Printed at Smith's Printing-Office Tiverton.

THE

BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

MARCH, 1811.

Brief Memoirs of the English Baptists.

SECTION VI.

From the Revolution under William III, to the death of Queen Ann.

WE are apprehensive that the memorials of some of the princes of our people who suffered for religion in the days of Charles and James II, are entirely lost. The names only of others remain: a very short account of others; and the lives of those of whom we have the most copious and interesting information are already before the public in several different editions. We shall therefore for the present, omit particular biography and proceed with general memoirs.

William being promoted to the Throne, the act of toleration passed, and the face of things changed, it presently appeared how ineffectual fines, imprisonments, and other barbarous methods were to stop the growth and increase of the English Baptists. A general assembly of our brethren was held in London, from the 5th to the 11th of September, 1689; and delegates from one hundred congregations met to consult of proper ways and means to promote the glory of God and the prosperity of their churches. This assembly resolved, "That a public fund was necessary towards maintaining a regular ministry, and unanimously concluded it should be raised by the freewill offerings of their people, and that the churches should collect them with all convenient speed, that the ends proposed might be put into present practice. That the said fund be applied to the following uses:

'Vol. III,

N

To assist those churches that are not able to maintain their own ministers.

To send suitable ministers to itinerate in various parts of the country, and visit the churches, &c.

To assist young men designed for the ministry in attaining useful knowledge. The assembly also appointed a day for fasting and prayer, and published a confession of faith.

Another general assembly was held in London from the 2nd to the 8th of June, 1691; in which the same methods were used for the happy settlement, firm peace, and well being of the churches, for which they were immediately concerned.

The same year several baptist churches in Somersetshire and other parts of the west of England, published a confession of their faith in 37 Articles.

Another general assembly was held in London from the 3rd to the 24th of May, 1692; and in order to the more comfortable communion of those churches that were in union, and then consisted of 107, it was thought expedient to divide the general assembly into two. One to be held at Bristol and the other in London; desiring that all churches will send messengers to one or the other, once a year, as may be most for their conveniency. That the meeting at Bristol be kept annually at Easter, and that in London at Whitsuntide. That two messengers be sent down from London every time to that at Bristol, and also two sent up from that at Bristol to that in London, for the maintaining of general communion. That all churches make quarterly collections for the funds, in what method they think best. That those assemblies are not to be accountable to one another any more than churches are. That no churches make appeals to them, to determine matters of faith or fact, but propose or enquire for advice. That after both meetings have been held, a general narrative be printed and sent to all the churches of such matters as may be of genuine usc.

At this time there was a very warm controversy about singing in public worship, maintained in print by several members of baptist churches, and it was agreed to refer the matter to the determination of a committee of the general assembly, who de cided in favour of the practice; and thereby a stop was put to the controversy, and many baptist churches adopted the prac tice who had not used it before. Very numerous were the baptist churches in England at this period, and though, but onc hundred and seven churches made up the general assembly, it is to be observed, there were many other churches of the same faith and order, that associated together, which never joined in

their assemblies, besides a great number of general baptist churches, which in like order and manner, had their general assemblies, and the same is continued amongst them, and held in London at Whitsuntide to the present times.

1695. Hitherto the baptists in Wales met to worship in private houses, and shifted as they could, but this year a very convenient meeting house was built at Llanwenarth, the first that was erected by our denomination in the principality.

1698. Some zealots desiring the restoration of James, conspired to assassinate king William, but being discovered were executed, and his majesty was congratulated by the nation on his deliverance from the plot by many addresses. The baptist ministers in and about London presented their address by Dr. Joseph Stennet, on the 9th of April, being introduced by the earl of Monmouth.

1699. A very long and warm public dispute was held thts year at Portsmouth, between the baptists and pædobaptists, concerning baptism. Previous to this time many similar disputations had been held at different places, but after this period they began to be disapproved, and in a short season were very wisely discontinued. Mr. John Tombs, Dr. Russel, Mr. Jeremiah Ives, and others were famous disputants for the baptists, and Dr. Featly, Mr. Baxter, and Mr. Chandler, and others for the pædobaptists.

About this time Mr. John Pilkington, a papist of the Benedictine order of monks, in Paris, embraced the principles of the baptists, and was baptized by the Rev. John Piggot in London.

1700. Messengers from the baptist churches in Wales attended the general assembly in London four years, and at Bristol and Taunton seven years, but this year they held an association amongst themselves, at Llanwenarth, May 6th, being the first association known to be held in the principality since the year 1656.

In 1701, James II died, and the French King proclaimed the pretended prince of Wales King of England, at which proclamation the nation was much enraged, and shewed their resentment in many loyal addresses to the throne. An address from the baptists in and about London, was presented by Dr. J. Stennet, introduced by the Earl of Peterborough.

1702. King William fell from his horse, and broke his Collar-bone Feb. 21, and died March 8th, aged 51, and was succeeded by his Sister in law Ann.

Queen Ann reigned very gloriously over the British nation for some years. The bishop of St. Asaph speaking of her

reign says, "Snch was the fame of her administrations at home, to such a height of military glory did her great General (the duke of Marlborough) and her armies carry the British name abroad, and such was the blessing of God upon all her councils and undertakings, that I am sure no prince of ours was ever yet so prosperous and successful, so loved and honoured by their subjects, nor near so formidable to their enemies.” *

1703. About this time the inconveniences of attending generał assemblies, brought the baptist churches into other methods for regulating themselves, so that instead of meeting annually in general bodies, they formed themselves into separate associations in different parts of the country.

1704. In April this year thirteen churches in and about London held an assembly at Lorimer's Hall, which continued 3 days. After preaching and praying, Letters from the churches were read, their contents considered, and suitable advice sent to each of the churches.

1705. March 25, another assembly consisting of 10 churches was held in London. After a very suitable sermon preached by Dr. J. Stennet, for which he had the thanks of the assembly returned him, with their desire to him to print the same, and after having by solemn prayer invoked the divine direction and blessing on their deliberations, Dr. Stennet being chosen Moderator, they proceeded to read the Letters from the churches, and to consult their welfare, and send them useful advice.

1706. Many addresses were presented to the Queen on occasion of the great success of her majesty's arms under the command of the Duke of Marlborough. That of the protestant dissenters in and about London, was drawn up by Dr. Joseph Stennet, and presented to the Queen at Windsor, June 17, by the Rey. John Spademan, introduced by the Lord Godolphin. From this time to the end of Queen Ann's reign, the baptist interest continued to increase and prosper, in various parts of

the nation.

1708. About this time, some unhappy alterations took place in the management of state affairs. The Queen, misled by evil counsellors, began to act despotic, and did many things unfavorable to religion and the common wealth. The glory of the former part of her reign was eclipsed, she passed the residue of her life under a cloud, and darkness veiled the kingdom, The friends of popery and the pretender, and the enemies of civil and religious liberty, found favour at court, while the Crosby Vol. 4. p. 104.