Memoirs of the Rev. Ammi Rogers, A. M.

upon God Outward forms and ceremonies, without the inward feelings of the heart, are like a body without a soul, and are of little worth. The inward feelings of the heart, without outward forms and ceremonies, are like a soul without a body: too etherial for such beings as we are; they cannot be kept steadfast on any thing; we never know where to find them. God is always the same: the general wants of all mankind are the same: and the public worship of God should always be the same. Constantly to unite in the same form of worship is not designed to change the unchangeable God, but to change ourselves to the same disposition, and a sameness of disposition, creates friendship in all beings and in all worlds, and by this says our blessed Saviour, shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. These very prayers have been used in the Church almost two thousand years; they elevated the hearts, they warmed the affections, they prepared the souls of holy martyrs, and confessors, and primitive Christians for crowns of glory; they were the means of grace to my ancestors and friends who have gone before me, they have supported me in my troubles, and carried me through many temptations. O, that I could conform my soul more thoroughly to the disposition and sentiments which they contain and enjoin. I leave them as my best legacy to my children, that when they join fervently in them, they may know how their father felt, and learn to feel in devotion, as he did; and as all good Christians have done who have gone the way before them.

In the Episcopal church the minister generally performs the service in one place and preaches in another ; and at one time he is dressed in a "white surplice, at another time he is dressed in a black gown. The reason is, that he sustains two different offices, viz. that of a Priest and that of a Prophet.-When he is performing the service, he is exercising the office of a priest: he is in the reading desk, and is dressed in white, and is then speaking to the Almighty in behalf of himself and of the -people. White is to shew how pure the office of the priesthood is, and how pure our heart and lives should be when we address a God of infinite purity and holiness.

He then goes into the pulpit and is dressed in black, and is exercising the office of a prophet, and is speaking to the people in behalf of the Almighty; warning them of their danger, and pointing out to them their duty. Black is to shew how grave the office of a prophet is, and how solemn the important embassy is, which he is about to deliver to a guilty world in God's name, and as he sustains and exercises two different offices, so it is proper that they should be performed in two different places, and distinguished by two different dresses.

O Almighty and Eternal God, I beseech thee to direct and assist us at all times, and in all places, with thy most gracious favour; guard us from all error, lead us into all truth and righteousness, and at last receive us to thyself in glory and happiness through Jesus Christ our Lord who has mercifully taught and commanded us that when we did pray we should say-Our Father who art in Heaven, &c.

CONCORD, N. H, FEBRUARY 1, 1833.

"He who takes my good name, takes that from me which can do him no good, but me harm indeed!! » We have no wish to render railing for railing, or to speak evil of any one; but in the cause of justice and eharity, we think it our duty to lay before the public the following testimony, and to request then to judge for themselves. Concord N. H. Nov. 1st, 1832.

This certifies that I have been personally and well acquainted with the REV. AMMI ROGERS, for about one year last past-that he has made my house his home, and boarded in my family, when he was in town; that I have dealt with him to the amount of more than 250,00; that I have always found him to be a man of truth, of honor, of honesty and of strict integrity, and no way justly liable to reproach, either as a minister JONATHAN EASTMAN. Concord, N. H. Nov. 1st, 1832.

or as a man.

I have dealt with the aforesaid Rogers to the amount of 234,72 within one year last past, and fully concur
in the opinion of Jonathan Eastman, Esq. relative to the said Rogers.
LUTHER ROBY.
Concord, N. H. Nov. 1st, 1832.

This certifies that I have been personally and well acquainted with the Rev. Ammi Rogers for about one year last past, that for some weeks I lived in the same house, and at the same table with him; that within the last year I have dealt with him to the amount of 232,75, that I have always found him to be a man of truth, of honor, of honesty and of strict integrity, and no way justly liable to reproach. DANIEL CHASE. Concord, N. H. Nov. 2nd, 1832. I have been well acquainted with the aforesaid Rogers for about one year last past, during which time I have dealt with him to the amount of 62,50, and fully concur in the aforesaid certificates relative to him. OLIVER L. SANBORN. Concord, N. H. Nov. 2nd, 1832

I have been acquainted with the aforesaid Rogers for about one year last past, and have dealt with him to the amount of 156,60, and concur in the foregoing certificates. HORATIO HILL & Co. Concord, N. H. Nov. 3, 1832.

The aforesaid Rogers came to my house about the 12th of Nov. 1831 and I have received of him 30,00 t full of all demands to this date, &c.

The whole debts 966,57

The whole credit 966,57

1933 14

[See page 262.]

JOHN P. GASS

BLUE LAWS OF CONNECTICUT.

If any man or woman be a witch, or hath consulted with a familiar spirit, they shall be put to death. If any person shall blaspheme, that is, speak against God the Father, Son, or Holy Ghost he shall be put to death. If any person commit adultery with a married woman they shall both be put to death. If any person rise up by false witness against another, he shall be put to death. If any man have a rebellious son, who will not obey the voice of his father or mother, he shall be brought into court and shall be put to death.

And whereas diverse lacivious carriages and filthy dalliances are practiced among us, it is ordered that the court have power to proceed against them at their discretion either by fine, publicly whipping or imprisonment, or by all of them. If two or three shall speak together privately during the setting of the court, they shall be fined twelve pence apiece. If any person shall reveal any secret enjoined upon him by the court he shall be fined ten pounds. If any person shall neglect or refuse to teach their children the short orthodox catechism, the magistrates shall take such children from their parents or guardians and shall bind them out. If any person shall speak or behave contemptuously toward any settled congregational minister he shall be set upon a block at least four feet high in the meeting house upon a lecture day, with a paper upon him, written in capital letters THIS IS AN OBSTINATE CONTEMNOR. If any person shall neglect or refuse to attend the public ministry of the congregational society where he resides he shall be fined five shillings for every such neglect. If any person do not belong to said church, and be not in good standing, he shall not be allowed to vote for any officer civil or ecclesiastical, nor shall he hold any office in the Colony. If any person shall commit fornication with any single woman, they shall be both whipped on their naked body at the post, and shall be compelled to marry. If any person shall wilfully lie and propagate falsehood against another, he shall be fined ten shillings, set in the stocks

three hours and be publicly whipped on his naked body twenty stripes. If any person shall refuse to pay his meet proportion for the support of the congregational minister in the place where he risides, then the magistrate shall assess him according to his own judgment, and shall collect it by force. If any person within this Colony shall use any tobacco, publicly or privately, in the street or highway, or barnyard, on training day, or on any other day, he shall be fined six pence for every such offence, and shall pay it without saying a word against it. Andrew Low, jr. was severely whipped at the post for stealing strong water (i. e. rum) from Mr. Ling's cubbard, and ordered to work as a prisoner with a lock about his leg. Jacob M. Murlin and Sarah Tuttle were severely whipped at the post and fined 20 shillings for filthy dalliance, that is, he kissed her, and she kissed him. John Lobdel was whipped at the post for filthy dalliance with Mr. Goodman's girl. Samuel Hoskins and Elizabeth Cleverly were both severely whipped and ordered to be married. Margaret Bedford was severely whipped at the post and ordered to be married to Nicholas Jennings with whom she had been naughty, many hundred other cases of a similar nature might be mentioned. In 1664 a man was publicly whipped at the post for refusing to have his child baptized by a congregational minister and speaking against infant baptism. In 1651 John Crandal was fined five pounds, John Clark was fined twenty pounds and Obadiah Holmes was fined twenty pounds and all whipped 30 stripes with a three fold cord; for meeting in a private house for public worship in opposition to the congregational meeting. John Spur and John Hazel were publicly whipped at the post, fined forty shillings and imprisoned for shaking hands with a person excommunicated from a congregational church. In 1729 two Quakers, two Episcopalians and 28 Baptists were imprisoned for not paying a tax to a congregational minister in Rehoboth. Hundreds of such cases might be mentioned but I refer the reader to page 38. In many parishes in Connecticut, public whipping posts and stocks may now, 1832, be seen standing near the Congregational meeting houses.

INDEX TO THE HOLY BIBLE.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to
be written for our learning; grant that we may in such
wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest
them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy word,
we may embrace and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of
everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour
Jesus Christ who hath mercifully taught, and expressly
commanded us, that when we did pray, we should say,
Our Father who art in Heaven, &c.