expedient to associate with him the Rev. T. Price, as co-pastor. Though Mr. Thomas was not a splendid man, yet his uniform piety, good sense, and benevolence, secured him the affectionate respect of many. To the AntiPædobaptist churches of the Principality his death is a severe loss, as he was always deeply interested in their prosperity, and liberally ministered to their necessities. Died, on Wednesday, July 18, at the house of Robert Waylen, Esq., in Devizes, (where he and his wife were on a visit,) the Rev. WILLIAM PRIESTLEY, of Fordingbridge, Hants, aged 58, nephew of the late celebrated Dr Priestley. He preached twice on Sabbath day the 8th of July, at the Independent chapel in that town. His text in the evening was taken from Acts vii. 59, 60. He preached at the same chapel on the succeeding Tuesday evening, from the following words, "There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest." On the Wednesday evening he preached for the Rev. Mr. Biggs, from Ecclesiastes vi. 12. This closed his public services on behalf of his divine Lord and Master. He was orthodox in sentiment, amiable in conduct, and peculiarly charitable and benevolent. The Rev. R. Elliott, had the mournful gratification of attending Mr. Priestley in his dying hours, with whom, for many years, he had maintained the strictest and most uninterrupted friendship; may those who yet remain in the vale of tears copy the example, and imbibe the spirit of the late lamented William Priestley, who gloried in nothing so much as Christ, and him crucified. NOTICES AND REMOVALS. We understand that the Rev. B. Kent, of Trowbridge, has accepted an invitation to the pastoral charge of the church at Barnstaple, vacant by the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Gardiner, and has entered on his labours there, under pleasing prospects of success. The Rev. James Mather, of Sheffield, has accepted a unanimous invitation from the church and trustees of Livery Street, Birmingham, vacated by Rev. Mr. Eagleton, who has removed to Huddersfield, and purposes entering on his labours there on the first Sabbath in August. The chapel in Cheltenham, of which mention was made in our last number, is to be re-opened on Thursday, the 9th inst. The Rev. Joseph Fletcher, M. A, and the Rev. John Leifchild, will preach on the occasion. Mr. Fletcher will also occupy the pulpit on the two following Sabbaths. The Rev. Caleb Morris, late of Narbeth, in South Wales, who has accepted the invitation of the Congregational church, assembling in Fetter Lane, London, to become co-pastor with their aged minister, the Rev. George Burder, is expected to commence his stated labours in the afternoon of the second Sabbath of the present month. The Rev. J. Whitta, of Tiverton, has accepted the invitation of the Independent church and congregation at France Meeting, Chalford-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire, vacant by the removal of their late pastor to Gainsbro'. On Thursday, the 13th of June, the ancient Dissenting church, meeting at Eignbrook, Hereford, and now under the pastoral charge of Mr. Charles Nice Davies, was reformed on the model of Independency; Mr. George Redford, of Worcester, presided on this interesting occasion. This church originated with Mr. George Primrose, ejected from Hereford in 1662, and was deprived of its late venerable minister, Mr. Thomas Williams, in February, 1826, after he had retained the pastoral function 45 years. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. COMMUNICATIONS have been received during the last Month from the Rev. G. Redford-A. Reed-C. N. Davies-T. Lewis-W. Harris, LL. D.-George Payne --J. S. Brooksbank--George Burder--John Dean--J. Massey--Gilb. Wardlaw--H. Bromley-- Robert Halley--Dr. J. P. Smith--John Burder--C. Daniell--Edward Webb--T. C. Everett--John Arundel--J. Matheson--W. H. Cooper. Also from Messrs. J. Dewar--G. E. Sloper--T. H. Justice--J. Woodford, jun.— Observator--A Pastor-- N. R. We regret that the unusual length of some articles in the present number have compelled us to defer the letters of Messrs. Rochet and of Vigil till our next. When we receive the other papers upon the Personal Reign of Christ," we shall be ready to insert the first, which is come to hand, but as we have more than once commenced a series of papers which our Correspondents have forgotten to complete, we cannot in future publish No. I., till No. II. is in our possession. It is probable W's paper will appear in our next. We are making arrangements for a complete LIST of CongregatioNAL CHURCHES In the United Kingdom, and we respectfully solicit the assistance of all our readers to secure accuracy. We indulge the hope that our next Supplement will present to our Subscribers a more interesting and correct view of English ecclesiastical Statistics than has yet been published.--The Original Letters to which W. alludes, will be acceptable.--The Durham article shall appear in our September Magazine. MEMOIR OF THOMAS BECON, A. M. À LEARNED REFORMER AND PURITAN, THIS celebrated divine was born in Suffolk, and educated in St. John's College, Cambridge, in which University he heard the venerable Latimer preach, who was instrumental, under God, of bringing him to a saving knowledge of the gospel. For his piety and learning he was appointed chaplain to Archbishop Cranmer, and from the commencement of the reformation, in the reign of king Henry VIII., he was found amongst its zealous advocates. He endured multiplied sufferings from the overwhelming intolerance of the popish party; and, having been apprehended and prosecuted by cruel Bonner, he fell into the snare which afterwards entangled his venerable patron, and was constrained to make a public recantation, and burn his books at Paul's Cross. On this painful occasion, he said, "For the declaration of my penitent heart, and the testimony unto you of my unfeigned conversion from error to truth, I occupy this day the place of a penitent, praying you to give credit to that which I say." Such was the oppressive influence of the fear of man upon his mind. On his release from these difficulties he fled as a bird to the mountains," and seeking safety in the seclusion of the north, he settled at Alsop in the Dale, in the Peake of Derbyshire, where No. 33. N. S. he taught school for a subsistence. At this place Mr. Alsop, a pious. gentleman, and a decided patron of the reformation, showed him much civility and kindness, affording him every comfortable accommodation in his power. Through the severity of the times, the zealous Protestants could not remain long in one place, therefore Mr. Becon was obliged to change his abode, and he removed into Staffordshire, where he was kindly entertained by Mr. John Old, a man eminent for charity and piety, his friend, Mr. Robert, Wisdome being entertained with him. Mr. Becon, in his "Jewel of Joy," informs us, that Mr. Old was to him and Wisdome, what Jason was to Paul and Silas; he received them joyfully into his house, and liberally, for the Lord's sake, ministered to their necessities; and, as he began, so he continued, a right hearty friend and dearly beloved brother, so long as they remained in that part of the country. In this situation, as in the former, Mr. Becon educated youth in good literature and sound religion, and continued in close application to his studies. On his removal into Leicestershire, he was hospitably entertained by the Marquis of Dorset ; at whose house he contracted an acquaintance with Mr. John Aylmer, afterwards Bishop of Lon 3 N 458 1 Memoir of Thomas Becon, A. M. [September, don, whom he called his country- mitted with him, suffered at the In the reign of king Henry, the city of Canterbury was more hostile to the reformation than most other places; therefore, on the accession of the pious Edward, Archbishop Cranmer placed in that city six preachers, the most celebrated for learning and piety; of which number were Mr. Becon and Dr. Ridley, afterwards bishop and martyr. The ministry of these learned divines proved a signal blessing to the people; and by their labours many persons were induced to embrace the gospel. Mr. Becon was appointed chaplain to the protector Somerset, in which office he lived and preached at Shene, in Surrey. On the commencement of Somerset's troubles he devised a form of prayer for the use of the family, which is called, "A humble peticyon to the Lord, practysed in the commune prayer of the whole famylye at Shene;" and on Somerset's release, he drew up a form of "Thankesgevying for bys Grace's dely veraunce." These and some other prayers are appended to a work, entitled "A spyrytuall and moost precyouse Pearle," by Somerset. In this reign, Mr. Becon was chosen professor of divinity in the University of Oxford, where he obtained great celebrity, and was made a blessing and ornament to his college. On the accession of Queen Mary, he was apprehended and committed to the Tower, where he remained seven months in close confinement; and it was almost miraculous that so conspicuous a reformer escaped the fire; but, while many of his brethren, and even those who were com stake, an indulgent providence delivered him from the rage and power of his enemies. Previous to these occurrences, he had been preferred to the rectory of St. Stephen, Walbrook, London; but deprivation, and was, no doubt, under this intolerance he suffered deprived of his professorship at Oxford. exceedingly "tossed about," and The subject of this memoir being finding no place of rest, at length fled into a foreign land, and was arrival on the continent, he wrote an exile in Germany. After his an excellent letter to his suffering brethren at home; in which, besides declaring the cause of England's calamities, he earnestly directed them to seek an interest in the as the only redress of their grievmercy and faithfulness of God, ances. This letter was read in the private religious assemblies of his persecuted countrymen, to their great edification and benefit. He also wrote an epistle to the popish priests, wherein he made an important distinction between the Lord's nominating the latter a wicked Supper and the popish mass, deidol. accession of Elizabeth, when he He remained in exile till the returned to his native country, and proved himself a most faithful and zealous labourer in the vineyard of Christ. Being in high repute, benefices, and was intended for he was soon preferred to several one of the chief preferments then vacant. Buckland, in Hertfordshire, but, endeavours to promote the great pointed by Archbishop Parker to the office of visitor of the hospital of Eastbridge. The commission required the visitors to examine the lives and doctrines of the master, and of all other persons; to punish and correct the culpable, to examine their foundations, ordinations, charities, statutes, accounts, registers, and other things belonging to the institution, and to certify his Grace of their visi tation. Our divine sate in the famous Convocation in 1562, and subscribed the thirty-nine Articles. He took an active part in all the transactions of that venerable as sembly, and united with many learned divines in presenting to the house their requests for a purer reformation. During the discussions of the synod, another important paper was introduced, which recommended, that all the Sundays in the year, and the principal feasts of Christ, might be kept holy-days; and all other holydays be abrogated-That in all parish churches the minister, while reading the common prayer, might turn his face towards the people, and distinctly read divine service where all the people assembled might hear and be edified-That in administering the sacrament of baptism, the ceremony of making the cross in the child's forehead might be omitted, as tending to superstition-That as divers communicants were not able to kneel at the Lord's Supper, through age, sickness, and other infirmities, and some also superstitiously both kneel and knock, the order of kneeling might be left to the discretion of the ordinary within his jurisdiction-That it might be sufficient for the minister, in time of divine service, and ministering the sacraments, to use a surplice; that no minister might say service or minister the sacraments, but in a comely garment; and that the use of organs might be removed. On these requests being presented to the Convocation, much warm disputation asose among the venerable members. The one party zealously protested against them, and warmly opposed every deviation from the Book of Common Prayer, and every other proposed improvement; and these ultimately prevailed. At the close of this debate, when the votes of the house decided the question, there were thirty-five persons, who, with their proxies, made fifty-nine voices against the offered amendments; and forty-three, who, with their proxies, made fifty-eight voices in favour of them, only one less than the prevailing party! Mr. Becon took an active part in these discussions, and openly declared his sentiments in support of the proposed alterations. On the same side were Lever, Crowley, Pullain, and Wyburn, all celebrated reformers and puritans, with several dignitaries, among whom was Dean Nowell, Prolocutor of the Convocation. After this disappointment, Mr. Becon and his brethren presented to the house another paper of requests, containing twenty-one articles, at considerable length, for promoting a better order in ecclesiastical matters, a specimen of which is here inserted. That a catechism might be set forth in Latin, for instructing the youth in the universities and grammar-schools-That certain articles, containing the principal grounds of the Christian religion, might be published, to determine the truth of things in controversy, and to show what errors were chiefly to be rejected-That there might be no private baptism administered, except by ministers-That, in public baptism, the father of the infant, if possible, might be present; that he, with the godfathers and the godmothers, might openly profess and recite the articles of faith contained in the Creed;" that the 66 infant might be baptized in that faith, and received into the church of Christ; and that they might not answer in the infant's name to such questions as had formerly been required of them. That it might be added to the confession before the communion, that the communicants renounced and detested the idolatrous mass. These improvements were subscribed and recommended by sixtyfour members; but they were no more successful in this than in their former attempt; and, seeing the dominant party were opposed to all relaxation, and hostile to every ecclesiastical improvement, these proposals were rejected. As an author, Mr. Becon was undoubtedly one of the most celebrated in his time; and it is said, by no mean authority, that he laboured by his writings more abundantly in forwarding the reformation, than any of his cotemporaries. Some of his publications came out in the reign of king Henry, among which we find his "Newes out of Heauen, both pleasaunt and joyfull, lately set forth to the great Consolacion and Comforte of all Christen Men," oct. 1541. He published "A Pathway to Praier, full of much godly frute and Christen Knowledge," duo. 1542. The dedication is addressed "To the ryght honorable and vertuous Lady Anne Grey;" in which the author says, "I was the gladder to take this work in hand, because no man hath as yet perfectly entreated of this matter, neither in the Greek, Latin, nor English tongue, that ever I could bour. I have, therefore, in this treatise, declared what prayer is, wherefore it serveth, and to what end we should use it. I have also declared of what virtue and strength true Christian prayer is, and how we should prepare ourselves to prayer, that we may pray aright and according to God's pleasure." He was author of "A Potacion, or Drinkynge, for this hole time of Lent, very comfortable for all Penitent Synners," duo. 1542. This, as well as the former article, was re-printed the year following in octavo, with the title a little altered. It is a dialogue between Phileman, Theophyle, Eusebius, and Christopher, and dedicated "To the Ryght Honorable Syr Thomas Neuel, Knyght." He published "David's Harpe, ful of of moost delectable Armony, newely strynged and set in tune," oct. 1543, which he dedicated, "To the Ryght Honorable Syr George Broke, Lord Cobham.” 66 Mr. Becon was author of a work, entitled The true Defence of Peace, wherein is declaredde the cause of all Warres now a dayes, and how they may be pacified," oct. 1543. This work abounds with good counsel and pious admonition, well worthy of all orders and degrees of men, in all times of peace or war. The author forcibly states the true cause of war, pestilence, and famine to be men's despising the Gospel of Christ, and living in wickedness; then recommends that if they would enjoy peace and prosperity, they must forsake their evil ways, and serve God according to his holy word. "By thys means shall God blesse oure countrey with peace, encrease it with thaboundance of all thynges, and make it floryshe." He was a decided enemy to profaneness, so common in those times; and he directed his beneficent efforts to reclaim the people |