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cient opportunity will have been afforded you to secure the services of an acceptable successor ; arid in the mean while , my friend the Rev . Michael Maurice , of Southampton , has kindly undertaken to fill the pulpit for me during my inability to occupy it .
—^ It ~ is- "not ™ witnout--much ^ pain ™ I find it necessary to relinquish the pastoral charge of a Congregation , of which I have been the minister during a period of nearly forty-five years ; but although I shall no longer bear this relation to you , I shall ever feel the most lively interest in every thing that relates % o the well-being of this Christian Society .
With the most affectionate gooa wishes for the welfare and happiness of every Member of the Congregation , I remain , My Christian Friends , Your very faithful friend and pastor
RussEjuL sgdtt To the Congregation assembling for Public Worship in the High Street Chapel , Portsmouth , REPLY OF THE CONGREGATION . Reverend and Dear Sir ,
We deeply lament the severe affliction which has led you ( from motives , in which we recognise your accustomed _ kindn « ss __ aBd _ anxiet ; y . jfor our welfare ) to determine on closing that connexion , under which we have so long enjoyed the advantage of your faithful , pious , and instructive ministry—which we had hoped should terminate only with life .
Afflicting as auch communication is , we cUnnot but 'be grateful to Almighty God , that he has so far raised you from a bed of sickness and peril as to enable you again to hold
converse with us ; and although the particular relation which has so long existed between you and us , must , through this interposition of an allwise Providence , thus cease ; we
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unite in sincere thanks to the Giver of all good , that in the relation of affectionate friend you are still preserved to us . Convinced , Sir , as we are , that no private consideration would have
induced you to come to this determination , we are under the painful necessitynof ~ reT ^ o | fnTs ^ hand of Providence as the only inducement to the dissolution of that paternal and filial connexion , so dear to all , and which with many among us has subsisted from early youth .
We are persuaded , Sir , that the most acceptable expression of affection to our beloved Pastor , and of gratitude for his long continued and highly esteemed services , will be an united and zealous determination to carryon the important work to which his life has been so perseveringly and
disinterestedly devoted . Accept , dear Sir , our united thanks for the arrangement by which we are M ? 3 it © . 4-. Qf .. _ thft . ; . p ! i ; hli-C ... B'fiXKices : and kind aid of your and our muchvalued friend , the Rev . Michael Maurice . No arrangement , under these
most trying circumstances , could have been to us more satisfactory and consoling ; since it will afford us the means of obtaining his advice and assistance in making that selection which has been rendered necessary by your communication to us .
We , your affectionate Congregation , unite our prayers to . Ahwghty God , that you may yet be spared many years , to enlighten us by your counsel , to comfort us by your friendly and paternal advice , and to be a continued blessing to those who have reason to call you blessed .
Accept , reverend and dear Sir , these inadequate expressions of oar sincere esteem and regard ; and believe us , with the highest respect and veneration , Your affectionate People . High Street Chapel , Portsmouth , Jan . 13 , 1833 ,
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UNITARIAN CHRONICLE . 57
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 1, 1833, page 57, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2607/page/25/
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