Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northamptonshire Part 10

When the Dissenting ministers in the neighbourhood agreed to meet at Lutterworth, to spend a day in humiliation and prayer for the revival of religion, Mr. Some preached upon that occasion a very important appropriate discourse--from Rev. iii. 2: "Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die"--"On the methods to be taken by ministers for the revival of religion." He also published a very excellent funeral sermon for Mr. Saunders, of Kettering, from the text he had chosen, 1st Cor. xv. 10: "Not I, but the grace of G.o.d which was with me."

We have further discovered a small volume of 56 pages, ent.i.tled 'The a.s.sembly's Catechism Explained, and the principles of religion therein contained confirmed by the Holy Scriptures, by David Some. Second edition, 1727.' It has an interesting preface, a part of which we shall copy, as ill.u.s.trative of the views entertained by this eminent man, and the methods he adopted for the improvement of the rising generation.

The design of the following pages is to render public catechising easy and profitable.

When young persons see a great deal before them, which they are required to commit to memory, they soon grow weary of this exercise, and find excuses to absent themselves from it. This difficulty is removed by the narrow limits of this essay.

I fear there are many in all our a.s.semblies "who need to be taught the first principles of the oracles of G.o.d," and yet their age and circ.u.mstances prevent their submitting to this way of instruction.

There is a particular regard had to these in this composure. The questions are so framed that there is room for enlarging upon them, as the importance of the argument may require. The treating upon the heads of divinity in this way insensibly leads into a freedom and easiness of expression, which is hard to attain in a more set and continued discourse: this hath the more direct tendency to inform the judgment and fix the attention. I have seldom observed a drowsy hearer whilst I have been engaged in this part of my work; I wish I could say so of the other parts of it.

I hope I need not make any apology for adding the Scriptures; this will be acceptable to everyone who values them. Besides, this will acquaint children betimes with their Bibles, and teach them that their religion is derived from that sacred book as the fountain of it. * * * * * * If any should condemn the whole of this undertaking as paying too great a regard to human composures, I can a.s.sure them that I have long since learned to call no man master upon earth. I have not attempted to explain the doctrines contained in this Catechism because it was composed by that learned body of men, the a.s.sembly of divines, but because I verily believe that for the substance of them they are agreeable to the word of G.o.d. I was early instructed in them, and have now reviewed them with some attention and care, lest the prejudices of education should have been the princ.i.p.al reason of my adherence to them; and after the most impartial search, I cannot discover anything so absurd and inconsistent in this scheme of religion as some have represented: and I hope I may be allowed the liberty of judging for myself.

I am fully convinced of the usefulness of public catechising, by more than twenty years' experience. I have seen the good effects of it, and purpose to allow it a share in my public labours while G.o.d continues life and a capacity for service; and if any of my worthy brethren shall make use of this weak performance, I heartily wish that the divine blessing may attend their endeavours to promote real religion and practical G.o.dliness.

D. S.

As a specimen of the method he adopted, we present to the reader the short section "of a.s.surance and other blessings."

_Q._ What are the benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

_A._ The benefits which do either accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are a.s.surance of G.o.d's love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end.

May true believers be a.s.sured of G.o.d's love? Yes. (Rom. v. 5.) "The love of G.o.d is shed abroad in our hearts." May they have peace of conscience? Yes. (Rom. xv. 13.) "The G.o.d of hope fill you with all peace in believing." May they have joy? Yes. (Rom. v. 11.) "We also joy in G.o.d." Is the Holy Ghost the author of it? Yes. (Gal. v. 22.) "The fruit of the Spirit is joy." Shall true Christians grow in grace? Yes. (Prov. iv. 18.) "The path of the just shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Is perseverance the Christian's duty?

Yes. (Phil. iii. 14.) "I press towards the mark." And their privilege? Yes. (1st Peter i. 5.) "Who are kept by the power of G.o.d, through faith unto salvation." What may we infer from hence? I. That religion is not a melancholy thing. (Prov. iii. 17.) "Her ways are ways of pleasantness." II. Growth in grace is an evidence of the truth of it. (Mark iv. 8.) "Others fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased." III. That weak Christians should not be discouraged.

When his death occurred, Doddridge wrote--"It is to my unutterable grief that I hear this day that our dear friend, Mr. Some, is dead. I hardly know how to bear it." Again: "We know in whose hands our lives are, and those of our friends who remain--a soul-quieting thought, which I would apply to the unspeakable loss I have sustained in the death of that great and good man, that invaluable friend, Mr. Some, whom I honoured and loved as a parent."

Mr. Barker, of Hackney, wrote--"The death of the excellent person you have lately lost afflicts me greatly. There are few such ministers anywhere, and few such men in any age. I know that his modesty was excessive, but am sorry to find that it has deprived us of those memoirs, which, touched over by your hand, would have been very instructive and entertaining; but if we must not read his life and character, let us remember and imitate his exemplary piety, prudence, and diligence. This truly revered and excellent man died May 27th, 1737.

G.o.d was pleased to favour him with a serene and cheerful exit, suited to the eminent piety and usefulness of his life. "I am well satisfied,"

remarks Doddridge, "that considering how very generally he was known, he has left a most honourable testimony, in the hearts of thousands, that he was one of the brightest ornaments of the Gospel and the ministry which the age has produced; and that all who have had any intimacy with him must have esteemed his friendship amongst the greatest blessings of life, and the loss of him amongst its greatest calamities."

An interesting memorial exists, written by Mr. Some, which shows the method he adopted in admitting candidates to the Church; clearly indicating what he considered their qualifications should be; what was the nature of the connexion they were about to form; and with what spirit and purpose they should unite themselves to the society to which they desired to be admitted.

_Questions to be addressed to Candidates for Communion._

1. Wherefore do you desire communion with this Church?

2. Will you endeavour to walk circ.u.mspectly and peaceably amongst us, as it becomes a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ?

3. Will you attend upon the ministry and ordinances of this Church as often as you can?

4. Do you purpose to stand by us, and steadfastly to adhere to us, if times of difficulty and trial should come?

5. Do you therefore, in the presence of G.o.d and his people here a.s.sembled, give up yourself to the watch and care of this Church, promising to submit to the discipline that is exercised therein, so far as it is agreeable to the mind of Christ revealed in his word?

If these be your designs, then in the name of our blessed Redeemer, and with the consent and approbation of this Church, I open the doors thereof for your admittance into it, and declare you a member of it, earnestly desiring that G.o.d would bless you in it.

Towards the close of Mr. Some's ministry the Chapel House was purchased of Walter Renals, and bought by Knightley Holland, for the use of the minister for the time being.

In the year 1844 this house was taken down, and the new Chapel erected near to the spot where it had stood; for some years before it having ceased to be occupied by the minister of the place.

After Doddridge removed to Northampton, as Mr. Some, through the failure of his strength, was incompetent to undertake the whole of the services devolving on him, he was provided with another a.s.sistant in 1730, in Mr.

J. Halford, a native of Northampton, who, though he never enjoyed the advantages of an academical education, possessed good natural talents.

He remained until 1734, when he removed to Horselydown. After the removal of Mr. Halford, Mr. Some had no other a.s.sistant to the day of his death, but most probably restricted his labours. He died in the 57th year of his age; "and," said this holy man of G.o.d with his dying breath, "If any ask how David Some died, let it be answered, that he sought and found mercy." Dr. Doddridge preached his funeral sermon, after his remains had been interred in the chancel of the parish church of Great Bowden. The knowledge of the spot is only preserved by tradition, which must be attributed to that fatal modesty which induced him in his last moments to commit his writings to the flames. His best earthly memorial is in the affection and reverence with which his name has been so long cherished.

After the death of Mr. Some we find an unsettled interval of fifteen years, during which many changes took place; and no records were preserved by the Church of the events that occurred, or of the state of things amongst them.

We learn from the correspondence of Doddridge, that the year after the death of Mr. Some, Mr. Toaker received an invitation of such a pressing nature to become the pastor of the Church at Harborough, that he was constrained to accept the call; but two years after this he speaks of the ordination of one of his students, Mr. Isaac Wilkinson, over the Church at Harborough, being fixed to take place May 9th, 1740. Then again, in a letter written to Dr. Clarke, of St. Albans, February 27th, 1741, he speaks of Ashley and Harborough as being vacant.

In the list of Doddridge's students, given at the close of the last volume of his 'Correspondence,' we have the names of Samuel Smalley, as settled at Harborough, who entered the academy in 1737; and of Jabez Hirons, as minister at Harborough, who entered the academy in 1745. All that we can gather from these statements is, that the congregation was during this period in a very unsettled state, not having become united for any length of time under any pastor, or having anyone to settle peacefully and usefully over them until the year 1752, when a pleasing change took place in the choice of Mr. Stephen Addington.

It appears that Mr. Addington was a native of Northampton, and a student under Dr. Doddridge, by whom he was treated with all the kindness of a father. He commenced his labours at Spaldwick, Huntingdonshire. He had not, however, been there more than two years before this situation was offered to his acceptance, which had been chosen and marked out for him in the wishes, at least, of his foster parent. The following circ.u.mstance led to the appointment: Upon the resignation of a pastor who had never felt himself at home among the people, their choice was divided between two persons, who had been proposed by their respective friends. At length it was wisely agreed by both parties to withdraw their suffrages from each in favour of a third candidate, if one could be found who should be agreeable to the whole congregation. At this juncture Mr. Addington was recommended to them by the Rev. Mr. Gilbert, of Oakhampton, and in 1752 received a unanimous invitation to settle amongst them. Accordingly, in the month of July he removed to Harborough, and established himself in the very house where his good friend had lived. He was ordained in September, 1753, on which occasion the service was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Gilbert, of Northampton, Mr.

Goodrich, of Oundle, Mr. Boyce, of Kettering, Mr. Gregson, of Rowell, and Dr. Ashworth, of Daventry.

The first five years of Mr. Addington's residence were devoted exclusively to the duties of his pastoral office. His congregation was considerable, and some of them came from a distance of several miles; but the Church at Ashley had now a pastor of its own, so as no longer to require the stated engagements of the minister at Harborough.

So entirely did Mr. Addington appear to possess the confidence and affections of his people, that he became scarcely less their friend and counsellor in their various secular concerns than their spiritual guide and instructor. The leading object of all his plans was their moral and religious improvement. In pursuance of this great design, it was Mr.

Addington's custom to distribute and a.s.sociate as many of his people as he could into cla.s.ses, according to their age, s.e.x, and situation. In these societies they were in the habit of meeting at stated times for prayer and religious converse, often attended by their minister; the societies were always under his superintendence, and once in every year (about Christmas) each of them spent a comfortable evening together at his house. Even the female servants had their annual day, on which, after a.s.sembling in the Meeting House, and spending a part of the afternoon in cleaning it, they partook of a social and friendly entertainment provided for them.

Mr. Addington's labours among his people were both acceptable, and beneficial to the great purposes of the Christian ministry. His strain of preaching was chiefly practical and experimental, and his delivery animated and affectionate. But beside his many ministerial and pastoral engagements, Mr. Addington at length added the arduous undertaking of a boarding-school, in which he succeeded the Rev. Mr. Token, of Kibworth, whose school was removed to Harborough. During a part also of this period he extended his pastoral charge to the congregation at Kibworth.

At this time he was by no means a strong and healthy man; and after continuing his exertions of one kind or another for nearly thirty years, he began to find some failure in his energy and activity; and under this impression it seemed prudent to contract the sphere of his duties. Whilst preparing to carry his design into effect, circ.u.mstances occurred which eventually issued in his removal; the active part which he took in the politics of the day somewhat affecting both his usefulness and his comfort towards the close of his residence at Harborough. While he was thus circ.u.mstanced, he received an invitation to a charge in Miles Lane, London, which determined his removal in October, 1781. It was not, however, without the severest struggle that he resigned a connexion that had long been endeared to him by almost everything calculated to produce and to cherish reciprocally in the parties the most cordial esteem and the liveliest affection. The connexion might indeed not be said to have been broken up, but exchanged for an intimacy differing only in the mode and in the degree of its friendship, and which continued to the end of his days.

After Mr. Addington's removal from Harborough, he became tutor of an academy first established at Mile End, which afterwards existed at Hoxton, and then at Highbury.

"The friends of evangelical truth, lamenting the heterodoxy or coldness of another seminary, a.s.sociated to provide for the Churches pastors of a different spirit. At first they engaged some ministers of established reputation for piety and orthodox sentiments, to give lectures at their own houses to such young men as were selected from the Churches in London and its vicinity. This mode, however, soon proved so inconvenient that they were compelled to provide in 1783 a building at Mile End, to which they invited Stephen Addington, minister of Market Harborough, as tutor of what was now called 'the Evangelical Academy.' The friends of the inst.i.tution procured him a diploma of Doctor of Divinity; but as he had lately relinquished a similar charge under the impression of declining vigour, he had scarcely begun to 'gird up the loins of his mind' to the duties of his new office with the hope of extensive usefulness, before he was attacked by a severe indisposition, which laid him aside for some time. Though he recovered beyond expectation, and resumed his labours with new ardour, he was again disabled by affliction, and at length compelled to resign his office as tutor in 1789.

"As he had been chosen pastor of the congregation in Miles Lane, he continued to labour there under the pressure of infirmities, but encouraged by the generous attachment of his flock, for years after he resigned his academical charge."

In February, 1796, he was called away from his labours and trials by death, in his sixty-seventh year. "He was an amiable man, of correct deportment, ardent piety, and zeal for usefulness. His learning was extensive rather than profound; he projected more works than he found time to execute; and his dread of living in vain induced him to grasp at objects to which his strength was inadequate. As a preacher, he was more esteemed than admired, for his elocution was defective, though earnest; and his thoughts, always good, were seldom great. His 'Treatise in Defence of Infant Baptism,' and his 'Life of the Apostle Paul,' are the best known among his publications, of which our limits will not allow us to give the full list."--So write the authors of the 'History of Dissenters,' Vol. IV., p. 264.

Of the 'Treatise on Baptism,' Job Orton says--"Addington hath lately published a small piece upon it, which I think comprehends everything valuable that hath been written."

A dedication to his congregation at Harborough is prefixed to this Treatise, from which we make the following extract:--

MY DEAR FRIENDS,--You have, in the following pages, the result of a free and serious inquiry into the Scripture doctrine of Christian baptism. After reading many controversial tracts on the mode and subjects of this ordinance, I found myself obliged to examine the sacred pages before I could be thoroughly satisfied either as to the manner or time of life in which it ought to be administered.

Previous to this inquiry, I endeavoured to divest myself of every prejudice, and determined to follow the truth whithersoever it might lead me. Far be it from me to a.s.sert that I have nowhere mistaken the language of the Holy Spirit in the several pa.s.sages that either give an account of the administration of Christian baptism or tend to explain the nature and design of the inst.i.tution; but this I hope I can say, that I have endeavoured to enter into the true meaning of them, and have explained them in a sense that appears to me (upon the maturest consideration) most consistent and scriptural. I think myself obliged to tell you, that the inquiry has afforded me abundant satisfaction. The reasons for our practice of baptising children, and that by sprinkling or pouring of water, appear to me now in a much stronger light than before; and I am more fully convinced than ever that the specious objections that are thrown out against it have no solid foundation in reason or the word of G.o.d.

This is dated, Harborough, September 6th, 1770.

The interval was not very long from the resignation of Mr. Addington to the settlement of Mr. Gill, as Mr. Addington's resignation is dated August 12, 1781, and Mr. Gill commenced his labours in the early part of 1782. During the interval the pulpit was supplied by neighbouring ministers, and the students from the academy at Daventry; among the latter of whom was Mr. Belsham, afterwards recognized as the champion of Socinianism. The princ.i.p.al candidates were Mr. Bennett, who afterwards settled at Kiderminster; Mr. Cooke, who finally settled at Halifax; and a Mr. Severn. During this state of indecision, Mr. Garner, in his travels into Yorkshire, heard of Mr. Gill, who, being highly recommended as an excellent man, was introduced to the Church at Harborough.

Mr. Gill was a native of Netherthong, a small village near Holesfirth, in Yorkshire. He was educated at the academy at Heckmondwicke, and commenced his labours at Swanland, not far from Hull. After a residence of about eight or nine years in that place, he was invited to the pastoral office over this Church and congregation. Mr. Gill's acceptance of the invitation is dated March 22nd, 1782. Mr. Gill continued his labours after this union for a long period, with honour to himself and benefit to others. He was permitted to preach the Gospel to them for more than six-and-thirty years, while he lived among them for at least half a century. A paralytic affection rendered it necessary that he should retire from his labours and resign his charge, in the year 1818.

In the interval between this period and his death, he was, with the exception of the time he spent at Coventry with a son, regular in his attendance at the Meeting where he had ministered; and though all the powers of his mind were much impaired, his relish for the word was undiminished, and his habits of devotion never left him to his dying hour.

This holy and venerable servant of G.o.d breathed his last at the house of his son-in-law, Mr. French, of Great Bowden, on the evening of February 2nd, 1832, at the age of 79. He was buried in the ground connected with the Meeting, when Mr. Wild delivered the funeral oration; Mr. Bicknell, of Crick, and Mr. Robertson, of Wellingborough, engaged in prayer; Mr.

Chater, of Kibworth, giving out the hymns. His funeral sermon was preached on the Sabbath following, by Mr. Scott, of Rowell, from Acts xi. 24: "He was a good man," &c. (the character of Barnabas). During the ministry of Mr. Gill 248 members were added to the Church.

Having some recollections of Mr. Gill's person and ministry, from having heard him a few times in the latter part of his labours, in his own place of worship and in neighbouring places, we should describe him as rather above the middle stature; very grave in his aspect; his manners gentle and kind; his spirit devotional and fervent; always serious in his work; his matter plain, pious, experimental, decidedly evangelical in sentiment: his voice was not of great compa.s.s. Mr. Gill was not distinguished by grasp of mind, power of reasoning, depth of thought, or extent of information. His powers, whether natural or acquired, were not of a high order. His case shows us what may be done by the weight of character, fervent consistent piety, without superior mental endowments, in filling a respectable station with credit and usefulness. Mr. Gill was considered to be exemplary in visiting his flock, and to this was added the care of a considerable boarding-school, which he had for a number of years; and our impression is, that more time was spent in such engagements than could comport with the efficient discharge of the duties of the pulpit. Hence we fear, from what was manifested in the state of the Church and congregation after his retirement, that the result of his labours was not of the most satisfactory kind.

On the resignation of Mr. Gill, Mr. Jukes, now of Bedford, supplied Harborough for many months with great acceptance. Mr. Francis, of Lancaster, also came as a candidate for a short time.