ing a present of many valuable books. This devout man also gave much alms to the people. He possessed an estate beyond any of his brethren; but he always devoted a tenth part of his income to piious and charitable uses.

It pleased the Lord of life to bless him with health, as well as other means of enjoyment. He lived to a good old age; and preached to his people the evening he had arrived at fourscore years. The next Sabbath he was seized with a paralytical complaint, which confined him some months, and he died, June 27th, 1769, in the 81st year of his age.

The Dr. published a number of funeral sermons. One on the death of Wait Winthrop, esq. 1717; king George 1st, 1727; on pres. Wadsworth, 1787; on sec'y. Willard, 1756. He printed like. wise the election sermon, 1724; and a discourse on Rev. v. 11, 12, 1745.

SHARPE THOMAS, one of the first planters, was chosen assistant, Oct. 20, 1629, and is the sixth member who joined in forming the congregational church of Boston and Charlestown. He could not reside long in New England, as we do not find his name among the assistants, who held their court in Boston, October, in the year 1630. He was present at the first court held on board the brig Arabella, August 23, when the question was decided how the minister should be maintained? And also the second court, held at Charlestown, Sept. 7th.

SHEPARD THOMAS, pastor of the church in Cambridge, New England, was educated at Emanuel College, university of Cambridge, Great Britain, and was one of the nonconforming ministers who were silenced by the arbitrary measures of archbishop Laud. He came over to New England in 1635; and succeeded Mr. Hooker, who exchanged his place of abode from Newton as it was then called, to Hartford, a settlement upon Connecticut river.

Mr. S. died in 1649, in the 44th year of his age.

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He was a pattern of piety, industry and evangelical preaching. He was esteemed by his cotemporaries among the first divines in New England, and his works are now read with sacred delight by many serious people. His publications were both doctrinal and practical. His treatise upon the morality of the sabbath" is very learned and judicious. It is a rare book, but still preserved in some libraries; he also wrote a book upon the matter of the visible church," and another upon the church membership of little children." He printed, besides these, a letter under the title of New England's lamentation for Old England's errors." His practical treatises are a sermon upon drunkenness;" a sermon on " subjection to Christ;" on "ineffectual hearing of the word." "The sincere convert," a larger treatise, which passed through four editions in London; "the sound believer," a book often printed in America, to these we add, an explanation of "the parable of the ten virgins,” which work he prepared, and it was printed after his death. The great president Edwards makes free use of this book in his "treatise on the affections."

SHEPARD THOMAS, minister of the church in Charlestown, was the eldest son of Mr. Shepard of Cambridge, was graduated 1653, at Harvard College, was a fellow of the college, and died Dec. 22, 1677, of the small pox, etat. 43.

To give posterity the knowledge of him Dr. Mather brings the engravings on his tomb-stone, also the testimony of president Oakes who delivered an elegant latin oration the ensuing commencement, in which he says, Amisimus, Amisimus, memoratisimum illum virum, reverendissimum Thomam Shepardam respublica civem optimum, Ecclesia, theologum clarissimum, academia non filium tantum, et alumnum charissimum, sed curatorem etiam vigilantissimum; municipium scholasticum, Socium suum primarium, amiserunt."

The third testimony of his fame, is his own election sermon, 1672, where the reader will see so 'much wisdom, learning, and faithfulness "constellated," that he will pronounce the author to be a 'man of first rate talents.

SHEPARD SAMUEL, pastor of the church in Rowley, was the second son of Mr. S. of Cambridge. He was graduated at Harvard College, 1658, ordained about 1662, and died 1668, etat 27.

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The celebrated Mr. Mitchell wrote his character in these words. He was a precious, holy, meditating, able, choice young man. One of the first three. He was an excellent preacher, most dearly beloved at Rowley. The people would have plucked out their eyes to have saved his life. But he was ripe for heaven, and God took him thither."

SHEPARD JEREMIAH, pastor of the church at Lynn, was the third son of Mr. S. of Cambridge. 'He was graduated at Harvard College, 1669, and ordained in 1679. He lived to be much older than This brothers: was a minister at Lynn, 41 years, and 'died June 2, 1720, etat. 72. The three brothers are recorded in the Magnalia, as three excellent ministers, which the author thinks to be something better than to have three orators like the Curii at Rome."

SHEPARD THOMAS, the only son of Mr. Shep ard of Charlestown, and his successor in the minis. try, was graduated at Harvard College, 1676. The people of Charlestown invited him to the place of his father, as he resembled him in all his virtués, ""nullum unquam monumentum clarius, relinque. re potuit, quam effigiem, morum suarum, virtutis, constantiæ, pietatis ingenii filium." These lines which Tully writes concerning S. Sulpicius, have been applied to Mr. Shepard of Charlestown. The last of the three died younger than his father or grandfather. They died when they were turned of 40. This excellent young man, died when he was only in the 27th year of his age. He seemed to

have some premonition of his dissolution, and preached 18, sermons on Eccles, xii. 5. 66 Man goeth to his long home." He.did not publish any of his writings, but he left for the benefit of others the perfume of his name, and the lustre of his example.

SHERMAN JOHN, a great divine and eminent mathematician, was born at Dedham, Dec. 26, 1613, and received his first impressions of religion under the ministry of the famous John Rogers, At school he discovered uncommon industry and ingenuity, and at an early age went to the university, of Cambridge. He did not receive his degree, be. cause he could not subscribe the articles required, preferring the name of puritan to the literary honours he might have by conforming to the church of England. He came to America in the year 1634, and preached his first sermon at Watertown, as an assistant to Mr. Phillips. Having continued some time with this people, he then removed to New Haven, and preached occasionally as he was invited by people in their several towns. Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone once declared in an assembly of divines, "Brethren, we must take heed to ourselves and our ministry, or this young man will outdo us all." He declined settling at Milford where he had a call, and went into civil life. For some time he was a mag istrate of the colony. He was persuaded, however, to put off his robes of office, when the people of Watertown, after the death of Mr. Phillips, gave him an invitation to be his successor. At the same མལ་ time one of the Boston churches expressed a desire that he would settle with them, and he received a letter from London making a similar request. He accepted the call from Watertown, and for many years they rejoiced in his light. He was also a great blessing to the college. He was chosen fellow of the corporation, and delivered lectures which most of the students attended. Being a first rate scholar, an accomplished preacher, they were willing once a

fortnight to walk a few miles to hear him.

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For die 30 years he continued these lectures and drew ma- sen ny hearers from other towns in the vicinity. He wa improved his great intellectual abilities by a close attention to his studies. Dr. Mather says he was undoubtedly" one of the greatest mathematicians that ever lived in this hemisphere of the world." He left many astronomical calculations in mss. For some years he published an almanack, and always added pious reflections. This is one of them. Let me entreat one thing of thee and I will adventure to promise thee a good year: the request is in itself reasonable, and may be to thee eternally profitable. Its only this: duly to prize, and diligently improve time, for obtaining the blessed end it was given for, and is yet graciously continued to thee, by the eternal God. Of 365 days, allowed by the making up of this year, which shall be thy last, thou knowest not; but that any of them may be it, then oughtest thou to know, and so consider, that thou mayest pass the time of thy sojourning here with

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Mr. Sherman married twice, and had 26 children, twenty by the last, she lived his widow some years. The last sermon he preached was at Sudbury-He was there taken sick and died at Watertown, Aug. 8, 1685, aged 72. Magnalia.

SHERMAN ROGER, was born at Newtown, April 19, 1721. His first ancestor in this country was John Sherman, who came from Dedham in England and settled at Watertown, 1635. His son John was the father of William, who was the father of the gentleman, the present subject of our notice. R. Sherman removed from Massachusetts to Milford, Connecticut, about the year 1741. He was admitted to the bar, as a counsellor of law in 1754, and made a figure in his profession, though he had never been bred to the law, or had the advantages of an academical education. The resources of his own mind were very great, and he pursued his stu

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