was an admirable preacher, but his sermons were exhaustive treatises upon the case in hand, complete bodies of divinity. Having possession of the pulpit on the occasion of a public holiday, many visitors arrived anxious to be taken round to see the royal tombs. The attendants, too, were quite as eager to clutch their fees. But time wore away, and on went the preacher, till it became probable that little opportunity would be left for sight-seeing before the next service commenced. In this emergency the aid of the organist was sought; the instrument was struck up with its loudest tones, and Barrow was thrown down. His longest discourse, a charity sermon at the Spital, lasted three hours and a half.

The name of Westminster is historically given to the famous "Assembly of Divines" which met in the Abbey, and was summoned by the Long Parliament for consultative purposes on points of doctrine, ritual, and discipline. Among the "grave and reverend seigniors," were Usher, Burges, Lightfoot, Reynolds, Goodwin, Calamy, and Nye. Prominent among the lay-assessors, were Pym, Selden, Cromwell, Milton, St. John, Whitelocke, and Maynard. The synod met 1,163 times, through nearly six years, from the 1st of July, 1643;

and originated those formularies of Presbyterian church government and faith, which, though set aside in England by the re-establishment of Episcopacy, remain to the present day the authorised standards of the Church of Scotland. The sessions were held in the choir of the Abbey, but were transferred in the cold season of the year to the Jerusalem Chamber, the private apartment of the old abbots, where a cheery fire could be maintained.

While a magnificent monument of our history, the stones of which are eloquent of the past, to be handed down as a national duty from one generation to another as far as possible in its architectural integrity, the present authorities of the Abbey have very wisely sought to adapt it more to the spirit and wants of our times, by utilising for Christian purposes the vast space in the interior at their command. No step more commendable than the addition to the daily service in the choir of a series of Sunday evening gatherings in the nave, where able men, and the abler as preachers the better, declare the common salvation to the great congregation. We say, emphatically, "God speed" to such movements, so needed in this mighty metropolis, and have strong sympathy with all efforts to erect places of worship, which, instead of obtruding poverty of taste upon the eye, shall be in harmony with things lovely or impressive, while the necessary conditions of convenient arrangement and durableness are not neglected. Rather more than thirtyone years ago, when no steeple rose up in connection with Congregitionalism, and the phrases of "apse," "nave," "choir," "transepts," and

"cleristory," were unknown in its official documents, the following passage appeared in a volume long sinco forgotten, for which the writer of this paper is responsible :-"We are not of the number of those who hold the claims of taste to be incompatible with the spirit of piety. In the erection of ecclesiastical edifices, both may and ought to have a due share of consideration, that religion may not be rendered, on the one hand, repul sive to the cultivated mind, nor on the other, the interests of the heart be sacrificed to feed the imagination. Nonconformity has frequently been charged with barbarism, with Vandal rudeness, on account of the homeliness or unsightliness of its places of worship. Plain enough most of the old crections are. But it is unfair to infer from this a rugged and unpolished character of mind, for the circumstances of the times, the jealousy with which the movements of our forefathers were watched, the fines and proscriptions under which

they suffered, sufficiently account for the unpreposessing appearance of their sanctuaries." The case is wholly

different now; and in order to render an efficient ministry a successful one, as much so as possible, it is of immense importance for the scene of its exercise to be attractive and not repelling.

It is a common remark that the particular style of the building is of no importance, but this is taking a low view of its intent and purpose. The house of God should need no one to interpret to the stranger its distinctiveness from a common hall, a county court, a mechanic's institute, or the warehouse of one of the merchant princes. Let it stand apart, whenever possible, freely open to the light and air of heaven, with no surroundings but the green-sward, and the shrubs that grow when men sleep.

"The bird constructs her nest, The wild beast forms his lair, but man alone

Erects a temple to the living God!"

AN INDEPENDENT CHURCH

By the Reb. Thomas

THE eight hundredth anniversary of the foundation of Westminster Abbey has led to the publication of its memorials by the present Dean of Westminster. This noble monument of architectural skill, which has been standing through so many centuries past, has been exposed to many vicissitudes in its history. Both civil and ecclesiastical changes, of a greatly varied character, have been numerous since its erection. Some of England's greatest events have been signalised here, some of her most remarkable ceremonies have been per

IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
Coleman, Alberstone.

formed here. The remains of some of her noblest sons have been deposited here. Many of the monuments of her greatness and her humiliation are to be found here-greatness in the record of what numbers of her sons have accomplished-humiliation, in that the highest among them have been brought down to the dust.

Amidst all its other changes, during one ten years of its history, a part of this noble building was consecrated to a purpose which, in the view of many may appear to be mean and degrading,

but which might be quite as divine and valuable as its most imposing engagements in the eye of Him who loves "above all temples the upright heart and pure;" it was the place in which assembled an Independent Church, which was presided over by pastors, who maintained the Independent order of Church government-who had no lordly titles, or hierarchical grandeur. This took place during the interregnum, under the Commonwealth, in the days of the Protector, to whose honour it is recorded that religious liberty was enjoyed in a far greater degree than it had been for many ages before, or than it was for a considerable period after his time. In the year 1650, the Independent Church was formed in Westminster Abbey, when it chose the Rev. William Strong for its first pastor. Mr. Strong had received his education in Catherine Hall, Cambridge, of which he became a Fellow. He had been presented to the living of More's Crichel, in Dorsetshire, where he continued till he was forced to flee from the Cavaliers. He then came to London, preached before the Parliament, was chosen one of the Assembly of Divines, is noted as one of the Independent brethren, was for a time minister of St. Dunstan's-in-the-West, and was ap.pointed to be one of the triers for the approbation of public preachers. But at length, having fully embraced Independent principles of Church government, he gathered a congregation upon the Independent plan, which met in Westminster Abbey, and which had connected with it many parliament men, and persons of quality residing in Westminster. Amongst the members of this Church we find several of Oliver's lords and leading men, for in its early state it was one of the most respectable Churches among the Independents. The celebrated Dr. Watts, while a student, was a member of this Church; but that was some years after it had been removed from the Abbey.

There have been different statements as to the origin of this Church, one statement being that Dr. Owen was its founder or first minister; but for this there does not appear to be any solid foundation. The best authenticated account is, that it was gathered by the Rev. William Strong. This statement, besides being corroborated by Dr. Calamy, is attested by the Church books belonging to the Society, and by the Rev. Thomas Hill, who in a funeral sermon for the Rev. Robert Wright, one of its succeeding pastors, says, "This Church was gathered by Mr. Strong, who was its pastor when it used to meet in Westminster Abbey." The Church was formed a little before Cromwell assumed the supreme power; and tradition says, that the congregation met together sometimes for worship in the House of Lords.

The following anecdote may be recorded as an illustration of the changes that had passed over the religious affairs of the country, and of the freedom from ecclesiastical restraints that was then enjoyed. Dr. Gibbons was informed, by a very ancient person of the name of Curry, whom he visited at the almshouses near St. Clement's Church in the Strand, and who at that time was between eighty and ninety years of age, that her husband was baptized in the House of Peers; and it is probable that that was the place in which the Church meetings were held. But however that might be, the evidence is undeniable, that the congregation assembled for some years in the Abbey Church of St. Peter's, Westminster, under Mr. Strong, and his successor Mr. John Rowe, who continued his ministry there until the Restoration, when he was turned out; and the pastor, with the Church, in days of great trial and danger, were obliged to seek out other places where they might meet and enjoy Divine ordinances. After passing through many changes, the Church became settled, at length, in Haberdasher's Hall, where for many

years its meetings have been held under successive pastors.

A volume of sermons by Mr. Strong, the first pastor, was published after his death, under the title of "Thirty One Select Sermons preached on Special Occasions by William Strong, that Godly, Able, and Faithful Minister of Christ, lately of the Abbey at Westminster. None of them being before made public." 1656.

In this volume there are two sermons preached by Mr. Strong when he accepted the pastoral office in connection with this Church. The first is entitled,

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Church Officers according to Institution," preached at the Church's choosing of officers, from Hebrews xiii. 17, "Obey them that have the rule over you," &c. A few brief sentences from these sermons will show on what principles the Church was founded, and in what spirit the pastor entered on his work. You are met here at this time for the election of a pastor, for no man is to take upon himself an office in the Church but one that is set apart by God thereunto; and the way by which God doth set men apart for this office is by the election of the people, whose power or whose privilege it is to choose their own officers that shall be over them. Pastors, by virtue of their commission from Christ, preach as the ministers of the Gospel unto any people; yet, by virtue of the election of the people, they have the relation of pastors to none but to those that choose them so to be." In the second sermon, as to the rule over the people, he observes, "The authority is spiritual, and it relates unto the soul only. This will appear, because it is managed only by spiritual means; as the kingdom of Christ is not of this world, the management of things in the Church of Christ

are not to be done in the way of the world; it is not by any outward power or greatness, or by authority and force of arms, but all is ordered by the Word. 'The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God,' for it is this that is the sceptre of the power of Christ, and all the authority that He doth exercise by His ministers and officers under Him is by the Word only. And if any man will not hear the Word, we must leave him, as a man incurable; we can do no more to him. If the Word will not reclaim him we have no way to deal with him, but to set before him the judgment that is written."

But this eminent pastor thus entering on his work in this important sphere of labour, in less than four years from this time was called to close his earthly career. He was cut down in the midst of his days and of his usefulness; he died in the vigour of life in the month of June, 1654. His remains were interred in the Abbey Church, July 4th. But after the Restoration, his bones were ordered to be dug up, together with the bodies of several other eminent persons in Church and State, and thrown into a pit dug for that purpose in St. Margaret's churchyard. Such was the refined taste and liberality of the Second Charles, and of those who exerted an influence over him! More like the proceedings of a tribe of untutored savages than of the king and courtiers of England in the seventeenth century of the Christian cra!

Mr. Strong's funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Obadiah Sedgwick, who says, "That he was so plain in heart, so deep in judgement, so painful in study, so exact in preaching; and, in a word, so fit for all the parts of the ministerial service, that he did not know his equal." Several of his contemporaries speak of him in the highest terms, as a minister who attained to great eminence in his work; being remarkable for his spirit of piety, for his sound learning, his theological

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attainments, his profound acquaintance with the Word of God. One or two of the testimonies borne to his worth will show what kind of men they were who were raised to the highest stations among the Nonconformists of those days. Theophilus Gale, celebrated as the author of the "Court of the Gentiles," edited a posthumus work of Mr. Strong's on the "Two Covenants; and he speaks of its author as a wonder of nature for natural parts, and a wonder of grace for deepest insight into the profound mysteries of the Gospel." He had a spirit, capacious and prompt, sublime and penetrating, profound and clear; a singular capacity to pry into the more difficult texts of Scripture, and an incomparable dexterity to discover the secrets of corrupt nature; a divine sapience to explicate the mysterics of grace, and an exact prudence to distribute evangelistic doctrine according to the capacity of his hearers. Are not the ministers of Christ termed stars in His right hand? and was not our author one of the first magnitude? What lights and heats of divine grace did he communicate to others! Oh, what a glorious star was he in the right hand of the Lord, to reveal the resplendent light of the Gospel to His hearers!"

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Mr. Strong's work is dedicated to The Honourable the Lady Elizabeth Rich," who appears to have transcribed the whole from the author's MSS., which were written in a peculiar character. Mr. Gale dates his Dedication to her ladyship, "Newington, March, 26th, 1678."

Dr. Henry Wilkinson, Vicar of Christ's Church, who wrote a preface to the sermons, passes a high encomium on Mr. Strong. He states, "That he made preaching his work and business. He was so much taken up in this work, that to my knowledge he was often in watchings a great part of the night, besides the pains that he took in his day studies."

Dr. Thomas Manton, styles him "An eminent and a faithful servant of God; a man eloquent and mighty in the Scriptures, and a burning and shining light in the Church of Christ."

Mr. George Griffiths, in his preface to Mr. Strong's sermons, entitled "The Heavenly Treasure," 1656, gives an interesting account of the attainments, diligence, and devotedness of their author."

Such was the first pastor of the Independent Church in Westminster Abbey; and the second was not much inferior to the first. "The members of the congregation were persons," Calamy remarks," of better judgment than to choose a novice, or a man of mere noise and words for their pastor." Mr. Rowe had enjoyed considerable advantages from his carliest days. He was the son of the excellent John Rowe, of Crediton, Devonshire. After a previous course of instruction, when about fifteen years of age, he went to New Inn College, Oxford. He attained to the degree of M.A., and by the parliamentary visitors was preferred to a Fellowship in the same university. Previous to his entrance on his charge at Westminster Abbey he filled two important situations as a minister of the Gospel. The first was at Witney in Oxfordshire, where he preached a lecture with good acceptance and great advantage to the souls of his hearers. He afterwards became preacher at Tiverton, and was appointed one of the Commissioners for ejecting ignorant and insufficient ministers in the county of Devon. From this place, after considerable experience in the ministry of the Word, he was called to succeed Mr. Strong as preacher in the Abbey Church, Westminster, and pastor of the congregation gathered by Mr. Strong in that place. Here we are informed that his sermons were very much attended, and by persons of all persuasions. He was frequently heard by the chief persons amongst the Quakers, to the conversion, it is said, of