F 1808.] Memoirs of the late Reo. Theophilus Lindsey. M. A. 
eee ne | ee he} o ee 
a all 
_ the general cry of many when they see 
my “ Apology.” 
Previously to Ins quitting Catterick, 
Mr. Lindsey delivered a farewell address 
to his parishioners, with whom he had 
lived in terms of the greatest harmony and 
friendship: to them he states his motives 
in asimple and very aifecting manner, 
pointing out the reasons why he could no 
longer conduct their worship, “ without 
the guilt of continual insincerity before 
God, and endangering the loss of his 
favour for ever.” Nevertheless the se- 
paration was no light thing: it cost him 
many a pang, and occasionally filled his 
mind with an almost overwhelming anx- 
icty. “To leave,” says he, “a station 
of ease And affluence, and to. have to 
combat with the various straits and hard- 
ships of an uncertain world, affords but 
a dark prospect. But we must willmgly 
submit to this hard lot, when not to be 
avoided without deserting our duty to 
God and his trath.”» He had, however, 
the high satisfaction of being able to ap- 
peal to his hearers in the language of thre 
apostle, “I have coveted no man’ssilver, 
nor gold, nor apparel. In nothing have 
i made a gain of you, or sought to enrich 
myself, nor am I enriched by you atvall ; 
but what was over and above the supply 
of necessary wants, has heen freely ex- 
pended in different ways, in which it was 
thought might be most useful for your 
present benefit and future happiness. I 
have nat sought yours, but you.” 
This farewell address, which was after- 
wards published, seems to have made 
some considerable impression on his pa- 
rishioners, and others, among whom he 
distributed it freely, for he writes to his 
friend, that his resignation had excited a 
spirit of serious enquiry, not only in his 
own parish, but in the neighbourhood, to 
a pretty large extent. , ‘¢ The little sheet, 
(the farewe'l address) I give away, is 
much sought for, and all seem to think it 
a sore thing that we should not be ruled 
by the Bible alone, and that their mini-_ 
sters should be put on praying to any but 
the crue God.” 
Having freed himself from the shac- 
kles of an establishment, and being 
wholly devoted to the work of the m- 
nistry as the most useful and honourable 
in which he could spend'his strength, he 
began to entertain hopes that a way 
might be opened by providence for that 
purpose. He left Gatterick about the 
middle of December, with a view of 
Visiting some friends im his journey to 
London, Among these was Dr, Cham- 
4, ; 
wer. 
a 
—_ 
ey 
449 
bers,* rector of Achurch, in Northamp- 
tonshire, with whom he lived in habits 
of great friendship till the Dr. died in 
1777; from his house he wrote to Mr. 
Jebb, and in his letter he says, “ Ihave 
from the first entertained a feeble ima- 
gination that perhaps [ wight have aa 
honourable coadjutor in the friend I am 
writing to, for an unitarian chapel, if it 
should meet with the patronage which 
some promise it.” Mr. Jebb, however, 
took a different course; he resigned his* 
situation in the university, and his livings 
in the charch, dnd studied physic, which 
he successfully practised till his death, in 
1786.¢ Of the resignation of Mr, Lind- 
sey there would be many opinions as to 
its expediency, and‘thart it excited much 
discussion, the publications, and even the: 
daily papers of the period will furnish 
abundant proof. From these we might 
extract many passages to his honour, but 
it will be sufficient if we transcribe the 
sentinsents of one gentleman then in the 
church, but who afterwards made a si+ 
milar sacrifice. ‘* Of Mr. Lindsey’s re- 
signation, labave ever from the first en- 
tertamed but one uniform idea; dege- 
nerate and unprincipled as is our age; 
his virtue must be admired; the extraors 
dinary circumstances of lus case will call, 
and even steal upon the attention of the 
people, and who must cease to be chris- 
tians, if they, feeling for him, feel not for 
the gospel.” 
Mr, Lindsey arrived in London in Jae 
nuary, 1774, where he met with some 
valuable friends who cheerfully and zea- 
lously patronized the idea of opening @ 
place of worship, devoted entirely to 
unitarian principles. 
in finding a place that should be respect- 
able and commodious,and atthesame time 
free from any heavy expences, which at 
that period could not be well borne by 
those who embarked in the undertaking. 
A room of this kind in a few weeks offered 
itselfin Essex-street, in the Strand, which 
was immediately taken and fitted up for 
the purpose. Obstacles of a new kind 
The difficulty was, » 
now presented themselves; much time 
was lost, and many unsuccessful efforts 
* This gentleman officiated in the church 
till his death, but he took the liberty of 
altering the service to his own views, so 
as to render ic, says Mr. Linkey, ‘* en- 
tirely conformable to the scripture model, 
and unitarian.” See Lindsey’s Historical 
View, page 486—-92. 
JT See the Works, &c, of John Jebb, 
‘M.D.F.R.S. with Memoirs of the Life of the 
Author, by the Rey. Dr, Disney, 3 vols, 8yo. 
: weg 
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