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any sanguinary or capital laws against this sect, however great the provocation, as some of her sister colonies did. The friends, though censurable in former times, are now highly respectable for their love of order and their example of economy, industry, and their regular, peaceable, and moral conduct, wherever their lot is cast.

The following quotation is from a luminous and interesting account of the church in Plymouth, written by Josiah Cotton, esq. and preserved in the 4 vol. Coll. Mass. His. Soc.

Mr. Cushman was a "rich blessing to this church scores of years. He was grave, sober, holy, and temperate, very studious and solicitous for the peace and prosperity of the church, and to prevent and heal all breaches. Much of God's presence went away from this church, when this blessed pillar was removed."

614.

PLYMOUTH, MASS.

ANDREW FARRELL, of respectable connexions, in Ireland, aged 38 years, owner and commander of the ship, Hibernia, sailed from Boston, 26 Jan. and was wrecked on Plymouth beach, 28 Jan. 1805. His remains with five of seven seamen, who perished with him, are here interred.

O piteous lot of man's uncertain state;
What woes on life's eventful journey wait?

By sea, what treacherous calms, what sudden

storms,

And death, attendant in a thousand forms!

PLYMOUTH, MASS.

615. To the memory of JOHN COTTON, esq. formerly a minister of the gospel at Halifax, which employ was ever his greatest delight, who died, 4 Nov. A. D. 1789, in the 78 year of his age.

'Tis heaven's irrevocable decree,

That the great, the good, the pious shall fall,
In the dark grave undistinguish'd to lie,
Till the last trumpet rends the azure sky;
When the virtuous immortal will rise,
To glory and joys, above the starry skies;
The vitious to pain, dishonour, contempt,
In realms, below the splendid firmament.

PLYMOUTH, MASS.

616. Here lies the body of the hon. JoSIAH COTTON, esq. who died 19 August, 1756, aged 76 years and 7 months.

Note. This worthy man, à son of the rev. John Cotton of Plymouth, who was also a minister in Charleston, South Carolina, and died there in 1696, was like his father well versed in the language of his aboriginal neighbours, and, being a preacher of the gospel, often discoursed to them in their vernacular

tongue. Many of his manuscript sermons, in Eng lish and Indian, still remain. He also attended much to the history of the Old Colony, and left a volume, in his own hand writing, of interesting memoirs of his ancestors, with many incidental notices of their worthy cotemporaries. His wife, mrs. Hannah Cotton, died, 27 May, 1756, aged 69 years and 1 month. He was the father of John Cotton, esq. noticed in the foregoing article. The present Rossiter Cotton, esq. is a son of the last mentioned, and holds in possession many valuable letters written to his ancestors by some of the early and distinguished clergymen of this country, which will be useful to the future historians of New England, in ascertaining a variety of dates and facts.

PLYMOUTH, MASS.

617. This stone consecrated to the memory of the rev. CHANDLER ROBBINS, D. D. was erected by the inhabitants of the first religious society in Plymonth, as their last grateful tribute of respect for his eminent labours in the ministry of Jesus Christ, which commenced, 30 January, A. D. 1760, and continued till his death, 30 June, 1799, anno ætatis 61, when he entered into that everlasting rest prepared for the faithful ambassadours of the Most High God.

Ah, come heav'ns radiant offspring, hither throng,
Behold your prophet, your Elijah fled;
Let sacred symphony attune each tongue,
To chant hosannas with the sacred dead.

Note. A discourse entitled, The resurrection of good men to a blessed immortality, a ground of consolation to surviving mourners, from 1. Thes. 4. 14, occasioned by the death of doctor Robbins, was delivered at Plymouth, 14 July, 1799, by the rev. William Shaw, of Marshfield, and was published. In an appendix to that discourse, the following sketch of the life and character of that eminent divine, attributed to the pen of the hon. Joshua Thomas, his respectable parishioner, was also given to the publick.

"The reverend Chandler Robbins, D. D. was born at Branford, in the state of Connecticut, the 24 of August, 1738, and was the son of the reverend Philemon Robbins, then minister of that place. In September, 1752, doctor Robbins was admitted a student at Yale college; and, after completing the usual term of study, received the honours of that university, and is said to have been there distinguished as a correct classical scholar.

"Early impressed with the truth and importance of the christian system, and prompted by inclination, as well as formed by nature, and qualified by divine grace, for the gospel ministry, he commenced a preacher of this holy religion before he reached the age of twenty.

"Having consecrated his powers to the services

of the sanctuary, his fervid and pious eloquence and uncommon brilliancy of his pulpit talents united the first religious society in Plymouth, after having heard, unsuccessfully, a large number of candidates, in the choice of him as their minister; and, in January, 1760, he was ordained pastor over the first church of Christ planted in New England.

"It is worthy of remark, considering the comparative antiquity of this church. that doctor Robbins had but five predecessors in the work of the ministry, and only one of them died and was entombed with the people of his charge.

"The scriptural doctrines, preached by doctor Robbins, did not materially differ from those maintained by the first founders of this church; and the result of his investigations being a full conviction that they were contained in the sacred pages of his Lord and Master, he inculcated them, both in publick and private, with the energy of an upright zeal, and with a happy facility and ardour of expression.

"In the discharge of all the ministerial duties, he was affectionate and attentive,ja constant visitant in the chambers of the sick and distressed, to whom he administered those heavenly consolations, that smooth the bed of death. To the afflicted and bereaved, he made such pertinent reflections on the moral government of God, as are powerfully adapted to calm the tumults of nature and serene the troubled soul; and his prayers, his fervent and reverential prayers, accompanied with his solemn and devotional manner, will be remembered by his peo

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