HABERDASHERS'-HALL.Presbyterian, Extinct.

e;

by some persons; that the Doctor would spoil the Divine the consequence of which would be, that he would lay down the ministry. "But (says he) such was the influence of the grace of God on my soul, that I am not conscious to myself of the least inclination at any time, to give over the work of the ministry, for the sake of any worldly advantage. And when God suffered a period to be put to my exercise of the pastoral office, by the breaking up of the congregation which I served, it was an inexpressible grief to me."

For some few years after his settlement in London, Dr. Lobb met with but little success as a physician. When a period was put to his ministry, a certain great man asked him, Whether he did not now conform? "Imagining (says the Doctor), as I suppose, that I would do so, it being the way to preferment. But I told him, that I was a Dissenter upon principle, and saw no reason to alter my judgment." From this conversation Dr. Lobb concluded, that according to the common course of things there was no likelihood of his being employed as a physician, or encouraged in any, useful undertaking by the great men in the church, on account of his being a Dissenter, and having been many years a Dissenting minister. "But, blessed be my God, (says he,) for both. I rejoice in my being a Dissenter, notwithstanding the disadvantages of it as to worldly things." And on this he thus prays: "O my God, I praise and thank thee for keeping me from all sinful conformities, for the sake of temporal gain. I had rather be poor and low in the world, than gain by conformity the riches and honours of the most celebrated physician. Thy Holy Spirit hath enabled me hitherto, and I pray and trust, that he will always enable me to act according to right principles, and to be true and faithful to my God and Saviour." As Dr. Lobb was firmly resolved to continue a Dissenter, he joined the Independent church in New-court, Carey-street, under the pastoral care VOL. III.

U

of the Rev. Thomas Bradbury. He was admitted a member, together with Mrs. Lobb, on the 31st of March, 1736.

As during his residence in the country, Dr. Lobb published several pieces with a view to promote the knowledge of God, and the practice of religion, so after his removal to the metropolis, he continued to publish several books, upon medical subjects, with the same benevolent design of doing good. The subjects of these performances, in the order in which they were given to the public, shall be inserted in the note below. (s)

(s) WORKS.-1. The Divine Institution of the Ministry of the Gospel; a Sermon at the Ordination of the Rev. Mr. John Greene, at Winburn, July 20, 1708.-2. A Discourse on Ministerial Instruction, proving the Being of God, the Authority of the Scriptures, and the Doctrine of the Trinity; preached before the Assembly of Ministers at, Taunton, June 11, 1712.-3. A brief Defence of Christianity.4. A Dialogue between a Master and his Servants concerning the Sin of Lying.-5. An Answer to the Question, "Whether it be lawful to go to Plays."-6. Letters on the Sacred Predictions; proper for the Consideration of all Sorts of Persons, especially, when in Danger of public Calamities; shewing the Events some Persons have Reason to fear, and those for which others have Reason to hope.-7. Letters concerning the Plague; shewing the Means to preserve People from Infection, and to alter the Quality of infectious Air; and directing the Conduct of those who attend on the Sick. -8. A Treatise on the Small- pox, in its various Kinds: recommended by Dr. Boerhaave. 1731.-9. Rational Methods of curing Fevers. 1735 -10. Medical Practice in curing Fevers, exemplified in many Cases.-11. A Treatise on Dissolvents of the Stone, and curing that and the Gout by Aliment. 1739.-12. A Treatise on painful Distempers, their Causes and Remedies. 1739.-13. A Compendium of the Practice of Physic.-14, General Medical Principles and Cautions, in three Parts; founded on Facts, supported by Reason, and confirmed by Experience.-15. Medicinal Letters, in two Parts. Part I. contains Letters on miscellaneous Subjects, for removing various Disorders from human Bodies, and for the Preservation of Health. Part II. contains Letters on the most frequent dangerous Diseases incident to Infants and Children, Men and Women; with Directions for the Management of the Sick, and making Medicines for the Cure of the several Diseases. Intended chiefly for the Benefit of those Poor Families which can neither have the Advice of a Physician, nor the Attendance of an Apothecary.

HABERDASHERS'-HALL--Presbyterian, Extinct.

The life of Dr. Lobb was prolonged to a good old age, and he came to his grave like as a shock of corn in its season. When entering on his seventy-first year, he records, "Through the rich mercy and goodness of my gracious God, I have much health and strength; and my memory, understanding, reasoning and judging faculties are as strong as ever; blessed and praised be his holy name." On the 2d of February, 1760, he lost his second wife by death, after a connexion of thirty-seven years. This was a severe affliction to him, as he was now left in a solitary condition, with none but servants to attend him, labouring under the infirmities of old age, scarcely able to walk, and afflicted with violent fits of the stone. Yet under his complicated afflictions, he possessed a cheerful heart, which discovered itself in the serenity of his countenance; and he was often admiring the goodness of God, being never heard either to murmur or complain. About a month before his death he was remarkably low spirited; upon which he remarked, “I know not what should be the reason of it: my good Master will not let his old servant want for any thing in this world, and I have a well-grounded hope, through grace, of being happy in the other." Dr. Lobb died on the 19th of May, 1763, in the 85th year of his age; and his remains were interred in Bunhill-fields.

A few years after the death of Dr. Lobb, there was published, in duodecimo, "The Power of Faith and Godliness exemplified, in some Memoirs of Theophilus Lobb, M. D. F. R.S. By John Greene. 1767." To this performance, which is very injudiciously put together, we are indebted for most part of the foregoing account. No notice is taken of the Doctor's literary character, nor of the time of his death; but of his pious and exemplary conduct we have a full and particular account in various extracts from his diary. These relate chiefly to his personal piety, his strict attention to religious duties, and his exemplary conduct in domestic life. In these particulars he may

HABERDASHERS'-HALL.-Independent.

justly be proposed as a pattern to others. But for a more particular description we must refer to the book before-mentioned. * Sometime after his settlement in London, Dr. Lobb was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. There is a good portrait of him, sitting in a chair, prefixed to one of his medical books.

HABERDASHERS'- HALL.

INDEPENDENT.

AFTER the dissolution of Dr. Lobb's church, the

meeting-house at Haberdashers'-Hall, was taken by the Independent congregation at Girdlers'-Hall, under the care of the Rev. Robert Wright. This is the church that now meets there, and is, perhaps, one of the most ancient Dissenting societies, now in existence, in the metropolis. It is deserving remark, that notwithstanding this circumstance, we have a clearer and more connected account of its history, than of many other churches of a much later date; a fact that deserves particular mention. It has been said on the authority of an ancient member, that the learned and eminent Dr. John Owen, was the founder, or first minister of this church; but we apprehend there is no solid ground for the supposition. The more probable and best authenticated account is, that it was gathered by the Rev. William Strong, a member of the Westminster assembly, and one of the parliament's preachers, This statement is corroborated by

* Memoirs of Theophilus Lobb, M. D. By John Greene.

HABERDASHERS'-HA LL.-Independent.

Dr. Calamy.* Also by the church-books belonging to the society; and by the Rev. Thomas Hall, who, in his sermon on the death of the Rev. Robert Wright, one of its pastors, expressly says, " This church was gathered by Mr. Strong, who was its pastor when it used to meet in Westminster Abbey." + The church was first formed in the year 1650, a little before Cromwell assumed the supreme power; and tradition says, that the congregation met together for public worship sometime in the House of Lords. Dr. Gibbons was informed by a very ancient person of the name of Curry, whom he visited at the almshouses, near St. Clement's church, in the Strand, and who at that time was between eighty and ninety years of age, that her husband was baptized in the house of Peers; and it is probable that was the place where the church meetings were held. However, be this as it may, we have undeniable evidence that the congregation assembled for some years in the abbey church of St. Peter's, Westminster, under Mr. Strong, whose successor, Mr. John Rowe, was turned out upon the Restoration.

Notwithstanding the persecution raised against the nonconformists by the royal brothers, the people composing the church, continued to assemble privately for religious worship, till a legal toleration was granted to the Dissenters by the first parliament of the glorious King William, when the meetings were publicly opened. Mr. Rowe, after his ejectment, preached to them frequently in Bartholomew-close, and afterwards had a meeting-house in Holborn, not far from Gray's-inn-lane, near which'spot he seems to have resided. We think it not improbable that this was the building in Baker's-court, still in existence, and used for the purposes of religious worship. It bears the marks of our ancient building, and appears to have been erected in troublous times, when concealment was so highly desirable. If this

Calamy's Account, p. 41.

+ Mr. Hall's Sermon on the death of the Rev. Robert Wright, p. 23, nole.