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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

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I. STATISTICAL VIEW OF DISSENTERS.

Wishing to make this department of our work as complete as possible, we earnestly beg our Correspondents to furnish us with all documents and information relating to it, addressed to the Editors, at the Publisher's.

DEVONSHIRE.
ASHBURTON.

(Continued from page 54.)

To Mr. Nosworthy it appears that Mr. WILLIAM PEARSE succeeded. Of him Calamy gives the following account.

"He was the son of Mr. Francis Pearse of Ermington, gent. baptized Jan. 26, 1625. Educated in grammar-learning at Plympton Mary, and in academical learning at Oxford, in Exeter College, where he had Mr. Hancock for his tutor. After continuing some years in the university, he returned into his native county, and, Dec. 25, 1655, was presented to the vicaridge of Dunsford, void by the death of the former incumbent. There the Act of Uniformity silenced and ejected him. He afterwards removed, with his family, to Stretchleigh House, in the parish of Ermington, five miles from Plimpton Mary, and preached privately in Tavistock, as he had opportunity. In the indulgence granted March 15, 1671-2, he took out licences for himself and his house. After King Charles called in his declaration, Mr. Pearse met with great trouble. He was grievously harrassed, threatened, hunted after, obliged to abscond, and at length, through the restless malice and unwearied diligence of his enemies, forced to make over his goods, and leave his family for several months together, living in London, and elsewhere, to escape their rage. Great were the dangers he was exposed to, in endeavouring to secure himself from those that sought his ruin, yea his very life. Besides what he suffered from his neighbours, he met with troubles abroad. The Conventicle Courant of Jan. 31, 1682-3, has this article. On Sunday, the twenty-first of January, several loyal and worthy justices and constables went to Mr. Lobb's Meeting, where they seized one Mr. Pearse and one Marmaduke Roberts, both preachers, who were both committed to New Prison.'

"Six times a year the bailiff came to Stretchleigh House, to warn Mr. Pearse and his wife, with his son and daughters, to appear at the assizes at Exeter, to answer for riots, routs, keeping seditious meetings, and not obeying the laws. What befell him was not in a time of war and confusion, by the violence and covetousness of soldiers; nor was he guilty of sedition or disloyalty, or punished for immorality, but persecuted for conscience. NEW SERIES, Nọ. 5.

He was impoverished, pursued, and im prisoned, for no other crimes than preaching the Gospel of peace, and endeavouring to help on souls in the way to heaven. But out of all these troubles the Lord delivered him; and though he was often hunted after, he never was seized but once, which was at the time aforesaid. Notwithstanding all his dangers, he did not waver. And God spared him till the cloud was dissipated. He survived the tribulation of those days, and saw our civil and religious liberties restored by the happy revolution: after which, he set up a public meeting in Ashburton, where he continued for the remainder of his days. He died March 17, 1690-1, ætat 65."

Mr. Pearse published "A Present for Youth, and an Example for the aged,' &c. &c. 8vo. 1683. Mr. Pearse's tomb yet exists in the church-yard of Ashburton, and was repaired, a few years since, by two gentlemen of the town, out of respect to his memory. Of the following ministers our accounts are very superficial. Mr. MEAD succeeded to Mr. Pearse. The name of Mr. TAYLOR then occurs. He came to Ashburton in 1702. In 1712, Mr. SAMUEL STODDEN settled here. He was ordained to the ministry Dec. 26, 1706. Mr. Stodden removing to Taunton, where he died in 1755. Mr. CORNELIUS BOND was ordained here, July 17, 1711. During the time of Mr. BOND's ministry the congregation amounted to 360 persons. In 1722, Mr. NATHANIEL COCK became the minister. He was ordained October 24, 1716. Mr. Cock removed to Bideford, and died in 1760. He was remarkable for his extraordinary gift in prayer. On June 10, 1741, Mr. SAMUEL WREYFORD was ordained here. In 1761, Mr. THOMAS CLARK became the stated minister, and to him succeeded Mr.GEORGE WALTERS, in 1763, who continued here several years. Mr. JAMES STOAT settled here in Nov. 1783, and continued till 1814, when he resigned. Mr. DAVID PARKER then supplied the pulpit for some time, and excited considerable attention in the town. He removed to Rhinebeck, in America, in 1816. Mr. JOHN KELLY accepted the unanimous call of the church, on Mr. Parker's removal, and was ordained to the pastoral office in April, 1817. The Meeting House was enlarged sixteen feet in length in 1819, and is now attended by a congregation of about 500 persons.

2 N

was

BEER.-Beer is a very small town, three miles from Colyton. A meeting was built in this place in the year 1700, for a Mr. BROADMEAD, who being very popular gathered a large congregation, but afterwards conformed. Mr. WHITTY, afterwards of Lyme, the author of several volumes of sermons "On Prayer,' afterwards their minister; but as the interest was greatly hurt by Mr. Broadmead's conformity, they could only raise enough to be supplied occasionally, Part of the meeting has been for some years turned into a dwelling-house; but there is more than room for the few who attend. Mr. PATRICK, who was occasionally their minister for some years, left £4. per ann. to the place. Mr. NEWBURY was also a minister at this place, and was succeeded by Mr. Hook. About fifty years since, the vicar of the parish having greatly incensed the smugglers, of which trade were most of his parishioners, out of revenge they left the church, and offered to enter into a bond, obliging them to pay £60. per ann. to a Dissenting minister. Mr. Hook, who resided in the neighbourhood, and had no settled place, was invited to be their minister, but would not accept of their bond, knowing they would repent of having signed it, when they were a little cooler. He preached to them for some time, but being desired to let Mr. Patrick preach alternately with him, against which he had considerable objections, he resigned it. Another minister came, (supposed to be Mr. RIDGEWAY,) and the smugglers for some time attended on him; but one Lord's day a messenger came to the meeting with the news, that a King's cutter, or French privateer, was coming into the harbour. The wretches began upon this to curse and swear in so dreadful a manner in the meeting, that their minister could not bear to stay with them any longer, and the congregation was reduced to its old state.

The meeting-house was then for some years supplied by students from the Axminster Academy. Mr. VARDER, from Mr. Reader's academy at Taunton, is the present minister.

The

BEER-ALSTON.-At the distance of six miles from Tavistock, is the town of BeerAlston, which a few years ago had no place of worship. It is situated two miles and a half from the parish church, which is at one extremity of the parish. Independent minister of Tavistock at first preached there in a private room and an increasing desire to hear the word of God being manifested, he was induced to encourage the erection of a meeting-house. This was chiefly effected by subscriptions raised within the parish. The congregation now assembled there, are particularly indebted for the neat and convenient house which they occupy, to the liberality of three

ladies, two of whom are since dead, and have provided for the continual support of the Gospel by very handsome endowments. This place was opened in 1811; and Mr. W. WHILLANS was ordained here in 1815. A good congregation has been collected, a church formed, and pleasing hopes are entertained of increasing success.

BIDEFORD.

[The following interesting document is copied from a memorandum of the Rev. S. Bad. cock.]

"When the Act of Uniformity took place, Mr. Wm. Bartlett was ejected from the living of Bideford, and after that formed a church in that town on the strictest plan of Independency. For some time, he was assisted in his ministerial work by his son, Mr. John Bartlett. They were a contrast to one another. The father was called Boanerges, and the son Barnabas. This healed where that had wounded, and both were rendered remarkably useful in their distinct characters. The old Mr. Bartlett out-lived his son, and preached his funeral sermon; but the struggles of parental love were so exceedingly strong, that it was pretty near a quarter of an hour before he could speak a word. What year the son died, I cannot learn. The father died in 1682. There is an account of him in Dr. Calamy. He wrote " a Model of Church Government" in quarto. Mr. Lewis Stucley, who was the capital Independent of the West, returned hither from Exon. Whether he took a stated share of the ministerial work, I can get no clear information. Dr. Calamy tells us, that he preached among the Dissenters at Bideford, but it should seem only occasionally, though, perhaps, frequently, as it was his darling employment. He died in the year 1687. [Mr. Stucley published many excellent tracts.]

"Mr. John Bowden, ejected from the living of West Ham, in this County, was made co pastor with Mr. William Bartlett. After Mr. Bartlett's death, he had an assistant from Ireland, Mr. James Wood. This Mr. Wood was settled at New Town, in Tipperary. There is a piece of his entitled, "The Shepherd's Life Spiritualized," in imitation of Mr. Flavel's Allegories. He was a man of some learning and ingenuity, but one piece of indiscretion greatly injured the church and his own reputation. As it reflects no honour on his character, I would throw it into the shade, and only remark, that it was the cause of a separation that took place in the year 1694. A party attached themselves to him on his profession of repentance, and built a meeting-house for him in the High Street. The old congregation which had dismissed Mr. Wood, chose one Mr. Bailey to be a co-pastor with Mr. Bowden in the year 1696. In the same

year, the present large meeting-house was built. In the year 1700, Mr. Bowden died, much lamented by his people, to whom he was peculiarly dear. The same year, Mr. William Bartlett, the son and grandson of the two former ministers of that name, was chosen an assistant to Mr. Bailey. He was educated in Scotland, and began the ministry very young. He was afterwards made co-pastor. There are two sermons of his printed, one cntitled The Power of Violence and Resolution when applied to Religion, on Matt. ii. 12. preached at the Morning Lecture at Exeter, Sept. 9, 1714.' The other, • Admonition to Youth, preached on the Death of Mr. P. Cornish at Bideford, Feb. 1714.' He removed afterwards to a situation near Birmingham, and was succeeded by Mr. Cooper, who was chosen co-pastor with Mr. Bartlett. Mr. Cooper removed to Topsham about the year 1723. Mr. Thomas Coplestone succeeded Mr. Bartlett, who died in 1719, as co-pastor with Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Peter Jilleard succeeded Mr. Cooper as co-pastor with Mr. Coplestone. Mr. Jilleard was first settled at Crediton. He was ordained there Oct. 21, 1724. The sermon preached on the occasion by Mr. John Withers was printed, and did great credit to the abilities of the preacher. The text was from Acts xiii. 2, 3. The subject was, 'A Stated Ministry and Presbyterian Ordination Vindicated.' It appears, that Mr. Jilleard was also settled some short time at a little meeting-house at Exeter, called the Castle. On his removal from Bideford in the year 1729, he settled at Tavistock, from whence he removed to Castle Green, Bristol. Mr. Coplestone did not continue long after him at Bideford. He preached for some time at Compton, near Yeovil, but was not a stated, regular minister any where afterwards. He died at a very advanced age, a few years since,* somewhere near London. He had a son, Coriolanus Coplestone, who conformed, and is a clergyman near Eton, but almost a beggar. Upon the removal of Messrs. Jilleard and Coplestone, Mr. Sedgeley, of Wareham, was invited to Bideford, whither he removed in the year 1730. He was a very lively preacher, and much increased the congregation. No man was more beloved or esteemed, till an indiscreet act set him at variance with his people. The occasion of it was this, when Mr. Whitfield visited Bideford, Mr. Sedgeley warmly espoused his cause, and permitted him to preach in his pulpit, condescending himself to be his clerk, the consequence of which was, the people's regards were in a great measure withdrawn from their own minister. They were all on fire, and all Mr. Sedgeley's attempts to extinguish it, inflamed it the

*This was written about 1778.

more. He saw his precipitance, and heartily repented it, but too late. He had conjured up a spirit, that it was impossible for him to set at rest, and which obliged him to remove to Newbury. Mr. Sedgeley was succeeded by Mr. Samuel Lavington in the year 1752. Since that time the congregation hath enjoyed uninterrupted tranquillity. Mr. Lavington's amiable disposition made every person his friend, and his pacific measures as a minister united all parties, and softened down the bitterness of dispute. The church was formerly governed by the strictest discipline; the last Mr. Bartlett relaxed its severity, and it is now a compound of Independency and Presbyterianism. The congregation was once very numerous; it is now (1778) a respectable one, not only in point of numbers, but religion. Mr. Lavington hath met with great success, and appears to have the interest of vital Christianity much at heart. The other congregation that separated from Mr. Bowden continued for some time with his colleague, Mr. Wood; but after the death of this last gentleman, Mr. Samuel Short preached for some time with them. There is a funeral sermon in print, that Mr. Short when very young, preached for one Mr. Brayley, of Bideford; it was prefaced and recommended by Mr. Joseph Hallett, of Exeter. It bears date 1701. removal, Mr. John Norman settled with this people 1703. He afterwards removed to Portsmouth, where he died a few years since. He published a few small tracts in vindication of the Dissenters, and one against Mr. Fancourt, of Salisbury, on the subject of the divine prescience. He was a man much respected at Bideford, as was also his successor, Mr. Nathaniel Cock, who removed from Chulmleigh to this place in the year 1716. When the controversy about Arianism was uppermost, in the year 1719, Mr. Cock joined Mr. Pierce's party. He died in the year 1760. Mr. Michael Towgood preached his funeral sermon, and then the meeting was shut up, and the principal part of his congregation united with Mr. Lavington, with which they continue with the greatest harmony." [Here Mr. Badcock's MS. ends.]

On his

As our readers will find an extended account of Mr. Lavington's life in the first volume of our Magazine, we shall refrain from any further notice of him, in the present article. He died in 1807, and was succeeded by Mr. Samuel Rooker, under whose ministry this old and respectable church still flourishes. The following account of its present state has been transmitted to us. "The congregation is harmonious, serious, and increasing. There are three services on the Sabbath, and a lecture on the Wednesday. On the Monday evening extracts are constantly read from the short hand

notes of their late highly valued minister, Mr. Lavington. The Sunday School consists of about 200 children. The congregation in the morning and afternoon is respectable, and in the evening is consi

derably increased by many of the Established Church, who take their sittings, and regularly attend on that part of the day." (To be continued.)

II. MISCELLANEOUS.

Approaching Meetings of Societies.--As the public meetings of the various religious and charitable societies are now anticipated with delight by many, and are objects of interest to all who have at heart the extension of Christ's kingdom on earth and the welfare of their fellow-men, I trust, you will admit a few remarks on what appears to me, in common with many others, a subject of deep regret: I allude to the spirit and manner in which some of these meetings are conducted.

They are too much regarded as meetings for amusement only, where the same display in dress, the same levity of conduct, the same flippancy of conversation is indulged in, the same feelings excited--in short, "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life," almost as fully ministered to, as in the assembly or theatre; and this I fear (I speak with feelings of the sincerest esteem for those excellent men who actively engage in these societies) is in no small degree to be attributed to the speakers on these occasions.

I am far from desiring that gloominess should prevail, or cheerfulness be banished from scenes where joy and gladness of heart should be felt by all, where encouragement should be held out and ardour excited; but let solid arguments be employed, and Christian motives appealed to; let there be less of "complimenting the ladies," fewer egotistical anecdotes, and fewer appeals to gallantry on the one hand, or to love of praise on the other.

I am aware that, under these regulations, our meetings would not be so stylishly attended, perhaps the collections might for a time fall off, but I feel convinced, that sobriety and consistency would eventually best promote the interest and enrich the funds of these institutions, however much it might diminish their splendour.

"Let all things be done decently, and in order."'---" Whatever therefore ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Special Prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.--Several ministers have resolved to avail themselves of the suggestion in our last, to set apart Lord's day, May the 22d, (usually called Whit Sunday,) for the special purpose of preaching upon the necessity of the influences of the Spirit, and to hold special prayer-meetings carly in the morning of that day, for that promised blessing. We are aware

that contingent evils may possibly arise from such appointments, which, however, must, in this case, be more than counteracted by the certain good.

The Anti-Roman Catholic Petitions and the Dissenters. The public attention during the past month has been much excited by the tactics of the political parties both in and out of parliament, preparatory to another trial of their relative strength, upon the discussion of the question of Roman Catholic emancipation. Upon the merits of that question we are not disposed to enter, but as some professedly Dissenting congregations, both in town and country, have thought it proper to present petitions to Parliament against further concessions to their Roman Catholic fellow-subjects, which produced in the House of Con.mons, a marked expression of disapprobation, we are anxious to record the remarks of Mr. Brougham on the subject, as they will enable the whole dissenting community to ascertain how this conduct has been viewed by the professed advocates of civil and religious liberty in that honourable assembly. The report is extracted from the Times newspaper of the 19th of April.

Mr. Brougham said, "that the petitions brought forward by the hon. member for Kent (Sir E. Knatchbull) should darken their doors, and load their table, was not at all surprising. Those petitions were signed by the archdeacons and the deacons of Canterbury-by the clergy of the established church-and by some few of the laity. This was quite regular; there was nothing extraordinary in it. But there was a class of persons whose signature he was ashamed to see affixed to petitions of a similar tendency. He alluded to that most respected, and by him, ever to be considered most respectable, class of men-the Dissenters of this kingdom. If there were one class of men more than another bound to petition in favour of the Roman Catholics, that class was the Dissenters. (Hear, hear.) Those hon. persons--for so he would denominate them-were, he supposed, sensible that they themselves laboured under disabilities (hear, hear); and he hoped, as discussion was what they wished--as discussion on the subject of religious disabilities was always on their lips -as they called on that House to extend a little tolerance and liberality towards them in matters of conscience-he trusted, he said, that a little more of that discussion,

which they so much admired, would have the effect of altering their opinions, ere long, with respect to the question of Catholic emancipation. (Hear.) He hoped that discussion would ultimately remind them how grievously inconsistent was the conduct pursued by them. Did they forget that they held offices, and all the offices which they were capable of holding under government, by connivance? (Hear.) Why were they thus situated? Because the religion

which they professed was not the religion of the state. (Hear.) Therefore it was, that an annual indemnity act was passed, in the absence of which all of them who held office were liable to penalties by law. Why, then, should they, who themselves laboured under disabilities, raise their voices against those who were placed in a similar situation? (Hear.) Why should they not wish the same kind of liberal tolerance to be extended towards others which they demanded for themselves? (Hear.) The doors of office in the state, great and small, were shut against the Dissenters, but they got over this difficulty by the annual indemnity act. (Hear.) And yet, labouring under those disabilities, they called on the legislature to continue the disabilities of the Roman Catholics. (Hear.) He recollected that James II. (a name which no doubt would be associated with this question,) was addressed by the Quakers, on the occasion of his ascension to the throne, in these terms:-"We hear that thou no more agreest with the Established Church of this land than we do ourselves;

for the which reason, we expect that thou wilt extend that toleration to us which thou thyself standest in need of." Now, he would apply to the Dissenters (for whom he had a greater reverence and respect than for any sovereign) the words of the Quakers. He would say to those Dissenters who had placed their petition in the hands of the hon. Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peel), and of the hon. baronet (Sir T. Lethbridge), that they ought to admit the Roman Catholics to a participation in those rights which they were themselves struggling for. The Dissenters differed upon almost every point, upon almost every subject, from those to whom they had intrusted their petitions; but, pro hac vice, they came forward to oppose the Roman Catholics. Well might the Roman Catholics say, "We, like yourselves, are oppressed by disabilities; and we hope that you will bear with us, as the State bears with you -that you will allow us a little of that toleration, so great an abundance of which you enjoy, but none of which is extended Some of the petitions to which he had referred came from Scotland, upon which he would say a word presently. Presbyterianism was the chief religion of

to us.

Scotland, and several Presbyterians were members of that house. Now, he asked, how would his Scotch friends of that religious persuasion feel themselves, if the doors of all offices, great and small, were shut in their faces? They had, however, enjoyed the most considerable offices in the country, which was contrary to law ; but that objection was met by the Indemnity Act. There had been two Lords Chancellor, there had been Chief Justices of the Court of King's Bench, and of the Court of Common Pleas, who were known to profess this religious belief; but if the same measure had been dealt out to them, which was dealt out to the Roman Catholics, they never could have arrived at those honours. (Hear.) The law, which he must call a most savage one, provided that all those who accepted of situations of this nature, should receive the sacrament of the Church of England; those Dissenters who abhorred that form, were required to have the sacrament administered to them; but, by the Indemnity Act, they got over that difficulty, and were enabled to hold office, without violating their feelings. This was an act which enabled the Government to procure the assistance of very able menit was, no doubt, useful to the country, and was not, he hoped, at all disagreeable to those who took advantage of its provisions. (A laugh.) A little more discussion would, he conceived, place this matter in so clear a light, that they would have no more anti-Catholic petitions from the Dissenters. There were some millions of Dissenters in this country: but a few of them had signed petitions of this nature; few, however, as they were, they were all too many, considering the glaring inconsistency of conduct which such a proceeding manifested. (Hear.) No man living had a greater respect for the Dissenters than he had. He knew them to be friends to civil liberty; he knew them to be friends to the dissemination of knowledge, and the diffusion of education; and he hoped to find them all, henceforth, (except when some little delusion was practised upon them,) the sincere friends to the most extended religious liberty. (Hear.) If it were not for the respect he bore them, he would not have trespassed so much upon the time of the house; but what he had thrown out was intended as a friendly, and he trusted it would be received as a kindly admonition, by those to whom it was addressed." (Hear.)

Having consulted the votes of the House of Commons up to that day, we find that 13 petitions, from congregations in London, and 14 from the country, have been presented; but upon analyzing the list of the former, it appears, that only two churches sending representatives to the board of deputies have been betrayed into

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