Memorials of the Independent Churches in Northamptonshire

Gospel was enjoyed, than had been known for many centuries before, or was again known till the revolution by William. During this period there came to R

d; and they were willing to make a profession of their faith in Christ Jesus. He directed those who had received th

e service of God in the ministry of the Gospel. He had a living offered to him worth ￡200 per annum, but he preferred labouring at Rowell, where he was not sure of ￡50; and he greatly rejoiced in the success that attended his labours. In the year 1655, those who had been converted under his ministry

venant renewed and

Church

f our own spirits; so that we abhor ourselves for all our former ignorant and disorderly walking. And seeing how God hath called upon us by his word and Spirit to lay hold yet again of his covenant, as in a proper season of reformation-seeing he is pleased to continue the proposal of such an unworthy people to himself, lo! how can we be ashamed of his truth and Gospel? We do, therefore, humbly tender ourselves to Jesus Christ and his ministry, in this renewed profession and covenant subscribed-viz., that, through the grace of God, we will constantly maintain and walk according to the whole will of God revealed in the Scriptures, and comprised in the articles above mentione

Domin

John Cooper, Elders; John Fox, Ralph Mun, Dea

strikingly indicate the possession of deep and experimental piety, and show that he often had great enjoyment in intercourse with God. It was seen in his spirit and conduct that he was

nment, writing several tracts in their support, addressing a letter to Dr.

, as that your very appearing might be sufficient vindication. May I not charge you in Christ's name to rise up once more for Christ, and for this part of his truth, also as in a former Church case, Esther iv. 14? What account can be given, but that God, foreseeing how useful you might be in s

ed in his own personal labours for Christ, in the place and among the people where Providence had fixed him; in his great concern for those places within his knowledg

l, and in their connexion with each other as a Christian society, that they exhorted each other and prayed together, and went constantly to Desborough for

grief to them, and to involve himself in distress. After some years he was brought, by the divine blessing on the faithful preaching of the Gospel, to deep conviction of sin, and a real return unto God. He became united to a Church at Coggeshall, in Essex; his pastor and friends encouraged him to devote himself to the ministry. He went with Mr. Simms, his pastor, to a commencement at Cambridge

; maintaining with great fervour and clearness the doctrines of divine grace, with the purity of God's worship, and the interests of holiness. In these trying days, his labours were successful in bringing, during his ministry at Rowell, about 135 persons to be united to the Church, many of whom came from different places around. In the year 1684, we have a brief statement in the records of the Church of this nature:-"From this time d

ferent places where they were resident. There is one published addressed to the Church at Rowell, another to the brethren of the Church at Bro

brethren and beloved," and in o

d hearing with you. It is true fellowship my soul has with you at a distance. I long after you much in the Lord; yet rejoicingly stay his good pleasure. I would not come out a moment before his time. I would not take a step without his direction. I am wonderfully well, better and better. The cup of affliction for the Gospel is sweeter, the deeper; a stronger cordial, the nearer the bottom-I mean death itself. Oh the joy, unspeakable and glorious, the dying martyrs of Jesus have had! How full freight have been their souls in their passage to their port! I tell you, if you knew what Christ's prisoners some of them enjoyed in their gaols, you would not fear their condition, but long for it; and I am persuaded, could their enemies conceive of their comfort, in mere vexation of heart they would stay their persecutions. "Therefore, my brethren, my joy, my crown, stand fast in the Lord;" rejoice greatly to run your race; fear not their fear; sit loose from the world; allot yourselves this portion, that God has allotted you, "through many trib

, pastor of this Church, was gathered to his Father's house in peace, in an evil, persecuting day, May 9th, 1685, h

lmost lost by five or six years' persecution, and the death of our pastor. We kept a solemn day of prayer, April 22nd, 1686, with good encouragement in it, by drawing out an account of God's dealings with the souls of t

g to law-a measure which our forefathers hailed with great joy, and which made a great change from their former condition-the Church at Rowell heard of the piety and talents of Mr. Richard Davis, who was a member of a Church in London of which Mr. Thomas Cole was pastor. Mr. Davis came to them on probation, and they h

in the office of pastor or bishop of the said Church of Christ at Rowell; being the answer of many prayers of the said Church. The neighbouring Churches were made acquainted with their design, and sent to, t

ent to the practice of the Churches around them, and the pastors coming only to be spectators of their proceedings was by no means pleasi

where he rose to such attainments in literature, that he was looked upon as well qualified to fill the office of master in a general school in the

preached thereupon immediately after my recovery." So free was this great man of God in communicating to others what he had felt, which, with other suitable remarks then made, was of great use to Mr. Davis, who, resolving to follow the Lord fully, made a profession of his faith in Christ, and became united to a Congregational Church. He was soon after urged to devote himself to Christ in the ministry of the Gospel. He began to preach, and "with that savour of spirit," it is said, "that warmth of soul, that zeal and judgment, that those who heard were amazed, and glorified God in him." Leaving the advantages of London, he came down to Rowell and became the pastor of this Church. He entered upon his work here with great earnestness of spirit, and pursued it with great and untiring energy. But the methods he adopted were very different to those which generally prevailed amongst the regular pastors of the day. Such was the ardour of his zeal that he could not confine himself within the bounds of the congregation that met at Rowell, or to the pla

nimously agreed, that a Church of Christ had power within itself to choose, approve of, ordain, or send forth any to preach the Gospel, either by virtue of office, or otherwise in a probationary way in or

yer and religious intercourse where they resided; sometimes having the Lord's Supper administered to them, and sometimes attending with the united Church at Rowell. In some places this gave rise to another Church being formed, when the numbers were sufficient to sustain an interest, and to have a past

resided in Wellingborough and its vicinity were dismissed from the Church at Rowe

g, to build a Church for Christ at Wellingb

ing God, that chiefly assembles at Rowell, has declared over and again this to be their judgment, that when any of those dear brethren and sisters that live remotely from Rowell increase into a complete number, so as to be able to answer the ends of their dividing and inchurching, and to bear the weight of those duties incumbent on a particular independent Church of Christ (in all which there must be high living by faith in the Lord Jesus), that this Church of Christ will not only consent to their dividing for to inchurch apart, but have declared it is their duty so to do. Hereupon, after the Lord Jesus having increased this Church of Christ into a great number through his mighty blessing, and especially that branch of them that lives in and near Wellingborough, our dearly beloved brethren and sisters there and thereabouts have requested us to dismiss them from us for this end, that they might incorporate into a Church distinctly and apart from us, and independent of us; we, therefore, by virtue of power and authority leagued by the Lord Jesus amongst us, with our officers, by the present do (they having first acknowledged their faith and oneness with us in the faith

in this dismission 27

avis, in the presence of all, turned to him, and, with a countenance which testified a good cause and a good conscience, said, "Sir, I was upon

exion with this that some disorders arose in their public assemblies. Some females became hysterical, and cried out; and various indications of strongly excited feeling were man

earing prayer in Zion." Again: "May 23rd, 1691, was a day kept solemnly in fasting and prayer for the afflicted, when God was eminently present; and at the close of the day some of our brethren, naming the awful name of Jesus of Nazareth, brought several of them to themselves, to our great amazement, and as an earnest to encourage our faith that that glorious name ere long will make them perfectly whole." Again: "June 31st, 1691, was kept, the greatest p

or to a people at Rowell, and by his emissaries, the shoemakers, joiners, dyers, taylors, weavers, farmers, &c.; together with a brief account 1. Of his and his parties' practices; 2. Visions and revelations; 3. Great boasts; 4. Admission of members into their society; 5. His people's self-condemnedness; 6. The number and quality of his hearers' admired fits; 7. Some queries to the country people as matter for further search;

could secure thereby his name from dishonour and contempt. I should think hard of no confession of mine that should give glory to God. But if it be the truth of Christ I am assaulted for (as thereto I am persuaded it is), then all the attempts against it will be in vain: his truth is like himself-eternal, and will abide steadfast, bright, and insupera

m. Mr. Davis stood upon his defence. He was harshly treated; and being of an ardent temperament, some things would be done and said by him that the prudent would not justify. A public controversy arose. Pamphlets were published on both sides; and neither side, perhaps, could be considered blameless in the matter. That there were some eccentricities in the case of Mr. Davis, and some incauti

sentiments and preaching of Mr. Davis,

us has been to offer pardoning grace, through the blood of Christ, freely to sinners; to press them to accept thereof on pain of damnation; to press us to holiness, from the principle of saving faith; to advance the person and offices of the Lord Jesus-likewise, the person, offices, graces, and gifts of the Spirit; and likewise, to ad

rethren, member

them, which, if seconded by a suitable elocution, must have made a powerful impression on the hearts of his hearers. His zeal was of the most ardent kind; and England at that time, perhaps, scarcely could produce a man of more ardent labours in the Redeemer's cause. Not satisfied with performing the duties of the pastoral office to his flock at Rowell, he added the character of an itinerant too, and extended his journeys 80 miles in every direction aroun

cumscribed within narrow limits the usefulness of many excellent men-it may be named the principle of propagation. On this principle did Mr. Davis act, and he united in himself the office and character of pastor, itinerant, and primitive bishop, presiding over his humble presbyters who aided him in the labours of his diocese. While we throw a veil of compassion over his in

references to such appointments in the writings of the apostles. Phebe is considered to have been a deaconess of the Church at Cenchrea; and those whose qualifications the Apostl

estle in prayer on their behalf, that the great Shepherd would take care of them in the wilderness. And their cries ascended to heaven for his stay amongst them; and floods of tears did they pour out to their heavenly Father on this occasion. But the time was come when he must die. His work was done; he must be called to his rest. Under d

the death of Mr. Davis, Mr. Maurice was invited to the pastoral office, which invitation he accepted, and was solemnly set

d his pen was employed in expounding and enforcing divine truth, and in illustrating the great principles of Congregational Church polity and the social influence of religion. The congregation continued to be large and increasing, so that on May 29th, 1734, it is recorded, "A talk concerning, and some subscriptions towards, enlarging the Meeting House, if the Lord will." A

e stone to cry out of the wall, and the beam in the timber to answer it; if stones can speak, as our Lord said they would, i

d dungeons for the sake of the truth-their families deprived of the necessaries of life by merciless and terrible fines and seizures: but, blessed be the Lord for the Revolution! and may the glorious and immortal memory of King William be in great esteem by all the Churches of Christ; and among them let us, let our children, and their children's children bear a part, in high praises to the God of tender providence at the remembrance of deliverances and

we must say as David did: "What are we, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." The generous assistance of our friends in London and elsewhere I hope we shall always thankfully acknowledge, and own the bountiful hand of our God therein; and I can never, without being deeply affected, relate or think of the extraordinary

God does by his word make it the duty of poor unconverted sinners, who hear the Gospel preached or published, to believe in Jesus Christ.' This was not printed until after Mr. Maurice's death, for it is said to be "by Matthias Maurice, late pastor to a Church at Rowell, in Northamptonshire, 1739." It has an address to the reader by Mr. Bradbury, of London, who says, "The author of this work was a person whose learning, temper, and piety

ontains from the Church. Prefixed to this little volume we fi

Rowell, against the pernicious new opin

resence of the great God and our Saviour, testify our abhorrence thereof, and declare, that in the strength of Christ we will contend earnestly for the doctrine of faith once delivered to the saints, of which doctrine we look upon this to be a very valuable part-that God does in his word make it the duty of poor unconverted sinners who hear the Gospel preached, to be truly concerned for their souls and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. The denial of this we look upon to be a denial of the law of God, not to be borne with in

ion Exemplified, in several Dialogues, giving an account of the first Settlement of Christianity in the city of Caerludd, and of the administration of the ordinances and discipline of the Gospel in the Church there planted: with the remarkable success with which Christ blessed his own institutions to the recovering of its backsliding members, the satisfactio

ers of the Church w

t he declined accepting the invitation. Then application was made to Mr. Sanderson, who promised to come and assist them for three or four Sabbaths, when he had finished his studies with Mr. Eames. After a trial he was invited to become their pastor; when he t

. Upon that, after having given the Church a particular account of my faith, publicly declared my acceptation of thei

vited several sister Churches in communion with us to join in seeking

nd Mr. Hall, of London, gave me a wo

ix years after the time of his settlement we find it recorded, "Mr. Jon

ant that the Church of Christ at Rowell may increase in numbers, gifts, and graces, and purity, under the pastoral care of th

poraries, was one of the most learned men of the age. The piety of Mr. Sanderson when at the academy appears to have been of the most decided, humble, evangelical, and experimental character. His preaching was very acceptable and useful, so that opportunities were presented to him to have settled in London, and he was advised by some of the ministers of his acquaintance to do so; but

with the utmost sincerity and pleasure, to assure you of my thankfulness to the great Shepherd of Israel for bringing you

God, we are not utterly forsaken of the spirit of serious piety and faithful friendship. Were not my engagements so many as they are, and now increasing by the care of finishing my 'Expositor' as soon as possible, I would have waited upon you before this. But I send these to beg the favour of you to breakfast with me at Mr. Saul's, at Kettering, Thursday se'nnight, if God spare our lives till then; a

nd tender regard; and assure yourself that I have all imaginable propensity to enter into a free, easy, and respectful

erend and

ionate brother a

oddr

n, March 1

ing attended his labours. But his frame appears to have been too feeble to sustain the amount of labour

me of them soon withdrew their subscriptions from him, and talked of building a new Meeting. There was a worthy deacon of his Church, who stood firmly by him, and who wrote a very sensible letter, kindly and faithfully expostulating with them on their conduct; in the course of which he observes, "We are not without several sad instances which have fallen under our own cognizance, of Churches who, upon ceasing to contribute to a handsome maintenance of their pastor

nd gradually grew worse, until he was rem

anderson, in which he says, "Greatly have I loved him and esteemed him, as one of the most completely excellent and accomplished persons of

for her peace! They have my best wishes and earnest prayers that the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, may find out a man to stand

owell-'The Scripture doctrine of Salvation by Grace through Faith, illustrated and improved.' In an

the truths of the Gospel, and rejoice in that rich abundance of gifts and graces which renders him so fit to state and improve them in the most advantageous as well as the most agreeable and delightful manner. I hope and believe that the grace he so humbly owns his dependence

ace April 20th, 1748. Upon this occasion, the service was conducted in the method generally adopted in other Dissenting Churches. Dr. Doddri

ood was invited to become co-pastor with Mr. Gregson; but before Mr. Wood entered on this office, the death of Mr. Gregson took place. In consequence of this change Mr. Wood was invited to become the pastor of the Church, which he accepted, and was set apar

nued until March 25th, 1811, a period of twenty-one years and six mont

sion, Mr. Whitehead, of Creaton, delivered the introductory discourse; ordination prayer, Mr. Toller, of Kettering; charge, Mr. Gill, of Harborough

d rich variety of matter, and greatly valued through the county. It continued for twenty y

in the front of the front of

whom were designed for the ministry, in a course of preparatory training, previous to their entering the Academy at Hoxton, afterwards Hi

it before the Church, desiring their advice and prayer. They unanimously expressed their desire that he would remain with them; and some of them did so in the strongest terms, stating it as their conviction that he ought not by any means to le

ess delivered to the students at Airedale, and published in the year 1835. Recommending

ble in the possession of good health to address you on this occasion, I should have been the helpless victim of more diseases than one which had begun to invade my frame; or rather, I should have been numbered with the dead. I have observed several running the same course which I had partly run, without having been arrested in it as I was; and the consequence has been, that though they were younger than I was, and at one time quite as healthy, they have years ago been consigned to the tomb.... I am very much disposed to believe, or rather I have no doubt, that, had the history of students and ministers in general been accurately written, the way in which they have neglected their health, en

e volumes of Congregational Lectures on '

ch unanimously agreed to invite him to become their pastor. This invitation he accepted; the ordination service being held October 4th, 1837, when Messrs. Toller, of Kettering, Hobson, of Welford, Scott, late of Rowell, and Green, of Uppingham, were enga

42. Since that time more than 60 members have been added to the Church. A new school has been erected for the Infant Sabbath-school; and at the present time considerable alterations are about to be made in the Meeting House-re-pewing, new

able to the word of God, and the means of sustaining, under God, the faithful ministry of the word of life, and the administration of the ordinances of the Gospel in their purity! Attached to the same