USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > Thirteen historical discourses, on the completion of two hundred years : from the beginning of the First Church in New Haven, with an appendix > Part 22
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was disgraced and expelled ; and though he afterwards made ample and penitent confession of all that was wrong in his conduct on that occasion, he could not be restored. They doubtless had as low an idea of his piety, as he, in his most censorious mood, had of theirs. Their common error had a common cause. They judged of each other by a wrong standard. They yielded to their feelings, their party preju- dices, their antipathies. Brainerd was a child of God, though he was carried away by the unhappy extravagances of the times,-even then the processes were going on within him, by which the Spirit of God made him, afterwards, so illus- trious an example of holiness. He too, whom Brainerd pro- nounced graceless, was a child of God, notwithstanding his opposition to what Brainerd deemed the work of God ;- even then he was keeping his heart with all diligence, and strug- gling to bring every thought into subjection to the gospel .*
In 1745, Mr. Whittelsey resigned his office in College, and for reasons which do not appear, relinquished his design of entering into the ministry, and settled in this place as a mer- chant. He continued in business about ten years. During all that time he was an active member of this Church and Society. He was brought forward by his fellow citizens into political life. He represented this town in the General As- semb'y of the colony, and "in a variety of public trusts he discharged himself with fidelity and growing influence."
At length, after the affairs of the Society had arrived at the greatest perplexity, the members and partisans of the separa- ting congregation having become a majority in all society meetings, and the efforts to obtain the services of the Col- lege professor of divinity, as assistant minister, having proved
* Peabody (Life of Brainerd, 274) says in regard to the language so un- fortunately uttered against Mr. Whittelsey, that it was " a phrase which that individual fully justified by his subsequent proceedings." What knowledge he has of Mr. Whittelsey's subsequent proceedings, he does not inform us. There is no particle of evidence, that the proceedings of the College govern- ment were instigated or directed by the injured individual. It may be pre- sumed, that, so far as the College government is to be blamed, the blame be- longs chiefly to the rector.
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unsuccessful, the Church with entire unanimity elected Mr. Whittelsey to be colleague pastor with Mr. Noyes. The concurrence of the Society, as a legal body, was of course out of the question ; for the Church and those who adhered to the old pastor had already become a separate meeting, with a place of worship erected by themselves. Instead of this, the members of the congregation worshiping with the Church, united in a subscription to a paper expressing their preference of Mr. Whittelsey, and pledging him a support in case of his settlement as pastor of the Church. Accordingly a council was convened, at the call of Mr. Noyes and the Church, on the last day of February, 1758. The Churches of Cheshire, North Haven, North Branford, Meriden, Milford, East Guilford, West Haven, and Amity, were present by their pastors and delegates. The vote of the Church, and the call and pledge by the members of the congregation, were laid before the council; and it was also shown that the Church in electing Mr. Whittelsey, "had proceeded regu- larly by the advice of the Association's committee and some neighboring ministers beside." A committee from the First Society in New Haven, appeared before the council and pre- sented a vote of the Society, " declaring against the ordina- tion of Mr. Whittelsey or any other candidate." The argu- ments and considerations offered by the committee in behalf of the Society were heard by the council ; and then the com- mittee of the Church was heard in reply. The decision of the council was, "that there had been no sufficient objec- tions made against their proceeding ;" and of course they proceeded to the customary examination of the candidate, which occupied the remainder of the day. The next morn- ing when the council assembled, the Society's committee appeared again, and moved for liberty of an appeal, request- ing that the affair of the ordination of Mr. Whittelsey might be laid aside, and removed from this ordaining council to the consideration and determination of the whole Consociation of the county. After mature consideration, "the council were of opinion that our ecclesiastical constitution made no
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provision for, nor warranted appeals of that sort." Mr. Whit- telsey was accordingly " separated to the work of the gospel ministry, and inducted into the pastoral office in and over the first Church and congregation of New Haven."*
At this time, Mr. Whittelsey was in the fortieth year of his age. His ministry, though begun so late in life, and in circumstances so inauspicious, was long peaceful, and for the age in which he labored, prosperous. The Church and con- gregation were perfectly united in him ; and during the whole period of his ministry, there appears to have been no division among them, and no alienation of their affections from him.
I have said his ministry was prosperous, for the age in which he labored. This remark may need some explana- tion. That age was in several respects unfavorable to the prosperity of religion. The "religious commotion," as Ed- wards calls it, of 1740, or more strictly the extravagance of action and of opinion into which that revival degenerated, was long followed by a lamentable reaction. He who reads the letters of President Edwards during the latter years of his life, will find many strong testimonies to this. Let me give one or two specimens. The first is from a letter written as early as 1750. "It is indeed now a sorrowful time on this side of the ocean. Iniquity abounds, and the love of many waxes cold. Multitudes of fair and high professors, in one place and another, have sadly backslidden, sinners are desperately hardened ; experimental religion is more than ever out of credit with the far greater part ; and the doc- trines of grace, and those principles in religion that do chiefly concern the power of godliness, are far more than ever dis- rarded. Arminianism and Pelagianism have made a strange progress within a few years."-" Many professors are gone off to great lengths in enthusiasm and extravagance in their notions and practices. Great contentions, separations, and confusions in our religious state, prevail in many parts of the land."+ In the same connection, he mentions the fact that
* Church records.
t Dwight, Life of Edwards. 413,
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not a few had been drawn off from the Congregational wor- ship, to a conformity with the Church of England ; so that the numbers of that denomination in New England, had been multiplied threefold within seven years. In another letter, dated in 1751, he says, " There are undoubtedly very many instances in New England, in the whole, of the per- severance of such as were thought to have received the sav- ing benefits of the late revival of religion, and of their con- tinuing to walk in newness of life and as becomes saints,- instances which are incontestible and which men must be most obstinately blind not to see ; but I believe the propor- tion here is not so great as in Scotland. I cannot say, that the greater part of supposed converts give reason, by their conversation, to suppose that they are true converts. The proportion may perhaps be more truly represented, by the proportion of the blossoms on a tree which abide and come to mature fruit, to the whole number of blossoms in the spring."*
The religious contentions which sprung up in so many places in connexion with, or soon after, the " religious com- motion" of 1740-the alienation of Church from Church, and minister from minister, and party from party, the jeal- ousy, the recriminations, the strife, and in many instan- ces the settled hostility,-were greatly unfavorable to the progress of religion. When ministers and Churches ex- communicate each other, and refuse to hold fraternal in- tercourse, because of differences that do not directly affect the essentials of Christianity ; the surest effect, if not the first, is that religion falls into contempt. Such was, to a painful extent, the state of the Churches generally in New England through the latter half of the last century. Such was particularly the religious state of this community, for a great portion of that period. The violent rending of the White Haven Church from this, produced a wound which continued long unhealed. Mr. Bird was dismissed at the be- ginning of the year 1768 ; and, one year afterwards, the Rev.
* Dwight, Life of Edwards, 460.
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Jonathan Edwards was ordained to the pastoral office in that Society. But this event, instead of putting an end to con- tentions previously existing, gave rise to a new division. A very considerable minority protested against the ordination of Mr. Edwards ; but their objections were overruled by the ordaining council, it being hoped that the great talents of the pastor would unite the congregation. The opposition, how- ever, instead of diminishing, increased, and about two years after the ordination of Edwards, another Church was formed by secession from his. This secession was incorporated as the Fair Haven Society ; and, under the ministry of the Rev. Allyn Mather, it became in a few years the most numerous Society of the three. It was not in any orderly manner, nor by any consent of the parties, or of neighboring Churches, that this secession was effected. The division in many re- spects greatly resembled that which took place in 1742. And the three Churches, instead of uniting in any affectionate communion or in any willing cooperation for the common cause, united only in exposing religion to contempt, and in weakening the power of Christian institutions by their mu- tual hostility. That in such an age religion was not pros- perous, will not seem wonderful.
That too was the age of the revolution. The preparation for the revolution, the long continued excitement of anxiety and alarm, at one measure and another attempted for the en- tire subjection of the Colonies to the crown or to the parlia- ment, filled all men's hearts and thoughts. The interests at stake were the grandest interests of time, and when such in- terests were thus invaded, and men were gradually becoming inflamed for war, and arming themselves for combat,-who that knows the nature of man and the methods in which God ordinarily dispenses his grace, could expect religion to be prosperous ?
And when at last the time of deadly conflict came, great as was the demand for faith in God, and for the highest and most heroic virtues,-who does not know that it was a time rather for the exercise and expenditure of virtues already
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acquired, than for the diffusion of the influences of religion over the common mind ? The time of war, of imminent and universal danger, of civil conflict, of revolution, when all foundations are breaking up, if it is a time when he that is holy may be holy still, is also a time when he that is filthy will be filthy still. Think of those days; think what a con- flict it was when only three millions of people, to a great ex- tent disorganized, disunited except by the pressure of a com- mon danger and the bond of a common zeal for liberty,- dared to resist the power of the British empire. "If it had not been the Lord that was on our side, may Israel say, if it had not been the Lord that was on our side, when men rose up against us ; then had they swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us." How naturally was this text chosen by Mr. Whittelsey as the theme of discourse on a day of national thanksgiving,* while the war was raging, and while God was interposing with some of those remarka- ble providences which make the history of those years so in- teresting. How ought we, in view of the perils through which the God of our fathers conducted these States to com- plete political independence, to adopt as our own that ancient language of Hebrew devotion.
I find among the papers of Mr. Whittelsey, a note dated August 4, 1776, communicating to him a circular from Gov- ernor Trumbull, with the request that it be read at the close of public worship, and that the authority in this Society, and the committee of inspection, be invited to meet with the se- lect men the next day. As there is a peculiar vividness in the impressions which such documents give us, I need not apologize for presenting it. The circular is addressed " to the civil authority, select men, committee of inspection, and all military officers in the town of New Haven," and is dated "Lebanon, August 1, 1776." The Governor says, "As I have the most pressing requisitions, urging the absolute ne- cessity of having our new levies filled up, completed and for-
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warded with the utmost dispatch ; and as delay may be attended with the utmost disastrous consequences, our ene- mies being about to use their utmost exertions as soon as the foreign troops arrive, which by the best intelligence are now on our coast, if not in port ;- therefore in this critical mo- ment, on which the fate of America depends, I do most ear- nestly entreat you all, as you value your lives, liberty, prop- erties, and your country, that you immediately and vigor- ously exert all your influence, power and abilities, in encour- aging and forwarding the enlistments within your respective spheres of influence and connections, that the same may be completed and sent forward with all possible expedition."
What a contrast between our peaceful Sabbaths, and those days when all the might of Britain was raised to crush our fathers in the act of asserting their constitutional liberty, and when the note of alarm calling the people to struggle against fearful odds for all their dearest interests, was sounded from the pulpit. Must not the prayers that went up to God in those times from the public assembly, have groaned with the burthen of the country's peril ? On the back of this circular, I find, in the hand writing of Mr. Whittelsey, a prayer, ob- viously prompted by the occasion, and obviously designed to be incorporated with the public prayers of the day. It is in these words :-
" O thou Most High ! as thou wast pleased to speak by thy prophet to Rehoboam and the people of Judah and Benjamin, so be pleased in thy providence to speak to the king of Great Britain and Ireland, Ye shall not go up nor fight against your brethren, but return every man to his house. And thus, without the farther effusion of blood, O God most high and gracious ! may tranquillity be restored to the nation and to these American States. As thou didst then influence the minds of the men of Judah and Benjamin to refrain from the destruction of their brethren, so, O God ! in whose hands are the hearts of all men, thou canst easily influence the minds of those who are invading our land, and threatening to lay us waste. Would to God that they might be influenced to desist from their cruel and destructive designs."
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The public worship of this Church, it is believed, was not interrupted during the war. Other Churches were broken up; the congregations scattered ; the ministers sometimes mur- dered, or compelled to flee ; the houses of worship sometimes burned, and sometimes turned into barracks or stables by the enemy. Through the whole war, the hostile forces, knowing how much of the spirit of independence in the country was to be ascribed to the influence of our reli- gious institutions, seemed to bear a particular malice against both meeting-houses and ministers of all denominations but one ; and that one sustained such relations to the govern- ment of the parent country, that the peculiarity of its po- sition is easily accounted for. In this place, as in most other places, the Episcopal Church was closed from the time when it became unlawful to pray for the king as our king, till the time when the recognition of our independence made it canonical to omit praying for him. Some ministers of that denomination, like the late excellent Bishop White of Pennsylvania, who was one of the chaplains to Congress, yielded to their patriotic sympathies, and felt that no vow of canonical obedience could be of force to annihilate their duty to their country. Others, whose conscientiousness ought not to be questioned, while their hearts were on the side of the country, were perplexed by their ecclesiastical subjection to the Church of England; and in the absence of any ecclesiastical authority in this country which they could recognize, they dared not deviate from the forms and orders of the English liturgy. Nor are those to be judged harshly, whose sympathies in the conflict were altogether with the parent country. England was as their home ; thence they had long received their subsistence ; thither they had long been accustomed to look with grateful and humble veneration ; there were their patrons and spiritual superiors ; and there were all their hopes of prevailing against the dis- senters, and of building up in this western world, what they esteemed the only true Church. No Church has gained more than theirs, by the very revolution which they so dreaded ;
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for that revolution gave to their Church ecclesiastical inde- pendence, and the power of self-reformation.
This place you know was in one instance visited by the enemy, and was marked for conflagration. But by the bles- sing of God upon the vigorous resistance made by the citi- zens, the invaders were kept at bay till the inhabitants gen- erally had escaped with the most valuable part of their mov- able property ; and till the enemy, knowing that the whole force of the country around would soon be down upon them, were glad, after an hour of hasty plunder, to make their es- cape without accomplishing their design. Thus New Ha- ven was saved from the flames which, within a few days after- wards, destroyed so many of the towns upon this coast.
In one instance, at least, while the war was in progress, the several Churches so far forgot their dissentions and preju- dices, as to unite spontaneously in the appointment of a day of special prayer and fasting .* Our fathers believed in the efficacy of prayer. They believed that contending in a righteous cause, and committing that cause to God, their pros- pect of success even in the darkest times, was fairer than that of their enemies. But neither prayer nor fasting hin- dered them from the most strenuous effort. On the contrary,
From Stiles's Lit. Diary, Aug. 12th, 1779. "Tuesday, last week, the ministers of the township of New Haven, met voluntarily, and agreed to propose to their Churches a voluntary Fast, on account of the distressing calamities and peculiar danger of the seaports ; proposing Thursday, 12th inst. as the day. This was laid before the Churches and congregations last Lord's day, and approved. This day the nine Churches in the several pa- rishes in this town observed, as a day of solemn fasting, prayer, and humilia- tion. It was observed here with great decency and apparent solemnity, the militia attending divine service. I went to Mr. Edwards's meeting in the forenoon. Mr. Whittelsey's and Mr. Mather's Churches agreed to meet together in Mr. Whittelsey's meeting house, which they did ; as Mr. Mather is in ill health it relieved him of one exercise. I attended Mr. Whittelsey's, P. M., when he preached upon Isaiah xlviii; 9-11. The presence of God seemed to be with us all the day. Blessed be God that he has put it into the hearts of his people to seek to him in the hour of distress, especially now that we are threatened with the return of the enemy to lay New Haven, &c. in ashes. May God prepare us for his holy and sovereign will. I have great hope in God, that through his undeserved protection we shall be spared."
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the same confidence in God which bowed their knees in prayer, made their arms strong in battle .*
At length peace came; and the land so long exhausted, began to revive. Then how did the temples of God ring with rejoicing! What joy was that when, after seven long years of desperate war, the great point in that bloody debate was carried ; and Britain and the world acknowledged the independent sovereignty of the United States. Then began a new era in the history of our Churches. Then no longer in conflict, no longer in fear, the successors of the Puritan fathers, were to try anew, in new circumstances, and upon the widest field of action, the efficacy of their principles.
Mr. Whittelsey survived the termination of the war only about four years. He died on the 24th of July, 1787, in the seventieth year of his age, and in the thirtieth year of his ministry. His grave, like those of his predecessors, is cov- ered by this sanctuary.
In the sermon preached at his funeral by President Stiles, and in that preached on the following Sabbath by Dr. Dana, we have a full delineation of his character.
" In this candlestick," says Dr. Stiles, "he has shone as a burning and shining light for about thirty years. He de- voted himself to the work, and applied to the theological - studies, and the duties of the pastoral office, with an ardor, zeal and assiduity equalled by few and exceeded by none. You are witnesses, and God also, how he has behaved him- self among you, how he has warned every one with tears, how he has preached the unsearchable riches of Christ, and pressed and exhorted your reception of him with apostolic zeal and fervor. With a lively and animated ministry has
* Hutchinson, having mentioned in his history (I, 230) one of those days of fasting which were so frequent in the early age of Massachusetts, apolo- gizes in a note by saying, " Their dependence on these days was not such as caused them to neglect any other means in their power for promoting the public weal." The soldier who conforms to the first part of Cromwell's motto, will not be likely to neglect the second,' " Put your trust in God, and keep your powder dry."
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he appeared for a series of years in this desk, and displayed the redemption of the cross, and as an ambassador of the prince of peace, persuaded you to be reconciled unto God. And this his zeal burned to the last, and shone with flaming brightness in the sermons, with which he closed his ministry among you, so lately as but the Sabbath before the last.
" His elocution was loud and sonorous, it was curt and pa- thetic, it was pungent and striking ; and yet I know it would not stand the criticism of Athenian rhetoric. There was a certain life and vigor, a certain engagedness in his manner, which impressed the auditory with a conviction, that he was in earnest in his Lord's work, that he was solemnly in ear- nest upon the most momentous concerns, upon which he spake with a seraph's zeal and with all the fervor of a burn- ing oratory. He was a Boanerges, a son of thunder, a Bar- nabas, a son of consolation.
"His favorite subjects were the glories and excellences of Christ, the majesty of God, the atonement and righteouness of the Redeemer as the sole foundation of pardon, the grace of the gospel, the necessity of a life of holiness and moral virtue, and the glories of the heavenly world. But while he was a bold and open advocate for moral virtue, yet often have we heard him preach from this desk, that in point of justification there was no righteousness which could procure our acceptance with a holy God, but that of the MEDIATOR.
" In his life and general conversation, he was virtuous and benevolent. He had a singular talent at accommodating himself with ease to all characters, high and low, rich and poor. He had always something entertaining, instructive and edifying, something that made religion pleasant and agreeable. He was exceeding careful to avoid vilifying oth- ers, even his enemies ; but was disposed to think and say good and kind things of all, and to live in love and benevo- lence with all, though they differed from himself in some material things. He went about doing good, and carried the savor of a cheerful, heavenly life in his conversation, speak- ing familiarly of the things of religion, heaven, immortality,
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and the blessed society and beatific glories of the upper world. For many years he has expressed a most confiden- tial hope, and I think I may say, an assurance of a happy eternity, which continued with him to the last. He always founded his hope on the grace of God and the merit of the Redeemer, and an inward consciousness that it would be his chief, his supreme joy to spend an eternity in the bosom of Jesus, and among the spirits of just men made perfect ; and this he hoped had been wrought in him by the Spirit of God and the power of his grace.
" But the time fails me to enlarge further on these or other traits of his character,-on his love of LIBERTY, civil and reli- gious,-on his patriotism,-on his catholicism and charity to his fellow Christians ; not only towards those who agreed with him in sentiment, but towards those who widely, very widely differed from him ; and on his being a friend to order and good government in Church and State.
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