Loading...
Larger font
Smaller font
Copy
Print
Contents

The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

 - Contents
  • Results
  • Related
  • Featured
No results found for: "".
  • Weighted Relevancy
  • Content Sequence
  • Relevancy
  • Earliest First
  • Latest First
    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents

    V. Governor Dudley-Premillennialist Student of Prophecy

    JOSEPH DUDLEY (1647-1720), chief justice of New York and second governor of Massachusetts, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. In 1665 he graduated from Harvard with the intention of becoming a minister, but soon turned to politics. He was, however, a Christian scholar and philosopher. In 1673 he was made a member of the Massachusetts General Court, representing Roxbury. And in 1682 he was sent to England with John Richards to prevent the threatened repeal of the Massachusetts charter. He also served as censor of the press.PFF3 158.3

    Dudley was appointed president of the territory of New England-Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island-for a few months in 1686, and was then named judge of the Superior Court in 1687, and in 1691-92 was chief justice of New York. Next for eight years he served as lieutenant governor of the Isle of Wight, and was finally appointed governor of Massachusetts, from 1702 to 1715. While pursuing his official career, Dudley began the investigation of the millennium and the approaching end of the age, his interest being aroused by Ezekiel Cheever, the schoolmaster. Cotton Mather dedicated to his friend Governor Dudley the manuscript written in 1703 to Nicholas Noyes. Mather says:PFF3 158.4

    “May it please your Excellency. It gave me an uncommon satisfaction, when I was informed, That a person of so much Erudition & Sagacity, & such superiour Sentiments, as your Excellency, has upon the Encouragement of One of the Greatest Literators in the Age, applied his mind unto the study of those Divine Prophecies, which concern the Kingdome of God, that is to arrive, when His Will is to be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven.... I have had the Honour of Engaging Two Governours, that were men of Learning, to subscribe unto my sentiments.” 51Cotton Mather, “An Essay Concerning the Happy State Expected for the Church upon Earth,” pp. i, ii.PFF3 159.1

    The winning of two governors to the premillennial view is indeed a significant achievement for Cotton Mather.PFF3 159.2

    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents