USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > West Brookfield > Historical discourse : delivered at West Brookfield, Mass., Nov. 27, 1828, on the day of the annual Thanksgiving > Part 2
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These churches have been favored not only with faithful pastors, but also with the special influences of the Holy Spirit. With one exception they have en- joyed repeated seasons of revival. And it is worthy of notice that the present union and harmony of each society is nearly proportionate to the number and extent of the revivals, with which it has been bless- ed. The third parish* never enjoyed this inestima- ble favor, and it is divided into five distinct socie- ties. The second societyt has more than once been watered with a shower of Divine grace, and there a commendable degree of union and harmony have ever been found. No new society has been formed with- in their boundaries.
In the first society these sacred seasons have been frequent. The earliest was previous to 1747, and evidently resulted from the labors of the Reverend George Whitfield.} The next was in 1780, early in
South Parish. t Now North Brookfield.
# See Appendix A. A.
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the ministry of the Reverend Mr. Ward. The third was in 1806. The precise number of admissions to the communion in these revivals, I have not been able to learn. The fourth was in 1814, and about sixty were then added to the church. The society still feels the influence of these sacred seasons and of the venera- able man, whose ministry for nearly half a century was crowned with peace and success. At the time of his death the church consisted of two hundred and eigh- teen members. During the ministry of his successor the Lord again visited this congregation and many were moved " to work out their salvation with fear and trembling." From December, 1818, to September, 1819, one hundred and twelve individuals were per- mitted " to enter into covenant with Jehovah" and to receive the memorials of the body, which was broken, and the blood, that was shed for the remission of sin. The church at the time of his dismission consisted of 298 members. Since that time the Lord has continued to bless us. His Spirit has descended like rain on the mown grass, and as showers that water the plain. From January, 1827, to the present time, ninety five persons have been admitted to the church, and many, whose residence with us was only temporary, have submitted to the dominion of Christ, and united with churches in the places of their permanent abode. The number, who appear to have been deeply and permanently affected in this revival is about one hund- red and fifty. This church now contains 376 mem- bers. Of these 132 are males, and 244 are females. To the repeated revivals which we have enjoyed it
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is owing, that union and harmony prevail. To these it is owing, that on the sabbath these sacred walls are filled with attentive hearers, and the table of the Lord surrounded by so many communicants. From them it results, that the chamber of disease is so often found to be full of consolation, and death is frequent- ly regarded only as an entrance into a state of inter- minable delight. For these glorious seasons we would here stop and record our devout gratitude, and if we ever forget top ray for their return, let our right hands forget their cunning, and our tongues cleuve to the roof of our mouths .*
I have now given you a sketch of the events, which have specially affected this place from the time of its settlement to this day. However insignificant they may be in comparison with the history of states and empires, yet their bearing on our privileges and char- acters and destiny has been equally important with that of any other occurrences within the circle of our knowledge. They have been instrumental in giving form to the circumstances of our birth, of our early education, of our intellectual and moral improve- ment. They are the dispensations of Jehovah not with the whole family of man nor with a single na- tion, but with us. Whilst the same unseen hand has been " working wonders" for the inhabitants of every other part of the earth, giving them occasion to think on his goodness and to be grateful for his care ; we ought to cherish a lively remembrance of those deeds by which our peace and prosperity have
* See Appendix B. B.
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been procured. So far as we are concerned, they deserve to be commemorated. It is our duty to tell them to the successors of those, who endured numer- ous trials and obtained signal deliverance. It is our duty to commemorate the interpositions, by which our ancestors were rescued from the power of those, who sought their lives. It is our duty to examine the dispensations by which we have been brought to our present condition ; and gratefully to tell them to the rising generation. These "are the Lord's doings and they are marvellous in our eyes." They are cal- culated to affect our hearts and to influence us to fear him, who rules in heaven above and does his good pleasure amongst the children of men. He "has given you a land for which ye did not labor, and houses which ye built not, and ye dwell in them. Of the vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not, do ye eat ; now therefore serve him in sincerity and truth."
But whilst these facts are calculated to excite our gratitude and to fill our minds with adoring views of our heavenly Father, they also furnish lessons of im- portant instruction. Here we may learn what char- acteristics are necessary to success in laying the foun- dations and raising the superstructure of society. We may understand, that this honor is not awarded to the irresolute, the profane, the intemperate, or the despisers of religion ; but to men of fixed purpose, of persevering industry, of irreproachable integrity, and of strong attachment to the institutions of the Gospel. In the history of our ancestors, you every where find
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the operation of these principles. What but firm- ness could have retained them in the midst of a wil- derness, rendered awfully dreary by remoteness from friends and constant exposures to injuries and death from the hands of those, whose tender mercies are cruelty ? What but integrity could have induced them fairly to purchase of the natives, the lands on which ye dwell ? What but persevering industry could have subdued the forest, cultivated the plains, and crowned the hills with plenty? What but an ardent attachment to the institutions of religion could have impelled them amidst their earliest labors and in their low estate to rear a house for the worship of Jehovah ; and when flames kindled by a hostile hand laid their sanctuary in ruins, what but an unabated zeal for the interests of Zion urged them again to erect a building for God and liberally to provide for the continuance of the ministry amongst them ? Such were the characteristics of those whom Hea- ven selected to lay the foundations of our Institutions. The instrumentality of "just men, fearing God, hat- ing covetousness," and ready to endure privations and hardships for the sake of the truth and righteousness, He ever delights to employ and to bless.
Our history also invites us to consider the relation, which we sustain to others. In looking back on the lives of our ancestors we admire their firmness and perseverance. We venerate their piety. There is something sublime in the fact of leaving their country and their home for the sake of enjoying the rights of conscience and the pure worship of God. There is
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something heroic in going to dwell, where fero- cious beasts and savage men cause sounds of ter- ror to circulate through a surrounding wilderness. There is something admirable in the care of our an- cestors for each other and for posterity. In the con- ditions of the first grant of lands to the inhabitants of this place, and in subsequent acts, we see by what el- evated views and feelings the government of the pro- vince was guided. Not content with conferring merely civil privileges on their infant settlements, they were anxious to secure to them the blessings of religion. They not only required our ancestors to make provi- sion for the perpetuation of the ministry, but cheer- fully assisted them by gifts from the public treasury. Whenever, therefore, you are invited to lend your aid in circulating the means of salvation ; remember that the institutions of religion were here sustained by the benefactions of others. The invaluable inher- itance left to you was cultivated partly by such means as you are often solicited to bestow on the destitute. In the history of our ancestors we also learn, that they were ready to make sacrifices for the enjoyment of the institutions of religion. When fewer than fifty families, remote from a place where their commodi- ties could be exchanged for currency, made ample provision for the settlement and continuence of their minister ; they gave incontestible evidence of their love to Christ and attachment to the interests of his Kingdom. And as we trace them onwards in their course and see the ardor of each generation for the promotion of every valuable object ; as we look around
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and view the edifices which they erected for the wor- ship of God ; the houses which they built for the in- struction of the young ; and the various means, which they provided for the good of those who should come after them ; can we refrain from feeling our obliga- tions to them and our responsibility to the next gene- ration ? our fathers where are they, and the prophets, do they live forever? We are the successors of those, who have been instrumental in raising society to its present state. We are the connecting link between all the past and all the future generations of men. The means of education have been putinto our hands, and we are required to transmit them to our succes- sors. The ark of civil liberty rests on our shoulders, and we are required to bear it onwards in safety, till others arise to fill our places. The truths of religion have been committed to us, and we are commanded to teach them diligently [to the rising generation. The ordinances of divine worship have come down to us through many ages, that we may faithfully use and transmit them to others. Our obligations then are numerous. Our responsibilities immense. If we fail rightly to improve the privileges, for which our fathers toiled ; our guilt will be great. If we neg- lect to perpetuate them, the curses of posterity will fall heavily on our memories. And when we look back on the progress of this church, and consider its gradual advancement from its formation to this day, we cannot refrain from expressions of adoring thank- fulness. " Walk" now " about Zion, go round about
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her ; tell the towers thereof, mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the gene- ration to come ;" and leave it as a perpetual memento, that it is the word of God, received as truth, and ac- companied by the influences of the Holy Spirit, which has preserved and enlarged this church ; and that this only can save it from extinction, and render it pros- perous in all future ages. The responsibility, then, of him, who shall stand here as your teacher, is great. By inculcating the same doctrines which have ever been taught in this sacred place, the church " built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" will be " fitly framed together, and grow into an holy temple in the Lord." But if he neglect to teach these truths, if "through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men and after the rudiments of this world," he draw you away from the pure doctrines of the Gospel; the slumber of death will pervade your families. The voice of prayer will cease to as- cend from your dwellings. Religious assemblies will diminish. The church will languish. The Holy Spirit will no longer descend upon us. Sinners will no more inquire " what they shall do to be saved ; and shouts of joy, called forth by their repentance, will no more circulate through heaven. O how great then must be the guilt ; how tremendous the doom of the minister, who shall here " pervert the right ways of the Lord !" O what woes shall descend on the " son of perdition," who shall here diminish the
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fears of sinners, or encourage them to expect salva- tion on any other ground, than that of the blood of Christ ! " Good were it for that man, if he had not been born." And whilst you see this immense re- sponsibility resting on those, who occupy the station of teachers of religion, consider your own obligations to Christ and to posterity. "Search the Scriptures." Inquire diligently after truth. Investigate those ora- cles, which were " given by inspiration of God," and are " profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc- tion, and for instruction in righteousness." "Take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breast-plate of righteousness and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." " That ye be not tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doc- trine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, but speaking the truth in love may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head even Christ." By whom* " the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that, which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
A review of the dispensations of providence is calculated to impress our minds with the importance of increasing, as well as perpetuating the blessings
* English Version, " From whom."
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which we enjoy. Had not our ancestors acted on this principle, they would have remained in subjec- tion to an oppressive prelacy. They would never have crossed the mighty deep, to seek an asylum in the western Hemisphere. They would never have taken up their abode in the immense wilderness of America. Had those, who first arrived in this place, been content with a bare subsistence and with the few privileges, which they then enjoyed ; the forest would still have covered these hills and plains. These fields would never have been cultivated. These dwell- ings would never have been erected. These houses for the instruction of children and youth would never have been reared. These cheerful villages would not have risen. These temples for the worship of Jehovah would never have been built. It was care for those, who should come after them, that chiefly influenced our ancestors to cultivate the soil and to lay deep and broad the foundations of literary and ecclesiastical Institutions. It was the regard of each succeeding generation for the welfare of posterity, that has caused these blessings to accumulate in their descent to us. And shall we be content to hand down to the next generation only the inheritance which was left to us by our fathers ? Is it enough, that we preserve unimpaired the rights and privileges, which we have received ? Shall the stream of civil ' and religious blessings, which in passing each genera- tion became broader and deeper, receive no tributaries from us? Can we do nothing to cause society to
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advance to that state of perfection, at which it is destined eventually to arrive, " when nation shall no more lift up sword against nation" and when there shall be nothing to molest or intimidate throughout the wide extent of God's earthly dominions ? Shall the wheel of civil and intellectual and moral improve- ment, which during two centuries has been increas- ing its rapidity, instead of receiving additional im- pulse, be retarded by our generation ? O let grati- tude for the blessings, which we inherit, impel us to make efforts for the good of those, who shall come after us. Let us endeavor to leave some memorials of our regard for future ages : and when our bodies shall have mingled with the dust, and our very names have been forgotten : may those, " who arise and declare" the " mighty acts of the Lord," find amongst their occasions of thankfulness, that their blessings were augmented by our generation.
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Extract of a Letter from Lemuel Shattuck.
Concord, July 16th, 1829.
Dear Sir,
Inclosed I send you an imperfect copy of the Nar- rative of Capt. Thomas Wheeler, which I promised you some time since. As the whole is not printed, I have copied the re- maining and closing part from one in my possession which renders it complete .- If in any thing I can aid you in com- piling the history of your town, I shall be much pleased to do it .- If you have obtained a copy of your Sermon, I should like one. * * * * # * *
Lemuel Shattuck.
Rev. Joseph I. Foot, Brookfield.
CAPT. THOMAS WHEELER'S NARRATIVE,
OF AN EXPEDITION WITH CAPT. EDWARD HUTCHINSON IN- TO THE NIPMUCK COUNTRY, AND TO QUABOAG, NOW BROOKFIELD, MASS., FIRST PUBLISHED 1675.
[The following Narrative is very scarce, and must have been so when Gov. Hutchinson wrote his History of Massachusetts, as it does not appear, in giv- ing an account of the Expedition, ( Hist. Mass. Vol. 1 265.) in which his an- cestor sustained such an important part and lost his life, that the historian has made any reference whatever to Capt. Wheeler's Narrative, which he would most likely have done had he known of its existence. The following is print- ed from a copy which appears to have belonged to Deputy Governor Danforth, of Cambridge, and which has been obligingly furnished the Publishing Com- mittee by a Gentleman of Salem, Ms. who is known for his very minute and thorough researches in the early history of our country. A few notes have been handed the Committee by a member of the Society. ]
A True. Narrative of the Lord's Providences in various dis- pensations towards Captain Edward Hutchinson of Boston and myself, and those that went with us into the Nipmuck Country, and also to Quabong. alias Brookfield : The said Captain Hutchinson having a Commission from the Honored Council of this Colony to treat with several Swrhems in those parts, in order to the public perce, and myself being also or- dered by the said Council, to accompany him with part of my troop for security from any danger that might be from the Indians : and to assist him in the transaction of matters com- mitted to him.
THE said Captain Hutchinson," and myself, with about twen-
* Capt. Hutchinson had a very considerable farm in Nipmug country, and had occasion to employ several of the Nipmug sachem's men in tilling and ploughing the ground, and thereby was known to the face of many of them. The sachems sent word thatthey would speak with none but Capt. Hutchinson himself, and appointed a meeting at such a tree and such a time. The guide that conducted him and those that were with him through the woods, brought them to a swamp [as stated in the Narrative] not far off the appointed place,
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ty men or more marched from Cambridge to Sudbury, July 25, * 1675; and from thence nto the Nipmuck Country, and finding that the Indians had deserted their towns, and we having gone until we came within two miles of New Norwich, on July 31, (only we saw two Indians having an horse with them, whom we would have spoke with, but they fled from us and left their horse, which we took,) we then thought it not expedient to march any further that way, but set our march for Brookfield, whither we came on the Lord's day about noon. From thence the same day; (being August 1,) we understanding that the In- dians were about ten miles north west from us, we sent out four men to acquaint the Indians that we were not come to harm them, but our business was only to deliver a Message from our Honored Governor and Council to them, and to re- ceive their answer, we desiring to come to a Treaty of Peace with them, (though they had for several days fled from us,) they having before professed friendship, and promised fidelity to the English. When the messengers came to them they made an alarm, and gathered together about an hundred and fifty fighting men as near as they could judge. The young men amongst them were stout in their speeches, and surly in their carriage. But at length some of the chief Sachems promised to meet us on the next morning about S of the clock upon a plain within three miles of Brookfield, with which answer the
out of which those Indians ran all at once and killed sixteen [but 8 as in Nar- rative] men, and wounded several others, of which wounds Capt. Hutchinson afterwards died, whose death is the more lamented in that his mother and several others of his relation died by the hands of the Indians, now above 30 years since. . Ms. Letter sent to London, dated Nov. 10, 1675, as quoted by Gov. Hutchinson, I. 266.
Capt. Hutchinson belonged to Boston and had been one of its representa- tives, and considerably in public life. He was son of William and the cele- brated ANN Hutchinson, and was brother-in-law to Major Thomas Savage, of Boston, who married Faith, the sister of Capt. II. Ile was the father of the Hon. Elisha Hutchinson, one of the Counsellors of Massachusetts, who died 10th December, 1717, aged 77. The last was father of Hon. Thomas Hutchinson, born 30th January, 1674; died 3d December, 1739, whose son, Gov. Thomas Hutchinson, born 9th September, 1711, was the celebrated historian of Massachusetts. I Savage's Winthrop, 246. It is a little singular that the Gov. 'should not have met with a Narrative so particular respecting the fate of his great ancestor.
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messengers returned to us. Whereupon, though their speeches and carriage did much discourage divers of our company, yet we conceived that we had a clear call to go to meet them at the place whither they had promised to come. Accordingly we with our men accompanied with three of the principal inhabit- ants of that town marched to the plain appointed ; but the treach- erous heathen intending mischief, (if they could have opportu- nity,) came not to the said place, and so failed our hopes of speaking with them there. Whereupon the said Captain Hutch- inson and myself, with the rest of our company, considered what was best to be done, whether we should go any further towards them or return, divers of us apprehending much danger in case we did proceed, because the Indians kept not promise there with us. But the three men who belonged to Brookfield were so strongly persuaded of their freedom from any ill intentions towards us, (as upon other bounds, so especially because the greatest part of those Indians belonged to David, one of their chief Sachems, who was taken to be a great friend to the Eng- lish :) that the said Captain Hutchinson who was principally in- trusted with the matter of Treaty with them, was thereby en- couraged to proceed and march forward towards a Swamp where the Indians then were. When we came near the said swamp, the way was so very bad that we could march only in a single file, there being a very rocky hill ou the right hand, and a thick swamp on the left, in which there were many of those cruel blood-thirsty heathen, who there way laid us, wait- ing an opportunity to cut us off; there being also much brush on the side of the said hill, where they lay in ambush to sur- prize us .* When we had marched there about sixty or seventy
* [It seems from a note in Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts, that the Indians took a prisoner of the name of George, a christian Indian, who af- terwards reported that Philip and his company of about 40 men, besides wo- men and children, joined the Nipmuck Indians in a swamp, ten or twelve miles from Brookfield on the 5th of August. .. The Indians told Philip, at his first coming, what they had done to the English at Quaboag: Then ho presented and gave to three Sagamores, viz. John alias Apequinash, Quan- anset, and Mawtamps, to each of them about a peck of unstrung wampum, which they accepted." Philip w .. s conducted to the swamp by two Indians, one of whom was Caleb of Tatumasket, beyond Mendon. ]
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rods, the said perfidious Indians sent out their shot upon us as a shower of hail, they being, (as was supposed,) about two hundred men or more. We seeing ourselves so beset, aud not having room to fight, endeavoredj to fly for the safety of our lives. In which flight we were in no small danger to be all cut off, there being a very miry swamp before us, into which we could not enter with our horses to go forwards, and there being no safety in retreating the way we came, because many of our company, who lay behind the bushes, and had let us pass by them quietly ; when others had shot, they came out, and stopt our way back, so that we were forced as we could to get up the steep and rocky hil; but the greater our danger was, the great- er was God's mercy in the preservation of so many of us from sudden destruction. Myself being gone up part of the hill without any hurt, and perceiving some of my men to be fallen by the enemies' shot, I wheeled about upon the Indians, not calling on my men who were left to accompany me, which they in all probability would have done had they known of my return upon the enemy. They fired violently out of the swamp, and from behind the bushes on the hill side wounded me sorely, and shot my horse under me, so that he faultering and falling, I was forced to leave him, divers of the Indians being then but a few rods distantfrom me. My son Thomas Wheeler flying with the rest of the company, missed me amongst them, and fearing that I was either slain or much endangered, returned towards the swamp again, though he had then received a dangerous wound in the reins, where he saw me in the danger aforesaid. Whereupon, he endeavored to rescue me, shewing himself therein a loving and dutiful son, he adventuring himself into great peril of his life to help me in that distress, there being many of the enemies about me, my son set me on his own horse, and so escaped a while on foot himself, until he caught an horse whose.rider was slain, on which he mounted, and.so through God's great mercy we both escaped. But in this attempt for my deliverance he received another dangerous wound by their shot in his left arm. There were then slain to our great grief
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