JOSEPH HEPTINSTALL, pastor of the Independent church at Beccles from 1773 to 1802, was born at Walsall, in Staffordshire, January 26th, 1742. He was blessed with a pious and tender mother, who often took him into her closet, and on her knees prayed fervently to God on his behalf. Her supplications were not immediately answered. At the early age of twelve years, her son manifested the depravity of his nature, by avowing himself an atheist. But being providentially led to contemplate a flower in his father’s garden, he was convinced that its beautiful structure must have been the work of a First Cause, that created and sustains all things. Conscience, in conjunction with the sacred Scriptures, impressively taught him that this Being was holy and just, and therefore would approve and reward holiness, and abhor and punish sin. These convictions led him to seek salvation “by the works of the law;” but he mentions that about this time, he read Law’s “Christian Perfection,” and imbibed more correct views of the purity and spirituality of the divine commands. Comparing his conduct with them, he was convinced of the awful state to which sin had reduced him, and greatly alarmed at the consequences of rebelling against God. With a mind thus depressed and agitated, he repaired to the throne of grace, imploring the mercy of God, and pleading his promises through the Mediator. He derived much consolation from that important passage of Scripture, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Being enabled by the Holy Spirit to receive the gospel, he enjoyed peace with God, and the happiness of those to whom iniquity is not imputed. He now began to consider how he might best glorify God, and serve him in the world; and determined, in the strength of God, to devote himself to the christian ministry. This resolution met with the warmest approbation of his parents. They were zealous advocates of the religious establishment of this country, and had the means of amply providing for their son within its pale, through an aunt, who readily promised him a living of which she had the patronage. With these views he commenced a preparatory course of study for the University of Oxford, where at the age of seventeen he was to have been admitted. Meanwhile he wisely examined the Thirty-nine Articles, which he would have been called upon to subscribe. He appears to have hesitated with regard to that “Of Predestination and Election;” and he was unwilling to recognise as a part of his creed, a doctrine which, at that time, was not so in reality. On the other hand he was much distressed at the idea of relinquishing his intention to become a minister; and, in his estimation, to abandon the church of England was the same, for hitherto nothing had ever induced him to cross the threshold of a dissenting meeting-house.