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Many of Mr. Adams' sermons were printed. I have a number of them before me. Among them is one delivered at Lexington in 1783 on the aniversa

ry of the 19th of April, and an election sermon delivered in 1782 when John Hancock was Governor. With this his Excellency was so much pleased that he presented Mr. Adams with an elegant black suit.

He gave the Dudleian lecture on Presbyterian Ordination in 1794. This performance was highly commended by the President of the University, but it did not appear in print. His sermons were well suited to the times in which he lived, but are not calculated to excite much interest at the present day.

Mr. Adams received a settlement of £ 200 with a piece of ministerial land (which furnished him with wood) and a salary of only £ 80 a year. With little beside he brought up a family of ten children, gave two of them a college education, and though his house was ever open, left an estate valued at 6000 dollars. Such was the economy of olden time.

The personal appearance of Mr. A. was imposing. His frame was large and noble. According to the fashion of his day, he was equipped with a white bush wig of no small dimensions and a three cornered cocked up hat. He moreover wielded a stout walking cane. No wonder it was said of him that he carried a great presence.'-I should feel that I had left this memoir in a half finished state and had done injustice to the memory of Mr. Adams, if I did not present the reader with the character

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REV. ZABDIEL ADAMS.

205

of him as drawn by those who knew him more or less intimately.

In a notice written about the time of his death, but never printed, it is said,

"Few clerical characters have obtained so much celebrity as Mr. Adams. Few indeed have like pretensions to popularity, for it is very uncommon to find united in the same person so much learning, literary taste, and genius. In his intercourse with the world no man had clearer hands. Integrity, candour, and sincerity shone so conspicuous in every part of his behaviour that even his enemies, (if he had any,) must allow he possessed them in an eminent degree. Free and hospitable in his disposition, he received and entertained his friends with cordial satisfaction, and met the face of the stranger with gentle greetings. He sustained a long and painful illness with perfect resignation. He waited the approach of that important hour, which was to decide his future hopes, with noble constancy, and, at the age of 62, closed an useful and honorable life to join the band of kindred spirits in the heavenly world.”

Dr. Thayer of Lancaster in a letter writes, after observing that he entered the ministry towards the latter part of Mr. Adams' life and had not an opportunity of an intimate intercourse with him,

"My recollections of Mr. Adams are highly respectful. I knew him to be one of the most acceptable preachers in this quarter, and that there were peculiarities in his disposition and character which greatly interested all who had an acquaintance with him."

Dr. Bancroft of Worcester in a letter writes, "Mr. Adams was distinguished among the congregational ministers of his day. His mind was cultivated, and his compositions for the period polished. He embraced, generally speaking, Arminian views respecting Christian doctrine. He was liberal in his christian—ready and communicative in his

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social intercourse." In his pulpit performances" often he was bold, lofty, and impressive, sometimes weak and nninteresting. In delivery he differed as much as in his composition. Both depended on the state of his feelings. In manners he was unreserved sometimes rough.-Mr. Adams warmly espoused the prerogatives of the Pastoral office. He was conversant with the general affairs of the Church, and often appeared before Ecclesiastical Councils as an advocate for a party in the controversy.

Mr. Adams was a faithful Parish Minister. His pastoral influence was great, and exercised for the good of the people of his charge. At his death he left his society in a state of peace, union, and strength. They subsequently fell into division and disorder."

The funeral discourse of Mr. Whitney of Shirley, who lived on terms of intimacy with Mr. Adams for more than forty years,contains the following,

"The God of nature furnished him with strong and vigorous powers of mind, which were enlarged by a public education and strengthened by application and study, which soon quali fied him to make a conspicuous figure as a minister of the Gospel. He was distinguished as a scholar at college; and retained his classical learning in a good degree to the latter part of his life. He had a taste for the arts and sciences in general, and in the most of them made very laudable proficiency.. 'He was a man of knowledge, and understanding was found in him.' * * * His religion was substantial, not tainted with superstition, nor clouded with enthusiasm, which he always detested; believing where enthusiasm prevailed, the substance and life of religion would soon be lost. For several years before his death, he had a prevailing apprehension that his departure was at hand, and he frequently mentioned it to his friends, with calmness and composure of mind, alledging that he was worn out in the hard service of the ministry; and someitmes would add 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith."

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REV. ŽABDIEL ADAMS.

207

The foliowing is from the pen of President Allen, the author of the American Biographical Dictionary. Whether he personally knew Mr. A. or not, I am unable to say:

"Mr. Adams was eminent as a preacher of the Gospel, often explaining the most important doctrines in a rational and scriptural manner, and enforcing them with plainness and pungency. His language was nervous; and while in his public performances he gave instruction, he also imparted pleasure. In his addresses to the throne of grace, he was remarkable for pertinency of thought and readiness of utterance. Though by bodily constitution he was liable to irritation, yet he treasured no ill-will in his bosom. Ilis heart was easily touched by the afflictions of others, and his sympathy and benevolence prompted him to administer relief when in his power."

Such are the life and character of the Rev. Mr. Adams of Lunenburg. Truly he may be numbered among those honored in their generations and the glory of their times.'

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