ed the sympathies and support of a generous SEC. XII congregation.†

In the five years, ending with 1715, one hundred and forty-six persons were admitted to communion, ninety-six of whom were females. During the same time, eighty-six boys and ninety-six girls were publickly baptized.

1715.

"The Rev. Mr. Thomas Bridge, a pastor of the Old Church in Boston, died on Sep. 26, 1715, and was buried in Mr. Cotton's tomb, Sept. 29, 1715.”

"Memorandum. The church, having voted to defray the charge of the Rev. Mr. Bridge's funeral, chose to endeavour it by a publick contribution, on the Lord's day. This was notified, on Oct. 2, that the contribution aforesaid would be expected, on the next sabbath. Accordingly, on the next sabbath, viz., Oct. 9, the contribution was, as one of the deacons told me, one hundred and ten pounds, five shillings and a penny. The funeral charges came to about 104/."

"Memorandum. The committee aforesaid ordered Mrs. Bridge, our pastor's relict, forty shillings per week out of the contribution box, for the present, till they should give further order." First Church records, p. 106.

1717.

SECTION XIII.

From the death of Mr. Bridge, 26 September, 1715, to the settlement of Mr. Chauncy, 25 October, 1727.

SEC. XIII. EARLY in the year 1717, Mr. Thomas Foxcroft of Cambridge was invited to preach to the society; and the universal approbation, he obtained, placed him a colleague with the surviving pastor, on the 20th of November, in the same year. As a specimen of the composition of a popular young preacher of that day, I have preserved in a note a copy of Mr. Foxcroft's answer to the church accepting their invitation to settlement.

* "Cambridge, March 23, 1717.

"To the Old or First Church in Boston.

"Reverend, honourable, and beloved,

"It hath pleased the great Head of the church (who turneth the hearts of his people, as the rivers of waters, and doth wondrous things, which none can search out the reasons of,) to incline you to make choice of so unfit a person, as myself, to settle in the office of a pastor to this flock. I am deeply sensible, how unworthy I am of the dignity, how every way unequal to the duties of this holy calling, which is of God excellent and difficult. As indeed who are sufficient of these things of themselves? But our sufficiency is of God. Humbly therefore depending upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, without whom we can do nothing, as having good hope in that sweet promise, Matt. xxviii. 20. "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world." I do now with gratitude and humility accept your call, as the voice of God; and do solemnly promise and resolve, if the Lord permit, and account me worthy, putting me into the ministry, to make it the grand study and employment of my life to preach the unsearchable riches of

As is customary, after the settling of a new SEC. XIII. pastor, the church had a meeting, in December, 1717. elected some new officers, and passed some votes respecting their fiscal concerns.†

The independence of congregational churches in Boston has been maintained from the beginning; and perhaps their freedom will best be

Christ unto you, according to the commandment of the everlasting gospel, for the obedience of faith, for the perfecting of the saints, for the edifying of the body of Christ, so long as it shall please God to continue me among you, that ye might know the love, which I have more abundantly to you all.

And now, under a just view of the importance, weight, and difficulty of the awful work of watching for souls, and feeding the flock of Christ, I beseech you, brethren, that ye strive together with me, in your prayers to God for me, that those gifts and graces may be multiplied upon me, in the diligent exercise whereof I may approve myself a ready scribe, well instructed for the kingdom of God, and furnished to every good work; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed; that may find mercy to be faithful to the interest of God's glory, and be wise to win souls; that my service may be accepted of the saints, and that I may be unto God a sweet savour in Christ, that so may give up my account with joy to the chief shepherd at his appearing; and the Lord grant unto us all, that we may find mercy of the Lord in that day. I am your affectionate friend and servant,

I

THOMAS FOXCROFT.”

"At a church meeting, at the meeting-house,

"Voted, that the deacons, for the time being, be desired exactly to record, in a book or books, procured at the charge of the church, what they receive, from time to time, in their weekly and monthly contributions; and also what they shall receive, at any time, as legacies or donations to the church; and that they shall also as plainly record in said books, how much and to whom they disburse or pay, from time to time; and also how much and to whom of the poor of the church they shall give, as there is occasion, out of the monthly contribution; that so, whenever the church shall see meet to acquaint themselves with these accounts, the state of their temporal affairs may the more clearly and easily appear unto them." First Church records, p. 108.

1717.

SEC. XIII. preserved by keeping clear of entangling alliances. There is however a partial coalescence between churches, which rather promotes, than hinders, the general objects of religious association. Some congregations, from local proximity, affinity of theological opinions, or other circumstances, are more likely to associate, than others; but such associations have no effect on the discipline or interiour regulations of individual societies. Thus there is a certain indefinable union among all the congregational churches in the metropolis. Their ministers are united in holding an association at each others' houses, every other monday, in supporting a Theological Library, in preaching a weekly lecture, and a quarterly charity lecture; and the several congregations tacitly agree in attending these lectures and favouring these institutions. The First Church is united with the Fourth, the Second with the Fifth, and the Sixth with the Seventh, in support of a monthly lecture, attended commonly, on the friday, immediately preceding the sunday, on which is celebrated the Lord's supper. The union, for this purpose, between the First and Fourth churches commenced, in the beginning of the year 1720.† The lecture is

This institution, which was founded, 1 June, 1807, invites however, and receives, subscriptions from both clergy and laity of all denominations.

↑ "The sacrament of the Lord's supper being administered on the first Lord's day of every month, as in our old church, so in that neighbouring one, of which the Rev. Mr. Colman and Cooper are pastors; their church, by a letter dated January 18, 1719, made a motion to ours, that a lecture, on every friday, in the afternoon

1720.

attended in Brattle-street, and preached by the SEC. XIII. pastors of the two congregations alternately. There is indeed no express warrant for such an exercise in the christian scriptures; and some have doubted the propriety of upholding the custom. They have alleged, that it tends to bring the ordinance of preaching into contempt with some, by making it too frequent, and that its effect is injurious to others, by inducing a belief, that some unusual, peculiar preparation is necessary for commemorating the death of our Saviour. But it ought to be remembered, that an attendance on this lecture is by no means considered an indispensable requisite for communion, on the following sunday; and that any religious institution, which brings people voluntarily together, naturally expands the mind, and can hardly be unfavourable to the progress of charity. In the case just mentioned, the effect of the lecture has been happy. It has contributed to the harmony of both the ministers and brethren of the two societies.†

In 1725, Mr. Wadsworth was chosen president of Harvard college. His flock parted with him reluctantly, yet amicably, not without deliberation and prayer, yet without the formality of a

might be attended, in their meeting-house, by these two churches, and the lecture sermons be preached by the ministers of both churches. This letter was read with us, on the Lord's day, Feb. 7, 1719-20, and, after a week's time for consideration, our church, by a (silent) vote, complied with the motion they made to us.

"This vote, was on February 14, 1719-20." First Church records, p. 110.

1725.