IV. Governor Stoughton-Antichrist to Be Destroyed at Advent

WILLIAM STOUGHTON (1632-1701), Massachusetts justice and colonial governor, was born in England, but was brought to America in infancy. Graduating from Harvard with an M.A. in 1650, he went to Oxford to study theology. He preached a while, but returned to New England in 1662, becoming a noted preacher but declining a settled charge. His wealth, talent, learning, dignity, and public spirit won him a large measure of public confidence.” ^{48Moses C. Tyler, A History of American Literature During the Colonial Time, vol. 2, p. 161.} He held all the great offices of the commonwealth. He became a member of the Council, then a justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts. In 1692 he was made chief justice of the Special Tribunal for the fatal witchcraft trials. Departing from his usual cool judgment, he “became a protagonist among the persecutors.” ^{49Ibid., p. 162.} In the same year he was appointed lieutenant governor (1692-1701), which post he held till death; and was acting governor for a time. ^{50Dictionary of American Biography, vol. 18, art. “William Stoughton”; Frederick L. Weis, The Colonial Clergy and the Colonial Chun lies of New England, p. 196.} He was a friend of Governor Joseph Dudley, likewise interested in prophecy. (Stoughton’s portrait appears on page 34.)PFF3 107.3

Stoughton once said, “God sifted a whole nation that He [might] send His choice grain over into this wilderness.” ^{51William Stoughton, New-England’s True Interest, p. 19.} Though not in the regular ministry, in 1668 he preached a remarkable election sermon, ^{52Election sermons, it should be noted, were established by appointment of the governor and his assistants. By Charter of 1691 the last Wednesday of May was specified as annual election day, with a sermon before the legislative body as the order of the day. These sermons had wide circulation and frequently contained prophetic exposition or allusion. The first provincial Congress of 1774 gratefully acknowledged obligation to these preachers as friends of civil and religious liberty. See Justin Winsor, editor, The Memorial History of Boston, vol. 2, p. 247.} New-Englands True Interest; Not to Lie, from which we quote:PFF3 108.1

“It is not long before the Lord will finish his great works in the world: Antichrist shall be destroyed, Israel shall be saved, Zion shall be redeemed with judgement.. and her converts with righteousness; though the Lord bear long with his Elect, yet he will avenge them speedily. That he bears long, hath been already fulfilled; what remains therefore to be accomplished, but only that now he avenge them speedily? ... Yet a little while and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Blessed are they that wait for, and can abide the day of his coming. Shall we lose our share in those times of refreshment which are so near to come?” ^{53Stoughton, op. cit., pp. 32, 33.}PFF3 108.2