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Obiiutiry . —Mr . JohnSimpson , Sen . , 695
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The mere record of deceased mortality , if unmarked by any moral or intellectual lesson , availeth little . Not so here . The subject of this was indeed an encouraging instance to her own sex of the perfect
compatibility of a mild and sweet disposition harmonizing with a firm and decisive tone of mind , which was evinced in t * warm desire to elevate the character of the poor by whom she was surrounded , and to whose children she'was a most kind and patient instructress .
Farewell , beloved Eliza ! Thou hast indeed left , a sad vacuum in that circle in which thou wert the sweetest ornameut and the dearest object . But let us not sorrow as those without hope . Let us rather humbly trust thou art only gone
to that rest from which , if there be any truth in the promises of that gospel thou so dearly valuedst , and whose precepts thou so consistently and conscientiously practisedst , thou shalt arise to a blessed and glorious resurrection . Liverpool , Nov . 17 , 1824 ,
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Additions . Mr . John Simpson , Sen . ( P . 628 . ) He was a native of Yarmouth , in Norfolk ; and in early life was a preacher in
the Methodist connexion , and in close intimacy and friendship with Mr . John Wesley . He was instrumental in raising a congregation at Yarmouth , as well as one at Lowestoffe . He continued for
« ome years an acceptable preacher in this connexion ; but not experiencing those immediate and sensible illuminations and assistances of the Holy Spirit which persons of that sect profess to feel , he was much discouraged , and preaching became a burden to him . This led him to a
more close examination of the subject , which issued in a conviction of the fallacy of those pretensions . Under these circumstances he communicated by letter to Mr . Wesley the state of his mind ; to which Mr . W . returned the fallowing laconic answer : " Samson , the
Philistines are upon thee : escape for thy life . " On leaving the Methodists , he joined a society of the followers of Cudworth , who denominated themselves " the Followers of the Apostles . " Their distinguishing tenet was , " that faith is not a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit , but the operation of evidence on the mind , or the
receiving of the report of the gospel from a conviction of its truth and importance . " They held also the popular doctrines of the Trinity and Atonement . Amongst this people Mr . S . laboured for years in the ministry , daring which period ( about forty years ago ) the writer of this first became acquainted with him . He was
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thea a believer in the Trinity , but m 6 tilf > after the commencement " of their ' 1 nti | inacy hie renounced that doctrine , under a firm conviction of its inconsistency witK reason and revelation , and embraced tli # Unitarian system , in which he found a solid foundation for his faith and hopie £
The personal unity of the Divine Being ; his paternal character , his omnipotent power and unbounded goodness , together with the promises and prospects held forth in the gospel , were to hint a never * failing source of consolation and j oy * The foundation of hi § eminent pietV £
^ his habitual sense of the omnipresence of God , and of his earnest endeavour to approve himself to him , was probably laid in the serious impressions which he received in his first connexioaivith tii 6 Methodists ; but , under every change of
sentiment , he was always the same pious and excellent character— -a bright example to his numerous descendants , and to all-with whom he was connected . ' May they be followers of him , inherit his virtues , and enjoy his consolations and prospects !
He was for about fourteen years pastor of the afternoon congregation meeting in Worship Street , and was succeeded in that office , by the Rev . James Gilchrist , who now fills it . Io 1802 ., he published a pamphlet entitle ^ 4 t Plain Thoughts oil the New-Testament Doctrine of
Atonement . " His dissolution was brought on by a gradual decay of nature , which reduced him to the necessity of keeping his bed for three weeks before he died , although he did not experience any bodily pain . The writer was with him o n ^_ the Monday previous to his death , wheh Tie
expressed himself perfectly composed and happy , and , in an affectionate farewell , coimnended him to the blessing of God . He retained all his faculties to the last , except that of speech , which he lost but
a few minutes before his decease ; and then , when no longer able to express in words the grateful sentiments of his heart towards his daughter-in-law for her assiduous and kind attentions , he took her hand and kissed it in the most
affectionate manner : he then made signs to have a servant called in who had assisted in waiting upon him , shook hands with him , and , putting his owp hands in the attitude of prayer , in a few minutes breathed his last , gently falling asleep in Jesus , i | i firm hope of the glory which shall be revealed at his appearing .
Thus lived and thus died this faithfuj servant ! and minister of Jesus Christ , exhibiting in his death the strongest evidence of the power and efficacy of Unitariau principles to afford all that support , consolation and hope , of which the Christian
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1824, page 695, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2530/page/55/
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