Phillips Family Papers Box 1

Phillips

Rev. Samuel Phillips of South Andover was the son of Samuel Phillips Goldsmith, of Salem. He was born at Salem Feb. 17, 1690; graduating Harvard College 1708. began to preach at South Andover April 1710 ordained Oct. 17 1711; Married Miss Hannah White of Haverhill Jan. 1712. He died June 5. 1771 in the 82d year of his age and 62nd of his ministry. Many of his sermons are still preserved in the family. He preached the Act. Election Sermon in 1741 and the Election Sermon 1750. The manuscripts copy of which I have found within a few years, also a series of almanacswith his notes, of the years 1740 to '44. Abbots History of Andover says "Mr Phillips was endowed with good powers of mind, and was a diligent, youthfull and useful minister. He early acquired the habit of order industry and economy in the management of all his affairs, by which he was able to accomplish much and obtain his objects. Though he sacredly devoted a tenth of his income to pious and charitable purposes, and his salary was small, yet he educated his family, liberally and accumulated a large estate. In his opinions he was a Calvinist of the old school. His labours in the pulpit were protracted beyond what is usual at the present day. His hour glass was turned at the commencement of his sermon and the last sand ran out before its conclusion. It was his practice to call at every house in his parish at least once a year, and he often carried Madam with him on these parochial visits. They usually rode together on the same horse according to the custom of the time.

Mrs Phillips died Jan 11. 1773 in the 82 year of her age. They had five children - viz Mary, Samuel, Lydia,

John & William.

signed Samuel Phillips the signature I sent to Dr Bond of Phila

From Rev Samuel Phillips of Andover to his son William while he was with Mr Bromfield.

[Ando]: July 6th,1741 Dear Child,

I am glad and thankful that the work of God is still going on in Boston and to find that you are so well disposed & determined; and whereas you desire some directions from me I know not what better to give you than yt of our Lord & Saviour to his Disciples which if you headfully observe you shall do well viz., watch and pray: _ O be not confident of your own strength nor have any dependence on your own present zeal and Resolution but be jealous over yr self and let your jealously excite you to watch, lest you by any means whatever be overcome either to omit or trifle in Religious Duty. Probably you are sometimes ready to think, that you shall never draw back from, or become sluggish in the service of so good a master: but alas! how many have that as you do and yet have soon left their first love, for being pleased with their own zeal as tho sufficient, they have not taken a due care to preserve it, and so it has gradually languishd & come to little: I tell you there is no preserving this Holy fire but by continuall watchfullness & fervent prayer _ and as you may not have any dependance on your own zeal and strength and Resolution, so neither on the ordinances of God in themselves considered nor upon your own attendance on ye same; No indeed, but Renounce your own Righteousness and be willing to be beholden to Christ for Righteousness that you may be justified; Learn I say, to go out of your self more & more, and to live by Faith in ye Son of God_ And if at any time, you find your self almost Discourag'd because you think God does not hear your Prayers, then remember that God is trying your affection towards him, and whether you Love him for what he is, as well for what he has, and whether you are determined to follow hard after him, whatever be the event of it: Also bear in mind that not only Religion, but even civility and good manners teach you to wait on your Superiors, and especially on yr great Creator & Redeemer

until he shall see meet to answer your requests; O do not go about to limit the Holy One of Israel either as to the time or the manner of his fulfilling your desiers, but hope and quietly wait for his Salvation, for he is ever good the soul that seeketh him and if he answers you not in the letter so as to give you the particular thing which you ask of him, yet he will answer you in that which is better; yea and he will grant you your particular request provided it shall be best for you; that is to say, when he has prepard you for a thankful reception & a fruitfull improvement of the same, wherefore to use the words of the Pslamist (in Psalm 27 ult.) wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen they heart: wait I say on the Lord _ Thus child be very humble diligent and patient in your seeking to and waiting for the Lord _ and let love be the principal you act from, I dont mean self love, or a desier meerly & only to obtain peace and comfort hear & happiness heareafter; much less a carnel self love or a desier after the pleasures of the profits or the honours of this world. No not a thirst after the approbation of good men, and to be reputed such your self for applause sake, which is no other than self seeking and quite inconsistent with a spurit of self denial yea it is exactly the temper of carnel hearts for the pleasing of themselves is their highest end. This disposition therefore, as soon as ever you discern it, you must subdue and mortify and instead thereof let it be your utmost endeavour always to propose the pleasing the glorifying and the finding acceptance with God as your highest aim, and by so doing, you shall live not to your self, but to him that dyed for us and rose again _ And in a word as you would proceed to purpose, in the Christian course you must fix it in your mind as a maxim which you will stand and abide by, and which is indeed worthy of all acceptations viz. that to live unto God is both the business and Happiness of man, for it must needs be your proper busness to live unto him in whom you live and move and have your being: