vvvw^'OTV^gv wvv Wy v v ■ vv Vv'^^ jyWW^WW^ggV^yvw WW KvVV^'vi/ -«vV g^wg^yvyWWWS v v ;^ J e^'«rC7iKv RARY OF CONGRE! STATES yWyW V - J >W >/)|V v VAAA^guy ii 1 it i fJM 1 mMIm ,uw WVuVW vwvv v w TW7 »* v v ^vv uu'U iULii -iVWut V¥ f . l} N\j\i , Ajl/l Mi; : ( ¥ HZ . m§MMmmw I'Wl v v vm w& mm mmm y«5VM,Wf* /WVv'v Ml JUUV ^vV^W^vvgw vW Vg^ yWV .VW^g^W VVWU ^vfcte w^gvy ^y^v^ Vi/VvVv v '^vv v v v w ^^ W'VW^ W$^$1^&fi * V ;V pw VYfcW&V.^ V wuv UV WWWw vv;. ■ -"" ifewwvy* i>JVV v *Yv w*wy\j $0*<^ ^^ IMPBISGKE-D in Nciwieh Jail, for two years, on the charge of crimes said to have been C(n mitted in the town oi Gritwold, in the county of New- Lcrdcri, when he was not within about 100 miles of the place, and of which he was absolutely as innocent as the Judge who prcncunced the sentence, or as any oth- er person in the world. — [Seejt. 147.] — ALSO— A CONCISE VIEW OF THE AUTHORITY, DOCTRINE, AND WOR- SHIP, IN THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AND A VERY VALUABLE INDEX TO THE HOLY BIBLE. COMPOSED, COMPILED AND WBITTEN BY THE SAID AMMI ROGERS, Late Hector of St. Peter's Church, in Hebron, Tolland Co. Conn. •* Is this nothing to you, all ye that pass by 1 Behold and see, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me." — Jeremiah. " (±uis talia fcndo temjnertt a lacriwis ?" — Virgil. — i. e. " "Who can refrain frcm tears at the relation ol such things 1" ELEVENTH EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS, OMISSIONS, AND ALTERATIONS, PRINTED BY KNOWLTON & RICE, FOR THE AUTHOR.' 1846. TOWN OF CORINTH, ^^ *^T Co. of Saratoga, State of N. York, Jan. 18, 18,18. [Henewed 23d June 1841.] We, the undersigned, do certify that we reside in the neighborhood of the Rev. Anjmi Rogers, and have been personally and well acquainted with him for many > ears last past, (< Mr. Rogers was a settled minister in this county for many vears ; has resided a great part of the time, and been well known and acquainted in this county for more than forty years last past,') and we do consider him to be a man of truth and veracity, a man of integrity, punctual in his dealings, and, as far as we are acquainted, of good moral character. And we have examined his LETTERS of ORDERS ; it appears from them, and from other documents produced by him, that he new is, (January 18, 1838, a minister of the Gospel in the Protestant Epis- copal Church, and in good standing. Benjamin Cowles, Justice of the Peace. Obadiah Wood, Justice of the Peace, Edward Edwards, Justice of the Peace, Windsor Brown, Justice of the Peace, and Supervi- sor of the Town of Corinth, Charles Carpenter, Town Clerk of Corinth. Saratoga County, Clerk's Office. I, Alpheus Goodrich, Clerk of said County of Saratoga, do certify, that Benjamin Cowles, Windsor Brown, Edward Edwards and Oba- diah Wood, Esqrs. are at this date acting Justices of the Peace in the town of Corinth in said county. And I further certify that Windsor Brown, Esq. is reputed and believed to be the acting supervisor of the town of Corinth in said county ; and further that Charles Carpenter is reputed and believed to be the acting town clerk of the aforesaid town of Corinth, at this date. -. «n In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and » ®> affixed my official seal, this 23d dav of March, JS38. A. GOODRICH. Clerk, By JOHN MANNING, Deputy. Town of Corinth, County of Saratoga, and State of N. York, ss. We, the undersigned, inhabitants of said Corinth, and residing in the neighborhood of the Rev. Ammi Rogers,. do certify that from our own personal knowledge and acquaintance, and from undoubted testimony, we do hereby fully and freely concur and unite in the foregoing certifi- cate relative to the said Ammi Rogers. NithajMallert,K ffh u of Corintht Ardon Heath, ) J J Thomas S. Carpenter,") Inspectors of Common Schools in Alfred W. Sexton, ) Corinth. ohn arly, i Commissioners of Highways in Cor- WiLLIAM IDE, V 1h Elijah Trumbull, S l Town of Corinth, April 3, 1838. — I certify that I am personally ac- quainted with each individual person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate ; that they are among the most respectable inhab- itants of this town, and that they now do sustain the offices annexed to their names respectively. Certified, CHARLES CARPENTER, Town Clerk of Corinth; TO THE READER. When a citizen, by groundless prejudice, by false rep- resentations and by palpable perjuries, has been made a victim to eclesiastical denunciations and civil prosecu- tions ; when the privileges arising from civil liberty and religious freedom have been wrested from him, he still has one privilege left, the privilege of complaining. A statement of his case, and an appeal to the public, is the dernier resort of an injured man ; such an appeal supported by satisfactory evidence, secures a sentence in favour of the oppressed. To disregard such a sen- tence would not be just, and even if it were just, it would not be possible. There has been, for years past, much animadversion on the union of Church and State. I have practically felt the operation of this two fold chord which is now happily broken in Connecticut, and which has almost prostrated me in the destruction of it. But I still sur- \ivc } and amidst thb heavy artillery of a departed Bish- op, and the artJVff .achinations and cruel batteries of a Connecticut Statv/'j Attorney, 1 have been sustained by a consciousness of my innocence, and by the blessing of that merciful Being " who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," I live to make this my last effort through the press, which, Heaven be praised, is still untrammelled, to evince my innocence and my integrity. Equal justice is due to all men, and tha lovers of truth are so far the lovers of God. I cannot therefore but in- dulge the hope, that an enlightened and compassionate public will give the following pages an attentive reading, and an impartial consideration. To render railing for railing is no part of my profession, and to expose the real faults of my fellow-citizens is no pleasure to me, and 1 intend not to do it, any further forth, than a reli- gious regard to duty shall compel me. All human tribu- nals, whether civil or eclesiastical, may and do err, and that which has been solemnly approved and sanctioned at one time has been no less solemnly disproved and discarded at another But without referring to former ex- amples, those of a recent date will serve my purpose In the year 1819, Stephen and Jesse Bourn were ar rested, tried and condemned, in the State of Vermont, for the murder of one Colvin, the time and place of their execution was appointed, and no doubt of their guilt was indulged : but behold, just before the hour of their exe- cution arrived, the said Colvin returned home hearty and well, and had not been injured ! Here was much smoke but no fire — no murder, no crime had been com- mitted on the said Colvin, or on any other person by any one. In the year 1820, John C. Decker and Gideon Braman were arrested, tried and condemned to hard la- bour in the State Prison of New- York during their nat- ural lives, for a burglary committed in Kinderhook ; and after having been confined and laboured there about four months, it was undeniably proved that the said bur- glary was committed by George Lanman, and that they were entirely ignorant and innocent of the whole trans- action. T*»ey were released and Lanman is now in their place. Here again was smoke but no fire, as it respected them. It is not long, since Joseph Inman was arrested, tried and condemned to be hung within the jurisdiction of Massachusetts for the murder of Oliver Holmes : but be- fore the time of execution arrived, Judge Arnold, in pas- sing through the town of Dedham, or its vicinity, met the eaid Holmes on the road, hearty and well, had not been injured. The Judge knew him, took him into his car- riage, conveyed him to the proper authority, and saved the life of the said Inman. It is not long, since a man of East Hartford was arrested, tried before the Superior Court of Connecticut for forging a note; he was declared guilty, condemned and imprisoned in Newgate. But it was afterwards proved that the said note was forged by one Peck, and that he was innocent of the crime ; he was released and Peck run away. It is not long since two men by the name of Snow were arrested, in tho County of Windham and State of Connecticut, for burn- ing a paper mill in that place. They were tried before the Superior Court, declared guilty, and sentenced to imprisonment in Newgate state prison, in Simsbury mines, for life, and there they both died, constantly pro- testing their innocence to their last breath ; and it is now beyond a doubt that they were faisely accused and unjustly condemned, and that the building was burnt by one Salter, who, it is said, has since confessed it.* It is not long since a Mr. Berger was arrested, tried, con- demned, and underwent the most exemplary and severe punishment in Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, for stealing $1,000 from a widow woman ; he was whipped, cropped, branded, and sentenced to six months im- prisonment in irons ; but within a few weeks the money was found and recovered from a man in Virginia ; and undeniably proved that Berger was entirely innocent of the crime. In the year 1819, James Lanman, Esq. one of the most violent federal Presbyterian, persecuting men in Connecticut, for party, sectarian and political purposes; and to destroy me as a minister of the Gospel, brought an information against me for committing crimes with Asenath Caroline Smith, a single woman, in Griswold, in the county of New-London, and state o Connecti- cut. — In October, 1820, I had my trial, {jf 't can be called a trial,) the particulars of which wi be stated hereafter. I was declared guilty, sufferet two years imprisonment in the common jail in Norwich in said county: and within a few months after I was released, xt proved beyond all contradiction, before a joint commit- tee of both houses of the honorable Gen Assembly of Connecticut, in the Senate Chamber, in the City of Hartford, that I was not and for a long time had not been within about one hundred miles of Griswold, or of the said Asenath, where and when the crimes were commit- ted, if they were ever committed by any one: nay, she her- self appeared in person before the said committee in the said Senate chamber, and made solemn oath, which cer- tainly was true, that I was absolutely innocent of the whole transaction, for which, on her account, I had un- justly suffered two year's imprisonment: that she had been over-persuaded and hired by the said Lanman and others, to accuse me falsely, and to commit perjury, which *On his death bed, and not two hours before he died Salter confessed that he himself burnt that paper-mill, and swore falsely against these two men by which they were condemned and suffered death in the State Prision, Siiii»~ bury mines, 1* " ' 6 had broken her peace of mind, and caused her more sor- row, trouble and tears, than all the transactions of her life besides. This her confession and testimony were supported by the testimony of others, and my innocence could not but be apparent to every unprejudiced mind. Oh, how I fear, howl tremble! how I feel for those poor, unfortunate, miserable creatures who have committed, and been ac- cessary to the dreadful sin of perjury! have they indeed f ormed a plan! have they devised means, have they effec- teotne dreadful purpose of the disgrace, imprisonment and utter ruin, in this world, of an innocent man, of a minister of the Gospel, of one who had always been iheir friend! Oh, how I lament, how I deplore and be- moan their sin, their ingratitude, their baseness! — a Oh, Chat my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the aaughter of my people. 5 ' For courts ol law to err is not uncommon; but the in- justice of which I here complain, is neither common nor small; I feel to forgive my enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, but I desire that truth and justice may come to light; that perjury, wickedness and vice may be sup- fressed. "He that hath an ear to hear let him hear." a this world the justice and goodness of the divine gov- ernment will often escape the satisfaction o** the mos't pi- ous and diligent inquirer; the innocent are often con- demned, while the guilty go clear, and with a fair char acter. Virtue is condemned to the punishment of vice, and vice receives the reward of virtue. Jesus Christ, himseli, is born in a manger, while the murderous Herod who had put 14000 children to death, who were two years old and under, ascends the throne of Israel. The good St. Paul is a prisoner in chains, while the bloody Nero sways the sceptre of the whole Roman Empire. The good John Rogers is burnt at the stake in Smithfield, by the Roman Catholics, while the infamous Bonner is the first Bishop in England. The good Lewis the six- teenth is beheaded, while the ambitious and hypocritical Bonaparte, who had drenched Europe with blood, mur- dered 6000 men between Java and Gaza in Asia., and changed God's holy Sabbaths to the tenth day, ascends the throne of France. The amiable Major Andre is hung at West Point, like a thief, and a murderer, while the traitorous and detestable Arnold is a Major General The Rev. Ammi Rogers is a prisoner in Norwich, in Con- necticut, while the hypocritical, coxcomical and detesta- ble James Lanman, who had maliciously brought this prosecution, is a Senator of the United States, while the suborners of perjury in the case of Mr. Rogers are at the bar, or in the faculty; but now by the just judgment of God, are stripped of the small portion of respect which they once received. That equal justice is always done to all men in this world, is not true; and on this ground, even the heathen philosophers very justly argued the existence of a God, and the immortality of the soul; for say they, if there be a God, he must be a God of justice; and since all men do not receive equal justice in this world, there must be a fu- ture state of existence, in which the righteous Governor of the Universe will evidently distinguish between those who love and practice that which is just and good, and those who do not. In this world, the best and most mor- al men, the very salt of the earth, are often despised and neglected; nay, they are insulted, scandalized, perse- cuted, imprisoned, and even put to death as the worst of human beings ; while cheats, thieves, liars, adulterers, and duellists, who are murderers; nay, the very vilest and most profane and immoral men, the very offscouring of all human society, are caressed and admired, are voted for and promoted; they ride upon the high places of the earth, and walk in robes or lawn, they are adorned with a crown, or a mitre, and are unmindful of their mortality or accountability. But the venerable Dr. Watts very excellently describes their situation in his paraphrase on the 73d Psarlm, when he says, "Lord, what a thoughtless wretch was I To niourn and murmur and repine, To see the wicked placed on high, In pride and robes of honor shine, But Oh, their end, their dreadful end!" &c In the finaljudgmentofthe world, the justice and good- ness of the divine government, will be made manifest to every understanding. Then shall the innocent be pro- tected, while the guilty are confounded. Then shall the meek, the humble, and the persecuted be exalted and re- warded; while the proud, the unjust, the malicious, and oppressive shall be brought low and punished. In that day, there will be nothing hid which shall not be made manifest, there will be no deception which shall not be detected, no injustice which shall not be rectified; and unless by faith and repentance we come to God, in the appointed means of divine grace, we shall all likewise perish. The justice of God must be vindicated, the guil- ty must be punished, the innocent must be protected and rewarded, or the throne of Heaven must fall. By the deeds of the law no flesh can live. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God: but in, and through him "who died for our offences and rose again for our justification," every son and daughter of the hu- man race may obtain forgiveness and be forever happy with the Lord and with each other. Though from my fellow men I have not deserved the disgrace, the imprisonment, and the affliction loaded upon me, and upon my friends; yet before that God un- to whom "all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid," in other respects I have often offended in thought, word and deed and as I hope and expect God, for Christ's sake to forgive me; sol feel in my heart to forgive my enemies, persecutors and vlanderers, and pray God to turn their hearts. Stiii I feel it my duty, in the promotion of truth and justice, in the suppression of perjury, wickedness and vice, and in the conveyance of that knowledge which may be honora- ble to God and useful to mankind, to lay before the pub- lic the following Memoirs, which I entreat the reader to peruse with attention, and consider with candor; and to believe me his persecuted friend and humble servant in the ministry of the Gospel of peace and reconciliation in the Lord Jesus Christ. AMMI ROGERS. Hebron, October 7/A, 1823. MEMOIRS, &c. CHAPTER I. A BIO GRAPHIC A L SKE TCH OF MY LIFE AJYV MINISTRY. I, Ammi Rogers, was born in the town of Branford, in the county of New-Haven, in the state of Connecticut, on the 26th of May, in the year of our Lord, 1770. My father was Thomas Rogers, who departed this life in Branford, on the 23d of June, 1804, aged 79. He was the son of Josiah Rogers, who departed this life in Bran- ford, about the year 1750, aged 86. He came from Long-Island, was a son of one of three brothers who came from England, and were grandsons of the celebrated John Rogers, a clergyman of the church of England, burnt by the Roman Catholics in Smithfield, in the first year of the reign of Queen Mary, 1554. My grandfather was one of the proprietors of the town of Branford; he own- ed and occupied the extensive farm and mills which are now owned and occupied by my brother Josiah Rogers, and which have been in possession of the family from about the earliest settlement of the town. My mother, before she was married was Rebecca Hobart, daughter of Abijah Hobart, of Stonington, in New-London coun- ty. By him, a relation with the family of Mason is claim- ed; also, with the Rev. Mr. Hobart, the former Minis- ter of Fairfield, and his descendants. My grandmother Rogers was a Goodsell — my grandmother Hobart, was a Bartholomew. My brothers were Abijah, Rufus, Thomas, Josiah, Eliphalet and Hobart — my sister was Irene, who is married to Thelus Todd — and, except the false and scandalous accusations charged upon me, there never was, so far as I know or believe, a stain or even suspicion of immorality fixed upon my father or mother, grandfather or grandmother, brother or sister. 10 MEMOIRS. Perhaps there is not in Connecticut a family which ig and always has been more exempt from the practice of every vice, than that to which I have the honor to belong. In the year 1783. I entered the Academy in Litchfield, under the tuition of Mr. Gsborn, and boarded in the fam- ily of the Hon Andrew Adams, who was related to my father's family. In the year 1786, I entered Yale Col- lege in JN T ew-Haven, under the direction of the Rev. Ezra Stiles, President. Here I became more seriously impressed with the importance of religion, and the awful concerns of eternity. My parents were pious, and strict in the Congregational Presbyterian Religion, and I had been brought up in that way. From my earliest childhood I had been impressed with a sense of God, of his omniscience, omnipresence, om- nipotence, and of my own accountability. But human inability and human accountability were so contrary to the justice and goodness of God, that I sheltered mysell under the doctrine of unconditional election and foreor- dination. This was taught in my catechism, and if that were true, I was safe; but when I became convicted of my lost and undone condition by nature, and by practice, I perceived that if God should enter into judgment with his creatures, by the deed of the law, no man living could be justified; for cursed is every one that contin- ued not in all things written in the book of the law to do them, and the law extends to the very thoughts of the heart, as well as to the outward actions of the body; that we were called upon to rend our hearts and not our gar- ments, to be up and doing while the day lasted; that we were admonished, that now was the accepted time, and now was the day of salvation. I perceived that I had no power of myself, to help myself: that my sufficiency for any thing which was good and acceptable to God, must come from God, that his grace was sufficient for me and for all men; therefore did he invite all the ends of the earth to look to him and be saved; therefore did he ex- postulate with his people, why will ye die, O house of Is- rael! The sacrifices under the law, and the atonement made by Jesus Christ under the Gospel, were sufficient for all men, even the greatest of sinners. I found my MEMOIRS. 11 disposition changed; I found myself enlightened as to divine and spiritual things: I found my affections, my prospects, my anticipations and expectations were not on predestination and fore-ordination, but on the mercy of God, through the merits and atonement of Christ. In this way I became converted, and as a grateful return to the great Father of all mercies, I determined, and I thought it my duty to preach the gospel, the good news to all men — free salvation to every son and daughter of the human race upon equal terms, considering the light and knowledge which they had; and the unspeakable danger to which they expose themselves, if they neglect so great salvation. I could not perceive the propriety of preaching free salvation to all men, if it were not pos- sible for all men to be saved; and if it were possible for all men to be saved, then the doctrine which I had been taught must be false. That God had, from all eternity, fore-ordained who should be saved, and who should be damned, I could not reconcile with the truth of his word, in swearing by himself that he desired not the death of a sinner; in inviting all the ends of the earth to look to him and be saved; in saying that his mercy was over all his works; in being the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; in saying that this will be the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light; in saying that the grace of God, which bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and "worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. INovv to say, that God nev- er designed, nor intended, nor wished, nor put it in the power of all mankind to be saved, was, in my opinion, neither honorable to God, nor useful to mankind, nor did I believe it to be true. But if people will do despite to the spirit of grace, if they will resist the Holy Ghost, if they will perjure themselves and pervert the cause of justice, mercy and goodness, if they do not use the means of grace, but live and die in the disposition and practice of what they know to be wrong, they will be damned, they must be miserable and wretched. Where- fore, saith the prophet, "let the wicked forsake his ways 12 MEMOIRS. and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him re- turn unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will ahundantly pardon." The great design of all true religion, of all the holy scriptures, and of all good preaching, is to change the natural disposition of the human heart, which is deceit- ful above all things and desperately wicked, and to in- duce all mankind to live that sober, righteous and godly life, while in this world, which will terminate in everlas- ting happiness in the world to come. While I was a member of College, my religious con- victions were strong, my impressions were deep, my con- version was hopeful and joyous; but my views of the doc trines of religion were varient from the Saybrook confes- sion of faith, and the Assembly's Catechism ; though at that time an opportunity had not occurred for me to ex- amine any other system. At length, I obtained permis- sion to attend for half a day, divine worship in the Epis- copal Church: and, although I was a stranger to their church government and worship, yet their doctrine was liberal, and conformable to what I had previously thought. This induced an inquiry into the origin of the religion in which I had been educated, and I found that when our forefathers first came to this country, they came from England; that when they came from Eng- land they came from the Church of England, and were dissenters from that Church. This induced an enquiry into the cause and ground of their separation — into what they gained, and into w T hat they lost. This brought to view a subject with which I was wholly unacquainted, viz. the government of the christian church, the author- ity necessary in the regular and due administration of the sacraments, the articles of the christian faith, and the worship of God as practised by churchmen and dis- senters. About this time appeared the letters of the Rev. Dr. JBowden to President Stiles, on the subject of a lineal succession of Bishops, by a valid ordination, which were not answered. I also read Potter on Church Govern- ment, Cave's Lives of the Fathers, Hooker's Ecclesias- tical Polity, and many other excellent writers on the part of the church. I also read a history of the Puritans MEMOIRS. 13 in England, the New-England Memorial, Mather's Mag- naha, and the Cambridge and Saybrook Platforms with such other books as I could find on the part of the dissen- ters. My earnest endeavour was to learn and know the truth, and that I might have a disposition to act accor- dingly. At this time I had never within my knowledge, seen a Baptist, Methodist or Quaker, but was fully satis- fied that whoever departed from the government of any society, departed from that society; that whoever depar- ted from the government of the christian church, did, by that very act depart from the church, and was in danger of losing the benefit of all that Christ had done, and suffered for him; that as no one could lawfully act in the name of another without his authority, so no one could lawfully baptize or administer the sacrament or hold forth the terms of life and salvation to a guilty world, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without authority from God; that this authority could on- ly be obtained in an immediate and extraordinary commis- sion from Heaven, and then immediate and extraordinary works must be produced to prove it, for God never re- quires his creatures to believe that which he has not giv- en them evidence to believe; or it must be obtained by a succession. To pretend to work miracles, or to pro- duce extraordinary works was ridiculous and vain; to claim a succession, authentic documents must be produ* ced to prove it; and this could only be done in the Epis- copal church, which included the Greek, Latin, English f and other churches, but not the dissenters from the church of England. Many very able and pious men and women were among them, but I could not be satisfied, that by their separation from the government, doctrine and wor- ship, of the universal church, they had gained anything which was honorable to God, or useful to mankind; for' in the Episcopal church they might be as able, as amia- ble, and as pious as they could be in their own way. But they had lost much. I could not but think that our forefathers were mista- ken in separating from the church of England, at first, but at the same time adopted this mode of reasoning, viz. after diligent inquiry and fair examination I sincere- U MKMOIRS. \y think that I au* tight in my religion, as an Episcopa Han, but I claim not infallibility — I may be mistaken ; if I am, I hope God will forgive me ; because I sincere- ly think I am right : others may be as sincere in their religion as I am in mine. If I say that God will not forgive them, how can I expect him to forgive me, if I should happen to be wrong. So that whoever shall pass sentence of condemnation upon his fellow christian, it is a sentence of condemnation passed by himself, upon him- self, if he happens to be wrong. True it is, that two things, which are opposite in themselves, cannot both be right at the same time, and every person who differs with me, must think that I am wrong, or that he himself is wrong ; and wo unto them who shall make, no differ- ence between right and wrong ! But let each one say for himself in the language of the Poet, " Let not this weak, unknowing hand, Presume thy bolts to throw, And deal damnation round the land, On each I deem thy foe. If I am right, oh ! teach my heart Still in the right to stay ; If I am wrong, thy grace impart To find the better way." While a member of college, I left the congregationa. Presbyterian religion, in which my parents and I had been brought up, and joined the Episcopal church ; and I did it because I then thought, and now think it was my duty. I thought that the Episcopal church was of di- vine appointment ; that in it the sacraments were ad- ministered by divine and undoubted authority ; that the doctrines taught in that church were in every point of view honorable to God, and useful to man, and support- ed by the authority of God's word : that the worship of God in that church did not depend upon the discretion or indiscretion of any one man, and was not as various and as discordant as the tempers, dispositions, and abil- ities of all those who should lead in their devotions ; but was founded upon the temper and disposition of the gospel, and supported by the authority of the holy scrip- tures. In this church, there is one Lord, one faith, one MEMOIRS, 15 baptism, one God, and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all, working in due season, that we should bring forth the fruits of a virtuous and good life. Constantly to unite in the same forms of worship has a tendency to bring us all to the same disposition, and a sameness of disposition creates friendship in all beings and in all worlds, (so far as my knowledge ex- tends) and by this says our blessed Saviour, shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another. A prayer. u O, Almighty and Everlasting God, who alone canst govern the unruly wills and affections of sinful men, make me and all others, I beseech thee, at all times and in all places, to love those things which thou dost command, and to desire those things which thou dost promise, that so, among the sundry,manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord." — Our Father who art in heaven, &,c. CHAPTER II. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH CONTINUED. I was graduated at Tale College, in New-Haven, Con- necticut, in the year 1790 ; and soon after, was placed under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Jarvis in Middletown, (afterwards bishop Jarvis,) in the study of divinity and ecclesiastical history, and boarded in his family. My sit- uation soon became unpleasant in consequence of his churlish behaviour in his family and neglect to give me suitable instruction. I left his house in disgust, and was placed under the direction, in my studies, of the Rev Edward Blakeslee, of North Haven, and the Rev. Doct. Mansfield, of Derby. At this, Mr. Jarvis appeared to be mortified and displeased ; his endeavours to excite a disgust against me, in the minds of some of the clergy and laity of the Episcopal Church, were soon commu- nicated to me, and I soon became sensible of the effects 20 MEMOIRS. of them. Application was made to me, to perform di- vine service, and to preach, under the direction of the Rev. Doctor Mansfield, in the churches in Waterbury, Woodbury, and in Salem, which I did to the unanimous approbation of the parishes. But Mr. Jarvis, by the consent of bishop Seabury, soon sent Mr. Hart, then a candidate for the ministry, to take charge of these par- ishes. This excited uneasiness, and a division among them. I declined performing service there, the church in Salem refused to employ Mr. Hart, and unfriendly feelings were excited. In the year 1791, I attended the Convention or Convocation of the church in Wa- tertown with a view of being examined and admitted as a candidate, but perceiving the hostile disposition of Mr Jarvis, and the influence he had gained with some of the clergy, I withdrew, without offering myself, or making my intentions known. And wishing to avoia any thing unpleasant, I received letters of recommen- dation from the Rev. Doctor Mansfield, the Rev. Mr. Blakeslee and others; also from the church in Bran- ford, Northford, and others, and went into the state of New- York, and commenced a Reader in the churches in Schenectady and Ballston, under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Ellison of Albany. In this situation, having given notice to the bishop of New- York, I remained until the next year, when I was recommended to the said bishop of New-York, and standing committee of the church in that state, for deacon's orders, by the Rev. Dr. Mansfield, and the Rev. Mr. Blakeslee, in whose families I had resided, and studied divinity and ecclesi- astical history; by the church in Branford, where I had been born and brought up, and where I had been known from my infancy, and where public notice had been given to the congregation, assembled in the church for public worship on Sunday, the 15th day of April, 1792, that in the month of June, in that year, I should apply to the bishop and standing committee of the church, in the state of New-York, to be ordained a deacor.; and they were then solemnly called upon in the name of God, if they knew any thing scandalous in my conauct oi character, or any just cause or reason why I should not MEMOIRS. 17 be ordained, to let it be known within one month, that it might be communicated to the proper authority. I was also recommended as aforesaid, by the church in North- ford ; by the church in Guilford, by the church in Bals- ton, and by the church in the city of Schenectady, where I then resided, and by the Rev. Mr. Ellison of Albany, under whose care and direction I had been employed as a reader for about one year : with these recommen- dations, and my diploma from College, I offered myself to the aforesaid bishop and standing committee, to be examined and ordained a deacon ; and on the 18th and 19th days of June, 1792, I was examined by the Right Rev. Bishop Provoost, and the said standing committee, at the house of the Rev. Dr. (afterwards bishop) Moore, in the city of New- York. First, on my internal call, and views in regard to the ministry ; on that change of the natural disposition, which is necessary to fit us for God's heavenly kingdom ; in my knowledge and belief in the holy scriptures, and my earnest intention by God's grace to conform my heart and practice to them ; in my knowledge of the English, Latin, Greek and He- brew languages ; in my knowledge of a general system and body of divinity, and ecclesiastical history; in my.. knowledge of the lives and travels of the apostles and primitive fathers of the church ; in my knowledge of the general and liberal arts and sciences, &c; and after two days strict trial and full examination and with the aforesaid recommendations, I was honorably approved, accepted, and recommended to the said bishop as the cannons directed, to be ordained. The day after this recommendation, the Rev. Mr. Jarvis, of Middletown, in Connecticut, came to New- York and informed the Rev. Dr. Beach, one of the said standing committee, that I was a very unworthy young man, and had actually been refused holy orders in Connecticut. I assured Dr. Beach, that Mr. Jarvis was my enemy, because I had left his house, and refused to live and study with him, and that what he had said was not true. I requested him to suspend his judgement, and not to mention what Mr. Jarvis had said, until I could go to Connecticut and obtain further recommendations, and a certificate from lg MEMOIRS. the secretary, that I had not been refused orders in that state. This he consented to do, and I accordingly went to the Rev. Dr. Dibble, of Stamford, stated my case to him, requested him to examine me and my documents, and if he should find me worthy and well qualified, to recommend me to the bishop and standing committee of New-York, to be ordained. This he very freely did, and at the same time expressed his astonishment at the conduct of Mr. Jarvis. I then went to the Rev. Mr. Oglesvie, of Norwalk, made the same statement and request, and obtained the same recommendation. I then went to the Rev. Mr. Shelton, of Newfield, to the Rev. Mr. Clark, of Huntington, and to the Rev. Mr. Marsh, of New-Milford, made to them individually the same communication and request, and after due examination, received the same recommendation from them. I then went to the house of the Rev. Mr. Perry, of Newton, who was secretary of the Convention of Connecticut, to obtain a certificate, that I had not been refused holy or- ders in that state, in order to contradict the fasehood of Mr. Jarvis. When I arrived there Mr. Perry was from home on a journey ; I stated my business to Mrs. Per- ry, and wished to examine the records, which I did in her presence, and in the presence of a Mr. Isaac Da vis who was there, he was a young gentleman with whom I was acquainted, when I was a member of College ; not finding my name on the record, as I was sure it was not, Mr. Perry being from home, the day of my ordina- tion having been appointed, and nothing but the evi- dence of a plain matter of fact wanted ; Mr. Davis con- sented to give a certificate in the name of Mr. Perry, that no act of the bishop and clergy of Connecticut, Lad been passed, refusing me orders in that state ; this he did — and with this certificate, and with these recom- mendations, I returned to New-York, satisfied Dr. Beach (who was only one of a committee of eight, and only a majority was necessary,) and I was ordained a deacon, in Trinity Church, in the city of New-York, by the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D. bishop of the Pro- testant Episcopal Church in that state, on the twenty- fourth day of June, A. D. 1792. MEMOIRS. 19 On the day after my ordination, I called on the said Dr. Beach for my papers and documents, as they could be of no use to him. Those which were directed to the standing committee he claimed as vouchers for his con- duct in recommending me, and refused to return them ; but the certificate written by Mr. Davis, was not direc- ted to rniy body and was returned to me. On my way home, which was in Schenectady, I went to the house of Mr. Perry in Newton, gave him the certificate which Mr. Davis had^given me in his absence, told him how I came by it, and what it was given for. His reply was, " I am sorry that I was not at home when you was here before, for I should have been glad to have afforded you every assistance in my power, and am glad that Mr. Davis gave you this certificate." He then tore it in two, and gave me one hah of it, as we were standing near each other. He then said, u to prevent any difficulty that may arise, I had better give you one myself, and then sat down and wrote the following, with his own hand, and which is now in my possession, viz. " This may certify, that no act has ever been passed by the Convocation of the clergy of Connecticut, pro- hibiting the Rev. Mr. Ammi Rogers receiving holy or- ■ f iers in this church. \ Certified by PHILO PERRY, Secretary of Convocation. July 5th, 1792." Soon after my return to Schenectady, I received the following letter, addressed to The Rev. Ammx Rogers, Schenectady. New- York, August 1th, 1792. Reverend Sir, Suffer me to congratulate you on your ordination, and to wish you all possible success and happiness. From my acquaintance with you, I feel strongly impressed with an idea of your eminence. I have seen the Rev. Mr. Perry, of Newton, and informed him that I had given you a certificate, and put his name to it ; he said that I had done right and that he had seen you since, and had given you one to the same purport in his own hand wri- ting, and that the one which I wrote was destroyed. I 20 MEMOIRS. have some expectation of being in your part of the coun- try this fall ; if such a thing should happen, I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you. Your sincere friend and well wisher, ISAAC DAVIS. My ministry was blessed beyond what I had reason to expect, though not to exceed my endeavors ; a sense of the divine Majesty, and all his adorable attributes, were deeply fixed in my mind, with an affecting impress- ion of the awful responsibility of my office; my endeavors were to make my hearers sensible of their lost and un- done situation, by the natural depravity of their minds, and the absolute necessity of the use of all the means of grace, that they might be converted and enjoy the comfortable and blessed hope of glory, which would be that peace of God, which passeth all understanding, that peace which this world could not give. My preaching and my endeavors, were to represent the God of heaven, whom we adore, in the most amiable and pleasing point of view possible, and to persuade myself and my people to love him and to imitate him. As my preaching re- spected my fellow men, it was first to inform and en- lighten their understanding in the most religious and mor- v al doctrines and duties of Christianity, and then to move their affections, to believe and act accordingly. From the 24th of June, 1792, to October, 1793, I ad- ministered 130 baptisms ; I married 20 persons ; and deposited five dead bodies of my fellow christians in the grave, " looking for the general resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Chirst." Within the time last mentioned, the building of St. George's church in Schenectady, which during, and since the revolutionary war, had lain most of the time destitute, neglected, and greatly injured, was repaired and made comfortable. It was an elegant stone building, with a handsome steeple and good organ, and had been well finished. It would be ungrateful and un- just not to mention the name of Mr. William Corlett, a man from the Isle of Man : whose pious attentions and generous contributions to St. George's church, in the city of Schenectady, ought never to be forgotten ; for to MEMOIRS 21 his example and exertions that parish is much indebted. During this time also : the church in Ballston, from on- ly about fourteen families, had become numerous and respectable, and their house of worship was raised and enclosed ; the greatest friendship and harmony subsisted between me and all my people, and among themselves. In October, 1793, 1 attended the convention of the Episcopal Church in the state of New- York, assembled in the city of New- York, of which I was a member, and then made the foregoing returns to the bishop, re- ceived his approbation and thanks, with an invitation to preach in Trinity Church, and St. Paul's Church in the city of New-York, which I did. I was now in love, friend- ship, and fellowship, with the Bishop and all the cler- gy, with my own parishes, and with the whole church, ex- cept Mr. Jarvis, and some of his particular friends. With his conduct I felt myself abused, though what he inten- ded for my injury, had eventuated in my good and pros- perity: for my situation in the state of New-York was much better than I could have expected in Connecticut. I was favored with thousands of blessings, and ray gieui and earnest care was to make a grateful and practical return, by a conscientious discharge of my ordination vows, and a holy, humble, and exemplary walk before God and his people of every denomination. Oh how of- ten have I alone, with closed doors, on my knees, be- fore God, read the ordination service of the Episcopal church with prayers, and tears, and fasting, that God of his great mercy, would please to direct and assist me in all my doings, with his most gracious favor ,and further me with his continual help, that in all my works, begun, continued, and ended in him, I might glorify his holy name, and finally, that I, and all committed to my care, and the whole world of mankind, might obtain everlasting life and happiness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 22 MEMOIRS. CHAPTER III. A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH CONTINUED, The year 1794 was to me vastly important. In iha year I was married to the very amiable Miss Margare Bloore, about 18 years old, of an excellent disposition, and well educated. She was the only daughter of Mr. Joshua Bloore, a gentleman from Manchester in Eng- land, who came to this country and settled as a merchant in Albany, and afterwards moved into the county of Sar- atoga, where I became acquainted with him and his fam- ily. His wife before he married her, was a Margaret Brintnal, of Langly parish in Derbyshire, England. In that year, I was recommended to the Bishop and stan- ding committee of the Episcopal church, in the state of New-York; was again examined by them as before, was recommended by the said standing committee, to be or- dained by the said bishop. — And in Trinity church, in the city of New- York, on the 19th day of October, A. D. 1794, I was ordained a PRIEST, by the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost, D. D. bishop of the Protestant Epis- copal church in the state of New-York. Before this, it was known that Dr. Beach and Mr. Jarvis had become reconciled in regard to the falsehood communicated rel- ative to me; and he was left out of the said standing committee, though he attended and assisted at my ordi- nation as a priest, and received the sacrament of the Lord's Supper with me at that time. But the same night after the ordination, he complained to the Bishop that I had brought to him a forged certificate, before I was or- dained a deacon. The next day the Bishop called us both before him, and caused an inquiry. I stated to hiin the case as it was, relative to the certificate which Mr. Davis had given to me, in the absence of Mr. Perry; that on my way home I had called on Mr. Perry, infor- med him what was done, and gave him the certificate; that he approved of it, and gave another to the same pur- port, in his own hand writing, which I then laid before the Bishop, with the letter of Mr. Davis, dated August MEMOIRS. 23 7th 1792. Dr. Beach acknowledged, before the bishop, that the facts were true, as I stated them, and said he thought there ought to be an investigation. The bish' op replied, that he did not know how that could be brought against me as a Priest, which took place before I was a deacon; that Dr. Beach was present and assis- ted at my ordination as a priest, and if he had any ob- jection, then, or before, was the time to make it ; that I had undergone a better examination, and was amply rec- ommended, by more clergymen, and more churches than any he had ever ordained, and the result of my ministry proved that he had not been imposed upon; that m all forgeries, there must be some falsehood, but in this case there is no pretence of falsehood, and it *'ould he very unlikely that so many respectable clergy- men and parishes would recommend me to be ordained in New- York, if I had been refused orders in Connecti- cut, or if I was unworthy of the ministry; that the cer- tificate itself was a mere evidence of fact, such as any one might have given, who had examined the records; that it was obtained, and used not to prevent truth and jus tice, but to suppress an acknowledged falsehood; and he therefore decided that Dr. Beach had no cause of com- plaint, and dismissed the enquiry, desiring us to be re- conciled. Dr. Beach then, in the presence of the Bisl op, requested me to overlook all that had passed be- tween us: offered me his hand in friendship, and asked me to preach for him the next Sunday, in St. George's church in the City of New- York; the whole of which I complied with and the matter was settled. Still there was not that cordiality between him and me that there was between me and the other clergy. From October, 1793, to October, 1794, 1 administer- ed 184 baptisms; married 18 persons, and buried 11, and had preached 176 sermons; my ministerial labors had become very extensive, and I had reason to believe, very acceptable. When in the city of New- York, I preach- ed in Trinity church, in St Paul's church, and in St. George's Chapel, in Beekman street. Reflecting on the occurrences of this year, I feel to express myself in the words of the 14th hymn, in the book of Common Prayer, viz. 24 MEMOIRS. "When all tliy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view I'm lost In wonder, love and praise," &c. My general practice was to encourage family devo- tion every day, setting the example myself; to compose and write my own sermons, and the subject was taken from that part of the holy scriptures, which, by the es- tablished order of the Episcopal church, every minister was obliged to read to his people on that day. From Oct. 1794, to Oct. 1795, I administered 123 baptisms; admitted upon their credible profession of faith, repentance, and an intention, by God's grace, to lead a new and better life, 90 persons to the holy com- munion; I joined £0 persons in marriage, deposited 8 dead bodies of my fellow christians in the grave, and de- livered about 160 sermons; was much given to reading, to study, to self-examination and to prayer. I attended the convention, was in great love and friendship with the Bishop, with my brethren the clergy and the laity. I preached in most of the Episcopal churches in the city of New-York, and returned to my parishes with a renewed determination that I would, by God's help, fulfil my ordination engagements. At this time my ministerial labours extended to almost every part of the county of Saratoga, and to some oi the neighbouring counties. From October 1795 to October 1796, I administered 246 baptisms. The number of communicants had in- creased to 120. I married 32 persons, and buried 8. From Oct. 1796, to Oct. 1797, I administered 186 bap- tisms ; my communicants had increased to 158. I mar ried 14 persons and buried 4. In the year 1797, there was a very unhappy occur- rence. Delegates from the state of New- York to the general convention of the Episcopal church in the Uni- ted States, to be holden in the city of Philadelphia, were to be appointed, for the purpose, among other things, of revising the 39 articles of religion of the church of Eng- land, and of adopting them in this country, or of rejec- ting them. It so happened that in this election the cler- MEMOIRS. 25 gy were almost unanimous in my favour, and the laity were about equally divided in their choice between the Rev. Dr. Beach, my former opposer, and me. In this way they ballotted eleven times, each party adhering to his vote and no choice was made, when the said Dr Beach arose and said, " if my brethren the clergy suppose that that young man, meaning me, is better qualified to fill that most important station in the church — one of the mosi Important stations in the church that ever ivas or perhaps ever will be, when the articles of religion in the ichole church of the United States are to be arranged and settled, f now declare that I will not accept the appointment, nor will 1 ever set in this convention with him again. " He then look his hat, went off, apparently in anger, and I was almost unanimously elected ; went to Philadelphia on tiiat business, and was a member of the said general convention in 1797, '98 and '99. I was at the same time a member of the convention of the Episcopal church in the state of New-Yorkj and it is believed that few clergymen of my age had received more honour, more approbation, and more preferments among his brethren, 21 the convention and in the church than I had. Soon after my return from the convention in 1797, I received the following letter from the Rev. Dr. Moore, afterwards bishop Moore, viz. To the Rev. Ammi Rogers, in Ballston, New- York, Dec. 3 lth, 1797. Dear Sir — I have been expecting for some days past a letter ei- ther from you or from Mr. Ellison, respecting the busi- ness of the Lutheran church, for the management of which, you know we are the committee aDpointed by the convention. I wish you would attend to it, and let me know the result of your deliberations. Doctor Beach is very much displeased at your appoint- ment as a delegate to the general convention. He con- ceives himself insulted by putting you in the place which he supposes ought to have been Jilted by himself and seems to think it necessary to show bij depreciating your charac- ter, that the convention made an improper choice. I cal- led on him the day before yesterday to converse with 2* MEMOIRS. hiui on the subject ; he charges you with having brought forged recommendations, when you applied for holy or- ders. I told him I should certainly state the matter to you ; and I wish you would give me some explanation of this business, so that if it be practicable, I may check the evil reports which some people are circulating among our brethren the clergy, and I have reason to think among the laity also. You know the high sense 1 entertain of your industry and utility in the church ; and to rub off any stain which calumny may attempt to throw upon innocence, will be a great satisfaction to your friend and brother. BENJAMIN MOORE. To the foregoing letter, I sent the following answer : To the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Moore, New- York. Balhton, December 20th } 1797. Rev. and Dear Sir — I received your favour of the 11th inst. this morning, and now thank you for taking my part in my absence. When Dr. Beach says that I brought forged recomen- dations, when I applied for holy orders, it is a notori- ous falsehood, and he knows it. The matter to which he alludes was full} inquired into by Bishop Provoost, some years ago, viz. on the day after I was ordained a priest ; and was by him dismissed as unworthy of no- tice, and to him I refer you for information on the sub- ject. [Sec pages 17, 18, 19, & 22.] I wish you and Mr. Bissitt would call on Bishop Provoost on the subject, and then inform Dr. Beach and his friends what the Bish- op says about it ; this will make him look meaner than he now docs, if possible. As to the business of the Lutheran church, Mr. Elli- son and I have had a consultation on the subject, and are calculating to see the Rev. Mr. Quitman, when we will let you know more about it ; I think the prospect is favourable. I have a call to attend a funeral in Gal- way,* and must bid you farewell, and I am, dear sir, with every sentiment of esteem and affection, your much obliged friend and brother, AMMI ROGERS MEMOIRS. 2t Bishop Provoost entirely satisfied the Rev. Dr. Moore, and the Rev. Mr. Bissitt, on the subject of Mr. Perry's certificate, which Dr. Beach had most falsely and mosl unjustly called forged recommendations, when I applied for holy orders, and I heard no more of it until 1803 ; six years after. From October 1797, to October 1798, I administered 254 baptisms ; my communicants were 208 ; I joined 36 persons in marriage, and attended 19 funerals ; and preached about 180 sermons. There was but one coup try clergyman in the state of New- York, at that time, whose returns to the Bishop, or whose ministerial la- bours were so extensive as mine. From October 1798, to October 1799, when as usual I attended the convention, I administered 168 baptisms ; had 210 communicants, married 16 persons, attended 13 burials, preached about 170 sermons. At this time, an Anabaptist teacher had commenced an attack upon me, and upon the church, by publishing in the newspaper printed in Ballston, an anonymous piece against the observance of Christmas, and the oth- er festivals of the church. This piece was answered y me, and that again was answered by him ; and thus fie dispute was pursued for many months, with great warmth on both sides ; until at length a public ukaiis* sion was personally had in the Court-house in Ballston, in presence of many hundreds of people. The result was as might have been expected, no conviction of error on either side ; but worsted in argument, my antagonist and his party had recourse to personal invective ; this was replied to by the wardens and vestry of the church in Ballston and by more than forty of my nearest neigh- bours, of every denomination ; in which my conduct and character both as a minister and a man were fully vin- dicated. From October 1799, to October 1800, I administered 137 baptisms ; my communicants had increased to c 228, I married 28 persons, and buried 5, and preached about 150 sermons, exclusive of many lectures and public ex hortations. This year was to me the beginning of sorrow I had 28 MEMOIRS. devoted myself entirely to the work of the ministry. In the county of Saratoga, my people had increased from about 14 families, to about 4000 souls ; they had duilt a new church in Ballston, and finished it with an elegan* steeple, bell and organ. They had become incorporate, and built a new church with a handsome steeple, in the town of Milton, and also in the town s>f Stillwater. — In Waterford they had become a body corporate, and a iarge number had joined that society ; a very respecta ble society was also collected in Charlton and in Galway/ and in other parts of that county. I had some time be- fore resigned my parish in Schenectady to the Rev. Robt G. Wetmore, who was a very worthy man, and a most excellent clergyman, and my labours were extended to Fort Hunter and to Johnston. I had visited, and preach- ed, and administered sacraments in Boon's settlement, in Utica, in Paris, and in various parts of the county of Otsego ; and in many other parts of the country, did I, as opportunity offered, extend the knowledge of what I conceived to be true religion ; prosperity in the min- istry, and a fair reputation seemed to attend me where- over I went. , But the time was come when I must suffer affliction. , In the summer and fall of 1800, a sickness prevailed in the county of Saratoga with which many died. My wife was taken with it, and on the eleventh day departed this life, in the 26th year of her age. When she was taken with the disease she was in full health and strength, with a child only a few months old ; medical aid was soon called for, and the most skilful physicians attended; but alas ! to no other purpose than a momentary relief. The day but one before she died, she wrote the follow- ing lines, in my absence, and they are the last words she ever did write. Given over by the physicians, and knowing that she must soon die, she says : "Oh thou, unknown, Almighty cause, Of all my hope and fear, In whose dread presence, ere an hour, Perhaps I must appear. I f I have wander'd in those paths Of life I ought to shun, As something, loudly, in my breast MEMOIRS 29 Remonstrates I have done, Thou know'st that thou hast formed me With passions wild and strong, And list'ning to their witching voice, Has often led me wrong.* Where human weakness has come short. Or frailty step'd aside ; Do thou, all good, for such thou art ; In shades of darkness hide. Where with intention I have err d, No other plea I have, But thou art good, and goodness still Delightethto forgive." Not more than two hours before she departed this life by her request, I administered to her, and to our neigh- bours who were present, the sacrament of the L-ord s supper ; the service she performed with astonishing strength of mind and clearness of voice, and particular- ly she repeated this part with uncommon interest and energy, saying, with a loud full voice,— « Therefore with angels, and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name ; evermore praising thee and saying, Ho- ly, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts ; heaven and earth : are full of thy glory. Glory be to thee, O Lord Most ,j High. Amen." . \ _ , ■ * J *> Only a few minutes before she expired, I asked nei if she felt willing to die. Her reply was, " you and 1 have always lived happy together, and for your sake, and for the sake of my children, I wish to live ; but for me, it is without doubt, to take me from some great un- foreseen evil, which would be to me worse than death, if I were to five ; it seems to be the will of God that 1 should die, and I feel willing to obey it." The reader will excuse me in dwelling upon the last words and last moments of a much beloved and much respected wite ; none can tell the anguish which I feel on this subject, except those who have experienced similar afflictions. «* To thee, my God, and Saviour, I, " By day and night address my cry, a Vouchsafe my mournful voice to hear, " To my distress incliue thine ear," & and the canons of the Church, and submitted myself to a godly judgment founded on the same ? Hive I not faith- 4b MEMOIRS. fully endeavored to banish and drive away xrom the church all erroneous and strange doctrines which were contrary to God's word ? have I not been diligent in prayers, in reading the holy scriptures, and studying the same, and in administering the sacraments, laying aside the study of the world and of the flesh ? have I not en- deavored to set forward quietness, peace, and love among all christian people, and especially among those who were committed to my charge ? and were your congre- gations ever larger, were the people ever more edified, were your parishes ever more prosperous, than while in my care ? and where is the person, man or woman, who will say that to them, and in their presence, I have not conducted like a gentleman and a christian ? even the false witnesses themselves, on whose account I have suffered imprisonment, and the loss of all things, have constantly declared my innocence, except while under the influence of my personal, political, and religious en- emies. " O, Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee, grant that the ministers and stewards of thy holy myste- ries, may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient unto the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world, we may be found acceptable in thy sight ; and grant O merciful father, that thy people may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also that they may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same, through Jesus Christ our Lord. — Amen " CHAPTER V. HOUSE OF BISHOPS. From the aforesaid paper, issued and published against me by bishop Jarvis, I appealed to the House of Bish- ops of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, assembled in the city of New- York, 1804, by way of petition, and after stating my case, prayed them MEMOIRS. 47 to decide, 1st, to which state I did canonically belong, 2d, that a paper issued and published by Bishop Jarvis, against me, without hearing or trial, and wholly without my knowledge; contrary to the authority of God's word and the established order of the Episcopal church ; in- consistent with his most solemn vows of office, and in violation of his word and honor, publicly pledged as bishop, and as president of the convention of the church in Connecticut; might be recalled; and 3d, that if any one had whereof to accuse me, I might be served with a copy of all and every charge, together with the proof, and that I might have a reasonable time to prepare and defend myself — meaning according to the canons of the church in that state to which they should decide I be- longed. Bishop Jarvis was a member of this House of Bish- ops, and a judge in his own case; common delicacy would have induced him to withdraw, but he did not. The clerical delegates from Connecticut were admitted to a hearing, and I was called in. They stated that I had called two conventions in Connecticut; one in Wal- lingford, and one in Branford, and that I had invited some of the leading democrats in Connecticut to attend^ and was endeavoring to encourage democracy and to op- pose the Bishop. I denied that I had ever called any convention in Connecticut, other than a meeting of the people in my own particular care; or that I ever had used any undue influence in politics, and that I was so far from opposing the Bishop, that I had for the peace of the church, obtained documents from New- York, such as had never been required from any other clergy- man, such as he was not authorized by any canon of the church to require, and such as the Bishop and commit- tee of New-York were not authorized to give. They then brought on the matter respecting Mr. Per- ry's certificate, see page 29. This certificate was taken from among my papers in Derby, the year before, with- out my knowledge or consent, and now they denied that there ever was such a paper. 1 remonstrated against any trial, except in the state to which I did be- and according to the canons. I remonstrated 43 MEMOIRS. against calling that up against me as a Priest which took place before I was a Deacon; against permitting a matter to remain 12 or 14 years which was censurable, and then after my witnesses were dead, and when it was impossible to bring forward any living testimony to bring it up against me; that it was hard, it was unjust; besides the matter had been fully inquired into in the time of it, by Bishop Provoost, who was the proper authority, and was dismissed by him as unworthy of notice. Bishop Jarvis handed to the delegates who were present from Connecticut, a number of papers. J requested counsel and ivas refused — the house adjourned. At evening I called and requested to see some of the papers which were handed in against me ! whereupon they "resolved that nothing shall be done in the business except in the pres- ence of both parties ." I then addressed a letter to the Right Rev. Bishop White, President of the House of Bishops in New-York, in Sept. 1804, and objected to any decision or determination of the said House of Bish- ops relative to me, any farther forth than as it respected the diocess to which I did canonically belong, that £ might meet the charges, if any there were, according to the constitution and canons of the church; and then im- mediately left the city and state of New- York. After I was gone, and ivhen both pay*ties were not present , they formed and published an opinion founded on falsehood and misrepresentation, relative to that certificate and my conduct in Connecticut, which was represented as high- ly dishonorable; but at the same time decided on the first point, that I was a clergyman not of New-York but of Connecticut, and that it was to them that I was ex- clusively amenable. On the 2d point, as astonishing as it maj ; seem, they approved of the conduct of Bishop Jarvis in Connecticut, i. e. / suppose he approved of his own doings. On the 3d point, they directed documents to be furnished to both parties, as a ground of trial in Connecticut. The very next month I sent in my petition to the bish- op and clergy of Connecticut, praying for a trial accor- ding to the canons of the church, on what they had al- ledged against me in New-York: ana at the same time I WCM01K& » tent in articles of complaint on the uncanonical, immoral and wicked conduct of Bishop Jarvis, and pledged myself to prove them, if they would give me an opportunity . My petition was not acted on, and Bishop Jarvis again without hearing or trial, and without my knowledge issued and publish- ed another paper, founded on the misrepresentations which he himself and his party had made to the House of Bishops in New-York, and which they had referred to Connecticut for trial. My articles of complaint re- main with the Secretary to. this day, untried and unin- vestigated. Soon after this last paper of Bishop Jarvis was pub- lished, a meeting of the Episcopal Society of St. John's church, in Stamford, was legally warned, to call and set- tle a minister; and by a vote of this meeting I was cal- led, received, and acknowledged to be the regular, or- dained, and settled minister and Rector of St. John's church in Stamford, and they agreed to pay me at the rate of $558 a year during my natural life, any order, de- termination, or decree of the bishop and clergy, or any body else, to the contrary notwithstanding. About one hundred lawful voters of that parish were in favor of this vote, and seven against it. These seven, except one, were near relations and family connections of Bishop Jarvis; they claimed that they, seven, were the society, and owned the church and property; and that the hun- dred had, by their vote, ipso facto, ceased to be church- men, and had forfeited all right and title to the church and property. On this ground, they seven, sued me at law, for tres- pass, in going into their church and preaching, after the bishop had forbid me. On trial I claimed that the bish- op had no authority to forbid any clergyman or to si- lence or degrade him. It was then incumbent on the plaintiffs to show what authority the bishop had; and to do this, the bishop's vows of office, on condition of which he was made a bishop, and the constitution and canons of the church, must be introduced and read in court. Before any person can be made a bishop in the Uni- ted States, he must make this promise, viz. u in the name of God, Amen." "I, chosen bishop of the Protes- 5 W BikMOIRS. tant Episcopal Church (in Connecticut, or whatever state it may be,) do promise conformity and obedience to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America; so help me God through Jesus Christ." Among other things he promises, "that he will, by the help of God, diligently exercise such discipline as by the authority of God's word, and by the order," (that 13 by the constitution and canons) "of this church is com- mitted to him." In confirmation of this oath and prom- ise, he takes the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and on these conditions with others, he is ordained and made a bishop; — (see the consecration of bishops in the book of Common Prayer.) By this, the Bishop has no author- ity to exercise any discipline, to forbid, silence, degrade or even to censure any clergyman without the previous steps required by the authority of God's word, and the constitution and canons of the Episcopal Church. The authority of God's word is, if thy brother trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone," (Matth. 18th chapter) "Against an elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses," (Tim. 5th chapter.) The constitution of the Prot Epw* Church in the United States — "Article 6th. In every state the mode of try- ing clergymen shall be instituted by the convention of the church therein," &c. "Article 4th. Every bishop of this church shall confine the exercise of his Episco- pal office to his own proper diocess or district.'' Canons made by the convention of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, on the first Wednesday in June, 1798, in conformity to the 6th article of the constitution of the Epis- copal church in the United States. Canon 3d. Offences for which a clergyman may be brought to trial in the stale of Connecticut — Disorderly and immoral conduct, neglect of duty, disregarding the con- stitution and canons of the church, or disseminating or countenancing opinions which are contrary to its doc- trines are offences for which a clergyman may be brought to trial. MEMOIRS. 51 Canon 4 . The mode of trying a clergyman in Connec- ticut. — If a minister offend in any of these respects, ap- plication in writing, signed by his accusers, shall be sent in the first instance to the standing committee, and if it appears to them that there is ground for the charge, they shall report thereupon to the bishop, who shall call a con- vention of his clergy, notless than seven, and after a full hearing, and fair trial and examination, the bishop with the advice ofthe clergy present, shall pronounce sentence against him.* Before the Hon. Judge Davenport, in Connecticut. Nathaniel Webb and others vs. Ammi Rogers. This is an action of trespass, in which the plaintiffs demand ofthe defendant damage and their cost, for go- ing into their church in Stamford, in Connecticut, and performing ministerial duties, after he was degraded and forbidden by the bishop. "And the defendant did offer then to prove in court, by the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, who had long been, and at, and long before the time of rendering said sentence of degradation, was, and still is, secretary of the con- vention ofthe diocess of this state, and one of the stan- ding committee thereof — that no application in writing was ever made to the said standing committee, against or concerning the said Ammi Rogers; and that no report had ever been made against said Rogers by any standing committee, as is required in said 4th canon; and that no trial pf said Rogers was ever had by any convention of clergy in this state. The defendant claimed that the said testimony of said Baldwin was admissible, to shew that said bishop had no power to- degrade the defendant at the time of issuing and. pronouncing the same. To which the plaintiffs did object, on the ground that the said bishop and clergy are a court ecclesiastical, with com- petent power and author ity; and they only having juris- *This is the security which every Clergyman of the Episcopal Church lias, and no Bishop has authority contrary to the Canons, more than a Judge or Justice has contrary to the statute laws of tiie state. 52 MEMOIRS. diction to try, condemn and degrade any of the clergy be- longing to the diocess of Connecticut, and that their de- cision is final and cannot be inquired into by the courts of law of civil jurisdiction; which testimony of said Bald- win ivas adjudged by this Court to be admissible — and the same was heard, and went to prove; and the court found the facts from him claimed by the defendant to be true." — ["and the said Rogers is not silenced nor degraded; but has full power and authority to go into the church to preach / to baptize, to administer the sacrament, to marry, and to perform all the duties pertaining to his of- fice as a priest in full orders and in good standing in the Protestant Episcopal church."] The foregoing is truly extracted from the bill of excep- tions, [before the superior court in Fairfield county] in the case of Nathaniel Webb -and others vs. Ammi Ro- gers^ dated May 28th, 1805. Examined by me, Ebenezer Davenport, Justice of the Peace. The Bishop's party sued me nine times for this same trespass, and there was seldom a day, for almost eight years, when I was not harassed, persecuted and distres- sed with these vexatious and unreasonable lawsuits. I was attacked in the most spiteful manner, and brought before justice courts, county courts, superior courts, courts of error, and in every instance I beat them, and recovered my cost, or they withdrew their suit and paid their own cost. They never did at any time, or on any occasion, recover from me so much as one cent, or prove any thing to my dishonour or disadvantage, though they ransacked, with the most malicious intentions, the most private passages of my whole life. I was obliged to attend court four, and six times a year, at a distance of twenty or twenty-five miles, with my lawyers and wit- nesses, and prepared for trial; and towards the end of the term they would get the case continued, or appeal or withdraw and sue again, or I would beat them. Their object was, without doubt, to run me down and to run out my property. If the reader asks why was all this hatred, animosity, and contention about Mr. Ro- gers? I answer, not because I had committed any crime, MEMOIRS. 53 not because I was not a clergyman in regular and good standing, and in love and friendship with my own people; and the bishop himself had acknowledged my character and authority to be good and that he had nothing against me, but I was a republican in principle. I was opposed to a union of church and state — I was opposed to compelling people by force of law to support that which they did not believe to be true. In Connecticut every settled con- gregational presbyterian minister can send his collector and take any man's horse from under him, or his oxen, or cows or hogs, or any property which he possesses, (unless he has signed off,) and can sell it at the post without suing him, or granting him a hearing. I have known them to take even a man's bible and sell it at the post to pay the minister's tax. I have known Episcopa- lians, Baptist, Methodists, and others, actually locked up and confined in a filthy, disgraceful jail, in Connecticut, merely because they would not, or could not in con- science pay their money to support that which they did not believe to be true. I could mention the persons, times and places, but I presume that no one acquainted in Connecticut will deny the fact. Can it then be any wonder if these same people should join with bishop Jar- vis, and cause me to be sued nine times for the same pretended trespass, keep me eight years in law, and fi- nally on the charge of crimes which never were com- mitted, disgrace, imprison, and ruin me and my innocent children and friends. The Rev. Philo Shelton made solemn oath before the Superior Court in Fairfield county, Connecticut, 1st, that he then was, and for many years then last past had been, one of the standing committee of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, and that he was one of them at the time Bishop Jarvis issued and published his pa- pers against Mr. Rogers; 2d, that there was not then, and never had been any complaint against, or hearing or trial of said Rogers in any way or manner prescribed by the Constitution and Canons of the church to which he belonged; 3d, that the House of Bishops did decide tha* 5* 54 MEMOIRS. he was exclusively amenable to the authority of the Epis- copal Church in Connecticut. Certified by DAVID BURR, Clerk of Court. The Right Rev. Bishop White of Pennsylvania, made solemn oath in his deposition before the Superior Court ir» Fairfield County in Connecticut, 1st, that he was a member of the House of Bishops in the United States; 2d, that in his opinion it does not come within the' prov- ince of the said House of Bishops to try, judge or con- demn any clergyman, but only to refer him to the state or Diocess to which he does belong for atrial; 3d, that he did not consider the House of Bishops as enjoining any duty upon Bishop Jar vis, or as requiring from him any act relating to Mr. Rogers. Certified by DAVID BURR, Clerk of Court. Bishop Jarvis's paper against me was (as he said in said paper) in discharge of a duty enjoined upon, and re- quired from him by the House of Bishops — now the said Bishops make solemn oath, before the Superior Court in Fairfield County, in Connecticut, that they did not en- join upon him any duty, nor require from him any act relating to me ^cj^Either then, Bishop Jarvis's papers against me are a sham and lie, a solemn mockery and with- out authority and void — or the House of Bishops stand perjured before the Superior Court in Connecticut — Dare any one deny the fact? I have the original papers now in my possession — I challenge contradiction ! The Right Rev. Bishop Moore made solemn oath, be- fore the said Superior Court, that he was a member of the said House of Bishops, and that the case of Mr. Ro- gers was referred to the authority of the church in Con- necticut for a trial — But the Rev. Doct. Bronson, presi- * dent of the standing* committee of the said church in Con- necticut, says expressly in his letter to the Church in Glastenbury, dated March 13th, 1815, there never has been any complaint, hearing, w trial, of Mr, Rogers, ac- cording to the Constitution and Canons of the Church in this state or any other. jy Where then is there a member of the Episcopal Church, or of any other Church, Cler- MEMOIRS. 55 gy or Laity, who would not be ashamed to uphold, or endeavor to carry into effect such cruelty, such oppres- sion, such abominable persecution! The Rev. Doct. Mansfield, Joseph Dudley, Esq. and SamuelJ. Andrews Esq. made solemn oath, that they heard Bishop Jarvis declare in behalf of himself and of the Clergy in Con- necticut, we have nothing against Mr. Rogers, we ack- nowledge his character, and his authority to be good, (see page 40) but I was a Republican, and this they dare not bring up as an objection. After bishop Jarvis had issued his papers against me, and I was settled in Stamford, as before stated ; he cal- led a number of his clergy together in that place, and sent to the wardens of the church for the key ; they re- plied that the key was in the possession of the Rev. Am- mi Rogers, their Rector ; that if they wanted it they must apply to him. Bishop Jarvis then addressed a let- ter to Mr. Ammi Rogers in Stamford, directing the key to be given to the bearer. I returned an answer, that I knew no such a man in Stamford as Mr. Jlmmi Rogers; that if he wanted the key of the church, he must apply to the proper officer, with the title of his office. The key was not given up, and they held their meeting in the school-house, at a few rods distant from the church. At this school-house bishop Jarvis himself, and some others of his party, had frequent meetings, while the door of the church was shut against them. Their object appear- ed to be, to divide the affections of my people, and to carry into effect the bishop's papers, by propagating the iiiost scandalous and malicious falsehoods, and when the clergy shall undertake to destroy a man's character, no innocence, no virtue, no integrity can stand before them ! After I had recovered a verdict of $600, before the superior court, for vexatious and unreasonable law suits, I left Connecticut, and moved into Greenfield, in the county of Saratoga and state of New- York, where I had formerly been acquainted ; and collected a congre- gation, organized a church, had it incorporated accord- ing to law, and was settled there as their Rector. I then brought a suit against bishop Jarvis for slander be- 66 MEMOIRS. fore the circuit court of the United States, to be hoiden in New-Haven, in Connecticut, in April, 1811. Here I was prepared to support my character and standing, from the town where I was born, from every place where I had resided, and from every parish of which I had the charge. But although I had taken the words of my declaration, in writing, from the mouths of my witnesses, before I brought the suit ; yet now, they being in the neighborhood of Bishop Jarvis, and of his federal friends, and in my absence out of the state, they could not be made to remember any thing which he had said against me ; I could not prove the words of my declaration, and was obliged, at a great expense, to withdraw my suit Soon after, Bishop Jarvis went into the city of New- York, I pursued him, arid there arrested him with a su- preme writ for $20,000 damage, in issuing papers against rne, without authority, thereby causing me, my children and friends to be disgraced, and unjustly distressed ; causing me to be harrassed and put at great expense with vexatious and unreasonable law suits ; distressing my parishes, breaking up my settlements, &c. After I had sued bishop Jarvis in 1811, before the supreme court in the state of New- York, I was employed and took charge of the Ep. church in Saybrook, Conn, and preached a part of the time in Pleasant \ alley in Lime, and remained there until 1813. In April, 1813, my case against bishop Jarvis was brought before the court in the city of N. Y. The questions were, 1st, Did the defendant issue papers against the plaintiff ? The papers were ready in court to be produced. 2d, Had the defendant any authority, civil or ecclesiastical, to issue and publish those papers in the manner and under the circumstances in which he did ? Courts of law of competent Jurisdiction in the state of Connecticut, had already decided that he had not. 3d, What is the dam- age in this case, special and exemplary ? While this case was depending, and before a decision was obtained, bishop Jarvis died, and the case died with him. Thus the matter ended so far. In the year 1803, 1 went to Baltimore, in the state of Maryland, and presented my petition to the general con- MEMOIRS. W vcntion of the Episcopal church, then sitting there, com- plaining of bishop Jarvis, for issuing and publishing papers against me, without hearing or trial ; without my knowledge, and contrary to the canons of the church ; and praying to have them revoked and declared void, as they were. Humble petitions from the church in Bran- ford, in East-Haven, in Northford, in Wallingford, in Durham, in Woodbridge, in Salem, part of Waterbury, in the north society in Derby, in Stamford, in Green- wich, in New-Canaan, all in the state of Connecticut : and from the church in Ballston, in Milton, and in Charl- ton, in the state of New-York, to the same amount ; and stating their knowledge and approbation of me and my character, were also presented to the general con- vention at the same time. Whereupon it was resolved, that neither the general convention nor any bishop has the cognizance of the conduct of any minister, except in the diocess to which he belongs and conformably to the canons, by the convention of the church in that diocess, prescribed. This was the amount, if not the very words of their resolution. But to afford the redress prayed for, the House of Bishops, in their pastoral letter to every member of the Episcopal church in the United States, ssued and published at that time, the established prin- ciple of the church on this point in page 15, and 16, viz. " The church has made provision for the degradation of unworthy clergymen. It is for us to suppose that there are none of this description, until the contrary is made known to us, in our respective places, in the man- ner prescribed by the canons." [i. e. neither the Rev. Jlmmi Rogers nor any other clergyman is to be considered silenced, unworthy or degraded, until he has had a full hearing and fair trial according to the canons of some particular state or diocess, to which he belongs,] " and if the contrary to what we wish is in any instance to be found, [». e. if Bishop Jarvis has done this thing] " it lies on you, our clerical and lay brethren, to present such faulty conduct, although with due regard to proof, and above all, in a temper which shews the impelling motive, to be 58 MEMOIRS. the glory of God, and the sanctity of the reputation of his church." " While we are not conscious of any bias, which un- der an official call would prevent the conscientious dis- charge Of duty, WE WISH TO BE EXPLICIT IN MAKING KNOWN TO ALL, THAT WE THINK IT DUE TO GOD AND TO HIS CHURCH TO AVOID WHATEVER MAY SANCTION ASSUMED power, however desirable the end to which it may be di- rected : we have at least as weighty reasons to restrain us from judging without inquiry, and from censuring without evidence of crime ; these are ends to which men of impetuous spirits would sometimes draw. But we would rather subject ourselves to the charge of indiffer- ence, however little merited, than be the means of es- tablishing precedents, giving to slander an advantage, against which no innocence can be a shield, and leaving to no man a security, either of interest or of reputation," [i. e. the House of Bishops would rather let the guilty go unpmnshed, than be the means of establishing precedents of assumed power, in declaring a clergyman unworthy and degraded without hearing or trial according to the canons of the church in that state to which he belongs ; for this would be giving to slander an advantage, against which no innocence could be a shield, and it would be leaving to no man a security, either of interest or of reputation.] " Al- though we have no reason to complain that sentiments in contrariety to these prevail among us to any consider- able extent," [t. e. no one but Bishop Jarvis has assumed this power,] "yet w* freely deliver our sentiments on this subject, in order to give us an opportunity of calling on all wise and good men, and we shall not call on them in yam, to aid us in resisting that mischievous spirit which confounds right and wrong, in judging the charac- ter and rights of others. Signed by order of the House of Bishops in General Convention, at Baltimore, May 23d, 1808. William White, Presiding Bishop. Attested by s * James Whitehead, Secretary. Thus the papers issued against me, by Bishop Jarvis are wholly revoked and declared void by the house of bish MEMOIRS. 59 ops, the highest ecclesiastical authority in the Episcopal church in the United States. I am by them virtually declared a clergyman of good standing in the Episcopal church, and the conduct of Bishop Jarvis, in regard to me is reprobated in language of great justice and severity. In the year 1813, I removed from Say brook, and was employed to perform ministerial duties in St. Peter's church in Hebron, in Tolland county, one part of the time. I also collected a congregation, and was employ- ed to preach a part of the time in Jewitt City, a hand- some village, which was then a part of the town of Pres- ton, and near Lisbon, but is now a part of the town of Griswold, in New-London county. The next year I was employed to preach a part of the time in Poqua- tanac, which is a handsome village on a bay on the east side of the River Thames, ten miles from New- London, on the line between the towns of Groton and Preston. In these parishes, and in some other towns in that part of the state, religion and the Episcopal church were blessed and prospered exceedingly under my ministry. The congregations were large, attentive, united and I believe were happy. CHAPTER VI. BISHOP HOB ART IJY CONNECTICUT, %c. In the year 1816, Bishop Hobart of New-York, was requested by the convention of the Episcopal church in Connecticut, to take charge of their churches, for the present, and to perform Episcopal duties in the state ; with this request he complied ; and soon after, the Rev. Mr. Blakeslee of New-London, and the Rev. Mr. Tyler of Norwich, addressed to him the following letter, viz. New-London, Oct. lOt/i, 1816. Right Rev. Sir, We are located in the neighborhood of Mr. Roge whose standing, is not, we presume unknown to the b* op. To dictate any mode of proceeding, is far from 60 MEMOIRS. intention ; but we beg leave to suggest whether some- thing cannot be done that may conciliate the feelings, and produce that unity which is so desirable, and w T c may say, so absolutely necessary, to the prosperity of the Episcopal church. Mr. Rogers has several churches in our neighborhood, entirely built up (under the care of a superintending Providence) by his own exertions, under all the opposing difficulties which attend him. His pa- rishioners and many other gentleman, as well clergy as laity, seem to doubt the constitutionality of his trial, [he never had a trial, seepage 58] and the correctness of the sentence of degradation which is said to lie against him ; of course the decree has not been regarded by great bodies of people. He is now performing the stated du- ties of a presbyter in the Episcopal church. His friends say (and we believe with strict propriety, so far as respects the churches in our neighborhood,) that Mr. Rogers has been exemplary in his conduct, zealous in the discharge of his duty, correct in his doctrines^ per- severing in the cause of the church ; and they most de- voutly request that the bishop would advise some meth- od, either by trial or reconciliation, by strict constitu- tional discipline, or by an indulgence founded on a wish .o conciliate, and a charity which inclines to mercy, where the technical rules of legal administration will permit. And, sir, when we view this unhappy misunder- standing m all its bearings, we cannot but feel a wish that the bishop would, in his wisdom, (for we are satis- fied with his zeal for the promotion of the blessed Epis- copal church,) devise some method by which this unhap- py division may be healed, and the peace, honor and welfare of that communion to which we belong, be pre- served and consummated ; and the enemies of our most holy faith be deprived of their boasting. With sentiments of the most profound respect and dutiful submission to the direction of our ordinary, we are, Right Reverend Sir, yours, &c. John Tyler, Rector of Christ's Church, Norwich, Solomon Blakeslee, Recto of St. James Church, New-London. MEMOIRS. CI I attended the convention of the Episcopal church in New-Haven, in October, 1816, when I wrote and sent to Bishop Hobart the following letter, viz JYVuf- Haven, Oct. 15th, 1816. Right Rev. Sir, After what has passed, with how much reason I can apply to the goodness of your disposition, to your justice, to your mercy, or to the charity of the disciple of him who hath said, " condemn not and ye shall not be con- demned" the result of this communication will in some measure evince. It was twenty-four years on the 24th day of last June, since I was ordained deacon, and it will be twenty-two years on the 19th day of the present month, since I was ordained a priest. And in enter- ing this holy and all important ministry, I did then, and do now, humbly trust and believe that I was inwardly moved by that ever blessed Spirit of God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed ; that I was truly called according to the will of God and the canons of the Episcopal church ; and I have, as God has enabled me, endeavored with all faith- fulness rightly and truly to administer the doctrines and sacraments of the church of God, and to make rayse'f a wholesome example to the flock of Christ. I have administered, during my ministry, about three thousand baptisms to men, women and children. I have, upon their credible profession of faith and repentance, and an assurance of their earnest intention, by God's grace, to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways, admitted to the holy communion more than five hundred persons, and administered to them the blessed sacrament of the Lord's supper. [I have administered the sacrament of the Lord's supper to more than eleven hundred differ ent persons. I have joined about two hundred persons in holy matrimony : and I have deposited about one hundred and thirty dead bodies of my fellow christians in the silent grave, looking for the general resurrection in the last day, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ. I am not conscious that I have 6 62 MEMOIRS. in any respect, departed from the doctrine or worship of he Episcopal church, nor from its discipline. -My nearest neighbors and parishioners, the wardens and vestries, and congregations which have been under my particular care, have uniformly and very unanimous- / declared that I have always been to them a very faith- ful minister, and a very exemplary man ; and that al- though they have been constantly conversant and well acquainted with me for days, and weeks, and months, and years yet from their own personal knowledge they had not known or had reason to believe that I had or would depart from the rules of morality and propriety. This has been the amount of their uniform and very unanimous testimony. I now have about two thousand souls in my ministerial care, and I know no one of them who I think would not give this testimony if called upon. But when I bring my own conscience to the bar of God; when I consider the awful responsibility of my profes- sion; when I compare the inward disposition of my heart and my outward words and actions with the purity of God and the perfect rule of his word, I feel my own im- perfection, I blush at my unworthiness, I see the want of an atonement, and feel the want of forgiveness. And on a review of the unhappy opposition which bishop Jar- vis and others have raised against me, conscious of my own frailty, and sensible that I, like other men, have been liable to err, I now confess that I have often said and done that which, on reflection, I am sorry for; and now de- clare, that whereinsoever I have gone astray from my duty, whereinsoever I have done any wrong to any per- son by word or deed, I do now truly and earnestly repent, I am heartily sorry for it, and am ready and willing to make restitution to the utmost of my power; and I hum- bly pray them for God's sake, to forgive me all that is past. And whereinsoever any person has done me any wrong, by word or deed, and I have been greatly abused, greatly misrepresented, greatly injured, and things laid to my charge which I never knew; I am ready and willing to forgive them from the bottom of my heart, and never more to mention it; and I hereby offer my hand in charity and friendship to all with whom MEMOIRS. 63 I have bad any controversy. I do not ash to he restored to the ministry, for I have never been canonically cen- sured, suspended, silenced, or degraded; nor am I absolv- ed fwm my ordination vows; but I ask for peace and re- conciliation, that the beginning of the Bishop's govern- ment of the church in this state may be like the first day of a new world, where every one is a friend to every one, where all is harmony, all is friendship, and all are pleased, and all are delighted with aP. I know that where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work, and I am heartily tired with it. I religious- ly believe the Episcopal Church to be a divine appoint- ment; that it is the general assembly and church of the first born on earth, the medium through which we must become members of the church triumphant in Heaven. In union and communion with this church, I wish, and intend, by God's grace to live and die; and in it I pray God to give me the confidence of a sure and a certain faith, the comfort of a reasonable, religious and holy hope ; and that I may be in favour with God ; and in perfect charity with all the world. In a court of law I expect impartial justice, in an Ecclesiastical Council I expect mercy, peace and reconciliation. You will please to lay this before the clergy this evening, or on the first opportunity, and let me know your determination in the case, at Bishop's tavern in State Street, in New- Haven; and I am, Right Reverend Sir, with sentiments of due consideration, your most obedient and very hum- ble servant, AMMI ROGERS. I was not informed whether the foregoing letter and that of the Rev. Messrs. Tyler and Blakeslee were laid before the Convention by the bishop or not; but a mo- tion was made by the Rev. Mr. Rayner of Huntington, to drop all matters in regard to me, and that I should be received as a member of that convention. This was ad- vocated by most of the clergy and laity from the eastern part of the state — and opposed by the Rev. Mr. Bur - hans, Burrage Beach, and Asa Chapman, now Judge Chapman This last had been employed as counsel in 64 MEMOIRS some, if not all the suits against me, for seven years, in Fairfield county. Though educated at the same Col- lege and at the same time, he had now become my per- sonal, political, and religious enemy; at this time he vol- unteered his services, and I was informed discovered great zeal and animosity against me; and by his influence and of other federals, the motion was lost by a very small majority. — Could any thing be more arbitrary, tyrranical and oppressive, than to deprive a clergyman of his just rights and privileges, without hearing or trial, according to the canons of the church, in any state, in the face and eyes of the pastoral letter of the House of Bishops, and the solemn decisions of our courts of law; and to refuse all overtures of mercy, peace and reconciliation? Is not this persecution? But this was only the beginning of that dreadful plot, by which I have since suffered two years imprisonment, and the loss of all worldly comforts. In the year 1817, the Rev. Mr Blakeslee, by the di- rection of Bishop Hobart, visited all my parishes, per- formed divine service with them, preached to them, and gave them public notice that the bishop would himself, within a few days, visit them in person; that he would perform divine service, preach, confirm, and administer the holy communion to them, and desired them to pre- pare themselves accordingly.* Soon after his return he wrote, and sent the following letter, viz. From the Rev. Mr. Blakeslee of New-London, to the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart, New- York. New-London, July 14th, 1817. Right Rev. and Dear Sir, Agreeable to your request, I have made a tour through the north-eastern section of this state, and have visited nine parishes, preached and performed service in each of them. Seven of them are purely the result of Mr. Ro- ger's labors; the other two were but the ruins of what they once had been. The church in Pouquatanic, where 1 commenced my mission, was collected some fifty or sixty years since, by the Rev. Mr. Punderson, but ruined by untoward events during the Revolutionary war, and MEMOIR*. 65 has never been able (though occasionally visited by the Rev. Mr. Tyler,) to assume an aspect of respectability. The building was almost demolished, when Mr Rogers, about three years since, first visited them. From four to six families were the number of Episcopalians then in the parish, as stated to me by the wardens and vestry. The church has since been rebuilt and finished, with a bell to it, and the number of families now belonging to it are from fifty to sixty; — from three to four hundred usually attend. They speak in high terms of the piety, zeal and talents of their minister, and of the perfect har- mony and friendship which subsist among them. Here I met Mr. Tyler and Mr. Rogers, who attended me in the services of the day. From this place I, attended with Mr. Rogers went to Jewett City, about nine miles, where the service had never been attended to but by him. Here I found a handsome stone chapel, finished outside, where I met a numerous congregation, who joined devoutly in the ser- vice, and performed the responses in an audible and decent manner. The hearts of the good people were warm, and a spontaneous glow of affection told us hov/ ardently they felt the force of that obligation, which, by your permission had been conferred upon them. I cal- led upon a number of genteel families, who received me with marked respect, and expressed a warmth of at- tachment highly honorable to the zeal and faithfulness of Mr. Rogers. The prospect of the growth of the church, although affected by the failure of the manufacturing interest in this place, is, however, very flattering; and the pleasure they felt in being thus noticed, led them to say the village had not seen so hap- py a day for five years. We left the village that evening and proceeded about three miles> where we were enter- tained with hospitality and kindness. Early on Tuesday morning we drove about ten miles; to Mr. Cleaveland's in Canterbury, where I performed service to an attentive and respectable audience, ardent in the cause of the church, and dispassionate in their in- quiries. 6 , W MEMOIRS From thence we drove to Hampton, about six miles, and were received with equal civility. I performed ser- vice at the house of Mr. Litchfield, convenient for a pri- vate house; the congregation from two to three hundred, the responses audible, and the attention warm and anima- ted. From this we proceeded to Stafford, about twenty-five miles, where I performed service in the afternoon, having but ooze service on that day. The politeness with which we were received by ali the respectable inhabitants, to- gether with their devout attendance on the service of the day, declared plainly how ardent their feelings were in favor of the church; their gratitude was loud, their ac- knowledgements were fervent . On Thursday morning, after discharging our obliga- tion of politeness to Mr. Johnson, owner of the establish- ment at the springs in Stafford, for a particular invitation to stop and breakfast with him, we proceeded to Ando- ver, about twenty miles, where I performed service in the meeting-house, (they having lately dismissed their clergyman,) to an audience of several hundreds, devout in their appearance, and orderly in their devotions. Ex- pressions of approbation in favor of the Episcopal wor ship were almost universal; a handsome repast was pro- vided by Esquire House. In the afternoon we rode about six miles to Columbia, where I performed service in the meeting-house to an attentive and respectful audience, they having likewise lately dismissed their minister. On Friday forenoon I performed service in Bolton, about eight miles, in a house purchased by Episcopalians, and fitted up for a place of stated worship, in this place there has been a warm opposition to the church. Few attended beside their own members. They ap- peared like a little band, girt with armour, supporting the cross, and bearing the standard of their blessed Mas- ter . They performed the service with a devotion and ardour that would warm the coldest heart, and inspire the dumbest tongue. We dined at Doct. White's. ' From thence we passed to Hebron, about six miles, where at four o'clock I performed my last service. Here MEMOIRS. 67 a numerous congregation collected from the scattered ruins of a church founded some sixty or seventy years ago by the Rev. Mr. Peters, but miserably scattered during the revolutionary war, and but barely kept alive until Mr. Rogers took charge of them about four years since ; from which it has wonderfully increased in numbers, and many have joined the communion. On Saturday, Mr. Rogers attended me to Colches- ter, where I took the stage and returned to my family and friends. And sir, when I retrace the circuitous route, of at least one hundred and forty miles, which I performed, every stage is marked with agreeable inci- dents, and every toil is sweetened with an endearing recollection. If there is any pleasure in conferring an obligation, you, sir, must feel the expression of that gratitude, which animated every heart. Your good- ness in authorizing this mission, wiH long be remember- ed, as a monument of that charity which delights in do- ing good. Here my communication should have ended, but for the pledge which I gave and an ardent desire which I feel in leaving no interest unessayed, which might tend to promote the interest and prosperity of the church. I« have already stated, that these churches have beenv reared into life by the care and industry of Mr. Rogers, and to speak with caution, they embrace a number of not less than two thousand souls ; many of them have re- ceived baptism at his hands, have come to the holy com- munion through his persuasion and influence, and now wa* with a hope and expectation of being presented by their own minister to the bishop, that they may receive the apostolic rite of confirmation. This is the only point which involves nit any delicacy. If Mr. Rogers is not possessed of ecclesiastical authority his administrations are of course void ; if he is possessed of authority and constitutionally deprived of the exercise, his administra- tion must be equally invalid. But if he has unjustly, that is, without a constitutional and canonical trial been for- bidden the lawful exercise of that authority which he con- stitutionally and rightfully possessed, can the interdict in any sense effect the right either in the person dispensing, G8 MEMOIRS. or in the persons receiving the exercise of that powei ? f 7 It may not be permitted for me to travel over decisions said to be bottomed on legitimate principles, but I should be sorry to find on the records of the church history, pre- cedents by which, if they should obtain the force of law, the whole right of trial would be committed, and constitu- tional discipline set at defiance ! ! I am disposed to be- lieve that whatever is rightly, that is, constitutionally and eanonically bound on earth, is bound in heaven ; but can any man in his senses suppose that there is any force in a sentence not constitutionally inflicted ! ! If such is the v*ase, the whole Protestant church stands this moment excommunicated ! The maxim of the Apostle is, they vho have a written law, shall be judged by that law, and i j guard this claim, it would appear that we were forbid-* a in, by the highest ecclesiastical authority, to acknmvl- edge, much more to sanction any assumed power. [See the bishop's Pastoral Letter of 1808, page 57. For my part I have no hesitation in acknowledging , both the authority of Mr. Rogers and his right constitutional- ly to exercise it. I consider every step, excepting that of deciding, to what authority is Mr. Rogers exclusive- ly amenable ? so informal and so extra-judicial that no decision, of course, no consequence affecting the charac- ter or authority of Mr. Rogers can grow out of it. And it has appeared to me that the only true ground of pro- ceeding in this case is to commence it de novo, [anew] or to pass it by as a clerical blunder, and. learn from this ex- ample, not to implicate the peace of the church through personal misunderstandings. I should be pleased to accompany the bishop in his visitation of the church in Hebron, Jewitt city, and Po- quatanic, (three only of the nine parishes which I visit- ed have churches,) should thje bishop be satisfied that it would be consistent with his duty to acknowledge Mr. Rogers' administrations, and to receive from him, as the curate, the subjects of confirmation, and to communi- cate with him in the offices of the church ^otherwise I do not consider it prudent to hold myself responsible for any consequences that may grow out of your sincere wishes to serve them. This much, I can assure you, MEMOIRS. 69 that no mention will be made of the unpleasant subject by them^ but every attention and every mark of respect will be most cordially bestowed, should you feel justified in pursuing the course I have suggested. Having pledg- ed myself not to lead you into any unpleasant dilemma, I feel it my duty not to withold any information by which you might be enabled to judge correctly of the feelings of a great proportion of society, and might be enabled to form an opinion and make your decision ac- cordingly. No people, I am sure, will more cordially welcome the bishop, or treat him with greater respect, under the forementioned conditions, than those under the care of Mr. Rogers. They hold out the branch of peace, on constitutional principles, and they feel that there can be no security left to the church, but by ad- hering strictly to its principles. And sir, I venture to say, that at least one half of the clergy of this state are of the same opinion. With the most profound assuran- ces of my cordial respects and dutiful submission to every constitutional and canonical direction, I am, Right Reverend Sir, your's affectionately, SOLOMON BLAKESLEE CHAPTER VII. BISHOP HOB ART. Within a few days after the receipt of the fore^ letter Bishop Hobart published, or caused to be pub 1 ed, in all the newspapers printed in Connecticut, that would visit the different Episcopal churches in that st on such particular days as he therein designated, among others, that he would visit St. Peter's Churc Hebron, on the 20th day of August, 1817, and George's Church in Jewitt City, on such a day in month, and St. James's church inPouquatanic, on an er day in that month. Expectation was all alive, suspicion was entertained that all was not right, or th plan was formed for my ruin or their destruction. G 70 MEMOIRS. preparations were made for their own spiritual improve- ment in the public worship of God, and instruction from his word; in confirmation, or the laying of hands, in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and God's blessing, all >y the bishop. Great curiosity was awakened, for not one out of an hundred of the people in my care, had ev- er seen a bishop in their lives. Great preparations were made to honor him and to make him welcome. I had taken unusual trouble in preaching lectures on the subject of confirmation, and in going from house to house in all my parishes, to endeavor to explain it to them, and to solemnize their minds for the proper and worthy re- ception of that interesting rite. On the night before the, 20th of August, Mr. Ezekiel Brown, one of the church wardens in Hebron, came to me after dark. The heart of the good man was ready to burst, the tears streamed from his eyes, and he was unable to speak; at length, with a broken and a faultering voice, he said, I have bad news; The bishop is a going to disappoint us; he says he can- not visit our church because you are here, if you were not here he would come. This was the first intimation that the plan was to drive me off, or to ruin mc, or to divide and scatter the churches' and congregations, which I had gathered. There was no time for reflection or consultation. If the Bishop did not intend to visit my parishes, why did. he impose upon the Rev. Mr. Blakcslee, by directing him to preach to them, and to give them false notice ? Why did he pledge himself in all the newspapers to me, to my people, and to the whole world' He had received Mr. Blakeslee's letter, and knew upon what terms he would be received. He was expected in Hebron at four o'clock the next af- ternoon, and it was thought advisable for me to go with the wardens and Dr. Peters, the next morning, to the next town, where the bishop was, and if possible make some arrangements with him. This was done, and he alledged that a compliance with the terms of Mr. Blake- lee's letter, would be an interference on his part with the proceeding's of Bishop Jarvis, and would be calling upon himself the resentment of his friends; and that he did not wish to have any thing to do with it one way or the oth- MEMOIRS. 71 er; at length he agreed that he would perform his en- gagements and not disappoint the people if the wardens would give in writing under their hands, that they would not consider him as recognizing me as a minister on that day. He said expressly, that he did not wish to approve or disapprove of me as a minister, but that his wish and intention was to leave me to-morrow as I was yesterday; he did not see me, lest it should, by Bishop Jarvis's friends be construed into an arrangement between him and me. Rather than to have the people disappointed, they consented to his proposal. He wrote a certificate to the amount of what he proposed, and the wardens sign- ed it. I wish to have it distinctly understood that he did not see me, nor make any arrangements with me, or what I should say, or do, or where I should be. In re- gard to this, the wardens were not authorized, neither did they make any arrangment or agreement; but only for themselves and the church, that they would not con~ sider him as recognizing me as a minister on that day. This was the amount of their certificate, and he express- ly said again and again, that he did not wish to approve o,r disapprove of me, as a minister, but to leave me to- morrow as I was yesterday; that is, as discharging all the duties of a regular priest in the Episcopal Church. With this certificate, he came to Hebron, in company with the Hon. John S. Peters, and others. With them he cane to the door of St. Peter's Church in Hebron, on the 20th day of August, 1817. From 15'00 to 2000 people were, by computation, assembled for public wor- ship, for religious instruction, and for divine ordinan- ces. About 150 persons were present, who were pre- pared and expected to be confirmed: which is the apos- tolic rite of laying on of hands after baptism. — Great numbers were prepared to receive from the hands of the bishop, at that time, the sacrament of the Lord's Sup- per. When he came to the door of the church, while he was fastening his horse and carriage, I went out and welcomed him to the church in Hebron; he made no re- ply, but said to one of the wardens, who was present, Mr. Rogers must withdraw; he replied, and not attend the church? the bishop said yes, and instantly mounted his T* MEMOIRS. carriage, apparently in anger, and rode off, without con- sulting the other warden or the vestry, without any apol- ogy without going into the church, and without even speaking to the people. The insult, the astonishment, the disappointment, are indescribable. It was with dif- ficulty that many were restrained from offering him per- sonal violence. The federal presbyterians were pleased and some of them actually triumphed and exulted at what was done. The church people were mortified, disappointed and ashamed. The bishop instead of go- ing to the house of the Hon. John S. Peters, where he was expected to spend the night, went to a presbyterian tavern, had a luncheon, satisfied some of the presbyteri- ans (and they were easily satisfied) that he had done right, and rode off. The other churches in my care he wholly neglected and disappointed. Thus more than four thousand people in the counties of Tolland, Wind- ham and New-London, in Connecticut, were in the month of August, 1817, neglected, insulted, and abused, by bishop Hobart. This was a matter of great joy to the enemies of our holy religion, and to the friends of Bishop Jarvis in the Episcopal church. At this time, some of .my friends and parishioners from Jewitt City, and Poqua- Uanic,towhom I had administered baptism, and the Lord's Supper, attended Bishop Hobart's visitation in Norwich, and were confirmed by him, and received the sacrament At this time Col. Jeremiah Halsey, who had been brought up a separate congregational presbyterian, and who was a strong federal, who had for some time attended my ministry, with his family, but without examination, reccommendation, or particular profession, now bolted himself in, among others, and was confirmed and receiv- ed the sacrament. After the service he had a private conversation with Bishop Hobart, at the house of Col. Tyler, and from that time, and never before, he became my enemy. The blue lights of Connecticut were now engaged; the plan of causing me to submit to an indig- nity in my own parish, and in the presence of my own people, and others, or to drive me off and scatter my congregations, by inducing them to believe the decisions of our courts of law and the pastoral letter of the House MEMOIRS. 73 of Bishops were of no force ; and that I was not a cler gyman of good standing in the church, was well calcu- lated to effect the purpose of tyranny and oppression, in destroying a clergyman, without hearing or trial, accord- ing to any rule, canon or law ; and one of whom Bp Jarvis himself had publicly and officially declared, in be- half of the convention of the whole state of Conn. " that we have nothing against him," [for they dare not come out and acknowledge that my opposition to an un- ion of church and state, was their objection,] " we ac- knowledge his authority and character to be good." And of whom the bishop of New- York had declared il that he always considered him one of the. most useful and active clergymen in that state, that he never heard bishop Provoost, his predecessor, express any sentiments of disapprobation with regard to him, and that he never had at any time, or on any occasion, fallen under the censure of the ecclesiastical authority in that state ;" and of whom the Rev. Mr. Tyler of Norwich, the Rev. Mr. Blakeslee of New-London, and many other clergy- men of the first respectability in Connecticut, had spok- en in terms of great approbation, respect and affection. The plan, however, though it checked the prosperity of the church in the eastern part of the state, gave her en- emies great cause of triumph, gave them occasion to speak evil of me, was a source oi unhappmess to mo, and to all my people. Yet it was not effectual ; they determined still to adhere to me, and support me. For this purpose a meeting was called in Windham, termed an Episcopal Conference, at which many votes and resolutions were passed of great importance ; some of which are as follows. CHAPTER VIII. EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE. At a meeting of ihe Committees of Conference appoin- ted by and in behalf of the members of the Episcopal 7 74 MEMOIRS. church in Hebron, in Jewett City, in Poquatanic, in Canterbury, in Hampton, in Stafford, in Andover, in Bolton, and in Columbia, duly notified and convened, in the court-house in Windham, this 29th day of April, A. D. 1818, Capt. Andrew Mann, of Hebron, Moderator, Mr. Pascal Cady, of Canterbury, Clerk, Voted unanimously. That it is our earnest wish and uesire, and as far as we know or believe, it is the earn- est wish and desire of the people that we represent, to be with the'Rev. Ammi Rogers, (with whom we are perfectly satisfied) in union and communion with the Pro- testant Episcopal Church in the state of Connecticut and in the United States, submitting ourselves to its government, when administered according to the author- ity of God's word and the constitution and canons of said churchy conforming ourselves to its doctrines and wor- ship, as represented and set forth in the holy scriptures, and in the book of common prayer. Voted unanimously , That we heartily thank the Rev. Mr. Tyler and the Rev. Mr. Blakeslee, for their very excellent, sensible and correct letters, to the Right Rev. Bishop Hobart : that the statements and sentiments therein contained, are, in our apprehension, correct and true, and that we heartily and fully concur in them. Si had retracted, and under oath confessed my innocence, and exposed the circum- stances which induced them to accuse me falsely. MEMOIRS. [108 TUB TRIAL. State of Connecticut } rs. > Superior Court, JVew-London Ammi Rogers. ) County, October 5th } 1820. — PRESENT— Hon. Asa Chapman, Judge, (alone.) * James Lanman, Esq. County Attorney, ) r% i r t • i tt i -l* f Counsel for Jeremiah Halsey, Esq. V ; g ^ Jirah Isham, Esq. ) Calvin Goddard, Esq. William P. Cleaveland, Esq. Jacob B. Gurley, Esq. George Hill, Esq. Counsel for the accused ► the two first were active, the last advisory. I, Ammi Rogers, was called, and answered to this case in September, 1819; then plead not guilty, either in whole or any part. The case was then on motion of Mr. Lanman, continued to January term in 1820. I appear- ed and answered again, and plead not guilty as before; put myself on my country for trial; the jury weroempan- nclled and sworn; about forty witnesses on the part of the state were sworn. Elisha Geer testified; ?nd it was enquired if any one present knew the truth of the facts charged upon me; they did not. Two important ques- tions were then decided by the court; first, that it was contrary to the law of evidence to admit collateral testi mony until the main facts charged be first proved; se- condly, that hearsay testimony could not be admitted in a criminal prosecution. The counsel for the state again moved to have the case continued; my counsel objected; the court overruled, and the case was taken from the ju- ry without my consent; and they could not render that verdict which they had just sworn in the presence of the everliving God, that they would do. | On the 5th day of October, 1820, in New-London, in he County of New- London, the same case was again ♦This is the very same person who had svieage 91" 1 to prove that I was not within 100 miles of the place, when and where the crimes were committed, — and many other papers absolutely necessary in my defence [see page 91] and turning to Esq. Coit, said, I wish you now to return them to me. Ans. I shall not give them up without the order of the court. I said — will the Court please to order them given up, for without them 1 cannot have a fair trial. The Judge replied, I do not know that I have power to order, but I advise you to re- turn them. He answered, / have not got them ; then turning to Lanman said, have you not got them ? Lan- man, looking over a bundle of papers, said, / did not take them. The Judge said, well, proceed in the trial ; bring on your next witness. [James Cook, Esq. Capt. John Townsend, Messrs. Peleg Rose and Enoch Bake? have, since the trial, made solemn oath that they saw me deliver to the court of Inquiry the papers referred to in page 91 — that they were present at the trial and heard me call for the aforesaid papers and documents — that they were withheld, and the court proceeded without them."] Mr. Enoch Baker was the next witness ; he testified as in page 90 ; and that they all cleared Mr. Rogers of every thing improper there, and said he had never cour- ted Asenath nor kept her company ; that she never had been like to have a child by him and lost it, and that the whole story was a lie, and that the certificate which they had signed and given, clearing him of all improper con- duct, was true. Jlfr. Peleg Fry testified that Mr. Baker and he went to Mr. Geer's and Mr. Browning's to enquire, [See page 90.] Samuel Johnson, Esq. was called, but it being late at MEMOIiw. Ill N.^nt, he did not testify ; and the court adjourned. Mr. Johnson had come from Massachusetts in expectation that no collateral testimony ivould be admitted, until the main fads charged ivet e first proved ; but the court over- ruled, Asenath was not called upon to testify, and his testimony was not necessary. Friday j Oct 6tt, 1826. Capt. John Townsend testified, that Maria A. Smith came to his house last February, and called her name Betsey Payne ; she said she wanted to stay there a few days till she could get an opportunity of going to Hart- ford ; but he soon found her real name was Maria A. Smith ; that she told him what she had testified before Esq. Coit against Mr. Rogers was not true ; that she could not in conscience say it again, for she had never seen or known any improper conduct of Mr. Rogers, and had no reason to think that the charges against him were true*, that if she did not testify as she did before she should be prosecuted for perjurv; if she did, she should per* jure herself again and condemn the innocent, and for that reason she wanted to get out of the state ; that she was very sorry for what she had done and wanted to get away; that she was very fearful all the time she was at his house that some one would be after her from Norwich. Mr. Willoughby and his wife brought her there ; she staid about eight or ten days ; her conversation and behavior were so lacivious with his young man and before his chil- dren, that he would not have her in his house. By the court. — Did you inform Mr. Rogers what Maria said ? Ans. I did. By the same. — Was he at your house while she was there ? Ans. He was not, to my knowledge; and I have no knowledge or belief that he knew she was coming there, or had been there, until after she was gone. Joseph R. Willoughby was sworn. He kept a tavern in Norwich, where the Court of Inquiry was held, and was employed by me to go and summon Maria A. Smith as a witness. He testified that he found her at Williams 1 in Groton, and summoned her and paid her a silver dol- lar ; that she appeared very reluctant and unwilling to go, and wished to speak with him alone ; and then in 112 MEMOIRS. formed him that what she had testified before Esq/ Coif, at his house, against Mr. Rogers, was not true ; and that she could not in conscience say it again, for she had never seen any thing amiss in him, and had no reason y think that the charges against him were true ; that if she vent to the court and did not testify as she did before, she should be prosecuted and punished for perjury ; if she did, she should perjure herself again: and what to do she did not know: and seemed to be very much affec- ted. He testified that he felt sorry for her, and advised her to go home with him, and to put to paper what she could in conscience swear to, and he would car- ry it privately to Messrs. Goddard and Gurley, and let her know what they said, and that it need not be known that she was there. To this she agreed and came home w: *h him, and soon after wrote to Messrs. Goddard anatxurley, and he carried it ; that they said it was so contrary to what she had testified before, that she certainly would be liable to prosecution ; and this he communicated to Maria, who from that time appeared determined not to appear at Court, but to go away. He advised her to stay until Mr. Rogers should return, who all this time had been gone a journey. [Here Mr. Gur- ley read the letter which Maria had written and offered to swear to before the superior court, the same as the deposition page 98. The witness testified that Maria appeared to be very fearful of having it known that she was there, and kept herself mostly confined to her cham- ber, though she eat at the table with the family ; that Mr. Spencer was at his house while Maria was there, and he understood that he had a capias for her ; that she left his house in the night, and the next he heard of her she was in Lebanon. Miss Mary Jinn fVilloughby was sworn; she was the daughter of Mr. J. R. Willoughby, a sensible, well edu- cated, respectable and worthy young woman, about twen- ty years of age; she testified that she first saw Maria A. Smith at the binding over in this case; that she after- wards became acquainted with her when she came to her father's house with him in January, 1820; that she then had considerable conversation with her, and at different MEMOIRS. 113 times on the case of Mr. Rogers ; that she infomed her that she had never seen or known any thing amiss or im- proper in the conduct of Mr. Rogers ; that she had no reason to think that the charges against him were true , and that she thought he was a very clever man. The wit- ness asked her, if that were the case, how she came to testify as she did at the binding over? that she then said that, at that time she took a false oath against him before Esq. Coit, and that old Halsey, Dr. Downer and Jim Lan- man, as she called them, had overpersuaded and hired her to do it; and that she was determined not t*» do it again, and was very anxious that it should not be known that she was there. By Mr. Goddard. Was this conversation vol- untary on the part of Maria? Ans. Yes sir, entirely so, and she often repeated it; and she recollected that Maria wrote to Mr. Goddard on the subject : that her father furnished pen, ink and paper ; that this was in the ab- sence of Mr. Rogers ; and after that, she was anxious to get away, and was very fearful of being found by Mr. Spencer, for she said he was a cunning devil. By Mr. Lanman. — Did Rogers put up at your house at this time? Ans. He did: but was absent on a journey and did not return until, I think, the day she went away. By the same. — Do you know when she went away from your house? Ans. I do not, but it was in the night, and I believe alone. Mr. Shipman Haicghton testified, that Maria A. Smith came to his house sometime last February ; that he had considerable conversation with her about Mr. Rogers and askdd her (when they were alone) to tell him as a friend and in confidence. Did Mr. Rogers court or keep private company with your sister? that she replied, he never did. — Did you ever see them in bed together and have you any reason to think that the child your sister was like to have was by him? that she answered, 1 have once said it, but I never shall say it again. He then asked her to tell him candidly if it was true? that she then declared it was not true ; that she had never seen Mr. Rogers in bed with her sister, and that she had no reason to think that the child was his ; that she had often seen George 10* tU MEMOI. Downer in bed with her, and she had every reason to be- lieve that the child was his ; and that it was nothing but a plan and a plot of old Halsey, Dr. Downer, and James Lanman, to charge it falsely upon Mr. Rogers, to ruin and drive him off, and to clear George. They have once overpersuaded and hired me, said she, to take a false oath against him, and I never should have done it had it not been for thorn, but I shall never say it again; and for that reason she appeared very anxious to get out of the state, and that it should not be known where she was. By Mr. Goddard. — Have you seen Maria since you came to town? Ans. Last evening, Esq. Col- lins and I went to Frink's Tavern, where she stays to see her, and to hear what she would say ; it was dark when we went in, and Maria was talking with Col. Hal- sey, and appeared to be very angry, and reproached him for having led her into that scrape, and said she should never have said and done what she did, if it had not been for him ; at this time some one came in and brought a light, which interrupted the conversation. Seth Collins, Esq. sworn. He testified that he went with Mr. Haughton the last evening and heard and knew that to be true which he had testified, respecting what Maria said to Col. Halsey ; that he heard her tell Col. Halsey only last evening, if it had not been for the coax- ing and flattering of him and Dr. Downer, she never should have been in that unhappy scrape, and blamed them very much for their conduct. Witnesses on the part of the State called again. Maria A. Smith, testified that it was true that she said to Col. Halsey last night what Esq. Collins and Mr. Haughton had testified ; that the testimony of Mary Ann Willoughby and her father, of Capt. Townsend, Mr Haughton, Esq. Cook, and all my witnesses was true, but evaded the force of it by some apology of which she and every body else ought to be ashamed ! Elias Brewster testified that he lived in the neighbor- hood of Sam and Maria ; that he did not consider him entitled to the first credit ; he did not know but he might MEMOIRS. H5 be entitled to as much credit as such black boys in gen- eral ; that he did not personally know any thing against the character of Maria and did not know but it was as good as people's in general as to truth. From her own testimony before the court, viz. that she had told so many different stories, and had contradicted herself so often on the subject, that she herself did not think her testimony wouid be received — one w r ould think that any further tes- timony to prove her want of truth would be unnecessary. John C. Baker testified, that I boarded at his father's in 1819 ; that I discovered an anxiety to see Asenath, and said if I could see her, I did not doubt but she would tell the truth and expose the plot which had been formed against me. Mr. Lanman said, may it please the court — I deem it my duty to call on Col. Halsey, who is associated with me in this case, as a witness. The court directed him to be sworn. Jeremiah Halsey, Esq. testified, that on the 11th day of October, 1818, he went to Elisha Geer's and I came there. [This is false, the 11th day of October, 1818, was Sunday, and I preached in Hebron, and had not been in Griswold for more than a week; The 11th day of October, 1817, was Saturday, and I was in Hebron, and on that day agreed with Mr. Bial Bliss to keep my horse, the next day was Sunday, and I preached in Hebron, and had not been in Griswold for more than a week.] He testified that then and there I denied that I had ever courted Asenath C. Smith ; that he ever influenced Ma- ria or her sister in any part of this case, any further than to promote public justice. [He had offered to set- tle it privately if I would give him $406, but it must not be known.] He testified that Maria had always told the same story, that she had then sworn to ; some one motioned to him to sit down, for the court and almost all present had heard her confess how many different sto- ries she had told, and how she had contradicted herself on the subject. \ Mr. Lanman then moved to prove what Asenath bad sworn at the binding over, on the ground that it went to corroborate the testimony of Maria. To this Mr God - 116 MEMOIU&. dard objected, and informed the court that Asenath was then in town, and could testify for herself. The court decided that it was not admissible to prove what she had said when she was there, and could speak for herself. Dr. Downing was called again, and testified that from the putrified state of the foetus he could give no paitic- ular description of it. Dr. Mercer, sworn. [Mr. Lanman had given to Ma- ria a paper folded up with something in it ; and he beck- oned jier to give it to him before the court and jury with- out saying a word ; and he opened and gave it to the Doctor, saving, Do you believe that to be ergot ? This certainly was one of the greatest acts of injustice and abuse that ever was practiced upon any man, in amy coun- try ; there was no pretence of evidence, and it was not true that I ever saw that stuff before, or that I ever had it in my possession: or that I ever saw, or had in my possession any thing like it ; might he not as well (to prejudice the jury) have brought into court a case of surgical instruments, or an apothecary's shop* and had them examined ? I do complain of abuse and injustice, and I appeal to the whole world, if I have not reason to complain ? Where is there a man or woman on earth who would not complain of abuse and injustice, if they were treated in this manner ?] and how unjust it was for the court to permit it ! The Doctor testified that he thought the paper contained a mixture of ergot and can tharides. By Lanman. — If violence is used to produce an abortion, how long would it be before it took place ? Ans. Sometimes immediately, or within a few houis, sel- dom longer than forty-eight hours. Dr. S. Perkins, sworn ; he testified that the paper contained ergot and cantharides, and agreed with Dr. Mercer. Lanman had artfully got this, to palm a trick upon the jury, gave it to Maria, requested her to give it to him before the jury, had it examined before them and sworn to, in order to give them a false impression that it had been in my possession — any man who would do such a thing, or any judge who would permit it, ought to be made a public example of rascality and contempt ! And then the testimony on both sides was closed ; and MEMOIRS. 217 I have represented it not fully but fairly against me, and for me, as it related to this case, and as it was then de- livered in court, on trial, (if it can be called a trial) on the information, according to my best recollection, and according to my journal written at that time. No one crime charged in the information was true, nor proved, nor even attempted to be proved by any witness whatever. I appeal to every juryman, I appeal to every person in the world to say, if from the evidence then delivered in court, any one crime charged in the information against me, was proved by any witness whatever ; turn to the information, and then examine the testimony ; who tes- tified there in the trial before the court, to the truth of any crime charged upon me? COUNSEL. Cul> Halsey, in a very awkward, clumsy manner, go : ; up and opened the argument, by endeavouring to apolo- gize for Maria and the negro, and to make it appear that they ought to be believed ; and although it did not prove the facts charged in the information ; yet it proved something ; and then taking it for granted that the char- ges were true, he undertook without logick, rhetoric! or elegance, to describe the enormity of the crime charg ed ; when he himself had been accused of more adulte ry, of more seduction, and of more fornication and de- bauchery than any man who ever lived in Preston ; and I appeal to every person, man or woman in that town, for the truth of what I say. Mr. Cleavland then arose, and in a smooth, easy ad- dress, attempted to shew that no crime charged in the information had been proved by any witness then ad- duced in court, and recapitulated the testimony, and said that there was no evidence before the court that I ever had been informed, or did know that the said Ase- nath was, or had been like to have a child by any per- son, until long after the supposed child was born: That the Doctor himself, who delivered her, who seemed in favor of the prosecution, had testified, and it was in evi- dence before the court, that he saw no marks of violence upon the child, (if it was one,) or upon the mother, and that it might have been produced by sickness, by acci- U3 MEMOIRS. dent or by infirmity ; and he took it upon himself, to say,' that there was no evidence before the court that it was not produced in that way. He then showed the improb- ability of the truth of Maria's testimony. Would any mother, would any decent family, would Mr. Perry Clark and his family, have suffered any man to be shut up alone, night and day in a chamber, with fastened doors, and none of the family admitted into the room with this young woman, from Tuesday till Saturday, and no one say a word against it ? Would a mother have heard the dreadful shriek which Maria had described, gone to the chamber, found it fastened, obtained ad- mittance, seeing her daughter lying on a bed, and Mr. Rogers standing and holding a sheet over her face, say- ing she had got the hysterics, and he would take care of her, then go down and leave them, all that night, all tb* 1 next day, and all the next night ? the story is a lie in : self! no mother on earth would suffer such a thing, no family would permit it ; and after all, the mother and Maria herself, and all the family did, to Mr. Baker and Mr. Fry, in one instance, and to Esq. Cook and Mr. Rose, in another instance, solemnly declare that they knew no impropriety of conduct in Mr. Rogers ; that he had never been there courting, but only as a clergy- man and a friend ; that they never had any expectation that he would marry the young woman ; and after all, Maria has volunteered her service, and come from Mas- sachusetts, for she was not obliged to come, to testify these disgraceful things against her sister, and in the very act of doing it, has sworn that she herself has told so many different stories, and has contradicted herself so often on the subject, that she herself did not' think her testimony would be received : astonishing impu- dence ! unspeakable depravity ! and are our courts of Jaw to be insulted in this way ? will the jury place any confidence in a witness of this cast ? [O Dii immortales! ubinam gentium sumus ! quam Rempublican habemus!] i. e. O, Immortal Gods ! what nation are we ? what repub- lic have we ? No man aught to be condemned or acquit- ted on the -testimony of such a witness : and take away her testimony, what is there against my client ? The MEMOIRS. 119 i testimony of Sam the negro, if true, proves improper conduct, but does not prove the charges in the informa- tion. But the question is, whether it is to be believed ; Esq. Cook testifies that his master said he was a poor, lying, good-for-nothing fellow, and that he could not believe him when he was sent on a common eirand — a fine witness to be brought before the Superior Court to de- stroys respectable clergyman! Mr. Brewster, who is brought here on purpose to support his character, swears he does not consider him entitled to the first credit ; and is it probable that a clergyman would be seen lying in bed with an unmarried woman in open day light, at sun half an hour high, with the door open — I ask you, gen- tlemen of the jury, is this probable i Is it true ? Well, take away the testimony of Maria and the negro, (which if admitted does not prove any one charge contained in the information) and what is there, I beseech you, against my client ? The testimony on the part of the prisoner is conclusive. The young woman herself, her mother, and Maria herself, her grand-father, and uncle Clark, and all the family have, in words and in writing, at differ- ent times, and on different occasions, and to different persons and committees, fully cleared him of these crimes now charged upon him, and of every other impropriety of conduct ; and never did accuse him until 1819, two years afterwards ; this, gentlemen, is in proof before you by the most indubitable testimony, by James Cook, Esq. by Mr. Baker and Mr. Fry. If on the whole, you, gentlemen of the Jury, from the evidence now before you, think that the prisoner at the bar is guilty of the crimes charged upon him, in the manner and form of the information, you will say so on your oath, and he must suffer the consequence : but if you think that the evidence now delivered in court does not prove that he committed the crimes now charged upon him, and in the manner and form stated in the information, you will say on your oath that he is not guilty, and he will be ac- quitted with honor. The foregoing are not the words of Mr. Cleavelard, but the substance of what he did say, and of what 1 think he should have said, if he intended to defend his client. 120 MEMOIRS. Mr. Goddard then arose, and addressed the court in a sensible, elegant and well arranged argument, recapi- tulating the testimony, and showing the insufficiency of the evidence to prove any one crime in the information, and the sufficiency of the evidence to evince my inno- cence, drawn from the repeated confessions of Asenath herself, and of the whole family, and the long time be- fore the charges were brought. He insisted on the in- justice of admitting the testimony of Maria after the confessions which she had made in ctfurt ; and after her letter in her own hand writing, which was proved by Mr. Willoughby and his daughter, to have been written in my absence was read ; in this she confessed that what she had testified in this case before Esq. Coit, she could not in conscience say again, that she had no reason to think the charges were true, &c. [why my counsel did not bring forward her depositions I have never been able to learn.'] Mr. Goddard insisted on it, that there was no evidence that any crime, as charged in the informa- tion, had been committed by any one ; and until that was first proved, all other testimony was irrelevant. That the testimony of Maria ought not to be admitted in any case, and that thejuiy ought not to place any confidence in it ; he said expressly that no man ought to be con- demned on such testimony, and the negro story carried its own refutation in itself, for that no man in his sense* would be in that situation ; his argument was cool, col- lected, fair, and dispassionate, and he submitted it to ins consciences of the jury to say, if from the evidence then delivered in court, it was proved that any crime, as charged in the information, had been committed by me ; he said, if it was true, it was not proved ; and he took it, that they ought to render a verdict according to what was then in court proved. Mr. Lanman then arose to close the argument; he was well prepared, and displayed all the art, all the sophistry, and all the ability which he possessed; he had told me in so many words, [that he was determined to drive me out of the ministry and oat of the state. \ He had been to Eli- sha Geer's, about eight miles, and closeted with Asenath C. Smith from about two or three o'clock in the after- MEMOIRS. 121 noon, until nine or ten o'clock at night, and had promis- ed her honor, friendship, protection, secrecy and safety, if she would swear these crimes upon me ; she consent- ed and did it ; she was then confined and guarded night and day, at the widow Lester's in Griswold, from April till Sept. when she obtained permission to go to Hamp- ton, about 14 miles on a visit, and the very next day went before a justice of the peace and made solemn oath that these crimes charged upon me, relative to her, were wholly, utterly, and absolutely false and unjust, and that she had been overpersuaded and wickedly induced to charge them upon me falsely, for which she was then very sorry. She had constantly and uniformly adhered to this, and was then at court in town, ready and willing to testify the same on trial. Maria had also confes- sed that she had taken a false oath against me when 1 was bound over ; that old Halsey, Dr. Downer, and James Lanman had overpersuaded and hired her to do it ; — she had been before Denison Palmer, Esq, and made solemn oath, when I was not within 30 miles of her : that she had no reason to believe that the charges against me were true, her sister told her soon after the death of her mother while she was confined at th<* widow Lester's that the charges against me were not true; that she was sorry for what she had testified / and was determined not to say it again, and warned to leave that place. Maria had constantly for about twelve months declared her full belief of my innocence of the crimes charged against me. Mr. Lanman, had now got her into his possession again, she had recanted and told the story which Halsey dictated, Downer wrote, and he and they had induced her to swear to and which was false — but he must now make the best of it. After an apology, and a profession of his pretended feeling, he related the story as it was contrived and laid out before the court of inquiry, of a young female, seduced by a clergyman, begotten with child, poisonous portions of er- got administered, a deadly instrument used, the child de- stroyed in embryo, she languishing, sickening, dying ; (not one word of which was then in proof before the court, not one word of it was true,) O, that he was made li 122 MEMOIRS. of a stronger texture ! O, that his nerves were iron ! In this way he arrested the attention of all who were present : he weeps, he sobs, he wipes his eyes, and ap- peals to the feelings of humanity, he appeals to the pa- ternal affection of every parent present, to the feelings of every mother, of every brother, of every sister in the world. The jury are all in tears, the judge himself weeps, and not a heart which does not burn with indig- nation against the wretch who would do these things ; they forget the testimony, they are ready to catch at ev- ery straw, they are ready to believe any thing ; the tes- timony of Maria is then recapitulated and dressed in the most glaring colors, the negro story is repeated ; the swamp story, the dismal swamp story — horribile dictu ! et amplius mirabile yisu ! that is, horrible to be told, and more horrible to be seen, was portrayed in the gloom of death. In fact it appeared to me that Mr. JLanman ex- erted himself in every way, par fas et nefas, i. e. right or wrong to answer his purpose. To beat, to come off conquerer, in this case, would gratify the feelings of all my political, religious, and personal enemies; of them he would reap the plaudit, well done; he would reap fame, honor, renown! to be conquered, he would be de-* gpised by all. Towards the close of his plea, he wished to introduce Maria before the court again, and it is thought that she understood the case. He stated some- thing which he said she testified about my coming there in the night and advising Asenath to go away; my counsel objected, and said she did not say so. This afforded the opportunity he wanted of calling her again before the court. The case rested almost wholly on her testimony, and he closed with a few remarks thut al- though there was no direct proof of the crimes char- ged upon me, yet the circumstances, (founded on the testimony of Maria and Sa:n) were sufficient to convince every person present that I was guilty, and he expected the jury would find me so. I do not pretend that I have repeated the words of Mr. Lanman but I have endeav- ored to represent the manner in which I thought he man- aged this case ; that he raised a frightful and pitiful im- age which did not exist in truth or in evidence — that he MEMOIRS. 123 mourned over it himself — that he called forth the sympa- thy and compassion of the court and jury, and excited a high indignation whereby they are ready to believe any thing, and to punish the least appearance of guilt in this case, and to construe circumstances into the appearance of guilt where there was none. Soon aftei the pleadings were closed, I said, May it please the court — 1 stand here accused of crimes which never came into my mind, at which my heart revolts, which are" disgraceful and shocking to hu- manity, and of which, Sir, I am absolutely as innocent as your honor the judge, or as either of you, gentlemen of the jury. The person, on whose oath I was bound over for trial and on whose oath I ought to be condemn- ed or acquitted, the only person in the world who can be supposed to know and testify whether the crimes charg- ed upon me were true or false, is now in town, and is ready and willing to testify my entire innocence, and to explain every circumstance on which even a presump- tion of guilt can rest upon me, and I now move that her testimony may be admitted and heard. By the judge — Where is she ? Ans. Within a few rods of this place, and can be here in a very few moments. By the same — Why have you not offered her before ? — Ans. Be- cause she was not my witness, but the principal witness on the part of the prosecution, and I did suppose that the court would require the highest evidence in the case, and that she must and would be called upon by the State's Attorney ; in that case she would have disclosed the whole plan and the means used to effect it. By the judge — I do not know, it is a novel case, you have had a hearing of two days, and you have had an opportunity of bringing her forward. Ans. And so has Mr. Lanman: if tie had brought her forward, she could have told the whole truth and he could not have contradicted it. If I had brought her forward, he could have proved what she was induced to testify at the binding over, and 1 could not impeach or contradict my own witness : and, Sir, in this way I am deprived of tlie constitutional right of confronting the principal witness against me. By the judge, to Mr Cleveland. Have you any thing to say on this subject.'' 124 MEMOIRS. Ans. The counsel for Mr. Rogers have advised him not to bring her forward, but I should be sorry to have his interest suffer by the advice of his counsel. By the iudge, to Mr. Isham — I see that Mr. Lanman is absent, >nd you have been employed in this case, what do you <;ay to this application? Ans. I am confident if Mr. Lanman were present, he would object to it ; and in his absence I do object. By the judge — She cannot be ad- mitted. — I then replied — I shall think it very hard to be condemned with the undeniable and irresistible evidence of my innocence by my side, ready and willing to testify, but rejected by the court merely because she was not offered a little sooner. Mr. Lanman introduced Maria to testify after my counsel had closed their pleadings. By the judge — she cannot be admitted. This is the substance ax** in many respects the very words which passed betw^a me and the judge at this time. He had before admitted collateral testimony before the main facts were proved. — He had refused to send for Lester Clark, who would have destroyed the testimony of Maiia A. Smith, on which I was condemned ; he had directed them to proceed in the trial while the papers and docu- ments, which were delivered in evidence to the justice at the binding over, were withheld and concealed. A«/J h* 9_?*Y prCCeeaea to charge the jury in a manner, which I appeal to a candid and enlightened public to say, if it was not highly cbjSCumiayle. The judge then arose, And gave what some called a charge to the jury; but he did not charge them to inquire on their oath if the crimes charged in the information were true as there- in contained and set forth. He dwelt largely upon the testimony of Doct. Downing, Maria, and Sam the negro!. He had excluded the testimony of Asenath, he had re- fused to send for a witness in my favor, he proceeded in the trial when he was informed and well knew, that doc- uments, important documents, the undeniable evidence of my innocence were withheld and concealed. For 20 years he had been my personal enemy and persecutor, MEMOIRS. 123 and he now exercised official power to gratify personal feeling, than which nothing can be more oppressive !* Saturday, October 7th, 1820. The court met according to adjournment ; the jury at about eleven o'clock came in after having been out one night and part of one day and declared me guilty. Mr. Goddard then moved for a new trial on the ground that there was no evidence that the crimes charged in the information had ever been committed by any person ; on the ground that there was no proof against me, which ought to be regarded. In both cases the court overruled, and would not grant a new trial. I did expect that he would have moved for a new trial on the ground that important documents had been withheld and concealed : on the ground that Mr, Perry Clark and his wife were out of the state and their testimony could not be had ; on the ground that I had been deprived of the constitutional right of confronting the principal witness against me, and of compulsory pro- cess to obtain a witness necessary in my defence. He did take exceptions to the words of the information, but here again the judge overruled. The court adjourned till one o'clock, then to meet at the Judge's chamber at Shepherd's hotel. At one o'clock the court was called in the Judge's private chamber. I ap- peared. The Judge said, you stand charged with a most heinous offence ; the jury have declared you guilty. It now devolves upon me to pronounce the sentence ; this is a matter of discretion with the court. I understand that you have children who are well educated and res- pectable, and I am inclined to mercy so far as is consis- * If the Judge assume the power of admitting and excluding from the Jury, euc-h evidence as his own personal feelings may suggest, and they he bound by oath to render a verdict according to the evidence then delivered in court; it is evident that the right of trial by a Jury is perverted! In this case the principal witness was excluded, see page 141, important papers aud docu- ments were withheld and concealed, see page 104, a trick was permitted to be palmed upon the Jury, see page 116, a perjured person and a lying, thiev- ish negro were permitted to testify, and I was declared guilty of crimes which never came into my mind, of which I was as innocent as the Judge who pronounced the ■entence, or as any other person in the world, and which never were charged upon me until iwo years after they were said to have been committed. 11* 12« MEMOIRS tent with the welfare of society. The sentence of the coJ r t therefore is, that you be imprisoned in Norwich Jail, without bail or mainprize, for the term of two years. Lan- man, the state's attorney, who had maliciously brought this prosecution, and was one of the three, that had over- persuaded and hired them to swear falsely against me, standing by, exulting and triumphing over his unfortu- nate and distressed victim, said to the Judge, I suppose you mean Newgate; but the Judge, who had been coun- sel against me in the county of Fairfield, had opposed me in the convention of the Episcopal church, and was con- sidered by me as my personal, political and religious en- emy, and who in this very case I considered as having acted very unfairly, was yet more merciful, and said, no I mean Norwich. I then addressed the court in these words : I thank the court for shewing some decree of mercy, when it was in your power to have gone further; but that God who icnows the hearts of all men, knows that I am as innocent of the crimes charged upon me as your honor the Judge or as either of the gentlemen of the jury, who have de- clared me guilty. I think that they have bf n misled, and have declared me guilty without evidence, and I know without truth. From the sentence now pronoun- ced upon me, I appeal to the righteous tribunal of Heav- en, there you and I must appear, and then it will bo &nown that you have condemned the innocent, and that I suffer unjustly. In the mean time, I submit myself to every insult, to every abuse, and to every injustice, which can be loaded upon me. Much better men than any of us have suffered before me ! I then settled my business at the tavern where I and my witnesses put up — committed my horse and carriage to the care of my good friend Seth Collins, Esq. got in- to a wagon with a Mr. Reed, was accompanied by a dep- uty sheriff, went to Norwich, about 13 miles, gave my- aelf up to the Jailer, and was locked up, where I remain- ed seven hundred and thirty one days, without ever put- ting my foot on the ground, having the compassion of my friends, and suffering the insults and abuse of my en- emies. MEMOIRS. 127 Here I am in jail, who have received the honors of one of the first universities in America, who was ordained in Trinity church in the city of New- York, constantly a member of the convention of the Episcopal church in thatstate, three years a member of the general conven- tion of the United States, who have preached with ap- probation in all the principal towns and cities in the northern and eastern states, who have enjoyed all the honors and degrees of freemasonry, who am now»a mem- ber of the corporation of Union College in the city of Schenectady, and was one of its first founders* who was settled as a minister in my native town and state, without so much as one dissenting voice and vote; who have performed more ministerial duties than almost any other clergyman in the United States, who have always endeavoured to give the best instructions, and set the best example in my power, and to have always a con- science void of offence towards God and towards man ! Because I thought it best for the Episcopalians to unite with the republicans of Connecticut and to do away the offensive blue-laws of the state, and that all denomina tions should enjoy equal rights and privileges according to their several capacities and stations; I was forbid to preach in the state, without hearing or trial, and actually without my knowledge. I was sued nine times for not regarding that prohibition, was persecuted for more than seven long years in Fairfield county; I was refus- ed a seat in the convention of my own church in the state, though they acknowledged and confessed that they had nothing against me,that my character and authority were good, but I was a republican in principle, / wa$ ♦University of the state of ISew-jcork, October 28, 1831. — I certify the following to be a true list of names of the Trustees of Union College, in the city of Schenectady, as named in the original charter, (granted 1795,) viz. Robert Yates, Abraham Yates, jun. Abram Ten Brook, Goldsbrow Banyad, John V. Henry, George Merchant, Stephen Van Ranselear, John Glen, Isaac Vrooman,. Joseph C. Yates, James 8huler, Nicholas Veeder, James Gordon, Beriah Palmer, Samuel Smith, Henry Watt; «n, Ammi Rogers, Aaron Condict, Jacobus V. C. Romeyn, James Gochran, John Frye, D. Christopher Peek, Jonas Piatt, and Jonas Coe. GIDEON HAWLEY, Secretary of the Regents of the Univertity of New- York, 1831* 128 MEMOIRS. opposed to a union of church and state, and had offered to change the laws and customs of the stale, in taxing every body to support one particular denomination unless they would acknowledge themselves dissenters. The Judge himself, on my trial, had been employed as a lawyer against me, for many years in the county of Fairfield ; and for almost 20 years had been one of my principal opposers — was prejudiced against me, and not fit to judge a case where I was concerned, if only one dollar was depending, much less where character, pro- fession, liberty and everything valuable in life were at stake. My counsel did not defend me and my cause as I expected, and as they might have done ! ! a combina- tion was formed against me, I am accused of what nev-> er came into my mind ; on trial I was refused the consti- tutional right of confronting the principle witness against me ; the court refused to send for a witness in my favor, important papers and documents, the undeniable evidence of my innocence, were, on trial withheld and concealed, and the court proceeded without them ; the judge did not charge the jury on the information, as I thought he ought to have done. The court refused a new trial, overruled all objections of my counsel, pronounced on me a sentence of two years imprisonment in Norwich jail, and here I am in affliction, in disgrace, and in misery. O, Father of mercies and God of all comfort, my on ly help in time of need : look down from Heaven I hum- bly beseech thee, behold, visit, and relieve thy persecu- ted and afflicted servant ; look upon me with the eyes of thy mercy, comfort me with a sense of thy goodness, preserve me from the temptations of the enemy, give me patience and resignation under my sufferings, O, that no repining thought may enter my heart to discompose me in my duty towards thee my God, or towards my r ellow men ; be pleased to forgive my enemies, persecu- tors, i.id slanderers, and to turn their hearts ; and O God, who spareth when we deserve punishment, and in the midst of thy wrath rememberest mercy, I humbly beseech thee, of thy great goodness, to comfort and suc- cour me, and all others who are under reproach and MEMOIRS, 129 misery in this or any other house of bondage , correct us not in thine anger, neither chasten us in thy sore dis- pleasure : give us a right understanding of ourselves, and of thy threats and promises ; that we may neither cast away our confidence in thee, nor place k any where but in thee. Be pleased to relieve the distressed in this and in all other places whereever they may be ; protect the innocent and make their innocency to appear ; awa- ken the guilty, convert the unconverted, and fill the world with thy glory. And, forasmuch as thou alone canst bring light out of darkness, and good out of evil, grant that the pains and punishments which we thy ser- vants endure, here through our bodily confinement, may tend to the setting free of our souls from the chains of sin, that when this mortal life shall be ended, we may dwell with thee in life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord ; Amen. For about ten years I had been a settled minister in a county town, and was the only minister in town, my congregation was generally from 500 to 700, had 280 communicants, lived in plain sight of the jail and court house, and had thought it my duty often to visit thos^ who were in prison, and to comfort the afflicted. It wa. not my hii ? in?2 S £o add to the sentence of law, and to neg- lect or afflict the afflicted; it was enough for me to know that they were sick or in prison ; I knew that often the innocent were condemned, and the guilty went clear, and it was my delight and my business, like the good Sa- maritan, to pour the wine and oil of consolation into the wounds of a bleeding heart. Often have I preached to prisoners in jail ; often have I seen the tears of gratitude flow from the eyes of those who had been edified by my instruction, who had received comfort from my sympa- thy, relief from my bounty, and consolation from my prayers ; but little did I think that I should ever be con- fined myself; little did I think that I should ever need those kind offices of love and friendship which I had so often administered to others — " but he who is on the high- est spoke in fortune's ivhcel may soon he on the lowest, and the wisest knows not how soon." Whoever will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffei 130 MEMOIRS. persecution. Our blessed Saviour himself entered not into his glory until he had first suffered here on earth. Read the 12th chapter of Hebrews. The Sheriff was good enough, though very much against the wishes of Lanman, to give me the best room in the jail. The first day after my confinement I had my room throughly washed and cleansed. I soon sent for a joiner and had it repaired and shelves put up ; it was then whitewashed ; a ventiduct was soon put in from the vault to prevent a disagreeable smell. My friend Col- lins brought me a bed and bedding. I had table cloths and towels sent me — table and chairs were furnished by the jailer — I purchased table furniture, crockery, glasses &c. — my trunks and books were brought tome — a paper maker sent to me as a present, half a ream of good wri- ting paper ; and I was as comfortable as could be ex- pected. My friends wrote to me from almost every part of Connecticut, and from other states, and offered me any assistance which I might possibly want. I was permit- ted to have the room entirely to myself; the prisoners seemed solicitous not to hurt my feelings ; they were at- tentive to my daily devotions and religious instructions ; a change in their moral conduct and conversation jwhb very observable ; no profane, no obscene, no unbecom- ing language was heard among them/ and here I staid two years ! To mention the kindness of one friend would seem to be a neglect of others. I was visited by people of the first standing in society, from different parts of Connect- icut, and from other states — I performed divine service and preached through the grates of the jail almost every Sunday when the weather was fair, for two years — seats were built up on the out side of the jail and the congre- gation was as large, as attentive and as respectful as could be expected. On Christmas, Easter and Whitsun- days the doors were opened and I preached and adminis- tered and received the sacrament of the Lord's supper, on Christmas eve's the jail was, by the bounty of my friends, handsomely illuminated and decorated with green MEMOIRS. 13 bows and vines, in token of joy and rejoicing at the birth of our blessed Saviour. The jailer at that time furnished good and wholesome food, and enough of it. The sheriff often called to see the prisoners, and to inquire of their welfare. Mr Gurley was now the state's attorney, and seemed to be sensible of the injustice which was done to me. Mr. Goddard knew that I blamed him, and I have never spo- ken to him since my trial. J blame him for permitting the trial to proceed, without compelling them to bring forward their principal witness, and while my documents were withheld. Uncommon ex- ertions were made to convince the public that I was guilty and justly condemned ; the newspapers were filled with squibs and misrepresentations. Constance F. Dan- iels, cousin of Ira Daniels, reported, and Mr. Green of New-London printed a misrepresentation of my trial- setting forth to the public what was proved at the binding over and a great deal more ; and wholly neglecting to shew any thing which I proved at that time, reviling and reproaching me in the most false manner, and with the most abusive epithets ! ! Illy would it become me to render railing for railing. But to the said Daniels I would barely mention the name of the amiable widov Wade, on whose money the poor wretch was supporter and educated, to whom he had most solemnly promiseu marriage, but forfeited his word and honor, married an- other woman, was prosecuted and his poverty was his security — just such an one as Lanman might couple with Maria and Sam ! Benjamin Harris, Esq. of Preston, testified that he did not think that there was a person in Preston or Griswold, who was acquainted with Maria A. Smith, that would take her word, or her oath for one quarter of a dollar. Hon. Judge Williams of Groton, who lived in the neigh- bourhood of the said Maria, testified that he did not think that any person who was acquainted with her, ought or would think the better or worse of any one in conse- quence of any thing that she could say or swear; that th^ first time he ever heard of her, she was in a house of ill fame, hugging and kissing a married man, and that if 132 MEMOIRS. Jie court and jury had known her character and the circumstances, they certainly never would have declared me guilty, or pronounced sentence against me. Peny Clark and Sophia Clark, depose and say that Asenath and Maria A. Smith lived in the same house with them in the year 1817, and long before and since that time— that they well remember that Asenath was in the habit of keeping private company with a young phy- sician — that said Perry saw him come out of her bed chamber between break of day and sunrise or or about the first day of July 1817 — that they have no knowledge or belief that Mr. Rogers was at their house during the summer of 1817 — that they well remember that in the summer and fall of that year Asenath was very unwell and feeble, and had fits, and particularly on the week before she was said to have been delivered — that they personally knew that the testimony of Maria, on the tri- al of Mr. Rogers, was false, particularly as to his being shut up alone with her at their house, &c. (see page 107) -—that they never heard of any such thing until about two years afterwards— that the mother of Asenath in- formed Mrs. Clark, who was her sister, that she never suspected that Asenath was like to have a child, for she knew that it was not with her, as it is with^ivomen in gen* tral when they were in that situation, fyc. fyc. Subscribed and sworn in due form of law, in Norwich, in the County of New-London, March 26, 1822. Before John Hyde, Justice of Peace. CHAPTER XII. On the 25th of January 1822 I addressed a letter to the Governor of Connecticut, inclosing a petition to the General Assembly of that state, stating my case with the foregoing depositions of Doct. Harris, Judge Will- iams, Perry Clark and his wife Sophia Clark, praying, not for a pardon of crimes which I never had committed or ever thought of, Lut to have the sentence suspended until I could collect my witnesses and defend myself in MEMOIRS. 133 person and by counsel before that Hon. Assembly and from him I received the following answer viz. Slate of Connecticut, Litchfield, February llth, 1822. Sir — I received, a few days since, your letter dated Janua- ry 25th, 1822, w th a narrative in the form of a petition, to the General Assembly of this State, to be convened at New-Haven, on the first Wednesday in May next. Your conscience must have informed you whether this narrative contains a just representation of your case. If it is false, you have greatly aggravated the offence for which you are now suffering imprisonment, and instead of reproaching the court and its officers, you ought pen-» itently to admit that the sentence of the Judge was as mild as he was justifiable in pronouncing. On the con- trary if your narrative be true, if you have not been heard by yourself and counsel, if you have not been confronted by the witnesses against you, if you have been refused compulsory process to obtain witnesses in your favor, if you have not had a public trial by an impartial jury, or have been deprived of your liberty otherwise than by a due course of law, the General Assembly, to whom you address your petition, will examine into your case, and doubtless adjudge thereon in such a manner, as an equal regard to your rights and the laws and the honor of the State shall require. By the Constitution of this State, " the Governor has power to reprieve after conviction, in all cases except those of impeachment, until the end of the next session o' the General Assembly and no longer." If it is in- leaded that reprieves should be effectual in any other than capital cases, the law ou^ht to provide a mode by which either the persons or offenders may be holden to abide the sentence of the law, in cases where pardons are not granted by the General Assembly, or that suita- ble forfeitures should be recovered in cases where such reprieved persons are not surrendered. No provision of this nature exists, and in my opinion, any bond for that purpose would be illegal and void. As the General As- sembly alone can grant you relief, it would he useless for me to investigate the truth or falsitv of the facts ° 12 134 MEMOIRS. connected with your case. I can therefore only e\prp« to you my sincere hope, that truth and justice may pre- vail. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, OLIVER WOLCOTT. *Io His Excellency Oliver Wolcott, Esq. Governor of Con- necticuti in Litchfield. Norwich Jail, Feb. 20th, 1822. Si*— On toe *5th instant I had the honor of receiving your favor jf the 11th, in answer to my application dated the 2JtL ultimo, and now pray you not to consider me obtru- sive ^ mis reply. My petition contains a plain, unadorn- ed narrative of the facts on which it is founded, and I knew no other expedient more respectful, or by which I could so well lay my case before your excellency and the General Assembly, and obtain my request. Had I laid my case open in the form of a remonstrance, or of a complaint, or of an impeachment of individuals, still the facts must have been narrated, or they could not have been known. God and my own conscience bear me wit- ness, that my narrative contains a just and true repre- sentation of my case. I have no pleasure in reproach- ing the court or its officers, and God Almighty forbid that I should do it any farther forth, than a religious regard to truth and justice compel me. Your exhortation to a repentance of crimes which I never have committed, may be kind in the intention, but certainly is afflictive and trrievous in its application. No punishment can be mild which is inflicted on the innocent ; and in this case, if the charges were true, to be confined in Norwich Jail, a living spectacle of reproach and disgrace, in the very face and eyes of all my friends and acquaintance, is worse than death or Newgate for life. I can truly say with the Roman orator, " quam pub lit am odium nullum supplicium est gravius : " i. e. than public hatred no pun- ishment can be greater. Had you r Excellency been pleased to give advice on a different but true view of the subject, it would have been a great favor. It is a solemn and very interesting truth, that I have been falsely accused, partially and unfairly tried, and unjustly condemned to irretrievable disgrace and ruin, with the MEMOIRS. 135 undeniable evidence of my innocence, excluded by the court, and cruelly and corruptly withheld and concealed by the State's Attorney, and perjury ! the most Heaven daring perjury ! a confession of which was then proved and acknowledged in court, was tolerated and allowed ! I mean, that after it was proved in court, on trial, and Ma- ria A. Smith then acknowledged, that she had frequent- ly and seriously confessed, to different persons and at dif- ferent times that she had taken a false oath against mo before the Justice when I was bound over, and that she had been overpersuaded and hired to do it, the court ad- mitted her testimony, and evidently charged the jury, not on the information then against me, but on her story, which was utterly false by her own repeated acknowl- edgements, and by other circumstances. It is painful for me to say these things of the judiciary of my native state and where I was educated ; but my rights are as dear to me, to my children, and to my friends, as Judge Chapman's or Mr. Lanman's, or the State's can be to them; and I sli Id h© u&der everlasting obligations to the Govetr ** r hm iidNIs® c^ *feis vwm Commiu John Stanton, Esq. ) I, Ammi Rogers, appeared and said,- Gentlemen — I do not come before you in the strength and power of Goliah of Gath, defying the armies of the living God ! but I come before you as a meek, humble and persecuted christian ; and as a minister of our com- mon Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Gentlemen, I com- plain, 1st, That I have been falsely accused. 2dly, I have been partially and unfairly tried. 3dly, Unjustly condemned and imprisoned. 4thly, And a note of more than $630 was extorted from me in duresse, as the condi- tion of my liberty and life, to pay the expense of this abominable conspiracy. May I beseech you to grant me a patient and candid hearing, and to make that report which you can justify before the bar of God, the bar of your own consciences, and the bar of all assembled crea- ted intelligencers. In the first place I beg permission to introduce the principal witness on whose oath I wa* 141 MEMOIRS. bound over who alone can be supposed to know the truth of the charges against me and whose testimony on trial was adjusted. Asenath Caroline Smith, the principal witness, was then called and sworn by the chairman, in the presence of a great concourse of people who had assembled in the Senate Chamber, in the city of Hartford, to hear this extraordinary case. She is a young woman about twenty-six years of age, of a good figure, though rather small, very handsome, dressed well, appeared well, and had more learning than most young women of her cir- cumstances. By the Chairman — Miss Smith, you are now under the solemnity of an oath ; you will please to testify what you know in this case. Answer. — Mr. Rog- ers is not guilty of what is charged against him concern- ing me. He never did have carnal knowledge of me, either before or since his trial, and never has offered to me any thing of the kind. Before this misfortune happened to me I had for two or three years kept private company with a young physician ; but I do not wish to implicate others. Mr. Rogers is innocent ; and I never should have accused him had it not been for Col. Halsey, Dr. Downer and Esq. Lanman. They over- persuaded and hired me to say what I did against Mr. x.*»yji£. ci ^ r s: wnen ne was oound over, aaa it was not true Here she burst into tears ! and there was hardly a per- son in the Senate Chamber, who did not weep. After a few moments Mr. Stanton said to her, Did you not once swear that it was true ? Ans. I suppose I did ; but I now with sorrow and shame, confess that it was not true, and I never should have said it had it not been for them! By Mr. Stanton — Does not your conscience upbraid you ? Ans. Yes, sir, my accusing Mr. Rogers wrongful- ly as I did, has caused me more sorrow, tears and troub- le, than all that I have ever said or done besides ; and my coming here of my own accord, (for I was not oblig- ed to come and testify against myself) is an evidence of my sincerity. — [Here followed a long and 'particular ex* animation by the Chairman and Mr. Reed, in which shu fully cleared me of every crime or misconduct with her, or within her knowledge, and then handed to the Chairman MEMOIRS. 143 the following letter which she had written to the church in Hebron, and which she said would more fully explain her conduct, viz:] To the Episcopal Church in Hebron, October 5th, 1819. With shame and confusion I presume to address you by the silent language of a pen, and it is humbly to con- fess my fault, and earnestly to ask your forgiveness. I think it is my duty to say that Mr. Rogers is certainly and absolutely innocent of what has been laid to his charge concerning me, and I certainly have been over- persuaded and induced by Col. Halsey, Dr. Downer and others, to testify and say that against Mr. Rogers which was very unjust and wrong. They assured me that he was an important character, a cunning, artful man, and one that the Bishop and Clergy were against, and if I would testify against him it would be more for my honor, it should never hurt me, it should never cost me any thing, &c. — that I should be protected, that the whole town would pity me and be sorry for me, that all his en- emies would become my friends, and that my character would be better than it ever was, for every body would take my part, would receive me into company and treat me with respect, — and, that I should be respected by all my acquaintance. But if I did not do it, — my father was dead, my mother was very like to die; I had no brother to take my part, (George Downer was gone to the Ohio and would never return) I should be hated ana despised by all my acquaintance and by every body. — Col. Halsey and Dr. Downer earne to our house and staid all night. Dr. Downer took me into a bed room alone, and there talked to me, he said as a friend, and advised and overpersuaded me to lay my misfortunes, not to his son, but to Mr. Rogers, and then for the first time I consented to do it, which was in March or April 1819, Col. Halsey dictated what they wanted me to say, and Dr. Downer wrote it, and they overpersuaded me to agree to it and to testify to it, when they knew and I knew that it was false. Mr. Lanman came to our house and staid till nine or ten o'clock at night, he took me into our east chamber alone, and though he said it would 144 MEMOIRS not do for him, in his office, to advise, yet he would say it would be the best and most honorable thing that I could do to testify against Mr. Rogers. He gave me his word and his honor that it never should hurt me or cost me any thing, and that I should be protected; at length I confess I was overpowered and overpersuaded to say and to do what I did, and for which I am now sin- cerely sorry, and humbly ask forgiveness of God, of Mr. Rogers, and of you. If there is any excuse or pallia- tion for me or my conduct, I pray you to consider it, &.c, Asenath C. Smith. By the Chairman — Do you swear that this letter just read is in your hand writing, and that it was composed by you ? Ans. 1 do. By the same — Are the facts con- tained in this letter true? Ans. They are. By the same — Was it written of your own accord, and without the agency or assistance of any one. Ans. It was, and I did it because I thought it my duty. May it please the Committee — I wish now to introduce the testimony of Mr. Perry Clark, uncle of the said Ase- nath, having married her mother's sister, lived in the same house with them, and brought her up at his own table. — He is a man of good property — worth eight or ten thousand dollars ; of good moral character, and whose truth and. veracity have not, within my knowledge or belief, been called in question. On trial, he, his wile and son, were, by stratagem, got out of the state, and their testimony could not be had. To the Hon. Gen. Assembly of Connecticut in May, 1823. I Perry Clark, of Griswold, county of New- London and state of Connecticut, of lawful age depose and say, that in the year 1817, and long before and since that time, Asenath C. Smith and Maria A. Smith lived in the same house with me ; that I do know that in the fore part of the summer of 1817 and long before that time, a certain young physician was in the habit of coming to my house and of being in private company with Asenath C. Smith; I well remember that not long before he went his jour- ney to the westward, which I think was in the month of July 1817, he came to my house and staid all night, and MEMOIRS. 145 I personally know that he came out of the bed-chamber of the said Asenath at that time between break of day and sun-rise ; [this is the very time when I was charged in the information with committing that crime with her for which I have suffered two years imprisonment, when in truth I was not within 100 miles of her, had not seen her that whole summer, and never in my whole life had any improper connection with her.] And I depose and say that I have no knowledge that Ammi Rogers was at my house during the summer of 1817, but well remem- ber that for several months he was not there: and I un- derstood that he was gone into the state of New- York after his daughter, 8lc. — that in 1819, (two years after the supposed child) Col. Halsey and Dr. Avery Downer, (father of the said young physician) came to my house for the purpose of getting the said Asenath and Maria to testify against Mr. Rogers ; that they staid all night, and took the said Asenath into a private bed-room alone; that the next morning I heard the said Halsey dictate, and the said Downer wrote the testimony which I heard the said girls give against Mr. Rogers when he was bound over ; that the crimes charged upon Mr. Rogers were said to have been committed at my house in 1817, but that I never did hear the said Asenath or any of the fam- ily accuse him in these things until 1819 ; (nearly two years afterwards) and I depose and say, that about that time, James Lanman, Esq. the state's attorney, came to my house at about two or three o'clock in the afternoon and took the said Asenath into my east chamber alone, an'd remained there with her until some time in the eve- ning, when I called him, (he says about nine or ten o'clock at night!) that when he came out of the cham- ber he told me that for Asenath to testify against Mr, Rogers (and not against George Downer) would be the best and most honorable thing that she could do! that it never should hurt her or cost her any thing! that she need not and should not be called upon to testify publicly, but only before a justice and a few friends &c. &.c. I testify that I heard the said Halsey ana Downer give the said Asenath the same assurances a* the time they came to my h^use and staid all night. — 13 146 MEMOIRS. And I further testify that in the summer and fall of 1817, I well remember that the said Asenath was very sickly, weak, and unwell, and had fits, and particularly on the week before she was said to have been delivered, and in one of her fits, she fell from her bed on to the floor, &c. — And further the deponent saith not. Perry Clark. New-London County, ss. Griswold, May 20th, 1823. Personally appeared the ab^ve named Perry Clark^ who subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth oi the foregoing deposition, in due form of law. Before me, Jedediah Barstow, Justice of Peace. General Assembly, May, 1823, opened by me, Thomas Day, Secretary. The depositions of Sophia Clark, wife of Perry Clark and aunt of the said Asenath, and of Lester Clark her cousin, were then read, in which they depose and say substantially the same as is contained in the foregoing deposition of Perry Clark,, and particularly that Dr. George Downer did come there to see the said Ase- nath on or about the first of July 1817, and that he staid all night, that he had been in the habit of doing so for two or three years — that they had no knowledge or belief that I was there during the whole summer of- 1817, or that I ever did at any time keep private com- pany or have any improper connection with her — that in 1819 Col. Halsey and Dr. Avery Downer did come there and stay all night &c. as stated by Mr. Perry Clark — also, that they never heard the said Asejiath or any of the family accuse me of those things until that time — that James Lanman did come there and was shut up alone with her in their east chamber as stated by Mr. Clark — that they do know and well remember that in the summer and fall of 1817, the said Asenath was very sickly, weak and unwell, and had fits, and on a certain time had fits and fell from the bed on to the floor. Subscribed and sworn in Griswold on the 20th day of May, 1823, before Jedediah Barstow, Justice of Peace, Gen Assembly 1823, opened by Thomas Day, Secretary. MEMOIRS. 147 May it please the Committee — I beg permission now to read the deposition of Curtis Hickox, Esq. to prove in the first place that I have been falsely accused, and that I was not within 100 miles of the person and place where the crimes charged upon me were said to have been committed. To the Hon. Gen. Assembly oj Conn, in May 1823. I Curtis Hickox, of Washington in Litchfield county, of lawful age, depose and say, — that Ammi Rogers was at my house in Washington, in Litchfield county, (about 100 miles from Griswold) on the first day of July, 1817, that I then and there paid him $40 in money and took his receipt in full of all demands ; which facts I after- wards stated in my deposition which I made before prop- er authority, and gave to said Rogers to be improved in a case which he said was pending against him in behalf of the state, (see page 99) and which deposition I now say was true ; and that the inclosed, viz. " Washington, July 1st, 1817. This day settled all accounts and mat- ters, of every name and nature, with Curtis Hickox, and received forty dollars to my full satisfaction. Ammi Rogers," — is a true copy of the receipt which he gave me at my house, (about 100 miles from GriswoldT on that said first day of July 1817, and further this deponent saith not. Curtis Hickox. Litchfield Co. ss. Washington May 24th, 1823. Personally appeared the above named Curtis Hickox, Esq. who subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition in due form of law. Before me, Youngs Elliot, Justice of Peace. General Assembly y May 1823, opened by me, Thomas Day, Secretary. By the Chairman — Was you charged in the informa- tion with committing that crime in Griswold on that par- ticular first day of July 1817, or was it on or about that day ? — Ans. It was on that day and on no other ; and because I was unjustly deprived of this evidence on trial, the jury falsely declared me guilty, and by it I have un- justly suffered two years imprisonment. I then laid be- fore the committee a certified copy of the original iu- 143 MEMOIRS. formation in the hand writing of Mr. Lanman, and also a scandalous and malicious book which Lanman had caused to be printed, and in both the crime was charged to have been committed on that very first day of July, 1317, when I was not within about 100 miles of the place or person, and had not been there that summer. Dr. Wells Beardslee and Homer Swift, Esq. of the town of Kent, made solemn oath, deposed and said, that in the month of April, 1819, they gave their deposition to the Rev. Ammi Rogers to be improved in a case which he said was pending against him in behalf of the state, that from the records of the Episcopal church in that place and other writings, and from their own recollec- tion they were certain that on the first day of July, 1817, and for some time before he was with them in Kent, (not far from Washington) and that he was not in Griswold. Subscribed and sworn in Kent on the 23d day of May, 1823. Before John H. Swift, Justice of Peace. General Assembly May 1823, opened byme y Thomas Day, Secretary. May it please the Committer — The depositions of Curtis Hickox Esq. of Dr. Beardslee, and of Homer Swift Esq. prove beyond all contradiction that I have been falsely accused, for that I was not within 100 miles of the town of Griswold on the first day of July, 1817, where and when the crimes charged upon me were said to have been committed ; and this evidence was then in the hands of the civil authority of Connecticut : but because I was an Episcopal clergyman and unfriendly to the re- ligious and political establishment of the state, it wa9 wickedly and cruelly withheld and concealed, and the court knowing this did proceed in the trial without them. Will you, gentlemen, say that this was fair, was it just ? was it honest or honorable ? By Mr. Reed — -What proof have you of this ? Ans. I have abundance of proof — Capt. John Townsend and James Cook Esq. have made solemn oath, and it is certainly true, that they saw me deliver these papers, (see page 91) to Lanman and Coit at the binding over — that on trial in New-London, Oct. 1820, they stood very near me and heard me call for MEMOIRS, 14U these papers that they were withheld and the court proceeded in the trial without them. Will you gentle- men ! will the legislature of Connecticut ! will any de- cent person in the world justify such conduct ! ! and not only so, but extort from me, on peril of liberty and life, more than $600 to pay for this abominable wicked- ness ! The Committee adjourned till to-morrow at one o'clock P.M. Hartford, May2Sth, 1823. The Committee met according to adjournment. I ap- peared and said, Gentlemen — I beg permission to read the journal of the proceedings in this case on yesterday, which I did; and then said, I come now to inquire more particularly into the conduct of Asenath, and wish to ask ner some questions. — She was called. — I said, Asenath yesterday you solemnly testified under oath, before God and this Hon. committee, that the charges against me in the information concerning you were false — that Col. Halsey, Dr. Downer and Esq. Lanman, had overper- suaded and hired you to testify as you did against me when I was bound over, that it was not true, and that you never should have said it had it not been for them ; Do you now swear that what you then testified was true ? Ans. I do. Do you say on your oath that the inform tion against me concerning you, on which I was declared guilty, and have suffered two years imprisonment, is false ? Ans. I do. Is my petition which is now before this Committee, and which you have heard read, so far as it relates to you, and so far as your knowledge extends true or false ? Ans. It is true. (, May it please the Committee — I wish now to read the deposition of Mr. Perry Clark, Curtis Hickox, Esq. and others. — And I read them in support of the testimony which Asenath has now given, and in support of the truth of the foregoing letter to the Church in Hebron. Mr. Reed then introduced a BOOK, containing a false report of my trial, printed by Mr. Green in New-Lon- don, 1820, and said that the testimony of Maria A. Smith was so correct and circumstantial that it seemed as if it must be true I replied, I deny that she ever 13* 150 MEMOIRS. did testify as is contained and set forth in that Book : and let me ask, who says she did ? Ans. The Book. I ask, who is the author of that Book ? Who says it is true ? Ans. I do not know, it is published. Yes Sir, and a great many falsehoods are published, and even sanctioned by our Courts of law. But to this Book I have seventeen objections which I have here in writing, and which I now beg leave to read. In the first place, this Book is a Bastard, it has no father, there is no de- cent person on earth who would not be ashamed to own it, — no one has put his name to it ! or pledged himself for the truth of it : and will this committee receive it as evidence ? I say secondly, This Book contains a false report of my trial. By Mr. Hill — You have no proof of that. Yes Sir, I have abundance of proof. Capt. John Townsend, James Cook, Esq. & Mr. Enoch Baker have made solemn oath, and here it is, that they were present when I was bound over, and at the trial ; that they have read the book, and that they personally know it to be false and malicious. I read my objections and the book was ruled out, and was not admitted as evidence. May it please the Committee — I wish to turn your atten- tion more particularly to the trial which was very par- tial and unfair. Capt. John Townsend of Hebron, Tolland County, Conn, of lawful age, deposeth and saith, that he was present at the trial of Ammi Rogers, in New-London, 1820 — that on trial he heard him call upon Esq. Coit for the papers that were delivered to him at the binding over as evidence in the case, that they were withheld and concealed, and the Court directed the Counsel to pro- ceed in the trial without them — that he stood very near said Rogers on the trial when the said papers were cal- led for — that they were among other depositions from Washington and Kent, and the certificate of Elisha Geer and family, &c. — that so soon as the pleadings were closed, Mr. Rogers moved to introduce the principal witness and was refused by the court, that in October last he went to Norwich after said Rogers when the time of his imprisonment had expired, that the state's attorney came into the prison and presented him a note MEMOIRS. 151 to sign, as the condition of his liberty — that he remon- strated in warm terms and refused to ,sign it — that the attorney went off, apparently in anger, and said he might lie in ja«*—~ that by the interference of himself and Esq. Stewart said Rogers consented to sign it, but at the same time said it was perfectly unjust, and that he would do it only to obtain his liberty and to save his life, and to- wards evening did sign the note in prison and came out John Towns end. Tolland County, ss. Coventry, May 26th, 1823. Personally appeared the above named Capt. Town- send who subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of t'he foregoing deposition in due form of law. Before me, Isaiah Daggett, Justice of Peace. Doct. E. B. Downing testified as before and that he knew nothing of the truth of the crimes charged upon me. James Cook, Esq. of Preston, deposes and says that he was present at the court of inquiry in the case of the state against Ammi Rogers, that he distinctly recollects that said Rogers delivered to Esq. Coit, the justice at that time, a number of papers and documents, admitted by consent of counsel as evidence in the case (here he stated what they were, see page 91,) that he was present at the trial in New- London 1820, and heard the said Rog- ers call upon said Coit for those papers, that he refused to give them up without the order of the court, that the court directed them to be given up, that they were with- held, and that the court proceeded in the trial without them — that the character of Maria A. Smith, now Maria A. Packer, and Sam the negro, who were the principal witnesses in the trial of said Rogers, were not equal to that of people in general in point of truth and veracity. Subscribed and sworn in Preston, May 19th, 1823, in due form of law, before Denison Palmer, Justice of Peace. Genera] Assembly, May 1823, opened by me. Thomas Day, Secretary. Denison Palmer, Esq. of Preston, deposeth and saith that in the month of September 1819, Maria A. Smith came before him and made solemn oath, that she had no 153 MEMOIRS. reason to think that the charges against the Rev. Ammi Rogers, concerning her sister were true, that she never heard her accuse Mr. Rogers until after Mr. Lanman, Col. Halsey, and Doct. Downer came there and over- persuaded her, and told her it would be more for her honor and credit, and said they would pledge their lives that she never should be harmed if she would lay her child to Mr. Rogers ; that they went into a bed room and held a lengthy conversation with Asenath, and when they came out, she heard her say for the first time, (and that was about two years after it was supposed to have been born) that the child was Mr. Rogers's and went on with other accusations which she never heard before — that the character of Sam, the negro, a principal wit- ness in the trial of Mr. Rogers, was not then and is not now, that of a man of truth and veracity. < Subscribed and sworn in due form of law in Preston, May 19th, 1823, before me, James Cook, Justice of Peace. General Assembly, May 1 823, opened by me, Thomas Day, Secretary. John C. Baher, of Griswold, testified that he was pres- ent at the trial of Mr. Rogers 1820, that Lester Clark of Griswold, who had just returned from the state of New- York, desired him to inform Mr. Rogers, that he nad returned, that he knew that which would destroy the testimony of Maria A. Smith, that if he would send for him, he would come and do it. The deponent says he did inform Mr. Rogers while he was on trial ; that he heard him apply to the court to send for said Clark, stating that he was a material witness — that as he was then on trial, it was out of his power to send himself ; that the court wholly refused, and went on in the trial without him. The deponent says that the character of Maria A . Smith and Sam the negro, the principal witnesses in the trial of Mr. Rogers, was not then, and is not now, equal to that of mankind in general, in point of truth and vera- city. Subscribed and sworn in due form of law, in Griswold, May 16th, 1823, before Jkpediah Barsto w, Justice of Peace. MEMOIRS. 163 General Assembly, 1023, opened by me, Thomas Day, Secretary. Capt. E. M. Williams, of Groton, made solemn oath that he heard Maria A. Smith, in speaking of the trial of Mr. Rogers, say, that in some things she was mista- ken in what she testified against him ; and in other things she lied, and a lie never had choaked her and did not choak her then. Mr. Samuel Thayer made solemn oath that he heard Maria A. Smith say to me, (just before the trial in New* London, and on being by me reproved for lying,) well, I do not care, I know I have lied, and I will lie, and I have lied before the court, and I will again if I have a mind to, and you cannot help yourself. Mr. Lewis Collins, who is a very respectable man, and keeps a respectable tavern in Chester village, Mass. made solemn oath, deposed and said, that he heard Ma- ria A. Smith say, (on being reproved for lying and false swearing) Well, I do not care, I know I have lied, and lied under oath, and my oath is good for nothing, and I am glad of it. Subscribed and sworn in due form of law in Chester Dec. 4th, 1822, before, William Wade, Justice of Peace. /, Peleg Rose of Groton, and county of New-London, of lawful age, depose and say, that I was present at the binding over of the Rev. Ammi Rogers in April 1819, and stood near him, that I saw him deliver to Farwell Coit, Esq. and James Lanman, a number of papers and documents, among which I well remember were the depositions of Gentlemen from Washington and Kent in Litchfield county, and also a deposition of Asenath C. Smith,and her letter to James Cook Esq. in which she had charged her supposed child upon another man, and had entirely exonerated Mr. Rogers of all improper conduct with her or within her knowledge, which papers he distinct- ly remembers were delivered to the justice and Lanman at that time, were kept by them for the trial, and on trial were called for : but wickedly and corruptly withheld and concealed and the court directed the counsel to pro- ceed in the trial without them, and I testify that the 154 MEMOIRS. character of Maria A. Smith and Sam Wheeler, thd black boy, who were principal witnesses in the trial of Mr. Rogers, were not at that time on a par with people in general in point of truth and veracity, and further saith not. Peleg Rose. New-London County, ss. Groton, May 19£/i, 1823. Personally appeared the above named Peleg Rose, who subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition, in due form of law before me, Palmer Hewett, Justice of Peace. General Assembly y May 1823, opened by me, Thomas Day, Secretary. Address. - May it please the Honorable Committee — I have prayed the Hon. General Assembly of Conn, now convened, to grant me a rehearing on the informa- tion brought against me by James Lanman, Esq. and to give up a note of more than $630, which was extorted from me to pay the cost which had arisen on account of that information. My petition was founded on the ground, that I was wholly innocent of the crimes charg- ed upon me ; 2d, that I had been partially and unfairly tried ; 3d, that I was unjustly condemned and imprison- ed, and wickedly and cruelly deprived of almost every thing which could make life desirable. On this memo- rial the Hon. Gen. Assembly have condescended to appoint a joint committee of both houses, which com- mittee, gentlemen, you are, to investigate the grounds on which my memorial is predicated. I have by your goodness, had an opportunity of exhibiting such proof as I thought must be conclusive. In the first place, I am wholly innocent of the crimes charged upon me in the information. I solemnly declare this. Asenath C« Smith herself has come before you in person, and has solemnly sworn that I was wholly innocent of theso crimes charged upon me, relative to her ; and stated the circumstances ; that she does not know that I knew, or MEMOIRS. 155 had been informed that she was, or had been like to' nave a child until many months after she was delivered: Gentlemen, this is in proof now before you, and if it be true, will you say that I ought in justice to be imprison- ed, and to pay that note ? But she further testifies, that she was at that time and long before, in the habit of keeping private company with a certain young doctor ; that he came there and staid all night, on or about the first day of July, 1817; that in the year 1817, she did not see me at home or abroad, from March or April, un- til some time in September, and that I never did at any time in my life offer her any carnal or indecent connec- tion ; gentlemen, this is in proof before you, and if it be true, ought I and my children and friends, and the public to suffer ? But what, I beseech you, is there against this proof ? does the witness herself confess that she was overpersuaded to make oath to the contrary ; and therefore she ought not to be believed ? But Maria A. Smith confessed before the superior court that she had often acknowledged that she had taken a false oath against me, when I was bound over, and that old Halsey, Dr. Downer, and James Lanman had hired her to do it j she made oath before Denison Palmer, Esq. and it is now in proof before this committee, that she had r.o rea- son to believe that the charges against me were true. At one time she said that she had taken a ftvlse oath a gainst me, yet the superior court admitted ner testimony to condemn me, why then will not this committee receive the testimony of Asenath C. Smith, who is ten thousand times more to be believed, to clear me ? It is now in proof before this committee, that Maria A. Smith, and Sam the negro, were not at the time of my trial, and are not now, persons of truth and veracity, and that they ought not to be believed ; Mr. Enoch Baker swears it, James Cook, Esq. Denison Palmer, Esq. Mr. Pe- leg Rose, Mr. John C. Baker, all swear it, and this com- mittee must think that all these respectable men are per- jured, or that the sajd Maria and negro, ought not to be believed, of course that I am innocent and ought not to pay the note. The present testimony of the said Ane- nath, is supported by other testimony which cannot be 1 158 MEMOIRS. controverted. She swears that in the summer of 1817, and long before, she was in the habit of keeping private company with a certain young physician ; that about the first day of July, 1817, he came there and staid all night; that she was then begotten with that child, which hi3 fa- ther and others induced her in 1819 to swear falsely up- on me. L Mr. Perry Clark swears that she lived in the same house with him; that he knows a certain young physi- cian was in the habit of coming there, and of being in her private company ; that he came there about the first of July, 1817, or just before he went his journey to the westward, and staid all night ; and he personally knew that he came out of her bed chamber at that time, between break of day and sunrise ; that he had no knowledge or belief that I was there during that summer :that he nev- er heard her or any of the family accuse me until 1819 ; that Halsey and Downer, father of the young doctor, came there and staid all night, and took her into a pri- vate bed room alone : that the next morning Halsey dictated, and Downer wrote these accusations against me; that Lanman was shut up a long time with her alone in his east chamber, and then told him that it would be the best and most honorable thing that she could do to charge those crimes upon me ; that she should be protected, it should never hurt her, and she need not, and should not be called upon to testify publicly in the case. Curtis Hickox, Esq. swears, that on that very day, when I was accused of committing that crime with her inGriswold, I was at his house in Washington ; that he there and then paid me $40 in money, and took my re- ceipt in full, dated on that very day, 100 miles from Griswold, and sent a copy of it. Dr. Beardslee swears that on that day, and for some time before, I was with him in Kent, and not in Griswold. Gentlemen, all this evidence is now legally before you, and will you, can you in conscience say that I am guilty of begetting Ascnath C. Smith with child, in Griswold, on the first day of Ju- ly, or at any other time? consider the evidence, 1 beseech you, and make that report which you can jus- tify before the bar of God, and the bar of your own con- MEMOIRS- 157 sciences. She swears that she lost her child by sick- ness, by infirmity, or by accident. Dr. Downing who delivered her, swears, and it is now in evidence before this committee, that he saw no marks of violence upon it, or its mother ; that it might be lost by sickness, or by infirmity, or by accident. Mr. Perry Clark, who lived in the very same house with her, swears, and it is, now in evidence before the committee, thai in the sum- mer and fall of 1827, he well remembers that the said Asenath was very sickly, weak and unwell, and had fits, and particularly on the week before she was said to be delivered, and in one of her fits she met with an accident of falling from the bed on to the floor. Sophia Clark and Lester Clark swear the same. Does the committee believe this testimony ? if so, the testimony of Asenath is supported, and I am acquitted. But, may it please the committee, there is another ground on which I pray to have my note given up, and that is, that I was partially and unfairly tried. It is now in proof that the principal witness in this case, the wit- ness on whose oath I was bound over for trial, and on whose oath I ought to have been condemned or acquitted, was rejected by the court on the ground that she was not offered sooner. I claim to be a man of some understanding. If the decision of Judge Brain- ard in this very case had been adhered to, no testimony would have been admitted until the main facts charged had been first proved ; and then Asenath must have been introduced by them, and she could have told the whole story, and they could not impeach or contradict their own witness ; the all-night visit, the private bed- room conference, and the east chamber agreement would have come to view. Asenath says that they overpersua- ded and induced her to swear these crimes falsely upon me. That she did swear them falsely upon me is unde- niable : for she swore that 1 committed this crime with her in Griswold, on the first day of July, 1817. Is this true ? Curtis Hickox, Esq. swears, that onthatvery day I was at his house in Washington, 100 miles from her, and from Griswold. Dr. Beardslee swears, that on that very day, and for some time before, I was in Kent, and 14 168 MEMOIRS. not in Griswold. Mr. Clark swears that he had no knowledge that I was at his house, where she lived, dur- ing that whole summer, and for several months knows that I was not there ; that he knows that another man was there and staid all night, and he personally knew that he came out of her bed chamber at that time, between break of day and sunrise, so that it is undenible. that 1 was falsely accused/and she was induced to swear these crimes falsely upon me. But the question is, Did Hal- sey, Downer, and Lanman overpersuade and induce her to swear falsely ? The misfortune happened to her in 1817 — in 1819, Halsey and Downer went there for the purpose of getting her to swear against me — she was ta- ken into a private bed room alone — they promised her honor, friendship, protection, safety, and even secrecy if she would swear against me — Halsey dictated the story and Downer wrote it. Soon after, Lanman went there, abojt eight miles, was shut up with her alone for many hours ; he said it would be the best and most honorable thing that she could do, to swear against me ; that she should be protected ; that it never should hurt her ; that she need not and should not be called upon to testify pub- iicly in the case. She did swear ! and he called upon her to swear publicly, and she swore falsely, and she now swears that they overpersuaded her to swear falsely , and that her false swearing, which has ruined me unjust- ly, has caused her more sorrow, tears and trouble, than all the transactions of her life besides. Gentlemen, these things are in legal proof before you, and can you now say with a good conscience, that the grounds of my me- morial are not well supported ? Can you say with truth that she did not swear falsely against me ? Can you in a good conscience say that these men did not over- persuade and wickedly induce her to swear falsely ? and can you say that the note to pay the cost of this abomin- able iniquity ought not to be given up ? If on my trial X had brought forward this witness they could have pro- ved what she swore falsely against me when I was bound over ; I could not have contradicted or impeached my own witness, and 1 should have been condemned by her former testimony, and in this way I could not have the MEMOIRS. 15f constitutional right of confronting the principal witness against me ; and on this ground I claim that my trial has been unconstitutional, partial and very unfair. Gentlemen, I appeal to the common understanding of all mankind, would any public officer, would any man who wanted nothing but public justice, have done as these men have ? And will you uphold them ? will you extort from me more than $630, to pay for the dreadful and scandalous falsehood charged upon me, for the unspeakably ruinous and distressing persecution which has been inflicted on me, and on my innocent chil- dren, and parishes by their means ? VVill it be just, will it be honorable to Connecticut ? I claim that my trial was partial and unfair in that collateral testimony was admitted before the facts charged were proved , in that Asenath C. Smith, the principal witness, was not called on to support, if she could, the prosecution. I claim that my trial was partial and unfair, in that the court refused to send for Mr. Lester Clark, whose testi- timony was necessary in my defence. What can be more oppressive and unjust, than to call a person before you as a criminal, refuse him the evidence of his inno- cence, when it is within your power, and within a few miles of you, and then condemn him to prison, to infamy to utter ruin, in want of it. Has this thing been done in Connecticut ? Mr. John C. Baker swears it, and it is true. I called upon the court to send for Lester Clark, as a witness necessary in my defence ; the court declined, and he was not there. Now, you, gentlemen, are appointed by both houses of the General Assembly to report on this case, will you say that it is fair and I ought to pay for it ? I claim that my trial was unconstitutional, not only in that I was deprived of the privilege of confronting the principal witness against me, the witness on whose oath I was bound over for trial, not only in that the judge re- fused to send for a witness necessary in the defence of the accused, not only in that T was put in jeopardy twice for the same supposed offence, but in that the trial was put off on the part of the prosecution almost eighteen months, whereas the constitution provides that every person who is accused shall have a speedy trial. 1 claim that the 160 MEMOIRS. trial was absolutely unlawful, in that it was more than three years after the crimes were said to have been commit- ted, and almost two years before the prosecution was commenced so that it was outlawed by the statute of limitation. It is in proof before this committee, attested by Capt. Townsend, Esq. Cook and Mr. Rose, that im- portant papers and documents, the undeniable evidence oi my innocence, were delivered to the justice at the bind- ing over ; that on trial they were called for : that they were withheld, and that the court proceeded without them. Will you, gentlemen, report that this was fair, and ought not to be inquired into, and that I ought to pay for it and be imprisoned and ruined in this way ? to take a clergyman from his beloved children and friends, from his parishes, consisting of more than 2000 souls; where for more than six years there had not been a voice or a vote against him, except one man, to take him from the pulpit, and from the altar of God, and the pledges of divine love, by the most false and infamous accusations, to refuse him the privilege of confronting the principal witness against him ; to refuse to send for a witness necessary in his de- fence ; to put off the trial for eighteen months ; to with- hold and conceal inportant papers and documents, the undeniable evidence of his innocence, and in this way to proceed to try him, condemn him, to imprison him, to disgrace him, and to ruin him? What can be worse ? and I submit it to this committee to say > if from the evi- dence now before them, these things have not been prac- tised upon me, and abundantly proved ? and will you. gentlemen, say, because they ate done by the Honorable Superior Court, I shall not have a hearing in these things, that they shall not be reported to the Honorable Gener- al Assembly ? But I pray you to give up my note, not only because it was unjust that I should give it, in that the charges against me were undeniably false, and are so now in proof before this committee ; not only because my trial was unconstitutional, unlawful, partial and un- fair ; not only because my condemnation was unjust, and my imprisonment cruel and wicked ; but because it was extorted from me in duresse, extorted from me while I was in prison, and could not help myself, it was taking MEMOIRS 161 the advantage of my situation, and as much compulsion as it would have been to put a knife to my throat, or a pistol to my breast. ; in that it was demanded and taken as the only condition of my liberty, and perhaps of my life. Capt Townsend swears expressly, and it is now in evidence before you, that he was present when the note was signed ; that I then remonstrated in warm terms, and refused to sign it ; that the State's Attorney said that I might then lie in jail, and went off in anger ; that I said it was perfectly unjust ; (and I think that I have abundantly proved by * As&nath C. Smith herself, by Dr. Downing, Mr. Perry Clark, Curtis Hickox, Esq. Dr. Beardslee and others, that it really was so) he swears that I then declared that I would sign it only to obtain my liberty and perhaps my life ; and in this way 1 did sign it, hoping and believing that the Honorable Gen- eral Assembly would afford me relief ; and gentlemen, I now request you to give up in your report, my note on each, and on all the before mentioned grounds ; and in justice to me, to yourselves and to the public, I hope and believe you must and will do it. By the Chairman — Have you any documents relative to your former standing ? Ans. I have, may it please ymr honor ; but not directed expressly to this General Assembly. Jacob Bunniel, of Branford, New-Haven County and Btate of Connecticut, of lawful age, deposeth and saith that he has been for many years one of the wardens of St. Andrews 1 Church in Branford ; that he was person- ally and well acquainted with the parents and grand pa- rents of the Rev. Ammi Rogers before he was born ; that they were always considered among the most respec- table for character and property of any of the inhabitants of this town; that he has been personally and well ac- quainted with the Rev. Ammi Rogers, who was born and brought up within about one mile of the place where this deponent has lived ever since the said Rogers was born ; that he never knew any thing unbecoming in the conduct or character of the said Rogers ; and that there never was, to his knowledge, any blemish fixed upon bis character in this town ; that previous to his or« 14* 163 MEMOIRS. dination, this deponent and the committee of the Episco- pal Church in Branford did sign and send to the Bishop and standing committee a recommendation for the said Rogers to he ordained ; and this deponent says that some years after this, the said Rogers was unanimously chosen to be minister of this parish ; that the congrega- tion were united under him as their minister, and that he never knew or heard of any person in this town who had any just cause of complaint against said Rogers either as a minister or as a man. And further this deponent saith not. Jacob Bunniel. Subscribed and sworn in Branford in due form of law, before Benjamin Page, Justice of Peace. Samuel Russell and Isaac Hoadley, wardens of Trinity Church in Branford, certify that the Rev. Ammi Rog- ers was born of respectable parents, and brought up in this town and neighborhood : that they have been con- stantly and well acquainted with him from his infancy before he entered college, while at college, and ever since he has been in the ministry, and at no period of his life has any blemish been fixed upon his character; that he now is and always has been highly esteemed and res- pected in this town; and that the church was never so united and so prosperous as while under his ministry. Bishop Jarvis himself ) my enemy and persecutor, gave public and official assurance in behalf of himself and of ail the Episcopal Clergy of Connecticut, that they had nothing against me, that my character and authority were good, &c, see the depositions of Mr. Andrews, Esq. Dudley , and the Rev. Dr. Mansfield. Mr. Joel Chatfield, one of the wardens of Union Church in Derby, gave the most unexceptionable testi- mony in my favor. « Messrs. Thomas Wells and Hiram Haughton, the war- dens of St. Peter's Church in Hebron, made solemn oath, that I was the settled minister of that parish, that my character was good, that for six years then last past, they had never known or heard of a voice or a vote against me in their parish except one man, who had long since sold his property and gone off. MEMOIRS. 163 Messrs. Eli Knox and Marcus Gibbs, committee of the Episcopal Society in Blanford, Mass. certify that the Rev. Ammi Rogers has occasionally performed divine service and preached in this society for ten years last past; that for some time past, and at the present time, he is employed to perform divine service, and to preach here a part of the time ; and that we consider his char- acter and his standing, as a minister and as a man, to be good. Dated May 29th, 1820. We the Committee, appointed by and in behalf of St James' Church in Poquatanic, (not far from Griswoldj to inquire into the truth of certain evil reports, circulated by Dr. Downer, Col. Halsey and others, against the Rev. Ammi Rogers, on which a prosecution has been institu- ted, — do certify and report, that we have been personal- ly to the house where the ill conduct was said to have transpired; that we have made diligent inquiry of the per- son implicated, of all the family, and of the neighbors ; that we have also attended the Court of inquiry, and the court of trial ; and that we are fully satisfied that the reports, now charged, are wholly false and ought not to be regarded. James Cook, V Committee of St James's Peleg Rose, y Church. Poquatanic, April 5th, 1820. 4* an annual meeting of the parish of St. James' Church in Poquatanic, legally warned and held in said Church % this 5th day of April, 1 820, — Voted unanimously. That in the opinion of this meet- ing, the papers issued by Bishop Jarvis against the Rev. Ammi Rogers, are wholly unconstitutional and uncan- onical: and whereas the said Rogers has performed di- vine service and preached in this church a considerable part of the time since 1814, we think it due to him, to ourselves, and to the public, to say, that so far as we know, his conduct in this parish, both as a minister, and AS a man, has been perfectly unexceptionable. A true copy of Record. Attest, Ebenezer Geer, Society's Clerk. There is no report of the ronimittee, nor pretence ■ I&l MEMOIRS. suggested, that I have not been falsely accused, partial- ly and unfairly tried, unjustly condemned and imprison- ed, and wickedly and cruelly deprived of almost every thing which could make life desirable, and a note of more than $630 to pay the cost and expense, extorted from me on peril of my liberty and life. I say the com- mittee have not pretended that all this was not proved, and that all this was not true: but that it would be a manifest encroachment upon the Judiciary, for the Gen. Assembly to grant a rehearing on the terms proposed, and I would not take the note on any other condition ; Good God of heaven ! has it come to this ! can the citizens of Connecticut be treated in this way and have no redress ! O, Merciful God, and Heavenly Father, who hast taught me in thy holy word that thou doest not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men ; look with pity, I beseech thee, upon the sorrows of thy servant, who am now under affliction and persecution. In thy wisdom thou hast seen fit to suffer me to be visited with trouble and to have distress brought upon me. Remember me, Lord, in mercy sanctify thy fatherly corrections to me, endue my soul with patience under my afflictions, and with resignation to thy bessed will: comfort me with a sense of thy goodness, lift up the light of thy counte- nance upon me, and give me peace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant, O Lord, that all my sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of thy truth, and a good conscience, may terminate in thy glory and the salva- tion of my own soul : may I look up to heaven and be- hold thy glory which shall be revealed hereafter : may 1 learn to love and bless my persecutors. Father of mercies, please to forgive them and to turn their hearts ; please to bless and preserve all Christian rulers and ma- gistrates, give them grace to execute justice and to maintain truth ; please to relieve the distressed, protect the innocent and make their innocence to appear ; bless all mankind with every needful gift, convert the uncon- verted, and fill the world with thy glory ; cast the bright beams of thy light upon thy church, that we may so walk in the light of thy truth here that we may at length MEMOIRS. 165 attain everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord — Amen. Our Father who art in Heaven, &,c. Just Judge of Heaven, against my foes, Do thou assert my injured right; O set me free, my God, from those Who in deceit and wrong delight. Since thou art still my only stay — Why leav'st thou me in deep distress- Why go I mourning all the day, Whilst me insulting foes oppress. — (43d Psalm.) AGAINST LYING AND FALSE SHEARING. The Eternal God hath said — Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Coolly and deliberately to call the God of all worlds to witness and to sanction that which we know to be false, or that which we do not know to be true : or to induce others to do the same, is profane, is impious, is Heaven- daring, is God-defying ! O, how dreadful ! how shock- ing ! how dangerous for time and eternity, is false swearing ! it hardens the soul against all the impres- sions of divine love and fear ; it banishes the influence of divine grace from our hearts ! It dissolves all civil compact. Our courts of law ought to render judgment according to evidence ; if that evidence be false, the judgment will be false. And as it respects individuals, how unjust, how cruel, how abusive is false witness. It deprives us of life, and of every thing which can make life desirable — by it, I have suffered, and by it you may suffer. No character,- no honor, no profession, no prop- erty, nothing valuable can be safe ! Do I see my beloved father or mother, do I see a dear brother or a charming sister, do I see, O, Gracious God ! do I see my wife or daughter, by perjury and by falsehood, torn from my bleeding bosom, from every thing honorable, pleasant, gay and cheerful ; dragged to a court of Justice, stript of honor, character and happiness ; loaded with indeli- ble infamy and disgrace ; my fondest hopes are blasted, my animating expectations are cut off, all my comfort is gone, and with unspeakable sorrow and anguish my gray 16* MEMOIRS. hairs are brought down to the grave ! and what is the' cause ? Oh, it is false swearing and perjury ! Thou fell monster of hell ! what hast thou not done ! Begone, get thee hence ! begone forever thou child of the devil! What can make any person appear so perfectly ridicu- lous, hateful and contemptible, as to be detected in a disgraceful, mean lie ? There is not a decent person on earth who would not resent even the suspicion of it ; there is not the meanest scoundrel who walks the streets of New- York, or any other place, who would not be ashamed of it. Liars and hypocrites are to have their portion in a bad place, in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone ! The devil himself is said to have been a liar from the beginning, and liars and perjured persons are children of the devil. I love and pity their souls, but I despise their conduct. If it be possible, O, Fa- ther in Heaven, to forgive so great, so henious, so de- structive, so disgraceful sins against thee, and against all human safety and happiness, look upon them in mer- cy, make them sensible of their crimes and bring them to repentance, and to abetter use of their tongues. Let a person possess all the wealth of the Indies, or all the gold of Peru : let him be honored with all the offices and stations in the power of men to bestow, yet it' he be destitute of truth, he certainly is rotten at the core, he is detestable in the sight of God and man — look at him I see a liar ! a false swearer ! a perjured person ! how mean he is ! how despicable ! how dread- ful ! I advise parents to teach their children, above all other qualifications, the love and practice of truth ; and to impress their minds, as much as possible, with an inward abhorrence and detestation of falsehood and misrepresentation. If a person be ever so poor, if mis- fortunes surround him on every side, if he be afflicted in mind, body and estate, and is overwhelmed in sorrows and troubles, yet, if he be a man of truth, if what he says may be relied on, he will be respected, he will be comforted and relieved. We have a silent monitor within us, unless, by falsehood and perjury we have banished him, and he will inform us what is truth, and MEMOIRS. 167 what is not. In this case the words of Pope are excel- lent, viz. What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This teach me more than hell to shun, That, more than Heaven pursue. St. Paul says, our rejoicing is this, the testimony of a good conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity we have had our conversation in the world. But con- science is not an infallible guide ; how often have I conscientiously, and sincerely thought I was right, and afterwards been convinced that I was wrong ! and even in matters of religion, our consciences are greatly influ- enced by education and custom ! Still it is the best guide in the world when regulated by the holy scriptures, and the best information which we can obtain. O, Almighty and Eternal God, make me, and all mankind, I beseech thee, at all times, to love those things which thou dost command, and to desire those things which thou dost promise ; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to bo found, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Father who art in Heaven, &,c. CHAPTER XVII. The witnesses testified before the Legislature, and their testimony was supported by the testimony of others, that Col. Halsey and Dr. Downer, and James Lanman, Esq. overpersuaded and hired them to testify against me as they did before the court, and that it was not true, and they knew it. Now stand still and see the judg- ments of Heaven upon these wicked men ; in less than three years. Ccl. Jeremiah Halsey^ who had be-en a noted lawyer, a state's attorney, a man of great property and distinction, has become a poor miserable vagabond ; he has had * 168 MEMOIRS. the numb palsy, his mouth drawn on one side, he spits and drules : he got drunk, fell from his horse, was taken up out of compassion, at Mr. Abel Spicer's, where he lay all night, wet the bed and dirtied himself ; his son-in-law turned him out of door, he has not a house to shelter his head ; a demand of $20 was offered to me against him by a Mr. Kimbal for one of these books — only fifty cents, I would not take it ; and he is now actually a town pauper ; he dragged out a miserable existence and Jied on the town. Dr. Avery Downer, of Preston, was once a noted phy- sician, looked upon to be a man of good property, well respected and promoted in the town. In less than two years after I came out of jail, every cent of his proper- ty was sold at the post by the sheriff ; he has not a shelter of his own to cover his head, and now goes from grog-shop to grog-shop, a poor, miserable out- cast in society, by most of his acquaintances hated and despised. James Lanman, Esq. was educated in the same College and at the same time with me ; he has been a noted lawyer, state's attorney, and six years a Senator of the U. S. Since these false accusations against me, he has been publicly burnt in effigy in the city of Hartford, hung in effigy in the city of New-London, drowned in effigy in Norwich, and publicly whipped in his own per- son ! in Norwich landing, by a Mr. Story on this very account, in presence of hundreds of his own citizens, and not a man to take his part, except his own son, who said to him ; Go home, father, for you have more ene- mies here than there are bees in a hive. He has been refused a seat in Congress, Sac. left out of office, and I know no man who has become more universally ha- ted and despised, by all classes of people, in the town where he lives, tlian James Lanman, and it is said he is more than $5,000 worse than nothing, as to property ; he has lately married another man's wife, and it is said he has got some property by her, which he is spending very fast. Judge Chapman, who conducted the trial, and pronoun- ced sentence upon me, soon after sickened, languish- MEMOIRS. 169 ed, died, and is now in his grave ; he never saw a well day afterwards, and never sit on the bench as Judge again. Jlsenath C. Smith, has left the United States, and I do not know what has become of her. Maria A. Smith, (the supposed sister of Jlsenath ; be- cause the circumstances of her birth were such, that her father never would own her ; he went to sea and has never returned,) after my trial she returned to Springfield, with Ira Daniels, (who was very anxious to have me con- demned,) his property was all attached, his friends had forsaken him, he fled ; she returned to Griswold, desti- tute, despised and neglected — she then went to the city of New- York, and it is said, supported herself at the expense of her chastity ; returned to Groton, sickly, and diseased ; John Packer took her part, and took her in, and he has since neglected his own wife and children, and has had a bastard by his wife's sister. Maria — married a poor, drunken fellow, and lives very unhappy. Sam if heeler, the negro, has since my trial, been convicted of breaking open a store and stealing, in North Stonington ; and is now justly suffering two years imprisonment in Newgate State Prison, at Simsbury Mines. John P. Trott, the Foreman of the Jury who pronoun- ced me guilty, soon after rny trial, sickened, and lan- guished and died, and is now in the grave ! is it noth- ing to you, all ye that pass by ? Is it not wonderful, is it not astonishing to view and consider the judgments of Heaven, which have attended the perpetrators of this horrid plan, these persecutors of injured innocence, and although they have made me enemies among those who will judge a case without examining or knowing it ; yet what has become of all these abominable conspira- tors. I do not believe that people always receive all tkeir punishment in this world ; I am not a universal ist, yet great plagues remain for the ungodly EHas Brews- ter, who was called to support the character of Maria and Sam, had an amiable wife who hung herself the very next winter, and there is hardly an individual among 15 170 MEMOIRS. them, wh-3 has taken part against me in this ease, who has not been obliged to drink the bitter cup of afflic- tion. Look at them ! what were they once ? what are Jiey ~\ow ? As to my own conduct and character, actions speak louder lhaa words. I was ordained and settled in the state of New -York, and remained there in the ministry about ter o, twelve years, and was dismissed after the death ot m\ wife with great reluctance, and only at my own request and without the least fault found in me. I was ther* settled in Branford, the place where I was born and brought up ; where my parents and grand pa- rents lived, and where I had been known from my in- fancy, without a dissenting voice or vote ; and with a larger salary than they had, at any time, ever given to any other clergyman. If there had been any thing in my youthful days, against me, or my family, or my con- nections, would there be no one to lift a hand or stir a tongue against my settlement there as a minister ? Af- ter I had been gone from Ballston about three years, a meeting was called and in a congregation of more than 700 souls, a very unanimous vote was passed (only two dissenting votes) for me to return . and again become their minister, with the same salary I had before, viz. £216 a year ; and if there had been any thing against me in the county of Saratoga would they want me back again ? Elisha Miller, Josepli Van Kirk, and Elaazer Doivs, in- habitants of the county of Saratoga and state of New- York, being convened and duly sworn, depose and say, that they have been personally and well acouainted with the Rev. Ammi Rogers for nearly twenty years last past; that they were vestrymen of Christ's church, in Ballston, a great part of the time the said Rogers preached in said church, which was about ten or twelve years ; that his general conduct and character were good ; that he was dismissed from said church with great reluctance, and without the least fault found in him ; that at the time they regretted, and still do regret, his leaving them : and the congregation manifested the same disposition ; that about three years after Mr. Rogers left Ballston, MEMOIRS. 171 they were present at a very full meeting of the congre* gation of said church in Ballston, [the number of souls there, belonging to that parish, were then about 700, and the number of communicants about 280,] at which meeting a very unanimous vote was passed, only two dissenting votes, for hirn to return to Ballston and again become their minister ; and further the deponents say not. Elisha Miller, Eleazer Dows, Joseph Van Kirk. Personally appeared Elisha Miller, Joseph Van Kirk, and Eleazer Dows, who subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition, in due form of law. Before me, ADAM COMSTOCK, one of the judg- es, &c. Messrs. Joshua Bloore, (my wife's father, and John Bloore, her brother,) Samuel Hollister, Reuben Smith, John Higby, Ira Betts, Levi Benedict and others of Ballston, depose, and on their oaths say, that they have beea personally and well acquainted with the Rev. Am- mi Rogers for about twenty years last past ; that they have severally considered him a faithful minister, and remarkably attentive to the several duties of his min- isterial office ; that they do respectfully consider him a man of truth, of honor, and of strict integrity ; that all did, and still do regret his leaving them to reside in an- other state ; and that they do not consider him justly lia- ble to reproach. Subscribed and sworn before Adam Comstock, one of the Judges, fyc. In Jewitt City, one mile from the place where the crimes charged upon me were said to have been commit- ted, in 1817 ; in 1819, tw© years after, the wardens and vestrymen of St George's church, Voted unanimously, That we are not sensible, neither do we believe, that any blame or misconduct can be justly imputed to Mr. Rogers. Signed by Charles Fanning, John Schofield, Simeon Lathrop, James Burnham, Christopher Avery, Enoch Baker, Peleg Frv, and others, wardens and ves- trymen 173 MEMOIRS MAsomc. At a regular communication of Franklin Lodge, No. 37, in Ballston, County of Saratoga, state of New- York, duly convened in their hall, and opened in due form, this 21st day of Febuary, A. L. 5826, — Voted, That the Worshipful Master, the Senior and Junior Wardens, and Brotners John Monro, Peter Roe, and Isaac Johnson, be a committee to inquire into the conduct, character and standing of our Rev. Brother, Ammi Rogers, and to report this evening, i We, the committee, to whom was referred the case of our Rev. Brother Ammi Rogers, respectfully report, that after strict trial and due examination of him, of his documents, and of the records of this Lodge, we find that in the year of our Lord 1794, he was regularly initiated into the mysteries of freemasonry in this lodge; that he was passed and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason; and that he now is, and for about thirty- two years last past, has been a member in regular and in good standing in this lodge: That from public docu- ments, duly attested, and certified by civil authority, which we have seen, we are fully in the opinion that there has been, in the state of Connecticut, one of the most wicked, cruel, and abominable conspiracies, ecclesi- astical and civil, formed and executed against our Broth- er Rogers, which ever was formed against any man in any country; and that it is the imperative duty of every freemason, of every order and degree, to espouse his cause: and that his conduct and character in this town and county, where he has resided a part of the time, and where he has been well acquainted for about 34 years last past, is, and uniformly has been, so far as we know and believe, good and exemplary, and we hereby recommend him as a worthy man, a worthy minister of the gospel and a worthy mason. Dated Ballston, February 2ist, 1826. Bemley Peters, Master. William Saunders, S. Warden. N. J. SellVj /. Warden. BIEMOIRS. 173 John Monro, Peter Roe, Isaac Johnson, Committee of Franklin Lodge, No. 37. Voted unanimously j That the foregoing report be ac- cepted by this L >dge, and that the secretary be di- rected to furnish Brother Rogers with a certified copy of the same. Attest, John Miller, Jr. Secretary. St. John's Lodge in Greenfield, the Lodge in Galway, Montgomery Royal Arch Chapter in Stillwater, and ma- ny other Lodges and Chapters in the County of Sarato- ga and State of New- York, also in Massachusetts and Khode-Island, took up my case, examined my documents, and after strict trial and fair examination, gave the ful- lest testimonials in my favor, and their unwavering de- termination to espouse the cause of a much injured, much persecuted, but worthy brother and companion; and to them I returned the following MASONIC ADDRESS, My much beloved and much respected brethren of all orders and degrees in Freemasonry, please to accept my most sincere thanks for your kind interference in my bo- half, and strffer me to congratulate myself, to congratu- late you, and to congratulate the whole world, that there is an institution so ancient, so honorable, so well found- ed, and so well calculated to soften the asperities of hu- man life, to conciliate the affections, and to refine the manners of mankind. While in this small, dark world, we are by nature poor, and miserable, and blind, and na- ked, no beings more destitute, without clothing or the implements of defence, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, without God and without hope in the world. In this situation the blessed Sun of Righteousness arises with healing in his wings. He proclaims glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will towards men ; and I heard a voice saying unto me, ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shail find, knock and it shai* be opened unto you : so that a way is now provided for our admission into the blessed society of saints in light Though now, while in this small dark world we may be 15* 174 MEMOIRS. poor, and blind, and naked ; yet if we are prepared in our hearts, if we divest ourselves of all self-righteous- ness, of all confidence in the flesh, or in our own accom- plishments or abilities , we may seek for admittance into this heavenly kingdom, and by being led by this Sun of Righteousness, who is our Friend, and whom we shall soon find to be our Elder Brother and Redeemer, we may boldly knock at the door of divine grace, and it shall be opened unto us ; we may seek the light of this heav- enly kingdom and we shall find it, we may ask to have and receive part of the benefits of this kingdom, and we shall have them. But let it never be forgotten that as the disciples were pricked in the heart when St. Peter first preached to them this kingdom, so we must all feel in our naked breasts that torture which should be a shield to our faith, a prick to our conscience, and which will be certain death if we resist or do despite to this spirit of grace ; this is sharper than a two edged sword, and must not be resisted : But we, my brethren, must be animated by the spirit of the living God, we must be led by Jesus Christ, our friend and brother, and in the presence of the all-seeing eye of God, and before the throne of divine grace, we must upon our bended knees, pray for the guidance and direction of Him who is infi- nitely wise : then as we put our trust in God, our faith will be well founded, we may arise and follow Jesus Christ our leader, and fear no danger. We may meet with opposition from the darkness of the west ; the vio- lence of the south may oppose us ; yet by putting our trust in God, and following the counsels and directions of his Son, that invaluable Friend of human kind, we may go all around, and round, and round the world, and fear no danger ; we shall be taught to take the steps of the Gospel, we shall, upon the right angle and square of our work, upon our bended knee make our vow of obe- dience to the God of heaven ; we shall then be brought out of the darkness of nature into the most astonishing light of the Gospel ! We shall then clearly see, that as the sun rules, governs and enlightens the day, as the moon rules, governs and enlightens the night, so the Son of God rules, governs and enlightens his church. We shall MEMOIRS. 179 then see the great light of God's holy word in all its beauty and richness, to rule and govern our faith ; we shall see that which will keep us within due bounds with all men, but especially with those who have obtained the like precious faith with ourselves. We shall see that which will square all our actions, by teaching us that noblest and best of all rules, to do to others as ive would have them to do to us in like circumstances; we shall see the necessity of using the Christian gavel of affection to knock off every turbulent passion, and every rough corner of the human heart. We shall see the scythe of time cutting down all before it ; we shall observe the hour glass and the twenty four inch guage. This will teach us, that as entered apprentices in the work of our God, we must be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace ; that we must be clothed with the badge of innocence ; and if we thus stand, with our loins girt and our lamps burning; if we learn to have our conversation right, and to do as we should do, and to speak as we should speak ; we may then by special favor obtain more light 5 we may then pass on to be fel low laborers and fellow crafts in the work of the Gospel; as workers together with me, saith St. Paul. We shall then see that without faith it is impossible to please God; by our faith and sincere obedience we shall have hope to enjoy the eternal and all glorious Godhead for ever and ever ; we shall have charity, the noblest and great- est of all christian graces ; by this we shall love God supremely, and our neighbor as ourselves. We shall remember what we once were, and have compassion for our brethren: we shall love as brethren, be kind, be pit- iful, be courteous; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrary wise, blessing. So that in that temple which is founded upon the Rock of Ages — which stands upon wisdom, strength, and beauty; we shall possess faith, hope and charity. In faith we shall de- pend upon the mercy and direction of God through Christ; we shall, in the blessed hope of the Gospel, cheerfully meet the scythe of time; we shall lie down in the silent grave, that we may awake in the glorious morn of the resurrection. In charity we shall love 176 MEMOIRS. God and all his creatures ; with the trowel of charity we shall smooth overall their words and all their actions, we shall be unwilling to think ill, unwilling to speak ill, unwilling to do ill, to any one ; but we shall be perfect- ly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment, and there will be no divisions among us. O, blessed God ! what a happy time will this be ; and thus may we be raised to the sublime degree of master builders in the spiritual temple of our God. Conspiracies may be formed against us; ruffians may assault us and lay violent hands upon us; the world may cast us out as rubbish ; they may heave us over their pale of charity ; we may wander about in goat skins and sheep skins, destitute, afflicted, tormented ; we may be stoned and sawn asunder ; the violence of our enemies may smite us to the ground; yet if we maintain our integ- rity , the vine, the myrtle and the cassia, shall grow from our grave. Though in the Patriarchal religion : O Lord and my God ! the flesh may be rotten and cleave from the bone ; yet, in the Jewish religion, there is mar- row in the bone ; and in the Christian, life and immor- tality are brought to light, the strong grip of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, who is Jesus Christ himself, who is the resurrection and the life, will raise up our dead bod- ies and fashion them like unto his own most glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. As Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life, and in whom alone there is peace and safety, is called in scripture, the righteous branch ; as he declares of him- self, that he is the true and living vine ; as the dove re* turned to Noah's Ark with a green Olive branch in her mouth, in token that the flood was over, and that there was peace and safety on earth ; so we, when called upon the melancholy task of depositing the dead' bodies of our brethren in the grave, deposit with them green boughs, in token, and in the blessed hope of peace, f safety and immortality to them. So that in the masonic order, foun- ded upon the great, eternal I am, who said let there be light, and there was light ; founded also upon the great light of God's word, if our hearts, like those of MEMOIRS. 177 David and Jonathan, be knit together in pure love and sincere friendship: if our constancy be such that we can truly say with the holy Job, though he slay me yet will I trust in him, I will not depart mine integrity : though men should heave us over the walls of this world as use- less members of society, as mere rubbish ; though they should kill us, yet we trust, we have that within us, which can never die ; our bodies shall be raised up in the last day, and our names shall be written on that chief white corner stone which the builders in this world did refuse — on which will be a new name written, which none can read, except those who have learnt. But, my brethren, while we are in the world, we must use the world, and the things of the world, as not abus- ing them ; as we pass by, we must commit to faithful men, those who have been tried and found trusty, worthy and well qualified ; those useful ordinances and instruc- tions, which God has given for the good of his people. We must all be fellow-laborers in the vineyard of our God ; we must work and labor while it is called to-day, and be contented with our wages ; or else, mark well what I say ! mark well, my brethren, . we may loose our reward, just in the very moment when we expect to receive it ; for there is a time coming tvhen all imposters, hypocrites and deceivers shall be detected and brought to light. It will then be, that not every one that saith Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my father who is in Heav- en ; so that in the great work of charity, we must al- ways be ready and willing to step a foot out of our way to help a brother, to bend a knee in prayer to God for him, to have abreast to feel for his woes and to keep his se- crets, to lend him a hand to support him in all his right- eous undertakings, or else, to warn him of his danger and help him out of difficulty, and to have an ear to hear his complaints. These are some of the great duties of human life,these are some of that most excellent workmanship, which even the queen of Sheba might admire, and exclaim as she did when she saw them, and unless we will comply with them, this may be the condemnation, that light ha.9 178 MEMOIRS. come into the wotld, and we have loved darkness rather than light ; that though we have been the children of light, yet we have not walked as such. Then, when the great and dreadful day shall come, when the high arch of Heaven shall be disclosed, when God himself shall speak in thunder from Mount Sinai, and the earth shall shake terribly ; when the bush shall burn with fire, and the lightning shall flash from one side of Heaven to the other, and the thunder of God shall roll and roar, and the whole earth shall be summoned to stand before the grand Council of Heaven ; we not having holiness to tne Lord, either engraven in our hearts, or written on our foreheads, the most excellent King will sit in judg- ment against us, the great High Priest of our profes- sion will cast us out, and consign us to the lower vaults of the earth; and the Holy Ghost, the Grand Scribe of HEAVEN, will record that the will of God is done. But on the other side, if we will give ourselves up to the guidance and direction of God's ever blessed spirit, which we should always pray for and seek for ; if we will walk by the lights given to us ; if we will bear in mind the jewels and badges of our order ; if we will mind and regulate ourselves by the plum line, the square, the. compass, the level, the gavel, the trowel, &c. Judali and Beniamin mav assault us. venomous beasts mav fall *" *f j ? j upon us, but they cannot hurt us ; if we will walk by the important lights of our order, we may find an en- campment of saints in light. The road may be long; the path may be hard and rugged; we maybe beset by Jews, Turks and infidels, yet if we fight manfully the christian warfare, we shall come off conquerors, and more than con- querors, our lights never shall be extinguished; but in the peaceful encampment of Sir Kt. Templar and Saints above,we shall drink new wine, in that precious cup, made without hands; we shall find the Rock of Ages, Him who is the hope of all the ends of the earth. Then in the blissful presence of God, we shall see the four and twen- ty elders, consisting of twelve Patriarchs and twelvo Apostles, all falling down and worshipping before tho MEMOIRS. throne of God, and their lights shining forth for ever and ever, as ihe stars in the firmanent of Heaven ! Without pursuing the subject further at present, let us all be reminded of our high and mighty vocations, as Christians and as Masons, wherewith we are called ! O how careful ought we all to be, to adorn in all things the doctrine of God our Saviour ; to knock off every turbu- lent passion, and every rough corner of our hearts ; to curb every unholy desire, every licentious thought, and to square all our thoughts, words and actions, by the great light of God's word, which, as Masons and as Christians, should ever be open before us. O, let us re- member at all times, and in all places, our jewels, our badges, our obligations, and encourage in all our hearts and lives, all the workings of that divine sympathy, which gives to humanity so many charms. What can produce more real, substantial bliss, than the influence of that charity which as Christians and as Masons we are bound to encourage ; a consciousness of soothing the discon- solate, befriending the destitute, assisting the fatherless and the widows, relieving oppressed virtue from contempt, disburdening the overcharged heart of its sorrows, wip- ing, with a leni ent hand, the cold sweat from the brow of affliction in every species of human distress — blessed God, what a noble employment, happy, yea, thrice hap^ P3' are you my brethren, who know by experience that a series of generous actions is a source of the most sub- lime happiness and satisfaction that can be felt on this side of Heaven ! Yes, the blessings of those who are ready to perish, shall forever rest upon your heads ; and their daily wishes and prayers in your behalf, shall as- cend, like a fragrant column of incense before the throne of God, and meet with an honorable acceptance with him. And.is masonry a fraternity to encourage, to promote and to heighten every social grace and every Christian virtue ? is it a society to draw nearer, and still nearer the cords of affection ? is it an institution calcu- lated to befriend the poor, to espouse the cause of injur- ed innocence, to repel the shafts of slander, to reinstate the insulted dignity, to receive into the arms of love ana affection every worthy, persecuted, injured brother, ana 180 MEMOIRS. to relieve the wants of the needy ! Hail it then ! O, hail it, blessed of the Lord. I congratulate myself, I congrat- ulate you, I congratulate the whole world on the estab- lishment of a society, not above, but next to the religion of Heaven, the most ancient, the most honorable, the most useful, the most loving, and by those who are most acquainted with it, the most beloved among the children of men. Buf while we are thus congratulating ourselves, let us remember that it is appointed unto all men, once to die. Our fathers and the phrophets, where are they ? Let us ever remember and pay the tribute of respect to the virtues of our departed brethren who have gone before us. Where is Washington, Warren, and Montgomery ? where is Franklin, Jefferson, and Clinton, ? those ever respected friends and patrons of our order ! And O, how many dear brethren, whose charming company graced our social circles, have departed this life, since I first had the honor of being a mason ? My Lord and my God ! do their lights no longer shine among us ? is their glass out ? has the scythe of time cut thern down ? has the level evened them with the ground ? and is there no brother's widow, or orphan children, looking to us for consolation, to whom we can extend the hand of charity and friendship ? into whose bleeding wounds we can pour the wine and oil of comfort, while we forget not the corn of relief ? Remember that we ourselves must also soon die ; the scythe will cut us down, the level will even us with the ground., aad we must leave our families and friends to those who shall come after us ; we shall be taken from our beloved fraternity, and from society. How solemn ! how awful ! how interesting is the event to which I turn your attention ! Does it remind us that there is neither age nor station that can free us from the unwelcome approach of death ? Die we all must ; it i3 the last debt of nature. Let us then all be prepared for that which we know to be so inevitably certain. May we ever be mindful of the All-seeing Eye of God. May we keep our hands clean and our hearts pure. May the jewels and badges of our order never be tarnished. And, may we, my brethren, being wash- MEMOIRS. 181 «d in the blood of the Lamb, be presented pure and spotless before the throne of God. Amen, so mote it be. The Rev. Am mi Roqers, A. M. was the son of Thomas Rogers, of Branford, Conn, who was the son of Josiah Rogers, of Branford, who was the. son of Josiah Rogers, of Branford, who was the son of Josiah Rogers, of Huntington, L. I. N. Y. who was the son of John Rogers, of Dedham, in England, who was the son of Noah Rogers, of Exeter, in England, who was the son of JOHN ROGERS, a Minister of the Church of England, and Lecturer on Divinity in St. Paul's Church, in Lon- don, burnt by the Roman Catholics, in Smithfield, on the 14th day of February, 1554, Old Style. MAYOR'S OFFICE, Sandusky City,> State of Ohio, $ This may certify that the Rev. Ammi Rogers has. during his stay in our town, after laying before us his Letters of Orders, as a cler- gyman of the Episcopal Church, and other satisfactory testimonials of his good moral character, performed divine service and preached five times in the Episcopal Church in this place, to crowded congre- gations, much to their gratification and edification ; and I doubt not but those in other places, who may enjoy the pleasure of listening to the Rev. Gentleman, will most cordially and sincerely respond to this expression of my opinion of the Rev. Mr. Rogers, as a preacher. Given under my hand, and the Official Seal of said Office, this 26th Dec. 1842. JOHN N. SLOAN, [L. S.] Mayor of tke Town of Sandusky. Town of Fairfield, Huron County , Ohio, Feb. 1, 1843. We certify (hat the Rev. Ammi Rogers has made it his home, and re- sided a part of the time for four or five months last past jn this place, during which time he has perfoimed divine service and preached here, and in the neighboring towns and counties ; and as we are informed, and as we fully believe, to large congregations, much 1o their gratifi- cation and edification, and we do most cordially and sincerely unite with his Honor the Mayor of Sandusky in saj irg that those in other places who may enjoy the pleasure of listening to the Rev. Gentleman, will freely and fully unite in the same opinion. We certify, ficm our personal knowledge and acquaintance, and from undoubted testimony, that we do consider the Rev. Ammi Rogers to be a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, in pood standing, anr of a good moral character. Signed, AMBROSE SMITH, M. D. HORACE M MOULTON, P. M. HOSEA B. PEMiCK, Justice of the Peace, ABIJAH BENSON, WALTER HOYT, SAMUEL PENFIELD, JOHN WAKEMAN, and others. 182 RELIGION. A SERMON OJY MARRIAGE. Genesis °2d Chapter, ISth verse. And the Lord God said it is not good that man should be alone, I will make him an help meet for him. Beloved Fellow Christians. — In the beginning God created all things by the word of his power. The stupendous fabric of the universe was reared out of nothing, and the mighty work of creation was finished : But in the great plan there was one defi- ciency. For Adam there was not found an help meet for him. The earth with all its beauty, with all its gran- deur, and with all its productions ; the heavens with all their glories and with all their influences ministered to the service and to the pleasure of man ; but all this availed but little, while there was no creature of his own species to whom he could communicate his thoughts, and with whom he could share his happiness. This de- fect was quickly perceived and instantly supplied by the gracious Creator of the world and of our first Parents And the Lord God said, that it is not good that man should be alone ; I will make an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Ad- am and he slept : and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof : and the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman and brought her to the man. And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh : she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. From this I infer that the single man is only partially blessed at best, and that he who findeth a good wife find- eth a good thing and shall find favor of the Lord. I say a good wife, such as Eve was when God brought her to Adam ; and such a wife as one of her amiable daugh- ters now is, who is renewed by the grace and adorned by the virtues of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. To represent to you some of the advantages which a RELIGION. 183 man derives from a virtuous and good wife ; and to sug- gest some practical hints, for the regulation of the con- duct of the single and married of both sexes in relation to marriage, shall be the subject of this discourse. O, Almighty and Eternal God, I beseech thee to illumi- nate my understanding, to guard me from all error, to lead me into all truth, to enable me to say something from the words of my text to thy honor and for the ben- efit of thy people. 1st, then I say a good wife will help to educate your children, 2d, she will improve and increase your estate, 3d, she will augment all your joys, 4th, she will alleviate all your sorrows, and 5th, she will help to se- cure your eternal salvation. First, a good wife will help to educate your children, and education on the part of the mother commences from the very moment that she has a prospect of being a mother ; and tho care of her own health is the first duty which she owes to her child ; and on this prospect how greatly is her value enhanced ! Her existence is multiplied, her duration is extended — a man child is at length born into the world — and what helper so meet, for the glad father, in rearing the tender babe as the mother who bare him ? there are offices which she, and only she, can perform: there are affections which she, and only she, can feel ; and there are difficulties which she, and only she, can surmount. The dawning of reason appears; the solicitude of a father awakes; what a task is imposed upon him ! but he is not left to perform it alone. The Lord God has provided him an help meet for him, one prompted by duty, one drawn by affection, one trained by experience to assist him in the — " Delightful task to rear the tender thought, " To teach the young idea how to shoot, " To pour the fresh instruction o'er the mind, " To breathe the enlivening spirit, and to fix " The generous purpose in the glowing bre;\st.', In the more advanced stages of education, after the pupil is removed from under the maternal wing, of what assistance to the father, of what importance to the child, are (he delicate ideas 3 the tender counsels of a wise and 184 RELIGION. virtuous woman ! it is to be hoped that a child trained up in the way in which he should go, by a tender moth- er, will never depart from it. But should the impulse of youthful passion lead him astray from the holy command- ment, what means would be so likely to reclaim him as the recollection of a mother's feelings, and the consid- eration of her pious lessons ! In the education of her own sex, the mother seems to be more than a help meet for man. The trust chiefly > if not entirely devolves upon her, and where could it be disposed of so well? The knowledge which she has of herself, her experience of the world, and her maternal affections are all that she needs to qualify her for this arduous undertaking. A mother only can enter into the feelings, the weaknesses and the necessities of a young female, just entering on an unknown, a varying, a tem- pestuous and dangerous ocean of human life, for she re- members how she herself felt and feared,what she needed, how she was relieved, assisted and carried through ; and to a mother only can a young female impart the numberless, nameless anxieties which every step she takes in life must necessarily excite. When she con- verses with her mother she only thinks aloud. The gooo conduct of a mother is one of the loveliest patterns of virtue, and the hope of a mother's applause is, next" to God's approbation, the most powerful motive to imitate it. The superiority of female to male youth in respect of morals is clearly deducible from the larger share which the mother has in their common education. Behold then how much help man derives from a good wife in the education of their common offspring ! and what pity then is it that, without great necessity, it should ever be consigned to less skilful, less affectionate and less suc- cessful hands ! 2d. A good wife will help to improve and increase your estate. No man ever prospered much in the world without the consent and co-operation of his wife; let him be never so frugal, never so regular, so industrious, so successful, so intelligent : all goes for nothing if his wife is profuse, disorderly, indolent, or unfaithful to her RELIGION. JB5 trust. By much sloth fulness the building decayeth, and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. But O, how good a thing it is, and how pleasant, when the gracious intentions of God and of nature are fulfil- led "; with what spirit and perseverance will a man labor 'n his vocation when he knows that his earnings will be faithfully disposed of and carefully improved : with what confidence does he resort to his study, to his trade, to his farm, to his merchandize; he will fly over the land, and over the sea, he will meet difficulty and danger, if he has an assurance that he is not spending his time and strength in vain: that all is well and safe at home : that indulgent heaven has crowned all his other blessings with an help meet for him, a discreet manager of his estate, a fellow laborer with him from a sense of duty, from in- terest and affection. This is the portrait of a good wife drawn by the inspiration of God in 31st chapter of Pro- verbs which I sincerely recommend to be attentively read by each female in my parish, and in the world, at least once in every week, and may heaven bless you, my fair hearers in the resemblance. 3d. A good wife will augment all your joys. The Her- mit, the solitary, the single man is only half blest at best. "Nature in zeal for human amity " Denies or damps all undivided joys. "Joy flies monopolists : it calls for two, " Rich fruit ! Heaven planted; never pluck 'd by one, " Needful auxiliaries are our wives to give "'To social man true relish of himself," or of any thing else in the Universe. Alone, man feels a double weight in all his afllictions while he only half enjoys the blessings of life. To enjoy the comforts of life with a full relish, man must have a companion, he must have a friend, he must be married, he must have a wife ; her company, her conversation, her affection, will add flavor to the most delicious viands ; improve the beauty of the most delightful prospects ; give vivacity to the social circle ; tranquility to solitude ; music to groves ; fra- grance to flowers ; brightness to the firmament ; and splendor to the sun ! social happiness ; true and essen- tial social happiness resides only in the bosom of love 16* 186 RELIGION. and in the arms of friendship. Affectionate intercourse produces an inexhaustable fund of delight; it is the per- ennial sunshine of the soul. With what anxiety then should we endeavor to find an amiable being with whom we may form a tender tie, a close attachment, who may inspire us with unfading bliss and receive an increase of happiness from our endearments and attention ! O how greatly do such connections increase the kind and benev- olent affections of the human heart! how greatly do such dispositions, while they lead the mind to the enjoyment of domestic happiness, awaken all the virtues, and call forth all the best and strongest energies of the mind. Deprived of the chaste and endearing sympathies of Love, the species would sink into gross sensuality or mute in- difference, they would neglect the improvement of their faculties and renounce all anxiety to please. But inci- ted by love, the sexes cultivate their faculties, every in- tellectual energy is called into action : and by endeav- oring to promote the happiness of others, they secure their own. , 4th. A good wife will help to alleviate all your afflictions. It is pleasant to have a companion in solitude, an assistant in labor, a fellow partner in joy : but human life contains varieties, painful as well as plea- sant — sorrow, pain, solicitude, and disappointment enter into the history of man ; and he is but half provi- ded for the voyage of life who has found an associate for his happier days only, while for his days of darkness and distress, no sympathizing partner, no help meet is prepared. But the provident care of the Almighty meets every lawful wish, every real want of man : and in bestowing on him a com- panion for his youth, a sharer in his felicity, a partner in his property, heaven was securing for him, at a dis- tance, a friend in old age, a solace in affliction, a part- ner in want, a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Is the Husband persecuted ? does he incur censure where he hoped for applause ? does he provoke op- position, where he hoped for co-operation ? is his good, «vil spoken of ? does envy shoot at him her fiery darts ? RELIGION- 187 does calumny spread over him her monster figured man- tle, does slander raise aloud her opprobrious voice, and malice scar him with her insidious bo'lts ? where shall he fly for an asylum ? to whom shall he repair for re- pose ? let him retire to the sanctuary of his own dwel- ling, let him flee to the bosom of his own wife : and though the whole world should be shut against him, she will receive him with open arms : though the whole world should frown upon him, she will receive him with a smile. With affectionate assiduity she will remove ev- ery object from his eye, every sound from his ear, every impression from his memory which is calculated to in- crease the painful sensibilities of his heart. She will strive by her conversation to divert, by her smiles to cheer, and by her caresses to soothe him. She will re- mind him of the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation : by her influence she will draw him to the throne of divine grace : if he cannot pray for. the an- guish of his spirit, she will pray for him ; and having found mercy for what is past and obtained grace to help in time of need, he will be able to rejoice in persecution for righteousness sake, knowing that great will be his re- ward in Heaven. Is he afflicted in body ! is he wasting with pining sickness, or groaning under excruciating pain? his affec- tionate partner will attend him in the double capacity of nurse and physician — with what patience will she sit by him from evening to morning ! with what sympathy will she endeavour to alleviate the acuteness of his pain ! with what tenderness will she strive to sooth him to beneficial repose ! how easy the bed which she softens, how reviving the cordial which she mingles ! how po- tent the medicine which she administers ! and oh, how sweet the return of health after sickness when the help- meet for him has been the means of its restoration. 5th. A good wife will help to secure your eternal salva- tion. Is the husband walking in the way of righteousness, Alas ! in the world he will meet with many temptations to depart from it, from which she, as a woman, is exemp- ted, she can spend more hours in converse with Heaven ajid with God while he is obliged to attend to the earthly 1 18 RELIGION. e*;es of his farm, his merchandize, or his trade. But he! exemptions and her advantages will serve the better to qualify her to become the help meet for her husband in tUe important interests of his soul and of eternity. Her cfeep and undisturbed communion with God will be improved in his behalf: the fruit of her retirement and leisure, her reading and reflection will be modestly ap- plied to the important purposes of directing him in per- plexity and succouring him in temptation. Is he unhap- pily led astray from the path of rectitude, the steady in- fluence of her mild, gentle unostentatious piety, like a friendly angel will beckon him to return to the way of peace and r al pleasure ; and will probably prevail when all other means have lost their effect. The inspira- tion of God says — ye wives be in subjection to your own husbands, that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word, be won by the conversation of the wives, while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Does the Husband embrace and hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life ! this hope will be greatly enhanced by the animating prospect of enjoying it forever in her company, his piety will become more ardent by being social, they will take sweet coun- sel and go to the house of God together in love, they will lift up their hearts and their voices together in the prayers and praises of the church, they will dwell togeth- er as heirs of the grace of life, that their prayers may not be hindered, and whatsoever they agree to ask con- cerning the salvation of their souls it shall be granted them by their common Father who is in Heaven. In these respects and in many more which might be mention- ed, a good wife is really a help meet for her husband, she is a great blessing to him. I proceed now, as was proposed, to suggest a few practical hints to the single and married of both sexes in relation to marriage. And first, This subject simply but very clearly unfolds the nature of woman, her station, ner duty, her use, and the end for which she was made. It raises her to her proper rank and importance, and in- structs her how most effectually to support them. It forbids her to aspire after rule : it secures for her affec- RELIGION. 189 tion and respect, for how is it possible for us to hate and despise that which God and nature have made so essen- tial to our happiness. If the intention of the Creator be attended to, the respective claims and duties of the sexes will be settled in a single moment, and an end will be forever made to all unprofitable discussions of superiority and inferiority, of authority and subjection in those whose destination and duty it is to be mutually helpful, attentive and affectionate. For only observe and remember and consider that woman was made of the rib of man — she was not taken out of his head to rule over him, she was not taken out of his feet to be tram- pled under foot by him ; but she was taken from his side to be his equal, from near his heart to be beloved by him, and from under his arm, to be protected by him ; and for this reason the Episcopal Church directs that in mar- riage the man shall always stand on the right hand and the woman on the left hand and it is very reasonable and proper, that whenever a man and woman, but especially a husband and wife appear together, or walk together, that the man should take the woman under his left arm as the nearest and dearest object of all his earthly affec- tions, and that his right arm should be at liberty Ito guard her, to support her, to defend her, and to protect her. 2d. Young women, this subject speaks to you, you see what is your earthly destination; it is to be helpmeets for man, keep this object steadily in view, let it direct you from your earliest days of reason, in the employment of your time, in the cultivation of your talents, in the improvement of your hearts, and in the formation of your manners — let it influence you in regard to the books you read, the principles you imbibe, the models you imi- tate, that by the grace of God you may qualify your- selves to be helpmeets for those who shall be your hus- bands — able to train up their children in the way they should go — to share their prosperity with moderation — to alleviate their afflictions by sympathetic tenderness — to improve their temporal interestsby your wisdom and your care — and to promote their eternal salvation by vaur example and prayers. Ever keep in mind, my fair 190 RELIGION. young hearers that the proper and peculiar sphere of good women and good wives is the retired vale of domes- tic life, study to excel then rather in the useful,than in the ornamental qualities of the female character. Remem- ber now your Creator in the days of your youth, and as the only basis of real, uniform, persevering, personal and relative virtue and happiness, endeavor to have your hearts established with grace in a reasonable I'eligioii. 3d. Young men, this subject speaks to you. Mar- riage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled, but whore- mongers and adulterers God will judge ! say not that it is good for a man to be alone ! the Lord God says it is not, and who art thou that replieth against God. The practice of celibacy is one of the crying sins of our age and of our country, and is equally unfriendly to religion, unfriendly to good morals, unfriendly to public spirit, and unfriendly to human comfort. He who says or lives as if he thought it were good for man to be alone gives the lie to his maker, he sins against the constitution of na- ture, dishonors his parents, defrauds another of one of the justest rights of humanity, and that too in a case where she cannot complain — and he exposes himself to commit crimes which I should be ashamed to mention. But in making choice of a partner Tor life : what need is there of prudence, of advice of your best friends and particularly of your parents and the direction of Heaven. In taking to yourselves wives, you are forming a con- nexion which nothing but death can honorably dissolve, you are entailing on yourselves the worst, the greatest earthly curse, or receiving the best, the sweetest, the richest temporal blessings which Heaven can bestow ! Guard then against the charms of external beauty, the brilliancy of wit and the enchantments of wealth. Con- sider her education, consider the disposition of her heart, the qualities of her mind, her domestic accom- plishments, and above all consider her piety, favour is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord shall be praised, her price is above rubies, the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her and she shall do him good and not evil all the days of his life. 4th. Wives, this subject speaks to you : it tells you RELIGION. IS! that you are not to hinder your husbands, but to help them. A lazy, sluttish, wasteful, contentious, imperious, inconstant, unfaithful wife is one of the greatest misfor- tunes that can fall to the lot of any man. I pity him from the bottom of my heart ! unfortunate man ! unhap- py man !, his wife, instead of an helpmeet, instead of the best, the richest, the sweetest of all blessings which Heaven could bestow, she is shackles on his feet, she is palsy to his hands, she is a burden on his shoulders, she is smoke in his eyes, she is vinegar in his teeth, she is a thorn in his side, she is a dagger in his heart, and good God ! what is she not ! # O ye wives ! consider how much your husbands have honored you, by choosing you in preference to all others, to be their bosom, their best, their confidential friends, to take charge of their houses, their children, their property and their happiness, till death shall dissolve the tender, the solemn, the impor- tant connexion. Consider how much they do and how much they suffer for your maintenance and comfort. While you are easy, and safe at home, they are exposed to ten thousand, thousand dangers and hardships, by sea and by land, in the summer's sultry heat, in the winter's piercing cold ; confined to the receipt of custom, immured with in the walls of the study, buried in the bowels of the earth, tossed on the tempestuous ocean, bleeding in the field of war, indefatigable in their profession, trade, or occupation by night and by day ; and what is the chief temporal re- ward which they expect for all their toil, all their troub- le and all their danger ? it is the obedience, it is the fidelity and it is the affection of their wives. Consider how strongly these duties are recommended in the scrip- tures : consider how solemnly you promised them in the church, or in the presence of God and of your friends, before the minister, before the altar on your wedding day! and after all, will you be froward, will you be peev- ish, will you be sullen, will you be ill-natured, will you be unfaithful or neglectful ? No ! Heaven forbid it ; It is better to dwell alone on the house top, than to dwell *I can have no conception of a better character or personage than that of a virtuous, good woman, and I can have no conception of a worse character or personage titan that of a bad woman ! she is worse than a bad man 19a RELIGION. with a brawling woman in a wide house. But wives submit yourselves to your own husbands as it is fit in the Lord, and let the wife see that she reverence her husband for the Lord God hath said I will make him an help meet for him. 5th. Husbands, this subject speaks to you.- — It says nusbands love your wives and be not bitter against them. Bitterness, illnature, want of kindness, tenderness and affection towards your wives is meanness and inhu- manity, yea, inhumanity of the most monstrous kind, for every wound inflicted upon your wife is a wound inflic- ted on your own body ; and cruelty to your wife is cru- elty to yourself, for ye two are one. Bitterness towards your wife is not only inhuman, but it is unspeakably mean, it is dastardly, it is cowardly, it is ungrateful ; for when you first addressed her on the subject of love and marriage, she was coy ; you protested the sincerity of your passion ; she believed you but was still timid and reluctant. — You employed others to advocate your case; at length she consented and confided in your integrity, she committed her body, her accomplishments, her prop- erty and, I had almost said, her soul into your hands — - and alas ! your bitterness proves you dead to every feel- ing of honor, of gratitude, of religion and utterly unwor- thy of such a treasure. — It is ingratitude to God, for in compliance with your wishes, in answer to your prayers, Heaven has given you a lovely, a discreet, and amiable wife to be an helpmeet for you ; and you are insensible of the favor, you trample it under your feet, and thus you insult the goodness of God — your bitterness and un- kindness towards your wife is an impious and heaven- daring violation of one of the plainest laws of nature, and of one of the clearest precepts of the gospel ; for only but consider what the great Apostle to the Gentiles says on this subject. (Ephesians, 5th, 25th.) Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it, &c. for no man ever yet hated his own fle-sh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord did the church for we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. — For this cause shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto RELIGION. 193 his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church, nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love, esteem, and respect his own wife, even as he does him- self. Without pursuing the subject let none of us ever forget that all our earthly connexions must soon be dis- solved, and that they ought all to be improved with a view to eternity ; let us then now work out our own salvation with fear and trembling well-knowing that God has giv- en us power both to will and to do those things which are for his good pleasure — give me leave therefore to invite you all, single and married, young and old, to a spiritual union by faith, and love and good works with the Lord Jesus Christ — come into the ark of Christ's Church ; rend your hearts from every evil propensity ; devote yourselves to the service of God in a sober right- eous and godly life and conversation, all things are now ready, come to the wedding, amen ! OJV RELIGION. If people would be careful to understand and define the terms which they use in conveying their ideas to each other, on subjects of religion, it would greatly abate, if not entirely do away those unhappy differences and disputes which now exist in the world. Religion is derived from the latin word religo, which signifies to bind, and is that bond or obligation which every crea- ture owes to its Creator ; so that every person of every nation, country, language and persuasion under Heaven, who believes that there is a God, and endeavors to live a life accordingly, may be said to be a religious person ; and his religion will be either true or false, according as his ideas of God are conect or incorrect : for a false religion is a departure from true religion. Enthusiasm according to our present definition of the term, is religious zeal and exercise carried beyond the bounds of sober reason and sound judgment. No one ever acts wisely either in religion or in any thing else, except when he acts reasonably ; and the moment we suffer our feelings to run away with our judgment, either 17 194 RELIGION. in religion or politics, in astronomy or philosophy, in drinking or in courtship, or in any thing else, we are ?ery liable to go astray from duty. Superstition is derived fiom the Latin words super and sto, which signify to stand upon : and it is making that a matter of great importance in our minds, which is in itself of no material consequence. It is being very strenuous and conscientious in some circumstantials of religion, while the great duties of human life are but little regarded. Bigotry, is adhering to any principle without examin- ation, without reason, and contrary to our judgment. A man may be firm in his opinion, but the moment he shuts up his mind against reason, that moment he becomes a bigot. Conversion, is derived from the Latin words con and verto y which signify turning from, and is expressed in the 18th chapter of Ezekiel, viz. "when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath com- mitted, and doth tLat which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive." And our Saviour says to Peter — Satan desires to have thee, and to. sift thee as wheat, but when thou art converted, i. e. when thou hast turn- ed away from this temptation, strengthen the breth- ren. Regeneration, is derived from the Latin words re and generOj which signify to be born again ; and our Sav- iour says it must be of water and of the spirit ; which the Christian church, in all nations, ages and countries, has defined to be water in baptism, whereby the person is, born out of the society of this world, into which he is born at his natural birth; into the society of Chris- tians : and the spirit which is giyen in God's good time, whereby the natural disposition is changed from the love and practice of that which is wrong, to the love and prac~ tice of that which is good and right : and that every man, woman and child, who is capable of being saved, is ca- pable of being born again, and ought to be baptized : and as we are all children of the same infinitely com- passionate parent of the universe, each one has an equal right to all the means of grace here and through them, RELIGION 195 to the hope of glory hereafter ; and it is wrong to refuse infant children the benefits and privileges of the Gospel covenant because their parents are not so good and so exemplary as they should be. * FEASTS AND FASTS. The Christian church has always divided the Chris- tian year into two parts, viz. from Advent to Trinity Sunday, and from Trinity Sunday to Advent again.— During the first six months, we are taught what God has done for us ; and how much our salvation has been the care of Heaven : During the last six months we are taught what God requires us to do for ourselves. Advent, is derived from the Latin words ad and venio which signify coming or advancing to any place ; but a3 the word is used in the Christian church, it means our Saviour's coming into this world, and is always the four weeks next before Christmas. During these four weeka it is the imperative duty cf every minister to p * ch anil explain to his fearers the necessity and b r 3 fit of Christ's first coding siat© the world to redeem inkind, and the importance of his coming again in the last day to judge the world. ChristmaSj is the day of our Saviour's nativity ; on which the Christian church joins with the Heavenly Hosts, in giving glory to God in the highest, that in and through Him, who is born into the world, as on that day, there may be peace on earth, and God's good will to th« sinful children of men. After Christinas the church follows our Saviour through the whole course of his life, so that there is no doctrine he ever taught, no miracle he ever wrought, no example that he ever set forth for imitation and instruction which will not be duly explain- ed, inculcated and enjoined, and by every minister in all nations, countries and languages, at the same time. It is customary in the Episcopal Church to illuminate theii nouses of worship on Christmas Eve, in foken of joy and r joioing, and to represent that internal light which ha who was the light of the world, was then about to intro- duce : and also, to decorate themselves and their hous- 196 RELIGION. es and places of worship with green boughs, and vines, and roses, and flowers, to shew that as these green boughs and vines, &c. live through the cold and icy embrace of winter, so in and through him who is born into the world as at that time, our dead bodies shall live through the cold and icv embrace of death, and in the morn of the resurrection they shall rise and blossom as the rose. — Our religion is not as the world was before it was made, viz. without form, and void, and darkness upon it, but it is reduced to a regular system, so that there is no article of the Christian faith, necessary to be believed, and no duty necessary to be performed, which will not be regu- larly and duly pointed out, explained, and enjoined, at least once in every year, and by every minister at the same time. Most of the Old Testament is appointed to be read through once, and the New Testament twice e* « ery year, and the Book of Psalms once every month, and by every minister at the same time ; and it is so ar- ranged that the chapters and portions of scripture which the ministers are required to read will expla'n and enjoin the articles of faith necessary to be belie v ed, and the duties necessary to be performed on that day, and at all times. New- Year, i3 observed, not because it is the first day of the year, but because it was the day on which our Saviour was circumcised. On that day it is especially the duty of every minister to lay before his hearers the necessity and the advantage of being admitted into cov- enant with God : in the Jewish church by the rite of cir- cumcision, and in the Christian church by the sacrament of Baptism. Our commission is to preach the gospel to every creature, and to baptise all nations. This gos- pel is good news to all mankind ; it is,lhat notwithstand- ing, since the fall, they are conceived in sin, and are by nature the children of wrath ; God is now willing, in and through Jesus Christ, to recieve them into the arms of his mercy, to forgive their sins, to sanctify them with the Holy Ghost, to give them the kingdom of heaven, and a glorious res urrection at the last day : and these promises are offered to you, to your children and to all that are far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall RELIGION. 197 call : and be says, look unto me all ye ends of the earth, and be ye saved. Those who have these good news, and are willing to receive these great and glori- ous promises, are required to accept them by coining in- to covenant with Gsd, by promising and engaging on their part, that they will use their best endeavors to re- nounce and avoid all kind of sin and wickedness, that they will constantly believe God's holy word, and obe- diently keep his commands. The sign and seal of this covenant is water applied by lawful authority, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; for there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, (i. e. the Son, for he was made flesh, and dwelt among men,) and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth ; the Spirit and the water, and the blood, — represented by the blood and water that sprink- led upon the earth from the side of our Savior as he hung upon the cross ; blood to show that an atonement was made for sin ; water to show the purifying nature of the gospel ; and the spirit to change the heart or af- fections of mankind from the love and practice of ungod- liness and worldly lusts, to the love of God, and of a so- ber, righteous and godly life, and these three agree in one. For this reason infant children and others are sprinkled in baptism, to signify the outpourings of the Holy Ghost, the blood and water that sprinkled from the side of our Savior as he hung upon the cross, and that we are thus planted in the likeness, not oj his burial, but of his death. But the frailty of human nature is such, that we ought often to call ourselves to an account, to bring our consciences to the bar of God, to become feel- ingly sensible of our sins, and to flee to the blood of Christ in the blessed sacrament of the Lord's Supper : thereto receive all the benefits of his body broken and his blood shed for us, that we may obtain the forgiveness of what is past, renew the covenant between God and our souls, and be reinstated into the divine favor and protection. See John vi. 53—51. Epiphany, is derived from the Greek -vord epipkaino- mat, and signifies appearance. It is the time when our 17* 198 RELIGION. Saviour was manifested to the Gentiles by the leading of a miraculous star ; when the partition wall between Jews and Gentiles was broken down, and free salvation was offered to every son and daughter of the human race up- on equal terms. It is the time when the wise Men came from the east to Jerusalem and inquired where he was who was born King of the Jews &c. These wise men were heathen or Gentiles ; and when they came into the house, and saw the young child with Mary his mother, they fell down and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh — that is, they gave him gold to shew that he was a king, they gave him frankin- cense to shew that he was a God, and they gave him myrrh to shew the lost and deplorable state of mankind by nature and how necessary it is that they should be restored to the favor of the king of glory in and through the incense of his offerings. At this tinae we consider the sheet which St. Peter saw let down from Heaven, containing four footed beasts of every kind, to represent all the different nations upon earth. At this time we consider the first miracle our Saviour wrought, which was that of turning water into wine. We also consider a visible manifestation of the three persons in the ever adorable Trinity of Heaven at the baptism of our Sav- iour which was his ordination, or consecration to the of- fice of a Priest, far he then began to be about thirty years of age. God the Father was manifested in the voice from heaven, which said, This is my beloved son, hear ye him. The son was manifested in the water of baptism, and the Holy Ghost was manifested in the form of a dove descending and lighting upon him : and this is one reason why we are baptized in the name of the Fa- ther, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Ashwednesday, is the first of the forty days and forty nights that our Saviour fasted and did penance for the sins of mankind, and is the first day of Lent which is an old Saxon word signifying spring, and includes the time of our Saviour's fasting, which was in the spring of the year. Palm-Sunday, is the day that our Saviour ascended RELIGION. 199 into Jerusalem the last time amidst the hosannahs of thousands, and those who went before and followed after, cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way, Sic. in the fulfilment of the phroph- ecy of Zachariah, ix. 9. written about 587 years be- fore. Passion Week, is the week after Palm Sunday, and is the week of our Saviour's cruel and unfair trial before the Jewish court or council. Good Friday, is the day on which our blessed Sav- iour died upon the cross for our redemption and final sal- vation ; and is observed as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer. If is called good friday from the good ef- fects which resulted to mankind from his death and suf- ferings. Easterday, is the day that our Saviour arose from the dead as in earnest and as a pledge of the future res- urrection of all his faithful followers to immortal glory and happiness. Easter is derived from an old Saxon word oest y which signifies to rise, and a star, a luminary in heaven. So that as the lightning shines from the east even unto the west, so shall be the coming of the Son of Man ; and for this reason do all nations bury the dead with their heads to the west facing to the east, so that when Christ shall come to judge the world in the last day, all who are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth, their faces will be towards him, to receive the joyful blessing which he shall then pronounce upon them saying, come ye blessed of my Father, kc. Eas- ter is the same to us that the passover was to the Jews : As they calculated their time by the moon, so are we obliged to have recourse to the same method of keep- ing time, for the Almighty has said, Ex. xii, 14, Ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your gener- ations : ye shall keep it a feast by an ordnance for ever. And St. Paul says 2 1 Cor. v. 7. Christ our passover 13 sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast. Holy Thursday, is what we call Ascension day ; and is the day when our Saviour ascended visibly into heaven, Acts i. 9. 10 and is set down at the right hand 200 RELIGION. of God, to intercede for us, till he shall come again with power and glory. Whitsunday, is the day when the Holy*Ghost descen- ded upon the Apostles in the form of fire ; and they were then baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire ; as was foretold by John the Baptist. It is the same to us that Pentecost was to the Jews. Trinity Sunday, is a day set apart to inculcate the great and mysterious doctrine of the holy and ever ado- rable Trinity, in whose name we have been baptized. That there are three persons and one God, is a doctrine taught in the holy scriptures. In the first chapter of Genesis, God the Father spake ; the word (which was afterwards made flesh,) went forth, and the spirit moved upon the face of the waters. In the 26th verse, the Almighty says, in the plural number , let us make man in our image, and after our likeness. Our understanding creates every thing that we know, it is the Creator with- in us, and is to us, the father of all other faculties. Our memory is begotten by the understanding, proceeds from the understanding, saves and preserves what the under- standing creates, and is the saviour within us. What the understanding creates and the memory preserves, our affection will induce us to love it or to hate it : to pursue it or to avoid it, and will call us into action. Tell me how much older the understanding is than the mem- ory, and I will tell you how much older the Father is than the Son. This doctrine is not only taught in the Holy Scrip- tures, and illustrated by the understanding, the memory and the affection, which I have already explained ; but in the very formation of our bodies, which are first cov- ered with an epidermis, i. e. a scaf skin, the rete mu* cosum, i. e. a substance under the scaf skin, and cutis vera, i. e. the real or true skin. Allowing thirty days to a month, in nine months are 270 days ; so allowing the nails to be bones, {they are not bones, but nearer bone than cartilege — call them bones) and there are 270 bones in each human body, i. e. just as many bones in the hu- man body as there are days in nine months. There are fifty-two weeks in the year, and just fifty-two bones in RELIGION. 201 the trunk of the body. There are twelve months in the year, and just twelve dorsal vertebra) or joints in the back. There* are seven days in the week, and just seven cervical vertebras, or joints in the human neca to bow down to labor in the week with. There are twenty- four hours in the day, and just twenty-four ribs in the human body. There are thirty-two points of compass, and just thirty-two bones, in each arm and in each leg, to go all around the compass to get your living with. There are thirty -two different kinds of alimentary food, more or less, and just thirty-two teeth in every »**man mouth, where they have a full set to masticate that food. There are but eight notes in music, and in dissecting the ear, we find that there are just eight parts on eacn ear to hear those notes of music. There are but seven primary colors, and on dissecting the eye, we find that there are just seven parts in each eye to see those colors. There are three lobes in the brain, which is the seal oj life, called the cerebrum, cerebellum? and medulla ob- longata, and there are three persons in the Holy Trinity who gave life. There are thirty-nine books in the old Testament ; thirty-nine stripes were to be inflicted o. those who should violate those books : and just thirty- nine pair of nerves to feel those stripes when they were inflicted, for where there is rio nerve there * s no feeling. There are five senses, viz. hearing, seeing, tasting, smel- ling and feeling ; five orders of architecture, five points of moral fellowship, and five ringers and five toes on each hand and on each foot, to perform with. How wonderfully is the human body made ! how exactly is it formed to answer the purpose for which it was de- signed ! And thus you see, that to deny the doctrine of the Trinity is to deny your own haptism ; for you were bap- tized in *.he name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, it is to deny the Holy Scriptures, for there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one — it is to deny your own souls, for they were maae in the image of God — it is to deny your own boaies, for there are three lobes in the brain which is the «eat of 202 RELIGION. life — and it is to deny the elements of the material world. Innocent's Day, December 23th, is the day on which Herod commanded 14,000 innocent children, that were two years old and under, to be put to death in search of our Saviour. Conversion of St. Paul, on the 25th of January, is set apart to consider his conversion, life, doctrine, minis- try, history, &c. Purification of the blessed virgin Mary, February 2d, according to the custom of the Jewish Church, is to give thanks after the birth of a child, and is what we call churching of women. Annunciation of the virgin Mary, March 25th, when the angel declared that she was highly favored of the Lord, that she should conceive and bring forth a sor and should call his name Jesus. Read Luke i. 26^ &c. Septuagesima is a latin word which signifies 70th, and is about the 70th day before Easter or the Passover. Sexagesimo is a latin word which signifies 60th, and is about the 60th day before Easter. Quinquagesima is a latin word which signifies 50th, and is about the 50th day before Easter. Quadragesima is a latin word which sio-riifies 40th and is about the 40th day before Easter. The design of retaining these names is to show the connection be- tween the Greek, the Latin, the English and other Churches. Rogation is derived from the Latin word rogo, which signifies to ask, beg or supplicate ; and Rogation days are the Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, before our blessed Saviour ascended into Heaven, and are set apart to supplicate God's mercies and favors through his mediation. The several Saint's days are set apart to consider the particular virtues, piety, examples and histories, of those saints and good men who have gone before us. Shrove Tuesday, is derived from an old Saxon word which signifies to confess their faults with fear, ship at the same time ; and if you could hear them all at once, like a column of incense, their united devotions would ascend to heaven ; and God, who is a God of or- der, and not of confusion, would grant them a favora- ble acceptance ; this is the Holy Catholic Church ; the General Assembly and Church of the first born in earth and in heaven. I mean not to insult, nor to offend any one, but in the bowels of mercy and kindness, I beseech each one for himself to stop, pause, think and consider what I have said on the case of Moses and Christ, on the Jewish and Christian Church, on Korah and his company, and Oli- ver Cromwell and his company, on the tower of Babel, and the separation from the Episcopal Church. I asl* your consciences; I ask you in the love and fear of God { are these things so ? I might mention the case of Nadab and Abihu, who buirt incense with strange fire, and the fire came out from lie Lord and consumed them. I might mention the case of Micah, of Jeroboam, of Saul and others. The children of Israel, in passing through the wilderness to the lard of promise, were designed to represent us in passing through the wilderness of this world to the land of everlasting life and happiness, and what happened to them vas for our instruction and acimo- nilion. ON THE AUTIIOR11Y OF THE CHURCH. When our forefathers first came to this country, they came from England ; and when they < ame from England they came 0o\. the Church of Engl, li I and were disscn- 21« RELIGION. ters from that Church ; and the common apology is that they had as much right to separate from them as they had to separate from the Church of Rome ; but tHs is not the truth ! taking it for granted, that the sentiments contained in my letter to Gov. Wolcott, page 136, are correct and true, viz. that no one can lawfully act in the name of another, without his authority, I proceed to re- mark that our Saviour Jesus Christ was like Moses, a lawgiver, and expressly declared that he had all power in heaven and in earth. This he proved by the four great evidences of the truth of Christianity, viz. 1st. Mira- cles; 2d, Fulfilment of Prophecies ; 3d, Historical facts ; 4th, Internal Marks of Truth. With this authority he commissioned his Apostles to go into all the world, to preach the Gospel, that is, the good news of life and salvation, to every creature, to baptize all nations ; and promised to continue with them always, even unto the end of the world ; and that the gates of hell should never prevail against them. With this commission they went forth into different parts of the world, among the different nations of the earth, under different forms of civil government, where they spoke different languages, and among them planted the Christian Religion and the Christian Church, in exact conformity to the Jewish re- ligion and Church in the Old Testament ; only that one was a representation of the other, as Moses* himself was to represent Christ. The Apostles and their successors were soon called Bishops, and were in answer to the High Priests in the Jewish Church. The Elders were soon called Priests, and were in answer to the Priests in the Jewish Church, and the Deacons were ordained Ministers, and were in answer to the Levites. Heylyn, in his Cosmography, which is a book that I never have heard doubted, and is as much to be relied on as any other book of human composition, says in the third page, folio : " I have taken more especial notice of the ancient and " present face of Christianity in all parts of the world ; V the planting and government of the Churches, the il heterodoxies and opinions of the several sects into u which it doth now stand dismembered ; by which it RELIGION. 217 " will appear most clearly, among other things, that the u doctrine and government of the Church are of equal " standing; that this government was no other than that " of Bishops, and that wherever Christianity did find " any admittance, Episcopacy was also admitted as a " part thereof. The Gospel being in most places first " preached by Bishops or growing to esteem and strength " under their authority. And it is found, upon theso re- " searches, that Episcopacy is coeval with the Churcn " itself. These are the words of one of the most learned and pious men in the world ; a man whose truth I never have heard called in question. St. Peter was the first Bishop of Rome, where he was crucified, with his head downward, by the cruel edict of Nero, A. D. 69. St. James was the first Bishop in Jerusalem, and finally sealed the truth of his religion by being beheaded there under the order of Herod. St. Andrew was the first Bishop in Greece, where he was finally crucified under the edict of iEgeas: his cross was not in the common form, viz. a post set in the ground and a beam or stick across the top of it, with the hands nailed to each end of the stick, and the feet crossed and nailed to the post ; but his cross was in the form of an X, with one hand nailed to each end of the stake, and his feet extended and nailed to each post below : and for this reason an X has always been called St. Andrew's cross. It might be useful and entertaining to give an account of the life, la- bors, settlement and death of each of the Apostles, who Xtfere the first Bishops of the Church — but this cannot be done without going beyond my limits, which I have ex- ceeded already. St. John was the first Bishop in Asia: St. Mark and St. Luke went into Africa : St. Thomas went into the East Indies, and on his way planted a Church in Syria, which has remained there from that day to this, not knowing that there were any other people in the world who professed Christianity but themselves ; and no other people k.iew of them — They were discov- ered a few years since by the Rev. Claudius Buchanan, who was an Episcopal Missionary ; and to his Unspeak- able joy, he found that in all material points of govern- 19 218 RELIGION. Isient or authority, of Doctrine and of Worship, they agreed with the Church of England. This is one of the most extraordinary and interesting discoveries which has been made within 500 years. It is a plain and unde- niable evidence of the truth of the Episcopal Church. In consequence of it, one of the most learned and dis- tinguished characters in the state of New- York and in the United States, has declared in favor of the Epis- copal Church, and says, if he had no other proof than this Syrian Church, it would satisfy his mind. St. Paul was the first Bishop in England. Mason and Lindsay Ray, tnat ne came there A. D. 59. The general account and opinion is, that he first preached the Gospel in a place then called Avingnon, and which : s now a died Glaston- bury. He continued his ministry in England and in dif- ferent parts of Europe and in Asia, for 35 years, when he returned to Rome and was beheaded there, by a cru- el edict of the bloody Nero, in the 68th year of his age. The Church of England being thus founded and es- tablished, not by St. Peter, but by St. Paul, continued in union and prosperity with the other churches. Her Bishops attended their meetings and Counc ils. The Church of Rome was at this time as pure as any other At this time there was no such thing as Popery ; the Bishop of Rome claimed no superiority, he exer- cised no superiority. But in the year 606, Phoc us invested the Bishop of Rome with civil authority ; and then he was not only Bishop, but Emperor of th? whole Roman Empire: and it was this union of Church and State which began and constituted Popery. In 607 he s^nt St. Austin into England, and demanded that the Bishop of England should submit to the Bishop of Rome, as the head of the Universal Church, as Bishop over all other Bishops. This was A. D. 607 The Bishop of England declared, that he never so much as heard that the Bishop of Rome ever pretended to have any authority in England before ; and wholly refused to submit. St. Austin return* d to Rome, and two years after, viz. 609, he came over the second time, and then engaged Ethelbeit, King of the Saxons, RFXIGION. 219 to wage war with the ancient Britons, and to compel them by force and arms to submit ; some fled to Wales, and some to one place, and some to another. At length they agreed to acknowledge the supremacy of the Bish- op of Rome, and to pay what, is called the Peler pence ; but still they retained their own Bishops and Clergy, taught their own doctrines, and performed their own ser- vice ; but as the superiority of the Bishop of Rome was now acknowledged, his innovations and corruptions would and did prevail in England ; still there appears to have been on the part of the ancient Britons, a constant opposi- tion to the Bishop of Rome, and to his pretensions. Fre- quently one, and then another would dare to lift up his voice, but were soon put down ; till at length Henry the 8th, King of England, became disgusted with the pre- tensions of the Bishop of Rome, and protected Crammer, Ridley and Latimer, three of the best Bishops in the Kingdom, in rejecting the authority of the Bishop of Rome, and in reducing the Church of England to what it was before he had any authority in England, and bejore there ivas any such thing as Popery in the world. This is what is meant by the reformation ! and now we are told that our forefathers had as much right to separate from the Church of England as they had to separate from the Church of Rome ! What a vain pretence ! The Church of England was of divine origin, it was of divine authority, established by St, Paul ; handed down by a direct, uninterrupted line of succession, through the dark ages of Popery, as the Jewish Church was through the dark ages of Babylonish captivity ; that Church was re- stored to its former glory ; this Church is restored to its former glory, and yet our forefathers would and did sep- arate ; but on what grounds ? Was it because they had no authority ? No, certainly not ; for if the Church <-f England be nothing, and they came from nothing ; then they must be nothing, ex nihiln nihil fit ; i. e. naught from naught and there remains naught. Was it because their doctrine was either dishonorable to God, or hurtful to man, or contrary to the scriptures ? Nothing of this can be made to appear. Was it because the worship was not founded upon the authority of God's word, because 220 REL1GICN it did not breathe the spirit of the Gospel, because it was not in unison with the rest of the Christian world? Noth- ing of all this is claimed, is even pretended. But the pre- tence of separation was that they were more holy and more pure than other folks, and hence they were called Puritans ; but their purity did not consist in holding the faith, in the unity of the spirit, or in the bond of peace, or in more righteousness of life than other folks. So soon as they got the upper hand they murdered Charles the first, who, in many respects, was one of the best Kings that ever sat on the throne of England. Oliver Cromwell was proclaimed Lord Protector. The Bishops and clergy were all banished out of the kingdom; Charles the second fled to France and elsewhere, a law was made, inflicting fine, imprisonment, and even confis- cation on any one who should be detected in using the book of Common Prayer, in any church or chapel, pri- vate house or family. For the first time, he was to be fined five pounds sterling, for the 2d time 10 pounds, and for the 3d time to be imprisoned one whole year and all his property confiscated. The kingdom was thrown into confusion, and civil war, the most dreadful of all wars ensued. At length Charles the second was restored, the Bishops and Clergy were recalled, the Puritans fled to America and elsewhere, and peace was restored. Goff and Dixwell, two of the pretended judges of Charles the First, lived, and were supported and protected in a cave just west of New-Haven, in Connecticut, and within a few miles of where I was born. Blackstone, in his commentaries, 4th vol. page 104, says, "that the ancient British church, was a stranger to the Bishop of Rome, and to all his pretended authority." And in page 103, speaking of the Puritan zeal, says, "the dreadful effects of such a religious bigotry, when actuated by erroneous principles, even of the Protestant kind, are sufficiently evident from the history of the Ana- baptists in Germany, the Covenanters in Scotland, and that deluge of sectaries in England, who murdered their sovereign, overturned the church and Monarchy, shook ev- ery pillar of law, justice and private property, and most devoutly established a kingdom of Saints in their stead." RELIGION. 221 The very same spirit dictated the blue laws of Connects cut ; murdered the Quakers in Salem, in Massachusetts ; fastened Roger Williams and his friends to the tail-ends of ox-carts and whipped them and the Baptists out of Boston. The same disposition fined and imprisoned the Rev. Mr. White, in Windham, in Connecticut ; silenced the Rev. Mr. Robbins of Branford, for more than 20 years, without hearing or trial ; divided and broke up their own church in Walling ford ; persecuted me for almost 20 years, and finally on the charge of crimes said to have been committed in Griswold, when I was not within 100 miles of the place, and by suppressing my testimony, refusing to send for witnesses, overruling the law of evidence, admitting a perjured person and a ly- ing, thievish negro to testify, I was actually condemned and imprisoned for two whole years, and deprived of almost every thing which could make life desirable. If we take a geographical view of every part of the habitable world, where shall we find any nation or coun- try which have embraced the christian fafih, or do now embrace it ; where the Episcopal Church has not been received and acknowledged as the true medium through which we must enter into the kingdom of glory? almost as universally as the Bible has been received, so univer- sally has the government of the Christian Church by Bishops, as the successors of the Apostles, as superiors to the Presbyters, been received and acknowledged. The Episcopal Church is now and always has been the religion of Norway, Denmark and Sweden, of Iceland and Greenlandof Germany, Prussia and the whole Rus- sian Empire, of Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and Po- land, of Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. The Roman Catholics are, Episcopalians, perform the same servico that we do, and a great deal more which we say is idola- trous, superstitious and anti-christian. The Greek Church in Turkey ,in Europe, andin Asia is an Episcopal Church The Lutherans are Episcopalians, and so are the Meth- odists. England, Ireland and a great part of Scotland are Episcopalians. The East Indies, the West Indies and a great part of the United States are Episcopalians; and yet James Lanman,a county attorney in Connecticut, 222 RELIGION. could say in 1820, that the Episcopal Church was only the pretended Christian Religion, the Superior Court said it was true, and I was persecuted in New-London Coun- ty, and imprisoned two years for preaching this Religion. But let any man take a map of the world, and put his finger upon any part of the habitable globe where the Christian Religion has been received and acknowledgd, and there the Episcopal Church has also been received and acknowledged as a part of it. I appeal to every man of common science, truth and candor as a witness of the truth of what I say-— Because there are some Republi- cans in England, it will not be correct to say that Eng- and is a Republic. Because there are some monarchists in the United States, it will not be correct to say that they are a Monarchy. Because there are some Presby- terians and others in Europe, and because there are some 'Congregational Presbyterians and others in Con- necticut and elsewhere, it will not be correct to say that the Christian Church is not an Episcopal Church. Of all the different denominations and persuasions, we know the time when they began : we know the place where they began ; and we know the persons by whom they be- gan. Now let any one do this of the Episcopal Church, short of Moses and Aaron in the Jewish Church, and short of our Saviour and his Apostles in the Christian Church, and the controversy will be at an end. This is a fair offer — it is a fair challenge : — We name every High Priest in succession, from Aaron to Christ, and ev- ery Bishop from Christ in succession to the present day. He has been with them always, and the gates of hell, according to divine promise, have not prevailed. How do we know that the Bible, which we acknoweldge and use, is the same which was used a thousand years ago ? I answer, because it has been acknowledged, received and used as such in all parts of the world ; there always have been some who would not acknowledge its divine authority nor submit to its injunctions. How do we know that the Episcopal Church is the true Church of Christ ? I answer, because it has been acknowledged, received and used as such in all parts of the world ; — theie always have been some sectaries who would not RELIGION. 223 acknowledge its authority, nor submit to its ordinances ; but this does not prove the Church to be wrong. If any denomination can trace their authority , as the Episco- palians can, we are willing to give them the right hand of fellowship. And think not, I beseech you, that this is a matter of small consequence ; for as is our authority, such must be our administrations : and he who departs from the government or authority of any society does ipso J ado, i. e. by that very act, depart from the society itself. If the Episcopal government of the Christian Church be its true government — if the authority to preach, to baptize, to administer the sacrament, &c. was given to that Church, and has been transmitted to us by a succession in that Church, it must be evident that it »s dangerous to depart from that Church ; and that it is the duty and interest, yea, the immortal interest of every one to return to that Church from which neither they nor their fathers ought ever to have separated. These* are the sincere sentiments of my heart ; and I beseech the reader not to think me his enemy, because I am not a hypocrite ; because I do not ask his friendship at the dreadful expense of every thing which may be valuable to an immortal soul. If I be mistaken I pray God and you, and the whole world to forgive me. My excuse is that I have carefully examined the case in the fear of God ; I have read and prayed, and inquired ; and the result is, that I do believe the Episcopal Church to be of divine authority ; that in it the sacraments are rightly and truly administered ; that the means of divine grace are in ii truly dispensed ; that the doctrines are in every point of view honorable to God, useful to man, and agreeable to scriptures ; that the worship is founded upon the authority of God's word, is edifying and agree- able to the best reason of mankind, and is in unison with the rest of the Christian world ; for these reasons J am a churchman, and for these reasons I have endeav- ored to instruct and persuade others. THE DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH. These are contained in the holy Scriptures of the Old 224 RELIGION. and New Testament, and are summed up in the Apos- tles' Creed, viz. We believe in God the Father, who has made us and all the world — We believe in God the Son who has redeemed us and all mankind — and we believe in God the Holy Ghost who sanctifies us and all the people of God. The very foundation of the Christian Religion, is the reconciliation of a fallen, wicked, degenerate world of mankind to the favor of God the Father, by the death and propitiation of God the Son ; thro' the sancti- fying influence of God the Holy Ghost For about 1600 years the Ep. Ch. of Eng. had existed without any other articles of religion than the Holy Scrip- tures, the creeds and the different officers of the Church But when our forefathers were about separating, the 39 articles were prepared, composed and adopted, with a de- signed latitude to embrace the Dissenters, and if possible to prevent their separation, and to guard the Church against the Roman Catholics. There were then and are now, five points of doctrine in which our forefathers differed materially from the Church of England. 1st. They held that God Almighty had from all eterni- ty elected one part of mankind to everlasting life and happiness in the other world, without any regard to their conduct in this ; and that he had in the same manner passed by and foreordained all the rest to everlasting death and misery. In their Confession of Faith, as re- vised and agreed upon in Philadelphia, 1821, page 16, are these words, viz. " By the decree of God for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are pre- destinated unto everlasting life, and others are joreordain- e.d to everlasting death y and these men and angels thus predestinated and thus foreordained are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number is so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or dimin- ished ; and all of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any thing else in the creature as con- ditions or causes moving him thereunto." The Episcopal Church has always denied this doctrine and held and taught, that God Almighty has determined, from all eternity, to bestow everlasting life and happiness RELIGION. 22* after death, upon all those in every aation, country, Ian* guage and persuasion, under Heaven, who, in this life, shall live in obedience to his holy laws and die in that faith ; and that he never will inflict everlasting death upon any, except those who live in sin and die without repentance. They say in the 3°21st page of their Confession, re- printed in Utiea, 1822, " That the decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory he hath foreordained whatso* ever comes to pass." We say, if nothing can come to pass but what is according to God's will, and for his glo- ry, then there can be no sin in the world, unless it be a sin to do God^s will ; they need no repentance, they need no Saviour, for they are as pure as the angels themselves; for they can do no more than to do every thing accord- ing to the counsel of God's will, and for his glory ! We believe that God Almighty has from all eternity freely and unchangeably foreordained and decreed his own ac- tions, i. e. that he will, in one way or another, either here or hereafter, reward virtue and punish vice ; but we do not believe that he has decreed all the actions of all his creatures, and then that he will punish them eter- nally for doing that which he had decreed they should do and which was according to the counsel of his will, and for his own glory. # 2d. They held that Jesus Christ never died for more than one part of mankind, and that he never redeemer any but the elect only. Therefore, they ask in their catechism, Did God leave all mankind to perish ? Ans. God, having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eter- *"Jf all things succeed, as always decreed, And that Fate and Destiny rule us; Then to preach and to pray, is time thrown away And our teachers do nothing but fool us; But if by freewill, we can go or stand still, As best suits each present occasion, Then fill up the glass, and call him an Ass, Who stands on Predestination. Amen, so be it." ftfo son or daughter of Adam, can be justly blamed for not doing thai v*iich God never put it into their power to do; or for doing that which b Htterly out of their power to avoid doing. iCf- Where there is no free agency, there is no accountability. 126 RELIGION. nity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a cove- nant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into a state of salvation by a Redeemer. And in the 19th page of their Confession they say expressly, " Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified and saved, but the elect only ;" and they are elected without any foresight of faith, obedience, or good works or any thing else. In answer, the Episcopal Church holds that Jesus Christ has tasted death for every one : that he made a propitiation for the sins of the whole world. In the com- munion service we say, " That Jesus Christ, who made there, by his one oblation of himself, once offered, a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world ;" and that every son and daughter of the human race, is now put into such a sit- uation that they may obtain eternal life and happiness in the other world, if they will only use the means which God has in great mercy provided for them, in and through the death and sufferings of his own Son in this world 3u. 1 nev noift that mankind are now, not withstand- ing all that Christ has done and suffered for them, totally depraved ; that they are wholly inclined to all kind of evil, and entirely disabled to all kind of good ; that they are utterly indisposed, disabled and made opposite to aL good, and ivholly inclined to all evil. In answer, the Epis- copal Church holds that since Jesus Christ is the light which lighteth every man that comethinto the loorld ; since the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal, no son nor daughter of the human race is now so depraved but that he may comply with the over- tures of Divine mercy — and may be saved ; even infant children have their original sin washed away by the blood of Christ, and never having committed any actu- al transgression, may be saved. We hold that Divine grace is in proportion to Divine requirement ; that if God invites all men to be saved, and requires all men to be saved : he puts it into the power of all men to be saved, and if all men are not saved, this will be their condem- RELIGION. nation, that light has come into the world and that they have loved darkness when they might and ought to have done otherwise. Every man shall be judged according to that he hath done> considering the light and knowledge that he had or might have had, for there is no respect of persons with God.— They that have the law of God or na- ture, shall be judged according to the law of God or na- ture* and they that have th<» law of the Gosr.e' shall be judged according .o the law of the Gospel , for to whom much is given from them shall much be required. If mankind are, as some people pretend, so totally de- praved, that they cannot accept the offers of grace and salvation, they most certainly, are none the better for these offers. But the Armenian principle on the other hand, that mankind are not naturally more inclined to evil than they ar3 to good ; and that therefore con- version and regeneration are not necessary, is contradic- ted by scripture and by our own daily observation. And it is a scandal upon the Episcopal tihurch to say, that because they are not Calvin ; sts they are Armenians. T' 3 Episcopal Church says expressly in her form of baptism, — " Forasmuch as all men are conceived and born in sin, and our Saviour Christ saith, none can ente<' into the kingdom of God, except he be regenerated ant-, born anew of water and of the Holy Ghost" This is un?- der the Gospel. In our General Confession we constant- ly acknowledge that we have followed too much the de- vices and desires of our own hearts, that there is no health in us. And in the Collect for the second Sunday .n Lent : Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves, to help ourselves, keep us, both out wardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls, Sic. But because we have no power of ourselves, it is not to say, that divine grace is not given to us, and that it is not suf- ficient for us. 4th. They held that the true and saving grace of God was never given to, nor designed for, more than one part of mankind ; and that to them it was without any foresight of faith, obedience, or good works, or any thing else on the part of the creature ; and that it was absolute- ly irresistible in their conversion and rinal salvation. In answer, we hold, wi.h Saint Paul, that the grace of God, RELIGION that very grace which oringeth s» nation, hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and cvorldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. But that this grace is given in such a manner that it may be resisted, and on that account the Apostle advises us not to resist the Spirit, not to do despite to the Spirit of grace, not to grieve nor quench the spirit by living ' in sin and hardening our hearts against the overtures of divine mercy. We hold that the grace of God which bringeth salvation is as extensive and as universal as the offers and calls of salvation ; and that if people perish, it must be for not being saved, when they might have been saved, else why can they be justly blamed for not being sa- ved? 5th. They held that if any person ever had one spark of this true and saving grace, they were sealed from that moment, unto salvation, and they never could fall from it. That " God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect " &c. and that " they can never fall from a state of justification." Is not this Antinomianism? God will justify the elect let them do what they will ! what would be a sin in others would not be a sin in them ! In tnswer, the Episcopal Church hold, with our Saviour, viz that he that endureth to the end shall be saved ; that it js one tning to have the grace of God, and another thing to perserve in the use of it, by bringing forth the fruits of it in a virtuous, good life and conversation; and unless w* do that, we forfeit our inheritance. These are th^ five points of doctrine which originally caused our forefathers dissent, or separate from the Church of England; and ey are the points in which the Congregational Presbyte' ians in Connecticut now differ from the Episcopal Church, THE WORSHIP OF GOD IN THE CH[JR and void, and darkness ivas upon it, bid it is reduced to a regular system. As we expect our bodies and souls to be glorified to- gether, it is proper that we should worship God with our bodies as well as with our souls. The church, in her worship requires three postures of body, viz. standing, sitting and kneeling, and these should express the inward feelings and sensations of the heart. When we stand, it is to shew that our hearts are elevated in praise and adoration ; when we sit, it is to shew that we are recei- ving instruction from our Heavenly Father ; when we kneel, it is to shew our humility and our dependence 20* 234 RELIGION. upon God Outward forms and ceremonies, without the inward feelings of the heart, are like a body without a soul, and are of little worth. The inward feelings of the heart, without outward forms and ceremonies, are like a soul without a body: too etherlal for such beings as we are ; they cannot be kept steadfast on any thing ; we never know where to find them. God is always the same: the general wants of all mankind are the same: and the public worship of God should always be the same. Constantly to unite in the same form of worship is not designed to change the unchangeable God, but to change ourselves to the same disposition, and a sameness of dis- position, creates friendship in all beings and in all worlds, and by this says our blessed Saviour, shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. These very prayers have been used in the Church almost two thousand years ; they elevated the hearts, they warmed the affections, they prepared the souls of holy martyrs, and confassors, and primitive Christians for erowns of glory ; they were the means of grace to my ancestors and friends who have gone before me , they have supported me in my troubles, and carried me through many temptations. O, that I could conform my soul more thoroughly to the disposition and sentiments which they contain and enjoin. I leave them as my best legacy to my children, that when they join fervently in them, they may know how their father felt, and learn to feel in devotion, as he did ; and as all good Christians have done who have gone the way before them. In the Episcopal church the minister generally per- forms the service in one place and preaches in another ; and at one time he is dressed in a white surplice, at another time he is dressed in a black gown. The reason is, that he sustains two different offices, viz. that of a Priest and that of a Prophet. — When he is performing the service, he is exercising the office of a priest: he is in the reading desk, and is dressed in white, and is then speaking to the Almighty in behalf of himself and of the people. White is to shew how pure the office of the priesthood is, and how pure our heart and lives should be when we address a God of infinite purity and holiness. RELIGION 285 He then goes into the pulpit and is dressed in black, and is exercising the office of a prophet, and is speaking to the people in behalf of the Almighty ; warning them of their danger, and pointing out to them their duty. Black is to shew how grave the office of a prophet is, and how solemn the important embassy is, which he is about to deliver to a guilty world in God's name, and as he sus- tains and exercises two different offices, so it is proper that they should be performed in two different places, and distinguished by two different dresses. O Almighty and Eternal God, I beseech thee to direct arid assist us at all times, and in all places, with thy most gracious favour ; guard us from all error, lead us into all truth and righteousness, and at last receive us to thyself in glory and happiness through Jesus Christ our Lord who has mercifully taught and commanded us that when we did pray we should say — Our Father who art in Heaven, &,c. CONCORD, N. H, FEBRUARY 1, 1S38. "He who tahtt my good name, takes that from me which can do him no good, but me harm indeed ! ! * We have no wish to render railing for railing, or to speak evil of any one ; but in the cause of justice and charity, we think it our duty to lay before the public the following testimony, and to request them to judge for themselves. Concord N. H. Nov. \tt, 1832. This certifies that I have been personally and well acquainted with the REV. AMM1 ROGERS, for about one year last pa9t — that he has made my house his home, and boarded in my family, when he was in town ; that'l have dealt with him to the amount of more than 250,00 ; that ! have always found him to be a man of truth, of honor, of honesty and of strict integrity, and no way justly liable to reproach, either as a minister er as a man. JONATHAN EASTMAN. Concord, N. H. Nov. \st. 1832. I have dealt with the aforesaid Rogers to the amount or 234,72 within one year last past, and fulfv concur m the opinion of Jonathan Eastman, Eso. relative to the said Rogers. LUTHER ROBY. Concord, N. H. Nov. \st, 1832. This certifies that I have been personally and well acquainted with the Rev. Ammi Rogers for about on* rear last p^t, that for some weeks I lived in the same house, and at the same table with him ; that within the last year I have dealt with him to the amount of 232,75, that I have always found him to be a man of truth, ot honor, of honesty and of strict integrity, and no way justly liable to reproach. DANIEL CHASE. » Coucord, N. H. Nov. 2nd, 1832. I have been well acquainted with the aforesaid Rogers for about one year last past, during which time I have dealt with him to the amount of 62,50, and fully concur in the aforesaid certificates relative to him. OLIVER L. SANBORN. Concord, N. H. Nov. 2nd, 183?. I have been acquainted with »he aforesaid Rogers for about one year last past, and have dealt with him I* *e amount of 156,60, and concur in the foregoiug certificate*. HORATIO HILL & Co. Concord, N. H. Nov. 3, 1 832. The aforesaid Rogers came to my house about the 12th of Nov. 1831 and 1 have received of him 30,00 at tall of all demands to th is date, ttc JOHN P. GASS. The whole debts 966,57 [See pafe 96.] Toe whote credit 966,57 236 RELIGION. BLUE LAWS OF CONNECTICUT. If any man or woman be a witch, or hath consulted with a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death. If any person shall blaspheme, that is, speak against God the Father, Son, or Holy Ghost he shall be put to death. If any person commit adultery with a married woman they shall both be put to death. If any person rise up by false witness against another, he shall be put to death. If any man have a rebellious son, who will not obey the voice of his father or mother, he shall be brought into court and shall be put to death. And whereas diverse lacivious carriages and filthy dal- liances are practiced among us, it is ordered that the court have power to proceed against them at their dis- cretion either by fine, publicly whipping or imprisonment, or by all of them. If two or three shall speak together privately during the setting of the court, they shall be fined twelve pence apiece. If any person shall reveal any secret enjoined upon him by the court he shall be fined ten pounds. If any person shall neglect or refuse to teach their children the short orthodox catechism, the magistrates shall take such children from their parents or guardians and shall bind them out. If any person shall speak or behave contemptuously toward any settled congregational minister he shall be set upon a block at least four feet high in the meeting house upon a lecture day, with a paper upon him, written in capital letters this is an obstinate contemnor. If any person shall neglect or refuse to attend the public ministry of the congregational society where he resides he shall be fined five shillings for every such neglect. If any person do not belong to said church, and be not in good standing, he shall not be allowed to vote for any officer civil or ecclesiastical, nor shall he hold any office in the Colony. If any person shall commit fornication with any single woman, they shall be both whipped on their naked body at the post, and shall be compelled to marry. If any person shall wilfully lie and propagate falsehood against another, he shall be fined ten shillings, set in the stocks RELIGION. 237 three hours and be publicly whipped on his naked body twenty stripes. If any person shall refuse to pay hia meet proportion for the support of the congregational minister in the place where he risides, then the magis- trate shall assess him according to his own judgment, and shall collect it by force. If any person within this Colony shall use any tobacco, publicly or privately, in the street or highway, or barnyard, on training day, or on any other day, he shall be fined six pence for every such offence, and shall pay it without saying a word against it. Andrew Low, jr. wa3 severely whipped at the post for stealing strong water (i. e. rum) from Mr. Ling's cubbard, and ordered to work as a prisoner with a lock about his leg. Jacob M. Murlin and Sarah Tuttle were severely whip- ped at the post and fined 20 shillings for filthy dalliance, that is, he kissed her, and she kissed him. John Lobdel was whipped at the post for filthy dalliance with Mr. Goodman's girl. Samuel Hoskins and Elizabeth Cleverly were both severely whipped and ordered to be married. Margaret Bedford was severely whipped at the post and ordered to be married to Nicholas Jennings with whom she had been naughty, many hundred other cases of a sim- ilar nature might be mentioned. In 1664 a man was publicly whipped at the post for refusing to have his child baptized by a congregational minister and speaking against infant baptism. In 1651 John Crandal was fined five pounds, John Clark was fined twenty pounds and Obadiah Holmes was fined twenty pounds and all whip- ped 30 stripes with a three fold cord; for meeting in a private house for public worship in opposition to the con- gregational meeting. John Spur and John Hazel were publicly whipped at the post, fined forty shillings and imprisoned for shaking hands with a person excommuni- cated from a congregational church. In 1729 two Quak- ers, two Episcopalians and 28 Baptists were imprisoned for not paying a tax to a congregational minister in Re- hoboth. Hundreds of such cases might be mentioned but I refer the reader to page 33. In many parishes in Connecticut, public whipping posts and stocks may now, 1832- be seen standing near the Congregational meet- ing houses. 238 INDLX &c. INDEX TO THE HOLY BIBLE. Blessed Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning ; graat that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ : who halh mercifully taught, and expressly commanded us, that when we did pray, we should say, Our Father who art in Heaven, &c. CHAP. Gen. — [4004 years before Christ.] Creation, Formation of Man, The Fall, Death of Abel, Generations of Adam, The Ark, The Deluge, Waters assuaged, Death of Noah, Noah's Generations, Babel built, Call of Abram, Abram and Lot, Battle of the Kings, A bram's Faith, Departure of Hagar, Circumcision, Abraham and the Angels Destruction of Sodom, Abraham denieth Sarah, Isaac is born, Isaac offered up, Death of Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca meet, Abraham's death, Isaac blessed, Jacob and Esau, Jacob's vision and vow, Jacob marrieth Rachel, Birth of Joseph, 1 2 3 • 4! 51 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 2*| 24|- 25 i 26 27 23 • 29) CHAP. Departure of Jacob, 31 Jacob and the Angel, 32 Jacob and Esau meet, 33 Shechemites slain, 34 Jacob's altar at Bethel, 35 Generations of Esau, 36 Joseph sold by his brethren, 37 Judah's incest, 38 Joseph and his mistress, 39 Pharaoh's butler, &c. 40 Pharaoh's dreams, 41 Joseph's brethren in Egypt, 42 Joseph entertains his brethren, 43 Joseph's Policy to his brethren, 44 Joseph known to his brethren, 45 Jacob goeth into Egypt, . 46 Joseph presents his brethren, 47 Joseph goeth to his father, 48 Jacob blesseth his sons, 49 Death of Joseph, 50 exodus..— [1570 b. c] The Israelites oppressed, 1 Moses born, 2 The burning bush, 3 God's message to Pharaoh, 4 The bondage of the Israelites, 5 God's promise renewed, 6 Moses goeth to Pharaoh, 7 Plague of frogs, 8 Plagues continued, 9 10 30[j Plagues continued, INDEX, &c. 239 LEVITICUS. — [1490 B. C] CHAP. The Israelites borrow jewels, 11 Passover instituted, 12 Departure of the Israelites, 13 Egyptians drowned, 14 The sons of Moses, 15 Manna and quails sent, 16 Moses builds an altar, 17 Moses meets his wife and sons, 18 God's message from Sinai, 19 The ten commandments, 20 Laws asainst murder, 21 Laws against theft, &c. 22 La ws*against false witness, &c. 23 Moses called into the mount, 24 Form of the ark, 25 j Curtains for the ark, 26 Altar of burnt offering, 27 Aaron and his sons made priests, 28 Priests consecrated, 29 Ransom of souls, 30 Moses recejveth the two tables, 31 Golden calf— Tables broken, 32 God talketh with Moses, 33 Tables renewed, 34 Free gifts for the tabernacle, 35, People's liberality restrained, 36: Ark, Mercy-seat, &c. 37 Sum of the offerings, 38 Holy garments made, 39 Tabernacle annointed, 40 CHAP. Priest's qualifications, 21 Nature of sacrifices, 22 Feasts of the Lord, 23 Shelomith'sson, 24 The Jubilee, 25 Obedience required, 26 Nature of vows, 27 NUMBERS. — [1490B. C] Burnt-offerings, Meat-offerings, Peace-offerings, Sin-offerings, Trespass-offerings, Trespass-offerings, Law of trespass -offerings, Aaron and his son? consecrated, 8 Aaron's sin offering, 9 N.id;ib and Abihu slain, 10 Unclean l>easts, 11 Purifications, 12 Law of leprosy, 13 Law for the leper, 14 Unclean I iness of issues, 15 Sin-offerings, 16 Bloo I forbid'len, 17 Unlawful marriages, IS RejHitition of lawn, 19 Denunciations for sins, 20 The tribes numbered, Order of the tribes, Levites appointed priests, The service of the Kohathites, Trial of jealousy, Law of the Nazarite, Offerings of the princes, Levites consecrated, Passover commanded, The Israelite's march, The Israelites loathe manna, Miriam's leprosy, j Delegates search the land, I The people murmur at the report, 'Sundry laws given, Koran, Dathan, &c. slain, , Aaron's rod flourisheth, Portion of the Priests and Levites, 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 iLaw of Purification, t Moses smiteth the rock, 'Brazen serpent appointed, Balak sends for Balaam, . Balak 's sacrifices, (Balaam's prophecy, Ziinri and Cozbi slain, Israel numbered, Death of Moses foretold, Offerings to be onserved, • Offerings at feasts, Vows not to be broken, I M idianites spoiled, JThe Reubenites and Gadites re- J proved, 32 Journies of the Israelites, 33 (Borders of die land appointed, 34 ! Cities of refuge appointed, 35 I G dead's inheritance retained, 36 DEUTERONOMY. — [1490 B. C ] Moses rehearseth God's promise, 1 Story of the Edornites, 2 j Moses prayeth to see Canaan, 3 £40 INDEX, &c. JOSHUA.— [1451 B. C] Joshua succeedeth Moses, Rahab concealeth the spies, The waters of Jordan divided, Twelve stones for a memorial, Manna ceaseth, Jericho besieged and taken, Achan's sin punished, Joshua taketh Ai, The craft of the Gibeonites, The sun and moon stand still, Divers kings conquered, Names of the conquered kings, CHAP. An exhortation to obedience, 4 Ten commandments, 5 Obedience to the law enjoined, 6 Strange communion forbidden, 7 God's mercies claim obedience, 8 Israel's rebellion rehearsed, 9 The tables restored, 10 An exhortation to obedience, 1 1 Blood forbidden, 12 Idolaters to be stoned, 13 Of meats, clean and unclean, 14 Of the year of release, 15 The feast of the Passover, 16 The choice and duty of a King, 17 The priest's portion, Cities of refuge appointed, The Priest's exhortation before battle, 20 Expiation of uncertain murder, 21 Of humanity towards brethren, 22 Divers laws and ordinances, 23 Of Divorce, 24 Stripes must not exceed forty, 25 Of the offering of first fruits, 26 The law to be written on stones, 27] Blessings and curses declared, 28 God's covenant with I lis people, 29 1 Mercy promised to the penitent, 30 Moses giveth Joshua a charge, 31 The song of Moses, 32 The majesty of God, 33 Moses vieweth the land and di- eth, 34 1 2 3 4 o 6 7' 8 9 10 11 12 Balaam slain, 13 The inheritance of the tribes, 14 The tx)rders of the lot of Jtdah, 15 Ephraim's inheritance, 16 The lot of Manasseh, 17J fVAP* The lot of Benjamin, 18 The lot of Simeon, 19 Cities of refuge, &c. 20 God giveth Israel rest 21 The two tribes and half sent home, 22 Joshua's exhortation before his death, 23 Joshua's death and burial, 24 judges. — [1425 b. c] The acts of Judah and Simeon, J The Israelites fall into idolatry, 2 The nations left to prove Israel, 3 Deborah and Barak deliver Israel, 4 The song of Deborah and Barak, 5 The Israelites oppressed by Mi- di an, 6 Gideon's army, 7 The Ephrai mites pacified, 8 Abimelech made king, 9 Tolath judgeth Israel, ' 10 Jephthah's rush vow, 11 | The Eprai mites slain, 12 | Samson born, 13 Samson's marriage and riddle, 14 Samson is denied his wife, 15 Delilah's falsehood to Samson, 16 Micah's idolatry, 17 The Danites seek an inheritance, 18 The Levite and his concubine, 19 The complaint of the Levite, 20 Benjamin's dissolution bewailed, 21 RUTH.— [1312 B. C] Elimelech driven into Moab, 1 Ruth gleaneth in Boaz's field, 2 Boaz's bounty to Ruth, 3 Boaz marrieth Ruth, 4 I. SAMUEL. — [1171 B. C.J Samuel born, 1 Hannah's song, 2 The Lord calleth Samuel, 3 Eli's death, 4 Dagon falleth before the ark, 5 The ark sent back, The Israelites repent, The Israelites desire a king, Samuel entertaiueth Saul, 9 INDEX, &c 241 CHAP.! Saul annointed, 10! The Ammonites smitten, ll| Samuel's integrity, 12 Saul reproved, 13 Saul's victory, 14 Saul spareth Agag, 15 Samuel annointeth David, 16 pavid slayeth Goliath, 17 Jonathan's love to David, 18 Saul's jealousy of David, 19 David and Jonathan consult, 20 David feigns himself mad, 21 1 Nob destroyed, 22 David rescueth Keilah, 23! David spareth Saul, 24* The death of Samuel, 25| David findeth Saul asleep, 26, David fleeth to Gath, 27 Saul consults a witch, 28 Achrsh dismisseth David, 29 Amalekites spoil Ziklag, 30 Saul and his sons slain, 31 CHAP., David's death, 2 Solomon chooseth wisdom, 3 Solomon's prosperity, 4 Hiram and Solomon agree, 5 The building of the temple, 6 Ornaments of the temple, 7 The temple dedicated, 8 God's covenant with Solomon, 9 The queen of Sheba, 10 Ahijali's prophecy, 11 The ten tribes revolt, 12 '.Jeroboam's hand withered, 13 JAbijah's sickness and death, 14 'Jeroboam's sin punished, 15 'fidfio rebuilt, 16 , j widow's son raised, 17 Elijah obtaineth rain, 18 Elisha followeth Elijah, 19 Samaria besieged, 20 Naboth stoned, 21 Ahab seduced, 22 II. SAMUEL. — {1056 B. C] David laments Saul, 1 David made king of Judah, 2 Joab killeth Abner, 3 Ish-bosheth murdered, 4 David's age and reign, 5 Uzzah smitten, 6 God's promise to David, 7 David's officers, 8 David sends for Mephibosheth 9 Hanan's villany, 10| David's adultery, 11 Nathan's parable, 12 Amnon ard Tarnar, 13 Absolem's return, 14 Absolem's policy, 15 Shimei curseth David, 16 Ahithophel hangeth himself, 17 Absolem slain by Joab, 18 Slimei is pardoned, 19 Sheba's revolt, 20 Saul's sons handed, 21 David's thanksgiving, 22 David's faith, 23 David numbereth the people, 24 I. kings.— [1017 b. c] Solomon anointed king, 1 21 II. KINGS. — [896 b. c] Moab rebel leth, 1 Elijah's translation, 2 Moabites defeated, • <5 The widow's oil multiplied, 4 Naaman cleansed, 5 A famine in Samaria, 6 Plenty in Samaria, 7 Ben-Hadad killed, 8 Jezebel eaten by dogs, 9 Prophets of Baal slain, 10 Jehoash anointed king, 11 IThe temple repaired, 12 Elisha's death, 13 lAinariah reigneth, 14 A zari ah 's leprosy, 15 Ahaz's wicked reign, 16 Ten tribes taken captive, 17 Rabshakeh's blasphemy, IS Hezekiah's praver, 19 Hezekiah's death, 20 Manasscth's iniquity, 21 Huldah prophesieth, , 22 Joeiah destroveth the idolaters, 23 Judah taken captive, 24 The temple destroyed, 25 I. CHRONICLES. — [4004 B. C.] Adam's line to Noah, 1 242 INDEX, &c. CHAP. The posterity of Israel, 2 The sons of Tavid, 3 The posterity of Judah, 4 The line of Reuben, 5 The sons of Levi, 6 The sons of f ssachar, 7 The sons of Benjamin, 8' Genealogies of Israel and Judah, 9 Saul's overthrow and death, 10 David made king of Israel, II The armies that helped David, 1 2 David fetched the ark, 13 Hiram's kindness to David, 14 David bringeth the ark to Zion, 15 David's psalms of thanksgiving, 16 Nathan's message to David, 17 David's victories, 18 David's message ill-treated, 19 Kabbah taken and spoiled, 20 The plague stayed, 21 Preparation for the temple, 22 Solomon made king, 23 The order of Aaron's sons, 24 The number of the singers, 25 The division of the porters, 26 The twelve captains, 27 David's exhortation, 28 David's reign and death, 29 II. CHRONICLES.-— [1015 B. C.] Solomon's offering, 1 Solomon sendetli to Hiram, 2 The building of the temple, 3 The vessels of the temple, 4 The temple finished, 5 Solomon blesseth the people, 6 Solomon's sacrifice, 7 Solomon buildeth cities, 8 The queen of Sheba visiteth Solo- mon, 9 Behoboam made king, 10 Judah strengthened, II Rehoboam's reign and death, 12i Abijah overcometli Jereboam, 13 Asa destroyeth idolatry, 14 Asa's covenant with God, 15 Asa's death and burial, 16 Jeho-aphat's good reign, 17 Micaih's prophecy, 18 Jehosaphat's care for justice, 19 Jehosaphat's fast and prayer, 20 Jehoram's wicked reign, 21 CHAP. Ahaziah's wicked reign, 22 Joash made king, 23 Zechariah stoned, 24 The Edomites overcome, 25 Uziah's leprosy, 26 Jotham's good reign, 27 Ahaz's wicked reign, 28 Hezekiah's good reign, 29 The passover proclaimed, 30 Provision for the priests, 31 Hezekiah's death, 32 Manasseh's wicked reign, 33 Josiah's good reign, * 34 Josiah slain in battle, 35 Jerusalem destroyed, 30 EZRA.— [536 ..B. C] The proclamation of Cyrus/ The people return from Babylon, 2 The altar erected, 3 The decree of Artaxerxes, 4 Tatna's letter to Darius, 5 The temple finished, 6 Ezra goeth to Jerusalem, 7 Ezra keepeth a feast, 8 Ezra's prayer, 9 10 Ezra's mourning, NEHEMIAH. — [146 B. C.] Nehemiah mourneth for Jerusa- lem, Artaxerxes encourageth Nehemi« ah, The names of the builders, Nehemiah appointeth a watch, Reformation of usury, jSanballat's practices, Hanani and Hananiah's charge, (The reading of the law, !A solemn fast appointed, j The points of the covenant, I Who dwelt at Jerusalem, |The high priests succession, Divers abuses reformed, ESTHER. — [52lB. C] Ahasuerus' royal feast, Esther madequeen, 11 am an despised by Mordecai, The mourning of the Jews, 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 INDEX, &c. 243 CHAP. Esther obtaineth the king's favor, 5 Mordecai's good services, 6 Haman is^hanged, 7 The rejoicing of the jews, 8 Hainan's ten sons hanged, 9 Mordecai's advancement, 10 job.— [520 B. c] Job's losses and temptations, 1 Job smitten with biles, 2 Job curBeth the day of his birth, S Eliphaz reproveth Job, 4 Afflictions are from God, 5 Job wisheth for death, 6 Job excuseth his desire of death, 7 Bildad shewed) God's justice, 8 The innocent often afflicted, 9 Job expostulate th with God, 10 Zophar reproveth Job, 11 God's omnipotence maintained, 12 Job's confidence in God, 13 The conditions of man's life, 14 Eliphaz reproveth Job, 15 Job reproveth his friends 16 Job's appeal to God, 17 Bildad reproveth Job, IS. Job's complaint of his friends, 19' The portion of the wicked, 20 The destruction of the wicked, 21 Job accused of divers sins, 22 God's decree is immutable, 23 Sin goeth often unpunished, 24 j Man cannot be justified before God, 25 Job reproveth Bildad, 26 The hypocrite is without hope, 27 Wisdom is the gift of God, 28 Job bemoaned) himself, 29 Job's honor turned to contempt, 30 Job professed) his integrity, 31 Elihu reproveth Job, 32 Elihu reasonelh with Job, 33 God cannot be unjust, 34 Comparison not to be made wid) God, 35 The justice of God's ways, 36 God's great works, 37 God's wisdom is unsearchable, 38 God's power in his creatures, 39 Job humbleth himself to God, 40 God's power in the creation, 41 Job's age aud death, 42 PSALM PSALMS.— [1047 B. C.j Happiness of the godly, 1 The kingdom of Christ, 2 The security of God's protection, 3 I David prayeth for audience, 4 David's profession of his faith, 5 David's complaint in sickness, 6 The destruction of the wicked, 7 God's love to man, 8 God praised for l) is judgments, 9 The outrage of the wicked, 10 God's providence and justice, 11 David craved) God's help, 12 David boasteth of divine mercy, 13 The natural man described, 14 A citizen of Zion described, 15 David's hope of his calling, 16 David's hope and confidence, 17 j David praised) God, 18 I David prayeth for grace, 19 The church's confidence in God, 20 A thanksgiving for victory, 21 I David's complaint and prayer, 22 j David's confidence in God's grace, 23 God's worship in the world, 24 David's confidence in prayer, 25 David resorted) unto God, 26 David's love to God's service, 27 David blessed) God, 28 Why God must be honored, 29 David's praise for deliverance, 30 David rejoiced) in God's mercy, 31 Who are blessed, 32 God is to be praised, 33 Those blessed who trust in God, 34 David prayeth for his safety, 85 The excellency of God's mercy, 36 David persuaded) to patience, 37 David moved) God to compassion 38 The brevity of life, 39 Obedience the best sacrifice, 40 God's care of the poor, 41 David's zeal to serve God, 42 David prayeth to be restored, 43 The church's complaint to God, 44 The majesty of Christ's kingdom, 45 The church's confidence in God, 46 The kingdom of Christ, 47 The privileges of the church, 48 Worldly prosperity coiiicnuicd, 49 God's majesty in the church, 50 David's prayer and confession, 51 244 INDEX, &a PSALMS. David's confidence in God, 52 The natural man described, 53 David's prayer for salvation, 54 David's complaint in prayer, 55 David's promise of praise, 56 David in prayer fleeth to God, 57 David describeth the wicked, 58 David prayeth for deliverance, 59 Divid's comfort in God's promis- PSALMS. God to be praised cheerfully, 100 David's profession of godliness, 101 God's mercies to be recorded, 102 God blessed for his constancy, 103 God wonderful in providence, 104 The plagues of Egypt, 105 Israel's rebellion, 106 God's manifold providence, 107 David's confidence in God, 108 60 David's complaint of his enemies, 109 61 The kingdom of Christ, 110 62||God praised for his works, 111 63] The happiness of the godly David voweth perpetual service, No trust in worldly things, David's thirst for God, David's complaint of his enemies, 64'|God praised for his mercy ^ The blessedness of God's chosen, 65||An exhortation to praise, David exhorteth to praise God, 66 The vanity of idols, A prayer for God's kingdom, 67 j David studieth to be thankful, A prayer at the removing of the God praised for his mercy and Ark, 68 David's complaint in affliction, 69 David's prayer for the godly, 70 David's prayer for perseverance, 71 David's prayer for Solomon, 72 The righteous sustained, 73 David prayeth for the sanctuary, 74 David rebuketh the proud, 75 God's majesty in the church 76 David's combat with diffidence, 77 God's wrath against Israel, 78 The psalmists complaint, 79 David's prayer for the church, 80 An exhortation to praise God, 81 David reproveth the judges, 82 The church's enemies, 83 David longeth for the sanctuary, 84 David prayed for mercies, 85 David's complaint oi the proud, S6j The nature and glory of the church, David's grevious complaint, God praised for his power, God's providence set forth, The state of the godly, God praised for his great works, 92 The majesty of Christ's king- dom, David's complaint of impiety, The danger of tempting God, God praised for his greatness, The majesty of God, All creatures exhorted to praise God, God to be worshipped, t 99 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 truth, David's trust in God, Meditation, prayer and praise, David prayeth against Doeg, The safety of the godly, David's joy for the church, The godly's confidence in God, The church blesseth God, A prayer for the godly, The church prayeth for mercies, The virtue of God's blessing Those blessed that fear God, The haters of the church cursed, God to be hoped in, David professeth his humility, David's care for the ark, The benefits of the saints' com- munion, An exhortation to bless God, God praised for his judgments, God praised for manifold mer- cies, The constancy of the Jews, David's confidence in God, David defieth the wicked, David's prayer for deliverance, David prayeth for sincerity, David's comfort in trouble, David complaineth of his grief, David's prayer for his kingdom, 144 God's help to the godly, 145 David voweth perpetual praise to God, 146 God praised for his providence, 147 All creatures should praise God, 148 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 INDEX, &c. 249 PSALMS. God praised for his benefits, 149 God praised upon instruments, 150 THE PROVERBS.— [1000 B. C.] The use of the proverbs, CHAP. 1 The benefit of wisdom, 2| Exhortation to sundry duties, Persuasions to obedience, The mischiefs of whoredom, Seven things hateful to God, Description of a harlot, The call of wisdom, The doctrine of wisdom, Virtues and vices contrasted, Continued, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 Observations about kings, Sundry maxims, Sundry maxims, Observations of impiety, Of public government, Agur's prayer, Lemuel's lessons of charity, 25 261 27 1 28j 29J SO 31 ECCLESIASTES. — [977 B. C.] The vanity of all human things, Wisdom and folly have one end, A time for all things, The good of contentment, The vanity of riches, 5 The conclusion of vanities, 6 Remedies against vanities, T Kings are to be respected, 8 Wisdom is better than strength, 9 Of wisdom and folly, 10 Directions for charity, 11 The preacher's care to edify, 12 •ONG OF SOLOMON. — [1014 B. C.] The church's love to Christ, 1 Christ's care of the church, 2 The church glorieth in Christ, 3 The graces of the church, 4 Christ's love for his church, 5 The church's faith in Christ, 6 The graces of the church, 7 The calling of the Gentiles, 8 21* CHAP. ISAIAH.— [760 B. C] Isaiah's complaint of Judah, 1 Christ's kingdom prophesied, 2 The oppression of the rulers, 3 Christ's kingdom a sanctuary, 4 | God's judgments for sin, 5 Isaiah's vision of God's glory, 6 Christ promised, 7 Israel and Judah threatened, 8 The church's joy in Christ's birth, 9 God s judgments upon Israel, 10 The calling to the Gentiles, 11 Thanksgiving for God's mercies, 12 Babylon threatened, 13 Israel's restoration, 14 The lamentable state of Moab, 15 Moab exhorted to obedience, 16 Syria and Israel threatened, 17 God's care of his people, 18 The confusion of Egypt, If Egypt and Ethiopia's captivity, 20 The fall of Babylon, 21 The invasion of Jewry, 22 Tyre's miserable overthrow, 23 Judgments of God for sin, 24 The prophet praiseth God, 25 A song of praise to God, 26 God's care of his vineyard, 27 Ephraim threatened* 28 God's judgment on Jerusalem, 29 God's mercies towards his church, 30 An exhortation to turn to God, 31 Desolation foreshown, 82 The privileges of the godly, 33 God revengeth his church, 34 The blessings of the gospel, 35 Rabshakeh insulteth Hezekiah, 36 Hezckiah's prayer, 37 Hezekiah's thanksgiving, 38 'Babylonian captivity foretold, 39 The promulgation of the gospel, 40 God's mercies to his church, 41 Christ's mission to the Gentiles, 42 God comforteth his church, 43 The vanity of idols, 44 Godcalleth Cyrus, 45 Idols not to be compared with God, 46 God's judgment upon Babylon, 47 246 INDEX, &c. CHAP. The intent of prophecy, 48 Christ sent to the Gentiles, 49 Christ's sufferings and patience, 50 The certainty of God's salvation, 51 Christ's free redemption, 52 The humiliation of Christ, 53 The church's enlargement, 54 The happy state of believers, 55 Exhortation to holiness, 56 God reproveth the Jews, 57 Hypocrisy reproved 68 The covenant of the Redeemer, 59 The glory of the church, 00 The office of Christ, 61 God's promises to his church, 62 Christ sheweth his power to save, 63 The church's prayer, 64 The calling of the Gentiles, 65 The growth of the church, 66 JEREMIAH. — [629 B. C.J The calling of Jeremiah, Israel is spoiled for his sins, God's mercy to Judah, Israel called to repentance, God's judgments upon the Jews, Enemies sent against Judah, Jeremiah's call for repentance The calamities of the Jews, Jeremiah's lamentation, The vanity of idols, God's covenant proclaimed, The prosperity of the wicked, An exhortation to repentance, The prophet's prayer, Jeremiah's complaint, The utter ruin of the Jews, The captivit/ of Judah, The type of the potter, The desolation of the Jews, Pashur smiteth Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar's war, The judgment of Shallum, Restoration of God's people, The type of good and bad figs, Jeremiah reproveth the Jews, Jeremiah is arraigned, Nebuchadnezzar's conquests, Hananiah's prophecy, Jeremiah's letter, The return of the Jews, The restoration of Israel, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23* 24 25 26 27 28 31 CHAP.' Jeremiah imprisoned, 32 Ohrisf the Branch promised, 33 Zedekhh's fate foretold, 34 God blcsseth the Rechabites, 35 Jeremiah's prophecies, 36 j'The Chaldeans' siege raised, 37 Jeremiah cast into a dungeon, 38 Jerusalem is taken, 39 Jeremiah set at liberty, 40 Ishmnel killeth Gedaliah, 41 Johannn promiseth obedience, 42 I Jeremiah carried into Egypt, 43 Judah 's desolation, 44 Barach comforted, 45 Overthrow of Pharaoh's army, 46 The Philistines' destruction, 47 The judgment of Moab, 48 The restoration of Elam, 49 The redemption of Israel, 50 God's severe judgment 61 Zedekiah's wicked reign 52 LAMENTATIONS. — [584 B. C.J Jerusalem's misery, 1 Israel's misery lamented, 2 | Sorrows of the righteous, 3 .Zion's pitiful estate, 4 Zion's complaint, 5 EZEKIEL. — [595 B. C.J Ezekiel's vision, 1 Ezekiel's commission 2 Ezekiel eateth the roll 3 The type of a siege 4 The type of hair 5 Israel threatened 6 'Israel's desolation 7 Vision of jealousy 8 The marked preserved 9 Visions of coals of fire 10 The princes' presumption 11 The type of removing 12 Lying prophets 13 Idolators exhorted 14 The rejection of Jerusalem 15 God's love to Jerusalem 16 The eagles and the vine 17 Parable of sour grapes 18 Of the lion's whelps 19 Israel's rebellions 20 Prophecy against Jerusalem 21 INDEX. &o. 247 CHAP Jerusalem's sins 22 Alwlah and Aholibah 23 Jerusalem's destruction 24 Ammonites threatened 25 The fall of Tyrus 26 Tyrus' rich supply 27 Zidon threatened 28 The judgment of Pharaoh 29 1 Desolation of Egypt 30 The glory and fall of Assyria 31 The fall of Egypt 32 Ezekiel admonished 33 God's care of his flock 34 ! Judgment of Seir 35 Israel comforted 36 Vision of dry bones 37 The malice of Gog 38 Israels victory over Gog 30 Description of the temple 40 Ornaments of the temple 41 The priests' chambers 42 Return of God's glory 43 The priests' reproved 44 Division of the land 45 Ordinances of the princes 46 Vision of the holy waters 47 Portions of the twelve tribes 48 DANIEL. — [607 B. 0.] Jehoiakim's captivity Daniel advanced Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- nego Nebuchadnezzar' pride and fall Belshazzar's impious feast Daniel in the lion's den Vision of four beasts Vision of the ram Daniel's confession Daniel comforted Overthrow of Persia Israel's deliverance HOSKA.— [785 B. C] Judgments for whoredom The idolatry ef the people The desolation of Israel Judgment threatened Israel a treacherous people Exhortation to repentance CHAP. 7 10 11 12 13 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Reproof of manifold sins .Israel threatened Captivity of Israel Israel's impiety Israel's ingratitude to God 'Ephraim removed |Ephraim's glory vanished Blessings promised JOEL. — [800 B. C] God's sundry judgments 1 Exhortation to repentance 2 God's judgments against his people's enemies 3 AMOS.— [736 B. c] God's jndgment upon Syria 1 God's wrath against Moab 2 Judgments against Israel 3 God reproveth Israel 4 A lamentation for Israel 5 Israel's wantonness plagued 6 Judgments, of the grasshoppers 7 Israel's end typified 8 Israel's restoration promised 9 OBADIAH. — [587 B. C] Edom's destruction for their pride and violence 1 JON ah. —[862 b. c] Jonah sent to Nineveh 1 The prayer of Jonah 2 The Ninevites' repentance 3 Jonah repines at God's mercy 4 MIC AH.— [750 B. c] God's wrath against Jacob 1 Against oppression 2 The cruelty of the prince* 3 The church's glory 4 The birth of Christ $ God's controversy The clmrch's complaint 7 If AHUM.— [713 B. C] 248 INDEX, &c. CHAP. The majesty of God 1 God's armies against Nineveh 21 The ruin of Nineveh 3 1 HABAKKUH, — [626 B. C.] Habakkuk's complaint 1 Judgment on the Chaldeans 2 Habakkuk's prayer 3 ZEPHANIAH. — [630 B. C.] God's severe judgments 1 Exhortation to repentance 2 Jerusalem sharply reproved 3 HAGGAI. — [520 ?. C.) The people reproved 1 Glory of the second temple 2 ZECHARIAH. — [520 B. C.] CHAP Redemption of Zion 2 The type of Joshua 3 The golden candlestick 4 Curse of thieves 6 Vision of the chariots *> Captives' inquiry of fasting 7 Jerusalem's restoration 8 The coming of Christ 9 God to be sought unto 10 Destruction of Jerusalem 11 Judah's restoration 12 Jerusalem's repentanee 13 Jerusalem's enemies plagued 14 MALACHI. — [397 B. C] Israel's unkindness 1 The priests reproved 2 The majesty of Christ 3 Judgments of the wicked 4 Exhortation to repentance 1 NEW TESTAMENT, MATTHEW.— (A. D. 38.) Chapter I. The genealogy of Chriit. His conception and birth. Hi* ■arnes. II. The wise men coming to Christ, worship him. Joseph fleeth into Egypt. III. John preacheth. His apparel, meat, and baptism. He reprehend- cth the Pharisees, and baptizeth Christ in Jordan. IV. Christ fasteth, is tempted, and overcometh. Hebeginneth to preach, and caJleth some to be his disciples. V. Who are blessed. Apostles are the light of the world. The law expounded. VI. Of alms, prayer, forgiveness, fasting, our treasure, and against worldly care. VII. Christ, ending his sermon in the mount, reproveth rash judgment, forbiddeth to cast holy things to dogs, exhorteth to prayer, to enter in at the strait gate, to beware of false prophets, and not to be hearers, but doera of the word. VIII. Christ cleanseth the leper, healeth the centurion's servant, Peter's mother-in-law, and many other diseased ; sheweth how he is to be follow- ed? stilleth the tempest on the sea; driveth devils out of two men possessed, and suffereth them to go into the swine. IX. Christ cureth the palsy, calleth Matthew, eateth with publican* •nd sinners. X. The apostles are sent to do miracles, and to preach. XI. John sendeth his disciples to Christ. The testimony of Chrut cod* INDEX, &c. 249 eeming John. Christ upbraideth the unthankfulness and impenitence of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, and praiseth his Father's wisdom in revealing the gospel to the simple. XII. The disciples pluck the ears of corn on the sabbath. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven. XIII. Of the sower and the seed. Divers other parables. Why Christ spake in parables. XIV. Herod's opinion of Christ. The miracle of the five loaves, and of walking on the sea. XV. God's commandments, and men's traditions. What defileth a man. XVI. The sign of Jonas. The leaven of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees. Christ foreshevveth his death. XVII. The transfiguration ot Christ. He healeth a lunatick, foretelleth his own passion, and payeth tribute. XVII!. Christ teacheth to be humble. Touching offences, and forgiv- ing one another. XIX. Christ healeth die sick, answereth the Pharisees touching divorce- ment, and sheweth how to attain everlasting life. XX. Of the laborers in the vineyard. Christ teacheth his disciples to be lowly. XXI. Christ ridetii into Jerusalem upon an ass, and casteth out the buyers and sellers. XXII. The marriage of the king's son. The wedding-garment. Of paying tribute, and of the resurrection. XXIII. The Scribes' and Pharisees' good doctrine, but evil examples of life. The destruction of Jerusalem foretold. X^KIV. The destruction of the temple foretold. Of Christ's coming to judgment. XXV. The parable of the ten virgins, and of the talents. Also the description of the last judgment. XXVI. The rulers conspire against Christ. Judas selleth him. Christ eateth the passover. He is betrayed by Judas. XXVII. Christ is delivered to Pilate. Judas hangeth himself. Christ is crucified. XXVIII. Christ's resurrection. He appeareth to the women, and to his disciples, and sendeth them to baptize. mark. — (a. d. 65.) Chap. I. John Baptist's office. Jesus is baptized, tempted, preacheth, calleth Peter and others, and cureth many. II. C hrist healeth one sick of the palsy, calleth Matthew, and eatetti with publicans and sinners. III. The withered hand healed. The apostles chosen. The Scribes confuted. Who are Christ's relations. IV. The parable of the sower. The meaning thereof. Of the seed growing secretly, and of the mustard-seed. V. Christ casteth out the legion of devils, heals the bloody issue, and raises Jairus's daughter. VI. Christ is contemned of his countrymen. He walketh on the sea. VII. The Pharisees find fault with the disciples for eating with un- washen hands. Meat defileth not a man . VIII. Christ feedeth the people miraculously, and refuseth to give a •ign to the Pluiiueet. 250 INDEX, &c. IX. Jesus transfigured. He forctelleth his death and resurrection, ami giveth divers instructions to nis disciples. X. Touching divorcement. Little children brought to Christ. The danger of riches. XI. Christ rideth with triumph into Jerusalem^ He curseth the fruit- less fig-tree. XII. The parable of the vineyard. Touching the paying of tribute, and the resurrection. The widow and. her mites. XIII. The destruction of the temple. Persecutions for the gospel. Great calamities to the Jews. Christ's coming to judgment. The hour of it uncertain. XIV. A conspiracy against Christ. A woman poureth ointment on his head. Judas selleth, and betrayeth him. Peter thrice denieth him. XV. Jesus brought bound and accused before Pilate, is delivered to be crucified, hanged between two thieves, and is honorably buried. XVI. Christ's resurrection. He asceodeth into heaven. LCKE. — (A. D. 63.) Chap. I. Luke's preface. The conception of John Baptist, and of Christ. The nativity and circumcision of John. The prophesy of Zacharias. II. Augustus taxeth all the Roman empire. Christ's nativity. His cir- cumcision. Simeon and Anna prophesy of Christ. HI. John's preaching and baptism. His testimony of Christ. Herod imprisoneth John. Christ is baptized. His genealogy. IV. Christ's temptation and victory. He beginneth to preach. They at Nazareth admire him. He cureth divers sick. V. Christ teacheth out of Peter's ship. A miraculous draught of fishes. The leper cleansed. The palsy healed. Matthew called. VI. Touching the ears of corn that were plucked by the disciple* on the sabbath. Christ chooseth the twelve. VII. The centurion's faith. Christ raiseth the widow's son, answereth John's messengers, and giveth testimony of hint. Mary Magdalene anoint- eth Christ's feet. VIII. Women minister unto Christ. The parable of die sower, and of the candle. The legion ot devils. IX. Christ sendeth out his apostles. Herod is desirous to see him. His transfiguration. He healeth a lunatick. X. The seventy disciples sent forth, and admonished. Martha repre* bended, XI. Christ teacheth to pray, and that instantly. He casteth out a dumb devil. He preacheth to the people, and reproveth the Pharisees, scribes, and lawyers. XII. To avoid hypocrisy and fearfulness in publishing Christ's doctrine. To beware of covetousness, and over carefulness. The faithful and wise steward. XIII. Christ preacneth repentance upon the punishment of the Gali- leans, and others. The fig-tree cursed. The strait gate. XIV. Christ teachetn humility, and to feed the poor. The parable of the great supper. Who cannot be Christ's disciples. XV. The parable of the lost sheep : Of the piece of silver : Of th* prodigal son. XVI. Of the unjust steward. The hypocrisy of die covetcus Phaiiswa reproved. The rich glutton, and Lazarus the beggar. INDEX, fcc 251 XVII. To ayoid giving offence. One to forgive another. The ten lepers. Of the kingdom of God, and the coming of the Son of man, XVIII. The importunate widow. The Pharisee and publican, ChiU dren brought to Christ. All to be left for Christ. XIX. The publican Zaccheus. The ten pieces of money. Christ rideth into Jerusalem, weepeth over it, and purgeth the temple, XX. Christ avoucheth his authority. The parable of the vineyard. Of giving tribute to C?esar. Of the resurrection. XXI. The destruction of the temple and city is foretold. The signs ef the last day. XXII. Judas moved to betray Christ. The passover prepared. The Lord's supper instituted. XXIII. Jesus is accused before Pilate, who is desirous to release him. The destruction of Jerusalem foretold. Christ's death and burial. XX [V. Christ's resurrection declared to the women. He himself ap* peareth, giveth a charge to the apostles, and ascendeth. JOHN.— (A. D. 98.) Chap. I. The divinity, humanity, and office of Jes'is Christ. The testimony of John. The calling of Andrew, Peter, &c. II. Christ turneth water into wine, departeth into Capernaum, and Jerusalem, and purgeth the temple. III. Christ teacheth Nicodemus the necessity of regeneration. The baptism, witness, and doctrine of John concerning Christ. IV. Christ talketh with a woman of Samaria. His disciples marvel. Christ's zeal for God's glory. He departeth into Galilee, and healeth the rulers son. V. Jesus, on the sabbath-day, cureth him that was diseased eight and thirty years. The Jews cavil, and persecute him for it. VI. Christ feedelh five thousand He withdraweth himself. The peo» pie foJIow him, and are reproved for their fleshly hearts. Many disciples leave him. VII. Jesus reprovcth his kinsmen ; goeth unto the feast of tabernacles ; teacheth in the temple. Divers opinions of Christ. The Pharisees are angry at their officers, and at Nicodemus. VIII. Christ delivereth the woman taken in adultery. He preacheth himself the light of the world, and justified! his doctrine. IX. He that was born blind is restored to sight. He is brought to the Pharisees. They excommunicate him. Christ receiveth him, and he coa- fesseth Christ. X. ' hrist is the door, and the good shepherd. Divers opinions of him. He proveth, by his works, that he is ( hrist. XI. Christ raiseth Lazarus. The priests and Pharisees gather a coun- cil against him. XII. Jesus excuseth Mary anointing his feet. He rideth into Jesrusalem. XI I L Jesus washeth his disciples' feet, and exhorteth them to humility and charity : He forewarneth Peter of his denial. XIV. Christ comforteth his disciples ; professeth himself the way, the truth, and the life. XV. The mutual love between Christ and his members, under the para- ble of the vine. XVI. Christ comforteth his disciples against tribulation, by the promise ef the Holy Ghost. 252 INDEX, &c. XVII. Christ prayeth to his Father to glorify him, and to preserve his apostles in unity, and in truth. XVIII. Judas be trayeth Jesus. Peter den ieth him. He is arraigned before Pilate. XIX. Christ is scourged, crowned with thorns, beaten, and crucified. He dieth, and is buried by Joseph and Nicodemus. XX. Jesus appeareth unto Mary, and to his disciples. Thomas 9 in* credulity and confession. XXI. Christ, appearing again, giveth Peter a charge ; and rebuketfi his curiosity. ACTS.-— (A. D 33.) Chap. I. A repetition of part of Christ's history. Matthias chosen into the apostleship. II. The apostles filled with the Holy Ghost, speak divers languages, III. Peter and John restore a lame man, ascribing the cure to the name of Jesus, and exhorting to repentance. IV. Peter and John imprisoned. Their defence. They are threatened. V. The de; th of Ananias and Sapphira. The apostles imprisoned again, and de'u.ered. VI. Deacons chosen. Stephen falsely accused of blasphemy. VII. Step';en answereth to his accusation. They stone him to death. VIII. The church planted in Samaria, is confirmed by Peter and John. Philip sent to baptize an eunuch. IX.- Saul going towards Damascus, is called to the apostleship. The Jews lay wait for him Tabitha raised. X. Cornelius sendeth for Peter. His vision. XI. Peter accused, defendeth himself. XII. Herod persecuteth the Christians. His pride, and miserable deadi. * XIII. Paul and Barnabas go to the Gentiles. The Gentiles believe. XIV. Paul and Barnabas are persecuted. Paul, healing a cripple, they are reputed as gods. XV. Dissention about circumcision. The apostles consult about it, &c. XVI. Paul circumciseth Timothy, converte'.h Lydia, and casteth out a spirit of divination. XVII. Paul preacheth at Thessalonica, Berea, and at Athens. Some are converted. XVIII. Paul laboreth with his hands, and preaching at Corinth, is en- couraged in a vision. XIX. The Holy Ghost is given by Paul's hands. XX. Paul goeth to Macedonia. At Troas he celebrateth the Lord's Supper, preacheth, and raiseth Eutychus to life. XXI. Paul will not be dissuaded from going to Jerusalem. Philip's daughters, prophetesses. XXH. Paul declareth his conversion. He escapeih scourging by the privilege of a Roman. XXIII. Paul pleadeth his cause. Dissension among his accusers. He is sent to Felix. XXIV. Paul accused by Tertullus, answereth for himself. XXV. Paul accused by the Jews before Festus, appealeth unto Caesar. XXVI. Paul, before Agrippa, declareth his life, and his conversion, Festus chargeth him with madness. XXVII. Paul, shipping towards Rome, foretelleth the danger of the INDEX, &c. 253 voyage, but is not believed. They are tossed with a tempest, and are sJrip- wrecked ; yet all come safe to land. XXVIII. Paul is entertained by the barbarians* He healeth many in the island. They uepart towards Rome. ROMANS. — (a. d. 60.) Chap. I. Paul's calling commended. What his gospel is. God's anger at sin. The Gentiles' sins. II. They that condemn sin in others, and yet sin, are inexcusable, whether Jews or Gentiles. III. The Jews prerogative. None justified by the law, but all by faith. IV. Abraham's faith was imputed to him for righteousness, and so shall ours. V. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God. Sin and death came by Adam, righteousness and life by Christ. VI. We must not live in sin, nor let sin reign in us. Death is the wages of sin. VII. No law hath power over a man longer than he liveth. The law is not sin, but holy, just, and good. VIII. Who are free from condemnation. What harm cometh of the flesh, and what good of the Spirit, and what of being God's children. IX. Paul's sorrow for the Jews. All Abraham's seed were not the children of the promise. The calling of the Gentiles, and rejection of the Jews. X. The difference of the righteousness of the law, and that of faith. No believer shall be confounded, whether Jew or Gentile. XI. God hath not cast off all Israel. Some were elected, the rest were hardened. The Gen-tiles may not insult upon them. XII. Pride forbidden. Several duties enjoined. Revenge specially forbidden. XIII. Of duties to magistrates. Love is the fulfilling of the law. Against gluttony, drunkenness, &c. XIV. Men may not contemn or condemn one another for things indiffer- ent, but take heed of giving offence in them. XV. The strong must bear with the weak. We may not please our- selves ; but receive one another, as Christ did us all. XVI. Paul sendeth greeting to many, and endeth with praise and thanks to God. I. CORINTHIANS. — (A. D. 59.) Chaf. I. After salutation and thanksgiving, he exhorteth to unity, and reproveth u,*ir dissensions. God destroyeth the wisdom of the wise. II. la^i declareth that his preaching far excelled) all human wisdom. III. Milk is fit for children. Ayainst divisions. Men the temples of God. Against conceit. IV. How to account of ministers. We have nothing which we have not received. The apostles are our fathers i.i Christ. V. The incestuous person. The old leaven must be purged out. Hein- ous offenders are to oe avoided. VI. Of going to law with the brethren. Our bodies are Christ's members. o o t54 INDEX, &c. VII. Of marriage. It is a remedy against fornication, and not lightly *o be dissolved. VIII. To abstain from meats offered to idols. We must not abuse our Christian liberty. IX. Paul sheweth his liberty. Ministers ought to live by the gospel. Life is likf \ race. X. The Jews' sacraments, types of ours ; and their punishments, our examples. XI Ch covering heads in praying. Of profaning the Lord's supper. The apostle's account of the institution of it. XII. Spiritual gifts are diverse, yet all to profit withal ; Christians, as the member? of the body natural, are one. XIII. All gifts, how excellent soever, are nothing worth without charity. The praises thereof. XIV. l'rophecy is commended, and preferred before speaking with tongues XV. By Christ's resurrection, he proveth the necessity of our resurrec- tion. The fruit, and manner thereof, and of the change of them that shall be alive then. XVI . The brethren's wants must be relieved. Timothy commended. Friendly admonitions and salutations. II. CORINTHIANS. — (A. D. 60.) Chap. I. The apostle encourageth them against troubles, and sheweth the sincerity of his preaching. He excuseth his not coming to them. II. The reasons of his not coming unto them. Of the excommunicated person. The success of his preaching in every place. III. A commendation of Paul's ministry. A comparison betwixt the ministers of the law and the gospel. IV. Paul's sincerity and diligence in preaching, and his troubles for the same. V. In hope of immortal glory, and in expectance of it, and of the general judgment, Paul laboreth to keep a good conscience. VI. Of Paul's faithfulness in the ministry. Exhortation to avoid idolaters. VII. Paul exhorteth to purity, and sheweth what comfort he took in afflictions. VIII. He stirreth them up to contribute to the saints, commendeth Titus and others. IX. He sheweth why he sent Titus, and stirreth them up to be bountiful in alms, which shall yield them a bountiful increase. X. Paul's spiritual might and authority. Not to stretch beyond our compass. XI. Paul, being forced, entereth into a commendation of himse'f, and comparison with the other apostles. XI I. Paul commendetn his apostleship, not by his revelations, but by his infirmities, blaming them for forcing this boasting. XI II Paul threatened obstinate sinners. He adviseth them to a trial of their faith. GALATIANS. — (A, D. 58.) Chap I. Paul wondereth that they have so soon ieft him and the gc*{ pel, which he learned, nut of men, but of God. INDEX, &c. 265 II. Paul sheweth when he went up again to Jerusalem, and why. 0* justification by faith, and not by works. They that are so justified, livfc not in sin. III. Paul asketh what moved them to leave the faith, and depend on the law. They that believe are justified, and blessed with Abraham. IV. We were under the law till Christ came, but Christ freed us. Wo are the sons of Abraham by the free-woman. V. Paul moveth them to stand in their liberty, and not to observe cir- cumcision; but rather love. VI. Paul willeth them to deal mildly with a brother that hath slipped, to be liberal to their teachers, and not to be weary of well-doing. EPHES1ANS. — (A. D. 64.) Chap. I. Of election, and adoption, which is the fountain of man'a salvation. II. What we were by nature, and what we are by grace. We are created for good works. III. The hidden mystery, that the Gentiles should be saved. IV. Paul exhorteth to unity. Why men have different gifts. The old man to be put off, with lying, and all corrupt communication. V. Paul exhorteth to charity, to flee fornication. The duties of wives and husbands. VI. The duty of children, of servants. Our life is a warfare. The Christian's armour. PHILIPPIANS. — (A. D.^>4.) Chap. I. Paul's thankfulness and prayers to God for the Philippians, His readiness to suffer. He exhorteth them to walk worthily. II. Paul exhorteth to unity and humility, and to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation. III. Paul warneth them of false teachers, and to decline the ways of carnal Christians. IV. Paul exciteth to steadfastness in Christ, and after some particular admonitions, exhorteth generally to religious joy, &c. C0L0S31ANS.— (A. D. 64.) Chap. I. Paul thanketh God for their faith, prayeth for their increase tn grace, and described) the true Christ. II. Paul exhorteth them to constancy in Christ ; to beware of philoso- phy and vain traditions, worshipping of angels, and legal ceremonies. HI. Paul sheweth where to seek Christ. He exhorteth to mortification, to charity, humility, and sundry general and particular duties. IV. Paul exhorteth to fervency in prayer, and to walk wisely towards them that do not yet know Christ. I. thessalonians.— (a. d. 51.) Chap. I. He sheweth his mindfulness ot them in thanksgiving and prayer, and persuasion of their sincere faith and conversion. II. How the gospel was preached unto them, and how they received it Why he was desirous to see them. 256 INDEX, && III. Paul's love in sending Timothy to them. His joy for them, and desire to see them. IV. Paul exhorteth to go on in godliness, to holiness, to love, to quiet- ness, to moderate sorrow for the dead. Of the resurrection, and of the last judgment. V. Paul proceedeth in the description of Christ's second coming to judgment, and giveth divers precepts, and so concludeth, II. THESSALONIANS. — (A, D. 54.) Chap. I. Paul sheweth his good opinion of their faith, love, and pa- tience ; and comforteth them against persecution. II. He willeth them to continue steadfast in the truth received, shewing that there shall be a departure from the faith, and a discovery of Antichrist before the day of the Lord come, III. Paul craveth their prayers, testifieth his confidence in them, giveth them divers precepts, especially to shun idle and ill company, I. TIMOTHY. — (A. D. 65.) Chap, I. Timothy is put in mind of the charge which was given unto him by Paul- The end of the law. Paul's calling to be an apostle. II. Prayers to be made for all men, and the reason why. How women should be attired. They are not permitted to teach. III. How bishops and deacons and their wives should be qualified, and to what end Saint Paul wrote to Timothy of these things. IV. Paul foretelleth that in the latter times there shall be a departure from the faith. V. Rules to be observed in reproving. Of widows. Of elders. VI. Servants' duties. To avoid new-fangled teachers. The gain of godliness. li. timothy. — (a. d. 66.) Chap. I. Raul's love to Timothy, and Timothy's faith. Paul giveth divers exhortations. Of Phygellus and Hermogenes. II. Timothy exhorteth to constancy and perseverance, and to shew him- self approved. III. Paul advertiseth him of the times to come, describeth the enemies of the truth, and commendeth the holy scriptures. IV. Paul exhorteth Timothy. He willeth him to come to him, and to bring Mark, and things which he wrote for. titus. — (a. d. 65.) Chap* I. Why Titus was left in Crete. How ministers should be qualified. Of evil doers. II. Directions given to Titus, both for his doctrine and life. Of the duty of servants. III. Titus directed what to teach, to reject obstinate hereticks. The conclusion. PHILEMON. — (A. D. 64.) Chip. I. Paul desireth Philemon to forgive his servant, and lovingly to receive him again. INDEX, Sec. 257 HEBREWS. — (A. D. 64.) Chap I. Christ, in these last times, coming to us from the Father, is preferred before angels both in person and office. II. We ought to be obedient unto Christ Jesus, because he vouchsafed to take our nature upon him, as necessary. III. Christ is more worthy than Moses ; therefore if we believe not in him, we shall be more worthy of punishment than hard-hearted Israel. IV. The rest of christians is attained by faith. The power of God's- word. By our high priest, Jesus the Son of God, subject to infirmities, but not to sin, we must, and may go boldly to the throne of grace. Y. The authority and honor of our Saviour's priesthood. Negligence in the knowledge thereof reproved. VI. Paul exhorteih not to fall back from the faith, but to be steadfast, diligent and patient to wait upon God, because God is most sure in his promise. VII. Christ Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchisedec, and so far more excellent than the priest of Aaron's order. VII [. By Christ's eternal priesthood the Levitical priesthood is abolish- ed, and the temporal covenant by the eternal covenant. IX. The rites and bloody sacrifices of die law, far inferior to the blood and sacrifice of Christ. X. The weakness of the law-sacrifices. The sacrifice of Christ's body once offered, for ever hath taken away sins. XI. What faith is. Without faith we cannot please God. The fruits thereof. XII. An exhortation to constant faith, patience, and godliness. A com- mendation of the new testament above the old. XIII. Motives to charity, to honest life, to avoid covetousness, to re- gard God's preachers, to take heed of strange doctrines, to confess Christ, &c. JAMES. — (a. D. 60.) Chap. I. We must ask wisdom of God, hear the word, and do it* What true religion is, II. We must not despise the poor. Faith without works, is dead. III. We are not rashly nor arrogantly to reprove others : but rathei t bridle the tongue. The truly wise are mild and peaceable, without envying and strife. IV. Against covetousness, intemperance, pride, detraction, and rash judgment. V. Wicked rich men are warned of God's impending judgments. The brethren are exhorted to patience after the example of the prophets and of Job; to abstain from swearing; to pray in affliction and sickness, and sing psalms in prosperity. I. PETER. — (A. D. 60.) Chap. I. He blesseth God for his manifold spiritual graces; sheweth that the salvation in Christ is no news, but a tiling prophesied of old; and exhorteth them to a godly conversation. II. He dissuadelh them from the breach of charity. lie beseecheth them also to abstain from fleshly lusts, to lie obedient to magistrate* ; and 22* 258 INDEX, &c. teacheth servants how to obey their masters, patiently suffering for well- doing, after the example of Christ. III. He teacheth the duty of wives and husbands; exhorting all men to unity and love, and to suffer persecution. The benefits of Christ towards the old world. IV. Peter exhorteth them to cease from sin by the example of Christ, and the consideration of the general end that now approacheth. V. Peter exhorteth the elders to feed their flocks; the younger to obey; and all to be sober, and watchful, &c. II. PETER. — (A. D. 60.) Chap. I. Peter exhorteth them by faith and good works to make their calling sure; as knowing that his death is at hand ; and warneth them to be constant in the faith of Christ, who is the true Son of God. II. Peter foretelleth of false teachers, their impiety and punishment ; from which the godly shall be delivered, as Lot out of Sodom; and more fully described) the manners of those profane and blasphemous seducers. III. The certainty ofCiir ; st , s coming to judgment. The manner how the world shall be destroyed. An exhortation to godliness. I. JOHN.— -(A. D. 90.) Chap. I. John describeth the person of Christ, in whom we have eter- nal life by a communion with God ; to which we must adjoin holiness. II. Comfort against sins of infirmity. To know God, is to keep his commandments. To beware of seducers ; from whose deceits the godly are safely preserved by faith and holiness of life. III. John declareth the .singular love of God towards us in making us his sons ; we therefore ought obediently to keep his commandments, as also brotherly to love one another. IV. John warneth them not to believe all teachers who boast of the Spirit, but to try them by the rules of the catholick faith ; and by mam, reasons exhorteth to brotherly love. V. He that loveth God, loveth his children and keepeth his command- ments; which to the faithful are light, and not grievous. Jesus is the Son of God, able to save us, and to hear our prayers, which we make for our- selves, and for others. II. JOHN.— (a. d. 90.) Chap. I. John exhorteth a certain honorable matron with her children to persevere in christian love and belief, lest they lose the reward of their former profession ; and to have nothing to do with those seducers that bring not the true doctrine. in. john. — (a. d. 60.) Chap. I. John commendeth Gaius for his piety, and hospitality, to true preachers ; complaining of the unkind dealing of ambitious Diotre- phes on the contrary side. JUDE. — (A. D. 66.) Chap. I. Jude exhor^th them to be constant in the profession of faith INDEX, &c. 259 False teachers are crept in to seduce them ; for whose evil doctrine and manners, horrible punishment is prepared ; whereas the godly by the assist ance of the Holy Spirit, and prayers to God, may persevere and grow u> grace, and recover others out of the snares of those deceivers. REVELATION. — (A. D. 96.) Chap. 1. John writeth his revelation to the seven churches of Asia* i tgnified by the seven golden candlesticks. The corning of Christ. II. What is commanded to be written to the angels, (that is, the mill* isters,) of the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, &c. III. The angel of the church of Sardis is reproved, of Philadelphia approved, of Laodicea rebuked. IV. John seeth the throne of God in heaven. The four and twentv ciders. The four beasts full of eyes before and behind, &c. V. The book sealed with seven seals ; which only the Lamb is worthy to open. VI. The opening of the seals in order, and what followed thereupon. VII. An angel sealeth the servants of God in their foreheads. The number of them that were sealed ; of all nations an innumerable multitude. VIII. At the opening of the seventh seal, seven angels have seven trum- pets given them. IX. At the sounding of the fifth angel, a star falleth from heaven, to whom is given the key of the bottomless pit ; the first woe past. The sixth trumpet soundeth. Four angels are let loose. X. A mighty strong angel appeareth with a book open in his hand. John is commanded to take and eat the book. XI. The two witnesses prophesy. The beast shall kill them. The second woe past. The seventh trumpet soundeth. XII. A woman clothed with the sun travaileth. The great red dragon ■tandeth before her, ready to devour her child. She fleeth into the wilder ness. iMichael and his angeis fight with the dragon, and prevail. XIII. A beast riseth out of the sea with seven heads and ten horns, to whom the dragon giveth his power. Another beast comet h up out of the earth ; causeth an image to be made of the former beast, &c. XIV. The Lambstandeth on mount Sion with his company ; an angel preacheth the gospel. The fall of Babylon. The harvest of the world. The wine-press of the wrath of God, XV. The seven angels with the seven last plagues. The song of them that overcome the beast. XV I . The angels pour out their vials full of wrath ; the plagues that follow thereupon. XVII. A woman arrrayed in purple and scarlet, sitteth upon the beast, which is greet* Babylon. The victory of the Lamb. XVIII. Babylon is fallen. The people of God commanded to go out of her. The kings of the earth, with the merchants and mariners, lament over her. XIX. God is praised in heaven for judging Balulon and avenging the blood of his saints. The marriage of the Lamb. The fowls called to the great slaughter. Xa. Satan bound for a thousand years. The first resurrection. Satan let loose again*. Gog and Magog. The devil cast into the lake of fire. The last and general resurrection . 960 INDEX, &*. XXT. A new heaven and a new earth. The heavenly Jerusalem, witJi a rull description thereof. She needeth no sun. XXII. The river of the water of life. The tree of life. The light of the city of God is himself. Nothing may be added to ihis prophesy, nor diminished therefrom. OLD TESTAMENT. Number of Books ---.•..•.35 Chapters 929 Verses 23,211 . Words 592,439 1 Letters - - ^ - - - 2,728,100 The middle Book is Proverbs. The middle Chapter is Job xxix. The middle Verse would be 11. Chronicles xx. 17, if there were a verse more, and verse 18, if there were a verse less. The word and occurs 35,543 times. The word jehovah occurs 6,855 times. The shortest verse is 1. Chronicles 1. 25. The 23d verse of the 7th chapter of Ezra contains all the letters of the alphabet. The 19th of 11. Kings, and 37th chapter of Isaiah, are alike. NEW TESTAMENT, Number of Books -----..--27 Chapters 260 Verses 7,959 Words 181,258 Letters -, _ < 838,380 The middle Book is 11. Thessalonians. The middle Chapter is Romans Xiii. if there were a chapter more, and xiv. if there were a chapter less. The middle Verse is Acts xvn. 17. Tiie shortest verse is John xi. 36. OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT. Number of Books ..--66 Chapters 1,139 Verses 31,173 Words 773,697 — Letters 3,5t)6,480 The middle chapter, and least in the Bible, is Psalm cxvu The middle verse is Psalm cxvui. 8. The calculator is said to have had three years of his life occupied la forming this Table. CONCLUSION. 261 TO THE READER. If you have read this book with becoming attention, you cannot but perceive it to be one of the most extraor- dinary cases of persecution and abuse which has ever been loaded upon any man in any country. A clergy- man who had filled some of the most important stations in the Church in the United States — whose ministerial labours had been wonderfully blessed and successful — against whom his very enemies were obliged to confess that they had nothing, and that his character and author- ity were good: yet, on account of politics, is by these very men forbidden to preach without hearing or trial — is by them persecuted and distressed for almost 20 years, though he still prevailed against them ; till at length by calling in the aid of the civil law to sanction the usurped authority of the Church — he is on the most false ai.d base accusations which ever disgraced the calender of any court — tried by the very Judge who had been his principal persecutor — is by him deprived of the consti- tutional right of confronting the principal witness against him, — important papers and documents, the undeniable evidence of his innocence, were on trial, withheld and concealed, and the court directed the trial to proceed without them, — he is partially and unfairly tried — unjust- ly and cruelly taken from 2000 people, where the war- dens testified before the court, that for about six years then last past, they had never known or heard of a voice or a vote against him, in his parish, except one man — he is unjustly condemned and imprisoned in Norwich Jail, in Connecticut, for two years. On the 27th day of May 1823, the witnesses came into the Senate Chamber, in the city of Hartford, were sworn and examined before a joint committee of both houses of the Hon. General Assembly, and then and there did fully and freely confess that their whole testimony on which he had been condem- ned and imprisoned, was utterly false ; and that they had been overpersuaded and hired to commit wilful and corrupt perjury. This testimony and confession were supported by the testimony of others, and the innocence of the accused could not but bo apparent to every un- prejudiced mind. 262 CONCLUSION. Many of the most respectable inhabitants of Middle- bury, in Vermont, have seen, examined, and compared the original documents transcribed and referred to in this book, and by their certificate, dated Middlebury, Jan- uary 19, 1830, they do not hesitate in declaring the said documents to be correct and true, and to have emanated from proper authority ; and that the prosecution and pro- ceedings were of a character the most extraordinary that had ever come to their knowledge. Signed by EBEN W. JUDD, J. W. COPELAND, DORASTUS WOOS'TER, NATH'L FOSTER, JONATHAN HAGAR, and others. We the subscribers, inhabitants of Concord, in New- Hampshire, Certify that we have examined and compar- ed the documents and statements in the Memoirs of the Rev. Ammi Rogers with the original papers, and we have no hesitation in declaring our full belief, that they an attested by proper authority, and are entitled to entire confi- dence ; and we freely unite with the gentlemen in Ver- mont, in saying that the prosecution and proceedings are of a character the most extraordinary that has ever come to our knowledge. It appears from said docu- ments that he is a minister of the Episcopal Church, ia good standing, and that his character and conduct among his most intimate friends and acquaintance are good and equal to that of ministers of the Gospel in general. JONATHAN EASTMAN, JONATHAN EASTMAN, Jr. ROBERT EASTMAN, OBADIAH KIMBALL, DANIEL CHASE, PHILBRICK BRADLEY, ISAAC EASTMAN, JOHN P. GASS,, A. P. STINSON, ELBRIDGE PERKINS, ISAAC C. BRADLEY, NATHANIEL EASTMAN dated Concord, N H. January 4, 1832. CONCLUSION. 263 Secretary of States' Office, Concord, JV. H. January 1th, 1832. This Certifies, that I am personally acquainted with Jonathan Eastman, Esq. Jonathan Eastman, jr. Esq. and the other gentlemen whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and that they are of reputable standing, and entitled to entire confidence and belief. JOSEPH ROBINSON, Deputy Secretary of the State of New-Hampshire. To subscribers and purchasers of this Book : Please to accept my grateful acknowledgments of the candour, which you have manifested in lending an ear to hear the complaints of a fellow-citizen, who is also a fel- low christian. All mankind are naturally and mutually dependant upon God and upon each other. It has fallen to me, to appeal to you and to the world, as arbiters, in a case, wherein I, my children and friends, claim to have been extremely injured, in defending oui just rights and those of society. How iar my complaints are well founded, you must and will judge for yourselves, when you have read this book ; and how far you are interes- ted in the case, may be inferred by considering what would be the effect upon society, if all were to turn their eyes rnd to stop their ears, from the complaints of theii fellow-creatures. If any apology be necessary for what I have stated in regard to the Congregational Presbyte- rians in Connecticut, and in favor of the Episcopal Church ; let it be remembered, that Mr. Lanman, the State's Attorney, complained of me, for being a preach- er, pretendedly of the Christian Religion! as tho' the whole Episcopal Church was only the pretended Chris- tain Religion; and twelve men under oath, in New-London County, in Conn, in 1820, have declared that it was true; and they said it. with as much propriety, and no more, than they said the other charges against me were true. I can truly say, that the great wish of my heart has been to be a good man, true and tmshj. — The great object of my preaching is, and has been, to represent the God of heaven, in the most amiable and pleasing point of view possible, and to persuade myself and all 204 CONCLUSION. others, from the disposition of the heart, to love him and to imitate him. I have been beloved of my Heavenly Father and favoured with ten thousand blessings ; for which, like Joseph ol old, I have been hated by my breth- ren, and in one sense, sold into Egypt ; but, like Baron Trenck, I have come out of Jail, and walk proudly before Kings and the whole world! My friends are glad to see me, and to treat me with respect ; my enemies are ashamed and afraid, and hide themselves from my pres- ence. More than 2000 people, east of Hartford in Con- necticut, subscribed to have my Memoirs printed, and have received them. About 1500 in the county of Saratoga, where I used to reside, and in that neighbor- hood, have subscribed to have them re-printed, and more than 3000 have been printed in Vermont, and sold; and have been read with very universal approbation and admiration. The design is to promote the cause of truth !and justice, and to suppress lying, perjury, wickedness and vice. I know that this book is true, and there is hardly a fact of importance which is not supported by the testi- mony of witnesses who are now living, and certified by the civil authority of the state. AMMI ROGERS. ** 1 beseech thee, O Merciful God, to grant that this book may be entertaining and useful to all who will read it, or hear it read: be pleased to give us patience and re signation in all our afflictions, to direct us in all our doings with thy most gracious favor ; guard us from all error, and lead us into all truth and righteousness, and at last receive us into that blessed and happy world where all tears shall be wiped from all eyes, and where one unclouded day of bliss and glory shall surround us forever and ever: grant it, O Heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake. — Jtmen. Our Father who art in Heaven, &c. Amen. wmmmm iw aaHa 1 rn^w aha. **** aa ■ Www* i i i i : - - ■ ^ 2 2 ^ » 2 * ; ; s *f\f\K "at A A*i^ a/$$A< A^A A :V2^ .:- Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: March 2006 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township. 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