On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
Feb . 15 , died Mr . David Ellis , a ^ ed ^ l y ear s , at the house of his father , Mr . John Ellis , Hackney Road , London . He was the last person on whom Dr . Priestley performed the ceremony of baptism in this country . His amiable and excellent character
deserving to be recorded , we shall here insert the conclusion of the Funeral Sermon , preached on occasion of his death , at the Gravel-Pit Meeting , Hackney , ( in the burial-ground adjoining to which he had been interred ) on Sunday morning , Feb . 26 : the sermon consisted of reflections on
the mortality of man . " Of the justness of these reflections , there never was perhaps a more striking and delightful proof than in the character and especially the dying experience of my young friend , whose recent decease has led me to this
subject : and for the benefit and encouragement of the young , I think it right to depart from my general custom and to state a few particulars
which I have gathered from my interviews with him , and from a perusal of some of his papers , as well as from the information of his family , who in the midst of their affliction must be
soothed by the remembrance of his kind affections , his good deeds , his habitual unaffected piety , and his truly Christian death .
" With no splendid talents or acquirements our young friend by his native good sense , with the help of useful books and of public instruction , seems to have entered fully into the nature and design of the gospel , ar to have obtained the most just and enli ghtened views of Christianity , £
-TllS rplicririt * « roo 4-l- » *^ ¦ ¦»<•< : ' 4- ^ vit -i ***** - s \ f l » io Mis religion was the first object of his atten tion and concern . He was accustomed to record his thoughts and Mings upon what he heard in this House of Prayer , and to intermix
Payers for the prosperity of this congre gatioi . , and-especially of those of Mju that were of his own standing in 1 e " ^ * kc fundam ental principle of {) Vl \ fait h and worship , he was firm •^ unmoveablo , and though he had mmt attained to mun s estate , had
Untitled Article
made sacrifices to it , which were I at liberty to state them would give you a high opinion of his Christian integrity . But whilst he was fixed
in his religious principles , he respected the principles of others , and of those that attended his funeral by his desire as his friends , there were members of various Christian communions .
" One habit of his deserves to be particularly pointed out to the young who survive him , for it was probably the foundation of his improvement of mind and excellence of character , I mean the habit of occasional retirement . Without this , there can be no self-examination and consequently no growth in virtue and piety .
* ' The deceased was an example of the truth of the Psalmist ' s devotional sentiment , that a young man can cleanse his way only by taking heed thereto according to God's commandments . The Bible was his constant companion : nor was he pious only in public—he made conscience of private prayer .
" His last illness was of some weeks ' duration , with several changes . He seems to have had a pre-sentiment that it would be fatal . But as he told me he submitted from a sense of religious duty to a painful surgical operation advised by his medical attendants . His fortitude on that occasion was exemplary .
" The prevailing sentiment of his mind in his illness was gratitude to his family and attendants : on the last sabbath that he spent on earth , this day fortnight , he took occasion to address these latter as a dying man , and to urge upon them an attention to religion , as the only means of preparing themselves for a dying pillow .
" On the day of his death , Wednesday , the 15 th day of this month , he was , witli one short intermission , as collected and composed as in any period of his life . His thoughts and language too were all adapted to his condition , and from first to last he exhibited a serene and even cheerful
piety . By his desire some of the psalms and a portion of the gospel of Mark were read to him : and contemplating his wasting frame , he repeated some verses of hymns , expressive of penitence , and at the same time of a steady hope in the resurrection of the just . "It was thought proper to announce
Untitled Article
Obituary . —Mr . David Ellis . Igo ,
Untitled Article
ff 0 Being vacant it is to be divided mto four distinct livings , to which clergymen , who have served as chaplains in the Royal Navy are in future to be appointed . - ( Morn . Chron . J
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1815, page 189, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1758/page/61/
-