ny censure or even illiberal insinuation against others mingling with the representation of their own views on the points discussed, do great honor to the heart and spirit of the authors.

The other course of lectures, in which Mr. Neal was engaged, arose from an alarm concerning the increase of popery, which prevailed about the end of the year 1734.Some eminent dissenting ministers of the day, of the presbyterian denomination, in conjunction with one of each of the other persuasions, agreed to preach a set of sermons on the main principles and errors, doctrines and practices, of the church of Rome, to guard protestants against the efforts of its emissaries. The gentlemen who engaged in this design were, Mr. John Barker, Dr. Samuel Chandler, Mr. George Smith, Dr. Samuel Wright, Dr. William Harris, Dr. Obadiah Hughes, Dr. Jeremiah Hunt, Mr.Joshua Bayes, Mr. John Newman, Dr. Jabez Earle, Mr. Moses Lowman, Dr. Benjamin Grosvenor, Mr. Thomas Leavesly, Mr. Joseph Burrough, a minister of the antipodo-baptist persuasion,t and Mr. Neal, who was an independent. The subject which fell to his lot to discuss was, "The supremacy

† Mr. John Barker was, for a number of years, a preacher of popular talents and great eminence, first at Hackney, and then at Salter's-Hall. Many single sermons came from his pen, and he published a volume of discourses in his life-time, which was succeeded by a second volume after his death, in 1763.

Dr. Samuel Chandler is well known as rising superior to most, either within the pale of the establishment or out of it, in learning and abilities. Mr. George Smith officiated to the society of the Gravel-Pit meeting, Hackney, for thirty years, as a preacher excelled by none and equalled by few. He died May 8, 1746, aged 57, looked upon by his own brethren as holding the first rank in merit amongst them; and not less honored and valued by those of the establishment who knew him.

Dr. Samuel Wright, the author of many single sermons and several valuable practical works, was distinguished by pulpit talents. He was 38 years pastor of the congregation, which originally met for religious worship in Black Friars, and then greatly increasing under his preaching, which was serious and judicious, solemn and striking, removed to Carter-Lane. He died in his 64th year, 1746.

Dr. William Harris, who was upwards of 40 years pastor of a congregation in Crutched-Friars, was a very acceptable preacher, and the author, besides many single sermons, of a volume of discourses on "The principal representations of the Messiah throughout the Old Testa'ment," and of another called "Funeral Discourses, in two parts: con

of St. Peter, and the bishops of Rome his successors." taining 1. Consolation on the death of our friends, and 2. Preparation for our own death." His compositions were labored and finished. It was amongst the excellencies of his character, that he was scarce ever seen to be angry; was a very great patron and friend of young ministers, and had a concern in many great and useful designs of a public nature. He died high in reputation and usefulness, May 25, 1740, aged

65.

Dr. Obadiah Hughes" was many years minister of a congregation in Southwark, from which he removed to Westminster. He was an acceptable preacher, and printed some occasional sermons.'

Dr. Jeremiah Hunt, of Pinners-Hall, was a most respectable character, a man of extensive learning and profound knowledge of the scriptures; he published many occasional sermons, and An essay towards "explaining the History and Revelations of Scripture." He died 5th of September, 1744, aged 67.

Mr. Joshua Bayes was pastor of the congregation in Hatton-Garden. Mr. John Newman was, for many years, one of the most celebrated preachers in the city of London; who delivered to crowded audiences, long and labored sermons without any assistance of notes. He was first assistant to Mr. Nathaniel Taylor, and then co-pastor with Mr. William Tong, at Salters'-Hall; appearing in the same place for five and forty years, with great credit and comfort, and died while he was esteemed and beloved, in full reputation and usefulness, much missed and lamented, in his 65th year, July 25, 1741.

Dr. Jabez Earle, a classical scholar, remarkable for a vivacity and cheerfulness of temper, which never forsook him to the last, was for near 70 years a noted minister in London. He preached to the last Sunday in his life, and died in his chair without a groan or sigh, aged ninety-two. He was pastor of a congregation at Long-Acre, and one of the Tuesday lecturers at Salters'-Hall. He printed, besides several sermons, a little tract, called Sacramental Exercises; and in the second edition of the "Biographia Britannica," under the article Amory, there is a small copy of verses which he sent to his friend Dr. Harris, on their both receiving diplomas from a Scotch university.

Mr. Moses Lowman, more than forty years minister of a congregation at Clapham, Surry, to a great character for general literature added a thorough acquaintance with Jewish learning and antiquities. His treatise on the civil government of the Hebrews, another on the ritual of that people, and a commentary on the Revelations, have been held in high estimation. A small piece drawn up by him, in the mathematical form, to prove the unity and perfections of God a priori, was called, by Dr. Chandler, a truly golden treatise, and asserted to be a strict demonstration. After his decease there appeared from the press three tracts on the Shechinah and Logos, published from his MSS. by Dr. Chandler, Dr. Lardner, and Mr. Sandercock. He reached the age of 72, and died May 3, 1752.

Dr. Benjamin Grosvenor was a minister in London, of distinguished * Dr. Kippis' Life of Dr. Lardner, p. 7.

VOL. I.

4

These discourses were separately printed immediately af

reputation, upwards of fifty years. A singular acumen, lively imagi nation, and warm devotion of heart, characterized his discourses, which He was born in London, 1st were delivered with a graceful utterance. January, 1675; was chosen minister to the congregation in Crosbysquare in 1704, which he soon raised into a flourishing church and crowded auditory and in 1716 he was elected one of the six preachers at the Merchants' lecture, at Salters'-Hall. In 1749 he retired from all public services; and died August 27th, 1758, in the 83d year of his age. He published many single sermons; the most distinguishing of which was one on "The Temper of Jesus towards his enemies," which was reprinted at Cambridge so lately as the year 1785: it was a transcript of his own heart and life. "An Essay on Health ;" and an excellent treatise entitled, "The Mourner;" both of which have passed through several editions, and will continue to be memorials of his genius, learning, and spirit. Of the latter the following passage in his diary is an amiable specimen: "I thank God," says he, "for that temper of mind and genius, which has made it natural for me to have an aversion to bigotry. This has improved constantly with my knowledge. And the enlarging il'my mind towards those who differ from me, has kept pace with my lumination and intellectual improvements. Agree to differ is a good motto. The reason and loveliness of such a friendly disposition would recommend it, and I am persuaded people would almost take it of themselves, if it were not for the several arts used to prevent it."

Mr. Thomas Leavesly was, for some years, minister of the Old Jewry in London.

Mr. Joseph Burroughs was a learned and judicious divine; of which, not only the sermon in the above collection, but a volume of sermons published in 1741; and "a view of Popery;" taken from the creed of pope Pius IV. afford ample proof. He was also the author of several single sermons and of "Two Discourses relating to positive institutions :" which brought on a controversy between him and the worthy Dr. Caleb Fleming, on the mode and subject of baptism. He was fifty-two years connected with the general baptist congregation in Barbican, London,first as an assistant to the Rev. Richard Allen, and from the year 1717, as pastor, to November 23, 1761, when he died in the 77th year of his age: having supported, through so long a life, the character of the steady friend to liberty and free-enquiry, of a zealous advocate for the importance of the christian revelation, and of the strenuous promoter of every scheme that tended to advance the common interests of religion, as well as those which were particularly calculated for the benefit of baptist societies: while through the greatest part of this period he had as a minister served the church, with which he was united, with the greatest fidelity, affection, and zeal.

The length of this note might appear to require an apology, were not the names, to whose memory it is devoted, too eminent in their day to be passed over without some respectful notice. Several of the preceding gentlemen, viz. the Drs. Grosvenor, Wright, and Evans, and Mr. Lowman, were engaged in the years 1716, 1717,4718, with Dr. Avery.

ter each was preached and when the lecture was closed, were collected together and formed two volumes, 8vo.*

and Mr. Simon Brown, in a valuable publication, entitled "The Occasional Paper:" a work sacred to the cause of religious liberty, freeenquiry and charity.

* It is proper to add, that this defence of protestantism did not terminate with the delivery of the sermons from the pulpit at Salters'-Hall. Dr. Chandler pursued his subject in "A second treatise on the Notes of the Church;" as a supplement to his sermon, at that place, on the same subject. And Dr. Harris followed up his sermon on transubstantiation with "A second Discourse, in which the sixth chapter of St. John's gospel is particularly considered: preached at the Merchants' 'lecture at Salters'-Hall, April 22, 1735," which was reckoned to possess peculiar merit. Mr. Burroughs further shewed himself an able writer, in the cause for which the sermons were preached, by his "Review of Popery." The course of lectures had not gone on a month, when a gentleman or two being in company with a Romish priest at the Pope's-Head Tavern in Cornhill, they became the subject of conversation; and the latter objected in particular, against some passages in Mr. Barker's sermon, as what could not be supported by proper vouchers. This brought on, by appointment, "Two conferences on the 7th and 18th of February, 1734-5, at the Bell-Tavern in Nicholas-lane, on the blasphemy of many popish writers in giving, and of popes in receiving, 'the title of OUR LORD GOD THE POPE; on the doctrines of substantiation; praying to saints and angels, and of denying the use of the scriptures to the laity." At the first of these conferences twenty were present, and the dispute was supported by the Romish priest, Dr. Hunt, and a divine of the church of England: at the second the debate laid between the former catholic gentleman Mr. Morgan, accompanied by Mr. Vaughan, supposed to be a priest, and Dr. Hunt, Dr. Chandler, and Mr. John Eames, well known to the world for his integrity, and learning: Dr. Talbot Smith was chosen chairman, and the whole company consisted of thirty. A state of these disputations was soon published by an anonymous author, entitled, "Two Conferences held," &e. The catholic party also gave a representation of them to the public in a pamphlet entitled, "The two Conferenees, &c. truly stated." This brought out from the pen of Dr. Chandler "An account of the confer'ence held in Nicholas-lane, February 13, 1734-5, between two Rom'ish priests and some protestant divines, with some remarks on the pam'phlet, &c." The doctors' account is confined to the second conference, because he was not present at the first.

Soon after these Salters'-Hall sermons were published, there appeared a pamphlet, in 1735, which in 1736 ran to a third edition, entitled, "A supplement to the sermons lately preached at Salters'-Hall against 'popery containing just and useful remarks on another great corrup'tion therein omitted." The author of this tract was Mr. George Killingworth, a respectable lay-gentlemen of Norwich. The design of it was to shew, that the reasoning of the gentlemen, who preached those

In the year 1736 came out the third volume of the History of the Puritans: and Mr. Neal's design was completed, by the publication of the fourth, in the year 1738, which brought down the history of non-conformity to the act of toleration by King William and Queen Mary, in the year 1689. This and Mr. Neal's other historical works spread his name through the learned world, and justly secured to him great and permanent reputation. Dr. Jennings speaking of them says, "I am satisfied that there is no judicious and unprejudiced person, that has conversed with the volumes he wrote, but will acknowledge he had an excellent talent at writing history. His style is most easy and perspicuous; and the judicious remarks, which he leads his readers to make upon facts as they go along, make his histories to be not only more entertaining, but to be more instructive and useful than most books of that kind.”*

While this work was preparing for and going through the press, part of his time was occupied in drawing up and publishing an answer to Dr. Maddox, bishop of St. Asaph; who wrote a pretty long " Vindication of the doctrine, discipline, and worship, of the church of England, established in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, from the injurious reflections (as he was pleased to stile them) of Mr. Neal's 'first volume of the History of the Puritans." This answer was entitled, “A review of the principal facts objectsermons, affected not only the papists, but themselves, in rejecting the baptism of adult persons, and substituting in the room thereof the sprinkling of infants. The author, with this view, besides stating from the New Testament the evidence in favor of his own sentiments, shrewdly applied a great number of passages from the sermons, somewhat in the way of a parody, to establish his own conclusion; and to prove, that if those gentlemen practised or believed any thing as a part of the religion of the holy Jesus, which could not be plainly and clearly proved from the New Testament, (as he conceived that they did in the matter of sprinkling of infants) they must look upon themselves as self-condemned, their own arguments being a full confutation of them. Mr. Killingworth shewed himself an able writer by other pieces in favor of the sentiments for which he was a strenuous advocate and published also "An answer" to the late very respectable Mr.Micajah Towgood's tract, entitled, "Infant Baptism a Reasonable Service;" by way of appendix to an examination of Dr. Foster's "Sermon on Catholic Communion." In one of his pieces, he likewise replied to the arguments of Mr. Emlyn's Previous Question. *Funeral Sermon, p. 32.