to consideration from the Nonconformist point
of view. In 1648 a schoolmistress, Elizabeth Warren, published a
pamphlet, 'The Old and Good Way Vindicated, in a Treatise, wherein Divers
Errours, both in Judgment and Practice incident to these Declining Days,
are Unmasked for the Caution of humble Christians.' From the same town
also there issued 'The Preacher Sent: a Vindication of the Liberty of
Public Preaching by Some Men not Ordained.' The author of this book, or
one of the authors of it, was the Rev. Frederick Woodall, the first
pastor of the Free Church--'a man of learning, ability, and piety, a
strict Independent, zealous for the fifth monarchy, and a considerable
sufferer after his ejectment.' He had, we are told, to contend with a
tedious embarrassment, through the persecuting spirit that for many years
prevailed, and considerably cramped the success of his ministry.
Woodbridge is one of the churches which Mr. Harmer refers to in his
'Miscellaneous Works,' as being rigidly Congregationalist, and which
conducted its affairs rather according to the heads of Savoy Confession
than the heads of Agreement. When I was a boy the pastor was a Mr.
Pinchback, who seems to have been a worthy successor of godly men,
equally attractive and successful. He had previously settled at Ware.
It is recorded of the good divine that on one occasion he had to leave
his wife at the point of death, as it seemed, to go to chapel. In the
course of the service he mentioned the fact of her illness, and announced
in consequence that he would preach her funeral sermon on the following
Sunday. But when the following Sunday came the lady was better, and
lived for many years to assist her husband in his godly work. In the
rural districts the Baptists flourished immensely.

At Grundisburgh there preached for many years to a large congregation a
worthy man of the name of Collins, who was one of the leading lights of
the body which rejoiced in a John Foreman and a Brother Wells. People
who live in London cannot have forgotten Jemmy Wells, of the Surrey
Tabernacle, and his grotesque and telling anecdotes. One can scarcely
imagine how people could ever believe the things Wells used to say as to
the Lord's dealings with him; but they did, and his funeral--in South
London, at any rate--was almost as numerously attended as that of Arthur,
Duke of Wellington. I expect high-and-dry Baptists have been not a
little troublesome in their day, and in