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these fruitful fields, to provide for us a habitation. Our proper acknowledgment to him will be in persevering efforts to bring them to a prepared habitation on high. President Dwight, in his distinguished sermons on the State Fast, last July, observes

a prospect of the highest encouragement that the day of the church's deliverance is drawing nigh. The late destruction of the Mission-House in India, by fire, with the founts of types prepared for printing the scriptures in fourteen different languages of Asia, is to be classed" More than 2,000,000, I am with the most mysterious events in the providence of Jehovah, that ever occur. Still, it can not, reasonably, be viewed as a divine disapprobation of the great design. When God's people are earnestly engaged for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause, it has been his usual way to humble their confidence, to try their faith and constancy, by severe disappointments. Their suffering, not less than their labors, contribute to the furtherance of the gospel. The friends of the Redeemer can hardly do a more acceptable service than by an effort to repair the loss which the benighted pagans of Asia have thus sustained.

In the Missionary cause, which, for a number of years past, has been productive of incalculable good, on which the divine smiles have been singu larly conspicuous, the efforts of the friends of Christ do not appear to relax. While the charitable exertions of Christians in Europe are wisely directed to the help of perishing souls in their foreign possessions and in Oriental countries; the charitable attention of the Redeemer's friends in this land is most judiciously extended to the destitute thousands in various parts of our country, and to the perishing heathen on our borders. God has removed them from

afraid I might say more than 3,000,000 of our countrymen, there is too much reason to believe, have, and long have had, no regular, stated worship of God, and are without any settled ministers of the Gospel, any Churches, and of course without any religion." It is a consideration of joy that the attention of pious people in our country is turned to the condition of these perishing millions, and how animating would be the prospect, if these efforts could be redoubled, yea if they could be increased ten-fold.

The aspects of divine Providence respecting our country, are such as ought to excite in every breast the most solemn attention. Twenty-nine NewYears have successively found our nation in the enjoyment of peace. The present, sees us involved in a perilous war. War, in every form, is one of the special judgments of God. His judgments are always in consequence of sin. In this State, a righteous God has manifested the tokens of his holy displeasure. He has removed from us, in the past year, our first Magistrate, in the midst of his days, possessing, in a high degree, the attachment and confidence of the people. That special presence of the Holy Spirit in our churches, which has been signally manifest for a number of

called to that world where min

years, seems to be, to a considerable degree, withdrawn. Theisters and people will meet each power of godliness in the lives other in the presence of their of professors grows less conspic- Judge. To these must be added uous. Still in God's adorable the laborious Crossman, suddenly mercy, we are not wholly for- called from his faithful services, saken. In the past year, sev- and from an affectionate people, eral places have witnessed small in the meridian of his days.-tokens of his special presence; Oh, that all may be found faithand some, the signal displays ful, that those who speak and of his triumphant grace. His they who hear, may rejoice togoings are still seen, to the a-gether, in the perfect likeness Jarm of the guilty, to the joy of believers, to the rejoicing of angels.

Christians have every motive and encouragement, to awake and rejoice, to labor, and pray, and hope. Their Master sits at the head of his promises; his compassion never can fail.Through the fidelity and labors of his people, his triumphant kingdom on earth will be reared. The humble services of his children are often productive of success, after they are removed to the church in glory.

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and in the eternal praises of their Lord.

An Historical View of the First
Planters of New-England.

No. XVI.

(Continued from Vol. V. p. 450.)

REV. MR. STONE.

EW of the fathers of New

liberal

The venerable Ministers of of historic remembrance than Christ, in their abundant labors, the excellent Mr. Stone, the have every reason to be strong revered minister of Hartford. in the Lord, and not to faint in He was born at Hartford, or the service of the best of Mas-Hertford, the shiretown of Hertters."Let those that sow in fordshire, about the year 1603.* sadness, wait till the fair harvest Placed in easy circumstances in comes. Whatever present pros- life, his childhood and youth pects may be, their faithful la- were faithfully devoted to the bors will never be unproductive acquisition of a litera educain the vineyard of their Lord. tion. Having received The recollection of SEVEN of education at Emmanue. their revered fathers, dismissed in the Cambridge Universi.y, ne from the service of the church applied himself to the study of on earth, since the last New divinity, under the instruction Year, will stimulate their exer- of an eminent, pious divine, Mr. tions, knowing that their day Richard Blackerby. Mr Wi of labor is short. The venerable Pitkin, the faithful Colton and Wildman, the humble Huntington and Gurley, the learned Dana, the beloved Hubbard, are

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*I do not find his mentioned age exactly, but this cannot be far from the truth. He was about thirty years old when he came to America.

formity. Whether it were in consequence of superior caution in him, or because the High Commission had sufficient work on their hands, cannot, at this time, be easily determined.

Mr. Hooker having resolved on a removal to New England, together with several other distinguished characters, his friends sought for a suitable person to be an assistant with him in the ministerial work. They first ap

kerby was very eminent in his time as a teacher in divinity, and Mr. Stone was one of his most distinguished pupils. This being his favorite study, he pursued it with great ardor and success. After he became a preachcr, he preached occasionally, but was still employed, principally, in laborious study. He early contracted an intimate acquaintance with the pious and amiable Mr. Shepard, I conclude, while they were at the University.plied to Mr. Cotton. But it beMr. Shepard having been employed in a charitable lecture in Essex, on leaving the employment, persuaded the patrons to establish the lecture at Towcester, his native town, and to employ Mr. Stone as the preacher. In this situation he continued for a few years, in circumstances very agreeable to his inclinations. While his la-ally approved of the great design bors were not arduous, he enjoyed a favorable opportunity for study and retirement. His easy manners and amiable disposition procured the attachment of his acquaintance, not less than his eminent ministerial qualifications acquired their res-ally engaged in this interesting

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ing thought inexpedient that two such eminent lights should be connected with one church, the proposal was not adopted. Application was then made to Mr. Stone, who was still employed in his lecture at Towcester, to engage in this important service. Mr. Stone was the intimate friend of Mr. Hook er, he cordi

which now engaged the efforts of many of the best persons in the kingdom, the establishment of a Christian commonwealth, and he was constantly liable to be apprehended by ecclesiastical authority. He therefore cordi

cause, and, in company with Mr. Haynes, Mr. Hooker, Mr. Cotton and others, came to New England in 1633. When Mr. Hooker's people were organized in a church state, at Cambridge, soon after his arrival, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone were solemnly set apart, the former as the pastor, the latter as the teacher of the church.

In the summer of 1636, the ministers, with the most of their congregation, removed to Connecticut. The place of their settlement they called Hartford, in honor of Mr. Stone, as it is

in his church. He used every

said, the name of his native town. In their new settlement, exertion to allay the animosiMr. Stone enjoyed, in a high ties, without effect. They seemdegree, the attachment and con-ed to be a special judgment of fidence of the people he was heaven, to chasten the infant very laborious in the duties of church and colony, to teach his profession, earnestly engaged them their constant need of dito promote the interests of the vine grace. These contentions infant colony. The war with the issued in a removal of part of Pequods which put the existence the congregation, which laid the of the colony to the extremest foundation of the town and hazard, broke out in the year church of Hadley. After this, 1637. Mr. Stone was appointed Mr. Stone continued a few years the chaplain to the eventful ex- in great quietness, much beloved pedition against Mistic Fort, the by his people, witnessing the principal fortress of the enemy. blessing of heaven upon his minAs that was a war in which istry. But in the vigor of his "they kneeled before they life, and in the season of greatfought," the assistance of Mr. est usefulness, he was called Stone was of the utmost conse- from the service of the church, quence. When the officers were to rest with the faithful stewards divided in opinion, in a very im- of the mysteries of God. He deportant consultation, at their re- ceased July 20th, 1663, at about quest, he spent the most of a sixty years of age. night in fervent prayer before Mr. Stone possessed a studiGod for the merciful guidance ous mind, and was a distinguishof his holy Spirit. In the morn-ed scholar. In the different periing, he informed the command-ods of his life, he spent much ing officer that he came fully into time in the pursuit of science, his opinion, which was soon after particularly, in his favorite stu unanimously adopted, and was dy of theology. He possessed attended with a most extraordi- a clear and discriminating mind, nary success.-Mr. Stone con- he was well versed in the theotinued in a faithful and laborious logical discussions of his time, discharge of the duties of his and was a very acute disputant. station, in great harmony with As it belonged to his province as his people and his colleague till teacher in the church, particuthe death of that illustrious di- larly, to illustrate and defend the vine in 1647. He now remain- doctrines of the scriptures, with ed the only minister of his peo- this subject he was thoroughly ple and continued so till his acquainted, and performed the death. By the removal of his duty with great ability. His colleague, an accumulated preaching was principally docweight of care and labor devol- trinal, in which he exhibited ved upon him, yet he faithfully and vindicated divine truth with performed the arduous service, great clearness, happily adaptto the great benefit of his peo-ing his illustrations to the capaple. The latter years of his city of his hearers. He was also life were embittered by some very careful to make a serious painful contentions which arose practical application of divine

truth to the heart and the con-, science. In this way he was one of the most instructive and useful preachers in the colonies. He did not ordinarily use written sermons, yet his discourses were the result of much meditation and laborious study.

ritual exercises and meditations,) dismissing worldly cares, not suf fering them to intrude upon his conversation, and as little as possible upon his thoughts. He was also very careful to admit nothing in conversation on that day, which would tend to produce Mr. Stone possessed a very levity. On the Sabbath, he confacetious disposition, a great rea-sidered God as peculiarly present diness of mind, and a good share with his people, and especially of original humour. This, how-jealous for the honor of his name. ever, was subject to the high de- It was his usual practice, on Samands of religious gravity and turday evening, to deliver to his Christian example. These quali- family the sermon which he deties rendered him a very amiable signed for the succeeding day. friend, and caused his acquaintance to be sought by all that knew him.

Though Mr. Stone was a great writer, very few of his compositions were published. One that was published, was a discourse concerning a Congregational Church. His sentiments concerning a Christian church, were more fully congregational than those of almost any of the fathers of New England. He wrote an able Treatise against Antinomianism, which was never printed. Of this, an English author observed, " Might the world be so happy, as to see a very elaborate confutation of the Antinomians, written by a very acute and solid person, a great disputant, viz. Mr. Stone, of New England, a congregational divine, it would easily appear that the Congregationalists are not Antinomiaus." Mr. Baxter saw and highly com

He was a very strict observer of the duties of religion. Two things are noted of him in which he was considered as excelling most pious men of his time. His fastings, and observation of the Sabbath. He spent days of fasting and prayer, very frequently, by himself, exclusive of such as he observed with his church, or congregation, or the colony. On these occasions, he labored for a close examination of his own heart and character, striving against his corruptions, and imploring the constant aids of divine grace. He also confessed and deplored the transgressions of his people and of the country, lamenting the righteous frowns of God's providence, and intreat-mended the manuscript. ing the return of his great mercies. At the approach of the Sabbath, which he considered as commencing on Saturday evening, according to the general sentiment of the New England fa-churches of New England in parthers, he endeavored to compose his mind in a suitable manner, that he might be in the Spirit on the Lord's day, (engaged in spi

His

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most elaborate composition was entitled, " A Body of Divinity," in which he exhibited, in a lucid manner, the doctrines of the Reformed Churches, and of the

ticular, and vindicated them with great ability. This work was never published, yet it was transcribed by many students in di

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