History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 51

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 51
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 51

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Mr. Dickinson was also fully alive to the zealous efforts of the Rev. Mr. Vaughan, his townsman, and others of the Episcopal ministry to extend the influ- ence of the Church of England in the colonies. The defection of Timothy Cutler, president, and Daniel Browne, tutor of Yale College, with Samuel John- son, minister of West Haven, Conn., to Episcopacy, in the autumn of 1722, followed by Messrs. Hart, Eliot, Whittlesey, and Wetmore, shortly after, pro- duced a profound impression throughout the country, turning the attention of the ministry and churches, both Congregational and Presbyterian, to what they regarded as "the assumptions" of prelacy. Mr. Johnson, having received Episcopal ordination, was appointed a missionary to Stratford and vicinity, in Connecticut,-the only Episcopal minister in the colony,-commencing his work in November, 1723. Que of his zealous parishioners shortly after pub- lished a pamphlet entitled " A modest Proof of the Order and Government settled by Christ and his Apostles in the Church." A copy of this pamphlet came into the hands of Mr. Dickinson, many of them, probably, being circulated in the town. He immedi- ately prepared and published, in 1724, at Boston, a reply in " Defence of Presbyterian Ordination."6

+ Ibid., pp. 62, 66, 67, 72. Webster's P. Chit., p. 359. Pref. to " Reason- ableness of Chy." p. ix.

5 Records, ut antea.

6 Sprague's Annals, v. 51. Chandler's Life of Johnson, pp. 26-32, 39, 69.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

His antagonist, wholly unable to cope with him in argument, called in the aid of his minister, Mr. John- son, by whom he was furnished with " a sketch of the common arguments in favour of the doctrine of the Church" of England, which the other sent in his own name to Mr. Dickinson. This drew forth an- other publication from the latter, in which he af- firmed that " High Churchism is properly no more a part of the Church of England than a wen is of the human body." To this, also, Mr. Johnson fur- nished his parishioner with a rejoinder. "Some time after Mr. Dickinson enlarged and printed his own papers in this dispute, upon which Mr. Johnson thought proper to publish what he had written on the other side." 1

The records of the Synod year by year give abnnd- ant evidence of his interest and activity in ecclesi- astical matters, as also of the confidence reposed in him by his brethren, his name appearing on almost every commission to which matters of moment were referred. He was appointed, Sept. 20, 1723, to visit certain memorialists in Virginia, and preach some Sabbaths to them within the year following. It is not known whether he went or not. His rare and commanding ability as a preacher subjected him to many invitations to go abroad and be helpful to other ministers and churches.2

That portion of the congregation who had removed back into the country, beyond the Rahway River, had in 1727 become so numerous, and found it so in- convenient to attend public worship in the old meet- ing-house, that they began to hold public services among themselves on the Lord's Day, and had se- cured the ministratious of the Rev. Nathaniel Hub- bel a portion of the time. The Westfield Church was organized probably at a somewhat later date.3

At the meeting of the Synod in 1727 it was pro- posed to require of every minister and candidate a hearty assent to the Westminster Confession and Catechism. No action was then taken. In 1728 it was taken up, but deferred until the following year. Mr. Dickinson at once took ground against the propo- sition. His constitutional love of liberty and his fear of any infringement of the rights of the ministry led him to oppose the measure and present his reasons for rejecting it. The overture had been printed. A response to it from the pen of Dickinson was also printed by Zenger at New York, a copy of which is found in the old South Church library, Boston. It is dated April 10, 1729, and shows that while he himself cordially accepted these symbols of faith, he was op- posed to all imposition of creeds of human com- posure. Having been placed on the committee to whom the proposition was referred, he succeeded in modifying it to such an extent as to unite the whole

Synod, with thanksgiving to God, in the support and adoption of the measure thenceforward known as " The Adopting Act." 4

It will be remembered that only a few weeks later Mr. Dickinson subscribed at home a paper designed to unite more closely and effectively his townsmen in their opposition to the pretensions of the East Jersey proprietors. Having cast in his lot with his people in defense of their homesteads, he proved himself in that controversy, as in the Synod, an invaluable counselor and organizer in defense of popular rights.

The period in which he served the church was noted for the prevalence of skepticism.

Mr. Dickinson set himself to breast and beat back the waves of error. He prepared and preached to his people a short series of discourses, which, soon after, were printed in a convenient manual edition, with the following title :

" The Reasonableness of Christianity, in Four Ser- mons, Wherein The Being and Attributes of God, the Apostacy of Man, and the credibility of the Christian Religion, are demonstrated by rational Considera- tions. And the Divine Mission of our blessed Saviour prov'd by Scripture-Arguments, both from the Old Testament and the New; and vindicated against the most important Objections, whether of ancient or modern Infidels. By Jonathan Dickinson, M. A. Minister of the Gospel at Elizabeth Town, N. Jersey. Cum dilectione fides Christiani : Sine dilectione fides daemonum: Qui autem non credunt, pejores sunt quam daemones. Aug. de charit. With a Preface by Mr. Foxcroft. Boston : N. E. Printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, for Samuel Gerrish at the lower end of Cornhill. MDCCXXXII."

The author is thus introduced by the Rev. Thomas Foxcroft, of Boston :

" The reverend and learned Author of the anauing Discourses neada not any Epistles of Commendation to such as are acquainted with his Parson and Character : Whoaa Praisa is in the Gospel thorowout all the Churches in those remote parts whare Divine Providence has cast his Lot. Naithar is ha unknown to the Publick : which has been favour'd with several lessar Writings of his, formerly publish'd on special occa- siona ; that must have left on tha Minds of those who have read tham, a grateful Relish, and such an Idea of Mr. Dickinson's peculiar Gevins, Capacity, and Judgment, as cannot bnt prepare them to coma with raised Expectations and a particular Gust, to tha perusal of the follow- ing Tracts ; Which it would therefora be as suparfinous to recommand to such, as it would ba thought vain in me to attempt a profusa Euco- mium on theui for the saka of others; nor iodaad would the knowu Modesty of tha Author indulge me in taking this Liberty."

In 1733 was published, at Boston, "The Scripture- Bishop Vindicated. . A Defence of the Dialogue Between Praelaticus and Eleutherius, upon the Scrip- ture Bishop, or The Divine Right of Presbyterian Ordination and Government, Against The Exceptions of a Pamphlet Intitled The Scripture Bishop Exam- ined. By Eleutherius, V. D. M. In a Letter to a Friend." This book, now exceedingly rare, was ascribed a few years later by Rev. George Beckwith,

1 Chandlar's Life of Johnson, p. 70.

2 Records P. Church, p. 74.

3 Ibid., pp. 83, 86. Wahster's P. Church, p. 386. Huntting's Ilts. Ser- mun, pp. 10, 13.

+ Records, pp. 89, 91-93. Hodge's P. Church, i. 162-73. Webster's P. Church, pp. 103-8.

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THE CITY OF ELIZABETH.

of Lyme, Conn., to Mr. Dickinson. It was undoubt- edly the product of his pen.

In the following year he was called to preach the funeral sermon of Ruth, the wife of his friend, Rev. John Pierson, of Woodbridge, and the daughter of the Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, of Hartford, Conn. The sermon was printed at New York the same year by William Bradford.I

In 1733 the Presbytery of East Jersey was formed out of the Presbytery of Philadelphia, and Dickinson became at once the acknowledged head of the new Presbytery. Iu 1734 his elder, Matthias Hatfield, accompanied him to Synod. As the early records of the church are not extant, it is only by reference to the records of the Synod that the names of the elders previous to 1765 can be ascertained. Robert Ogden had a seat in the Synod of 1721, aud Joseph Wood- ruff in 1722. In 1730 William Miller represented the church in the Synod; Joseph Woodruff, again, in 1740 and 1745; David Whitehead, in 1742; John Ogden, in 1743; Ephraim Price, in 1748; Joseph Ogden, in 1755, 1756, and 1762; Joseph Lyon, in 1759; Thomas Tobin, in 1760; Robert Ogden, in 1763; and Samuel Woodruff, in 1764 and 1765.2

Dickinson's next publication appeared in Septem- ber, 1735, anonymously. It was entitled “ Remarks on a Letter to a Friend in the Country ; containing the substance of a sermon preached at Philadelphia in the congregation of the Rev. Mr. Hemphill, in which the terms of Christian and ministerial commu- nion are so stated that human impositions are ex- ploded, a proper enclosure proposed for every re- ligious society, and the commission justified in their conduct towards Mr. Hemphill." 3

In the following year, 1736, Mr. Dickinson again became involved in a controversy about Episcopacy. An unhappy disturbance had been created in the church at Newark by a case of discipline.4 Col. Jo- siah Ogden was censured for Sabbath-breaking in laboring to save a crop of wheat on Sunday after long-continued rains. Being a man of great influ- ence a party was created, absorbing the disaffected elements of the congregation. Though the censure on appeal was removed by the Presbytery, and the Synod endeavored by a kindly interposition to heal the breach, the grievance proved incurable. The dis- sentients gravitated towards Episcopacy, and sought

of Mr. Vaughan and others Episcopal ministrations. In these circumstances Mr. Dickinson was invited and consented to preach at Newark on We nesday, June 2, 1736. His text was Mark vii. 15: " Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." The sermon was given to the press shortly after, with the title "The Vanity of Human Institutions in the Worship of God." It was called "his famed sermon," and was read with great interest. An answer was attempted by the Rev. John Beach, of Newton, Conn., who four years before had left the church of his fathers and con- nected himself with the Episcopal Church. He issued a pamphlet entitled " A Vindication of the Worship of God according to the Church of Eng- land." "A Defence" of his sermon was published by Mr. Dickinson in 1737, and a rejoinder was put forth the same year by Mr. Beach, under the title " Appeal to the Unprejudiced : In a Supplement to the Vindication of the Worship of God according to the Church of England." The controversy was closed by Mr. Dickinson in 1738 by his publishing "The Reasonableness of Nonconformity to the Church of England in Point of Worship. A Second Defeuce of A Sermon preached at Newark June 2, 1736, Intitled The Vanity of human Institutions in the Worship of God. Against the Exceptions of Mr. John Beach, in his Appeal to the Unprejudiced. Done in the Form of a Dialogue, wherein Mr. Beach's Arguments are all expressed in his own Words." 5

In the year 1737, about the time of the survey by Joseph Morss of the land back of the first moun- tain, the population had become so considerable as to make it desirable that a separate religious society should be constituted. The Presbytery of East Jer- sey, to whom they applied, granted the request, and sent them Mr. John Cleverly, a graduate of Harvard in 1715, who preached in a log house built for the purpose of small dimensions.6

In May, 1738, Mr. Dickinson and his church be- came connected with the Presbytery of New York, then newly formed by the union of the East Jersey and Long Island Presbyteries. 7

In the midst of the exciting controversies through which he had passed, Mr. Dickinson had not been in- attentive to the spiritual wants of his people. Faith- fully and earnestly he preached the word, and dili- gently he sought to lead his people to the cross for salvation. But the results were not answerable to his expectations. Of the year 1739 he writes : " Re- ligion was in a very low state ; Professors generally dead and lifeless ; and the Body of our People care- less, carnal, and secure; there was but little of the Power of Godliness appearing among us."

1 Webster, p. 358.

" Records P. Chh., pp. 94, 104, 105, 134, 148, 160, 163, 232, 235, 261, 270, 291, 297, 313, 322, 333, 341. Webster, p. 192.

3 Samuel Hemphill was an Irish adventurer, who had gained admis- sion to the Synod in 1734, and by means of a fluent tongue had been employed ae assistant to Mr. Andrews in the Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. His sermons savored so much of Deism and Arminianism that complaint was made to the Synodical Commission, by wbom he was tried, found guilty, and suspended. Benjamin Franklin was one of his hearers, aud warmly esponsed his cause. It was found, after all, that his sermons were uot his own, but were repeated verbatim from the Rev. Drs. Samuel Clarke, Ibbots, and Foster, men noted for their Arianism. On this discovery he sunk into obscurity. Webster, pp. 110-13, 416-20,

4 Stearus' Newark, p. 143. Mcwhorter's Century Sermon, p. 17.

5 Chandler's Life of Johnson, pp. 62, 63. Spragne's Annals, v. 82, 83, 85. App. to Green's Discourses, p. 298.

6 Ms. Records of 1. Chh. of N. Providence, 1. See history of Pre-by- terian Church of New Providence in this work.

7 Records of P. Chh., p. 134.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Some time in August, 1739, the people of Newark became deeply interested in religious affairs. The young particularly were remarkably exercised, and many of them were hopefully converted from the error of their ways. The concern at length became general, resulting in a marked reformation among all classes and large accessions to the church. 1

In November, 1739, while this revival was in prog- ress at Newark, the Rev. George Whitefield, then a youth in his twenty-fifth year, whose fame as an elo- quent divine and an awakening preacher had pre- ceded him, first visited these parts. On his way from Philadelphia to New York, and again on his return to Philadelphia, he passed through this town :

" Wednesday, Nov. 14. Set out from Brunswick, io Company with Mr. Teonent and my other Fellow-Travellers; and as we passed along we spent our Time most agreeably in telling one another what God had done for our Souls. About Noon we got to Elizabeth Town, 22 Miles from Brunswick. Here we took Boat, and about Four reached New York.

" Monday, Nov. 19. Took Boat about Five in the Morning, and reached Elizabeth Town Point at Seven. Dined with Mr. Dick enson, a worthy Dis- senting Minister, who had seot a Letter of Invitation to New York, and offered me the Use of his Meeting-house. About Twelve I preached in it, according to Appointment, to upwards of 700 People, many of whom seemed much affected, and God was pleased to open my Mouth against both Ministers and People among all denominations who imprison the Truth in Unrighteousness." ?

In reference to this discourse Mr. Dickinson says,-

" I could observe no further Influence upon our People by that Address than a general Thoughtfulness about Religion; and a Promptitude to make the Extraordinary Zeal and Dilligence of that Gentleman the common and turuing Topick of their Conversation. I don't know that there was any one Person brought under Conviction, or any new and special Concern about their Salvation by that Sermoo, nor more than one by any Endeavours that were used with them that Fall or the suc- ceeding Winter."

In the spring they were favored with another ser- mon from the gifted Whitefield. On Monday, April 28, 1740, after preaching at ten o'clock A.M. to a great congregation in Woodbridge, he says,-

" After Sermon, I and my Friends dined at the Di-genting Minister's [Rev. Jolin Pierson's] House, who invited mie to preach ; aod then we hasted to Elizabetb-Town, where the People had been waiting for me some Hours .- I preached in the Meeting Ilonse, as when I was there last. It was full, aud was supposed to contain 2000 People. Near ten dissenting and two Church Ministers were present. I used much Free- dom of Speech. No doubt some were offeuded : But Events belong to God .- Alter Sermou I intended to ride six Miles : But being over-ruled by the Advice of Friends, I stopped, aod lay at au Inn all Night, bear the Waterside where People take Boat tu go to New York [E. Town Point].13

Mr. Dickinson thus describes a revival which began under his own ministry in June, 1740 :

" Haviog at that Time invited the young People to hear a Sermon, there was a numerous Congregation conveen'd, which consisted chiefly of our Youth, tho' there were many others with them. I preach'd lo them a plain, practical Sermon ; without auy Pathos or Pungency, or any special Liveliness or Vigonr; for I was then in a remarkably dend and dull Frame, till enlivened by a sudden and deep Impression which visitdly appear'd upon the Congregation in general .-- There was no ('ry- ing ont, or Falling down; (as elsewhere has happen'd) but the inward Distress and Concern of the Audience discover'd itself, by their Tears, and audible Sobbing and Sighing in almost all Parts of the Assembly. There appeared such Tokens of a solemn and deep Concern, us I never

before waw in any Congregation whatsoever. From this Time, we heard no more of our young People's meeting together for Frolicks and ex- travagant Diversions, as had been usual among them; but instead thereof, private Meetings for religious Exercises were by them set up in several Parts of the Town. All our Opportunities of publick Worship, were carefully and constantly attended by our People in general ; and a serious and solemn Attention to the Ministry of the Word, was observable in their very Countenances. Numbers were almost daily repairing to me, for Direction and Assistance in their eternal Concerns. There were then probably more came to me in one Day on that Errand, than usually in half a Year's space before. In a Word, the Face of the Congregation was quite altered; and Religion became the common Subject of Conversation among a great Part of the People.4

" Tho' there are some of those who were then under special Convic- tions, that have worn off their Impressions, and are become secure and careless; yet I don't know of any two Persons, who gave reasonable Hopes of a real Change at that Time, but what have hitherto by their Conversatiee confirmi'd our Hopes of their saving Conversion to God.

" I would be very cautious of any confident Determinations, with Re- spect to the Conversion of particular Persons; but if we may judge the Tree by the Fruits, which we have now bad so long a Time to ob- serva, we have Besson to suppose, that near abont sixty Persons have received a saving Change in lbis Congregation only; (and a Number in the Parish next adjoining to us, tbo' I dare not pretend to guess low many ) since the Beginning of this work." 5

The revival of 1740, it is well known, was of wide extent and of vast influence in the English provinces of America. But, with all its manifest and mar- velons benefits, it was not unattended with serions evils, affecting to no small extent the peace and purity of the churches. Ever watchful for the in- terests of religion, and ready at all times both for aggressive and for defensive measures, Mr. Dickinson set himself to meet the demand of the times. In 1741 he sent forth "The True Scripture Doctrine Concerning some important Points of Christian Faith ; Particularly, Eternal Election, Original Sin, Grace in Conversion, Justification by Faith, And the Saint's Perseverance. Represented and Applied in Five Discourses." These discourses were re- peatedly reprinted in Great Britain and America. Foxcroft, in his preface to the original edition, gives it unqualified praise :

" I'm of opinion, a book of this nature has long been wanting among us; and I give unfeigned thanks to God, which put this same enruest care for us into the heart of our brother: whose praise is in the gospel throughont the churches, particularly by means of his elaborate writings in vindication both of the faith and order of the gospel, and other more practical publications .- I look upon his present work the supply of a real deficiency ; and more especially seasonable at this juncture. Now as Paul said of Timothy, I have no man like-minded, so I will preenme to speak it, without any design of flattery or offence, I know no men better accomplished (in my opinion) for a work of this kind, than Mr. Dickinson."

He next prepared and published at Boston in 1742 " A Display of God's special Grace. In A familiar Dialogue Between A Minister & a Gentleman of his Congregation, About the Work of God, in the Con- viction and Conversion of Sinners, so remarkably of late begun and going on in these American Parts. Wherein the Objections against some uncommon Appearances amongst us are distinctly consider'd,

1 Prince's Chn. Ilistory, i. 252-54.

2 Whitefield's Journal, i. 274, 277.

3 Journals, i. 349.

4 Writing to Mr. Foxcroft, Sept. 4, 1740, he says, " I hinve bad more young people address me for Direction in their spiritual Concerne within this three Months than in thirty Years before."

Prince's Christian History, i. 255-58. Gilles' Ilis. Coll., ii. 142-46.

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Mistakes rectify'd, and the Work itself particularly prov'd to be from the Holy Spirit. With An Ad- dition, in a second Conference, relating to sundry Antinomian Principles, beginning to obtain in some Places."

The first edition was anonymous, but sent forth with an attestation, signed Boston, Aug. 10, 1742, by the. Rev. Messrs. Colman, Sewall, Prince, Webb, Cooper, Foxcroft, and Gee, all ministers of Boston. A second edition was published at Philadelphia in 1743 with the author's name, and an additional at- testation by Messrs. Gilbert and Wm. Tennent, Sam- uel and John Blair, Treat, and Finley. " No con- temporaneous publication," says President Green, " was probably as much read or had as much in- fluence." 1

In 1743 he published " The Nature and Necessity of Regeneration considered in a sermon from John 3:3, preached at Newark, N. J., at a meeting of the Presbytery there. To which is added some Remarks on a Discourse of Dr. Waterland's, entitled ' Regen- eration stated and explained according to Scripture antiquity.' " 2

In 1745 his prolific pen produced "Familiar Let- ters to a Gentleman, upon A Variety of Seasonable and Important Subjects in Religion," a work of very great ability, in which he discusses colloquially and familiarly with direct reference to prevailing preju- dices the evidences of Christianity and the doctrine of God's sovereign grace in the redemption of men. The way of salvation by repentance and faith is clearly exhibited, and the dangers of Antinomianism are fully set forth. It has been frequently reprinted at home and abroad, and with his book on " the Five Points" is on the catalogue of the Presbyterian Board of Publication.

Out of the revivals of 1741 grew the controversy known as the "Old Side" and the New Side. Mr. Dickinson after vainly striving for several years to bring about reconciliation finally united with the "New Side" party in constituting the Synod of New York.

The first meeting of the new Synod was held Sept. 19, 1745, at the Presbyterian Church in this town, twenty-two ministers and twelve elders being present. Elder Joseph Woodruff represented this church ; Mr. Dickinson was chosen moderator. His opening ser- mon the following year at New York was from Psalms xxiv. 4. 3

In the midst of these troubles and anxieties, preach- ing, writing, publishing, and caring for his own flock and the churches of the Synod, his soul was stirred within him at the benighted condition of the savage tribes in New Jersey and the adjacent provinces. In connection with Pemberton, of New York, and Burr, of Newark, he addressed in 1740 " the Honor-

1 Green's Discourses, App., pp. 256-61.

2 Records P. Chh., pp. 160, 163.

3 Ibid., pp. 232-34.

able Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge," formed at Edinburgh in 1709, and urged them to send missionaries to the Indians on Long Island, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. These three brethren were appointed correspondents of the society, and author- ized to employ missionaries to the Indians. They prevailed on Azariah Horton, a brother of Simon Horton, of Connecticut Farms, in this town, to un- dertake a mission to the Indians at the east end of Long Island, for which purpose lie was ordained by the Presbytery of New York in 1740. Two years later they engaged David Brainerd for a similar ser- vice among the Indians near New Lebanon, N. Y. In 1744 (June 11th), Brainerd was ordained at Newark for a mission at the Forks of the Delaware. + From the time of his removal to New Jersey Brainerd found in Mr. Dickinson a faithful counselor and de- voted friend, and in his house an ever-welcome home. At the time of his ordination he spent more than a fortnight here. In April following, 1745, he was here again. In August he came on to consult with Mr. Dickinson. November 10th he occupied the pulpit, preaching in the morning from 2 Cor. v. 20, and in the afternoon from Luke xiv. 22, and took up a collection for the Indian mission amounting to £7 58. Od. He spent the next Sabbath here also, and several days afterwards. The first week in December he was here again in attendance on the Presbytery at Connecticut Farms, also the third week in January in consultation with the correspondents, and supplied the pulpit at Connecticut Farms on the 26th. The second week of April found him here again in attend- ance on the Presbytery, again on the 29th for three or four days, and the first week of July. He met the Presbytery here again on the 22d, and remained

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 51

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224