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THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF NEF/ ENGLAND. 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 E>ELI¥£RED IN THE SOUTH PARISH 
 
 IN ANDOVER, 
 APRIL 5, 1810 ; 
 BEING THE 
 
 ANNUAL FAST in MASSACHUSETTS, 
 
 BY JOHN HUBBARD CHURCH, a. m. 
 
 iPASTOR OF THE CHUR'CH IN FELHAM, (n. H.) 
 
 '..s^-^:^^i^i^iSi<H<^^gm<>>'<>}<>i<>-:<>^^ 
 
 SUTTON, (MASS.) 
 PRINTED AND SOLD BY SEWALL GOODRIDGE, 
 
 1810. 
 
Digitized by the Internet Arciiive 
 
 in 2011 witii funding from 
 
 Princeton Tiieoiogicai Seminary Library 
 
 littp://www.arcliive.org/details/firstsettlementoOOcliur 
 
A 
 
 SERMON. 
 
 PSALM, cv. 44, 45. 
 
 And gave them the lands of the heathen ; thai they might cl-^ 
 
 fewe blsjlatutest and keep his laws, 
 
 IJ^QR the glory of God all things were made; and hi? g] 01 y 
 ihould be the uhimate obje(5l of every intelli.^^ent being. F'-/ 
 every expreffion of his goodnefs to men, their obligations to gio- 
 rify his name are increafed. 
 
 For the glory of his name, God called Abraham from his con- 
 nexions and native land, and made with him an everiafting cove- 
 nant, to be a God to him and to his feed in their generations, and 
 to give them the land of Canaan for a poflcffion. ^ hen the 
 Ifraelites groaned in Egyptian bondage, he led them forth by 
 the right hand of Mofes, with his glorious arm, dividing the wa- 
 ter before them, to make himfelf an everlaiiing name. And 
 he afterwards led them into Canaan, and gave them the Unds of 
 the heathen ; that they might obfert-e his flatuteSi and keep his la<tv:. 
 
 Tfeefe words may be properly appHed to the firft fettk-ment of 
 New England. God gave our fathers pofTefiion of this land, that 
 they might obferve his ftatutes, and keep his laws : or, in other 
 words, that they might promote the pure religion of the gcfpel. 
 That this was the delign of our anceftors in fetli'ing in this li^nd, 
 is evident. 
 
 In the firfi place, from the circumftances which induced 
 their removal. 
 
 The reformation of the fixtcenth century was extended 
 into England, and led the e(^abli(hed Church to adopt a purer 
 creed. The thirty-nine articies of their faith coinprife the 
 fundamental dodrines of the golpel. But nill they adhered, in 
 fome things, to the ceremonies of the Romilh Church. 
 1 o thefe ceremonies many pious peifons would not con- 
 form ; though wiilitig to fubfcr be to all the articles of the 
 true chriftian faith, and to the dodtrine of the facranients. But 
 King Jam.es I. was determined to have one religion in ceremo- 
 nv, as well as in fubftance. Tl.ofe who v^'ould not comply 
 with his determination wer(3 called Nonconfoimiils. They 
 were alfo called Puritans, brcaufe as a Writer* of the edabliflieil 
 Church obferved, they " would have the Church thoroughly 
 reformed : that is, purged from all thofe inventions, which 
 have been brought into it fince the age of the Apofdes, and 
 reduced entirely to the fcripture purity." 
 
 * Dr* Fulky quoted ifi Prince's N, E. Chronology y page $> 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 The Puritans, in three counties in the north of England, were 
 fcrined inlo tvv'o Churches, The Rev. Richard Chfton, a devout 
 and facctfsful preacher, was paftor of the Cliurch, whofe mem- 
 btrsbtgan the fettlemsnt of New England, Tht Rev. John 
 Robir.fon rncceeded him. It was the great objecfl of Mr. Robin- 
 fonand his brethren to feparate from the world. 'J hey were 
 oppofird to a reparation from any of the Cliin ches of Chrift ; 
 holding communion with the reformed Churches in Scotland, 
 France, and the Netherlands. They did not debar, from their 
 'communion, thofe of the Church of England, who gave evi- 
 dence of real pietv. It was the ccn-ruptions of that Church, 
 which they oppofcd : and this oppofition excited the bittereft 
 r^efcntment of King James and his Bifhops. 
 
 Being perfecuted for righteoufnefs' fake, Mr. Robinfon and 
 his bretjiren contemplated a removal. Although it was painful 
 to leave their eP.aie^, and bid farewell to their friends and the 
 country which gave them birth, yet they could readily do all this 
 for ihe quiet enjoyment of their religion Accordingly they 
 began, in 1607, to remove to Holland ; where religious fre'edoni 
 was univerfally enjoyed. From Amfterdam, the firft place of 
 their refidence, they foon removed to Leyden. There they 
 lived in great peace and harmony, and were treated with re- 
 lpe«ft. Their numbers increafed, until the communicants 
 •(mounted to three hundred. But difficulties and tri-ils ftill 
 awaited them. They had to endure fuch labor and hardfnip to 
 obtain the means of fupport, that fome returned to England. 
 Many in England were difcouraged, by thefe difficulties, from 
 going to Holland. I he youth were in great danger of being 
 corrupted by the vices and temptations of Leyden. Some left 
 their parents either for a military or feafaring life. -And fuch 
 were *' the diiTipated manners of the Hollanders, efpecially, 
 their lax obfervance of the Lord's day," that our pious fathers 
 could fee little or no profpe(fl, in that place, '* of perpetuating 
 a Church, which they believed to be conftituted after the fimple 
 and pure model of the primitive Chiu^ch of Chrift."* At 
 length they turned their thoughts to America. Here was pre- 
 fentcd, to their view, an extcnfive continent, inhabited by mil- 
 lions of their fellow men, um'er the dominion of the prince of 
 darknefs. Hov/ important to difleminate the ivords of eternal 
 life among this wretched people ! It was forefeen that a re- 
 moval to this country mufl be attended with heavy trials an4 
 imminent dangers. But their zeal to propagate the gofpel, and 
 enjoy its bleflings, infpired them with unlhaken refolution and 
 fortitude. So gloomiy were their profpe<fts, in a temporal view, 
 that nothing but a regard to the gofpel, to its precious truths 
 and inCtitulions, could difpofe them to attempt a removal to this 
 ?.\nd. But with much prayer and pious confultation, they 
 termed tiie noble defign. 1 his defign, they executed ; bii,t ftQ^ 
 
 * See Pr bice's N, E, Chronolo^j and Ht^lmei Am^lst 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 without much defa7 and trouble. Neail7 three years wers 
 fpent in miking arr^mgemerits for their intended enterpriie. 
 New difficulties arofe. :But they perfevered ; and in July i6;o, 
 the pious adventurers failed from Holland to England. From 
 thence, auguft5, they failed, in two veflcls, for the new world. 
 But they were twice obliged ta return into port, by reafon of 
 the leakinefs of one of the vefiels. 1 his was difmiffed as unfit for 
 the fervice. In the other vefiel they fet fail, the third time Scp= 
 tembet 6. But when half acrofs the Atlantic, they might have 
 been obliged to return, on account of the. inj'ury done to the 
 Ihip by contrary winds and violent ftorm.s. had it not been for a 
 large iron fcrew, which one of the paifcngers brought from 
 Holland. With this they repaired the fhip ; *' and then commit- 
 ting themfelves to the divine will.'-' they proceeded on their voy- 
 age, and arrived in Cape Cod harbor, November lo. At Plym- 
 outh, they comm.enced the fetlement of New England. 
 
 Uniformity in the obfervance of religious ceremonies was flui 
 enforced in England ; and Archbiiliop Laud adopted fo rigorous 
 meafures againfl the Puritans, that numbers of them croiTed the 
 Atlantic, at different times, and began fettlements in Salem.., 
 Charleltov.m. Boflon, Dorchefter. and other places, that they 
 might promiote the pure religion of the gcfpci. i hat this was 
 thedeiign of our anceftors, is evident, 
 
 Ih thefecond place^ from their doctriRal belief, their pietyj 
 and their fubfequent meafures. 
 
 Mr. P.obinfoii was a learned, orthodox, pious divine. lie 
 was a zealous advoca'je for the doctrines of grace. He and his 
 brethren believed, ** that the in/pied Scriptures only contain tos 
 true religion ; — that every man has a right of judging for him- 
 felf, of trying do<5trine3 by them and of worfhipping according 
 to his apprehenfion of the meaning of them ;— that the doc- 
 trinal articles of the Church of England,* as alfo of the reform- 
 ed Churches of Scotland, Ireland, France, the Palatinate, 
 Geneva, Switzerland} and the United Provinces, are agreeable to 
 the holy oracles; — that every particular Church' of Chrilt is on- 
 ly to coalilt of fuch as appear to believe in and obey him •, that 
 fuch — have a right to embody into a Church for their mutual 
 edification ; that this embodying is by fome certain contract or 
 cavenant : — that being embodied, they have a right of ehconng 
 all their officers : that the officers appointed by Chri-It, for this 
 embodied Church, are in fome refpeds of three forts, in others 
 but twO; viz. Paftors or tea-ching elders ; — mere ruling elders, 
 wh'9 are to help the paf^or in overfteing and ruling:— and 
 deacons. — that thefe officers being chofen and ordained, have 
 no lordly, arbitrary or impohng power, but can only rule and 
 mini:' er with the confcnt of the brethren. ; who ought nor "m 
 contempt to he called the laity, but to be treated as men and bre- 
 thren in Chrift, not as flaTes or minors ; — that baptifm is a f^al 
 A a 
 
 * Tke/e are the doBrines ufually dcmmlnated Calvmif-ic. 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 cf the covenant of grace, and ITiouM be difpeafed only to viable 
 believers, with their unadalt children; and this in primitive pu- 
 ri')'. as in the times of Chrift and his Apostles, without the lign 
 of the crofs or any other invented ceremony ; that the Lord's 
 Supper ihouldbe received as it was at tirft, even in Chrifl's im- 
 mediate prefence, in the table po'*ure.''* For fucb principles^ 
 •; this people fufFcred in Enpjand. fled to Holland, traverfed the 
 ocean, and fought a dan;j:erous retreat in thefe remote andfavage. 
 deferts of Notth America; that here they might fully enjoy. 
 them, and leave them to '.heir laft poderity." 
 
 Their piet/ v/as no lefs confpicuous than the purity of theiE 
 dofrrines. For their piety, they were refpedted in Holland. 
 From the Magif^rates they received this honorable teftimony : 
 *' i hefeEngliihmen have lived among us, now thefe twelve years, 
 yet we never had one fait or action come againfi; them." tn re- 
 ierence to their intended removal to America, Meflrs. Robin«. 
 fon and Brewfter declared, in behalf of themfehes and their 
 brethren ; *« We verily believe and truft the Lord is with us \ 
 to whom and w^hofe fervice, we have given ourfelves in many, 
 trials, and that he will gracioufly profper our endeavors, ac- 
 t:ording to the fimplicity of our hearts. We are knit together 
 as a body, in a moft ftrict and facred bond and covenant cf thq 
 Lord." Their meafures were marked with fervent piety.' 
 They kept two days of folemn prayer before they left Leyden. 
 juft as they embarked for England, they commended them- 
 ielves with mo;l fervent prayer to God. Their expedation was 
 from him. Before they left England, Mr. Rclinfon, in a letter 
 v.'hich he wrote them from Holland, urged them *» to repen- 
 tance for all known fins : and generally for all that were un- 
 known, left God fhould fwallow them up ia his judgments ; 
 to live in peace with one another, and al! men ; not to give or 
 take offence; to have a proper regard for the general good; 
 arid avoid-as a deadly plague, all private refpe<rt for them-felves." 
 
 Having efcaped the dangers of the ocean, and gained the har- 
 bor of Cape Cod, they devoutly, on their knees, gave thanks to 
 the Lord for their fafc arrival. Previous to their landing, they; 
 entered into folemn contra6t, as the bails of their government ; 
 in which they declared they had undertaken their voyage for 
 the glory of God, and the advancement of the chriftian faith* 
 As focn as they landed they fell on their knees ** with hearty 
 praues to God, who had been their ajfurance^ when far off on, 
 ihe fea." In this pious and memorable manner, was the fejt- 
 tiement of New England commenced. 
 
 The piety of thefe worthy men was feverely tried, by cruel 
 perfecuaon in their native land ; by exceflive labor and bard- 
 fhip in Holland : by a long and tedious voyage acrofs the boift- 
 crous ocean ; b^' being driven upon a fhore, which was unknown 
 and iniiofpitiiblc, at the commencement of a dreary winter, 
 
 * Prince' { N, E. Chranokgyi page 91— 93« 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 %'hen they were worn out with toil and fufFerings, having neither 
 convenient fhelter, nor means of comfortable fupport> and be- 
 i-ng foon viiited with diltrcffing ficknels^ which, iaafew months 
 fvvept off nearly half of their number. By means of fuch Lriala, 
 their fervent piety became very manifeft. 
 
 In the noble enterprife of fettling this country, large num« 
 bers engaged. Many minifxers, eminent for piety and minifte- 
 riai qiialihcations, came into this land, and were founders and 
 paftors of Churches. Multitudes of pious and peaceable prot- 
 eitants here fought a refuge for their lives and Ub^srti^s, with 
 freedom for the worihip of God. Our fathers confidered thia 
 country as an afylum for the puritan religion, and aimed to cf- 
 tabhfh Churches as near the fcripture fi:andard as poflible. 
 
 The grand objeft, for which our anceftors came into this wil« 
 dernefs, was profecuted with becoming zeal. N^uch was done 
 to preferve the faith of the Churches in its parity. '• In 1637, a 
 Synod met at Cambridge for the fuppreffion of AHtinomian and 
 other errors. Eighty errors were prefented, examined and con-^ 
 demned. Great was the good which they effeded."* In 1648^ 
 another Synod, convened at Cambridge, adopt e-d the platform 
 of Church difcipline, called *• The Cambridge Platform :" and 
 in their refult, they fay, ** This S/nod, having perufed and con- 
 fidered, with much giadnefs of heart and thankfnlnefs to God,, 
 the confeffion of faith, lately publilhed by the Reverend AflJera-* 
 biy of Divines in England, do judge it holy, orthodox, and ju- 
 dicious in all matters of faiih. and do, therefore, freely and fully 
 confeat thereunto for the firbfrance" This vote was unani* 
 mous "** This was republilhed as *' their confeffion of faith» 
 and as containing the dodrlnes, conAantly taught and profeffed 
 in the New England Cnurc'nes.'' The fame confeffion of faith 
 was again adopted by the Synod of 1680; and the Geneial 
 Court ordered it to be printed '♦ for the benefit of the Churches-, 
 in the prefent and after times " The fame dodrinesf were agaim 
 pubiidy declared to be the faith of the Churches, " by a Gen- 
 eral Convention of Minin-ers. meeting Ir Bofton, May 28, 1702." 
 This Convention publifhed, •* ji fecybnable tejlimony to the giori' 
 §iis dG^rines of grace ;" from which the Rev. Ifrael Loring, in hia 
 lile«5tion Sermon, in 1737. gives the follov»ing extras : ''That 
 the moll high God hath, from all eternity, eleded certain perfona 
 from among the children of men, to be brought unto eternal 
 happinefa, in and by Jefus Chrift ; and this decree was not 
 founded in the forefight of any merit or goodnefa in the chofeu, 
 but in the mere good pkafure ©f God, who made choice of 
 them ; that the elected of God are in his everlaSing covenant ©€ 
 redemption, after a peculiar manner, given unto our Lord Melii'. 
 ah, who therein undertook to be their Head and their Redeemer: 
 that the redeemed of the Lord ihajl be, in his ti oie and vay, every- 
 cne ef them infallibly made partakers of effedual vocation, and 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 iJave the benefits, which he hath purchafcd for them, applied to 
 them: that "fallen man. having lolt t^ie freedom of his will lo 
 fpiritual good, he -.vill not beiieve and repent and anfwer the ca'l 
 of the gofpel untrlafupernatural cperailon of the Spirii of grace 
 upon him. do change his will ; which operation is beftowed in a 
 way of mere fovereign grace upon thofc only that are erdai.icd 
 unto life : that upon a tinner's accepting that fa/or of God by 
 faith, God imputes to him the right eoufnefs of that active and 
 paffive obedience, with which the Lord Jtfas Chrift, appeariHg 
 as the Surety of his people, has fwUy anfvv ered the law of God for 
 them ; and the finner is juftified before God, in that righteoufnefs 
 of the Lord Jefus Chriit : that every believer on the Lord Jefus 
 Chrift, being by faith united unto him, does henceforth glorify 
 his Lord., in doing the works of evangelical obedience by a 
 ftrength derived from him ; which good werks are the fruit and 
 proof, b^-it not the caufeof his juftification : and finally, that the 
 faints of God fhall pcrrfevere in their fancftily, and nothing fh.^ll 
 make them fall totally and finally from that grace, wherein they 
 Hand, and may rejoice in hope of the glory of God."' 
 
 The Churches of Connecticut were regulated by the Cam^ 
 bridge Platform- until 1708; v.hen they unaTiimouflv, by their 
 Paftors and Delegates, adopted •' The Saybrook Piatform','* and 
 a confeffion of fait.4. cofltaining for fub.f^^aiice the fame doctrines, 
 with that of the Afiembly of Divines at Wedminfter. 
 
 Our anceftors were thus engaged fvjr the parity of doctrine 
 and difcipline in the Churches, in order to maintain the poA^er 
 of godlinefs. For; as the Rev Ifraei Loring obferved in his 
 Eledion Sermon, *' It was well faid by Dr. Owen, that ^'■go/pel 
 truth is the only root whereon gofpel holinefs will grow. If any 
 worm corrode, or any other corrupt accident befal it, the fruit 
 will quickly fade and decay. It is impoffible to maintain the 
 pouuer of gzdlinefsf where the doctrine, from whence it fprings, 
 is unknov^-n, corrupted cr defpifed." Our fathers acted iil 
 conformity to this lentiment. 
 
 1 heir exertions were happily fucceeded. The Spirit was 
 poured out on th^ people and the wildernefs became a fruiiful 
 tield. In twenty-fcven years from the firft plantation, there 
 were forty-three Church.e3 in joint com.nlunioft with one ano- 
 ther; and in twenty-feven years more, there were upwards of 
 eighty Churches, compofed of kno'.vu, pious, and faithful 
 profeiTors. The Rev. Thom.as Prince fays, * There never was, 
 perhaps, before feen fuch a body of pious people together on 
 the face of the earth. For thofe. who came over firft, cam^ 
 hither for the fake of religion, and for that pure religion which 
 was entirely hated by the loofe and profane of the world. 
 Their civil and eccleliaftical leaders were exemplary patterns of 
 piety. They encouragt-d only the virtuous to come with and fol- 
 lO'V them I hey were fo ftri(5t on the vicious both in the Church 
 and State, that the incorrigible could not endure to live in the 
 country and went back again, profane f wearers and drunkards 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 wtre not>nown intlie land," Concerning that perled, It was 
 faid by an eininent Minifter, Rev. Mr» Firmin, in a diicourfe be> 
 fore the houfe of Lords and Commons, and the Aflembly of 
 olivines at Weftminfier ; *' I have lived in a country fevcn 
 years, and all that time, I never heard one profane oath; and 
 £ll that time; I never did fee a man drunk in that land." 
 
 When fym-ptocns of decienfion appeared, our fathers were 
 filled wi;.h grief and alarm. Mr. Stongfeton, in his Ele<5!ion 
 Sermon, in 1668, fays, '•* Alas ! how is New England in danger, 
 this day, to be loft even In New England ; to be buried in its 
 own ruins ? How fadly may we lament it, that all are not Ifrael, 
 that are now of Ifrael ? hlovv is the good grain diminifhed, and 
 the chaff increafed ? The firil generation have been ripened, 
 time after time, and the molt of them gathered in as (hocks of 
 corn in their feafon ; but we, who rife up to tread the foot= 
 ileps of thofe that have gone before us, alas ! what are we !— 
 What coolings and abatements are there charged upon us, in 
 the things that are good, and that have been our glory ? We 
 <Iiave abated in our efteem of ordinances, in our hungering aad 
 thirfting after the rich pro'«fions of the houfe of God. We have 
 abated in our love and zeal, in our wife, tender and faithful 
 maiiagement of that great duty of mutual watehftilnels ai^d 
 ^reprocf.*' 
 
 Rulers were then fo affe^ed with the declining ftate of reii^" 
 -gion, that *' in 1679, the Maflachufetts government called a 
 Synod of all the Churches in that colony to confider and an- 
 jfwerthefe two moft important queflions : (i) W feat are the 
 evils that have provoke<l the Lord, to bring hisjudgmcnts on 
 New England ? (2) What is to be done, that fo thefe evils may 
 he reformed :" *' After a day of fafting and prayer," which 
 -was obferved by the Churches, *' the Synod fpent feveral days 
 jln difcourling on the two great queftions. The refult, point- 
 ing out the fms of the time, and recommending a reformatiooj, 
 was prefcnted to the General Court *, which by an ad, — ' com- 
 mended it unto the ferious confideration of all the Churches acd 
 people in the jurifdidlion.* * nmong their anf.vers to the 
 fecond que(lion,the Synod advifed the feveral Churches to an ex- 
 prefs and folemn renewal of covenant with God,and one another : 
 with which many complied ; ajid therefore there was aconfid- 
 frable revival among them/* Dr. Cotton Mather fays * Very 
 femarkable vfas the bleffmg of God on the Churches, which did 
 not fo fleep. as fome others ; not only by a great advancement of 
 holinefsin i he people ; but alfo by a great additi©n of converts 
 to their holy fellowfhip. Many thoufand fpe»5tators will teftify 
 thaf they never faw the fpecial prefencc of the Great God our 
 Saviour m,ore notably difcovered, than in the folemnity of thefe 
 opportunities,"* 
 
 in thofe days, the Miniilers, in cledion fermons and other 
 
 * Cbri/iim Hijioryfor ij\^)p<!ige 107 } Qnd Halmei' Jhttifdi* 
 
f lO } 
 
 difcoutfes, labored to imprefs it on tke minds of the people, that 
 this ought never to be forgotten, that New England was origi- 
 nally a plantation of rehgion, not of trade; that pure religion 
 was the caufe of God and his people in this country j and that 
 ferventy vital piety was declining even in thofe Churches, which 
 were eftablilhed on purpofe to preferve and promote it. In 
 1702, Dr-Increafe Mather thus wrote : *' Let the life and power 
 of godlinefs be revived. That has been the iingular glory of 
 New England. The generality of the- firfl planters were men 
 eminent for godlinefs. Wc are the pofterity of the gtood old 
 puritan Noncomformifts in England, who vrere aftrid: and holy 
 people. Such were our fathers who followed the Lord into 
 this wildernefs. Time was, when thefe Churches were beauti- 
 ful as Tirzah, comely as Jerufalem, terrible as an army with 
 banners. What a glorious prefence of Chrift was there in all 
 his ordinances ? Many were converted, and willingly declared 
 what God had done for their fouls ; and there were added to the 
 Churche?! daily fuch as fhould be faved. Look into pulpits ; 
 ^nd fee if there is fuch a glory there, as onse there was. New 
 England has had teachers eminent for learning, and no lefs emi- 
 nent for holinefs and all miniflerial accomplifhments. When 
 will Bofton fee a Cotton and a Norton again ? When will New 
 England fee a Hooker, a Shepard, a Mitchel, not to mention 
 others ? No little part of the gloiy was laid in the duft, when 
 thefe eminent fervants of Ohrift were laid in their graves. Look 
 into our civil Hate : does Chrift reign there as once he did ? 
 Hov/ many Churches, how many towns are there in New En- 
 gland, that we may figh over them, and fay, The glory is gone !\* 
 
 Thus the fettiement of New England was commenced and 
 prafecuted for the advancement of pure religion. For this grand 
 obje«5t, our pious anceftors left their native land, and came into a 
 wildernefs, inhabited bv favages. For this, they labored and 
 toiled ; for this, they fafted and prayed. 
 
 From this vit:w of the firit fcttlem.ent and primitive ftate of 
 New England, we are led to inquire, 
 
 Whether we have not departed from the faith and piety of 
 our anee/lars .■* 
 
 BlefTed be the Lord, that many are now witnefTes for the 
 truth as it is in Jefus; that many Churches now fland *■ upon 
 the foundation of the apoftles and prophets-, Jefus Chrit him- 
 feM'being the chief corner ftone." c3 that thi« could be faid of 
 all ! But is there not in many of our Churches, a great and la- 
 mentable departure from the faith and. piety cf our anceflors ? 
 Alas • this muft be evident to every impartial otTfvver ; and 
 it fhould be noticed with- the deepeft humiliation and forrow of 
 heart. 
 
 The faith once delivered to the faiuts, was exceedingly dear 
 to our ance^ors. it formed, under divine ififluence. their ex- 
 Gt lltnt charaders. 'f hrctigh belief of the tru^ h they were fanc- 
 tofkd, and prepared fgr the noble and hazardous eaterprife of 
 
croffing the Atlantic, and eflablifhing charches of Chrjft in a 
 land of favages. Had they been Arminians, Arians, or Socinians, 
 their religious charaAers would have been eflentiallf diiierent. 
 Had they rejeded the capital dodrines of the gofpel would it 
 be too mucfi to fay^'that their hearts would have been nnhum- 
 hied, unreconciled to God, and deftitute of his love f But they 
 knew, they feit the power of divine truth. Thev received it in 
 love. They were zealous advocates for the dodtrine of grace. 
 Thefe were diftinfftly. held forth as the failk of all the ^ hurches. 
 A departure from this faith was feared as a mod deadly evil. 
 It was clearly perceived that, if the dodrines of ^race li ould be 
 exploded, the power of godlinefs could not be maintained. 
 Hence they manifefted fervent zeal againfl all manner of here- 
 fies; again. 1 evei7 thing deftniclive of truth and holincfs. Even 
 as lately as ia the days of Prefident Edwards, the fpread of Ar- 
 ininran fentiments excited much alarm. " 1 befriends of vital pi- 
 ety trembled for fear of the ilTue."* — But how great is our pref- 
 ent departure from the faith of the gofpel .'* How inany openly 
 rejed its eiTential doclriHes ? How many Churches make no ex- 
 plicit declaration of their belief of the cardinal truths of re-veh- 
 tion ? \^ hat oppolition is made, even in the heart of New Eng- 
 land, againft the real and proper divinity of the Saviour . his 
 atonement and everlafting righteoufneis, as the only ground of 
 the fmner's acceptance with God ; the perfonality and work of 
 the Holy Ghoft in the falvation of lo^ men : and again < other 
 conneded and equally important doctrines ? In^ead of being 
 valiant for the truth, how many are the zealous advocates of 
 error ? Inftead of contending earneftiy for the faith, they contend 
 for fentiments, which fubvert the gofpel. How many boaft of 
 their liberality and catholicifm, while vehemently oppofed to 
 the capital articles of the tme chri^.ian faith ? They can bear 
 with almofl any thing, except the truth. Hence the outcry 
 againft orthodox confeflions of faith — How different is all this 
 from the conduct of our worthy anceftors ? 
 
 A quotation from one of the brighteft ornaments of the New 
 England Churches^ Dr. Cotton Mather, may fenre to fhew our 
 fad apoftafy In his " directions for a candidate of the miniftry," 
 he fays ; •' I mud advife you, that the do3rines of grace be all of 
 them always ^ith you. as the very fait and foul of your fermons. 
 AfTcrt always the neceffity of turning and living unto God ; and 
 yet fuch an impotency in the wounded and corrupt faculties of 
 man, as renders a fupcrnatural and regenerating work of fover- 
 eign grace neceffary for it. Shew people how to plead the facri- 
 fice of our Saviour, that they may be forgiven , and how to lay 
 hold on his righteoufnefs, that they may be accepted with God. 
 Shew people how to overcome, and mortify, and crucifv their 
 evil appetites by repairing to the crofs of o^r Saviour ; and 
 how to derive ixrengtli from him for the doing and the be-aring 
 
 * Narrative cf revival of reli^wi at Njrthamptm. 
 
( 1* }■ 
 
 of an that they are called iintb, S^ewthe'peoplc of God how" 
 to take the corr.fort ot the r eternal election, and fpecial redemp- • 
 tion, and infuvcd pcrfeverance : and, at the fame time fetch 
 mighty incenti/e". to holinefi from thofe hc^es Avhich will for- 
 ever caufe them that have th^m to punf? themfelves. Gofpel- 
 izetothem ail the co-nmandments of the law, and ihew them 
 how to obey upon the principles of the gofpel : and how the 
 precepts of the gcfpel are fo many promifes of it. 'A ith a 
 ftrong application, ftudy the covenant of grace ♦, and let the fpir- 
 it of that covenant animate and regu-ate all yoiir performances, 
 when you blcfs the Lord in the congregation?. In thefe truths, 
 there are the articles, which the Church either ilands or falls 
 withal. They will be the hfe of vour minif!ry ; nor can the 
 power of godlinefs be maintained without them. Ihe lofs cf 
 thefe truths will render amini'>ry in'^pid and uniruitful; and ' 
 procure this complaint about the Shepherds : T^e dij'eajedyt 
 ha've tiof Jlrengthmed, neither have ye brought again that nvhich 
 fivaj dri'ven anvayJ — Such were the dire<ftions once given and 
 obferved in New England. But what eiTentially different di- 
 redlions are now given ? How many are fyftem.atically taught 
 to oppofe thefe all important truth? ? • -ow many are told to be- 
 lieve thatChriftis the Meffiah, while they are kept as ignorant 
 as poflible of his true cham(5ter and of the capital doctrines of his 
 gofpel ? The great Apoftle to the Gentiles did not teach in this 
 manner. He determined to know nothing but Chriil: and him 
 crucified ; and in execution of his defign. he declared all the 
 counfel of God, The doftrines of total depra'-ity, regeneration 
 by fpecial grace, ele(^ion, justification by faith, 'the final perfe° 
 verance of the faints, and the eternal deity of the Saviour, he 
 plainly and fully taught. The pious fathers of New England 
 aimed to follow him. But how many now rife up, and either 
 openly or implicitly ftigmatize them as bigots ? Alas ! how- 
 great is our degeneracy ! 
 
 Our apoftafy further appears from the oppofition that is mad^' 
 againlt revivals of religion, which are produced by the fpecial 
 operations of the Holy Ghoft. It is the object of many, at this - 
 day. to difcreditand reproach fuch revivals ; and to reprefent^-;, 
 the gracious exercifes of real converts as the reveries of deluded'' 
 fanatics or wild enthu(iaP-s. But in the early days of Ne^v Eng* 
 land, who ever kne at fuch opposition to the power of godlinefs ? 
 Then nothing was thought more important or m.ore joyful, than**- 
 for Gort to pour out his Spirit, and revive his work in the con^^ 
 verfion of fmners As an example of this, I will recite the*" 
 %yords of Mr Roger Clap, a worthy member of the Church in''' 
 Dorchefter. " Many joined unto the feveral Churches where"'; 
 they lived, confefling their faith publicly, and fhewing before ali^' 
 the afTembl^ their experiences of the workings of God's Spirit 
 in their hearts, to brmg them to Chri^. — O the many tears, that ' 
 have been (Led in Dorchefter meeting houfe, at fuch times, botk 
 by thofe that have declared God's work on thefr fouls, and alfo 
 by thofe that heard them \ In thofe days, Cod, even our God, 
 
r ^3 ) 
 
 ^Jd blefsNev.' England.*'*— About the year Tf4e, there \ra'? a 
 revival of gctilinefs, r^'hich exerted great ;oy in the Kew England 
 Churche*. The Rev. Mr. Foxcroft of JBoilon wrote thus con- 
 cerning it : " Let every new coiiverfion we fee or hear of, open 
 a freOi fpring of joy in our hearts, and fill our mou hs wiih 
 praife. As the number of converts in Zion in this remarkable 
 day of divine power and grac2, is on the increnting hand, and 
 much people are daily added to the Lord in one place and another, 
 how Should all that would approve themfelvep lovers of Chnfl: 
 and fouls, rejoice and give thanks ! Praife ye the Lord : praife 
 the Lord, O my foul. — O how fhould we nragnify the /-ord 
 with thankfgiving, v/ho is fo marvellonny, at this day, vifitiug 
 our land, to take out of it a people for kis nanse, and in fo extenfivc 
 a manner re-vi'ving kis nuork among us. May it fpread ftill more, 
 till the whole land, yea, the whole earth is filled with the glory 
 of the Lord/'t — In 1743. a Convention of about feventy Min- 
 iftersj in Bofton, declared publicly, to the glory of fovereign 
 grace, their full perfuafion that there had been a remarkable and 
 happy revival of religion in many parts of this land, through an 
 uncommon divine influence ; and they add, *' Thus we have de- 
 clared our thoughts as to the work of God, fo remarkably re- 
 vived in many parts of this land. And nO'V we dehre to bow 
 the knee in thankfgiving to the God and Father of our Lord 
 Jefus Clirift, that our eyes have feen, and our ears heard fuch 
 things.*' Such joy and gratitude were then exprelTed. Rut 
 what oppofition now appears to the fame work of fovereigft 
 grace ? How many treat it with open contempt ? How many 
 rejoice to hear the dodtrines of grace exploded, and revivals of 
 religion reproached as fanaticifm and delufion ? 1 hey wilh for 
 teachers, who will fpeak fmooth things, and not alarm them 
 by faithftilly declaring their total depravity of heart, and their 
 abfolute need of fpecial grace. They wilh to live as thev lift, 
 and ftill indulge their fond, though delufive, hopes of future 
 happinefs. As a natural confcquence of this oppoiltion to the 
 truth and to the power of godlinefs, thete ha=i been a great and 
 lamentable change in the morals of New England, Some fay 
 that the dodrines of grace tend to licentioufnefs. But fads con- 
 tradid the aflertion. It is not the truth, but herefy, which 
 tends to hcentioufnefs. The morals of New England have been 
 the pureft, when the truth kas been moft faithful ly lautht, ard 
 moft generally received. Jn proportion as the true dodrines of 
 the gofpel have been oppofed, and their oppofite errors pro- 
 pagated, have vice and immorah ty abounded= 
 
 * Cited in tlx Chrijlian hijlnry^ page 7Z. 
 
 \ Chrifiian hijlory^page 135. 
 
 t Ten of thefe belonged to Bofion. Upwards of forty Mlnifers 
 nvbo -Ji'ere not prefent> fent forrjjard their ^written tejlim^nies "to the 
 ^r)rk of God^s grace, Tbefe ^erepublifbed in tlx chrijlian hiflory. 
 
f 1-1 ) 
 
 . 1];;it fo many Clinvc'ies have left the gofpel foundation, is 
 ariother proi)f ofour apoftjuV. I'hc good oid way, which our 
 iithors trod, is ibrf^ikcn. Churches were not only formed witli 
 tiic gre.ittfl care, but our fathers were alfo very careful- and ftrid 
 ill Ihc adniifiion ol members. No ;?t:vfon was admitted to full 
 i-ommun'on, wlio did not give hopt^ul evidence of being a fub- 
 jcOTc of fptcial renewing grace. Thofe who wifhed for admif- 
 fioiK were c-irefully examined by the mihifler andfomeofthe 
 In-cthreiu Much pains were taken " to prevent the pohuting of 
 the ordinanc-', by llicii as walk fcandaioufly, and to pre\'ent 
 r.ien and women from eating and drinking their own condemna- 
 ti<m" Bat how many are now admitted to full communion, 
 without ;iny fuch examination, and without any evidence that 
 they have been renewed by fpecial grace ? When Churches 
 were ca'-efui and ftrid: in admitting members, they maintained 
 gofpel difcipline. But how m.uch is difcipline now oppofed and 
 ijeglcded ? This evhices Churches to be in a ftate cf great de- 
 cienfion. if not nigh unto ruin. *' When apoftafy prevailed in the 
 ^tialic Churches/' fays Dr. Increafe ^JaLher, " there was the 
 original wound. They did nctbrandiOi the fw ord of difcipiine» 
 which is Chrift's own expedient and appointm.ent for the prefer- 
 vation of Churches in purity; yea, this was a fatal negle<5i:, 
 which, by degree?, proved ruinous to thofe once famous and 
 glorious Churches. The negled of difcipline — brought in cor- 
 ruption of manners ; and corruption of manners was, through 
 the jufl revenging hand of God, attended v^ith coiTupdon of doc- 
 trine ; and thefe together provoked the Lord to lay thote 
 Churches moft defolate.'* ** So it was with the once famous 
 Churches of Bohemia ; remiiTnefs in their difcipline proved their 
 ruin '■' How ir>uch do we difcover of the fame apoftafy, in 
 many of our Churches ? In how many, is difcipHne wholly laid 
 afide ? How many members, guilty of herefy or immoral con- 
 dud., pafs unn-jticed and unreproved ? How deplorable is the 
 ft ate of fuch Churches ? 
 
 -Another thing which manifefts oar declenfion is the divifion 
 among profeffing chriftians. In the early days of New England, 
 there was. a very happy union. "Then" fays the Rev, Mr. 
 Shepard of Charleflown, " might be fecn magiftraies and min- 
 iflers togeihcr in way of advice : minifters and minifters cleaving 
 together in way of conmiunion : — Churches and Churches to- 
 getherinway of confultaticn, by greater and lefler fyno<ls; 
 magiil rates and minifters and their people togetlier, uniting 
 hands aud liearts in the cooimon cauft, breathing a public 
 fpirit. and confpiriug with holy zeal and vigor, to advance the 
 kingdom of ChriO-.'' Of the fame period the Rev. Jame • Fitch, 
 of Norwich, in Connecticut, fay?., " O the uniting glory then 
 manii^lt ; — grace ruling and ordering boch rulers and people 
 luidcr th.e gloi'iou.s banners cf true gi.-fpel koly love Then 
 were colonies united and a^urts united ;; magiftrates u'lited and 
 jsuiufkcr'o united ; Churdrics united and plantations united." 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 But what a fpirit of divifion now prevails ? And to what is this 
 ovving, but to a departure from the truth r If all who profcfs relig- 
 i(Ui. received in love the lame dodrincs, the prefent divifion would 
 not exist. But the fact is, that while fome adhere to the efTen- 
 tial ductrlnes of the ^-ofpd, others rejefc them. They depart 
 from the faith. Hence divifons arife. Many atttn^pts are 
 male to fo .v difcord among r^al bretliren ; and to prevent tbelr 
 uniting to defend and propagate the truth. Kerelits aie ii;- 
 duftrioufly circulated. By means of thefe, ib.y^vhy ar- approx'^^d 
 ar^ m.id:i manlfejl ; thofe who choofe darknels rather ih.m li^jht 
 are alfo made manifett. Saith the Apoitic John, *' They went 
 out from us, but they were not of us ; for if they had been of us, 
 they \vould no doubt have continued with us ; but they went 
 out, that they might be made manifeft that they were not all of 
 us." 
 
 The profanation of the Sabbath evinces mir apoflafy. This 
 holy day was veiy facrediy obferved by our picus anceftors. 
 Legiflators, and magiftrates, and heads of families were zeal- 
 oufly engaged to prevent the profanaiion of the day. T heir au- 
 thority and example had great and happy infiuencc. But how 
 much is the fabbath now profaned K How many fpend it in 
 jourr»cying, in vifiting, in parties of pleafnre, in nrirth, in rioting 
 and wantonnefs : no man forbidding the}?i ! How a!e the youtii 
 fuffered to walk about, and from houfe to houfe, and profane 
 the day by vain, if not corrupting converfetion ? V*'hat num- 
 bers come to untimely deaths, in the rnidft of their heaven dar- 
 ing profanation of the fibbath ? How many otrn^rs, by profan- 
 ing the. day, form habits of wickednefs, which brhig upon them 
 fure and dreadful deftrudtion .'' 
 
 Another thing which manifefts our fad declenfion is the neg- 
 lect of family worfhip, and the religious education of children. 
 Our fathers adopted this maxim, that " families are the nurferies 
 for the church and commonwealth : .rtiin families and you luiii 
 all.'"' Tf-eirhoiifcs were Babelsy in which GcvA was wonliipped 
 fcvery morning and evening. Kis biefiing was humbly fought ; 
 and his goodnefs gratefully acloiowledged. ChiJdrtn were early 
 taught, by e:<anijyle, to fear the Lord, .ind to feck his g^.ace by 
 praver. But now *^ the great wound and mifcry of New Englafi<! 
 i.s, that fimilie? are out of order." In how many, is prayer whol- 
 ly neglcifted ? Sor.ie mav ;;tlend the wcr{h.ip i^i God, occafion- 
 ally, or when they think it W(^uid be ptculiaiiy difgraccfsi to 
 onrt it. How m.any think it would be a lofs of time, to leave 
 their worlcily employments, in order to wait on God {ox liis blef- 
 fing ? V-, hat a fpirit of impiety is this ! ^nd do not fomc heads 
 cf families attc'.id prayer, whilii tliey deny this privilege to their 
 fep/ants and hired laborers I They treat thefe as if they had no 
 God to ferve, no fouls to fave ! How muft God regard the pray- 
 (^rs of thofe who love the world more than they love him, or the 
 fouls of men ? — Hoa'- diftrciTing to hear no prayer in a family \ 
 How inconliftent and impi-i^us is the condiuft of many, ^^q 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 abound in thanks to their fellow creati/t-ea, but give no thanks to 
 thtir great Creator ? In God they live ; and bis goodntfs is the 
 prime fdiirce of all their bkffings ; and yet they praAicaliy fay, 
 there is no Gcd ! 
 
 Children are alfo greatly neglc<5tcd. They are not fo general- 
 ly dedicated to God in baptifm, as they were in the early days 
 <>if -\^ew England. The learned and godly men, who compofed 
 the firft Churches in this landjneverconfidered the bapjifmofthe 
 believers children as a haman invention ; bat as a divine inflitu- 
 tion, and of equal authority and importance with the baptifm of 
 the believer. Upon this principle* the pure and orthodox 
 Churches of New England were firft formed. Pious parents 
 efteemed it a great privilege to dedicate their children to God in 
 baptifin. I hey did it in faith, and with fervent prayer. The 
 children, thus dedicated to God, were confidered as being in a 
 peculiar relation to the Church, and under its care and watch. 
 •• As for the children of the covenant," faidElr. Jncreafe Mather, 
 " let difcipUne be extended towards them according as they 
 are fubjects capable thereof. Did not our fathers ccme hither in 
 hope that they ihould leave their children under the difcipUne 
 :2.'Mi ^'overnment of the Lord Jefus in his Chtirch .^ Hath not 
 Chvii't owned the application of folemn, public admonitions, &c. 
 to fome of them that have been children of the Church, though 
 not in full communion, fo as to convert their fouls thereby I" 
 The Churches were then blefled with times of refreshing from 
 the prefence cf the Lord. In fulfilment of his promife, he pour- 
 ed his Spirit on their feed ; and numbers came forward, and fub- 
 fcribed with their own hands to be the Lord's. But, of late 
 years, how lamentable has been the change I How many who 
 have pra(5tifed infant baptifm, have not duly attended to its im- 
 port and defign, nor faithfully difcharged the duties, which it 
 involves I Children have been confecrated to God, and then left 
 to their own wayward inclination.^ And what have Churches 
 done to prevent or remove this evil ? Have they been duly at- 
 tentive to their children, or fuitably concerned for their falva- 
 tion ? — To fay, * We are not agreed about this pp.rt of our 
 duty,* is too much evidence of apoftafy. This difagreement 
 may arife irom our negled: of duty. Had oui Chinches been 
 faithiul. our duty might Ivive been plain. 1 htn their practice, 
 in coiHicxion with the word of God, vv-ould have marked out 
 i\ plain pach. But having fo much and fo long forfaken the good 
 old u ay, ii is difficult finding it. 
 
 Our negledt of the children of the Church has had another 
 very bad effed:. U has excited firong prejudices againft infant 
 baptifm. Many have openly denied, and warmly oppofed it. 
 But this is a fad departure from the faith and pradice of the pi- 
 ous fathers of New England, as well as of the great body of 
 Chrift's faithful followers ever fince his afcenfion. Even Church- 
 es, that the Lord has peculiarly blefled with his prefence and 
 grace, have been reproached and reviled a& Churches of arii- 
 
( 17 } 
 
 cfirift : and the children of God's people have been taught to 
 defpile the feal of the covenant. The confequence has been, 
 that many of our youth are vain, thoughtlefs and inattentive to 
 religion. The more infant baptifm is denied, and children neg- 
 lectedj the more deplorable thtir ignorance and ftupidity. This 
 lame:;tabic fact has been witnelfed in New England. 
 
 Catechetical inftrudion is greatly negleded. In former times, 
 the aliembly's catechifm v/as ufed in all our fchools. Much 
 pains were taken to teach the youth this excellent fumciary of 
 ohriflian faith and practice, '"i he Bible was a!fo univcrfallyreaci 
 in fchools. The effcds were ver\' happy. Children v.ere early 
 acquainted with the fcripture«. A worthy minifter has told mc 
 that the whole fcripture hi'jlory was- familiar to him at the age 
 of fcven yeai s. But from this good cid way there are fad de- 
 part i;r..v-\ 1 he Bible and catechifm aie much laid afide, in edu- 
 cating children, both in fchools and families. 1 he eiilcis are 
 very evidei^t and alarming. Many come forward hito adtive life, 
 i/iiorant of the firft principles of the oracle-' of God. Such per- 
 f'M.s ire eafily " toffed t® and fro, and caiTied about with every 
 witid of dodtrine, by the Height of men, and cunning crafLinelii, 
 whereby they lie in wait to deceive." 
 
 Our conduct, in otiier refpects, teftiiics that we have departed 
 from the primitive piety of New England. A pious and learned 
 minifler of Roxbj.iry, the Rev. Samuel Danfort.'^, in hi^ electioa 
 fermon, 1670, fays, *' In our fini and bed times., tlie kingdom of 
 hraven broke in upon u^^ v.iih a holy violence, and every ma;i 
 prei-ed into it. What mJghty eiTicricy and power had the clear 
 and faithful djfpenf^.tion of the gofpel upon your nearts : — Ko^v 
 careful vere you, even all forts, yonng and old, high and low, 10 
 take hold of the opportunities of your fpiritual good and edifi- 
 cation, ordeiing your fecular affairs fo as not to interfere with 
 your general calling ? How diligent and faithful in preparing 
 your hearts for the reception of the word ? — How attentive in 
 hearing the everlafting golpel i" — How fervent in prayer to God 
 for his blefling on the feed fown : O what an eftcem for Chrilt's 
 faithful ambairadors in thofe days ? How precious v/ere they in 
 your eves ? counting yourfelves happy in the enjoyment of a pi- 
 ous, learned, and orthodox miniftr%'. V^ hat ardent defires after 
 communion with Chrift hi his ordinances ? What fclicitude to 
 feek the Lord after the right order ? — O how your faith grew 
 exceedingly r — O ho^vyour love towards each other abounded ?" 
 Thus fpake this godly man. But what would he new fay of 
 New England : Would lie not fry that the words of his dear 
 fellow labojer, Dr. Increafe Mather, were verified ? '* If fuch 
 places, where the houfe of God hath been ere<fted, do once de- 
 generate, they are like to become Eeiha'venSi places of ihe great- 
 eft vanity and iniquity in the world. — Gilgal was once famous 
 upon rehgious accounts. — Br.t in after generations, it was a 
 fountain of much wickednef* All thtir -iuickcdncu 'iuas in Gii' 
 B ^ 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 g^al. The devi! (teks to corrupt thofe places efpedally, which 
 once were famous for religion. — Wittemburg in Gernnany was 
 the town, where the reformation in Luther's time began ; and 
 therefore the devil did feek to corrupt that place efpecially, and 
 ciufed it to become the feat of grievous herefies/' How much 
 i ^ this to be feen in our land ? How great and lamentable is the 
 change in m.any congregations ? What contempt of the gefpel 
 and its inftitutions is manifefted ? What herefies are advanced ? 
 What ftupidity prevails ? How diffipated and profligate are ma- 
 ny ? How many profelTors of religion may be founds who are 
 iiowife diftinguifhed fiom the world, by their fobriety, or atten- 
 tion to religious duties ? In fhort, how much do eiTor and impi- 
 eiy abound in places once famous for evangelical tmth and holi- 
 Kefs. 
 
 It was not \o\-c of the world, but the love of God, which 
 brought our anceP.ors tothis land. They fought firft the king- 
 dom of God and his righteoufnefs. But^'the intereftof New En- 
 gland is now changed from a religious to a worldly intereft ; and 
 in this, is our great radical apoltafy.'' The great object of purfuit 
 is worldly gain. iMukitudes.have adopted it as their maxim, 
 t\\2it gain is godlinefs. Confequently, fraud, deceit, lying, con- 
 tention, injullice. extortion, and all kinds of bafe and iniquitous 
 Speculation greatly abound. 1 hrough love of the world, many 
 trample on divine authority, negled their fouls, reject the great 
 lalfation, and purlue the downward road to endlefs perdition. — 
 How many religious profcifors love the world and the things of 
 tile world ? Hoa^ liitle of the favor of godlinefs is perceived in 
 tlieir condud: and converfation ? Alas ! they feek their owi, 
 not the things which are Jefus Chrift's. 
 
 How much do we fail of treading in the ftepa of our anceft- 
 ors r How different is our charadcr from theii*3 ? What differ- 
 tnt objects engage our attention I Alas ! alas ! Where is the 
 primitive glory of New England ! 
 
 How great is our guilt ! T his is increafed in proportion to 
 the obligations we have violated. And what people has been 
 more highly favored ; what people has been laid under greater 
 obligations to be holy i *' As for fpecial relation to God ;" fays 
 ?^Ir. Stoughton, '* whom hath the Lord more fignally exalted 
 than his people ia this wildernefs ? The name, and intereft of 
 God. and covenant relation to him, have been written upon us, 
 in capital letters from the beginning — As for reftipulations and 
 engagements back again to God ; what folemn public traufac- 
 ^.ons of this kind have there been among us .'' Hath not the eye 
 *)f the Lord beheld us laying covenant engagements upon our- 
 . fslves ? Hath not his ear heard us folemuly avoucliing him and 
 Mm alone to be our God and Saviour ? — As for our advant:iges 
 and privileges in a covenant ftate ; if any people in the world 
 have been lifted up to heaven, as to thefe, -oje are the people. 
 Name what you will under this head., and we have had it. We 
 have had Mofes and .-^aron to kadus j we have had tcachi^ss 
 
( 19 ) 
 
 and mftriiAions; — we have had ordinances and gofpel diTpenfa- 
 tiona the choiceft of them ; we have had peace and plenty ; we 
 have had afflidtions and cha'^ifements in meafure ; vre have had 
 the hearts, and prayers, and blefTmg of the Lord's people every 
 where ; we hAve had the eye and hand of God watching and 
 working every way for our good ; our adt'erfarles have had their 
 rebukes, ^e have had our encouragements and a wall of fire 
 round about us. What more could have been done for us, than 
 has been done? — And then as to New England's firft ways;, 
 glorious things might here be fpoken unto the praife of free 
 grace, and to juHify the Lord's expectations upon this ground ? 
 Surely God hath fpaken concerning his Churches here as in 
 Jeremiah, ii. 2. / remember the kindnejs cf ihyyotith, the loi'e of 
 thine efpoufalsf q.vhen thou auentej2 after me in the ^jsildernefs. O 
 what were the op>en profeflions of the Lord's people that firil 
 entered this wildernefs ? How did our fathers entertain the gof- 
 ptl, with all the pure inftitutions thereof, and thofe liberties, 
 which they brought over ? What was their comrn:jnicn aiid fcl- 
 lov/ftiip in the adminiftration of the kingdom of Jcius Chrift f 
 What was the pitch of their brotherly love, of their zeal for 
 God and his ways, and againft ways defirudive of truth and ho- 
 Knefs ? What was their humility, their niortificadon. their ex- 
 emplarinefs ? How much o^ holbufs to thi Lord was written upon 
 all their ways and tranfactions ? Godfiftcd a vjbole natl-.n^ that 
 hi might fend choice grain O'ver into this (wildernefs'' Such, nay 
 brethren, have been our obligations to be a holy people : and 
 our obligations have been continually increaHug.by rnanife:'^.ations 
 of divine goodnefs. New England has been, in a peculiar fcnfe, 
 the vineyard of the Lord, where he has looked foi the fruits of 
 righteoufnefs. But we have yielded tlie grapes of Sodom. W'e 
 have brought forth iniquity. To us. the Lord may fay, ** Ah, 
 fmful nation, a people laden with iniquity ; — children that are 
 corrupters I they have forfaken the Lord ; they have provoked 
 the holy One of Ifrael unto anger: they are gone away back- 
 ward.'' " Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen, 
 and repent, and do the firH works ; or elfe I will come unto thee 
 quickly, and will remove thy candleftick out of his place, ex- 
 cept thou repent. — He that hath an ear, let him hear what the 
 Spirit faith onto the Churches.** 
 
 NOW", my Brethren and Friends, what fhall be done .? Shall 
 we continue to depart from the friith and piety of our anccftors ? 
 Or (hall we make every pofSble exertion to revive and promote 
 the pure religion of the gofpel ? 
 
 What can be more laudable than to purfue the defign of our 
 anceftors ? Or what can be more criminal than, inftead of imi- 
 tating their love and zeal for truth and holinefs, to embrace and 
 advocate error and live in hnpiety ? Did it not add greatly tothc 
 guilt of unbelieving Jews, tha: Abraham was their father ? Were 
 not the Scribes and Pharifees peculiarly criminal in pretending 
 to venerate the 2.^cien^ prop'-^N, v.-hile they rejeded and per* 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 fecuted thofe who came in the feme fpvrit, and bore wiinefs to 
 the taiTic; truths ? And how aggravated muft be our condeiiina- 
 tion,if we not only refuie to imitate the piety of our anctf- 
 tors ; but alio oppofe, wick more or lefs vehemence, tae caaie 
 which they fo zealoufly promoted ? , 
 
 Receive in love, I befeech you, the doftrines of grace, which 
 ouranceftors held fo dear. Can you be alhnmed of the capical 
 articles of theu" faith, unlefs you are afbamed ot the gofptl ? 
 And can you be alliamed of the gofpel. or of thofe doctrines, 
 which are its efience and glory, withcut being ailiruned of 
 Chrift ? What then woidd be your doom ? Do you expect to 
 pofiefs the piety of our anceilors, while you reiedt the eliential 
 do'itri'.ies of the gofpel ? Such an expectat'on mult be vain. 
 Reje<ft thefe dovftrines, and your character mul be dire<5tiy cp- 
 pofite to theirs. Reject thefe dodtrines, and how abfurd to pre- 
 tend that you belitve the gofpel i \S hat, pretend to btlieve the 
 gofpel, and yet rt ie(5l its cfitntial doclrines ! 1 his was not the 
 manner of our pious ancellors ; nor would they acknowledge 
 any to be their children wlio Ih ould manifelt fuch abfurdity in 
 their conduct. Repent, my fiicnds, and believe the gofpel. 
 Receive its doctrines in love, and they will purify the heart and 
 produce the fruits of rightcoufnefc>. Let them dwell richly 
 in you, and you will not deferve the nam.e of bigots or fanatics : 
 for you will be able to give a reafon of yoiu- belief and hope, and 
 to commend yourfclvcs to every man's confcience in the light 
 of God. ^ ^ , • _ 
 
 Remember the falhatk day^ to keep it holy. Would you be 
 guilty of murder, or theft, or peijury l And will you profane 
 the fabbath ? \S hat can be a more open contempt of the au- 
 thority of God, or of the bleifings of his gra?e ? v\hat can be 
 more provoking to him, or dcLlructive to you? Can you in- 
 dulge a hope of falvation, while you prof.me the precious memo- 
 rial of the Saviour's refurredion ? 
 
 Daily unite, I befeech you in the worflrip of God. How can 
 you neglect this duty or defpife this priviirge ? Do you not nee<l 
 the blcfTing of God ? Ouglit you not to acknowledge hib good- 
 nefs ? If you live without praver, will your families differ from 
 the heathen ? yes, they will di^^^Yhv being Jiained with greater 
 guilt. What will it avail you to excel the heathen in knovledge, 
 and refmement, while, by reftrainiug prayer before God, you 
 become more deferving of his wrath ? 
 
 Look on your dear children. Realize their frail-y, and the 
 worth of their fouls. Are not thefe dyiwg immortals placed pe- 
 culiarly under j;w/r care r Is not their inflraction cominitted to 
 you ? Does not God command you to bing them up in the nur^ 
 ture and admonition of thi Lord ? And what if they perifti 
 through your negled ? How then could you meet them in the 
 pre fence of your Judge ? 
 
 Chriltian brethren . wliat exertions are required, at this day, 
 in the caufe of truth and holinefa I Behold the prevailing here- 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 fies and impiety, and can you be inadlive ? How would your pi- 
 ous anccitors feel ; ho.v would they condutSt ? V^ould thty in- 
 dulge a flot .ful habit i Would they Ihrink trom any labor, oi* 
 fufFerings in defence of the truth ? Imbibe their fpirit, and you 
 will contend earneftly for the faith once delivered to the faints ; 
 and decidedly oppofe every fentimerlt, which exalts linful man, 
 and degrades the adorable Saviour to a mere creature. 
 
 Strive, dear Brethren, to promote the power of godlinefs. Be 
 not aftiamtd to advocate revivals of religion^ which are caufed 
 fey the Spirit of God, in connexion with his word : nor be mov- 
 ed at the condud of thofe who call fuch revivals, fanaticifm and 
 delufion, except to be moved with pity and concern for their 
 fouls.* Pray, fervently and conftantly, that God would pour 
 out his Spirit, and revive his work> with mighty power. Be 
 deeply fenfible, that, without the fpecial grace of God, our 
 Churches will come to nothing, or worfe than nothing ; formal- 
 ity and impiety will overfpread our congregations, and hnners 
 rufh on to dcftruction. Can you be unaffeded v/ith fuch fcenes ?- 
 Can you fee vice and impiety abound, and fouls perifla forever, 
 and yet make no exertions to promote pure religion ? 
 
 Efteemvtry highly the inftituiions of thegofpel. Be deeply 
 grieved at the profanation of the fabbath ; and exert all yeur in- 
 fiuence and authority to prevent it. Imitate the example of 
 Nchemiah, who boldly faid to fobbath-breakers, What evil thing 
 is this that ye do, and profane the fabbath day ? Let your 
 whole condud teitify your reverence for the day. Let it never 
 
 • 
 
 * No dotibti there is much janattc'ifm and delufion at theprefent 
 
 day. For Satan transforms himfelf into an angel of light.> that he 
 may decei've the more fuccefsfully. IVhen God revives his ^work^ 
 Satan attempts to imitate it ; as the magicians attempted to imi- 
 t ate the miracles ^lur ought by Mofes. A genuine re-vi-val of relig' 
 ion is diflinguifhed from all cciinterfelts by its conformity to di'vine 
 truth. The author is happy to a'uail himfelf of the teflimony of the 
 General AJJembly of the Prefbytcrian Church, en this fubjed. In. 
 their narrative of thefiate of religion, publifhed at their latefef- 
 fiouy ihcy exprefly dtcla. e that they ^'cannot recog'nize as geriuine 
 any work in the hearts of men, bearing the namj of religion, but 
 that which is produced by the inflrumtntality 5/ truth, ackno'iledg' 
 
 es and honors that truth. In thofe parts of the ClmrJ}, Without 
 
 exception^ in wbich vital religion hasjlourifhed, in th: ccurfe of the 
 lajl year, the fundamental doctrines of the gofpel ; viz. the total 
 depravity of human nature, the divinity and atonement of Jefus 
 Chri.i, juflification by his imputed lighteoufnefs, the fovereignty 
 and freenefs of divine grace, and the fpecial influences of the 
 Holy Spirit in the regeneration and fanctification of tinners, have 
 been decidedly received and honor ed.^^ — Try 7rien by the doctrines of 
 thegofpel^ if you would know whether their religious exerci/es are_ 
 genuine* 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 be faid that chriflian profeffbrs profane the day by vain and 
 worldly converfation, or any unfuitable condud:. But call ths 
 Sabbath a dd'tght- the Holy of the Lord, Honorable ; and honor 
 hln^ not doing thine onvn ways^ norjinding thine Ouvn pka/ure, nor 
 Jpea^ingfbine o^^un nvords. 
 
 With fervent love and lively joy, commemorate the death of 
 Chrift ; and hi;|hly prize the ordinarice of baptifm. Efteem it 
 a prfciouj privile^'e, to enter into covenant with God in Cbrift ; 
 and then to dtvote to him your beloved children Dear Brethren, 
 let it no longer be tlioiight, that the confccraiion of children to 
 God in baptifin is a vain thing. Eut lliew iis iniportance by 
 faiihfally difcharging your duty to your children. In this way, 
 convince the oppofers of infant baptifm of their error. Have 
 you not, too long and too juftly, been charged with negle<^ing 
 the religious education of your children, after dedicating them 
 to God in baptifna ? Shall this charge ftill lie againft you ? O 
 be faithful to your children. Never forget their confecration to 
 God ; but let it quicken you in every parental duty. Fre- 
 quently remind them of their baptifm, and urge it, as a motive, 
 why they fliould confent to be the Lord's. Do with all your 
 might, what you find to do for their falvation. How folemn is 
 your charge ! how great, your refponlibihty ! 
 
 Feel the vaft importance of catechifing children. By diligence 
 in this mode of inftrudtion the Waldenfes fuccelVfully promoted 
 the knowledge of the Scriptures. *• When certain Jefuits were 
 fent among them, to entice them from the truth to idolatry, 
 they returned am.azed, proft fling that children of feven years 
 ^old, among the V* aldenfes, knew more in the Scriptures and of 
 the myfteries of the gofpel, than many of their dodors did." 
 Exert yourfclves, my Brethren, to revive this mode of inflruc- 
 tion, both in families and fchools. What better method can be 
 purfued, to make our children acquainted with the fcriptures.* 
 3e zealous and perfevering in this bufinefs. ixcite ar,d encour- 
 age youth and children to attend to the Bible and Catechifm. 
 Shew them the great importance of religious inf^nidion. Let 
 them fee that their parents and inftrudors are deeply concerned 
 for their v^^elfare. Let them feel that you 'defire and fervently 
 pray for the falvation of their fouls. 
 
 Let this fubjed deeply engage the atcention of Cluirches. 
 Has not every Church of Chrift important duties to difcharge 
 tou^ards their children ? Are chriftian brethren, in covenant re- 
 lation with each other, to exprcfs no concern for each other's 
 ihiidren ? Doesthe promiie of God to pour Jiis Spirit on the 
 children of the Church, impofe on them no obligation to fee 
 whether their children are partakers of this grace ? Can a 
 
 "' For this purpof.' I r^uould particularly recommend *' the 
 
 EVANGELICAL PRIMER ; BY THE ReV. JOSEPH EmERSON q/* 
 
 Beverly." — // ij i>.vy dejral/l^f that this may be ujed in every 
 family y and in tuery fchooU 
 
f =3 ) 
 
 Church unite in dedicating their cliiUj-en to God i.\ Laptifm, 
 that ti'icy may be his, ar;d yet have nothing more to do for thcin ? 
 What a proftitution this wonld be of their baptism ? Whnt a 
 rieglect, not to iay contempt, of the promile ? And how oppofitc 
 to all the didatcs of that love, which feeketh not her own ? Let 
 the fubjtct, my Brethren, be well conQdered. Let the Church 
 and their c'.iildren come together for prayer and religious con- 
 ference ; let all the members be fervent in love to each other and 
 to the children ; exercife a lively faith in the promife ; and real- 
 ize covenaTit engagements; and v/ould nothing be done for the 
 falvatiop. of the children ? Would no inftructions, no exhorta- 
 ti-ons- no admonitions be given them ? It has been prad:ifed in 
 New England, for a Church to fet apart days, to befeech the 
 Lord to pour his Spirit on their childreoc Ought not the prac- 
 tife to be revived ?* 
 
 Let our Churches be ftricft in the admiflion of members ; and 
 united in reviving gofpel difcipline. What can be more condu- 
 cive to their purity, peace, and profperity. Let perfons be ad- 
 mitted without a faithful examination, and difcipline neglefted, 
 and our Churches Avill be coirupted and ruined. Be faithful, 
 beloved Brethren, in thefe tvv^o important concerns. Be faith- 
 ful to each other, in mutual watchfulnefs and reproof. Exhort 
 one anothar daily ^ leji any be hardened through the decsitfulttefs of 
 fin. 
 
 Let the friends of evangelical truth be more united, and adt 
 more in concert. Let there be more piouf?, prayerful confulta- 
 tionsfor the advancement of Chrift's caufe. Beware of the ad- 
 verfary, whofe policy it is to excite jealoufy and fov,^ difcord 
 among brethren. He dreads their united influence. Being 
 agreed in the efTentials of chriftianity> never let a difference of 
 opinion on munor fubjeds divide you. Love one another, with 
 a pure heart fervently ; and he perfectly joined together in the fame 
 mindy and in the fame judgme-nt. 
 
 Vigoroufly puifuc every lawful method to advance the caufe 
 of truth. 1 he glory of God ; the honor of the Redeemer ; 
 the falvation of immortal fouls ; and your own higheft bleifed- 
 nefs, require it. Let no difficulties, no oppof;tion, no trials 
 move you from the path of duty. Be ftedfaft in the faith. When 
 others forfake the caufe tbey once efpoufed ; or boldly advance 
 and warmly advocate opinions, fubverfive of the gofpel ; let 
 your attachment to the truth, be more ardent and vigorous. 
 Let it prompt you to greater exertions. Declare the whole 
 counfel of God, as duty fliali require. Never liften to the infi- 
 
 * The General Afje-mbly, in their narrati've, referred to in a pre- 
 ceding riotey fay. ** The means ^ in addition to the preaching of the 
 tivordf (vjhich God has o'duned and blejjed, ares catechihng and 
 prayer meetings. And the AJfetnrly h ul it as an aufpicious oment 
 thaty upon many of his people and Churches ^ God has poured oat a 
 Spirit of grace i^nd f application ** 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 del fentiment, that if a man's life be regular, it is no matter 
 what he believes. But remember that men can never be fandti- 
 fied and faved, except through the truth. To attempt their 
 converfion, Vv'hile the dodrinesof grace arc concealed or deni- 
 ed, is beating the air. In defence of thefe doctrines, unite zeal 
 and meekneffi, rcfolutioH and prayer. 
 
 Be excited to greater zeal by the laudable exertions of others. 
 Behold the friends of Jcfas uniting in the fame grand defign. 
 See what noble efforts are made. ConOder what has been 
 done, within a few ^-ears. to advance the caufe of truth. En- 
 gage in this caufe, with all your hearts ; for it will profper ; it 
 •will rife triumphant, above all oppofition. It is the caufe of Je- 
 hovah. V, ith growing zeal, employ your time, your talents, 
 and all you have, in the work of the Lord. Animated with 
 the fpirit of martyrs, go forward boldly in his fervice. Con- 
 fide in the grace and power of Jehovah — Jefus. His grace is 
 fufRcient for you. His power will uphold and defend you, till 
 your warfare is acomplifhed ; and then crown you with eternal 
 glory. Beyejlrongi therefore, and let not your bands be iveak ;for 
 your ^MQrkJhall hs rewarded.— fiMEn, 
 
i