"For we being many are one bread and one body; for we are all partakers of LONDON: JACKSON AND WALFORD, 18, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD. THE CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINĖ. JANUARY, 1839. MEMOIRS OF THE REV. JOHN HUMPHRYS, LL.D. COMPILED FROM HIS PRIVATE PAPERS. THE REV. JOHN HUMPHRYS, LL.D. was born at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, on the 20th of November, 1758. His family was one of considerable respectability, and many of its members had been distinguished by their zealous adherence to the cause of evangelical nonconformity. His grandfather, Mr. John Humphrys, of Birmingham, having, with several friends, seceded from the Old Meeting in that town, on account of the prevalence of Arian sentiments, was one of the founders of the Independent interest now flourishing in Carr's Lane. This gentleman's youngest son, Mr. Benjamin Humphrys, settled at Bromsgrove, and was, for many years, the principal supporter of the dissenting cause in that town. To the memory of this eminently pious and devoted servant of Christ, an affectionate tribute of filial respect was paid in a funeral discourse, entitled, "The present Character and future Happiness of the real Christian, a Sermon occasioned by the much lamented Death of Mr. Benjamin Humphrys, who departed this life April 10, 1789, in the 60th year of his age, in which a particular account is given of his exemplary life and triumphant death. Preached at Bromsgrove by John Humphrys." Of Mr. Benjamin Humphrys' children, four survived the period of infancy; Rebecca, afterwards Mrs. Hanbury, "a most amiable woman, of uniform and extraordinary piety;" Henry Dowler, who "died in the faith and hope of the gospel, in the year 1806;" John, the subject of this Memoir; and Ann, who died in the 23d year of her age. Although these children sustained, at a tender age, the loss of their mother, her place was well supplied by the second wife of Mr. Humphrys. Of her piety and assiduous attention to the N.S. VOL. III.-VOL. XXII. B |