position to insist at any length. The objection to the study of Entomology, on the score of the cruelty necessarily implied in hunting after its untaxed and undisputed game,' is perhaps treated too much in the spirit of indifference. We have a decided objection, also, to the minute and disgusting details which are brought forward in pp. 87, 107, 138, 140, and in some other parts of the work. Another fault consists in occasionally introducing anecdotes which are not traced to sufficient authorities; at least, which are founded upon evidence far inferior to that which is suited to the dignified character of a scientific work ;-for instance, Bell's Weekly Messenger, and a Mail Coachman, are quoted with as much form as Latreille or Bonnet! In general, however, the authorities are of the most satisfactory kind, and have been traced with much patient investigation. The style is, for the most part, flowing and easy; occasionally it is inflated; and in some few instances the manner is frivolous. These, however, are but spots of rare occurrence. We hope that many who peruse this article, will read the work, and judge for themselves; and we shall be much mistaken if they do not most cordially adopt the charitable criticism of the Roman poet, Ubi plura nitent, non ego paucis of'fendar maculis.'

Art. VI. The History and Antiquities of Dissenting Churches and Meeting Houses, in London, Wesminster, and Southwark; including the Lives of their Ministers, from the Rise of Nonconformity to the present Time. With an Appendix on the Origin, Progress, and Present State of Christianity in Britain. By Walter Wilson, of the Inner Temple. Four Volumes. With 26 Portraits, price 31. 10s.

[Concluded from page 408.]

MR. R. Wilson has been evidently indefatigable in gleaning authentic and original materials for these volumes; and he is no less entitled to the praise of impartiality as a biographer. Many of the persons whose characters he has occasion to portray, exhibit, as might be expected, the marks of the turbulent times to which they belonged,; and some instances present themselves of individuals who, by the force of mere eccentricity, rose above the ordinary level of society, and attained a fugitive importance to which they had no substantial claims. The memoirs of these men are given with exemplary fidelity. One of the most singular personages whose lives are, in these volumes, for the first time made public, is Joseph Jacob, an Independent Minister, who was born about the year 1667. He is one of the last specimens that we should select of the Independents of that period, with a view to convey an idea of the style of their character. Indeed, he can be considered as belonging properly to VOL. V. N. S.

no denomination. He was a sect in himself, an ecclesiastical Ishmael, whose hand was against every man, and every man's hand against him. For many years, however. he maintained an uncommon influence over his followers, and he had natural talents which, combined with bis ardent zeal and undaunted courage, might have raised him, had they been wisely directed, to more amiable and permanent eminence. Mr. Wilson informs us, that

His parents belonged to that denomination of people called Quakers, and trained him up in the same principles; but he appears to have renounced them pretty early in life. He was bred to the trade of a linen-draper, and followed that profession for some time ia London. At an early period, he seems to have discovered those singular traits of character, which distinguished him throughout life. He was warm in the cause of civil and religious liberty; and was an utter enemy to the designs and practices of those who were plotting the overthrow of our constitution, in the reign of King James the Second. At the Revolution, he discovered his zeal by mounting a horse, and going to meet King William in the West. The storm blowing over, and the affairs of the nation putting on a favourable aspect, Mr. Jacob began to profess himself a Protestant Dissenter, of the congregational persuasion; and being desirous of becoming a preacher, he, with a view to qualify himself for that profession, put himself under the tuition of the Rev. Robert Traile, a learned and eminent Divine, at that time, in the metropolis. Upon his first ap pearance in public, he manifested that he was no ordinary person, and soon gathered a numerous congregation. p. 139.

About 1697, Mr. Jacob set up a weekly lecture at Mr. Gouge's Meeting-house, near the Three Cranes, Thames-street; but from this place he was dismissed, in consequence of his taking occasion to introduce at the lecture improper references to political affairs. Exasperated by this resolute proceeding on the part of the church, the lecturer concluded his farewell sermon, by attempting literally to fulfil the direction given to the disciples, to shake off the dust of their feet as a testimony against those who rejected them.

In the next year (1698) however, he found friends to build him a new Meeting-house, in Parish-Street, Southwark, where he soon raised a numerous audience. Here he formed a church which he intended to keep singularly pure.

He passed an order, obliging the whole of the congregation to stand during the time of singing. This, though by no means an uncommon thing in the present day, was then looked upon as a great novelty. In this reformed church all periwigs were discarded; the 'men members wore whiskers upon their upper lips, in which Mr. Jacob set them an example; and an order passed for the regulation of the women's garb. The members of this church were not allowed

to attend public worship at any other place, not even if their business occasionally called them to a distance; nor were they suffered to intermarry with other churches. The relations of life could be filled up only from this perfect society; nor could any person, excepting Mr. Jacob, be safely employed to solemnize the marriage union. These articles, cum multis aliis, were the distinguishing features of this very singular church, which stood aloof from the other bodies of dissenters. Some persons not conforming to the new rules, were forthwith excommunicated. But this harsh usage only offended others, who withdrew in consequence. This proved a great detriment to Mr. Jacob; and, in the end, his church dwindled away so far that he was obliged to quit his meeting-house. This was about the year 1702. However, he still went on in his usual way; for being of a courageous temper, and having always a number of admirers, he made shift to stand his ground. The next place he occupied as a Meeting-house, was Turner's-Hall. Here he proceeded, as formerly, to pollute his pulpit, by animadverting upon public characters; reflecting particularly upon King William, and ridiculing many worthy ministers in the metropolis; such as Mr. Howe, Mr. Traile, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Bragge, &c. From Turner's-Hall he removed to Cur rier's-Hall, Cripplegate, which was the last stage of his performance. There he went on much in the same way, till his followers gradually deserted him, and he was taken away by death, June the 26th, 1722, when he was 55 years of age; and with him died the Reformed Church of which he was pastor. p. 141.

Mr. Wilson refers to two or three single sermons of Mr. Jacob's, as being all that he printed. We have two now before us, from one of which, a Thanksgiving Sermon, dated 1702, we are able to lay before our readers a specimen of this eccentric man's zeal and logic against wigs, and in defence of whiskers. It is taken from the Epistle Dedicatory. It may haply seem incredible to future, as it would have been to past ages, that in a nation passing for civilized, much more Christian, and fond of being accounted manly, the wearing of a natural badge of manhood on the face of men, should be ⚫ made matter of contempt and ridicule. I shall not here say any thing from myself in defence of this ancient British, and truly manly and Christian practice; but methinks to argue ad hominem, those who make it a matter of mockery, should 'first deface the effigies of their ancestors, martyrs, confessors, prelates, peers, princes, &c. who appeared in this manly manner; particularly the Presbyterians who scoff on this score, should answer the famous men of their way that have writ for this. Mr. Hall, and others formerly, and more lately Mr. Alsop, in his notable Sermon in the Morning Exercises, wherein, among other nervous passages, he tells us, "there seems some distinctive ornament to be pro"vided of God, that the difference between sexes might

"not be left to the arbitrary customs, and desultory humours "of men, as in the hair of the head, and the manner of wearing "it; or at least in the beard, which is ordinarily given to one 66 sex, and denied to the other that which is natural is God's own work, and therefore that which is counterfeit and arti"ficial, is the invention of the devil." And before the Independents jeer any on this account, they would do well to confute Mr. Lee's notable book, and famous Mr. Elliot's argument: Long hair on the head, and no hairs on the "face, is the habit of a woman; but it is a sinful abomination for a man to wear the habit of a woman; therefore it is a sinful abomination for a man to wear long hair on his head, "and no hairs on his face." Especially let Mr. Reeves, his successor, condemn the good old man's rhymes before he undertakes to judge any on this score:

66,

66

Wo to the crown of pride whose hair,
"Whose long and bushy locks declare
A bruitish custom every where,
And only used for a snare:

The long-hair'd gallants of these times
'Wear horses' manes on human faces,
Turn men to monsters, and the work
'Of God and nature much disgraces:
God in a bush did once appear,
But in their bush hath never been;
They'll never leave, till Satan comes,
And thrusts a burning candle in.'

To these delectable rhymes we beg leave to add two more, which appear to be of Mr. Jacob's own composing, from a postscript to the same sermon :

A bushy head, and beardless face;

O monstrous sight! Nature's disgrace!
Lord, save thy people from this race,
That shew their sins with a bare face.

The other Sermon, published in the following year, is entitled, "The Fewness of the Faithful.' In the preface he gives an epitome of his own history, whence we quote the following passage, which may assist the reader in more accurately estimating his character: In truth profession is at so low an ebb, and professors are so very corrupt, that a righteous 'soul cannot but (with Lot) be vext, to behold people's unlawful deeds; men wearing monstrous and horrid periwigs, and women borders, false locks, and such like whorish fashions, whereby the anger of the Lord is kindled against this sinful

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' land!' • Most religion, now-a-days, lies in parties and prating; they that can talk most, that are the loudest tinkling cymbals, are taken for the best Christians by such as measure religion more by sound than substance. I cannot. but think now what once I could scarce believe, that there are many real Antinomians, of whom I must say, as good old Jacob, "O my soul, come not thou into their secret, "unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united !"" himself he says, "Tis true, as a dying preacher said, I have had my infirmities, and still have; but my heart has been right with God as to the main, and I look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life,' &c.

Beside these Sermons, Mr. J. published, A Church Cove'nant and Catechism,' and a Scripture Instructer, which we have not seen.

It would be easy to swell this Article with amusing extracts from Mr. Wilson's volumes, but any thing like a minute examination of their multifarious contents, cannot be expected. Much patient industry must have been exercised in collecting so vast a mass of details, and we can testify as to the general accuracy of many of his statements. Where he has been misled, the continual references to his authorities will fully exonerate him from either carelessness or unfair design. To those of us who can look back on forty or fifty years, and who can number many of the persons whose memoirs are comprised in these volumes, among the contemporaries of our early life, the work is peculiarly interesting. The title-' Antiquities of Dissenting Churches', may, to black letter literati, to the historians of cathedrals, and those who love to rake in monastic dust, appear somewhat pompous, if not altogether incongruous; and great must be the provocation if any persons who should be induced to purchase the work in the expectation of adding to their stock of antiquarian lore. It is but a recent antiquity of which Dissenting Churches' can boast, and those churches are rather tabernacles than temples. But readers who deem human nature the most curious and interesting object of study, will find these volumes to be highly valuable as furnishing biographical illustrations of historic facts, and as throwing light on the religious history of the preceding century.

Mr. Wilson has injudiciously occupied a hundred and thirty pages of his fourth volume with an Appendix, professing to be an account of the origin, progress, and present state of Christianity in Britain. This would have formed, with more propriety, an introduction to the volumes; but we question the expediency of prefixing a superficial outline of Church History to biographical accounts relating to a particular period. We wish we could congratulate the Author on having exe