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among the ministers of this county , in the Dissenting ? way . When he had finished his studies , he began preaching to a congregation at Tiverton * Here a wife was provided for him . She had £ 700 for her fortune , and this was the ^ .. ¦ _ __ . — a . A n . ^^ J <* « tt ^* a . ^ h . A . ^ L . M __ - _ - —_ * ^ & ^ a . , A ___ . 7 _— .
pr incipal thing she had to recommend her , and , indeed , commonly the only thing then looked after by gentlemen of his profession , who were for the most part of no fortune , as well as of low rank in life , which I take to be the reason that so few of them were gentlemen , or knew how to behave or
converse with such as were . It was here , likewise , that he became known to the old Mr . Flamanck , the minister of Tavistock , who conceived so great an opinion of him , that he
recommended him for a successor to his people on his death-bed . Upon this lie was chosen , and lived in great respect among them for many years , and to the end of his life . He had in him very much of the wisdom of the serpent , and so thoroughly understood
the temper of his people , that he knew how to govern them absolutely , and to please them at the same time ; and he carried oa his designs with so much cheerfulness * affability and good nature , that he was really more beloved than feared . He never affected much
retirement . His house was always open to Ms friends , and his friends came generally without any cerenaony several times in a week , and he talked and conversed with them very freely for an hour oy two together . Though he was always decent and grave in his deportment , yet he did not think it a sin to be merry aad affable ; for he was
a very agreeable companion , and would tell his story with spirit and humour . I lived two years in his house whilst 1 was at the Grammar-school in Tavistock , and could there observe , that he knew how to govern without being a t t
yran , and to maintain very good order in his family without making it burdensome . His generous disposition always made him live to the extent of bis income . Nothing in the plain way was wanting to welcome his friends , or support his numerous family ; nay , 1 have heard him often blamed for
spending too much that way , and for not laying up something , as he might **» uy have done . He was one of those Renting Ministers who believed the caua <» of the Separation to be the cause
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, easier with his people , who were of the true old stamp , and who still retain the same stiff , uncharitable disposition to a wonder . They had fo * many years been trained by Mr . Flamanck , who was one of the ejected ministers after _
the Restoration , and Mr . Sandercock knew very well how to encourage and ' confirm their party notions , and to keep up that spirit , which is not to be found in any congregation of Dissenters in this part of the kingdom . To this it must be owing that they sat with such great complacency and patience
under his ministry for so many years ; for though he had clear notions as far as he went , and composed with judgment , yet he was the most dull , drowsy , disagreeable man in the pulpit I ever heard in my life . Though I do not remember to have heard any
nonsense in his sermons or prayers , yet they were both delivered ia a manner which was apt to lull every * one asleep . However , some amends was made for this ; for though he was tedious , he was never long ia his performances ,
either in the church or his family , it being a very commendable maxim , with him , never to make religion a burden . His sermons , for the matter of them , were like the rest among Dissenters .: he took great care to tell his people that he was one of Christ ' s
ambassadors , and was vastly displeased at any thing said or done to depr ive them of that power or respect which they were invested with , and ougUt to have . I remember , while T lived with him , he preached a long time on the text , < c We , then , as ambassadors , in Christ ' s
stead / ' &c , and ,, though I was then very young , I could not but take notice how earnestly he inculcated the notion of ambassadorship upon his hearers , and that he took much pains to make them believe that what he said as such
from the pulpit , was not only the word of God , but an ordinance really and strictly appointed by him . By this art these ministers in general maintained that respect whicli was paid them . His notions in other matters did not run so high . He was in opinion among those who at that time were called
Baxterians , that is , such as rejected the notions of true Calyinists , but yevt were terribly afraid , of being called or thought Arminians . For the difference between tUem is not so great , bad 4 hev
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' of Godand this made him sit the Mr . John Faxs Biographical Sketches of some of his Contemporaries . 269 _ M ^ M ~\ _ M _¦ AM * M _ ¦ _ 7 _ * 4 * 4 hL ¦ m ^ »
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 2, 1821, page 259, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2500/page/3/
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