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his case before another candidate is introduced , has been common in our congregations from their first-establishment , and has been sanctioned by eur ablest and most influential writers . Amongst these , lefc me name Dr . Edm un © Calais v , venerabile nomen , who in his Funeral Sermon for t&e Rev . John Motterslwd , givis the destitute congregation the following advice :
" Take heed of division * . By way of prevention , allow me to leave it with you as my deliberate advice , to beware of multiplying candidates in the election that is now necessary . * Tis a fancy of some , ( and a most ridiculous fancy it is , and an usual spring of contention and division , ) that unless more than one be
in nomination , there is no choice . Whereas , on the contrary , t must own it to be ray apprehension , that where there is a vacancy in any society , and there is not occasion for nominating any more than one , in order to the gaining the consent of a good majority , it is the best sort of choice that can be desired .
If a majority do not agree , no choice can be pretended ; nor can there be any damage done . And supposing that a considerable majority does agree , why is it not a choice ; when there is such a number agreeing as more than barely turns the scale , and the person pitched on is preferred , before all others that could come in competition ? And why
is it not a better choice , thau by nominating several at once , to divide people into parties ; and lay a temptation before them ( which very commonly proves the case ) to lesseu and reflect on one to whom they are less inclined , in order to the advancing of another whom they are rather for , which often does mischief and makes work for repentance ? Let
me then recommend it to you , first to nominate the person in whom , all circumstances being considered , there is a probability and likelihood of a pretty general concurrence : and till that matter is tried , let it be agreed that no one else be nominated as a candidate . If a good majority concur , the point aimed at is gained , and the vacancy is filled up . If that will not do , let another be nominated , ( and but one at once by agreement , ) ana let the same trial be made as to him also : and bo go on till a person is fixed on . I am firmly persuaded , and am confirmed in it by observation , that this is a tetter way to onion and harmony than the multiplying the number of candidates , which Ib a common inlet to division and confusion . "—A Funeral Sermm for the late Rev . Mr , John Mot-
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tershed , Minuter of the Gospel tn RatcUjfe , who departed this life Oct . 3 , 1728 , An Mtat . LXIII . By Edmund Calamy , D . D . Pp . 41 , 42 . Dr . Calamy here spoke from long observation , and the experience of a century has proved the wisdom of his remarks .
Let me add a word or two concerning Mr . Mottershed , who was eminent in his day . He was the son of an opulent father , and chose the Nonconformist mi ,, nistry in perilous times . He was educated under Mr . Doolittle , the ejected minister , at his academy for ministers , at Islington , together with Dr . Calamy , and was afterwards assistant to his tutor at Mvgwetl ( since called Monkwell ) Street . Afterwards he became assistant
to Mr . Gone , at Kingston upon Thames , from which place he removed to Radcliffe in the year 1697 , succeeding Mr . George Day in the pastorship . " Here , " says Dr . Calamy , ( p . 38 , ) " his plentiful circumstances put him into a great capacity of usefulness beyond others ** He does not appear to have published any thing from the press ; though Dr .
Calamy was informed that he assisted in translating some of the learned Dr . LightfooVs works into Latin . Another fact may be quoted from the pulpit-biographer . " But before his appearing any where in public , he was for some time in Holland , and there lived ( I think he himself has told me so ) under the same
roof with Monsieur Bayle , who is generally allowed to have been one of the most polite and ingenious gentlemen of that age . But whether he lodged in the same house with him or no , I am well satisfied from what I remember of the account he himself gave me , that he had the benefit of his lectures and free
conversation , which were the means of great additions to his knowledge , and gave him au advantageoun opportunity of an insight into the Belles Lettres ;• and he was forward enough afterwards to own his obligations to him , though very thankful to God , that he preserved him from the Pyrrhonism , which that great man unhappily fell into and was remarkable for . " P . 36 .
We should hardly have looked for an English Nonconformist minister " under the roof 0 f Monsieur Bayle" and we must regret that Mr . Mottershed has left us no menus of judging of the profit which he derived from the company and tuition of Buch an accomplished and universal scholar . EPISCOPUS .
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194 Occasional Correspondence .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1828, page 194, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2558/page/50/
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