921.73 W589w.pdf - Mesa FamilySearch Library

86 Memoir of
which posterity owes to the teachers of re.
ligion at this early period can be appreciated
only by careful study of the history of their
times. In those days there were no news-
papers which could give information of im-
portant events then going on. Bool, s were
rare: public sentiment was formed ky those
who had the ear of the people, and were re-
spected by them. The preachers of the gospel
had great opportunity of influencing popula r
sentiment on matters of government, for their
opinions were entitled to great respect. As
they were usually men of education, often-
times learned, eloquent, earnest and disin-
terested, they were in the best situation for
impressing their views deeply and perma-
nently upon the popular mind, thus form-
ing and moulding the future destiny of the
colony. To this great work they resolutely
and patiently devoted their lives. How nobly.
some of them did what was given them to
do, the history of New England will declare
through all coming time [ e
* Johnson, in his Wonder- Working Providence (lib. i., ch. 38), writes