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ministry, was to secure and establish the grand fundamental interests of grace and holiness in the constitution of the Gospel, in their mutual necessity, harmony and consistency; laying the founda tion of human hope in the sovereignty of the divine mercy through the mediation of the great Redeemer, in inseparable connexion with that "holiness without which no man can see the Lord;"" testifying to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ; in conjunction with doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God." Here he rested his own soul, and hither he wished to lead his hearers; while, with respect to the various topics of theological discussion, he had a mind as open to conviction as most men, and he was as little under the undue bias of education and prejudice as most men. He freely thought for himself, and (within the limits of Scripture) was disposed to pursue truth wherever it should lead him. His "Sermons on Truth" convey perhaps as fair a specimen of his own mind, in this respect, as could be given. Though he could hardly be said to have enlisted himself under the banner of any religious party, he undoubtedly was a cordial lover of good men of all parties; and could see and appreciate true worth wherever it appeared, under any external name, and through all the shades of varying opinion. He

had indeed formed a very extensive acquaintance amongst different classes and denominations of Christians; and had acquired, by his liberal and friendly spirit, a large share of general respect amongst them all.

It is well known that though Mr. Palmer was descended from a member of the Established Church, he was not only a decided, but a strenuous Nonconformista dissenter properly speaking, from principle. In fact, the most popular works he ever published, which had the greatest spread, and perhaps produced the greatest effect, were on the subject of dissent from the Established Church; yet on account of his liberality and moderation he was upon intimate terms of friendship, and as highly esteemed by many most respectable clergymen and private members of the establishment, as any dissenting minister in the kingdom.

As an author, his works have been numerous, though not very voluminous; and a considerable portion of them, not altogether original compositions, but compilations and abridgments of the writings of others. None of them can be classed amongst profound treatises on metaphysical subjects, or discussions of nice points in theology, or popular representations of favourite subjects in the religious world; or indeed in any way calculated to fascinate the public attention; though they had all a manifest

tendency to usefulness, so that it might be said, he never sent a single pamphlet into the world but what was adapted to make men wiser and better, if read with attention and candour.

While his mind was studious and active, he did not confine his exertions to his study, his pen or his pulpit. He was chosen in several instances as a supporter, or trustee to institutions of general importance. He was also a visiting friend among his hearers, particularly in seasons of affliction, and a faithful almoner of the bounties of others. In his own person, he was a most kind and attentive helper to his poorer brethren in the ministry; and from the day of his departure from the Academy at Daventry, the affectionate adviser and patron of students and young ministers.

In 1796 he lost his long esteemed and worthy friend Stephen Addington, D. D. who was educated under Dr. Doddridge, but at the time of his demise was in the charge of a Society in Miles's Lane, Cannon Street. Being interred in Bunhill Fields, the Rev. Samuel Palmer, performed the funeral service.

In 1801. during the publication of The Nonconformist's Memorial, Mr. Palmer was engaged in a light controversy with a publication avowedly for the purpose of supporting Established Orthodoxy.In a letter written by Mr. Palmer to the Editors, he

shewed that his Nonconformist's Memorial was not intended to hold up the Church of England in an odious light, and as an intolerant establishment; this was no part of his design," his principal object being to hold up to view the characters of a number of worthy men, who where eminent examples of piety and suffering virtue." Mr. Palmer at the same time, being called upon to vindicate the Bedford Association, denied its intentions as hostile to the Establishment; because as he observed "some of its members belong to the Established Church, and because its proceedings are printed and open to any one's inspection."-In the true spirit of moderation, Mr. Palmer, in reply to the charge of persecution brought against the Dissenters, acknowledged" that it would afford him as much pleasure to see the wickedness of persecuters of one description exposed as of another, provided the narratives be drawn up with a due regard to truth, justice, and decency.' In this dispute as well as in most others in which Mr. Palmer was occasionally involved, his moderation ensured him the advantage.

Though he had lived beyond the years of threescore and ten, yet his death might be said to have been premature, sudden and unexpected. Blessed with a sound constitution, unimpaired by intemperance, he seemed built for several future years; his mental powers retained their vigour, and his natural strength

was little abated; but Infinite Wisdom fixed the bounds of his habitation, and appoinied his lot on earth.-In point of extent of duration, he had lived quite as long as a wise man would choose to live, if he dared to choose at all; and yet he had not lived long enough to become a burden or trial to his friends, or a cumber-ground in society. He had not lived so as to out-live his usefulness; preaching without difficulty on one Lord's Day, and taking his flight into eternity on the next. And when he did die, he died in the faith, hope, and peace of a Christian; in the bosom of his family, amidst the tears and benedictions of his friends, the regret of a large proportion of Christian Churches, and the unfeigned respect of a very extensive neighbourhood. His decease occurred at his own house in Hackney, within a few doors of the Meeting in St. Thomas's Square, on the 28th of November, in 1813. The little evidence of the peaceful state in which he departed, fell from his own lips, from whence it appears probable that strictly and literally speaking, the last day of his life, was in point of mental and spiritual happiness, the most blessed of auy in his whole earthly existence. After taking some refreshment, he repeated the language of the Apostle, “ I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness," &c. Ob

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