A NARRATIVE OF THE RENUNCIATION OF UNITARIAN, AND THE ADOPTION OF TRINITARIAN SENTIMENTS, BY THE LATE J. E. STOCK, M.D., OF BRISTOL.

[Dr. STOCK was a Physician of eminence: and the change effected in his religious views appears to have been almost as remarkable, and fully as decisive, of its kind, as was that which occurred in the well-known case of Dr. Bateman.]

A NARRATIVE OF THE RENUNCIATION OF

UNITARIAN, AND THE ADOPTION OF TRINITARIAN SENTIMENTS, BY THE LATE J. E. STOCK, M.D., OF BRISTOL.

In the New Evangelical Magazine for September 1817 appeared a Letter, from J. E. STOCK, M.D., of Bristol, to the Rev. John Rowe, Unitarian minister, of that city. It was communicated to the Magazine by an anonymous Correspondent at Bristol, who, in his Letter to the Editor, observes; "I cannot conjecture why the distribution of this Letter should have been hitherto confined to the private circle of the Doctor's friends, as the subjects they refer to possess more than a local interest. They appear to have been examined with all the critical acumen of the scholar, as well as the seriousness of the Christian. It is well known in our churches here, that Dr. Stock was a leading character among the Unitarians; that he was the channel of communication from the Society to Dr. Lant Carpenter, of Exeter, [*] inviting him to become a

[* The Bristol Papers of April 1840 contained the following distressing account of Dr. Carpenter's melancholy decease :-"The Rev. Dr. Lant Carpenter met with a watery grave on the 5th inst., on his passage from Naples to Leghorn, whilst traveling with a friend for the recovery of his health.

His friend states that they left Naples in a

colleague in the ministry with Mr. Rowe; and that, in the capacity of a physician, he attended the deceased Mr. Vernon, the Baptist minister at Downend, near this city, who embraced the opportunity of conversing with him upon religious subjects, particularly respecting the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the personality and influences of the Holy Spirit. The result of this was the renunciation of his Unitarian, and the adoption of Trinitarian sentiments. It is natural to conclude, that a change of view so extensive as this, in a character so eminent for his literary acquirements, would become the subject of much speculation in the religious world. Trinitarians and Anti-Trinitarians, who are acquainted with Dr. Stock, have given him every credit for the integrity of his motives. His letter, which evidently was never intended for publication, does so beautifully delineate the progress of his mind in the investigation of truth, that it is of peculiar value to the philosopher as well as to the theologian."

steamer, on the 5th inst., for Leghorn; that Dr. Carpenter had unlocked his traveling-bag in his berth at bedtime, and removed some things, as if preparing for retiring to rest, when, it is supposed, he became sea-sick, and went upon deck; that the night was dark and rainy, and the sea rough, and that there was no doubt a sudden lurch of the vessel had precipitated him into the deep. When last seen, which was between 10 and 11 o'clock at night, he was standing on the cabin stairs, as if for the benefit of fresh air. Dr. Carpenter was in his 60th year."-ED.]