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Untitled Article
interest , he was entirely free from the vanity of displaying his powers , and of engrossing attention to himself . In the friendly circle he was at once dignified , courteous , and cheerful , and all spontaneously paid him their tribute of admiration and respect . When the conversation touched on topics of literature , metaphysics , morals , or the evidences and doctrines of religion , l ) is remarks were sure to be instructive . There was a peculiar distinctness aa well as pertinency of thought in what he said . It made a deep impression , and always tended to improvement .
" To the children of sorrow he was a most humane , sympathizing , and considerate benefactor , ever ready to lig-hten their burthens and dry jheir tears . He would look into their wants , and he would speak of them to others . The cause of learning and religion had his heart and his prayers . His pecuniary contributions in its support were nobly generous , unmeasured in many cases even by his ability . "For some years his health had been gradually declining . His disease often assumed an alarming * character : but he knew the goodness of the
everpresent Helper in whom he trusted , —and he was not afraid . He perceived that * the shadows of the evening were stretched out ; ' but hid faith in the precious promises of the gospel was steadfast , and it filled hini with serenity and peace *—a serenity and a peace which earth has no power to give or take away . His warfare is now accomplished—his toils and bis trials are past , and he is gone 1—gone to hi » bright reward in a far happier and holier state , where there will be no more death , and where we shall praise our God not merely for the mercies which have gladdened us , but also for the troubles which have brought us low . "—Pp . IS—30 .
Whatever , then , may be said of the faith from which Mr . Belshaia de * parted , that which he adopted and adhered to , enabled him to live and die as became a Christian , His conduct adorned the gospel , and his heart felt its consolations . Let bigotry " lay her hand on her mouth , and her mouth in the dust , " and confess the presence of the Christian Spirit ., though she may not yet acknowledge that of the Christian Doctrine . *
• The Congregational Magazine for January , has presented its readers with an Obituary of Mr . Belshatn , in which , amongst sundry errors and misstatements , is the following very insidious paragraph : * ' Two days of perfect consciousness preceded his dissolution , but it is reported that an ominous silence was maintained upon the opinions of the past , and the prospects of the future . If this be true , it will become the surviving champions of Unitarian ! sin to explain the melancholy fact . * The insinuation is as untrue as the mode of potting it forth is unmanly . For several days before his death , Mr . Bel sham had lost the power of distinct articulation ; but even in that state , he found means to cxprew , in a way which coukl not be inistakeD , the composure of his mind . During some days previous , he suffered
severely , and it was evident that the baud of death was on him ; but then , and so long as the power of speech was allowed him , there was no silence " upon the opinions of the past , " or " the prospects of the future , " but auch allusions to both , indicating principles unshaken and hopes un dimmed , iuterftiingled . with acte of dovotioj ) , as became the humble and faithful minister of Christ when about to fender up fiis account to his Lord .
The vrriter has screened himself from the charge of inventhig this report ; he is , or at le&st he appears as being , only its propagator * Th e * difference i » Wot material . The existence of a propensity to falsify the death-bed behaviour of Unitarians has not upw beeu manifested for the first time * " 1 ( will beebme the surviving champions of Trinitariaritsm to explain the melanchol y fact . " The Obituary concludes With the following admonition to Unitarians :
" The present state of the Unitarian body in this country must be to the friends of Evangelical religion most satisfactory , while the general failure of it » efforts it * home and abroad , may well call its surviving members and advocates to pause , and solemnly re-examine the question , ' lest Jiaply thvy be fotmd fighting against God /"
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82 On the Character and Writing * of the Rev * XV Behhant *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1830, page 82, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2581/page/10/
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