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                      BIOGRAPHY OF REV. HOSEA BALLOU.

                           BY HIS YOUNGEST SON,

                            MATURIN M. BALLOU.


     "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was
     strong in faith, giving glory to God: and being fully persuaded
     that what he had promised he was able also to perform."


    BOSTON:
    PUBLISHED BY ABEL TOMPKINS.
    1852.

    Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1852, by
                         ABEL TOMPKINS,
    In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of
                         Massachusetts.

    STEREOTYPED BY
    HOBART & ROBBINS,
    NEW ENGLAND TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDERY,
    BOSTON.


                           TO THE
                 SECOND UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY
                         OF BOSTON,
    THIS BIOGRAPHY OF THEIR LATE PASTOR IS RESPECTFULLY
                         Dedicated,
                  BY THEIR HUMBLE SERVANT,
                         THE AUTHOR.


[Illustration: Portrait of REV. HOSEA BALLOU, Engraved by H. W. Smith]




AUTHOR'S PREFACE.


To say that the author experiences a degree of diffidence in writing
upon the theme and subject of these pages, would but inadequately
express his true feelings on taking up the pen for this object. But he
does it with a purpose of strict adherence to facts, nor will any matter
be suppressed or one iota added to the truth. No one who shall read a
dozen pages herein relating to the early life of Rev. Hosea Ballou, but
will at once acquit the author of any false pride as it regards
chronicling the events and circumstances of the subject's life. He is
most happy to state the facts literally, and he is satisfied as to the
verdict that every unprejudiced mind will render.

It may be said that a son cannot write a faithful history of a
parent--that such a production must needs be partial,--though we have
numerous instances of the contrary. To such an objection the writer
would reply, that there is but one side to truth, and it is this, and
this only, that the reader will find in these pages. He offers no
labored extenuation or defence,--there are no circumstances that require
it; no appeal or pleading for a verdict of acquittal,--for there are no
charges to refute; but he gives a simple, unvarnished biography of a
true Christian and a faithful disciple of the gospel, whose whole life,
even from earliest youth, has been a beautiful and consistent tribute to
truth. For some time previous to the decease of the subject of this
biography the author contemplated the present work, and for this purpose
has, at various times, kept minutes relative to dates of his father's
movements; and he has also been briefly assisted by memoranda and short
articles from his father's pen, which are embodied herein, relative to
his feelings concerning himself and his doctrine. The framework, so to
speak, of the book, has therefore been in hand for a considerable
period; and the placing of it in a proper form for the printer has been
all the author has attempted since the death of his respected father.

M. M. Ballou.

_Boston, Sept., 1852._




CONTENTS.


    CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY                                         9

    CHAPTER II. BIRTH AND PARENTAGE                                14

    CHAPTER III. EARLY LIFE                                        22

    CHAPTER IV. BECOMES A PROFESSOR OF RELIGION                    38

    CHAPTER V. COMMENCES TO PREACH                                 52

    CHAPTER VI. BECOMES A SETTLED MINISTER                         64

    CHAPTER VII. REMOVES TO PORTSMOUTH, N. H.                      89

    CHAPTER VIII. SETTLES IN BOSTON                               103

    CHAPTER IX. COMMENCES THE UNIVERSALIST MAGAZINE               120

    CHAPTER X. COMMENCES THE UNIVERSALIST EXPOSITOR               136

    CHAPTER XI. DOMESTIC AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS             173

    CHAPTER XII. MR. BALLOU AS A CONTROVERSIALIST                 231

    CHAPTER XIII. SPIRIT OF HIS DOCTRINE                          