The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 3

XI. Sherwood-America “Place” of Refuge From Papal Persecution

SAMUEL SHERWOOD (1730-1783) was born at Fairfield, Connecticut, and graduated from Yale in 1749. He tutored for several years at the College of New Jersey (Princeton), of which his uncle was president, and with whom he completed his theological studies. Receiving a license to preach in 1751, he re signed his tutoring in 1752 and began preaching at Bridgeport, and later at Berlin, Connecticut. In 1757 he accepted a call to Weston, continuing there until his death. He was an ardent patriot in the Revolution. PFF3 203.2

Sherwood’s The Church’s Flight into the Wilderness: An Address on the Times, delivered on a “public occasion” in 1776, contains a number of “important observations on Scripture prophecies.” Holding that Daniel, Paul, and John all depict the papal power under various terms, ⁸⁵ Sherwood enlarges upon her dreadful persecutions, as of the Waldenses, which were all foretold. ⁸⁶ The flight of the church into the “remote wilderness” is noted, and he expresses the belief that “her place” of refuge, reserved by Providence, is this “American wilderness.” ⁸⁷ The period of persecution is referred to, but the American refuge from papal tyranny is the point emphasized. ⁸⁸ PFF3 203.3