"And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord
thy
God led thee, these forty years in the wilderness."
Deut. viii.2.
"Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be
lost."
PORTSMOUTH, N.H.
Printed by BECK & FOSTER;sold by the Author, No. 2,
......
1816
/ii/
DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.....to wit.....
BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the twenty-ninth day of February, in
the fortieth
year of the Independence of the United States of America, ELIAS SMITH,
of the said District, has deposited in this Office the title of a book,
the right whereof he claims as author, in the words following....to
wit...."The Life, Conversion, Preaching, Travels and Sufferings
of Elias Smith, written by himself....And thou shalt remember all the way
which the Lord thy God led thee, these forty years in the wilderness....Deut.
viii. 2.....Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.....John
vi. 12.....Vol. I."....In conformity to the act of the Congress of
the United States, entitled, "an act for the encouragement 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 also to an
act, entitled, "an act supplementary to an act, entitled, an act for
the encouragement 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 extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing,
engraving, and etching historical and other prints."
G. W. PRESCOTT
Clerk of the New Hampshire District
/iii/
INTRODUCTION
FRIENDS AND BRETHREN,
Introductions to books are seldom read; being generally considered too long, or uninteresting. Please to read mine, as it is short, if not the best.
When a man undertakes to write his life, or publish himself to the world, he enters upon a delicate piece of business on many accounts. If he is but little known before he writes, he will be but little known afterwards. If he is generally known; to tell the public what they already know, is to profit them but little. To publish every trifling circumstance in life, is but to expose a man's weakness, more than when he acted in a trifling manner.
There is a difficult attending this kind of writing, which cannot well be avoided; that is of saying I, so often; the author having himself constantly in view, while writing upon the subject.
The object a man must have in view, while writing his life, to make it profitable to others, must be this: a desire that others
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may be profited by knowing what he has known; by doing what he has done; by avoiding what he has avoided; or shunning things which he would have shunned, had some person of experience, warned him in season of the danger, which he knew only by going where that danger was.
My study has been to write so that the profiting might appear to all that read what is written. I have endeavored according to the motto, to "remember all the way the Lord has led me these forty years," and "to gather up the fragments" that remained in my memory. I never kept any written journal of my life, excepting the time when the baptist ministers rose against me in Boston. The whole book, excepting about fifty pages, is written from what was retained in my memory; and I am confident that in general the dates are correct. Should there be some mistakes of this kind, no one will consider it designed, when almost the only record to take the book from, was my memory.
It has taken about six weeks to write the volume; which perhaps might have been done more correct, had more time been taken to write what is here communicated.
it was my design at first, to write more upon the doctrine of Christ; and to give a more extensive account of the people called CHRISTIANS; but this more properly belongs in another place. The last six years of my life, has been more important to me, and perhaps to others, than any six years of my
/v/
whole life. finding the whole could not be comprised here, I concluded best to continue the particulars of the last six years, with many other important things, in a second volume, to be published as soon as it shall be called for by my friends and the public.
My desire is, that all who read may profit, and that young and old may serve the God of my youth, and we all through grace arrive safe at the end of the journey of life, to be citizens of the new Jerusalem, to go no more out; and, freed forever from these changes, by a change from mortality to immortality, to set down in the kingdom with all the saved, to give glory to GOD and the LAMB forever. AMEN.
I subscribe myself, a FREEMAN from all bondmen, and as such, servant of all, for Jesus sake, and the least of all saints.
N.B. The reader will notice the date in page 400. It ought to stand 1804, instead of 1814. It is likely there may be some other typographical errors, which the readers is requested to correct, or excuse.
/vi/
Contents of each Chapter
----
CHAPTER I.
Birth, parentage, family, place of nativity, &c. page 14
Parents, first baptists, then christians, - - - 15
Occasion of the author's name; planting the knife, ibid.
Improvement of the planted knife, - - - 16
Vain attempt to catch the bird, whip-o'-will, - - ibid.
Application of the story, to old and young, male and female, 18
First attending school in Connecticut, - - - 22
Idea of tories, regulars and rebels, at six years old, - 23
Meditation on my existence, knowledge of right and wrong, - ibid.
Conversation of ministers, northern lights, &c, - - - 24
Cause of being troubled as a sinner, - - -
25
CHAPTER II.
Account of being sprinkled, - - - - 25
How and when performed, - - - - 27
The first time of seeing people buried in baptism, - - 29
Revival of religion in Lyme, Conn. - - - 30
Removal to Hebron, education in 1780, - - - 31
Distress of mind on account of the war, &c. - - 32
Elder William Grow's preaching in Andover, Conn. - - -
33
CHAPTER III.
Removal from Hebron to Woodstock, Vt. - - - 35
First dwelling-house, description of its situation, - - 36
Manner of feeding cattle, making sugar, &c. - -
39
CHAPTER IV.
Clearing land of timber, hardships endured, - - 41
Hardships endured for want of food, - - - 43
Preachers and preaching in Woodstock, - - - 45
First knowledge of a dictionary and geography, - - -
46
CHAPTER V.
Attending school in 1784, - - - - 48
Manner of learning grammar and music, - - - 50
Rage of canker rash among the youth, - - - 52
Melancholly death of two sisters, - - - 54
Distressed state of mind, - - - - 56
Bad effects of fatalism and infant sprinkling, - - - 58
Translation into the kingdom of Christ, - - -
59
CHAPTER VI.
/vii/
CHAPTER VII.
Doubts respecting regeneration, - - - - 70
Distress for want of food in Woodstock, - - - 73
Trial of faith in a dream, - - - -
75
CHAPTER VIII.
Exercises respecting baptism, - - - 78
Proofs of infant baptism, - - - - 80
Law work decribed by Dr. Shepard, - - - 81
The glory of God's justice, - - -
82
CHAPTER IX.
Preaching of Thomas Baldwin in Woodstock, - - 84
First knowledge of Watts' logic, - - - 87
First knowledge of rhetoric, manner of learning, - - 88
The first time of teaching a school, - - - 89
First knowledge of figures, &c. - - - 91
Description of a school room, - - - 93
Manner of obtaining green glasses, - - -
94
CHAPTER X.
Manner of hearing sermons, and improving the memory, 96
Dress, labor, &c. - - - 98
Manner of reading the bible, state of mind, - - 100
Journey to Connecticut, - - - -
102
CHAPTER XI.
Clergyman's preaching in Springfield, - - - 104
Two baptist ministers sermons, - - - 107
Wrong text for the sermon, - - -
109
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
The Episcopalian and his catechism, - - - 119
Christopher Miner's texts, "O Wheel!" - - - 123
Journey from Hartford to Woodstock, - - -
126
CHAPTER XIV.
Time and place when baptised, - - - 128
Manner of being received into the baptist church, - - 130
Thoughts respecting being a preacher, - - - 132
Elder Peak's thanksgiving sermon, - - -
133
CHAPTER XV.
/viii/
Journey from Colerain to Adams and Shaftsbury, - - 146
Elder John Gano's sermon, - - - 151
General meeting at Shaftsbury, Vt. - - -
152
CHAPTER XVII.
Journey to Manchester, - - - - 157
Elders Leland and Peak's sermons, - - - - 158
Elder Peak's lamentation, - - - - 159
First time of speaking in public, - - - - 160
Approbation of the church, and commendation, - - 163
Journey to Coos, with Elder Peak, - - - 164
Association in Canaan, N. H. - - - - 165
Desisting from preaching, three weeks, - - - 166
Singular dream, and its meaning, - - - - 168
Forsaking my father's house to preach the gospel, -
175
CHAPTER XVIII.
Situation as to things earthly, - - - - 177
Time spent in Coos, employment, &c. - - - 179
Elders Leland and Call's visit, - - - - 180
Doubts of my conversion, - - - -
184
CHAPTER XIX.
Journey to the east part of Newhampshire, - - 185
The clergyman's question at the river, - - - 186
Scripture to prove that the clergyman ought immediately to hang himself,
- - - -
190
CHAPTER XX.
First meeting in Allenstown, Deerfield, &c. - - 192
Meeting in Newmarket, - - - - - 193
First meeting in Epping, - - - - 194
First acquaintance with Dr. Shepard, - - - 196
First meeting in lee, - - - - - 197
Journey to Coos and Vermont, - - - -
198
CHAPTER XXI.
Association at Brentwood, preaching, &c. - - 200
Conversion of Samuel Colcord in Lee meeting-house, 203
town call to settle at Danville, - - - - 205
Present of black clothes, - - - - - 206
Rain storm in Canaan, - - - - - -
207
CHAPTER XXII.
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CHAPTER XXIII.
Dispute upon close communion, - - - - 215
The dream of Jacob's ladder, - - - - 216
Account of Thomas Nichols, - - - - 217
Sermon at Southampton, - - - - - 218
Remarks upon ordaining Elders, - - - - 220
Association at Deerfield, Elder Peak's sermon, - 221
First visit in Boston, and acquaintance with Dr. Stillman 223
Dr. Stillman's prayer, - - - - 225
Meeting at Haverhill, being ordained at Lee, - 226
Mr. Baldwin's description of unconverted ministers,
229
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Indian who carried too much bush, and application of the same to old preachers, - - - 230
First time of baptising, - - - - 233
Proposal for incorporation among the baptists, - 234
Anecdote of Dr. Shepard, association in Woodstock, Vt. 235
Sermons by Mr. Hanes, and Dr. Shepard, - - 236
Mr. Knowles' prayer before baptism, - - - 237
Opposition from a clergyman in Candia, - - - 238
Meeting in Salisbury, - - - - -
239
CHAPTER XXV.
Dispute about election, and free-will, - - - 240
Manner and time of embracing calvinism, - - 241
First marriage, - - - - - 243
Journey to Effingham and Bow, - - - - 244
Removal to Salisbury, - - - - - - 245
Provision for house-keeping, &c. - - - -
247
CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER XVII.
Journey to Connecticut in 1794, - - - - 254
Anecdotes of Mr. John Leland, - - - - 255
The golden pulpit, and general invitation, - - - 258
Visit with Elder Lee, - - - - - 260
Meeting at his meeting-house, text, &c. - - - ibid.
Meetings in Lyme, - - - - 262
Meeting in Hartford, Conn. - - - - -
264
CHAPTER XXVIII.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
Fashionable dress for dog-days, - - - - 276
The clergyman's sounding-board, - - - - 277
Installation at Woburn, parade, - - - - 278
Six particulars of Woburn affairs, - - - -
284
CHAPTER XXX.
Mr. Baldwin's advice to remain in Woburn, - - 288
Note for preaching calvinism, - - - - 289
Settlement with the people in Woburn, - - - 290
Removal to Salisbury, - - - - 291
Manner of embracing universalism, and renouncing it, its relation to calvinism, - - - - 292
Manner of giving up both, for the doctrine of Christ, 294
Situation of myself and family, in 1802, - - -
295
CHAPTER XXXI.
Removal to Newmarket, - - - - 296
Time of rejecting all names for the name Christian, - 298
First time of preaching in Portsmouth, - - - 299
Rise of the Christian conference, - - - 300
Report to prevent a meeting in Portsmouth, - - 301
Visit and conversation with Dr. Buckminster, - - 303
Remarkable manifestation in the night, respecting a reformation in Portsmouth,
- - -
304
CHAPTER XXXII.
Manner of discovering the hierarchy of the clergy, - 305
Doctrine of the Apostles and clergy contrasted, - 306
Sermon on baptism preached and printed, - - 308
Articles of faith written and printed, - - - 309
Sermon on Nebuchadnezzar's dream preached, - -
310
CHAPTER XXXIII.
Removal to Portsmouth, - - - - 311
Great fire in Portsmouth, first time of baptising, - 312
Reformation in the singing school, - - - 313
Gathering of the first church called christians, and first communion in the court-house, - - - 314
Remarkable exercise of mind on Sunday morning, - 315
Mr. Baldwin's visit to Portsmouth, - - - 316
Opposition and tumult there, - - - - 317
The history of anti-christ published, - - - 318
The lawyer and Salisbury people, - - - - 319
Elder Abner Jones' first visit to Portsmouth, - - 321
Meetings at Kennebunk, - - - - 322
Dr. Stillman's objection to preaching in Boston, -
324
CHAPTER XXXIV.
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Committee to shew how all that comes to pass is foreordained 327
Similitude to illustrate the committee business, - 328
Meeting and revival of religion in Bradford, - - 329
Plan to get me from Portsmouth, opposition in Boston, 330
Violent opposition in Roxbury, - - - 332
Mr. Baldwin speaks against that way before the people, 334
Dr. Stillman's harangue, E. L. Boyd's personal orders, 335
Church meeting in Boston, glory departed, - -
336
CHAPTER XXXV.
Recommendation signed by Dr. Shepard, - - 338
First company called christians in Boston, - - 338
Letter to Dr. Stillman, visit to Freetown, - - 339
Letter from the Woburn church, letter to them, - 340
Seven reasons for leaving the baptists, - - 343
Ordination at Northwood, barn council, - - - 344
Dr. Buckminster's and Mr. Humphrey's books answered, 346
The man in the smoke, &c. - - - - ibid.
First thoughts upon the destruction of the wicked, - 347
Who disturbed by preaching, evil reports, &c. - 348
Number of churches, riot in Portsmouth, - - 349
Mob in Paved-street, - - - - - - 350
Christian's magazine first published, - - - 353
Second visit to Freetown, visit to Newport, - - 354
Singular dream at Newport, - - - - 356
Meeting at Middleborough, deist converted, - -
357
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Journey to Gorham, Gilmanton, New-Durham, first company of christians in Vermont, - - - 358
Number of churches in 1806, - - - 360
Death of my father, short sermons to the baptists, - 361
Support from promises, and revivals of religion, -
364
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Separation of Dartmouth church from the baptists, - 363
First visit to New-Bradford, - - - - - 367
Revival of religion in that region, - - - - 368
Groton conference at Long-plain, - - - - 370
Meeting at Rochester, - - - - - 373
First proposal for publishing the Herald, - - 374
Reformation in Chebacco, scripture for infant baptism, 375
Clergy dismissed, clergyman's charge, - - - 376
End of the Christian conference, - - - - 378
Twenty-two sermons on prophecies published, - ibid.
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CHAPTER XXXVIII.
Reformation in Portsmouth, - - - - - 379
Dream of the stars, - - - - - - 380
Compared to Satan, though of Daniel's men, - - 383
Ordination in York, tumult, - - - ibid.
Tumult in Hampton, - - - - - 384
First account of christians in Virginia, - - - 386
Opposition from printers and booksellers, - - 387
Republican discourse at Taunton, - - - -
388
CHAPTER XXXIX.
First meeting in Portland, first christians there, - 389
Removal from Portsmouth to Portland, - - - 390
First journey to Philadelphia, - - - 391
Second journey to Philadelphia, removal there, - 393
Journey to Virginia, - - - - ibid.
New-testament dictionary published, second tour to Virginia, 395
Journey from Virginia to Woodstock, Vt. - - ibid.
Journey from Vermont to Philadelphia, troubles there, 396
Journey from Philadelphia to New-England, distressed situation, 397
Sickness in Swanzey, death of my wife, - - - 398
Mr. Benedict's misrepresentation, - - - 399
General meeting in Danville, journey to New-York, and Connecticut, -
- - -
401
CHAPTER XL.
Glory of Christ, solemn PROTEST, - - - - 403
Description of the bible, - - - - 404
Conclusion, &c. - - - - - - -
406
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