their souls, to follow me to Mr. Cotton's in order to have a conference with them. A considerable number came, who seemed considerably moved. Mark xvi. 16; Job xxvii. 8.

"Oct. 27. Went with Mr. Cotton and madam over the ferry to Rehoboth, upon Mr. Greenwood's invitation; preached at 1. Rode with Mr. C. &c. to Swansey.

"Oct. 28. Brother Finney went to deacon Kingsley for liberty to preach in the Baptist meeting-house, but he refused it; but deacon sent for the key, and I preached at 1, and again in the evening. O, poor, bigoted, ignorant, prejudiced people! Went after sermon to Capt. William Turner's, a separate Baptist; was exceedingly pleased with his wife, a true and shining Christian and a woman of great knowledge and prudence; her family exceedingly well governed by her: stayed with them and discoursed about their spiritual concerns, &c. I think, that the principles of the separate Baptists are the most uncharitable, unscriptural, and unreasonable, that I have yet met with. John vii. 38; Ez. xxii. 14.

"Oct. 29. Came with Mr. Cotton and many others to Attleborough: very courteously received by Mr. Wells. Heard Mr. Turner of Rehoboth; preached after him; great deal of affection and sobbing through the whole assembly; had great enlargement. Exhorted in the evening at Mr. Wells's. Matt. vi. 33.

"Oct. 30. Had a great sense of my own badness and unworthiness, of what a cursed heart I have. O, Lord, let me see and know more of it. Rode with Mr. Wells and many others to Norton; kindly received by Mr. Avery. Preached to a full assembly; much affection and sobbing through the whole assembly. Ezek. xxii. 14. Rode after lecture to Taunton. Lodged at madam Danforth's, who lives with her daughter Hodges. Preached at 10: a great outcry in the assembly; many greatly wounded. Dined at Mr. Danforth's, son to the former minister. Rode to Raynham with Mr. Wales and brother Byram.

"Nov. 1. Preached in the forenoon to a full assembly; one cried out, many affected. Mark i. 2, 3. Advised those, who belonged to the assembly, not to follow me to Taunton, but stay and hear their own preacher. Went with brother Byram to Taunton; preached there, Job xxvii. 8. One or two cried out. Appointed another meeting in the evening. Hos. xiii. 13. I believe thirty cried out. Almost all the negroes in town wounded; three or four converted. A great work in the town. Dear brother Crocker, a true servant of Jesus Christ, preaches here upon probation. I was forced to break off my sermon, before it was done, the outcry was so great: continued the meeting till 10 or 11 o'clock.

"Oct. 2. Rode with Mr. Crocker to the tavern to see Capt. Leonard's negro (a slave), found him under a very clear and genuine conviction. Dear brother Rogers came to see me here. Rode with a great number to Bridgewater. Preached to a full assembly in Mr. Shaw's meeting-house. Present, the Rev. Messrs. John Wales, Jonathan Parker, John Cotton, Daniel Perkins, John Shaw, John Porter. Matt. vi. 33.

"Nov. 3. Rode with a great number to Mr. Perkins's meeting-house; a very full assembly. After sermon the lecture was appointed at Mr. Anger's; but so many wounded, that I could not leave them. Therefore preached again to a full assembly. Ez. xxii. 14. A great outcry: four or five converted.

"Nov. 4. Rode to Mr. Porter's. A great multitude. Preached upon a stage. Hos. xiii. 13. One converted in sermon. After dinner rode with Mr. Belcher and a great multitude to Easton. Brother Rogers preached.

John v. 40. A very great outcry in the assembly. I preached after him. Acts vii. 51; four or five converted. Lodged at Mr. Belcher's.

"Nov. 5. Came to Mr. Niles's of Braintree. Preached with great freedom, 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Present, Messrs. Eells and Hancock; Mr. Worcester came in the evening.

"Nov. 6. Set out for Boston. Met by dear Mr. Prince and Mr. Bromfield about eight miles from Boston. Came in to Mr. Bromfield's; received in a most kind and Christian manner by him, madam, and his family,—a dear Christian family, full of kindness, love, and goodness: the names of his family Edward and Abigail; their children, Edward, Abigail, Henry, Sarah, Thomas, Mary, Eliza, Samuel. His eldest son is now in his last year at Cambridge college; I believe a real converted person. Soon after my arrival came the Hon. Joseph Willard, Secretary, Rev. Mr. Webb and Mr. Cooper, and Major Sewall, to bid me welcome to Boston. At 6 o'clock rode with Mr. Bromfield in his chaise to the north end of the town and preached for Mr. Webb to a great assembly. 2 Cor. xiii. 5. After sermon returned to dear Mr. Webb's; pleased with the conversation of dear Mr. Gee.

"Nov. 7. Rose and prayed with Mr. Rogers. At 10 rode with Mr. Bromfield to Mr. Webb's, preached, Hos. xiii. 13, to a full assembly. Returned and was invited by Dr. Coleman and Mr. Cooper to preach for Dr. Coleman in the forenoon of the next day, being Sabbath, and by Mr. Prince and Dr. Sewall in the afternoon. Preached at the workhouse. Ez. xxii. 14.

"Nov. 8. Went to Dr. Coleman's meeting, preached with considerable freedom, Job xxvii. 8. Dined with the Dr. Went with Mr. Rogers to Mr. Prince's. Preached, Mark xvi. 16, to a full assembly. After meeting was followed by a great throng of children, who importunately desired me to give them a word of exhortation in a private house, which I consented to do, though I designed to go and hear Mr. Prince, who, being by, desired, that I would have it publicly, which I consented to after 6. We met again. Preached, Matt. vi. 33, to a very full assembly. Rode with Mr. Bromfield in a close chaise; followed to his house after me a great many children to receive a word of exhortation at the gate, which I could not stand long to do, being very wet.

"Nov. 9. Visited this morning by a great number of persons under soul trouble. Refused to preach, because I designed to go out of town. Discoursed with Mr. Bromfield's dear children; took my leave by prayer, recommending them and one another to the Lord. Just as I was going, came Mr. Webb, and told me the people were meeting together to hear another sermon. I consented to preach again. A scholar from Cambridge being present, who came to get me to go to Cambridge, hastened to Cambridge, and by a little after 6 a great part of the scholars had got to Boston. Preached to a very thronged assembly: many more than could get into the house, Ps. xxxiv. 8, with very great freedom and enlargement. I believe the children of God were very much refreshed. They told me afterwards, they believed, that Mather Byles was never so lashed in his life. This morning Mr. Cooper came to me in the name of the Hon. Jacob Wendell, Esq. and earnestly desired a copy of my sermon, preached in the forenoon of the Lord's day, for the press. O, that God would make and keep me humble. Appointed to preach to-morrow for Mr. Balch of Dedham, at his desire.

"Nov. 10. Madam Bromfield gave me this morning a shirt, and pair of

gold buttons, two cambric handkerchiefs, and part of a loaf of sugar; and he a preaching Bible, in two vols. &c.

"About eight miles from Boston met Mr. Cotton of Providence, who came by the desire of his church to get me to come back that way, and informed me of some very good beginnings and very hopeful appearances among his people, and the people of other persuasions there; but I thought it my duty to go directly home. He accompanied me to Mr. Balch's at Dedham. Preached, Mark. xvi. 16. Went to Medfield.

'Nov. 11. Preached at 3 with some freedom, Mark ii. 3. Went in the evening to see Mr. Baxter.

"Nov. 12. Being thanksgiving, preached Ps. xxxiv. 8, and in the evening at Medway for Mr. Bucknam. He seemed displeased, that I told his people, that Christians generally knew the time of their conversion. Returned to uncle Adams's; gave a word of exhortation to, sung and prayed with, a number of young people there.

"Nov. 13. Went with uncles Wheelock, Adams, aunt Wheelock, Elisha Adams, and many more to Bellingham. Preached to a very large assembly in the woods. Mark xvi. 16. Many appeared affected; present, Messrs. Dorr, Messenger, and dear Mr. Havens. Dined at Mr. Obadiah Wheelock's. Received and treated with much respect by him and family, and by brother Benjamin much importuned to preach at Mendon; but came to Uxbridge.

"Nov. 14. Came to Thompson Nov. 15. Preached three sermons for Mr. Cabot, one to the young people at night; many affected.

"Nov. 16. Came to the consociation at Windham, and afterwards went home about 1 o'clock. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits?"

From this journal of a short preaching tour, it appears that in about twenty-five days he preached more than forty sermons, besides attending various conferences, and giving exhortations, counsel, &c. A similar journal of a tour in the month of June, 1742, gives an account of his preaching in different towns between Lebanon and New Haven, and as far west as Stratford. In one week he preached ten times. The following is an extract:—“ June 9, 1742. Came to New Haven. Understood, that the authority had been consulting how to take me, and that Col. Whiting had given out great words, and had said, that I should not preach but once in town.

"June 10. Went to morning prayers at college. Afterwards was invited to breakfast with the rector (Mr. Clap). I went over: he seemed to be very much set against the separate meeting, charged them with great disorder; insisted upon it, that we ought to proceed against those we think not converted, according to the rule, Matt. xviii. 'First go and tell him his fault, then take two or three more,' &c. I told him, I could not believe, that that rule was ever intended to be improved so, for a man's being unconverted was no trespass against me. Again, it is no scandal; and if it is, then all mankind are born scandalous. I asked him to tell me the steps of procedure with such. He said,- Go and tell him his fault, then take two or three more then go to your association.' I supposed, that they would be generally in the same case and not suitable judges he said, I must deal with them as before. I asked him what I should do, when hitherto I have condemned and they justified. He said, that it would be very proper to print upon it. I asked him what I should do for the people of the country, who were going by thousands to hell.

He

said, I should deal with them after the same manner. He seemed to have a remarkable faculty to darken every thing. Preached at 6 o'clock, Ps. xxxiv. 8, with freedom. Understood, that Col. Whiting had been over to the governor to consult him about me, and that the authority met in the evening upon it.

"June 12. Sabbath day. Preached three sermons, John v. 40, with two uses according to Matt. xv. 21, and Matt. xxii. 12; the third from

Rom. ix. 22, with great power. A young woman from North Haven said,

she would go to the New Light meeting and see how they acted. She did not question but she should hear some of them cry out. This she spoke with scorn, deriding them. She came, and was the first, that cried out in great distress. There were also many others in great distress. The children of God refreshed. The people in general so prejudiced, that they won't come to hear me.

"June 13. Stayed at home to receive such as wanted to consult me. Was full all day. Was visited by many dear Christians; heard dreadful accounts about Mr. N.'s conduct with them, when under their concern. 66 June 14. Preached Ps. xci. 11. The children of God much refreshed. 66 June 16. Preached this morning at Ripton, John v. 40. Came to Derby, preached twice, Gal. ii. 20; Rom. ix. 22, with power. The great power of God was seen, three or four converted; many wounded; many raging. Brother Humphrey very lively. I was very much spent and faint. Sat up with the wounded till just day.

“June 17. In the morning preached, Ps. xxxiv. 8. Came to New Haven, preached, Mark xvi. 16; many edified and refreshed,

66 'June 18. Went to see Col. Whiting; treated courteously; he promised me a visit. Discoursed with many, that came to consult me. O, I long to be near the Lord, to be delivered from this body of sin and death. When, O when, will it be?"

Mr. Wheelock did not escape the general flame of persecution. The following letter to his wife will throw some light on the state of things in Connecticut. It was written June 28, 1742, at New Haven :—“ The week before last I preached ten sermons. I told you in my last of the power of God at Derby. Last week I preached ten times again. My journey was to Guilford, where we saw a great shaking among dry bones, and hell break loose and in a rage at it. We also saw a great shaking at Branford, and something at East Haven. They tell me, in the two former places it was greater than ever had been seen before in them. I am this day going to preach round the other way, as far as Stratford. Things in this town are much more calm than they were; I mean as to the spirit and temper of people. Mr. Clap refuses to let me preach in the college or to let the scholars come to hear me. O that God would give him another heart. I am exceedingly worn out with constant labor and much watching." It may well be deemed remarkable at the present day, that in Connecticut one eminent itinerant minister, afterwards the president of the college of New Jersey, should be carried as a vagrant out of the colony, and that another, afterwards the president of Dartmouth college, should be interdicted from preaching the gospel to the students of Yale.

With all the fervency of his zeal, Mr. Wheelock was yet discreet and wise, and set himself against the fanaticism of the separatists and of the lay-exhorters, who were disturbing the order of the churches. The following extract from a letter, addressed to him by one of them in 1744, may show the spirit of the times. After speaking of his afflictions and losses

--

the writer, who lived in Plainfield, says :- "Yet all this never went so near my soul, as it does to hear and see the blessed work and ways of the glorious God called errors and delusions of the devil. Pray, Sir, let me deal plainly now, and don't be angry: do you think you are out of danger of committing the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost? It would not surprise me much to hear, that God had opened the flood-gates of his wrath and let out the horrors of conscience on you, and many more of your party, who deny the truth, so that you should die in as great despair as Judas or Spira did."

While, on the one hand, Mr. Wheelock was thus bitterly censured by those, whom he would save from fanatical extremes, and on the other hand, was rebuked by the church-and-state party, as it may be called, who thought that the parish lines were never to be invaded by itinerancy, he wisely and earnestly improved the remarkable season of the outpouring of the Spirit of God to preach the gospel of salvation to his brethren in every field of promising usefulness. The doctrines, which he preached, were those, which humble man and exalt the grace and mercy of God,—the doctrines of original sin, regeneration by the supernatural influences of the divine Spirit, justification by faith in Jesus Christ, the perdition of the unbelieving, and the perseverance of the righteous. Knowing the relation of a pure church to the progress of religion, one great object of his preaching was to expose the hypocrisy of false professors and bring them to repentance and to awaken the slumbering disciples from their torpor. Aware that the neglecters of the great salvation must perish, his heart bled for them, and with unequalled pathos and tenderness, with the eloquence of an inflamed heart, he urged them to accept the mercy, which was most freely offered them in the gospel. Under his preaching there were repeated revivals in his parish in 1735, the first year of his settlement, and down to 1769, when he removed to a new field of labor.

The same divine blessing, which attended his zealous preaching of the gospel in East Windsor, as evinced by the letter of Mr. Edwards, already quoted, attended his itinerant labors in other towns, as appears from various letters of grateful acknowledgment, addressed to him.

ORIGIN OF MOOR'S SCHOOL.

After the period of religious excitement had subsided, Mr. Wheelock commenced his labors as a teacher of youth by taking a few scholars into his own house. He found his salary as a parish minister inadequate to the support of his family, and probably the small profits of a school, as well as the hope of being useful to youth, furnished a reason for this additional labor.

Although settled in 1735, on a nominal salary of £140, yet as the amount was made up by reckoning certain provisions at high prices, and was to fall proportionally, he in some years received only about a third part of that sum, paid too for years in provisions. It may well be supposed, that he could not live on one hundred and fifty or sixty dollars a year, and that his parish could have no claim to his whole time. In December, 1743, he was induced to receive among the boys of his school Samson Occom, a Mohegan Indian, aged about 19, and kept him in his family and educated him four or five years. This Indian, it is well known, became a preacher of distinction. Mr. Wheelock soon formed the plan of an Indian missionary school. He conceived, that educated Indians would be more