conducted a Sabbath evening service, on which the more serious part of his hearers constantly attended. At his ordination, in June, 1782, Mr. Lucas, of Shrewsbury, delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Barber, of London, gave the charge from Heb. xiii. 17,"For they watch for your souls, as they that must give an account." Mr. Addington preached to the people.

For some time previous to this service, Mr. Humphrys had been engaged in an unpleasant controversy with several of the neighbouring ministers. As the subject is somewhat curious, and illustrates the spirit with which he commenced his ministry, and especially as it had considerable influence in determining his early removal from his congregation, we have carefully collected the particulars.

There existed in the neighbourhood a friendly association of ministers, who were accustomed to unite in public religious services. They seem to have been not very decided in their doctrinal views, or at least not very much accustomed to discourse upon such subjects. Whatever variety of opinion might have existed among them, they contrived to maintain harmony and good cheer with each other. In the last century such men were numerous among the dissenters, and obtained the designation of "candid" divines. We believe the species is now nearly extinct. Of the members of this association, Mr. Humphrys says, "What their religious sentiments precisely are, I know not. Two of them may, for aught I know, be moderate Calvinists. Others, I fear, have imbibed Arian views. None of them are much liked by the thoroughly orthodox."

He was importuned by some of his friends to join this association, and for a time, he attended their meetings. He, however, soon became uneasy. He observes, "I am not sure that I have done wrong in discarding a connection to which my people are still attached." Yet he was not satisfied, and we find him for some time under great anxiety.

"April 1, 1780.-This morning I have been praying fervently to the Lord to make me steadfast in my adherence to his work, and faithful to his cause. Let me rather die in my youth than deny the Lord that bought me, or give up the precious doctrines of the gospel, which are essential to the christian scheme of salvation.

"May 9.-Went this morning to the meeting of ministers, at Mr. Carpenter's at Stourbridge. Mr. Arnson preached. Not a word about Christ or the Holy Spirit. He concluded his prayer with these words, which we ask for thy mercy's sake.' I already begin to see that this association is likely to be a source of uneasiness to my mind, if I continue in it."

He soon afterwards determined to withdraw, and forwarded the following letter to the Rev. Mr. Ward, of Dudley, to communicate to his brethren at their next ensuing meeting:

"REV. GENTLEMEN,-Your situation in the neighbourhood, your general character, and respectful invitation, induced me, about half a year ago, to become a member of your monthly association.

"Whatever report suggested to your disadvantage, I thought myself bound to disregard, till I became personally acquainted with your religious tenets, But as I have had repeated opportunities of informing myself in this matter, you will

excuse, I hope, the freedom of the following remarks. Ministerial associations, I am sensible, are, in their tendency, highly advantageous, not merely to ministers themselves, but also to the people over whom they preside. But this is with the greatest reason expected where there is a union of sentiments, which, as is evident in fact, has no small influence in producing a union of hearts. They who have embraced the same, or nearly the same religious system, it is natural to suppose, will discover a similar strain in prayer and preaching. This must occasion the most sensible pleasure and harmony. But where ministers entertain ideas widely different concerning the doctrines which, to some of them appear of the greatest importance, I mean in a particular view of them, the total neglect of those doctrines on the one side, and the insisting much upon them on the other, will be sure to give disgust.

"I firmly believe the right of private judgment, and admire the integrity of that man who, in the plainest and most public manner, declares his real sentiments, how different soever from my own. On this account I am an admirer of Mr. Carpenter's sermon, which he has presented to the public. This sermon, I conceive, Gentlemen, contains your general sentiments respecting the uninteresting nature of several points there referred to, particularly the Trinitarian controversy, and the essence of the Son of God. But I must be free to declare, that I consider the true Godhead of Christ as one of the most glorious and important discoveries of Scripture, and as essential to the christian scheme.

"As our views, therefore, of the importance of this point are so different, you cannot surely be surprised if, when engaged in religious exercises among you, I have some painful feelings, desirous on the one hand to be faithful to Christ and souls, and on the other, unwilling to give offence. To prevent this embarrassment in my own mind, and to avoid giving disgust to the minds of others, I think it the most eligible course to leave the association. The circumstances which gave rise to this step occasion no little uneasiness to my own mind. But I can truly say, I do not feel any disaffection to an individual in the association; on the contrary, I would cheerfully serve all to the utmost of my power. I ask of others that right of private judgment, which I allow to every man under heaven, and I would refer him and myself to Christ, the Judge of all, whose sentence will be decisive, who has said to us, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged.' That you and I may at last be found to have been faithful to Christ and souls, and receive a crown of endless glory, is the earnest prayer of, "Gentlemen, yours respectfully, "JOHN HUMPHRYS."

"West Bromwich, Sept. 25, 1780."

Mr. Humphrys had, previously to his secession, been nominated a preacher at the Oldbury Lecture. This lecture had been established by the early nonconformists to commemorate their ejectment. It was held on St. Bartholomew's day, and at the period of which we are speaking, it was customary to appoint two preachers, one of whom was usually orthodox, and the other Arian. In this style the double lecture had been for some some years conducted. After the service an entertainment was provided for the ministers at a neighbouring mansion called "the Brades," where each preacher appointed his successor for the ensuing year. Mr. Humphrys having been nominated before his attachment to evangelical doctrine was known to be much more decided than that of the reputedly orthodox divines of the neighbourhood, preached in 1781, a discourse which, by its doctrinal character, was exceedingly offensive to many of his hearers. He was followed by Mr. Philips, of Derby, whose "dis

This ancient lecture is still continued at Oldbury, but the preachers are now invariably Unitarian.

66

course was designed to discredit sermons of the doctrinal cast." After dinner at the Brades," to the annoyance of many and surprise of all, Mr. Humphrys nominated, as the preacher for the ensuing year, the Rev. Timothy Priestley, then of Manchester. Nothwithstanding the objections of the opposite party, both plausible and violent, he maintained his nomination, and left the Arian preachers to meditate for a year upon the sad alternative of losing a good dinner, or hearing a zealous evangelical sermon. In the meanwhile Dr. Priestley, who was then at Birmingham, was engaged to dissuade his orthodox brother from complying with the invitation. The attempt proved vain, as the nominee was as anxious as the nominator to preach the gospel to "a score of Arian parsons, and some trimming Calvinists in the bargain."

"the

Accordingly, on the feast of St. Bartholomew, after a Mr. Crab had delivered himself of a grave and edifying discourse on danger of ambition;" Mr. Priestley preached from Heb. i. 3. "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person," &c. "His free address engaged universal attention," at that time, we imagine, a rare quality in the regions round about Staffordshire. He very plainly, but with much good temper, avowed and defended evangelical views, observing that "it was beneath a rational man to trim and be ashamed of his sentiments." Some of the old nonconformists wept under a style of preaching which recalled the associations of their childhood and youth.

The laity being dismissed, their teachers, mindful of their peculiar privilege, resorted to the plentiful entertainment at "the Brades;" hunger, not rage, being appeased, there arose a violent discussion on the propriety of guarding against the controversial character of the lecture. The plan was pre-concerted, and it was resolved by a considerable majority, that the minister of Oldbury should in future nominate the lecturers. By this arrangement Mr. Priestley was deprived of his nomination, and as Mr. Procter, of Oldbury, was of the latitudinarian party, the Calvinists were, under the pretence of liberality, most illiberally and unfairly excluded from the lecture.

On this occasion, Mr. Humphrys appeared as the controversialist of his party. He having already committed himself as the leader of the zealous Calvinists, published a pamphlet entitled, "Oldbury Candour, or the Debate at the Brades, after the Lecture on Tuesday, September 10, 1782, being a true and concise Account of the Ejection of the Honest Nonconforming Calvinists by a New Act of Uniformity." To this a reply was published, entitled "Oldbury Truth, or the Conduct of the Ministers at the Brades justified, by B. Carpenter." As Mr. Carpenter had been the previous minister at West Bromwich, Mr. Humphrys was placed in a difficult position with regard to some members of his own congregation. He, however, disregarding personal consequences, soon furnished a spirited rejoinder, with the title, "The neighbouring Searcher searched, and the Principles and Conduct of the Calvinistic Minis

* Mr. Barber, of London, the colleague of Thomas Towle himself, was, in 1781, thought too methodistical to be the orthodox preacher with Dr. Priestley at the double lecture at Dudley.

N. S. VOL. III.

C

ters ejected at the last Oldbury Lecture defended, by John Humphrys." An anonymous pamphlet soon followed, which addressed our young polemic as, " An Academic Stripling just released from the dirty Trammels of Homerton."

On account of the exclusion of the Calvinists from Oldbury, a double lecture was instituted at Wolverhampton, on which occasion Mr. Humphrys preached from Rom. i. 15. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." He was, however, left in a great degree to sustain this conflict alone, and on his removal from Staffordshire, the new lecture was discontinued.

-

So firm and determined a defence of evangelical sentiments provoked much opposition. His opponents were mean enough to resort to petty annoyances, and even to foment angry feelings among his hearers. Of such conduct his diary supplies many instances:"March 23, 1783. I have received many affronting letters from a family of worldly consequence belonging to our place, and which is in league with the principal Arian ministers of this neighbourhood. I hope the work of the Lord is going on, as the enemies of God make so much opposition."

The difficulty of Mr. Humphrys' position having become known to some of his friends in London, he was recommended to the ancient church at that time assembling in Deadman's Place, Southwark, as a suitable successor to Dr. Watson. After visiting them as a supply, he received a unanimous and cordial invitation to become their pastor.

To so friendly and affectionate a man, a separation from his people must have been extremely painful. He could not decide upon his removal, until he had resorted to much anxious inquiry, and frequent consultations with his most judicious and pious friends. Although previous events had in some degree prepared him for an early close of his pastoral relation at West Bromwich, yet he felt acutely when his expectations were about to be realized. On the Lord's-day, after he had accepted the invitation to London, he addressed his congregation in the following words:

"MY DEAR FRIENDS,-I suppose that the greater part of you know, that I have received an invitation to settle with a church in London as their pastor. I am sensible that no trifling considerations ought to induce a minister to remove from one situation to another; the merit of those which actuate me in the present case, is best known to the Searcher of hearts. But I have taken those steps which I conceive religion prescribes to all who wish to know the path of duty in affairs of moment. I have seriously deliberated on the matter in my own mind, and have consulted those whose opinions I ought to regard; and I have spread the matter before the Lord at a throne of grace. The result of these measures is a determination in favour of the application from London. I therefore think it incumbent upon me to take the earliest opportunity of giving you this information, that you may adopt speedy measures for providing yourselves with another minister. My friends in London earnestly wish me to be with them as soon as possible, but as I wish to leave you in a way the most fair and honourable, I give you three months notice of my intentions. If Divine Providence should furnish you with a suitable supply in less time than that, the pulpit is at his service.

"Although the pastoral relationship between us is dissolving, I shall always retain the sincerest affection for you; your best interests will always lie near my

heart, and I shall be ready to exert myself to the utmost, to assist you in procuring another minister if my assistance is desired. And I earnestly pray that you may have a pastor after God's own heart, who may feed you with knowledge and understanding."

He preached his farewell sermon at West Bromwich, on February 15th, 1784, to a crowded and weeping congregation, from the words, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am free from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God."

The diary of our deceased friend supplies abundant proof of the anxiety with which, on this occasion, he sought to discover the path of duty. The reasons of his removal appear most clearly in the statement which he presented when he was publicly designated as pastor of the church in Deadman's Place.

In that service Dr. Fisher commenced, Dr. Addington delivered the introductory discourse, Dr. Gibbons offered the general prayer, Mr. Barber preached, and Mr. Towle concluded. In reply to the question, at that time usually proposed on such occasions, respecting the reasons of a minister's removal, Mr. Humphrys said," I cheerfully comply with your request for the satisfaction of this church, of my reverend fathers and brethren, and of all that are here present to behold our faith and order. In the situation I lately left, I devoted four years and a half to the service of the sanctuary. I hope an unfeigned desire to promote the glory of Christ and the interest of souls prevailed on me to take up my residence there. And my feeble attempts of service were not, I believe, altogether in vain. But as I apprehended from the first, so I found by experience, that my usefulness and comfort were not a little impeded by that diversity of sentiments in religion which prevailed among the people of my charge; this circumstance, with its natural consequences, gradually weakened my attachment to that situation, and induced me to drop occasional hints, that should Divine Providence open a way for my settlement with a gospel church perfectly united in sentiment and affection, I should be inclined to remove.

"Not long after I was informed of the death of the Rev. Dr. James Watson, of highly respectable memory, and at the same time asked, if I were still so circumstanced as to render it advisable, to change my situation; to this it was replied, that the same sources of dissatisfaction remained, and consequently the same disposition to remove, if it should appear to be the will of God. Accordingly, on being recommended to this church, and receiving an application to spend a few sabbaths probationally among them, I came to London for this purpose. On inquiry into the state of religion here, I had the pleasure to find the people were in good repute for their steady adherence to the glorious doctrines of the gospel, and for union among themselves. My occasional discourses were heard with candour and honoured with their approbation.

"An unanimous and affectionate call was given me to take the charge of them. I returned into the country, and had the affair under serious consideration for some weeks. Christian friends were consulted, who rather favoured than discountenanced the acceptance