MAZE-POND.-Particular Baptist.

THREE CRANES. In an old manuscript we find mention made of a Mr. Warburton, who preached near Tooleystreet in 1695. He was a Baptist, and was living in September, 1708; but must have been dead before 1711, as in the same manuscript, the church is there said to be under the care of a Mr. Warren. We know nothing of either of these persons, nor are certain that they preached at this place; but it is not improbable. Maitland notices it in his list of licensed meeting-houses in 1738.

MAZE-POND.

PARTICULAR BAPTIST.

MAZE-POND, and the surrounding neighbourhood were

in former times occupied by a palace belonging to the Abbots of Battle. It was their city mansion, to which they used to resort when they attended their duty in Parliament. These Abbots maintained a bridge called "Battle Bridge," lying over a water-course, that passed through their grounds over the river Thames. The name is still preserved in Battlestairs. The several streets raised upon this estate, which bear the name of the Mazes, or Maeses, were so called from the luxuriant windings and intricacies in the magnificent gardens of those mitred priests.

The church now meeting in Maze-Pond assembled origi nally in an old wooden building, in Flower-de-luce Court, Tooley-street. It originated in a separation from Benjamin Keach's church in Goat-street, Horsleydown, occasioned by a difference of opinion amongst his people upon the subject of singing in public worship, which Mr. Keach had in

MAZE-POND.-Particular Baptist.

troduced. Those who disapproved of that religious service withdrew in 1691, and formed themselves into a separate church. In a short time they chose for their pastor a Mr. Samuel Mee, and were admitted into the body of Particular Baptist churches. They continued to adhere stedfastly to the principle of their original constitution till after the death of Mr. Edward Wallin, when Mr. West, who was chosen to succeed him, in 1736, made it a condition of his accepting the pastoral office, that singing should form a part of the public worship. The present meeting-house was built for the elder Mr. Wallin, and opened a few years before his death. It is a neat, substantial brick-building, with three galleries, and has a burial-ground adjoining, where are interred the former pastors, together with a considerable number of persons of the Baptist denomination. The church has long been in a flourishing state, and may vie with the most respectable congregations of the same persuasion. The ministers who have served the society as pastors have been as follows:

SAMUEL MEE.-Of this person we possess but slender information. He was the first pastor of this society, and most probably had been a member of Mr. Keach's church. His name occurs in the list of Baptist churches that joined the general assembly in London, in 1691. His worldly circumstances appear to have been in a low state, for we find

MAZE-POND.-Particular Baptist.

several churches making a collection for him in 1698. He is supposed to have died about 1702, and was succeeded in the following year by Mr. Edward Wallin.

EDWARD WALLIN.-This worthy minister descended from religious parents, who suffered much for the cause of Christ and the maintenance of a good conscience. Being greatly injured in their circumstances, through the severity of the times, they were unable to afford their son an education suitable to his genius, and their own wishes. They, however devoted him early to the service of God, and at a proper age he submitted to the rite of baptism. Notwithstanding his engagement in-trade, he applied himself with indefatigable diligence to the study of the scriptures, and of the oriental languages, as well as other branches of useful knowledge, which fitted him to appear with advantage in the ministerial profession, as well as in the more private circle of his acquaintance. He entered upon the ministry young, first in the capacity of an assistant; but his abilities soon attracted notice, and when he was twenty-five years of age, he received a call from two churches to take upon him the pastoral office. As he had not assumed the ministerial profession from interested motives, he decided for the poorer church from an apprehension that his work laid there. This was the more generous, as he had then a growing family, and was under pressing circumstances, which obliged him at first to keep a school for his maintenance; but by the blessing of God upon his ministry, he raised his church into a flourishing condition, and received from them a sufficient provision to relieve him from the trouble of business.

His ministerial endowments were of a respectable nature. "Besides a large experience of the grace of God, he had a considerable share of light and knowledge in the great truths of the gospel; he had an heavenly skill to lay open the wretched and miserable state and condition of sinners by nature, and to set forth the glory of Christ in his person,

MAZE-POND.Particular Baptist.

blood, righteousness and sacrifice. His language was plain and easy, though strong and masculine, far above contempt, and yet free from the swelling words of vain rhetoricians. His reasoning was clear and nervous, his mien and deportment were grave, his address was with majesty, which at once had a tendency to command awe, engage the attention, and strike the affection. And, let me not forget, says Dr. Gill, to take notice of his excellent talent in prayer, and of that near communion he often enjoyed with God in the discharge of that work in private. His large knowledge of, and acquaintance with men and things, together with great sagacity and penetration, joined with labour and pleasure in it, fitted and gave him an uncommon turn for business.-Notwithstanding all his attainments, gifts and usefulness, he was humble, and entertained low thoughts of himself.-His conversation with men was free and pleasant, affable and courteous, instructive and diverting, which made him universally esteemed and beloved. He was calm and quiet under afflictive providences, and much resigned to the divine will, particularly throughout his last illness. When he was first seized he had the sentence of death in himself, he was very comfortable and satisfied about his eternal state. In my last visit to him, says Dr. Gill, I asked whether his faith in Christ was now steady? He replied, Steady, steady on the person of Christ, and those glorious truths of the gospel, which have been the support of my soul, and the delight of my ministry. Thus he fell asleep, June 12, 1733, in the fifty-fifth year of his age. He published but two discourses: One on the death of the Rev. John Noble; the other on the death of Mrs. Mary Weare. Mr. Wallin was interred in the ground behind his meeting-house, where, upon a stone against the wall may be seen the following inscription:

* Gill's Sermon on the death of Mr. Wallin, p. 41–47.

When we consider the vivacity of his wit,

The penetration of his judgment,
The compass of his knowledge,
The force of his reasoning,
And the felicity of his address,

It is doubtful whether he were more to be admired
In civil or religious life.

His conversation was pleasant and instructive,
His advice generous and faithful,
His sermons judicious and affectionate,
He was a great blessing to the Church
Of which he was pastor,

A father to several in the ministry,
Who grew up under his influence,

And an happy instrument of the glory of God;
Both in the city and in the country.

In this vault are also interred
The remains of

Mrs. SARAH WALLIN,

Wife of Mr. Benjamin Wallin,

Who departed this life February 29th, 1758,
In the 42d year of her age.

And likewise five of their children.

During the period of Mr. Wallin's ministry the church enjoyed the occasional assistance of the three following ministers SAMUEL RING, JOHN TOWNSEND, and AARON SPURRIER. Mr. Townsend was the father of Mr. Meres dith Townsend, a respectable Independent minister at Stoke Newington, and died June 3, 1766, aged 81. Mr. Spurrier died about Christinas, 1728, and was the father of a minister of the same name amongst the Baptists at Limes house.

VOL. IV.