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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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1669.] REV. ELEAZAR MATHER. 209<br />

now <strong>in</strong> many <strong>in</strong>stances the only data extant. Busy men,<br />

leaders <strong>in</strong> civil as well as ecclesiastical affairs, tliey exerted<br />

an <strong>in</strong>fluence commensurate with their spiritual call<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Influence o £ t h e Dur<strong>in</strong>g the formative period <strong>of</strong> the settlechurch<br />

<strong>in</strong> Pro- mcnt, the Church, as <strong>in</strong> all New England<br />

mot<strong>in</strong>g the<br />

tiement.<br />

Set- .,, , „ ., j_ •<br />

j j<br />

Villages, became one or the most important<br />

factors <strong>in</strong> <strong>its</strong> development. It was the foun-<br />

dation <strong>of</strong> the political as well as the spiritual life <strong>of</strong> the<br />

community. Not to he a Church member argued ill for the<br />

stand<strong>in</strong>g and position <strong>of</strong> any person. Intent that "the<br />

glory <strong>of</strong> God might be furethered," the pioneers <strong>of</strong> this re-<br />

gion, fostered, protected, cherished and obeyed those div<strong>in</strong>e<br />

precepts which formed the ground work <strong>of</strong> their<br />

faith and the bulwark <strong>of</strong> their religion. Jealous <strong>of</strong> the<br />

appearance <strong>of</strong> evil, zeal sometimes overstepped prudence,<br />

and sharp contentions about religious matters were the re-<br />

sult. However bitter might have been their personal feel-<br />

<strong>in</strong>gs, there was always unanimity towards the preacher.<br />

The m<strong>in</strong>isters <strong>in</strong> the orig<strong>in</strong>al plantations <strong>of</strong> <strong>Massachusetts</strong><br />

Bay were all men <strong>of</strong> superior education and great piety,<br />

very many <strong>of</strong> them possess<strong>in</strong>g bus<strong>in</strong>ess talents <strong>of</strong> no <strong>in</strong>fe-.<br />

rior order. Then m<strong>in</strong>isters were settled for life. The<br />

pastoral relation was considered too sacred to be readily<br />

severed, and when the clergyman became <strong>in</strong>firm <strong>from</strong><br />

age, and unable to perform his manifold labors, the town<br />

always provided a colleague.

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