which are now called Unitarian, is a change which many before his time, and a much greater number since, have experienced. But, as yet, no evidence has been presented to the public, from the recorded experience of any individual, of the real state of mind which is produced by these opposite religious tenets, and of the genuine feelings which are excited by them. It is chiefly with a view to the good effects which may be produced by such a representation, that I have introduced into these Memoirs most copious extracts from Mr. Belsham's diary; and I feel assured that, while such extracts will bear the stamp of sincerity, and afford internal proof that in the composition of them they were, at the time, solely intended for the use of the writer, they will afford to every candid mind most convincing evidence of the superiority of the more rational and consistent creed which Mr. Belsham adopted in riper years, and will represent with a fidelity which the experience of many orthodox and conscientious believers will confirm, the gloomy and depressing tendency of those dark and dishonourable views of the dispensations of Divine Grace which Calvin and his followers have too successfully endeavoured to diffuse.

But useful as it may be to give a full exposition of the mischievous effect of a cruel and melancholy creed, and desirable as it is that such a representation of the truth, by ample extracts from the diary of my deceased and revered friend, should become

the property of the religious world, I know too well what is due to the confidence of friendship to allow myself to use a single portion of these materials, if I could bring myself to believe, that the passages which I have extracted, correctly and accurately described the moral turpitude and real sinfulness of the individual by whom the record was made, or if I imagined that they were calculated to excite any unjust or illiberal reflections on the character of my departed friend. If this Memoir should fall into the hands of those who conscientiously embrace and defend those religious opinions which Mr. Belsham once professed, and if they candidly judge of him by their own language and feelings, they will know, that his diary presents the earnest breathings of a soul devoutly bent to seek its own salvation, of an humble professor striving to "make his calling and election sure," of a firm believer, only doubtful of his own qualifications and title to the privilege to which he aspired; and all persons who read this Memoir will at once discover in the language of devotion and selfcondemnation with which it abounds, perhaps a mistaken estimate of human duty and of human delinquency, but certainly a deep sense of the value of the gospel, and an earnest desire, from the earliest period of life, to conform his practice to its holy requisitions.

The Memoir has extended to a much greater length than I expected or intended. From the

abundant materials consigned to my care, and with which I have been furnished by Mr. Belsham's friends and correspondents, it would have been easy to have made further additions; but I feel assured, enough is submitted to the reader to enable him to form a just opinion of Mr. Belsham's mind and character, of his influence and services, and to perceive how much his virtue and his happiness were impeded or promoted by the sentiments which he discarded or adopted. On which side the advantage lay must be left to the judgment of the reader. In Mr. Belsham's own opinion, the comfort he enjoyed and the felicity he anticipated, solely and entirely arose from those better views of the character of the Supreme Being, and of his relation to his dependent and accountable creatures, and of his designs concerning them, which distinguished Mr. Belsham's matured and declining life, and of

• I particularly wish to acknowledge the kindness of Holbrook Gaskell, Esq., of Prospect Hill, near Warrington, and of the Rev. John Kenrick, of York, and others, who entrusted to my perusal many confidential letters, with liberty to make such extracts from them as might illustrate the character and sentiments of the venerable subject of the Memoir, or be interesting to the reader, who will perceive that I have made a liberal, but, I trust, a guarded and justifiable use of the privilege with which I have been indulged.

It would be a further gratification to me to offer my best thanks, by name, to other friends from whom I have received much assistance and encouragement in the execution of my arduous work, who would be averse from receiving such a public acknowledgment of their kindness, and by whom I know it will be thought sufficient that, to use a phrase often quoted by our mutually respected friend, "I had it in my heart."

J. W.

which he was the able and successful advocate. That the sincere inquirer after evangelical truth may have equal satisfaction in his researches, and derive equal or greater pleasure and improvement from the result of them, is the ardent and devout wish of the Author.

Mansfield, Feb. 2, 1833.