USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > The ministry of Taunton, with incidental notices of other professions > Part 2
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by Infinite Tenderness, and accommodated by unerring wisdom to some noble purpose, well deserves such a tribute from us. But yet this argues not, but that some particular seasons in life are more suited to inspire us with such sentiments than others. As in our text, we find the duty reduced to the particular cir- cumstanco and season of fullness and satisfaction - " When thou hast eaten and art full, &c." This is part of the solemn address, which Moses made to the children of Israel just before they went over Jordan to possess the promised land - an ad- dress full of the most lively and striking remonstrances against the stupidity and ingratitude which might lead them into a for- getfulness of their kind Benefactor. Such remonstrances, my friends, as well suit our character, as a stupid and ungrateful People. Like Rebellious Israel, we need line upon line, pre- cept upon precept to keep us from the same excess of Ingrati- tude. Moses here speaks of what is eminently their duty, when they shall be brought to the land of plenty and wealth to which they were going. The whole chapter contains many important advices. (It has been read in your hearing this morning.) You easily see how frequently and solemnly Moses repeats his charges of the same import to the Israelites, with a diversity of expression, to the degree that we are ready to object in our own mind against such a multiplicity of charges of the same nature, and say, what need is there of dwelling so long on the subject. One or two admonitions might be thought sufficient to engage the practice of a well disposed people. Yes, indeed a well dis- posed people! But alas! how far were they from meriting such a character ? They proved themselves to be a stiff-necked and rebellious nation, in a variety of instances with which Moses upbraids them, and by which he enforces his exhortations to their future obedience. All which is an argument of his just suspicion and fear that when they were brought into the rich and plentiful land of Canaan and made partakers of its dainties, they would be stupid enough to deny God the due return of praise, which he justly demands. God certifies to them by the mouth of Moses, that they shall surely perish in consequence of
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such conduct. And now, my hearers, judge I pray you between God and His people of old, and say whether there is any un- reasonable suspicion in these fears, or any unjust severity in the sentence passed upon them. Consider attentively and judge im- partially. But take heed, lest while you judge others, you con- demn yourselves. For it shall be our present business -
1st. To attempt to show what peculiar obligations and mo- tives the current year affords us to bless God for the comforts of life. Then
2d. What reason we have to fear this just tribute will be denied him.
Now as this is what we call our annual Thanksgiving, the peculiar design of which is for a religious remembrance of the valuable productions of the earth, and God's crowning the year with His Goodness in this respect, so I shall principally re. tain your attention here, and endeavor to assist your meditation s in the Review. Yet I hope not entirely to pass over in silence those never to be forgotten Blessings with which our arms have been crowned, and above all, those blessings which the Gospel affords.
1st. We are to mention some of those circumstances which render the productions of the Earth this year more than com - monly valuable to us, which may add a peculiar force to the motives of our Thanksgiving this day. Nature herself teaches us that we ought to be thankful to the bestower of any benefit, by abhorring the ungrateful beggar, who receives the alms of unobliged Benefactors without some warm expressions of Grati- tude. Now, then, my hearers, if we are unthankful, the base- ness of our Ingratitude will arise in proportion as the hand of God was observable in relieving us from the extremity of last Summer's Drought. The motives which arise from this quarter are as important as they are plain and familiar to every one's mind. I entreat you a little to consider, to what a sad extrem- ity we were reduced-by what means we were relieved - and how conspicuous the hand of God was both in the extremity and the relief.
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1. Consider to what fearful straits we were reduced. I can hardly persuade myself that your memories are so dull, but that you often reflect on the day of distress. Especially since you have so many sad monuments to remind you of it. For how many sad revolving days and weeks, and months, did the Heavens seem to be as brass over us, and the Earth as iron un- der us, and the rain of our land but powder and dust, and in consequence of this, with what difficulty did we sometimes find water, the common refreshment of Nature to relieve our thirst and the thirst of our cattle. How melancholy was the Prospect when like the People in Jeremiah's time, we came to the water pits, (I mean our wells, the common RESERVOIRS of water, ) and found none-we returned with our vessels empty. Because the ground was chapt-for there was no rain in the Earth. The plowmen might be justly ashamed and confounded, and how did our cattle snuff up the wind, as an expression of their distress, while their eyes failed, because there was no grass. (Jer. 14: 3, 4.) And there cannot be a reasonable doubt with any of us, but if God had not changed the dealings of His Providence speedily, the consequence of such a calamity would have been inevitable death perhaps to many of us, and the most of our cattle-a death dreadful in proportion to all those bright horrors which must have attended the lingering circumstances of it. But, my friends, in proportion to the horror and dread of such an extremity must be the joy of our kind deliverance, (as, Blessed be God ! we are so far delivered as to wait His further bounty,) and the manner in which relief was sent in such great distress must give the blessings consequent on them a most endearing recommendation.
2. It was in answer to the prayers of God's People. This sacred Dwelling is witness to our repeatedly assembling on this very occasion to implore relief in this regard, and it deserves our grateful remembrance, how that before our first exercise was ended, it began to rain, and in the INTERVAL of worship, there was a very copious shower, in which some of us were agreeably wet. [The reader will notice how this remarkable
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answer to prayer in 1762 accords with a similar instance in the carly history of our country, which gave rise to the first Thanksgiving in 1623.] And now seriously consider, whether we should not dishonor and do injustice to the Being who has styled Himself a Prayer-hearing God, if we should not look on that shower, to be sent in answer to the humble prayer of His people ; especially since not only we, (among whom wo ought not to imagine He is left without a witness in this respect, ) but sundry neighboring churches were assembled on the same day and for the same end. And when shall we look on any mercy as coming in answer to prayer, if not on this, I am un- able to tell. And indeed in general, we have reason to think, that God first disposes His people to pray for particular bless- ings before He bestows them upon us. And sinners should know, that all the mercies which they receive come to them by means of the Righteous, who are the excellent of the Earth and in a sort the Pillars and Props of it. Take the Righteous out of the world, and what would remain? gather tho wheat from the tares, and I ask of what importance or significancy would the remainder be ? So that such as revile us for trusting in God, and for our ascribing to Him the glory due for mercies received in such a manner, hurt themselves more than they do us. We will joyfully acknowledge, and boast in the agency of Providence in all these things, and look on ourselves bound in duty to praise Him, as having heard and answered our prayer, when we had the Blessing immediately granted, which we were enlarged to pray for. And as this is the time for our recounting the mercies of the preceding year, this, it seems, should by no means be excluded from our grateful remembrance, for it is the mercy without which our hopes must have been dismally dark, and our tables destitute of those delicious dainties, which may this day crown them and feed us. Oh! Blessed be God, there is a Throne of Grace ! And surely it must make our mercies doubly precious, when we consider,
3d. That they were granted in such a manner, as rendered the Hand of God remarkably conspicuous. We have a long
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time been afflicted with war and bloodshed; but in all our ad- vantages and victories gained, God has seen too much of a dis- position in us to wave a consideration of His agency in them. IIe has seen it, I doubt not, with just displeasure, how we have attributed it to the conduct of our Generals, the courage of our soldiers, or some human foresight and activity. But to cramp our vain ambition, He has opened a scene of a different nature. He has been scourging us with the calamity of Drought, in which He must appear to every eye on the most transient reflec- tion to be the sole agent in the bringing on, and in the removal of it. 'Tis His sov'reign prerogative to command the clouds that they rain not-'Tis His also, to bid them dissolve into de- scending showers. He is the father of the rain, and begets the drops of refreshing dew. Thus has He been as it were, dig- ging deep to hide pride from our eyes; for there is nothing from which human agency or even human instrumentality is more evidently excluded than from this. In this, vain is the help of man. This then is wholly the Lord's doing, and we may well say, it is truly marvellous in our eyes. To whom then do our praises belong for such unmerited relief? What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits? Benefits not only dearly purchased by the blood of the Son of God, but being forfeited, God has scemed, as it were, again to interpose, and secure them when we were almost ready to despair. We are directed to pray that God would give us our daily bread, which supposes it always to have been His sov'reign, unmerited gift - what we can lay no absolute claim to. But what shall be said of it now ? Certainly it appears moro eminently His, and the strength of constitution, the firmness of nerve which it is the means of procuring, we are under peculiar obligations to devote to God. So that it may be said to us, as to Israel in the text-" When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which He hath giren thee."
Wonderful as the dealing of God's Providence has been, in granting us, as we would hope, a competency, though not an 2 *
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affluence of the necessaries of Life, we should certainly be de- linquent in our duty this day, if we failed to recognise the fav- ors of a National kind. We may this day with pleasure con- gratulate each other on the birth of a Prince,-one, whom wo ought to hope and pray may be raised up for a scourge to Pope- ry and a friend to Protestantism. As the praises of United Nations have ascended for the safe Deliverance of our Illustri- ous Queen in the perils of Child-Bed, and for the gift of a new born Prince, so let our inconsiderable tribute also be paid, though we despair of having the foolish ambitions gratified, which may lead some to pour their flattery into the Royal ear. To be devoutly thankful for such an important event without an human eye to behold, or tongue to applaud, gives the most re- fined pleasure. Let us not forget to pay our thanks to the King of Kings, that He has preserved our Earthly King, in the en- joyment of His health, the exercise of his virtues and the main- tenance of his glory. And how can we pass over in silence the renowned conquest of the Havannah-the opulent town and almost impregnable fortress. When first Franco obtained the late alliance of Spain, and solicited Portugal to join them against Great Britain, how melancholy then was the prospect with us ; and what increased the terror of the juncture and even doubled its horrors, was the Revolution-shall I call it the happy Rev- olution, when the wise and incomparable Pitt resigned the seals. But the resignation of this great man was divinely over-ruled, so as not to cause any considerable mischief as we yet can learn, though at the first greatly feared. Portugal refusing to form an alliance with Spain and France against Great Britain on the principles of Honor and Public Faith, (having engaged to be neuter,) the two former endeavor to bribe her first; and when they found that Flattery in all its forms was insufficient to pre- vail, they began to insult and threaten in the most inhuman and shameful manner, but agreeably to the title which the King of Portugal bears, he was faithful in his engagements to Britain, and held them sacred in opposition to tho united terrors of Spain and France. But though Portugal strenuously refused,
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we justly think that the two other powers were more than a match for us. For we generally think that men and money, (where there is enough of cach, ) are the most essential articles in War. Well, France, if I may so say, has more than us, of the one, and Spain an immensity of the other. But regard the works of the Lord, and thankfully consider the operation of His hand. Spain is severely scourg'd, as we have reason to think, on account of her unjust and quite needless alliance with France against us altogether unprovoked. The Havannah - a place of very considerable strength, and otherwise of vast im- portance to Spain, being the key to Mexico, and a covert to other Spanish settlements in South America, has been wrested from her. And though we are not altogether without pain in the reflection, that there have been many lives lost, some by the sword and more by the pestilence, which still continues to rage there, yet we may congratulate each other and bless the Lord, that a most unnatural conspiracy has been lately discovered, formed by a Bishop to assassinate all the English, &c. Not to mention our advantages by sca, which have not been inconsid- crable, particularly the immense treasure found on boarding the Hermoine, &c. Then there is the taking of Newfoundland, so important an acquisition with reference to our Fisheries. Thus proud Lewis with his good natured ally, from those towering hopes with which they were doubtless inspired, when first their covenant of Friendship was formed, are reduced to make almost any shift, for the preservation of their dignity. Particularly the former is brought to sue for peace. May our Gracious Sov'reign who is disposed to peace have the wisdom from abovo which may be profitable to direct and over-rule the disposition so as not to plight his hand in friendship with such a perfidious monarch only on terms honorable and glorious on our side, and so as to prevent any future outbreak. Oh ! how bright do Bri- tain's glories shine ! But let us not boast as those who are put- ting off the harness, it may be we are but girding it on. The Superintending Providence which has opened this joyful pros- pect may give us night for day, may close the scene of war with
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infamy and misery to us; which we shall be the more ready to believe when we consider as proposed,
2d. What reason we have to fear that the Just Tribute of Gratitude will be denied the Great Giver of every good and perfect gift. It was the hypocritical character of Israel, that though they sang God's praises, they soon forgat His works. So we find Moses, the Man of God, unwearied and abundant in his admonitions, and exhortations to them in our text and context, which were so many demonstrations of his suspicion that they would prove ungrateful and rebellious. And why may not I reasonably be jealous over you with a godly jealousy ? Is there no danger of your being ungrateful ? Has your conduct in the general been such as would justify the laying aside my fear ? Oh! that there were less cause for my fear and jealousy over you ! The general reason why I think there is danger of your ingratitude, after having had such signal kindnesses granted, is founded on the practice of the Jews. That people were highly favored of the Lord by wonders, and signs and mighty works, and yet ungrateful. Human nature being all of a piece the world over and in all generations, I suppose I have reason to fear the same of you. For they had much stronger motives to Thanksgiving and praise than you have had -excepting the crowning motive, which alas! is overlooked, despised and set at naught by far too many of you - Need I mention it to you ? The Son of God dying on a Cross of Love-and with this pe- culiar circumstance does God commend His Love, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Hence should our warmest gratitude arise-hence our faith -our hope - our Love should spontaneously spring. What are all the necessa- ries of Life, though procured in a manner Divinely Glorious (as ours are) compared to this mysterious, incomparable Dis- play of Divine Love! What are the supplies of a mortal life compared to the cordials of an immortal soul! And yet has not this motive been too much forgotten when it should be the foremost ? For Christ is the Great Procurer of these mercies we are this day celebrating, and can we pretend a sincere grat-
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itude for them, while all His charms, and riches of Fullness are neglected ? And can we give you any other character but that of neglecters of Christ, while you profane His Day, pollute His Worship, neglect His ordinances, and run counter to His known commands ! Oh ! my friends, do not the consciences of many of you at least, testify against you this day that you are verily guilty before God, and at the same time testify to the truth of what I am endeavoring to prove-that we have reason to fear that the just tribute of Gratitude will be denied the Great Giv- er of every good and perfect gift.
Having thus finished what was proposed, I shall close with a brief application. And as this is the day, in which we do in a peculiar sense eat, and are filled, so we should remember to bless God for the good land and the wholesome productions of it, with which we are favored. As this is the Day, in which we commonly have our tables furnished, so far as we conveniently can, not only with the necessaries, but also with the Dainties and Delicacies of Life, as a kind of solemn sacrifice, and wit- ness to God of the reality, sincerity and fervency of our Grati- tude for His undeserved Benignity the past year, so we ought to consider that this Being will not bear to be trifled with for- ever, and that He loves the sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
A word to Sinners and Saints.
1. Sinners, I would this day charge you, as Moses did Israel, " When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which He hath given thec." Let a full stomach and a warm back (if I may be allowed so homely an expression, ) inspire sentiments of Gratitude instead of increasing the stupidity which is your shame and your mis- ery. Let me charge you, that you grow not wanton, and Jesh- urun-like kick against the Goodness of the Lord-you'll find it hard to kick against the pricks. I charge you that an immedi- ate check be put to your vain merriment, your unhallowed joy which now perhaps you are flushed with the hope of pursuing. I charge you by Him on whose bounty you feed, from whose vesture you are clothed, and whose are all your ways-I charge
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you by the dying agonies of the Savior, at whose expense you live in such comfort and plenty, and (what is still more worthy our notice, ) at whose rich expense you have all the various im- pressions, whereby you are ready to cry out, what shall I do to be saved-I charge you by the tremendous power, which you are seeming to be at pains to provoke, not to turn these blessings which we this day celebrate into curses; and indeed they must be curses to you who pervert them to the horrid purpose of re- bellion and ingratitude. I charge you by the rod of God which is still hanging over you, with respect to the judgments which are abroad in the Earth. May God deal with us better than our fears! Though now perhaps you may enjoy a firmness of health, yet He who has disease and health, who has death and life at His command, may with infinite ease command the one to depart, and the other to take its place. And who can tell but this is the last Thanksgiving which you shall see -I mean such of you as are putting off the thoughts of death, and imagine this or that neighbor will go first. How many have been mis- taken so. And indeed these may be the very last warnings you will ever hear from me or from this desk. I may be called to visit you soon on a dying bed and follow you to your long home. And can there be any thing more terrible than to die in your sins ? Yes, Sinner, I can tell you of one thing more dread- ful than immediate death and immediate damnation. The Bles- sed God may say-as for the wretched creature, who has so long abused my Grace and compassion, let him still live-let him live in the midst of prosperity and plenty-let him live under the purest and most powerful ordinances too, only to abuse them, to aggravate his condemnation, and die under seren-fold guilt and a seven-fold curse. I will not give him grace to think of his ways- he may go on from bad to worse, till death shall come and do its dreadful work. Alas ! to be left thus reprobate and insensible in time, is if possible more dreadful than the damnation of eternity !"
The author had designed an address to Saints, but I do not find it in his Ms. His pen here rested, as he does now, and for nearly a century has rested from his labors.
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NOTE B. Page 4.
THE sermon preached in Taunton, by Mr. Barnum, the first Sabbath after his Installation, that is, Feb. 5, 1769, is still in existence. It is from the text found in II. Cor. 5: 20, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us ; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God."
The application or "improvement" of the doctrine of the discourse which he discusses fully, is as follows : " 1. Is it as we have heard, my brethren, - hence then learn how laborious a work is the work of the ministry. They have to entreat you again and again, perishing sinners, to be reconciled to God, and though they remain stupid and careless, we are to follow the suit, -we are to stem the torrent, -swim against the tide, however strong and powerful it is. Oh, let your prayers and cries to heaven for me never cease. As I am now well assured of all the assistance you can give, so let me ever be. What a kind alleviation of other numerous discouragements will this be. Brethren, pray for us, that we may not faint or flag at the many difficulties we have to encounter, but that we may find the grace of God abundantly sufficient for us, that we may be faithful and successful in the Lord's work.
2. Are God and man at variance, and is God willing to be reconciled to us, and yet we backward to be reconciled to him ? What reason have we to abhor ourselves for the obstinacy and pride of our hearts ! How undutiful are we to our rightful sovereign ! How ungrateful and abusive to our greatest bene- factor ! What ! at enmity with God and persist in it, though he has formed, and nourished and brought us up, and is contin- ually loading us with his mercies and urging us by his ambassa- dors to be reconciled to God through Christ, and to enjoy an everlasting friendship ! Who of us can seriously consider on such ingratitude as this without the deepest shame and confusion ? Oh sinner, stand and wonder you are not consumed !
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3. Learn to live a considerate and prayerful life-think often of your present wretchedness out of Christ-let these things lie with weight on your minds till you feel yourselves undone creatures ; nor rest content till you are reconciled to God by the conquering power of his grace. And as you are by the Providence of God given to me as my beloved charge in the Lord, and I to you as an overseer and watchman and an ambas- sador for Christ, I would now address you as the people of my charge according to your different and respective classes.
I. In the first place I would turn myself to you, my honoured fathers and mothers, and would speak with all that filial respect which is due from me to you, while I remember my office as an ambassador for Christ. You have been inhabitants of this stage of action perhaps fifty, sixty or seventy years. You have seen many a new and surprising scene both of joy and sorrow, but cannot expect to be the spectators of many more. Your glass of probation is near an end, a few steps more will bring you to your journey's end. If God should be pleased to lengthen out my life to but a few years, I shall expect to visit you on a dying bed, and what shall I say or do to give you comfort then, if you neglect a reconciliation to God now. It behoves you to watch and pray, lest you let slip one moment of time given you for the purposes of religion. Are any of you settled on a false foundation, and dreaming you are going to heaven, whereas you are in fact travelling the downward road ? Is your heart on things above or below ? Do you daily meditate with sweet de- light on God and Divine things ? Do you love the service of God here and find yourselves maturing for a better world ? Let me solemnly charge you as in the name and fear of God that you take diligent heed to secure the one thing needful before death overtake you, which to the eye of reason is just at hand. You may observe the decays of nature in every withered limb- all this is sure evidence of your approaching dissolution. Oh, that you might profit the little while you may live under my ministry, so that I may be a happy instrument of increasing your eternal gains. "Tis hopeful, many of you have arrived to
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