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    engage feha active 1 * 1 tod of T > r . Estlin , as to prevent his givirig to thfe vrorld several publications , all of them relative to those topics of religion and morals which were the favourite

    subjects of his investigation . A list of these is subjoined ; they testify that he approved himself the watchful and affectionate defender of the truths he professed to teach , and that the powers of his mind were engaged with

    sincerity and fervour in the duties of his profession . His style was elegant , clear and flowing , rather turned to pathos than to dry argumentation ; his delivery in the pulpit animated , solemn and affectionate . He was fond

    of preaching , and never spared himself when any occasions called him forth . Dr . Estlin \ s religious opinions were what is called Unitarian , though , with his usual candour , he thought it Vtrong to restrict that term to those who hold the simple humanity of Christ . He

    always invited discussion , and though in the confidence of a sanguine disposition ( perhaps the best disposition for happiness ) lie made no doubt of the prevalence of the opinions he held , and that in a very short time over the whole Christian world , and the

    consequent overthrow of all error , he always shewed the utmost candotir to those of a different persuasion ; the fervour of his religious feelings rieveiled him to bigotry , nor his liberality to scepticism ., tie approved of forms of prayer , and published in 1814 , a

    Volume of such forms , great part of which is taken from the liturgy of the Church of England , for the ntode of whose services , though not for its doctrines , he seems to have retained his early predilections . Dr . Estlin

    also embraced with great ardour a doctrine so congenial to his temper as tlie consoling one of Universal Restitution , or the final salvation of all mankind ; led to it as weTl by the benevolent tendencies of his own mind

    as by the earnest and reiterated arguments of a dear and beloved friend , who bore that all-consoling 'doctrine the nearest to his heart . The characteristics of Dr . EstliiTs mind were an

    amiable frankness and simplicity of heart , with a kind and sociable disposition , Which made him , even when yefcrs pressed Upon him , always acceptable in the s 6 cie * ty of th ^ young ind Active . With tfpenh&s Of heart

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    he never refufeed his ptirse to any claim of distress , or useful project to which subscriptions were solicited ; and the money he thus disbursed , if put together , would be found to

    amount to no inconsiderable portion of his income . In the domestic eircl £ > his kindness ^ his candour , his hospitality , his cheerful piety , the writer of this memoir has often experienced . In truth , in his behaviour to his family principle was not called into action , temper was sufficient . Though Fond

    of his children , he was not apt to indulge that anxiety which saddens the domestic circle , and perhaps often defeats its own purposes ; he lived to see his family grown up , and some of them settled in respectable professions . For some years past Dr . Estliri had experienced a decay of sight , and he had often said that after threescore

    and ten a preacher ought to be emetitus . He therefore resigned his situation at Lewin ' s Mead , where he preached his farewell sermon the £ 2 nd of June , 1817 . This respectable society shewed their regard for the services of their minister by very

    substantial expressions of their esteem and affection , having presented him with a handsome sum of money upon his retiring from his ministerial Arties . Dr . Estlin being thus exonerated from all professional duty , having also given up his school , went for the strmmer to Southern down , in Glafnorganshire , a

    retired place by the sea side , whefe he had usually spent his vacations , and where he hadf amused hfmseif by building a cottage . His health seemed to be declining , yet there appeared nothing immediately alarming . On Sutrday , the 10 th of Augast , he performed the morning and afternoon

    services to his family and a few neighbours assembled in his house : the subject of his sermon was the resurrection . He appeared better that day than usual , but retiring soon after into his chamber , he was seized with

    a sadden effusion of blood frdtn his lungs ; the affectionate partner of his life ran to him ; he grew fkfnt , leaned his head upon heY bosdfn , and without a sigh expired . Or . Estlin ' s remain *

    were cdnveyed , attended by hrs sdrrotvirig family , to BrWtol , and interred in the burying ground beWiging to i- ^ ewin ' s Mead Ctiape ) , dn the # 8 t&-Tbe > frere attend to * 0 ib graVe by

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    574 Memoir of the late Rev . Jdfth Prior Estlin , LL . D .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1817, page 574, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2469/page/2/