USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Centurial history of the Mendon association of Congregational ministers, with the Centennial address, delivered at Franklin, Mass., Nov. 19, l851, and biographical sketches of the members and licentiates > Part 7
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As an illustration of the subduing influence of his preach- ing, take his account of a sermon in a private house, where opposition was strongly felt towards him. " When I came there, I seemed welcome to but few. But before the sermon was over, there seemed to fall such a shower as softened every heart. They now discovered wonderful affection ; and almost the whole number of Christians present were unable to refrain from some uncommon discoveries of it. I exhorted them after preaching, and the power of God seemed to descend ; some careless sinners, especially one young man, were brought under strong convictions. All the prejudice conceived by some brethren against me vanished away ; and some of them discovered deep anguish of heart for their sin therein."
It is sufficient commendation of Dr. Hall's public reputa- tion amongst his contemporaries, to allude to the fact that he was the intimate and esteemed friend of Rev. Jonathan Ed- wards, of Northampton. He was a member of the council called to dismiss the latter, and was afterwards addressed in a letter of confession, by one of President Edwards's opposing parishioners.t
* For an account of this revival, see Tracy's History of the Great Awakening, p. 162. Also, Hist. Sermon of Sutton, by Rev. H. A. Tracy.
" See Life of President Edwards, in his works, Vol. I. p. 42.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
When president Bunn of New Jersey college died, Dr. Hall was one of the candidates for the vacancy, to which his friend, President Edwards, was elected.
It may be inferred, as was the fact, that the friend of Ed- wards and admirer of Whitefield was of the Edwardean school in theology. Although it does not appear that, at any period of his life, he devoted himself, with peculiar closeness, to the study of theology as a science. He however received seve- ral young men into his family, and directed their theological studies. Few of his writings are extant. Though frequently requested to publish his discourses, it is not known that more than two were ever committed to press : a thanksgiving ser- mon on the reduction of Canada, Oct.1760, and a half-century sermon, 1779.
His epitaph is as follows :
SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
REV. DAVID HALL, D. D. Who was ordained Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Sutton, Oct. 15, 1729, and was instant and laborious in the business of his office until May 8, 1789, when he departed this life in the eighty-fifth year of his age and sixtieth of his ministry. He was venerated in life, and lamented in death. The grateful people of his charge have erected this stone, a monument of his virtues and their respect.
7. REV .. AARON HUTCHINSON
Was born within the then town of Hebron, Ct., March, 1724, and graduated at Yale, 1747, and A. M. He was also Dean scholar at New Haven, and " took the premium with-
* Letter of Rev. G. Lyman, Sutton.
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REV. AARON HUTCHINSON.
out a competitor appearing as rival." He received the de- gree of A. M. from Harvard, 1750 ; Dartmouth, 1780 ; and New Jersey, 1794. He was ordained second pastor of the church in Grafton, 6 June, 1750. Rev. Mr. Pumroy of He- bron preached. He was dismissed by the church 18 Nov., 1772, at his own request, though the town refused to concur in the vote, and did not. He continued to reside in Grafton, supplying vacant churches in the neighborhood, until 1775, when he purchased a farm in Pomfret, Vt., and engaged to supply, for five years, the towns of Pomfret, Woodstock, and Hartford. On the 4th of July, 1776, he removed, with his family of ten children, to Vermont, and resided on his farm, preaching in the vicinity, often gratuitously, until his death. This occurred 1 Sept., 1800, at the age of seventy-six and a half years. During his long ministerial life, he was never prevented from preaching, by ill health, but two Sabbaths; and one of these was the last Sabbath before he died. He preached at a funeral on Friday ; was but poorly able to get home, and died the next Thursday, of a fever.
Mr. Hutchinson was a man of strong natural powers of mind, and was considered a learned man and a good classical scholar by his contemporaries. He was particularly remarka- ble for an extraordinary memory. It was of him that the remark was made, ' If the Bible were destroyed, he could re- write it from memory.' This, however, was more than true. He could very nearly tell where any text was to be found. He could repeat the whole of the New Testament .* He often entered the pulpit and went through the whole service without opening a book of any kind. He appointed his hymns and recited them, as well as passages of. Scripture, with en- tire confidence in his memory, and without mistake.
Mr. Hutchinson is known at this day chiefly as one of the polemic writers of the last century. His controversy with
* Letter of Hon. Titus Hutchinson, Woodstock, Vt.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Rev. Dr. Tucker, of the First church, Newbury, on some of the points of Arminianism, presents him as a high-toned Cal- vinist, a zealous defender of the faith, and a vigorous writer. In his personal habits, Mr. Hutchinson had many eccentrici- ties. " He was without grace or polish in his manners, and his freedom, though he probably was not conscious of it him- self, must often have verged upon rudeness." He instructed many youth in his family. Tradition avers that " his method was to teach Latin and Greek, and probably other branches, as he wrought in the field, his pupils being required to follow him as he followed the plough. His classical attainments and strong memory enabled him thus to cultivate mind and mold at the same time. Both soils, we doubt not (says the author we quote), were well tilled, though we may innocently conjecture that the master at the plough-handle would, now and then, be guilty of an ungrammatical apocope, as the share was caught with frequent jerks among the roots and rocks of the rough new country. None but an accomplished linguist, we are sure, could, under such circumstances, have adminis- tered Greek to the student and English to the cattle, in due proportion and proper order, without confusion .*
Several printed sermons of Mr. Hutchinson are to be found, viz.
Valor for the Truth. Newburyport, 27 April, 1767.
Sermon at Grafton, 23 Oct., 1768, (Sabbath after the exe- cution of Arthur, at Worcester).
Two Sermons at Grafton 15 Nov., 1772 (the last to his people).
Sermon at Pelham, 28 Dec., 1773.
These sermons show him to have been a preacher of much more than common power and influence.
Mr. Hutchinson married Miss Margary Carter, a native of
* See " Church Record," by Rev. E. B. Willson, Grafton.
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REV. AARON HUTCHINSON.
of his own town Hebron, Ct. She died 8 Aug., 1819, in her ninetieth year. Their ten children were as follows.
1. Margary, m. Mr. Samuel Wadsworth, of Henniker, N. H.
2. Mary, m. - Aldrich. He died in the army, soon af- ter the revolutionary war commenced. She died in Pomfret, Vt., June, 1789.
3. Aaron, Jr., H. U., 1770. Preached till his voice failed ; then studied law and settled in Lebanon, N. H., where he died, 1843.
4. William Samuel. Settled first in Pomfret ; then Pike, Pa.
5. Susanna, unm,, d. in Pomfret, July, 1848.
6. Joanna, m. Mr. Phinehas Davis, S. Stanstead, Canada.
7. Alexander, a retired merchant, still lives in Wood- stock, Vt.
8. Sarah, m. John McKenzie ; died, 1844.
9. Oliver, a merchant ; died, October, 1800.
10. Titus, grad. Vermont U. 1811. Lawyer and judge ; still living in Woodstock.
Two of the above children still live : Alexander, who will be eighty-eight next July 4th, and Titus, who will be eighty- one next April 29th. The others all died at an advanced age.
Inscription upon the gravestone of Rev. Mr. Hutchinson.
Here lie the relicts of REV. AARON HUTCHINSON.
He died Sept. 27, 1800, in the seventy-ninth year of his age, and fiftieth of his ministry.
His days he passed in health, religion, and domestic virtue ; nor did his sun go down till night .*
* Letter of Hon. Titus Hutchinson, Woodstock, Vt.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
8. REV. CALEB BARNUM,
Was the son of Thomas and Deborah Barnum,* and was born in Danbury, Ct., 30 June, 1737, graduated Princeton, N. J. 1757, and A. M. at Harvard 1768. He received a call to settle over the second church in Wrentham, now Franklin, 28 Oct., 1759, and was ordained 4 June, 1760. Rev. Philips Payson of Walpole, preached the sermon. Difficulties arose, and Mr. Barnum felt it his duty to ask a dismission ; to which the church reluctantly consented, and he was dismissed, 6 March, 1768. After his departure from Franklin, he recieved an invitation to the pastoral office in Taunton, and was in- stalled there, 2 Feb., 1769. The war of the colonies awak- ened his strongest sympathies, and he applied for a chaplain- cy in the army. He enlisted 3 May, 1775, left Taunton, and was chaplain, first to Col. Walker's regiment, and then to the XXIV Regiment, Col. John Greaton commander, at that time stationed at Boston. This latter connection began 10 Feb., 1776. After the evacuation of Boston, he accompanied his regiment to New York, then to Montreal, where he was inoculated for the small pox. He shared with fortitude in the disastrous retreat from Canada. At Ticonderoga he was seized with a bilious disorder, which so impaired his health that he obtained a discharge on the 24 July, and commenced his return homewards. But on his reaching Pittsfield, Aug.
* Thomas Barnum was either son or grandson of Thomas, one of the first settlers of Norwalk, Ct .; where he is found from 1662 to 1682, or later, when he removed to Danbury. Had 5 sons, Thomas b. 1663, John 1677, Ebenezer 1682, the others born in Danbury, date unknown. as the records were burnt by the British in the war. Thomas, the elder, was appointed by the town in 1681, " to keep decorum during the exer- cise on the Sabbath and at other public meetings, and to keep a small stick with which moderately to correct the disorderly." Rev. S. H. Emery.
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REV. CALEB BARNUM.
2, he was arrested by an accession of his disorder. He wrestled with his disease until he fell, 23 Aug. 1776, at the age of 39. A sermon was preached at his funeral, from John 14 : 28, by Rev. Thomas Allen, then minister of Pittsfield.
Mr. Barnum left behind him a wife and seven children. He married, 13 June, 1761, Priscilla, daughter of Rev. Caleb Rice of Sturbridge. . His wife was sister of Col. Nathan Rice of Hingham, afterwards Aid-de-camp to Gen. Lincoln in the Southern campaign.
He had three sons and five daughters, one of which died in infancy.
1. Caleb, b. 11 April, 1762 : m. Nancy Paine of Thetford, Vt.
2. Priscilla, b. 1 April, 1764: m. Capt. David Vickery of Taunton.
3. Deborah, b. 27 Oct., 1766: m. Thomas S. Bailies of Dighton.
4. George, b. 25 May, 1768: m. Sally Cutler of Warren.
5. Mary, died young.
6. Thomas, b. 30 Oct., 1772: m. Sally Abraham of New York.
7. Anna, b. 30 Dec., 1773 : m. Rufus Child of Woodstock, Ct. She is the only child living, and is entirely blind; re- sides in Taunton.
8. Polly, b. 11 Oct., 1775 : m. Rev. Peter Nourse of Ells- worth, Me. ....
The changeful life of Rev. Mr. Barnum, like that of many others, presents numerous points of interest. He was a man of noble impressive aspect, - dignified yet affable, - uniting the paternal mildness of the clergyman with the grace and polish of the gentleman. Yet he had a bold, fearless spirit, which bore him unflinchingly through hardships and opposi- tion. His dismission from Franklin is said to have been primarily owing to a misunderstanding between two members of the church about a few cranberries. The amount of tres-
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
pass was thought by him who felt injured, to be not more than two dollars : which sum Mr. B. offered to pay himself, if the complainant would rest. When this offer was known, the minister was blamed as trying to shield the guilty .* And so a bone was found for the inclined to growl over. The in- troduction of Dr. Watts's Version of the Psalms, furnished another question of dispute.
Mr. Barnum's connection in Taunton was also marked by differences with some of his parishioners. Yet in both con- nections, his friends were very strongly his, and they were in decided majorities.
During Mr. Barnum's ministry in Franklin, forty-seven were added to the church, though there was no general revi- val of religion. In Taunton, the thrilling events of the revo- lutionary war occupied all minds, and the pastor entered most cordially and enthusiastically into the cause of freedom. He announced the news of the skirmish at Lexington from the pulpit, and gave his people, thereupon, an eloquent exhorta- tion to firmness and patriotism. His manuscript sermons, several of which are in possession of the writer, show him to be vigorous, bold, and unshrinking in his presentation of the Gospel, yet affectionate and persuasive in its practical appli- cation. He must have been an efficient and moving preacher. Nothing of his is known to have been published. His closing moments, so painful to him in their circumstances, were sus- tained by the hopes of the Gospel. Rev. Mr. Allen, of Pitts- field, where he died, thus speaks of him : "Not a repining word was uttered by him. He received the report of his physician, of the great hazard of his case, with equable firm- ness and composure of mind. Such sweetness of temper, such tranquillity of spirit, such serenity and peace in the near view of death and eternity, - such patience under pain, and entire submission to God's disposing will, which appeared in him,
* Cent. Sermon of Franklin, by Rev. E. Smalley, D. D.
103
REV. EBENEZER CHAPLIN.
manifested at once the power of those supports and consola- tions which he enjoyed, and the excellence of the Christian religion.
" Being asked his present views, in the approach of death, as to the goodness of the American cause, in which he had been engaged, and by means of which he was now about to die, replied, ' He had no doubt of the justice and goodness of that cause, and that had he a thousand lives, he should be willing to lay them all down in it."*
9. REV. EBENEZER CHAPLIN
Was the son of Benjamin Chaplin.f His mother was an Alden. He was born in that part of Pomfret, Ct., which is now called Hampton, 16 Sept., 1733. He graduated at Yale College, 1763, and A. M. ; studied divinity with Rev. Dr. Hall of Sutton, and was ordained over the Second church in Sutton, now Millbury, 14 Nov., 1764; dismissed 6 March, 1792. He afterwards lived with his children, being wealthy ; and finally died at Hardwick, 13 Dec., 1822, aged nearly 90.
Mr. Chaplin married Miss Mary Morse, of Holliston, by whom he had seven children : 1. Mary, died at 23 years. 2. Sarah, m. Rev. Thomas Holt, second minister of Hard- wick, and the only survivor of the family, now at the age of 89. Mr. Chaplin died in her family. 3. Aaron Morse died, aged 18. 4. Ebenezer, m. Abigail Griswold, of Athol, where he was physician, and died May, 1844. 5. and 6.
* Letter of Rev. T. Allen to Pittsfield Representatives, Aug. 26, 1776. He came from England, killed an Indian, and was hunted, in re- venge, through the wilderness. Finally settled in Pomfret, Ct. and had eight children. Benjamin, the oldest son, lived in Mansfield, Ct., and was deacon of the church, to which he gave a large sum of money. Hence that part of the town was called Chaplin, in acknowledgment of the gift. The other children were, Joseph, Nathan, John, William, Mary, Tammy, and Ebenezer, above.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Ichabod and Anna, died young. 7. Benjamin, physician in Dixfield, Me., where he died, Dec. 1836. He married Miss Sally Towne, of Ward, now Auburn .*
" Mr. Chaplin was a man of strong mental powers, a good textuary, a fair reasoner, and possessed no inconsiderable share of originality in his colloquial powers and style of writing." He published several controversial works, on doc- trinal subjects ; among them, a volume "on the Sacraments." His ministry in Millbury was not marked by any remarka- ble success.
10. REV. ISAAC STONE
Was born in Shrewsbury, 17 March, 1748. He was the only son and eldest of four children of Dea. Jonas and Rachel (Rice) Stone, of Framingham, afterwards of Shrewsbury .; His mother was a woman distinguished for her piety, mater- nal fidelity, and prayerfulness. It was parental solicitude which early led him to Christ and to the ministry as his voca- tion. At fifteen, he commenced the study of the languages, under Rev. Mr., afterwards Dr., Sumner, of Shrewsbury. At sixteen, he united with the church. In 1765, he went to Chelsea, and completed his preparation for college with Rev. Mr. Payson, and graduated at Cambridge, 1770, and A. M. in course.
He preached a while in Temple, N. H., and in Ashburn- ham and Franklin in this State, and came to Douglas as candidate, 31 March, 1771. ' He was ordained there, 30 Oct., 1771, and was dismissed, at his own request, 28 Oct., 1805, having been settled thirty-four years.
Letter of A. E. Knight, Esq., Hardwick.
¡ Mr. Stone descended from John Stone, Elder in the church at Cam- bridge. Elder John Stone's son Nathaniel was father of Isaac Stone of Framingham, whose son was Dea. Jonas Stone, father of the above.
105
REV. DAVID SANFORD.
He continued still to reside in Douglas and preached occa- sionally, and for a considerable time in Whitingham and Reedsboro', Vt., until old age impaired his faculties. He spent the close of his life with his children, in Oxford, where at length he died, 22 Feb., 1837, in his 89th year.
Mr. Stone married Miss Susanna Goddard, daughter of Benjamin Goddard of Shrewsbury, 27 October, 1773, and had six children, four of whom still live.
1. His eldest son, a very active and useful man, died in early life.
2. Susanna, married Mr. John Larned of Webster, and has three children living.
3. Luke R., Deacon in the Congregational Church, Oxford.
4. Grace, married a "Mr. Hill of Douglas, and has three children.
5. Submit, married a Mr. Balcom of Douglas, and has nine children.
The wife of Mr. Stone died 28 April, 1837, aged 92 years, 8 months, and 13 days.
This worthy pair lived together nearly sixty-four years, died within two months of each other, and are both interred in one grave in the old burying-ground in Oxford.
Mr. Stone's ministry in Douglas was characterized, not by striking and brilliant exhibitions, but by quiet, steady, unobtrusive labor, under which the walls of Zion rise, firmly cemented and compacted, if less rapidly than under such impulses as mark some other men's labors.
11. REV. DAVID SANFORD
· Was the third son of Elihu and Rachel (Strong) Sanford, of New Milford, Ct., where he was born, 11 December, 1737. He was named after David Brainerd ; to whom his father was especially attached. He graduated at Yale College 1755, and A. M .; and commenced the study of divinity with
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Rev. Dr. Bellamy. But, under that godly and faithful instructor, he found himself to be wanting in the essential qualification of a new heart ; and he relinquished the busi- ness of the ministry, and settled down as a farmer in Great Barrington, near to his brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. Hopkins. Not long afterwards, he became a subject of Divine grace.
The doctrines of the 'new divinity,' as Hopkinsianism was at first termed, peculiarly excited the native depravity of Mr. Sanford, and Dr. Hopkins became the object of his dislike. The settlement of their wives' patrimony was an occasion of showing this dislike, in a very aggravating manner ; which, on one evening, overcame Dr. Hopkins's gentleness, and led him to use very sharp language. Mr. S. rejoiced that the mighty had fallen ; but on opening his door to a gentle knock in the grey dawn of the next morning, the Dr. stood tearful before him. He requested that the family might be called together, and then acknowledged his resentful words on the preceding evening, implored forgiveness for them, and consented to any reasonable division his brother might propose. Mr. S. was overwhelmed. He knew that he had inveigled the unsuspecting Christian into that resentment; and he saw that a pious heart was nobler than worldly tact. He bowed to the power of the Gospel so tenderly exhibited, and became a child of God. He soon after recommenced and completed his studies, and entered the ministry .*
He received a call to Medway, west parish, 28 Dec. 1772, which he accepted, and was settled, 14 April, 1773. Rev. Dr. West, of Stockbridge, preached on the occasion. Dur- ing his ministry in Medway, he was appointed chaplain in the army, and served a short time in the beginning of the war.t
* See more fully, Prof. Park's Memoir of Hopkins, p. 61.
¡ Mr. Sanford's commission is inserted as a specimen of such docu- ments. It is a fine specimen of chirography : -
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REV. DAVID SANFORD.
In 1807, he received a stroke of paralysis, which instantly terminated his public labors. He lived, however, in a dis- tressed state, until 7 April, 1810, when he died in his 73d year.
Mr. Sanford married, 4 August, 1757, Miss Bathsheba Ingersol, daughter of Moses Ingersol, then of Great Barring- ton, and sister to the wife of Rev. S. Hopkins, D. D. She was born 5 June, 1738. They had ten children.
SEAL.
The Committee of the Council of Massachu - setts Bay, To DAVID SANFORD, Gentleman, Greeting :
WE being informed of your exemplary life and manners, and reposing especial trust in your abilities and good conduct, Do by these presents constitute and appoint you the said W. SEVER. David Sanford to be Chaplain of the Regiment B. GREENLEAF. whereof Lemuel Robinson is Colonel, raised by J. WINTHROP. this Colony to reinforce the American army, J. CUSHING. until the first day of April next. You are JAMES PRESCOTT. therefore carefully and diligently to inculcate JOHN WHETCOMB. on the minds of the soldiers of said Regiment, JED. FOSTER. MOSES GILL. as well by example as precept, the duties of Religion and morality, and a fervent love to I. PALMER. their country in all other respects, and to dis- CHAS. CHAUNCEY. charge the duty of a Chaplain in said Regiment, S. HOLTON. observing from time to time such Orders and MICHAEL FARLEY. Instructions as you shall receive from your JABEZ FISHER. JOHN TAYLOR. B. WHITE. superior officers, according to military Rules and discipline established by the American Congress, - in pursuance of the trust reposed in you, for which this shall be a sufficient Warrant.
Given under our hands and the seal of the said Colony, at Watertown, the twenty-third day of January, and in the sixteenth year of the reign of his Majesty King George the Third.
By command of the Major part of the Council.
PEREZ MORTON D. SECY.
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1. David, b. 6 January, 1760; private in continental army, and d. in Great Barrington 19 July, 1841.
2. Philo, b. 7 Sept. 1761; married Lydia Whiting of Medway, and lived together over fifty years.
3. Clarissa, b. 20 Nov. 1763; married to Rev. John Morse. (See Licentiates, No. 25.)
4. Elihu, b. 28 Jan. 1766; married, first, Hannah Met- calf, Franklin ; second, Miss Betsey Fisher of Belchertown. He died in Oxford.
5. Ichabod, b. 18 Oct. 1768; still lives in Belchertown, father of Rev. W. H. Sanford of Boylston.
6. Bathsheba, b. 14 Feb. 1770; married to Rev. Ethan Smith, of Haverhill, N. H., and author of the "Key to Re-" velation." She died at Pompey Hill, N. Y., 5 April, 1835.
7. Stephen, b. March, 1773.
8. Moses, b. 7 Nov. 1775 ; was a lawyer.
9. - Electa, b. 13 March, 1778.
10. Samuel, b. 29 January, 1780; married Miss Betsey Wight, daughter of Doct. Aaron Wight, of Medway. He was a physician.
Mr. Sanford's ministry, until near its close, was rendered uncomfortable and marred in its results, by the existence of an unhappy difference between the two churches in Medway, which prevented mutual fellowship and communion. But he lived to see the breach healed, and communion renewed. He was permitted to enjoy several seasons of religious inter- est, in one of which, in the winter of 1784, nearly one hundred were brought to Christ.
No list of his published books has been obtained, although he appeared occasionally as an author. It is but just to say of him, that in his doctrinal views, he sympathized mainly with his early teachers and later associates in the ministry, while he held some views upon the extent of the atonement and of redemption, as did Mr. Avery of Wrentham, different from his brethren of the Association. The difference, if
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REV. NATHANAEL EMMONS, D. D.
rightly understood at this time, was rather metaphysical than practical, and only sharpened the discussions of the clerical gatherings of the Association.
The character of Mr. Sanford is thus set forth by one who was his intimate friend and acquaintance for forty years .*
"The Author of nature endowed Mr. Sanford with a rich variety of rare and superior talents. He possessed a quick apprehension, a clear and sound judgment, a lively imagina- tion, and an uncommon knowledge of human nature. These intellectual powers, sanctified by Divine grace, fitted him to shine with peculiar lustre in every branch of his ministerial office. But perhaps he appeared to the best advantage as a speaker. He had a piercing eye, a significant countenance, a majestic appearance, and a strong, clear, melodious voice, which he was able to modulate with ease and propriety. He was able to move any passion which he wished to move, whether love or hatred, hope or fear, joy or sorrow. He knew every avenue to the human heart, and could make the deepest impressions upon it. He preached with great plain- ness and fidelity, and usually extempore. In private dis- course he had a peculiar talent at explaining Scripture, de- tecting error, and vindicating truth. He was often called to attend the ordination of ministers, and oftener still to attend ecclesiastical councils, where he displayed great ability and had powerful influence."
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