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 3
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FROM THE NEW ENGLAND VERSION.
YOUR thanks unto the Lord express, Because that good is he, Because his loving kindnesses Last to eternity.
So say the Lord's redeemed, whom bought He hath from enemies' hands ; And from the east and west hath brought, From south and northern lands.
In desert strayed in untrod way, No dwelling town they find ; They hungry were, and thirsty they, Their souls within them pined.
Then did they to Jehovah cry, When they were in distress, Who did them set at liberty Out of their anguishes.
In such a way as was most right He led them forth also, That to a city which they might Inhabit, they should go.
O that men praise Jehovah would, For his great goodness then ; And for his wonders manifold Unto the sons of men.
NOTE. "In the year 1639, there was an agreement among the Magis- trates and Ministers to set aside the collection of Psalms then printed at the end of their Bible, and to sing one more congenial to their ideas of religion. The Rev. M :. WELD and the Rev. Mr. ELIOT of Roxbury, and the Rev. RICHARD MATHER of Dorchester, were selected to make a me- trical translation."-This was adopted in this church and congregation in 1640, and used for more than a century.
The earliest writer of the General History of New England, was the Rev. Mr. HUBBARD. This work, after having laid in manuscript one hundred and thirty years, has lately been published ; and in it is this remark, p. 210, in connexion with some particulars of the first comers-" The people travelling into New England had occasion, more than others, to meditate on the 107th Psalm; which, though not penned purposely for them, yet in especial manner is suited to their condition.
The practice of reading line by line for singing was discontinued in the congregation on the 23d of September, 1781 ; but retained in the church at the communion service until the 8th of July, 1793.
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AFTERNOON.
Ist. Singing. XLIV Psalm, C. M., from the version of TATE & BRADY ; introduced into use here on the first Lord's day in July, 1762.
2d. Singing. CXLV Psalm, C. M., from Dr. WATT's version ; in- troduced on the first Lord's day in July, 1793.
3d. Singing. XC Psalm, L. M., from the Collection of Psalms and Hymns by Dr. BELKNAP, introduced on Thanksgiving-day, November 6th, 1801.
The day, being that on which the Lord's Supper was celebrated, the following Hymn was sung after the Communion.
GIVE US, O LORD, the living bread With which the welcomed guests are fed ; And here the cup of blessing place, That thirsting, fainting souls may taste.
Thy promised presence grant to-day, And in this Ordinance convey Pledges of love that ne'er has ceased, And foretastes of the heavenly feast.
Those, who, two hundred years ago, Came here, their labours to bestow In lonely wilds a Church to rear, Partook a like refreshment herc.
O Gon! thou then didst deign to bless Their table in the wilderness ; Bless ours, and us, with heavenly love, And fit us for the Church above !
NOTE. The above Hymn was sung, line by line being read, agreeably to the ancient practice in this Church, and which continued in use until Lord's day, 4th of August, 1793.
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NOTES.
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NOTE A.
Dr. FULKE, a distinguished writer of the Church of England, says, " They are called Puritans who would have the Church thoroughly reformed; that is, purged from all those inventions which have been brought into it since the age of the Apostles, and reduced entirely to the Scripture purity." With this agrees the remark of the learned and candid GROTIUS-" Puritanos in Anglia vocant, qui Ecclesia statum haud dum satis illis integrum atque sincerum existimant, et puritatis amplius requirant, unde origo nominis." In England they call those Puritans who judge the state of the Church there not sufficiently sound and unmixed, and require greater purity ; whence the origin of the name.
NOTE B.
JOHNSON says, that "the Reverend and godly Mr. MAVERICK was their Pastor; and the gracious servant of Christ, the Rev. Mr. WARHAM, their Teacher." And Mr. PRINCE observes, that "it appears that Mr. MAVERICK was the elder person ; that they had both been Ministers in the Church of England, and had therefore been ordained by some Bishop or other ; as none other in those days were allowed to preach in that kingdom, nor any separate congregation allowed there till the civil wars began in 1642. Nor would Mr. MAVERICK and WARHAM have been then allowed to form a Congregational Church at Plymouth in England, were it not of those who had taken their passage for New England, and were just ready to sail thither." Annals, Part II. Sect. 2, p. 41.
NOTE C.
JOHN WHITE, A. M. This excellent divine was born at Stanton, St. John, in Oxfordshire, in the year 1576, and educated first at Winchester, then in New College, Oxford, where he was chosen Fellow. In the year 1606 he left the University, and became Rector of Trinity Church, Dorchester, where he continued, with little interruption, above forty
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years. He was a judicious expositor of Scripture ; and, during his public ministry, expounded the whole Bible, and went through one half a second time .*
About the year 1624, Mr. WHITE, with some of his friends, projected the new colony of Massachusetts in New England, as an asylum for the persecuted Nonconformists ; but, for several years, the object met with numerous discouragements. Indeed, the difficulties became so formidable, that the undertaking was about to be relinquished, and those who had settled on the new plantation were on the point of returning home. At this juncture the worthy settlers, who already had out- braved many a storm, and surmounted the greatest difficulties, received letters from Mr. WHITE, assuring them that if they could endure their painful conflict a little longer, he would procure for them a patent, and all the necessary supplies for the new settlement. They concluded to wait the event ; and in all these particulars he made his promise good. Thus, by the blessing of God upon his active and vigorous endeavours, the Colonists were enabled to maintain their ground ; and they after- wards greatly prospered.t
About the year 1630, Mr. WHITE was brought into trouble by Bishop LAUD, and prosecuted in the High Commission Court. Though it does not appear how long his troubles continued, or what sentence was passed upon him ; yet these proceedings against a divine of such distin- guished excellence, and one so universally beloved, were sure to bring the greatest odium upon his persecutors. Mr. WHITE was afterwards a great sufferer from the public confusions of his nation, and the destruc- tive ravages of the civil wars. Prince RUPERT and his forces being in those parts, a party of horse was sent into the town, when the soldiers plundered his house, and carried away his library. But, upon the approach of these calamities, the good man fled from the storm; and, retiring to London, was made minister of the Savoy .;
In the year 1640, Mr. WHITE was appointed one of the learned divines to assist the Committee of Religion, consisting of ten earls, ten bishops, and ten barons.§ In 1643, he was chosen one of the Assembly
* WOOD's Athena Oxon. Vol. II. p. 60.
+ MATHER's Magnalia, 6. I. p. 19. PRINCE's Chronol. I. pp. 144-149.
# Woon's Athena Oxon. II. p. 61.
§ This Committee was appointed by the House of Lords, and designed to examine all innovations, as well in doctrine as discipline, illegally intro- duced into the Church since the Reformation. It was extremely offensive to the intolerant spirit of Archbishop Laud. WHARTON's Troubles of Laud, Vol. I. pp. 174, 175.
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of Divines, and constantly attended their meetings at Westminster. He was deservedly admired on account of his zeal, activity, learning, moderation, and usefulness, during the whole session. Upon the meeting of both Houses of Parliament, the Assembly of Divines, and the Scots Commissioners, in Margaret's Church, Westminster, to take the Covenant, he engaged in the public prayer; and his fer- vent supplications continued a full hour .* In 1645, upon the revival of the Committee of Accommodation, he was chosen one of its mem- bers .; And about the same time he was appointed to succeed Dr. FEATLEY in the sequestered rectory of Lambeth ; and to have the care and use of the Doctor's library, until the Doctor should be able to pro- cure his which had been carried away by Prince RUPERT's soldiers.t In 1647, Mr. WHITE was offered the Wardenship of New College, Oxford, but refused the office.
When the public broils of the nation were concluded, he returned to his flock and his ministry at Dorchester, where he continued in peace the remainder of his days. He died suddenly, July 21st, 1648, aged seventy-two years. His remains were interred in the porch of St. Peter's Church, Dorchester, but without any monumental inscription.§
He was a most faithful Pastor ; and a divine of sound doctrine, an admirable judgment, and a most powerful genius, being no less emi- nent for piety, faith, and diligence. He was a person of uncommon gravity, and so universally beloved and respected, that he was usually called " the Patriarch of Dorchester." The Puritans at a distance, as well as those about him (according to Woon) "had more respect for him than even for their diocesan; yet he was a most moderate Puri- tan."| "He was a constant preacher," says FULLER, "and, by his wisdom and ministerial labours, Dorchester was much enriched with knowledge, piety, and industry."" Mr. JOHN WHITE, the ejected non- conformist, was his son .**
His works were, I. The Way to the Tree of Life ; On the Morality of the Fourth Commandment ; and Directions for reading the Scriptures. 1647.tt
II. A Commentary on the three first Chapters of Genesis. 1656.
III. Several Sermons ; and some other articles.
* WHITLOCK's Mem. p. 70. t Papers of Accommodation, p. 13.
# WooD's Athena Oxon. II. p. 61. § Woon's Hist. and Antq. 1. II. p. 149.
|| WooD's Athena Oxon. V. II. pp. 60, 61.
T FULLER's Worthies, Part II. p. 340.
** PALMER's Nonconformist Memorial, Vol. II. p. 145.
tt The volume which contains these three 'treatises, neatly bound in black morocco, with gilt edges, is preserved in our church chest.
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NOTE D.
Mr. PRINCE says, that " this parting address is commonly understood to have been drawn up by that learned, holy, reverend, and famous man, Mr. JOHN WHITE, of Dorchester." New England Chronology, p. 205.
NOTE E.
Some particulars of the voyage are narrated in a poem of Governour WOLCOTT's, son of ROGER WOLCOTT, who was one of the passengers. This poem is printed, from the original manuscript, in the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. IV. pp. 262-298. It is entitled " A brief account of the Agency of the Honourable JOHN WINTHROP, Esq., in the Court of King CHARLES the Second, A. D. 1662, when he obtained a Charter for the Colony of Connecticut ; written by ROGER WOLCOTT, Esq., his successor in the Government of Connecticut." To the inquiries of the King about the first settlers, the Agent replies-
"If to declare their worth is what you ask, Then I must beg your pardon : that's a task
So worthy due performance, and so great, As goes beyond my utterance and conceit. But virtue never fails ; succeeding days Shall much regard their merits, and shall raise Men of bright parts and moving oratory, Who shall emblazon their immortal glory. But if you ask to gain intelligence What were the reasons why they went from hence,
. What straits they met with on their way, and there ?-- These facts I think I'm able to declare.
" RELIGION was the cause that did incline And moved our founders to this great design. And sure the Holy Spirit from above
That first did quickening on the waters move, Inspired their minds, and filled them with intents To bring to pass such glorious events. And now they wholly to this work devote, Nor mind the country they are going out.
Their ancient homes they leave, to come no more,-
'Their weeping friends and kindred on the shore They bid adieu to, and with aching heart Shake hands; 'tis hard when dearest friends must part!
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But here they part, and leave their parent isle, Their whilom happy seat .- The winds awhile Are courteous, and conduct them on their way, To near the midst of the Atlantic sea, When suddenly their pleasing gales they change For dismal storms that on the ocean range .* -Meanwhile our founders in the cabin sat Reflecting on their truly sad estate, Whilst holy WARHAM's sacred lips did treat About God's promises and mercies great. -And now a mighty sea the ship o'ertakes, Which, falling on the deck, the bulk-head breaks ; The sailors cling to ropes, and frighted cry, 'The ship is foundered ! O we die, we die !' Those in the cabin heard the sailors screech, All rise, and reverend WARHAM do beseech That he would now uplift to heaven a cry, For preservation in extremity.
He, with a faith sure bottom'd on the word Of Him that was of seas and winds the Lord, His eyes lifts up to Heaven, his hands extends, And fervent prayers for deliverance sends. The winds abate, the threatning waves appease, And a sweet calm sits regent on the seas. They bless the name of their deliverer, Who now they found a God that heareth prayer."
NOTE F.
" It was ordered that every town should keep a watch, and be well supplied with ammunition. The Constables were directed to warn the watchers in their turns, and to make it their care that they should be kept according to the direction of the Court. They were also required to take care that the inhabitants were well furnished with arms and ammunition, and kept in a constant state of defence. As these infant settlements were filled and surrounded with numerous savages, the people conceived themselves in danger, when they lay down and when they rose up, when they went out and when they came in. Their circumstances were such, that it was judged necessary for every man to be a soldier."
* Next follows a description of this terrific storm.
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NOTE G.
Under March 19, 1632, Governour WINTHROP relates, that "Mr. MAVERICK, one of the Ministers of Dorchester, in drying a little powder, (which took fire by the heat of the fire-pan) fired a small barrel of two or three pounds, yet did no other harm but singed his clothes. It was in the new Meeting-house, which was thatched, and the thatch only blacked a little."
NOTE H.
Captain JOHNSON describes the straits of these early settlers at this time, in his Wonder-working Providence, or Sion's Saviour in New Eng- land, Chap. xxiv .- " In the absence of bread, they feasted themselves with fish. The women, once a day, as the tide gave way, resorted to the muscle and clam-banks, which are a fish as big as a horse muscle, where they daily gathered their families' food, with much heavenly talk of the provisions Christ had formerly made for many thousands of his followers in the wilderness. Quoth one, My husband hath travelled as far as Plymouth, (which is near 40 miles) and hath with great toil brought a little corn home with him ; and before that is spent the Lord will assuredly provide. Quoth the other, Our last peck of meal is now in the oven at home a baking, and many of our godly neighbours have quite spent all, and we owe one loaf of that little we have. Then spake a third, My husband hath ventured himself among the Indians for corn, and can get none ; as also our honoured Governour hath distributed his so far, that a day or two more will put an end to his store, and all the rest ; and yet, methinks, our children are as cheerful, fat, and lusty, with feeding upon these muscles, clams, and other fish, as they were in England with their fill of bread ; which makes me cheerful in the Lord's providing for us, being further confirmed by the exhortation of our Pastor to trust the Lord with providing for us, whose is the earth and the fulness thereof. And, as they were thus encouraging one another, they lift up their eyes and saw two ships coming in ; and presently this news came to their ears, that they were come from Ireland full of victuals. Now were their poor hearts refreshed."
NOTE I.
The Rev. JONATHAN BURR was born in the year 1604, at Redgrave, in Suffolk, Great Britain. He was the son of godly parents, who per- ceiving his early love of letters, gratified him with a learned education ; and says Dr. MATHER, "Though literature did much adorn his child-
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hood, religion did so much more; for he had from a child known the Holy Scriptures, which made him wise unto salvation." In his earliest years, " so studious was he as to leave his food for his book, and withal so pious as to leave his book for his prayers."
After having spent four years at the University, upon the death of his father he returned to the country, and was employed in keeping a school. Here, however, he pursued his studies with such diligence, that when those of his standing were to take their degrees of Master- ship, he was appointed one of the Moderators ; an honourable distinc- tion, in which he acquitted himself to great acceptance.
For a while he preached at Horniger, near Bury, in Suffolk; and afterwards was Rector of the Church at Reckingshal. Governour WINTHROP remarks, that "he was a Minister of very good repute in England for his piety and learning."
Having been silenced for nonconformity, in the beginning of 1639 he came over to New England, with his wife and three children ; and soon after their arrival a fourth was born.
From our Church Records it appears, that on the 21st day of the 10th month, [December] 1639, Mr. JONATHAN BURR, and Mrs. Frances, his wife, were admitted as members of the Church, and Rebekah Burr, (probably his sister) ; and on the 23d of the same month, Mary, daughter of Rev. Jonathan Burr, was baptized.
Of the circumstances attending his call to settle at Dorchester, and of the Council convened for his ordination, a minute detail is given by Governour WINTHROP, in his Journal, Vol. II. pages 22, 23.
The following summer he, with his family, had the small pox, which, as inoculation was not then practised, was a very malignant and dan- gerous disorder ; but they all happily recovered, though Mr. BURR was left in a state of debility which shortened his days.
In the Magnalia, Dr. MATHER comments largely upon his exemplary piety, bountiful charity to the poor, tender sympathy with the afflicted, amiable disposition, and unaffected meekness of spirit.
His widow married to the Honourable RICHARD DUMMER, with whom she lived happily more than forty years, and died at Newbury, November 19, 1682, aged 70.
His sons were Jonathan, [who was a graduate of Harvard College, 1651] John, and Simon. Peter Burr, [Harv. Coll. 1690] a Judge of the Court of Connecticut, and Samuel Burr, [II. C. 1697] of Charlestown, were his grand-sons. Rev. Isaac Burr, [Yale College, 1717] was son of Judge Peter Burr, and father to Rev. Aaron Burr, the learned Pre- sident of New Jersey College. Vice-President Aaron Burr is son of Rev. President Burr.
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Norc J.
RICHARD MATHER was born at Lowton, in the parish of Winwick, and County of Lancaster, in Great Britain, in the year 1596. His parents, Thomas and Margaret Mather, were of ancient families in that village. Though reduced to low circumstances, they gave their son a good education. So great was his proficiency at school, that he was elected in 1611, being only fifteen years old, to take the instruction of a school at Toxteth-Park, near Liverpool. In this office he acquitted himself so well, " that he was both loved and feared by his scholars, beyond what is usual even where there are aged Masters." After having fitted several scholars for the University, he removed there himself, and entered a student in Brazen-nose College, at Oxford. He was soon, however, recalled to Toxteth, by a request of the Congrega- tion there, to be their Minister. He accordingly returned, and preached his first sermon on the 30th of November, 1618. Soon after, he re- ceived ordination by Dr. MORTON, then Bishop of Chester.
September 29th, 1624, he married Katherine, daughter of Edmund Hoult, Esq., of Bury, in Lancashire, with whom he lived in connubial affection thirty years. By her he had six sons; of whom Samuel, Timothy, Nathaniel, and Joseph, were born in Great Britain; and Eleazer, and Increase, in New England.
After having preached fifteen years, he was suspended from office and silenced, August, 1633, for nonconformity ; but on November fol- lowing was restored, through the intercession of his friends. Under the more rigorous visitations of the Archbishop of York, Dr. NEALE, he again received sentence of suspension in 1634. ITis having never worn the surplice, and his puritanick principles, were alleged against him. Being thus "inhibited from the exercise of his ministerial functions," placed again in private life, and apprehensive of the severity of those persecutions which an enraged hierarchy were meditating, he resolved upon a removal to New England. Accordingly he drew up his reasons for such a determination, and exhibited them to the Ministers and others in Lancashire, at several meetings appointed for their consider- ation. As nothing was objected against them that he deemed satis- factory, in the month of April, 1635, he left his people at Toxteth, and journeyed to Bristol, in order to take ship there. He was obliged to change his outer habit, that he might travel incognito, because pursui- vants were seeking to apprehend him, and by this method eluded their search. From Bristol he sailed for New England, May 23d, 1635. Two of his sons, who were afterwards Ministers, came with him ; also JONATHAN MITCHEL, then a child of eleven years of age, and after-
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wards the famous Pastor of the Church at Cambridge. The ship en- countered a most violent and dangerous hurricane on the American coast, but providentially arrived safe in Boston harbour, August 17th, 1635.
The following account of this gale is extracted from his journal.
" August 15, 1635. The Lord had not yet done with us, nor had he let us see all his power and goodness which he would have us take the knowledge of; and, therefore, about the break of day, he sent a most terrible storm of rain and casterly wind, whereby we were in as much danger as I think ever people were. When we came to the land, we found many mighty trees rent in pieces in the midst of the bole, and others turned up by the roots, by the fierceness thereof. We lost in that morning three anchors and cables, one having never been in the water before: two were broken by the violence of the storm, and the third cut by the seamen in the extremity of distress, to save the ship and their and our lives. And when our cables and anchors were all lost, we had no outward means of deliverance but by hoisting sail, if so be we might get to sea from amongst the islands and rocks where we had anchored. But the Lord let us see that our sails could not save us neither, no more than the cables and anchors; for, by the force of the wind and storm, the sails were rent asunder, and split in pieces, as if they had been but rotten rags, so that of divers of them, there was scarce left so much as an hand-breadth, that was not rent in pieces, or blown away into the sea. So that, at that time, all hope that we should be saved, in regard of any outward appearance, was utterly taken away ; and the rather, because we seemed to drive, with full force of wind, directly upon a mighty rock, standing out in sight above water; so that we did but continually wait when we should hear and feel the doleful crashing of the ship upon the rock. In this extremity and ap- pearance of death, as distress and distraction would suffer ns, we cried unto the Lord, and he was pleased to have compassion upon us ; for, by his overruling providence, and his own immediate good hand, he guided the ship past the rock, and assuaged the violence of the sea and wind. It was a day much to be remembered, because on that day the Lord granted us as wonderful a deliverance as I think ever any people had felt. The seamen confessed they never knew the like. The Lord so imprint the memory of it in our hearts, that we may be the better for it, and more careful to please him, and to walk uprightly before him as long as we live; and I hope we shall not forget the passages of that morning until our dying day. In all this grievous storm, my fear was the less, when I considered the clearness of my calling from God this way : and in some measure, (the Lord's holy name be blessed for it)
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he gave us hearts contented and willing that he should do with us and ours what he pleased, and what might be most for the glory of his name ; and in that we rested ourselves. But when news was brought us into the gun-room that the danger was past, O how our hearts did then relent and melt within us ! We burst out into tears of joy amongst ourselves, in love unto our gracious God, and admiration of his kind- ness in granting to his poor servants such an extraordinary and miracu- lous deliverance. His holy name be blessed forever !"
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