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manager in the public debates, and was much regarded; for as he was an excellent fpeaker, fo the perfect candor of his fpirit, which in the whole of his conduct was so apparent as to raise him quite above suspicion, made him univerfally beloved: Even the greatest adverfaries to his caufe could not but admire him. He was of no party farther than his regard to truth and virtue made him of it. He was a great mafter in natural religion, and in the arguments which fupport the authority of the christian religion, to which he did great honour by a converfation worthy of it. He was a perfon quite above the spirit of the world, and feemed to have no folicitude at all about his circumstances in it. No man eafier about himfelf, but the good and benevolent affections fo reigned in him, that to do good to others was his conftant bufinefs and ftudy. And no one manifefted a greater reverence for his creator, and care to please him in all things. A fixed perfuafion of the perfect wifdom and goodness of God, and that all events are under the direction of his providence, begot fuch an habitual calm and tranquillity in his mind, that he was not to be thaken even by most afflicting eccurrences.

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He was a moft acceptable preacher, and had a wondrous faculty of expreffing himfelf, even upon the moft difficult and abftracted fubjects, in a manner that was plain and eafy to the apprehenfion of his hearers. And his way of thinking was fo clear, and his memory fo ftrong, that tho' he did not write his fermons (which his friends now regret as a very fenfible lofs) yet he delivered himself in a correct style, and without any confufion. He was capable of rifing into great warmth, but the most diftant poffible from the unreafonable wildneffes of enthusiasm. His ftrong reafoning, enlivened by the zeal of his fpirit, (which never discovered itself but in matters truly important) made deep impreffions upon his hearers. It was apparent he felt the power of the facred truth which he taught: And as he was a man of the greatest fimplicity of fpirit in declaring the truth, fo he was of the greateft firmness in defending it; not to be fway'd by any authority, or daunted by any oppofition.

MR. Taylor was a man of found judgment, and very confiderable knowledge. He was a weighty fpeaker, and could mix the argumentative and pathetic very agreed 3 ably.

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ably. A man of a bold and refolved spirit, and who could not give way to any human authority in religious matters, but followed fteadily the conviction of his own judgment, He was a laborious and ferious preacher, He bestowed much pains in compofing his fermons, and always ftudied to do honour to his station and character. He maintained a great and firm mind in very afflicting circumstances, which attended an unweildy body, and full of diforders, for many years, This confined him much, and rendered him incapable of thofe fervices for which he was in other refpects very well qualified. He was much efteemed in the Belfast focie ety, and very zealous in their cause.

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MR. Shaw was a gentleman who could not be known without being beloved. He had an education fuitable to his genteel parentage. He had the greatest sweetness and cheerfulness of temper, happily joined with a gravity which became his character, and fat eafy upon him, He was much and justly admired for prudence and difcretion in his conduct. Not hafty in refolving, and very diligent to fatisfy himself thoroughly in the reafons upon which he acted. But

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mind, and not to be put out of his courfe, when his reafon was convinced He was formed for friendship, having great generofity, tenderness, purity, and conftancy of fpirit. He laboured in his work as a minister with much diligence and affectio nate concern for his people. His life was, in all refpects exemplary. He was the delight of his friends, and could scarcely have an enemy.

MR. Harper was diftinguished by great piety and tenderness of affection. He had attained to a confiderable degree of learning in the languages and philofophy, as well as divinity. His fermons were full of the pathetic, which was natural to him, and without any affectation. He had a delicacy in his temper and paffions, which was in fome refpects uneasy to himself, but amiable to his friends, with whom he rejoiced i or fuffered, as their circumftances gave occafion, above most men. He had the inbeterests of true religion greatly at heart, and bwas content to bear perfonal inconveniencies no not a little grievous to him, rather than forfake that party which he believed had truth & bca Vand reafon on their fide.

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SAY nothing of meffieurs* Nevin, Wilfon, Clugfion, Henderfon, and Mears,

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Mr. Nevin's death happened fince this preface was written. He was a man of great abilities; and indefatigable industry and activity. Exceedingly zealous for the juft liberties of mankind, and warm in oppofing all pretences to power in matters of religion and confcience, In the courfe of the debates between the Synod and Nonfubfcribers, a particular charge was brought againft him, for fome things he had faid in private converfation, which were thought inconfiftent with fome important articles of the chriftian faith. In the Synod which met at Dungannon, 1724, the matter was brought to a public trial; and iffued, not in a decifion upon evidence, but in requiring Mr. Nevin to make a declaration of his faith concerning the fupreme deity of Chrift. This he would not fubmit to, for many reafons which he urged against fuch a method of proceeding, as holding an inquifition upon him, and a direct violation of the com mon rights of mankind: Upon which he was excluded from the Synod. The Nonjubfcribers protested against this, and gave in their reafons, which are printed with Mr. Nevin's trial publifhed by himself. His defence, to which the reader is referred, though made under great disadvantages, very much raised his character, even in the Synod as well as without doors, fhewing great eloquence and strength of reafon. He continued, notwithstanding his exclufion, to maintain his reputation amongst his friends at Downpatrick; and when the Nonfubfcribers were erected into a feparate Prefbytry, became a member with them.

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He was an eloquent and acceptable preacher, and delivered himself in the pulpit with great life. He had truly generous difpofitions, and was ready to ferve his friends at the expence of any labour to himself. this engaged him in many affairs, fo he came to acquire a confiderable knowledge in civil matters, and was exceedingly ferviceable in the neighbourhood by bis advice

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