approaching his end. When came was finishing his Will. Then I went in to Him: He call'd me to sit down by him, held me by the hand and spake pertinently to me, though had some difficulty to hear him. Mr. Sewall pray'd fervently, and quickly after he expired, Bolstered up in his Bed, about past 3. afternoon in the best Chamber. The Lord sanctify it to me, and to all. My Son writ a letter to Dr. Cotton Mather to preach [the Lecture] for him, and before 'twas superscribed, he came in, which took as a Token for good. I spake to Mr. [Ezekiel] Lewis, and he approved of it.

Feb. 14. Dr. C. Mather preaches and prays excellently. Come my people enter into thy Chambers — Isa. 26.

Feb. 15. The Revd. Mr. William Brattle died last night at midnight. He was a Father to the Students of Harvard College, and a Physician, My Fast Friend. I wish it be not portentous That Two Such great Men should fall in one week. Deus avertat omen.

Feb. 16. Is a great Storm of Snow and Sleet, so that the Burying of Mr. Pemberton is put off to Monday, and Notice sent accordingly. Feb. 17. Serene, Mr. Wadsworth preaches at the South Excellently, from 2 Pet. 1. 15.

Feb. 18. Great Storm of Snow; yet good going under foot. Mr. Pemberton is buried between 4 and 5. in Mr. Willard's Tomb. Bearers, Mr. John Leverett, president, Dr. Cotton Mather; Mr. Wadsworth, Colman; Mr. Sewall, Webb; Dr. Increase Mather, Majr. Genl Winthrop. Col. Hutchinson not there, by which means it fell to me to wait on his Excellency: Twas good going, a broad path being made. Feb. 21. Extraordinary Storm of Snow; yet many men at Lecture to hear Mr. Colman preach the Funeral Sermon of Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Brattle, from John ix. 4. ["I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day."] Compar'd Mr. Pemberton to Elijah, Mr. Brattle to Moses. After Lecture the storm increases much, grows more vehement. (Sewall.)

Mr. Colman said:

There was a Great likeness in these Servants of God: I mean not in Face and Feature, nor in natural Temper or Conversation, nor in their way of Preaching; but they were alike men of great Parts and Learning, alike Phylosophers and Divines, Masters of the best Literature, and very thorow and General Scholars; they had read Books and Men, and were good Judges of both, for they had an uncommon strength of mind, and searched every thing to the bottom, as far as the Ordinary Attainments among Men, may allow us to say so. They were very Judicious Men, and plac'd neither Learning nor Religion in unprofitable Speculations, or Superficial Notions, or in Science falsely so called; but in Solid and Substantial Truth, to furnish themselves with that which betters the Mind and serves the World.

MR. PEMBERTON'S DEATH.

381 Speaking particularly of Mr. Pemberton, the preacher continued:

He imitated his great Lord and Master, who spake as one having authority. His Warm or Passionate Temper (which was sometimes his great Infirmity and Burthen) serv'd here to set the greater Edge, and give a further Energy to his Admirable Discourses, which were always Animated with a fervent Zeal for the Glory of God and the Salvation of Man. His Sermons appear'd to Others always to cost him great Pains and much Study; They were Practical, Pathetical and very Moving; Illuminating, Affecting, Convincing. Our Expectations were always Great when he stood up, and how often has he exceeded 'em, never deceived 'em: Like the Sun he ran his Course strongly and steddily, giving light and heat.

The preacher made a passing reference to the controversies which prevailed during the greater part of Mr. Pemberton's ministry:

My Deceased Brother has sometimes told me how much his Spirit has been wounded, and His Hands weakned in the Master's Work, by the unjust Surmizes and Censures which have been bestow'd upon some of his most Faithful Endeavours to serve these Churches. I also have Suffer'd with him in things wherein I have the utmost Satisfaction of his Integrity and my own.

Mr. Sewall paid an affectionate tribute to his departed colleague in a sermon on 2 Cor. iv. 7: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."1 We quote a sentence from it which embalms one of Mr. Pemberton's own expressions: "It is a comfort and refreshment to us that this bright lamp of the sanctuary went out at last in a sweet perfume; that I may borrow the phrase used by him in his excellent discourse on this subject above a year ago."

Another snow-storm followed those above mentioned, which is characteristically described by Dr. Cotton Mather:

memory, and was an hard student, whence it necessarily follows that having (as he had) a considerable time to furnish himself with variety of learning, his accomplishments must be eminent. But that which made him chiefly desirable, was his piety. His gifts were sanctified with grace, and the fear of God."

On the 24th day of the month comes Pelion upon Ossa; another 1 This sermon was printed, with an Address to the Reader by Dr. Increase Mather, which is suggestive when it is remembered what the relations of the president and the tutor at Cambridge were, less than twenty years before. Says the ex-president: "I had peculiar reason to know him, when he was a student at the college. I then observed that he had a pregnant wit, and strong

Mr. Pemberton had just completed his forty-fifth year.

snow came on which almost buried the memory of the former, with a storm so famous that Heaven laid an interdict on the religious assemblies throughout the country, on this Lord's day, the like whereunto had never been seen before. The Indians near an hundred years old affirm that their fathers never told them of anything that equalled it. Vast numbers of Cattel were destroyed in this calamity.

Feb. 24. I Violent Storm of Snow, which makes our Meeting very thin especially as to Women. Mr. Cotton of Newtown here. Hardly any of the Ministers at Mr. Brattle's Funeral are got home. 'Tis fear'd many Congregations fail'd. There was none at the New-South.

Feb. 28. Storm. Dr. Cotton Mather preaches excellent [the Lecture] from Psal. 147. He sendeth his word and melteth them. Apply'd it also to the Conversion of the Jews. Fair good wether p. m.

March 3. 1. Robert Calef is baptized; and Mr. Abiel Wally, John James, Mrs. Margaret Wally, and Susan Thayr are admitted. Mr. Holyoke dined with us, who is still kept here by the snow that makes the ways unpassable. (Sewall.)

CHAPTER VIII.

1717-1730.

HE young pastor who now had sole charge of this important church was less than thirty years of age. Although the three colleague pastorates thus far had covered less than one fourth of the period of the church's existence, it had become the settled policy to have two ministers, and it so continued until the days of the Revolution. At the proper time, therefore, a colleague would be given to Mr. Sewall, and fortunately there were to be fewer embarrassments and less delay in making a choice than there had been in the last two in

stances.

The next entries we shall quote from Judge Sewall's diary

refer very indefinitely to some irregularity of which we have no other knowledge. Nathaniel Oliver, son of Peter Oliver, left the South Church, with his wife (Elizabeth Brattle), when the Brattle Street Church was formed, and died in 1704. The name of his son Nathaniel does not appear on the register of membership of the South Church, but this was so imperfectly kept during Mr. Pemberton's ministry that it cannot be depended upon for completeness.

March 2. Capt. Oliver comes to me, and declares his Unwillingness to make his Confession before the Congregation; his friends advise him. I said, you did run well, who hindered you?

March 31. Now about 'tis propounded to the Church whether Capt Nathan Oliver's Confession should be before the Church, or before the Congregation: I opposed the former as not agreeing with the universal Practice: 'Twas brought on by our late Pastor with the design that it should be before the Congregation. Not fit that the penitent should prescribe before what Auditory his Confession should be. Some said there was little difference: I said twas the more gravaminous that Capt. Oliver should insist on it. I think it was the Congregation's due, all being Offended: when a person is admitted, the Congregation are acquainted with it. "Twas carried for Capt Oliver, and he was restor'd, but I did not vote in it. When he spake to me, I said, you did run well, who hindered you? He mention'd the advice of some Friends. I suppose Col. Paige. When Mr. Williams spake to me, I said let him as a Captain take courage and make it before the Congregation. (Sewall.)

The Congregational churches of the town decided to observe a day of fasting together, with reference, probably, to their own special needs, rather than to the general wants of the community. Two of them, the First and Third, were without colleague pastors. There was to be a public fast, by appointment of the Governor and Council, on the 4th of April.

March 10. Lord's Supper at the South. Comfortable Weather. Son propounds the Turning the Lecture into a Fast. Sundry of our Fathers in the Ministry think it proper; which I mention that I may have your Concurrence with them in the seasonable Solemnity.

March 14. Fast, Mr. Webb begins with Prayer, Mr. Colman preaches; Text, Feed me with Food Convenient Prov. 30. Prays. P. m. Mr. Sewall Prays. Mr. Wadsworth preaches: Text 107. ult., whoso is wise-Prays; Sung. Great Congregation. Fn. and Aftn. Dr. Incr., Cot. Mather, Mr. Cooper not there, by reason of Indisposition. Governour was present in the Forenoon only. (Sewall.)