Commonwealth, were as mad themselves after the Revolution. Of that kind of devout fervour, which though not healthy is free from worldliness, and which draws its main inspirations from the world to come, Kettlewell is a fair example. In intensity of religious feelings, he resembled a staunch Methodist of the eighteenth century.

CHAPTER XVIII.

HE last ten years of the seventeenth century witnessed the consolidation of Dissent.

Growing in

confidence, Dissenters made bolder ventures. If some old congregations melted away in villages, where an ejected clergyman had worn out his days, or where the original supporters had died without bequeathing their opinions, together with their property, new congregations were formed in towns, where population gave scope for activity, and social freedom aided religious effort. Preachers with a roving commission settled down into local pastors, and a spirit of enterprise appeared in building places of worship. Nonconformists had for some time amidst hindrance and irritation been digging again the wells of their fathers, stopped by the Philistines; but the days of strife were so far over that they could say: "Now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land;" yet such names as Rehoboth and Beersheba, so often ridiculed, were not used by them as by some of their descendants of later date.

As to the erection of religious edifices in London, it may be mentioned that about the era of the Revolution one was erected in Zoar Street, another in Gravel Lane, and a third in Hare Court.1 The neglected Halls of City

1 Wilson's Hist. of Dissenting Churches, iv. 188, 192, iii. 277.

Companies had become available for Dissenting worship, and by economical alterations were transformed into houses of prayer. Turners' Hall fell into the hands of the General Baptists about the year 1688; soon afterwards the Presbyterians erected "a large substantial brick building of a square form, with four deep galleries, and capable of seating a considerable congregation." Chapels, as we should call them-but the name was not used by the early Nonconformists-arose in Fair Street, Southwark ; in Meeting-house Court, Blackfriars; in the Old Barbican, beyond Aldersgate; and over the King's Weigh-House, Little Eastcheap. At the end of the century, the Presbyterians provided a moderate-sized wooden building with one gallery in King John's Court, in the parish of St. Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey. About the same period, the Independents provided a place of worship in Rosemary Lane; and soon afterwards a large and substantial edifice was built by Presbyterians in the Old Jewry, Aldgate. It is remarkable that, after the Act of Toleration had been passed some years, liberty seemed of so precarious a nature, that to enjoy it concealment was necessary. Private houses, therefore, were in this case erected between the meeting-house and the street, that the former might be screened from public view.2

Nonconformists in the provinces imitated Nonconformists in London. Bath, then at the head of English watering-places, though still a city much occupied by clothiers, had a congregation which before had been wont to meet in "a shear-shop," but now dared to come into open day, and to build in Frog Lane, afterwards New Bond Street. In the pleasant neighbourhood of Shepton Mallet, people who had assembled in the

'At Salter's Hall. Wilson, ii. 1.

2 Ibid., ii. 303.

green woods now erected chapels in the town and adjacent villages. The Warminster people raised a meetinghouse at the cost of £487 28. 7d., the sum being obtained partly by subscription and partly by the sale of pews and seats, which became the property of the purchasers, and were accordingly sold and bequeathed.1

Turning to midland counties, we find that at Nottingham-where Nonconformists had met in rock cellars such as honeycombed the sand formation, and are now formed into a cemetery-Presbyterians registered rooms in Bridlesmith Gate, and the Independents sought shelter in Postern Place. A few months after William's accession, the former set to work upon a meeting-house in the High Pavement, and the latter cautiously attempted a smaller edifice at Castlegate. Little leaded windows admitted light through diamond panes; two pillars sprang from the floor to support the ceiling; stairs rising within led up to a small front gallery; a sounding-board covered the pulpit; and square pews, with other accommodation, provided for about 450 people.2

At Chester a new edifice, still in existence, carefully

I

a

'Murch's History of Churches in West of England, 139, 157, 89. have seen," says Mr. Murch, curious account by a Mr. Butler, of the disbursements to every labourer, and for all the materials used in the erection of the meeting-house at Warminster." The new chapel was opened in 1704; previously the Dissenters of Warminster worshipped in a barn. The Rev. H. Gunn, in his interesting History of Nonconformity in Warminster, gives full particulars derived from this account, and adds that William Penn once preached in the barn. He also notes that the ministers

regularly officiating received 12s. 6d. for two services, equivalent to £1 178. 6d. in the present day.

2 There was no contractor for the building; materials were purchased and labour procured as necessity required. The entire cost of timber was £30; glass and lead for the windows, £8 19s. Id.; the painter's bill was £4 9s.; bricks were IIS. per 1,000; eight deal boards for the pulpit were charged 148. 8d., and the making of it is put down at £1 10s. Church Documents, Castlegate Chapel.-See Historical Account, by the Rev. S. M'All.

preserved, and not long ago tastefully restored, cost £532 16s. Id. It was opened in August, 1700, when Matthew Henry preached from a text indicating an apologetic spirit for what was thought a daring enterprise : "The Lord God of Gods, the Lord God of Gods, He knoweth, and Israel He shall know, if it be in rebellion, or if it be in transgression against the Lord, that we have built us an altar."

At Daventry, in Northamptonshire, Dissent made a humble advance, but under circumstances so interesting as to deserve notice. The origin of the church there forms one of the legends which in the following century became dear to many. When Charles II. was on the throne, it happened that a minister put up on his way to London at the sign of the Old Swan. He was taken ill and detained for more than a week, during which period the host and his family paid him kind attentions and completely won his heart. The traveller, restored to health, summoned into his room the kind-hearted people, thanked them for their great civility, and expressed his satisfaction at the order maintained in the house-an exceptional instance in days when hostelries were given over to unrestrained indulgence and boisterous merriment. He added: "Something leads me to suspect there is not the fear of God among you, and it grieves me to see such honest civility, economy, and decency, and yet religion wanting the one thing needful." He entered into conversation, and closed by telling them he had in his saddlebag a little book, which he begged them to accept, requesting that they would carefully read it. Having presented them with Baxter's Poor Man's Family Book, he went on his way without telling them who he was, nor did they ever ascertain his name, but they felt a suspicion the stranger was no other than Baxter himself. The result