the American Bible Society, contributing to its funds $10,000, and aiding, also, in the erection of the first Bible House. In his will, having made ample provision for his daughter during her life-time, he bestowed his large estate on various Institutions connected with the Church, and the cause of education. He wrote and published, 1790, "The Age of Revelation, or the Age of Reason shown to be an Age of Infidelity;" 1793, a 4th of July Oration, delivered at Elizabeth Town, before the N. J. Society of the Cincinnati; 1806, "The Life of the Rev. William Tennent;" 1811, an Address delivered before the New Jersey Bible Society; 1815, "Second Advent of the Messiah;" 1816, "A Star in the West, or an humble attempt to discern the lost ten tribes of Israel; "still bringing forth fruit in old age. His monument at Burlington bears this inscription: Here lies the remains of the Honorable Elias Boudinot, LL. D. Born on the 2d day of May, A. D. 1740. He died on the 24th day of Oct., A. D. 1821. His life was an exhibition of fervent piety, of useful talent, and of extensive benevolence. His death was the triumph of Christian faith, the consummation of hope, the dawn and the pledge of endless felicity. To those who knew him not, no words can paint; Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.* Alden's Epitaphs, I. 101-5. Allen's Blog. Dict. Murray's Notes, pp. 85, 110-11. Trustees' Book of E. T. Chh. N. J. Rev. Correspondence, pp. 346-7. Barber's N. Jersey, p. 89. CHAPTER XXVII. A. D. 1782-1804. -- ECCLESIASTICAL Rev. J. F. Armstrong — Rebuilding of Presb. Chh. — Revival - Rev. Wm. Linn-Lottery for finishing the Chh. - Rev. David AustinBirth-Education-Settlement-Chh. completed - Monthly MagazineAmerican Preacher -- Prophetic Investigations Sermon on the Downfall of Babylon Great Excitement — Day set for Christ's Coming - Mr. Austin dismissed Anti Sabbath-Profanation Meeting-Rev. John Giles - Mr. Austin returns-Rev. Henry Kollock-Mr. Austin's Second Return - Stated Supply - Separate Worship - Returns to Connecticut - Subsequent History - His Death and Character. AFTER the decease of the Rev. Mr. Caldwell, the Presbyterian church was left, for many months, without a pastor; or stated supply. Abraham Clark wrote from Philadelphia, Jan. 16, 1782, to Capt. Benjamin Winans, of this town,— I suppose by this time that the murderer of Mr. Caldwell has been tried and received his doom: but that will not restore our loss which will be long felt in Elizabeth-Town. I hope you will not be in a hurry to get another, for few can be found fit to succeed him that is gone. I have one or two in my mind that might answer, but I think that they could not be got till the end of the war, as they are chaplains of the army.* It is probable, that Mr. Clark had reference, among others, to the REV. JAMES FRANCIS ARMSTRONG, who took charge of the congregation, in June 1782. He was the son of Francis Armstrong, of West Nottingham, Md., where he was born, April 3d, 1750. His father, being an elder in the Presbyterian church, trained him in the way of godliness. He was prepared for college, chiefly under the * Proceedings of N. J. Hist. Soc., III. 86. instruction of the Rev. John Blair, at Fagg's Manor [NewLondonderry], Pa., and entered the junior class of the College of New Jersey in the autumn of 1771. Two of his classmates, Aaron Ogden, and Belcher Peartree Smith, were of this town. He graduated in 1773, and pursued a course of theological study with President Witherspoon, with whom he had resided while in college. He was licensed to preach, in January, 1777, by the Presbytery of Newcastle, by whom, also, he was ordained, January 14, 1778, at Pequea, having received and accepted an appointment as Chaplain of the Second Brigade [Sullivan's] of Maryland forces. His commission was dated, July 17, 1778. He spent the next three years in the service, mostly at the South. Returning to the North, he was invited to supply the pulpit of the church here, the people then worshiping in the old red store house, near Mayor John De Hart's, on the west side of the Creek. He began his ministerial work here in June, 1782, and was married, Aug. 22, by Dr. Witherspoon, to Miss Susannah, daughter of Robert James Livingston, deceased, with whom he had become acquainted while at Princeton, whither her widowed mother had resorted for the education of her sons, William Smith, Peter R., and Maturin. Mrs. Livingston was the daughter of William Smith, the historian of New York. At the expiration of less than a year, during which he had been charged with the direction of the grammar school, taught by his classmate, Lewis F. Wilson, his services were terminated by a severe affection of the measles, aggravated by his exposures in the army. Two or three years afterwards, having recovered his health, he became and continued, until Jan. 19, 1816, when he died, the useful and honored pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Trenton, N. J., his wife surviving him until Feb. 13, 1851. They had six children.* Mr. Armstrong's labors closed at the end of April, 1784, after which, for eighteen months, the pulpit was supplied * Life of Rev. Dr. R. Finley, pp. 197-203. N. J. Journal, No. 191. Murray's Notes, p. 109. Holgate's Am. Genealogy. Sprague's Annals, III. 889-91. Hall's Presb. Chh. of Trenton, pp. 295-875. mostly by the Presbytery of New York. In the meantime, measures were taken for the rebuilding of their house of worship. The first movement towards it, was probably the following: July 11, 1784. The Congregation Voted that the Trustees should Mortgage the parsonage Land Against Mr Jelf's for as Much Money as they can get upon it to be laid out for Building the Presbyterian Church in Elizth Town. The Trustees, at this time, were Isaac Woodruff, Lewis Mulford, Isaac Arnett, Jonathan Price, and David Ogden. The work was immediately undertaken, and prosecuted with diligence. In May, 1785, a meeting of the congregation was held, at which it was agreed, that four pews just in front of the pulpit, four next the door, and four pews in the galleries, were to be free for ever for the congregation; one square pew, at the side of the pulpit to be for the minister's family, and the square pew on the other side for strangers, and three side pews near the door for Negroes. The building was so far finished in the autumn of 1785, as to allow of occasional occupation by the congregation, as appears from the following record in the Journal of Bishop Asbury : Wednesday, [Sept.] 6, [1785.] After preaching, this morning, I left the city, overstaying the hour, the stage left us, and we found ourselves under the necessity of walking six miles; I dined with Mr. Ogden, and preached in Elizabethtown, in the unfinished church belonging to the Presbyterians. He repeated the visit a year later, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 1786, and "at seven o'clock preached and had much liberty." The church was dedicated, though in an unfinished state, about the 1st of January 1786, the sermon having been preached by the Rev. Dr. McWhorter, of Newark. During the whole period, from the time of commencing the work of erecting the church, the congregation were visited with a special outpouring of the Spirit of God. It prevailed mostly in 1785, and extended into the remote parts of the town, the parish of Westfield, as already seen, being wonderfully fav * Asbury's Journals, I., CSS. II. 3. ored during that and the following year. It was promoted considerably by the faithful preaching of the Rev. Uzal Ogden, every other Sabbath, in St. John's church. It is quite probable, that the revival in this town resulted from a remarkable outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the people of Newark, in 1784, by which a hundred souls were added to the church. By whatever agencies the work was commenced in this town, it proved a rich blessing. Says Dr. McDowell, This revival continued about two years; and time has abundantly proved, that it was a genuine and glorious work of God. A number of the subjects are still [1832] living, and are truly fathers and mothers in Israel. Nearly all the session, and almost half the members of the church, when the writer settled here, were the fruits of this revival; and he has had an opportunity of knowing them by their fruits; he has been with many of them when about to pass over Jordan, and from their triumphant death as well as exemplary life, he can testify to the genuineness of the work.* Early in the year 1786, an invitation was given to the REV. WILLIAM ADOLPHUS LINN, He to supply the pulpit, and the invitation was accepted. He was the grandson of William Linn, an emigrant from Ireland, and was born in Adams County, not far from Shippensburgh, Pa., in the year 1752, of Presbyterian parents. He graduated at the College of New Jersey, in 1772, being a classmate of Aaron Burr. He was licensed, in 1775, by the Presbytery of Donnegal, and ordained in 1776 by the First Presbytery of Philadelphia, to serve as a chaplain in the army. married, as early as 1776, Rebecca, the daughter of the Rev. John Blair, of Fogg's Manor, for whom his eldest son was named John Blair Linn. During the war, while serving as a chaplain in the army, he became quite distinguished for his eloquence. After the war he took charge of an Academy in Somerset Co., Md., within the bounds of the Presbytery of Lewes, of which he became a member. "The terms, on which he was invited" to become the Stearns' Newark, pp. 241-3. Sprague's Lect. on Revivals, pp. 284, 874. |