USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Taunton > The ministry of Taunton, with incidental notices of other professions > Part 4
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Nor did he allow himself to escape sharp rebuke. Riding along one day in a piece of woods, he met a poor man who asked for charity, and really needed it. The minister moved with compassion, stopped his horse, and gave him a small sum, which, afterwards a selfish, parsimo- nious spirit told him might possibly have been too much. The man was not yet out of sight. Mr. Judson suddenly halted, turned his horse, and called after him. "Sir," said he, "how much did I give you ?" " Twelve and a half cents," was the quick reply. " Well, here is a dol- lar -take that. Now, grudge again, old heart."
These peculiarities of the Preacher are indicated perhaps by the char- acter of the face which the artist has furnished for this volume. The lithograph is a faithful copy of the portrait, which was obtained from the only surviving grandchild, residing in Windsor, Ct.
* Mr. Judson's house was on High St .- on the lot adjoining the pres- ent location of the Episcopal Church. Some boys amused themselves one night in putting a long, heavy stick of timber into his well, which was in front of his house, near the street. By diligent enquiry, Mr. Judson learned their names, and summoned them before him. With becoming gravity, he proceeded to pronounce their sentence. Said he : " Boys, you have put the stick in, now go to work, and take it out " - a punishment, severe indeed, but sufficiently mild. The well was deep, and the timber heavy, but after sweating over it several hours, with Mr. Judson, and all the neighbors looking on, and laughing at thom, they succeeded in undoing what it took them only a short time to do, resolv- cd probably to play no more tricks on their minister.
t He was sometimes ridiculously so. For example. He once heard, or thought he heard a thief in his cellar. Instead of making a prompt, and manly personal enquiry into the case, he calls in several of his
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
Notwithstanding his marked peculiarities, and undesir- able oddities, Mr. Judson had many redeeming qualities, which made him not only as a Preacher but as a citizen and a neighbor, a very desirable and useful man. Mr. Baylies says of him :* "His temper was kind and hospi- table, and his deportment courteous. Occasionally he was exceedingly interesting in the pulpit, discovering great learning and logical acuteness. His manner, when he commenced, was slow and indolent, but always solemn ; as he proceeded, he became animated, and seldom failed, before the close, to produce a deep interest in his hearers."
Mr. Judson was dismissed from his Pastoral charge in Taunton, by an Ecclesiastical Council, convened Dec. 28th, 1790.1
He was subsequently settled in Sheffield, Mass., where
neighbors, arranges them at different convenient points without the house, whilst he concludes at length to go down, and drive the intruder out. The great parade of preparation was sufficiently ludicrous, when, as might have been expected, there was no thicf there.
Another instance of amusing precision relates to an attempt once made to administer medicine to his only child, Ephraim. He was sick, and, as is not uncommon with children at such a time, considerably averse to nauseous doses. Several women of the place, skilled in such matters, were called in, and the precise master of ceremonies proceeds forthwith to assign them their several parts. "Mistress Barnum, you will please station yourself at the child's head. Mistress D- -, you will stand at his right elbow. Mistress E-, you will stand at his left. Mistress C-, you may hold his right foot. Mistress A-, you may hold his left. I will stand, and administer the dose. Now, ladies, do you all understand your places, and are you ready to perform your parts ? Mistress Barnum, where is your place ? Answer. At the head. Mistress D., where is your place ? Answer. At his right elbow. Mis- tress E., where is your place ? Answer. At his left elbow. When he had thoroughly drilled the circle as to their several places and parts, the medical prescription is faithfully administered, with no loss of life or limb, but somewhat to the amusement of lookers on, who wonder, and with reason, that the Taunton Divine had not learned a lesson from " faithful Abraham," and so "commanded his children, and his house- hold after him," as to render this formidable array of matrons unneces- sary.
* In a newspaper article, of 1833, generally ascribed to him.
i Mr. Baylies, in the article already referred to incorrectly states, that it was in 1789. For the action of this Council, see Note B.
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EPHRAIM JUDSON.
he continued in the ministry, until his death, February 23, 1813, at the age of seventy-five. He was buried in Sheffield; and from Rev. James Bradford, the successor of Mr. Judson, I have received a copy of the epitaph, which he is careful to inform me, " expresses faithfully and truly his own views of Mr. Judson, both as a man and as a christian," as gathered from the recollection and judg- ment of others, (for he never saw him,) "but his epitaph is considered a fair onc."
" Sacred to the memory of the Rev'd Ephraim Judson, A. M. Pastor of the Church in Sheffield.
He died on the 23d of Feb. 1813, in the 76th year of his age, and the 23d of his ministry in Sheffield, having been previously the Pastor of a church in Norwich, Ct., and Taunton, Mass. Mr. Judson was esteemed a learned Divine, an acute logician, and an evangelical preacher. He was mild, courteous, and hospitable. By his numer- ous friends, he was deem'd a wise counsellor, an active peace-maker, and a sincere christian. What he was in truth, the Great Day will disclose."
Mr. Judson married Chloe Ellis, of Somers, Conn. They had one child, born at Norwich, Conn., in 1777, and bearing the name of his father. He graduated at Wil- liams College, in 1797, and practiced law in Sandisfield, Mass., where he died in 1807. He left two children, Ephraim and Catharine. Catharine married a Barnes, and died Sept. 16, 1848. Ephraim lives unmarried in Windsor, Conn .* * For these facts concerning the grand-children of Rev. Mr. Judson, the writer of this sketch is indebted to Henry Sill, Esq., of Windsor, Ct., administrator on the estate of their mother, recently deceased. 4*
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
Several sermons of Rev. Mr. Judson were published during his life time. The following belonging to Rev. Al- van Cobb, D. D., of Taunton, have been furnished for exam- ination : A sermon on the " first promise of the Savior in the Scriptures," and a double sermon on the "Judgment of the Great Day;" the former, founded on the text, (Gen. 3: 15,) "and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel;" the latter suggested by a part of the sixth verse of the Epistle of Jude, "Unto the Judgment of the Great Day." The one occupies twenty-six pages, and the other forty pages of a " Collection of Sermons on important subjects, from a number of Ministers in some of the Northern States of America, printed by Hudson and Goodwin of Hartford, Ct., in 1797."
"A sermon, preached at the ordination of the Rev. Jonathan Strong to the Pastoral care of the Third Church in Braintree, Jan. 28, 1789, by Ephraim Judson, A. M., Pastor of the Church in Taunton," was "printed in Prov- idence, by Bennett Wheeler, at his Office on the west side of the river," in that year-the year preceding Mr. Judson's removal from Taunton. The theme of the ser- mon was thus stated: "Ambassadors appointed by Christ to treat with mankind on the subject of reconciliation to God." Text, (2 Cor. 5: 20,) "Now then we are Am- bassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Rev. John Porter of Bridgewater gave the Pastor elect, the Charge ; Rev. Ezra Weld of Braintree express- ed the Fellowship of the Churches. Mr. Judson preach- ed two ordination sermons in 1799, which were published ;
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EPHRAIM JUDSON.
the first "delivered in Durham at the Ordination of Rev. David Smith," from the text (Jonah 3: 2,) "Preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee;" the second " delivered in Waterbury, Ct., at the Ordination of Rev. Holland Weeks," from the text, (Rom. 10: 14, 15,) "How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed ? and how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard ? and how shall they hear without a preacher ? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them, that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things !"
The same year (1799) was published a sermon preach- cd at Sheffield, on the decease of Gen. Ashley. There may have been still other printed discourses, which have escaped our notice. The limits of this work preclude the publication of more than two of these several productions of the ninth Taunton minister.
Ambassadors appointed by Christ to treat with mankind on the subject of reconciliation to God, illustrated.
A
SER
M ON 9
PREACHED AT THE ORDINATION OF THE REVEREND JONATHAN STRONG, TO THE PASTORAL CARE
OF TIIE THIRD CHURCHI IN BRAINTREE;
JANUARY 28, 1789.
BY EPHRAIM JUDSON, A. M. PASTOR OF THE CHURCHI IN TAUNTON.
PRINTED IN PROVIDENCE, BY BENNETT WHEELER, AT HIS OFFICE ON THIE WEST SIDE THE RIVER.
AN
ORDINATION SERMON.
2 CORINTHIANS, v. 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."
HIS text, viewed in connection with the present solemnity, leads our contemplations to the appointment of Ambassadors of Christ : To the character of his Ambassadors : - To the character of mankind to whom his Ambassadors are sent : - And to the design of their being sent.
I. CHIRIST has appointed an order of men to act as his Ambassadors.
THIS is manifest from the scriptures. " We are Am- bassadors for Christ : Hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." Christ in his gifts to the Church, " gave some, Apostles ; and some, Prophets ; and some, Evan-
.
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
gelists ; and some Pastors and Teachers." Paul left Ti- tus in Crete, " to ordain Elders in every City." Each one of the seven churches in Asia had an Angel. That is, a Minister. Christ sent Ambassadors to the gentile world. " Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
HE has always had them, and he will always have them to the end of the world. He appointed Enoch and Noah before the flood, to act as his Ambassadors to the Antedi- luvians .* He prolonged the life of Noah three hundred and fifty years after the flood, to act as his Ambassador to his children. Soon after the death of Noah, he appointed Abram and Lot, Isaac and Jacob, Job and others, to act as his Ambassadors to the families of the earth. After the death of these men he appointed Moses and Aaron, Samuel and the Prophets, to act as his Ambassadors to the Israelites, and to people of other nations, who resided among them, or came to be spectators of their festivals, or to learn their laws and religion. In his providence, he sent some of the Prophets, as captives to neighbouring and to distant nations, to act as Ambassadors to idolatrous kings and people. After the Prophets, he appointed John his forerunner, to act as an Ambassador to the Jews. Soon after John, he chose the twelve to be with him, and to act as his Ambassadors to the people. About the same time he chose seventy, and sent them before his face into the villages and cities of Israel. After he arose from the
Christ existed from Eternity. He is very God. Governed the world from the beginning. He set up a church. And he instituted the office of Ambassadors. He has had different ways, in different periods of the Church, in calling and appointing them to their office : But the design of their office has been the same in all periods of the Church.
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JUDSON'S SERMON IN 1789.
dead, he appointed Ambassadors to go to all nations. " Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." In obedience to the command of their Lord, they went among the nations of the great Roman empire. Some of them penetrated barbarous countries beyond the imperial line. The nations persecuted them with tortures and death. For the space of three hundred years, they stain- ed their countries with christian blood. Preachers were imprisoned, hanged and burnt. But Christ kept raising up and sending others. And finally put an end to this se- vere conflict, gave peace to his distressed people, for a season, and multiplied Ambassadors ; so that whole coun- tries were supplied with them. And when the season of peace was interrupted by the anti-christian power, that gradually arose, he continued to send forth Ambassadors. All the terrors of Antichrist; his cruel edicts and anathe- mas that were thundered from his imperious throne, like storms of fire and brimstone ; the fires that he kindled in the nations to burn christians ; the numerous tortures in- flicted for many hundred years, gibbets, prisons, and the sword did not extinguish the order. In the darkest days of the anti-christian power, Christ had a number of Am- bassadors, who administered to the Church, that resided in the obscure vallies of Piedmont. And others he had, at the same time, in various other places. Ever since antichrist received a wound by the reformation from popery, and light emerged from darkness, Christ hath been increasing Ambassadors. At present he has many in Europe ; he has a few in Asia and Africa ; some he has upon the isles ; in America he has a large number. He will have them till the millenium. And, in the millenium, he will send them to every dark country of paganism. He will have 5
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
them in the kingdoms and colonies, that are now under the papal power. He will have them in the extensive countries, that embrace the Mahometan religion. He will have them in all the towns and cities of Europe. He will have them in the old settlements of America, and in the populous towns and elegant cities, that, in a future day, will be reared in the west. With hearts full of good af- fections, Ambassadors will spread all over the world. In great cities the voice of Ambassadors will echo from church to church. Villages will assemble from every house, and be blessed with Ambassadors proclaiming reconciliation. Heavenly sermons will be heard, where savage beasts and savage men now haunt inhospitable wilds. Harbours teem- ing with ships, where the air is infected with profane oaths, will be sweetened with sermons on divine subjects. The mariner, whose ship plows the boisterous sea, will have the Ambassador on board to preach glad tidings.
AND in the little season of degeneracy, that will begin at the end of the millenium, and last till the day of judg- ment, he will have Ambassadors. The promise, -" Lo, I am with you alway, to the end of the world," implies that he would always have them, so long as the world should continue.
2. WE are to give a description of Christ's Ambassa- dors.
AN Ambassador, as the term is commonly used, is a Representative of a Prince, sent on business to foreign powers. An Ambassador of Christ, as the phrase is com- monly used, is a minister of the gospel, sent to mankind, to preach the way of salvation.
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JUDSON'S SERMON IN 1789.
AMBASSADORS of Princes are appointed to their office. They must not undertake before they are properly com- missioned according to the rule of courts. Ambassadors of Christ must be regularly appointed to their office. They must not undertake till they are commissioned according to the laws of Christ.
AMBASSADORS of Princes have instructions from those who send them that they may know what they have to do. Ambassadors of Christ have instructions from him, that they may know what they have to do. Their Lord has given them orders in his word.
AMBASSADORS of courts must follow their instructions without deviating in the least from the business, on which they are sent. So must the Ambassadors of Christ. The Priests under the law were to follow all the directions which God gave them. The Ministers of the New Tes- tament are to teach men, " to observe all things whatsoever" Jesus " hath commanded them."
AMBASSADORS of Kings must be men of ability and knowledge. They must be acquainted with law, and the customs of courts. They must understand the will of their masters, and the business on which they are sent. Am- bassadors of Christ must also be men of ability and knowl- edge. They must understand the scriptures. Must un- derstand the will of their Lord; and the rules of his house. Wise sovereigns do not send ignorant men to ne- gociate national concerns. The Lord Jesus does not send ignorant men on business relating to his eternal kingdom. Spiritual Ambassadors are to explain, and inculcate the sublime doctrines of the kingdom of heaven. It requires men of knowledge to do this.
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
AMBASSADORS of Princes should be friendly to the cause which they undertake. Courts do not employ an enemy on an embassy. Ambassadors of the Prince of peace should be friendly to the cause which they undertake. No confidence can be put in an enemy. When self-inter- est or ambitious views clash with duty, he will betray his trust. A selfish Minister will not sacrifice his worldly in- terest and reputation for truth. When his own interest and the cause of religion stand in competition, he will give up the cause of religion, rather than his interest : There- fore he ought to be a man of grace. This will secure a degree of fidelity. A pure flame of disinterested love to the Lord Jesus, and to the welfare of souls must incline a man to undertake the evangelical ministry.
AMBASSADORS of Kings ought to be men of good moral conduct. Vice and dissipation will incapacitate a public character for usefulness. Ambassadors of Christ must be men of an holy life. A wicked life is utterly incompat- ible with their holy calling. It incapacitates them for the pious duties of their ministry. It is a scandalous offence to religion. And it makes mankind think that there is nothing serious and important in preaching and religion.
AMBASSADORS of Princes should devote themselves to their business. Being called to transact matters of conse- quence, they must lay aside all other business. Ambassa- dors to the Prince of Heaven should devote themselves to their business. Their office is filled up with care and at- tention. They have to strive against sin ; study the scrip- tures ; get clear ideas ; preach sermons ; attend lectures ; visit the sick ; go to funerals ; watch the flock; warn the wicked ; administer comfort to the wounded in spirit ; and
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JUDSON'S SERMON IN 1789.
discipline the Church. This requires close application to ministerial duties. Paul exhorted Timothy, his young son in the faith, to give himself wholly to the work of the min- istry. The same Apostle directs Ministers to take the sol- dier for a pattern, who when he goes to war, does not en- tangle himself with the cares of this world. A Preacher has no business to act in a political character : His work is of more consequence, than that of a civil officer. Hc has no business to labour in the field : HIe has a duty to discharge infinitely greater. He has no business to entan- gle himself with a mercantile shop : His mind must be on his study, and heart on the good of his people. The vari- ous callings of life are incompatible with his ministerial duties. When he undertakes the office of a Bishop, he commences a servant of Jesus Christ, in whose service he is called to labour all his days. He must not be enticed to lay aside his ministry by the inviting prospects of hon- our ; nor by the flattering appearances of obtaining wealth in some other calling of life.
AMBASSADORS of Princes are confined to particular na- tions. The commission of the Ambassadors of Christ extends to all nations. It was confined in Christ's day to the Jews. But after Christ's deathr he extended it to all nations. Jew and Gentile ; bond and frec ; christian and barbarian ; the sober and profane are now to be treated with on the subject of reconciliation. " Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature."
AMBASSADORS of Courts have business of consequence committed to them. They negociate for Kings, courts and empires. The welfare of multitudes is concerned in their
5 *
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
decisions. More important is the embassage of the Min- isters of Christ. It is not a treaty of amity and commerce, of war and peace, that they negociate ; but a treaty of reconciliation to God. They go with a message from the King of Heaven, to the empire of the world. The hon- our of God the Father- The glory of a crucified Saviour - And the salvation of lost men is deeply interested in the treaty.
3. WE are to lay open the character of mankind, to whom the Ambassadors of Christ are sent.
IT is important to know mankind, that we may know how to address them.
THEY are enemies to God. This may appear from the following things.
(1) FROM their selfishness.
BY selfishness is not meant a suitable regard to our own happiness. We ought to love ourselves, as a part of the intellectual world. We ought to love every rational being, of which we have any knowledge. And as we make a part of the great body of intelligent beings, we ought to love ourselves. There is the same reason for a man to love himself, as there is, that he should love anoth- er. Capacity to enjoy rational happiness, is a foundation for love. Each one has this : Therefore each one is to be loved. Because it is self, it is not to be neglected. The command of Christ, " Love thy neighbour as thyself ;" im- plies that we may love ourselves, as really as our neigh- bour. Minding this, however, not to put an undue value on ourselves, or any other being ; nor love each one above his real worth and capacity to enjoy happiness.
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JUDSON'S SERMON IN 1789.
BY selfishness, as the term is used here, is meant that disposition in mankind, which only regards their own hap- piness. Benevolence has an eye to the good of beings in general. Selfishness has an eye only to self. Benevo- lence is love to the highest good of the universe. Selfish- ness is love only to the interest of self.
THAT mankind are selfish, is too plain to be denied. We see it in all classes of men. We feel it in our own breasts.
SELFISHNESS is of such a nature, that it would exalt itself above all beings, and engross the wealth and happi- ness of the universe, if it had sufficient power and oppor- tunity. He who would deprive a man of a degree of hap- piness, to advance his own interest, would, if he were not controuled, deprive a man of all his happiness. And he who would deprive one man of happiness, to advance his own interest, would, if not restrained, deprive two-an hun- dred - all mankind -even God himself, of happiness. The tendency of selfishness is to rise, trample down, and destroy others to promote itself. Therefore the nature of selfishness is inimical to man, and to God. The man who has it, is armed, and prepared to oppose God. And when any one awakes out of security ; and realizes eternal things ; and sees that God is opposed to him as a sinner, his heart rises against God. He sees God, and hates him. While he is ignorant of God, or secure in his sins, he has the essence of enmity ; for selfishness is really enmity. But when he is roused, and convicted of sin and danger, he has direct positive exercises of hatred to God.
(2) IT appears that mankind are enemies to God from idolatry.
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THE MINISTRY OF TAUNTON.
IDOLATRY has been prevalent among the children of men. From the creation of the world to the flood, it was sixteen hundred and fifty years. In that period, it is thought that idolatry was prevalent. From the flood till the call of Abram, it was four hundred and twenty years. In that period, by a gradual declension from the worship of God, all the families of the earth become idolaters. From the call of Abram to the death of Christ, it was al- most two thousand years. In that long period all nations lay buried in idolatry, except the Israelites. And they f. e- quently went after the gods of the nations. From the death of Christ to the end of the apostolic age, it was sixty-six years. In that period, all men except a very few remain- ed in their idolatrous state. In that time, there were not more than two hundred christian churches in the world. From the apostolic age down to the present day is sixteen hundred and eighty-eight years. In all this long period, almost all men have lived in idolatry. At the present day there is more light than there has ever been ; yet not more than one-fourth part of mankind worship the God and Father of Jesus Christ. Idolatrous worship has over- spread the world, and covered it with thick darkness. Great kingdoms, and mighty empires have adored suppos- ed divinities of the sun, moon, and stars. Learned Kings, sage Philosophers and venerable Priests bowed before gods of gold and silver, wood and stone. Some nations deified their Heroes and Politicians, and worshipped their depart- ed spirits. Some adored four-footed beasts, filthy birds, and venomous reptiles. Men have " Changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corrup- tible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creep- ing things." Some have worshipped the devil and offered
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