adventurous individuals or families, but an associated body, all of whose measures were the result of previous, well matured calculation. Saybrook was the place from which your fathers thus originally emigrated. Under the influence of imperious circumstances, the Rev. JAMES FITCH, who had been for a number of years the pastor of the Church in that place, removed here with the greater part of his church and congregation in the year 1660. By such a combined effort, only a few weeks were required, in order to witness a well established community, both on civil and ecclesiastical accounts. We learn from tradition, that Mr. Fitch was a man of unusual discretion, and that he commanded a high place in the affections of a large portion of his congregation. He was born in England, and came to this country when about fourteen years of age. After completing both his scholastic and theological education under those eminent fathers of the NewEngland church, Hooker and Stone of Hartford, he took upon himself the charge of the church in Saybrook, in the year 1646. The period of his active ministry there and in this place, must have been about half a century: though I have not been able to ascertain with precision how long he continued to perform the duties of his office. All at present known is, that his pastoral connection with this people was never dissolved; but owing to his advanced age, and accumulated bodily infirmities, (being unable to perform ministerial labors) he removed to Lebanon, and there resided with his children till his death in the year 1702. After Mr. Fitch became unable to preach, the church and congregation remained without the active services of a pastor for a number of years.— Repeated efforts were made for the re-settlement of the gospel ministry, which proved unavailing; until at length, Mr. JOHN WOODWARD, of Dedham, in the face of a very considerable opposition, accepted an invitation to settle, and was ordained in the year 1700. The same spirit of controversy, which had operated so unfavorably for a number of years previous to Mr. Woodward's settlement, continued to render his connexion with the people extremely unpleasant; and in 1716, he was dismissed. Soon after this he removed to New-Haven, where he spent the residue of his days in private life. Within a few weeks after Mr. Woodward's dismisson, the Rev. Benjamin Lord, a native of Saybrook, came here, and proved the happy instrument, in God's hand, of extinguishing the embers of former animosty. He received the charge of the Church and Congregation on the 20th of November 1717. During a life of almost ninety years, and a ministry of nearly sixty-six, he served his Lord and Master with great respectability and extended usefulness. It is true that about the middle period of his prolonged ministration, extensive separations sprung up; but they were to be ascribed principally to the spirit of the times, and to local causes.The last days of that venerable man of God, were, by way of eminence, his best days. He was able to minister at the altar until within six weeks of his death. About three year previous to this, his eye sight failed him, so that he was obliged to relinquish his former habit of reading his discourses, and to adopt the practice of delivering them from memory. He retained his powers both of mind and memory to a remarkable degree; and at no period, was his preaching more correct or more acceptable, than while trembling over the grave, he affectionately addressed his people and instructed them in those truths, so deeply impressed upon his heart. As he lived, so he died-with the blessing of many ready to perish, resting upon him. When Dr. Lord was eighty-four years old, your present pastor was united with him in the sacerdotal charge. It is one of the most pleasing recollections of my past life, that I was permitted to serve with him in the gospel, as a son with a father, almost six years. During that term the most entire cordiality subsisted between us; and when he died, the language of my soul was that of the young prophet of old-" My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horseman thereof." Thus left to serve alone, the duties of office were felt to be doubly weighty; but thanks be to God,hith The last week completed erto He has helped me. The lives of all your ministers have been unusually prolonged.-Only four in number, the joint term of their services has been more than one hun-dred and sixty years, and that of the two last more than one hundred and fifteen. Even during the period of my residence among you, the changes as to God's ministering servants in this vicinity, have been numerous and great. The Fathers, where are they; and the Prophets, do they live forever. Among the pastors of the neighbouring parishes, only one survives, who is my senior; while several of the referred to parishes have their fourth minister. And to return within our parochial limits, the ravages of age and of death, are not less perceptible. Since my residence among you, the deaths have been more than fourteen hundred and fifty, averaging about twenty-nine annually. The greatest number in any one year, was sixty three, and the least, sixteen. In later years, the deaths during the period of childhood and youth, have not been as numerous as formerly; being however, proportionably increased among those more advanced in life. The nature of prevailing diseases, has also surprisingly changed. Pulmonary complaints, especially, which thirty or forty years ago formed an awful besom of destruction, are now much more rarely known. When I was ordained there were within the limits of the society, about eighty individuals, who had passed the alloted age of man; while now, there are not much more than half that number. This statement is the result of actual calculation, and not a deception arising from the fact, that the preacher has himself grown old.—There are but two families, which were in family state fifty years ago, both of whose heads now survive. I have lived to follow most of your parents to the grave; and scarcely a house do I pass in your streets, where I have not been repeatedly called to mingle my griefs with those of mourning relatives. I feel myself to be now standing in the midst of a new generation-a generation whom I should esteem and love, if for no other reason, for the freindship and kindness which I experienced from their fathers. Your fathers were my friends-they bore with the infirmities or greater faults of my youth— they ministered to my comfortable support-they listened to my well meant advice and admonition, and they rendered me happy by their dying blessing. It is a fact known to some of you, that when I first came to reside here, there were two seceding congregations, considerably numerous, and regular in their meetings for social worship. Both of these have been, for many years, extinct; and a very considerable proportion of their members, after return |