USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Charlestown > The history of the First church, Charlestown, in nine lectures, with notes > Part 21
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
XXIII.
If to have solid judgment, pregnant parts, A piercing wit, and comprehensive brain- If to have gone the round of all the arts, Immunity from Death's arrest would gain, Shepard would have been death-proof and secure From that all-conquering hand, I'm very sure.
XXIV.
If holy life, and deeds of charity- If grace illustrious, and virtue tried- If modest carriage, rare humility, Could have bribed death, good Shepard had not died. Oh ! but inexorable Death attacks The best men, and promiscuous havoc makes.
XXVI.
To be descended well, doth that commend ? Can sons their father's glory eall their own? Our Shepard justly might to this pretend, (His blessed Father was of high renown, Both Englands speak him great, admire his name,) But his own personal worth 's a better claimn.
XXVII.
Great was his Father, once a glorious light Among us, famous to a high degree- Great was this son : indeed, ( to do him right,) As great and good (to say no more) as He. A double portion of his Father's spirit Did this (his eldest) son, through grace inherit.
XXVIII.
His look commanded reverence and awe, Though mild and amiable, not austere : Well humored was he as I ever saw, And ruled by love and wisdom, more than fear. The Muses and the Graces too, conspired To set forth this rare piece, to be admired.
XXIX.
He governed well the tongue, (that busy thing, Unruly, lawless, and pragmatieal,) Gravely reserved, in speech not lavishing, Neither too sparing, nor too liberal. His words were few, well seasoned, wisely weighed, And in his tongue the law of kindness swayed.
xxx.
Learned he was beyond the common size, Befriended much by Nature in his Wit, And Temper, (sweet, sedate, ingenious, wise,) And (which crowned all) he was Heaven's Favorite, On whom the God of all grace did comnand, And shower down blessings with a liberal hand.
217
XXXI.
Wise he, not wily was; grave, not morose ; Not stiff, but steady ; serious, but not sour ; Concerned for all, as if he had no foes; (Strange if he had !) and would not waste an hour. Thoughtful and active for the common good, And yet his own place wisely understood.
XXXII.
Nothing could make him stray from duty ; death Was not so frightful to him, as omission Of ministerial work ; he feared no breath Infectious, i' th' discharge of his commission. Rather than run from 's work, he chose to die, Boldly to run on death, than duty fly.
XXXIV.
Zealous in God's cause, but meek in his own; Modest of nature, bold as any lion,
Where conscience was concerned; and there were none More constant mourners for afflicted Zion.
So general was his care for th' churches all, His spirit seemed apostolical.
XXXV.
Large was his heart, to spend without regret- Rejoicing to do good ; not like those moles, That root i' th' earth, or roam abroad, to get All for themselves (those sorry, narrow souls !) But he, like the sun, (i' th' centre as some say,) Diffused his rays of goodness every way.
XXXVI.
He breathed love, and pursued peace in his day, As if his soul were made of harmony ; Scarce ever more of goodness' crowded lay In such a piece of frail mortality. Sure, father Wilson's genuine son was he -- New England's Paul had such a Timothy.
XXXVII.
No slave to the world's grand idols-but he flew At fairer quarries, without stooping down To sublunary prey. His great soul knew Ambition none, but of the Heavenly Crown. Now he hath won it, and shall wear 't with honor, Adoring grace, and God in Christ, the Donor.
XXXVIII.
A friend to truth-a constant foe to error- Powerful i' th' pulpit, and sweet in converse ; To weak ones, gentle-to the profane, a terror. Who can his virtues and good works rehearse ? The Scripture Bishop's character read o'er, Say this was Shepard's-what need I say more ?
XXXIX.
I say no more ; let them that can declare His rich and rare endowments, paint this sun, With all his dazzling rays; but I despair, Hopeless by any hand to see it done. They that can Shepard's goodness well display, Must be as good as he-but who are they ?
28
218
XL.
See where our Sister Charlestown, sits and moans ! Poor widowed Charlestown ! all in dust, in tears! Mark how she wrings her hands! hear how she groans! See how she weeps ! What sorrow like to hers ! Charlestown, that might for joy compare of late With all about her, now looks desolate.
XLI.
As you have seen some pale, wan, ghastly look, When grisly death, that will not be said nay, Hath seized all for itself, possession took,
And turned the soul out of its house of clay : So visaged is poor Charlestown at this day- Shepard, her very soul, is torn away.
XLII.
Cambridge groans under this so heavy cross, And sympathizes with her sister dear- Renews her griefs afresh for her old loss Of her own Shepard, and drops many a tear. Cambridge and Charlestown now joint mouners are, And this tremendous loss between them share.
XLIII.
Must learning's friend (ah ! worth us all) go thus ? That great support to Harvard's Nursery !
Our Fellow (that no fellow had with us) Is gone to Heaven's great University. Our's now indeed 's a lifeless corporation- The soul is fled that gave it animation !
LI.
Farewell, dear Shepard! thou art gone before, Made free of Heaven, where thou shalt sing loud hymns Of high triumphant praises evermore,
In the sweet choir of Saints and Seraphims. Lord! look on us here, clogged with sin and clay ; And we, through grace, shall be as happy as they.
LII.
My dearest, inmost bosom-friend is gone ! Gone is my sweet companion, soul's delight ! Now in a huddling crowd I'm all alone- Almost could bid all the world good-night. Blest be my Rock !- God lives-Oh ! let Him be As He is all, so All in all to me ! The bereaved, sorrowful URIAN OAKES."
NOTE 34, page 79. LETTER OF HON. J. Q. ADAMS.
I AM permitted to make the following extract from a letter written by the Hon. J. Q. Adams to the Rev. G. W. Blagden, of the Old South Church :
-
219
" In 1682, Daniel Quincy was married to Anna Shepard, daughter of the second Thomas Shepard, and first of that name, minister of Charlestown. Of this marriage the issue were two children, Anne, born the 1st and baptized the 7th of June, 1685, and John, born the 21st and baptized the 28th of July, 1689, both at the South Church. This John Quincy, son of Daniel and Anna Quincy, was the person whose name I bear. Ile was the father of Elizabeth Smith, (wife of William Smith, minister of Weymouth,) my mother's mother. Ile was on his death-bed at the age of 77, when I was baptized; and it was at his daughter's request that his name was given to me. IIe had been an orphan almost from his birth. His father, Daniel Quincy, having died at the age of 40, about one year after his birth, in August, 1690. Ile was graduated at Harvard College in 1708, and within a year afterwards his grandmother, Mrs. Anna Shepard, died, and be- queathed to him a farm at Mount Wollaston, where he ever after resided and died."
The following interesting anecdote has been kindly copied for me, from the Common Place Book of Judge Sewall, by his descendant, Rev. Samuel Sewall of Burlington.
"Thursday, November 9, 16-2. Cousin Daniel Quincy marries Mrs. Anna Shepard before John IIull, Esq. Samuel Nowell, Esq., and many persons present, almost Capt. Brattle's great hall full. Capt. B. and Mrs. Brattle there for two. Mr. Willard began with prayer-Mr. Thomas Shepard concluded. As he was praying, cousin Savage, mother Hull, wife and self came in. A good space after, when had eaten cake and drunk wine and beer plentifully, we were called into the great hall again to sing. In singing time, Mrs. Brattle goes out, being ill; most of the company go away, thinking it a qualm, or some fit ; but she grows worse, speaks not a word, and so dies away in her chair, I holding her feet, for she had slipped down. At length, out of the kitchen we carry the chair, and her in it, into the wedding- hall, and after a while lay the corpse of the dead aunt in the bride's bed; so that now the strangeness and horror of the thing filled the (just now) joyous house with ejulation. The bridegroom and bride lie at Mr. Airs, (Eyres ?) son-in-law to the deceased, going away like persons put to flight in battle."
NOTE 35, page 83.
LETTER TO THE OLD SOUTHI CHURCH.
THE original letter missive from this church to the Old South, invit- ing their assistance at the ordination of Mr. Shepard, has been pre- served among the Old South papers, and is as follows :
" Honored, reverend, and beloved in our Lord Jesus Christ :
" It having pleased God after his afflicting hand upon us, by the death of our faithful Shepard, and frustration of other endeavors for supply, to give us some revival, by raising up the son of our blessed
220
Shepard, whom, judging by the observation and experience we have had of him, not only to have drunk in the principles, but also to be very considerably endued with the amiable and Christian spirit of his father, we have unanimously called and prevailed with to undertake, with the help of God, the office of a pastor among us. In order to the execu- tion of the office, we do, according to the custom of the churches in these parts, by these our letters entreat you to afford us the presence of your teaching officer, with such other messengers as shall seem good to you, upon May, the fifth next coming, at nine in the morning, to join with the elders and messengers of other churches we have sent unto, in the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Thomas Shepard, that so by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, he may be lawfully au- thorized to discharge the work of a pastor in this part of God's flock.
" So craving your prayers to the great Shepherd, for such an influ- ence upon the labors of our Shepard as may cause an increase of his flock, and the spiritual growth of each member therein, we commend you also to the same God, and the word of his grace, and rest
" Your brethren and servants in Christ Jesus, " Signed in the name, and by the order of the
" Church of Christ, in Charlestown,
LAWR. HAMMOND, JOHN CUTLER, JOSEPH LYNDE, JOHN PHILLIPS, THOMAS GREAVES.
" Charlestown, April 4, 1680.
" These for Mr. Samuel Willard, pastor of the South Church in Boston.
" To be communicated to your church."
" Rev. Thomas Shepard and Mrs. Mary Lynde, widow, were mar- ried before Mr. Samuel Nowell, assistant, July 27, 1652." 1
NOTE 36, page 94.
SHEPARD'S MANUSCRIPTS.
IN the antiquarian library several manuscript sermon-books of Rev. Thomas Shepard the second, are preserved. One volume contains ten discourses on the cxx. Psalm, delivered on successive Sabbaths, from January 1, 1659-60 to March 4, 1659-60. Another contains twelve, on Psalm cxxvii. 3-5, and Psalin cxxviii., delivered at intervals, from November 22, 1663 to May 22, 1661. Another contains twelve sacramental discourses on Canticles, delivered every four weeks, from April 4, 1669 to March 6, 1669-70. Another contains eleven lectures on Matthew vii. 13, 14, delivered at intervals of two and four weeks,
1 Town Ree ords.
221
from May 15, 1668 to December 11, 1668. Another contains seven discourses on Fast and Thanksgiving occasions, begun August 28, 1663, and ended March 26, 1665. And still another volume of the same character, begun January 2, 1661-2, and concluding with a sermon delivered April 12, 1663, on the funeral of Mr. Jno. Norton, who died the Lord's day before April 5; Mr. Shepard also wrote an elegy on him, which is preserved in the New England Memorial. In the book, mentioned the last but one, at the end of the sermon on Psalm xliv. 4, delivered on the Fast day, November 16, 1664, is appended the follow- ing note : " The night after this fast was the blazing star first observed by some among us, which continued visible until February 4, next following, first barbatus and at last caudatus cometa."
It seems to have been Mr. Shepard's practice to conclude all his sermons with the Latin aspiration, " Tibi mi domine Jesu," sometimes varying the expression with different adjectives, as " charissime," " be- atissime," " benedictissime."
NOTE 37, page 101.
HORSEY'S LETTER.
IN Prince's collection of papers in the Historical Society Library, is a letter from Henry Horsey to his brother, dated Newington Green, April 12, 1686, of which the following is an extract :
" We are now a parting with one of our best neighbors and friends, good Mr. Charles Morton, an eminent minister of the gospel, who, with his family, intends this month to embarque with Foy, in his ship for New England, which, as it is our loss, so we doubt not but will be that country's great gain ; for he is a person of great learning, and piety, and moderation, and of an excellent sweet natural temper, of a loving and generous spirit, who will be well worth your acquaintance and friendship in anything you can serve him in, especially in that he goes over in prospect of; viz., to be president of your college at Cam- bridge, who is a most accomplished person for that work, and will quickly in his government and education therein, give a reputation to it, it having been his employment many years in this place, with great success and blessings to all sorts that have been under his government. But considering the acquaintance and knowledge Mr. Stoughton and Mr. Dudley have of him, and my Father also, the bearer of this, I might have spared the giving you the trouble of these much concern- ing him; yet the love I bear to him, could not but extort these from me. He carries with him besides his wife, a very fine man, his nephew, a very good and ingenious person, who is a doctor of physic, and is of his uncle's name, Charles-his brother being already in the college, who came with Jenner, last winter. Perhaps Foy may depart hence before Clark ; and then you may both hear his character before this comes to your hand."
222
The following votes of the church, respecting the call and installa- tion of Mr. Morton, are recorded on small pieces of paper, marked No. 25 and 26, in the sixth volume of the Mather manuscripts, belong- ing to the Old South Church, and deposited in the Massachusetts Ilis- torical Society's Library.
" October 24, 1686. At a meeting of the church, the church did unanimously vote that application should be made to the elders of the three churches of Boston, to desire their help and assistance in the management of that work of setting apart or instituting the Rev. Mr. Morton to be the pastor of this church, and to Mr. Mather, senior, to take upon him the work and place of a moderator for the day, and in particular, to give the said Rev. Mr. Morton his charge."
On another piece of paper, and in a very different handwriting,
"24 October, '86. The congregation here in Charlestown was stayed. It was then put to vote, if it be the mind of this congregation to desire the Rev. Mr. Morton to take upon him the work of the min- istry in this place, and so to be your minister, your silence may mani- fest your consent herein. This vote passed without one objection. At the same time the members of the church were stayed-those in full communion ; and it was put to vote, that if it be the mind of the brethren of this church to desire the Rev. Mr. Morton to take upon him the office of a pastor in this church, manifest it by the usual sign of lifting up your hands. This vote passed unanimously."
In still another handwriting,
" Also the Rev. Mr. Morton did manifest his readiness and willing- ness to comply with the church's desire and call of him."
NOTE 38, page 109.
MORTON'S PUBLICATIONS.
SEVERAL of Mr. Morton's works are preserved in the Antiquarian Library at Worcester, and some are also to be found in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society. For the following list of his publications, I am indebted to Rev. Mr. Sewall, who derived it from Eliot and Allen.
They were, 1. The Little Peacemaker, on Proverbs xiii. 10 .- 2. Foolish Pride, the makebate, 1674 .- 3. Debts Discharged, Romans xiii. 8 .- 4. The Gaming Humor considered and reproved .- 5. The way of good men for wise men to walk in .- 6. Season Birds: an in- quiry into the sense of Jeremiah viii. 7 .- 7. Meditations on the first fourteen chapters of Exodus, &c .- 8. The Spirit of Man: meditations on I Thessalonians v. 23 .- 9. Of Common Places; or, Memorial Books .- 10. A Discourse on Improving the County of Cornwall .- 11. Considerations on the New River .- 12. Letter to a Friend, to prove money not so necessary as imagined .- 13. The Ark, its loss and recovery.
223
I have met with several copies of his "Compendium Physica," a philosophical treatise, which his students copied.
He composed also a system of logic, which the students of the col- lege were required to copy.
NOTE 39, page 112.
MODE OF CALLING AND SETTLING MINISTERS.
THE following paper, having reference to the delay of Mr. Brad- street's ordination, was kindly copied and sent to me by the Rev. Dr. Jenks.
" To the honored James Russell, Esq., to be communicated to the breth- cren of the Church of Charlstowne.
" Honored and Beloved Bretheren :
" Grace and peace be multiplyed unto you. We, observing that the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Simon Bradstreet intended to be carryed on at Charlstowne, to have been laid aside by an unexpected obstruc- tion put thereunto, occasioned either upon the misunderstanding of some matters between the persons concerned therein, or the suggestion of some non-cogent reasons, or some misapplyed Texts and instances of Scripture, (which might easily admitt of an answer as we appre- hend,) to the great dissatisfaction of severall persons, upon all which, and severall other considerations that might be added, have thought good to advise and persuade you, the Bretheren of the church of Christ at Charlstowne, upon a review of the things that occasioned the obstruction that you proceed to the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Simon Bradstreet, upon such Terms as he lately declared and yielded unto; and that you be ready willingly to embrace him, not only as a member of your Ecclesiasticall Society, but as an officer whom you have already chosen to the Pastorall office among you, he being orderly dismissed or Recomended from the Church of Christ in Andover into which, as we understand, he was some years since formally admitted; and that you quietly and freely submit to his administration of his office amongst you, according to the Rules of Gospell ; desiring also, that all former errours and mistakes on all sides be forgiven, laid aside and forgotten, and that there may be an endeavor on all hands, to walk together in love, purity and peace, that thereby you may obtain the God of Love and peace to be with you as he hath promised, which is the True desire of
" Yours in the Gospell of Christ." 1 (No signatures are given, and no date.)
I am not entirely satisfied with the explanation given pp. 111, 112, and am disposed to think that there was some ground for the censure
1 From the " Wyllys papers," belonging to Ashur Adams, Esq.
224
cast upon our church by the Boston churches. The following extracts from the town records, will exhibit the method pursued in the calling and settling of ministers.
" March 12, 1696-7. James Russell, Esq., moderator. Mr. Simon Bradstreet was chosen an assistant to Rev. Charles Morton in the min- istry. £80 salary voted.
" June 20, 1697. Mr. Bradstreet answered that he could not come for a month or six weeks, and then would, and in the meantime preach or provide help.
" May 13, 1693. Worshipful James Russell communicated to the town the fact of the choice by the church of Mr. Simon Bradstreet for pastor, and asked the concurrence of the town. Voted in the affirma- tive by the general lifting up of the hands. £100 salary voted.
" July 12, 1693. Rev. Mr. Simon Bradstreet met with the select- men and declared his acceptance of ' the call of the church and town, and did promise to carry on the whole work of the ministry among us. And then by the selectmen ordered that Deacon Kettle pay him out of the contribution money the proportionable sum every week, after the rate of £100 per annum, according to vote of inhabitants, May 13, 1698.'
" May 21, 1712. Voted by the town, ' that they would have another settled minister in the town.' 'The selectmen were appointed and desired to inform Mr. Bradstreet of the vote, and ask his concurrence, and make return the next general meeting, the last Monday in June next.'
"June 16, 1712. Mr. Bradstreet answered, provided the person was agreeable to the town, and also one that was agreeable to him, he did believe it would be an advantage both to the town and to himself.
" June 30, 1712. Voted that a committee be appointed to discourse with Mr. Bradstreet, and acquaint him that the town has impowered them to desire him to acquaint the church of their intention to chose another settled minister, and prays their assistance and direction therein.
" July 21, 1712. At a legal and general meeting of the inhabitants of Charlestown, Colonel Joseph Lynde was chosen moderator. Then the answer of the church to the town, concerning the getting another settled minister, was publicly read, which was as followeth :
" At a meeting of the church of Christ in Charlestown, July 18, 1712. The church having been acquainted with and considered of the town's desire of their direction and assistance in the choice of a person to be settled amongst them in the work of the ministry. It was declared and voted, that as the church doth approve of and concur with the desire of the town, to have another settled minister, so they would desire the town to join with them in an humble and hearty seeking unto God through Jesus Christ, by fasting and prayer for his gracious presence, conduct and blessing to guide and prosper them in such a weighty and important undertaking. The time intended and voted for the aforesaid fasting and prayer, is to be (God willing) the second Wednesday in August next.
" Attest, SIMON BRADSTREET, Pastor. " A true copy of the church's return.
" Attest, NATHANIEL Dows, Town Clerk."
225
" The town voted their concurrence with the church's answer.
" At a meeting of the selectmen, September 15, 1712.
" At a meeting of the church of Christ, in Charlestown, September 2, 1712. The church being convened to nominate three suitable per- sons to present to the town with whom they are willing (and have con- cluded) to join in choosing one out of the said number to be settled amongst us in the work of the Evangelical ministry. They did nomi- nate and appoint then three following; viz., the Rev. Mr. Joseph Stevens, Rev. Mr. John Webb, and the Rev. Mr. John Tufts. Mr. Stevens had 23 votes, Mr. Webb had 20, and Mr. Tufts 22.
" Attest, SIMON BRADSTREET, Pastor."
" Memorandum. The pastor of the church did not see cause to act in, but did suspend his concurrence with respect to the nomination of the Rev. Mr. John Webb. A true copy.
" Attest, NATHANIEL Dows, Town Clerk."
" A meeting of the inhabitants met in the meeting-house, September 22, 1712, 10 o'clock A. M., and made choice of Rev. Joseph Stevens, who had 104 votes, Mr. Webb 47, Mr. Tufts 8."
NOTE 40, page 113.
MORTON'S LATIN EPITAPH.
THE following epitaph was written by Rev. Simon Bradstreet, Mr. Morton's successor.1
Sacræ et sempiternæ Memoria Revdi. plurimum et clarissimi viri Dom. CAROLI MORTONI, Ecclesia Charlestoniensis Pastoris instructissimi : Nec non Collegii Harvardini Vice Presid. primi, æque ac insigniter in omni Literarum genere versatil. viri deniq ; tum in Anglia (ubi natus fuit et maxime floruit) fum in Nov-Anglia (ubi senilis obiit) permultis nominibus celebrandi. Qui vita hàc ærumnosa probè defunctus, April. die XI. Anno D. MDCXCVIII. ætatis sua LXXII. Ex parte sui Immortali ac nobilissima in Cælis triumphat : Ex alterâ verò, corruptibili seilicet, in hoc Monumento paulisper quiescit ; Expectans dum vocem audierit Filii Dei, quâ revocatus a morte in vitam verè vitalem, quàm gloriosus in eternum regnabit !
EPITAPHIUM.
Inclyta Mortonus musarum gloria quondam Et sacer Eterni Regis Legatus Jesu Post varios casus, post funera multa suorum
Sic cadit in eineres resolutus ab hoste supremo, Ut Domini virtute sui vietrice resurgens Gaudeat æternis, absorpta morte, triumphis.2
1 1 Hist. Coll. vui. 75. : 1 Mass. HI. S. Coll. viii. 76.
29
226
NOTE 41, page 116.
CHARLESTOWN LECTURE.
FROM Judge Sewall's manuscript journal, we learn that in Mr. Mor- ton's day, and probably before, there was a stated lecture held at Charlestown. This lecture, like the Boston fifth-day or Thursday lecture, was originally designed for the exposition of Scripture ; it was held once a month, on Friday. It was continued by Mr. Bradstreet, and was preached alternately by himself and Mr. Stevens, his colleague. In Mr. Abbot's time, it seems to have been converted into a lecture preparatory to the Lord's supper, such as is now common.
There is a manuscript volume in the possession of the Antiquarian Society at Worcester, containing a series of lectures on Matthew vii. 13, 14, delivered in Charlestown, by the second Thomas Shepard, 1668, and written out fairly with his own hand. The dates of the lectures, respectively, are May 15, June 12, July 10, August 7, Sep- tember 4, October 2, October 16, October 30, November 13, Novem- ber 27, December 11.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.