SILVER-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct. occasional conformity. This church always ranked with the Presbyterian denomination; and down to the time of its dissolution, the ministers have invariably been reckoned moderate Calvinists. The church in Silver-street continued together, under a succession of ministers, till after the death of Mr. Bures, in 1747, when the remaining members joined the society in Jewin-street, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Roger Pickering, and the united church henceforward met in Silver-street. Of this society we will present the reader with some account, after having first dispatched the former church. The following is, we believe, a pretty accurate list of those ministers, who served the Presbyterian society, in Silver-street, both as pastors and assistants : SILVER-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct. LAZARUS SEAMAN, D. D.-This learned Divine was a native of Leicester, but in what year he was born seems uncertain. His parents were in but low circumstances, which proved of some disadvantage to him in his education. At a proper age he was sent to Emanuel College, in Cambridge, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1627, and that of Master in 1631. But he continued at College only a short time, being forced to leave it, in order to procure a livelihood by teaching school. But though our Divine was, in a great measure, a selftaught scholar, yet by diligence and perseverance, he attained to that eminence in literature, especially in a knowledge of the learned languages, that very few acquire by a long course of study, under greater advantages. Upon his coming to London, he became chaplain to the Earl of Northumberland, and was chosen into the lectureship of St. Martin's, Ludgate, through his preaching an occasional sermon there. The reputation he acquired as a preacher in this station, procured him to be chosen pastor of Alhallows, Breadstreet, to which living he was presented by Archbishop Laud, in 1642, by order of parliament. Laud told the Earl of Northumberland, by way of compliment, that before the receipt of this order, he had designed Mr. Seaman for the above benefice.* Our Divine had now ample scope for his abilities, which he exercised to advantage, and which gained him the respect and admiration of the leading men of those times. This occasioned his being chosen in the following year, a member of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, where he appeared very active, and discovered great skill in the management of theological controversies. About this time, a certain right honourable lady, who was at the head of a noble family, was often solicited by some Romish priests to change her religion; but before she consented, it was thought fit, for further satisfaction, that a dispute should take place, in the presence of the whole SILVER-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct. family, between some of the most able Divines of both communions. The lady being advised to make choice of Mr. Seaman, on behalf of the Protestants, he met two Romish priests, with whom he engaged in a dispute upon the subject of transubstantiation. These soon discovering the learning and abilities of our Divine, endeavoured to evade the question, and so completely did he foil them in argument, that they at length gave up the controversy, and the whole family was preserved stedfast in the Protestant religion.* In the year 1644, when the Earl of Manchester visited the University of Cambridge, and removed such of the fellows and heads of houses as opposed the parliament, Mr. Seaman was made Master of Peter-house, in the room of Dr. John Cosins, who retired to France, and after the Restoration became Bishop of Durham. This nomination of our Divine gave great satisfaction to the parliament, and to the Westminster assembly; and on the 11th of April, he received the solemn investiture of his office. In this station he acquitted himself with abundant honour. It was about this time that he proceeded Doctor of Divinity, by performing the usual exercises appointed by the statutes of the university. The position which he defended with great learning upon this occasion, was designed to assert the providence of God in the disposal of political governments; a point till that time but little studied, though afterwards better understood. In the year 1645, Dr. Seaman was appointed a member of the committee of accommodation, set on foot by the parliament, in order to bring about a comprehension with the Independents, denominated in the assembly, The Dissenting Brethren. But if the union was found impossible, the committee was charged to find out, "how far tender consciences, who cannot in all things submit to the Mr. Jenkyn's Sermon on the Death of Dr. Seaman, p. 51-2. + Neal's Puritans, vol. ii, p. 87. Mr. Jenkyn's Sermon, ubi supra. SILVER-STREET.-Presbyterian, Extinct. same rule, may be borne with, according to the word of God, and consistent with the public peace." The commission entrusted to these Divines, was executed in a manner agreeably to the spirit which animated the ruling clergy at this period. Uniformity was the idol set up both by Presbyterians and Prelatists, in whose eyes toleration was an abhorrence. It is no wonder then that the committee broke up without being agreed; and as the Independents were the weakest party, they had nothing to do but to submit. They, however, pleaded the cause of toleration, though not upon the most generous principles. Mr. Neal says, "They were for tolerating all who agreed in the fundamentals of Christianity, but when they came to enumerate fundamentals, they were sadly embarrassed, as all must be who plead the cause of liberty; and yet do not place the religious and civil rights of mankind on a separate basis. A man may be an orthodox believer, and yet deserve death as a traitor to his King and country; and on the other hand, a heretic, or errant nonconformist to the established religion, may be a loyal and dutiful subject, and deserve the highest preferment his prince can bestow."* The Presbyterians were now very urgent with the parliament for the establishment of their adored presbytery, without a toleration. For this purpose they framed a remonstrance in the name of the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, and presented it to the house, May 26, 1646; complaining "That particular congregations were allowed to take up what form of divine service they pleased, and that sectaries began to swarm by virtue of a toleration granted to tender consciences." To remedy this evil they proposed, "That all separate congregations should be suppressed, and the separatists rendered incapable of any public employment." The parliament, upon this occasion, acted with great wisdom. For, though highly displeased with the Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 206–212. SILVER-STREET.--Presbyterian, Extinet. remonstrance, yet as the Presbyterians had the prize in their hands, they were not to be offended. The deputation, therefore, was received with respect, and the petitioners dismissed with a promise to take the matter into consideration. The parliament being embarrassed between the contenders for liberty and uniformity, in order to gain time, pressed the assembly of Divines for an answer to the question relating to the jus divinum of presbytery. A committee was appointed to determine this point; and their report being discussed by the assembly, it was determined that the Presbyterian discipline was jure divino. This point was subscribed by most of the Divines present, and among others by Dr. Seaman.* The kingdom of England, instead of so many dioceses, was now divided into a certain number of provinces, made up of representatives of the several classes within their respective boundaries. Every parish had a congregational, or parochial presbytery for the affairs of the parish; the parochial presbyteries were combined into classes; these returned representatives to the provincial assembly, as the provincial did to the national.+ London was divided into twelve classical presbyteries; and the first provincial assembly was held at the convocation-house of St. Paul's, May 3, 1647. After a sermon by Dr. Gouge, a committee of seven ministers, and fourteen ruling elders, was chosen to consider the business of the province. Dr. Seaman was one of the Divines upon this committee, and presided as moderator at the second meeting of the provincial assembly.‡ As Dr. Seaman had a thorough acquaintance with ecclesiastical history, and was well skilled in the controversy respecting church-government, he was one of the ministers nominated by parliament to attend the commissioners, who were appointed to treat with the King in the Isle of Wight. During the debates respecting religion, his Majesty is said • Neal's Puritans, vol. ii. p. 293. VOL. III. + Ibid. p. 285. Ibid. P. 261-3. Ꮳ |