The Life and Times of Isaac Backus

by Alvah Hovey

 

CONTENTS.

TITLE PAGE

PREFACE

CHAPTER I. --MOULDING INFLUENCES.

Silence of Christians as to Their Life Before Conversion.- No Account of the Early Life of Mr. Backus.- Best Substitute for Such an Account. - Congregationalism of the Planters of Connecticut.- Cambridge Platform.- Connection of Church and State.- Tendency to Presbyterianism. Saybrook Platform. General Adoption of It.-- Rejection of it in Norwich.- Character of Mr. Backus's Grandfather.- Of His Grandmother.- Of His Father.- Of His Mother.- Extracts from Her Letters.- His Literary Education in Youth.

 

CHAPTER II.--CONVERSION.

Declension of Religion Previous to the Great Awakening.- Revival at Northampton under the Preaching of Edwards.- First Labors of Whitefield in New England.- Extent of the Great Awakening.- Kind of Preaching Blessed.- Genuineness of the Work Notwithstanding Imprudences.- Mr. Backus's Account of His Own Conviction and Conversion.

 

CHAPTER III.--BACKUS A SEPARATIST.

State of the "Regular Church" of Norwich.- Mr. Backus Reluctantly Joins It.- Separates from it with Others.-- Reasons for So Doing and for the Separate Movement Generally: 1. Reception of Unconverted Persons into the Regular Churches; 2. Neglect of Discipline; 3. Adoption of the Saybrook Platform; 4. Unsatisfactory Preaching.- Course of Dr. Lord. Anecdote of Dr. Baldwin and Dr. Lord.- Interview Between Rev. Ivory Hovey and Mr. Backus.- Letter of Mr. Hill to Dr. Lord.

 

CHAPTER IV.--CALL TO THE MINISTRY

Unconverted Ministers of the Standing Order.- Personal Piety and an Inward Call Not Esteemed Indispensable.- Views of Dr. Chauncey.- Of the Ministers of Connecticut.- A Liberal Education Deemed Indispensible.- Remarks of Jonathan Edwards.- Reasons for Tenacity on this Point.- Opposite Views Maintained by the New-lights.- Mr. Backus's Account of His Call to the Ministry.- His Sermon on the Nature and Necessity of an Internal Call.

 

CHAPTER V.--ITINERANT PREACHING AND SETTLEMENT.

Mr. Backus Begins to Preach.- His Doubts Respecting His Call.- Visits Titicut with Mr. Snow.- Is Moved to Labor There.- Description of Titicut.- Ecclesiastical Parties in the Place.- Mr. Backus Is Invited to Preach. Backus Ordained its Pastor.- His Treatment by the Precinct Committee.

 

CHAPTER VI.--EARLY PASTORSHIP AND MARRIAGE.

Qualifcations for His Work.-- Usefulness in Titicut.-- Extracts from His Journal.- Labors as an Evangelist.-- Extracts from Memoranda of Preaching Tours.- Letter from Mr. Leffingwell.- Extracts from Memoranda Continued.- Parish Lines Disregarded.- Marriage.-- Account of the Wedding.

 

CHAPTER VII.--CHANGE OF BELIEF RESPECTING BAPTISM.

Declension in Titicut.- Baptist Tendencies of the Separates.- Division Respecting Baptism in the Titicut Church.- Mr. Backus Perplexed-- Hastily Preaches in Favor of Believers' Baptism.- re Lapses into His Former Belief. -- Journey to Norwich.- Retracts the Views of His Sermon on Baptism.-- Secession of Certain Baptized Members from His Church.- Tries in Vain to Exclude the Painful Topic from His Mind.- Extracts from His Journal.- His Reflections on Infant Baptism.- Day of Fasting, Prayer, and Investigation.- Finds No Authority in the Word of God for Infant Baptism.- Is Baptized.

 

CHAPTER VIII.--COUNCIL UPON COUNCIL.

Posture of Mr. Backus.- Is Censured with Others by the First Council.- Visits Norwich.- Returns Home and Is Restored to Office.- Two Opposing Brethren Are Admonished by the Church.- a Second Council Admonishes These Two Brethren, and Then the Church.- Efforts to Restore Peace.- a Third (Ex Parte) Council Censures Mr. Backus and Justifies the Two Brethren.- Remarks on this Action.- Mr. Backus Excluded from the Church.- His Letter to the Same on Infant Baptism.- Visits Sturbridge; Condition of That Church; Council There.- Oppression in Norwich.- Fourth Council in Titicut.- General Meeting of New-lights in Exeter, R. I.- Fifth Council in Titicut.- General Convention at Stonington, Ct.- Proceedings.- Result.

 

CHAPTER IX.--BACKUS BECOMES A REGULAR BAPTIST.

Efforts to Live in Peace.- Failure.- Mr. Backus Reviews the Question of Communion.- Finds the Arguments of Bunyan Inconclusive.- Relinquishes Open Communion.-- Formation of the First Baptist Church, Middleboro.- Extracts from His Memoranda of Preaching Tours; (1.) To Cape Cod.- Ordination of Mr. Chase- (2.) To Southern New Hampshire.- Letter to Mr. Chase.- (3.) To Martha's Vineyard.- (4.) To the Cape.- (5.) To Durham, N.H.

 

CHAPTER X.--JOY IN SERVICE.

Settled Relief.-- Abundant Labors.- Memoranda of Preaching Tours; 1. To Northern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire; 2. To Central Massachusetts and Connecticut; 3. To Norwich Thrice; 4. To the Cape.-- Letters of Mr. Backus to His Mother; L. Special Views of Truth; 2. Comfort in Affliction; 3. Concealed Piety; 4. Second Baptist Church in Middleboro Gathered; 5. Signs of a Revival.-- Letter to Rev. Benjamin Wallin; 1. Mistakes of the Planters of New England; 2. Ministerial Education; 3. Notice of the Great Awakening; 4. Revivals.

 

CHAPTER XI.--LEGISLATION FOR THE CHURCH.

Reasons for Describing Mr. Backus's Efforts for Religious Liberty.- Sketch of Earlier Legislation for the Church Desirable.- Particular Laws. - Roger Williams Banished.- Laws Against Quakers.- Other Laws.- Cambridge Platform.- Malden Church Fined.- Obadiah Holmes Whipped.- Laws Against Quakers.- Four Executed.- Apology for This Act.- Baptist Meeting In Boston.- Declension in Piety.- The New Charter.- Baptists Taxed Until 1728.- Acts of Exemption Passed, in 1728.- In 1728.- In 1734.- In 1740.- In 1747.- In 1753.- In 1757.

 

CHAPTER XII.--WIDER INFLUENCE.

Discourse, the Bond Woman and the Free.- Letter to Dr. Lord of Norwich.-- War Adverse to Piety.-- Discourse on the Duty of Family Prayer.-- Discourse, True Faith Will Produce Good Works, Against Sandemanianism.-- Founding of Rhode Island College.-- Letter to Gill.-- Is a Trustee of the College Thirty-four Years.-- Formation of the Warren Association.-- It's Usefulness.

 

CHAPTER XIII.--EFFORTS FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

Design of this Part of Our Narrative.-- Committee of Grievances Appointed by the Warren Association.-- Their Advertisement.- Rev. John Davis Chosen Agent.- His Letter to Morgan Edwards.- Petition to the General Court.- New Certificate Law Unsatisfactory.- Treatment of Mr. Davis.- Oppression in Montague, in Chelmsford and in Bradford.-- Letter of Mr. Backus to a Member of the Assembly.- Extracts from the Same.- Character and Death of Mr. Davis.

 

CHAPTER XIV.--BACKUS AS AGENT.

His Appointment.-- Circular to the Churches.- Letter to Dr. Stennet, of London.- Notice of Mr. Davis.- Meeting of the Association.- its Action in Respect to Giving Certificates.- Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty.-- Letter to Samuel Adams.- Baptists of Warwick Imprisoned.- Petition for Their Release.- Extract from a Letter to Benjamin Wallin.

 

CHAPTER XV.--VISIT TO PHILADELPHIA.

Meeting of the First Continental Congress.- Backus's Note of Introduction to It.- His Journey to Philadelphia.- Consultation with Friends.- Philadelphia Association Appoints a Committee of Grievances.- Meeting at Carpenter's Hall.- Memorial of the Baptists; 1. Religious Freedom; 2. Granted to All Protestants by the New Charter; 3. Exemption Laws Unsatisfactory; 4. The Liberty Desired.- Colloquy; Remarks of John Adams, Samuel Adams, R. T. Paine, Mr. Cushing, and Mr. Backus.- Action of the Philadelphia Committee.--promise of the Delegates from Massachusetts.

 

CHAPTER XVI.--SHARP CONTROVERSY.

Object of Backus's Visit to Philadelphia Misrepresented.-- Address to the Congress of Massachusetts; Taxation and Representation; Church and State; Coercion for the Support of Religion; Object of Backus in Going to Philadelphia; Oppression in Ashfield, Montague, and Gorham; Demands of the Baptists.- Letter of Dr. Smith on its Reception.- Resolve of the Congress.- Letter from the Philadelphia Committee.- Reply of Backus.- Memorial to the General Court.- Reception of It.- Dr. Fletcher's Letter.- Address to Christians.

 

CHAPTER XVII.--THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

Address to the People of New England.- Draft of a State Constitution.- Protest Against the Same.- Payson's Sermon.- Backus's Paper on Religious Liberty; Chauncey Against Establishments; Principles Not Pence; Chauncey for the Establishment; Inconsistency.- Stillman's Sermon.- Convention; Pleas for the Third Article of the Bill of Rights.- Backus's Reply to Them.- Coercion in Bridgewater.- Protest Against the Third Article of the Bill of Rights.- Constitution Adopted.- Circular to the Churches.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.--LIBERTY SECURED AT LAST.

Decision at Tauton, the Old Laws No Longer in Force.-- Letter to a Brother in London.- Case of West Cambridge.- Propriety of Recognizing Civil Authority in Religious Affairs.- a New Law, Retrograde.- Letter to George Washington.- Letter to Mr. Rippon; Death of President Manning; Partial History; Religious Prosperity.- Letter to Mrs. Draper; Progress of Baptist Principles; Human Wickedness; Hope in God.- Letter to William Richards.- Instances of Oppression.- Change of Public Sentiment.- Freedom Secured at Last.

 

CHAPTER XIX.--MINISTERIAL AND HISTORICAL LABORS.

Backus's Usefulness as a Pastor.- Revival in 1780.- Extracts from Mr. Backus's Journal.- Restricted Communion.-- Itinerant Preaching.- Journey to Virginia; Reflections at Sea; a Pious Negro; Queries Proposed to a Baptist Association in Virginia.- Treatment of Them.- Backus as a Counsellor.- Anecdote by Rev. Silas Hall.-- History of the South Brimfield Church; Backus's Letter to this Church.- His Labors as a Historian.

 

CHAPTER XX.--LETTERS FROM CORRESPONDENTS.

Character of These Letters.- 1. From Job Macomber, Describing a Preaching Tour in Maine.- 2. From Jedediah Hebbard, Commending Mr. Burroughs, of Hanover, N.H.- 3. From the Same; Extract, Noticing the Perplexity of Some as to the Church Relation of Baptized Children.- 4. From Thomas Baldwin, Referring to the Doubts Of Some, in Respect to the Ground of Christian Fellowship.- 5. From Job Seamans, Describing a Revival in New London, N. H.- 6. From Eleazar Clay, Speaking of Religious Liberty in Virginia.-- 7. From William Rogers, on Oppression in Massachusetts, Etc.- 8. From Henry Tolar, on the Great Revival in the Mississippi Valley-- 9. From Joshua Bradley, on the Religious Interest in Newfort, R, I.- 10. From Joseph Cornell, on a Revival in Providence.- 11. From John Bolles, Concerning the Growth of the Baptist Denomination.-- Extracts from Backus's Journal, at the Close, Respectively, 1782, '83, '84, '85, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93, '94, '97, '99, 1800, 1801, '2, '3, '4.

 

CHAPTER XXI.--CHARACTER OF BACKUS.

Mr. Backus's Family.-- Death of His Wife.- Death of His Daughter Sibel.- His Own Death.- Epitaph.- Testimony of Dr. Baldwin.- Backus's Remarkable Diligence.- His Sterling Sense.- His Ardent Piety- His Position and Influence.

 

APPENDIXES.

Appendix A. Oppression in Sturbridge

Appendix B. Confession of Faith and Covenant

Appendix C. Sandemanianism

Appendix D. Extracts from Minutes of Warren Association

Appendix E. Petition from Ashfield

Appendix F. Account of Philadelphia Conference

Appendix G. Doctrinal Correspondence with Pres. Maxcy