6 waiting upon him in the use of means for a considerable time, as I thought it my duty to do. But not having 'found such a restoration as might enable me to stated ser'vice, it is my duty to acquiesce in his will. And having 'looked up to him for direction, I think it best for your 'sakes to surrender my office of a pastor amongst you. "Upon this occasion it becomes me to make my hum'blest acknowledgements to the blessed God, for that mea'sure of usefulness he has honored me with in the course of my labors amongst you; and I render you all my unfeigned thanks for the many affectionate instances of your 'regard towards me. 6 "May the spirit of God direct you in the choice of a wise and able pastor, who may have your spiritual and everlasting welfare at heart. And for that end beware of a 'spirit of division: Be ready to condescend to each other's 'infirmities: Keep together in the way of your duty, and in waiting upon God for his direction and blessing: Remember this is the distinguishing mark of the disciples of Christ "that they love one another." Finally, my brethren, farewell; be of good comfort and of one mind; live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. 'I am, your affectionate well-wisher, From the first attack of his long illness, it appears he had serious apprehensions how it would terminate; and a letter written from Bath, in April 1739, to a worthy friend,† shews the excellent state of his mind under those views. *From the MSS. account. This friend was Dr. Henry Miles, an eminent dissenting minister, at Tooting in Surry, and a respectable member of the Royal Society: who died Feb. 10, 1763, in the 65th year of his age. He was a native of Stroud in Glocestershire. His knowledge in natural history, botany, and experimental philosophy, for which he had a remarkable taste, occasioned his being elected a member of the Royal Society, in 1743, in the transactions of which appear several papers from his pen; and Dr. Birch, in the preface to his fine edition of Mr. Boyle's Works, handsomely says, that the conduct and improvement of that edition were chiefly to be ascribed to the great labor, judgment, aud sagacity of the learn – ed Mr. Miles, and that to him the public owed considerable additions "My greatest concern," he says, "is to have rational and solid expectations of a future happiness. I would 'not be mistaken, nor build on the sand; but would im'press my mind with a firm belief of the certainty of the future world, and live in a practical preparation for it. I rely very much on the rational notions we have of the mor'al perfections of God, not only as a just but a benevolent 'and merciful Being, who knows our frame, and will make 'all reasonable allowances for our imperfections and follies in life; and not only so, but, upon repentance and faith ́ in Christ, will pardon our past sins, though never so ma'ny or great. "In aid of the imperfection of our rational notions, I am 'very thankful for the glorious truths of gospel revelation, 'which are an additional superstructure on the other: for though we can believe nothing contrary to our reason, we have a great many excellent and comfortable discoveries 'built upon and superadded to it. Upon this double foundation would I build all my expectations, with an humble ' and aweful reverence of the majesty of the Great Judge of all the earth, and a fiducial reliance on the mercy of our 'Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. In this frame of mind, 'I desire to fear God, and keep his commandments.” In all his sensible intervals, during his last illness, he enjoyed an uncommon serenity of mind; and behaved becoming a christian and a minister.† This peaceful state of mind and comfortable hope he pos never before published. Besides this, he could never be prevailed upon to publish more than a single sermon, preached at the Old-Jewry, on occasion of a publie charity in 1738. He was a hard student. His preparations for the pulpit cost him incessant labor; and for a course of 30 years he constantly rose, two days in the week, at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, to compose his sermons. He lived like an excellent christian and minister: his behavior was on all occasions that of a gentleman; the simplicity of his spirit and manners was very remarkable; his conversation instructive and entertaining; his countenance was always open, mild and amiable; and his carriage so condescending and courteous, even to his inferiors, as plainly discovered a most humane and benevolent heart. He was the friend of Dr. Lardner and Dr. Doddridge; and in the correspondence of the latter, published by the Rev. Mr. Stedman, there are several of his letters. See also "Dr. Furneaux's Funeral Sermon for Dr. "Miles." VOL. I. + Letters to and from Dr. Doddridge, 1790, p. 358. sessed to the last.f About a month before his death, he appeared to his fellow-worshippers, at the Lord's supper, with an air so extraordinary serious and heavenly, as made some present say, "he looked as if he were not long for this "world." The preceding particulars and his writings will, in part, enable the reader to form for himself a just opinion of Mr. Neal's character: and will certainly give credibility to what is reported concerning it. He filled the relations of domestic life with integrity and honor; and left a deep and fond regret in the hearts of his family. In his public connexions, he was the prudent counsellor, and faithful, steady friend. His labors in the pulpit, and his visits in families, while his health continued firm, were edifying and entertaining. He had an easy, agreeable manner, both in the style and in the delivery of his sermons, free from affectation. In conversation, he knew how to mix grave and prudent instruction or advice with a becoming cheerfulness, which made his company to be pleasing and profitable. He was honored with the friendship of some in very high stations; and, in early life, contracted an acquaintance with several, who afterwards made a considerable figure in the learned world, both in the established church and amongst the dissenters. The repeated and frequent invitations he received to appear in the pulpit, on singular and public occasions, especially the share he had in the lectures at Salters'-Hall, against popery, are honorable proofs of the respect and estimation in which his abilities and character were in general held, even by those who differed from him in their sentiments on many questions of doctrine and church gov ernment. His own doctrinal sentiments were supposed to come nearest to those of Calvin; which he looked upon as most ‡ Dr. Jennings' Funeral Sermon, and the MSS. account. § Of this we have a proof in the expressive and affecting manner in which his son wrote, concerning his death, to Dr. Doddridge. The re'port which you had heard of my honored father's death was too well founded, if it is becoming the filial gratitude I owe to his memory to 35 agreeable to the sacred scriptures, and most adapted to the great ends of religion. But neither were his charity nor his friendships confined to men of his own opinion. The bible alone was his standard for religious truth: and he was willing and desirous, that all others should be at perfect liberty to take and follow it, as their own rule.— The unchristian heats and unhappy differences, which had arisen amongst christians by the restraints that had been laid, more or less, by all parties, when in power, on the faith or worship of their fellow christians, had fixed in him an utter aversion to imposition upon conscience in any shape, and to all such party distinctions as would naturally lead to it. Mr. Neal married Elizabeth, the only daughter of the Rev. Richard Lardner, many years pastor of a congregation at Deal,* and sister of the great and excellent Dr. Lardner. She survived Mr. Neal about five years, dying in 1744. They left a son and two daughters: one of these ladies married Mr. Joseph Jennings, of Fenchurch-street, the eldest son of the Rev. Dr. David Jennings; the other the Rev. Mr. Lister, minister of the dissenting congregation at Ware. His son, Mr. Nathaniel Neal, was an eminent attorney, and secretary to the Million Bank. He wrote a pamphlet, entitled, "A Free and serious Remon'strance to Protestant Dissenting ministers, on occasion of 'the decay of religion;" which was republished by the late 'seem to repine at my own loss, which I am satisfied is greatly his gain; ' especially when his nobler powers were so much obscured, even to the "sight of his friends, as they have been for some time past by the bodily 'decays he labored under. But notwithstanding all the admirable relief's 'which reason and faith afford under the uneasiness which nature feels ' on the loss of so near and (who had been) so desirable a relation,and the 'many circumstances of weakness which seemed to make dissolution less ❝formidable, yet the parting season will be gloomy, the breathless corpse ' of a once dear and valuable friend will affect us, and the carrying out of 'our house, and leaving behind us in a solitary tomb, all that was visible (when at the same time it was so venerable) of a father, strikes a 'damp on the spirits, which is not easily overcome or forgotten." Letters to an from Dr. Doddridge, p. 355, &c. • The character of Mr. Lardner, drawn by his son-in-law Mr. Neal, forms the 6th No. of the Appendix to Dr. Lardner's life, prefixed to the new edition of his works in svo. Rev. Job Orton, in 1775. Many admirable letters of this gentleman to Dr. Doddridge, are given to the public in that instructive and entertaining collection of letters to and from the Doctor, which we owe to the Rev. Thomas Stedman, vicar of St. Chad's, Shrewsbury: and who, to the mention of Mr. Nathaniel Neal, adds from a correspondent; whose character I never think of without the highest ven'eration and esteem, as few ever possessed more eminently the virtues of the heart, united with a very superior understanding and judgment.'† + Letters, and p. 353. Note. |