Mr. Hooker
The Reverend THOMAS HOOKER, the first minister of Cambridge, and the father
of the colony, as well as of the churches, of Connecticut, was born at Marfield,
in Leicestershire, in 1586. He was educated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, in
England, where he was afterwards promoted to a fellowship, in which office “he
acquitted himself with such ability and faithfulness, as commanded universal
approbation and applause.” Upon his leaving the University, he preached
occasionally for some time in London; till, at length, in 1626, he was chosen
Lecturer at Chelmsford. Here he preached, with great success, for several years,
and was so well beloved by the neighbouring clergy, that, when the Bishop of
London silenced him for Nonconformity, forty-seven of them signed a petition
in his favour, testifying, That Mr. Hooker was orthodox in doctrine, honest
and sober in his life and conversation, of a peaceable disposition, and no ways
turbulent or factious. But this petition had no effect on the imperious and
inexorable Laud. Mr. Hooker was constrained to lay down his ministry; and he
set up a Grammar School at a village in the neighbourhood of Chelmsford. At
the next visitation, however, he was cited by the Bishop to appear before the
High Commission Court. Thus cruelly persecuted, he absconded, and went to Holland,
where he lived two or three years, preaching sometimes at Delft, and sometimes
at Rotterdam.
In 1633, he came to New-England; (83) and, though
he had been “ordained presbyter by a bishop in England,” he was ordained
“then again by the brethren at New-Town.” (84)
He was a man of “the most exemplary piety, self-denial, patience, and goodness.
In his day, he was one of the most animated and powerful preachers in New England.
In his sermons, he was searching, experimental, and practical.” In disputation
he was eminent. During his residence in Holland, he became intimately acquainted
with the celebrated Dr. Ames, author of Medulla Theologiae, who declared, that
“though he had been acquainted with many scholars, of divers nations, yet
he never met with Mr. Hooker’s equal, either for preaching, or for disputing.”
(85) In prayer he excelled. “In conversation
he was pleasant and entertaining, but always grave. He was exceedingly prudent
in the management of church discipline. He was affable, condescending, and charitable;
yet his appearance and conduct were with such becoming majesty, authority, and
prudence, that he could do more with a word, or a look, than other men could
do with a severe discipline.” It was not uncommon for him to give away
five or ten pounds, at a time, to persons in indigence. He died of an epidemical
fever, July 7, 1647, aetat. LXII. “He had for many years enjoyed a comfortable
assurance of his renewed estate, and when dying said, I am going to receive
mercy. He closed his own eyes, and appeared to die with a smile on his countenance.
(86) He published, in his life time, several practical
treatises; and his friends, after his death, published several of his sermons,
which were well received. “Mr. Hooker’s books (says a contemporary
writer) are of great request among the faithful people of Christ.” His
principal work, entitled, “A Survey of the summe of Church-Discipline,”
was transcribed “under the eye and exact review of the eminently accomplisht
author himselfe,” and sent over to be published in England, about a year
before his death. “But it was then buried,” says Dr. Goodwin, “in
the rude waves of the vast ocean, with many precious saints on their passage
hither.” Another copy of it, however, was sent to England, and published
in 1648, under the inspection of the celebrated Dr. Thomas Goodwin, (a member
of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and some time President of Magdalen
College in Oxford) who says, “As touching this Treatise and the worthy
author of it, to preface any thing, by commendation of either were to lay paint
upon burnished marble, or add light unto the sun. There is no inscription on
Mr. Hooker’s tombstone. An historian, (87)
who, in general, is not entitled to credence, says truly: “The tomb of
Mr. Hooker is viewed with great reverence.”
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