With his Reply and Remarks, and of Two Letters of the late Dr. Toulmin's. 651 ' Some who attended, I know, like my self, were warm admirers; and though he might feel discouraged, and full of modesty as he was, be insensible of the energy with which he spoke, his manner as well as his matter deeply affected all serious hearers. Had it been the Doctor's infirmity to be unable to attempt exertion, his example in this respect should by no means be imitated. Small congregations may be made less through want of exertion in their minister; the improvement of every individual present should be a point continually kept in view, and how few soever the number of hearers may be, the preacher is bound in duty to exert his best abilities. Mr. Morgan might have drawn up a more interesting memoir, though what he has written is acceptable. Some account of Dr. Price's associates would have been pleasing. At Poor Jewry Lane his fellow-labourer was the accomplished Mr. Radcliffe. That he declined preaching for many years before his death was much to be regretted. He continued, however, a steady adherent to the cause which he had so ably served in the pulpit, yet the continuance of his services there might have proved of essential benefit. The truly respectable Mr. White, of the Old Jewry, was chosen afternoon preacher at Hackney, when Dr. Price became pastor; and the excellent Dr. Amory succeeded in the morning service at Newington Green, continuing his services at the Old Jewry the other part of the day, Mr. White being co-pastor there with him. Dr. Amory and Dr. Price were kindred souls. The best qualities which can adorn Christian ministers, and the most amiable dispositions as members of society, distinguished both. Never had a small or any congregation two preachers more worthy of their most serious and attentive regard. Dr. Amory, during, his long residence at Taunton, was much estee:ed by and frequently preached to the respectable Baptist Society there. He expressed to me the great pleasure he felt when Mr. Toulmin was fixed in it. Mr. Ward his successor was advancing in years, as were the principal supporters of the place where Dr. Amory had officiated. He rejoiced, therefore, in the thought, that those sentiments of religion which represented God" as love," and which his uncle Grove and himself had long inculcated, would still continue to be held forth in his native town, and among the posterity of his beloved hearers. Colyton, Devon, April 28, 1814. To the Rev. Mr. Cornish. - WERE we to regard our own feelings only in making you this joint address, we should be disposed to preface it with a long apology for interfering in a point in which you are so deeply interested. Be assured, dear Sir, it is far from our intention to wound them in the slightest degree. A sense of duty to the great head of the Christian church, and a sincere regard for the spiritual eternal welfare of our fellow-creatures, are the principal motives which have prevailed upon us thus to address you. We are given to understand that the Dissenting interest at Colyton has not been of late years in that flourishing state which doubtless you yourself wish. The attempt which has been lately made to gain the attention of the people to a concern for their spiritual good, seeins to have been attended with a Divine blessing. The attendance is very considerable and would in all probability be mach greater were there a suitable place of worship. A plan has been proposed and in part proceeded upon, for fitting up a more commodious house. The expence attending this object would be considerable, though no doubt it might be effected. Having understood this to be the situation of things, it has occurred to us, that, as you are now advancing in years, and may not be so well able to make those exertions which are necessary to gather and keep together a congregation at all numerous, you might feel disposed to give up the meeting-house which you occupy into the hands of approved trustees, in order to accommodate those who are evidently willing to attend the minis try of the young men who have preached to them the word of life. If this proposal were acceded to on your part, much expence would be saved in building, &c. and we should. conceive it would be much more to your satisfaction to see the place where you have so long laboured and in which doubtless you feel an ite rest, filled with hearers anxious to learn the way to heaven, though that way might be pointed out with another finger than your own, than to preach to a few individuals in your own meeting-house, while you knew that another in the same town was thronged. To impart the greatest good to the greatest number of their fellow-creatures, is the high motive which has operated with those who are interested in the support of the infant cause at Colyton. Private feelings as well as private interests must give way to the public good. We hope this sentiment will be adopted and acted on by all concerned, and trust you are so much interested in the general welfare of man, especially in the salvation of his soul, that whatever will contribute most effectually to this end, and depends on you, you will not withhold. You will readily believe we can have no other interest to serve than that of the cause of God and truth, and to support and promote that we stand pledged. We beg leave therefore to make this friendly proposal for your consideration, trusting you will see how much public good may arise from acceding to it, as well as how probably you may expect therein the Divine approbation. Your reply may be addressed if you please to either of the undersigned. Wishing you health and prosperity under the Divine blessing, We are, Rev. and Dear Sir, Your's respectfully, To Mr. A. B. C. D. 1814. Colyton, May TO prevent my being troubled again with such a letter as came by post, signed by yourself and Messrs. B. C. D. is my only reason for sending any reply. Mr. may possibly blush hereafter at recollecting that his name appeared. Of Mr. myself and as my own personal act to give up the place where my hearers assemble), so unfeeling and insulting a proposal. Could four such lost to every feeling becoming men and Christians have done it, to a minister of an approved character for more than forty years, and to whom the Almighty graciously continues decent abilities for public service; a large majority of their peo ple and I believe many open-hearted laymen of your connection would have joined in saying, "Fie upon them, fie upon them." I found the society at Colyton very small; for some years it increased; by deaths and removals it is again lessened. Should you and your friend, think the cause of religion will be served by erecting a new place here, any real good done will rejoice the heart of your sincere well-wisher, JOSEPH CORNISH, P.S. I was much impressed in early life with a remark of good Mr. Lavington's, in his Charge to Mr. Ste phens, at Axminster, 1772. "Should the number of your hearers lessen, do not be discouraged so as to grow remiss in your endeavours; remember Jesus Christ preached an excellent sermon to one woman.” Extracts by Joseph Cornish. Mr. Lavington, being deservedly. a favourite author with his party, 1 directed my correspondents to a pas sage, Vol. 1. p. 320, of his Discourses addressed to a Minister. "Suppose you have been unusually earnest for many sabbaths following, in exhorting sinners, and beseeching them by the mercies of God to be reconciled, you find yourself so assisted in your preparations, and so animated in the delivery of these discourses, that you are strongly persuaded of being remarkably successful; and every time you let down the net, you seem assured of inclosing a I. multitude of fishes: now, if after all entertain less hope. At Mr.— (if it you catch nothing; if you cannot perbe Mr. - the elder and not his son) ceive that one soul has been cons and yourself I am astonished. Those verted by all your prayers and preach of my little flock to whom the letter ing, and, in short, that for aught has been shewn, feel most indignant. that appears, you have laboured in I am persuaded that four ministers vain, and spent your strength for could not be found in the kingdom nought; do you not think it possible amongst those disposed to exchange that pride may suggest what sig pulpits with me, who could have nifies my toiling, if God give not. made so unjust (for you desire me of his blessing? No man could exent With his Reply and Remarks, and of Two Letters of the late Dr. Toulmin's. 053 himself inore. But I might as well have sat still and done nothing. Let God send some other messenger, whose labours he may think fit to bless: I see I am no longer worthy of being employed.' No, my dear Sir, this must not be: this is not the proper language from a servant to his inaster; Christ has taught you better, and you must learn to say after him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.'" A pious minister saying that he thought of not preaching on a particular day, because very few would attend: Oh! preach, said a pious friend, no one can tell what good may be done till the day of judgment. The pious Dr. Stonehouse was so discouraged by his want of apparent success, though well attended, that in a letter to Mr. Orton, he observed, "that to preach was his duty, but he was become almost indifferent whether his audience consisted of eighteen hundred or only eighteen." : Taunton, Nov. 24, 1770. MY DEAR FRIEND, I WAS rather surprised at the contents of your's, though I must regard it as a proof of your integrity. It induced me to look into Mr. Boyse's Answer to Emlyn; and by what I saw from a slight inspection, his reasonings appear to me only calculated to puzzle a plain thing, and to cloud a matter with chicanery, which common sense would easily determine and notwithstanding all he appeared to advance, on his principles I see not how our Master can be cleared from the suspicion of equivocation, in Matt. xiii. 32, and I suppose Mr. Emlyn's Reply has obviated his specious reasonings. But surely you do not rest the controversy on one text. The point to me appears, What is the idea the Scriptures in their general strain and language afford as of the Divine Being. The most exact and precise definition of the One Supreme God, is a Being consisting of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, i. e. on the Trinitarian principles: but where is this idea and definition to be met with in the Scriptures? On the contrary, it appears that the word God occurs 1288 times, and there are several hun dred texts wherein the Father is styled Taunton, April 10, 1771. MY DEAR FRIEND, YOUR candour will excuse my delay; it was partly owing to the waiting for an opportunity of taking Mr. Ward's sentiments on the subject of your's. We both approve of the motives by which you are influenced, and of your rational zeal in the services of men's best interests. As to the propriety of your design with respect to Kingston, we are both such stran gers to the circumstances of things there, that we can do no more than concur in every scheme (as far as our approbation at least) which promises to serve the cause of religion; and in this case would wholly rest on Dr. Amory's knowledge and judgment. Only we would refer it to you to consider whether a connection you propose with Mr. Moffat will be agreeable and have a favourable aspect. Will not your sentiments. crash? Will not this appear in your prayers and sermons? Or will he consent to confine himself to a prac 7 tical strain and Scripture language? Would he deem such a connection on his own account prudent or proper, as it probably would draw some suspicions of heresy on him? Have you consulted him on these points? Or would you choose to refer them to his consideration? I would farther observe that I have heard Mr. Hmention an old gentleman, a Dissenting minister, (his name i cannot recollect) who resided at Kingston,* and opened a room in his own house to preach in on Lord's Day: and though his character and sermons were good, he had no great encouragement, as not above a dozen besides his own family ever attended. Indeed, I do not think that this should determine you to lay aside your scheme; for even to do good to so few, will not lose its pleasures or reward; and I should apprehend so small a sphere would be a good introduction to the world: for my own part I believe I shall like to exchange with you sometimes. If on consulting Dr. Ámory, you pursue the scheme, you should apprize Mrs. Haddon of it, that she may licence her house; which she can do only at a Quarter's Session. I imagined you would not long retain the Trinitarian sentiments: but your candour and impartiality, what ever opinions you embraced, gave you a claim to esteem with men, will delight on reflection, and if persevered in, will meet a noble recompence with the God of Truth! The pros pect, my friend, is great and animating! Edward's Book, I have never seen, and cannot say I have had much inclination to see it, as I thought it was intended to reason us out of our feelings, and to perplex with metaphysics what is plain and incontestable at the bar of common sense. Have you seen Beattie Truth? if you have not, you have much improvement and entertainment to come. It carries conviction, confirms faith, and gives that lively and rational pleasure to which the sceptical mind must remain an unhappy stranger. I could wish you to purchase Lardner's Letter on the Logos. Dr. Chandler declared he could not answer Lowman. There is another book in that controversy which merits at * Near Taunton. on tention, The Scripture Doctrine of Jesus Christ, published three years since. My sentiments are not fixed on the point: I have it in review and my mind leads much to the Socinian scheme. May your's be directed to truth, and ever feel the power, the hopes and zeal of real goodness and piety. Accept our joint respects, and the best wishes of, SIR, IN Dear Friend, Your's very affectionately, Harlow Mills, Nov. 9, 1816. N auswer to the inquiries of your Correspondent, A. F. in your last Number, (p. 594,) respecting Dr. Bekker, I have no doubt but he will find ample information by referring to almost any of the larger biographical Dictionaries, and more particularly the French-Boyle, Moreri, Chauffepie, &c. but being absent from my late residence near the metropolis, the only work of the kind I have now an opportunity of referring to in the library of a friend, is the Dictionnaire Historique, Litteraire, et Critique, a work in 6 vols. 8vo. and which, allowing for the prejudices of a Roman Catholic, appears to be written with fairness and impartiality. The following is a translation of the article respecting the above-mentioned divine. “BEKKER (BALTHASAR,) a famous Dutch Theologian, born in Friesland, 1634, who, after having commenced his studies under his fa ther, and pursued them in the Academies of Groningen and Franker, was employed in different churches, and died minister of that at Amsterdam, in 1698. He was suspended from his functions for a certain period on account of his work entitled, Le Monde Enchanté, 2 vols. 12mo. in which he denied the doctrine of possessions and of witchcraft by any compact with the devil, and affirmed that the evil spirit had no power over men. The system of Bekker was refuted by various writers, but they could never persuade him to retract, nor could they prevent him from defending himself: he was therefore deprived of his functions by the ecclesiastical sy nod, although they continued his salary as minister. He was the author of various other works, Recherches Reply to A. F. respecting Dr. Bekker. sur les Cometés, in 8vo. La Saine Theologies Explicatio Prophetiæ Danielis, in 4to. &c."* In the volume of Robinson's Works, quoted by your Correspondent, there is another allusion to Dr. Bekker, by which it appears that one of the charges brought against him, was that which I fear may be brought against almost every thinking, serious divine, who is so unfortunate as to be a member of any of those Anti-Christ ian communities, the handy-work of kingcraft, priestcraft and statecraftcivil establishments of religion. The Dutch synod condemned the Doctor, "because he had explained the Holy Scriptures so as to make them contrary to the Catechism, and particularly to the articles of faith, which he had himself subscribed."† Mr. Robinson, however, finishes the paragraph quoted by your Correspondent, by giving it as his opinion, that although Dr. B. was reputed a Deist, he was a fast friend of revelation, and all his crime lay in expounding some literal passages allegorically. Not the book,ut the received meaning of it he denied." When I was in Holland about twenty-five years since, I turned over Dr. Bekker's Heretical Work alluded to, and which passed through several editions. Notwithstanding it abounds with singular opinions and fancies, it displays much learning, ingenuity and Robinson's Remarks. Mosheim, in his Ecclesiastical History, (C. xvii. S. 1, No. xxxv) from that neglect of discrimination, too common, and not always undesigned, classes Bekker with Spinosa, and imputes to him a design of using "the principles of Des Cartes, to overturn some doctrines of Christianity, and to pervert others." A larger account of Bekker and his World Bewitched, published in 1691, will be found in Part II. S. 2, No. xxxv. of the same History. But the fullest satisfaction I can offer your* Correspondent, is by quoting some passages, and especially the concluding paragraph, from the Article Balthasar Bekker, Biog. Dict. 1784. He was born in 1634, 66 at Warthnisen, in the province of Groningen,” in whose university he was educated. In 1665, while minister at Oosterlingen, " he took his degree of Doctor of Di vinity, at Francker, and the next year was chosen one of the ministers of that city." He had published "A Short Catechism for Children, and another for Persons of more advanced Age." The latter was censured as containing 66 strange expressions, unscriptural positions, and dangerous opinions," for which" the author was prosecuted before the ecclesiastical assemblies," and for four years endured “much trouble and vexation." "In 1679 he was chosen minister at Amsterdam. The comet which appeared in 1680 and 1681 gave him an opportunity of publishing a small book, in Low Dutch, entitled, Ondersoch over de Kometei, that is, An Inquiry concerning Comets, wherein he endeavoured to shew that comets are not the presages or forerunners of any evil. This piece gained him great reputation, as did likewise his Exposition on the Prophet Daniel, wherein he gave many proofs of his learning and sound judgment. But the Work which rendered him most famous, is his De Betorer Wereld, or The World Bewitched. He enters into an inquiry of the common opinion. concerning spirits, their nature and power, authority and actions; as also what men can do by their power and assistance. He tells us in his preface, that it grieved him to see the great honours, powers, and miracles which. are ascribed to the devil. It is come to that pass,' says he, that men think it piety and godliness to ascribe a great many wonders to the devil, and im |