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Memoir of Mr. William Mathews.

either side. And there are situations in which I might find more freedom than where I now reside, in associating for the purpose of public worship, under the form peculiar to our Friends-and to which I am strongly attached on account of its simplicity, and the solemnity of its design."

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many a poor innocent and mournful African, violently dragged on board from his native fields and every tender connexion! Who, without blushing, for his country, and for human infamy, can survey the splendid engine of rapacious power without shuddering. to the heart, at the thought of the pangs, the sorrows, and the suffocations which have existed beneath its gaudy ensigns! Who, that is worthy the name of man, but must deplore that the best principles of nature and all that is benevolent in the human heart should be so wantonly violated! That any calling himself a Christian, should commence the ty rant, and become the murderer, of distant unoffending fellow-creatures, whom he never saw, merely to have a chance of augmenting wealth, which, when gotten, must prove a shame, if not a curse to his genera tion!"

"The

In 1786, Mr. Mathews published "The Miscellaneous Companions." The first volume consists of “a short Tour of Observation and Sentiment through a part of South Wales." But even this part of his work, evinces his benevolent and virtuous disposition. Most of his remarks on the incidents of the journey, or on the objects that attracted his attention, are calculated to guard against some moral evil, or to promote some practical good. Thus, in passing through Bristol, at a time when the merchants of that city were deeply engaged in the African, slave-trade, before the public minds was awakened to its In the course of this journey Mr. enormity; more than twenty years Mathews availed himself of a ludibefore the act passed for its abolition; crous misapplication of a common and previous to the first efforts of the word, by a genteel young man of philanthropic Clarkson in this great good natural talents and disposition, cause of humanity;-Mr. Mathews, who rode with him several miles, after some interesting remarks on the to give his readers some useful arts of ship-building and navigation, thoughts on education." observes, "The evidences of superior skill and elegance, in the construction of shipping which so strongly mark the present days, however flattering to the pride of modern ingenuity, and however ornamental to our trading cities, like many other boasted improvements and embellishments, are far from being evidences of superior virtue and where virtue and moral usefulness are wanting, in the ingenuity of contrivance, or the applications and uses of art, much is wanting to charm the mind of a dispassionate and and virtuous man. Thus, while we survey with astonishment and delight, those productions of mechanic genius, which we have been treating of; and consider their adaption to carry on an intercourse with foreign and remote countries, which, under virtuous regulations, might be at once pleasant and beneficial, who but must lament their subserviency also to slavery and distress! Who, without horror, can behold the clean, gilded, and ornamiented vessel, riding at her anchors, and reflect that her hold has been made the dungeon, and the grave, of

From these I shall select a passage or two before I quit this volume. division of empires and provinces," says he, "the general principles of the laws of nations-the rise, progress and importance of discoveries in arts and sciences, as well as the general history of mankind-these, or at least the elements of these should undoubtedly form parts of a liberal education, These, inculcated with a view to store the mind with impor tant subjects for future reflection, will have the most enlarging and beneficial tendency, especially as they may powerfully come in aid of a fre quent and serious contemplation of the great Governor of all things, and of all events; which in proportion as the heavens are higher than the earth, is the supreme good of a right education, and the sacred pre-eminence of all knowledge.

"With respect to religion, without an inward experience of the power of which no man can be happy, the simple and unchangeable doctrines of the New Testament can never be too strongly enforced, This observation holds true with regard to youth of

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every class, because to every class a reformation from the evil propensities of human nature, is of positive necessity and obligation: but particularly with regard to those, who, from beginning with classical studies, have been unavoidably accustomed to ideas of heathen mythology and heathen errors, which, it is to be feared are in some degree ever subversive, in young minds, of those reverential ideas respecting GOD and his glorious attributes, which are so essential to the faith of Christians."

After recommending two hours in a day to be set apart for a lecture on those subjects, he says, "children in general do not want for curiosity, they do not want a readiness of conception, they are seldom wanting in admira tion at a new and curious discovery. Neither (which is the most animating consideration of all) are they unsusceptible of the most lively and reverential impressions of the Supreme Being. The doctrines of his fatherly -goodness, and of his exalted and most adorable attributes, are subjects within the reach of their quick and lively conceptions, when treated with a suitable seriousness and concern for their well being. And it may well be considered as one of the most lamentable defects of common education, that so little use is made of the wonders of natural philosophy, to instil into, and advance the principles of real religion, in the tender and comparatively unpolluted minds of the rising generation !"

The 2nd volume consists of " Miscellaneous Maxims and Thoughts," -arranged under more than a hundred heads, and of some Serious Reflections on fifteen select Passages of Scrip

ture.

The 3rd volume opens with a Dissertation on Marriage, which young persons may peruse with much advantage, and especially those who are in danger of forming hasty, imprudent or unwarrantable engagements. The next article is entitled "Considerations on the Last Day," and is a candid inquiry, how far the general and popular opinions are revealed truths, and are "sanctioned or refuted by that reason which is one chief privilege and glory of human nature." The result of this examination with Mr. Mathews was, that to every individual" the day of death is the

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solemn last day, the day when the spirits of those that go down to the graves finally hear the voice of the Son of GOD, and pass to their great account. The body returns unto the earth as it was, and the spirit unto God who gave it."

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The succeeding and longest treatise in these volumes is on Everlasting Punishment," which Mr. Mathews expected would probably "meet some strong objections among the more timorous and inconsiderate part of mankind." But he had suffered early in life too much, by having been prevailed on, by that species of discipline in the Society of Friends called private dealing, to condemn the freedom of his religious sentiments, when the object and end of them was to vindicate the ways of God to man, as the all-benevolent Parent of the universe, to withhold the full expression of his sentiments any longer, now he was happily freed from such baneful ecclesiastical imposition. His account is as follows: "I think it right to say, in this place, that under, my own full persuasions respecting the subject, I could not with an easy mind, avoid treating on it in the manner I have done. In my childhood I found it impossible to fix my belief in the common notion of endless torments; as I grew older, my sentiments occasionally became known. I was assailed, in consequence, by some few zealous and implicit be lievers among my friends, particularly by one, for whom, on account of his moral character, I had a con-siderable respect. And being under the common frailty of human nature, I was influenced for a short time, to doubt of my right to profess, even contractedly, my belief in the future dispensation of universal refinement → from iniquity.

"In this interval, and at the instance of the person to whom I allude, I was prevailed on to sign something like a condemnation of the freedom of my sentiments. But though this was not a declaration of my belief in a partial ultimate salvation, I soon found condemnation of mind for my wavering and timidity: and I can truly say, that no other single circumstance of my whole life hath ever given me so much uneasiness. I am now cheered with the rational, Scriptural, and as I think, glorious doctrine of the

Memoir of Mr. William Mathews.

punishment of divine justice being eventually subservient to an universal purification and fitness for heavenly habilations!"

I wave giving even a summary of the arguments in this treatise, as unnecessary to your readers. It may suffice to repeat the author's observation, that "five places only occur in the whole New Testament, wherein the future misery of the wicked is described as eternal or everlasting; Matt. xviii. 8. xxv. 41. 46. Mark . 29, and 2 Thess. i. 9. That the original and derivative Greek words awy, eternity, and alw105, eternal or everlasting, may in general, as in many places they necessarily do, signify only a limited duration and that their import is certainly much more general and indefinite than the English words eternity and everlasting are understood to be in our language.'

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An instructive dialogue follows between four persons, two of whom thought the author a well-meaning man, who had argued the subject with candour and piety; and the others that he was a sceptic and little better than an Infidel. To this are added a few pages of judicious quotations from some of the best writers in illustration of the author's views, and a well imagined dialogue in the world of spirits, between Theophilus, Zelotes, and another person named Purgatus, whom neither of them, while on earth, considered "as an heir of salvation," and Zelotes had rashly pronounced to be "a co-worker with the prince of the bottomless pit, in which his inheritance shall be for ever."

Mr. Mathews next gives a much more rational picture of a future state of punishment adapted to produce a gradual reformation of the worst of mankind, than that of endless torments exhibits, in a dialogue sup. posed to have taken place between Henry VIII. and the Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland, his cotemporaries, all of whom are represented as sensible of their former vices, as condemning them, and as acquiring by degrees more virtuous dispositions.

The volume ends with an appropriate dialogue between the Apostle Paul and a Protestant Martyr, each of whom acknowledges the imperfection of their state on earth when

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compared to their present advancement in heavenly wisdom and knowledge. The martyr concludes by saying, "as universal love and simplicity of devotion are within the fiat of our most wise and merciful Father, we are privileged to hope, at least, that this our heavenly society will be ultimately joined by all beings that are capable of receiving refinement from an infinite influence! Such are the sentiments on which I dwell with delight, when I contemplate the possibilities of heavenly goodness. To the source eternal of all felicity, and of all glory, be ascribed thanksgiving and praise! Such," adds the apostle, "is the proper theme of heaven, of all happy gradations of created existences, up to the nearest resemblance of the nature of GOD himself!!"

In 1798, Mr. M. published": new and seasonable Address to the people called Quakers relative to Tithes and Taxes," under the signature of Catholicus. The object he aimed at was to render the Society more consistent, tolerant and Christian, by contrasting their professed scruples against tithes, with their general payment of war taxes, laid on expressly for its support, and strictly appropriated to that purpose. A few years after he published several small tracts. relative to the Society's treatment of Hannah Barnard, of Hudson, in North America, who was first silenced as a minister and afterwards excommunicated, for objecting to the prac tice of war as contrary to the will of God, in every age of the world, and on such other charges of erroneous faith, as the investigation of the original accusation upon the most inquisitorial principles enabled them to bring forward.

Soon after these events, which excited much attention among the Friends, Mr. Mathews published the first volume of his Recorder," and in the next year, 1803, a second volume. The plan of the work is such as to invite its continuance by other hands, but whether it be continued or not, the author and editor of the first two volumes has conferred a benefit upon such of his readers as are friends to free inquiry and lovers of primitive Christianity.

The 1st volume of this work contains, 1. Mr. Portsmouth's Essay on

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Church Discipline. 2. Mr. M.'s Postscript on Tithes. 3. A Detail of Ensuing Occurrences. 4. An Article "to Exemplify the Narrow, Bigotted and Mischievous Spirit, which becoines tolerated and fostered in the Society of Friends by the continuance of the mistaken Testimony with regard to Tithes." 5. Extracts from the second Pamphlet of Catholicus. 6 to 10. Sundry Pieces relative to the Case and Treatment of Hannah Barnard. 11. Plain Arguments from Reason and Scripture, against the presumptuous Doctrine of Eternal Punishment. 12. Of the Divinity of Christ, as stated by Robert Barclay, the Apologist for the Quakers, shewing that he did not profess to believe" the co-eternity and co-equality of the Son with the Father, as an uncreated, self originated, and eternal God!" 13. Of God the Father. This small tract exhibits, 1. Those passages in the New Testament wherein He is styled the one or only GOD. They are about seventeen. 2. The chief passages about 320 wherein He is styled GOD absolutely, by way of eminence and supremacy. 3. Pas sages wherein He is styled GOD, with peculiarly high titles, &c. about 105. 4. About ninety passages wherein it is declared that all prayers and praises ought primarily to be offered to HIM, and that every thing ought to be ultimately directed to his honour and glory. A few notes are annexed principally from Hopton Haynes and Dr. Samuel Clarke. 14. Of the SON of GOD. Under this head Mr. Mathews exhibits, 1. About twelve pas. sages in the New Testament wherein the Son, in certain senses, is styled, or supposed to be styled GOD. 2. About eight passages wherein it is declared that the world was made by (or through) him. 3. About 136 passages wherein are contained the other highest titles, perfections and powers, ascribed or ascribable to the Son in the New Testament, either positively, or by probable, or by doubtful construction. 4. Passages wherein are set forth the honour and reverence which are to be paid to the Son. These (but uniformly not implying supreme adoration) are about 70. 5. Three hundred and ten passages in the New Testament quoted at length wherein the Son is declared, positively, and by the clearest implication, to be

subordinate to the Father, deriving his being from Him, receiving from Him his divine power, authority, and other attributes, and acting in all things wholly according to the will of the Father." 15. Of the Holy Ghost or Spirit. Under this head, the last in the volume, Mr. Mathews first exhibits 28 passages, in which the Holy Spirit is represented as the author and worker of miracles, even of those done by, or by means of our Lord himself, in the principal actions of his life on earth. 2. Fifty two passages wherein the Holy Spirit is declared to be the inspirer of the prophets and apostles, and the director and teacher of the apostles, in the work of their ministry. 3. Forty seven passages wherein the Holy Spirit is declared to be the sanctifier of all hearts, and the comforter and supporter of good men, in the practice of their duty. 4. Eighteen passages wherein are contained the other highest expressions, concerning the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. 5. Eleven passages wherein is declared what honour is due to the Holy Spirit, and how his good motions are to be diligently obeyed, and not resisted. 6. Fifty passages wherein it is, expressly declared that the Holy Spirit is subordinate to the Father, derives his being from him, is sent by him, and acts in all things according to his supreme will and pleasure. 7. Twelve passages wherein the Holy Spirit is represented as being subordinate to the Son, being his spirit, and sent or given by him. 8. Forty-three passages wherein the FATHER, Son, and Holy Spirit are mentioned in various ways together. Well might the author in the preface to this volume say that in the latter part of it," the reader will find such a weight of sacred testimony, as must bear down all the notional irreverent cavils, of all opposers of the simple unity of God, the supreme adorable Father of the universe."

After the introduction to the second volume, the first article is, a Brief Biographical Account of Mr. Thomas Emlyn, with some Extracts from his Works. 2. His Humble Inquiry into the Scriptural Account of Jesus Christ, a scarce but valuable tract of above forty pages. 3. The Sandy Foundation Shaken, by William Penn, with Remarks by the Editor. 4. The Last Thoughts of Dr. Whitby,

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containing his Correction of several death had no terrors! I have no Passages in his Commentary on the doubt but she had an all-sufficient New Testament. 5. An Historical share in that divine dependance which -Account of two Notable Corruptions breathes forth the language O of Scripture, (1 John v. 7. and 1 Tim. Death, where is thy sting? O Grave iii. 16.) by Sir Isaac Newton, pp. 70, where is thy victory? On the mornwith remarks on both by the Editor. ing of her last day, her little grandson The latter of these valuable works was about seven months old being brought first published entire from the MS. in to her, she embraced and kissed him, the author's hand writing, in the pos- then dozed on her sofa till near five, session of Dr. Ekens, Dean of Car- when she was carried to her bed again, lisle, in Dr. Horsley's splendid edition where she lay composed and almost of Sir Isaac's Mathematical and Phi- motionless till near seven, when we losophical Works, and has never since ascertained that imperceptibly to us been printed except in this volume. she had passed out of mortality, and The sixth article consists of "Extracts I have no doubt into the realms of and Reflections on the Scripture Doc-immortality and eternal life. trine of Future Punishments." The "Such was the sweet deliverance of extracts are from STONEHOUSE. Then follows a Letter from Mr. Samuel Bourn, of Norwich, to the Rev. Samuel Chandler, D.D. in favour of the doctrine of annihilation, not as true, but as more consistent with the moral character of God, than the doctrine of endless torment. The two next Essays are mostly from Stonehouse. The first treats of that death which the Scripture calls our LORD'S last enemy; the second is intended to shew that the lake which is the second, and most properly called, death, will, as our LORD's last enemy, be ultimately disannulled. The concluding article is extracted from a pamphlet then recently published on the Scripture Doctrine of Universal Redemption, by John Simpson, M. A. a minister of the Gospel, and one of the most amiable of men. The work itself," says the Editor, "evinces an intimate acquaintance with the subject, which he has treated with that learning, accuracy, clearness of -arrangement and seriousness, which, while they do him the highest credit as a scholar, must render him equally estimable as a Christian."

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In January, 1805, Mr. Mathews's wife died. Soon after this event, in a letter to a friend he says, "My poor long-afflicted, ever-affectionate wife has been taken from me. She departed this, in well-grounded hope of a better life on the 13th instant, and on the 19th I attended her remains to the silent grave: that house of final obscurity appointed for all living! But such was the preparation of her mind, such the refinement of her -immortal spirit, that in her view

my invaluable companion from all her pains and exercises, which during the last ten years had been frequent and hard to bear. A companion she was to me of unceasing affection and sympathy, through every adversity of six and thirty years! I feel affected with her absence in proportion to the strength of my attachment. But I repine not. All is well with her. All has been done in mercy, and in the exercise of infinite wisdom. And my desire is, that the short portion of time that can now remain to me, may be spent in reverence and the fear of God!"

Mr. Mathews some time after this, once more engaged himself in the duties of a Christian minister, by entering into a kind of social engagement to prepare a religious discourse in MS. twice in a month, and to deliver the same in his turn, with other brethren at the Bath Penitentiary. "In this employ," says he, in a letter to a friend, written in 1808, "I have some satisfaction: but it will add nothing to my credit among the professors of immediate inspiration 'for every good word and work.'"

The following extract of another letter, written in April, 1809, when "in poor health," exhibits briefly and clearly his serious objection to the leading doctrines of reputed orthodoxy, and the genuine humility of his mind.

"I have lived now," says he, " upwards of sixty-two years, and though by temperance and regularity of labour I have been favoured to maintain a comfortable share of bodily and mental abilities, I cannot expect to last much

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