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having been annexed, for parochial purposes, "to that part of Amenia. The church is of the "congregational denomination, and stands con"nected with the association of Litchfield coun"ty. At their place of worship, more than four "miles distant from his abode, the Doctor at"tended regularly every Sunday, until the open

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ing of the spring, when he removed his family "into that neighbourhood. He has there left lasting memorials of his usefulness, and his "name will be long held in grateful and affec❝tionate remembrance. The society was agitat"ed by the most unhappy divisions. A spirit "of discord had prevailed for several years be"fore the removal of their minister, and was "far from being quieted by that event. Under "these discouraging prospects, the Doctor com"menced his labours; and by the blessing of "God they were crowned with remarkable suc66 cess. His mild and condescending, yet digni"fied deportment, more especially his fervent pie"ty, the energy of his public addresses, and the

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sanctity of his life and conversation, effectually "secured him the affection and reverence of all "parties. Harmony was soon restored; and has "continued without interruption until the present "time. Shortly after his departure, the people

"united in building a new and more spacious "church, and in making a permanent provision "for the support of the Gospel.

"But Dr. Rodgers did not confine his active. " and useful exertions to the place of his imme"diate residence. He preached lectures fre"quently in the neighbouring parishes. To a "society of free-masons in Stockbridge, (Mass.)

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by particular request, he delivered a sermon, "which the society procured to be printed, and "which was very favourably received by the pub"lic. He also made a tour into Vermont; dis

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pensed the word in the several towns through "which he passed; and every where attracted "the deep regard of his hearers. He attended "the various meetings of the clergy; and enjoy

ed, in an eminent degree, the confidence "and esteem of his brethren in the ministry. They admired him, not only for those superior "endowments which constituted his praise in all "the churches,' but also for the gracefulness of "his person and manners, the charms of his con"versation, and the surprising patience, and ❝ even cheerfulness, with which he bore a painful "exile, the duration of which was involved in the "most gloomy uncertainty. In short, he was

"respected and beloved by all descriptions of 66 men. And notwithstanding those in this part "of the country, who knew him best and loved "him most,' have preceded him to the grave, "there are still many survivors to attest, not mere

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ly to his talents as a divine, but that no man "ever exhibited a more happy union of all those qualities which go to form the gentleman and "the christian.

"Whilst the Doctor remained at Amenia, he "received repeated and pressing solicitations to "remove to Danbury, and preach to the first society in that town. Perceiving a prospect of

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more extensive usefulness in that quarter, and ❝ of better accommodations for his family, he at length yielded to these considerations, and, "to the great regret of the people of Amenia, " left them in the beginning of the year 1780."

It was in the month of April, in the year abovementioned, that the Doctor removed with his family to Danbury. He found the congregation in that town in a divided and broken state, and labouring under all those habits of coldness, negligence, and disorder, which the want of a pastor and of the regular administration of gospel

ordinances, for several years preceding, might have been expected to produce. He proved to them, as he had proved to the congregation of Amenia, a messenger of peace. His prudence, wisdom, and zeal, were, as before, conspicuous. The divisions among the people were, in a great measure, healed; the ordinances of the Gospel, some of which had been long neglected, were regularly administered; the church was greatly edified and comforted; and numbers were added to its communion, whose life and conversation have since manifested the sincerity of their profession.

While Dr. Rodgers was at Danbury, though he considered his settlement in that place as only temporary; and though he on this account declined being installed as the pastor of the church, expecting, on the restoration of peace, to return to his pastoral charge in New-York; yet he judged it expedient to connect himself, in the meanwhile, with some regular ecclesiastical body. He, therefore, soon after his removal thither, joined the western Association of Fairfield county, of which he remained a member as long as he resided in the state. But he did not merely join the Association. Though a firm Presbyterian in

principle, and a full believer in the apostolic origin of that form of Church government; he thought himself justifiable, situated as he then was, in holding the most unreserved and affectionate communion with Churches which, though defective, approach so near to the primitive model as the Congregationalists of Connecticut. He therefore entered, with fraternal cordiality, into the whole ecclesiastical system, in the midst of which Providence had cast his lot. He assisted in ordaining, installing, and dismissing Councils; he served, in his turn, as Moderator of Associations, and Consociations; and rendered himself highly acceptable to his neighbouring brethren in the ministry, and to the body of the people, by the promptness and the zeal with which he co-operated with them in all plans for the general advancement of religion.

Although the labours of Doctor Rodgers in Danbury were not attended with any remarkable revival of religion, they were by no means without visible success. The Congregation was gradually restored to union and order; the children were collected and instructed; the taste for sound and faithful preaching evidently increased; the attendance on public ordinances grew more