Martha Ballard's Story
Chapter 2

Martha likes Foster's sermons

Martha approved of the sermons delivered by the young new minister, Isaac Foster, and his brother John Foster. As a woman who measured life in doing for others, she might be expected to enjoy Foster's July 23 sermon on Matthew 25, the chapter in which Jesus distinguished between those on his right and his left hand, the sheep and goats, according to whether they had fed the hungry, clothed the naked, or comforted the afflicted.

But there was a faction in town, led by the town clerk Captain Henry Sewall, that was alarmed by the beliefs of the Fosters.

What did Henry Sewall say about Foster's July 23 sermon?

When Martha heard Isaac Foster's brother John preach on October 8th, she reported that she was "agreeably Entertaind" by his "discoarce."

What did Henry Sewall say about the October 8th sermon?

Find out what Sewall did to block Isaac Foster's ordination.

John Foster was in town for the ordination vote on his brother Isaac. Three days later, on October 11, Martha reported the weather as "Clear & Pleasant." She also noted, "the Revd Isaac Foster was ordaind in this Town."

Although the skies were clear, a storm was brewing. Henry Sewall continued to criticize the young minister.



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And Isaac Foster replied by suing Henry Sewall and his cousin, Thomas Sewall, for slander.

Table of Contents

The Holy Bible, King James version
1772
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 Title page     Matthew 25     Matthew 25 
   

 

Matthew 25

 

[Annotations and cross-references ommitted]
 
The parable of the talents 8. MATTHEW A description of the last judgment
 
  17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
  18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
  19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
  20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
  21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
  22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
  23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
  24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed:
  25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
  26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:
  27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
  28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
  29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
  30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
  32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
  33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
  34 Then shall the King say unto them on

his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
  35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
  36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
  37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
  38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
  39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
  40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
  41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
  42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
  43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
  44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
  45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
  46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

CHAP. XXVI

  1. Christ again foretelleth his own death. 3 The rulers conspire against him. 6 A woman poureth precious ointment on his head. 14 Judas bargaineth to betray him. 17 Christ eateth the passover, and pointeth out the traitor: 26 he instituteth his last supper: 30 foretelleth the desertion of his discipiles, and Peter's denial of him. 36 His agony and prayer in the garden. 47 He is betrayed and apprehended. 51 One of the servants of the high priest hath his ear cut off; Jesus forbiddeth opposition: 57 he is carried to Caiaphas, falsely accused, examined, pronounced guilty, and treated with indignity. 69 Peter's denial and repentance.

AND it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,