A Historical Sketch of the Congregational Churches in Massachusetts

afforded in studying the causes which have hitherto promoted or impeded the growth of our churches.

Without the least idea that these researches could be of any practical use to the public beyond their original aim, to wit, a more capable discharge of my official duties in the service of home missions, I was requested by the publishers of the Congregationalist to furnish a series of articles for that journal, giving a historical development of the Unitarian Controversy, which, after long repose, was then passing under review in the Christian Examiner. It was evident, on the slightest reflection, that some of the remoter causes of that schism lay so far back that it were quite as well to begin with the first plantation of churches in New England, and trace the stream down from its source, which was accordingly done in monthly numbers covering just ten years each. By request of many friends, whose judgment is wiser than mine, these are now recommitted to the press in their present form.

The whole has passed through a careful revision, many errors corrected, and copious foot-notes added. The large amount of statistics brought into the sketch, and which are essential to its leading design, has rendered it necessary to condense them into the smallest possible compass. It would have been easier, and much more agreeable, with the stock of materials on hand, to spread the account of each church-gathering over a larger space; but this would have swollen the volume —already too large to an unreadable size. Instead of giving these monotonous details for the sake of clothing the nakedness of dates, which, after all, to some readers, will possess a higher value, as they have cost the writer more labor than any thing else in the volume, — it has been thought best to insert oc

casional notes, where noteworthy facts transpired in connection with the founding of a church. Sentences have also been stricken out, and paragraphs inserted, in the body of the book, wherever additional light seemed to demand it.

The author is under great obligations to those ministers and laymen in various parts of the State who have kindly furnished him the correct names and dates, which he had either omitted or erroneously stated in the newspaper articles which fell under their eye. Especially deserving of grateful acknowledgments are the favors received from J. WINGATE THORNTON, Esq., and Dr. J. B. FELT, of Boston, in the loan of rare books and manuscripts. But it is to the collections. of the Congregational Library Association that he is most deeply indebted for aid in preparing this sketch. Probably there is no place in New England where statistical information — particularly such as relates to the Congregational churches

can be found in equal fulness; for, in addition to its own appropriate store, it has also, on deposit, the entire library of the American Statistical Society.

The volume, such as it is, the author commits to the public with the earnest prayer and devout hope that it may subserve the Redeemer's cause, by "showing to the generations to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments." It has been his honest aim to "stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and, to omit nothing which may induce the churches to “walk therein, and find rest to their souls," he has been particular to set up a finger-board at the entrance of each devious path, so far as the spot can be pointed out.

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