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    different part in religious politics which has been taken by his successor , John Clayton , whose Sermon on the Birmingham Riots has been preserved from oblivion by the eloquent Answer to it by Robert Hall , M . A . the celebrated Baptist minister , then of Cambridge , now of Leicester . Mr . Clayton was educated under the patronage of the late Countess of Huntingdon , and was some time assistant to " the Rev .

    Sir Hcurry Trelawney , who wees pastor of an Independent congregation at West Loo , Cornwall" The reverend Baronet after various changes settled down into a parish priest in the national church . An account of his religious

    1 > rogress is given by Mr . Dyer , in . his ' Jfe of Robert Robinson , p . 179 , &c . t has been said that Sir Harry has not taken his rest in the Church of England . An opposite course to Sir Harry Trelawney ' s is described by the historian in the Memoir ( I . 205 ) of Carolus Maria de PeU D . D . who was

    born at Metz , in Lorrain , of Jewish parents , and educated in that religion , but embraced Christianity and became first a Roi : rWn Catholic , and held distinguished stations' in that church , next £ t Protestant , and obtained orders

    in the'Church of England , and lastly a Dissenter of the Baptist denomination . He latterly practised physic for a maintenance , and being poor , received an annual stipend from his Baptist brethren . He published several learned works , exhibiting his opinions in ( he several stages of his belief . A brother of his , Lewis IDe Competgne De Veil , also became a Christian , and was interpreter of the oriental languages to the king of France , but turning Protestant , came over to England .

    Mr . Wilson is not likely to rise to feme , as a translator . He gives , for instance , the English of a Latin epitaph oh the momtment of Mr . Nathaniel Mather , in Bunhill Fieldd , and the Phrase •* Laude aignissimus" is thus ( jyw into English , " meritorious of' the w&estpraise \] ' I . 233 , 234 . . The character of Robert JBragge , as

    a preacher , may be a useful admonition to some of Mr . Wilson ' s readera ;^ was his custom , as we are informed , : ° make tlje most of his subject , by preach-^ K severa l discourses upon the same text .

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    There is a story related of him , but for the truth of which we cannot be responsible , that , in one part of bis life , i } e was employed no less than four months in

    developing * the mysteries of Joseph ' s coat , from Genesis xxxvii . 8 . * rfnd he made him a coat of jnany colours . In allusion to this circumstance , Mr . Bragge was thus characterized , in some lines descriptive of the Dissenting ministers , at that period :

    * ' Eternal Bragge , iu never-ending strains , Unfolds the wonders Joseph ' s coat contains ; Of ev ' ry hue describes a different cause , And from each patch a solemn myst ' ry draws . " I . 247 .

    The decline of Presbyterian congregations is commonly imputed to the Unitarian doctrine , though , in fact , no peculiar doctrine has been advanced in the greater part of them : but to what cause is the decline of the old Independent * Evangelical" churchep to be attributed ? That decline in London ,, at least , is unquestionable . Ex uno disce omnes .

    ic This church ( Bury Street , St . Mary Axe ) is remarkable for the number of ejected ministers who have presided over it . We have an account of no less than eight of those worthies , in this connexion . T */ iere has been a considerable va 7-iaHo ? k i ? t the state of the Society for the Idst century and upwards . Prior te Eh * .

    Chauncey , it appears to nave been in a nourishing condition j but in his time * iu declined . There was a great revival under Dr . Watts , who had a large and respectable audience . During the latter part of Dr . Savage ' 8 time the interest was in a . very low state . Though a learned man

    and a judicious as well as Evangelical preacher , his labours were not attended with that success which frequently accompanies meaner abilities . At the settlement of the present pastor * it was expected that his popular talents would have a considerable influence in reviving the congregation ; but they have failed of that desired effect . " I . 253 .

    There are particular circumstance * which more than any general cause * affect the condition of Dissenting congregations : one thing is plain , that the ready way to success is to consult-. the taste of tne public , which is ever varying . The , re is how a love of novelty , var iety , life and bustle in religioa . Methodism did not create this taste * if was a happy concurrence with it : re * gular preaching and church order will

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    Review . —Wilson ' s Dissenting Churches . 41 &

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    V X- * xi , 3 h

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1816, page 413, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2454/page/41/