32 RELIGIOUS PROGRESS AND CHRISTAIN CULTURE. 



9. Timothy Symmes, in Aquebogue, 1738 — 1750. 

 10. Sylvanus White, in Southampton, 1727 — 1782. 



These men, whose pastorates averaged 32.9 years, or, if we make no 

 account of two brief pastorates, of four and two years, respectively, more 

 than 40 years, were leavening the thought and directing the morals, and in- 

 spiring the piety of their time. Our fathers learned from these men sobri- 

 ety of thought, accuracy of judgment, reverence for life. They filled the 

 civilization of their day with fine forces which perpetuated their influence 

 to these later times. 



If now you look at the Commencement programmes of Harvard Col- 

 lege* for this period, you will learn something about the questions politi- 

 cal, theological, speculative, social and scientific, that were filling the minds, 

 of thoughtful men and so percolating downwards from them into the 

 thought of the community. You will find that, while they were still under 

 the fringes of the cloud of mediaeval superstition in some respects, they 

 were fast emerging into the clearer light of modern time. While they were 

 still maintaining great respect for constituted authority, they were already 

 claiming the right to investigate its foundations, and criticise its action and, 

 if need be, revolutionize its methods. You can hardly fail to detect the 

 germs of our revolutionary movements when you read from the pro- 

 grammes of the middle of the seventeenth century such questions as these: 



" Is a monarchical government the best ?" Afiirmed in 1698.' 



" Is the royal power absolutely by divine right ?" Denied in 1723. 



"Is civil government originally founded in the consent of the people.-'" 

 Affirmed in 1725. 



" Is unlimited obedience to rulers tauglit by Christ and His apostles ?" 

 Denied in 1729. 



" Is the voice of the people the voice of God. ^'' Affirmed in 1733. 



' ' Are we bound to observe the mandates of Kings, unless they them- 

 selves keep their agreements with their subjects.''" Denied in 1738. 



" Is it lawful to resist the Supreme magistrate if the commonwealth 

 can not otherwise be preserved .-'" Affirmed in 1743, by Sam. Adams. 



Thought was progressing and ripening very evidently. There is great 

 advance here upon that first proposiaon, "that monarchical government 

 is best " in 1698. The culmination comes in 1770, when these two ques- 

 tions are discussed, and the affirmative maintained: 



" Is a government tyrannical, in which the rulers consult their own in- 

 terest more than that of their subjects }" 



''.Is a government despotic, in which the people have no check upon 

 the legislative power .'" 



The farmers were about ready for Lexington and Concord then. 

 Among these questions here and there appear hints also of that conflict 

 which was then in the far future, which we have now passed, and which 

 may well be called our country s second Revolution. " Is it lawful to sell 

 Africans.'''" No! was the respor>se from the Commencement boards of 

 1724. " Is it lawful to subject Africans to perpetual bondage .'" No! in 

 1 76 1 . Mark the ominous date ! ' ' Are the off"spring of slaves born slaves .''" 

 " No!" said these men of Suff"olk in iVIassachusetts, and of Suffolk on Long 



*For the questions which follow, I am indebted to an exceedingly interesting paper, 

 rf-ad before the Mass. Historical Society 111 June, 1880,. l)y the Rev. E<lvvar(l J. Young, 

 late Professor of Hebrew in Harvard College. 



