triumph round his head, and soon after fell asleep in Jesus. He died on the noon of Lord's-day, October 31, 1819, in the forty-third year of his age; and entered on his eterual rest in the heavenly world. out producing some salutary effect on the heart, would awaken in him almost insuperable emotions. The last sermon he preached was from the dying words of Jesus," It is finished." He concluded his discourse with the words of the text, " It is finish We cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of inserting the following extract from the Sermon, (by the Mr. Flint, as a man, and as a friend, was loved most by those who knew him best. In his dis-ed," and never afterwards opened position he was warm and quick, his lips in public but he was open, forgiving, and generous. He maintained his own sentiments with firmness; but while he was superior to vacilla-Rev. Samuel Saunders,*) which tion, he abhorred the illiberality of the bigot. In conversation he possessed great ability: he was never at a loss for a topic, nor for the most appropriate expressions to convey his ideas. contains the Memoir at large, of which the foregoing is a compendium. "Distressing as this bereave ment is to the widow of our departed brother, yet how greatly As a preacher, he was very must her affliction be alleviated superior. His mind was compre-by the persuasion, that he has exhensive, his perception clear, his memory retentive, his imagination vivid, and his command of language extraordinary. Such were the just and striking sentiments which distinguished his compositions, and such was the command of his address, that no intelligent person could hear him without feeling himself obliged to listen to his instructions, how lit-united with them in firmer tle interest soever he might feel in the subject. changed a state of anxiety and pain for the felicities and glories of heaven; that, 'in brighter and happier regions,' he now enjoys the society of the glorified spirits of her late inestimable father, and of the seraphic Pearce, and of the amiable and pious Rowe; that he is now mingling with them a blissful intercourse,' and, being bands and sweeter endearments than were ever known on earth, But what is of infinitely greater is encircling the throne of his moment, he possessed a most fer-heavenly Father, and gazing with vent love to God and to immortal souls. He had a tenderness of conscience that would not allow him in any practice which he thought might be displeasing to God; and a sense of honour that would not allow him in an act of meanness towards a fellow-creature. His anxiety for doing good was remarkable. The mere inattention of a single hearer was sufficient to draw tears from his eyes; and the fear of preaching with ecstacy on the glories of the Saviour. May the God of her deceased husband impart to her afflicted mind the consolations of his promises; inspire her with patience and fortitude to endure the heavy cares which, by this gloomy dispensation, are allotted *The same respectable minister has lately published, A Sermon on the Death of the late King;-and Children invited to serious Reflection, Price 3d. or 21s. per 100.-The latter on fine Paper, in neat Covers, 4d. to her; afford her all the gratifi- | from this church to be ordained cation that can arise from the at Exeter; and Mr. Holder was affection, and obedience, and written to, for the purpose of aspiety of her children, and spare sisting at his ordination. The her valuable life, that she may letter was dated 7th month, 1721. indulge her maternal solicitude, This gentleman was father to the in sheltering their tender years, late Dr. Samuel Stennett. He and in nurturing those gracious died in London, or Bath, 1758. principles which she has so See Dr. Gill's Funeral Sermon. anxiously endeavoured to implant in their hearts! "What powerful motives are exhibited to the children of our departed friend, to yield themselves to the service of God in the days of their youth! Let them reflect on the instances which we have produced of his ardent love to God, of his utter aversion from sin, of his early and decided attachment to the cause of Christ, and the uniform purity with which he adorned his Christian profession. Let them remember his earnest solicitude for their future happiness, his affectionate instructions, and his fervent prayers. After such advantages, what children ought they to be! How assiduous in the discharge of every filial duty to their dear widowed mother! How devoted to God! How holy in their lives! How useful to the world! How ornamental to the church!" THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT LEOMINSTER. (Concluded from Page 138.) 11. Dr. Joseph Stennett was a member of this church, recommended in October, 1717, with Mary his wife, (as is supposed,) from Abergavenny. It is reported that he began his ministry here in Mr. Holder's time. It is certain he had his dismission 12. Mr. Thomas Lewis, of Glascomb, Radnorshire. His name, and his father's, are on the church book, as members. He had a people at Glascomb, but often preached here. He died in 1735, aged sixty-four. 13. Mr. John Oulton; the third pastor of this church, and immediate successor to Mr. Hok der. He settled there in 1781, was esteemed a pious and good man, but differed from Mr. Holder, in being a high Calvinist; on which account many were offend ed, whilst others approved of his ministry. He published, during his stay at Leominster, two 8vo. volumes. The first was " A Scripture-proof of the most important Doctrines and Duties of Christianity;" and the other, " An Answer to Mr. Wesley's Sermon on Free Grace." A remark or two on the state of the church at the close of Mr. Holder's ministry, and as Mr. Oulton found it, may be necessary. The members at Hereford, who formed a branch of the church at Leominster, were considerably diminished, as appears from the list of 1694, and still more so, from that of 1707, and but three or, four of them were living in 1714. After the death of Mr. Price, Mr. Holder preached but little at Hereford. The last ten years of his life he baptized but few; and the last three years, by a remarkable mortality, the number of members, including himself and wife, was reduced to thirty of the church when Mr. Oulton accepted the charge of it. And though there were some additions soon after his settling, yet matters did not continue peaceable: there was a division in the church, and four or five members left it for a time. The breach was somewhat healed at the Association in 1743, but again broke out, or rather grew worse than better. In 1749, Mr. Oulton left the people, and went to Liverpool, where he was pastor of the church, afterwards Mr. Medley's; in which situation he continued some years, till his faculties failed him. He finished his days at his son's, at Rawden, about the year 1780, aged eightyeight. right. Such was the condition | in Carmarthenshire, about the year 1719. When twenty years old, he went to reside at Hereford, and attended Mr. Oulton's ministry at Leominster. In 1740 he was baptized there. In 1743 he returned to his native country, was requested to engage in the ministry, and occasionally complied. In 1746 he removed to the Hay, and soon afterwards joined the church at Maes-y-berllan, both in the county of Brecon. From the Leominster church he had a dismission to Maes-y-berllan, where he was ordained, to assist the aged pastor of that church in 1749. After Mr. Oulton left Leominster, and also in the time of Mr. Evans, Mr. Thomas was several times invited by the peo14. Mr. John Oulton, Junior, ple to return; but many disthe son of the above gentleman, couraging reasons prevented his was baptized in 1740, and began compliance until Mr. Evans left, soon after to exercise in the mi- when, on the 7th of October, nistry. In 1742, he went to the 1753, he complied. In his MS. Bristol Academy. After his re- he says, "It was nearly to a day moval, he visited Birmingham ten years, since I had gone from and Salop successively, for short Hereford. Several were gone to seasons; then settled for some the other world, and not a single time at Bridlington, a sea-port | soul added in all that time. The town in the East Riding of York-sight was really affecting! On shire; and, finally, at Rawden, a considerable village near Leeds. 15. Mr. Rees Evans, a native of Breconshire, near Builth, came to Leominster from Bristol in the summer of 1750. He supplied this church, in a probationary way, for three years; but the declining interest discouraging him, he went to the church at Shrewsbury, where he was ordained. He met with trouble there, and gave up the pastoral office in a few years. He spent the remain-brought him and his family thither der of his days at Tewkesbury, in November, 1754. "On the preached occasionally, and died 19th of December following," he writes, "I accepted the pastoral care of a small church, I hope in the fear and presence of God." No stranger assisted on this occa in 1768. 16. Mr. Joshua Thomas became the fourth pastor of the church. He was born at Cair, that day I preached from Isaiah viii. 17. And I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. There was a suitableness in the subject, and I hope the Lord was with us in the same degree that day." Through the following winter he occasionally supplied the church, without the least thoughts of settling; but an all-wise Providence, which over-rules human purposes, sion. This church then consisted I quently the donations of open only of thirteen members, and its increase was very gradual. Down to 1785 he baptized seventynine, and the number of members was then forty-nine. Mr. William, now Dr. Steadman, the respectable tutor of the Bradford Academy, was baptized by him in 1784; and he was called to the ministry out of this church January, 1788. hearted Christians were given in endowments for the perpetual aid of the ministry, and the relief of poor members. In this way the church at Leominster was enriched by the communications of many. However the beneficence of one maiden lady should be She built the present stated. handsome meeting-house, à house for the minister, and two widows" houses with suitable offices; giving the premises, and a spacious garden. The whole is said to have cost her two thousand 1771, after which she gave in perpetuity for the minister an estate, valued at about fifty pounds per annum. In August, 1797, Mr. Thomas died, and the following remarks concerning him are taken from the Church Book. "He was a laborious and judicious minis-pounds. This was completed in ter, possessed a very strong judgment, a very capacious memory, and was firm in his belief of the doctrines of grace, which he continued to preach, and un, der the influence of which he lived and died. He was a sincere friend, kind and affectionate to all who requested his services, and offensive to none. His usefulness, especially amongst the . BAPTIST CHURCH, AT GILDERSOME, SIX MILES WEST OF LEEDS. Church at Rawden. ON Sept. 6, 1749, seventeen persons, members of the church at Rawden, were formed into a church. Mr. John Tommas, who had laboured amongst them from the year 1747, became their pastor, Mr. Tommas was born at Barnoldswick in 1724, and was baptized by Mr. Alvery Jackson when about seventeen years of age. Welsh churches, was largely and This Church is a Branch of the Baptise eminently extensive, so that amongst them the memory of his name will long be as ointment poured forth. As an historian, also, he will be justly celebrated by most of the Welsh, and many of the English Baptists. He presided over this church nearly forty-three years." He was succeeded in the pastorate by the Rev. S. Kilpin, of Bedford, June, 1799, since removed to Exeter.* A remark or two concerning benefactions to this church, must conclude this long account. Du ring the period which comprised the lives of the above worthies, there were no missions, nor Bible to maintain : conse -At his ordination at Gildersome in 1749, Mr. Jackson offered up the ordination prayer, and gave the charge from Isa. lii. 11; Mr. Palmer of Hull, who afterwards moved to Broughton, Cumberland, and died there, addressed the people from Matt. xxviii. 20. In 1748 Mr. Tommas had marMr. Kilpin laboured in this church In 1754 very faithfully between twelve and thir-ried Miss Ann Hudson. he was dismissed to the pastoral societies teen years, care of the Baptist church in the Pithay, Bristol, amongst which people he had been officiating some months as a visitant. He died at Bristol, August 27, 1800, aged seventy-six. Mr. Thomas Ashworth, son of Mr. Richard Ashworth, Baptist minister at Cloughfold, Rossendale, Lancashire, and brother to Dr. Caleb Ashworth, tutor of the Independent Academy at Daventry, succeeded Mr. Tommas, and was ordained over the church at Gildersome, June 26, 1755. He was a man of eminent piety. He died of a paralytic stroke, May 10, 1769. His nephew, James Ashworth, succeeded him. He was baptized by his uncle in 1759, and ordained in 1770. He removed to Farsley in 1800, and soon after to Horseforth, two villages between Leeds and Bradford, and died in 1802. Mr. Ashworth published a sermon on the death of Mrs. Weatherill. Gildersome as above, and was ordained in 1808; Dr. Fawcett and Dr. Steadman assisting. The number of members now (April, 1819) is twenty-three. The following ministers were sent out by this church: Joseph Askwith, Jan. 2, 1777; dismissed to the pastoral care of the church at Bramley, near Leeds, a people he had the means of gathering. Luke Hayward, July 3, 1777; dismissed to the pastoral care of the church at Watford. John Ross, Jan. 24, 1779; dismissed to the pastoral care of the church in Gisburne Forest, near Skipton. I. M. Shipley. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. No. IV. LONG-SUFFERING. LONG-SUFFERING consists, in the first place, of forbearance in the midst of injuries and After Mr. Ashworth left Gil-provocations. The Christian is dersome, the church there was not unfrequently exposed to long in an unsettled state. Mr. such treatment as calls for the Ward, (now Baptist Missionary in exercise of long-suffering, and India,) ministered to the people puts his forbearance to a severe nearly twelve months. Mr. Ack- trial. His holy and consistent royd (now at Halifax), Mr. Tate, conduct becomes a silent moand Mr. Brooks, laboured in suc-nitor, and conveys a powerful cession as supplies till the close of and unwelcome reproof to the the year 1805. At this time the careless and the gay. While it Baptist Academy at Bradford was produces respect and admiration set on foot; the students from in some, in others it excites the which Seminary occupied the opposite feelings of envy and pulpit at Gildersome till March hatred. His character is often 18, 1807, when the Rev. W. Scar-viewed with a malignant eye, and lett was called to labour here. every action has to pass a rigid Mr. Scarlett was led to the know- scrutiny; his excellencies are deledge of the truth under the mi-preciated; his motives called in nistry of the amiable Pearce, question; and he himself is deand was baptized by him, and rided as weak and fanatical. The called to the work of the minis- world is eager to detect the try by the church at Cannon- slightest imperfection, and ever street, Birmingham. He after-ready to fancy a fault where it wards resided in Hull, went to cannot find one. Hence the VOL. XII. 2 P |