USA > Connecticut > A complete history of Connecticut, civil and ecclesiastical, from the emigration of its first planters, from England, in the year 1630, to the year 1764; and to the close of the Indian wars > Part 14
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1732.
Result of council, Nov. 21st.
133
CONNECTICUT.
CHAP. VII.
from scandal in their so doing, we cannot judge, all cir- Book II. cumstances considered, that their withdrawing from the worship and communion of the church, and continuance 1733. therein, was so gross and criminal, as to deserve their ex- clusion from the church of Christ : Yet we think that they had not justifying reasons for so doing, but were faulty and disorderly, and failed of a duc compliance with that direc- tion of the apostle, Hebrews x. 24, 25, Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works, not for- saking the assembling of yourselves together, as the man- ner of some is; and of suitable endeavours to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace ; which we think it becomes them, as they would shew themselves persons studying peace, candidly to confess, according to a draft drawn for them by this council; which we hope the Rev. Mr. Ruggles and the church, in conformity to those gospel directions, Col. iii. 12, 13,-Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another : if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ hath forgiven you, so do ye : will accept, upon its being signed by those that live under the censure, and being brought to him by them, in order to its being publicly read in the congregation."*
This result laid a foundation for the restoration of the suspended members to the communion of the church, but it did not unite the parties. `Proposals were made for calling and settling another minister with Mr. Rug- gles, whom the minor party should choose, to preach half the time ; but they could not be persuaded to unite in this, or any method which could be proposed.
The General Assembly, afterwards, sent two commit- tees of civilians to hear the parties, consider the state of the town, and report to the assembly. The last of which reported in favour of granting the petition of the minor part, or fourth society. They were of the opinion, that May, 1733. it would be for the peace of the town and the interest of religion. The assembly accepted the report, and made the people who had separated, a, distinct ecclesiastical society, by the name of the fourth society in Guilford, with the same boundaries as those of the first parish.
Thus, after a contention of between four and five years, great irritations and alienations between brethren and neighbours, and a great expense of time and money be-
* The minor party accepted the doings of the council, signed the con- fession which was drafted for them, and gave it to Mr. Ruggles, that it might be read.
134.
HISTORY OF CHAP. VIII.
Book II. fore courts, general assemblies, and councils, a final sepa- ration was made in the church and town.
1733. Observa- tions.
This affords a solemn caution to churches and societies, and to ordaining councils, against settling ministers where there are large and respectable numbers in opposition, and forcing ministers upon them, by majorities. In ordi- nary cases, it is wholly unnecessary. Let proper conde- scension be used, and time given, churches and societies will unite and come to an harmonious settlement. If one person does not unite them, another may. The conse- quences of divisions, by the settlement of ministers against a large opposition, are exceedingly pernicious ; it excites all manner of evil affections, destroys good neighbourhood, and, in a great measure, prevents the usefulness of the pas- tor, and the edification of both parties, It tends to confu- sion and every evil work. It is of great importance, that a minister should be a good preacher : this is his main and principal work, and the want of this, very much disqualifies him for the office. Mr. Ruggles was a scholar and a wise man ; his morals were not impeachable ; but he was a dull, unanimating preacher ; had a great talent at hiding his real sentiments, never coming fully out, either as to doctrinal or experimental religion. These were, doubtless, the grounds of the separation. The same things were the principal grounds of the separations which afterwards took place in the county of New-Haven.
CHAPTER VIII.
General state of the churches in Connecticut and New-Eng- land. Revivals of religion in some few places, before the great and general revival in 1737, and 1738, and es- pecially in 1740, and 1741. Some of the principal instru- ments of it. Great opposition to it by magistrates and ministers. Laws enacted against it. Principal opposers of the work of GOD at that time. Disorders attending it. Separations from the churches soon after. Spirit and character of those who separated from the ministers and churches at that time. Happy effects of the work in gene- ral.
Character of the first planters and churches.
S the first settlers of Connecticut and New-England, were a collection of people who left their country and pleasant seats in Europe, and followed the Lord into this then American wilderness, a land not sown, for the sake
CHAP. VIII.
CONNECTICUT.
135 .
of religion, they formed churches, strict in doctrine, in dis- BOOK II. cipline and in practice. Great pains were taken by them to govern and educate their children religiously, that they might indeed be a generation for the Lord. They were sound in the faith, eminent for experimental religion, and of lives of strict and universal morality. A gentleman of eminent character, witnessed, that in seven years, which he had lived in New-England, he had never heard a pro- fane oath, or seen a person drunk .* But as the good peo- ple who planted the country died, and the new generation came on, there was a sensible decline, as tó the life and power of godliness. The generation which succeeded, were not in general so eminent and distinguished in their zeal, and strictness of morals, as their fathers. The third Decleti- and fourth generations became still more generally inat- sion in tentive to their spiritual concerns, and manifested a great- religion, er declension from the purity and zeal of their ancestors. Though the preaching of the gospel was not altogether without success, and though there was tolerable peace and order in the churches ; yet there was too generally a great decay, as to the life and power of godliness. There was a general ease and security in sin. Abundant were the lamentations of pious ministers and good people, poured out before God, on this account. Many days of fasting and prayer were kept by the churches, to seek the special influences of the holy Spirit, in the awakening and sancti- fication of the people. But it did not please the SUPREME RULER, at that time, to give any special answer to their prayers. No general revival of religion was for many years experienced. Some few places were, nevertheless, visited in a very happy and extraordinary manner.
In Northampton, in particular, there were repeated re- Revivals vivals, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Stoddard. The of religion first was about the year 1679 ; a second was in 1683. ampton, in North- Another was about the year 1696 ; a fourth in 1712. In 1718, he had the happy experience of the fifth. These he termed his harvests. He was eminent and renowned, both for his gifts and graces, and his ministry was, from the beginning, blessed with uncommon success. The re- vivals, were, some of them, much more remarkable than others ; but in each of them, and especially in those in 1683, in 1696, and in 1712, the greatest part of the young. people in the town, appeared chiefly concerned for their salvation.t
In the year 1721, there was a very general and remark-
* Prince's Christian History.
Mr. Edwards' Narrative, p. 3, and Prince's Christian History.
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CHAP: VIH. 1
Revival in the town of Wind- Łam, 1721.
Book II. able concern and enquiry among the people, in the town of Windham, what they should do to be saved. The town had been incorporated about twenty-nine years. The church had been formed about twenty-one .* The pastor was the Rev. Samuel Whiting. He was trained up for the ministry, principally under the instructions of the fa- mnous Mr. Fitch, of Norwich. He was eminent for gifts and grace : a clear and powerful preacher of the doc- trines of the reformation. His preaching at this time, was attended with such success, by the powerful influences of the divine Spirit, that in the short term of six months. cighty persons were admitted to full communion in the church. This was a great ingathering unto Christ indeed, as the inhabitants could not be numerous. It was proba- bly nearly as much as one person to every family. This could be imputed to no extraordinary external cause, but to the secret operation of the spirit of God upon their hearts.t The town was full of love, joy, thanksgiving and praise. A day of thanksgiving was appointed, to give thanks and praise unto him, who had done such great things for them.# In this happy revival, persons of all ages, and some of whom there could have been little ex- pectation, came together weeping, to seek the Lord their GOD, and to join themselves to him, in an everlasting covenant, never to be forgotten.
Effects of the great earth- quake, Oct. 29th, 1727.
But while this place was so remarkably wet with the dew of heaven, the ground was dry all round it. Minis- ters and good people were mourning the spiritual drought which was upon them; that iniquity abounded, and that religion was sadly decaying throughout the land. After the great earthquake, the night after the Lord's day, Oct. 29th, 1727, when the Almighty arose, and so terribly shook the earth through this great continent, it is true that many were greatly alarmed, and that there was a greater resort to ministers and to the house of God than before, and greater numbers were added to the churches, yet in too many instances, it appeared to be rather the conse- quence of fear, than of genuine conviction, and a thor- ough change of heart. Ministers, in some places, took great pains to show the people the difference of being driv- en to the performance of duty, merely from fear, and the doing of it from love to God, his word and ordinances ;
* The town was incorporated in 1692. The church was gathered Dec. 10th, 1700.
+ President Clap's letter to the Rev. Mr. Prince, March 29th, 1729.
# See the Sermon, on the occasion, a few years since reprinted. His text was, " For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." I. These iii. 8.
-
137
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CHAP. VIII.
and a thirsting for righteousness, for its own sake. But Book II. though it was to be hoped that some were savingly wrought upon, yet the serious impressions which seemed at first to 1734. be made, were too generally soon lost, and the goodness of many appeared like the morning cloud and early dew, which goeth away. God visited the country with other awful providences, such as sore sickness and great mortal- ity, in some places, but no general reformation was effect- ed.
About the year 1734, that dreadful disease called the
Awful pro, throat distemper broke out and spread in the country, vidences among children and youth. It was attended with a sud- disregard- den and extraordinary mortality. In some towns almost ed, and all the children were swept away. In some instances, part more people de- large families consisting of eight and nine children were and more made entirely desolate. The parents, in a short time, at- from God. tended them all to the grave, and had neither son, nor daughter left. The country was filled with mourners, and bitter affliction. But the people in general continued se- cure. The forms of religion were kept up, but there ap- peared but little of the power of it. Both the wise and foolish virgins seemed to slumber. Professors appeared too generally to become worldly and lukewarm. The young people became loose and vicious, family prayer and religion was greatly neglected, the sabbath was lamenta- bly profaned : the intermissions were spent in worldly conversation. The young people made the evenings after the Lord's day, and after lectures, the times for their mirth and company keeping. Taverns were haunted, intemper- ance and other vices increased, and the spirit of GOD ap- peared to be awfully withdrawn .* It seems also to ap- pear that many of the clergy, instead of clearly and pow- « erfully preaching the doctrines of original sin, of regenera- tion, justification by faith alone, and the other peculiar doctrines of the gospel, contented themselves with preach- ing a cold, unprincipled and lifeless morality : for when these great doctrines were perspicuously, and powerfully preached, and distinctions were made between the moral- ity of Christians, originating in evangelical principles, faith and love, and the morality of heathens, they were offended, and became violent opposers.
In this state of general declension and security it pleas- The great ed Gop, in sovereign mercy, to begin an extraordinary revival of work of conviction and conversion, such as had never been religion be- gins. experienced in New-England before. It began in several places in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as early as the
* The Rev. Mr. Edwards' Narrative, and Prince's Christian History, S
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CHAP. VIII.
Book II. years 1735, and 1736, but became more extraordinary, and much more general in 1740, and 1741. It first began Revival in in the most remarkable manner in the town of Northamp-
North- ton, in Massachusetts, under the ministry of the Rev. Jon- Hampton. athan Edwards, afterwards president of the college in New Jersey.
After giving an account of the commencement of the work, and the change made in a particular young woman, and the effects of it on the young people, he says, "Pres- ently, upon this,- a great and earnest concern about the things of religion and the eternal world, became universal in all parts of the town, and among persons of all degrees and ages : The noise among the dry bones waxed louder and louder : All other talk but about spiritual and eternal things was thrown by ; all the conversation in all compa- nies, and upon all occasions, was upon these things only, unless so much as was necessary for people to carry on their ordinary secular business. Other discourse than of the things of religion would scarcely be tolerated in any company. The minds of people were wonderfully taken off from the world; it was treated among us as a thing of very little consequence. They seemed to follow their worldly business more as a part of their duty, than from any disposition they had to it. The temptation now seem- ed to lie on this hand ; to neglect worldly affairs too much, and to spend too much time in the immediate exercises of religion. But although people did not ordinarily neglect their worldly business, yet there then was the reverse of what commonly is ; religion was with all the great concern, and the world was a thing only by the by. The only thing in their view was to get the kingdom of heaven, and every one appeared pressing into it. The eagerness of their hearts in this great concern could not be hid ; it ap- peared in their very countenances. It then was a dread- ful thing amongst us to live out of CHRIST, in danger every day of dropping into hell : and what peoples' minds were intent upon was to escape for their lives, and to fly from the wrath to come. All would eagerly lay hold of oppor- tunities for their souls ; and were wont often to meet to- gether in private houses for religious purposes : and such meetings when appointed were wont greatly to be throng- ed.
" There was scarcely a single person in the town, either old or young, that was left unconcerned about the great things of the eternal world. Those that were wont to be the vainest and loosest, and those that had been most dis- posed to think and speak slightly of vital and experimental
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CHAP. VIII.
religion, were now generally subject to great awakenings. Book II, And the work of conversion was carried on in a most as- tonishing manner, and increased more and more; souls 1735. did, as it were, come by flocks to JESUS CHRIST. From day to day, for many months together, might be seen evi- dent instances of sinners brought out of darkness into mar- vellous light, and delivered out of the horrible pit, and from the miry clay, and set upon a rock, with a new song of praise to GoD in their mouths."
" This work.of God, as it was carried on, and the num- ber of true saints multiplied, soon made a glorious altera- tion in the town ; so that in the spring and summer fol- lowing, Anno. 1735, the town seemed to be full of the pre- sence of GOD. It never was so full of love and joy, and yet so full of distress, as it was then. There were re- markable tokens of God's presence in almost every house. It was a time of joy in families, on the account of salvation being brought unto them; parents rejoicing over their children new born, and husbands over their wives, and wives over their husbands. The goings of Gon were then seen in his sanctuary ; Gon's day was a delight, and his tabernacles were amiable. Our public assemblies were then beautiful ; the congregation was alive in Gon's ser- vice, every one earnestly intent on the public worship, evs ery hearer eager to drink in the words of the minister as they came from his mouth ; the assembly were, from time to time, generally in tears while the word was preached; some weeping with sorrow and distress; others with joy and love ; others with pity and concern for the souls of their neighbours.
"Our public praises were then greatly enlivened : They were sung with unusual elevation of heart and voice, which made the duty pleasant indeed.
"In all companies, on whatever occasions persons met together, CHRIST was to be heard of and seen in the midst of them. Our young people, when they met, were wont to spend the time in talking of the excellency and dying love of CHRIST, the gloriousness of the way of salvation, the wonderful, free and sovereign grace of GOD in his glorious work, in the conversion of a soul, the truth and certainty of the great things of God's word, the sweetness of the views of his perfections, &c. And even at weddings, which for- merly were merely occasions of mirth and jollity, there was now no discourse of any thing but religion, and no ap- pearance of any thing but spiritual joy.".
Those who had before been born of God, experienced the fresh anointings of the Spirit, and revived like the
'140
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CHAP. VIII.
Book II. spring and grew like the vine. Many who had laboured under great difficulties with respect to their spiritual state, 1735. obtained satisfying evidence of the love of God to their souls.
There appeared such an extraordinary change in the town, that strangers were surprised to see it ; and it had se- vious and happy effects on many who occasionally visit- ed it .*
Revivals in
bouring towns in the county of Hamp- shire.
'This happy revival of God's work was not confined to the neigh- Northampton, but soon appeared with much the same pow- erful and salutary effects, in about twelve'other towns in the county of Hampshire, particularly in South-Hadley, Suffield, Sunderland, Deerfield, Hatfield, West-Springfield, Long-Meadow, in Enfield, and Westfield, in Northfield, and in one or two other places'. In some of these it was no less powerful and extraordinary than it had been in North- ampton. The great and general concern in those towns was for the salvation of their souls. True Christians were remarkably quickened and renewed more and more after the image of GOD ; and an uncommon spirit of grace and supplication was poured upon them. They acted in char- acter, shining as lights in the world. Sinners flocked unto CHRIST, as clouds, and as doves unto their windows. Ac- cording to the observations of some ancient ministers, more was done in one week than, according to the ordinary course of providence, had been done in seven years.
'The same work was more extensive in Connecticutthan in Massachusetts. In fourteen or fifteen towns or more, in several parts of the colony, it was powerful and general, in 1735, and in 1736.
The first parish in Windsor, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Jonathan Marsh, experienced the same mercy about the same time that the work commenced and was car- ried on at Northampton, although at the time of its com- fencement, the towns had no knowledge of each other's. circumstances. Here, as in the other towns, there was a very general concern, and a great ingathering of souls unto CHRIST. At the same time East-Windsor, a parish under the ministry of the Rev. Timothy Edwards, experienced a very happy revival. Mr. Edwards had before seen sever- al awakenings among his people, during his long ministry. No minister in the colony had been favoured with greater success than he, and now, in the forty-first year of his min- istry, his spirit was greatly refreshed by an extraordinary ingathering of souls unto CHRIST, not only from among his own people, but from many other congregations in Con- necticut, and in other colonies.
* The Rev. Mr. Edwards' Narrative of the work.
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CHAP. VIII,
There was at the same time a very wonderful work of Book II. GOD, begun and carried on at Coventry, under the minis- try of the Rev. Mr. Meacham. There was a surprising 1735. change made, not only on the people in general, but upon such as had been most rude and vicious. The work also, was very great at Lebanon-Crank, a parish under the min- istry of the Rev. Mr. Wheelock, a pious young gentleman, who had been then very lately' ordained in that place. At Durham, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Chaun- cey, there was the like work, and a great accession made to the church. The town of Mansfield, under the minis- try of the Rev. Eleazar Williams ; of Tolland, under that of the Rev. Mr. Steel ; Bolton, under the charge of the Rev. Mr. White ; and Hebron, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Pomroy, a young minister, ordained about the same time with Mr. Wheelock; and the north parish in Preston, were all visited with an uncommon effusion of the holy spirit. At Norwich, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Lord ; and at Groton, there was the same divine work carried on, with great power. Mr. Lord, and Mr. John Owen, minister at Groton, in the spring of 1735, visited Northampton, having heard the report of the extraordina- ry work there, that they might see, and hear, and form a judgment of the work for themselves. They conversed. with Mr. Edwards, and with many of the people, to their great satisfaction. They declared that the work exceeded all which had been told, or that could be told. On their return, they reported what they had heard and seen, to their own people, on whom it had a great effect. It ap- ·peared to be a means of beginning a similar work at Nor- wich, which in a short time became general.
The western as well as the eastern parts of the colony, were refreshed by the divine shower. In New-Haven, there was an unusual concern for the salvation of the soul ; a flocking in to the church. Some in the principal fami- lies in the town, became the subjects of it. Stratford so- ciety, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Gould ; Ripton, under the pastoral care of Mr. Mills ; and Newtown, and Woodbury, had a refreshing visitation. Part of the town of Guilford, was also visited in the same gracious man- ner.
Indeed, this rain of righteousness, these dews of heav- en, were still more extensive. They descended in no small degree on various places in New-Jersey.
This work was very extraordinary, on many accounts ; it was much beyond what had been the common course of providence. It was more universal than had before been
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Book II. known. It extended to all sorts and characters of people, sober and vicious, high and low, rich and poor, wise and 1736. unwise. To all appearance, it was no less powerful in families and persons of distinction, in the places with which it was visited, than others. In former works of this nature, young people had generally been wrought upon, while elderly people and children had been little affected, if moved at all. But at this time, old men were affected, as well as others. Even children appeared to be the sub- jects of saving mercy, and in some places formed them- selves into religious societies. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings, the Lord perfected praise. It was extraordinary as to the numbers who appeared, to a judgment of charity, to be regenerated and brought home to CHRIST. It was uncommon in that, persons more than fifty, sixty and seventy years of age, in considerable num- ' bers, appeared to be savingly wrought upon, and after long courses of sin and opposition to their Saviour, to be- come his humble and faithful followers. .
The work was no less extraordinary as to the power and quickness of it. Convictions were powerful, and ter- rible, at once bowing down sinners to the very dust, strip- ping them of every self justifying plea, and showing them that they were wholly at the disposal of a sovereign GOD, against whom they had always been unreasonably and in- excusably sinning : they saw that there was no help for them, but through the mere sovereign mercy of GOD in CHRIST. According to the best judgment which could be formed, it was the opinion, that, in some towns and par- ishes, fifteen, twenty, and even thirty persons, were in one week, brought out of darkness into marvellous light. As their convictions were powerful, and their distress, in some instances, almost intolerable ; so their light and joy, on a change of heart, were unusually great. They appeared to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. So gene- ral was the religious concern where this work prevailed, that a loose careless person could scarcely find a compan- ion in the whole neighborhood. If any person appeared to remain unconcerned, it was considered and spoken of as a strange thing.
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