ST. GILES'S.Presbyterian, Extinct.

of that day, revived the apprehension of renewed persecutions, and he began to fear that the scenes he had witnessed in France would be realized in this country. The temper of the times taught him to expect that the discouragements which were given to Dissenters would receive a legislative sanction, and he actually looked forward to those disqualify ing laws which afterwards took place. But under these, as well as some other troubles that he met with, he avoided fretful complaints, and whilst he conducted himself with great meekness towards his persecutors, he exercised a beeoming confidence towards God, to whom he committed himself with patience, in humble believing prayer; and' in the course of his trials he experienced some great providen→ tial supports and encouragements. Upon the revival of the disputes in the West of England relating to the doctrine of the Trinity, in the year 17 18, and the subsequent transaction which led to the famous synod at Salters'-hall, at the com mencement of the following year, Mr. Cotton conducted himself with great moderation; notwithstanding which he experienced, from some individuals, very unkind and censo rious treatment, chiefly on account of his liberality and catholicism. Though a firm believer of the doctrine in question, he thought it his duty to decide with his non-subscribing brethren. He strongly maintained that great Protestant principle, the right of private judgment, and was an enemy to all needless subscriptions to human forms in matters of religion. When some amongst the Dissenters used him ill on this account, and discovered an intolerant disposition towards one another, he used to say, " They had not seen the dragroonings and persecutions he had done, to make all of one way;" intimating that if they had, they would be more candid towards each other. But he preserved his usual temper so well, as to be respected and esteemed by some that conti nued to differ from him.

.

C

h

He was much loved and valued by those to whom he statedly ministered, and was frequently called to engage in

ST. GILES'S.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

occasional services elsewhere. And it deserves to be mentioned as a mark of the benevolence of his disposition, that he was always ready to give his assistance, not only where he had met with a kind reception, but even in those places where he had been treated in a less friendly manner. Though his spirit was kind and grateful, it was much depressed by the neglect and disrespectful treatment he met with, especially in his latter years. But he seldom made known his troubles, even to his most intimate friends. Upon the expiration of the lease of his meeting-house about the year 1727, his congregation, which was then in a low state, did not think it desirable to renew it, but dissolved into other societies. From this time a period was, in a great measure, put to Mr. Cotton's public labours, which he esteemed one of the greatest afflictions of his life; and he retired to Hampstead, where after about three years he finished his course. He continued in the enjoyment of all his reasoning faculties till the last, and closed life in a most thankful, orderly, composed manner, After settling his worldly affairs, he resigned his soul to God in solemn prayer, and committed his family to the protection of him who had been his God all his life long. He declared to them who prayed with him, that his hope of mercy and salvation, now he was going to appear before God, was only upon the foot of the gospel-covenant, and in a covenant way. This he spoke of to various persons in different forms of expression; but to Dr. Wright, and another minister who prayed with him, he expressed himself thus: "We keep covenant like poor imperfect creatures, but he keeps covenant like a God." This was the matter of his hope and rejoicing, when early in the morning of the Lord's-day he entered into his eternal rest. This event took place sometime in the year 1730, when he was seventy-seven years of age. His relation, Dr. Wright, delivered the address at his interment in Bunhill-fields, and preached his funeral sermon at Hampstead,

ST. GILES'S.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

from Job xiv. 10. "But man dieth and wasteth away, &c." This interesting discourse was afterwards published.

Mr. Cotton was a man of good useful learning, of a cheerful pious disposition, and very regular in the whole of his behaviour. He was a solid preacher, and had a very happy talent of suiting his discourses to particular persons and occasions. It was a maxim with him, that application is the very life of preaching. In his younger years he had taken great notice of some of the best preachers in foreign countries, from whom he learned to speak with great eloquence and pathos. His voice was naturally low, and grew more so as he advanced in life; but it was soft, and free from every disagreeable tone or accent. Having been greatly affected with the manner in which psalmody was performed in the foreign reformed churches, he became much attached to that agreeable part of divine worship. His heart was in the whole of his work, and the seriousness of spirit he discovered in the pulpit, ever tended to leave a solemn impression upon the minds of his audience. He seldom troubled his hearers with points of controversy; but when his subject led him to it, he advanced his own opinions with becoming deference, and a charitable regard to those who differed from him. He was remarkable for an eminent gift in prayer, and was so much valued in this respect as to be stated chaplain in one family after another till the conclusion of his life. There is a large handsome painting of Mr. Cotton, in Dr. Williams's library, Red-Cross-street, from which we have made the present engraving. Mr. Cotton could never be persuaded to publish any thing but a single sermon, preached to the societies for reformation of manners in the cities of London and Westminster, Oct. 5, 1702.

LEATHER-LANE.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

LEATHER-LANE.

PRESBYTERIAN.-EXTINCT.

THE frequent recurrence to our notice, of churches once

flourishing and respectable, of which we are obliged to record the exit, has a strong tendency to impress the mind with the uncertainty of temporal things, and to engage it in a diligent preparation for that more perfect state, which shall admit of no termination. The Presbyterian society in Leather-lane was collected in the reign of Charles II. by Mr. John Turner, the ejected minister of Sunbury, in Middlesex. His first meeting-house appears to have been in Fetter-lane, where Mr. Baxter preached a morning lecture, as may be seen in his life. Being deprived of that place through the severity of the times, his people built him another meeting-house in Leather-lane, which was conveniently situated at the back of the other buildings, and shut in from the street by means of a large gate. This privacy was rendered very necessary in those days of trouble, when with the utmost precaution the worshippers of God were often dragged from their public assemblies to a loathsome prison. Mr. Turner had various ministers to assist him, and left at his death a flourishing congregation. His meeting-house was a moderate size building, with three galleries; and in former times it was frequented by many people of substance. During the latter time of Mr. Pope's ministry the congregation very much declined; and after Mr. Hughes left them, about 1801, they had one settled pastor. The doors, however, were kept open till 1812, when the meeting-house was disposed of to a more thriving congregation of Methodists, that met in Cross-street, Hatton-garden, under the ministry of a Mr. Thomas Smith. Since then the place has been christened

LEATHER-LANE.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

"Trinity Chapel." With regard to the old Presbyterian church, by far the majority of ministers upon our list were decidedly attached to the old Protestant doctrines; nor does there appear to have been any essential deviation till after the death of Mr. Pope. The two last pastors were Arians. We will now lay before the reader a list of those ministers who served the society, and subjoin some brief hints relating to their lives and characters.

JOHN TURNER.-Our account of this gentleman is very circumscribed. At the Restoration he was beneficed at Sunbury in Middlesex, from whence he was ejected by the Act of Uniformity, in 1662. He then removed to London, and preached in the parish churches during all the time of the plague. Upon the indulgence in 1672, he opened a meetinghouse in Fetter-lane, and preached to a numerous auditory.