(8) IV. Rev. EZEKIEL ROGERS,2 born A.D., 1590, at Wethersfield, Essex, England. His early sparklings of wit, judgment and learning, afforded his father no little satisfaction and expectation of proficiency; at the age of 13, he entered Cambridge, where he took the degree of A.B., at Bennets College, 1604, and of A. M. at Christ's, 1608. He soon afterwards became Chaplain in the family of Sir Francis Barrington (at Hatfield, Broad Oak, Essex,) famous for piety and learning; here, his preaching was acceptable;
and he improved to advantage the opportunity of acquaintance with the many distinguished persons resorting hither.
Calarmy's life of Baxter. - Neal's Hist. of the Puritans. - Brook's lives of do, - Berry's Genealogies Of the county of Kent. - —Memoir of Mrs Elizabeth Long. - Macaulay's History of England vol. I., chap. 3.
After five or six years residence at this place, Sir Francis bestowed on him the benefice of Rowley in Yorkshire, in hopes that his more lively ministry might be particularly successful in awakening those drowsy corners of the North; and accordingly, the service performed in this church situated in the centre of many villages was much frequented.
Nevertheless, Mr. Rogers had much uneasiness in, his mind about his own experience of those truths which he preached unto others, fearing, that notwithstanding his pathetical expressions wherewith his hearers were affected, that he was, himself, in his own soul, a stranger to that faith, repentance, and conversion, which he had impressed upon them; at this he was much perplexed; and because there was no experienced minister in that part of the Kingdom to whom he could confide his troubles, at last, hoping some satisfaction on this matter, either from his brother of Wethersfield, or cousin of Pedham, he took a journey into Essex, on purpose to be resolved of his doubts. His design was, to have had an interview with his kinsman before his lecture began, but missing of that, he came in to the Assembly before the beginning of' the sermon; where he found, by the singular Providence of God, his doubts as punctually and exactly removed, as if the preacher had been acquainted with them beforehand.
Being now satisfied with his own vocation, his ministry went on prosperously, and continued to be much frequented; in the exercise whereof, he once had an opportunity to preach in the stately Minster of York, on a public occasion, which he did with great approbation.
Dr. Matthews was then Archbishop of York, permitting the use of those lectures which Archbishop Grindal had erected, whereby the light of the Gospel was marvellously diffused unto many places in darkness. All the pious ministers in this precinct had a meeting once a month, in some noted place, preaching by turns. Mr. Rogers bore his part in these lectures, whilst Dr. Matthews lived; from one of which, an accuser of the brethren, once went to the Archbishop, stating, that one of the preachers had made this petition in his prayer, "May the Almighty shut heaven against the Archbishop's Grace," whereat instead of being, offended, as the reporter expected, be fell a laughing heartily-and answered, "these good men know well enough, that if I were gone to heaven, their exercises would soon be put down; and it came to pass accordingly.
Though possessing a lively spirit, his bodily health was feeble, causing him to study the science of Medicine, in which be obtained considerable knowledge. About this time, a serious accident befel him, from the violent motion of his horse, occasioning the rupture of a blood vessel, but by carefully avoiding all society, and keeping privately in his chamber a few months, he was cured and returned to his family and employment.
At last, the severity, wherewith subscription was then urged put a period unto his twenty years' public ministry, although the man, by whom he was suspended, showed so much respect, as to allow the enjoyment of the profits of his Living, for two years afterward, and permitted him to substitute another as good as he was able, whereupon, he employed one. Mr. Bishop, but he was also quickly silenced for refusing to read in public the censure cast upon Mr. Rogers.
Foreseeing the storms likely in a few years to break upon the English nation ; with other prudent men, he proposed New England (whither his kinsman, Rev. Nath'I R. of Ipswich, Mass., had already preceded him in 1636) as a refuge from persecution; he would have been accompanied by Sir Matthew Boynton and Sir William Constable, had not some singular providences prevented. Ships having been brought, by his discretion and influence, from London to Hull, to take in the passengers ; he set sail and arrived in this land of the Pilgrims in the Autumn of 1638, with many families (20 according to Winthrop, and 60 according to Johnson) of his Yorkshire friends, Godly men, and most of them of good estate.
While lying at Boston, A.D., 1638, 10 mo. 2 day, he was desirous of partaking of the Lord's supper with the church there, (of which Rev. John Wilson was then pastor) and first imparted his desire to the elders; having given them satisfaction, they acquainted the church therewith, and before the sacrament, being called forth by the elders, he spoke to this effect, viz :
"That he and his company had of a good time withdrawn themselves from the church communion of England, and that, for many corruptions which were among them. But 1st., he desired that he might not be mistaken, as if he did condemn all there; for he did acknowledge a special presence of God there, in three things.
1. In the soundness of doctrine in all fundamental truths.
2. In the excellency of ministerial gifts.
3. In the blessing upon the same, for the work of conversion, and for the power of religion, in all which there appeared more in England than in all the known world besides.
Yet there are such corruptions, as since God let them see some light therein, they could not with safe conscience, join any longer with them. The first, is their National church ; second, their Hierarchy, wholly antichristian; third, their dead service; fourth, their receiving, (nay compelling) all to partake of the seals ; fifth, their abuse of excommunications, wherein they inwrap many a godly minister, by causing him to pronounce their sentence, &c., they not knowing that the fear of excommunication lies in that. - " Hereupon they bewailed before the Lord their sinful partaking in these, corruptions, and entered a covenant to walk together in all the ordinances," &c.
"With this holy and humble people he made his progress to the North-eastward, and in April, 1639, commenced the settlement of a Town about 6 miles from Ipswich, (where his kinsman Rev. Nath'l Rogers then preached) called Rowley, from the name of the place where he had been settled in Yorkshire, Old England ; here wanting room, they purchased some addition of the Town of Newbury; yet they had a large length of land only for the mere town would have been coveniency to the Town of Ipswich, by the which means they partook of the continued lecture of either Town. These people being very industrious every way, soon built many houses to the number of three-score families, and were the first people that set upon making cloth in this Western world , for which end they built a fulling-mill, and caused their little ones to be very diligent in spinning cotton wool; many of them having been clothiers in England, 'till their zeal to promote the Gospel of Christ, caused them to wander; and therefore they were no less industrious in gathering into church society; there being scarce a man among them, but such as were meet to be living stones in this building, according to the judgment of man. They called to the office of Pastor this holy man of God, Mr. Ezekiel Rogers;" - of whom Johnson, in his Wonder-working Providence says:
Christ for this worke Rogers doth riches give,
Rich graces fit his people for to feed,
Wealth to supply his wants whilst here he live,
Free thou receivs't to serve his peoples need.
England may mourne they thee no longer keep,
English rejoice, Christ doth such worthyes raise,
His Gospel preach, unfold his mysteries deep ;
Weak dust made strong sets forth his maker's praise
With fervent zeale and courage thou bast fought
'Gainst that transformed Dragon and his bands,
Snatcht forth the burning, thou poore soules bast caught,
And freed thy flock from wolves devouring hands.
Ezekiel mourn not, thou art severed farre,
From thy deare Country to a desart land;
Christ call'd hath thee unto thIs worthy warre
By him o'ercome, he holds thy Crowne in's band,"
After his arrival, he was earnestly solicited by Rev. Mr. Eaton and Mr. Davenport, to settle at New Haven, Connecticut, (Quinipiack) and they had so far prevailed with him, being newly come, and unacquainted with the state of the country, as they had engaged him; yet being a very wise man, and considering that many of quality in England did depend on his choice of a fit place for them,, he agreed upon such propositions and cautions, as though they promised to fulfil them all, (whereupon be sent ,divers of his people before winter) yet when it came to, they were not able to make good what they had promised.
Whereupon he consulted with the Elders of the Bay, and by their advice, holding his former engagement released, he and his people took that place by Ipswich, and because some farms had been granted by Ipswich and Newbury, which would be prejudicial to their plantation, they bought out the owners, disbursing a out L800 ; and he sent a pinnace to Quinipiack (New Haven,) to fetch back the rest of his people, but Mr. Eaton , Mr. Davenport, and others of Connecticut (being impatient of him and his people) staid the pinnace, and sent a messenger with letters of purpose to recover him again." "This made him to desire the elders to assemble again, and he showed them the letters they sent, but he made the case so clear, by letters which had passed between them, &c., as they still free him from all engagement ; and so he returned answer to them, and went on with his plantation."
On the 3d December, 1639, Mr. Rogers was installed Pastor over the church here, they having renewed their church-covenant and call of him to this office, according to the course of other churches.
In 1643, 3 mo. 10 day. He preached the Election Sermon at Boston, in which he described how the man ought to be qualified, whom they should choose for Governor, dissuading earnestly from choosing the same man twice together, and expressed his dislike of that with such vehemence as gave offence, but when it came to trial, the former Governor Mr. Winthrop as chosen again
In 1647, 8 mo. 4 day. The Synod began at Cambridge; the next day, Mr. Rogers preached in the forenoon, and the Magistrates and Deputies we present. In this sermon he took ocaasion to speak of the *petitioners in question before the Court) and exhorted the Court to do justice up them, yet with desire of favor to such as had been drawn in, &c., and should submit. He reproved also the practice of private members making speeches in the Churches and Assemblies to the disturbance and hindrance of the ordinances; also the call for reviving the ancient practice in England of childrens' asking, their parents' blessing on their knees, &c.
Also he reproved the great oppressions in the country, &c., and other things amiss, as long hair, &c.-Divers were offended at his zeal in some of these passages.
He was a man of undoubted piety, sound learning, zealous and persevering in his efforts to advance the cause of truth and holiness, and for a considerable portion of his life at least, of great influence. Strong and ardent in his passions, he was sometimes hurried from the staight line of Christian duty ; but such was his humility, that he was always ready to acknowledge his error and retrace his steps.
His praise was in all the Churches about him, but especially his own, where his preaching, consisting peculiarly of the doctrine of regeneration and union to the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, was eminently successful. In the management of these points he had a noted faculty of penetrating into the souls of his hearers, and manifesting the very secrets of their hearts His prayers and sermons would make such lively representations of the thoughts then working in the minds of his people, that it would amaze them to see their own condition so exactly represented. And his occasional. discourses with his people, especially with the young, and most of all, such as had been by by their deceased parent recommended unto his watchful care, were marvellously profitable.
He was a tree of knowledge, but so laden with fruit, that he stooped for the very children to pick off the apples ready to drop into their mouths." Sometimes they would come to his house, a dozen in the evening, and calling them into his study one by one,he would examine them bow they walked with God? How they spent their time? What good books they read? Whether they prayed without ceasing ? And he would thereupon admonish them to take heed Of such temptations and corruptions as he thought most endangered them. And if any diffrences had arisen among his people, he would forthwith send for them, to lay before him the reason thereof; such was his interest in them that he usually stopped all their little contentions, before they could break out into any open flames.
*Referring to the petition of Mr. Peter Hubbard, [Hobart] of Hingham, sent to England. Hutch., Hist. Mass.
It is related that a traveller once passing through the town, inquired of him, are you, Sir, the person who serves here ? To whom be replied, I am, Sir, the person who rules here.
So prominent and commanding were his talents, that he was persuaded, to give a Lecture once in two weeks' for the benefit of the inhabitants of other towns, as well as of his own; which was well attended, and with great satisfaction and profit. But on account of this increased labor, a colleague was settled to assist him.* In the latter part of his life, he was subjected to many calamities. The rest of his time in this world was winter; be saw more nights than days.
Soon after these events, a fall from his horse so injured his right arm, that it was ever after useless. All these distressing calamities befel this man of God in rapid succession, and within four or five years; which, it might well be supposed, with the infirmities incident to advanced life, would utterly have broken clown his spirits, and paralyzed all future efforts. But such were not their effects. He sustained them with Christian fortitude and, resignation. His house was rebuilt, his library replenished; his left hand substituted for the right; his ministerial labors continued; and his heart still set on doing good, and promoting the honor of God.
*In June, 1651, Rev. Sam'l Phillips, son of Rev. Geo.P. of Watertown was ordained-here colleague pastor with the Rev. Mr. R.; he was highly esteemed for his piety and talents, which were of no common order.
Mr. John Miller, one of the first settlers of the town, was a minister of the Gospel and an assistant of Mr. R. for about two years after his installation. He was designated with two others, in 1641. by the Elders, at a meeting in Boston, to go as a missionary to Virginia. This service he declined, and was soon after settled at Yarmouth, from thence he eventually removed to Groton where he died, in 1663. Mr. R. was afterwards assisted in the ministry by Mr. John Brock, a native of Suffolk Co., England. He was born 1620, and came to this country when about 17 years of age. he was graduated at Harv. Coll., in 1646 ; commenced preaching here in 1648, and left for the Isle of Shoals about 1650. In 1662, he returned, and was settled ar Reading, where he d. 1688. AE 68 years.
After a lingering illnes, he died Jan. 23d, 1660, in the 70th year of his age, and 22d of his ministry in Rowley. His remains were interred in the grave yard in this vicinity. He left no issue.
"Because 'twill give some illustration of our Church history, as well as notably describe the excellent and exemplary spirit of this good man, and it has been sometimes stated, 'Optima historia est historia epistolaris.' There is here inserted a letter (written with his left hand,) unto a worthy minister in Charlestown, (Rev. Zechariah Symmes,) under date of the 1st, of the 12th mo. 1657."
DEAR BROTHER: -
Though I have now done my errand in the other paper, yet methinks I am not satisfied to leave you so suddenly, so barely. Let us hear from you I pray you. Doth your ministry go on comfortably? Find you fruit of your labors? Are new converts brought in? Do your children and family grow more godly? I find greatest trouble and grief out the rising generation. Young people are little stirred here ; but they strengthen one another in evil, by example, by council. Much ado I have with my own family; hard to get a servant that is glad of catechising, or family duties. I had a rare blessing of servants in Yorkshire; and those I brought over were a blessing; but the youngbrood doth much afflict me. Even the children of the godly, here and elsewhere, make a woful proof, so that I tremble to think what will become of this glorious work, when the ancients are gathered unto their fathers; I fear grace and blessing will die with them, if the Lord do not show some signs of displeasure, even in our days. We grow worldly everywhere; methinks I see little, godliness, but all in a hurry about the world; every one for himself; little care of public or common good. It hath been God's way, not to send sweeping judgments when the magistrates are godly, and grow more so. I beseech all the Bay ministers to call earnestly upon magistrates, (that are often among them,) tell them that their godliness will be our protection. If they fail, I shall fear some sweeping judgments shortly; the clouds seem to be gathering.
I am hastening home, and grow very asthmatical and short breathed. Oh! that I might see some signs of good to the generations following, to send me away rejoicing! Thus I could weary you and myself, and my left hand, but I break off suddenly, O good brother, I thank God, I am near home; and you too are not far off. Oh! the weight of glory that is ready waiting for us, God's poor exiles! We shall sit next the martyrs and confessors. Oh the embraces wherewith Christ will embrace us! Cheer up your spirits in the thoughts thereof ; and let us be zealous for our God and Christ, and make a conclusion. Now the Lord bring us well through our poor pilgrimage.
Your affectionate brother,
EZEKIEL ROGERS."
THE REV. EZEKIEL ROGERS' WILL.