is well fitted for it. You do not to me discover your wisdom in reflecting on a man of his worth and eminence.' 'However,' said I, (who was willing to be a little plain before parting, and to leave something with her in her own vulgar language that might stick and abide by her,) 'such carriage to him would never, while the world stands, induce me to listen to such a motion as yours. For the very same names as you give to him now, would you in a little time give to me, and, perhaps, yet worse; crying that you had got out of the frying-pan into the fire.'

With this our discourse broke off, and she only said farther, 'nay, sir, if it be so, then I wish you a good night,' and she dropped me a courtesy, and went off. The rest soon followed her, and left me alone, and gave me no farther disturbance. The next morning I waited on Mr. Sprint at Clatford, where he lived, and gave an account of what had passed the night before. I found him a very venerable old gentleman, and very frank and pleasant in conversation. He was much diverted with my relation, and gave me an account what difficulties he had met with among that people, but without any heat or passion. I returned the same evening to Whitchurch, and when I had spent three Lord's days there, I went back again to Oxford.”

Many of the facts recorded in this and the following chapter, are gathered from Calamy's continuation of Baxter; Nonconformists Memorials; Neale's New England; Congregational Magazine for 1831; and private documents.

CHAPTER V.

Memorials of the Congregational Church, in East Street,
Andover.

The body of English presbyterians, once so influential, have almost become extinct. The introduction among them, during the last century, of Arian doctrine, shook this system to its centre. The evangelical portion of the congregations, dissatisfied with the mere moral discourses of their ministers, and not having the same church power, as congregationalists, to prevent the continuance of heresy in their pulpits, gradually left their places of worship, and united with the Independents.

From the Rev. Joseph Ball falling into this error, his congregation became divided and part of it left him. Hence originated the Independent Chapel in East Street,

which was called the upper meeting house, to distinguish it from the presbyterian chapel, which was known by the name of the lower meeting-house. On the death of Mr. Ball, the congregation closed their little sanctuary and attended the established church. It is reported that this step was suggested by their minister on his dying bed.

The first pastor of the Independent church in East street, was the Rev. Samuel Chandler, son of the Rev. Francis Chandler, an ejected minister, and father of the illustrious Rev. Samuel Chandler, D.D., F.R.S., F.A.S. He appears to have settled here in 1700, the year of the erection of the chapel. "He was engaged as one of the disputants on the side of the presbyterians, at the public disputation between them and the baptists held by his Majesty's licence, at Portsmouth, Feb. 22, 1698-9."

The pulpit was afterwards occupied by the Rev. Samuel Say. His father was ejected in 1662, from his living of St. Michael in Southampton, and like his companions in tribulation, at that time was exposed to severe hardships, until king James the second published his declaration for liberty of conscience. Among the more interesting features of Samuel's biography, are his early indication of genius-his being fellow student with Dr. Watts-his ministerial abilities-his evangelical doctrine and holy life-his great kindness to the poor and needy-his seeking

out, in his visits of friendships, suitable opportunities for introducing religious conversation, which he always did with becoming gravity. "For eight and forty years he kept a journal of the alterations of the weather, and of his observations on remarkable occurrences in nature, which discovered great sagacity and marks of a solid judgment."

The Rev. Jeremiah Smith succeeded Mr. Say. From the high respectability of some of his connexions, he might have risen to affluence had he belonged to the establishment. He however preferred the reproach of Christ to the treasures of Egypt, and joined the nonconformists. He was a diligent student. "He did not offer that to the Lord or his people which cost him nothing, as was evident to all that heard him. His composures were somewhat elaborate, smelt of the lamp, which, as I (Matthew Clarke) have been told by his nearest relative, often burned till after midnight." He was the author of the expositions of the epistles to Titus and Philemon, in the continuation of Matthew Henry's commentary. He had the honor of standing forward in defence of the doctrine of the Trinity, which was assailed during his time. That part of a work entitled "the doctrine of the Trinity stated and defended" which points out the harmony of the reformed churches in reference to the Trinity, is his production. He removed from Andover, to be co-pastor with Mr. Rosewell, over the presbyterian church, which

once existed in Silver street, London. He was taken ill on a journey and died suddenly.

*His (the Rev. Jeremiah Smith's) immediate successor is not certainly known. The church book belonging to the congregational society at Whitchurch, Hants, mentions a Mr. Fownes, from Andover, as an occasional supply there some time before the year 1720. It seems probable that Mr. Fownes died here; a memorandum exists, which says, 'Dec. 25, 1730, the seat, late Mrs. Fownes, to be disposed of.' A private family registry, mentions a Mr. Benjamin Keene, as engaged in a baptismal service, in the year 1720. He is understood to have died at Andover, and to lie buried in front of the pulpit. He was probably succeeded by the Rev. David Millar, M. A.; for the oldest existing memorandum respecting the place, speaks of him as pastor, Dec. 25th, 1724. That memorandum proceeds as follows; 'at the Annual Meeting this Day, In Order to the better Support of a Gospel Ministry & a Gospel Minister among us, & for better preserving ye Peace, Regularity & Order of this Church & Society, of which ye Revd. Mr. David Millar is Pastor, it is agreed by y Members of the Church, Trustees of the MeetingHouse, & Subscribers to ye Support of the Ministry, that they will abide by the following Articles, viz.—

*For the remaining part of this chapter, the reader is indebted to the Rev. John Jefferson of London, for several years the able and highly esteemed pastor of this Church. It is taken from the Congregational Magazine, for 1831.