USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Historical sketches of the First Church in Hartford : a centennial discourse delivered in the First Church, June 26, 1836 > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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for advice and assistance .* But the ultimate power of decision is after all in the church. There I say let it be. Let it never be transferred to any body, single, or as- sociated, that is independent of the church, or that claims authority over it. This would be to abandon the inde- pendence of the churches ; the very principle which the pilgrims held dearer than life; and to defend and pro- pagate which, they willingly suffered and died, exiles in this western world.
5. The members of this religious community, both church and society, are placed under weighty and solemn responsibility to God and to posterity. You, my friends, are reaping the fruits of the toils and sufferings and pray- ers, of the venerated men who first penetrated into this wilderness, and erected here the standard of the cross. You have entered into their labors and are here enjoying, in independence and in peace, the privileges which it cost them infinite hardships to procure and establish. Be it your care to perpetuate the precious inheritance, and to transmit it unimpaired, nay, enriched by your piety and prayers, to those who are to come after you. Let not the proud, presumptuous feeling be for a moment in- dulged, which would lead you to boast that you are rich and increased in goods and have need of nothing ; or to
* Hooker, who may be regarded as the father of the system of consociation, has well expressed the power of that body in relation to the churches.
' Consociation of Churches should be used, as occasion doth require. Such consociations and synods have allowance to counsel and admonish other churches, as the case may require, and if they grow obstinate in error or sin- ful miscarriages, they should renounce the right hand of fellowship with them. But they have no power to excommunicate; nor do their constitutions bind formaliter et juridice. A particular congregation, (church) is the highest tribunal ; the power of censure rests in that, where Christ placed it.' Survey. Preface and Part IV. p. 19.
See this point ably discussed in Chr. Spectator, 1831, p. 370, 1835. p. 570. Bacon's Church manual, p. 160-201.
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say with haughty ones of old,-' The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these.' Such a spirit would offend God, provoke him to withdraw from us his mercies, and to leave this vine to spiritual decay and death. Be not high minded but fear. The strength of a church does not consist in wealth or in talents, or in the number of its members, or in outward advantages of any kind ; but in spirituality, and in a readiness for self denial and effort in the cause of God and human salvation. The little band that came here, weary and way-worn, in 1636, and first paid their worship under the spreading branches of the trees, or in their own rude log house, had more moral strength, and exerted more influence, for the kingdom of God and the good of mankind, than many a church in this land, with its hundreds of members, and spacious temple, and all things rich and splendid in its accommodations. No feel- ing should so deeply possess our minds as that of 'our immense, our awful responsibility.' We are indeed bound to acknowledge, with the most devout gratitude to Almighty God, the protection of his providence and the smiles of his grace towards this church. Here for ten successive generations, the same gospel has been preach- ed, that was preached by the excellent men that watched over and nourished it in its infancy. Here a long line of faithful pastors have lived, and labored, and died. Here the Holy Spirit has often and signally manifested his presence and grace, and hundreds and thousands of immortals have been rescued from the power of sin, and have gone up, in long and bright succession, to their dwelling place in heaven.
We stand in the line of the privileges, once enjoyed by the sainted spirits of our fathers, and of the means, by which they were fitted for glory. Let us
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guard the sacred trust, which we have received from our pious ancestors, and convey it, bright and pure, to those who are to live here when we are gone. Let us cleave to the doctrines which made our fathers wise unto salvation; cherish the piety which shed so heavenly a lustre over their characters, and live and labor, as they did, for the glory of God and the good of coming generations. Then like them, we shall live, when we are dead ; and multitudes, yet unborn, will rise up and call us blessed. Then, when another century shall come, this church, 'invested with the increasing dignity of a more venerable age,' shall be seen blooming and vigorous, 'in the possession of that heavenly beauty, which was stamped upon her youthful form ;' lifting up her voice of truth and warning to the people that shall then dwell here, and sheding a clear and bright light upon the path that leads to life and heaven.
' Another century shall come.' But we shall not be here. Our bodies will be mouldering in the dust and our spirits have returned to God who gave them. The graves of our ancestors are beneath and around us ; and a voice, deep and solemn, comes up from the generations that have here passed into eternity before us, warning us of the inevitable allotment, and bidding us prepare for the scenes of coming destiny. Oh, how short and fleeting is the life of man ! In a few days, we shall all be gone; in a few more, the very stones that may mark the place of our burial, will be crumbled, under the hand of time, and by all on earth, we shall be forgotten, as if we had never been. Let us stand in our lot, and be faithful unto death ; then shall we die in peace, be gathered with our fathers, and with them receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
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And now may the same Almighty and Merciful Being, who for two centuries has guarded and blessed this vine of his own planting, continue to shed down upon it the refreshing dews of his grace, even unto the end of time. Here may the gospel ever be preached in purity and power; all its holiest influences be felt; its divinest fruits be exhibited, and its richest consolations enjoyed. May there be here a perpetuated succession of wise, devoted and successful pastors, who shall break the bread of life to a united, affectionate and christian people. And when the voices of those, who now worship here shall be silent in death, may their children and their children's children, to the latest generation, enjoy the presence and behold the glory of God, and ascend, from this place, in growing multitudes, to join heart to heart with the ransomed of the Lord, in the purer and nobler worship of heaven.
APPENDIZ.
PASTORS OF THE CHURCH.
ORDAINED. DIED. AGED. MINISTRY.
Rev. Thomas Hooker,
1633, July 7, 1647, 61, 14 years.
Rev. Samuel Stone,
1633, July 20, 1663,
61, 30 years.
Rev. John Whiting, 1660,
1689,
*10 years.
Rev. Joseph Haines, 1664,
May 24, 1679,
38, 15 years.
Rev. Isaac Foster, 1679,
Jan. 1683, 3 years.
Rev. Tim. Woodbridge, 1685,
April 30, 1732,
47 years.
Rev. Dan. Wadsworth,
1732,
Nov. 12, 1747,
43, 16 years.
Rev. Edward Dorr,
1748, Oct. 20, 1772,
50, 25 years.
Rev. Nathan Strong,
1774,
Dec. 25, 1816,
69, 43 years.
Rev. Joel Hawes, 1818,
DEACONS.
NAMES.
CHOSEN.
DIED.
Andrew Warner, was in
1639,
Edward Stebbins, was in
1665,
Paul Peck,
1681,
Joseph Easton,
1681,
Joseph Olmsted,
1681,
Nathaniel Goodwin,
1734,
John Edwards,
1734,
Isaac Sheldon,
Thomas Richards,
Joseph Talcott,
1748,
Ozias Goodwin,
1756,
Daniel Goodwin, 1769,
Benjamin Payne,
Jan. 1782, Æ 54. 1789,
Solomon Smith,
1786, 1789,
Ezra Corning,
July 1816, Æ 79.
Isaac Bull,
Nov. 1824, ÆE 84.
Joseph Steward,
1813,
Aaron Chapin, Aaron Colton,
1813,
Josiah Beckwith,
1813,
Jan. 1827, Æ 64. removed 1825.
Russell Bunce, 1821,
William W. Ellsworth, 1821,
William W. Turner,
1828,
1769, 1749, April 1749, Æ 83. 1781,
John Shepard,
Caleb Bull,
April 1822, Æ 69.
* Mr. Whiting was also Pastor of the South Church 19 years from 1670 to 1689.
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APPENDIX.
IN 1648, was published in London a " Survey of the Summe of Christian Discipline," a work by the Rev. Mr. Hooker, in de- fence of the Churches of New-England. His manuscripts were left in charge of his friends, Mr. Edward Hopkins and Elder William Goodwin. Following the preface to this work, is their address to "the Congregation and Church of Jesus Christ in Hartford", which bears date October 16, 1647. From that part of it which speaks particularly of Mr. Hooker, we make the following extract.
" But the only wise and holy God, for our great unworthinesse hath lately made a sad breach upon us by the death of our most dear Pastor (the Author of the ensuing Treatise) whereby our glory is much eclipsed, our comforts not a little impaired, and our fears justly multiplied. The stroke is direfull and amasing, when such a stake is taken out of the hedge, such a pillar from the house, such a Pastor from his flock, in such a time and place as this.
It is not our purpose or is it suitable to our condition and re- lation, to lay out the breadth of the excellencies wherewith through the abundant grace of the Lord he was inriched and fit- ted for the service of his great name, or if we were willing to improve our selves in that kinde, have our pens received an anointing for such an imploiment ; what we expresse is onely to put you and our selves in mind of the unvaluable losse we have sustained, that our hearts being deeply and duly affected under that sad afflicting providence, we may look up to the holy one of Israel our Redeemer, who teacheth to profit, that instruction may be sealed up unto us thereby.
He was (as you well know) one of a thousand, whose dili- gence and unweariednesse (besides his other endowments) in the work committed to him, was almost beyond compare. He re- vealed the whole counsell of the Lord unto us, kept nothing back, dividing the word aright. His care was of strong and weak, sheep and lambs, to give a portion to each in due season, delighting in holy administrations, which by him were held forth in much beauty and glory. In this work his Master found him, and so cal'd him to enter into his glory. Some of you are not
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APPENDIX.
ignorant with what strength of importunity he was drawn to this present service, and with what fear and care he attended it. The weight and difficultie of the work was duly apprehended by him, and he lookt upon it, as somewhat unsutable to a Pas- tor, whose head and heart and hands, were full of the imploi- ments of his proper place.
Besides, his spirit mostly delighted in the search of the mystery of Christ, in the unsearchable riches thereof, and the work and method of the spirit, in the communication of the same unto the soul for its everlasting welfare, some discovery whereof may hereafter be presented to the world, as the Lord gives liberty and opportunity.
Such strength of parts clothed with humility, such clear and high apprehensions of the things of God, with a ready cheerfull condescending to the infirmities of the weak (which was his daily study and practice) are not often to be found among the sons of men, nor yet the sons of God in this world."
Section of Hartford as it was Feb. 1639.
LITTLE RIVER.
"Highway on the North Bank of the Little River," (now Arch Street.)
Gov. Haynes' House lot, ' estimated 2 acres.
Tho's. Hooker " Pastor of the Church in Hartford," ' estimated 2 acres.'
Samuel Stone "Teacher of the Church in Hartford," ' estimated 2 acres.'
W'm. Goodwing " Elder of the Church in Hartford," ' estimated 3 acres.'
(now Front Street.)
James Olmsted ' estimated 2 acres.'
John Steel ' estimated 2 acres.'
William Pantry ' estimated 2 acres, and 8 rods he bought before 1639, of Thomas Scott.'
Clement Chapling ' estimated 2 acres.'
Meeting
Thomas Scott, originally 2 acres, but before 1639, he had sold to
James Cole, 1 rood.
House
Thomas Alcott, 60 rods.
" Highway leading from the Little meadow to the meeting house," (now State Street.)
Yard.
These House Lots, excepting one, are ' estimated two acres more or less,' but their boundaries will make them three acres; and the one estimated three acres probably contained four.
Figures 1 and 2, refer to the first and second meeting houses built here, and designate their situation.
The whole (now) State House square, with all the encroachments which have since been made upon it, was then called the " Meeting House Yard." The dotted lines on the South side of the yard show the encroachments since made, and the Town grants to individuals.
(now Main Street.)
".Highway leading from the Palisado to Centinel Hill,"
" Highway leading from the Little River to the North Meadow."
" Alley leading to the Meeting House," (now closed up.)
The HF Group Indiana Plant 112123 B 112 00
10/19/2007
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