SILVER-STREET.-Independent, Extinct. JOHN LODER.-The church-books belonging to this society mention Mr. John Loder as pastor. His name stands immediately after that of Philip Nye, who is called "Teacher." We have not met with any account of this person in print. He was ejected from the lectureship of St. Bartholomew, behind the Exchange. Dr. Calamy gives him the character of " a valuable, worthy man."* He survived Mr. Nye, but little more than a twelvemonth, dying in the month of December, 1673. He was interred in Bunhill-Fields, where the following inscription was placed his tomb-stone; but it has been long since destroyed. upon &c. 1643.-3. The Excellency and Lawfulness of the solemn League and Covenant, set forth in a Speech to the House of Commons, and the reverend Assembly of Ministers, at the taking of the said Covenant, Sept. 25, 1643. Second Edition. 1660.-4. Apologetical Narration submitted to the Honourable Houses of Parliament. 1643.-5. An epistolary Discourse about Toleration. 1644.-6. The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and Power thereof, according to the Word of God. 1644.-7. Mr. Anthony Sadler examined, or his Disguise discovered; shewing the gross Mistakes, and most notorious Falsehoods in his Dealing with the Commissioners for Approbation of public Preachers in his Inquisitio Anglicana. 1645.-8. The Principles of Faith, presented by Thomas Goodwin, Philip Nye, &c. to the Committee of Parliament for Religion, by Way of Explanation to the Proposals for propagating the Gospel. 1654.-9. A Sermon preached before the Citizens of London. 1659.-10. Beams of former Light, discovering how Evil it is to impose doubtful and disputable Forms for Practices upon Ministers, especially under the Penalty of Ejection for Nonconformity unto the same. 1660.-11. Case of Philip Nye, Minister; humbly tendered to the Consideration of the Parliament. 1662.-12. Case of great and present Use, &c. 1677.-13. The Lawfulness of the Oath of Supremacy, and Power of the King in ecclesiastical Affairs, with Queen Elizabeth's Admonition, 1683. Third Edition in 1687, when it was dedicated by Henry Nye, the Author's Son, to King James II.-14. Vindication of Dissenters; proving that their particular Congregations are not inconsistent with the King's Supremacy in ecclesiastical Affairs. Printed with "The Lawfulness, &c." 1683.-15. Some Account of the Nature, Constitution, and Power of ecclesiastical Courts. Printed also with the former. 1683.-16. The Lawfulness of hearing the public Ministers of the Church of England; proved by Philip Nye and John Robinson. 1683.-17. A Treatise upon the Subject of Catechising, • Calamy's Account, p. 30. SILVER-STREET.Independent, Extinct. Corporis exuvias uno posuere sepulchro 1674. The body of The Rev. Mr. JOHN LODER, Minister of the Gospel, Who dyed 30th December, 1673. THOMAS COLE, M. A.-This celebrated Divine was born about the year 1627, in the city of London. He descended from respectable parents, his father, Mr. William Cole, being a gentleman of independent property, in the metropolis. He received the early part of his education in Westminster-school, from whence he was elected student of Christ-church, Oxford.* In 1656, he became Principal of St. Mary's-Hall, where he was a distinguished tutor, having the honour to educate many eminent Divines, both in the establishment and out of it, as well as other eminent scholars, particularly the great Mr. Locke, who being a layman, kept up a connexion with the established church, but discovered a high regard for those conscientious men who left it, because they could not comply with the act of Uniformity, while he shewed an abhorrence of the act itself, and a contempt of those in general who so readily fell in with it. + Upon the Restoration of Charles II. in 1660, Mr. Cole was ejected from his situation at Oxford, by the King's commissioners; after which he retired to Nettlebed, in the same county, where he kept a private academy, which was ⚫ Wood's Fatsi Oxon. vol. ii. p. 96.-Calamy's Acc. p. 61. SILVER-STREET.-Independent, Extinct. in considerable repute. For the office of a tutor Mr. Cole was well qualified, being a man of good learning, much the gentleman, and eminent for virtue and piety. Mr. Samuel Wesley, the son of an ejected minister of the same name, and father to the late celebrated Mr. John Wesley, who was a pupil of Mr. Cole, but afterwards conformed to the established church, and, in order to evince the truth of his conversion, wrote very vehemently against his former friends, shamefully traduced the character of Mr. Cole as an encourager of immorality in his family. From this charge he is ably defended by Mr. Samuel Palmer, author of an excellent defence of Dissenting Academies. Of Mr. Cole, he says, "He was a man of a most innocent and spotless life in his usual conversation, and though the judgment of that excellent person was somewhat differing from my own in his polemical writings, yet we are all witnesses, and so is every man with whom he did converse, of the value that he had for moral virtue, by his constant, sober, virtuous, and pious life."* From Nettlebed Mr. Cole removed to London, to take charge of the Independent congregation lately under the care of Mr. Nye and Mr. Loder. To this service he was publicly set apart at Cutlers'-Hall, Cloak-lane, in the month of February, 1674; Mr. Thomas Dunne was ordained ruling elder at the same time; and Dr. Owen, with other Independent ministers, assisted upon the occasion. † A few years after his removal to London, Mr. Cole was chosen into the Merchants' lecture at Pinners'-Hall; and he was one of the ministers who remained behind after the division in the lecture. At this time he zealously opposed what was called the Neonomian doctrine; and upon this occasion he acted from strict integrity, and a firm persuasion of the truth • Vindication of the Learning, Loyalty, Morals, &c. of the Dissenters, by Samuel Palmer. P. 97, 93. + MS, penes me. SILVER-STREET.-Independent, Extinct. and importance of the doctrines he espoused. Several years before his death, Mr. Cole removed his church to TallowChandlers'-Hall, Dowgate-hill, and afterwards to Pinners'Hall. He preached his last sermon at the latter place, on Lord's-day, August 22, 1697. His subject was Christ the advocate of believers, from 1 John, ii. 1, 2. If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, &c. Not long after, he was confined to his bed. In the prospect of his approaching end, his mind was the most happy imaginable; and he conversed with different persons in a manner that gave great satisfaction to those about him. Of Mr. Cole's conversation in the closing scenes of life, an interesting account is still preserved in manuscript. It is entitled, "Memorable Speeches of Mr. Cole upon his Death-bed," and is as follows: Mr. Traile. Sir, you know what opposition is made to that doctrine you have been enabled to deliver: and what construction was made of Mr. Mather's discourse. Therefore it might do well to declare your thoughts of that doctrine. Mr. Cole. With all my heart: I have enough to say of that. This one thing I am convinced of, that it is a foolish thing to seek for the justification of a sinner, without satisfaction to the justice of God: which nothing can do, but the righteousness of Christ imputed to him. While justice remains unsatisfied, it will overthrow all other grounds of hope for justification, that we can conceive from our own works and doings. The justice of God strikes the sinner, under the curse, and SO leaves him in a condemned state. It would be miserable dying if we had nothing else to ground our hope of eternal life upon: better never have been born. But that shews us a more clear, a more abundant entrance into the kingdom of God, by the way of Christ's righteousness; there we meet with no obstructions, or pull-backs. The devil, the law may meet us, yet cannot hinder us from VOL. III. M SILVER-STREET.--Independent, Extinct. but by that Bring that along with If a sinner comes in his entering into heaven through that righteousness, or frame objections against it. They can frame many objections against ours. We shall be sure to meet with the devil, and conscience, with wicked men, and the law too, in our way to heaven and we can deal with noue of them, righteousness that hath satisfied all. us, and they will all fly before it. own righteousness, shut him out says God, saith the law, says conscience, saith the devil; but when one comes clothed with the righteousness of Christ, let him in says God, says conscience, saith the law. Let the devil speak a word against it if he dare. The truth is, it is high time to let go the world, to let go the creature, to let go all of man, and purely venture, by faith, upon Jesus Christ, to secure the way to heaven without which we have no hope; for we have nothing else to venture upon, but that anchor within the vail if we cast it forth it will hold. Mr. Traile. Sir, you know what opposition hath been made, as I said, against these truths of the gospel, and what contending there hath been, &c. But have you no kind of repenting, that you have given occasion of this contention? Mr. Cole. Repenting, no: I repent I have been no more vigorous and active in defending those truths; in the confidence of which I die and if I have any desire to live, it is that I may be further serviceable to Christ, in vindicating his name in the pulpit. But he can defend his own truth, when his poor creatures, and ministers, who contend for them (as well as they could), are laid in the dust. Mr. Traile. We desire to know the peace and comfort you have of these truths, as to your own eternal state? Mr. Cole. It is my only ground of comfort. Death would be terrible else. I should not dare to look death in the face, if it were not for the comfortable assurance that faith giveth me of eternal life in Christ. Were it not for the comfortable and abundant flowing in of that life. Not what I bring to Christ, but derive from him, having received |