“with this society 
~ 
202 
in defence of the suredeelatnes of ehcaia tins 
Upon the resignation of this gentleman, who 
has since devoted his superior talents to the 
assi uous study, and to, the practice or the 
law, the whole pastoral care of the congree 
gativa, by their request, devolved upon Mr. 
Edwards. This circumstance alone was a suf- 
ficient testimony of the high estimation in 
which he was held, for till that period, two 
Ministers had always been thought necessary 
to fll that station. During his connection 
y; the attendance upon his 
ministry was often very numerous, and al- 
ways respectable. In discharging the duties 
f his office, ‘his zeal for truth, his uncer- 
rupted integrity, his firmness and consistency, 
but above all his generosity of spirit, and his’ 
earnest concern for the practical and religious 
improvement of his hearers, were’very con- 
spicuous, and on some occasions were dis- 
played in a manner that does not often cecur. 
Account of the ce Res; J. Bdsords. 
[March 1. 
‘his health however, at this period, rendered 
4 
relaxation and the air of the country neces~ 
sary. » On this account he deciined some very 
promising offers that were made to him, and 
-Yetired for some time to the neighbourhood 
of the’ sea ; officiating during one summer, 
to a small but respectable congregation in the 
Isle of Wight. Soon after he was invited to 
become the minister of a congregation of - 
protestant dissenters at Crediton, in. Devon- 
His exertions to be useful were by no means _ 
corfined to the pulpit. Considering the 
smallness of his income, his liberality qwas 
almost unexampled. Little more than -one-third 
of what be received as the reward of his labours, 
was sufscient to supply bis own necessities 3 the 
rest was entirely devoted to the relief 9 those 
who stood most in need of assistance; and to 
pecuniary aid, were commonly added by him, 
the still more valuable benefits of Christian 
advice and consolation. -Nor can there be 
the least doubt, had his income from: the 
‘ministry been double, or treble what it was, 
he wou!d have employed the whole the same 
way.. In 1802, his connections with Bir- 
minghan was dissolve, but not without the 
deepest regret amongst his numerous ard af- 
fectionate friends. Every exertion was made 
by the young people of the society especially, 
to Induce him to remain with them. Their 
address to him on his departure, and the sub- 
s‘antial proofs they afterwards afforded him of 
their attachment, are testimonies to his 
worth, which cannot be effaced. «The esti- 
mation in which his memory is still held by 
them; the fidelity and strength of their ate 
cashinente ; the affection with which they 
cherish the recollection of the known good- 
ness-of his heart 3 and his faithful exertions 
for their benefit, are as honourable.to them- 
selves, as to. him. Upon this separation, 
Mr. Edwards removed to the neighbourhood 
of Londen. He had been there. buta few 
months, when he was afflicted with a severe 
“Piness, which so much affected his nervous 
system, as to render him incapable of great 
excrtion, during his resideace in this vicinity. 
Afcer no long confinement, however, he was 
~ 
enabled to renew his ministerial services, — 
which were carried on. partly at Edmonton, 
and partly in-the metropolis, where he con- 
ducted during the winter season, evening lec- 
tices,, Ofvthe spirit and ability with which 
tvese services were conducted, the very ex- 
cellent sermon.on the death of Dr. Priestley, 
iz an admirable specimen; but the state of 
shire. He complied with their request, and 
divided his services during the first’ year, 
between that society, and another of the 
same adpeaion at Moreton Hampstead. 
At these places, he usually preached three 
times on the Lord’s day, besides which. he 
had a wedkly lecture. At Crectton, he 
also established Sunday schools, which in that 
neighbourbeod are not common, chiefly 
upon the plan of the very large and well 
conducted institution of this kind at Birming- 
ham... Severe afflictions, however, that had 
befallen some of his nearest relatives, as well 
as others of a personal nature, had induced 
him to form the resolution of leaving De- 
vonshire, and suspend fora season his minis- 
teriat labours. From the first it doés not ap- 
pear to have been his design to continue long 
in that situation, for he had engaged to ofh- 
ciate as minister at Crediton, ouly from year 
to year.. It was the will ef Providence, 
however, that his valuable life should now 
he suddenly cut short, when many years of 
activity and increading usefulness might have 
‘been expected ; and to that will, mysterious 
as it often is, it becomes creatures whose fa- 
culties are limited as ours are, to bear in 
every instamce with perfect acquiescence. 
That his death-was accidental and wholly un- 
designed, there is every evidence which the 
nature of the case will admit: His clothes 
were all a laid in the usual manner “by 
the water side; letters. were in his *pocirer, 
in which he expressed his in'entien of return- 
ing fora short time to his late abode. Afew 
days before, on his way through Exeter, he 
had purchased some books, and a few aays 
previous to that he-had writren a letter toa 
young person of his former congregation at 
Birmingham, abounding with, proofs of good 
sense, and the best advice, which the cir: 
cumstances of that young person required, 
These surely are evidences that can leaye no 
d-ubt in the mind of any impartial. person, 
His publications consist. of Letters to the 
Rev. Mr. Made ley, and a Vindication of 
them.. Letters to the British Nation, (onthe . 
Riots at Birmingham,) and Five single Ser- - 
mons. For an able and just estimate of his 
character, and talents (which t the sermons he 
delivered, as well as those he published, prove 
to be far above mediocrity), the reader is 
Tequested to refer to an excelleat discourse,- 
occasioned by his death,, delivered. and pub-- 
lished by his. successor at Birmingham, the 
Rev. Join Kentish, sold by Belcher, Birming- 
ham j and Johnson, St. Paul’s Chureh Yard. 
PROVINCIAR - 
