this, formed' a design of writing "A History of Nonconformity," 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 expense, 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 meantime 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 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.

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 tract or two on the "Importance of Scripture consequences," 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 honourable mauner, conferred on him their highest academical honour. A complication of distempers broke down his constitution, and deprived the world of his abilities and labours, at so early a period as the fifty-first 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 dropped in the course of his illness, when he looked upon his body swollen with distemper, he would often say with pleasure, "This corruptible shall put on incorruption,-O glorious hope!" Dr. Harris's funeral sermon for Dr. Evans, in his Funeral Discourses, p. 285-296.

Dr. Harris's funeral sermon for Dr. Evans, in his volume of Funeral Discourses, p. 289, 290. and the MS. account of Mr. Neal.

Between the appearance of this and the subsequent parts of his history, we find Mr. Neal engaged with some of his respectable brethren in carrying on two courses of lectures; one at Berrystreet; the other at Salters'-hall.

The former was preached at the request and by the encouragement of William 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 independence 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 humcur, 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

* 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 arrangements 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 September 26, 1762, in his seventy-first year.

From private information.

conversion to holiness;" on Acts iii. 19. "Of fearing God, and trusting in him :" Psalm xxxi. 19. "The sacrament of the Lord's supper;" on 1 Cor. xi. 23. 26. "The love of our neighbour;" 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 important thoughts on such various and weighty subjects more judiciously selected, more naturally digested, more closely compacted, more accurately 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 any censure or even illiberal insinuation against others mingling with the representation of their own views on the points discussed, do great honour 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,† and Mr. Neal, who was an Independent.

* Doddridge's Ten Sermons, 12mo. Preface, p. ix.

+ 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 lifetime, 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 1, 1746, aged fifty-seven, looked upon by his own brethren as holding the first rank in merit amongst them; and not less honoured 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 thirty-eight years pastor of the congregation, which originally met for religious worship in Blackfriars, and

The subject which fell to his lot to discuss was, "the supremacy of St. Peter, and the bishops of Rome his successors." These dis

then greatly increasing under his preaching, which was serious and judicious, solemn and striking, removed to Carter-lane. He died in his sixty-fourth year, 1746. Dr. William Harris, who was upwards of forty 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 Testament," and of another called "Funeral Discourses, in two parts; containing, 1. Consolation on the death of our friends, and 2. Preparation for our own death." His compositions were laboured and finished. It was amongst the excellences 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 sixty-five.

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. Kippis's Life of Dr. Lardner.

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 of the Revelations of Scripture." He died 5th of September, 1744, aged sixty-seven.

Mr. Joshua Bayes was pastor of the congregation in Halton-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 laboured sermous 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 sixty-fifth 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 seventy 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 Longacre, 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, Surrey, 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 seventy-two, and died May 3, 1752.

Dr. Benjamin Grosvenor was a minister in London, of distinguished reputation, upwards of fifty years. A singular acumen, lively imagination, and warm devotion of heart, characterised his discourses, which were delivered with a graceful utterance. He was born in London, 1st January, 1675; was chosen minister to the congregation in Crosby-square in 1704, which he soon raised into a flourishing church and crowded auditory and 1716 he was elected one of the six preachers at the Merchants' lecture, at Salters'-hall. In 1794 he retired from all public services; and died August 27th, 1758, in the eighty-third 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 1758; 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

courses were separately printed immediately after each was preached, and when the lecture was closed, were collected together, and formed two volumes, 8vo.*

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 my mind towards those who differ from me, has kept pace with my illumination 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 seventy-seventh year of his age; having supported, through so long a life, the character of the steady friend to liberty and free inquiry, 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, 1718, with Dr. Avery, and Mr. Simon Brown, in a valuable publication, entitled, "The Occasional Paper :" a work sacred to the cause of religious liberty, free inquiry, 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 farther 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 13th 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 lay 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," &c. The Catholic party also gave a representation of them to the public in a pamphlet entitled, "The two conferences, &c. truly stated." This brought out from the pen of Dr. Chandler "An account of the conference held in