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    if the latest of them bad been announced under somewhat different titles . But an author must be allowed to choose his own plan of writing ; and in Dr . Cogan ' s mind all truthi

    resolved itself into one idea , the moral perfection of God , including by necessary consequence the happiness of all his creatures . He had once proposed to himself to enlarge and republish his letters to Mr . Wilberforce as

    a part of the series ; with which he declared that his design would be complete . The last work that he actually published , the Ethical Questions , which made its appearance in 1 # 17 , is

    evidently a continuation of his subject ; and though he seems to soar into the region of metaphysics , he never leaves in reality his favourite province of morals . *

    Thus employed , Dr . Cogau scarcely felt the advances of old age . His friends found him the same instructive and pleasing companion that he had ever been , and indulged themselves with the hope of enjoying his valuable society for years to come . But there

    is an " appointed time for man upon the earth . ' On the last day of the year 1817 , he had walked in a very thick fog from his lodgings in Herilietta Street , Covent Garden , to- visit a friend in St . Mary Axe , which brought on a cough more than usually

    trouhlesome ; indisposition ensued ; and with a presentiment that he should not recover , he went on Saturday , January 24 th , to his brother ' s , the Rev . E . Cogau , at Walthamstow , where he expired on Monday , the 2 d of February , in the 82 d year of his age .

    The following account of his death was drawn up by one best fitted by situation and character to describe justly the dignified scene : " Many know how he lived , and some may wish to know how he died . For the gratification of such a wish , the following brief sketch is intended : ** The closing scene of his life , by

    * The Ethical Questions tire reviewed in our Xllth Vol . pp . 226—236 ; and in Vol . XIII . pp . 18—20 , there is a letter of Dr . Cogan ' s upon the subject of the review . By a melancholy coincidence , the number containing this letter did not appear till the day of his death . See the obituary of the next No ., XIII , p . 142 .

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    which I mean the last few days of his illness / exhibited a spectacle such as has not often been witnessed . The vigour of mind which he displayed in his reflections on any subject that came before him , the vivacity with which he made his remarks on thd

    occurrences of the moment , and the dignified composure with which he looked forward to the change which he pronounced to be approaching , excited the wonder of all who saw him , and frequently prompted the involuntary exclamation , What an extraordinary man !

    ** When he first gave up all expectation of a recovery , he said with animation , Why should I wish to recover ? I should only have all this to endure again . I have had a long

    and a happy life , and I ought to depart contented . 'And I have many reasons for considering this as the fittest time for me to die , though I cannot look forward to death

    altogether without a feeling of awe * I have a firm confidence in the goodness of God ; and though 1 may deserve more of chastisement than I have had ivL this life , I have no fear whatever for the final result . '

    C On one occasion he said , 1 shall not die triumphantly , but 1 shall die happily 3 * on another , * The nearer I advance to the grave , the brighter are my prospects .

    " When speaking on the subject of religion , he dwelt chiefly on the benevolence of the Deity , expressing his persuasion of the final happiness of all mankind , and his decided conviction of the falsehood of the

    Calvinistic system . One of the last things that he said to me ( after having commented at some length on a part of the 15 th chapter of the first epistle to the Corinthians ) was verbatim as follows : * When I could not sleep last night , I was reflecting on the

    affecting parable of the prodigal son , which is so beautifully , so beuutifulh / , told . Where is your vindictive justice here ? Where is your personal resentment ? ' He probably would have proceeded , but was fatigued with speaking . About twelve hours before his decease , he dictated three letters with a solemnity and dignity of manner which none who were present will ever forget . A-short paragraph

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    4 Memoir of the late T ) r * Cogan .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1819, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1768/page/4/