FETTER-LANE.-Independent. the controversy in "A further Defence of his " Appeal ;" and it was closed by Dr. Williams, in a piece entitled, “An End to Discord." Mr. Lobb's side of the question was taken by Dr. Chauncey, Mr. Mather, Mr. Humfrey, Mr. Goodwin, and most of the Independents; and it was opposed by the Presbyterians, most of the clergy in the establishment, and some of the Independents. These accused the opposite party of antinomianism; and they retorted upon them the charge of arminianism, and other grievous heresies. Having already entered into the particulars of this paper war, in the life of Dr. Williams, we forbear to enlarge upon it in this place. But we cannot suppress our regret that so many good men should employ their time in fighting about words of no profit, but to the subversion of peace and charity, and the dishonour of the Christian name. Had their time and talents been employed in composing their party differences, in cultivating a spirit of moderation and forbearance, in promoting the great ends of practical religion, and in defending the common Christianity against unbelievers, they would have turned to infinitely better account. Mr. Lobb died in the vigour of life, June 3, 1699. The manner of his death was sudden. Dining at the house of a friend, he was seized at table with a fit, and expired in the course of the day. As a man, and as a Christian, he possessed all those qualities that were calculated to endear him to his acquaintance. He was of an excellent benign temper, rarely provoked to anger; disposed at all times to do good; ready to relieve the distressed; and active to promote any public interest, that could further the prosperity of the churches. He possessed a discerning penetrating spirit, a firm and sound judgment, and great strength of mind; but was humble under all his attainments. These natural abilities were carefully cultivated by a close application to study, in which his industry was amply rewarded by an increase of knowledge. He knew and loved the gospel of Christ, and delighted most in those studies that led him into the myste FETTER-LANE.-Independent. ries of redemption. The knowledge of divine things filled his soul with rapture, and was the element in which he breathed. He was a great master of the art of reasoning, and employed that valuable talent in defending the great truths of the gospel. But he knew how to discover zeal for the truth without being angry. In his relative capacity, he was a loving husband, and a tender father; a true friend, and punctual to his word, never promising more than he meant to perform. But the station in which he most shone, was that of a faithful pastor; labouring in the word and doctrine, conversing with his hearers, inquiring into their cases and necessities, and administering counsel or reproof as he judged needful. In short, he was of a most benevolent disposition, candid and ingenuous to his fellow-christians, pious towards God, and virtuous in his whole deportment; which rendered him a very estimable person, and his death a no small loss to the churches in this city. His colleague in the ministry, the Rev. Mr. Thomas Goodwin, preached his funeral sermon from Heb. ii. 14. and afterwards published it. Mr. Lobb's marriage has been noticed above. His wife died in 1691, and her funeral sermon was preached and published by the Rev. Samuel Slater, an excellent Presbyterian Divine, who had a great esteem for Mr. Lobb, which he expresses in an affectionate Dedication. By this lady, he had three sons; Stephen, who died at Shaftesbury, in 1720; Theophilus, a Dissenting minister, and an eminent physician, in London, of whose life a particular account has been given in this work; and Samuel, likewise a minister, who conformed to the church of England, and became rector of Hungerford-Farley, Wilts, where he died Nov. 6, 1760. THOMAS GOODWIN, jun.-As Mr. Lobb preached Mr. Goodwin's Sermon on the death of Mr. Lobb. FETTER-LANE.-Independent. only on one part of the day, he was assisted on the other part by Mr. Thomas Goodwin, son to the celebrated Dr. Thomas Goodwin, President of Magdalen College, Oxford, and noticed at the commencement of this article. The son was educated for the ministry first in Englaud, and afterwards in Holland, and commenced preacher among the Nonconformists in that dark period, the reign of Charles II. In 1678, a year memorable for the discovery of the Popish plot, the body of Protestants in England being justly alarmed at the danger to which their civil and religious liberties were exposed, agreed to lay aside their animosities, and join heartily against their common enemy. At this time an evening lecture was opened in a large room belonging to a coffee-house in Exchange-alley, and was supported and attended by some of the most considerable merchants in London. It was conducted by four young nonconformist ministers, of whom Mr. Goodwin was one. The others were Mr. James Lambert, Mr. John Shower, and Mr. Theophilus Dorrington; the last of whom afterwards deserted the Dissenters, and in a most ungenerous manner wrote against his former friends. The labours of these ministers were very acceptable, the novelty of the thing brought many hearers, and God was pleased to give it the sanction of his gracious presence and blessing. We hear nothing further of Mr. Goodwin till 1683, when, the times being dark at home, he accompanied some other gentlemen on the tour of Europe. . His companions in this journey were Mr. Barnadiston, son of that eminent patriot, Sir Samuel Barnadiston, Mr. John Shower, and Mr. Cornish. They embarked first for France, and proceeded direct to Paris, from whence they went to Lyons, and afterwards to Geneva, were they met with Mr. (afterwards Sir) Richard Blackmore. They then pursued their journey through Italy, till they arrived at Rome, where they made a pretty long stay. Mr. Goodwin's father had written a commentary on the book of Revelation, in which, with FEITER-LANE.--Independent. some other Divines, he endeavoured from the number of the beast, to discover the Pope of Rome. The author's son being now in that city, received great civilities from Cardinal Howard, who, among other things, speaking of his father and his book, asked if he had made any farther discovery relating to the Pope. Mr. Goodwin waved the question, by saying, that the Revelation was a very obscure book. "Yes, (answered the Cardinal,) especially when a man has half a dozen night-caps over his eyes.' "*-The commentator it seems used to wear so many, adds the relator of this anecdote; but the observation, though it tells well, must be considered merely a figure of speech. It may be remarked, however, that Dr. Goodwin's picture represents him with at least two or three of the number. We shall not follow the English travellers any further on their journey, having already given some account of it in the life of Mr. Shower. Suffice it to say, that leaving Italy, they passed through Switzerland to Amsterdam, where they arrived about July, 1684. The company then parted, when the greatest number, including Mr. Goodwin, returned to England. Soon after his arrival, he was chosen colleague with Mr. Stephen Lobb, pastor of the Independent church meeting in Fetter-lane; and he was also one of the ministers who conducted the Lord's-day morning lecture in that place. At the time when the Crispian controversy made so much noise in the world, Mr. Goodwin engaged pretty warmly in the dispute; and took the same side of the question as Mr. Lobb. In 1695, he published his " Discourse of the True Nature of the Gospel," in which he would not allow the gospel to be a law. In this piece he seems to have carried his notions of Calvinism to the same extent as his father. Upon the death of Mr. Lobb, 1699, he left Fetter-lane, and accepted a call to Pinner, in Middlesex, where he was pastor of a congregation, and lived handsomely and usefully upon his * Biog. Brit. vol. v. p. 505, note. Art. DUNSCOMB, FETTER-LANE.-Independent. estate for many years. He also kept a private academy, for training up young men to the ministry, in which employment he discovered great respectability of talent, and met with much success. Amongst his pupils were Mr. Thomas Tingey, first of Northampton, and afterwards of Fetter-lane; Mr. John Greene, of Chelmsford; and Dr. Theophilus Lobb, mentioned above. The time of Mr. Goodwin's death we have not been able to ascertain, but suppose it to have happened about the year 1719, or 1720. Dr. Calamy describes him as " a gentleman of great and universal literature, and of a most genteel and obliging temper." Mr. Goodwin was the author of several theological tracts, and of three single sermons: (1.) At the funeral of Queen Mary, 1695. Psa. lxxiii. 24. (2.) A funeral sermon for Mr. Stephen Lobb. 1699. Heb. ii. 14. (3.) On the death of King William the Third. 1702. Phil. i. 23, 24. He also compiled, in folio, "A History of the reign of Henry V. 1704," which met with great acceptance. It is dedicated to John, Lord Cutts. BENONI ROWE, was son to Mr. John Rowe, and a younger brother of Mr. Thomas Rowe, both ministers of reputation, and the latter an eminent tutor among the Independents. He was born in London about the year 1658, his father being then minister of a congregational church that met in Westminster Abbey; from whence he was turned out upon the Restoration. He gave both his sons an excellent education; and it is probable they pursued their studies for the ministry under the learned Mr. Theophilus Gale, who kept a private academy upon Newington-green. Mr. Benoni Rowe commenced his ministry at a very discouraging period for Nonconformists, and when he could have been swayed by no other than conscientious principles. During Calamy's Contin. vol. iii. p. 90. 3 M VOL. III. |