who resided near the Royal Exchange, London. She appears to have been an amiable and accomplished woman, and received a good education through the special kindness of an aunt; at whose death she also obtained a considerable fortune. Mr. Benjamin Beddome was about seven years of age when the family removed to Bristol; and after receiving a suitable education, was apprenticed to a surgeon-apothecary in that city. This profession seems to have engaged his attention, and very probably aided his usefulness, after he had declined the regular practice of it, as reference is made to his patients during his residence at Bourton; and from this source some of his most striking illustrations of divine truth are derived. His mind appears to have been altogether unimpressed about religion, till an event occurred which he himself thus records. "Mr. Ware, of Chesham, uncle, I believe, to Coulson Scottow, Esq. preached at the Pithay, Bristol, August 7, 1787, with which sermon I was, for the first time, deeply impressed. Text, Luke xv. 7: Likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons that need no repentance."" Thus more than twenty years had been devoted to the service of Satan, notwithstanding the numerous and affectionate discourses of the pulpit, the prayers, instructions, and examples of his parents; but when he heard the character of the penitent described, it at once became his own. Indeed, so intense were his feelings, that as he could not suppress his tears, he selected the most retired part of the chapel to conceal them; but though his grief was thus hid from man, it was doubtless the cause of joy among the angels in heaven; while the language of one of his hymns, perhaps penned in immediate recollection of this period, may be regarded as expressing the sentiments of his heart. "Lord, let me weep for nought but sin, And after none but thee; And then I would,—O, that I might,- He found much relief, however, in reading the Scriptures and in prayer, to which he devoted his leisure hours; and perceiving the ample provisions of the gospel to meet the guilt and destitution of the sinner, he reposed his soul upon its doctrines and promises; and, through Jesus Christ," found" peace with God." The glooms of penitential sorrow were chased by the "Sun of Righteousness;" and his heart, that once had been dissipated in folly, and enthralled by sin, became consecrated "an habitation of God through the Spirit." As soon as he was brought under the influence of religion, he began to feel for the spiritual condition of others, and desirous of devoting himself to that great work, which God has appointed instrumentally to save mankind. When, therefore, the term of his apprenticeship expired, he relinquished all idea of following the medical profession, and, with a view to the ministry, became a student at the Baptist College, Bristol, then superintended by the Rev. Bernard Foskett, who had become the tutor in the year 1720. * The Rev. B. Foskett was born at Crawley, in Buckinghamshire, March 10, 1684. When about seventeen years of age, having removed to London, he united with the church in Little Wild-street, then under the care of that eminent minister, the Having pursued his studies for some time at this place, he removed to London, for the purpose of completing his education under the tuition of Mr. John Eamos, at the Independent Academy, in Tenter Alley, Moorfields. Of this celebrated man, Dr. Watts once said, when speaking to one of his pupils, "Your tutor is the most learned man I ever knew." Notwithstanding the manifest change that had taken place in the character of our author, and the fact that he had already devoted himself to the christian ministry, yet he had not united himself to any religious society. On his removal to London, therefore, he joined the Baptist church in Little Prescot-street, Goodman's Fields, under the care till, having been called to the ministry, in the year 1711, he left London to assist his friend, the Rev. J. Beddome, at Henley. They continued to labour together at Henley, Bengeworth, and Alcester, till 1720, when Mr. Foskett removed to Bristol; and in 1724 became joint-pastor at Broadmead. He filled this important station thirty-eight years, and died September 17, 1758, aged seventy-four. A day or two before he died, he addressed himself to his colleague, the Rev. Hugh Evans, with peculiar solemnity and pathos, in these words,-"I have done with man and the inhabitants of this world, and I have nothing now to rely on but the merits of my dear Redeemer, who of God is made, I trust, unto me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. This is all my salvation, and all my desire." His colleague used to say of him, that as a tutor he always studied the real advantage of those under his care, endeavouring to impart a general knowledge of the most important branches of literature, and thought a more superficial education best for some capacities; yet he encouraged and assisted others to attain a more finished one, conforming himself to the design of the founder of the institution. It appears that sixty-five young ministers studied under him, most of whom afterwards filled the pastoral office with reputation and success. of the Rev. Samuel Wilson, by whom he was baptized the latter end of September, or the beginning of October, 1739. The following is an extract from a letter written to him, by his father, about this time, and in reference to this event. "I am pleased to hear you have given yourself to a church of Christ; but more, in that I hope you first gave yourself up to the Lord, to be his servant, and at his disposal. And now I would have you remember, that when Christ was baptized, how soon he was tempted of the devil; and I believe many of his followers, in that, have been made conformable to their head. So also may you: therefore, of all the evils you may find working in your heart, especially beware of spiritual pride and carnal security." According to the custom of the Baptist churches, he was requested to preach before the church, January 9, and February 28, 1740, with a view to try his abilities for the pulpit; and it appears from the following letter from his father, he was soon after called to the work of the ministry. "I am sorry Mr. Wilson is in such a hurry to call you to the ministry. It would have been time enough just before you came away; but supposing it must be so, I think you should not preach in public above once, or twice, at most, at your own place, and no where else, except it, you may serve them as oft as their necessities require. The Lord, I hope, will help you to make a solemn dedication of yourself to him, and enter on the work of the Lord with holy awe and trembling. I hope to get sundry friends in this place to beg assistance for you, and a blessing, on Thursday next." With many and great advantages as a public speaker, Mr. Beddome laboured under some defects of voice and habit. Being of a lively temperament, he fell into a hurried mode of delivery, so that his voice became unmanageable; and as he prolonged his discourses to an unreasonable length, the effort appeared painful, and thus the interest and efficiency of his preaching were considerably abated. The faults which are very common to young and ardent minds were soon corrected by the advice of his father; while the correction of them, by directing his attention to this part of ministerial qualification, contributed perhaps to his subsequent eminence even in this department. One or two letters from his father may suffice to illustrate the evil and its corrective. "MY DEAR BENJ. "Bristol, May 17, 1742. "I wish from my heart I could prevail with you not to strain your voice so much in the delivery of your sermons; and if you would make them shorter, and less crowded with matter, it would be more acceptable and edifying to your hearers, and more safe and easy for yourself. Strive, then, to comply with this advice, which is given in great affection, and, I think, with judgment. If you deliver the great truths of the gospel with calmness, and with a soft, mellow |