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him , for one service only , a salary considerably beyond what he theft enjoyed . To this invitation he gave a decided negaflve . In the beginning of the following year , the congregation at Clapham gave him a similar
invitation , which he also declined . The two congregations then United their invitations , offering a large salary , on condition of his undertaking a single service at each place . This joint application he refused * The people
of Kettering , hearing of these repeated attempts to remove him * became justly alarmed : a few of them waited upon him , informing him of the uneasiness they felt at these attempts to effect a separation . They assured him of his entire possession of the hearts of bis people , and declared that , though
their situation did not permit their making such proposals ad the other parties , they would do all in their power , and fiiost gladly rectify any circumstance which gave him uneasiness . His reply was , that if he found his services still acceptable , no pecuniary advantages should ever tempt him to relinquish his charge . At the same time , he intimated that , as the
two Congregations still persisted in their application , he wished his people publicly to express their sentiments on the subject , that he might be armed with conclusive reasons Ibr declining invitations so earnestly and repeatedly urged . This gave occasion to three separate addresses , from the young
people , from the members of the Benevolent Society , and from the congregation at large , each expressive of the high esteem they entertained for his character , their sense of the benefit der ived from his ministry , and their extreme reluctance to resign ad--vantages which they so highly prized . To these addressee a most affectionate
rind appropriate reply was made by their pastor , in which he assured them of his unalterable attachment , together with his final determination to accede to their wishes ; and thus ended the last attempt to remove Mr . Toller from his station .
It was during the year 1813 , that his friends determined to carry into effect an idea which had before been suggested , that of raising a sum of itmney to be presented as a testimony X ) f their esteem , as well as with a view to lay the basis of a permanent pro-
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vision for his family . As soon as he had intelligence of the design , he naturally and freely suggested some objections to the m ^ asufe . The apprehensions and scruples , however , which arose from bis extreme
delicacy , were overruled ; and a suin amounting to nearly & thousand pounds * was contributed , with a promptitude and alacrity , which did gqii&l honour to those wliOr COhferrSd , and t 6 Mm who redeked , the fktour .
£ Ti * otfgit the Urge ? portion of hfsf life he was occasionally liable to great depff ession of spirits * but abdut seven years previously to itsr close , in eongeqiieiiee of a suddeti interruption of the profftse pefspiltftfett which had constantly attended Ms toufolic
exercises , kbd which was thrown b&cfe ttp 6 n the system , frg sunk into such a state of despondency as d&qtmlllfed him , for $ 6 me tiwe , for the discharge of bis ministerial functions . He survived this affliction several y €£ ? & : btrt from that time the circulation of hfe
blood appears to liave beto less regular , and the depression of his spirits more fredttetat than beferer . Symptoms of a tendeiitfy to apoplexy , made their appearance . Near the ctos # of the | ear 1820 , one attack of this nature left him so weak and shattered in con *
stitution as to convince Mia he should never be able to resume his full pastoral duties again : and hid son was , accordingly , chosen as his assistant . On Sunday , February 25 , 1821 , Mr . Toller preached in the morning , with
all his usual animation , from Isaiah , lxiii . 7—13 and remarked , at the end of the &ettiiofi , what encouragement this passage affords the widow and the fatherless to pat their trust in God ; finishing his last public discourse with these words :
" To thee our infant race we leave , Them may their father ' s God receive ; That ages yet unborn may raise Successive Jiymns of humble praise /' He spent the evening surrounded by his family , and conversing with his children in a strain of cheerful piety , and after a night of sound repose , arose as well as usual the next morning . About noon , leaving the parlour , he was found a few minutes after in an apopletic fit , or a seizure
resem-* Mon « Rep , XVII . p . 196 .
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176 Review . — Memoir of the Rev . T . N . Toller .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1824, page 176, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2522/page/48/
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