applied to him for relief. If there appeared to be an error in this part of his character, it was in the excefs of his charity beyond the means of income, and in his being too eafy a dupe to the artifice of fraud and imposture.

His general behaviour both as a man, and a minister was defervedly admired. He was particularly distinguished for that "fimplicity and godly fincerity," which abhors the disguise of cunning, and prefers the interests of truth to the vanity of popular applaufe. And whilft the fingularity of his fentiments expofed him to cenfure and reproach, the integrity and amiableness of his manners compelled the tribute of respect and esteem. He received many civilities from those who had an utter averfion to the doctrines which he espoused. It reflects honour on both parties, that in the time of fickness a kind and friendly attention was paid him by the Rev. Mr. Clayton, Fellow

A 5

of

of the Collegiate Church, Manchefter, to whom he had formerly lived neighbour, notwithstanding the very great difference of their religious and political opinions.

His talents as a preacher were fplendid and ftriking, though obfcured in the latter years of life, by that fevere indifpofition which fo long afflicted him, and at length brought him to the grave. His voice was fweet and mufical, his elocution forcible and correct, his manner dignified and folemn, and he addreffed his hearers with an earnestnefs that arrested and fecured their attention. His compofitions were manly and energetic rather than loose and declamatory, and he aimed more to convince the understanding than to excite the paffions. It feldom happens that close and accurate reasoning is accompanied with great fluency of expreffion, yet the following anecdote fhows him to have been poffeffed both of a quick apprehenfion and a ready utterance.

It

It is well remembered, that officiating at Chowbent in the year 1751, a funeral with which he was previously unacquainted entered the chapel. After having gone through the devotional part of the fervice, he remarked to the congregation, that he wished to direct their attention to the important truths which the folemnity before them naturally fuggefted, but that being unprovided with a fermon fuitable to the occafion, he would not make choice of any particular text. He then proceeded to harangue them in a regular and well connected difcourfe, which greatly affected and impreffed the minds of the audience.

He fometimes commenced the public fervice with a feebleness and languor, proceeding from bodily infirmity, that were very diftreffing to his hearers. As he advanced in the fervice, he gradually loft fight of his indifpofition, till at length, elevated and infpired by the facred theme, he delivered

himself,

himself, with a force and animation, that commanded univerfal admiration and delight.

For many years before his death, he had been led to queftion, how far the commonly received opinions refpecting the person of our Saviour were fupported by the authority of fcripture. A more attentive and deliberate view of the fubject, confirmed him in his doubts, and determined him not only to reject the Athanafian, but the Arian hypothefis. Firmly perfuaded of the proper humanity of Chrift, and regarding it as a truth effential to the progrefs of the gospel, he judged it an indifpenfable duty to affert this doctrine in the most plain and unequivocal manner. He was not intimidated by the idea, that fuch a declaration, would by many perfons be construed into malignant herefy if not into downright blafphemy. There was however one manifest advantage in his favour. His eftablished character for integrity, and the modefty of his deportment,

freed

freed him from the imputation of affected fingularity, or the influence of any unworthy. motive. Accordingly he prepared and delivered from the pulpit, the discourses which form the first part of this volume, and prefaced them with a folemn appeal to the great Searcher of hearts, before whom he was about to appear, for the purity of his intentions. He obferved to his audience, that his convictions were neither lately nor haftily formed, and declared that he could not difcharge his confcience, nor quit the world in peace without a public avowal of those fentiments which appeared to him of the greatest importance to the cause of chriftianity. The congregation were in general attached to a different fyftem of belief, yet few comparatively were offended with the freedom of his addrefs, and by far the greater part highly respected and esteemed the fincerity and magnanimity of his conduct.

Here was indeed a noble fpectacle, a minifter impelled by the love of truth and a regard