PETER-STREET, SOHO.- -Scotch Presbyterian.

About the time of the took part with the sub

dicated the Dissenters from the charge of rebellion, and of raising war against King Charles I. Salters'-hall controversy, in which he scribing ministers, he published a tract entitled, "Unity and Trinity; a Dissertation establishing that Doctrine against the Anti-trinitarians." There is also another sermon of his preached at Swallow-street Oct. 27, 1723, on occasion of the death of the Rev. William Lorimer. The singularity of this discourse is that it was preached two years after the decease of the person whom it celebrates. Dr. Anderson left one son, and a daughter who married an officer in the army. He had a brother, Mr. Adam Anderson, who was forty years a clerk in the South-Sea house, and compiled that valuable work, the "History of Commerce."

JOHN PATRICK, D. D.-Of this gentleman, we possess but slender information. He was a native of Scotland, and received his education in the university of St. Andrews, where he proceeded Master of Arts. After preaching some years in his own country, he removed to London in 1740, to succeed Dr. Anderson as pastor of the Presbyterian congregation in Lisle-street. In 1755 his people built him a new meeting-house, in Peter-street, Soho, where he closed his ministerial labours, after serving this society more than fifty years. He died on the 30th of July 1791, having nearly completed the 85th year of his age. Dr. Rutledge preached a funeral sermon to the bereaved church, and printed it in a collection of sermons about three years after

wards.

As Dr. Patrick moved for so long a period in one uniform sphere, his life furnished but few facts for the historian. He appeared with great respectability as a scholar, and a man of science; but it was in the character of a minister of Christ that he appeared to most advantage. Although of a mild and gentle temper, he was warm and zealous in his Master's cause. Having formed his opinions from a careful

PETER-STREET, SOHO.-Scotch Presbyterian.

perusal of the scriptures, he maintained them with great steadfastness; yet was liberal towards those who differed from him, provided they acknowledged the great and leading truths of christianity. Amongst these, he considered the Divinity, mediatorial offices, satisfaction, and intercession of Christ, as some of the most prominent. He was a great enemy to schisms and divisions in the church of Christ; nor did he approve of the conduct of people in breaking off from an established church in which they had been brought up, without the most cogent and satisfactory reasons. Being himself the member of an establishment, it is not surprising that he looked upon Dissenters with a jealous eye. In his ministerial duties he was punctual and diligent, neglecting no opportunity of usefulness. Such was the attachment he discovered to his work, that notwithstanding his memory had been failing, and his bodily strength declining for three years prior to his dissolution, he still continued to preach, at least once every Lord's-day, until within nine months of his death. During that period, his earthly tabernacle decayed apace, and gradually wasted away; but without any pain, sickness, or uneasy sensations: so that it may be truly said, "He went down to the grave, in a full old age, like as a shock of corn cometh in his season." For the tranquillity he enjoyed, he frequently expressed his gratitude to his heavenly Father, to whose disposal he entirely resigned himself, and waited with patience the hour of dissolution.*

DAVID TODD.-In consequence of Dr. Patrick's growing infirmities, it became necessary for the church to provide him an assistant, and in 1788, Mr. David Todd removed from Scotland to fill that situation. After the death of his venerable colleague, he succeeded him in the pastoral care of the church, and continued to take the oversight of it till 1796, when he returned to his native country,

• Rutledge's Sermons, p. 469-477.

1

DUDLEY-COURT, SOHO.—Bereans.

to take possession of a living, to which he had been presented.

JOHN DUNCAN, LL. D.-After a vacancy of about three years, Dr. Duncan, who was then resident in London, accepted the invitation of the church to become its pastor. He is a native of Scotland, and preached successively at Maidstone, in Kent; at Tadley, in Hampshire; and at Winborne, in Dorsetshire, from which last place he removed to London about 1790. He is the present minister at Peter-street.

DUDLEY-COURT, SOHO.

BEREANS.

DUDLEY-COUR

UDLEY-COURT is situated in Hog-lane, near Denmarkstreet, Soho. The chapel we describe, belonged originally to the French Protestant Refugees, who seem to have been formerly very numerous in this neighbourhood. From them it passed to the Methodists in Mr. Whitefield's connexion, and was occupied by a Mr. JOHN GREEN, who kept a school here. This was the same person that afterwards preached in Fetter-lane. When Mr. ANDERSON was compelled to leave Grafton-street, a little before his death, he retired to this place, with such of his people as adhered to him, but dying in a short time through grief, they joined themselves to Dr. Gill, who preached Mr. Anderson's funeral sermon. The chapel in Dudley-court was afterwards engaged successively by a Mr. UNDERWOOD, a Mr. BISHOP, and a Mr. READ, but they neither of them occupied it any length of time. A branch of the BEREAN sect also held this place for some time under the au

DUDLEY-COURT, SOHO.—Bereans.

spices of its founder, Mr. JOHN BARCLAY, a Scotch clergyman.

The BEREANS originated in Scotland, and take their name from an ancient sect who professed to build their system of faith and practice upon the scriptures alone, without regard to any human authority whatever. They first assembled as a separate society in the city of Edinburgh, in the year 1773, and afterwards spread into various parts of Scotland, England, and America. The Bereans agree with the great majority of christians in the leading doctrines of christianity, and even the points by which they are said to have been distinguished, are not peculiar to them. These relate 1. To natural religion, the various systems of which they reject as leading to deism; for if the nature and perfections of God were to be discovered by his works alone, it would supersede the necessity of revelation. 2. They consider faith and assurance of salvation inseparable, arguing that it is absurd for a man to say he believes the gospel, and at the same time to doubt his own salvation. 3. They define the unpardonable sin mentioned in scripture to be nothing else but unbelief. 4. They reject the interpretation that applies various passages in the Psalms, and other parts of scripture, to the experiences of private christians, and consider them -typical of Jesus Christ. 5. They entertain high notions of the absolute sovereignty of God, as extending over all his -works.

The Bereans are advocates for infant baptism. They fix eno precise time for the administration of the Lord's Supper, celebrating it either monthly, or at more distant periods, as may suit general convenience. Members are admitted into s their societies upon professing their belief in the gospel, and -if they depart from the truth, either in faith or practice, they are admonished, and if that has no effect, left to themselves. The power of excommunication they consider to have been peculiar to the apostolic times, and, therefore,

GLASS-HOUSE-STREET.-Particular Batpist.

not to be exerted in modern churches. They are strenuous advocates for the right of private judgment.*

Mr. Barclay above-mentioned was pastor of the Berean church at Edinburgh, where he died very suddenly, July 29, 1798, in the 63d year of his age, and the 40th of his public ministry. After enjoying a good night's rest, and eating his breakfast as usual, he left his own house in perfect health, at the usual time of meeting for public worship. In his way to the meeting, finding himself a little indisposed, he stepped into a friend's house, and asked for some water, part of which he drank, and with the remainder bathed his face in the act of drying it, he sunk down on his knees, expressed a few words in prayer, and departed with❤ out a struggle or a groan.+

The chapel in Dudley-court is at present occupied by the Swedenborgians. It is the property of Mr. Rowcliffe, formerly a preacher amongst the General Baptists.

GLASS-HOUSE-STREET.

PARTICULAR BAPTIST.

THIS was an ancient place of worship, and has long since

ceased to exist. The memory of it is known only to a few persons, so that but little information respecting its history can be expected. The following hints have been collected at different times, and from various sources, and are digested in order, so far as the same can be ascertained. The first mention that we find made of the place is in 1710,

Adams's View of all Religions, Art. BEREANS.

↑ Gent. Mag. Vol. 68. p. 724.