Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/221

Rh this instance, teachers of any persuasion whatever, Jew or Mahometan. It would be for the jury to determine, if Mr. Murray was a teacher of piety, religion, and morality; that matter, he said, had in his opinion been fully proved. The only question therefore before them was, if Mr. Murray came within the description of the constitution, and had a right to require the money. "It is my opinion," he decidedly declared, "that Mr. Murray comes within the description of the constitution, and has a right to require the money." The jury received the cause, and departed the court at half past three. In the evening they returned, with a declaration, that they could not agree. The Chief Judge, with some asperity, ordered them to take the papers and go out again; they continued in deliberation through the whole night. Thursday morning they came in again, declaring their unanimous agreement, that the judgment obtained the preceding year was in nothing erroneous. Thus have we gained our Cause, after trials of such expectation and severity. We rejoice greatly. It is the Lord's doings, and marvellous in our eyes."

Mr. Murray continued uniformly to devote the summer months to his multiplied adherents, from Maryland to New-Hampshire; in what manner, is copiously described in his Letters and Sketches of Sermons. In the February of 1783, we find the Preacher, as usual, deeply interested in the cause of his Great Master, and suggesting, in a letter to his friend and fellow-labourer, Mr. Noah Parker, the propriety of an annual meeting of the heralds of redemption; his words are: "Indeed it would gladden my heart, if every one who stands forth a public witness of the truth as it is in Jesus, could have an opportunity of seeing and conversing one with another, at least once every year. I believe it would be attended with very good effects. Think of it, my friend, and let me know the result of your deliberation. I think these servants of the Most High might assemble one year at Norwich, one year at Boston, and another at Portsmouth, or wherever it may be most convenient. I have long contemplated an association of this description; and the longer I deliberate, the more I am convinced of the utility which would be annexed to the regulation." In the September of 1785, the Preacher, writing to the same friend, thus expresses himself: "Although very much indisposed, I am commencing a journey to Oxford, where I expect to meet a number of our religious brethren, from different towns, in which the gospel has been preached and believed, for the purpose of deliberating upon some plan, to defeat the designs of our enemies, who aim at robbing us of the liberty, wherewith the