Ecclesiastical History. 21 



all the other graces which God gives unto the humble, grew exceedingly 

 and observably ; and hence he took delight in hearing the commendations 

 of other men, though sometimes they were so unwisely uttered as to carry 

 some diminutions unto himself, and he set himself particularly to put all 

 respect and' honour upon the ministers that came in the time of his weak- 

 ness to supply his place. After and under his confinement, the singing of 

 psalms was an exercise wherein he took a particular delight, saying, 

 " That it was the work of heaven, which he was willing to anticipate." 

 But about eight weeks before his expiration, he did with his aged hand 

 ordain a successor ; which, when he had performed with much solemnity, 

 he did afterwards with an assembly of ministers and other Christians at 

 his own house, joyfully sing the song of aged Simeon, " Thy servant now 

 lettest thou depart in peace." He had now " nothing to do but to die," 

 and he spent his hours accordingly in assiduous preparations, not without 

 some dark intervals of temptation, but at last with "light arising in dark- 

 ness "unto him. While his exteriour was decaying, his interiour was re- 

 newing every day, until the twentieth day of January, 1678, when he 

 quietly and silently resigned his holy soul unto its faithful Creator. 



EPITAPHIUM 



D. PETRI HOBARTI. 



Ossa sub hoc Saxo Latitant, defossa Sepulchro, Spiritus in Coelo, 



carcere, missus agit. 



Mr. Savage, the learned editor of " Winthrop's Journal," says 

 of this mention of Mr. Hobart in the " Magnalia " : — 



" As usual, Mather proves his kindness more than his accuracy ; for he 

 speaks of Hobart as having been a minister at Haverhill, in England, and 

 without hesitation affirms that he was earnestly invited to return thither 

 after he had been here some years. Hobart's own journal does not en- 

 courage such a representation, and -all other old writings in our Hingham 

 uniformly claim the derivation of the pastor and flock from the village of 

 the same name in Norfolk. This is probably a mere blunder, for the 

 ecclesiastical historian, as he has sometimes been absurdly called, has 

 repeated correctly some things, — as that he was born in 1604 and died 

 January, 1678-9. Mather says he took ship in the summer of 1635, 

 when we know it was in April ; and he adds that, on arriving at Charles- 

 town, 'he found his desired relations got safe there before him.' But his 

 father had been here nearly two years, and two of his brothers, at least, 

 not less than one year, so that he, no doubt, had letters from them before 

 leaving home. From Mather, too, we might be in doubt whether he had 

 ' four, or five ' sons in the ministry, though the author had certainly in- 

 quired of one of them. Such is the customary laxness of the ' Magnalia.' ' 



Rev. John Norton, the second minister, was born in Ipswich 

 about 1650, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1671, Chief- 

 Justice Sewall being one of his classmates. He was ordained 

 colleague pastor with Mr. Hobart, Nov. 27, 1678. Of Mr. Norton 

 little is known. His ministry seems to have been for the most 

 part quiet and peaceable. He is described as a man of amiable 

 character, fervent piety, and religious zeal, a faithful and beloved 



