well. Mansion of my birth, the once happy home of father and mother, brothers and sisters, most of whom have now a mansion in the grave, farewell. This sacred desk, where, from the lips of an honored father and other servants of God, I have often heard the truth; that family-seat, this ancient house, in which I have listened, trembled, and resolved, farewell. Surviving companions of my childhood and youth, and aged fathers and mothers, my parents' remaining friends and mine, farewell. Yonder graves of parents, honored and beloved, around you I linger, but to you, also, I must say, farewell. Respected friends, till our arrival, through rich grace in Christ Jesus, in that world where years and centuries of years shall cease to roll, and all the myriads of the redeemed of every generation shall meet to trace the history of God's providence, and everlastingly celebrate his wonders of love to the children of men; till then, farewell, farewell. There, blessed be God, there, during the countless ages of eternity, will there be no more occasion to say, farewell.

APPENDIX TO THE ADDRESS.

A. 1.

THE first mention of Mr. Rogers, after he came to this country, which has been transmitted to us, is, that he appeared before Mr. Wilson's church of Boston, in the year 1638, 10 mo. 2 day, and requested, for himself and for his people, the liberty of partaking of the Lord's Supper with them, and did first impart his desire to the elders, and having given them satisfaction, they acquainted the church with it, and before the sacrament, being called forth by the elders, he spoke to this effect, viz. that he and his company, (viz. divers families who came over with him this summer,) had, of a good time, withdrawn themselves from the church communion of England, on account of the many corruptions that are among them. But, first, he desired, that he might not be misunderstood, as if he did condemn all there; for he did acknowledge a special presence of God there, in three things. 1st. In the soundness of doctrine in all fundamental truths. 2d. In the excellency of ministerial gifts. 3d. In the blessing of God upon the same, for the work of conversion, and for the power of religion; in all which, there appeared more in England than in all the known world besides. Yet there are such corruptions, that we could not, with safe conscience, join any longer with them. The first, their national church. Second, their hierarchy, wholly antichristian. Third, their dead service.

Fourth, their receiving (nay compelling) all to partake of the seals. Fifth, their abuse of excommunications, wherein they inwrap many a godly minister, by causing him to pronounce their sentence, &c., they not knowing, that the fear of excommunication lies in that. Hereupon they bewailed before the Lord their sinful partaking so long in those corruptions, and entered a covenant together, to walk together in all the ordinances, &c. - Winthrop.

1643. 3 mo. 10 day. Mr. Rogers preached the Election Sermon, in which he described how the man ought to be qualified whom they should choose for Governour, dissuading them earnestly from choosing the same man twice together, and expressed his dislike of that, with such vehemency as gave offence. But when it came to trial, the former Governour (Mr. Winthrop) was chosen again.

1647. 8 mo. 4 day. The Synod began at Cambridge. The next day Mr. Rogers preached in the forenoon, and the magistrates and deputies were present. In this sermon he took occasion to speak of the petitioners,* (then in question before the Court,) and exhorted the Court to do justice upon them, yet with desire of favor to such as had been drawn in, &c., and should submit. He reproved also the practice of private members making speeches in the church assemblies, to the disturbance and hindrance of the ordidances, also the call for reviving the ancient practice in England, of children asking their parents' blessing upon their knees, &c. Also, he reproved the great oppressions in the country, &c., and other things amiss, as long hair, &c. Divers were offended at his zeal in some of these passages. Winthrop.

*

The following is a copy of a letter written by Mr. Rogers,

Referring to the petition of Mr. Peter Hubbard [or Hobart], of Hingham, and others, sent to England. - Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts.

with his left hand, to the Rev. Zechariah Symms, minister of Charlestown,

66

Under date of the "6th of the 12th month, 1657. "DEAR BROTHER,

Though I have now done my errand in the other paper,* yet methinks I am not satisfied to leave you so suddenly, so barely. Let us hear from you, I pray you. Doth your ministry go on comfortably? Find you fruit of your labors? Are new converts brought in? Do your children and family grow more godly? I find greatest trouble and grief about the rising generation. Young people are little stirred here; but they strengthen one another in evil, by example, by council. Much ado I have with my own family ; hard to get a servant that is glad of catechising, or family duties. I had a rare blessing of servants in Yorkshire; and those I brought over were a blessing; but the young brood doth much afflict me. Even the children of the godly, here and elsewhere, make a woful proof, so that I tremble to think what will become of this glorious work that we have begun, when the ancients shall be gathered unto their fathers; I fear grace and blessing will die with them, if the Lord do not show some signs of displeasure, even in our days. We grow worldly everywhere; methinks I see little godliness, but all in a hurry about the world; every one for himself; little care of public or common good. It hath been God's way, not to send sweeping judgments when the chief magistrates are godly, and grow more so. I beseech all the Bay ministers to call earnestly upon magistrates, (that are often among them,) tell them, that their godliness will be our protection. If they fail, I shall fear some sweeping judgments shortly; the clouds seem to be gathering.

"I am hastening home, and grow very asthmatical and

* Another letter on business (no doubt), which accompanied this.

short-breathed. Oh! that I might see some signs of good to the generations following, to send me away rejoicing! Thus I could weary you and myself, and my left hand; but I break off suddenly. O good brother, I thank God, I am near home; and you, too, are not far off. Oh! the weight of glory, that is ready waiting for us, God's poor exiles! We shall sit next the martyrs and confessors. Oh, the embraces, wherewith Christ will embrace us! Cheer up your spirits in the thoughts thereof; and let us be zealous for our God and Christ, and make a conclusion. Lord bring us well through our poor pilgrimage. "Your affectionate brother,

Now the

"EZEKIEL ROGERS."

EPITAPH.

A Resurrection to Immortality

is here expected,

for what was mortal

of the Reverend

EZEKIEL ROGERS,

Put off, January 23, 1660.

When preachers die, what rules the pulpit gave
Of living, are still preached from the grave.
The faith and life, which your dead pastor taught,
Now in one grave with him, Sirs, bury not.

Abi, Viator.

A Mortuo disce vivere ut Moriturus;

E Terris disce cogitare de Cœlis.

-Mather, Magnalia.

The Rev. Ezekiel Rogers's Will.

I, Ezekiel Rogers, born at Wethersfield, in Essex, in Old England, now of Rowley, in Essex, in New England, being at this time of good memory and competent health, through God's mercy; yet not knowing when the Lord may