ROGERENE WRITINGS.
The following works of John Rogers, Sr., are most of them still extant, although copies are very rare and command high prices. The locality of copies known to the author of this history will be found indicated:—
1. “An Epistle to the Church Called Quakers. New York. Printed by William Bradford, 1705.”
2. “An Epistle to the Seventh Day Baptists,”—date unknown.
3. “Treatise on Divorce.”
Copy of each of the above owned by H. Eugene Bolles of Boston.
4. “An Epistle Sent from God to the World, Containing the Best News that ever the World Heard. Transcribed by John Rogers, a Servant of Jesus Christ.” The first edition must have been printed in the author’s lifetime. The edition from which this title was obtained was “printed in New York for Elisha Stanbury, 1757. 8vo. pp. 25.” We know not if this work is still extant.
5. “John Rogers, a Servant of Jesus Christ, to any of the Flock scattered Throughout New England.”
We know not at what date in the author’s lifetime above work was published. The edition noted by Sabin (Dictionary of Books relating to America) was “Printed by James Franklin, at the Printing Office under the Town School, 1754. 12 mo. pp. 79.” A copy of this work is to be found in Yale College Library, “3rd edition, Newport, 1754.” A copy of same, owned by H. Eugene Bolles of Boston, was published in Norwich, Conn., 1776, and was the 4th edition.
6. “A Midnight Cry from the Temple of God to the Ten Virgins,” printed by William Bradford, supposedly in 1705 and probably at New York. A copy of this work is in Yale College Library. A copy is also owned by H. Eugene Bolles,—title-page lacking.
7. “Concerning the Two Ministrations, by John Rogers, a Servant of Jesus Christ.” A copy owned by H. Eugene Bolles,—title-page and date lacking.
8. “Description of the True Shepherd, As Also Concerning Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, Norwich, 1776, 4th Edition.” A copy owned by H. Eugene Bolles.
9. “Concerning the Ministration of the Law, and the Gospel, Concerning Swearing and Concerning God’s Visitation by Sickness.” Copy owned by H. Eugene Bolles,—date lacking.
10. “Answer to A Book, by Benj. Wadsworth (the latter entitled ‘The Lord’s Day Proved to be the Christian Sabbath’). Printed for the author, Boston, 1721.”
11. “The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him to show unto his servants things which were to come to pass; and Jesus Christ sent and signified it by his angels to his servant John, and now by revelation hath opened the mystery contained in said book unto his servant John Rogers, who hath explained the same, for the edification and comfort of his Church and People, after a long and dark night of apostacy. The explanation being made so plain that the eye of every spiritual reader may see how exactly things have come to pass, as were foretold by the prophesy of this book, and may see by it all things that are yet to come, not only to the end of this world, but to the finishing of the world to come.” First printed in Boston, 1720. “Second New London edition, printed by Samuel Green, for Henry Watrous and Alexander Rogers, 1817. 12 mo. pp. 248.”
The title of this work is liable to give the impression that the author affects to himself explain the mystery of Revelation; but a perusal of the book shows that not the slightest such attempt is made. The entire work consists in expounding scripture by scripture in the most legitimate and conscientious manner, displaying not only a profound knowledge of the Old and New Testaments, but extreme caution not to advance the slightest personal explanation, supposition or theory. Like every other work of this author, it gives proof of strong, clear and finely balanced logical powers, combined with a plain and concise mode of expression.
The title of the following is from Sabin. We know of no copy extant:—
12. “An Impartial Relation of an Open and Publick Dispute Agreed Between Gurdon Saltonstall, Minister of the Town of New London, and John Rogers of the Same Place. With the Circumstances leading thereto, and the Consequences thereof. As also a relation of the said Gurton Saltonstall’s securing a Judgment of Court of Six Hundred Pounds and Cost of Court against said John Rogers, for saying the said Saltonstall went to wave, shun or shift the said Dispute agreed upon. The Truth of which waving, shunning or shifting is here also evidently demonstrated. By John Rogers. Printed for the Author in the year 1701. sm. 4to. pp. (6) 15.”
Probably printed at New York by William Bradford, or at Philadelphia by Reynier Jansen. Title from Hildeburn’s Issues of the Press in Pennsylvania. (Sabin.)
13. “Treatise on Divorce.” Probably written about 1700. A copy owned by H. Eugene Bolles.
Works of John Rogers, 2d:—
1. That the “Book” which John Rogers, 2d, was accused by the General Court of publishing and selling “up and down the Colony,” while his father was in prison, was written by himself, not by his father, is probable. Its title or its contents are alike unknown to us, not having as yet been discovered in any bibliographic work, by which we judge that no copy or title is extant.
2. In [Part I., Chapter I.], has been seen the account of the scourging inflicted upon John Rogers, 2d, John Bolles, and their companions on occasion of the journey to the meeting at Lebanon in 1725; also the Proclamation which this punishment called forth from Deputy Governor Jenks of Rhode Island. Mr. J. Backus, the justice who was instrumental in securing the enactment of this cruelty, made a reply to Governor Jenks in a pamphlet of thirty-two pages, in which, in a lame and prevaricating manner, he endeavored to justify this outrage. Upon this, John Rogers, 2d, issued a pamphlet, bound with the pamphlet of J. Backus, stating the exact circumstances of the case as opposed to the incorrect statements of the justice, and entitled “A Reply to J. Backus, Esq. (as he calls himself), 1726.” A copy of a book containing the Reply of J. Backus to Governor Jenks and the Reply of J. Bolles to this Reply of J. Backus is owned by H. Eugene Bolles.
3. “Answer To A Book lately written by Peter Pratt, entitled ‘The Prey taken from the Strong,’ Wherein by Mocks and Scoffs, together with a great number of positive Falsehoods, the Author has greatly abused John Rogers, late of New London, deceased, since his death. By John Rogers. Printed in New York for the Author, 1726, and sold at his house in New London. 8 vo. pp. (2) XXII.” Probably printed by William Bradford. A copy owned by Connecticut Historical Society in their Library at Hartford. A copy also owned by H. Eugene Bolles.
4. “An Answer to a Pamphlet (by Cotton Mather) entitled ‘A Monitory Letter about the Maintenance of An Able and Faithful Ministry.’ By John Rogers. New York. 1726.” (Printed by William Bradford, supposedly). A copy of this book is in Yale College Library.
Works by John Bolles still extant:—
A copy of each of the following books, with exception of the eighth, is owned by H. Eugene Bolles of Boston.
1. “Application to the General Court holden in New Haven—1728.” A portion of the ending sentence in above pamphlet is as follows:—
“But we, on our parts, have had the witness of a good conscience towards God in all our sufferings and loss of all these things” (having recounted their persecutions) “and do make it our care to live inoffensively towards all men, except in the case of Daniel, Chap. 6, verse 5.”
2. “Good News from a Far Country.” This is an argument to prove that the Civil Government “have no authority from God to judge in cases of Conscience.”
3. “Answer to An Election Sermon preached by Nathaniel Eels.”
The last two published in one volume at Newport, 1749.
4. “To Worship God in Spirit and In Truth.”
An Answer to same was published by Jacob Johnson (pastor of a church in Groton, Conn.).
5. “Reply to Jacob Johnson, by John Bolles.”
All three in Boston Library, bound together.
6. “A Message to the General Court in Boston, 1754.”
Copy in Boston Library.
7. A tract entitled, “True Liberty of Conscience is in Bondage to no Flesh.”
8. “Persecutions in Boston and Connecticut Governments. Taken out of Authors. Whereby it may be seen that a people may be deceived under the highest conceit of religion, and thinking they are worshipping God, when indeed they are worshipping the dragon and persecuting the children of God that worship Him in spirit and in truth. By John Bolles, New London. Printed for the author, 1758.” A copy of this tract is owned by Mrs. Reed Watson of East Windsor, Conn.
9. “Answer to A Book entitled ‘The Christian Sabbath,’ by Mather Byles, 1759.”
A copy of above work in Boston Library names John Bolles as author. A copy of the same work in the New London Library is (in its Introduction) distinctly ascribed to Joseph Bolles, son of John Bolles. It was probably a joint work of father and son.
“Bolles (J.) and Waterhouse (John) Concerning the Christian Sabbath, also some Remarks upon a book written by Ebenezer Frothingham. Printed for Joseph Bolles, 1757.” Title from Brinley Catalogue. Know not if extant.
“A Looking Glass for the Presbyterians of New London.” By John Rogers, 3d. Providence, 1767. 8vo. See quotations in Appendix. The style of this work is bright, vigorous and concise, comparing well with the other Rogerene writings, not one of which is of an inferior order.