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in sincerity." The summit of his ambition is to be, and to be called a Christian," the highest style of man," and next to that, to inoulcate and adorn that great system of Christianity, winch is the glory of the Reformation, forms the Creed of the national church, in its present establishment; and which, as an honest man, he feels himself bound to enforce, agreeably to the obligation of a most solemn and unequivocal subscription. He believes, that " The truth, to which the Son of God came to bear witness," which prophecies and miracles authenticate, which apostles have attested, and for which martyrs bled, must be of infinite importance: that if divine truth could cease to be important, it would be unworthy of God, and from that moment cease to be divine; and, therefore, that there are some branches of Christianity which it is essential to believe, and on that account a duty to delend; otherwise to" contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, would be both nugatory and superfluous."

On these just principles Mr. De Courcy conducted his preaching and his writings, in which he proved himself an able opposer of the dangerous dogmas of Socinus, as then revived and propagated by Dr. Priestly. Referring to the Articles of the Church, he says, in vol. ii. p. 104, "They stand, as it is devoutly to be wished they may ever stand to latest ages, a barrier against the encroachments of those errors which have, at different periods, infested the church; and which are revived in the present day, with a bold licence of thought and expression harldly ever paralleled in the writings of the most outrageous Heresiarchs. They have been contemptuously styled, The Altar with Thirty-nine Horns; the fail of which too, has been confidently predicted: but the indecent abuse here as little affects us as the prophecy alarms our fears. Horns indeed this sacred altar has, strong enough, [ hope, to repel the enraged and impotent assaults of its adversaries, whether confederated by faction, or frantic with Sibylline or Socinian enthusiasm; horns, potent enough to attach the boldest heresies, and make them bleed to death beneath the deep keen searchings of the sword of the Spirit. At this altar many champions have stood to guard its foundation, and have offered up their lives upon it, rather than desert the structure, or deny the hand of Divine Interposition that consecrated and reared it. Esto perpetua be ever written on its

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Such was the sacred zeal of our departed brother for the doctrines of grace; nor was he less zealous for that true morality which is the genuine effect of those doctrines, when graciously received under the influence of the Holy Spirit. For this he pleads, in a masterly manner, in the work already

quoted; from which we beg leave to make a short extract:

Let the subject be candidly and closely considered, and it will appear that we plead for a morality which possesses every excellence that can give it purity, efficacy, permanency, and extent; and which is, in nature and operation, essentially superior to any thing that bears the name among those who deny the influence that communicate it, or the doctrines from whence it derives its constraining force."

These extracts from his writings may convey some idea of his ministerial labours. Convinced, firmly convinced in his own mind of the truths of the gospel, his first great aim was to convince his hearers of the same truths; well knowing that the exercise of heavenly affections, and the practice of holy duties, necessarily follow the due reception of the truth as it is in Jesus; and for this purpose it was his constant endea vour to reach the affections of his auditors, through the medium of their understanding.

Mr. De Courcy, knowing how to appreciate the civil as well as spiritual blessings enjoyed in this happy country, discovered a commendable zeal iu resisting those dangerous doctrines which, under the delusive name of The Rights of Man, have occasioned so awful a perversion of their rights and pri vileges in neighbouring nations. This will particularly ap pear from his sermon, preached at Hawkstone Chapel, at the presentation of the colours to the North Shropshire Yeomen Cavalry, in 1798.

As to the person of our friend, his stature was somewhat below the middle size: his address was very pleasing; and the fund of information which he possessed, together with a degree of natural sprightliness and humour, rendered him a very desirable companion. His temper was considered as naturally warm; "but if at any time," says the preacher of his funeral discourse, "the man appeared, let it be remembered, that the grace of the Christian would presently gain the ascendency; and prove, that the main bias of his soul inclined to those things which afford consolation to the believer, amid the various calamities of life, and which constitute his support in a dying hour."

Mr. De Coarcy was not without domestic trials; among which, none seemed to affect him so much as the death of his youngest son, in August last, after serving some time as a inidshipman, under his relation the Hon. Capt. De Courcy. In the close of his last sermon, from Rev. v. 2, on the evening of the Fast-day, an allusion to the memory of those we had resigned into the arms of Death," so far affected him, as to occasion an involuntary flow of tears; and obliged him abruptly to conclude.

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Sce vol. ii. p. 147, &c.

His natural constitution was good; and supported him under many painful fits of the rheumatic gout, which at length weakened his knees so much, that he was sometimes obliged to sit in the pulpit. On the Fast-Day he caught a slight cold, which brought on a return of his disorder; from which he seemed gradually recovering, until a few hours only before his death. On the evening preceding this event, he retired to rest about ten o'clock; and in passing from the sitting-room to his bed-chamber, his servant expressed her pleasure at sce ing him walk so well; to which he replied," Thank God, I am getting better!"

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In the morning following, between four and five, he rang his bell, when his servant found him indisposed, but not so ill as to create the apprehension of greater danger than she had fre quently witnessed, when attacked with flying pains about the neck and breast, which generally occasioned a difficulty of breathing. He requested a little brandy and water; which in a short time relieved him. His servant continued with him till neareight'o'clock; during which time he frequently slumbered, When he was awake, he appeared, by motion of his hands and lips, to be engaged in prayer. He then desired her to retire, saying, he felt very comfortable; and she might place pillows to support him, as he could not bear a recumbent posture. A little after nine, she returned to his apartment, and found him perfectly tranquil. On enquiring if he would like any thing, he replied, "should like to sleep if I could," on which she withdrew till about half past ten, when she re-entered, making her former enquiry, and was again dismissed. * Between eleven and twelve, he called for some breakfast, of which he partook as usual, and, during the repast, repeated some beautiful lines of poetry, saying, "I was reflecting on these when I was so ill this morning: they are very fine," continued he. — Soon after this, his attendant perceived a great alteration in his countenance, and found her apprehensions confirmed by his saying that he was very ill. A physician was instantly sent for. After a short pause, he raised himself up in bed, and folding his arms together, with a countenance indicating great composure, said in a tirm tone, "I shall not recover." On his servant expressing her hope to the contrary, he replied, "I shall not; but be that as it may, Christ is mine." His pain and dif- . ficulty of breathing increasing, he prayed, "Lord Jesus give me ease! Lord, give me resignation!" and shortly after, “Into thy hands i commend my spirit." Recovering a little, he exclaimed, "Christ is my foundation; Christ is the rock I build upon." On observing the servant in tears, and hearing her exclaim, What shall I do? he replied, "Pray for me; but do not weep." Soon after which, gasping for breath, he said,

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* Mrs. De Courcy was from home, on a visit to a relation.

"I am almost spent; it is a hard struggle; but it will soon be over." About this time, the physician arriving, he told him he was very ill; but not so much in pain as greatly oppressed, putting his hand on his breast. The Doctor then leaving the room for a medicine, he said, while raising up his eyes to Heaven, "Thanks be to God for my salvation" and instantly, without a sigh or groan, resigned his spirit into the hands of his redeeming God.

Thus departed our respected brother, about two o'clock on Friday, Nov. 4,at the age of fifty-nine years. Thus was his family (Mrs. De Courcy and three surviving children) deprived of a husband and a father; his congregation of a faithful and affectionate pastor; and the town of an able and laborious minister of the gospel, after he had spent nearly thirty years in the constant dissemination of the pure word of life, the fruits of which, we trust, will long remain.

His remains were interred at Shawbury, the scene of his first labours in Shropshire; and on that mournful occasion a great number of his friends, in carriages and on horseback, voJuntarily joined the funeral procession, anxious thus to render to the memory of their beloved pastor the last tribute of respect and gratitude. Several sermons suited to the occasion, were delivered on the following Sunday. The Rev. Brian Hill preached in the morning at St. Alkmond's Church, on Jolin xvi. 33; Mr. Weaver, in the afternoon, at Swan Hill Meeting, on Mat. xxv. 21; and Mr. Palmer, at the Baptist Meeting in the evening, on 2 Sam. iii. 38; all uniting to lament the pub

lic loss.

Mr. De Courcy published the following works:-Jesus' Looking-Glass on True and False Zeal;-Nathan's Message to David, a Sermon;-Two Fast Sermons, in 1776;—A Letter to a Baptist Minister;-A Reply to Parmenas, 1776;-The Rejoinder on Baptism, 1777;-Hints respecting the Utility of some Parochial Plan for suppressing the Profanation of the Lord's Day, 1777;-Two Fast Sermons, 1778;-Seduction, or the Cause of Injured Innocence pleaded, a Poem, 1782;-The Seducer convicted on his own Evidence, 1783;-Christ Crucified, 2 vol. 12m0, 1791;—A Sermon at Hawkstone Chapel, 1798.

N. B. A handsome Volume of Mr. De Courcy's Sermons, embellished with a fine Portrait, is about to be published by his Family, price One Guinea. - Subscriptions are received by Mrs. Wood, at Shrewsbury; and by IIatchard, Matthews, Row, and Williams, in London.

ON THE INIQUITY OF TRAFFIC.

It was owing to an accidental glance upon an expression in the prophecy of Ezekiel *, that my thoughts were led to this subject of the Iniquity of Traffic. As I never had the opportunity of acquiring any practical knowledge of the concerns of trade, so I feel no disposition to suspect any class of men, as though they were more corrupt than the rest of our species; much less shall I aim, by what I may advance in this paper, to expose any individual to the censure of others. Having an high opinion of the integrity and piety of many professors of godliness, who are engaged in trade and mercantile concerns, I am persuaded that it is their habitual aim to depart from all iniquity. I have no suspicion, therefore, that there is any iniquity in traffic itself; but, I conceive, that, like other things in which sinners are at all concerned, it is often the occasion of calling into exercise the evil dispositions of the heart. "The plowing of the wicked is sin ;" and so, I doubt not, is their traffic.

And though I may be unable to pursue the enquiry to its full extent, yet I conceive I may start a fit subject for meditation; meditation, which will have, when impartially pursued, a profitable and salutary tendency, if I take occasion to enquire, Wherein consists the Iniquity of traffic? or, in other words, When is trade so carried on, by men of business, as that they contract guilt, and displease God, by their secular employments; or, at least by their mode of conducting them?

Some branches of traffic are, in themselves, absolutely unlawful. No traffic upon earth can be more iniquitous than that which constituted one branch of the trade of Tyre; and which, (alas for our country!) still constitutes a branch of the trade of Britain; even a trade in the" persons of men * !"

I will not peremptorily assert the profession of a dancingmaster to be quite incompatible with true religion; but I can not conceive it possible to excuse a professor of the gospel, who should not seek another mode of getting his bread than by making playing-cards for the service of gamblers, and murderers of precious time.

Some trades, though not positively unlawful, yet are attended with such great temptations, as should cause all those persons to decline them, who are conscious of a constitutional tendency to fall into the snares wherewith they are connected. On this account, some ought wholly to decline the selling of strong drink, or of spirituous liquors; and those who venture on retailing such coinmodities, ought to keep up a peculiar guard, lest, by encouraging tippling, and the vices which usually attend

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