USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Raynham > The history of the First Church and Society in Raynham : in two discourses, delivered Jan. 1, 1832, being little more than a century since the church was constituted > Part 1
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JEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01754 9665
GENEALOGY 974.402 R209S
THE
JUN 18 1947
HISTORY INDEXED G. S. M1.3. 19:" OF THE
FIRST CHURCH AND SOCIETY
IN RAYNHAM,
IN TWO DISCOURSES, DELIVERED JAN. 1, 1832.
BEING LITTLE MORE THAN A CENTURY
SINCE THE CHURCH WAS CONSTITUTED.
- BY ENOCH SANFORD, PASTOR OF THE CHURCH.
WITHDRAWIN From the Family History Library
LOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
33984
TAUNTON :
EDMUND ANTHONY-OFFICE OF INDEPENDENT GAZETTE
......... 1832.
P. B. A. #658
US/CAN 974.4 A1 40
DATE MICROFILMED
OCT 1 3 2000 ITEM # __ L
PROJECT end Q.9.
YLIBUSCAN .395 13425311
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SERMON I.
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PSALM 78: 5.
FOR HE ESTABLISHED A TESTIMONY IN JACOB AND APPOINTED A LAW IN ISRAEL, WHICH HE COMMANDED OUR FATHERS THAT THEY SHOULD MAKE THEM KNOWN TO THEIR CHILDREN.
As it is our duty to maintain the institutions of religion not only for our own sakes but the benefit of posterity, we may re- ceive a powerful motive to this duty by often considering at what expense and with what zeal these sacred institutions were maintained by our fathers.
It is the business of history to record the important events of an age for the instruction of succeeding ages. The wisdom and faithfulness of our fathers whose praise is in the churches, should not be forgotten by us who share so richly the fruits of their toils.
One hundred years since this town was incorporated, were com- pleted the 5th,or by the new style the16th of last April. (A) And it was a hundred years the 19th, that is, by the present style, the 30th of last October since the church connected with this socie- ty was organized. I have hence thought it proper to begin this new year by reviewing the history of the town and also of the church. Such a history, embracing the general and more im- portant events of the century now closed, may be interesting and doubtless may be made profitable to us and our children.
No one is now living of the first members of the church or of the town :- all have many years since slept with their fathers. What remains of them is to be obtained only from public records and undoubted tradition.
This tract of country in which we now see so many busy and prosperous people, was not visited by civilized man till the year of our Lord 1621. During numerous ages the river had rolled its
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waters ;- the towering forest had waved, and spread around an almost unbroken wilderness which never cchocd to the sound of the mill, or the axe of the woodman, but all was possessed as the indisputed domain of the wild beast and the untutored sav- age. The sun and the golden seasons, which in other climes had caused the fields to wave with abundant harvests, had here rolled, for centuries, over a virgin soil. The whole country seemed a wild vacuum waiting to be filled with the labors of in- dustry, the achievements of the arts, and the blessings of relig- ion. But all this waste as to natural advantages was nothing compared with the waste of intellect. No traces were to bc found that the Indian tribes during the many centuries they had possessed New England, had made any advance toward civiliza- tion, or any of the useful arts. Though naturally endowed with intellects equal to that of the white man, their fondness for sav- age life seemed invincible.
In July 1621, Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins were sent by the Governor of Plymouth to explore this part of the country, to visit Massasoit the king of the Wampannoags who resided principally at what is now called Bristol, to assertain their strength, and open trade with them. Having passed Mid- dleborough, then an Indian town called Namasket, they arrived at Titicut, where they exchanged hospitable offices with the na- tives, whom they found fishing. There they lodged one night in the open fields, the banks of the river on both sides being cleared and adapted to cultivation.
These embassadors then proceeded six miles down the river, on the south side to a fording place near King's bridge, or the . New Forge. When preparing to cross the river, they were opposed by two aged Indians on the opposite bank, who were the only individuals in this whole region that had survived the pestilence which two years before had nearly depopulated this section of the country. These two Indians, however, being as- sured that Winslow and Hopkins, with their Indian guides, were come in a friendly manner, no longer opposed their pas- sage, but received them with kindness. These then were the first Englishmen who set foot on the soil of Raynham. Here they ascertained the ebb and flow of the tide. The weather be- ing extremely warm, they quenched their thirst with the clear water of the springs which were numerous. Their Indian com- panions showed them much attention, carried them across the small streams on their backs, and assisted in transporting their baggage.
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In passing along the southern border of this town by the river, they discovered many places which had once been inhabited by Indians. The groand near the river was cleared, but all around were signs of the ravages of the plague, which a little before had swept away the red inhabitants. The soil was rich and luxuri- ant, but silence and desolation pervaded the deserted region, which farther than the eye could reach was covered with huge forests of oak, walnut, beach, and gigantic chesnuts .*
Taunton, which at first included Raynham and five other neighboring towns, began to be settled in the year 1638-9, by emigrants principally from Taunton in England. The lands of Mrs. Elizabeth Pool one of the chief proprietors, were specially laid out by order of the Colonial Government at Plymouth in May 1639. She and other proprietors purchased their lands of the Indians.
In 1675, the proprietors set forth a declaration of their right- ful possessions with the following preamble. " Whereas by the providence of God in the year 1638 and the year 1639, it pleased God to bring the most part of the first purchasers of Taunton over the great ocean, into this wilderness from our dear and native land, and after some small time here, we found this place, called by the natives of the land Cohannet, in the Colony of New Plymouth ; and of the Court of said Colony we obtained grants of tracts of land for a plantation or township, as by the records of said Court, it may and doth appear, and then we also made purchase and bought the said tracts of land, for our money, of the right proprietors and owners, the Indian sachem or prince of this part of the country, as by deed under their hands it may appear; and in honor and love to our dear and native country, we called this place Taunton, and owing it a great mercy of God to bring us to this place, and setting us on lands of our own, bought with our money in peace, in the midsts of the heathen for a possesion for ourselves and for our posterity after us."
Settlements began to be made in what is now Raynham as early as 1652. Then it was that James Leonard, Henry Leon- ard, and Ralph Russel, who came from Pontipod in Wales and settled first in Braintree, came here and erected extensive iron works on Two Mile River which were the first Iron works erected in North America. (B)
During the Indian war in 1675 which spread terror and des-
* See Baylies' Memoir of Plymouth Colony, Vol. 1.
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olation through many of the towns of Plymouth and Massachu- setts Colony, the inhabitants of Taunton and this place were mercifully preserved from savage invasion. Philip the great instigator of the whole war, who, by combining the Indian for- ces, had laid a plan for exterminating every English family was particularly friendly to the people of Taunton who had often shown him favor. He had often made Raynham his summer re- treat. He therefore designed, it is said, to have destroyed all the other settlements in Plymouth colony, before he attacked this, and gave strict orders to his Indians to this effect. Fre- quent massacres of the white people and the burning of their houses were occuring in the neighboring towns. But here, though one house was garisoned, to which some of the inhabitants resorted, the dread chief who was properly called " terror of New England" never inflicted his ravages. (C)
These deliverances from savage invasion, which threatened and well nigh accomplished the extermination of the English settlement in this Colony, deserves to be remembered among the signal interpositions of Divine Providence in behalf of this coun- try. (D)
We perceive from these sketches what was the character of those who first levelled the forests and tilled the soil in the places which we now occupy. Their object was enterprising and no- ble :- it was to maintain the truths and institutions of the chris- tian religion. In pursuing this object, they could submit to hardships with fortitude, and were sustained by an unwavering reliance on Divine Providence. Their bodily strength was un- impaired by the poison of intoxicating liquor, for it was not used by them. A plain diet and unwearied industry, gave vigor to their animal spirits, and left their minds free for religious con- templation.
This town, when it was set off from Taunton into a distinct township by the General Court, was said to be " competently filled with inhabitants," though it contained then only about thirty families. Abraham Jones was a principal advocate for the separation, his name appearing first on the petition for that purpose. It does not appear, that party spirit, or any differ- enec as to political or religious views produced this separation. But it arose principally from the local situation of the people. At that time parish and town limits were generally the same ; and as most of the inhabitants here were too far from the meet- ing house in 'Taunton Village, to be able to attend public wor- ship there conveniently, it was natural that their desire to be
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formed into a separate parish, should dispose them to be set off' into a separate town.
Few as were the inhabitants here, they thought themselves able to support the ministry of the gospel. This in their view was a great object to be secured ; and the General Court incor- porated them into a town with this proviso, " that the inhabi- tants of said town of Raynham, do within the space of three years, from the publication of this act procure and settle a learned and orthodox minister of good conversation, and make provision for his comfortable and honorable support ; and likewise pro- vide a school master to instruct their youth to read and write."
Anticipating the duty or rather the priviledge of supporting public worship, they had erected a meeting house two or three years before the town was incorporated, though it was not cn- tirely finished. The first town meeting for the choice of a board of selectmen and other town officers, was on the 22d of April 1731. On the tenth of May following they assembled in town, or which is the same thing, in parish meeting, and voted to pay all the expences which individuals had incurred in building the meeting house thus far, by levying a tax. At the same meeting they made choice of Mr. John Wales as their minister, who had been preaching to them about one year commencing March 16, 1729. They voted him his stated salary,* and voted also to finish the inside of the meeting house, by plastering it, erect- ing pews and laying the gallery floors.
Undertaking all these expences, would be considered, at this day, a heavy burden for so small a number of people. Their number was not only small, but many of them doubtless were in very limited circumstances. But they knew that the way to honorable prosperity, is to maintain virtue, and generously sup- port an enlightened and pious ministry.
Mr. Wales accepted the call of the town to be their minister, and was ordained on the 20th of October 1731. The church was organized only the day before the ordination, and consist- ed of fifteen males and seventeen females who were dismissed from the first church in Taunton. It is probable that the same council who ordained Mr. Wales organized the church. Their not being organized sooner, accounts for their voting in
* His salary at first was £100 per annum, old tenor : and he received £200 settlement. His yearly income was afterwards increased to £400, old tenor, which was £53 6s. 8d. lawful money, or $178 77, and was a more ample income, other things being equal, than most ministers re- ceive now.
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connection with the society in the call of their pastor. It was the ahnost universal practice of that day, as it ever should be, for the church themselves to choose their own pastor. They nev- er should suffer a pastor to be imposed on them against their choice, by the society with whom they are connected. 'The soci- cty, it is true, have their right of choice, and should exereise it ; and when the church and society, voting in distinct bodies, choose the same person, he should be established as their minister. This course of proceedure in the choice of a pastor has been found the most adapted to promote harmony and mutual profit in our churches and societies, as theyare connected in the sup- port of the ministry.
Mr. Wales having served in the gospel ministry 34 years, died Feb. 23, 1765, in the 66th year of his age. He was blessed with talents which rendered him very amiable and entertaining in so- cial life. In public prayer his performances were eminent, and on some occasions almost unequalled. In his preaching he was faithful, and exhibited the doctrines of the gospel in a plain and affecting manner. In his answer to the unanimous call of the people to settle among them, he says " I rejoice to see you thus united for the settlement of the gospel amongst you, and can do no less than with gratitude acknowledge the respect that you have shown to me in giving me the offer of settling with you ; but as the work of the gospel ministry is hard and difficult, so I dare not rush myself into that office with precipitation, but have, as I hope, sincerely laid the case before God by prayer and earnest- ly sought direction from him ;- further I have taken the advice of sundry of my fathers in the ministry ;- and therefore looking upon the call to come from heaven, as well as from man, I dare not refuse it, but accept it-earnestly asking your prayers to God for me that I may so faithfully acquit myself in the office of a gospel minister, as to save my own soul and those whom God shall commit to my watch and care." It was with these devout sentiments that he entered on his responsible work. That wis- dom, and direction which he sought from above wore bestowed upon him ; for his labors were not in vain. Prosperity attended him not only in his public ministry, but, in the education of his family, two particular blessings which are very likely to be en- joyed in connection by the faithful minister. His son the late Dr. Samuel Wales was professor of Divinity in Yale College, His daughter was the wife of his successor in the ministry in this place.
During Mr. Wales ministry the doctrines of the gospel were
but very little controverted in this country. Differences of re- ligious opinions which now set altar against altar and temple against temple, had not then arisen. But this state of things was like a dead calm in the natural world, and like that gave opportunity for the gathering of principles and substances, quite incongenial with vigorous health. The people indeed, accord- ing to the most excellent practice of that age, remembered the sabbath day to keep it holy, and with great pains and punc- tuality attended public worship; yet there was arising in the churches a disposition to make religion consist too much in for- mality and outward observances.
It was under this mistaken view of religion that this church as did most churches in New England, early began to practice on what was called the half-way-covenant. This, as the term shows, was adopting half way measures, which in religion as in other things, are ever found to be worse than none. In the course of twenty two years, 35 persons were admitted to this church in this way; that is, by professing their belief in the doctrines of the gospel, and receiving baptism, though they did not profess to have experienced regeneration ; and in consequence of this they were cxcused from partaking of the" Lords Supper. They were also entitled to the privilege ?of offering their children in baptism. This practice began to be adopted in the churches of New England through the recommendation of a council compos- ed of delegates from Connecticut and Massachusetts, which met in Boston in June 1657, and more especially by the recom- mendation of a Massachusetts council which assembled in 1662. The practice was slow in its beginning. It originated in part, in the unreasonable and strange rule early adopted by our fathers, that nonc should be admitted to the privilege of freemen or be eligible to office who were not church members. Many doubt- less sought to be nominal church members for the sake of the honors and privileges it confcred. But though this practice at first was adopted with diffiulty, it was with as much difficul- ty laid aside, when it had prevailed for an hundred years, and was found to be unscriptural, and to have a tendency to destroy the very existence of the churches .- It began to be laid aside in this church in 1760, and the scriptural rule of the Puritans was restored ; that they only be received as members of the church, who give credible evidence of piety, or regeneration.
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During Rev. Mr. Wales' ministry, 350 infants and adult per- sons were baptized in this church, and 126 persons were ad- mitted to full communion. Professing christians who had fam-
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ilies, almost universally practiced family prayer; instructed their children in the doctrines and duties of the gospel, and taught them the obligations of the sabbath and of public worship.
It was therefore in the belief and practice, and under the preaching of evangelical doctrines, that this church was gather- cd, and nurtured; the same religious doctrines and truths which gave origin to the civil institutions, the religious freedom, the republican government, and eventually the independence of our country. The constitution and best laws of our Commonwealth were framed by men educated in these peculiar sentiments .- They were truc sons of the Puritans, respecting whom the his- torian Hume declares, though an enemy to them, that they were the only people in England who possessed the true principles of liberty.
The influence of those divine truths in which this church was established was not transient. In about two years after the death of Mr Wales, July 29, 1766, the church chose Mr. Peres Fobes as their pastor. On the 18th of August following, the town concurred in this call, and voted him his stated salary .* He graduated at Cambridge College 1762, and was ordained over this church and society Nov. 19, 1766. (E) In speaking of him some who hear me will be able from their own remembrance to bear witness to his virtues. But as it is 19 years the 23d of last February since his decease, a great part of this audience probably never saw him, so rapidly do the generations of man arise and pass away.
Though of feeble health, he was exceedingly diligent in the acquisition of knowledge. As he had a peculiar taste for scien- tific pursuits, he greatly excelled in deducing facts from the nat- ural world to illustrate moral and religious truth, thus evincing that the God of revelation is the God of nature. His was the happy talent of communicating the fruits of his literary re- scarches and acquirements in a familiar manner and without any parade of learning.
During the revolution such was his patriotic spirit, that not- withstanding his natural feebleness of constitution, he volun- teerod as a chaplain in the American army. In 1786, he offic- iated as President in Brown University, during the absence of President Manning. The next year he was chosen Professor of experimental philosophy in that Institution. He rendered very important services to the University,-was chosen to its fellowship in 1787, and received the degree of Doctor of Laws
. His salary at first was £78,-$260, which was increased afterwards as the price of labor and provisions increased.
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in 1792. The advancement of education employed much of his time and efforts. It has been said, and I doubt not but tru- ly, " that the schools in this town under his patronage and in- spection, were for many years an example for the country, and bear an honorable testimony to the public of the vast impor- tance of a learned clergy to our country." He instructed a large number of youth in their preparatory studies for college, and many candidates for the ministry pursued, under his in- spection and at his house, the study of Theology.
But Dr. Fobes, as many now living can testify, excelled as a preacher. Ile often preached unwritten sermons, but they were not unstudied or unmethodical. His biographer says of him, that " Founded on Christ and his Apostles, so happily did he blend in his creed the excellences of Calvin and Arminius, that he seemed a friend to both : though an acute metaphysician and theologian, yet knowing the gospel designed for all, plain and practical discourses were his chief aim."
In the course of his ministry, he published several sermons. One was an address to young persons on the importance of early piety. One was on the subject of the Divine and human agency being united in effecting the sinner's salvation. One was preached at Taunton at the execution of John Dixon who was the only white person ever executed in this county. An- other was a Funeral Sermon at the death of Dr. Manning. He published a sermon also on the wise appointment and happy consequences of death to the righteous; and another preached at Marshfield at the ordination of his son-in-law, Rev. Elijah Leonard, in which he shows what are the principal doctrines which a minister should preach. He there says, (page 13.) that, "the Divinity of Christ, the Deity of the Holy Ghost, the doctrine of the Trinity and of human depravity, are doctrines so evidently taught in the scriptures, that the christian minister will not fail to teach them." Hence he says, page 15th, "we can understand the nature and necessity of the atonement, the ne- cessity of regeneration, of justification by Christ, sanctification by the Spirit, and salvation by grace." Some have insinuated that these were not his leading sentiments in the last years of his life, but that there was a change in his views of religious doc- trines. I have conversed with a number who were among his constant and most attentive hearers, and their testimony is, that the doctrines in the sermon above referred to, were among the principal themes of his preaching while he lived. He preached several other ordination sermons which were published. He
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published a scriptual catechism after the manner of one by Dr. Watts, in which the answers were mostly in the language of scripture. It had been his practice, as Sabbath shools were not then instituted, to instruct the children from the Westminister Assembly's catechism, which received his recommendation with that of many other eminent divines.
Such was his ministry and such his sentiments. And as he was deservedly beloved by the people to whom he ministered, it is casy to infer what were their sentiments also. It cannot be doubted that the religious sentiments of this church, as a body, have ever been in agreement with the prevailing sentiments of the New-England churches.
" Feb. 24, 1767. The church met and voted to receive the Cambridge Platform as their standard and rule of church gov- ernment, except the articles of Ruling Elders, Teacher sepa- rate from a pastor and lay ordination, and not to reject these absolutely as unscriptural, but only suspend our assent to them till we better see their divine authority." This platform of church government was drawn up by a synod or council of ministers and delegates of the churches assembled in Cam_ bridge in 1648. They designed it as a supplement to the As- sembly's Catechism, as may be inferred from several passages in the preface,-" having perused the public confession of faith agreed upon by the reverend assembly of divines at Westmin- ster, and finding the sum and substance thereof in matters of doctrines to express not their own judgment only, but ours also ;"-they then except some sections in that confession res- pecting church discipline, and add, " touching which we refer ourselves to the draught of the church discipline in the ensu- ing treatise." This treatise or platform was approved in sub- stance by a synod which assembled in Boston in 1679 and rec- ommended to the churches. They express their desire "that the churches may continue steadfast in the order of the gospel according to what is therein declared from the word of God." This platform of church government is still, in substance, ap- proved as the standing rule in the Congregational churches. It was designed to promote their purity, fellowship and Liberty. This church, doubtless, received it from these same motives- that as they had received Christ Jesus the Lord, they might so walk in him ; bc no more children tossed to and fro, and carricd about by every wind of doctrine ; and stand', fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.
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