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where he was best known in his native country. As a proof of this, upon Mr. Fleming's removal from Stratford, Mr. Pickard was chosen as his successor by the congregation of Protestant Dissenters in that place. But his valuable abilities, the improvement he had made in sound knowledge, and the amiable temper and character which he discovered, were too distinguished to be long confined in so private a situation. After spending about two years and a half at Stratford, he accepted an invitation to take charge of a congregation in Court-yard, Long-lane, Bermondsey. He removed thither about the year 1740, and continued in this connexion till the latter end of the year 1746, when he removed to Carter-lane, as assistant to Mr. Newman; upon whose decease, he was chosen pastor in January, 1759, and on the 10th of February, in the following year, sole pastor.

As Mr. Pickard possessed great zeal and activity, united with a large share of prudence, he was eminently qualified for perseverance in those designs of usefulness, which he formed with so much coolness and deliberation. After his removal to London, he took a conspicuous lead in the affairs of the Dissenters, and conducted himself with so much prudence, punctuality, and integrity, as to gain the esteem and affection of those with whom he was connected. The orphan school for the children of Protestant Dissenters, first at Hoxton, but now in the City Road, owed its origin to his benevolent exertions; and he ever regarded it with the fostering care of a tender parent. He was many years Secretary to the fund for assisting poor ministers in the country, who were under considerable obligations to him for the zeal and assiduity with which he conducted himself in that department. Besides his connexion with the congregation in Carter-lane, he preached in his turn at the Merchants' lecture on a Tuesday morning, at Salters'-Hall; and also on the Lord's-day morning, at Little St. Helen's. During the period of nearly forty years that he resided in London, he

CARTER-LANE, DOCTORS'-COMMONS.English Presbyterian.

maintained an unsullied reputation, and was held in general esteem by serious persons of all denominations. Of this an affecting proof was given in the general and genuine conceru expressed at the report of his death.

It was the fervent prayer of Mr. Pickard, that his life and usefulness might end together; and in this respect his wishes were remarkably gratified. The Lord's-day previous to his confinement, he was employed in discoursing upon the certainty of that eternal world, upon which he was about to enter. From his outward aspect, particularly during part of the service, it was visible that his bodily infirmities, which had been for some time growing upon him, were making a quicker progress than his friends had been willing to suppose; but there was no abatement of his zeal and devotion. The intelligence that he was past hope of recovery, before many persons knew that he was in danger, excited a general alarm amongst his friends. The disorder made a rapid progress, and defeated every method that was employed to remove it. He was confined to his bed on the Thursday, and on the Tuesday following, February the 10th, 1778, in the 64th year of his age, he was removed from a station which he had filled with distinguished fidelity, usefulness, and acceptance. An excellent discourse upon the occasion of his death, was delivered to his bereaved people, from Job xiv. 10. by the Rev. Thomas Tayler, who succeeded him in the pastoral office.

The character of Mr. Pickard is so well drawn by Mr. Tayler, that we shall present the reader with it in his own words: "Few ministers, I believe, had a happier way of conducting themselves among the people of their charge. There was something in his manner and conversation which insensibly won respect and confidence, especially with young people, to whom, from the best desire of engaging their hearts early in the service of religion, before the snares of the world had prepossessed them against it, he paid a peculiar attention. He was indeed a watchful shepherd to all the

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flock of which the chief Shepherd had made him an overseer; and it would have been strange, if the Christian benevolence of his heart, which took so large a compass in the world, had not expressed itself by a more than ordinary concern for the improvement of those, whose welfare he considered himself as bound to pursue, by the ties of duty and. gratitude to them, by the love he owed to his Divine Master, and the desire of appearing with comfort before him in the great day of account. These were evidently the leading springs of his conduct; and hence it became consistent and exemplary. He was always received and treated as a minister of religion: the reason was, he appeared under no borrowed title, but always preserved the character uniform himself. I never saw him in his most cheerful moments, exceed the bounds which the strictest sanctity required; the great objects of his office still appeared uppermost in his thoughts, And, in humble imitation of his Divine Master, “he went about doing good."

"As it was his happiness to excel most in those qualities which were best suited to the nature of his office, it is no wonder that he took a peculiar pleasure in the duties which belonged to it. He never seemed more in his element than when he appeared where I now stand; or delivered himself with so much apparent desire of success, as when he addressed the people of his peculiar charge. Nor is it a little to the honour of his private character, that his public services, which met with general acceptance, were most of all dear to those who knew him best. The reasonable prepos session which a careful observation of his daily conduct produced in his favour, gave a weight and influence to all his addresses, which no adventitious or artificial advantages could supply. There was indeed an unaffected gravity and seriousness in his manner, and such an apparent concern to do good in every thing that he said, as bespoke the candor and esteem even of those who entertained the most different sentiments in religion from himself. Not that he affected to

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be distinguished by any name or party whatever. The favourite subjects of his discourse were those which are of universal importance, and which every man who feels the power of religion must relish; and the manner in which he treated them, were well fitted to affect and improve a sensible hearer. He did not entertain you with florid harangues, or fill up your sacred time with dry and useless criticisms; his addresses were adapted to enlighten the understanding, and impress the heart, where the hidden springs of action lie. There was a fullness of sentiment in his discourses, and a variety, and seriousness, and pertinence in his prayers, especially upon particular occasions, which shewed the rich materials he had stored up, and the pure fire of devotion that lay burning within.

"But his public services were not confined to the pulpit ; he carried them far and wide into the world. Nor did he neglect the private concerns and improvement of his own family. All who had the happiness to live under his roof, have borne witness to his exemplary conduct in every social relation of life. And yet amidst the constant assiduity which he employed in doing good to all about him, such was the humility of his heart, that no complaint was more common in his mouth, than that he lived to little purpose. What lamentation should those men make of themselves, who are as useless above ground, as they will be when they are laid beneath it! or who, instead of doing any good in the world, are doing substantial mischief to all around them!-The feelings of his heart were naturally strong; but by long exercise and self-discipline, he had acquired so excellent a command over them, that they seldom run, upon the most trying occasion, into any excess, unless it were those feelings which are of the tender and sympathetic kind: these, when they failed of affording that relief to others, which he wished to communicate, often became too painful to himself.

"One thing we can hardly help regretting, (but he that wisely appoints the time, directs also the circumstances of

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our removal) I mean that the nature of his disorder, almost from its first violent seizure, rendered him incapable of conversing much with his most intimate friends. No doubt but his dying-bed would otherwise have proved an instructive and becoming close of the holy life that preceded it. He said enough indeed, after his disorder became hopeless, to shew that he was perfectly resigned to the event; but a kind of stupor soon locked up all his faculties; and those who were near his person could not but reflect, how unsuitable a season a dying hour often proves for the most important business of life. Happy for him, his work was finished; and as a labourer that hath fulfilled his day, he had nothing to do but to retire to rest."*

Though Mr. Pickard, in his views of some doctrines of Christianity, is known to have followed the tenets of Arius, he is, nevertheless, to be ranked among the high Arians. We have authority for saying, that he was wont to express himself in terms of strong disapprobation of the writings of Dr. Priestley, and other Socinians; who have reduced our Lord to the level of a mere man, and otherwise obscured the doctrines of the gospel. Mr. Pickard married the widow of the amiable Mr. Samuel Sanderson, of Bedford. His writings consist of a few single sermons; and three useful discourses on the religious government of a family. (B)

• Mr. Tayler's Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Edward Pickard,

p. 18-26.

(B) WORKS.-). The vast Importance of a Deliverance from Popery, and the wonderful Means by which God has delivered us: preached at Little St. Helen's, to the Society that supports the Lord's-day Morning Lecture there, at the Anniversary Meeting on the first of August, 1747. Luke i. 74, 75.-2. The Christian's Resolution to live to Christ, and his Desire to depart and be with him: on the Death of Mr. Timothy Wild, January 8, 1758. Phil. i. 23, 24.-3. The Christian's Confidence and Joy in the Views of Death and Judgment, on the Death of the Rev. Thomas Newman, December 17, 1758. 2 Tim. i. 12.-4. A Sermon on the Death of the Rev. George Benson: preached at Crouched-Friars, April 18, 1762. Matt. xxv. 21.-5. Three Discourses on the Religious Government of a Family.