J. H. Thorpe

“ BRINE, JOHN (1703–1765) , baptist minister, was born at Kettering in 1703. Owing to the poverty of his parents he had scarcely any school education, and when a mere lad was set to work in the staple manufactory of his native town. Early in life he joined the baptists. While at Kettering he married a daughter of the Rev. John Moore, a baptist minister of Northampton, from whom he inherited Hutter's Hebrew Bible, which was to him at this time a treasure of no small value. The lady died in 1745. After some interval Brine married again. ”

“ Poyntel of Staplehurst, he left Lady Roberts, went to Staplehurst, and was ordained. About two years after he married a widow, by whom he had several children, who all died young. He continued at Staplehurst till driven away by persecution. After many wanderings he settled near London. He built many meeting-houses, and contributed to their ministers' salaries. Catechising the young was also a favourite occupation, in which he was very successful. ”

“ He also possessed Whiston's ‘Mathematics,’ and made such progress in this science as to become, while yet in his teens, a contributor to Martin's ‘Mathematical Magazine.’ A disordered state of health compelled him to give up his secular occupation, and he left his grandfather's house to reside with his elder brother John, who was settled in business at Bedford. ”

“ Bridge's printed works are nearly all sermons. His first publication is dated 1640, and was printed at Rotterdam. In 1649 the works of Bridge were published in three volumes, quarto, printed by Peter Cole, London. Another collection was published under the title of 'Twenty-one Books of Mr. William Bridge, collected into Two Volumes,' London, Peter Cole, 1657, 4to. ”

“ George's Tombland, Norwich, for which he was paid by the corporation. In 1636 he was the rector for St. Peter's Hungate, Norwich, a living at that time worth no more than 22l. per annum. Here he was silenced by Bishop Wren. He continued, however, in the city for some time after his suspension until he was 'excommunicated ' and the writ 'de capiendo' came forth against him. He took refuge in Holland and settled at Rotterdam, succeeding as pastor the celebrated Hugh Peters, and he was thus associated in the pastorate with Jeremiah Burroughs. ”

“ In 1845 the whole works of Bridge were printed in five volumes, octavo, from copies chiefly in the possession of the Rev, Frederick Silver, of Jewry Street. Fifty-nine separate titles are given in the table of contents of the five volumes ”

“ At nineteen Lord Scarborough introduced him to a place at court as clerk in the treasury of the Prince of Wales. With a view to promotion he learnt foreign languages and practised music and dancing, and after a time made application to go as under-secretary to the ambassador to Paris; but superior interest procured the place for another. ”

“ BURNHAM, RICHARD (1749?–1810) , baptist minister, was born about 1749, of poor parents. In his youthful days he resided at High Wycombe, and attended the Wesleyan chapel there, and in his early manhood was solicited to preach. ”

“ There he met with some opposition, which occasioned his tract, 'Cases considered and resolved; ... or Pills to purge Malignaiits,' 1653, and in the same year he published his 'Precious Remedies.' In 1662 he was one of the ejected. ”

“ Born in 1746, he received a classical education, and having early in life attached himself to the religious opinions of the ‘Glassites,’ or ‘Sandemanians,’ he was chosen by the church in Edinburgh to be one of their teaching elders. ”

“ About 1676 his first wife died, and he published an account of her 'experiences,' with a funeral sermon preached by a friend. Shortly afterwards he married a young woman named Cartwright. His will is dated 20 March 1680. He died on 27 Sept., aged 72. A copy of his funeral sermon, by John Reeve, dated 1680, is in Dr. Williams's library. More than fifty editions of several of his books have been published. The Religious Tract Society long continued to reprint some of Brooks's writings; the greater part of his smaller pieces were also constantly kept in stock by the Book Society. Dr. ”

“ He afterwards attracted a large congregation at Sheffield, where he spent thirteen years, and ultimately settled at Birmingham, where his ministry at Livery Street was numerously attended to the close of his life. He died 24 Aug. 1817. A spacious chapel was being built for him at the time he died, and he was buried in the grounds adjoining the unfinished edifice. A specimen of Brewer's preaching is printed as part of the service at the ordination of Jonathan Evans at Foleshill in 1797, and Brewer's oration at the burial of Samuel Pearce at Birmingham was printed with Dr. ”

“ The following are his chief works:
'The Christian Religion not destitute of Arguments, &c. ... in answer to "Christianity not founded on Argument,"' 1743. 'The Certain Efficacy of the Death of Christ asserted' (a book at one time greatly in demand) , 1743. 'A Vindication of Natural and Revealed Religion, in answer to Mr. ”

“ He proceeded B.A and M.A. At twenty-two he was ordained pastor of the presbyterian congregation at Tobermore, near Coleraine. His rigid Calvinism caused a disagreement with his hearers, who inclined to Arianism. ”

“ Cayley also published: 1. ‘The Seraphical Young Shepherd and a Small Bunch of Violets,’ 1762, 2nd edit. 1769. 2. ‘The Amethyst; or some Beams of Eternal Light,’ 1763. 3. ‘The Day-Star of Glory rising in the Hearts of the Saints,’ 1769. 4. ”