hoped, they will see both their duty and interest. Friday travelled to Trowbridge, and on the following Sunday morning, April 2nd, preached at Bradford, (three miles from the above,) to a small company; and in the afternoon and evening at Trowbridge, to rather large congregations. Here the aged, but indefatigable R. Wright labours, walking six miles and preaching three times every Sunday. His settlement in the west is of considerable importance to our great and good cause, and should his life and health be preserved, and that they may be, and for many years to come, should be, and I trust is, the earnest wish and prayer of every real friend to the extension of the knowledge of evangelical truth, his abode in that part of the kingdom will, under the Divine blessing, be attended with still more pleasing and beneficial results. Friday 7th, travelled to Frenchay, in the vicinity of Bristol, and preached there twice the next Sunday to a small and attentive congregation. This very pleasant neigh bourhood, appears to me, after visiting it several times, a very desirable spot for Missionary exertions, it being situated within one and two miles of several populous villages.

Tuesday 11th, travelled in company with the zealous secretary of the Wilts and North Somerset Association, to Thornbury, in Gloucestershire. Here existed for many years a Presbyterian interest, and, judging from the last minister, Antitrinitarian. But the meeting-house, with an endowment by no means inconsiderable, has fallen into the hands of the Independents. wednesday went with a friend to Rangeworthy, a pleasant village about four miles from the above, for the nurnose of visiting an old and liberal-minded minister, who from his knowledge of Thornbury, and friendship of the late Presbyterian minister, could, no doubt, have furnished me with much valuable information, but he was from home, and not expected back again for a day or two. Being denied the pleasure of seeing the good old man, I left a few tracts for his perusal. Thursday 13th, returned to Frenchay, and spent the next Sunday with the friends of that place. Tuesday 18th, proceeded to Bath, joined Messrs. Howse and Martin, and the next day travelled to Nailsworth, a populous manufacturing district about two miles from Stroud. On our arrival there, we immediately set about getting a room to preach in, which after much inquiry, and no inconsiderable trouble, we at length procured. This object obtained, no time was lost in making our intention to preach, the next evening, as public as possible; we did this by first retiring to our inn and filling up the notice papers, then we divided the neighbourhood into three parts, and the next morning repaired to our respective stations, and distributed the, notices. Thurs day evening 20th, I had the honour of preaching the first Unitarian sermon in this part of the county, to a large and attentive congregation, to whom we gave a number of tracts, which were gladly received. Friday evening, my excellent young friend, S.

!

Martin, late Missionary in Cornwall, preached to a larger company than the preceding, on which occasion we again distributed tracts. Perceiving such a desire to hear, such a willingness to attend, it was determined, agreeably to a previous arrangement, that I should continue there over Sunday, and it was immediately announced that there would be preaching Sunday morning and evening. Sunday morning 23rd, about forty assembled, notwithstanding the church and chapels were open at the same time. In the evening the place was filled almost to suffocation, besides a considerable number who could not get in. I never in my life saw any people behave better, or listen with more attention, not excepting even those around the door and windows. When about to give away the tracts, such was the eagerness to obtain them, that they had well nigh overturned my pulpit, consisting of an old table. Several inquiries were made as to when we should come again.

From all I have been able to observe, and I have seen much to gratify me, not the least of which is an instructed population, young and old, so far as I could discover, being able to read, this part of the country presents an admirable field for Unitarian Missionary exertions; and the Committee of the Wilts and North Somerset Association, whom it more immediately concerns, will do well to direct its principal energies to this spot. Tuesday 25th, returned to Bath and met the Committee, wher arrangements were made, in consequence of my report, for regu larly supplying Nailsworth with preachers.

Wednesday, proceeded to Marshfield in company with Mr. Martin, who is now minister of the place, and in the evening preached to about fifty persons. The cause here appears gradually improving, and will no doubt continue to improve, if the piety and zeal of the friends do but keep pace with the prudent management of their worthy young Minister and the Committee at Bath. Sunday 30th, preached at Frenchay in the morning, and at Bristol for Dr. Carpenter in the evening. Here my engagement with the Dorset and Somerset Association ended, and, their funds not allowing them to renew it, I proceeded on Monday to Taunton, and after taking leave of my friends, returned home, where I arrived safely on Saturday evening, after an absence of six months.

North Eastern Unitarian Association.

THE North Eastern Association of Unitarian Christians was holden at Lynn, on Thursday, the 29th of June, and was respectably attended by ministers and friends from the congregations in connexion. Mr. Edward Tagart, of the Octagon Chapel, Norwich, preached an excellent and appropriate discourse, in the morning, from Gal. v. 1, after which the business of the

Association was transacted. The ministers and friends, to the number of between 60 and 70, male and female, then dined together at the Crown Tavern.

Mr. W. Selby, minister of the Chapel at Lynn, was invited to the chair, and the afternoon was passed in great Christian harmony. In the evening, Mr. Tagart again preached from 2 Tim. i. 7. The friends in this district thinking it adds much to the pleasure to finish the day in each other's society, supped together at the place of the dinner, in number equal to that which had dined. The chair was taken by Mr. Tagart, who, with other individuals, enlivened the company with many animated addresses and exhortations. In an especial manner was this seen and experienced when the chairman introduced the great subject of Catholic Emancipation. With this almost every heart seemed to beat in unison, and every tongue to respond in wishes for its speedy accomplishment. This, and the other subjects of address, were calculated to excite zeal and constancy in the profession and support of Unitarian Christianity, believed, as it is by its friends, to be the truth as it is in Jesus, as well as most certainly by all who properly embrace it, a doctrine according to godliness; and impressively were its defenders exhorted to be careful on every occasion to act consistently with their profession of such principles of purity and truth.

The spirit of the meeting was kept up till the company separated; nor is it too much to say from the countenances and expressions of most, that no small portion of enjoyment had been experienced, and, let us hope, edification and additional strength in the faith of the gospel, been also received. W. STANGER, Secretary.

Lynn, July 19, 1826.

Lancashire and Cheshire Provincial Meeting.

ON Thursday, June 22, the Annual Meeting of the ministers and others of the Unitarian Christian profession was held at the Chapel, in Mosley Street, Manchester. The Rev. - Ashton, of Knutsford, led the devotional part of the service, and the Rev. W. Tate, of Chorley, preached the sermon. The text, Matt. xxvii. 8, "Be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren." The design of the preacher was to shew and enforce the principles of dissent, and particularly of Unitarian dissent. The ministers and friends dined together to the number of forty-five to fifty.

On the removal of the cloth a series of resolutions were submitted to the consideration of the meeting and adopted. The general tendency of these resolutions was to promote a closer union and a more effective co-operation among the Unitarians, of the two counties, and to make the Provincial Meeting the medium of such union and co-operation. The old name of

Provincial Meeting of Presbyterian Unitarian Ministers is to be retained; but objects of more extended usefulness are to engage their attention. The Tract Societies of Liverpool and Manchester, and the Missionary Society, are to be invited to communicate the most remarkable features of their reports to the Provincial Meeting, and the meeting is to consider those means which seem best fitted to promote the interests of these societies. Other objects also contemplated to form a part of the business are, to ascertain the actual progress and real state of Unitarianism in the two counties-the number of children educated in the various schools belonging to Unitarians—and the real state of their different congregations. It is also intended that the Provincial shall be united to the British and Foreign Untiarian Association.

OBITUARY.

ON Friday morning, June 23, 1826, at the house of Mr. Thomas Brewin, Hales Owen, Mr. JOHN TAYLOR, of Norwich, aged 76. The immediate cause of his death was a fall from a gig, while descending the hill which passes the residence of that gentleman. There, though a stranger, he was received and nursed with the most anxious solicitude, and with the kindest sympathy. Some hopes of his recovery were at one time entertained; but it pleased Him "in whose hands our breath is, and whose are all our days," to disappoint those hopes and to take him to himself. Mr. Taylor was a grandson of Dr. John Taylor, of Norwich. His maternal ancestors had for more than two centuries been resident in that city, and had been repeatedly called to fill the highest offices in it. That he discharged the duties of a good citizen, all who knew him (and there were few in his native city to whom his character was not known) will testify. Firmly attached to the principles of civil and religious liberty, he gave them his active, zealous, and consistent support; but his mind was not formed to feel the bitterness of party spirit, and from his warmest political opponents (enemies he could have none) he commanded both respect and friendship. Age had not abated the vigour of his mind; and though he had withdrawn from the cares of business, he was constantly occupied in promoting, by public exertion or by private assistance, the welfare of others. His death, even at his advanced age, has thus left a gap which will not easily be filled up. But he has shewn his survivors how their duties to God and to their neighbour should be performed; how the most ardent piety may subsist with the most active benevolence; how firmness of prin ciple may be blended with sweetness of temper; how cheerfulness may exist without levity; how cultivation of mind may be added to the character of a man of business. May the blessing of such an example not have been bestowed in vain!

THE

Christian Reformer.

No. CXL.]

AUGUST.

[Vol. XII.

Reflections on the Goodness of God.

THE goodness of God is no other than his disposition to promote the well-being of his creatures; this disposition we ascribe to him in that absolute perfection which appertains to his nature as absolutely perfect in every point of view. The system of nature presents to us immense numbers and great varieties of sentient beings; they have all strong propensities and corresponding powers for the pursuit and attainment of the objects which are conducive to their well-being; and they all, in different degrees, actually partake of the blessings of existence. As the more perfect orders of creatures are susceptible of the most varied and the highest degrees of enjoyment, they Occupy by much the largest and fairest portions of the earth, and render the inferior kinds, and almost all the principal productions of nature, subservient to their authority and conducive to their use. Man is placed at the head of the habitable globe, and is distinguished by a capacity of continually rising in the scale of intellect and enjoyment, and, with these advances, of producing a corre-sponding favourable influence on the well-being of the inferior animals, as well as of rendering both them and the inanimate creation subservient to his increasing excellence and happiness. If we compare man in his most defective condition, a wild wanderer in the desert, to man in a highly civilized state, with all nature subjected and, as it were, sympathizing in his acquisitions and enjoyments, we may form some idea of that advancing progression by which the Creator is continually carrying forward the great work of promoting the well-being of his creation. How numerous are the arts of civilized society! How conducive to the sustenance, improvement and enjoyment of life! They are all obtained gradually as the result of that growing capacity with which God has endowed his creature man. The manner in which both animate and inanimate nature concurs with his industry and improvements, and flourishes under his cherishing hand, is deserving of the highest admiration. The wild, unproductive desert is con