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opened *—On the resignation of the learned and venerable Micaiah Towgood , in 1782 , the United Congregations of Protestant Dissenters io Exeter resolved to invite ministers to preach as candidates Mr , Bretiand was one of the
number invited , but he declined the invitation . In 17 & 9 9 he was , a second time , invited to the Mint Meeting , and he continued minister of that congregation till 1793 , when he resigned the office . In 1794 , the Society at George ' s
Meetinghouse gave Mr . Bretland an invitation to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Rev . Abraham Tozer , which he was prevailed on to accept , and he remained in that connexion till 1797 , at which time he retired from the stated
duties of the pulpit . In 1798 , the Trustees of the New College at Manchester , ( removed to York in 1803 , ) applied to him unanimously , to become the Theological Professor of that Seminary , but he thought proper to decline the invitation . The following
year , 1799 , a society was formed for the purpose of establishing an Academy in the West of England , for the education of ministers among Protestant Dissenters , and the Rev . Joseph Bretland and the Rev . Timothy Ken-rick were appointed tutors . This institution promised to be of extensive usefulness , and the hisrh of extensive usefulnessand the high
, characters these gentlemen had deservedly acquired , would probably , iii ^ a fe w years , have greatly increased the niinmber of the students , but Providence saw fit to check its progressive success , by the unexpected and greatly-lamented removal of Mr . Kenrick , who died during the vacation , in the summer of 1804 . —The Committee
appointed to look out for a person qualined to undertake the office of resident tutor having failed in their attempt , it was resolved , at a general meeting held in February , 1805 , ' That the Academy cease , from Lady-day next , to be carried
on m this city , until there appear a favourable opportunity of opening an Academy again , either here , or in some other place in the West of England . ' At the same meeting it was also unanimously resolved , * That the Rev . Joseph Bretland be requested to accept our most cordial thanks for the various and
numerous services he has rendered us , both as an associate and tutor , in the management of every thing relating to our institution ^ from the time when it was first founded . *
" In the year 1795 , he married Miss Sarah Moffatt , a sister of the Rev . Mr . Moffatt , of Malmsbury , with whom he lived on the most affectionate terms till the spring of 1804 , when he . sustained U \ e severe and irreparable affliction of
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her death , occasioned by a long and most distressing consumptive complaint , during the continuance of which nothing could exceed the tender attentions he paid towards the alleviation of her sufferings * and his anxious endeavours to discover
some effectual remedy of her disorder . — Mem . pp . iv . —ix . Mr . Bretland enjoyed the friendship of the late venerable Dr . Priestley , * from whose letters some passages are inserted at the end of the Memoirs .
These are less interesting than m ^ ht have been expected , and , probabl y * than the entire letters would have been . Two or three of them confirm Mr . Kentish ' s conjecture , [ M . Repos . XIV . 475 , ] that Mr . Bretland published a new edition of Dr . Priestley ' s English Grammar .
The Sermons are on the following subjects : Vol . L Serm . I .- The Nature and Use of Reason . II . Virtuous Obedience the strongest Bond of Union amongst Christians . III . The Divine Confidence in the Fidelity of Abraham to his Offspring and his Household .
IV . The Duty of Parents to Children . V . The Duty of Children to Parents . VI . Exhortation to Young Men . VII . The Importance of making a Proper Choice of Company . VIII . The Obligation of Social Duties in General . IX . The Heart devoted to God . X .
God the best Support under the Loss of Friends and the Inconstancy of the World . XI . The Mutual Connection and Dependance of Christians . XII . The Reciprocal Duty of Christians to assist and comfort each other . XIII .
Virtue the only Rational Distinction amongst Men . XIV . The Condescension and Goodness of God to his Creatures . XV . The Importance and Advantage of Reli g ious Conversation . XVI . The fleeting ^ N ature and proper Management of Life pointed out by the Emblem of a Tale . XVII . A
Discourse , delivered at Crediton , October 21 , 1798 , on the occasion of the Death of Mrs . Elizabeth Rowe , Widow of the late Wm . Rowe , Esq ., of Spencecomb , near Crediton , Devon .
Vol . II . Serm . I . The Necessity and Importance of forming right Notions of the Object of Worship . II . The Christian Reli g ion the best Support uhder every afflictive Occurrence of Life * Hi . * Erroneously printed ** Priestly " throughout the Memoir * .
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Review . —BrettancPs Sermons . 43
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1821, page 43, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2496/page/43/
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