ers. They see him faultering | habited its pleasant shores.with fatigue, anxiety and exer- Further discoveries were made tion, without that quiet enjoy-upon this river the subsequent ment, and occasional rest, to which old age is entitled, and which they secure to themselves, as a necessary provision for their temporal felicity.

year, and in 1633.a trading house was erected a little below the mouth of Windsor river, by adventurers from Plymouth. A few months previous to this event, the Dutch had erected a fort in Hartford, on Dutch Point, as it is still called, with a design to be beforehand with the Eng

that fertile and delightful tract of country.

In 1635, settlements were commenced in Wethersfield, by people from Watertown, and in Windsor, by some of Mr. Wareham's congregation from Dor

Truly may we be said to have degenerated from the virtue of our ancestors, whose first object may too justly be called our last concern. Hartford, in Connect-lish, in obtaining possession of icut, was settled by about an hundred persons, over whose spiritual interests, the Rev. Samuel Stone was ordained teacher, at Cambridge in Massachusetts, then called Newtown, on the 11th of October, 1633, on the same day in which the Rev. Mr. Hook-chester, and Wethersfield and er was ordainsd their pastor.One would suppose that in their destitute condition, they would have thought a single minister sufficient; but under the persuasion that virtue, morality and religion are of the first importance in society, they thought no precaution unimportant, and no expense too great, which contributed in the least degree to their promotion.

These settlers fled from Essex, in England, to the wilderness of America, to escape the religious intolerance which disgraced the church, during that period of national confusion and calamity. The most of them came over to Newtown in 1632, and the next year their pastor and teacher, with several of their brethren arrived in America.

In 1631, Connecticut river was first discovered by Mr. Winslow, governor of Plymouth colony, who was led in search of it from a representation made to him by some Indians who in

Windsor were for several years called Watertown and Dorchester, from the usual propensity of emigrants to retain the names which were familiar to them in their native country.

The following year, the adventurers from Newtown before mentioned, with Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone, made their way thro' the wilderness, with many hardships and difficulties, to Hartford, which bore the name of Newtown till the next year.— Thus originated the colony of Connecticut from men of independent minds, many of whom were wealthy and reputable; yet they preferred liberty of conscience with all the dangers which threatened them, in an unexplored desert, to the wealth and luxuries of Europe, embittered by that religious restraint, which was imposed upon them with unreasonable severity. Their piety and resolution are worthy the imitation of their descendants. They were indeed stren

his faithful labors in the vineyard of his Lord and Master, and obtained a convenient settlement as a lecturer, at Torcester, in the county of Northampton.

uous concerning some subjects, I was completed. Immediately which at this day are deemed too on leaving the university, he unimportant to be made the commenced his theological stuground of serious contention; dies under the pious and learned but those who haughtily censure Mr. Blackerby, with a design to and condemn their noncompli- become a preacher of the gosance and voluntary suffering, are pel. Intent on the duties of his either ignorant of human na-profession, he soon commenced ture, or unacquainted with the history of the church at that critical period of error and oppression. We are disposed to consider ourselves as the only correct standards of judgment Many of the persecuted nonand practice; to believe that conformists secured greater apmen in every age and nation are plause than Mr. Stone, who deinfluenced by the same motives, cidedly espoused their cause; and actuated by the same preju- for he either possessed not, or dicies of education, which reg-forbore to exhibit that fervid ulate our own conduct, and with zeal, which, by dazzling the authis opinion we proceed to con-dience, learls them to wonder demn and approve, with the rather than to understand. His greatest inaccuracy and absurdi- sermons were plain, practical ty. From the fathers of New- and forcible. He was not swayEngland, originated the founda-ed by bigotry nor enthusiasm, tion principles of our present but discerned with accuracy, and civil and religious institutions, trod with discretion, the path whose excellency is asserted with which he had sought out with the highest encomium. Among sober approbation. He, indeed, them were men of sound judg- incurred the odium attached to ment, refined manners, and ex- the puritans, but appears never tensive literature, every way to have been so officious, as to qualified to execute their noble expose himself to arrest or designs, from which have result-punishment, under the laws ed the highest benefits to man-made for the suppression of that kind. numerous and increasing sect.

Mr. Samuel Stone, the sub- In 1633, he received an inviject of the following remarks, tation from the followers of Mr. was held in high estimation Hooker, to go with them to Aamong them for his piety and merica, with which proposal he faithfulness, in the discharge of readily complied. They arrived his ministerial duties, and for in Boston towards the close of his discernment and wisdom in summer, and soon after, at Newthe management of their diffi- town, Mr. Stone regularly en, cult concerns. He was born attered upon the duties of his Hartford, in England, in the office as teacher. In this capayear 1605. At an early age he city he officiated during the life became a member of Emanuel of Mr. Hooker, and whether College, in Cambridge universi- longer is uncertain. ty, where his classical education

With regard to the duties of

pastor and teacher, the follow-protestant churches in the new ing seems to have been the gen- world; yet he lived to learn eral opinion the pastor's work from painful experience, " that consisted principally in exhor-offences must come," that unintation, addresses to the passions, terrupted harmonyin this jarring and practical application of di-world is never to be realized, vine truth to the heart and con- while avarice and ambition are science. The pastor was prin- the most powerful motives to cipally concerned in the govern- exertion. He sustained an irment and discipline of the reparable loss in the death of church. In the teacher they Mr. Hooker, in 1647, whose had a professor of divinity,whose skill in church discipline was a business it was to explain and powerful antidote against dissendefend the Christian doctrines; tion. About ten years after a to confirm the doubting, and re-fire broke out in his church, fute the opposer. which raged with resistless vioMr. Stone was admirably qual-lence for many years, and finally ified for the post assigned him. spread itself over the whole His deportment was grave and colony. It pertained principally exemplary. He was sober and to questions respecting the prodiscreet, and uncommonly strict per subjects of baptism and in the observance of the sabbath. church membership, which topAs a disputant he acquired an ics have ever furnished ground unequalled reputation, from the for discordant opinion and even accurate and logical method in contention in the church of which he arranged his argu-Christ. His spirit was sorely ments with force and perspi- troubled by the sharpness and cuity. His learning was exten-length of the contest, which consive, and his genius original, tinued to rage till moderated by which rendered him a desired legislative interference, and the and interesting companion to all removal of some of the most men of talents and erudition. implacable, who were thereby In 1637, the year after his re-induced to commence the settlemoval to Connecticut, Newtown ment of other towns, particularwas named Hartford, in honorly Hadley, in the state of Massaof Mr. Stone, from the place of chusetts. This nativity. He at this time seems to have possessed the undivided esteem of his people. This year the colony declared war against the Pequots, and Mr. Stone was chaplain to the little army under Capt. Mason. This war was furious and bloody, and soon terminated in the total defeat and ruin of this savage tribe.

Though this good man experienced much comfort in beholding the prosperity of the

In his family relations, Mr. Stone was amiable and exemplary. His house was an house of prayer. He strictly kept the evening before the sabbath, which was devoted to religious exercises, and particularly to reading and explaining to his household, those sermons which were prepared for the subsequent sabbath. He was an hospitable and sincere friend, a courteous and obliging neighbor, and a cheerful and entertaining companion.

After the settlement of Hadley, in 1660, by the disaffected people from Hartford and Weth

Though he was a profound was approved and recommended. theologian, and an excellent scholar, he has left behind him but few evidences of his genius. He wrote a treatise stiled, "Aersfield, Mr. Stone's church was Discourse about the Logical peaceable and harmonious. In Notion of a Congregational the last years of his life, he found Church," which was popular in an happy refuge from the storm, the colonies, and was mentioned which for a long time had perwith high approbation by seve-plexed and almost overwhelmed ral English writers. His body him. His labors were now acof divinity, which was frequent- ceptable, and he had the consoly consulted, and partially trans-lation of believing that his church eribed by the young divines off and people would see many days that period, has died in manu-of peace and prosperity after his script. decease.

He kept an excellent theolo- Many of those who had been gical school. He taught his pu- his companions in trial and in pils to preach rather than to de-exile, had already finished their claim; and it was his custom to earthly course with triumph and exercise their minds much on dif- hope; and this faithful servant ficult points; for which purpose, of Christ was called, to the great he resolved the subject to a ques- affliction of his flock, to follow tion of dispute-became an oppo- them on the 20th of July, 1663, nent till the problem was strip-at the age of 60 years, when he ped of its appendages, and then expired with the humble exresolved it with logical accuracy.pectation of a peaceful and gloIn this way they were led to rious immortality. reason well, and form opinions for themselves, with the ability of defending thera with judgment. In 1657, the general court of Connecticut appointed Mr. Stonegation:

The following inscription was engraven on his tomb stone as a testimony of the affection and esteem of his bereaved congre

ant crowne,

Was he who now in softest bed of downe,

Til glorious resurrection morne appeare

here.

In nature's solid art and reasoning well,

and three other ministers, dele-New-England's glory and her radigates to the general council at Boston, where the subjects which had agitated his own church, were largely discussed, and decided in favor of admitting per-Doth safely, sweetly sleepe in Jesus sons of regular life into covenant relation, that their children might receive baptism. The same principle was again recognized at a subsequent council held at Boston, in the year 1662, but was opposed by many learned and sensible ministers, and their churches,notwithstanding the general court passed a resolve, in which this practice

Tis known beyond compare he did excell;

Errors corrupt by sinnewous dispute,

He did oppugne and clearly them

confute:

Above all things he Christ his Lord
preferd,
Hartford, thy richest jewel's here

interd.

Thoughts on the Necessity of the | as to retain a sovereign efficienChristian Revelation.

cy in his own hand, and to teach creatures their dependence for

HOSE who deny the Chris-every natural and moral bles

There is very great difference between a power of originally discovering truth, and seeing its fitness and certainty after a dis

men possess in a low degree, but the latter in very great perfection. The former is what we commonly denominate the pow

ted to extol the powers of hu-provement depends on our own man discovery, and they ascribe exertion, so that there is every to the mind an original ability motive to action by which an inof investigating certain truths, telligent mind can be influenced. which they denominate the principles of natural religion, and assert their sufficiency to teach the way of happiness in every condition of our existence. To sup-covery is made. The former, port this hypothesis it hath been Said, that the works of infinite wisdom would have been very imperfect, if every creature was not endued with an original power of logical and metaphysical er of discovering whatever is ne- reasoning; and its uncertainty, cessary for its own good. If this its liableness to imposition, its remark be true, it precludes the wild and dangerous decisions propricty of all super natural dis- are known from universal expecovery, and limits finite know-rience.-The latter is what we ledge in every period of being to mean by common sense; the such degrees as unassisted rea-best directory of the human judgson may acquire. Had the Cre-ment in all great concernments. ator designed his creatures for an The formeris an attainment gainexistence independent of himself, ed by scholastic exercise and arhe doubtless would have given tificial rules; the latter is a gift them a power to discover,by their of the Creator, in much nearer own reasoning faculties, every proportion of equality to men truth necessary for the perfection than hath been commonly supand happiness of their nature; posed. By the former, opposite but, as the whole was made to be systems and truths have been perpetually dependent on his su- vindicated with equal acuteness preme will and influence,the fit- and success; perhaps, so as to ness of giving creatures such a appear unanswerable, leaving power doth not appear. The the mind in all the perplexity of perfection of an independent na-an uncertain scepticism: By the ture implies an internal power latter, the great body of manto discover all happifying and di-kind form their opinions and recting truth; but the perfection thus practise in the common of a dependent mind only re-concerns of life, more skilfully quires what is necessary for and with much better success, complete happiness, in subser- than they could do by the aid of vience to the assistance of a elaborate and metaphysical reasupreme instructor. Nature soning. seems, in every respect, to be so constituted by divine wisdom,

Further, Truths long known appear so certain and familiar to