Ui THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES i>- 1 7 fJL- MEMOIR Rev. JOHN RODGERS, D.D. LATE PASTOR OF THE WALL-STREET AND BRICK CHURCHES, IN THE CITV OF NEW YORK. BY SAMUEL MILLER, D. D. Profoesor in Jthe Thpolc^cel Scrtiinai'^ a{ Priijcijtoi.' ABRIDGED FROM THE Cir-INA' FDIT'.ON CF 1813. PHILADELPHIA : PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. JAMES RUSSELL, PDBLISHING AGENT. 1840. Entered according to the act of Congress, in tlie year 1840, by A. W. Mitchell, in tlie office of the Cleric of the District Court for tlie Eastern District of Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA. WILLIAM S. MARTIEN, PRINTER. >- or O a CONTENTS, yo^^ CHAPTER I. : yt FROM HIS BIRTH TO HIS LICENSURE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL. Page Introductory remarks, - - - 17 — 19 His birth, parentage, tfcc. ... 19 < His early education, teachers, and promising charac- M ter, - 20 m Hears Mr. Whitefield with profit — Anecdotes, 20 — 21 Goes to the Rev. Mr. Roan's Academy — conduct there, ------ 22 ^ Goes to the Rev. Mr. Blair's Academy — accomit of in Mr. Blair, - . - . . 23 ^ Studies with the Rev. President Davies — account of o the latter, - - - - - 23' "^ Concludes his studies under the direction of the Rev. Gilbert Tcnnent — account of Mr. Tennent, - 25 Enters on trials for Licensure — Licensed, - 27 CHAPTER n. 'J FROM HIS LICENSURE TILL HIS SETTLEMENT AT ST. GEORGE's. I( " : Soon after his licensure travels into Virginia with ; ; Mr. Davies, ----- 27 ^ Remarkable circumstance attending that journey, 28 The rise and progress of Presbyterianism in Vir- ginia, . - . . - 30 John Organ, a pious school-master. - - 31 Boston's Fourfold State, and Luther on Galatians, useful, ....-- 32 All the early Reformers Calvinistical, - 33 Mr. Samuel Morris hopefully converted, and useful, 34 / 4 CONTENTS. Page Rev. William Robinson travels into Virginia — Anec- dotes concerning him, - - - - 36 Mr. Morris' account of the state of Religion, - 39 Mr. Rodgers arrives at Williamsburgh, - - 44 Respectfully treated by the Governor, . 45 Refused a license to preach in the colony - - 46 Anecdote of Sir W. Gooch, and account of Rev. James Blair, - - - - - 48 Mr. Rodgers leaves Virginia, and visits Somerset county, in Maryland, - - - - 50 Lodges at Capt. Venable's — anecdotes of Mr. Win- der, ------ 51 Leaves Maryland, and returns to Pennsylvania, 54 Has four calls put into his hands, - - - 54 Accepts that from St. George's . . 55 CHAPTER III. FROM HIS SETTLEMENT IN ST. GEORGE's, TILL HIS REMOVAL TO NEW YORK. His ordination and instalment, at St. George's, - 55 His ordination sermon preached by Dr. Finley — ac- count of the latter, - - - - 56 Enters on his pastoral labours, - - 57 His solemn dedication to God, - - - 57 His attention to the Rev. Dr. Macwhorter — account of the latter, - - - - - 59 Divisions in the Presbyterian church, - - 61 Sources and occasions of these divisions, • - 61 Old-side and New-side, ... 65 Divisions healed and parties happily united - 67 Benefits resulting from the controversy, - 68 Mr. Rodgers a New-side man, - - - 68 Account of Mr. Rodgers' ministry, at St. George's, by the Rev. Mr. Latta, - - - - 70 Mr. Rodgers marries Miss Bayard, - - 75 Takes a second journey into Virginia, - - 75 Declines an invitation to visit New York, - 76 Mr. Rodgers preaches with success in Maryland, 77 Mr. Rodgers declines a mission to Europe, - 78 CONTENTS. 5 Pa^c Rev. Charles Beatty, - . - - 78 Life of Mr. Rodgers remarkably preserved, - 79 Loses his wife, and marries a second time, - 80 His opinion respecting- wives for clerg-ymen, - 81 Chosen a Trustee of New Jersey College, - - 82 His zeal and diligence as a Pastor, - - 83 Preaches to an assembly which Mr. Whitefield had disappointed, .... 84 Receives a call from New York, - - - 85 Accepts the call, .... 86 Removes his family to New York, - .87 CHAPTER IV. HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN NEW YORK. First account of Presbyterians there, . - 87 All the Reformers Presbyterians, except the En- glish, ...... 88 The Rev. Messrs. McKemie and Hampton, visit New York, ..... 90 Their extraordinary treatment there, . . 91 Account of Mr. McKemie, . - - 92 Lord Cornbury's meanness and bigotry, . 94 Account of Mr. McKemie's trial, . - .94 Presbyterians in New York organize a church, 94 Call, and obtain the Rev. James Anderson, - 95 Build a house for public worship, . - 96 Dr. Nicoll's great zeal and exertions, - - 96 Charter of incorporation refused, . - 97 Second unsuccessful attempt to obtain a charter, - 97 Division in the church, ... 98 A party call the Rev. Mr. (afterwards President,) Edwards, ..... 98 Account of President Edwards, - - - 99 Division healed, and churcli again united, - 99 Mr. Anderson leaves New York, ... 100 The Rev. Mr. Pemberton called, - - 100 Charter again refused, .... 100 Church and ground conveyed to the General Assem- bly of the church of Scotland, - - - 101 g CONTENTS. Page Dr. Nicolls' death — trustees chosen, - - 102 Revival of religion in the congregation, - - 102 Mr. Whitefield visits New York, - - 103 His preaching beneficial to the church there, - 103 House of worship enlarged, ... 103 Rev. Mr. Curaming called as a colleague to Mr. Pemberton — his character, ... 104 Divisions take place in the congregation, - - 105 Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Gumming both dismissed, 109 The Rev. Dr. Bellamy called, - - - 111 He declines accepting the call. — His character. 111 Mr. Rodgers declines an invitation to pay a visit to the city, ..... 112 The Rev. David McGregor rejects a call, - - 113 Mr. McGregor's character, - - - 113 The Rev. David Bostwick called to New York. - 114 Character of Mr. Bostwick, - - - 114 He accepts the call, and settles in New York, - 115 A portion of the congregation secede, and call Dr. Mason, - - . - - .116 The character of Dr. Mason, - - 116 Another- unsuccessful attempt to obtain a charter, 118 Capt. Owen's legacy — anecdotes respecting it, 119 Capt. Neilson's legacy — circumstances attending it, 121 The congregation purchase a Parsonage, - 122 The Rev. Joseph Treat called to New York, - 123 Mr. Bostwick's death, ... - 123 Dr. Rodgers called to New York, ... 123 Accepts the call, .... 123 CHAPTER V. FROM HIS REMOVAL TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK, TILL THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. Mr. Rodgers arrives in New York, and is installed, 124 Sets up a weekly lecture, .... 125 His ministry attended with a blessing, . 126 Takes measures to secure Capt. Owen's legacy, - 127 Abolishes some exceptionable customs in tlie church in New York, 128 CONTENTS. 7 Page It becomes necessary to erect a new church, - 128 The Brick Church opened, ... 129 A fourth luisuccessful effort to obtain a charter, 130 Amidst all difficulties the church flourishes, - 131 Controversy respecting- an American Episcopate, 131 Mr. Rodgers engaged in that controversy, - 132 The objects of the Anti-episcopal convention, 133 Mr. Rodgers associated with Rev. Dr. Laidlie, &c. 136 Character of Dr. Laidlie, - - . 136 Mr. Rodgers receives a Doctor's degree, - .137 Depreciation of academic honours, - . 138 Dr. Witherspoon arrives in America, . . 140 Dr. Rodgers particularly friendly to him, - 140 They visit Boston together, ... 140 Character of Dr. Witherspoon, - . 141 Dr. Rodgers goes on a mission to Vermont, - 142 Success of his preaching, and adventures there, 143 One more unsuccessful effort to obtain a charter, 145 Dr. Rodgers an early and decided whig, . 146 Removes his family from New York, - - 148 Interview with General Washington, - - " 148 Removes his family to Greenfield, . .149 His father's death, .... 149 His European correspondence, ... 150 Anecdote respecting it, ... 150 CHAPTER VI. THE PERIOD OF HIS EXILE FROM NEW YORK, DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. He is appointed a chaplain in the army, - - 151 Takes a journey into the state of Georgia, - 152 The Rev. Dr. Zubly's character, - - - 152 Dr. Rodgers returns to his family at Greenfield, 153 Appointed chaplain to the convention at Esopus, - 153 Removes from Esopus, ... 154 His moveable property remarkably preserved, . 154 He removes to Sharon, in Connecticut, - 155 Letter concerning his residence at Sharon, and after- wards at Amenia, .... 155 8 CONTENTS. Page He removes to Danbury, - - - - 157 His zeal and diligence there, ... 158 He removes to Lamington, ... 160 Letter concerning his ministry there, - - 161 Treaty of peace signed, .... 163 Dr. Rodgers attempts to supply the soldiers of the American army witli Bibles, - - - ]63 General Washington's letter to him on that subject, 164 The destruction of the Presbyterian houses of wor- ship, &c. in New York, during the war, . 166 Dr. Rodgers returns to New York, - . 167 Retrospect of his conduct and character during the war, ...... 167 The testimony of Gouverneur Morris, Esq. in his favour, ...... 168 CHAPTER VII. FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, TILL HIS LAST ILLNESS. The ruinous condition of the churches in New York, at the close of the war, - . . 172 Dr. Rodgers preaches in St. George's, and St. Paul's churches, in New York, ... 172 Preaches a Thanksgiving Sermon, which was pub. lished, 172 Brick Church first repaired, and opened, - - 173 Wall-street Church repaired, and opened, . 175 Church in New York incorporated under a general act of the legislature, - - - 175 First trustees, ..... 175 The Rev. Mr. Wilson settled as a colleague with Dr. Rodgers, - - - - - 176 Dr. Rodgers chosen vice-chancellor of the univer- sity, . - - - - .177 Revisal of the standards of the Presbyterian Church commenced, ..... 177 The various steps taken in this business, - 177 Rev. Dr. Hobert Smith, . . - - 177 " " Robert Cooper, ... 177 CONTENTS. 9 Pa?e Rev. Dr. James Latta, .... 177 " " George Dufficld, . - . 178 « " Patrick Allison, . - - .178 " " James Sproat, - - - 179 " » John Evving, . . . - 179 " " Matthew Wilson, - . - 182 Rev. Mr. John Miller, - - - - 183 Dr. Rodgers moderator of the first General Assem- bly, 183 The Rev. Mr. Wilson leaves New York, . 183 Controversy respecting Dr. Muir and Dr. Morse, - 184 The Kev. Dr. McKnight accepts a call to New York, . - - -_ - - 185 The church in New York establishes a charity, school, ...... 186 The Rev. S. Miller accepts a call to New York, 187 Ordained and installed there, ... 187 Dr. Rodgers preaches at the funeral of Dr. Wither, spoon, ...... 187 Presbyterian church erected in Rutgers-street, 188 Opened for public worship by Dr. Rodgers, - 188 Dr. Rodgers relinquishes his Thursday lecture, 189 Dr. Milledoler called to the Rutgers-street church, 189 Church in Cedar-street erected and opened, - 190 Separation of the united churches, - - 191 Wall-street church rebuilt, - . . 192 Church in Spring-street erected, ... 192 The Rev. Mr. Spring called to New York, . 193 His instalment as pastor of the Brick Church, . 193 CHAPTER VIII. HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. Dr Rodgers begins to preach but once on the Sab. bath, ..... 195 Both his bodily and mental powers decline, . 195 Begins to use notes in the pulpit, . . 195 Delivers his last sermon, .... 195 Engages in his last public service, - - 196 10 CONTENTS. Page Failure of his memory on every subject excepting that of religion, - - - - 197 His last social prayer, ... 199 His death, . . . . - 200 His funeral, ..... 200 CHAPTER IX. HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. Dr. Rush's letter on his general character, . 202 Rev. Dr. Livingston's do. - . 207 Rev. Mr. Forrest's do. - - . 210 Dr. Rodger's ardent and uniform piety, - 211 His prudence, ..... 216 His uniform and indefatigable labours, - 219 The character of his preaching, ... 221 His great disinterestedness of character, - 224 The spotless purity of his moral character, . 226 His punctual attendance on the Judicatories of the church, - - - . .227 His liberality of sentiment, - . . 228 His conduct with respect to worldly property, - 230 He was no politician, - - - . 232 His humanity and benevolence, ... 235 The peculiar dignity of his manners, . . 235 His attention to dress, .... 237 List of his publications, ... 238 Lessons taught by his history, - . . 240 TO THE MINISTERS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, IN THE UNITED STATES. REVEREND FATHERS AND BRETHREN, The character and ministry of the vene- rable man with whose memoirs you are here presented, were dear to you all. Most of you knew him personally; and all of you revered him as one of the Fathers of the American Church. Knowing this, I had no doubt that you would be gratified with seeing some account of his long, laborious, and use- ful life; and knowing also, that no one could so naturally be expected to give this account 12 PREFACE. as his surviving colleague, who served with him as a son in the gospel, for more than seventeen years, I did not hesitate to make the attempt. In the progress of the undertaking, I have greatly exceeded the limits originally pre- scribed to myself What was at first in- tended to be a pamphlet of moderate size, has insensibly grown into a volume. Whe- ther any apology ought to be made for such an extension of the work, can be ascertained only by the perusal. Such as it is, allow me to inscribe it, most respectfully, to you. As I wrote under the habitual impression, that it would be my own fault if I did not profit by the contemplation of the character exhibited in the following pages; so I will also frankly confess, that I PREFACE. 13 was not a little encouraged and animated by the hope, that the work, with all its imper- fections, might not be entirely useless, among others, to my fathers and brethren in the ministry. One thing is certain, that if the portrait here drawn be even tolerably just, it cannot be viewed wholly without benefit by those who have a taste for studying and co- pying excellence. I shall not be surprised if it should be imagined by some, that I have discovered, in the ensuing sketch, more of the partiality of friendship, than of the sternness of histori- cal justice. I can only say, that it has been my sacred aim to exhibit every feature that was attempted to be portrayed, true to the original. If I have in any case failed, the error was certainly unintentional. But it is a consolation to know, that, even after 24 PREFACE. making the most liberal allowance on this score that can be required, there will still remain a large and solid mass of personal and professional worth, which we can scarce- ly too often, or too respectfully, contemplate. We may say concerning the character in question, what I have somewhere met with, as said concerning another — "Take away nine parts out of ten, even of its virtues, and there will be still enough left to admire, to imitate, and to love." For the introduction of so many minute details respecting the church in New York, I hope to be forgiven. Though they cannot fail of being comparatively uninteresting to many readers; yet by another, and perhaps equally large class, they will be considered as among the most valuable parts of the volume. There are not a few, indeed, who PREFACE. 25 feel so great an interest in the affairs of that church, that they would be glad to possess a history still more minute of its rise and progress. I have been studious of the grati- fication of such persons, so far as my plan permitted. Nor can I forbear to add, that the sentiments of attachment and gratitude which I have long cherished, for that por- tion of the flock of Christ, with which my deceased colleague laboured for nearly half a century, and which I have had the happi- ness of serving for more than nineteen years, led me to take peculiar pleasure in noticing and recording every thing important con- cerning it, which came to my knowledge. That we may all have grace given us to imitate our departed fellow-labourer, so far as he served our common Master ; and that the following account of his life may be J^g PREFACE. made, in some degree, to promote that great cause, in the advancement of which he lived and died, and to which we, as ministers, have solemnly professed to devote ourselves, is the fervent prayer of, Reverend Fathers and Brethren, Your fellow servant in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. SAMUEL MILLER. New York, Feb. 25, 1813. MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. From his Birth, to his Licensure to preach the Gospel. A MODERN writer, who, to no ordinary talents, unites great eccentricity and great errors, recom- mends the erection and preservation of some me- morial of every one that dies. The sentiment embraced in this plan is as false, as the plan itself is chimerical. The celebrated English moralist, Dr. Johnson, is undonbledly correct, when he ob- serves, that there are "many characters which ought never to be drawn." "There have been men," he adds, " splendidly wicked, whose en- dowments threw a brightness on their crimes, and wliom scarcely any villany made perfectly detesta- ble, because they never could be wholly divested of their excellencies ; but such have been, in all ages, the great corrupters of the world, and their resemblance ought no more to be preserved, than the art of murdering without pain.''* ^Vith re- spect to many who are born and die in our world, * Rambler, No. 4. 2 ] g BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. the sooner they are forgotten the better. As they were cumberers of the ground while they lived ; so their memorial would no less encumber the page of history, or the tablet of tradition. It is a real blessing that, according to the divine declara- tion, the name of the wicked shall rot. But there is another mistake, much more preva- lent than that which has been noticed. It is the mistake of those who run into the opposite ex- treme. They suppose that no life ought to be recorded and transmitted to posterity, unless it be that of one who has immortalized himself, either by his writings, or by a course of distinguished action on the theatre of the great world. Such a principle, if admitted, would undoubtedly exclude from the shelves of Biography, some of the most useful characters that ever adorned human society. It is, therefore, a false principle. And while it is freely granted that the public ought not to be trou- bled with the life of every good, or of every use- ful man; it maybe confidently maintained, that whenever a case occurs in which a life has been marked with respectable talents, eminent piety, exemplary diligence, and extensive usefulness, such a life, if survivors are disposed to profit by the contemplation of it, ought not to be withheld from them. On this principle the author of the following- memoir presumes to lay it before the public. The venerable subject of it was never, indeed, con- sidered, either by himself or by others, as be- longing to the class of those extraordinary men, who, by the splendour of their genius, the variety and extent of their learning, or the number of their publications, excite the admiring gaze of mankind. But if solid and respectable talents ; if acquire- BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 19 menls, which enabled him to act his part, in various important stations, with uniform honour ; if patriar- clial dignity; if sound practical wisdom, and a long life of eminent and extensive usefulness, be worthy of grateful remembrance, and of respectful imitation, then the life of Dr. Rodgers is worthy of being writ- ten and perused. There is a day coming, and the es- timate of Christians ought now to anticipate it, when such a character will appear infinitely more worthy of contemplation and regard than that of the most splendid improver of human science, or the most admired leader of victorious legions, that was ever immortalized by the historian's pen. In that day it will be found, tiiat bearing the image of Christ, and a gracious relation to his person, is the highest nobility; and that services done for the Saviour's cause, will obtain the only lasting reward. With these reflections in- view, the attention of the reader is requested to the following Memoir. John Rodgkrs was born in the town of Boston, in Massachusetts, on the fifth day of August, A. D. 1727. He was the son of Mr. Thomas Rodgers, and Elizabet'i Baxter, his wife, who removed from the city of Londonderry, in Ireland, to Boston, in the year 1721. There they resided until 1728 ; in the autumn of which year, v.'hen the subject of this memoir was a little more than a year old, they left Boston, and transferred their residence to the city of Philadelphia. They had two sons and six daughters. James, the elder son, died early. John, the younger, was the comfort and the pride of his parents while they lived, and survived, fur a num- ber of years, all the rest of the family. His parents, early discovering in their younger son more than usual sobriety, reflection, and taste for knowledge, bestowed much pains on his educa- 20 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. tion. His pious mother, in particular, was un- wearied in iier endeavours to form liis tender mind, and to imbue it with the principles of piety. At the age of about twelve years he became the sub- ject of serious impressions, and evinced much thoughtfulness and concern respecting his eternal interest. At this time he had frequent opportuni- ties of attending on the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, tliat " prince of preachers," whose gifts were, perhaps, more wonderful, and whose labours were probably more eminently blessed, to the conversion of souls, than those of any other individual, since the days of the Apostles. The preaching of this herald of the cross was blessed to young Rodgers in a very remarkable manner. That lie attended upon it with great interest, and with deep impressions, even at that early age, will abundantly appear from the following anecdote, which he often related to his particular friends with much tenderness and pleasure. It is generally known that Mr. AVhitefield often preached in the open air; sometimes because houses of worship were sliut against him, and at others because his audiences were too large to be accom- modated in any ordinary building. In Philadel- phia, he often stood on the outside steps of the court-house, in Market, at the corner of Second street, and from that station addressed admiring thousands who crowded the street below. On one of these occasions, young Rodgers was not only present, but pressed as near to the person of liis favourite preacher as possible ; and to testify his respect, held a lantern for his accommodation. Soon after the sermon began, he became so ab- sorbed in the subject, and, at length, so deeply im- pressed, and strongly agitated, that he was scarcely BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 21 able to stand ; the lantern fell from his hand, and was dashed in pieces; and that [)art of tlie audience in the immediate vicinity of the speaker's station, were not a little interested, and for a few moments discomposed by the occurrence.* The impressions thus begun, were confirmed and deepened, and resulted, in a short time after- wards, as he hoped, when he was but little more than twelve years of age, in a saving knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ, as the only refuge and hope of his soul, and in a cordial devotedness to his service. From this period he resolved, if God should en- able him, to devote himself to the service of Christ, in the work of the Gospel ministry. With this view he immediately began the study of the learned languages, under the direction of Mr. Stevenson, * A subsequent circumstance, connecteJ with this event, and not less remarkable, is worthy of being recorded. Mr. Whitefield, in the course of his iiflh visit to America, about the year 1754, on a journey from the southward, called at St. George's, in Delaware, where Mr. Rodgers was then settled in the Gospel ministry, and spent some time with him. In the course of this visit, Mr. Rodgers, being one day riding witli his visitant in the close carriage in which the latter usually travelled, asked him whether he recollected the occurrence of the little boy, who was so much affected with his preaching, as to let his lantern fall ? Mr. Whitefield answered, " O yes I I remember it well ; and have often thought I would give almost any thing in my power to know who that little boy was, and what had become of him." Mr. Rodgers replied, with a smile, " I am that little boy I" Mr. Whitefield, with tears of joy, started from his seat, took him in his arms, and with strong emotion remarked, that he was the fourteenth person then in the ministry whom lie had discovered in the course of that visit to America, of whose hopeful con- version he had been the instrument. 22 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. an instructor of reputation from Ireland, who, a short time before, had set up a grammar school ia Philadelphia. With him he remained a few months, much to his own profit, and to the satisfaction of his preceptor. About the year 1741, he was re- moved to a grammar school, shortly before erected on the Neshaminy, a few miles from Philadelphia, by the Rev. Mr. Roan, an eminent clergyman of the Presbyterian church. In this school he con- tinued several years. Here he distinguished him- self by his diligence, his love of order, and his exemplary deportment, and not less by the deci- sion and ardour with which he manifested his love of religion. At the age of fourteen, he regularly maintained family worship in the house in which he boarded ; and at the same tender age, his re- ligious deportment and conversation were such, that even pious adults did not disdain to attend to them as sources of pleasure and profit. An ex- cellent woman, a number of years since deceased, who spent the early part of her life in Mr. Roan's congregation, used to mention that she often con- trived, on the Sabbath, when she went to church, to walk a few feet behind young Rodgers, "on purpose to hear his pious and sensible conversation with his classmates."* In the summer of the year 174.3, when this ex- cellent youth was sixteen years of age, he was re- moved from Mr. Roan's school, with a view to his pursuing the higher branches of study at some other seminary; and there being, at that time, no college nearer than at New Haven, in Connecticut, on the one hand, or Williamsburg, in Virginia, on * Communicated in a letter from Dr. Rush, for which sec a subsequent part of this volume. BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 23 tlie Oilier, he was sent to an academy of high reputa- tion at Fog's Manor, in Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Samuel Blair, wlio was one of the most respectable scholars and divines of his day.* Here he completed his aca- demical studies, including the moral and physical sciences, as well as the languages, and made con- siderable progress in the study of theology. At Mr. Blair's academy, Mr. Rodgers was so happy as to find a number of young gentlemen, of excellent talents, and of eminent piety, preparing for the Gospel ministry, in whose friendship he found much comfort, and whose society contributed not a little to his improvement. Among these was Mr. Samuel Davies, afterwards so highly distin- guished for his pulpit talents, and who died Presi- dent of the College of New Jersey .t Among this * The Rev. Samuel Blair was a native of Ireland. He came to America very early in life, and was one of the students of the Rev. William Tennent, at his celebrated Log College, on the Ncshaminy. He was considered not only as one of the most learned and able, but also as one of the most pious and excellent men that ever adorned the American Church. He died in 1751. t The Rev. Samuel Davies was born in the county of New Castle, in the State of Delaware, November 3, 1721. He received the greater part of his academic and theolo- •gical education under the care of the Rev. Mr. Blair, of Fog's Manor, and was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of New Castle, in 1745. Soon after this event he travelled into Virginia, where he settled, and re- mained highly respected and useful for a number of years. In 1753 he was chosen by the Synod of New York, at the solicitation of the Trustees of New Jersey College, to accompany the Rev. Gilbert Tennent on a mission to Great Britain and Ireland, to solicit benefactions for that College. In 1759, he was elected to succeed Mr. Edwards in the Presidency of the same Institution. In this station he remained but eighteen months, being removed by death 24 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. number, also, was Mr. Alexander Curaming, who became, early in life, one of the ministers of the church in New York, and who held a high place among the ministers of his day. To these may be added Messrs. Robert Smith, James Finley, Hugh Henry, and a number of others, who after- wards became distinguished clergymen. With sev- eral of these gentlemen, and especially with Mr. Davies, he formed an intimacy of the most close and endearing kind, which he often mentioned in terms which evinced that he considered it as one of the most happy circumstances of his life, and that he remembered it with the deepest interest. It is an old observation, that men assist in form- ing each other. Hence considerable men are apt to arise in clusters. Mr. Rodgers was so happy as to receive his education at a period when some of the most eminent divines that ever adorned the American Church, were entrusted with the direc- tion of her affairs, and with the formation of her ministry. It was not difficult to perceive, from the whole of his ministerial character and deport- ment, that he had enjoyed the advantage of early and intimate intercourse with those venerable, and excellent men; and that he had profiled much by the advantage, if there was a formality in their character at which modern flippancy is disposed to smile; tliere was, also, a solid worth, an apos- tolic dignity, a primitive piety, and a fervent zeal, which would to God were more frequently to be found, at the present day, in the Church of Christ! in January, 17G1, in tlic tliirty-sevcntli 3'car of his a^e. The pfcniiiR, taste, learning-, and eminent piety of Presi- dent Davies are so well known, that it is unnecessary to dwell on tlieni lierc. BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 25 Tliough it appears, from the preceding state- .ment, that the subject of this memoir did not receive what is commonly styled a College educa- tion, he certainly received an education incompa- rably better than what usually passes under that title. The classical literature, especially, which was possessed by the Tennenls, the Allisons, and the Blairs, at that period, was much more deep and accurate than is commonly acquired at the present day, by most American scholars. They received it from the best European sources; and their first pupils, like themselves, were generally well instructed, and bore no mean resemblance to the literary stature of their masters. That young Rodgers had able instructors, at this period, and improved his time, is apparent, from the Latin dis- course, found among his papers, which he deliver- ed, as a part of his early trials before the Presby- tery; and also from the numerous and apt quota- lions from the ancient classics, which his memory enabled him to make, on proper occasions, to the end of life. From the discourse just mentioned, it appears, that, to the Latin and Greek languages, he had added some knowledge of the Hebrew, when he left the academy. Many persons are apt to suppose, that the race of divines who flourished in our country seventy or eighty years ago, though pious and excellent men, had a very scanty supply of books, and in many cases, a still more scanty education, com- pared with the divines of later years, and especial- ly of the present day. This opinion is not only erroneous, but grossly so. Those venerable fathers of the American Church were more deeply learn- ed than most of their sons. They read more, and thought more, than we are ready to imagine. The 26 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. greater part of the books of ancient learning, and ponderous erudition, which are now to be found on this side of the Atlantic, were imported, and studied by those great and good men. Original works are actually in fewer hands, in our day, compared with the number of readers, than in theirs. They read solidly and deeply: we hurry over cnmpends and indexes. They studied sys- tematically, as well as extensively; our reading is more desultory, as well as more superficial. We have more of the belles lettres polish ; but as bibli- cal critics, and as profound theologians, we must undoubtedly yield to them the palm of excellence. Mr. Rodgers, having pursued his theological studies for some time with Mr. Blair, returned to his father's, in the city of Philadelphia, and finished them under the direction of the Rev. Mr. Gilbert Tennent, who had llien become the pastor of the second Presbyterian Church, in that city.* * The Rev. Gilbert Tennent was born in Ireland, Feb- ruary 5th, 1703. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Wil- liam Tennent, who had received Episcopal ordination in that country, and emigrated to America in the year 1718. Soon after his arrival he renounced Episcopacy, and was admitted a member of the Presbytery of Philadelphia. He was one of the most eminently pious, useful, and learned ministers, especially in classical literature, that the American (Church ever had. He educated his four sons Gilbert, William, John, and Charles, (togctlier with a number of other young men,) at his Log-College, on the Neshaminy; and had the satisfaction of seeing them all useful ministers. This venerable man died at Neshaminy, May 6th, 1746, in the seventy -third year of his age. His son, Gilbert, in the year 1743, established a new Presby- terian Church in Philadelphia, chictly composed of those who were denominated the converts and Ibllowers of Mr. Whitcficid. He was a bold, ardent, practical, and un- usually impressive preacher. He died in 1704, in the sixty-second year of his age. BEFORE HIS ORDINA.TION. 27 In the monlh of June, in the year 1747, he ap- peared before the Presbytery of New Castle, and entered on the usual trials for licensure to preach the gospel. Having passed these with more than usual approbation, he was licensed, on tlie 14th day of October, in the same year; and soon gave, in his public ministrations, as well as in his pri- vate deportment, those presages of future excel- lence and usefulness, which were afterwards so happily realized. CHAPTER n. From his Licensure, till his settlement in St. George's. Immediately after his licensure, Mr. Rodgers, by the appointment of his Presbytery, began to sup- ply the numerous vacant churches under their care; and spent the following winter among those more immediately in the vicinity of his usual resi- dence. In the spring of the year 1748, Mr. Davies, (afterwards President Davies,) received a call from the people of Hanover, Henrico, and three other neighbouring congregations, in Vir- ginia, to setde among them as their pastor. This call, in the month of April, of that year, he accept- ed ; and immediately set out to the scene of his intended pastoral labours. Mr. Davies, however, made it one condition of his accepting this call, that his young friend, Mr. Rodgers, (to whom he was particularly attached,* and whose popular ta- * The attachment between President Davies and Dr. Rodgers was unusually ardent and uniform. The former named one of his sons John Rodgers, after his friend. 28 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. lents he had no doubt would be eminently useful in that country,) should accompany him into Vir- ginia, and assist him in his evangelical labours there for a few months. Mr. Rodgers consented to go. The Presbytery made the appointment accordingly : and the two friends, without loss of time, prosecuted their journey together, and reach- ed Virginia toward the latter end of April. This journey was attended with an occurrence too remarkable to be omitted. Mr. Rodgers, from his earliest years, had been unusually fearful of lightning and thunder. So great, indeed, was his agitation and suffering during thunder storms, that the approach or prospect of one made him un- happy. He had taken much pains to get the bet- ter of this weakness ; but, to use his own language, " neither reason, philosophy, nor religion availed any thing;" and it was the more distressing, be- cause both he and his friends feared it might seri- ously interfere with his ministerial usefulness. But in the course of the journey under considera- tion, he was entirely delivered from this infirmity, and by means the most unlikely that could be imagined to produce such a happy effect. While he and IMr. Davies, after they had enter- ed Virginia, were riding together one afternoon, they were overtaken by one of the most tremendous thunder storms ever known in that part of the country. They were in the midst of an extensive forest, and several miles distant from any house The latter, on his part, was not less affectionate and con- stant in liis tcistimonit's of regard. He received Mr. Da- vies' niotlicr, after tlic premature and lamented death of Jier son, into his family, where she was treated with filial kindness and respect, for a considerable time, and where she died. BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 29 which offered even tolerable shelter, either to them or their horses. The storm came up with great rapidity ; the lightning and thunder were violent beyond all description ; and the whole scene such as might be supposed to appal the stoutest heart. Their horses, terrified and trem- bling, refused to proceed. They were obliged to alight; and standing by their beasts, expected every moment to be precipitated into eternity by the resistless element. Providentially, however, they escaped unhurt: and the consequence was as wonderful, as the preservation was happy. From that hour Mr. Kodgers was entirely deliver- ed from the infirmity which had long given him so much distress! On whatever principle we may at- tempt to account for the fact; whether we sup- pose that he was so completely saturated with fear on the occasion, as to be, ever afterwards, unsus- ceptible of its influence from the same source ; in other words, that he was literally " frightened out of his fear;" or whether we suppose that so sig- nal an experience of Divine protection, was made the means of inspiring him, thence forward, with a larger share of pious confidence, when a similar danger arose : — whether we resolve the fact into one or the other of these principles, still the fact itself is unquestionable, that during the whole of his after life, he displayed an unusual degree of composure and self-possession amidst the severest thunder storms. The rise and progress of the body of Presby- terians in Virginia, to whom the labours of Mr. Davies and Mr. Rodgers were now directed, de- serve some notice before we proceed. They de- serve this notice not only as being remarkably interesting in themselves, but also as throwing light 30 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. on the treatment received by the subject of this memoir, in the course of the southern mission of which we are speaking. 'J'he first settlers in Virginia were generally con- nected with the Episcopal Church. Episcopacy- was early established in the Dominion, by law, and remained so until the revolution which terminated in American Independence.* A very small num- ber of Presbyterians from Scodand, and a still smaller number of dissenters from South Britain, were thinly scattered through the colony ; but they were so few and so destitute of religious zeal, that no ecclesiastical organization different from that of the establishment seems to have been thought of, (excepting on a small scale, on the Eastern * In 1618, a law was passed in Virginia, which enacted that " every person should go to church on Sundays and holydays, or he neck and heels that night, and be a slave to the Colony the following week." For the second of- fence, he was to be a slave for a month ; and for the third, a year and a day. — Slith's Hist., p. 148. In 1643, a law passed, which enacted that " no minister shall be permitted to officiate in the country but such as shall produce to the Governor a testimonial that he hath received his ordina- tion from some Bishop in England ; and shall then sub- scribe to be conformable to the orders and constitutions of the Church of England : and if any other person, pretend- ing himself to be a minister, shall, contrary to this act, presume to teach or preach, publicly or privately, the Gov- ernor and Council are hereby desired and empowered to suspend and silence the person so offending ; and upon his obstinate persistence, to compel him to depart the country with the first convenience." — Lairs of Virginia, edit. 1769, p. 3. Several of these laws were atlcrwards repealed, or their penalties mitigated; but they remained severe until the revolution. We arc accustomed to smile at what arc called the blue-laws of Connecticut, but it would be diffi- cult to find any thing in them equal to the first act above- mentioned. BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 31 Shore, as will hereafter appear,) until between the years 1730 and 1743. Durinjj that period, a few Presbyterian churches were formed under cir- cumstances too remarkable and interesting to pass unnoticed. About the year 1730, there resided in the great Northern Neck, between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers, a certain John Organ, a pious schoolmaster, from Scotland. Soon after his es- tablishment in that country, finding that there was no place of public worship in his immediate neigh- bourhood, and that a large portion of the people wholly disregarded the ordinances of religion, and were sunk in carelessness and profligacy, his spirit was stirred within him to attempt something for the spiritual advantage of his neighbours. Ac- cordingly, he collected, in private houses, such of them as were tolerably decent and sober, and had any sense of religion, and read to them the Scrip- tures, and other pious writings, accompanied with prayer and singing. These exercises were much blessed to tlie awakening and conversion of a num- ber of souls. For several years nothing more was attempted ; especially as the frowns of government were soon directed towards this little flock, and the laws against dissenters rigorously enforced against them. In a short time, however, after the formation of the Synod of Philadelphia, the peo- ple of Organ's neighbourhood made an application to that body for supplies. This request was grant- ed ; and the Rev. Mr. Anderson, who had before resided in New York, but was then settled in Penn- sylvania, was sent by the Synod to preach among them, to organize a church, and to intercede with the government on their behalf. Mr. Anderson succeeded in attaining all these objects. He preach- 32 BEFORK HIS ORDINATION. ed to great acceptance, and with much impression ; and formed a church, which, by his labours, and those of other ministers, was considerably enlarged and edified. While these things were going on in one neigh- bourhood, events of a similar kind, but still more extraordinary, were taking place in another. In Hanover, and the adjacent counties, the as- pect of religion and morals had long been extreme- ly low and discouraging. The established clergy were many of them notoriously profligate in their lives, and very few among them preached, or ap- peared to understand, the gospel of Christ. It was under these circumstances that some pious books, or fragments of books, which fell into the hands of a few individuals, were made the means of awakening them to a concern for their eternal interest, and of commencing a work of grace which was afterwards most powerfully and happi- ly extended. Boston's Fourfold Slate was one of these books. A few leaves of this inestimable work, which had belonged to a pious Scotch woman, fell into the hands of a wealthy planter. Being pleased and surprised at what he read, and finding the title page among the leaves, he sent a commission, with his next cargo of tobacco, to procure for him a copy of the book. He obtained it; and the more he read the more he found himself interested in its contents; until he was brought, as there was every reason to believe, to a saving acquain- tance with the truth as it is in Jesus. Another wealtliy planter, Mr. Samuel Morris, of Hanover, having providentially fallen in with an old copy of Luther on the Galatians, perused it witii eagerness and astonishment. He there found representations BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 33 of gospel Irulh, siicli as he had never met with before, and widely different from what he had been accustomed to receive from the pulpit.* * It will be considered, by many, not a little remark- able, that those who loved and admired Boston's Fourfold State, (a strongly Culvinistic work,) should equally relish Luther on the Galatians; and should consider themselves as finding- the same precious system of truth in both. An impression seems to have been received by multitudes, that Luther and Calvin differed materially on important points, particularly on t!:e subject of the divine decrees, or the doctrine of sovereign election. Nothing can be more erroneous than this impression. Excepting in the single article of Christ's presence in the Eucharist, tliere was the most entire harmony of opinion between these tvs^o great Reformers. Those who wish to see what Lu- ther believed on tlie doctrines of predestin?tion and grace, would do well to consult his book De Servo Arbi- trio, in which they will find as high-toned Calvinism as ever was penned. Lidecd, all tirs eminent Reformers, both in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe, were agreed on these points. The leading men among them were all doctrinal t^alvinists. It is notorious, that, for a number of years, during the reigns of Queen Eliza- beth, and James I. Calvin's Institutes was the great standard book put by authority into the hands of the stu- dents of divinity in the British Universities, and consider- ed as the foundation of their studies. This is acknow- ledged by Hcylin and others, in terms of the bitterest re- gret. Nay, by a convocation held at Oxford, that book was recommended to tlie general study of the nation. Let those who den^' the Calvinism of tlie early Reformers and standards of the Church of England, impartially con- suit Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, the Lambeth Articles, (drawn up and signed by Archbishop VVhitgift, and de- clared by him to be true, and corresponding with the doctrines professed m the Church of England,) the wri- tings of Hall, D.ivcnant, and Horsely, and they will per- ceive and be ashamed of their mistake. But to return ; it is certain that Luther was not only a strong doctrinal 3 ;j4 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. Deeply affected with tlie view of human nature, and of the way of salvation, which this work ex- hibits, he never ceased to read, to inquire, and to pray, until he found consolation in Christ, as the Lord his righteousness and strength. Nor was this all. It is one of the glorious distinctions of the genuine Gospel of the grace of God, that wherever its power is felt in the heart, and in pro- portion to the degree in which that power is felt, there will always be manifested a tender love to the souls of men, and an ardent zeal for spreading the knowledge of Jesus Christ: not the warmth of mere party zeal ; not the strange fire of bigotry and contention for modes and forms ; but an affec- tionate desire that men may be saved, and that Christ in all things may be ghirified. Such was the spirit excited in this remarkal)le convert. He no sooner had obtained a comfortable hope for himself than he was filled wiih concern for the spiritual welfare of his neighbours. He invited them to come to his house, and to hear him read passages from the book which had been so much blessed to his own soul. They attended, particu- larly on the Sabbath, for this purpose. At first, and indeed for a considerable time afterwards, no other exercise than that of reading was attempted. Extemporary prayer was a tiling so unknown among them, that none durst attempt it. Their whole time, when together, was employed in Calvinist, but also a Presbyterian ; that is to say, he early and uniformly niaiiitained the parity of ministers by di- vine riglit, and the Scriptural autliority of Prcsbylers to ordain. He himself, tliougii only a Presbyter, freely or- dained, at an early period of his Protestant miiiislry, and he did the same only a few days betbrc his death. BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 35 reading; and Mr. Morris, being an excellent rea- der, was enabled, to a very unusual degree, to keep up liieir allention; and the Spirit of God visibly attended the exercise ; a number of persons were seriously impressed, and some hopefully converted. In 1743, a young Scotch gentleman, having receiv- ed from his friends at home a volume of White- field's Sermons, published a short time before, put thcni into the hands of Mr. Morris, who perused them himself with much profit, and soon began to read them to his as.sembled neighbours. The plainness and fervour of these discourses were blessed to the awakening and hopeful conversion of several persons. The curiosity of some, and the serious impressions of others, increasing, the people began to meet on week-days for this ex- ercise, as well as on the Sabbath. In a short time Mr. Morris' house became too small to ac- commodate those who attended; on which he and his neighbours determined to erect a building ex- pressly for their accommodation at tliese religious meetings. This building was commonly called " Morris' reading house," and was generally crowded with hearers. The knowledge of these circumstances spreading, Mr. Morris was invited to attend, at several distant places, for the purpose of reading vhe books, and especially Whitefield's sermons, which had been so acceptable and useful in his immediate neighbourhood. He complied with these invitations; and thus the religious awakening and anxiety became considerably ex- tended. About this time, Mr. Morris and his friends at- tracted the notice of government. Their absent- ing themselves from tiieir parish churches, con- trary, as was alleged, to the lav/s of the land, was 36 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. considered and treated as an offence.* They were called upon by the court to assign their rea- son for this absence, and to declare to what de- nomination they belonged. The latter question embarrassed them not a little. Having known scarcely any other denomination of dissenters be- sides Quakers ; and not being aware that any body of people then on earth embraced the same opi- nions on the subject of religion with themselves, they were at a loss what name to assume. In this embarrassment they begged of the court a little time to retire, and determine by what name they chose to be known. After a short consultation, recollecting that Lutlier was a noted reformer, and that some of his works had been of peculiar ser- vice among them, ihey resolved to take their de- nomination from him; they accordingly returned into court, and declared themselves Lutherans. By this answer the members of the court were embarrassed in their turn, not finding any law or precedent which directed them how to proceed against Lutherans ; and, after a little consideration, dismissed Mr. Morris and his friends without pur- suing their design further at that time. Things were in this situation, when, in the year 1743, the Rev. William Robinson, a member of the Presbytery of New Brunswick,t who had * Mr. Morris and a number of his friends were repeat- edly fined by the court for absenting thcmseh'es from the established worship. He himself, being considered as a kind of leader, was treated more severely than the rest. He paid near twenty fines. t Mr. Robinson was the son of a wealthy Quaker in England. Being permitted to pay a visit of a few weeks to an aunt in the city of London, from whom he had con- siderable expectations, he greatly ovcrstaid the time which had been allowed him ; and becoming deeply in- BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 37 been ordained sine titulo, with a view to his being sent as an Evangelist to preach the gospel on the volved in the dissipations of the town, he incurred large debts, wliich he knew liis father would never pay, and which iiis aunt refused to discharge. In this situation, fearing to return home, and unable to remain longer in London, he determined to quit his native country, and seek his fortune in America. In this determination his aunt reluctantly acquiesced, and furnislied him with a small sum of money for the purpose. Soon after his arri- val in America., he had recourse, for subsistence, to teach- ing a school, in New Jersey, within the bounds of the Presbytery of New Brunswick. He had been, for some time, engaged in this business, without any practical sense of religion, when it pleased God to bring him to a knowledge of himseli", and of the way of salvation, in a remarkable manner. He was riding at a late hour, one evening, when the moon and stars shone witli unusual brightness, and when every thing around him was calcu lated to excite reflection. While he was meditating on the beauty and grandeur of the scene which the firmament presented, and was saying to himself, " How transcend- antly glorious must be the Author of all tliis beauty and grandeur 1" the thought struck him with the suddenness and the force of lightning, " But what do I know of this God ? Have I ever sought his favour, or made him my friend?" This happy impression, which proved, by its permanency and its etfects, to have come from the best of all sources, never left him until he took refuge in Christ as the hope and life of his soul. He soon resolved to de- vote himself to the work of the gospel ministry ; com- pleted his academical education, and studied theology, while he went on with his school; and was, in due time, licensed and ordained by the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick, as above stated. Mr. Robinson was remarkable for the native vigour of his mind, and still more for the fer- vour of his piety. Wherever he went, it pleased God to grant him some precious fruits of his ministry. Few names in the American Church rank higher than his on the scale of usefulness. He died at St. George's, in Dela- ware, in the month of April, 1746. •3 '"' i"* iT* ''^j ^ 38 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. frontier settlements, in the course of his mission, entered Virginia, and preached with considerable success in some of the more remote counties of the colony. While he was thus employed, some young people from the neighbourhood of Mr. Morris, and the children of his friends, being on a visit to that part of the country, heard him preach, and recognizing in his sermons the same doctrines which they had been accustomed to hear at the reading-house, they communicated the intelligence to their parents in Hanover, who immediately dis- patched two men to Cub Creek, where he had been heard by their children, in search of Mr. Robinson. He had left the place, however, be- fore the arrival of the messengers, and they were obliged to follow him a hundred miles on his jour- ney. They at length found him, and prevailed on him to appoint a time for visiting Hanover. At the appointed time Mr. Rol)inson came. He had been obliged to ride the whole of the preced- ing night, in order to avoid disappointing the peo- ple. When he arrived at the reading-house, ihey were assembled in crowds, waiting for the preacher. On his appearance, a scene ensued which marked at once the conscientiousness and simplicity of the parties on both sides. Mr Morris, and his friends, though they had heard a high character of Mr. Robinson from their children, and others, thought proper to be more certain as to his testimonials and his creed, before they suflered him to address the congregation which had assembled. They there- fore took him aside, while the people waited, and not only requested to see his teslimonials, which were ample, but also proceeded to examine him as to his views of the leading doctrines of the gos- pel. To this Mr. Robinson submitted, not only BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 39 with meekness, but with afTeclion; and having en- tirely satisfied his examiners, he went into the house and began to address the people. Mr. Mor- ris himself, in a letter to President Davies, thus describes the scene which ensued: "On the 6ih of July, 1743, Mr. Robinson preached his first sermon to us from Luke xiii. 3, and continued with us, preaching four days suc- cessively. The congregation was large the first day, and vastly increased the three following. It is hard for the liveliest imagination to form an image of the condition of the assembly on tliese glorious days of the Son of man. Such of us as had been hungering for tlie word before, were lost in an agreeable surprise and astonishment, and some could not refrain from publicly declaring their transport. We were overwhelmed with the thoughts of the unexpected goodness of God in allowing us to hear the gospel preached in a manner that sur- passed our hopes. JVlauy that came through cu- riosity, were pricked to the heart ; and but few in the numerous assemblies on these four days ap- peared unaffected. They returned alarmed with apprehensions of their dangerous condition, con- vinced of their former entire ignorance of religion, and anxiously inquiring what they should do to be saved. And there is reason to believe there was as much good done by these four sermons as by all the sermons preached in these parts before or since."* These pious people, after formally taking the name to themselves in the presence of the court, * See Mr. Davies' letter to Mr. Bellamy, of Beth'eni, in New Enyjland, dated June 28, 17.')1, and preserved in Gil- lies' Historical Collections, vol. ii, p. 330. 40 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. Steadily called themselves Lutherans. When Mr. Robinson visited them, they inquired of iiim to what denomination he belonged. On his inform- inor them that he was a Presbyterian, and laying before them the import and reasons of this denomi- nation, they agreed to adopt it. They accordingly took the earliest opportunity of connecting them- selves with the Presbytery of New Castle, which was the nearest body of that kind to the place of their residence, and ever afterwards called them- selves Presbyterians. What took place subsequently to the short visit of Mr. Robinson, at Hanover, will appear from the following continued account by Mr. Morris, in the same letter from which the former quotation was made: " Before Mr. Robinson left us, he suc- cessfully endeavoured to correct some of our mis- takes, and to bring us to carry on the worship of God more regularly at our meetings. After this we met to read good sermons, and began and con- cluded with prayer and singing of psalms, which, till then, we had omitted. The blessing of God remarkably attended these more private means; and it was really astonishing to observe the solemn impressions begun, or continued in many, by hear- ing good discourses read. 1 had repeated invita- tions to come to many places round, some of them thirty or forty rniles distant, to read. Considera- ble numbers attended witli eager attention and aw- ful solemnity ; and several were, in a judgment of charity, turned to God, and thereupon erected meeting-houses, and chose readers among them- selves, by which the work was more extensively carried on. Soon aflcr Mr. Robinson lefi us, the Rev. Mr. John Blair paid us a visit; and truly he came to us in the fulness of the gospel of Christ. BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 4J^ Former impressions were ripened, and new ones made on many hearts. One night in particular, a whole house-full of people was quite overcome with the power of the word, particularly of one pungent sentence, and they could hardly sit or stand, or keep their passions under any proper re- straint. So general was the concern, during his stay with us, and so ignorant were we of the dan- ger of apostasy, that we pleased ourselves with the thoughts of more being brought to Christ at that lime, than now appear to have been, though there is still the greatest reason to hope that seve- rals bound themselves to the Lord in an everlast- ing covenant, never to be forgotten. " Some time after this, the Rev. Mr. Roan was sent us, by the presbytery of Newcastle. He continued with us longer than any of the (ormer, and the happy effects of his ministrations are still apparent, lie was instrumental in beginning and promoting the religious concern in several places where there was little appearance of it before. This, together with his speaking pretty freely about the degeneracy of the clergy in this colony, gave a general alarm, and some measures were concerted to suppress us. To incense the indig- nation of the government the more, a perfidious wretch deponed he heard Mr. Roan utter blasphe- mous expressions in his sermon. An indictment was thereupon drawn up against Mr. Roan, (though by that time he had departed the colony.) and some who had invited him to preach at their houses were cited to appear before the general court, and two of them were fined. While my cause was upon trial, I had reason to rtijoice that the throne of grace is accessible in all places, and that helpless creatures can send up their desires 4 42 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. unseen, in the midst of a crowd. Six witnesses were cited to prove the indictment against Mr. Roan, but their depositions were in his favour; and the witness who accused him of blasphemy, when he heard of the arrival of Messrs. Tennent and Finley, fled, and has not returned since; so that the indictment was dropped. But I liad reason to fear being banished the colony, and all circumstances seemed to threaten the extirpation of religion among the dissenters in these parts. In these difficulties, having no person of a public character to appear in our favour, we were deter- mined to acquaint the synod of New York with our case. Accordingly four of us went to the synod, May, 1745, when the Lord favoured us with success. The synod drew up an address to our governor, the honourable Sir William Gooch, and sent it with Messrs. Tennent and Finley, who were received by the governor with respect, and liad liberty granted them to preach among us. By this means the dreadful cloud was scattered for a while, and our languid hopes revived. They con- tinued with us about a week, and though the deluge of passion in which we were at first over- whelmed, was by this time somewhat abated, yet much good was done by their ministry. The people of God were refreshed, and several careless sinners were awakened. Some that had trusted before in their moral conduct, and religious duties, were convinced of the depravity of their nature, and the necessity of regeneration ; though indeed there were but few nnregone rate persons among us at that time, that could claim so regular a character; the most part indulging themselves in criminal liberties, and being remiss in the duties of religion, which, alas ! is too commonly the case still, in BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 43 such parts of the colony as the late revival tlid not extend to. After they left us, we continued va- cant for a considerable time, and kept up our meetings for reading and prayer, in several places, and the Lord favoured us with his presence. I was again repeatedly presented and lined in court, for absenting myself from church, and keeping up unlawful meetings, as they were called ; ' but the bush flourished in the flames.' The next that were appointed to supply us, were the Rev. Messrs. William Tennent and Samuel Blair. 'J'hey administered the Lord's supper among us ; and we have reason ever to remember it as a most glorious day of the Son of man. The assembly was large, and the novelty of the manner of the administra- tion did peculiarly engage their attention. It ap- peared as one of the days of heaven to some of us ; and we could hardly help wishing we could, with Joshua, have delayed the revolutions of the hea- vens to prolong it. After Messrs. Tennent and Blair were gone, Mr. Whitefield came and preached four or Ave days, which was the happy means of giving us further encouragement, and engaging others to the Lord, especially among the church- people, who received the gospel more readily from him than from ministers of the Presbyterian deno- mination. After his departure, we were destitute of a minister, and followed our usual method of reading and prayer at our meetings, till the Rev. Mr. Davies, our present pastor, was sent us by the presbytery, to supply us a few weeks in the spring, 1747, when our discouragements from the govern- ment were renewed and multiplied; for, upon a Lord's-day, a proclamation was set up at our meeting-house, strictly requiring all magistrates to suppress and prohibit, as far as they lawfully 44 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. could, all itinerant preachers, (fee, which occa- sioned us to forbear reading that day, till we had time to deliberate and consult what was expedient to do; but how joyfully were we surprised, before the next Sabbaih, when we unexpectedly heard that Mr. Davies was come to preach so long among us, and especially that he had qualified himself ac- cording to law, and obtained the licensing of four meeting-houses among us, which had never been done before. Thus man's extremity is the Lord's opportunity. For this seasonable interposition of Divine Providence, we desire to offer our grateful praises, and we importune the friends of Zion to concur with us." Such was the situation in which Mr. Rodgers and his companion found the Presbyterians of Hanover, and the adjoining counties, when they reached Virginia. They preached one Sabbath at Hanover, in a licensed house, and then pursued their journey to Williamsburg, to present them- selves before the general court, for the purpose of taking the necessary qualifications, and obtaining license to preach, agreeably to the act of toleration. The general court, it seems, had taken the power of granting licenses in such cases, out of the hands of the county courts, to which it had been com- mitted by the Act, and claimed it exclusively as their prerogative. This unlawful assumption of the general court, was chiefly owing to the anxiety of the established clergy, who had become very uneasy at the growing extension and infiuence of Presbyterianism; and feared an undue facility and readiness in the county courts, in complying with the solicitations of applicants. Sir William Gooch was now lieutenant governor of Virginia. He was a man of mild and amiable BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 45 character, and strongly opposed to the persecution of dissenters. He received Mr. Davies and Mr. Roilgers with great politeness, and introduced them to the court. Tlie application of the former, to be allowed to complete his qualifications as a resident preacher, was first received and considered. But when a similar application was made on behalf of Mr. Rodgers, difiiculties were started and much opposition manifested. Mr. Rodgers produced his testimonials from the Presbytery, &c., and re- quested that they might be read ; but this was opposed. Sir William Gooch repeatedly ordered the clerk of the court to take them from Mr. Rod- gers, who stood holding them in his hand, and to read them ; but more than one of the members of the court pointedly objected to his proceeding; alleging that it was their right to sit in council on the subject, before any further step was taken ; and that they demanded the exercise of the privi- lege on the present occasion. Sir William then bowing to Mr. Davies and Mr. Rodgers, said, " Gentlemen, you shall hear from us in a day or two." They immediately withdrew to their lodg- ings, deeply affected with iheir situation ; shut themselves up in their chamber; and poured out their hearts to God in fervent prayer. In the alternoon of the next day, Sir William Gooch sent for them, requesting to see them at his house, to which they immediately repaired. There they found Sir William, together with three other members of the court, who were friendly to their views. On being seated. Sir William ad- dressed himself to Mr. Davies in the following terms : »' Sir, it has been with the greatest diffi- culty that we have been able to prevent the court from revoking your license, arid sending you out 46 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. of the colony. This, however, we liave been happy eiiDUgh to prevent." Then turning to Mr. Rodgers, he said, " I am extremely sorry to inform you, Sir, that the gentlemen of the court will by no means consent to your qualifying, as the law directs, for preaching in the colony." Mr. Rod- gers thanked Sir William for his friendship; but added, that he was not asking a favour, but plead- ing a right; and therefore could not help consi- dering himself as injured by its refusal. Sir Wil- liam acknowledged the justice of this remark, and again expressed his regret at the course things had taken. In the evening of the same day, the gentlemen received a very polite note from the lieutenant governor, advising them to present a memorial to the court on the subject of their application; at the same time informing them, that, from conside- rations of prudence, he determined to absent him- self from the court on the following day, when he took for granted their memorial would be present- ed, if at all. Upon this suggestion they prepared a respectful but spirited memorial, which they signed, and presented the next day to the court. When it was read, the oldest member of the court, who tilled the chair in the absence of the lieutenant governor, put an end to further discussion, by de- claring publicly and with warmth, " We have Mr. Rodgers out, and we are determined to keep him out." This extraordinary proceeding is susceptible of the following explanation. When Mr. Davies first went to Virginia, the established clergy felt but little anxiety about the influence of Presbyterian- ism, considering it as too small and feeble a cause to excite apprehension. But when the labours of BEFORE HIS ORDINATION, 47 Mr. Davies appeared evidently to be gaining an unexpected influence; when tliey found that Mr. Rodgers was an animated and popular preacher, exceedinglv likely to make an impression ; and that other Presbyterian ministers were settling and labouring with success in several adjacent parts of the country; they became alarmed, and resolved, at all events, to arrest the progress of, what they deemed, a threatening evil. Under these impres- sions, they would have refused to allow Mr. Da- vies to proceed in completing his qualifications, liad they not given to him, by the transactions of the preceding year, a pledge of his admission, which it was not easy either to explain away or to recall. They considered it, therefore, as the less evil of the two to admit him ; but having given to Mr. Rodgers no such pledge, and his circum- stances being considerably difl'erent from those of Mr. Davies, they determined to exclude him from the dominion. He was accordingly forbidden, in the most peremptory manner, to preach within the colony, under the penalty of a fine of £500, and a year's imprisonment, without bail or mainprize.* * The ground taken by the government of Virginia against dissenters, at this period, was not always the same. Sometimes there was a disposition in the eourts to treat them according to the rigour of the Act of Uniform- ity. They contended that tlie Act of Toleration was never intended for the colonies. In the general court, where this doctrine was for a time maintained with great ctjnfi- dence by the king's attorney, Mr. Davies, on a certain occasion, defended his own cause, by special permission, and, in a very luminous and eloquent speech, ])roved, that the Act of Toleration having been intended to mitigate and qualify the Act of Uniformity, must, upon every just principle, be considered as extending as far as the original law; and observed, tliat if it were decided that the Act of 48 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. Sir William Gooch, the lieutenant governor, paid particular attention to Mr. Davies and Mr. Rodgers, and invited them to his house repeated- ly.* There they met with three members of the general court, Mr. Blair, the son of the venerable commissary,! Dr. Dick, and another gentleman, Toleration did not extend to the colonies, it would follow that the Act of Uniformity did not. This occurrence seems to have taken place soon after the exclusion of Mr. Rodgers. The decisions of the courts, however, continued to be fluctuating, until Mr. Davies returned from England, with the opinion in writing of Sir Dudley Rider, the attor- ney general, which was favourable to dissenters. This was produced to the general court in the case of an appli- cation being made to have some place licensed for dissent- ing worship. After this no legal obstructions were thrown in the way of Presbyterians, except such as exist in Eng- land. * Soon after Mr. Rodgers reached Williamsburg, one of the established clergy of Hanover, who had followed him, appeared before Sir William Gooch, and complained that this young gentleman, before going to Williamsburg, had preached one sermon, in Hanover, contrary to law, urging Sir William to proceed against him with rigour. Sir Wil- liam's reply did equal lionour to his religious sentiments and his official liberality. " Mr. , I am surprised at you! You profess to be a minister of Jesus Christ, and you come to me to complain of a man, and wish me to punish him, for preaching the gospel! For shame, sir ! Go home and mind your own duty! For such a piece of con- duct, you deserve to have your gown stript over your shoulders." t 'i he Rev. James Blair was born and educated in Scot- land, where he obtained a benefice in the Episcopal church. On account of the unsettled state of religion in that kingi dom, he quitted his preferment, and went into England, near the end of the reign of Charles II. The Bisliop of London considering him as well qualified for the office, both with respect to talents and piety, prevailed on him to go to Virginia as a missionary, where he was highly popu- BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 49 all of whom regretted the inaniier in which Mr. Rodgers had been treated, and were desirous of procuring a reconsideration of his case, and if pos- sible, redress. But, after much deliberation, it was judged inexpedient to attempt any thing fur- ther at that time. Being thus cruelly and illegally expelled, in his ecclesiastical character, from Virginia, Mr. Rod- gers determined, without delay, to quit the domin- ion. He lamented, however, afterwards, that he had not appealed to the King, in council, as such a measure would not only, in all probability, have secured redress in his own case, but also have done good in subsequent cases of a similar kind. The celebrated Dr. Doddridge, of Great Britain, also expressed his regret that such a step had not been lar, and extensively useful. In 1G89, he obtained the ap- pointment of ecclesiastical commissary for the colony. Mr. Blair solicited a charter and donations for William and Mary College, and was the principal agent in found- ing that institution. He was named in the charter as the first President of the College, and acted in that capacity, with fidelity and acceptance, until the year 1742. In 1743, he died, in Virginia, at a good old age, universally lament- ed. He was a learned, pious, and exemplary man, and filled the various stations to which he was called with honour and usefulness. This gentleman jiublished four volumes of discourses under the following title: "Our Saviour's Divine Sermon on the Mount explained, and re- commended, in divers Sermons and Discourses." London, 8vo. 1742. This work is spoken of with high approbation by Dr. Doddridge, in his Family Expositor. Mr. lilair treated Mr. VVhitcfield, wlien he visited Virginia, with much respect and friendliness, invited him to prcacii, and encouraged his evangelical labours. His laudable exer- tions in favour of religion and literature are mentioned with pointed respect by Bishop Burnet, in his History of his own times. See vol. iv. p. 174. 50 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. taken. He wished for an opportunity of seeing the pious and promising young American, who had been thus treated ; and who, by appealing, would have been led to make a voyage to the mo- ther country ; and he believed that a favourable de- cision obtained, in the last resort, in such a case, would have been extensively useful. Mr, Rodgers, quitting the Western Shore of Vir- ginia, crossed the bay, and came up the peninsu- la, to Somerset county, in INIaryland, where he spent the summer of 1748 — a summer of which he was accustomed often to speak as one of the most pleasant and useful of his life. The easy and elegant hospitality of the inhabitants of Mary- land, has been long and justly celebrated. When this characteristic disposition is sanctified by reli- gion, and has, for its more immediate objects, the eminently pious, and especially zealous and ex- emplary ministers of the gospel, those who have had the opportunity have observed it to be displayed with peculiar assiduity and attraction. Our pro- mising young herald of the cross was received with open arms by the polished and hospitable in- habitants of Somerset county. His genteel and dignified manners were peculiarly acceptable to them; and the zeal, the piety, and the various re- spectable qualities of his preaching, rendered him higldy popular. In tliis county he made the house of Captain Venable, at the liead of Wicomico river, more par- ticularly his home. liut the friendly attentions of those to whom he was introduced, as well as an unremitting ardour in preaching the gospel, where- ever he had an opportunity, drew him in every direction through tiiat district of country. His ministrations, in the course of this summer, were, BEFORE HIS ORDINATION, 51 in a very uncommon degree, blessed, to tlie con- viction and conversion of sinners, and to the edi- fication of the pious. He often expressed a con- viction that he had been made the means of doing more good, during that short period of three or four months, than in any equal period of his life afterwards. The triumphs of the gospel were nu- merous and signal. In several cases, indeed, they were so remarkable as to be abundantly worthy of being recorded, did not the limits prescribed to this memoir forbid our descending to such mi- nuteness of detail. A single case shall serve as a specimen. About a mile below Captain Venable's, on the Wicomico, lived Mr. Winder, a gentleman of great wealth and urbanity, a polite scholar, and a mem- ber of the Episcopal church. Notwithstanding his religious connexion, however, he called, with much civility, at the house of his neighbour, to see the young Presbyterian preacher, and invited him to pay him a visit. Mr. Rodgers accepted the in- vitation, and went accordingly. He was apprised by the members of Captain Venable's family, who accompanied him, that Mr. Winder was a zealous, high-toned Episcopalian, and, particularly, that he was a very determined and ardent opponent of the doctrine of Election. He thanked his informants for this hint, and promised to be on his guard against any unnecessary collision with his respect- able host on the topics on which they differed. Mr. Rodgers, however, was scarcely seated in his house, before Mr. Winder himself introduced the controversy respecting election, by asking his opinion of a book on that subject, which was ly- ing open on a table in the parlour, and which had 52 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. been, probably, placed there by design. Our young preacher replied that he had never before seen the book referred to, but that he was a very firm be- liever in the doctrine of election, and could not help regarding it as a very important and precious part of the Christian system. This plunged them at once into the midst of the dispute ; which was continued, with a few interruptions, during the rest of tiie day. Mr. Rodgers plied his opponent with the usual arguments, drawn I'rom the perfections of God; from the inseparable connexion of pre- determination, with foreknowledge; from the con- sideration, that if all men be not saved, and if salvation be of God, there must be a choice — a se- lection from the wholenumberof the human family; from express and pointed declarations of Scripture on this subject; and from the utter impossibility of supposing prophecies to be either understand- ingly revealed, or certainly fulfilled, without ad- mitting, at the same time, the doctrine of predesti- nation. To all these, he added an appeal to the articles of Mr. Winder's own church, in which the doctrine of election, precisely as held by Calviii- ists, is most clearly and strongly laid down. Mr. Rodgers acknowledged that there were difficulties attending tl)is doctrine, which he did not presume to be able to solve ; but warned Mr. Winder of the danger of opposing a doctrine which the pious and venerable fathers of his own church, with their collected wisdom, had pronounced to be full of " sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort, to god- ly persons ;" though exceedingly liable, as they ad(l, to be perverted by "curious and carnal per- sons, lacking the spirit of Christ," and to become, to such persons, a means of most "dangerous down- BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. 53 fall ;"* and, above all, warned him against the rejection of a doctrine which appeared to be so plainly and decisively laid down in many parts of the Scriptures of infallible truth. Mr. Winder acknowledged himself silenced, but not convinced. He was evidently, however, less warm and positive toward the close of the visit, than when the dispute commenced ; and dismiss- ed his guest in the evening with much respect and friendliness. The next Sabbath Mr. Rodgers preached in the neighbourhood, Mr. Winder was one of his hearers: and the faithful and animated discourse, founded on Ephesians ii. 8; " For by grace are ye saved, through faith ; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God" — was made the means of reaching his heart. He, in common with a num- ber of others, was deeply affected in the course of * See Article xvii. — The Calvinism of tiie thirty-nine Ar- ticles of the Church of England, has often hcen denied by modern Episcopalians, as sug'g-ested in a foregoing note. But there is one fact on the subject which the language of the 17th Article, as above quoted, renders ineontrovertibly evident. It is this : that the compilers of the Article held, and meant to express, the doctrine of Predestination, in a form, which, though " full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeak- able comfort, to godly persons," was yet not only myste- rious, but also highly offensive to the natural feelings of men ; in a form exceedingly liable, in their view, to per- version, and, when perverted, to become a source of dan- ger to the over-curious speculatist. Now we may safely appeal to Arminians, and ask, wliether these cautioning and qualifying clauses are at all applicable to their views of the doctrine of election; and whether their whole spirit and force do not refer to the Calvinistic view of the subject ? Such cautions and qualifying suggestions are not to be found in Arminian writers; while, in Calvinistic writings, tiiey are scarcely ever omitted. 54 BEFORE HIS ORDINATION. the service, and retired from the house of worship with very different views of himself, and of the way of salvation, from those with which he came thither, or had ever entertained before. The next day, he called on Mr. Rodgers; not to cavil at the doctrine of election ; not to speculate on the mys- teries of religion, as matters of curious investiga- tion; but, as a convinced and humbled sinner, to ask, what he should do to be saved? His heart was now softened ; his difficulties were in a great measure removed ; he was convinced that if ever he were saved, it must be by grace alone ; he was ready to acknowledge himself an instance of the sovereignty of divine grace ; and, in a short time, found sweet peace and consolation in those truths which had, a few days before, appeared to him un- scriptural and forbidding. Not long afterwards he united himself in communion with the Presbyte- rian Cluirch; was for many years, not aidlie, D.D., was a native of Scotland. He had accepted a call to the Dutch church of Flushing, in Zealand, and had been four years the pastor of that church when he was called to the city of New NEW YORK. 137 ston,* William Smith,t and John Morin Scolt,J esquires, who were vigilant observers of the course of public affairs, and who did much to awaken and direct the public mind at that interesting pe- riod. Though the subject of this memoir did not himself make any large publication at that time, yet he published some smaller pieces, whicli were considered as useful, and constantly aided by his influence and his counsels the cause in which he was engaged. In 1768, Mr. Rodgers had the degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred on him, by the University of Edinburgh. Academic honours of this kind have become so common at the present day, that their value, even in public opinion, is much reduc- ed. But this was by no means the case at the date of the event in question. At that time, consider- able advancement in age, and more than usual ele- vation and weight of character, were deemed in- York, where he arrived in 1764. He was the first minis- ter of the Dntch church in America who officiated in the English language. He was a man of distinguished ta- lents, of respectable learning, and of ardent piety. As a preacher, he was evangelical, powerful, popular, and suc- cessful to an uncommon degree, and, as a pastor, indefati- gably faithful. His ministry was greatly blessed to the Dutch church in New York. lie died at Red Hook in 1778, while an exile from the city, on account of the re- volutionary war. Probably no minister ever lived in New York more honoured, or more useful, or died more uni- versally regretted than Doctor Laidlie. * Afterwards Governor of New Jersey, whose character and writings arc well known. t The historian of New York, and an eminent counsel- lor at law; who died, a few years ago. Chief Justice of Canada. t A counsellor at law, of much eloquence, wit, and in- fluence, at that period- 12 138 ^^^ YOKK. dispensable requisites for meriting this degree. The circumstances also attending this tribute of respect from a foreign University, were honour- able to its object. It was as unexpected, as it had been altogether unsolicited by him. Mr. White- field being then in London, and wishing a public honour of this nature to be conferred on his Ame- rican friend, communicated his wish to Dr. Frank- lin, who was also in London, at the same time. Dr. Franklin, at the request of Mr. Whitefield, im- mediately wrote to Dr. Robertson, principal of the University of Edinburgh, giving Mr. Rotlgers such a character as he thought proper, and requesting for him, from that university, the degree of doctor in divinity. Dr. Robertson immediately took mea- sures for complying with this request. The de- gree was conferred. And in a few weeks Doctor Franklin received the official testimonial of the fact, which he sent to Mr. Whitefield, and Avhich was by him transmitted to Mr. Rodgers. The di- ploma bore date, December 20th, 1768, and reached the hands of Mr. Rodgers, in the following April, in the forty second year of his age. The gradual depreciation of the value of ho- norary degrees in later times, and especially in our own country, may be ascribed to a variety of causes: — to the multiplication of colleges in the United States, beyond the necessities of tlie coun- try, and beyond its power of efficient support; each of which colleges, deems itself bound to con- tinue the habit of annually bestowing its honours: to the groat increase, of the number of those, in proportion to the mass of society, who pass througli a collegiate course, and receive the first collegiate laurels, by which their ambition is excited to seek after those of a higher grade: and, perhaps, in NEW YORK. 139 some measure, to the prevailing plan of govern- ment adopted in colleges on this side of the At- lantic. But to whatever causes it may be ascribed, the fact itself is unquestionable ; and is chargeable, it is believed, in a greater degree, on the colleges of America, than on any others in the world. What a contrast between that state of public sen- timent, and public habit, which permitted presi- dent Dickinson, president Burr, president Edwards, president Davies, the apostolic Tennents, Mr. Wliitefield, and a long catalogue of similar men, to descend to their graves without a Doctorate ; and that which now lavishes the title, on juvenility, on ignorance, and on weakness, with a frequency al- together unworthy of the dispensers of literary ho- nour ! And although the venerable subject of this memoir, received his education, his habits, and his clerical title, in the better days of literary ad- ministration, if the expression may be allowed, yet it must be owned that his great benevolence and urbanity, too often prompted him, when called to act as one of the guardians of literature, to con- cur in that system of facility and yielding on this subject, which has so much reduced the value of Academic honours.* * The practice of conferring the honours of literary in- stitutions on individuals of distinguished erudition, com- menced in the twelfth century ; when the Emperor Lo- thaire, having found in Italy a copy of tlie Roman law, ordained that it should be publicly expounded in the schools : and that he might give encouragement to the study, he further ordered, that the public professors of this law should be dignified with the title of Doctors. The first person created a Doctor, after tiiis ordinance of the Emperor, VTas Bulgarus Hugolinus, who was greatly dis- tinguished for his learning, and literary labour. Not long afterwards the practice of creating doctors was borrowed 140 ^^^ YORK. In the summer of 1768, the Rev. Doctor Wi- therspoon reached America, anil look charge of the college at Princeton, to the presidency of which he had been called a short lime before. Dr. Rodgers was among the first to do honour to the talents, learning, and piety of this eminent stranger; and was always ranked among his most respectful and affectionate friends. In 1769, he accompanied Dr. Witherspoon on a visit to Boston, and other parts of New England, where they spent some weeks; and where they were received and treated with the most gratifying distinction and respect. This journey was exceedingly interesting to both. It introduced them to a new, and highly valued circle of friends ; and furnished matter for pleasing reflec- tion, and entertaining anecdote, to the end of life. Few men were ever more free from feelings of envy and jealousy than Dr. Rodgers. He had the discernment to perceive, and the magnanimity to acknowledge, intellectual and literary superiority wherever they existed; and was unfeignedly gra- tified with the public honours received and enjoyed from the lawyers by divines, who, in their schools, publicly taught divinity, and conferred degrees on those who had made great proficiency in this science. The plan of con- ferring degrees in divinity was first adopted in tlie uni- versities of Bologna, Oxford, and Paris. See Matlicr's Magnalia Christi Americana, B. iv. p. 134. It is remark- able that tlie celebrated Dr. Samuel Johnson, when he had become eminent in litcratnre, could not obtain the degree of Master of Arts, from Trinity college, Dublin, though powerful interest was made in his belialf, for this purpose, by Mr. Pope, Lord Gower, and others. Instances of the failure of apjilications of a similar kind, made in favour of characters still more distinguished than Johnson then was, are also on record. So cautious and reserved were literary institutions, a little more than lialf a century ago, in be- stowing their honours ! NEW YORK. 14.1 by such superior minds. His intercourse with Dr. VViiherspoon was a striking exemplification of this part of his character. That distinguished president of Nassau-Hall, had, probably, one of the most sound and vigorous minds of the age in which he lived; and in every company, or delibe- rative body, in which he appeared, his superiority was apparent. * Yet no man ever perceived in Dr. Rodger? the smallest uneasiness at the fame * Dr. John Witherspoon was a native of Scotland, where he was born, February 5th, 1722. He was hneally descended from John Knox, the eminent reformer. He received his education in the university of Edinburgh, which he left, after completing his studies, in the Theolo- gical Hall, at the age of twenty-one. From that period, until his arrival in America, he devoted Himself to the work of the gospel ministry, first at Beith, and afterwards at Paisley. Whether we consider this great man as a divine, a statesman, or the head of a literary institution, his talents and usefulness were pre-eminent. Many men have had greater brilliancy of genius, and greater variety and extent of learning; but scarcely any man ever pos- sessed more sound practical wisdom, more comprehensive views, or a mass of information better selected, or more thoroughly digested, than he. His works will do him honour, as long as piety, orthodoxy, good sense, and pro- found discussion of truth and duty, shall be esteemed among men. He was the first person in Great Britain who published the leading doctrine relating to the illus- tration of the powers of the human mind, on the princi- ples of common sense, afterwards so largely and success, fully developed by Dr. Reid, and others. It is asserted, by competent judges, that an essay in the Scott's Maga- zine, by Doctor Witherspoon, published several years be- fore Dr. Reid had given any thing to the world on the subject, distinctly exhibits the grand doctrine for which the latter has received so much praise. And it is certain that Dr. Witherspoon himself, whose temper was very remote from vanity or arrogance, always laid claim to the honour of being, in a sort, the discoverer of tliat doctrine. J 42 N^^ YORK, and honours of his ilhistrious friend ; though, amidst the intercourse of many years, he was often called to witness them. On the contrary, he was ever among the most forward to confess his supe- rior powers, and to promote his merited reputation. He cultivated towards him the most affectionate friendship, and took pleasure in acting with him, as long as they both lived. At the meeting of the Synod, in 1774, Dr. Rod- gers was appointed to spend a number of weeks, in the summer and autumn of that year, on a mis- sionary tour, through the northern, and north wes- tern parts of the province of New York. He ac- cordingly devoted several months to that service, itinerating and preaching the gospel with unwea- ried zeal an^ assiduity; for the most part in places utterly destitute of the means of grace ; generally with great acceptance; and in a number of instan- ces, with the most gratifying success. His labours, in the course of that mission, were the immediate or remote means of forming many churches, which have since proved large, flourishing, and happy. The period in which the Doctor fulfilled this mission, was the period rendered memorable by the warm dispute between the settlers in the terri- tory which is now Vermont, and the government of New York, which claimed that territory as lying within its jurisdiction. Measures of great decision, and even violence, had been taken by both parlies, a short time before he went into that country; so that he found the public mind, par- ticularly in Vermont, highly irritated and inflamed. Nothing was further from his view than any poli- tical design ; but some of the jealous and exaspe- rated Vermonters, knowing that he came from the capital of New York, and connecting every thing NEW YORK. 143 with the existing dispute, suspected him of being engaged in some mission or plan unfriendly to their claims. In a particular town, which he had entered, by appointment, for the sole purpose of preaching, he observed, a little before the public service began, several rough and fierce looking men approach the house in which he was about to preach, and enter into very earnest, and apparently, angry conversation with those who were near the door. He was utterly ignorant, at the time, of their design, or of the subject of their conversa- tion ; but was afterwards informed, that they were very warmly contending with his friend, that he was a spy, and, of course, a very dangerous cha- racter, and that he ought to be immediately ar- rested. It was in vain that the friends of the Doc- tor remonstrated, on tlie ground of the sacredness of his office, and the solemnity of the duty in which he was about to engage, and to attend on which the people were then collecting. His angry accusers replied, that the more sacred his office, the greater his power of doing mischief; and that to let him escape would be treason to their cause. At length, finding that all they could say availed nothing to his exculpation, and that the most posi- tive assurances of his being known to be a man of pious and exemplary character, only rendered these hostile and ardent spirits more determined in their original purpose, the friends of the Doctor only begged them to delay the seizure of his person until after divine service should be closed, as it would be a pity to disappoint so large a congrega- tion as had then assembled for public worship. To this proposal, after much persuasion, they reluc- tantly consented, and divine service in a few mo- ments began. The exercises were more than usu- 144 ^^^ YORK. ally solemn and impressive in their character; many of the congregation were in tears ; and even those who had come into the assembly armed with so much resentment, were observed to be first seri- ous, and then softened, with those around them. When the solemnities of worship were ended, they said nothing more about their plan of arresting the preacher ; but quietly retired, and suffered him to pursue his journey. Before he left the house, however, in which he had preached, the owner of it, who had stood his firm friend in the contest, put him on his guard, by relating all that had passed. Two or three days after this, while the Doctor was preaching in a more northern town, in the same district of country, soon after the public ser- vice began, he saw two men enter the assembly, marked with countenances of peculiar ferocity and rage. He afterwards learned that they had come from a southern town, under the same impressions and with the same views as their predecessors in violence. On entering the assembly, they seated themselves, resolving to wait until the service should be ended, and then to arrest the preacher. The exercises of the day, as in the former case, were the means of disarming them. When the benediction was pronounced, they withdrew, say- ing to each other, that they were probably mistaken in the man, and had better go home. Those who are acquainted with the piety, the fervour, and the affection, which Dr. Rodgers ha- bitually manifested in his public addresses, will feel no surprise at their producing such effects as these. No one could hear him without being im- pressed with tiie conviction that he was not acting a part, but that he was deeply in earnest; that he NEW YORK. 145 felt the importance of what he uttered ; and that he was actuated by a tender concern for the tem- poral and eternal welfare of those whom he ad- dressed. It is impossible, here, not to recollect the case of an infinitely greater than the subject of this memoir, by whose discourse the officers who had been sent to seize him were disarmed, and concerning whom they ingenuously said, on their return, "never man spake like this man." In 1774, it was judged proper to make one more effort to obtain a charter for the church in New York. Governor Tryon being about to em- bark for Great Britain, in the autumn of that year, was made fully acquainted with all the steps which had been taken, at different times, for attaining this object, and also with all the distressing embar- rassments and difficulties which had arisen from repeated disappointments. He professed to have a deep conviction of the injustice and impolicy of the treatment which the congregation had received in relation to this affair ; and promised his best offices, when he should arrive in England, to pro- mote the accomplishment of their wishes. On receiving from him declarations and assurances of this kind, that he might be furnished with a proper document to lay before the King and the Privy Council on the subject, a petition was formally presented to him, making suitable statements, and praying for a charter. Petitions of a similar na- ture were presented to the Governor from several Presbyterian congregations in different parts of the province, and also from several Low Dutch Re- formed congregations. These petitions he took with him, and pursued the business intrusted to him with so much fidelity, that he actually obtain- 246 ^^^ YORK. ed an order from the King and Council to grant all the charters for which application had been made. On his return to New York, in the sum- mer of 1775, he imparted this pleasing intelligence to the several petitioners ; in consequence of which, the ministers, elders, deacons, and trustees of the Presbyterian church in the city, in compliance wiih a form which they were told was necessary, pre- sented another petition to the Governor and coun- cil, accompanied with a draft of the charter for which they prayed, Tiiis petition was favourably received ; the charter, as drafted, actually passed the council, and was put into the hands of Mr. Kemp, the King's attorney, to report thereon. The report of this officer was made necessary by the ten- or of the royal order; but was, at the same time, considered as a mere formality, and a favourable re- port, as a thing of course, after the steps which had been taken. In this, however, the persons concern- ed were deceived. Neither the charter, nor his re- port upon it, could ever be gotten out of the at- torney's hands. On one frivolous pretence or another he delayed from time to time, until the ap- proach of the revolutionary struggle, which, while it rendered the congregation less solicitous about obtaining a charter, attracted and fixed their atten- tion on other subjects. Dr. Rodgers was an early and a decided friend to American Independence. When the contest between Great Britain and her colonies was draw- ing to a crisis, and it became evident that an appeal to the sword was unavoidable, he did not hesitate to take side with the latter ; and was the uniform, zealous, and active advocate of his coun- try's rights. A few of the principal members of NEW YORK. 147 his church took a different course ;* but a great majority of them decided and acted in concur- rence with their pastor. For a considerable time before this crisis arrived, Dr. Rodgers, and seve- ral other clergymen of tlie city, among whom were Dr. Mason and Dr. liaidiie, had been in the habit of holding weekly meetings for cultivating friendship with each other, and for mutual instruc- tion. Towards the close of 1775, the gentlemen concerned agreed to suspend their usual exercises at these meetings, and to employ the time, when they came together, in special prayer for a bless- ing upon the country, in the struggle on which it was entering. This meeting, thus conducted, was kept up until the ministers composing it, and the great mass of the people under their pastoral care, retired from the city, previous to the arrival of the British forces. It being taken for granted, immediately after the commencement of hostilities with Great Britain, that gaining possession of New York would be one of the first and most favourite objects of that go- vernment; and the movements of the enemy soon beginning to confirm this expectation, a large part of the inhabitants of the city, not wishing either to join the British, or to lie at their mercy, thought proper to retire from the scene, and go into a vo- * Amon^ those members of the Presbyterian church in New York, who took the side of Great Britain in this contest, were Andrew Ehot,Esq., the collector of the port; William Smith, Esq., mentioned in a preceding page ; James Jaunccy, Esq., a gentleman of great wealth and respectability, and some others, to whom Dr. Rodgers was greatly attached, and from whom he separated with pain. But, compared with the body of the congregation, the number of those who took this ground was extremely small. 148 ^^^ YORK. luntary exile. The greater portion of those who toolv lliis course, left the city toward the close of the winter and in the spring of 1776. On the 29th of February, Dr. Rodgers removed his family to a place of retirement, in the neighbourhood of the city ; where they remained during the months of March and April ; and from which he found it con- venient to visit the city, as often as his professional duties required. On the 14th day of April, in that year, General Washington reached New York, and took pos- session of it for its defence. Soon after his arrival. Dr. Rodgers, in company with other friends of the American cause, waited on the General to pay him his respects. The General received him with pointed attention ; and when he was about to retire, followed him to the door, and observed, that his name had been mentioned to him in Philadelphia, which he had just left, as a gentleman wliose fidelity to the interest and liberties of the country might be relied on, and who might be capable of giving him important information : and added, " May I take the liberty. Sir, to apply to you, with this view, whenever circumstances may render it desirable?" The Doctor, after assuring him of the readiness and pleasure with which he should render him, in the cause in which he was engaged, any service in his power, took his leave. It is not improper to add, that the General actually did con- sult the Doctor, on several occasions afterwards, concerning certain parts of the public service, and, particularly in one case, received from him impor- tant information. A number of letters passed be- tween them, some of which were found among the Doctor's papers after his decease. In the month of May, 1776, the Doctor removed NEW YORK. J 49 his family from the neighbourhood of New York to Greenfield, in Connecticut, as a place of more comfortable retirement and greater safely. About the same time, or a few weeks afterwards, the great body of his congregation left the city, and either joined the army, to render what aid they were able to the common cause, or took refuge in such parts of the adjacent country as were most secure from the incursions of the enemy. Tiie Reverend Mr. Treat, his colleague, left the city about the same time. It ought not to be omitted, that Doctor Rodgers, among the many points in which his conduct is worthy of remembrance and imitation, displayed, about this time, that tender filial atlection, which might have been expected from his general charac- ter. A few years before the commencement of tlie revolutionary war, his father's house, in the city of Philadelphia, was consumed by fire, and his fa- ther perished in the flames. He immediately took his mother under his own roof, and, as long as she lived, displayed towards her all the unremitting at- tentions of the most dutiful son. He removed her, at the commencement of the war, into Connecticut, where she died, in the course of the next year, at a good old age, and after a life of exemplary piety. A short time after tlic removal of Dr. Rodgers to New York, and more particularly after tlie public testimony of respect which he received from the University of Edinburgh, he was led, by a variety of circumstances, to commence a correspontlence with several genUemen of distinction, in Great Britain, which he maintained, until the commence- ment of hostilities interrupted the intercourse with that country ; and which, with respect to most of them, he resumed and continued, alter the restora- 1 50 ^^^ YORK. tion of peace. Among these gentlemen, were the Rev. Dr. Gillies, of Glasgow, the Rev. Dr. Gib- bons, of London, the Rev. Dr. Price, of Hackney, and the Rev. Dr. Ryland, of Northampton. But among all his friends beyond the Atlantic, he priz- ed the correspondence of none more than that of the Rev. Dr. Erskine, of Edinburgh, whose talents, learning, and fervent piety, rendered him eminent throughout Protestant Christendom, His episto- lary intercourse with this venerable clergyman was constant and peculiarly affectionate, and continued till the death of Dr. Erskine, which took place se- ven or eight years before that of Dr. Rodgers.* * An incident connected with the correspondence with Dr. Erskine, impressed the writer of these pages very forcibly at the time of its occurrence. When Dr. Rodgers received the news of the deatli of that excellent man, he was himself recovering from a severe illness, and was deeply affected with the intelligence. After some pious remarks, and a reference to the circumstance of Dr. Ers- kine's age and his own being nearly the same, he added, " I liave now lost the last of my correspondents in Great Britain. I believe I must open a correspondence with Dr. Balfour, of Glasgow; as I do not wish to be without a friend on that side of the Atlantic, with whom I can oc- casionally exchange letters." The writer acknowledges that the first impression made on his mind by this remark, from the lips of a man of seventy-six or seventy-seven years of age, and tl;en so feeble as not to be likely to live many months, was ratlier of the ludicrous kind. But a moment's reflection entirely removed this impression, and produced one of respect and admiration. It was the same firm, persevering, practical spirit, which had attended Dr. Rodgers through life, and had prompted him to so much active usefulness, wliich, on this occasion, led him, instead of giving up to inaction and langour, for tiie remainder of life, to go on laying new i)lans for exertion and enjoyment, as long as he had power to make an effort. The famous motto of Dr. Doddridge, Dum vivimus, vivamus, has an REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 151 CHAPTER VI. The period of his exile from New York, during the Revo- lutionary War. In the month of April, 1776, Dr. Rodgers was appointed chaplain to General Healh*!? brigade, consisting partly of militia, and partly of regidar troops, enlisted for a short period. 'I'his brigade for several months, during the spring and summer of this year, was stationed near Greenwich, on New York island. The Doctor, therefore, after placing his family at Greenfield, as before stated, under the hospitable roof of his excellent son-in- law, the Rev. Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Tennent, re- turned to the neighbourhood of the city, and faith- fully attended to the duties of his chaplaincy. Whatever he did, he did with his might. He engaged, with his wonted zeal, in plans for bene- fiting the soldiery, and devoted himself to their best interests. He frequently, in subsequent years, pointed to a small grove near the spot on which the state prison now stands, and said, " That was my church in the summer and autumn of 1776." In the month of November of that year, having important private business to transact in the state of Georgia, he resigned his chaplaincy, and leav- ing his family still at Greenfield, he set out, by admirable application here. There is no doubt, that the premature dotage of many disting-uishcd men, has arisen from their ceasing, in advanced life, to exert their facul- ties, under tlie in)i)ression that they were too old to en- gage in any new enterprise. If the spirit of Dr. Rodgers were more prevalent, old men would live with more com- fort, and to more purpose. 152 REVOLUTIONARY WAR. land, for Savannah. On this occasion, as well as every other of a similar kind, he made his journey a kind of evangelical mission; preaching, not only regularly on the Sabbath, but also on the evenings of week days, when he found the people in those towns in which he arrived desirous of hearing the word, and in circumstances which admitted of their being readily convened for the purpose. He had much reason to believe that his labours in the course of that journey were useful to many indi- viduals. Having spent some time in Charleston, and the intermediate country, he reached Savannah in the month of January. Here he remained a number of weeks, in the house of his friend, the Rev. Dr. Zubly,* who revered and loved him, and who had been his guest a short time before in New York. * John Joachim Zubly, D. D. was a native of Switzer- land. He came to America, and took cliarge of the Pres- byterian Church in Savannah, in tlie year 1760. He not only preached in that church, in the English language, but also in one neighbouring congregation in German, and in another in French. He was a member of the pro- vincial congress of Georgia, in 1775; but as he took the side of opposition to American independence, he incurred the frowns of a majority of his fellow citizens, and be- came, for the remainder of his life, less happy and less useful. Dr. Zubly was a man of strong mind, of great learning, and of eminent piety. His evangelical labours were zealous, unwearied, and extensively useful. 'I'he few and small publications whicli he made, do honour to his memory. He died at Savannah, in 1781. Dr. Rodgers and he had a great respect for eacii other. The only sub- ject on which they ever materially differed, was that of American independence. Dr. Zubly was much grieved in the course of the visit in question, at the decisive and ardent manner in wliich Dr. Kodgcrs prayed, in public and private, for the success of tlie arms, and the establish- ment of the independence, of America. REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 153 In Savannah lie found himself on ground which had been often trod by his ilhislrious friend, and spiritual father, Mr. Whitefield; and had an op- portunity of contemplating the monuments of his pious zeal. The friends of that eminent servant of Jesus Christ, received and treated him with the most pointed respect, and testified their readiness to embrace with aflection one who appeared to have drunk so deep at the same fountain, and to be animated with the same spirit which distin- guished their deceased friend and benefactor. In the month of April, 1777, Dr. Rodgers re- turned from Georgia, and joined his family at Greenfield. On his way home, he was informed of his election to the office of chaplain to the Con- vention of the State of New York, then silling in Esopus, and engaged, among other things, in form- ing a constitution for the State. On receiving this information, he immediately repaired to the con- vention, and entered on the duties of his office. He continued to serve that body in the capacity of chaplain as long as it continued to sit. On the dissolution of the convention, and on the power of the State being temporarily lodged in a council of safety, which, also, for some weeks, held its meet- ings at Esopus, the Doctor was chosen to the chaplaincy in that body. And shortly afterwards, when the first legislature of the Stale, under the new constitution, convened, he was a third time elected to serve the legislature in the same oflice. In fulfilling the duties of these successive appoint- ments, he and his family, wliich he had now re- moved from Greenfield, were led to reside at Eso- pus the whole of the summer, and a part of the autumn of 1777. Two or three days before the burning of Esopus 13 154 REVOLUTIONARY WAR, by the British troops, which took place in October of this year, Dr. lio(-lg;ers, learning that the ene- my's fleet was ascending the river, and fearing those acts of wanton and cruel devastation, which were afterwards so unhappily realized, thought proper to remove his family to the eastern side of the river, to a settlement smaller, and less likely to be the object of hostile operations than a town which was then the seat of government of the State. Here, in a house near the place of landing, he deposited the trunks containing his books, his plate, and all the most valuable articles of portable properly which the enemy and his frequent remo- vals had left him. In this place he, as well as all whom he had consulted on liie subject, considered them as perfectly safe, and supposed all furth.er precaution to be unnecessary. In a few hours, however, after they were thus deposited, an aged and illiterate German, with whom he was but lit- tle acquainted, and whom he chiefly knew as a great friend to the clergy and to the American cause, came to him late at nisiht, and with much apparent anxiety, asked him where he had left his baggage. The Doctor informed him. He replied, with earnestness, " it must be removed this night." It was in vain that the distance of the place of de- posit, which was several miles ; the late hour of the night; the impossibility of obtaining the means of transportation until the next day, and the sup- posed safety of the baggage in its then situation, were urged. The honest German, to all these suggestions, had nothing else to reply than "I tell you your things must be removed this night;" and when he found that no other plan would an- swer, actually took a wagon, and went himself and brought them to the place where the Doctor and REVOLUTIONARY WAR. |55 his family lodged. It is remarkable, that before the light of tlie next morning dawned, the house in winch this baggage had been deposited, was burnt to ashes by the British troops! Esopus being burnt, the Doctor was compelled to seek some other place of residence. And con- sidering the towns on the margin of the Hudson as too much exposed to the attacks of the enemy, he determined to select a more retired situation. With this view, he made choice of the town of Sharon, in the State of Connecticut, to which he removed his family towards the end of October, 1777, where he spent the following winter. During his resi- dence here, he preached repeatedly for the Rev. Mr. Smith, the minister of the town, but more fre- quently to a congregation in the town of Amenia, in Dutchess county. New York, lying adjacent to Sharon, in which he shortly afterwards made a temporary settlement. The following extract of a letter from a gentleman residing in that neighbour- hood, contains the best accounts that could be col- lected of his ministry, during the lime that he spent in Sharon and Amenia: " Dr. Rodgers came to Sharon, with his family, in the autumn of 1777, and for several successive Sabbaths preached in the Rev. Mr. Smith's pulpit, to the great acceptance of both pastor and people. Early in the following winter, in consequence of an urgent application, he consented to supply a congregation in the southeast part of Amenia, which had become vacant by the dismission of their minister, the Rev. Mr. Knibloe. The parish is composed in about equal numbers of inhabitants from the two adjoining States ; the soutliern sec- tion of the town of Sharon, by an early regulation having been annexed, for parochial purposes, to 156 REVOLUTIONARY WAR, that part of Amenia, The church is of the Con- gregalioiial denomination, and stands connected with the association of Litchfield county. At their place of worship, more than four miles dis- tant from his abode, the Doctor atteniled regularly every Sunday, until the opening of the spring, when he removed his family into that neighbour- hood. He has there left lasting memorials of his usefulness, and his name will be long held in grate- ful and affectionate remembrance. The society was agitated by the most unhappy divisions. A. spirit of discord had prevailed for several years be- fore the removal of their minister, and was far from being quieted by that event. Under these discouraging prospects, the Doctor commenced his labours ; and by the blessing of God they were crowned with remarkable success. His mild and condescending, yet dignified deportment, more es- pecially his fervent piety, the energy of his public addresses, and the sanctity of his life and conver- sation, effectually secured him the affection and reverence of all parties. Harmony was soon re- stored, and has continued without interruption un- til the present time. Shortly after his departure, the people united in building a new and more spa- cious church, and in making a permanent provision for the support of the gospel. " But Dr. Rodgers did not confine his active and useful exertions to the place of his immediate re- sidence. He preached lectures frequently in the neighbouring parishes. To a society of freema- sons in Slockbridge, Massachusetts, by particular request, he delivered a sermon, which the society procured to be printed, and which was very favour- ably received by the public. He also made a tour into Vermont; dispensed the word in the several REVOLUTIONARY WAR. \^J towns througli which he passed; and every where attracted the deep regard of his hearers. He at- tended the various meetings of the clergy ; and en- joyed, in an eminent degree, the confidence and esteem of his bretliren in the ministry. They ad- mired him, not only for those superior endowments which constituted ' his praise in all the churches,' but also for the gracefulness of his person and man- ners, the charms of his conversation, and the sur- prising patience and even cheerfulness with which he bore a painful exile, the duration of which was involved in the most gloomy uncertainty. In short, he was respected and beloved by all descriptions of men. And notwithstanding those in this part of the country, ' who knew him best and loved him most,' have preceded him to the grave, there are still many survivors to attest, not merely to his talents as a divine, but that no man ever exhibited a more happy union of all those qualities which go to form the gentleman and the Christian. " Whilst the Doctor remained at Amenia, he re- ceived repeated and pressing solicitations to re- move to Danbury, and preach to the first society in that town. Perceiving a prospect of more ex- tensive usefulness in that quarter, and of better ac- commodations for his family, he at length yielded to these considerations, and, to the great regret of the people of Amenia, left them in the beginning of the year 1780." It was in the month of April, in the year above mentioned, that the Doctor removed with his fami- ly to Danbury. He found the congregation in that town in a divided and broken slate, and labour- ing under all those habits of coldness, negligence, and disorder, which the want of a pastor and of the regular administration of gospel ordinances, J 58 REVOLUTIONARY WAR. for several years preceding, might have heen ex- pected to produce. He proved to them, as he had proved to the congregation of Amenia, a messen- ger of peace. His prudence, wisdom, and zeal, were, as before, conspicuous. The divisions among the people were, in a great measure, healed ; the ordinances of the Gospel, some of which had been long neglected, were regularly administered ; the church was greatly edified and comforted ; and numbers were added to its communion, whose life and conversation have since manifested the sin- cerity of their profession. While Dr. Rodgers was at Danbury, though he considered his settlement in that place as only tem- porary; and though he on this account declined being installed as the pastor of the church, expect- ing, on the restoration of peace, to return to his pastoral charge in New York; yet he judged it expedient to connect himself, in the meanwhile, with some regular ecclesiastical body. He, there- fore, soon after his removal thither, joined the western Assocjntion of Fairfield county, of which he remained a member as long as he resided in the state. But he did not merely join the Association. Though a firm Presbyterian in principle, and a full believer in the apostolic origin of that form of church government ; he thought himself justifiable, situated as he then was, in holding the most unre- served and aflectionate communion with churches, which, though defective, approach so near to the primitive model as the (yongregationalists of Con- necticut. He therefore entered, with fraternal cor- diality, into the whole ecclesiastical system, in the midst of wliich Providence had cast his lot. He assisted in ordaining, installing, and dismissing councils; he served, in his turn, as Moderator of REVOLUTIONARY WAR. J 59 Associations, and Consociations ; and rendered himself highly acceptable to his neip;hbouring bre- thren in the ministry, and to the body of the peo- ple, by the promptness and the zeal with which he co-operated with tliem in all plans for the general advancement of religion. Although the labours of Dr. Rodgers in Danbur}* were not attended with any remarkable revival of religion, they were by no means without visible success. The congregation was gradually re- stored to imion and order; the children were col- lected and instructed ; the taste for sound and faithful preaching evidently increased; the attend- ance on public ordinances grew more and more general; and the whole aspect of the congregation, when he left it, was decidedly more favourable than when he commenced his labours as its pas- tor. But the labours of this venerable servant of Christ, though generally and highly acceptable to the congregation, were not universally so. Some of the enemies of the truth, thought him, in many of his addresses from the pulpit, too plain and pointed to be borne. One person in particular, who held a sort of pre-eminence in this class, after hearing one of the Doctor's most solemn and pun- gent sertnons, declared, that " if he ever went to hear him preach again, he hoped his arm might rot from his shoulder," In a few weeks after- wards, this person was seized with a swelling in his right hatul, which gradually extending u() his arm, a mortification ensued, and he died misera- bly; his arm, before jhis death, literally rotting from his body. This event made a deep impres- sion on multitudes ; though the unhappy victim IQO REVOLUTIONARY WAR. himself, to the last hour of his life, discovered no symptoms of relenting or penitence.* Dr. Rodgers, while in Danbury, as had been the case in the former places of his residence, by no means confined his labours to his own congrega- tion. He was an unwearied labourer in the word and doctrine, and an assiduous peace-maker, wher- ever he went. He preached in vacant parishes; assisted his neiglibouring brethren in their public labours; interposed with his best advice, and con- ciliatory persuasion, in cases of ecclesiastical divi- sion and difficulty; and, in one instance particu- larly, was the means of bringing about a reconci- liatiovi between a neighbouring church, and a re- fractory member, to effect which, the benevolent exertions of others had long been employed in vain. In the spring of the year 1782, when the Doctor had resided a little more than two years in Dan- bury, some circumstances occurring which ren- dered his situation less pleasant than before, he determined to leave it; and being invited about the same time by the church of Lamington, in Hun- terdon county, New Jersey, to come and minister to them, as long as he should remain an exile from his own people, he accepted their invitation. And, accordingly, in the month of May, of that year, he and his family were removed from Danbury, at the expense of the congregation of Lamington, and put in possession of their parsonage house, which he continued to occupy until the autumn of 1783. The following extract of a letter from the Rev. * Tlic author never heard Dr. Rodgers state this fact, or allude to it. He received it troin an aged and venera- ble deacon of tliat church, a short time after the death ofth subject oi' this memoir. REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 161 Enoch Burt, then tlie pastor of the church of Lam- ington, presents a view of the Doctor's ministry there, which, tliough brief, will be found conipre- liensive and satisfactory. " The regular pastor of this church, the Rev. Jeremiah Halsey, died in October, 1780, after a ministry in this place of about ten years. In March, 1781, the Rev, Dr. Mason, who had pro- bably left the city of New York about the lime that Dr. Rodgers did, came to Lamington, occu- pied the parsonage house, and preached occasion- ally as a supply. Some months afterwards, the congregation, hearhig that Dr. Rodgers was at Danbury, in Connecticut, had a meeting for the purpose of giving him an invitation to take the pastoral charge of them, during his absence from the city. The result of this meeting was a unani- mous request for that purpose. This request the Doctor complied with ; and in the month of May, 1782, his family was removed by the congregation to Lamington, and put in possession of the parson- age, which he occupied during his stay among them. He continued from that time until his re- turn to New York, to discharge regularly all the duties of a pastor to this church, though without the forms of what we denominate a regular call, or installation. " The Doctor's ministry here, although attend- ed with no more than ordinary success, was yet performed faithfully, zealously, and with a great degree of plainness of speech. On this subject he often remarked, that he fell himself bound to adapt his instructions to the very meanest capacity of his hearers; so that none miglit remain unbenefitcd by his labours. His zeal for the visible honour and word of his Divine Master, made him jealous of 14 Jg2 REVOLUTIONARY WAR. whatever appeared like disrespect toward the ordi- nances of tlie gospel. Something of this will ap- pear from the following circnmstance. It was, at that day, very common here, to see individuals rise from their seats during the course of the ser- mon, and almost as soon as risen, turning their backs toward the speaker. This practice appear- ed to him so much like visible disrespect to the word of God, that he viewed it with indignation, and ceased not to reprobate it publicly in the strongest terms, until he had entirely abolished the practice. " He manifested continually, that it was the de- sire and joy of his heart to see Ziou prosper. Of this there were many proofs during liis residence in Lamington. One example shall suffice. Hear- ing, while here, of a revival of religion at Red- stone, in Pennsylvania, and that the inhabitants of that district of country were but partially supplied with copies of the Scriptures, he opened a sub- scription in the congregation, and obtained a con- siderable sum, with which he purchased Bibles, and sent them thither. " He made it his business, while here, to visit the schools in the congregation, to examine and catechize the children, and to do every thing in his power for their encouragement and religious in- struction. " On the whole, although Dr. Rodgers' minis- try at Lamington, was not attended with any re- markable power, or signal success, at the time, yet there is an abundant reason to believe that it was far from being in vain ; that he obtained here some seals of his niinislry, which will be crowns of his rejoicing in the day of the Lord; and that the precious seed of the word, which he here scat- REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 1(33 tered, with a diligent and skilful hand, Ims since sprung up, and borne fruit, to everlasting life." In a short time after the definitive treaty of peace was signed, the disbanding of the American armies commenced. About this time Dr. Rodgers, whose mind was ever busily employed in forming plans of piety and benevolence, suggested to some lead- ing persons the propriety of presenting to each soldier, on retiring from service, a Bible. The war had, of course, entirely suspended the impor- tation of Bibles from Great Britain; and they had become, prior to the year 1781, extremely scarce in this country. Under these circumstances, it was found, as might naturally have been expected, that the needy soldiery were almost wholly desti- tute of copies of the Scriptures. In the year last mentioned, an enterprising printer and bookseller of Philadelphia,'- printed a large edition of the Bible. This event, however, though it removed the difficulty arising from the scarcity of copies of the sacred volume, by no means supplied the army. Dr. Rodgers determined to interest himself, and to take measures for prevailing with others to interest themselves, in furnishing the defenders of their country with so valuable a present. Among those whom he endeavoured to engage in this pious de- sign, was the commander in chief, to whom he addressed a letter, congratulating him on the resto- * Mr. Robert Aitkin. His duodecimo Bible, printed in 1781, was the first Bible, in the Engrlish language, ever printed in North America. Five years before, (1776,) Mr. Christopher Sower had printed, at Germantown, near Phi- ladelphia, a quarto edition of the Bible, in German; and more than a hundred 3'cars before, (IGGl,") tlie Rev. John Eliot had printed, at Cambridge, in ^Massachusetts, an edi- tion of the Bible in the language of the Natick Indians. 2()4 REVOLUTIONARY WAR. ration of peace, and proposing the exertion of his influence for the attainment of this desirable end. The following answer to the Doctor's letter, while it serves to assign one of the reasons why his pions plan did not succeed, will also furnish another tes- timony to the uniform dignity and greatness of the wonderful man by whom it was written. " Head Quarters, 11th June, 1783. "Dear Sir, " I accept, with much pleasure, your kind con- gratulations on the happy event of Peace, with the establishment of our Liberties and Independence. " Glorious indeed has been our contest: glorious, if we consider the prize for which we have con- tended, and glorious in its issue. But in the midst of our joys, I hope we shall not forget, that to Di- vine Providence is to be ascribed the glory and the praise. " Your proposition respecting Mr. Aitkin's Bible, would have been particularly noticed by me, had it been suggested in season. But the late resolution of Congress for discharging part of the army tak- ing ofi" near two thirds of our numbers, it is now too late to make the attempt. It would have pleas- ed me well, if Congress had been pleased to make such an important present to the brave fellows who have done so much for the security of their coun- try's rights and establishment, " I hope it will not be long before you will be able to go quietly to New York. Some patience, however, will yet be necessary. But patience is a noble virtue, and, when rightly exercised, does not fail of its reward. " With much regard and esteem, I am, dear Doctor, Your most obedient servant, " Go. Washington." REVOLUTIONARY WA.R. 165 " P. S. Be so good as to inform me whether Mrs. Tliompson is living with you, or gone into New York ? Before I retire from sevice, it is my wish to rentier her what is owing to her.* " Rev. Dr. Rodgers. G. W." While Dr. Rodgers was thus a sojourner, and variously, but always usefully, employed, during l)is exile from New York, it may be proper to in- quire, what was going on, in the mean time, iii that city, in relation to his ail'airs, and the interests of the church with which he was connected. The British armies, in the course of the revo- lutionary contest, whenever they had an oppor- tunity, manifested a peculiar hostility to the Pres- byterian Church. This hostility, prompted partly by sectarian rancour, and pardy by the considera- tion, that the Presbyterians were generally favour- able to the American cause, was displayed by many acts of violence and indignity of the most wanton kind.t The Presbyterian churches in New York, * This postscript, though irrelative to the main subjects of the latter, is retained, not only as another example of the scrupulous justice of the illustrious writer ; but also to show that he had a mind which, while it grasped great objects, was capable of attending to minute details. t Tiic following is extracted from a note in a Sermon, delivered and published by Dr. Rodgers, entitled, A Ser- mon preached in New York, Dec. 11, 1783, appointed by Congress, as a day of public thanksgiving throughout the United States, p. 26. " It is much to be lamented, that the troops of a nation that has been considered as one of the bulwarks of the Reformation, should act as if they had waged war with the God whom Christians adore. They have, in the course of this war, utterly destroyed more than fifty places of public worship, in these states. Most of these they burnt, others they leveled with tlie ground, and in some places left not a vestige of their former sit- uation ; while they have wantonly defaced, or. rather dc- JgQ REVOLUTIONARY WAR. were the objects of special vengeance. The church in Wall street was immediately seized, and con- verted into barracks; and that in Beekman street into an hospital. It is hardly necessary to add, that in preparing them for these purposes re- stroyed others, by converting them into barracks, jails, hospitals, riding schools, &c. Boston, Newport, Phila- delphia, and Charleston, all furnished melancholy instances of this prostitution, and abuse of the houses of God: and of the nineteen places of public worship in this city, when the war began, there were but nine fit for use, when the British troops left it. It is true. Trinity church, and the old Lutheran, were destroyed by the fire, that laid waste so great a part of the city, a few nights after tlie enemy took possession of it ; and therefore they are not charged with designedly burning them, though they were the oc- casion of it; for there can be no doubt, after all that ma- lice has said to the contrary, but the fire was occasioned by the carelessness of their people, and they prevented its more speedy extinguishment. But the ruinous situation in which they lell two of the Low Dutch Reformed churches, the three Presbyterian churches, the French Protestant church, the Anabaptist church, and the Friends' new raeeting-house, was the ctFect of design, and strongly marks their enmity to those societies." Concerning the Middle Dutch ciiurch, in Nassau street, which in the beginning of the war, was used by the Bri- tish garrison as a prison, and afterwards turned into a riding school, the venerable Dr. Livingston tims expresses himself in a sermon, delivered July 4th, 17'J0, when it was for the first time opened for public worship, after being repaired: "I dare not speak of the wanton cruelty of those who destroyed this temple, nor repeat the various indignities which have been perpetrated. It would be easy to mention facts which would chill your blood ! A rccollectiou of the groans of dying prisoners, which pierc- ed this ceiling; or the sacrilegious sports and rough feats of horsemanship exhibited witliiii these walls, might raise sentiments in your minds tliat would, perhaps, not har- monize with tiiosc religious aifections, which I wish, at present, to promote, and always to cherish." REVOLVTIONARY WAR. [Q'^ spectively, they were not only defaced, but almost entirely stripped of their appropriate interior; and (hat they were left in a most ruinous condition. Nor was this all. The parsonage house, belong- ing to the congregration, was, during the same period, destroyed. It fell a prey to the dreadful lire, which consumed so large a portion of the city, in a few weeks after the British troops took pos- session of it, in the autumn of 1776. In the spring of the year 1783, when it became known that the preliminary articles of peace with Great Britain had been signed, an intercourse be- gan to take place between the city of New York, and the adjacent country. On the commencement of this intercourse, many of the old inhabitants of the city returned from their exile ; and among these were some of the members of the Presbyterian churches. In the course of the ensuing summer a few more returned. But the larger portion re- mained in their various places of retirement until the evacuation of the city by the British troops, which took place on the 25th of November, 1783. On the 26th, the day after the evacuation. Dr. Rodgers returned with his family to the city; and in a short time afterwards, the great body of the exiles were restored to their former habitations. In taking a retrospect of the conduct and cha- racter of Dr. Rodgers, with reference to the revo- lutionary war, it will be nothing more than justice to his memory, and may not be unprofilablc to others, to make two or three general remarks. The first is, that although constitutionally, as well as by habit, a prudent and cautious man, and perhaps sometimes so to an extreme; yet when the path of duty became perfectly plain, he pur- sued it with fearless intrepidity. This was the case 2(38 REVOLUTIONARY WAR. with respect to the American contest. The de- cision with which he acted in that contest, was beyond what was usual with him. A gentleman of great political eminence in the United Stales,* who was much with him, and had the best oppor- tunity of observing his conduct, during that inter- esting period; and who is also of a different reli- gious denomination, expresses himself, in a com- munication on the subject, in the following respect- ful terms. "The lale Dr. Rodgers appeared to me a Christian and a gentleman. Believing ihe opposition of America to be right, he adhered to her cause ; and was a good whig, because he was a good Christian. Being chaplain to the Conven- tion, he followed that body from place to place, with much personal inconvenience, and I believe too, at a considerable pecuniary sacrifice," A second remark is, that, while he was a firm, and even an ardent whig, yet he did not forget that he was a minister of Jesus Christ; and never fail- ed to make tire latter his prominent character. "When a Christian minister ventures much into the society of political men, and suffers his attention to be habitually occupied with their schemes and measures; and especially when he undertakes, in his public prayers and sermons, to expatiate freely on the political events of the day, he attempts a task as dilHcult as it is delicate. Nay, it may not be going too far to say, that he undertakes a task in which his ministerial feelings and character will seklom wliolly escape injury. 'J'he truth of this remark, if the writer is not greatly deceived, was often exemplified during the revolutionary war. The conduct of many of the clergy, and especially * The lion. Gouvcrncur Morris, Esq. REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 1G9 of those of the Presbyterian Church, in the course of that struggle, was indeed nobly patriotic, and eminently useful. Yet it may be seriously doubted, whether some of them, in tlieir zeal, did not, now and then, in their public ministrations, a? well as in their private intercourse, overstep the bounds of propriety; and appear more like politicians, plead- ing an earihly cause, than servants of the meek and benevolent Jesus, referring every thing to his wise and holy government, and breathing peace on earth and good will toward men.* It would, perhaps, * It has been said, and doubtless with truth, tliat wiiile many pious ministers, and other Cliristians in America, during the revolutionary war, were praying, in public and in private, that the councils of Great Britain might be overthrown; that defeat and destruction might attend their military and naval armaments; and that victory, in every quarter, might crown our arms ; thousands of pious per- sons, on the other side of the Atlantic, were praying, in the same language, against America, and in favour of Bri- tish oppressions. Is it possible to suppose that such oppo- site ])etitions, on the same subject, were equally acceptable to Ilim who hears prayer ? It is not possible. But it may be asked, where is the remedy for such occurrences? The remedy lies in ministers and others, when they address the throne of grace, being less of politicians, and more of Christians. It is plain that, if men were less prone to pre- scribe to the Most High in prayer, and more ready to adopt those humble, submissive, and filial forms of peti- tion, of which the Saered Volume gives so many noble examples, real Christians, in difierent countries, even in the midst of war, might meet at the throne of grace, as on common territory, and unite in precisely the same requests. Some have been inconsiderate enough to allege, that a remedy for all this dilHculty may be found, as far as pray- ers are concerned, in the adoption of stated forms of prayer. But if such persons had an opportunity of peru- sing a few of the "forms" and "oflices," prepared "by authority," to be used on fast and thanksgiving days, and in " times of war," in countries where liturgies are esta- JYO REVOLUTIONARY AVAR. be extravagant praise to say, that Dr. Roclgers, amidst the contagion of the times, was, in tliis re- spect, wholly free from fault. But he was certainly much more free from the fault in question, than most of those active clergymen of the day, who took the same side, and possessed as much ardour of mind, as himself. Wherever he went, he set a noble example of devotedness to the minis- try of reconciliation. Whether he addressed con- ventions, or legislatures, brigades of soldiers, or Christian churclies, the peculiar and precious doc- trines of the gospel were not only the constant, but the leading subjects of discourse. And the tendency of all his preaching, was to lead the minds of liis hearers from this scene of conflict and change, of sin and sorrow, to a more holy and hap- py world. Finally; Dr. Rodgers, amidst all the decision with which he thought, and the firmness with which he acted, during the struggle for American Independence, was distinguished for his liberality toward those, who adopted difTerent opinions, and took a different course. He was remarkably free from the bitterness of party animosity, and ever ready to make allowance for the diversity of views Wished, they would frequently find much of their contents quite as exceptionable, botli in spirit and expression, as what sometimes falls from the lips in extemporaneous fer- vour. With this difference, that in the one case, the evil is eonfmcd to its innnediate authors; while in the other, it is imposed on thousands, and forced into every reading- desk into which the form is introduced. There is no remedy to be hoped for iiom this quarter. It is to be found in the prevalence among ministers of the gospel, of })iety, good sense, sound judgment, and minds deeply im- bued with the language and the spirit of the Holy Scrip- tures. NEW TORE. 171 and of conduct, which he had occasion to observe in others. Those who are acquainted with the history of his private friendships, and of his affec- tionate; correspondence, after the melanclioly dis- ruption of social bonds which the revolution, in so many cases, produced, cannot doubt that " the law of kindness" was in his heart, as well as upon his lips. The same gentleman who was last adduced as a witness of the Doctor's patriotism,* thus speaks, in the same communication, on this part of his character. " In his opinion of others, he showed the liberality of a gentleman. Not soured by that intolerant spirit which assails, and some- limes subdues, clerical men of great talents and worth, he had not only the faith, and the hope, but also the charity of a Christian." CHAPTER Vn. From the Revolutionary War till his last illness. The situation in which the subject of this memoir, and the remains of his flock, found themselves on returning from their exile, may be more easily imagined than described. Their numbers greatly reduced by death, and by permanent removals to the country; the pecuniary resources of all of them impaired, and mnny of them exhausted; both their houses of worship in a state little short of complete ruin; their parsonage burnt; and a considerable debt accumulated in consequence of * Mr. Morris. 172 ^^^ YORK. their long exclusion from the city — it may be sup- posed that nothing but Cliristian faith could have preserved them from total discouragement. This faitli they were enabled, in some degree, to exer- cise. They trusted in the faithfulness of the great Head of the Church ; in His name they lifted up their banner; and He did not either forsake them or disappoint their hopes. The Hrst and most serious difllculty which pre- sented itself, was the want of a place of worship. A number of months, it was perceived, must ne- cessarily intervene before either of their churches could be prepared for the reception of a worship- ing assembly. In this extremity, the vestry of Trinity church, unsolicited, and with a politeness which did them honour, made an ofi'er of St. George's and St. Paul's churches, to be used by the congregation alternately, until one of their own churches could be repaired. This offer was grate- fully accepted ; and from November, 1783, until the following June, the remains of the congrega- tion alternately worshipped, in conformity with a settled arrangement, in the spacious edifices just mentioned. In a few days after Dr. Rodgers recommenced his ministration in New York, the day which had been recommended by Congress to be ob- served throughout the United States as a day of thanksgiving and prayer, arrived. On this occa- sion he delivered a sermon on Psal. cxxvi. 3, which was afterwards publisheil under the following title : " The Divine Goodness displayed in the American Kevolution."* This was the second publication * This sermon was delivered December 11th, 1783, in St. George's chapel. NEW YORK. I '^3 he ever made;* and it is valuable, not only on the account of the pious and judicious discussion of its subject, in a religious view, but also on account of the historical matter with which the body of the discourse and the notes are enriched. It being found that the Brick church, in Beek- man street, had sufTered less from the ravages of the enemy, and could be repaired more speedily, and at much less expense than the church in Wall street, it was determined to attempt the restoration of the former without delay. The work was im- mediately commenced, and completed in about six months, at an expense of between three and four thousand dollars. It was first opened for public worship, after being repaired, on the 27th of June, 1784, when the Doctor delivered a sermon on Psalm cxxii. 1 : " I was glad when they said unto me. Let us go into the house of the Lord." As long as the congregation continued to meet in churches belonging to another denomination, it was not easy to draw the line between stated and occasional worshippers. The opening of the Brick church furnished tlie first opportunity of drawing this line, and of determining the real strength of the congregation. The result was more favourable than could have been expected. It soon became apparent that the demand for pews could not be supplied, and that another church was indispensa- ble for the accommodation of the people. It was * The first was a sermon under tlie foUowintr title : " Holiness the nature and design of the Gospel of Christ: A Sermon preached at Stockbridg-e, June 24tii, 1779, before the Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Berkshire county, State of Massachusetts ; and published by their request." This sermon was preached and published du- ring the Doctor's residence at Anienia. 2*74 ^^^^ VORK. resolved, therefore, as soon as the necessary funds could be procured, to undertake the repairing of the churcli in Wall street. The Rev. Mr. Treat did not return to the city- after the close of the war. Some considerations of a personal nature induced him to remain in the country until the summer of the year 1784, when, on the 1st day of July, the congregation assembled, and, among other resolutions, unanimously adopted the following : " Resolved, That this congregation can support but one minister. Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Rodgers be that minister. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to apply to the moderator of the Presbytery, and request him to call a meeting of that body as soon as convenient, that we may apply, in a regular manner, for a liberation of this congregation from the Rev. Mr. Treat, as one of our ministers." This application to the Presbytery was regularly prosecuted ; and on the 20th day of October following, at Elizabeth- town, the pastoral relation between Mr. Treat and the congregation of New York was dissolved. In the month of March, 1784, Dr. Rodgers, and such of the elders and deacons as had returned from exile, presented a petition to the corporation of the city, praying a remission of the arrears of rent, which had accumulated during the war, on the lot upon which the Brick church was erected, and also requesting a reduction of the annual rent of the said lot. The prayer of the petition, with respect to both these points, was granted. The back rents, amounting to between seven and eight hundred dollars, were all remitted ; and the annual rent was reduced from one hundred dollars to nearly half that sum. The Legislature of tlie State, in their first ses- NEW \^RK. 175 sion after the conclusion of peace, passed an act enlilled " An act to enable all the religious denomi- nations in this State to appoint Trustees, who shall be a body corporate, for the purpose of taking care of the temporalities of their respective congrega- tions, and ibr other purposes therein mentioned." This act, which is dated April 6th, 1784, at once afforded relief from all the vexations and injuries which had been so long sustained, for want of a charter, under the oppressions of the provincial government. In the course of the following month, the Presbyterian congregation met, and became a body corporate, agreeably to the provisions of the act, under the style of " The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York." The first trustees were, Peter Van Brugh Livingston, Joseph Hallet, William Neilson, Daniel McCJormick, Dan- iel Phtenix, Eleazcr Miller, Samuel Broome, Ar- chibald Currie, and John McKesson. Dr. Rodgers, and the other surviving gentlemen, to whom the Brick church, and the lot on which it stands, had been conveyed in trust, re-conveyed them to this corporation soon after it was constituted. 'J'he numerous applications for pews, mentioned in a former page, induced the newly elected trus- tees, with the advice of the other ollicers and mem- bers of the congregation, to hasten the repairing of the Wall street church. The work was accord- ingly commenced in the autumn of 1784, and completed, at an expense of between six and seven thousand dollars, in the month of June following.* On the 19lh day of that month it was opened for * The whole of the interior of the Wall street chureh had been destroyed during the war. Nothing but the walls and the roof, or rather the principal timbers of the roof, were left. I'JQ NEW YORK. public worship, and a sermon preached by Dr. Rodgers, from Psahii Ixxxiv. 1, 2. The pews on the groimd floor were all immediately taken, and a number of those in the gallery. The expense of repairing these churches was defrayed by subscription. And as this subscrip- tion was taken up at a period peculiarly inauspi- cious for raising money, a more than common share of address, patience, and perseverance, was necessary for prosecuting it with success. Dr. Rodgers, as usual, shrunk from no task that was assigned him. He Avent from door to door, for a number of weeks, begging for the church ; and chiefly to his exertions, under God, may the speedy and happy accomplishment of the undertaking be ascribed. Toward the close of the year 1784, Mr. James Wilson, a licensed candidate for the gospel minis- try, arrived in ]Se\v York from Scotland. It was perceived that when the Wall street church, which was then repairing, should be completed, a second minister would be absolutely necessary for the maintenance of regular service in both churches. Mr. Wilson having preached for several months, on probation, to the acceptance of the people, it was determined to call him to be one of their pas- tors. This was done, unanimously, on the 29th (lay of April, 1785. Mr. Wilson accepted the call, and was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry; and installed collegiate pastor, with Dr Rodgers, of the united churches of New York, on the lOlh day of August following. Soon after the close of the revolutionary war, the legislature of New York passed an act, esta- blishing a board, styled, "The Regents of tlie University of New York." The powers and du- NEW YORK. J 77 ties of this board are highly important. To them it belongs to grant charters of incorporation to all seminaries of learning; to visit and inspect colleges and oilier seminaries ; and in general, to watcli over the interests of literature thronghout the state Of this university Dr. Rodgers was chosen Vice- Chancellor, which place he continued to occupy until his death. In the month of May, in the year 178.5, the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, then the supreme judicatory of the Presbyterian Church in the United Stales, began to take those steps for revising the public standards of the church, which issued in their adoption and establishment on the present plan. Every step in this system of mea- sures, affords evidence of the respect in which the subject of this memoir was held, and the confi- dence reposed in his wisdom and tidelity. He was a member of almost every committee appointed to conduct the business. On the 23d day of May, in the year just mentioned, the synod being convened in Philadelphia, it was on motion resolved, " That Dr. Wiiherspoon, Dr. Rodgers, Dr. Robert Smith,* Dr. Patrick Allison, Dr. Samuel S. Smith, Mr. John Woodhull, Mr. Cooper,t Mr. Laita,! Dr. * The Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, of Pcqiiea, Pennsylvania, a gentleman of respectal)le talents and learning, and of eminent piety. His most important ]mb!ication consists of three sermons on Faith, in the fourth volume of the American Preacher. He died about twelve years before Dr. Rodgers. t The Rev. Robert Cooper, of Shippensburgh, Pennsyl- vania, afterwards Doctor of Divinity. Dr. Cooper had a remarkably strong, sound mind ; and though late in ac- quiring an education, and entering the ministry, he was a divine of great judiciousness, piety, and worth. t The Kev. James Latta, of Chestnut Level, Pennsylva- nia, afterwards Doctor of Divinity. Dr. Latta, for talents 15 178 ^^^^ YORK. Duffield, and Mr. Matlhew Wilson, be a committee to take into consideration the constitution of the Cliurch of Scotland, and other proteslanl churches ; and acrreeably to the general principles of Presby- terian government, complete a system of general rules for the government of the Synod, and the several Presbyteries under their inspection, and the people in their communion ; and to make report of their proceedings herein at the next meeting of synod." The same afternoon, an overture was brought into synod, " That, for the better management of the churches under our care, this synod be divided into three synods ; and that a general Synod, or Assembly, be constituted out of the whole." The consideration of this overture was postponed till the next year. On the 17ih of May, 1786, on resuming the consideration of this overture, the following motion was introduced into the synod, and carried in the affirmative, viz : ^'Resolved, That this Synod will establish, out of its own body, three or more sub- ordinate synods, out of which shall be composed a General Assembly, Synod, or Council, agreeably to a system hereafter to be adopted." In pursu- ance of this resolution, the Rev. Doctors Rodgers, Smith, Duffield,* and Allison ;t and the Rev. and learning, as well as piety, held a high place among the clergy of his day. He died at an advanced age, a few years before Dr. Rodgers. He published a Discourse on Psalmody, which does honour to his memory. * The Rev. George Dullicld, D. D. Pastor of the church in Pine-street, Philadclpliia. This gentleman was distin- guished for the fervour ofliis piety, liis intimate acquaint- ance with the constitution of tlie Presbyterian Church, and his excellent powers as an extemporary jjreaclier. t The Rev. Patrick Allison, D. D. was born in Lancas- ter county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1740. He received NEW YORE. 179 Messrs. Latla, Martin, Matthew Wilson, Graham, Houston, James Finley, and Hall, were appointed *' a committee to prepare and report a plan for the division of the synod into three or more synods." On the 22d day of May, in this year, the com- mittee appointed in 1785, to mature a system of discipline and government for the church, made their report, which was referred to another com- mittee, consisting of the following gentlemen, viz: the Rev. Doctors Witherspoon, Rodgers, McWhor- ter, Sproat,* Dnffield, Allison, Ewing,t Smith, and his education in the College of Philadelphia; was ordained to tlie work of the gospel ministry, and installed pastor of the Presbyterian cliurch in Baltimore, in the year 1762 ; where he remained honoured and useful until his death, which took place in 1802, in the sixty-second year of his age. Dr. Allison undoubtedly held a place in the very first rank of American clergy. He shone with distin- guished lustre in the judicatories of tlie church. For the perspicuity, the correctness, the sound reasoning, and the masculine eloquence of his speeches, in ecclesiastical as- semblies, he was long admired, and had scarcely an equal. * The Rev. James Sproat, D. D. was a native of Scitu- ate, in Massachusetts, where he was born April 11th, 1721. He received his education in Yale College; was ordained to the work of the ministry at Guilford, Connec- ticut, August 23d, 1743; was removed to the pastoral charge of the Second Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, in March, 1769; and died October 18th, 1793, in the seventy-third year of his age. Dr. Sproat was one of the most venerable and excellent ministers of his day. t The Rev. John Ewing, D. D. pastor of the First Pres- byterian cliurcii in Philadelphia, and Provost of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. lie was born at Nottingham, in Maryland, June 21st, 1732; was graduated in the college of New Jersey, then at Newark, in 1754; was settled as pastor of the First Presbyterian clmrch in 1759; was elected Provost of the University of Pennsylvania in 1779, and died September 8th, 1802, in the seventy-first year ot his age. The eminent character of this gentleman; the ISO ^^^ YORK. Wilson; together Avith Isaac Snowden, Esq. and Mr. RoI)erl Taggart, and Mr. John Pinkerton, el- ders. This committee was directed to meet in Philadelphia, in the month of September follow- ing; and was empowered to "digest such a system as they shall think to be accommodated to the Presbyterian Church in America, and procure three hundred copies to be printed and distributed among the Presbyteries." After several meetings, and reports, in part, by these committees, the Synod, on the 28th day of May, 1788, completed the revision and arrange- ment of our public standards, and finally adopted them, and ordered them to be printed and distri- buted for the government of all the judicatories of the Church. This new arrangement consisted, in dividing the body as it formerly stood into four synods, viz. the synod of New York and New Jersey, the synod of Philadelphia, the synod of Virginia, and the synod of the Carol inas ; and con- stituting over these, as a bond of union, a General Assembly, in all essential particulars after the mo- del of the General Assembly of the established Church of Scotland. The Westminster Confession of Faith, with three inconsiderable alterations;* and the Westminster larger and shorter Catechisms, vifjour of liis talents; the extent of liis learning; his extra- ordinary accomplishments as the head of a literary insti- tution; and his excellence as a preacher, are well known. His lectures on natural philosophy, and a volume of ser- mons, will long attest them. * These alterations in the Westminster Confession of Faith, consisted in modifying the last section of the twen- tietli chapter, entitled, Of Christian liiberty, and Liberty of Conscience; the third section of the twenty-third chap- ter, entitled, Of the Civil Magistrate; and the first section of the tliirt^'-first chapter, entitled, Of Synods and Councils. MEW YORK. Igl with one small amemlment in the former,* were solemnly adopted as a summary exhibition of the faith of the church. And a Form of Government and Discipline, and Directory for public worship, &c. drawn chiefly from the standards of the Church of Scotland, with such alterations as the form of the civil government, and the state of the church, in this country, required, completed the system. The adopting acts above stated, were imme- diately followed by a resolution, declaring", that " the true intent and meaning of the above ratifica- tion by the synod is, that the Form of Government and Discipline, and the Confession of Faitii, as now ratified, is to continue to be our constitution, and the Confession of our Faith and practice, un- alterably, unless two thirds of the Presbyteries, un- der the care of the General Assembly, shall pro- pose alterations or amendments, and such altera- tions or amendments shall be agreed to and enacted by the General Assembly." The Synod, in adopting this system, though nearly unanimous, was not entirely so. In the course of the ample discussion which took place on the subject, a plan of church government was proposed more nearly approaching to the congre- gational form, than that which was finally preferred. The principal advocate of this plan, was the Rev. Dr. Matthew Wilson, of Lewes, in the state of Delaware, a gentleman of great piety, learning, and benevolence,! who had objections almost in- * This single amendment in the Larger Catechism, consisted in expunging the words " the tolerating of a false religion," from the answer to tiie lUyth question, " What are the sins forbidden in the second command- ment ? " t The writer of those pages embraces, with particular Ig2 NEW "XORK. vincible, against the rigid Presbyterianism of Scot- land, and who was not without difficulty reconcil- ed to the mitigated form of it, which was finally chosen for the Church in America. He drew up and offered a plan of government, in detail, more conformable to his own views, which was so re- spectfully considered by the synod, that it was publicly read in their hearing. He was seconded in his efforts to recommend this plan, among others, by his friend and neighbour, the Rev. John Miller, pastor of the church in Dover, Delaware, and the pleasure, this opportunity of paying' a small tribute of respect to the memory of the Rev. Dr. Wilson, his own friend, and his father's friend; and whom lie can never recollect, without mingled emotions of the tcnderest affec- tion, and the most profound veneration. Ingenious, learn- ed, pious, patriotic, and benevolent, in an eminent degree, all that knew him, respected him ; and he had no enemies but the enemies of truth and righteousness. Though every circumstance, in his early life, conspired to place him among those who were called Old-side men, in the great controversy which divided the church in his day ; yet such was the fervour of his piety, and the amiableness of his temper, that both parties loved him ; and he was taken by the hand, by his New-side brethren, and heard by their congregations, with as much pleasure as if he had been nominally witii them. An ardent lover of peace, he la- mented the divisions which agitated the church when he came into the ministry ; and was one of the principal in- struments of bringing about the L'nion of 1758, an ac- count of which was given in a former chapter. Dr. Wil- son was an eminent physician as well as divine. He was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, January 15, 1731; received his academical education under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Francis Allison, and the Rev. Dr. Alexander McDowell; settled as the jiastor of Lewes and Cool Spring congregations, in Delaware, in 1755; received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from tiie University of Pennsylvania, in 178G: and died March 30, 1700, uiiivcrbally lamented. NEW YORK. I §3 father of the writer of this memoir.* They fail- ed, however, of procuring the adoption of tlioir system. The model of liie Church of Scotland, though not servilely copied, was with great justice, in general, preferred: and a form of government and discipline, as nearly corresponding with that model, as the difTerent circumstances of the two countries rendered expedient, was finally estab- lished. On the 21st of May, 1789, the first General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, under the new arrangement, met in Philadelphia. Dr. Rodg- ers had the honour of being the first moderator of that body; and seldom failed of being sent as one of the delegates to represent his Presbytery in the General Assembly, as long as he had sufficient health and strength to encounter a journey to the usual place of its meetings. While these events, so important, and so fav- ourable to the general interests of the church, were taking place, the congregations in New York were destined to experience new agitations and difliculties. The Rev. Mr. Wilson, after labour- ing in a collegiate connexion with Dr. Rodgers, for nearly three years, with great diligence and faithfulness, found himself aflfected with a pulmo- nary complaint, which threatened serious conse- * The Rev. John Miller, A. M. was a native of Boston, in Massachuselt;', where ho was born in tiie year 1721. After receiving a regular academical and theological edu- cation, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, in his native town, in 1748; and tooii the jjastoral charge of the united congregations of Dover and Duck Creek, in Delaware, toward the close of the same year. He con- tinued in that pastoral charge, diligent, faitlilul, and be- loved, until July, 1791, when he died, in the 6t)th year of his age, and the 44th of his ministry. Jg4 NEW YORK. quences. Receiving, about tliis time, a call from tiie Presbyterian church of Charleston, in South Carolina, where there was reason to believe that both the climate and the service required of him, would be more favourable to his health, than those of New York, he judged it to be his duty to ac- cept of the call ; of which, accordingly, he declared his acceptance on the 22d day of January, 1788. He was immediately dismissed, by the Presby- tery, from his pastoral charge in New York; and in a iew days afterwards left the city, with a view to proceed to Charleston, sincerely and deservedly esteemed.* The measures taken for supplying the vacancy occasioned by the removal of Mr. Wilson, gave rise to no small uneasiness and difficulty. The congregations soon became divided into two par- ties. The one was warmly in favour of giving a call to the Rev. Mr. James iMuir, who had been for several years invested with a pastoral charge in the island of Bermuda, and had, a short time before, paid a visit to New York. The oilier was quite as warmly in favour of calling Mr. Jedidiah Morse, then a candidate for the gospel ministry.! Both of these gentlemen preaclied several months on probation ; and each of them had numerous and zealous friends. The contention concerning them * ]Mr. Wilson, after spending several years usefully and comfortably in Charleston, returned to Scotland, his native country, where he remained a year or two, and then again came to America. He never took a pastoral charge, how- ever, after his second visit to this country ; but, after struggling with ill health, for a long time, died in Virgi- nia, in the year 17!)1), in the 48th year of his age. + Now the Rev. Jedidiah RIorse, D. D. pastor of the church in Charlcstown, Massachusetts, whoso high cha- racter, and useful writings, arc well known. NEW YORK. 185 ran high during the greater part of a year, and threatened very serious consequences. But Mr. Morse, after a time, declining to he considered as a candidate for the place, and retiring from the city; and Mr. Muir, soon afterwards, receiving and accepting a call from the city of Alexandria, in Virginia,* the congregations were restored to tolerable quietness and harmony, in the spring of the year 1789, by each party giving up its fa- vourite. After spending a number of months in the most uncomfortable strife, the congregations, in the summer of the year 1789, gave a call to the Rev. Mr. John McKnight,t pastor of the church in Marsh Creek, Pennsylvania, and a member of the Presbytery of Carlisle. It being deemed of great importance that this call, in the then peculiar state of the congregations, should be successful, Dr. Rodgers was prevailed upon to be its bearer, and to prosecute it before the Presbytery of Carlisle. His mission was attended with success. Mr. McKnight accepted the call, on the 8th day of September, 1789, and was installed as a collegiate pastor of the united churches, with Dr. Rodgers, on the 2d day of December following. Under his ministrations the churches soon became united and harmonious; and their prospects of spiritual com- fort and increase again brightened. As soon as the difficulties occasioned by the- * The Rev. Mr. Muir, afterwards Doctor of Divinity,. for many years resided at Alexandria, with honour and usefulness. His various publications have been well re- ceived. t Mr. McKnight, soon after his removal to New York, received the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Yale College. 16 2gg NEW YORK. revolutionary war were, in some degree, sur- mounted, it became a favourite object with tiie pas- tors and other officers of the Presbyterian churches in New York, to establish a regular charity school for the education of their poor children. The legacy of Captain Owen, before mentioned, laid the foundation of such an establishment.* In 1787, a subscription was opened for carrying into effect the same benevolent design, when about one thousand two liundred and fifty dollars were obtained. In 1788, Mrs. EHzabelh Thompson, a pious and exemplary member of the church, be- queathed to the corporation, near nine hundred dollars, for the same purpose. These fruits of Christian liberality enabled the trustees to begin their school. This was accordingly done on the first day of May, 1789, by employing a master to teach their poor children, and hiring a suitable apartment for their accommodation, until a school- house could be erected. The last mentioned ob- ject was accomplished in 1790. In that year the trustees purchased a lot in Nassau-street, between Liberty and Cedar streets, on which they erected a brick building, of sufficient extent to furnish an ample school-room, and accommodations for the family of the instructor. In April, 1792, Mr. James Leslie, a school-master, and long an exem- plary member of the church, bequeathed to the trustees the sum of five hundred dollars, to be add- ed to the school fund. 'J'hese legacies, together with annual public collections, enabled them con- stantly to maintain a school of fifty poor children for a number of years. * Sec page 119. The legacy of Captain Owen, though originally, about $750, was much (limiiiishcci by llie de- preciation of the paper currency, during tlie war. NEW YORK. Ig'7 Doctor McKnight's health being impaired early in the year 1792, by his unwearied and arduous labours, it became evident that he was no longer able to preach three times on each Sabbath, as he had faithfully done from the lime of his settlement. The congregations, earnestly desirous of maintain- ing evening service, to which they had been long accustomed, determined to call a third minister. A joint meeting being held for this purpose, on the 29ih day of August, in the year last mentioned, a call was unanimously voted to the writer of this memoir, at that time a licentiate of the Presbytery of Lewes, of which his father, then recently de- ceased, had been a member. He accepted tiie call November 20th, 1793; arrived at New York, to enter on his labours, on the 3d day of January, 1793 ; and was ordained to tlie work of ihe gospel ministry, and installed collegiate pastor with Doc- tor Rodgers and Doctor McKnight, on the 5th day of June following. In the month of November, 1794, the College of New Jersey, and the Presbyterian Church in the United States, were deprived by deatli of one of their distinguished ornaments, the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon. The trustees of the college imme- diately took measures for paying a suitable tribute of respect to his memory. For this |)urpose Dr. Rodgers was requested to prepare and deliver a funeral discourse. He accordingly prepared, and at the next meeting of the board, on the Olh of May following, delivered a sermon on Matthew XXV. 21, which was soon afterwards printed, under the title of " The faiihfui servant rewarded ;" and which was subsequently prefixed to Woodward's edition of Dr. Wiiherspoon's works. This ser- mon will probably be pronounced by discerning 2 §8 NEW YORK. readers the most respectable publication, in a lite- rary view, that the author ever made. In the year 1796, it became apparent that a third church was much wanted, to supply more particu- larly the inhabitants of the northeastern part of the city, who could not be accommodated in either of the other churches. When tiiis fact began to en- gage the general attention of the congregations, and plans to be formed for attaining the object, Henry Rutgers, Esq., a gendeman of great wealth and liberality, who was then in connexion with the Reformed Dutch Church, with his accustomed mu- nificence, made a deed of gift to the trustees of the First Presbyterian church of an ample lot of ground at the corner of Rutgers and Henry streets, on which to erect the contemplated edifice. 'J'he generous donation was gratefully accepted ; sub- scriptions were immediately commenced for de- fraying the expenses of the building; and early in the spring of the year 1797, Dr. Rodgers had the pleasure of laying the corner-stone of a third Pres- byterian church on the spot just mentioned. The work was carried on with expedition; and on the 13lh day of May, 1798, it was opened for public worship. In this introductory service. Dr. Rod- gers presided, and delivered a sermon on tlie occa- sion from Uaggai ii. 7: " And I will shake all na- tions ; and the desire of all nations shall come ; and I will fill this house with glory, sailh the Lord of Hosts." The greater part of the pews were immediately taken, and the church became filled with worshippers quite as soon as could have been rationally expected. In the autumn of the year 1799, the Doctor, finding the infirmities of age sensibly to increase, thought it his duly to relinquish the Thursday eve- NEW YORK. ISO ning lecture, which, with unwearied diligence and great usefulness, he had maintained for more than thirty years. He communicated this intention to his colleagues, and suggested to them the proprie- ty of their undertaking and continuing this part of his labour. They readily assented to tiie propo- sal ; and the service was continued by them, in a form somewhat different from that in which he had conducted it, as long as the churches remained united. The ministrations requisite for carrying on the stated service of three churches becoming every day, from the natural increase of the city, more extensive, multiplied, and laborious, it was judged expedient lo call a fourth minister. Accordingly, after the usual preliminary steps, the congregations were convened, in joint meeting, on the 5th day of August, 1805, when they unanimously made choice of the Rev. Dr. Philip Milledoler, then pastor of the Third Presbyterian church in theciiy of Phila- delphia, to be one of their collegiate pastors; with a view, however, to his taking the church in Rut- gers street under his more particular care, and being considered, if a separation of the churches should ever take place, as its sole pastor. The call for Dr. Milledoler was regularly prosecuted before the Presbytery of Philadelphia; and he hav- ing accepted it, was installed in ihe church in Rut- gers street on the 19th of November following. This measure proved most auspicious to the spiritual interests of that part of the city. Few instances have occurred of a more usefrd ministry than that of Dr. Milledoler in this church. The work of the Lord prospered abundantly in his hands. The number, both of stated worshippers and of communicants, rapidly increased; and from 190 NEW YORK. being small and feeble when he entered on the pastoral charge, it became, in less than seven years, one of the largest Presbyterian churches in the United States. Hitherto the three churches in Wall street, Beek- man street, and Rutgers street, were united. There was one board of Trustees, and one bench of El- ders, over the whole. So that, though worship- ping in three houses, they were, properly speak- ing, but one church. And each of the ministers, (excepting Dr. Milledoler, the peculiarity of whose call placed him in different circumstances from his colleagues,) was equally connected with all the congregations. The inconveniences attending this arrangement, both to the ministers and the people, were many and serious. These incoveniences had been long seen and deplored. But the difficulty of removing the cause of them, seemed almost in- surmountable. A large number of the people were so much attached to the union of the congregations, to which they had been long accustomed, that there appeared little hope of being able to overcome their prejudices on this subject. The formation of the Cedar street church, in the autumn of 1808, as a separate pastoral charge; the calling of their mi- nister; and the entire and most happy success which attended their undertaking, drew the atten- tion of numbers to the subject, who had never thought of it seriously before. The result was, that the opinions of many in favour of a union of churches, were altered ; and tiiat measures were taken, in the winter and spring of the year 1809, for dividing the united churches into three separate pastoral ciiarges. These measures issued in the attainment of the object, in the month of April, of that year; when a majority of the congregations, NEW YORK. 191 at meetings botli jointly and separately held, voted for the proposed separation, which the Presbytery sanctioned and ratified, at a meeting in Elizabeth- town, on the 26ih day of (hat month. In the ar- rangements which attended this separation, Dr. Rodgers continued his pastoral relation both to the Wall street and Brick churches ; Dr. McKnight, with the leave of the Presbytery, resigned his charge, and removed in a few months afterwards, to Pennsylvania ;* and the writer of this memoir ■was liberated from his pastoral relation to the Brick church, and became collegiate pastor of the church in Wall street only. Tiie arrangement which had been stipulated in Dr. Milledoler's call, took place, of course, with respect to him. Though this separation was not effected with- out considerable opposition and difficulty, it was attended, on the whole, with much less of both than might have been expected. The agitations which it produced have gradually subsided ; and now, the experience of many years, it is believed, has so far disclosed the advantages of separate pas- toral charges, as to leave few persons under the in- fluence of hostility, or even of doubt, toward the measure adopted. No man, unquestionably, who witnessed the scene, would ever again lift iiis hand in favour of associating several congregations under the same pastors ! In the beginning of the winter of 1809, and 1810, the congregation worshipping in Wall street, determined to take down their house of worship, which had become too old and tottering to be any * Dr. McKnight, after leavinnr New York, resided in Chambcrsburg, in Pennsylvania, for a number of years. He was, undoubtedly, one of the ablest and soundest di- vines in the Presbyterian church. 192 ^^^^ YORK. longer occupied with safety, and to erect a new one on the same scite. The requisite preliminary measures having been taken, the corner-stone of the new building was laid on the 21st of March, 1810. On this interesting occasion, Dr. Rodgers attended, bending under the weight of years. It had been the earnest wish of many, that in com- mencing the rebuilding of the original church, to which he had first borne the pastoral relation, and which was surrounded with the sepulchres of those who had called and welcomed him to the city, he should lay the first stone. His infirmities, how- ever, rendered this impossible. It was laid by the writer of the present volume; his venerable colleague being only able to favour the solemnity with his presence and his benediction. While the edifice thus commenced was erecting, or rather more than three months before the erection of it was begun, the congregation worshipped in the French Episcopal church, Du St. Esprit, in Pine street, which, on application, was politely and liberally granted by the vestry for their use. That place of worship was occupied by the Pres- byterian congregation from the 1st day of Decem- ber, 1809, till the 11th day of August, 1811, on the latter of which days, the new edifice in Wall street, was first opened for the worship of God.* But the venerable servant of Christ, who had wit- nessed the commencement of the building, and who had taken a deep interest in its progress, was no longer a partaker in the services of an earthly sanctuary. Before the arrival of that day, he had * The new cliurch in Wull street was opened, by tlie writer of this memoir, with a sermon from 2 Chron. vi. 41. NEW YORK. 193 been translated to the services and tlie joys of a better sanctuary on high. A few weeks after the commencement of the new building in Wall street, Dr. Rodgers had the pleasure of being present at the laying of the cor- ner-stone of a sixth* Presbyterian church, in Spring street, in the city of New York. The short pray- er which he made, on this occasion, in the open air, was, so far as is recollected, the last public service that he ever performed. He was never able, after that day, to perform any official duty, excepting those, wiiicli admitted of being attended in his own house. The infirmities of Dr. Rodgers led the members of the Brick Church, of which, after the separa- tion, he was the sole pastor, to look out for further ministerial aid. Accordingly in the month of May, 1810, they gave a unanimous call to Mr. Gardiner Spring,! a licentiate from Massachusetts, who had preached to them for a few weeks. Mr. Spring accepted their call, and was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and installed collegiate pas- tor of that church, with Dr. Rodgers, on the 8lh day of August following. The Doctor attended with his brethren, on this interesting occasion, nnd united, for the last time, in the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery ; but was not able to take any other part in the services of the day. During the few months afterward that he lived, he took his young colleague by the hand with paternal solici- * The church erected by the Irish Presbyterian eonpre- gation, under tlie pastoral care of t!ic Rev. Mr. McNeicc and which had been opened in the summer of the preced- ing year, was tlie filth. t Now the Rev. Doctor Spring, of whose reputation as a pastor and writer, it is unnecessary to speak. 1 94 ^'® LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. tilde and affection ; discovered great anxiety to promote his usefulness ; and rejoiced in his talents and success. i CHAPTER VIII. His last Illness and Death. The decline of Dr. Rodgers was remarkably gra- dual. In the month of December, 1803, he in- formed the church session, that " on account of his age, and growing intirmities, he was no longer able to preach more than once on the Lord's day ;" and requested that such measures might be taken to obtain additional supplies for the pulpit, as his faikire to perform full service rendered necessary. On which it was resolved unanimously: "That the session entertain a high and grateful sense of the long and faithful services of Dr. Rodgers ; and though they deeply regret that his infirmities will deprive the churches of a portion of his usual labours ; yet they are persuaded that he ought to be excused from such a portion of his ministrations as he may not find himself able, without difficulty, to perform ; and ihat measures ought to be adopted, as soon as convenient, to procure further supplies for the pulpits." In addition to this decline of bodily vigour, which rendered a partial retirement from public service necessary, his mind began to discover marks of decay. His memory, as usual, was the first of his mental powers which manifested a fai- lure. About the time when he withdrew from the HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. J 95 second service on the Sabbath, he commenced the use of notes in preaching. Through his wliole ministerial life, prior to this period, he had been in the liabit of delivering his sermons in a degree mcmoriler, tliat is, he in general wrote with care, the substance of what he delivered, and afterwards read it over with sufficient frequency to impress upon his memory tlie whole of the matter, and, to a certain extent, though not servilely, the lan- guage, which he had committed to paper. This was his constant habit anterior to the year 1803. In that year, when he was in the seventy-seventh year of liis age, perceiving that his memory was neither so prompt, nor so faithful, as he had been wont to find it, he began to take his written dis- courses into the pulpit, and to lay them before him in the delivery. In this habit he continued as long as he was able to preach. Still, however, he was always in a degree animated, and sometimes so much so as to remind his more aged hearers of the ardent and impassioned manner of his early life. In the summer of 1809, such was the feebleness of his body, that it became difficult, not to say al- most impossible, for him to ascend the pulpit, and, even when he had reached it, the failure of his memory, especially at some times, was so great, that he was unable to go through the service with- out giving more or less pain, both to himself and his hearers. In September, of that year, lie preached his last sermon. Nothing remarkable attended this service. Neither he nor the congregation considered it, at the time, as likely to be the last; but so it proved. A variety of circumstances con- curred with the gradual decline of his strength, to prevent his ever entering the pulpit again. On the first Sabbath of the following December, J 95 HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. the Lord's Supper was administered in the French Church, in which the congregation then wor- shipped. Occasions of this kind never failed to excite in Dr. Rodgers peculiar tenderness of feel- ing, and to draw from him his most affectionate and interesting addresses. On this occasion, he forgot, for a moment, his infirmities, and attempted to serve a table. But his recollection so entirely failed him, in the midst of the service, that it was with the utmost difficulty, and not without impor- tant omissions, that he got through it. Seldom has a more affecting scene been exhibited. The tears of hundreds witnessed their mingled emotions of respect and sympathy, toward a beloved pastor, whom they saw sinking into the grave. In the year 1810, nothing remarkable occurred, concerning the subject of this memoir, except- ing his attendance, as related in the last chapter, at the laying of the corner-stones of the Wall-street, and Spring-street churches. His daily decline, both in bodily and mental strength, in the course of this year, was perceptible and distressing. It grew more and more difficult for him to Avalk abroad, until toward the close of the year, when his feebleness became so extreme, that he no longer attempted to leave his house. And early in Janu- ary of the following year, at the solicitation of his family, he was prevailed upon to retire to his cham- ber, which lie never again quilted, excepting to walk for a few moments into an adjoining apart- ment, till his death. For about six weeks before his death, he was confined almost entirely to his bed. During this period, his memory was so far impaired, that he often coidd not recollect the names, and sometimes appeared scarcely to recognise the persons, of his HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. \ 97 most intimate friends. On one occasion he did not appear distinctly to know even his own son, when lie made one of his daily visits. But it is a fact, that even when his recollection was thus far weakened, with respect to the nearest and dearest temporal objects, it was nearly as prompt and faithful as ever with respect to spiritual and eternal things. He never appeared, for a moment, to for- get his God and Saviour.* In the most reduced state of his mental powers, he caused his family to be convened in his chamber, morning and evening, and prayed with them in a tender, connected, and edifying manner. And when he could no longer recognise the name or the countenance of an inti- mate friend, whom he almost daily saw, he could speak of the Lord Jesus Christ; quote passages of Scripture, which relate to his personal glory, and his gracious benefits; pour out the fulness of a heart breathing after the holy joys of his presence; and recommend him to those with whom he con- versed; not indeed so fluently or uninterruptedly as in his ordinary health, but in a manner truly gratifying to those around him. Facts of this kind are neither new nor uncom- * It is pleasing to reflect, that this case is by no means a singular one. An eminently pious minister, in a neigh- bouring state, who had passed along life of more than or- dinary devotedness to the cause of his Divine Master, had so far lost iiis memory, a short time before his death, as not to know his own children, or even to recollect that he had children. A Christian friend asked him, on a parti- cular occasion, whether he knew such a child, or such a neighbour ? his reply, in each case, was, " No, I did not know that I had such a child, or such a neighbour." His friend then said, " Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ?" He replied, immediately, and with strong emotion, "Oh, yes; I know Him; he is my best friend I" 198 HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. mon. An eminent ph_vsician of our own country, has said, " I never met with a single instance in which the moral or religious faculties were im- paired in old people. In the course of my inqui- ries I heard of a man of one hundied and one years of age, who declared that he had forgotten every thing he had ever known, except his God." The same writer, in another place, tells us, *' I once knew a man who discovered no one mark of rea- son, who possessed the moral sense or faculty in so high a degree, that he spent his whole life in acts of benevolence. He had no idea of time, but what was suggested to him by the returns of the stated periods for public worship, in which he appeared to take great delight. He spent several hours of every day in devotion."* The influence of constant habit in preserving an aptitude and readiness, as well as capacity, for this class of ex- ercises, as suggested by this writer, is, no doubt, great. The exercises of piety are among the few which aged people, who have any taste for them, never intermit; but rather abound in, more and more, as they advance in life. There is, however, another consideration, on which still more stress ought to be laid, in accounting for the fact in ques- tion. The commencement, the maintenance, and the progress of real piety, in any heart, are the result of Divine influence. We no where have a promise, that the intellectual powers of the pious shall be preserved unimpaired, until their transla- tion to a better world; but we have a promise, that " He who has begun a good work, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." It would, doubt- * Rush's Medical Inquiries and Observations, vol. i. p. 442; and vol. ii. p. 12, 13, second edition. HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 199 less, be as easy for Omnipotence to continue a capacity for one class of exercises as for another; but as his promise has secured this blessing in one case, and not in another; and as the consolations which result from moral and religious sources are much more desirable and important, in the even- ing of life, than those which are connected with intellectual activity, it appears in every respect worthy of infinite wisdom and goodness, to ascribe the acknowledged fact of which we are speaking, to the benign and gracious agency of Him, who has said, to every child of his grace, " I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." But to return to the venerable subject of this memoir. In the evening preceding his death, he prayed with his family for the last time. After a few short petitions of the usual kind for their temporal and spiritual welfare, he prayed fervently and afl'ec- tionately for the congregations which had been so long under his pastoral care. Having dwelt in a number of appropriate and connected sentences on this topic, he passed on to other subjects of peti- tion ; but immediately returned to the "dear peo- ple of his charge," and, with increasing fervour of manner, prayed for them a second time. Nay, after a few intervening sentences relating to other objects, as if unable to take leave of the subject, he introduced a third time, with as much afTection and copiousness as before, his " beloved people ;" and with earnest entreaties that the Holy Spirit might be poured out upon them, and that they might be more and more united in affection, and built up in holiness, he closed the last social prayer that he ever made. The next morning, after being raised up and placed in liis easy chair for a few moments, while 200 HIS LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. his bed was made, he requested, on lying down again, that the family might be convened, as usual, for the purpose of praying with them. When it was suggested that he was too much exhausted, and that he had better wait a short time, until he should recover a little after his recent exertion, he acquiesced, but soon fell into a gentle slumber, and did not mention the subject afterwards. Towards three o'clock, in the afternoon of that day, he became in a small degree restless, and manifested symptoms of approaching dissolution. His colleague was immediately sent for, and in a few minutes entered the room. He found him un- able to speak, but had the pleasure of perceiving that he knew him, and by signs, as well as by his countenance, that he enjoyed his wonted hope and consolation, and that he wished him to pray with him. A short prayer was accordingly offered np ; and the venerable servant of Jesus Christ, without again recovering his speech, was, about four o'clock, P. M., on the 7th day of May, 1811, in the 84th year of his age, and in the sixty-third year of his ministry, quietly released from his mor- tal tabernacle, and translated to his eternal rest. The officers of the churches to whicli the de- ceased had sustained the pastoral relation, on being informed of his death, immediately convened ; and having communicated to his widow and family their wishes that the care and expense of the fune- ral might be left with them, proceeded to take order on the subject. The funeral was attended on Thursday, the 9lh of May. Scarcely ever was there seen in New York so large a concourse of real mourners. The corpse was taken into the Brick church, while an impressive funeral ora- tion was delivered by Dr. Milledoler, and was HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 201 afterwards deposited in a vault in the yard of tliat church. The pulpits of all the Presbyterian churches in the city were hung in mourning on the occasion ; and on the succeeding Sabbath, in most, if not all of those churches, funeral sermons were delivered — a specimen of which will be subjoined to this volume. CHAPTER IX. His general Character. Before the writer undertakes to sketch the gene- ral character of his venerable colleague, to the commemoration of which he has devoted the pre- sent volume, he begs leave to ofTer the testimony of some others on the same subject. By insert- ing the communications which follow, he has no doubt he shall afford pleasure to every reader. Happening to be in Philadelphia a few days after the death of Dr. Rodgers, he addressed tlie following letter to that enlightened physician and philanthropist, who, more than any other individ- al, deserves to be styled the Father of Medical Science in America, and who was not ashamed to be called a Christian : " Philadelphia, May 25, 1811. " Dear Sir, " I have resolved to present to the public some account of the life and character of my late col- league, the Rev, Dr. Rodgers. " Having frequently heard you speak of an ac- 17 202 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTER. qiiaintance, which, from early life, you enjoyed with tliat venerable nian,andlell a number of anec- dotes which did him honour, will you allow me to soHcit from you a communication, containing such facts and remarks as may occur to your recol- lection, and appear proper to be introduced into the proposed account ? It is my wish to record your testimony with that of some other distinguish- ed characters, in an attempt to do honour to the memory of a minister of Jesus, who was emi- nently useful while he lived, and whose labours and example will not, I trust, cease to be useful for many years to come. " I am, dear sir, with high respect, " Yourobliged friend and humble servant, Samuel Miller." "Dr. Rush." In consequence of this request, the following communication was, in a short time afterwards, received. ^''Philadelphia, June 7th, 1811. "Dear Sir, " I regret that I shall not be able to fidfil your wishes in such a manner, as to render my small tribute of respect and affection to our departed friend, worthy of a place in your account of his life and character. " My first knowledge of the late Rev. Dr. Rod- gers was at the Rev. Dr. Finley's school, in Cecil county, in Maryland, in the year 1756. He was a member of a Presbytery which met statedly in Dr. Finley's church, in the neighbourhood of the school. During the silting of the Presbytery, he, together with several other clergymen, always HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 203 lodged at Dr. Finley's house. He likewise assist- ed the Doctor occasionally in the exercises which visually accompany the commemoration of the Lord's Supper in the Presbyterian church, at which time he was always a guest in the Doctor's family. In all these ecclesiastical visits, he en- deared himself to the liille boys that boarded in the Doctor's house, by finding out and calling them by their names ; by conversing with them upon the subjects of their studies; and, when called upon to pray in the family, by offering up the most fervent supplications to the throne of grace, for their temporal and eternal welfare. His ser- mons were likewise very acceptable to us, because they were more accommodated to our capacities, and ''elivered in a more impressive and afTectionate manin,; ihan those of most of the ministers that occasionally filled our preceptor's pulpit. The respect and attachment I thus early conceived for our excellent friend, grew with my years, and was much strengthened by the connexion which took place between his son and me, the present worthy Dr. John R. B. Rodgers, from his studying medi- cine under my direction. In all the Doctor's visits to Philadelphia, he never failed to dine, or pass an evening, in my family, in which he was always a welcome and agreeable guest. " I have great pleasure in recollecting, not only his pleasant and instructive conversations, but many agreeable anecdotes I have heard of his piety, prudence, and good sense. I shall mention two or three of the latter. Some years ago I was sent for to visit a Mrs. Kirkpatrick, of this city, who told me she had spent the early part of her life in the congregation of the Rev. Mr. Roan, ot Neshaminy, at whose school Dr. Rodgers receiv- 204 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTER. ed his academical learning; and that she had often contrived on a Sunday, when she went to church, to walk a few feet behind him, when he was but fourteen years of age, on purpose to hear his pious and sensible conversation with his school-mates. " A member of the Doctor's congregation once complained to him, that his prayers were too me- thodical, and that they appeared to be studied. ' You are right, sir,' said the Doctor, 'my prayers are studied. Would you have me offer God that which costs me nothing?' "In one of his last visits to Philadelphia, he informed me, that when he resided in Newcastle county, in the then three lower counties, as they were called, upon the Delaware, he offended a part of his congregation, by voting at a disputed elec- tion for a sheriff, in consequence of which, he said, he had never voted at a general election afterwards. In this act of self-denial, he discovered a practical knowledge of the scale of duties; for how feeble is the obligation in a minister of the gospel, to pro- mote the supposed prosperity of his country by a solitary vote, compared with his obligation to pre- serve a commanding and undivided influence over his whole congregation, in order more effectually to direct their attention to subjects of an imperish- able nature ! •' Of his Christian and ministerial character, I need say nothing to you, who liave been so long, and so happily, united with him in parochial la- bours. To both he added, in an uncommon de- gree, the manners of a fine gentleman. Such was his intuitive knowledge and strict attention to time and place, in his intercourse with the world, that he not only pleased, but I never heard of his having, even from carelessness, or inadvertencyi HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 205 offended a human being in the course of his life. Indeed, his manners seemed to be in strict unison with his pure and exemplary morals. Consider- ing how little he was indebted to instruction, and fashionable company, in the early part of his life, for the singular polish, and charm of his manners, and how many men, with all the advantages of high birth, and constant as well as early inter- course with elegant society, are deficient in the air, and ease, and all the proprieties of behaviour, it would seem that a real gentleman is as much the child of nature, as a poet or a painter. " The following extract from a letter written to me upon my marriage, will show the happy mix- ture of piety with the friendship with which the Doctor honoured me. ' New York, January 30, 1776. ♦ My dear Sir, ' With great sincerity 1 congratulate you upon your late agreeable marriage; nor is there any happiness, temporal or spiritual, that I do not most cordially wish you and your amiable consort. May the best of Heaven's blessings attend yon both, through all the various scenes of future life! May they meet you in rich variety and plenty in every change, and hand you both, after a life of usefulness and comfort, into the mansions of eter- nal rest!' ;i " In the summer of 1777, the Doctor's son, while my pupil, was attacked with an obstinate and dangerous fever, which he caught in attending a crowded military hospital in Philadelphia. Du- ring his illness, I received two letters from the Doctor, extracts from which will show in a very 206 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTER. striking manner, the union of paternal solicitude with Christian resignation. ' Kingston, June 3d, 1777. ' My dear Sir, ' I wrote you a few lines this morning, by an express to the delegates of this state in Congress; but he is not to return immediately, and such is my solicitude to hear from my dear Johnny, that the bearer goes on purpose with this letter, and another to Mr. Smith, to bring me news from him. Is he yet among the living, oris he numbered with the dead? tender and solemn questions, indeed, respecting an only son, and a favourite child ! But it is the Lord, and it becomes me to submit. Pray dispatch the bearer as speedily as possible.' ^Kingston, June 11th, 1777. ' My dear Sir, ' With inexpressible solicitude I am waiting the return of the express 1 dispatched to Philadelphia, last week, to hear the fate of my dear son. I ex- pect him to day. O ! that he may bring me favourable accounts; but the will of the Lord be done! I hope the express will bring me a line from you. I beg you will be kind enough to give me as particular a state of his case, as your time •will admit, by the first post, whether dead or alive.' "I shall only add an extract of a letter I re- ceived from the Doctor, after he heard of the reco- very of his son. ^Kingston, June 16, 1777. 'My dear Sir, •Accept, I entreat you, of my most cordial and HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 207 affectionate gratitude, for your care of my dear son, in his late dangerous illness. I shall never forget it. And pray thank his kind landlady, and his fellow-sludenls, most affectionately in my name, for their kindness to him. O that 1 had it in my power to reward them all ! My God, however, I trust will. I most ardently pray he may ! Give my love to Johnny. My heart is too full to write to him, by this post; and he, perhaps, is too weak to read a letter from me. Tell him we are well V " With great respect, I am, dear Sir, " Your sincere friend, Benjamin Rush." "Rev. Dr. Miller." A request similar to that which is above re- corded, as addressed to Dr. Rush, was also ad- dressed to the Rev. Doctor Livingston, the vene- rable President of Queen's College, New Bruns- wick, and Professor of Theology in the Reformed Dutch Church, in the United States. The letter froin which the following extracts are taken, was intended as an apology for not complying with this request; and of course, was not designed for pub- lication. But it is presumed that every reader will concur in opinion with the compiler, who was not able to reconcile it either with his judgment or his feelings, to conceal from the public eye such para- graphs as these. " With affectionate regard and tender emotions I attended to your letter. I entered fully into your meaning, and felt happy in the hope that it might be in my power, in some measure, to meet your wishes. 1 owe to you a compliance with every request. I owe to the memory of your venerable colleague, to assist in rendering the history of Jiis 208 ^^ GENERAL CHARACTEE. exemplary life acceptable and useful. And I owe to the cause of the Divine Redeemer to suggest, if possible, such reflections and observations as ought to be blended with the memoirs of a man, wlio served his Lord so long with diligence and success. Under the impression of all these motives, which upon reading your acceptable favour, were indulged without restraint, I immediately viewed the sub- ject, with an ardent desire to recollect and arrange something which might answer your expectations. But I find myself disappointed. The most emi- nent characters, and perhaps the most profitable in their stations, are, for the greater part, so uniform in their course, and exhibit so few changes, that there is scarcely a prominent point to be disco- vered, on which the biographer can rest, or an insulated spot to which particular remarks can sui- tably apply. " A river which for ever flows in one direction, and is always of the same depth, without a cata- ract, cascade, or angle, is justly considered the most profitable stream, and may be eulogized as a source of wealth in commerce; as a treasure to a nation; but it can never employ the detached touches of the pencil ; it absolutely evades all par- tial descriptions. ''I placed my old friend full before me, and viewed him distinctly as a man, as a Christian, as a divine, and as a preacher. In every article he appeared conspicuous, amiable, and excellent; but in all of them he was for ever the same. One general encomium comprises the whole, and in- cludes all that can be said. Few of the human famdy have passed through a long life so blame- less and unimpeached, so undeserving of reproof, and shielded even from slander. Few of the fol- HtS GENERAL CHARACTER. 209 lowers of Immanuel have lived more liabitiially by faith, or taken up their cross and followed their Master with more cheerful and signal obedience. Among divines there may be those whose oppor- tunities for obtaining information, whose extensive reading, and perhaps stronger powers of mind, have rendered them superior to him in science; but there are not many who have surpassed him in clear and decisive views of the doctrines of grace, or an ardent and persevering attachment to the fundamental truths of the gospel. In the pulpit there are prodigies of eloquence, men who soar above the ordinary standard; whose elocution, energy, and pleasing address, astonish and capti- vate their audience; but these of necessity must be few, and are not always the most powerful or successful in converting sinners, or edifying be- lievers. Our departed friend was never classed among celebrated orators. An impediment in pro- nouncing some words prevented him frequently from indulging in a full and uninterrupted flow of speech; but he was always in earnest; he be- lieved what he spoke; and with a feeling heart, susceptible of tender affections, he was, especially when in the prime of life, an impressive, accept- able, and excellent preacher." "As to anecdotes, of which, in a series of mu- tual intercourse for nearly half a century, there must have occurred many that would be worth preserving, I cannot at present call any correctly to remembrance, or at least sufficiently recollect them, in their striking points, to attempt a detail." In compliance with request, the Rev. Mr. For- rest, a respectable minister of the Associate lie- formed Church, made the following communica- tion, which is inserted with pleasure, as another 18 210 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTES. valuable attestation, in concurrence with the pre- ceding. " A few years ago, I related to Dr. Rodgers an anecdote of a Scots clergyman, who, while preach- ing from these words, Heb. xi. 32, " And what shall I more say ? for the time would fail me to tellof Gideon," &c. observed, " My brethren, here are some very rough-spun saints; really, if the Spirit of God had not decided this matter, it would have been hard work to have admitted them among the number. But, my brethren, this teaches us that, if we get to heaven, we will see many folks there that we did not expect." Dr. Rodgers ob- served, " Yes, my friend, I expect to see in hea- ven among other wonders, three very great ones ; some there whom I did not expect to have seen there ; others not there, whom I had great expec- tations of seeing there ; but the greatest wonder of all, will be, to see myself there, the chief of sin- ners, pardoned and sanctified through the grace of God !" " I have often admired the talents displayed by Dr. Rodgers, while he presided in the board of directors of the Missionary Society. Having, in my younger days, been often led, by curiosity, to attend the meetings of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and the Synods of both branches of the Secession, I may be allowed to express an opinion concerning this subject. Never have I, in any of these courts, seen a moderator who could preserve decorum, interest the members of court in the business before them, and command the respect and affection of members, equal in any degree to Dr. Rodgers." " 1 am not in communion with that church to which Dr. Rodgers belonged, and never had an HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 211 opportunity of hearing him preach more tlian once. My acquaintance with him commenced in 1802, when he was in the decline of life; but it was my happiness to enjoy his private conversation for a few years; and I always considered him as a sin- gular blessing to the American church." Having presented these testimonies, from dif- ferent and impartial witnesses, an attempt will now be made, to portray those remarkable fea- tures in the character of this eminent servant of Jesus Christ, which so highly distinguished him, and which contributed so largely, under God, both to the acceptance and the utility of his labours. For it is a fact not to be disguised, that the repu- tation, the influence, and the usefulness of Dr. Rodgers, considered jointly, were greater than usually fall to the lot of one, who had no higher claims than he, to strong and original powers of mind, and to profound learning. Shall we say, then, that his reputation was undeserved ; or that it rested upon an unsubstantial basis ? By no means. It was merited. It had a solid foundation. And it may not be altogether without benefit to inquire, why it was, that this venerable minister of the gospel, was more known, more honoured, more influential, both in the chinch and in civil society, and more extensively useful, than many other clergymen, who ranked higlier on the scale of na- tive genius, and were more conspicuous for their literary acquirements? This question will be an- swered, by exhibiting and illustrating the most remarkable features of his character, under a series of heads. I. And here, the first place shall be assigned to his ardent and uniform piety. This was the grand ornament, which appeared in all that he 212 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. said or diJ; and which shed a lustre on his cha- racter, in whatever point of light it was contem- plated. Common sense dictates to ever}' man, that the minister of religion ought to be truly reli- gious; that he who makes it the business of his life to explain the doctrines, enforce the precepts, and recommend the spirit, of Christ, ought him- self, in some good measure, to exemplify what he preaches, in his own temper and conduct. Ac- cordingly, as the evident want of piety is one of the last deficiencies, that can or ought to be par- doned in a clergyman; so the habitual display of warm, practical, consistent piety, in the sacred profession, is of more importance in every point of view to ministerial reputation and usefulness, than is generally imagined. The pious love it; formal professors approve it; and even the most determined votaries of profligacy, or of infidelity, secretly revere it, and, like Herod, pay it a trem- bling homage. Such piety, even in clergymen, is much more rare than is commonly believed. It will be ob- served, the assertion is, that such piety is more rare. None will suppose that a general reflection is intended on the profession of which the writer is a member; and still less that he imagines him- self entitled to take the place of censor among his brethren. But fidelity to the Master's cause is paramount to all other obligations. " The piety of some," as a late excellent biographer remarks, " is official rather than personal. It consists in certain exercises and appearances, which are re- signed with tlie occasions that require them : and in company they are the merry companions, the temporizing associates; in the house, the cruel husbands, the negligent fathers, the tyrannical HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 213 masters."* The piety of a much larger class of ministers, though real, sincere, and in the main, exemplary, is still mixed with so many levities, and littlenesses, and admits so many of the phrases, the habits, and the calculations of worldly men, into their language and daily deportment, that the lustre, both of the Chri^itian and the ambassador of Christ, cannot fail of being obscured, and even tarnished. But we have reason to rejoice, that the piety of a goodly number is of a higher order. Their de- portment in private, corresponds with their lan- guage in public. Their preaching is, in some good measure, exemplified in their lives. They recommend religion as much on the other six days of the week, as on the Sabbath. Their piety is of that uniform, unaffected, impressive character, which, while it assumes nothing, is seen wherever they go; which combines evangelical seriousness with simplicity, benevolence, and cheerfulness; which exhibits as much of the meekness and hu- mility of the Christian, as of his heavenly minded- ness; and which continually shows itself to origi- nate rather from the heart than from the office. Such a character, speaking after the manner of men, is irresistible. It is loved b}'' the good, and revered by all. And while the frivolous willing, and the profane scorner, may occasionally sneer at what they call its " strictness," and its " puri- tanism," they find a testimony in their own con- sciences in its favour. They secretly honour it, as much more conformed to the Spirit, and the example of Christ, than the character of the cleri- cal bon vivant, who has no other mark of his * Jaj's Life of Winter, p. 230, New York edition. 214 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. sacred office than a black dress ; and on whom, while they court his company in the hour of fes- tivity and mirth, they bestow none of their real confidence or esteem. This was one of the great charms of Dr. Rod- gers' character. The fervour and uniformity of his piety seldom failed to impress all who ap- proached him. It not only appeared conspicuous in the pulpit; dictating his choice of subjects, his mode of treating them, and his affectionate earnest- ness of manner ; but it attended him wherever he went, and manifested itself in whatever he did. In the house of mourning it shone with distin- guished lustre. Nor was this all. He probably never was known to enter a human dwelling, for the purpose of paying an ordinary visit, without saying something, before he left it, to recommend the Saviour and his service. Seldom did he sit down at the convivial table, without dropping at least a few sentences adapted to promote the spi- ritual benefit of those around him. The transient visitor; the momentary interview in the street; the hasty call of business; the ride of pleasure; the inquiry respecting the health of his friends ; the answer to inquiries respecting his own health ; the mode of telling and of hearing news ; the vale- dictory benediction — could all bear witness to the habitual devotion and spirituality of his mind, and his constant desire to be active in his Master's ser- vice. In all tiie domestic relations of life, piety pervaded and regulated his conduct ; controlling a temper naturally hasty and irascible, and prompt- ing to the affectionate courtesies of Christian be- nevolence. He seemed never, for a moment, to forget that he was a servant of Jesus Christ; a minister of Him who went about doing good to HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 215 the souls and bodies of men ; and wliose meat and drink it was to do the will of his Father, and linisli his work. The writer well remembers a circum- stance, which, though small in itself, was consi- dered, by an impartial observer, as not a little sig- nificant. A young clergyman, who had paid a short visit to the city, and who had enjoyed two or three pleasant interviews with Dr. Kodgers, a few years before his death, at the close of the last interview, rose and oflered him his hand for the purpose of bidding him farewell. The Doctor took it, and squeezing it affectionately, with a very few simple words, expressive of pious hope, and tender benediction, dismissed him. The cler- gyman, on retiring, inquired, whether what he had just witnessed was the Doctor's common man- ner of taking leave of his friends? adding, that he had seldom seen any thing so much like the pious and primitive style of an apostle before. There have been better days of the church, when such things were not rare. Would to God they were less so now ! It scarcely need be added, because every one acquainted with the nature of vital piety will take for granted, that the Doctor was habitually atten- tive to tliose means which God is wont to bless for maintaining the power of religion in the soul. He had a deep impression of the efficacy of prayer; and he abounded in this duty, as well as in the other duties of the closet. Besides the stated and ordinary exercises of devotion, he set apart, in every year, a number of days of fasting and spe- cial prayer. On these occasions, as was observed in a preceding chapter, he was accustomed, as a means of more deeply impressing his own mind, to commit to writiuir some of his reflections and 21(5 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. prayers, and afterwards to review them, as a record of his former exercises, and as a pledge of his sub- sequent tidelity. II. Another quality in Dr. Rodgers, which, next to his piety, contributed to his high reputation, was his prudence. By prudence here is meant, not that spirit of cold and carnal calculation, which the world is apt to call by this respectable name, but which the apostle styles " conferring with flesh and blood," and which, perhaps, can be expressed by no single word more appropriate than that of cunning' Prudence, in the Scriptural sense of the term, means practical wisdom. The prudent man, in the estimation of Solomon, is one who " looketh well to his goings; who openelh his mouth with wisdom ; who foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself. The wise in heart shall be called prudent."* Without this qualification, piety, tal- ents, learning, eloquence, may be, and have not unfrequently been found to be, worse than useless. It is so important to a good minister, that our blessed Lord made a pointed reference to it a part of the very brief exhortation which he addressed to the first ministers whom he sent forth.! And perhaps a venerable clergyman in a neighbouring state, did not go too far, when he said, " I would make a deficiency in prudence, the ground of quite as serious and insurmountable objection against laying hands on a candidate for the ministry, as I would a deficiency in piety or knowledge." Dr. Rodgers was, remarkably, and character- istically, a prudent man. Few men were more careful to look well to their goings than he. Few men were more wary in foreseeing circumstances * Proverbs xiv. 15 ; xvi. 21; xxii. 3. t Matt. x. 26. HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 217 likely to produce embarrassment or (lifliculty, and in avoiding them. Few men were more cautious of giving unnecessary offence, that the ministry might not be blamed ; or more watchful with res- pect to all those modes of exhibiting truth, or of performing duty, which are calculated to conciliate the differently constituted minds of men. His pru- dence was daily seen — in denying himself, and the members of his family, those things which, though innocent in themselves, might have made < an unfavourable impression, even on a single mind ; in the regular and economical management of his temporal affairs; in avoiding those connexions and associations, by which his lime might have been injuriously consumed, or his attentions painfully entangled; in parrying, with a mixture of dignity and gentleness, every attack, in mixed companies, which might have led to controversy, especially religious controversy, which he thought seldom failed of proving both unpleasant and mischievous ; in dealing gently with the prejudices and the pas- sions of men ; in being swift to hear, and slow to speak; in treating character with delicacy, espe- cially the character of the absent; in taking care to hold in awe, and to prevent, rather than be under the necessity of reproving, impertinence, profane- ness, and noisy mirth; in turning to the best ac- count the amount of knowledge that he possessed, and forbearing to talk on subjects with which he was imperfectly or but little acquainted ; in guard- ing against that propensity to incessant jesting, in promiscuous company, which lowers the character of so many respectable clergymen ; in careful at- tention to the character of the anecdotes which he related in social circles; in keeping at a distance, without offending, the over-curious, the indelicate, 218 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. and the intruding; in always preferring, where there could not be unanimity of opinion, that course which tended to peace and accommodation ; in talc- ing care to select favourable seasons and methods of administering reproof; and, in short, in con- stantly endeavouring to avoid as much evil, and accomplish as much good, witli as little oflence to those around him, and as much to their acceptance, as possible. Hence he was able to do a thousand things without exciting the least resentment, which many others could not have accomplished without » encountering the most determined opposition and animosity. And lience he rarely found himself in those perplexing and painful situations, to which the indiscreet and unwary are so frequently re- duced, to the interruption of their own peace, and to the discredit of religion. Some of the friends of Dr. Rodgers, indeed, sometimes supposed that he carried his prudence to an extreme; that his caution sometimes de- generated into timidity ; and that his fear of giving offence, not unfrequently led him to fall in with the opinions and the measures of others, where his own would have been evidently preferable. To as- sert that he was perfectly free from this fault; or that any man remarkable for his prudence, was ever perfectly free from it, would be venturing, per- haps, too far. But scarcely any two individuals would, probably, in all cases, agree as to the proper place and limits of the exercise of prudence. In the estimation of some ardent spirits, all caution is timidity ; all accommodation, trimming; and every thing called prudence, niere cold and calculating servility. 'I'his was not the opinion of Dr. Rodg- ers. Next to the general principle of vital piety, prudence was his favourite grace : and it must bo HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 219 acknowledged, that he exercised it with no ordi- nary success. III. A third quality for which this venerable man was remarkable, and which, no doubt, contri- buted largely to his high reputation, was the uni- form, persevering;, and indefatigable character of his ministerial labours. Some men are not ca- pable of steady and long continued application to the same pursuits. They grow weary of the re- gular progress of things in their ordinary course ; and can only be interested by new plans and under- takings, with which they become dissatisfied in their turn, and exchange them for others. Few things are more apt to interfere with the attainment of great excellence, in any profession, and espe- cially in the clerical profession, than this weakness. It frequently places real genius and fervent piety in a much lower station, in public opinion, and especially in public usefulness, than is held by decidedly inferior gifts, with a capacity for patient and steady exertion. In fact, this capacity, though, like common sense, it is too apt to be considered as an humble qualification, and to be denied an honourable name; is one of the most important talents that can well be mentioned, in a character destined to enjoy a high and solid reputation, and to be extensively useful to mankind. Dr. Rodgers possessed and exercised this talent in a remarkable degree. In preaching, in cate- chising, in attending on the sick and dying, in all the arduous labours of discipline and government, and in visiting from house to house, he went on with unceasing constancy, year after year, from the beginning to the end of his ministry. He not only abounded in ministerial labours ; but he la- boured systematically, uniformly, and with unwea- 220 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTER. ried patience. Difficulties did not usually appal him. Delays did not discourage him. If he were totally disappointed in the result of his exertions in one case, he did not hastily conclude, that all subsequent endeavours in similar cases would be useless. Nay, if he failed of attaining his wishes, ninety and nine times, he did not shrink from the hundredth attempt. Those who found him busily engaged in pursuing a certain regular and judicious course, at one period ; would be sure to find him, after a series of years, pursuing, with steady and undeviating steps, the same course. In short, as his learned and excellent friend, Dr. Livingston, observes, he was literally, " for ever the same." Or we may say of him, in nearly the same lan- guage which an admirable evangelical biographer, now living, applies to his pious and laborious hero, " Here was a man, for seventy years, unchangea- ble in all the varieties of life ; by the grace of God, holding on his way, without drawing back, or turning aside, or standing still, or seeming to come short; what the Scripture calls a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil."* No wonder that a man of this character, enjoyed in a very high degree the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. No wonder that the churches beheld him, through his long and active life, with growing reverence ; and that his brethren regarded him as a kind of clerical pattern. Such characters may be less talked about than some others; they may not see the painter's or the sculptor's art employed to perpetuate the record of their particular achievements ; but they have been, in all ages, the chief benefactors of mankind. * Jay's Life of Winter, p. 231. HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 221 They have been the means of performinff, in all nations, the greater part of the solid j^ood that has been done. And, while prodigies of genius have soared and fallen: while intellectual and moral comets have astonished and disappeared ; they have held on their steady course, from day to day, and from year to year, enlightening, warming, and blessing the world. IV. A fourth particular which contributed to the high station of Dr. Rodgers, in public opinion, and especially in the confidence of the pious j)art of the community, was the character of his preaching. The two qualities most remarkable in his preach- ing, were piety and animation. His sermons were always rich in evangelical truth; and they were generally delivered with a solemnity and earnestness, which indicated a deep impression on his own heart of the importance of what he uttered. And hence, though he was never remarkable for that variety, either in the choice, or the illustration of his subjects, which some would have preferred; and though he never gave himself the trouble to attain that polish and elegance of style, to which many bend a large share of attention ; still, in the days of his vigour, he was one of the most popu- lar as well as useful preachers in the American Church. It was said that his sermons were rich in evan- gelical truth. The subjects which he always treated in the pulpit, were those peculiar and pre- cious doctrines of the gospel, which universal ex- perience proves to be most acceptable and edifying to the pious, and most impressive on the mass of hearers. Whoever went to hoar him, at any time, would be sure to find him dwelling chiefly on one or another of the following themes; the federal 222 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTER. character of Adam, as the covenant head of his seed; the imputation of his sin, when he fell, to all his posterity; the lost and ruined state of man by nature ; the doctrine of total depravity ; the doctrine of sovereign election to eternal life, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience; the true and proper Divinity of Jesus Christ; the Di- vine existence in a trinity of persons ; the vicari- ous sacrifice and atonement of the Saviour ; the doctrine of justification by his imputed righteous- ness alone ; the nature and necessity of regenera- tion, by the Holy Spirit; the necessity of a vital union to Jesus Christ, by faith, in order to our partaking of the benefits of his redemption ; the distinguishing character of those who stand in this relation to the Saviour, together with their privi- leges and duties ; the efficacy of prayer ; the na- ture and properties of faith, repentance, hope, and charity; the perseverance and final glorification of the saints; and the endless punishment of those who die impenitent. On these great and funda- mental doctrines of Scripture, he not only dwelt much, but almost exclusively. He seldom tra- velled out of this plain track ; not because he was unable; but because early and constant habit had rendered it most familiar to him ; because he verily thought it the most profitable course of public in- struction ; and because his practice of memoriter speaking, rendered it more easy for him to prepare discourses on these systematical topics, than on those of a different kind. To which may be added, that his unv/earied devotedness to the active duties of his profession, during the greater part of his life, left him but little time for study; and, of course, l)ut little leisure for attempts to entertain his hearers with originality, with profound criti- HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 223 cism, with novelty, or with elegance of composi- tion. And as the Doctor seldom preached on other subjects than those wliich have been mentioned ; so he adopted that method of handling them, wliich is most common in the writings of the Puritan divines of the seventeenth century. Owen. Char- nock, Flavel, Howe, Bates, Baxter, and Henry, were among his favourite writers. He was fond, not only of their modes of thinking, but also of speaking; and, accordingly, abounded much in what may be called the technical language of doc- trinal and practical religion in use in their day. It was his opinion, that evangelical doctrines ought not only to be preached, and preached incessantly; but that they ought also to be expressed in those terms and phrases to which the church has been long used, and which are derived either from the Scriptures themselves, or from the earliest, sound- est, and best known, human authorities. This opinion regulated his own practice. No one ever found him affecting novelty, in the representations which he gave of divine truth, either with respect to their substance or their modes of expression, because he considered the old as better ; and in the old track he was found for ever walking. These circumstances, in their combined influ- ence, gave to his preaching peculiar weight and popularity. He selected precisely that plan of sermonizing which was best adapted to his own talents, and best calculated, at once, to suit the mass of hearers, and to answer the great end of preaching. A greater variety in the choice of subjects, and more attention to polish of style, would no doubt have pleased, perhaps edified, a small number of those who attended on his minis- 224 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTER. tralions. But had he attempted this, he would probably have lost a portion of that simple, afl'ec- tionate, apostolical manner, which so remarkably characterized his pulpit addresses, and which so evidently inspired the confidence, and impressed the hearts of those classes of hearers, whose sup- port always affords the most durable basis of min- isterial reputation, as well as usefulness. No man ever enjoyed a very extensive or enviable degree of popularity, as a gospel minister, whose sermons were exclusively adapted to the literary and polished part of his hearers. The wonderful impression of Whitefield's preaching may be as- cribed to the plainness and evangelical simplicity of his matter, which was equally suited to all classes, taken in connexion with the unrivalled force and magic of his delivery. V. This venerable servant of Jesus Christ was also distinguished and honoured for his great dis- interestedness of character. Of him it might be said with eminent propriety, that he sought, not his own, but the things which are Jesus Christ's. Few men have ever been more free from private and selfish aims, in acting their part in the aflTairs of the church, than he. His plans, his calcula- tions, his conduct, were ever those of a man whose grand object was the advancement, not of himself, or of a parly, but of the Redeemer's king- dom. Of ecclesiastical policy, other than that which sought to promote the peace, the order, the purity, the extension, and the happiness of the church, by the most fair, direct, and honourable means, he evidently knew nothing. In petty schemes for diminishing the inlluence of his brethren, that he might increase his own; or in the arts of intrigue, to play ofT contending parties, HIS GENERAL, CHARACTER. 225 or individuals, as engines for promoting his per- sonal elevation, he was never suspected of engag- ing. He was ever ready, where an imperious sense of duty did not forbid it, to sacrifice his own feel- ings and wishes to the union and iiarmony of the church. He was always a peace-maker; never a divider. His plans were invariably those of Chris- tian benevolence. " No banner was ever raised in his camp, but that of the cross." From envy and jealousy he was remarkably free. He rejoiced in the honour and success of his brethren. And when, toward the close of life, some of the young men, whom he had been instrumental in intro- ducing into the ministry, enjoyed a degree of po- pularity which might be said, in a degree, to eclipse his own; his most intimate friends never saw him manifest on this account the smallest un- easiness. On the contrary, he appeared to take unfeigned pleasure in witnessing the acceptance of their labours, and in contributing to raise, rather than depress their reputation. He seemed ever ready, with the spirit, to adopt the language of that faithful servant of God, who said, of a great- er than himself — "He must increase, but I must decrease." While this temper carried with it its own re- ward, in the personal comfort which it produced; it could not fail to promote the honour, and extend the iiiduence, of its possessor. No man ever ex- hibited, in a remarkable degree, the qualities of disinterestedness and magnanimity, without being followed by the public eye with confidence and affection. Every one who is conscious that his own views are pure, hails such a man as a brother : every one who wishes well to Zion, rejoices in his peace, his prosperity, and his elevation. 19 226 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTER. VI. It would be injustice, both to the cause of religion, and to the memory of this excellent man, to omit calling the attention of the reader particu- larly to the spotless purity of his moral character. It might seem, at first view, scarcely necessary, or even proper, to mention this apart from the fervour and uniformity of his piety, before noticed. But when we recollect that some who have professed a warm friendship for vital piety, and who claimed to possess it, have manifested a disposition, in theo- ry as well as in practice, to depreciate morality ; and when we call to mind how olien ministers and others, in the main hopefully pious, have had the lustre of their reputation obscured, and the extent of their usefulness abridged, by real or supposed deviations from moral correctness ; it would be im- proper to pass, without distinct and very honoura- ble notice, the peculiar excellence in this respect of the character wliich we are now contemplating. The writer presumes that none, who were ac- quainted with Dr. Rodgers, will charge him with extravagance, when he expresses an opinion, that no man ever passed through a life of eighty-four years with a more immaculate moral character than he. In no one instance was it ever impeached. It pleased his Divine Master, as Dr. Livingston justly observes, in his letter before quoted, to " shield him even from slander." Considering the unu- sual activity, as well as length of iiis life; his con- stant intercourse with all classes of persons; and the diversified and trying situations in which he was frequently placed — lliat the lustre of his repu- tation should never liave been, at any period, sul- lied, even by the breath of snsj)icion, is truly an extraordinary case, and worthy of being contem- plated with grateful pleasure by every friend to the HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 227 honour of the Redeemer's kingdom. The influ- ence of this fact, in securing to him an uncommon share of public confidence, need not be mentioned. In truth, it could not fail of giving to his character that kind of colossal firmness, as well as elevation, ■which all those who were accustomed to hear his name mentioned in company, perceived it to have acquired. VII. Dr. Rodgers was further distinguished by a punctual attendance on the judicatories of the church. Perhaps no minister in the United Slates was ever more remarkable than he for a regular and strict regard to tbis part of bis duty. lie made it a point never to be absent from the meetings of his brethren, unless sickness, or some other equally imperious dispensation of Providence, rendered his attendance impossible. And when present, in the several ecclesiastical courts, he gave his serious and undivided attention to the business which came before them ; and was always ready to take his full share, and more than his share, of the labour con- nected with that business. In short, the same zeal for the welfare of the church ; the same desire to spend and be spent in his Master's service, which animated him in every other department of labour, guided and governed him here. The consequence was, that he became personally known to almost all his brethren in the ministry, of his own denomi- nation, in the United Stales ; that he enjoyed their friendship and confidence; that he kept up a con- nected and thorough acquaintance with the alTairs of the church ; that he contributed to strenglhen the hands of those with whom he acted ; and that, thus, the sphere, both of his honour and his usefulness, was greatly extended. The aggregate value of advantage, which all these circumstances gave him, in the course of a ministry of between sixty and 228 ^IS GENERAL CHARACTER. seventy years, may be more easily imagined than ascertained. He was accustomed often to lament the negli- gence of this duty which he observed in many of his brethren ; and to remark, that he was persua- ded they did not appreciate as they ought the im- portance, both to themselves and the church, of a regular attendance on judicatories. He more than once declared, that he never knew any minister attain to a large share of influence or weight among his brethren, who was habitually negligent of such attendance. Nay, he thought it, from the very nature of the case, impossible that any one ever should. And there are, probably, few points con- cerning which all the experience of ecclesiastical men more decisively concurs, than in supporting this opinion.* VIII. The great libcraUty of sentiment which Dr. Rodgers habitually discovered, endeared him to thousands, and contributed not a little to the exten- sion of his influence. Though he was a firm Pres- byterian, and a decided Calvinist, he was far, very farfrom being a bigot. While he abhorred latitudi- * The writer cannot forbear introducing a similar de- claration made by a divine now living, wliose opportunities to make observations on this subject, liave been of the best kind, and whose character, witli all who know him, will add weight to his opinions. " No minister in our connex- ion has been known by me, who was either very useful or very respectable, that did not give his ])resence at Presby- tery, Synod, or Assembly, whenever that duty became incumbent. Tlie reason of this seems to be, that a neglect in this particular cannot take place without indicating in him who is chargeable with it, a criminal want of zeal lor the general interests of the church ; and at the same time, it necessarily deprives him of all genera! influence, confi- dence, esteem, and aflection among his " brethren." — Dr. Green's Charge, at the Ordination of Mr. J. B. Linn, and others, 1799. HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 229 narian indifference, and was ever ready to contend earnestly for the fiith once delivered to the saints ; he was quite as ready, at the same time, to take by the hand, as Christian brethren, all who ap- peared to possess the Spirit of Christ, by what- ever name they were called, or however they might differ from him with respect to minor arti- cles of belief He seldom mentioned the opinions of others in the pulpit; but contented himself with declarinir, ilUistralins;, and endeavouring to recom- mend, what he believed to be the doctrines of Scripture. And, on one occasion, when he was urged by some of the officers of his church to preach against the errors of a particular sect, and to warn his people against them, by name, he ut- terly refused, saying, — " Brethren, you must ex- cuse me. I cannot reconcile it with my sense either of policy or duty to oppose these people from the pul[)it. otherwise than by preaching the truth plainly and faithfully. I believe them to be in. error; but let us out-preach them, out-pray them, and out-live them, and we need not fear." It might have been supposed, that toward one denomination, from which, as will be seen from tho foregoing pages, he had received, at different times, treatment of which he liad reason to com- plain, he would have been apt to cherish senti- ments of fixed animosity. But it was not so. He often spoke of his Episcopal brethren in terms of the most exemplary Ciiristian benevolence; and appeared cordially to rejoice, wiien he heard that the work of the Lord prospered among them, in any part of the world. He had many affectionate friends of the Episcopal church. He was in the constant habit of visiting a number of families be- longing to that church. And when he met with an Episcopalian who appeared to love the truth as 230 HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. it is in Jesus, he seemed to forget all distinction of names, and to feel as if he had found a brother, with whom he took as sweet counsel as if he had belonged to his own communion. In this, as well as in other graces, he evidently grew, as he advanced in life. And toward the close of it, he seerned to take unfeigned and ardent pleasure in the belief, that every person, with whom he fell in company, who spoke seriously, and with apparent emotion on the subject of reli- gion, was a real Christian. It was pleasing, even when there was reason to fear that he carried his favourable estimate too far, to see with what eager delight he recognised every thing which resembled piety, in the numerous individuals with whom he conversed; and how ready he was to embrace in the arms of Christian affection, all persons, of all sects, who manifested any thing like sincere love to the Lord Jesus. IX. In tracing the remarkable features in the character of this man of God, it would be impro- per to pass without notice, his temper and habits with respect to worhlhj property. It was sup- posed by some, that an undue love of money, as Avell as an irascible temper, was among his natural infirmities. If this were so, it is certain that, by the grace of God, he had gained the victory over both, in a remarkable degree. Few men, in his circumstances, have contrived to give away so much in charity, especially to the sick poor, whom he constantly visited. He seldom went into the house of such a person, without closing the religi- ous exercises which attended the interview, by a donation from his purse. Though he passed through a period, during his residence in New York, in wiiich speculation in stock, lands, &c. was carried on with a spirit, and to an extent, alto- HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 23 1 gellier unprecedented in this country, and scarcely equalled in any other: yet he was enabled wholly lo resist the iascinalion of the day, and to keep himself free from an entanglement so uuworlhy of a gospel minister. It is observable also, iha;, when in company, he scarcely ever allowed him- self lo converse on a subject so common in a com- mercial community. In the society of his most coniidential friends, he appeared always to feel as if he had something infinitely more important to talk of, than the price of stocks, or the most eligi- l)le methods of investing money. And, in corres- pondence with these facts, it is certain, that, with all the regularity and vigilance of his economy, and without meeting with any particular loss suffi- ciently large lo account for such a result, he left, at his decease, less property than, forty-six years before, he had brought to the city. The writer feels the more ready to mention this trait in the character of Dr. Rodgers, because it has attracted the notice of others, as well as of himself. A distinguished layman, at a distance, who intimately knew, and highly honoured him, in a private letter, addressed to the writer, re- marks, " I hope you will not forget to dilate free- ly upon his voluntary and meritorious comparative poverty, at a time when even clergymen have been infected with the dollar-mania of our country." It is notorious that the sin of avarice, where it has been allowed to take atirm and governing hold of the mind, is one of those which are peculiarly apt to grow stronger with age, and to reign with a melancholy force in the decline of life. It was directly the reverse with the subject of this me- moir. Toward tlie close of life he was raised above a secular spirit more than ever. And dur- ing the two or three last years that he lived, it is a 232 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTER. fact, that he seemed to have lost all sense of the value of money, excepting as a means of relieving the distress and promoting the happiness of those around him. During that period he distributed the contents of liis purse, with a profusion altogether extravagant; insomuch that, if the members of his family had not prevented him, he would have given away every farthing that came into his possession. X. Another feature deserving of notice, in the character of this excellent minister, is that he vjas no politician. It is true, that during the revolu- tionary war, he did not attempt to stand on neutral ground; but took part openly and decisively in fa- vour of his country. And there can be no doubt that, in a similar exigency, at any period, he would have thought himself perfectly justifiable in acting a similar part. Yet it is certain, that for a number of years prior to that contest, and from the estab- lishment of the independence of his country, till the day of his death, he never allowed himself to appear as a party-politician, or to connect his name, or his influence, with either side, in the successive struggles which divided his friends and acquaint- ance. From the time of his settlement in New York, he never voted at a political election; he never appeared at a poll ; nor did he ever attempt, on any occasion, to interfere, for the accomplish- ment of any political object. He had his opinions, indeed he could not but have them, of the men and tbe measures which at diflerent times, solicited the public patronage. But he seldom made these opinions the subject of conversation, even in pri- vate companies, especially in mixed companies; he never carried them into the pulpit; and, above all, he never attempted by his exertions to help forw ird any political scheme or party. Attempts were more than once made, by friends whom he HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 233 greatly respected and loved, to seduce him from this course. But he steadfastly resisted their soli- citations, and kept himself aloof from tlieir colli- sions and animosities to the last. It was in vain they urged, that clergymen have the same civil rights, and the same deep interest in the prosper- ity of their country, with other men. He ad- mitted their premises, but denied their conclusion ; and answered, though not in the words, yet in the spirit of Nehemiah of old, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?* It will not be supposed, indeed, that as a minis- ter of the gospel, he considered himself as preclu- ded from explaining and inculcating those great principles of social order and duty, which are found in Scripture, and on which every teacher in the house of God is bound to insist, in their proper place and proportion, in his public ministrations. This duty he performed, and it is believed as faith- fully as most ministers. But he carefully avoided intermeddling, either in speech or in action, with the party conflicts around him ; nor could any one ever learn either from his prayers or his preaching, what were his feelings relative to those questions Avhich filled the gazettes, and agitated the town- meetings of the day. And by avoiding the latter, it is certain that he was enabled with the more freedom, and without suspicion or ofl'ence, to ac- complish the former. By rigidly and steadily pursuing this course, he avoided much personal inconvenience and pain. He conciliated friendship, and maintained his influ- ence with all parties. He prevented his time and * Nehemiah, vi. 3. 20 234 "'® GENERAL CHARACTEE. attention from being absorbed by trivial objects, to the neglect of infinitely greater concerns. He avoided those collisions and alienations of social feeling, for which the zealous politician must al- ways be prepared. He declined putting either his personal or official character in the power of every political ruffian, or news-papsr scribbler. And, above all, he avoided what might have proved, and could scarcely have failed of proving, an obstacle both to the acceptance and usefulness of his min- istry. He had a firm persuasion, that it was not only desirable, but highly important, to all clergymen, to take this course of retirement and self-denial, with respect to party politics. He thought that, by adopting a different plan of conduct, their ser- vices to their country, whatever they might ima- gine to the contrary, were really little or nothing; while their injuries to the church were deep and lasting. He considered it as degrading the dignity of their office, as well as striking a deadly blow at their professional influence, to permit themselves to be even in opinion, identified with those noisy declaimers, and unprincipled intriguers, who, with the language of patriotism in their mouths, know no other guide than selfishness, no other God than ambition. And it was a matter of unfeigned regret with him, when lie perceived that any of his bre- thren viewed the subject in a different light. But even with regard to those who totally differed from him, both in opinion and practice, on this subject, it never interfered with the most cordial affection and intercourse. Nay, it may with confidence be asserted, that, from the time of his leaving St. George's, until his death, he never, on account of party politics, either lost or soured a friend. XI. But though Dr. Rodgcrs was no politician, he did not consider himself by any means as ex- HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 235 empted from tlie duties which belong to a good citizen. On the contrary, he was always prompt in obeying tlie calls of humanity and benevolence. Besides attending to his duty in several religious societies, of all which he was president; he found time to be one of the most active and useful mem- bers of the " Society for the relief of distressed prisoners," and of the " Board of trustees of the City Dispensary," in both of which, for a number of years, he presided. He was also a member of the " Manumission Society" of New York, and manifested a deep interest in the abolition of slave- ry, and in the success of plans for meliorating the condition of slaves. Nor did he, as is too often done, content himself with being a mere nominal member of these associations. He gave his time and labour, as well as pecuniary contribu- tions for their support; and was always ready to go foremost in exertions to lessen the miseries, and promote the welfare of the children of affliction. As long as he retained his vigour of body and mind, few persons in tlie community took a more active part than he, in promoting and executing plans of enlightened and diffusive benevolence. XH. Both the reputation and usefulness of Dr. Rodgers were doubtless promoted, and probably in no small degree, hy the peculiar and uniform dig- nity of his manners. This part of his character was not only remarkable, but pre-eminent. If his manners had sometimes a degree of formality in them which excited the smile of the frivolous, they always manifested the polish of a well-bred gentleman, as well as the benevolence of a Chris- tian ; and never failed to command respect. He was grave without being starched, and dignified without reserve. He was habitually cheerful, and often facetious and sportive ; but his sportiveness 236 H'® GENERAL CHARACTER. was always as remarkable for its taste and dignity as it was for the perfect inoflfensiveness of its cha- racter. He was probably never known, in a single case, to let himself down in company, by undue familiaritj', by levity, by coarse or unseasonable anecdotes, or by any rude invasion of the feelings of others. There was a uniformity, an urbanity, and a vigilance in his dignity, which plainly showed that it was not the result of temporary effort, but the spontaneous product of a polished, benevolent, and elevated mind. There can be no doubt that this happy style of deportment, was of great service to him in every part of his life. By his dignified manners, he made a favourable impression on perfect strangers, and always inspired respect, wherever he went. By his manners he was enabled to keep at a dis- tance the impertinent and the troublesome, with- out offending them; and thus to avoid much ex- pense of time and comfort. By his manners he conciliated the confidence and veneration of all classes with whom he was called to have inter- course; for they were adapted to make an impres- sion in his fiivour equally on the rich and the poor, the polished and the rude, the learned and the ignorant. And, more especially, by his manners, he, as it were, cast around him an influence, which repressed frivolity, impiety, and profaneness, and made his presence a pledge of decency and order. " There is something defective," says the eloquent Dr. Jay, " especially in a minister, unless his cha- racter produces an atmosphere around him, which is felt as soon as entered. It is not enough for him to have courage lo reprove certain things; he should have dignity enough to prevent them ; and he will, if the Christian be commensurate wiih the preacher, and if he walk worthy of God, who hath HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 237 called us into his kingdom and glory."* This moral atmosphere surrounded Dr. Rodgers. And it was produced, not by inoroseness or austerity; but by a peculiar, apostolical dignity, which every one instantly perceived, and which nothing but the most hardened and brutal protligacy was able to withstand. XIII. Finally; let it not be thought beneath the dignity of biography to state, that Dr. Rodgers was always aflentive to kin dress. Like his manners and his morals, it was invariably neat, elegant, and spotless. He appeared to have an innate abhor- rence of every thing like slovenliness or disorder about his person. And while there was nothing that indicated an excessive or finical attention to the materials or the adjustment of his clothing, it was ever such as manifested the taste of a gentle- man. In this respect he resembled his friend and spiritual father, Mr. Whitefield, whose sayings and example on the s-ibject he not unfrequently quoted. The dress of our persons, like that of our thoughts, is undoubtedly important. No man ever neglected either, without impairing both his res- pectability and his usefulness. A clerical fop is, indeed, contemptible ; but a clerical sloven, de- serves no sliglit reprehension. It has been said, and probably with truth, that the person who has a remarkably pure and well ordered mind, will seldom fail to be neat and tasteful in his dress. It is certain that such a dress has a tendency to in- spire respect, even among the most enlightened and reflecting classes of society; that it gives addi- tional dignity to the presence, and additional force to the instructions, of him who wears it; and that almost all persons instinctively connect with a » Life of Winter, p. 299. 238 ^^^ GENERAX CHARACTER. something of a corresponding character in his intel- lectual and moral endowments. If this be, in any degree, the case, it seems to follow, of course, that a well regulated and moderate, but habitual atten- tion to this object, is incumbent on every Chris- tian, but especially on every Christian who fills a public station. As an author Dr. Rodgers never held an eminent place. His forte was in action, not in writing, which he undertook with reluctance, and as sel- dom as possible. His publications were few. The following, it is believed, is a complete list. I. Holiness the nature and design of the gospel of Christ: a sermon preached at Stockbridge, June 24, 1779, before the lodge of free and accept- ed masons, of Berkshire county, state of Massa- chusetts; and published at their request. n. The Divine goodness displayed in the Ame- rican Revolution: a sermon preached in New York, December 11th, 1783; appointed by congress, as a day of public thanksgiving throughout the United States. HI. Three Sermons in the American Preacher. IV. The faithful servant rewarded : a sermon, delivered at Princeton, before the trustees of the College of New Jersey, May 6lh, 1795, occasion- ed by the death of the Rev. Jolm Witherspoon, president of said college, V. A Charge delivered to the Rev. Joseph Bul- len, at his designation to the office of missionary to the Chickasaw Indians. VI. The presence of Christ the glory of a church: a sermon delivered November 6th, 1808, at the opening of the Presbyterian church in Ce- dar street. New York. These publications arc all respectable in their kind. They furnish internal evidence that their author was a pious, enlightened, and judicious HIS GENERAL CHARACTER. 239 divine. But they all discover, what has been more than once hinted in the foregoing pages, that he had been too busy in the great and practical de- partments of his professional duty, to indulge him- self in tlie luxuries of polite literature, or to attain the elegancies of fine writing; and that he had the pious magnanimity to prefer the former to the latter. Such was Dr. John Rodgers ! He was not without his infirmities; but they were spots in a luminary of full-orbed excellence; and no one was more ready than himself to acknowledge, that he was a miserable sinner, and that his proper place was at the footstool of Divine mercy. " Take him for all in all," the American church has not often seen his like; and will not, it is probable, speedily or often " look upon his like again." In vigorous and original powers of mind, a number have ex- ceeded him. In profound and various learning, he had many superiors. In those brilliant qualities, which excite the admiration of men, and which are much better fitted to adorn than to enrich, pre-eminence is not claimed for him. But in that happy assemblage of practical qualities, both of the head and the heart, which go to form the res- pectable man ; the correct and polished gentleman ; the firm friend ; the benevolent citizen ; the spot- less and exemplary Christian ; the pious, digni- fied, and venerable ambassador of Christ; the faithful pastor ; the active, zealous, persevering, unwearied labourer in the vineyard of his Lord ; it is no disparagement to eminent worth to say, that he was scarcely equalled, and certainly never exceeded, by any of his contemporaries. He did far more good than many men of much greater talents and learning; and certainly had fewer faults than commonly fiiU to the share of greater genius. The history of this excellent man is an instruc- 240 ^^^ GENERAL CHARACTER. live one. Among a number of important lessons, it teaches us, That personal character has an immediate and essential influence on official standing: That ardent piety, exemplary deportment, habi- tual prudence, and unwearied diligence, are those qualities in a gospel minister, on which, under God, the greatest reliance is to be placed: That the impression made by the exhibition of constant, uniform, and consistent Christian excel- lence, never fails to be deep, benign, and lasting : That the more exclusively a minister of the gos- pel is devoted to his peculiar work, the greater Avill, ordinarily, be his comfort and his usefulness : That the attainment of the best and noblest kind of eminence, in the sacred, as well as every other profession, is, humanly speaking, within the reach of many more than is commonly imagined : That the most solid and lasting popularity is founded less on splendid pulpit eloquence, than on faitliful and persevering pastoral labours : That " them that honour the Lord Jesus Christ, he will honour :" Of course, That that minister is in the fairest way to true honour, and the most desirable success, who lives most by faith on the Divine Redeemer, and who forgets his own glory, in the niulliiude of his de- sires and endeavours to advance the glory of him that sent him : And, That he who sits as " King upon the holy hill of Zion," does continue to fultil the promise long since made to his ministers, " Lo, 1 am with you always, even unto the end of the world." "To him be glory in the Church, throughout all ages, world without end ! Amen !" END OF THE MEMOIR. University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY •in«s De Neve Drive - Parking Lot 17 • Bojc Sbuoo LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90095-1388 Retumthismater^^ UCLA YRL ILL DUE: NOV 5 j^iL- err 00^ UCLA ACCESS SERVICE3 ntertibrary Loan 1 630 University Research Librarv 951575 , 1^,-. -^ »\ --irv >oc; -^ LIBRARY UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 001 115013 3 BX 9225 RGlIi6 1840