1725. SEC. XIII. dismissing council. He continued to preach to them in his turn, for some little time, after he was installed at Cambridge; ever afterwards enjoyed their friendship; and, at his death, left a legacy for the poor of the church.† President Wadsworth was born at Milton, in 1669, and graduated at Harvard college, in 1690. He was the first minister of this church educated at the neighbouring university. He was the son of capt. Samuel Wadsworth, who distinguished himself by his courage, and, in 1676, fell a victim to the Indian war. The president, with filial piety, erected a monument to the bravery of his father and his valiant soldiers.* The powers of president Wadsworth's mind were rather strong, than brilliant; and his manners rather grave, than animated. His memory was uncommonly retentive. He could easily quote almost any verse in the bible, without recurring to the page; though he wrote his sermons with care, he always delivered them memoriter. In the office of president of the college, he wanted not prudence and fidelity; but, in bodily stature and dignity of deportment, he was inferiour to his predecessor Leverett ; nor were his science and literature so various and conspicuous, as preeminently to distinguish him, as the head of the university. Yet he was a practical, useful character. As a preacher, he was perspicuous and solemn; as a pastor, watchful and exemplary; and, as a christian, so liberal and exact in his charities, F. C. records, p. 412. * Holmes's Annals. i. 429. as to give to the poor a tenth part of his income. SEC. XIII. He was author of several publications.* This gentleman was dismissed from his pastoral office, 16 June, 1725, and from the labours of human life, 12 March, 1737, in the 68th year of * 1. An artillery election sermon, 1700. 2. Exhortations to piety, 1702. 3. Three sermons, entitled, Men worse in their carriage to God, than one another; Psalms sung with grace in the heart; A pious tongue an enriching treasure, 1706. 4. Discourses on the day of judgment, 1709. 5. A sermon on assembling at the house of God, 1710. 6. The well-ordered family, 1712. 7. Five sermons, viả. The first, on 30 September, 1711, from Psalm lxxiii. 1. being the last delivered in the old meetinghouse, which was bunt, 2 October, 1711. The second, from Lamentations iii. 31. at the south meeting-house in Boston, 7 October, 1711, being the first Lord's day after the fire. The third, on 18 December, 1711, from Psalm xxvi. 8. being a fast kept by the Old Church, occasioned by the burning of their meeting-house. The fourth, on 8 May, 1713, from Hag. ii. 9, being the first in the Brick meeting-house, where the former was burnt. The fifth, on 12 November, 1713, from Zech. iv. 7. A thanksgiving sermon, for God's goodness, in providing a new meeting-house for the Old Church; with a preface, giving some account of the fire, 2 October, 1711. 8. Explanation of the assembly's catechism, 1714. 9. Invitation to the gospel feast, in eleven sermons, 12mo. Saint's prayer to escape temptation; a discourse on the death of Isaac Addington, 1715. 10. Election sermon, 1716. 11. Twelve single sermons on various subjects, 1717. 12. Zeal against flagrant wickedness; essay for spreading the gospel into ignorant places, 1718. 13. Christ's fan in his hand; Imitation of Christ, a christian duty, 1722. 14. A dialogue between a minister and his neighbour, on the Lord's supper, 1724. 15. It is honourable not shameful to suffer, 1725. 16. The benefits of a good, and the mischiefs of an evil conscience, in fourteen sermons; None but the righteous saved, 1725. 1725. 1725. SEC. XIII. his age. He was minister of this church,twenty-nine years, and twelve, a president of the university. Upon the removal of president Wadsworth to 17 Aug. Cambridge, a fast was immediately kept by the congregation, and measures were taken to supply the vacancy with another pastor. 12 June, 1727, 1727. a choice was made. Of one hundred and ten votes given in for a minister, three were scattered, Mr. Welsteed had forty-three, and sixty-four were for Mr. Chauncy, who was declared duly chosen, and who was ordained, on the 25th of October following.* At a meeting, on the second of that month, the brethren of the church passed a number of votes, preparatory to the ordination, selected their council, and assigned the principal parts of the consecrating service. During the twelve years, ending with 1727, two hundred and forty-one persons had been admitted into the church, one hundred and fifty-six of whom were females. In the same time, four hundred and seventy-four children were baptized, two hundred and fifty-eight of whom were males. * October 25, 1727, Mr. Chauncy was accordingly ordained. Mr. Wadsworth being sick, and not at the ordination, Mr. Foxcroft began with prayer. Mr. Chauncy preached the sermon from Matt. xxviii. 20. Mr. Thacher prayed after the sermon. Mr. Colman presided, as moderator, in taking the votes, and giving the charge; praying both before and after. Dr. Mather gave the fellowship of the churches." First Church records, 122. SECTION XIV. From the settlement of Mr. Chauncy, 25 October, 1727, to the death of Mr. Foxcroft, 18 June, 1769. 1728.. WE have now arrived at a memorable period in SEC. XIV. the history of First Church. During forty-two years, the present pastors lived in great harmony. with each other and their flock; and, whoever has heard of the Old Brick Church in Boston, will find it associated, in his memory, with the names of Foxcroft and Chauncy. The affairs of the church were now in a flourishing condition. She saw her elder pastor unrivalled in popularity, as a preacher, and already marked, in his young colleague, the dawn of those brilliant powers, which were destined to enlighten and improve the age. It was during the joint ministry of these two men, that the church of England made her most strenuous exertions to introduce the forms of episcopacy into the provinces of Newengland. These attempts were resolutely resisted by the divines of this metropolis, who, in the success of such measures, apprehended an injury to that religious liberty, for which their fathers had abandoned their native country, and encountered the 1729. SEC. XIV. difficulties of planting this western wilderness. The ministers of First Church were strongly in this sentiment. The elder of them, Mr. Foxcroft, had been educated in the episcopal church, and was designed for her service. But, from a thorough examination of the principles of christianity, and a research into ecclesiastical history, he became a sincere convert to congregationalism. It was the active influence of this settled opinion, that drew from Mr. Foxcroft, in 1729, a publication, entitled, "the ruling and ordaining power of congregational bishops, or presbyters, defended." This treatise was an answer to Barclay's Persuasive, and was written in so masterly a manner, as to be itself unanswerable. What Mr. Foxcroft was, from principle, Mr. Chauncy was from principle, and from constitution, and from the prejudices of education. His early notions of civil liberty, his theological studies and sentiments, and all the habits of his great mind were opposed to prelatical establishments. Accordingly in the episcopal disputes, as we shall see, which were agitated between 1760 and 1770, he bore a part, that does equal honour to his patriotism and his learning. 1730. During the united ministry of Foxcroft and Chauncy, several improvements took place in the management of both the spiritual and fiscal concerns of the society. Until now, the church, that is, the male communicants, were alone concerned in fixing the ministers' salaries, and, in short, in making all pecuniary appropriations. But, in this year, it was voted, that, "whenever there is occa |