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Unitarian Churches of Saintfield and Killileagh,

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Donations to Glasgow Unitarian Chapel,~

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Porter, Rev. W. and the Clerkship of the Synod of Ulster,...... 75–433

EE. Rev. J., Ordination at Belfast,

Presbyterian Persecution at Greyabbey,

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Unitarians of Cork, Petition respecting Church War-s
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Presbyterianism, A Dialogue on,

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Religious Experience, My, at my native Home,a92–118–171
Denominations of Glasgow,291 255–261
Misnomers, Unitarians not, Socinians,eithiol de 272

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Fox's Sermon on Religious Liberty,
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Joseph Hutton's Devotional Exercises,n2...120,81 MIN9103
Sermons for Family Use, Edited by Rev. J. R. Beard, 280-304
Dr. Crombie's Natural Theology, kanamalodmaslik,HDALLIATAL $13

Scott, Rev. Jy of Cradley, Extracts from a Memoir of, gulosNo276-301

Scriptures, Thoughts on the Interpretation and on Interpreters of

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Scriptures, On Ignorance of the, in its relation to Unbelief, 135

Ignorance of, by Voltaire, &C.

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Testament, New, On the style of, as presumptive of the truth of

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CHRISTIAN PIONEER.

No. 37.

SEPTEMBER, 1829.

Vol. IV.

Unitarian Worthies, No. 6.-Newcome Cappe.

One in whom persuasion and belief

Had ripened into faith, and faith became

A passionate intuition, by ties of pity and love,
whence the soul,

Though bound to

From all injurious servitude was free.

THE subject of this biographical notice was born at Leeds, in Yorkshire, in the year 1732 His father, the Rev. Joseph Cappé, many years minister of the dissenting congregation at Mill Hill Chapel in that town, was a person of great learning, liberality, and piety, eminently skilled in the oriental languages, and highly popular in the discharge of his ministerial functions. Accident led him to a most useful practice. Happening, one day, on a visit to a distant congregation, to forget his sermon, he was obliged to deliver it from memory, and finding that he succeeded in his effort, he never afterwards committed his sermons to paper, and it was his custom, in consequence, to preach without notes. Newcome Cappe, his son, showed early marks of that genius and extraordinary application to study, which afterwards marked his character; at six years of age, he had made considerable progress in the Latin language, and was a most attentive hearer of his father's discourses. Kirkstall Abbey was not far distant from his place of residence, and amongst its ruins and the beautiful scenery with which it is surrounded, he was wont to sit and pursue his studies; in this way was gradually formed that fine taste for the beauties of nature and that high relish for the grand and sublime, which constituted ever after so distinguished a part of his character. But not like too many who rest content with the pictures with which the earth is covered, without ascending to the great and intelligent Author of all, he was led, at an early period, to associate the idea of the Creator with all that was grand and impressive in the works of his hands, and to rise "from nature up to nature's God." Prospects were at an early period of his life afforded him, of an advan

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tageous settlement, in connection with the Church establishment; but they were willingly relinquished, under a conviction that the uniformity which would be required would be hostile to that unfettered research into religious truth, which, even then, was a pursuit more congenial to his mind than objects of ambition or worldly aggrandisement. Mr. Cappe received the rudiments of his academical education under the celebrated Dr. Doddridge, who speaks of his capacity, industry, progress, and disposition, in the highest terms. During the three years Mr. Cappe spent at Northampton, some doubts arose in his mind respecting the evidences of Christianity. These he determined to investigate in the most impartial manner. He read carefully the writings of the French and English Deists. Their objections appeared to him, for the most part, to be not against Christianity, but the corruptions of it. The result was a firm persuasion, never afterwards shaken, that the Gospel of Christ is indeed the truth of God.

Mr. Cappe, at the termination of his studies with Dr. Doddridge, was recommended by his tutor as assistant preacher to the celebrated Dr. Chandler, at the Old Jewry in London. The invitation which hence ensued, however, he declined, as he had set his heart on going to the Glasgow University, where the late excellent Dr. Leechman then filled the theological chair. At Glasgow, Mr. Cappe remained three years, pursuing his studies with such unremitting ardour, that he seldom allowed himself more than four or five hours sleep in the twenty-four. A consumption had nearly been the consequence. Happy in the friendship of several of the professors, and in the successful career of intellectual pursuits, he found his time pass rapidly on, and to him, as they have proved to many others fond of books, his college days were amongst the pleasantest of his life. On leaving Glasgow, Mr. Cappe was chosen co-pastor with Mr. Hotham of the dissenting Chapel in St. Saviour Gate, York; and on the death of Mr. Hotham, in the beginning of the ensuing year (1756), he was ordained sole pastor; in which situation he ever after remained. How much and how deservedly he was admired as a preacher-how impressive his seriousness-how rich his store of ideas-how beautiful, sublime, and energetic his language, those who heard him are alone competent fully to testify. But being dead, he yet speaketh. The discourses he has left behind are a

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