WEIGH-HOUSE, LITTLE EASTCHEAP.-Independent. who dissented from him, he was not indifferent to his own principles. Upon the whole, Dr. Wilton was a man in whose character were combined as many excellencies as are usually to be met with among mortals; and his removal, at so early a period, was a singular loss to the interests of religion, particularly among the Dissenters.* Dr. Wilton laboured under some habitual complaints which indisposed him for an intense application to study, and especially to the use of his pen, from which, otherwise, the public might have expected something important. From what he did publish, which was extorted by temporary occasions, and written with great haste, the reader will form no mean idea of his mental powers. Two of his publications, upon the affair of subscription, have been already noticed. Besides these, he published only three single sermons. One was occasioned by the death of Mr. Joseph Longhurst; preached at Lower Tooting, in Surry, June 18, 1769. It contains a very particular and instructive account of the life and death of a very worthy man, in an obscure situation. The other sermons of Dr. Wilton were preached upon charitable occasions: one at Mr. Towle's meeting-house, London Wall, for the benefit of the charity-school in Bartholomew-close; the other at St. Thomas's, for the charityschool in Gravel-lane, Southwark. They are both calculated for general utility.† JOHN CLAYTON.-Upon the death of Dr. Wilton, the Rev. Robert Gentleman, of Shrewsbury, was invited to succeed him in the pastoral office, but declined. After a short interval, the vacancy was filled up by the Rev. John Clayton, the present minister at the Weigh-House. This gentleman was born about the year 1753, at a small village, * Palmer's Sermon,-Theological Magazine,―andOrton's Letters, ubi supra. + Orton's Letters to Dissenting Ministers, ubi supra. WEIGH-HOUSE, LITTIE EASTCHEAP.——Independent. called Clayton, near Chorley, in Lancashire. His parents were reputable persons, and strongly attached to the Church of England. Being designed for the medical profession, he spent part of his youth at Manchester; and, afterwards followed the same line of business, for a short time, in London. It appears, that his first serious impressions were received under the preaching of the late excellent Mr. Romaine. Some time after, having a strong inclination to the ministry, he was admitted a student in the College of Trevecca, in South-Wales, under the patronage of the late Countess of Huntingdon. Here he possessed some advantages for learning above the other students, being appointed steward of the house; which office required his constant attendance. At the close of his academical course, he continued to preach for some time in her ladyship's chapels, and also at the Tabernacle in Moorfields. It seems that he was at one time upon the eve of receiving episcopal ordination; but upon further investigation, was led to dissent for reasons that appeared to him of sufficient weight, particularly that he might avoid a prostitution of the Lord's-Supper, to unworthy persons and purposes. The reading of Towgood's Letters are said to have had great weight with him in this decision. This was when he was about twenty-three years of age. Upon his quitting the Countess's connexion, he was chosen assistant to the Rev. Sir Harry Trelawney, (c) who was pastor of an In (c) Sir Harry Trelawney, descended from Sir Jonathan Trelawney, one of the seven bishops who were committed to the Tower, in the reign of King James the Second. He was educated at Christ-Church, Oxford. Afterwards, deserting the Church of England, he became pastor of an Independent congregation at West Loo, in Cornwall. He was ordained at Southampton, April 22, 1777. In a little time he left the orthodox, and attached himself to those whom he called rational Dissenters. Sir Harry vindicated his nonconformity in "A Letter addressed to the Rev. Thomas Alcock, M. A. vicar of Runcorn, in Cheshire, and of St. Budeaux, Devon." In this pamphlet, he insists chiefly upon these two points: 1. That subscription to articles that we do not believe, is a dishonest, and WEIGH-HOUSE, LITTLE EASTCHEAP.-Independent. dependent congregation, at West Loo, in Cornwall. An alteration taking place, in the sentiments of that gentleman, Mr. Clayton removed to London, and preached a short time as probationer at the Weigh-House. In November, 1778, he was ordained to the pastoral office. The service was conducted in the following order: Mr. Jennings, of Islington, began with reading and prayer; Dr. Gibbons delivered the introductory discourse; Mr. Richard Winter prayed the ordination prayer; Dr. Trotter gave the charge; Dr. Hunter prayed; and Mr. Brewer preached and concluded. Soon after his settlement in London, Mr. Clayton was united in marriage to Miss Flower, eldest daughter of the late Mr. George Flower, of Cannon-street. With this lady, he possessed a handsome fortune. Mr. Clayton, at his entrance upon the ministry, did not excite very great expectations, but, in a little time, discovered considerable abilities, and has obtained an established reputation as a preacher. In point of religious sentiment, he is thoroughly orthodox. Many years ago, he was chosen into the Merchants' lecture, on a Tuesday morning, formerly at Pinners'-Hall, but now, at New Broad-street. Of the force of example, and the excellence of Mr. Clayton's domestic discipline, we cannot have a stronger proof, than by taking a survey of his family. Though it often happens, from what cause we will not prevaricating business: 2. That by remaining a Dissenter, he secured that freedom of mind, which is the birthright, and unalterable privilege of every rational creature. Notwithstanding this declaration, so inconsistent is the conduct of human beings, Sir Harry, immediately after returns to Oxford, procures ordination in the national establishment, and is made a country rector in the West of England; in which station he is likely to remain. Robinson's words upon hearing that Trelawney had conformed, should hold out a caution to those Dissenters who are ambitious of imitating his example. He observes, "That they rarely obtain preferment by conforming that when their ministers are ordained in the church, they usually become stationary, and receive little but mortification and disappointment."Dyer's Life of Robinson, p. 181. WEIGH-HOUSE, LITTLE EASTCHEAP.-Independent. stay to inquire into, that the sons of the Prophets, more commonly than others, prove sons of Belial; yet, we have here a noble confutation of that scandal. Mr. Clayton has the honour of enumerating three sons, all Dissenting ministers, of promising expectations, and two of them pastors of congregations in London, or the vicinity. This is a circumstance that will always be mentioned to his praise. Mr. Clayton has appeared several times before the public in the character of an author, though chiefly as a sermon writer. In 1786, he published, "A Charge at the Ordination of the Rev. Joseph Brooksbank." In 1789, "A Discourse on the Snares of Prosperity; to which was added, An Essay on Visiting." In 1791, "A Charge at the Ordination of the Rev. James Knight. And, in the same year, "A Sermon occasioned by the late Riots at Birmingham: with a prefixed Address to the Public, intended to remove the Reproach lately fallen on Protestant Dissenters." This last discourse gave general offence at the time, and met with severe reprehension from several Divines of approved orthodoxy, particularly Mr. Fell. But by none was it opposed with greater ability and force of argument, than by the Rev. Robert Hall, in a pamphlet, entitled, "Christianity consistent with a Love of Freedom." Besides these, Mr. Clayton has published some other single sermons, as "A Thanksgiving Sermon for the Peace, 1802;" and "two Charges at the Ordination of each of his Sons." A few years ago, he was engaged in a controversy with a member of his own church, on the unlawfulness of public amusements; in the course of which he published two pamphlets. But it will not be necessary to state the particulars, as the subject is still fresh in the minds of the religious public.* * Some of the facts in the above narrative, are taken from the Spiritual Magazine, for 1783.. The remainder are derived from private information, or from the author's own observation. GRACECHURCH-STREET. PARTICULAR BAPTISTS. IN the reign of King Charles the Second, the Particular Baptists had a meeting-house in Grace-church-street, but the precise spot where it was situated, cannot now be ascertained. Respecting the history of the Society that occupied it, but little, likewise, is known. The interest appears to have been but small. We learn from Crosby, that, at the periòd above-mentioned, the pastor of this church was Dr. De Veil, a foreign Divine. The same author also informs us, that the former minister renounced his religion through fear of persecution, and soon after destroyed himself in the greatest horror. We find this church referred to, in an old manuscript, under the year 1692, but how long it existed after that period, we cannot take upon us to say. Of Dr. De Veil's history, we shall present the reader with a brief abstract. CAROLUS MARIA DE VEIL, D. D. was born at Metz, in Lorrain,† of Jewish parents, and educated in that religion. But, by perusing the prophetical part of the Old Testament, and comparing it with the New, he was led, while very young, to embrace Christianity. This so enraged his father, that, with a drawn sword, he attempted to kill him; but was prevented by some persons present. His great abilities soon advanced him to considerable preferment in the Gallican church. He became a canon-regular of St. Augustin, prior of St. Ambrose, at Melun, and professor of Divinity in the University of Anjou, where he proceeded • Crosby's History of the English Baptists, vol. iii. p. 109. |