At the beginning of this year he printed a sermon, entitled "Of sorrowing for them who sleep in Jesus," occasioned by the death of Mrs. Anne Phillebrowne, who departed this life Feb. 1, 1726-7, in the 43d year of her age. This discourse is also to be found in Queen's college library, Cambridge.

In 1730, the united request of the ministers and the church prevailed with him to publish a sermon, entitled, "The duty of praying for ministers and the success of their 'ministry," from 2 Thess. iii. 1; preached at the separation of the Rev. Mr. Richard Rawlin,* to the pastoral office in the church at Fetter-lane, June 24. A passage in this discourse deserves to be quoted, to shew the catholic and generous sentiments of Mr. Neal. Having referred to the persecutions of the christians under the Roman emperors, and then to the prevalence of darkness and superstition for a thousand years, after Rome became papal; he proceeds, "The light of the gospel broke out again at the Reformation; but, alas! what obstructions has it met with 'ever since! How much blood has been spilt, and how ma'ny families ruined, and sent into banishment for the pro'fession of it! There is at this time a bloody inquisition in Spain; and the sword of the magistrate is drawn against 'the preaching of the gospel in Italy, France, Poland, in 'several parts of Germany, and in other popish countries. 'I wish I could say, that all protestant governments were 'willing the gospel should have its free course; but our 'fathers in this nation have drunk of the bitter cup of per

duced to a very low state: but the auditory, in a few years, became crowded; and seven or eight in a month were added to the communion. In 1697, Mr. Clarke was chosen one of the lecturers at Pinner's-Hall. He married, in 1696, Mrs. Anne Frith, daughter of Mr. Robert Frith, of Windsor, who was repeatedly mayor of that corporation. His pulpit abilities were greatly admired, and his services much sought; so that he usually preached twice or three times on a Lord's day, and several times in the week. He died March 27, 1726, aged 62 years, much beloved and much lamented, and leaving behind him the character of having been amongst the best and most useful divines of his age.

Mr. Neal's Memoirs of his life.

• Mr. Rawlin was a minister of reputation amongst the independents, one of the six preachers of the Merchants' lecture at Pinner's-hall, and the author of a volume of sermons "on justification," which met with great acceptanee, and passed through more than one edition.

secution; our teachers have been driven into corners, and 'the mouths of thousands stopped in one day: Blessed be "God, that there is now a more open door! Let us pray, that ALL PENAL LAWS for religion may be taken away, and that NO CIVIL DISCOURAGEMENTS may Christians lie upon of ANY DENOMINATION, for the peaceable profession of their faith, but that the gospel may have free course."

In the year 1732 came out the first volume of Mr. Neal's great work "The History of the Puritans." The following circumstances gave birth to this publication. Dr. Edmund Calamy, many years before, had, in his "Abridgement of the life of Mr. Richard Baxter, and the continu❝ation of it," laid before the public a view of the state of non-conformity, and of the characters and sufferings of the principal adherents to it, during the period that immediate Dr. John ly succeeded to the act of uniformity in 1662. Evans, on this, formed a design of writing "A History

* Dr.John Evans, the author of two volumes of judicious and admired sermons on the CHRISTIAN TEMPER, and of many single sermons, was the son of Mr. John Evans, of Baliol college, Oxford, and ejected by the act of uniformity from Oswestry. He was born at Wrexham in the year 1679. His mother was the daughter of the eminent Colonel Gerard, governor of Chester Castle. He received his education first under Mr. Tho. Rowe, of London; and afterwards under Mr. Richard Frankland, at Rathmill, in Yorkshire. He enjoyed great advantages under both, and made a singular proficiency in all the parts of rational and polite literature. His first settlement was in the family of Mrs. Hunt, of Boreatton in Shropshire, relict of Roland Hunt, Esq. and sister of Lord Paget, ambassador to the Ottoman Court. In this retirement he read over entire Mr. Pole's Latin Synopsis, in 5 vols. folio, which laid the foundation of his great skill in scripture criticism, and all the christian writers of the three first centuries, under the direction of the learned Mr. James Owen. His first settlement, as a minister, was in the place of his nativity: from whence he removed to London, to be assistant to Dr. Daniel Williams, pastor of a congregation in Hand-alley, Bishops. gate-street; which afterwards removed to New Bond-street, PettyFrance. Dr. Evans, after several years, was by Dr. Williams' desire made co-pastor with him, and succeeded him at his death. On taking the whole charge of the congregation, he spent a week in solemn retirement and in extraordinary exercises of devotion. He was one of the six preachers of the Merchants' lecture at Salter's-Hall, and for several years concerned in the Lord's day evening lecture in that place. Besides the sermons mentioned above, he published a small volume addressed to young persons, which has been reprinted within these few years, and a traet or two on the "Importance of Scripture consequences,?

of Non-conformity, from the beginning of the reformation to 1640, when the civil wars began. Mr. Neal was requested, by several ministers and other persons of considerable figure amongst the dissenters, to take up the history from the year 1640, and to carry it on to the act of uniformity. Dr. Evans proceeded a great way in the execution of his design: by collecting for several years, with great industry and expence, proper materials from all quarters, and by filling several quires of paper with references, under each year, to the books he had read on the subject.He had gone so far as to have written out fairly about a third part of the two folios he intended to fill. But his constant employment as a minister, the multiplicity of public affairs which passed through his hands, ill health, and various disappointments and troubles in his own concerns, greatly interrupted his close application to the work: and his death in the year 1730, put a final period to the design, which was left in an unfinished state. In the mean time Mr. Neal had prosecuted his work with so much application and spirit, that he had completed his collections, and put them in order for the press, some length of time before the doctor's decease. This event obstructed his immediate progress, and opened to him a new field of study and investigation: for he now found it necessary to take up himself the long period of history from the reformation to the commencement of the civil wars: that his own collections might be published with more acceptance, and appear with greater advantage, than he apprehended they could have drawn up in a masterly way with great clearness and judgment, sobriety and decency. Both the universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen, without his knowledge and in a most honorable manner, conferred on him their highest academical honor. A complication of distempers broke down his constitution, and deprived the world of his abilities and labors, at so early a period as the 51st year of his age, May 23, 1730. He excelled in the several virtues of integrity, greatness and generosity of mind; in compassion and tenderness, in a catholic temper and a public spirit, and in a steady, regular piety. His solidity of judgment united with vivacity, his industry and prudence were distinguishing and superior to most others. Amongst the pertinent, devout, and excellent sentiments he dropt in the course of his illness, when he looked his body swollen with distemper, he would often say with pleasure, "This corruptible shall put on incorruption, O "glorious hope!" Dr. Harris* Funeral Sermon for Dr. Evans, in his Funeral Discourses, p. 285-296..

upon

done, if the doctor's province had been entirely neglected.* The approbation which followed the publication of the first volume of "The History of the Puritans," encouraged him to prosecute his design; and the next year, 1733, produced a second volume of that work.

Between the appearance of this and the subsequent parts of his history, we find Mr. Neal engaged with some of his respectable brethren and carrying on two courses of lectures; one at Berry-street; the other at Salter's-Hall.

The former was preached at the request and by the encouragement of Wm. Coward, Esq. of Walthamstow. It consisted of fifty-four sermons on the principal heads of the christian religion, entitled "Faith and Practice." Mr. Neal's associates in this service were, Dr. Watts, Dr. J. Guise, Mr. Samuel Price, Mr. John Hubbard, and Dr. David Jennings.† The terms on which Mr. Neal complied with Mr. Coward's request, made through a common friend, to take part in this service, are proofs of the inde

* Dr. Harris' Funeral Sermon for Dr. Evans, in his volume of Funeral Discourses, p. 289, 90, and the MS. account of Mr. Neal.

It is needless to say any thing here of the first name on this list, Dr. Watts, whose fame by his various writings has been so universally diffused.

Mr. Samuel Price, the uncle of the late Dr. Richard Price, served forty-five years in the ministry of the gospel, with Dr. Watts, as assistant or co-pastor. He was a man of exemplary probity and virtue, of sound and solid sense, a judicious and useful preacher, eminent for his gift in prayer, and for wisdom and prudence in the management of affairs. He was a native of Wales, received his academical learning under Mr. Timothy Jollie, at Attercliffe, and died in 1756.

Dr. John Guise was well known as a popular preacher, and as the author of a paraphrase on the New Testament, in three vols. quarto. Mr. Hubbard was minister of a congregation at Stepney, and about three years before his death was chosen tutor of a seminary for educating young men for the ministry. He filled both capacities with considerable reputation, and is said to have had so extensive and familiar an acquaintance with the scriptures, as to supersede the use of a concordance, which had no place in his library.

Dr. David Jennings has left behind him, " An introduction to the use of the globes and orrery," "An introduction to the knowledge of medals," and "Jewish Antiquities," as monuments of his genius and learning. For many years he was at the head of the seminary endowed by Mr. Coward's munificence: and for forty-four years pastor of a congregation in Old Gravel-lane, Wapping. He was a pleasing and pathetic preacher, an early riser, very methodical and punctual in the

pendence and integrity of mind which he possessed, and was determined to maintain. His requisitions were, that he would draw up the dedication, write the preface, and choose his own subjects: in which Mr. Coward, though they were not very pleasing to a gentleman of his known humor, and fondness for adulation and control, acquiesced; rather than the lecture should lose the advantage and reputation that it would derive from Mr. Neal's abilities and name. The subjects handled by him were, "The divine authority and perfection of the holy scriptures," from 2 Tim. iii. 16. Of God, as the governor and judge ' of the moral world, angels and men," on Daniel iv. 35. "The Incarnation of Christ as the promised Messiah :" the text Gal. iv. 4, 5. "Effectual Calling, with its fruits, 'viz. regeneration and sanctification by the holy spirit :" from 2 Tim. i. 9. Confession of sin, repentance, and 'conversion to holiness;" on Acts iii. 19. "Of fearing 'God, and trusting in him :" Psalm xxxi. 19. "The Sa'crament of the Lord's supper;" on 1 Cor. xi. 23, 26. "The Love of our Neighbor;" the text John xiii. 34, 35. And "The pleasure and advantage of vital religion ;" from Rom. vii. 22. These, with the discourses of the other preachers, were, after the course was finished, published in two vols. 8vo. in 1735; and have passed through several editions. Dr. Doddridge, when speaking of them, says, "I cannot recollect where I have seen a set of im'portant thoughts on such various and weighty subjects more judiciously selected, more accurately digested, more 'closely compacted, more naturally expressed, or in a few 'words more powerfully enforced, than I have generally 'found in those sermons."+ Without determining whether this encomium be exaggerated or not, it may certainly be pronounced, that the practical strain in which the discourses are drawn up, and the good temper with which the subjects of greatest controversy are here handled, without aarrangements of his studies and business, and, notwithstanding that he lived much in his study, his conversation was lively and instructive, and his address easy and affable. He published several sermons, and was the author of several other pieces besides the above. He died Sept. 26, 1762, in his 71st year.

*From private information. †Doddridge's 10 Sermons, 12mo.Pref. p. ix.