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becoming progress in the christian life. His proficiency in useful knowledge was so great, that he was called to the ministry sooner than ordinary. Nor did he content himself with persuading others to live well, but was a fair example of all christian virtues; which gained him much respect, and a good reputation with all who were acquainted with him. He was very compassionate, and was always ready to do good according to his ability. His friendship was sincere and hearty, for he would not only pity his distressed friends, but relieve them too, as far as he could. In other relations he demeaned himself, as became a Christian and a minister. In his own family he did not only keep up daily prayer, which every private Christian ought to do; but he also explained to his children and servants some part of the scriptures, which were read, instructed them in the principles of religion, and urged the practice of it upon them, with great seriousness which things I doubt are much neglected in most families. He was a sincere lover of truth, and very impartial in his inquiries after it. For though he would not rashly take up a new opinion, yet he was not ashamed to alter his mind upon full conviction, if he perceived any notion to be dissonant from the word of God, upon which he formed his judgment upon matters of religion. Though he thought himself bound to live in communion with those churches, which in his apprehension came nearest to primitive Christianity, yet he did not rashly judge Christians of other denominations. He respected them for their good qualifications, and would hold a friendly correspondence with them; which indeed gives a man the fairest opportunities of promoting the truth. There seemed to be in his temper a happy mixture of gravity and good humour, which made his conversation profitable as well as pleasant. For he loved to talk of religious matters, and did not a little lament that religious discourse is grown so much out of fashion. His humility was very great, so that he was ready to learn of

FAIR-STREET.-General Baptist.

others, and to prefer them before himself. And this disposition, so amiable in the sight of God and men, so becoming this frail condition, could not but much tend to his advancement in knowledge. For as too fond a conceit of their own parts and attainments tempts men to neglect the means of improvement; so humility continually stirs them up to greater application and diligence. And indeed by constant study of the scriptures, and by reading other useful books, he had Jaid in a good stock of divine knowledge, and was able to discourse upon the several points of religion with great judgment. I confess I have not often heard him speak in public, but when I did hear him, his discourses were judiciously composed; the matter of them was sound and well digested; the language proper and correct. His mind, enriched with these and other excellent endowments, was lodged in a body subject to frequent infirmities; which was so far from obscuring his virtues, that it set them in a fairer light, and gave him an opportunity of exercising great patience and resignation to the will of God. Having lived in the practice of these and other christian duties, he was prepared for death, and bore his last sickness with a sweet composure of mind. He was quickly sensible of his approaching end, and very willing to die, having lived many years above the fear of death. When he was asked how it was with him, he manifested strong and comfortable hopes in the mercy of God through a Redeemer; knowing that to bim, to live was Christ, but to die was gain: and he shewed some concern that he was not able to say so much as he would to those who attended him in his sickness."

Mr. Gould died in the month of November, 1722, in the fortieth year of his age.

BENJAMIN INGRAM.-He had been some time minister of the General Baptist church in Hart-street, Coventgarden; from whence, at the latter end of 1723, he re

FAIR-STREET.-General Baptist.

moved to become elder of this church. In this situation he continued till his death, which happened in the month of September, 1736. There was a Mr. Ingram who preached for about a twelvemonth along with a Mr. Jope, to the Baptist congregation at Exeter, in 1717. It is probable that this was the same person. These are all the particulars that we know concerning him.

JAMES RICHARDSON.-A person of this name was a minister at Fair-street, in 1727, probably as an assistant to Mr. Ingram.

SAMUEL FRY.-Mr. Ingram was succeeded in the office of elder, by Mr. Samuel Fry, who came last from Milbourn-Port, where he had preached a few years in conjunction with a Mr. Thomas Bosher. He settled at Fair-street at the end of 1737, or beginning of 1738; and continued pastor of that church till his death, which happened December the 9th, 1769. He was a man of respectable character, and published a few single sermons, preached upon public occasions. (F)

JOSEPH BROWN.-He was born at Coventry, in June, 1780, and pursued his academical studies under Dr. Doddridge, at Northampton. So much was he esteemed by his tutor, that even at that early age, the philosophical apparatus was consigned to his care, and he assisted considerably in the lectures on experimental philosophy. For every thing belonging to that department he possessed an excel

(F) WORKS.-1. The Christian's Desire to be with Christ: a Funeral Sermon for Mrs. Hannah Brittain, who died Nov. 21, 1754. Phil. i. 23. -2. The Christian's Consolation and Hope considered a Sermon on the Death of the Rev. John Treacher; preached at Duke-street. Park, April 25, 1756. 2 Thess. ii. 16.-3. The Righteous saved with Difficulty: a Funeral Sermon for Mr. Robert Mugeridge, who died Jan. 13, 1759, in the 85th year of his age. 1 Peter, iv. 18.

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lent genius, and his love of the mechanic arts he cherished throughout life. Having finished the usual course of education at Northampton, seldom less than five years, he embraced the doctrines of general redemption, and of baptism by immersion; and to these he stedfastly adhered to the latest period of his life. His first settlement was at Downton, Wilts, from whence he was called to succeed Mr. Fry, at Fair-street, Horsleydown. There, he and his church continued but a short period, and after several removals, finally fixed at Deptford. Mr. Brown was many years secretary to the General Assembly of the Baptists. His last discourse at Deptford was from Luke xxii. 15. "With desire I have desired to eat this passover," &c. and he seemed to have a pre-sentiment of his speedy dissolution. Some of his friends then present thought it his farewell sermon; and so it proved. His illness arose from a gradual decay of nature; but no sort of pain either preceded, or accompanied his dissolution. A near relation, who lived with him for some years, said, he scarcely knew what pain was. He died May 21, 1803, in the seventy-third year of his age. On Monday May the 30th, his remains were, agreeably to his desire, interred in the burial-ground, adjoining the General Baptist meeting-house in Church-street, Deptford, where his funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Moone, from Rev. xiv. 13.

THIS church was gathered about the year 1711; and for

some time met in a large room only. Some of the persons that first joined together, had been members of the church of which Mr. Joseph Jacobs was pastor; but left him upon his removal into the city. In a short space of time, a place of worship at Dock-head, in which the Church of England service had been used, became vacant, and this society removed into it. The congregation now increased very fast, and though the place was of a very considerable size, it became well filled. The building used to go by the name of a tabernacle, and is supposed to have been a chapel of ease to the parish of Bermondsey. There was a person living a few years ago, who remembered when very young, to have seen the ten commandments fixed at the upper end of the building. The present meeting-house in Back-street, Horsleydown, was erected for Mr. Sladen, in 1729. It is a good brick building, of a moderate size, with three large galleries; and was formerly well filled. Of late years, in consequence of the frequent change of pastors, and disputes amongst the people, the congregation greatly diminished; but the church is now in a more settled state, and hopes are entertained of its revival. In the time of Mr. Sladen, it was supposed to be the largest congregation in Southwark, with the exception of Mr. Read's. The meeting-house has lately undergone a thorough repair. There is a burialground belonging to this place in Long-lane, Bermondsey, adjoining to another devoted to the same purpose by the Quakers. There is a vault in the midst of this ground which has been appropriated as a place of interment for the pastors of this church.