Page:Our Hymns.djvu/347

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THEIB AUTHORS AND ORIGIN. 327

at the Chapel, Woodbridge. In 1790 he published a discourse, " The Fundamental Principles of the Established Church proved to be the Doctrine of the Scripture." But in 1823 he published "A Farewell Testimony, containing the substance of Two Dis courses (Acts xx. 82), preached in the parish church of Deben- ham, October 13, 1822, after a public notice given to take leave of the people, and secede from the Established Church." The sermons have no personal references, and do not give the reasons for secession. Besides the work already named, Mr. Hum was the author of " Heath Hill ; a Descriptive Poem," 1777, and of several published sermons.

In 1831 there was published a work of 326 pages, entitled " Brief Memorials of William Hurn, late minister at the Chapel, Woodbridge, formerly vicar of Debenham, Suffolk, and chaplain to the late Duchess Dowager of Chandos. By Esther Cooke and Ellen Rouse." Unfortunately this work is not in the British Museum, nor in Dr. Williams Library.

William Hurn was born at Breccles Hall, Norfolk, December 21st, 1754. In 1777 he was appointed classical tutor in the Free Grammar School, Dedham, Essex. Two years after, he entered the army, but at the end of a year of military service he resigned his commission. In 1781 he was ordained by Bishop Yonge as a clergyman of the Church of England ; but it was not tiJl five years after that he experienced the great saving change which was necessary before he could be fitted for the life of earcest Christian usefulness he afterwards lived.

His marriage to Sarah, daughter of Thomas Wharrie, Esq., of Hull, took place in 1789. After a union of twenty-eight years his wife died in 1817. He adopted his nieces, who wrote his obituary. In 1788 he received the appointment of chaplain to the Duchess Dowager of Chandos, and in 1790 he was presented to the vicar age of Debenham, Suffolk.

In October, 1822, he seceded from the Established Church, and

in the following year accepted an invitation to become pastor of

the Congregational Church, Woodbridge. In that position he

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