To an old friend, who, in the opinion of MR. RICHARDS, had misrepresented his sentiments by imputing to him the contents of the above pamphlet, he makes a similar communication. The only additional matter is the following, which must be introduced to do justice to the subject. I would wish to observe the strictest impartiality.

MR. RICHARDS' words are these:-" I believe also in the doctrine of the atonement, or sacrifice of CHRIST, in virtue of his blood and in the prevalence of his mediation. I know not, indeed, whether I believe these doctrines exactly as you do, nor does it give me any concern. I trust I believe them in the sense in which they are represented in THE NEW TESTAMENT.

"I need say no more. I have said much more than I intended when I began the letter, and than you had a right to expect. I remain, with perfect good will, as I signified before,

Your faithful servant,

but much injured old friend,

W. R."

The last expression of MR. RICHARDS' religious sentiments is the following, in a letter to a much esteemed friend, Mr. S. at Fleet, relative to a Publication sent forth only a year previous to his decease:

"What will be thought of it I know notopinions will differ, no doubt, according to the

different biasses of the readers. I expect to please no party, because I can subscribe the entire creed of none I know.

"I believe the doctrine of ONE GOD, because it runs like a clear stream through the Scriptures.-In the Old Testament that one God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or God of Israel. In the New Testament he is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only true God, as our Lord himself declares. Now all this would go very well with THE UNITARIANS. But if I add, that I differ from them in regard to the person and character of Christ, insomuch that had I lived in Judea or Galilee, when he was on earth, I hope I should have been among those who worshipped him—I say, if I add this, the pleasantness and liberality of my friends would be apt to undergo some abatement. But why should that be? Did not good men worship Christ acceptably, for they met with no rebuke, which certainly had been the case had they done wrong? Is not this a proof that he was entitled to such homage?

"Should I tell this same tale to THE ORTHODOX, they would be apt to think favourably of the worshipping clause in it, but would be otherwise affected by the other part, which ascribed the supreme Godhead to THE FATHER. In short, the difference in point of liberality between the orthodox and heterodox, is not always so great as some suppose. And why should it? For though ALL of them may be right in some things, yet in the main all our sects

and parties appear to me to be Christian corruptionists! The period of the grand apostacy is not yet terminated. ALL belong to it in some measure, Unitarians not excepted."

I have now laid before the reader every document in my possession tending to elucidate the theological views of my deceased friend. He was grossly misrepresented and abused. Greater pains have been

ascertain the truth. He

taken on this account to might well say with other great and good men, after the manner which they call HERESY, so worship I the God of my fathers! And as to the most reputedly orthodox point-CHRISTIANS would do well to remember the words of Bishop Jeremy Taylor, that paragon of talents and piety:-" He who goes about to speak of the mystery of the Trinity, and does it by words and names of man's invention, talking of essences and existences, hypostases and personalities, priorities in coequalities, and unity in pluralities, may amuse himself and build a tabernacle in his head, and talk something, he knows not what; but THE GOOD MAN who feels the power of the Father, and to whom the Son is become wisdom, sanctification, and redemption, in whose heart the love of the Spirit of God is shed abroad-this Man, though he understands nothing of what is unintelligible, yet HE alone understands the Christian doctrine of the TRINITY* !"

See that excellent work-Apology of Ben Mordecai, by Henry Taylor, A. M. Rector of Crawley, &c.; as well as FAWCETT'S Candid Reflections concerning the Trinity.

When MR. RICHARDS came to Lynn, he was a moderate Calvinist, but before the writer of this Memoir knew him he had become a GENERAL BAPTIST. He was of late years a strenuous advocate for universal redemption, the immateriality of the SOUL, and the freedom of human actions. He used to admire those lines of a modern poet, which I have here transcribed from his own handwriting :

Plac'd for his trial on this bustling stage,
From thoughtless youth to ruminating age,
Free in his will to choose or to refuse,
MAN may improve the crisis or abuse-
Else, on the FATALIST'S unrighteous plan,
Say at what bar amenable is Man?

With nought in charge he could betray no trust,
And, if he fell, would fall because he must;
If Love reward him, or if Vengeance strike,
His recompence in both—unjust alike!

COWPER.

MR. RICHARDS was not insensible of the difficulties attaching to the Libertarian system; but he could not relinquish the essential distinctions of VIRTUE and VICE, nor forget that God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness! The NECESSARIAN SYSTEM has much to be alleged in its behalf; nor ought it ever to be contemptuously spoken of, since Edwards, and Priestley, Toplady, Crombie, and Belsham, have defended it with singular ability. After all, it must be confessed, that Milton hath well represented the angels themselves as thus employed :—

Others apart sat on a hill retir'd,

In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high
Of Providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate,
Fix'd fate, freewill, foreknowledge absolute,
And found no end-in wandering mazes lost!

MR. RICHARDS was possessed of that good sense which led him to maintain his tenets with Christian moderation. He laid the greatest stress not on peculiar dogmas of any description. He regarded with supreme reverence the transforming influence of the moral precepts, as well as of the positive institutions of CHRISTIANITY. Nor was he ever unmindful, amidst the innumerable perplexities both of FAITH and of PRACTICE, that Paul may plant and Apollos may water, but God alone giveth the increase! Without the divine blessing, vain are all the exercises of the Christian ministry*.

In our leading views of the Gospel, MR. RICHARDS and myself were agreed, more especially in the

* The reader will excuse the writer of this Memoir for remarking that it was his Sketch of Denominations that was the happy means of his first acquaintance with MR. RICHARDS. It has reached its Thirteenth Edition, near 100,000 copies having been circulated-beside the translation of it into several languages; and its republication in the United States of America. The author sold the copyright for ten pounds; but the good which he knows it has accomplished will, with him, prove a sufficient compensation. Fabricators of similar works have stolen its contents without acknowledgment. He only wishes that for the future they would make a little more free with the concluding reflections in favour of Candour and Charity!