Memoir Of Rev. Thomas Baldwin, D. D., Late Pastor Of The .

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS' "iWUJ-rtiiiiii

MEMOIRREV. THOMAS BALDWIN, D. D.LATE PASTOR OF THESECOND BAPTIST CHURCH IN BOSTON,WHOAT WATERVILLE,DIEDMe.AUGUST29;1825.TOGETHER WITHA FUiVERAL SERMOJV5OCCAiTONED BY HIS DEATH,M L.VERED ON THE SUCCEEDING SABBATH,r,THE BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE, IN HALLOWELT;,BY REV. DANIEL CHESSMAN,Me.A. M.Pastor of that Church and Society.WITH AN APPENDIX,CONTAINING LETTERS AND HYMNS.BOSTONFRINTBD BY- TRUB & GREEKB.:1826.

:r4VDISTRICT OF Mx\SSACHUSETTS, TO WIT:District ClerWs Office.REMEMBERED, that on the eighteenth day of May, A. D. 1826, in theyear of the Independence of the United States of America, True andGreene of the said District, have deposited in this Office the Title of a Book, the Right%vhereof they claim hs Proprietors, in the words following, to wit" Memoir of Rev. Thomas Baldwin, D. D. late Pastor of the Second Baptist Church in BosTogether with a Funeral Sermon, octon, who died at Waterville,'' Me. August 29, 1825,Meeting House,casioned hy his death, delivered on the succeeding Sabbath, in the Bapt'in Hallowell, Me. by the Rev. Daniel Chessman, A. M. Pastor of that Church and Society.With an Appendix, coniaining Letters and Hymns."In conformity to the Act of the Congress ot the United States, entitled " An Act for theEncouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies, of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies, during the times,, therein mentioned :" and alsD to atiAct entitled " An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled n Act for the Encouragement ofLearning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books to, the Authors and Propvietotsof Buch Copies during the times therein mentioned and extendiri -the benefits thereof fotKe'Arts of Designing, Engraving and Etching Historical and other Prints."SEAL, ' fiftieth;JOHN W. DAVIS,Clerk of the District of Massachuseftf.

Jttrtnotr.*Rarely has been our duty to, record the personal historyman so extensively known, so universally respected, orof aRarely doesso tenderly beloved.dividual tofillandligious world,Anamesosomany andtofillit fallto the lot of an in-so important stations in the re-themallsomeekly and yetunsulhed has not often beenso ably.written on thetomb, nor has a patriarch often been gathered to his fathersamid so wide spread a burst ofsuchcrcumstances,vhich ourtasknthowwewefihalare well awaresituation at presentshrink fromit,wereitUnderlamentation.howdifficultimposes upon us.not our duty.extensive was the circle of friends towhomWeistheWellknowthe subjectMemoir was known, how deep and how affectionatethe interest which he never failed to awaken in thoseof ourv riswho approached him, andthat every one willexpect us togive the picture, the hving, breathing loveliness of the original;and we well know thatThere wasintodothis willbe impossible.Dr. Baldwin's countenance a peculiar charmof expression, which no painter ever succeeded in transfering to the canvas.Andthere was in hisminda strikingcombination of varied excellence, which every one has*Thesubstance of thisMemoir wasoriginally published in theBaptist Magazine, for January and February 182C.are from the diary of Dr. Baldwin.Thefelt,Americanadditionsmad«

but whichevenwedespair of being able to recal to definite orto vivid recollection.Weshall only thereforeattempt to lay before our readers whatwe have beenand what we have observed ofcollect of his historyacter, sincerely regretting that the taskhad nothumblyable tohis char-fallen intoabler hands.Tlie Rev.necticut,andThomas Baldwin wasborninBozrah, Con-Dec. 23, 1753, and was the only son of ThomasMary Baldwin, bothnatives of thethe early history of his family, butlittlehowever, be observed, that his father,isOfsame place.known.Itmay,w as attached to themilitary service, and rose to distinction in the then ColonialHearmy.died whilst his son was a youth.The family of his mother was remarkable for talent. Shewas a woman of eminent piety ; and it is to her early instructions that the church of Christ is indebted for much of theusefulness of that son,in the nurtureItwhomfrom a child she brovf htupand admonition of the Lord.cannot be expected thatmuchshould be recollecredofman, who has outlived so many of theSo far as any thing, howeverjchildhood.the early history of acompanions ofhiscan be known, thetraitsof character for which he was inmanhood remarkable were veryvery infancy, hisity.His mother used;and when onthistotrait forwas love of justice.whichEvenitsFromunruffled seren-never did she butinbetray any signs of impa-occasion she expressed her sur-prise, he instantly replied, " Mother,Anotherforto observe, thatone single instance know himtienceearly developed.temper was noticedhisinIamnot angry."childhood was distinguishedhis boyish sports,he wasal-ways the enemy of oppression, controUing the strong andAnd yet this sway was exercised sosupporting the weak.mildly, thatamongthe playmates of his infancy he obtainedthe blessing of a peace maker.

HeNot onlyvery early discovered a taste for reading.did he devote every leisuremomentto theimprovement ofhis mind, but also consecrated to this object the hours of la-Wheneverbour.that one of hisaBybook.employments were of suchhishands was disengaged,ita naturewas occupied withthese habits of incessant application, he veryearly acquired a stock of valuable though miscellaneous in-powers of originalformation, which, combined with strongseemedthinking,inyouthmark himtoem-out for unusualinence.Atthismuchtime the advantages of education .atSchools were more rare, and the mode of instruction palpa-As a proof of this, it need only be remarked,when Dr. Baldwin removed to Canaan, N. H. wherebly defective.thathe afterwards resided, he was generally selected on theSabbathtoread a sermon to the peoplewho assembledpubHc worship, because he was the only young mantown who wasacceptably.liow strongsufficientlyeducatedThe mentionof this factmust have beenperformishis early biasthis servicesufficient toshowtowards intellec-improvement.tualItwilltend to showhow sooncharacter, were exhibited,histofortheinknew Dr. Baldwininthen pecuUarly noticedifthe most striking traits ofweadd, that thosewhoyouth have remarked, that he wasforof histhe sprightlinessThough always innocent and alwaysquently pungent and always in point.unoffending,itwit.w as fre-Those who werethe habits of familiar intercourse with him, will wellinremem-ber that rich vein of most playful good humour, which wasat times discoverable until his latest day.Whener,Dr. Baldwin was about 16 years of age, his moth-who was nowasecond time marriedto avery worthyand pious man by the name of Eames, removedtoCanaan,

6He removedNew-Hampshire.with the family;andthisbecame for several years the place of his residence.At the age of 22, on the 22d of September, 1775, he wasmarried to Miss Ruth Huntington, of Norwich, Conn, withwhom he was happily united until her death, Feb. IJ, 1812.They hadonlynowand an amiable daughterin infancy,AOnesix children.survives tomourn theTwosons diedof a tender and affectionate father.lossage of sixteen.at theson at the age of twenty one, and his youngest daughterage of twenty eight.at theThe townof Canaan was rapidly peopled by emigrantsfrom Connecticut and Massachusetts.Before he was 30, Dr.Baldwin was electedin theto representOf hisreputation as a legislatortion.It isitwe have noGeneral Court.certain informa-evident, however, that his successgratify his constituentsIf we mistake not,;was suchfor they repeatedly re-electedthey did not cease to choose him,feeling the importance of his ministerial labours, heas tohim.until,had de-cidedly expressed his determination to serve as a legiJatorno longer.Wearehappytohave arrivedwhich we are enableatat aperiod in this Memoii*to refer to aDr. Baldwin himself, during the fewItcommences withhis rehgiousit isyears of hislife.the relation of the events connected withnumbered " Memoirthe former part was writtenAsprobable that eitherand has been irrecoverablymencedlastexperience, and abruptly terminates with thetime of his arrival in Boston.No. 2,"manuscript written bylost,it isor else that the authorcom-with that part which most deeply interested him,with the intention of completing the beginning at some otherperiod.life;This narrative comprises about ten years of hisand ashis afflictedingitatithas been very kindly placed in our hands bywidow, weshallmake no apologyonce to our readers.Wedothisfor introduc-with the greater

—pleasure, not only because, in a very simple dress,sentssome of the mosttory ofitsitpre-interesting events in the religious his-much belovedauthor, but also becausegives usitan unusually vivid idea of the manners and customs of thatNew-Englandpart ofThetest."Inwhichcommencesmuchwith as" Beforehave no reasonIto believe that Ihad indeedIty of revealedothers have duringGod andpacifyitmygeneral conviction of the reali-aIhad nolotWhen, however, my conscience accused meoutthis place.had ever been the subjectmanyand thatreligion,necessary into statewould, however, just remark, that Iof such religious impressions asearly years.was broughtendeavourwillmay beparticularity asproceed,III:The methods byof the truth.change was effectedthisas followshopethe year 1780, I have reason tothe saving knowledgetotime of our revolutionary con-at theautograph Memoirwithout hope in the world,Inor part init.of Hving with-was usually able toby promises of future amendment, or by recurringOften whento the plea of inability.Ihad spent an eve-ning until a late hour in mirth and dancing,whencameItomy pillow, the thought of sudden deathSuch questions as these would\T jidd Intrude into my mind." What if you should die«5ftca force themselves upon mela}myhead upon:before morningThe answer.'"'" Whatif the judgment day should comewas, " Iamthoughts at times causedwhenunpreparedmethe morning returned,toallweepwasfor either."freely.But perhapsAlthough Iforgotten.resolved at some future time to be rehgious, (forI couldbe religious at any time) yetI.?"TheseIsupposednever fixed that timeThere always appeared some peculiar obway, and some sinful propensities to be indulg-as near at hand.stacles in theed, before I could thinkfrom yearof being rehgious.to year, in a stateness of God.ThusIlivedof awful security and forgetful-

8"Mymyofmeconscience frequently accusedheart and conductof the sinfulnessbut such were the charms of;them up pleasure, that I could not persuade myself to giveYet whileIwas often forcededmyselftowhen walkinglywished aaroundbetoif itIIappear-and have thought,awfully hardened,or riding alone on a dark evening, that I real-lightSaul,At times,to serious reflection.from heavenwhen onhisto shinewaytimes, I had such a sense ofthoughtworld,in this vain pursuit after the pleasures of theDamascus.tomymearoundasdiditAt othermiserable condition, that Ishould be willing to suffer a severemight be the means of bringingmetofitof sickness,God.feehngs were, however, only transient, and theThesemoment theysubsided, the same rage for vanity would return." One reason which inducedsickness ormetobe willingto suffersome other calamity from the hand of God, was,a foolish dread of what the world would say of me. "said I to myself, " should Iupmyhead before any ofbecomemyrehgious, could I holdyoung companions, who mightinquirewhat was the occasion ofthoughtImybeing so dull."could never have fortitude enough tomywas concerned aboutHow,"precious soul.WhattellIthemIa pitiful ex-cuse for living in sin !"Here wetrustweshallbe excused for interrupting for amoment the course of this interesting narrative, to remarkhow simple and affecting a discovery is here made of thehuman heart, and its total ahenation from God. We seehow a man can be perfectly convinced of the reality of rehgion, of his obligationstoGod, and of the consequences ofdisobedience, and yet hve in wilful neglect of every dutypursuing the course which he knows the Eternalforbidden, becausehim.thatifhe did otherwiseinyou;"I.;hasmen might laughWell did the Saviour say of such men, "ye have not the love of GodGodatknow youand aptly did he

—9allude to one great cause of their disobedience, in that ques-How can"tion,other ?"ye believe, who receive honour one of an-And we wouldDoask,notthepreceding para-graphs delineate very exactly the moral condition ofof our readers, and ofamanyvery large portion of those who, withvery respectful attention, hear the gospel every Sabbath dayButresume the narrativeto?:" In the month of November, 1777,God in his holy provme my first-born by death ;idence was pleased to take froma dearson between six and seven months old.littlepainful eventmywas rendered moreThisme anddear companion, by the circumstance of my being absentat the time.hadIusual healthall inleftmyfamily eight or ten days before,and when having accomplished;ness, and returningeddistressing, both tohome, was met by afriend,mywhobusi-inform-me that my child was dead and buried." As oppressed with grief I rode silently homeward, thethought struck me,to repentanceT,*— " ThisGod to call menow have? Under themy child, I may become reli-appeKrau of mourning forno one will knowgions, andaoourit,andconcludedfor the first selfmy fam-was very sincere.should never yield m} heart to vanity asIMydone beforeandcanvery solemn, and thoughtI feltly.the voice ofisWhat excuseIIhaddevotion was continued morning and eve-believe for the space of two or three weeks, Iwas never seento smile.Irememberthat onceI feltmuchan unguarded moment, been sur-remorse, after having,inprised into laughter.At the same time indulging seriousreflections,alas!itIwas not unfrequently muchwas only the sorrow ofaiade uponmy mindgaiety.world.affected.TheBut,impressionby the death of a darling babe, begangradually to wear away.was gone, andtJieI returnedIn a httletomy2timemyseriousnesswonted cheerfulness and

10 *Allnow remainedtliatappearance of religion was,p

memoir rev.thomasbaldwin,d.d. latepastorofthe secondbaptistchurchinboston, whodied atwaterville,me.august29;1825. togetherwith afuiveralsermojv5 occaitonedbyhisdeath .