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NEW BROAD-STREET.-Independent.

ton, where he lived privately to the time of his death. He married a lady of considerable property, and during the latter years of his life, kept up but little connexion with the Dissenters. He was a man of considerable talents, and accounted a very sensible and rational preacher. His pulpit compositions were drawn up with much perspicuity, and delivered with great distinctness and propriety. He allowed himself great latitude in his religious sentiments, and was a determined enemy to any religious test whatsoever. In this particular, he differed from several of his brethren, who, notwithstanding, favoured the application to parliament, for the abolition of subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles. Though he was bred up and educated in Calvinistical principles, yet he gradually relinquished them, and, at length, imbibed the Socinian scheme. He died at his house in Islington, June the 26th, 1790, aged 61 years. Mr. Palmer was for many years one of the trustees for Dr. Williams's charities.*

NEW BROAD-STREET.

INDEPENDENT.

THIS is a different place from the preceding one, and situated in the opposite street, leading into Moorfields, and is also called New Broad-street. The meeting-house was built in the year 1728, for the congregation under the care

Gent. Mag. for June, 1791,-and Private Information.

NEW BROAD-STREET.-Independent.

of the Rev. Dr. Guyse. It is a large, substantial, brickbuilding, with three deep galleries, of five seats each; and will accommodate a large congregation. The church was first formed in the year 1727, being composed of such members as separated from Miles's-lane, upon Mr. Clarke's death, and the choice of Mr. Jollie to succeed him. The separation is thus characterized by a person who lived about the same time. (P) "This division was first promoted by two or three turbulent spirits, who had more heat than real goodness, and were prompted more by personal resentment than by a concern for the glory of God. And which is yet more lamentable, was encouraged by divers ministers, some of whom have seen and acknowledged their error, but too late to make reparation. Those who had the most evident share in it were, Mr. Thomas Bradbury, Mr. Hurrion, Mr. Ridgley, Mr. Hall, Mr. Sladen, and Mr. Bragge: these, and some others, did all they could directly, or implicitly, to make Mr. Guyse popular, and ruin Mr. Jollie's church; but the pit they were digging for others, they have in part fallen into themselves, and they are now as much for pulling Mr. Guyse down, as they were for setting him up. Mr. Guyse left a church at Hertford, unto whom he was under the greatest of obligations, and where he had been useful, to be at the head of a discontented party, who were never easy with any body, nor are they also with him. He has, however, a full auditory."*

While the above meeting-house was building, Mr. Guyse's congregation assembled for public worship, on the afternoon of the Lord's-day, at Girdlers'-Hall. There they

(P) The person here alluded to was a layman, an intelligent man, and a member of Dr. Doddridge's congregation, at Northampton. He afterwards removed to London, and drew up an account of Dissenting places of worship in the metropolis, from 1695 to 1731. The manuscript is still in existence, and is characterized by many just sentiments, amidst some free remarks upon the characters of persons living when he wrote.

MS. penes me.

NEW BROAD-STREET.-Independent.

continued for about a twelvemonth, till their removal to their new place. As this meeting-house is conveniently situated, it has been fixed upon at various times for lectures, and other public services, among the Dissenters. The ancient Merchants' lecture upon a Tuesday morning, formerly at Pinners'-Hall, was removed here about thirty years ago; but it has, of late years, been very badly attended. In the course of the present year, an attempt has been made to revive it, by publishing a course of subjects. But the revolution that has taken place in the habits of mankind, during the last hundred years, makes it very improbable that any morning lecture will succeed. The present lecturers are Mr. Joseph Barber, Mr. John Clayton, sen. Mr. John Goode, Mr. George Ford, Mr. John Humphreys, and Mr. George Burder. Mr. Coward's lecture, on a Friday morning, formerly at Little St. Helen's, and afterwards at Camomilestreet, was removed to this place for a short time, but returned again to Camomile-street. For several years past there has been a lecture at Broad-street, on a Lord's-day evening, which is fully attended, and by far the most popular among the Dissenters. There is a printed list of the preachers, who are about twelve in number.

The church meeting in Broad-street is now in a flourishing state, and has always held a respectable rank among the Independent churches. The ministers who have presided over it have been as follows:

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NEW BROAD-STREET.Independent.

JOHN GUYSE, D. D.-This pious and eminent Divine was born in the year 1680, in the town of Hertford. His parents were pious persons, and gave him a strictly religious education. Having become an early subject of divine grace, he was admitted, at fourteen years of age, a member of the church of Protestant Dissenters in that town. His views being directed to the ministry, he spent his youthful years in close application to study, under the direction of several able and worthy instructors; particularly the Rev. John Payne, of Saffron Walden, in Essex, under whom he received his academical learning.

Mr. Guyse entered upon the ministry in his twentieth year, and was soon chosen assistant to the aged and worthy Mr. William Haworth, who had been ejected from St. Peter's church, in St. Alban's, and was afterwards, for twenty years, pastor of the Dissenting congregation at Hertford. This connexion had not subsisted long when Mr. Haworth was removed by death, and the church unanimously invited Mr. Guyse to succeed him in the pastoral office. This, after a considerable time, he was induced, though with great reluctance, and self-diffidence, to undertake. Here he continued his labours for many years with great acceptance and success; though he had, in the mean time, several pressing invitations to leave Hertford. But he deemed it his duty to continue with his congregation, and guard them against the influence of those who, at in disseminating Arianism. his worldly interest, as the quarters were greatly to his temporal advantage. In order to confirm his people in what he considered to be the truth upon this subject, he printed, during his residence at Hertford, a small volume of sermons on the Person of Christ; wherein he endeavoured to place the evidence and importance of his true and proper divinity, in a clear and convincing light. These were followed, about two years afterwards, by some sermons on the Godhead of the Holy Spi

that time, were very industrious In so doing, he nobly sacrificed offers he received from other

NEW BROAD-STREET.Independent.

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rit. At this period, also, he published his excellent discourse; on the Evil of Self-seeking, preached at a meeting of ministers at Royston. We believe it was before he left Hertford, that he published, "Remarks on a Catechism, published under the Title of the Assemblies' shorter Catechism revised, and rendered fit for general Use." The Assemblies' own Catechism is likewise added, as an appendix to the Remarks. The work to which that of Mr. Guyse was a reply, and which had an anti-calvinistical tendency, was the production of the Rev. James Strong, minister of a Dissenting congregation at Ilminster, in the county of Somerset, and who died May 21, 1738, in the 53d year of his age, within three months after his preaching the funeral sermon for the excellent Mr. Henry Grove.

In the year 1727; some circumstances arose that appeared to Mr. Guyse, clearly to direct his removal to London. His health was impaired ; the stated labours of the Lord'sday were too much for his bodily strength, and were constantly succeeded by a hectic, feverish habit, to a degree which threatened his being wholly laid aside." His physician and friends judged that a change of air and situation, and a diminution of his ministerial labours, by the help of an assistant, would be the means of improving his health. The Rev. Matthew Clarke, pastor of the congregation in Miles'slane, dying in March, 1726, the Rev. Timothy Jollie, his assistant, was chosen by a majority of the church to succeed him. But soon afterwards, a shameful breach took place. The separatists defended their conduct in this affair, by alleging the unsoundness of Mr. Jollie's faith; but the charge was as unfounded as the tempers of these people were bad. The true cause was the credulity of some, and the narrow contracted spirit of others. However, being encouraged by several ministers at that time, they formed themselves into a distinct society, and invited Mr. Guyse to become their pastor. It appears that he had some reluctance in leaving his people at Hertford; but was effectually silenced by the VOL. II.

HH

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