USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Charlestown > The history of the First church, Charlestown, in nine lectures, with notes > Part 7
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After a long and labored explication of the text, he announce. the doctrine, " That the undeniable experience which the covenant people of God have had of the Lord's being to them not a wilderness nor a land of darkness, but the contrary, should caution them never to incur the guilt of so unreasonable a sin and dangerous folly and provocation, as to revolt from under the Lord, or to be unwilling to return again in case they have begun to decline from him." This he supports by six reasons ; and from it derives three uses, which he carries out under many divisions and subdivisions.
I will quote an extract from this discourse, under its third use, which was that of exhortation.
" Let the schools flourish. This is one means whereby we have been, and may be still preserved from a wild wilderness state, through God's blessing upon the same, and from be- coming a land of darkness, and of the shadow of death. Cherish them therefore, and the college in special : and accor- dingly that there may be a seasonable (while affections are warm) and a faithful improvement of the contribution for the new edifice there, and what else is needful for the encourage- ment and advancement of learning in that precious society ;
1 Note 31.
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- the fall and sinking whereof (which the Lord forbid) I should look at as presaging the ruin of this land also : Let it never want a benign aspect for the flourishing of that dear nursery ; lest otherwise there come to be either no ministry, or an illite- rate and (and in that respect in former times accounted) a scandalous and insufficient ministry, neither burning nor shining lights. Keep the good old way here experienced of a godly learned ministry, wherein the people of God have tried and found so much of the presence and glory of the Lord, crowning the same with so choice a blessing as he hath done : and God hath no need of a New Cart, or of Uzzah's hand to save the shaken ark; nor did a good intention excuse him from death by God's immediate hand and stroke from heaven, when the Lord's institution is crossed in that matter.
" 2. Let the liberties of the churches also be preserved and maintained ; for the church is as a light upon an hill ; the peo -- ple of God are to shine as lights in the world; therefore thereby also the land is instrumentally kept from being a land of dark- ness. Let the scripturally unworthy be debarred the holy things in the sacrament, and, which they have no right unto by rule. 'Pulsent fores,' said Cyprian of old, &c., though they bounce at the door, yet let them not have it opened to them, till duly qualified for the same. There is much and may be more danger of such bold-faced hypocrites ; and there- fore, O that no such intruders may be suffered to disturb and vex the dear people of the Lord in any of their just liberties ! and that a malignant spirit of prophaneness (which this poor people is in great hazard of feeling the woful impression of ) may timeously be crushed, and so not permitted to blow out gospel light, even the lights of the sanctuary here. Nor let there be any ludibria medicorum spiritualium, or what may be any standing reproach to the healing ways and instruments of Jesus Christ here, seeing there is sufficient balm in Gilead provided by Christ for every spiritual disease in his church. Let not the way of the rigid Separatists, and the like, be acted over again here, till the churches be buried in confusion. In case of the divisions in churches, hath not the Congregational way balm for this wound appointed by Christ, but Morellius must be raked out of his grave to be the only physician ?
"3. Let the ministry (who also should be instrumental, in
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their sphere, to keep this land from becoming a land of dark- ness) be duly encouraged. There have been and are com- plaints this way respeeting their outward subsistence in many places, (I bless the Lord I am not under any temptation therein, being liberally and abundantly well provided for by the good people I live among ; and therefore I may speak the more freely and boldly for others, ) I fear there is too sad negleet in divers towns. It was a sign Nehemiah was away when the Levites were fain to go into the fields, Neh. xiii. 6, 10, 11, when they are forced to turn to the meadow, to the cart, and to the plow, &c., or else they cannot live, or at least not live out of tor- menting debt. Is this the fruit of God's being no wilderness to us? O generation, see the word of the Lord. Mind the example of good Hezekiah, 2 Chron. xxxi. 4; he encouraged such ; (O take heed that there be not on the other side found among us a discouraged ministry, respecting such I mean as are able and faithful ministers of the New Testament, who would gladly spend and be spent for their people ; ) 'He commanded the people,' (it is there said ) and it was not therefore left as an arbitrary thing, or as an alins ; and mind the front of it, i. e. v. 10, ' Since the people began to bring their offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat ; for the Lord hath blessed his people, and that which is left is this great store.' If particular churches or towns are really not able to supply the necessity of him that 'labors in the word ' among them, should not such a poor people be relieved ? might it not do well if some additional provision were made out of some public bank or stoek for an honorable relief of such? and that thereby we ' bear one another's burdens'? and ' be we not de- ceived, God is not mocked ' in this very matter. Gal. vi. 6, 7 ; 1 Cor. ix. 14; Ezra vii. 24, &c. Must they be rated will and doom ? Ah, when men's hearts die to the word, no wonder if they soon die to the dispensers of it : and then 'what means this waste ?' and proud, covetous, disingenuous, unwise, cap- tious, carping, bold, selfish spirits and principles will be stirring: and 'let us take turns to preach,' (and to govern the church also as moderators in it,) 'rather than have this costly ser- vice ? ' And ' what a weariness is it?' &e. If it must be so, should we wonder if the Lord take them away that are such a charge, and ease people of such a burden ? Oh, 'muz-
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zle not the mouth of' that 'ox that treadeth out the' spiritual 'corn.' And though anti-christian begging friars live by alms, yet let it not be said of a Protestant people, or of these churches, that they are so sordid in their spirits as to truckle under a mendicant ministry ; and that will be a flattering and an unfaithful ministry at length, that is made to bow under the temptation of 'needing the alms of the people :' and remember that a person or people may become guilty of sacrilege by withholding what is due this way, as well as by robbing or taking away that which is already dedicated or given in to God, Mal. iii. S, and that withholding is there called robbery ; though I am far from pleading here for the quota pass there spoken of in particular, but only as to the sin in general, the apostle ranks it with, yea aggravates that sin of sacrilege above idolatry in the New Testament. Rom. ii. 22."
The ministry of Mr. Shepard, as I have before said, was destined to be a short one. In the year 1677, the small pox prevailed very extensively in this place, and caused great mortality.1 At that time it was so little under the control of medicine, that like the plague it spread death and consternation on every hand. To discharge the duties of a pastor at such a juncture, was to incur the loss of life. But Mr. Shepard, who since the death of the venerable Symmes had faithfully per- formed all the duties of a pastor to his people, was not deterred from continuing to discharge them in the midst of these dangers. One of his flock was taken with the disorder, and desired a visit from him. He went with his life in his hand, expecting to be arrested by the fatal contagion ; as an elegy upon his death expressed it,
" Rather than run from his work, he chose to die, Running on death, sooner than duty fly."
" Behold," says Mather, "a shepherd, who was 'vir sui nomi- nis!'" a man whose name expressed at once his character and his office.
" He tranquilly fell asleep in the Lord Jesus," says the Latin epitaph 2 upon his tombstone, "on the 22nd December,
1 The names of ninety-one persons are registered as having died of this disease during the winter of 1677 and 8 in this town, and a special order was passed by the seleetmen that the bell should on no account be tolled more than three times a day, because of the discouraging effect it had upon those who were siek of the small pox.
2 Note 32.
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1677, in the 43rd year of his age, wept over by the tears of all New England; and evermore to be lamented." He is described to have been " a very holy man, much distinguished for his erudition, his various virtues, and winning manners ; a learned theologian, and eminent preacher : in his faith and life a true bishop : a meritorious promoter of the cause of letters, having been a watchful guardian of Harvard College, and a primary fellow of the academical government. He sought not his own, but the things of Jesus Christ."
The following verses were also inscribed upon his tomb.
Let fame no longer boast her antique things, Huge pyramids and monuments of kings :
This cabinet that loeks up a rare gem,
Without presumption may compare with them. The sacred reliques of that matchless one-
Great Shepard,-are enshrined below this stone.
Here lies entombed an heavenly orator,
To the great King of kings embassador : Mirror of virtues, magazine of arts,
Crown to our heads and loadstone to our hearts :
Harvard's great son, and father too beside,
Charlestown's just glory and New England's pride :
The church's jewel, college's overseer, The clergy's diadem without a peer :
The poor man's ready friend, the blind man's eyes,
The wandering wildered soul's conductor wise :
The widow's solace, and the orphan's father,
The sick man's visitant, or cordial rather :
The general benefactor, and yet rare
Engrosser of all good; the man of prayer ;
The constant friend, and the most cheerful giver,
Most orthodox divine and pious liver :
An oracle in any doubtful case,
A master-piece of nature, art and grace.
In this bed lie reposed his weary limbs ; His soul's good company for seraphims.
If men be dumb in praising of his worth, This stone shall ery, for shame ! and set it forth !
And then as if these lines were altogether unworthy of their subject, a Latin distich is added, which declares emphati- cally, 'that if no verses but such as were worthy of Shepard, should be inscribed upon his tomb, it would be left with- out any.'
" Si Sheparde tuo, nisi qua sint digna sepulchro, Carmina nulla foreut, carmina nulla foreut." 1
1 Mather's Mag. b. 4, ch. iv.
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But notwithstanding the turgid extravagance of the epitaph, the warmth and energy of its expressions afford sufficient evidence that Mr. Shepard was held in the highest esteem and affection by his cotemporaries. He seems to have been beloved as well as admired. Cotton Mather tells us that "the whole country was filled with lamentations upon his decease ;" and many expressed their feelings in the language of one of the many elegies bestowed upon him :
" Next to the tears our sins do need and crave, I would bestow my tears on Shepard's grave."
At the next commencement, the Rev. Urian Oakes, Presi- dent of the College, and the particular friend of Mr. Shepard, pronounced a warm-hearted and eloquent eulogium upon his character, in the course of a Latin oration, delivered before the alumni and officers of the institution. From this tribute to his memory, we learn that "he was possessed of undissembled piety and uncommon learning, united with modesty, amiable manners, and noted industry. His countenance was grave ; his words well-considered and weighty ; and his gestures be- coming and unaffected. He was of a very sedate turn, sin- cere and open, possessed of a fertile mind, and a penetrating judgment, and distinguished for the mildness and sweetness of his manners."' 1
Mr. Shepard's will has been preserved in the probate office, and bears date, June 5, 1676. It commences as follows :
"I, Thomas Shepard, being, through the Lord's mercy, in good health at this present, yet not knowing how soon my earthly house of this tabernacle may be dissolved, do therefore make my last will and testament as followeth, viz. committing my soul into the everlasting arms of my dear and blessed Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ, and believing the glorious resurrection of my body (after its decent interment) at the last day ; and also leaving my dear wife, and my beloved children Thomas, Anna, and Margaret, to him who is the God of the widow and the fatherless, and is ever mindful of his covenant, and [as] he hath been my father's God and mine, so let him be theirs and their portion forever."
1 Note 33. Mather's Magnalia, II. 102.
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He left his books and writings to his son Thomas ; and bequeathed £5 apiece to his aged and honored schoolmaster, Mr. Elijah Corlet of Cambridge ; to his honored guardian Capt. Daniel Gookin, whom he chose at his father's death, when a lad of fourteen; to his brother Jeremiah, and to his cousin Thomas Graves ; and to this church, " my dear Lord's precious flock" - the money to be expended for pieces of plate. The will concludes with the Latin and Greek words, " Pasce oves, Domine Jesu, dozinoquev." His estate was apprised to be worth £2,386 ; his library, £100.
Thomas, who is mentioned in the will, succeeded his father in the ministry, as will be mentioned hereafter. Anna Shep- ard was married to Daniel Quincy, and became the maternal ancestor of the venerable ex-president of the United States, their son, John Quincy, being the person after whom he was named.1
The death of Mr. Shepard left the church without a minis- ter for the first time. This vacancy continued for more than two years, during which, an unhappy division grew up among the people, and the church were unable to unite in calling a minister. They appear, however, to have united in extending a call to the Rev. Joseph Brown, already mentioned, but he declined for some reason, and removed to Boston. After this a call was given to Mr. Daniel Russell, of whom also mention has been made; but to this a minority were so strenuously opposed, that a council was found necessary to compose the difference. Some very curious papers2 have been preserved, respecting this case, in a collection by John Winthrop, first governor of Connecticut, whose brother-in-law was scribe of the council.
The council was formed on the 5th of November, 1678, and among their names may be found those of the governor and others most distinguished both in church and state.
One of the papers preserved is entitled, " A Brief Narrative of some of the most considerable Passages of this Church, and their several Committees acting since the death of our dear and revered Teacher, Mr. Thomas Shepherd, who departed this life the 22nd Dec. 1677." "This declaration was pre-
1 Note 34.
2 3 Hist. Coll. I.
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sented by the church, and after reading in the public meeting, was then voted by them as the substance of transactions in this matter."
From this official document, it appears, that soon after the death of Mr. Shepard, the church extended a unanimous call to Mr. Joseph Brown, as has been stated. After this, the com- mittee were desired " to provide transient help for carrying on the worship of God on the Lord's days ; and likewise some of the brethren desired, that they would use means to obtain a settled supply as soon as might be." At this time the com- mittee had in view "Sir Shepard," -the son of their late pastor, and "agreed to invite him to preach with us one ser- mon, that so, having a taste of the gifts and graces of God bestowed upon him, that then they might have the precedency of any other people in that matter. But it was concluded that they must apply themselves to the obtaining an officer sooner than he was like to undertake such a work." For this pur- pose the neighboring ministers were applied to for advice who might be the fittest man to propound to the church. " Capt. Laurence Hammond, Mr. John Heman, and James Russell, went to Watertown Lecture, and after lecture, went to the house of Mr. Sherman, where was also Mr. Willard of Boston ; to whom they declared the matter, and desired their advice. Mr. Willard mentioned Mr. Woodbridge of Hominossett ; but they replied, they were not willing to rob any place. Mr. Sherman then mentioned Mr. Daniel Russell, and Mr. Isaac Foster, and then concluded that Mr. Foster, was the fittest person they could think of at present. The Committee next went to Rev. Mr. Oakes's house, the President of Har- vard College, and he recommended Mr. Foster. Accord- ingly Mr. Foster was propounded to the church the next Sabbath day. Nothing was said at this time about asking the concurrence of the young Mr. Shepard, and this subsequently became one of the sources of grievance on the part of the dis- senting brethren. At the same time, liberty having been given to the church to propose any other person, the following candidates were nominated, Mr. Daniel Russell, Mr. Thomas Shepard, Mr. Samuel Nowell, Mr. Zechary Sims, Mr. Gershom Hubbard," (Hobart.) The church were desired to signify their choice at the next church meeting.
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On the 19th May, 1678, Mr. Shepard preached his first ser- mon.1 The week following, some were in favor of proceeding to give him a call, but Mr. Thomas Graves opposed it as being likely to prejudice his interests, and then it was concluded to endeavor to obtain another officer sooner than young Shepard was likely to be prepared.
On June 9, it being Sabbath, the church was staid in the evening, and Mr. Thomas Graves inquired of the church, if they had determined respecting any of the candidates men- tioned. "Then Mr. Elias Maverick began, and propounded Mr. Daniel Russell, a person, whose parents were honorable amongst us, and he was brought up with us, and is one of this church, that we have had good satisfaction in, he judged to be a meet person. In this nomination, most of the brethren agreed. The committee were called upon to speak ; some concurred, but Capt. Hammond declared that he judged it unreasonable, that they should be urged so suddenly to declare their thoughts, alleging that it was imposing upon them." After some discussion the meeting was adjourned to meet again after an interval of sixteen days.
At the next meeting, Mr. Shepard was propounded to be the first man to be called to office. 'This gave rise to a debate, the majority supposing that the meeting was called in reference to Mr. Russell. " Capt. Hammond intimated that they would run a hazard of losing Mr. Shepard, if they proceeded to call Mr. Russell. Most were for calling both Mr. Russell and Mr. Shepard at that time. But it was declared by Capt. Ham- mond, Mr. Graves, and Dea. Ludkin, that the church's pro- ceedings were irregular, unreasonable, and out of the way of God." This gave rise to much discussion and excitement, and " so the meeting broke up without concluding anything."
On the 22nd of July, the matter was referred to the church, the committee being divided, four being in favor of extending
1 He was at this time not quite twenty years of age. It was not five months since the death of his father ; and he rose in the place from which his father had so recently fallen, to address his father's flock, - among whom he had been born, baptized, and nurtured. It must have been a solemn and affecting occasion, hardly less so to the people than the youth- ful preacher. With a judgment as much evincing his good taste as luis filial affection, he chose for the text of his first discourse the following highly appropriate words : " Ile is my father's God, and I will exalt him." Ex. xv. 2. With such a text and on such an occasion he could not have failed to be eloquent. We are told that "he discoursed with a very charming, solid, and serious gravity."
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a call to Mr. Russell and Mr. Shepard, and five against it. After some discussion who should be put to vote first, although the eyes of the church were upon Mr. Russell for present sup- ply, yet, hoping to gratify some, it was agreed that Mr. Shep- ard should be first voted, provided both were voted at that time. Accordingly both were called to the work of the ministry.
The next Lord's day, the congregation were staid to desire their consent to the action of the church. Mr. Shepard, in answer to the call, " thankfully acknowledged the church and town's love to his honored father and himself, and gave them very good encouragement that they might in time enjoy his help." Mr. Russell replied that he was willing to help them at present in the work of the ministry. And the church returned him thanks for his acceptance as far as he had ex- pressed it, and desired him to continue in the work of the ministry amongst us."
The dissenting brethren being still dissatisfied, the majority decided upon calling a council; and the three churches in Boston, together with those of Cambridge and Watertown were invited.
The reasons for dissent presented to the council by the minority were the following. 1. They judged their brethren to have been too undeliberate, over-hasty, and precipitate in their motions for Mr. Russell. 2. They had not used any means to see whether Mr. Shepard could freely and cheer- fully join with. Mr. Russell in the work of the ministry. 3. They judged that, "although Mr. Russell might be of good use in the work of the ministry in some other place, he was not so meet for the managing of the work of a church officer in this place ; and consequently, that it is neither safe for the church to call him thereunto, nor for him to accept thereof." These reasons of dissent were signed by " Laurence Ham- mond, Thomas Graves, Jonathan Hayman, Aaron Ludkin, Samuel Ward."
With the result of council upon these particular premises, we are not acquainted. Whatever it might have been, the subject of contention was soon removed by the providence of God, for Mr. Russell died a few months after, in January, 1679. This event left Mr. Shepard alone before the eyes of
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the people, and he appears to have been quietly ordained in a little more than a year after.1 His ordination is thus recorded by himself on the baptismal register. "I was separated unto the work of the ministry, and ordained pastor of this church, 5th May, 1680. Pasce oves, ό ποιμεν όμεγας.27
It will be seen by this record that Mr. Shepard did not suc- ceed his father to the office of teacher; this office was never again filled by an officer especially ordained to the work. After this time the distinction seems to have been lost. But Mr. Shepard was not ordained to both offices; and especial assistance seems to have been afforded him towards the supply of the pulpit.
Upon the town books, under the date of September 1, 1679, we find the following minute. "Mr. Thomas Shepard having accepted to carry on the work of the ministry in this town: it is therefore ordered that he shall have £100 per annum, and the usual allowance to be given to what transient help he see cause to get for the supply of the ministry in this town." And April 5, 1680. It was "ordered, that there be allowed 10s. per every sermon that is preached by strange ministers."
Mr. Shepard was ordained by Mr. Sherman of Watertown, and received the right hand of fellowship from his father's bosom friend, President Oakes. According to the uniform practice of the time, Mr. Shepard preached his own ordination sermon. Ile took his text from Hebrews xiii. 20. " That great Shepherd of the sheep." An introductory sermon ap- pears also to have been delivered, which probably occupied the place of our modern "address to the people," and " charge ; " this discourse was founded upon Ez. xxxiii. 7, "Son of man I have set thee a watchman." It concluded in the following manner : - "Be much in prayer for your watch- man, and particularly for him, who is this day to be established in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ among you ; you have honored yourselves in thus expressing the love and honor which you had for his excellent father ; and as it was said in Ruth ii. 20,-' Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living, and to the dead ;' so I will say to you, Blessed be this church of the Lord, that you show kind-
! Note 35.
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ness unto your dead pastor, and to his living son. As for him, that is now to become your watchman, he needs your prayers ; I may say of him as David of Solomon, 'My son is young and tender, and the house is magnificent.' I know not whether any so young as he, was ever left alone with such a charge. Now though the work be great, yet the Lord Jesus Christ is able to carry him well through it all ; but it must be through the help of your prayers, that he comes to have such a supply of the Spirit. Pray for him in particular, and that every day ! Who knows what God may do for you, in him, and by him, as in and by his father before him ? Let it be your prayer, that he would take of the Spirit that was in his futher and grandfather ; who were both of them great men in their generation, and bestow thereof a double portion upon him. And let that word encourage you, 'My Spirit which is upon thee, and my word which I have put into thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord.' "
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