[489] 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. 1d.; the painter’s bill was £4. 9s.; bricks were 11s. per 1,000; eight deal boards for the pulpit were charged 14s. 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.
[490] A remarkable instance of an Independent trust, couched in general terms, occurs in the History of the Independent Church at Beccles.—Rix’s East Anglican Nonconformity, 161.
[491] The certificate, drawn up and signed on the occasion, is worth preserving: “We, whose names are under written, do testify concerning Mr. Joseph Hussey, that upon our personal knowledge he is an ordained minister of the Gospel, whose natural parts, acquired learning, and soundness in the faith, holiness of life, and all ministerial abilities are so considerable that we groundedly hope for God’s blessing upon his ministry, both for the conversion and edification of souls wherever God shall employ him.” Upon this testimonial there are signs of the furtiveness in which the business had been accomplished. Five signed their names; Domino Anonymo is the signature of the sixth, with this appendage: “He was shie because of the cloudiness of the times, and would neither subscribe nor be known to me.”—MS. by Wilson, Dr. William’s Library.
[492] Thoresby’s Diary, i. 229.
[493] “Mr. Griffith,” an Independent, “tells me he takes it for granted the meeting at Newbury was in the nature of a provincial synod, which he has found the Presbyterian ministers very fond of late, and blames them for it. This passion of theirs has appeared more barefaced in Ireland, where they have had such an assembly at Antrim, and published the sermon preached upon the occasion, maintaining it was their right and duty to meet with or without the allowance of the laws, or the consent of the supreme magistrate.”
“The Episcopal Clergy intend to remonstrate to the Government there against this liberty. I know not how soon we may expect the like to be done in England, and if it break into an open contest about Church discipline, the moderate man will have a fine time of it.” August 23, 1698.—Vernon Correspondence, ii. 156.
[494] Calamy’s Life, i. 224–264.
[495] Defence of Moderate Nonconformity, part i. 213.
[496] Life of Calamy, i. 301.
[497] Ibid., 304–309.