USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > Memorials of the First Church in Dorchester : from its settlement in New England, to the end of the second century : in two discourses, delivered July 4, 1830 > Part 2
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In 1649 the Rev. JOHN WILSON, jun. was or- dained as " coadjutor with Mr. MATHER the Teach- er." In this office he continued two years, and then removed to Medfield, where he was Pastor forty years.
* Note I.
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The Church then gave an" invitation to Mr. WILLIAM STOUGHTON to take the vacant office. This, though repeated year after year, " he iper- sisted in declining ; but rendered his occasional assistance during several years, "for which he received a compensation both from the town and the Church." Besides, he was desired and needed in publick affairs ; and was fast rising into high repute as a civilian and a magistrate, so that he was sent to England as Agent for the Colony. On his return he was appointed to the office of Chief Justice in the Supreme Court ; was at length raised to that of Lieutenant Governour of the Pro- vince, and for a number of years was Commander- in-Chief.
Though in his old age Mr. MATHER experi- enced many infirmities ; great deafness, the loss of one eye for seven years, and painful attacks from the stone ; yet such was his general good health that it is recorded of him that " in fifty years to- gether he was not detained by sickness so much as one Lord's day from public labours."
As he was attending an Ecclesiastical Council in Boston, on the subject of a controversy between the first Church and the third, respecting the call and settlement of the Rev. Mr. DAVENPORT, of which he was moderator, Mr. MATHER was taken with a violent fit of the stone, which in five days put a period to his life, April 6th, 1669, in the 73d year of his age, and 33d of his minis- try here.
Under the ministry of Mr. MATHER the Church and people in this place enjoyed eminent advan- tages ; for his talents were of high order, his knowl- edge extensive, his theological attainments pro- found, his piety exalted, and his zeal and devoted-
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ness to pastoral duties and the edification of the Church were ardent and persevering .*
After a vacancy of little more than a year and a half, the Church came to the choice of another Pastor, and the Rev. JOSIAH FLINT was ordain- ed on the 27th of December, 1671. It appears by the Church records that though letters of invita- tion were issued to the three Churches in Boston, to the Church in Charlestown, Cambridge, Roxbury and Weymouth, to send their Elders and Messen- gers, "yet the major part did agree by a vote that Mr. ELIOT, of Roxbury, should be desired to man- age the work of ordination, and give the charge ; though some of the brethren were not so free thereunto, but would have had it performed by the Church alone ; but the Ruling Elder desired to be spared therein, and that some other brethren or a brother might be appointed to lay on hands at the time of ordination, or else some other elders ; but the Church appointed only deacon CAPEN to be added to Mr. ELIOT and the Ruling Elder." In the record which is made of the ordination, it is stated that " the work was approved of by the Elders and Messengers of the Churches sent unto; and Mr. CHAUNCY was appointed in the name of all the Churches to give the Right Hand of Fel- lowship."
The first ministerial duty, which Mr. FLINT per- formed, was on the succeeding day, at the funeral of the venerable Elder, GEORGE MINOT, who had de- ceased on the 24th.
On the 5th day of March, 1676 -- 7, there was a solemn recognition of the Covenant by the Mem- bers of the Church ; and on the 18th of April fol- lowing a formal public renewal.
Mr. FLINT continued in the pastoral relation for about nine years, when he was removed by
* Note J.
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death, September 16th, 1680, in the 35th year of his age. Of his life and ministry there are few memorials ; but the testimony of tradition accords with the pathetic epitaph on his tomb, that he was a good scholar, an earnest preacher, and assidu- ously and zealously devoted to all pastoral duties,- spending his time and talents, and exhausting his strength, health, and life, in ministerial labours .*
He was succeeded by the Rev. JOHN DAN- FORTH, who was ordained on the 28th of June, 1682.
On the 29th of February, 1703, " a society of Reformation, in Dorchester" was formed. Its design was to restrain prevailing dissipation, to encourage sobriety, to advance good morals, and to promote piety. Their book of records bears honourable testimony to their zeal, their prudent counsels, and kind endeavours to do good. The last meeting set down was on June 20th, 1722: whether it was the last they held I do not know.t
The beginning of the year 1729 was distinguish- ed by numerous additions to the Church.
Mr. DANFORTH sustained the ministry with great fidelity, in the exercise of very superior talents and graces, for forty-eight years, and, at the age of seventy, departed this life on the 26th of May, 1630, and was buried on the 30th; THE DAY WHICH CLOSED THE CENTURY FROM THE LANDING OF THE FIRST SETTLERS .- And here we will pause in the narrative of our History, with only remarking that the memory of those venerable men who laid the foundation of our Church and Town, and that of their pious and learned successors, is deserved- ly cherished by us. Hallowed is the place of their mortal repose ; and though the rude lettered tablet
* Note K.
t Their book of records is deposited among those of the Church.
: Note L.
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on which has fallen many a tear of affection and gratitude is covered with the moss of age, yet a voice of counsel seems to arise from their lowly graves, bidding us consider ourselves as only " pil- grims and strangers on earth, as all our fathers were ;" but comforting us with the assurance that, if we imitate their example of piety; faith, and holiness, we shall, like them, exchange the wilder- ness of time for the blissful region of eternity.
DISCOURSE II.
PSALM Ixxviii. 1-7.
" Give ear, O my people, to my law ; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
" I will open my mouth in a parable ; I will utter dark sayings of old ; which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
" He will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord ; and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
" 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; that the generation to come might know them, even the children who should be born, who should rise and declare them to their children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.
A venerable expositor of the Sacred Scriptures, (Mr. HENRY,) remarks of these verses,-" Here is the preface to this Church History, commanding the attention of the present age, and recommend- ing it to the study of the generation to come :"- and I will add, the author calls upon those for whose information and instruction it was composed, to pay particular attention to what he was about to narrate, which would consist of a recapitulation, principally, either of events which they might, indeed, have heard others describe; or of facts, some of which, perhaps, had come within their own observation; or sayings of old, the report of an- cient times, received by tradition from their fathers. Though, therefore, his recital might not contain any thing new, it would comprise important and interesting particulars, to be treasured up in their memories, and which it was proper should be pre- served and transmitted to posterity.
The great events, to which the Psalmist refers, form a part of the history of the Jewish nation ;
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and, with such as succeeded till the times of the Messiah, are handed down to us in sacred regis- ters, and we peruse them, in the Holy Bible, as constituting those dispensations in which JEHOVAH has presided over and conducted the affairs of his people and Church.
Next to the ancient Israelites, who were his chosen nation, we are led to believe that our pious ancestors, the first settlers of New England, were his peculiar people. Them he called, as he did the patriarchs of old, from their native country and their kindred, and led them forth to sojourn in a strange land. Them he rescued from sore and grievous oppression, supported under various diffi- culties and trials, preserved amidst great and threatening dangers, brought over the wide ocean to this remote region of the world, and, casting out the heathen, made room for them, and caused them to prosper. God " remembered them, the kind- ness of their youth, the love of their espousals, when they went after him in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown." To their posterity, through successive generations, his benefits have continued to flow in a full and uninterrupted cur- rent. At one period after another, on various happy occasions, and in many signal instances, his blessings have been liberally bestowed ; and distin- guished marks of his favour have been conferred on our nation. While one generation has passed away after another, his Church has been preserved, a godly seed perpetuated, and instead of the fathers have come up the children to share in his bounties, to rejoice in his benignity, and to celebrate his praise.
In resuming the History of the Church in this town, which, next to that at Salem, is the oldest in Massachusetts proper, I shall attempt little else than a chronological statement of the succession of
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Pastors ; because, excepting the events which took place near the commencement of the century, events " of which our fathers have told us," several of the particulars of our later history we have often heard recited, and many we have actually known ; and, therefore, a repetition would be alike uninter- esting and unnecessary.
Between six and seven months before the decease of Mr. DANFORTH, the Rev. JONATHAN BOWMAN WAS ordained his Colleague .* He continued in the pastoral relation rather more than forty years, when an unpleasant misunderstanding arose, which re- peated Church meetings served only to increase, till a Council of fourteen Churches, which was convened on the 16th of November, 1773, and con- tinued by several adjournments until December 14th, " advised the Reverend Pastor to ask a dis- mission, and the Church to grant it." This was the second instance, and has happily been the last, of calling an Ecclesiastical Council to advise upon difficulties in this Church : the first being, (as I stated) in the case of a call given to Mr. BURR, one hundred and thirty years before. May at least as many years have passed, before another shall be needed !
Mr. BOWMAN is said to have been rather austere in his deportment ; but is acknowledged to have been a man of inflexible integrity; and he was venerated by the most eminent of his contempora- ries in the ministry, by CHAUNCY, MAYHEW, and ADAMS, for his piety, his talents, and his enlarged views of the grace and truth in the dispensation of the blessed Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.t
On the 28th of September, 1774, the Rev. MOSES EVERETT was ordained. He continued in
* November 5, 1729. ¡ Note M.
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office until January 14th, 1793, when, in conse- quence of ill health, he was induced to ask a dis- mission. It was still his desire to be useful ; and, having served GoD according to his ability, to serve his generation by the will of GOD. This desire he was enabled to carry into effect on his restoration to a comfortable, though not uninterrupted state of health; and he was employed, respected, and useful in various departments of civil life, and filled with fidelity important offices in society, as a Representative of the town in the General Court, a Justice of the Peace, and a Judge in the County Court. He deceased on the 25th of March, 1813, in the 63d year of his age .*
On the 8th of July, 1793, the Church voted to give me an invitation to become their Pastor, and, on the 15th following, the town concurred in the election. Upon receiving these votes, I deemed it proper to resign my office in the University at Cambridge, and take up my residence here, that I might give the people an opportunity of being intimately acquainted with me, before I gave my answer. I went to live, in succession, in various parts of the town, for the purpose of visiting famil- iarly all the families; and when sufficient expe- rience had been obtained to confirm or change the proposition which had been made to me, on the Lord's day, September 8th, my answer of accept- ance was given, and on the 23d of October follow- ing, I was solemnly ordained.
Of my ministry it becomes me to speak with deep humility; and I greatly lament that its duties have not been better discharged. Thirty-seven years, lacking four days, have passed since I re- ceived the call to settle here ; and they have been devoted to your service with an carnest desire and
* Note N.
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endeavour to promote your spiritual edification and advance your highest interests.
Passing years have brought about great changes in the families and circumstances of those to whom I have ministered. Most of the large assembly to whom I first preached have gone down to the con- gregation of the dead ; and, in the Church which yet remains under my pastoral care, only six sur- vive, who belonged to it at the time of my ordina- tion .*
So great has been the increase of the town, that, whereas, when I was settled, there was but one con- gregation of worshippers, one Church, and one meeting-house, within what were then its limits, there are now three parishes, together with the large and populous district set off to Boston, and eleven societies of worshippers.t
Thus have I given you, my people, the outlines of our Ecclesiastical History ; and through the whole we trace the guidance and special favour of Almighty GoD towards this ancient Church.
It is affecting to be reminded of the many hard- ships to which the Puritans were subjected in their native land, the dangers which they encountered in crossing the ocean, and the sufferings which they endured in the wilderness ;- to be informed with what exemplary fortitude and patience they sustained their calamities, and with what devout gratitude and praise they acknowledged the provi- dential support and deliverance which they re- ceived.
" No ambitious projects of conquest, no deep-laid schemes of commercial speculation, none of the ordinary causes of an overflowing population, or of
* John Pierce, Ebenezer Tolman, James Humphreys, David Clap, Mary Wiswell, and Anna Wales.
+ Note O. "Dorchester Neck" was annexed to Boston, by an act of the Legislature, March 6th, 1804.
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poverty and infamy at home, conduced to the emi- gration of our forefathers ; but THE HIGH AND HOLY DEVOTION TO WHAT THEY ESTEEMED THE CAUSE OF PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION."
They did not come as Israel of old did into Ca- naan, to enter upon the labours of other men, and to build on foundations already laid. No ! they came, expecting neither cities nor houses prepared for their reception ; nor gardens, fields, and orchards for their support ; but to a great and terrible wil- derness .* They came in the exercise of a humble and self-denying spirit, and in the power of that faith which overcometh the world, to find an asy- lum in a foreign region, and peace and liberty in deep solitudes and forests. They came inspired with a resolution, which no difficulties could dis- hearten, and with a trust in the divine direction and favour, which was strengthened by religious prin- ciple, and enlivened by a piety the most ardent and sublime.t
Let me repeat it-and in their own words-their professed design in coming hither was, that they might have a peaceable enjoyment of religion and its ordinance in their purity, and unincumbered by human inventions and additions ; and main- tain the profession and observance uncontrolled by the decisions of fallible men :- and that here, being free from restraint, they might set up Churches, in their worship, matter, form, and discipline, entirely after the New Testament model ; enjoy these great and Christian liberties without disturbance, and bequeath them as a pre- cious legacy to all future generations.}
With such views they laid the foundation of many generations in the Churches that were gath- ered, and in the provision that was made for the
* Rev. Mr. Foxcroft's Sermon, 1630, page 11.
+ Note P. # Note Q.
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maintenance of the ministry and the support of schools : and the happy effects of their pur- poses and plans have been experienced in those religious, literary, and civil institutions and privi- leges, which have been enjoyed among their de- scendants, which make this Anniversary of our National Independence a commemoration of dis- tinguished advantages and privileges-advantages and privileges thus handed down to us, it becomes us to cherish and preserve, and to transmit unim- paired to those who come after us.
It may be well to remark that though the object of the Plymouth and of the Massachusetts settlers was the same,-that of obtaining the unmolested enjoyment of religious freedom,-yet their opin- ions of what it consisted in, and the cast of their sentiments, particularly respecting discipline, varied not a little. The NONCONFORMISTS, who went first to Amsterdam, then to Leyden, in Holland, and then to Plymouth, on the Massachusetts Bay, " were more rigid in their practice than the PURITANS, and totally separated themselves from the estab- lished Church ;"-hence they were denominated Separatists, and, as respected ecclesiastical polity, Independents ; whereas the PURITANS were only Dissenters, and asregarded ecclesiastical polity were Congregationalists, and held an accordance and union of churches. Accordingly the spirit of the Pilgrims was exclusive ; and their language " come out from among them, and be ye separate ;" while the spirit of the Puritans was that of forbearance and long suffering, and their language "let us co-operate in bringing about a more thorough re- formation, and in purposes and means for the fur- therance of each other's progress therein, and by our joint endeavours strengthen and establish the common cause."* The spirit of the PURITANS
* Note R.
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breathed in the pathetic parting words of one of the first ministers who came to Massachusetts, the evangelical HIGGINSON, when standing on the deck of the vessel as it was about to sail, he ex- claimed, "WE will not say as the Separatists were wont to say at their leaving of England, " Farewell Babylon ! Farewell Rome !"-but we will say, " Farewell dear England ! Farewell the Church of GOD in England, and all christian friends there ! We do not go to New England as separatists from the Church of England, though we cannot but separate from the corruptions in it ; but we go to practise the positive part of church reformation, and promote the Gospel in America."
On their arrival at Salem, and also on the settle- ment of the New England Company, they were desirous of availing themselves of the counsel and experience of the Plymouth people in the gather- ing and constituting of churches, who delegated Mr. Winslow and Doct. Fuller for this purpose ; and the Doctor wrote to Governour Bradford that while on this mission he visited the people at Mattapan, and had conversation with them on church matters "till he was weary;" and he adds that Mr. Warham held that " the visible Church may consist of a mixed people, godly and such as are not so ;"* and, from the manner in which he states this, we may infer that his own ideas of the qualifica- tions of Church members were opposite to those of our first Minister.
I mention not this to derogate from the exalted character of the PILGRIMS, for they were endowed with a piety and actuated by a zeal for religion, which will never cease to be honoured ; but merely to show that the PURITANS were less exclusive and illiberal then, whatever they learned to be afterwards.t
* See Collections of Historical Society, Vol. iii. p. 74.
t Note S.
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The founders of this Church and first settlers of this town, in particular, were distinguished for primitive simplicity of manners; for that faith which works by love and purifies the heart, and for attachment to those great principles of Protestant- ism, THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE SCRIPTURES AND THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE JUDGMENT IN MATTERS OF RELIGION ; and there is not a town in the Commonwealth where THE SPIRIT OF THE ANCIENT PURITANS, the spirit of piety mingled with charity, and of zeal tempered with moderation, has been more preva- lent, where there has been a better evidence of enlightened knowledge in Christian truth, with a practical illustration of Christian duty ; or where the institutions of the forefathers have been so faithfully adhered to, and so long preserved. Of those institutions, THE SOCIETY OF HEADS OF FAM- ILIES, and THE YOUNG MEN'S SOCIETY, are nearly, if not quite, coeval with the settlement of the town .* Similar associations for the encouragement and promotion of piety were formed in other towns, but have been discontinued for many years ; while these have been kept up without intermission ; and, like the pillars of Seth, bear the memorial and the inscription of a purer age. These venerable insti- tutions, so unassuming and unpretending, have so salutary an influence on the spiritual interests of our community, that we are bound to honour and encourage them, and to perpetuate those good influences, by handing them down to the genera- tions to come as samples of the pure principles and devotional spirit' of the Christian patriarchs who settled this town, and of the young men they trained up to be their successors.
This town has been favoured with a succession of learned, pious, and faithful Pastors. Those
* Note T.
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holy men of Gon have passed in review before us; and we have seen reason to praise the Father of Spirits, from whom they received their gifts, for the eminent example of virtue and piety which they exhibited, and for the blessed effects produced by their ministry on the people of their charge, whom they instructed in the pure principles of our most holy faith, and built up in righteousness and peace, and on whom and their posterity their prayers have drawn down, and I trust will continue to draw down, rich spiritual blessings.
THE SECOND CENTURY from the settlement of the town has now come to its close. As its latter months were hastening away, the state of my health led me to the expectation that he who should stand in this place to tell you that they were past, might have a topic with which to conclude like that of his who stood over the grave of the former century. But, though I may adopt the expression of the Apostle, and say, " I have a desire to depart and to be with Christ ;" nevertheless, while to abide in the flesh is needful for further employment in the sacred minis- try, with the design and hope of greater usefulness, I ought to be thankful that life is prolonged, and opportunity granted for it ; and a refreshing satis- faction is still reserved for me in the harmony, peace, and prosperity of this large and respectable Society,-with the assurance that I have never done any thing to disturb it; and these considera- tions are enlivened by the gratitude that swells my heart under a sense of the kind regard with which you, my beloved people, still honour me. Better to deserve this, your indulgent favour, is my ambi- tion ; always to retain it will be my endeavour ; and that it may be renewed and perfected in the spiritual world, is my devout prayer. "For what is my hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing ? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, at his coming ? For ye are my glory, and my joy!"
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Finally, By all that this commemoration has brought in review before us, may we be prompted to live in obedience to the precepts of the holy gospel, and worthy the character which we bear as descendants of such eminent ancestors, that we may at length be gathered to our fathers in peace, and be admitted to join the saints in glory ever- lasting ! AMEN !
Commemoration of the settlement of the first Church in Dorchester, at the close of the Second Century from the arrival of the Puritans ; LORD'S DAY, JULY 4, 1830.
MORNING SERVICE.
PSALM XC.
FROM THE VERSION USED BY THE PURITAN SETTLERS. [To be sung, as by them, line by line being read.] LORD, thou hast been our sure defence: Still for thy aid we plead ; Show favour to thy servants now, And help them at their need.
Refresh us with thy mercy soon, And then our cares shall flee ; And all times, while our life shall last, In heart rejoice shall we.
As we were vexed oft before, Now make thou us right glad, According to the years when sore Affliction we have had.
O let thy work and power appear, And on thy servants light ; And show unto thy children dear Thy glory and thy might.
Lord, let thy grace and mercy stand On us thy servants thus ; Confirm the works we take in hand ; Lord prosper them to us.
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PSALM CVII,
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