THE late Mr. Evans, he familiarly described as mihi carissimum amicum; and his acquaintance with that lamented minister was one of the most intimate he ever formed. In the letters which passed between them, all topics which occurred were treated in the most unreserved manner. In 1809, Mr. B. removed from Chapel-en-le-Frith, and resided, for a short time, first at Northampton, then in London, and afterwards at Marple, but returned, finally, to his native town. The letters which he wrote to Mr. E. during his residence at these places, and particularly while in the metropolis, contained a frank and familiar account of the occurrences in which he was interested, and of the different matters which attracted his observation. They were often of a nature which does not admit of publication; otherwise they might furnish many judicious hints, particularly to our London friends. It may suffice to say, that in many things which he observed among the professors of religion in London he greatly rejoiced, and that some things he deeply regretted.

Among the literary projects of Mr. B. which proved abortive, it may be mentioned, that he issued proposals, in 1816, for publishing an abridgment of Bishop Stillingfleet's "True Reason of the Sufferings of Christ," with notes and illustrations. His design, in this intended publication, was both to combat the unscriptural views of CONG. MAG. No. 63.

modern Unitarians, and to oppose the presumption of Antinomians, in founding upon the satisfaction of Christ an absolute claim for spiritual blessings. In a letter to a friend, he says, "My little strength has been much exhausted of late, in the abridgment of Dr. Stillingfleet's treatise on the "True Reason of the Sufferings of Christ," which has caused me to write over more than two quires of paper of this size; and on many parts of which I purpose writing notes, and introducing such valuable observations as my course of reading has supplied. Whether you are acquainted with this production of Stillingfleet, I cannot be supposed to know; but I have perused it repeatedly with great advantage, and think it, in solid argument, and Scriptural support of the doctrine of the atonement, equal, if not superior, to any treatise on that subject which has fallen into my hands-not excepting even Dr. Magee's. It has, indeed, the disadvantage of being professedlya reply to the subtilties of Crellias, in his exceptions against the great work of Grotius, de Satisfactione; and, therefore, of appearing under an antiquated form, without touching on some bold affirmations of modern Unitarians, which Dr. Magee has handled with great smartness and success. Nevertheless, in clearly stating that view of satisfaction through the vicarious sufferings of Christ, which avoids the necessity of his suffering the idem of the sinner's desert; and in

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stating the consistency of his efficacious sacrifice, with the conditionality of faith, in order to the actual remission of sins, I have not met with any author who has satisfied me so well. The subject is, in the former part, well opened and discussed, on the grounds of reason and the general principles of legislation, by which much advantage is gained to that statement which he embraces, viz. of Christ's death being a final compensation for the sins of men—requisite for the vindication of God's law and government-transcendently valuable through the dignity of his divine nature. and morally adapted to produce the most humbling and sanctifying effects on the minds and hearts of those who are the recipients of its benefits. On scriptural grounds, also, it is most ably vindicated against the most specious and artful objections and evasions of Socinianism, as then advocated by one of its most able and subtil abettors. Perhaps you will be ready to ask, "And with what intent have you taken such pains?" To which I reply, "Primarily and chiefly for my own benefit, which end has been greatly answered by the close attention to the several parts of the work, as I have both repeatedly read and abridged it.-2dly, I had some thoughts of proposing it for publication by subscription; but of this I have not yet fully determined, as perhaps some might deem it both needless and too antiquated for modern perusal. Therefore, ultimately, my object is, whenever Providence shall call me to lay down this tabernacle, that I may at least leave a token of my decided attachment to this great peculiarity of the Gospel, the doctrine of the atonement through the vicarious sufferings of the Son of God in our nature, which I consider as the sole foundation of a sinner's hope towards God, and the most ef

fectual motive to all holy obedience."

In the preface to the second edition of his essay on the Gospel Dispensation," Mr. B. announced his intention of publishing also, an essay on " the Gospel Constitution." This work he lived to complete, but not to see it through the press. It seems to be generally, and, perhaps, justly thought, that in it he has not been so successful as in that to which, in his view, it was probably intended as a companion. There was, indeed, something beautiful in the design of publishing a work on the subject-matter of the Gospel, in connexion with another on the mode of its administration. But the essay, on "the Gospel Constitution," does not discover that uniform ability and mental energy, which are generally allowed to pervade every part of its predecessor. The plan of the work was too comprehensive to allow him to do justice to the many weighty and difficult subjects which it comprises, without greatly exceeding the bounds which he had prescribed to himself; and consequently it has often the appearance of a statement of his own opinions, unaccompanied by the reasons upon which he had formed them. On a few subjects, too, he has advanced positions, which are, in some degree, at variance with commonly received opinions. But, after all, the essay on " the Gospel Constitution," justly claims respectful attention. It is the production of a man of talents and true religion, who had employed his years of leisure in investigating, with as unbiassed a mind as possible, all the great subjects most intimately connected with the eternal welfare of himself and his fellow men; and while the reader is perusing what may appear to him common-place statements on religious subjects, he

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may be assured that every sentence, phrase, and word, in which they are conveyed, has undergone the repeated and conscientious examination of a superior mind, and has been carefully compared with the oracles of truth.

While Mr. B. was engaged in the studies connected with this publication, it pleased Divine Providence to visit him with one of the severest afflictions which could have befallen him. This was the loss of his beloved wife, who died after a short sickness, March 10, 1821. This truly excellent woman had been, in every respect, a help-meet for him, during that half of his life in which the mind of the man, who has detected the vanities of the world, is disposed to solace itself in domestic enjoyments. She was a Dissenter of the old school; and the private papers which she left behind her, contained ample proof of her devotedness to God. Some of these were in the form of a covenant with her Maker and Saviour, a mode of solemn, private, self-dedication to God, much used by religious persons in former times, and which was doubtless found by them a means of promoting decision of mind in religious concerns, and of increasing their spiritual enjoyments. In the use of such methods of self-improvement, and under the salutary influence of Gospel principles, Mrs. B. lived and died, leaving to her surviving friends the best evidence that she has entered into the "rest which remaineth for the people of God."

The loss of such a wife would be felt as an irreparable bereavement, by a person to whom society was so necessary as to Mr. B. It was observed, in his funeral sermon, (preached by the Rev. Ebenezer Glossop, the respectable and esteemed pastor of the church of Christ at Chinley,) that "he bowed with submission to the

Father of Spirits, but his frame evidently sunk under the stroke." This was the more observable, as his health, for several years immediately preceding, had been unusually good. It pleased the Father of Mercies, however, to make the period of his forlorn, and widowed state exceedingly short.

Some weeks after this painful bereavement, Mr. B. was afflicted with a severe cold, which confined him to his house for the greater part of a week. From this, however, he had recovered, and in the afternoon of the day on which he was seized with his last sickness, he had called upon the Rev. Mr. Grundy, the clergyman of Chapel-en-le-Frith, with whom he lived in habits of intimacy. After his return home, he was attacked by an excruciating pain in the bowels, to the removal of which all human skill was found to be inadequate. So violent a complaint could not long be sustained by a frame already greatly reduced by age and affliction; so that, after having endured most acute suffering, for about a fortnight, this much valued man departed this life, May 27, 1821.

The remains of Mr. B. were interred at Chinley Chapel, in the same grave with those of his beloved partner, where, also, his funeral sermon was preached on the following Lord's-day, by Mr. Glossop, under whose ministry Mr. and Mrs. B. had mostly sat for the preceding 15 years. For the support of the Gospel-ministry in this place, Mr. B. left a legacy, as a token of his attachment and affection.

Although the short illness of Mr. B. was incessantly attended with most agonizing pain, yet he was eminently sustained under it by the consolations of religion. Concerning his last hours, Mr. Glossop gave the following particulars in his sermon, with extracts from which he has kindly supplied us.

"When he lay on his deathbed, he said he should have been thankful had it been the will of God to have spared him to complete his last work, but added, the doctrines I have so long studied, and ministered to others, are now my support; I have no doubts, (speaking of his acceptance with God,) and resign myself to the divine will.' With what holy fervour did he join in prayer! and when his great affliction was alluded to, and it was remarked, Now we see through a glass darkly' with his hands lifted up, and his countenance full of joy and animation, he added, 'But then face to face!'

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"Never shall I forget the pious and affectionate manner in which he took leave of me. You and I (said he) have seen one another in times of affliction, but you never saw me so low before;' and, in the most solemn and fervent manner, he implored that the blessing of the God of Jacob might rest upon me-that he would bless me in my labours, and make my ministry successful.

"In a similar manner he took leave of his relatives and attendants; and may his dying admonitions promote their spiritual good, and everlasting happi

ness."

"His disorder was of such a nature as to prevent, towards the close, much conversation; but his mind was in that calm and resigned state, in which it is desirable that we should be found in our last moments, and sometimes he was filled with joy at the prospect of glory."

Upon the character of Mr. B. it is unnecessary to add many observations, after the preceding details respecting the events of his life, and the productions of his pen, What he really was as a Christian, (to use the words of a late eminent artist,) is the only thing of importance to him now.

He had, as we have seen, the humility to acknowledge, that in the life and graces of religion he was surpassed by some of his Christian brethren; yet more of them had, perhaps, reason to confess their inferiority to him.

But the fruits of religion in the life, are the only infallible index of the degree in which it influences the mind. To the consistency and excellence of Mr. B., in this important particular, most decisive testimony is borne by those to whom he was best known. "I need not (Mr. Glossop observes) describe his manner of life since he returned to his native place. He was always active and zealous in promoting the public good. For many accommodations in and about this house of prayer, (Chinley Chapel,) we are much indebted to him; for he not only gave liberally of his substance, but generally planned and superintended the great alterations and repairs which have been effected. The sick and the afflicted always shared his sympathy. He was the poor man's friend; his hand and his heart, as well as those of his pious partner, were opened to communicate out of the abundance with which God had blessed them."

Mr. B. certainly possessed qualifications capable of rendering him profitable and pleasant, in an uncommon degree, in the character of a friend and associate; and those who often enjoyed his society, were doubtless highly favoured in this respect. We have no doubt they would meet with much candour and sincerity in him, and with a degree of openness and transparency, which is not usual in persons who have been much conversant with the world. We are willing to give our readers the best notion we can of what Mr. B. was in this respect; and we are confident the following extract from a letter