4 
i 
448 Memoirs of the late Rex. Theophilus Lindsey, M.A. [Dee. 1,] : 
pleased Providence (said he), by means of 
the petitioners, to point out to our go-- 
vernment a, way whereby to secure the 
— Integrity, and prevent an early derelie- 
tion of principle, of the growing genera- 
‘tion, and to make the religion of Jesus of 
that real use that it js in itse!f calculated 
to be of to every state. But as the re- 
medy is rejected, the disease will grow 
worse and worse.” 
About this period, an anonymous wri- 
ter, under the signature of Lalius, seems 
to have publicly started the subject of 
persons remaining in the church who 
could not conscientiously conform to ber 
principles; to this Mr. Lindsey most feel- 
mely alludes: “The subject of Lelius’s last 
letter, may give one many a pang. I 
cannot say that IT have been for many 
years a day free from uneasiness about 
it. Farewell.” 
This pathetic sentence was written, 
March 2, 1773, and in the following Sep- 
tember he seems to have made up his 
mind decidedly on the important subject. 
“ T think,’ sayshe, ‘you must have per- 
ceived in my letters, perhaps in my con- 
versation, a dissatisfiedness with our 
ecclesiastical impositions, and a tendency 
_to relieve myself from them. This in- 
deed had taken place long before our as- 
sociation was formed, and the execution 
onlysuspended and retarded by it, though 
some pleasing expectation was formed, 
that Providence might unexpectedly give 
such a turn to our endeavours, as might 
make me easy, or vive me liberty to make 
myself easy. But as my chief dissatis- 
faction is with those trinitarian forms that 
pervade the whole liturgy, all hope of 
that kind is entirely-cut off. The reso- 
lution I have formed of retiring, has been 
absolutely fixed for some time, and will 
take place in a few months. It was 
absolutely necessary for my own peace 
with God, which is to be preferred above 
all considerations. But I have found 
great difhiculties and opposition already, 
and expect to tind more. My greatest 
comfort and support, under God, is my 
wife, who is a christian indeed, and wor- 
thy of a better fate, in worldly things, 
than we have a prospect of; for we leave 
2 station of ease and abundance, attended 
with many other agreeable circumstances, 
But thanks be to God, we have not 
given way to ease and indulgence, and 
can be content with lictle.” 
On the 12th of November he wrote to 
the prelate of his diocese, informing him 
of his intention to quit the church, and 
signifying that in a few days he should 
transmit to him the deed of resignation. 
On the. same day he wrote a long letter 
to Mr. Jebb, in which he says, “I have 
never had the least doubt from the first 
moment I resolved on the step 1 am now 
about to take, but that it was right, and 
my duty. 1] have bad some subsequent 
hope too that it might serve our cause, 
and the cause of God’s truth. I bless 
the God of heaven for myself, and my 
wife, who is destined to beara great part 
of the burden, that as difficulties increase, 
and they must increase, the nearer the 
time approaches, our resolution and cou- 
rage increase; and Ihave no doubt’ but 
the promises made to the: faithful ser- 
vants will be fulfilled to us, that we shall 
have strength proportioned to our trial, 
and want of it.” At this time he was 
busy in printing his Apology, which he 
published almost immediately upon his 
resignation.* 
The reader must have seen with what 
firmness, but at the same time delibera- 
tion, caution, and prudence, Mr, Lindsey 
acted in this important business; and 
nothing could exceed the satifaction 
which he felt when he had accomplished 
the task, of which an,extract from his 
own letter to Mr, Jebb, dated the 5th 
of December, 1773, will give a just idea. 
’ Speaking of the encouragement and com- 
fort he had derived from his friend’s cor- 
respondence, he adds, “if I had been 
opposed and condemned by all my 
friends; by all the world, in what I have 
been long meditating, and have now ac- 
complished, I must have done it. 
track of duty was so plain and straight, 
I must have been abandoned to every 
moral principle not to have gone on in 
it. J have no doubt, but that I. shall 
have increasing joy in what I have done, 
to the latest day of my life, and I feel 
myself delivered from a load which has 
Jong lain heavy upon me, and at ‘times 
nearly overwhelmed me. The bishop of 
Chester, my diocesan, has behaved with 
great friendship, and kindly wished and 
sought to have prevented my taking such 
a step: and the same has been endea- 
voured by other great friends, and va- 
rious expedients proposed But LT now 
only wonder I did not sooner make my 
retreat, and I am persuaded that will be 
* Fo this work, and also to Mr. Belsham’s 
Sermon, we refer our readers for a.more full, 
accurate, and interesting account of Mr, 
Lindsey’s views and struggles at this impor- 
tant period of his life. The Apology went 
through four editions in a few years. 
the 
hy” 
The 
