THE SIXTIETH YEAR OF HIS MINISTRY IN THAT PLACE.

SALEM:

Printed By Warwick Palfray, Jun.

1825

[ Joseph Dana graduated from Harvard, 1760, and received his Doctorate in Sacred Theology from Harvard (S.T.D.) in 1801.]

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Reprint and digital file January, 2000. ]

2 Peter i, 12 to 15

Wherefore, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.---Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance. Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.---Moreover, I will endeavor, that ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance.

We have here, my beloved brethren, an example worthy of high veneration. And shall a secondary servant in the gospel,----being now among the aged,---dare to adopt and follow it, with a view to your benefit and that of your children, when he too shall have put off this tabernacle, as the Lord Jesus has often admonished him?

This holy man’s chief object, in now addressing his brethren, was not to entertain them with new things. But he knew that informed disciples, confirmed believers, [ Footnote: See v. 12.] might not have at all times sufficiently in remembrance some realities of high concernment; and therefore says, " I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth

"These things" refer us back to a large context. So soon to take his leave, he has a great deal to say o his dear brethren, who had "obtained like precious faith." He reminds them, that they were "called to glory, and virtue;" and that all things pertaining to life and godliness were given them, through the knowledge of their Lord and Savior. He reminds them, that there were given to believers exceeding great and precious promises; not for their comfort only, but that by these they might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world through lust.---Then he exhorts them, that, giving all diligence, they add to their faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity. This would prove what precious and abundant fruit might grow from acquaintance with their Lord and Savior duly kept up. This was the way to make their calling and election sure. [ Footnote: Verse 10 ] And it was thus that an entrance should be ministered unto them abundantly, into the everlasting kingdom of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It is but natural to observe, that, had this Epistle been directed to such as had not obtained the same precious faith, this Servant of Christ would have had much to say to them likewise. Nor need we be at a loss, what things he would have brought to their view. Would he not have put them in mind, as he did the thousands at Jerusalem, that that Jesus, whom they had never been induced to receive, was the only name under heaven, given among men, whereby they must be saved ? No doubt he would have called them to repent of every form of sinning; But their so treating the Lord of Glory,---(if they were among those who had the means of knowing him, and yet were not attracted)---their so slighting and refusing him, instead of giving him the kindest possible reception; this he would have called them to lament as a capitol sin; a crime of deepest dye; as the Lord himself, in John xvi. 9, had implied that it would one day appear. Would he not have impressed on their hearts the astonishing fact, that the blood of Him, whom they and others had so rejected, could yet plead for their salvation ? [ Footnote; Acts ii. 38. ] And would he not, in that view, with redoubled concern, have called them to repent, and recognize their Lord, and only Savior: to repent and be converted, that their sins might be blotted out, when the times of refreshing should come from the presence of the Lord ? [ Footnote: Acts iii 19 ]

Here, men and brethren, let us pause and ponder. If repentance be necessary, then consideration is of proportionable necessity. In the usual course of things, men do not pass, at once, out of a thoughtless into a converted state. When Inspiration calls to repenting, and reforming, it is in this style, ---expressly or impliedly: Thus saith the Lord, "Consider your ways." [ Footnote: Hagg. I. 7 ] "Stand still, and consider." [ Footnote: See Job xxxvii. ] And want of this, is brought up, as a deplorable symptom: "Israel doth not know: my people doth not consider." [ Footnote: Isa. I 3. ]

At the same time, be it remembered, that nature’s deepest considerations, and convictions, do not give that view of sin, which produces genuine abhorrence of it; nor that view of the glory of Christ, which produces true faith, and love to Him. Therefore, a radical change of heart is necessary to lay the foundations of a genuine faith and repentance. The word is,---" I will take away the stony heart; and I will give you a heart of flesh." [ Footnote: Ezek. xxxvi. 26. ] Let not this intimation of dependence be discouraging doctrine:---nor let it be brought up as an excuse for neglect of means. Rather let it be considered as turning man’s attention to the only adequate source of his recovery: Holding up, at the same time, a free, self-moved compassion, which has brought deliverance to thousands, and will to millions more; (having expressly declared that gracious purpose;) and has said moreover, "Thus saith the Lord God, I will for this be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them" [ footnote: Exek. Xxxvi 37. ] And what if it shall be found, that when, after many distressful inquiries, and trembling attentions, one becomes willing to owe his, or her, recovery to mere mercy,--- uncovenanted mercy,---self-moved and sovereignly free mercy: such a one, like the publican in Luke xviii. is enrolled among the humble; though like him, he can as yet only plead, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!"

This must ever be remembered: If a true repentance be necessary, self-righteous thoughts, and hopes, must be renounced. Otherwise, what apparent reforms may take place, are at best far from genuine: and may turn out no better, than the reforms of some Pharisees, and other Jews, under the powerful preaching of John in the wilderness:---bad habits of one description left off; and new ones, more imposing, put on; with a still more malignant spirit of opposition to Christ, and to heart religion. Read it with trembling, in Matt. xii. 43 to 45. Let me add, if sin must be repented properly, excusing sin must be at an end: for these are contraries. "He that covereth his sins, shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth, and forsaketh them, shall have mercy." [ Prov. xxviii. 13. ] We know too well, what it is to have our apologies; so as to cover, even from ourselves, the nature, and the aggravations, of our sin, great as it may be. But the simplicity, and the unreservedness, of the royal penitent’s confession, when he came to himself, is instructive: "I have sinned against the Lord;" without one word of excuse, now to be added.

Such things as these, men and brethren, it is of high importance should be remembered, and therefore often brought to mind. Such things are of general, and universal concernment, to those who have not obtained mercy. O that Infinite Compassion may so set them home, that they shall not be neglected longer. I now come to say,

There are other remembrances, which become specially needful by the existing state of things.

For instance: This is a speculating age. And very possibly it is too much forgotten here and there, That there is that in the nature of Divine truth, which will not bear to be coldly speculated on; and perhaps cannot be, without a degree of danger. What if it should be found, that, the oftener these sacred things pass through the mind, without making their appropriate impression, the oftener they may pass; and become, in the issue, principle causes---in a sense---of hardening of the heart. It is certain, that enquiries into the meaning of Holy Scripture, should be all practical. And these are the enquiries which have the promise of success. "If any man will do the will of Him that sent me," says our Lord Jesus, "he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God." [ Footnote: John vii. 17. ] Here is a protection of infinite worth. And those are much to be congratulated, who in all their disquisitions are able to say, Lord, our desire is to know what is truth, that we may obey it. Without such a spirit of enquiry, we have no such protection, and are always in danger of going unblest in our studies.

To proceed.

This is an age, in which the wisdom of man too often exalts itself into a competition with the authority of Revelation. And that is an evil, which the Apostle of the Gentiles thought it of great consequence to shun. "I brethren, came to you not with excellency of speech, or of wisdom." [ Footnote: 1^st Cor. ii.1. ] The reasons he gives for this caution, are these. First, That the great object of his mission was to declare the testimony of God. Secondly, That it was therefore very necessary that the faith of his hearers,---if they did believe what was spoken,---"should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." [ Footnote: Ver. 5. } They therefore had a right to expect, that the ministers of Christ, instead of entertaining them with the researches of their own wisdom, in religious things, should show them a Divine authority for what the delivered, and show it throughout. Here, then, while we have the preacher’s duty, we have also that of the hearers:---Not to repose implicit faith in man; not to exalt his wisdom into an authority, in religious things; but cautiously to examine, whether there be a Divine authority for what is delivered: and, where that is found, to make that the ground of their faith, which saves men’s souls. I might say,

This is an age of curiosities and novelties. And let it not be thought too much, to caution our beloved youth, not to be so filled with these, as to go without solid instruction, and establishment, in the great truths of the gospel.

But is there not a mournful falling off from great truths of Revelation, which lie plain before us there; and which have been found, through so many ages, to support the Divine life in the souls of men ? For instance:---

After so many ages of "peace in believing,"---Is it now to be a question, Whether the Savior of the world be able to save to the uttermost ? Whether he be able to keep that, which his faithful followers have committed to him against that day ? Or able to fulfil all his promises to them ? That, in particular, of being in the midst of them, wherever two or three are gathered together in his name ? [ Footnote: Matt. xviii. 20.] If doubts do arise upon these points, we may well drop a tear, like the two disciples going to Emmaus:---"We trusted that it had been he, who should have redeemed Israel." [ Footnote: Luke xxiv. 21. ]

Again:---

Can it possibly be thought more correct in our day, than it was in the prophet Ezekiel’s to strengthen the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way,---by promising him life ? [Footnote: Ezek. xiii. 22. ] But to return:

Is there not a falling off, in alarming instances, from that piety, which was the glory of our fathers ? Who has not been told, that, in their day, that was a rare house, where family-worship was not attended, morning and evening ? And do we not all believe, that religious order in families had an important effect in keeping up, and extending religion, throughout New-England ? On the other side, how undeniable is it, that religion does, and will decline, and moral sentiment at large; according as this primary expedient for well training the rising generation falls into neglect. Awake then, my brethren, to this great duty. We justly tremble at the natural effects of such a declension:---Who, then, will not be afraid of that "Fury," which is poured out on the families that call not on the great Creator’s name ? Specially those, who from gospel instructions, and gospel examples, turn away to such heathenism.

By how many in our day, the religion of the closet is neglected, Omniscience alone can pronounce. Yet, one neglect inevitably raises a fear respecting another. But, O my beloved people, elder and younger, let me intreat you, as you would have any hope of your soul’s prospering, to keep up with earnestness, and constantly, in secret prayer. "It is not a vain thing for you, it is your life."

Is there no falling off from sanctuary worship ? That disheartening to the ministry, from delivering their messages to empty seats, is something. And feeling minds will sometimes think of that: and perhaps the more, when the messengers are gone. But can it be excusable before God, to receive His messages in that form ? Has not the God of the sanctuary a command over the people, who belong to it ? Or, hath he said without authority, "Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord ? He who appointed pastors and teachers, did he not by that appointment, make it the incumbent duty of their people to attend them, as the state of things would permit ? How then can this be neglected, without rebelling against the highest authority ? What more shall I say ? The benefits of a gospel ministry cannot be rationally expected without duly attending it. And that due attendance, is a constant, not an inconstant one. Nor will the same measure of moral and religious sentiment be kept up, where this great mean, for it, of God’s appointment, is not earnestly attended. As to those, who plainly withdraw themselves from gospel-instructions, it is a mournful fact, too evident not to be noted, that they generally sink lower and lower, in every moral view. And well may this produce a dread of every step which leads to it. You will then permit your aged friend in the gospel, to intreat this beloved congregation, that, if God, in the course of things, shall give them such a faithful, Christian ministry, as He shall approve, not one of them will hazard all the blessings of it, by a cold and inconstant manner of attending.

Does not Zion mourn, that her sacramental feasts are so thinly attended ? After our Divine Lord has left such a dying command to us, "Do this in remembrance of me;" the most natural expectation is, that those who truly respect his person, and thank him with true affection for his love, which passeth knowledge; all, who make Him their hope for salvation, and mean to follow Him whithersoever he goes; would come, with as much readiness to the sacramental feast, as ever men came to celebrate the memory of a beloved Savior of his country. Why then, to any of this description, should coming to these memorials of the blessed Jesus, be a subject of perplexity ? As though by daring to come, after most serious and prayerful examination, they hazarded every thing ?

My brethren, What St. Paul writes upon this subject, in 1^st Cor. xi. has been misconstrued, and abused. The same persons, whom he so reproves for coming unworthily, are exhorted by him to examine themselves, and so drink of that cup: which shows that the manner in which they had come, flagrantly sinful as that was, had not rendered their condition hopeless. Let not then such unscriptural discouragements be admitted. The command of Christ is a command of love; not intended to perplex any sincere mind, but to encourage.

It is for those to be filled with perplexity, who have no true feeling for a Savior’s honor; nor desire for a due remembrance of him: who can think this command of his of small importance: still more if they can think that unfitness amply excuses them from attending it; when Christ has pronounced so decidedly, upon that servant, who knew his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself. [ Footnote: Luke xii. 47. ] More still, if they look with an evil eye on those who do come to this ordinance; and are far less candid to their failings, than to their own. Yea, is there not sometimes a self-righteous feeling, growing out of the imagined merit of more than common cautiousness in this case; when yet that cautiousness may not have awakened the mind to a proper bewailing of itself, or praying for what is wanting ?

But further:---

Is there not a mournful falling off from the Sabbath itself; especially in some circles, even in this region, once renowned for piety, and the religious observation of the Lord’s day.---Thanks be to God, there are, of late, some precious exceptions; of such as now keep that sacred day more suitably than heretofore; and who bless the Lord for that day, as they never did before. And shall we not intreat that Divine Power which could effect this for a few, to do it for thousands ? But how deplorable, in the meantime, is that spirit in man, which is weary of the Sabbath !

My brethren, there is more of mercy to man, in setting apart this day, for meditation, for worship, for sober reflection on our great concerns, than man has ever calculated, or ever will. And yet this day of mercy is a touchstone to try men’s souls. If the God of the Sabbath be venerable in our view; and the Redeemer, who made this day, dear to our hearts; the Sabbath is then precious for the true purposes of its appointment. Till then, though many thanks are due, for outward restraints, and inward; for conscience, and conscience roused to action; for constraints, and those carried into many properties, and much of sober conduct: still, how much is that heart to be deplored, which does not yet truly love the holy purposes and employments of the Sabbath; but will, more or less, profane it, by thoughts, words, views, purposes, which irreligion substitutes, in place of what is called for !

But I must draw to a close.

My Brethren,

I have brought up such things, as to me appeared necessary. May it be hoped, that remembrances upon these topics, by an aged friend, so soon to leave you, will be considered with the more of attention, and of candor: and not lost from the memory, when I am gone to that world, where I have hope of arriving, through that abounding grace, which can blot out failures, and faults without number, for its own sake, and for the worthiness of a Redeemer, whom I believe able to save even to the uttermost: and who, if there be but a smoking flax in the lamp, will never quench it, nor throw it away.

I know that the time of my departure is at hand. It must appear so, when it is considered, that this day completes sixty years, since my settlement here in the gospel ministry; and nearly sixty-one and a half, since I first beheld, from that elevated spot yonder, the abodes of your venerable ancestors, bearing, even then, impressive marks of primitive simplicity; and disclosing, as they came to be unfolded, a character like that of the ancients; an inside often better-looking than the outer; and a precious remainder of such piety, as the first pilgrims brought with them: or such as the venerable Norton, Rogers, Cobbet, Hubbard, and the three other Roger’s , in their generations, contributed, under Heaven’s blessing, to originate, to enliven, and prolong.

Thanks be to God, he has not left this ministry to an essential falling off from the principles, which your fathers were willing to suffer so much for. Nor ought I to say, that its general intention has not been the same. But conceive, my dear Brethren, how such a monument of the Lord’s mercy, as you now have before you, coming after such predecessors, and permitted to out-live such a catalog of younger brethren, of whom the world was not worthy; must wish to have done more, and better, in this great and good work, for the Redeemer’s honor, and the immorta;l good of my people ! You will implore the Divine favor, that the hand-breadth of time yet left me, may be rendered beneficial, in one form or other, to yourselves, or to your children. And God forbid, that I cease praying for you !

We are called to note with great thankfulness, that some "mercy-drops," at different seasons, have been granted to us: and that between May 1798, and May 1801, fifty were added to the communion; twenty-five since: and that the whole number of additions since 1765, is 121. Shall I not add with affection, that within the last year, hopes are entertained of a desirable number more ? May Divine mercy grant, that none of these hopes may prove abortive ! Grant likewise, that, instead of a decline of soul-reformation, all praying people may be roused and strengthened afresh, to contribute their full part to it: and that Spirit of grace, on whom all depends, awake you all, my beloved people; and that so, that there shall be no more slumbering.

Your friendship, dear Brethren, your candor, and that of your fathers, so uniform, so dear, and consoling, has a just claim to my tenderest acknowledgements. And never, I believe, will your affectionate concern for my life, and health, in times of sickness, and of danger, be lost from my remembrance. Your prayers, I ought to believe, contributed to my recoveries: And life, while it is continued, will be the more sweet to me. Would God, it might be useful---in some proportion---to the last moment !

When I look around, I am struck with the absence of almost all, who were heads of families, at the commencement of this sacred relation: all except five, if I am correct, and of these, one man only. What numbers besides, have retired, of younger persons ! Part of my minutes is mislaid: But 15 to a year,---which seems to have been our average number,---amount to 900. What a loom this sheds on the state of society ! How many excellent persons, male and female, and much endeared to their pastor, has he followed to the grave ! What can relieve this gloom, but a powerful, and extended, revival of religion,---pure and undefiled !

Shall we not then for this, redouble our prayers ? O Lord, revive thy work ! Lord God of Israel, turn us again; cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved!

One more petition,---or cluster of petitions,---will surely express our united wishes. Lord Jesus, remember a flock, which throws itself on thy sovereign compassion. Let it not be left to wander on the mountains. Be thou thyself its Shepherd. Let it always know thy voice; ever follow thy direction; and under Thee, may it go in and out, and find pasture. Gather the lambs with thine arm, and carry them in thy bosom. Defend them from wolves, of every description. Give them, in thy time, a pastor after thy heart, who clearly bears a spirit like thine own: And bless with thy Divine favor, both him and them, forever.

AMEN.

The two following portions, selected from Dr. Watts, and the HYMN, which follows them, written for the occasion by the author of the Sermon,---were sung.

From Psalm XXXIX.

Teach me the measure of my days,

Thou Maker of my frame ?

I would survey life’s narrow space,

And learn how frail I am.

A span is all that we can boast,

An inch or two of time;

Man is but vanity and dust,

In all his flower and prime.

I’m but a sojourner below,

As all my fathers were;

May I be well prepar’d to go,

When I the summons hear.

But, if my life be spared a while,

Before my last remove,

Thy praise shall be my business still,

And I’ll declare thy love.

From PSALM LXXI.

God of my childhood and my youth,

The guide of all my days,

I have declared thy heavenly truth,

And told thy wondrous ways.

Wilt thou forsake my hoary hairs,

And leave my fainting heart?

Who shall sustain my sinking years,

If God my strength depart ?

Let me thy power and truth proclaim,

To the surviving age,

And leave a savior of thy name,

When I shall quit the stage.

The land of silence and of death,

Attends my next remove;

O, may these poor remains of breath

Teach the wide world thy love !

HYMN.

Ye lovely hills and plains

And thou, soft-flowing stream, [ Ipswich River ]

Where Jesus is our theme [ Alluding to the house of worship ]

Be lovely still; and witness here

The parting sigh, the falling tear.

Grant us, O God of love,

To meet,---and part no more,

May Christ, and things above,---

Till this frail life is o’er.

Blest be that wondrous grace,

Which gives such hope to man;

And bids the world it can:---

O then relent; to God return;

Own Christ; and into life be born.

How precious Is that hope,

Which :runs the heavenly road;"

And keeps its courage up,

By living near to God !

Grant this, O Lord; nor let me be

ashamed of all my hope in thee.

But, O, the blissful thought,---

(How great does that appear !)

Grant this, dear Lord; this we implore;

And may our souls be roused the more.