The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-04-24
VOLUME xlII-NUMBER II.
Tn. Early Clergy Of New England.

Tne Early clergy OF New England.
From an interesting review in tho Tribune
Of the late work of Charles w. Elliot q
the Early Times Of New England, ws clip
the following r. 1oilia4af
The Clergy Of England, from the begin
ming, held q conspicous position In the afain
Of society. A learned and godly ministry
was ono Of the first wants Of the colony.
Il was the highest ambition Of every moth
er's heart that ono Of her sons should stand
before the Lord and minister at his altan.
For this she spun and wore, lonscd and Ia
bored. Small earnings wero laid BY TO pro.
vide those wonderful Latin and Crock books
which were thought to unfold the pages Of
divine wisdom. "when tho boy was fairly
enlisted ut his looks, when in the vacations
he visited bis homo, aud In rllc TACO con-
,rastsd with tho bronscd skin Of his broth.
crs, the mother saw nothing but holmes
written there and when ut last ho received
tho stamp Of ordination, and stood up TO
preach In tho presence Of tho congregation,
then her heart flowed over with thanks
giving, and her eyes filed with tears Of joy"
The ministers were not only tho leaders 10
the strife Of salvation, but were at tho head
Of great secular enterprises. In nearly oil
cases they led out the new towns into the
wilderness, and exposed their lives to tho
attacks Of wild beasts and svagcs. When
the revolutionary contest camc on, the min.
isters never anchcd. Many Of them walked
% church with the Bible 10 one hand and
the musket In tho other. They were tho
st;ady advocates Of education and good
manners. They wcro the literary men Of
their day for two centuries. Their inau.
enco rendered to check IN exclusive devotion
to material developm mt. They labored
faithfully 10 csalt dignity Of the spirit over
matter, t. led mems thoughts and interests
above the selfish pursuit Of wealth and hon.
ora. As body, they were the advocates Of
all improvements which did not directly in.
fringe their own dignity. As general
rdle, the minister was the true friend Of bis
people, and was sincerely loved and honored
by them. 1t was common for ministers 10
live and die where they were first settled
They were in the habit Of receiving valua.
bio presents in their winters wood aud
stores ofhouschpld linen. They were always
put in tho best places at feas,s, and shown
to late period their properties and persons
wee exempt from taxes. Their sermons, to
modern taste, wouldappcar monotonous and
wirc.drawn, but the tediousness Of their dis
QUESTIONS was not unirequently relieved by
their treatment Of worldly aalirs. Williams
and Cotton preached about wells; Eliot
about wigs, long hair and tobacco; Wilson
and Eliot about treaties and politics Cot
ton about tho Governors salary; and Hugh
Peters In favor Of forming stock company
for profitable fishing. Curious conceits were
popular both with preacher and people. A
fight between o snake and q mouse having
been seen in Watertown, In which the snake
camo or second best, Wilson, q pastor Of
Boston, "a very sincere holy man. "im.
proved" tho event by turning 1t into an al.
leSory, comparing tho snake to the devil
and the mouse to the people, who In their
weakness and poverty had been chosen by
the Lord to overcome Satan. Cotton brought
the Song Of solomon to support tho views
Of ecclesiastical poity, showing that "somo
churches were rs queens, some as concu-
bincs, some US damscls, and some as DOVES"
An hourslass stood by the pnlpit and was
sometimes turned, when the discourse reach
ed the second hour. Tho divisions Of tho
subject were many, falling upon the weary
ear to seventeenthly and eishtcenthly, and
so on towards infnity. The prayers Of min
i.tsrs were as long Us sermons, and to bs
gifted in prayer was o great Distinction
1t was common TO open their minds to tho
Lord for an hour, while tho people stood
and listened. The opening Of their minds
to the Lord was In truth and opening also
to themselves, and tended to clear up doubts
and difficulties. or course prayers Of such
length must have ranged wide, and ut times
have generated into singular details. IL
is told that when Minister Miles prayed for
rain, he left nothing uncertain. ii, said
% Lord, thou knowcst VIC do not want thee
to send US o rain which shall pour down In
fury, and swell our streams, and sweepaway
our hay cocks, and fences. and bridges but,
Lord, we want It u como drizlle drozIlc-
drir,lc.drO1llc for ab,uta week - Amen.
It requires practice to make q smooth and
moving prayer, and slow.tonsucd man
sometimes hcsitatod and lost his aow one
such thanked the Lord for oil kinds Of mcr-
cies and benefits, and, being . little confas-
ed said We thank thce-wo thank thee
al.o for the many barrels Of cider thou hast
youchsafed u.s.