MONKWELL-STREET. English Presbyterian in both instances from the usual mode of spelling it, and from that which we have adopted after Dr. Williams, and Dr. Calamy. It is certain, however, that he himself sometines spelt his name Doolittel, as appears by several of his publications printed in his lifetime. We have seen portraits of him with his name spelt all the three different ways. In the original instrument CAROLUS R. is in the king's own hand-writing. The notes at the bottom appear to have been inserted by Mr. Sheafe, who was Mr. Doolittle's grandson. Monkwell-street meeting exhibits at present a melancholy contrast to its former prosperous state. Mr. Doolittle, who was a laborious and useful minister, and much esteemed for his serious and faithful preaching, had no sooner opened his doors, than multitudes flocked to hear him; and, at his death, he left a very numerous church and congregation. Mr. Wilcox, his successor, was a man of a like spirit, and left the church at his death in a flourishing state. Both these ministers were hearty Calvinists. Dr. Lawrence, who followed next, was a highly respectable minister, of Baxterian sentiments, and maintained a large and respectable audience to the day of his death. Dr. Fordyce, the next minister, by the charms of his eloquence attracted for some years a numerous congregation, and we have been told that the celebrated Garrick was frequently his auditor. But latterly, several circumstances operated to the decline of his congregation, nor has it been at all revived by his successor. At present the number of pews greatly exceeds that of the hearers, who are so few that the ends of public worship seem scarcely answered by their meeting together. With the falling off of the congregation there has been an equal declension from the doctrines taught by the earlier pastors of this society. For many years past those doctrines that are peculiarly styled evangelical, and were characteristic features in the ministry of a Doolittle a Wilcox, and a Lawrence, have ceased to resound from their pulpit, and given place MONKWELL-STREET.—English Presbyterian. to what is called a more rational mode of preaching. Though the constitution of the church is strictly independent, it nevertheless ranks with those of the Presbyterian denomination. The earlier ministers of this society paid great attention to the instruction of the rising generation. Mr. Doolittle, of whose pious and useful labours several anecdotes are recorded, formed a society of catechumens at his own meetinghouse, and met with great success. After his death, the celebrated Matthew Henry maintained a catechetical lecture at Monkwell-street, and found it a very useful exercise. Mr. Wilcox continued the same service, and his labours were greatly owned and blessed. There was, for many years, a Lord's-day morning lecture at this place, preached chiefly by ministers of the Independent denomination. As the people to whom the place belongs meet here only on the morning, it has been let out for the afternoon to different persons successively. Soon after the settlement of the present pastor, Mr. Smith's people from Silver-street, engaged it for the afternoon, but assembled here only a short time, when they dissolved their church state. After this a Mr. John Armstrong preached in the afternoon for a few years, as assistant to the morning society; but their circumstances not admitting the support of two ministers, his services were dropped. The place was then let out to Mr. Neely's congregation from Hoxton-square. Mr. Neely continued to preach at Monkwell-street in the afternoon for several years; but about a twelvemonth ago his people united with the church at Haberdashers'-Hall, and he takes his turn in preaching at that place. After the removal of Mr. Neely, Dr. Rees's congregation from the Old Jewry, were accommodated with Monkwell-street in the afternoon, while their new meeting-house was building. This being now completed, they removed thither on Sunday the 10th of December, 1809. For many years the well-known Mr. Huntington had a lecture here on a Tuesday evening, which was well attended; but he removed it some time ago to the MONKWELL-STREET-English Presbyterian. chapel in Grub-street. A few years back a Lord's-day evening lecture was preached here during the winter season, by the late Mr. Edwards, of Birmingham, but it was badly attended. Some years ago Dr. Watts's Psalms were discarded by the morning society, and a selection better adapted to anti-trinitarian worship substituted in the room. The following is, we believe, a correct list of those ministers who have served this church in the capacity of pastors and assistants: THOMAS DOOLITTLE, M. A.-This eminent and pious Divine was born at Kidderminster, of religious parents, in the year 1630. He was designed for the law, and actually put upon trial to an attorney, but being set to copy some writings on the Lord's-day, he resolved against that profession, and determined upon the ministry. In this resolu MONKWELL-STREET.—English Presbyterian. tion he was encouraged by that eminently holy man, Mr. Richard Baxter, whose sermons on the Saints' Rest, which he heard delivered from the pulpit, were blest to his saving conversion. Mr. Baxter thinking him a promising youth, sent him to Pembroke-Hall, Cambridge, where he made such a proficiency in learning, as fully answered his patron's expectations. Upon his leaving the university, having previously taken the degree of Master of Arts, he came to London, where he was soon taken notice of for his warm and affectionate preaching. About the year 1653, Mr. Doolittle was called to the pastorship of St. Alphage, London Wall, and performed the duties of his office with great diligence and success for the space of nine years. Soon after his settlement there, he married a very prudent and pious gentlewoman, whom he found every way suitable, and a great help to him, especially in the persecuting times. Upon the passing of the Bartholomew Act, in 1662, he was compelled to relinquish his charge, with about two thousand of his brethren, and silenced for non-conforming to uninstituted inventions. Such an invasion upon the kingly office of Christ, in silencing so many of his servants, for no other reason but their standing up for his authority, as sole lawgiver in his kingdom, was an act that calls for greater signs of national repentance than have hitherto been manifested. Before the act took place, Mr. Doolittle carefully studied the terms required, and after prayer to God, thought it his duty upon the whole to be a nonconformist. Worldly advantages presented to him no temptation, when put in competition with conscience. He had now three children, and was in expectation of a fourth; his maintenance from his living was stopped, and he had nothing to look forward to but straits, reproaches and persecutions, yet he determined to cast himself and family upon the care of Providence, whose concern for him he very soon experienced. For on the very day after he preached his farewell sermon, one of his parishioners, after expressing his MONKWELL-STREET.—English Presbyterian. sorrow for the loss of his ministry, and approving his faithfulness to Christ and conscience, presented him with twenty pounds, saying, "There was something to buy bread for his children, as an encouragement to his future trust." From St. Alphage Mr. Doolittle removed into Moorfields, where he opened his house for boarders; and so many were desirous of having their children with him, that he soon had occasion for a larger house, which he hired in Bunhill-fields. Upon the breaking out of the plague, he removed to Woodford-bridge, near Epping Forest, leaving Mr. Thomas Vincent in care of his house. This village proved a Zoar to him while the plague was raging in the city, and though many resorted to his house for the worship of God, yet he had not one sick person in his numerous family, which then consisted of upwards of thirty. However, he could not but have a tender concern for his friends in London, and discovered it by writing to them a most serious and suitable letter, which, at their earnest desire, was printed, under the title of " A Spiritual Antidote in dying Times.” After the sickness, he returned to London, and in the next year saw, with sorrow, the city in flames, by which most of the churches were laid in ashes. This and the former judgment were very awful, and when the voice of the Lord cried so loudly to the city and nation, he thought it no time for ministers to be silent, though forbidden to preach by the Act of Uniformity; he could not take that for a discharge from the work and office of the ministry, to which he had been solemnly separated, according to the rules of the word of God. When human laws clash with the divine, it is strange that any persons should hesitate about which ought to be obeyed. Mr. Doolittle being persuaded of his duty, and having counted the cost, zcal for God, and compassion to souls, led him to open a meeting-house, first near his dwelling-house at Bunhill-fields; and when that proved too strait, and the city began to be rebuilt, he took a piece of ground and erected a large and commodious place of worship |