BARTHOLOMEW-CLOSE.-Presbyterian, Extinct. Dr. Calamy preached a sermon upon the occasion, and afterwards published it. Mr. Munckley was a prey to uncommon timidity, which he was never able to conquer in his public work. This was accompanied with a delivery that sometimes gave uneasiness to himself as well as others, especially such as were unacquainted with him. Upon this account, his labours were not accompanied with that acceptance and success which attend many others less deserving. In some places, however, his labours were well accepted, and blessed to the edification of many. Of his want of success Mr. Munkley was himself sensible, and spoke of it with great humility. In a letter to Dr. Wright he says, “You cannot think, Sir, how much you encouraged my spirits under the melancholy mortifications I meet with, by the hopes you gave me, that though God is not pleased to own me with any usefulness and acceptance in my own ministry, I should, however, be some way instrumental in procuring something for the support of those whom God does own and bless with a great deal of success." The nature of the distemper which occasioned his death, was such as to deprive him, for the most part, of the free use of his reason. He, therefore, could say but little that would be of advantage to the living. But there is one thing worthy of remark, that the last sermon he preached, was a consolitary discourse under afflictive providences. It was delivered to a very numerous assembly at Exeter; and he could not have chosen a more proper text to serve such a purpose, than the first words of our Saviour's consolatory discourse to his disciples, when he was going to lay down his life: Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. John xiv. 1. Of the state of his mind during his last illness, the following account was drawn up by a person who attended him at that period. "Throughout the whole of his illness, he shewed an exemplary patience and submission to the Divine will. In the beginning of it he expressed with an uncommon eagerness, and with tears, his BARTHOLOMEW-CLOSE.-Presbyterian, Extinct. firm hope and expectation of the sincerity of his conduct being accepted, notwithstanding the imperfections of it. He had lived in such a manner, and felt so much of the force of religion, that he never shewed the least fears of dying, but always the contrary; speaking of death with the greatest satisfaction, and the firmest assurance and expectation of his partaking of that happiness which follows it to all true Christians." Mr. Munkley died in the month of August, 1738; and his funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Wright, from 2 Tim. i. 10. Who hath abolished death, &c. Mr. Munckley possessed a respectable share of useful learning, and a good acquaintance with books; but such were his modesty and humility, that he carefully avoided ostentation. His sermons he prepared with diligence, and carefully committed them to memory. The subject matter of them was grave and solid, and mostly practical. In prayer he was very serious and earnest, and expressed a strong desire to save both himself and them that heard him. In the more private concerns of the pastoral office, he was ever ready to assist his people as often as occasion called for it. He was of a benevolent disposition, and ever ready to assist the necessitous, particularly his poor brethren in the West of England. His application for their support and . encouragement, both in public and private charities, had this recommendation; "That however any man's opinions differed from his own, he never desired one indigent person should be overlooked upon that account to be poor and to be honest were sufficient inducements with him to be their advocate." He made it his constant practice every night to review what had passed in the day, and then set himself particularly to devise things that would make for peace. He married into the family of the Rowes of Devon; and was particularly happy in the friendship of his kinsman, Mr. Theophilus Rowe.* It does not appear that he took any * Dr. Wright's Sermon on the death of Mr. Munckley. BARTHOLOMEW-CLOSE.-Presbyterian, Extinct. part in the Salters'-Hall controversy, his name not occurring in either list of subscribers or non-subscribers. BENJAMIN AVERY, LL. D.-Mr. Munckley was assisted some few years by Dr. Benjamin Avery, a gentleman of great respectability, but concerning whom very few particulars are known. He was educated for the ministry among Protestant Dissenters; first in England, and afterwards, most probably in Holland, but whether he received his degree while in that country, or from Scotland, we have no information to determine. He commenced and closed his ministry with the Presbyterian society in BartholomewClose; as colleague first with Mr. Freke, and afterwards with Mr. Munckley; but in connexion with the latter gentleman he laboured only three years. During the former part of his ministry, he published a single sermon, preached on the 4th of November, 1713, on Micah vi. 5. During the Salters'-Hall controversy, in 17 19, he took an active part in the debates of the Dissenting synod, and divided with the non-subscribing ministers. Dr. Avery was a warm friend to religious liberty and free inquiry, and opposed all invasions of the rights of conscience, whether they proceeded from churchmen, or Dissenters. In resisting the proposed subscription to the doctrine of the Trinity, he doubtless acted upon conscientious motives; for whatever were his private sentiments upon that subject, the question was not whether the ministers believed the doctrine, but whether they should combine in recommending a human interpretation of what was purely a matter of revelation, and on all hands confessedly mysterious. Had the whole body of Lon don ministers united together, their recommendation could not but have had considerable weight among the Dissenters in all parts of the country, and have contributed materially to allay the heats which were so unhappily fomented. With regard to Dr. Avery's sentiments upon the great controversy of the day, it is highly probable that they harmonized with |