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GREAT ST. THOMAS APOSTLE.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

meeting-house in Great St. Thomas Apostle. At this time, it being proposed to finish the Exposition upon the New Testament, began by Mr. Henry, Mr. Atkinson was one of the ministers fixed upon for this work. The part he undertook was the two Epistles to Timothy. Mr. Atkinson continued pastor of his church a considerable number of years. He was a peaceable man, of moderate principles, and accounted a good practical preacher. His learning was very considerable, and he was uncommonly well skilled in the oriental languages. During the debate at the Salters'-Hall synod, in 1719, he took part with the non-subscribing ministers; and re-printed his confession of faith, to which he added a preface, designed to satisfy the world, that he had not in the least given into any new notions concerning the Trinity. From thence it is to be inferred, that some suspicions on this head were preferred against him. About the year 1742, Mr. Atkinson left his people, and, after a few years retired to Leicester. There, for the space of 16 years, he resided in the house of his son-in-law, Mr. Hugh Worthington, father to Mr. Worthington, of Salters'-Hall; and in that retreat, finished his course at an advanced age, in the year 1765, Mr. Atkinson published several single sermons, and some other pieces, which shall be enumerated below. (R)

(R) WORKS.-1: A Confession of Faith at his Ordination, 1713. Reprinted 1719.-2. An Exposition of the first and second Epistles to Timothy; in the Continuation of Matthew Henry.-3. A Sermon to the Societies for Reformation of Manners, June 27, 1726.-4. Catholic Principles. 1729.-5. A Vindication of the literal Sense of three Miracles of Christhis turning Water into Wine-his whipping the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple-and his exorcising the Devils out of two Men. Against Woolston. 8vo. 1729.-6. Two Sermons against Popery.-7. The Decay of Practical Religion lamented, and the Scripture-method for reviving it considered. In four Sermons.-8. Christianity not older than the Gospel Promise. Against Tindal. 1731.-9. The Holy Scriptures a perfect Rule of Faith a Sermon, preached January 26, 1734-5.-10. A Judgment of private Discretion vindicated; in a Sermon, February 9, 1784-5.-11. Good Princes nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers: a Sermon on the Marriage of the Prince of Wales with the Princess of Saxe Gotha; preached May 2,

BOW-LANE, CHEAPSIDE.-Independent, Extinet.

JOHN SHERMAN received his education, we believe, in Scotland, where he took the degree of Master of Arts. He seems, also, to have been Doctor of Physic, from whence it is to be presumed that he cultivated that science. His first appearance in the ministry, was as assistant to Mr. Atkinson, at Great St. Thomas Apostle; from whence, in 1719, he removed to Ware, in Hertfordshire, to succeed the Rev. John Hughes, for whom he preached and printed a funeral sermon. In 1734, he accepted an invitation from Shepton-Mallet, in Somersetshire, to succeed the Rev. Anthony Atkey, and continued there till his death, in 1754. Latterly he enjoyed but a very indifferent state of health; so that during a great part of his residence at Shepton, he was under the necessity of applying to neighbouring ministers for assistance, and sometimes, when he could not obtain supplies, to shut up the meeting-house, which was a great disadvantage to the Society. Mr. Sherman was one of the nonsubscribing ministers at the Salters'-Hall synod, in 1719.

After the removal of Mr. Atkinson, the Society, at Great St. Thomas Apostle, became extinct. The Scotch Seceders will fall under notice in a succeeding part of this work.

BOW-LANE, CHEAPSIDE.

INDEPENDENT.-EXTINCT.

AMONG the numerous places of worship, of which the

memory is nearly lost, must be included the one now under consideration. In the year 1727, we find mention of an Independent congregation in Bow-lane, of which the pastor was a Mr. Thomas Lamb. But how long the church existed prior, and subsequent to that period, and who was this

1786. Isa. xlix. 23.-12. Jehovah the Judge, Lawgiver, King, and Saviour of his Church: a Sermon preached November 4, 1739, at the Evening Lecture, Hanover-street; and November 5, at St. Thomas Apostle. Isa. xxxiii. 22. Dedicated to Lord Harrington. 1739.

BROKEN WHARF, THAMES-STREET.-Baptist, Extinct.

Mr. Lamb, are questions which we are not able to answer. (s) It was probably a separation from some other Society in the former part of the eighteenth century.

BROKEN WHARF, THAMES-STREET.

BAPTIST.EXTINCT.

BROKEN

ROKEN WHARF is so called from its being broken and fallen down into the Thames. Here stood the city brewhouse, to which the void space of ground was given by Queen Elizabeth. Adjoining it, also, stood a large old building, formerly belonging to the Dukes of Norfolk, but since, to the city of London. Within the gate of this house, stands an engine for forcing water from the river Thames, to serve the middle and west parts of the city.* During the reign of William the Third, a portion of this building was let out for a meeting-house, to the famous Mr. Hanserd Knollys, and his colleague, Mr. Robert Steed. In 1691, they removed the church to Bagnio-court, Newgate-street. After continuing there a few years, the congregation again shifted their meeting to Curriers'-Hall, Cripplegate, where the reader will find a more particular account of the church.

(s) It is supposed that this Mr. Lamb was brother to Mr. Timothy Lamb, of Deadman's-place, and that he retired to Burntwood, where he lived in great style, and died above half a century ago. He was a person of considerable property.

• Maitland's London, vol. ii. p. 1030.

CARTER-LANE, DOCTORS'-COMMONS.

ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN.

THE Presbyterian congregation in Little Carter-Lane,

Doctors' Commons, is of early origin, and in point of respectability, has always ranked among the most considerable of that denomination in London. It took its rise in the early part of the reign of Charles the Second, being gathered by the labours of the pious and excellent Mr. Matthew Sylvester, who was ejected from Gunnerby, in Lincolnshire, and settled in London, in 1667, being the year after the dreadful fire. His congregation assembled first at Rutland-house, Dr. Calamy says in Charter-house-yard; by which we are probably to understand Glass-houseyard, the ancient meeting-house in that place, being formerly a part of Rutland-house, as will be seen more fully when we come to speak of that building. Here, towards the latter end of the reign of King James the Second, he was assisted by the truly venerable Mr. Richard Baxter.

Soon after the Revolution, they removed to another place of worship, in Meeting-house-court, Blackfriars. This was one of the places singled out for destruction, by the infuriated mob that fell upon the Dissenters in 1710. The reader need scarcely be informed, that the idol of this faction was the Rev. Henry Sacheverel, D. D. and minister of St. Saviour's, Southwark, whose history makes a conspicuous figure in the annals of fanatical zeal, and priestly domination. That this preacher of passive obedience and non-resistance, should have inspired his admirers with notions of such a rebellious nature, as to break forth into open resistance against the constituted authorities of the land, is a fact no less curious than certain, and points out the precarious nature of that VOL. II.

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CARTER-LANE, DOCTORS'-COMMONS..

-English Presbyterian.

Be

attachment which basks only in the sunshine of a court. cause a liberal-minded prince had sheathed the sword, which for near thirty years had been let loose upon the Dissenters, this ecclesiastical firebrand, envying their peace and liberty, must raise the senseless cry of "the church in danger;" though from what quarter, seeing she was fenced round by articles, canons, and penal laws at every avenue, that she enjoyed the protection of the civil sword, and was supported by a powerful and interested priesthood, posterity is at a loss to guess. The animal that possesses a soul so contracted as to proscribe all divine worship, which is not offered in a manner agreeably to its own limited apprehensions, is unworthy a human form, and merits, in a high degree, the infamy of a troubler in Israel. It is from such troublesome spirits as these, belong to whatever denomination they may, and not from the real subjects of Christ's kingdom, who will always be the quiet of the land, that the kingdom of the clergy is in danger.

Though Mr. Sylvester was far from being a popular preacher, yet during the lifetime of Mr. Baxter, his ministry was well attended. But after the death of that great man, many persons deserted him, which proved a great discouragement. He would not, however, relinquish his post, but continued labouring till, in a good old age, he was released by death. His successor, Dr. Samuel Wright, being a minister of good pulpit talents, and a very acceptable preacher, soon raised the congregation; but, it was not long after his settlement, that the disaster above-mentioned happened to his meeting-house. The damage it sustained from the rioters being repaired at the expence of government, Dr. Wright continued his ministry at Blackfriars, for the space of more than twenty years, with great comfort and usefulness. At length, the congregation being grown very numerous, a larger place became necessary; and gave the building of the present meeting-house in Little Carterlane, which was opened for divine worship, on the 5th of

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