LONDON WALL.-Scotch Presbyterian. tionate attention. But the death of that excellent minister, which took place in the month of May, 1704, caused an unpleasant turn to Mr. Alexander's situation, and issued in his separation from the church in Crosby-square. He then retired to Armourers'-Hall, followed by a few of his friends, who formed themselves into a church, and he continued their pastor till the day of his death, which took place on the 3d of September, 1709, when he was 49 years of age. His remains were interred in Bunhill-fields, near to the wall of the Artillery-ground, where a small stone is erected over his grave, with the following inscription, which is nearly obliterated. The Rev. DANIEL ALEXANDER, Aged 49 Years. LONDON WALL. SCOTCH PRESBYTERIAN. THE HE Scots church formerly meeting at Founders'-Hall, Lothbury, but now at London Wall, Coleman-street, is the oldest church belonging to that nation, in London. The precise date of its origin cannot be ascertained, but it can be traced very nearly to the Restoration of Charles the Second. All the information that the society itself possesses relating to its early state, is contained in a printed memorial, drawn up by Mr. Lawson, one of the former pastors, at the time of building the present meeting-house. It com LONDON WALL.-Scotch Presbyterian. mences by saying, "That the said congregation hath subsisted ever since there were a sufficient number of people from Scotland, of the Presbyterian persuasion, to form a public religious society. And, if tradition may be depended on, the place above-mentioned (Founders'-Hall) was originally the place of worship, or chapel, where the Scots ambassadors attended divine service; but not to lay any stress on this unauthenticated circumstance, it is certain, that the Scots congregation at Founders'-Hall, was the only one in this part of the kingdom for a great number of years, and was in being before Charles II. erected by his royal charter, the Scottish Hospital, (N) or charitable corporation, of which so many Scots noblemen and gentlemen have most honourably distinguished themselves as patrons and benefactors." The records of this church reach no farther back than 1716, the year of Mr. Fleming's death; but with the assistance of other documents we shall be enabled to trace its history to a much earlier period, and nearly, if not quite, to its origin. An authentic manuscript, now before us, mentions a Mr. Blakie as the predecessor of Mr. Fleming. This gentleman is supposed to have undertaken the pastoral charge towards the latter end of the reign of Charles II. There is certain evidence of his being in London in 1681. Mr. Jeremiah Marsden, who died a prisoner in Newgate, in 1684, is mentioned by Dr. Calatny, as the minister at Founders'-Hall. The same writer informs us, that he succeeded a Mr. Alexander Carmichael, who, it is not improbable, was the first minister of the Scots church now meeting at London Wall. (o). In the time of Mr. Marsden, (N) The Royal charter for the Scottish Hospital was obtained in the year 1665. Calamy's Contin. p. 945. (0) Dr. Calamy mentions a Mr. Elias Pledger as having a meeting in Lothbury. He was ejected from St. Antholins. Watling-street, and died LONDON WALL.Scotch Presbyterian. the congregation met sometimes at Founders'-Hall, and afterwards, by Mr. Lye's permission, at Dyers'-Hall. But they must have returned to Founders'-Hall in the time of Mr. Blakie. By consulting the records belonging to the company, we find that their hall was first let as a preaching-place to the Nonconformists, in 1672, the year of King Charles's indulgence. A fresh lease was granted during the time of King James's liberty, in 1687. The present meeting-house at Founders'-Hall, was built for Mr. Fleming, and opened, Sept. 29, 1700. At that place the Scots church continued to assemble till the summer of 1764, when, in consequence of its being too small to accommodate the congregation, they erected a new meeting-house upon London Wall, at the corner of Coleman-street. It was opened on the second of July, 1764, by the Rev. Robert Lawson; and the building, including the fitting up, cost nearly seventeen hundred pounds. In order to raise this sum, Mr. Lawson circulated a printed address to his countrymen, exciting them, by a variety of arguments, to a liberal contribution. This had the desired effect; for within a very short time he raised the whole of the sum required. The meeting-house is a large, square, brick edifice, substantially built; contains three large galleries, and will seat about a thousand people. The congregation has always been respectable, both on account of numbers and property, and at present is not at all inferior to its former state. The ministers of the Scots church in London Wall, from the earliest and most authentic accounts, have been as follows: suddenly in 1676. His farewell sermon, on Rev. ii. 9, 10. is in print; as also a sermon in the Morning Exercise, at Cripplegate, "Of the Cause of inward Trouble; and how a Christian should behave himself when inward and outward Troubles meet." It is uncertain whether Mr. Pledger preached at Founders'-Hall; and if so, whether he was minister of the Scots church that afterwards met there. On this account we have not included him in our list. ALEXANDER CARMICHAEL.-Of the history of this person, who is incidentally mentioned by Dr. Calamy,* we are acquainted with but few particulars. There was a noble family of this name, that made a conspicuous figure in Scotland about a century ago; and one of the branches was principal secretary of state to King William, for that kingdom. Mr. Carmichael was born and educated in Scotland, and probably ejected at the Restoration, from one of the churches of that kingdom. Persecution forcing him from his native country, he came to London, and was chosen to preach to a number of his own countrymen, who formed themselves into a society, upon the model of the church of Scotland. His death we suppose to have happened about the year 1676. In the following year, there was published a piece of his on "The Mortification of Sin in Believers." It was posthumous, and introduced with a preface by the Rev. Thomas Lye. Besides this person, Dr. Calamy likewise mentions a Mr. John Carmitchel, who was ejected from Calamy's Contin. p. 945. LONDON WALL.-Scotch Presbyterian Thusby in Cumberland, and afterwards went to Scotland, where he endured many hardships; as may be seen in Woodrow's History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland.* Mr. Carmichael was succeeded in the care of his congregation by the Rev. Jeremiah Marsden. JEREMIAH MARSDEN.-This faithful confessor of Jesus Christ, left behind him a manuscript, entitled, Contemplatio vita miserabilis; from whence it appears that his whole life was a scene of sorrows and afflictions. His father, Mr. Ralph Marsden, who died minister of Great Neeston, in Cheshire, January 30, 1648, left behind him four sons, all ministers. Samuel, the eldest, succeeded, but not immediately, to his father's living, from whence he was ejected at the Restoration, when he went into Ireland, where he died in 1677. Jeremiah, the second son, who outlived his three brothers, of whom he says, "That they all obtained mercy to be faithful." Gamaliel, the third son, was turned out of his fellowship, in Trinity College, Dublin, and afterwards silenced in Yorkshire. He died pastor of a congregational church at Woodkirk, May 25, 1681, aged 47. Josiah, the fourth son, was likewise fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and a considerable sufferer for nonconformity.+ Jeremiah Marsden was born in the year 1626. While a child, he contracted a disorder, through eating unripe fruit, that had nearly proved mortal. When sufficiently restored, he was sent to Manchester school; but having a rigid master, and troublesome times coming on soon after, he made but little improvement. His father assisted him in his learning for some time, till he sent him, in 1647, to the University of Cambridge. There, he became a pensioner in Christ's College, under a Mr. Harrison, who took but little pains with his pupils. Mr. Marsden continued at the uni |