name of Samuel Reid to all who even casually and slightly knew him.

Few men, it may be safely said, without fear of incurring the charge of that unmeaning flattery which exalts the subject of biographical panegyric at the expense of others, ever exhibited so much of the strength and purity of Christian benevolence, guided and animated by Christian piety. The great object of that self-discipline which he appears to have systematically pursued, was the annihilation of self. His benevolence was not only a feeling, but a principle, founded on the conviction that life and all its powers were given to him to be devoted to the good of his fellow-creatures. No self-denial or sacrifice seemed too great to him, when this end could be attained by it. Although he was most affectionate and dutiful in the nearer social relations, he would cheerfully have renounced his home and native land, if the prospect of more extensive usefulness had presented itself in a distant region. He not only embraced every opportunity of doing good which came in his way, but sought out occasions and objects of benevolence with an ardour and earnestness which might sometimes expose him to the derision of those who could not sympathize with the enthusiasm of his character. Perhaps even those who loved and ho noured him most sincerely, may some times have wished that his exalted and disinterested virtues had been mingled with qualities of a lower order indeed, but necessary to the greatest practical efficacy of his generous dispositions. Yet even while expressing the wish that the romantic ardour of his benevolence had been tempered by more consideration for himself, had it been only to preserve him longer for the service of his fellow-creatures, it is impossible not to feel how pure and excellent that character must have been, which needed only to have been alloyed by a small mixture of ordinary qualities.

The last moments of his life were passed in calm resignation to the Divine will, and joyful hope of the approach of a change to a nobler and more spiritual state of being. We shall take the liberty of borrowing the description of his last hours from a sermon delivered at ParadiseStreet Chapel, by Mr. Houghton, feeling that nothing could be added to the delicacy and beauty with which this subject has been touched by him:

"It is not always that the purest spirits leave, in their ascent, such a track of glory and brightness behind them as our departed friend; and if, in the contemplation of his bed of death, we mingle our tears with those of many other dear friends and relatives, our regrets will

be, like theirs, not for him, but for ourselves.

"He was widely known and highly appreciated by the world; but he was best known and most tenderly loved and looked up to at home. In the domestic circle his presence animated all.' I am using the words of a beloved brother, who was intimately acquainted with his habits and virtues, and who had the happiness to attend him to the last. He cheered and elevated the minds of those about him, and with a singular modesty, but with a force and decision of feeling peculiar to himself, marked out the path of duty; following up on all occasions the clearest perception of truth, with the most undeviating rectitude of action. His last moments were peculiarly happy; the result of such mental energies as no bodily sufferings could overpower. About two hours before he died, he had fallen into a gentle slumber, from which he awoke with apparently the most delightful sensations, uttering, in the sweetest tones imaginable, broken expressions of some religious speculations and reasonings passing in his mind; which he afterwards explained with much earnestness and pathos; then fell into a second slumber, and on again awaking, after a burst of natural tenderness to a brother hanging over his dying bed, his mind became fervently engaged in prayer; and, finally, noticing with gratitude and affection those about him, on the morning of Friday the 2d of November, 1821, he breathed most tranquilly his last. Such was the beautiful close of the good man's life: as if already listening to the welcome of angels and congenial spirits, he passes from blessing to be blessed; and, with a parting smile, forbidding his friends to sorrow, beckons them to follow after and share with him a glorious change' in their Father's house.' Death is not always so lovely, so persuasive. Not all the truly good depart in such heavenly peace!"

December 4, at his house, the Willows, near Preston, Lancashire, JOHN PILKINGTON, Esq., aged 75, most deeply and deservedly lamented by a large circle of relatives and friends. He was bred to the profession of the law, and had a well-founded expectation of succeeding to a considerable property, in which, however, owing to some unforeseen events, he was disappointed. Yet he eventually secured, by his own steady and persevering industry, that independence in his circumstances which fortune had denied him in early life.

The profession of the law is said to offer greater temptations to the man of principle, and to afford more opportuni

tics for the amassing of riches, than any other; yet in the practice of this profession he was distinguished by his probity and moderation, and always acted in strict obedience to the letter and spirit of that excellent precept of our holy religion, "Let no man go beyond, or defraud his brother in any matter." He has often been the disinterested adviser and mediator when circumstances had put it into his power to be the retained professional advocate. He chose rather to persuade men to forgive their brethren their trespasses, and to live peaceably with each other, than to enrich himself with the spoils which contention would have held out to him, or to rear the fabric of his own fortune upon the wreck of that of his fellow-man. But the character thus honourable, as to professional duties, is worthy of our imitation in other points of view. He was a kind friend and benefactor to the poor; he freely gave his advice to those who were in difficulties and distress. He was an affectionate husband, a tender father, and in every social or relative connexion he endeavoured to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith he was called. He was the firm and consistent friend of civil and religious liberty. He was no timeserver, nor courtly sycophant, changing with the policy and fashion of the times, and seeking applause and reward by the sacrifice of principle; nor did he court popularity by flattering the prejudices of the multitude, and falling in with all the extravagant political theories of the day; but he advocated the cause of rational reform and real liberty, and dared to be the steady and honest supporter of the true interests of his country in the most difficult times. Nor was his religious character less admirable. Bred up among the Dissenters, the mode of worship which education and habit had contributed to attach him to, was still more endeared to him when, in maturer years, examination and reflection had convinced him

of its beneficial tendency. He noticed how corrupt and oppressive religion had often become when allied to temporal power; and he considered the conduct of those highly inconsistent who, while they professed to be the followers of Jesus, connected themselves with the kingdoms of this world. He therefore acknowledged no head or master upon earth in spiritual matters; and, while he rendered unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's, he rendered unto God the things which are God's. It was his practice while reading the sacred volume, to make such notes and extracts as would assist him in his further researches, and enable him to prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." By

this study of the Scriptures he became more and more confirmed in the belief of that fundamental article of the Jewish and Christian systems, the Unity of God; and with that independence of mind for which he was remarkable, he worshiped the God of his fathers after the way which the world deem heresy. He chose to abstain from joining the popular sects of the day, although from his connexions and circumstances in life he had many temptations to do so; and he bore with firmness and Christian indifference his share of the misrepresentations and obloquy and suspicion which the sect every where spoken against so constantly meets with. Yet, while he differed from his brethren in matters of faith, he had that charity for all men, without which, religious professions and services are utterly vain. He neither limited the mercies of the Holy One of Israel to a few favourites, nor rested the salvation of his fellow-men upon the weak foundation of a religious creed; but he delighted to call upon the Lord his God, as the Father and friend of all his widely-extended family, ever ready to receive the repentant sinner.

Such were the religious principles which shed their beneficial influence over his mind, and which produced the character here portrayed. They enabled him to resist the temptations of the world, and to bear the severe pains of body to which he was often subject, and the various distresses of life, with that resignation to the will of God which becomes a disciple of Jesus; and in his last hour he reaped the full benefit of so wise and pious a line of conduct. His health had been declining for some months before his decease; but as no immediate danger was apprehended, his family flattered themselves that he would be spared to them yet many years. Nor did this hope leave them until within a few days of his death. On the evening of his decease, feeling his end approaching, and while surrounded by his sorrowing family, he said, "Will you all join me in prayer?" and immediately prayed aloud in the most collected and pious manner.

He expressed his firm belief of his acceptance with God; not from any merit of his own, for he acknowledged himself a sinner who had often dared the Divine displeasure, and who had not been sufficiently grateful for the bouuties of Providence, and that at the best he had been an unprofitable servant. But he trusted to the eternal and unchangeable goodness of his Almighty Father, who knew the sincerity of his heart, and to the promises he has vouchsafed to us through the one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. He said that he had prayed, if it were the will of God, he might

Intelligence.-Secession of Rev. S. C. Fripp from the Established Church. 63

recover, adding, "He is a God of mercy and of truth, and when I think of his power and wisdom and goodness, I am enabled to say, 'Not my will, but thine be done." He blessed God for the consolation and hope afforded by the Scriptures; he said he had founded his faith and hope upon them alone, and that if he had erred in his belief, he felt assured he should be forgiven. He declared his belief in the unity of God; in the divine mission of Jesus; and in the final salvation of all mankind. He said that God was a Being of mercy and forgiveness, and would not that any of his creatures should perish everlastingly; but that sinners would be purified and rendered fit for happiness by sufferings proportioned to their guilt. He endeavoured to console his sorrowing family by saying, he was only falling asleep for a little period, that their separation from him would not be final, that he felt assured they should all meet again in a better world, and finally resigned his spirit into the hands of Him who gave it, without a struggle or a sigh.

R. C.

1822. Jan. 18th, at Hackney, ANNE, the wife of G, T. GoodBehere, Esq., nephew of the late Alderman Goodbehere. Her death occurred in the following

manner: On the preceding afternoon being alone in the parlour, and engaged in stirring the fire, a current of air attracted a light shawl, which she wore on her shoulders, through the bars of the grate, and the flames rapidly communicating with her muslin dress, she was so dreadfully burned before she could alarm the servants of the family, that she survived the accident only about ten hours. Mrs. Goodbehere was in her 39th year; she was an exemplary wife, a tender mother, a sincere and affectionate friend. She has left six young children, (the eldest under nine years of age,) who are, consequently, spared the calamity of estimating their irreparable loss. Her less fortunate relations and friends who feel and deeply deplore it, can only derive consolation from the conviction that the

ways of God to man," though mysterious, are ever merciful, and they, therefore, with humble resignation, "bow in silence and adore" the inscrutable designs of his "eternal providence." The remains of this amiable lady, whose fate is much lamented in her neighbourhood, were interred on Monday the 28th inst., in a family vault in the Burial Ground belonging to the Unitarian Church, Hackney.

INTELLIGENCE.

Secession of Rev. S. C. Fripp from

the Established Church.

We are informed, that on Sunday evening, January the 6th, the Rev. S. C. FRIPP, of Bristol, late a Clergyman of the Established Church, delivered, in Lewin's Mead, to a very crowded congregation, a Discourse on the leading doctrines of Unitarianism, explicitly avowing his adoption of them and consequent secession from the Church. It is well known to several of our readers, that Mr. Fripp has long been engaged in religious inquiry; and that, during the greater part of the time, he has avoided officiating as a clergyman. Above two years ago, he declined making application for a living which is in the gift of the Bristol Corporation, (and which, it is understoood, he had good reason to expect, through the influence of a near relative who is a respectable member of it,) lest he should thus be biassed in his search after truth; and then assigned to that gentleman the state of his mind in reference to the doctrines of the Church of England, as the reason of his declining to make the proposed application.

On the 13th of January, after the morning service, a Meeting of the Lewin's Mead Congregation was held, at which the Rev. John Rowe was called to the chair; and the Rev. Dr. Carpenter proposed the following resolution, which was seconded by Richard Bright, Esq. and carried unanimously:

"That this Meeting have great satisfaction in the result of the Rev. S. C. Fripp's examination into the important points at issue between the Unitarian and the Trinitarian; and cordially congratulate him on his open, firm and temperate avowal of those sentiments to which he has been led by a deliberate and (they doubt not) serious and earnest inquiry after Religious Truth: That they respect the conscientious motives which have induced him, as a consequence of his relinquishing the Trinitarian Doctrines of the Church of England, to secede from its Communion and Worship, and to give up his prospect of preferment in it; and they trust that Providence will open a door of usefulness and comfort for him in the Ministry among the Unitarian Dissenters: And, that they beg him to accept their