The Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N.J. : v. 1-5 Jan. 1880-Dec. 1885, pt 1, Part 49

Author: First Presbyterian Church (Morristown, N.J.); Green, R. S. (Rufus Smith), 1848-1925
Publication date: 1976
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 826


USA > New Jersey > Morris County > Morristown > The Record of the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N.J. : v. 1-5 Jan. 1880-Dec. 1885, pt 1 > Part 49


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It seems from the above conversation that Dr. Green had two sets of opinions in regard to Mr. Barnes. On the one hand, he thought him good enough for heaven ; but on the other, he was sure that such a man was not fit to be in the Presbyterian church. On the one hand he was sure that Mr. Barnes would occupy a very high seat


in Heaven, so that to sit at his feet there would be a glorious privilege; but at the same time he regarded him as a very pest- iferous man in the church, and worthy only to be rejected by his brethren and cast out as a heretic, not delaying even for " the first and second admonition " required by the apostle. However, I have no doubt that Dr. Green most sincerely believed what he said ;- that he really believed Mr. Barnes to be a "man of deep piety before God." I only wonder that it never occurred to him, that the same kind of doctrine that had borne such holy, heavenly fruit in the life and character of Albert Barnes would have been excellent in church and state, for the upbuilding of Christian character in minis- ter and people.


An apology is due to the readers of the RECORD for the delay in the issue of this month's number. That delay was due to imperative engagements, in another direc- tion, which prevented the performances of the editorial duties requisite to prepare this number.


AN OLD DEED


For the burying ground at Whippany has been placed in the hands of the editor of the RECORD. The original paper is in the possession of William Howell, Esq., the present Sheriff of the county of Morris, by whose kind permission a copy is presented to the readers of the RECORD. It is copied verbatim, et literatim, et punctuatim.


"To all Christian People to whom These Presents shall Come : Greeting &c. Know Yee that I John Richards of Whipanong in ye County of Hunterdon in ye Province of New Jersey Schoolmaster for and in con- sideration of ye Love Good will & affection which I have and do bear towards my Christian friends and Neighbours in Whip- anong afores'd as also for ye desire & Re- gard I have to promote & advance ye Pub- lick Interest Especially of those who shall or may Mutually covenant by subscription to Erect Build and place (upon the Land by these Presents Granted) a Decent & Suit- able Meeting house for the Publick Worship of God Have Given & Granted and by these Presents do fully, freely and absolutely,


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THE RECORD.


Give, Grant, Alein, Convey & Confirm from me my heires Executors & adm'rs forever unto those persons of my Neighbours as afores'd who shall Covenant-by subscription and to their heirs and successors forever one certain piece or Tract of Land Contain- ing Three Acres and one half (be it more or Less) Scittuate lying and being in ye Town- ship of Whipanong on that part commonly called Peceepanong on ye North Easterly side of Whipanong River beginning sixteen Rods & a half distance above my house I dwell in : at a white oak tree standing by ye path side near by River, mark'd on two sides from thence runing seven Chains northwesterly Butted and Bounded South Easterly and Northwesterly with my own Land Southwesterly with Whipanong River and North Easterly upon ye Highway Twenty Rods Distant from sd River. To have and To Hold the said Hereby Granted Land with the appurtenances : only for Publick use Benifit and improvement for a meeting house, Schoolhouse, Burying Yard, Training field, and such Like Publick uses to the said Covenantors by Subscription and their Heires and successors for ever furthermore it is the true intent & mean- ing of Grantor and Grantee in these Pres- ents that ye sd Granted Primises is not to be Given, Granted, Bargained. Sold, Alinat- ed, Exchanged, Leased to farm Lett or Con- verted to ye particular use or Improvement of any person or persons neither for Pub- lick advantage or any other pretence what- soever or by any way or means whatsoever Alinated or Reverted from the Publick use & Improvement as afores'd and I ye sd John Richards do for myself my heires, Ex- ecutors and adm'rs Covenant Promise and Grant to and with ye sd Grantees who have made themselves so: or hereafter shall make themselves so by their subscribing, their heires and successors for ever shall and may from time to time and at all times forever hereafter Have hold use Occupie possess and enjoy ye above sd Land & primises to yuse above sd without any man- er of Lett Hindrance Molestation Eviction Ejection or Deniall of me ye said John Rich- ards my heires Executors administrators or assigns or by or from any other person or persons whatsoever by from or under in or by any of our means, Act, Privity Title


or Procurement. In Witness whereof I have hereto sett my hand and seal this second day of September Anno : 1718 and in the fifth year of ye Reign of our Sover- eign Lord George by ye Grace of God of Great Britain ffrance & Ireland King De- fender of ye faith &c.


Signed sealed & Delivered Inn JOHN RICHARDS L. S.


ye presence of


JEDIDIAH BUCKINGHAM JOHN COOPER."


The history of this old deed is interesting. It was found, after his death, among the papers of the late Calvin Howell, the father of Sheriff Howell, who was a prominent citizen of that part of the county of Morris, and who died several years ago, quite an old man.


The paper originally belonged to the Presbyterian church at Whippany, and although the records and papers, belonging to that parish, were removed to Hanover, when the Presbyterian church at that place was built, this deed must have been retain- ed, as, after the death of Mr. Calvin Howell, in searching through the drawers of an old desk, it was found in a sort of secret drawer.


The first church in Morris county, a Pres- byterian, was built upon the lot conveyed by this deed in 1718. The edifice fell into de- cay, and the timbers were utilized in the erec- tion of the church at Hanover. The lot is now used as a burial ground, and, in the in- closure is to be found the grave of John Richards, the grantor in this deed, marked by a head stone bearing Mr. Richards's name, the date of his birth and death. The stone is made from brown sandstone in the old-fash- ioned manner, subject to decay, but rever- ent hands have cared for it, removed the moss and preserved it from the operation of time and accident.


The congregation, worshipping in this church at Whippany, came from Morris- town, Madison, Parsippany, Hanover and Chatham, and the church was the centre, for many years, for all that region of country represented by these places. The church at Hanover was built in 1755, but in 1746 and 1748, other churches had been built in other parts of the county, one at Morris- town and the other at what was then called Bottle.Hill, now known as Madison.


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THE RECORD


FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MORRISTOWN, N. J. " THIS SHALL BE WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME."-Psalms 102 : 18.


VOLUME IV.


JANUARY, 1884. NUMBER 13


{Printed with the Approval of the Session. ]


THE RECORD


Will be published monthly at Morristown N. J. Terms $1.00 per annum, in advance. Subscriptions may be made at the book- stores of Messrs. Runyon and Emmell, or to Messrs. James R. Voorhees and William D. Johnson, or by letter addressed to the


EDITOR OF THE RECORD,


Morristown, N. J.


Entered at the Post Office at Morristown. N. J., as second class matter.


THE ENLARGED SUPPLEMENT.


In the Supplement to this month's num- ber of the RECORD, will begin the publica- tion of the oldest records of the church. It is not the purpose to print these records in full, but matters of special importance and interest will be selected, so that the Supple- ments, from this date, may be bound in a separate volume, which will contain the salient facts in the history of the church, for the one hundred and fifty years of its existence. In order to make the volume complete in itself, a reprint of portions of the Trustee's book will be necessary. New matter, however, to the extent of 96 pages, or eight per month, for the twelve months of the year, will regularly appear ; and all necessary reprint will be furnished to sub- scribers, gratuitously in addition. It is calculated that the publication, in this form, will be completed in two years. If sufficient encouragement be given, a full list of all the names upon the Registers of the church, arranged alphabetically and grouped by families will then be printed, which may be added to this separate volume and be bound with it. In the meantime, the pub- lication of the chronological lists of Bap- tisms, Communicants, &c. will be continued. I he was impeached by the Rev. Dr. Junkin.


This change will, materially, interfere in the future conduct of the paper, with some cherished plans connected with the histories of the churches of the City and County and, also, with notices of persons identified with the past of the church. But, as these old records seem more important and, so much time would be required to print them, if the present mode of publishing the paper were pursued, it has been thought best to make the proposed change. The plan, how- ever, of giving sketches of the lives of pastors and prominent members of the con- gregation, and of presenting histories of the churches of Morristown and vicinity is, by no means, abandoned. Considerable ma- terial has been gathered for that purpose, which will be utilized from time to time, so far as practicable.


MR. BARNES'S SERMON ; "THE WAY OF SALVA- TION."


William L. King, Esq., has kindly placed a copy of this celebrated sermon at the dis- posal of the RECORD. It was preached, February 8, 1829, in the First Presbyterian Church, at Morristown, and was printed in 1830, by Jacob Mann, the proprietor of the Palladium of Liberty. At the time ofits de- livery, there was an extensive revival of re- ligion in the congregation.


It was stated, in the December number of the RECORD, that this sermon was the occa- sion of the trial of Mr. Barnes for heresy, This, perhaps, was an error; it may not have been the immediate cause of that trial, for,at the time of the charge against him, Mr. Barnes was Pastor of the first Presbyterian Church, at Philadelphia, and consequently, a member of the Presbytery to which that church was attached, and before which body


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THE RECORD.


But, if this sermon were not the immediate cause of the trial, the charges against Mr. Barnes were for holding sentiments, iden- tical with those declared from his pulpit at Morristown, and it was for holding these opinions, that he was deposed by the Synod to which Dr. Junkin appealed from the judgment of the Presbytery.


It is impossible for Presbyterians of the present day to understand the fierceness of discussion which characterized the contro- versy between the two branches of the church. Dr. Junkin, Mr. Barnes's great an- tagonist, pursued his opponent with an acrimony, which seemed, at times, to be any thing but brotherly. It is well that those dark times of trouble and dissension, when good and holy men could not agree upon doctrines, have passed away. Perhaps there would have been no real differences, if those, who so varied in opinion, could have alike understood the meaning of words and phrases.


The sermon was evidently, prepared by its author, with the greatest care. He has added foot notes, quoting numerous texts of scriptures, by which he sustained his various positions.


The sermon will be printed so as to pre- sent to the readers of the RECORD the utter- ance of this great man, than whom no one was more competent to give voice to views upon the distinctive dogmas of the church to which he belonged. It will be necessary, for want of room, to omit the quotations, and possibly, the foot notes; but, it is hoped, that the space may be given to these notes, or at least to some of them, as they are suggestive, certainly, of one fact, that Mr. Barnes was aware, when writing the sermon, that he was not in accord with the standards of doctrine, as received by the Presbyterian Church.


THE WAY OF SALVATION.


" But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done,. but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ onr Saviour ; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."-Titus, iii. 4, 5, 6, 7.


All men have some scheme of salvation. Except the very lew cases where individuals are thrown into a state of despair, there are none who do not expect to be happy beyond the grave. The proof of this is found in the composure with which most men look at eternity, and in their indifference when warned of a coming judgment. It requires the utmost strength of human hardihood, when a criminal looks without trembling of limbs on the gibbet where he is soon to be executed; and we infer, that there is no hardihood so great, no courage so strong. as to look upon eternal sorrow with a belief that it will be ours, and be unmoved. When we see, therefore, so many unconcerned about their eternal state ; so many profes- sing to believe that they are exposed to end- less suffering, and still unanxious about it ; the fair conclusion is, that not one syllable of the book that teaches this is truly be- lieved. It is not, cannot be, human nature, to believe this, and still sit in indifference. Every man, therefore, has some secret scheme by which he expects to be saved. Yet it is perfectly clear that there can be but one scheme of Salvation that is true. If the christian plan is true, then all others are false. If others are true, then there was no need of the sacrifice on the cross, and the scheme is an imposition. The admission then-an admission which probably all the sinners that I address would readily make- the admission that the christian religion is true, is a condemnation of all other systems, and shuts out all who are not interested in the plan of the gospel, from all hope of heaven.


The text contains the substance of the whole christian scheme. It expresses, I believe, every point that is peculiar to Christianity. It may be regarded as one of those condensing paragraphs, or summaries of the scheme, expressing all that is original in the plan in few words, in which the sacred writers seem to delight. It brings together distant doctrines-scattered rays of light, to be surveyed in the near neighborhood of each other, and to set off each other by the reflected light thrown from one point of view to another.


It is not often that a subject so extensive as the whole Christian plan of saving men, is introduced into the pulpit, with a view of


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giving its great points in a single discourse. I endeavor, from week to week, to explain particular parts of it, and to press its promi- nent doctrines and duties on your attention. It has occurred, that in the state of things now existing in this congregation, there is demanded a full, single view of God's way of saving men. Such a view, according to the interpretation which we give to the Bible, I wish this morning to present. If a demand somewhat more than usual should be made on your attention, it will be remembered, I trust, that it is difficult to give even an out- line of the christian religion in a single dis- course ; and perhaps it will be deemed hazardous to have attempted it. Let me fur- ther premise, that I shall be indebted very much to your own knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures for the proofs of the particular points which I shall consider. I foresee that it will demand no ordinary degree of atten- tion on the part of my hearers to obtain. and do justice to the views which I shall present,-perhaps no ordinary candor to necessary obscurity of statement, and bar- renness of illustration. For the views them- selves, if fairly understood, I ask no indul- gence, They are the views, if I mistake not, of God; and I am bound only to present them with fairness, and you to receive them into good and honest hearts.


What, then, is God's plan of saving men ? What are the great leading points on which that plan is based, and to bring out which, is the design of the Bible? These are the questions which it is my wish, in few words, to answer. It will be seen at once, that the text ascribes all the honor to God, and none to men. It will be the design in this dis- course, honestly, in this respect, to follow the representation of the text. Sinners and saints, people and preacher, may expect from this plan an unqualified condemnation, and a pressing claim to lay aside all their own honor, and to ascribe all glory to God.


I remark then, in the first place, that God's plan of saving men is based on the fact that the race is destitute of holiness. So says the text. Not by works of righteousness which we have done. If it were not so, there would have been no necessity for the scheme. Men would have possessed full capability of saving themselves. If men, be- fore or since the promulgation of this plan


of mercy, had any of the elements of holi- ness ; or any traits of character, which could, by culture, be wrought into a texture of righteousness, then the design of interposi- tion in this manner would have been a work unnecessary, and would not have been done at all. The design of interposing to save mankind, supposed that in themselves they were lost and must be ruined, if left to their own guidance.


In the explanation of his position, it is im- portant to be understood. It is not asserted by the friends of the christian religion that all men are as bad as they can be ; or that one man is as bad as another ; or that there is no morality-no parental or filial affection -no kindness or compassion in the world- no love of truth, and no honest dealing among men. The friends of religion are r.ot blind to the existence of these qualities in a high degree; nor are they slow to value them, or to render them appropriate honors. . They suppose that the Bible presents the fact, that all these things may exist, and diffuse a charm over society, and cement the body politic, and still there be an utter des- titution of right feeling toward God. They suppose that natural amiableness is no proof that a man is not selfish ; that because a child loves its parent, it is no evidence that the child has any regard to God ; and that it is possible that a man may be very kind to the poor, and very just in his deal- ings, and still have a heart full of pride, and selfishness, and envy, and be an entire neglector of God in the feelings of his soul, and in regard to prayer, and to every act that expresses homage to the Deity. Christ- ianity does not charge on men crimes of which they are not guilty. It does not say, as I suppose, that the sinner is held to be personally answerable for the transgressions of Adam, or of any other man ;* or that


*It is not denied that this language varies from the state- ments which are often made on the subject, and from the opinion which has been entertained by many men. And it is admitted that it does not accord with that used on the same subject in the Confession of Faith, and in other standards of doctrine, The main difference is, that it is difficult to affix any clear and definite meaning to the expression, " we sinned in him, and fell with him," It is manifest, so far as it is capable of interpretation, that it is intended to convey the idea not that the sin of Adam is imputed to us, or set over to our account ; but that there was a personal identity constituted between Adam and his posterity, so that it was really our act, and ours only, after all that is chargeable on us. This was the idea of Edwards .- The notion of imputing sin, is an inven- tion of modern times : it is not, it is believed, the doctrine of the confession of faith. - The Author of this discourse intended in the Sermon only to state what he conceived to be the doc- trine of the Bible, Christianity affirms the fact, that in con-


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God has given a law which man has no power to obey. Such a charge, and such a requirement, would be most clearly unjust. The law requiring love to God, supreme and unqualified, and love to man, is supposed to be equitable; fully within the reach of every mortal, if there was first a willing mind. Every man is supposed to be under obligation perfectly, and for ever, to obey that law ; be he in heaven, earth, or hell,- be he a king on the throne, or a beggar in the streets,-be he a bondman or a freeman.


What then is the fact on which the plan of mercy is based ? It is simply, that all men have failed to yield obedience to the requirements of this reasonable law-that there is not an individual that has given evidence that he has not been its violator. The violation of this pure law is held to be the first act of the child when he becomes a moral agent ; the continued act of his life, unless he is renewed ; and the last act on his dying pillow. His whole career is set down as one act of rebellion, because he neglects God, is selfish, is proud, is cherish- ing enmity against his Maker, is opposed to the acts of his government, and is unfriendly to all the efforts made to produce better feel- ings. In innumerable instances this want of holiness, this destitution of love to God and man, goes forth in acts of falsehood, impurity. blasphemy, theft, murder, unkind feelings, and implacable individual and na- tional war .-- In support of this presentation of the character of men, the sacred scrip- tures assert the naked fact, claiming to be the testimony of God. Christianity has moreover recorded the history of the world, under inspired guidance, for more than two- thirds of its continuance, and presents no exception to the melancholy account of men. Profane writers, with no reference to any theological debate, and nine-tenths of them with no expectation that their testi-


mony would ever be adduced to settle ques- tions in Divinity, have presented the same fact. Not one solitary historian, though coming from the midst of the people whose deeds are recorded, and designing to give the most favorable representation of their character, has exhibited a nation bearing any marks ot holiness. The world, the wide world is presented as apostate ; and he must be worse than blind that would at- tempt to set up a defence of the conduct of men.


Christianity appeals to individuals. All who have been converted by its power, have given their decided testimony, to the darkest representations of the human heart, in the sacred record. Men, before, of all charac- ters, the moral, and the vicious, have con- curred in the representation that they were by nature the children of wrath, and that their hearts were enmity against God.


On this broad fact-wide as the world, and prolonged as its history-the christian scheme is based. Here is an apostate pro- vince of God's empire. Rebellion invaded it, not as it did the ranks of heaven. There it cut off a fixed number ; all mature in wis- dom and knowledge, It would not spread ; it could not be extended to successive tribes. Here, it poisoned a fountain. It was amidst God's works, at first but a little spring, pour- ing into a rill, but soon swelling to creeks, to rivers, to lakes, to oceans. An incalcula- ble number would descend from that first pair of apostates ; and with prophetic cer- tainty it could be foretold that not one of all their descendants would escape the con- tagion to the end of time, however long the apostate world might be suffered to roll amongst the orbs that preserved allegiance. To all ages it would be the same-rising, sinning, apostate, dying man. On each is- land, on each mountain, in each valley, in cach cavern, wild or civilized, it would be the same. Crime would be heaped on crime ;- whole nations would bleed ;- whole soils be wet with gore ;- whole tribes would wail ;- and generation would tread on gene- ration-and then themselves expire-and all die as enemies of the God that mado them. Il: What could be done ? What was done to arrest the evil ?- I remark, secondly, that a plan of salvation was devised on the (To be continued.)


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nection with the sin of Adam, or as a result, all moral agents in this world will sin-and sinning, will die, Rom. v, 12-19. It does not affirm, however, any thing about the mode in which this would be done. There are many ways conceivable m which that sin might secure the result, as there are many ways in which all similar facts may be explained. The drunkard commonly secures as a result, the fact that his family will be beggared, aliterate, perhaps profane or mtemperate, Both facts are evidently to be explained on the same principle as a part of moral Government, The Bible does not, it is be- leved, affirm that there is any principle of moral government in the one case that is not in the other. Neither the facts, nor any proper inferences from the facts, affirm that I am, in either case, personally responsible for what another man did before 1 had an existence.




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