John Mason appears to have succeeded Mr. Flavell for a short time. The father of Mr. Mason was rector of Water Stratford, in Buckinghamshire, where he died in 1724, having ministered there for 20 years. He was the author of the 'Select Remains' which form the golden little volume that Dr. Watts so highly recommended to the public. Mr. Mason did not remain at Daventry more than a year or two, when he removed to Spaldwich, in Huntingdonshire, where he died. He was the father of John Mason, author of the well-known treatise on 'Self-knowledge,' who was first minister at Dorking, in Surrey, and subsequently at Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire, where he preached to a considerable congregation. His diligence was attested by his labours as a pastor, tutor, and author. Several of his works are of a very useful character, though not rising to the highest order of excellence.
Mr. John Cambden was the next pastor. His ministry was only for a short time; but whether he died here, or removed, is not known. He published a 'Funeral Sermon upon the Death of Madam Mary Thornton, the pious relict of the late truly virtuous and honourable John Thornton, Esq., of Brock Hall, in Northamptonshire, who departed this life June 19, 1713. Preached at Daventry; with some account of her life.'
Mr. Jolly, their next minister, continued with them a rather longer time; but before the year 1720, he gave place to a successor in Mr. Daniel Mattock, who ministered for about 14 years. His preaching appears to have been so attractive and successful that it considerably raised the interest, and rendered it necessary to erect a larger Meeting House, which was done in the year 1722, and is the building which is now standing. In a letter of Dr. Doddridge's, dated December 22, 1726, he says—"Mr. Mattock goes on most triumphantly at Daventry, and makes the most illustrious figure of all Mr. Jenning's pupils in these parts." Mr. Mattock exerted himself to preach the Gospel in the neighbouring villages, as well as to the stated congregation at Daventry.
There are two anecdotes related in reference to these village services, which illustrate the spirit in which they were regarded by different clergymen in the vicinity.
While Mr. Mattock was minister of Daventry, having several persons belonging to his congregation who came from villages in the vicinity, and being desirous of extending the knowledge of the Gospel as far as his time and strength would admit, he proposed to some of his country friends to get their houses registered for places of religious worship. This being done, Mr. Mattock went on a Lord's-day evening, for the first time, to one of the villages, and preached a lecture. The clergyman of the parish, hearing of this "rude intrusion," as he termed it, felt much exasperated, and determined to go and remonstrate against it. As he was going to the house where the service was held, he met, much to his annoyance, several of his parishioners coming from the lecture. In the height of his resentment he addressed first one, and then another, "What, have you been to the conventicle?" "What! have you been to hear the fanatic?" "Are you not ashamed of your conduct?" &c. Soon, however, he arrived at the house; and Mr. Mattock, being apprized of his coming, very politely accosted him, and offered him his chair, begging him to be seated—which genteel request he, with apparent reluctance, condescended to comply with. Being seated, the Rector begins by saying, "So, I find that you have been preaching here." "Yes, sir." "And pray, sir, what right have you to come into my parish, to invade my province? This parish is mine, and I am their lawful pastor. I wish therefore to know, by what authority you take this liberty." "Sir," replied Mr. Mattock, "I beg leave to inform you, if you do not already know, that I am qualified according to law as a Dissenting minister, and am therefore authorized to do as I have done." "Aye! who authorized you, sir, to invade my province?" "The legislature, sir, by the Act of Toleration. I do nothing by preaching here, but what is strictly legal." "Well, it is strange to me that the legislature should allow you this liberty." "I hope, sir," said Mr. Mattock, "that you do not find fault with the legislature of your country." "No, no, God forbid that I should; but I still wonder that it should grant you such an indulgence. But, sir, I have another question to ask you; pray what is your object in coming here? what do you propose to yourself in doing it?" "Sir, my only motive is the hope of doing good to my fellow creatures." "Good!" replied the Rector, with a contemptuous sneer: "I don't know what good you can expect to do, for I can do no good upon them. They are a parcel of fools. I can make a fool of the wisest of them, in a quarter of an hour." "Sir," says Mr. Mattock, "you give your neighbours a very bad character; but however, if they are bad as you represent them, they have the more need of instruction, that they may be convinced of their folly, and be made wise unto salvation; and if it pleases God to bless the instructions of his word, it will be so, and my desire will be accomplished." To this he made no reply, but casting his eyes round the house, says, "but can you imagine that God Almighty will condescend to notice any worship which is performed in such a place as this? Solomon thought that he could not make the holy Temple, which he dedicated to the worship of the Deity, fine enough for the purpose; therefore to suppose such condescension as you seem to expect in the Deity is to affront him." Mr. Mattock replied, "Sir, we know no holiness of places in Gospel times, but all places are alike holy where 'God is worshipped in spirit and in truth'; and we have every reason to hope for and expect the presence and blessing of Christ, who has said, 'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.'" "But," asks the clergyman, "is this place secured for this purpose by law?" "Yes, sir, it is registered in the Bishop's court." "And do you intend to make a practice of coming here?" "I shall come, sir, when it is convenient to myself, and as long as the people give me encouragement by their attendance to do so."
Upon this the Rector rose hastily and departed; but he sent his clerk the next morning to inquire of Mr. Mattock three things—
1. Whether he was qualified as a Dissenting minister to preach?
2. Whether the place he occupied as a place of worship was legally secured?
3. Whether he intended to continue coming there?
To this Mr. Mattock replied, "I answered these three questions in the affirmative last night; but if your master was not satisfied, why did he not come himself, or send for me?" The honest clerk said "that his master could not do either, because he was going out with the hounds." Admirable apology!