In our last Number we brought || bly settle with them. Two considthe Memoir to the time of Doctor Baldwin's arrival in Boston. We shall proceed with the events connected with his settlement in this city.

erations, however, had an influence in determining his mind to this city. One was, that he wished to reside where he could give himself wholly to the work. This was the great object for which he wished to remove at all. For tuis, Boston appeared the most eligible situation. He perceived that here nothing was expected of a minister but what belonged to parochial concerns. This to him was a most desirable consideration. Connected with this, the special attention which appeared among the young people at this time

Dr. Baldwin, as we have related, preached his first sermon on probation in the church of which he afterwards became the pastor, July 4, 1790. In the beginning of August, some indications of a revival || began to appear in the congregation These daily increased, until a very considerable number were heard with deep solemnity to inquire, What shall we do to be sav-had great weight upon his mind. ed? The interest excited by his public labours was very general; and on the 22d of August the Church and Society, by an unanimous vote, invited him to become their pastor. As we have before stated, Dr. Baldwin had previously received an invitation to become the pastor of the Baptist church in Hampton, Conn. and also another from the church in Sturbridge, Mass. With the appearance of this latter society he was much pleased, and for some time thought that he should proba-invitation. JAN. 1826.

He sincerely believed that there was a greater prospect of usefulness here than in any country town whatsoever. Besides these considerations it may be remarked, that a striking coincidence of events connected with his first coming to this city, seemed to point out the path of duty too plainly to be mistaken. Under these circumstances, though with much trembling, he gave, on the 18th of September, 1790, an affirmative answer to the

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which men do not generally make much advancement in knowledge. All the resources upon which, depending on the grace of God, he could rely in this arduous situation, were sincere desires to be useful, native vigour of mind, a fixed resolution to prepare himself for the duties to which Providence had called him, and we may add, a store of sound reflections on theol. ogy, an intuitive knowledge of human nature, and sagacity in remarking the workings of the human heart.

Dr. Baldwin was in consequence | years of age; a time of life beyond installed on the 11th of November following. The services were performed in the meeting-house of the Rev. Dr. ELIOT, which was kindly offered for the purpose. The Rev. Dr. STILLMAN, then Pastor of the First Baptist Church of this city, preached from 2 Cor. iv. 7. For we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. The Rev. Dr. SMITH, of Haverhill, delivered the Charge; the Rev. THOMAS GREEN, of Cambridge, presented the Right Hand of Fellowship; and the Rev. JOSEPH For this situation, Dr. Baldwin GRAFTON, of Newton, the venerable proved himself manifestly equal. and the only survivor, offered the And his success at least proves one concluding prayer. The day was thing, that a man of sense is at pleasant, the services highly inter- home any where. He here comesting, and the assembly numerous menced that course of judicious theand respectable. ological and critical study, which We are now called to contem-laid the foundation of his extensive plate the subject of this Memoir under circumstances very different from those with which his ministry commenced. From the frontier settlements of New Hampshire, where almost the whole of his life had been spent, he was removed at once to the centre of a polite and literary metropolis, and was placed by the side of men whose praise had long been in all the churches, and whose lives had been devoted to academic learning. Probably the pulpits of this city have never since been more ably filled. Drs. LATHROP, ELIOT, HOWARD, BELKNAP and THACHER were the minis. ters of the Congregational churches, and Dr. STILLMAN, probably the most eloquent and most universally beloved clergyman that Boston has ever seen, was his immediate fellow labourer. His early advantages for education were, as we have seen, but scanty. Constant labour had left him but little opportunity to improve them. He was now 38

* Dr. Baldwin's Discourse preached on the first Sabbath in January, 1824; with an Appendix, containing an Historical Sketch of the Church and Society.

reputation, and which enabled him not only to serve the church in the pulpit, but also still more extensively to illustrate and defend her doctrines through the medium of the press.

The ministry of Dr. Baldwin was at its commencement in this city unusually blest. The revival which began whilst he was preaching as a candidate, continued without much interruption for two years. To the second and first Baptist churches more than 100 were added during the year 1790. In 1791, additions were made every month, sometimes to the number of nearly 20. The whole number added to the 2d church this year was about 70.

At the time of Dr. Baldwin's installation, the number of members whose names were recorded on the books of the church was 90. Of these, many were unknown and had been long forgotten. The present number of the church is about 450. During Dr. Baldwin's ministry, he baptized more than 670 who were the fruits of his ministry in this city.

Of his life, from the time of his

themselves neglected by the world. He was their minister. To him they could unburden their sorrows; to him could they as to a father unbosom the overflowings of their penitence. He it was whom they wish

settlement to his death, very few records are extant. The history of a clergyman, who devotes himself to the appropriate labours of his office, is of course barren of incidents which would interest the world. It is the plain and reitera-ed to see at their bedside in the ted account of studies and visits hour of their departure, and to comand conversations and preaching, mit the dust of their friends to its in which week after week has in lone and silent grave. rapid succession been consumed. But not to this city alone was His world is the people of his charge, the usefulness of Dr. Baldwin reor to speak still more truly and stricted. Under his fostering hand, with still nicer restriction, it is that many of the churches in this vicin people seen only in the light of ity arose, and by his parental care their moral relations.. The chan- were they sustained. And it is no ges in these relations are so gradu- small praise both to his piety and al, that generally the minister him- to his ability, that they drank so self, can hardly estimate them with- universally into his spirit. He had out comparing attentively and at the faculty, the true evidence of leisure two pretty distant periods. greatness, of forming other men inTo describe these slowly moving to his own likeness. And hence it revolutions, the means by which is that his character has left so they were produced, or the results broad an impression upon all this by which they were made manifest, part of New England. The standwould savour of egotism, or fre- ard of the pulpit rose in his own quently of senility. In this unos-denomination every where around. tentatious labour is the time of a minister of Christ usually and most profitably employed. Unseen, and noiseless as the evening dew, his influence descends upon the people of his charge; and after his sun has set and another has arisen, its effects are most visibly acknowledged in the moral loveliness of a succeeding generation.

Such was the general tenor of Dr. Baldwin's ministry. He was a faithful, affectionate, and devoted pastor. No man was perhaps ever more tenderly beloved by his church and congregation. Nor was his usefulness confined at all to these. He was for the part of the city in which he lived, appropriately the minister of the poor, and of those who but for him, might have said, No man careth for our souls. In the chamber of sickness and the house of death, he was emphatically at home. His amiable deportment, venerable appearance, and unassuming piety, rendered him the peculiar favourite of those who felt

him. He assisted the young of his brethren in their attempts to acquire the advantages of education. He set before them an example of simple, unaffected piety. He was a man of peace, and hushed all their contentions, until in his vicin ity contention was wholly forgot. ten. In few places of our country, perhaps, is there so great a degree of harmony existing as in the associations of which Dr. Baldwin was a prominent member. This fact all will unite in ascribing to his meek, patient, wise, and upright precept and example.

It was in labours such as these that his life was principally consumed. There are, however, a few circumstances somewhat more deserving a particular notice.

We have alluded to the revival of religion which was witnessed during the two first years of his settlement. After this subsided, the church continued for some time to advance with the growth which usu ally attends the faithful dispensa

first church received 135, and the second 212; in all, 547 members.

tion of the word and ordinances of half from its commencement, that the gospel. In the year 1797, the it could be considered to have tercongregation had so much increas-minated. During this period. the ed, that it was found necessary to enlarge their place of worship. This work was completed and the house We cannot, whilst referring to re-opened on the S0th of Novem this work of grace, omit a few exber, in that year. A sermon was tracts from the remarks which acpreached by the Pastor on the oc-company the narrative to which we casion, from Psalm cxxii. 7, 8, 9. have alluded. We do it to illusPeace be within thy walls, and trate the nature of the religious improsperity within thy palaces, &c.pressions then made upon the minds And although the addition compri- of the multitudes, who thronged sed two sevenths of the whole the houses of worship, as well as house, yet the pews were soon ta- to show the sound discretion of him ken up, and the house became as whom God used as one of the prinfull as before the enlargement was cipal instruments of their convermade.

sion.

In the year 1803, a second revi- "This work," he remarks, "has, val of religion, and the most re- we believe, been carried on with as markable that was witnessed during little noise and confusion as any of Dr. Baldwin's ministry in this city, equal extent which has ever taken occurred. It extended to both place in our land. We are far from the first and second, then the only thinking that there cannot be a Baptist churches in Boston, and its good work where there is a considresults were felt also in the church-erable mixture of enthusiasm ; but es of other denominations. It is perhaps not too much to say, that the happy change in the religious views of a large portion of professing Christians in this city, may date its origin very evidently from this event. It continued for more than two years, and a very great number were the subjects of its salutary influences.

still we think it not very desirable. There has been little or no outcry, swooning, &c. in the present work. The mind has been silently yet powerfully impressed.

The converts in general have appeared to have a deep and thorough sense of the depravity of their own hearts, and of the infinite evil of sin as committed against a holy God. They have not so frequently expressed their fears of hell, as their dread of sin on account of the wrong which it contains in itself. Comfort has been variously communicated. The precious promises

The particular account of this work of the Holy Spirit, may be found in the 1st vol. of the American Baptist Magazine, 1st series, numbers for September, 1804, and September, 1805. To these we must refer our readers, as the nar-have in some instances been powrative would be too extended for erfully applied. Others on viewing our present purpose. It will only the Divine character, have had inbe proper here to remark, that the stant joy infused into their souls. attention commenced simultaneous- They have felt such a sweetness in ly in both churches in the spring of meditating upon the perfections of 1803. In September, October, and God and the glories of the RedeemNovember of that year, the atten- er, as apparently to lose sight of tion was the most solemn. In Sep- every thing else. In other instantember of 1804, though somewhat ces, light has been gradually let abated, it was still pleasing and into the mind, and they have obinteresting; and it was not till Au- tained evidence of their change by gust, 1805, nearly two years and a finding within themselves the tem

pers and feelings of the gracious heart.

The first of these was entitled, Open Communion Examined, and was originally published in 1789, at the request of the Woodstock Association, whilst the author resid ed in New Hampshire. The second was published in 1794, and was in answer to a tract of the Rev. Noah Worcester, entitled "A friendly Letter," addressed to the author. In 1806, these were republished in a volume, with the ad

We add in the last place, a remark upon the effects of this work on individuals and on society at large. It has reclaimed the profane swearer, the Sabbath breaker, the gambler. It has made the 66 young men sober minded." It has formed the minds of all who have embraced it to the love of virtue and religion. It has led them to the discharge of all the du-dition of an appendix, containing a ties of social and religious life with conscientiousness and fidelity. In a word, it has laid a foundation to hope, that in future life they will so conduct as to be ornaments to religion and blessings to the world." To this the most happy period of his ministry, Dr. Baldwin often referred with unspeakable pleasure to the very close of his life.

In September, 1803, Dr. Bald- || win, by the appointment of the Baptist Missionary Society of Massachusetts, commenced the publication of the American Baptist Magazine, then under the title of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Magazine. This work was first published semi-annually, then quarterly, afterwards once in two months, and at present monthly. From its commencement until the year 1817, he was its sole editor. From 1817 until his death, he was its senior editor, and continued from time to time to enrich its pages with the results of his experience and the warnings of his wisdom. For many years, this was the only Baptist religious periodical work in America. To its influence, and to the labours of Dr. Baldwin by its means, may be ascribed in a great degree the rapid progress which has been made in his own denomination in acquaintance with each other, in missionary enterprise, and in religious knowledge.

reply to Mr. Edwards's "Candid Reasons," together with additional remarks upon some sermons and pamphlets which had recently appeared on the subject.

The author's principal work in this controversy, was published in 1810, and is entitled, A Series of Letters, in which the distinguishing sentiments of the Baptists are explained and vindicated, in answer to a late publication by the Rev. Samuel Worcester, A. M. addressed to the author, entitled, Serious and Candid Letters. This is a volume of about 250 pages, and contains a pretty ample discussion of the principal topics of dispute between the Baptists and Pedobaptists. This is considered the ablest of Dr. Baldwin's productions. It was written in the meridian of his strength, upon a subject on which he had long and deeply reflected, and at a time when, by repeated trials, he had become aware of his own power, and could fearlessly rely upon the decisions of his own intellect. It has accordingly given him a more extensive reputation than any other of his works, both on this and the other side of the Atlantic. The late Rev. Andrew Fuller, than whom no man was better able to decide upon its merits, pronounced this the ablest discussion of the question he had ever seen.

*

To enter into an analysis of these

Dr. Baldwin has, however, been more extensively known to the * This volume, and Dr. Baldwin's other world as an author, through his be purchased at the Bookstores of the works on Baptism and Communion, may works on Baptism and Communion.publishers of this Magazine.