been the case in the former places of his residence, by no means confined his labours to his own congregation. He was an unwearied labourer in the word and doctrine, and an assiduous peace-maker, wherever he went. He preached in vacant parishes; assisted his neighbouring brethren in their public labours; interposed with his best advice, and conciliatory persuasion, in cases of ecclesiastical division and difficulty; and, in one instance particularly, was the means of bringing about a reconciliation between a neighbouring church, and a refractory member, to effect which, the benevolent exertions of others had long been employed in vain.

In the spring of the year 1782, when the Doctor had resided a little more than two years in Danbury, some circumstances occurring which rendered his situation less pleasant than before, he determined to leave it; and being invited about the same time by the church of Lamington, in Hunterdon county, New-Jersey, to come and minister to them, as long as he should remain an exile from his own people, he accepted their invitation. And, accordingly, in the month of May, of that year, he and his family were removed from Danbury, at the expense of the

congregation of Lamington, and put in possession of their parsonage house, which he continu ed to occupy until the autumn of 1780.

The following extract of a letter from the Rev. Enoch Burt, the present pastor of the church of Lamington, presents a view of the Doctor's ministry there, which, though brief, will be found comprehensive and satisfactory.

66

"The regular pastor of this church, the Rev. "Jeremiah Halsey, died in October, 1780, after "a ministry in this place of about ten years. "In March, 1781, the Rev. Doctor Mason, who "had probably left the city of New-York about "the time that Doctor Rodgers did, came to

66

Lamington, occupied the parsonage house, and preached occasionally as a supply. Some "months afterwards, the congregation, hearing "that Doctor Rodgers was at Danbury, in Con"necticut, had a meeting for the purpose of

66

giving him an invitation to take the pastoral "charge of them, during his absence from the

66

city. The result of this meeting was a unani"mous request for that purpose. This request "the Doctor complied with; and in the month " of May, 1782, his family was removed by the

"congregation to Lamington, and put in pos"session of the parsonage, which he occupied

66

during his stay among them. He continued "from that time until his return to New-York, "to discharge regularly all the duties of a pas"tor to this church, though without the forms "of what we denominate a regular call, or in"stallation

"The Doctor's ministry here, although attend"ed with no more than ordinary success, was "yet performed faithfully, zealously, and with a

66

66

great degree of plainness of speech. On this

subject he often remarked, that he felt himself "bound to adapt his instructions to the very "meanest capacity of his hearers; so that none

66

might remain unbenefited by his labours. "His zeal for the visible honour and word of "his divine Master, made him jealous of what

66

ever appeared like disrespect toward the or"dinances of the Gospel. Something of this "will appear from the following circumstance. "It was, at that day, very common here, to see "individuals rise from their seats during the "course of the sermon, and almost as soon as ris"en, turning their backs toward the speaker. This "practice appeared to him so much like visible

"disrespect to the word of God, that he viewed "it with indignation, and ceased not to repro"bate it publicly in the strongest terms, until "he had entirely abolished the practice.

"He manifested continually, that it was the ❝desire and joy of his heart to see Zion prosper. "Of this there were many proofs during his re"sidence in Lamington. One example shall "suffice. Hearing, while here, of a revival of "religion at Redstone, in Pennsylvania, and that "the inhabitants of that district of country were "but partially supplied with copies of the Scrip"tures, he opened a subscription in the congre

66

gation, and obtained a considerable sum, with "which he purchased Bibles, and sent them "thither.

"He made it his business, while here, to visit "the schools in the congregation, to examine "and catechise the children, and to do every thing in his power for their encouragement "and religious instruction.

66

66

"On the whole, although Dr. Rodgers' minis

try at Lamington, was not attended with any

"remarkable power, or signal success, at the "time; yet there is an abundant reason to be"lieve that it was far from being in vain; that "he obtained here some seals of his minis

66

try, which will be crowns of his rejoicing in "the day of the Lord; and that the precious "seed of the word, which he here scattered, with "a diligent and skilful hand, has since sprung up, and borne fruit to everlasting life."

66

66

In a short time after the definitive treaty of peace was signed, the disbanding of the American armies commenced. About this time Dr. Rodgers, whose mind was ever busily employed in forming plans of piety and benevolence, suggested to some leading persons the propriety of presenting to each soldier, on retiring from service, a Bible. The war had, of course, entirely suspended the importation of Bibles from Great Britain; and they had become, prior to the year 1781, extremely scarce in this country. Under these circumstances, it was found, as might naturally have been expected, that the needy soldiery were almost wholly destitute of copies of the Scriptures. In the year last mentioned, an enterprising printer and bookseller of Philadel