love of the dying Redeemer. I believe that true christians ought to form themselves into distinct societies or churches, that their own spiritual improvement may be promoted, and that others may be brought to the knowledge of the truth; that so the interest of Christ, in every place, where kind Providence opens a door, may be well established and continually enlarged. I believe that every true christian ought to unite with a church of Christ, constituted agreeable to his own views of scripture rules, in that case made and provided, if it please the God of providence to give him opportunity. I believe that a gospel church is a voluntary society of christians, statedly meeting in any convenient place of worship, to maintain the doctrines of the gospel, to celebrate its ordinances, and to exercise its discipline. I believe that every gospel church is strictly and properly independent-that is, hath a right to enjoy its own sentiments, to elect its own officers, to admit its own members, and exclude them if it appears necessary; and, in short, to conduct its own worship and discipline, in every part, without suffering any man, or any society of men on earth, to interrupt or control, or in the least to interfere. I believe that civil government is an ordinance of God for good, and that civil magistrates are to be obeyed, for conscience' sake, in civil matters; but I believe that nonconformity is my duty, my happiness, my glory; for Christ is the sole Head of the church. I believe, sir, that I ought to

render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God, the things that are God's. Further; I believe that the gospel is to be preached, and that the ordinances of the gospel are to be administered, till the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that the work of grace begun in the heart of God's elect' by regeneration, is carried on, in sanctification, till it is complete in the heavenly glory; therefore, I believe that they will undoubtedly persevere in truth and holiness, in faith and good works, to the end of their lives. I believe that man consists of two parts,-matter and spirit, or body and soul; that death separates the soul from the body; that, on the resurrection morn, they will be united again. I believe that Jesus Christ will, hereafter, appear in glorious majesty; the Judge of the world; that all nations will be gathered before him, and every eye shall see him; that his lips will decide their fate; that the sentence will be according to their works; at the close of that awful scene, the wicked will go away, righteously condemned, into never-ending punishment; but the righteous, righteously justified, into never-ending life and joy!

These, sir, are brief hints of the leading articles of my faith, which I humbly conceive to be scriptural : you do not expect me to prove them so. What I believe to be true for myself, sir, I believe to be true for others; therefore, whatever I believe, in religious matters, I shall think myself bound diligently to propagate in proportion to its relative im

portance. I believe that my mind ought to be ever open to conviction, ever open to improvement, proving all things, that I may hold fast only that which is good.' I love all mankind; and I endeavour to live, sir, in the exercise of that moderation and candour which I acknowledge to be due to all who differ from me. I sincerely desire to be led into all truth, and to be kept from every error; and that I may always have integrity and courage enough to follow my own convictions. With these views, sir, I can, from my heart, cheerfully say, 'Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.' Amen."

This good confession, made in the presence of many witnesses, he was assisted to maintain and adorn, with exemplary candour and consistency, throughout his christian and ministerial course.

CHAPTER III.

HIS PLAN OF STUDY-THE DEATH OF HIS PASTOR-THE FUNERAL ORATION-HIS SPRING SERMON-HIS MARRIAGE-HE COMMENCES A SCHOOL-HIS DIARY.

THE day after his ordination, the filial affection of Mr. Newman induced him to seek a residence for his parents near the place of his own settlement. He says, "Friday, 16th, walked about a good deal with dear mother to get her a house; engaged one of brother Clarke's, opposite the meeting; but my mother was hindered from coming to occupy it by some unexpected providence; lives still at Enfield. The Lord does all things well." His diary for the next day contains the following reflection :-" How great the charge I have taken upon me this week! O my soul, gird up thy loins. Hope thou in God. What honour has been conferred upon me! What shall I render ?"

Having now, without reserve, surrendered himself to the claims of the Redeemer's kingdom, his time and talents were conscientiously devoted to its furtherance. For many years he preached regularly three times on the Lord's day, and two or three times on the evenings of every week, besides constantly attending upon meetings for devotion

and christian benevolence, and very often engaging in extra services from home; nor did he labour in vain, or spend his strength for nought; the Lord was conspicuously with him, and numbers were added to the church. Neither his zeal, however, nor his success, was permitted to exempt him from an imputation in which the most distinguished of his brethren have often been implicated, that, in the exercise of his ministry, the duty of the christian was more largely insisted upon than his privilege. And how devoutly is it to be desired, that every servant of Jesus Christ, even though the insinuation should be, as in all probability it was in this instance, without any just occasion, levy a contribution upon it, not less in amount than the following:

"I have been deficient in my ministry in one particular; ah! in how many!-but one has been noticed. I have insisted too much upon duty, and not enough upon privilege. Let me be careful to encourage as well as to warn. O, who is sufficient

for these things ?"

Unless there be more than ordinary skill and effort to redeem time, numerous public avocations will inevitably intrench upon those hours which, to the minister, are indispensable for application to study, and the exercise of retired devotion. His plan of study, at this time, is thus arranged :"Deistical controversy-Jewish antiquities ecclesiastical history-doctrines of the Bible at largeexamine the five points-institutions of the New