many members of the 
 church ; particularly by those of the longest standing, who, having 
 been brought to the knowledge of the truth by his instrumentality, 
 looked up to him as their spiritual father. Mr. T. therefore 
 feared lest, by overlooking the failings of the deceased, he should 
 betray the truth ; or, by noticing them, he should give offence to 
 his friends. In this difficulty, he consulted several of his brethren 
 in the ministry in London, especially his neighbour Mr. Booth, 
 who gave it as his decided opinion, that the credit of religion 
 required that some notice should be taken of these particulars. 
 Mr. T. therefore, who was not easily deterred from doing what 
 appeared to him to be his duty, glanced, in the funeral sermon, 
 though in a gentle and indirect manner, at the imperfections of 
 his departed colleague. But all his caution was ineffectual. 
 The allusion iiave jireat oftence to several of the hearers ; and 
 it is i)robable, laid the foundation for much of that dissatis- 
 faction which embittered his latter davs. 
 
 1705. In the commencement of this year, !Mr. T. was laid 
 aside by indisposition, which had probably been hastened, if not 
 
 * G. B. Repository, Vol. Ill, i>. 177. 
 
208 INDISPOSITION. [1795. 
 
 produced, by the anxieties and labours ^vhich he had sustained. 
 Tl)is was the opinion of Dr. Whitehead; and that gentleman, 
 unknown to his patient, kindly explained to the officers of the 
 church the necessity of adopting some means to lighten the 
 burden of business and cares, under which he began evidently to 
 bend. We do not know that this representation produced any 
 inuiiediate eiRct. In his Diary, under date, March 23, we find 
 the following interesting entry. *' On the evening of Feb. 22, 
 1795, the cold that has been in my bones ever since the first 
 thaw of the present dreadful frost, broke out into a burning 
 fever with ulcerated sore throat, which has laid me aside from 
 my ministerial work for three Lord's days ; the first time that I 
 remember to have been wholly laid aside on a Lord's day during 
 the whole course of my ministry, which is more than thirty years. 
 For this I bless a gracious God ; and pray and resolve that, in- 
 stead of murmuring at his proceedings, I may devote myself to 
 his interest with more zeal and holy vigour the remaining part of 
 life. Lord, help me !" 
 
 " Yesterday, March 22, through divine mercy, I was enabled 
 to preach once, in the morning, on Phil. i. 23 : though I w^as 
 much fatigued with it indeed. I have reason to bless a gracious 
 God, that my people seem so much concerned for my welfare, 
 and so desirous of my labours amongst them. Lord, grant that 
 I may study their interest, and always feel such an affectionate 
 ' regard for them, that 1 may gladly spend and be spent for their 
 sakes. 1 am now removed, for the health of my family, to Mile- 
 End. 1 hope God will bless us and keep us moderately healthy, 
 and make me useful the remaining part of my life. The Lord 
 grant it, for Jesus' sake ! Amen.'' 
 
 February 25th was appointed by government as a day of 
 fasting and humiliation; and Mr. T. who was always ready to 
 seize any occasion of promoting the good of his country, had 
 prepared a discourse for that day, which his indisposition pre- 
 vented him from delivering. After his recovery, he published 
 it, with the title of " The Cause of National Calamities, and 
 the certain Means of preventing or removing them : a Sermon 
 on I Sam. xii. 14, 15." It consists of doctrinal observations 
 on the text, and practical instructions derived from them, 
 l^ikc all the other productions of the author, it is simple, sensi- 
 ble and edifviiig. 
 
AGED 57.] T.AROURS. 209 
 
 April .'JO. Mr. T. was so far iccovrred, as to lie able to 
 cnffatu; with his friciul Mr. Austin in the ordination of Mr. Uobb.s 
 at Chatham. On this occasion, he olVered tiie general ))rayer^ 
 tlelivercd an introductory discourse, offered the })rayer for tlie 
 minister and three deacons, and delivered a charge to tiie 
 minister from 1 Tim. iv. iG, and an exhortation to the deacons, 
 from 1 Tim. iii. 1'3. The last was so highly approved, thai he 
 was earnestly requested to print it. lie seems to have been 
 disposed to comply, as he copied out a considerable part o^ it 
 for the press; but probably the domestic afflictions of the author 
 prevented its publication. 
 
 June 17, he set out for the association at Nottingham, by 
 way of St. Ives, Boston, Sec. In this excursion, he preached 
 fourteen times, and attended to various other laborious concerns ; 
 and returned to London, July 2. At the association, he read 
 the circular letter which he had prepared " on the Depravity of 
 Human Nature." In which he proposed to explain the meaning 
 of the phrase — prove the fact — and shew to what important pur- 
 poses it ought to be improved." It was cordially approved, and 
 ordered to be printed. 
 
 Soon after his return, July 23, he observes in his Diary," Since 
 I had the fever, my cough and other complaints have been so 
 many, and my avocations so numerous and important, that I 
 have omitted going to Poplar since that time. I now venture 
 again: and O may the presence and power of God go with me^ 
 for Jesus' sake!" One would scarcely have supposed that his 
 labours at Chatham and on his late journey, were performed by 
 an invalid, oppressed with a cough and many other complaints ; 
 but the vigour of his mind made him forget the weakness of his 
 body. 
 
 The hurry of business, the afflictions of his family, and his 
 other avocations, had, for some time, occupied his mind and pre- 
 vented his application to study ; of this he was well aware, and 
 endeavoured to guard against it. August 17, he writes, "By 
 reason of my large family, many avocations and business, I 
 have not much time for reading, besides what is necessary for 
 composing five or six sermons in a week. But I determine, by 
 diviiie assistance, to read the New Testament through afresh ; 
 not only to have a clearer view of the blessed word of God in 
 general; but also to observe and note down (for further more 
 
 D D 
 
210 DR. stennett's death. [1795. 
 
 critical study, or to mention in conversation or correspondence 
 with learned friends) all the difficulties in order as they occur. 
 When I have done this, I intend to read the Old Testament in 
 the same manner and with the same views : Lord, assist, direct 
 and succeed me in my poor endeavours to glorify thee, and to 
 serve my brethren in their best, their eternal interests, and to da 
 good to mankind, Amen." So conscientiously careful was this 
 good man, in the midst of all his anxieties and avocations, not to 
 neglect any thing that might assist him in his gieat work of 
 preaching the gospel. 
 
 While he was thus devising plans for his own improvement^ 
 he was, on August 24, deprived of a friend and fellow labourer^ 
 by the decease of Dr. S. Stennett, the worthy pastor of the 
 Particular Baptist church, in Little Wild Street. As a long 
 and intimate friendship had subsisted between the deceased and 
 the subject of this Memoir, the latter preached a funeral sermon 
 for the Doctor, which he afterwards printed, as a mark of res- 
 pect to one whom he " esteemed among the best of men and the 
 best of ministers." It was founded on 1 T/m. iv. 6, and called 
 " A Good ^liuister of Jesus Christ." The preacher considered 
 the general character of gospel preachers, * ministers of Jesus^ 
 Christ' — the particular qualities of a good minister — the glorious 
 reward of such — and the loss sustained when these are called 
 away by death. This plan is pursued in the usual judicious 
 and useful method of the author, and affords abundant proof of 
 his esteem and affection for the deceased. 
 
 The friends at Church Lane informed the association that 
 " they were not so lively, zealous and unanimous as in years past." 
 Indeed, the cause of religion amongst them evidently declined ; 
 as the increase during the year had been only five,whilethe decrease 
 had amounted to fourteen ! These melancholy circumstances 
 deeply afi'ected the heart of the worthy pastor, and excited him 
 to diligent self-examination, as to the cause of this declension, 
 and the means of stopping its progress. Oct. 18, 1793, he 
 observes in his Diary — *'On taking a short survey, this morning, 
 of the state of the church, and of my own heart; I find on the 
 Mhole, reason to rejoice; but too many things still amiss. As 
 to myself, I will endeavour, by the grace of God, in the use of 
 proper means, such as self-examination, humiliation, self-denial, 
 watchfulness, prayer, and failh in Christ Jesus, that my soul 
 
AGED 58.] GOOD RESOLUTIONS. 'Sll 
 
 may be recovered, quickened and healed. As to my people, 
 I intend, God helping me, to make strict observation upon 
 them, with all tenderness and care, as a father would examine 
 the health and prosperity of his children ; and to read over again 
 the epistolary part of the New Testament, to enable me to 
 admonish and instruct them ; and to correct their irregularities 
 of temper, speech and conduct. 15ut in doing this, 1 would 
 endeavour so to mingle the consolatory parts of Christianity, as 
 may prevent the admonitions or practical instructions from 
 appearing dry or unkind. Lord, teach me yet more and more 
 the very important art of rightly dividing the word of truth i 
 and enable me, with the wisdom that cometh from above, to 
 give every one his portion of meat in due season ! I bless thee, 
 
 my God, for the quickenings of thy Spirit, which I trust, 
 
 1 experience this morning. I humbly look upon them as 
 a token for good to me and to the church; and would hope 
 by thy grace, to improve them to thy glory, for my own spiritual 
 benefit, and for theirs. Lord, teach me, and graciously enable 
 me to teach those committed to my care, and to watch for their 
 souls, as one that must give an account. My account is awful, 
 and my work great indeed ! Quicken me, strengthen me, guide 
 me, and support me, O my gracious God and Father, that T 
 may at last give up my account with joy. Amen." In order to 
 accomplish the object of these pious resolutions, he made out 
 '' a list of texts for the revival of real religion, if it please God, 
 in my own heart and in the congregation among whom I labour." 
 
 1796. June 20, Mr. T. set out for Boston, and visited several 
 of the churches. At the Association, he read the circular letter, 
 ■** On the Duties of Church Members to each other." This letter 
 was highly approved, and ordered to be printed with the INliuutes. 
 Mr. T. was also requested to publish it, in a separate form, for 
 more general circulation, which he did in a few months after- 
 wards. It is an excellent tract, and enforces the mutual duties 
 of church members, in a clear affectionate manner, from the 
 great and powerful principle of undissembled love. The mem- 
 bers of this Association were so deeply sensible of the important 
 obligations which the New Connection had received from the 
 subject of this Memoir, through the whole course of its ex- 
 istence, that, on the circular letter being read, it was unanimously 
 
 D D '2 
 
212 DISSENSIONS. [179(>. 
 
 resolved, " tliat the tlianks of tliis Associalion be given to brother 
 D, Taylor, for writing the circular letter ; and for all his other 
 essential services to our connection : and that this resolution be 
 printed in the Minutes." 
 
 Mr. T. returned to London, July 9, when we find the fol- 
 lowing entry in his Diary: " Early on Monday Morning, June 
 20, I went out on a long journey which appeared of great 
 importance, and together with the labours of it, employed nine- 
 teen days. Besides an association at Boston, and some other 
 occasional labours, I preached seventeen times : 1 hope to the 
 profit of many. I returned in the evening of Saturday very 
 weary, but weary in a good cause, in the promotion of which I 
 rejoice; and for which I hope I could cheerfully spend and be 
 spent. I was enabled, on the day following, to administer the 
 Lord's Supper and to preach three times: blessed be God! 
 Mav 1 now, through fri'^ce, betrin afresh to serve the Lord Christ, 
 and to save souls to the utmost of my ability. Lord, help me 
 to do it better than I yet ever have done !" 
 
 With such views and resolutions, he resumed his labours 
 among a people, most of whom he sincerely esteemed and by 
 \vhom he was highly respected. But the cause did not prosper. 
 A spirit of contention had for some time been too prevalent ; 
 and though the pastor was not often the subject of the contests, 
 yet the minds of the members were kept in a continual ferment. 
 This unhappy state of things deeply affected him, and prevented 
 the success of his best endeavours. He mourned over the 
 declension of a cause for which he had made such great sacri- 
 fices, and to the promotion of which he had so disinterestedly 
 devoted all his powers. After revolving seriously on the most 
 eligible means of checking the disorders which he lamented, he 
 resolved on one that struck all parties with consternation. On 
 July 27, he sent the following note to the church meeting: 
 '* Dear Brethren^ I think it my duty to inform you, that I intend, 
 if preserved till then, to resign the pastoral office among you 
 next Christmas. 1 have several reasons to assign for it; but as 
 they may afford matter for contention, and some of you are too 
 prone to contend, it may perhaps, if you can excuse me, be 
 most proper to omit the mentioning of them. 1 tix upon 
 Christmas rather tluin Michaelmas, from a regard to your wel- 
 fare; which 1 can truly say has been my fust and great concern 
 
AGli 
 
 1) 58.] RE-IJNION. 2\3 
 
 ever since I came among you. 15iit if you can mIiIi convenience 
 sooner provide yourselves willi another minister, and would 
 rallier have me resign at Michaelmas, it \\ ill he agreeahle to me. 
 J beg the favour of an answer to this, whether JVlicliaelmas or 
 Christmas will be more agreeable to you, as soon as jjossible. 
 It will always give me j)leasure to hear of your prosperity, and 
 to do all in my power to promote it. I am, dear brethren, 
 your sincerely affectionate brother and ready servant, for Jesus' 
 sake, D.Tayloh." 
 
 This letter produced a great sensation. The younger mem- 
 bers, who were warndy attached to their minister, with the preci- 
 pitancy natural to youth, immediately determined to separate 
 from the rest, form a distinct church, and invite Mr. T. to be 
 their pastor. The more experienced, though many of them 
 equally esteemed Mr. T. saw the mischiefs of these hasty mea- 
 sures, and laboured to promote some plan by which the icid 
 advantage of all parties might be secured, without the painful 
 measure of a division. Connuittees were appointed to negociate 
 this important business ; and numerous meetings were held. 
 The minister interfered as little as possible; and when he did, 
 he uniformly reconmiended peace and union. At length, the 
 influence of the moderate party prevailed : a few of the most 
 turbulent members either withdrew or were excluded; and a 
 number of general principles were agreed upon, as the ground 
 of future proceedings. Jin earnest and unanimous invitation 
 was given him to continue in the pastoral relation w ith them ; 
 which, after mature deliberation, he accepted. .At the close of 
 the year, the re-union was confirmed : and, by the recommenda- 
 tion of Mr. T. " the 3d of January, 1797, was observed by the 
 church as a day of fasting and prayer, in consequence of the 
 uneasinesses of the past year, to humble themselves before God, 
 and earnestly to seek his blessing for the future." 
 
 This was probably the issue which ISIr. T. expected. He 
 does appear to have formed a serious design of leaving London; 
 but apparently gave the notice of his resignation, in order to 
 rouse his friends to act more firmly and consistently ; and induce 
 the church to purge itself of a few troublers of Israel; whose 
 conduct and its baneful effects he had long viewed w ith sorrow. 
 In a letter to his brother at Queenshead, dated Sept. 1(), he ob- 
 ^pjvcs : " As to the reasoiis for my resig,ning the ])astoial ofiicC;, 
 
214 EXPLANATION. [1796. 
 
 I have resolutely and invariably avoided giving them to any one. 
 Nor have I even mentioned to any one in town or country, be- 
 sides yourself and the church, that I have declared my design of 
 resignation. It is however known both in town and countiy; 
 and, like other things of a similar kind, spreads fast enough. I 
 have thought lit to observe this secrecy, if it be called such, not 
 only that 1 might not take up my time, every moment of which is 
 precious, uilh talking to others about things in which they have 
 no concern ; but also and chietly for two other reasons : First, 
 That I might not be under a temptation to say a single word, to 
 any person living, that might be construed into a reflection on the 
 church I serve, or any member of it. Second, That I might not 
 be perplexed with invitations from otlier churches and minio- 
 ters, that would throw me into confusion. For I wish to stand 
 awhile upon clear, free ground ; that, if our church should 
 -conclude to request me to resume my office among them, I 
 might be unembarrnssed, and at liberty to attend with inipar- 
 .tiality to their proposals. Thus I stand at present : though 1 
 have had invitations already; but I have given no ear to them. 
 Our church have had several meetings ; but chiefly fust to divide, 
 and then to re-unite themselves. In these I have sometimes not 
 been present ; and, at all times, interfered as little as I well could, 
 A\ hen I have been called to interfere, it has been to preserve the 
 church together, if possible. All wish me to stay, as far as I 
 know; and I find they meet the next Lord's day week to make 
 some proposals to me. I hope the Lord will direct all for 
 good." To another correspondent, he says : " Though the 
 general cry is for me to stop in London, and I have many 
 attachments to induce me to it, besides the strong afl'ection I 
 feel for most of the members ; yet some difficulties are in the 
 way which I know not how to remove. I hope God w ill direct 
 in due time. As to my satisfaction, it is a small matter. If 
 they go on and prosper, all will be right." 
 
 Mr. T. during the former part of his residence in London, 
 was in the habit of attending the General Assembly in AVorship 
 Street; and though he had no direct connection with it, fre- 
 quently joined in its deliberations, and sometimes presided at its* 
 meetings. This year he read, at this Assembly, a letter to the 
 churches, on " tlu; Universality of our Saviour's Death," which 
 •^- had drawn up at tlicir request. This was approved and 
 
AGED 59.] JOURNF.VS. 215 
 
 desired to be printi d, to \vliicli lie consented. As It was on 
 Ills iavoiuitc topic, it is almost needless to say that it rontainif 
 many excellent arguments, clearly stated and uselully applied. 
 
 1797. In March, Mr.T.set out on a journey, in the service of 
 the churches, of which he has left the following account, in his 
 Diary : — " Monday, March 'iOth, L went out on a long jour- 
 ney. Tuesday, preached at Gosberton; Wednesday, ordained 
 !Mr. Briggs, and gave him a charge, from If eh. xiii. I7, with a 
 long introductory discourse on church fellowship, ordination, SvC. 
 Thursday, at Boston, gave a long introductory discourse, and a 
 charge, from 1 Tun. iv. 16. to ISIr. W.Taylor. T'riday, j)reachecl 
 at Coningsby; on Lord's day, CGth, at 15oston, Gosberton, and 
 Spalding. ^londay, at Fleet; Tuesday, at Wisbeach; Thurs- 
 day, at St. Ive's. Returned home ; rode all night, and arrived 
 safe on Friday morning. F'ound all moderately well. Blessed be 
 God! Lord, quicken my soul; animate my views; enable me still 
 to spend my all for thee, and for the souls of men ; and Lord, 
 still succeed me!" In June, he took another journey : when, 
 after presiding and preaching at the Association at Kegworth, 
 he proceeded to Melbourn; where, July .jd, he assisted at the 
 ordination of Mr. E. Whitaker, and preached to the people, 
 from 1 Thess. v. 13. Next morning, he set out homewards, and 
 found all his connections in tolerable health. This excited his 
 pious gratitude; and he exclaims: " Bless the Lord, O my soul! 
 
 that the remaining part of my short life may be spent for him 
 who has done and continues to do so much for me and mine !" 
 
 At the Association this year, it was resolved that an attempt 
 should be made to establish an institution for the instruction of 
 young ministers in the New^ Connection of General Baptists.. 
 Subscriptions were entered into for carrying this resolution into 
 effect; and it w^as agreed to commence in the beginning of the 
 following year. This had long been a favourite object \\ ith 
 Mr/j\ and he had laboured nuK:h to promote it at almost everv 
 association since the formation of the coiniection. \n October, 
 
 1 794. he wrote to a confidential correspondent, in these stron 
 terms; " You. cannot more ardently wish than I do, that our 
 young ministers coukl be more assisted and better instiucl-ed. 
 But who must doit? You were requested to unilertake it; but 
 you relused. W here is there anolhei : And how can aiiv o-ood 
 
 Of 
 
2\G CHOSEN TUTOR. [1797* 
 
 be obtained, if those who are able do not exert themselves in it: 
 1 pretend to no ability for such a work. The little I had is cer- 
 tainly impaired by the labours and distresses of the last four 
 years ; at least so far as respects 'the learned languages. But 
 [ am so distressed at times, on account of the state of the 
 ministry among the General Baptists, that I am almost ready 
 in my own apprehension to lie down and die. I think I could 
 cheerfully sacrifice my little all, if I could in any way contribute 
 to remedy it. It has always been diflicult for me to push this, 
 because the eyes of many have been upon me to undertake it: 
 and it is natural to suvjuise that a person in such a predicament 
 wants to set up and signalize himself. If you and others would 
 push it, I am quite satished it would soon be effected: and I 
 am almost ready to call it the only thing I wish to see before I 
 die. Do, my brother, lay this matter seriously to heart." 
 
 It was no sooner determined to make the attempt, than 
 Mr. T. was earnestly requested to accept the office of Tutor. 
 This he long declined; and recommended several of his brethren 
 in the ministry as more fit for the station. These successively 
 refused it; and at length, when he saw the plan in danger of 
 being stifled in its birlh, he consented to undertake the ofiice. 
 
 On this subject he thus writes to Mr. Fr- n, August 7, 1797. 
 
 *' After so many years refusal, 1 am almost brought to yield to 
 solicitations and to attempt .a work which you and others have 
 so long declined. 1 have no view in it, but merely to prevent 
 the present effort towards obtaining so important an object 
 from coming to nought; and to set the business a going, that 
 some other brother in the ministry may take it up, and execute 
 it to much more effect than I can pretend to expect. This hasty 
 scrawl implores all the assistance you can give; and earnestly 
 requests that you would, as soon as possible, and in the most 
 copious manner, send me your maturest thoughts respecting the 
 subjects on which such young preachers ought to be instructed, 
 the method of conducting their studies, and the most proper 
 books to be read for the purpose by tliem and by me. You 
 must know my great incapacity; and therefore 1 hope that you 
 will not fail to mention any thing that can be of service to so 
 great a design, in the hands of your poor, ignorant and unworthy 
 brother." With these views, did this good juan assume an office 
 to which he attached gnat importance, as it regarded the pros- 
 
Aged 60.] r.ENF.rvAL raptist macazime. 217 
 
 pcrity of tliat interest to which he had devoted all his powers. 
 In tlic coinmenccnicnt of the follow inoj year, the academy was 
 opened; and his nephew, Junies Taylor, now of lleptonslali- 
 Slack, was his first pupil. 
 
 At this time, it was also resolved to establish a i)eriocli( al 
 miscellany for the use of the New Connection ; hut lest this 
 design should interfere with the other plans of the Association, 
 it was thought more eligible to make it a private risque. A 
 number of ministers and others formed themselves into a society 
 for this purpose; and determined to publish a monthly panjphh t, 
 under the title of " The General Baptist Magazine." VVHien the 
 question was proposed who should superintend the publication 
 as Editor, all as usual looked to Mr. T. At their request, he 
 undertook to conduct the work; and though already overburdened 
 with engagements, he published the first number, Jan. 1, 1798. 
 
 The contests which distracted the friends in Church Lane, in 
 nOGy being in a good measure composed and harmony restored, 
 they carried on the cause of their Saviour through this year with 
 vigour and success. In the former part of it, several meetings 
 for discipline were held; and some dead branches cut off. This 
 painful, though necessary, measure appears to have produced 
 happy effects. In the latter part of the year, many were re- 
 ceived into fellowship ; and the cause seemed to })rosper more 
 than it had done for several previous years. 
 
 179B. Mr. T. was closely occupied through this year with 
 his church, his magazine and his pupils ; of whom he had three 
 or four before the close of it. He also preached fiequently at 
 Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, where he and his students supplied 
 regularly. Mr. T. spent one Lord's day every six or eight w ceks 
 with this people, and his students went at other times. This 
 was continued for several years. At Midsummer he attended 
 the Association at Halifax, and preached often for his old friends, 
 as well as for the different churches which he visited on his 
 journey. July 6, he returned to London and lesumed his la- 
 bours. In the beginning of November he was laid aside one 
 Lord's day through indisposition; which he thus notices in his 
 Diary. " During the last week, I have been confined by a 
 slight fever and ulcerated throat ; but, through divine mercy, 
 I am now better. O ! that my spared life may be dedicated 
 
 E E 
 
218 ORoiNATION. [1799. 
 
 more than it lias been to the honour of him that gives it. Lord, 
 help me; and give me spiritual health and vigour: and, by thy 
 Spirit enable me to be more diligently, more indefatigably and 
 more successfully devoted to the promotion of thy glory, throu<'h 
 Jesus, thy dear Son, my only Saviour. /\men." 
 
 At the Association, the circular letter, written by Mr. T. on 
 " the Evidences of Kegeneration" was read and approved. The 
 writer proposed " to notice some things which have been intro- 
 duced on this subject, which prove nothing either for or against 
 it — to mention some certain marks of an unregenerate person — 
 and to state a few evidences of true Christianity." It is a close, 
 searching and useful letter. 
 
 1799. With a view of affording the young men under his 
 care an opportunity of exercising their ministerial abilities, and 
 also widi the hopes of extending the cause of the Redeemer, he 
 hired a house near his own residence at Mile End, and fitted it 
 up for public worship. This he opened, Jan. 23, 1799, vvith 
 an appropriate discourse, from Exod. xx. 2-i: and continued to 
 preach in it statedly till his death. 
 
 Some time previous to this date, the ancient General Baptist 
 church in the Park, Southwark, was nearly extinct. Mr. T. was 
 very assiduous in collecting the scattered remains of this society, 
 and re-uniting them in church order. With the assistance of the 
 students and the occasional ministers at Church Lane, he sup- 
 plied it regularly widi preaching for a considerable time. A 
 degree of success attended his disinterested efforts; and, on 
 April 23, he had the satisfaction of assisting at the ordination 
 of Mr. J. B. Shenston, who had been a member of his own 
 church, over this reviving society ; to whom he gave a charge 
 from Acts XX. 24. 
 
 On the 1 Ith of this month, he had been engaged in the same 
 solemn work at Berkhamstead, when he addressed Mr. S. 
 Young from 1 Cor. iv. 2. On both these occasions, he deli- 
 vered also the introductory discourse, offered the ordination 
 prayer, and asked the usual questions. 
 
 June 25, he preached at the Association at Wimeswould, 
 from Jio))i. XV. 19; and the discourse was so well approved, 
 that he was requested to })rint it. Probably his numerous avoca- 
 tions prevented liiiu from complying with this request. On hia- 
 
AGED f)!.] LONDON CONFRRENCE. 219 
 
 return, lie pair! a hasty visit to tlic cliurclics in Lciccstcrsliire ; 
 and preached nine times in five days. Soon after his arrival at 
 hoine; he took a journey of ten days into Wiltshire, and sj)ent 
 one Lord's day at Downton. On the 'lOth of July, we find him 
 at Deal, in Kent, giving a charge to Mr. John Kingsford, on 
 liis ordination to the pastoral office. And Oct. 8, he was at 
 March, Lincolnshire; where he preached at the opening of die 
 new meeting-house, in that place, from 1 Pet.i, 3,5. When 
 we consider his engagements with his church, the academy and 
 magazine, we must admire his industry that found leisure for so 
 many journeys, and for the preparation of so many discourses, 
 on such solemn and important occasions. 
 
 The cause at Church Lane continued to improve, though 
 very gradually. Eleven were baptized this year; but several 
 
 were removed. To Mrs. M , an absent member, he writes, 
 
 Sept. 14: " Through divine mercy, my family is tolerably well, 
 and so are the members of the church. We are making some 
 progress in the work of Christ, and our number keeps rather 
 increasing than diminishing ; though we lose many by death and 
 otherwise. O ! how pleasing it is to see sinners brought near 
 to Jesus Christ and renewed unto holiness. Blessed be God 
 for some such instances lately of divine mercy to miserable 
 sinners." 
 
 Ever solicitous to promote the success of those doctrines 
 which he believed to be die truths of the gospel, Mr. T. exerted 
 liimself to form a closer union among the few General Baptist 
 ministers in London and its vicinity, who agreed with him in 
 sentiment, These he invited to meet him at Chatham, Sept. 
 11, 1799, when they laid the foundation of diat periodical 
 meetins:, since denominated The London Conference* The 
 ministers who first united were Mr. T. ; Mr. J. B. Shenston, of 
 the Park; Mr. E. Sexton, of Chesham ; and Mr. J. Hobbs, of 
 Chatliani. xMr. T. punctually attended Uiis meeting till death 
 removed iiim to the church above: and it is still maintained, 
 though the loss of its founder and president is deeply felt. 
 
 1800. This ycnr opened with domestic trials. Mr. T. a 
 daughter^ and one of the students, were seriously indisposed for 
 jjomc tune ; l)ut v»ere niercifuHv restored to health. Tins did 
 not abate his zeal for the })romolion of the cause in which he was 
 
 E i: 2 
 
220 MILE-END MEETING-HOUSE. [1800. 
 
 engaged. Finding the place which he had opened at Mile-End 
 veil attended with hearers and likely to be useful, he transformed 
 the premises into a small meeting house. The expence of this 
 alteration was about £260; for the whole of which he made 
 himself personally responsible. This pressed heavily upon him 
 for some time; but the liberality of his London friends and the 
 assistance of country churches at length relieved him, in a great 
 degree, from a burden much too heavy for his circumstances. 
 The place was opened, June 12, 1800, by Mr. (^now Dr.J 
 Newman, and Mr. T. The former preached from Luke xxiv. 
 47 ; and the latter from Acts xiv. 7. 
 
 A daring attempt was made. May l6, 1800, to assassinate 
 !iis Majesty, in Drury Lane Theatre, by a shot fired by one 
 Hadfield. On this occasion, congratulatory addresses were 
 presented to the throne from various quarters ; and the general 
 body of dissenting ministers in and near London, thought proper 
 to express their sense of gratitude for the preservation of a life 
 so important to the peace of society. The subject of this 
 Memoir, who, as we have seen, had been admitted into that 
 respectable society soon after his settling in London, and was 
 now member of two of its committees, was chosen one of the 
 deputies to present their address to the king. Accordingly he 
 and sixteen others waited on his Majesty for that purpose, 
 June 11, and were graciously received. Mr. T. mentions this 
 circumstance to a correspondent, who had made some enquiries, 
 in these terms. " With a measure of pleasure in one view and 
 of pain in another, I may just tell you, that I must, if spared, 
 •be called with some other ministers, I suppose in a few days, 
 to address his Majesty on his late happy deliverance — That you 
 and T may at last appear before the King of Kings and Lord of 
 Lords w ith exceeding joy, tlnough the efficacy of his own all- 
 cleansing blood, is the prayer of your's, alfectionately, D. T." 
 
 June IB, Mr. T. set out for the Annual Association at 
 Spalding, where he presided and preached. From thence he 
 went, at the request of that assembly, to Louth^ to secure a 
 mectiiig-house in that town, which the Association had agreed 
 to purchase. Having completed that business, he returned home 
 on July 4. In this journey, he preached at St. Tves, Chatteris, 
 Marcli, Fleet, Wisbcach, Tydd St. Giles, Gosbcrton, Spalding^ 
 Boston^ liurgl), Maltby and Coningsby. In October he visited 
 
AGED 03.] ENGAGEMENTS. 221 
 
 the same parts to supply Wisbcacli, ^vllicll was then destitute of 
 a pastor, where he spent two Lord's days. After visithig several 
 adjacent churches, he reached London, Nov. 5, having been 
 absent fifteen days, and preached fourteen times. 
 
 At home, a pleasing degree of harmony prevailed; and Mr.T. 
 and his friends strove together for the promotion of the cause of 
 their Saviour. Nor were their efforts wholly unsuccessful ; the 
 seasons of public worship were well attended, and several came 
 forward and declared themselves on the Lord's side. The pastor 
 continued his assiduous exertions to spread the gospel; not only 
 in his own pulpit, but at Mile-End, Poplar, Iloddesdon, Cane's 
 Place, &,c. where he preached frequently : besides taking his 
 share with other dissenting ministers in supporting Lectures for 
 charitable purposes, at Shakespear's Walk, Dean Street, and 
 other places. 
 
 The General Baptist Magazine had now continued three 
 years, but it did not meet with great encouragement. The Con- 
 nection, for the use of vvhich it was principally designed, had 
 yet acquired but little taste for reading. The Editor was com- 
 pletely occupied with engagements of the greatest moment, 
 which demanded his whole attention : he could not therefore 
 x^ither compose or select materials, with that taste and variety, 
 which are requisite to the success of a periodical work. Indeed 
 his talents were perhaps better adapted to close, serious and 
 continued disquisition, than to that light mode of treating sub- 
 jects which is proper for a miscellany. Probably too his judg- 
 ment might be influenced by the committee ; and pieces 
 sometimes admitted which would otherwise have been laid 
 jaside. However it was, the undertaking failed of success ; and 
 involved those who had engaged in it, in no little expence. It 
 W'as discontinued, at the close of this year; and the Editor 
 seized the occasion of the preface of the last volume, to give 
 a serious and edifying exhortation to his readers. 
 
 1801. June 17, Mr.T. set out for Yorkshire, and spent the 
 following Lord's day at VVadsworth: preaching, in the morning 
 and afternoon, at Birchcliff; and, in the evening, for his old 
 .esteemed friend, Dr. Fawcett, at Hebden i^ridge. On the 25th 
 he assisted at the ordination of Mr. Barker, over the church at 
 Birchclilf when lie delivered the introductory discourse, pro- 
 
^^ LABOURS. 11802, 
 
 posed tlie questions, offered the ordination prayer, and gave the 
 charge, from Malt. xx. 28. In the evening of the same day, he 
 addressed the young minister, from 2 Chron. xxxiv. 3; and spent 
 the following Lord's day with the churches at Queenshead and 
 Halifax. The next morning, he left Yorkshire; and, after 
 travelling all night, assisted, on Tuesday, at the ordination of 
 Mr. Felkin, at Kegworth. On this occasion, he took those 
 parts of the solemn work in which he had so lately engaged at 
 Birchclifif : founding the charge to the minister, on Ileb. xiii. 17. 
 From Kegworth, he went to Loughborough to the Association, 
 which commenced at seven o'clock the next morning. Jn the 
 afternoon, he preached from 3 Jolui 8. At this meeting, he 
 read the circular letter which, at the request of the former Asso- 
 ciation, he had prepared on " the Concurrence of the People 
 Avilh their Ministers in promoting the Literest of Christ," which 
 was approved and ordered to be printed. The Lord's day after 
 the Association, Mr. T. laboured at Nottingham ; and, on his 
 return homewards, preached at Leake, Melbourn, Castle- Don- 
 ington, Hugglescote, Hinckley, Longford and Wolvey. He 
 reached Loudon, at two in the morning of the Lord's day, July 
 12; and preached three times and administered the Lord's sup- 
 per to his own Rock. On this journey, he was absent twenty- 
 live days; and Ijesides attending two ordinations and the 
 Association, preached twenty-six tinies. 
 
 Li the latter part of this year, tiiis active minister, took two 
 short excursions: one in September to attend the London Con- 
 ference at IJaarston, Cambridgeshire; and the other in the 
 beginning of October, when he spent a Lord's day with the 
 church at Berkhamstead ; preaching in the morning at Chesham, 
 in the afternoon at Berkhamstead, and in the evening atTiing. 
 
 1802. In the former part of this year, our author was em- 
 ]^loyed in preparing and publishing a new edition of his 
 " Fundamentals of Kclin-iun," under the title of "Tlie Principal 
 Parts of the Christian Religion resj)ecting Faith and Practice." 
 'i'he corrections are numerous, and an entire chapter is added 
 on " the Operations of die Holy Spirit." In ad(htion to the 
 Dedication to the Clunch at \\ adsworth, which had been pre- 
 fixed to tile iirst tMlition, the autiior inscribed this imj)roved 
 impression to the Chuieli of Christ assembling in Cluucli Lane, 
 
A^,ED 04.] " PRINCIPAL PARTS." 223 
 
 A\ hitccliapel, ovcrwliicli ho then prrsldcd, in :in nddnvss full of 
 all'ection and piety. lie informs tlieni that this re-publicatioii 
 which had been earnestly requested for more than twenty years, 
 had been deferred from time to tinu^, uilh a view to inrrease 
 the nnml)er of improvements and rt ruler the work more perfect; 
 but, that his numerous and imjiortant avocations preventing hiiu 
 from giving it that attention which he wislied to give it, and 
 being sensible that he ought not to expect the vigour of his mind, 
 or' even his life, should be long continued, he had presented it 
 to his friends in a less perfect state, lest lie should not be able to 
 do it at all. This edition, however, allbrds j)leasing evidence 
 of the care and industry of the autlior; and, in many instances, 
 has received important improvement from his increased know- 
 ledge and experience. ]5ut, at the same time, it furnishes a 
 laudable instance of steadiness of sentmient. Twenty-seven 
 years of study and controversy had not led him to change any 
 important opinion advanced in the first edition. " In an age 
 like the present," he observes to his friends at Church Lane, 
 " in which the peculiar truths of the gospel are so much slighted 
 and so frequently despised, every one who loves the blessed 
 Redeemer and the immortal souls of men, ought to esteem it 
 his duty and his honour to bear a testimony for those doctrines. 
 The author ventures to say, that he takes a sensible pleasure in 
 once more bearing a testimony for them before he leaves the 
 present state of folly and darkness." 
 
 The Association was in London this year; and, through 
 some mistake, no circular letter being prepared, Mr. T. was 
 requested to draw up an Address to the Churches, founded on a 
 view of their present state, as reported to this meeting. This he 
 performed in a very edifying manner, and printed it with the 
 Minutes. 
 
 x\fter the Association, he made an excursion into Wiltshire, 
 and spent two Lord's days at Downton. He arrived at home, 
 July 9, and found his family and friends well. On this occasion 
 he makes this rejection: " Bless the Lord, O my soul, for all 
 his mercies to a poor, unfaithful, unfruitful creature. Lord, help 
 me now more than ever to dedicate my time, talents and life to 
 the promotion of thy glory. Amen." 
 
 Towards the close of this year, Mr. T. was twice enaa""cd in 
 the solemn work of ordination. Oct. .'31, he gave a charge to 
 
224 LABOURS. [1803. 
 
 Mr. John Kingsford, at Portsca, from Tit. i. 7. Dec. 2, he 
 assisted at the setting apart of Mr. Jos. Hobbs, to be co-pastor 
 with Mr. E. Sexton, over the church at Berkhamstead, Chesham 
 and Tring. ^Ir. T. delivered an introductory discourse ; pro- 
 posed the questions to the church, to the minister, and to four 
 brethren \vho were then ordained to the office of Deacons ; 
 cno-aged in the ordination prayer; addressed the pastors, from 
 Acts XX. 28 ; in the afternoon, gave a charge to the deacons, 
 from 1 Pet. iv. 11; and in the evening, preached to the 
 church, from I Thess. v. 13. A busy day for a man of sixty- 
 four. 
 
 Towards the close of this year, some very unhappy circum- 
 stances transpired, which involved the church at Birchcliif in 
 great difficulty. In their perplexity, they applied to their former 
 pastor for advice and assistance: and in compliance with their 
 request, he set out for Yorkshire, Dec. 23, and returned to Lon- 
 don, Jan. 6, 1803. His presence and councils, on this trying 
 occasion, were very useful to his ancient friends. 
 
 1 803. This year Mr. T. was, as usual, busily engaged in his 
 «-reat work of promoting the spread of the gospel. April 23, he 
 attended the London Conference at Chatham; and was re- 
 quested to publish a new edition of his letter on the duties of 
 church members to each other. June 28, he attended the 
 Association at Derby. July 22, he set out to supply Downton, 
 Wilts, for two Lord's days. Before he left home, he entered in 
 his Diary. " Going off for Downton, Lord, go with me. 
 Guide me ; preserve me ; and keep me from all evil ; and render 
 my poor labours useful to the souls of men." On his return, 
 he observes. " Aug. 4, returned home. O the obligations 
 under which I lie to bless and praise my gracious God for his 
 great goodness to me, my family, and my friends ! Lord, grant 
 that I may live under the impression of thy loving kindness more 
 scnsiblv than ever I have done!" In October, he visited 
 Lincolnshire, and preached at the opening of two meeting- 
 houses ; one at Sutterton, on the 23d, and the other at Wisbeach 
 on the 27th. The day following he attended a conference at 
 I'ydd St. Giles, Mhen he preached from Acts xvi. 17. 
 
 This year, Mr. T. who, since his removal to London had 
 occasionally attended the general assembly in Worship Street^ 
 
AGED 6G.] INDISPOSITIUN. 22. > 
 
 and thus maintained a degree of correspondence with that body, 
 informed the Association, tliat, in consequence of liis increasing 
 disapprobation of the sentiments espoused by too many of the 
 members of the general assendjly, he must in futuie decline 
 attencbng it: and, it is believed, that he was seldom present af- 
 terwards at any of its meetings. About the same tinie, he joined 
 a weekly meeting for prayer, conductt-d by many of the dls- 
 .senting ministers in London; at which he assisted with great 
 punctuality. 
 
 1804. This spring, Mr. T. was seriously indisposed. March 
 27, he informs Mr. F — n, " I am now greatly an invalid: have 
 had a cou<ih and shortness of breath for manv weeks. I am 
 told bv the doctor that my lungs are intiamed, and am forbidden 
 to preach : so that I have been kept from that work, which is 
 the principal pleasure of my life, both liie last Lord's days, as 
 well as on the week days. I have, besides much purging and 
 blistering, been copiously bled; and am now told that it will be 
 necessary for me to be cupped. But, through mercy, the 
 symptoms are favourable; and I have reason to think the In- 
 flammation is much abated, if not removed. 1 am now under 
 restraint as to preaching, and told that I must not preach much, 
 if at all, for a considerable time to come. But I am under 
 some obligations which I must discharge, if possible, though 
 with great caution; to preach the annual sermon, the next week, 
 for the first dissenting school in England, instituted at Queen 
 Anne's death — a sermon at the London Conference, at Portsea, 
 the week after — and a charge to brodier Smedley at Downton, 
 the week after that. From that little excursion, I have con- 
 siderable hopes of improvement in health. Besides I must do 
 what 1 can for my own dear people. The Lord do what seems 
 him good. I rejoice in the hope of his glory. Poor religion 
 that cannot support a dying hour! Blessed be God for an 
 atoning Saviour." In his Diary of the same date, he observes, 
 " I am, through the blessing of my heavenly Father, now con- 
 siderably easier and better: and am beginning, though very 
 cautiously, to resume the functions of my high and holy calling. 
 Dropped a few words the night before last, in the vestry, about 
 twelve minutes ; and about half an hour last night at Mile- End ; 
 and hope to say a little in Church F^ane, this evening. Thank 
 
 I 
 r r 
 
- ( 
 
 2^^ ORDINATIONS. [1804, 
 
 be to God for all his mercies I O Lord, may I never live to 
 myself but to thee !" 
 
 -April 1, he resumed his beloved labours in his own pulpit; 
 and, on the following day, preached the annual sermon for the 
 Original Protestant Dissenters' Charity School, Shakespear's 
 Walk. On the 9th. he set out for the Conference at Portsea; 
 and, after preaching there, he went forwards to Downton, where 
 he delivered a charge to Mr. VV. S medley, from 1 Tim. iv. 12, 
 and returned to London on the 20th. After his return, lie 
 informed Mr B. " I have lately made a journey into Wiltshire, 
 &c. of ten days ; which has been very serviceable to me. 1 
 only preached four times on the journey, and that very cau- 
 tiously; three occasional sermons, and one common one. 
 Blessed be God, my mind was and is happy in the views of 
 death, as it respects myself; and I wish not to live but for him 
 that died for me." 
 
 May 21, Mr. T. set out for the Association. On the 22d. 
 he assisted at the ordination of Mr. J. Jarrom, over the GeneraF 
 Baptist church atWisbeach: when he offered the ordination 
 prayer, and gave a charge to the minister, from 2 Tim. ii. 15» 
 On the following day, he presided and preached at the Associa- 
 tion; and at this meeting, made a motion which deeply affected 
 his brethren. He observed, that, as according to the common 
 course of nature, he could not expect to be able long to act a& 
 Tutor to the Academy, he thought it prudent for the Association 
 to look out for some other person to sustain that office after his 
 removal. This proposition was esteemed worthy of attention ; 
 and a committee was appointed to confer with Mr. T. on the 
 subject. To this committee, he mentioned a person who, in his 
 opinion, might, by properly directing his studies, be qualified 
 at some fuUire time for the office. It was not thought prudent 
 to divulge the name of this gentleman ; but it has generally beeit 
 supposed that this recommendation had an influence in the 
 choice of his successor. 
 
 Ever anxious to promote the cause of his Redeemer and the 
 usefulness of his fellow-labourers in the gospel, he seized every 
 opportunity of encouraging plans to advance these important 
 objects. In his Memoranda, under date Aug. 1804, we find- 
 the following entry. " At a meeting for prayer and consultation 
 ut Mr.SheRston's, present Mr. ,T. B. Shenston, Mr. J. Kingsford,. 
 
AGED 
 
 (37.] LA8T CIRCULAR. ^7 
 
 Mr. D.Taylor, and Mr. J.Tarratt occasionally, resolved, That 
 a meeting for conversation and prayer be lield by us every second 
 Tuesday in the quarter — that none but preachers be admitted — 
 that the meetings be at Mr. T.'s, Mr. Shenston's, avni Mr. 
 Kingsford^s in rotation, and begin at five precisely — that after 
 prayer, we proceed to make remarks on each others preaching, 
 &c. — that every minister be at liberty to ask his brethren ques- 
 tions, &c. as may seem to him proper." This meeting was 
 continued for some time, till circumstances occurred which 
 separated the members. It is easy to conceive that opportunities 
 of frequently consulting each other in cases of difficulty, and of 
 hearing the free observations of tlieir brethren on their conduct 
 and labours, must conduce greatly to their mutual advantage. 
 The vounger ministers indeed must have found these stated in- 
 terviews with a person of so much wisdom and experience, and 
 so ready to communicate, as Mr. T. was, highJy advantageous. 
 
 Oct. 23, the subject of this Memoir assisted at the ordination 
 of Mr. Driver, at Hoddesdon; to whom he gave a charge from 
 £zek. iii. 17. 
 
 There appears to have been -some improvement in the state of 
 religion at Church Lane this year: the church being peaceful 
 and unanimous^ and ten having been added by baptism. 
 
 1805. At the Association at Leicester this year, M. T. read 
 the Letter which, at the request of the preceding meeting, he 
 had prepared on " the Atonement of Christ." In this circular 
 lie explains, confirms, and improves the great doctrine, that the 
 blessed Saviour laid dow n his life as a sacrifice for our «ins, and 
 that this sacrifice is the only ground of our pardon and accept- 
 ance with God: a doctrine which, through the whole course of 
 his ministry, it had been his favourite employment to illustrate 
 and enforce; and to which, in this his last printed circular, he 
 bears his decided testimony as a " truth that lies at the foundation 
 of all human hope." 
 
 From tlie Association, Mr. T. went to Louth, where he deli- 
 vea'cd an introductory discourse at the ordination of Mr.Cameiou, 
 |3roposed the usual questions, and gave a charge to the minister 
 from Col. iv. 17. He was again engaged in this pleasing 
 service, Oct. 24th, at Sutterton, when his son-in-law, Mr. J. 
 Bissill, was ordained to the pastoral office over the church al 
 
 f F Q. 
 
228 *' PREPARATORY STUDIES." [1806. 
 
 Gosbertoii. On this occasion, lie gave an introductory discourse, 
 offered the ordination prayer, and addressed the minister from the 
 appropriate words of the wise man; P?'ov. xxiii. 15, 16: "My 
 son, if tliine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine: yea 
 my reins shall rejoice when thy lips shall speak right things." 
 
 180(3. I'he Association being at Queenshead this year, Mr. 
 T. had an opportunity of vi&iting his old friends. He preached 
 at tlie Association, June 24, from Matt. ix. 38. From the 
 Association, he went to Wadsvvorth; and, on the following 
 Lord's day preached two sermons in his former meeting- 
 house, and one for Dr. Favvcett. On the Tuesday, he was 
 enoaoed at the ordination of ]Mr. Hollinrake over the church 
 at Birchciiff; when he delivered an introductory discourse, 
 offered the ordination prayer, and gave a charge to the minister, 
 from 1 Tim. iv. 6. On the Wednesday, he preached at Shore; 
 on the Thursday, at Burnley, and on the Lord's day at Halifax 
 and Queenshead. At the latter place, he delivered a funeral 
 discourse for his brother's wife, who had died several months 
 previously, from Psalm xxxiv. 19. On the Monday morning, 
 he set out for the midland counties; and on the following 
 day, preached at Nottingham. On the Wednesday, the 
 friends and supporters of the Academy over which he presided, 
 assembled at Loughborough, to whom, according to a previous 
 appointment, he preached on " the Nature and Importance of 
 preparatory Studies prior to entering on the Christian Ministry." 
 This discourse was founded on Matt. xiii. 52; and was after- 
 wards published at the earnest request of those who heard it. 
 It has been characterized by conipetent judges, as " a serious 
 and judicious discourse, wholly directed to its important object, 
 and replete with useful and weighty instruction." From Lough- 
 l;orough, Mr. T. proceeded to Hinckley, where he preached on 
 the following evening. The next day, he went forward to 
 Longford, and assisted at the ordination of Mr. Cramp over 
 the church in that place; whom he addressed fiom 1 Cor. iv. 2, 
 He set out for London the next morning, and arrived safely 
 nt liome on tiie Saturday evening, and on the following day, 
 preached three times and adn\inistered the Lord's Supper to his 
 own people. 
 
 At the Association, it wa^ stated ihat there appeared to be ai\ 
 
AGED 68.] JOURNEYS. T^) 
 
 opportunity for reviving the General Baptist cause in Salisbury; 
 and that Assembly was requested to endeavour to procure minis- 
 terial supplies for a meeting-house in that town, wliicli it was 
 supposed might be obtained. The Association thought the 
 subject worthy of attention ; and requested Mr. T. to pay a visit 
 to Salisbury, with a view of making the requisite inquiries and 
 forming a plan for future operations. In conipliance with this 
 request, he set out on Monday, July 21 ; spent one Lord's day 
 at Salisbury, and returned home on the ensuing Friday. In this 
 excursion, he preached twice for Mr. Saffery at Salisbury, 
 twice in the meeting-house already mentioned, twice at Down- 
 ton, and once at Lyndhurst. It does not appear that any 
 permanent effects followed this visit. 
 
 January 27, 1806, died Mr. A. Booth, the worthy pastor of 
 the Particular Baptist Church in I.itlle Prescot Street; a 
 minister with whom Mr. T. had lived on the most friendly 
 terms, and whose advice he had often sought in cases of diffi- 
 culty. Mr. T. was much affected with the loss of his valuable 
 friend; and paid a tribute of respect to his memory, in a sermon 
 which he delivered to his own people, Feb. 2, from 1 Pet, v. 4, 
 which he appears to have entertained some thoughts of com- 
 mitting to the press, under the title of " The good Shepherd 
 crowned." After Mr. B.'s death, Mr. T. consented to make a 
 catalogue of his books, which he thus notices to his friend, 
 Mr. F — n, April 25. " The family of my late friend Mr. B. 
 applied to me, requesting me to superintend the disposal of his 
 books. I could not refuse on account of former friendship, 
 though my leisure is so small. I have therefore made them a 
 catalogue, by which they are selling them by private contract, 
 at the prices affixed. This catalogue has obtained the applause 
 of men of judgment, both booksellers and readers. I know 
 your curiosity, and therefore send you one for five minutes' 
 amusement." As we have not had the pleasure to see this 
 famous catalogue, we cannot describe its peculiar excellencies. 
 
 1807. In the beginning of this year, our minister took a 
 journey into the midland counties. The friends at Hinckley had 
 iLMected a spacious meeting-house, and wished to enjoy his 
 assistance at the opening of it. In compliance with their 
 invitation, he set out for l^eicester, Feb. 16, where he attended m 
 
250 REMOVAL. [1808. 
 
 conference the following day; and preached from 1 Tim. iv. 7, 8. 
 The next day he proceeded to Hinckley; and delivered a dis- 
 course, at the opening of the new building, from Exod. xx. 24; 
 ^Ir. R. Hall, of Leicester, preached in the morning ; and 
 INIr. B. Pollard, in the evening. 
 
 June 24, he preached at the Association at Nottingham, 
 from Jxev. ii. 10. He spent the following Lord's day with the 
 friends in that town, and, visiting several of the churches on his 
 way, reached London on the Friday afternoon. " Through 
 mercy," he observes, " I found my family and friends all well. 
 O Lord, how often have 1 been thus favoured for more thaii 
 forty years ! Blessed be thy holy name ! O that my few re- 
 maining years or days may be spent for thy glory, with more 
 humility, zeal and diligence than any of my past years." 
 
 1808. The church over which Mr. T. presided was, in the 
 beginning of this year, much distracted by intestine commotions. 
 The conduct of one of the members who had been a leading 
 person for some time, was not so circumspect as might have 
 been desired. Being deeply engaged in trade, and disposed too 
 much to speculate, he was sometimes tempted or driven to 
 expedients which some thought inconsistent with the honour of 
 religion. Several conscientious members of the society felt 
 dissatisfied at his conduct; and their dissatisfaction was fomented 
 by some, who were probably not solely actuated by a regard to 
 the good of the cause. The pastor unhappily took a decided 
 part widi the discontented. Unacquainted as he was with the 
 intricacies and difficulties of business, and rigid in his attach- 
 ment to integrity and uprightness, it was easy to lead his unsus- 
 picious mind to disapprove of many things which others, more 
 acquainted with affairs and less scrupulous, might regard as 
 venial transgressions, or necessary evils. The part which the 
 minister took had the natural effect of irritating some of the 
 opposite party. After frequent and painful discussions, the 
 matter was determined by a vote, which acquitted the party 
 accused of censure. The baneful effects of these altercations 
 continued for a long time to injure the church ; and prepared the 
 way for much future dissatisfaction. 
 
 June 27, Mr. T. attended the Association at Bourn, Lin- 
 colnshire, and preached from ^^cts vi. 17 — 19. He was obliged 
 
AGED 
 
 70.1 INBISPOSlTIOrf. 231 
 
 to hasten home, on account of a severe boil on his back, wliich 
 soon became a large and dangerous abscess. He was confined 
 to his house for six weeks; and for some time hh life appeared 
 in great (huiger ; but, by the divine blessing on the means used, he 
 at lengtli recovered, though very slowly. Much affectionate con- 
 cern was manifested by the church, wlien his danger was known, 
 and notwithstanding the late contentions, it was unanim(3usly 
 resolved, July 11, *^ to hold a weekly prayer-meeting for the 
 purpose of offering up united prayers for his recovery and the 
 prosperity of the church." — Aug. 26, he gave this account of 
 himself to his friend Mr. B. " You have laid me under strong: 
 obligations by so earnestly soliciting me to give you an account 
 of the state of my health. To refuse you this gratification would 
 be unworthy of me; though I have neither time nor strength to 
 write much, and am employed in the like instances of love and 
 duty to many of my friends. I can never pretend that a life of 
 so little use, and now almost worn out, deserves so much anxiety 
 as my friends manifest for its preservation. It was a great 
 mercy for myself, my family and my friends, that I resolved to 
 come home when I did. I have been favoured with one of the 
 first surgeons in London; and he has throughout treated me 
 with all the care, punctuality and tenderness that a parent 
 could desire or expect from his own son. ^ly abscess is nearly 
 healed, and I get strength, though but slowly. I suppose 
 the blood does not flow, nor the spirits circulate now at seventy as 
 they did at thirty. I have been six Lord's days out of the pulpit ; 
 but I ventured to drop a short discourse the last Lord's day 
 morning. I much desire to preach twice the next Lord's day; 
 but whether it will be prudent I cannot tell. Almost every 
 thing fatigues me: indeed to live so long upon mere vegetables, 
 with so little sleep and so copious a discharge, must be felt. 
 jMy appetite improves a little, though very gradually. On the 
 whole, I praise our heavenly Father ; and sincerely desire, that, 
 ikmi if my life be continued a little longer, it may be devoted to 
 him who died for me." 
 
 In perfect c(>nformity to the sentiment expressed in die conclu- 
 sion of this extract, was the text which he chose when he lirst 
 ascended the pulpit after this indisposition. It w as Phi/. 1 . 20, 
 *' Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or 
 by death." FT is wish to preach twice on the ensuing sabbath 
 
232 GREAT SUFFOLK-STREET CHAPEL. [1809. 
 
 was disappointed ; he was only able to address his friends once, 
 from 2Co/".vi. 10 : "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." These 
 subjects exhibit a true view of the state of his mind : tranquil 
 and ready to quit the world; but desirous that if he lived, he 
 might be devoted with increasinji dilicjence to the service of his 
 Saviour. Though still feeble, he attended the London Confer- 
 ence at Chatham, Sept. 14, and preached from Heb. x. 25; but 
 it was not till Oct. IG, that he ventured to preach thrice on the 
 Lord's day. On this occasion, he observes : " Through mercy, 
 I got through the work with moderate ease : blessed be the 
 name of the Lord ! Help me, heavenly Father, to lay out myself 
 and all my powers for thee to the end of my life." 
 
 IS09. This w'as a year of great labour and heavy affliction to 
 the worthy subject of these Memoirs. Though now advanced 
 in years and surrounded with domestic trials, he was as zealous 
 as ever in his exertions to promote the cause of his Redeemer. 
 The ancient General Baptist church in the Borough of South- 
 wark, which he had some years before been the means of pre- 
 serving from extinction, was again reduced to a very low state. 
 Having lost their meeting-house through the neglect of the 
 trustees, the few members had met, for several years, in a smali 
 outhouse fitted up for a temporary place of worship. Early in 
 this year, they were obliged to leave this situation, and driven to 
 the necessity of assembling for social devotion in a room be- 
 longins to one of their dwelling houses. To increase their 
 embarrassments, their minister changed his sentiments and left 
 them at Lady-day. Thus destitute of a meeting-house and a 
 minister, the cause seemed hastening to dissolution. At this 
 critical moment, Mr. T. stept forwards, and exerted himself to 
 prevent the few remaining friends from being scattered : preach- 
 ing frequently for them himself, and encouraging his students to 
 supply them. Not content with this, he determined to attempt 
 to provide them a meeting-house. In conjunction with two or 
 three other friends, he hired a piece of ground, and erected a 
 plain but substantial building, in Great Suffolk Street. The 
 first stone was laid, July 27 ; when he delivered an oration from 
 Psahii xc. 17, '* Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon 
 us ; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea the 
 work of our hands establish thou it." In order to raise the 
 
ACED 71.] MRS. T.'S Dr^vTII. 233 
 
 necessary funds, he went, accompanied wldi one or oilier of liis 
 friends, round London; and being iiighly respected by tlic pro- 
 fessors of did'erent denominations, obtained a considerable sum. 
 The building was opened, Oct. {) ; when his friends, the IJev. 
 W. J3. Collyer, D. 1). and the Rev. J. Hughes, M. :\. favoured 
 him with their assistance and count(.'nance; each delivering u 
 suitable discourse, while Mr. T. contented liimself widi the 
 humbler service of giving out the liymns. On the following- 
 Lord's day, he preached in this new building from th<isc appro- 
 priate words of the prophet Samuel to the Israelites, " Only fear 
 the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart : for consider 
 how irreat thins;? he hath done for vou." 1 Sam. xii. 24. 
 
 V 
 
 But durnig these public exertions he was subjected to very 
 heavy domestic trials. While he was attending the Association 
 atQuorndon, one of his daughters, for whom he had a particular 
 regard, died, and on his return, he was called to perform the 
 mournful duty of preaching her funeral sermon ; which he did 
 July 2, from Rev. x. 4 — 13. His wife also exhibited soon after- 
 wards symptoms of indisposition which excited his fears; but 
 favourable appearances succeeding, in some measure dissipated 
 them. Aug. 28, he addresses Mr. Fr — n thus: "I hope you 
 still enjoy the summit of human happiness, Mens sana in corpore 
 sa?io.* May this blessing be continued to you I I think, through 
 divine mercy, I and my family are again looking up, and rising 
 above the family trials we have lately had. Blessed be our 
 heavenlv Father 1 Lord, make us more humble and holv, wise 
 and happy." But these hopes were delusive: in a short time, 
 Mrs. T.'s complaints returned with renewed violence; and 
 on Oct. 14, she expired. She was interred on the 20th, when 
 Rev. Mr. Kello, of Bethnal Green, spoke at the grave; and on the 
 Lord's day following, Mr. Austin, of Fetter Lane, improved the 
 solemn event at Church Lane, from Jolni iii. 28, 29. In his 
 Diary, he styles this " a long dark week;" and Nov. IG, writes 
 thus to his friend Mr. Fr — n : '' ^ on have heard of th.e breach 
 which it has pleased our heavenly Father to make in my family, 
 by the death of my late dear and very valuable wife. A breach 
 like this, I think, all things considered, cannot be repaired, 
 in the present world; though our God and Father knows 
 
 * A sound mind in a hoaitliriil body. 
 G G 
 
234 LABOUUS. [1809. 
 
 liow to sii])ply, support and render it beneficial in various 
 other respects. In some measure I wish to be wholly resigned 
 to his righteous will, and work. A wife of so much good 
 nature, so much suited to the circumstances of my family, who 
 has been an unspeakable blessing to myself, my numerous family, 
 and to the church for more llian fifteen years, cannot be lost 
 without painful sensations. But the Lord is good, and I am 
 called upon, instead of murmuring, to bless his holy name for 
 such domestic comfort so Ions; continued. Pray for me." 
 
 Hut hrs private afflictions did not cause him to neglect his 
 public duties, or to withdraw from engagements which appeared 
 to him important. On the second day after the death of his 
 valued partner, he preached in the new meeting-house in Great 
 Suffolk Street, and administered the Lord's supper to the few 
 friends at that place. In a week afterwards, he set out on a 
 journey to Lincolnshire, to collect for the building ; and, after 
 preaching and begging at St. Ives, March, VVisbeach, Fleet, Sut- 
 terton, and Boston, he returned Nov. 11, to his own people^ 
 On Christmas day, after preaching to his own friends, he set out 
 again with the same object, to visit the churches in Leicester- 
 shire. How anxious he was to promote this object, and de- 
 sirous of filling up his time to the best advantage, appears fron> 
 the letter to Mr. F. already quoted. " I have been a journey," 
 he says, *' among five of our churches in Lincolnshire, and Fleet 
 church, collecting for Suffolk Street meeting-house. I think I 
 succeeded pretty well, all things considered. I am also en- 
 couraged to visit, at Christmas, our friends at Loughborouoh, 
 Quorndon, Rodiley, and Leicester. I wisli we could find 
 another to fill up the time of that journey. Could IT — y thus^ 
 gratify us? 1 leave it widi you: I push nothing; but shall 
 thankfully acknowledge every favour. I can only be out one 
 Lord's day, and spend that at Rothley, Quorndon, and Lough- 
 borough; but could spend perhaps two days and three nights at 
 and about II — y, if admitted. Shall much thank you for a 
 speedy answer." 
 
 This year our author appeared, for the last time, in the field 
 of controversy, in defence of the dignity of his great Master. 
 jNIr. Davies, of Helper, in Derbyshire, had preached a sermon 
 to the Unitarians of that place, on Christmas-day, ISOS, to dis- 
 j)rove tilt i::iiu(ulniis conception of our Saviour; and, at the 
 
AGED 71.] RKri.Y TO MU. DAVIKy. 235 
 
 request of the hearers, had piiiitecl it, under Uic tide of " J< sus 
 of Nazareth, Uie Sou of Joseph." Tlie eliu f uient of this 
 •chscoursc consisted in boldness of assertion aii<l an ;nro<ranl 
 iissuuiption of suj>erior wisdom and discernment. It exeited, 
 however, some attention in the neighbouiliood, and awakened 
 the fears of tike friends of ti>c gospel. Several thought it re- 
 quired an answer, and united in requesting Mr. T. to undertake 
 the task; olVering, we believe, to indemnify him from the ex- 
 pence of publication. For some time he deelined the engagc- 
 jiiicnt, through a persuasion that die sermon neither required nor 
 tleserved an answer. But svhen lie had been more fully informed 
 of the local circumstances, he consented ; and soon after pub- 
 lished a reply, which he intitled, " Jesus, the only begotten Son 
 of God." Tliis tract is comprised in seven Letters to a gentle- 
 man in the neighbourhood, by whose intluence principally he 
 had been induced to publish it; and animadverts closely on 
 Mr. D.'s discourse, it contains much good sense, and many 
 interesting facts ; and, when we consider the age of the auUior, 
 his manj avocations, and liis domestic afflictions, does great 
 <:redit to his abilities and piety. But the extreme weakness anil 
 superficial nature of the piece to which lie replied, prevented 
 him from making the answer as excellent and convincing as it 
 doubdess would have been, had he been engaged with a more 
 .able adversary. With this work he took leave of controversy, 
 in which he appears, on this occasion, to have very unwillingly 
 engaged. ^* Controversy;" he says, "never was, 1 can truly 
 pronounce it, agreeable to my disposition, and less so now in 
 iidvanced life. If it please my heavenly Father, it will be most 
 Jiappy to employ the whole of my few remaining days in con- 
 templating the glories of a future world, which ought to be now 
 particularly kept in prospect. But if it appear necessary to 
 engage again in the disagreeable employment of disputation, I 
 would say, ' the will of the Lord be done.' ** 
 
 i\t the Association this year, Mr. T. produced a circuhu* 
 letter " on Covetousness," which at the request of a former meet- 
 ing he had prepared. This was read, a})proved and ordered to 
 he printed with the Minutes. J^y some accident, it was lost 
 before publication, and therefore never appeared. I'liis wa« 
 ihe last engagement of this nature which he undertook. After 
 Jjaving been the Ubual author of these adchesses from the liri^t 
 
 c (. ^ 
 
236 EMBARRASSMENTS. [1810. 
 
 foMiratlon of Uic New Connection, he now gave way to others; 
 of whom the majority owed their qualificationy for the work to 
 his instructions. 
 
 IS 10. This was a season of great darkness in the church 
 over which x.Ir. T. presided. The Report to the Association, 
 which assembled in London, June 26, ran in these gloomy 
 strains : " This has been a year of severe trials. Roots of bitter- 
 ness springing up amongst us have troubled us : so much so 
 that christian love and peace appear, in a great measure, to have 
 Hcd ; and dissatisfaction and disunion too much prevail." The 
 baneful effects of this state of things were painfully apparent in 
 the decline of the hearers, and the want of zeal in the members. 
 So low indeed was the cause sunk, that it was found necessary, 
 or at least it was thought necessary, to diminish the income of 
 the pastor, by at least one-third part. 
 
 His zeal, however, for the prosperity of the connection w^ith 
 which he stood united, suffered no abatement from his private 
 difficulties. Being obliged to quit the house in which he had 
 resided for some time, and not readily meeting with another 
 which he thought suitable for the accommodation of the students, 
 he determined, contrary to the advice of most of his friends, to 
 build a house, for this purpose, in Purim Place. In this under- 
 taking, he not only sunk what little property he possessed, but 
 involved himself in debts, which the continued decrease of his 
 income prevented him from discharging. In order to meet these 
 demands, he was induced to dispose of the greatest part of his 
 large and valuable library, on most disadvantageous terms. But 
 even this sacrifice, painful as it must have been to a mind so 
 devoted to reading, was insufficient; and after several years' 
 struggle, he was obliged to sell the house itself,- at a great loss. 
 Indeed, such had been the depression in the value of property, 
 that it j^roduced little more than a sufficiency to liquidate the 
 "debts which remained upon it. 
 
 Towards the close of this year he went into Yorkshire, to 
 collect for Suffolk-Street meetin<i;-house, and to assist at the set-? 
 ting apart of his nephew, Mr. James Taylor, to the pastoral oflice 
 over the newly formed church at Hepstonstall Slack. In the 
 prospect of this excursion, we find him laying his plans with all 
 the alacrity of youth. '' I thank you," he observes to his 
 
AGED 72.] LABQURS. 237 
 
 iicphcw, Sept. 14, " for so far interesting yourself in IjclKilf of 
 our few poor friends in Great Snffolk Street, and your frii nds 
 in Yorkshire for kindly taking up their case. May you and they 
 ever prosper ! At last T have concluded on the plan of my 
 journey, God willing. I am confined at home till the 1 1th 
 Oct. because our Lord's Su})per is on that day. I hope there- 
 fore to set out on the morning of the loth, and be at Queens- 
 head on the 17th; at Halifax, on the ISth; to preach at 
 Queenshead and Halifax, on Lord's day, the 21st; to be at 
 Birchcliff, on the 22d ; Slack, on the 23d ; Shore, 24th ; Burn- 
 ley, 25th ; at Birchcliff and Slack, on Lord's day, 28th ; to stop 
 in that neighbourhood till the 3 1st in the mornmg, and then set 
 off for home. If I can be at any place in the mean time, or on 
 any of the vacant days and be wanted, I am willing to do all I 
 can. I would wish my journey and plan to be made known to 
 my dear friend, Mr. Fawcett, that if he and his people should, 
 as usual, wish me to preach in their place on Lord's day, the 
 28th, I may do it. All else I leave to your arrangement. May 
 all our separate and social endeavours be for the glory of our 
 Saviour's great name !" 
 
 About this time, he appears to have busily engaged in offices 
 of kindness for his country friends, which his increasing years 
 rendered more burdensome to him than they had formerly been. 
 Persons in the country, having seldom very adequate ideas of the 
 extent of London or the engagements of its inhabitants, often 
 intrude, by their connuissions, on the time and temper of their 
 friends in town much more than they suspect. This appears to 
 have been the case with Mr. T. In a letter to Mr. Fr — n, 
 dated Dec. l.S, 1810, he observes, " I am almost worn down 
 wath writing and other labours for my friends. But, I trust, I 
 experience something of the luxury of doing good, though I am 
 daily sensible that 1 have been and still am an unprofitable ser- 
 vant, and wish to live a life of unfeigned penitence in the con- 
 sideration of it. Were my heart more impressed with the love 
 of Christ, my obedience and zeal would be less interrupted and 
 more spiritual." 
 
 1811. On March 24th, ISIr. T. married his third wife, 
 Mary Toplis, the widow of one of his deacons. The disparity 
 in age and several other circumstances connected with this 
 
238 ^iRs. smedley's death. [1812. 
 
 unioii; gave great offence to many. Though there is every 
 reason to believe that he acted from principles of conscience, 
 and did what lie thought right in the sight of God, yet his best 
 friends considered this connection as very imprudent. Many 
 of the members of the church were decidedly averse to it, and 
 the general discontent was heightened by some of his nearest 
 relatives. Meetings were held to examine particulars, and if 
 possible to accommodate matters previous to the marriage ; but 
 nothing could be effected. An attempt was made to dismiss 
 him from the pastoral office ; but, on a personal appeal, more 
 than two-thirds of the members voted for his continuance with 
 them. In consequence of this decision, the most disaffected, to 
 the number of about thirty, withdrew from the church and left it 
 in a state of weakness and disunion, from which it has not yet 
 wholly recovered. 
 
 Yet, notwithstanding these discouragements, this zealous 
 minister was still anxious for the prosperity of religion. In the 
 spring of this year, he hired a room at Woolwich, and made an 
 attempt by himself and his students to establish preaching in 
 that town. The removal of the Academy and his own embar^ 
 rassments prevented the success of this attempt, after he had 
 spent much labour in it. He also continued to preach fre- 
 quently at Suffolk Street, till February 13; when Mr. Preston 
 was ordained to the pastoral office over that society, to whom he 
 addressed a charge from Prov. xxiii. lo. IG. 
 
 1812. This year, ISIr. T. Mas exercised with heavy domestic 
 affliction. His daughter, Mrs. Smedley, of Downton, having 
 been long indisposed, arrived in London in the latter part of 
 June, in hopes that a change of air and situation might be of 
 advantage to her health. She was affectionately received by her 
 father, and every attention paid to her that her circumstances 
 rendered necessary. 15ut she continued to decline, and sunk 
 into the arms of death, August 2, at four o'clock in the morn- 
 ing ; " when" as her. father observes to Mr. V — n, " I had sat up 
 all night, and had to preach three times that same day. This to 
 me was hard; but my consolation is that God does all things 
 well; blessed be his name! 1 am happy in the persuasion, that 
 bhe died in the Lord." On the following Lord's day, he im- 
 proved the aiiecting event, fiuin '2 Cor. xv. 67. This stroke 
 
AGED 74.] O. B. ACADRMY. 239 
 
 made a (1(h>|) impression on llic mind of licr voncraljlc parent : 
 and he fiv(|ncntly referred to it w itli great feelinp^. 
 
 Inimidiatcly after Mrs. Sniedley's dealli, Mrs. 1\ l)( «r;»n (o 
 decline. She continned to grow worse till Dee. IS; wIkm sIk^ 
 departed this life, and left him, a tliird time, a widower. At 
 this advanced stage of life, this was a serious loss; and he deeply 
 felt it. " The great Disposer of events," he observes, '* lias in 
 this visitation seen it wise and good to exercise me with a great 
 trial. My duty is to be still and know that he is God; to be 
 dumb and not to open my mouth because he hatli done it.*' 
 To him be everlasting praise, Amen." 
 
 But other circumstances contributed, at this time, to increase 
 ^Ir. T/s anxiety. The Academy of which he had acted as 
 Tutor from its commencement, was then managed, not by the 
 association, but by the contributors to its support. There had 
 always existed great objections to its being conducted in 
 London; both on account of the danger to which it was supposed 
 that the piety and morals of the students were exposed in the 
 metropolis; and because of its distance from almost all the 
 churches in the connection. Hitherto, respect for Mr. T.'s 
 character and abilities, and the difficulties of finding any other 
 person properly qualified to superintend such an institution, had 
 induced most of the supporters to acquiesce in the situation ; 
 but the late changes in the domestic connections of the Tutor 
 had been disapproved by several leading persons, and created a 
 degree of dissatisfaction. The Conunittee of Management 
 therefore judged it advisable to convene a general meeting of 
 the subscribers, at Loughborough, July 29th, to consider of the 
 state of the institution. This meeting appears to have been 
 " well attended, and it was unanimously agreed to request Mr. T. 
 to consider the practicability of his removal into some central 
 situation in the country, ^vhere he might more effectually serve 
 the interests of the Academy as its Tutor." 
 
 This request appears to have been unexpected by ^^r. T. 
 and to have caused him much anxious deliberation, lie was 
 attached to London on many accounts ; and at his age, it was 
 not pleasant t) break old connections and form new ones. But 
 as he observed, when soliciting Mr. B.'s advice on this subject, 
 Aug. 9, ISI'2, " To serve the cause in which I am engaged, and 
 the connection in w hieii I stand, I have lonj; considered as my 
 
240 G. B. ACADEMY. [1812. 
 
 second concern in this life." Tliouch he could not therefore be 
 ignorant that prejudices had gone abroad which had probably 
 occasioned this inquiry, he appears to have laid aside all other 
 feelings, except a desire to be useful to that interest to which he 
 had devoted his life : and after consulting with his friends, and 
 earnestly seeking divine direction, he addressed the committee 
 thus : " If such removal on due consideration appear eligible, 
 prudent and necessary, 1 see nothing that can render it imprac-^ 
 licable. i\nd to prevent unnecessary hesitation on your part, 
 1 beg leave to add, that, though I hope I may venture to say 
 without boasting;, that I have made some sacrifices to serve the 
 General Baptist interest for fifty-one years past, and this 
 removal will be a sacrifice incomparably greater than any of the 
 former, yet if the way appear open, and the removal necessary, 
 I am not disposed to decline it. I wish to spend my all, as I 
 trust I have ever done, in the best of causes." 
 
 "In the mean time, it must surely occur to your mind, that a 
 concern of such magnitude, and so complicated, must of neces- 
 sity be a work of time. To find, with general satisfaction this 
 central situation — a suitable house in that situation — to fit up, 
 and furnish that house for the purpose — to set a suitable Tutor 
 at liberty from his pastoral charge at home — to remove him at a 
 convenient time and in a convenient manner — to insure him a 
 sufficient living — to make the terms of his services mutually 
 agreeable, &c. These things certainly require time and no 
 small degree of consultation and deliberation. But, when they 
 are done, sliould I be then living and healthy, and should you 
 and the connection approve, wish and advise my removal, I 
 intend not to make any objection." 
 
 After some time the Committee met to deliberate on this 
 answer, and resolved that "having considered the statement con- 
 tained in Mr. Taylor's letter, it does not appear proper for us 
 to encourage his removal into the country." As therefore it had 
 been determined, at the former meeting, that the Academy could 
 not be supported in London, Mr.T.'s engagement as Tutor ter- 
 minated of course. His salary was continued to the foUowino- 
 T^Iidsummcr, and " the very sincere thanks of the meeting were 
 voted to him for his past, useful and faithful services." The 
 operations of the Academy continued suspended till the ensuing 
 association. 
 
AOKl) 7.).] <}. H. ACADKMY. 241 
 
 Mr. T. a|)|)enrs to luivo takt'ii only two jounievs this vear. 
 J II May, he was invited to set in order a uuinhcr of j)rofe.ssors, 
 who liad embraced the General Hapllst principhs and Iniilt 
 th(;niselves a nieeting-honse, at Ipswieli, in Suiiolk. ( )ii ihc; 
 <27th, lie opened the new building with a (hseonrse fioni I.sd'Hih 
 ii. :J. On the following day, xMr. Jark.son was ordained pastor 
 over this infant society, when Mr. 'i\ delivered a charge to him 
 from Acts XX. ^24. \\\ the evening, he addressed several 
 brethren who were then set apart to liie office of deacons, from 
 1 Pet. iv. 11. June 20lh, he presided at the Association at 
 W isheach, and preached from Autos iii. ;3. After the close of 
 the Association, he visited several of llie churclies and reached 
 home Jnly 1. 
 
 18I.'3. Mr. T. attended the Association at Hirmin«>ham, 
 June '22. On that day, he assisted at the ordination of 
 Mr. G. Cheatle, to the pastoral office over the church in that 
 town, to whom he delivered a charge from I'lcb. xiii. I7. On 
 the following day, he preached before the Association, from 
 Phil. ii. 1(), and reached London again July S. 
 
 At the Association, the supporters of the Academy resigned 
 the management of that institution into Uie hands of the Asso- 
 ciation. Various resolutions were adopted respecting its object, 
 and the method of conducting it. The (juestion naturally 
 occurred who should be the Tutor on the new constitution. 
 Several were zealous for the re-appointment of the former one ; 
 but most of Mr. T.'s best friends, when they considered his ad- 
 vanced age, the evident decline of his intellectual faculties, and 
 his peculiar domestic circumstances, a widower seventy-five 
 years of age, were constrained to admit the impropiiety of in- 
 cumbering him with an office, to the duties of which he was 
 every day becoming less competent, and which he would j)ro- 
 bably be soon compelled by incapacity to relin(|uibh. 'I'he 
 meeting therefore adopted unanimously the following resolution, 
 which was ordered to be printed in the Minutes. " The Associa- 
 tion, having a deep sense of the valuable services rendered by the 
 late venerable Tutor to the Connection ; his known attachment 
 to the great principles which distinguish this body from other 
 denominations ; and his long, useful and important labours in the 
 cause, would have been happy to have re-elected hiin to the 
 
 u 11 
 
S^'S INDISPOSITrON. [1814. 
 
 office : but considering bis very advanced age, the natural decays 
 of constitution and intellect, and bis domestic circumstances, 
 tbey feel themselves obliged to look for a younger man." Thus 
 honourably was he dismissed from the service of an institution 
 which be had laboured long and earnestly to establish, and had 
 conducted with diligence, fidelity and success, for fifteen years. 
 
 Soon after his retmn from the Association, he was affected 
 witli a dangerous indisposition, which laid him aside from his 
 ministerial duties for more than a month. Sept. 12, he thus 
 writes: " After a month's severe illness, I administered the 
 Lord's supper yesteiday. Blessed be God! Lord, if it please 
 thee, continue my recovery and increase my strength. Mercifully 
 quicken my soul and enable me still to be more useful to the 
 souls of men, and more diligent, w ise and zealous in the advance- 
 ment of thy blessed cause." His strength, however, returned but 
 slowly, and he was advised to retire for a time into the country. 
 He fixed on St. Ives, and wrote to his friend Mr. Birley, who 
 cordially invited him to his house. But finding himself improve 
 faster than he expected, he rej)lied thus, Oct. 25 : "I received 
 both your kind letters, and thank you for them. Several other 
 friends have kindly invited me into the country ^ but on account 
 of the season of the year — the expences of travelhno- — the 
 necessity for my being at home — and the good degree to which 
 my health and strength are restored, I have almost concluded to 
 continue at home. My disorder was said, by my physician, to 
 to be an inflammation in the bowels, attended with a typhus 
 fever ; so that, he tells me since, I w as as near death as I could 
 be. Blessed be God ! 1 have twice preached three times on 
 the Lord's day ; and hope I am doing well and getting strength 
 every week." 
 
 1814. Strong as Mr. T.'s constitution naturally was, it 
 began at length to yield to the weight of years and the effects 
 of incessant exertion. For some time, his intellectual powers 
 had exhibited symptoms of decreasing vigour, and now his 
 bodily strength gave way, and he became more susceptible of 
 the attacks of disease. He was twice confined by indisposition 
 during the course of this year: once, for three weeks, in March; 
 and again, for ten days, towards Christmas. Dec. 17, he writes 
 to his nephew, .lames Taylor : " I myself am but poorly. I have 
 
A<;Ed76.] JOUR^fEYS. 213 
 
 long laboured under the weight of a most violent cold ; but 
 through mercy, 1 think I am getting better rather than worse. 
 Lord, help us to employ our hours and days and years to the 
 honour of him who gives them. 1 am very feeble and tired; 
 but rejoicing in hopes of a better woi Id." 
 
 The Association this year was at Hirchcliff, and he seized 
 with pleasure the opportunity of visiting his former friends. 
 As both parties, when they considered his age, apprehendeil that 
 this might probably be their last interview, it was peculiarly 
 interesting and atfectionate. Livery one was anxious to obtain 
 a discourse from him. besides preaching at Queenshead, at 
 Halifax and lleptonstall-slack, and giving a charge to several 
 deacons, at whose ordinalion, he assisted at Hirchclitf; he 
 preached for his friend J)r. Favvcett, at llebden Bridge, and for 
 the Independents and Methodists at Ilalifeix. On all these 
 occasions, the congregations were crowded, and the people 
 anxiously eager to pay a last token of respect to this higldy 
 esteemed minister. Though he spent only twelve days in York- 
 shire, and was three days closely occupied with the business of 
 the Association, he preached twelve tiiues. 
 
 From Yorkshire, he proceeded to Birmingham, wliere he was 
 engaged to preach on Lord's day, July 3, for the benefit of the 
 Sunday school. He preached twice for this institution; and on 
 the following day, addressed a missionary prayer meeting. On 
 the 5th, he opened a large room for public worship at Burton- 
 upon-Trent; and, on the 7th, he preached at Duffield. He 
 spent Lord's day the 1 0th at Nottingham, and delivered three dis- 
 courses. On Monda}^, he preached at llkiston; on Tuesday, at 
 Smalley; on Wednesday, at Basford; and on Thursday at 
 Leicester. The ensuing Lord's day, he was engaged twice at 
 Leicester and once at liillesdon: and gave them another dis- 
 course, at the latter place, on the Monday following, and at the 
 former, on the Tuesday. On the COth, he set out for home; 
 and arrived "safe and healthy" on the following day. 
 
 In Sept. following, he spent a fortnight in a journey to 
 ^^ iltshire and the adjacent counties. His object probably was to 
 collect for Suffolk Street meeting house; but all the notice we 
 have of this excursion is the followinii; laconic entrv in his 
 journal: "Sept. 19, 1814, setoff on a long journey to Salisbury, 
 Downton, Wilton, Bishopton, Blandford, W areham, Poole, 
 
 Ji II *2 
 
S44 JOURNEYS. [1816. 
 
 Lyiulliurst, Soutliampton, Titclifielcl, Gosport, and Portsea. 
 Througli divine mercy, I was thankfully and joyfully received 
 every where; and 1 hope was the instrument of some good. 
 Returned home on Oct. Glh in good health, and found all w'ell. 
 Jiless the Lord, O my soul!" 
 
 Oct. 20, we find this active old man presiding at the London 
 Conference, at Tring, in Hertfordshire j w hen he delivered a 
 discourse, from 1 Cur. vi. IQ. 
 
 IS 1.3. Jan. 6. Mr. T. in crossing his own room, caught 
 the carpet with his foot; and, falling against a chair, broke one 
 of his ribs. This accident, which to a person of his years might 
 have been very serious, confined him till Feb. 5; when he was 
 so far recovered as to resume his public labours. But he did 
 not soon regain his usual health and spirits. i\pril 8, he informs 
 one correspondent, " I am rather feeble compared with what I 
 have been. Thank God, I am as well as I can expect to be, 
 now far advanced in my seventy-seventh year. Glory to Godl" 
 To another friend he observes, under the date of June 8th: " I 
 have had rather a heavy winter of considerable indisposition; 
 and, though I am much better, yet I am but feeble and soon tired 
 with labour, of which 1 have plenty, even too much. However, 
 let us not be weary of well-doing." Indeed he was not soon 
 weary. He set out June 19lh, for the Association at Not- 
 tingham; and returned July 7, ^Miaving preached," as he ob- 
 serves, " fifteen limes, besides a great deal of hard labour of 
 other kinds. Blessed and praised be the Lord." 
 
 1816. In the course of this year, the subject of this Memoir 
 attended the London Conference at Chatham, i\pril 17, and at 
 Berkhanistead, Oct. 2; and the Annual Association at Boston, 
 June 2')i\\. At all these meetings he, as usual, presided and 
 preached. At the last, he delivered an excellent discourse from 
 Jo/t/i i. 12. and was appointed the first preacher at the following 
 Association. In this journey, he preached twelve times, besides 
 attendnig many othi r ini;;-t)itant concerns. At the London 
 Conference, in Oct. lie was requested to write a letter on the 
 importance of reading the Scrij)tures, which was to be produced 
 at the next Conference, at W rotham, in l^aster week, 1817; 
 when also he was aj^pomled to preach. At that lime, a con- 
 
AGED 
 
 78,] EXERTIONS. 245 
 
 siderable attention to tlic (listinguislilng; trutlis of [\\v. gospel liad 
 been excited in some of the old General Haptist cluirclies in 
 Kent; and Mr. T. was earnestly invited to pay them a visit in 
 order to strengthen their hands. The Conference unaninionslv 
 solicited him to acce})t of this invitation ; being well persnadud 
 that his presence wonld have hapj)y effects. He yielded to 
 these solicitations ; and proposed taking the journey as early as 
 possible in the ensuing year. 
 
 Nor did he, even at this advanced age, confine his exertions 
 to his own denomination, or his own countrymen. About this 
 period, the Protestants in the south of France became the objects 
 of a violent persecution from their popish countrymen. How 
 far political motives might operate in producing the outrages 
 which were committed is not easy to determine ; but it was re- 
 presented as a persecution for religion. The sufferings of the 
 unhappy protestants in France excited the sympathy of their 
 brethren in England. Their cause was taken up by several 
 popular societies ; and the general body of dissenting ministers 
 in and near London distinguished themselves by their generous 
 zeal, in adopting means to stop the cruelties and injustice which 
 the French government w^anted either the will or the power to 
 prevent. Appeals were made to the British cabinet at home, 
 and to our ambassadors at foreign courts. Subscriptions were 
 opened and a considerable sum collected. In all these measures, 
 Mr. T. concurred widi his usual decision and earnestness; and 
 repeatedly brought the subject before his church. A general 
 meeting of all the London ministers being summoned, on Nov. 
 21, 18 IG, to deliberate on the most eligible means of effecting 
 their benevolent purposes, he was called to the chair. This was 
 his last public service : in five days afterwards, he rested from 
 liis labours. — But before wc proceed to the closing scene, it 
 may be proper to take a glance at the state of the church and 
 his domestic circumstances. 
 
 After the separation in 181 1, though the cause was very low, 
 yet the church enjoyed more peace and unanimity than had been 
 experienced for many preceding years. ^lore attention was 
 paid to prayer meetings, and several of the members appeareil 
 earnest in promoting vital religion, both in themselves and their 
 brethren. Various additions were, from time to time, made to 
 the society; and it was thought that some symptoms of a revival 
 
246 CONTENTIONS. [1816. 
 
 might be discovered. But when the pastor returned from the 
 j!\ssociation this year, a person called upon him, uho, after he 
 had long been a travelling preacher for the JNIethodisls, had lost 
 his situation amongst them, on account of some embarrassments 
 in his pecuniary affairs. He was now unemployed, and re- 
 quested Mr. T.'s advice as to his future proceedings. With an 
 unsuspiciousness natural to his character, Mr. T. invited this 
 stranger to preach for him, and lent him some tracts in defence 
 of believers' baptism. In a few days, the tracts had the desired 
 effect, and the Methodist professed himself a Baptist: praising 
 God for directing him to so wise and pious an instructor, who 
 had been the instrument of imparting new and important light 
 to his understanding. Mr. T. honest and undesigning himself, 
 was slow at suspecting others, even in his most vigorous days ; 
 and, at the age of seventy-eight, it was not to be expected that 
 his penetration should be improved, lie also was too sincerely 
 attached to his peculiar principles to be indifferent to the acqui- 
 sition of a proselyte who might be useful in propagating those 
 principles. He therefore cordially received this new convert, 
 employed him frequently to preach for him, and began to form 
 schemes for turning his labours to the greatest advantage. The 
 convert adopted a warm and zealous mode of address : and 
 though his public discourses were little distinguished by co- 
 herency and perspicuity, yet they pleased many of the hearers 
 by their warmth and apparent affection. For some time, Mr. T. 
 sincerely rejoiced in the success of his newly acquired friend ; 
 and hoped that he might be the instrument of infusing a degree 
 of life and zeal into the members and conore2:ation. But, when 
 the stranger proposed himself a candidate for fellowship, and 
 his circumstances were examined, the aged pastor, who had 
 liever before properly understood them, though no disguise had 
 been attempted, discovered that he was acting, as he thought, 
 inconsistent with the character of a christian. Tiie fact was, 
 that the candidate had a wife and family dependant for support 
 on her jelatives, and he refused to do any thing except preach 
 towards their maintenance. Mr. T. judged this to be inconsis- 
 tent with his duty as a husband and father; and therefore, though 
 a large majority of the members approved of receiving the can- 
 didate, he dissented, and declined to administer the ordinance of 
 baptism to him. 'I'his produced a gieat sensation and warm 
 
AGFD 78.] ARRANGEMENTS. 247 
 
 contentions. -At length, it was agreed that another minister 
 shonld be requested to baptize the candidate. 'J'his was done 
 witli Mr. T.'s consent, and the time was fjxed; but he liad not 
 the mortification of living to witness the event. 
 
 A little business now hurried him, and he had too many en- 
 gagements. Me tells his friend B.June 17, 1810. " The truth 
 is, I am weary with writing, and my movements are now but slow 
 comparatively. My poor labours, especially in writing and 
 preaching are many. I think I never was so much crowded w ith 
 business; yet, if you think it will gratify your friends, I intend 
 to spend with you the 7di of July : and if my poor labours are 
 worth their acceptance, I am willing to say and do what 1 can 
 on that day." But, besides being distracted with too many avo- 
 cations, his home was not comfortable. Sometime after the 
 death of his third wife, he had sold his house, and hired apart- 
 ments. One of his grand-daughters lived with him, and took 
 care of his domestic concerns : all his children having settled 
 and left him. This year his grand-diughter married, and he 
 was left destitute. As he had a strong repugnance to a house- 
 keeper, and could not submit to have any woman dwell with him 
 who was not his wife, he was advised to board in some respect- 
 able family. He had, however, been so long accustomed to have 
 a house of his ow n, that this proposal was not agreeable to his 
 feelijigs; and none of his friends could point out a respectable 
 family that were able to receive him. In these circumstances, 
 he was almost compelled to look out for a suitable companion, 
 who might take care of his last days. He fixed on Mrs. S. 
 Saunders, a widow, who had been more than forty years an 
 honourable member of his church ; and, with the full appro- 
 bation of all his friends, was married to her, October 21, 1816. 
 He had previously removed into more convenient apartments ; 
 and, it was hoped, that he would be more comfortable and 
 better accommodated than he had been for some years. 
 
 For a few weeks after his marriage he appeared in good 
 health and spirits; but the unhappy contentions which then dis- 
 tracted the chinch evidently afiected deeply his mind. About 
 the middle of November, he felt the symptoms of indisposition, 
 and concluded that he had contracted a cold. On Thursday, 
 the 21st of that month, after attending a meeting of the London 
 Dissenting Ministers, at Dr. \\ illiams's Library, Redcross- 
 
248 INDISPOSITION. [1816. 
 
 Street, he was so much indisposed as to be unable to deliver the 
 usual exhortation in his own place; and, on the following day, 
 could not oHiciate at the inttMuient of a respected member of his 
 church. On the Lord's di\y following, he was better; and, in the 
 afternoon, ])reachcd ihe funeral sermon for his deceased friend, 
 from Ilcb. iv. (J, " There remaineth a rest for the people of 
 God :" and it was observed by many who heard it, that it was 
 a peculiarly affectionate, solemn and faithful discourse. In the 
 evening of the same diiy, he delivered an animated address, at the 
 meeting-house in Mile End, from Roui. vi. 12'3, " The wages of 
 sin is dej'.th ; but tlie gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus 
 Christ our Lord." On the preceding Tuesday evening, he had 
 addressed to his own people, an at!Vctionate exhortation, from 
 1 Jo/iJi iv, 9 — 11, '' in this was manifest the love of God 
 towards us," Sec: and proposed to linish his observations on 
 this edifying and comprehensive passage on the following- 
 Tuesday. 
 
 On the Monday, he walked into the Borough and took tea 
 with some friends in Tooley-Street. He set out on foot to re- 
 turn ; but feeling fatigued he took a coach part of the distance. 
 During the succeeding night, he was restless, and towards the 
 morning complained of a pain between the shoulders. His son 
 was sent for; and in a few hours the pain abated. In the fore- 
 noon, one of his daughters called in to see hnn, and enquired 
 how he was. " I have been very poorly," he replied; " but am 
 now easier. I thought 1 was near death; and, on my own ac- 
 count, felt no reluctance to depart : but for your sake and some 
 others, I am willing to live." He ate his dinner with apparent 
 relish ; and after taking his pipe, laid down again, desiring to be 
 called up to tea. After several hours of comfortable sleep, he 
 rose, dressed himself and walked into the parlour. Li doing 
 this, he exhibited much weakness, but, with his usual spirit, 
 refused to be assisted. He seemed in a good measure free from 
 pain; and appeared very composed. On bemg asked what he 
 would ha\e to lea, he said, '' Make me a little thin bread and 
 butter, such as you know I like." While tiiis was preparing, he 
 sat clow I), took his pi{>e, and began to read a paper \\ hi jli he took 
 from the table. In a .>)hort time, he put his hand to his breast, 
 as if he felt somelliing. I! is daujihter enquiied, '' Do you feel 
 any |)iii:;, father .''" " Not mucl;," he observed, " only au 
 
AGED 78.] DEATH. 249 
 
 acbin<>" under my breast." No sooner, liowevcr, liad lie uttered 
 these \vords, than his pipe dropped on the floor, he sljut his eyes 
 and mouth in the most tranquil manner, and, \\ ithout the smallest 
 si*^h or groan, instantly expired. Thus peacefully did ihis 
 veteran, in his Master*s service, lay aside his armour; and, in a 
 moment, enter into that rest which is prepared for the people of 
 God; and, almost at the very hour when he had purposed to 
 excite the sacred affections of his hearers from that awakening 
 and conclusive argument, " I3elovcd, if God so loved us, we 
 ou«»ht also to love one anothicr," was he called to experience the 
 full effects of that love. 
 
 It might have been gratifying to survivors, had tliis good man 
 been permitted in the near and apparent prospect of eternity, to 
 have exemplified the depth of his hutnility, the strength of his 
 faith, and the patience of hope; and to have borne his dying testi- 
 mony to the great truths which he had so diligently recommended 
 to others. This gratification the great Disposer of all events baa 
 thought fit to deny us. But we are not left ignorant of the 
 state of his mind and the object of his meditations, during the 
 concluding days of his life. His last thoughts, in the view of 
 preparing for the pulpit, were probably employed on the grand 
 account which all must give at the great day of final decision ; 
 for he had noted down in his journal, as the subject of a discourse 
 at Mile End, on the day succeeding his decease, that awakening 
 exhortation of the Apostle, 1 Cor. iv. 5 : "Judge nothing before 
 the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the 
 hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels 
 of the heart; and then shall every man have praise of God." 
 While considering this awful passage, under the conviction of 
 the truth which he had discussed, in the same place, only two 
 days before, that "the wages of sin is death," he naturally 
 turned his thoughts to the only means by which a guilty creature 
 can escape the infinitely dreadful effects of his sin. And we 
 have seen that the interesting subjects of his last public ad- 
 dresses were — " the rest that remaineth for the people of God" — 
 " eternal life, the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord" — 
 and the astonishing love of God " in sending his Son to be the 
 propitiation for our sins." On this propitiation, which probably 
 employed his last thoughts on earth, he had long placed all his 
 hopes of acceptance with God; and towards the close of his 
 
 1 I 
 
9 
 
 50 BEATR. [1 8 16-, 
 
 life had frequently expressed to the writer of these pnges, and to 
 others, his lirm persuasion that, through faith in this Saviour, he 
 had obtained the remission of sins. The remark which he made 
 to his daughter, on tlie morning of his decease, he had often 
 repeated, that as far as respected himself he was ready for 
 death, and not afraid to meet it ; but that there were circum- 
 stances in liis family, the church and the connection, whicli 
 made him desire, if consistent with the will of his heavenly 
 Father, to continue a short time in the flesh. But for some 
 months before his removal, even this wish seemed to have been 
 almost suppressed, and he considered himself as having, in a 
 great measure, finislicd his work on earth. He appeared to take 
 little interest in some im])ortant transactions respecting the New 
 Connection, which were then depending; and when they were 
 mentioned to him, would reply, ^' \ ou must do as you please : 
 1 shall soon leave you." The contentions in the church, at this 
 time affected him greatly; yet when conscience permitted, he 
 left these, much as he was interested in them, to the management 
 of others. 
 
 After his decease, his relatives found a Will, in which among 
 other injunctions was this; "I solemnly charge it upon my 
 executors that every thing respecting my interment be conducted 
 with the strictest economy and as little expence as possible, 
 consistent with decency; particularly that there be no hearse, no 
 coach, no escutcheon, on that occasion." As he had expressed 
 a wish that his remains might be deposited in Bunhill Fields 
 burying ground, and his executors were desirous of complying 
 with this intimation, the injunction in the will subjected them 
 to some difliculty. Mr. T. had been highly respected by his 
 brethren the dissenting ministers in London, and it would 
 have given much pleasure to his family, could they have invited 
 some of his more intimate friends amongst them, to attend his 
 funeral; but as the distance was too great to ask them to walk^ 
 and coaches were thus prohibited, they were compelled to deny 
 themselves that satisfaction. The church over which he had so 
 long presided, on the members of which the suddenness of his 
 departure had made a deep impression, took up the subject: a 
 special church meeting having been called by the deacons, it 
 was resolved, — that Mr. R. Smith, of Nottingham, should be 
 invited to prench the fr.neral sermon for their late respected 
 
AGED 78.] FUNERAL. 251 
 
 pQ<;tQ,< — that llic ])ii]i)it, desks and galleries should he hung in 
 black — and that a hearse and six mourning coaches should be 
 provided to attend the linieral. 'i'he last resolution was 
 comnuuiicated to the family of ihe deceased, but after nuich 
 deliberation, they informed the church, that, in obedience to the 
 will of their honoured parent, they felt themselves obliged to 
 decline the kind and generous proposal. 
 
 In consequence of this determination, on Dec.oti), the mortal 
 remains of this aged minister were carried without any pomp, 
 from Mile End to Bunhill Fields; preceded by the Rev. Mr. 
 Kello, independent minister, of Bethnal Green, and Mr. Hoe, 
 of Wimeswould, Leicestershire; and followed by the relatives 
 -and the officers of the church. When arrived at the place of 
 interment, Mr. Kelio, who liad for many years been intimately 
 acquainted with the deceased, delivered an oration over the 
 gTUTe, in which lie paid an affectionate tribute of respect to the 
 piety, humility and activity of his dejjarted friend. 
 
 Dec. I5th, Mr. R. Smith preached his funeral sermon, at the 
 meetins; house in Church Lane. He read as the foundation of 
 liis discourse, Paul's declaration respecting himself, 2 Tim. iv, 
 <) — 8. " 1 am now ready to be offered, and the time of my 
 departure is at hand. I have fouglit a good light, 1 have finished 
 my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up 
 for me a crown of righteousness, which the I^ord, the righteous 
 Judge, shall give me at that day." From these words, the 
 preacher, though labouring under great bodily weakness, drew a 
 striking parallel between the past experience and future pros- 
 pects of the great Apostle of the Gentiles and those of his 
 deceased friend. The service was afti^ctingly solemn and impres- 
 sive, and the congregation extremely numerous; that large 
 place of worship being crowded to excess. 
 
 The death afa mi-nister who had been so Ions; and so actively 
 employed in the service of their common INlaster, naturally 
 excited great attention among professors in general, and espe- 
 cially amongst those of his own denomination. Many of the 
 dissenting ministers in London, and in various other places, took 
 public notice of the event, in terms strongly expressive of 
 esteem for the character, and affection for the memory of their 
 departed brother. And, in the New Connection of General 
 llajitists, whi; h cnvcd its fornntion -.xud pro-prrity iii a crent 
 
 I 1 " 
 
252 CORRESPONDENCE [1787. 
 
 degree, to his exertions, his removal was felt and acknowledged 
 to be a common loss. ^lost of the ministers of that Connection, 
 if not all, paid a tribute of respect to their esteemed fellow- 
 labourer, by preaching funeral sermons on the occasion of his 
 decease: in which they bore such a testimony to his virtues, 
 abilities and labours, as fully shewed a strong conviction that a 
 great man had fallen in their Israel. 
 
 Section II. Extracts from the Correspondence and unpuh- 
 lislied Manuscripts of Mr, D. Taylor, written after his 
 removal to London : intended to exhibit his Views, Pursuits 
 and Dispositions, during the last Period of his Life. 
 
 As Mr. T.'s engagements after he left Yorkshire increased in 
 number and importance, it was less likely that he should com- 
 mand leisure to keep a regular Diary; but many of his letters, 
 &c. have been preserved. They abundantly prove that his 
 piety towards God, his zeal for his glory, and his love to the 
 souls of his fellow^ creatures, suffered no abatement even in his 
 most advanced age. It is hoped, that these Extracts, besides 
 illustrating the writer's character, will afford useful hints of 
 encouragement, instruction, or correction to every attentive 
 reader, but especially to ministers of the gospel and pastors of 
 churches. These unadorned expositions of the undisguised 
 sentiments of the subject of this Memoir will also properly 
 introduce a short Review of his Character, with which this 
 volume will close. 
 
 J . TO MRS, M — , a distant member of his church. 
 
 Turville Street, Aug. 19, 1787. 
 " Dear Sister, 
 
 " I catch a flying moment to inform you, that, I 
 trust, you are comfortable in body and soul; that you love your 
 situation and your good husband; and, above all, that you keep 
 near to your everlasting husband, Christ Jesus. May his pre- 
 sence make every situation and every scene comfortable to you 
 here; and nsay you daily live in the delightful prospect of the 
 everlasting enjoyment of him in glory !" 
 
AGED 
 
 56.] AND EXTRACTS. 253 
 
 "Amidst the busy scenes of mortality, the heart is ready to be 
 drawn aside by various objects. Often examine if you find 
 nothing of this by experience ; and let it be an admonition to 
 be watchful, and * to keep your heart with all diligence.' 
 Wherever we are, Christ is the all in all of real happiness. Let 
 us always consider him such, and as such, live upon him and 
 keep near to him." 
 
 *' In every state there are trials and enemies. In every state 
 therefore faith and patience, watchfulness and diligence are ne- 
 cessary. Happy will that servant be who is found so doing 
 when his Lord comes ! Time flies apace ; and the bride- 
 groom's voice will soon be heard I " 
 
 2. TO MR. B. 
 
 " Turville Street ^ April 30, 178S. 
 
 *' Dear Sir, 
 
 " Your's came to hand, in Mrs. Cooper's parcel, I hope 
 to receive the pamphlets to day, or to morrow. They are much 
 wanted. May the blessing of God accompany the reading of 
 them! Thanks for poor Mr. Scott's Hymns. This age is 
 peculiar for extraordinaries; and Mr. Scott's performance in 
 this view, may perhaps be well-timed. But can rational men 
 approve of it? You will receive it with Newton, Mayo, &c. 
 with this parcel." 
 
 "As to Newton and Mayo, all the time I was reading them, 
 I was pestered with the verdict which the old sinner at Rome 
 was pleased to deliver respecting the question which then was 
 agitated between Fenelon and Bossuet, respecting faith and love. 
 You know that after the question was referred to his holiness, 
 he took three years to deliberate upon it ; and then, sage mortal 
 as he was, he condescended to say ^Cambray had the better heart, 
 but Meaux the better head.'* But I will not positively say, that 
 his present holiness would have determined precisely in the same 
 manner respecting your two combatants. 
 
 "I went with Brother J. Deacon, to see Dr. Priestley at his 
 own house at Birmingham. He is very free, plain and familiar. 
 Our conversation was rather desultory. He was sweeping about 
 the door of his mathematical chemical shop, or study, if you 
 please, a separate room at some distance from his fine dwelling 
 
 * Fcnclon was bishop of Canibray, atid Bossuet of Mcaux. 
 
254 CORRESPONDENCE [1788. 
 
 liouse, tlic situation of wliicli is to me almost enchanting, about 
 a mile out of Birmingham. J went up to him and said, * That's 
 condescension, Dr.' * No, Sir,' he replied, ' it is no more than 
 duty. I always sweep about my own room myself. I have gene- 
 rally my check apron on, but happen to be without it this morn- 
 ing.' Thus our conversation commenced. He invited us into 
 his house ; and at his request, 1 gave him the history of the dis- 
 senting interest in general, of the state of Calvinism in England 
 and of the Baptist interest, especially the General Baptist 
 interest, so far as I could. With all this he seemed to be but 
 very little acquainted ; and to have formed very wrong notions 
 of it, especially of the Baptis.ts, and of the state of Calvinism. 
 He seemed to hear with great pleasure, and expressed great 
 satisfaction in receiving the information ; wished he had known 
 of our Association; and said if he had known he would have 
 attended, &.c. We drank a glass of wine with him and departed ; 
 liaving staid about an hour. He has not yet seen me at London. 
 I am informed by one who heard him, that he preached last 
 Lord's day on Necessity, and established, or attempted to esta- 
 blish, his necessarian scheme, at Dr. Price's meeting. We leave 
 Dr. Priestley." 
 
 " Thanks for your Epitome of Sykes on the Innocence of 
 Error. 1 expect to read the work soon. My friend Marsom 
 has sent it, this week, to Mr. Robinson, as a present; and has 
 another copy of it, which he has promised to lend me. I hope 
 when you come to London, 1 can procure you the reading of it. 
 1 would not wish to controvert Dr. Sykes's object with him, 
 that * heresy is less destructive than a wicked life ;' because 1 
 know my incapacity to measure the enormity of errors and sins. 
 That * no errors, if involuntary, are or can be punishable,' 
 though rather a vague expression, may, I think, in the gross, be 
 allowed. But how far this ci^n be applied to errors on subjects 
 revealed, might perhaps be questioned. Is not every thing 
 necessary to be known revealed vvith sufficient evidence r If not, 
 the reflection will fall on the Author of revelation. Jf it be, 
 can any one be necessarily ignorant who reads the Bible ? If 
 we are negligent, prejudiced, or inattentive, or dishonest, must 
 not this be in some desiree voluntnrv r If we admit or assert 
 against evidence, or without evidence, is not this voluntary ? 
 !May not, out;hl not every man to willihold liis assent till full 
 
Aft ED TjG.J and extract.^. 2517 
 
 evidence be produced ? Can a mrm iiivoliintarily assent to n 
 fact or position williout reason or evidence? And if lie do, i^ 
 it not a criminal disobedience to liini wlio bids ns ' take lieed 
 that we be not deceived;' ' try all things;' * searcli the .scrip- 
 tures:' &c. Sec. &,c." 
 
 " It may, I think, be granted that ^ in mere j>erception the 
 mind is passive ;' but that does not prove the innocency of error ; 
 ujiless it can be also proved that nothing- is included in the 
 belief of divine truth, but mere perception, ^hich no philoso- 
 pher will, I apprehend, assert. 'I'liat the will is employed in 
 viewing an object, in endeavours to see it in a just light, in re- 
 sisting prejudices, in withholding assent, in assenting when full 
 evidence appears, Scc. &c. is what few will dispute. And if so 
 there may certainly be criminality in error. He proceeds on 
 the same unsafe ground, I venture to call it, in saying that ^ error 
 is a mistake of judgment, and therefore must in its own nature 
 be involuntary.' For though the judgment is not the proper 
 subject of command^ threatening. Sic. yet man, as [wssessed 
 of will and affections, may use his judgment wrong. If not, it 
 is to no purpose for the Author of our frame to bid us 'judge 
 righteous judgment.' Besides, it were worth the Doctor's while 
 to consider the tendency of this argument ; according to w hich, 
 if I mistake not, if a man be an atheist, there is no harm in that; 
 and to make God a liar is equally pleasing to him, as to treat 
 him as the God of truth. That ' wherever there is error there 
 is guilt' in matters of pure revelation, 1 make no scruple to ad- 
 mit: not only as a natural consequence of my sentiments, but as 
 the doctrine of scripture. In the the third argument, the Doctor 
 takes for granted what is not allowed him. It is not allowed 
 that men * cannot but err' in matters of revelation. Men can 
 read positive declarations, in plain words ; and w ithhold their 
 assent where they have no positive testimony on which to ground 
 it; and therefore there is no injustice or tyranny in the Divine 
 Being, who does not require us to believe without evidence. 
 ]N'or is the conclusion valid, as I apprehend, in his fourth argu- 
 ment; for it is no proof that ' men shall perish everlastingly,' 
 because they are to blame; unless no one shall be saved but he 
 who is absolutely perfect both in faith and practice; which, I 
 hope, none are so extravagant as to assert. The hfdi argument, 
 if I understand it, having the same foundation, must stand or 
 
256 CORRESPONDENCE [1788. 
 
 fall with the foregoing ones. That error, ' which arises from 
 authority or predominant passions, is not always voluntary, and 
 therefore not criminal,' would lead us I know not where. But I 
 have no inclination to follow such a position." 
 
 " Whether you can make any meaning of this hasty and indi- 
 gested scribble, I do not know^ But be it what it will, 1 wish 
 you to keep it by you, and not to expose it to any other. For 
 though it is not fit to be seen by any but myself, I would not 
 have it burned, as I may possibly wish to see it again myself; if 
 it be only to mortify me when I reflect on the crudity of first 
 thoughts on a strange subject. And I have some design to 
 employ my thoughts a little more maturely on it, if spared and 
 at liberty, after 1 have read Sykes' pamphlet. But I have not 
 a scrawl upon it but what I here send you." 
 
 3. TO MR. B. 
 
 '' Turville Street, May, 1788. 
 "Dear 'Brother, 
 
 " Yesterday, I received the pamphlet,* and am well 
 pleased with the printing, folding, &c. I thank you for the care 
 and pains you have taken, and pray that they may still go abroad, 
 as it appears they have hitherto done, under the smiles and with 
 the blessing of our heavenly Father, and be of use in this world 
 of darkness and folly. 
 
 " Last week, was sent unto me, Dr. Chauncey on Universal 
 Salvation, as a loan, with an earnest request of my remarks on 
 it. I am beginning to read it, with as much attention as I am 
 capable of, and I hope to go through with care, in my intervals 
 of leisure. But as to remarks, I think I shall make none or 
 vei7 few, except in my own mind ; for I would not willingly 
 engage in any other controversy while I live; at least not till I 
 have done with Mr. Fuller." 
 
 4. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Turville Street, July 29, 1788. 
 
 " What do you think of Sykes' Essay on the Innocence 
 
 of Error ? This piece makes no alteration in my mind ; but 
 
 rather confirms me in my former notice of the criminality of 
 
 error. The result of reading Chauncey is much the same as of 
 
 * Tiio second Edition of Iiis Thirteen Letters, See page 185. 
 
AiiEU 50,] AND KXTKACTS. 2.)7 
 
 reading Sykcs. I Imve also lately seen White on tlu' same sub- 
 ject, who was chaplain to Oliver Cromwell ; and have now in 
 hand Purves, of Scotland, all on the sanie side. Winchester, 
 from Philadelphia, has also lately published a three shilling 
 volume on that side of the question, which 1 have seen Ijui. not 
 read." i^ 
 
 5. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Tutvil/e Street y Aug. .'30, 1788. 
 " The evening before last, Mr. Lioolh lent me Johnson 
 bn the subject mentioned in my last. 15ut as I spent yesterday 
 with Dr. Stennett, I have not had time to read much of it. It 
 is a large work. I think it contains a good deal more matter 
 than Chauncey; but not so advantageously written as to style 
 and arrangement, though 1 apprehend nmch more according to 
 truth. JSJr. Booth is very pressing for me to abridge it." 
 
 " j\s to the best writers aijainst the Arians and Socinians, I 
 hardly know w hat to say. 1 consider them as opposing the truth 
 of the scriptures in general; but chiefly on four heads: human 
 depravity, the divinity of Christ, the atonement of Christ, and 
 justification by faith. Their scheme is opposed to all orthodox 
 systems of divinity, as you know. But I, for my part, do not 
 think any one has refuted their whole scheme, especially the 
 four branches above mentioned more advantageously than Mr. 
 Hervey. Edwards against Taylor is reckoned the best thing on 
 Original Sin. I think none pleases me better than Dr. Watts, 
 on the divinity and atonement of Christ : see his Sermons, his 
 little piece on the Trinity, and dissertations on it, his Ortho- 
 doxy and Charity united, and his Christ the Redeemer and 
 Sanctifier. Brine's answer to Taylor on Atonement, is well 
 worth reading, if it be read with care. On Justification by Faith, 
 I know not which is the best of the many." 
 
 6. TO MRS. M. 
 
 " Turvil/e Street, Jug. 18, 1788. 
 " Dear Sister^ 
 
 " I hope your soul is still prosperous; and that you are 
 on the stretch for a bright crown in glory. O remember, eter- 
 nity, vast, boundless eternity is all. * Time is ever on the wing.' 
 W« are hasting to be gone. The I-ord enable us not to forget 
 
 K K 
 
258 CORRESroNDKNCfi [1789. 
 
 it one moment ! O for more life, activitv and zeal for a good 
 God ! O for a more lasting and animating sense of the love of 
 Christ ! The \vorld is full of snares and polluting objects. 
 You and brother M — \vill remember this continually. You 
 uill, I trust, place it before your eyes, uherever you go and 
 ^^hatever you do. God forbid you should ever lose sight of 
 your danger and your only Preserver. ' Watch and pray that you 
 enter not into temptation.' Be daily earnestly concerned to 
 grow in grace. God will help you. Infinite power, wisdom 
 and love are engaged for you. Look daily to your Almighty 
 Tiiend and Father in faith and prayer, and all will be well." 
 
 7. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Turville Streety Feb. 17, 1789. 
 " Dear Madam, 
 
 " Your affectionate and respectful letter came safe to 
 hand ; though I have not been able conveniently to acknowledge 
 it before this morning. My heart's desire is, that you may still 
 increase in faith and love more and more; and that the blessing 
 of God may continually rest upon you, and upon your husband 
 and offspring. I rejoice to find you conscientious with regard 
 to the important duty of prayer ; which, while it is so necessary 
 a duty, is also a royal and unspeakable privilege, and the great 
 mean of receiving all good from the God of all grace. I hope 
 you are equally conscientious in every other part of your heavenly 
 Father's will; and that the character of Zachariah and Elizabeth 
 {Luke i. 6) may, with the fullest propriety, be applied to yoii 
 and vour husband." 
 
 " A ' regular attendance on fatnih/ tcorship,' 1 confess, has 
 always aj^peared to me so agreeable to the temper of one who 
 is born of God; so evidently suggested even by tlie light of 
 iintuie ; so much confirmed, as it apj)ears to me, from the tenor 
 of scri})ture; and is likely, under the blessing of God, to answer 
 so many valuable purposes, that I have often been ready to sus- 
 pect the genuine chiistianity of those who live iii the neglect of 
 it. Nor am I yet free from this })rejndice; tliouoh I freely con- 
 fess, that I know some valuable persons who think ditiferenlly 
 from myself and priictice accordingly." 
 
 " To take up the sul)j( ct on so extensive a ground, as that I 
 have just mentioned, would be perfectly incon.'istent and im- 
 
>IGED 51.] AND EXTRACTS. 259 
 
 j)ropcr, both on account of the little time I liuvc to spare, and 
 the small compass of a letter." 
 
 " That it is a duty of natural religion is, I think, evident to 
 every one's feelings. For uho can think of a family every 
 moment depending on God, every moment receiving undeserved 
 favours from him, and receiving them nnited/j/, and not re- 
 verently and thankfully uniting to make acknowledgment of 
 them, and to pray for the continuance of them ':! \N ho can 
 think of a family Mho ii/iitcd/j/ confess that the Bible is the 
 word of God, put into our hands that we may underst uid, be- 
 lieve and practise it, and are tlierefore under daily obligations 
 to re;id ajid attend to it, and who are informed of these things 
 by the parent and head of the family, and yet such a family does 
 not daily unite in reading and hearing this blessed book ? To 
 jaie, I confess, it appears all absurdity and contradiction. Hence 
 it is a known fact, that the very heathens themselves practised 
 family worship, and had their Lares and Vciuites^ their houshold 
 images, for tliat purposje," 
 
 *' That there are tio words in scripture expressly command- 
 ing a family to unite daily in the worship of God, I confess. 
 No more are there express words commanding a minister and 
 his people to meet together and worship God weekly. The 
 same may be said of other practices, as I have lately shewn at 
 large in my Dissertation on Singing. But I think it very 
 evident that the propriety, necessity ?.nd duty of it, may be easily 
 learnt from the scriptures." 
 
 ^' I cannot conceive what method Joshua could take (xxiv. 15) 
 that he and his family should serve the Lord, on which he 
 positively resolves, if they did not unite in divine worship. Nor 
 can I think why the wrath of God should be mentioned {Jer. x. 
 25.) as the portion of families who call not on the name of 
 God, if family religion be not a duty incumbent on all mankind. 
 If we ought to pray every \yhere, {I^p/tes. vi. .18, ly. 1 'Ti/n. ii. 
 2 — 8.) 1 should think that our houses and our families are the 
 most proper places for this exercise. If parents are under obli- 
 gations to teach the will of God to their children, {Gen. xviii. 
 19. Dent. vi. 5 — 8. 2 Tim. iii. 15.) 1 should think it must be 
 the most proper time and way of doing it, \\hen the family is 
 ^called together for that purpose." 
 
 *' It is evident to me that many advantages Jiiay, and fre^- 
 
 K K 2 
 
260 eORRESPONDENCE [1789, 
 
 quently do, result from family worship. Children and servants 
 are thereby led to consider the necessity of remembering that all 
 their comforts are from God, and therefore to sin against him is 
 peculiarly enormous and abominable. They are hereby often 
 brought acquainted \\ilh the word of God; and if they be not 
 converted by this means, as 1 am well satisfied multitudes have 
 been, yet this knowledge of the word of God may be, and 
 generally is, a direction to their duty and a restraint from sin 
 all their lives." 
 
 '^ Besides, there is something so pleasing and so happy to the 
 parents themselves in calling their families together to read 
 and hear the word of God, and to worship before him, that, I 
 acknowledge, it is a wonder to me how any who take pleasure 
 in devotion can live in the neglect of it." 
 
 *' That parents and masters ought to exercise authority in 
 their own families, I sliouid think nobody will call in question. 
 But, 1 believe, if parents and masters be what they ought to be, 
 there will be little need of authority in order to keep up family 
 worship." 
 
 " These are only general hints. Particulars and long reason- 
 ings you will not expect. If any thing answer your purpose, or 
 be of any use to you, let the thanks be given to God." 
 
 8. TO MR. B. 
 
 " Turvilte Street, April 15, 1789. 
 *' Dear Sir, 
 
 " I am favoured with your's and thank you for it. But 
 if you knew the business which lies before me, 1 think you would 
 excuse me from controversy till after Whitsuntide. Such a 
 group of letters lying before me to answer, (three long ones I 
 have written this day before your's) — so much church, family 
 and occasional business — to prepare the plan for the /Asso- 
 ciation and General Assembly — to prepare a discourse on 
 a strange subject, on which I never yet preached, and very 
 difficult, for the Association — to prepare a charge for Brother 
 Goddard, who is to be ordained on A\ hit-Monday — to prepare 
 for a long journey to Yorkshire, Sic. on which I go out on 
 May 10, is more work than I know how to perform with any 
 degree of decency. You mubt therefore excuse mc, at least for 
 two months." 
 
AGED 51.] ANJ) EXTllACTS. *^C)\ 
 
 9. TO THE SAME. 
 
 *' Turii/lc Sf.iccf, 178<J. 
 *' Mr. Brittain's presence at home next Lord's day 
 appears of such essential importance for the welfare and peace 
 of the churcli that you must give me leave, not only to beg it as 
 a favour, but to urge it as a most important duty and a matter 
 of absolute necessity, that you will not only consent to his 
 coming, but that you will use every argument in your power to 
 persuade him to be at home the next Lord's day. If you do not 
 this, and if he do not hearken to it, 1 am well satisfied both he 
 and you will see reason to repent." 
 
 " It astonishes me that both of you, and especially, that he 
 does not see the necessity of it in so strong a light as to render 
 persuasion unnecessary. If laying on of hands be of that 
 importance which he makes it to be, how can he admit of such 
 a palpable irregularity as to let us take three persons into the 
 church without it." 
 
 " We have put two off one month, with no little difficulty 
 and danger to the peace of the church, in order to oblige him, 
 and to keep things legular. To throw things into confusion 
 after all is unbearable. To gratify himself a few days longer, 
 or to oblige you, or twenty other ministers and churches, can be 
 mere nothing in comparison of what is regarded as an ordinance 
 of Christ and essential to church fellowship. If laying on of 
 hands be not so considered, it certainly ought to be understood 
 in the church that it is not so. And if it be not, it ought to be 
 treated as a matter of indifference, and not made essential to fel- 
 lowship, as it always has been hitherto." 
 
 " It were easy to enlarge: but I speak to M'ise men: and I 
 think it my duty to urge it on both of you, by all that is sacred, 
 not to make divine things, as trifles, to submit to our gratification 
 and idle compliance with one another. The Devil has schemes 
 and ways enow to make distraction in churches. We need not 
 help him." 
 
 }0, TO MR. W. THOMPSON. 
 
 TurxiUe Street, April, 1790. 
 " The expressions which you mention, and which I 
 had forgotten, a})pear to me very cfifTercnt from the style of 
 
^^ CORRESPONDENCE (1791. 
 
 Mr. Huntingdon: and though free, strictly proper. But as I 
 hope soon to have the great pleasure of seeing and convers- 
 ing with you, and Mould not ruffle your mind, by any thing 
 like disputation, I shall only say now, that I think those per- 
 sons, whoever they are, that do not apprehend the abominable 
 wickedness and damnable tendency of Mr. W.'s doctrines, are 
 indeed the objects of pity. 7\nd I rather differ from you, and 
 tliink such * harsh expressions ' in friendly correspondence at 
 least may do good, and ought to be used." 
 
 " i\s to controvers}', I am as willing to lay it aside, I assure you, 
 as you are to wish me to do it; though 1 do not think it ought 
 to drop ; nor that the reasons you assign are valid. For you 
 know, my brother, disputants do not write to convert one 
 another; but to instruct their readers in general, or to preserve 
 them from error. If therefore Mr. \V. and 1 should ' still remain 
 in the same mind,' yet many others may be profited by what 
 we write. I desire to bless God, Uiat I have good evidence 
 of the advantage that some have received from what 1 have 
 written, on this and on former subjects in controversy, l^ut I 
 should be heartily glad to be excused from disputation myself 
 for reasons elsewhere given." 
 
 11. TO THE SAME. 
 
 " Turville Street, Jan. 5, 1791. 
 
 ^^ My dear Brother, 
 
 " Though much behind with business, and not much 
 fit for it, especially by a disorder in my eyes, probably arising 
 from my late night fatigues with my family, who, blessed be 
 God, are now in a good measure recovered, I do myself the 
 pleasure ©f giving you a hasty scrawl on the Queries of an 
 * honest enquirer.' But you must excuse great brevity." 
 
 " Query I. * If a great part of mankind be eternally miserable, 
 in what sense is it true that ' all flesh shall see the salvation of 
 God;' and ' all the families of the earth be blessed in Abraham's 
 seed, the Messiah r' " 
 
 " j4ns. 1. It is merely as an indulgence to you that I attempt 
 to answer this and several other queries. In strict reasoning it 
 would be highly improper. It is the business of an universalist 
 to prove that these texts are true in his sen^e, and can be true 
 ill no other sense. Without attention to this, disputes woul4 
 
A«1D 5'j.] AN1> EXTRACTS. 263 
 
 be as they often have been, shamefully prolongi.d and confused. 
 2. ' All rtesh shall see the Salvation of God/ was fulfilled in the 
 first preaching of the Gospel: Col. i. 6, 23, will be more fully 
 accomplished in the Millennium state, and it will be awfully 
 seen by all at the day of judgment, even by those who have 
 rejected it, and shall then be eternally excluded from it. 3. All 
 the families of the earth have been more or less blessed in the 
 Messiah ever since the days of Christ. They were particularly 
 so in the first centuries, and will be in the^Millennium. If sin- 
 ners turn divine blessings into curses, by abusing them, that is no 
 proof that they are not blessed by Christ," 
 
 " Query II. ' If a great part of mankind be eternally misera- 
 ble, is not the death of Christ then rather a curse to them than a 
 blessing.^' Anszi}er\. It is allowed on all hands, and on all 
 schemes, tliat sinners who sin under the Gospel have their sin.^i 
 more aggravated, and will be more severely punished, in propor- 
 tion to the advantages which they have had, or might have had 
 from Christ. Tiiis is not only the language of Revelation, but 
 of common sense. 2. Yet it does not follow that the death of 
 Christ is in itself a curse to them ; but that they are more 
 awfully condemned for their slight or abuse of so great a bles- 
 sing. 3. I may add, this is true of all the blessings of provi- 
 dence, as well as the death of Christ." 
 
 " Query III. ^ If a great part of mankind be eternally mi- 
 serable, what proportion of future punishment is there between 
 the least sinner and the greatest offender .''' Anszcer. It is 
 manifest to every one, that two persons may be punished an 
 equal time and yet the one punished, by many degrees, more 
 severely than the other." 
 
 '* Queiy IV. * Is it consistent with the Nature of a Being 
 who has declared himself Lore itself y to punish eternally crea- 
 tures born in such unhappy circumstances, for once transgress- 
 ing his law ?' Auszcer 1 . I do not pretend to understand what 
 is consistent in every thinjij with the nature of God. Thouorh in 
 some instances this is plain, and may deserve notice; yet the 
 great enquiry is : What is contained in his zcord? 2. I do not 
 think he ever did, or ever will, punish any man for once trans- 
 gressing his law. :■] How far it might he just if God did this, 
 is another and very different enquiry r" 
 
 " Qncrf/ y. ' Docs not vour docUine of universal love and 
 
%6^ ' CORRESPO^DKNCK [1791. 
 
 of Christ's (l^^ing for all men, leave the wicked exactli/ in the 
 same state of eternal misery, as the Calvinist system does ? If 
 so, where is the difference?' Ansn'er 1. 1 think it does leave 
 the wicked, who continue wicked, in the same state, as to the 
 punishment they must endure. The difference of my scheme 
 and the Calvinist is this : The Calvinist leaves man necessarily 
 exposed to this wickedness, and the misery consequent upon it. 
 My scheme is, that provision is made for them that they may 
 be saved; so that if they jierish the fault is wholly their own." 
 
 " Query VI. ' Would not the divine Being appear to us 
 more abundantly glorified, on the supposition that wicked men 
 were liberated from hell torments, after having been punished 
 proportionably to the nature and number of their crimes ?' Jn- 
 \wer. Yes, 1 think so, I have no notion that they will ever be 
 punished more than the nature and number of their crimes 
 require: nor do I believe they ever will be." 
 
 " Query VI T. MVould it not appear a more wonderful dis- 
 play of the dying love of .Jesus, to have all the human race for 
 whom he died partakers of his glory, than for a great part of 
 them to be punished in hell eternally r' Answer 1. 1 do not 
 know. Perhaps the love of Jesus will be most displayed by 
 the punishment of those who trample upon it. 2. Supposing 
 it would, there are other attributes to be displayed besides love. 
 3. The very notion of men being delivered from hell by the love 
 of Jesus, implies that they justly deserve that punishment from 
 which he delivers them. If they did not deserve it, it would 
 not be love but justice to deliver them from it. Therefore the 
 principle of this query i? inconsistent with the principle of 
 several of the former." 
 
 " Query VIll. *Can it be supposed to be consistent witlr 
 infinite power, love and grace, to suffer the devil to keep mil- 
 lions of mankind for whom Jesus shed his blood, in hell tor- 
 ments eternally?' Anszcer. I do not know that the devil keeps 
 them in hell torments. I apprehend he is so far from keeping 
 them in hell, that he would be glad to get out himself. As ta 
 love and grace — if redeeming love and grace are despised and 
 rejecieil, I do not find, in scripture, any other way to be saved^ 
 or for love and grace to be manifested. It is right, so far as I 
 can see, for those who have awfully excluded themselves from it,, 
 to be for ever deprived of it." 
 
AGED 5'?.] AND EXTRACTS. 265 
 
 " Query IX. ' Would not prcacliiiig universal stilvation to 
 men, be more likely to aflect them, and hringlheni to repentance 
 than the contrary doctrine?' /l/iszccr I. I think we are not verv 
 able to judge in theory what may he most effectual, nor would 
 it be safe to attempt it, unless we were wiser than God. The 
 evil of tliis is manifest; and lias been awfully manifest in all 
 ages. If the prophets and Christ and his apoetles preached 
 this doctrine, it is certainly useful. But if not, it nnist be 
 hurtful. To me it is strikingly clear that the doctrine is a 
 contradiction to the whole Bible, and to every thing that is good ; 
 and therefore I cannot in theory expect it to be profitable to 
 men. 2. Does it appear in fact that this doctrine has been 
 instrumental to accomplish the ends here mentioned? Have 
 any been so affected as to be brought to repentance by it^ 
 3. Is it not a fact to which all mankind are witnesses, that the 
 contrary doctrine has frequently and certainly been the means 
 of bringing sinners to repentance ?" 
 
 " Query X. * However is it not possible for a very good man 
 to believe this doctrine to be scriptural/ &c. Anazver. I do 
 not know but it is." 
 
 " Query XI. ^ If so, \vhy call it damnable heresy, and other 
 ill names ?' Anszcer, If people believe it to be a damnable 
 heresy, I think they have a right to call it so. Surely we are 
 not to estimate the enormity of errors by the supposed character 
 of those who embrace them." 
 
 " Query XII. * Is it to be supposed that good men will all 
 see eye to eye before the days of the Millennium?' Anszier. 
 Perhaps not." 
 
 " Thus I have endeavoured, as a mere indulgence to an 
 esteemed and beloved friend, to give a * short answer' to his 
 queries. But I beg leave to observe, that queries of this kind 
 are not, in my opinion, calculated to assist in the investigation 
 of truth; but rather to pervert and poison the minds of men, 
 and have always had this tendency. Our business, I think, in 
 enquiring after truth is, not to propose queries concerning inci- 
 dental circumstances; but to read the word of God, and be- 
 lieve it." 
 
 " I should take it as a particular favour, if you would inform' 
 me what you think of the necessity and propriety of writing a 
 reply to Mr. Winchester's Five Letters to me. As you are better 
 
 L r. 
 
^^^ CORRESPONDENCE [I'^Ol. 
 
 acquainted than T can pretend to be with the probable and 
 certain effects of his pamphlet, you are better able to advise 
 with respect to it. I must confess, if his five letters do not 
 sufficiently convince every attentive reader that his whole scheme 
 is a direct opposition to the word of God, I can hardly indulge 
 a hope of convincing men. Yet if any thing be necessary to 
 * drive the nail to the head,' I think the destructive tendency of 
 his scheme requires it. Advise me on this subject." 
 
 " Thanks for your last; and thanks to God that I am able to 
 write or preach to the satisfaction of you and others ! That 
 every benediction may be the portion of you, Mrs. Thompson, 
 and all friends at Boston, is the prayer of your grateful, 6cc." 
 
 12. TO THE SAME. 
 
 Union Street, 1791. 
 
 " Beloved Brother, 
 
 " You will probably think I am long before I fulfil 
 my promise of writing to you, which I acknowledge to be true. 
 But I am so much engaged with various cares and labours, that 
 I could not well procure time ; nor indeed, have I much to say 
 now; but that, I bless God, we are all tolerably well, and the 
 work of the Lord goes forward amongst us. I should be glad 
 to know that this is the case with you, and all your friends, 
 and with dear Mr. Barlow and Mr. Boyce. Let me know 
 how things prosper in all the churches round you, and whether 
 you have any old records of your church which I could be per- 
 mitted to see. I also wish you would enquire when you con- 
 veniently can, what records are preserved of any churches in 
 Lincolnshire or elsewhere." 
 
 *' Dr. Rippon has published the Second Part of his Baptist 
 Register, and has given some account of the General Baptists, 
 especially of our Connection. He wishes to give a more 
 perfect account. I fear J cannot do any thing towards publishing 
 an account of the General Baptists, as requested at the last 
 General Assembly. I wish some other would undertake it. I 
 cannot do every thing I can do but little; and yet have much 
 before me. I am requested to take the labour and trouble of 
 printing ihe new hymn-book;* to which I have consented." 
 
 ♦ This Collection of Hymns has hccn lon^ out of print. INIr. T. had na 
 onccrn in prtpiri.i^ lln' llynui liook now nscd by many of our churches. 
 
AGED 55.] AND EXTRACTS. 267 
 
 13. iO THE SAMK. 
 
 Uiihn-Strcet, Mat/ 13, 1791. 
 
 " It affects my mind, my dear brotlicr, to see in some 
 persons, as I think, a laxness of mind, with respect to some 
 imporlant doctrines. You and 1 have withstood some pushes ; 
 and, 1 trust, we have been in some measure useful. May we 
 be steadfast to the end ! I am continually attended widi evidence, 
 that where these doctrines are slighted, the work of God declines. 
 May God revive his ministers; and thereby revive his truth and 
 his work !" 
 
 1 4, To the liev. Gild e rt Ho yce, on the Decline of lieHgion 
 uinong the baptized churches. (See page ^200 — 202.^ 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 Union-Street f Mai/ 05, 1793. 
 ^^ Rev. and dear Sir, 
 
 *' In order to write with precision on the causes of 
 the decline of vital religion, or the proper means of reviving it, 
 1 think, we ought to define the term, and describe the thing. 
 For unless we understand what true vital religion is, we cannot 
 conceive clearly either of the declension or revival of it. Reli- 
 gion, if I mistake not, may be thus defined, ' It is such a regard 
 to God, in the mind and life of man, as corresponds with the 
 revelation which God has been pleased to make of himself.' 
 So the religion of nature, or natural religion, is such a regard to 
 God in heart and life, as corresponds with that discovery which 
 the oreat Jehovah has made of himself in the works of creation 
 and providence. The Jewish religion is a correspondence in 
 heart and life to the account which God has given of himself in 
 the Old Testament, and the directions which he formerly gave 
 to the Jews, llie religion of Jesus Christ, or the religion of a 
 Christian, is that regard to God which corresponds with the dis- 
 covery he hath made of himself in the New Testament, and the 
 directions there given to men. I take it for granted, that you 
 and vour friends wish to be understood as intendinir the rcliiiiou 
 of Christ, the religion of tlie New Testament; when von ^pciik 
 
 L L '2 
 
268 CORRESPONDENCE [1793. 
 
 of religion, in the letter now before me : and in this sense, I 
 wish to be understood in these pages." 
 
 " I. The New Testament then, represents the great Jehovah 
 as a God of love. The first sreat design of it is to inform fallen 
 man, * that God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten 
 Son, that whosoever believeth on him should never perish!' John 
 iii. 16, 1 John iv. 9, 10. The regard which is due to a God who 
 has given such a representation, and such proofs of his love to 
 miserable sinners, is that we believe this revelation, that we con- 
 fide in this God of love, that we admit no hard thoughts of him; 
 that we never suspect his readiness to save the most unworthy 
 sinner who comes to him by Jesus Christ, and that we constantly 
 and sincerely love and praise him for his great goodness. And 
 that this is required of all who read the New Testament, I need 
 not prove to you or your friends." 
 
 " If we do not steadily confide in him, and venture our souls 
 in his gracious hands, we ungratefidly put away his word from 
 us, and refuse the best of blessings. If we do not love him, and 
 bless and praise him, and gratefully serve him for such a display 
 of love ; if we are lovers of sin, and of the world, if we are lovers • 
 of pleasure more than lovers of God, we certainly have not the 
 religion of the New Testament." 
 
 " II. In the New Testament, the great Jehovah has informed 
 us that ' he has given his own Son, to die for our sins,' ' to bear 
 them in his own body on the tree,' 1 Cor, xv. 3. 1 Pet. ii. 24, 
 iii. 18. And as this is the most glorious display of the Father's 
 love, as well as of the love of his Son, Jesus Christ, and the only 
 ground of hoj)e for sinful man, it is the great design of the 
 New Testament not only to assert this fact, but also to narrate 
 the various circumstances of it, and the blessings which flow 
 from it to miserable sinners. It is therefore mentioned as the 
 first great truth of the gospel, (1 Cor. xv. 3.) Now such in- 
 formation as this certainly requires a correspondent regard, both 
 to the Father and the Son ; and, as this is evidently the sum and 
 substance of the gospel, and that great fact without which 
 nothing could possibly administer hope or encouragement to 
 fallen man, it is the more important, and a slight regard to it is 
 proportionably the more criminal." 
 
 " A correspondent regard to the Father is ardent love, con- 
 fident hope, and unfeigned gratitude. A correspondent regard 
 
AGED 
 
 55 J AND EXTRACTS. QC}9 
 
 to the Son includes a depcndancc on him as our great Atone- 
 ment, and the only way to the Tathcr; that in prayer we have 
 regard to Jcsus's death for our sins, as the only niediutn and 
 mean of all our happiness ; that we not only in speculation, so 
 think of him, but that we heartily embrace him, confide in him ; 
 2 Tiiti. i. 1'2, liom. xv. 12: love him, 1 Cor. xvi. 22: rejoice 
 in him, Fhil.'iW. 3: glory in him. Gal. \\. 14: praise him, 
 B.ev. i. 5, 6 : and gratefully serve him, 2 Cor. v. 14, 15." 
 
 " III. The New Testament contains many precious promises 
 to those who believe in and love Jesus Christ, and many dread- 
 ful threatenings to those who do not. These are expressive of 
 the purity of God, his love to his children, and care for them in 
 every situation ; and the anger of God against others, who do 
 not trust and love him. These demand our confidence, reve- 
 rence and gratitude; and will excite a holy serenity in the minds 
 of true christians in cleaving to God whatever they meet with in 
 this world." 
 
 " The religion of Christ, in this branch of it, is a holy cleaving 
 to God, dependence on him, courage in his cause whatever we 
 lose or suffer for him, and an abhorrence of all sin in ourselves 
 and others." 
 
 " IV. The New Testament presents to our view the awful, 
 glorious realities of another world, a righteous judgment, an 
 eternal heaven, or an everlasting hell, that w ill be the portion of 
 all who here are, or are not, the faithful followers of Jesus 
 Christ : and requires that we all fear this hell, and fly from the 
 wrath to come; that we act in the view of that world; that 
 believers ' seek the things that are above ;' that they ' lay up trea- 
 sure in heaven,' ' labour to be rich towards God,' and patiently 
 endure the trials of life, in prospect of an eternal crown." 
 
 " He, therefore, who is possessed of the religion of Christ, 
 lives under the impression and operation of these great and 
 glorious objects. He is not so much enquiring how he may be 
 rich or honourable on earth, as how he may be rich towards God ; 
 and endure and perform every part of the divine will, so as to 
 glorify his heavenly Father on earth, and to have a glorious 
 reward in that day when God shall, not for our merits, but of 
 his rich free grace, reward every man according to his works." 
 
 " V. The New Testament gives the characters of God's 
 people, of truly good men, that we may examine ourselvses 
 
270 CORRESPONDENCE [1793. 
 
 whether we are such or not. According to this infallible book, 
 they are * new creatures ;' 2 Cor. v. 1 7 — * born again,' * born of 
 God,' 'converted,' and * become as little children;' Matt, xviii. 
 3 — ' renewed in the spirit of their minds ;' Eph. iv. 22, 23, 
 24 — they ' have Christ in them the hope of glory ;' Col. i. 27 — 
 they have ' received the Holy Spirit;' Gal. iii. 2. 1 John iii. 24 
 and iv. 13 — they ' keep God's word, and his commandments;' 
 1 John ii. 3, 4 — and * purify themselves even as lie is pure;' 
 1 John iii. 3." 
 
 " No man, therefore, who does" not, in some measure, bear 
 these characters, is a true christian, nor a partaker of the religion 
 of the New Testament, or the religion of Jesus Christ." 
 
 " VI. The New Testament shews us, that in the world, as 
 christians, we are in danger of being ensnared, and overcome by 
 enemies; and therefore, in order to avoid these snares and over- 
 come these enemies, we must watch and pray, take up our cross, 
 deny ourselves, wait upon God in his ordinances, in order to be 
 strengthened with strength in our souls, and cleave to the Lord 
 with purpose of heart." 
 
 " VII. The New Testarhent informs us where our help is 
 and how to obtain it, amidst all the enemies, dangers and trials 
 of life. * Without Christ we can do nothing;' Joh?ixv. 5. 
 * We are not sufficient of ourselves, even to think any thing; but 
 all our sufficiency of God.' " 
 
 " Jf we have the religion of Christ, we are stript of confidence 
 in our own wisdom and strength, and pray for wisdom and 
 strength, from God; and trust in him for these blessings, * If 
 we lack wisdom, we ask it of God;' James i. 5. * We pray that 
 we may be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner 
 man ;' Ephes. iii. 16; and for these purposes, God always ' gives 
 his Holy Spirit to them that ask him;' Luke xi. 13. So that 
 those who live a life of faith and prayer for the Spirit of God 
 to lead and strengthen them in all their difficulties, against all 
 their enemies, are sure to make a progress in holiness, notwith- 
 standing the opposition ihe^ may meet with; and come oft more 
 than conquerors, thi ough him that has loved them ; Rom. viii. 37. 
 They shall soon enjoy the completion of that unspeakably gra- 
 cious promise, 'To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with 
 me on my throne, even as 1 also overcame, and am set down 
 with mv r'atlier on his throne.' iit'i". iii. '21, 
 
AGED 55.] AND EXTRACTS. 271 
 
 " It were easy to enlarge on this copious sulijort, hut mv 
 design is to be as brief as perspicuity will admit. It is natural 
 to make this one general observation on the whole, that the 
 religion of the New Testament, by \\hieh alone men can be 
 made everlastingly hap})y, does not consist in names, or notions, 
 or forms, or impulses of any kind, however necessary oj proper, 
 or valuable these may be, for certain purposes; but the fouudu- 
 tion of it is laid in the experimental knowledge of Jesus Christ: 
 by which know ledge we are renewed in our hearts, the Spirit of 
 God dwells in the soul, unites the heart to God, and teaches 
 and enables us to maintain a holy correspondence with him and 
 in the use of the means of grace, to receive strength and wisdom 
 from him, and to devote ourselves, though with many imperfec- 
 tions, cheerfully and uniformly to his service, in holiness and 
 righteousness, to the praise and glory of his great name. In 
 proportion to the decay or advancement of such a spirit, temper 
 and life among men, vital religion decays or advances; and meu 
 are happy or miserable, both for time and eternity. Of this 
 decay or advancement, my intention is, by divine assistance, to 
 giv<j you my thoughts in the ensuing epistles. In the mean time, 
 and at all times, earnestly requesting an interest in your prayers, 
 I am, your^ 8cc." 
 
 15. LETTER 11. 
 
 Rev. and dear Sh'y 
 
 " 1 think we may be greatly assisted in our inquiry 
 into the causes of the decay of vital religion, and the means of 
 reviving it, by recollecting what it is — the great instrument of 
 producing it, the gospel — and the means of promoting it. For 
 where true religion does not exist in those who ought to pro- 
 mote it, a decline is the natural consequence ; and where the 
 great instrument of effecting it, or the means of promoting it, are 
 not used, it must decay." 
 
 *' True Christianity is, as we have seen, a temper and life 
 corres!pondiv!g with the New Testament, or with that discovery 
 of himself which the great God has been pleased to make in 
 that blessed book." 
 
 " That there is no such correspondence in men by nature, is 
 almost as evident to every attentive observer, w ho carefully reads 
 the New Testament, as it is that men live, breathe antl tliink. 
 
272 ' CORRESPONDENCE [1793. 
 
 The change by \vhlch men are brought to this state is called in 
 scripture, ' being converted,' ^ being born again,' ' being renewed 
 in the spirit of their mind/ ^ being made new creatures/ * being 
 created in Christ Jesus unto good works/ * being born of 
 God/ Sec." 
 
 " Now if tiierc be a mean of effecting this change and brins- 
 ing men into this state, and that mean is not used, we cannot 
 expect this change to be effected, nor men to be brought into 
 this condition. And I believe we shall all agree, that whatever 
 mean the apostles used for this purpose, the same is necessary 
 at this day. The history of their labours, as well as their own 
 declarations, will sufficiently inform us what methods they used 
 in order to brino; men into this state." 
 
 " It is certain, that we have not a full account of all that the 
 apostles preached to men. For ' with many other words did 
 they testify and exhort / Acts ii. 40. But we have, in several 
 places, an epitome at least, of their discourses. They evidently 
 stated and proved that Jesus Christ, of Nazareth, was the Son 
 of God, and the Messiah which the Jews had so long expected: 
 and having done that, they proclaimed pardon and salvation 
 through him, by faith, to guilty men. Their language was, ' Be 
 it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through 
 this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins : and by 
 him all that believe are justified from all 'things.' * Believe on 
 the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.' Acts xiii. 38, 
 39, xvi. 31." 
 
 " If we enquire at the mouth of Paul himself, how he 
 preached, he has given us an account both of the object and 
 subject of his ministry. The object was 'to open their eyes, and 
 to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of 
 Satan unto God, that they might receive forgiveness of sins and 
 an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is 
 in Christ.' Acts xxvi. 18. The subject was ' repentance towards 
 God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ.' Acts xx,Q\, 
 He varies the phraseology a little, on another occasion ; but 
 his account his evidently the same in substance. Acts xxvi. 20. 
 The doctrine he preached, he frequently calls the gospel, and he 
 particularly explains what the gospel was, viz. * that Christ died 
 for our sifis, was buriex:!, rose again, and gave sufficient proof of 
 his resunxcticui.' 1 Cor. xv. 3 — 9.'' 
 
AGKD 55.] AND EXTRACTS. 273 
 
 " The pious Jews wiio l)(!lievc(l tluir own proplicts, always 
 expected a Messiah who .'^hoiiUl die for the :iins ol" iik'H ; nor was 
 it possible lliat any system wliieh did not contaiii lliiii doclrine 
 should be a gospel, or good tidings, or suit the cor.ditioU; or be 
 of any saving use, either to Jews or Gentiles. Tiiese first and 
 incomparably best of preachers not only insist upon it in tlieir 
 ministry; but they introduce it on almost all occasions, and ex- 
 liibit it in all its various lights, in their epistles. We can seldom 
 read a page without a reference to it, as a doctrine which is not 
 only the sole foundation, and a rompkte foundation, for the 
 hope of sinners ; but a doctrine which animates to every branch 
 of holiness, and is indeed the song, the joy, and the glory of true 
 believers in their pilgrimage through ihis sinful and miserable 
 world." 
 
 " Indeed other systems had been sufticicntly tried, and tliat by 
 the greatest of men; but they all proved ineffectual to make 
 men truly holy and happy. The blessed God saw this, and 
 ' after that the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God 
 by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe/ 
 1 Coj\ i. 21. The context shews that what tliey believed and 
 the foolishness of preaching by which they were saved, was the 
 despised doctrine of Christ crucified for the sins of men. It is 
 an incontrovertible fact, that this was the fundan)ental doctrine 
 which the apostles taught the world ; and what the effect of it 
 was, appears in the conversions and genuine reformation in 
 different parts where they preached. This genuiiie reformation 
 is an illustration, by facts, of Rom. i. \G. 1 Thess, ii. 13. And 
 it will much assist us in ascertaining the grand cause of the 
 present declension of vital religion, both among some General 
 Baptists, and some other professors. For if no other doctrine 
 could convert men and make them holy and happy in the time 
 of the apostles, it is unreasonable to imagine that any other 
 should do it at this day. If this doctrine was effectual for this 
 great purpose, in that age, nothing can be more natural than to 
 conclude that it must be so in all ages. Nor do I in the least 
 hesitate to appeal to all mankind, whether it be not undeniable 
 in fact, that, in every age and in every part of the world, where 
 remarkable revivals have been known, they have been effected 
 by a system which included this doctrine as a fundamental. It 
 is equally undeniable, that where this doctrine has been laid 
 
 M M 
 
274 CORRESPONDENCE [1797. 
 
 aside, or lias been considered in any other light than as a funda- 
 mental, without which true Christianity cannot exist, vital reli- 
 gion, in those times and places, has always declined ; and never 
 revived afterwards, till the preaching of this doctrine as funda- 
 mental to all the holiness and happiness of mortals, has been 
 revived. What I now assert. Sir, is confirmed, not only by the 
 history of the New Testament, but also by the history of religion 
 in all ages and in all places, for a series of seventeen hundred 
 years. You, Sir, and thousands of others, can examine this 
 -fact as well as myself; and my earnest desire is that it may be 
 examined, and disproved, if it can be disproved. If not; that 
 the lessons taught by it may be reduced to practice."*' 
 
 17. TO MR. J. H. 
 
 Mile-End Road, Dec. \G, 179J. 
 " Dear Brother H. 
 
 " I can hardly excuse myself, with all my avocations, 
 that I have not sooner acknowledged the receipt of your favour 
 by Mr. D. I have had trials since then such as I never knew 
 before. But hitherto the Lord has helped me. Indeed we are 
 poor creatures. We know not what we can do or bear till we 
 are tried. But we know that our God has told us that he cares 
 for vs. That is sufficient consolation. Lord, write it on our 
 hearts. I hope you are yet doing much for Christ, and glorify- 
 ing his great and blessed name : and that many are made happy 
 by your instrumentality. I pray that you may go on, and do 
 wonders for Christ, and the souls of men. You must have 
 trials and enemies, if engaged for Jesus. 13ut fear them not. 
 Before this glorious Zerubbabel every mountain shall become a 
 plain." 
 
 18. TO Ills BROTHER, MR. J. T. 
 
 Mile-Etid Road, FeO. 14, 17L>7. 
 " Ml/ dear Brother, 
 
 " I had the great pleasure to receive your long letter, 
 and bless God that you are able to write so nuich. I hope it 
 \^ ill please the Father of mercies to conliiuie your life for years 
 to come, for the oood of his church and manv others, though vou are 
 
 * For fiirUur Extracts from these interesting Letters, see History of 
 English General Baptists, Vol. I. page -Uij. 
 
AGKD 60.] AND KXTRACTS. 275 
 
 SO feeble. And, Oli, my brolhcr, lot us ever renienibcr, that 
 Ijow ieeble soever our powers arc, yet if used for our blessed 
 IJcdeenH^r, as tlicy ought to be, we shall be blessed iiere and 
 rewarded hereafter. Rich grace! He gives the aljililv and 
 rewards the use of it." 
 
 19. TO MRS. M. 
 
 Mile-End Road, Jpril 7, 1797- 
 
 *■' Di'civ Sister M. 
 
 " At our last church meeting I was requested to write 
 to you respecting your welfare in soul and body. Will you 
 therefore be kind enough to indulge me with a line to inform me 
 how you do, how Mr. M. and your family are; but especially 
 how your precious and immortal soul prospers. I hope you are 
 growing up into him in all things, who is the head, even the 
 Lord Jesus Christ." 
 
 " \\ hen you can spare a few moments for the above })urpose, 
 ■^^hicll I request to be as soon as you can make it convenient, 
 will you also give yourself the trouble of informing me wliat you 
 know of the state of religion, and of the state of trade, so far as 
 you are acquainted. In London I fear every thing wears a 
 gloomy aspect. I fear the hearts of professors themselves are 
 too little intent upon heavenly, and too much engaged about 
 earthly things. O that God in his great ihercy may quicken us 
 all, and deliver us from this present evil world!" 
 
 " Let us be jealous over ourselves, frequently examine the 
 ground on which we stand, and the evidence that we stand lirm! 
 be watchful over our own hearts, that the cares of this world, the 
 deceitfulness of riches, or the lust of other things, do not destroy 
 our comfort and usefulness." 
 
 20. To a Young Minister and his Win:, jiea?- relatives, 
 
 on their .settling: with a church. 
 
 Mile-End Road, Jag. '20, ] 799- 
 
 '' Bear 
 
 ^' I was favoured widi your's, and bless the Lord for 
 
 the safety widi wiiich you arrived at 11 . I trust you 
 
 continue comfortable in all respects. Our daily prayers are for 
 voj5r welfare: and t trust you daily pray for yourselves, both 
 
 M M 'J 
 
270 ■ CORRESPONDENCE [1799. 
 
 separately and together. Be assured that a life of humble 
 believing prayer, is a life of substantial pleasure. As heads of 
 a family, think and talk much of Pjvv. iii. 33. Conspicuous as 
 your situation and rank in the church are, remember many eyes 
 are upon you : and without being uncandid, you may reasonably 
 suppose many eircioiis eyes. Many will be glad to remark every 
 impropriety in your speech, conduct and dress ; and to improve 
 t!ie impropriety to your disadvantage; to diminish, if not to 
 destroy your iniluence, and by that means, your usefulness, 
 '^llioughts of this should not bring your minds into a state of 
 bondage and slavery ; but they certainly should excite caution. 
 Permit me to advise you not to encourage idle and useless chit- 
 cliat with any one. A spiritual temper and conversation will 
 much prevent your having the company of those who are little 
 Vv'orth, and will secure vou the esteem of those who will do vou 
 good, and receive good from you ; and consequently are the only 
 persons whose smiles and friendship are truly worth desiring. 
 At the same time^ they will promote your peace, brighten your 
 evidences, and encrease your usefulness, and your present and 
 everlastin": comfort. You mav be solid and yet be cheerful. 
 There is ' a time to laugh as well as to weep ;' and the real 
 christian can laugh properly^ from his heart, and for good 
 reasons." 
 
 " Pay proper respect, without fawning, to Mr. T. and to the 
 elder serious people in the church. Preserve an equanimity of 
 mind and temper before all men : serious, cheerful, good natured. 
 Be not too fond of company, inviting and being invited. I have 
 hurt myself with this. Jf you deserve friendship, you will have 
 more friends than you can well accommodate ; and in all pro- 
 bability, they will be encreasing every year. Good economy, 
 with respect to sleep, time, furniture, food and dress, will be of 
 unspeakable iidvantage to you. But if I do not stop, I shall go 
 on to a volume. 1 must be an econojnist myself; and reserve 
 the next to future letters. I only add now, if people should 
 speak against you, observe it well; but do not seem to observe 
 it, nor to know of it. T'.ie best way of demolishing reproaches, 
 is to live them dozm. Witliout this, you may talk in vain for 
 ever. With it, reproaches will die of themselves, and the 
 authors of them v\ ill be treated as thcv deserve." 
 
AGED 62,] AND EXTRACTS. 277 
 
 21. TO MRS. M. 
 
 Milc-Eiid Road, April 2L), 1 800. 
 '' Ml/ dear Sister, 
 
 " I take this hasty opportunity of just dropping you a 
 line to say, that I hope you are still prospering in tlie divine life, 
 in this shiful and miserable world. Sinful and miserable as it is, 
 however, blessed be the Lord ! we have a better before us, and 
 our way to it is but short, though rough and thorny ; and we 
 have a never-failing friend and guardian in every part of it. Is 
 your faith resting upon him ? Is he not to you the fairest 
 among ten thousand, and altogether lovely ? But if he is so 
 lovely now, when you see him so darkly, how much more lovely 
 will he appear when you see him as he is ! and with what rap- 
 ture will you contemplate his inlinite excellencies through never 
 ending ages !" 
 
 " Till that blessed day commence, may we live upon his 
 ' exceedingly great and precious promises ;' and make it our one 
 great concern, by a holy conversation, coupled with fear, to 
 glorify his great and adorable name. I sometimes think, I trust, 
 Avith christian commisseration, of the trials you have endured for 
 some years past. But the hand that has helped you through 
 them is divine ; and the same divine hand ' will never fail you nor 
 forsake you ;' so that you may boldly say, * the Lord is my 
 helper.' May the God of our salvation be still more fully 
 known by yourself, your partner, your family and all your friends! 
 Hoping to meet you soon in the regions of light and peace, 
 I »m, Sec." 
 
 22. TO MR. FR N. 
 
 Mile-End Road, Jan. 5, \Q00. 
 
 " Is my dear and sincerely esteemed brother Fr — n, 
 my old, close correspondent, living or dead ? If alive, I beg the 
 favour of information— where he is — how he is — what he does — 
 how he likes his situation — how his family is — how he succeeds 
 as Tutor and Minister, 8cc. Sec. &c. Not a syllable received 
 from him, or an item received of him, for more than six 
 months ! ! I" 
 
278 CORRESPONDENCE [1800. 
 
 23. TO THE SAME. 
 
 JSlo date. 
 
 " Hey-day! Hey-day! good brother Fr — ii. But you 
 must be rallied, Sir, out of your hyps, l^ouse ye, rouse ye, my 
 good friend, put off your mittens, and let us see what you can 
 do. ^^ hat! placed in the centre of activity and talk of creeping 
 into a corner, and leaving your brethren to expose themselves 
 by their blunders, which you, who are able, ought to correct ? 
 But it is more agreeable to the hyp, to be quiet, and to eat my 
 own morsel alone. Pretty affair indeed ! And what will the 
 next account be? ^ I am almost confined to my bed; I am not 
 fit to stir.' For shame ! So much northwind, and these vapours 
 not yet dispelled! W hat are your neighbours about, Sir. Not 
 
 one to halloo, ^ poor F .' " 
 
 *' 1 have not your kind letter "before me. I immediately sent 
 it to the -doctor; wishing him to send you any specific, or advice 
 in his power. I hope it will please our heavenly Father to re- 
 move your other disorder, or abundantly to support and comfort 
 you under it. My opinion is, that the one disorder will naturally 
 promote the other. Perhaps air, exercise and cheerful company, 
 may be antidotes against both. I most sensibly and sincerely 
 commiserate your case, with regard to both. JNJay you be 
 directed to proper means of counteracting them before their 
 roots strike too deep, and their pow er become too prevalent for 
 medicine or regimen. Happy shall 1 be to hear that you are 
 
 in every respect much belter. 1 feel for poor Mrs. U , 
 
 The Lord make her strength equal to her day." 
 
 24. TO ins BROTHER, MR. J. T. 
 
 No (late, 
 
 " You will undoublediy think two things proper in 
 dealincj with vour heretical members. J^'irst. 71iat you take all 
 the pains you can to instruct and convince them, before you 
 exclude them. Second, 'J hat you labour to see their meaning. 
 If they mean what you do, thoui»;h they may express it in 
 different hnimiatic, I ijiink tiiat should excite vour candour and 
 caution, \\\k\ ujucIi r'xculpate th.em from the charge.' 
 
ACKJ) 63,] AND KXTllACTS. 21\) 
 
 '25. TO Til K SAMT. 
 
 MiU'-Kiiil R()(i(l, Feb. 17, 1801. 
 
 " Mi/ beloved Brother, 
 
 " I was favoured with your's, and lliaiik (Jod, and do 
 slre to unite with you in thanks to our brethren in 1/incohishire, 
 Leicestersliire, 8cc. for their compassionate regard to you, and 
 the poor of your country and neigh bom hood, in your necessities. 
 Times are, indeed, very trying : lUit our God and Saviour, 
 blessed be his name ! is able to bring us through them, and, [ 
 doubt not, he will do it. Last L >rd's dav, I nreached a funeral 
 sermon for one of our members, Mr. Sympson, from Tleb. vi. 15. 
 He was a lame man, and has endured a good deal to the age of 
 seventy-one; having been a member of our church almost fifty 
 years, and died triumphant. 1 believe the words are verified in 
 him; and rejoice in hope that they will soon be verified in your 
 experience and mine, and that of many others. Remind your 
 poor distressed friends of this ; aud the Lord enable you to do it 
 well, and accompany your endeavours in this, and every other 
 labour of love, with his abundant blessing !" 
 
 " W itli respect to brother D. 8cc. I, without hesitation or 
 demur, give my opinion on his case, in answer to your query. 
 ' Will it be right to let him preach occasionally, when one op- 
 poses it.^ 
 
 " Answer. Yes, I think so, by all means, if three, or four, or 
 six ones oppose it, admitting that I and the majority of the 
 church, believe him to have preaching abilities, that his moral 
 character is good, and that he preaches the truth, and does it 
 \\\\.\\ a sincere mind. How are ujinisters to be raised up 1 how 
 is any part of the work of God to go on, if one, or two, or three, 
 and these perhaps not the Solomons of their age, and possibly 
 under the power of prejudice, shall be suffered to hinder it 1 
 To admit of this in a church of Christ, is contrary to reason, to 
 scripture, and to the conduct of all regular societies. But then, 
 to avoid ofience and prevent harm, as nmch as possible, 1 think 
 it might be well to let him begin with i)reacliing not very often, 
 and perhaps rather in some of your evening meetings, at private 
 houses, See. than in your meeting-house on a Lord's day, unless 
 in case of nccessilv- N. B. 1 sav, let him becm thus; and I 
 beg leave to add, tluit I ihiidv il uii-l't l>(> well for you to hear 
 
280 CORRESPONDENCE [1800. 
 
 him once or twice, that you might be able to vindicate his 
 preaching, know vvliere and when to advise him to preach ; and 
 to give him proper directions. In all probabiHty this proceeding 
 may conduce to the good of hundreds; and to keep him from 
 preaching may prevent the salvation of liundreds : possibly, in its 
 connections and consequences, of thousands. Indeed to keep a 
 young man, properly qualified and disposed, from preaching, 
 because one, or two, or three, may object to it, seems to me, a 
 high extreme of madness. There are three ordained ministers, 
 ^vho are all to a moderate degree, useful ministers, and two or 
 three not ordained, who are also useful, all raised from our 
 church, since I came to London ; and would all liave been 
 silenced, if I had not broken through such obstacles as those you 
 mention : and I rejoice that I did it." 
 
 26. I'o a Young Relative, setting out in the Work of the 
 
 Ministry. 
 
 Juhj \2, 1799. 
 ^' Remember these are golden moments; improve 
 them well. Forget not the value of biblical knowledge. Be 
 much in earnest in private prayer." 
 
 Jpril 29j 1S00, 
 *' With pleasure I received your letter; but read some 
 of its contents with pain : partly on account of your unpleasant 
 circumstances, and partly on account of your apparent im- 
 patience. Remember your duty and your honour require you 
 ' to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ ;' and ' to 
 learn to be full and to be hungry, to abound and to suffer need;' 
 and in every state to be content. May God, by your present 
 trials, teach you these lessons more perfectly ! May you be an 
 example of these duties and excellencies in future years ! ^fy 
 greatest concern is about your indisposition. Take care of your 
 health. Speak level, slow, softly and short; and keep yourself 
 dry. Get help for your pleuritic complaint, if you can. The 
 Lord succeed you." 
 
 " As to your ministry, it seems that you have some reason to 
 rejoice. Be thankful k)r little appearances. Go on, and God 
 will i»ive you more favour." 
 
 " As soon as you arc permanently settled, I advise, by all 
 
AOED 62.] AND EXTRACTb. 28 1 
 
 means, tliat you bcgin^a school immediately. It cannot be ex- 
 pected tliat the chmches whose ministers are all woiking around 
 you, shouhi support you to do nothing. A school is greatly 
 helpful to the minibtry. It will give you resj)ectahilily ; und, if 
 well managed, will attract the people's alteniiou and alleclion. 
 Vou will have time ou your hands, and you are rpndilied. Liltle 
 else to do: and your people will love you. All will help those 
 who endeavour to help themselves. Be steady; watch, pray, 
 study; be regular. — Lord help you." 
 
 Jw/j/24, 1800. 
 *' I have this moment run over with mv eve, your sin 
 gular and, in various ways, aft'ecting letter to your brother. I 
 bless God, that you live, are so well, and rather get ground as a 
 preacher. This is the great concern of life; and I cannot but 
 think, that if you succeeded more as a preacher, you would suc- 
 ceed and be more happy in other respects. O ! labour hard, 
 pray fervently, study diligently and preach affectionately, that 
 this great end may be accomplished. Let me advise you, and 
 let me persuade you, to spend one hour in the week, at least, to 
 examine the matter, the m'uiner, the length and the spirituality 
 of your sermcms and prayers in public, and of your ministerial 
 visits. At the end of this hour, w rite down the faults or defects 
 of which you are conscious, and the methods which you ought 
 to pursue in order to be more useful ; and resolve, at all events, 
 should it cost you your life, to pursue these methods. This will 
 be as profitable an exercise as any in the week, perhaps the 
 most profitable. You must be resolute. You nmst conquer 
 yourself." 
 
 *' Is the matter of your preaching evangelical ? plain ? founded 
 on the positive express testimony of scripture? Is it searching 
 rather than amusing? Is it fundamental? all milk? Ilfb.v. 12, 
 13, 14. Is your manner easy, simple, affectionate? directed to 
 the heart, in the style of scripture ? Do you not preach too long, 
 too loud, too learnedly ? Does your conversation, at other times, 
 convince your people that the salvation of their souls is all in all 
 widi you. Are all your visits, as well as your sermons, short 
 and sweet ? Think and answer." 
 
 N N 
 
282 CORRESPONDENCE [1801. 
 
 April 11, 1801. 
 '' I always bear of you, or from you, with much plea- 
 sure, though I have sometimes pain by what I hear. Your last 
 gave me a considerable share of both pain and pleasure. Pain 
 to find that you are attended with some disagreeable circum- 
 stances , and that these occasion, which is very natural, some 
 uneasiness of mind. But, pleasure, that in the midst of your 
 disagreeables, you are able to tell me, I am persuaded with much 
 truth, that you ' s'till preach and you hope more evangelically 
 than you once did, and that you think you see some good eft'ects 
 from it, in increasing and attentive congregations, &.c." 
 
 " How far your almost resolution to leave is necessary or 
 prudent, it is impossible for me to say, at this distance. But I 
 can easily admit that something may be said by way of apology 
 for it. Probably when you have submitted the question to con- 
 ference, some new light may shine. At any rate, remember 
 Psalm cxii. 4, ' Unto the upright there ariseth light in dark- 
 ness.' This will assuredly be verified in your case. I have 
 lately delivered two Tuesday evening exhortations on this sen- 
 tence, and have reason to believe a divine blessing has attended 
 them to the profit of several." 
 
 " You assign reasons for your resolution, which certainly are 
 not destitute of weight. But have you no reason to fear that 
 these or some other reasons may exist in other places ? Ah ! my 
 
 dear , preachers are not to lie all their lives on beds of 
 
 down. Wait till your work is done. There will be rest enough 
 in heaven. Now ' endure hardness.' There is no harm in 
 change when necessary. But are you sure tliat you can do no- 
 thing to remove your difficulties ? Cannot you, for instance, by 
 close application, make your situation less disagreeable r Cannot 
 you persuade, or allure, or induce, by example, your people and 
 neighbours to co-operate with you ? Cannot you bless God for 
 the success you have, and pray and hope for more .^ Cannot you 
 labour to subdue the aversion of the town's people ? Make them 
 believe that Jesus came to save sinners, and you so far ensure 
 their smiles upon yourself and ministry. Try to be less * un- 
 suitable,' &c." 
 
 " After all, [)erhaps a remove may be necessary; yet do not 
 
 be hasty. Hemcmber a snuggle at has peculiar merit: 
 
 arid a little advantage gained there is worth much. I cannot 
 
AGED 68.] AND EXTRACTS. 2Q3 
 
 enlarge. God be with you. If 1 live till MidsiiniinLT, T sliull 
 be pleased to have an opportunity of telling your bad people 
 how bad they are, and of shewing them the way to be better." 
 
 May 9, 1802. 
 " Let me again entreat you to study and preach 
 Christ with all your heart and with all your soul, if you wish to 
 be useful. Christ will own and honour you, if you own and 
 honour him." 
 
 Nov. 1, 1805. 
 " 1 hope you art3 studying and preaching Christ, as 
 • all in all,' with all your heart and son! : and taking care to 
 iiononr him in all your conduct ; then he will honour you." 
 
 March 15, 1811. 
 " I hope you are going on well in the great things 
 of God, and have done so all the winter. Let me intreat you 
 to keep, above all things, a close attention to your great and 
 glorious work, and your solemn account. In every thing, keep 
 it close to your heart, that Christ is all and in all." 
 
 27. TO MR. FR — N. 
 
 Mile-End Road, May 20, 1806. 
 " With great pleasure, though unexpectedly, I received 
 your last. I rejoice exceedingly, in the comfort and success of 
 dear Brother C — ; yet on some accounts, it would gratify me 
 to be no more called upon to the solemn and awful work of 
 delivering charges. Your prayer, however, at the end of your 
 letter, affected me, and coincides with many of my own poor 
 prayers : 'May the blessed God increase our capacity — our 
 opportiuiitics — and our wilHngness to do good.' On the prin- 
 ciples implied in this petition, my brother, I have concluded to 
 assist my brethren at L , if I can." 
 
 28. TO THE SAME. 
 
 Mile-End Road, Jan. 28, 180G. 
 " I desire humbly and heartily to congratulate you on the 
 success which the Lord gives you in the work of the ministry ! 
 May a great part of those whom you lately baptized, be your 
 
 N N 2 
 
284 CORRESPONDENCE [1806. 
 
 crown in the day of Christ ! To be kept humble, lively, spi- 
 ijtuiil and lull of love to Christ and holiness, is indeed, a great 
 thino;. Lord grant it to you and nie !" 
 
 " You see our great man, Mr. Pitt, and several other great 
 men, are dead. Death knows of no distinctions. My old 
 friend, Mr. Booth, died last evening, in his seventy-second 
 year." 
 
 29. TO THE SAME. 
 
 Mih-End Road, April 25, 1806. 
 
 " Accept my wife's respects. Her weakness in her 
 wrists is returned, so that she can scarcely attend to any business. 
 But our heavenly Father does all things well. My daughter 
 has yet the ague, which she brought out of Lincolnshire, the 
 last October. O the blessed morning, mentioned Phil. iii. 21. 
 ]\lay that be accomplished in me and my beloved brother to 
 uhom I now write! Well, Hhere remains a rest for the people 
 of God.' " 
 
 SO. TO MRS. M. 
 
 Mile-End Road, May 5, 1 806. 
 
 « Dear Sister M. 
 
 " Thanks for your kind and affectionate letter, received 
 the third instant. Thanks be to God for your prosperity, and 
 that of your family, and ej^pecially thanks and praise be given 
 to the God of mercy, for the knowledge that he has given you 
 of himself, and his great salvation : and that he has ever done 
 so unworthy a creature as I am, the great honour of making me 
 in any measure, useful to you or to any other." 
 
 " 1 congialiihite vou, dear Sister, on your stedfast adherence 
 to those great truths which are the soul's support and coin- 
 foit, and which 1 doubt not, will constitute a matter for the 
 eternal melody of heaven. May your soul be supported more 
 and more, by an all-sufHcient Jesus, amitist the unavoidable 
 toils, cares and perplexities of your situation, till your adorable 
 Saviour lake you to his everlasting rest!" 
 
 "1 bless God for any favourable appearances in the minds of 
 your dear otifs})ring. I am persuaded, you will continue your 
 labour and prayer for them; and God will hear and help. My 
 
AGED 68.] A2SD EXTRACTS. ^85 
 
 love to tlieni all. Desire tlicm, from mo, to get by Iicart, and 
 often to repeat, and to consider, i*/or. viii. 17, and I'lcc. xii. 1. 
 The good Lord bless them all, and their dear parents!" 
 
 S\, TO MR. FR N. 
 
 Mile-End Road, OcL 18, 1806. 
 " I received your's and thank you for your good wishes, 
 and manifestations of respect. 1 have so many of these from ail 
 quarters, amidst very great unworlhiness and very many defects, 
 that my obligations to the grace and providence of God are 
 imiumerable. I trust I feel some gratitude to God and my 
 friends; but I fear, in a very small proportion to what I ought 
 to feel. Lord humble, pardon and quicken me and all my bre- 
 thren." 
 
 *' I am afraid, if I come to II , as desired, it will be 
 
 little to your advantage compared with the expence. Hut if you 
 and the people contiiuie to wish it, I promise, providence permit- 
 ting, to be with you at the time. Jt will gratify me. May it 
 protit you." 
 
 32. TO THE SAME. 
 
 Mile-End Road, Jan, 5 1807. 
 
 •' Ml/ dear Brother F. 
 
 ** After long expectation, 1 have received your's. I 
 was almost ready to fear you or your family were seized with 
 the i'e\iiv which had bronuht Master D. so low. I bless the 
 Lord that it is otherwise; and rejoice, that though Mrs. F. and 
 yourself have been ill, you are both better. May our continued 
 lives be spent lor him who died for us and rose again." 
 
 '* I humbly hope what the Lord has lately and formerly done 
 both for you and me, and our families and friends, will increase 
 our love to him, and conlidence in him. I thank the Lord, who 
 enabled you, in your dangerous illness, with so much composure 
 to connnit yourself and your's to him. May this encourage us 
 to * trust in the Lord at all times; knowing that in the Lord 
 Jehovah there is everlasting strenjiUi.' He is the 'God of all 
 grace.' He has given us living grace, blessed be his name; and 
 he can, and I trust will, when necessary, favour us with dying 
 grace. Glory to him!" 
 
!^86 CORRESPONDENCE [1808. 
 
 S3. TO MR. AND MRS. B L. 
 
 Mile End, Nov, 1, 1808. 
 
 *' Dear . 
 
 I rejoice to hear of you; and especially from you. I 
 bless God that you both can and will do something for Jesus 
 Christ. Let us never forget that he died for our sins, and we 
 owe him our all, and infinitely more. Through divine mercy, I 
 am wonderfully recovered. Two Lord's days I have preached 
 three times a day, I am now come I may say, to the very dregs 
 of life. O that every day and every hour, may be devoted to him 
 who died for me. Take care of your health. Look to Jesus. 
 Watch and pray; and we shall soon meet in glory." 
 
 34. TO HIS BROTHER, MR. J. T. 
 
 Dog-Row, near Mile-End, Nov, 22, 1810. 
 
 '^ Dear Brother and Sister, 
 
 "At length I sit down to tell you, that, through the 
 mercy of God, I arrived safe at home on Friday evening, Nov. 2, 
 and found family and friends w'ell, as usual. Blessed be our 
 heavenly Father!" 
 
 " 1 liad to w alk from Burnley to Todmorden on the Tuesday 
 afternoon after preaching and ministers' meeting at Burnley. 
 My good friends, James Taylor, H. Hollinrake and J. Hodgson 
 kindly accompanied me. Slept there, and walked to Feather- 
 stall, near Kochdale, on Wednesday morning. There waited for 
 the coach. Thence to Manchester, where I spent a few hours 
 very comfortably with Mr. Mouncy and his family. Thence, at 
 one in the afternoon, went off to Birmingham, dined there and 
 went off for London. Thus, ' hitherto the Lord has helped me.' 
 May the few remaining days of a poor, short, unprofitable life, 
 be more than ever spent for him that loved me and died for me." 
 
 " 1 remember, with peculiar pleasure, my interview with you 
 and my friends in Yorkshire; and especially the favourable 
 appearances of a revival of religion in some places. May the 
 good Lord continue and increase them ! May truth, love, peace 
 and purity, ever increase among you all ! I particularly bless God 
 that your health is so good, and your comforts are so many. 
 May you long be continued comfortable and useful, and may 
 you in due time, when quite worn down, finish vour course with 
 
 joy!" 
 
AGE 
 
 77.] AND KXTRACTS. 287 
 
 "I ticsire you would give, or sond, my love to all my friends 
 in Wadswoitli, Slack, Halifax, and elsewhere, and jjarlicularly 
 to my worthy and highly esteemed friend and brother. Dr. 
 I'aweett." 
 
 **May the God of the spirits of all Hesh keep all our hearts 
 in his love !" 
 
 35. TO Mils. M. AM) Mils. N. 
 
 Mile-End Road, April 4, 1815. 
 " Dear Sisters, 
 
 " We have been taking a survey of our church, and the 
 state of its members. Not a few of these are in the country, to 
 whom therefore, I am requested to write. You are two of that 
 number. I hope you are prospering in your souls, and blessing 
 God for the riches of his grace, and the fullness and freeness 
 of his glorious salvation. May you ever grow in grace, more 
 and more ! I hope the distance of your ha!)itation does not 
 alienate your hearts from your brethren and sisters. Though 
 far distant; we still belong to the same family, and are even 
 members of the same Body. God forbid that we should ever 
 forofet our near relation ! But our relation to our blessed Lord 
 Jesus, our glorious Saviour, is still incomparably nearer, he con- 
 descends to call himself our elder brother. Adored be his ever 
 blessed name ! May we ever trust him, love him, and be devoted 
 to him. He considers himself as in the tenderest relation to us — 
 our friend, our husband, our flesh, Sec. Glory be to his great 
 name ! Whatever we think or speak of, let Christ be to us, all 
 and in all." 
 
 " I hope to receive a letter or two from you soon ; telling me 
 that you are happy in connn union with the Lord Jesus, and in 
 the prospect of living and reigning eternally with him, in his 
 kingdom." 
 
 " \Vc have had rather a flagging year. The world sadly eats 
 out the power and spirit of religion. The Lord enable you to 
 live above the world more than many of us do ! Times are 
 rather alarming ; but the Lord reigns and will be near to them 
 that trust in him. I trust you are able to consider the precious 
 promises of scripture, and to bring them often home to your 
 hearts. They are the words of a faithful God, and tirm as the 
 pillars of heaven. In due time, we shall find them all accom- 
 plished, to our evei lasting comfort and joy." 
 
288 
 
 REVIEW OF 
 
 " I desire you would present my kindest love and sincerest 
 respects to my dear old friend Mr. M — ; to all your young 
 people, both male and female, desiring tliem all to consider, 
 apply and practice, Prov. viii. I7. laaia/i Iv. 6. and similar 
 passages of scripture — to Mr. B — , and any of your acquaintance 
 \vlio know me. The earnest prayers of the Apostle, in 1 T/iess. 
 iii. 11 — \S. Ileb. xiii. 20, 21. and many of the like kind; 
 I would offer up to the God of all grace in your behalf; and 
 hope to meet you in that Vvorld where daikness, sin and misery 
 can never come : where 
 
 ' A day without night, we shall spend in his sight; 
 For eternity is but a day.' 
 
 " In the prospect of this eternally glorious day, and for ever, 
 I am, m\ dear sisters, your's very truly, &.c. 
 
 Section III. A Reviezc of the Character of the late Mr. D. 
 Taylor, as a Man, a Scholar, a Christian, a Minister, 
 a Tutor, and an Author. 
 
 After perusing the foregoing Memoir, especially as illustrated 
 by the Extracts, it is hoped that the reader will be able to 
 form for himself a tolerably accurate portrait of the Character of 
 the worthy individual who is the subject of it. But it may not 
 be i'uproper to close this volume with a short review of its pro- 
 mment features ; as it may afford an opportunity of noticing 
 several particulars and giving some explanations, which could not 
 so properly be introduced in the narrative. We shall endeavour 
 to be just; and in order to correct any partiality to which our 
 high esteem for his memory might subject us, we shall in gene- 
 ral, adopt the sentiments of others who may be less suspected 
 of undue feelings towards the deceased. 
 
 When we view him as a Man, the first thing that arrests our 
 attention is the extraordinary strength of his bodily frame. His 
 statuie was low; hut he was strong built: and as he had from 
 his infancy been accustomed to fatigue, he could support an 
 unusual degree of corporeal exertion. And to the last year of 
 his life, he disdained the idea of sparing himself. 
 
MR. T.'S CTIARACTr.n. 289 
 
 His cfi'orts in prcacljiiig the gospel, founding cli niches and 
 wateiin<'- iheni, in \ orksliin' were ahnost incre(hhle. His 
 labonrs, cares and travels in forming- the Ntw Comuction of 
 Cieneral Baptists and promoting its interests, were arduous and 
 incessant. His journeys to Associations, Conferences, Ordina- 
 tions, opening of New Meeting-Houses, 8cc. 8cc. exceeded 
 those of most ministers ;* and were always undertaken with 
 cheerfulness and performed with alacrity. His numerous pub- 
 lications and his extensive correspondence must also occupy 
 no small portion of his time and attention. And, when we 
 reflect too, that, through almost the whole of his life, he was 
 obliged to pursue some secular business, in order to provide for 
 the support of his family; and that the labours of the farm, the 
 school, or the shop were added to those of the ministry, we 
 admire the strength of body that could support all tlic fatigues 
 which he sustained. Had not his constitution been strong and 
 his health good, nature would have sunk under the attempt; and 
 death, or premature old age, have released him from his labours. 
 But his vigour remained unimpaired till he had passed his seven- 
 tieth year ; and, even in the last stage of life, he retained a 
 degree of strength and nerve which was frequently the object of 
 admiration to intelligent observers. 
 
 The strongest corporeal powers, however, could not have 
 carried him through all this toil, had he not also possessed a 
 vigorous, active, and eiiterprizing disposition of mind. In what- 
 ever he undertook, this appeared manifest. When he first settled 
 in Wadsworth, he had almost every difficulty to encounter; but 
 his ardour surmounted them all. He drew the plans for a meet- 
 ing-house, assisted in digging the stone from the quarry, super- 
 intended and co-operated in the building of it; and, when finish- 
 ed, laboured in it as a minister, with the same zeal which he 
 
 * During the course of his ministry, Mr. D. Taylor assisted at thirty-eight 
 Ordinations ; attended fifty-three Associations, and probably two hundred 
 conferences; and preached, upon a very moderate computation, nearly 
 twenty thousand discourses. Besides the Ordinations which are mentioned 
 in the preceding INIenioirs, IMr. T. about 1790, gave an excellent ciiarge to 
 INIr. Jv Hobbs, at Chatham. In 1777, he addressed the people at Long 
 Sutton, when Mr. H. Poole was ordained over them. In 1780, he delivered 
 a charge to Mr. R. Folds, at Burnley j and, in 17'.)1, another to Mr. Thomas 
 Pickering, at Castle Donington. And, about the same time, he was engaged 
 in giving a charge to Mr. Waterman, an Independent minister, at Queea 
 Street, Ratclitf, London. 
 
 o o 
 
290 SKETCH OF 
 
 had displayed in forwarding its erection. "When he first entered 
 on farming, he evinced a simihir spirit. He removed fences^ 
 eradicated bushes; and, from his acquaintance with mining, 
 projected and executed an excellent plan for watering his land, 
 which was at first thought impracticable and laughed at by the 
 most intelligent of his neighbours. He greatly improved the 
 house, rebuilding the chinniey, turning an useless passage into a 
 commodious study, and making an out-house a decent school- 
 room. And the best judges allowed, that his activity and judg- 
 ment materially increased the value of the farm. In all agricul- 
 tural employments he excelled ; and could plow and reap with 
 as much skill and expedition, as those who had devoted their 
 whole attention to such pursuits. Many anecdotes, illustrating 
 and confirming this observation, are still told by the aged persons 
 in the vicinity of Birchcliff. We mention one : It was usual, 
 they say, with him, when labouring with odier reapers, to push 
 forward his work, and get before his companions : and then to 
 take out his book, sit down on a sheaf, and read till they 
 reached him. 
 
 To activity and ardour of mind were united in the subject of 
 this sketch remarkable decision and unwearied perseverance. 
 Difficulties only roused him to greater exertions, and inflamed 
 liis zeal ; while delay seemed to encrease his resolution to per- 
 severe. He undertook nothing in a careless undecided manner. 
 Having once ascertained the path of duty, he pursued it with all 
 the ardour of his soul; and was determined, at all events, to 
 reach the goal to which it led. We have heard him advise a 
 young minister to ariopt certain plans of improvement, " and 
 then," said he, ^' resolve, if it cost you your life, to pursue those 
 plans." This was the principle upon which he acted. His 
 determination was to perform what he thought to be his duty ; 
 and leave ease, convenience and even life itself as secondary 
 considerations. He selected certain objects to be attained, and 
 lixed on the means of obtaining them ; and then sufi'ered neither 
 difficulty nor danger to hinder him from pursuing those objects 
 by those means. To this steady, resolute and unwavering tem- 
 per, we are indebted for all that Mr.l\ was enabled to perforn* 
 for the glory of his God and the good of his fi How creatures. 
 And, it is hoped, that the success, with which it pleased the Lord 
 to crown this ])lan, will encourage others, especially young 
 
MR. r.'s CMARAiTKK. 2i) I 
 
 niMjisters to imitate liis example. Nothing has a mrne direct 
 teiiclcni-y to hiiuler usefuhicss aiui destroy respect than fickleness 
 or irresolution. He who abandons an undertaking because it is 
 dirticnlt, or «tio\vs di,scontente«l, and remiss because success d(x;» 
 not immediately crown even diligence and zeal, will seldom gain 
 tlic esteem of the uise, or accomplish any object of worth or 
 magnitude. 
 
 Anodjcr distinsj-uishins: trait in the character of Mr. D. Taylor 
 was an i)itrepiditij of mind, that raised him, in a great measure, 
 above the fear of man. This doubtless might be ascribed partly 
 to a natural courage, which enabled him to brave dangers and 
 ditiiculties without dismay; yet it was evidently in him supported 
 by nobler motives. A deep reverence for llie authority of God, 
 a fujl jKusuasion of the duty and advantage of doing his will, and 
 ii steady confidence in Ids protection and favour while conscien- 
 .tiously employed in his service, were the chief sources of that 
 fearlessness which characterized his progress through life. 
 AVhenever circumstances called him to determine between 
 pleasing his fello^T creatures a.iid offending his Maker, his deci*- 
 «ion was prompt and unchangeable; and he appealed to the 
 authority of his blessed Saviour for the propriety of it. " Fear 
 not," said that divine Teacher, " tlieni w hicli kill tlie body, but 
 are not able to kill the soul; but ratjier feur Him who is able to 
 xlestroy both soul and body in hell." On this rational principle, 
 he bad defiance to the frowns of men ; and proceeded, without 
 regard to consequences, in what he esteemed the path of duty. 
 When Luther was entreated bv his friends not to risque his safely 
 by attending the diet at Worms, he replied : " 1 am lawfully 
 called to appear in that city ; and thither I will go, in the name 
 of the IvOid, though as many devijs as there are tiles on the 
 houses were combined against me." A similar spirit animated 
 the subject of this Memoir. Neither the dread of the disappro- 
 bation of men, nor the malice of the powers of darkness, could 
 deter him from performing what he conceived to be the will uf 
 |iis Maker. 
 
 This undaunted disposition, joined to an iniiexible principle 
 of integrity, inspired him with an unconquerable abhorrence of 
 all trick, subterfuge or policy: and led him openly to avow and 
 directly to pursue the objects at which he aimed, in some casei^, 
 this unyielding temper gave needless pain t) hi:s fiicuil^, as a 
 
 U () 'I 
 
292 SKETCH OF, 
 
 more accommodating course might, with equal certainty and less 
 offence, have accomplished his purposes. Like the apostle of 
 the Gentiles, he would not give place by subjection, even for an 
 hour, to any man, when the trutli of the gospel required his 
 support; but it must be confessed, tliat he could not, like him, 
 so easily " become all things to all men, that he might by any 
 means save some." Yet justice requires us to add, that this in- 
 flexibility was only exercised when he thought the truth of the 
 gospel or the honour of God v, as concerned. When his own 
 indulgence or gratification was the only sacrifice required, he 
 was always ready to submit to the prejudices of weak christians. 
 Numerous instances of this might be adduced; but one may 
 suffice. He was convinced that the eatinsr of blood was not 
 universally forbidden; yet from his first profession of religion to 
 his death, he scrupulously aljslalned from it; lest " his weak 
 brother should be grieved ; und he should destroy, with his meat, 
 him for whom Christ had died." 
 
 Mr. T. was naturally affectionate; and his affections, like all 
 his other passions, were strong. This is evident from the 
 warmth of attacliment to many of his correspondents which 
 animates the Extracts in the preceding pages. His friendships 
 were ardent and lasting. In the course of his history, few of 
 those distressing breaches occur, which are painfully frequent in 
 the lives of some great and good men. Intimacies, formed in 
 youth were generally cherished in mature years, and only sus- 
 pended by death. I'he attentive reader must have remarked 
 with pleasure numerous instances of this nature, in following this 
 good man througli the several periods of his pilgrimage. Nor 
 were his friendships confined to those of his own denomination : 
 many who differed materially from him in points of doctrine, 
 enjoyed a high place in his esteem and cordially returned his 
 friendship. 
 
 His affection for his family was ardent, and, when called into 
 exercise by any circumstance that required it, conspicuous. 
 When any of his immediate connections were in aflrliction, his 
 anxiety was a{)parent, and his attentions assiduous. He nursed 
 them, watched over them, and prayed for them with tlie most 
 tender solicitude. It has been asserted, that, during the fever 
 which attacked his family in \l[)i), he never put off his clothes, 
 except for the purpose of changing ihem, during the period of 
 
MR. T.'S CHARACTER. 293 
 
 SIX weeks. But Uis real disposition in lliis respect was lial>Ie, 
 by superlicial observers, to be niisunderstootl. His llioiiglits 
 were so constantly engrossed and liis time so completely occnj)ied 
 by subjects wliich he esteemed of the highest importance, that, 
 at seasons of health and prosperity, he had neither leisure nor 
 vacancy of mind for those little attentions and assiduities, by 
 which persons less engaged often gain a high reputation for 
 tenderness. As he was obliged to employ every cranny of his 
 time, he usually had his book in his hand when he uas present 
 in the domestic circle. His children were kept silent through a 
 fear of interrupting his studies, and thus prevented from culti- 
 vating that endearing intimacy with him, so essential to the 
 comfort and so important to the welfare of a family. This 
 restraint produced an air of distance and reserve, which had an 
 ungracious appearance to strangers, and doubtless operated to 
 the disadvantage of all parties. There is, however, every reason 
 to conclude, that this unhappy consequence was wholly uninten- 
 tional on the part of the father,- and possibly never remarked by 
 him ; but its effects were not, on that account, the less injurious. 
 
 His inteUectual facuUies were of a superior order. Their 
 principal excellencies were clearness, strength and solidity. If 
 genius consist in dressing ideas in uncommon and vivid colours, 
 or combininnj them with taste and forminjj strikins; and unex- 
 pected images, it must be confessed that Mr. T. did not possess 
 it in a high degree, nor perhaps aspire after it. But, if it intend 
 a clearness of perception, by which a subject is easily and accu- 
 rately comprehended ; a justness of reasoning by which its pro- 
 perties are discovered and its bearings and consequences ascer- 
 tained, and a facility of inference by which its importance and 
 application are demonstrated, the worthy subject of this IMemoir 
 certainly was favoured v>ith a large share of genius. His judg- 
 ment was the leading faculty of his mind, and kept him at the 
 farthest distance from being led astray by his imagination. At 
 his first setting out in the ministry, he was in some danger of 
 giving too nnich rein to his fancy in illustrating the scriptures ; 
 but he appears early to have seen the impropriety of following 
 such a guide; and resolved, with his usual decision of character, 
 entirely to discard her, and every thing connected with her. 
 From this tinjc, he sought for truth and reason ; and strip])ing the 
 subjects which he examined of all their adventitious ornaments, 
 
^94 SKETCH OF 
 
 he exhibited them in their original simplicity. His attainments 
 therefore were more valuable than shining; better adapted to 
 excite the approbation of the judicious, than to please the 
 curious or allure tlie votaries of taste. But, when we contrast 
 the little leisure and the slender assistance which he enjoyed, 
 with the extensive knowledge which he acquired, we are com- 
 pelled to allow him the praise of original and superior mental 
 powers, as well as of intense application. 
 
 It is not supposed that Mr. T. attained a high degree of 
 eminence in polite or classical learning. At one part of his life, 
 it is evident, that he possessed an acquaintance with the latin, 
 greek and hebrew languages, that enabled him to read them with 
 facility and discrimination. But it is probable, that his know- 
 ledge of the heathen classics was neither accurate nor extensive. 
 Virgil among the latin poets, and Xenophon among the greek 
 historians, were his peculiar favourites ; and were probably his 
 principal pagan acquaintance. He had, when engaged as a 
 schoolmaster, paid some attention to the mathematics, and 
 understood the parts of them necessary for common purposes. 
 At the same period, he appears to have read some authors on 
 natural philosophy and its dependent sciences. We have not, 
 liQWever, any evidence, that he devoted much time to these 
 studies: and it is presumed that he knew little of the improve- 
 ments and discoveries in these parts of knowledge, that have 
 distinguished modern professors. 
 
 But it was in Tlieology and every thing that could assist in the 
 prosecution of the study of it, that he peculiarly excelled. This 
 he considered the great business of his life, and to this he devoted 
 all his powers. With a view chiefly to this, he cultivated the 
 learned languages ; and with the same view, he pursued the study 
 of his own. To promote this object, he perused in early life, 
 with care and method, the writings of the ancient greek and latin 
 fathers in their own languages — carefully investigated the history 
 of past ages — the manners and customs, the rites and ceremo- 
 nies, the religion and politics of the nations of antiquity, espe- 
 cially such as were connected wilh the history, the propfiecy, or 
 the doctrine of the l>ible — acquired an accurate knowledge of 
 scripture geography and chronology — read, with attentioji, 
 modern history, as connected wilh the profrrcss of Christianity — 
 and made iiiuibch exlcnbivcly acquainted with ccclesiabtical hie- 
 
MR. T.'s CIIARACTRR. 0()5 
 
 tory. But nil his other acquirements were designed to enuhic 
 hin» to stutly the pages of Revehition with more advanta«'e; and 
 to tliis object he rendered them all subservient, lie read the 
 sacred oracles in their original languages \vith diligence and 
 care. These were his daily study, and nothing was sulfered to 
 divert him from the regular pursuit of it. He j)rocured and 
 assiduously perused the best commentators on the scrij)tures, 
 boUi ancient and modern. He was familiar with most of 
 the valuable authors on Theology; and ignorant of few im- 
 portant transactions or publications connected with religion. 
 
 His success amply rewarded his perseverance and zeal. His 
 accpiisitions in theological science were the admiration of his 
 cotemporaries, and remain the theme of praise to survivors. 
 One of his worthy fellow labourers, wlio had the best opportu- 
 nities for observation, and is well qualified to judge, writes in 
 this strain. " Mr. T.'s knowledge of the doctrines of the Bible 
 was remarkable. He was a scribe well instructed into the kin<r_ 
 dom of God, who brought out of his treasure things new and 
 old. He had studied the scriptures with such persevering ap- 
 plication, that he appeared almost equally familiar with every 
 part of ihem." " As a theologian," says another minister, who 
 was well acquainted with Mr. T. "I sincerely think he had few 
 equals. His general, extensive and critical knowledge of the 
 scriptures, rendered him truly eminent. Scarcely was a subject 
 to be mentioned in the whole range of divinity which he had 
 not studied, and upon which he was not able to speak with 
 propriety." 
 
 It may perhaps be useful to enquire by what means a person 
 with so few advantages and so closely engaged, as this venerable 
 minister was, could attain to this eminent knowledge in divine 
 things. There can be no doubt but he owed much to nature, 
 or rather to the God of nature, for superior intellectual faculties, 
 without which it would have been impossible, in any circum- 
 stances or witii any advantages, to have made that proficiency to 
 which he attained. His progress was also greatly accelerated 
 by his natural intrepidity, ^^hich animated him to encounter and 
 surmount ditHculties that to weaker minds would have been in- 
 surniountal)le. A persevering and diligent application likewise 
 contribute*! in no small degree to enlarge his mental treasures, 
 and render him a good minister of Clni>.t Jesus. But, from u 
 
296 SKETCH OF 
 
 careful review of liis life, his papers and his publications, it 
 appears to us, that his superior attainments were cliiefly to be 
 ascribed to his liaving, through the whole course of his life, one 
 principal object in view, and uniformly pursuing that object 
 with an undeviating and steady attention. From his first setting 
 out in religion, he appears to have resolved, by divine assistance, 
 to become a good minister of the gospel : and this resolution he 
 ever afterwards prosecuted with undiverted zeal, in defiance of 
 difficulties on the one hand, or allurements on the other. It 
 certainly required a sanguine temper for a youth, circumstanced 
 as he was, without instructors, without books, without leisure 
 and without friends, to look forward to eminence as a minister. 
 He must anticipate many obstacles which would demand all his 
 firmness and address to remove. These obstacles were increased 
 by his encumbering himself in early life with the cares and 
 expences of a family. Yet he persevered : he procured books, 
 sought out instructors, created leisure by extraordinary diligence 
 and exertion, and pursued the necessary studies with an ardour 
 natural to his character. In a word, he exemplified the advice 
 uhich he afterwards gave to his pupils. " In all things, be 
 resolved to conquer; and persevere till you have conquered. 
 AVithout this you may be a gaudy butter-fly; but never, like the 
 bee, will your hive bear examining." 
 
 On the other hand, with a decided taste for general knowledge, 
 and a capacity to receive and relish it, this good man was ob- 
 liged to maintain a conscientious and regular exercise of self 
 denial, to preserve his attention from being drawn aside to studies 
 and pursuits which, however pleasing and even laudable in them- 
 selves, would have encroached on his time, and diverted him 
 from subjects more closely connected with his grand object. 
 lie was often called to struggle with his inclinations ; and, with 
 the cup ( f knowledge at his lips and a strong desire to drain it 
 to the very dregs, forced, by the stern dictates of duty, to 
 turn his head away and leave the much loved draught untasted. 
 
 We notice this trait in Mr. T.'s character as an example to 
 young ministers in similar circumstances. Long and diligent 
 observation has fully persuaded us, that an imitation of his con- 
 duct Mould greatly increase their respectability and usefulness. 
 There is no temptation by which an inquisitive youu'*- minister 
 is more likely to be injured, than by an attempt to obtain a 
 
MR. T. S CHARACTF.R. 
 
 297 
 
 general acquaintance \vitli science and lilcralurc. A j-xison 
 mIio has all liis time to devote to study and lias enjoyed the 
 advantages of a liberal education, may })erhaps indulge himselT 
 in a pursuit of this nature witliout materially interru})tlng his 
 studies for the ministry. But this is not tlie case with many 
 of the ministers of the new Connection. Most of them have 
 to commence their studies when arrived at years of maturity ; 
 and are surrounded with avocations on every side. If they 
 intend to be workmen that need not to be ashamed, they must, 
 like the respectable minister of whom we are speaking, reso- 
 lutely deny themselves; and devote their undivided attention to 
 those subjects which will increase their knowledge ©f divine 
 things, and assist them in understanding and explaining the holy 
 scriptures. 
 
 Jt may indeed be asserted that Mr. T.'s distinguishing excel- 
 lence as a theologian was a strict adherence to the scriptures 
 and a reverential regard to their authoritj/. In every thing 
 relating to the concerns of religion, he not only considered them 
 as the standard of doctrine and practice, but deemed it improper 
 to resort to any other authority. He frequently repeated with 
 marks of approbation the saying of a countryman, w ho hearing 
 a preacher frequently introduce the phrase " I think," called 
 out in the midst of the sermon, ' What signifies it what thou 
 thinkest? tell us what God says.' He reprobated, in the strongest 
 terms, tampering with scripture doctrines or even with scripture 
 language. It has been remarked, bv some who cannot be 
 suspected of partiality for his memory, but who enjoyed good 
 opportunities for observation, that the same honest intrepidity 
 which was conspicuous in his general conduct, distinguished his 
 expositions of scripture; and that he fearlessly gave what ap- 
 peared to him the true meaning of the sacred writer, whether it 
 made for or against his system. This he esteemed an indispen- 
 sible part of ministerial fidelity : and frequently inculcated it, 
 with the greatest earnestness, on young ministers. In a charge 
 to Mr. H. he exhorts. " Give me leave to press it on you to 
 speak to your hearers, on all subjects in the language of scripture. 
 Invite to what the scripture invites ; exhort where that exhorts, 
 and describe where that describes. There is no rule safer than 
 this. By a deviation from it, we are frequently led into errors. 
 The scriptures positively speak of election and reprobation: 
 
 V p 
 
298 
 
 SKETCH OF 
 
 and therefore^ on all proper occasions, so slioultl we. Tfie 
 scriptures positively declare that Jesus is the propitiation for the 
 sins of the whole world, and tasted death for every man ; and 
 therefore so should we. Now suppose there were any difficulty 
 in understanding or in reconciling these or any other remarkable 
 expressions, or the great doctrines contained in them, surely to 
 turn the scriptures into a new style and language can never be 
 a safe way of attempting it. Let the Lord speak in his own 
 way, and let all the earth sit silent at his feet. Let those who 
 are called to plead his cause, use his language and speak his^ 
 w^ord to the people ; \\ hether they will hear or whether they will 
 forbear. I am persuaded, that this is the very way to understand 
 the mind of God, and to avoid those difficulties that may occur 
 in the studv of it. But should it be otherwise, we had a thou- 
 sand times better acknowledge our ignorance and remain igno- 
 rant of many things, than change the language of the scriptures 
 in order to accommodate them to our pre-conceived notions,, ot 
 to the prejudices of mankind. The language ot God is the 
 fittest to convey his own mind. There is such a precision in 
 scripture language, that it cannot easily be changed for any 
 other." — So profound was the veneration which this good man 
 felt for the very words of Revelation, that being once afflicted 
 with a complaint in his eyes, and fearing the loss of sight, he 
 determined to commit the VAhole Bible to memory; and had 
 actually accomplished part of his design when his recovery 
 dissipated his apprehensions. 
 
 By these means he attained an acquaintance with the sacred 
 oracles and an understanding in them, which excited the admi- 
 ration of all who knew him. So early as 1792, his abilities as 
 an expositor were so highly appreciated, that the Leicestershire 
 and Lincolnshire Conferences united in requesting him to publish 
 a Commentary on the Holy Scriptures. It appears fiom his 
 papers, tliat he made some attempts at a work of this nature; 
 but his many avocations rendered it impossible even for him to 
 make much progress in it. Had he been able to have com- 
 jdeted such an undertaking, with sufficient care and leisure, it 
 would, doubtless, have been a valuable production, and formed 
 a pleasing contrast to some system-cramped commentaries 
 which are extant. 
 
 It might be proper to introduce here a statement of the svstenv 
 
MK. 1. S (11 AKACTEK. 
 
 299 
 
 luf doctrines which Mr. 1\ hail drawn (vom lliis assiduous and 
 conscientious perusal of the \N ord of God. To do justice, 
 however, to an attempt of this nature, would re(iuire more room 
 ilian our limits will allow. It is the less necessary, as liis 
 opinions on the most important articles of laith have nlrcady 
 been stated in the course of the work: and the Confession of 
 Faith which he read to the churcli on his settling in London, 
 has lately been published."^' It may also be presumed that few 
 who will read this vokune, are unacquainted with his works. 
 Leaving therefore his creed, we proceed in tracing his character. 
 Mr. T. was steady in his opinions. Perhaps few divines who 
 read and disputed so much as he did, maintained a greater uni- 
 formitx in his views. When he first began to think on religioirs 
 subjects, he was ojiposed to the doctrines of high Calvinism. 
 Soon aftei wards he became a cons<'ientious baptist, lie was, 
 at that period, a decided advocate for the divinity and atonement 
 of Christ, and justification througii faidi in him. And he con- 
 tinued, with unwavering attachment, to profess and defend the 
 same important doctrines till deadi removed him to the realms 
 of light. It was indeed asseited, in an unitarian miscellany, 
 soon after his decease, that " of late years, he had been heard to 
 express respect for some members of the old connection, to 
 whom his zeal for a higher system of orUiodoxy caused him to 
 appear for a time hostile."*!' The unfounded insinuation con- 
 tained in this sentence miglit be sufficiently repelled by referring 
 to the last edition of his " Principal Parts of the Christian 
 Keligion," published in 1802; or to ^' Jesus the only begotten 
 Son of God," published in 1809- But we venture to subjoin 
 two extracts from letters of a still later date. In writing to u 
 young minister for whom he had a peculiar afieclion, May ^3, 
 1811, he says : " I think you should immediately see the people 
 
 at R , and very frankly and at^eclionately explain all to 
 
 them, and do all you can for them. 15ut / should say, keep far 
 
 from all co)niection zcith Jirians and Socinians.'' In a letter, 
 dated Aug. 12, 1812, to a correspondent nnIio had published an 
 
 ^essav against the Socinians, he observes: " I thank you for vour 
 useful jiamphlet, which I had lead with great pleasure long 
 Jbefore 1 received your gift. I, for one, sincerely thank you for 
 
 • History of the F.7i<;lish General Bajttists, Vol. II. pp. 470 — 477, 
 1 Monlhlij lUpoaitunj^ Dec. 1810, page 730. 
 
 r V 2 
 
300 
 
 SKETCH OF 
 
 publisliing it, for the benetit of our connection and others. I 
 trust God will bless it to the souls of many. You will probably 
 meet opposition ; but 1 fear no refutation, if you keep your 
 present ground. Indeed on no ground are the Socinians to be 
 feared." 
 
 Mr. T.'s steady uniformity in his sentiments did not proceed 
 from an indolent acquiescence in his own opinions, or an un- 
 \villin2ness to examine the arguments of others. We have seen 
 that he studied both sides of the question respecting baptism, 
 before he decided. And evidence is not wanting, that he 
 perused and carefully examined most publications of importance 
 fiom the pens of those uho differed from him. Thus, when 
 Mr. Winchester began to preach universal restoration, he sought 
 for writers on the subject, ancient and modern, and carefully 
 perused all he could obtain, long befora he had formed any 
 intention of entering the lists with that author. His steadfast- 
 ness in the faith proceeded from an impartial study of the word 
 of God, and a reverential regard to its authority. This gave 
 decision as well as uniformity to his sentiments. He had care- 
 fully investigated the evidence on which he adopted them, and 
 was fully convinced that they were built on the oracles of truth. 
 Being well persuaded of this, he laid aside all fear of man; and 
 delivered his opinions with an air of boldness and certainty, 
 Vvhich, to those unacquainted with his character, appeared arro- 
 gant and dogmatical, and has been thus represented. It was, 
 however, the natural effect of clear conception and full convic- 
 tion, joined to his constitutional courage and habitual zeal for 
 the honour of God. It must be allowed, that no man knew 
 better how to humble arrogance or expose ignorance than he 
 did ; but he seldom availed himself of these powers, unless when 
 folly and insolence required their exercise. 
 
 15ut whde he was thus decided in his own opinions, he main- 
 tained a candid and liberal spirit towards those who differed 
 from him, if he thought they sincerely loved the Saviour and 
 sought his glory. We have, in tracing his history, seen that he 
 w as in habits of the most friendly intimacy with ministers, of 
 sentiments widely distant from his own. The reader will in- 
 stantly recollect Mr. Foster, of the established church; Drs. 
 Stennett and r\iwcett, Messrs. Booth, Austin, Sutcliff, Scc. 
 among the ])arlieular baptists; ^Jr. Kclio, Dr. Collver and 
 
Mil. T. S ClIAKACTKU. 
 
 30 J 
 
 iiiauy other indepoiulcuts. Tor several of these, he preached 
 runeral sermons, and bore the most im(|ualilied testimony to 
 their excellence as christians and as ministers. IJis character 
 of Dr. Stennctt has been long before the pnblic ; and extracts 
 from it arc needless. When Mr. Booth was called to his 
 reward, Mr. T. paid a tribute of respect to his memory, in a 
 sermon from 1 Pet. v. 4 : in the introduction to which he ob- 
 served: '' Besides the common bond of union subsisting; anionic 
 all christians, especially all gospel ministers, there are peculiar 
 ties between some individuals. Many of you well know that 
 liiis was the case between Mr. Booth and myself. For almost 
 forty years, we have maintained a very cordial friendship; which, 
 I believe, has never been interrupted by one unpleasant word or 
 shy or unkind look. For thirty-seven years, we have materially 
 djtf'ered in our judgments on one branch of evangelical truth. 
 At the time when he began to hesitate on the subject, he kindly 
 paid me a visit in Yorkshire, before he came to reside in London; 
 preached for me, and spent a night with me ; when we had some 
 free conversation on the subject. Our interviews since then 
 have been frequent ; and, especially since my removal to the 
 metropolis, some of them have been of considerable length. 
 But I do not remember, that the subject to which I now refer 
 has been once mentioned, at any one interview, for thirty-seven 
 years or more. This was not because either of us considered it 
 a matter of indifference ; we both esteemed it important ; but 
 thought that on other subjects ou which we were agreed, we 
 could converse with more pleasure and to greater advantage. 
 My friend, with whom I have spent many agreeable and pro- 
 fitable hours, is now gone. Had he not earnestly requested 
 that nothing might be said of his character or conduct, our text 
 would have furnished many reflections on them to his honour as 
 an under shepherd, adapted to excite in us an endeavour to 
 imitate him, and finally terminating in the honour and glory of 
 our adorable lledeemer, the " great Shepherd and Bishop of 
 our souls." We cannot, however, enjoy thjs advantage under 
 the present restraint." 
 
 The testimony of Islv. Kello, the venerable independent 
 minister who so affectionately paid the last tribute of respect 
 over the grave of the subject of tins Memoir, coinciiles with the 
 spirit of the above exlracl. In a connnunication, with which Iiq 
 
302 
 
 SKETCH OF 
 
 lias kindly favoured the author, he says : " My acquaiutauce 
 with the late Mr. T. commenced in the year 179-. Antecedent 
 to that period, a great prejudice against him possessed my own 
 mind, through unfavourable representations made by others. 
 These, however, I must observe, did not arise from any charge 
 implying a defect in his moral conduct; but only that his views 
 and preaching were deficient in point of evangelical savour." 
 
 *' A personal acquaintance soon removed my prejudices. One 
 circumstance had a very great influence in promoting an union 
 and affection between us, viz. the appointment of our weekly 
 meetings for prayer, at a period when the state of our nation 
 Mas peculiarly critical and alarming. In these he united most 
 cordially, sanctioned them by tlie frequency of his attendance, 
 and his readiness to enoaoe in their services, and was much 
 grieved by the circumstances that led to their discontinuance. 
 During tiie period of our acquaintance, our friendship w as inli- 
 mate and luiiutcrrupted. A perfect unison in our views of some 
 point-, exhibited in divine revelation did not exist; but while an 
 adherence to the grand truths, which are the foundation of a 
 christian's faith and hope was maintained, this difference did not 
 interrupt our christian affection. It aflt'orded an opportunity for 
 the exercise of that mutual candour and charity which are so 
 needful and beneficial, in a state where imperfection remains, 
 and attendant darkness prevents our seeing eye to eye. The 
 difference indeed only respects smaller matters. The unction 
 of the Holy Spirit leads all his people into an acquaintance 
 with the truths connected witii salvation. Under the influence 
 of this ciiristian disposition, our reciprocal friendly regards were 
 promoted, strengthened and confirmed; till the stroke of death 
 cut the knot; and, as to a present world, separated us for ever. 
 His memory perisheth not. Pleasing are the recollections of 
 him to us, and highly ho»iorable to his reputation." 
 
 ^'Iv. T.'s conduct through the whole course of his ministry 
 perfectly exemplified the character which his friend has given 
 of him. IJe held his own sentiments with a firm grasp. 
 He esteemed them important, because he thought them the 
 truths of God. He also paid that respect to the dictates of 
 common sense as to allow, that if one of two opposite proposi- 
 tions be established, the other must fall : and, as he was fully 
 convinced that his own opinions were founded on scrijUuic, 
 
MR. T. S CHARACTER. 
 
 303 
 
 lie Ijcsilatctl not to declare that tlie senllineiits wliidi oppost-d 
 them \vere erroneous. But then lie well knew and rcadilv ad- 
 mltled, that every other man had an equal right, with Ijimself, 
 to form his own ju(igment, according to the hcst of his abihty, 
 from his own sense of the word of God. He therefore never 
 condenmcd,or even blamed, others for thinking ditt'erently from 
 him, or opposing his views on disputed points. In one of his 
 polemical tracts, lie thus spiritedly repels the insinuation of his 
 antagonist, that a person deserves reproof for vindicatii}g what 
 he believes to be trutli. " ^Vhy deserve reproof. Sir? Admitting 
 you are in the right, do people deserve reproof for being mis- 
 taken, or for propagating what they believe to be truth: Are 
 we returned to Rome ? Who has placed you in the chair of his 
 Holiness, to reprove those, who in your opinion are mistaken ? 
 To talk of any man deserving reproof because he propagates 
 what he believes to be right, however mistaken, is to strike at 
 the root of the Protestant cause, and to attempt the establish- 
 ment of that destructive principle which is the very basis of 
 popery. If I deserve reproof from you, I deserve, on the same 
 principle, the gibbet, or the fire of Smithfield from the civil 
 magistrate. No argument can be advanced to prove, that any 
 man deserves reproof for publishing his religious sentiments, 
 which will not equally vindicate and sanctify all the fines and 
 imprisonments, the racks and the various tortures, the fires and 
 the faggots, the halters and the gibbets, and every diabolical 
 invention which has been used to oppose the truth, and to sup- 
 press liberty of conscience from the creation of the world to 
 the present moment." * 
 
 Mr. Kello alludes to some prejudices which had existed m 
 his mind respecting Mr. T.'s views on evangelical subjects. 
 These prejudices had probably arisen from the unhappy fact, that 
 most of the General Baptists in and near London had sadly 
 declined from the sound principles of their predecessors on 
 several of the most fundamental doctrines of the gospel, it 
 was therefore to be expected, as ^jr. T. was styled a General 
 Baptist, and was pastor of a General Baptist church, that, till 
 liis opinions were known, he should be suspected of the same 
 errors. This was the case for some time; and it is likely that 
 his character suffered, and his usefulness was circumscribed by 
 
 * &cn7i(l Dissertation on Singi)>fi-, pp. 15, IG, 
 
304 
 
 SKETCH OF 
 
 this suspicion. And \vhen liis sentiments were more justly ap-* 
 preciated, as the New Connection was then very little known 
 in the ^Metropolis, it was matter of surprize that such a man 
 could remain among the General Baptists. The writer of these 
 pages has frequently had the mortitication of hearing remarks 
 of this nature from intelligent dissenting ministers. It is hoped, 
 that the character and opinions of the New Connection begin 
 to be more correctly understood amongst professors of other 
 denominations. ]May this Memoir be the means of rendering 
 them vet better known. 
 
 Though jNIr. T. often appeared before the public as an 
 AutJioVj yet he ought to be considered rather as an actor than 
 as a zcriter. Most of his works were composed, on some tem- 
 porary occasion, at the call of the moment, and amidst other 
 avocations more than sufficient to enoaue all his attention. He 
 could never apply his thoughts uninterruptedly to a subject; 
 but was obliged to pursue it at detached, and often distant, 
 portions of leisure. In such circumstances, it is almost impos- 
 sible for the most active and intelligent mind, in all instances^ 
 to preserve a proper connection, or to guard always against re- 
 petition. His *' Principal Parts of the Christian Religion,'' 
 *^ Essay on Inspiration," " Charge to Mr. Deacon," and '^ Con- 
 sistent Christian," appear to have been the most laboured of his 
 compositions ; and furnish the fairest specimens of his worth 
 and abilities as an author. And, if clearness of method, per- 
 spicuity of style, and strength of reasoning, joined to an evident 
 desire to benefit the reader, can preserve works from oblivion, 
 these will long remain as memorials of the industry, the piety, 
 the philanthrophy and superior endowments of their author. A 
 few of his smaller pieces have lost much of their interest, 
 because the circumstances which occasioned them have passed 
 away. But many even of these will always be edifying and 
 important, on account of the piety, good sense and scriptural 
 instruction and admonition with which they abound. 
 
 It is obvious, that neither avarice nor vanity incited this good 
 man to write for the public. The low price at which his works 
 were sold, sufficiently proves that profit was not his object. 
 The subjects which he chose, though of tlie utmost importance 
 to peri>hing sinners, were not adapted to obtain popular 
 favour; and tlie plain, honest, searching styU^ which he adopted. 
 
MR. V.\ CIIARACTF.U. 305 
 
 as well as tlie inannrr In wliuli lie introduced Ins tracts to \\ut 
 j)uhlic, was little calculated to alluK- the nndlitnde. I lis ()l)vi- 
 oiis intention was to do good — to promote the liappiness of iiis 
 fellow creatures and the glory of his God — to defend some ti nllr 
 wliicli he deemed imj)ortant, or to guard ai;ainst some error 
 which he esteemed dangerous. "^To accomplish these purposes, 
 he sacrificed ease, leisure, and often property itself: for he 
 was always ready, from principle, to sacrilice his all when tlie 
 cause of God required it. 
 
 As Mr. T. sincerely wished to he useful, he laboured to he 
 intelligible. " W hat do you preach for, but to benefit your 
 people?" he observed to a young minister. "And how can 
 they be benefited unless they understand you .'^" His endeavour 
 therefore, both in writing and preachir.g, was to exemplify the 
 advice which he frequently gave to others, " to speak, not only 
 so as that you may be understood, but so as that you cannot be 
 misunderstood." With this view, he avoided every ambiguous 
 expression, every figure of speech, every species of great, 
 learned or affected phraseology; and, with unpitying hand, 
 sacrificed ornament and shew to perspicuity and usefidness. 
 Like the great apostle of the gentiles, whom he resembled in 
 many other particulars, he '^ used great plainness of speech." 
 
 Many of Mr. T.'s works were controversial : and as long as 
 the peculiar doctrines which distinguish the denomination to 
 which he belonged are properly estimated, these masterly de- 
 fences of them will be highly valued. Modern candour has 
 indeed rendered it almost unfashionable to avow, much less to 
 attempt to defend, the points on which I differ fiom my neigh- 
 bour. The popular wdsh now is that all professors of every de- 
 scription may amalgamate into one harmonious mass, in which, 
 sinking all points of difference, they may quietly unite on the 
 few articles in which they all agree. jNIr. T. had too much 
 wisdom and piety to join in this prayer. lie knew that, in this 
 case, there would remain nothing as the basis of union. He 
 was persuaded, that to attempt such a project would require a 
 sacrifice of principle which would weaken, if not destroy, the 
 moral rectitude of the mind. In his estimation, every revealed 
 truth was important, because it was revealed by a God of infi- 
 nite wisdom and love; and he felt it to be his duty to defend it. 
 Every error, he considered as injurious ; and he conscientiously 
 
 o o 
 
306 SKETCH OF 
 
 opposed it. lie recollected that the blessed book to which he 
 professed implicit obedience had exhorted Christians, on proper 
 occasions, to coiitoid earnestly for the faith which was once 
 delivered to the saints. And therefore, though he always 
 professed, and probably with the greatest sincerity, a disinclina- 
 tion to controversy, yet he stood ready, whenever he thought 
 duty required it, to enter the lists with any one who opposed 
 what he believed to be the truth. In several instances, there is 
 abundant evidence, that he took up the pen, through a sense of 
 dutv, with unaffected reluctance, when it would have been much 
 more agreeable to his private feelings to have stood aloof from 
 the contest. 
 
 His controversy was always with opinions, and not with per- 
 sons. He confined himself to argument, and endeavoured to 
 defend the truth in the spirit of meekness. Though his feelings 
 were strong and his passions ardent, and, in some instances, the 
 conduct of his adversaries afforded him sufficient provocation; 
 yet he kept such a guard over his natural temper, that, by the 
 assistance of divine grace, he seldom gave just occasion of 
 offence to his antagonist. Seldom indeed, unless in self defence, 
 did he descend to personalities; but kept close to the subject, 
 and conducted the debate with candour and respect. The 
 happy result was, that he usually made friends of his opponents; 
 many of whom would have heartily joined with Mr. Fuller, 
 who at the close of their protracted dispute publickly declared : 
 " Whatever I may think of his sentiments, my good opinion of 
 Mr. T.'s integrity and piety is not lessened by this con- 
 troversy." 
 
 In conducting a controversy, as well as in every thing else of 
 a religious nature, the holy scriptures were his sole authority. 
 He stated the truth for which he contended or the error which 
 he opposed, with clearness and simplicity; and then endeavour- 
 ed to defend the one or refute the other, by cxj)ress scripture 
 testnnony, or by plain inference from scripture. When he had 
 done this, he considered his work finished. Objections, rea- 
 sonings and hypotheses he little regarded: he esteemed them 
 inapplicable to the subject. A plain evidence that God had 
 said it, was, with him, a sufficient answer to them all. He 
 seldom, therefore, introduced such modes of argument, or took 
 uuich notice of them if adoptetl by his antngonists. Sometimes 
 
MR. T.'s CMARACTEll. o07 
 
 iiiclccd to giulify a riiciul, or to meet an adversary on liis own 
 ground, lie would engage in disenssions of this nature: and <>u 
 sueh occasions, lie succeeded as \vell as could be expected from 
 a combatant who was fighting with weapons of whieh he 
 disapproved. But when his scripture testimony was attacked, 
 he thought it necessary to be serious and in earnest. Then he 
 acquitted himself like a combatant well assured of the goodness 
 of his cause, perfectly acquainted with the means of defence, 
 and familiar with the use of his weapons. 
 
 The following short extracts from the conmumications of 
 the surviving fellow labourers of Mr. T. will shew in what 
 estimation his polemical abilities were held by his friends. 
 " Mr. T." observes one "was, in my view, a great man and a 
 close reasoner; and there are but few, if any, of my acquaint- 
 ance to whom I would sooner have intrusted a dispute upon 
 any theological subject than to him." *' As he well understood 
 the doctrines of the Bible," remarks another, " it was impos- 
 sible he shouhi not feel their importance. He of course held 
 them firmly; and when he conceived that duty required it of 
 him, he was never backward to defend them, either in conversa- 
 tion or from the press. The ability with which he did the latter, 
 his controversial writings will abundantly testify: as would also 
 the acknowledgements made to him by some of his opponents, as 
 to the information they had received from his animadversions." 
 " F<ew men," says a third, " were better able to defend what he 
 thought to be truth or to find out the w eakness of an antagonist. 
 In this respect, he has done much for the cause of Christ, and 
 especially for the General Baptist cause: for which his name 
 ought to be held in everlasting remembrance and profound ve- 
 neration." " Steady to his principles," says Mr. Kello, " and 
 acting according to his light in the word of God, he was 
 strenuous in their defence. On different occasions, he stood 
 forth in defence of revealed truths, highly important in the 
 christian scheme, when they have been assailed by adversaries; 
 and nobly has he defended them, by weapons furnished him by 
 the word of God. To him the members of the Connection with 
 whom he was associated looked up with deference, esteem and 
 expectation. With their requests he was ever ready to comply ; 
 and the trust which they reposed in him, was ever punct»ially 
 executed." 
 
 o o '2 
 
308 SKtrcn OF 
 
 Mr. T. like most others wlio have been in the habits of com- 
 position, wrote much more than he published. His time, how- 
 ever, was too closel)' occupied to permit him to employ any 
 considerable portion of it for his own gratification, in writing 
 on subjects to which duty did not call him. A few valuable 
 manuscripts were found among his papers, which may perhaps 
 enric!) a future edition of his works; but the great majority 
 consisted of indiijested and uninterestina: memormida. His 
 correspoNfJence also was extensive; and, as may be perceived 
 from the extracts inserted in the foregoing pages, highly valu- 
 able. Often indeed he had only leisure to state the occasion of 
 liis writing, with the utmost brevity, and then closing his letter, 
 to turn to some other eno-aoenient. Ikit in his shortest and 
 most hurried epistles, he seldom failed to drop some valuable 
 hint of an instructive, admonitory or consolatory nature; which 
 were frequently peculiarly suited to the age or circumstances of 
 his correspondent. His longer letters were often very interest- 
 ing ; especially such as he wrote in answer to cases of diffi- 
 culty from churches and individuals. In this labour of love, 
 he was constantly engaged. For nearly half a century, few 
 cases of perplexity or doubt arose in any of the churches of 
 the new Connection in which he was not consulted. Few 
 ministers settled with a people, or took any important step, 
 without first asking his advice. When an abstruse query or im- 
 portant measure was proposed at the conferences, it was not 
 unusual to "refer it to brother 'l\»yh)r." And when the matter 
 could not be conveniently settled by an epistolary correspond- 
 ence, his presence was requested. In the course of his ministry, 
 he travelled many hundreds of miles to assist in terminating 
 disputes, and setting in order the things that were wanting. 
 
 Mr. T.'s/?rer/c7/;/ig exhibited the distinguishing traits of his 
 general character. It was plain, serioiia and cdifi/'nig. He 
 never affected ornament or sliew, but dealt in unadorned truth. 
 In his youth, it appears that he frequently used considerable 
 action, spoke with vehemence, and not uncon)monly continued 
 his discourse for an hour and a half or two hours. In the diary 
 of the first ten years of his ministry, we find him often com- 
 plaining ol' these faults, and resolving to avoid them. He soon 
 moderated tlie violence of his tone and gesture, and became an 
 example of decorum in the pulpit. " His style and manner," 
 
MR. T.'S « IIAUACTER. ^i{j9 
 
 observes one of liis ])ii})il.s ^\llo had llic advautiige of luaring 
 liiiii 1 egului I V for several years, "Mas exceedingly ])laiii. His 
 gestures and motions were few, modest and serious. He j)ossest 
 a natural dignity in the pulpit ; and never exposed that sacred 
 place to contempt, by any indelicate or inconsistent language 
 or behaviour. IJe generally spoke, when preaching, above the 
 ordinary pitch of his voice, and this rendered his enunciation 
 less natural and therefore less agreeable. His ideas were clear; 
 his words plain, his language simple and strong; and his articu- 
 lation distinct and perfectly intelligible. I cannot recollect his 
 using any figures of speech; and in the explanation and adapta- 
 tion of passages of scripture in which figures are found, he made 
 little use of the figure, but hastened to the tiulh intended to be 
 conveyed by it. He had fine feelings and strong passions, 
 which rendered him susceptible of lively impressions from the 
 importance of the subjects on which he discoursed, and raised 
 him sometimes to the true sublime." 
 
 Mr. T.'s sound judgment enabled him soon to see the 
 impropriety of vociferation and violent action in the pulpit, but 
 he continued through life to introduce into his discourses some 
 rough, and to certain delicate hearers, very unpleasing words. 
 He paid such implicit regard to the authority of the scripture 
 that he hesitated not to adopt its phraseology ; and plainly to 
 declare that he that believeth not shall be damned; and that the 
 wicked shall be turned into helL lie despised most heartily 
 the atfectation of the Reverend Dean who threatened sinners 
 with punishment in a i)lace, which he did not think decent to 
 name before so polite an audience. He was persuaded that the 
 strong and explicit language used by the sacred writers, might 
 be instrumental, under the infiuence of divine grace, in awaken- 
 ing the careless, alarming the secure, and sometimes in arresting 
 the mad career of the most hardened. The correctness of his 
 reasoning will probably be doubted by some : but it is certain 
 that he acted from principle, and used the harshest language 
 with the most benevolent motives. 
 
 He was peculiarly eminent as 'a. preacher of the gospel. It 
 was almost always his constant practice to insist on evangelical 
 subjects. Something like the first preachers amongst the 
 (ieneral r)aptists, who had Law and Gospel in every sermon, 
 he, wjialever was his text, seldom failed to introduce Christ into 
 
310 SKETCH Of 
 
 some part of his discourse. And this was usually done in the 
 most easy and appropriate manner; without any thing that 
 looked forced or unnatural. That which he inculcated on 
 young ministers with the greatest earnestness, was the necessity 
 and importance of preaching the gospel; and exhibiting the 
 way of salvation to fallen men: advice which his uniform con- 
 duct exemplified. T3ut though he considered Christ and him 
 crucified as the peculiar object of the gospel ministry, he did 
 not neglect to insist on the necessity of bringing forth fruits 
 meet for repentance. In his latter years, he usually devoted the 
 mornings of the Lord's-days to explain and enforce the privileges 
 and duties of Christians, as exhibited in the New Testament, 
 especially in the apostolical epistles. He sometimes delivered a 
 series of discourses on tli€ various branches of personal, relative 
 and social holiness, which occupied several months. To an hum- 
 ble and inquiring mind, these lectures must have been interesting 
 and instructive ; as he derived the obligations to duty, not from 
 the fitness of things or the principles of pagan morality, but from 
 the precepts of scripture, enforced by evangelical motives. 
 
 In his preparation for the pulpit, he generally composed 
 short notes or skeletons. These seldom contained more than 
 the general outlines, the grand divisions, and sometimes a few 
 leading thoughts under each; always accompanied by many 
 appropriate quotations from scripture. Some of these notes 
 are preserved, dated so early as February, 17^5, which are much 
 more laboured than those of later years, though perhaps not so 
 logical, and contain sometimes twenty particulars. He seldom 
 used his notes while preaching, but placed them between the 
 leaves of his Bible, that if he should find himself at a loss in 
 the delivery, he might easily refer to them. 
 
 For a long series of years, Mr. T. was highly esteemed and 
 extremely popular as a preacher. He frequently took an excur- 
 sion of a few weeks through the counties of Lincoln, Leicester, 
 Nottingham, 8cc; and preached almost every night, and thrice 
 on the Lord's-days, at vilhiges many miles distant from each 
 other. On these occasions, he was followed from place to 
 j)lace by attentive and admiring crowds, who despised fatigue to 
 obtain the pleasure of hearing him. And the same anxiety to 
 attend his ministrations manifested itself whenever he visiteij 
 those counties, to the last vear of his life. 
 
MR. T.'S fHARACTRR. .'^11 
 
 IHs preaching was always useful and iiistruclive ; Ijut when 
 particular circumstances, as Ordinations, Associations, 8cc. excit- 
 ed his energies, it rose to a high degree of excellence. One of 
 his cotemporaries and fellow-labourers,* by no means disposed 
 to be enthusiastic, thus describes it. "As a preacher, Mr. T. 
 stood deservedly high in the esteem of all his brethren. His 
 strong masculine eloquence, which always appeared to rise in 
 proportion to the greatness and importance of his subject, was 
 deliiihtfullv charminjr to serious and judicious hearers. xAs he 
 was generally, I think always, one of the preachers at our animal 
 Associations, he, on these important occasions, exerted all the 
 powers of his great mind. Here we saw him, with the strength 
 of a giant, wielding the sword of the Spirit, and maintaining the 
 cause of God and truth. Regardless of every consideration, 
 save that of approving himself to God as a good steward of his 
 manifold graces, he spared no sin, he palliated no error ; but laid 
 the axe to the root of every species of crime, by declaring the 
 whole counsel of God. No one can doubt that these discourses 
 were made eminently useful to the connection at large : many 
 ministers, officers of churches and principal members attending 
 their delivery. From my own experience and knowledge, I am 
 persuaded the effect was highly beneficial, as they certainly 
 produced a greater uniformity of sentiment on the principal 
 doctrines of the New Testament, and a greater desire to pro- 
 mote the glory of God, by the united exertions of the whole 
 body. At these interesting seasons, now, alas ! for ever gone, I 
 have received those impressions which have been a blessing 
 both to myself and others. Sometimes deeply humbled on 
 account of past defects — at other times roused to renewed 
 exertions in the cause of our great Redeemer, I have returned 
 home with full purpose of heart to spend and be spent in pro- 
 moting the salvation of men, and in consecrating my all to the 
 glory of God. Our congregations do not know the advantage 
 which, in this way, they derive from these annual interviews. 
 O that our Elijah had dropped his mantle on some Elisha, who 
 should have succeeded him in discharging these important duties, 
 now his great Master has taken him from us!" 
 
 Mr. T.'s public addresses to his Maker were always serious 
 and devout; frequently animated and affecting. The intelligent 
 
 » The Rev. R. Smith, of Nottingham. 
 
312 SKETCH OF 
 
 friend from whose kind connnunication \vc made the last extract, 
 expresses himself on this suhject in strong language. " But 
 that," he says, " in which Mr. T. most manifestly excelled, and 
 which spread a kind of glory over all his public labours, was the 
 gift of 'prayer^ which he possessed in its most eminent degrees. 
 He was evidently much in the practice of it, and had suitable 
 subjects, and proper words to express them, always at com- 
 mand. When I have heard him, on public occasions, such as 
 the ordinations of ministers or at -our annual Associations, he 
 appeared to possess an uncommon portion of that unction which 
 is from above; and to have a heart burning with a seraph's fire, 
 which generally spread through the whole assembly. It was 
 impossible for a truly serious mind to be present, and not feel 
 deeply impressed at these solemn and interesting opportunities." 
 One excellence in Mr. T.'s public exercises, whether sermons 
 or prayers, was in their being peculiarly appropriate. It was 
 evident, in all liis ministrations, that he knew at what he aimed, 
 and suited the whole service to the end designed. Some, on 
 whatever occasion they are called to engage, choose general 
 topics. Their sermons are orthodox, but common place ; and 
 their prayers, though professedly extemporaneous, are as much 
 a form as those of the liturgy. The latter indeed, being 
 composed by judicious men for certain seasons, are often well 
 suited to their purposes ; while the former, being intended for 
 every occasion, are applicable to none. Mr. T. on the 
 contrary, always kept the design of the service in mind. When 
 he was called upon to give a charge to a young minister, his 
 whole discourse was adapted to the instruction and encou- 
 ragement of a person undertaking the sacred office. In his 
 ordination prayers, he would spread all the labours, the trials, 
 and the duties of a Christian pastor, before the Lord with great 
 propriety, and plead for the necessary support, direction and 
 grace, with holy fervour. When desired, as he generally was, 
 to conclude the Association with prayer, he would recapitulate 
 the states of the churches, the cases that had occupied the 
 attention of the meeting, and the peculiar circumstances of 
 individuals, and implore appropriate blessings on each, without 
 descending to minute particulars or improper personalities, and 
 with a glow of humble piety, ardent devotion, and holy reve- 
 rence, which sometimes seemed to rise above this earthlv slate, 
 aiii-l give some idea of the worship of heaven. 
 
MR. T.*S CHARACTER. 313 
 
 Constantly engaged as this active minister was in various 
 labours for the comiection at huge, as well as in secular business 
 for the support of his family, he could not devote that attention 
 to pastoral duties which he would chearfully have done had he 
 enjoyed greater leisure. It is evident, however, from the whole 
 tenour of his conduct, as well as from his private memoranda, 
 that he meditated seriously and affectionately on the circum- 
 stances of his flock, and endeavoured to suit his public mmistra- 
 tions to promote their edification ; that he always stood ready 
 to advise and assist them in every case of difficulty; that he was 
 anxiously solicitous for their temporal and spiritual welfare ; 
 and that he was assiduous and earnest in his prayers on their 
 behalf. So far was he from sliohtins; the humblest member of 
 the church, that his partiality took a contrary direction. He 
 maintained perhaps too great a distance and reserve towards 
 those of his people who possessed wealth and influence ; and his 
 favourites, if he had any, were a few poor persons, in whom he 
 thought that he discovered the evidence of sincere piety and 
 devotedness to Christ. These, especially towards the close of 
 life, were his cherished associates; and with three or four of 
 these, he would join in prayer and exhortation with all the af- 
 fection of a brother and the simplicity of a child. And though 
 he was accustomed to crouded auditories, yet he never consi- 
 dered a large number as necessary to render seasons of worship 
 either edifying or acceptable. " What signifies it," he frequently 
 observed, whether my prayers be offered in the presence of four 
 or four hundred ? May not my petitions be as prevalent and 
 my advantage as great in the former case as in the latter?" 
 When he was in the height of his popularity, he would walk, 
 - with the greatest chearfulness, eight or ten miles, after the 
 labours of the day, to preach to a few poor people in a private 
 apartment, and would feel amply repaid if he was made the 
 instrument of awakening the meanest sinner to a sense of his 
 danger, or of confirming the faith of the humblest Christian. 
 
 Indeed it is very evident in all Mr. T.'s conduct, that his 
 exertions for the good of his fellow creatures and the glory of 
 -his God, were perfectly disinterested. He seemed only anxious 
 to do the M'ork, and was little concerned who received the re- 
 compence. This indifference to his own interest marked his 
 whole progress through life, and operated in full force to the 
 
 R K 
 
S14 
 
 SKETCH OF 
 
 day of his death. In all his journeys, his publications, and his 
 other labours, the first question with him was, '' Will this under* 
 taking promote the cause of the Redeemer or the salvation of 
 sinners r" And not, " Who will remunerate me for my trouble? 
 or secure me from pecuniary loss ?" When he was once satisfied 
 respecting the former, uncertainty as to the latter seldom caused 
 him to hesitate. For sixty years, he devoted superior abilities, 
 with almost unexampled assiduity, to advance what he esteemed 
 the best interests of mankind ; and, after his decease, his sur- 
 vivors found, that he had* literally obeyed the injunction of his 
 Master, and laid up no treasures for himself or family on earth ! 
 Some may perhaps doubt whether this was any proof of his 
 prudence : it certainly was an evidence of his sincerity. There 
 can be no doubt, had the same talents been applied with equal 
 industry to any secular employment, tlie result would have been 
 very diflferent. But he had respect to the recompence of 
 reward. 
 
 We conclude our remarks on this part of his character in the 
 words of jNIr. Kello. "As a mbiister, he was diligent and 
 laborious; well qualified for, and abundant in the duties of that 
 high and honourable station. Distinguished by a robust consti- 
 tution of body, and possessing singular mental endowments, he 
 hid not liis talent in a napkin. His public services were numer- 
 ous ; his attention to his flock was unremitted. \\ ithout 
 discrimination he sought their welfare — sympathized with every 
 individual under their sorrows and trials — and was ever ready to 
 exert himself for their relief and help." 
 
 Mr. T. was advanced towards old age when he undertook the 
 superintendance of an academy for young ministers: and had, 
 for many previous years, been closely engaged in the concerns of 
 trade and the lubours of the ministry. He was therefore, even 
 in a literary view, less qualified for that important office than he 
 would have been, had he commenced Tutor when he was twenty 
 years younger. At sixty, however, he entered on the business 
 witli his characteristic alacrity and spirit. He read authors, 
 made extracts, consulted and corresponded with persons who 
 had Ixen employed in the same work, and took every method, 
 which his opportunities afforded him, to render himself, in some 
 measure, equal to the task. He retraced his former studies, 
 anil (how up a course of Irrhires, which comprehended most of 
 
MR. T. S CHARACTKH, 
 
 315 
 
 the subjects connected willi llic sacred work lor wliicli his pupils 
 were designed. In a thick quarto nuuuisciipt, of 450 pages, 
 now lying before us, lie has entered the outlines of one huntlred 
 and tliirty-iive lectures, whicli he delivered, at various times, to 
 the young men under his care, and repeated as occasion required. 
 The subjects are — the Design of the Institution — the necessary 
 Qualitications for the Ministry — the Knowledge necessary for a 
 Minister — the Means of obtainino: tiiis Knowledge — the Nature 
 and Necessity of Diligence — the Evidences of Christianity — 
 the Study of the Scriptures — the Remembering of the Scriptures 
 — the Illustration and improvement of the Scriptures — Preaching 
 — Composition — Choice of Texts — Choice of Subjects — 
 Delivery — Exhortation — Prayer — Bible Geography — Scripture 
 Chronology — J e wish and Hebrew 2\ntiquities — Logic — Rhetoric 
 — Scripture History — Scripture Prophecy — The New Testa- 
 ment; &c. The regular delivery of this series was frequently in- 
 terrupted by occasional lectures on miscellaneous subjects, sug- 
 gested by the circumstances of the times, the family, the church 
 or the academy. Many of these were peculiarly appropriate 
 and valuable, and ought to be preserved for the benefit of young 
 ministers. As most of the young men who were placed under 
 his care had enjoyed few advantages of educatioji previous to 
 their admission, u constant and regular attention was kept up, 
 through the whole of their residence, to their improvement in 
 the English language; and, in most cases, the .elements of Latin 
 and Greek, and sometimes of the Hebrew, were also cultivated. 
 
 The deficiency of most of the pupils in the elements of 
 literature, the short time they remained under his care, and their 
 being frequently called to preach, rendered it impossible that 
 much progress could be made in the various parts of knowledge 
 included in his plan; but the ample preparations made for their 
 instruction evince the vigour, industry and judgment of the Tutor. 
 jf\nd considering the discouragements which a first attempt 
 always encouncers, there is abundant evidence, that the result 
 was highly favourable. INJany of the students are now usefully 
 ^employed in the service of General Baptist churches, who by 
 the steadiness of their sentiments, the diligence of their labours, 
 and respectability of their conduct, reHect honour both on them- 
 selves and their Tutor. It would be easy to mention individuals, 
 but dt^icacy forbids it. \S c shall rather insert an rxtracjf 
 
 R i; 'Z 
 
316 
 
 SKETCH OF 
 
 or two from the communications of several of these worthy 
 ministers. 
 
 " The example," says one, " of so wise and diligent a man, 
 Avas not the least advantage that Mr. T.'s students enjoyed at 
 the academy. Not only did he teach diligence by example, but 
 constantly pressed it upon them by instruction. He frequently 
 awakened them to their studies early in the morning, and repeated 
 to them his favourite maxim : ' Employ yourselves constantly 
 either in doing good or getting good.' He was mindful also of 
 their accommodation ; and while their minds were feeding on 
 knowledge, their bodies were improving in health and strength. 
 In the evening, he employed the pupils in rotation to conduct 
 the family devotion ; which with the public seasons of worship 
 that they had an opportunity of attending, was beneficial to 
 their improvement in personal and experimental rehgion. Mr. 
 'i\ possessed an open, honest, ingenuous heart, and was, in a 
 great measure, free from that suspicion which attaches to 
 narrow minds. This prevented him from knowing what depraved 
 dunces some are; and laid him open to deception by those who 
 strove to please without merit. Probably therefore some miglit 
 obtain greater encomiums from him than they deserved. To 
 say he was faultless, is to contradict humaia nature ; but his 
 excellencies far outweighed his imperfections. Many ministers 
 are under obligations to him for different degrees of knowledge : 
 and he is held in high estimation by all that have been under his 
 care, whom I have had an opportunity to question. I am 
 ashamed that 1 have improved so little from his example and 
 instruction. The Lord pardon me, and enable me to do better." 
 
 " One word," observes another, " includes all I have to say 
 rsspecting Mr. 1\ as a Tutor : he teas what he ought to be. 
 He was exact, laborious, candid, gentle and fatherly. He knew 
 as well how to keep the headstrong in check, as to take the 
 timid by the hand and help them along the painful road. I 
 speak experimentally, and from close observation. He wus 
 eminent among his students and in his family for a savoury and 
 cheerful conversation. Besides not only his extensive learning, 
 but his decided tone on the principal articles of the christian 
 faith, highly qualified him for his office." 
 
 In a third communication, the writer remarks, " D. T. was 
 very ready to connnunicale knowledge to his pupils, and pos- 
 
MR. T. y CllARACTKK. 
 
 ^U7 
 
 sessed a great facility and case in instrnction. Wliatevcr lie said, 
 he strove to make so plain that his scholars could not mis- 
 understand it: and from his habitual plainness he was able to 
 simplify and inipress his ideas on the mind with great force and 
 effect. He was naturally of a friendly temper and admirably 
 fitted for society. His conversation was frequently entertaining, 
 always instructive, lie certainly knew how to shew his dis- 
 pleasure; but his general deportment was affable and conciliatory. 
 I am disposed to believe that every one of his pupils loved him : 
 if they did not, their dispositions were sadly depraved. He took 
 a heartfelt pleasure in their improvement, and encouraged them 
 by every method in his power : freely accommodating them witli 
 the loan of his books, admitting them to l^miliar conversation, 
 taking them to hear celebrated preachers, and adopting every 
 other method to enlarge their minds." 
 
 To these testimonies, we shall only add a few observations 
 from the pen of the intelligent minister who has with zeal and 
 assiduity tilled the office of Secretary to the Academy from the 
 time of its institution, and who enjoyed the best means of 
 forming a just estimate of Mr. T.'s character and conduct, as a 
 Tutor. " 1 am fully persuaded," he says, " that Mr. T. has 
 rendered a most important service to the Connection, in fdling 
 the office of Tutor of the Academy, in a manner so very useful 
 and honourable ; and that the benefit which his pupils derived 
 from his instructions, while placed under his care, is a blessing 
 both to themselves and the churches amongst whom they exercise 
 their ministry. In every great design, there is a peculiar honour 
 attaches to tlie man that lays the foundation-stone of the building; 
 and who, in the commencement of an undertaking, while sur- 
 rounded with difficulties and discouragements, with fortitude 
 meets them all, sets his shoulders to the woi k, and accelerates 
 its progress. This honour had Mr. T. in the present instance. 
 Had he not undertaken the task, the structure had never been 
 raised ; and to whatever eminence the institution may at any 
 future period arrive, his labours at the commencement will cer- 
 tainiv be considered as bavin"' very essentiallv contributed to 
 tliat prosperity. From the letters received from his pupils, it is 
 evident that he exercised so much kindness and affection towards 
 them, and the othce of Tutor was so softened into that of 
 j)arental authority, that when they left the -\cademy, they left it 
 
318 
 
 SKETCH OF 
 
 impressed with the highest respect for his character, and with 
 feelings of filial attachment." 
 
 After the Extracts from Mr. T.'s Diary and correspondence 
 with the detail of his Life and conversation already given, it is 
 almost unnecessary to say any thing respecting his character as 
 a Christian. We shall therefore only recal to the reader*s 
 recollection a few general observations, which must have fre- 
 quently occurred to him while he has been engaged in perusing 
 the preceding pages of this Memoir. 
 
 Mr. T. maintained a deep sense of his own unworthiness 
 before God constantly on his mind. He entertained lively and 
 exalted ideas of the glory, the holiness, and the majesty of God, 
 and of the purity, extent and obligation of the divine Law. He 
 felt and sincerely mourned the depravity of his fallen nature, his 
 total inability to fulfil the precepts of the Law, and his just 
 exposedness to the curse pronounced against the transgressors of 
 it. Fully sensible of his guilt and helplessness, he depended, 
 for acceptance with his Maker, alone on the merits and sufferings 
 of his Saviour. He frequently represented, in glowing colours 
 and with heartfelt delight, the fulness, the freeness and the fitness 
 of that salvation vviiich had been wrought out bv Jesus Christ : 
 and confidenlly rested all his hopes for eternity on that solid 
 foundation. 
 
 But though he depended for salvation wholly on rich and un^ 
 deserved grace, yet he was zealous in defending the perpetuity 
 and obligation of the moral law. He insisted that faith without 
 works is dead ; and, not only in his preaching, but in his con- 
 duct, he laboured to prove that the sentiments which he pro- 
 fessed were doctrines accordiui!: to 2;odliness. In the discharsje 
 of every relative duty, he was conscientious and exemplary. 
 In his conduct as a member of societv, he was ever attentive to 
 the rule of his atlorable Saviour, of treating others as we would 
 they should treat us. In his transactions in trade, he was scru^ 
 j)ulous]y just, often to a degree which few would think necessary. 
 Conscientious in his obedience to civil governors, he never 
 would suffer either himself or any of his dependents to disobey 
 their laws, or elude their regulations. 
 
 Ilia conversation was grave and pious; and he studied to lead 
 the discourse to religious topics. '1 liese were evidently his 
 fiivouiile ihcjnes; and he tiKjucnlly manifested both uneasiness 
 
MR. T. S CHARACTK.R, 
 
 319 
 
 and displeasure when much tiine was spent i)} professors on 
 trifling or even on common subjects. As he approached the 
 termination of his earthly career, )iis thoughts and his conversa- 
 tion were peculiarly occupied by spiritual t!iin<:js ; and his relish 
 for political and even literary cliscr.ssioti was proportionably 
 weakeneJ. He detested slander and calumny in all its forms, 
 and never permitted either himself or others to speak evil of an 
 abse::t [person. 
 
 " As a master of a family." observes one who spent several 
 years under his roof, " ISIr. T. seemed determined to maintain 
 order and regularity in all its departments. He was sn example 
 of punctuality and diligence to all the members of it. He 
 maintained religion in his family • ?.\id devoted mere time to 
 domestic v.orship than would probably, in niRuy instaiices, be 
 prudent or edifying. In the morning, in addition to prayer, he 
 read the scriptures, and frequently expounded them : in the 
 evening, one, sometimes several of his daughters, read a portion 
 of scripture, and he remarked occasionally on it. A hymn was 
 not unfrequently sung, and the whole concluded with a prayer 
 by himself or one of his pupils. The whole exercise occupied 
 nearly an hour ; but it was so managed as not to interfere with 
 the other duties of the day : both he and the other branches of 
 his family attending to much business with little confusion." 
 
 We have seen that at Mr. T.'s first setting out in leligion he 
 was diligent in his attention to the private means of grace. 
 Self-examination, secret prayer and other devout exercises were 
 pursued with great regularity and sincerity. And though, in 
 following years, he had not leisure to record these engagements, 
 yet there is good reason to believe that he continued them 
 through the whole of his life. By these means, his graces were 
 nourished, his mind animated, and his speed in the christian 
 race increased. 
 
 it would be easy to enlarge on this part of his character, but 
 we resign the subject with great satisfaction into the hands of his 
 judicious friend, Mr. Kello : persuaded that his intimate know- 
 ledge of the deceased for more than twenty years, and the un- 
 reserved fieedom with which they were in the habit of commu- 
 nicating their sentiments to each other, enable him to treat 
 it with accuracy ; and that his opinions will not be suspected of 
 undue partiality. 
 
320 
 
 SKETCH OF 
 
 " As a christian, Mr. T/s profession and deportment," ob- 
 serves Mr. K. " were uniform and consistent. The grace 
 necessary to form that character was communicated to, and ex- 
 perienced by him. Persuaded of the absokite necessity of the 
 divine influence to bring a sinner to subjection to the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, he gave evidence of his own participation of it. Sensible 
 of his lost condition as a sinner in the sisrlit of God — of his 
 obnoxiousness to the curse of the divine law, as a transgressor 
 of its precepts, he made the Lord Jesus Christ his refuge and 
 his confidence; he trusted in the atoning sacrifice which he 
 offered on the cross for pardon ; he depended on his righteous- 
 ness for acceptance and salvation. This faith, exercised and 
 professed by him, was not a dead or inactive principle. At the 
 same time that it purified his heart, it influenced his external 
 conduct, to the adorning the doctrine of God his Saviour in all 
 things. While in his view the law of God was a rule of life to 
 believers in Jesus, he lamented the awful breaches of its precepts 
 by others, and endeavoured a conformity to them himself." 
 
 " One trait of his character as a christian demands particular 
 mention; viz. his great hamiliti/. He ever spake of himself in 
 the lowest and most abasing terms; owning his utter unworthi- 
 ness in the sight of God, and expressing an high admiration of 
 his goodness and mercy to him. He always appeared as one 
 emptied of self; and devoted to the service and glory of God." 
 
 " In the couise of his christian progress and life, he had his 
 share of trials. An intercourse with him, when suffering under 
 i-eiterated bereaving providences, demands and furnishes a testi- 
 mony to his resignation under the will of God, and the practice 
 of tliat submission which he was often called upon to recom- 
 mend to others. A christian in deed and not in word only, we 
 now remember him; and as such it becomes us to be ' followers 
 of him as far as he followed Christ.'" 
 
 We have thus attempted to delineate the character of this 
 worthy minister. We feel that the sketch is very imperfect ; 
 l>ut we trust the distinguishing features are correctly, though 
 feebly marked. Those who knew the venerable original only in 
 the last years of his protracted life, may perhaps find some dif- 
 ficulty in recognizing the resemblance in a few particulars. To 
 Ihem it may be proper to remark, that though Mr. T. retained 
 txtraoriiinarv vigour of bodv and mind much longer than misht 
 
MR. r.'s CHARACTLU. ."^^ 1 
 
 liave been expected from llie inressnnt laboiiis \\1ik1i lie had 
 sustained, yet lie sensibly declined in both before he was called 
 to ids rest. His corporeal powers indeed \\ere remarkably pre- 
 served till wiUiin a short lime of his decease; but his iinntal 
 faculties evidently failed after his seventieth year. Of this fact 
 he was not sutliciently conscious : and, while he felt that he 
 could still endure fatigues and support exertions that would 
 have oppressed many younger persons, he was not easily per- 
 suaded that he was an old man. It is a common observation, 
 that the aged enter more clearly into the transactions of the 
 former parts of life than into those in whicli they are engaged in 
 declining years. This was peculiarly the case with Mr. T. 
 The most painful symj)tom of mental decay which his friends 
 had to lament, w as an inability to apprehend properly the true 
 state of the various concerns which called for his attention. 
 He not unfrequently took up a wrong idea; and it was with 
 difficulty that he was convinced of his error. /Vccustomed as 
 he had been to form clear conceptions on most subjects, and 
 having been, for half a century regarded by most of his con- 
 nections, as an oracle, he naturally concluded that he must be 
 right. Besides, most of those with w horn he was surrounded in 
 the advance of life, were such as he had been acquainted with as 
 children after he had attained the age of maturity ; and we all 
 feel how hard it is for a person thus situated, not to suppose that 
 he still remains as much superior to his associates in knowledge 
 and experience as he knows that he once was. It was not there- 
 fore surprising that he should be, in some measure, impatient of 
 contradiction; and, at times, maintain his own opinion with a 
 pertinacity which bordered on obstinacy. This also led him 
 occasionally to form unfavourable conclusions respecting the 
 friendliness of those who were obliged, out of kindness to himself 
 or duty to others, to oppose his judgment. To this infirnnty of 
 aofe, almost unavoidable in the circumstances in which he was 
 placed, may be ascribed much of the trouble that embittered his 
 latter days, and caused his sun to set with less effulgence. In 
 short, he w as a man ; and imperfection clings close to the 
 human character in its most exalted forms. But, though his 
 intellectual powers were in a degree debilitated, yet his moral 
 and religious principles retained their full vigour ; and, to the 
 last, he was incapable of acting designedly contrary to what he 
 
 s s 
 
322 SKETCH OF 
 
 believed to be the dictates of duty. Whatever imperfect prin- 
 ciples he might assume, or however inconclusively he might 
 reason from true principles, he always meant to do right ; and 
 would have sacrificed life itself rather than deviate from what he 
 esteemed the will of God. 
 
 But his weaknesses have been exaggerated. It is presumed 
 that few persons who have passed through so many trying and 
 delicate scenes as those through which Mr. T. passed, in his 
 long and active life, have preserved a character so generally 
 respected and approved as his was. Yet, in a few instances, 
 scandal made him her object and aimed her envenomed shafts at 
 his reputation. Towards the close of his life, several calumnies 
 were industriously spread ; but they vanished on investigation : 
 On this subject the i\uthor speaks with confidence; as he has 
 found it his duty personally to undertake such investigations, 
 painful in their causes, but highly satisfactory in their results. 
 Many have advised him, in justice to the memory of the 
 deceased, to enter into particulars and state facts. It does not, 
 however, appear necessary. The original propagators of these 
 reports are probably gone to answer before that Judge who will 
 do them right ; and it is hoped, that those who had too readily 
 taken up a reproach against their neighbour, have repented of 
 their credulity. There is full evidence that the pious object of 
 their attacks heartily forgave them ; and we have no wish to 
 expose their infirmities. 
 
 It was not our intention to paint a perfect character. Such 
 a being never existed on this earth, except He who " was holy, 
 harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners." We have endea- 
 voured to trace the footsteps of a man of like passions with 
 ourselves, who was enabled, by the assistance of divine grace, 
 amidst many sins which he deeply lamented, and imperfections 
 of which he was fully sensible, " to fight a good fight, to keep the 
 faith, and at last to finish his course with joy." He is now, we 
 doubt not, entered into the full fruition of that eternal life, which 
 he so long and so earnestly recommended to others as "the gift of 
 God through Jesus Christ our Lord." While on earth, he always 
 hoped to receive it as a gift, and disclaimed all idea of meriting 
 it by any works or labours of his own ; and now he joins, with 
 liunible gratitude and holy joy, the inhabitants of that blessed 
 world where sin is no more, in ascribing " blessing and honour. 
 
MK. T.'S CHARACTEK. S23 
 
 and glory and power, to Ilini tlrat sittcth on tlic throne and to 
 the Lamb for ever and ever." 
 
 May that God, " whose he was and whom he served," bless 
 this feeble attempt, to his own glory and the good of the 
 reader. May every private christian be stimnlated to imitate 
 the pions snbject of the foregoing pages, in his diligent use of 
 the means of grace, his humble dependance on the assistance of 
 the Holy Spirit, his fervent and rational attachment to the doc- 
 trines of the gospel, and his conscientious and intrepid obedience 
 to the divine commands. May every minister of the New 
 Testament, but especially those with whom he was more closely 
 connected, roused by his example, animated by his motives, 
 and encouraged by his success, exert themselves with zeal, dis- 
 interestedness, and perseverance, like his, in promoting the 
 salvation of sinners and extending the kingdom of the Redeemer 
 on earth. And at last may all, both ministers and people, join 
 our honoured friend where " the spirits of just men are made 
 perfect." 
 
 FiNIS, 
 
A CHRONOLOGICAL LIST 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PUBLICATIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 THE LATE REV. D. TAYLOR, 
 
 With a Reference to the Page in the preceding Memoir where some 
 
 account is given of each. 
 
 A.D. PAGE. 
 
 1763 An Elegy on the Rev. Wm. Grimshaw \6 
 
 1764 The absolute Necessity of Searching the Scriptures 18 
 1766 The faithful and wise Steward • 23 
 
 Scripture Directions and Encouragements for Weak 
 
 Christians 24 
 
 1 768 The Mourning Parent Comforted 25 
 
 Humble Essay on Christian Baptism 27 
 
 Rules and Observations on Health and Long Life* • 34 
 
 1772 Practical Improvement of the Divinity and Atone- 
 ment of Christ • 82 
 
 Scriptural Account of the Way of Salvation 83 
 
 Candidus Examined with Candour 86 
 
 1775 The Duty of a Gospel Minister explained and en- 
 forced, a Charge to Mr. B. Worship 90 
 
 Fundamentals of Religion in Faith and Practice • • • • 92 
 
 1777 Looking Glass for Voudi 9-5 
 
 Verses for Christmas Day 97 
 
 Entertainment and Protit united 96 
 
 Strictures on Addington's Summary 97 
 
 1780 A Catechism 01 Instructions fur Youth 104 
 
 Esaay on the Right Use of Earthly Treasure 105 
 
 Scrutator's Query re-proposed 106 
 
 Scrutator to Respousor 107 
 
 1782 The Stroke of Deudi practically improved 115 
 
 1 784 The Consistent CInistian 1 24 
 
 178.3 Our Saviour's Commission explained and improved* 
 
 * Tliis publication, whicli lias nndesiijncdly escaped notice in its proper 
 place, is iiitilUd, " Our Snvifiurs C (Miiniis>ion to his Miiiislcrs »\p|, lined 
 
.125 
 
 A. D. PAGE. 
 
 178(5 Dissertation on Singing in Public Worship 17 1 
 
 Nine Letters on IVlr. Fuller's Scheme 17:5 
 
 178G Charge to Mr. J. Deacon 182 
 
 Charge to Mr. G. Birley 1 83 
 
 1787 Thirteen Letters on Mr. Fuller 174 
 
 Second Dissertation on Sinsjinj: 184 
 
 1789 Sermon on tlte King's Recovery 187 
 
 Compendious View of the Nature and Importance 
 
 of Christian Baptism 187 
 
 The Eternity of Future Punishment asserted • • • • 190 
 
 The Eternity of Future Punishment re-asserted •• 191 
 
 1790 Essay on the Truth and Inspiration of the Scriptures 193 
 Friendly Conclusion with Mr. Fuller 176 
 
 1 793 Funeral Sermon for INIrs. Taylor 203 
 
 1 795 Cause of National Calamities 208 
 
 Funeral Sermon for Dr. Stennett 210 
 
 1796 Memoirs of Mr. VVm. Thompson 204 
 
 Duties of Church Members to each other 211 
 
 Universality of our Saviour's Death 214 
 
 1797 General Baptist Magazine 217,221 
 
 1 802 Principal Parts of the Christian Religion 222 
 
 I8O6 Nature and Importance of Preparatory Studies* • • • 228 
 I8O9 Jesus the only- begotten Son of God 235 
 
 CIRCULAR LETTERS 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE ANNUAL ASSOCIATIONS, 
 
 Written hy ]\Ir. D. Taylor. 
 
 1772 Ileavenlv-mindedness and Christian Conversation •• 87 
 1777 1 he Nature and Obligations of Church Fellowship. 99 
 
 ar.d improved. The snhstance of a Sermon delivered at Canterbury, and 
 in Worship Street, London, at the administration of the Ordinance of 
 Baptism. Published at the request of the heavers in both phices." It is 
 without (hite; but it appears to have been preached when the Author was 
 travelling to collect for the tlcbt on the meeting-house at Halifax, (see page 
 \'l'^) and to have been printed before he left Yorkshire. The Sermon is 
 f(Minded on Matt, wviii. 20, ^0. On this favourite text, the preacher has 
 K.-onstructcd a perspicuous, \vell-arrHnc:*^d and uselul discourse. 
 
326 
 
 1787 Introduction to the Minutes 1 85 
 
 1 794 The Operations of the Holy Spirit 205 
 
 1795 The Depravity of Human Nature 209 
 
 1 796 The Duties of Church Members 211 
 
 1798 The Evidences of Regeneration • 218 
 
 1800 Address in Behalf of the Academy 
 
 1801 The Concurrence of People with their Pastors • • • 222 
 
 1802 Observations on the State of the Churches • 223 
 
 1805 The Atonement of Christ 227 
 
 1809 Covetousness 235 
 
 ORDINATIONS 
 
 AT WHICH MR. D. TAYLOR ASSISTED. 
 
 N.B. When (M) is inserted, Mr. T. gave the Charge to the Minister ; 
 ' when (PJ he addressed the People. 
 
 1786 
 
 February 
 
 Austin, Abraham 
 
 Fetter-lane, London 
 
 (M) 182 
 
 1780 
 
 April 
 
 Austin, J. 
 
 BesseWs Green, Kent 
 
 (P) 182 
 
 1786 
 
 Oct. 18 
 
 Birley, George 
 
 St. Ives, Hunts 
 
 (M) 183 
 
 1797 
 
 March 22 
 
 Briggs, Charles 
 
 Gosbertson, Lincolnshire 
 
 (M) 215 
 
 1801 
 
 June 17 
 
 Barker, A. 
 
 Birchcliff, Yorkshire 
 
 (M) 221 
 
 1805 
 
 Oct. 24 
 
 Bissill, John 
 
 Sutterton, Lincolnshire 
 
 (M) 227 
 
 1805 
 
 July 4 
 
 Cameron, F. 
 
 Louth, Ditto 
 
 (M) 227 
 
 1806 
 
 July 11 
 
 Cramp, J, 
 
 Longford, Waricickshire 
 
 (M) 223 
 
 1813 
 
 June 22 
 
 Cheatle, G. 
 
 Birmingham, Ditto 
 
 (M) 241 
 
 1779 
 
 Sep. 15 
 
 Deacon, Samuel 
 
 Barton, Leicestershire 
 
 (M) 102 
 
 1786 
 
 April 26 
 
 Deacon, John 
 
 Leicester 
 
 (M) 182 
 
 180-t 
 
 Oct. 23 
 
 Driver, J. 
 
 Hoddesdon, Herts 
 
 (M) 227 
 
 1801 
 
 June 30 
 
 Felkin, AVilliam 
 
 Kcgworth, Leicestershire 
 
 (M) 222 
 
 1780 
 
 
 Fohls, Richard 
 
 Burnley, Yorkshire 
 
 (M) 289 
 
 1789 
 
 May 
 
 Goddard, J. 
 
 Ilkiston, Derbyshire 
 
 (M) 187 
 
 1772 
 
 Oct. 3 
 
 Hannatli, J. 
 
 hillingholm, Lincolnshire 
 
 (P) S9 
 
 1795 
 
 April 30 
 
 Hobbs, Joseph 
 
 Chatham, Kent 
 
 (M^ 209 
 
 1802 
 
 Dec. 2 
 
 Hobb, Joscpli 
 
 Berkhamstead^ Herts 
 
 (M) 224 
 
 1806 
 
 July 1 
 
 Hollinrake, Hen. 
 
 Birchcliff, Yorkshire , 
 
 (INI) 228 
 
 1778 
 
 Nov. 1 
 
 Inuhiiin, Jer. 
 
 IMxllby. Lincnlnshirc 
 
 (M) 101 
 
327 
 
 1804 May 22 Jarroiti, Jos. 
 1812 May 28 Jackson, Wni. 
 1799 July 30 Kingsford, John 
 1802 Oct. 31 Kingsford, John 
 1791 Pickering, Tho. 
 1811 Feb. 13 Preston, John 
 1777 April 14 Poole, H. 
 
 1788 April 1 Smith, Robert 
 
 1799 April 23 Shenston, J. B. 
 
 1805 April Smedley, Wm. 
 1772 Sep. 30 Taylor, John 
 1797 March 23 Taylor, William 
 1810 Oct. 25 Taylor, James 
 1785 Sep. 29 Wright, R. 
 1775 Jan. 9 Worship, Benj. 
 1797 July 3 Whitaker, Edm. 
 
 1790 Waterman, 
 
 1799 April 11 Young,Scabrook 
 
 Wisbcachj Cambridgeshire (M) 22C 
 
 Ipswich, Suffolk (M) 211 
 
 Deal, Kent (M) 219 
 
 Portsea, Hants (M) 221 
 Castle DoningtoTiy Leicestershire(M) 289 
 
 Suffolk-street, Southwark (^l) 238 
 
 Long Sutton, Lincolnshire (M) 99 
 
 Nottingham (P) 185 
 
 Park, Southwark (M) 218 
 
 Downton, Wiltshire (M) 226 
 
 Queenshead, Yorkshire (M) 89 
 
 Boston, Lincolnshire (M) 215 
 
 HepstoTistall-slack, Yorkshire (P) 236 
 Norwich, Norfolk (M&P) 170 
 
 Great Yarmouth, Ditto (M) 90 
 
 Melhourn, Derbyshire (P) 215 
 
 Ratcliff, London (P) 289 
 
 Berkhamstead, Herts. (M) 21 S 
 
Latelj/ published, by the same Author f 
 In 2 Vols. Octavo, Price 21s. Boards, 
 
 I. THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH GENERAL BAPTISTS: 
 
 IN TWO PARTS. 
 
 Part 1. — The English Genei^al Baptists of the Seventeenth Century, with a 
 Sketch of the History of the Baptists from the Commencement of the 
 Christian JEra. to the Reformation. 
 
 Part 2. — The New Connection of General Baptists: inchuling the previous 
 History of the Churches which formed that Union, and a regular 
 Narrative of the Transactions of the Connection, and the Progress of 
 the several Societies, from its Formation to A.D. 1817. 
 
 II. THE USEFUL ARITHMETIC; intended for the benefit of Charity and 
 
 Sunday Schools, and of Beginners in general. Price bound, Is. 6d. 
 
 III. THE KEY TO USEFUL ARITHMETIC. Price Is. 
 
 IV. THE SEQUEL TO USEFUL ARITHMETIC, designed for the higher 
 Classes. Price, bound, 4s. 
 
 Of whom also may be hady 
 
 A NEW AND CORRECTED EDITION of the late Rev. D. Taylor's CATECHISM, 
 on good Paper and neatly sewed in stiff Covers, Price 6d. with the 
 usual Allowance to Sunday Schools, «&c. 
 
 And a BRIEF SUPPLEMENT to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns, by 
 James Taylor. Price, bound, Is. Cd. 
 
 P. -t F. Hack, Printtrs, Liilluin Street, t'enchurch Street, 
 
THE 
 
 SUTTEES' CRY TO BRITAIN; 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 EXTRACTS FROM KSSAYS PUBLISHED IN INDIA 
 
 ANT) PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS 
 ON THE 
 
 ISuvniiig; of ^intfoo W^itfofofi t 
 
 SHEWING THAT THE 
 
 Rite is not an Integral Part of the Religion of the Hindoos^ 
 
 BUT 
 
 A HORRID CUSTOIYE, 
 
 OPPOSED TO THE INSTITUTES OF MENU, AND A VIOLATION 
 
 ©C eberg ^rtnct^U of %\\%i\tz anti l^umamtg: 
 
 RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF ALL WHO ARE 
 
 INTERESTED IN THE WELFARE OF 
 
 BRITISH INDIA; 
 
 AND SOLICITING THE INTERFERENCE OF THE BRITISH 
 
 GOVERNMENT, AND OF THE HONOURABLE THE COURT 
 
 OF DIRECTORS OF THE HONOURABLE EAST INDIA 
 
 COMPANY, TO SUPPRESS THIS SUICIDAL PRACTICE. 
 
 BY J. PEGGS, 
 
 Late Missionary at Cuttack, Orissa. 
 
 " In childhood, must a female be dependent on her father ; in youth, on her husband ; 
 her lord being dead, on her sons; if she have no sons, on the near kinsmen of her hus- 
 band ; if he left no kinsmen, on those of her father ; if he have no paternal kinsmen, on 
 the Sovereign.''^ Inst, of iViENU. 
 
 " The burning of widows is a mere excrescence from the corrupt stock of polytheism." 
 
 Friend of India. 
 
 Sontron : 
 
 SEELY AND SON, FLEET-STREET ; W. BAYNES AND SON, AND 
 
 WIGHTMAN AND CRAMP, PATERNOSTER-ROW ; WESTLEY, 
 
 STATIONERS' COURT ; BLANCHARD, CITY-ROAD : SOLD ALSO 
 
 BY WILKINS, DERBY; BENNETT, NOTTINGHAM; NOBLE, 
 
 BOSTON; AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 1827. 
 
■y^'inlt'', Printer, Lc!ce?ter-road.. Longhborougli, 
 
THE 
 
 itwiitff 0' €v^ U MvitmUf 
 
 SfCy Sfc, 
 
 SECTION L 
 
 Remarks on the horrid nature of the practice of burning Hindoo 
 IVidozcs^ and on the causes that tend to prevent its suppression or occa- 
 sion its peipetration. 
 
 XT is a melancholy reflection, that the religion which influences the 
 population of the vast regions of India, is totally unfavourable to the 
 exercise of every principle either of humanity or virtue. Many of its 
 precepts are so atflictive and unnatural, that they seem to have sunk by 
 common consent into complete disuse; and if every point of the Hm- 
 doo ritual were literally enforced, not only would it be impossible 
 to carry forward the ordinary business of life, but all those social re- 
 lations, to which we are indebted for so much of our happiness, 
 would be completely obliterated, and the v/hole frame of society dis- 
 solved. There are still, however, many usages subversive equally of 
 benevolence and morality, which have been perpetuated for ages. 
 Among these is the burning of widows, a practice, the enormity of 
 which would strike even the Hindoos themselves, did not a blind at- 
 tachment to the vices of their forefathers overcome every natural 
 feeling. Jn all the annals of human depravity it will be difficult to 
 discover a custom so horrible in its nature, or so destructive in its con- 
 sequences both on individual and ])ublic happiness. It forms one of 
 the blackest pages in the history of llindooism ; and were this feature 
 of its character alone to remain on record, it would be of itself suffi- 
 cient to hand it down to the execration of the latest ages. That a 
 practice, which would reflect a stigma on the most barbarous tribes, 
 should have been sanctioned by men of thought and penetration, and 
 perpetuated among a people whose mildness of disposition is prover- 
 bial, shews to what a state of degradation the mind may be reduced 
 under the influence of an unnatural superstition. This is not the case 
 
 A 2 
 
of a patriot relinquishing lite to establish the freedom of his country, — 
 it is not a martyr bravinjr tlie flames to maintain the rijjhts of consci- 
 ence, — it is not a noble mind sacrificing even life itself on some occa- 
 sion of exalted virtue to secure 1o posterity the benefit of its high 
 example. On these occasions we feel a melancholy pleasure in ap- 
 plauding a voluntary resignation of life. But it is the helpless and dis- 
 consolate widow torn from her family at the very climax of her grief, 
 and hurried to the flames amidst the shouts of an unfeelino- multi- 
 tude. She must stifle every feeling of compassion for the offspring 
 of her womb, she must renounce them at a period when they stand 
 most in need of her care; and, when weighed down with sorrow, she 
 must take a last look on all mortal things, and enter the flames. Every 
 feeling of humanity is here sacrificed, without the counterbalance of 
 the least degree of advantage either to individuals or to society. Had 
 this sacrifice been demanded of the stronger part of the community, 
 even then it would have been a demand of singular enormity; but in 
 a country like Hindoostan to demand this sacrifice of the weaker sex — 
 to urge the unprotected female, while her grief for the loss which her 
 children have recently sustained is yet unsupportable — to deprive 
 them of their only remainincr consolation, and cast them on the wide 
 world, without a father or mother, is surely a case of unparalled bar- 
 barity, and tends almost beyond any thing else to develope the ex- 
 tent of the depravity to which Hindooism owes its origin.* 
 
 Were we to hear of a nation which, on her husband's death, sub- 
 jected a widow to the loss of all her property, of which she might 
 probably have brought him part as a dower which she had enjoyed 
 with him from the time of their union; and turned her out on the 
 wide world (her lord and piotector being dead) to labour — to beg 
 — to steal — or to perish, with what feelings of indignation should we 
 regard such a law and such a nation! We should inquire, On what 
 principle is this severity exercised on a helpless woman, precisely at 
 the moment when her heart is torn with anguish throuijh the loss of 
 him on whom was fixed all her hope? Were hnprisonment for life 
 added to this outrage, however; were the hapless widow deprived of- 
 her liberty, as well as of all her property, the moment death had 
 closed the eyes of her husband ; such a procedure would excite hor- 
 ror and indignation in every mind. What then should we say were 
 we to hear tor the first time, that in some newly discovered island, 
 the death of the husband sealed the doom of the wife, however vir- 
 tuous and exemplary in her conduct; that she was, from that moment, 
 devoted to death, — and to death in its most dreadful form — to be 
 burnt to ashes'^ Such, however, is the case; not in some lately dis- 
 covered island, hitherto totally cut oflT from tlie rest of mankind, but in 
 India, famed for her literature and civilization; and, above all, in 
 Bengal, where Europeans are chiefly found; whose ideas, the wise 
 and candid among the natives are imbibing every day. 
 
 How then is it possible that the murder of the amiable and de- 
 fenceless, attended too with such circumstances of cruelty, should 
 
 * Frieud oiludia, (monthly series), A'ol. i. pp.301, 302. 
 
have ccrulinued so long? J low is it that coiiuuoii liumanily has not 
 overleaped every bound, and constrained superstition to desist from a 
 course so barbarous and iidiunian? Aniono; other reasons which iniii;lit 
 be mentioned, tliis certainly has its share, that Ike z^holc of llic hor- 
 rible deed is rcallij concealed from viezc. Had tlie deed been con- 
 stantly perpetrated in the sight of all, as was formerly the case in 
 Smithlieid; — had the helpless victim to superstition been bound to 
 the stake in the open view of the multitude, as were formerly the 
 victims to Uomish bigotry; — had thi flames been suil'ered to kin- 
 dle on her publicly ; — had the convulsions and agonies of the widow ex- 
 piring in torments, often in the bloom of youth, been fully witnessed 
 by the aged, the young, the neighbour, the near relative, humanity 
 must have spoken out long ago; reflection must have been awakened 
 in the public mind. At least, parents and relatives must have felt hor- 
 ror while anticipating the agonies which awaited a daughter or a be- 
 loved sister, the moment sickness or even accident rendered her a wi- 
 dow; and the voice of nature must have prevailed, and abolished a 
 practice so destructive in its anticipation to the ])eace of every rela- 
 tive, whose heart was not steeled against all the feelings of humanity. 
 But instead of this, the agonies of the dying victim are completely/ 
 concealed^ while her shrieks are drowned in the noise and shouts of the 
 ignorant multitude and the unfeeling ministers of death ; and thus the 
 whole is as completely hidden from public view, as though the dread- 
 ful deed were perpetrated within the mo?t secluded cloister. The 
 concealment indeed is far more effectual ; for in that case, though the 
 shrieks might not assail the listening ear without, the imagination 
 would unavoidably paint to itself the horrors of a daughter, a sis- 
 ter, or even an acquaintance, expiring in the flames, in a manner 
 scarcely less vivid than the real view. But the victim's being thus 
 brought before the multitude in a state which scarcely leaves her 
 the power of reflection, her being hastily led through certain cere- 
 monies, and hurried to the pile by those whose countenances wear 
 the ajjpearance of hilarity and cheerfulness, bound to the dead body 
 of her husband, and covered instantly with the fuel, as well as held 
 dozen by a pressure zchich renders all resistance totally unavailing^ 
 hides all the horrors of death from the sight; while the shouts of the 
 untliinkin<r crowd, which beo^in to rend the air the moment the torch 
 is applied to the fatal pile, no less effectually conceal from the ear 
 those agonizing shrieks, from which it is scarcely in nature to refrain 
 at the touch of the flames. Thus completely are the multitude 
 deluded : they think they witness all, while they witness nothing ; 
 and the unnatural jocularity, which, origitiating with the actors in 
 this dreadful scene, generally pervades the whole crowd, removes 
 every feeling of pity, and gives the whole rather the air of a joyous 
 festival than of a funeral scene. The agonies, and shrieks, and 
 dying groans, of the unhap{)y victim, are witnessed by no one, — but 
 by Ilim who is the Avenger of blood. But are these agonies the less 
 real on this account? Is the ano-uish of this tremendous death the 
 less fell ? Let reason and humanitv iudire' 
 
6 
 
 Without entering into the origin and cause of this dreadful prac- 
 tice so deeply seated in the system of Hindooism itself, to do full jus- 
 tice to which would require a treatise instead of a short essay, we 
 wish now merely to notice some of the most obvious circumstances 
 which attend it. Among these let us consider for a moment who those 
 are, who are doomed to undergo these agonies, unpitied, because 
 never beheld. They are, the most amiable part of the Hindoo race! 
 In most cases they are females possessing some degree of wealth, for 
 the very poor seldom thus devote themselves to death : they are not 
 worth the labour requisite to work up their minds to a sufficient pitch 
 of delusion. If the term be applicable to any female in the present 
 state of Hindoo society, they are in general persons of education : 
 and whatever be the degree of polish and delicacy which accompany 
 opulence, whatever the ideas included in a superior mode of living ; 
 they are in general possessed by those whom this dreadful custom 
 marks for its victims. It follows, therefore, as a matter of course, 
 that if among the higher ranks of society in this country there be any 
 delicacy of feeling ^ it is possessed by these who may be said almost 
 from their birth to be devoted to the flames. — And if there be any 
 thing to be found of conjugal fidelity, it resides among these, since 
 an extraordinary degree of conjugal affection, either real or ascribed, 
 is made the lure by which these unhappy victims are betrayed to 
 death ; the enjoyment for numerous ages of the highest felicity with 
 their deceased husbands, being held out as the bait to draw them on 
 till they make the irrevocable declaration, that they will commit them- 
 selves to the flames. It is probable, therefore, that those who are 
 thus cruelly murdered year by year, are in most instances the best 
 educated, the most amiable, and the most virtuous, of the Hindoo 
 race.* 
 
 If we turn from the wretched victim to the unhajipy offsprings whom 
 she abandons, what do we behold, but a sight of still deeper woe! 
 — Scarcely recovered from the blow inflicted on them by the death 
 of their father, they are hurried from their once peaceful home to 
 the funeral pile, to witness the death of their mother! In other coun- 
 tries, the loss of paternal protection is, in some measure, compen- 
 sated by the increased exertion of maternal kindness and solicitude : 
 but under tl e influence of this system, their children are deprived 
 of both parents in one day. A state of the deepest misery succeeds 
 to a state of the highest happiness with such rapidity as almost to de- 
 prive them of the exercise of their mental faculties. — The family 
 compact is destroyed with the suddenness of an earthquake. The 
 corpse of the father is scarcely cold before their only living parent 
 is bound to it, and consumed in their presence. But there are circum- 
 stances of still greater enormity attached to this system : The fu- 
 neral pile must be lighted by the eldest son! Had this deed of dark- 
 iiess been consigned to some unconcerned spectator, to the brahmun 
 who officiates on these occasions with such lively pleasure, or even to 
 some distant and unaffected relative, this might have been some re- 
 
 * Friend of India, (mon, ser.) Vol. ii. page 319 — 322. 
 
lief to the feelings; but it must be performed by the eldest son — the 
 extinction of the hopes of the family is consigned to him. He ac- 
 companies his mother from his home to the banks of the Ganges, he 
 stands by in all the agonies of grief during the performances of those 
 tremendous rites by which she devotes herself to destruction, nor does 
 he dare to lift an arm for her relief: he beholds his mother, endeared to 
 him by the recollection of a thousand acts of kindness, thrown on the 
 funeral pile like a beast of sacrifice, and inhumanlif bound to the 
 dead body of her husband with all those indications of brutal satis- 
 faction which shed a tenfold horror on the scene; and surrounded by 
 his weeping brothers and sisters, he lights up the pile which con- 
 sumes the living parent with the dead, and extinguishes all their 
 hopes of future tenderness and protection. Every circumstance which 
 can aggravate this scene of woe is here combined; nor is it possible 
 to conceive of any thing which could add a deeper tinge of barbarity 
 that has been omitted. 
 
 If we would form an adequate idea however of the effects of this 
 system on social happiness, we must not overlook the state of pros- 
 pective misery which each family suffers long before the painful mo- 
 ment of separation arrives. The family in which it is known that the 
 mother must, through the tyranny of custom, devote herself to the 
 flames, is subjected for years to the most painful and afflictive anxiety. 
 The happiness which they enjoy may be suddenly annihilated ; a single 
 day may reduce them from a high state of domestic felicity to the situation 
 of the most wretched orphans. They feel that the death of the father 
 willbeonly a signal for the more horrid death of their endeared moth- 
 er. The anguish which such a state of suspense and anxiety must 
 involve, may be more easily conceived than described. The longer 
 they are indulged with the endearments of maternal affection, the 
 longer is the state of misery prolonged, and the keener does that 
 stroke become of which they are held in dreadful expectation : thus, 
 that which under a milder institution is a source of joy, is here turned 
 into an aggravation of expected wretchedness. The continuance of 
 their social happiness is removed even from the common chance of 
 mortality, and placed at the disposal of a merciless superstition ; even 
 the cup of bliss is mixed with the bitterest gall, and that season of life 
 when, from the absence of care, the mind is disposed to the utmost 
 gaiety and cheerfulness, is in many instances consumed in almost in- 
 supportable anxiety and distress. 
 
 The influence of this system is scarcely less destructive to the gene'- 
 ral happiness of society. It aggravates every natural calamity, and 
 gives additional horror to every disease. In other countries the pre- 
 valence of an epidemic only serves to increase the energies of bene- 
 volence. In this country, however, there are no attempts made either 
 to stem the current of disease, or to console the afflicted and bereaved. 
 Those of the family whom the disease has spared, are only reserved 
 for accumulated misery — the survivors, instead of receiving assistance, 
 are cruelly deprived of that parent who could most effectually have 
 afforded it. Every epidemic therefore assumes an aspect of ten-fold 
 
8 
 
 horror. This dreadful practice is not suspended during a period of 
 general distress ; in vain do the wretched offspring demand the life 
 of their mother at a time^ when from the universal prevalence of dis- 
 ease, her's is the only hand that can minister relief to them; this su- 
 perstition is inexorable as death itself. When therefore the country 
 is afflicted, as during the past year, with a destructive epidemic, the 
 numerous victims to disease, the augmented number of female immo- 
 lations, the number of relatives who tremble for their sisters or their 
 daughters, added to the number of children who stand exposed by the 
 ravages of superstition and death, to the loss of all parental aid or 
 consolation, form a consummation of misery, to which no other coun- 
 try on earth presents a parallel.* 
 
 By whom this crime is perpetrated^ is worthy of the strictest in- 
 quiry. With the victims themselves it can scarcely be said to origi- 
 nate ; for, a few days previously, they are often as void of all desire 
 to destroy themselves, as to destroy others ; and they are generally 
 averse to the deed till their minds are completely deluded by fallaci- 
 ous representations, and their heads turned with dreams of future 
 happiness, impossible to be realized. But whatever delusion may 
 reign in their minds, without the concurrence of the husband's rela- 
 tives it would be perfectly harmless. The deed is constantly encour- 
 aged by the relatives of the husband ; those of the wife on the con- 
 trary, being generally on the side for which nature pleads ; although 
 her own son, if old enough, is obliged to kindle the pile prepared for 
 his mother^s destruction. It is therefore on the husband's relatives 
 that the fate of every female of respectability and opulence is sus- 
 pended, however young she may be, the moment her husband dies : 
 and when it is considered, that they are bound to her by none of the 
 ties of consanguinity, it will not appear strange if some one or all of 
 the following reasons should, in general, so preponderate, as to doom 
 to the flames one for whom they can have little or no personal feeling. 
 
 The honour of the family. This is supposed to arise in proportion 
 to the number of unhappy victims, who can be mentioned as having 
 devoted themselves to the flames. The husband's relatives of course 
 claim to themselves a certain deorree of credit for havinsr- surmounted 
 feelings of affection, which they never possessed, as they generally 
 regard the poor unhappy relict with the same apathy with which they 
 view a log of wood intended for fuel ; while the number of widows in- 
 their families devoting themselves to the flames apparently from love 
 to their husbands, gives rise to the idea that these relatives of theirs 
 possess that excellence of character which rendered it impossible to 
 survive their loss. That when the unhappy widow is regarded with 
 the most perfect indifference, this alone should so weigh as to make 
 them prefer her dying to her living, will create no surprise in those 
 who are thoroughly acquainted with the native character. 
 
 The wish to get rid of a burden. A widow, though only twelve 
 years of age, can never marry again. If her own relatives therefore 
 be unwilling to support her, or not sufficiently opulent, she must live 
 
 * Friend of India, (mon. ser.) Vol. i. page 302 — 304. 
 
 / 
 
9 
 
 with the aurviviiK*" relatives oi' the liusbiuul to the end ot" lier lite. 
 And althoLurli her life is tar from being- a plenteous and atliuent one, 
 yet a certain degree of expense is thus entailed on llu; family, and 
 this possibly for a considerable number of years when she is left in 
 the bloom of youth. The consideratioJi of an expense therefore, 
 though small, yet scarcely terminable within the space of their 
 own lives, added to the trouble and vexation often arising from fe- 
 male relatives living together who can scarcely be expected to have 
 any affection for eacli other, may possibly make them wish to rid 
 themselves at once of a heavy burden, when it can be done in a way 
 which, instead of being esteemed dishonourable, or any proof of the 
 want of affection, on the contrary reflects a high degree of lustre on 
 the character of the family. At least this is a temptation which hu- 
 manity would not throw in the way of a Hindoo who sets so little value 
 on human life. 
 
 This is heightened by another consideration. It has been just ob- 
 served, that these widows, however young, can never marry again. 
 Now while impurity reigns among these very relatives of the hus- 
 band, perhaps in such a degree as to attach to itself no kind of dis- 
 grace, a deviation from purity of conduct in a widow, would, in the 
 public estimation, fix an indelible stain on the family of the deceased 
 husband. When therefore the hazard of this dishonour through per- 
 haps a long life, is present to minds, in which no natural affection to- 
 wards a brother's widow is supposed to exist, it will excite little 
 surprise that men who, (if report may be credited), in some instances 
 make no scruple of hewing in pieces a wife of their own on a mere 
 suspicion of inconstancy, should, on the death of her husband, decide 
 also on the death of his unhappy relict, who, should she live, instead 
 of contributing to the support or the honour of the family, would en- 
 tail on it a constant burden of expense, and might possibly involve it 
 in disgrace, when her death, while it frees them from all expense and 
 anxiety, tends to heighten in no inconsiderable degree its general re- 
 putation. 
 
 To this may be added another circumstance which humanity will 
 still more strongly regret. The death of the mother deprives her 
 children of their natural guardian, their tenderest, most faithful and 
 watchful friend, who can never see them injured with apathy, and 
 who is ready to hazard life itself for the sake of preserving to them 
 what is their own. It sometimes happens that a man who is opulent, 
 dies and leaves children in a state of mere infancy. That their 
 wealth should never be desired by the surviving relatives, is what no 
 one will expect who is acquainted with the history of human nature, 
 and much less those who are aware with what earnestness one brother 
 among the Hindoos, will labour to supplant another even while living. 
 That, in cases of infancy an affectionate mother, whom no cunning 
 can elude, and no sum can bribe, should stand in the way of the sur- 
 viving relatives of her husband, is only what might be naturally ex- 
 pected. Were she removed, there would be no one, at least with her 
 feelings, to call them to account for the expenditure of the yearly re- 
 venue of these helpless orphans; nor possibly for the dilapidation of 
 
 B 
 
10 
 
 their whole property. The history of orphans, even in Christian 
 countries, sutficiently shews us, how dangerous in the hands of pre- 
 sumptive heirs, would be such a power of removing, under a religi- 
 ous pretence, the mother of rich but helpless orphans. All these 
 therefore, are so many temptations to the destruction of a widow, 
 which through this dreadful practice, may be accomplished without 
 the least suspicion being excited of the real views of those interested 
 in her death ; and were these suspected, still without that public virtue 
 being excited in the country which would urge any one to step for- 
 ward and save the widow from death, and the orphans from oppres- 
 sion and poverty. Whoever considers all these circumstances, and 
 reflects that a mother may thus abandon, to the mercy of those who 
 are presumptive heirs to all his possessions, however great, an infant 
 son only two years old^ will cease to wonder that so many widows are 
 encouraged to destroy themselves ; particularly as this dreadful prac- 
 tice is not confined to brahmuns, but extends itself to the writer cast, 
 and even as low as to those who practise the trade of a barber ! 
 
 Whatever be the delusive ideas which may apparently urge a wi- 
 dow to self-destruction, as the hope of her enjoying numerous ages of 
 felicity in company with her husband ; — of expiating the offences of 
 her late husband and his ancestors, and those of both her father and 
 mother's race, with other things of this nature, there are other consi- 
 derations which cannot but come still nearer to the mind of the un- 
 happy widow. She cannot but be aware, that those who have encou- 
 raged her in these fond hopes, are either those in whose power she is 
 completely for the rest of her life, or such as are intimate with them; 
 for although the husband's relatives affect to dissuade her from the 
 deed, it cannot be difficult to discern which way their minds really 
 lean. From these then, even the slightest hint, that they wish her to 
 die, must operate on a widow of delicacy and sensibility, like a sen- 
 tence of death pronounced by a judge. With what feelings could she 
 commit herself for life to the mercy of those who had discovered this 
 wish in the slightest degree, and felt in the least disappointed by her 
 refusing to precipitate herself into the flames, particularly when the 
 laws of the country provide her so little relief against any unkindnesa 
 or barbarity she might hereafter experience from them ? The law it- 
 self indeed insists that, while she is never to marry again, she is also 
 to lay aside every thing like ornament for the rest of her days, and 
 every sign of cheerfulness ; that she is never to make a full meal, and 
 that one day in every week she is to devote wholly to fasting and 
 grief to the end of life. In these circumstances it is almost impossi- 
 ble that any degree of ill-treatment which the resentment of her hus- 
 band's relatives might dispose them to inflict on her, could interest 
 her neighbours in her sufferings so as to procure her redress ; par- 
 ticularly when the interior of a Hindoo habitation, surrounded as it 
 often is with walls, is nearly as impervious as an ancient castle, and the 
 female relatives are scarcely more in the public view, than were 
 formerly the unhappy inmates of its dungeons. In these circumstances, 
 therefore, it is not strange, if, at the most distant intimation of this 
 nature from those on whose kindness depends every future mitigation 
 
11 
 
 of her lot, and this prospect before her in case of a refusal, a widow 
 of sensibility and reflection should feel almost distracted, and j)refer a 
 speedy death to the unknown horrors of her future destiny. 
 
 There is also another fact which ought not to be overlooked. Cer- 
 tain bralununs perform the ceremonies observed at the funeral pile on 
 which a widow sacrifices herself. These brahmuns receive even from 
 the most indig-ent families something- on a widow's actually devoting 
 herself to the tlames ; and from some wealthy families as much as two 
 hundred rupees on these occasions. While, then, it is the obvious in- 
 terest of these brahmuns that the wife should be induced to destroy 
 herself when the husband dies, they have access to every family, and 
 are acquainted with the age and circumstances of the various inhabi- 
 tants, especially of those who are wealthy. That they should con- 
 stantly recommend this dreadful practice, and prepare the female 
 mind for the perpetration of the deed, particularly in cases where the 
 husband is aged or sickly, is the natural effect of their caring for their 
 own support. But these brahmuns, as they are in some cases the 
 family priests, are in habits of familiar acquaintance with the hus- 
 band's relatives, and have much to expect from them. In what dread- 
 ful circumstances then must a helpless female stand, who has for her 
 spiritual adviser on the subject of her living or dying, a man who has 
 every kindness to expect from those who are presumptive heirs to the 
 property of her infant son, or who may merely dread her devolving on 
 them as a burden to the end of life ! Nor is it necessary to suppose 
 that brahmuns in forwarding the views of an infirm husband's relatives, 
 and preparing the mind of the wife for self-destruction, should consi- 
 der themselves as actual auxiliaries in the murder of a fellow-crea- 
 ture. They of course must be supposed to be as much habituated to 
 the employment, from which they derive their gain, as a slave-cap- 
 tain formerly was to kidnapping and selling slaves, of whom probably 
 a third died in the middle passage through ill treatment and want of 
 air. They may possibly regard the act as meritorious, rather than 
 cruel, and admire those relatives who thus wish to raise the reputa- 
 tion of their families, through the death of their brother's widow. 
 And in this case even the distant prospect of a large remuneration, 
 may urge them so to work on the mind of a simple, artless female, 
 whose age is perhaps under twenty, that at the moment of the hus- 
 band's death, no persuasions shall be needed to induce her to make 
 the fatal declaration — beyond the insiduous dissuasions of her hus- 
 band's relatives, increasing her desire by affectedly doubting her re- 
 solution, and really inflaming her vanity. Were these relatives, how- 
 ever, sincere in these dissuasions, they have it always in their power 
 to prevent the act, as both the preparation of the funeral pile, and 
 all the cost and expenses of the widow's destruction, devolve wholly 
 on them, without the exception cf the fee to the brahmun who thus 
 assists in the actual murder of the young, the amiable, and the de- 
 fenceless. 
 
 That other feelings than those of unconquerable affection for a 
 husband, ofteji twice or thrice their own age, or than any inspired 
 by a steady belief in those wonderful tale? of conjugal felicity to be 
 
12 
 
 enjoyed with hiin for bouiiciless ages, influence the minds of the great- 
 er part of these unhappy victims, might be shewn by numerous in- 
 stances wherein widows have been prevented by accident from burn- 
 ing. — Of this kind is an instance which occurred a few months ago, 
 in a village about four miles from Serampore. 
 
 A man of the writer cast, at Kona-nugiira^ about four miles south of 
 Serampore, between twenty and thirty years of age, died in Decem- 
 ber last, leaving two wives, one about thirteen years of age and the 
 other about sixteen. Both of these, in the usual manner, expressed 
 their wish to burn themselves with their deceased husband. The 
 eldest of them being pregnant, however, was advised to delay till 
 after her confinement, and then to burn herself with something be- 
 longing to her husband. The youngest, not being prevented, was 
 burned with the corpse, of her husband. The eldest solemnly engag- 
 ed to burn herself a month after her confinement; till which period 
 she was taken home by her own parents. She at first expressed such 
 displeasure at being thus denied the opportunity of burning herself, 
 as to beat herself severely and possibly accelerate the time of her 
 confinement; but, at the expiration of the month after that period, 
 when called upon to fulfil her engagement, she had considered the 
 subject more at leisure, and being at home in the house of her own 
 parents, she positively refused to destroy herself; nor could all the ap- 
 peals made to her feelings, all the threats and reproaches poured upon 
 her, alter her resolution in the least degree. She was in the house 
 of her parents, and completely independent of her husband's relatives; 
 and as every thing which could be done was of course confined to 
 verbal exertion, she determined to remain with her parents, where 
 she continues till this day. 
 
 As this instance is by no means a solitary one, we have little reason 
 to conclude that the desire to destroy themselves is more firmly fixed 
 in the minds of multitudes besides, than it was in the mind of this 
 young woman: the apparent wish to die which is thus factitiously 
 produced, is in most instances the mere eflfect of circumstances created 
 by others; and therefore no more exculpatory of the guilt of delibe- 
 rate murder, than would be a man's intoxicating another with wine, 
 or any deleterious drug, so as to deprive him of the power of resist- 
 ance, that he might secure his destruction. Such then are the cir- 
 cumstances in which the most amiable and virtuous amonsf the Hindoo 
 women are constantly placed; circumstances are already hinted, by 
 no means confined to the sacred tribe, but extended to the lowest casts 
 among the Hindoos, as often as there is credulity enough to render 
 the delusion sufiiciently strong to become fatal. 
 
 If these circumstances be carefully weighed, it will appear that this 
 inhuman practice has not even those pretensions to its being a religi- 
 ous ceremony^ which most people have been ready to imagine. That 
 it \\i^^no j'uunduiion in any peculiar command given in the shastras we 
 have already had occasion to shew in our strictures on that valuable 
 tract on the subject ascribed to Ramrt-molnnu/-rayrt, which was re- 
 viewed in a former number. Nor indeed is there in the ceremony 
 itself any thing that marks it as being peculiarly of a religious nature. 
 
13 
 
 The woman devotes herself to no deity ; her professed object is merely 
 that of rt^oining her husband in a state of happiness. It is true that 
 certain brahmuns othciate and obtain a sum of money on the occasion. 
 But this is not peculiar to this ceremony: in almost every concern of 
 life brahmuns are called in, and there are few which are not to them 
 a source of prolit. 
 
 Nor is this practice by any means prevalent in other parts of ilin- 
 doostan in the deo-ree in which it now exists in Benofal. Of this the 
 following letter contains a proof, which was sent us on the subject 
 some months ago, by a gentleman who has been some years resident 
 in Hindoostan. — 
 
 "I cannot forbear expressing my pleasure at seeing that the Edi- 
 tors of the 'Friend of India' have taken up the cause of humanity in 
 calling the attention of Government and of the public towards the 
 abolishment of Suti^es. People in Bengal are not generally aware 
 how unfrequent is thij? iiost barbarous custom in the upper provinces of 
 Hindoostan. In eight years, mostly spent in this quarter, no Suttee 
 has come to my knowledge; and my moonshee (a kshzdr/yo), a man 
 of about forty-five, informs me that he never saw but one, and that 
 was at Lucknow ; the victim, a widow of a Cashmerian pundit. There 
 can be no doubt but a law of prevention would neither create surprise 
 nor resistance in these provinces, and were it enacted for them only, 
 it would lead to its being established hereafter in Bengal, should the 
 Government hesitate as to the propriety of making it more general at 
 present. Feeling you have done little towards a more glorious work 
 until the minds of the natives be prepared by some change from their 
 present insensibility and cruelty, I have written more at length than 
 I intended, and beg your excuse for it/' 
 
 This letter furnishes a pretty strong proof, that the cruel practice 
 has in it more of the nature of a civil, than a religious ceremony. It 
 is a well-known fact, that in Bengal, at the present time, the Hindoos 
 are far less tenacious of their reliofious tenets and ceremonies than in 
 almost any other part of India; that they are far less careful respect- 
 ing caste, and that the brahmuns in numerous instances are guilty of 
 actions which, according to the strictness of the law respecting caste, 
 would degrade them completely. We have heard it mentioned as the 
 opinion of Hindoos well acquainted with the subject, that were the 
 law of caste enforced in all its strictness, there would be few families 
 around who would be wholly safe. Yet the number of widows who 
 are thus put to death scarcely at all decreases. It seems indeed to in- 
 crease in the vicinity of the metropolis, where the greatest laxness is 
 to be witnessed relative to things wholly religious. How can we ac- 
 count for this vast disparity in the number of these murders per- 
 petrated in Hindoostan, and in the lower parts of Bengal, without 
 having recource to other motives than those of a religious nature? 
 But the moment we recur to other reasons for the continuation of 
 this murderous custom, they present themselves on every side. The 
 want of feeling manifested by the natives to their own country- 
 men when in danger of death by accident, as in a storm, or even 
 when actually drowning, is known to most Europeans. The venality 
 
14 
 
 with which they are charged relative io oaths, is not without founda- 
 tion ; yet these must often involve life itself, as well as character and 
 property. That they should then be peculiarly tender of the life of a 
 brother's widow, who must at the best be a burden on them to the end 
 of life, and who maj/ bring disgrace on the family, is a thing scarcely 
 to be expected. And when we consider the circumstances in which 
 the widow is placed, together with that want of regard for human 
 life, which is both the effect of their religious system and the charac- 
 teristic of the nation, instead of being surprised that so many widows 
 are every year cruelly destroyed, we shall rather wonder that any 
 escape these fatal lures, when the husband's relatives so evidently en- 
 courage the practice. 
 
 Such then is the real state of the case respecting the burning of 
 widows, which so many have been almost ready to tolerate under the 
 idea of its being a most sacred religious ceremony, with which it would 
 be sacrilege to interfere. With almost as much justice might the Slave 
 Trade have been regarded with veneration, as a sacred relict of an- 
 tiquity handed down from the earliest ages ; — or the practice of kill- 
 ing all prisoners taken in war; — or that of sacrificing hecatombs of 
 men at the funeral of a favourite chief; — or the conduct of certain ban- 
 ditti in this country, who, (from time immemorial no doubt) are said 
 to seize men and immolate them at the shrine of their imagined 
 deity. It has scarcely/ enough of religious ceremont/ connected with 
 it to varnish it over with the name of religion. It is generally accom- 
 panied with the most unfeeling jocularity. Instead of its being a 
 deed of mere superstition, there is reason to fear that it is too often 
 the offspring of the meanest self-interest. It has not even the fea- 
 tures of religion. It is not binding on all. It falls only on one sex, 
 while the deed is perpetrated by the other, whom it can never reach ; 
 and of that sex it affects only one description of persons, and with 
 these it is professedly optional : were it a religious ceremony howe- 
 ver, it would be binding on all. But this class, while generally the 
 most amiable and virtuous, are the most defenceless, — are left as fully 
 in the power of relatives who do noi profess any feeling for them, as 
 the kid when in the paw of the tiger. It is never equally the interest 
 of <he husband's relatives that the widow should live, as that she 
 should be burnt to death. With the former there is connected in 
 every case^ a certain loss of reputation, and the expenses of maintain- 
 ing a person to the end of life in whose welfare they feel no kind of 
 interest; with the latter, the full removal of this burden, and a high 
 degree of reputation to their families. 
 
 So much do these circumstances affect the case, that were second 
 marriages esteemed honourable, and the children born of them per- 
 mitted to inherit equally with those of a first marriage, a practice 
 sanctioned not merely by the laws of all Christian nations, but even 
 those of Greece and Rome notwithstanding their idolatry, many think, 
 that this alone would gradually extinguish the practice. But is it 
 right, that in a country so richly endowed with the bounties of Pro- 
 vidence, the mere question of interest, the loss of a few rupees annu- 
 ally, should be suffered to doom the most amiable, the most virtuous 
 
of our Hindoo subjects, almost daily to the most cruel death in nature; 
 merely because their being- uninformed in mind renders iheni liable 
 to the grossest deceptions, and their being unable to support them- 
 selves, renders them dependent? We would intreat all our readers 
 to remember, that murder concealed from public viezc is murder still ; 
 and, that our not actually witnessing the dreadful deed, when we are 
 certain that it is committed, will do little towards exonerating us from 
 guilt.* 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 The cruel rite of Suttee not enjoined by the most authoritative of the 
 Hindoo Legislators and opposed to their vieics of eminent virtue. Force 
 absolutely/ forbidden by the Shastrus^ yet generally employed. 
 
 A learned native, already well known among our countrymen by 
 his luminous examination of the Hindoo theology and philosophy, has 
 printed and widely circulated a tract in the Bengalee langua«re, the 
 object of which is to dissuade his countrymen from the practice of 
 these horrid rites ; and has likewise published a translation of the 
 tract in English. The tract is in the form of a dialogue between an 
 advocate and an opponent of the system. The advocate cites vari- 
 ous passages from t/ngira, Vyas, Hareet, and the R/g-vedr/, which 
 enjoin or applaud the practice of self-immolation. Against these pas- 
 sages the opponent produces an extract from M^^noo, the great Hin- 
 doo legislator, of whom the Vedrt itself says, that " Whatever jM«noo 
 has said is wholesome ;" which Y vi\\u?,^u\.i corroborates by addino-, 
 ^' Whatever is contrary to the law of Mwnoo is not commendable." 
 The extract is as follows : " Let a widow emaciate her bod}'-, by livino- 
 voluntarily on pure flowers, roots, and fruits, but let her not, when 
 her lord is deceased, even pronounce the name of another man. 
 Let her continue till death, forgiving all injuries, performing harsh 
 duties, avoiding every sensual pleasure, and cheerfully practisino- 
 the incomparable rules of virtue which have been followed by such 
 women as were devoted to one only husband." 
 
 From this passage the opponent infers, that as Mzmoo directs the 
 widow, after the death of her husband, to pass her whole life as an 
 ascetic, he intended she should remain alive for this purpose ; and 
 hence that this direction of Mwnoo is totally opposed to the directions 
 of the other sages; and that their authority must bend to that of this 
 great legislator. The opponent then adduces, as his next aro-ument, 
 the disesteem in which the generality of the Hindoo sages recrard 
 works of merit or demerit, or more properly, works done with the in- 
 terested motive of gaining future happiness thereby ; and to shew that 
 these are not necessary to the attainment of what the Hindoos esteem 
 the highest state of felicity, absorption in Brumhu, he quotes the 
 following p assage from the Vedrt : " By living in the practice of re- 
 * Friend of India, (mon. ser.) Vol. ii. Page 32*2 — 335. 
 
16 
 
 gular and occasional duties, the mind may be purified. Thereafter 
 by hearing, reflecting, and constantly meditating on the Supreme 
 Being, absorption in Brunihu may be attained. Therefore, from a 
 desire during life of future fruition, life ought not to be destroyed." 
 The immolation of the widow being urged on her wholly on in- 
 terested motives, that of enjoying numerous ages of happiness with 
 her deceased husband as its fruit, is therefore opposed to that sys- 
 tem, which, disregarding all actions connected with bodily enjoyment, 
 magnifies the value of divine knowledge as leading to absorption in 
 Brumhu. 
 
 The advocate for the practice replies to this; that the later autho- 
 rities, in directing a woman to burn herself, do not contradict this law 
 of M/moo ; and supports this idea by saying that Mi/noo directs the 
 performance of Sundhya or evening worship, but is silent as to wor- 
 shipping Huri, by calling aloud on his name, while Vyas prescribes 
 calling on the name of Huri, and adds that the words of Vyas do not 
 contradict those of Mznioo. He therefore infers, that when V/shnoo 
 and others command the widow to follow her husband throuo-h the 
 flames, they do not contradict the command of Mwnoo. This the 
 opponent meets with the utmost ease by shewing that there is no ana- 
 logy in the cases, the performance of Sundhya not preventing any one's 
 invoking the name of Huri during another part of the day, while a 
 woman's burning herself with her husband will infallibly prevent her 
 living the life of an ascetic ; and completely fixes the charge of con- 
 tradicting the immutable laws of IS/lunoo on those who have pre- 
 scribed this practice, by quoting C/ngira as declaring that there is 
 no other way known for a virtuous woman except her ascending the 
 funeral pile of her husband ; and Hareet as denouncing her refusal 
 as a crime by declaring, that as long as a woman shall not burn her- 
 self alive after the death of her husband, she shall be subject to trans- 
 migration in a female form. The advocate for the practice endea- 
 vours to justify it farther by quoting the Rzo"-Ved« and Hareet, as 
 commending it. This the opponent bears down by various passages 
 esteemed sacred by the Hindoos, which reprobate men's performing 
 religious rites merely from interested motives, and among the rest the 
 followintr from the Bhag-vut-Geeta, which he terms the essence of all 
 the Smritees, Poorans, and Itahases, "All those ignorant persons who 
 attach themselves to the words of the Ved«s that convey promises of 
 fruition, consider those falsely alluring passages as leading to real hap- 
 piness, and say that besides them there is no other reality. Agitated 
 in their minds by these desires, they believe the abodes of the celestial 
 gods to be the chief object ; and' they devote themselves to those 
 texts which treat of ceremonies and their fruits, and entice by pro- 
 mises of enjoyment. Such people can have no real confidence in the 
 Supreme Being." These passages the advocate at length acknow- 
 ledges to be indeed consistent with the Vedrts, with Miinoo, and with 
 the Bhagvut-Geeta, adding however, " But from this I fear that the 
 passages of the Vedrts and other shastras, that prescribe Concrema- 
 tion and Postcremation as the means of attaining heavenly enjoyments, 
 must be considered as o?il)j means to deceive.'*'* This the opponent of 
 
17 
 
 tlie practice very dexterously obviates, by urg-ing- that these could 
 intend no deception: they only set before mankind two methods of 
 obtaining happiness, the one excellentj the other mean and unworthy 
 for those who are enveloped in desire, passion, and cupidity, who, 
 if they had no shastras holding- out rewards, would reject all shastras, 
 and follow their own inclinations like an elephant ung-uided by the 
 hook. To prevent this the shastra prescribes various ceremonies, 
 among- which is one for procuring the destruction of an enemy! and 
 of course this for destroying widows. 
 
 Unable to urge any thing better, its advocate insists, that after all, 
 a practice handed down to them by Hareet and others ought not to be 
 set aside. This his opponent meets not only by saying that this ar- 
 gument is inconsistent with justice, but by urging the violation of their 
 own rule in the very act of burning. The direction is, that " the widow 
 shall voluntarily quit life ascending the Jlaming })ile of her husband." 
 Now, says he, " You first bind down the widow along with the corpse 
 of her husband, and then heap over her such a quantity of wood that she 
 cannot rise. At the time too of setting fire to the pile, you press her 
 down with large bamboos. In what passage of Hareet or the rest do 
 you find authority for thus binding the woman according to your prac- 
 tice ? This is in fact deliberate female murder." The advocate 
 urges as an excuse for this horrid practice, that were the woman to 
 shrink back terrified with the flames, after having recited the usual 
 inqantations, it would be sinful, and be considered disgraceful by 
 others. The sin his opponent treats with due contempt, by saying 
 that according to themselves it could be expiated by bestowing the 
 value of three kahuns of cowries, or twelve annas; and justly repro- 
 bates the idea of esteeming the prevention of murder a disgrace. The 
 advocate for the practice, driven to his last resort, defends the binding 
 down of the afflicted widow merely on the ground of its being a cus- 
 tom observed throughout Hindoostan. This his opponent first denies, 
 and then justly reprobates, even were it thus universal. On this part 
 of the subject we think it right to add a word or two. 
 
 In the burning of widows as practised at present in some parts of 
 Hindoostan, however voluntary the widow may have been in her de- 
 termination, force is employed in the act of immolation. After she 
 has circumambulated and ascended the pile several natives leap on it, 
 and, pressing her down on the wood, bind her with two or three 
 ropes to the corpse of her husband, and instantly throw over the two 
 bodies, thus bound to each other, several large bamboos, which being 
 firmly fixed to the ground on both sides of the pile, prevent the pos- 
 sibility of her extricating herself when the flames reach her. Logs 
 of wood are also thrown on the pile, which is then in flames in an in- 
 stant ; for to such a pitch of cruel ingenuity have the brahmuns, ac- 
 customed to officiate on these occasions, attained by frequent use, that 
 the whole of this process is realized almost with the rapidity of 
 thought. Scarcely a single moment is left to the spectator to con- 
 template the scene before the unhappy woman is writhing in the 
 agonies of death. The author of the pamphlet under review states, 
 that this practice has been recently introduced, and that it is confined 
 
18 
 
 almost exclusively to Bengal. This information, we have reason io 
 believe, is perfectly correct. A few months ago, in one of the largest 
 cities in Hindoostan, a woman who had devoted herself to death, and 
 had even ascended the funeral pile, leaped out of the flames, and 
 plunged herself into the river. Her relatives seized on her, and 
 dragged her back to the pile ; but she uttered the loudest cries, calling 
 upon the officers of justice who attended to save her from a forcible 
 death. They instantly interposed their authority, and on finding that 
 she stedfastly resisted the wishes of her relatives, ordered her to re- 
 turn home ; and though this scene occurred in a large city highly bi- 
 goted to Hindooism, and in the presence of thousands of spectators, 
 there was not the least attempt made to rescue her from the protec- 
 tion of the officers of Government. 
 
 Before the late regulations of Government restricting the practice 
 to the cases permitted in the shastras, many instances occurred of 
 young widows, who, having refused to burn after approaching the 
 flames, were forcibly thrown on the pile by their unfeeling relatives, 
 that they might avoid the disgrace attached to a failure in such cases. 
 
 The use of force by means of bamboos is, we believe, universal 
 through Bengal ; it is intended to prevent the possibility of the wi- 
 dow's escape from the flames, as such an act would be thought to re- 
 flect indelible disgrace on the family. The number of widows burnt 
 in Bengal, however, exceeds, by nearly three times, the number 
 burnt in all the other provinces of Hindoostan besides. Thus in three 
 cases out of four that force is used which renders all resistance on the 
 part of the unhappy suflerer vain. This is totally contrary to the rules 
 even of those shastras which command the practice ; they strictly en- 
 join that the sacrifice shall be perfectly voluntary in every stage of 
 its progress. Constraint indeed is forbidden by the very nature of 
 the sacrifice. It is called a Suttee, because a woman devotes herself 
 to the flames to prove that she has continued immoveably faithful to 
 her husband. Not only therefore must the intention be voluntary, 
 but to evince this, the act of immolation must not include the most 
 distant idea of constraint. The use of bamboos is therefore at vari- 
 ance with the nature of the sacrifice, and with all the rules by which 
 it is supported, and which direct, that she shall not ascend the pile 
 before the flames are kindled. It is the Jlaming pile of her husband, 
 that she is enjoined to ascend : and the immense difference between 
 ascending the Jla?7iing pile, and being bound firmly down before the 
 flames are kindled, must be obvious to all. 
 
 The Supreme Government has now for several years issued vari- 
 ous regulations to the Magistrates, strictly forbidding the immolation 
 of widows in cases where the Hindoo shastras have forbidden it; and 
 surely if" a vigour beyond the laws," be ever tolerated, it should not 
 be when the law has originated in the most savage barbarity, and is 
 held doubtful bv the wisest and most virtuous among- the Hindoos 
 themselves* — when its operation is levelled, not against the ruffian 
 who eludes justice, but against the most amiable and helpless part of 
 
 * Mritunjoy, the head pundit of the Supreme Court, has given it as his opinion, that 
 Brumhacharya, or a life of mortification, is the law for a widow ; and that burning' with 
 
19 
 
 our Tndian follow-subjects. Under the influence of the former regu- 
 lations many females of tender age have been rescued from destruc- 
 tion, yet not a single murmur has been heard throughout tlie coun- 
 try ; no one attempt to counteract the wise and benign intentions of 
 Government, or to employ force in the cause of inliunianity. Were 
 the use of bamboos forbidden also, and the horrid sacrifice made to 
 assume the exact complexion which the shastras direct, we feel assured 
 that the tranquility of the country would not be disturbed for a single 
 moment. And if the apprehension that the widow, unable to ascend 
 the burning pile, might possibly reflect disgrace on the family on the 
 spot destined for immolation, by a change of mind, should in any case 
 induce the relatives to dissuade a female from incurring the risk, the 
 advantage would be entirely on the side of humanity and justice. 
 Considering, as we do, the British Government to be the greatest 
 temporal blessing which Providence has conferred on this country, we 
 cannot give up the hope indeed that, ultimately. Government will 
 abolish entirely a custom which involves the murder of the helpless 
 and the innocent, almost without the shadow of support from the Hin- 
 doo superstition itself. The immediate and complete interdiction of 
 force, however, in the act of burning the helpless widow, while it 
 would be in exact unison with that benevolence which disting-uishes 
 our sway over these regions, would subject the natives to nothing 
 more than the strict observance of their own rules.* 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Further illustration of the important position that the Suttee, though 
 recommended by some modern Hindoo Writers, is not absolutelij en- 
 joined by the most authoritative : and that the usual mode of its per- 
 petration is not sanctioned by Hindoo Writers, 
 
 An examination of the shastras on this subject has produced two 
 opposite opinions ; the one maintaining that there is no authority for 
 the practice besides that of custom, and the other, that it is positively 
 enjoined by some of their best and most celebrated writers. After 
 perusing the arguments adduced on both sides, we are led to con- 
 clude, that the opponents are, in part both right, and both wrong; 
 and that the truth lies in the middle part, and not in the extreme, 
 which each has embraced. 
 
 A slight acquaintance with the Hindoo writings may serve to con- 
 vince any one, that they are capable of being quoted in defence of 
 many things both unnatural and absurd. What Cicero said of the 
 ancient philosophers may, with equal, if not greater truth, be applied 
 to Hindoo authors: '^ Nihil tam absurdum, quod non dixerit aliquis 
 philosphorum." 
 
 It might be expected, on a subject in which life and death are 
 concerned, and which applies to thousands of respectable indiA iduals, 
 
 the husband is merely an alternative. Hence he argues that the alternative can never 
 have the force of law. 
 
 * Friend of India, (mon. ser) Vol. i, page 305 — 31 1 
 
20 
 
 that we should have many volumes to read through before we came 
 to a complete knowledge of the matter, and learned all that could be 
 said in its defence ; but this is so far from being the case that, to our 
 knowledge, there is not among the multifarious shastras of the Hin- 
 doos a single zcork iDritten o?i the burning of zcidozcs ! all that is said 
 about it is to be sought for in different authors, and to be found only 
 in broken fragments : it seems that the subject was never regarded 
 in so serious a light as to be thought worthy of being discussed in a 
 separate and distinct treatise. Among a people who have books 
 without number, on the most trifling and impertinent subjects, it 
 appears rather strange that there should be no popular work on this ; 
 there cannot surely be needed a stronger proof of the light estimation 
 in which the affair has ever been held by the natives themselves : and 
 from this, we feel convinced, that is has increased to its present inve- 
 teracy, more from the force of custom than from any thing that has 
 been advanced in its favour, or been esteemed sacred in the practice. 
 
 As the defenders of the practice have abandoned all reasoning on 
 the point, and have betaken themselves to the authority of the shas- 
 tras as an impregnable fortress, from which they discharge all their 
 artillery, we shall proceed to consider the nature of the materials by 
 which they contrive to destroy widows and create orphans. 
 
 It is, alas ! too true that passages do exist in the shastras by which 
 this practice is recommended, though not positively enjoined. From 
 the Rigvaid the following passage is quoted, as decidedly in its 
 favour : — 
 
 ^'Let these women, no longer widows, excellent wives, anointed 
 with collyrium and ghee, enter, without tears, without complaints, 
 excellent jewels, let them ascend before the source of beings. " 
 
 It is supposed that these words are addressed to fire as a god, and 
 that they justify the widow in burning. They do appear to recom- 
 mend it, though they are certainly far from doing it with that clear- 
 ness which a case of such importance requires. The words are very 
 dubious, and would admit of other interpretations, just as well as that 
 given by those who quote them in favour of female immolation. It 
 is not unfrequently the case, that words are taken up without due ex- 
 amination, and a certain meaning attached to them which, when ex- 
 amined, is found to be incorrect: we do not say that it is so with the 
 words in question; but, since the meaning of them is doubtful, we 
 infer, that it cannot be a good cause which rests upon them as its chief 
 authority; particularly when there are other passages which afford a 
 refuge from the extreme into which they woild lead. The Vishnu 
 Smrite* (or Vishnu Risee, see page 33) shews, that though burning 
 is allowable, it is not necessary : — 
 
 "When the husband dies, a retired life, or a funeral pile. Let 
 those who desire it, mortify their body, by living on excellent 
 flowers, roots, and fruits; and let them not pronounce the name of 
 another man after their husband's death." 
 
 * The Bewasta of the Bengal Pundits presented to Government in 1817, gives this 
 text from this shastra and not from Munoo. (See No. i. Parliamentary Papers printed in 
 1821, p. 124). AuTH. 
 
21 
 
 From these words it is very evident that tlie immolation ot the wi- 
 dow is not perenijitorily required by the Hindoo sliastras. M//no<» 
 says, "A faitiiful wile who wishes to attain in heaven the mansion of 
 Iier husband must do nothing unkind to him, be he living or dead: let 
 her emaciate her body by living voluntarily on pure flowers, roots, 
 and fruit; but let her not, when her lord is deceased, ever pronounce 
 the name of another man." It is evident that the omission of this 
 cruel ceremony is justified by one of the highest authorities; for the 
 Vaid itself has declared that it is lawful to abide by the advice of 
 Mwnoo. — " Whatever Mwnoo has said that is indeed medicine." 
 
 But though Mz^noo is thus celebrated by the Vaid, and his opinion 
 made paramount to that of all others; yet, on this very point, he is 
 contradicted by another writer, who tells us that the case admits of no 
 such remedy as that prescribed by Munoo. His words are, — 
 
 " There is no virtue known for virtuous women, after the death of 
 their husband, besides that of falling into the fire." 
 
 It is difficult to conceive of a more jjlarinir contradiction to the law 
 ofMwnoo; and how are we to reconcile these contradictions? To 
 reconcile them is impossible. What then is to be done? A third 
 writer comes forward to help us over this difficulty, and tells us, — 
 
 " The shastra that is opposed to Mmuoo is not to be praised." 
 By this we understand, that it ought to be rejected. From what has 
 been above quoted, it will readily be acknowledged, that the practice 
 is recommended by Hindoo writers, though not in an absolute and 
 peremptory form : it may be omitted, upon the best authority, with- 
 out any disgrace ; and this opens an easy way for setting it aside al- 
 together, because the prohibition of it would not be the repealing of 
 a law, but the enforcing an alternative recommended by the shastras. 
 
 We find 710 arguments brought from the shastras to prove the fit- 
 ness and reasonableness of burning widows, and no effectual attempts 
 made to defend it, against the charge of self-murder : this is the more 
 singular, as it seems to be acknowledged that, if the deed be mur- 
 derous, no advantage will arise from it. This we learn from the fol- 
 lowing passages: — 
 
 " If the husband be out of the country when he dies, and the virtu- 
 ous one, taking his shoes, purifying herself, enters into the fire, she 
 is not guilty of self-murder according to the Rigvaid." " But the 
 wife of a brahmun must not ascend a sejiarate pile." 
 
 We know not whether most to admire, the reasoning or skill of 
 these two passages. The reasoning is, that self-murder does not con- 
 sist in a woman's killing herself, but in the manner in which she does 
 it; and the skill consists in this, that the wives of brahmuns, by this 
 mode of reasoning, are, in certain cases, saved from a horrid death : 
 though, if it were so honourable a one as they pretend, such honour- 
 able characters ousfht to be amonor the first to whom it should be ap- 
 pomted. It IS argued not to be self-murder for a woman of an infe- 
 rior caste to burn herself with the shoes of her husband, should he die 
 at a distance ; yet this act is forbidden to the wife of a brahmun: and 
 why? Must we conclude, because it would be self-murder in her? 
 The declaring of the one innocent, to whom it is recommended, neces- 
 
22 
 
 sarily supposes the other, to whom it is forbidden, to be guilty, should 
 she perform the same act. Now we ask, what sort of logic is this? 
 Here are two women in exactly the same circumsrtances, with this only 
 difference, that the one is the wife of a brahmun and the other of a 
 soodra; and if the latter burns herself it is not murder; but if the 
 former burns, we are left from the prohibition to conclude that it 
 is. 
 
 It may be replied by the native advocates for the practice, that the 
 difference in their caste is sufficient to explain this inconsistency: but 
 waving all the arguments that might be brought to oppose such a no- 
 tion from reason and common sense, we maintain, from their own 
 laws, that such distinction does not aflbrd the smallest excuse in their 
 favour; for only suppose the dead husband to be present, instead of 
 his shoes, and then the case becomes quite inverted : then it is not 
 self-murder, but a sublime virtue, for the wife of a brahmun to burn 
 herself; and in so doing she far outstrips in sanctity the wife of the 
 soodra who performs the same deed. How strange, that the pre- 
 sence of a dead body should make such a difference in the nature of 
 a moral action! We may safely defy any one to prove the immuta- 
 bility of truth, if such grounds of argumentation are admitted. How 
 happy a thing would right reason be in this case! Only let it be 
 supposed, that the presence or absence of a dead body can make no 
 difference in the nature of a moral action, and that, if it is wrong for 
 the wife of a brahmun to burn in the absence of her dead husband, 
 it must be wrong also for her to burn in his presence, and this rite 
 would soon cease to exist; for we believe it is through the number of 
 respectable persons of this description who suffer annually that it con- 
 tinues to be held in repute. From the lines which have been quoted, 
 and which are all we know on this part of the subject, we perceive 
 that, so far from vindicating the deed from the charge of self-murder, 
 what has been advanced rather proves such a charge to be correct. 
 
 We can find no reason given in the shastras zchj/ the son should set 
 jire to the -pile of his ozm mother: and were we left to infer from his 
 conduct on the occasion, w hat his ideas of the act were, we should 
 conclude that he was conscious of his guilt, as he averts his counte- 
 nance from the horrid sight the moment he applies the Naming torch. 
 This would indicate some deo-ree of feeling-, some consciousness of 
 shame and pain; and yet, if these really existed, or at least to any 
 considerable degree, they would surely lead him, not only to avert his 
 head, but at once stand out against the murder of his mother to the 
 very last, though enjoined by all the lawgivers in the universe.* 
 
 We think the burning of widows totally inexcusable because it is in 
 direct contradiction to one of the first principles of our nature, self- 
 preservation. God delights in the preservation of his creatures, and 
 that which he delights in must be happy. He has armed all animated 
 beings w^ith a wonderful power, which repels every effort made to 
 destroy life. From the ferocious tiger to the timid hare, we find 
 the same instinctive property of self-defence and love of life. The 
 Divine Being has shewn us, by the instinct which he has implanted in us, 
 * Asiatic Observer. (April, 1824), .No. vi. pas^e 105 — 110. 
 
23 
 
 by the structure of the various limbs of our bodies, and still more by 
 the reason with which he has endowed us, that it is our indispensable 
 duty to preserve, and not to destroy ourselves; a duty which we can- 
 not violate without incurrin<r his displeasure. So strong- is the attach- 
 ment to life implanted in our nature, that from time immemorial it has 
 been proverbial : " Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath, will he give 
 for his life :"* and that this powerful principle might act universally 
 and successfully, the God of nature has so formed and disposed of all 
 the members of the human body, as to render them most efficient in 
 defending us against danger ; and besides this, he has added to human 
 beings the faculty of reason, to teach them how to use these most ethci- 
 ently for their own preservation : and thus he has defended, with the 
 strongest barriers, every avenue leading to self-destruction. If we 
 add to these principles of our nature the sanctions of revelation we 
 shall find, that of all the crimes done under the sun, that of self-mur- 
 der is the most enormous. The Divine law expressly declares : 
 " Thou shalt do no murder ;" and in this prohibition self-murder 
 must certainly be included. The Gospel, which is a system of mercy, 
 declares it as a thing with which all ought to be acquainted : " Ye 
 know that no murderer hath eternal life abidinof in him." lofnorant 
 of these highest of all considerations, and unfaithful to those inscribed 
 on their hearts by the hand of nature, the widows of Hindoos in this 
 country, impelled by false shame, reproach, and the prospect of a mi- 
 serable existence, break through all the bonds of nature and reason, 
 and throw themselves down to be consumed in the flames with the 
 dead body of their husband. We pity the sufferers, but we must 
 condemn the deed : — 
 
 " Shall Nature, swerving from her earliest dictate, 
 Self-preservatiou, fall by her own act ? 
 Forbid it, Heaven !" 
 
 But there is in this act a violation of the laws of nature, not only 
 on the part of the widow, but also on that of her son, who sets on fire 
 the funeral pile. Nothing can be more evident to a reflecting mind, 
 than that children were designed by Providence to administer to the 
 temporal comfort of their parents. One reason why they are neces- 
 sitated to be so long dependant on their parents, may be, to impress 
 on their minds a sense of the obligations under which they are laid, 
 to help and console them in return, should they ever stand in need of 
 their succour. All civilized nations have agreed, that it is the duty of 
 a child to honour his parents: hence, when a Grecian lawgiver was 
 asked why he had specified no punishment for the murderer of a pa- 
 rent, replied, that he did not believe such a monster could ever exist; 
 and hence the Romans erected a temple in honour of one who had, in 
 an extraordinary manner, supported a parent, when dying for want 
 in a dungeon. In our own country, if a son, at the time he ought to 
 comfort and sustain his afflicted, sinking mother, should imbrue his 
 hands in her blood, it would be regarded as a crime which no name 
 could designate, and for which no sacrifice could atone. The writer 
 of this very well recollects, that a n English child, when he heard the 
 • This same proverb, though in different words, exists among the Hindoos. 
 
24 
 
 relation of the Bengalees burniiig- their own mothers, very gravely 
 asked : "And, Sir, don't they hang them for it?" We think the na- 
 tives have no reason to complain of the want of filial affection in their 
 sons, deplorable as it is, while they encourage them to murder their 
 own mothers, at that very important crisis, when they ought to ad- 
 minister to them the balm of consolation. What idea can children 
 possibly have of filial obligations, when, instead of an outrageous 
 crime, it is considered a sublime virtue, for a son to burn his own 
 mother alive ? 
 
 The unnatural friends who urge the mother and son to the perpe- 
 tration of the murderous deed, the brahmuns who officiate at the in- 
 human rite, and the multitude who applaud the act, are all guilty of 
 murder, according to the laws of Mwnoo; for he states, that in any 
 crime, the instigator, the perpetrator, and the encourager, are equally 
 criminal. If we view thino-s in this liffht, and consider the number of 
 widows that are annually sacrificed, we shall find that there is no 
 country in all the world so full of murderers and murder as Bengal. 
 It has generally been considered that the burning of a widow is a 
 simple act, which affects only the individual who suffers; but it is not 
 so. How many urge her to it, how many assist her at it, and how 
 many rejoice in it ! This swells the enormity of the crime more than 
 a hundred fold, because, instead of the guilt of one or two, it fre- 
 quently involves the guilt of hundreds, and all these by participating 
 of the crime, are exposing themselves to greater tortures than those 
 of the widow, by " treasuring up to themselves wrath against the day 
 of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will 
 render to every man according to his work." The deed is still furth- 
 er aggravated by the cruelty which attends it. To strike a female 
 in a civilized country, is reckoned a great disgrace to a man : but 
 what is this, when compared to the cruelty of those, who bind with 
 strong cords the defenceless widow to the dead body of her husband, 
 press her down with still stronger bamboos, lest she should make her 
 escape, put the torch which is to kindle the consuming fire into the 
 hand of her son, and when the smoke and flames ascend to Hea- 
 ven, drown the shrieks of the dying by loud vociferations, exult 
 as though they had achieved some great exploit, and return home as 
 though they had been to a feast and not a funeral ? We can con- 
 ceive of no murder so agrgfravated as this. The accounts of cannibals 
 destroying and devouring their enemies, is not half so revolting to the 
 feelings of a man who considers the difference of the two cases. To 
 leave a female unprotected in the hour of danger or distress, is consi- 
 dered a greater act of cruelty than that of destroying a public foe ; 
 but because she is unprotected, and because her husband has made no 
 provision for her, to destroy her outright, and that in the most cruel 
 manner, is an act of barbarity to which the annals of time can furnish 
 no parallel. What a striking contrast do we here perceive between 
 the precepts and practice of Hindooism and Christianity ! The one 
 teaches us, that *' pure religion and undefiled before God and the 
 Father is this. To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and 
 to keep himself unspotted from the world.'' The other would have us 
 
25 
 
 believe, that pure religion and uruK^tlled before God and the Father 
 is this, To burn the widows in their afHiction,to render the latherless 
 still more destitute, and to seek only after the g-ain of this world.* 
 
 From the passage just quoted we learn, that those who assist at 
 these ceremonies, are so far from escaping the charge of murder, 
 that it is irrevocably fixed upon them by their great legislator, who 
 declares, that "//ic instigatur^ the encourage?'^ and the perpetrator^ 
 are all alike^ cither gnUtij or meretoriousy Several vain attempts 
 have been made to evade the force of this charge; but it is so plain, 
 so reasonable, and so decisive, that it is impossible for the guilty to 
 escape. If the finding of another passage to contradict this would 
 effect their liberation, they would have some ground of hope; but, 
 when every instance they bring must bow to the decision of Mzmoo, 
 whose authority is established by the Vaids, their case must be 
 hopeless. 
 
 Havinor ascertained that there is nothina- in the shastras which frees 
 the burning of a widow from the charge of murder, and that a way 
 is open for her escape from the devouring flames ; we next inquire, 
 whether the circumstances attendant on the rite, are such as are sanc- 
 tioned by Hindoo writers. It is declared in their writings, that the 
 widow who burned with her husband, in former times, ascended the 
 flaming pile, as may be perceived by these words, — " She zcho zcas de- 
 voted to her lord entered the Jlaming Jire.'''' It has been thought by 
 some that if the natives were required to attend to the ceremony in 
 this its ancient form, the horrors attending it would be so great, that 
 very few would be found possessed of sufficient resolution to encoun- 
 ter them. If we could estimate the precise point at which a blind 
 superstition would stop, we might determine this matter; but while 
 we remain ignorant of this, we can only indulge in suppositions which 
 experience might contradict. However, if th« rite must be attended 
 to, it ought to be performed according to the rules laid down by the 
 authors who recommend it. This, if it did not make fewer suffer- 
 ers, would probably make a greater number of commisserators; it 
 would kindle a flame of compassion in the hearts of spectators, unless 
 their consciences were seared as with a hot iron, and would lead them 
 earnestly to desire the abolition of so terrible a practice. As the bu- 
 siness is now transacted, the most appalling scene is concealed from 
 all but Him, to whose eyes all things are naked and open. And what 
 are the arguments which the natives urge for the violence they use 
 in applying ropes and bamboos to bind and hold down the body, in 
 order to conceal the sufferings of the widows? None at all: they 
 cannot find a single argument in all their books to justify it. Are 
 they then without an excuse? That were impossible. But what can 
 they say, if it is contrary to the shastras? "O it is the custom of 
 their part of the country ; it has been done so for many years ; it is 
 necessary to secure the prey," &c. After having placed their entire 
 reliance on the shastras for the defence of their conduct, we might 
 leave it to the decision of a child, whether they are justified in the 
 
 * Asiatic Observer, (January 1824), No. v. Page 21—24. 
 
 D 
 
26 
 
 adoption of measures which these writings expressly oppose, by pre- 
 scribinor a different line of conduct. 
 
 Our next inquiry is, into the motives which the shastras present to the 
 widow to induce her to burn with her husband. The strongest influ- 
 ence which they have over her mind is that which arises from the pro- 
 mises made of future felicity, to be enjoyed by herself and her family 
 in heaven. A few writers are very loud in their praises of this me- 
 retorious deed: but when it is remembered, that some are equally 
 loud in their praises of the most insignificant actions, and others to- 
 tally condemn the motives from which they proceed, such encomiums 
 will appear as sounding brass, and such promises as a tinkling cym- 
 bal. The promises made by Ung'ira. to the widow who ascends the 
 funeral pile, are thus expressed : — 
 
 " The woman who ascends the funeral pile with her dead husband, 
 shall shine as a star with him in Heaven. She who follows her lord 
 shall remain in Heaven as many years as there are hairs on the hu- 
 man body, viz. thirty-five millions. As the snake-catcher draws the 
 serpent from its hole by force, so she, rescuing her husband, rejoices 
 with him. The faithful one who follows her husband, purifies the 
 three families of her mother, father and husband." 
 
 Omitting the consideration that these promises are expressed in 
 poetic language, which admits of exaggeration, in order to ascertain 
 how much they should influence the mind, it is necessary for us only 
 to understand the gratuitous manner in which such rewards are offer- 
 ed in the shastras, as Vv^e shall then discover, that they may be ob- 
 tained at a much less expense than that of life* If we form our ideas 
 of the merit of a widow's burning from the rewards attached to it, we 
 shall find that it is not so very meritorious as it is generally repre- 
 sented ; for nearly the same reward is offered to the person who pre- 
 sents only a single plantain to Seeb. 
 
 "He who oft'ers a single ripe plantain to Seeb, shall, with his rela- 
 tions, be exalted to Heaven for thirty millions of years." 
 
 The only difference in the reward of the person wiio offers a plan- 
 tain, and of her who offers her life, is five million years : the former 
 is to remain in Heaven thirty, and the latter thirty-five million years. 
 If happiness can be thus secured, the sacrifice of life to obtain it can 
 be considered as nothing less than insanity. 
 
 But it is to be remembered here, that these promises are made only 
 to those who are not fully acquainted with what they are doing. It 
 seems very reasonable, that the female who has to go through the 
 dreadful ceremony, should have a clear knowledge of what she is 
 about, and a mind well fortified by the authority of the holy books 
 to endure the pain of so miserable a death. No such information, 
 however, is imparted, no such consolation afforded ; and what is much 
 worse, they are denied upon the greatest penalty ; so that should she 
 aspire after them, and succeed in obtaining them, she would not only 
 destroy the merit of the holy act she was about to perform, but lose 
 the enjoyment of Heaven for thirty-five million years, and sink into 
 Hell. The writings held in the hio-hest repute among the Hindoos 
 are the Vaids; these are said to be to them what the Bible is to 
 
27 
 
 Christians; if so, then as Christians in all their trou!)les fly to their 
 Bible, 90 it appears reasonable that these distressed widows should 
 have recourse to the Vaids for consolation. Hut they are told, 
 
 " The woman or the Soodra that understands them, will go to Hell 
 after death." 
 
 This shows us how necessary ig-norance is to the support of error, 
 and reminds us of those dark days, when the reading- of the Bible, by 
 the common people, was thought worthy of present and everlasting 
 destruction. 
 
 The idea of the woman's dracfirinsr her husband out of Ilell, as a 
 snake-catcher draws a serpent out of a hole, is very degrading to 
 the brahmuns. We are constantly taught in the shastras to believe, 
 that the brahmuns are vastly superior to their wives in virtue, and 
 that their attention to reliofious ceremonies all their lives secures them 
 final blessedness ; but now it seems that they sink into Hell after all, 
 and need the assistance of the poor creature whom they have so often 
 spoke of, and treated with contempt, to deliver them out of their mise- 
 ries : we wonder that the pride of their hearts has not taught them to 
 despise such a means of liberation. We leave it to their sober reflec- 
 tions, whether any thing that has been said of them by others, impli- 
 cates them in so much disgrace as this verse, which they quote in 
 favour of female immolation. 
 
 If the brahmuns, whose widows burn, have not done any thing to 
 secure their salvation during their life-time, they may have died by 
 the side of Gunga, which of itself saves them from going to Hell. 
 What need, therefore, can there be of their wives dying to save 
 them? and how can they be so cruel as to drive the poor helpless wi- 
 dow throuofh flaminof fire on earth, and throug-h dismal shades in 
 Hell, in search of one where he is not to be found ? May it not be 
 proved, in the clearest manner, from the shastras, that this is entirely 
 a needless piece of suffering? 
 
 There is yet another consideration, which makes all the promises 
 made to the widow both futile and absurd : which is, that they are not 
 only made without the least evidence of their ever being performed, but 
 are fully contradicted by numberless other passages. On this head the 
 shastras contradict each otJier in the plainest terms: one says: — 
 
 '' The widows who follow their husbands in death, are all pure, 
 whether they do it from lust, from anger, from fesar, or from folly." 
 
 Another says, that " from lust springs sin, and from sin springs 
 death ;" and a third informs us, that these rewards are only offered 
 for the allurement of fools : — 
 
 "For the sake of alluring those fools who regard only enjoyment, 
 and cannot distinguish between flesh and spirit, (spirit and notispirit,) 
 rewards are offered." 
 
 What then does all the suffering of the widow secure to her ? It 
 secures her little more than could be attained by oflTering a single plan- 
 tain ; and she is expressly denominated a fool, if she seeks for happi- 
 ness by any such means. Is it possible to conceive of more egregi- 
 ous trifling on a solemn subject than this? That a person should be 
 allured by flattering promises to sacrifice her life, to secure a reward 
 
28 
 
 either unnecessary, or attainable by the offering up of a single plan- 
 tain, and then be told that she is a fool for being thus seduced ? 
 
 Our last inquiry regards what the shastras have said concerning the 
 moral influence of this practice. They have attempted to extol it 
 very highly in reference to the persons immediately concerned, and 
 have asserted, that the merit of the deed is so great, that its influence 
 will extend to the individuals and their ancestors for an almost indefinite 
 period. The very words, however, which they have used to celebrate 
 this conduct, afford to us the plainest proofs of its demoralizing ef- 
 fects. The merit of actions must be estimated by the motives from 
 which they take their rise : hence it is said, that " by God actions are 
 weighed," because he is the only being that can fully comprehend the 
 motives from which they originate. This is a fundamental principle 
 in morality, and a mistake in this must involve serious consequences ; 
 to estimate the merit of an action bv any other criterion, is like build- 
 ing a house upon the sand. Though this idea is maintained by many 
 of the Hindoo writers, yet in all the calculations that are made re- 
 specting the merit of the Suttee, it is entirely left out of the question ; 
 and we are told that the deed is still meritorious, though it springs 
 from lust, anger, fear, or folly. Where such a sentiment is main- 
 tained, the basis of all morality is necessarily destroyed. What will 
 become of virtue, if by these vices the rewards of virtue may be se- 
 cured ? Can we think of an idea more pregnant with mischief than 
 this; and need we wonder at the conduct of those who adopt it, when 
 they say, ^' Let us do evil that good may come." 
 
 The verse preceding the one which states, that it is of no conse- 
 quence from what motive the act proceeds, declares that, however 
 unfaithful in heart the woman may have been during her husband's 
 life-time, if she is only faithful at last, all will be well. We ask, what 
 must be the tendency of such a sentiment on the social circle ? There 
 is no need, after this, to exhort women to be moral in their conduct: 
 all that is necessary is, to exhort them, should they survive their hus- 
 bands, to prepare for immediate death, and by one act of faithful- 
 ness in their death, to compensate for all the unfaithfulness of their 
 lives. After having freed the woman from all moral obligations dur- 
 ing her lifetime, and declared that it is of no consequence from what 
 motives she immolates herself at last, we may indeed wonder what 
 arguments these authors would use to convince them of the necessity 
 of being virtuous. 
 
 While the consequences which result from this system to the be- 
 reaved families are passed over in silence, those which result to socie- 
 ty in general are calculated with no degree of precision. C/ngira 
 affirms, that this deed will expiate any crime. 
 
 "If the man has been the murderer of a brahmun, or ungrateful, 
 or the murderer of his friend, the woman purifies him." 
 
 Mi^noo has declared, that the killing of a brahmun is an unpardon- 
 able sin, for which their is no expiation. But, passing by these gross 
 contradictions, we would solicit the attention of the reader only to the 
 moral tendency of these words. We should not have supposed that, 
 a people so mild and so averse to murder, as the Hindoos, would have 
 
29 
 
 trifled so strani^oly with the suhjcct, as to suppose that it could be 
 atoned tbr by the buriHn<r of a widow. If one murder can thus ex- 
 piate another, tlien we may conchide that any vice will produce its 
 opposite virtue. It is liappy lor this country, tliat the g-eneral dispo- 
 sition of the natives prevents them from turning- such ideas to the 
 mischievous purposes of which they are capable. Had it not been 
 so the community would have been deprived, in numberless instances, 
 of its wisest and most honourable members, and the cords of friend- 
 ship would have been cut as frequently by death as they are now by 
 quarrelling-. We are happy to find ingratitude, in the verse above 
 quoted, ranked among the vices of extraordinary magnitude, and 
 placed by the side of the unpardonable sin, the killing- of a brahmun. 
 AV e had heard it asserted by some, that gratitude was a thing so lit- 
 tle known among the natives of Bengal, that they had not a word to 
 express such an idea. This is a mistake; yet what must we think of 
 the extent to which ingratitude prevails, when it is maintained not to 
 be ungrateful for a son to set fire to his own mother ? And how are 
 we to account for the extent of this bad principle, but by attributing- 
 it to that spurious morahty which teaches that any crime may be ex- 
 piated by the murder of an innocent and helpless widow? 
 
 We have now considered all the arofuments which the shastras con- 
 tani on the burning of widows, as far as we are acquainted with them, 
 and as far as the native disputants have been able to draw them from 
 the stores of antiquity. We have not quoted every line they have 
 produced, but we have endeavoured to quote every line that contain- 
 ed a new idea; so that what we have stated may be considered as the 
 substance of what they have to advance on the subject. Had the deed 
 been commanded by the shastras jjositiveli/ and absolutely^ something- 
 might have been pleaded in excuse of the practice ; but when a way 
 of escape is opened by one of the highest authorities, the continua- 
 tion of it, appears to us, an indelible stain upon the Hindoo charac- 
 ter, and an unparrelled monument of the effects of superstition. 
 
 We have, in the discussion of the subject, exposed only a few of 
 the contradictions of the shastras : were they all pointed out, we 
 scarcely think that writings, which contradict each other on almost 
 every important point in morality, w^ould be acknowledged as the 
 standard of rio-ht and wroncr in cases where life and death are con- 
 cerned. That the Hindoo shastras contradict each other on almost 
 every moral subject, is capable of proof, and is acknowledged by a 
 celebrated writer of their own. 
 
 " The Vaids are at variance, the Shastras are at variance, and 
 there is no one sage whose system is not opposed by another."" 
 
 Might we be permitted to suggest an inquiry drawn from this ac- 
 knowledged fact, it would be this: When the shastras disagree among 
 themselves, ought not those rules in them to be etiforced zchich are 
 most consistejit zcith moral rectitude, and most conducive to the good 
 of the communitj/. 
 
 We shall conclude this essay by summing up the facts which we 
 are able to substantiate from their own writings relative to the burn- 
 ino- of widows. 
 
30 
 
 From the whole we learn these important truths: — That the shas- 
 tras do not require or command a widow to burn: — that in recom- 
 mending it they have not taken into consideration whether it is mur- 
 derous or not, but have expressed themselves so unguardly as to leave 
 the subject fairly open, on their own grounds, to this objection; that 
 in case the woman does not choose to burn, they prescribe methods 
 by which she may obtain future bliss, without the pain of burning: — 
 that should the widow burn, upon the supposition that she is a self- 
 murderer, they involve also, in the charge of murder, the son and the 
 brahmuns that assist her : — that they do not, in the least degree coun- 
 tenance the cruelties which are now practised, in binding the widow 
 to the dead body, and holding her down with bamboos : — that the re- 
 wards, though apparently great, and on that account imposing, are 
 little more than are attainable by offering a single Jlower or plantain : 
 — that since, according to the shastras, the brahmuns and their fami- 
 lies do not go to hell when they die, there cannot be the least need of 
 the widow's suffering to deliver them : — and that the considerations 
 on which this practice is recommended are such as tend to destroy all 
 morality, and open the door to the commission of the most enormous 
 crimes.* 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 Further discussion of the subject of the two preceding sections ; 
 being the Review of a pamphlet on the burning of Hindoo Widows 
 written in Bengalee by a Pundit, 
 
 This work, small as it is, is in a high degree interesting, merely 
 from the circumstances in which it appears, and the subject it em- 
 braces. It is the product of a native press, and is among the first at- 
 tempts yet made, for these three thousand years, to appeal to the public 
 respecting the justness and propriety of practices received as sacred by 
 the Hindoos, from their being sanctioned by antiquity. It forms one of 
 the fruits which have arisen from the introduction of printing into 
 India; and is the result of that wise and benign sway exercised by 
 Britain over her possessions in the east. Under the Moos/dman or the 
 Hindoo Governments which formerly existed here, nothing of this 
 kind could have appeared : as no one durst venture publicly to ques- 
 tion the propriety of any practice which professed to derive its sanc- 
 tion from the Koran, or the Hindoo shastras, its advocates would not 
 have found it necessary to bring any discussion respecting it before 
 the public, much less to submit those arguments on which it might 
 rest for support to public decision. 
 
 Such however have been the oblique effects of that diffusion of 
 light which the residence of Europeans has produced in India, that 
 the natives themselves begin to feel the necessity of recurring to rea- 
 son as the test of their conduct in thinfrs both civil and reliofious. 
 They cannot but perceive that this is the line of conduct observed by 
 * Asiatic Observer, (April, 1824), No. vi. Page 111—120. 
 
31 
 
 their rulers tliemselves ; tliat no leng-th of time, no weight of autliorityj 
 is tliought sullicient to support a practice which may be plainly con- 
 trary to justice and humanity, and that the inveteracy of any abuse, 
 so far from forming a reason for its continuance, liirnisiies only 
 stronger motives for its speedy abolition. It was impossible that this 
 shoukl lono- be altosfether without effect on the minds of the natives : 
 they have already begun, m a certain degree, to think for them- 
 selves ; and the consequence is, that long prescription, in cases de- 
 cidedly opposed to righteousness, begins in some measure to lose its 
 weight; and while the advocates of humanity lay before their coun- 
 trymen their reasons for doubting the propriety of usages evidently 
 contrary to its dictates, the supporters of them are constrained, how- 
 ever unwillingly, to meet their opponents in the public area, and sub- 
 mit to the judgment of the spectators the grounds on which they so- 
 licit their continued suffrages. 
 
 The subject which occupies the attention of the natives in the pre- 
 sent instance is one in which humanity is deeply interested. It affects 
 not the colour of a garment or some bodily posture in devotion, but 
 the lives of the most defenceless and the most virtuous class among the 
 natives of India. It involves the fate of all the mothers and daugh- 
 ters in Bengal, who possess any respectability in life; — and the ques- 
 tion is, whether superstition shall in Bengal alone consign to the 
 flames, this and every succeeding year, a greater number of innocent 
 victims than were consumed in the fires of Smithffeld during the 
 w^hole reign of bloody Mary, or than disgraced the annals of papal 
 superstition in Britain from its establishment to its downfall; — whether 
 more fatherless orphans shall be deprived in every succeeding year of 
 their only surviving parent and friend, than were thus bereaved in 
 any year of the most tremendous pestilence ever raged in Britain; — 
 or whether the voice of humanity shall triumph over superstition, 
 folly, and cruelty. 
 
 The occasion of this.pamphlet is as follows : for some time past the 
 burnino- of such a number of widows annually, has greatly affected the 
 mind; of many among the British inhabitants of this Presidency, who 
 have been constrained to witness these melancholy scenes. Previously 
 to the Marquis Wellesley's departure in 1806, Dr. Carey, through the 
 Rev. Dr. Buchanan, submitted to Government three mevuorials on 
 this subject. The first of these included the practice of exposing in- 
 fants, which existed chiefly in the north of Bengal ; and that of per- 
 sons devoting themselves voluntarily to death at Saugur Island and in 
 certain other places. The two last practices were abolished by an 
 order of Government ; but the burning of widows has been suffered 
 to continue to the present day. In consequence of many Europeans 
 having expressed their surprise and grief at the prevalence of a prac- 
 tice so contrary to humanity, many natives have at length began to 
 reflect on the subject, and to inquire into the grounds on which it is 
 still continued. 
 
 In the course of the last year (1818) Rama-mohwnrt-ruya addressed 
 his countrymen on the subject, in a well-written pamphlet, reviewed in 
 our number for December last, in which he insists that the practice 
 
32 
 
 has in reality no foundation in the Hindoo shastras themselves. To 
 this pamphlet, the work under consideration is an answer drawn up 
 by some of the pundits in Calcutta, who feel unwilling- that so lauda- 
 ble a practice as that of burning their widows shall fall into disuse. 
 It is sent forth without a name and without a title page; but from pri- 
 vate information, as well as from the pamphlet itself, we find that it is 
 the work of men by no means deficient in learning. It is written in 
 the form of a dialogue between an Advocate for the system of burn- 
 ing- widows, under the term " Bidhaok," and an Opponent, here term- 
 ed " Nishedhok." In the body of the work every authority supposed 
 to countenance the inhuman custom, and every scrap of Si^ngskreta 
 found on its side among Hindoo writers, are given in the original text, 
 as well as translated into Benofalee. The work is valuable therefore 
 from its containing every thing found in the Hindoo shastras in favour 
 of this barbarous practice ; and if all this fall short of an absolute and 
 indispensable injunction, the practice will be found to be as illegal ac- 
 cording to the Hindoo shastras, as it is inhuman in itself. This work 
 is evidently intended for the perusal of Europeans also; as an Eng-- 
 lish translation, (if it deserve the name,) is prefixed to the original 
 work. This pamphlet not being put into our hands till the piece on 
 this subject given in our Number for July was put to press, we were 
 unable to notice it at that time. We now however redeem the pledge 
 then given to examine it on the first convenient opportunity; in doing 
 which, while we study brevity as much as possible, we deem it a du- 
 ty we owe to humanity to attempt it in a manner sufficiently full to en- 
 able our readers to judge of the merits of the question, as well rela- 
 tive to the foundation on which it is said to rest in the Hindoo shastras, 
 as respecting the answers here given to the objections urged against 
 the practice by the friends of humanity. In our extracts from this 
 pamphlet we prefer quoting its own language for the sake of doing 
 it every degree of justice, and shall content ourselves with merely 
 adding a sentence or a word where the translation is not sufficiently 
 clear. The work commences by the Advocate's urging the claims 
 of his cause in the following pompous and sweeping declaration. 
 
 '' It is ordained t y (the) Srutee, Smrtee, Pooranfls, and other sa- 
 cred books, that the women, on the death of their husbands, should 
 die in ^huhu-vmcruna^ that is to burn (should burn) themselves alive 
 with the corpse of their respective husbands ; and, that in want of the 
 corpse, (they) should die in Unoo-uiuruna^ that is to burn, (should 
 burn) with something belonging to their husbands: which usages the 
 great sages during all the four ages of the world, viz. Swttwa, Treta, 
 Dwapzn-a, and Kzdee, have regularly maintained in their codes. It is 
 very improper that you throw obstacles to prevent such a matter." 
 To this the Opponent is made to reply, '^ You say this is improper for 
 want of knowledge of the shastras or law, but when you know the 
 shastra, you will no more say so." 
 
 This forms the signal for the Advocate's unmasking all his batter- 
 ies and pouring forth on the poor Opponent, every sentence and scrap 
 of SMUgskritrt in support of the practice, which he had been able to 
 muster up. The chief of the^e authorities is that of Ungeera^ who, 
 
however tloew liUle more ihaii recommend the practice. We give his 
 opinion ill the Advocate's own traiishitioii : — " Tlje wojiiaii that nioiiiils 
 the funeral ])ile of her deceased husband, ecpials herselt" to L'^roond- 
 liootee the wife of V/^*h/slit'hff, and enjoys bliss in heaven with lier 
 own husband. She tiiat accompanies iier husband to the other world 
 — dwells in heaven for three and a half cooLee years, (thirty-five 
 millions), which is equal to the number of hairs on a Imman bofly, 
 and with (by) her own power taking her husband up, in the same 
 manner as a snake-catcher would have taken a snake out of its hole, 
 remains with him in diversion. She that goes with her husband to 
 the other world, purifies three generations, that is, the generations of 
 her mother's side, father's side, and husband's side; and so, she being 
 reckoned the purest and the best in fame among women, becomes 
 too dear to her husband, and continues to divert herself with him for 
 a period equal to the reign of fourteen (successive) Indr«s; and, al- 
 though the husband be guilty of slaying a brahmun or friend, or be 
 ungrateful of the past deeds, yet the said woman is capable of puri- 
 fying him from all these sins. Hence," says the Advocate, "t/ngeera 
 afhrms, that after the demise of a husband, there can be no other du- 
 ty for a chaste wife than to destroy herself in the fire." 
 
 Pur as ur a i^ihiiw quoted as confirming part of this recommendation, 
 by saying, — " The woman that goes with her husband to the other 
 world, dwells in heaven for three and half cootee years, which is equal 
 to the number of hairs on a human body." Hareeta is, after this, 
 introduced as enjoining it by consequence in the following luminous 
 observation : " After the death of a husband, until his wife does 
 not burn (burn) herself in the fire, she cannot get rid of her feminine 
 body." This sentence is to be noticed for the inference which will be 
 found drawn from it in the latter part of the work. The Muhabharuta is 
 then adduced as declaring that a woman's burning herself on her hus- 
 band's funeral pile, atones for her having been a scold or even un- 
 faithful throughout life, and secures her accompanying him in the 
 other world, maugre all unwillingness on his part: and this although 
 she burn herself from " amours, wrath, fear, or affection." Tfie 
 highest countenance given to the practice therefore, by their own 
 writers, (and these appear but four, t/ngeera, Pwrasurrt, Hareet«, 
 and Vyasrt,) amounts only to a recommendation of it from certain ad- 
 vantages the widow is deluded with the hope of obtaining; that is, 
 the enjoyment of happiness with her husband — by no means to eter- 
 nity, howt^ver, but for as many years as there are hairs on the human 
 body; after zchich^ gentle reader, she must descejid to the earth again, 
 and undergo all that vicissitudes of births zchich, in the opinion of the 
 Hindoos, constitutes future punishment. 
 
 The Advocate for this practice then goes on to notice another au- 
 thority, that of Vishnoo-Risee, who, however, leaves burning perfectly 
 optional, in the following language : — "After the demise of a husband, 
 his wife shall either devote herself to Brumhuchurya, (a life of aus- 
 terity), or mount the funeral pile of her husband," To do away the 
 force of this option, the Advocate adds, that the choice of a life of 
 austerity would involve in it eight faults or crimes, but which he has 
 
 E 
 
34 
 
 not mentioned that the reader might judge of their nature and mag- 
 nitude ; and that even this option is therefore to be rejected; and thus 
 the hapless widow, according to him, must inevitably consign herself 
 to the flames if she would discharge her duty to her deceased husband . 
 He then goes on to state the authority for C/noo-mwrwno, or a wo- 
 man's burning herself after her husband's death with some article be- 
 longing to him! a practice by no means uncommon at the present 
 day. For this he adduces the authority of only a solitary writer 
 the author of the Mwtsy«-Poorana, in these words: — "In case of 
 the demise of a husband in a distant country, the chaste wife should 
 purify her person by bathing, and then, taking her husband's shoes or 
 another thing, enter into a burning pile to be prepared on purpose." 
 This he justifies by saying, that the R?'g-vedrt declares such women 
 not to be guilty of self-murder; which plainly indicates, that if this be 
 self-murder, in the opinion of the Hindoos themselves, it would be con- 
 demned. Such then is the whole of the countenance this Advocate, 
 on whom it was incumbent to bringr forward the strono-est authorities 
 for a practice so repugnant to humanity, has been able to adduce 
 from the Hindoo writers themselves ; and this, one quotation from 
 OosuiiUy condemns in the gros?, — it is the voice of nature involun- 
 tarily speaking: — "-Let not Brahtniuiees^ or zcives of brahmuns^ siijfer 
 death by entering into a separate pile ; but for the rest of the 7s:omen^ 
 brahmunees excepted., this laic is most preferable.''^ Now when it is 
 considered that every authority adduced in favour of this practice is 
 that of brahmuns, for no shoodrw has ever yet become authoritative 
 as a man of learning, this decides the matter at once. If it be mere- 
 torious thus to ascend the separate funeral pile, why deny this privi- 
 lege to the daughters of brahmuns ? Why indeed^ but because nature 
 spoke in the breast of this zcriterl He was a brahmun, and he shud- 
 dered at the idea of consigning his daughter to the flames for the sake 
 of a worthless husband, who might perhaps have treated her with neg- 
 lect and cruelty all his life. The brahmuns of the present day are, 
 however, far more devout; they are unwilling their wives shall be 
 debarred this glorious privilege, and consign them to the flames pre- 
 cisely as they do others : a plain proof, that a regard for the authority 
 of their own shastras has little to do in continuing this j)ractice ; the 
 motive for this must be sought elsewhere. 
 
 But to these quotations from C/ngeera, Hareetr/, and Pz/ras2/r«, the 
 advocates for this practice are well aware, are opposed authorities of 
 far greater weight, and such as completely nullify them and forbid 
 this inhuman custom. These it is the grand object of this pamphlet 
 to do away. The Opponent is now made to quote these, therefore, 
 that the Advocate for the burning system may obtain an opportunity 
 of invalidating them. He first adduces the famous legislator Munoo^ 
 whose authority is paramount to that of every succeeding writer, as 
 prescribing an opposite course for widows in the following language: 
 — " Listen to the law which M;/noo has prescribed for the husbandless 
 women. ^After the death of husbands their wives should make them- 
 selves lean, by living upon sweet flowers, roots, and fruits : never 
 mind the name of a man, and until the time of their respective death 
 
35 
 
 with resigniitioii and restriction continue to observe the laws prescrib- 
 ed for Kkp/^tnees, (those wlio have married but one husband); that is, 
 they should, with the desire of obtainiiii^ tlie state of chaste women, 
 devote themselves to the law prescribed for Bvumhachuvya. As 
 thousands of young- brahmuns who, before their arriving at full age, de- 
 voted themselves to lir/^mhachz^ry^^f and begot no children fiave gone 
 to Swrgrt or Heaven, the chaste women in like manner, who after 
 their husband's death devote themselves to the law of lirwmhach^rya, 
 may attain bliss in heaven, though issueless.* Hence, says the Oppo- 
 nent, Mwnoo has ordained, ' that women, after their husband's death, 
 should spend the remaining part of their lives in Brumhachurya.* 
 This decision of Mwnoo's the Opponent confirms by adducing the fol- 
 lowing corroborative declaration from one of the Vedas, ' Know that 
 whatever M/^noo pronounced, is a medicine for the soul;' and anoth- 
 er from Frihusputee^ 'A Sreeti inconsistent with that of Mwnoo is not 
 praiseworthy.' 
 
 To get rid of this decision of Mwnoo, which compietelj/ forbids the 
 practice, is the grand object of this work, and for the sake of this alone 
 it is quoted. This the Advocate, knowing that no commentator can 
 erect himself into a law-giver, and abolish the law itself, first attempts 
 by affirming, (that which no one denies), that it is only the Smritee 
 inconsistent with Mwnoo which is unworthy of regard ; but as a wo- 
 man can live a life of abstinence and chastity after burning herself, 
 these two of course are not inconsistent! Feelingr- ashamed of this 
 argument, he quits it, and adducing the following sentence from 
 Juyminee, ^' where there arises an inconsistency among laws, that 
 maintained by many is preferable," attempts to infer, that the recom- 
 mendation of C^ngeera, Pwraswrr/, and Hareet«, ought to outweigh 
 the law itself, enacted by Mz^noo. Deserting this argument as unten- 
 able however, he quotes a passage from the R/g-veda, recommend- 
 ing the practice of burning, and affirms that the law of M;«noo on the 
 subject means nothing more than that of a woman who may by any ac- 
 cident be prevented from burning herself with her husband, or after- 
 wards with one of his old shoes, ousfht to devote herself to a life of 
 austerity. The author of this pamphlet, while he professes to set the 
 authority of the R/g-ved« against that of the great Hindoo legis- 
 lator, is however well aware that the Vedas contradict each other 
 on this very point. That he may in some way or other obviate this 
 discrepancy, so fatal to his argument, he now introduces the Oppo- 
 nent as quoting a well-knovvn passage from the V^eda which forbids 
 the burning of widows in the following words: — "As by means of liv- 
 ing still, (he duties usual and occasional can be performed to purify the 
 mind, and as by hearing of (and) fixing our mind and devoting our 
 soul to Br^nnhrt or the Supreme Spirit, we can attain it (final beati- 
 tude or absorption in Br/nnhr/,) no woman should therefore spend her 
 life, that is, suffer death in hopes of attaining Swrg« or bliss in heav- 
 en." From this the Opponent infers that, as a widow is forbidden to 
 throw away her life with the hope of obtainino- connubial bliss for a 
 united time in heaven, the authority of those who recommend a wi- 
 dow's burning herself with this hope, is completely nullified ; and that 
 
36 
 
 it is clear by the determination of the Vedtt, as well as the command of 
 Mzniooj that a widow ought not to burn herself, but to embrace a life 
 of abstinence and chastity. 
 
 This is the doctrine which it is the object of the writer of this 
 pamphlet to overthrow. After the Opponent has thus stated it, there- 
 fore, the Advocate for the burning system urges first, that to infer 
 from the authority of Mwnoo and the Vedrt, that a woman, instead of 
 burning herself, ought to embrace a life of abstinence and chastity, 
 would strip the writings of those who recommend her burning herself 
 of all authority ! an overwhelming argument truly. He then adduces 
 a sentence from Mznioo, to shew that when one Smriti appears to 
 have one meaning, and another a different one, both are to bs held as 
 law! The plain inference from this would be, that a widow ought to 
 immolate herself on her husband's funeral pile, and to embrace a life 
 of austerity too ! To confirm this wonderful exposition, and to preserve 
 the authority of those, who in their zeal for burning, have happened 
 to contradict their own celebrated lawgiver, the Advocate quotes the 
 following contradictory sentence by way of illustration : " In the Otz- 
 ratff, or the oblations of clarified butter offered to the consecrated 
 fire, the Shorassee* is to be taken ; and in the Otzratrtt the Shorassee 
 is 7iot to be taken." The just meaning of which, contrary Sutras, says 
 he, is, that if in this sacrifice the Shorassee be taken or received, 
 the sacrifice is superlatively meritorious ; but if it be not, the deed is 
 still complete and advantasfeous. From this illustration the writer, in 
 the person of the Advocate, infers, that if a widow wishes to attain 
 connubial bliss in Heaven, she may burn herself; but if she wishes 
 final beatitude, she may embrace a life of abstinence and self-denial ; 
 and then adds triumphantly, '' See therefore that a woman's burning 
 herself for the sake of connubial bliss in Heaven has no way been for- 
 bidden." The whole of this, if it have any meaning, only goes to 
 say, that even by these authorities, if a widow desires final beatitude 
 she is not commanded to burn herself; and that according to them, 
 all is merely mutter of option. Thus then the whole hitherto advanced 
 by the Advocate for the burning system is, that by their great legis- 
 lator it is not commanded but forbidden; and by those commentators 
 who abrogate the law they pretend to explain, it is merely recom- 
 mended^ and left perfectly optional. But a further examination of the 
 subject will shew, that this recommendation, while viewed by them- 
 selves as degrading in the highest degree, is subversive of the whole 
 system of Hindooism. To illustrate this pavt of the subject, however, 
 it will be necessary to recur for a moment to the creed of the Hindoos 
 relative to future happiness. 
 
 The Hindoos throughout India believe the human soul to form an 
 integral part of Brzanhr/, or the Deity, and hence esteem the summit 
 of future bliss to consist in Avhat they deem final beatitude, or absorp- 
 tion into Brwmhrt, of whom they believe their souls to be a part. To 
 the attainment of this, all their endeavours are directed, for the sake 
 of it the most tremendous austerities are performed ; and nothing be- 
 yond this is supposed to be within the wish of man. But besides this 
 * Shorassee, the pot containing the clarified buttoi and other ingredients. 
 
37 
 
 there are, according to their ideas, many heavens or inferior stages of 
 bliss, to be obtained by certain nieritorious deeds. None of these, 
 however, is considered histing ; but tlie duration of every state of 
 bliss is, according to them, proportioned to the merit of the deed of 
 which it is esteemed the reward. After tliis period is expired, the 
 person is expected to be born on earth again, and to undergo nume- 
 rous vicissitudes of births till his mind be so purified as to obtain final 
 beatitude or absorption into the deity, which alone secures a person 
 from the misery of future transmigrations. Their state of misery indeed 
 is esteemed no more lasting than that of happiness ; but every kind of 
 suffering therein, (for there is supposed to be a great variety,) is sup- 
 posed to be proportioned in duration to the demerits of the sufferers; 
 after which they also are said to be born again on the earth, and there 
 to underg'o all the vicissitudes of transmigration till they become suffi- 
 ciently pure to obtain absorption into the deity. Hence a woman who 
 may burn herself for the sake of living with her husband in Heaven 
 for a certain period, on its expiration descends to the earth, and, ac- 
 cording to the Hindoos, she may be found in Hell in the course of 
 years. For this reason the wise and learned among them treat these 
 evanescent states of bliss with contempt, and contend that nothing is 
 worthy of pursuit but final beatitude or absorption, which puts an end 
 to all future misery. Hence, a woman's burning herself to obtain 
 connubial bliss in Heaven for a certain period, is deemed by them un- 
 speakably inferior to her obtaining final beatitude through a life of 
 abstinence and chastity. The recommendation in which the Advocate 
 triumphs, therefore, even upon his own principles, ought to have been 
 precisely the reverse of what he has made it, since that line of con- 
 duct ought to be recommended to all, which is supposed to secure 
 their highest happiness. 
 
 The Opponent however is represented as approving of this deci- 
 sion ; but for the sake of its being answered, he is then made to urge 
 another objection in the following words: "As in various shastras 
 contempt has been poured on actions done from cupidity, a woman's 
 burning herself from such motives is by no means proper." He then 
 quotes the Kuthopunishut^ as declaring, that while the pursuit of the 
 system of Sacred Wisdom is considered safe, he who pursues the 
 other syst(?m which includes a widow's burning herself, degrades his 
 own nature. This he further corroborates by a long quotation from 
 the Bhagiivut Geeta^ which charges such as follow the system with 
 acting only from cupidity and ambition. This is correct ; for these 
 writers who thus recommend the performance of various religious 
 deeds, though done from the basest motives, prescribe certain sacri- 
 fices for the sake of obtaining wealth ; some to obtain Heavenly bliss, 
 — and some to secure the destruction of an enemy ! The whole of 
 this system, therefore, is, by their best writers, regarded as having 
 jiothing in it of the nature of virtue ; but as being in reality the indul- 
 gence of cupidity, ambition, and malice ; which dispositions, indicating 
 an impure mind, are the very reverse of that which they deem neces- 
 sary to final beatitude. Among tliese the Opponent properly classes a 
 widow's burning herself with her husband's corpse, with the view of en- 
 
38 
 
 joying connubial bliss in Heaven for a certain period ; and intimates, 
 that if actions of this kind are not evil, they are at least unnecessary. 
 This fires the Advocate for the burning system, w^ho, to overwhelm his 
 adversary at once exclaims, " Listen then to Srutee, (a quotation from 
 the Veda,) ' A man wishing Heaven for himself shall perform Ushw«- 
 medha-jaugff,' (the sacrifice of a horse ;) and again, ' a man wishing 
 Heaven for himself shall perform Jotiswmfl-jauga' These and other 
 Srutees, are they to lose their spirits? that is, to have no effect? Say 
 what is your answer." The Opponent humbly bows beneath the 
 weight of this rebuke, and acknowledges that the Srutee which com- 
 mend selfish actions are not void and useless, but intended for those 
 who, previously filled with " amours, wrath, and covetousness," are 
 not inclined to enter disinterestedly into the service of the Supreme 
 God; and that without these Srutees enjoining them thus to sacrifice 
 from cupidity or malice, they, freed from all restriction, would be 
 like an elephant without his guide. To prevent this, says he, certain 
 jaugas were ordained to be performed by them; as sena-jauga, by 
 one wishing the death of his enemy ; pootrosti-jauga^ by one longing 
 for a son ; and jotistuma-jauca^ by one wishing bliss in Heaven. 
 This appeases the Advocate, who having thus secured the validity of 
 these commands for performing devotional acts from cupidity, ambi- 
 tion, or malice, admits, that while these deeds are good, still actions 
 done from superior motives are somewhat more praise-worthy. This 
 concession, which might seem unguarded, is in reality made with the 
 view of enabling the Opponent to bring out the last objection he has 
 left, that the Advocate may demolish it like a man of straw. This is 
 couched in the following- words : — 
 
 '' Nessedhok. If you maintain that the disinterested actions are bet- 
 ter than those self-interested, why do you then, instead of permitting 
 husbandless women to adopt the law of (disinterested) Brwmhrtchwra, 
 which gives final beatitude, endeavour to preserve the system of self- 
 interested actions of Shuhu-miiruiia and Onoo-mwrwna, which produce 
 (merely) bliss in Heaven?" 
 
 This argument, which the Advocate was aware must appear on the 
 face of the subject, and must weigh in favour of a life of abstinence 
 and chastity in preference to burning, as much as eternal beatitude is 
 to be preferred to a continual vicissitude of misery, he now proceeds 
 to obviate. This he first attempts by urging that a woman in em- 
 bracing a life of abstinence and chastity would still do it with a view 
 to final beatitude, and therefore from self-interested motives : hence 
 as burning herself would also rescue her husband from the pit he 
 might be driven into for slaying a brahmun, or a friend, or being un- 
 grateful, together with the three generations before-mentioned, and 
 enable the woman to " get herself rid of her feminine sex," he esteems 
 it far more desirable that she should burn. 
 
 To this conclusive argument the Opponent replies, " Now your say- 
 ings are consonant with the shastras." Still, however, he suggests the 
 probability of women's attaining the state of final beatitude, were they, 
 after the death of their husbands, " to be disciplined in sacred wisdom, 
 which, by burning themselves, they can never attain." To this the 
 
39 
 
 Advocate for tho burning- system has an unanswerable argument ready, 
 tliat all instruction would be totally vain ; for, says be, it would be at- 
 tended with no other success than to condemn them for both the 
 one and the other," in other words, either they would not livti the life 
 of chastity recommended, or they would be too dull to do it from pro- 
 per motives. He concludes the argument with saying, "It is there- 
 fore very improper that the women who have never been conscious of 
 so much as the meaning of the word wisdom, shall (should) be de- 
 sired to follow the svstem of sacred knowledg-e." No other mode re- 
 mains for the poor creature, therefore, but that of preventing their 
 going astray, — or of living chastely from wrong motives, by previ- 
 ously burning them alive. The Opponent is now completely silenced, 
 and at once gives up his argument. 
 
 We have now betbre us the actual grounds on which all those who 
 oppose the abolishment of the practice, still desire to preserve this 
 privilefj'e of burning alive their mothers^ their sisters^ and their daught- 
 ers. It is not because it is sanctioned by the Hindoo law, for their 
 greatest legislator, whose authority is paramount to every other, 
 positively forbids it by enjoining on widows a contrary course. It is 
 not that those few writers who have recommended the practice (for 
 none of them have had the audacity to co7nmand it in opposition to 
 their great legislator,) recommend it as a superior course, the dic- 
 tate of more exalted virtue, for they themselves despise the course 
 they thus recommend to the poor widow, and regard with the utmost 
 contempt the motive and princi])le of action they endeavour to infuse 
 into her mind. But this unparralleled course of murder is practised 
 wholly as a preventative! But as a preventative of what? the effects 
 of their dulness! their inability to comprehend " the instructions of Sa- 
 cred Wisdom!" What then would be these effects? That they 
 would live a life of abstinence and chastity from improper motives, 
 from a desire after final beatitude ! and thus losing final beatitude, 
 only obtain heaven. Truly their thus forcing their burning system 
 on the poor widovv', from principles of such exalted benevolence, out- 
 does all that the Roman Catholics have ever done in the way of burn- 
 ing heretics out of pure pity to their souls. Yet what does this burn- 
 ing system itself profess to hold out to the poor widovv; Only a little 
 evanescent bliss for a limited time. As for the other part, the poor 
 widow's draofffino; her murderous oi ungrateful husband out of the 
 hands of Yz/ma, as a snake-catcher drags a snake out of his hole, it 
 were much better not done. If he has died under the dominion of 
 such barbarous, or base and ungrateful dispositions, it were better far 
 to leave him in the hands of Yuma for a season, to be taught better 
 principles, than to take him with her to heaven with these feelings of 
 ingratitude, barbarity, and murder, remaining within him. A wretch- 
 ed heaven indeed she would be likely to experience with such a mon- 
 ster during these thirty-five millions of years. If he did not murder 
 her there, it would be merely because she could not become mortal 
 again, till she had worn out this long period of misery. What then is 
 even pretended as the superior advantage of burning ? Nothing : 
 while on their own principles it is optional, the option is quite against the 
 
40 
 
 widow's interests. By chusing a life of abstinence and chastity, she 
 may attain final beatitude, and even, according- to them, she secures 
 a certain degree of bliss, though she should be so dull as to forfeit 
 final beatitude through living with this alone in view; while they 
 allow that final beatitude can never be obtained by her burning her- 
 self. But is it to be endured that a poor widov/ should be burnt 
 merely on account of dulness and stupidity? Is it thus that their 
 mothers and sisters are to be treated ? Would they not shrink at 
 burning alive even a beast on the funeral pile of its master? Surely 
 it is horrid beyond expression that relatives so dear should be urged 
 to the burning pile to prevent their living a chaste and virtuous life 
 from a wrong motive merely through dulness, and at the same time 
 be told that it is improper to offer them the least instruction on a sub- 
 ject so important, because they do not as yet know the meaning of 
 the word wisdom. 
 
 But this honest declaration that their chief motive for supporting 
 this system of burning is furnished by women's dulness and stupidity, 
 brings to light a part of the creed of these advocates for matricide, 
 which few ever suspected to belong to Hindooism. The whole of the 
 sex, every mother, and sister, and daughter, are hereby doomed to 
 interminable misery^ since they are declared to be such that it would 
 be improper for them even to he desired to follow that system of sa- 
 cred knowledge universally esteemed by the Hindoo writers the only 
 jyath to final beatitude. Astonishing ! We have heard that MoosmI- 
 mans exclude women from the felicity of the blessed, but this is en- 
 tirely under the idea of their being without a soul. But if Hindoo 
 women have no soids, what part of them is to enjoy this Heaven of 
 bliss with their husbands for thirty-five millions of years ? If, in the deli- 
 cate language of Hareet«, already quoted, " until the wife does not burn 
 (burn) herself in the fire, she cannot get rid of her feminine body," 
 then by that act she does get rid of her body ; else, what avails this 
 murderous rite ? But if she then gets rid of her body, what is left 
 of her ? a soul, a spirit ; of course nothing else. But of what ma- 
 terials is this soul or spirit formed ? Do they suppose it to be 
 formed of matter, or to be a part of the Eternal Spirii ? If they say 
 it is formed of matter they degrade their daughters, and sisters, and 
 mothers, beneath the very beasts around them ; for there is not a dog 
 that passes by, a reptile that crawls on the earth, or a jackal that 
 howls by night around their cottage, which they do not suppose to he 
 animated by a portion of the Eternal Brumha. But if they allow that 
 they have souls, and still cannot obtain final beatitude by burning them- 
 selves, then this system, while it devotes their bodies to the most cruel 
 death, dooms their souls to interminable misery. To what absurdity 
 — to what contradiction even of the whole system of Hindooism, have 
 these advocates for burning their mothers and sisters reduced them- 
 selves ! After all their pleadi-ngs for tenderness to their religious 
 prejudices, it appears evident that this murderous practice is not more 
 contrary to humanity than it is subversive to their own religious dog- 
 mas. 
 
 But perhaps these advocates for the burning system will urge, that 
 
41 
 
 the fear of the poor vvi(h)w's mislakiiig- through duhiessthe way to final 
 beatitiulo, and only reaciiintr jieaveii, is not the only reason which 
 makes them so desirous of sending her tliroiigh tlie tlanies to enjoy 
 connubial bliss with her deceased husband, that is rather the fear of 
 something- worse. This indeed is strongly hinted by the Advocate, 
 in his reply to the Opj)OiKMit on his expressing his hope that were 
 widows afier their husband's death disciplined in sacred wisdom, 
 they might attain final beatitude, which by burnmg themselves with 
 their husbands they can never attain, in this reply he, declaring that 
 the attempt would be vain, adds "as you say (advise us,) to discipline 
 them in the sacred wisdom, it would be attended with no other suc- 
 cess than to condemn them for both the one and the other.'''' But in 
 what way could their being permitted to live and receive instruction 
 condemn them for both the one and the other; or, in other words, 
 cause them to lose every hope of bliss? Their dulness, even in living 
 a life of abstinence and chastity from an improper motive, could only 
 make them fall short of final beatitude; what then should condemn 
 them to the loss of all felicity? The meaning is self-evident: the 
 writer intends to say, that instead of persevering in a life of chastity 
 they might possibly go astray and thus incur the condemnation hinted, 
 which, indeed, nothing but a deviation of this nature could make them 
 incur, since he has already declared, that deeds done from the mean- 
 est motive, from "amours (or concupiscence), anger or fear," are 
 still available in the case of a woman's burninsf herself; and hence 
 the merit of a life of self-denial and chastity cannot of course be de- 
 stroyed by its motives. He evidently means to say, that as they 
 zoould not live a life of chastity, their burning themselves is the only 
 preventive of their utter condemnation. And have they then this 
 shocking idea of their own daughters, and sisters, and mothers? Will 
 nothing preserve them in widowhood from a life of lewdness but 
 their beingf burnt alive? Then a Suttee at once loses both its name 
 and its nature. It is no lono-er the effect of chaste affection; it is 
 (he highest dishonour to every f am ilij in ichich it maij happe?i. It pro- 
 claims in the loudest manner that, in the opinion of her own relatives, 
 the sister or the mother who is the victim, is so corrupt in her dispo- 
 sition^ so impure in her mind, that they have no method of keeping her 
 from a life of unchastity but that of burning her alive ; for what person, 
 who had not the heart of a tiger, would resort to this dreadful remedy 
 with so near a relative, while any other course held out the least hope? 
 But granting all this, still is it right that this preventive measure 
 should be adopted with any one, much less with such near relatives? 
 Is it agreeable to natural equity that a person should be burnt alive, 
 not for impurity of conduct, but to prevent it? If it be, ought it to be 
 confined to one sex? ought it not to be extended to the other likewise, 
 or are the mothers and sisters of those who uphold the burning sys- 
 tem more depraved than all who dwell around them? Surely, if 
 this preventive course be allowable at all, it ought not to be confined 
 to the most virtuous, merely because they are the most defenceless; 
 it ought to be extended farther, to the advocates of the measure them- 
 selves. If they do not discover an equal disposition to impurity with 
 
 F 
 
42 
 
 their mothers and sisters, tliuy may to other vices equally injurious to 
 society, and according to their own creed equally punishable in the other 
 world. The same pt^eventive iherei'ore might with equal benevolence 
 be exercised on them at stated periods, or at least on such of them as 
 seem most likely to perpetrate vice; and if they were less fond of the 
 burning* system than they say the poor widow is, they might be per- 
 mitted to chuse any other mode of dying, and thus the city and the 
 country would, in due time, be purified in the most effectual manner; 
 it might, 'tis true, be somewhat thinned of inhabitants; but the puri- 
 ty of those left behind, and the reflection that all either burnt or hang- 
 ed on this 2)reventive si/steniy were as assuredly in the enjoyment of 
 bliss they would have forfeited by living, as the immolated widow is 
 in the enjoyment of bliss in heaven with her deceased husband, might 
 well reconcile us to the fewness of our neighbours. 
 
 The author of this pamphlet having thus far silenced the Opponent, 
 now attempts to justify their binding the poor widow fast to the corpse 
 of her deceased husband, their heaping wood upon her and pressing 
 her down with bamboos. For this purpose he makes the Opponent, 
 after acknowledging that the Advocate for the system had given "the 
 just sense of various shastras," observe, that instead of causing the 
 women to mount the burning pile as the laws direct, they make them 
 first mount the pile, and then, " having strongly tied the said widows 
 to the corpse of their husbands, heap them over and over with wood 
 and large bamboos, and setting fire thereon, burn them to death. We 
 proclaim," adds he, "that you must not slay women in such a man- 
 ner" To this the Advocate for the burning system does not reply 
 by denying the truth of this shocking fact, or by urging that it is too 
 strongly stated; but he defends it by saying that "in whatever coun- 
 try the practice is to mount the full burning pile, there it is indispu- 
 table, (indisputably right); but that in those countries where this is 
 not the practice, this following of local custom is not inconsistent with 
 the shastras, quoting several authors to shew, that the usages and cus- 
 toms of a country ought to be observed. The Opponent is then 
 made to reply that, by this rule, those who, residing in forests and 
 mountains make it their profession to kill living creatures, are to be 
 held blameless. " By no means," says the Advocate, "for the actions 
 of these rude foresters are not approved by men of fidelity, and the 
 laws on the head of ^\mhitmini(na have been regularly maintained by 
 the holy sages, philosophers, and the learned." The plain meaning 
 of this is, that the learned have themselves introduced into Bengal 
 this custom of firmly binding women to the corpse of the deceased 
 husband, heaping wood on them, and pressing them down with large 
 bamboos from a regard to the custom of the country, when no such 
 custom existed till created by theml In Bengal there was formerly 
 no custom of this nature existing; and had there been, the customs of 
 the rude and ignorant are here said to be unworthy of regard; it is 
 the learned alone therefore who haye introduced this inhuman devia- 
 tion from their own shastras, for which they now plead because it 
 does exist! 
 
 The manner in which the Advocate justifies their violating the wo- 
 
43 
 
 man's promise to moinit the burning pile ^ however, is still more siiig-u- 
 lar. It must here be remarked, that the womaiij before she burns, 
 pronounces what is termed the S//nk//lpa, which is couched in tin; fol- 
 Jowino- terms: — "/ zciU mount the burning />//e." Advertiiiir to this 
 the Opponent says, "How can the S/fnk?dp« be completed, because 
 (when) it is pronounced with a promise to moujit a burninir |)ile? in- 
 stead of which they mount it before it touches fire." This ditiiculty 
 the Advocate removes in a moment. Says he, "Whatever you say 
 reg-arding- the incompletion of the Sz^nk/dp« arises from your inatten- 
 tion; for should a little part of a village or a cloth be consumed by- 
 fire, it is then said, even by learned men, that the village or cloth was 
 (is) burnt. In the same manner a little burning-pile is also called a 
 burning pile, and in that case the Sz/nk?/lp« was (is) not incomplete." 
 As much as to say, that if a single twig be set on fire, this constitutes 
 a burning pile! In this manner do these men, with the most daring 
 effrontery, sport zcith their violuting even their own most sacred for- 
 tnulas^ for the sake of securing the destruction of a poor defenceless 
 zcidozOy in zchom nature might otherxioise recoil at the doom azji'aiiing 
 her. 
 
 The next reply, however, is, for its leviti/ and falsehood, if possible, 
 still more disgusting. The Opponent is made to answer, " I approve 
 of your saying this; but from what instances the people attending fu- 
 neral ceremonies (by what authority do the people attending funeral 
 ceremonies) tie up the women that are about to mount the burning 
 pile? and why are they not guilty of the sin of slaying women? " To 
 this the Advocate replies, "In the aforesaid text of Hareeia it was (is) 
 expressed, that until the women themselves cause their bodies to be con- 
 sumed in the fire, they cannot finally get rid of their sex. In which 
 case, should any part of their bodies, while burning asunder in the 
 piles (on the pile) be slipped out thereof it cannot be zzholly consumed.'''' 
 It is difficult to say whether the indelicacy ^ the shocking levity, or the 
 impudent falsehood of this reply be most to be detested. Granting 
 that the horrid rite requires every particle of the body of the wretch- 
 ed victim to be consumed, does their binding her secure this? It se- 
 cures her death it is true ; it renders all the recoilings of nature una- 
 vailing; but do they bind down every limb of their helpless victim? 
 if they did, would not the cords be the first fuel for the flame? For 
 men thus to sport zscilh decency, humanity, and truth, in defence of 
 MURDER offered to a British public, is of itself sufficient to condemn 
 for ever the inhuman custom. We shall only detain the reader with 
 one instance more of this kind. The Opponent having expressed his 
 approbation of this reason for binding women, has only one scruple 
 left, which is, whether those who assist in burning the widow are not 
 guilty of sin. To this the Advocate for burning replies, that it rath- 
 er exalts them to glory than renders them guilty of sin, Avhich he 
 confirms by reciting the following example from Mutsya-poorana, 
 "There was a prostitute named LeelavzHee,who having resolved to make 
 an offering of an artificial salt-hill, one goldsmith, named Weemiuva- 
 gh?/twkrt, undertook the work, and perceiving it to be a divine action he 
 took nothing from the girl for his hire, but constructed for her a salt-hill 
 
44 
 
 with so much elegance and neatness that afterwards, in reward there- 
 of, the said poor and theological goldsmith together with his wife was 
 endowed with immense riches, and became himself the monarch of 
 the seven-dweepfl universe, with a shining form equal to the rays of 
 ten thousand suns." Hence he gives the Opponent to understand, that 
 whoever assists in burning a widow is likely to reap glory, as well as 
 this theological goldsmith for assisting the prostitute in her devout 
 offering. Thus do the supporters of this system, by the most idle 
 fables^ as well as the most indecent examples^ trifle with the real mur- 
 der of their nearest female relatives. 
 
 On this subject, as the only reason why this murderous custom is 
 still permitted to pollute the land with blood, when the exposure of 
 infants, and men's voluntarily devoting themselves to death, have been 
 abolished by public authority, must be sought in the idea entertained 
 that it is indispensibly enjoined by the Hindoo laws and system, we 
 intreat permission to subjoin a few extracts from a document in our 
 possession, drawn up in Szmgskritrt about two years ago by Mrztyoon- 
 yiya-YiCiynXimkuYU^ the chief pundit successively in the College of 
 Fort William, and in the Supreme Court, at the request of the Chief 
 Judge in the Sudder Dewanee Adawlut, who wished him to ascertain, 
 from a comparison of all the works extant on the subject, the precise 
 point of law relative to burning widows, according to those who re- 
 commend the practice. This document, as the Compiler of it, from 
 his own extensive learning and the assistance of his friends, had an 
 opportunity of consulting more works on the subject than almost any 
 pundit in this Presidency, may be regarded as possessing the highest 
 legal authority according to the Hindoos. After having consulted 
 nearly thirty works on the subject, current in Bengal and the north- 
 ern, western, and southern parts of Hindoostan, among which are all 
 those quoted for the practice by the author of this pamphlet, he says, 
 '' Having examined all these works and weighed their meaning, I 
 thus reply to the questions I have been desired to answer. — The 
 Juttee Mulla Bilas shastra directs the followinof formula to be address- 
 ed to the bride by the priest at the time of marriage, ' be thou per- 
 petually the companion of thy husband, in life and in death.' Ha- 
 reet«, a later writer, says that it is the inheritance of every woman 
 belonjring- to the four casts, not beinsf pregfnant or not havino- a little 
 child, to burn herself with her husband." The Compiler afterwards 
 quotes Vishnoo-moonee as speaking thus, " *• let the wife either em- 
 brace a life of abstinence and chastity, or mount the burning pile;' 
 but he forbids the latter to the unchaste." He then enumerates parti- 
 cularly the various rules laid down by him and others who have fol- 
 lowed him on the same side of the question, relative to the time and 
 circumstances in which a woman is permitted to burn herself, and in, 
 what cases she is even by them absolutely forbidden. These extracts 
 shew that binding the woman, and the other acts of additional 
 cruelty which the author of this pamphlet justifies, are totally forbid- 
 den. The Soodheekoumoodec as quoted by the Compiler says, " Let 
 the mother enter the fire after the son has kindled it around his fath- 
 er's corpse; but to the father's corpse and the mother let him not set 
 
45 
 
 fire: if the son set fire to the living mother he has on liim the guilt 
 of murdering- both a woman and a mother." Thus the possibility of 
 a woman's being bound to her husband's corpse is taken away : while 
 the act is left perfectly optional, the son is not to be^ in the least de- 
 gree^ accessary to the 7nothcr\s death; if she burn herself at all, it 
 must be by throwing herself into the flames already kindled. And 
 tlie Nirnujja-sindhoo forbids the use of any bandage, bamboos, or 
 wood, by way of confining the woman on the funeral pile ; nor before 
 she enters it must the least persuasion be used, nor must she be plac- 
 ed on the fire by others. Thus the practice as existing in Bengal 
 and defended in this work is deliberate murder^ even according to the 
 legal authorities which recommend burning as optional. 
 
 Mritjjounjujja however shews, from various authors, that though 
 burning is termed optional, it is still not to be recommended. To 
 this effect lie quotes the Fijityuntee^ "While Brwmhachzfryw and 
 burning are perfectly optional, burning may arise from concupiscence, 
 but ]^Yum\\ac\\UY\a cannot; hence they are not equally worthy, how 
 then can they be equally optional? By J^Yumi\ac\iurya the widow 
 obtains bliss though she have no son." He then quotes several 
 authors, as declaring, that women ought not to burn, because it is 
 merely a work of concupiscence ; the Julie a-mala-vilas and others as 
 declaring that the practice is merely the effect of cupidity, and not 
 the fruit of a virtuous and constant mind ; and the Mitakshura as de- 
 claring, that by embracing a life of abstinence the widow, by means 
 of divine wisdom, may obtain beatitude ; and hence, that a woman's 
 burning herself is improper ; adding, that in former ages nothing was 
 heard of women's burning themselves : it is found only in this corrupt 
 age. 
 
 The following is the conclusion drawn by this able pundit and jurist 
 from the perusal of the whole of these works. " After perusing many 
 works on this subject, the following are my deliberate and digested 
 ideas : V/shnoo-moonee and various others say, that the husband be- 
 ing dead, the wife may either embrace a life of abstinence and chas- 
 tity, or mount the burning jjile ; but on viezcing the zohole I esteem a 
 life of abstinence and chastity^ to accord best zcith the laic ; the pre- 
 ference appears evidently to be on that side. Vyasr/, Swngkoo, C/n- 
 geera, and Hareetr/, speaking of widow's burning, say, that by burn- 
 ing herself with her hu^^band she may obtain connubial bliss in Hea- 
 ven; while, by a life of abstinence and chastity, she, attaining sacred 
 wisdom, may certainly obtain final bea'itude. Hence to destroy her- 
 self for the sake of a little evanescent bliss, cannot be her duty ; burn- 
 ing is for none but for those who, despising final beatitude, desire 
 nothing beyond a little short-lived pleasure. Hence I regard a 
 woman's burning herself as an unicorthy act, and a life of abstinence 
 and chastity as highly excellent, [n the shastras appear ma/iy prohi- 
 bitions of a zcotnan's dying icith her husband, but against a life of ab- 
 stinence and chastity there is no prohibition. Against her burning 
 herself the following authorities are found. In the Meemangsha- 
 dz/rslu/n^/ it is declared, that every kind of self-inllicted injury is sin. 
 The Sankhyrt says, that a useless death is undoubtedly sinful. The 
 
46 
 
 killing for sacrifice commanded by the shastras has a reasonable cause, 
 and is yet sinful in a certain degree, because it destroys life. And 
 while, by the Meemangsha, either of the two may be chosen ; by the 
 Sankhyrt, a life of abstinence and chastity is alone esteemed lawful. 
 But by the Vedant«, all works springing from concupiscence are to 
 be abhorred and forsaken; hence a woman's burning herself from the 
 desire of connubial bliss, ought certainly to be rejected with abhor- 
 rence." 
 
 He further adds, " No blame whatever is attached to those who 
 prevent a woman's burning. In the shastras it is said, the JLundurpa 
 being consumed to ashes by the eye of Shzv«, his wife, Rwtee, deter- 
 mined to burn herself; and commanded her husband's friend, Micd- 
 hoo, to prepare the funeral pile. Upon this the gods forbad her ; on 
 which account she desisted, but by Kalee-dasa no blame is attached 
 to them for this conduct. Thus also in the Shree~Bhagiivuta : a wo- 
 man, Kripee, had a son, a mighty hero, from love to whom she for- 
 bore to burn herself with her husband; yet she was deemed guilty of 
 no sin therein. Now also we hear of sons and other relatives at- 
 tempting to dissuade a woman from burning ; yet they are esteemed 
 guilty of no crime. It is also evident that a woman, in thus burning 
 herself, dies merely from her own self-will, and from no regard to 
 any shastra ; such the command of a thousand shastras would not in- 
 duce to die. They merely reason thus, ' By the death of my hus- 
 band I have sustained an irreparable loss ; it is better for me to die 
 than to live ;' hence a woman determines to die : and her relatives 
 seeing this mind in her, provide the funeral pile, and say, " if you are 
 determined to die, to die by falling from a precipice would be tedious, 
 die in this manner :" thus a father who has a son determined to go to 
 a distant country, finding all dissuasion vain, at length sends a guide 
 with him who knows all the rivers and dangerous places. The vari- 
 ous shastras therefore describe this action as being merely that of 
 one who, having received an incurable wound, is determined to die, 
 whether by falling from a precipice, by fire, or by water." 
 
 After this full and accurate investigation by one so able and pos- 
 sessing such opportunities, the subject, as far as relates to the law of 
 the Hindoos, or to the countenance it receives from the Hindoo sys- 
 tem, may well be supposed to be fully before the public. All that the 
 author of this pamphlet, assisted by all the pundits who wish for the 
 continuance of the practice, has been able to bring forth as at all 
 countenancing it, is confined to the opinions of five or six authors, 
 amidst that multitude included by the Hindoos under the term of " the 
 learned :" and after the examination of nearly thirty works written 
 either for or against this practice, the hope of obtaining further light 
 respecting it from the Hindoo shastras, is totally vain. A work to be 
 ranked as an authority in point of law, must have been known and 
 read for ages : any work therefore on the subject hitherto hidden, and 
 hereafter brought forth to countenance the practice, becomes, for that 
 very reason, ofno authority. The question is now left to be determined 
 wholly on the principle of equity and reason. It is possible that this 
 practice might have orlgijpated in the injunction of the shastra addressed 
 
47 
 
 by the priest to the bride in marriaf^c, " Be tliou the companion of 
 thy husljand in life and in death." It is evident that Mwnoo was 
 ig-norant of the custom of Suttee, by his prescribiMg" for widows 
 a life of abstinence and chastity. From this, however, certain succeed- 
 ing- writers, IIareet«, and some others, may have taken occasion to 
 recommend the widow's burning- herself, with the hope of living- 
 ag-ain with her husband for a limited number of years. But even by 
 these it was enjoined, that this should be a perfectly voluntary act, 
 voluntary in its orig-in, and in every stage of it; and that this should 
 be manifested by her ascending the burning pile without the least 
 force, and by no force being used to detain her there. And should na- 
 ture recoil at the sight of the flames, the atonement was only three 
 Jcah/fns of cowries, or about tiDelve annas ; after which it is expressly 
 enjoined, that she shall be received and treated by her neighbours 
 precisely as before. Above all, the son is forbidden, in the most ex- 
 press manner, to be in the least degree accessary to his mother's death. 
 If frantic grief urge her to put an end to her own existence, it must 
 be by her throwing herself on the funeral pile of her deceased lord, 
 in which she must be no more assisted than as though she were pre- 
 cipitating herself from a precij)ice. AVhile nothing can be more mur- 
 derous, therefore, than the practice and mode justified by the writer 
 of the pamphlet under consideration, nothing can be more contrary to 
 the spirit and intention of even those few Hindoo writers who have re- 
 commended the burning system. 
 
 While this horrid practice is allowed to have been recommended by 
 certain writers, it is evident that it was never considered as a lazo^ or 
 as a religious injunction essential to the duty of a good Hindoo. If it 
 be a law binding even in point of conscience, the greater part of India 
 must ever have lived in a state of direct disobedience to the laws 
 of their own religion ; for as the recommendation is directed to widows 
 of every cast down even to the lowest, that of a Chandal«, it must have 
 been imperative on all, at least as matter of conscience. Yet, not to 
 advert to what Mriiyoon^itya has advanced, that it was unknown in the 
 first and purest ages of Hindooism, if the number of widows burnt in 
 Bengal annually do not exceed a thousand, it must be disobeyed even 
 in Bengal, where it is most prevalent, by at least ninety-nine out of a 
 hundred of the population, and in the western part of Hindoostan by a 
 still greater proportion ; while, in the southern part of the British do- 
 minions, it is said to be scarcely regarded at all. If this practice 
 therefore form a part of the Hindoo religious system, with the excep- 
 tion of one in perhaps a thousand, this system is, by themselves, uni- 
 versally discarded and treated with contempt.* 
 
 This barbarous practice, however, while recommended by a few 
 among the Hindoo writers, has been found by others to involve prin- 
 ciples directly subversive of Hindooism itself. Here it is almost need- 
 
 * " Supposing the entire Hindoo population of the Bengal Presidency to be 50,000,000, 
 and the annual deaths to be 1 in 33, or above 1 ,500,000 a sixth of this number, or 250,000 
 might, on a general computation, be assumed as the number of Hindoo females becoming 
 widows, of whom little more than 600 devote themselves on the death of their husbands." 
 — (Parliamentary Papers. July, 1825, jp. ll.J — Ed. 
 
48 
 
 less to inform the reader that the learned among the Hindoos have 
 been, for numerous a<res, almost as much divided respecting their re- 
 ligious sentiments as w^ere formerly the learned of Greece and Rome. 
 One grand principle of the Hindoo system is, that life must not be de- 
 stroyed : hence their abstaining from animal food ; and hence many 
 have thought it sinful to destroy a noxious or a poisonous reptile. 
 Even sacrifices are supposed to involve a certain degree of guilt, as far 
 as they destroy life, although their being done in obedience to a sup- 
 posed command, causes the merit of the deed to overbalance its demerit. 
 But it is evident, from what has been already urged, that a woman's 
 burnins" herself has never been considered as a deed commanded. 
 Hence, as Mr/tyoonJ2fy« justly observes, no blame has ever been at- 
 tached, by any of their writers, to those who have prevented its being 
 done ; which vv'ould have been the case had it been regarded as a re- 
 ligious duty. Instances enough may be found in the Hindoo shastras 
 of the strong sense they have of the sin of obstructing or preventing a 
 religious act; many examples are related of men said to be destroyed 
 by devotees for interrupting them only in their evening ceremonies. 
 While, therefore, it has been merely recommended by a ^ew^ others 
 have beheld it as destroying life without cause, and thus violating 
 one of the fundamental principles of Hindooism. 
 
 But many have gone farther, and condemned the very principle on 
 which it has been recommended. The ground of this has been al- 
 ready mentioned. The Hindoos maintain, in all its strictness, the doc- 
 trine of the metempsychosis, and believe that the human soul is part 
 of the Supreme Being, and that while its desires are impure and cor- 
 rupt, it can never be re-united to him and obtain final beatitude. 
 Others among them, however, hold that certain deeds, though done 
 from the most unworthy motives, are in themselves so available as to 
 merit a certain degree of recompense ; never final beatitude indeed, 
 but wealth, a son, long life, the destruction of enemies, or a certain 
 temporary state of bliss in their Swz/rgrt, or heavens. In this class those 
 rank who contend for the burning of widows, as is sufficiently testified 
 by one of the quotations given in the pamphlet under consideration, 
 which says, that though a woman burn herself from " amours, anger, 
 fear, or affection," she is still certain of obtaining heaven. But all 
 these deeds the more learned treat with the greatest contempt, de- 
 claring them to be nothing more than vice in another shape, the in- 
 dulgence of a corrupt mind. These writers therefore view a wo- 
 man's burning herself as perfectly unlawful. Thus those who form 
 the great support of the Hindoo system, totally condemn the very 
 principle on which the practice is at all recommended, and esteem the 
 whole an indulgence of vicious and corrupt desires, while they insist, 
 on the other hand, that the law commands a widow to live a life of 
 abstinence and chastity. That these compose the greater part of the 
 Hindoos, may be inferred from the proportion of widows thus burnt 
 alive when compared with the whole population of Hindoostan, the 
 horrid practice prevailing chiefly in the lower part of Bengal, and 
 most of all, within about twenty or thirty miles of Calcutta. 
 
 Such then is the real state of things relative to this practice, even 
 
49 
 
 when described by its most stiiMiuous advocates; i'oy I In; rcjider will 
 have seen that in the |)ani|)lilc;t under consideration, the admissions of 
 the Advocate for its continuance condemn the practice scarcely less 
 than Mr/tvw.vnj//v^/ himself. As a commdnd it has not the least foun- 
 dation in the II indoo system ; for while it \^ recommended to all, at 
 least ninety-nine out of a hundred of the strictest and most tievout 
 Hindoos have ever lived in comph^te disreg^ard of it. Had it been other- 
 wise indeed, as the recommentlation is general, the country must have 
 been every year a scene of general massacre, li' the numlxir of Jlin- 
 doos in India be computed at a hundred millions, and few will esti- 
 mate them lower, ihe least number who die annually mustj in the 
 common course of mortality, be estimated at three miUions ; and, as 
 nearly every man is married, and in general to a woman far young- 
 er than himself, a m/'ll/on of zoidou^s annualljj is the very lowest 
 number which we ought to reckon. Now if only one out of a hun- 
 dred of these are burned, this will exhibit ten thousand zc/dozcs con- 
 signed to the Jlames every year! but, were the whole million to be 
 thus burnt alive, this country would yearly present such a (rehenna 
 — such a sacrifice to Moloch, as the world has never beheld. A law, 
 however, regularly disobeyed by ninety-nine out of a hundred of those to 
 whom it is given, and this without either punishment or blame, is totally 
 unworthy the name. Such is not the case with the lan^s of the Hin- 
 doo system: by these widows are forbidden to marry again, — and not 
 one in a thousand ever marries ag-ain. As a recommendation then it 
 has not been supported by one fifth of the Hindoo writers on ethics 
 or jurisprudence, nor practically regarded by a thousandth part of 
 those who profess Hindooism. The recommendation is also in direct 
 opposition to the command of the great Hindoo lawgiver, who enjoins 
 on every widow a life of abstinence and chastity; and further, it is 
 grounded on principles completely subversive of the Hindoo system, 
 and opposed to that course which the Hindoos believe to be the only 
 path to final happiness. Yet this practice, thus opposed to their great 
 legislator's command — to the very nature of their religious system — 
 and to all their best ideas of virtue, is kept alive in the metropolis and 
 its vicinity by acts of unfeeling coercion, which are the most direct 
 violations of the rules laid down by those ^ew who have at all recom- 
 mended the practice, while in the provinces of Hindoostan, which is 
 held to have been the chief seat of every important transaction de- 
 tailed in their mythology, and which contains a brave, noble, courage- 
 ous race, before whom the natives of Bengal have always trembled, 
 the practice, if formerly prevalent in any great degree, has at this time 
 nearly expired beneath the feelings of common humanity. Yet all these 
 circumstances of additional cruelty are now detailed and justilled in an 
 address to the British public, while not the least shadow of argument 
 is brought forward in support of the system; but rather principles 
 are tacitly avowed as the grand motive for continuing it, which dis- 
 cover the most complete absence of feeling for the moral welfare of 
 their dearest female relatives, and reflect on their characters the hiffh- 
 est dishonour. 
 
 While the discussion of ihe subject was confined to the native lan- 
 
 G 
 
50 
 
 guag'Cj a certain degree of silence niig-ht perhaps have been less 
 blameable. But after a justification of the system has appeared in 
 the shape of an appeal to the public both in India and in Britain, in 
 the English language, it would be criminal to remain silent, and a 
 grievous offence against humanity to treat the subject in a light and 
 cursory manner. And when it is considered, that this practice causes 
 the death of a greater number of persons in one year, who, if they 
 ought not to be thus burnt alive^ involve the country in all the guilt of 
 innocent blood, than are publicly executed for their crimes throughout 
 the whole of India in the course of twenty years, it cannot be wrong 
 to call to this momentous subject the attention of every friend to his 
 country. How would Biitain feel, if within herself a hundred inno- 
 cent persons suffered death by some mistake of law in the course of a 
 year ! How then ought she to feel when in only one province of her 
 foreign dominions nearly a thousand innocent widows are every year 
 burnt to death ? Were this inhuman persecution, which, in the num- 
 ber of its annual victims, exceeds all that papal superstition ever 
 brought to the stake in Britain in the course of a century, directed by 
 the supporters of this practice against any particular sect^ or class of 
 men, they would long ago have appealed to their rulers for redress, 
 or they would have left the spot where they were treated with such 
 cruelty. But how can mothers and sisters make an appeal against 
 their own relatives ? How can a wife, a mother, withdraw from her 
 own family ? They may endure continual agony under the apprehen- 
 sion of the dreadful doom which they know awaits them on the first 
 fatal attack of disease on their husbands, — they may feel their anguish 
 renewed at the sight of every female neighbour they behold led forth 
 to the flames — they may tremble at every touch of disease that 
 affects their husbands, and weep at every recollection of their hapless 
 children; — but can they leave the scene of suffering? can they make 
 knozcn their sorrows? dare they bewray, even in the slightest degree, 
 the anguish which preys on their vitals ? They lie bound as sheep 
 for the slaughter; — and thus they must remain, suffering in silence, 
 till British feeling and sympathy shall duly realize their hitherto un- 
 known, unpitied misery.* 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 The 2) resent partial interference of the British Government jn^omotes 
 the INCREASE^ CELEBRITY^ and SUPPOSED LEGALITY of the Suttee, 
 
 The sentiment of the Poet, "'Tis but lame kindness that does its 
 work by halves," applies with peculiar force to the regulations enact- 
 ed in British India relative to the burning of widows. This will ap- 
 pear by the following extracts from the Parliamentary Papers relat- 
 ing to Ilijidoo widows: No. i, ii, iii, iv,; printed July, 1821; June, 
 ]823; June, 1824; and July, 1825.— 
 
 * Friend of India, (monthly series), Vol. ii. Page 453 — 483. 
 
51 
 
 "It appears to me that, if the practice is allowed to exist at all, 
 the less notice we take of it the better, because the apj)arent object 
 of the interference of the police is to compel the people to observe 
 the rules of their own shaslras, (which of liiemselves they will not 
 obey), by ascertaining' particular circumstances of the condition of the 
 widow. The object of the interference does not appear to answer 
 the proposed end: for, with the same means of obtaining- information, 
 the number of widows burnt in 1817 far exceeds that in the preceding 
 years. It is true, that the interference of the police may, in some 
 cases, have induced compliance with the rules of the shastras; but 
 the ojjiclal attendance of the darogah stamps every regular Suttee icilk 
 the sanction of Government j and I must humbly submit, that autho- 
 rizing a practice is not the way to effect its gradual abolition."*' 
 (W. Ewer, Esq., Act. Sup. of Police, Lower Provinces, Calcutta, 
 Nov., 1818.) 
 
 "Mr. Chapman entirely agrees with Mr. Oakley that the interfe- 
 rence of Government has been a cause of the increased prevalence 
 of Suttee."+ (W. Ewer, Esq., &c.) 
 
 "I should not deem it improbable that the interference of the po- 
 lice officers, under the orders of Government, may have tended to in- 
 crease the practice, by acting as a stimulus, in the same manner thai 
 the interference of European Governments with the religious tenets of 
 any sect, has always tended to increase the zeal and confirm the preju- 
 dices of the sectaries." J (J, Ewing, Esq., Magistrate, Sylhet.) 
 
 " Previous to 1813, no interference on the part of the police was 
 authorized, and widows were sacrificed legally or illegally as it 
 might happen; but the Hindoos were then aware that the Govern- 
 ment regarded the custom with natural horror, and would do any 
 thing- short of direct prohibition to discourage and gradually to abo- 
 lish it. The case is now altered. The police officers are ordered to 
 interfere, for the purpose of ascertaining that the ceremony is per- 
 formed in conformity with the rules of the shastras, and in that event 
 to allow its completion. This is granting the authority of Govern- 
 ment for the burning of zcidows ; and it can scarcely be a matter of 
 astonishment that the number of the sacrifices should be doubled 
 when the sanction of the ruling pozcer is added to the recommendation 
 of the shastrar% (H. Oakley, Esq., Mag., Hooghly, Dec, 1818.) 
 
 ^' The Governor General in Council is reluctantly led to express 
 his apprehension that the greater confidence with which the people 
 perform this rite under the sanction of Government, as implied or 
 avowed in the circular orders already in force, combined with the 
 excitement of religious bigotry by the continual agitation of the ques- 
 tion, may have tended to augment, rather than diminish, the frequency 
 of these sacrifices." || (Calcutta, Dec, 1819.) The increase here refer- 
 red to was evident from the returns of Suttees in the several districts 
 subordinate to the Presidency of Fort William, viz., in the year, 
 
 "1815 378. 
 
 1816 442. 
 
 1817 707."1I 
 
 * Par. Papers, No i. p. 229. + p. 232. X p. 232. S P- 2^6. |1 p. 242. H p. 24!. 
 
62 
 
 Relative to tlie increase of Suttees, the Magistrates in the Ailypore 
 district remark, " The abstract statement of the number of Suttees 
 exhibits the frequency of these abominable sacrifices so progressively 
 and materially increased since the period referred to, (from 1815 to 
 1818), as to justify our being confirmed in the belief, before more 
 than once expressed by this, to the superior Court, that any interfer- 
 ence, save that of r/ total prohibition under the severest penalties^ will 
 ever be productive of a mistaken spirit of jealousy and opposition, 
 which w'\\\ hope by encouraging the prevalence of this superstitious 
 usage, to induce us to discontinue altogether our interference."* 
 (Ailypore, March, 1819.) 
 
 '•As far as my observation goes, I shall say that the humane inten- 
 tions of the framersofthe resfulations reofardina- these ceremonies vi'ill 
 not l)e fully answered. It can hardly be doubted but that the neces- 
 sary presence of the police officers of Government, at these immola- 
 tions, stamps on them that character of strict legalitij and seem 
 to afford them that degree of countenance on the part of Govern- 
 ment which must produce an evil effect.'" + (J. F. Petty, Esq, Mag., 
 Southern Concan.) 
 
 "After having weighed, with every deliberation, the mode of car- 
 rying into effect the intention of Government, I became most fully 
 satisfied thtit if the prohibitory points to the sacrifice were to be deter- 
 mined by native jiolice officers^ the practice of this awful rite icould 
 shortly multiply manifold.'''' % (J- Marriott, Esq., Mag., Tannah, Sep. 
 1819.) 
 
 "Our Government, by modifying the thing and issuing orders about 
 it, — orders which even the Government and the Sudder Judges them- 
 selves do not appear clearly to comprehend, have thrown the ideas of 
 the Hindoos upon the subject into a complete state of confusion. They 
 know not what is allowed and what interdicted ; but, upon the whole, 
 they have a persuasion that our Government, whom they most erro- 
 neously suppose to be indifferent about the lives of the natives, are 
 rather favourable to Suttees than otherzoise. They will then believe 
 that we abhor the usage v/hen we prohibit in toto by an absolute and 
 peremptory law. They have no idea that we might not do so with 
 the most perfect safety. They conceive our pozoer and our will to he 
 commensurate.^'' \ (C. Smith, Esq., Second Judge, Calcutta, Aug., 
 1821.) 
 
 The Hon. the Court of Directors, in a letter to the Governor Ge- 
 neral in Council, under date London, June, 1823, thus express their 
 opinion upon the subject of partial interference, — " To us it appears 
 very doubtful (and we are confirmed in this doubt by respectable 
 authority) whether the measures which have been already taken 
 have not tended rather to increase than to diminish the frequency 
 of the practice. Such a tendency is, at least, not unnaturally as- 
 cribed to a Regulation which, prohibiting^ a practice only in cer- 
 tain cases., appears to sanction it in all others. It is to be appre- 
 hended, that where the p(iople have not previously a very enthu- 
 siastic attatchnient to the custom, a law which shall explain to them 
 * Par. Papers, No. i. p. 218. + p. 254. f 255, 256^ S No. ii. p. 67. 
 
the cases in vviiich it ought not to be followed may be tak(Mi as a di- 
 rection for adoj)ting- it in all others. It is, niorc'over, with much re- 
 luctance that we can consent to make the Britisli Governmentj by a 
 specific permission of the Suttee, an ostensible part jj to the sacrijicc ; 
 we are averse also to the j^ractice of making- British Courts expound- 
 ers and vindicators of the Hindoo relig-ion, when it leads to acts which, 
 not less as JjCg-islators than as Christians, we abominate."* 
 
 ''A general oj)inion prevails (in whicii I most cordially concur), 
 that, in order to reduce the frequency of this rite, it should be neg- 
 lected and treated with as little notice as possible." + (J. J. Sparrow, 
 Esq., Col. & Mag., S. Concan, Feb., 1822.) 
 
 The opinions of the second, third, and fifth Judges of the Niza- 
 mut Adawlut in Calcutta, are as follows: — 
 
 •' The second Judge cannot subscribe to any instructions that have 
 a tendency to modifij^ systematize^ or legalize the usage^ or that appear 
 to reofard a lep-al Suttee as at all better than an illeg-al one. He is 
 convinced, that if this mode of issuing orders under the sanction of 
 Government to regulate Suttees is continued, the practice zoill take 
 such deep root^ I'uler the authority of the supreme power of the coun- 
 try^ that to eracii^ute it will become impossible. The usage will be nmch 
 more likely to fall into disuse under a total neglect on the part of 
 Government, than under the pr(!sent system of attention and inquiry, 
 which serves but to keep the feelings of the Hindoo population alive 
 upon the point, and to give a sort of interest and celebrity to the sa- 
 crifice, which is in the highest degree favourable to its continuance 
 and extension." j; (C. Smith, Esq.) 
 
 ''I conceive that we have already done a great deal of mischief in 
 this way, and that instead of diminishing we have increased the evil."§ 
 (J. T. Shakespeare, Esq.) 
 
 "I confess that my own opinion inclines me to impute to the Re- 
 gulations a positively pernicious tendency, in proportion to the degree 
 in which they have brought the sacrifices under the more immedi- 
 ate cognizance of the officers of Government, whose presence at the 
 ceremony, instead of operating as a restraint, has, I am afraid, con- 
 tributed to invest it with additional solemnity, and to confer on the 
 performance of it, in the mistaken view of the natives, a species of 
 authoritative sanction which it was not before considered to possess."|| 
 (W. B. Martin, Esq.) 
 
 '' It can hardly be doubted but that the printed work regarding 
 Suttees has given the ceremony, in the eyes of the natives, a stamp of 
 legality which in our Provinces — it never before possessed ; and it may 
 therefore be questioned whether, upon the whole, more harm than 
 good mav not have followed its publication." f (Boml)ay, Jud. Cons., 
 June, 1820.) 
 
 "This permission I found that the })eople most ignorantly and per- 
 versely abused; and, at every stag'e of my argument with them, an 
 appeal was made to the order of Government, as a vindication of their 
 conduct. There can be no doubt of the benevolent intention of Go- 
 
 * Par. Papers, No. iii. p. 45. + p. 48. X No. iv. p. 148. § p. 149. i| p. 149. 
 
 5 p. 156. 
 
54 
 
 vernment in issuing such an order, and as little of its beneficial 
 influence in many instances, as it prevents the employment of 
 force ; but, the people construe it into a direct approval of the dread- 
 ful act; and for a long time ' The order of GovernmenV seemed 
 to form a triumphant answer to all my arguments.'" And again: — 
 " The only answer they attempted to give was, ' It is the custom, and 
 we have got the Government order for so doing.'''* (Extracts from 
 Bombay Courier, Oct., 1824. 
 
 From these observations it is presumed that partial interference 
 with the burning of Hindoo widows has not been attended with the 
 desired end — the discountenance and decrease of Suttees ; but that 
 rather the appalling evil has increased in enormity, celebrity, and 
 supposed legality. Humanity and justice dictate " a more excellent 
 way," enjoining the ancient precept of the Almighty to Noah and his 
 sons — " Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be 
 shed." (Gen. ix. 6.) May Britain " awake to righteousness," nor 
 fear to spread the shield over the heads of the deluded and oppressed 
 widows daily appointed to death by this unnalural and suicidal cus- 
 tom, and doubtless " the blessing of those who were ready to perish 
 will come upon her, and she will cause the widow's heart to sing for 
 
 joy-" 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 Authorities to confirm the propriety and safety of the immediate 
 suppression of Suttees, 
 
 The papers relating to the burning of Hindoo widows, printed by 
 order of the Hon. the House of Commons, contain numerous authori- 
 ties for the immediate suppression of this dreadful rite. " From what 
 I have heard of several very respectable brahmuns, I am almost sa- 
 tisfied that the exercise of a very trifling degree of authority would 
 put a stop to this perversion of reason and humanity. It appears 
 that the late Peishxca frequently personally exerted himself io dissuade 
 women from becoming Suttees ; and that he always took upon him- 
 self the charge of supporting those who attended to this advice. I 
 shall be glad to use my influence at this place, in a similar manner, if 
 authorized by you, and have little doubt of the success of my interpo- 
 sition, in the majority of cases that may occur, when I have it in my 
 power to assure the women of the means of subsistence."+ — (H. Pot- 
 tinger, Esq., Collector ; addressed to the Hon. M. Elphinstone, Governor 
 of Bombay, Oct., 1818.) 
 
 " The letter from the Maofistrate of Chinsurah deserves the serious 
 attention or the Nizamut Adawlut and the Government. It appears 
 that this abhorrent, and often utterly illegal practice, was forbidden 
 by the foreign Governments of those settlements : and that the pro- 
 hibition was obeyed without a murmur. So little do the people ap- 
 * Par. Papers, No. iv. p. 212, 213. f No. i. p. 65. 
 
65 
 
 pear to have interested themselves in the afl'air, tliat we lind, from 
 Mr. Forbes' letter, that the mere publication of an ordcM* from him- 
 self prohibiting- the practice, effectually prevented it, and that no sin- 
 gle instance of a woman burning herself has occurred since. Women 
 cannot burn or be burnt within the Supreme Court, and as we do not 
 find that this prevention has excited the slightest religious alarm in 
 Calcutta, we beg to call the attention of the Nizamut Adawlut to the 
 fact, in proof that no necessity whatever exists why those who assist 
 in killing women in this way should not be treated as murderers in 
 other parts of the British territories."* (E. Watson, Esq., Allypore, 
 April, 1816.) 
 
 " If the British, in imitation of the Mo ghul Government^ were to lay 
 an immediate and positive inhibition upon it, and would declare the 
 parties aiding in the ceremony indictable for murder, and proceed 
 against them accordingly, it must totally die away ; but if tolerated, 
 under whatever restrictions, I do not hesitate to pronounce that it will, 
 in a short time, become nearly as prevalent as it now is in Bengal."+ 
 (W. Wright, Esq., Mag., Furruckabad, April, 1819.) 
 
 "I do not think that much, if any, difficulty would be experienced 
 in abolishing the custom of Suttee, if a law for that purpose were to 
 be established.''^ (W. P. Pechell, Esq., Mag., Chittagong, Dec. 18.) 
 
 " I do not hesitate in offering my opinion, that a law for its aboli- 
 tion would only be objected to by the heirs ^ who derive worldly profit 
 from the custom, — by brahmuns, who partly exist by it, — and by those 
 whose depraved nature leads them to look on a sacrifice as an highly 
 entertaining show ; at any rate the sanction of Government should be 
 withdrawn without delay. The adoption of this measure will most 
 likely be followed by a decrease in the number of Suttees, and the 
 Magistrate'' s feelings zcill not he outraged^ as they frequently are at 
 present^ by compelling him to so barbarous a custom."§ (H. Oakley, 
 Esq., Mag., Hooghly, Dec, 1818.) 
 
 '• The interference of Government is well understood to be the 
 Christian v/ish of humanity. The Rajah of this place is a Mussul- 
 man ; and the Hindoos seem generally willing to embrace the excuse 
 of the will of the reigning power to evade the Suttee, believed of 
 their little-read, and less understood shastra."l| (R. Morrieson, Esq., 
 Sory Burthom, Dec. 1818.) 
 
 " A law might doubtless be promulgated for the abolition of this 
 practice, without causing any serious disturbance. It has already 
 been done in reg-ard to the sacrifice of children at Sausfor and else- 
 where, as well as the practice of destroying female infants, and the 
 burying alive of women. Why, if these customs, which were also 
 generally practised, have been abolished by a humane Government, 
 should not the practice of Suttee be abolished? The destruction of a 
 woman, or of a child, in the eye of the law, is equal ; the free consent 
 alleged in palliation of the sacrifice appears to me inadmissible; that 
 IS, no fair judgment can be passed upon a person no7i compos mentis^ 
 assenting to the performance- of this act ; for caa a person be called 
 actually in a so und state of mind and reason under the agitation of 
 * Par. Papers, No. i. p. 99, 10(h + p. 212. | p. 233. ^ p. 237. || p. 238. 
 
.56 
 
 grief? and would a person's deposition, under this state of mind, be re- 
 ceived in a court of justice in a case where life and death are at 
 stake? Look at the statements; they exhibit a class of people who 
 must have been generally ignorant of the shastras."* (E. Lee War- 
 ner, Esq., Mag., 24 Pergunnahs, Calcutta, Dec, 1818.) 
 
 C. Chapman, Esq. Magistrate in Jessore, under date Dec, 1818, 
 thus addresses the Acting Superintendent of Police, Lower Provinces, 
 Calcutta, relative to Suttees : — " Any law, abolishing the Suttee, 
 would be attended with no other effect than it should have under 
 every good system of Government — the immediate and due observ- 
 ance of its enactments. I would most willingly undertake to promul- 
 gate any orders regarding its abolition, throughout the district under 
 my charge, without dread of any ill consequences arising from the 
 interference of Government."+ 
 
 G. Forbes, E'^q., first Judge of the Calcutta Court of Circuit, tims 
 writes to the Register of the Nazamut Adawlut, Aug., 1819: — "I 
 take this opportunity to express my concurrence in the opinion which 
 I found to prevail with the judicial officers at the several stations, with 
 whom I conversed on the subject, that the practice of Hindoo women 
 burning themselves on the funeral pile of their deceased husbands, if 
 prohibited by Government, might be effectually suppressed without 
 apprehension of any serious obstacles. I am happy in being able to 
 adduce an instance of effectual interference in the suppression of this 
 barbarous custom under British authority. In the territory of Delhi, 
 the late resident, Mr, Metcalfe, never (when apprised of the inten- 
 tion) permitted the burning of a zcidow to take place, and zcas pre- 
 jjared to prevent the practice, whenever necessary, by forcible inteife- 
 rence, but which was requisite only on one occasion that came un- 
 der his immediate observation. I have been induced to mention the 
 instance of successful interference by the Resident of Delhi, as afford- 
 ing an example which I believe nearly every Magistrate in the coun- 
 try would, if authorized, be most happy to folio v/ ; and in order to 
 show that there appears no insurmountable obstacle to a measure, 
 with regard to the exigency of which, if shown to be practicable, 
 there can be but one sentiment.''^ 
 
 F. Warden, Esq., one of the Members of Council in Bombay, thus 
 declares his opinion : — " I am convinced of the practicability of abo- 
 lishing not only this, but also every other sanguinary practice of the 
 Hindoos, and without endangering either the popularity or the secu- 
 rity of our supremacy."^ 
 
 J. O. Tod, Esq., Judge in the Masulipatam Zilla, under the Ma- 
 dras Presidency, thus expresses his opinion relative to suppressing 
 Suttees, July, 1819: — " The practice is by no means common in this 
 part of the country ; and that it might be altogether abolished by an 
 ordinance of Government, without offence to the relifrious feelino-s or 
 prejudices of the natives seems, not impossible from the following cir- 
 cumstance : — Application was once made to the criminal Judge, when 
 he held the office of Magistrate, by the relations of a widow, for his 
 permission to burn herself with the dead body of her husband. He 
 * Par. Papers, So. i. p. 239. ^+ p. 241. | p. 243. ^p. 261. 
 
57 
 
 informocl llieiii tliul tin; Biilisli Cjovcrriiuciit iiiiulc it :i lulf never to 
 interfere with tlie relitrjous prejudices or customs of" tin- natives, and 
 that therefore he wouhl not g-ive any order whatever to the woman 
 herself^ wlio miu^lit act as slie shoukl thiidv became her ; but he as- 
 sured them that In.* woukl immediately commit, us uccoinplkes in the 
 murder^ all persons who should in aiiy way assist her to destroy her- 
 self, and the consecjuence was, that the woman did not burn, but is 
 alive and well at this day. This measure did not cause the least dis- 
 satisfaction, on the contrary, the relations of the woman appeared 
 pleased at her having obtained a decent pretext for avoidin<r the hor- 
 rid ceremony.* 
 
 The Parliamentary Papers, No. iii, printed June, 1824, contain lit- 
 tle beside a detail of the immber, names, casts, &c. of Suttees in 1821. 
 The following- cvpression of public opinion relative to the abolition of 
 the burning of widows, appears important: — 
 
 " As far as every information I can obtain, this revolting ceremony 
 could be altogether prevented, by a short prohibitory enactment of 
 the Legislature."+ (R. C. Plowden, Esq., Barripore, June, 1822, to 
 C. H. Hopper, Esq. Mag., of the 24 Pergumahs, Calcutta.) 
 
 Inquiry having been made by the Superintendent of Police, Ma- 
 dras, relative to a woman desirous of burning herself, though dis- 
 suaded by her relatives, yet those relations, upon her persisting in her 
 intentions, desiring she should be permitted to do so, received the 
 following reply from the Secretary of Government, dated Fort St. 
 George, March 7, 1823 ; — " I am directed to acknowledge the receipt 
 of your letter of yesterday's date, and to express the opinion of the 
 flon. the Governor in Council, that all practicable means should be 
 employed for preventing the woman in question from making the in- 
 tended sacrifice of herself. With that view, her relations should be 
 informed, that such a practice being contrary to the established usage 
 of this place y cannot obtain the sanction of Government^ and that it is 
 considered to be their duty to use their strongest persuasions and in- 
 fluence to induce her to forego her intentions. You will also apprize 
 them that they will be held answerable for any interference of a con- 
 trary tendency."! 
 
 The success attending efforts to discountenance the perpetration of 
 Suttees under the Presidencies of Madras and Bombay have been attend- 
 ed with great encouragement, and shew the fecility of entirely sup- 
 pressing this unnatural and murderous rite. According to the re- 
 turns of Suttees for the Madras Presidency, from 1817 to 1819, the 
 number was 183; from 1821 — 1823 no returns, average per annum 
 sixty-one. 
 
 Under the Bombay Presidency, from 1819 to 1823, 245, average 
 per annum 49. Who can doubt whether these few individuals sacri- 
 ficed every year could not be saved in those extensive territories w^ithout 
 exciting- the least commotion ! Nor is the evil under the Beng-al Presi- 
 dency (containing probably a population of 50,000, 000,) so gi eat as to 
 deter exertions for its suppression, the number of Suttees being, from 
 
 * Par. Papers, No. ii. p. 85. + No. iii. p. 4. t p. 51, 
 
 H 
 
68 
 
 1819—1821, 3059, average per annum 611.* Might not British 
 humanity, magnanimity, and piety , rescue these without the least danger 
 to the state ? The muhitude of counsellors reply in the affirmative. 
 
 The nature of the system of discountenancing Suttees pursued on 
 the Madras side of India is as follows: — " Where, (says the writer of 
 the following article, in a Calcutta paper), the immolation of widows 
 though oncefi^equent,, is note seldom knozcn.'*^ 
 
 " Before any woman can destroy herself by burning, permission 
 must first be obtained from the Magistrate. On the request being re- 
 ferred, the applicant is directed to wait a little for an answer ; the 
 Magistrate in the mean time sends for his Cutwal and instructs him to 
 proclaim that a certain widow intends burning herself, but should any 
 Bunian or Bukall be discovered selling any article required for the 
 purpose to the said woman, or any cooly (labourer) offering his as- 
 sistance by carrying oil, wood, &c. to the spot appointed, the former 
 shall be turned out of the bazar, and the latter otherwise punished. 
 It is also proclaimed, that should any crowd collect, the police peons 
 are constantly to disperse it, and to confine to the Cutwal's Choultry 
 all persons resisting the police authority ; further, should any brah- 
 mun belonging to the public offices be seen in the crowd, or any of 
 his relations be found aiding and abetting in the ceremony, such ser- 
 vant shall be discharged from his situation. The whole of this being 
 proclaimed, the applicant is desired to take leave. As may be ex- 
 pected it has been observed, that zcith these restrictions no burning 
 has taken place I The prevailing practice therefore with us may be 
 said to be a complete remedy, and points out that a remedy exists for 
 the prevention of so material an evil. It is briefly this — -prevent a crowd 
 from collecting to uitness the iynmolation^ and rest assured no such 
 ceremony proceeds I Mark the disappointment of the brahmun when 
 he discovers that a crowd (for what is a Hindoo ceremony or feast 
 without a concourse of people!) cannot be collected; mortified, he 
 abandons the victim of his persuasion to shift for herself. His zeal is 
 exerted in proportion to his expected popularity, or to the worldly ad- 
 vantage he is to derive. So it is with the poor deluded widows, har- 
 rassed and goaded into assent to they know not what ; ninety-nine 
 out of a hundred of them secretly rejoice that their attempt at self- 
 destruction has been, by the above means, frustrated. As the remedy 
 can hardly be said to be attended with coercion, it appears no diflficult 
 undertaking to introduce the practice of it in Bengal, and hereby 
 render an essential service to the Hindoo community." (R. S. Moli- 
 gaipore, March, 1823.) 
 
 J. H. Harington, Esq., officiating Chief Judge in Calcutta, in a 
 minute relative to the Suttee of considerable length and interest, 
 dated June, 1823, gives much information upon the subject before 
 us. This document was forwarded to the Court of Directors by the 
 Governor-General, Dec, 1 824. See Par. Papers, No. iii, printed July, 
 1825, p. 8 — 18. A few extracts cannot but be interesting: — 
 
 " I am desirous of putting upon record some considerations which 
 appear to merit attention in any future deliberation upon this import- 
 * See Account of the York Meeting' for the Suppression of Suttees, p. 21. 
 
59 
 
 ant question, and which, I acknowle(J<^e, have produced in my own 
 mind a strong- helicF, it' not a full conviction, that wlienever it may be 
 judg-ed expedient to suppress this barbarous practice by legal prohi' 
 bition, instead of restricting it to what is sanctioned by the shastra, as 
 at present, // will not be found hnpi'dcticablc^ or, us far as I can judge^ 
 be attended zvitli any serious poUlical danger. It is probable that a 
 proclamation to this effect (abolishing the practice) would not at once 
 prove completely eiFectual ; secret immolations would still take place 
 occasionally, and in some instances the widow, under a paroxysm of 
 grief, and the delusion of superstition, might be expected to devote 
 herself on her husband's funeral pile, or otherwise, even without 
 brahminical assistance; but such cases would be rare in comparison 
 with the number of sacrifices which now take place annually, either 
 with or without the knov.dedge of the police officers; and after a few 
 examples for wilful deviation from the rule newly promulgated, 
 (which should of course be made with tenderness in the early inflic- 
 tion of penalties,) I have no doubt that the jJi^uctice would be soon 
 abandoned as unsanctioned bi) Government^ and subjecting the aiders 
 and abettors to punishment by the criminal Courts. On a deliberate 
 view of all those instances in which the laws, customs, and prejudices 
 of the Hndoos, when found to be at variance with the principles of 
 justice and good society, have been necessarily superseded and abro- 
 gated by the laws and regulations of the British Government,* and 
 in the whole of which such supercession has been quietly submitted to, 
 as obviously and exclusively originating in motives of equity and huma- 
 nity^ unconnected zcith any degree of religious intolerance, we may, I 
 think, safely conclude that a similar result will attend the enactment 
 of a legislative provision to prevent the yearly sacrifice of several 
 liundreds of deluded unoffending females, born and living under the 
 protection of the British Government, whenever it shall be deemed 
 expedient to make and promulgate the requisite enactment for that 
 purpose." 
 
 This interesting document thus closes. Referring to certain pro- 
 bable excesses in the perpetration of Suttees, it is added, '' In such 
 a state of things I could not hesitate to adopt the opinion expressed 
 by the second Judge of the Court of Nizamut Adawlut, that the tole- 
 ration of the practice of Suttees is a reproach to our Government; 
 and eveji now I am disposed to agree with him, ' that the entire and 
 immediate abolition of it would be attended with no sort of danger.^'''' 
 
 Among the papers forwarded to the Hon. Court of Directors was 
 one containing, says Mr. Harington, " an extract from a well-written 
 paper, ' On female immolation,^ published in the valuable periodical 
 work, entitled ' The Friend of India,^^ which the late Sir Henry Blos- 
 sett and myself read on our voyage to India, and which appeared to 
 
 * Such as the execution of brahmuns : suppressing^ the sacrifice of*children at Saugur ; 
 preventing women and children, in the provinces of Benares, from burning in a koorh,ox: 
 circular inclosure, on the approach of a public officer to serve any judicial process on 
 brahmuns ; abolishing Dhurna, infanticide among the Rajkoomars, &c. — Sec Asiatic 
 Researches, Vol. iv. p. 330. 
 
 + See Friend of India, (quar. scr.) No. iii. March. 1821. 
 
60 
 
 both of us a powerful and convincing statement of the real facts and 
 circumstances of the case."* A few passages from it may be inte- 
 resting : — 
 
 " We are confident that the continuance of the practice stands on 
 the doctrine of ejcjjedicncy alone. This is its only prop ; of which 
 could it once be deprived it would fall beneath the weight of justice 
 and humanity. And considering the British supremacy in the East 
 as the greatest blessing which the natives have yet received, it does 
 become a duty to look ibrvvard to remote consequences which may at- 
 tend any act of benevolence. The Government of this country has 
 done much to alleviate the misery of India, and to counteract the 
 mischief of its native depravity ; and were it practicable with one 
 stroke of the pen to remove every misery, and diffuse happiness 
 through the country, we are sure it would not be withheld for a mo- 
 ment. It cannot therefore be improper to weigh the question of ex- 
 pediency, and to collect into one focus all the light which can be 
 obtained on the subject from our preceding transactions in India. 
 And if it should thence appear that we have not hitherto been arrested 
 in our career of justice by the prejudices of the natives, that on the 
 contrary the Hindoos have already gone hand in hand with us, with- 
 out discovering any hostility to our authority. There can be no rea- 
 son to apprehend that, in the abolition of female immolation, we shall 
 experience the least interruption. To prove that this is the case, we 
 will adduce three examples : — 
 
 "In the province of Guzerat the deluded parents had been for a long 
 series of years in the habit of destroying their female infants as soon 
 as they were born. Whether the custom was sanctioned by the shas- 
 tras or not, is irrevelent; it is enough that it was deeply rooted in the 
 practice and prejudices of the natives. These unnatural murders at 
 length attracted the attention of Government, and they were abolished 
 by an order of the supreme power. Did Government immediately 
 lose the confidence and attachment of the natives? Did the enraged 
 parent, unsheathing his sword, slaughter the reserved victim, and 
 then turn it on those who had attempted its preservation ? Not one 
 symptom of disaffection has been manifested by the natives on this 
 account. By some the practice is probably forgotten; and it would 
 now appear in the eyes of those as horrible as it formerly appeared 
 natural and indispensable. 
 
 "Our second example is of the same nature, but as it indicates the 
 feelings of a class of natives at the other extremity of the continent, 
 in the opinion of some it may carry greater weight, as demonstrating 
 that the same security accompanies every assertion of the principles 
 of humanity throughout this vast empire. From time immemorial it 
 was the custom of mothers to sacrifice their children to the Ganges at 
 the iiunual festival held at Gunsfa Saufjur. The British Government 
 rejrarded the practice with, those feelings of horror which such un- 
 natural murders are calculated lo inspire; as persuasion would have 
 been unavailing with those who had parted with every parental feel- 
 ing, the practice teas prohibited by a jniblic regulation^ a7id the pro- 
 
 * Par. Papers, No. iv. p. 13. 
 
61 
 
 hibition enforced bi) public nuthoritjj. Nor let us I'orgct that this or- 
 der was j)roniiil»^atc(l in the presence ofthousaiuls assembled at a pub- 
 lic festival, in the hi«rhest excitement of superstitious frenzy. What 
 was the consequence? Not one instance of resistance was attempted 
 by that immense crowd — the mischief vanished from the eartli, and 
 no one bewailed it! The mothers who had brought their children to 
 this funeral sacrilice were constrained to carry them back unhurt; 
 and many, perhaps to whom the heinousness of the crime had never 
 ap])eared, were, by this interposition, awakened to a sense of its 
 enormity ! 
 
 "The third example will ])crhaps go farther to show that we liave 
 pursued a course of undeviating justice in India, at the expense of re- 
 ligious injunction and popular prejudice. The Hindoo laws absolutely 
 prohibit the execution of a brahmun ; they forbid the Magistrate even 
 to imagine evil against him. Thus fenced by the laws, and extolled 
 by their sacred books, they are still more powerfully guarded by the 
 respect and veneration of the people. From one corner of India to 
 the other, however, religious observances may have fallen into disuse, 
 this sacred tribe enjoys great homage. When therefore our Govern- 
 ment commenced in the East we were reduced to the most serious di- 
 lemma. To have inflicted punishment on brahmuns would have been 
 to violate the most awful sanctions of Hindoo law, and the dearest 
 prejudices of the people ; to have exempted them from punishment 
 would have been to deliver over the country to desolation, ravage, 
 and murder. The reign of equity which we were about to introduce 
 was stopped at the very threshold; the destiny of millions hung in 
 suspense. How did we act on this occasion ? Did we lay the laws of 
 justice at the feet of the sacred tribe ? Did we abrogate our code of 
 jurisprudence, and adopt the Vedas for our guide ? Did we deprive 
 the country of our protection because the Hindoo shastras forbid the 
 punishment of the aggressors, if they happen to be brahmuns? We 
 did not hesitate a single moment, but boldly stepped forward in vin- 
 dication of the rights of society ; and in spite of a formidable phalanx 
 of Hindoo juris-consults, and of the strongest prejudices, caused these 
 delinquents to pay the forfeit of their lives to the laws of offended jus- 
 tice. We have repeated the punishment of brahmuns since that pe- 
 riod whenever it has been requisite ; and scarcely a year has since 
 elapsed without the execution of a brahmun in some one of the pro- 
 vinces of our empire. Have the natives complained of this outrage 
 on the sanctity of their priesthood, or considered it as an infringement 
 of our toleration ? Have we lost their confidence ? Have they, in any 
 one instance, petitioned us to disregard their welfare and exempt 
 their spiritual p-uides from death? or have they not on the contrary 
 tacitly sanctioned every act of punishment, and applauded the inflexi- 
 ble tenor of our proceedinors ? Let any man read the account of 
 Nundkomar's execution in Calcutta, forty years ago, and he will be 
 convinced that Hindoos are not men to complain of the execution of 
 justice^ even though it happen to infringe their lazes and prejudices. 
 Mr. Hastinofs iudo-ed there could be no dan^'er in his execution; and 
 his judgment proved correct. If ever it might have been expected 
 
62 
 
 that public feeling would have manifested itself against us, it was 
 most assuredly in this instance, when, for the first time, we were car- 
 rying the law into execution against one of this sacred tribe ; where 
 the actors in this unprecedented exhibition of justice were but a hand- 
 ful compared with the immense crowd (full 200,000 of his own coun- 
 trymen!) which surrounded the scaffold; that vast crowd returned 
 peaceably to their houses. If Mr. Hasting's intrepid support of the 
 claims of justice, in the face of such formidable obstacles, should con- 
 tinue to encourage others, and thereby prove a lasting benefit to the 
 natives of India, more solid glory will inscribe his memory than as 
 though we covered the plains of India with obelisks,"* 
 
 In reviewing the annual statement of Suttees, in the Zillahs and 
 Cities of India presented to the Government, while it is distressing to 
 see with whdii frequency ^ indifference^ and brutalitij^ the unhappy wi- 
 dow is hurried out of the world, it is grateful to see humanity some- 
 times triumph, and the infatuated victim rescued ; affording demon- 
 stration how easily 
 
 "Owe mild effort of the conquering hand 
 
 Might free the earth from this detested blot, 
 
 And lead in blest religion to withstand 
 
 By her meek precepts, what has dimm'd the lot 
 
 Of man, and wrought such deeds as cannot be forgot." 
 
 In the Bareilly Division it is reported, that in 1815 three women 
 were prevented becoming Suttees. In the Patna Division, in 1817, 
 twenty-five Suttees took place, but five women were prevented who 
 *' w^ere saved from burning by the interference of the people of the 
 village or by the arrival of the police officers." In the same year 
 five Suttees are stated to have been prevented in the City of Benares. 
 In the following year three other Suttees were prevented in the same 
 City, and "one woman, cast a brahmun, ran away from the pile after 
 it was set fire to, and is still living." Four widows were saved at 
 Cuddapah in 1820.+ 
 
 The Magistrate of the Patna Division, in his returns of Suttees for 
 1822, writes, — "It is with satisfaction that I have noted, at the foot 
 of the report, that twelve avidows have been either prevented or 
 dissuaded from becoming Suttees ; in nine of which they were dis- 
 suaded by the police officers; in one the widow was prevented by a 
 police officer on account of a legal impediment, and in the two re- 
 maining cases the widows were dissuaded, in one by the Zemindar 
 of the village, and in the other by her friends. A police officer was 
 present in only one of the numerouscases in which the sacrifice was com- 
 pleted (and in that \\v. should have prevented it! ) although, as it may 
 be observed, many of the villages in which they took place are not 
 far from the police stations." 
 
 In the returns from the same Division of the following year (1823) 
 are the following l>ighly interesting statements: — "It will probably 
 be considered the most remarkable feature of the present report that, 
 on nine occasions of intended Suttee, at which alone tlie police officers 
 
 * Par. Papers, No. iv. p. 22 — 24. — Friend of India, as above. 
 + Par. Papers, printed July, 1821, and June, 1823 
 
6:3 
 
 had an opportunity of being- present, they succeeded, without rljifi- 
 cuhy or opposition, in dissuading- the widows from sacrificing tiiem- 
 selves. From the inquiries that I have been able to make on the sub- 
 ject of Suttees during the last two years, I do not hesitate to offer an 
 opinion, that in this district it would not be attended with any dissa- 
 tisfaction of a dangerous nature, if the Government should deem it 
 l^ropcYy to prohibit this lamentable cuatom altogether; it even appears 
 to me that the inhabitants of the district generally are prepared to 
 hear of such a prohibition." Oh I when shall suffering humanity in 
 India hear the voice of mercy saying, " kindle those horrid fires no 
 more ! In some parts of Orissa a pit is used for this dreadful sacri- 
 fice, and the woman, after circumambulating it three or seven times, 
 throws herself into the fire. I have seen one of these pits at Juorsfer- 
 naut's temple, but did not hear of the Suttee in time to be present. 
 Even from this pit the Suttee sometimes escapes. In the Par. Papers 
 (printed July, 1825, p. 109 and 150) is the following account: — "Rahang 
 in the Thannah,of Pooree, (Juggernaut) died Aug-., 25, 1823, and his 
 widow, Mussumut Munee, aged 50, declared her intentions of be- 
 coming a Suttee, and repeated the declaration in presence of the po- 
 lice officers. In pursuance of this intention, the day following she 
 went through the usual ceremonies, and threw herself into a burning 
 pity where the body of her husband icas consuming^ but almost imme- 
 diately leapt out and made her escape. She was severely, but not 
 dangerously burnt, and an engagement was taken from the managers 
 of the village binding themselves that she should be taken care of and 
 proper remedies applied. She returned to her family, and was re- 
 ceived by them as usual." 
 
 Private friendship prompts me to record here the rescue of a poor 
 woman from the flaming pit at Pooree, and this event, like the pre- 
 ceding, shews, '•'' while rescuing one, how practicable it is, with ease, 
 to rescue all." The account is contained in the Report of the General 
 Baptist Missionary Society for 1826, and is as follows : — 
 
 "On Friday, Oct. 28, 1825, we were informed tliat there would bo a Suttee in tlie after- 
 noon. Brother B. A\T0te to the different Europeans at the stations, thinking that some 
 from motives of curiosity or humanity might wish to attend, but no liope could be enter- 
 tained of saving the poor woman, as we were told that she had already burnt her fingers 
 in order to prove her fortitude. Brother B. declined going-, having seen one Suttee, and 
 being so disgusted at the horrid scene ; — and from what he then saw, and did, feeling per 
 suaded that it was in vain to attempt to save the wretched victim, he despaired of doing 
 any good. I however felt a desire to witness the horrid work, that I might speak from 
 experience ; and two military gentlemen having expressed their determination to go, at 
 about half-past four we set off towards the spot where the Suttee was to take place : the 
 name of the place is Swergo Dwar, or The Gate of Heaven ; a place thickly strewed 
 ^vith human skulls and skeletons of Juggernaut's adorers. About a furlong from the 
 pit we ascertained, from the noise of the tin kettle-drums, iScc, that the woman was ap- 
 proaching. In a few minutes a vast concourse of people made their appearance, shout- 
 ing and beating their drums, &c. ; even little children were employed in this unholy work. 
 In the centie of a crowd we discerned the destined victim, surrounded by a slight hoop of 
 bamboo, so that she might walk clear from the press. She appeared to be under twenty 
 years of age, and of an interesting appearance. Round her person was wTapped a white 
 cloth smeared with turmeric ; under her right arm she carried a handy, or earthen pot, 
 containing a little rice, a piece of cocoa-nut, one or two other trifling things, and some 
 fire to throw into the pit, this was from Juggernaut's temple : in her left hand she held 
 some pice (halfpence) which she was to distribute to the bystanders. Her jet-black 
 
64 
 
 hair was smeared with ghee and other greasy substances, and decorated with flowers and 
 gaudy ornamented paper: roimd her neck was a large rope nearly as thick as my wrist, 
 and one or two smaller ones: thus attired, she looked the picture of all that is degrad- 
 ed and wretched. Before her stood one of Satan's high priests with two paltry pictures 
 of Juggernaut, which he was very anxious she should look upon continually. Altogeth- 
 er, I never saw any thing so infernal. The barbarous indifference of the multitude to 
 every feeling of humanity — the thoughts of an awful eternity — the idea that the poor crea- 
 ture before me would soon rush, thus polluted with Idolatry, into the presence of an aw- 
 ful God, who hates sin and abominates Idolatry — the multitude who evinced so savage 
 a pleasure in the bloody work — and the malicious countenances of the principal actors in 
 this wretched scene, rendered more horrible than ever by the interruption, altogether so 
 pressed upon my mind that the feeling beggars description. But what could be done ! 
 something must be attempted. We bid the people stop. I got off my horse, and the 
 two Europeans came near with their elephant ; I made my way to the woman, and 
 found she was quite intoxicated ; there was a strange wildness in her appearance. I 
 looked at her eyes, turned up the eyelids and found them very bloodshot and heavy : 
 the woman could not utter a syllable distinctly, all that could be understood was, * Jug- 
 gernaut,' and 'koosee,' meaning, I suppose. Juggernaut is my pleasure. A thrill of 
 horror ran through my veins : her youth — her destitute condition, for she had not a friend 
 even to ' give her fire,' viz., lig'ht the pile — her total insensibility — and the general hor- 
 ror of the scene, induced the mutual feeling that she was about to be cruelly murdered. 
 We thought the law protected us under such circumstances, and determined to rescue her. 
 The people looked at us amazed ; the crowd soon thickened upon us, and assumed rath- 
 er a formidable appearance ; but there w^as no time for parley, we put on a determined 
 aspect, and insisted on her being taken back, urging that she was quite intoxicated : this 
 many of them admitted, but still retained their* hold of the hoop by which she was en- 
 closed, and urged that it was her wish to bum, and that it was Juggernaut's pleasure ; we 
 however insisted upon her being taken back till she was sensible. Captain G. and Lieu- 
 tenant M. behaved nobly, they charged a few servants in their employ to keep off the 
 people ; they soon gave way without making any further resistance, and left us in charge 
 of the woman and the principal actors. I should observe that the Daroga (head police- 
 officer) was absent. I then mounted my horse and rode before, the road was made through 
 the crowd by the servants and a few idle seapoys who attended as lookers on, the officers 
 followed the woman on their elephant till they saw all was safe, and then returned to 
 the pile. I rode before the crowd and the woman towards the police officer's place of 
 confinement : in my way I met with brother B. and surprised him with what was done : 
 he accompanied me to the prison, and delivered the woman into the charge of the Daro- 
 ga, who was much surprised and disconcerted at what was done, but was obliged to at- 
 tend to Captain G.'s orders to secure the woman. x\ll seemed consternation. I am sure that 
 I wondered at our success, Bampton seemed to wonder more ; the people seemed thunder- 
 struck, and exclaimed, ' Now you have done something!' others said, * This is merciful !' 
 and indeed among the thousands of spectators not a sound of disapprobation was heard, 
 or the least confusion excited. The woman herself kept saying, as well as we could un- 
 derstand, 'This is well done! you have broken my purposes:' she was however quite 
 stupified. What may be the result we know not, or v/hether we shall be able to save 
 her is quite uncertain ; we know, however, it might be done with the most trifling inter- 
 ference on the part of the Magistrate. Her husband's corpse is already consumed." 
 
 He adds, — " On Tuesday the Judge, much to his credit and honour, determined that 
 the woman should not burn. INIay God overrule it to promote his own glory, and for the 
 putting out for ever these flames which hell itself has kindled. O that this circumstance 
 may be the harbinger of this happy consummation ! How easily might it be done ! 
 Only think, that three individuals, at the very worst place in all India, without authori- 
 ty, and without the least disturbance, and \\'ithout giving offence to any except three or 
 four individuals immediately concerned, have succeeded in saving this wretched woman 
 from the devouring flames ! " 
 
 If SO much satisfaction is felt bv humane minds in the rescue of a 
 
 ft/ 
 
 single individual, how would humanity — how would Christianity hail 
 the merciful suppression of all those barbarities! 
 
 The opinion of J. H. Ilarington, Esq, officiating chief Judge in the 
 Nizamut Adawlut, Calcutta, relative to the expediency of abolishing 
 
6.5 
 
 the Suttee, has himn g-iveii. Tlie second Jucl<re, C. Smith, ICsq., says : 
 — " The practice of Suttee ought to be abolished, and it may be 
 abolished with perfect safety." The third Jud«re, J. T. Sbakes- 
 pear, Esq., likewise states: — "1 am prepared to concur in a recom- 
 mendation to Government, that a regulation be promulgated prohi- 
 biting Suttees throughout the country." The filth Judge, W. B. 
 Martin, Esq., at the same time stated: — "The toleration of the prac- 
 tice by our Government, and its disposition to interfere no further 
 than was necessary to guard it from abuse, has been misconstrued 
 into a tacit recognition of the principle of an usage, the legality of 
 which within certain limits, it has formerly acknowledged." 
 
 The minute of the ofliciating Judge, J. Ahmuty, Esq., relative 
 the documents from which the above extracts are taken, is as follows: 
 — " I feel satisfied that it would be far preferable to enact a regula- 
 tion ^;roA/^///«o- the practice of Suttees at once^ and renderhig it pu- 
 nishable by laze, than having recourse to any partial or indirect means 
 to repress it gradually, if even such a result could be reasonably ex- 
 pected to ensue." * 
 
 The Governor General in Council, Lord Amherst, evidently anti- 
 cipates the final abolition of Suttee, as appears from the observations 
 upon the statement of the number of widov»'s who were burned in 
 1823. His words are: — " His Lordship in Council is unwilling to aban- 
 don the hope, that the abolition of the practice may, at a future pe- 
 riod, be found safe and expedient; and he has already had occasion 
 to remark, that the more general dissemination of knowledofe and the 
 discussions of the question among the better informed Hindoos them- 
 selves, may be expected to have some effect in gradually preparing the 
 minds of the natives for such a measure. + ( Jud. Depart., Dec, 1824.) 
 
 Humanity, in her tears, asks, why delay to rescue the unhappy wi- 
 dow ? " The argument that we may ultimately look for the cure of 
 this evil in the gradual increase of intelligence which is beginning to 
 develope itself in India, might have some weight, if the progress of 
 intelligence were of a more accelerated character than circumstances 
 allow us to suppose, or if the immediate abolition of the rite were not 
 proved to be both safe and practicable. But this fact, once satisfac- 
 torily established, to delay the enjoyment of an acknowledged good, 
 because at some future, yet more remote time, you anticipate its at- 
 tainment by the operation of other causes, — what is this but to pro- 
 crastinate a happiness already within your reach, and to be justly 
 responsible for all the misery of the intervening period of a long and 
 criminal delay ?":{: 
 
 The authorities for the propriety and safety of the immediate abo- 
 lition of Suttee are numerous and decisive. This has appeared from 
 the various references which have been made to the Parliamentary 
 Papers upon the subject, and they may be increased from various 
 other sources. 
 
 The Magistrate of Poona, under the Bombay Presidency, (Captain 
 
 * Par. Papers, No. iv. p. 148, 149, f Page 153. 
 X See Grimshawe's Appeal to British Humanity in behalf of Hindoo widows, 
 p. 26—28. 
 
66 
 
 H. D. Robertson,) thus states the nature of the popular feeling rela- 
 tive to Suttees : — '' The feeling, I might almost say, is general to 
 stop them ; it was hinted to me, through various respectable chan- 
 nels, that although a show of discontent vs^ould be exhibited, an order 
 of Government to prevent their continuance would be a palatable 
 measure."* 
 
 Another Magistrate in Bombay, (J. Barnard, Esq.,) declares: — 
 " The circumstances under which Suttees prevail, the classes inter- 
 ested therein, the number of instances, and the conduct of the com- 
 munity in their communications, both with the Magistrate and with 
 each other, on such occasions, as well as the impressions generally 
 entertained by those not concerned, convince me that there are 
 few cases in which evil zsould ensue from prohibition and coercive 
 prevention.''^ ^r 
 
 Colonel Dow, in his History of Hindoostan, says, — " All religions 
 must be tolerated in Bengal except the practice of some inhuman cus- 
 toms n'hich the Mahomedans have alreadij^in a great measure^ destroyed. 
 There are particular usages, established by time into a law, which 
 our humanity must destroy. Let no women burn themselves with 
 their husbands, no dying person being exposed by his friends. To 
 leave the natives entirely to their own laws would be to consign them 
 to anarchy and confusion."J Vol. iii. p. 128, 143. 
 
 " The Commentaries of Bras de Albuquerque, the son of the Great 
 Albuquerque, one of those extraordinary men who, nearly three hun- 
 dred years ago, raised to the highest pitch of glory the Portu- 
 guese name in India, contains the following passage : — " When Alf. 
 de Albuquerque took the kingdom of Goa he would not permit that 
 any woman from thence forward should burn herself; and although to 
 change their custom is equal to death, nevertheless they rejoiced in 
 life, and said great good of him, because he commanded that they 
 should not burn themselves. Long after his death, when a Moor or 
 Hindoo had received wronp- and could obtain no redress from the 
 Governor, the aggrieved person would go to Goa, to Albuquerque's 
 tomb, and make an offering of oil at the lamp which burned before it, 
 and call upon him for justice."^ Wilberforce's Speech, 1813, 8vo. 
 page 93, 94. 
 
 The Rev. T. S. Grimshawe, in his valuable pamphlet, called, " An 
 earnest Appeal to British Humanity in behalf of Hindoo Widows," 
 (1825, published by Hatchard, London,) refers to the suppression of 
 Suttees by other powers. — 
 
 " The Mogul Government has uniformly discountenanced the prac- 
 tice of burning widows alive ; and the extent of the benefits thus 
 conferred may be estimated by the remarkable fact that in no part 
 of Hindoostan is the rite less knozcn than under their sway ; and 
 in none is it more common than in that which is the centre of British 
 power and ascendancy ! This example was humanely followed by 
 the Portuguese. The Dutch, the Danish, and the French Governments, 
 uniformly refused to sanction the custom. Why is the name of Bri- 
 
 * Par. Palmers, No. iv. p. 167. + Page 209. % " Collection of Facts and Opinions 
 relative to the Burning of Hindoo Widows," by Dr. Johns, p. 89. § Page 103, 104. 
 
67 
 
 tain alone excluded from the honourable list of competitors ? Is it 
 that policy and duty in our case are irreconcileable, however blended 
 in that of others ? The conviction is most humiliatin<r that the Bri- 
 tish Government is the only European power in India that tolerates 
 the practice of burning zcidozcs alive on the funeral pile ! /" Page IG, 1 7. 
 To the same effect is the following- brief extract from the article 
 in "The Friend of India," No. iii.(quar.ser.) before noticed. — "The 
 Mosulmans who never protected the unhappy natives from foreign 
 invasion, or from internal commotion, checked this practice in maiiy 
 cases, and in some provinces abolished it altogether. Will it be too 
 much for us while we dispense blessings with one hand, with the other 
 to snatch the helpless victim from the flames ? There is no instance 
 on historic record in which acts of humanity have ever roused public 
 indignation. Massacre, confiscation, and injustice are the elements 
 from which revolutions are created, not humanity, justice, and equity; 
 the mere supposition is a novelty in political science."* 
 
 In " An Account of the York Meeting to petition Parliament for 
 the abolition of the immolation of Hindoo widows in British India," 
 the reader may be furnished with much information upon the subject 
 under consideration. In the preface of this pamphlet is the following 
 statement relative to the views of the late Marquis of Hastings, Go- 
 vernor-General of India, on the abolition of Suttees : — " The import- 
 ance of petitioning Parliament will be duly appreciated when it is un- 
 derstood that the late Marquis of Hastings said, he would at once have 
 put down the atrocious practice, if he could have relied upon the 
 popular feeling being in his favour in our own country, and that the 
 danger was felt not in India, but only in England !! " — O when shall 
 every town and city in Britain and Ireland say, " This blood shall not 
 rest on us! Let no more widows perish!" Before the Marquis left 
 India, in 1823, the following '' Supplicatory Lines'''' were addressed to 
 him in the public Papers : — 
 
 " Ere thy benignant power retires 
 
 From India, bless' d beneath thy care, 
 
 O queneh these foul unhallovv'd fires. 
 
 Which hell's own flame has kindled there. 
 
 The stain of earth and upper air ! 
 
 Then o'er the sea, 
 
 The orphan's blessing and the widow's prayer 
 
 Shall follow thee. 
 
 O ne'er to man has pitying Heaven 
 
 A power so blest, so glorious given. 
 
 Say but a single word and save 
 
 Ten thousand mothers from a flaming grave, 
 
 And tens of thousands from the source of woe. 
 
 That ever must to orphan'd children flow ! 
 
 Save from the flame the infant's place of rest, 
 
 The couch by nature given — a mother's breast ; 
 
 O bid the mother live — the babe caress her, 
 
 And sweeter still its hoping accents bless her. 
 
 India with tearful eye and bended knee, 
 
 Hastings, her lord and judge, presents her plaint to thee.'* 
 Britain speak. " Plead for the widow !" Let petitions pour into 
 Parliament from every quarter, which, like the streams of the sanc- 
 
 * Par. Papers, No. iv. p. 24 — 26. 
 
68 
 
 tuary, shall quench these fires that hell hath kindled. Let the friends to 
 India, who hold its destinies in their hands, hear the appeal of a writer 
 in that country: — '• Let us freely look at the practicability of its aboli- 
 tion, and number both its friends and its foes. We may calculate on 
 the support of all the humane, the wise, and the good, throughout 
 India! we may depend on the great majority of the people who have 
 prevented every village in India from being lighted up monthly with 
 these infernal fires. Those who used all their power and influence to 
 liberate their country from the stigma of this guilt, by preventing 
 their mothers and sisters from ascending the funeral pile, will un- 
 doubtedly support us in discountenancing the practice elsewhere. We 
 shall enlist on our side all those tender feelings which, though now 
 dormant, will then be aroused into new life and vigour; but above 
 all we shall surround ourselves with the protection of that Almighty 
 Power, whose command is, ' Thou shalt do no murder ;' who defends 
 the weak and succours the injured; who, when the cries of oppressed 
 India had pierced His throne, selected us of all other nations to break 
 its chains and restore it to happiness."* 
 
 SECTION VIL 
 
 A collection of European and Native testimony to the position that 
 the Suttee is not absolutely enjoined by the Hitidoo ShastraSy and hence 
 should be suppi'essed. 
 
 Menu, in his Institutes, is the great authority in determining the 
 legality of the Suttee. Of this work Sir W. Jones, in his preface to 
 the translation of it, says : — " This system of duties, religious and ci- 
 vil, and of law in all its branches, the Hindoos firmly believe to have 
 been promulgated in the beginning of time by Menu, son or grand- 
 son of Brahma, or in plain language, the first of created beings, and 
 not the oldest only, but the holiest of legislators." His high charac- 
 ter is thus described in the beginning of the work : — " Menu sat re- 
 clined, with his attention fixed on one object, the supreme God; 
 when the divine sages approached him, and after mutual salutations 
 in due form, delivered the following address, 'Deign, sovreign ruler, 
 to a})prize us of the sacred laws in their order, as they must be fol- 
 lowed by all the classes, and by each of them, in their several degrees, 
 together with the duties of every mixed class ; for thou, lord, and 
 thou only among mortals, knowest the true sense, the first principle, 
 and the prescribed ceremonies, of this universal, supernatural Veda, 
 uidimited in extent, and unequalled in authority.'" 
 
 After a careful perusal of this work, while this pamphlet has been 
 in the press, not the slightest reference to the horrid custom of the Suttee 
 has been found. It contains various laws relative to women ; a ^ew ex- 
 tracts, in addition to what has been already quoted, may be interest- 
 ing : — '' In his passage to the next world, neither his father, nor his 
 
 * Par. Papers, p. 26. 
 
69 
 
 inollier, nor hfb' ii'ifc-) nor his son, nor his^ kinsmen, will remain in 
 his company : his virtue alone will adhere to him, VVtien lie leaves 
 his corse, like a log- or a linnpof clay, on the jrround, his kindred re- 
 tire with averted faces: hut his virtue accompanies his soul. lOqual 
 care must be taken of women without sons, of women without kin- 
 dred, of 2V/ dozes true to their lords, &c. A widow who, from a wish 
 to bear children, slights her deceased husband, by marrying- ag-ain, 
 brinofs diso-race on herself here below, and shall be excluded from the 
 seat of her lord. Like those abstemious men (unmarried brahmuns) 
 a virtuous wife ascends to heaven, thoug-h she have no child, if, after 
 the decease of her lord, she devote herself to pious austerity."* The 
 duty of Hindoo widows is evidently a life of austere devotion till death, 
 and the custom of Suttee is altoofether unknown in the Institutes of 
 the g"reat Indian legislator. 
 
 The following extracts from the Parliamentary Papers, shewing 
 that the Suttee is not positively enjoined, and should be suppressed, 
 according to the opinion of many Europeans high in office in India, 
 appear very important. — 
 
 " We really think there is as little justification fore v/oman to burn 
 herself with the remains of her deceased husband, as for a ranjkoo- 
 mor to destroy his daughters at their birth ; burying alive for the le- 
 prosy where the party is desirous to die ; human sacrifices at Saugor; 
 putting sorcerers to death, or killing a human creature by any other 
 means, without justification or excuse: all of zchich are made capital 
 offences hy the Regulations, The killing in all these instances has 
 quite as much in its favour, (on the score of erroneous prejudice 
 and superstition, and perhaps of religion), as the practice of Suttee : 
 but we do not find the punishment of death denounced against these 
 crimes, has at all been considered by the people as an infringement of 
 that complete toleration, in matters of religion, which it has been a 
 fundamental principle of the British Government to allow. And 
 there can be no doubt that the practice of Suttee might be as easily 
 checked and prevented throughout the British Territories as any of the 
 murderous practices above referred to. We have the fact, that its 
 suppression at the foreign Settlements was effected without the slight- 
 est difficulty ."+ (E. Watson, Esq., Judge, Allypore, April, 1818). 
 
 "On the subject of anoojumun (burning after the husband's death), 
 the shastras exhibit a great variety of opinions; but no difference pre* 
 vails with regard to the propriety of leading a life of austerity. From 
 the above it would appear, that not the slightest offence attaches eith- 
 er to the women who depart from their resolution, or to tho^e who 
 persuade them to relinquish their intention. ";[; (W. If. Macnaghten, 
 Esq., Trans, of Mutooiijoy's Bewasta relative to Suttees, &c.) 
 
 " The suicide in these cases is not indeed a religious act, nor has it 
 the sanction of Menu and other ancient legislators revered by the Hin- 
 doos. On the contrary. Menu declares that a virtuous wife ascends 
 to heaven, though she have no child, if after the decease of her lord 
 she devote lierself to pious austerity.§ The texts of Yama and Caty- 
 
 * Sir W. Jones' Works, Vol. vii. p. 240, 334, 271. + Papers, N. i. p. 99, 
 + p. 124, 125. S Text 141, " Digest of Hindoo Law,*' book 4, ch. 3, sec. 2. 
 
70 
 
 ayana, quoted in the Vivada Bhangarnana (digest of Hindoo law), " On 
 the duties of widows choosing to survive their husbands" are also to the 
 same effect;* and Vrihaspate adds+ ''whether she ascends the pile, 
 or survive for the benefit of her husband, she is a faithful wife." 
 Some authors have condemned the suicide of widows altogether, as 
 coming within a general prohibition against the wilful abridgment 
 of human life: and proceeding from a desire of future sensual enjoy- 
 ment, in preference to the more pure and perfect state of beatitude 
 promised for a life of virtue and piety." ;|: (Govt. Regulations rela- 
 tive to Suttees). Referring to these Regulations it is remarked : — 
 " It is trusted they will have a very beneficial influence, by lessening 
 a sense of obligation under which there is reason to believe many are 
 induced to make this sacrifice of their lives, and showing that the 
 practice is far from being inculcated as such by the most approved 
 authorities of the Hindoo law.''^ (J. Adam, Esq., Sec. to the Gover- 
 nor General, Oct., 1817. 
 
 '' I submit that it has little or no connexion with their religion ! 
 The practice is strongly recommended by the shastras, but nothing 
 more, and Menu (together with other authorities of great respecta- 
 bility,) prescribes the duties of a widow, without hinting that burning 
 herself is one of the most important. In permitting, or indeed autho- 
 rizing Suttees, we are by no means showing a proper forbearance 
 towards the religious customs, or long established prejudices of 
 the Hindoos ; an act no where enjoined by any of the shastras / 
 on the contrary a crime which their own laws would punish with 
 death ; and only tolerated by our Government because we over- 
 look the impudent imposition which has transformed a recommenda- 
 tion to the widow to accompany her husband, into an order, which the 
 relations must carry into effect if she should evince symptoms of dis- 
 obedience. I cannot attempt to account for the great prevalence of 
 Suttees in some districts and the rarity of them in others ; but it is a 
 proof that it is a custom seldom thought of in the greater proportion 
 of our dominions."l| (W. Ewer, Esq., Act. Sup. of Police, Lower 
 Provinces, Calcutta, Nov., 1818.) "Menu and the most ancient and 
 respectable writers do not mention Suttee : it was therefore in their 
 time either unknown or not approved. If known, but not mentioned, 
 because not approved by Menu, the authority of the modern shastra 
 is not sufficient to give any merit to the sacrifice. In the first case 
 we do not find that the practice originates in law, but the law is the 
 consequence of the practice. Sacred authority is subsequently pro- 
 duced to enforce the merit of enacting or originating on the mortal 
 feelings of affection, grief, despair, or some other passion of the mind 
 equally incapable of affording a hope that it could be acceptable in the 
 eyes of the Deity."1I (W. Ewer, Esq., as above, Calcutta, Jan., 1819.) 
 
 " After having attended at several Suttees, for the purpose of 
 gaining as much information as possible on the subject, and after hav- 
 ing attentively considered the doctrines under which it is sanctioned, 
 the circumstances attending the actual performance of the sacrifice, 
 
 * Text?, 144, 145, " Digest of Hindoo Law," f Text fSO^ | p. 126. § p. 147. 
 
 II p. 228. II p. 231. 
 
71 
 
 and the terms upon which those who have been prevented from burn- 
 ing have subsequently lived with their relations and neighbours, 1 am 
 decidedly of opinion that the abolition of the practice by lavo zoould not 
 be attended zcith any evil consequerices : on the contrary 1 think the 
 enactment of such a law is dictated by every principle of humanity ; 
 nor does it appear to me that the abolition of the practice is altogeth- 
 er inconsistent with the spirit of toleration which has ever distin- 
 guished the British Government. The greater proportion of the men 
 are unable to give a reason for the performance of the sacrifice, and 
 it is surely fair to infer that the women are not better informed on the 
 subject; and therefore to suppose that the resolution to become Sut- 
 tees cannot proceed so much from their having reasoned themselves 
 into a conviction of the purity of the act itself, as from a kind of infa- 
 tuation produced by the absurdities poured into their ears by ignorant 
 brahmuns, most of whom, if asked, would be found unable to give a 
 reason for the doctrines they inculcate, I am persuaded that ninety- 
 nine out of a hundred icome?i sacrifice themselves more under the in- 
 fluence of this infatuation than from any conviction of their own 
 minds."* (E. Molony, Esq., Mag. Burdwan, Dec, 1818.) 
 
 " It was the prevalent opinion amongst the natives that this sacri^ 
 fice would not be tolerated by the British Government."+ (S. Mar- 
 riott, Esq,, Tannah, Sept., 1819.) 
 
 V. Hale, Esq., Judge in the Southern Concan, (Oct., 1819,) thus 
 shews the state of public opinion relative to the Suttee in that part of 
 India : — " I was much gratified on finding on my arrival in this 
 part of the Concan, that the ceremony of Suttee, at no time so com- 
 monly practised as in most parts of British India, had, on the institu- 
 tion of the Hon. Company''s Government entirely ceased^ apparently 
 caused by a verv general opinion which prevailed among the na- 
 tives, (though certainly without reason), that the performance of this 
 sacrifice was totally repugnant to the laws, as well as the feeling of 
 Government; in short, — that it zcould not be permitted. This senti- 
 ment, particularly as no specific rules at that period existed for the 
 guidance orMagistrates, and as no bad effect apparently was the re- 
 sult of it, I did not most certainly take the smallest pains to remove ; 
 contenting myself, in the very few instances where my permission was 
 applied for, by neither giving nor withholding my consent, declaring, 
 as was then literally the case, that I was ignorant whether the usage 
 was permitted by the Government or not. The state of doubt in 
 which these evasive answers left the minds of the applicants, I found 
 had all the effect I could have hoped for, and in a very short time I 
 heard no more of them : the result being- that in the bounds of the 
 late Malwan residency 7iot a single case of Suttee has ever occurred ; 
 at least not in my time : and I believe I am correct when I add, neith- 
 er within the four years my predecessor was stationed there ; if 
 there has it must have been performed (a very improbable circum- 
 stance) with such secrecy as to prelude the possibility of its coming 
 to the knowledge of the local authorities."}: 
 
 One more extract may be made from the Par. Papers, (printed 
 * Par. Papers, p. 236. t p. 256^ J p. 258.— Account of YorkMeeting, p. 26. 
 
72 
 
 1821), of similar import with the preceding: — "I feel embolden- 
 ed, in the cause of humanity, to state, that the practice (of Suttee) 
 is neither prescribed by the shasira^ nor encouraged by persons ofedu- 
 catioti or injluence. I can speak, from positive authority, that his 
 Highness the Rajah of Tanjore, has ever discouraged it; and I feel 
 assured that, with the exception of a few brahmuns, who derive a ne- 
 farious reward for presiding at this infernal rite, the prohibition of the 
 practice would give universal satisfaction."* (C. M. Lushington, Esq., 
 Mag. at Combeconum, Sept., 1813.) 
 
 We could, with no consistency declare that to be murder to day, 
 which we yesterday declared to be justifiable, and I do not think we 
 ever can do so until we are armed with law opinions, that the prac- 
 tice of Suttees is not conformable to the Hindoo law : and it by no 
 means seems certain that such a construction of the law would be iinat- 
 tainable.^^^ (W. Leycester, Esq., Chief Judge of the Nizamut Adaw- 
 lut, Calcutta, May, 1821.) 
 
 " The ordinances of Menu, which are one of the principal law au- 
 thorities in this part of India, do not encourage the sacrifice in the 
 same manner as others quoted in the vivade changamana, translated 
 by Mr. Colebrook. 'Let him not wish for death ! Let him not wish 
 for life ! Let him expect his appointed time, as a hired servant ex- 
 pects his wages,' are doctrines more agreeable to the institutes of the 
 oldest Hindoo legislator, who mentions doctrines very averse from 
 self-immolation of widows ; such as the raising up a son to the de- 
 ceased by the widow. Here the marriage of widows is now deemed 
 illegal, but not so in some of the most southern parts of the Peninsula. 
 The Hindoo shastra lays down rules for securing proper provision for 
 the widow, and confidence on the uninterrupted validity of such claims 
 has probably proved, as a solace to their afilictions, one of the most 
 efficacious considerations to operate to the prevention of the practice ; 
 while the persuasion which the priesthood use to widows to induce 
 them to devote their bodies to this sacrifice, have the greatest influ- 
 ence on those who, being without future protection and mainte7iance, 
 regard a future sojourn in this world with despair."]; 
 
 "I look upon this inhuman practice as one tolerated to the disgrace 
 of the British Government; it is ever abominated by the better sort of 
 natives themselves, and no where is it enjoined by Hindoo law. The 
 authorities against self-immolation are Menu, Bhooraspattee, and se- 
 veral others. The weight of authority is in favour of a rigid prac- 
 tice of austerities, because it is that prescribed by Menu, revered by 
 the Hindoos as the first and greatest law of authority. Custom can 
 only be legally upheld when it does not militate against law^ 'cofisue^ 
 tudo pro lege servator^ will only extend to cases where no specific law 
 exists. In the present instance there is a specific law, sanctioned by 
 Menu, in direct opposition to authorities of inferior weight. I appre- 
 hend, the obvious absurdity of the law (exempting brahmuns from 
 death) and the impossibility of reconciling it with our notions of jus- 
 tice induced its abolition.* If then a law can be repealed from its in. 
 consonancy with reason, the same arguments exist in a stronger de. 
 * Par. Papers, No. i. p. 270. + Par. Papers, No. ii. p. 63. \ p. 98^ 
 
"•ree against an liihuiuaii, barbarous, ami unjust cusiojn.^^* (C. M. 
 Lushlnn-ton, JOs(|., Mao-., Trichinopoly, Oct., 1S19.) 
 
 The Jlon. Court ot" JJi rectors, in a letter addressed to the Governor 
 General in Council, at Fort William, Beng-al, dated London, June 
 17, 1823, thus expressed their views of the obligatory nature of Sut- 
 tee, and the means of its abolition: — "Coiniected with the opinions 
 expressed by many intelligent men, that the practice of Suttee in not a 
 tenet of religion to zchich the people are enthusiaslicallij attached^ but 
 rather an abusc^ fostered bij interested priests and relations. These 
 instances of partial success do lead us to regard the notion oi prohibi- 
 tion^ Uiodified according to circumstances, of this barbarous custom 
 with rather less of apprehension than it has generally produced. 
 Assuredly the most acceptable form of success would be that which 
 would be brought about by such an increase of intelligence among 
 llie people as should shew them the wickedness and absurdity of the 
 practice ; next to this, we should rejoice to see the abolition effected 
 by the influence and the co-operation of the higher order of natives."+ 
 It is gratifying to see this awfully interesting subject discussed by 
 every class of society, and there can be no doubt that the abolition of 
 the Suttee would be hailed in India as an act expected from the Bri- 
 tish Government, and reflecting lustre upon its administration. O 
 may those in whose hands are the lives of thousands of hapless wi- 
 dows, and the destinies of millions, reflect upon the language of the 
 Almighty ; — " If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto 
 death, and those that are ready to be slain ; if thou sayest, ' Be- 
 hold we knew it ! ' doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it ? 
 and lie that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it ? and shall not he 
 render to every man according to his works." Pro. xxiv. 11, 12. 
 
 J. H. Harington, Esq., now member of Council in Calcutta, in a 
 very interesting Minute relative to Suttees, dated Dec, 1824, thus 
 gives his view of the fecility and safety of suppressing Suttees : — " If, 
 as appears from the exposition of the shastra, given by the pundits of 
 the Sudder Dewanny Adawlut, the assistance of brahmuns and others 
 be requisite to enable the widow to devote herself in the prescribed 
 or customary way, whether of sahamaran or anoomaran, (burning 
 with or without the body,) it would surely be possible to prevent such 
 aid being given by a public interdiction, with a declaration that any 
 person hereafter causing, aiding, or in any manner promoting a fe- 
 male sacrifice, such as that commonly denominated a Suttee, shall be 
 liable to a criminal prosecution, as principals or accomplices, for ho- 
 micide; and that on conviction it will not be held any justification ot" 
 the homicide that the person so convicted was desired by the deceased 
 to cause, aid, or in any manner to promote her death, or that the de- 
 ceased became a Suttee by a voluntary act of self-devotion. It is im- 
 possible that" a legislative enactment to prevent assistance being here- 
 after given in the Suttee immolation, with a view to preserve the lives 
 of a number of miserable women from suicide, in a slate of affliction 
 from the recent death of their husbands, and to put a stop to the hor- 
 rible abuses and cruelties which, unsanctioned by Hindoo lazes, have 
 * Par. Papers, No. ii. p. 103, 104. + Par. Papers, printed 18*24, p. 45. 
 
 K 
 
74 
 
 too frequently attended an involuntary perpetration of this sacrifice^ 
 could be imputed to any other motives than what would really govern 
 such an enactment ; and which might therefore be fairly and fully de- 
 clared, without danger of its being misconstrued into any thing like a 
 general design to put down, by authority, the religious system with 
 which the inhuman practice referred to is imperfectly connected."* 
 
 The same Gentleman, in a paper addressed to the Right Hon. the 
 President of the Board of Control, under date May 30, 1822, thus de- 
 cidedly shews his opinion of the nature of the Suttee, and the propri- 
 ety of its abolition: — "Whatever opinion may be entertained on the 
 policy which has hitherto induced the British Government to tolerate 
 the immolation of Hindoo widows, as considered to be in some degree a 
 religious observance, although it is not a prescribed duty^ as may be 
 seen in Mr. H. Colebrook's Translation of Orig-inal Texts on the sub- 
 ject, (see Vol. iv. of the Transactions of the Asiatic Society), there 
 can be no sufficient or legitimate reason for permitting a practice so 
 repugnant to every feeling and principle of humanity, in opposition to 
 the only laws which can be pleaded in justijication of it.'''' + 
 
 The followino- statement is interestino- contained in a letter from 
 T. H. Pelly, Esq., Magistrate of the Southern Concan, to the Gover- 
 nor in Council, Bombay, dated May 11, 1820: — ''Happening to be 
 at Penn in Dec. it was reported to me, late in the day, that a woman 
 was about to perform the ceremony of a Suttee. Some of the res- 
 pectable brahmuns were sent for, and after in vain endeavouring to 
 persuade them from persevering in their design, they were told that 
 if they could show any passage in their sacred works which went the 
 length o^ actually ordering the ceremony^ it might go on. This they 
 said they could readily do; but could not in fact produce any thing 
 beyond the well-known commendations bestowed on Suttees, and the 
 equally known recapitulation of the several curious advantages deriv- 
 able to the soul of the deceased by the cremation of the widow. 
 The days were short at that season, and while these discussions were 
 going on in the most quiet and amicable manner, the sun was ra- 
 pidly sinking, and indeed nearly set. They noticed this, I imagine, 
 and seeming unwilling to press for my sanction to an immolation, 
 which they must have perceived I contemplated with extreme hor- 
 ror; they inquired if I would object to the Suttee within Angrias ter- 
 ritory, which was close at hand. To this I replied, that I could ex- 
 ercise no jurisdiction there. They left me with the intention, as I 
 conceived, of performing the ceremony beyond our line of boundary: 
 but I found, on inquiry, that the design was abandoned altogether: 
 and the woman is now, I believe, alive.":]; 
 
 The Magistrate of Poona, in 1823, Captain H. D. Robertson, ex- 
 erted himself much for the abolition of Suttees. His discussions with 
 the brahmuns and pundits, as given in the Parliamentary Papers, 
 are highly interesting ; an extract or two may be given. — "Chinta- 
 mun Dixit, a violent man, said I had infringed their law, by saving 
 Radabyee's life, and that had she lived they could not have permitted 
 her to be considered in their caste. I defied him the proof of this : 
 * Par. Papers, No. iv. p. 10, 11. f Page i^O. | Page 155, 156. 
 
75 
 
 and asserted the unpalatable truth that he either willfully misrepre- 
 sented, or did not understand, his own law; that the sliastras and 
 commentaries upon them, by which they in those days dechire them- 
 selves to be g-uided, precisely laitl down a penance during twelve 
 days, of no very hard description to be the terms of readmission in- 
 to society of a woman who should come from the pile alive, after be- 
 ing once in it : and that it was positively declared to be a meritorious 
 act, to assist in saving such a Suttee from burning."* 
 
 AddressintT- the natives in their lanor-uasfe, he said: — "There is not 
 a man in this assembly who, if he had witnessed the scene I was sum- 
 moned to behold, (on Saturday, Sep. ^7th), would not appreciate my 
 present motives, and would not aid me in endeavouring to impress on 
 the rest the propriety of some arrangement being effected, by which 
 a repetition of it should never occur. Impressed with the conviction 
 that the Suttee is a barbarous one; aware that the law of your fore- 
 fathers no zchere inculcates as a positive law or duty^ the practice^) 
 but merely allows it a colour of such sanction^ by such a positive en- 
 dura?ice, that room even for doubt is left whether the sanction is not a 
 kind of denouncement of it • aware that your shastra, in no text, can 
 be interpreted to attach blame or even censure to widows who do not 
 become Suttees; that there is no slur or stain that anyone may dare 
 to throw on the character or affection of her who does not sacrifice 
 herself; aware moreover that the present generation and yourselves 
 attach no contempt to those who survive their partners ; — you cannot 
 but agree with me, that there exists not one good cause for not stop- 
 ping the practice altogether."+ 
 
 An article " On Female Immolation^'' published in " The Friend of 
 India," March, 1821, from which extracts were forwarded to the 
 Hon. Court of Directors, July, 1823, and printed in the Par. Papers, 
 July, 1825, (p. 20 — 26,) contains a just and powerful statement of the 
 points at issue. The writer says : — " If it be advanced that the Hin- 
 doos think the Suttee is a religious rite, we would ask : Under what 
 Government is the privilege of deciding on the nature of crime and 
 punishments delegated to the subject, more especially with regard to 
 actions which render him obnoxious to justice ? If the Hindoo who 
 burns his innocent mother brings himself to think it a religious action, 
 are the civil authorities, to whom the preservation of her life is com- 
 mitted, over which life he has not even a shadow of a right, obliged 
 to think so ? Are the sacred principles of justice to be abrogated be- 
 cause private individuals are mistaken in their notions of the worship 
 which is acceptable to the Deity? The admission of this principle 
 would rend asunder the bond of society ; for if the highest crime, that 
 of murder, may go unpunished when committed under a religious pre- 
 text, what crime can we consistently punish in India? There is no 
 species of abomination which the Hindoo code does not sanction under 
 some shape or other. But the whole course of our judicial proceed- 
 ings demonstrates that we have never acted on these principles. ' But 
 the Hindoo law commands this murderous practice.' This we must 
 beg leave to deny. — Menu, the parent of Indian jurisprudence, for 
 * Par. Papers, No. iv. p. 167. + page 181, 182. 
 
70 
 
 whom the natives entertain such veneration, that the brahmun who 
 possesses not a shalgram and a copy of his laws, is said to have for- 
 feited his religious privileges: — Menu, respecting whom it is acknow- 
 ledged, that ' what is contrary to his injunction is not law,' says nothing 
 of female immolation, but on the contrary prescribes rules for the 
 conduct of widows during the time of their natural existence. If 
 succeeding Hindoo commentators have partially countenanced it, we 
 would ask; — since what period have we taken those authors for our 
 rule and guide, and substituted their precepts instead of the principles 
 of justice ? For the honour of the British character we can reply that 
 we have never done so; we have never put to death every shoodra 
 who has molested a brahmun by bringing an action against him for 
 debt, robbery, or adultery. We have not cut off' the hands of every 
 shoodra who has seized a brahmun by the neck; we have not poured 
 melted lead into the ears of every plebeian who has listened, durino- 
 the last sixty years to reproaches against these twice-born favourites 
 of heaven. Yet these injunctions, however contrary to reason, to hu- 
 manity, and to the peace of mankind, are positively contained in their 
 code. We have not therefore listened for one moment to these books, 
 but have defended the natives from the bloody rigour of their own 
 laws. If any one be still disposed to object, that while we have in 
 general upheld the authority of these books, we have disannulled those 
 laws which appeared unjust, we really know not what argument may- 
 be adduced more favourable to the abolition of female murder; for in 
 this case it may be justly urged that if we possess a discretionary 
 power over the Hindoo laws, the helpless widow has as strong a claim 
 to our compassion as the members of the servile tribe, almost every 
 individual of which is daily incurring the penalties decreed in them ; 
 and that if we make any exceptions in the execution of the Hindoo 
 code, the unprotected female ought fully to share in them. The 
 burning of widows is a mei'e excrescence from the corrupt stock of 
 polytheism. We question whether one half of the population of India 
 know any thing of it but by report; the number of those who feel in- 
 terested in supporting it consists only of those who are personally en- 
 gaged in promoting female immolation ; the great majority of our 
 native subjects are as little interested in the question as in the death of 
 a brahmun at Cape Commerin. It does not require any great pene- 
 tration to discern that those who have quietly submitted to the death 
 of their priests when justice has demanded the sacrifice, will manifest 
 no disquietude when in the spirit of equity and humanity, we prevent 
 the murder of their sisters and dausfhters," 
 
 Charles Marsn, Esq., in the House of Commons, in 1813, thus ex- 
 pressed himself relative to the obligatory nature of Suttees : — " It is 
 enjoined h\) no positive precept of the Hindoo religion. It is a species 
 of overstrained interpretation of its duties : and the ofFsprino- of that 
 fanaticism which will inevitably grow up, and has more or less o-rown 
 up, under every system of religion."* Ought not such faiiaticism to 
 be corrected r 
 
 The late C. Grant, Esq., in his ''Observations on the Manners of 
 ' * Dr. John's Pamphlet on tlj« Suttee, p. 96. 
 
77 
 
 the Natives of British liulia," adverts to this custom, and intiinateji, 
 that to say we should continue to allow of these great disorders in 
 " all time to come" wouUI be "•too darin<; u conclusion."* 
 
 Tlie philanthropic and elocpient Wilberforce thus pleaded the cause 
 of benighted Jndia, in the British Senate, in 1813. — "Oh Sir, if we 
 lived nearer these unfortunate people, their distressed situation would 
 exact from us more prompt relief. It was formerly my task to plead 
 the cause of a people whose woes affected every heart, who were fi- 
 nally rescued from the situation in which they groaned by the aboli- 
 tion of the Slave Trade. That cause was doubtless the cause of suf- 
 fering humanity; but 1 declare that, even if we exclude the considera- 
 tion of religion; humanitij appears to mc to be atiil more concerned in 
 the cause 1 am now pleading than in that of which I was formerly the 
 advocate.'" 
 
 The Rev. T. Scott of Aston Sandford, in his valuable Commentary, 
 has the following remarks on Numbers xxxv. 33: — "So ye shall not 
 pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and 
 the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein but by 
 the blood of him that shed it." "The connivance o'i our Government 
 in the burning of widows, and in human sacrifices, and in other species 
 of murder committed in our East Indian dominions, under the pretext 
 of an idolatrous religion, is wholly unjustifiable, and burdens our land, 
 and all connected with those distant regions^ with the guilt of blood 
 not expiated by that of those who shed ity — The blood of Suttees cry 
 to Britain. O may she soon " make inquisition for blood," that " the 
 blood of the souls of the poor innocents" may not be "found upon 
 her skirts." 
 
 It appears very important to ascertain the judgment of the Hin- 
 doos themselves upon the obligation of the rite of Suttee. In the Be- 
 wasta, received from Mutoonjoy Pundit of the Supreme Court in 1817, 
 respecting the burning of Hindoo widows and other sacrifices among 
 the Hindoos, Menu is not mentioned among the various authorities 
 quoted; and it is acknowledged "on the subject of anoogumum the 
 shastras exhibit a great variety of opinions ; but no difference pre- 
 vails with regard to the propriety of leading a life of austerity." 
 
 Ram Mohunroy in 1818 published in Calcutta, in Bengalee and 
 English, a pamphlet entitled, " A Conference between an Advocate 
 and an Opponent of the practice of burning widows," which I should 
 be happy to see reprinted in this country. A quotation or two from 
 it will shew the sentiments of the humane and enliofhtened amonnr the 
 limdoos relative to the Suttee : — "The Veda declares — ' By living in 
 the practice of regular and occasional duties the mind may be purified. 
 By hearing and reflecting and constantly meditating on the Supreme 
 Being, absorption in Brumhu may be attained. Therefore from a de- 
 sire during life, of future fruition, life ought not to be destroyed!' 
 Menu, Yagnyuvulkyu, and others, have, in their respective codes of 
 law, prescribed to widows the duties of ascetics only. The ancient 
 saints and holy teachers and their commentators and yourselves, (ad- 
 dressing Advocates of the Suttee,) as well as we, and all others, agree 
 * Townley's Answer to the Abbe Dubois, pj 189. 
 
78 
 
 that Menu is better acquainted than any other lawgivers with the spirit of 
 the Vedas. He has directed widows to spend their lives as ascetics." 
 It is thus closed : — " It is to me a source of great satisfaction that you 
 (the Advocates) are now ready to take this matter into your serious 
 consideration. By forsaking prejudice and reflecting on the shastra, 
 what is really conformable to its precepts may be perceived, and the 
 evil and disgrace brought on this community^ by the crime of female 
 murder^ will ceased"" 
 
 Mr. Townley, in his " Answer to the Abbe Dubois," shews the 
 opinions of the Hindoos upon this subject : — " I have heard of the re- 
 ply being repeatedly given to the expostulations of Europeans; '' If 
 there is any blame in our proceedings^ it belongs to you yourselves^ for 
 we are acting under British sanction.'''* He adds, " The native who 
 instructed me in the Bengalee language, (who was abrahmun of more 
 than ordinary intelligence,) frequently expressed his surprize to me 
 that Government did not issue an order that no more Suttees should 
 be permitted, intimating his conviction that no commotion whatever 
 would ensue." * 
 
 Ah why is Britain afraid to do justice upon those who shed innocent 
 blood? — ''Where are the bowels of our mercy? — Where our fears of 
 the retributive justice of Heaven? — How long shall this scourge con- 
 tinue to desolate India, and dishonour Britain? We may answer in 
 the memorable language of a brahmun, ' Till the British Government 
 shall think proper to abolish zY.' " + 
 
 " The pundits have intimated that if Government will pass a regu- 
 lation, amercing by fine every brahmun who attends a burning, or 
 every zemindar who permits him to attend it, the practice cannot 
 long continue. The ceremony, unsanctified by the presence of the 
 priests, will lose its dignity in the eyes of the people." (Southey.) 
 
 When Dr. Johns was in India (in 1812) the principal brahniuns at 
 the Mission Press, Serarapore, were asked, whether the interference 
 of the Government to suppress so horrid a custom would be objected 
 to by the natives. They promptly answered that it would not^ and 
 encouraged the idea of such an interference." % 
 
 " It ought to be considered, that some of the most respectable pun- 
 dits do not approve the practice, and would be happy if it were abo- 
 lished: while many others reproach us for permitting it to exist.^^ § 
 
 In the Asiatic Journal for July, 1826, published in London, are 
 three letters in English, written by Bengalees, on the subject of Sut- 
 tees, which are very curious compositions, and show the sentiments 
 of sensible natives on the nature of this appalling rite. We can give 
 but a short extract or two. — " Her brother Roopnarain Gosaul, who 
 is supposed to be a wealthy man, and being so long in the Hon. Com- 
 pany's service, ought to be discharged from his place, and prosecuted 
 in the Supreme Court for giving countenance to such an inhuman act. 
 No body anger could be 7ninded when a life is co7icerncd ; she ought 
 to be prevented to burn. If Governor General gives orders to remove 
 
 * Townley's Answer to the Abbe Dubois, p. 180. 190. + " Grimshawe's Appeal," 
 p. 24. X See Dr. John's Pamphlet, p. 92. Account of York Meeting, p. 23, 24. 
 S Asiatic Observer, No. 8. Oct., 1824, p. 371. 
 
79 
 
 the woman from her relations, at her pronouncing" that she will burn, 
 and allow her to remain one ilai/ in a comfortable place with English 
 Ladies that understands the country's language, there is no doubt her 
 mind shall be purified, and her foolish thoughts shall be removed, and 
 will not be anxious to do such a base act as to burn with dead person." 
 (Muddunmohun Mullick, Calcutta, Jan. 27, 1826.) 
 
 " I fully agree with the sentiments contained in Muddunmohun's 
 letter. If the Government in Council gives order to remove all the 
 women on pronouncing that they will burn, to be placed with an in- 
 telligent English person to persuade them to the contrary, and not 
 allow any of the relations to converse, or make them take intoxicated 
 drugs^ they will never die in such an inhuman manner. I have lost 
 my wife these six i/ears^ and have not married again for fear she may 
 burn with my body at my death. — The Hindoo woman have no sense; 
 they hear from their superiors the cremation is an holy act, and they 
 are fool enough to listen it, which only induce them to express their 
 sentiments that tht^y will burn ; and as soon as such a declaration is 
 obtained all the unfeeling relations uses all their exertions to induce 
 the poor unfortunate widows to suffer such a cruel death. I hope you 
 will not refuse to have this appeared in your interesting Paper, and 
 oblige me." (Sunchurn Sill, Calcutta, Jan. 31, 1826.) 
 
 What shall urge British humanity, magnanimity, and justice, to 
 abolish, without delay, the bloody rite of Suttee? het the magnitude 
 of the evil be seriously considered. The following is an account of 
 the number of Suttees under the Presidencies of Bengal, Madras, and 
 Bombay, during the years specified. — 
 
 Suttees in the Bengal Presidency. 
 
 
 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 
 378 442 707 839 650 597 
 
 1821 1822 
 654 583 
 
 1823 
 575 
 
 Madras Presidency. 
 
 
 
 1817 to 1819, 183, — Average per annum 61. 
 
 No returns 
 
 since. 
 
 Bombay Presidency.* 
 
 
 
 1819 1820 1821 1822 
 42 67 50 48 
 
 1823 
 
 38 
 
 
 The aggregate af these details is 5853. "What a tragic history 
 would a complete detail of these burnings make!" Could they have 
 been assembled in one city (say Calcutta) for a general massacre, 
 would they have perished ? No ! — but is the evil, the guilt, the re- 
 sponsibility, less because these fires are lighted up daily and in vari- 
 ous parts of the land? "The question (discussed here) is a question 
 of life or of death^ and consequently we must bring to the considera- 
 tion of it all those rules of evidence, and all that process of argument, 
 which can alone satisfy men's sober judgment, and direct them in a 
 decision, which is to terminate either in the death-warrant of the vic- 
 
 * See Par. Papers, Nos. 1,2,3,4. — Account of York Meeting, p. 21. 
 
80 
 
 tims or in the revocation of tlieir degraded and mournful lot." Bri- 
 tain delays to speak the decisive word that shall save thousands of un- 
 happy widows from death, but, " On whom loill the blood of the many 
 thousand victims that are destined to perish be visited ? This is a so- 
 lemn and momentous question, before which we may well pause and 
 weigh all the present and all the future consequences. It cannot be 
 dissembled, that the charge of guilt attaches primarily to the Govern- 
 ment of India^ who are the conscious spectators of the act, and largely 
 possessing the means, are yet deterred from employing those means 
 for its suppression. It next attaches to the British Government at 
 home, who acquiesce in the motives that influence this reluctance. 
 And finally, the whole British people become parties to this moral 
 guilty if knowing, as they do, the existence of the crime, they do not 
 consider themselves pledged to use all lawful means for abolishing a 
 rite, derogatory to the British character, forming an anamoly in the 
 administration of civil law, and involving a flagrant breach of the law 
 of God."* 
 
 The Marquis of Hastings would have ''abolished the atrocious prac- 
 tice, if he could have relied upon the popular feeling being in his favour 
 in our own country, and that the danger was felt not in India, (Proh 
 dolor!) but only inEngland."+ Let the inhabitants of Great Britain 
 and Ireland speak and supplicate that no more innocent blood may be 
 shed. Bedford, in 1823, and the village of Crail, near Edinburgh, in 
 1825, have taken the lead in this work of justice and mercy. The 
 present year, 1827, is likely to see something important done. The 
 abolition of human sacrifices has been discussed in the Court of East 
 India Proprietors, and advances made towards the attainment of this 
 desired object. Notice is given in the House of Commons of a mo- 
 tion on \\\Q subject of Suttees, for May 24th5 and petitions have been 
 sent from York, Rochdale, Colchester, &c. and others are preparing 
 at Derby, Loughborough, Retford, &c. The most concise and com- 
 prehensive form of a petition I have seen, is that of Loughborough, 
 which is as follows : — " To the Honourable the Commons of the United 
 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled. 
 
 " The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of and 
 
 its Vicinity, 
 
 '' Sheweth, — That your Petitioners learn with extreme concern that 
 the inhuman and impious practice in India, of burning Widows on the 
 funeral pile of their husbands, still continues. 
 
 *' That your Petitioners while they gratefully acknowledge that of 
 late years exertions have been made for the moral and religious im- 
 provement of India, and that the influence of the British Government 
 has been successfully exerted in the prevention of many superstitious 
 cruelties hitherto practised by the Natives ; would earnestly implore 
 your Honourable House to command such further exercise of autho- 
 rity as may secure the abrogation of the practice, so opposed to the 
 law of God, and so revolting to humanity. And your Petitioners will 
 ever pray." 
 
 Under the law of Moses even uncertain murder was to be expi- 
 * Grimshawe's Appeal, p. 20. 26. + Account of York Meeting, p. 6. 
 
81 
 
 ated, and the people taught to pray ; — " Be merciful, O J^ord, unto 
 thy people Israel, whom thou liast redeemed, and lay not innocent 
 blood unto thy people of Israel's charge." (Deu. xxi. 8.) May Bri- 
 tain feel her responsibility to "put away the guilt of innocent blood." 
 
 *' Ye British matrons, husbands, sires, 
 
 Your souls with soft compassion glowing ; 
 O haste to quench the horrid fires 
 
 Whence human blood is sadly flowing ; 
 With your lov^d King and Country plead. 
 
 Implore the Senate of your nation 
 That British India may be freed 
 
 From scenes of such abomination.''' 
 
 The existence of Suttees and other cruel rites in India, for many 
 ages, is a proof of its benighted, degraded state. Bible and Mission- 
 ary Societies are the great means of promoting its conversion to Chris- 
 tianity. " The Gospel is the power of God to salvation to every one 
 that believeth." I have seen a Bengalee Christian and a preacher 
 who, when a boy, set fire to the pile that consumed his mother to 
 ashes. Behold the triumph of Christianity! — Let the friends of hu- 
 manity and of true religion prosecute the good work of evangelizing 
 India and the East, for their " labour is not in vain in the Lord." 
 
 We shall close in the impressive language of a Writer in the Asi- 
 atic Observer, No. viii. (published in Calcutta, Oct. 1824). Speaking 
 of this cruel practice, it is observed : — " How many noble souls have 
 ventured on some bold enterprize, without seeing how they could ac- 
 complish their design; yet, by close attention and perseverence, a 
 way his opened to their view, and means have offered themselves al- 
 most spontaneously for forwarding their wishes, so that at length they 
 have attained to that which at first appeared to them almost impossi- 
 ble to be acquired. Indeed the noblest plans and institutions by which 
 our country (Britain) is adorned, and our happiness increased, have 
 originated in this manner. Let one man of injiuence in society take 
 the object into consideration, deliberately, and with a determination 
 to find out some plan to which he can solicit the attention of the pub- 
 lic, and we have as little doubt of his success as we have of the dispo- 
 sition of the public to assist him. Various ideas have been started on 
 this subject and some of them, were they adopted, might prove be- 
 neficial. It has been thousfht that it would be o^ood for the inhabi- 
 tants of Calcutta to present a petition to the Supreme Government 
 here, or through them to our ozcn Legislators at home. It would cer- 
 tainly be an honourable thing to those who made it, and entitle them 
 to a place among the friends of India to the latest age. It has been sug- 
 gested that it would be very honourable to the ladies in Calcutta were 
 they all to unite in presenting a petition and soliciting the Lady of the 
 Governor General to do them the honour of putting her name first. 
 This would display the humanity and sympathy of the Calcutta ladies, 
 and have a great practical efi^ect, by leading many to impress on their 
 husbands the importance of rescuing a degraded part of the female 
 sex. If all the Knights of the present day could be persuaded to 
 undertake the rescuing of Bengalee widows from the flames, they 
 would attempt a nobler deed than was ever achieved since the order 
 
 L 
 
82 
 
 was instituted; and, should they be successful, would transmit to pos- 
 terity a name more -honourable than any or all of their brethren. 
 Another plan that has been proposed, and acted upon in part, is, that 
 Houses of Ag-ency, Mercantile Houses, &c., would set their faces 
 ag-ainst this practice, by dismissing from their employment any per- 
 son who has been brutal enough to burn his own mother. This would 
 teach the natives in general the abhorrence that Europeans have of 
 the crime, and would, in many instances, prevent it from being com- 
 mitted." 
 
 '' We are encouraged, from the spirit of the British Nation, and 
 from the prophecies of Scripture, confidently to anticipate an end to 
 the miseries we now deplore. That a Parliament which has abolish- 
 ed the Slave Trade, will for ever permit the burning of widows, we 
 can never believe. Slavery did not receive its death-blow at once: 
 many blows were aimed at the monster before its head was broken; 
 and its carcase is not even yet all consumed. So it may be in the 
 case under discussion: it may be brought forward several times be- 
 fore all objections to it, real and fictitious, are answered; but, not- 
 withstanding this, unless humanity and wisdom perish from the British 
 Senate^ we are certain that sooner or later they will put an end to this 
 horrid practice. We argue, not from the cessation of many cruel 
 ceremonies among other nations that this will certainly be the case; 
 we have a surer word of prophecy on which to depend: the Most 
 High has declared that he will give his Son " the heathen for his in- 
 heritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession." If 
 these nations are given to him, whose law is love, and whose Gospel 
 is peace, then will be brought to pass the saying that is written : " The 
 wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw 
 like the bullock ; and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall 
 not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord."* 
 
 * Asiatic Observer, p. 369, 370, 374, 375. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 Winks, Printer, Baxter-Gate, Loughborougli. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 Section I. — Remarks on the horrid nature of the practice of burning Hindoo Wi- 
 dows, and on the causes that tend to prevent its suppression, or occasion its 
 perpetration • 3 
 
 Section II. — The cruel rite of Suttee not enjoined by the most authoritative of the 
 Hindoo Legislators and opposed to their views of eminent virtue. Force abso- 
 lutely forbidden, yet generally employed 15 
 
 Section III. — Further illustration of the important position that the Suttee, though 
 recommended by some modern Hindoo Writers, is not enjoined by the most au- 
 tlioritative ; and that the usual mode of its perpetration is not sanctioned by 
 Hindoo Writers 19 
 
 Section IV. — Further discussion of the subject of the two preceding Sections, being 
 a Review of a Pamphlet on the burning of widows, written in Bengalee, by a 
 Pundit 30 
 
 •4 
 
 Section V. — The present partial interference of the British Government promotes 
 
 the increase, celebrity, and supposed legality of Suttees, 50 
 
 Section VI. — Testimonies to confirm the propriety and safety of the suppression of 
 
 Suttees 54 
 
 Section VII. — A collection of European and Native testimony to the position, that 
 the Suttee is not absolutely enjoined by the Hindoo shastras, and hence should 
 be suppressed 68 
 
f;^^A/.c 
 
 C'^^ l^T^^'^ 
 
 -t^. 
 
 c 
 
 y 
 
 I - 
 
 ' ^ 
 
This book is due two weeks from the last date stamped 
 
 five cents a day wi 
 
 11 be incurred. 
 
 
 "30122? 
 
 003^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 
 
 006 
 
 912255 
 
 3 7_T^U^ 
 
 I 
 
 NOV Of 
 
L