James Bennett
James Bennett [1]
an English Congregational minister, was born in London, May 22, 1774. He was designed for business by his father, but on his conversion, in his nineteenth year, he resolved to enter the Christian ministry, and preached his first sermon near Bath, in November, 1792. His ministerial preparation was received at Gosport, and in 1796 he accepted a call to Romsey, Hampshire, where he labored twenty-seven years. Mr. Bennett threw himself heartily into the great movements of the day, while at the same time he prosecuted his studies with untiring diligence. His talents soon attracted notice, and his influence was felt throughout the county. In 1823 he was invited to become the principal and theological tutor of Rotherham College, and to be the minister of Masborough Chapel. In 1815 he preached a sermon on "The Claims of London on the Zeal of Christians;" maintaining that London ought to have the services of the best ministers that could be found; and shortly afterwards, on earnest and unanimous solicitation, he accepted the pastorate of Silver-street Chapel, in that: city. His labors in the pulpit, on the platform, and for the press, were incessant, and such only as with a sinewy frame and marvellous health could have been accomplished. In 1840 he was chosen chairman of the Congregational Union, and in 1860 he retired from public life. He died Dec. 4, 1862. Dr. Bennett's life furnishes a noble example for the imitation of students for the ministry. Without early educational advantages, he reached an extent of real and useful scholarship which few ministers have possessed. He valued time aright. He lost no moments. He rose at five o'clock A.M. all the year round, and was incessantly and unweariedly industrious in his studies and public duties. He was an eminently devout man, and conscientious in all his labors. Dr. Bennett was a voluminous author; besides several sermons, preached on special occasions, he published. Life of the Rev. Risdon Darracott (the "Star of the West") (Taunton): — Lectures on the Evidences of Revelation: — Lectures on the History and Preaching of' Christ (4 vols. 8vo): — and On the Acts of the Apostles (1 vol.): — The Congregational Lecture for 1841, on the Theology of the Early Christian Church: — The History of Dissenters, jointly with Dr. Bogue. He also wrote various smaller works. as well as tracts on controversial topics, in all of which the close thinker, keen logician, and terse writer are manifest. See (Lond.) Cong. Year-book, 1863, p. 206.
