The record continues: "And those of the persons aboue said, which were not baptized in their infancy, were baptized att their admission and that we make one Rule to go by in that thing."

We give the foregoing "Creed and Confession of Faith," entire, for the purpose of showing something of the state of dogmatic theology at that day, as held by the first generation from the Pilgrims; and also for the purpose of illustrating the literature of that age and the ability of the writer of them, the Rev. Isaac Cushman.

At the time of his ordination as Pastor at Plympton, he was in the prime of life, (about fifty years of age,) and we may therefore suppose his maturest judgment and best thoughts were called into requisition in the preparation of that Creed and Confession of Faith.

And it is a curious historical fact that that Creed and Covenant are precisely the same that are now used by the Congregational Church at Plympton. In the year 1793, under the ministry of Rev. Ezra Sampson, it was changed, and its ultra-calvinism somewhat modified. But in the year 1808, the original, as prepared by our ancestor, was again adopted and has since remained unchanged. Stability must certainly be a marked characteristic of the people of Plympton.

On Sunday the 27th of Nov., 1698, the Deacons of this new church were ordained, and the first sacrament was administered by their recently ordained Pastor, on the 4th day of December, 1698.

"gath

For a period of nearly thirty-seven years, until he was ered to his fathers," he continued in the ministry at Plympton; though it is probable that he became infirm and superannuated during the latter years of his life, as a colleague was ordained over his church about a year before his death.

Of his talents as a preacher we know but little. sermons were ever printed, so far as we can learn,

None of his

and none of

them in manuscript are now extant. But "judging the tree by its fruit," we must place him among the most useful and valuable members of his profession.

During his ministry of thirty-seven years, two hundred and

forty-seven persons became members of his church, viz: 103 females and 144 males, - averaging nearly seven per annum. In a small and sparsely settled community like that, a church so numerous shows very conclusively the deeply prevailing religious sentiment of the people, and the faithful and unremitting labors of its Pastor.

He solemnized during his ministry 144 marriages. The number of children baptized is not stated; but from the fact that in a few cases the children of parents who were church members that were not baptized, were recorded, we may infer that it was a universal custom for all children of members of the church, at an early day after their birth, to receive that initiatory ceremonial of the Pilgrim church.

An example of the foregoing is found on page 14 of the Plymouth Church Records: "Memorandum, that Israel Maye, son

of Dorkas Maye hath not been paptized here."

A few of the last pages of the Plympton Church Records contain a history of that church and its ministers, written by Dea. Lewis Bradford. Speaking of Rev. Isaac Cushman, it says: "He was a pious and godly man. He had not a college education. He used to preach without notes, but studied his sermons beforehand and committed them to memory. It is said that those who worked with him could generally tell where his text would be the Sabbath following. I have heard my grandfather, Gideon Bradford, Esq., say that when the Rev. Mr. Cushman met with children or youth, he had always something to say to them of a religious nature, and at parting, gave them his blessing; that he, himself, had received many a blessing from him.

The Rev. Mr. Cushman, on Sabbath days, instead of a wig, used to wear a black velvet cap.

'I am indebted to Dea. Bradford, late of Plympton, (a lineal descendant of Gov. Bradford, the second Governor of Plymouth Colony,) whose lamented decease took place so suddenly Aug. 10, 1851, for much genealogical information respecting the Cushmans who settled early in the Old Colony. Mr. B. was killed instantly by being thrown from a wagon in Plympton, on Sunday, as he was about to return home from divine worship, at the age of 83. He had been Town Clerk of Plympton for nearly forty years; a Representative in the Legislature from that town, and was a highly respected and excellent citizen, and a devout member of the Congregational Church at Plympton, of which he was Clerk for many years. He was a most laborious and persevering genealogist and antiquarian. As a friend remarked: "He was the living embodiment of genealogy, having made it almost the business of his life."

His dwelling house, which had what was called a dormon roof, (i. e., a house so constructed that it had a gable-end at each of the four sides, and the rain ran off at the four corners of it,a style of building the best houses, quite common in those days,) stood near the easterly end of a small piece of fresh meadow, the water from which, when it runs, crosse the road about forty rods northward of the Burying Ground in Plympton.1

His salary in the year 1701 was £35, and it was increased from time to time, till in 1728 it was £85 a year, as money was then reckoned.

He died Oct. 21, 1732, in the 84th year of his age, and the 37th of his ministry. He was buried in the burying yard at Plympton, next to the road, about middle way between the north and south end of the yard. He is said to have been a sound Calvinist and a faithful preacher. His memory has been much respected in Plympton.

It was a practice among our fore-fathers, in days of yore, on the occasion of the decease of eminent and good men, to express their feelings, or in other words, to write their obituaries in poetry. It did not always show the greatest degree of artistic skill and excellence, or the highest flights of fancy or imagination. But it suited their purpose and was a part of the literature of the day.

Claiming to be wiser than our ancestors, it may, perhaps, be called "machine poetry" by same poetasters who may not be, possibly, the most perfect judges of poetic excellence.

But if in form their obituary poetry was not always the most superior, the sentiments were always good and true.

The death of Rev. Isaac Cushman received more than ordinary attention from the poets of his day. Two "Poems" and two "Epitaphs" were written respecting him, eulogizing his virtues, his talents and his usefulness, and pointing out the moral and the improvement to be derived from their bereavement.

For the purpose of showing the public sentiment respecting the

1 He owned a large farm, extending from the Burying Ground northwardly, on the east side of the present highway, on which his house was located. The land was given to him by his father's Will, "on both sides of Colchester Brook," and was afterwards owned and occupied by his brother Thomas.

character of Rev. Mr. Cushman, and a specimen of the literature of that age, we insert these Poems and Epitaphs.

The first was printed on a large sheet, and a copy of it is now extant. A copy of the second was furnished by Dea. Lewis Bradford of Plympton, who remarked that "it was probably writ ten shortly after his death."

A POEM

In memory of that Pious Servant and Faithful Minister of Jesus Christ,

MR. ISAAC CUSHMAN,

First Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Plympton, who deceased October 22d, 1732, in the Eighty-Fourth year of his age, and in the Thirty-Seventh of his Ministry.

The Scriptures say the Righteous Man shall be,
Retain'd in Everlasting Memory.1

In duty then my Muse her Tribute brings,

And with grave Air's in faultering accents Sings.
Essays to speak a word of this great Saint,
Whose real worth she hath not skill to paint;
Adores the Author of that special Grace,
That rul'd his Soul, that beautify'd his Face.
The Grace of God possess'd his Soul while Young,
And heavenly Gifts gave him the learned Tongue.2
That those which in the Pulpit have him seen,
Did well conclude he'd much with Jesus been.3
His Doctrine pure and powerful annexed,
His Life a commentary on the Text.
His Conversation affable and meek,

And sav'ry was each Word that he did speak.
But Ah! the Prophets do not live for aye,
But rise and shine awhile, and then decay.
The time draws near that Isaac he must die,
Advanc'd in years, advanc'd in Graces high.
In Old Age brings forth fruit, and shineth bright,
And thereby shews that God is still upright.
Through many Trials and Temptations passed,
His Taper burning bright until the last.
Thus liv'd this precious Saint, and thus he dy'd,
In faith, and love of Christ, and free from pride.
Translated now hath left to us behind,

A bright Example for each pious Mind.
He is ascended now to God on High,

And dwells in Light beyond the azure Sky.
Methinks I see him bow at Jesus' feet,

And cast his Crown as in a rapture sweet.

Acknowledging 'twas free and sov'reign Grace,
Which did prepare his Soul for that blessed place:
Where Trees of Life by living Riv'lets teem,'
Under whose shade he sings the blessed Theme,
Of Praises unto God, and to the Lamb,
With Angels, and with faithful Abraham,

Where we with him leave, beyond Temptation's shock,
And turn to speak of his bereav'd Flock.

Lift up your Eyes, and bless your Shepherd Great,
Who did provide for this your low Estate:

That He who walks amidst the Candlesticks,

In this your Orb another light did fix.

Before your Sun went down this Star* did rise:
Whom God preserve, and make faithful and wise.
And let the Spirit of his ascended Father
Descend on him,-nay, let much rather,
The Spirit of Christ in his soul richly Dwell,
That he in Gifts and Graces may excel.
Yet know you've lost a Father and a Friend,
Who while he liv'd was daily wont to send,
Up fervent Prayers unto the Throne of Grace,
For special Blessings on you and your Race:
Who's stock of Prayers fill'd up before the Lord,
May blessings yet unto your Soul afford.
Who can forbear the Prophets mournful cry,3
Who sees your Strength and Glory thus to fly,
Deeply bewail this holy Hand of God,

And walk submissively under the Rod.

The Lord preserve your Church and Town in Peace,
And heal your Breaches that you may increase.

And grant by Grace you may prepared be,

To meet your Pastor in felicity.