USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Charlestown > The history of the First church, Charlestown, in nine lectures, with notes > Part 10
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"This premised, my counsel in short is-
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" 1. That in all study and preaching, you chiefly mind Jesus Christ. Remember you design the ministry of the gospel ; and the gospel is the doctrine of the Saviour, and the tender of salvation by the Mediator. Think much of that passage of Luther : 'Omnes meæe meditationes theologica in Christo fluunt refluuntque.' (All my reflections upon theology lead me and bring me back to Christ. ) Is it a sin you think of or men- tion ? remember it still as a piercer, a persecutor, a crucifier of Christ. So look on it and Him together, as may cause you to mourn over both. Is it a duty ? remember always whence strength comes to perform it: Lex jubet; Evangelium juvat. (Law commands ; Gospel assists. ) For without Him you can do nothing ; no, not so much as think a good thought. Is it a threat? let it be a spurr ; or a promise ? let it be a lure ; both inciting in their proper way to come unto Christ ; the former as the rod of the law, a schoolmaster ; the latter as a branch of the covenant of grace, which in Christ alone is yea and amen. Do you offer prayer or praise unto God? not only remember the formal and customary close, (through Jesus Christ our Lord,) but in every branch, let the hand of faith, with holy and hum- ble affection, tender and deliver it into the Mediator's hand, that it may be acceptable in the beloved. Thus you shall avoid the unsavory way of moral philosophy lecturers, instead of gospel preaching, more fit for the rostra or theatre of heathens, than the pulpit or assembly of Christians ; and better comply with the exemplary resolution of the apostle, who determined to ' know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified.'
"2. That you often call to mind the end of preaching, which is to teach what men should, not to show what you can do. Direct your speech, not as if you intended to beat the air over men's heads, but as designing to teach and touch the tenderest part of their hearts. What we speak to God, must be aimed at his heart ; and what from him to man, should be aimed at theirs. The church is Christ's school. Every member is a disciple or scholar. A minister is a teacher sent from God. IIc should, therefore, personate at least a tutor, if not a parent. Now a father or tutor does not make orations or speeches to his children or scholars, but in a familiar way (humano more) he inculcates his instructions so as he judges will make the best impression.
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" As for probationership, and the opinions of men concerning you, you neither need nor ought to be farther concerned than with relation to the fruit of your labors, and the end of preach- ing. Think often that your preparations are designed to serve and please the great God. What is it then, whether they are pleasing or no, to this learned, that curious, or the other great man ! In a word, let the words of vain crities pass unregarded. Only labor sincerely to approve yourselves to God, and you will be also approved in good men's consciences.
"3. In connection with and reference to the last advice, I counsel you to use notes, not proudly and foolishly, but humbly and wisely.
"The proud use of notes is, when men of an affected curiosity, to scrateli itching ears, are nice to note down all to a word or tittle, lest (forsooth ) the starchied oration should be ruffled by a rough expression. When these exact notes are prepared, then they are either conned by heart, and recited like a school-boy's lesson, or read verbatim as a child does his horn-book.
" On the other hand, an humble, prudent use of notes is, when men out of a sense of their infirmity, have them ready as an help, not presuming on their extempore faculty, nor despising such a method, or succinctness of discourse, as may be best understood and retained by the auditors. When things pru- dently (not words curiously) are so disposed of, as that when a man is to deliver a certain sentence or paragraph of truth, he may have the whole freedom of his mind to express it with its proper affection, without fear of losing the next consequent, or an impertinent filling up some interstitial time with an ill- favored heap of superfluous words, till the mind can recover itself to think what should be next. Those that will never use notes often need them. Such are (in my thoughts) like a man that holds a bundle of arrows in his bow-hand ; the stead- iness and strength of whose draught is thereby hindered ; whereas, the others are as one that disposeth of them in order in his quiver, and out of his way, who, when he hath with full strength drawn one shaft to the very head, and sent it to the heart, can handsomely come at another, and make use of it without interruption. I said before, things and not words. Not that I advise an utter neglect of proper and significant expres- sions ; but the greatest care should be had of the matter and
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things. And if this be done, one that is a scholar, and who ordinarily accustoms himself to speak handsomely and proper, needs not want sufficient words well to express his mind. 'Re bene disposita, verba ac invita sequuntur.' (When your thoughts are well arranged, appropriate words will naturally follow.)"
But I may not proceed further with these extracts. The whole letter or essay is permanently valuable, and might be transcribed now with great advantage by candidates for the ministry. It may serve also to give us an accurate and lively idea of Mr. Morton's own character as a preacher. He had confessedly very extensive stores of learning at command, and his long experience as a teacher, gave him the power of com- municating instruction with great readiness, and adapting his method to the wants of all classes. He was a man of tact and good sense, and every way fitted to exercise a controlling influence over his hearers. This pulpit was probably never occupied by a man so eminent for his qualifications as a preacher. His rich fund of information, together with his fondness for instruction, made him very attractive to young men. He was surrounded by large numbers of them for twenty years in London ; and when he came to this country he was followed by some of his pupils, and during the remainder of his life here he was attended by more or less.
Mr. Morton published a number of small treatises during his life ; 1 but he was always brief and compendious, being a declared enemy of large volumes. 'The Greek maxim, " Méya GiGhior ueya xaxor," A great book, a great evil-was frequently in his mouth.
Mr. Morton discharged the duties of a pastor for about ten years ; during this period the ancient spirit of discipline seems to have been maintained-the baptized children being regarded as strictly under the watch and care of the church. A person, who was a member of the church in Dorchester by baptism, having committed an offence in this place, by direction of that church made an acknowledgment to the satisfaction of this church, and was restored.
On the 9th of November, 1694, the church being entirely
1 Note 38.
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without deacons, a meeting was held, and " there were nomina- ted Mr. Joseph Kettle, Mr. Jolin Call, and Mr. Samuel Kettle," of whom the two first-mentioned were in the following April ordained in accordance with ancient usage.
At the same time, the church also voted, "that they thought it needful to call one to be an assistant in the work of the min- istry, in order to office in this church ; " and for that purpose a church meeting was appointed on the 23d of the month, at nine o'clock in the morning, when they "proceeded and nominated and chose Mr. Ebenezer Pemberton."
This gentleman was born in Boston, in 1672, and graduated at Harvard College, 1691. At the time of receiving the call of this church, he was very young, and had just completed his preparatory studies. He declined the call of the church, per- haps for the reason mentioned, and preferred a longer residence at the college, to which he returned in the capacity of a tutor. The people, however, remembered him with interest, and made a second attempt to secure his services, as we learn from the following memorandum written by Mr. Morton. "Since my last great sickness for about a year, the deacons provided tran- sient help to preach one part of the day. My weakness being more than ordinary manifest this last winter, sometime in January, divers, both of the church and town, came together unto me, and asked if I were willing to have a settled helper ? I answered in the affirmative. Then they asked me what method in order thereunto I would advise them, in which they should proceed? I answered, first ask counsel of God, and then of wise men."
" Accordingly," he writes, " on this day, February 11, 1697, we had a public fast ; Mr. Willard and myself preaching, and other ministers assisting in prayer. After this, a committee, constituted both of the church and inhabitants, were chosen to aet herein, who made this return to the whole congregation." Then follows the report, which states that the major part of the ministers of Boston advised to the choice of Mr. Pemberton, and concludes with a recommendation, "that the inhabitants do convene on the next Friday come fortnight, at nine of the clock in the forenoon, being the 12th day of March next, in order to a free choice in that affair."
Before this meeting took place, however, the church met at
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Mr. Morton's house, February 22d, and passed the following vote : "That, whereas, they did formerly in the year 1694, November 23, vote, and nominated Mr. Ebenezer Pemberton to be an assistant to Mr. Charles Morton, as a settled help in the work of the ministry ; and we are so well satisfied in what they have done herein, as to come to a free and general vote with the inhabitants, at the time appointed by the committee, in order to a settled help to the Rev. Mr. Charles Morton in the work of the ministry among us."
At the general town meeting (March 12) Mr. Simon Brad- street was chosen assistant pastor, and a call extended to him accordingly. Whether the church contemplated such a result or not, we do not know. At their previous meeting they re- newed their call to Mr. Pemberton, and probably expected the ratification of it by the town. But I can discover no evidence of a disagreement between the church and the town, but on the contrary, an unusual degree of unanimity. When Mr. Bradstreet was elected, it seems to have taken place by general consent, probably because it was ascertained that Mr. Pemberton would not accept. However this may be, it certainly does not appear that the church designed to relinquish their undoubted right to proceed first in the choice of a minister. They did make the first move, and at their meeting on the 22d of February, although for some reason they did not eleet Mr. Bradstreet, they yet expressed themselves so well " satisfied as to come to a free and general vote with the inhabitants," in the choice of a minister. This declaration was read to the inhabitants at the town meet- ing on the 12th of March, and it would seem that the church supposed they had virtually, if not formally, made choice of Mr. Bradstreet before he was chosen by the town.
But the method of procedure was deemed irregular and of dangerous tendeney by some in the vicinity. Under date of the 9th of May, 1697, we find the following record, the last entry made by the trembling hand of the venerable Morton. " The church stopped-they voted that the committee should bring in their answer to the three churches' letters on the next Lord's day. And at the same time, May 9, voted and declared that they as a church of Christ, did vote Mr. Simon Bradstreet to be a constant helper to me (their aged pastor) in the work of the ministry."
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'This refers to a letter of admonition sent by the North church in Boston to this church, for " betraying the liberties of the churches in their late putting into the hands of the whole inhabitants the choice of a minister." The reply of this church to the charge has not been preserved, and we cannot therefore know with certainty the merits of the controversy. But from the facts with which we are acquainted, it would seem that the accusation arose from a misunderstanding, or the fault from inadvertence and that laxness which results from entire unan- imity.
The call of the church and town, however, as thus made out to Mr. Bradstreet, was for some reason declined, and he was not settled till after the death of Mr. Morton. 1
Mr. Morton lived about a year after the transaction narrated above, probably in a very feeble state of health. Under the date of June 1, 1697, Judge Sewall mentions his attending the funeral of Mr. Thomas Graves, on which occasion he says : "Mr. Morton is very short breath'd-sat upon a tomb in the burying-place, and said for ought he knew he should be next." And in the month of February following, he speaks repeatedly of riding over the ice to Charlestown to visit Mr. Morton. On the Sth of April he visited him; and, as it is the last interview with the dying pastor of which we have any account, I will quote it.
" I was told he was asleep; but went in, and when I drew nigh his bedside, he earnestly stretched out his flaming hand to me, and strove to speak, but could not. I think the first I heard him say was, 'I sir.' I asked him how he did in such long illness. He at first said, "That which can't be cured, must be endured.' But seemed presently after to correct himself, and say, 'I desire patiently to submit to the hand of God.' A while after, I said, you cannot speak to me, but you can speak to God, which is a thousand times better. I pray that God would help you to speak to him, and that he would graciously hear you when you do speak. He seemed to lie still in a listening pos- ture, and made a little pause and said, 'Excellent things! if I could receive them and live up to them!' Before this, he said something about his man Tiler, that he heard he was become a
' Note 39.
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new man. When I took leave, he said, 'I wish you well, and all your family.' I told him I doubted not but that I should fare the better for his blessing."
The death of Mr. Morton took place on the 11th of April, 1698. On that day, Judge Sewall says, "Mr. Willard and I, having appointed it before, went to see Mr. Morton. He was in his agonies, but Mr. Willard prayed with him, and he seemed to be sensible by the motion of his eye. He died between two and three of the clock." The funeral took place on the 14th, and was attended by the principal members of the court, the officers of the college, (of which he was vice-president, ) and the students, who preceded the hearse and led the procession. The will of Mr. Morton has been preserved in the probate office, bearing date November, 1697. After some personal bequests, he "appoints his executor to dispose of at his dis- cretion to such persons as to him shall seem meet, all his philosophical writings, sermon notes, pamphlets, mathematical instruments, and other rarities." He bequeathed fifty pounds to the president and fellows of Harvard College, for the use of the college, and left his houses and lands in this town, and in Cornwall, England, and the rest of his estate, to his two nephews, Charles and John Morton, and his niece, Mary Mor- ton, to be equally divided among them.
An elegant and complimentary Latin epitaph upon Mr. Morton, was composed by his successor, the Rev. Simon Bradstreet.1
In the month of May, the worshipful James Russell was appointed to declare to the town, the election of Mr. Bradstreet as their pastor, and to request their concurrence. This having been accorded, Mr. Bradstreet signified his acceptance, and was ordained October 26, 1698.
Mr. Bradstreet was the son of the Rev. Simon Bradstreet, the first minister of New London, Connecticut, in which place he was born, and grandson of Simon Bradstreet, one of the most distinguished of the Pilgrim fathers, and for many years a popular governor of the colony. He graduated at Harvard College, in 1693, and his ministry was a long one, of more than forty years' duration. He was a man of great learning, strong mind, and lively imagination; but in the latter part of
1 Note 40.
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his life became so hypocondriacal, that he was afraid to preach in the pulpit, from an impression that he should die there. In consequence of this, he delivered his sermons in the dea- cons' seat ; they were generally extempore, and pervaded with the melancholy which attached so morbidly to his own mind. His style of preaching was rather practical than doctrinal-for the most part upon the state of man and the vanity of the world ; and this, together with his fondness for Tillotson's sermons, exposed him to the charge of Arminianism. He sel- dom if ever appeared with a coat, but always wore a plaid gown, and was commonly seen with a pipe in his mouth. But it was įprincipally for his classical attainments that Mr. Brad- street was distinguished ; and in illustration of this, an anec- dote is told of him, that when introduced to Governor Burnet, . who was himself a fine scholar, it was said of him by Lieu- tenant Governor Taylor, who introduced him, " Here is a man who can whistle Greek." 1
For about fifteen years, Mr. Bradstreet performed the duties of his office alone. In the month of June, 1712, a committee was appointed by the town to confer with him respecting the selec- tion of a colleague. The church acceded to the desire of the town, and both concurred in the appointment of a day of fast- ing and prayer for the blessing of God " in such a weighty and important undertaking." After this, the church nominated Rev. Messrs. Joseph Stevens, John Webb, and John Tufts ; and from these three the town proceeded to ballot, and chose Mr. Stevens. Having accepted the invitation, he was ordained October 13, 1713. The sacred charge was given him by the Rev. Dr. Increase Mather, and the right hand of fellowship by his son Dr. Cotton Mather. Mr. Stevens preached his own ordination sermon, taking for his text Daniel xii. 3: " And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament ; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever."
Judge Sewall, who was present, says that "Dr. Cotton Mather made an august speech, shewing that the Congrega-
1 Judge Russell of this place, who died 1798, at the age of 83, was present, a young lad, and witnessed the introduction. 1 Mass. H. S. Coll. viil. 75.
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tional churches declared early against Independency, that all the reformation of the continent of Europe ordained as New England did; shewed that their ordination had no other foundation. Declared what was expected of the ordained per- son, what of the church, and then gave the right hand of fellowship. 1 The three last staves of the thirty-second Psalm sung. Captain Phips set the tune, and read it."
An ordination occasion was formerly one of general public interest, and was celebrated with considerable expense. Fifty pounds were raised to defray the charges of the ordination of Mr. Stevens, an amount equal to half a year's salary.
Mr. Stevens was a son of Deacon John Stevens, of the First or North church of Andover, where he was born 20th of June, · 1682. He graduated at Harvard College, 1703, of which he became a tutor and fellow. He preached his first sermon at Marblehead, September 16, 1705, on Matt. xvi. 26, at the age of twenty-three. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul ? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?" Mr. Stevens, like the elder Shepard, was cut off in early manhood, and by the same dis-
ease ; but he has left behind him an unspotted and enviable name. He was distinguished for his fervor and eloquence as a preacher ; and the various excellencies of his character won the affections of his people in a remarkable degree.
The next event of importance, after the ordination of Mr. Stevens, was the erection of a new meeting-house, in 1716.
It will be remembered that the Government House, or "Great House," as it was called, was purchased by the town, in 1633, and was the first edifice occupied for public worship. In two or three years, however, this was sold, and a meeting-house built further up town, " between the town and the neck ;" but this arrangement was only a temporary one. In 1639, the house was sold for one hundred pounds, and a new meeting-house built on the south side of the town hill. This house, having been frequently repaired and enlarged, remained till 1716, about seventy-five years. On the 21st of June, 1715, it was voted by the town, unanimously, to build a new meeting-house, to stand
1 " Oct. 13, 1713. I made the prayer before the sermon, and I gave the fellowship of the churches in a large speech, wherein I enjoyed the signal assistance of God."-Cutton Mother's MS. journal in the library of the Antiq. Soc., Worcester.
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as near the old one as can be, with such additions of land as shall be needful for it." The building committee were then chosen, and consisted of the following persons : "Col. John Phillips, Col. Joseph Lynde, Capt. Nathaniel Carey, Capt. Sam- uel Phipps, Capt. Charles Chambers, Capt. Jonathan Dows, Capt. Michael Gill, Doct. Thomas Greaves, Capt. Samuel Froth- ingham, Mr. Daniel Russell, and Mr. Nathaniel Frothingham."
The house was raised June 20th, 1716. Judge Sewall tells us in his MS. journal, that he went over to Charlestown on the morning of this day, and " drove a pin in Charlestown meeting- house, in the corner post next Mr. Bradstreet's, and sat in the nearest shop and saw them raise the third post towards the ferry from the corner post." It was opened for the public wor- ship of God, for the first time, August 5, 1716. The first lecture 1 in the new meeting-house, was preached on the 21st of September, by Mr. Stevens, from Psalm Ixxxiv. 4: " Blessed are they that dwell in thy house." " He made," says Judge Sewall, "a very good discourse, worthy to be printed." On the 20th of May, 1717, the committee chosen to build the meeting-house, reported that, "by the blessing of God," they had completed the work. The cost was £1,899 3s. 10d. The sum received from the contributors, amounted to £1,925. This meeting-house was in the square, as is well known, and is still remembered by some among us. It stood till the day of the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, and then " our holy, and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, O Lord, was burned up with fire, and all our pleasant things were laid waste." .
Mr. Stevens's life was a short one ; but of his ministry and personal character, there remain to us some interesting memo- rials of which I shall make mention in the next Lecture.
Of Mr. Bradstreet I have been able to obtain little, beyond the few particulars already given. By the kindness, how- ever, of a descendant of his, I have been put in possession of a manuscript volume, belonging to the family, and handed down to the late Miss Catharine Bradstreet of this town. It consists of the compositions of Mrs. Anne Bradstreet, the daugh- ter of Governor Dudley, and wife of Governor Bradstreet, who
! Note 41.
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may not invidiously be called the most distinguished female character and writer of the first generation. Her poems were frequently published, and were held in high repute in their day. Cotton Mather has preserved the following high-wrought epigram composed upon these poems, which will serve to show us how much admired she was as an authoress.
" Now I believe tradition, which doth call The muses, virtues, graces, females all, Only they are not nine, eleven, or three ; Our authoress proves them but an unity. Mankind, take up some blushes on the score; Monopolize perfection hence no more. In your own arts confess yourselves outdone ; The moon hath totally eclipsed the sun : Not with her sable mantle muffling him, But her bright silver makes his gold look dim : Just as his beams force our pale lamps to wink, And earthly fires within their ashes shrink."
This manuscript volume of hers, in her own hand-writing, is dedicated to her "Dear Son Simon Bradstreet," the father of our minister, and contains seventy-seven "Meditations, Divine and Moral," which she had intended to continue through the volume, as we are told in a note written by her son, " but was prevented by death."
I wish I had space to present copious extracts from these truly wise and pious meditations; they evince not only a thoughtful experience of life, but also a tender and chastened spirit of piety. Sure I am that no mother, who loves her children with a Christian as well as natural affection, can read these expressions of maternal love without having her sensi- bilities touched, and feeling herself quickened in duty. I will extract the first seven or eight meditations in the order in which they are written.
" 1. There is no object that we see, no action that we do, no good that we enjoy, no evil that we feel or fear, but we may make some spiritual advantage of all ; and he that makes such improvement is wise as well as pions.
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