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JOINERS'-HALL, THAMES-STREET.—Particular Baptist, Extinct.

instance! Worthy our imitation! So beautiful even is this imperfect sketch of so amiable a life."

His death was equally remarkable: When he had faithfully served his Lord above fifty years, a few months before his death, he fell under a decay of nature, without any considerable sense of pain, or uneasiness of sickness. "When I paid him a visit, (says Dr. Hunt,) three days before his decease, he appeared perfectly serene and calm: The hope he expressed of future happiness, was not the rapturous assurance of some Christians of less extent of thought; the humble and knowing saint owning his many imperfections, had recourse to the merits and intercession of his Lord. When I was going to take my leave of him, he took me by the hand, and gave me a steady and a piercing look, which had in it a mixture of concern; I am so weak (says he) that I cannot now so well pray in my family: The good man thought it strange that the intercourse he had maintained with God in his family so many years, should be interrupted, little thinking his kind Father would so soon turn his prayer into praise. The manner of his dying was such as literally agreed to the account scripture gives of the departure of true Christians, Falling asleep in Jesus."*

THOMAS RICHARDSON.-Mr. Maisters was succeeded in 1718, by the Rev. Thomas Richardson. In 1723, he removed his congregation from Pinners'-Hall to Devonshire-square, then occupied by another congregation of Particular Baptists, under the pastoral care of Mr. Mark Key. The two Societies met alternately on both parts of the day, during the whole of Mr. Richardson's time; but after his death, the morning service was wholly allotted to this Society. Mr. Richardson continued to preach there till his

* Crosby's Hist. Eng. Baptists, vol. iv. p. 343.-Calamy's Contin. p. 107. Noncon. Mem. vol. i. p. 246.—Dr. Hunt's Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Joseph Maisters.

JOINERS'-HALL, THAMES-STREET.—Particular Baptist, Extinct.

death, which took place early in 1730. He was one of the Non-subscribing ministers at the Salters'-Hall Synod, in 1719. His only publication that we have met with, is a sermon, entitled, "The Conflict and Crown of a Christian;" occasioned by the death of Dame Mary Page, relict of Sir Gregory Page; preached at Devonshire-square, March 23, 1728-9, on 2 Tim. iv. 7, 8. Mr. Thomas Harrison, of Wild-street, also published a sermon on the same occasion, in which it was thought he did not use Mr. Richardson well.

CLENDON DAWKES.-After a vacancy of more than two years, Mr. Hugh Evans, of Bristol, was invited to become pastor of this church; but he declining, Mr. Dawkes was chosen in 1735. This gentleman is supposed to have come originally from Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire, and was well known in London, where he preached among the Particular Baptists a considerable number of years. He settled, in early life, with an ancient congregation in Broad-street, Wapping, where he succeeded a Mr. Edward Elliot, about the year 1719, or 1720. In this situation he continued till Christmas, 1726, when he resigned his charge, and accepted a call to become pastor of a newly constituted church in Collier's-Rents, Southwark. This connexion, however, was but of short duration, for Mr. Dawkes left his people early in 1730; though upon what account we can find no where mentioned. The probable reason, however, was his partiality to strict communion; the church in Collier's-Rents being formed upon the mixed plan.*

After spending about three or four years without any settled charge, Mr. Dawkes was chosen about 1754, or 1735, to succeed Mr. Richardson as pastor of the Society that met in the afternoon at Devonshire-square. With this people he continued above sixteen years; but their numbers being

• Private Information.

JOINERS'-HALL, THAMES-STREET.-Particular Baptist, Extinct.

greatly reduced by deaths and removals, they were, at length, under the necessity of dissolving their church state. This event is said to have taken place about the year 1751. After this, Mr. Dawkes accepted a call from the Baptist church at Hemel-Hempstead, in Hertfordshire, where he finished his course, December 12, 1758, but at what age does not appear.*

Mr. Dawkes was a learned man, and an acceptable preacher. His religious sentiments were high Calvinism, but he seems to have carried himself with moderation towards his brethren. Mr. Brine, of London, preached his funeral sermon, at Hemel-Hempstead, and afterwards published it. The text, which was chosen by the deceased, was 2 Cor. v. 1. For we know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, &c. That part of the discourse which relates to Mr. Dawkes, is as follows: "It may now be expected that I should give a character of him, and a beauteous representation might be given of him; but I must inform you, that he laid an injunction upon me, not to enlarge upon his character, and that he expressed a dislike of bestowing encomiums upon the dead; however, a few words concerning him may surely be allowed. He was meek, humble, and modest; wise, and learned; diligent in study, there is reason to think, to the prejudice of his constitution. He had an enlarged acquaintance with the evangelical scheme, and a spiritual savour of the truths of the gospel. In his last long illness, which issued in his death, he was remarkably favoured with the gracious presence of God, and filled with a holy adoration of sovereign grace and mercy. Those glorious truths, which, in the course of his ministry, he recommended to you, were the matter of his support, consolation, and unspeakable joy, in the views of his dissolution."+

• Private Information.

+ Mr. Brine's Sermon on the Death of Mr. Dawkes, p. 98, 29.

PLUMBERS'-HALL.

PLUMBER

LUMBERS'-HALL is situated in Chequer-yard, Dowgate-hill. It is not within our knowledge that any Dissenting church ever met here statedly, but we notice the place on account of the following circumstance, mentioned by our respectable historian, Mr. Daniel Neal. It appears from that author, that in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Puritans held a meeting here; but were disturbed by the sheriffs, and many of them sent to prison. On the 19th of June, 1567, they agreed to have a sermon and communion at Plumbers'Hall, which they hired for that day, under pretence of a wedding. But here the sheriffs of London detected and broke them up, when they were assembled to the number of about a hundred. Most of them were taken into custody, and some sent to the Counter. On the following day, seven or eight of the chief were brought before the Bishop of London, Dean Goodman, Archdeacon Watts, and Sir Roger Martin, the Lord Mayor. The Bishop charged them with absenting from their parish churches, and with setting up separate assemblies for prayer and teaching, and administering the sacrament. He told them, by these proceedings they condemned the Church of England, which was well reformed according to the word of God; and those martyrs who shed their blood for it. To which one of them replied in the name of the rest, that they condemned them not, but only stood for the truth of God's word. Then the Bishop asked the ancientest of them, Mr. John Smith, what he could answer? To which he replied, "That they thanked God for the Reformation; that as long as they could hear the word of God preached without the idolatrous gear about it, they never assembled in private houses; but when it came to this point, that all their preachers were displaced who would not subscribe to the apparel, so that they could hear

PLUMBERS'-HALL.

none of them in the church for the space of seven or eight weeks, except father Coverdale, they began to consult what to do, and remembering there had been a congregation of Protestants in the city of London, in Queen Mary's days, and another of English exiles at Geneva, that used a book framed by them there, they resolved to meet privately together, and use the said book." And finally, Mr. Smith offered in the name of the rest, to yield, and do penance at Paul's Cross, if the Bishop and Commissioners, could reprove that book, or any thing else that they held, by the word of God.

The Bishop told him they could not reprove the book, but that was no sufficient answer for his not going to church. To which Mr. Smith replied, that, "he would as soon go to mass, as to some churches, and particularly to his own parish church; for the minister that officiated there was a very papist." Others said the same of other parish priests. The Bishop asked, if they accused any of them by name; upon which one of them named Mr. Bedel, who was present; but the Bishop would not inquire into the accusation. After some conversation respecting the habits, the Bishop asserted that princes had authority to command what God had left indifferent, which some of them urged him to prove; but the Bishop would not enter into the debate, alleging the judgment of the learned Bullinger: To which Mr. Smith replied, That, perhaps they could shew Bullinger against Bullinger, in the affair of the habits. The Bishop asked them whether they would be determined by the church of Geneva. Mr. Smith replied, "That they reverenced the learned in Geneva, and in other places, but did not build their faith and religion upon them." After much warm debating, in which they defended their conduct as built upon the word of God, which was of higher authority than the command of earthly princes, they were sent to Bridewell, and closely confined there above a year. At length, their patience and constancy having been sufficiently tried, they

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