diately upon conviction, to relinquish the obnoxious tenet, whatever it might chance to be, and to adopt that better way, which would, in such an event, become luminous before me. Truth, and gratitude originates the confession, that in all circumstances, I have hitherto had reason to bless the God of my life, who hath promised He will be with me to the end of the world, and that all things shall work together for good. Amen, and amen. CHAPTER VII. Summary Record of Events, from January, 1775, to October, 1809. Amid the haunts of memory let me stray, WOULD the beloved preacher had continued his narrative. The Editor fondly calculating upon assistance which she believed herself authorized to expect, pledged herself to continue the sketch, even to the closing scene. But, alas! disappointed in her cherished hopes, she stands alone. Her health is broken, her spirits are depressed, and she is advanced in life; yea, doubtless, she is inadequate to the performance of her promise-But she remembers that this volume is addressed only to the friends of the dear departed, and she mournfully proceeds to its completion. Upon December 14, 1774, Mr. Murray again visited Gloucester; the numerous family of the Sargents then seated in that place embraced, in almost all its branches, the truth as it is in Jesus, and their attachment to him, whom they believed an ambassador of the Redeemer, was proportioned to their zeal. Many respectable names were added, and a little congregation was collected, who seemed to have among them but one heart, and one soul. Like the primitive Christians, they assembled daily, and they continued from house to house worshipping the only true God their Saviour. On recurrence to the journal of the preacher we find a memorandum, written upon his second visit to Gloucester, which is thus worded: Here my God grants me rest from my toils; here I have a taste of heaven. The new song is sung here, and WORTHY IS THE LAMB constantly dwells upon their tongues.' Mr. Chandler's ineetinghouse was not closed against the promulgator of glad tidings, until some time in January, 1775, upon the 20th of which month he made a second journey to Newburyport and Portsmouth. Those who had adhered to him in those towns, having ascertained that he absolutely believed the final restitution of all things, united with the many in the most unqualified censure. But the friends he had lost, particularly in Portsmouth, were replaced by many others, among whom we find the naines of Judge, and Sheriff Parker, Atkinson, Wentworth, Austin, Warner, Sheafe, Langdon, Sewall, Brackett, Whipple, Thompson, Turner, Gardner, Massey, Jackson, &c. &c. The heaven-instructed preacher continued many years an occasional visiter in Portsmouth, where his labors were greatly blessed; and when other pulpits were closed against him in that metropolis, the doors of the Episcopal Church were open for his reception. But after he had repeatedly lectured in that church, a few persons appeared in opposition, and we have this moment under our eye, an original writing, addressed to the promulgator upon this occasion. We transcribe a verbatim copy: Whereas it is represented that some objections have been made by one or more persons, belonging to the Church called Queen's Chapel, against the doors thereol being opened for the admission of Mr. John Murray to preach the Gospel; Wherefore, we the subscribers, proprietors, and parishioners of the Church aforesaid, having taken the same into consideration-Do (in order to remove any difficulties that might arise in that gentleman's breast in consequence of such objections) hereby fully declare our free will and consent, that the said Church be open at ALL TIMES, whenever it may be convenient for him to perform divine service in town, more especially during his present stay; and, instead of deeming it an indulgence granted him, we shall, on the contrary acknowledge it a favor conferred on us, in his acceptance of this invitation. Portsmouth, May 24, 1781.'Signed by twenty-four of the leading members of the Church in Portsmouth. Our preacher was also made the instrument of irradiating the mind of an exemplary philanthropist, Mr. Noah Parker, now in regions of blessedness, who was so deeply penetrated, as to present himself a servant of the living God, a voluntary preacher of the Gospel. A convenient house was raised for his use, by the brethren in Portsmouth, and he continued, until his departure out of time, a zealous and able minister of the Reconciliation. Attached to the Gloucesterians, Mr. Murray once more believed he had found a permanent residence; yet, although hè consented to consider that place as his home; he did not relinquish the persuasion that his commission obliged him to go forth a preacher of the Gospel, wherever and whenever the providence of God might seem to direct him. The inveteracy of his enemies in the town of Gloucester, was in full proportion to the attachment of his friends, and every means of annoyance was in requisition. The spirit of liberty mounted very high in Gloucester, and for the purpose of influencing the ignorant, the teacher was proclaimed a PAPIST, sent out by Lord North, to aid the purpose of an obnoxious ministry; anathemas, and sometimes stones, followed his steps as he passed the streets; a town-meeting was called, the aim of which (lest the friends of the promulgator should take the alarm) was most illegally shrouded in silence, and a vote was thus surreptitiously obtained, that he should forthwith depart from the borders of Gloucester; of this vote he was advertised by an officer-let us not say of justice. Still, however, he continued witnessing both to small and great, what Moses and the prophets had testified, concerning Jesus of Nazareth, that he died for our sins, and rose again for our justification. The most unwarrantable means were employed; old slanders were resuscitated, and new accusations brought forward; tales which had been repeatedly confuted, were new garbed, and sent abroad, swelling the bosom of integrity with unutterable anguish. Among countless other calumnies which were afloat, a story was embellished, and published, originally propagated by one Maxwell, wherein the preacher, the lover of the Redeemer, is represented as treating the Eucharist in a ludicrous manner! although the gentleman-Mr. afterwards General Greene, at whose house, and in whose presence, the irreverent profanation was said to have taken place-had written to Doctor S- and others, completely exonerating the accused. Mr. Murray's sentiments upon the sacred and consolatory ordinance of the Lord's Supper, are explained and expatiated upon, in his Letters and Sketches of Sermons Sermons, to which the interested reader is referred. It cannot be denied, that characters generally respectable combined to stimulate the mob to the most desperate measures; but every unwarrantable project was frustrated. The doors of the meetinghouse being now closed, the parlors of respectable friends became the places of assembling, until at length a spacious room was consecrated for that purpose. Letters of excommunication were now addressed, by the established Minister, to seventeen of the most respectable Church members, and this, for their attachment to the Gospel of God our Saviour. While others, availing themselves of a Provincial Law, endeavored to expel the Ambassador of their God, as a Vagrant. To meet and obviate which difficulty, the kind friend under whose especial patronage he then was, presented him with a deed of gift which constituted him a freeholder in Gloucester. The months of March and April, in this year, were, by the preacher, devoted to visiting his friends in Boston, and various parts of Rhode Island, and toward the close of April he returned to his highly favored home, rejoicing that the zeal and attachment of the Gloucesterians were nothing diminished, and their meetings for scriptural investigations were joyfully resumed. In the month of May, 1775, the leading officers of the Rhode Island Brigade, assembled in the neighborhood of Boston, dispatched a respectable imessenger, with a letter, soliciting the attendance of the promulgator, as chaplain* to their detachinent of the Revolutionary Army. We transcribe a verbatim copy of this letter. * It is not difficult to see the cause of Mr. Murray's appointment to this office. In his journeys through Rhode Island he had become intimately acquainted with several of the officers, particularly Mr. after 'DEAR SIR: 'AMIDST that concurrence of events which the great Creator in infinite wisdom directs, for the accomplishment of his own purposes, a British armament hath set hostile foot upon American ground. What the design of the Almighty may be, we cannot at present absolutely determine. One thing we know, our cause is just, and also that the Parent of the universe can do no wrong. An army hath been raised in this Colony, which is now stationed upon Jamaica Plains in Roxbury, and that this army may do honor to themselves, and the cause in which they are embarked, it is requisite propriety of manners, regularity of conduct, and a due reliance upon the Almighty controller of events, should be cultivated and enforced. The most probable human means we can devise to effect an object so ardently to be desired, consist in a decent, sincere, and devout attendance, at opportune seasons, upon divine worship. We have, therefore, selected you, as a Chaplain to our Brigade, well convinced that your extensive benevolence and abilities will justify our choice. We cannot, without doing violence to the opinion we have formed of your character, doubt of your ready compliance with our united request. The support you will receive shall exactly correspond with your feelings, and your wishes. We are, dear sir, &c. &c. &c. 'Signed in behalf of the Brigade, 'May 24, 1775' J. N. VARNUM. A persuasion that he could be of more use in the army than elsewhere, would not allow the preacher to balance, and, accordingly, resigning the calm recess of friendship, he presented himself in the American camp, and 'armed with the sword of Jesse's youthful son,' he was indeed most ardently engaged. The scene, however, was not calculated to give pleasure to a philanthropist. In a memorandum of this date, he thus expresses himself: 'My troubles have recommenced; I am now indeed in the world, and shall doubtless encounter tribulation; I am associated with an ungovernable set of people. It is true, the officers are gentlemen, and call into action every effort to strengthen my hands; but the soldiers-alas! the fact is, I am not in my own company.' Upon the 3d of July, the chaplain accompanied a detachment wards General Greene, who through the whole war held so high a rank in the affection and confidence of the commander-in-chief, and who was regarded as second only to him in patriotism, stability, prudence and military skill. His previous acquaintance with the first officers of the Rhode Island Brigade, was the unquestionable cause of his appointment. Evans, in his Sketch of the Christian Seets, and Southey, in his Life of Wesley, have both erred, in stating that Mr. Murray was chaplain to General Washington. He was chaplain only to the Rhode Island Brigade. T. W. of the brigade, to compliment General Washington upon his arrival to take the supreme command of the army at Cambridge; and he was received by the immortal chief with that urbanity which he so well knew to practise. The subject of the first sermon, preached on sabbath morning at the camp, Jamaica Plains, was Psalm xliv. 1, 2, 3, and upon the evening of the same day, the last verse of the same Psalm. The preacher was engaged occasionally at Jamaica Plains, and on Prospect Hill. Every morning at 7 o'clock he met the several regiments upon the parade; gradually the habits of swearing and the rough manners of the soldiery, yielded to the christianized eloquence of their chaplain, and his success in the army was indeed most wonderful. His benevolence and benignity while there, is storied by many a tongue; we indulge ourselves by selecting an instance, which did not reach our ears until since his decease. A detachment of the army was ordered to march; a river was to be forded: a poor soldier in years, and struggling with sickness, was tottering under his burden: the preacher instantly accoutred himself with the knapsack, arms, and cartouch-box, and thus arrayed, proceeded on, while the suffererer disencumbered, passed lightly over. The writer of this sketch could furnish a series of similar anecdotes; often, when his finances have been at the lowest ebb, and the prodigious expense of living has produced distressing embarrassments, she has seen him extend to the necessitous, an extricating hand; and he not only indulged and cherished, but invariably stimulated every charitable purpose of her soul. General Washington honored the preacher with marked and uniform attention; the chaplains of the army united in petitioning the chief for the removal of the promulgator of glad tidings; the answer was handed them, in the general orders of the ensuing day, which appointed Mr. John Murray chaplain of the three Rhode Island regiments, with a command from his Excellency GEORGE WASHINGTON, that he should be respected accordingly. Mr. Murray's commission was made out, and delivered to him; when, enclesing it in a respectfully polite letter of thanks, he returned it to the noble minded chief, earnestly requesting permission to continue in the army, as a volunteer. General Washington, after perusing, folded the paper, and observed, 'Mr. Murray is a young man now; he will live to be old, and repentance will be the companion of his age.' The preacher lived to see this prediction fulfilled. Had he embraced the rich opportunity then presented, he might have continued in the family of General Greene, ne, whose friendship was unbroken, and where his abode was hailed as a distinguishing favor, his daily ratio would have augmented for his emolument, his salary would have accumulated, he would have retired upon half pay, or commutation, and during the years of languor and decrepitude, he might have commanded his own carriage and servants; but the reader must have seen that the preacher was accustomed to withdraw from the approaches of affluence. Mr. Murray continued in the army so long as his health would |