The life and character of the Reverend Benjamin Colman, D.D. late Pastor of a church in Boston New-England. Who deceased August 29th 1747. / By Ebenezer Turell, A.M. Pastor of Medford. ; [Two lines of quotations]

THE LIFE and CHARACTER Of the Reverend Benjamin Colman, D.D.

CHAP. I. The Subject of the Narrative, his Birth, Parentage, Genius for Learning, early Piety, catholic Spirit, Deſire to ſee England, and embarking for it.

DR. BENJAMIN COLMAN, was born in Boſton New-England, October 19th 1673, of reputable Parents, being ſecond Son of William and Elizabeth Colman, who came from London and ſettled there not long before William Colmam was Son of Matthew and Grace Colmam of Satterly, near Beckles, in the Country of Suffolk, and baptized there Auguſt 31ſt 1643. This is all I can find concerning his Family. — But the Name Colman is happy and honoured in the Chriſtian Britiſh Church, from Time to Time— Colman a Scotch Monk ſucceeded Finan, in the Reign of Oſwig King of the Northumbrians, and was at the Head of the Scotch Prieſts and Monks in Oppoſition to the Romiſh Church Anno Dom. 661, and 664. Vid. Bede and Rapin. .

He was of a tender Conſtitution from his Birth, and very backward in his Speech and Reading 'till he arrived to the Age of five Years; when at once he grew forward in both, and entred young and ſmall into the Grammar School under the Tuition of the venerable and learned Mr. Ezekiel Cheever. His ſprightly Genius and Advances in Learning were ſoon (with Pleaſure) obſerved by his Preceptor, inſomuch that in his firſt and ſecond Years he was ſeveral Times called upon by him to reprove and ſhame ſome dull Boys of upper Forms when they groſly failed in their Catechiſm, and ſome low Exerciſes. He was fired with a laudable Ambition of excelling at his Book, and a Fear of being out-done. By his Induſtry at Home, he always kept foremoſt, or equal to the beſt of the Form at School; and a great Advantage he had (which at that Time gave him no little Pain) in the Promptneſs, Diligence and Brightneſs of his intimate Companion Prout, who uſed to ſpend his Hours out of School generally in Studies with him, the two or three laſt Years of his Life; and their Preceptor uſed openly to compare their Exerciſes, and ſometimes declare he knew not which were beſt, and bid Colman take heed, for the firſt Time he was out-done Prout ſhould have his Place.—But alas! a violent Fever ſeized the lovely, ſhining, ambitious Boy, and ſuddenly carried him to an higher Form, to the great Grief as well as Hurt of Colman, who was now left without a Rival, and ſo without a Spur to daily Care and Labour. However, he followed his Studies ſo well that he was qualified for an Admiſſion into Harvard College in the Year 1688.

His early Peity was equal to his Learning. His pious Mother (as he records it to her eternal Honour) like Lemuel,'s travailed in Pain through his Infancy and Childhood for the New-Birth, and to her Inſtructions and Corrections added her Commands and Admonitions reſpecting every Thing that was religious and holy; and in a particular Manner about the Duty of praying to God in ſecret, and alſo cauſed him and her other Children to retire and pray together, and for one another on the Lord's Days at Noon.

While a School-Boy for a Courſe of Years he and ſome of his Companions, by their own Propoſal to each other, under the Encouragement of their Parents, and with the Conſent of their Preceptor uſed to ſpend a Part of Saturdays in the Afternoon, in Prayer together at the Houſe of Mr. Colman, which continued until their leaving the School and going to College; Mather, Baker, Prout, Pool, Townſend were of this Number; and for the moſt part behaved decently and ſeriouſly in theſe early Exerciſes of Piety and Devotion.

After his Admiſſion into College he grew in Piety and Learning, and in Favour with God and Man. He performed all his Exerciſes to good Acceptance, many of them had the Applauſes of his learned Tutor, Mr. John Leverett. — He was much animated to the Study of the liberal Sciences, and to make the utmoſt Improvement in them from the ſhining Example of the excellent Pemberton who was a Year before him in Standing: To be next to him ſeems to bound his Ambition until he paſſed his Degrees Sequor licet non aequis paſſibus. of Batchelor and Maſter of Arts, which he did in the Years 1692 and 95, under the Preſidentſhip of the memorable Dr. Increaſe Mather. When he pronounced the public Oration on taking his Maſter's Degree, his thin and ſlender Appearance, his ſoft and delicate Voice, and the red Spots in his Cheeks, cauſed the Audience in general to conclude him bordering on a Conſumption, and to be deſigned but for a few Weeks of Life.

Mr. Colman had before this Time come into Church-Fellowſhip with the ſecond Church of Chriſt in Boſton, under the paſtoral Care of Dr. Increaſe and Cotton Mather.

And being devoted to the Work of the evangelical Miniſtry by his Parents, and inclining to it from his Childhood, diligently applied himſelf to the Study of Divinity, and began (too ſoon as he was often pleaſed to ſay) to preach in the Year 1693, firſt privately and then publickly; the Excuſe for which was the Decline of his Father's worldly Eſtate, after the Death of his Mother, whom God took from his Head about three Years after his Admiſſion into the College.

He began his ſtated preaching at Medford (then a ſmall Village, now a flouriſhing Town) about four or five Miles from Boſton, for half a Year, to the general Acceptance of the People there, who would have ſettled him had they been able; and then returned to his Chamber in the College, to perfect his Studies till he took his ſecond Degree; and within three Weeks after he had commenced Maſter of Arts, he embarked for London in the Heat of King William's War with the French King, having a ſtrong Deſire to ſee England, and make Improvement by what he could ſee and learn there.

Juſt before his Voyage the reverend Miniſters of the North-Church in Boſton ſent him to Newport on Rhode-Iſland, at the Church's Expence, to preach there a Sabbath, which was his firſt publick Appearance and Diſplay of his catholic Temper, Modeſty and Conſtancy, which his Tutors much praiſed him for on his Return.

The Government there had given the Town-Houſe for the Miſſionaries from the Bay to preach in; who had us'd it for that Purpoſe ſome Months before; but a Miniſter of the Church of England happen'd to overtake Mr. Colman and Company on the Road, on Saturday in the Afternoon and went into Newport with them.— On the Lord's-Day Moring Notice was brought to him that this Miniſter had got the Governor's Leave to preach in the Town-Houſe the Forenoon, and that in the Afternoon he might take his Turn.— Mr. Colman told the Gentlemen he would go and join with the Miniſter, and prayed them all to accompany him, that they might diſappoint the Quakers who officiouſly and openly played this Gentleman againſt them, and give them an Example of Charity and Accord in worſhipping together, and of Unity in keeping the Sabbath: Which accordingly they did, and dined together at a Gentleman's Houſe, Col. S—d. But when the Miniſter ſaw Mr. Colman take out his Bible after Dinner, he civilly told him that he ſuppoſed he had no Intention of preaching in the Afternoon, for the Governor had given him the Uſe of the Town-Houſe for that Day. The Governor was immediately ſent to and owned it, ſaying, That the Gentleman had told him he was the King's Miniſter &c.—Upon which Col. S—d, Mr. B—y, Mr. C—n &c. told Mr. Colman that he ſhould preach for them at Mr. B—y's Houſe, where they would throw open the Windows about which the People might gather to hear, which was conſented to, provided it could be done without Noiſe or Confuſion; which being intimated to the People, the whole Morning Audience in a Manner reſorted to the private Houſe in the graveſt Manner imaginable, and heard him to their great Satisfaction. An early Inſtance this of his Piety and Diſcretion, Charity and Peaceableneſs, Reſolution and Steadineſs: and ſhows the Meaneſs and Shame of a contrary Temper and Management.—

CHAP. II. A Voyage to England, Dangers and Hardſhips undergone in it,—taken Priſoner and carried into France.

IT was after the Twentieth Day of July in the Year 1695 that Mr. Colman imbarked for London (by the Will of God) on board the Ship Swan Capt. Thomas Gilbert Commander—For the whole three firſt Days he was on Shipboard he endured the Extremity of Sea Sickneſs, and at times through the Voyage. On the fourth Day the Veſſel ſprang a Leek, and the Water was heard to pour in on the Star-board Tack, which alarmed the Sailors, and made ſome of them remark his Eveneſs and Calmneſs when they expected he ſhould have been much affrighted. When the Winds blew a Storm afterward, he governed his Fears by looking on the Captain, Mate, and Sailors to diſcover what he ſaw in their Faces. When they came into the warm Seas, a Dolphin which they had marked with a Scar on his ſhining Back, kept Company with the Ship for Ten or Twelve Days together, feeding on her Bottom.

At the End of ſeven Weeks a Seeker made after them, and ſoon came up with them. She was a Privateer of 20 Guns and an 100 Men, a light and fleet Ship; The Swan was heavy laden, twelve Guns and 24 Men, Sailors and Paſſengers together. The Swan's Company bore their Broad-ſides and Vollies of ſmall Arms ſix or ſeven Times that Afternoon, defending themſelves and annoying the Enemy; but were taken the next Morning, having their Boltſprit ſhot away, and the Maſt, and Rigging ſo torn and cut, that the Maſts fell all together an Hour after; by which means the Ship became a perfect Wreck, and the Company were much looked at by the French when they came into Port. The French had a great Number of Men killed, for they were ſo full that if a ſhot entered it muſt do Execution.

God graciouſly preſerved Mr. Colman in the Fight, expoſed all the while on the Quarter-Deck, where four out of ſeven were wounded, and one mortally. He was much praiſed for his Courage when the Fight was over; but though he charged and diſcharged like the reſt, yet he declared he was ſenſible of no Courage but of a great deal of Fear; and when they had reecived two or three Broadſides he wondered when his Courage would come, as he had heard others talk. In ſhort, he fought like a Philoſopher and a Chriſtian. He looked Death in the Face, and prayed all the while he charged and fired, —while the Boatſwain and others made a Frolick and Sport of it.

There was a young Rake, a Paſſenger on board, that liſped at Atheiſm, and ſpit at Religion every Day of the Voyage, who was now in the Terrors of Death,— when he ſaw Mr. Colman take a Muſket, he was aſhamed to leave the Deck; but the firſt Volley of ſmall Arms laid him flat on his Belly without being touched: when the great Guns roared he would have crept through the Boards to hide himſelf; he lay as one Dead, and let the Men tread on him or kick him as they pleaſed. At laſt he peeped up when the firing ceaſed for a Minute, and aſked where they were? Mr. Colman told him they lay by to charge again; and in a Moment he flew down into the Doctor's Room, and was ſeen no more till the Ship was taken. Yet this Spark when ſafe in France was ridiculing Religion again, and ſcorning the Miniſters of it as much as ever.

When the Ship ſtruck the French Boat came on Board, and the Lieutenant took all the Crews Moneys and put them into the Boat. The Sea ran ſo high that Mr. Colman was in great Danger of falling beſide the Boat, and when he was between the two Ships could ſee neither, no not a Times the Maſts of either. This was a new Scene of Danger to him, but the Approach to the Privateer ſeemed greateſt of all. As he got up the Side he found his Hat and Wigg gone; and as he looked over the Side there ſtood the young Atheiſt naked on the Deck. —His turn came next; but as they were haling off his Cloaths, he ſaw a compaſſionate Man lifting up his Eyes and Hands to Heaven.—He cried to him immediately Miſerere mei Domine! and he anſwered him, Are you a Miniſter? And though he had often intreated the Company not to call him ſo, he immediately owned himſelf; to be one, and down he came to ſeize him for himſelf; But his Shirt was off before he could get down; and he carried him to his Room, and took away Stockings, Shoes and Breeches; and told him, that if he left them upon him ſome body elſe would preſently have them. At laſt he obtained of him his under Pair of Stockings, by ſhowing him eighteen Piſtoles in the Rollers of the Breeches, but as ſoon as he came on the Deck a Fellow would have the Stockings.

They then dreſſed him up in a few Rags of the Sailors, which ſo changed him that none of the Ship's Crew knew him, but would turn from him till he ſpake to them, and then looked at him with Aſtoniſhment. The Captain ſpake Engliſh well, to whom he addreſſed for ſome Cloathing, but he turned from him with Diſdain; and the Prieſt afterwards told him that he hated him as much.

Providence ſuffered him to be ſpoiled of all that he had thought to ſave in caſe he were taken, but that which he never meant to ſave was preſerved for him. There was an ingenious French Gentlewoman on Board, Mad. Allaire, with four Children, going to her Huſband at London. Mr. Colman's chief Delight in the Voyage was her little Son of two Years old—whom he made to love him for his Cakes and Sweetmeats. Madam Allaire ſeeing a piece of Gold in his Hand as the Privateers Boat was coming on Board, aſked him to let her ſave it for him, which ſhe did, and it brought him nineteen Pounds at Nants which made him rich; ſo that what he had no thought of ſaving was preſerved for him, and all that he had projected to ſave for himſelf was loſt.

He was put down into the Hold of the Ship among his ragged Companions, which was at firſt grievous to him; but he found afterward the ſingular Care of Providence in it: for there he was warm, now his Cloaths were taken away; and there he felt no more any Sickneſs, the Motion of the Ship being nothing ſenſible there, to affect the Head or Stomach.

He had been in the Hold but half a Day, when Madam Allaire came on Board. The Captain and Officers of the Ship treated her well. She ſoon enquired after Mr. Colman, and hearing he was in the Hold, ſhe entreated the Captain's Favour to him that he might be with them in the great Cabbin. When he refuſed that, ſhe aſked leave for him to come up and ſee them. This was granted. But when Madam firſt ſaw him at the Door, ſhe ſhrieked out as if it had been a Ghoſt, ran to him and wept upon his Neck: and he wept with her. Capt. Gilbert burſt out into Tears, and ſo did Capt. Anderſon and his Lieutenant, Paſſengers. He was naked from his Ears to his Shoulders, and Madam covered him with ſome of her Childrens Linnen to keep him warm. He ſat an Hour with them, eat and drank and returned comforted to his Hold.

Preſently away came a Lieutenant to him, to aſk him if Madam were not his Wife? He told him, No! He ſaid he wondered he would • eny it, when he ſaw the Captain treated her ſo well; • nd they all knew that the Engliſh Miniſters had Wives. He told him if Madam were his Wife he ſhould have no reaſon but to be proud of her and own her. Why then, ſaid he, did ſhe run to you ſhrieking, and fall on your Neck? He told him, becauſe ſhe honoured and loved him as a Gentleman and a Miniſter, and was frighted to ſee him • uſed ſo barbarouſly.

When Mr. Grant the Mate of the Ship, firſt ſaw him put down into the Hold with them, he turned to thoſe that ſat nigh him, and ſaid, We ſhall bury Mr. Colman in three Days Time: But the next Day Mr. Colman ſeeing that his Preſence and Company reſtrained the Sailors from a neceſſary Chearfulneſs in their melancholy Condition; bid them be innocently chearful and divert themſelves; upon which Mr. Grant (a very grave, prudent and pious Man, 50 Years old) anſwered with Joy; What Mr. Colman do you call upon us to be cheerful? What made us ſad was to think you would die here of Sorrow: if we do but ſee you cheerful we ſhall all be merry.

Among the Plunder Mr. Colman's Bible was found, and the Captain was ſo civil as to ſend it to him, with a ſtrict Prohibition of not ſhowing it to any of his Men. This was a ſingular Favour of God to him, the Ten Days he was with them, and all the Days of his Captivity.—One of the wounded Men was dying in the Hold, and he had leave alſo to pray with him.

CHAP. III. What he met with in France, his Sufferings and Succours, embarking for Portſmouth, Danger of being loſt, with other Remarbables occurring before he reached London.

AT length they caſt Anchor before Bell Iſle, and from thence went up the River, towards the City of Nants. In the Way they were put on Board a great Hulk, but becauſe it was the King's Store-Ship were not permitted to lye ſo much as under the Quarter Deck; it rained and they threw a Sail over them, and Mr. Colman ſlept comfortably till the Morning and took no cold.

In the Morning they travelled to Nants.

The Vineyards were very pleaſant on the Banks of the River, and the Fruit delicious to him, eſpecially after a tedious ſick Voyage. But he could get little of them.

Madam Allaire wrote to her Huſband's Mother at Rochel, and to her great Surprize down came her Huſband himſelf in a very rich Dreſs: He had loſt all at London and ſo went over to France, conformed to the Romiſh Church and ſo enjoyed his Eſtate.

Madam underſtood her Religion very well, and was a confirmed Proteſtant, and had Popery in infinite Contempt and Scorn. Her Grief was unutterable afterward, when ſhe ſaw her Children in Danger of being Papiſts, and her Infants baptized in the Romiſh Way. The Prieſt teaſed her continually, and ſhe ſent Word to Mr. Colman by Mr. Middlecot, that ſhe would be glad to be a Beggar in England, if Mr. Allaire would have ſtaid there. She nev •• was eaſy till ſhe got out of May 12. 1734. This Gentlewoman paid a Viſit to Boſton from St. Chriſtophers and was received by Mr. Colman with a ſurpriſing Joy after ſo melancholy a parting 38 Years before. And after mutual Expreſſions of the moſt ſincere Joy ſhe gave him a large and particular Account of her Sufferings in France, and Deliverance from them, after a wonderful Trial of Conſtancy and Experience of Divine Support and Aſſiſtance in Times of Need till ſhe arrived ſafely in Holland; which Mr Colman penned down and left among his Papers. A moſt entertaining Hiſtory, but too long to be here inſerted. He Concludes it with theſe Words,

“Thus in old Age Mrs. Allaire and I have renewed the Acquaintance we contracted in our Voyage, with only this Difference that Time has wrinkled and made us unknown in Face to one another, but improved our Souls, and made them more amiable and pleaſant to each other. She is an excellent Chriſtian, waiting for the Conſolation of her Tranſlation from a World of Evils and Trials, which the Grace of God has gloriouſly carried her through to whoſe free Grace be all the Glory. May we meet and and live for ever in the ”Reſt that belongs to the People o • God above.

This Gentlewoman may be ſtill living a Letter of Hers to Mr. Colman being found in his Study, dated London, May 1747. wrote with her own Hand in the French Tongue, Aet. 81.—

France, into Holland, at the End of fifteen Years.

The firſt Night in the Jayl was a very ſhocking Scene to Mr. Colman, but he took a Wiſp of Straw like the Reſt to lay under his Head, and ſlept ſoundly on the Floor till Morning, when the Door was unlocked to let the Priſoners into the Yard. But God gave him and two or three others Favour in the Eyes of the Captain of the Priſon, and he allotted them a better Room by themſelves, one Corner of which they filled with Straw and ſlept there at Eaſe.

Now he cloathed himſelf from Head to Foot with about Three Pounds Ten Shillings. His Wigg coſt him half a Crown, and the reſt was in proportion. But it made him ſo fine, after what he had worn, that when he came into the Yard thus arrayed, his Company did not know him again till he ſpake, which made them very merry.

While he was in Jayl he and his Company were viſited by one Mr. Welch, whom God ſent to comfort and cheriſh them. Whether he were a Proteſtant or n • he would not diſcover; but when Mr. Colman ſaid to him, that he had never before ſeen ſuch Charity; he anſwered it was one of the ſeven Acts of Mercy to viſit an relieve Priſoners. He ſaid nothing about Religion, which a Papiſt ſo compaſſionate as he was, would in all Probability have done. From Day to Day at Noon in came a Joint of Meat dreſſed, and by that Time the Company had eat half their Meat he came with a Bottle of Wine hid under his Coat. He ſent alſo a Blanket or two to cover them. And when at ſeven Days End they were going out of Town, he ſaluted the Provoſt that went with them, aſked him to drink, and treated the Company. So they took each of them a Penny Loaf from his Hand, and bid him farewel: pouring out their Prayers for the charitable Samaritan that had bound up their Wounds.

Late at Night they came to an Houſe and Barn to lodge in, but the Barn was all Mire without a Wiſp of Straw. Mr. Colman with two or three turned back to the Houſe, took up the Candle and went up Stairs. The good Woman ſcreamed out, and up came the Provoſt in great Wrath; but being ſhowed an handful of Money the Woman made a low Courteſy and ſo all was well. Mr. Colman travelled Ninety Miles on Foot in Four or Five Days and had the beſt of the Inn wherever he came.

At Rennes he was accoſted by a young Prieſt with a Crucifix in his Hands, and a few Rabble at his Heels, aſking him in Latin what he thought of the Crucifix. Mr. Colman ſuddenly anſwered him, That it was not an Object of religious Worſhip. He would prove (he ſaid) that it was, ſo the Rabble got about them. The Provoſt told him he was a Miniſter. O Diabole! cry'd one of them. He bid the Prieſt reprove him. He ſaid, no it was too true; for all Hereticks are out of the holy Church, and therefore belong to the Devil, and are going to the Devil, and are Devils. Mr. Colman told him he would not have him ſo far to undervalue himſelf as to hold Converſation with the Devil, and bid him farewel.—The next Morning he came very humble and fawning, telling him that the Fathers had great Eſteem of him, and Compaſſion to him, upon the Report he had made to them; and would not have a Man of his Parts and Learning periſh through Ignorance and Prejudice. Mr. Colman prayed him to give his Thanks to their Reverences.—

When he came near the Walls of Dinan it was a ſorrowful Spectacle to ſee that Part of them covered with Priſoners; but when they entred the Town as many of them as had Money had Liberty to take up Lodgings, for three Pence a Night. Proviſions were exceeding cheap, but the French had no Money to buy. The whole Country was poor that they paſſed through, and as for this Town it ſeemed perfectly to live upon them. Their Stay was long in it; two Months at leaſt; the Cauſe of which was the floating Priſons that King James had ſet up which were two great Hulks, one at St.Malo, the other at Dunkirk; where he put the Priſoners that were taken by Ships bearing his Commiſſion. This the Court of England reſented, and would exchange no more Priſoners till theſe Floats were laid down.

At laſt the Paquets arrived at St. Malo, and there Mr. Colman and others embarked, near a Thouſand of them on board three Boats. He was put on Board the largeſt, about 90 Tuns, and had 400 Men on board. They ſet Sail towards Evening, and ſet their Courſe to ſteer clear of a Ledge of Rocks a few Leagues off in their Way; But before Midnight they were upon them, and in the midſt of Breakers. A timorous Fellow upon the Deck ſcreamed out, and alarmed the living Lading between Decks, and in the Hold. At once they all roſe, and the Maſters with the Men, though they called to them not to ſtir for their Lives, leſt the Veſſel upon ſuch a Motion within ſhould not feel her Helm. But they had as good have ſpoke to the Wind; every one were for running to ſee themſelves die in the Dark; and Mr. Colman was left alone in the Cabbin, with a poor trembling Gentlewoman and her two Daughters from Barbados.

He had eight Piſtoles left of his Money when the Paquets arrived. He kept two to carry him to London, and the other ſix God gave him an Heart to give among his poor Countrymen to redeem a few of them from remaining Priſoners for Debt. God wonderfully repaid him this his Charity to his Companions in Tribulation ſoon after his Arrival at London as you will hear.

They landed at Portſmouth before the End of two Days, but what with Sickneſs and Cold his Throat ſeemed to be cloſed up: But a warm Supping and Bed, by the Bleſſing of God, made him well the next Morning.

He had lent 30 ſ. to a young Spark from New-York. He told him of a rich Uncle he had half Way to London, and prayed him to lend him one of his Piſtoles, to be repaid there. He hired Horſes preſently and they mounted, but he had alſo bought himſelf Bootlaſhes, &c. So that before they reached his Uncles their Moneys were gone, and their Horſes had done their Stage.

His Uncle was a wealthy Quaker and received them gravely. But no Credit would he give to this his Nephew, he knew him too well he ſaid. Mr. Colman told him what Credit he had given to him, and ſaved him from the Expences of Portſmouth—At Table the good Man talked over the ſad Story of New-England's perſecuting and hanging the Quakers. Mr. Colman informed him what a ſtrange Sort of People the Quakers were then, and what Provocations they gave our Fathers; how they diſturbed our worſhipping Aſſemblies, and ſometimes appeared in an indecent and terrifying Manner to our timorous Mothers: But after all he confeſſed to him it was wrong in us to return their Perſecutions of us in the Manner we did, and that the People of New-England all thought ſo now.Vid. Dr. Cotton Mather's Account of them in his Hiſtory of New-England, Book VII Page 22, 23. &c.

They oppoſed the good Order both Civil and Sacred, erected in the Colony. — They broached innumerable Hereſies, and committed innumerable Diſorders.—The Warm Zeal of our Fathers hereupon moved them to make many ſharp Laws againſt them hoping by the Terror of them to prevent the Miſchiefs threatned—And the Government unhappily proceeded to the Execution of ſome of theſe Laws in ſcourging and then baniſhing, and upon their Return hanging Three or Four of the chief Offenders.—But all theſe Laws have been diſclaimed, renounced and repealed for Threeſcore Years paſt, and therefore Mr. Colman could ſay that the People of New-England were of another Spirit and Temper in his Day. At preſent the Quakers are not ſo much as obliged by any Law of the Province to pay Rates for the Support of the Standing Miniſtry in the Towns where they live. And it is found that they have decreaſed, as our good Treatment of them, and Mildneſs towards them has increaſed.—What a Divine of our own Writes is now almoſt univerſally conſented to, Viz. A Man who is a good Neighbour, and a good Subject, has a Right unto his Life and the Comforts of it; And it is not his being of This or That Opinion in Religion, but his doing of ſomething which directly tends to the Hurt of Human Society by which this Right can be forfeited.—

God grant the Monſter Perſecution may never more appear in any Shape among us.—

Mr. Colman then prayed him to adviſe him how to get to London. He told him he would lend him Money to carry him thither. Lodge here to Night, ſaid he, and I will have an Horſe and Guide for Thee in the Morning. The good Family entreated him courteouſly in the Evening, and in the Morning his good Hoſt lent him Twenty Shillings: which he called for a Fortnight after and received, with moſt hearty Acknowledgments. But his Kinſman never repayed a Farthing of the Moneys he borrowed.—

There was another young Gentleman, a Rake with a ſober Face, from Barbados. He travelled with the Company from Nants to Dinan, and was lodged in the ſame Chamber with Mr. Colman. For him he paid Fifty Shillings in France, and in the End had like to have had his Throat cut for it. When this Spark came of London he found Sir — a Barbados Knight; an old gaming Companion of his, and won an handful or two of Guineas of him. The Moneys bought him two or three fine Suits, and Linnen agreeable. Which was no ſooner in his Lodgings but he and his Clothes were out of them, and he ſhipped off to Barbados again without paying a Penny.

He bragged how generous he had been to good Mr. Colman and given him Five Pounds for his Fifty Shillings. A Friend of Mr. Colman's was ſaying in the Coffee-Houſe he wondered at L— for abuſing him after this Manner, and a Sharper that ſtood by took up the Argument in L— Favour; ſaid he was well acquainted with him, and would ſhew him his Lodgings.—He ſaid he had Money to ſpare, and he would pay him.

Mr. Colman was ſo overſeen as to go with the Man upon his Friend's Advice. Accordingly they took Boat and rowed up to Chelſea. He led him to an Ale-Houſe over againſt the Knight's Lodgings. The Servants of the Houſe, and the Maſter of the Ale-Houſe told him that L— was returned to Barbados above a Week before. By their looking on his Companion, they ſaw that he had known it. So Mr. Colman found himſelf kidnapt; and what remained was to get out of his Hands as well as he could.

He dined him handſomely at the Ale Houſe, and was for returning by Water, but finding no Boat and the Sun haſtning down they walked over the Fields to St. James's. On the Way Mr. Colman ſaw his cut-throat Companion on the Look-out at every By-place, and expected to be robbed, if not worſe. But he ſhewed no Fear, and Heaven (to which he cryed) protected him. Some-body or other always appeared on the Way.

When they had paſſed by Whitehall it grew dark, and Mr. Colman found himſelf puſhed in an Inſtant into a blind Ale-Houſe, and his Companion caught him by the Hand and ſaid, we muſt drink one Mug more at parting. Mr. Colman ſaw the Servitor's giggle, paying great Reſpect to this his Gentleman as a Man of Figure, and ready to aſſiſt him. So he put the beſt Face he could on it, and while the Ale was drawing he told him that he was a Sollicito • , that he knew where L—y was and would have him next Morning, but he muſt have Six Shillings for a Writ and Charges. Mr. Colman was glad to give him the Money had it been ſix times as much to get rid of him; and they both laughed at parting for very different Reaſons.

Hitherto his Charity and Compaſſion was but ill requited by Men, but within a little time it was abundantly recompenſed by God, as you will ſee in the next Chapter.

CHAP. IV. The Reception he met with at London, his Acquaintance with Divines and other Learned Men, Characters of divers of them, Preaching at London, Cambridge, Ipſwich, Dedham, and at Bath, — his Viſits to the two famous Univerſities Oxford and Cambridge, — the Honour and Pleaſure he had in the Acquaintance and Friendſhip of Philomela, Mrs. Elizabeth Singer, &c. &c.

HIS firſt Night at London was very melancholy. He had loſt all his Letters from New-England, and in them his Directions to his Friends: With Difficulty he found out the Houſe of a Reverend Miniſter, but he could not be ſeen: It grew dark, and he prayed Madam to direct him to ſome ſober Houſe where he might lodge that Night. She did him the Favour, and it looked darker to him now than when the French turned him into the Hold.

But in the Morning the pious Mr. Ives made him full Amends.—A Man full of Grace, Humility Meekneſs and Charity. He took him into his Arms with the Tenderneſs of a Father, and Madam choſe him good Lodgings.

His dear Brother Mr. John Colman, though but a young Man and beginning the World himſelf, yet like a Father to him gave him a Bill of Exchange upon Mr. Ives for Thirty Pounds Sterling; and what was yet a far greater Piece of Generoſity, he gave him Credit with him without any Limit. He did not treſpaſs on this his Goodneſs further then one Ten Pounds. This made Forty Pounds which he never aſked him to repay.—

The Rev. Mr.Quick of London was the firſt Miniſter he was acquainted with. He loved the Stranger, and was a very affectionate Gentleman: but extreamly ſudden and quick in his Temper. His Arms and Houſe were always open to him.

It pleaſed God (about this time) to viſit Mr. Colman with a dangerous Fever, but Madam Ives had provided him with a good Nurſe. Dr. Moreton viſited him, and God healed him. Mr.Quick was often with him in his Sickneſs and cheered him by ſaying to him, "That he was as near Heaven at London as at Boſton. It pleaſed God ſoon to recover him.—

Before he got abroad he was ſurpriſed with an Invitation from Mr. and Madam Parkhurſt in Cheap-Side, to accept of half a Year's Board at their Houſe. God made her a kind and loving Mother to him, and a generous Friend afterward to ſome of his Friends from New-England, in their Straits.

This happy Lodging at one of the moſt known and frequented Bookſellers among the Diſſenters, brought him ſoon into an Acquaintance with the City Miniſters, which was a ſingular Advantage and Pleaſure. And ſo it has been to his Country and the Churches thereof ſince, as will be ſeen in the Sequel of this Narrative.

The Family attended the Miniſtry of the Reverend and learned Mr. How and Mr. Colman with them. This brought him to the Lord's-Table with him and into his Pulpit. Mr. How was pleaſed to embrace him as ſoon as the Exerciſe was over, and told him that his Church had lately choſen the Reverend Mr. Spademan of Roterdam to be his Aſſiſtant and Succeſſor in the Paſtoral Care, and he had accepted their Call. He aſked Mr. Colman if he was inclined to ſee Holland, and ſaid his Church would bear his Charges over; and alſo back again if the People of Roterdam did not chuſe him to be their Miniſter, or if he did not like the Place. Mr. Colman anſwered him, he greatly deſired to ſee Holland, and no Terms could be more agreeable than theſe he propoſed. The Support then was an Hundred and Forty Pounds a Year, paid by the States, and he was to be Colleague with the Reverend Aged and Learned Mr. Joſeph Hill, by whom the Greek Lexicon was corrected and amended.

He was much pleaſed with this Offer of Providence, and ſpake openly of it, by which means it came to Mr. Hill's Ears. For he was then in the City, and averſe to Mr. Spademan's coming over; of which Mr. How ſaid nothing when he propoſed the Matter. Mr. Hill had wrote a Book of the Dominion of England over the Narrow Seas, for which K. Charles the II. had given him an Hundred a Year for Life. It had been with-held, and he was now ſuing for it. He came to Mr. Colman's Lodgings, and aſked him if he was the young Man that was going to Roterdam? And told him he did ill to act in Concert with Mr. How to get his Kinſman away from him who had now been his Aſſiſtant for ſeventeen Years in the Work of the Miniſtry. Mr. Colman aſked him with much Surpriſe, if he were the Reverend Mr. Hill? And told him that Mr. How had never let him know that he was in the City, or that he was not conſenting to Mr. Spademan's coming away. He told him it was the Hope of being under his Miniſtry, Inſpection and Wing that was one great Inducement to him to go to Roterdam: But ſince he had the Opportunity now of ſeeing him, and of aſking his Conſent, he ſhould not go without it. He changed his Face upon this and ſaid, "You ſpeak like an ingenious and modeſt Youth, and have already made good Mr. How's Words to me concerning you, and you deſerve a better Settlement than Roterdam." But he neither would nor could part with his Kinſman.

Mr. Colman went to Mr. How and told him what had happened. He ſeemed much ſurpriſed at his ſudden Promiſe, not to go without Mr. Hill's Conſent. He told him there were enough ready to go: and ſo Mr. Colman found it; for before the Week was out one went, without ſaying a Word of it to Mr. Hill. He told him Mr. Spademan was reſolved to return to London, and that Mr. Hill had nothing to do to hinder it: If the People choſe, the States paid; and in fine, that he had hurt himſelf by not uſing the Underſtanding God had given him.

At which Words Mr. Colman's Head turned, and he let him know it, and told him "That he began to queſtion his own Underſtanding ſince he was pleaſed to tax his Conduct as he did."—He left him in ſome Amazement, and meeting Mr. Timothy Rogers told him the Story, and prayed him to ſet him right if he had erred. He ſmiled on him and ſaid, No; However he queſtioned whether many in his Circumſtances would have acted with like Honeſty and Simplicity.—Mr. Colman aſked the Opinion of another Miniſter or two, who praiſed him for what he had done. But by this Means he loſt the Favour of Mr. How for two or three Months, who would ſcarce look upon him as he bowed to him among the younger Miniſters.

Soon after the Miniſters waited on the King at Kenſington, and Dr. Bates made one of his fineſt Speeches to him, upon the Diſcovery of the Aſſaſſination Plot. It happened the Coach Mr. Colman was in came firſt to the Park-Gate which led to the Palace, and there ſtood the Reverend Dr. Bates with his Chair that had carried him over the Stones, through the City; ſo he had the Honour to give him his Place in the Coach, and walk on Foot to the Palace.—The Courtiers cloſed about the loved King William, and the Miniſters about the Doctor, in a Circle; and then the Doctor delivered his Speech with an Eaſineſs and Gravity that were peculiar to him, and charming to all. My Lord Chamberlain led the Miniſters down to a Treat in the Buttery, where they eat a Bit of the King's Bread and drank a Glaſs of his Wine.

The Reverend Mr. Daniel Williams (afterwards Dr. Williams) being out of the City, Mr. Colman was aſked to preach for him, and by that means became known to the Reverend Mr. Calamy (afterwards Dr. Calamy) his Aſſiſtant. Mr. Calamy fell into an endearing Love to Mr. Colman, ſo far as to tell him he hoped they ſhould ſpend their Lives in one Church. And ſoon after being in Dr. Bray's Lodgings at Whitehall the Doctor enquired after Mr. Calamy with great Reſpect, and run out in Praiſes of his Book concerning Vows; ſaying, that he had bought up thirty of them for the Libraries in the Plantations, which were then forming. Mr. Colman let the Doctor know that he ſhould inform Mr. Calamy of the Honour he did him, which he preſently did.

Mr. Williams was gone to Bath, to paſs a Month there for the Benefit of the Waters: And Mr. How who had much at Heart a Reconciliation between the leading Brethren of the two Boards, Preſbyterian and Congregational, drew up a ſhort Paper on the Head of Juſtification, and got it ſigned by Dr. Bates and others on one ſide, and by Mr. Mead, and Mr. Mather and others on the other ſide. Mr. Calamy ſent down an Account of this to Mr. Williams, with a Copy of Mr.How's Paper, and up he came full of Reſentment, that the Opportunity of his Abſence ſhould be taken for this, as if he were not for Peace, with Truth, as much as any of them.

He drew up twenty Objections againſt Mr. How's Paper, and finding none but Mr. Colman in the Bookſeller's Shop, he ſhowed him (young as he was) his Paper of Remonſtrance; and talked over 〈◊〉 Objections for an Hour together.

Mr. Colman thought the Reaſons againſt Mr. How's Procedure were juſt, though his End was good, ſcil. Peace and Unity. But Diſpleaſure had found falſe Doctrine alſo on th • Paper, and dangerous Phraſes, which ſhowed, that too • arm Zeal for Peace, led wiſe Gentlemen into a Quarrel, and that the moſt guarded Words could not eſcape Objections when once we are angry.

Mr. Williams carried his Complaint to the Board the next Monday. It was a full Houſe in Expectation of it, for the Thing made a great Noiſe. The Care of the Board was not to ſplit if ſelf again in two. Accordingly, they only choſe a Committee to take the two Papers, and draw up a third in which all might agree. Dr. Bates, Dr.—, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Alſop, Mr. Burgeſs, Mr.—were the Committee. Mr. How and Mr. Williams were to be preſent, to offer what they had to ſay.

The next thing was where to meet: Mr.—told them, "That as he came along Mr. Parkhurſt had kindly offered his Houſe, if they would meet there. It was agreed, and Mr. Colman by this means heard all that paſſed between them, there being nothing but a Glaſs-Door and Curtain between the Gentlemen and him. The Points to be diſputed were nice, and the Gentlemen of a ſuperiour Character, which rendered the Hearing a moſt grateful Entertainment.

They were all very pleaſant. Not an angry Word paſſed between Mr. Williams and Mr. How. A third Paper was produced, and readily aſſented to by all the eight. So every thing was in Statu quo, and a great Flame ſtifled.

There was ſcarce any Difference between this third Paper and Mr. How's only the Phraſe of Commutation of Perſons between Chriſt and Believers was left out; as obſcure and needing Explanation. If Mr. Williams had not been pacified, by the perſonal Aſpect of Mr. How's Paper on him being taken away, he might have raiſed as many Objections againſt this alſo.—

Mr. Colman had the Pleaſure of dining with all theſe reverend Gentlemen together, after this Meeting and Labour of Love, and heard their Wiſdom on ſeveral abſtruſe Points, wherein he was confirmed by their ſerious and calm Judgments.

Dr. Anneſly's Death was after this, but the Part Mr. Colman ſaw of it was moſt pleaſant.Yet by the Funeral Sermon upon him, he paſſed ſome Weeks in great Pain. He ſeemed at that Time perfectly at Eaſe in Body as well as Mind, with his wonted Cheerfulneſs and Smiles. "Yeſterday, ſaid he, I loſt the uſe of this Finger, and the Day before of that, and to-morrow I look this will be gone. Brother Beverly, added he, your Faith has outran mine; but now I ſhall know before you: I leave you all in the Dark about the Times and Seaſons.

Mr. Beverly had in Print fixed on the Year 1697 for the Accompliſhment of all the great Expectanda, the Fall of Antichriſt, &c. He was one of the moſt humble and modeſt Men living, and yet was ſo bold as to write his Thoughts, and ſet his Time, as is before ſaid. When his Year came and produced nothing extraordinary, the good Man did in the moſt humble and publick Manner confeſs his Error and Preſumption; aſking Pardon of God and his People.

In like manner the learned Mr. Fleming was a moſt modeſt Gentleman in Converſation, but in writing bold and daring. His Motto was Libere ſed Modeſte: The Modeſte he wore abroad, the Libere he kept at Home, uſed it freely, and ſent it abroad in Print.

Providence now invited Mr. Colman to ſee the two Univerſities. Sir Henry Aſhurſt; then our Agent for New-England, carried him with him to his Country-Seat near Oxford. He rode twice with him thither in his Coach, and had the Honour to dine with Dr. Hall, Bp. of Briſtol, a venerable humble, grave Divine. He waited alſo on Dr. Hough, Bp. of Oxford, and Maſter of Magdalen College, a bright and lofry Gentleman, polite in Dreſs and Behaviour. Alſo the Rev. Dr. Gaſtrell, ſince Bp. of Cheſter, did him the Honour to ſhew him the ſeveral Colleges, and what was rare and curious in them. He told Mr. Colman that he wiſhed the Diſſenters might have a College in each Univerſity for the educating their Children; He was perſwaded the Church would then prevail, and the Schiſm ſoon ceaſe.—Mr. Colman agreed with him that it might be a probable Means of putting an End to the Schiſm, the Eſſence whereof lay (as he judged) very much in Uncharitableneſs, and that proceeded from the Ignorance we are in of each other.—Theſe noble Perſons alſo ſpent a Day with Sir Henry at his Seat. The Biſhop of Oxford paſſed a Complement or two to Mrs. Aſhurſt, one of the lovelieſt Perſons then in the Kingdom, and Mr. Colman turned them upon her again when they were gone: But ſhe anſwered, "That was a likely Way to ſtarve indeed, for what ſignified Eight Hundred Pounds per Annum only for Life"; ſhe afterward married a Baronet with three thouſand a Year in Land.

It was a vaſt Pleaſure to Mr. Colman to know the Piety and Humility of the Lady Aſhurſt, Daughter to Ld. Paget, and who inherited the high Devotion of her noble Mother. The Lady Paget being taxed once for marrying her Daughters to Gentlemen of the fanatick Character, replied, I take Notice, Madam, that the Gentlemen of that ſort commonly make the beſt Huſbands.

Mr. Colman was ſo happy as to gain the perfect Eſteem of the Lady and her Family. He lived one Fortnight alone with her in the Country, and Sir Henry would long after rally him upon his Lady's Fondneſs for him.

Afterwards at London ſhe would not ſuffer him to avoid her moſt publick Reſpects in the Congregation. And the honourable Mr. Bromfield came charged the laſt Time from London with higheſt Expreſſions of Love from her to him. The Daughter with Mr. Colman uſed to range over the Manor in the Afternoons. She aſked a Poem from him: He told her it would lead into a Quarrel. She promiſed it ſhould not on her Part. So the next Day he wrote one with this Title, A Quarrel with For •• ne: Becauſe (forſooth) he was not equal to her in Rank and Riches — In it was the following Simile, So have I ſeen a little ſilly Fly Upon a blazing Taper dart and die. The fooliſh Inſect raviſh'd with ſo bright And fair a Glory, would devour the Light. At firſt he wheels about the threatning Fire, With a Career as fleet as his Deſire: This Ceremony paſt, he joins the ſame In Hopes to be transform'd himſelf to Flame. The fiery, circumambient Sparkles glow, And vainly warn him of his Overthrow, But reſolute he'll to Deſtruction go. So mean-born Mortals, ſuch as I, aſpire, And injure with unhallowed Deſire, The Glory we ought only to admire. We little think of the intenſe fierce Flame, That Gold alone is Proof againſt the ſame; And that ſuch Traſh as we like droſſy Lead, Conſume before it, and it ſtrikes us dead.

One Afternoon as he came from Oxford, whether the Steward of Sir Henry had attended him, he ſaw a Numbē • of People before him on the Downe, and was ſoon told that a Robber was juſt taken and carried to the next Village. He had the Curioſity to go into the Tavern and ſee him. He was a young Fellow of nineteen Years old, and one of the Company was telling after a booriſh Manner, how he rode after him, came up with and took him.— But ſaid the miſerable Wretch, "I yielded honourably. "Yes, yes, ſaid the other, that you did.—Well, 'tis but a Swing, cryed the Robber very impudently. This turned Mr. Colman's Compaſſion into Indignation, and he ſaid,— But vile Wretch conſider, “whither that Swing is? Is it not into Eternity? And an Eternity of Miſery if you die without Repentance; as you ſeem willing and likely to do? Do you like and can you bear to think of, A Swing into Hell, into unquenchable Fire and everlaſting ”Burnings?

A ſhivering Horror fell upon the Villain, and all the Room turned and ſtared on the Preacher; as if they had never heard a ſerious Diſcourſe before. This animated Mr. Colman to go on, and he found himſelf helped to ſpeak very much to his own Satisfaction, on the Occaſion for a Quarter of an Hour.

As ſoon as he mounted again, the Steward ſaid to him, "Sir, you have preached a ſurprizing Sermon to one of the moſt ignorant and wicked Villages in England.

While Mr. Colman was at Sir Henry's pleaſant Seat he received a kind Letter from a Gentleman in London, with one incloſed to the Right Reverend the Biſhop of London; written as his Friend informed him by his Lordſhip's Order, upon the Recommendation he had received of him: But Mr. Colman did not ſee meet to wait upon him with it. At the ſame Time Providence was honouring him with an Invitation to ſee the other Univerſity: for he was called back to London by a Letter which informed him, that the Miniſters of the Preſbyterian Board had choſen him to go down to Cambridge; the aged Paſtor of a Church there being ſtruck with a Palſy.— Mr. How ſeeing him at his Meeting on the Lord's-Day, came to his Lodgings on Monday, and in a moſt obliging Manner welcomed him to Town, telling him he had been abſent himſelf three Sabbaths, while he was in Oxfordſhire; and if he had been in the City he ſhould have aſked Nobody but him to have ſupplied his Place. Mr. Colman was glad to ſee himſelf forgiven by Mr. How, and believed he was indebted principally to him and the Rev. Meſſirs. Quick, Williams and Calamy, For the Honour the Board had done him in naming him (a Stranger) for the Congregation at Cambridge.

He took Coach on Chriſtmas Day, and found in it a Gentlewoman of very good Faſhion and Senſe, with her little Daughter, and was much delighted in the Journey with the agreeable Converſation of the Lady and Prattle of Miſs.

At Cambridge Mr. Colman found a ſmall Congregation of inferior People, the Shadow of the Univerſity, like that of all Cathedrals, ſtunting the Growth of the Diſſenters.

They liked illiterate Preachers, and when Davis and others of that Sort came to Town, he was left by one half of his Hearers. They were alſo ſadly tinged with Antinomian Principles, and his Texts were too legal for them.Like as at this Day in ſome Places of New-England. —So he was aſhamed of his Poſt, and wrote earneſtly to London to be releaſed from it.—He ſaw all the Colleges there after a Sort, but had none of thoſe honorary Advantages for doing it as he had at Oxford.

At twelve Weeks End he returned to London, and ſome of the City Miniſters reſolved to take a Turn down themſelves. The Reverend and zealous Mr. Pomfret went firſt for a Month, and others followed him.

But at length they got a handſom Subſcription at London to the ingenious and learned Mr. Pearſe, an excellent Preacher, to fix him at Cambridge for two or three Years. He went; and being already well entred into the Mathematicks, ſoon made himſelf known to the learned Mr. Whiſton, and became his moſt eſteemed Friend. A fatal Friendſhip! for then he alſo drank in Mr. Whiſton's Arrian Principles, which has ſince been the Spring of ſo much Strife and Confuſion and every evil Work among the Diſſenters.

Within a few Weeks after Mr. Colman was invited to the great Town of Ipſwich in Suffolk.—In his Way thither God graciouſly preſerved him from a very dangerous Snare, which three ill Women laid for him. He found them in the Stage-Coach, ſupped with them in the Evening, and was retired to his Chamber: But as he was going to Bed one of them knocked at his Door, and told him that they had mulled a Glaſs of Wine, chiefly becauſe of the Cold that was upon him, and he muſt needs take Part of it with them. In their Chamber were two Beds, and he heard one of them gigling behind the Curtains of the furthermoſt Bed. He began now to ſuſpect them, when one of them told him, that truly they were afraid to lie in the Chamber alone; that the furtheſt Bed would hold them three; and they begged of him to lodge in the neareſt Bed. He told them he was greatly ſurpriſed at their Motion, and aſhamed of it, that their Fear was groundleſs; no Danger would happen to them in the Inn; if there were any he ſhould make a poor Defence; and that in ſhort, they utterly forgot what they owed to their Reputation and Virtue, or to his. So they begged his Pardon, and he ſuddenly ſtept into his own Chamber.

At Ipſwich he ſpent eleven Weeks very pleaſantly, and with much Satisfaction; but they needed a Preacher only every other Lord's Day. The excellent Mr. Fairfax divided his Time with them and ſome neighbouring Congregations, as the Biſhop of them all. Being now got to a plentiful Fiſh-market, and near to the Oyſter-Banks, he began to think himſelf again in New-England. He viſited Yarmouth and Beckles, and ſaw his Father's Relations. He lodged at one Mr. Steward's, where he was moſt generouſly entertained.

More eſpecially he there became known to the venerable Mr. Burkit of Debham, which is eight Miles from Ipſwich. Mr. Burkit held a Lecture which he attended. He was pleaſed to call him the beſt Hearer that he ever had. Every other Lord's-Day almoſt Mr. Colman preached at Dedham, and the People ſpake of calling him to be their Miniſter. When Mr. Burkit heard of it he was ſo good as to beſpeak a Lodging for him at the beſt Houſe in the Town. There was a Gentlewoman, a Widow, that had ſix hundred a Year, a Diſſenter in Principle, but a Conformiſt for Mr. Burkit's Sake, ſitting under his excellent Miniſtry with great Delight. Madam, ſaid he to her, I hear that our Congregation of Diſſenters are about to chuſe that young Man of Ipſwich, of whom I told you; if they do, invite him to take his Board with you: It will be a Comfort to you for him to pray in your Family, and I am ſure it will be ſo to him to be in your Houſe, for that little People can do but little for him.—A teaching Inſtance of Moderation, Charity and Brotherly-love this, in a Churchman to a Diſſenter, worthy to be told and imitated. — This is but agreeable to what the Rev. Mr. Nathaniel Parkhurſt (who writes his Life and ſeems to be of the ſame Spirit) records of this great and good Man, Page 49. — As he was a Member “of the Church univerſal, he had a good Reſpect and Eſteem for many of our diſſenting Brethren that are ſound in the Faith, and holy and exemplary in their Lives, though they had different Sentiments from him in Matters of leſſer Moment; and as he met with any of them, converſed with them freely; and I doubt not but he has given an acceptable Account of his Practice in this Matter to our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, of whom ”the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named. But there happened at this Time to paſs by an itinerant, powerful, illiterate Preacher, who had been a Taylor; and he cut Mr. Colman out of the whole Cloth, as he uſed pleaſantly to relate it, and left him but three Votes.

Mr. Gale was the chief Gentleman of the Congregation at Ipſwich: Venerable for his Age, Gravity, Wiſdom and true Piety. When King James the II. had took away their Charter, as he did others, he named Mr. Gale Bailiff in his new one. The Day came for it to take Place, and the new Commiſſion was read in the Court-Houſe. Mr. Gale ſtood up and with great Modeſty and Reſpect aſked, if there were any Objection to be made againſt the new Corporation taking Place and Authority upon them? — When all being ſilent, He to the great Surpriſe of the whole Aſſembly told them, "That if no one elſe had ought to object he muſt do it himſelf. So in an handſome Speech he ſhewed the Illegality of the preſent Commiſſion; that the Town had done nothing he knew of to forfeit their former Charter; and that it ſtood good till tryed and condemned in a legal Proceſs; and that therefore he was under a Neceſſity to refuſe the great Honour which his Majeſty was pleaſed to do him, how ambitious ſoever he was to ſerve his King and the Town. While he ſpake to this Effect, the People gazed and bowed, and were ready to worſhip him for his Honour, Honeſty and Courage.—

Mr. Gale had a Land Tortoiſe in his Garden, that for the five warm Months ran up and down his Walks, and eat of a kind of Plantain which he ſet every where for it. In September the Creature took into the Ground, and from Year to Year continued there for about ſeven Months. While Mr. Colman reſided there it came up in April, but miſtook its way, and was found in the Church-Yard, which was parted from the •• rden by a Wall.

There were Companies of Soldiers that Winter billeted in Ipſwich, and ſome other neighbouring Towns; and ſeveral Robberies were committed by them. One Day he was himſelf dogged out of Town by a Soldier, and had ſtraggled into a little Thicket of ſmall Trees or Bruſh, by the Side of a Field adjoyning to the Lord — Park, there he happily turned to gaze about, and look down upon the Town: When the Soldier within a few Rods of him ſtopt ſhort and looked round him: At the ſame Inſtant he jumpt over the Fence, and his Lordſhip's Coach appearing in Sight, he made towards it as faſt as he could, and returned into Town.

At Bury he attended the Seſſions, my Lord chief Juſtice Holt being the Judge.—He was aſtoniſhed at the Powers and Sagacity of that great Man and the Diſpatch he made of Buſineſs well as his Integrity and Juſtice. Several Wretches received Sentence of Death (at that Time) for Robberies committed by them; the greateſt Rogue of the Gang commonly hanged the reſt.

But O the Shreiks at the Bar when the Sentence was pronounced upon them, "Mercy, my Lord, Mercy! Tranſportation, my Lord, Tranſportation! A moſt affecting Repreſentation truly (as he has obſerved in his Record) of the Agonies of the Condemned at the great Day.

My Lord had the following fine and awful Paſſage in his Speech before he gave Sentence. "There are ſome indeed that are innocent and virtuous, who have been unjuſtly put to Death; and ſome have been hurled down to Deſtruction for their Piety and worthy Deeds: Virtue was grey Hairs to them, and an unſpotted Life was length of Days.—But ſuch Wretches as theſe (ſaid he) we are forced to cut off as we do Wolves and Beaſts of Prey, &c.

Soon after Mr. Colman's return to London Mr. Chriſtopher Taylor, Miniſter of Bath was choſen by a Church in the City to be their Paſtor. And now the Rev. Preſbyterian Miniſters did hi • a ſecond Honour altogether without his ſeeking it, or knowing of it. They named him to ſucceed in Mr. Taylor's Place at Bath, and told him becauſe it was the Reſort of the Gentry of England, both the religious and profane. The Rev. Mr. Showers and Mr. Calamy appeared moſt to him in the Motion. They ſaid, it was the beſt Stirrup in England, whereby to mount the beſt Pulpits that might be vacant. They promiſed him, that if he would ſerve the diſſenting Intereſt there a few Years, they would get him ſetled at London.

He readily came into this Motion, for he wanted to ſee the Waters which he had heard ſo much of, and he found more than he had heard. He deſired alſo to ſee the Weſt Country and Briſtol.

He had the Pleaſure to ride down in Company with the Rev. and learned Mr. Nathaniel Taylor, and Mr. Timothy Rogers, with whom • e viſited ſeveral worthy Gentlemen on the Road; Mr. Taylor of Newbury, Mr. Doolittle of Reading, and others. — At Bath he ſpent five Weeks with them in the ſame Houſe, and Mr. Taylor ſeeing him ſad at their going away, gave him his Hand and cheered him with theſe Words, "Well, Colman, you are an ingenious Youth, and we will have you with us at London within a few Years.

With them he viſited Briſtol, and became acquainted with the venerable Mr. Weekes, Mr. Noble, Mr. Kentiſh, Mr. Pope &c.

Mr. Rogers had once been in the Depth of religious Melancholy, and he wrote a valuable Book on the Subject upon his Recovery. But now he was in the other Extream, the merrieſt Man in the World. Mr. Colman was called by him all the dull Things that Wit could invent, but from an Heart full of Love. He was now Aſſiſtant to Mr. Showers in London.

One Day Mr. Colman ſpake his Mind to him freely about their private Baptiſms. He ſuddenly replied, why our People give me but eighty Pounds a Year, and my Baptiſms are worth fifty Guineas to me. He ſaw by this the wretched Snare and Temptation that had baniſhed the Ordinance of Baptiſm out of their publick Worſhip.—

Indeed he ſaw but one publick Baptiſm all the while he was in England. It was at Mr. How's Church; the People got up over one another Shoulders to gaze. Mr. How looked round about with an awful Pauſe that drew the Attention and Eye of all preſent upon him, and then began, "I am ſorry it is ſuch a Rarity! That there ſhould be ſuch a gazing at it! &c.

In the City of Briſtol, the Gentlemen of Mr. Weekes's Congregation went in a Body to the Paſtors, and prayed they might have the Baptiſms in publick, promiſing to make the ſame Preſents as they did in private. By this Means they immediately prevailed.

While Mr. Colman ſojourned at Bath, a Gentleman came thither to drink the Waters, who was tormented in a dreadful Degree with the Gout. The Wretch lay ſwearing and curſing, inſtead of repenting and praying; wondering what he had done that God ſhould lay ſuch Pains on him more than on others. At laſt ſending his Man down to warm him ſome Broth, he fell on his Sword and died. And went without doubt, to blaſpheme on for ever; Curſe the Author of his Plagues, and gnaw his Tongue for Pain. They brought him in Mad as indeed all Self-Murderers are: But ſuch Juries are worſe than Mad, and deſerve to be buried under the Gallows.

Mr. Colman ſpent two Years at Bath, and found good Acceptance with the People and with the Strangers there. Before he had lived among them two Months he became acquainted with more Families of Faſhion in London than he had done by living there two Years.

The People at Bath had been uſed to a different Sort of Preaching from his, and did not ſeem to reliſh his Way at firſt. So he propoſed to them to think of ſome other, more agreable to their Taſte, and that might better pleaſe and edify them. They bluſhed, and prayed him to continue his Services among them: And within a Quarter of a Year were ſatisfied and delighted with them.

Among the Phyſicians that ply at Bath the Summer Seaſon was Dr. Baynard.—He was a Gentleman of great Wit, and gave himſelf a great Licence in it, more eſpecially againſt the Conformiſt Clergy. — Mr. Fleetwood Shepard, and Mr. Pocock (Mayor of the City that Year) were Gentlemen of the ſame Character for Wit and Mirth. No wonder if they were very great and intimate Friends. — Mr. Pocock fell ill of a Fever, and Mr. Baynard was his Doctor.

One Morning after drinking the Waters the Doctor went to ſee his Patient, and Shepard with him. Baynard found him dying by his Pulſe, and looked ſad upon it; but Shepard, ignorant of his Danger, ſaid to him with wonted Pleaſancy and Droll, — "You lie here Pocock while we want you daily at the Bear: There is the beſt Red come to Town you ever taſted."—Pocock caſt a dying Look on him and ſaid, "I ſhall never be with you again.—No, anſwered Shepard looſly, "Why then come and ſee us, Pocock, for we always loved you dearly.

Upon this he turned on his Heel, and went down, and Baynard after him. They went to the Coffee-Houſe which was but three Doors off from Mr. Pocock's, and at Eleven it was Time to go Home and dreſs. But as Shepard ſtepped out of the Door, he fell a trembling and cried out, "Hold me Baynard, hold me"! The Doctor caught him in his Arms, and all the Gentlemen (who were many) in the Room ran to the Door, where they ſaw Mr. Shepard frighted and ſtaring, and heard him ſaying, "Don't you ſee Pocock there? in the Middle of the Street! Why there he goes,—two Men lead him along! and now he is got up to the Gate,"— (which was but the Length of a Street from the Coffee-Houſe.)

When Mr. Colman's Landlord, who was Serjeant of the Bath (Mr. Shelſton) told him this wonderful Story, as a certain Matter of Fact, that happened but two Years before, he reſolved to enquire of Dr. Baynard about it, for he was well acquainted with the Doctor, and he ſometimes came to hear him preach.

The Doctor aſſured him of the Truth of the whole Account, and when he aſked him what Effect it had on Mr.Shepard, he ſaid, He was ſick upon it for two Days, but when he got out again he was as merry and wild as ever. He ſaw nothing himſelf (he ſaid) but heard what Shepard ſaid to their dying Friend, and he had no Doubt but that Shepard ſaw an Appearance of him.—They ran to the Mayor's Houſe, and were told, he was juſt now dead.

Well, Doctor, ſaid Mr.Colman upon it, Too well are our Saviour's Words verified, "Neither will they be perſwaded though one come from the Dead." No Sir, replied the Doctor, "Theſe Things were never meant to convert us: It is the good Word which you preach to us, muſt do that, if it ever be done."

This Story is ſo remarkable and well atteſted, as few (if any, in all its Circumſtances) are like unto it.

And doubtleſs the good Providence of God orders ſuch Things every now and then, as ſuperadded Teſtimonies to revealed Religion, in the great Doctrine of the Soul's Immortality, a ſeparate State, and the Judgment to come.— This was a Teſtimony to all England, and more eſpecially to the Nobility and Gentry through the Kingdom, who all heard of it, and little heeded it.—No Doubt but the Fame of it went immediately to the King's Court.This Sir Fleetwood Shepard was afterward Gentleman-Uſher of the Black Rod, and well known by a Poem in Prior to him.

If Mr. Glanvill, Arch-Deacon of Bath in his Day, had been living he would hae triumph'd in this evident Teſtimony to an inviſible World at his own Door: For there is ſcarce the like open inconteſtible Account in his Sadduciſmus Triumphatus. But none have been ſo good and juſt to the Publick as to publiſh this to the World.

While Mr. Colman was at Bath he preached for Mr. Cummins of Shepton-Mallet. He was a worthy Miniſter and a ſtrong, ſtout Man. Within a few Years after he met with a Robber on the High-Way that bid him deliver, with his Piſtol in his Hand. Mr. Cummins told him he muſt give him Leave to diſmount, which he did, the Robber being on his left Hand. In an Inſtant Mr. Cummins took the Wretch by the Foot, and canted him over his Horſe, and as he came to the Ground his heavy and ſtrong Foot was upon him, and lighting upon his Breaſt, ſtruck the Breath out of his Body. Mr. Cummins was amazed to find him dead, and ready to repent of what he had done. Inſtead of praiſing him for his Courage, or excuſing him from the Suddenneſs with which a Man acts at ſuch a Time, ſome were ready to cenſure him as a cruel Man, and that he had not the Pity which becomes a Miniſter for a poor Soul. Mr. Cummins was forced to paſs his Trial.

One of the firſt Pleaſures Mr. Colman had at Bath was his coming into an Acquaintance with the lovely Philomela, Mrs. Elizabeth Singer of Agford near Frome. She had a Volume of Poems then in Print, being about her twenty-fourth Year. Mr. Rogers had made her an high Complement, in a Book he dedicated to the virtuous and good-humoured Ladies. Mr. Singer invited him to come and ſee his Daughter, that ſhe might thank him. Mr. Colman invited himſelf to go with him, having read her Poems. They found her comely in Body, lowly in Dreſs, with a Soul fair and bright as an Angel.

Mr. Singer led them out to ſee his Daughter's Walk or Lodge near his Houſe, where ſhe uſed to meditate and compoſe. It was a retired and ſhady Path; a Rivulet on one Side, and tall ſpreading Trees on the other. Mr. Rogers required Mr. Colman to make a Compliment on the Place: Her Father join • d his Requeſt; when they returned he ſent her a Poem which began thus, So Paradiſe was brightned, ſo 'twas bleſt, When Innocence and Beauty it poſſeſt. Such was it's more retired Path and Seat, For Eve and muſing Angels a Retreat. Such Eden's Streams, and Banks, and tow'ring Groves; Such Eve her ſelf, and ſuch her Muſe and Lover▪ Only there wants and Adam on the Green, Or elſe all Paradiſe might here be ſeen. Mr. Singer was highly pleas'd with Mr. Colman, and prayed him to enter into a Friendſhip and Correſpondence with his Daughter, and that he would often come and ſee them.

Mr. Singer called himſelf Argos, having an hundred Eyes upon his Daughter, but he ſeemed to ſhut them all in Mr. Colman's favour. Both Father and Daughter treated him with utmoſt Freedom and Affection. Before Company eſpecially, Mrs. Singer behaved as though he had been her Brother. Mr. Colman loved her without the leaſt Intention of ever ſaying ſo to her. She ſaw it, and it pleaſed her greatly. They wrote to one another often: Mr. Colman made long Viſits, ſometimes for Days together: And they were always unwilling to part.

Once he viſited her at my Lady Weymouth's, who much eſteemed and honoured her. So did Biſhop Kenn who then reſided at that noble Houſe. Mr. Roberts of London was then with Mr. Colman. They carried a Note from her Father without which they could not have ſeen her. She let the Family ſee how much ſhe regarded him. The Biſhop gave him his Bleſſing. And at a Mile from the Seat they met Mr. Phillips of Frome, a very aged gracious Miniſter, and he bleſt Mr. Roberts. Upon which he turned and ſaid to Mr. Colman, Now, Sir, I am even with you.

Mr. Singer told Mr. Colman that Philomela's Mother was every way her Superiour, in Knowledge, Wiſdom and Grace. And that he had buried a younger Daughter, her equal in Knowledge, and Superior in Grace. Philomela her ſelf told him it was very true. The Diſcourſe of that Afternoon was upon this dead charming Siſter, the Father being gone out to his Work. She told him the following moſt entertaining Story.

"My Siſter, ſaid ſhe, was a Year or two younger than I, and her Affection as well as Wit was quicker. I ſeemed however to my ſelf to think more thoroughly. She deſired ever to be with me, and I wanted to be more by my ſelf. We often retired by Conſent, each to her Chamber, to compoſe and then to compare what we wrote. She always exceeded me in the Number of Lines, but mine I think were more correct. She exceeded me much in the Fondneſs of Love, but never in the Truth and Strength of it. She was jealous of me that my Love was not equal to her's, and invented an hundred Ways to try me; many of which I thought childiſh and weak, and therefore ſometimes rather reproved then complyed with. This gave her Grief, and I ſhould find her in Tears, which I could not put a ſtop to but by the tendereſt Words and Embraces.

"We lived Years together as happy as Children could be in one another; We lived religiouſly together; took Care of one another's Souls, and had our conſtant Hours for Retirement and Devotion. We were daily ſpeaking to one another of the Things of God, his Being, Perfections, Works; the Wonders of Creation and Providence, the Myſteries of Redemption and Grace.— My Father in his Widowhood took great Delight in us, cheriſhed our Love to God and one another, but like good Jacob was fondeſt of the youngeſt, admiring all that ſhe ſaid or did. And in her Death he was to be tried.—

"But it was I that was taken ſick, to a very dangerous Degree. And when the Phyſicians were giving me over, my dear Siſter came to me drowned in Tears; and earneſtly kiſſing me, beſought me to tell her whether I was (through Grace) prepared to die? Whether my Intereſt in Chriſt and Title to Heaven were comfortable and clear to me? For ſhe was afraid I would die; and ſhe could not part with me only to go to Chriſt, which was far the better.

"I looked earneſtly upon her and ſaid, "Why Siſter, do you think me dangerous? I muſt confeſs to you my Diſtreſs would be great on the Account of my Soul, if I thought my dying Hour were now coming on: For I have not that full Aſſurance of my Intereſt in Chriſt, which I have not always begged of God I might have, before he would call me hence.

"No ſooner had ſhe heard me ſay this, but ſhe fell as in an Agony on her Knees by my Bed, and in a manner inexpreſſible for Fervour and Humility, ſhe begged of God, "That if her Father muſt have the Grief of burying one of his Children, it might be her: For through his free Grace, and to the Glory of it, ſhe could humbly profeſs before him her aſſured Hope of her Intereſt in his everlaſting Mercy through Jeſus Chriſt. Wherefore ſhe could gladly and joyfully ſurrender her ſelf to dye, if it might pleaſe God to grant her Siſter a further Space wherein to make her Calling and Election ſure.

"Having prayed thus in a Tranſport which was ſurpriſing and aſtoniſhing to me, ſhe kiſſed me and left the Room, without giving me Time or Power to anſwer her a Word. And, what is almoſt incredible to relate, from that Minute I grew better and recovered, but ſhe took her Bed and died within a few Days.She was about twenty Years old, as the Author of Mrs. Rowe's Life reports.

"Conceive if you can Mr. Colman how I was aſtoniſhed at this Event of Providence, and over-whelm'd with Sorrow; and my Father with me. Yet I recovered Health: but the Load of Grief upon me confined me to my Chamber for more than ſix Weeks. My chief Work was to conſider the Mind of God, in this his Mercy to me, that I might make it evident to my ſelf, that indeed in Love to my Soul he delivered me from the Pit of Corruption. I ſet my ſelf to comfort my Father, what I could, and that was his Care for me. We durſt not be inconſolable under a Bereavement ſo circumſtanced: Yet my mourning is always returning with the Remembrance of a Love ſtronger than Death, and bright like the Seraphims, thoſe Flames of Love and Devotion.

How exalted a Converſation was this which Mr. Colman had with Mrs. Singer. He told her upon it he was more in Love with the Dead than the Living: And that ſhe muſt yield her Siſter the Victory; and confeſs her Love to excell in Strength as well as Fervour.

After many ſuch happy Converſations the Day arrived when he was obliged to pay a parting Viſit, being earneſtly invited to New-England and to a Settlement in Boſton, which he informed the Family of—when Mrs. Singer poured out a thouſand Wiſhes for his Proſperity▪ his Serviceableneſs in the Church of Chriſt on Earth, and his Happineſs with her in that above for ever. Her Father added a thouſand Prayers and Bleſſings to her's, with Tears and the moſt tender Embraces. Mr. Colman believed God called him to return Home to his dear Relations and loved Country.—

His Character of Mrs. Singer in his Manuſcripts follows,—"She was an heavenly Maid of ſublime Devotion and Piety, as well as Ingenuity and Wit. How ſhe had collected ſuch a Stock of Knowledge and Literature, by reading and Converſation, without a learned TutorThe Author of her Life tells us that the honourable Mr. Thynne, Son to the Lord Viſcount Weymouth, inſtructed her in the French and Italian Languages. I ſuppoſe this was after Mr. Colman's return to New-England. was wonderful. But her Wiſdom and Diſcretion outſhone her Knowledge. She had only her Mother-Tongue, but had made all the Improvement of an Academical Education. She was a Poet, a Philoſopher and a Divine. And above all, a moſt devout Worſhippe • of God in Secret and in Publick. She hid her ſelf in the publick Worſhip in an obſcure Place, where ſhe could neither ſee others nor be ſeen by them.

"Muſick, Poetry and Painting were her three Beauties and Delights. She uſed her Pencil almoſt as well as her Pen. She never was idle, but either her Needle or her Pencil was going in all Converſations. And what ſhe drew ſhe gave to the Company.—She uſed to declare the great Aſſiſtance ſhe had ſometimes found in her Devotions by the Organs, and Anthems well ſung to them.The ingenious and learned Mr. Grove, Author of the firſt Part of Mrs. Rowe's Life (then Mrs. Singer) takes ſome Pains to inform the World, That Part of the above Story is entirely without Foundation in the following Words, (and then makes ſome Reflection on it.) There is a Story (ſays he) which becauſe it has been confidently “reported by ſome, and credited by a great many others, I ſhall for the Sake of the Reflection it will afford me, and the Opportunity of aſſuring the World, after inquiring of the Perſons beſt able to inform me, that it is entirely without Foundation; though were it ever ſo true, it could not be made an Argument againſt ”Mrs. Rowe's early Piety, as it has been thought by ſome to be.

“The Story is this; Mrs. Rowe, then Mrs. Singer, being dangerouſly ill, and under viſible Diſtreſs at the Apprehenſion of her approaching Change, her Siſter who obſerved it, aſked her tenderly, whether ſhe was not willing to die? And Mrs. Rowe frankly confeſſing ſhe was not, the other ſaid, ſhe would retire then, and pray to God that ſhe might be taken in her Room; being as willing to leave the World as the other could be to continue in it, which accordingly ſhe did; and the Conſequence was, that Mrs. Rowe recovered, ”and her Siſter ſickned and died, &c. &c.

It is readily owned this Story has been confidently reported by ſome, particularly Mr. Colman who in his Life Time related it to many, and alſo left it (as it has been now given) in Writing among his Papers, and moreover it appears by Letters in his Study, that he ſent it over to England, ſoon after Mrs. Rowe's Death.—Yet this ingenious Gentleman is pleaſed to diſpute the Fact. But on what Ground? Becauſe he had inquired of Perſons (in his Apprehenſion) beſt able to inform him of the Circumſtances of this Matter, and it ſeems they were ignorant of them, and hence he aſſures the World, that it is entirely without Foundation.

The Gentleman himſelf is ſaid by the Editor of Mrs. Rowe's Life to have had a longIt is not ſaid how long—A few Years—Ten or Twelve is ſometimes called ſo. Acquaintance with her," and yet had never heard her mention it on any Occaſion, which no Doubt ſerved to ſtrengthen his Diffidence.

But why ſhould it be thought incredible or even improbable after ſuch a Number of Years were paſt, "That Mrs. Rowe from whom Mr. Colman poſitively aſſerts he had it, ſhould omit to relate theſe Circumſtances to every new Acquaintance. However, this Gentleman's Denial of a Fact on the Ground mentioned, is not ſufficient to invalidate the Teſtimony of any good Man and true, much leſs the poſitive Declaration of a Perſon of Mr. Colman's Character.

I can't but obſerve how this ſame Gentleman in his eighteenth Page ſeems plunged, and at a Loſs about another Thing, viz. ſpeaking of Mrs. Rowe, The Occaſion (ſays he) of her Poetical Name Philomela, which from this Time ſhe was known by to the World, whether ſhe aſſumed it to her ſelf, or was complimented with it by her Friends I have not been able to learn.

Now if after enquiring of the Perſons beſt able to inform him, and by his long Acquaintance he did not arrive to any Certainty about this Fact (which by the Way, was about the ſame Time of her Life with the other) why need he to have been ſo confident of the Story's being entirely without Foundation?

I join with him in the Reflections he makes on the Story, which was the other End of his mentioning it, viz. They muſt be very weak Perſons indeed who make any Part of the Story an Argument againſt Mrs. Rowe's early Piety. The Relation of it ought not, need not be conſtrued in the leaſt to her Diſadvantage. Many excellent Perſons have all their Life-Time been in Bondage through Fear of Death— We have known Doubts and Darkneſſes ſometimes ariſe in the Minds of Chriſtians of the higheſt Form among us in ſuch a trying Hour.

The Reaſons the Gentleman is pleaſed to add upon a Suppoſition of the Truth of the Story, are alſo paſſable and may ſerve to clear Mrs. Rowe from any Indecency of Expreſſion.

Upon the whole, I muſt be allowed to think that the Story in all its Circumſtances as related by Dr. Colman is truly wonderful and worthy to be publiſhed to the World.—

N. B. Since I wrote theſe Remarks I find a Letter of Dr. Colman to a Gentleman of Diſtinction after he had read Mr. Grove's Account in which are the following Words:

"Her Picture is exactly true, and ſo is the Account of her excellent Father, and he once told me, that his Daughter was in no wiſe to be compared with her Mother. What a glorious humble Family has it been! like that at Bethany which JESUS loved, and where he was wont to lodge! It is now extinct in Mrs. Rowe, who has carried it to the Height that human Nature has arrived to, ſince the Days of Inſpiration; and has left a Blaze on the Name of Singer, which ſhall never be extinguiſhed—Exalted and aſcended Spirits neither need nor value a Name cut in Marble over their Bones, (ſhe and her Father lie in an obſcure Village without a Stone by her Order over them) but indeed ſuch a Monument as Mrs. Singer and her righteous Friends have here raiſed for the Inſtruction, Admiration and Aſpiration of Survivors, is a Name and Praiſe and Glory. Give her of the Fruit of her Hands, and let her own Works praiſe her in the Gate.

But I am ſorry for the Diffidence and Lameneſs with which the Story I had from her own Mouth is here told, and am perſwaded there is an Error in the Date of the Siſter's Life.

—

CHAP. V. Invitations to return to New-England — His Ordination at London— Arrival at Boſton and Settlement there— Letters ſent to him before his Embarkation and ſoon after.

MR. Colman as I hinted in the foregoing Chapter received kind Letters from a Number of Gentlemen in Boſton the Place of his Nativity, who had built an handſome Houſe there, informing, "That they had choſen him to be their Miniſter, and urging him to make what Haſte he could to them. Theſe Letters were ſubſcribed by Meſſirs. Thomas Brattle, Benjamin Davis, John Mico, Thomas Cooper, and John Colman in the Name of the reſt, and in them they only propoſe to him that the holy Scriptures might be publickly read every Sabbath in the Worſhip of GOD, which was not practiſed in other Churches of New-England at that Time, and that they might lay aſide the Relation of Experiences which were impoſed in other Churches, in Order to the Admiſſion of Perſons to the Lord's-Table.

This Invitation was very acceptable and pleaſing to him, for his Heart was always very much in his native Country, and to the Churches of Chriſt here, and the more acceptable it was by Reaſon of the kind and encouraging Letters which accompanied it from his excellent Friends the Honourable John Leverett, the Rev. Meſſirs. William Brattle, Ebenezer Pemberton, and others. A few Paſſages out of ſome of theſe are preſented unto the Reader.

Mr. Leverett writes,

—"I ſhall exceedingly rejoice at your Return to your Country. We want Perſons of your Character. The Affair offered to your Conſideration is of the greateſt Moment. I pray Almighty God to be your Director in it. Your Return is heartily deſired by all that I have heard ſpeak of it, but it can't be more agreeable to any Body than it is to,

Sir, Your ſincere Friend, &c. Mr. Brattle writes,

—"This waits on you with my Deſires and Hopes, that your Circumſtances will allow you to entertain and accept the Invitation.

The good Reſpect the Boſton Miniſters have for you (as well as others) ſhould methinks encourage your embracing the Motion now made to you.—As for my own Part I ſhall account it a Smile from Heaven upon the good Deſign of theſe Gentlemen, if you can ſend them an Anſwer of Peace, and would hope that your ſo doing will reſult to your mutual Rejoicing. — May God direct you in the Matter.

Your real Friend and Servant, &c. Mr. Pemberton writes,

—"With this you will receive a kind Invitation to return to your own Country, which you cannot but have a great Tenderneſs for, and your Affection will I truſt, conſtrain you to comply, and hope it will not be to your Diſadvantage.—The Gentlemen who ſollicit your Return are moſtly known to you— Men of Repute and Figure, from whom you may expect generous Treatment; and among them, I doubt not, but you may be peculiarly ſerviceable to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt—which is the higheſt of your Ambition. I believe your Return will be pleaſing to all that know you, I am ſure it will be inexpreſſibly ſo to your unfeigned Friend and Servant, &c.

The like ſtrong Expreſſions of Reſpect and Eſteem are to be read in the Epiſtles of divers others.

When he took leave of his Brethren at Bath, he told them he knew not how to do it better than by ſubſcribing with them, to pay off the Debt of Fifty Pounds, which they yet owed for their Meeting-Houſe; which he did and ſo left them.

When he came to London (Auguſt 1. 1699) he found moſt of the City Miniſters, to whom he was beſt known out of Town, viz. the Rev. Meſſirs. How, Quick, Nathaniel Taylor, &c. &c. &c.

He waited on the humble and heavenly Mr. Sylveſter, and found him mounting his Horſe: He told him "he ſhould have been proud to have laid his Hand on him at his Ordination;" which was a great deal for him to ſay who never ſaid any Thing but from his Heart in his Life.

His Letters from Boſton deſired him to aſk Ordination at London. He knew not then the Reaſon of his Friends Deſire, but it was agreeable enough to his Principles and Inclinations. Accordingly he immediately applied himſelf to the Preſbytery there, and on the fourth Day of ſaid Month the Solemnity was attended, after a publick Lecture at the Meeting-Houſe of the Rev. Mr. Chriſtopher Taylor.

He was ordained by Prayer with the Impoſition of the Hands of the Rev. Meſſirs. Richard Stretton, John Spademan, Robert Flemming, and Chriſtopher Taylor.— Mr. Stretton prayed, and Mr. Spademan made the Exhortation: And after the Solemnity was over, all the Rev. Miniſters then preſent came out of their Seats, and in a grave and hearty Manner gave him their Right Hands.With us in New-England one does it in the Name not of their Brethren in the Miniſtry only, but of thoſe particular Churches alſo, whom they repreſent, making a Speech on the Occaſion.—Our Uſage is at large related in Dr. Cotton Mather's Ratio Diſciplinae, Page 32, 33, &c.

Mr. Stretton was an aged and eminent Paſtor in the City, much reverenced and honoured for his Learning, Gravity, Piety and Wiſdom.

Mr. Spademan was a very judicious and learned Man, and ſo was Mr. Taylor; Mr. Colman was going to ſucceed the one at Rotterdam (as before related) and was Succeſſor to the other at Bath.

Mr. Fleming was Paſtor of a Scotch Church in London, and had been or was afterward choſen Principal of one of the Colleges in Scotland.

Mr. Quick was highly diſpleaſed that he was not ſent for out of the Country, that he might have done him ſome more publick Honours at the Ordination.

Dr. Bates died a few Days before Mr. Colman left Bath. The Day before he took Coach he received a Letter from the Rev. Mr. John Shower informing him of the Deceaſe of that glorious Man.

Mr. Colman received ample Teſtimonials of his good Converſation while in England from many other Rev. Miniſters, viz. the Rev. Dr. Daniel Williams, John Quick, Matthew Sylveſter, John Shower, Timothy Rogers, Edmund Calamy, Thomas Cotton, Iſaac Mauditt, &c. &c.

Mr. Parkhurſt and Wife who had been ſo good as to viſit him at Bath, did moſt heartily open their Doors to him again when he arrived at London.

Mr. Samuel Holden the Son and only Child of Madam Parkhurſt was then at Riga, ſo that he never had the Pleaſure of ſeeing his Face, but his Mother ſpake ſo much to him of Mr. Colman as gave him a laſting Intereſt in his good Opinion and generous Friendſhip, to the great Benefit of New-England, as will be ſeen before our Narrative is finiſhed.

His dear Brother Mr. John Colman of Boſton, Merchant was one of the Committee of the Proprietors of the new-built Church who invited his Return; and kindly ſent an Order upon Sir James Eaton for what Moneys he wanted. Mr. Colman took up Twenty Pounds Sterl. and laid it out in Books. But when he came Home and the Gentlemen preſented him with fifty Pounds on his Arrival, his Brother would not be repaid a Farthing, but boarded him gratis, until he married. This he makes a grateful Record of, that his Poſterity may know his Obligations to his Brother.

About the 20th of Auguſt 1699, he imbarked at Graveſend, and by the Favour of Heaven, after a Fortnights Delay in the Downes, and a long eight Weeks ſick Voyage, he arrived at Boſton the firſt Day of November, where he was received by his Relations, Acquaintance, and the Brethren who ſent for him, with a great deal of Love and Joy unfeigned, after an Abſence of four Years and three Months.

The next Day the Undertakers preſented him with Fifty Pounds.—Soon after they kept a Day of Thankſgiving in private to Almighty God, for his ſafe Arrival and the many Smiles of his gracious Providence on their Undertaking unto that Day. And he preached to them from 1 Chron. xxix. 13, 14 Verſes. Now therefore, our God we thank thee, and praiſe thy glorious Name. But who am I and what is my People, that we ſhould be able to offer ſo willingly after this Sort? For all Things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

On Tueſday December the twelfth, At a private Meeting after ſolemn calling upon God, the Brethren declared their Conſent and Agreement to walk in all the Ordinances of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

The twenty-fourth being Lord's-Day they opened their New-built Houſe for publick Worſhip and Mr. Colman preached to them from 2 Chron. • ith Chapter 18 Verſe. But will God in very Deed dwell with Men upon Earth? Behold, Heaven, and the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee; how much leſs this Houſe which I have Built? The moſt pertinent and well choſen Subject.—

As he deſignedly omits the Mention of the Differences and Troubles they had with any Neighbours (Miniſters and others) about their Proceedings, and only records in the Church Book an Acknowlegment of their great Obligations to the Honourable William Stoughton Eſq Lieutenant Governor of the Province, the Rev. Mr. William Brattle of Cambridge, the Rev. Mr. Clark of Chelmsford and the Rev. Mr. John Danforth of Dorcheſter for their good and kind Endeavours for their peaceable Settlement, it would be neither modeſt not juſt in me to publiſh the Hiſtory of them—

Wedneſday the 31ſt of January, was ſeparated by the Undertakers for publickly imploring the Preſence of God with them, his Pardon and Bleſſing and accordingly ſolemniſed.—The Rev. Mr. James Allen began the Morning Exerciſe with Prayer, and Mr. Colman preached. In the Afternoon the Rev. Mr. Willard began, Dr. Increaſe Mather preached and Mr. Cotton Mather concluded.—

Mr. Colman received Letters from divers worthy Miniſters and others before he imbarked, and ſoon after his Arrival, in all which are found Expreſſions of their high Eſteem and Honour for him, and of their great Unwillingneſs to part with him.—I ſhall offer but a few of the many, that preſent themſelves.—

The Rev. and aged Mr. John Quick who conſtantly wrote to him to his Death ſays, 'No one in England loves you more or wiſhes you better.'—

The Rev. Mr. Jeremiah White writes, "If I had never ſo much Time, I could not by Words tell you how much you are ſteemed and loved by me. GOD has reſerved your Manna for more ſkilful and judicious Palates than thoſe at Bath.

The Rev. Henry Chandler writes, 'We look upon your haſty Departure as a double Affliction. May you be (what you are very like to be) a Bleſſing and Honour in Boſton.

The Rev. Samuel Mather writes, "May your Encouragement be great and your Succeſs large. I doubt not you have prepared your ſelf with a Sword as well as a Buckler, with a Spear as well as an Head-Piece, and are able to make your Way through all Difficulties.

The Rev. Mr. Joſeph Standen writes, And muſt we loſe you: With what Violence and Regret I let you go. —I ſhould be glad a thouſand Times could England have afforded you ſo happy a Station.—I wiſh ſome kind Providence would bring you here again.—Ah could I once ſee you before I die, but 'tis an Happineſs too great to hope for in this World. O my God let me have it in the next.

I ſhall add no more to this Chapter, but a few ſurpriſing Paſſages of a Letter from the venerable Mr. Singer, the happy Father of Philomela, and a ſhort Script or two of Her's.

Mr. Walter Singer's Letter. June 15. 1709.

"O why has Providence denied me ſo great a Bleſſing as the Enjoyment of thy dear Relation and Society! This often makes me, with a melancholly Sigh, wiſh Agford at Boſton, or Boſton here— But infinite Wiſdom and Goodneſs cannot err,—or the Thought would make too deep an Impreſſion.

Methinks there is one Place vacant in my Affections, which No-body can fill beſides you. But this Bleſſing was too great for me, and God has reſerved it for thoſe that more deſerved it.—I cannot but hope ſometimes that Providence has yet in Store ſo much Happineſs for me, that I ſhall yet ſee you. If not I have miſſed the greateſt temporal Good my Mind was ever ſet on; and did not my Age forbid my Removal hence; and your happy Circumſtances forbid my Requeſt, I ſhould not be eaſily perſwaded to forbear tiring you with Requeſts, till I had prevailed with you to return hither with the dear Companion of your Joys.

My dear Philomela improves daily in Knowledge and Piety, in the Love of God, and all that is good; lives above the Fears of Death, or rather under the ſtrong Deſires of it.

Your real, paſſionate Friend, Walter Singer. Philomela's Letters. Sir, 1708.

Your Senſe and Virtue has made a laſting Impreſſion on my Heart, and when Death has extinguiſhed the Flame of Life, my Friendſhip for you ſhall commence a more exalted Ardor— But till we meet in the Regions of Immortality I hope I ſhall have your Prayers; for I know they will bring down a thouſand weighty Bleſſings on my Head.—Such prevailing Piety as your's cannot fail of Succeſs above. Adieu; 'tis but a little Interval, and we ſhall converſe in the Walks of Paradiſe, and ſing in the heavenly Bowers.

Sir, July 12. 1709.

I received your laſt, and find I am ſtill happy in your Eſteem, and the invaluable Bleſſing of your Prayers: 'Tis a Privilege, I hope, I ſhall never forfeit, nor fail to expreſs my higheſt Gratitude for.

But I muſt correct my ſelf: For it is not poſſible for me to expreſs my Gratitude; and I could not be more at a Loſs if I was making my Acknowledgments to my Guardian Angel for his Care.—Methinks my Sentiments for you have ſomething in them too nice to be deſcribed in the Dialect of Mortals, and the Language of Heaven would better become a Friendſhip ſo noble. Adieu! and may the Light of his Countenance whoſe Benignity is better than Life, conduct you ſafe to everlaſting Joys.

E. Singer.

CHAP. VI. Many eminent Services done by him for the Churches, Colleges and Country; ſome of his Projections and Eſſays to do good— Thoughts on Church-Government—Honours done him.

MR. Colman (thus ſettled) was animated with a ſincere and ardent Love to his Country; and laid himſelf out to the utmoſt Stretch of his Power, as Opportunities offered, to ſerve its beſt Intereſts.

H • s firſt and greateſt Care, and moſt arduous Labours were beſtowed on his own Church and Congregation.— But as I ſhall have Occaſion hereafter to conſider and write more particularly of ſome of his Miniſterial Qualifications and Excellencies, I ſhall here only ſay in general what all his Congregation have been Witneſſes of, and God more, viz. "That he approved himſelf a wiſe, diligent, zealous, faithful, tender and condeſcending Miniſter of JESUS CHRIST; in ſtudying, watching, viſiting, counſelling, earneſt Praying and Preaching, exhorting, charging and comforting them as a Father his Children: And this he did through a long and ſhining Courſe, even for Forty-ſeven Years; for ſo long it pleaſed a gracious God to continue his precious Life and Uſefulneſs to them.

About fifteen Years he miniſtred to them without a ſettled Aſſiſtant or Colleague,His People afforded him tranſient Help as he needed it; and for two Years and an half, viz. from the Year 1701, they employed the Rev. Mr. Eliphalet Adams (who is now the aged, venerable Paſtor of a Church in New-London) in a more ſtated Way. viz. to May 23. 1716, when Mr. William Cooper (who with great Peace and Union of Hearts was choſen by the Congregation, Aug. 16. 1715) was moſt happily join'd in the Paſtoral Care, and continued labouring with him in Word and Doctrine, as a Son with a Father, for Twenty-ſeven Years. Auguſt 2d, Mr. Colman preached a Sermon upon the Day of Prayer kept by his Congregation to implore the Divine Conduct and Bleſſing with them in their Election of another into the Paſtoral Office among them, from Eph. iv. 8, 11 Verſes. Wherefore he ſaith, when he aſcended up on high, he led Captivity captive, and gave Gifts unto Men, —And he gave ſome Apoſtles: And ſome Prophets: And ſome Evangeliſts: And ſome Paſtors and Teachers.—Mr. Colman alſo preach'd at Mr. Cooper's Ordination from 2d of Tim. iid Chap. 1ſt Ver. Thou therefore my Son be ſtrong in the Grace that is in Chriſt Jeſus. Both theſe Sermons are in Print, and to the latter of them is annexed Mr. Cooper's Confeſſion of Faith, and his Anſwers to ſeveral important Queſtions propoſed to him upon that Occaſion. It pleaſed God to remove him by Death on December the 13th. 1743. Of this excellent Perſon more will be ſaid in another Chapter of our Narrative.

After Mr. William Cooper's Deceaſe, viz. on December 31ſt. 1744, Mr. Samuel Cooper ſecond Son of the Deceaſed, was with great Unanimity choſen Co-Paſtor and Colleague; at a Meeting of the Congregation, after Dr. Colman had made a moving, pathetick Speech to them, in which among other Things, he ſaid, I thank God for the Opportunity “of ſeeing you together; with an happy Proſpect of Unity and Comfort in the great and important Point that we are met upon.—The Year of our Mourning, under the holy bereaving Hand of God upon us, is now finiſhed.— We have from one Lord's-Day to another, as well as on our ſet and ſolemn Days of Humiliation and Prayer On May 15th 1744, the Church and Congregation kept a Day of Faſting and Prayer, for renewed Humiliation and Direction in the Choice of another Miniſter, in God's Time and Way, in the Place of Mr. Cooper, when Dr. Colman preached an excellent Sermon from Numb. xxvii. 15, 16. And Moſes ſpake unto the Lord, ſaying—Let the Lord, the God of the Spirits of all Fleſh, ſet a Man over the Congregation.—Towards the Cloſe of the Sermon are found ſuch Paſſages as theſe.

“God forbid that I ſhould ceaſe to pray to God for you; that another Cooper (I mean one like the Deceaſed) not a Novice, but one able and apt to teach you; be ſet over you in the Lord; a Man of Underſtanding, Prudence and Wiſdom; a Man of Learning, Parts and Powers, ſuch as this Place ſo much wants and calls for; a Man of Prayer and Power with God, a Man of God (like Moſes, Elias or Eliſha) exhibiting before you (in his Life and Miniſtry) much of the Image and Spirit of the holy God: A Man habitually with God, in ſecret and in publick, who ſhall be able truly to ſay to you, I love my Maſter, and my Work, and my People's Souls! A Man greatly for God in his Generation, laying out himſelf for the Salvation of Souls; and owned of God in ſuch his Deſires, Aims and ” Labours.

, been ſupplicating the great Head of the Church to repair the Breath, in his own Time and Way, and give us another Paſtor after his own Heart, gifted and ſpirited like the doer Deceaſed; and I hope the gracious Saviour has ſuch an One in Store for you and your Children, your Families ”and Houſholds.

“Through the Patience of God I continue with you to this Day, under the growing Infirmities of Age; nevertheleſs having obtained Help of God I have not failed, in one Adminiſtration or other, I think, to miniſter every Lord's-Day; and I thank God, to your ”kind Acceptance.

“And if I may now live to ſee you united in your Choice of another Paſtor, as I once ſaw your Predeceſſors with not a few of your ſelves here preſent, I ſhall rejoice and give Thanks with you all: Yea, might this be the Day, it will be a gladſome one to ”me.—

“Shew, Lord, which thou haſt choſen! And lead us in thy Truth and teach us!—in Paths of Righteouſneſs for thy Name Sake; in the Determinations of ”this Morning. Amen.

Accordingly Mr. Cooper was peaceably and happily ſettled in his Father's RoomVid. Pſalm xlv. 16. and Pſalm cii. 28 Verſe.— Uno avulſo non defecit Alter. May 21. 1746,The Reaſon why the Ordination of Father and Son was ſo long deferred after the Choice made of them by the Congregation, was their own earneſt Motion, pleading their Youth; and that they might have more Time to ſtudy and gain Experience.— The Congregation alſo conſented to another Requeſt of theirs, "That they might preach but once in a Fortnight 'till their ſolemn Separation. on which Occaſion Dr. Colman preached and printed an excellent Sermon on Iſa. vith Chap. and 8th Ver. Alſo I heard the Voice of the Lord ſaying, Whom ſhall I ſend? And who will go for us? Then ſaid I, Here am I, ſend me. In which among other Things, he uttered this Wiſh, May “his Days be more than his Father's were, in the Work of the Miniſtry, and as well filled up with Study and Fidelity; and crowned even with more Succeſs, from ”the Fulneſs that is in Chriſt. —To which I doubt not the whole Aſſembly ſaid Amen.

Dr. Colman Faithfully ſerved the College as an Overſeer to his Death; and as a Fellow of the Rev. Corporation for a great Number of Years, until by reaſon of Age and bodily Infirmities he thought himſelf called to reſign that important Office and Truſt: This he did with many Declarations of his Readineſs further to ſerve, and promote the Proſperity and Flouriſhing of that loved and honoured Society, to his utmoſt Ability.Upon his repeated Motions to reſign I find a Vote of the Corporation dated February 5. 1727 8 earneſtly deſiring his Continuance in that Station.

While he had a Place in the Corporation he was much employed in draughting Letters and Addreſſes about the Affairs of the Houſe, ſuch eſpecially as were ſent Abroad to Perſons of Diſtinction and Benefactors, were moſtly done by him, as appears by the Votes of the honourable and reverend Overſeers, and Corporation, and many rough Copies found in his Study.Two Addreſſes of his Draughting are found—one to his Majeſty King GEORGE the Firſt, 1723. Another to his Majeſty King GEORGE the Second, 1727.—

His warm and well governed Zeal for the juſt Rights and Privileges of the College ſhewed it ſelf on various Occaſions.— I will hint at one or two.

When above twenty Years ago, ſome reverend epiſcopal Gentlemen endeavoured to puſh themſelves into the Overſight and Government of it, he ſtrenuouſly oppoſed them, and wrote a judicious and nervous Anſwer to the Memorial preſented by them, which is found among his Papers.In a Letter to a Friend 1747 he writes, "The moſt remote Step to ſap and undermine our College, I would carefully obſerve, and inſtantly and openly oppoſe, and have made it the Buſineſs of my life to do ſo with Caution and Courage.

There is alſo a large Bundle of Writings left, containing Addreſſes, Letters and Arguments about the Regulation of the Corporation (a Matter in Diſpute about the Year 1721) wherein he earneſtly pleads for what appeared to him the good of the Society at that Time, and in all Times to come.

He took indefatigable Pains with the honoured and worthy Mr. Thomas Hollis, and the Rev. Mr. Daniel Neal and others, concerned in forming Rules and Orders relating to the Settlement of the Holliſian Profeſſor of Divinity (to the obtaining which great Benefit to the College he had been by God's Favour very Inſtrumental) And he had no ſmall Succeſs in finiſhing that Matter to the Satisfaction of all concerned.—But the Hiſtory of his procuring Benefactions will be particularly related in another Chapter— wherefore I ſhall conclude this Section with Part of a Letter draughted by Mr. Colman, written to Mr. Hollis in the Name of the Corporation, recommending one to him for his firſt Profeſſor.

"There is but one thing more, Sir, which I have now to add, but 'tis a very great one; "The Nomination of a Perſon to you to be your firſt Profeſſor. There is lately returned to, and is now reſiding in the College, a very accompliſhed Perſon for the Office in our joint Opinion and Judgment; Mr. Edward Wiggleſworth, who in the Year 1710, paſſed his firſt Degree with us, and has ever ſince diligently applied himſelf to the learned Studies, and to the Study of Divinity more eſpecially: He is a Perſon of known and exemplary Virtue, Piety, Literature, Modeſty, Meekneſs, and other Chriſtian Ornaments: His publick Exerciſes in the Pulpit diſcovers a ſolid Judgment, a clean Stile, a clear Method, a bright and ſtrong Thought, and a Facility or Aptneſs to teach: And it now appears to us, as if Providence may have reſerved him for ſuch a Service as this now before us; which we apprehend may ſute him in all Reſpects; excepting his low Opinion of himſelf: yet neither is he wanting his Gravity, Wiſdom, and a Spirit of Government and Authority, which may be neceſſary to command the Reverence of others to him in any Office he may be called to.

We do therefore heartily and earneſtly recommend him to your Favour, to be nominated by you your firſt Profeſſor; and the ſooner you pleaſe to name him the better, that he may be ready to enter on the Work as ſoon as we can be ready to inſtall him; or that being apprized of his Nomination he may be preparing himſelf for his Entrance thereon. B. COLMAN."

After the Deceaſe of the Rev. and Hon. John Leverett, Preſident, viz. on November 18. 1724. The Rev. Corporation met and choſe Mr. Colman SucceſſorN. B. The Rev. Mr. Joſeph Sewall of Boſton, (now Dr. Sewall) was firſt choſen and excuſed himſelf.— Auguſt the 11th. 1724. to that great and excellent Man.—And on November 24th following, the Hon. and Rev. the Overſeers of the College unanimouſly approved of, and confirmed the ſaid Election; and on the 30th by their Committee invited him to accept of the Office: But the Great and General Court of the Province not willing (at that Time) to ſettle an Honourable Stipend or Salary, until his Inclination to accept, and his Church's to part with him were known, he excuſed himſelf from accepting the Honour and Charge, though with repeated and earneſt Solicitations and Arguments he was urged to it—here and from Abroad.

The Anſwers he returned were in theſe Words— As I find in a Paper entitled, "A Minute or Record of that troubleſome Affair, my Election to the Preſidency over Harvard-College."

"To the Hon. Samuel Sewall Eſq and the other Hon. and Rev. Gentlemen the Committee of the Hon. and Rev. the Overſeers of Harvard-College.

Gentlemen,

When you did me the Honour to inform me in the Name of the Hon. and Rev. the Overſeers of Harvard-College, of their approving the Choice, made of me by the Rev. Corporation to be Preſident of ſaid College, I did then expreſs to you my grateful Acknowledgment of the Regards ſhown me by ſo Hon. and Rev. a Body, and my humble Senſe of my own Unworthineſs thereof. Since which I have privately ſeen a Copy of the Vote of the Hon. Houſe of Repreſentatives of December 3. ſent up for Concurrence, which Vote I am informed has been non-concurred by the Honourable his Majeſty's Council, and hereupon fearing leſt on my Account there may be like to enſue any Difficulty to the honourable Government, or Detriment to the College for Want of an honourable Allowance or Salary to the Preſident;— I do therefore willingly lay before the honourable and reverend Overſeers, or before the General Court if it be thought meet, my humble Apprehenſions relating unto what ſo nearly concerns the College and my ſelf; and as I judge, its juſt Intereſts and Welfare in all Times to come. I crave Leave therefore to ſay,

That I never ſought or deſired, but modeſtly ſhunned the Election that has been made of me to be the Preſident of Harvard-College.

That I hope I have always ſhewn my ſelf very inclinable, to the utmoſt of my Power, every Way I can, to ſerve the College, and have had great Pleaſure therein, and I thank God ſometimes no ſmall Succeſs.

That I muſt readily own, I am very much diſinclined to leave my Church, or to undertake an Office ſo much above me, as that of Preſident of the College.

That I truly eſteem it a Matter of great Importance to the Eſtabliſhment of the Churches in the Province, as well as to the College, that ordinarily ſome grave and learned Perſon, who has been a conſiderable Time in the Paſtoral Office, and is in ſome eminent Degree, gifted for preaching and expounding the holy Scriptures to the Students, be choſen Preſident of the College.

That as I wiſh the Preſident in all Times to come, may eſpecially give himſelf unto theſe ſacred Studies and Exerciſes, ſo I would humbly ſupplicate the General Court for any one who ſhall do ſo, to grant him a very ſufficient and honourable Support.

But for the honourable Court to inſiſt on their Vote of knowing my Mind, whether I am willing to accept of the Choice, and to undertake the Office of Preſident, to which I am choſen, and alſo of knowing my Church's Mind, whether they can part from me before they will fix any Salary for me in ſaid Office, muſt determine me to give my Anſwer in the Negative to the honourable and reverend the Overſeers of Harvard College, which in that Ca • e I now do.

Finally, As it highly becomes me to acquieſce in the Pleaſure and Wiſdom of the honourable Court; ſo I hold my ſelf now called in Providence with new Ardours to recommend the College to their wiſe and tender Care.

I aſk the Prayers of the honourable and reverend Board and am —

Boſton, Dec. 10th. 1724."

A Second Anſwer upon further Application.

"Gentlemen,

Beſeeching the God of the Spirits of all Fleſh to provide graciouſly for the College, and to ſet a much worthier Perſon over it, and to make it in all Times to come more and more a Bleſſing both to Church and State, I do humbly think it my Duty to return my Anſwer to the honourable and reverend Overſeers of Harvard-College in the Negative, praying you in Time convenient to inform them that I do not ſee my way clear to accept of the Choice made of me to be the Preſident of ſaid College.

I am Honoured and Reverend, your obliged humble Servant."—

Although Dr. Colman excuſed himſelf from this high Honour and Truſt, yet no one ſhewed a greater Solicitude, nor took more Pains, to have the College well ſupplyed,— His moving Speech to the Old South Church in Boſton, September the 30th 1724 to part with their Reverend and Honoured Paſtor, Dr. Joſeph Sewall for that Service, which lies before me, is a Demonſtration of it.—With many other Eſſays afterwards for its Good.

Dr. Colman writes down at large his Opinion, What Preſident Harvard-College needed at that Day.—His Words are,

“A Man of God ſhould be ſet at the Head of it, of conſpicuous Godlineſs, Faith, Love, Patience, Meekneſs.—An upright and faithful Man, in whom all that are any ways related unto, and concerned for the College, may put an entire Confidence.

One that will not only be a kind and tender Father to our Sons, as well as a careful Governour of them; but will alſo deſire to be found a ſpiritual Father to them, by the Will of God.

A Man of Prayer, one who will be fervent in Supplication for, and over our Children, Night and Day; as well as one apt to teach, and expound the Word of God to them, and to preach occaſionally and frequently to them.

A Preſident, who will be an Affectionate Brother to the reſident Fellows, the Tutors; from whom they will never be like to ſuſpect any Unkindneſs or Evil; but in whom they may always find much Good.— A Man in whom Gravity, Humility and the Meekneſs of Wiſdom is joined with a good Degree of Conſtancy and Reſolution, which happy Conjunction will afford a wiſe and ſteady Conduct, the beſt Spirit of Government for ſuch a Society, and moſt commanding the Reverence of the Students, their Love and Fear together.

A Preſident, who is like to be a faſt Friend to theſe Churches of our Lord Jeſus; in whom they may always find (through Grace) a zealous Servant and a dutiful Son.—One who is like to be diligent and induſtrious in the Diſcharge of the Duties of his Station, and who will give himſelf wholly to them. But there is one Thing more which meeting with all the reſt of theſe Accompliſhments as much to be deſired,—viz. That he be one in the middle Age of Life, which as it may invite him into a Return to academical Studies ſo will give us an agreeable Proſpect of many Years ”Service from him, if it pleaſe God to prolong his Life.

Dr. Colman greatly ſerved Yale College in the Colony of Connecticut, by procuring for it many valuable Books, whereby its Library has been enriched; and on many Occaſions ſhewed his Zeal for the Purity and Welfare of that Society.

Three Letters, ſhewing Dr. Colman's Zeal for the Good of Yale College, which he ſerv'd many Ways, as well as Harvard his Mother.

"To the Rev. Eliſha Williams, Rector of Yale College, New-Haven. Reverend Sir,

The Fame of the Reverend Dean Berkley's Generoſity to your College, has ſometime ſince ſurprized and pleaſed us. We could hardly believe the Report at firſt, the Thing being ſo rare and ſingular. But I hear the Governour has actually received the Dean's Pacquet, and delivered it to Dr. C—to tranſmit to you. If the Gift comes to you, as the honoured Mr. Hollis his Donations did to us (and as we hope it does) with a truly catholick Spirit, for the Support and Propagation of Religion and Learning among you, without any Conditions or Limitations which are inconſiſtent with or may be ſubverſive of the known and true Intent and Foundation of your College; nothing can be more noble and generous than this Act of the Rev. Dean's, nor can we enough praiſe and admire it; and we ſhall be ready to join with you in our moſt hearty Thanks to God and his Servant, for ſo great and unexpected a Favour to you. But give me Leave to ſay to you on the other Hand, and I am very free to ſay it to all the World, and I doubt not, but it would honour me to the Dean himſelf, That if the Gift comes to you clogged with any Conditions that directly or indirectly tend to the Introduction of Epiſcopacy, and conſequently to the Subverſion of the true Intent and Foundation of your College, then were it ten Times as much as it is, and your Poverty much more than it is, I truſt neither your ſelf, nor any of the Reverend Truſtees will be under the leaſt Temptation to accept the Benefaction on ſuch a Condition: Your Wiſdom, Integrity and Fidelity will forbid it, while Prudence, Humanity and true Chriſtianity will allow and direct you to make your Excuſes to the Reverend Donor with great Reſpect and juſt Acknowledgment.

I pray you, Sir, to put a candid Interpretation on my preſent Writing. I do it not without the Advice, and at the Motion of wiſer and better Friends to you, than I may pretend to be; though you know my approved Friendſhip to your College, for the Sake of theſe Churches of Chriſt.

I write Letters to Day of the ſame Import with this, to the Rev. Mr. Adams of New-London, and to the Rev. Mr. Williams of Pomfret, who I hope will concur with you in the ſame Sentiments that are here expreſſed, and that all the Reverend Truſtees will be inſpired with a juſt Zeal for the Preſervation of the known Principles of the New-Engliſh Churches, and to tranſmit them down to our Poſterity pure and entire by the Will of God.

Sir, I wiſh you always the divine Bleſſing, Influence and Conduct in all that concerns the College, its Inſtruction and Government, and am,

Your affectionate Brother, And very humble Servant, B. C. Boſton, Dec. 2. 1732. To the Rev. Mr. Eliphalet Adams of New-London. Rev. Sir,

As you are one of the Truſtees for Yale-College, and I know you have the Welfare of that Society much at Heart, as well as the Doctrines and Laws of the Kingdom of Chriſt as received in theſe Churches; ſo at the Deſire of ſome of your ſincere and eſteemed Friends here I take upon me to write to you at this Time, upon the Fame of the noble Gift to your College, from the reverend and learned Dean Berkley.

I hope it comes to you without the Clog of any Condition that is inconſiſtent with or ſubverſive of the known and true Intent of Honourable Founders of your College; and that the Reverend Truſtees will carefully ſee that it does ſo before they accept of that or any other Donation, from whatever Perſon of Honour and Diſtinction, or of whatſoever Value it may be.

If the Reverend Dean has from a Catholick Spirit, without any private and particular Views to the Introduction of Epiſcopacy into your College and the Churches of your Province, made the Gift of his Eſtate here to you, it is an Act worthy of our higheſt Eſteem, Emulation and Gratitude, and his Praiſe ought to be in our Churches. I ſhall long to hear it is ſo, and entreat you to let us know it as ſoon as may be, that we may join your Acknowledgments to him.

And yet if the Donation ſhould be ſo limited, as that it will not be ſafe nor juſt in you to accept of it, I ſhall however think honourably of the Dean's noble Offer to you upon his known Principles in Favour of Epiſcopacy; and with all poſſible Reſpect to him you may let him know you cannot accept of it.

Forgive me, dear Sir, that I ſhould trouble you on ſo plain a Matter, which yet is of great Importance in Point of Prejudice to our Churches, and the profeſſed Intereſts of Religion in them, if a due C • ution be not uſed in it. The Danger is of acting ſuddenly, without a deliberate Conſideration of the Matter by the Reverend Truſtees; whoſe united Thanks are the leaſt, I think, that ſo great and frank a Donation calls for.

I have juſt wrote my Thoughts on this Head to the Rev. Mr. Williams, the learned and faithful Rector of the College, to which I refer you when you ſee him: And to Mr. Williams of Pomfret.

Give me Leave to add one Word more concerning the Bruit of the Prevalence of Arminianiſm in the College. I am told that you were your ſelf in ſuch Apprehenſions and Fears on that Head, that you enquired earneſtly of your Son concerning it; and that the deceaſed aged Mr. Woodbridge of Hartford a little before his Death was under great Concern on that Account. It would be acceptable to ſome ſuperior Friends here, if you would freely write upon that Head; more eſpecially if you can vindicate the College from the Aſperſion. We hope and believe the Reverend Truſtees and Rector have made a faithful Enquiry into that Matter.

I thought to have wrote but a Line or two, and yet have got to this Length. Forgive it, and accept of what is ſincerely meant for the publick and common Intereſt of Religion among us. May God be with you in all your private and publick Labours, in the Service of it. And pray for

Your Brother and Servant, B. C. Dec. 2. 1732. "To the Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Williams of Pomfret. Rev. Sir,

I am almoſt too much a Stranger to you, to take the Freedom I now do to write on a very rare and important Occurrence; but ſome Friends here to whom you are more known, move me to do it. I take you to be one of the Reverend Truſtees of Yale College, and a hearty Friend to the religious Principles and Intention of its Founders. The reverend and learned Dean Berkley, has (we hear) made a Gift of his Eſtate in New-England to your College; a great and noble Donation truly, and what challenges your and our moſt grateful Acknowledgment, if it be not attended with any Limitation or Conditions prejudicial to the original Deſign and Foundation of the College. I intreat, Sir, your faithful Enquiry into this Matter, and I do it in the Name of your Friends here, who have a great Dependance on your Fidelity in the Cauſe of Chriſt and theſe Churches. I hope the Dean's Gift comes clear and open to you, and not to introduce Epiſcopacy, notwithſtanding his known Sentiments in Favour of it. I ſuppoſe the Truſtees muſt meet, and will deliberately conſider of the Gift, before an Anſwer be returned to the generous and learned Donor. If it can with Safety, Honour and Juſtice be accepted, I am ſure it ought with the utmoſt Readineſs and Acknowledgment, as a ſingular Inſtance in our Day of a large and catholick Spirit. But if the Meaning of the Gift be plainly the Propagation of Epiſcopacy inſtead of ſimple Chriſtianity, Heu! timeo! It is better to excuſe our ſelves from ſuch Gifts, and remain in our primitive Poverty and Simplicity. I ſhould not be unwilling the Dean himſelf ſhould know what and why I now write. The Caſe is plain and open, and yet I know I expoſe my ſelf to groſs Miſrepreſentations. I hope I ſhall ſtand right and juſtified in your ſober Thoughts; and if I do, you will doubtleſs think your ſelf concerned to act as you think God will approve in this Matter. That you may always have his Preſence and Guidance, is the hearty Prayer of

Sir, Your Brother and humble Servant, B. C." Dec. 2. 1732.

He ſerved much and long in the religious Affairs of the Indians being commiſſioned and employed by the Indian Corporation in London. This Society, was founded by the Engliſh Parliament, on July 27. 1649; eſtabliſhed by King Charles Second 1661, and ſtiled the Society for the Propagation of the Goſpel in New-England, and the Parts adjacent in America. And as the Deſign is for the Propagation of the Goſpel among the Indians only: This Society have all along had their Commiſſioners for the Indian Affairs at Boſton.

Sept. 4th 1730, He was appointed one of the Commiſſioners by the honourable and reverend Society for propagating Chriſtian Knowledge at Edinburgh, and by many Letters ſent to and received from the worthy Members thereof it appears that he was indefatigable in managing that important Truſt which he reſigned about the Year 1740.

He wrote once and again to Monſieur Levergiat a Jeſuit among our Eaſtern Tribes of Indians on Occaſion of one of his Letters to one of our worthy Miſſionaries on Georges River. For divers good Reaſons they are here inſerted.

"R. Domine, Pax et Gratia Chriſti!

Digniſſimus D. Secomb, Juvenus Emiſſarius, praecellius Gravitate, Pietate, et Zelo erga Deum et Homines, me Literis benignis veſtris, ei tranſcriptis, obligavit. Valdè gratum mihi eſt, Vir Reverende, obſervare fraternam veſtram eſt vere Chriſtianam Temperiem, Animumque placidum, in Epiſtolis tuis reſplendentem. Omnino hoc reſpondet Narrationi Reverendi D. Rutherford, de Humanâ tuâ Viſitatione nuper ab illo accepta. Moleſtum mihi et offenſum eſſet, ſi D. Secomb non promptus fuiſſet Urbanitates tuas reddere, omni cum Obſervantiâ et Reverentiâ, muneri et Eruditioni Veſtra debita. Sed de Amore, Humilitate, et Manſuetudine, D. Secomb ſcribere non opus eſt. Divinae hae Gratiae devinciunt illum Tibi, ſi ex Literis tuis Conjecturam faciam. Tentate Vos ſimùl, quis Gratia Chriſti in his ſuperabit. Magìs eſtimamus Benevolentiam Domini Lauvariat erga nos, propter Ordinem ſuum. Generoſi (dicam?) è Societate Jeſu ſolent nos Haereticos (falſo vocatos) Diſtantiâ cum ſummâ et Averſione tractare. TU, Domine, multò magìs Chriſtianus et Generoſus, Tu non ita Dominum Jeſum “ ”didiciſti. "Ira Hominis Juſtitiam Dei non operatur."

Gaudeo, Domine, et vehementer laetor, de Zelo Veſtro, et Sollicitudine pro Moribus Barbarorum, cogitans: Speciatìm adverſùs pernicioſas illorum Compotationes et Ebrietates. Digniſſima Laude haec tua Cura eſt, et Zelus. Hos Mores illorum aegrè fers, et iniquo Animo, ut oportet. Barbari ſanè ſatis iſti ſunt, et ſtupidi, ſine Potationibus, quibus fiunt tanquàm Bruta Animalia, et in ſuâ Corruptione peribunt. Sed planè fáalleris, et nobis quidem inferres Injurias, ſi malè ſentires de Praefectu ſummo, vel Magiſtratibus Noſtris, vel etiam de Ducibus Arcium noſtrarum; quaſi ullo modo tolerârint Venditionem inebriantis Potûs, ſine Menſurâ, Indis. Attamen ſemper erunt in impio Mundo, Negotiatores impii, qui Lucri turpis Cauſâ, non haerebunt in Flagitio ullo perpetrando, vel nequiſſimo. Quid non Mortalia Pectora cogis, Auri “ ”Sacra Fames? Non alli nobis videntur iſti Clandeſtini Venditores, quàm Inimici • truculenti, et Indorum, et ſuae illorum etiam Patriae. Vae illis qui inebriant hos ſtupidos Barbaros, ut ſuper nuditates eorum aſpiciant. Fundetur ſuper eos Calix Dextrae Jehovae, ſin minùs in hoc mundo, at certè in Futur • , ſine Reſipiſcentiâ.

Indignatione noſtrâ ità dictâ contra iniquos Homines, ſimus conjucti Precibus noſtris Patri Luminum et Miſericordiae, in Nomine Unici Mediatoris inter Deum et Homines, Jeſu nempè Chriſti, pro miſerrimis hiſce Barbaris; ut convertantur a Tenebris ad Lucem, et a Poteſtate Satanae ad Deum. Hoc enim bonum et acceptum eſt coram Salvatore Noſtro Deo, qui omnes vult Salvos fieri, et ad Agnitionem Veritatis venire.

Torum igitur Dei Verbum in Manibus eorum committere, et coram Oculis proponere, volumus; quò Voluntatem Dei legere poſſ •• , et aſſertam Viam Salutis ••• nere —Scil; Sanctificationem Spiritûs, et Juſtificationem Peccatoris per Solam Juſtitiam Chriſti, Fide acceptam, ex Operibus bonis perfectâ.

Hoc magnum eſt Depoſitum Chriſti, concraditum Tibi, Vir Dei! ſi eo Nomine Glorioſo Te dignum velis prebere. Avertat Deus a Nobis Verba illa terribilia Chriſti Legis peritis, "Vae Vobis, quia tu • iſtis Clavem Scientiae."

Nos, fateor, decet invicem non parvum concedere propter Praejudicium Educationis; ſed Exemplar habemus et Arbitrum Unicum, ſcil; Sincerum Verbum Dei. Ex Corde opto, et Tibi et mihi, Illuminationem Salvi • icam à Beato ſpiritu, qui inſpiravit Scriptores Sanctos. “Teſtis enim eſt mihi Deus (ſi licet uti Verbis Apoſtoli ad Philippenſes) ut deſiderem Vos omnes in Viſceribus Jeſu Chriſti; et hoc precor ut Charitas noſtra ad •• c magìs et magìs abundet, cum Agnitione et omni Intelligentiâ; ut probemus quae ſunt utilia, et ſímus impleti Fructibus Juſtitiae, qui ſunt per Jeſum Chriſtum ”in Gloriam et Laudem Dei.

Vale, Vir Humaniſſime! Gratia Chriſti tecum, et Afflatus Divini Spiritus. In Precibus tuis in Mentem, veniat Amicus et Frater Omnibus qui diligunt Dominum noſtrum Jeſum Chriſtum in Sinceritate,

B. C. S. S. Theol. Doct. Apud Boſtonienſes. Domino Stephano Lau • eriat, E Societate Jeſu, Paunabſcot. Boſton. Auguſti. Die. 16. 1732. "Domine, et Frater Chariſſime, Pa • Chriſti!

Literas Veſtras amicas et pias, ſine Tempore ſcribendi, • uper accepi, Curâ D. Secomb; et tibi maximè devinctum me habeo, propter fraternam Sollicitudinem quam exprimis, • t Zelum—Verbis • ere divinis, pro animâ meâ immortali, ejuſque Aeternâ Salute. Nec minori Benevolentiâ Chriſtianâ erga Te ardeo, quòd Grantiam Dei in Veritate cognoſcere poſſis, et impleri Cognitione Voluntatis ipſius, in omni Sapientiâ, et Prudentiâ Spirituali. In Hoc unum ſumus, ſicut decet Miniſtros Verbi Chriſti — Sed (proh Dolor!) quam ſejuncti Sumus et diſtantes, ſub glorioſo Nomine Chriſtiano, in Dogmate et Communione. Ità praedixit Dominus Noſter Jeſus, non ſine fanctâ Irâ et Dolore Summo, "Vae Mundo. Matth. xiii. 7. Neceſſe eſt enim ut veniant Offendicula; veruntamen vae Homini per quem venit Offendiculum." Quaeſtio ergo eſt, Unde veniunt? Utrù à nobis Reformatis, an ab Eccleſiâ Romanorum, quae falſo ſibi arrogat Nomen Catholicae.

Commiſeratione multâ me proſecutus es (chariſſime Amice!) quia non natus et educatus intra Parietes Eccleſiae Veſtrae, extra maneo: Ego autem (quae Educationis felicis eſt Vis et Efficacia, unâ et Scripturae Notitia ab Infantiā jam uſque primâ) non ceſſo Gratias agere Deo, quòd Lineae mea et mea Temporae prolapſa ſunt inter Reformatos. Video ſatis, non tantùm ex Scriptis Theologorum Noſtrorum, ſed ex Sincero Verbo Dei, Manibus non ſolùm Paſtorum, ſed et Populi, tractato, Superſtitiones et Idololatriam Papiſticae Eccleſiae Romanae. Attamen Meipſum non tali Pretio et Honore habeo, quaſi ullâ meâ Sapientiâ vel Sagacitate Errores illos fatales inveſtigare potuiſſem, ſi Divina Providentia Natale meum aſſignâſſet, in Regionibus Pontificiis. Heu! quantum debe • liberae Gratiae Dei, quòd Sortem, meam deſignaverit, ſub Radiis ſolaribus praedicati Evangelii, in Linquâ maternâ, et purioris Cultûs, à Portis Romae remotum— Exite Poluli “mei, dixit Dominus noſter Salvator, nè Participes ſitis ”Delictorum ejus, et de Plagis ejus. Heu! quantum eſt Prejudicium Educationis, quòd non cernis Eccleſiam Romanam hodiernam non poſſe dici veram Eccleſiam Chriſti. Non ſuperſtructa eſt Fundamento Prophetarum “ ”et Apoſtolorum. Multa addit Scripturis Canonicis, et multa ſubtrahit ab illis, ſine Timore divinae Prohibitionis, Deut. iv. 2. vel tremendae Imprecationis, Apo • . xxii. 10, 19. "Defecit à Fide ſemel Sanctis traditâ, et varias Haereſes exitiales docet, ſub Paena Anathematis. Exempli Gratia Sanctorum Merita, Satisfactiones humanas, Indulgentias, Tranſubſtantiationem, Sacrificum Miſſaticum, Primatum Papae, Eccleſiae Infallibilitatem, &c. Cum Primis, Idolatricus Cultus et Superſtitioſus flagrans eſt et horrendus. Ratione Objecti, praeter Deum. Opt. Max. unicum Cultûs et Invocationis Objectum, Creaturas etiam (quae non ſunt Dii) veneramini et adoratis, Beatam nempè Virginem, Angelos, Sanctos defunctos, Hoſtiam, Crucem, et Reliquias. Ratione Modi, Simulacra et Imagines veneramini, in Contemptu Secundi Praecepti, ejuſque Comminationis. Non facies tibi Sculptile, neque ullam Imaginem, “&c. non adorabis ea, neque coles— Ego enim ”Jehova Deus tuus, Deus Zelotes, &c. Tranſeo Superbiam Papae, ejuſque Dominationem ſuper Reges Terrae, qui Coronas ei ſuas dederunt, quia neceſſe eſt ut Scriptura impleatur. Tranſeo majorem Arrogantiam, in Diſpenſationibus Legum Divinarum, et in Uſurpationibus ſuper Conſcientiam, Dominium Solius Dei. Ita ſe extollit “adverſus Omne quod dicitur Deus aut Numen, et in Templo Dei ſedet tanquam Deus; oftendens ”Seipſum quaſi ſit Deus. 2. Theſſ. ii. 4. Tranſeo immanes Perſecutiones, quibus fuit Oceanus Sanguinis effuſus, &c. Excuſatum me habeas (Domine, Amice) ſi nunquam fuero Membrum illius Eccleſiae, cujus caput eſt Papa Iniquus ille quem Dominus in ſuo Tempore Deſtruet Spiritu Oris Sui. Myſterium eſt Iniquitatis.

Iterùm atque iterùm Spiritus clare praedixit Regnum et Tempora Magni Antichriſti, quòd multi deſciſcent a Fide, attendentes Spiritibus Impoſtoribus, et Doctrinis Daemonum, prohibentium Matrimonium contrahere, et jubentium abſtinere a Cibis quos Deus creavit ut exciperentur cum Gratiarum Actione. Hoc etiam in Eccleſiâ Veſtrâ impletum vides; et Populi Veſtri Simplices vidiſſent, ſi Uſus Scripturae conceffus illis fuiſſet.

Profectò, Domine, quùm Controverſias inter Pontificios et quùm Triginta abhinc Annis Peregrinus fui trimeſtris in nobili et amaeno Regno Franciae, ſtupefactus fui prodigioſam Corruptionem Religionis Chriſti, Ignorantiam Plebis, et Facilitatem Digniorum, obſervans.

Te Domine, Admiratione in maximâ habeo, et Fratres tuos Emiſſarios, qui Vitam conſumunt inter Barbaros, eorum Salutis Gratiâ. Maximum erit Praemium Veſtrum in Caelis, ſi veram Doctrinam et purum Cultum Chriſti doces his Barbaris, et ſi vero Amore Chriſti et Animarum agis. Sed, cavete (Viri singulares!) nè, deceptis Vobis ipſis, Seductores ſitis, et ambo in Foviam cadatis. Heu! timeo nè Ignorantia Barbarorum precantium in Linguâ ignotâ, ſine Contritione precantium, retentura ſit eos procul a Regno Dei, etiam ſi ad Sobrietatem et Manſuetudinem reclamare poſſes. Regnum Dei eſt Spirituale et Gaudium in Spiritu Sancto. Nimis Auguſti ſumus Nos Reformati in his divinis Fructibus S. S. Spiritûs; ex Animo opto, multò largiores fieri in iiſem Pontificios.

Fratres Chriſtiani! Nos ipſos judicemus, et alii pro aliis precemur, ut ſinceri et fideles in Chriſto reperiamur! Speciatim Te Humaniſſime Domine et Frater, commendo Deo et Sermoni Gratiae ipſius, qui potens eſt ſuperſtruere, et dare probis Haereditatem inter Omnes Sanctificatos!

Sum Tui Obſervantiſſimus et addictiſſimus, &c. B. C. Boſt. Julii 30. 1733.

As his Heart was much ſet upon ſerving this and other Miſſions to the Tribes of Indians on our Borders, of which you will hear hereafter, and his Mind and Pen employ'd in the good Work going on among them: So he was no leſs ſolicitouſly concerned to have the pure Goſpel ſent into Places within our ſeveral Governments, where the Inhabitants were either under ſtrange Prejudices againſt it; or ſo poor that they could not honourably ſupport it. Accordingly, he layed out himſelf to the uttermoſt to collect Moneys for the Maintenance of ſutable Miſſionaries, and always gave liberally of his own Eſtate. — This appears from many Papers encouraging Subſcriptions for Block-Iſland, Nantucket, Providence, &c. &c. &c.Alſo South Carolina— The Iſland of Bermuda— Cape May were greatly ſerved by his Care, Correſpondence and Endeavours to ſettle the Goſpel among them.—He alſo for a long Time ſtood Treaſurer for ſome of them which coſt him much Pains and Labour. — In his younger Times he has gone himſelf in Perſon to preach among them. The Letters he has been called to write on ſuch Occaſions would make a Volume.

He projected and eſſayed to do good many other Ways.— I find two Papers, on the Outſide of which is written, My own, the one about ſetting up Charity-Schools, the other a Propoſal of a Fund for pious Uſes, both highly worthy to be publiſhed to the World, and are therefore here inſerted.

Boſton, New-England, Feb. 1713.

"Whereas it has of late Years pleaſed God by his Grace, wonderfully to incline and ſpirit many piouſly diſpoſed People in the ſeveral Parts of our Nation, to ſet up and ſupport many Charity-Schools, for the Maintenance and Education of poor Children of either Sex; and in his Providence to ſmile on thoſe their good Endeavours; the Fame whereof reaching us in theſe diſtant Regions has provoked a Zeal to a like Undertaking, for the Glory of God, and the Good of this Place.

And as we juſtly apprehend there can be no Sort of Charity more acceptable to God, and beneficial to our Country than this; nothing being more likely under the Bleſſing of God, to ſerve unto the Reformation of Manners, the preventing the Growth of Profaneſs and Debauchery among us, and to promote Virtue and true Godlineſs, than an early and pious Education of Youth: We do therefore propoſe, under the Favour and Direction of God, to endeavour the ſetting up and ſupporting two Charity-Schools or Hoſpitals, in the Town of Boſton in New-England, the One for the intire Maintenance, Inſtruction and godly Education of poor Boys, the other of poor Girls.

In Order whereunto it is propoſed, 1. That there be ſome convenient Place and Habitation provided: And particularly that the Town be moved at their next Town-Meeting, to appropriate the long Houſe upon Fort-Hill, with ſome Addition of Land for a Garden, and ſome adjoining Spot for a Paſture, if it might be obtain'd; to be given for this Uſe for ſo long a Time as the Charity propoſed ſhall continue to make this Improvement of it. 2. That the Children entertained in the ſaid Schools ſhall be ſuch as are the proper Objects of Charity, by Reaſon of Poverty; ſo that all ſuch in the Town without Diſtinction or Reſpect, be meant equally to be provided for in this Charity; ſo far as the Fund deſigned ſhall be found ſufficient. 3. That where poor People are ſeen viſibly to neglect their Children, and by ſuch their Neglect to abandon them to Vice and Idleneſs; and are yet unwilling to have their Children maintained and educated in a Way of publick Charity; the Help of the Laws provided, or that ſhall be provided in that Caſe ſhall be ſought and taken. 4. That the Maintenance propoſed for the Children is the whole Proviſion of Lodging, Food, Phyſick, Clothing, Firing, Waſhing, Tendance, and every Thing neceſſary to their decent and confortable Subſiſtence: And that the Children be clothed alike in ſome Livery, whereby they may be known; and kept neat, clean and wholeſom. 5. That from ſix Years old and upward, Children ſhall be received into theſe Schools or Hoſpitals, there to be ſupported and inſtructed till Twelve or Fourteen Years of Age: And then as they ſhall be found fit to be diſpoſed of by the Care of the Overſeers, conſulting the Children's Capacity and Inclinations, to Services and Trades. 6. That the Children be inſtructed carefully in the Principles and Duties of Religion; taught to read well, to write and cypher: The Girls to knit, ſew, ſpin, and whatſoever may be proper to keep them employed, and fit them for Services, and to get their Living in the World. 7. That there be ſtrict Rules of Diſcipline and Government obſerved, to reſtrain the Children from Idleneſs, and for the Puniſhment of every Thing that is vicious; to form them into good Manners and virtuous Behaviour, and that particular Care be taken for their reverent Behaviour in God's Worſhip, and the Sanctification of the Lord's-Day. 8. That there be daily Prayers, Morning and Evening, with the reading the holy Scriptures, attended with ſutable Solemnity, and none allowed to be abſent. 9. That the Maſter and Miſtreſs of the Schools be Perſons of good Life, and Repute for Knowledge, Prudence and a Spirit of Government: Capable of ſo great a Truſt and Service; who ſhall be honourably ſupported. 10. That there be three or five Truſtees choſen annually by the Subſcribers, one of which to be the Treaſurer; to whom the Care, Inſpection and Supply of the two Houſes ſhall belong; who ſhall keep and render an exact Account of all Payments made, or Gifts received, or of Expences and Diſburſements, and make up their Accounts once a Year. 11. That there be a Number of Overſeers choſen, among whom the Miniſters of the Town ſhall be always reputed, and the Truſtees for the Time being; to viſit the Schools once a Month, and catechiſe the Children; when alſo there ſhall be an Account taken of their Faults noted down by the Maſter or Miſtreſs, and ſutable Admonitions or Corrections adminiſtred. 12. That there be a Quarterly Meeting of the Subſcribers and Benefactors, when any further Rules and Methods from Time to Time found neceſſary or convenient ſhall be propounded and agreed unto, and a publick Sermon ſhall be preached ſutable to the Occaſion; the Children walking in Form to Church, and there ſitting together in the Front-Gallery when they ſhall be publickly catechiſed, and a Collection ſhall be made of the Charity of the Congregation. 13. That for the more eaſy gathering, and Payment of the Sums ſubſcribed, it be agreed by the Subſcribers to pay the ſame in, at their Quarterly Meetings, to the Treaſurer. 14. Finally, That all Perſons be aſſured on the Faith of ſaid Society, that whatever Sums be ſubſcribed and paid, or whatever Gifts and Contributions be made, or Legacies left by Will or Teſtament, for the Support and Benefit of the ſaid Schools, ſhall be by them faithfully and without Fraud, applied and improved to the ſaid Uſe and no other.

Wherefore in Purſuit of this Chriſtian Deſign, we whoſe Names are underwritten, do hereby agree to pay yearly at four equal quarterly Payments, during Pleaſure, the ſeveral reſpective Sums of Money over againſt our Names ſubſcribed. Humbly commending this our poor Endeavour and Offering, to the Bleſſing and Acceptance of God, and ourſelves to his gracious Direction with Reſpect unto any further Methods of Wiſdom and Piety, which may beſt anſwer the Intentions above propoſed.

The Propoſal for a Fund.

A Propoſal humbly offered to the Conſideration of the Miniſters and Churches of Chriſt, through this and the neighbouring Provinces, for the collecting and keeping a ſmall Fund of Moneys in every Church, to be diſpoſed of from Time to Time in ſuch pious Uſes, and in ſuch Proportions, as the particular Churches to which it belongs ſhall ſee meet.

As we are directed and commanded by God our Saviour to be ready unto every good Work, and to be rich in good Works, Titus iii. 1. 1 Tim. vi. 18. 1 Pet. iv. 11. according to the Ability which he has given us, and his Bleſſing on us in our worldly Eſtate; ſo we are particularly encouraged to be deviſing liberal Things with this Promiſe, That by liberal Things we ſhall ſtand.Iſa. xxxii. 8.

This Promiſe obviates and removes the Objection, that may be ready to riſe in the Minds of ſome at the firſt Sight of the preſent Propoſal, from our preſent difficult Circumſtances.

For as one Reaſon of theſe may be, that we have done and do no more in a free Expence from Year to Year as a People, for the Support of Religion among our ſelves, and the carrying it unto others in our Neighbourhood; ſo one of the ſhorteſt and moſt direct Ways that a People can take to obtain of God the Return of their Proſperity, and their future Eſtabliſhment, may be to come into ſome Methods of this Nature which we now propoſe; with a pure Aim at the Honour of God, and the Good of Souls. Prov. iii. 9, 10. Iſa. lviii. 8, 9, 10.

Let us prove a gracious and bountiful Providence, if it may not pour out a Bleſſing, Mal. iii. 10. Prov. 〈◊〉 22. and add no Sorrow with it: But what is of much greater Weight, and what we may more aſſuredly expect, by this Means we may reap more abundantly in the ſpiritual Bleſſing, Iſa. xliv. 3, 4. Gal. vi. 8, 9. — The Spirit of God with his Word and Ordinances among us, and on our Offspring.

It is propoſed then, I. That every particular Church do furniſh themſelves with a greater or ſmaller Stock, that may be a conſtant and ready Fund for Uſes of Piety and Charity, as they may ſee Occaſion. II. That to this End there may be in every Congregation a Collection made on our Days of General Faſting and Thankſgiving, appointed by the Government over us from Year to Year. III. Theſe Stocks may alſo be from Time to Time increaſed by private Communications, as any Perſons on particular Occaſions may find themſelves inclined. IV. This Evangelical Treaſury may be lodged in the Hands of the Deacons of each of the Churches where it is gathered, or whomſoever the Church ſhall appoint to that Truſt; and a true and fair Accompt ſhall be kept by them, to be on all Occaſions produced, of all that is brought in, or laid out. V. Nothing ſhall be at any Time, or for any Occaſion drawn out, without the Knowledge and Conſent of the Church to which it belongs. VI. It is propoſed that the firſt and main Intention of theſe Funds ſhall be the Propagation of Religion in ungoſpelized Places; and the diſperſing Bibles, Catechiſms, and other Inſtruments of Piety among the Poor, as any particular Churches may ſee Occaſion.

We have obſerved with Thankfulneſs to God for it, that of late Years the Hearts of many good Men among us, have been much upon this great and good Work here propoſed, Namely, the Miſſion of the Goſpel into ſuch Places as have been hitherto negligent or averſe to the Settlement of it among them, and alſo the giving Bibles, Catechiſms, and other good Books among the Ignorant, the Prejudiced and the Profane, as well as unto poor and pious People. An Odour we truſt it is of a ſweet Smell, a Sacrifice acceptable and well pleaſing to God. Phil. iv. 18. Heb. xiii. 16.

A more compendious Way to do Good to Souls, and bring much Glory to God, can ſcarce be thought of. The Wiſdom which is from above, full of Mercy and of good Fruits, Jam. iii. 16. we think, has ſcarce projected a more comprehenſive and effectual Piece of Charity and Beneficence than this is.— What can we think of more likely to be owned, accepted, proſpered and rewarded by God.

And as to the Method we propoſe for the raiſing theſe Funds, ſcil. by Collections in our Congregations every publick Faſt and Thankſgiving Day; what can be more agreeable to both thoſe Solemnities?

It is very fit, if not indeed a Duty, that our Faſts both private and publick, ſhould be accompanied with pious Diſtributions and Communications in Ways of Charity and Mercy. Such were the Prayers and Faſts of the devout Cornelius, who alſo gave much Alms to the People; Acts x. 2—30. and how well accepted of God and rewarded, none need to be told. And ſuch is the publick Faſt which God hath choſen: Is it not to deal thy Bread to the Hungry, and that thou bring the Poor that are caſt out to thy Houſe? When thou ſeeſt the Naked that thou cover him, &c. Then ſhall thy Light break forth as the Morning, and thine Health ſhall ſpring forth ſpeedily. Iſa. lviii. 6, 7, 8. Now from God's Promiſes, on Account of theſe private Exerciſes of Bounty and Mercy to the Bodies of Men on our Days of ſolemn Faſting and Prayer, we may well argue that an Alms on ſuch Occaſions, deſigned for the Salvation of their immortal Souls, cannot but be a Sacrifice with which God in well-pleaſed.

Nor do we at all mean by propoſing this Offering to the Souls of Men, to put by the other to their Bodies; God forbid: But as we would hereby intimate to our People, how neceſſary an Attendant of a religious Faſt Alms to the Poor is, and what ought to be preached to them and obſerved by them on ſuch an Occaſion; ſo we only propoſe to them the adding a Mite to be caſt into a Treaſury of the Lord for the pious Uſes aboveſaid.

And then as to our Days of publick Thankſgiving; as we cannot but praiſe (and bleſs God for) the excellent Uſage (which has obtained among us from the Days of our Fathers, and we pray God may never ceaſe among us) of making Gifts to the Poor, and ſending them Portions from our Tables: So we hope, that the adding theſe Contributions for the Services of Piety above propoſed, will be grievous to none, but may be a vaſt Benefit to us both on temporal and ſpiritual Accounts.Phil. iv. 17. 1 Cor. x. 33.

To be ſure, on our Thankſgiving Days we ſhould remember both the laudable Practice of the pious Jews on their Days of Gladneſs and Feaſting; a good Day and of ſending Portions one to another, and of Gifts to the Poor; Eſther ix. 19, 22. and alſo the Law given to Iſrael by the Hand of Moſes, That on their three yearly Feaſts none of them ſhould appear before the Lord empty, but every one (ſays the Text) ſhall give as he is able, according to the Bleſſing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee. Deut. xvi. 16, 17. Exod. xxiii. 15.

We need add no more to juſtify and preſs the Propoſal here made. We give our Judgment to the Churches for publick Collections to be made in our Aſſemblies for the Poor, or for other pious Uſes, as every Church and Congregation may think beſt, on every Day of General Faſting, or Thankſgiving obſerved by us. We wiſh that by mutual Conſent it may univerſally come into Practice. We hope that what we here offer, will be ſeriouſly weighed, candidly conſtrued, and be cordially entertained by the beloved Churches of Chriſt and their Rev. Paſtors, whom we ſalute in the Lord, and aſk their Prayers for us."

As he ever expreſſed high an Regard for the Town of Boſton the Place of his Nativity and Reſidence, he accordingly ſought its Welfare and Flouriſhing continually.

He uſed his beſt Endeavours that Peace with Truth and Holineſs might be and abide in the Churches; and an happy Union ſubſiſt among the Paſtors; and in his Turn viſited the Schools, and encouraged the Youth in Piety and Learning both by Word and Writing.Some of his moving Speeches to the Scholars are found by us. He often gave them Hymns of his own compoſing to tranſlate into Latin. The Priſon and the Alms Houſe he alſo frequently miniſtred unto, by his Charities and Preaching. He bore an open Teſtimony againſt ſuch Things in the Weekly Prints as had a Tendency to mock Religion, and bring it into Contempt, particularly a vile Paper called the Courant. He alſo ſhewed his Concern for what he eſteemed the Temporal Intereſt of the Inhabitants.

There is an Eſſay of his printed in the Year 1719, for the ſetting up and eſtabliſhing a Market, fairly repreſenting the Conveniences and Advantages thereof.

He greatly encouraged by private Converſation the receiving the Small-Pox by the ſafe and eaſy Way of Inoculation; and by a printed Compoſure in the Year 1721 entitled, Some Obſervations on the new Method of receiving the Small Pox by ingrafting or inoculating, which was well accepted by many, and did much Good both here and in Great-Britain, where it had a ſecond Impreſſion.Dr. Juven the learned Secretary of the Royal Society, gives his Opinion of it in a Letter to H. Newman, Eſq in theſe Words, "One may, I think, in that little Tract, ſee the Philoſopher and Phyſician, as well as the modeſt and humble Divine.

He alſo wrote and publiſhed a Letter in Vindication of his Friend Z. Boylſton F. R. S. who was the firſt and chief Surgeon that performed the Operation, and had ſuffered much from the Tongues and Pens of ſome good as well as many bad Men that oppoſed the Practice.

I come now to write largely of Dr. Colman's ſerving the Publick, his Country, and the Churches.

He was employed in his younger as well as later Times by the Great and General Court of the Province, and the ſeveral diſtinct Branches of it on divers weighty Affairs. At their Deſire he not only preached and printed once and again on grand OccaſionsViz. A Sermon entitled Imprecation againſt the Enemies of God, Pſalm lxviii. 1. 1707. A Sermon on the UNION of the two Kingdoms, England and Scotland 1708, from Pſalm cxxii. 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th Verſes.

Two Election Sermons, in the Year 1718 — from Neh. v. 19.—And in the Year 1723 another from 1 Chron xxviii. 8.

1719 — The Bleſſing of Zebulon and Iſſachar, Deut. xxxiii. 18, 19 Verſes.

A Faſt Sermon preach'd in the Council Chamber 1736 from Zech. vii. 8, 9.

A Sermon entitled, The Lord ſhall rejoice in his Works 1741 from Pſalm civ. 31.

Alſo, Sermons on Thomas Hollis, Eſq and Hon. Samuel Holden, Eſq which will be taken Notice of in the next Chapter.

but alſo draughted Letters and Addreſſes for them relating to publick Matters which were highly approved. Sometimes he has been engaged for them in ſecret Services on the moſt momentous Concerns, and ſucceeded in them. We have no Miniſter now left, that has that Intereſt and Influence here or at Home which he ſeemed to have.

I find by many Copies left that he wrote freely (but always with greateſt Complaiſance and Humility to our excellent Governors, and Agents He held a long and uſeful Correſpondence with Mr. Agent Dummer, Wilks, &c.—And wrote many a Letter which he never ſent fearing leſt he ſhould intermeddle too far in ſome Affairs: So he has written on the Outſide of them. He exerciſed a Jealouſy over himſelf, and was a great Maſter of Prudence, if that be a true Definition of it, which ſome have given, viz. Prudentia eſt dicendorum, faciendorumque, in ſuo Loco et tempore ſcientia. for the Province; and to the leading Members in both Houſes, of our Great and General Court, from Time to Time, which were generally well accepted, and ſometimes did eminent Service. The Governors DUDLEY, SHUTE, BERNETT, BELCHER expreſt the higheſt Value for him, and his Excellency our preſent Governor will not be offended if I ſay he has ſhown him as great Regards.

I own he has been blamed by ſome (who have not turned out the beſt Friends to their Country) for intermeddling at all with civil and ſecular Matters. But muſt a Perſon who knows well the Intereſt of his Country, and is capable of ſerving it, and ſaving it too when ſinking, be ſilent only becauſe he is a Miniſter? Is he nothing elſe? Is he not a Subject of his Prince, and a Member of the Commonwealth?—Mr. Colman was full in the Sentiments of the Rev. Drs. Increaſe and Cotton Mather, his Paſtors and Predeceſſors on this Head.Dr. Increaſe Mather's Life, wrote by his Son Dr. Cotton Mather. Page 151, 152. — Viz. That Opportunities to do good not only legitimate “the Application of our Capacities to do it, but alſo oblige and require us do it. That upon publick and preſſing Emergencies Miniſters may apply their ſuperior Talents to ſome Things of ſecular Importance. The great Selden is quoted by them in Vindication of ſuch a Practice—'Tis a fooliſh Thing (ſays he) to ſay, A Miniſter muſt not meddle with ſecular Matters becauſe his own Profeſſion will take up his whole Man. The Meaning is only, that he muſt ”attend his Calling.

I hope the Country will be ſo juſt, now he is Dead, as to own that by his unwearied Pains and Eſſays of this Kind, we have been generally and greatly ſerved.—

His Fathers and Brethren in the ſacred Miniſtry as they highly and juſtly valued Him on Account of his many excellent Endowments, ſo they particularly diſcerned and diſtinguiſhed his ſhining Talent in draughting Letters and Addreſſes by employing it on various Occaſions.—So long ago as in the Year 1715 there is found his Draught of an Addreſs to our Great and General Court about calling a Synod.—In the ſame Year an Addreſs to his Majeſty King GEORGE the Firſt.—Two more in the Year 1716.—Another in the Year 1717.—Another in the Year 1727—Another in the Year 1734.—Another in the Year 1737.—

The Addreſs to the King in the Year 1716 was accompanied with Addreſſes to divers Lords, Nobles, Gentlemen, and ſome eminent Diſſenting Miniſters in London, viz. To my Lord Chancellor Cooper, Lord Chief Juſtice King, Sir William Aſhurſt, John Barrington Shute Eſq The Rev. Meſſirs. Calamy, Bradbury, Reynolds, Tong, &c. &c. To which Addreſſes, ſeveral kind and gracious Anſwers were returned; and a uſeful Correſpondence entered into by him with ſome of theſe great Men.

The Addreſs ſent in the Year 1737 was alſo attended with like Applications to Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Divines pleading Favours to the Province. The Right Honourable Sir Robert Walpole, His Grace the Duke of Newcaſtle, the Right Honourable the Earl of Harrington, the Honourable Samuel Holden Eſq the Rev. Meſſirs. Harris, Watts, Neal and Guiſe, were written unto.—

A few of theſe Draughts are here inſerted, viz.

"To His Excellency Joſeph Dudley, Eſq Captain General and Governour in Chief. And to the Great and General Court or Aſſembly of His Majeſty's Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay; begun and held at Boston upon Wedneſday the 25th of May, 1715.

The Miniſters of the Goſpel and Paſtors of the Churches in this Province, convened in Boston on the 25th and 26th Days of this Inſtant May, having taken into their ſerious Conſideration the State of Religion among us, and of the Churches under their Paſtoral Care and Watch, are humbly of Opinion that it is a Thing hightly expedient and neceſſary, ſpeedily to convene a General Synod, to conſider what Remedies may be applied unto theſe Evils and Diſtempers, whereby our Churches and the Power of Godlineſs, among us, may ſeem Enfeebled and Endangered.

It is a Thing well known that our pious Fathers and venerable Predeceſſors held their Synodical Meetings, in laying the Foundation of their Churches, in the happy Fruits whereof we rejoice to this Day: And we cannot but apprehend it to have been a great Omiſſion and faulty Neglect among us of the preſent Generation, the Blame whereof we the Miniſters of Religion muſt very much take upon ourſelves, that we have for ſo long a Time been without one ſuch Aſſembly of Charity by their Paſtors and Delegates in a General Synod: Though it has been the acknowledged Principle as well as Practice of theſe Churches from the beginning, and might ever be their Beauty, Strength and Safety.

That we may therefore, however late, anſwer our Obligations to God and to theſe dear Churches of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, over which the Holy Ghoſt has made us Overſeers; and in the moſt effectual manner we can now propoſe to do our Part to promote a godly Reformation, and the Revival of true Piety through the Land; and being deſirous to enjoy the fulleſt Opportunity of bearing our Teſtimony to the Faith and Order of the Goſpel; knowing that we owe, and are accountable to God and to the World how we diſcharge the ſame Paſtoral Care and Duty in theſe Reſpects to the People of our own Generation, which our Fathers did in their Day to a Generation of far leſs abounding Diſorders, Irreligion and Immorality; And finally, eſteeming ourſelves called of God hereunto, and relying humbly on the ſame Preſence of the Divine Spirit to be with us which was with them:

We do therefore in the Name of the Miniſters lately here convened, and as they have directed us to do, lay before your Excellency and the General Aſſembly their Humble Deſire and Petition, that if in your Wiſdom you ſhall think fit, you would pleaſe to give your Countenance and Aſſiſtance in all the proper and needful Ways to the ſpeedy meeting of ſuch a Synod, and to favour it with that paternal Protection which our Churches have enjoyed upon ſuch Occaſions in former Times from their pious Rulers.

We pray God to fill you with heavenly Wiſdom, and grant you at all Times his gracious Guidance and Leading, and are among the moſt Dutiful and Obedient of your People,

Boſton, May 27. 1715."

"To the King's moſt Excellent Majeſty.

The Humble Memorial of his Majeſty's Loyal and Dutiful Subjects, the Paſtors of the Churches of Chriſt in New-England, humbly Sheweth,

That having had the Honour lately to approach the Throne with our moſt humble and dutiful Congratulation of your Majeſty's happy Acceſſion thereto, to implore your Majeſty's gracious Protection of us in our Religious Liberties; We do now in all Humility beg leave to repreſent to your ſacred Majeſty the Conſtitution of our Churches, their Riſe, Growth and preſent State.

We are in Denomination, and ſo in Principle and Practice, Diſcipline and Worſhip, Congregational and Preſbyterian; of one Body with the Proteſtant Diſſenters from the Church of England as by Law eſtabliſhed in Great-Britain, commonly known by the Name of United Brethren; and like them we have ſignalized our Zeal for and Adherence to the Proteſtant Succeſſion in your moſt ſerene and illuſtrious Houſe.

Our Fathers were ſome of the Old Puritans, ſo called from their purer Church State, and Way of Worſhip and Manner of godly Diſcipline, which in their Apprehenſion they ſought and practiſed.—

They were People of exemplary Devotion towards God, Loyalty to their Prince, and of conſpicuous Sobriety, Virtue and true Goodneſs in the Sight of all Men.

Uneaſy as they were made at Home, under the Impoſition of ſome Things which they eſteemed ſinful to comply with; the Spirit and Providence of God directed them to ſeek and find ſome quiet Seat for themſelves and their Poſterity in the Deſarts of America.

Religion was their Motive and their Support in the ſorrowful Leave they took of their pleaſant Native Country, —they parted with high Expreſſions of Affection and Eſteem to the Church of England.

They chearfully planted and ſubdued a vaſt Wilderneſs at their own Expence, and not without many Hardſhips and Hazards.

They obtained Royal Charters to encourage their Undertakings, and to remain the everlaſting Teſtimonials of their Allegiance to the Britiſh Crown, as well as Bonds thereto.

They were animated with a Proſpect of enlarging the Empire of Great-Britain, in Regions not known to former Ages.

But to their immortal Honour it muſt be ever remembred and recorded, that Religion was their firſt and chief Care, and in order to that Learning.

In this they have been ſingular and eminent among the Plantations, and we their Poſterity reap the Honour and happy Fruits thereof.

At this Day through the Bleſſing of Heaven on us, we are become a great People, ſpreading upwards of three hundred Miles along the Sea-Coaſts, and from thirty to fifty Miles up into the inland Parts of the Country to the Number of—Towns, and many more Worſhipping Congregations and Churches.

At the ſame Time we have but one ſingle Congregation among us of the Worſhip of the Church of England; who are treated by us with all that chriſtian Reſpect, and brotherly Eſteem and Regard they can reaſonably expect and deſire.

Beſides inferiour Schools of Literature by Law enjoined in every Town, for Reading, Writing or Grammar, we have two Colleges for Academical Learning, where the Languages and literal Arts and Sciences are taught; and whereby our many Churches have been hitherto more than ſupplied with Paſtors, and the higheſt Chairs of Honour have been laudably filled, to the Service of the Prince and the good of the Country.

In theſe Academies for Liberal Education, nothing but Learning and good Morals are required to qualify any Perſon for the Privileges there to be attained, but they are equally diſpenſed unto Perſons of all Perſwa • ions.

The Principles of Loyalty, as well as Religion in all other Inſtances of it, are inſtilled in our Colleges into our Youth, as well as taught in our Pulpits; where we never omit to pray alſo for the King in Supream, and for Governors as ſent by Him.

Nor have we been without many Endeavours, laborious and expenſive for the Converſion of the Natives to Chriſtianity. The Bible has been tranſlated into their Language and twice printed; beſides other good Books of Piety and Religion. There are at this Day above thirty Worſhipping Congregations of the Indians among us: who are partly taught by Engliſh Miniſters that have learned their Language, but more ſtatedly by Indian Preachers of their own. Some Schools alſo there are among them for the teaching of their Children to Read and Write.

To add no more, our Churches are famous for their Zeal for the true Proteſtant Religion, according to the Doctrinal Articles and Homilies of the Church of England; and have been excelled by none in the Joy of ſeeing theſe Divine Truths ſecured to us (as we truſt) in your Majeſty's Poſſeſſion of the Thrones of your Anceſtors.

Moreover, we ought gratefully to acknowledge to God and the King,

That we have been diſtinguiſhed among the Plantations by divers Acts of the Royal Favour and Grace to us; particularly in the Royal Charter granted to us by the late glorious Princes of immortal Memory, King WILLIAM and Queen MARY: In diverſe of which civil Rights and Privileges therein granted, the Vertue and Morals of our People are greatly conſulted and guarded; as alſo in many ſubſequent Laws which have received the Royal Sanction; and by which we enjoy many valuable religious Liberties as well as civil; Namely,

The Settlement and Support of Schools in our Towns, and of Orthodox Miniſters in our Churches; the People's Right of electing their own Miniſters, the ſtrict Sanctification of the Sabbath, and the planting Religion in ſuch Places, where People profanely deſpiſe to ſeek it for themſelves.

Our Prayer therefore is unto the King's moſt excellent Majeſty.

That this our Country and theſe Churches may ever find Grace and Favour in your Royal Eyes, and in the Sight of his Royal Highneſs the Prince of Wales, and of all your illuſtrious Race; whom God continue on the Throne of your Majeſty down to the lateſt Poſterity.

That we may have both our religious Rights and Privileges, as well as civil now enjoyed by us, continued and ſecured to us and to our Poſterity.

That his Majeſty would graciouſly pleaſe to believe concerning us, that he has no where any Subjects more true and faithful, dutiful and loyal, and who will more deſire to deſerve his Royal Favour than his New-Engliſh Churches.

That is would pleaſe his Majeſty of his meer Grace, and as his Princely Wiſdom and Paternal Tenderneſs to us ſhall ever direct him, to vouchſafe to conſider the Conſtitution of our Churches in the Commiſſions from the Throne: And that from Time to Time we may have Men of Virtue and Juſtice, ſet over us in chief Command; and who may be of a Spirit of Moderation, and friendly to our Churches.

And in an eſpecial Manner, we pray that our Colleges which God has made the ſingular Honour and Bleſſing of our Country, may ever have your Royal Favour and Protection."

"To my Lord Chancellor Cooper. May it pleaſe your Lordſhip,

The Fame of your Lordſhip's Juſtice and Humanity has long ſince reached theſe diſtant Dominions of his Majeſty in America. The Wiſdom and Moderation of that glorious Miniſtry, and of thoſe noble Patriots, among whom your Lordſhip hath ſhone ſo bright in the happy Part of the former Reign, as well as ſince his Majeſty's Acceſſion to the Throne, has rendered your Names illuſtrious to us, as they are like to be tranſmitted down to Poſterity, and make ſome of the brighteſt Pages in Hiſtory. No Wonder therefore that we are ambitious to be known to your Lordſhip, and to commend our dear Country to your good Opinion and Patronage upon all Occaſions.

We are ſome of the Miniſters and Paſtors of the Churches in New-England, and as in Duty bound to God and our People, we are careful to preſerve as far as in us lies our Liberties and Privileges civil and religious, which by the Royal Charter to us granted, and many ſubſequent Laws we do enjoy. Wherefore we preſume to incloſe to your Lordſhip a true and faithful Account of the State of our Country, beſeeching your Lordſhip to beſtow a generous Thought, and expreſs a kind Concern for a loyal and dutiful Province, whenever it ſhall appear yo you in your great Wiſdom and Juſtice to need your Regards.

To deſerve ſo great a Favour of your Lordſhip, we can only plead, that like our United Brethren the Diſſenters in Great-Britain, we have ſteadily expreſſed a moſt dutiful Zeal and Affection to the Proteſtant Succeſſion, and to thoſe wiſe and faithful Councils which your Lordſhip and the preſent Miniſtry purſue, with ſo much Glory to the King, themſelves, and their Country. If Duty, Loyalty and Affection can ever merit the Soverign's Favour to a poor People, and the Regards of his Miniſters, truly we are bold to ſay, that New-England is not unworthy of that Intereſt in your Lordſhip's noble Heart which we aſk for.

We pray God to have your Lordſhip always in his gracious Keeping, and to prolong your Life to his own Glory, and to the Honour and Safety of the Kingdom, and of all the Britiſh Dominions. And as we ſhall never ceaſe to pray for the Life of the King, ſo neither to be

Your Lordſhips, Moſt humble, Moſt obliged, and obedient Servants, Benjamin Wadſworth, Ebenezer Pemberton, Benjamin Colman, Peter Thacher, Joſeph Sewall, Increaſe Mather, Cotton Mather, John Leverett, William Brattle, Nehemiah Walter. Boſton May 25. 1716. "To Sir William Aſhurſt. Sir,

The noble and generous Affection with which you have always honoured New-England, is not to be enough acknowledged by the beſt Words that we can chuſe, and we truſt that a grateful Senſe of them will always remain with us.

This emboldens us to aſk your continued Favours at all Times, as the Intereſts of our Country do all for your Help.

Thoſe Intereſts are well known unto your Honour, and particularly our Charter that invaluable Privilege of the Province, whereby the Morals of our People, as well as all our Eaſe and Quietneſs are (under God) beſt ſecured to us.

We cannot but acknowledge the kind Aſſiſtances which your Honour afforded unto Mr. Dummer our Agent, when our Charter was in Danger the laſt Year; and we pray God to reward it both in temporal and ſpiritual Bleſſings, not only to yourſelf, but alſo to your flouriſhing Houſe.

We do therefore preſume to incloſe to yourſelf, as we do alſo by this Opportunity to ſome other Perſons of Honour, a true and faithful Account of the State of our Country, which if it may further engage your Friendſhip to us, we ſhall hold our ſelves greatly obliged.

May you long live the Ornament and Delight of the City, and a Bleſſing to the Kingdom.

Your Honour's Moſt obliged, Moſt humble and obedient Servants, Benjamin Wadſworth, Ebenezer Pemberton, Benjamin Colman, Peter Thacher, Joſeph Sewall. Increaſe Mather, Cotton Mather, John Leverett, William Brattle, Nehemiah Walter, "To John Barrington Shute, Eſq Hon. Sir,

Our worthy Friends and Countrymen now at London, have informed ſome of us, of the particular Regards with which you are pleaſed to honour and ready to ſerve New-England.

We eſteem it Sir, a great Favour of God unto us that he has raiſed up ſuch a Friend in the Britiſh Parliament, more eſpecially in ſuch a critical Juncture as the Seſſions of the laſt Year, when a Bil was brought in to take away our Charters. Whatever Kindneſs and Juſtice you then did us, believe it, Sir, that God will reward it to you; and you have the Prayers and Bleſſing of a pious and grateful People in Return for the Goodneſs ſhown to them.

We are ſome of the Miniſters of Chriſt in and about Boſton in New-England, and have preſumed as to tender you our Acknowledgments of the great Benefits you have ſo generouſly done us, ſo to incloſe to you a true and faithful Account of the State of our Country, and to intreat the Continuance of your Favour to us; which will engage our utmoſt Eſteem and Gratitude, and together with our Thankſgivings to God, the moſt fervent Prayers of,

Sir, Your moſt obliged, Moſt humble, and obedient Servants, Benjamin Wadſworth, Ebenezer Pemberton, Benjamin Colman, Peter Thacher, Joſeph Sewall. Increaſe Mather, Cotton Mather, John Leverett, William Brattle, Nehemiah Walter, Boſton, May 25. 1716. "To my Lord Chief Juſtice King. May it pleaſe your Lordſhip,

We are led by the Fame of your Lordſhip's Juſtice and Goodneſs, to addreſs you in Behalf of our dear Country, which we may humbly ſay is worthy of that Intereſt we aſk for it in your Lordſhip's generous and noble Heart, if Loyalty, Zeal and Affection to his Majeſty's Reign can render any People ſo.

We are far from the Throne, and need to ſtand right in the good Opinion of thoſe noble Patriots, and high Miniſters who have the Honour to be near it, that if our Charter Privileges ſhould be in Danger as they lately were to our great Surprize, we might have ſome kind and powerful Protector, to do us Juſtice with the Government, and obtain the Continuance of the Royal Favour and Grace to us.

Indeed the Goodneſs and Humanity which may be thus ſhown to a poor People upon our humble Interceſſion, may be never recompenſed by them on Earth; but there is a God in Heaven who ſees it, and will reward it to your Lordſhip. He raiſes up noble Perſons to be Benefactors to Mankind, and like the ſuperior Orbs of Light to diſpenſe their benign Influences to the moſt diſtant Regions.

We humbly therefore beg Leave to incloſe unto your Lordſhip, a true and faithful Account of the State of our Country, and beſeech you ſo far to give it a Place in your Mind, as that we may always enjoy your Lordſhip's Favour, in all that appears juſt to you.

We pray God your Lordſhip may long live to adorn the high Seat of Juſtice which you fill, to advance the Honour of the Reign of the beſt of Kings, and at laſt that you may receive that Crown of Life, which God the righteous Judge will give. We are,

My Lord, Your Lordſhips, Moſt humble, and moſt obedient Servants, Benjamin Wadſworth, Ebenezer Pemberton, Benjamin Colman, Peter Thacher, Joſeph Sewall. Increaſe Mather, Cotton Mather, John Leverett, William Brattle, Nehemiah Walter, Boſton, May 25. 1716.

Miniſter of Chriſt in and about Boſton in New-England."

A Letter which in ſeveral Copies was ſent to Dr. Calamy, Mr. Bradbury, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Tong, &c.

"Rev. Sir,

We have a great deal of Reaſon to believe that you will be ready to ſerve the Churches of our Lord Jeſus here in New England: They have many Enemies who are continually ſtriking at our civil and religious Liberties. Very lately the Charter of our Province was threatned by a Bill in Parliament, and in great Danger of being taken away. This Attempt has made us ſenſible, that we need ſome ſtanding Friends in and about London, who will naturally care for us on like Emergencies, and generouſly uſe their Intereſt on our Behalf.

Sir, the Character we have of yourſelf puts you among the Number of thoſe, in whom we may find Ability as well as Inclination to ſerve us. Wherefore we have taken Leave to incloſe to you a true and faithful Account of the State of our Country, and do entreat together with your continual Prayers for us, that you will uſe your beſt Endeavours to ſerve us as there may be Occaſion.

We have by this Opportunity written to the Lord Chancellor Cooper, Sir Peter King, Sir William Aſhurſt, and John Barrington Shute, Eſq to intreat their Favour and Intereſt for us. In any of our Neceſſities, we hope our Friends may apply to thoſe Noblemen and Gentlemen with Succeſs in our Behalf.

Sir, We are your Brethren in the Miniſtry of the Lord Jeſus, a few of the Paſtors in and about Boſton. We ever remember you in our Prayers, ſympathize with you in all that is grievous and afflictive to you, and joy in all your Comforts. We deeply condole with you on the Death of the Rev. Dr. Williams, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Shower and laſt Year; but we cannot but rejoice to ſee the worthy Labours of ſo many in the riſing Miniſtry with you. Alſo we rejoice that in this Time of open Mutiny and Tumult, Treaſon and Rebellion, the Meekneſs and Patience of the Diſſenters have been as exemplary in the one Caſe, as their Loyalty and Zeal for the Proteſtant Succeſſion, has been illuſtrious on the other. We hope the Government will be inclined and able to acknowledge ſo conſpicuous Merit.

Sir, We pray God to proſper your Miniſtry, and ſpare you long to ſerve to his Glory, and are

Your Brethren in the Faith, and Fellowſhip of the Goſpel, Ebenezer Pemberton, Benjamin Colman, Peter Thacher, Joſeph Sewall. Increaſe Mather, Cotton Mather, John Leverett, William Brattle, Nehemiah Walter, Benjamin Wadſworth, Boſton, May 25. 1716.

An additional Letter affixed to the ſeveral Copies of that foregoing.

"Rev. Sir,

Having ſeen the Above, written from the Rev. Miniſters unto you, we are glad to ſee their prudent and faithful Care, under the Favour of Providence to procure the Friendſhip and Patronage of worthy Perſons for our Churches; and we do heartily join with them in requeſting your Favour and good Offices for New-England.

Some of us have the Honour to be of his Majeſty's Council for the Province, but all of us we hope have a greater Honour to value our ſelves on, Namely, That we are true Lovers of our Country, and have a ſincere Zeal for its beſt Intereſts Civil and Religious.

So far, Sir, as you can ſerve theſe, we hope our bleſſed Saviour, the great Head of the Church, will accept it as a Service of Love to his Name, and the Prayers of an obliged, grateful People will come upon you.

Sir, We aſk an Intereſt in your Prayers, and are

Your moſt humble Servants, John Higginſon, Andrew Belcher, Nathaniel Norden, Samuel Browne, Thomas Hutchinſon. Wait Winthrop, Eliſha Hutchinſon, Samuel Sewall, Eliakim Hutchinſon, Penn Townſend, Boſton, May 25. 1716.

"To His Moſt Excellent Majeſty King GEORGE the Second.

The humble Addreſs of his Majeſty's loyal and dutiful Subjects, the Miniſters of Chriſt and Paſtors of the Churches in his Majeſty's Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay in New-England, at their Convention in Boſton, May the 29th, 1734.

Moſt Gracious Sovereign,

The Fame of the happy Nuptials of the Princeſs-Royal of Great-Britain, with his Serene Highneſs the Prince of Orange, together with the univerſal Joy of the Nation, teſtified in their Addreſſes to the Throne on this Occaſion; as alſo the very gracious Acceptance which the Addreſſes of the Proteſtant Diſſenting Miniſters, our united Brethren, have found with your Majeſty, with your Royal Conſort the Queen, and with their Serene Highneſſes the Prince and Princeſs of Orange, encourages us alſo in theſe diſtant Parts of your Majeſty's Dominions, to make the moſt early Repreſentation we can, of our Share in the common Joys of the Royal Family, and of all your faithful Subjects in every Part of the Britiſh Empire. It gives us a moſt pleaſing Remembrance of the inexpreſſible Joy of our Fathers, in the Day of the Nation's Deliverance from Popery and Slavery, by the ever glorious Prince of Orange, afterwards our rightful and gracious Sovereign, King William the Third; which was never equalled among us, but only in the Day of the Acceſſion of your Majeſty's moſt Illuſtrious Proteſtant Houſe to the Throne over us, and now in the numerous Progeny of Princes, with which it has pleaſed God to bleſs your Majeſty and your Dominions, and that we ſee the Princeſs Royal wedded to another Prince of Orange.

That the moſt Serene Houſe of Naſſau may for ever ſhine in the Perſons and Poſterity of their preſent Highneſſes, as it has always done in their glorious Anceſtors, from the firſt Reformation from Popery; and that the Life of your Majeſty and the Queen may be prolonged to ſee the Childrens Children of this, and other like happy Marriages of all the Royal Iſſue, to proteſtant Princes, to the equal Joy of all your Dominions, is our ardent Prayer, and our pleaſing Hope.

We alſo beſeech your Majeſty to permit us to lay at your Royal Feet, our humble Acknowledgments of the many Bleſſings which your Majeſty's Subjects of this Province enjoy under your auſpicious Reign; and in a very particular Manner we crave Leave to mention this one diſtinguiſhing Act of the Royal Favour and Grace to us, that it has pleaſed your Majeſty to fill the reſerved Poſts of Government, with Gentlemen the Sons of the Province, who have at Heart all the Rights of your Majeſty's Honour, and thoſe alſo of your happy Subjects here, both Religious and Civil: This, if it were poſſible, would add to our ſacred Bonds, and fervent Inclinations, ever to approve ourſelves,

May it pleaſe your Majeſty, Your Majeſty's moſt dutiful and loyal Subjects.

In the Name of the Paſtors or Teaching Elders preſent, Peter Thacher, Moderator."

It will I think be granted, that he was equal to any of the Sons of New-England in his ardent Love and Affection to, and his aſſiduous Care for, theſe Churches of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. No one ſerved them with greater Pleaſure. He did his utmoſt to render them beautiful as Tirza, comely as Jeruſalem, and terrible as an Army with Banners. Cant. vi. 4.

It appears by many rough Copies of Letters left, and the Anſwers to them, how indefatigable and ſucceſsful an Inſtrument he was in the Hand of the great Lord of the Church in compromiſing Differences, healing Diviſions, and quenching Fires kindling and flaming among Parties, Paſtors and Brethren. For the Maintenance and Reſtoration of Peace with Truth and Holineſs, he wrote and ſent vaſt Numbers of Letters to New-York and the Jerſies, to Connecticut, Rhode-Iſland, Piſcataqua, and to many Churches and Paſtors in the Maſſachuſetts Bay, all truly Apoſtolick, pleading for and breathing forth Love and Charity.—A Collection of them ſhould be here publiſhed to render his Character illuſtrious if it could be done without expoſing oppoſite Characters; and reviving the Memory of ſuch Strifes and Animoſities which had better be buried and forgotten, and are therefore omitted.

Notwithſtanding his tender Conſtitution and often Infirmities, he went abroad to Councils or Synods, to ſet Things in Order in the Churches: And in his latter Days (in ſome Reſpects) the Care of all the Churches came upon him as you will ſee anon.

And as he early ſhewed a catholick and pacifick Spirit (as has been already noted) it increaſed in him as he grew in Years and Experience.—He ever expreſt an utter Diſlike of that narrow Spirit of Bigotry, which he ſaw prevailing in two many of the greateſt and beſt Men of all Sects and Perſwaſions in paſt Ages and the preſent.—He was for extending his Charity and holding Communion with all that held the Foundation. He loved and honoured good Men of every Denomination how much ſoever they differed from him in ſome peculiar Sentiments, Circumſtantials and Modalities.

His Moderation and Readineſs to ſacrifice every Thing but Truth and Duty for Peace, was manifeſted by many Inſtances, both in his younger and later Times.—Indeed he had ſuch an Averſion to Diſputing and Jangling that he declined engaging in Controverſy as much as poſſible.

I have often heard that when a Seventh Day Baptiſt Preacher (a noiſy Creature) came from a neighbouring Colony to diſpute with him about the Sabbath; after Dr. Colman had heard all his Objections patiently, and anſwered them mildly, and the Blade would go on fiercely diſputing he told him he had no more to ſay to him, but if he was minded further to indulge his diſputacious Humour, he would direct him to a Perſon in Town that would be a Match for him, which he accordingly did, and ſo diſmiſſed him.

Here it may be remarked, "That Dr. Colman's Notions of Church-Government and Diſcipline were larger than many of his Brethren's; neither had he any Opinion of an exacted Uniformity in religious Adminiſtrations.See the Preface to his Sermon at the Rev. Mr. William Cooper's Ordination.

And while he entertained (and on all Occaſions expreſt) the higheſt Eſteem and Veneration for the primitive Fathers of New-England and their Writings, he would pleaſantly ſay, That the Bible was his Platform.“ ” By this he did not mean to condemn Platforms of Church-Diſcipline—or to ſtrain that excellent Saying too far, Scriptura eſt Adequatae Ageudorum Regul • . No particular Conſtitution hitherto publiſhed (by whatever Authority or Pretence) appeared to him to be Jure Divino. The beſt were in his Eye either deficient or redundant.He could join with him, who wrote thus on a Blank Leaf of his Bible, • nus Apex Verbi, Ratione Valentior omni, Mil •• que Decretis, Conciliiſque prior. In one of his late Letters to a Reverend Aſſociation, he ſays, I have always openly “owned my ſelf ſomething of a Preſbyterian under our Congregational Form, and my People freely allowed me my Latitude, and ſometimes pleaſantly told me that they thought me the moſt cautious of any Paſtor in the Town or Land, not to break in upon the ”Rights of the Brethren.

A few of his Sentiments concerning Councils or Synods and other Eccleſiaſtical Affairs and Tranſactions are here offered to the publick View, not with the leaſt Deſign to reflect on our excellent Conſtitution (which yet I humbly apprehend may in many Particulars be mended) nor to manifeſt the Publiſher's Concurrence, who does not adopt every Article or Paragraph in them, but to ſhow the Author, and his diſtinguiſhing LineamentsAs I propoſed in the Introduction..

On Councils and their Efficacy. Wrote in his younger Times:

The Efficacy of our Councils depends much on their having a due Conſtitution; if we complain of the Want of their Efficacy, we had beſt ſearch into their Conſtitution, if that be weak and defective, how ſhould Government be built upon it?

Councils, or ſomewhat equivalent to that Name, are neceſſary to the Preſervation of Peace, Order, and Purity in the Churches. Experience ſhows us, that the Corruptions of Men will be breaking out, and that it is a Thing of great Difficulty to heal the Wounds given to particular Churches by them. We have found alſo both the Confuſion and Impoſſibility of every particular Congregation's governing all Things within it ſelf, independently on other Churches. So that there muſt be ſomething of the Nature of a Council of Churches for private Chriſtians, or particular Churches to refer themſelves to for Advice, or Appeal unto for their Judgment.

It was ſoon ſeen in the Church, that ſuch Caſes and Occaſions were and would be, and we read in the xvth of Acts, That the Apoſtles and Elders came together to conſider of the Matter referred to them, and diſputed and determined it. This is a ſufficient Warrant for the Thing, that there ſhould be Councils convened upon Difficulties ariſing in Churches; but I cannot find any particular Direction here given, or deſigned to be here given by the Holy Ghoſt, juſt how Councils ſhould be conſtituted for ever after in all the Churches, and no otherwiſe. For I do not exactly ſee how this was: Yet the Thing it ſelf is of Apoſtolical Practice; and as it is conſonant to our Reaſon, ſo ſurely it ſhould be looked upon as Scripture-Warrant and Direction to us in like Caſes.

And now I ſhall write my poor Thoughts about the due Conſtitution of Councils, that they may have the deſired Efficacy; and I freely confeſs I do not ſee what much ſhort of the Practice of the French and Scotch Churches will be ſufficient, nor what beyond them is neceſſary.

1. I think there ſhould in every particular Church be former and fixed, a Conſiſtory, as the French Churches had, or a Kirk Seſſion as the Churches of Scotland, to have the Government of it in all Things. This is to conſiſt of the Paſtor, the perpetual Preſident, ex Officio, and therefore not cenſurable here, and with him a ſelect Number of Elders, Men of the greateſt Piety, Gravity, Wiſdom, and Authority in the Congregation. We find ſomething equivalent to this neceſſary in our popular Form of Government, commonly having a kind of Church within a Church, leading Men whom we privately conſult, before we offer any Thing to a publick Debate and Vote. Which ſhows it to be our common Senſe, that the whole Government would be better there.

2. Out of theſe Seſſions or Conſiſtories I think Councils ſhould be always gathered.

The Reaſon is, Becauſe that the Government of particular Churches is lodged here, which ſuppoſes them to be the moſt accompliſhed to adviſe or judge in any Eccleſiaſtical Caſe.

3. The Paſtors are ex Officio of theſe Councils, and of the Seniors only one ſhould be delegated from the Conſiſtory to accompany the Paſtor: And if the Elders of the ſeveral Conſiſtories ſhould not attend, though their Neglect •• s cenſurable, yet then the Miniſters alone may warrantably proceed without them.

The Reaſons why I am for only one Elder to be deputed with a Paſtor to the Council, are, (1) Or elſe the Miniſtry there have not an equal Vote, though Government is confeſſedly firſt lodged in them, and they may be modeſtly ſuppoſed to be their Superiors in Knowledge and Grace. (2) A Multitude of Meſſengers may be uſed as Creatures by a deſigning leading Perſon. (3) One rich and large Church may elſe ſend a Majority to all the reſt, if the Number of Meſſengers be not limited. (4) It was expreſly the very firſt Canon of the French Churches, reſpecting their fixed Councils, or Colloquies, "That Miniſters ſhould be accompanied each of them with an Elder from every Church. The Scotch alſo require only the Attendance of one ruling Elder from each Congregation at their Preſbyteries.I heartily wiſh this Preſbyterian Article, i. e. ſo far as it reſpects the ſending of but one Meſſenger to Councils, with the Reaſons under it, might be duly conſidered and weighed by my Rev. Brethren, and the honoured Churches through the Land. Is it not high Time that our Congregational Scheme was mended in this Point: And that the Liberty given in the Letters Miſſive, and taken by the Churches called to aſſiſt in Eccleſiaſtical Councils ſhould be ſomewhat bounded? I have obſerved for more than Twenty Years (and who has not?) the Confuſions and Miſchiefs ariſing from our preſent Practice: Some Churches ſend One, others Five, others Ten or more, to the ſame Council, and the Vote of every Member is of equal Weight.

All I move for with any Zeal is—"That there be ſome Regulation of this Matter—Let all be limited to the ſame Number—If the Brethren are jealous of their Paſtors, why may not two Brethren be thought enough to ſend with one Paſtor? It cannot be taken amiſs by any for the Paſtors to agree at their annual Convention to propoſe ſomething on this Head to their Churches. I humbly move it may be done.

4. Theſe Councils I would have to be know, ſtated, and fixed in the Nature of the French Colloquies and Claſſes, or the Scotch Preſby • e •• es; nor matters it which Name be given to them: Conſiſting of Ten on Twelve neighbouring Churches, to meet ſo many Times a Year at a certain Place, where they may be applied to if Need be: Or on extraordinary Occaſions may be called together at a Week's Warning by the Moderator; which Call all the Members ſhall be obliged to obey and attend.

The Reaſons why they ſhould be ſtanding and fixed are, (1) That all the Churches may know whither to repair for Advice or Judgment, and who are their Judges if they tranſgreſs. (2) It may redeem much Time, and ſtifle many a Fire which would not break out, if it did not lie ſo long a glowing. (3) It will give all Miniſters and Churches an equal Honour, and not undue Preheminence to any. (4) It will prevent the Confuſion and Diſorder of Party-making and Prejudices, againſt one Church, and for another.

5. Theſe ſtanding Councils, Claſſes or Preſbyteries ſhould be divided by Authority of a provincial Synod; and then (if it might be) confirmed by the Civil Authority.

The Reaſons are, (1) Councils will act with the more Freedom, Boldneſs and Authority, and command the more Reverence and Regard among the People. (2) The bare Agreement of Churches among themſelves is an uncertain and weak Bottom to go on, and more eaſily broken in upon by him that liſts. (3) The Countenance of Civil Authority honours the Miniſtry and Diſcipline of the Church to the World, and is (humanely ſpeaking) greatly for the Security of both.

6. The ſeveral Conſiſtories ſhall be accountable to their reſpective Claſſes or Council, and Miniſters themſelves are cenſurable here; and Proceſſes againſt them to begin here. Caſes which the Conſiſtory cannot end, or which fall not under their Deciſion, ſhall be brought hither by Way of Reference, Appeal, or Complaint: And if the Claſſes pleaſe they may ſend for and examine the Regiſter of every Conſiſtory.

7. But it ſhall not be left to the Choice of any Church, Conſiſtory or aggrieved Party to have a particular ſpecial Council of Churches of their own picking here and there; but every Claſſes or Preſbytery ſhall have the Inſpection and judging of all and every particular Church within their own Diſtrict: And it ſhall be diſorderly to leave one of thoſe Churches uncall'd, or to call in another of a neighbouring Preſbytery.

The Reaſons are, (1) The Honour of the particular Preſbyteries forbid it, for they are not to aſſume one over another. (2) The Honour of particular Churches forbid it alſo, it being a Diſreſpect to ſkip over neighbour Churches, and ſend to another afar off, as if this only had Wiſdom and Integrity to judge in their Caſe.

8. Theſe Councils or Preſbyteries are accountable to a Provincial Synod, whither Appeals from them, and References by them, are to be made: But by no means from one Preſbytery to another, or to have Councils upon Councils —Unleſs inſtead of a Provincial Synod there be rather fixed a Superiour Council or Councils in every Province which may conſiſt of two Preſbyteries or more united into one.

The Reaſons of this are many, (1) To keep Councils themſelves in Fear, and awe them to Faithfulneſs. (2) To correct their Errors, or to vindicate and confirm their Deciſions. (3) That a Man may have the Liberty of Appeal and a Poſſibility of being righted when his good Name and Enjoyment of ſpiritual Privileges lie at Stake, as well as in lighter ſecular Matters. (4) That Differences may not be endleſs, but there be ſome Judgment by which every one ſhall be determined and ſubmit unto.

Thus I think Councils ſhould be conſtituted if we deſire to ſee them have their Efficacy in ſupporting, preſerving and well ordering the Intereſts of the Churches in the Country.

(1) I think that ſtanding Councils are not only warrantable, but are alſo the beſt and wiſeſt Conſtitution. (2) Their Power ſhould be binding, ſaving only Appeals to be from them to Synods, or Superiour Councils. (3) The Matters to be handled in them are whatever concerns the Peace, Order and Purity of the Churches within their Diſtrict, which their own Conſiſtories cannot come at effectual Meaſures about: as directing in doubtful Caſes, healing Differences, rebuking, correcting and purging out Errors and Scandals, &c. (4) I think there ſhould be no ſuch thing as calling of Councils, ſave only the Moderators doing ſo upon extraordinary Occaſions: for I would ſuppoſe them always in Being; and they are to be applied to as need is by particular Churches or Perſons. (5) As for the Right of Voting in Councils, I incline to think that every Member has a Suffrage; nor do I ſee through the Opinion of ſome, that Perſons ſhould be preſent to adviſe that are not however allowed to Vote. (6) Excepting ſuch an extraordinary Caſe ſhould happen as I hope never to ſee, I think ſome ſenior Paſtor ſhould ever preſide: And a Clerk or Scribe ſhould be choſen and fixed as much as a Moderator. (7) In judging of Caſes and cenſuring Perſons there muſt appear great Integrity, Impartiality, Tenderneſs, Goodneſs, Gentleneſs and a particular Regard had to the ſacred Office entreating a Miniſter as a Father: If there be Appearance of Craft, Prejudices, Cruelty or Diſreſpect it will hinder the good Effect of our Councils.—The Efficacy of our Councils will alſo much depend on the Candor and mutual Reſpects of the Members to each other in their Debates and Carriages.

A Deference and Honour to be paid by all to the Chair; An equal Regard given by the Moderator to every Member: The Freedom of ſpeaking being preſerved to each; that Offence be not taken at Difference of Thought; and as on the one Hand the Moderator to be ſubmitted to reſpectfully, when he goes to convince of Error in Opinion, or Indecency of Speech and Behavior; ſo the blamed Action or Words or Opinion, never to be heard out of thoſe Walls to his Prejudice, either as bold or erroneous in him.

(8) The keeping Errors and Faults ſecret, unleſs Duty and Neceſſity forbid it, may be a means to give our Councils Efficacy, and conſtrain Men's Honour and Reverence for them, when they ſee we aim not to expoſe Faults, but to recover from them and ſo bury them.—

N. B. The two laſt Rules more proper and neceſſary in Conſistories than Councils or Synods.—

Some of the Doctor's Thoughts on the Third Way of Communion, dated July 23. 1733.

(1) Although our Fathers in the Synod of—propoſed it, yet they did not ſee cauſe afterwards to practice upon it, not for want of Occaſion and Opportunity, or from Inconſideration of the Matter, and Unfaithfulneſs to the Churches but in point of Prudence. They were as wiſe and faithful as we are now, but they threw it by as not ſo proper a Method, or at leaſt fearing the Event of it, and it may be ſcrupling it from the Nature of the Thing.—By ſo long a Diſuſe, even from the Beginning, like a Law or Rule made and never put in practice, it is grown Obſolete and become as a Thing dead and buried, and not to be revived and put in force at the Will of a private Perſon, nor on a particular Occaſion here and there: for as much as we are ſure in this Caſe the Parties concerned will cry out of it as an Hardſhip and Singularity, a Novelty and Impoſition, as the Rev. Mr. G—of W—did in the Day when he was ſurpriſed with the Rev. Mr. W—Viſitation, and almoſt all the Miniſters and Churches round about him joined in the Surprize and Reſentment which he ſhowed on that Occaſion.

(2) Our Fathers fled from the Viſitation of private Perſons, Arch-deacons and Biſhops, and their authoritative Inquiſitions; and though I will not compare the Enquiry propos'd in the third Way of Communion, with theſe Epiſcopal Viſitations, which were imperious, trivial and cruel in that Day to an intollerable Degree: yet neither will I conſent to be ſubject as a Paſtor, and my Church with me, to the Viſitation of every Neighbour Paſtor and his Church, when they ſhall pleaſe to come and make Inquiſition how Things ſtand among us; upon the Complaint or at the Deſire of ſome uneaſy, or aggrieved Perſon or Perſons belonging to us: For I think it too much Authority for any private Neighbour Miniſter and Church to aſſume to themſelves; And though we are bid all of us to be ſubject one to another in a private Capacity, and all things are lawful for me, yet all things are not expedient, and I will not be brought under the Power of any, in ſuch a manner and to ſuch a Degree: ſcil, 'That it ſhall be accounted a Fault, and juſt Matter of Complaint to other Churches, that the Viſitation of one has not been ſubmitted to; ſo that other Churches upon the hearing thereof ſhall then join with the firſt Viſitors and come and challenge our Submiſſion, and if refuſed withdraw Communion from us, which is a very grievous Sentence, but a Brutum Fulmen if a Curſe cauſeleſs.

No private Paſtor, in this State of Infirmity, wherein all Men are of like Paſſions, is fit to be truſted with this Power of Viſitation and Inquiſition, and much leſs all and every Paſtor through the Land; and if one is, all and every one muſt be ſo.—No ſingle Perſon is another's Peer to enquire and judge concerning his Conduct; But the Right of Men (and the Claim of Engliſh-men eſpecially) is to be judged by their Peer's, and by a ſufficient Number of them; and theſe diſintereſted and unprejudiced; againſt others he has a Right to make Exception in all Caſes whatſoever.

We Miniſters know our own and the Infirmities of others: How apt a Paſtor ſometimes is to be prepoſſeſſed by the Applications of a Brother to him, with a long formal Story of his Grievances: We know too of one another, how apt we may be to be partial in our Opinion of one Man and another, our Eſteem of one Man and not of another; our Affection and Diſaffection: This alone renders the Viſitation of this or that Paſtor, unfit in the Caſe of ſuch or ſuch an one; and ſo it does of his Delegates with him, who perhaps are of his own Nomination, and very much under his Influence.— And he again upon his not being hearkned to, has the Nomination of other Churches to return with him, and to be ſure he will pick out ſuch Paſtors as will be like to be of his Mind, and act with or under him.— But let me have a free and choſen Jury, a competent Number of unexceptionable Perſons, to make Enquiry and paſs Judgment in my Caſe; but let me not have any Viſitor or Inquiſitor ſet over me, who is no more or better than my ſelf; and leaſt of all let me have every Neighbour made that inquiſitor to come upon me when he will, and call me to Account. This may poſſibly, be even a greater Hardſhip, and more intollerable Yoke of Bondage, than that which our Fathers fled from.

(3) Is it expedient at this Day to go into this Method? Perhaps the Principles of many of the Paſtors through the Land are in Favour of a more Claſſical and Preſbyterial Order in our Churches: To be ſure the Epiſcopal Gentlemen will be like to make Advantages of our going into this Method.

(1) Would it be prudent to ſet Paſtor upon Paſtor, as we lie mixed through the Land, of a different Opinion on this Head? Will one be like to ſubmit to the Viſitation of another? Will you withdraw communion with all that will not? What ſay you? Will it not run us preſently into a kind of civil War? Will it not produce Jealouſies, and Envyings, and Strifes, and every evil Work? Can you bear down, and turn out thoſe that will oppoſe this Method? Or is their Character from Place to Place, from County to County, ſuch as ſhall deſerve it? Can the Paſtors of theſe Churches, upon any rational Proſpect, remain united Brethren under this Conduct?

(2) What Advantage then ſhall we give to the Epiſcopal Gentlemen by our Diviſions on this Head? Men will be ready to prefer the Power of Viſitation in a ſingle eminent Biſhop or Arch-Deacon, to that of every private Paſtor that ſhall pleaſe to ſet up himſelf? And our own Paſtors may be tempted and driven to ſubmit to the Viſitation of two or three, rather than that of every one. And if one and another has a Mind to go over to the Church, or find themſelves forced to take Refuge there, they will do it with far the more Grace, and plauſible Shew of flying from an Impoſition or Inquiſition, leſs tolerable (they will ſay) than that of Epiſcopacy.—At the ſame Time the Proteſtant Churches through the World, both the Epiſcopal, Preſbyterian, and Independent, will look upon the odd Repreſentation and Face that will be given of the Matter, as a new and ſtrange Sort of Creature, in the other Extream of Diſcipline; "Every Paſtor veſted with the Right and Power of viſiting the other! They may gaze at this Phenomenon, but will never wander after it.—They that go off from us will catch at it as a Pretence for doing ſo, and No-body but ourſelves will ſee into the Reaſon of this new Method, nor ſay a Word in Juſtification of it.

(4) That which gives me a particular Offence and ſcandalizes me againſt it, is the Pretence 'That this is the only Way wherein to admoniſh a faulty Paſtor or Church, or to withdraw from Communion with them.—So that if there be a Council of Ten Churches, that have met in the ſecond Way of Communion (as it is called) and having heard the Caſe, and find Things very much amiſs, and that the Paſtor and the Majority of a Church are very injurious to the Aggrieved, yet this large Council may not preſume, and have no Call or Right to diſpenſe a Word of Admonition to them, or to certify to them, that if the Offence given be not removed, they muſt lay it before their reſpective Churches, and be in the Advice to them to withdraw Communion from them. Yet at the ſame Time, a ſingle Church in the third Way of Communion, taking with them one or two, or a few more ſhall have Authority to admoniſh and withdraw Communion.

Now what Reaſon can there be for a Council of three or four Churches in one Way to have that Power which is denied to a Council of ten Churches in the other? If it be ſaid, this is our Conſtitution by Platform, it only ſhows the Imperfection and Unreaſonableneſs of the Platform, in denying to the Council in the ſecond Way, the Rights that belong to them as Chriſtian Men, Paſtors and Meſſengers met together to hear, judge, adviſe, admoniſh as there may be Occaſion. As a private Chriſtian I may lawfully reprove and admoniſh my Brother; but ten Churches met together in Council, may not do the like to an offending Church. Why, who can ſay? How come we to loſe the Rights of Men and Chriſtians by coming together into a Council? Is not the Judgment, Admonition, and Advice, the more reverend and weighty, by its coming from many, than from one or a few? If the bare human Conſtitution muſt debar one Council and authorize another, where both have equal Right in the Nature of Things, I deſire to be free from ſuch impoſing and abridging Canons of Men. I would never go to Council, with my Tongue and Hands tied, no more than with my Eyes and Ears ſtopped.

That Dr. Colman retained like Sentiments on theſe Heads the following Extract from a Letter, wrote to one of his Brethren, Nov. 17. 1735, ſhews,

"Rev. Sir,

—In ſhort, the Conſociation of Churches, is the very Soul and Life of the Congregational Scheme, neceſſary to the very Eſſe as well as Bene of it; without which we muſt be Independent, and with which all the Good of Preſbyterianiſm is attainable.

But the conſociated Churches of every Neighbourhood muſt have their ſtated Meetings, the Paſtor with a Delegate from each Church, and whatever Caſe may occur in ſaid Churches, comes naturally and by Conſent firſt under the Cognizance and Counſel of this Aſſembly, whether it be by Way of Enquiry, or by Applications made to them.

Our preſent Way of going on Enquiry, or ſending for Counſel whither we liſt, picking and chuſing, with open Partiality and manifeſt Selfiſhneſs, here and there, in Contempt of Neighbours, who beſt know and ſhould moſt care for us, is manifeſtly not of GOD and Order, nor for Righteouſneſs and Peace, or efficacious Influence.

So neither is the Paſtor's going like a common Brother, without Character, or ex Officio; when the Scripture every where gives him a diſtinguiſhing Character (and ſo does the Platform too in many Places) and conſiders him always in his Office.

Nor is it juſt or orderly for one Church to ſend a greater Number of Delegates than another, and every Delegate with a Voice equal to his Paſtors, by which Means the Brotherhood becomes vaſtly ſuperior to the Elderſhip in our Councils. This is all Confuſion, without Reaſon, and contrary to the Current of Scripture, reſpecting the Elderſhip, in my Opinion.

If the Churches come into ſuch an Act of Conſociation through the Land, it may make them ſtrong; but for any or every Church to take upon them to viſit another, when and as they pleaſe, and whom they pleaſe to forbear, making Enquiries into their State, Peace and Purity, muſt needs be a Source of endleſs Animoſity, and is a Yoke which neither our Fathers before us were able to bear, nor will any that ſhall come after us.

By theſe Hints, Sir, you may ſee my Thoughts; for which End I ſuppoſe you put the Eſſay into my Hand, and I am your weak unworthy Brother and Servant,

On the Right of chuſing a Miniſter.

He was not for confining the Right of chuſing a Miniſter to the Communicants alone, but thought that every baptized adult Perſon, of ſober and good Converſation, who contributed to the Maintenance of one ſhould have a Vote in electing. It appeared to him that this Order was right and good, founded in Nature, and confirmed by Apoſtolick Practice, and through the firſt 300 Years of the Primitive Church. Accordingly when his People were about chuſing him a Colleague 1715—He uttered the following Words, in a Speech to them.

“As to the Apoſtolical Times and Records there are but two Elections that occur to my Remembrance, and they were both made by the free Vote of all the Diſciples ”together, in the Preſence of the Apoſtles.

The firſt was the Nomination of two Perſons one of whom ſhould by Lot (and not by Vote of Election which of the two) ſucceed to the Apoſtleſhip from which Judas by Tranſgreſſion fell; of which you read Acts i. from 15th Ver. &c. that Peter ſtood up in the Midſt of the Diſciples (now the Number of the Names together were about an Hundred and twenty) and propoſed to them to chuſe two Perſons; and they (i. e. the Hundred and twenty, the Apoſtles not aſſuming this Nomination to themſelves, which was certainly by the ſpecial Direction of the Holy Ghoſt, as a Rule to Chriſtian Societies in future Elections) they, I ſay, the whole Hundred and twenty Brethren appointed two, and ſo referred the Lot to Providence; and it fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven Apoſtles.

The other Scripture Inſtance we have in the ſixth Chapter of Acts, where the Apoſtles found it neceſſary to have ſeven Men choſen, of honeſt Report, Sanctity and Wiſdom, to miniſter as Deacons in the Church; whereupon they called the Multitude of the Diſciples together, and ſaid— Brethren, look ye out among you ſeven Men whom we may appoint over this Buſineſs: and the Saying pleaſed the whole Multitude, and they choſe the ſeven Perſons, and ſet them before the Apoſtles, who ordained them by Prayer and Impoſition of Hands.

There has been a great deal of Diſpute about the Office to which theſe Seven were ordained, but whatever it was, more or leſs, you ſee that the whole Multitude of the Believers choſe them, and then the Apoſtles ordained them.

And now Brethren, ſhall I go into the Hiſtory of the Primitive Church, and ſhew you that this was the Practice of the next Ages after the Apoſtles in the Election of their Biſhops and Paſtors: Their Pariſhes which were their Dioceſſes choſe them. And I am glad, Brethren, to ſee among you ſo many Perſons of liberal Education, while I lay before the whole Society, a brief Collection of Inſtances in the Chriſtian Church of the firſt 300 Years after our Saviour's Aſcenſion, to countenance and confirm us in our preſent Method.

In the firſt Place I obſerve, That the Biſhop or Paſtor's Cure was in the primitive Times denominated by the Word Pariſh, paraike, which Word to this Day keeps the ſame Senſe among us which it did then: ſcil. the Bounds of a particular Church or Congregation of Worſhippers: For indeed the proper Senſe of the Word paraike, is — dwelling one by another, as Neighbours do.

Accordingly the Epiſtle of Clemens Romanus, is to the Church of God pariſhing at Corinth: paraikoeſe korinthon And this Name had ſo obtained by long Uſe, before Euſebius's Time, that through his Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory, there is nothing more common than to read of the Biſhop of the Pariſh of Alexandria, the Pariſh of Epheſus, the Pariſh of Corinth, the Pariſh of Athens, the Pariſh of Carthage, &c.

The Word Dioceſs is of modern Uſe, and not to be found in its preſent Senſe among the Ancients: Dioceſan Epiſcopacy is of a later Inſtitution and human only; but the Paſtoral Care and Charge of a Pariſh or particular Flock is from the Beginning.

But that which concerns us at this Time, is only this, that when the Biſhop or Paſtor of a Church was dead, all the People of that Church met together in one Place to chuſe a new Biſhop.

Agreeably Cyprian tells us that Sabinus was elected Biſhop of Emerita, by the Suffrage of all the Brotherhood: (Univerſae Fraternitatis ſuffragio) and that it was the Cuſtom through all Africa, Epiſcopus deligatur plebe preſente.

Euſebius tells us, that Fabianus was choſen Biſhop of Rome by all the Brethren met together for that End.

And Cyprian tells us, that after the Death of Fabianus, Cornelius was choſen Biſhop (Cleri ac Plebis Suffragio) by the Suffrage of the Clergy and People.

Clement in his Epiſtle to the Corinthians ſays, that none were ordained but with the Approbation of the whole Church: ſunenotokeſaſes tes ekkleſias paſes.

And by Ignatius in his Epiſtle to the Philadelphians, it appears that when they were to ſend a Meſſenger to any foreign Church, the People met together to chuſe him.— And in his Epiſtle to Polycarp, there are two Things obſerved to our preſent Purpoſe.

(1) That the Biſhop is there ſuppoſed to know his whole Flock perſonally by their Names: ek, onomatos pantas zetei. (2) That he adviſes Polycarp to convene his People to chuſe a faithful Man to ſend into Syria.

In the Life of Cyprian, the Author tells us, that he was choſen Biſhop (Plebis Favore) by the Favour of the People; and Cyprian himſelf in one of his Epiſtles owns that he was choſen (Populi univerſi Suffragio) by the Suffrage of all his People.

Only it needs to be noted upon what has been ſaid; that theſe Elections were not made by the People without the Notice and Approbation of the neighbouring Biſhops or Paſtors; and it ſeems to me that they ſometimes commended the Perſon to the Flock to be choſen by them; and at other Times that they were preſent and choſe with or for them: We find by Cyprian, Epiſcoporum Judicium (the Judgment of the neighbouring Biſhops) for juſt before it is ſaid (Epiſcopi ejuſdem Provinciae proximi qui que conveniant, plebe preſente, the neighbouring Biſhops of the Province being preſent) We find I ſay, the Judgment of the Biſhops join'd with the Suffragium univerſae Fraternitatis: with the Vote and Election of the Brotherhood; which is agreeable to our own Practice, for we chuſe none but whom the neighbouring Paſtors conſent and agree in; to whom we preſent them for Ordination.

Now, Brethren, by theſe and many more Examples which might be brought, as well as by the Rights of Nature, it appears to me that we are upon a right Foot of Election, all the Brethren of the Congregation joining together therein.

If you aſk me what makes a Brother and Member of a particular Church? I anſwer, Baptiſm into the Name of Chriſt, and a publick Profeſſion of the Faith of Chriſt together with a Chriſtian Converſation agreeable thereunto, and attending the Worſhip of God in this or that particular Congregation, ſubmitting to the Orders of Chriſt therein, and contributing to the Support of the Worſhip of God there.

When I ſay this, I don't excuſe thoſe that neglect the Table of Chriſt, which the primitive Church knew nothing of: No, it is a ſtrange and blameable Defect and Fault among us, which ſhould not be found among Chriſtians: But under this Defect, God forbid, that therefore theſe our ſober and vertuous Brethren, whom we ſhould be glad to ſee at the Lord's Table with us, ſhould be therefore denied their Right to act with us in the Choice of a Miniſter.

I take it to be a Privilege equally purchaſed by Chriſt for all that profeſs his Name; whoſe Souls are equally precious, and who muſt judge every one for himſelf, and if any thing calls for a free and ſerious Choice for ones own Comfort and Benefit, that of our Miniſter doth ſo.

CHAP. VII. Great Benefits ariſing from his Travels Abroad in his Youth, and his Sagacity and Diligence at Home, more particularly in the Matter of Benefactions, — Honours done him from Scotland &c.

THE wiſe and gracious Providence of God which orders all Things well, and for Ends that lie far out of his Creatures View, ſuffered Dr. Colman (as has been before largely related) to be ſtript naked in the Way to London, and there preſented him in his deſtitute Condition to the Charity and Generoſity of Madam Parkhurſt, where his Lodgings immediately brought him into the Knowledge of the London Miniſters, and afterwards into a moſt happy Correſpondence with her worthy Son the honorable Samuel Holden Eſq whom God enriched and raiſed to the Head of the Bank of England, and ſet alſo at the Head of the Diſſenters in London; and withal gave him an Heart to uſe both his Eſtate and his great Intereſt at Court for the doing Good in his Generation.

From his Hand, (of his own meer Motion,) Dr. Colman received no leſs than Thirty-nine Sets of the practical Works of the late venerable Mr. Richard Baxter, about the Year 1730.—to deſtribute among our Churches, which amounts to more then Five Hundred Pounds in our Money; And afterward at Dr. Colman's Requeſt to him undertook the Cauſe of the Infant-Church at South-Kingſton in the Naraganſet Country, and ſent us an Order of the King and Council for putting the Rev. Mr. Torry A Congregational Miniſter. in Poſſeſſion of the Miniſtry Lands there (near 300 Acres)Which were granted by the Proprietors of Petaquamſcut Purchaſe, now in South Kingſton in Narraganſet, to be laid out and forever ſet apart for the Uſe of an Orthodox Perſon, that ſhould be obtained to preach God's Word, to the Inhabitants. Theſe Grantors were five, who all brought up their Children in the Congregational Way, and Three of them were Members in full Communion in our Churches. To theſe Lands, the Epiſcopalians unjuſtly laid Claim.

In this Matter Dr. Colman not only wrote, and laboured much, but expended very conſiderable Sums of his own Moneys. I find him offering Ten Pounds Sterling at one Time, without any Security of being repaid.

In his Letter to Dr. Colman which incloſed the King's Order, he writes, All I have to deſire in Life, unworthy “of any Thing, is to fill up the Remainder in Thankfulneſs to God, Uſefulneſs to Men, and a growing ”Meetneſs for a better State.—Would to God this golden Paſſage might be conſidered and weighed by the great Ones of our Nation and Land!

Other eminent Services for the Country and Churches were undertaken and performed by him relating to unhappy Law-ſuits commenced between Church-men and Diſſenters with Reſpect to Miniſtry Rates, and the Province Laws about them, all through Dr. Colman's Influence who wrote to him by deſire of the Government.

Great and numerous were his Bounties to us as appears by the Receipts: In Books and Bills of Exchange to the amount of no leſs than 4847 £. New-England Currency to be diſtributed by Dr. Colman in works of Piety and Charity.

And after his Death from the Honourable Madam Holden and her virtuous Daughters (the Chappel in Cambridge includedFor which he in Conjunction with the Honourable Meſſirs Thomas Hutchinſon and—received an Order for 400 £. Sterling.— N. B. This was given at the Motion of Thomas Hutchinſon. ) no leſs than 5585 £. which makes 10,432 £. in all.—Now it was Dr. Colman's early Travels and Sufferings and Recommendations happily laid the Foundation of all theſe great Benefactions and Exhibitions to the Churches and Poor among us.

Upon the ſorrowful News of this great and good Man's Deceaſe Dr. Colman preached a SermonFrom Matth. xxv. 21, 22. —Enter thou into the Joy of the Lord. at the Publick Lecture in Boſton, Sept. 4. 1740, in the Audience of his Excellency the Governor, and the Great and General Court of the Province, wherein he embalms the Memory of this our great Benefactor, and beſtows, due Honours upon him, which was printed at the Deſire, and by Order of the General Aſſembly. In that Sermon may be ſeen Tranſcripts of many Letters, which ſhow the Gentleman, the Philoſopher, and the Chriſtian.

“Such a Man (ſays Dr. Colman) God raiſed up for us, our Friend for his Name's Sake. He loved our Country, and ſerved our Churches, with his rich Estate, and with all his great Intereſt at Court, for the Name of pure Religion among us—This was the Servant who like his SAVIOUR was not to be tempted by the World in all its Glories! They could not move off his Eye and ”Heart from the heavenly Glory.—In more like grateful Strains of Eloquence did the Dr. celebrate and commemorate him.—

I paſs now to mention and record Dr. Colman's great and happy Services to the College, and in that to the Country, and all the Churches in the Matter of the honoured Mr. Thomas Hollis's Bounties which he ever ſpake of as the great Honour and firſt Pleaſure of his Life— When he ſaw the Father of this good Man in his Darkneſs at Bath Eight and Forty Years ago, he little thought of the happy Correſpondence he was to go into with this his Son, which was altogether providential and not at all of his ſeeking; but while he was purſuing the Recovery of a Legacy of 160 £. Sterling, for two poor Orphans (in the Years 1717 and 18) his Letters fell into this Gentleman's Hands, whoſe Heart was deviſing liberal Things, and fixt it on us, and the Intereſts of Learning among us, by the Will of God, to that Degree as has produced all the Profuſion of Bounties for a Courſe of Years together, the Fruit whereof we truſt will remain to all Poſterity, to the Glory of God for ever!

There are found no leſs than Fifty-three Letters from Mr. Thomas Hollis to Mr. Colman (all relating to the College) put in Order, in which are to be ſeen the Particulars of the great and good Things intended and done by him for New-England, beſides a Multitude of others on various Occaſions.

He founded a Profeſſorſhip of Divinity allowing Eighty Pounds per Annum; and ten Scholars to receive annually forever Ten Pounds; he ſent us the Hebrew and Greek Types; and Books to a great Value.— Then he proceeded and founded a Profeſſorſhip of the Mathematicks and Experimental Philoſophy, allowing Eighty Pounds per Annum: And age a rich Apparatus for his Profeſſor's Uſe of One Hundred and Fifty Pounds Sterling; ſo that his Bounties amount to ſeveral Thouſand Pounds our Money. I find the Sum Total ſet down in one of Dr. Colman's Papers to be 5,400 £. To the procuring all which he was ſingularly inſtrumental.

When Dr. Colman received the ſad Tydings of the Decreaſe of this his dear and honoured Friend, he preached a SermonFrom John xi. 11. —Our Friend Lazarus ſleepeth. on the Occaſion at the publick Lecture in Boſton, April 1. 1731. before the Great and General Court, wherein he celebrates Mr. Hollis as a moſt generous and noble Patron of Learning and Religion in the Churches of New-England. This Sermon was alſo printed by Deſire and Order of the General Aſſembly and dedicated to them. "He was (ſays he) one of thoſe righteous Men who ſhould be had in everlaſting Remembrance. Like Araunnah he gave as a Prince.—Of his own meer Motion he poured in upon us, and upon other Places alſo, from Time to Time, as a living Spring whoſe Waters fail not.— That which is ſingular in the Piety and Benefits of Mr. Hollis unto theſe Churches was, that he was not ſtrictly of our Way; nor in Judgment with us in Point of Infant-Baptiſm; yet his Heart and Hand was the ſame to us—as if we had been one in Opinion and Practice with him.— And in this let him ſtand a teaching Pattern and Example to us of a noble, chriſtian and catholick apoſtolick Spirit of Love," &c.

"It was ſome Account he received from us of the free and catholick Air we breathe at out Cambridge, where Proteſtants of every Denomination may have their Children educated, and graduated in our College, if they behave with Sobriety and Virtue; that took his generous Heart and fixed it on us, and enlarged it to us.— And this ſhall be with me among his diſtinguiſhing Praiſes, while we riſe up and bleſs his Memory; i. e. bleſs God in Remembrance of all the undeſerved Favours done us by himI have ſeveral good Reaſons for publiſhing theſe Paſſages, as well as the former Ones concerning Mr. Holden; and one of them is, That I am well ſatisfied, that if Dr. Colman had wrote his own Life, he would have digreſſed in this Manner, and ſaid much more.

Soon after the Death of this pious and charitable Gentleman, Dr. Colman received Letters from Another at London, a near Relation of Mr. Hollis's, and a joyful Witneſs of their long and happy Correſpondence, with a Bill of Exchange for 340. £. New-England Currency to diſtribute among the Poor in our Churches.

This ſame Gentleman offered the Settlement of Twenty Pounds Sterling per Annum for a Fourth Miſſionary among the Indians on our Borders.

When he firſt wrote to Dr. Colman, he deſired to have his Name ſecreted: And I doubt not (by the Temper and Spirit diſcovered in his many Letters that now lie before me) he would be glad to do all his Charities according to our Lord's Direction (Mat. vi. 1, 2, 3.) in the moſt ſecret Manner.—But this was impracticable as to ſome of thoſe Exhibitions and Uſes propoſed by him.Therefore his Name is now known to us—Iſaac Hollis Nephew to Mr. Thomas Hollis — A Reverend Miniſter of the Antipedobaptiſt Perſwaſion. April 6. 1736, He wrote again, and added another Bounty, and a great One for the Support of ſome Indian Children at Houſatonnoc, Food, Cloathing and Lodging, the entire Charge of which he would defray; and accordingly gave Order to draw immediately for Two Hundred Pounds our Money for a Beginning.— In November the ſame Year he ſent 56 £. Sterling more, to be applied to the Uſe aforeſaid, which was accordingly ſent to the Rev. Mr. John Sergeant Miniſter of the Goſpel at Stockbridge, to whom the Education of the Children was committed — And from Year to Year ever ſince he has ſupported themI think the Number of Children is Twelve. there.

It is ſet down on a looſe Paper, dated Feb. 1745, 6, Six Hundred and thirty-four Pounds has been already ſent and applied to ſaid Uſe.—But I forbear enlarging on this Head, leſt I ſhould offer Violence to the Modeſty of this good and riſing Benefactor to Mankind.

Dr. Colman's Heart was as much ſet on the civilizing and goſpelizing theſe our Heathen Neighbours (as the others mentioned Chap. 6th) and he embraced every Occaſion and happy Incident for this Purpoſe—There is one Inſtance of his Care and Zeal for them, which the World has been already made acquainted withal, viz. The Publication of a Letter wrote to him from a worthy Gentleman, in Anſwer to one of his in our Weekly Journal of Feb. 7. 1744, which is worthy of a Place here.— A warm Provocation to good Works!

"Reverend and dear Sir,

You did me the Favour ſome Weeks ago, (from which Time I have not been able to write 'till 'now) to ſend me the Rev. Mr. Sergeant's SchemeVid. Mr. Sergeant's Scheme, and the Letter annexed, referred to. (with your Letter annexed to it) for promoting Chriſtian Knowledge among the Indians at Houſſatonnoc, by civilizing, and bringing them to a good Opinion of Induſtry and Frugality, &c which I very much approve of, and the more ſo, becauſe it appears to me, as if he had truly no private, or perſonal Intereſt in View; but only the Honour of his great Maſter, and the beſt Welfare of the poor Heathen, whom the FATHER gave him, for his Inheritance, and therefore I heartily wiſh it Succeſs, and hope the Difficulties in raiſing Money to carry on ſuch an Affair, may be ſurmounted.

I have been expecting every Day ſince you ſent it to me, to hear of ſome Subſcriptions going forward on that Account, but hear nothing of any ſuch Thing at preſent.

I would therefore humbly propoſe that a Sheet of Paper, or two, may be ſtitched up at the End of one, or more of thoſe printed Letters, and a generous Subſcription began, by a few well diſpoſed Gentlemen of Boſton, and handed about from one to another, to try what may be done that Way; and there every Subſcriber at one View may ſee the honeſt Deſign, and judge of its Neceſſity, and act accordingly.

I cannot help thinking the generous Benefactions of the Rev. Mr. Hollis, and his juſt Obſervation of the Inactivity of a People of ſuch Name for Religion as we in New-England, in ſuch an Affair, will put many to the bluſh, and perhaps ſpur them on to a bountiful Liberality in this Scheme.

I am no ways qualified for a Leader my ſelf, but would willingly follow a few Gentlemen, who would be more likely to give it a Reputation and Currency, with my Subſcription of — Pounds, and would uſe my ſmall Ability to promote it, but it muſt be ſome how or other ſet a going, which when once well done, may be eaſily kept alive and in Motion: I have a great deal of Faith that ſomething of this Nature may be attended with Succeſs, if put into ſuch Hands, as ſhall be ſpirited for it, and will not be weary in Well doing; but ſtir up themſelves and others, with a well tempered Zeal, mixed with Prudence, ſo as to give no Offence to any that do not think exactly as they do; and by ſuch a Behaviour, ſome who may not be ſo well inclined at one Time, may be very well diſpoſed at another, to an handſom Subſcription.

But this Method notwithſtanding, I hope it will not be thought amiſs to have a Brief from Authority (if Need be) procured, and promoted in every Church in this Province, to collect what well diſpoſed People would be ready to give to encourage an Affair of this Importance; and if before the Collection, thoſe two Letters ſhould be read, I am humbly of Opinion, it would not be impertinent.

If we really believe, the admirable Charms you mention at the Cloſe of you Letter, have any Reality in them, as I am apt to think they have, viz. "That a right liberal Heart and Hand, no Tongue can fully ſpeak it! or enough celebrate it! Unſpeakable is the Good done to the World by it! Unſpeakable is the Glory redounding to the Name of CHRIST from it! And alſo the Good to ourſelves in it, and from it, is unſpeakable, both through the Life that now is, and in that which is to come! Only the Day of CHRIST can reveal the Glories and Joys awaiting it through a bleſſed Eternity." — I ſay, if theſe wonderful Truths are duly thought of, this pious Scheme of Mr. Sergeant's, will not, cannot fall to the Ground for want of Money to carry it on, and ſupport it from Time to Time: I pray God to ſtrengthen our Faith in them.—I entreat an Intereſt in your Prayers, and do aſſure you I am with great Eſteem and Reſpect,

Dear Sir, Your very much obliged, humble Servant, —C—Jan. 26. 1744.

N. B. "I think it my Duty to make the moſt publick Excuſe, for the Freedom I have taken with my honourable Friend, in publiſhing his Letter, excellent as it is in it ſelf, without his Leave; and alſo to inform him and the Publick, that a Book will lie ready at my Houſe, and at the Shops of Major Henchman, Capt. John Phillips, and Mr. Joſeph Edwards, with Blank Leaves annexed, for taking in Subſcriptions, or if it be deſired, by Perſons in other Towns, any where through the Province, that like Books be ſent to them for the ſame End, they ſhall be ſent.

Benj. Colman.

Part of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Sergeant to Dr. Colman.

"Rev. Sir,

— Your Care and Pains under the Decays and Feebleneſs of Age, to promote the Deſign of my Letter, I accept with all Thankfulneſs.

Yeſterday, we of the Engliſh Families, with he Aſſiſtance of two Strangers happening to be here, collected by Subſcription One Hundred and Fifteen Pounds Ten Shillings toward our propoſed School.

I then gave the Indians ſome Account of what was doing for them, and they appeared very thankful: And this Morning ſent a Meſſenger to me to know where the Houſe was to be erected, with the Offer of their Aſſiſtance in clearing a Spot of Land for forwarding the Deſign.

May He that is the Staff and Stay of the Aged, be ſtill your Support &c.

Stockbridge, Nov. 25. 1743."

Many more Letters and ſome of a great Length, were written by him to the Rev. Mr. Hollis, and to Mr. Sergeant, and others, to promote this benevolent and chriſtian Deſign, and I would hope that this Record may greatly ſerve it by the Will of God.

He held a long and moſt agreable Correſpondence with the Rev. and learned Dr. White Kennett, Biſhop of Peterborough, which was begun and ended with an intire View to the Services of Truth and Relig • on; and his Letters were ſometimes carried to the Lord Biſhop of London who diſcourſed with Dr. Kennett upon them (as he informed him) to the fruſtrating ſome Attempts of the High Church Miſſionaries here —

A Copy of his firſt Letter to the Rev. Dr. White Kennett, Dean of Peterborough, afterward Lord Biſhop, About this Time ſome of the Clergy in England made the moſt moving Diſcourſes to excite the abuſed People's Charity, by telling them what vaſt Numbers of poor Heathen, have been brought by their Miſſionaries, from worſhipping the Devil to the Knowledge of God. — So a Gentleman wrote to Mr. Colman. which introduced him into a happy, pleaſant and profitable Correſpondence with him to the Day of his Death.

"Rev. Sir, Boſton November 1712.

I am altogether a Stranger to you, and muſt needs be unknown, for my Name is much too little to have been heard of by Perſons of your Dignity in the Eſtabliſhed Church:

But meeting with your excellent Sermon preached before the Honourable and moſt Reverend Society for the propagating of the Goſpel in Foreign Parts, on Friday, Febr. 15. 1711, 12. I cannot forbear aſking your Leave to write you my Thoughts upon an admirable Paſſage I find therein, p. 22.

“Neither our own People in thoſe Parts, nor their Affrican Slaves, nor their Indian Neighbours have ought to accuſe us of. At leaſt we have given no juſt Offence to the Gentiles there, nor to the Church of God. We truſt we have not ſinned againſt the Brethren, and have walked honeſtly toward them that are without. We give our Money, our Attendance, our Correſpondence, our ſeveral Sorts of Care, Pains and Trouble: Forgive us this Wrong: If we have done any other; ” God do ſo to us and more alſo.

Sir, there is ſuch Air of Sincerity in theſe Words, that I cannot but have a perfect Eſteem of the good and truly noble Spirit breathed in them. I doubt not but you fully believe as you ſpeak, and are accepted by God in your pious Deſires of ſerving the Intereſts of Religion in theſe remote Parts of the Earth. I greatly honour the Intentions of your moſt honourable Society, their abundant. Labours and Expence.

A more noble Charity never was projected than your ſending the Goſpel among the Heathen here, and into Heatheniſh Places, where the Settlements have been made void of the Form of Religion: The Harveſt of this Nature is too plenteous through Virginia, Maryland, the Jerſies, our Eaſtern Country alſo, and the Narraganſet, and ſome Places about Rhode-Iſland, which have been too long neglected and ſuffered to run wild into Sectaries, and Prejudices againſt any Miniſtry of the Word at all.

This vaſt and waſte Space, deſolate and periſhing, cries aloud to you for your charitable Care; and verily the Fund which the Society has contributed and gathered is but too little yet by far for theſe neceſſitous Places; while at the ſame Time many of your Miſſions into our Parts are unto Places where the Goſpel is received and preached, and Churches gathered in very good Order and Manner.

I had my Birth in Boſton, my Education at our Cambridge; yet I have ſeen your Oxford and Cambridge, and ſpent twelve Weeks together at the latter; near two Years alſo at London, and two more at Bath, ſent thither by the Preſbyterian Board at London. And I bleſs God that in this my Abſence from my own Country, I did but grow in the natural Inclination I had to, and in the generous Principles of an enlarged catholick Spirit cheriſhed in me by my Tutor, Mr. Leverett; now Preſident of Harvard-College:— And if I am able to judge, no Place of Education can well boaſt a more free Air than our little College may. This I ſay, to let you ſee I would pretend to be as impartial and without Prejudice, as is poſſible in this our imperfect State.— Nevertheleſs I cannot but let you know my Thoughts, that the Reverend and Honourable Society have been once and again miſled, and even impoſed on by Miſinformations, and private Deſigns and Intereſts, of Perſons and Parties here, to miſpend (and ſo neceſſarily pervert) great Portions of their noble Charity, to ſuch Ends and in ſuch Manner as do not at all anſwer the Propagation of the Goſpel among us, but which do really break in upon and hinder the ſpreading and Succeſs of it. To evince which, I will fairly put the Caſe and offer an Inſtance or two.

You muſt give me Leave, Sir, to ſuppoſe a Town and Towns here wherein Religion is ſettled, Miniſters legally fixed, the Word of God faithfully preached, and the Sacraments of Chriſt adminiſtred; and yet there happen a diſcontented Perſon or two in the Place; or ſome Difference about the placing a new Houſe for publick Worſhip, or about paying their little Rate to the Miniſtry, or the like: Immediately they are adviſed, or of their own Mind they propoſe to themſelves, "Let us ſend over to the Lord Biſhop of London, or to the honourable Society for propagating the Goſpel, for a Miniſter of the Church of England! he will bring a Salary of Fifty Pounds Sterling, which is as good as a 120 £. our Currency; a Maintenance far ſuperior to any Ones, if not every One, in any Country-Town in New-England." — Now ſuppoſe, Sir they actually ſend and obtain; I demand—Whether it be not a real Injury and Abuſe of the Society and their Charity; their declared End, and the proper Uſe of ſo great a Gift as Fifty Pounds per Annum is?

—Yet are there ſeveral ſuch notorious Inſtances in our New-Engliſh Provinces. One was lately in the Town of Braintree, within ten Miles of Boſton, which Application to you the Rev. Mr. Miles of Boſton refuſed to countenance; and was free to ſay, that were the Circumſtances of the Place known, my Lord of London and the Society would never approve of it: For it is a notorious Matter of Fact, that ſetting aſide two Families in that Party at Braintree, the Reſt neither know why they ſought the Church-Worſhip there, nor could be any Credit to it: Their Number was ſo very minute, and their Character ſo very mean, that when a Miniſter was ſent to them, he was aſhamed of his Errand, and diverted to ſome other Place of Service.

This laſt Year a Difference happened in the Town of Newbury about placing their Meeting-Houſe: The Matter was brought before our General Court, who determined it according to the free Vote and Act of the Precinct, whereby they had obliged themſelves to each other: Whereupon a Number of them declare themſelves for the Church of England; many of them I will ſuppoſe Perſons of Sobriety and Virtue, only in a Pett, and to ſave their Rate to their aged and worthy Miniſter Mr. Belcher; utterly ignorant of the Church they declare for, nor offended in the leaſt with the Form of Worſhip or Diſcipline which they turn from; and as wide herein from their Old Paſtor's Spirit and Principles, which are as catholick as can well be found among Miniſters of any Denomination; being till now among the moſt narrow and rigid Diſſenters, who would before this have diſowned me in particular, for the Uſe of the Lord's-Prayer, reading the Scriptures and a freer Admiſſion to the Lord's Table, than has been generally practiſed in theſe Churches.

To name no more,— Your Miſſion to the Town of Jamaica upon Long-Iſland near New-York, was really a great Breach on the Law of Juſtice and Charity; if your Honourable Society could have ſeen into the Riſe and Spring of it. Mr. Hubbard and the People there were unrighteouſly diſpoſſeſſed of the Church and Miniſtry Houſe and Lands; which the Town had built and given for the Worſhip of God after the Way of the Diſſenters from the Church of England: When therefore the Rev. Mr. Gordon (the Glory of the Miſſion hitherto that we have ſeen) in 1702 came thither, he was greatly ſurprized inſtead of ſome Place to goſpelize, to find a worthy Miniſter on the Place ejected, and the greater Part of the grieved Inhabitants cleaving to him: Mr. Hubbard and he lived a few Months in perfect Harmony and Eſteem of each other, and then God called for the precious Life of Mr. Gordon, whom Mr. Hubbard viſited and prayed with dying, and mourned when dead, and did not long ſurvive him.

In ſhort, Sir, there is one ſordid Motive which will find you Beggars enough for your Charity in our Country Towns! if you will free them from Rates to any Miniſtry and maintain it for them. But I am ſure your Honourable Society never meant to miniſter to ſuch a Diſpoſition in any.

— In this Confidence I have freely written to you, and intreat your Candour. I have been ever wiſhing for a Comprehenſion, and do but grow theſe laſt Years in my Opinion of Occaſional Conformity, the more it has been branded for Hypocriſy. I cannot think the Churches Unity lies in Uniformity in every Mode of Worſhip or Diſcipline, but in hearty Charity and Eſteem, teſtified by Occaſional Communion, under a ſmall Diverſity of Adminiſtration and Diſcipline.

—But I forget my ſelf,— I preach,— and, to Whom? Sir, improve not what I write to any Hurt, if it can ſerve to no Good. I have no Quarrel with any, nor am willing to be brought into a Controverſy.—I accuſe not your Society, far be it from me; but mean only a private Information. You will beſt judge, Sir, if there be no Offence to the Church of God, in the Steps taken by too many, here and there. I perfectly believe you would not willingly ſin againſt us. Your Money, Time, Cares, Pains are a mighty Charity which God will reward. The Lord recompence it to you in his Grace, Mercy and Peace.

I am Sir, Your moſt humble, And obedient Servant, Benj. Colman."

The Rev. Dean was ſo good and juſt as to anſwer to the foregoing Letter, and many others wrote to him by Mr. Colman, expreſſing in them all the higheſt Eſteem for him, and often ſubſcribes himſelf your affectionate Friend and Brother.

The ANSWER. "Rev. Sir, Sept. 15. 1713.

Though I ſeem negligent in my due Acknowledgment for yours of November 1712, yet among private Friends, I have often expreſſed my Satisfaction in the Senſe, Stile and Temper of it; and I now heartily accept ſuch a Correſpondence, and wiſh the Continuance of it, for the Sake of our common Cauſe of Charity to Souls, and of Zeal to our Chriſtian Religion.

I was under a great Temptation of communicating your Letter to a General Meeting of our Society; that I might have had their Inſtructions for an Anſwer to the Particulars contained in 〈◊〉 — But then I thought my ſelf reſtrained by ſome prudent Intimations of your own; and I was very unwilling to draw you into any Controverſy or Envy that too often attend us for ſpeaking plain Truths: For ſuch indeed I believe are the kind Informations you give me relating to the Places you mention: and I know you meant only to inform us, not to upbraid or accuſe us. —For I perceive you are very ſenſible, as the wiſer Part of Mankind muſt be, under what Diſadvantages we labour, as a Society holding Commerce with another World, for no Gain but that of Godlineſs, and for pure Conſcience Sake.—It is poſſible we are not ſo intent upon our Buſineſs, as if it were for filthy Lucre. We are not ſo conſtant in our Attendance as ſecular Companies and trading Bodies of Men would be.—We are leſs exact in our Correſpondence and Accounts, than if the dear Liberty and Property of this World depended on it.— However our general Aim is to purſue our general Commiſſion of planting Chriſtianity according to the Church of England in thoſe Parts of our Engliſh Plantations where there is no ſettled Miniſtry: or for the Benefit of good Numbers who cannot in Conſcience conform to the Ways of Worſhip different from our Establiſhed Church.—We think that theſe two Provinces are committed to us: The firſt chiefly and primarily as our original Deſign, the ſecond as an ordinary. Conſequence of it.—In the former we labour of our own Accord; in the latter we have never put our Hand but upon the Call and Importunity of People on your Side the Water. If they call when they have no Need, it is our Charity as well as Credulity to believe them. If they miſrepreſent Things to us, we muſt ſtill take them for granted for Want of better Information. Nay, and if different Accounts be given, we are apt to be partial in our receiving or rejecting, for ſome Reſpect or other.

I dare aſſure you the Caſe was thus in all thoſe particular Places you mention. We were not forward to obtrude our Charity, and had no Ambition to extend our Power and Care beyond our Line; but the Motions began from the reſpective Places; we only yielded to the Requeſts of others; and if they impoſe upon our Ignorance at ſo great a Diſtance, they are to Blame; and much the more if they gratify their own Paſſions and act to ſerve their own Intereſts by it.

If we proceed upon Mistake in ſuch Caſes, Sincerity and good Intention is a Plea and Defence, which we hope God will accept; and our Neighbours forgive us, if we have done them any Harm.

To You dear Sir, if I can judge by the Spirit of one ſingle Letter, I need make no other Apology: You have Senſe and Largeneſs of Soul to make Allowances for greater Faults: And if God by his Grace do not prevent us, upon our conſtant Prayers to him; and if he do not continually direct and preſerve us, we muſt needs fall into them.

It is our being miſinformed and miſguided in ſome Ways, that increaſes our Deſires of having Biſhops ſettled in thoſe foreign Parts committed to our Care; that they may judge better of Things and Perſons within their own View: One on the Iſlands, and another on the Continent. —But alas, there is ſo much of an Eccleſiastical and of a Civil Nature in this Affair, and ſuch a Concurrency required here at Home and Abroad, that what Iſſue it may come to we are yet uncertain,— And whether at this Juncture we ſhould make a fit Choice of diſcreet Men for this Office; I dare not pretend to gueſs.—I hope your Churches would not be jealous of it, they being out of our Line, and therefore beyond the Cognizance of any Overſeers to be ſent from hence. What Time may do, with the Spirit of Knowledge and Charity to make the Engliſh in America all of one Heart, and of one Way of Diſcipline and Worſhip, I recommend to your Prayers, and add my own.

I can anſwer for my own Conſcience, that from the Beginning of our Society, I have acted as a Member of it upon the Principle of doing Good. I have been at ſome Labour, and have not grudged ſome little Expence, in picking up the Beginning of a Library for the Uſe of our Corporation, &c.—And I am very glad to hear from our very ſenſible Friend Mr. Dummer that a Library is going on in Boſton, to which I ſend by his Care ſome Tracts, &c.

Our exchanging (Sir) the good Offices of common Charity and a publick Spirit, will help much under God's Bleſſing to enlarge our Underſtandings and our Affections alſo to each other; and ſo to meet nearer upon Earth, and inſeparably in Heaven. Let theſe be our mutual Prayers and Endeavours.

I am, dear Sir, Your affectionate Friend and Brother, White Kennett." London Sept. 15. 1712.

Part of another Letter dated July 28. 1716, is printed in the Life Biſhop Kennett, of which the Compiler ſays, it is Pity it ſhould be buried with him. And as he has given it a Place in the Biſhop's Life for an Entertainment to his Readers, it is here alſo inſerted— To which I ſhall take the Liberty to add ſome Paſſages out of others that are now before me.

"Dear Sir,

My Thoughts reprove me often for not being more civil to a Stranger, rather to a Friend and Correſpondent, whom, by all that I have read and heard of him, I have good Reaſon to value and eſteem. My Thanks have been long due for the Books you ſent over to improve our American Library, which is not yet diſpoſed in a proper Place, for Want of ſome ſpecial Benefactor, but I am adding what I can to the Number of Tracts ſutable to the Arguments of Navigation, &c. and doubt not (if God ſpare a few Years) to make it a Collection not unworthy the good Deſign.This relates to an Affair, which is mentioned more fully afterwards in the Biſhop's Life.— That good Deſign of propagating Chriſtianity in your Parts, has loſt the wiſeſt Director and Preſident of it, the late Arch-Biſhop of Canterbury, (Dr. Teniſon) whoſe Aim and Care in thoſe Matters (as in all others) were guided by a truly Chriſtian Spirit for the publick Good of the Proteſtant Religion, he put a Stop to many indirect Motions and Steps made to put us out of the Way, and prevented a great deal of Interruption, and Embarraſſment that would have been otherwiſe given us. He was a wiſe and honeſt Prelate, truly ſenſible, that at Home and Abroad, we were in great Danger of loſing Chriſtianity in the Name of the Church.

The two great Difficulties that lie hard upon our Society for Propagation of the Goſpel are, (1) The Want of ſober and religious Miſſionaries; few offering themſelves to that Service for the Glory of God, and the Good of Souls; but chiefly to find a Refuge from Poverty and Scandal. (2) Such Men when they come to the Places allotted them, forget their Miſſion; and inſtead of propagating Chriſtianity, are only contending for Rites and Ceremonies, or for Powers and Privileges, and are diſputing with the Veſtries of every Pariſh, and even with the civil Government of every Province. —Theſe two Miſchiefs can hardly be redreſſed, but by fixing Schools and Univerſities in thoſe Parts, and ſettling we hope two Biſhops; one for the Continent, another for the Iſlands, with Advice and Aſſiſtance of Preſbyters to ordain fit Perſons, eſpecially Natives, to take Care of all the Churches. Which needful Proviſions will not break in upon your national • ites and Cuſtoms, at leaſt no other Way than by laying a Foundation (we will hope, and you will agree) for the Union of all Proteſtants in ſome future Age, when Charity and Peace ſhall prevail above Intereſt and Paſſion.

We have no great Proſpect, I confeſs, of ſuch Happineſs in our Old England, where the Spirit of Diſſention and Faction, nay, of the utmoſt Infatuation, has raged horribly, and is not yet caſt out. I think I ſaw long ſince, that the Beginnings of this Sorrow were the Seeds of Popery ſcattered in the Minds of common People, with ſtrange Induſtry and Art, to ſmooth the Way for a Popiſh Pretender. Noiſe and Nonſenſe were very prevailing, and at laſt the Word given out was, I had rather be a Papiſt than a Preſbyterian; and under this delirious Cant, the poor Souls were prepared to cry out, The Church, the Church, as loud as if they had been in the Streets of Rome, and to idolize a ſeditious, not to ſay ignorant Doctor; as much as if he had been a Pope of this other World.

The People in this Ferment were diſpoſed to read and admire the daily Pamphlets, thrown about to reconcile them more and more to Popery, under Pretences of divine and hereditary Rights, uninterrupted Succeſſion, independant State of the Church, the Expediency and even Neceſſity of private Confeſſion, the immediate Effects of ſacerdotal Abſolution, the Invalidity of Baptiſm out of Epiſcopal Communion, a Prieſt, an Altar, a real Sacrifice in the Lord's-Supper, a middle State of Souls, no Harm, at leaſt, in Prayers for the Dead, and many other Deviſes, approaching as near to Rome as preſent Shame and Safety would admit.

All theſe Conceits you well know, ſprung as Tares of the Enemy, long after our bleſſed Reformation, and I think never appeared 'till a little before the Beginning of the Civil Wars, under the Influence of a Court that had too much of the Popiſh Queen in it, and were now revived to ſerve no other Purpoſe but that of the Intereſt of a Popiſh Impoſtor. Only there was ſome Difference in the Times; for before thoſe Civil Wars, none ran into thoſe Notions but ſome of the warmer and ambitious Clergy; whereas now the common People and the very Women had their Heads full of them.

Under theſe Deluſions a Multitude have been given up to believe the Idol at Avignon to be ſomething, and worthy to be ſet up; given up, alas! to any Lies, and to the Practice of many Popiſh Superſtitions. Some would not go to their Seats in the Church 'till they had kneeled and prayed at the Rails of the Communion-Table; they would not be content to receive the Sacrament there kneeling, but with Proſtration and ſtriking of the Breaſt, and kiſſing of the Ground, as if there were an Hoſt to be adored; they began to think the Common-Prayer without a Sermon (at leaſt Afternoon) to be the beſt way of ſerving God; and Churches without Organs had the thinner Congregations; bidding of Prayer, was thought better than praying to God, and even Pictures about the Altar began to be the Books of the Vulgar; the Meeting-Houſes of Proteſtant Diſſenters were thought to be more defiled Places than Popiſh Chappels: In ſhort, the Herd of People were running towards Rome without any Foreſight, or Power of looking backward.

To this Madneſs of the People was the Rebellion owing; now one is quelled, the other will abate; and our greateſt Deliverance under King George, will be that of our being delivered from our ſelves, and being reſtored not only to our Religion and Liberties but to our Senſes —

My Reſpects and beſt Services to you and your Brethren, and eſpecially to the worthy Preſident of Harvard-College —Let us join our Prayers for the King's ſafe Return and long Life, and for the Progreſs of Chriſtianity, and an Increaſe of the Proteſtant Religion.

I am, dear Sir, your affectionate Friend, White Kennett." March 13. 1716, 17.

—After having wrote largely of the Fooleries (as he ſtiles them) of the High-Church—He adds "And you have Senſe enough to let me tell you as a very charitable Friend that there is ſomewhat of a like wrong Spirit among our Diſſenting Brethren or the Body of them. The good old Tenderneſs of Conſcience is viſibly abated, the ſtrict Regard to Sobriety and Temperance is very much altered; the keeping up Family Prayers and Fear of God in Children and Servants is wearing off apace, Bibles are leſs read, and Sabbaths leſs obſerved, &c. In ſhort, they are very ſoon gone off from the good old Puritans who has certainly a more ſober Deportment, and a more ſerious Senſe of Religion and Devoutneſs in them.

And this Degeneracy at a Time when they have been in greateſt Danger and ought to have been moſt upon their Guard of Piety and Prudence. For whereas the good old Puritans were all along popular and well-belov'd upon the juſt Reputation of being a ſober godly Party, who ſpoke better and lived better than moſt of their Neighbours: It ſo happens on the contrary (God knoweth how) that our Diſſenters of late have had the common Cry againſt them: the Laws could hardly protect them, the Government almoſt afraid to defend them, and if the Biſhops and Clergy whom they call the Low-Church, would have fell into that Stream of Prejudice againſt them they had been driven (as the Wind and Tide have long ſat) into a State of Perſecution and the utmoſt Deſertion; wherein the Body of the Clergy and People would have thought they had done God good Service.

And yet the Diſſenters (perhaps to a Man) have had one of the greateſt Merits, that of being true to their Country, and to the Ballance of Europe, always well affected to the Proteſtant Succeſſion, and very faithful Subjects of King George, and firm Adherents to his Royal Family: An Advantage that one would think might before this Time have been improved to their Security and Honour: And ſo undoubtedly it would have been if they had followed the Steps of the good old Puritans, and had once more the Eſteem of a peaceable and religious People; if they had been really ready to join with the moderate Biſhops and Clergy, and had complained only of Innovations unknown to the firſt Reformers, requiring only ſome few Conceſſions to be made to them, ſhewing themſelves truly tender of the Peace and Unity of the Church and State, and always more zealous for a good Life and good Works than for any other Matter of Contention.— Such a Spirit of God in a ſtill Voice will at ſome Providential Time or other heal all our Breaches, and fruſtrate the Hopes of the Common Enemy.

You ſee how freely and heartily I ſet down my own preſent Thoughts and Wiſhes, and I have that Opinion of your Underſtanding and good Conſcience that I cannot but think we could talk over theſe Matters without any ill Reſentments and at leaſt with good Will and Charity. —But I cannot anſwer for the different Impreſſions upon other Minds, indiſpoſed with Prejudice and Paſſion.—

I thought to add ſomewhat of our preſent State of Affairs, but I reſerve this to another Letter.

I pray God preſerve us and amend us all, for the Continuance of his good Providence to us, and am

Dear Sir, your very affectionate Friend and Brother, W. K.

P. S. I thank you for your very right good Sermon. I ſend you the laſt of my publick Exerciſes."

There is another very long Letter dated June 5th 1718. relating to Controverſies on Foot in Church and State at that Day, which begins and ends with ſuch friendly Paſſages as theſe,

—"I gladly take this Opportunity of expreſſing my hearty Thanks for your laſt, and my Willingneſs to keep up a Correſpondence with one whom I know ſo well by his own Writings and by others good Report, that I ſhould be glad if Providence would allow us a nearer Converſation.—

You ſee I am going out of my Depth, by writing in a familiar Way to a private Friend, ſecure that neither of us mean any Harm. Pray we God to preſerve our Peace and Proſperity, and dear Sir, your Health and Happineſs. I am your affectionate Friend and Brother,

W. K."

After he was promoted to the See of Peterborough He was conſecrated Biſhop of Peterborough, November 9. 1718. he ſucceeded Dr. Cumberland, and died December 19th 1728.— he was the ſame good and kind Friend and Correſpondent.They wrote their Sentiments to one another on all Points Civil and Eccleſiaſtical with all Freedom, and ſent their Publications from Time to Time.—

In a Letter dated Feb. 27th 1722, 3. He writes,

—"I have often accuſed my ſelf of Negligence (which I beg you would not think a Diſreſpect) in not writing to you. It is not for any Change of Station, and much leſs for any Alteration of chriſtian charitable Sentiments, but out of pure Hurry of Life, and neceſſary Application to Men, and Things and Books.—I thank you for your very good SermonA Diſcourſe had in the College Hall at Cambridge, March 27. 1722. before the Baptiſm of R. Judah Monis — The preſent Inſtructor of the Students in the Hebrew Language there. Mr. Colman ſent him afterward Mr. Monis's three Diſcourſes entitled, the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth. on Occaſion of the Jewiſh Convert to Chriſtianity. I wiſh you would repubbliſh it with ſome Declaration of Motives and Reaſons given by the Perſon himſelf: and a Catalogue of ſuch eminent Converts from Judaiſm to our Reformed Religion, as have been publickly baptized.—Here many of them publiſh very ſound Teſtimonies of their real Converſion and Sincerity in our Faith and Worſhip. I think I could furniſh you with near an Hundred Inſtances out of my poor Collections if you will make the ſeaſonable Uſe and Application of them.

I was ſent to this Moment by my good Neighbour Chamberlain to write a Line to you, and have put up a little Parcel for your Amuſement, and deſire you to Eſteem me, and to pray for me as your very affectionate Friend and Brother, White Peterborough."

Thus writes this excellent Biſhop who for his Moderation and good Works was very ill treated by the Jacobite Party in the Nation—of whom the Writer of his Life ſays, Pag. 193. "He was a Man of great Probity, Courage, and Reſolution in the Diſcharge of his Duty. He lived (eſpecially ſince the Revolution) in Times of great Trial and Diſcrimination; and in all of them, he approved his ſteady, inflexible and fearleſs Temper. The Frowns of great Men in Power, could no more awe him, than popular Clamours could ſhake his Stedfaſtneſs."—

I ſhall cloſe the Account of this happy Correſpondence with a long and fine Letter of Mr. Colman's to the good Biſhop dated December 17th 1725.

"Sir,

Mr. Dummer in his laſt informs me that your Lordſhip is pleas'd to expreſs your ſelf ſorry that I have declined the Preſidentſhip of our College, to which the Fellows choſe me the laſt Year; But while I am obliged to your Lordſhip's Goodneſs toward me in that Concern, I have to plead my long Diſuſe of Academical Studies and Exerciſes, and alſo that I am not well in the Opinion of our Houſe of Repreſentatives of late Years, on whom the Preſident depends for his Subſiſtance; and they could not have pinched me without the Chair's ſuffering with me, which I could by no means conſent it ſhould do for my Sake.

As for the catholick Spirit, which makes your Lordſhip wiſh to ſee me in that honourable Station, I hope I may have ſome Pretence to it, and I acknowledge it a very good Gift and Ornament to a Perſon otherwiſe qualified: But then (my Lord) it is the very Spirit of our College and has been ſo theſe forty Years paſt, and if I have ever ſhone in your Lordſhip's Eyes on that Account, here I learnt it thirty Years ſince, and when I viſited the famous Univerſities and private Academies in England, I was proud of my own humble Education here in our Cambridge, becauſe of the Catholick Air I had there breathed in. And ſuch it has continued till of late a Parcel of High flyers have poiſoned and ſtagnated it, by leading us into a Courſe of angry Controverſy which has alarmed and narrowed us, who before received the Writings and Gentlemen of the Church of England with the moſt open Reverence and Affection. —And (My Lord) I am afraid that now the Paper-War here is a little over between ſome Gentlemen of the Church and others on our Part, the Alienation is like to increaſe by the Meaſures lately taken by Dr. C—and others, who upon a Memorial of our Miniſters to our General Court the laſt May for the convening of a Synod, which we alſo moved for more than ten Years paſt, put in a counter Memorial and have ſince made ſome Repreſentation on this Head, (we know not what) to the preſent excellent Biſhop of London; who (as our Agent in a publick Letter has informed our Court) laid before the Lords Juſtices a Copy of our Memorial conſented to by our Lieutenant Governour, at whoſe Conduct herein (he ſays) their Excellencies are very much diſpleaſed.

It is thought, he tells us, that our Clergy ſhould not meet in ſo publick authoritative a Manner without the King's Conſent as Head of the Church; and that it would be a bad Precedent for our Diſſenting Brethren at Home to aſk the ſame Privilege; which if granted, would be a ſort of vying with the Eſtabliſhed Church. It has alſo been inſinuated that this Synod would have come to ſome Reſolutions to the Prejudice of the Church of England.

Upon the reading of this Letter from Mr. Agent, our General Court immediately diſmiſſed our Memorial: But if your Lordſhip will give me Leave I would humbly plead our Innocence and Right in making the aforeſaid Memorial to our General Court, and aſking their Countenance in the convening of a Synod of our Churches. And I have ſeen ſo much of the excellent Candour and Equity of the Lord Biſhop of London in a private Letter to one of the Clergy here the laſt Year, as well as known a great while the like excellent Spirit and Temper of your Lordſhip, that I think I would not deſire to ſtand before better Judges.

And firſt, let me plead before your Lordſhip in behalf of the Churches of New-England their Uſage in Times paſt, from the Beginning of the Country to meet occaſionally in Synods, under the Countenance of our civil Rulers, for the preſerving and promoting of Godlineſs, Peace and good Order in them.—This Right and Liberty our Fathers have dearly purchaſed for us, and the Government then ſeem to have thought ſo, when it gave them a Patent ſo ample for all religious Liberties and Priviledges to them and their Poſterity upon their ſettling and ſubduing this waſte and howling Wilderneſs, and making ſo great and good an Addition to the Engliſh Dominions. And although the oppreſſive Powers in the End of King Charles, and the firſt of King James the Second, had no Conſideration hereof, but vacated our firſt Charter, yet we have to plead in the Second Place,

That by our preſent Charter, granted by King William and Queen Mary, our Churches are here the Legal Eſtabliſhment, and our Miniſters both in reſpect of their Induction and Maintenance are the King's Miniſters, as much as even the Church of England Miniſters are in any of the other Provinces; who did not ſettle as we did on the declared Principles of Non-conformity, and without the leaſt Charge or Expence to the Crown as we have done. But when I ſay that our Churches and Miniſters here are eſtabliſhed by the King's Laws, I would pray your Lordſhip not to underſtand me in Oppoſition to the Church of England, for ſo they are not; but if any Town will chuſe a Gentleman of the Church of England for their Paſtor or Rector they are at their Liberty, and he is their Miniſter by the Laws of our Province, as much as any Congregational Miniſter among us is ſo. So far is our Eſtabliſhment from excluding others from the common Rights of Men and Chriſtians, and I hope ever will remain ſo.

And then thirdly, our Churches here being founded and formed on the Congregational Scheme, our Synods whether greater or leſs do not pretend to Authority or Juriſdiction, but only to counſel and adviſe the Churches, who are at Liberty after all to judge for themſelves, although it is to be hoped they will always pay a reverential Regard to the deliberate and ſolemn Advices of a venerable Aſſembly of their Paſtors and Elders.— Your Lordſhip will from hence eaſily judge how far ſuch a Synod can be in any ſort vying with the Church of England, or a bad Precedent to other Diſſenters from it.

For as to our Brethren in Ireland, they meet in Synods when they pleaſe by the Act of Toleration, and our Brethren in the Provinces of New-York and New-Jerſies have their ſtated annual Synods, Nobody forbidding them or taking Umbrage at their ſo doing.—But we in the Province of the Maſſachuſetts, really the Churches eſtabliſhed by Law, and having been uſed to aſk the Countenance of our Rulers in our Meetings in a Provincial Synod, we now obſerved the ſame Rule and kept to our old Practice; expecting no more from them than the Publick's bearing the Charge of the Convention, and if the Reſults of the Synod were approved by the Government, that they would recommend the fame to the reverent Regards of our Churches.

This (my Lord) is the Foot that the Churches of New-England have hitherto ſtood on, increaſed and flouriſhed on; leading quiet and peaceable Lives in all Godlineſs and Honeſty, maintaining an exemplary Loyalty to the King, and Brotherly Love to their Neighbours; excepting ſome Errors of a perſecuting Spirit toward the Baptiſt and Quakers for ſometime in their Beginning, which we have heartily repented of.

And whereas it is inſinuated that this Synod would have come to ſome Reſolutions to the Prejudice of the Church of England; it is only Surmiſe, and without any Grounds, ſave what the Objectors may apprehend from the Principles of Non conformity which we openly profeſs, and from the late Diſputes which they have raiſed among us about Epiſcopacy.—The utmoſt that the Synod was like to have done, about Church-Order and Government was their confirming or rather amending ſome Things in our Platform of Church-Diſcipline the Reſults of former Synods, which would have done nothing more againſt the Church of England than ſtands profeſſed already among us, nor have ſet us at any more Diſtance from her. And if your Lordſhip will pleaſe to read the Memorial it ſelf, a Copy whereof I incloſe to you, you will ſee that the Reaſon and Cauſe of our deſiring a Synod at this Time was to enquire into the Cauſes of the preſent growing Corruption of Manners among us, and the Means of the Reformation of theſe; the ſame noble and pious Cauſe wherein your Lordſhip has borne ſo good and great a Part for many Years paſt.—This is not the Cauſe of a Sect or Party, but too many in every Sect among us have an Averſion to it, and no wonder if it be every-where ſpoken againſt.—Or if our reforming Synod could not eſcape the Suſpicion of ſome, that ſomething ungrateful to Epiſcopacy or Liturgies might be done there, yet I muſt ſeriouſly profeſs to your Lordſhip that in all the Debates among the Miniſters, whether this Year or in Years paſt, upon this Head of calling a Synod, I remember not a Word that has dropt among us to give Occaſion for ſuch a Suſpicion.—Or if it be that our Churches are now envied the Reputation of holding Synods as in Times paſt by Gentlemen lately come among us, and who have been treated by us with all due Reſpects, they are neither courteous nor juſt; for it ought in Righteouſneſs and Honour to content them that they receive all kind and brotherly Treatment from us, and enjoy their own Opi • ion and Perſwaſion with the greateſt Freedom; and they ought not to uſe Means to grieve and trouble us among whom they are come to ſojourn, and where they find a Country filled with Churches, wherein Knowledge, Devotion and Piety flouriſh at leaſt equally as in their own Communions.

My Lord, It may be I am too free and pathetical in this my Addreſs to you; And I would not take too much Liberty in the Cauſe of Liberty. I know Sir, you can forgive my Zeal in this tender and generous Point. And if your Lordſhip think with me that this plain Argument and Repreſentation will not offend My Lord of London, or may do us any Service with his Lordſhip, I would then intreat the Favour of him to read what I have here wrote, and let it have its juſt Weight in his noble and righteous Heart.

It is enough, My Lord, to grieve us to the Heart, conſcious as we are of the utmoſt Zeal and Loyalty to King George, that we ſhould ſeem to the Lords Juſtices to have treſpaſſed upon his juſt Prerogative: We had no Thoughts of offending the King's Majeſty, nor the Governours of the Church, which like the King's Throne is eſtabliſhed by Moderation.—I ſhall trouble your Lordſhip no further than by aſking you Bleſſing and leave to ſubſcribe my ſelf, &c."

On the Account of apprehended Abuſes and Miſapplications of the Moneys of the Honourable and Reverend Society for Propagating the Goſpel in foreign Parts, Dr. Colman (in his old Age) wrote once and again to my Lord of London by the Deſire of the Reverend Aſſociation of the County of Hampſhire, who made their humble Repreſentation to his Lordſhip and the ſaid Society, to which Anſwers were returned.

Dr. Colman's firſt Letter follows. "Sir, Boſton, September 13. 1734.

I am deſired to forward and cover the incloſed to your Lordſhip, from my Reverend and Honoured Brethren, the aſſociated Paſtors of the County of Hampſhire, partly becauſe I am now the ſenior Paſtor in this Seaport Town, and partly becauſe they ſuppoſe my worthleſs Name may be a little known at London, though not to Perſons of your Lordſhip's Dignity.

It is now thirty five Years ſince I left the City, where I was not unknown to the venerable Dr. Bray, that Man of God for Apoſtolic Love and Zeal, ſince which I have had the Honour of a long and moſt free Intercourſe of Letters with the late excellent Biſhop of Peterborough, Dr. Kennet, now with God.

Your Lordſhip's three Paſtoral Letters, occaſioned by the late ſurprizing Writings of ſome in Favour of Infidelity, have juſtly honoured your Name to the Churches of New-England, and we have heard of your Character for Moderation and Righteouſneſs with high Eſteem and Pleaſure.

I do the more willingly therefore join my Brethren, who live remote from Boſton, and hitherto quite out of the Way of the Miſſions whereof they write in their Addreſs to your Lordſhip; being fully perſwaded of the Integrity and Uprightneſs of their Hearts in it, and that they aim at nothing but what is juſt and right in the Sight of God.

The Harveſt, My Lord, is plenteous from North-Carolina to New-York, and Multitudes are periſhing within that long Spread of Virginia, Maryland, Penſylvania and the Jerſies; But from New-York Northward, Dr. Bray found very little need of Miſſionaries for the Propagation of Chriſtianity, the Narraganſet Country excepted, and in the Colonies of Connecticut and the Maſſachuſett's none at all, as at the Time I was informed.

Were your Lordſhip and the pious Truſtees here on the Spot, I am ſure you could not think the profeſſed End of your Charter, and the Deſign of the Donors anſwered, in your ſupporting Miſſionaries at Boston, Braintree, Newbury, Stratford, Bristol, Salem, Groton, &c. Or if the Sea-ports of great Trade ſuch as Boſton, Newport, Marblehead need to have Miniſters of the Church of England for the ſake of ſome Inhabitants and Strangers, yet alſo are they well able to ſupport their own Worſhip; or did they want ſome Aſſiſtance, there can be no Pretence for it out of a Fund ſacred to God for ſending the Goſpel into dark and ignorant Places of the Earth. They ought to be provided for ſome other Way, and not by alienating a devoted confined Charity, which were to run the Danger of Sacrilege and great Unfaithfulneſs.

This, My Lord, is our View of the Caſe now laid before you, and is humbly ſubmitted to your righteous and impartial Judgment.—Yet I fear that I have not preſerved all the Humility and great Modeſty which adorns the incloſed from my Brethren, I am ready therefore to humble my ſelf, and beſeech your Lordſhip's Candor, while I doubt not your own Heart will make ſome Excuſe for a little Zeal and Reſentment, from an apprehended Injury to one of the moſt noble Charitys to Souls, and one of the moſt extenſive Services to the Name of Chriſt, that has been propoſed to the World for Ages paſt. A Concern on this Principle muſt be juſtified, and have your Lordſhip's Approbation.

I entreat, My Lord, your moſt candid Conſtruction, and beg leave to ſubſcribe

Your Lordſhip's Moſt humble and obedient Servant, &c.

May the 6th 1719, Mr. Colman wrote to Dr. Ho • dley Biſhop of Bangor (ſince Biſhop of Wincheſter)

"My Lord,

Having had the Pleaſure of reading your Book, entitled the Common-Rights of Subjects, My grateful Heart and a Soul full of Eſteem and Reverence to your Lordſhip urges me to utter if I could my Senſe of your righteous and generous Performance. Had you been a Sufferer in Perſon by the unrighteous and cruel Teſt-Act, and deprived by it of thoſe Emoluments and Opportunities of doing good in the World which your very ſuperiour Powers and Place in it now give your Lordſhip the Advantage of; you could not more feelingly have appeared againſt the injurious and impious Abuſe of Religion and Invaſion of Men's natural Rights than you have done.— But, My Lord, this righteous and honeſt Zeal for Truth and Juſtice from one in your Station and Circumſtances, gives your Argument a Beauty and a Power, which it would not have, had it come from the Hand of a ſuffering Diſſenter. I confeſs I know no one among my Brethren that could have hoped to ſucceed in the Argument as your Lordſhip has to the utter Confuſion of the Adverſary. But ſuppoſing a Bates or a Calamy could have done it, ſomething of ſelf, or Party, or Prejudice might be ſuſpected to influence in it, while from your Lordſhip's noble Pen, what but the moſt open Regards to Truth and Juſtice and the common Rights of Men can be imagined.—And now Sir, I beſeech the God of Heaven, the Patron of the Injured and Oppreſſed, and who raiſes up and inſpires Patrons to them from among their Brethren to reward abundantly to your Lordſhip the Service you have done, after many others, to the Kingdom of your Saviour and your Country, and to continue you long a ſingular Ornament and Defence of it both in Church and State.

Your Goodneſs will pardon a poor Diſſenting Miniſter in America, the Preſumption that may appear in his troubling your Lordſhip with the Knowlegde of that Satiſfaction he has received from your beneficent Hands.This Letter ſhews how the Doctor watched for and took every Opportunity to ſerve Mankind and encouraged Liberty.— I bow to you for your Bleſſing and am

Your Lordſhip's very humble and obedient Servant.

Dr. Colman wrote a Letter to the Earl of Egmont, who was at the Head of the Aſſociates of Dr. Bray, July 8th 1734, which obtained a Number of Books for each of or three Miſſionaries at the Forts George, Richmond and Dummer.

"My Lord,

Mr. Coram, who has the Honour to be one of the late Rev. Dr. Bray's Aſſociates, having informed me of his communicating my Letter to him of September 1733, and that the Honourable and Reverend Aſſociates had ſhewn that Regard to it as to order it on their File; and that he had aſked for a ſmall Parcel of Books for the three Miſſionaries and their Succeſſors, Mr. Stephen Parker at Richmond Fort, Mr. Ebenezer Hinſdel at Fort-Dummer, and Mr. Joſeph Secomb at St. Georges River, all on the Borders of his Majeſty's Province of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay in New-England, and that the Honourable Aſſociates had declared their Will to give ſome Books as deſired, provided a proper Application were made for them; I am therefore directed by his Excellency Jonathan Belcher Eſq our Governour, who is ever ready unto every good Work, and firſt in the pious Care for the Miſſions aforeſaid, to give your Lordſhip the Trouble of this Line, and let the Honourable Gentlemen Aſſociates know in what need of proper Books the Miſſionaries aforeſaid are, and how acceptable your Charity and Bounty to them would be to the Commiſſioners here who have the Overſight of theſe Miſſions.

It is now thirty-eight Years ago, that the Rev. Dr. Bray himſelf informed me, at his Chamber in White-Hall, that he was projecting his extenſive Charity of Parochial Libraries, when I could little have thought of addreſſing your Lordſhip on this Occaſion at ſuch a Diſtance of Time and Place. The Dr. like a true Miniſter of Jeſus Chriſt, went about doing good, and his Works follow him, his Praiſe remains in all the Churches.Mr. Colman thought it but grateful and juſt to the Memory of that venerable Man of God, Dr. Bray, to inform in our publick Prints ſuch as know it not, that he was the Father of three the moſt noble and grand Projections of Piety and Charity that this laſt Age, or indeed Ages paſt have produced; and all three in ſpecial Favour of the Proteſtant America, the firſt and ſecond were thoſe of the Society for Propagating the Goſpel in foreign Parts, and of Parochial Libraries for the Miniſters in one Place and another. The third is the late Charter for incorporating a Number of Gentlemen by the Name of the Truſtees for eſtabliſhing the Colony of Georgia. This laſt the Doctor finiſhed with his aged dying Hand, and he could not expire more gloriouſly than with this his laſt and vaſt Project of Charity for the uſeleſs Poor in England, and diſtreſſed Proteſtants in Europe. It calls to mind what we read of Solomon, 1 Kings 4.29. And God gave Solomon Wiſdom and Underſtanding exceeding much, and Largeneſs of Heart even as the Sand on the Sea-ſhore.—God grant that the Management of theſe truly noble Truſts and good Deſigns may ever anſwer the Intention, Hope and Prayers of their excellent Author.

In particular I would aſk by your Lordſhip's Favour, for each Miſſionary a Copy of the Rev. Mr. Smith's moſt worthy Sermon preached to the Truſtees and Aſſociates Anno 1730, 1, it being wonderfully calculated to inſtruct and animate Perſons imployed in ſuch a Service.

It only remains now to aſk your Lordſhip's Pardon for the Freedom I have taken, to add my hearty Prayers for the beſt of Bleſſings on the Gentlemen Aſſociates, and to do my ſelf the Honour of ſubſcribing, My Lord,

Your very obedient Humble Servant."

To this Letter the Right Honourable the Earl returned a kind Anſwer.

Upon his dear and ancient Friend and conſtant Correſpondent, Henry Newman, Eſq He was Son of the excellent Mr. Samuel Newman, who came over to New-England in the Year 1638, and was Miniſter of our Reh • both, Author of a moſt elaborate Concordance of the Bible in Folio. This being enlarged by ſome ingenious Men in England, now goes by the Name of Cambridge Concordance.— This his worthy Son went over and ſettled in England many Years ſince, and ſaw cauſe to conform to the Eſtabliſhed Church.—But he ever cheriſhed and expreſt a warm and generous Love and Regard for his Country, the Churches and Colleges here, and ſought their Proſperity and flouriſhing. This appears by Scores of Letters to Mr. Colman and others.— informing him of Sir Richard Ellis Baronet, his Intention, to give his great and noble Library to the Diſſenters; He immediately wrote to Sir Richard and acquainted him of the State of our Colleges and the Churches in theſe Provinces, and ſent him his Sermon on Mr. Hollis and Mr. Holden's Death's that he might ſee the Gratitude of the Government and People here to their Benefactors. He alſo wrote at the ſame Time to Dr. Watts, Dr. Guiſe, Mr. Neal, Mr. Bradbury, and other of favour us in that Matter.

Part of his Letter to Sir Richard Ellis follows. "Honourable Sir,

The Manner of my Addreſs to you, and the Matter of my humble Requeſt, from one at ſuch a Diſtance from you, and altogether a Stranger and unknown may well be not a little ſurprizing to you. I had need therefore introduce my ſelf into ſome Knowledge with you, and if it might be Eſteem, which I know not how better to do if the incloſed Sermons will not in ſome Meaſure ſerve to this Eng.—You will ſee by them two Things, that is has pleaſed God to uſe me in miniſtring to my Country, in the great Bounties to Mr. Hollis to our College, and of Mr. Holden to the poor Members of Chriſt in our Churches; nor has their Almoner benefited himſelf in his temporal Eſtate at all hereby, nor deſired it.—You will alſo ſee, Sir, that my Country, I mean the Government over it, know how to acknowledge with due Gratitude and Honour their pious and generous Benefactors, and alſo their own Sons that miniſter to the publick Intereſt of Learning and Piety.

And now, Sir, providentially hearing Yeſterday of Sir Richard Ellis Bart, formerly a Member of Parliament for Boſton in Lincolnſhire, that he has a noble Library which it is thought he will incline to leave to ſome learned Seminaries amongſt the Diſſenters; my Heart commands me to ſalute you on the Behalf of my dear Mother, "Harvard College in Cambridge New-England, where I had my Education, and whom I have been honoured by God to ſerve in obtaining for ſaid Academy the Holliſian Profeſſor of Divinity, and alſo of natural and experimental Philoſophy, beſide ſundry annual Exhibitions for the Education of poor Scholars, with an Addition of many valuable Books to the Library of ſaid College.

And now, Honoured Sir, If I may be permitted by the divine Providence, which has hitherto ſmiled on ſaid Seminary of Learning, to cloſe and crown my Life and Love to it (for I am now within three Years of Seventy) by obtaining your kind Regards to it whenever it pleaſes God to incline you to diſpoſe of any Part of your rich Library, is the whole generous End on my Part of this my humble and moſt reſpectful Addreſs to you; which I cover to my dear Countryman and once Fellow-Student in ſaid College Henry Newman Eſq Secretary to the Honourable Society for Propagating Chriſtian Knowledge, with whom I have had the Pleaſure of a free and laſting Friendſhip theſe forty-five Years paſt, entreating him to wait upon your Honour with it, of whom you may enquire concerning our College, as alſo of the Reverend Doctor's, Watts and Guiſe, and Mr. Neal of London; who will alſo wiſh us a Part in your good Will I perſwade my ſelf how much ſoever Dr. Williams's Library may reaſonably ſtand fair in their Eye and your own: Nor would I ſay a Word to divert your Bounty from that Foundation.

If my Requeſt finds Favour with you, I hope Sir, you will in granting it ſerve the Intereſt of Chriſt among the Diſſenters for many Generations; for we are a very flouriſhing Province, and our Towns and Churches multiply, for which hitherto our College has been made a rich Supply, as to worthy Perſons raiſed up in Church and State; which that it may more and more be in Times to come when we are dead, is the ſole Aim of my preſent Writing; and that I alſo may reap with you in the Rewards of a better Life, attending ſuch pious Projections and Foundations.

Sir, my humble Prayer is that all the Bleſſings of Providence and Grace may attend you to your Grave in Peace; and may be multiplied to your Honourable Lady, for I hear God has denied you Children—But that God may pleaſe to raiſe up to you, among our Benefactors, Sons from our College, a ſpiritual Seed to ſerve Chriſt and Souls, while you reap in the Viſions of his Glory among the Spirits of the Juſt made perfect, is the Prayers of, &c."

By his Acquaintance with the Rev. Dr. William Harris of London, he had the Diſtribution of Five Hundred Pounds Sterling to the worthy Family of the Buckley's in New-England to the equal Benefit and general content of all concerned—A Labour which demanded much Time.

From his long, endearing and intimate Friendſhip and Correſpondence with Dr. Iſaac Watts, our Country and Churches have reaped many Advantages.—I find him giving timely Notices, of riſing Dangers to our Civil and Eccleſiaſtical State; and pointing out happy Methods of Safety. He greatly enriched our Colleges and Schools by his generous Beſtowment of many valuable Books. Mr. Colman at one Time received from him Seventy Pounds Charity chiefly collected from his Friends (as the Letter ſays) for the School at Houſatonick. The numerous ingenious and uſeful Letters, that paſs between theſe two Divines for a long Courſe of Years would afford a moſt grateful Entertainment to all benevolent and pious Readers. Souls alike formed to pleaſe and profit Mankind!

He alſo held and maintained an agreeable and uſeful Correſpondence with the Rev. Mr. John Shower, Dr. Edmund Calamy, Dr. John Evans, Dr. Jeremiah Hunt, Dr. Guiſe, Mr. Daniel Mayo, and many other Diſſenting Divines in London, &c. by whom he had Informations to the Service of his Country and the Churches.

Dr. Henry Winder of Liverpool (Author of a learned critical and chronological Hiſtory) ſought his Correſpondence and was highly delighted with it for ſeveral Years paſt.

Twenty two of the Rev. Mr. Daniel Neal's Letters are found in Order (beſides many others) in the Service of the Country and Harvard College, and by the Contents of them it appears how precious our Civil and religious Intereſt were to them; and how much they ſought the beſt Good of New England.—I alſo find Mr. Colman aſſiſting this Gentleman with ſome uſeful Materials for his Hiſtory of our Country.

Sir William Aſhurſt— and Lord Viſcount Barrington Shute and other Gentlemen of Figure and Learning wrote frequently to him, and freely offered to do all the Services they could for us upon his Motions. They often aſſure him "that his Correſpondence is perfectly agreeable, and deſire him conſtantly to communicate his Sentiments to them of ſuch Matters as occur to his Obſervation."

I find Sir Richard Blackmore taking Notice of him, and his Writings, and making a Preſent of ſome of his Poems to him. I might mention his large Correſpondence with the Honourable Dr. Nicholas Trot, Chief Judge of South-Carolina, reſpecting a learned Work he was about, entitled Clavis Linguae Sanctae.

To Governour Nicholſon and moſt of the Governours in the Plantations he wrote frequently.

Many Letters of greateſt Importance paſſed between him and the Honoured Dr. Avery This Gentleman is Doctor of Laws, and Treaſurer of Guy's Hoſpital Southwark. (of late Years) who is at the Head of the Diſſenters which have greatly ſerved theſe Churches, and our Civil Intereſts.

Alſo by his long correſponding with the worthy Mr. Thomas Coram one of the late Rev. Dr. Bray's Aſſociates (a Gentleman zealous and indefatigable in doing good on all Occaſions) much Benefit has accrued to Mankind.

He held a pleaſant and uſeful Correſpondence and Friendſhip with ſundry eminent Divines of the renowned Church of Scotland, particularly with Mr. R. Woodrow of Eaſtwood, Author of the Sufferings of that Church, (vaſt Numbers of his Letters are found) and his worthy Son after his Father's Death continued it, and ſpeaks of the great Advantage he had by it. Mr. Williſon of Dundee, frequently wrote, and of late Mr. Robe of Kilſyth, &c. &c. &c.

Mr. Colman wrote unto and correſponded with divers Gentlemen Divines of the Eſtabliſhed Church in England (beſides thoſe already named)Wrote to the Reverend and learned Dr. Thomas Burnet, Author of many uſeful Works, with Obſervations on ſome of them.

Wrote to Dr. Henry Maule, Biſhop of Cloyne, near the City of Cork in Ireland, about an Affair of Juſtice and Charity, to which a kind Anſwer was made.

Wrote to Dr. Wilſon of London, Son of Biſhop Wilſon of the Iſle of Man, who anſwered him once and again with great Complaiſance and Affection.

To the Rev. Mr. Samuel Smith of Aldgate Church London, who anſwered him with Expreſſions of his high Eſteem for him, &, &c. &c.

Among theſe I may not omit a particular Mention of the Reverend and learned Mr. Joſeph Standen, formerly a Diſſenting Miniſter at Luckington—but for many Years paſt a Miniſter of the Eſtabliſhed Church at Speen near Newbury Berks.

This Gentleman entered into a ſincere and moſt paſſionate Friendſhip with Mr. Colman ſoon after his Arrival at London, and no Changes in Opinion or Station could ever make the leaſt Breach upon it. Their Loves ſeem to equal thoſe of David and Jonathan, if we may judge by their Expreſſions. They omitted no Opportunity of Writing and ſending every curious Piece they could light of to one another. And as both of them had a good Taſte and Gift for Poetry, ſcarce a Letter paſſed without ſomething of that kind incloſed for Amuſement. A large and beautiful Pile is now before me full of fine Senſe, true Eloquence and manly Chriſtianity.—They communicated the minuteſt as well as moſt important Circumſtances of their Families and Affairs, and made each others Griefs and Joys their own. In the reading them over, I have had great Pleaſure and Improvement. Ariſtotle's Deſcription of Friendſhip often occurred to my Mind—viz. One Soul in two Bodies—This Gentleman I ſuppoſe to be ſtill living in an advanced Age.After 70 His Letters begins, My dear dear Friend—My dear and conſtant Friend,——He is Author of ſeveral Sermons and many ingenious Pieces in Proſe and Verſe. One of his early Poems is to be ſeen before Dr. Watts's Horae Lyricae.—He was a moſt intimate Friend and Acquaintance of Philomela, the incomparable Mrs. Rowe, and correſponded with her conſtantly to her Death.—

Feb. 1735. I find him Writing to the Rev. Samuel Urlſperger Senior in the Evangelical Miniſtry, and Paſtor to the Church of St. Ann in Augſburgh—And to Monſieur Van Breck in Latin, which diſcover much of his excellent Spirit and Temper—His Letter to the former is here inſerted with one of that Reverend Gentleman's in Return.

"Reverendiſſimo Dom. D. Samueli Urlſperger, in Miniſterio Evangelico Seniori, et Paſtori Eccleſiae St. Ann, Augſburg, Literatiſſimo et Fideliſſimo.

Vir verè Reverende!

Eximius noſter Gubernator Summus, D. D. Belcher, qui poſtremo Anno Literis Veſtris püs maximeè gaudebat, miſit eas Mihi, Seniori Paſtori in Urbe hâc frequentiſſimâ, et Suo Juſſu Honorem habeo tibi Salutem dicere. Heu! quali Gaudio et Dolore ſimûl afficior, dum Verba Paterna Paſtoris verè Evangelici perlego, et Diſperſionem Gregis dilectiſſimi contemplor! Sint Animis veſtris Conſolationes ſummae Divini PARACLETI, dum Paſſiones Chriſti abundant. Vobis conceditur Supplicatio Beati Pauli pro ſeipſo in Epiſtolâ ad Philippenſes, Ut cognoſcam Comminicationem “Paſſionum ejus, dum configuror ejus ”mortis. Ita perveniunt Martyrum Exercitus ad Reſurrectionem mortuorum.

Amicus Veſter et Filius amabilis Dom. de Beck, inter nos Nomen reliquit verè magnum pro Prudentiâ, ſincerâ Pietate, et Zelo erga Deum, Fratreſ que et Seſſores, et Emigrantes. Literae Praefectûs noſtri accedere Tibi non potuerunt Manu magìs acceptâ. Eodem Tempore Voluptatem nobis maximam fecit, Notatio Nominis Tui, et Meriti praeſignis. Interìm, Tu, Domine, meritò exiſtimas Civitatem noſtram et Provinciam admodum felicem ſub Regimine Viri Literis et Religione, Humanitate et Probitate, Candore et Benignitate praecellentis. Videris loqui de Reſidentia Excellentiae ſuae in his noſtris Regionibus, Diplomate Regio — ſed Notum tibi facio, Domine, non ſine aliquâ Superbiâ, quòd Natal • Solum ille poſſidet, et inter nos liberalitèr inſtructus fuit, et educatus.

Chariſſimam habemus, Cantabrigiâ noſtrâ, et amoenam Academiam, Nomine Collegii Harvardini gaudentem, quam fecit hucuſque Deus almam Matrem et faecumdam on modò Paſtorum fidelium et doctiſſimorum, ſed etiam Gubernatorum et Judicum Literatorum; inter quos nunc numeramus digniſſimum Belcher, qui nobis et • eregrinis idem eſt Pater et Amicus; inſervire Chriſto et ſuis, in Vitâ publicâ et privata, Cupiditate inflammatus. O utinam tales eſſent Imperatores omnes per totum Terrarum Orbem, ut placidam et quietam Vitam degerent ubique omnes, omni cum Pietate et Honeſtate; unoquoque è Vite ſuâ, et è Ficu ſuâ comedente! Tunc nullus, nè unus quidem, emigrans è felici Germania videretur in extremis Terrae quaerens Perfugium. Si verò ſit in noſtrâ Poteſtate inter has Colonias aliquid contribuere, quo emigrantes veſtri chariſſimi Solamen accipiant, confide, Domine, Benevolentiae Magiſtratûs et Sacerdotii noſtri; quibus Praecepta illa Evangelica (Gratiâ Chriſti) ſunt conjuctiſſima “Fraterna Charitas maneat! "Hoſpitii ne ſitis immemores! per hoc enim quidam acceperunt Angelos." Memores eſtote Vinctorum, tanquam unà vincti, et eorum qui affliguntur, tanquam ipſi quoque ſitis in Corpore.” Hoc Chriſto debemus, et plura in Infinitum, qui dixit, Peregrinus fui, et accepiſtis me; nudus, et veſtiviſtis “me; infirmus, et viſitâſtis: Quatenùs enim feciſtis ”uni de his Fratribus meis minimis, mihi feciſtis. — Corde verè paterno, paternâ Commiſeratione et Amore, Emigrantes veſtros dicis Filios tuos, et tibi dixit Pater Coeliſtis, Relinque Pupillos tuos, Ego vivificabo, et “ ”viduae tuae in me ſperabunt. — Ego quoque, quadraginta Annis elapſis, Captivus fui in Galliâ, et Promiſſum ſuum ſanctum praeſtavit Deus incarcere.

Verè dicis, Domine, verè dicis, Dominus Deus eſt ille, Dominus Deus eſt ille — Et ſemper idem eſt in omnibus Locis, Deus Omnipotens, Fidelibus ſuis qui ei confidunt. Vehementer optamus perlegere magnalia illa Dei, quorum Volumina ſcribere poſſis — Tranſcriptum unius eorum Theſaurus eſſet Aeſtimatione noſtrâ. Nuperrimè Deus aperuit Corda Tribûs Indorum [Houſatonoc] in Finitimis noſtris, accipere Evangelium, et per idem Tempus inſpiravit Egregium quendam adoleſcentem D. Johannem Sargent, Literis et Pietate inſignem, ſe totum devovere ſummo cum Gaudio ad inſerviendas Animas Barbarorum iſtorum, a quibus jam acceptus eſt ſicut Angelus Dei. In Praeſentiâ Gubernatoris et Senatorum, praeſentibus quo que Indis et Anglorum Congregatione, Die Dominico conſecratus fuit, Auguſt: 31 1735. Jamdudùm quadraginta baptizavit, Peccata confitentes et deſerentes. Ignari illi et rudes Mutationem in ſeipſis admirantur, potiſſimùm quoàd Cupidinem Potûs et Ebrietatis, quae fuit dilectiſſima illorum Deſtructio. "Verè Opus eſt Dei, et mirabile in Oculis noſtris.

Benedictus ſit Amabilis D. de Reck, in Tranſportatione ſecundâ, et Salizburgienſes tuos chariſſimos conſervet Deus ſuper altum Mare ad Portum uſque Deſideratum, et ſedem Stabilem et Quietam. Tecum, Domine, ſemper reſideat Spiritus Sanctus; Gratiis ſuis et Donis pretiociſſimis, per totam Vitam privatam et publicam, ad “abſolvendum curſum tuum cum Gaudio, et Miniſterium quod accepiſti a Domino Jeſu, ad teſtificandum ”Evangelium Gratiae Dei! Nec unquam obliviſcaris, in Precibus veſtris ardentiſſimis, Eccleſiarum Nov-Anglorum, Excellentiae ſuae, noſtri Gubernatoris, Paſtorum denique humilium, inter quos ſpeciatìm numerabis

D. D. Reverentiae veſtrae addictiſſimum Fratrem in Miniſterio Chriſti, Benjamin Colman."

"Reverendiſſimo Domino D. Benjamin Colman, Servo Jeſu Chriſti apud Boſtonienſes dexterrimo, et S. Theologiae Doctori meritiſſimo Salutem ex Cruce Jeſu plurimam dicit Samuel Ulſperger.

Ave, Vir Reverendiſſime in centro Miſericordiae divinae, perſuaſum que habe, Literas tuas d. 22 Martii Anno elapſo ad me exaratas mihi fuiſſe quàm jucundiſſimas. Veneror enim Excellentiſſimum Dn. Belcher, cujus Notitiam ampliorem mihi dediſti; Veneror tuam, quam mihi demonſtraſti Amicitiam; Laetor eximiis Gratiae divinae Operibus, quae inter vos et vicinos Indos Houſſatonnoc in maximam Jeſu Chriſti Gloriam ſtatuta hucuſ que ſunt, et laetiſſimam futurorum maximorum Eventuum Spem faciunt. Nec minori laetitia perfuſus fui, dum legebam, quanto deſiderio feraris, ipſemet feratur ampliſſimus Magiſtratus, ferantur etiam Sacerdotes veſtri digniſſimi ad commoda Saliſburgenſium Fratrum promovenda, Eben Ezeranoſ que illos multa ope adjuvandos. Servet vobis Deus Animum iſtum benevolentiſſimum in Eccleſiam Chriſti vobis concreditam, in finitimos Paganos ad Fidem Chriſti adducendos, in que Exules Saliſburgenſes, et in me, illorum quaſi Patrem, ut quos ob Evangelium Chriſti in Corde meo geſtare ſoleo quotidie. Remuneretur vobis largiſſima Benedictione in coeleſtibus ea omnia, quae ex Amore Jeſu Chriſti, in que dulciſſimi ejus Nominis Gloriam ſuſcepiſtis hactenus, et poſt hac quo que conaturi eſtis. Floreat ſub Regimine perilluſtris Domini Belcheri veſtri Res publica creſcat tuo Miniſterio Eccleſia, vireat amoeniſſima Academia veſtra, ut ex Collegio Harvardino poſthac quo que prodeant Viri omni Chariſmatum ſpendore coruſcantes at que ad omne Opus bonum tum in Politia, tum in Eccleſia at que Schola efficiendum inſtructiſſimi. Pergat Deus, Ope ſua Reverendo D. Sargent adſiſtere, ut Indorum Apoſtolus factus totam Nationem iſtam Chriſto lucrifaciat. Verè enim magnum eſt, quod de illis ſcribebas, quadraginta eorum jam baptiſatos eſſe, non tantum confitentes peccata ſua, ſed etiam deſerentes. Hoc illi modo non minus ad Salutis â Chriſto partae Fruitionem, quam Agnitionem perducuntur. Faveat Deus huic Inſtituto ſaluberrimo! Forſan etiam aliquando Eben Ezerana Eccleſia ſocias Manus in convertendis Indis ad Fidem Salvificam praebere poterit, dummodo illa externis prius Vitae Subſidiis ſufficienter inſtructa fuerit. Vere enim jam lucent tanquam Stellulae in Tenebris Indorum, non tantum Doctrinae Puritate, quam Diſciplinae et Vitae Integritate, inde eſt ut bene illis cupiam, illoſ que adeo hac quo que vice tibi de meliori propter Chriſtum, cujus Nomen digne profitentur commendem. Quae de Magnalibus Dei inter nos ſcire deſideras, eorum aliquot peculiari Scriptione, hiſce Literis annexa, conſignavi. Pergite Viri optimi, precibus veſtris adjuvare Eccleſiam Chriſti Bohemicam, certe non contemnendis Auſibus ex Papatu enitentem. Magnos adhuc ſperamus Regni Chriſti Succeſſus, tum inter hos, eorum que Fratres Carinthios, Moravos, Stiri • s, imo et in Saliſburgenſium vallibus Superſtites; quemadmodum et majori quam ſuperioribus Seculis niſu at que Fructu Chriſtus Judaeorum Genti cum viva Voce annunciatur per duos Theologiae ſtudioſos, qui Judaeorum Converſioni totos ſeſe dederunt, omnes que Regiones peregrare ſtudent, tum Scriptis huic operi inſervientibus quae Typis publicata ſunt, at que in Judaeorum Manus tradunt, cui Operae clariſſimus Callenbergius, Hallenſium Profeſſor egregiae ſtudet, et jam plurimos Libros Novi Teſtamenti in Judaeorum Idioma Germanicum converſos divulgavit; ex quo Tempore non pauci Judaeorum excitati ſunt de Adventu Chriſti jam facto magis ſerio quam antea cogitare, et alii revera Chriſtum amplexi ſunt. Eccleſia Patria Wurtembergica, nobis vicina variis antea Procellis ſatis jactata, et propediem tantum non extinguenda, mirabili Dei Auxilio faucibus Papaeis, quae illi inhiabant, praerepta, et peſſima quaevis Concilia inopinata prorſus Principis Morte ſufflaminata ſunt. Digna profecto Res, quae ad extremos Mundi Fines in Gloriam Dei perſonet; qui et hanc gregis ſui Partem porro defendat et ſervare velit uſ que ad Conſummationem Seculi! Perge, ſi placet, Nova Regni Chriſti inter vos florentis nobis perſcribere; pergam et ego recenſere quaenam incrementa Res chriſtiana inter nos capiat. Pergemus invicem afflictam Jeſu Chriſti Eccleſiam ejuſdem Tutelae Regimini et Solatio, Amplificationi et Conſervationi Precibus commendare ardentiſſimis. Servet vos, ſervet nos, tandem que ſalvet gratioſiſſime in aeternum ut Meriti pro nobis praeſtiti. In hoc vale Vir Reverendiſſime, valeat, perilluſtris Dominus Belcher, valeant quo que Reverendus Dominus Sargent, omneſ que Jeſum incorrupte inter vos amantes. Id quod precor

Reverendiſſimi Nominis Tui Studioſiſſimus Samuel Urlſperger." Aug. Vindelicorum d 10. Apr. 1737.

And here it may be as proper as any where in this Narrative to record the Favour done Mr. Colman by the ancient and learned Univerſity of Glaſgow, in conferring on him the higheſt Academical Honours — the Degree of Doctor in Divinity, and ſending him a Diploma ſigned and ſealed according to the Cuſtoms of that illuſtrious Senate, which was delivered to him by his Excellency Governour Belcher, Nov. 1. 1731.— It is here inſerted for the Sake of ſome among our ſelves.

"Senatus Academiae Glaſgovienſis Chriſtiano Lectori Salutem.

Viri admodum Reverendi Benjamini Colman apud Novae Angliae Boſtonienſes Verbi Divini Miniſtri tum morum Sanctimonium et Pietatem vere Chriſtianam, tum Ingenium, Eruditionem ac Literarum ſacrarum Peritiam, adeo nobis compertae dederunt et probatae graviſſimae Laudationes, et nobis commendantium teſtimonia fide digniſſima, ut dignum omnino cenſeamus Virum Reverendum quem ſummis afficiamus Honoribus Academicis.

Dictum propteria Virum Reverendum Benjaminum Colman Doctorali in Sacro Sancta Theologia Dignitate ornandum decrevimus: Eumque Theologiae Doctorem creavimus, declaravimus, et renunciavimus: et • is eum Literis Doctorem Theologiae creamus, declaramus, et renunciamus: Eumque cuncta Privilegia et jura Theologiae Doctoribus uſquam Gentium conceſſa vel concedi ſolita concedimus nos et tribuimus Lubentiſſime.

In quorum fidem Literas haſce majore Academiae noſtrae Sigillo munitas Dabamus Glaſguae, 28 Maij. MDCCXXXI."

This Character and Dignity (which his eminent Endowments and Services had long merited) he ever ſtudied and endeavoured to act up unto and adorn; and was happily aſſiſted ſo to anſwer its Obligations, as neither to be envied, or deſpiſed by any.

Here follows the humble Record he makes of it; and the Letters it occaſioned him to write.

Boſton, Nov. 10. 1731.

On the firſt Inſtant, His Excellency Governor Belcher delivered me a Diploma from the Univerſity of Glaſgow, aſked by the Honourable and Reverend Society for the propagating Chriſtian Knowledge, at Edinburgh; upon the Receipt whereof I wrote the following Letters,

"Boston. Nov. Angl. Nov. 2. 1731.

Doctiſſimo et Reverendiſſimo Senatui Academiae Glaſguenſis.

Cum illuſtri Univerſitati veſtrae placuit, Me prorſus indignum unanimi ſuffragio Doctorem in S. S. Theologia conſtituiſſe et renunciaſſe, ſicut ex Diplomate heri accepto conſtat, grata mea Agnitio pro tanto Honore et Favore humilimè ſe praebet.

Fateor me, Divina Providentia et Patientia, Miniſtrum et Paſtorem inauguratum fuiſſe apud Bostonienſes, natali Oppido, per Annos triginta duos; et quatuor noviſſimos Natu maximum: Et inde neceſſariò in me venit Nimium Cura Eccleſiarum hujus florentiſſimae Provinciae. Statio heu quanta! Animo tam debili et infirmo.

Attamen praeter Officia Curae Paſtoralis, evocavit me Divina Benignitas ad Miniſteria ſingularia in Commodum et Emolumentum Academiae noſtrae, chariſſimae meae Matris, Collegii Harvardini. Nec ingrati fuerunt Senatus Collegii, et Academiae Curatores, quùm Annis ſex jam elapſis in Cathedram Praeſidis me eligerunt. Et nune, quamobrem neſcio, Academia Glaſguenſis, multo magis nobilis et inſignis, ſponte reddit Honores adaequales iis, quos conſia mente diu recuſavi.

Certè Academia noſtra humilis non ſibi arrogat Poteſtatem conferendi Gradum Doctoralem, vel Theologiae, vel Medicinae, vel Juris Civilis. Dignitates igitur hujuſce Generis ſunt apud nos majoris Pretii, quùm ex Longinquo, nec quaeſitae, liberè tranſmittuntur.

Medium, ſeu Via veſtrae Communicationis, mihi et Fratri meo chariſſimo D. D. Sewallo, Exiſtimatione noſtra Acceſſio eſt Honoribus tranſmis;ſis; ſ • il, Nominatio honoratiſſimae et Reverendiſſimae Societatis Scoticanae. ad propagandum Cognitionem Chriſti Ejuſ que Evangelii, ſub ſigillo Regali delegatae; Una et Literae Commendatitiae Excellentiſſimi Dom. noſtri Gubernatoris Belcher; Cujus Pietas erga Deum et Integritas coram Hominibus, aeque ac Praecellentia in omni liberali Doctrina et politiſſima Arte, ſellam Curulem apud nos abunde promereant et adornant.

Debemus igitur exiſtimare nos ipſos magis magiſ que devinctos, alacriter et toto Pectore Operam dare (Deo adjuvante) in Miniſterio Evangelii, et in Miſſione illa ſpeciatim ad Indos Aborigines in his Regionibus diſperſos; quorum Illuminatio in Doctrina Chriſti ſalvifica, et Converſio a Tenebris ad Lucem, et a Poteſtate Satanae ad Deum, eſt Supplicatio et Cura Venerandae Societatis, et Depoſitum (Grande quidem) nobis Concreditum.

Per multos Annos jamdudum miniſtravi, Delegatione ſodalitii Honoratiſſimi Londinenſis, Indis convertis in his Regionibus; quorum nonnulli regulariter in Eccleſias colliguntur ſub Indis Paſtoribus; Caeteri colunt Deum in Nomine Chriſti Conventibus multò minoribus: Omnes ſub Cura Inſpectione et Doctrina Paſtorum Anglicorum vicinalium: Et etiam uſ que ad Senectutem et Canitiem, Deus ne deferas me! ut libenter progrediar omni ſtudio perſequi pia Propoſita à Scotia jam nobis mandata; longiùs extender • otitiam et verum Cultum Unici Dei, et Domini noſtri Salvatoris, Ethnicis Orientalibus finitimis.

Adjuvate nos Precibus veſtris, Reverendi Fratres; Patri Luminum et Miſericordiae; et libenter ſolvetis nullus dubito: quod Inflatu Spiritus Sancti, Animoſiùs et Eventu proſpero miniſtrare poſſimus, ad Incrementum Regni Jeſu Chriſti in his nuperrime ſedibus Tenebrarum.

Deus O. M. diu conſervet et benedicat felici veſtrae Univerſitati, et dilectiſſimis Eccleſiis Scotiae; et ſemper adſit Miniſtris ſuis fidelibus, et Miſſionariis in omni Terra, uſ que ad Extremitates Orbis.

Valete Viri Doctiſſimi et Reverendiſſimi. Sum Veſtrum Obſervantiſſimus et Addictiſſimus, Benjamin Colman."

"To the very Reverend and Honourable the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Univerſity of Glaſgow.

The Incloſed waits upon your illuſtrious Senate, to acknowledge the the unmerited Honour they have done me, in the Diploma lately received from them. As Providence has ſat me here in the Place of the late Rev. and learned Dr. Cotton Mather, the ſenior Paſtor of this City; ſo you have been pleaſed to grace me with like Favours, which you firſt honoured him with. It will be mine and my Brother Sewall's Ambition, to tread in the Steps of ſo worthy a Predeceſſor, and by our Services to the Intereſt of Religion and Learning, to render our ſelves worthy of the Regards you have ſhown us.

Nor will it be a ſmall Service, I judge, to the Churches of this flouriſhing City and Province, if your renowned Univerſity pleaſe from Age to Age to ſelect and dignify an eminent Paſtor or two with your higheſt academical Honours; That in Character and Style they may appear equal to the aſſuming Gentlemen of the Epiſcopal Profeſſion who are growing on us, while in Labours and Humility as well as Learning I truſt they will not be content to be meerly Equal.

As our very trading Town is like through all Times to keep a conſtant Correſpondence with Glaſgow in the Way of Commerce, ſo if it be agreeable to any or your learned Body to honour us with the like, in Re Literaria et Sacro-Sancta, we ſhall eſteem it a great Favour.

If I fail, Sir, in the Direction or Style proper to the Principal of your illuſtrious Academy, I ſhall be obliged by your candid Correction.

Pleaſe to let the Hon. and Rev. Society at Edinburgh know our Senſe of the ſuper-added Obligation they have laid us under, by aſking theſe Honours for us, to be their diligent and faithful Servants, in promoting the Miſſions committed to us, for the propagating chriſtian Knowledge in our Borders: Although we ſhould not at all have needed any ſuch Incitement to ſo good a Service. The Love of Chriſt and Souls (I hope) conſtraineth us hereto.

I have heretofore by the Hand of my Rev. correſpending Friend and Brother, Mr. Woodrow of Eaſtwood, aſked a Place for ſome of my poor Writings in your Library; Wherein I own I have preſumed to do my ſelf too much Honour; But ſince it has pleaſed the Univerſity to inrol me now among her Sons, I ſhall not repent of it, but only aſk the Prayers and Bleſſing of your Rev. Body, and your Leave always to ſubſcribe my ſelf among,

Sir, your moſt obliged, grateful and obedient Servants, Benjamin Colman. Boſton, Nov. 5. 1731.

I take Leave to cover a Copy of ſome of my laſt Writings to each of the learned Gentlemen, who have honoured me with their Names to the Diploma."

"To the Honourable and Reverend Society for the Propagating chriſtian Knowledge, at Edinburgh. Honourable and Reverend,

Your Letter dated April 29, which accompanied your Commiſſion to his Excellency our Governor, conſtituting a Number of worthy Gentlemen here your Commiſſioners and correſponding Members, to aſſiſt in your truly pious and noble Deſign (by the Will of God) to propagate Religion among the Salvages bordering on the Provinces of New-England, lays me under a particular Obligation to make this ſeparate Anſwer and grateful Acknowledgment of the Honour which the illuſtrious Society have been pleaſed to do me in their naming me to the moſt Reverend and Learned Senate of the Academy at Glaſgow, who have ſent me their Diploma, creating me Doctor of Divinity.Some Letters are found in the Doctor's Study which ſhow that before this Motion was made he was upon the Liſt for the next Pre • erment—Dr. Calamy and others in London thought him actually doctorated and Congratulate him upon it.

How unworthy ſoever I muſt hold my ſelf of this Style and Character, yet am I the more obliged to purſue with all my Power the truly pious and chriſtian Intention of the honourable Society; to which the ſhould have found me equally inclined and ready without the Motive of ſo diſtinguiſhing a Reſpect.

The Recommendation of ſo excellent a Perſon as our preſent Governour Belcher, who merits the Chair over us by his Humanity, Politeneſs and Literature, but much more by his Virtue, Integrity and Piety, adds not a little to the Honour done us.

I have been many Years paſt Miniſtring to the Natives here, by Commiſſion from the honourable Indian Corporation at London; And ſtill ſhall gladly go on in old Age to miniſter by the Will of God under this new Commiſſion to us from Scotland; Whoſe Church-Order, Worſhip and Diſcipline is glorious in our Eyes; for the more extenſive Propagation of Religion in our Eaſtern or Weſtern Borders, among the Aborigines, Strangers or Enemies to our Faith and Worſhip.

Our choſen Secretary and Treaſurer, Anthony Stoddard, Eſq will inform the Hon. and Rev. Society of our firſt Meeting, the Reading of your Commiſſion to us, and that ſome of us are appointed to look out for ſutable Perſons to ſerve in the three choſen Stations for the propoſed Miſſion, to whom I refer. Help us, moſt Rev. Brethren, with your Prayers, while you excite us by your Favours. And may the ſpecial Preſence of God ever attend your Counſels, and his Bleſſing all your Endeavours; as well as all his Miniſters and Miſſionaries at Home and Abroad.

I am, Reverend and Honourable, your obliged obedient humble Servant, Benjamin Colman." Boſton, Nov. 6. 1731.

For a Cloſe of this Chapter I ſhall hint at, and remark upon Dr. Colman's Character for Publick-Spiritedneſs, Fidelity, Liberality and Charity.

By the foregoing Pages it appears that the Doctor had a large and generous Soul, and made his Life as ſignificant to the World, and to his won Nation and Country in particular as he poſſibly could. He might perhaps with as Apoſtle for his Motto, Rom. xiv. 7. None of us liveth to himſelf.

In every Stage of Life there are ſome notable Diſcoveries of his acting agreeable to it—He could ſay with the Stoicks, Agenerous Action is a Reward to it ſelf. Thro' all his coſtly and painful (to him pleaſant and delightful) Correſpondence with Mr. Holden and Meſſirs. Hollis's &c. &c. &c. he never aſked any Thing for himſelf. And when he was offered and preſſed to accept of a Set of valuable Books by Mr. Thomas Hollis, he refuſed taking them on any other Condition than their going to the College at his Death, where he ordered them by his Will. Therefore in the Dedication of his Twenty Sacramental Sermons he could ſay, "I had no private Intereſt in View. Nor have I ever had any private or oblique Reſpect to my ſelf in the long Courſe of Letters that have paſſed between us for more than ſever Years paſt.— I appeal to you, Sir, if I have not acted toward you and my Country a ſincere, open and diſintereſted Part."

"He was ſingularly Faithful in the numerous Truſts repoſed in him. Although there was a large Liberty ſometimes given him to diſpoſe of many Hundred Pounds in Books and Monies (as he ſaw Cauſe) yet he endeavoured with the exacteſt Care and moſt diligent Study to find out the Mind of the Donor from his general Directions: And ever kept and ſent a particular Account of every Farthing diſtributed (to what Uſe, &c.) to his Employers: He was anxiouſly fearful, leaſt any Monies in his keeping ſhould at his Death be thought his own, and therefore not only told his Friends from Time to Time what he had, but alſo wrote upon it, and gave ſpecial Orders about it in his Will.

I ſhall add no more here— As the Doctor deviſed liberal Things, and warmly and prudently provoked others to Love and good Works; ſo according to his Ability and ſometimes beyond it • e freely gave of his own proper Goods.Early Inſtances of his Charity and Generoſity in ſome of the firſt Chapters of this Narrative. When Subſcriptions for pious and charitable Uſes were ſet on Foot among us, his Name is generally ſeen among the firſt Subſcribers. The Poor repaired to him as their Father with a filial Confidence in their Wants. He was alſo ſingularly liberal and generous in rewarding ſuch as he employed in any Affairs whatſoever.

CHAP. VIII. His Manner of Studying—Writing Sermons and Letters—His Diligence, Application and Diſpatch— Character of ſome of his Writings—His Manner of Preaching, Praying— Thoughts on Pſalmody—Reading the Scriptures,— Uſing the Lord's Prayer— Catechiſing — Viſiting— Letters of Conſolation, &c.—

AFTER having obſerved and given ſo many Inſtances of the Doctor's catholick Charity, diſintereſted Generoſity, and inviolable Fidelity in the many important Truſts repoſed in him (in the preceeding Chapters) I come now to delineate ſome other Parts of his Character, which alſo diſtinguiſhed him; and for which he was juſtly admired, as an extraordinary Perſon among us.

Reading, and cloſe Application of Mind to Study was early, and ever his Delight—He read much, and digeſted well the various Authors he peruſed; and often collected from them what was curious and uſeful, as appears by many Sheets left, and numerous Quotations in his Sermons.He had a good Library, not large, but wiſely collected of the beſt Authors ancient and modern.— He retained conſiderable of his School-Learning to the laſt— I find him to have read over Horace in his Old Age, by his Collections of ſome of the moſt beautiful Lines and Sentiments from it.

In his younger Times he was a Night-Student, by which his Health was greatly impaired, and he experienced the Truth of that Saying in Eraſmus, 'Nocturnae Lucubrationes longe periculoſiſſimae habentur. In his latter Years he plied his Studies chiefly in the Forenoon, and ordinarily ſpent the whole of it in them. And he has been heard to ſay on the Verge of Seventy, "That he found himſelf beſt in Health and Spirit, at his Table with a Book or Pen in his Hand.— All muſt be huſhed and ſtill when he was there employed either in Reading, writing Letters or compoſing Sermons— He wrote many Hundred Epiſtles in a Year— (Nulla Dies ſine Epiſtolis) to all Ranks of Perſons; on all Occaſions and Buſineſſes, and with greateſt Eaſe imaginable, to the vaſt Pleaſure and Profit of his Friends, the Benefit of his Country and the Churches in it; and the Good of Mankind.— His Letters to his Correſpondents abroad being ſeen and admired, created him new Friends and were a happy Means of raiſing up new Benefactors to theſe Provinces (as appears from what has been already written)— I need not therefore here obſerve to my Readers, how good a Maſter he was of the Epiſtolary Stile — The Letters already inſerted and others to be publiſhed in our Narrative ſhall ſpeak for themſelves.And yet as I obſerved in my Introduction, all or the moſt of them are printed off from the firſt rough Draught.

When he was about making a Sermon, after he had firſt looked up to Heaven for Aſſiſtance, he choſe a Text, and conſulted the beſt Expoſitors upon it (particularly the Rev. Mr. Matthew Henry, for whoſe Writings he ſeems to have had the greateſt Value next to the ſacred Scriptures) and drew the Scheme of it on looſe Papers, and noted down not only general Heads and Subdiviſions, but alſo ſome of the leading Thoughts and brighteſt Quotations from Authors (around him) with many Paſſages of Scripture for Proof and Illuſtration.— Thus prepared he proceeded to write his Sermon on a Sheet of Paper neatly folded and ſtitched, which he ſometimes finiſhed with a Celerity and Exactneſs incredible. I have known him begin and compleat a Diſcourſe that would laſt an Hour at one Sitting in a Forenoon.One of his Twenty Sacramental Sermons in Print. Few Interlines or Emendations were afterward inſerted or needed.And yet he ſaw Cauſe to deſtroy many of his Sermons. On one and another of them he has wrote—The firſt three or five Sermons on this Text, are burnt.

Many of the Sermons he wrote and delivered at Bath in England forty-eight Years ago, are yet to be ſeen in his Study (all fair and clean) ſome of them in a Volume in the Bulk and Form of a Preaching Bible, and others in diſtinct Sheets. How pleaſant a Sight if it were only for the Orthography of them!Theſe elaborate Sermons are wrote in a fine Character fairer than Print; but ſo ſmall that only young Eyes can read them — The Doctor would ſometimes ſhow them to Candidates for the Miniſtry, and warn them to write their Notes in a larger Hand. Beſides vaſt Numbers ſince made and delivered to his People here; many of which he took Pains to prepare for the Preſs.

Some of the Diſcourſes he has favoured the World with were printed from the firſt rough draughtHis excellent Sermon preached at a Faſt before the Choice of Mr. William Cooper is one of them. and not a few have been honoured with divers Impreſſions.Scil. His Diſcourſes on the Parable of the Ten Virgins— On the Incomprehenſibleneſs of God—With many ſingle Sermons.

And here although (as we hinted in the Introduction) I am every way unfit to give the Doctor and his Writings their juſt Praiſes yet I will venture to ſay a few Things more of him and them.

As a Preacher he was emulous to excel, and ſecond to none among the bright Sons of New-England either living or deceaſed. He always brought Light and Heat into the Pulpit with him, to improve the Minds and affect the Hearts of his Hearers, and appeared to be in his proper Element there. His exact and exquiſite Judgment as well as his lively Fancy and Imagination were employed in every Diſcourſe.—The choiceſt Matter preſented in elegant Language and flowing Eloquence.

His Wiſdom and Ingenuity was ſeen in the Choice and Variety of the Subjects handled by him: He gave every Truth and Duty in the wide Circle of Divinity its proper Place and Inculcation. He was particularly noted and commended for a nice and careful Obſervation of the Face of divine Providence, towards the World in general, and towards our Nation and Land, and for improving every Merciful, Afflictive and judicial Diſpenſation, for the Benefit of his Hearers in his publick Diſcourſes as well as private Converſation—The ſpecial Caſes and Circumſtances of his own Flock and Friends were in a very ſingular Manner regarded as appears by many Sermons in print and Manuſcripts left by himAbout Twenty-four Funeral Sermons were publiſhed by him. He never preached Politicks but when he ſaw his Country in Danger and Diſtreſs—as is ſaid of his Friend Bp. Kennet.

But above all JESUS CHRIST and the Covenant of Salvation through him was his grand and favourite Subject, and moſt uſual Topick, as appears from his Notes and his repeated Declarations to the World.

"He preached Jeſus Chriſt in his Perſon, Natures, Offices, Benefits; Chriſt in his eternal Godhead, in the Covenant of Redemption and Grace; in the Promiſes, Prophecies and Types of him; In his Birth, Life, Doctrines, Laws, Miracles, Sufferings and Death; In his Reſurrection, Aſcention to, and Seſſion at the Right Hand of God, his Interceſſion and ſecond coming to judge the World; In ſhort the Covenant of Salvation through him: And every Doctrine and Law of natural Religion with a direct Reference unto him as revealed and enjoined by him, as performed only by his Grace, and acceptable only for his Sake, who is the End of the Law for Righteouſneſs, and as inforced upon us by his Promiſes and Threatnings; that he in all may be glorified, and the Grace of God through him.—So it is noted in the Life of Mr. Philip Henry, that whenever he preached “of moral Duties, he would always bring Chriſt into his Sermon, his Life as the Pattern of the Duty, his Love as the grand Motive to it, his Merits as the great Atonement ”for our Defects in it. This primitive and apoſtolic Preaching was the Manner of Dr. Colman's preaching the Goſpel of the Grace of God.

Accordingly he has declared once and again, See his Sermon, entitled,— The Grace given us in the preached Goſpel.— This “has been the Favourite Subject in the Courſe of my Studies for the Pulpit, I have ever determined to know Jeſus Chriſt and him crucified." "My Speech and Preaching among you has been an Exhibition of the Glories of redeeming Grace and Mercy, from the Beginning ”of the Bible to the End thereof.See the Dedication to his Twenty Sacramental Sermon— Alſo his Sermon at the Ordination of Mr. Samuel Cooper, &c. &c. And I doubt not but he was often favoured with moſt raviſhing Views of his Saviour's Glory, while he was compoſing and preaching on theſe Heads.

The Doctor had a moſt beautiful Way of introducing large Paragraphs of Scripture to enrich his Diſcourſes; and was ſingularly famous for the frequent appoſite Uſe he made of the hiſtorical Parts of the Bible whereby he ſurpriſingly embelliſhed them, and threw new Light on almoſt every Subject he handled. He ſought to find acceptable Words, or Words of Delight, as the Margin reads it, Eccl. 12.10. He often made Uſe of Scripture, not for Proof and Illuſtration only, but for the Sake of the inſpired Language.See the Preface to his Parable of the Ten Virgins printed in, London, 1707. There is one Liberty ſo natural to me, that I never “ſteer clear of it, which is the a •••• ing to Paſſages and Expreſſions of Scripture, the which an unwary Reader may miſtake me to intend for Proof or direct Explication, and ſo think th •• impertinent, as ”then indeed they would be.

And as the Matter of his Sermons were weighty, and the Language and Stile grand and polite; ſo the Manner of his Delivery, added Beauty and Force to them, which was grave yet lively, with a Voice ſweet and harmonious, and an Action ſingularly delightful and inimitable. His Countenance taught, and his Face ſhone as with a divine Ray on it like Moſes reflecting on the Aſſembly, and conſtraining Attention, Reverence and Affection. The eloquent Orator, is a juſt Stroke in his Character. He evidently and eminently anſwered that Part of the Deſcription of the Prophet Ezekiel, And lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely Song, of one that hath a pleaſant Voice, and can play well on an Inſtrument. Ezek. xxxiii. 32. And I doubt not but many while hanging on his Lips have thought of that amiable Deſcription of Chriſt's prophetick Office given us in the Canticle, "His Mouth is moſt ſweet." Cant. i. 16. But although in general his Voice might be ſaid to be ſoft and ſtill, and that his Speech and Doctrine dropt as the Dew, and diſtilled as the ſmall Rain upon the tender Herb, 1 Kings xix. 12. De • . xxxii. 2. yet when occaſions for it occurred he could notably imitate a Boanerges, and play the Artillery of Heaven againſt the hardy Sons of Vice, and uncover the dreadful Pit.—With what Light, and Flame, and Power have we ſometimes known him diſpenſe the Word, and by the Terrors of the Lord perſwade Men in the Applications of his Diſcourſe?Vid. Sermon to Pirates from Heb. x. 3 • . and from Job x. 22. the Parable &c. &c. Yet he was ever careful to obſerve a juſt Decorum and Behaviour, and ſpake as became the Oracles of God. Chryſoſtom excellently obſerveth, That the Prophets of God and Satan, were differenced by this notoriouſly, that they which gave Oracles by the Motion of the Devil, did it with much Impatience and confuſion, with a kind of Fury and Madneſs; but they which gave Oracles from God by divi •• Inſpiration gave them with all Mildneſs and Temper: If it be the Cauſe of God which we handle, then let us handle it like the Prophets of God, with Quietneſs and Moderation, and not with the Violence of Paſſion, as if we were poſſeſſed rather than inſpired. HALE'S Golden Remains. Pag 64.

So it is ſaid of the Soothſayers of old that they delivered their Speeches,

Non Vultus, non color unus, non comptae manſere Comae, Sed Pectus Anhelum, et rabie Corda tument &c.

I find his worthy Colleague in a Sermon preached the Sabbath after his Funeral, taking a proper Notice of his agreable Manner of Preaching in theſe Words, "How ſolid and elegant, how judicious and perſwaſive, how ſcriptural and pungent were his Sermons? and yet how diſtant his Manner from the b • iſterous and violent.—He never delivered a Sermon but we ſaw how perfectly he underſtood the Decorum of the Pulpit; and the Gravity and Sweetneſs at once expreſſed in his Countenance, the Muſick of his Voice, the Propriety of his Accent, and the Decency of his Geſture ſhowed him one of the moſt graceful Speakers of the Age."

He was indeed our New-England Chryſoſtom on many Accounts.

The following Lines of Dr. Watts in his Elegy on the Rev. Mr. Thomas Gouge are alſo borrowed to make up for the Defects in our Deſcription.

— While from his Tongue A Stream of Harmony ran ſoft along. And every Ear drank in the flowing Good: Softly it ran its Silver Way, 'Till warm Devotion rais'd the Current ſtrong, Then fervid Zeal on the ſweet Deluge rode, Life, Love and Glory, Grace and Joy, Divinely roll'd promiſcuous on the Torrent Flood And bore our raptur'd Senſe, and Thoughts and Souls to God.

I ſhall now add the Character of ſome of the Doctor's Publications which the World has been bleſſed withal [a compleat Catalogue of which will be annexed to this Narrative] from ſome very good Judges —Theſe have been all along juſtly admired and valued by Perſons of Taſte for the Vein of fine Senſe, Language and that Seriouſneſs of Spirit that runs through them. They are moſtly occaſional, and printed at the Deſire of the Hearers.

On ſome of his early Works a Reverend and learned Perſon in England writes to him, —

"Sir, I am ſorry ſo many of your Works are caſt away upon France. I wiſh however they were tranſlated into their Language, and diſperſed among the People. Such a Vein of Senſe and Piety, ſuch a ſmooth and yet ſtrong Torrent of divine Eloquence muſt certainly (by God's Aſſiſtance) carry all before it, and find a Way into the moſt hardned Souls.—I am not afraid to ſay, that I think the Sermons of America may be a Pattern for the politeſt, the moſt nervous, and affectionate Preachers of Europe."The Doctor had then only printed about ſeven Sermons beſides his large Volume on the Parable of the Ten Virgins.

The Reverend and venerable Solomon Stoddard of our Northampton, upon reading the Diſcourſes on the Parable writes thus to the Author, "If ſuch Books will not work on the Conſciences of Men I know not what will, the Hopes of your living to do Service when I am Dead is a Comfort to me. 1709." Dr. Watts and other eminent Miniſters in England upon receiving and reading his Treatiſes and Sermons in their Letters often obſerve with Pleaſure "the Variety of uſeful and beautiful Thoughts, juſt Sentiments and fine Addreſs in them. —

I find by a Letter from an eminent Perſon "that a Lady of Quality of the greateſt Wit in the Nation (but of the High Church) upon reading his Sermon on the Death of Governor Dudley was ſo pleaſed with it as to ſay "She ſhould be for ever hereafter in Love with the ſhort Cloak."

But it would be endleſs (as it is needleſs) to record the Encomiums and Panegyricks of worthy Perſons at Home and Abroad on this Head; I ſhall only offer the Reader two more which are printed, — ſcil.

The great and learned Mr. Pemberton in his Preface to the Doctor's Sermons on the Incomprehenſibleneſs of God, publiſhed in the Year 1715 ſays, "in theſe Diſcourſes we have the ſublime Subject of God's Incomprehenſibleneſs treated with a becoming Modeſty and Reverence, with an agreable Life, Judgment and Perſpicuity. The Character of the Reverend Author and his Performance are too bright to receive any Luſtre from my Recommendation.

However, I muſt be allowed to rejoice in, and to bleſs the great Head of the Church for, thoſe uncommon Gifts his Servant is endowed with; which appear obſervably in theſe Diſcourſes.—And ſure I am it is not Partiality to a Friend, but Juſtice to the Merit of the Performance, which compels me to believe, that every impartial, judicious Reader will eſteem theſe Meditations, every Way fitted to entertain, and improve the Underſtanding of the moſt Intelligent; and to quicken the Devotion of the moſt devout Chriſtian."

The other is from divers eminent Miniſters of London, in their Preface to his Twenty Sacramental Sermons.

“Theſe Diſcourſes are excellently ſuted to the Taſte of ſerious Chriſtians, and to the ſpecial Purpoſes they were deſigned to ſerve. The Reader will find ſome of the moſt ſpiritual and evangelical Subjects, treated with a Vein of good Senſe, and true Piety; ſacred Truth agreeably repreſented, animated with a truly Chriſtian Spirit, and every where, made ſubſervient to practical Godlineſs, the great Deſign of the Goſpel-Revelation.

The worthy Author needs not any Commendation from others, to whom a long Courſe of eminent Services to Church and State, in his own Country, and the higheſt Honours and Reſpects paid him there, are the trueſt Praiſe. We think our Reverend Brother has been ſo remarkably circumſtanced as to be in different Parts of his Life, the youngest and eldeſt Paſtor in the Town of Boſton; and by his own Labours and his Intereſt in others, has perhaps been an Inſtrument in the Hand of God of as great Service to Religion and Learning, to the Church, and the College, as any Man of his Time. His Wiſdom and Moderation, his Zeal and Integrity, in his whole Conduct, ſo amiable and illuſtrious in a degenerate Age, muſt needs render him dear to all the ſincere Friends of both.

—We recommend this Volume of his Sermons, as well as his excellent Diſcourſe on the Parable of the Virgins, long ſince printed at London, to the ſerious Peruſal ”of the Chriſtian Reader, and to the divine Bleſſing.

Signed, Edm. Calamy, Jer. Hunt, I. Watts, W. Harris, Dan. Neal, John Evans.

To proceed on this Head of the Doctor's Pulpit Performance.—When he was the People's Mouth to God in Prayer, his Adorations, Confeſſion, Supplications, Thankſgivings and Interceſſions were profoundly reverend, ſolemn, copious and pathetick—On new and grand Occaſions when he had Time, and took Pains to meditate and prepare himſelf, his Ideas and Expreſſions were ſublime—He ſoared on high and led thoſe that joined (with Hearts melted and filled with Devotion) even to the Seat and Throne of God, as far as Example, and the Power of Words could do it.—Sometimes we have known him on the moſt ſudden Calls, occaſioned by extraordinary Providences, ſo animated and elevated with the Spirit of Devotion, as to exceed himſelf and his moſt ſtudied Addreſſes. And although in his ordinary Courſe he confined himſelf to a form of Words as little as moſt of his Brethren, yet he ever had an high Value for Helps Particularly Mr. Matthew Henry's Method for Prayer and Dr. Iſaac Watt's Guide to Prayer.— to Devotion, which he ever ſtrongly recommended to younger Miniſters, as well as private Chriſtians; and his Spirit was moved with a juſt Diſdain and Indignation upon hearing them ſo much preached againſt and vilified by ſome warm Itinerants in the late Times.

As he looked on the whole Canon of Scripture, and particularly the Pſalms the beſt Common Prayer Book for the Church of God, ſo for the moſt part he kept to inſpired Language in his Devotions.—In ſhort, he prayed with the Spirit and with the Underſtanding alſo, and with the greateſt Fervour and Earneſtneſs of his own Spirit—what Life what Ardour did he diſcover? how laviſh of his Strength and animal Spirits? more eſpecially in his Prayers at the Adminiſtration of the Sacraments of the New Teſtament, he did ſpend and was ſpent even to Faintneſs.To uſe ſome of the Words of his dear Colleague in the forecited Manuſcript Sermon, "How often have we heard him when "it ſeeemed to us as if his Active Spirit would have pierced through “his trembling Body, which was ſcarce able to ſuſtain the Vehemence with which he ſpake and the warm Engagement of his devout Soul. — We were ſometimes ready to think, that with the Goſpel of Chriſt, he would have imparted to us his own Soul, and actually have expired himſelf, while he was preaching to us the ”Word of Life.

As ſinging of Pſalms is a Part of the publick Worſhip which the Doctor highly delighted in, and was greatly concerned to have performed to Edification, it may not ſeem improper to give our Readers the Reſult of his Thot's about the Introduction of ſome other Verſion of the Pſalms and ſelect Portions of Scripture in the Room of that which has been ſo long in Uſe among us; and which he laid before his People ſometime in the Year 1738. He apprehended this heavenly Exerciſe might be carried on with more Underſtanding and Spirit, and with better Melody of Voice and Heart by making an Alteration and Change of our Verſion (though he was far from deſpiſing it and ſpeaking reproachfully of it as ſome have)— provided it could be done with Peace, and a general Agreement.—

He wrote thus, 1. My Opinion is, That in the Book of Pſalms, and in ſeveral other Parts of holy Scripture, there is full Proviſion made for the Collection of a Body of Pſalmody, for the Uſe of the Churches through all Ages in the publick and private Worſhip of God. 2. That more eſpecially and eminently the Book of Pſalms, though not ſingly and alone, nor yet equally in every Part of it, is prepared and given by the Holy Ghost, as this Fund of Devotion for the Uſe of the Church. 3. That therefore a Collection ought to be made with the beſt Care and Judgment, of ſuch Parts of the Book of Pſalms, with other Portions of the Old and New-Teſtament, for the Uſe of particular Churches and Congregations. 4. That in the Verſions made in one Language and another through the Chriſtian World there ought not to be affected a keeping to the Letter of the original Languages; but the true Senſe, Scope, Spirit and Life of the Portions choſen, ought to be given in the proper poetick Stile and Diction of the Language and Age wherein the Verſion is made: the Gravity and Majesty of the ſacred Subject and Exerciſe being duly attended to and preſerved. 5. That the beſt Collections of this Nature, that our Age and Nation have ſeen, or I think are like to ſee, may be eaſily made from Dr. Watts his Imitation of the Pſalms of David, in the Language of the New Teſtament, and from his Book of Hymns. His Poetry is grave and ſolemn, full of Light and Heat, and the Evangelical Turn he gives in many Places is wonderfully adapted, in my Opinion, for the Service of Souls. I cannot but think it to be the Intention of the Spirit in leaving us theſe inſpired Pſalms, that we ſhould make ſome ſuch Uſe of them, and accordingly it is the Practice of the Chriſtian Church univerſal (a very few Inſtances excepted) to ſelect a Portion here or there from Time to Time. 6. That therefore it be recommended to the Church and Congregation that ſuch a Collection be made and laid before them when prepared for their Approbation and Acceptance, and thereupon to be printed, and the Congregation being therewith ſupplied, thenceforth uſed in the publick Worſhip of God among us. 7. That particular Care be taken not to make the Collection too large, or the Book too bulky and dear for the poorer Families or Perſons, and that out of the publick Stock a competent Number of Books be provided for the Supply of ſuch as are not able to furniſh themſelves. 8. That with reſpect unto ſuch Pſalm as Dr. Watts has adapted only to a Tune which our Congregation cannot ſing, either we reſolve upon learning and bringing into Uſe among us ſaid Tune, or that a new Metr • of ſuch Pſalms, or part of them, be attempted as near as we can turn them to his Stile and Manner. 9. That where he has omitted whole Pſalms, like Proviſion be made, for I judge it beſt for us to have the whole Book of Pſalms in its Order as we now have it.&

Incloſed in the above Propoſal (which was not complied with) the Doctor has ſet down on a Paper a Number of ſelect Hymns from Dr. Watts, which if added to our Pſalm Book might poſſibly anſwer his pious Deſign and be much for Edification, viz.

Hymn 1—3 laſt Verſes Hymn 2—Ver. 1, 4, 5, 7 Hymn 7—5 firſt Verſes Hymn 10—the • hole of it Hymn 12— Hymn 14— Hymn 16— Hymn 17— Hymn 18— Hymn 19—Ver. 1, 2, 3, 4 Hymn 28— Hymn 45—Ver. 1, 2, 7, 8 Hymn 52— Hymn 56—1, 2, 3, 4 Hymn 57— Hymn 58—4, 5, 6, Hymn 59— Hymn 61— Hymn 62— Hymn 63— Hymn 64— Hymn 66—V. 6, 7, 8, Hymn 67— Hymn 68— Hymn 69— Hymn 70— Hymn 71— Hymn 72— Hymn 73— Hymn 74— Hymn 75— Hymn 76— Hymn 77— Hymn 78— Hymn 101— Hymn 106— Hymn 113— Hymn 116— Hymn 121— Book 3d Lord-Supper. Hymn 1—3 and 7 Hymn 2—3, 6 Hymn 6—1, 4 Hymn 11—1, 2, 3, 7 Hymn 14—1, 2, 3, 5 Hymn 17—1, 2, 3, 8 Hymn 19— Hymn 23—2, 3, 4 Hymn 24— Hymn 25— Hymn 26—Common Metre Hymn 42—Long Metre

It is recorded in the 42 Page of our Narrative that the Gentlemen who invited Dr. Colman's Return to New-England propoſed to him in their Letter "That the Holy Scriptures might be read everyi. e. in Courſe and without Expoſition, as being plain and clear (a Lamp and Light) to the meaneſt in all Matters of Salvation Deteſtabilis eſt in Deum contumelia, quod Papiſtae ſcripturam obſcuram eſſe et ambiguum infimulant Quorſum enim loquutus eſt Deus, niſi liquida invictaque in ejus Verbis ſo proferret Veritas. CALVIN. Yet People in ſome Places ſtill object againſt it as introducing ſomething new in the Worſhip of God. I knew a Miniſter who propoſed this Matter to the Conſideration of his Church ſome Years ago, and had ſo many Objections brought by them thereupon that he was obliged to ſpend two long Sermons in Order to obviate them, and after all could not prevail.— Sabbath in the publick Worſhip of God among them, which was not practiſed in other Churches (in the Town) at that Day.— He readily concurred with their Propoſal, and practiſed accordingly to his Death.—For he ever looked upon this Publick Reading as but a due Reverence and Honour done to them, and a ſuitable Acknowledgment made to the glorious Author Jehovah, who in infinite Mercy has given his Word to us, and by which he will judge the World at the great Day.—His Cuſtom was to begin the Religious Exerciſes of God's Houſe with a ſhort Prayer for a Bleſſing on that Portion of the Word that was then to be read to the Congregation—And herein he humbly apprehended he followed the Foot-ſteps of the Flock.—He found both the Jewiſh and Chriſtian Churches in their beſt and pureſt Times paying ſuch a Regard to it,—The Reverend Aſſembly of Divines at Weſtminster adviſing to it—Our New-England Confeſſion of Faith (in Chapter 22d Sect. 5. which treats of religious Worſhip and the Sabbath Day) according with them—the Words are ſcil: "The Reading of the Scripture, Preaching and Hearing the Word of God, ſinging of Pſalms, and alſo the Adminiſtration of Baptiſm, and the Lords-Supper are all Parts of the religious Worſhip of God, to be performed in Obedience unto God with Underſtanding, Faith, Reverence, and godly Fear. But what weighed infinitely more with him than all ſuch Authorities was "That he plainly diſcerned ſufficient Grounds for the Practice in the ſacred Oracles.He doubtleſs conſidered ſuch Scripture-Paſſages as the following, and I wiſh the Reader would turn to them, ſee Deut. xxxi. 11. Deut. xxx. 11—14. Joſh. viii. 35. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 29. N • h. viii. 2, 3. Pſal. cxix. 105. Prov. vi. 23. Luke iv. 16. Acts xiii. 14. 2 Cor. iv. 3. Col. iv. 16. 1 Theſſ. v. 7. 1 Tim. iv. 13. 2 Tim. iii. 15. 2 Pet. i. 19. Rev. i. 3.—

And he had ſoon the Pleaſure of hearing the Teſtimonies and Thanks of many for the Benefit and Advantage they received by it.—And of ſome too who came at firſt with ſtrange Prejudices againſt it. He lived to ſee this laudable Cuſtom prevail in and ſpread through many Churches of the Land; and ſo the Reproaches we had long lain under for this Omiſſion in ſome Meaſure taken away.So long ago as in • 726 Dr. Cotton Mather in his Rati • Diſciplinae, &c. P. 67, informs, "That this Practice obtains in many Churches among us, and that no Offence is taken at it."—Would to God it might univerſally obtain throughout the Chriſtian Church!

Yet I would by no means be thought to repreſent the Doctor as cenſuring his Brethren that did not ſee with his Eyes, but were for having ſome Expoſition accompanying the Word publickly read; for he has been often heard to ſay "That if the Scripture were but read in our Aſſemblies, either with or without an Expoſition the Inſtitution and Ordinance of God was in a good Meaſure anſwered—And therefore although he vaſtly preferred the Method above mentioned; yet he readily complied with the Cuſtoms of Neighbour-Churches, when he occaſionally miniſtred unto them.— One Inſtance of his Condeſcenſion, and becoming all Things to all Men for their ſpiritual Edification may be here told.— Upon the Old Meeting-Houſe (ſo called) in Boston, being conſumed by Fire in the Year 1711, about one half of the Congregation that uſed to meet in it attended his Miniſtry for many Months; in which Time after he had read his Chapter as uſual, he made ſhort expoſitory Notes upon it to gratify his new Hearers.He was then reading in Courſe the Prophecy of the Prophet •• chariah.—

Another Thing which the Doctor and his People approved of was the Uſe of the Lord's-Prayer, i. e. all the Words of it together as it ſtands in the New-Teſtament, in the Cloſe of his firſt ſhort Prayer before reading the Scriptures—a Cuſtom which many took Offence at in the Beginning, although the Lawfulneſs of it was denied by none.

As the Doctor was intirely of Mr. Philip Henry's Mind about it, I can't repreſent his Sentiments, better than in thoſe Words in the 110th Page of the Life of that excellent Man of God—Which were ſometimes quoted by him, viz. "He looked upon the Lord's-Prayer, to be “not only a Directory or Pattern for Prayer, but (according to the Advice of the Aſſembly of Divines) proper to be uſed as a Form, and accordingly he often uſed it both in Publick and in his Family. And as he thought it was an Error on the one Hand, to lay ſo much Streſs upon it as ſome do, who think no ſolemn Prayer accepted, nor any ſolemn Ordinance or Adminiſtration of Worſhip compleat without it, and ſo repeat it five or ſix Times, and perhaps oftner at one Meeting; ſo he thought it an Error on the other Hand not to uſe it at all; ſince it is a Prayer, a compendious and comprehenſive Prayer, and may be of Uſe to us, at leaſt as other Scripture Prayers, but he thought it a much greater Error, to be angry at thoſe who do uſe it, to judge and cenſure them, and for no other Reaſon to conceive Prejudices againſt them and their Miniſtry.

A great Strait (ſaith he) poor Miniſters are in, when ſome will not hear them, if they do not uſe the Lord's Prayer, and others will not hear them if they do; what is to be done in this Caſe? We muſt walk according to the Light we have, and approve our ſelves to God, either in uſing or not uſing it, and wait for the Day when God will mend the Matter; which I hope he will do in ”his own due Time."

He was conſtant (in his Turn) in catechiſing the Children of his Congregation, and ſpeaking to them concerning their Souls from their early Days, putting them in Mind of their Baptiſm, and the holy Bonds they are under thereby to be the Lord's, and in this Way to bring them on to an early Recognition of theſe Bonds, if it might pleaſe God to impreſs their tender Hearts betimes. —At theſe Exerciſes he uſed his ſingular Gift of inſinuating and inculcating the Truths and Duties of Chriſtianity by putting Queſtions and laying hold on the Children's Anſwers, and giving ſuch Advices and Warnings as he thought needful.

As ſoon as they were grown up to Years of Diſcretion, he urged upon them the publick Renewal of their Baptiſmal Covenant— When any of them entred into the Marriage-State, he failed not to viſit and counſel them on this Head; and it has been thought by ſome that he exceeded in his Compulſions to fill the Houſe and Table of the Lord.

It muſt be owned, the Doctor was for a freer Admiſſion to the Lord's-Supper than ſome of his Brethren, but far, very far from approving general Admiſſions, or even of thinking that all that is neceſſary thereunto, is a Competency of Knowledge, and Orderlineſs of Converſation. I find ſome of his Thoughts on this Head, in a private Letter to a Friend, "I think more is neceſſary both in Foro Eccleſiae et Conſcientiae; before Man there ſhould be a credible Profeſſion of Repentance and Faith, with ſerious Purpoſes and Promiſes by the Grace of God of New Obedience: To all which the Perſon ſhould have the Anſwer of a good Conſcience, his Heart not condemning him — So in the Beginning of the Goſpel they came confeſſing their Sins, ſorrowing for them, and promiſing to forſake them— I very much queſtion whether there would be nigh ſo much Holineſs in our Churches, were our Admiſſions to be general as there now is. The Table of the Lord ſhould, and does indeed lie open to all, the People are earneſtly invited to it, as well as exhorted to prepare for it, no Inquiſition is or ſhould be ſet up over their Conſciences, though they are admoniſhed to look to their Sincerity before God, and the beſt Signs of that are laid before them, for their Aſſiſtance; only the Scandalous are reſtrained from coming: Others are encouraged, if they can but profeſs in private to their Paſtors a ſerious Thoughtfulneſs and Concern for their Souls, and a better Life, and a Reſolution by the Grace of God for a Life of Obedience to God in ſecret and in publick.—As to publick Relations in the Churches of Experiences it is an human Invention." Yet I would obſerve, the Doctor was a great Friend to Confeſſions of Faith, and the Publication of them too on ſpecial Occaſions, but then he would always have Men at Liberty to draught their own, and not be obliged to ſubſcribe the Words of others.

The Doctor as became a vigilant Overſeer made frequent Viſits to the ſeveral Families of his Charge, not only common and civil to cultivate Friendſhip and Good Will, but proper Paſtoral Ones to enquire into and know their State and Circumſtances in Order to treat them agreably, wiſely and faithfully, and that he might the better adapt his publick Exerciſes, and give to every one their Portion in due Seaſon.

He made Conſcience of viſiting the Poor as well as the Rich (eſpecially in their Afflictions) inſtructing, adviſing, admoniſhing and comforting as he ſaw Occaſion: And this he did Night and Day as long as his Strength laſted, and oftentimes to the no ſmall Hazard of his Health and Life.

And when he gave Viſits to any of his Congregation or received Viſits from them (or other his Friends) he generally and generouſly beſtowed Books of Piety on them, either his own Sermons, or the Publications of others.— When he was called to miniſter to the Souls of the Poor at their own Dwellings, he ordinarily enquired of their bodily Wants, which were ſoon ſupplyed either by himſelf, or charitable Friends to whom he inſtantly applyed on their Behalf.

His Prayers over ſick and dying Ones, were not only very affectionate and fervent, but alſo moſt inſtructive and edifying—By a Train of excellent Thoughts he led them into the Knowledge of Sin and Duty, of God and Chriſt, and from Earth to Heaven.Some of the Members (I might ſay Miniſters) of the Church of England have declared themſelves more raiſed and edified by them than by all the devout and pious Forms of their own Church.

When he could not conveniently viſit his People or other his Friends in diſtant Places, he ſent his Thoughts to them in Writing, ſuted to the various Providences he heard they were under—A fewAlas, that ſo few are found; for he ſeldom kept Copies of his familiar Letters. A large and valuable Collection of them might be obtained if ſought for, equally entertaining with thoſe that follow. of the Copies which are found, and which are found, and which exhibit the bright Image of his Mind, the Reader ſhall be entertained withal after I have juſt added a Word or two (for a Cloſe to this Chapter) on his gentlemanly Carriage and Behaviour, and other Homiletical Virtues which adorned him, and were ſo conſpicuous to all he converſed with.—He was a good Maſter of Addreſs, and carried all the Politeneſs of a Court about him.— And as he treated Mankind of various Degrees and Ranks with a Civility, Courteſy, Affability, Complaiſance and Candor ſcarce to be equalled. So all but the Baſe and Mean ſhowed him an high Degree of Reſpect and Reverence, Love and Affection.— Particularly Men of Figure and Parts of our own Nation and Foreigners, whom he failed not to viſit upon their coming among us, greatly valued and admired him.

It has been ſaid (perhaps not without ſome ſeeming Grounds for it) that he ſometimes went too far in complemental Strains both in Word and Writing—but if he did, I am perſwaded ſuch Flights took their Riſe rather from an Exuberance or Excreſcence (if the Phraſe be allowable) of the before-mentioned homiletical Virtues, and a too high Complacency in the appearing Excellencies of others, than from faulty Inſincerity and deſigned Flattery in the Time of it.—As he took a ſincere Pleaſure in the Gifts of others, and had a natural Proneneſs to think favourably of all Men, and conſtrued every Thing in the moſt candid Senſe, it is not much to be wondered at if he ſometimes exceeded in his Expreſſions.—And it is to be lamented that ſome have ſwollen with Pride, and made an ill Uſe of the Doctor's high Eſteem and good Opinion of them.

Letters of Conſolation.

"To Madam S— of N—L—. Madam,

With what Pain I take my Pen in Hand, in Obedience to Mrs. C— Deſire, to inform you (if you have not already heard) of the bitter Cup which God has given her to drink in Mr. C— Death; you will eaſily believe from that unfeigned Pleaſure with which I lately wrote to you on her Recovery.

So it pleaſes the holy and wiſe God to mix his Diſpenſations to us, and call us to ſing of Mercy and Judgment. It has put the Town into Mourning, and the general Sorrow ſhows how greatly and univerſally Mr. C— was eſteemed in it.

But your Part is very great in the Bereavement, to whom he was a wiſe and good Son, and high in your Eſteem and Love. Dear Mrs. C—is one of the greateſt and moſt gracious Mourners you ever ſaw. It remembers me of paſt Sorrows, and where and of whom ſhe learned; under the great Favour of Providence to her, and the Teachings of God's Holy Spirit.

And you will be able now, I truſt to comfort her, with thoſe Comforts with which you have your ſelf been comforted of God. Any may thoſe Comforts now and alway abide with you, and ever abound and increaſe in you; with which God has relieved your Soul in Times of Trouble.—The divine Comforter will never depart from you, I am perſwaded, but lead you on in the Path of Life to the Fulneſs of Joys above.— May you enjoy his peculiar Preſence with you under the preſent Providence.

But I remember where you are, in whoſe Arms, and under whoſe Miniſtry, and how little you can need my poor Sympathy.— His Honour will be able to miniſter more than all the World beſides, to your Support; and the more for his own great Part in your Affliction.

May you long live together the Heirs of the Grace of Life, under the Favours and Changes of Providence.

So prays, Madam, Your moſt obedient, and humble Servant, B. C—." Boſton, Aug. 28. 1721. "To Madam G— on the Death of her Huſband. Madam,

Since I have not the Opportunity of ſeeing you in your great Sorrows, I take Leave this Way to expreſs my deep Sympathy with you in them.

It muſt needs be a very extraordinary Diſtreſs you have been under, and ſtill are, in the Death of an Huſband, who was one of the lovelieſt and beſt of Men; and the uncommon Circumſtances you have been under in his Sickneſs, and ſtill are in ſince his Deceaſe; denied the Preſence and Aſſiſtance of your Friends and Conveniences of your own Houſe, looks very deſolate to us, and doubtleſs feels ſo to you.

But I truſt you have the gracious Preſence of a good God with you, who is all-ſufficient and abundantly able to ſupport and comfort you. If you ſeek to him, and truſt in him, though you are deſolate you ſhall not be forſaken. I am not alone, ſaid our Saviour, when he bare our Sorrows and carried our Griefs, for the Father is with me.—If God be with you, and you keep with him, humbling your Soul before him, and crying to him for Grace to help you in this Time of Need; you will not need the poor Help your Friends might miniſter to you. O may he take you near to himſelf, into a happy Communion with him, in this dark Hour, and give you Light in the comforting Senſe of his Peace and pardoning Mercy, and your Intereſt in his Love through Chriſt.

The Town is put into Mourning with you. No Man was more univerſally eſteemed and loved than Mr. G— was, and very deſervedly; and no one has died among us more lamented. If it might eaſe you to have many ſhare with you in your Bereavement, your Burden would be lightned.

The Will of God is done; and we are taught to ſay and pray, Father in Heaven, thy Will be done.— God made him all that he was to you and his Friends; and what he gave he has taken away; and we muſt fall down and worſhip him, and bleſs his Name.

It is rare to find a Man ſo knowing and humble, wiſe and modeſt, meek and good, grave and pleaſant, upright and faithful, pious and devout: But let us think of all thoſe Things that were lovely in him, every Virtue and every Praiſe, and deſire to live ſuch ourſelves, the few Days that remain unto us here on Earth, and to follow him to a better Life.

No Wonder he died in Peace and Calm, who ever lived in it, from the ruling Principles, not of Philoſophy only, but of pure Religion. His ſilent, even, ſteady Walk with God, is much to be emulated and imitated. I only wiſh your Soul may be formed more and more, by what you have ſeen of his, and ſo your Manner of Life; and that the like Peace of God, which ruled and kept his Heart, may keep your's through Jeſus Chriſt.— Let your Grief too be now moderated and governed by the Rules of Chriſtianity, as you may think he would mourn, were he in your Caſe; and may his Death quicken you ſo in living to God, and getting ready for your own; that you may have an happy Meeting again, and an endleſs Life of Love and Joy, in the Preſence of Chriſt, and in the Glory of his Holineſs.

I am, Madam, Your affectionate Friend and Servant, B. C." "To Madam H—upon the Death of C—W — Madam,

Permit me under ſo ſingular an Exerciſe of the divine Providence, to expreſs my deep Sympathy in your Affliction, and to endeavour with a friendly Freedom and Tenderneſs, your Comfort and Direction.—I know how much Prudence and Conſtancy, Wiſdom and Grace you need under ſo uncommon a Trial.— Your Soul is too great and juſt I know, to count it any Indecency to be ſeen to mourn; you owe this Honour to the Dead, this Juſtice to your ſelf. — Yet I know too, how much more retired and hidden, your Grief will be, than if it had been delayed by Providence, until after the Conſummation of your Eſpouſals—Let me therefore adviſe you, of the Danger of Grief when too much ſuppreſſed, and of the Advantage you have of Mother and Siſter with you, to whom you may freely give Vent to your Thoughts, and who are able and ready to mourn with, and comfort you.—But above all; let your Care be to bear and improve aright they very melancholly Diſpenſation of Providence. Do not ſuffer any riſing or hard Thought of the bleſſed God, nor any Diſtruſt of his Care and Tenderneſs for you.

You muſt not only adore God as righteous and holy; but alſo believe him moſt wiſe and good in all his Dealing: And if you fear and love him, chuſe him and his holy Ways, and deſire to commend your ſelf to his Favour and Grace, you may be ſure that he is gracious and faithful, tender and kind to you in all that he allots for you—O that you could now leave and commit your ſelf to his Care, believing that he care for you, with a full Acquieſcence and Reſt of Soul in his holy Will; and while you reſign to his Sovereignty, renew your Truſt alſo in this Mercy, conſecrate your ſelf to his Service and Glory, and leave it to his Wiſdom and Faithfulneſs to chuſe your Inheritance for you—your State and Condition of Life. O ſeek for your Soul, an Eſpouſal to Chriſt, as a chaſte Virgin; ſubmit to his Propoſals of Grace, his Tender of himſelf to you in an everlaſting Covenant: Seek the Spirit of Grace and Supplication, for your Comfort and Support, the Spirit of Prayer and Communion with God therein, will make up abundantly for any worldly Loſs; God knows how to turn theſe into our beſt Gains; our Afflictions ſanctified are in the End among our choiceſt Mercies.—God grant you therefore this Mercy, to be Matter of everlaſting Praiſe and Thankſgiving from you in the Concluſion.

So prays your aſſured Friend, and humble Servant, B. C." To Urania On the Death of her firſt and only Child. WHY mourns my beauteous Friend, bereft? Her Saviour and her Heav'n are left: Her lovely Babe is there at Reſt, In Jeſus' Arms embrac'd and bleſt. Would you, Urania, wiſh it down From yon bright Throne, and ſhining Crown? To your cold Arms, and empty Breaſt, Could Heaven indulge you the Requeſt; Your Boſom's neither warm nor fair, Compar'd with Abraham's: leave it there. He, the fam'd Father of the Juſt, Beheld himſelf but Earth and Duſt, Before the Will of God moſt High, And bid his Darling Iſaac die. When Heav'n requir'd in Sacrifice The dear Deſire of his Eyes; And more to prove his Love commands The Offering from the Father's Hands; See how th' illuſtrious Parent yields, And ſeeks Moriah's mournful Fields. He bound his lovely only Child For Death; his Soul ſerene and mild: He reach'd his Hand, and graſp'd the Knife, To give up the devoted Life. Leſs Heaven demands of thee, my Friend; And leſs thy Faith ſhall recommend. All it requires, is to reſign, To Heaven's own Act, and make it thine By Silence under Diſcipline. The leaſt we to our Maker owe! The leaſt, Urania, you did vow! When o'er your Babe his glorious Name Was call'd in awful Baptiſm! The • You gave it back to Heaven again. You freely own'd that happy Hour, Heaven's Right, Propriety and Power, The Loan at Pleaſure to reſume, And call the pretty Stranger Home. A Witneſs likewiſe at its Birth I ſtood, that Hour of Joy and Mirth: I ſaw your thankful Praiſes riſe, And flow from pleas'd, uplifted Eyes: With rais'd Devotion, one Accord, We gave the Infant to its Lord. And think, Urania, 'ere that Day, While the fair Fruit in ſecret lay, Unſeen, yet lov'd within the Womb, (Which alſo might have been its Tomb) How oft, before it bleſt your Sight, In ſecret Prayers with great Delight, You did recognize Heaven's Right. Now ſtand to theſe bleſt Acts, my Friend: Stand firmly by them to the End: Now you are try'd, repeat the Act; Too juſt, too glorious to retract. Think, dear Urania, how for thee, God gave his only Son to be, An Offering on the curſed Tree. Think, how the Son of God on Earth; (The ſpotleſs Virgins bleſſed Birth) Our lovely Babes took up, and bleſt; And them high Heirs of Heaven confeſt! Think, how the Bleſs'd of Women ſtood, While impious Hands, to th' curſed Wood Nail'd down her only Son and God! Learn hence, Urania, to be dumb! Learn thou the Praiſe that may become Thy lighter Grief; which Heaven does pleaſe To take ſuch wondrous Ways to eaſe. Adore the God, who from thee takes, No more than what he gives and makes: And means in tendereſt Love, the Rod To ſerve to thy eternal Good. Another to Urania, &c. ATTEND, ye mournful Parents, while I ſing, a Mother in Iſrael; The fam'd, the gracious Shunamite, Whoſe beauteous Story would invite A Saint to yield her only one, Almoſt without a Tear or Groan. A wondrous Son ſhe did embrace, Heaven's ſignal Work, and ſpecial Grace; Nor long embrac'd, but on her Knees Arreſted by a fierce Diſeaſe, Scarce could he cry, My Head, My Head! E'er the dear Parent ſaw him dead: She laid him breathleſs on the Bed. Deep was her Anguiſh, yet her Peace She held, and went to God for Eaſe. No Signs of Grief diſtort her Face, Nor cloud its wonted Beams of Grace. No Moans, no Shrieks, no piercing Cries; No wringed Hands, or flowing Eyes Diſtreſſed the Houſe in that Surprize. She haſtes her to the Man of God, Haſtes to the Place of his Abode: Mildly denies the Cauſe to tell To her dear Spouſe; all would be well She truſts: So did her Faith excel. Eliſha, with a tender Fear, Saw his illuſtrious Friend draw near: 'Twas not one of the Holy-Days Sacred to publick Prayer and Praiſe; Why then the Shunamite from Home? On what great Errand was ſhe come? Her Speed beſpoke ſome weighty Care, Which generous Friendſhip long'd to ſhare. It ſtruck him, ſomething had befell The Huſband, Child,—All was not well— Go, run Gehazi, ſaid the Seer, Enquire, with Earneſtneſs ſincere; "Say, generous Hoſt, if all be well?— "All's well; my Lord! ſhe ſaid, and fell At her great Interceſſor's Feet: There vents her Grief in Accents ſweet, Mild in her Anguiſh, in her Plaints diſcreet. Such dear Urania, you to me! O might I be but ſuch to thee! Mind, gracious Friend, the Word ſhe ſaid, All well, and yet the Child was dead. What God ordains is well and beſt. Well 'tis with ours, when gone to Reſt. It's well with us, who ſtay behind, If more from Earth and Senſe refin'd, W' are patient, pray'rful, meek, reſign'd.

On receiving a Letter from a Perſon of Diſtinction, wherein a Mourning-Book was incloſed, the Doctor writes on the Backſide of it theſe Words,

Received late in the Evening, put my Sermon in Order for the Sabbath in the Morning; and before Noon returned the Anſwer following, to his E—y.

Sir, Will your E—y prolong your Grief forever? And at the End of Years call us ſtill to mourn on with you? And can you think any one but your J—n will keep Pace and Length with you?—How much do you honour ſome of us to think we can and will? How kind and righteous the Suppoſal of this ſacred conſtant Friendſhip and Duty in us.—

THE generous Thought awakes my youthful Fire, Cold as I am, and ſtiff, I take my Lyre; My Fingers tremble on the ſounding Strings, Tremors my Voice returns; and gravely ſings. So faithful Abram mourn'd his beauteous Dead, Tender and princely all the Tears he ſhed; Afflicted Princes at his Levee meet, The Saint and Conſort in his Sorrows greet, And bow together at his reverend Feet. Courtly the Mourning, nor have Princes known, Bmdash;h—r a generous Grief more like thy own. Like Faith with godly Reverence did we ſee, Thou Son of weeping Abraham rule in thee, And like thy Son did princely Joſeph prove, The Truth and Ardors of a filial Love, When Iſrael ceas'd his Bleſſing, welcom'd Death, Stretch'd his cold Feet, and joyful gave his Breath; Down on the cloſing Lips, the Hero fell, And bid his Tears and burning Kiſſes tell, A Love and Grief too big for Words to ſpeak And vent a burſting Heart, which elſe would break. Happy the Patriarchs in their princely Son, The Youth by Grace eternal Glories won. A ſovereign Providence ſat him near the Throne. But there's a heavenly Throne within the Sky, Jacob and Joſeph triumph there on high, Eternal reign! The Crown of Piety! B—h—r, we pray, thou and thy Sons may meet Where the moſt Pious, finds the higheſt Seat, We call it Abram's Boſom; at his Knees, All Iſrael's Seed, the ſhining Patriarch ſees.

Accept Sir, with all the Candour of your proved Love, this feeble Effort of an aged Friend, firm from my Youth I loved you; joyed to ſee your riſing Honours! may they laſting be, be everlaſting! Such thy growing Joys to everlaſting! When all Tears ſhall ceaſe, and Death ſhall be no more. Yours, &c.

"To His E—y W— S—. Moſt honoured, excellent and dear Sir,

The Tears of the Town are flowing with thoſe of your E—y and your Houſe, under your preſent Bereavement; and ſo would thoſe of the whole Land had they the Opportunity of knowing ſo much of the Beauties of the Deceaſed, and of your Houſe as ſome of us who live nearer to your Door, and theirs, have.— In particular, I am ſo near a Neighbour to your lovely Dead, now lying by the Wall that ſtrikes my Eye; and have been at Times ſo much an Admirer of the Beauties of her Mind, Form and Manner; that I muſt be very inſenſible indeed, and my profeſſed, dutiful Affection to your E—y on the Account of your tender, faithful paternal Care of us all, might juſtly be called in Queſtion; if I did not ſhare your Grief; and bear you upon my Heart, as becomes my Character, to the God of all Grace and Mercy, that his ſovereign Hand may be religiouſly ſubmitted to by your E—y and your Houſe, and ſanctified by you in the Sight of all his People.

O may the divine Supports, and all the Conſolations of God be given in abundantly to Madam, your happy Conſort; happy in your E—y as you in her, and happy in her lovely Offspring; whom, God adorn and ſpare long to us, with every conſpicuous Virtue and Praiſe, whereof ſhe has given them ſo teaching an Example; and not to them only, but to the Town: That while your daily Cares of the Publick threaten to wear you out before your Time (I ſpeak it without Flattery, for the Court and Town cannot but ſee it) their Times may be for ever, in a ſhining Succeſſion of virtuous and pious Families.

But the grand Leſſon, Sir, that we have to learn from ſuch Breaches upon our Families, is to live mindful of the Day of our own Dying, and giving up our Account, that it may be with a Joy beyond that of the Day of our Birth, a bleſſed Birth Day into a glorious Immortality.— And O that the Dignity which the God of Heaven hath allotted you—may be but an happy Preſage to you, and a Means of a ſuperior Degree of Glory and Bleſſedneſs to your ſelf and yours, in the coming eternal World.—May your Lot then be among the Righteous, who ſhall ſhine as the Brightneſs of the Firmament, and as the Stars for ever and ever.—O may the Sable and the Purple concur in the Production of this glorious Event to you.

I preſume to cover to you another Copy on the Death of Mr. Holden, which you once read with Pleaſure, and l • t your Eye and Heart ſix, Sir, on that excellent Line of his on the Death of his Daughter, "I have now one leſs Attachment to Earth, one more Argument for Heaven.

If your Lady alſo will caſt her Eye on the Silence of Aaron, and the wiſe Word of David, "I ſhall go to my Child," I venture to cover it to her Daughter.—So, intreating your kind Interpretation of my dutiful Zeal for your E—y's Comfort, and the ſtrengthning your Hands in God, I remain,

Sir, your moſt dutiful, and obedient, humble Servant, B. C." Feb. 18. 1745. "To Thomas Burnet, Eſq in London. Sir,

It having pleaſed God to ſpare me to be the eldeſt Miniſter in Boſton, I think it but a decent Thing in me, however unknown to you, and unworthy of the Honour I preſume to do my ſelf; to condole with you on the Death of your dear Brother, our late excellent Governor. Your moſt reverend Father was the Man whom I have honoured and reverenced from my Youth above any one of our own Times, whomſoever. It was therefore a great Pleaſure to me, when I heard his Son was appointed by the King to be our Governor. The Fame of his Learning and Moderation raiſed our Expectations very high. But the unhappy Controverſy about the Twenty-third Inſtruction deprived us of the Happineſs we had promiſed our ſelves in him.—I heartily wiſh that the next Governor may not inſiſt on his Inſtructions, to the Length that Governor Burnet did. It hurt his generous Soul to live in ſuch a Wrangle and Oppoſition, and his great Heart felt what it would not own. O might he have condeſcended a little to have made himſelf and us eaſy in a Point or two! What might he not have had from us, and we found in him! He thought he could have bowed or broken us with his Reſolution, but found it not to be done. The ſame Men that once ran the Riſque of our Charter (to me invaluable) were ready as we ſee, to run it again. What the Court will do with us, the next Seſſion of the Parliament, I know not. Might I hope to prevail with the late Governour's Friends, I would ſupplicate them not to appear againſt our Charter. I have no Right, Sir, to aſk this Favour from you, neither know I your Intereſt or Reſentments, yet I cannot forbear laying before you my Prayers and Fears. It may look vain in me, it may be, to ſay, how much I honoured and loved your Brother, and wiſhed the beſt of Bleſſings on his Children; I wiſh the ſame to all the Poſterity of the admirable Man, your Father. The few that know me, know it. The incloſed Account of your Brother's Death, done at the Requeſt of Mr. Secretary, will teſtify it. You will ſuffer me therefore to condole with you, and ſubſcribe my ſelf,

Sir, your very humble, and obedient Servant, B. C." Sept. 25. 1729.

Boſton, Sept. 8. 1729.

The Town was exceedingly ſurprized this Morning, with the ſad News of the Death of his Excellency our Governor, WILLIAM BURNETT, Eſq

He had been very ill all the Week paſt, but on Friday the Symptoms grew threatning; after which he very little recovered any Uſe of his Underſtanding.

He expired about eleven of the Clock, the Lord's Day Night; a teaching and monitory Inſtance to us of the Vanity of human Life and Greatneſs. For it is but a few Months ſince he was received here with all poſſible Demonſtrations of publick Joy; in the Meridian of Life, and in his full Strength; and now we are ſuddenly called to attend him with publick and ſolemn Mourning to his Grave.

He was the eldeſt Son of the late right reverend and learned GILBERT BERNETT, Lord Biſhop of Sarum; among the Divines, States Men, and Patriots of the laſt Age, a moſt ſhining Character. In Body, he was very much the Image of his noble Father, and in Soul, he was Heir of his Learning, Juſtice and Moderation.

He was born at the Hague in Holland, in March preceeding the Revolution 1688, and named William, after the illuſtrious PRINCE OF ORANGE, who condeſcended to ſtand his God Father.

The great Part which his Father had in the Acceſſion of that PRINCE to the Britiſh Throne, and afterward in the Succeſſion of the illuſtrious Houſe of Hanover, was rewarded to this worthy Son by King GEORGE the Firſt, who named him Governor of New York and Jerſies; and by his preſent MAJESTY, who appointed him over the Provinces of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay and New Hampſhire.

It was pleaſant to ſee a Gentleman in the Chair over us, who was allowed by all to be chief for Knowledge and Learning, for bright and quick Parts, for Diſcerning and Judgment, for true Eloquence, both in ſpeaking and writing, with the greateſt Facility; for a noble Generoſity and Largeneſs of Heart, for hating Covetouſneſs and diſdaining a Bribe, for Temperance, and for Humanity, Courteſy and Affability.

At the ſame Time his invincible Conſtancy and Reſolution, in what he judged due to the KING'S Inſtruction and his own Honour, ſurmounted all Regards to his own private Intereſt and Gain.

He has left three Children, two Sons and a Daughter; for whom we can wiſh nothing better, than that they may all inherit the Powers of their Father, the Virtues of their Grandfather, and the high Favour of a gracious GOD and King.

His Library, which was his chief Delight and Pride, is one of the nobleſt and richeſt Collections that America has ſeen.

We are very happy in the Preſence of the Honourable WILLIAM DUMMER, Eſq our Lieut. Governor; to reſume the Chair which he ſo lately reſigned to Governor BURNETT; in whoſe wiſe and juſt Adminiſtration we have been already happy, and from whom we are ſure of all the Good that is within the Compaſs of his Power."

A Letter to a pious and Ingenious Gentlewoman under Affliction.—Madam G— of C—This Letter was printed after the Death of the Gentlewoman in the Year 1736.— "Madam,

I was viſiting my good Neighbour, Mrs. A—n in her Mourning, when your friendly, moſt chriſtian and conſolatory Letter to her was juſt come to Hand, and ſo I became a Sharer in the Conſolation in my Mourning, which is not yet put off, and in the Pleaſure which every one muſt have that reads what you write. There is no School, I ſee like that of Affliction for the brightning as well as ſanctifying our Powers, and it is the Way of Heaven to ſublimate Souls by paſſing them often through the Fire. Leaving therefore the happy Buildings for Science and Religion on the Left of your humbler Roof, give me leave to come to you for true Learning and Inſtruction.

You have been taught of God in a courſe of long fiery Trial, which yet has been but his fatherly Chaſtiſement, and under the kind Conſtraint of his Love and Grace have willingly learnt of him how to endure and improve Afflictions. And why has God taught you, but that you ſhould teach others? or why has he comforted you in all your Tribulations, but that you may comfort them that are in Trouble, by the Comfort wherewith you are comforted of God?—You certainly do well not to neglect the Gift you have received by the Hand of God laid on you, which no other laying on of Hands could give. Are we not bound, if God has made us ſpiritually rich, to diſtribute of his Treaſures to the Souls of our dear Friends, and his Children in their Neceſſities? Freely you have received, and you freely give. So God has enriched you to all Bountifulneſs, and given you an Heart and Hand, in a ſingular and eminent Way to diſperſe abroad;—and your Righteouſneſs endureth for ever. God multiply your Seed ſown, and encreaſe theſe Fruits of your Righteouſneſs, which are abundant alſo by many Thankſgivings to God; and by their Prayers for you who love and honour you for the exceeding Grace of God in you.

"After ye were illuminated, ſays the Apostle to the Hebrews, ye endured a great Fight of Afflictions. O what a Mercy is it to have firſt a Principle of heavenly Grace and Wiſdom rooted in our Hearts, before we are exerciſed with ſore Afflictions, and of long Continuance! How is ſuch a Soul honoured of God and called forth like another Job or Paul, in their Weakneſs and in the Infirmity of their Fleſh to diſplay the Power of the Grace of God, before the Eyes of admiring Angels and Saints, and to the Confuſion of the Enemy and Avenger! "Haſt thou conſidered by Servant Job that there is none like him in all the Earth? Go ſmite his Body as thou wilt, and ſee if it be not thus.— And why was the thorn ſtuck deep into St. Paul's Fleſh, but for the ſame Reaſon? And therefore it was not removed at his Prayer, but he received that Anſwer from the Lord "My Grace is ſufficient for you for my Strength is made perfect in Weakneſs. Well might he glory in his Infirmities, when the Power of Christ thus reſted on him, and that it might do ſo more and more; For when we are Weak then are we Strong, and even Women out of Weakneſs are made ſtronger than Men, when God pleaſes.

"If ye endure Chaſtning, God dealeth with you as with Sons. See Madam, the clear Evidence of your Adoption in Chriſt, in your Conformity to Him, the Captain of your Salvation, made perfect through Sufferings; God helps you to endure his Chaſtnings with a filial Spirit: And it is a certain Proof of a Father's Heart in God toward you, that he has given you the Heart of a Child towards him. So God dealt with his own Son, and ſo with what Child he pleaſes, and moſt delights in. He helps them to endure with Faith and Love which is in Chriſt Jeſus; ſuch as was in him when he prayed, "Father not as I will, but as thou wilt: And ſuch as he required of us when we pray, "Father, thy Will be done.—Our Duty and Felicity are put together in three ſhort, "Rejoicing in Hope, patient in Tribulation, continuing instant in Prayer. This Frame and Exerciſe of Soul, is the Earneſt of the heavenly Inheritance. As Jeſus having gone through his Life of Sorrows, and thoſe of his Death approaching, lift up his Eyes to Heaven, and ſaid, "Father, the Hour is come, Glorify thy Son, that thy Son alſo may glorify thee.

I am perſwaded, Madam, that as God has glorified his Grace in you in the paſt Hours of your great Pains, ſo he will again, and more and more help you to glorify him, unto the finiſhing your Courſe with Joy. "He is able to make all Grace to abound to you, and to give you an Alſufficiency in all Things; even to ſtrengthen you with Might, by his Spirit, in your inward Man, unto all Patience and Long-ſuffering with Joyfulneſs. O what a Promiſe is that! which who can take the Height or Length of! but he is faithful who has ſaid it, and able to perform it in you. You have found him both able and ready, when you have been preſſed out of Meaſure, above Strength. You do well to communicate to your dear afflicted Friends, your own bleſſed Experiences, for their Direction and Conſolation. You have more Underſtanding than all your Teachers; for none teacheth like God, and there is no Learning like that by Experiment: And may your Conſolations abound with your Sufferings, while you are afflicted for the Conſolation and Salvation of others!

My dear Spouſe is often ſpeaking of you, and always with the higheſt Eſteem—Pray for us, who have lately had the Sorrow of burying a dear Child, that bore ſome Image and faint Ray of that ſhining Grace, and thoſe ſuperior Gifts which irradiate You, and ſcatter all your Darkneſſes.—May Grace, Mercy and Peace be multiplied to you, and to him who is your other own Soul, from God the Father, and from our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.

I am, Madam, Your very humble Servant, B. C." Boſton Aug. 2. 1735. Another Letter to Madam G— of C—. "Madam,

Your charming Letter of the 16th Inſtant, full of Grace and Gratitude, gave me ſuch Delight, and I perſwade my ſelf will give the pious Mr. H—n as much, that I have ventured without your Leave to ſend him the Original, taking a Copy for my ſelf.—What Return could be made him like this Firſt-fruit of his Bounty to us? and give me leave to add, from what End of the Earth could he have had the like? or where can either his Piety or good Senſe more have found its Match?—He is paid in his own Coin, Sterling. You have paid for me as well as for your ſelf, and if your ſuperior holy Lines rival me in his Heart, and give you the higheſt Seat in his Eſteem and Love, as they well may, I ſhall heartily rejoice in your Conqueſt.—You merit from the Lovers of Chriſt and Holineſs (though from him to you all is free and undeſerved Grace) the flow of their Affections and Benignity.

I am ſorry you ſeem ſo ſtruck with Wonder at the late, too late, Teſtimonies of a great Eſteem and Regard, on the account of your Worth and Wants. It is becauſe I am ſo late in my particular Knowledge of them, though a general Knowledge I might have before.

You know it was your Letter to my good Neighbour, on the Death of her Brother, that gave me my firſt and full Intelligence.—It is your own Humility, and former low thoughts of me, that muſt account for your preſent Surprize.—This Humility let us cheriſh in one another, and ceaſe our Compliments, however well meant.—Forgive therefore and guard againſt what I have already written, as I forgive thoſe in your laſt, and if we can any way miniſter to one another's Conſolation, let it ſuffice.—The Bluſh which naturally belongs to your Sex, muſt now belong to me, a Scholar and Minister, fifteen Years Older than you are, and yet not able to out-teach or out-write you! But I have not been kept in School like you, and under the Rod, and Truant like have loſt many a Day.—You have more Understanding than your Teachers, for God's Commandments are ever with you. Unleſs his Law had been your Delight you had periſhed in Your Affliction. This is your Comfort under them that his Word is quickning to you. You remember it Night and Day, therefore you have Hope.—And may you always abound more and more in all Joy and Peace in Believing, through the Power of the Holy Ghoſt.— Out of Weakneſs may you be made ſtronger and ſtronger through the Power of Faith, as the Holy Women have been who belonged to the noble Army of Martyrs.

It is indeed more Bleſſed to give than to receive, but not than to receive as you do, through Grace.—The Bleſſedneſs lies in the Manner of giving and receiving, not in the Thing. There are who receive in a more holy ſpiritual Manner than the Giver gives, and then the Bleſſedneſs belongs to the Receiver. Mr. H—n and you are one, I hope in the true Bleſſedneſs, give and receive with the ſame Spirit of Grace, which is calculated and given for a like amiable Exerciſe in a very different outward Condition. I ſpeak to encourage and animate you to go on in your Part of the holy Exerciſe. When he receives your's to me he will be animated too, to abound more and more.

I have given to Mr. H—n the Reaſons of my ſending you over Sea. He will ſee one Reaſon in your own Inclinations to have wrote to him.—I have ſaved you from the Blame of Forwardneſs which you ſay reſtrained you, and I hope ſhall have diſpleaſed neither of you. I have parted with the Pleaſure of what I valued under your own Hand. I have let him know the Days of your Youth, your honourable Deſcent, and your later Afflictions. I have told him that I mean alſo to honour my Country, and the Daughters of my People to him, but at the ſame Time that he muſt not think theſe Nightingale Notes are common in our Woods. I have begged his Pardon for tranſcribing to you a Part of his gracious Letter, and pleaded it to be for your Conſolation and Edification; and that it became me thus to make him miniſter more to your Soul than his Charity could to the Needs of the Body.—I have prayed him to forgive your Anti-Prayer, in wiſhing his Life prolonged 'till he be dim with Age: And I have dared to join with you in it, with a little Correction, from the uſeful Old Age of Moſes, whoſe Eyes were not dim, nor was he kept a Day too long out of Heaven.

But as you ſay of your ſelf, I tranſgreſs the Limits of a Letter. I muſt intreat you not to anſwer me, leſt I write as long again, and be hindred in my Sermons and other Letters.—

God give you Reſpite from Pain if he ſee it beſt, and ſtrengthen you with all Might unto all Patience if Pains return. "The God of all Grace, who has called you to his Eternal Glory by Jeſus Chriſt, after you have ſuffered a while, make you perfect; ſtabliſh, ſtrengthen, ſettle you! To him be Glory for ever.

We all again ſalute Mr. G— And I am, Madam, Your affectionate Friend and Servant, B.C—." "To Mr. P—F— Sir,

The Reſpect ſhown me by your deceaſed Uncle was altogether unexpected and ſurprizing to me, when your Meſſengers one and another came to me to put me into Mourning. I cannot but wiſh he had let me know in his Sickneſs, that any Viſits or Miniſtrations of mine to him would have been acceptable. —My Gratitude waits on you, Sir, his Heir, and on the Ladies your Siſters to whom he has left ſo great an Earthly Inheritance, I wiſh from my Heart I might have named too my good Friend—but I leave that to your own kind and generous Heart.

I am ſorry, Sir, I am ſo much a Stranger to you, ſince I am ſo much obliged. But you will conſider the Character I ſuſtain, which has obtained the Reſpect ſhown me, and allow me to lead you off this Evening, from a tranſitory dying World, the Riches and Faſhion whereof is paſſing away, as you ſee in the Funeral and Mourning before you, to the Reſt and Work of the holy Sabbath, which leads us every Lord's-Day to the Sepulchre of the riſen Saviour, to the Means and Deſire of a happy Reſurrection among the Juſt at his ſecond Coming.

I pray God, Sir, that the great Eſtate you are come into, may be ſo far from hindring you in your Way to Heaven, as our Lord has warned us to fear, that on the contrary, it may greatly help you on in your Way thither, as he has told us how to make a Friend to our Souls of our earthly Riches, that when we alſo fail (as we certainly muſt within a very little Time, like our Friend before us) we may be received into everlaſting Habitations, and be recompenſed at the Reſurrection of the Juſt.

I am ſure, Sir, I am my ſelf this Week a moſt teaching Inſtance of the Vanity and Vexation of Spirit from a ſmall Proſpect of worldly Inheritance to my only Child, and it brings Home to me the Wiſdom and Goodneſs of our Saviour's Words, "Lay not up for your ſelves Treaſures on Earth, where Moth and Ruſt corrupt, and where Thieves break through and ſteal. I may be ſuppoſed therefore the more feelingly and affectionately to wiſh to your ſelf and the Ladies your Siſters a moſt eaſy, happy and religious Improvement of the Riches which Providence ſees Good to honour you with; and O that it may be in great Mercy and Favour to you! that you may not truſt in uncertain Riches, but in the living God who giveth all Things richly to enjoy; that you may be rich in good Works, ready to diſtribute, willing to communicate, laying up in Store a good Foundation againſt the Time to come, that you may lay hold on eternal Life.

Believe me, Sir, if God pleaſe to give you a Heart in the Midſt of worldly Affluence, to live above the Things below, and ſet your Affections on Things above, where Chriſt is at the Right Hand of God, you will taſte a Thouſand-fold more the Comforts and Pleaſures of the preſent Life, in your Way to a better: You will receive, as well as do the more Good in Life, find Eaſe in the Troubles of Life, and Peace in the End of it, which can never elſe be found though a Man would give all his Subſtance for it.

Accept, Sir, this ſmall Return of Love for the mournful Bounties of the Day, and give me leave at your leiſure to enlarge on theſe Things, when I ſhall have the Pleaſure to wait on you. The mean while as you are preparing for the Viſit to the Grave before us; and when you ſhall lead us in the Mourning thither, let our Hearts be ſuitably affected with the Conſideration of our own Frailty and Mortality, and of our everlaſting Poverty and Miſery without an Intereſt in Chriſt, and the Inheritance of the Saints in Light.—This Bleſſed Portion I heartily wiſh you and my own Soul, and to all that are related to us, and remain, Sir,

Your obliged Friend, and humble Servant, B. C—." Feb. 18. 1737, 8. To a Friend in Adverſity. "My dear Friend,

If I were not my ſelf ſhut up by Age and Snow, I could not excuſe my not having ſeen you in the Sorrows of the laſt Week.—Yet have you not wanted much better Viſiters and Comforters from among your numerous Friends, who like Job's, in the Day of his Loſs of Eſtate and Bereavement, came together to mourn with and comfort him—They came every one with an Earring of Gold, and if mine may be welcome to you now it ſhall be gladly offered.—

If a Man would give all the Subſtance of his Houſe for Love it would be utterly contemned. The Love of Heaven to us, and its tender Care over us, is the firſt Invaluable, and beyond all Account; and next to that the ruling Love of God in us, with entire Submiſſion to his Sovereignty and Dependence on his Grace; and then comes in the poor Love of good Men to us, their Eſteem, Concern and Aſſiſtances, ſuperadded to their more precious Prayers to God for us.—The two firſt I wiſh you with all my Heart, in a more abundant Experience than you have ever had through your whole Life; and then I congratulate you upon what you do or may enjoy of the other, by the Favour of God to you.

I thank God for the Serenity and Calm with which (I hear) you poſſeſs your Soul, and Madam with you, a Smile of Heaven denied to Job in the Day of his Adverſity: And may you both continue to bleſs and truſt and reſign with one Heart and Voice, and mutually ſtrengthen each others Hands in God.—"The reigning Love of God in a Soul (ſays Mr. Henry) is conſtant and firm, and will neither be drawn off from him by fair Means or foul, by Life or Death—it enables us to repel and triumph over Temptations from the Smiles of the World, and alſo from its F • owns: The Gifts of Providence cannot content a Believer without the Aſſurances of the Love of Chriſt in them, and in the Aſſurance of that the Loſs of theſe common Things can create no Diſcontent."

How, well therefore, do the Ten Words from Sinai cloſe, and ſhow that the Finger of God, wrote the two Tables, who knew the whole of Man's Duty and Happineſs "Thou ſhalt not covet, or as it is given us in the New Teſtament, "Be content with ſuch Things as ye have, for he hath ſaid, I will never leave thee nor forſake thee.

May my dear Friends be under the Conſolations of that unſpeakable Promiſe, enough to live upon in the Want of all Things; as God knew it to be enough for Abraham, and that his Servant would account ſo, when he appeared to him and ſaid, Fear not Abraham, I am thy ſhield, and thy exceeding great Reward: And again I am God Almighty, walk before me and be thou perfect.

Let Patience have its perfect Work—is one of the Glo • ies of the Chriſtian Law: the Lord himſelf was made perfect in bearing ſo divinely the Things which he deprecated: In Conformity to the Son of God we muſt needs be perfect and entire, wanting nothing! And how rich muſt he be that wants nothing! has all Things in God, by one Will with him! So it is that Angels themſelves have all Things and are full; and ſo was St. Paul too on Earth. But how ſhall we attain it?—the Way is plain and eaſy, by going to Chriſt for it; of whoſe Fulneſs we all may receive and Grace upon Grace! as it is written, "strengthened with all Might, according to his glorious Power, unto all Patience, &c.

I am Your's, B. C"

CHAP. IX. The Doctor's private Life— Marriages and Children—Education of them— His Character in ſeveral Relations— Family-Religion— Ejaculations— Cloſet-Devotions—Sabbath-Sanctification —Trials, &c.

I COME now to write more particularly of the Doctor's private Life, and the Circumſtances of i • —his Behaviour and Carriages.

§. 1. Of his Marriages.

Soon after his Return to New-England, and Settlement in Boston, viz. on June the 5th 1700, he was married to Mrs. Janes Clark (Daughter of Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Jane Clark) with whom he lived for more than thirty Years.—She died ſuddenly October 26. 1731—On the Lord's Day after her Funeral he preached from thoſe Words in Lev. 10.3. And Aaron held his Peace. The ſame Sermon he afterwards preached at Medford, upon the Deceaſe of his Daughter Turell, and printed it, 1735. With another from 2 Sam. xii. 23. I ſhall go to him, but he ſhall not return to me. She was a pious, diligent, prudent, humble and prayerful Gentlewoman, a moſt tender and dutiful Wife, a loving and careful Mother, and a ſhining Example of Patience and Submiſſion to the Will of God under a Variety of ſore Trials, ſtrong Pains and long Weakneſſes.

It having pleaſed God to bring him into a State of Widowhood, I find a Paper whereon he wrote theſe Words: "It ſoon appeared to me that among the many virtuous ſingle Gentlewomen of the Town, Madam Sarah Clark, Relict of the Hon. John Clark, Eſq muſt be the Perſon to make me and my Children moſt happy, if I married again. Her Piety, Gravity, Humility, Diligence, Cheerfulneſs, natural Love, (long ſince) to my Children, and theirs to her;After the Death of a former Huſband, the Hon. and Rev. John Leverett, ſhe boarded ſome Time in the Doctor's Houſe. beſides her retired Way of living, and a ſmall worldly Eſtate free from all Incumbrance; all concurred, after Prayer to God for his Counſel, and the Advice of my neareſt Relations, to incline and move me to make my Addreſſes to her.

"God gave me a kind Welcome, and I hope, I have much to acknowledge of a gracious Providence preſiding over the Beginning of this important Step. And I humbly implore the Government and Guidance of Heaven in all that is to come, ſubmitting this great Affair to his Will, Glory and Bleſſing, and our mutual Comfort here, and Happineſs for ever.—"Now that I begin to look upon her as the deſtined Companion of my Life, and Sharer in all my Joys and Sorrows; a Meet-help to me (I hope) the few laſt Days of my Pilgrimage; I would ſet my ſelf daily to remember her in my Prayers and Thankſgivings to God; bleſſing him for her, for a prudent Wife is of the Lord; and begging him to bleſs her to me, and make me a Bleſſing to her, &c. &c.

The Doctor was married to her, May the 6th, 1732, and ſhe lived with him till April 24. 1744, when ſhe died after a long Languiſhment, and State of Infancy for moſt of the Year paſt, Aet. 72—On the Lord's-Day after her Funeral, he preached a Sermon from thoſe Words in 1 Theſſ. iv. 14. For if we believe that Jeſus died, and roſe again, even ſo them alſo which ſleep in Jeſus, will God bring with him.

Auguſt the 12th 1745, it pleaſed God in his moſt gracious Providence to lead him into a third and happy Marriage with Madam Mary Froſt of New-Caſtle, New-Hampſhire, Relict of the Hon. John Froſt, Eſq who was a great Comfort and Support to him the two laſt Years of his Life. She ſurvives—a Gentlewoman of many amiable Qualities—But I may not offend her Modeſty, by enlarging on her Character here—

§. The Doctor had Iſſue by the firſt of theſe Gentlewomen only, viz. a Son born Sept. 1. 1704, who was baptized on the 3d, and named Benjamin after his Father.— The Child died on the 18th.— He had two Daughters who lived to be married and have Children, viz. Jane named after her Mother, who was born Feb. 25. 1708. She was married to the Compiler of this Narrative Auguſt the 11th 1726, and died March 26. 1735— She had four Children, but only one of them ſurvived her, viz. a Son Samuel, who died in about a Year and half after her, ſcil. October 8. 1736. Of this virtuous and ingenious Perſon the Publick has had a large Account in ſome Memoirs that were printed after her Death in New-England, and alſo in London, (chiefly collected from her Manuſcripts) by her Huſband, which were well accepted by the Pious and Learned at Home and Abroad.

The other Daughter named Abigail, was born Jan. 14. 1714, 15, and married to Mr. Albert Dennie of Boſton Merchant, Sept. 1737.

She died after a long Languiſhment, May 17. 1745. She had three Children, but only one of them ſurvived her, viz, — a Son John, and this is the only Lamp the Doctor left burning in his Houſe, at his Deceaſe.

And now I ſhall attempt ſome Hints of the Doctor's Character in the ſeveral Relations of a Son, an Huſband, a Father, a Friend, a Maſter, &c. in all which he exhibited a Pattern worthy Imitation.

§. His filial Piety, Affection and Duty was eminent and known to all his Acquaintance. As he obeyed the Law of his Mother, whom God took from his Head (as has been before noted) about three Years after his Admiſſion into the College; ſo he ever paid all Reſpect and Reverence to his honoured Father, whoſe Life was continued down to the Year 1712. After the Decline of his Father's wordly Eſtate, he cheerfully afforded him all needed Aſſiſtance, and did every Thing that lay in his Power, to render his Age eaſy and agreeable. He expreſt this his filial Duty not only in kind Words, and tranſient good Deeds, but willingly bound himſelf, with his kind Brother in written Obligations for his comfortable Support; praying a gracious God to prolong his Life in the Increaſe of his Graces and Conſolations to him. Thus he was the very Reverſe of thoſe Scribes and Phariſees, whom our Lord taxes and faults for ſaying, It is Corban.Mark 7.11.—Corban is a Syriac Word, and ſignifies a Gift given to God. Expoſitors obſerve, "That although the Phariſees did not deny it in plain Terms that Children ought to relieve their Parents, “ yet they made a vile Exception from it, which if Children ”pleaſed, might render it void.—A good round Gift to the Temple anſwered all filial Obligations for ever—Hence covetous and graceleſs Children oftimes denied their aged and reduced Parents the Aſſiſtances they needed. Vid. Burkit in Loc.

In the Relation of an Huſband, he was moſt complaiſant, tender and affectionate.

Conſider him as a Father, he was wiſe and indulgent. I dare not ſay, he did not exceed ſometimes in Point of Fondneſs and Solicitude for his Children. Their Welfare and Happineſs lay on his Mind continually: But then his firſt and chief Study and Care was to form them to Virtue, and train them up in the Love and Fear of the great God: For this he prayed, wreſtled, and agonized, and uſed all ſutable Means that a glorious Chriſt might take an early Poſſeſſion of them.

From meer Infants, he endeavoured to train them up in the Way they ſhould go: Prov. 22.6.—Expoſitors have given us various Tranſlations and Senſes of this Text, more particularly of this Phraſe, In the Way he ſhould go. If it be literally tranſlated, it is, Upon the Mouth of his Way. In the Mouth, i. e. in the Beginning of his Way, as ſoon as the Child is capable of Inſtruction. Some underſtand it of the Genius and Inclination of the Child, which ought to be conſulted by thoſe who have the Care of its Education. Vatabulus paraphraſeth the Expreſſion, in the double and doubtful Part of his Ways. Mercer, According to the Meaſure of his Way, aſſuring us that the ſame Word in the Original, ſignifies both a Mouth and a Meaſure. And he makes this to be Solomon's Meaning; that a Child muſt be inſtructed according to the Meaſure of his Capacity.—Vid. Dr. William Hopkins's Sermon on the Text. Dr. Colman paid a due Regard to all theſe Tranſlations and Senſes put upon the Words. And for this End he was daily relating to them (as they could bear it) in the moſt familiar and artful Manner, the entertaining Hiſtories and Stories in the Old and New Teſtaments, together with the Doctrines and Precepts of our holy Religion, and he ſoon ſaw the good Effect of ſuch his Eſſays in the laudable Proficiency they made in Knowledge and Wiſdom.

As his Daughters grew in Years and Underſtanding, he would ſome Times write and ſend Letters to them from his Study of the Things of God, and of the common Buſineſſes of Life, of Learning, Wit, &c. in Proſe or Verſe, to theſe he expected Anſwers, and by them he ſoon diſcovered their Genius and Diſpoſition.In a Poſtſcript to the Memoirs of his Daughter Turell's Life, he humbly informs the World of his Care of her Education. He firſt talked into her all he could, in the moſt free and indearing Manner, and then ſupplied her with the beſt Books of every Kind, ſuted to her Years and Inclinations, without making them a Taſk and Burthen. His next Car was to teach her to read his Hand, and then by writing to her, in a Manner becoming him, and proper for her, he inſinuated himſelf more and more into her Affections, and increaſed her Reverence of him, and Deſire of his Eſteem. The Way to merit and obtain that, he let her ſee was by a prudent, humble, virtuous and religious Conduct, upon the Principles of Chriſtianity, and the Fear of God, and Deſire to pleaſe her heavenly Father.

And he lived (as he thought) to perceive the Grace of God in them both—in his eldeſt Daughter early and evidently—and in his youngeſt many Months, if not Years, before ſhe died. And "although (as he remarks upon the Succeſs and Fruit of theſe happy Methods) it cannot be pretended, that the like Endeavours will always be attended with the like Succeſs, yet it may be ſuppoſed they would very often, if Parents, with an humble Reliance on the Bleſſing of God, and Prayers for it, would go into them."

I find among other Particulars recorded by him, concerning his youngeſt Daughter Abigail, the following, viz. "She gave her ſelf to Reading from her Childhood, and ſoon to Writing. She wanted not a Taſte for what was excellent in Books, more eſpecially of a Poetical Turn or Reliſh, which ſoon appeared to be her favourite Turn. This run her too ſoon and too far into the reading Novels, &c. for which God in his righteous Providence afterwards puniſhed her by ſuffering her to leave her Father's Houſe, to the Grief of her Friends and the Surpriſe of the Town.

But a gracious God was pleaſed ſome Years after, to ſet this her Miſconduct in ſuch a glaring Light, as threw her at the Foot of ſovereign Grace and Mercy, for Humiliation and deep Repentance, Renovation and Forgiveneſs.

And long before her Death ſhe was apparently altered and changed by the Spirit of God, and increaſed in Grace, manifeſting great Humility and Reſignedneſs to the Will of God. Her Death had all the Calm and Peace in it one would deſire.

I was preſent, and prayed with her while dying, and well remember when her Father ſpake to her (a few Moments before ſhe breathed out her Soul) of the holy Angels being the Convoy of happy Spirits—She made an Effort to utter ſome Lines of one of Dr. Watts's Hymns (moſt, if not all of them were long before treaſured in her Memory) Take me Uriel on thy Wings, And ſtretch and ſoar away,— The two laſt Words ſeemed to die on her Lips, and after a few eaſy Gaſps ſhe expired.

His paternal Care deſcended to his Grand-Children. He wrote to his Daughter Turell's little Son of ſix Years old.— Upon her Deceaſe, he has theſe Words in a Letter to me—

April 14. 1735.

"God Almighty, the God of Abraham, Iſaac and Jacob, bleſs my dear Grand Child—I charge you my dear Son, to govern my dear Grand-Son, with a ſtrict and tender Care for his ſpiritual and everlaſting Good.

I leave him this my dying Charge and Bleſſing, "Lord! may he live in thy ſight! and know thee the God of his Fathers, and ſerve thee with a perfect Heart! and to this End ſeek thee early and with his whole Deſire."

He alſo ſealed up two Copies of the printed Remains of his Daughter in which are found the following Charges and Counſels.

"My dear Child, Boston, June 8, 1735.

Your Grand-father Colman, who loved your excellent Mother, and now loves you the only Branch from her, like his own Soul, ſeals up theſe two Copies of the Memoirs of her Piety and Ingenuity, for your uſe when you come to Years of Underſtanding, for you carefully to keep for your Children if you live to have any, to preſerve the Memory of your Mother to you and them

Your Grand-father does not expect to live to ſee you grown up, and therefore now leaves with you this his dying Charge, to know and love the Lord God of your Father and Mother, and to fear and ſerve him with all your Heart and Soul, all the Days of your Life; and like your dear Mother to give your ſelf up to God in the Days of your Youth.

My Prayer for you is that a double Portion of that good Spirit which adorned and ſanctified your gracious Mother and has reſted on your—Father and his Father, may be your Inheritance.

Often read over theſe her living Remains, and beg of God his Holy Spirit to make you a Son worthy of ſuch Parents and Anceſtors.

You will find that your Mother's Deſire was to dedicate you to the Service of Chriſt in the Work of the Miniſtry; and my Hearts deſire and Prayer to God is to incline you to, furniſh you for, and uſe you in that bleſſed Service. But if God otherwiſe incline and diſpoſe you, yet I charge you to devote your ſelf to be his only for evermore, to ſerve him in your Generation according to his Will, to deſire to be a Bleſſing in your Place, and to take Care of your own Soul, and of the Souls of your's.

And now, my Son, the Lord be with thee and proſper thou! God Almighty bleſs thee and keep thee! the Bleſſing of Abraham be to thee and thy Seed! and the God of Abraham be thy Shield and exceeding great Reward; and the Fear of thy Father and Mother, be thy God and Fear forever and ever. Amen.

So prays your mourning, dying, loving Grandfather for you and bleſſes you, now in the Day when your Mother is taken up from you; of whoſe Virtues and Graces, may you always be ſeen a true and worthy Heir.

B. C—"

His dear Grand-ſon John Dennie (ſpes ſola) he daily inſtructed, charged and prayed over in like Manner, and committed to the Care of God's kind Providence and to the keeping of his ſpecial Grace.—

To others, his Relations by Conſanguinity and Affinity he was ſingularly affectionate and kind; ready to lay himſelf out on all Occaſions for promoting their ſpiritual and temporal Intereſts, oftentimes he ſtraitned himſelf in ſerving ſuch of them as were reduced to a State of Indigence; and next to the Conſolations of God's Spirit and Grace he was their greateſt Pleaſure, Support and Comfort both in his Youth and Age.

He was alſo a ſincere and uſeful Friend to all ſuch as he profeſſed any Friendſhip to; and extended his Benevolence and Beneficence to their Friends.—The numerous Perſons recommended to him by his Friends here and from abroad were ever kindly and generouſly received, entertained counſelled and adviſed &c.—In Return for which good Offices there are many Letters of Thanks found. — And if the Number of Perſons whom he ſerved by Letters of Recommendation and other-ways was to be told it would ſurpriſe the Reader. — Few Perſons of Figure of later Years have travelled to Europe without ſeeking and obtaining Favours from him — And thoſe who have gone from us in Forma Pauperis were with an equal Forwardneſs commended to his Friends and Correſpondents. And yet it muſt be confeſſed that he was ſometimes too ſudden in contracting Friendſhip with Perſons and truſted them too far without ſufficient Trial, being ſtruck with their plauſible Addreſſes in Word and Writing who after they had anſwered their own Ends, ſoon treated him with a criminal Indifference &c. Ah! 'Tis an ungrateful World we live in! The Ancients had a moſt excellent Emblem whereby they uſed to expreſs a true and ſincere Friendſhip, they pictured it in the Shape of a young Man, very fair, bare-headed, meanly attir'd; on the outſide of his Garment was written VIVERE ET MORI, and in his Forehead AESTATE ET HYEME: his Breaſt was open ſo that his Heart might be ſeen, and with his Finger he pointed to his Heart where was written PROPE LONGE. But ſuch faithful Friends (ſaith Biſhop Morton) are in this Age all (or for the moſt part) gone in Pilgrimage, and their Return is uncertain.

CAMER, oper.

WANLEY Pag. 168—

The Doctor was a gentle and compaſſionate Master to all his Servants, whether they were bought Slaves or hired into his Employ—He carefully ſaw to it that they had every Thing neceſſary for their Comfort and even for Delight.—Such as lived with him any conſiderable Time are Witneſſes of his wiſe Inſtructions, Counſels, Admonitions, Reproofs &c. He condeſcended to teach his Negroes in Perſon (dull and ignorant as they came) to read; and catechiſed them; and was ever dropping ſome good Sentence to inſtruct and help them.— And with a moſt diſtinguiſhed Humanity miniſtered to the meaneſt of his Houſhold when ſick.

§ And this leads me to write of other his Excellencies as Head of a Family See his Treatiſe on Family Worſhip printed in 1728.—

He did all that lay in his Power that all that belonged to his Houſe might be alſo of the Houſhold of Faith. He ordinarily had his ſett Hours for Family Devotion and Inſtruction.—For the laſt Twenty Years of his Life (and I ſuppoſe before) it was his Practice to read the ſacred Scriptures Morning and Evening with large Paragraphs of Mr. Henry's or Burkett's Annotations on them before Prayer: And his Prayers (the Matter of them) was chiefly taken from the Portions read.— Yet he never forgot the ſpecial Condition and Circumſtances of his own Family and Flock or of his abſent Friends and Relations, the Town, Country, Nation and the Protestant Intereſt abroad in the World. He was very particular on the Face of divine Providence toward all and each of theſe.—And ſometimes he would diſcourſe largely to us on the Chapter read after Prayer.—He ſeemed greatly affected in the Time of reading, and made his Pauſes and often found ſomething new and striking in the Oracles of God.—

I ſhall give but one Inſtance of many, and that is mentioned by himſelf in his Funeral Sermon on the Honourable Mrs. Fances Shirley 1746.

"I can never (ſays he) forget, how as I was once reading the 6th Chapter of the Prophet Zechariah's Prophecy in my Family, thoſe Words in the 8th VerſeThe Doctor ſoon after reading this Chapter in his Family, preached ſome excellent Sermons on the Text and Context. ſtruck me with a marvellous Light and Force, "Behold theſe have quieted my Spirit: repreſenting to me the perfect infinite Complacency which the Soul of God has in all Events of his Providence, which are all and every one of them altogether ſuch as they ſhould be; the full Accompliſhment of the everlaſting Purpoſes of his own Wiſdom, Holineſs and Grace; wherein therefore the Hole Spirit of the Lord muſt have everlaſting Rest and Quiet, Pleaſure and Satisfaction. Can there be a more calming, quieting Conſideration than this to the Spirit which God has made and ſanctified! has made to govern, and to be in Subjection unto his own holy, perfect and bleſſed Will: "Behold theſe have quieted my Spirit: And what quiets the Spirit of the Lord ſhould quiet ours; and will do ſo, if we deſire to be holy, wiſe and good as He is."

Such Perſons who have been much in the Doctor's Company have often ſeen and known (if any external Signs can indicate it) "That he was abundant in Ejaculatory Prayer: How would his Eyes and Hands be lifted up to Heaven, on hearing of the Diſpenſations of God's Grace and Providence? And in his latter Years, his devout Thoughts and inward Breathings were frequently vented in pathetic Expreſſions of Humiliation and Praiſe on one Occaſion and another.

There are not indeed ſo many Particulars recorded of his Cloſet and ſecret Devotions and Communion with God, as is wiſhed for; and thoſe that are found have ſuch a Relation to Family-Circumſtances and other Grievances, as the Publick is but little concerned in, and therefore muſt be omitted: Nevertheleſs, on juſt Grounds we may aſſert, "That he ſpent much Time in Self-Examination, Supplications, Interceſſions, and Renewals of Covenant— Such important Duties he preſſed with all Earneſtneſs on his Children and others, not only from the ſacred Deſk (as what he preached and printed abundantly proves) but alſo in his private Letters and Viſits and Applications to Souls.—'Tis probable, he deſigned, as is ſaid of the Rev. Mr. John Shower, "That the chief Tranſactions between God and his own Soul ſhould remain a Secret."

However, I find him ordinarily taking a religious Notice of the Return of his Birth-Days, and compoſing and preaching Sermons ſutable to the Occaſion.

I ſhall offer the Reader two or three Records, made of Incidents and Occurrences, by which you may judge of his good Spirit and Frame of Mind, under Providences.

Upon his Removal from his Houſe in King-Street to his new-built Houſe in Brattle-Street, May 1715, he wrote this Meditation, "It was a very pleaſing and inſtructive Sight once to me in a far diſtant Land, where a Perſon of Honour and Riches was building a ſtately Houſe for himſelf and his Family, but at once he took off the Workmen to build himſelf a Vault or Tomb to be buried in. It becomes us ever to keep in Mind, and lay to Heart, the Remove that we muſt ſoon make to our Grave.— A convenient Houſe, and eaſy Bed, and agreeable Relatives, are among the valuable Comforts of this Life. When we are building to our ſelves pleaſant Houſes to live in, we ſhould all the while be thinking of the darkſome Houſe or Place, where our Bodies will ſhortly be laid: And when we enter into our new Habitations, or after we are ſettled in them, the ſame Thought muſt ſtill abide with us. We muſt not entertain a Thought of living long; and muſt be willing and ready to go, and to leave our new-built Houſes as ſoon as God calls us away. They are only to be uſed as Accommodations for us in the Way unto an everlasting Habitation and Houſe eternal.— We may not ſet too much by an Houſe on Earth, but ought to raiſe our Affections to Things above, &c.—We ought to ſerve God in our Houſes—This was Joſhua's holy Reſolution, As for me and my Houſe, we will ſerve the Lord! And this was David's, Pſal. 101. I will walk within my Houſe with a perfect Heart, &c. Surely we ought, under the outward Smiles of Providence upon us, to be renewing the Conſecration of our ſelves and all that we have to the Service of God; we ought like Abraham, to charge our Houſholds and our Children after us to keep the Way of the Lord. We ought to worſhip God in ſecret, in our Cloſets, and we ought every Day to pray to, and praiſe him in our Families: We ought to read his holy Word, and meditate on his Law, and teach it diligently to our Children, and talk of it when we ſet in our Houſe, when we lay down, &c. Thus we muſt write as it were upon the Poſts of our Houſe, and our Gates, Deut. 6.7, 9.—Our Houſes ſhould be Bethels, little Churches for the Practice of Piety, and the Exerciſes of Devotion therein, that the Apoſtle's Salutation may reach us, Rom. 16.5. Greet the Church in their Houſe. With theſe and ſuch like Meditations, I can truly ſay, I have been building, and would now enter into my new and pleaſant Habitation: May they abide and dwell always in my Soul, that thus I may there dwell the few remaining Days of my frail Life."

As he wrote and printed Sermons, Meditations and Letters on the great Earthquake in the Year 1727, ſo I find him making the following Record of that which happened on June 3d. 1744.

"In the Midſt of Singing, in the Morning Exerciſe, being the Lord's-Day of our holy Communion, a great Shock of an Earthquake terrified the Congregation, and broke off the Worſhip; all roſe up, many ran out of the Houſe, Women and Children cried out, &c.— But it pleaſed God to enable me to riſe up and take the Pulpit, and with great Compoſure and Sedateneſs, and an unexpected Flow of ready Words to ſtill and quiet the Aſſembly; who all earneſtly liſtned to me, and I went on and finiſhed the Exerciſes, and adminiſtred the Sacrament of the Lord's-Supper with the greateſt Solemnity, Propriety, Fulneſs and Brevity I had ever experienced. — Laus Deo.

On Dec. 31ſt 1743. He writes in his Almanack,

"I thank God, I have been enabled to go through a World of Work ſince Mr. Cooper's Death; and now am preparing for a ſorrowful New-Year's-Day; and if it be my dying, Year, I commit my Soul, and the Flock, to the great Shepherd—the everlaſting Father."

Before I finiſh theſe Sections, I cannot but in Juſtice mention the high Regard, the Doctor paid to the Chriſtian Sabbath Sint Occuli, manuſque Veſtrae Toto illo die ad Deum expanſae. — He mentioned it oftner in his Prayers and Sermons, and preſſed the due Sanctification of the Lord's-Day, beyond any Divine I have ever known.Vid. His Sermons entitled, the Doctrine and Law of the Chriſtian Sabbath—His large Preface to the Rev. Mr. Homes's Treatiſe on the Sabbath—His Manuſcript Sermons are full of the Sabbath.

He ever manifeſted his Mindfulneſs of it, and Joy at its Approaches, in his Morning-Prayer on Saturday, began it in the Evening,According to the laudable Practice of ſome of the moſt eminent Fathers of New-England. and was truly in the Spirit in his own Houſe, as well as God's.—And although he preached in the Forenoon to Wearineſs, he not only ſoon retired to his beloved Study for Devotion, but alſo ſometimes read and inſtructed his Family in the Time of Intermiſſion —And in the Evening did often repeat his Sermon; and with great Fervour and Enlargement, lead in the religious Duties of the Family, as he has directed others in his Treatiſe of Family-Worſhip.

Moſt Company gave him Uneaſineſs and Diſturbance on the Lord's Day.—He uſed to invite and admit Perſons (for Conference in the Evening) when he firſt ſettled in Boſton, but found ſuch Inconveniences attending it, that he was obliged to deſire his Friends to viſit him at other Times.

§. He paſſed through many fore Trials and Temptations in the ſeveral Stages of Life (ſome of which have been already recorded in this Narrative) I ſhall only curſorily mention a few more of them. He ſometimes ſuffered by the Tongues and Pens of angry and unreaſonable Men for his zealous Eſſays to ſerve the beſt Intereſts of his Country, and the Churches of Chriſt.Many Libels (fraught with Scorn, Contempt, and Reproach of Lies) were thrown into his Yard and Garden from Time to Time. Good Men alſo of narrow and contracted Spirits, ill treated him on Account of his Catholiciſm. Under ſuch petty Perſecutions he was an Example of Patience, and inſtead of revenging Injuries (when it was in his Power) he laid himſelf out to do all the Kindneſſes he could to his Adverſaries. This might be ſhown in numerous Inſtances.I mean not to inſinuate here, that the Doctor was not ſometimes ſudden and high in his Reſentments of real and apprehended Injuries— for his natural Temper was quick and haſty, and he had the Infirmities as well as Sanctity of an Elijah.

There have been Times wherein he has been in ſtrait Circumſtances, and met with moſt grievous Diſappointments in worldly Matters, and this too after his Expectation had been long riſing; and ſome peculiar Family-Afflictions lay heavy upon him, and bruiſed the Heel of his Life. But all that ſeems further needful to be added under this Head, is a Record of his Behaviour under God's Viſitations of him by Sickneſs, and calling for the precious Lives of ſuch as were dear to him.

Since my Acquaintance with him, he was divers Times viſited with acute and threatning Maladies, and had the Sentence of Death within himſelf— But with what Conſtancy and Serenity, Tranquility and Peace, profound Reſignations to the divine Will, and Humiliation under the Hand of God, and unſhaken Hope and Truſt in his great Saviour, were they all entertained?— He ſpake to his Friends that viſited him in the Language and Spirit of David, "I have ſeen an End of all Perfection. Pſal. 119.96.—I go the Way of all the Earth. 1 Kings 2.2. And when (by his Deſire) we have been praying with him, and committing him to God, a Ray of the excellent Glory has appeared on him, and his inward Satisfaction and Joy has diſcovered it ſelf by a loud Amen.

§. His Graces were alſo tried in the often Sickneſſes and Deaths of his loved Wives, Children, Grand-Children, &c.— of which the Reader has had ſome Notices already. His Behaviour, and writing on theſe Occaſions follows.

All may ſee and read his truly Chriſtian Deportment under the Death of his Daughter Turell in the Sermons, &c. publiſhed to the World.

On the Sickneſs and Death of a dear Grandſon, he writes,

"The Lord prepare us for his holy Will, and the Child for his everlaſting Mercies. Help us by Faith to reſign and commit it, Amen; and yet ſpare it to us, if it may be for his Glory.

I am your Father and Brother in Tribulation, and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jeſus Chriſt. Your Love and Affection, will I think, be my higheſt and only Conſolation, under the paſt breaking Bereavements, after the Conſolations of the Grace and Spirit of Chriſt, which are internal and ſanctifying. I am going from you very ſoon. O might I no more be called to bury Children, but as God will, if it may be for his Glory. Pray for me, for I am weak! Lord, help me, for I am broken! So commending you to the Love, Grace and Conſolation of your Father in Heaven, I remain your ſecond unworthy earthly Father &c."

Immediately after the Death of his Daughter Dennie, he wrote theſe Words.

"Father thy Will be done! Thy Name be ſanctified. Glorify thy Grace in me, that I may glorify thee.— Who am I Lord, and what is my Father's Houſe, that thou haſt brought me hitherto.—My Turell died in Fear, who never offended any one, and if ſhe knew her own Heart, had a Thouſand Times given herſelf to God. My Dennie dies in Peace and Tranſports, that had made the greateſt Breaches on me, and had given Scandal and Offence to all in Point of filial Duty.The Reaſon of my recording theſe and other Things of Mrs. Dennie here, is, her Father's known Deſire, that the World ſhould know ſomething of her and them.— The Grace of God is free and ſovereign. He has Mercy becauſe he will have Mercy.

Scarce any Thing touched the Doctor's Soul more nearly than the ſudden Death of his dear Colleague, the Rev. Mr. William Cooper.

When he was lying under the deadly Symptoms of a Lethargy, the Doctor made and wrote his Supplications to Heaven for his precious Life, in the Cloſe of a Sermon preachedFrom Acts 9.34. Eneas Jeſus Chriſt maketh thee whole.

It has been obſerved to me, by ſome or the moſt intelligent of his Congregation "that under, and after the heavy and repeated Calamities and Sorrows laid upon him in later Times, he appeared more animated, enlivened and brightned in his Publick Exerciſes.

on Monday Morning to a reverend and ſorrowful Aſſembly, who early and earneſtly came together, to humble themſelves and cry to God to ſpare and heal him.

After Mr. Cooper's Death (which was the next Morning) I find ſorrowful Mention made of it in divers Papers of Addreſſes to the Church, and Supplications to Heaven; all ſhowing how deeply his Spirit was affected by this ſore Stroke of Providence, and alſo the holy and wiſe Improvement he made upon it.

The good and juſt Character of this excellent and valuable Servant of God may be ſeen publiſhed in a Sermon preached by Dr. Colman, the Lord's Day after his Funeral, from thoſe Words, John xi. 35. Jeſus wept; and dedicated to the honoured Committee of the Congregation.This Character I purpoſed to have inſerted at large in this Narrative, according to my Promiſe of a more particular Account, in Pag. 51; but leſt this Work ſhould exceed the propoſed Limits, it muſt be omitted.

CHAP. X. The Doctor's Mindfulneſs of Death — The Time and Manner of his Withdraw and Departure.

DR. Colman, like his great Maſter Chriſt Jeſus, was ever mindful of the Hour of his Death; and often ſpake of it in his Prayers, Preaching,Vid. His Sermon from John 9.4. on the Rev. Meſſirs. Brattle and Pemberton's Death, printed 1717.— Alſo his Sermon before the General Court 1736, from Zech. 7.8, 9. Wherein he has theſe Words, "I ſuppoſe this may be the laſt Exerciſe on a publick Occaſion I may dare to undertake. I have ſtirred up the Gift that is in me, as a Candle in the Socket will now and then flaſh up. Regard what I have ſaid as ſome of the laſt Words of a true and faithful Friend to the civil and religious Intereſt of this People. In a Sermon from Pſalm 138.2. printed 1732, he gives his dying Charges to Miniſters and People. Converſation and LettersIt would be endleſs to quote Paſſages from his Sermons or Letters. to his Friends.

His tender Conſtitution and often Infirmities from his YouthIn which Reſpect it might be ſaid, Anima Galbae male habitat. A Phraſe the Doctor often uſed. up, together with many ſudden and threatning Shocks on his Health by acute Diſeaſes, were earneſt and quickning Memento's to him of his Frailty and Mortality; and theſe he wiſely improved to a moſt ſerious and diligent Preparation for his great Change; and alſo as powerful Incitements to Faithfulneſs and Induſtry in his miniſterial Work.

A Saying of the renowned Baxter, was often in his Mouth, and ſometimes quoted by him in his Sermons, ſcil. "I often reflect with Pleaſure on the Goodneſs of God through my Life, that by a weak and dying State of Body, I have been kept ſtudying, praying and preaching like a dying Man for Thirty Years together." A conſtant inwrought Senſe of our ſtanding on the Borders of Eternity, is one of the moſt effectual Motives to our Zeal and Diligence in the ſacred Work, and it is alſo of eminent Uſe to direct us what Studies and what Labours to purſue, and which to neglect.

About the Time of his preaching Funeral Sermons on the Deaths of the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather, and the venerable Mr. Solomon Stoddard The Sermons are both printed in the Years 1728, and 1729. of Northampton, at the publick Lecture in Boſton, he found himſelf ſo languid and ſpent that he expected daily to depart— When he was helped home from one of thoſe Exerciſes, he fainted in his Study, and ſpoke to us of ſoon following thoſe Worthies of our Iſrael, to the eternal World— And agreeably to ſuch Apprehenſions and Impreſſions, he took Care to ſet and keep his Heart and Houſe in Order and died daily He ever kept a Will by him that he might not have the Trouble and Anxiety of tranſacting worldly Matters on a dying Bed.— But a gracious God had more Work for him to do, ſome great and ſpecial Services for his Name and Churches, and Poor among us, which have been at large related in the preceeding Chapters. After this his Health grew firmer for a conſiderable Number of Years, and he was brought to his End by a meer gradual Decay. As it has been obſerved of the great Mr. Locke, "That by a conſtant Temperance, he preſerved a very weak Conſtitution to an Age very few attain unto" So under Providence, the Age of Dr. Colman may be aſcribed to a nice Care about, and a diſcreet Uſe of thoſe Things which Phyſcians call Non-Naturals. "Things that enter not into the Nature of Diſeaſes, though they are Cauſes of them, viz. Air, Meat, Drink, Sleep and Watching, Motion and Reſt, Retention and Excretion, and the Paſſions of the Mind.—Bailey.

He had that great Favour of God granted to him, which ſome eminent Lights of the Church have earneſtly deſired, ſcil. "Not to outlive his Work and Uſefulneſs." God highly honoured him, by enabling him to preach conſtancy on Lord's-Days to his Seventy-fourth Year with very little Abatement of his former Vigour and Agreeableneſs—Thus his Day and his Work ended together.The Doctor preached the very Sabbath before he died, from Pſalm lxvi. 3. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy Works! In the Year 1737. He deſired to be excuſed from frequent Viſiting the Sick and the Adminiſtration of th • Sacraments.—But he often performed both theſe Services afterwards, in particular after the Death of his Colleague.— A long and bright Courſe! and that Promiſe was eminently made good to him, "Thoſe that are planted in the Houſe of the Lord, ſhall flouriſh in the Courts of our God:—They ſhall ſtill bring forth Fruit in old Age, they ſhall be fat and flouriſhing; to ſhew that the Lord is upright. Although he often complained both in publick and to his Correſpondents of his Memory and other Mental Powers failing, yet but very few Traces of ſuch a Debilitation were diſcernable in any of his Performances. — Nec tarda Senectus — Debilitat Vires Animi mutatve Vigore.

• s good a Judge as moſt in the Nation writes thus to him March 18. 1745.

"Notwithſtanding your Compla •• ts, I ſee no Marks of your declining Strength in your Letters. Your Imagination ſeems ſtill very lively, your Judgment ſolid, and your Manner of expreſſing your Sentiments quite clear, diſtinct, methodical and ſprightly.

May your Health, your Talents and Capacity for extended diſtinguiſhed and uncommon Uſefulneſs be long indulged to you, and particularly may your Miniſterial Labour be crowned with the moſt deſirable and abundant Succeſs.—

B. A.

—"He was brought ſlowly and ſafely to Heaven" as Dr. Bates ſays of Mr. Ba • ter—Serus in C •• lum—

No remarkable Symptoms appeared of his Di •••• ution being at Hand, until a few Days before he died— He mentions one in a Letter (the very laſt I ſuppoſe h • ever wro • e, whether ſent or not, is uncertain) to his honoured Friend and Correſpondent Dr. Benjamin Avery, the rough Draught of which is found dated, Auguſt 26. 1747 (three Days before his Death) wherein are theſe Paſſages, ſcil.

"Moſt honoured Sir,

I once more ſalute you before I die. The Humours long reſting in my Feet, have taken a ſudden Turn upward to my Breaſt; and whether I ſhall be able on the Verge of Seventy-four, tender and aſthmatick from my Youth up, to ſerve the Flock to whom I have not failed yet in my weekly Miniſtrations; or to ſerve my Country again by my late failing Correſpondence with you and others, is with the God of my Life.

The laſt Effort I have made for the Service of my Country and Nation, and the Churches here, and with you, and we are one in CHRIST; is in the incloſed Letter to the Honourable Sir PETER WARREN, which I have lately forwarded to him, and if he have not received it, I leave it open for your Reading, and putting a Seal to it; and if you think it of Importance enough to diſcourſe with him upon it, and ſtrengthen his Hand in God, by your generous chriſtian Manner of Addreſs, I hope it may be of publick Advantage to the Britiſh Kingdom and Provinces, the Religion of JESUS which you have been ever and highly ſerving; and may you live on to ſerve by the Will of God.

Salute from me our honoured Friend Mr. Palmer, to whom I even wiſh to have communicated every worthy Endeavour for publick Benefit to State or Church: And when you ſee Dr. Watts or Dr. Guiſe, ſalute them from me; to whom I have not failed to write, if the Enemy do not intercept, &c. &c. The Letter referred unto —To the Right Honourable Sir Peter Warren ſhould have been inſerted if a Copy of it could have been found.

Thus this Friend, Ornament and Glory of New-England expiring wrote.

And while ſuch evident Symptoms of Death were upon him, he viſited and took leave of ſome of his near Relatives and ſpake to them of his Deceaſe.

Even the Day before he died he received Company at Home.—Mrs. Colman's Son, Charles Frost Eſq with his Spouſe arrived from the Eaſt-ward to pay a Viſit, whom he welcomed with his uſual Complaiſance: But told them withal (after the firſt Salutations were over) "That they were come to ſee him die." He alſo ſpake to his Colleague (in the Evening) with a Countenance that ſhewed how perfectly reconciled he was to the Thoughts of Death; "whether any Thing can remove the Diſorder I am under I know not. I leave it with God." He ſpent the Evening religiouſly and pleaſantly with them, and about the Hour of Eleven waited on them to their Chamber, bleſſing them and wiſhing them a good Repoſe. Then returning to his own, he endeavoured to compoſe himſelf to Reſt, but had little Sleep. However, he roſe in the Morning as uſual, but rather more feeble than on the preceeding Day, and about the Hour of Nine or Ten A. M. after a little faint Turn or two expired in an happy Euthanaſia. God kiſſed away his Soul (as the Jews expreſs it.)Sicce detur nobis Vivere, ſicq • e Mori. Thus he was favoured with a kind of Tranſlation, and his Spirit conveyed on the Pinions of Angels to the Paradiſe of God, the Hades of the Bleſſed to adorn the Heavenly World.When all Things are in readineſs for our Removal our of the World, it is a Priviledge to be ſpar'd the ſad Ceremony of parting, and all the Pains and Struggles of feeble Nature Mrs. Rowe's Life.

Hereby our Glory is thinned, and a ſplendid Part of the Beauty of our Iſrael fallen, or rather aſcended!

His ſurviving Brethren with the Sons of the Prophets will be looking up and crying after him as Eliſha after Elijah, My Father, My Father, &c.2 Kings 2.12.

All New-England is called to mourning on this ſolemn Occaſion, as Iſrael was for their Moſes, their Aaron, their Samuel, &c. and ſhould pay all due Honours to his Remains and Memory, as to a Jehoiada of whom it is ſaid —He had done good in Iſrael, both toward God, and towards his Houſe.2 Chron. 24.16.

We have often (of late Years) been called to utter our Sorrows, upon ſeeing the Execution of that divine Threatning, "For behold the Lord, the Lord of Hosts, doth take away—The Prophet, and the Prudent, and the Ancient—and the eloquent Orator. Iſa. iii. 1, 2. Several aged and excellent Miniſters have lately died, and ſeveral younger Ones alſo.— Which brings to my Mind a Saying of the great Mr. Howe (in a Dedication of a Sermon upon the Deceaſe of the Rev. Mr. Matthew Mead) "Such excellent Perſons leave this World ſo faſt, that it grows a more difficult Choice, with whom to live, than with whom to die!"

May a double Portion of the Spirit of Piety, Induſtry, Fidelity, Candour, Catholiciſm, Generoſity, Charity, &c. which eminently dwelt in, and was exerciſed by this deceaſed Servant of God reſt upon, and be increaſed to all ſurviving Miniſters through the Land, and Chriſtian World:—And particularly on the dear young Paſtor of that Flock of Chriſt, to whom our Reverend Father ſo long miniſtred.

And may this Breach (wide as the Sea) be ſoon repaired by our glorious Mediator, JESUS, with whom is the Reſidue of the Spirit (and all needful precious Gifts for his Church) by fixing ſome eminent Man of God over the Congregation, in whoſe Light, Influence and Uſefulneſs, they and all New-England may again and long rejoice.

May the God of all Conſolations abound in his divine Supports and reviving Comforts to all bereaved Relatives and Friends: And in ſpecial Favour take up in the Arms of his Providence and Grace, the dear and only remaining Branch, and ſo form, and furniſh, and ſpirit him for Service, in his Generation, that he may adorn the Memory of his great and good Grand-father.

May the honoured and bereaved Church and Congregation in Brattle-Street (for whom the Deceaſed ever expreſſed the higheſt Eſteem and Honour, the tendereſt Love and Affection, both in his Youth and Age, and to whom by his Will, he bequeathed a ſelect valuable Number of Books out of his Library, for the Uſe of their Paſtors in all Times to come, beſides a Sum of Money for their Poor,) Remember them which have had the Rule over them, who have ſpoken to them the World of the Lord, and follow their Faith, conſidering the End of their Converſation.

It is not my Province here to exhort, counſel and direct you— Yet permit me to ſay, your excellent Paſtors (now with God) ſpeak unto you in their many uſeful Publications (left in your Hands) with all Wiſdom and Pungency.

Some Paragraphs, eſpecially in the late Dedication and Addreſs made to you before the Sermon on the Death of your firſt honoured and beloved Cooper, which is in your Hands, are recommended to your ſerious Review.

If any ſhould enquire concerning the Perſon of Dr. Colman, in what Kind of Body, this bright and holy Soul was lodged;

His Form was ſpare and ſlender, but of a Stature tall, and erect above the common Height; his Complection fair and delicate; his Aſpect and Mien benign and graceful;Vultu et Sermone benigna. and his whole Appearance amiable and venerable. There was a peculiar Flame and Dignity in his Eye; which he could ſoften and manage with all the Beauty and Force of Oratory; but ſtill natural, and without the leaſt Affectation. Wiſdom and Grace made his Face to ſhine; eſpecially while praying or preaching, when we beheld him, like another Stephen, his Face as it had been the Face of an Angel. A reverend and worthy Brother, who was ſo kind as to ſend me ſeveral fair Lines towards perfecting the above Deſcription of the Doctor's Perſon, writes, "I have ſeldom ſeen or heard him in the Charms of his Pulpit Attitude and Utterance, without raiſing in my Mind Sir Richard Blackmore's fine Lines on his Orator Tylon which ſeem made on Purpoſe for the Doctor. —Whoſe charming Tongue was never match'd, A ſacred Man, a venerable Prieſt, Who never ſpake and Admiration miſt. He ſeem'd expreſs on Heaven's high Errand ſent, As Moſes meek, as Aaron eloquent. Nectar divine flows from his heavenly Tongue, And on his Lips charming Perſwaſion hung. When he the ſacred Oracles reveal'd, Our raviſht Souls, in bleſt Enchantments held, Seem'd loſt in Tranſports of immortal Bliſs; No ſimple Man could ever ſpeak like this! He triumph'd o'er our Souls, and at his Will, Bid this touch'd Paſſion riſe, and that be ſtill. Lord of our Paſſions, he with wondrous Art, Could ſtrike the ſecret Movements of our Heart, Releaſe our Souls and make them ſoar above, Wing'd with divine Deſires, and Flames of heavenly Love. And his neat and clean Manner of Dreſs, and genteel, complaiſant Behaviour, Politeneſs and Elegance in Converſation, ſet off his Perſon to the beſt Advantage.

His Picture drawn in the Year 1734, by the greateſt Maſter our Country has ſeen, Mr. John Smibert, ſhows both his Face and Air to Perfection: And a very conſiderable Reſemblance is given us in the Metſotinto done from it by Mr. P. Pelham, which is in many of our Houſes.

To finiſh this lovely and ſublime Character, we ſhall conclude with the publick Honours done him before the Fathers of his Country, on the Commencement after his Departure, in the Oration of Mr. HOLYOKE, the Reverend and Learned Preſident of Harvard College, at the Cloſe of the Academical Acts.

—“Finem ideò facerem, niſi quòd Morem juxta Societatis noſtrae ſolennem, Viros illos praeſtantés, Quorum Obitu, et Populus et Eccleſiae, Societaſque noſtra, Damnum lethale proximo Anno ſuſtinuêre (Paſtorum nempe Eccleſiarum quarundam Nov-Anglicarum) Meum commemorare foret; Viros ſcil. Reverendos Dom. Joſephum Lord Chathamenſem, Dom. Samuelem Moody Eboracenſem, Dom. Johannem Prentice Lancaſtrienſem, Dom. Thomam Cheney de Brookfield, Dom. Joſhuam Gee Boſtonienſem, Dom. Theophilum Pickering Ipſuicenſem et Dom. S. Clap de Woburn, Quorum nonnullos Eccleſiae praecipuè lugent, de Caeteris Eccleſiae non tantum, Nov-Anglia autem univerſa, Societaſque noſtra potiſſimum, Luctibus indulgent; Quibus Omnibus, egregiè licet ornatis, Virum verè Reverendum BENJAMINEM COLMAN longè praecellere, Nemo non facilè confitebitur, Societatis Qui noſtrae, per Annos quamplurimos Socius fuit, Deindè Praeſes electus, apud Glaſcuenſes nec non S. S. Theologiae Doctor, per Annos deniquè quinquaginta ferè Miniſter Jeſu Chriſti fideliſſimus, Cujus Mortem, Nobis infelicem, ſatis quomodo flebimus! Perelegantis etenim fuit, molliſque Ingenii Vir, Suavitate Morum eximiâ Eruditione pariter ac ornatiſſimâ praeditus: Concionator fuit verè millifluus, Generoſus conſummatus, cum primìs autem Chriſtianus candidus & apertus, undè Morte cum ſuâ congredi, optimè paratus fuit; Morre ſuâ, non dico repentinâ, ejuſmodi quippe, ſemper paratis evenire nequit.

Quod verò ad Societatem noſtram; Damnum eſt graviſſimum, etiam Fide majus; Nobis etenim fuit Amicus verè indefeſſus, etiam Benefactor maximus propemodùm dixeram; Ex Officiis etenim civilibus Sibi propriis, Beneficia illa egregia FAMILIA ex HOLLISSIANA Londinenſi nobiliſſimâ, in Nos collate fuêre, ut ex abundanti teſtatur, Gener ejus Reverendus, Qui Vitae ejus amabilis Hiſtoriam, Typis mandaturus eſt. Ope quinetiam ejus aſſiduâ, Eruditorum multi, Atlanticum ultera, Opera ſua inaeſtimabilia, in Nos contulerunt. Ne Multa; Vita ejus utiliſſima, in Rebus Charitatis, Humanitatis, Benignitatis et Beneficentiae, nunquam non occupata fuit. Prae Detrimento jamuſque hoc ingenti, Solamen Nobis nullum eſt, niſi quòd Servi fidelis Praemium, in Caelis, jampridem acceperit, Nomen et ejus memorabile, Odorem optimè redolentem, per ”Secula diffunder.