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on the contrary, they were hailed as unmixed benefits. But experience has corrected our judgment on this question, and therefore, though we would not fail to honour the posthumous beneficence of wealthy men in that day, we can with much more pleasure celebrate the liberality of those who, before their death, contributed not merely to support the man whose ministry they enjoyed, but who aided in increasing the incomes of others.

The fund board established for this purpose commenced soon after the Revolution, and out of its proceeds assistance was rendered to poor ministers, and aid also was given to young men preparing for the ministry. "Two thousand pounds were raised every year in this manner by the Presbyterians, and nearly seventeen hundred by the Independents."*

Of the moral and religious character of the early Nonconformists gratifying testimony is borne by a competent and truthful witness. Watts remembered well what he had heard and seen of dissent in his early days. No doubt we look on a by-gone age with some prejudice in its favour. A soft transparent haze mellows

*Bogue and Bennet's History, vol. ii. p. 272.

the picture of memory; perhaps fancy, unconscious of illusion, adds some enriching tints of

its own. How more than halcyon were the times of the Confessor as seen from the distance of the reign of Rufus! Yet, after all, there was much of truth in the Saxon's estimate of a former generation as happier than his own. So, unquestionably, there is truth in the review of the state of primitive Nonconformity, on which Watts dwells with so much delight. No doubt he refers mainly to an earlier period than that embraced within this introductory chapter, yet the light and beauty of Puritanism's autumn day could not have expired while Owen, Baxter, and Howe survived.

"Our ancestors, the Puritans and Nonconformists," remarks Dr. Watts, in his "Humble Attempt towards the revival of practical religion," "distinguished themselves by their great reverence of the name of God, and keeping a holy jealousy and watchfulness over their words, lest they took that holy name in vain."-" They were much distinguished from the bulk of the nation by observing the Lord's day with greater strictness."—"Religious discourse and conference upon themes of virtue and practical

godliness was another thing whereby Dissenters heretofore were used to distinguish themselves." -"They distinguished themselves from many of their neighbours in the towns and villages where they lived, by keeping more regular hours for the various duties to God and man; in abstaining from vain company and much wine; in preserving better order in families, and in a more religious concern in governing their households; in maintaining the daily worship of God, and in training up their children and servants to the knowledge and fear of God."-"May I mention frugality in expenses and industry in their particular callings as a remarkable pair of virtues among our predecessors?"-"I proceed now to the last thing wherein the Protestant Dissenters were wont eminently to distinguish themselves, and that is in their abstaining from those gayer vanities and dangerous diversions of their age, which border so near upon vice and irreligion, that sometimes it is pretty hard to separate them." In these respects as in others, modern Dissenters may learn some important and needful lessons from their fathers.

CHAPTER I.

DODDRIDGE'S EARLY DAYS.

THE city of London must have been the scene of no small political excitement in the summer of 1702. William III., whose policy abroad was to check the ambitious projects of Louis XIV., and the object of whose administration at home was, by establishing the principles of the Revolution, to give stability to the throne, and freedom to the people, had, in the early spring of that year, gone down to the grave. His sister-in-law, Anne, had just succeeded him, with a determination, indeed, to carry on the great continental war, but showing, by her tory principles, and high-church predilections, that she was inclined to depress the cause of civil and religious liberty. We can easily imagine how the London citizens of that year, as they paced the arcades of the Exchange, or sat in their wainscotted parlours, would

eagerly discuss topics so intimately connected with the fate of the nation: nor could the Dissenters fail to participate deeply in the prevailing excitement, especially as over their prospects events rolled like lowering clouds. The three denominations had with rather heavy hearts gone up to court to present an address to the new sovereign, while their ears were assailed by rumours that meeting-houses would shortly be pulled down; and they were told of one already attacked at Newcastle-under-Lyne. Watts, then the new successor of Dr. Chauncey in Mark Lane, had just poured forth a laudatory dirge over the hero of the Revolution ;;-Burgess was, probably, with increased earnestness, denouncing from his pulpit in Brydges Street, Covent Garden, all Jacobinism and tyranny;— Howe was continuing his pure and lofty ministrations in Silver Street, a little ruffled by Defoe's rough attempt to plunge him into a dispute. touching occasional conformity ;Calamy, co-pastor with Dr. Williams in Hand Alley, Bishopsgate Street, already an ecclesiastical annalist, was recording in his diary some rather doleful memoranda;-when, two days after midsummer, a gentle spirit entered the

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