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from the storm , —the shadow of a great rock in a weary land . It was about this time that Dv . Priestley ' s small tract , " On the Power of Man to do the Will of God , " fell into bis hands ; and the sentiments it contained appeared to him so self-evident and scriptural , that after the perusal of
it he was astonished he could ever have believed the reverse to be true . From the change now produced iu his religious views , this became a new era in his lifej he happily made his escape from the wretched system which teaches the utter impotency of human efforts to do the will of God , and derived the greatest satisfaction and comfort from the right application of his faculties to the Scriptures
of eternal truth . He became deeply impressed with a sense of his own accountability , and by a conviction that his future destiny was placed , with the Divine blessing , in his own hands- —being well aware , that whatever is worthy of punishment or reward must be the effect of voluntary agency on our part , and not of what is douc by-any other being in our stead .
Cousoled and encouraged by the persuasion that the great Creator and Father of all was no respecter of persons , but possessed of that essential love and impartial benevolence which rendered him utterly incapable of 'injustice or neglect towards any of his offspring , and that he was constantly exercising the greatest
forbearance and mercy in his providential dispensations over all without exception , turning to them who turn to hVm ; such views of > the moral government of God , whilst they cheered his heart and drew forth his best affections , rendered religion a delightful service , and obedience to the Divine commands not an
irksome task , but a pleasure . Daring his residence at Kelshall , several friends concurring in opinion that it was desirable for their own improvement , as . well as for die instruction of the poor ; to unite together for public worship . in the parish in which he rebided , my . person- could be more earnest in prosecuting this object than Mr , Foster . On one part of the Sabbath he read
a flermoo ,. and < ' . conducted the devotional service v he took ( his share in the in * strucbon of tthe children , visiting the poor in their ^ cottages , and inviting those he thou g ht aciiuugly inclined to his own honec : ra-e * ery way he waft desi * oua of doing good . Thetse services he continued fori six . or seven years ,. aud > ofteu * expressed the satisfaction and pleasure w \ uch * tbey afforded . ; ,
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His next removal was to his own county , but he there felt so much the want of congenial society that he returned to Royston , where he built a house , and amused himself in planting and cultivating a garden . Having now withdrawn from the engagements of the world , he divided his time between his
garden and his books , but was always accessible to a small circle of religious friends , whose society he much enjoyed .. Here he remained about three years , contented with his lot , resigned to the , will of God , and , happy in his religious principles , patiently waitiug for his approaching change .
Jt is well known that our friend discarded altogether the doctrine of the Trinity , as equally at variance with reason and the Scriptures . The Bible , he was * accustomed to say , expressly teaches that there exists one , and only one ,
unoriginated , self-existent -mind , who only hath immortality . The following are a few only of the numerous passages which decided his opiuiou relative to the person of Christ : " This is eternal life , to know thee , the only true God , and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent . ** — " There is one
God , and one mediator between God and men , the man Christ Jesus . *'— -The Gentiles - ' * have gods mauy and lords many | but to us there is but one God , the Father , and one 'Lord Jesus Christ . " He reasoned in a manner familiar , it is true , to Unitarian Christians , but deserving to be noticed here * as the source in which his change of views on these subjects
originated . He was accustomed to say , the child Jesus , who was barn of Mary , was crucified on Mount Calvary , and wad raised from the dead , could not be Deity , but was strictly and properly a human being ; of the promised seed of Abraham . He lived aud died indeed without sin , and " in all things pleased his heavenly Father ; " but he acquired his eminent
moral qualifications m the same way as . others , for " he increased in wisdom and iu stature , and iu favour with God and man , " by discipline and obedience , " was made perfect through suffering , " and " was in all points tempted as we are , yet without sin . " On these passages our-frieod was accustomed frequently to * remark , -that if Christ bad beeu God as
well ae man hi-imeperson ; it would have been impossible that he should have been tempted to sin . As a divinely authorized teacher of righteousness Jesus was superior to all who had preceded him in this high-office : '" never man spake like this mate ;* ' others had a limited portion of supernatural fft&lfttance , he was anointed
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Obituary . —Mr . John Foster .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1831, page 494, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2599/page/62/
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