SILVER-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct. a test or boundary of Christian communion, but what has its foundation expressly in revelation. In many cases he discovered remarkable sagacity, particularly as it respected public affairs. In common conversation he was very pleasant, and oftentimes facetious. He was furnished with a fortitude of mind that enabled him to encounter the most grievous sufferings; and he became an eminent example of a truly Christian patience, under very sharp afflictions. He finished his course with uncommon joy; few persons having experienced a more divine peace and serenity of mind at the near approaches of death. Mr. Howe was very impartial and faithful in reproving sin, without respect of persons. Of this we have some remarkable instances that are worth remembering. Being at dinner with some persons of fashion, there was a gentleman in the company who expatiated with great freedom in praise of King Charles I. and made some indecent reflections upon others, that were not at all agreeable to several at the table. Mr. Howe observing that he intermixed many horrid oaths with his discourse, took the freedom to observe, that in his humble opinion he had wholly omitted one very great excellency in the character of that prince. The gentleman seemed not a little pleased to have the testimony of Mr. Howe, and was impatient to know what particular excellency it was that he referred to. After pressing for it some considerable time, Mr. Howe at length told him it was this: "That he was never heard to swear an oath in common conversation." The gentleman took the reproof, and promised to break off the practice. At another time, as he passed by two persons of quality, who were talking freely, and damned each other repeatedly, Mr. Howe pulling off his hat, saluted them with great civility, saying, "I pray God save you both, gentlemen," which they received in good humour, and returned him their thanks.-At the time when the bill against occasional conformity was debating in parliament, Mr. Howe, walking in St. James's Park, passed by a certain nobleman, SILVER-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct. who sent his footman desiring to speak with him. After the customary salutations, the noble lord entered into conversation upon the subject then depending, and intimated that he had opposed the bill to the utmost. In the warmth of his zeal against the favourers of the measure, he so far forgot himself as to say, "Damn these wretches, for they are mad; and are for bringing us all into confusion." Mr. Howe, who was no stranger to the nobleman, made this reply: "My lord, it is a great satisfaction to us, who in all affairs of this nature desire to look upwards, that there is a God who governs the world, to whom we can leave the issues and events of things: and we are satisfied, and may thereupon be easy, that he will not fail in due time of making a suitable retribution to all, according to their present carriage. And this great Ruler of the world, my lord, has among other things also declared, he will make a difference between him that sweareth, and him that feareth an oath." The nobleman was struck with the last hint, and replied, "I thank you, Sir, for your freedom: I take your meaning, and shall endeavour to make a good use of it." Mr. Howe, in return, said, "My lord, I have a great deal more reason to thank your lordship for saving me the most difficult part of a discourse, which is the application.”*— Another opportunity of exerting his happy talent in reproving this absurd practice, was furnished on the following occasion. Being at dinner with a certain nobleman, who treated hin with great respect, and requested him to say, in what manner he could effectually serve him, strengthening his protestations of zeal with a multitude of profane oaths; Mr. Howe replied, "There is one favour which I should be happy your lordship would grant me."-"My good Mr. Howe, (replied the nobleman, impatiently, with another oath,) there is nothing that Mr. Howe can ask, but it will make me happy to grant." Upon which, Mr. Howe calmly Calamy's Life of Howe SILVER-STREEF.---Presbyterian, Extinct. said, "The only favour, my lord, which I have to beg of you, is, that your lordship will give me leave to swear the next oath."* J Mr. Howe's reputation as a writer, has long been established upon a solid basis. It is a sign favourable to the present times, that his works have been rising in estimation, insomuch that a complete copy is difficult to be procured, and only at a very high price. Mr. Granger speaks of him as "One of the most learned and polite writers among the Dissenters;" and says, "There is an uncommon depth of thought in several of his works."† Dr. Doddridge observes, "He seems to have understood the gospel as well as any uninspired writer; and to have imbibed as much of its spirit. The truest subline is to be found in his writings; and some of the strongest pathos. Yet he is often obscure, and generally harsh. He has a great variety of uncommon thoughts; and on the whole, is one of the most valuable writers in our language, and I believe, in the world."‡ A complete list of his writings will be given below. (D) • Nonconformist's Memorial, vol. ii. p. 90. + Granger's Biog. Hist. England, vol. iii. p. 312. (D) WORKS.-1. A Sermon on Man's Creation in an holy, mutable State; Eccles. vii. 29. 1660.-2. A Treatise on the Blessedness of the Righteous, Psa. xvii. 15. being Sermons preached while he was at Torrington 1668.-3. The Vanity of this mortal Life, or of Man, considered only in this present mortal State, from Psa. lxxxix. 47, 48. (usually bound up with his "Blessedness of the Righteous.") There is an epistle before this Sermon dated from Antrim, 1671.-4. A Treatise of delighting in God. 1674.-5. The living Temple of God, octavo. 1675.-6. The Reconcileableness of God's Prescience of the Sins of Men, with the Wisdom and Sincerity of his Counsels and Exhortations, and whatever other Means he uses to prevent them, octavo. 1677.-7. A Letter out of the Country to a Person of Quality in the City, who took Offence at the late Sermon of Dr. Stillingfleet, Dean of St. Paul's, before the Lord Mayor. 1680.-8. Thoughtfulness for the Morrow, with an Appendix, concerning the immoderate Desire of foreknowing Things to come, octavo. To which is added, a Discourse of Charity, in reference to other Men's Sins, from 1 Cor. xiii, 6. SILVER-STREET-Presbyterian, Extinct, DANIEL WILLIAMS, D. D.-This celebrated person, upon his return from Ireland, in 1687, was chosen assistant to Mr. Howe, in Silver-street, upon the vacancy occasioned 1681.-9. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of Mrs. Margaret Baxter, from 2 Cor. v. s. 1681.-10. Of the Name of God in Prayer, from Jer. xiv. 21. octavo. 1689.-11. A Discourse on Self-dedication, duod. 1689.-12. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of Mr. Richard Fairclough, from Matt. xxv. 21. 1682. Annotations on the three Epistles of St. John, in the second volume, or continuation, of Mr. Pool. 1682.-13. A Sermon upon Colos. ii. 2. upon this Question, What may most hopefully be attempted, to allay Animosities among Protestants, that our Divisions may not be our Ruin? 1683.-14. A Treatise on Luke xix. 41, 42. entitled, The Redeemer's Tears wept over lost Souls; with an Appendix concerning the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and how God is said to will the Salvation of them that perish. 1684.-15. A Sermon from Job v. 42. directing what we are to do after strict Inquiry, whether or no we truly love God. 1688.-16. Two Sermons on Rom. vi. 13. Yield yourselves to God. 1688.-17. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of Mrs. J. Hammond. 1689.-18. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of Mrs. Esther Sampson; from Luke xiii. 16. 1689.-19.The Carnality of Christian Contention, in two Sermons preached at the Merchants' Lecture, in Broad-street. 1693.-20. At his first Turn at the new Lecture at Salters'Hall, a Sermon from Isa. lxiv. 7. 1694.-21. A calm and sober Inquiry concerning the Possibility of a Trinity in the Godhead, in a Letter to a Person of worth. 1694. To which were added, some Letters formerly written to Dr. Wallis on the same Subject. A Letter to a Friend concerning A Postscript to the Defence of Dr. Sherlock's Notion of the Trinity in Unity,' in which his " Calm and sober Inquiry" was reflected upon. 1694. After this came out Some Considerations on the Explications of the Doctrine of the Trinity, in a Letter to H. H.' And Mr. Howe being concerned in it, he published, A View of those Considerations, in a Letter to the former Friend. 1695.-22. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of Queen Mary. 1695.-23. A Sermon preached on the Day of Thanksgiving, Dec. 2, 1697. And another, To the Societies for Reformation of Manners, from Rom. xiii. 4. 1697.-24. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev Richard Adams, A. M. 1697-8.-25. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Matthew Mead. 1699.-26. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of John Hoghton, Esq. concerning the Redeemer's Dominion over the invisible World, and the Entrance there-into by Death. 1699.-27. On the Death of the Rev. Dr. William Bates. 1699.-28. A Discourse on Man's Enmity against God, and Reconciliation between God and Man, from Col. i. 21. 1701.-29. Some Consideration of a Preface to an Inquiry concerning the occasional Conformity of Dissenters. 1701.-30. A second Part of the SILVER-STREET.—Presbyterian, Extinct. by the death of Dr. Jacomb. In this situation he continued about a year and a half, till he was chosen, in 1689, to succeed Mr. Oakes, in the pastoral charge of the congregation in Hand-alley, Bishopsgate-street, afterwards in New Broad-street, Petty France. Under that article we have already given a particular account of his life and character.* JOHN SHOWER.-After the removal of Mr. Williams, the people in Silver-street, who had invited Mr. Shower about a year and a half before, renewed their application. He was at this time comfortably settled at Rotterdam, where he had been for nearly three years; and strong endeavours were used to detain him there. At length, after several letters had passed between them upon the subject, he consented to remove. "Mr. Shower being now returned to his native country, (says Mr. Tong,) and joined with one Living Temple, containing Animadversions on Spinosa, and a French Writer prétending to confute him; with a Recapitulation of the Part, and an Account of the Destitution and Restitution of God's Temple amongst Men. 1702.-31. A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Peter Vink, B. D. 1702.-32. A Sermon on Colos. i. 13. preached on the 5th of November, 1703.-33. A Discourse on Patience, relating to the Expectation of future Blessedness, to which there was afterwards added an Appendix. 1705. Since his death the foregoing pieces, under the title of his "Works," have been collected and published in two volumes, folio. To the first volume is prefixed, a copious Life of the Author, drawn up by Dr. Calamy, and published also in octavo.-Besides these, several volumes of his Sermons, taken in short hand as they were delivered, have been published since his death. These are, Two by Dr. Evans and Dr. Harris, on The Spirit's Influence on the Church, and on particular Persons:- Another by Dr. Evans, on Family Religion, 12mo.-And two by Mr. Fletcher, on The Love of God, &c. vo. 1744.-Mr. Howe, also, wrote several prefaces to the works of others: as to Mr. Chorlton's Sermon on the death of Mr. Henry Newcome, of Manshester :-To the third volume of Dr. Manton's Sermons, by way of Dedication to King William, 1689-To Mr. Flavel's Discourse on Mental Errors, &c. A new and complete edition of Mr. Howe's works, to be published in octavo, has lately been announced by Mr. Hunt, of Titchfeld, •See Vol. ii. p. 198. |