William Kiffin, Baptist. William Kiffin, the elder, of London, merchant, died December 29th, 1701, in the 86th year of his age. The above was inscribed on his tombstone, as preserved by Mr. Strype, in Stowe’s Survey of London; but the intersection of his grave is not now known. William Kiffin was so celebrated a person, and made such a distinguished figure in the seventeenth century, that the Editor has found it difficult to compress within the limits of this work, anything like a proper account of him. His long life comprehends a period commencing with the reign of James I., and ending fifteen years after the Glorious Revolu­tion in 1688; consequently, embracing the events of the governments of Charles I., Oliver Cromwell, James II., and…

I have said that this church, though avowedly Baptist, admitted other than baptized believers to fellowship; but when they went still further, and invited unbaptized preachers to occupy their pulpit, William Kiffen objected, withdrew, and, in the year 1638, founded the FIRST STRICT BAPTIST CHURCH IN LONDON!! That is to say, the first Baptist church holding and teaching Particular Redemption, and confining church membership and the Lord's Supper to baptized believers of the same faith and order. This was the famous Devonshire Square church. By reason of railway extension and Metropolitan changes, in the year 1871 this church removed to the high road, Stoke Newington, North of London, where it possesses fine, commodious buildings has large congregations, a church-roll of about 800 members, nearly a…