CURRIERS'-HALL.-Particular Baptist. JOHN REYNOLDS, M. A. was born January the 5th, 1730, in the parish of Farmington, near North-Leach, Glocestershire. His father, Thomas Reynolds, was a farmer, at Little Rissington, about a mile from Bourton-on-theWater. His first impressions of Divine things were received at twelve years of age, under the ministry of Mr. Benjamin Beddome, of Bourton, who baptized him when he was about fourteen. He acquired his knowledge of the learned languages under Mr. Creed, a clergyman of the Church of England, and one of the masters of the school at NorthLeach. At eighteen years of age he went to the Baptist academy at Bristol, under the tuition of Mr. Bernard Foskett; and at twenty, he commenced occasional preacher, labouring chiefly at Bromsgrove, Bratton, Cirencester, and Cheltenham, but more constantly at Oxford, where he continued about three years and a half. The Baptist church at Curriers'-Hall, being deprived of Dec. 29, 1756. 2 Cor. v. 21.-29. The Gospel not absurd, nor contrary to Justice, nor licentious. Preached at Great Eastcheap, April 13, 1757. 2 Tim. ii. 25.-30. Animadversions upon the Letters on Theron and Aspasio; in an address to that ingenious Author. 1758.-31. The Knowledge of future Glory the Support of the Saints in present Troubles: Preached at HemelHempstead, on the Death of the Rev. Clendon Dawkes, Dec. 15, 1758. 2 Cor. v. 1.-32. The Imputation of Christ's Active Obedience to his People, and the Merit of it demonstrated: Preached at Great Eastcheap, Dec. 27, 1758. Rom. iv. 6.-33. Grace proved to be at the Sovereign Disposal of God: a Discourse at the Monthly Meeting in Goodman's Fields, July 19, 1760. Deut. xxix. 4-34. Christ the object of God's everlasting Delight: Preached at Great Eastcheap, Dec. 31, 1760. Prov. viii. 30, 31.-35. The Opposition of Flesh and Spirit in Believers: Preached Feb. 8, 1761. Gal. v. 17.-36. Ancient Prophecy proved to be Divine: Preached at the Monthly Exercise, Unicorn yard, Feb. 19, 1761. 2 Pet. i. 21.-37. A Right to Eternal Glory through the meritorious Oobedience of Christ, proved to be consistent with the absolute freedom and sovereignty of Divine Grace, as the Origin of it. Titus iii. 7. 1762.-38. The Glory of the Gospel considered; Preached at Kettering, May 23, 1762.1 Tim. i. 11.-39. Sin reigns not, nor shall reign in the Saints; Preached at a Monthly Exercise, April 20, 1764. Rom. vi. 14.-40. The Baptists vindicated from some groundless Charges brought against them by Mr. Eltringham. 1766. 1 CURRIERS'-HALL - Particular Baptist. their pastor, Mr. Brine, invited Mr. Reynolds to pay them a visit, which he did in April, 1766. After continuing with them some time, he went back to the country, but returned in the September following, and was admitted a member, by dismission from the church at Bourton. He was ordained at Curriers'-Hall, on the 2d of October; and the service was conducted in the following manner: After the congregation had sung, Mr. John Wynn, one of the deacons of the church prayed; Dr. Gill then desired that some proper person would mention the reason of the meeting; Mr. Wynn, who was on this occasion the mouth of the church, informed the audience, that having lost their late excellent pastor, the Rev. John Brine, they had been earnest at the throne of grace, beseeching the Lord to provide for them a successor according to his own heart; that he had in his kind providence sent Mr. Reynolds amongst them, whom they had in private called to be their pastor, which office he had accepted, and that they were now met publicly to testify the same. Dr. Gill then desired the members of the church to recognize this call, by the lifting up of the right hand; which being done, and Mr. Reynolds having renewed his declaration of acceptance, Dr. Stennett prayed; Mr. Wallin preached to the people; and Mr. Anderson closed the service with prayer and benediction. Nothing very remarkable attended the labours of Mr. Reynolds amongst his people. His sermons were methodical, and appeared to be delivered memoriter, with a considerable degree of earnestness, which was generally conspicuous, notwithstanding the injury his voice had received from a peculiar accident. One day shirting himself, he thoughtłessly put his studds between his lips: On a sudden his breath drew one of them into his mouth, and down his throat. This so affected his organs of speech as to render his delivery unpopular, particularly so, if at any time he took cold, when it was difficult for him to speak loud enough to be understood, unless by those who were near the pulpit. His CURRIERS'-HALL.- Particular Baptist. success was far from being equal to his wishes, but probably greater than his own modest opinion would suffer him to judge. He has been heard in the private circles of his friends to speak with a peculiar solicitude for the conversion of souls, if it were but one soul under his ministry. Mr. Reynolds was distinguished for prudence. No inan, amongst his brethren, was more frequently consulted in difficulties than himself, and he was deservedly esteemed by Christians of different denominations. In 1770, he received from the college of Rhode-Island, the degree of Master of Arts. His name never appeared in print, excepting to a single discourse, preached before the Bristol Education Society, in 1782. His text is Eph. iii. 8. Of late years Mr. Reynolds grew rather corpulent. For some months before his death, he felt a general langour overspread his frame, which confined him to his house. During his affliction, he was visited by several of his brethren, who found him always serene, sometimes happy. On the Thursday before his death, Mr. Giles (now of Eyethorn, in Kent,; going to see him, mentioned the late Mr. Rogers's saying, " I have been the Lord's working servant, and I am now his waiting servant." Mr. Reynolds replied, "I trust with an honest heart I can say the the same." Mr. Giles said, "That death was a solemn subject to the people of God, in health, but he supposed it appeared much more so in the near prospect of one's own dissolution." Mr. Reynolds answered emphatically, " It is really so;" and added, " I have sometimes been entertained with elegant compositions of divinity, and also with such as have displayed a good taste, free from wit, but full of argumentation and genius."Here he paused and panted for breath, and then said, "But none of these things will do now; nothing short of the good old plain truths of the Bible. The unchangeable love of God, and the vicarious sacrifice of Christ, are the foundation of my faith and hope." Now he was again exhausted, but recovering a little, with solemnity, and a peculiar accent, he said, CURRIERS'-HALL - Particular Baptist. " Here is terra firma;" and repeated with much exertion, "I say, Mr. Giles, here is terra firma for a dying man."* Mr. Reynolds departed this life February the 6th, 1792, aged 62 years and one month, and was buried on the 14th in Bunhill-Fields, near to his predecessors, Mr. Skepp and Mr. Brine. Mr. Booth delivered the address at his grave, and preached the funeral discourse to his bereaved church, from John xiv. 2, 3. Upon his tomb-stone may be seen the - following inscription : To the Memory of The Rev. JOHN REYNOLDS, M. Α. Near Cripplegate, With hope of a glorious resurrection, Slept in Jesus, Feb. 6, 1792, In the 63d year of his age. "An Angel's arm can't snatch me from the grave; Legions of Angels can't confine me there." Also, MARY REYNOLDS, Wife of the said John Reynolds, Who died the 11th day of August, 1802, aged 70 years. "Be ye followers of them who thro' faith and patience inherit the promises." Also, SUSANNAH REYNOLDS, Grand-daughter of the above, Who died the 7th day of April, 1793, Aged 4 years. JOHN WILSON. After the death of Mr. Reynolds, the congregation at Curriers'-Hall was supplied by various ministers, particularly by Mr. Broody, till he settled at Poplar, in 1796. Towards the latter end of 1798, Mr. John Wilson, who had been settled about two or three years at Warwick, removed to London, to take charge of the church at this place. In the following year he removed his people, • Baptist Annual Register, vol. ii. p. 41-44. CURRIERS'-HALL. - Sabbatarian Baptist. who were but few in number, to Redcross-street, where he continued to preach to them till 1807, when he was dismissed the pastoral office, and from his connexion with this church. Since then they have had no pastor, but attend the ministry of Mr. Franklin, to whose people they let the place; but they keep up the distinction of a separate church, in order to preserve the annuity bequeathed to them as long as they continue together. CURRIERS'-HALL. SABBATARIAN BAPTIST. HE T Sabbatrians are those Christians who observe the seventh day, or Saturday, as a Sabbath. They are to be found principally, if not wholly, among the Baptists. They object to the reasons commonly alleged for keeping the first day; and assert that the change from the seventh to the first was effected by Constantine, upon his conversion to Christianity. The three following propositions, form the basis of the principles by which they are distinguished: 1. That God hath required the observation of the seventh, or last day of every week, to be observed by mankind universally for the weekly Sabbath. 2. That this command of God is perpetually binding on man, till time shall be no more. And 3. That this sacred rest of the seventh-day Sabbath, is not (by divine authority) changed from the seventh and last to the first day of the week, or that the scripture doth no where require the observation of any other day of the week for the |