USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 2 > Part 23
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" What remains of this Discourse more particularly claims the atten- tion of you my Revered Bretheren of the clergy.
"The real labourer in the Vineyard of the Lord laments that his toils are rendered fruitless through the obstinancy, immorality, nay open
.
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prophaness of those of the same profession with himself. And our weaker Bretheren complain of the scorn and contempt with which those are treated who avow their principles and dare to appear in earnest in their Duty. Strange indeed that the empty scoffs of the unlettered Libertine should avail more than the applauses of the Learned and wise ; yet stranger still that men whose minds and understandings have been enlarged and adorned by science should ever blush to own themselves ministers of a dispensation which even the Angels of Heaven desire to look into.
" To the consideration of the timid and half-professing Brother I would urge the terrors of the Lord, if I knew how to describe them in stronger terms than they are already expressed in the Text.
"To those whose guilt is of a deeper dye I am persuaded that such arguments must ever prove ineffectual as some virtue is required to be duly sensible of the punishments that await its base Betrayers. In this case it may be expedient to answer the Fool according to his Folly. Let such therefore reflect that the world though leagued with Infernal powers in opposition to the Cause of Christ in this eminent opposition seems to combat in its cause. The monstrous inconsistencies of their conduct with the sacred character they bear, strikes even the souls of riot with astonishment, who when lost to every other sense of good- ness, are yet frequently observed to treat with becoming scorn a minister of the gospel who turns either a Reprobate or an Apostate."
NOTE. - The original of this sermon was loaned by General James Grant Wilson to a clergyman. On the death of that clergyman, a copy of the sermon was found among his papers, but the original had dis- appeared. It is from the copy, therefore, that the sermon has been printed as above. This will account for the obscurity of one or two of the sentences. Possibly, also, we have not the end of the sermon, as in all the original MS. sermons of Dr. Provoost, the final ascription is invariably written out or indicated.
OTHER SERMONS
IN THE POSSESSION OF THE RECTOR, TIIE CORPORATION OF TRINITY PARISH, AND OTHER PERSONS.
IN THE POSSESSION OF THE RECTOR.
(1) August 2, 1767. St. Paul's, Morning. Trinity, Afternoon. (I Kings xix., 4, latter part of the verse.)
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At the end is the following roster, in Provoost handwriting :
TRINITY. ST. GEORGE'S. ST. PAUL.
Aug. 2d.
Mr. Inglis, Mr. Ogilvie, Mr. Provost,
Mr. Provost, Mr. Inglis, Mr. Ogilvie,
" 9th.
Mr. Provost, Mr. Inglis, Mr. Auchmuty,
Mr. Auchmuty, Mr. Provost, Mr. Inglis."
(2) October 16, 1768. St. Paul's, Afternoon. October 23, 1768. St. George's. Trinity, Afternoon. (Mark xii., 30. )
Letter of declination of the offer of St. Michael's Parish, addressed to George Abbott Hall, Esq., at the back of this sermon. Given in full on pp. 52 and 53.
(3) April 9, 1769. St. George's, Morning. St. Paul's, Afternoon. January 21, 1770. Trinity, Afternoon.
Preached at St. Paul's, February 15, 1784.
(Ezekiel xx., 20.)
The following opening words of this sermon were added after its first delivery. They bear transcribing for their historical connection : "I formerly discoursed upon these words, but today being fixed upon by the Clergy of various denominations in the City for the reading the King's Proclamation for the encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for preventing and punishing vice, prophaness and immorality and particularly for a religious and careful observance of the Lord's day it may not be improper to recapitulate what I then said upon the subject."
At the end of the MS. is a letter to her mother by Provoost's wife, but in the writing of her husband. Also copy or draft of a letter to Mrs. Provoost's brother, presumably in her writing. It is followed by an amended draft of the same letter, but in Provoost's own hand.
(4) December 14, 1766. St. George's Chapel, Morning. December 14, 1766. Trinity Church, Evening.
(Matthew v., 44.)
The front page contains the words, "To Mrs. Dorothea Bousfield," in the Bishop's writing.
The last page has his autograph and date 1766. It has also the text from St. James's Epistle, ii., 10.
(5) (No date as to when preached.)
(Psalm xcv., 6.)
The opening words, " It is my brethren with the utmost gratitude to the Supreme Being that I find myself enabled after so long an Inter-
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Dr. Provoost's Sermons
mission to resume the Duties of my Office, and again to unite with you in worshiping and falling down, and kneeling before the Lord our Maker," however, indicate that the sermon was, if not the first, at any rate one of the first that Provoost preached on his return to New York in 1784.
The latter half of the book has another sermon, delivered on
Whitsunday, 1787. St. George's, Morning. St. Paul's, After- noon.
Whitsunday, 1799. Trinity, St. George's. (Ephesians v., 18.) IN THE POSSESSION OF THE RECTOR.
The Rector has in his possession five MS. sermons, three of them in the same hand, the other two in different handwritings. There is every reason to believe that they belonged to Dr. Provoost, and were repreached by him, although there is no date or memorandum on them showing when preached. One sermon, however, contains on the last sheet the following roster :
Trinity Sunday.
ST. PAUL'S.
TRINITY CHURCH. ST. GEORGE'S. Mr. Provost, Mr. Auchmuty, Mr. Ogilvie,
Mr. Auchmuty, Mr. Ogilvie, Mr. Provost.
June 21st.
Mr. Ogilvie, Mr. Provost. Mr. Auchmuty.
Mr. Provost, Mr. Auchmuty, Mr. Ogilvie.
In the hope that some reader may be able to throw some light on the authorship of these sermons, the following description of them is given :
(i.) Numbered 78, and containing the following memoranda on the cover :
78. Exercitationes Practica. par 32.
Tis seldom that we see good men so wise for ye concernment of their souls and of Religion, as most worldly men in their secular affairs. On Luke 16.S. For ye children of the world are in their generation more wise than ye children of Light.
Preached at Brookland and Old Romney. Oct. 22. 1710. Old Ro : Aug 14:15 Old R. Jan: 25. 1718. Exercitatio V.
(ii.) 79. The necessity of reproving sinners and severely prosecuting obstinate offenders. Preached at Old Romney October 6. 1700. Box 13. Sermon In. (Rev. 3. 19.)
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History of Trinity Church
(iii.) 80. 81. The profession of the Faith of the Trinity Confirmed. 2. Cor xiii. 14. The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and ye Communion of the holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.
2 Ser preached May 28. 1727. O. Ro.
June 13. Trinity Sunday O. Ro. 1731.
(It is this sermon book, containing two sermons on the same text, that has in Mr. Provoost's handwriting the roster above given.)
These three sermons are written by the same person in a beautifully clear hand on paper 72 x 5 inches.
(iv.) (a) Proverbs 20. v. 9. Who can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin ?
At the end there is the place and date when preached, - Chorley, March 10, 1731.
(b) Jeremiah. 13. 23. Can ye Ethiopian change his skin or ye Leopard his Spots, y may ye learn to do well who are accustom'd to do evil ; and, at the end, Chorley May 21. 1732.
(v.) Heb. x. 22. Sacrament Days.
On the last page is the following list of places where preached :
Liverpoole. N: Ch: May 17 Mat. Sacram: day 1730.
Ditto. Old Ch: 1730. August 15 Sun: in ye month.
Holland. August 234 1730. M: Ash: @ His Lady, Neggs & Co:
Billinge. Sep. 27. 1730. M: Bankes @ His Lady, The Revd: M: Walley Esq! WT @ οι πολλοί,
Whitehaven. 4? Sun: in Advent, 1730.
Holland. Febr 6th 17312 Neggs @ οι πολλοί,
Ditto. Nov. 13. 1737. : April 154 1738. Wrote over afresh.
Ditto. July 2ª 1738. Mat: Neggs @ His, M' Ashton @ ot ToXAof.
Ditto. March 18. 173% et Mat: @ Pom: Sacram': day. Neggs @ His, La Master Ashton, W" Bankes, Cawley @ Hooton, de Wigan, & οι πολλοί. 2. Sun: in Lent.
Winwick. Decem! 6th: 1741. Mat: M's Birchall @ δι πολλοί. Sactm: day.
And on the previous page there is the entry : "at K S Winford Octob: ye 4th m. 1747." 1
1 As a result of inquiries made at the Lichfield Diocesan Registry, it has been as- certained that in 1758 the Rev. William Pigott, M.A., was Rector of Kingswinford, but it cannot be said who was Rector in 1747. The Parish Clerk at Kingswinford reports that on the date when the above sermon was preached, Oct. 4, 1747, there is an entry in the Parish Register, but, unfortunately, no signature of the officiating minister.
From other inquiries it has been ascertained that the Rev. John Deffray was Rec-
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Dr. Provoost's Sermons
IN THE POSSESSION OF THE CORPORATION.
In the collection of MS. Sermons owned by the Corporation of the Parish there are one hundred and twenty-eight sermon books in all. One hundred and twenty-six of them are without any extraneous matter. Two of them have additional matter.
(i.) A sermon book containing two sermons from the same text - James iii., 16 - with the following notes as to when delivered :
November 6, 1768. St. George's, Morning. Trinity, Afternoon. November 13, 1768. St. Paul's, Afternoon.
July 11, 1784. St. Paul's, Morning.
The second sermon is a continuation of the same subject, from the same text.
November 13, 1768. Trinity, Morning.
November, 20, 1768. St. George's, Morning.
December 4, 1768. St. Paul's, Morning.
July 11, 1784. St. Paul's, Afternoon.
It also contains drafts of two letters.
(a) Draft of a letter in Dr. Provoost's hand, for the full text of which see Appendix VI.
(b) Draft of a letter to Provoost's brother James, given on page 45 of the text.
The first two lines are crossed out. They originally read :
"As I am not overstocked either with paper or news I shall scribble the little I have to say in the blank space Maria has left me."
These lines bear out the contention that it was through lack of paper, while at East Camp, that Provoost made use of the blank pages in his sermon books for writing out drafts of letters, etc. (See pages 39 and 40.)
(ii.) Containing texts set for a child :
" What a pity is it that we can die but once to serve our country."
"Wonder is the daughter of ignorance and the mother of wisdom."
" Man is the only creature endowed with the power of laughter ; is he not also the only one that deserves to be laughed at ?" etc., etc.
Of the other one hundred and twenty-six sermons, two are specially interesting on account of the occasions when preached.
tor of Old Romney, Kent, from October 6, 1700, to June 13, 1731 ; that the Rev. Thomas Johnson was Vicar of Brookland, Kent, from 1677 to 1727 ; that the Rev. James Ryley was Rector of Chorley, Lancashire, in 1731 and 1732; and that the Rev. John Stanley was Rector of Winwick, Newton-le-Willows, in 1741.
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History of Trinity Church
(i.) Funeral sermon on the death of Miss Nancy Buckingham, who died March 8, 1766, daughter of Captain Josiah Buckingham of Milford.
(ii.) On the Anniversary of the King's Accession. preached October 25, 1767.
In these MS. books there are often three sermons in each. The date when preached ranges from September, 1766, to Easter day, April 13, 1800.
The Corporation collection also contains :
(a) Three sermons by unknown authors, repreached by Dr. Pro- voost, on " The Incarnation," "The Prodigal Son," and "When I am in heaviness I will think upon God."
(b) A MS. book containing extracts from various authors bearing on the question of Schism. All in Dr. Provoost's handwriting.
(c) Fifteen sermons by an unknown writer, written and first preached between January 6, 1750, and April 24, 1774. Mostly re- preached by Dr. Provoost, the latest date being September 2, 1798.
IN THE POSSESSION OF THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
February 8, 1767. St. George's, Morning. St. Paul's, After- noon.
July 19, 1776. Trinity, Afternoon.
March 6, 1785. St. Paul's, St. George's.
June 24, 1798. St. George's, St. Paul's.
July 22, 1798. Trinity.
Eccles. vii., 14.
The following Italian verses are on the cover :
" O sostegno del mondo, Degli uomini ornamento, e delli Dei,
Bella virtude, il mio piacer tu sei Se dalle stelle
Tu non sei guida
Fra le procelle
Dell' onda infida
Mai per quest'alma calmna non v'è
Tu m'assicuri ne' mici pengli, Nelle sventure tu mi consigli, E sol contento -
Sento Perte."
The Rev. Joseph Hooper, M.A., of Durham, Ct., has in his posses- sion one sermon preached from Rom. xiii., 12.
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The King's Farm
VIII.
RESOLUTION AND REPORT OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEM- BLY ON TITLE TO KING'S FARM.
RESOLUTION.
On Monday, November, 1784, "Mr. Adgate made a motion for a resolution, which having been agreed to by the House, the House con- curred in a resolution, in the words following, viz.
WHEREAS all lands vested in the King of Great-Britain, while it was a Colony, is now vested in the people of the State. And Whereas it is conceived, that certain lands in the City and County of New-York, for- merly called and known by the name of the King's Farm, and the King's Garden, is now the property of the State, which was by law sequestered for the use and benefit of the Governor's of the late Colony for the time being; and the said Governor's respectively, were pro- hibited from leasing or granting the said lands for a longer period than their respective continuance in office. Therefore
Resolved, that a Committee be appointed to examine the laws and records of this State, concerning the premises, and to make report thereon. That Mr. P. W. Yates, Mr. Denning, Mr. Adgate, Mr. Go- forth, and Mr. Pell be a Committee for that purpose, and that the Sec- retary of the State be ordered to furnish the said Committee with such extracts from the records as they may think necessary for the informa- tion of the Legislature."
REPORT.
Mr. P. W. Yates, from the Committee, appointed to examine the laws and records of the State, concerning the right and title to certain lands in the city and county of New-York, formerly called and known by the name of the King's Farm and Garden, reported the following to be a state of facts, relative to the said Farm and Garden, viz.
Ist That in the year 1697, Benjamin Fletcher, Esquire, then Gover- nor of the province of New-York, gave a lease to the church wardens and vestrymen of Trinity Church, of a part of the said lands, called the King's Garden and Farm, for the term, of seven years ; and gave grants of other parts of the said lands to other persons, as fully appears by the following recitals in an act of the then Legislature, entitled, "An Act for vacating, breaking and annulling several extravagant grants of land,
1 Journal of the Assembly of the State of New York, A. D. 1784, p. 66, in the Library of the New York Historical Society. (Title-page missing.)
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History of Trinity Church
made by Colonel Fletcher, the late Governor of this province, under his Majesty, passed the 12th May, 1699, viz.
WHEREAS their Excellencies, the Lords Justices of England, have, by their instructions under his Excellency the Governor, bearing date the tenth day of November, one thousand six hundred ninety-eight, directed his said Excellency, to use all legal means, for the breaking of extravagant grants of lands in this province.
And whereas there is another extravagant grant of land, made in manner aforesaid, unto the said John Evans, bearing date the ninth day of August, one thousand six hundred ninety four, registered in the Secretary's-office, containing a certain swamp and fresh pond, called The Fresh-Water, and adjacent to the King's-Farm, formerly called the Duke's Farm, on the island Manhattans, beginning at a stake set in the ground, on the south side of the said pond, and at the north-east corner of the land belonging to William Merrit ; thence it rangeth along the south side of the said swamp and pond, by the upland to the beach, on the east-side of Hudson's-River, so along to the beach to the upland, thence crossing a small gut of said swamp, to the land on the east side thereof ; thence by the said land as it runs, to the east side of the tan yard, and thence to the place where it begun : To have and to hold the said certain swamp and pond, and appurtenances, unto the said John Evans, his heirs and assigns, for ever, under the yearly reserved rent of one pepper corn.
And whereas, there is another extravagant grant of the King's-Farm, in manner aforesaid, being a lease or demise of the said Farm, unto the church-wardens and vestry-men of Trinity Church, for seven years from the date thereof, being the nineteenth day of August, one thousand six hundred and ninety-seven, registred in the Secretary's office ; To have and to hold the said Farm and appurtenances, unto the said church-wardens and vestry-men of Trinity-Church, their successors and assigns, for the term of seven years from the date hereof, until the said term of seven years be fully ended, under the yearly reserved rent of Sixty Bushels of Wheat. -
And whereas there is another extravagant grant of land, out of the King's Garden, in manner aforesaid, unto Colonel Caleb Heathcote, bearing date the second of April, one thousand six hundred ninety-six, and registred in the Secretary's office, containing a certain lot or toft of ground, lying without the stockadoes of the city of New-York, near ad- adjoining [sic] to the locust trees, which were formerly part of the King's-Garden ; containing in breadth twenty seven feet, and in length fifty feet ; To have and to hold the said lot or toft of ground, unto him,
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The King's Farm
the said Caleb Heathcote, his heirs and assigns, for ever, under the yearly reserved rent, of One Shilling.
And whereas there is another extravagant grant of land, out of the said King's Garden, in manner aforesaid, and of the date aforesaid, unto the said Caleb Heathcote, being a demise or lease of another part of the said King's Garden, for the term of forty-one years, which lies vacant and unimproved ; being bounded by the stockadoes or fence of the said Garden, so far as the said Garden in the rear does extend, and from the said fence of stockadoes, so far into Hudson's river as low water mark : To have and to hold the said other part of the said Garden, unto the said Caleb Heathcote, his heirs and assigns for the said term of forty-one years, under the yearly rent reserved, of Four Shillings.
2° That by the same act the said lease and the other grants of the said lands, called the King's Garden and Farm, were rendered null and void ; and the Governor or commanders in chief of the said province were thereby restrained from granting the same at any future time, for longer than his own term in the government, as appears by the following recital and clauses of the said act, viz.
And whereas it does appear unto his said Excellency and Council, that all and every of the above-recited several and respective grants and demises of land and premises, to all and every the person and persons aforesaid, their respective heirs, successors and assigns, are in fact and deed, absolutely extravagant grants, issued by the said Colonel Fletcher, late Governor of the said Province, under his Majesty, contrary to, and against the trust reposed in him by his said Majesty, and are extrava- gant grants, according to the true intent, meaning and construction of their Excellencies the Lords Justices of England, said instructions ; and as such, ought to be broke, vacated, annulled and made of none effect for ever.
I. Be it therefore enacted by their Excellencys the Governor and Council, and representatives, convened in General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That all and every the several and respective extravagant grants of lands and premises, granted, demised and sealed in manner aforesaid, and heretofore recited and mentioned, within all and every their several respective limits and bounds afore-mentioned and expressed, are hereby broke vacated, and for ever annulled, and of none effect ; and all and every the afore-re- cited grants and demises, in manner aforesaid for all and every the several and respective tracts and parcels of lands, farms and gardens, and appurtenances, within all and every their several and respective lim- its and bounds aforesaid ; and all the lordships, manors, jurisdictions,
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powers authorities rights, benefits, profits, advantages, belonging unto them, or either of them, shall for ever hereafter cease, determine, and become null and void, and of none effect, to all intents, purposes and constructions whatsoever, as if no such grants, demises and regis- ters of the same in the Secretary's office, had ever been done ; and they, the aforesaid grantees, lessees, and every of them, their and every of their heirs, successors and assigns, are hereby for ever hereafter, divested of any right title or claim unto the same, or unto any part or parcel thereof, within the several and respective limits aforesaid ; any law to the contrary thereof, in any wise notwithstanding: And his Majesty is hereby fully and immediately re-seized and re-possessed, of all and every the before-granted and demised premises, in as full and am- ple manner, as if the same had never been before granted and demised.
II. And be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all and every of the grants and demise, for the several and respective tracts of lands, swamps, farms and gardens, as aforesaid, which are registered in the Secretary's-office, shall upon the publication hereof, be oblit- erated, razed, defaced, and the memory or record of all and every of the aforesaid grants, shall be ordered into oblivion and forgetfulness, as if no such grants had ever been made, or registered in the said office ; anything to the contrary hercof, in any wise notwithstanding. 1
III. And to the intent that it may not be in the power of any of his Majesty's Governors, or commanders in chief for the time being, hereafter to make, for the future, any such extravagant grants of land as aforesaid : Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall not be in the power of any of his Majesty's Governors, or commanders in chief of which shall hereafter be Governors, or com- manders in chief, of this Province, under his Majesty, his heirs and suc- cessors, for to grant or demise for any longer, than for his own time in the government, any of the lands hereafter mentioned ; That is to say, Nutten Island, the King's Farm, the King's Garden, the Swamp and Fresh-Water as they are now limited and bounded, being the demesns of his Majesty's fort at New-York and for the benefit and accommoda- tion of his Majesty's Governors, and commanders in chief for the time being ; and if any such grants, or demises, for the future shall be made longer than for the time before mentioned ; then all and every of such grants shall ipso facto, become null and void and of no use, to all in- tents and purposes whatsoever ; any law, custom, or usage to the cor- trary hereof, in any wise notwithstanding ; saving unto the city of New-York, the right they have to the Fresh-Water, and lands to low- water mark, behind the King's-Garden.
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3ª That afterwards the aforesaid act was intended to be repealed by an act, entitled, " an act for repealing several acts of Assembly, and declaring other ordinances published as acts of Assembly to be void," passed the 27th day of November, 1702.
4h That in the year 1705, Lord Cornbury made a grant of the said Farm and Garden, to the church-wardens and vestrymen of the said Church, as appears by the record, of the said grant in the Secre- tary's office of this State, bearing date the 23d day of November, 1705.
5"h That in the year 1708 at a court held at Kensington, at which was present the Queen's most excellent Majesty, his royal highness prince George, &c. the two above mentioned acts were taken into con- sideration, when the said act entitled, "An Act for repealing several acts of Assembly and declaring other ordinances published as acts of Assembly to be void," did meet with the Queen's disapprobation ; and thereby the said act was accordingly repealed, and declared null and void, and of none effect : And her Majesty at the same time took into consideration, the other act before mentioned for vacating, breaking and annulling several extravagant grants of land, made by Col. Fletcher, and gave her royal assent to the same, and confirmed and ratified the same accordingly as appears by a record of the proceedings entered in the Secretary's office, in the words following, viz,
At a Council, held at Fort-Anne, in New-York, this
135 day of February, 1708. PRESENT,
His Excellency JOHN LORD LOVELACE, BARON OF HURLEY, &c.
Mr. Wenham,
Mr. Philips,
Mr. Mompesson,
Mr. Peartrec,
Mr. Barberie,
Mr. Provost.
HIS Excellency communicated to this board, an order of the Queen in Council, of the 26th of June, 1708, confirming an act of Assembly of this province, entitled, " An Act for vacating, breaking and annulling, several extravagant grants of land made by Colonel Fletcher, late Gov- ernor of this Province, under his Majesty," and repealing and declaring null and void, another act of Assembly of this Province, entitled, " An Act for repealing several acts of Assembly, and declaring other ordi- nances published as acts of Assembly to be void," which said order was read at the board aforesaid, to be entered at large in the minutes of Council and follows in hac verba.
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