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OF the life and character of the learned and pious author of these Sermons , some account has been alread y given in our Repository . [ XIV . 445 , 473 and 659 . ] But as his was a temper not given to ^ change , and a quiet earthly walk , his biographer has little
to record that is striking or novel . All that is related is morally pleasing . The annals of private virtue have rarely , indeed , exhibited a character more replete with Christian goodness . €
The < Memoirs" prefixed to the work by the intelligent Editor , Mr . W . B . Kennaway , of Exeter , are drawn up in a style of simplicity congenial with the subject . One extract will embrace the chief historical particulars :
" The Rev . Joseph Bretland was a native of this city ; his father , a respectable tradesman , married a daughter of Mr , Mills , of Somersetshire , by whom he had four children . Of these , three died in infancy ; the youngest , who is
the subject of this memoir , was barn on the 22 nd of May , 1742 . He was of a weak and delicate constitution , and his mother , who , on account of her own tender state of health , had been prevailed on to entrust the care of her former
children to other nurses , resolved to suckle this infant child herself , and probably preserved his life by so doing . This act of parental affection was ever gratefully remembered by him , and he
never ceased , during the whole course of the lives of his parents , to manifest the strongest sense of filial gratitude by a most dutiful obedience , and an anxious solicitude to contribute as much as possible to their comfort and satisfaction .
His mother died in the year 1784 , aged 82 , and his father followed in 1791 , in his 86 th year . —Each of these events affected Mr . Bretland deeply , and it was long before he recovered his wonted cheerfulness . His greatest pleasure
appeared to consist in relating any anecdotes respecting his parents ; especially towards the close of his life , when his friends could not render themselves more agreeable to him than by inviting him to recur to this favourite topic .
" After having been well-instructed in reading , writing and arithmetic , he was placed as a day scholar for several years at the Exeter Grammar School , under the tuition of the . Rev . Mr . Hodgkinson
and his assistants ; and when arrived at nearjy the age of 15 , he was removed fron ^ thgnfce . % o the counting-house of MV . Mourgujs , a respectable merchant , itt this city , with whom hie corit ^ niupd abowt twelve mouths . But , his father ,
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observing that he appeared frequently much oppressed with a dejection of spfrits , endeavoured to discover the cause of H , and , being questioned in the kindest manner , he was at length encouraged to acknowledge that he could not bring his mind to such an employment , having formed the strongest inclination for the
profession of the ministry . —Finding , after further inquiry , that this was his decided choice , his father , though greatly disappointed at having his object so frustrated , resolved to press it no longer , but most indulgently complied with his son ' s desire ; and he soon after left the countinghouse of Mr . Mourgue , and was placed under the instruction of the Rev . Mr .
West , who was then minister of the Mint Congregation , in this city . To this gentleman he considered himself much indebted , and under his tuition the progress he made was rapid . €€ In the year 1760 , it appears by a memorandum in his own writing , that Mr . Bretland went to board at Lyinpston , near Exeter , for the purpose of learning
the Hebrew language and pursuing his mathematical studies , under that ingenious and able scholar , the Rev . John Turner , preparatory to his entering the Academy established in 176 * 1 , in this city , by that gentleman , in conjunction with the Rev . Micaiah Towgood , Rev . Samuel Merivale , and Rev . John Hogg . —He finished his course of studies in
1766 , having obtained from his tutors the fullest testimonial of being well qualified to engage in the ministerial profession : indeed he had acquired their highest esteem and approbation by the assiduous attention which he constantly bestowed on his studies , and the exemplary regularity of his moral and religious conduct :
his theological tutor in particular , to whose memory he , unsolicited , paid so eloquent a tribute of respect in the second sermon in the second volume of this pub ^ lication , delivered some months after his decease , always entertained the greatest regard for him , and expressed the highest opinion of his talents and character .
"In 1770 , he accepted an invitation'from the Mint Congregation to become their minister , which situation he resigned in 1772 . —It appears from his aoeowjit- < foook , that Mr . Bretland opened a classical school in 1773 , which was continued till 1790 ; and many of the more respectable
inhabitants of Exeter considered it a most favourable opportunity , of placing their sons under hi # fnstrncdon .- ^ PiWouk ; to the commemceniem of his own ^ hdbyhe had kindfy lent his assistance to tfie Re * : Joseph Twining , when , that gert | lefnaWte declining state .- ^ fegaltlv . tab longerporniitted him to conduct t ^ t which tie > Mid
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42 Revieu \~ Bretland ' s Sermons .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1821, page 42, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2496/page/42/
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