to feel quite free in his company, it was necessary to be
well acquainted with him. He seldom talked on any
other subject except religion ; and when in company with
young preachers, or those who might question his doc-
trine or his opinions, his remarks chiefly turned on po-
lemical points. He was indefatigable in striving to
maintain his opinions ; and for this purpose would hear
any and all objections that could be raised, and would
then labour assiduously to remove them. His argu-
ments, however, neither in private nor publick, were ever
dressed with oratorical ornaments. He spoke and acted
like one who felt himself surrounded by the impregna-
ble bulwarks of truth, and therefore did not wish to
parley."*

He was more distinguished as a preacher than writer ;
but he devoted considerable time to study, and the fol-
lowing pieces were the productions of his leisure hours :

1 st. Tyranny Exposed, and True Liberty Discovered,
in a 12mo. pamphlet of 68 pages, the design of which
was to show the rise, reign, and downfall of Antichrist.

* Mr. Mercer ;K here described as lie appeared in Virginia, in 179), in cnm-

Sany with Jeremiah Wulkc-r, in the time of a great controversy
cctrinal points.



Biography of Joshua Morse,, 361

2d. The Supposition of the Divine Right of Infants
to Baptism, from their formerly having a Right to Cir-
cumcision, Confuted, being a Letter to a Friend. This
piece was not printed.

3d. The History of Baptism, carried to some extent,
but left unfinished.

4th. Two Letters on Election, left unpublished.



JOSHUA MORSE was, in his day, a very eminent preach-
er among the Baptists in New-England. He waj born
in South-Kingston, Rhode-Island, April 10, 1726. His
grandfather came from the west of England to Rhode-
Island, in the early part of the settlement of the colony,
and served as a chaplain in the first war in which this
country was engaged against the French, The son, from
whom the subject of this memoir descended, whose name
does not appear, was not a professor of religion, but was
by education a Baptist, as his father was of that persua-
sion. Young Joshua, at the age of sixteen, in the time
of the New-light Stir, was awakened to religious con-
cern. When the zealous New-lights began to make a
noise in the neighbourhood, he, with others, was ready
to reproach and despise them ; but the very first meet-
ing he attended, his mind was arrested. When he first
entered it, he saw them so zealously affected, that he
hesitated not to say that they were all deluded ; but lie
came away under fearful apprehensions of being made
miserable forever. Soon after he was brought to rejoice
in the truth, he became a zealous exhorter, and at the
age of eighteen commenced his ministerial labours, which
he continued with much reputation and success for up-
wards of fifty years. The early, and indeed the greatest
part of his ministry, was spent in Connecticut. He first
began preaching in Stonington, where he was much op-
posed, abused and persecuted, by a set of bigotted gen-
try, who declared that his preaching was not according to
law. At that time, every man who opened his doors for
a dissenter to preach, was liable to be fined fve pounds,
the preacher was subjected to a fine of ten shillings, and

VOL. 2. 46



362 Biography of Josfaa Morse.

every hearer to Jive. The very first time Mr. Morse
preached in Stonington, he was apprehended, carried be-
fore a magistrate, sentenced to pay the ten shillings, or
be whipped ten lashes, at the publick whipping-post.
The fine he could not pay, and of course the lashes he
was preparing to receive. He was taken to the post by
the order of the magistrate, but the constable, instead of
inflicting the lashes, plead the cause of the innocent suf-
ferer, remonstrated against the wickedness of the law,
the cruelty of the court, and utterly refused performing
the barbarous duty which had been assigned him. After
spending some time in this awkward position, the con-
stable tendered the magistrate from his own pocket the
fine which had been exacted. The magistrate, probably
ashamed of his conduct, offered it to Mr. Morse, and bid
him receive it, and go peaceably away. But as he would
pay no money, so he would receive none, and his perse-
cutors finding him rather unmanageable, went off and
left him to take his own course. For a number of years
after this, he was often opposed, sometimes by law^ but
more frequently by mobs. His preaching was attended
with much success, and that encouraged him and enraged
his opposers. In one of his meetings, one of the rever-
end gentlemen of the town came in just as he was begin-
ning his sermon, put his hand on his mouth, and then
bid a brother, whom he had brought with him, to strike
him. At another time a man came in while he was
preaching, and struck him with such violence on his
temple, that it brought him to the floor ; when he arose,
he looked on his persecutor, and with emotions of pity,
said, " If you die a natural death, the Lord hath not
spoken by me." This man, not long after, went to sea,
fell from the vessel, and was drowned. At another
meeting he was knocked down while in prayer j he was
then seized by the hair, dragged out of the house down
high steps to the ground, and so deeply bruised in his
head and face, that he carried some of the scars to his
grave. These are a few of the sufferings of this eminent
man of God in the early part of his ministry. He was
also frequently threatened by mobs, who did not carry
their persecuting designs info execution. After preach-
ing once in Stonington, he was informed that a gang was



Biography of Joshua Morse. 363

out of doors, who, like Paul's persecutors, had sworn
that they would kill him when he came out. His wife,
who, it appears, was with him, and his friends entreated
him not to go out ; but having another appointment
some distance off, he resolved to fulfil it, and said to his
friends, " What mean ye to weep and break my heart ?" &c.
As soon as he was out of the door, he lifted up his hands
and began to pray for his persecutors ; they, confounded
by this new mode of warfare, immediately dropped their
clubs ; some begged his pardon, and the rest fled away.

But in the midst of all these persecutions, his labours
were attended with great success ; many were awakened
by his means, and some churches in Rhode-Island and
Connecticut arose under his ministry. About 1 75O, he
was ordained to the care of a church in the north parish
of New-London, now called Montville. Two or three
years after he moved to Fishkill in the State of New- York,
were he remained about two years, when, by the earnest
entreaties of the church which he had left, he came back
to live among them. Here he preached principally until
1779, when he removed to Sandisfield, Massachusetts,
where a church arose under his labours, which he con-
tinued to serve as pastor, until within about a month of
his death, which happened July, 179.5, in the 7Oth year of
his age, and 53d of his ministry. He had been some
time labouring under a disease, which he expected would
end in his dissolution. About four weeks before he
died, he called his church together, and gave them his
last advice and benediction. He had composed a hymn
to be sung at his funeral, and he now made choice of a
passage to be preached from on the solemn occasion,
which was, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world t9 save sin-
ners, of whom I am chief. The sermon was preached by
Elder Rufus Babcock, of Colcbrook.

Mr. Morse was early acquainted with Mr. Whitefield,
and caught much of the zeal of that famous itinerant.
His preaching was solemn and instructive, and the rules,
which he laid down for others, he practised himself. He
was singularly grave and devout, insomuch that it is
said by those who were long acquainted with him, that
he was never known to laugh. He often entered so



364? Biography of Joseph Reese.

feelingly into his discourses, as to weep almost from be-
ginning to end. He was well instructed in the doctrine
of the cross ; and his knowledge of the Scriptures was
exceeded by few. His memory was retentive, his voice
peculiarly commanding and impressive, and his preach-
ing, if not eloquent, was pathetick and persuasive.

He was honoured in every relation he sustained, and
his usefulness as a minister of the word was exceeded by
few in his day. He was above the middle stature, of a
robust constitution, and well fitted for the labours and
hardships which itinerant preachers of his time were
obliged to endure. Being honoured of his God as the
instrument of turning many to righteousness, and al-
ways bearing about with him the marks of the Lord
Jesus, he was much beloved throughout an extensive
circle when living, and his name is still mentioned with
peculiar marks of respect, by many of the ancient saints,
who enjoyed his acquaintance.

Mr. Morse married, when about 24 years of age, Su-
sannah, the eldest daughter of Mr. Joseph Babcock, of
Westerly, Rhode-Island, by whom he had many children.
Seven of them are yet living, and his youngest son Asahel
is pastor of the church in Suffield, Connecticut. From
his narrative of the life of his venerable father, the sub-
stance of this sketch has been extracted. His widow sur-
vived him about fifteen years, and died lately in the 80th
year of her age.



JOSEPH REESE was born at Duck-Creek, in Kent coun-
ty, then in the Province of Pennsylvania, but now in the
State of Delaware. He was removed to South-Carolina
in 1745, when but 9 years of age, and during his youth-
ful days was very gay and fond of pleasure. His conver-
sion, therefore, which took place in J760, under the
ministry of Rev. Philip Mulky, was remarkable, and drew
much attention. Mr. Reese was baptized soon after his
conversion by Mr. Mulky, and commenced preaching
soon after his baptism. His ordination, however, for
some reason, was deferred until 3763, when it was per-
formed by Messrs. Oliver Hart and Evan Pugh. He was
at the same, time installed pastor of the church at the



Biography sf Joseph Reese. 365

Congaree, with which he stood in that relation, except a
few years during the revolutionary war, till his death,
which took place March 5, 1795, when he was aged 63
years.

The Church at the High Hills of Santee was gathered
under his ministry, in 1770 ; at which time and place a
great attention to religion was excited by his preaching
among a numerous people, who had been till then very
careless, and unacquainted with vital religion.

He was very infirm about ten years before his death ;
and during the last two of them, one of the most afflict-
ed of men. But during the whole, he exhibited a sub-
lime example of faith, patience, and resignation to the
will of God ; of concern for the divine glory, for the in-
terests of the church at large, of that with which he was
connected in particular, and for the salvation of individ-
uals with whom he was connected or conversant. When
publick worship was supported at the place of worship
nearest to him, about three miles distant, he was several
times carried there on his bed, lying down during the ser-
vice ; and if he found himself able, which he sometimes
did, would sit up at the conclusion of worship, and address
a few words to the congregation in the style of conversa-
tion and advice, by which they were generally melted into
tears. His last attendance at the church was about twelve
months before his death ; at ,which time, in great pain
and weakness, he administered the Lord's Supper. God
was pleased, in the midst of all his affliction, to afford him
the consolations of his grace, and he died in much assur-
ance of his interest in the Redeemer, whom he loved.

Mr. Reese was a man of good understanding and warm
affections. His piety, it is believed, was never called in
question. He had but little education, though he made
improvements after he began to preach ; but he had a
large fund of evangelical and experimental knowledge.
His natural eloquence, and command of the passions of
his hearers, were extraordinary. He was both a Boa-
nerges, and a son of consolation. .. His voice and his coun-
tenance are said to have affected his hearers like an en-
chantment. In the early part of his ministry he met with
much opposition, but with surprising success.

One William Reese was exceedingly mad against him,
as he was preaching at the High Hills of Santee, swear-



366 Biography of Shubael Stearns.

ing and threatening what he would do to him ; but be-
fore the service of the day was over, this same opposer
was observed to tremble, and look about him as if he was
meditating to run away, but did not do so ; presently he
swooned ; when he came to himself and appearing in a
shivering condition, a companion of his said, " Will, you
are cold, will you go to the fire ?" He replied, " 1 am
going to the fire ! the fire of hell ! O Lord, save me !"
His distress was great for a considerable time, during
which he made a pubiick acknowledgment of his wicked
conduct and persecuting intentions.

At another time, when he was preaching at Congaree,
one Robert Liass made towards him with a hickory club,
saying, " that he would wear it out on the bawling dog's
back." But he was hindered from his purpose, and per-
suaded to be quiet. Soon after he was observed to be af-
fected, but said nothing. It was not long, however, be-
fore he sent for Mr. Reese in the night, and said, " I am
damned ! I am going to hell !" Mr. Reese said, " Per-
haps not, perhaps not." Liass replied hastily, " Is there a
peradventure ? thank God for that ! Had I certainty of
it I would endure a thousand deaths ! I would rot piece
by piece, and be a thousand years rotting, if it would se-
cure me from going to hell !"

Whether these men, who were so remarkably convict-
ed, were ever converted, we are not informed.

Mr. Reese was a warm friend to his country in the
revolutionary war, and represented the district in which
he lived, in the State Legislature, when the first consti-
tution was formed for South- Carolina.



SHUBAEL STEARNS. The outlines of Mr. Stearns's bi-
ography have been given in the history of the Separate
Baptists ; and as much has already been said of this emi-
nent man of God, it will be unnecessary to say much
more respecting him.

Mr. Stearns was a man of small stature, but of good
natural parts, and sound judgment. Of learning he
had but a little share, yet was pretty well acquainted
with books. His voice was musical and strong, which



Biography of Shubael Stearns. 367

he managed in such a manner, as one while, to make soft
impressions on the heart, and fetch tears from the eyes
in a mechanical way ; and anon, to shake the very nerves,
and throw the animal system into tumults and perturba-
tions. All the Separate Baptists copied after him in
tones of voice and actions of body ; and some few exceed-
ed him. His character was indisputably good, both as a
man, a Christian, and a preacher. In his eyes was some-
thing very penetrating, which seemed to have a meaning
in every glance. Many stories have been told respecting
the enchantments of his eyes and voice, but the two fol-
lowing examples we give, with the more confidence, be-
cause the subjects of them, viz. Tidence Lane and Elna-
than Davis, were men of sense and reputation, and af-
terwards became distinguished ministers of the Baptist
society.

" When the fame of Mr. Stearns's preaching (said Mr.
Lane) had reached the Yadkin,* where I lived, I felt a cu-
riosity to go and hear him. Upon my arrival, 1 saw a
venerable old man sitting under a peach-tree with a book
in his hand, and the people gathering about him. He
fixed his eyes upon me immediately, which made me
feel in such a manner as I never had felt before. I turn-
ed to quit the place, but could not proceed far. I walk-
ed about, sometimes catching his eyes as I walked. My
uneasiness increased and became intolerable. I went up
to him, thinking that a salutation and shaking hands
would relieve me ; but it happened otherwise. I began to
think that he had an evil eye, and ought to be shunned ;
but shunning him I could no more effect, than a bird
can shun the rattle-snake, when it fixes its eyes upon
it. When he began to preach, my perturbations increas-
ed, so that nature could no longer support them, and I
sunk to the ground.'*

Mr. Lane afterwards became a very useful Baptist min-
ister, and was one of the first of the denomination, who
removed to Tennessee, where he administered, until hi>
death, with reputation and success.

" Elnathan Davis had heard that one John Steward
was to be baptized such a day, by Mr. Stearns. Now this
Steward being a very large man, and Stearns of small
stature, he concluded there would be some diversion if



368 Biography of Sbubael Stearns.

not drowning ; therefore he gathered about eight or ten
of his companions in wickedness, and went to the spot.
Mr. Stearns came, and began to preach. Elnathan went
to hear him, while his companions stood at a distance.
He was no sooner among the crowd, than he perceived
some of the people tremble, as if in a fit of the ague ; he
felt and examined them, in order to find if it were not
a dissimulation ; meanwhile one man leaned on his
shoulder, weeping bitterly ; Elnathan, perceiving he had
wet his new white coat, pushed him off, and ran to his
companions, who were sitting on a log at a distance.
When he came, one said, " Well, Elnathan, what do

you think now of these people ?" affixing to them

a profane and reproachful epithet. He replied, " There
is a trembling arid crying spirit among them ; but wheth-
er it be the Spirit of God or the devil, I don't know ; if
it be the devil, the devil go with them, for I will never
more venture myself acnong them." He stood a
while in that resolution ; but the enchantment of Stearns's
voice drew him to the crowd once more. He had not
been long there before the trembling seized him also ;
he attempted to withdraw ; but his strength failing, and
his understanding being confounded, he, with many oth-
ers, sunk to the ground. When he came to himself, he
found nothing in him but dread and anxiety, bordering
on horror. He continued in this situation some days,
and then found relief by faith in Christ. Immediately he
began to preach conversion work, raw as he was, and
scanty as his knowledge must have been." Mr. Davis
was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, 1735; was
bred a Seventh-day Baptist ; went to Slow River, in
North-Carolina, in 17.57; was baptized by Shubael
Stearns at Sandy-Creek, and ordained by Samuel Harris,
in 1764- ; continued in North-Carolina until 1798, when
he removed to South-Carolina, and settled in the bounds
of the Saluda Association.

Mr. Stearns died November 20, 1771, at Sandy-Creek,
and was buried near his meeting-house.

Edwards,



Biography of Samuel Slillman. 369

{The following account of that eminent servant of God, Dr.Stillman,is prefix-
ed to a volume of his sermons, published after his death. The substance of
it was written by his son in law, Rev. Mr. Gray, ofRoxbury, adjoining Bos-
ton, aud a part by Dr. Baldwin. The description of his doctrinal sentimaiVs
was drawn by one of his church.]

SAMUEL STILLMAN, t>.D. was born in the city of Phil-
adelphia, of parents respectable for their virtues, and of
the religious persuasion of Particular Baptists. At the
age of eleven years he was removed with them to Charles-
ton, South-Carolina, and there received the rudiments of
his education, at an academy under a Mr. Rind, His im-
provements there were such as presaged his future worth j
and he gave early indications of a minxi seriously impress-
ed with a sense of religious truth. In one of his manu-
scripts we find some account of very early religious
impressions being made upon his mind. These, howev-
er, he observes, were generally of short continuance,
until more effectually awakened by a sermon delivered by
the late excellent Mr.Hart, when, to borrow his own lan-
guage, he says, " My mind was again solemnly impressed
with a sense of my awful condition as a sinner. This
conviction grew stronger and stronger. My condition
alarmed me. 1 saw myself without Christ and without
hope. I found that I deserved the wrath to come, and
that God would be just to send me to hell. I was now
frequently on my knees, pleading for mercy. As a beg-
gar i went, having nothing but guilt, and no plea but
mercy." How long he continued in this distressed con-
dition is not particularly stated, but it appears from sev-
eral passages of Scripture, he obtained a degree of hope
and comfort, though not entirely satisfied. Not long
after, he heard Mr. Hart discourse from Matt. i. 2 1 .
" And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name Jesus ; for he shall save his people from their sins."
From this sermon he received consolation, and adds,
" Christ then became precious to me, yea, all in all.
Then T could say of wisdom, " Her ways are ways of
pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." That I still
think was the day of my espousal. Glory be to God,
for the riches of his grace to me. Why me, Lord ? &c."
He was soon after baptized, and received into the church
under the pastor:! care of Mr. Hark
vol.. 2. 47



37O Biography of Samuel Siilimav.

After finishing his classical education, he spent one
year in the study of divinity with that gentleman. Being
called by the church, he preached his first sermon on the
17th of February, 1758; and on the 26th of February,
1759, was ordained in the city of Charleston, South-Car-
olina, to the work of an evangelist.

Immediately afterwards, however, he settled at James
Island, a most pleasant situation opposite the city. Soon
after he visited the place of his nativity, and on the twen-
ty-third of May, the same year, married Hannah, the
daughter of Evin Morgan, Esq merchant of that place,
by whom he afterwards had fourteen children. He also
took his degree at the university there, and returned to
his society on James Island. But he had not continued
above eighteen months with his affectionate and united
people, before a violent attack of a pulmonary complaint,
forced his removal to another climate. He accordingly
fixed himself with his family at Bordentown, New- Jersey,
where he supplied two different congregations for the
space of two years. His ill health somewhat improved,
but by no means restored, determined him at length to
visit New-England, 'hoping that the exercise, together
with the change of air, might yet further mend his im-
paired constitution.

On his arrival here, 1763, at the request of the Second
Baptist Church, he removed his family to Boston, and
after preaching one year as an assistant to the late Rev.
Mr. Bound, accepted an invitation to settle with the First
Baptist Church, and was installed over it January 9, 1 765.

By nature he was endowed with a sprightly genius, a.
good capacity, and an uncommon vivacity and quickness
of apprehension. His feelings were peculiarly strong
and lively, which imparted energy to whatever he did,
and under the influence and control of religious princi-
ples, served to increase and diffuse his eminent piety.
To this constitutional ardour both of sentiment an i ac-
tion, which led him to enter with his whole scul into
every subject which engaged his attention, he united a
remarkable delicacy of feeling and sense of propriety, and
such sprightliness and affability in conversation, such ease
and politeness of manners, and at the same time such a
glow of pious zeal and affection, as enabled him to min-



Biography of Samuel Stillman. 371

gle with all ranks and classes of people, and to discharge
all his duties as a Christian minister and a citizen, with
dignity, acceptance, and usefulness. The lively interest
he appeared to take, in whatever affected the happiness
or increased the pleasures of his friends, the gentleness of
his reproofs and the gratification he seemed to feel in
commending others, united to his social qualities, endear-
ed him to all who knew him.

The popularity of a preacher commonly declines with
his years. Dr. Stillman, however, was a singular excep-
tion to this general remark. He retained it for upwards
of forty-two years ; and his congregation, which, upon
his first connexion with it, was the smallest in the town,
at the age of seventy, the period of his death, he left
amongst the most numerous.

As a minister of Christ, his praise was in all the
churches ; and wherever his name has been heard, an un-