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

1728.1 REV, SOLOMON STODDARD. 61
Published Sermons.
Many sei'moiis wero publisliod by Mr. Stoddard,
several of which liave since been re-
printed. Tlie list of his printed discourses numbers twentytwo.
In 1703 he preached the '' Annual Election Sermon"
before the Legislature.
Personal Appear- Very little is kuowu Concerning his pera^ce.
sonal appearance, and no portrait of him
has been handed down. " His Stature was
something taller than the common Size, his countenance
comely, his Presence venerable ; his whole Look and Behaviour
such as gave those who convers'd with him, occa-
sion to say of him, as the Woman of the Prophet, I per-
ceive that this is a holy Man of God."^ " His conversation
was grave but delightful and very profitable, accompanied
by a very sweet affability and a freedom from mo-
roseness, often pleasantness, but not lightness or vanity." ^
Imagine a tall, spare man, of sober and solemn demeanor,
stern in aspect, clad in the regulation ministerial costume of
the day, sedate in manner, alert and business-like in action ;
yet with a courtesy and affability of bearing that speedily
won the respect and veneration of all with whom he came
in contact.
He Preached with- He uot Only preached without notes himout
Notes, but g^jf^ Ij-q^ argued strongly against their use
pared'his Ser- ^7 otliers. In a sermou published in 1724,
mons. entitled, "The Defects of Preachers reproved,"
he denounces the custom of reading sermons. The
practice he says, "may be tolerable when men's memories
become imperfect by age, but ordinarily it is not to be
allowed." " Till his 86"' year (in which he died) he was a
constant Preacher one Part of the Lord's days and at a
Monthly Lecture, without the use of Notes at all,"^ Apparently
his discourses were all carefully prepared, but
were not usually completely written out. One hundred
fifty of his sermons are contained in a small l^'"" MS. volume,
five and one half by three and one half inches in size,
on a page and a half of which is written the notes of an
entire sermon. The whole contains one hundred thirty-
1 Boston Weekly News Letter, Feb. 30, 1721).
2 Rev. Mr. Williams' Funeral Sermon.
3 Boston Weekly News Letter, Feb. 20. 1729.