RED-CROSS-STREET.Independent.

mination, who was succeeded by his son, Mr. Jenkin Lewis, whose church became extinct in 1728. After this the meeting-house was taken by Mr. Samuel Stockell, likewise an Independeat, who, with his successors, occupied it more than thirty years, when they gave way about the year 1760, to a society of Particular Baptists, under the care of Mr. Thomas Craner. His church falling to pieces in the time of his successor, Mr. Augustus Clarke, the meeting-house again became vacant. It was then taken by a society of Scotch Seceders, under the care of Mr. Alexander Easton, who, after continuing there upwards of three years, removed his people, at Christmas 1795, to the meeting-house in Miles's-lane. It was then taken by Mr. William Moore, an Independent minister, who removing into the country in 1797, the meeting-house passed to a society of Baptist Sandemaniaus, from Glovers'-Hall, who at present occupy it. Having thus given a brief outline of the state of this place during the last hundred years, we shall proceed to take up each society separately; and here, also, we are compelled to be very brief.

JOHN LEWIS.-Concerning this person but few particulars can be procured. The first time we hear of him is in 1698, when he became pastor of the Independent congregation at Bethnal-green. From thence, in 1702, he removed to Rope-makers'-alley, Moorfields. With the congregation in that place he continued about five years, but in 1707, he was discharged from his situation, "not behaving

RED-CROSS-STREET.-Independent.

(as our manuscript represents) in a commendable manner." After this he was chosen pastor of a small congregation that met somewhere about Clerkenwell; and the number of his people increasing, he removed with them to the meeting-house in Red-Cross-street; but whether that place was built for him we have no records to determine. Mr. Lewis joined the subscribing ministers at the Salters'Hall synod, in 1719; and his church, classed with the Independents, is in the list of those that were acknowledged by the whole body. We know nothing further respecting him, excepting that his death is supposed to have taken place about the year 1721.*

JENKIN LEWIS, concerning whom our information is very brief, was son to the preceding. He commenced the ministry by assisting his father, at Red-Cross-street, and, at the same time, assisted Mr. Samuel Harris, pastor of a congregation in Mill-yard, Goodman's-fields. But not agreeing with the latter gentleman, his connexion with him was very short. Upon the death of his father, Mr. Jenkin Lewis succeeded to the care of his congregation, and preached to them till the society dissolved in 1728. What became of Mr. Lewis immediately after this, we are not informed; but after a lapse of several years, he was called to succeed Dr. Abraham Taylor, at Deptford, and died in connexion with that society, about the year 1754.

RED-CROSS-STRFET.-Independent.

SAMUEL STOCKELL, commonly called SAM the POTTER, on account of his being bred to that profession, was a man who, by his peculiarities excited, for some years, a considerable degree of attention in London. He was originally a member of Mr. Hussey's church, in Petticoat-lane, and pressed himself into the ministry, not only without the approbration, but against the advice of his pastor, and of the church to which he belonged. He first preached occasionally where he could, and after a time was chosen assistant to Mr. Samuel Harris, in Mill-yard, Goodman's-fields; but they not agreeing long together, he soon quitted that situation, and set up for himself. As we have always a set of people who are ready to encourage any new preacher, especially if he excels in confidence, and is noted for any singularities, so it was not long before Mr. Stockellraised a congregation, which he formed into a church. His first meeting-house was in Whitechapel; but that proving too small, he got a new one built for him, in the way from Spitalfields to Hackney, which went by the name of the Loggerheads, from the sign of a public-house in that neighbourhood. But there his continuance was very short; for, falling out with his patrons, he was obliged to leave it. After this, he set up anew, near Cripplegate,, whither some of his people followed him; and upon the meeting-house in Red-Cross-street becoming vacant, in consequence of the dissolution of Mr. Lewis's church, he removed into it in 1728. At that place he continued preaching till his death, a period of twenty-two years.

Mr. Stockell was not deficient in natural ability, and having fluency, as well as boldness, in the pulpit, he acquired great popularity. He was a great admirer and imitator of Hussey; but possessed neither his learning nor consequence. Like his master, he was a very high Calvinist; and drank deep into the sentiments of Crisp, and other writers of his stamp. His followers, who were all of the supra-lapsarian school, considered him as a very deep and spiritual preacher,

and as having attained to an eminence in divine knowledge greatly above his fellows. The zcal and confidence with which he asserted his favourite dogmas, gave him great authority amongst his people, who looked up to him with reverence, as a person endowed with very extraordinary gifts. Though his hearers were numerous, they were chiefly of the poorer sort; and Mr. Stockell not being looked upon by his brethren, his church was never acknowledged by the body of Dissenting ministers. A manuscript now before us, written during the early part of his career, gives the following very striking and characteristic account of him. "He pretends to be a great admirer of the grace of God, although it is to be feared he had not learnt thereby to deny all ungodliness. His meeting is filled, and he is as bold and daring a man as most that are to be met with; which qualifications, it is apprehended, are what he principally excels in." With all his peculiarities, we have never understood that Mr. Stockell brought any stain upon his character by immoral conduct, though the preceding quotation intimates as much. But whatever irregularities may have attended his early life, he certainly maintained in his later years a conversation suitable to his Christian profession. Mr. Stockell died on the 3d of May, 1753, in the 49th year of his age.*

Mr. Stockell, though a man of small attainments in literature, yet by a diligent study of the holy scriptures, attained to a considerable knowledge upon theological subjects, and delivered his thoughts with ease, both in speaking and in writing. After his entrance on the ministry, he applied himself to the study of the languages, particularly the Hebrew, for which he had a particular regard. He was a zealous advocate for the doctrine of the præ-existence of the human soul of Christ, maintained by the Arians, and defended by some orthodox Divines, such as Goodwin, Robert

MS. penes me.

RED-CROSS-STREET.-Independent.

Fleming, Watts, Hussey, &c. Mr. Stockell, also, undertook the public defence of this doctrine, in a book which he published with the following title, which we shall give at full length: "The Redeemer's Glory unveil'd, or the Excellency of Christ vindicated, in the Antiquity of his Person, as God-Man before the World began: Being an Explication of the Mystery which was kept Secret from the Beginning of the World. Wherein are unfolded, the Doctrines of the Præ-existence of the Soul of Jesus Christ, and the Glory of the Elect in their vital Union to him, &c. being a Reprehension of this degenerate Age. By Samuel Stockell, Minister of the Gospel; not of Men, neither by Man, but by Jesus Christ, and Pastor of a Church of Christ, in London. 1733." 8vo. Of this work a new edition was printed a few years ago. It is still in great repute amongst persons of the same school with the author, and it must be acknowledged to be not altogether destitute of merit. Besides this work, Mr. Stockell also published two single sermons, which are usually bound with it. These are, "Scripture and Reason, the Standards of all Religion;" preached at Red-Cross-street, April 5, 1743, from 1 Thess. v. 21. And, "The Redeemer's Care of Saints departed: or, the Blessedness of them which sleep in Jesus:" preached in Red-Cross-street, February 2, 1745, occasioned by the death of Mrs. Jane Cheesman, who departed this life January 22, 1745, aged 75 years, on 1 Thess. iv. 14.

Mr. Stockell was buried in Bunhill-Fields, where the following inscription was placed upon his tomb-stone:

Here lies the body

Of that faithful minister and servant of Jesus Christ,

Mr. SAMUEL STOCKELL,

Pastor of a charch near Cripplegate, London,

Who departed this life May 3, 1750,

In the 49th year of his age.

VOL. IU.