1803. ] 
without attentively confidering what our 
author has advanced. 
Although Mr. Towers has,we have feen, 
etcafionally and frequently exercifed his 
pen on political fubjects, and that too 
from the molt laudable motives, they did 
not enerofs his attention. Of the impor- 
tance and neceflity of perfonal virtue, he 
was well aware; and that to make mén 
good citizens, and worthy of that liberty 
he loved, licentioufnefs muft be reftrained, 
and religion lend her aid, to mend the 
heart, and 1egulate the conduct of hu- 
man life. 
Having ftudied the Scriptures from his 
youth, he was a firm believer in, and 
defender of, their divine origin and au- 
thority ; and ardently wifhed to fee the 
spirit ef pure Chrifianity more generaliy 
prevail. So impreffed, he for fome time 
had it in contemplation to enter into the 
Chriftian miniftry ; which he was encou- 
raged todo by many worthy and intelli- 
geat friends. Accordingly, on‘the 27th 
of March, r774, he preached his firtt 
fermon at Pinner’s Hall, in Bicad. ftreet, 
London ; on the 19th of June following, 
he delivered his fecond pulpit compofiticon 
at the Diffenting Meeting-houle at High- 
gate; and on the 28th of September, in 
the fame year, he was ordained to the 
miniftry,. among that clafs of Diffenters 
diftinguithed by the name of Prefbyte- 
_Tians, at the Meeting-houfe in Jewry- 
ftreet, Aldgate, thea called Poor Jewry- 
lane; where, but a fhort time before, 
thofe diftinguifhed champions for Chrif- 
etianity, Lardner and Benfon, had in- 
*Mrudted and edified their flock.—Mr. 
Radcliffe and Dr. John Calder were at 
this time the minifters ; and they, togeher 
with the learned Dr. Rees, and the late 
iuch-beloved Dr. Kippis, performed the 
fervice of the day. ‘The fanction of fuch 
men is, we apprehend, fufficient proof 
that the fubject of this memoir was at 
that time well qualified to appear with 
advantage in the truly refpectable fitua- 
. tion of a Chriftian minifter. 
In this year, Mr. Towers loft his fa- 
ther, who died at the age of fixty-five ; 
his mother long furvived her hufband, 
having lived until October 1794, when 
fhe alfo died, at the advanced age of fe- 
veoty-eight. To them both he ever con- 
du&ted himfelf as became a dutiful and 
affeStionate fon. 
Soon after his ordination, he was 
chofen paftor of the Difienting Congrega- 
tion at Highgate; there he contmued, 
¥efpeted by his people, and in the faith- 
‘ful difcharge of the duties of his office, 
- 
Memoir of the late Dr. FSofeph Towers. 3 
until the 22d of March, 1778, when he 
preached his laft fermon in that place. 
Various circumftances, but we believe 
principally the lofs of fome active and 
valuable members of his congregation by 
death, induced him to quit Highgate, 
and accept the offer of becoming patior 
to the fociety of Diflenters at Newington 
Green, who, though few in number, were 
very re{pectable. In this new fituation 
he had only to officiate in the forenoon; 
the celebrated Dr. Richard Price being 
then the afterno,o-preacher: and with 
this eftimable man he lived on terms cf | 
the fincereft friendfhip. 
With the congregation at Newington 
Green, he continued until his removal by 
death ; about twelve years before which 
event, the Rev. Mr. James Lindfay be- 
caine, and continued, the afternoon- 
preacher: with whom alfo Mr. Towers 
lived en the moit friendly and familiar 
terms. And the latter has done juftice 
tohis charaéter, in a very animated and 
judicious difcourfe, which he deliver- 
ed onthe occafion of our authors de- 
ceafe. 
It may be now neceflary to refume our 
account of Mr, Taowers’s literary labours. 
In the year 1775 he produced a Letter to’ 
that diftinguifhed writer, Dr. Samuel 
Johnfon, occafioned by his then -late po- 
litical publications ; with an Appendix, 
containing fome obfervations on a pam- 
phlet publifhed by Dr. Shebbeare. Te 
this letter, our author prefixed fome ex- 
preflive and elegant lines,* which came 
from the pen of Dr. Johnfon, at a time 
when his circumftances and opinions were 
widely different from what they had be- 
come during the period that the political 
publications in queftion made their ap- 
pearance. This attack on the great lite- 
rary Coloffus of his time, confidering his 
celebrity, connections, and weight, and 
the then {mall pretenfions to popularity of 
our author, may be confidered by fome as 
bearing fome fimilitude to a ftripling en- 
countering a giant: but Mr. Towers, 
waoever might be his opponent, was no in- 
confiderable antagoniit; he took hisground 
with firmnefs, and was not deficient either 
in frength or fpirit. In the prefent in- 
* Here let thofe reign, whom peafions 
can incite 
To vote a patriot black, a courtier white 5 
Explain their country’s dear-bought rights 
away 5 
And plead for pirates in the face of day ; 
With flavi/p tenets taint our poifon’d youth, 
And lend a lye, the confidence of truth. 
tance, 
