dious part of the town, a meeting-house capable of holding 4 or 500 people.

When Mr. Crabtree became the pastor of the church, he applied himself with a laudable diligence to the discharge of the important duties of his station. Aware of the disadvantages under which he laboured, through want of education, he applied himself closely to reading and study; and sensible that an infant interest could be raised to maturity only by the most vigorous exertions, he preached, with great zeal and constancy, not only in his stated place of worship, but also in all the surrounding villages to which he could gain access. For some years he preached not less than 5 or 6 times a week. God greatly owned his labours, upwards of 40 being added to the church during the two first years of his ministry. He afterwards kept wholly to his great employ; and though his people were in general poor, and he during many years of his ministry had a growing family, yet he never entangled himself with any worldly business, but committed himself and his to the care of an indulgent providence. His hopes were not disappointed; for by the exertions of his friends, and the divine blessing upon what they contributed, he was, through life, comfortable provided for.

In addition to what has been above related of the success of his labours, we have to observe, that in the year 1770 the members of his church residing in and about Farsley, a considerable village near 5 miles to the eastward, became so numerous as to be induced to form a church in that village. This, with the approbation of their brethren, they soon effected, and were for years a flourishing church under the pastoral care of Mr. Williams, originally a member of the church at Bradford, and subsist as a respectable society still, notwithstanding some painful occurrences previous to the coming of their present pastor, Mr. John Sharp. But notwithstanding so large a secession of members and hearers, the church and congregation at Bradford so far increased that a still larger place of worship became necessary. Accordingly in the year 1782, by their own exertions and the assistance of their friends in London and different parts of the country, they erected their present meeting-house, which is capable of scating about 700.

As a preacher, Mr. Crabtree's abilities were universally respected and admired. The sentiments he delivered were always important, his method clear, and his language, though quite unornamented, proper and striking; while a deep

seriousness pervaded the whole. Few ministers met with more general acceptance than he, whether in the country or in the metropolis. The latter place he had occasion to visit three times, on an errand common to ministers in the country, that of soliciting the assistance of the generous and opulent friends of religion, in defraying the expense of erecting each of his own places of worship, and that of his friend and brother Hartley of Howorth; and numbers of persons still living remember and speak of his ministerial labours there with much pleasure and respect.

As a pastor, he was thoroughly devoted to the spiritual interests of his flock; he fed them with the sincere milk of the word, he watched over them with a tender solicitude, and exercised proper discipline with affection and firmness.

He was firmly attached to that system of doctrine generally, and we think very properly, stiled evangelical. He was satisfied it was the doctrine of scripture; and always viewed himself as a remarkable instance of that sovereign efficacious grace which makes so prominent a feature of that system. He was satisfied too of its holy tendency, and took up a considerable part of his public discourses in explaining the nature and enforcing the observance of the various duties of the christian life, of which also he himself was an eminent pattern.

It may be, however, no matter of surprize, nor scarce at all will it detract from his excellence, if in his younger days, and exposed to considerable opposition, bis zeal for the doctrines of the gospel should carry him beyond the limits that rigid prudence may prescribe. This may perhaps be thought to be the case in the following instance. One of the members of his church had accepted a challenge from some ministers in the connection of the late Mr. Wesley, to engage in a public dispute. Upon more mature consideration, his friend wished to decline the contest and turn over the business to his pastor. To this Mr. Crabtree assented, and the other parties agreed. They accordingly met on a stage crected for the purpose, and held their disputation, on the points at issue between the Calvinists and the Arminians, surrounded by a very numerous concourse of people assembled on the occasion. But though this affair may be looked upon as singular, and resembling the theological contests of the first ages of the reformation, and was, probably not fully approved by Mr. Crabtree himself, in his latter years, yet it so far succeeded as to bring over to the side of truth one of the principal of his opponents, who was afterwards, for Vol. III.

years, a very valuable independent minister in a neighbouring

town.

Mr. Crabtree began his ministry when the popularity and influence of those two great men, Gill and Brine, were at their height; it is not at all strange,therefore, if he should have adopted their sentiments on what was styled the modern question, whether saving faith were the duty of the unregenerate. On this subject there is, however, reason to think his views, in his latter years, underwent an alteration. But when he was on the negative side of the question, he never considered the ability of fallen man, much less the secret purposes of God, as forming the measure of man's duty, nor failed to address the unregenerate part of his auditory with the greatest fervency; and when on the affirmative side of it, he never felt or discovered any the least diminution in his attachment to those glorious doctrines of discriminating grace, for which he had been before so uniformly zealous an advocate. Seriousness, integrity, and firmness, were the prominent features of his character. He was superior to artifice or concealment, and always ready to avow and, on proper occasions, with meekness and steadiness, to defend, whatever he apprehended to be truth. But though he was firmly attached to his sentiments as a dissenter, a calvinist and a baptist, he knew how to esteem, and did esteem godliness and godly men, in whatever connection he found them. In his private intercourse he was somewhat reserved, seldom talking much, unless put upon it by his friends; then he never failed to converse greatly to their entertainment and profit.

Till he was upwards of 80 years of age, Mr. Crabtree continued to exercise his ministry, apparently with ease to himself, and with great acceptance and profit to the church and congre -gation; but in the year 1803 a disorder with which he was seiz ed, and which for a while laid him wholly aside, but from which he afterwards partially recovered, so far impaired his corporeal and mental powers, as to make it plain to his friends I that his work was done. Of this however he was not so fully aware as they; he loved his Master's work, and felt reluctant to give it up. Like some other good men, in a very advanced period of life, his discerning faculty, along with his other facultics, was impaired, especially when turned in upon himself. Old age is not a period at which it is desirable for public characters to arrive. His, unwillingness to retire from public enploy, threw his friends into those difficulties common to persons struggling between affection and tenderness for their aged pastor, and a concern for the interest of the church and congrega

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tion; and for a while marred the harmony which had so long continued unimpaired between them. But after a while the affair was amicably settled, and harmony between him and his friends restored, which continued unimpared till his removal by death.

During the six years between this period and that of his death, he gradually sunk under the infirmities of age, and patiently waited for his great change. For the greatest part of the time, he however, was able to attend the public services of the house of God, now and then engaging in prayer, and on some occasions delivering a short address. Twice in the close of the year 1808, he ascended the pulpit and preached, and went through the services in a manner far beyond what could have been expected, to the no small surprize of the congregation in general, and much to the gratification of his old friends. He could also occasionally visit his friends, and would often converse with ease and pious cheerfulness, frequently exhibiting some remains of those masculine traits of character that had distinguished him through life, being the great man in ruins. Towards the close of it, his pains of body increased, and his mental vigour nearly forsook him, so that he was able to converse but little. He was however, more detached from earth, and evidently fitting for heaven, exercising a steady reliance on the promises of a faithful God, and growing in affection to all about him.

His death was sudden and easy. He was put to bed on thursday evening, the 14th of February last, and was found the next morning a corpse. It is probable he went off in his sleep, as a person who slept in the room with him, was not awaked, nor was he moved from the posture in which he lay down. He entered the 91st year of his age on the 8th day of the preceding December.

Much respect was shown him at his funeral. His corpse was carried to the place of worship by 6 of the oldest members of his church, and the pall supported by 6 of the neighbouring ministers. His successor delivered a discourse on the occasion, to a very large assembly, from John xi, 11. Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; and his much esteemed friend and brother, Mr. Langdon of Leeds delivered an address at the grave.

In the course of his long acquaintance with his worthy friend, Mr. Fawcett, of Hebden Bridge, originally a member of his church, Mr. Crabtree had requested him to officiate at his funeral, and also to deliver a funeral discourse afterwards, from Psal. xvii, 15. The age and infirmities of that good man intirely prevented his complying with the former part of the re

quest, and delayed his attention to the latter part of it till Lord's day, April 14th, on which he improved the subject in a discourse from the abovementioned text to an immense crowd of people, the largest that was ever assembled there since the first erection of the building. There is reason to hope the sermon will be printed.

Mr. Crabtree was prevailed upon to print two of his sermons, the one occasioned by the death of his much loved friend and brother, Mr. James Hartley, who died Feb. 2, 1780; and the other delivered at the opening of the meeting house of the late Mr. Price of Leeds, in the month of January, 1789. Whoever peruses, these discourses, will form no contemptible idea of Mr. Crabtree's talents as a preacher.

Rev. Sir,

Reply to Queries.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.

A few minutes leisure at an Inn places before me the queries of Junius, and a Constant Reader, in the Number of your Magazine for the present Month. As they do not seem to require a very extensive discussion, perhaps the casual ideas of a Traveller may be sufficient. You will determine whether the following replies be suitable. Yours respectfully, May, 1811.

MERCATOR.

On purchasing Lottery Tickets.

Respecting the practice of purchasing Tickets in a Lottery, we find, that, while the rule of the Believer's conduct approves his solicitude for all needful supplies, and urges to industry in the ordinary callings of life, it presents nothing to encourage that irregular desire which must actuate those who adventure where the issue may be a blank, or the possession of £20,000. Hence, as, nothing can be lawful but what is agreeable to the rule afforded, where this is silent, practice should be avoided. And, as the virtuous Subject does not consult the laws of his Prince to find in what he may indulge with impunity, but, rather, wherein he may act consistently, so the Christian will not speculate wherein to be wise above what is written, so much as how he may be conformable to the law and the testimony. In his desires and pursuits he studies that his moderation may ap