A memoir of the life and times of the Rev. Isaac Backus, A. M.

Front matter

-f

'■0- ^^ aV .p.

MEMOIR

Preface

More than four years have passed since the writer was requested, by the councillors of the Backus Historical Society, to prepare for the press a new edition of the Ecclesiastical History of New England, by the Rev. Isaac Backus. Several considerations, some of which may be specified, led him to attempt a compliance with this request.

It seemed quite possible for one who was entrusted with the department of Church History in this Institution, to perform such a task, not only without detriment to his special work, but even with some prospect of advantage, as it would prepare him, partially at least, to satisfy a desire which had been expressed by friends of Newton, that the history of baptized Christians in modern times might enter more largely into the course of instruction.

And further, it seemed desirable that a new edition of the history mentioned above should be published with all convenient despatch, inasmuch as it had become very rare and almost inaccessible, while at the same time it was of great value, both as a storehouse of important facts not elsewhere preserved, and as a record of sentiments worthy of attention at the present day. It was felt that it would be a great oversight in the Baptist denomination to suffer this memorial of their New England fathers to perish, and that the time which might be consumed in preparing a new edition would be wisely spent in the Master's service.

It also seemed reasonable to expect that the publication of this valuable history would serve to awaken a deeper and more general

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VI PREFACE.

interest in the society which had given it afresh to the public. And the cooperation of a large number was looked upon as indispensable to success in carrying out the purposes of the society, and thus securing the objects for which it was formed. These objects, it is generally known, were two ; first, to collect, so far as possible, and preserve at some accessible point, the materials which still exist for a history of the Baptist denomination, especially in New England ; and, secondly, to secure from time to time the publication of such monographs or more general works as might be deemed of present interest and permanent value.

The object first named was understood to be of paramount importance and to demand immediate attention. Many documents were believed to be still in existence, which are necessary to elucidate the history of the denomination, and which, unless systematic efforts were made to collect and preserve them, must speedily and inevitably perish. Pamphlets, addresses and periodicals, centennial, semi-centennial and funeral discourses, minutes of conventions, associations and councils, manuscript sermons, journals, and records of extinct churches, in short a great variety of papers, unpublished as well as published, which were written by Christians of a former age, are still preserved in the older Baptist dwellings, which, if brought together and properly arranged, would be invaluable to every student of the past. It is only, however, by gathering them together and thus uniting and blending their scattered rays of light, that they can avail to illuminate the darkness of an earlier period. Separately their light is too feeble and uncertain to guide the explorer's steps. Hence the wisdom of immediate and systematic efforts to obtain and deposit in a suitable place these frail and diminishing but precious records. To secure the cooperation of their brethren throughout New England in accomplishing this primary object of the society, it was deemed advisable by the Board of Councillors to undertake at once a new edition of Backus's History. It was at the same time proposed that this new edition be introduced by some

PREFACE. Vir

account of the Life and Times of Isaac Backus ; and the fruit of this proposal is the present volume.

By way of apology for the late appearance of this volume, the writer desires to say that the preparation of it has involved a much larger amount of historical investigation than was anticipated at the outset; and that a change in his sphere of labor in the Institution, made soon after he undertook the present work, has diminished very greatly the amount of time which he could devote to it.

If the following pages do not give so favorable an account of churches of the standing order, during the last century, as might have been expected from the high character of Congregation alists as a body at the present day, it should be borne in mind that the regular churches of that period comprised certain heterogeneous elements which have since parted asunder and become two very distinct if not antagonistic bodies. It should also be remembered that the presence in the community of a growing denomination which insists upon a credible profession of faith as prerequisite to church membership, must have had a powerful tendency to bring every other evangelical denomination to insist upon the same thing. And, finally, it should be noted, that, owing to peculiar circumstances, Mr. Backus was led to expose the errors and defects of the standlnir order more frequently, perhaps, than to commend the right principles maintained or illustrated by it.

Should it be thought that undue prominence has been given in this volume to the question of religious liberty, or that it is unwise to perpetuate the remembrance of wrongs which have passed awav forever, it may be answered that no more prominence has been given to the subject specified than was necessary in order to afford the reader a true idea of Mr. Backus and his life; and that the spirit of religious oppression is not so thoroughly eradicated from the hearts of men as to relieve thoughtful observers of all apprehension as to the future. Is it not customary even now to excuse or justify the fathers of Massachusetts by saying : " they simply expelled from

^^11 PREFACE.

their commonwealth those who stubbornly refused to comply with requisitions which they deemed essential ? " and by adding : *' they were a voluntary association, and had certainly a right to prescribe the rules of their own society ? " Just as if men have a right to bind themselves under civil pains and penalties not to receive any more light from the "Word of God ! and not to relinquish any error which they now ignorantly hold I Or as if they have a right to bind their own children, under pain of banishment, to believe just what they believe ! or to dispossess their neighbor of his property and home because his conscience will no longer permit him to endorse their views of God's truth ! While such opinions are advocated by intelligent and influential men, liberty of conscience, and the relation of civil government to the Church of Christ, cannot be properly imderstood.

It remains for the writer to express his gratitude to those who have assisted him in this work; and in particular to the Rev. Frederick Denison, of Norwich, Connecticut, for examining and transcribing important records preserved in that place, both at the Backus homestead and elsewhere ; to the Rev. Silas Hall, who generously placed in the writer's hands the results of his protracted study of the Backus papers, and at the same time communicated his early impressions and recollections of the subject of this narrative ; and to one whose name he is not permitted to mention, but without whose aid in transcribing nearly the whole work, its publication must have been indefinitely postponed.

May the Head of the Church accept this memorial of one who

recognized His authority and loved His service, and make it a

blessing to Zion !

A. H.

Newton Theological Institution,

CONTENTS-

Chapter I. Moulding Influences

SILENCE OP CHRISTIANS AS TO THEIR LIFE BEFORE CONVERSION. — NO AC- COUNT OF THE EARLY LIFE OF MR. BACKUS. — BEST SUBSTITUTE FOR SUCH AN ACCOUNT. — CONGREGATIONALISM OF THE PLANTERS OF CONNECTICUT. — CAMBRIDGE PLATFORM. — CONNECTION OF CHURCH AND STATE. —TENDENCY TO PRESBYTERIANISM. — SAYBROOK PLATFORM. — GENERAL ADOPTION OF IT. — REJECTION OF IT IN NORWICH. — CHARACTER OF MR. BACKUS'S GRANDFATHER. — OF HIS GRANDMOTHER. — OF HIS FATHER. — OF HIS MOTHER. — EXTRACTS FROM HER LETTERS. — HIS LITERARY EDUCATION IN YOUTH .17

Chapter II, Conversion

DECLENSION OF RELIGION PREVIOUS TO THE GREAT AWAKENING. — REVIVAL AT NORTHAMPTON UNDER THE PREACHING OF EDWARDS. — FIRST LABORS OF WHITEFIELD IN NEW ENGLAND. — EXTENT OF THE GREAT AWAKENING. — KIND OF PREACHING BLESSED. — GENUINENESS OF THE WORK NOTWITH- STANDING IMPRUDENCES. — MR. BACKUS'S ACCOUNT OF HIS OWN CONVICTION AND CONVERSION 33

X CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Backus A Separatist

STATE OF THE " EEGULAR CHTTRCH " OP NORWICH. — MR. BACKUS RELUCT- ANTLY JOINS IT. — SEPARATES FROM IT WITH OTHERS. — REASONS FOR SO DOING AND FOR THE SEPARATE MOVEMENT GENERALLY: 1. RECEPTION OF UNCONVERTED PERSONS INTO THE REGULAR CHURCHES; 2. NEGLECT OF DIS- CIPLINE; 3. ADOPTION OP THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM; 4. UNSATISFACTORY PREACHING. — COURSE OP DR. LORD. — ANECDOTE OF DR. BALDWIN ANT) DR. LORD. — INTERVIEW BETWEEN REV. IVORY HOVEY AND MR. BACKUS.— LET- TER OP MR. HILL TO DR. LORD 41

Chapter Iv: Call To The Ministry

UNCONVERTED MINISTERS OP THE STANDING ORDER. — PERSONAL PIETY ANT) AN INWARD CALL NOT ESTEEMED INT)ISPENSABLE. — VIEWS OF DR. CHAUNCEY. — OF THE MINISTERS OF CONNECTICUT. — A LIBERAL EDUCATION DEEMED INDISPENSABLE. — REMARKS OP JONATHAN EDWARDS. —REASONS FOR TENACITY ON THIS POINT. — OPPOSITE VIEWS MAINTAINED BY THE NEW LIGHTS. —MR. BACKUS' ACCOUNT OP HIS CALL TO THE MINISTRY. — HIS SERMON ON THE NATURE AND NECESSITY OP AN INTERNAL CALL. . 55

CHAPTER y.

ITINERANT PREACHINa AND SETTLEMENT.

MR. BACKUS BEGINS TO PREACH. — HIS DOUBTS RESPECTING HIS CALL. — VISITS TITICUT WITH MR. SNOW. — IS MOVED TO LABOR THERE. — DESCRIP- TION OFTITICUT. — ECCLESIASTICAL PARTIES IN THE PLACE. — MR. BACKUS IS INVITED TO PREACH THERE FOR A TIME BY THE PRECINCT COMMITTEE. — FORMATION OF A NEW LIGHT CHURCH. — MR. BACKUS ORDAINED ITS PAS- TOR. — EIS TREATMENT BY THE PRECINCT COMMITTEE 65

CONTENTS. XI

Chapter VI. Early Pastorship And Marriage

QUALIPICATIONS FOR HIS WORK.— USEFULiraSS IN TITICUT. — EXTRACTS PROM HIS JOURNAL.— LABORS AS AN EVANGELIST. — EXTRACTS FROM MEMORANDA OP PREACHING TOURS. — LETTER FROM MR. LEFFINGWELL.— EXTRACTS PROM MEMORANDA CONTINUED. -PARISH LINES DISREGARDED. —MARRIAGE. — ACCOUNT OF THE WEDDING. 70

Chapter VII. Change Of Belief Respecting Baptism

DECLENSION IN TITICUT. — BAPTIST TENDENCIES OP THE SEPARATES. — DI- VISION RESPECTING BAPTISM IN THE TITICUT CHURCH. -MR. BACKUS PER- PLEXED. — HASTILY PREACHES IN FAVOR OF BELIEVERS BAPTISM. — RE- LAPSES INTO HIS FORMER BELIEF. — JOURNEY TO NORWICH. —RETRACTS THE VIEWS OF HIS SERMON ON BAPTISM.— SECESSION OF CERTAIN BAPTIZED MEM- BERS FROM HIS CHURCH. — TRIES IN VAIN TO EXCLUDE THE PAINFUL TOPIC FROM HIS MIND. — EXTRACTS FROM HIS JOURNAL. — HIS REFLEC- TIONS ON INFANT BAPTISM. — DAY OF FASTING, PRAYER, AND INVESTIGA- TION.— FINDS NO AUTHORITY IN THE WORD OF GOD FOR INFANT BAPTISM. — IS BAPTIZED. ... 00

Chapter VIII. Council Upon Council

POSTURE OF MR. BACKUS. -IS CENSURED WITH OTHERS BY THE FIRST COUN- CIL. -VISITS NORWICH. — RETURNS HOME AND IS RESTORED TO OFFICE.- TWO OPPOSING BRETHREN ARE ADMONISHED BY THE CHURCH. -A SECOND COUNCIL ADMONISHES THESE TWO BRETHREN, AND THEN THE CHURCH.-

XII CONTENTS.

EFFORTS TO RESTORE PEACE, — A THIRD (EX PARTE) COTINCIL CENSURES MR. BACKUS A2a> JUSTIFIES THE TWO BRETHREN — REMARKS ON THIS ACTION. MR. BACKUS EXCLUDED FROM THE CHURCH. — HIS LETTER TO THE SAME ON INFANT BAPTISM. — VISITS STURBRIDGE; CONDITION OF THAT CHURCH; COUNCIL THERE. — OPPRESSION IN NORWICH. — FOURTH COUNCIL IN TITICUT. — GENERAL MEETING OF NEW-LIGHTS IN EXETER, R. I. — FIFTH COUNCIL IN TITICUT. — GENERAL CONVENTION AT STONINGTON, CT. — PROCEEDINGS. — BESULT . 94

Chapter IX. Backus Becomes A Regular Baptist

EFFORTS TO LIVE IN PEACE. — FAILURE. — MR. BACKUS REVIEWS THE QUES- TION OF COMMUNION— FINDS THE ARGUMEN^TS OF BUNYAN INCONCLUSIVE.

— RELINQUISHES OPEN COMMUNION. — FORMATION OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, MIDDLEBORO'. — EXTRACTS FROM HIS MEMORANDA OF PREACHING TOURS; (1.) TO CAPE COD. — ORDINATION OF MR. CHASE. — (2.) TO SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. — LETTER TO MR. CHASE. — (3.) TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD.

— (4.) TO THE CAPE. — (5.) TO DURHAM, N. H 114

Chapter X. Joy In Service

SETTLED BELIEF. — ABUNDANT LABORS. — MEMORANDA OF PREACHING TOURS ; 1. TO NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE; 2. TO CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT; 3. TO NORWICH THRICE; 4. TO THE CAPE. — LETTERS OF MR. BACKUS TO HIS MOTHER; 1. SPECIAL VIEWS OF truth; 2. COMFORT IN AFFLICTION; 3. CONCEALED PIETY; 4. SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH IN MIDDLEBORO' GATHERED; 5. SIGNS OF A REVIVAL. — LETTER TO REV, BENJAMIN WALLIN; 1. MISTAKES OF THE PLANTERS OF NEW ENGLAND; 2. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION; 3. NOTICE OF THE GREAT AWAKENING ; 4. REVIVALS. 129

CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter XI. Legislation For The Church

KEASOIfS ICOR DESCRIBING MR. BACKUS' EFFORTS FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

— SKETCH OF EARLIER LEGISLATION FOR THE CHURCH DESIRABLE. — PAR- TICULAR LAWS. — ROGER WILLIAMS BANISHED. — LAWS AGAINST QUAKERS.

— OTHER LAWS. — CAMBRIDGE PLATFORM. — MALDEN CHURCH FINED. — OBA- DIAH HOLMES WHIPPED. — LAWS AGAINST QUAKERS. — FOUR EXECUTED. — APOLOGY FOR THIS ACT. — BAPTIST MEETING IN BOSTON — DECLENSION IN PIETY. —THE NEW CHARTER. — BAPTISTS TAXED UNTIL 1728— -ACTS OF EXEMPTION PASSED, IN 1728. — IN 1729.— IN 1734. — IN 1740. — IN 1747.— IN 1753.

Chapter XII. Wider Influence

DISCOITESEj THE BOND WOMAN AND THE FREE. —LETTER TO DR. LORD OP NOR- WICH. —WAR ADVERSE TO PIETY. — DISCOURSE ON THE DUTY OF FAMILY PRAYER. — DISCOURSE, TRUE FAITH WILL PRODUCE GOOD WORKS, AGAINST SANDEMANIANISM. — FOUNDING OF RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE. — LETTER TO OILL. — IS A TRUSTEE OF THE COLLEGE THIRTY-FOUR YEARS. — FORMATION OF THE WARREN ASSOCIATION. — itS USEFULNESS 157

Chapter XIII. Efforts For Religious Liberty

DESIGN OP THIS PART OP OUR NARRATIVE. — COMMITTEE OP GRIEVANCES AP- POINTED BY THE WARREN ASSOCIATION. — THEIR ADVERTISEMENT. — REV. JOHN DAVIS CHOSEN AGENT. — HIS LETTER TO MORGAN EDWARDS. — PETI- TION TO THE GENERAL COURT. —NEW CERTIFICATE LAW UNSATISFACTORY. — TREATMENT OF MR. DAVIS.— OPPRESSION IN MONTAGUE, IN CHELMSFORD AND IN BRADFORD. — LETTER OP MR. BACKUS TO A MEMBER OF THE AS- SEMBLY. — EXTRACTS FROM THE SAME. — CHARACTER AND DEATH OF MR. DAVIS , . , 173

XIV CONTENTS,

Chapter XIV

MR. BACKUS AS AGENT.

HIS APPOINTMENT. — CIRCULAR TO THE CHURCHES. — LETTER TO DR. STEN- NET, OF LONDON. — NOTICE OF MR. DAVIS. — MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION. — ITS ACTION IN RESPECT TO GIVING CERTIFICATES. — APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. — LETTER TO SAMUEL ADAMS. —BAPTISTS OF WARWICK IMPRISONED.— PETITION FOR THEIR RELEASE. — EXTRACT FROM A LETTER TO BENJAMIN WALLIN 188

.CHAPTER XV.

VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA.

MEETING OF THE fIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. — BACKUS' NOTE OF INTRO- DUCTION TO IT. — HIS JOURNEY TO PHILADELPHIA. — CONSULTATION WITH FRIENDS. — PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION APPOINTS A COMMITTEE OF GRIEV- ANCES. — MEETING AT CARPENTERS' HALL. — MEMORIAL OF THE BAPTISTS; 1. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; 2. GRANTED TO ALL PROTESTANTS BY THE NEW charter; 3. EXEMPTION LAWS UNSATISFACTORY; 4. THE LIBERTY DE- SIRED. — COLLOQUY; REMARKS OF JOHN ADAMS, SAMUEL ADAMS, R. T. PAINE, MR. CUSHING, AND MR. BACKUS. — ACTION OF THE PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE. — PROMISE OF THE DELEGATES FROM MASSACHUSETTS. . 201

Chapter XVI. Sharp Controversy

OBJECT OF BACKUS' VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA MISREPRESENTED. — ADDRESS TO THE CONGRESS OF MASSACHUSETTS; TAXATION AND REPRESENTATION; CHURCH AND STATE; COERCION FOR THE SUPPORT OF RELIGION; OBJECT OF BACKUS IN GOING TO PHILADELPHIA; OPPRESSION IN ASHFIELD, MON" TAGUE, AND GORHAM; DEMANDS OF THE BAPTISTS. — LETTER OF DR. SMITH ON ITS RECEPTION. — RESOLVE OF THE CONGRESS. — LETTER FROM THE PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE. — REPLY OF BACKUS. — MEMORIAL TO THE GENERAL COURT. — RECEPTION OF IT. — DR. FLETCHER'S LETTER. — ADDRESS TO CHRISTIANS 214

CONTENTS. XV

Chapter XVII. The Bill Of Rights

ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OP NEW ENGLAND. —DRAPT OP A STATE CONSTI- TUTION. — PROTEST AGAINST THE SAME — PAYSON'S SERMON. — BACKUS'S PAPER ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ; CHAUNCEY AGAINST ESTABLISHMENTS ; PRINCIPLES NOT PENCE; CHAUNCEY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT; INCONSIST- ENCY. — STILLMAN'S SERMON. — CONVENTION ; PLEAS FOR THE THIRD AR- TICLE OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS. — BACKUS'S REPLY TO THEM. — COERCION IN BRIDGEWATER. — PROTEST AGAINST THE THIRD ARTICLE OF THE BILL OP BIGHTS. — CONSTITUTION ADOPTED. — CIRCULAR TO THE CHURCHES. 232

Chapter XVIII

libe:rty secured at last.

DECISION AT TAUNTON, THE OLD LAWS NO LONGER IN FORCE. — LETTER TO A BROTHER IN LONDON. — CASE OF WEST CAMBRIDGE. — PROPRIETY OF RECOGNIZING CIVIL AUTHORITY IN RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS. — A NEW LAW, RETROGRADE. — LETTER TO GEORGE WASHINGTON. — LETTER TO MR. RIP- PON; DEATH OF PRESIDENT MANNING; PARTIAL HISTORY; RELIGIOUS PROSPERITY. — LETTER TO MRS. DRAPER; PROGRESS OF BAPTIST PRINCI- PLES; HUMAN WICKEDNESS; HOPE IN GOD. — LETTER TO WILLIAM RICH- ARDS. — INSTANCES OF OPPRESSION. — CHANGE OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT.— FREEDOM SECURED AT LAST 245

Chapter XIX. Ministerial And Historical Labors

BACKUS'S USEFULNESS AS A PASTOR. —REVIVAL IN 1780. —EXTRACTS FROM MR. BACKUS'S JOURNAL. — RESTRICTED COMMUNION. — ITINERANT PREACH- ING. — JOURNEY TO VIRGINIA; REFLECTIONS AT SEA; A PIOUS NEGRO; QUERIES PROPOSED TO A BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN VIRGINIA. —TREAT- MENT OF THEM. — BACKUS AS A COUNSELLOR. — ANECDOTE BY REV. SILAS HALL. — HISTORY OF THE SOUTH BRIMFIELD CHURCH; BACKUS'S LETTER TO THIS CHURCH. — HIS LABORS AS A HISTORIAN 266

XVI CONTENTS.

Chapter XX. Letters From Correspondents

CHARACTER OP THESE LETTERS. — 1. FROM JOB MACOMBER, DESCRIBING A PREACHING TOUR IN MAINE. — 2. FROM JEDEDIAH HEBBARD, COMMEND- ING MR. BURROUGHS, OF HANOVER, N. H. — 3. FROM THE SAME; EXTRACT, NOTICING THE PERPLEXITY OP SOME AS TO THE CHURCH RELATION OP BAPTIZED CHILDREN. —4. FROM THOMAS BALDWIN, REFERRING TO THE DOUBTS OF SOME, IN RESPECT TO THE GROUND OP CHRISTIAN FELLOW- SHIP. — 5. FROM JOB SEAMANS, DESCRIBING A REVIVAL IN NEW LONDON, N. H. — 6. FROM ELEAZAR CLAY, SPEAKING OP RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN VIRGINIA. — 7. FROM WILLIAM ROGERS, ON OPPRESSION IN MASSACHU- SETTS, ETC. — 8. FROM HENRY TOLAR, ON THE GREAT REVIVAL IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY —9. FROM JOSHUA BRADLEY, ON THE RELIGIOUS INTEREST IN NEWPORT, R. I. — 10. FROM JOSEPH CORNELL, ON A REVIVAL IN PROVIDENCE. — 11. FROM JOHN BOLLES, CONCERNING THE GROWTH OF THE BAPTIST DENOMINATION. — EXTRACTS FROM BACKUS'S JOURNAL, AT THE CLOSE, RESPECTIVELY, OP 1782, '83, '84, '85, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93, '94, '97, '99, 1800, 1801, % '3, '4. 282

Chapter XXI. Character Of Backus

MR. BACKUS'S FAMILY. — DEATH OP HIS WIPE. — DEATH OP HIS DAUGHTER SIBEL. — HIS OWN DEATH. —EPITAPH. — TESTIMONY OP DR. BALDWIN.— BACKUS- S REMARKABLE DILIGENCE. — HIS STERLING SENSE. — HIS ARDENT PIETY — HIS POSITION AND INFLUENCE 307

APPENDIXES.

APPENDIX A. OPPRESSION IN Sturbridge, 329

APPENDIX B. Confession op I'aith and Covenant, 334

APPENDIX C. Sandemanianism, 340

APPENDIX D. Extracts from Minutes of Warren Association, 342

APPENDIX E. Petition from Ashpield, 346

APPENDIX F. Account of Philadelphia Conference, 349

APPENDIX G. Doctrinal Correspondence with Pres. Maxcy, , . 352

LIFE AND TIMES OF ISAAC BACKUS.

Chapter I. Moulding Influences

SILENCE OF CHRISTIANS AS TO THEIR LIFE BEFORE CONVERSION. — NO AC- COUNT OF THE EARLY LIFE OF MR. BACKUS. — BEST SUBSTITUTE FOR SUCH AN ACCOUNT. — CONGREGATIONALISM OP THE PLANTERS OP CONNECTICUT. — CAMBRIDGE PLATFORM. — CONNECTION OF CHURCH AND STATE — TENDENCY TO PRESBYTERIANISM. — SAYBROOK PLATFORM. — GENERAL ADOPTION OF IT. — RE.JECTION OF IT IN NORWICH. — CHARACTER OF MR. BACKUS'S GRAND- FATHER. — OF HIS GRANDMOTHER. — OF HIS FATHER. — OF HIS MOTHER.— EXTRACTS FROM HER LETTERS. — HIS LITERARY EDUCATION IN YOUTH.

Many of the early Christians looked upon their existence prior to conversion as unworthy of being called life, and spoke of the time which brought them into fellowship with Christ by His Spirit as the day of their birth. When therefore for any reason they gave a biographical account of themselves or of others, very little attention was paid to that which preceded their reception of Christ. '^ Whence shall I begin," inquires Pontius^ in his life of Cyprian^ " but from the dawn of his faith and from his celestial life?" The Confessions of Augustine are an important exception to our statement ; and the flood of light which they pour upon his own cliaracter and upon the

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18 BACKUS's EARLY LIFE.

age in which he lived awakens deep regret at the mistake of others in consigning their early history to oblivion.

But this mistake was not confined to the primitive Christians. Not a few servants of Jesus since that period have pursued the same course. They have been led by a sense of the sovereign mercy of God to leave behind them some memorial of His grace to their souls, but they have forborne, for wise reasons it may be, to magnify the riches of that grace, as did Bunyan, by recounting the sins of their youth. An illustration is before us. John Leland begins a sketch of his own life in the following words: '' Volumes might be written upon the wanderings, darkness and errors of my life, which would afford no pleasure to others in hearing thereof, and to relate which would be of no advantage to me; therefore, I shall pass them by, and attend only to a few of God's gracious and notable dealings with me, a great sinner, in my ministerial labors."

Unfortunately for the interest of our present work, Isaac Backus treated his early life with almost equal neglect. It will therefore be impossible for us to give any particular account of his childhood and youth. But in place of this, and as the best substitute for it, we shall endeavor to describe the community and family in which this formative period of his life was passed. It will be evident, we think, from this description, that the influences of friends and home in the morning of life were so ordered by the God of providence as to aid in preparing him for the work of later years. The social and domestic atmosphere which surrounded him in youth, conspired, with the natural gifts which he possessed, and with the renewing grace of God, to qualify him for the arduous and peculiar labors which he rendered to the cause of truth.

EARLY CONGREGATIONALISM IN CONNECTICUT. 19

The churches of Connecticut were originally congregational in their polity. " They maintained that the right of choosing and settling their ministers, of exercising discipline and performing all judicial acts, was in the church, when properly organized ; and they denied all external or foreign power of presbyteries, synods, general councils or assemblies."^ Ordination was regarded "as no more than putting the pastor elect into office, or a solemn recommending of him and his labors to the blessing of God. * * * It was the general opinion, that elders ought to lay on hands in ordination, if there were a presbytery in the church, but if there were not, the church might appoint some other elders or a number of the brethren to that service.^ Moreover the earliest ministers of Connecticut " at first maintained, that all the pastor's officepower was confined to his own church and congregation, and that the administering of baptism and the Lord's Supper in other churches was irregular."^ So careful were they at first to guard against the introduction of presbyterianism or prelacy, against any proper dependence of one church upon ani)ther !

Accordingly, when Mr. James Fitch was ordained at Saybrook in 1646, "although Mr. Hooker was present, hands were imposed by two or three of the principal brethren, whom the church had appointed to that service." ^ This account is given by Trumbull as " the tradition." It is however confirmed by the recorded action of the church when his successor was ordained. "A council of ministers and churches assisted at his ordination,- but the imposition of hands was performed by the

1 Trumbull, History of Conn. I., p. 284.

2 Trumbull, I., p. 283, compare Cambridge Platform, c. 9.

3 Trumbull, I., p. 283, compare Cambridge Platform, c. 9.

20 CAMBRIDGE TLATFORM.

brethren, as it liad been before in the ordination of Mr. Fitch. The council considered it -an irregular proceeding, but the brethren were so tenacious of what they esteemed their right, that it could not be prevented without much inconvenience."^ This occurred in 1660, when Mr. Fitch, with a majority of his church and congregation, removed from Saybrook and planted the town of Norwich. " Three or four planters joined them from New London, and two or three from the towns of Plymouth and Mansfield in Massachusetts."

The first settlers of Norwich were, therefore, beyond a doubt, zealous advocates of the Cambridge Platform and of the congregational polity. They believed every true church to be of right an independent body ; and during the ministry of Mr. Fitch their convictions on this point were undisturbed.

But even in the Cambridge PlatfoiTa principles were laid down inconsistent with the independence of the churches. For this document afiirms, that "the end of the magistrate's office is not only the quiet and peaceable life of the subject in matters <^t righteousness and honesty, but also in matters of godliness, yea, of all godliness ; " and again, " neither is their power to be exercised in commanding such acts of the outward man, and punishing the neglect thereof, as are but mere inventions and devices of men ; but such acts as are commanded and forbidden in the Word ; yea, such as the Word doth clearly determine, though not always clearly to the judgment of the magistrate or others, yet clearly in itself. In these he of right ought to put forth his authority, though ofttimes actually he doth it not." Idolatry, blasphemy, heresy^ and the like, arc then specified ns things to be

1 Trumbull, I., p. 286.

CONNECTIOX OF CIILTvCn AND STATE. 21

restrained and punished by civil authority, and it is said : *'If any church, one or more, shall grow schismatical^ rending itself from the com'tnunion of other churches^ or shall walk incorrigibly or obstinately in any corrupt way of their own, contrary to the rule of the Word ; in such case the magistrate is to put forth his coercive power, as 'he matter shall require." This language evidently claims or the standing order of churches in New England the ame support from the civil power which in other lands is claimed for the papal church by the Romish hierarchy. It assigns the duty of preventing any important deviation from the feith or practice of the established churches to the civil jDower, and calls upon this power to bring heretics back into the fold even by coercion. This was in reality, though not formally and directly, subjecting every particular church to the authority and control of other churches ; and it was doing this, not with spmtual but with carnal weapons.

To the control of other churches, we say ; because, in Massachusetts, when this Platform was adopted, none but church members w^ere allowed to participate in the civil government ; and hence it must be presumed that the majority of electors, being at the same time the majority of church members, were able to put men in office whose views of .ecclesiastical orthodoxy were identical with their own. Thus each particular church was liable to coercion from a power originated by the great body of churches and representing their judgment. Vox lyopull vox Dei ; the voice of the people of God, or rather of the mnjor part of them, was to be enforced by pains and ?)enalties as the voice of God.

A similar connection between Church and State existed Connecticut. In their orimnal constitution the citizciii

22 CONXECTIOX OF CHURCH A:SZ) STATE.

of this Commonwealth say : "We * * * do, for ourselves and our successors, and such as shall be adjoined to us r.t any time hereafter, enter into combination and confederation together, to maintain and preserve the liberty and pui'ity of the Gospel of our Lord Jestjs, which we now profess, as also the discijyline of the churches^ which^ according to the truth of said Gospel^ is 7iow practised amongst us^"^ etc.; and they inserted a provision, "that the governor be always a member of some aj^proved congregation," or, according to the interpretation of Trumbull, " a member of some regular church," and a " regular church," it is well known, was a church of the "standing order." Moreover, it was early enacted, " that no persons within this colony, shall in any wise embody themselves into church estate, without consent of the General Court, and approbation of neighboring elders," and we are told by the historian of Connecticut that "the General Court would not suffer any plantation to be made, which would not support an able, orthodox preacher." ^

But the spirit and determination with which a people will assert their own reUgious fi^eedom cannot always be measured by the degree of freedom which they possess, much less by the degree of freedom which they concede to differing consciences. This statement is illustrated by the ecclesiastical history of Norwich. In 1699, John Woodward succeeded Mr. Fitch as pastor of the church and people of this town. For several years harmony prevailed between the new pastor and his flock. But in 1708, the Legislature of Connecticut passed an act, requiring the ministers of the several counties in that colony to meet together at their respective county towns, with such messengers as their churches should see cause to send with

1 Tnimbnll, T., p. 387.

THE SAYBROOK PLATFORM. 23

them, to consider and agree upon a form of ecclesiastical discipline ; also, to appoint two or more of their number as delegates to meet at Saybrook, and by comparing the results of the county meetings draw up a form of discipline for the churches, to be presented to the General Court and confirmed by the same. This was accordingly done ; and Mr. Woodward was appointed one of the delegates from New London county. He appears to have been a hearty friend and supporter of the scheme.