FETTER-LANE. Independent. to see the day, when you shall as well have Magna Charta for the liberty of conscience, as you have had for your properties."* Agreeable to this was the declaration he made to his council, when he gave it as his opinion, "as most suitable to the principle of Christianity, That no man should be persecuted for conscience sake; for he thought conscience could not be forced, and that it could never be the true interest of a King of England to endeavour to do it." Had these sentiments proceeded from the King's heart, they would have redounded greatly to his honour; but it is evident that his favour to the Dissenters, was only a cloak for introducing Popery. Of this the Dissenters, in general, were well aware; and the Presbyterians in particular set themselves to oppose the measures of the court. They not only received the King's Indulgence with great coldness, but concurred with the episcopal clergy in upholding the penal laws; and when the seven bishops were committed to the tower for resisting the declaration for liberty of conscience, ten non-conforming ministers very imprudently paid them a visit of condolence. This was strange conduct for persons in their situation; for however criminal the motive of the King might be in granting a general toleration, we do not see that the nonconformists were bound to inquire into it. The thing itself was an act of pure justice; and to reject it merely on account of the quarter from whence it came, would have been the height of absurdity. Perhaps few edicts on account of religion will bear the test of examination-few but take their rise rather from political expediency, than a regard to the rights of mankind. It was a strange thing to see Protestant Dissenters unite with their persecutors in supporting those laws which for more than twenty years had been the instruments of their oppression; and reflected more honour upon their zeal against Biog. Brit. Art. ALSOP. + Neal's Puritans, ubi supra. FETTER-LANE.--Independent. Popery, than their attachment to religious freedom. The return they afterwards met with for their condescension is well known to all who are acquainted with our ecclesiastical history; and proves that bishops can dissimulate as well as kings-that they can make fair promises when under a cloud, and turn cheats when the danger is over. Notwithstanding the reflections that were cast upon Mr. Lobb, and such as fell in with the court measures, they certainly acted upon a more enlightened policy, and shewed themselves the warm patrons of toleration. They were as inimical to Popery as their brethren; but were not so fond of restraint as to quarrel with their liberty because it was extended to Papists. Nor did they care to put themselves again under the protection of those, who, when in power, had shewn them so little mercy; for if King James had succeeded in establishing his religion, the Nonconformists could hardly have been more severely handled, than they had been for more than twenty years past, by their Protestant brethren. We shall close this subject by observing, that Mr. Lobb was one of those who advised the King to prosecute the bishops above-mentioned; a very unpopular measure, but fully justified upon the principles which they had themselves inculcated in that and the preceding reign. They had preached up the dispensing power till the King was become absolute, and the nation brought to the very verge of ruin; but they made no scruple to resist it, when turned against themselves. So inconsistent is man, and so dangerous the power of the clergy, when suffered to transgress the limits of their profession! Soon after the Revolution, the ministers about London, of the Presbyterian and Independent denominations, drew up certain heads of agreement, which they published to the world as the basis of their union. But it was not of long continuance. Animosity and contention about doctrinal matters unhappily broke out amongst them, occasioned by • Neal's Puritans, ubi supra, FETTER-LANE.-Independent. the re-publication of Dr. Crisp's works in 1690, accompanied by the attestation of several ministers to their being genuine. Some positions in this book being thought of ill-consequence, Dr. Williams published, in 1692, his "Gospel Truth stated and vindicated," designed to counteract some of Dr. Crisp's errors; and to this several names were prefixed by way of approbation. From this time the press was inundated with books upon both sides of the question, and a breach followed, that effectually separated the two denomi nations. Mr. Lobb addressed a letter to Dr. Bates on the doctrine of Satisfaction; in which he argued that either Mr. Williams was not sound in that point, or else the Doctor had not stated it rightly in his Harmony, printed many years before. But to this the Doctor returned no printed answer. Afterwards Mr. Lobb published, "A Report of the present State of the Differences in Doctrinals, between some Dissenting Ministers in London." This was answered by Mr. Alsop in "A faithful Rebuke to a false Report." In reply to this, Mr. Lobb published a Defence of his "Report," and Remarks on Mr. Alsop's " Rebuke." At length Mr. Lobb sent forth his " Appeal to the Bishop of Worcester, and Dr. Jonathan Edwards, about the Controversy between him and Mr. Williams ;" and after some time, the Bishop of Worcester, (Dr. Stillingfleet,) made a reply in "A Discourse concerning the Doctrine of Christ's Satisfaction wherein the Antinomian and Socinian Controversies about it are truly stated and explained; in Answer to Mr. Lobb's Appeal, and to several Letters from the Dissenting Parties in London." The bishop very candidly gives an account of what he esteemed truth, and what error, in the matters that had been debated, and upon what grounds: but intimates that he could see no occasion for so much heat; and concludes there must be something further in the matter, than appeared to an indifferent and impartial reader; which he would not inquire into.* Mr. Lobb still pursued Calamy's Life of Baxter, vol. i. p. 476. 515. $50. 561-4. FETTER-LANE.-Independent. the controversy in "A further Defence of his " Appeal;" and it was closed by Dr. Williams, in a piece entitled, “An End to Discord." Mr. Lobb's side of the question was taken by Dr. Chauncey, Mr. Mather, Mr. Humfrey, Mr. Goodwin, and most of the Independents; and it was opposed by the Presbyterians, most of the clergy in the establishment, and some of the Independents. These accused the opposite party of antinomianism; and they retorted upon them the charge of arminianism, and other grievous heresies. Having already entered into the particulars of this paper war, in the life of Dr. Williams, we forbear to enlarge upon it in this place. But we cannot suppress our regret that so many good men should employ their time in fighting about words of no profit, but to the subversion of peace and charity, and the dishonour of the Christian name. Had their time and talents been employed in composing their party differences, in cultivating a spirit of moderation and forbearance, in promoting the great ends of practical religion, and in defending the common Christianity against unbelievers, they would have turned to infinitely better account. Mr. Lobb died in the vigour of life, June 3, 1699. The manner of his death was sudden. Dining at the house of a friend, he was seized at table with a fit, and expired in the course of the day. As a man, and as a Christian, he possessed all those qualities that were calculated to endear him to his acquaintance. He was of an excellent benign temper, rarely provoked to anger; disposed at all times to do good; ready to relieve the distressed; and active to promote any public interest, that could further the prosperity of the churches. He possessed a discerning penetrating spirit, a firm and sound judgment, and great strength of mind; but was humble under all his attainments. These natural abili ties were carefully cultivated by a close application to study, in which his industry was amply rewarded by an increase of knowledge. He knew and loved the gospel of Christ, and delighted most in those studies that led him into the myste FETTER-LANE.-Independent. ries of redemption. The knowledge of divine things filled his soul with rapture, and was the element in which he breathed. He was a great master of the art of reasoning, and employed that valuable talent in defending the great truths of the gospel. But he knew how to discover zeal for the truth without being angry. In his relative capacity, he was a loving husband, and a tender father; a true friend, and punctual to his word, never promising more than he meant to perform. But the station in which he most shone, was that of a faithful pastor; labouring in the word and doctrine, conversing with his hearers, inquiring into their cases and necessities, and administering counsel or reproof as he judged needful. In short, he was of a most benevolent disposition, candid and ingenuous to his fellow-christians, pious towards God, and virtuous in his whole deportment; which rendered him a very estimable person, and his death a no small loss to the churches in this city. His colleague in the ministry, the Rev. Mr. Thomas Goodwin, preached his funeral sermon from Heb. ii. 14. and afterwards published it. Mr. Lobb's marriage has been noticed above. His wife died in 1691, and her funeral sermon was preached and published by the Rev. Samuel Slater, an excellent Presbyterian Divine, who had a great esteem for Mr. Lobb, which he expresses in an affectionate Dedication. By this lady, he had three sons; Stephen, who died at Shaftesbury, in 1720; Theophilus, a Dissenting minister, and an eminent physician, in London, of whose life a particular account has been given in this work; and Samuel, likewise a minister, who conformed to the church of England, and became rector of Hungerford-Farley, Wilts, where he died Nov. 6, 1760. THOMAS GOODWIN, jun.-As Mr. Lobb preached • Mr. Goodwin's Sermon on the death of Mr. Lobb. |