A century of Puritanism, and a century of its opposites;

Front matter

CENTURY OF PURITANISM,

A CENTURY OF ITS OPPOSITES

RESULTS CONTRASTED TO ENFORCE PURITAN PRINCIPLES, AND

Preface

The people of Lynn are no race of imitators. They are in one sense, if not in the best sense, a peculiar people. And they have the advantage, or disadvantage, of being well known abroad. But the causes which have made them what they are, are not so well known abroad. Yet they should be. For such a knowledge is capable of being turned to a rich account. The religious history of the town has been very peculiar, and in that are found the sources of the existing peculiarities of the people. And all the remarkable turns of the history give illustration of the force of important principles of Christianity.

This work was first produced in the form of lectures for the pulpit; and that form is now only partially thrown off. So far as the interest of the book might be enhanced by retaining it, it has been retained. The work was first undertaken for the simple purpose of writing the history of the First Church of Lynn,

4 PREFACE.

for mere local use. But we soon found that we were opening springs that ought to flow abroad. We found that it abounded in materials of general interest. It is local in the sense that it describes events, which occurred in a single place. But those events are full of instruction, as to the practical power of principles in which all Christians have a deep interest. A history of the battle of AYaterloo has its local characters ; but its history is a book for the world, because the world has a common interest in its events. So here, struggles have existed, and principles have produced their results, in which all Christians have a common interest. Hence our history, so far as it gives the narrative of the experience of the First Church in Lynn, is a mere thread upon which to hang our illustrations and arguments.

Influence of the Commemoration of Ancestors.-— Mr. Whiting and the Courts on clashing Jurisdictions. — Life of Rev. Thomas Cobbett ^^

Chapter III

Evanescence of earthly Fame. — Life of Rev. Jeremiah Shepard. — Puritan Church Architecture. —■ The "Tunnel" Meeting House. — Origin of the Quakers. — Origin of Lynnfield Parish. — General Prosperity of Shepard's Ministry, .,.,,,,.. ^ /5

1#

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER ly.

Persecutions. -- All Sections of the Church involved. •— The Facts in the Case. — Persecutions of the Baptists. — Early History of the Lynn Quakers. — The Creed of the Quakers. —- Exaggerations on both Sides.— Quakers also persecuted.

— The Quakers' Divine Call. — The Facts and Principles that led to it. . 106

Chapter V

Close of Mr. Shepard's Ministry. — Calling of a Colleague.

— Settlement of Mr. Henchman. — His opposing the Revival. — His Conflict with Whitefield. — Consequent Parish Quarrels 170

CHAPTER YI.

Further Sketch of Mr. Henchman's History. — His Lawsuit

with the Parish. — His Death.— Formation of the West

End Parish. — Settlement of Mr. Treadwell. — Change of

Terms of Admission to Communion. — Half "Way Covenant.

— Ministers in the Revolutionary War. — Mr. Treadwell's Dismission. — Settlement of Mr. Parsons. — Conflicts with him. — Succession of Methodists 192

Chapter VII

How Life was preserved amid so much Death. — Church reduced to five Male Members. — Sketch of the first Introduction of Methodism to Lynn. — First Methodism in the Country. — Lee's Itinerancy. — Carrying off the Church Plate. — Call of Dr. Harris. — Methodist Appeals to ignorant Passions 224

CONTENTS. 7

Rev. Mr. Peabody's Ministry. — Settlement of the present Pastor. — Building of the Meeting House. — History of the Debt and its Extinction. — The Temperance Conflict.

CONTENTS.