Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/205

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OULD the beloved Preacher had continued his narrative. The Editor fondly calculating upon assistance, which she believed herself authorized to expect, pledged herself to continue the sketch, even to the closing scene. But, alas! disappointed in her cherished hopes, she stands alone. Her health is broken, her spirits are depressed, and she is advanced in life; yea, doubtless, she is inadequate to the performance of her promise—But she remembers that this volume is addressed only to the friends of the dear departed, and she mournfully proceeds to its completion.

Upon December 14, 1774, Mr. Murray again visited Gloucester; the numerous family of the Sargents, then seated in that place, embraced in almost all its branches, the truth as it is in Jesus, and their attachment to him, whom they believed an ambassador of the Redeemer, was proportioned to their zeal. Many respectable names were added, and a little congregation was collected, who seemed to have among them but one heart, and one soul. Like the primitive Christians, they assembled daily, and they continued from house to house worshipping the only true God their Saviour. On recurrence to the journal of the Preacher, we find a memorandum, written upon his second visit to Gloucester, which is thus worded: "Here my God grants me rest from my toils, here I have a taste of heaven. The new song is sung here, and constantly dwells upon their tongues." Mr. Chandler's meeting-house was not closed against the Promulgator of glad tidings, until some time in January, 1775, upon the 20th of which month he made a second journey to Newburyport and Portsmouth. Those who had adhered to him in those towns, having ascertained that he absolutely believed the final restitution of all things, united with the many in the most unqualified censure. But the friends he had lost, particularly in Portsmouth, were replaced by many others, among whom we find the names of Judge and Sheriff Parker, Atkinson, Wentworth, Austin, Warner, Sheafe, Langdon, Sewall, Brackett, Whipple, Thompson, Turner, Gardner, Massey, Jackson, &c. &c. The heaven-instructed preacher continued