USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Salem > Anniversary sermon : a sermon delivered in the South Church, Salem, on the thirty-eighth anniversary of his ordination > Part 2
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I think I may, without arrogance, apply to it what the Apostle Paul said to the Ephesians respecting his ministry. among them : "I have been with you at all seasons, and have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ." **
" I have been with you at all seasons," in prosperity and adversity, in sickness and health, in joy and sorrow, striving to soften the pillow of disease, and soothe the anguish of be- reavement, by pouring into your stricken hearts the oil of consolation. Many a trembling christian, who walked in darkness, or was in conflict with the last enemy, have I tried to sustain and comfort, by directing his mind to the Captain of Salvation, and to the crown of righteousness prepared for the victor's head. And many a dying sinner have I directed to the only hiding place from the wind and covert from the tempest.
I have been with you, not only at all seasons, but at all times. Such has been the state of my health, that I have never been unable, except on four Sabbaths, to perform the ordinary services of the pulpit. I have been with you in
*Acts II: 18, 20, 21.
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season and out of season, always ready to attend your lec- tures, your church meetings, your conferences, your prayer meetings, your concerts, your funerals, your weddings, your family visits, and every other call, both public and private, which, in these days of general excitement and benevolent enterprize, make such heavy draughts upon the time, the in- tellect, and the physical strength of evangelical clergymen, especially in our cities and large towns.
I can further say, with the Apostle, "I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you." I am far from say- ing, however, that I have preached the truth as plainly, as fervently, as forcibly, or as faithfully as did the great apostle, or as I might have done. But I do say, that, if not greatly deceived, I have never, through the fear of man or any other motive, designedly kept back any divine truth, or so present- ed it as to blunt its edge and prevent its intended effect. I have testified repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, aiming to hold up the glass of the divine law in such a manner, that, if you looked into it, you would not fail to see your true character, and urging the sinner to return to God, and penitently submit to him as his first duty, and to seek reconciliation through the atonement of Jesus Christ. The great doctrine of the cross, the central point, where all the rays of divine truth meet as in a burning focus, and from which they radiate, like the bright beams of the Sun, to enlighten, to warm, and to purify, I have delighted to illustrate and enforce, with all the power of reason and persuasion at my command. You will not understand me to suppose that my ministry has been without fault. I see
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many deficiencies,-many things to condemn and lament, both in spirit and manner. Boasting is utterly excluded.
Yet, deficient as my ministry has been, the Lord has deigned to give it, in some degree, the scal of his approba- tion. And the present occasion seems to demand a state- ment of facts, in relation to ourselves, which, while they show that the blessing of heaven has come upon you, may incidentally prove that my feeble efforts have not been made in vain. Whatever of success has attended them, I ascribe, not to myself, but to the grace of God. I would give all the glory to his name.
My labors here commenced in the summer of 1804, in connexion with my venerated father, Dr. HOPKINS, with whom I was associated as colleague pastor nine years and eight months. The number of persons admitted to this church since that time is 522. Within the same period, 96 have been dismissed to join other churches, and 13 have been separated by excommunication. The number now be- longing to the church is 413, of whom 108 are males and 305 females. Within the same period, 120 church members have died, and only four, who were members when that period commenced, are now among the living. "There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked." The sen- tence of death is upon us all. And the mortality in the society, and in the community at large, is nearly in the same proportion as in the church. Many of the deceased mem- bers were distinguished by eminent piety and usefulness ; and though their departure made sad breaches in the sacra- mental ranks, it is cheering to consider that they are free from the troubles of their pilgrimage, and inheriting the
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promises. A remembrance of the path they trod, should quicken us to greater diligence in preparing for the same inheritance.
Among the departed members of the church, memory loves to linger upon the name and history of our late beloved pastor, the Rev. DANIEL HOPKINS, D. D. His ministry and his life were terminated here in December 1814, in the 81st year of his age, and the 37th of his ministry. Though many of you never saw him, yet by many others, who knew him well, his name is cherished with the tenderest recollections. A few days after his death, the following obituary notice, from the pen of the late Dr. BENTLEY, was published in the Salem Register :
"On Wednesday, 14th inst. died in this town, the Honor- able and Reverend DANIEL HOPKINS, D. D., aged 80. He was a brother of the celebrated SAMUEL HOPKINS, whose System of Divinity has been received with uncommon favor in New England. The deceased minister of Salem was ap- pointed in July, 1775, a member of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, and in 1778, the year of his ordination, was a member of the Council of the Conventional Govern- ment which was appointed before the Constitution of the State was framed and adopted. He was an accomplished gentleman, esteemed for his ardent patriotism, and beloved by the people of his charge. They opened a house of wor- ship for him, and have lately erected for him one of the most ornamental churches in America."
It enhances the value of this notice, that Dr. HOPKINS and Dr. BENTLEY were antipodes both in politics and religion.
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Another extract from the same paper will show the early and successful stand taken by leading men in this Society in the cause of temperance :
" It has been a well known and general practice at funer- als, to set before the sextons who attended, a quantity of ardent spirits, which they were permitted to drink without restraint. This practice, so unnecessary in itself, so unbe- coming the solemnity of the occasion, and so manifestly in- jurious in its consequences, was put a stop to in the follow- ing manner. At the interment of Dr. HOPKINS, the com- mittee of the New South Society came to the resolution to provide no ardent spirits for the sextons ; and this determin- ation so commended itself to the citizens of this place, that the sextons one and all requested their several societies to discontinue the practice of providing such refreshments for them."
The progress made in this and other lands in the Temper- ance Reformation since that time, and especially within the four past years, excites our admiration, and demands our praise to Him, who rules the hearts of men.
Since my settlement here, 1119 of this society have fallen victims to the king of terrors. This gives an average of about 30 to each year. I look around upon the congrega- tion, and say, where are those proprietors of the house, and heads of families, who, thirty-eight years ago, stood here as pillars in the sanctuary ? The storms have swept over them, and they are gone ! Here and there one, like a solitary tree, yet stands erect, but the multitude are fallen. Another growth has come up and filled their places. But how soon
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will they too be gone ! The voice of warning comes to us from the tomb in deep and solemn tones :
" Vain man-thy end is nigh ;
" Death, at the farthest, can't be far; " Oh, think before thou die."
While I call up before you afflictive events of providence, it is proper that I also refer to some of a different character. During my residence here, 531 couples of this congregation have been united in the sacred bands of marriage; 80 of them by Dr. HOPKINS, and 501 by myself. The greatest number of marriages in one year was 24, and the least was 9. The average number in a year for the whole period is 15.
Within the same period, 801 persons have been conse- crated to God, in this house, in the holy ordinance of baptism. Of this number, 173 were adults and 628 chil- dren. The rite of infant consecration, with an application of the seal of God's gracious covenant, we, with the church universal, from the time of the apostles to the sixteenth cen- tury, believe to be an ordinance of heaven, extending from the days of Abraham to this day, never repealed, but still binding with all its force, and of inestimable importance to the cause of true religion. We regard it both as a sacred duty, and a high privilege, and rejoice in the belief, that, in in this divinely appointed way, the christian church will be perpetuated to the end of time.
Some of the facts that I have stated, lead to the conclu- sion, that God has poured out his Spirit upon us. And I would refer with adoring gratitude, to several seasons of re- freshing from the presence of the Lord. The most remark-
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able and memorable of these were in the years 1810, 1821. 1824, 1831, 1810, and 1843. Besides these principal revi- vals, there have been, in the mean time, a number of lighter showers of divine grace, which have produced many fruits of righteousness. Most of the 522 who have been added to the church since my settlement, were fruits of these precious seasons of refreshing. Let us honor the Holy Spirit, the author of those sacred influences, by which men are awaken- ed from the slumbers of impenitence, convinced of their guilt and ruin as sinners, renewed in the spirit of their minds, sanctified in heart and life, and fitted for the light and purity of heaven. And let our unceasing prayer and unwearied efforts be, that these seasons of refreshing may speedily return, with more glorious results than we have ever witnessed.
When we review our connexion as pastor and flock, we see much that demands our most fervent praise to the God of our mercies. He has seen fit, in his wise and holy prov- idence, to lengthen out our connexion far beyond the aver- age term, even in the days of our fathers. And during all this time, we have enjoyed as much harmony and mutual affection as often fall to the lot of imperfect mortals, es- pecially in these days of agitation and change, as well in the ecclesiastical, as in the political and social relations.
Justice requires me to say, that as a church and a society, you have been distinguished by peace among yourselves, and peace with your minister. We have seen the harmony of other churches disturbed, and congregations rent into parties and torn asunder; and exciting causes have sometimes operated among us. But these causes have been effectually
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resisted by your love of peace. This amiable virtue, when connected with the love of truth and righteousness, is clearly in accordance with the spirit of the gospel, and a trait of character to be most earnestly desired. Though liable to be mistaken for spiritual apathy, the opposite qualities are equally liable to be mistaken for spiritual zeal and faithful- ness. Love of peace, on christian principles, is a modifica- tion of that charity, which the apostle describes as "the bond of perfectness," and the essence of all true religion.
I would not take to myself the credit of the harmony which has so long existed between us, and been strengthened by the exercise of social and christian affections. I may, however, say, that I have ever desired and earnestly sought to preserve peace and concord among the people of my charge, some- times, indeed, at the sacrifice of inclination and feeling ; and the same desire and effort, on your part, have doubtless been maintained at a similar sacrifice. You have borne with my imperfections, and been disposed to put upon them the most favorable construction they would bear. The expressions of your sympathy, kindness and generosity, in circumstances that called for them, will not be forgotten.
Feeble and imperfect as my ministrations have been, the Lord has deigned to bless us ; and we have reason, this day, to take the cup of salvation, and call upon his name.
But here we ought to reflect, that, had we been, as pastor and flock, more prayerful, more watchful, more humble ; in a word, more actively devoted to the service of God, the blessings of his grace would have been shed upon us, with
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more copious effusions. We have reason, then, in the re- view, to humble ourselves before him, and stir up ourselves to greater fidelity and diligence. Much, very much, remains to be done. Many of this congregation, to whom the word of the Lord has been line upon line, and precept upon pre- cept, here a little and there a little, have hitherto refused to submit to the terms of salvation .. I call you, my dear friends, to witness this day, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse, and have labored to persuade you to be reconciled to God, by the motives exhibited in his word and providence. These motives I have aimed to illus- trate and enforce, according to my ability and convictions of duty, ever appealing to the sacred oracles as the only safe standard of faith and practice. And I urge upon you the solemn consideration, that the preaching of the gos- pel, and every means of grace you enjoy, if not a savor of life unto life to you, will be a savor of death unto death. Let me not rise up as a swift witness against you, at the bar of judgment. To that bar we are hastening, fast as the revolutions of time. There, all the circum- stances of our connexion will be brought under review, by the omniscient Judge, and retributions awarded accord- ing to character. Who can imagine the awful and glorious scenes of that day ?
Since we know not how soon we shall be summoned to the bar, let us awake from our slumbers, and gird up the loins of our minds, that we may be prepared to enter into the joy of our Lord.
APPENDIX.
-
LIST OF THE PASTORS
OF THE
SEVERAL CHURCHES IN SALEM,
FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN.
First Church.
1629
Francis Higginson,
died
1630
1629
Samuel Skelton,
died
1634
1631
Roger Williams,
resigned
1635
1636
Hugh Peters,
resigned
1641
1636
John Fiske,
resigned
1639
1640
Edward Norris,
died
1653
1660
John Higginson,
died
1708
1672
Charles Nicholet,
resigned
1676
1653
Nicholas Noyes,
died
1717
1714
George Curwen,
died
1717
1718
Samuel Fiske,
resigned
1735
1736
John Sparhawk,
died
1755
1755
Thomas Barnard,
died
1776
1772
Asa Dunbar,
resigned
1779
1779
John Prince,
died
IS36
1824
Charles Wentworth Upliam.
23
Second Church.
1719
Robert Staunton,
died
1727
1728
William Jennison,
resigned 1736
1737 James Diman,
died
1788
1783
William Bentley,
died
1819
1821
James Flint.
Third Church.
1736
Samuel Fiske,
resigned 1745
1745
Dudley Leavitt,
died
1762
1763
John Huntington,
died
1766
1769 Nathaniel Whitaker,
withdrew
1774
1778
Daniel Hopkins,
died
1814
1805
Brown Emerson.
The following is an extract from the Result of the Council, (Rev. Mr. ROBY, of Lynn, Moderator) held in 1775, in the case of the THIRD CHURCH, referred to in the preceding Sermon, p. 12 :-
" It appears to us, after serious and careful attention to the best light which could be obtained, That the above named Benjamin Ropes, &c. [14 brethren] together with those sisters above referred to, [24 in number] are, in a reasonable and just construction, The Church, which existed in the Rev. Mr. Leavitt's day, and was under his pastoral care, and which, before the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Huntington, consented to take the name of The Third Congregational Church of Christ in Salem, and that they are entitled to all the privileges of that Church.
" We find nothing that ought at all to deprive them of the communion of the churches; and we recommend to them the renewing of their covenant with God and with one another, at this time, and agree that the fellowship of the churches be renewedly given to them, as a church in good standing. We earnestly recom- mend to them that forgiving spirit,-that benevolent, inoffensive, prudent con- duct,-which becomes christians, and is their defence and glory :- and our prayer is, that the God of love and peace may be with them."
"At Salem, Feb. 14-16, 1775."
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St. Peter's Church.
1738
Charles Brockwell,
resigned 1746
1747
William McGilchrist,
died
1780
1771 Robert B. Nichols,
resigned 1774
1782
Nathaniel Fisher,
died
1812
1814
Thomas Carlisle,
resigned
1822
1823
Henry Wm. Ducachet,
resigned
1825
1827
Thomas Winthrop Coit,
resigned 1829
1829
Alexander V. Griswold,
resigned
1834
1834
John A. Vaughan,
resigned
1836
1837
Charles Mason.
North Church.
1773
Thomas Barnard,
died
1814
1815
John Emery Abbot,
died
1819
1820
John Brazer.
Tabernacle Church.
1774 .
Nathaniel Whitaker,
resigned 1784
1785
Joshua Spaulding,
resigned
1502
1803 Samuel Worcester,
died
IS21
1819 Elias Cornelius,
resigned 1826
1827
Jolın P. Cleaveland,
resigned
1834
1834
Samuel M. Worcester.
Branch Church .*
1805 Joshua Spaulding,
resigned
1814
1818 Henry Blatchford,
resigned 1820
1S21 William Williams
resigned 1832
1833 George B. Cheever,
resigned 1837
183S
Charles T. Torrey,
resigned
1839
1840
Joel Mann.
*This Church became Congregational, and took the name of HOWARD STREET CHURCH, in IS27.
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First Baptist Church.
1505 Lucius Bolles,
resigned 1826
1826 Rufus Babcock,
resigned 1834
1834 . John Wayland,
resigned 1841
1842 Thomas D. Anderson.
Free-Will Baptist Church-"Christians."
1807 Abner Jones,
" resigned 1812
1813 Samuel Rand,
resigned 1814
1814 Moses Howe,
resigned 1817
1821 Abner Jones.
[The present pastor is the Rev. Alexander G. Comings. The names of all those succeeding Mr. Jones, could not be conveniently ascertained.]
Universalist Church.
1809
Edward Turner,
resigned 1814
1815
Hosea Ballou,
resigned 1817
1818 Joshua Flagg, resigned 1820
1820 Barzillai Streeter,
resigned 1824
1825
Seth Stetson,
resigned 1828
1829
Lemuel Willis,
resigned 1837
1838
1841
Matthew Hale Smith, [renounced & ] res'd 1841 Linus S. Everett.
St. Mary's Church.
1S06 Bishop Chererus, and Dr. Matignon officiated till
1811
1811
Dr. O'Brien, resigned 1813
1813
Bishop Cheverus and Dr. Matignon, till 1819
1819
Paul McQuaid, resigned 1822
Jolin Mahoney,
William Wiley,
John D. Brady, James Strain,
1842
Thomas Jolin Flaherty.
31
First Methodist Episcopal Church.
1822
Jesse Fillmore,
resigned 1832
1832
J. B. Brown,
resigned 1833
1833
J. Hamilton,
resigned 1834
1834 S. C. Macreading,
resigned 1834
1834
Aaron Waitt
resigned
1835
1835
J. Fillmore,
resigned
1835
1833
J. W. Downing,
resigned
1838
1838
S. G. Hiler,
resigned
1839
1840
J. Fillinore.
Independent Congregational Church.
1824
Henry Colman,
resigned 1832
1532
James W. Thompson.
Second Baptist Church.
1826
George Leonard,
resigned 1828
1829
Robert E. Pattison,
resigned 1830
1830
Cyrus P. Grosvenor,
resigned
1834
1835
Joseph Banvard.
Crombie Street Church.
1832 William Williams,
resigned 1838
1838 Alexander Joseph Sessions.
Second Methodist Church.
1841
N. S. Spalding.
Third Methodist Church.
1842
J. N. Mars.
.
Seamen's Church,
1842
Michael Carlton.
Mormon Church.
1842
Elder Snow.
1 284477. 26
MAY 75
N. MANCHESTER. INDIANA
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