ΤΟ THE READER. HAVING AVING finished the three divisions of this Work, comprising the cities of London and Westminster, and the Borough of Southwark, it was the Author's intention to have pursued his inquiries relative to those places that are situated in the out-parishes; and they are very numerous. The eastern parts of London, from Goodman's-fields to Limehouse, was particularly prolific in meeting-houses. In the northern circuit, from Spitalfields to Moorfields, they were also numerous; and the whole course from Holborn to Mary-le-bone, furnishes a variety of places that could not be included in the preceding divisions. These, together with the villages that surround London, would furnish ample materials for another volume; but it is expedient that the Author's labours upon this subject should close here. As there are three portraits engraved of persons whose lives have not yet been given, it may be advisable to subjoin an account of the places with which they stood connected, in order that they may not appear as outcasts from the work. The places are, ST. GILES'S, LEATHER-LANE, PETTICOAT-LANE. ST. GILES'S.-Presbyterian, Extinct. ST. GILES'S. PRESBYTERIAN.-EXTINCT. THIS HIS place was situated in Dyot-street, leading from St. Giles's into Great Russel-street. It was built in the reign of Charles II. for Mr. Joseph Read, an ejected minister, who preached here a considerable number of years. In the time of his successor, Mr. Cotton, the church broke up, about the year 1727. During the riots occasioned by the mob of Sacheverel and high-church, those friends to social order marked out this, amongst other places, for destruction. Besides doing considerable damage to the meeting, they broke into Mr. Cotton's dwelling-house adjoining, and destroyed his property to the amount of a hundred pounds. After the dissolution of the Presbyterian church, the meeting-house was occupied by a society of Nonjurors, which was its condition in 1738. The Scotch Presbyterian Seceder church, under the care of Mr. Archibald Hall, assembled at this place prior to their settlement in Wells-street. The following ministers preached to the old church. JOSEPH READ.-This gentleman was born at Kidderminster, and received his education in the university of Cam ST. GILES'S.Presbyterian, Extinct. bridge. He was entered of that place through the interest of Mr. Baxter, who, when he had finished his studies, received him into his house, and took him for an assistant. After he had been about a year at Kidderminster, he was presented to the living of Whitley, in Worcestershire, from whence he was ejected in 1662. He afterwards continued preaching about the country for some time, but at length settled in London, where he again assisted Mr. Baxter. It was his custom when that excellent man preached, to read the scripture sentences, and the psalms and lessons for the day; to sing the psalms appointed for hymns; and to recite the Lord's-prayer, the creed, and the ten commandments. He, at length, fixed in the parish of St. Giles's, where there were thought to be thirty thousand souls more than the church could contain, and who had no public worship, or instruction. There, he was enabled by the help of friends to build a meeting-house, and he was much followed by the poor inhabitants, amongst whom God owned his labours for the promotion of knowledge and piety. As he was preaching there on the 30th of April, 1676, he was taken out of the pulpit and sent to prison. He also met with much trouble upon account of his nonconformity afterwards. This is the more surprising, as the advances he made towards conformity were such as gave offence to his brethren, and occasioned him to be reflected upon in some of their writings. In 1682, he published his "Case," which satisfied some, but displeased others. Upon King James's liberty, he continued his ministry amongst his people, as he did after the Revolution. At length, age growing upon him, he retired to Hampstead, where he died in 1713. His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Williams. He was a very serious and affectionate preacher, and many had cause to bless God for him.* Calamy's Acc. p. 775% ST. GILES'S.-Presbyterian, Extinct. JOHN NEWMAN.-Mr. Read was assisted for a short time by Mr. John Newman, who had just then finished his studies. In 1696, he was chosen to assist Mr. Nathaniel Taylor, at Salters'-hall, and appeared in that pulpit with great reputation for more than forty years. To that article we refer for a more particular account of him. Mr. Read was succeeded in the pastoral office by Mr. Thomas Cotton, who had for some time been his assistant. THOMAS COTTON, M. A. was born in the year 1653, at or near Workley, a village in the neighbourhood of Rotherham, in Yorkshire. His father, Mr. Robert Cotton, was one of the iron-masters of that county, and was a person of considerable substance. Both his parents were eminent for serious religion, and they brought up a numerous family with great credit; but the subject of the present memoir was the only one whom they devoted to the work of the ministry. Before he was seven years of age he was sent to the freeschool at Rotherham; but he was afterwards more carefully instructed at home by the Rev. Mr. Spawford, who was ejected from Silkestone in Yorkshire, and was afterwards taken into Mr. Cotton's house, where he was supported as long as he lived. Upon that gentleman's death in 1668, Mr. Cotton was placed under the care of the celebrated Mr. Wickers, of Manchester, under whom he enjoyed his principal advantages for classical learning. From thence he was sent to a private academy, kept by Mr. Hickman, who being soon disabled by age, he was placed under the tuition of Mr. Frankland, who presided over a flourishing institution at Natland in Westmorland. He entered that seminary June 3, 1674, and after continuing there some time, was sent to the university of Edinburgh, where he finished his studies, and passed his trials for the ministry about the year 1677. From the same college he afterwards received the degree of Master of Arts. From the time of the general ejectment Mr. Cotton's fa |