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sion . In this manner , he read through the New Testament several tUnes vrtth great care : explained , as well as lie * coilld , scripture by scr ipture ; interpreting what was obscure by what was clear , and registering and arranging as he went on the passages which appeared to favour or
to disprove the doctrines which are commonly received as true . At the end o £ this process , to his no small astonishment , he found himself a Unitarian , Here , then , is an instance in which a man of a sound judgment , of sincere piety , influenced by an ardent love of truth , pursuing it with that patient
industry and in that manner which are most likely to discover it , and with all his prepossessions in favour of Trinitari-Anism , becomes a Unitarian simply by reading the New Testament in the language in which it 'was originally written . He perused no other book : he consulted
do expositor : he was guided to the conclusion in which he rested by nothing but the language of scripture , operating on a tuind as favourably circumstanced as can well be conceived to interpret it aright * Rarely , huleed , does there happen a concurrence of circumstances so favourable
to the discovery of the real meaning o € Scripture ; and therefore both the fact and the consequence deserve to be recorded . He often expressed , his surprise that Ariaoism should so universally be Cttttsidened as the direct rente , the halfwfcy house , as it has been termed , from Trinitarian ism to Unitajrranfsm r and he
Who considers what th 4 most extraordinary and astonishing doctrines of Ari - aaitiBi are , and contrasts them with the simple ondL calm and cold language of the evangelical narratives , will understand tlur ground of his wonder . On this change of opinion , after having distinctly stated to his congregation the
nature of it , the process which condacted to it , and the considerations which pro * itaceri it , he resigned the pastoral office , and finally determined on studying medicine ; intending still to perform the duties of a Christian teacher , should he be placed in a situation in which his services would be useful . In conformity with
thw resolution , even while he was pursuing bis professional studies at Edinburgh , he conducted a regular religious service iu his own lodging every Sunday . This * ervice was commenced in the year 1791 , aim ] he was occasionally assisted by Mr . Fyahe Palmer , with whom he had
formed au intimate friendship , whose t ^ £ ent » and excellences he respected and loved , and whose cruel persecution he never ceased to deplore . From that period , Edinburgh has never been without a number of avowed Unitarian * , who ,
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with a few interruptions , have regularly inet together for public worship . 1 tJr . Spencer had continued thus pub - licly to read and expound the Scriptures , for " the space of about two years , when a gentleman , a re'sidfctat of Glasgow * happened to hear him , who was so much
pleased with the service that he invited him to Glasgow , and requested him to repeat the same service in that city . On acceding to this request , he was heard in Glasgow with so much acceptance , that he was earnestly" solicited by several persons to fix his residence there , and ^ ars an advantageous offer was at the same time made him which would enable him
to puraie his medical studies with satisfaction to himself , he readily ^ yielded to the wishes of bis friends . Thns he became the public and avowed preacher of Unkariatiism in Glasgow , and -although his style of preaching was peculiarly scriptural * the way in which he stated hrs opinions guarded and judicious , and the manner in which he * defended them
uncommonly mild , yet so great was the sensation produced , and so violent the opposition excited , that his veiry life was in danger . Several fanatics threatened to lay violent hands on htm ; and his friends , though not himself , were under
serious apprehension thatthe menace would bo executed . He fearlessly continued his labour : the ferment gradually subsided . By his- mild and judidous manner , some of his fifrost violent oppo ^ Bents were induced Urst to examine and
riext to believe ; and lie hid the honour of sowing that seed which , though at several periods it seemed to be kMato , has since sprung up abundantly , aiid is now flourishing . After finishing his medical stodies in
Scotland , Dr . Spencer removed to Bns * tol , where he settled as a surgeon , and by those who best knew hitn ^ and were best able to appreciate his worth , * whs esteemed a most judicious practitioner . He had indeed studied his prdfMioti with a diligence of which there ate few
examples , and his knowledge was not only uncommonly extensive , but precise and scientific . Yet he never ndglecte ^ f to cultivate his prior , and perhaps Hi $ favourite , pursuit , that of liheolbgtr- flfe-po&Aseti , more in consequence dPr ^ eittraordlt ^^ r ^ labour than a * an original enttotvtrrcnt of
nature , a great 'facility fe acquiring language , and he had an udmifabjc ifaetBod of teaching whatever lie ktiW . 'tt was hi « custom to rfcdrice every * b $ fj&ct ' he attempted to teafch t& \ tB ihtf * 0 F ^ mtfKt stnv pie principles ; to to ^ lh wh * tJ ^^ fiteadon of these , aud ihdn , 1 i ] f a '^ ir series , to advance to the higher ^ tmtfi&tfre complicated parts : and tfct £ heifid bso
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768 Obituary . — (> r . Benjamin Spencer .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1822, page 768, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2519/page/48/
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