Page:Our Hymns.djvu/257

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THEIR AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 287

date, and eventually chosen pastor ; but his ordination was deferred till 1765, in the hope that his uncommon merit and abilities would have overcome all political and worldly prejudices. The neighbouring ministers who were assembled at Mr. Braybrook’s ordination, at Rendham, were likewise applied to by the other party to judge between them. Those ministers unanimously determined that the majority had a right to fill up the vacancy in their assembly if they chose so to do ; and also, that it seemed to be to no purpose to wait any longer with respect to Mr. Heginbotham, or to think of choosing any other person, since those secular Dissenters, there was reason to believe, would ever occasion an opposition. In consequence of these resolutions, they agreed to attend the ordination of Mr. Heginbotham, and concurred with the majority of the Church in their choice. Accordingly, he was solemnly ordained at Sudbury, November 20, 1765. Mr. Harmer gave the charge from 2 Tim. iv. 5. A separation immediately ensued, and the minority formed themselves into a distinct society, erected a new meeting-house, and chose Mr. John Lombard their pastor. Mr. Heginbotham fell a victim to their party disputes. The sensibility, gentleness, and tenderness of his disposition disqualified him for bearing so much contention. He fell into a consumption, which conveyed him to his grave in very early life, leaving a most amiable character behind him. He died in 1768, in the twenty-fourth year of his age. Fatal was the illustration given to him of that passage in James ‘Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.’ "

ROWLAND HILL, M.A.

1744-1833.

THIS eccentric but eminently devoted and useful minister of the Gospel, was a son of Sir Rowland Hill, Bart. He was born at Hawkstone, near Shrewsbury, on the 23rd August, 1744. His