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teract the influence of the statements tist Church at Northampton, where we which the publishers are now convinced were utterly untrue.

"It will be in the recollection of the readers of the Sunday Monitor, that on July 18, 1824, we inserted a review of a sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Styles, at Holland Chapel, Kennington; which sermon was, as we apprehended, a denunciation of the principles and character of the late Lord Byron. The report of this sermon we derived from a public journal of celebrity, and we depended upon its accuracy upon examination, however, of the printed discourse, we find that this report was erroneous, and in some of the particulars which called forth our severest censure. Differing as we do in toto cœlo with the reverend preacher, and thinking then, as we think now, that Lord Byron and his works were not subjects for pulpit animadversion, we entered into personal reflections on the religious and moral character of Dr. Styles, which we believed to be true, because we had no reason to doubt the accuracy of our information, and perfectly justifiable under all the circumstances of the case, especially as the preacher had gratuitously attacked a favourite author. These reflections excited the attention of Dr. Styles, and roused the indignation of his friends. The consequence was, that the Rev. Gentleman instituted legal proceedings against us; not by indictment, but by action, giving us the opportunity of proving our allegations, and thus shielding ourselves from all legal penalty. These proceedings we met with becoming spirit, feeling assured that we had discharged our public duty, and that the Doctor was in point of character all that we had described. But, subsequent and minute inquiries have satisfied us that we were mistaken;

that we had no reason to question Dr. Styles's academic honours; that the imputation which the paragraph contained relating to his moral conduct in the Isle of Wight, is totally without foundation; and that so far from his having been compelled to leave Brighton, he quitted his station there voluntarily, as we learn, with the affectionate regret of his congregation, and with costly testimonies of regard both from them and others. Regretting that we suffered ourselves to be misled by erroneous information, we thus publicly acknowledge it, both to do our selves justice, and, as far as we can, to repair whatever injury the feelings and character of Dr. Styles may have sustained. For, while we censure his sermon, we have no wish to assail his reputation."

Recent Deaths.-Died June 1825, the Rev. JOHN RYLAND, DD of Bristol, in the 72d year of his age. This pious and learned minister was the son of the excellent but eccentric John Ryland, pastor of the Bap

believe he was born January 29, 1753. At the early age of fourteen, it pleased God to call him by his grace, and before his 19th year, he appeared as the author of a volume of poems, entitled "Serious Essays on the Truths of the glorious Gospel, &c. 1771"-containing, however, some theological opinions, which we presume were not retained by the Doctor in his maturer years. At Northampton, he preached some of his first sermons; and on the resignation of his father, who retired in 1786, to a Seminary at Enfield, he succeeded to the pastoral office of that church. He afterwards removed to the Baptist church at Broadmead, Bristol; and was chosen President of the Bristol Education Society in 1791, on the death of Dr. Caleb Evans. This office he sustained with great credit to himself, and advantage to the churches; there being a hundred Baptist roinisters now living, who have enjoyed the benefits of his instructions. Dr. Ryland's name and labours will best be known to posterity in the history of the Baptist Missions, of which, united with Fuller, Pearce, and Carey, he was the founder in 1792. Dr. Ryland published many sermons and pamphlets, but he is most advantageously known as an author, by the judicious biography of his valued friend, and coadjutor in the labours of the Gospel, Andrew Fuller.

In November 1823, he proposed to resign, on account of growing infirmities, his office of resident Tutor at the Academy; but he was persuaded to continue it, and died at his post, not being permitted to survive his usefulness.

Died on the 9th of June, 1825, in the 82d year of his age, the Rev. ABRAHAM REES, D.D. F.R.S. F.L.S. and pastor of the Presbyterian congregation, Old Jewry Chapel, Jewin Street, London. This venerable minister was the son of the Rev. Lewis Rees, minister of the Independent denomination, in the county of Montgomery, N. W. who during an almost unprecedented length of active life, promoted the interests of nonconformity throughout the Principality. His son having received his grammar education in the best schools of North Wales, was sent for his academical studies to the Seminary then at Hoxton, under the tuition of Drs. Jennings and Savage; where his proficiency was so great, especially in mathematics, that on the death of the former gentleman in 1762, the Trustees of Mr. Coward appointed him to the vacant office, before his regular term of study was completed. He afterwards became resident tutor, which situation he held for 23 years, till, from causes which need not now be particularized, the Doctor resigned in 1785, and the institution was dissolved.

He was soon after connected as tutor with the institution established in 1786,

at Hackney under very flattering auspices, and called the New College; but which, after an existence of ten years, withered away under the influence of opinions, which have ever been fatal to the cause of nonconformity.

Dr. Rees was for some time known only as an occasional preacher; but, in July 1768, he succeeded the Rev. Henry Read, as pastor of the Presbyterian congregation, St. Thomas's, Southwark, where he laboured with great prosperity for fifteen years. On the death of the Rev. Nathaniel White, he was invited to become the minister of the congregation then assembling in the Old Jewry, and a very considerable revival of the interest was the result. In 1808, an elegant chapel was erected for him in Jewin Street, to which he and the congregation of the Old Jewry removed, and of which he continued the minister till his death.

Dr. Rees, during his long ministerial life, was called to publish several single sermons, together with two volumes of Practical discourses; but his literary character rests upon the New Cyclopædia, which he lived to complete, and is, perhaps, as the production of one individual, quite unequalled in the annals of literature.

He was an active member of the principal Presbyterian Trusts; and for more than half a century the Secretary of the fund of that denomination. He was the principal distributor of the annual Parliamentary grant to indigent Dissenting Ministers; and as a leading member of

the Dissenting body, he always distinguished himself by conduct at once "courteous, dignified, firm, and upright."

It was his painful lot almost to outlive the theological opinions which were ́extensively professed amongst Presbyterian Dissenters, when he entered public life; and consequently he requested two Unitarian Ministers to perform the last acts of friendship for him, "Though," says he, in his will," a difference subsists between me and them with regard to certain theological opinions." Dr. Thomas Rees, who we believe is the nephew of the deceased, delivered an address at the chapel over the body, on Saturday, June 18th, previously to its interment in Bunbill. fields, and the Rev. R. Aspland preached his funeral sermon on the following day, from John xvii 24. both of which are just published. The latter gentleman states respecting the Doctor's last hours, that "His trust was fixed on the mercy of God through Christ, and he was not afraid to die. The expressiou of his eyes, and the posture of his hands in his last moments, denoted that his mind was engaged in devotion, after his tongue had ceased to perform its office. He sunk gradually into his last sleep, and the tenor of his life emboldens me to say, that he died in the Lord." It appears that the congregation have chosen the Rev. D. Davison, late of Dundalk, in Ireland, who was, for some months, Dr. R.'s assistant, to succeed him in the pastoral office at Old Jewry Chapel.

Answers to Correspondents, &c.

COMMUNICATIONS have been received this month from the Rev. Dr. J. P. Smith-T. P. Bull-H. F. Burder--R. Frost--J. Jefferson--J. Roberts-W. Davis-W. JonesJ. Gilbert-W. Hope--J. Fletcher-W. Orme--J. Blackburn.

Also from Messrs. J. B. Williams--W. B. Moore-Viatorius Mercator--A.--Alpha --S. Favell, Esq.--Juvenis --H.--Eaglet.

We beg several Correspondents to take notice, that the delay of any communication is not to be considered as a rejection. The article referred to by Rev. W. Jones has never been received, or it would certainly have been noticed.

The interesting narrative from Hastings in our next.

We have received from Mr. Gilbert a sufficiently vituperative epistle, relative to our Review of his life of Dr. Williams, the amount of which is contained in the following extract :--“ I cannot permit his (the Reviewer's) statements of the views entertained by Dr. W. and myself, on the subject of the Introduction of Moral Evil, to pass, without unequivocal contradiction." Had we been guilty of the injustice charged upon us by Mr. G., it would have been possible, in a letter of three sides, to point out at least one instance; this he has not done, and therefore, for his own sake, as well as our readers, we suppress the remainder of his letter. That Mr. G. should disclaim some of the consequences we have attempted to connect with the theory---that he should question the soundness of our reasonings, is not more than we expected; but as to our statements, we have given Dr. W.'s own words, and if we have unfairly and unphilosophically reasoned upon them, the text and the comment are both before the public. If Mr. G. had shown a single instance in which we had stated Dr. W. to hold any opinion which he did not hold, we should gladly have recalled our words; but, as he has not done this, we presume Mr. G. must be labouring under some mistaken impression, which, we doubt not, a further perusal of our pages will effectually remove.

ERRATA IN JULY NUMBER.

Page 341, second line of the paper on the Love of God, for sources, read source. Page 348, col. 1, line 5 from the bottom, dele the word hence.

Page 385, Mrs. Taylor's work should have been entitled Itinerary, instead of Itineracy.

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Published Sept 1828, for the Congregational Mag by B.J.Holdsworth, Pauls Church Yard, I

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MEMOIR OF MILES COVERDALE, D. D. A CELEBRATED REFORMER AND PURITAN. (Concluded from p. 398.)

COVERDALE, and his brethren at Geneva, did not return home immediately on the accession of Elizabeth, but remained there a short time to finish the translation of the Scriptures. They published the New Testament in 1555, 1557, and 1560, entitled, "The Newe Testament of our Lorde Jesus Christ, conferred diligently with Greke and best approved translacions." This was the first ever printed with numerical verses. They published a new translation of the Psalms, with notes in the margin, and a dedication to queen Elizabeth, in which they affectionately exhorted her majesty to press forwards courageously in the reformation of the church; that, as the famous queen of Sheba obtained the most worthy renown by her great desire to hear the wisdom of Solomon, so queen Elizabeth's noble fame should remain for ever, not only in perpetual memory on earth, but also registered among the worthies of God in heaven, if with earnest zeal and hearty affection, she sought after, and set forth, the heavenly wisdom of Jesus Christ; who opened and offered the rich treasures of his wisdom in such abundance at this time to all nations, but especially to her noble realm of England, which other realms and nations had set before their eyes as a pattern of true religion and christian life. In the mean time, they, being her humble subjects, thought it a duty they NEW SERIES, No. 9.

owed to God, with the most convenient speed, to promote to the utmost of their power her good proceedings, and most worthy enterprizes. Although they had begun more than a year ago, for the comfort of the church, then most grievously afflicted by the cruel rage and horrible tyranny of the Papists, to peruse the English translation of the Bible, and to bring it to the pure simplicity and true meaning of the Spirit of God, as far as they were able to attain by the knowledge of the Hebrew tongue, the conference of most perfect translations in other languages, and by the judgment of the best learned in those parts; yet when they heard that the Almighty and most merciful God had no less miraculously preserved her majesty to that most excellent dignity, than he had preserved her from the fury of such as sought her blood; with most joyful minds, and great diligence, they endeavoured to set forth this excellent book of the Psalms to her majesty, as a special token of their service and good will; till the rest of the Bible, which they praised God, was in great forwardness, should be accomplished and presented.

According to the intimation here given, these worthy exiles published a new translation of the whole Bible in quarto, with marginal notes, usually called "the Geneva Bible," but entitled, "The Bible and Holy Scriptures con

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