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CROSBY-SQUARE.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

EDMUND CALAMY, B. D. was son to the celebrated Dr. Edmund Calamy, of Westminster, author of the abridgment of Mr. Baxter's Life and Times. It is probable that he was educated for the ministry, first in Scotland, and afterwards in Holland, at both which places, his father possessed considerable connexions. Returning to London, he was chosen, in 1723, to preach a Tuesday lecture at the Old Jewry, in conjunction with several other ministers of the younger class. In the year 1726, he was chosen assistant to Dr. Grosvenor, at Crosby-Square; in which situation he continued till the Doctor's resignation in 1749, when he also declined preaching. After this, he lived a few years in retirement, till his death, which happened in St. John'ssquare, June 13, 1755. Mr. Calamy was a learned and ingenious man, of great worth, and much respected in his day. He had a brother, Mr. Adam Calamy, who was educated at Mr. Watkins's academy, Spital-square, and bred to the profession of an attorney. He was one of the earliest. writers in the Gentleman's Magazine. The subjects on which he chiefly exercised his pen, were essays in polemical theology and civil liberty; and he distinguished himself by the assumed signature of " A Consistent Protestant."

JOHN HODGE, D. D. a learned and respectable minister of the Presbyterian denomination, of whose life it is not in our power to lay before the reader many particulars. He received his academical education at Taunton, under the learned Mr. Henry Grove, for whom he ever afterwards retained an affectionate remembrance. The place where he spent the first years of his ministry was, we believe, at Deal, in the county of Kent. From thence he removed to Glocester, where he continued to labour with great reputation, for a considerable period. Dr. Grosvenor being disabled for public service, which made it expedient for him to resign the pastoral office in 1749, Dr. Hodge accepted an invitation to succeed him at Crosby-Square. At the time of his

CROSBY-SQUARE.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

settlement in that place, the congregation was in a very low state. And notwithstanding his pulpit composures were very sensible and devotional, and his manner of delivery just, though not striking, he was not so happy as to raise the church; but as the old members died, or families removed, it continued sinking. At length, the infirmities of advanced life, obliged him to resign the pastoral relation, about the year 1761 or 1762. After this, he lived for some time in retirement, preaching only occasionally, till he was removed by death, August 18, 1767. As an acknowledgment of the benefits he received during the course of his academical studies, he bequeathed to the academy of Taunton, his valuable library of books. Upon the dissolution of that seminary, they were removed to Exeter.

Dr. Hodge was a learned and respectable man, of moderate sentiments, and an excellent preacher. He favoured the republic of letters with a valuable set of discourses, in one volume, octavo, upon the Evidences of Christianity. They are written in a comprehensive, judicious, and ner-, vous manner, and have been highly spoken of by good judges. He also published several single sermons: as one upon New-year's Day, at St. Thomas's, Southwark-another at the morning lecture, Little St. Helen's, August 1, 1751-and a third occasioned by the death of the Rev. John Mason, author of the treatise on Self-knowledge; preached at Cheshunt, Herts, Feb. 20, 1763. Dr. Hodge also drew up an account of Mr. May's Life, prefixed to his sermons. 1755.(N)

manner.

(N) Dr. Hodge had a son educating for the ministry at Daventry, under Dr. Ashworth, but who was removed by death in the following affecting A fire happening in the town, greatly alarmed the family at the academy. Mr. Hodge desirous of rendering his assistance, became extremely active at the scene of distress; but returned home greatly fatigued, and his clothes soaked with water. This occasioned a fever, and produced a train of disorders that issued in his death. Of this event he had a remarkable premonition, which he hinted to a friend several days before it happened; and taking a walk into the church-yard, fixed upon the spot where he desired to be buried.-Private Information.

CROSBY-SQUARE.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

RICHARD JONES.-Upon the resignation of Dr. Hodge, the principal members invited the Rev. Richard Jones, formerly a pupil of Dr. Doddridge, but who had been settled some years with the Presbyterian congregation in Greenstreet, Cambridge. Hopes were entertained that the congregation in Crosby-Square would revive under his ministry, but the experiment did not succeed to the extent desired. The lease of the meeting-house expiring about five or six years afterwards, the state of the Society was too discouraging to warrant a renewal; so that they agreed to dissolve their church-state, and the remaining members dispersed into other societies. This affecting event took place October 1, 1769, when Mr. Jones delivered a farewell discourse, suited to the occasion, from Titus ii. 13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ.

In this sermon, which was afterwards printed, Mr. Jones takes leave of his church in the following words: "As we are now met together for the last time in this place, as a Christian Society, and in a mutual relation, there is a special propriety in my discoursing to you on that appearing of Christ, our preparation for which is the great end of all religious institutions; and to which I hope all my ministrations have more or less had a reference. See that you be ready for this appearing of Christ; and that none of you be wanting at his right hand when he shall come to judgment. I close my public services among you with the professions of my sincere respect and esteem for you, and with my wishes for your happiness, temporal and eternal. With this discourse, and the celebration of the Lord's-Supper, my relation to you, as a pastor and teacher, will expire; but there is one relation that I shall ever bear you, in whatever place or station of service I may be hereafter fixed: for I shall always be your's to the utmost of my power, in all the offices of friendship, love and gratitude. I have no doubt but that the future charges of my life will be under the direction of

CROSBY-SQUARE.-Presbyterian, Extinct.

that Great Being, in whose favour I hope to make my final remove out of it: and if I had been more useful to you during the short time of my connexion with you, it would have afforded me a very exalted pleasure amidst all the pain of our present parting. Make a serious business of religion, wheresoever you go, now that our gates are desolate: nor let it ever appear that you have hitherto heard in vain. The public devotions of this house have in past years been conducted by those who were ornaments to human nature, as well as to a particular denomination of Christians: approve yourselves the worthy disciples of such teachers. Such of you as knew this place in its prosperous days, must for many late years have experienced similar emotions with those old men amongst the Jews, who wept at seeing the sad difference there was between the second temple and the first. The church of Christ, though not of this world, will in some measure partake of its changes and variations: and we of this Society must be reconciled to the disagreeable alterations that time and death have made amongst us. Amidst all the instability of this world, as to both its civil and religious concerns, let me lead your thoughts forwards to a higher and a better: where all the connexions and relations that are founded in religion and virtue, shall be more permanent, as well as more delightful."*

Mr. Jones, soon after his leaving Crosby-Square, settled with the Presbyterian congregation at Peckham, where he preached for a considerable number of years, and was succeeded by the Rev. W. B. Collyer. Some further particulars relating to his life and character, will be given under that article.

• Mr. Jones's Sermon at Crosby-Square, p. 24-31.

CROSBY-SQUARE.-Rellyapists.

RELLYANISTS.

THE RELLYANISTS, or RELLYAN UNIVERSALISTS,

take their name from JAMES RELLY, the leader of a religious sect, whose distinguishing tenets have received the name of Antinomianism. They, however, disclaim the term, for which reason we have avoided using it upon the present occasion. It is no uncommon thing in controversies concerning the doctrines of grace; even where the differences have been much smaller than those between Mr. Relly and his opponents, for one party to brand the other with the opprobrious epithets of Antinomian, or Arminian. "Each may hold principles, (it has been very justly remarked,) the consequences of which may be thought to lead, or may really lead in theory, to the alleged issue: but, though it be just to point out the legimitate consequences of a principle with a view to evince the true nature of it, yet candour forbids the ascribing of any thing to a person beyond what he perceives or avows."* Were these sentiments more generally attended to, there would be less acrimony in our religious disputes, as well as greater unanimity among persons who avowedly differ in opinion.

Not long after the dissolution of the Presbyterian Society in Crosby-Square, the meeting-house was taken upon lease, by Mr. James Relly, of whom we are enabled to present the reader with the following authentic account. (o)

JAMES RELLY was born at Jefferson, in the county of Pembroke, North-Wales, in the year 1720. His parents were respectable persons; and placed him for education at the grammar-school in that town. At the usual age,

• Theol. Dict. Perth. Art. Antinomians.

(0) The substance of this narrative was received from a respectable member of the religious community, now under our notice, to whom the autho desires to return his acknowledgments.

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