AO Life and Character of Nathaniel Bowditch. 
Dr. Bowditch was, in all his habits of life, a very regular and 
temperate man. He never tasted any wine till the age of thirty- 
five. He approved the remarkable changes which have been ef- 
fected in the customs of society, within’ a few years, by “ the 
temperance reform,” and he heartily rejoiced in the success of 
that good cause. God bless it and speed it! 
In his religious views, Dr. Bowditch was, from examination 
and Sonvicilitr a firm and decided Unitarian. His parents were 
Episcopalians, and he himself had been educated in the tenets of , _ 
that church. But he had no taste for the polemics or peculiarities 
of any sect, and did not love to dwell on the distinctive and di- 
viding points of christian doctrine. . His religion was rather an 
inward sentiment, flowing out into the life, and revealing itself in 
his character and actions. It was at all times, and at all periods 
of his life, a controlling and sustaining principle. He confided in 
the providence and benignity. of his Heavenly Father, as revealed 
by his blessed Son, our Lord, and had the most unshaken confi- 
dence in the wisdom and rectitude of all the divine appointments. 
He looked forward with saiee faith to an immortality in the spirits 
ual world. 
He said to one, in his last illness, “From my boyhood my 
mind has been religiously impressed. I never did or could ques- 
‘tion the existence of a Superintending Being, and that he took an 
interest in the affairs of men. I have always endeavored to regu- 
late my life in subjection to his will, and studied to bring my inind . 
to an acquiescence in his dispensations ; and now, at its close, I al 
look back with gratitude for the manner in which he has distin- ; 
guished me, and for the many blessings of my lot. I can only 
say, that I am content, that I go willingly, resigned, and satis- 
fied.” To another he said, “I cannot remember when I had not 
a deep feeling of religious truth and accountableness, and when I 
did not act from it, or endeavor to. In my boyish days, when 
some of my companions who had become infected with 'Tom 
Paine’s infidelity, broached his. notions'in conversation with me, I 
battled it with them stoutly, not exactly with the logic you would 
get from Locke, but with the logic I found here, (pointing to his 
breast, ) and here it has always been, my guide and support ; it 4 
pc as still. . My whole life, fein been crowned with bles- 
beyc lL my deserts. I-am still surrounded with blessings 
nannaibeies “Why should TL distrust the goodness of God? 
