ony was able to shew."* His bones were laid not far from where we are now assembled; near the spot where he first touched our shores, and where, probably, he first announced that name which constitutes this place a memorial of the good Providence of God. No marble marks his grave. Although the existence of our commonwealth be a sufficient monument of his fame, yet may the day soon come, when for our own sakes we shall see among us some fit memorial of that extraordinary man, which shall daily remind us of his character, and warm the hearts of our children with the remembrance of his virtues.

Among those who were driven from Massachusetts, soon after the departure of Roger Williams, was Mr. Chad Brown, who came to Providence in 1636, and was ordained to the ministry of this church about three years after its formation. He was one of the town proprietors, and from the day of his arrival to the present time, his name has been well known, in this, his adopted home. He was the ancestor of a large and respected family, who have for many years past, continued, by their public spirit and their liberality, to identify themselves with the fortunes of the town, with the cause of

* Calender, p. 147. Elton's edition.

literature and christianity. Contemporary with Roger Williams, he possessed a cooler temperament, and was happily adapted to sustain the interests of religion, just where that great man failed. Not being affected by the arguments of the Seekers, he maintained his standing firmly in a church which he believed to be founded on the rock of eternal truth, even "the word of God which abideth for ever." We know only enough of his character, to excite the wish to know more, but from that little it is clear, that he was highly esteemed as a man of sound judgment, and of a christian spirit. Often referred to, as the arbitrator of existing differences, in a state of society where individual influence was needed as a substitute for well-digested laws, he won that commendation which the Saviour pronounced when he said "blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God."

We know not how long the ministry of Mr. Brown continued, but we find that Mr. Wickenden, who at one time was imprisoned in NewYork for preaching there without a license from the officer of the crown,* was ordained by Mr. Brown. Mr. Wickenden officiated also in

*Jubilee Sermon by the Pastor of the First Baptist Church. N. Y. 1813.

Providence, and with his name is connected our first intelligence of the rise of a controversy, which was long agitated in this town, and throughout the commonwealth. It appears that many in that day, who were studying the constitution of the primitive church, regarded the declaration of Paul, in Hebrews, 1: 2,* as containing a summary of essential principles, among which it was contended, that the imposition of hands on every baptized christian, held a distinct place. Although it is now very generally admitted, that "the laying on of hands" mentioned in that passage, is an allusion to the appointed sign by which the apostles conferred the extraordinary gifts of the spirit,† a knowledge of which was of course received by their converts among the first elements or lessons of christianity, yet then, many excellent men supposed that the phrase referred to a perpetual ordinance, designed to succeed baptism, the reception of both which, was as necessary to constitute a true profession of christianity, as repentance and faith were necessary to constitute a spiritual christian. With

*Therefore, leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foun dation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptism, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

+ See Acts 19: 6, and 8: 17, 18.

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this view of the case, they felt justified in urging the laying on of hands after baptism, as a term of church communion. It might, indeed, seem remarkable, if this passage were designed to be a comprehensive summary of the essential principles of outward and inward christianity, that the communion itself were not mentioned in it. Still it was regarded by many in that light, and after awhile, they were known by the name of Six Principle Baptists, although they were distinguished from others by only a single article, all agreeing as to the other five points mentioned in passage. In 1652,* Rev. William Vaughan, of Newport, embraced this view, and hearing that a church had been formed in Providence on this basis, under the care of Rev. Mr. Wickenden, he repaired hither, and having received that rite himself, obtained the aid of Mr. Wickenden in forming a similar body at Newport.†

the

At that time, Rev. Gregory Dexter was engaged in preaching the gospel here. He had been a stationer in London, and had officiated as a preacher among the Baptists of that city. Having incurred the displeasure of the government by too free a use of his press, he fled to America, and in 1644, arrived at Providence.

* Samuel Hubbard, quoted by Backus, vol. II, p. 96.

+ Comer's MSS. in the possession of R. I. His. Society.

He was a correspondent of Roger Williams, and printed his Key to the Indian Language, at London, in 1643. It is probable that he, and Mr. Green, of Boston, were the only two in New-England who understood well the art of printing at that time; at any rate it is certain that Mr. Dexter used to go regularly to Boston, from year to year, to aid the latter in the publication of his almanac. It is said of him that he was remarkable for a grave and earnest manner which never forsook him, and was always intent on the work of the ministry. When Mr. Vaughan visited Providence in 1652, in order to procure the aid of Mr. Wickenden in forming a church which should hold the laying on of hands as a divine ordinance, Mr. Dexter accompanied them to Newport, and seems to have taken part in that service; from which we may infer that he had united with those who had formed a separate church here under the care of Mr. Wickenden. After a while, the latter removed his residence a short distance from the town, to the place now called Olneyville, and then the whole care of his ministry devolved on Mr. Dexter, who lived to the advanced age of ninety years.

During this period, the church was favored with the pastoral services of Rev. Thomas Olney. From Hartford, in England, he had emigrated to Salem, and was banished from that